All Purpose

So it’s been a few weeks, sorry about that but I really will be making an effort to post here once a week. It should help keep me accountable for all my post 9 to 5 activities.

So what’s going on right now is we’re creeping ever closer to the demolition/construction of the house. We have a builder, but we need to finalize and sign the contract, but first we need him to look over our last changes to the plans and update his bid and then I’m sure we may need to revise some things after that to ensure the budget is in good shape. So we’ve got those three steps and we’re also trying to get the loan process started and going as quickly as possible.

Then there’s the whole where are we going to live during all this situation. We actually have a really good prospect that’s literally right around the corner from us, but we’ll have to see if the timing works out. If it does work out then we’ll definitely need some storage since the house is 200 sq ft smaller than our current house, but at least we’ll be close to the house during the build and can keep an eye on things.

I’m also really trying to get serious about this whole idea of a craft based business. I had pledged that I would begin working on my craft work if my regular work was slow and I started that and have taken it very seriously, but I got pretty busy at work from late October until this week really so I have only been able to make a few jewelry pieces so far.

On the weaving front I got 5 commissions from Ravelry and when I’m done with those I can do a few more pieces for the store opening.

I’m hoping to launch the store in mid December, maybe. I don’t really know how much stuff I need to start with so I’m kind of at a loss.

I’m feeling really low energy now that Thanksgiving is over. I know I need to finish this last commission and start making more jewelry. I have a ton of ideas for other accessories that would be quick for me to make, but I’m just. Blah. I will plow through though, I’m sure it may just take me a little longer to finish this last scarf. Then on to my own ideas, which will be much more exciting!

The one thing I am motivated about is cooking more and changing my diet. I have decided to try “clean” eating, and really it’s not a big stretch for me since we don’t eat a ton of processed stuff, but since I seem to still have lingering issues with some foods and I’ve been told I need to cleanse again and retest every season to get to the root of my ongoing allergy issues I figured this would be a good stepping stone and then if I find food issues hopefully I’ll be better equipped to deal with them if I’m already basically making most stuff myself. I think going off the refined sugar will be good for me too.

So one change is that I’m going to start eating a salad for lunch every day. I’ve decided to try the Salad in a Jar approach. I don’t have a FoodSaver (yet) though and I need to make my meals for work as grab and go as possible so I’ll be using some tips I picked up over at the Big Red Kitchen as well. I did pretty well this week and had salad 3 out of 4 days since I decided to start this on Tuesday.

I also decided to make my own chicken stock for the first time. This is a key point in clean eating, to make your own stuff so you control the ingredients and I’ve been thinking I should do this for a long time. I mean I eat a roasted chicken like every week so seriously I should be making my own stock. In fact I should have done a post just about this since it is an experiment in the kitchen. I’m rusty with this whole blogging thing I guess. I’ll get better though.

No Comments | In: cooking, experiments, life, ravelry, tangledart, weaving | | #

I might not be cranking out the knitting, but I sure am on a yarn buying frenzy. So many sales…so many destashes…so little will power.

The good news is I did manage to finish something in June, yippee.

Pattern: Ribbon Lace Scarf by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silkie Socks that Rock in Lagoon
Needles: US 4 (circulars because that’s how I roll)
Notes: Easy pattern, but you know it’s a scarf so it does seem to drag on, and on. The yarn is super yummy, so soft, would definitely like to work with this again. I’m not sure it would hold up great for socks, or at least for socks that actually got worn with shoes, but it’s really nice for something like a scarf or wrap or even a sweater. You can see more info on my Ravelry page (login required).

No Comments | In: finished object, knitting, ravelry | tags: 2009, BMFA, finished object, scarf, silk, STR, wool. | #

Hey, I’ve been knitting. Surprise! I have been in slump, it happens when the weather starts getting really hot. I didn’t finish a damn thing in April, knitting blahs. However, I did finish my Lush and Lacy Cardigan (rav link) in May.

I think it turned out pretty good, even if the pictures could use a little more focus.

So check out the Ravelry link for details. I think this might be my first really well done sweater. It fits, the seaming isn’t weird (well too weird), and it’s flattering on me. I will definitely wear it when the weather cools off, like in 6 months (ok really 4 months).

The Lace Ribbon Scarf (rav link) is coming along and will hopefully, probably, be the FO for the month of June.

I have almost finished the first Leyburn sock (rav link). Srsly, I have no idea why this is taking me so long. I think that the pattern is pretty easy, but does require some thinking so perhaps that’s why it’s not flying off the needles. I really hope I can finish these soon. I need them to be done so I can either take a real sock break or start something I like better.

I also started my Traveling Log Cabin blanket (rav link) with the Noro I got in New Orleans. I have 3 more balls of Noro already (some of my recent trips have not been Noro productive) so at least I can start getting an idea of the block size.

I finally admitted defeat on the Ribs and Lace Tank (rav link). I realized it would ruin the lace pattern to steek it so I frogged. The. Whole. Thing. So sad. I started again but am just not digging it right now.

I’m thinking of casting on a different summer project, one that might be faster and look better on me right now. I just got some Blue Sky Dyed Cotton (I know, we’ll talk about the stash later) in a nice Navy/Indigo color and I think I might make a Liesl with that. I’m also interested in doing a Hey Teach cardigan, but not sure about the yarn (stash or new, etc.). I’m mostly working on the scarf anyway and will probably push to finish that before I start anything new.

So yeah about the stash. I did cancel my sock club membership. It was fun, and I really like the yarn and colors and everything that I got. I was not as excited about it after the first couple of packages though so decided to take a break.

I have really managed to rack up some stash though. I think I last talked about this in March and yeah, I got more yarn. So now I’ve bought a total of, holy shit, 11875 yards this year. Plus when I was looking for my fabric stash (yeah, still haven’t found it) I found 2180 yards worth (2 bags) of Reynolds Lite Lopi that I got I have no idea when (or what for) so that also added. I’m totally trying to sell the Lite Lopi though. The numbers are growing, though at least with the exception of April (so far) I have managed to finish a project every month so far. So I guess it’s good.

Anyway, I’m knitting again. It might be slow going over the summer (I think it’s going to be a brutal one), but it’s going at least.

No Comments | In: finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry, stash, work in progress | tags: 2009, cardigan, finished object, socks, work in progress. | #

I’m so behind with FO’s and WIP’s and stash busting counts, that I think I’m just going to add up my numbers and call it a day. No, I guess I’ll show what I finished in July, it was a busy month.

First, I finished Ella’s B, which I already blabbered about enough.

Then I finished the City Shawl.

Pattern: City Shawl by Stefanie Japel
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky in Japanese Plum
Needles: US 15 (circular)
Notes: I’m not too happy with the size and I think I’m going to order one more skein of the yarn and add to it. Maybe. It’s not in the budget though. The pattern is super easy though and the yarn is nice even with mohair I think I can wear it against my skin or with a light layer.

Then I finished a Calorimetry as a gift for someone…mysterious. Need to sew on the button still.

Pattern: Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf
Yarn: 1 skein of Malabrigo Merino Chunky in Paris Night
Needles: US 9 (straight, Bryspun)
Notes: The Malabrigo has a following for a reason, the colors and softness of the yarn is amazing. I really love working with both the Worsted and the Chunky. I have worked 2 colors and have 2 more in my stash, so I guess I’m a junky. This is a super easy pattern and this makes a nice little gift for someone. I CO 88 and did 5 repeats instead (as several other Ravelers using Bulky weight yarn suggested).

Then in the last day I finished my July xmas socks (Impressionist Socks).

Pattern: Impressionist Socks by Closca de nou
Yarn: Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino in P117
Needles: US 1 circular (Magic Loop)
Notes: Love, love, love the Koigu; the colors are so beautiful. Would definitely like a pair of Koigu socks for myself. The pattern is pretty minimal, but also not too hard to figure out in the vague spots, and it really shows off the Koigu colors.

No Comments | In: finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry | tags: blanket, calorimetry, finished object, headband, knitting, shawl, socks, wool, wrap. | #

So I got all my July stash enhancements (aka, project yarn) now so I can share them.

First, I traded my Araucania Nature Cotton (in purple) for sock yarn (enough for 3 socks).

I have sent the Wildfoote off to another knitter as a random act of kindness (RAOK), I feel lucky to be able to buy sock yarn every month for my xmas socks and I know that not everyone has that luxury now or ever so I wanted to share the sock wealth.

Then I got some lovely Araucania Ranco Multy (or Multi) from a fellow Raveler:

I originally bought this as xmas sock yarn for one of my unscheduled gifts (ie, not on the knitting calendar so no fixed date for yarn purchase), but then I got the Tofutsies in that trade so I’m going to use it instead. So I think the Ranco will be for either a scarf or some other type of gift since the colors aren’t me.

Then I got this lovely, lovely Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky in Japanese Plum for myself. I’m making the City Shawl with it (pics soon).

I have one last skein that I got for my sister’s xmas socks, but haven’t gotten the pic loaded yet. Next time.

No Comments | In: knitting, ravelry, stash | tags: gifts, ravelry, scarf, socks, stash, trade, yarn. | #

So. I finally totally finished Ella’s blanket. I’m very disappointed in how this project turned out. It’s a little sad because I put so much into that project and I basically didn’t really think the use of cotton + wool together through. I also got lazy at the end and threw the blanket in the wash (cold water, gentle cycle, low spin) but it kinda roughed up the wool and it didn’t help the cotton shrink back. So I feel like this is a failed project. My sister wants me to give it to Ella anyway though because she’ll like the textures, so I guess I will. I also have that crochet blanket I will finish soon that I can give her, but that feel so…I dunno I guess because it’s acrylic I’m a little embarrassed by it, but hey I got plenty of acrylic blankets in my closet from both my grandmother and one of my great-grandmothers so I guess it’s not the end of the world.

So, I did some work on that acrylic, aka striped, blanket and I’m not sure now if I can really finish it this month. My neck is killing me lately and I’m trying some new techniques for knitting/crocheting, but I’m slow right now. I also think I have more to finish than I originally thought. I guess we’ll see.

I’m rocking along on the Koigu socks, and should finish one this week so those shouldn’t be a problem. Since I think I’ll finish these pretty quickly I’m thinking of doing a Calorimetry for my sister for our Alaska trip and a scarf for my Mom. I just got some pretty Araucania Ranco Multy from a Ravelry purchase (for socks, but then got a better yarn in a swap) that would probably make a good Lace Ribbon Scarf. I think I’ll use some leftover sock yarn to make the Calorimetry.

I also got some Fleece Artist Sea Wool for socks (I have 2 pairs of socks that don’t really fit into my knitting schedule so I’m buying yarn as I can for those two and will knit when I have time).

I also traded my Araucania Nature Cotton in purple for 4 skeins of sock yarn. I know. I got a skein of Tofutsies, a skein of Regia Color 4-ply and 2 skeins of Wildfoote from Brown Sheep. The Tofutsies is for a pair of xmas socks and the rest are just for the stash for now.

I also ordered 2 skeins of Lamb’s Pride Superwash Bulky so I can do a City Shawl for myself for the Alaska trip, my last personal yarn splurge (besides the Noro I’ve budgeted) until December.

I’ll be getting all this stuff this week and I’ll post pics soon.

No Comments | In: crochet, finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry, stash, work in progress | tags: blanket, gifts, ravelry, socks, stash, xmas, yarn. | #

So I signed up for June’s Bustin’ that Stash (Rav link), and of course the minute I agree to 1) knit 1000 yards of stash AND 2) not add to my stash I suddenly find all this yarn I haven’t counted. Another 1421.5+ yards unaccounted for to be exact…sheesh.

Here are the things I “forgot” to put in Ravelry:

The yarn I got in Boston at Newbury Yarns, not tagged no yardage so really doesn’t count in that total even though it’s now in Ravelry.

4 balls of this that I swapped some yarn for…maybe swapping is bad.

I think I bought this to make some amigurumi animals, which I’d still like to do sometime.

Plus I had several 1-2 skein leftovers from various projects.

Ok, ok and I bought 4 skeins of yarn. Two skeins were a legit purchase for my next pair of xmas socks:

But then I saw this, which I have been coveting since I first saw it on Ravlery. There was only 1 skein left so I couldn’t leave it there:

And I decided to start my Noro Kureyon collection in anticipation of casting on for the Lizard Ridge blanket after I finish my other 2 blanket projects:

I think this project will be a great travel yarn project, so whenever I travel I will have a “souvenir” yarn to focus on and after many travels I’ll have a blanket. Pretty cool.

In other news, I also documented some of my older projects (ponchos!) and I’ve made some progress on Charade:

No Comments | In: knitting, ravelry, stash, work in progress | tags: charade, ravelry, socks, stash, work in progress, yarn. | #

So one of the better ideas I’ve had was to create my own “sock club” a few months ago by taking the few sock yarns in my stash, pairing them with a pattern and putting them in a little tub so when I finish one pair I go pull another pair out. I’d been doing about a pair a month until May when I didn’t finish anything. So around the same time I decided I wanted to try to do socks as my present for xmas this year and it dovetailed nicely with me also wanting to try various yarns. I decided that for the xmas socks I could not repeat patterns or yarn so it gives me a nice excuse to look at patterns and try to match to the various yarns I want to try.

I also wanted to be flexible with the yarn purchases since there are so many different yarns I want to try and I want to try to keep my costs down. That’s why I decided to purchase yarn each month, so this month I bought the yarn for July’s xmas socks.
So this way I can scout Ravelry for swaps/sales and check out my LYS’s monthly sale and BOLO (be on the lookout) for other sales.

I also wanted to try to stick to patterns I have already (in magazines or books) or that are free, though I would consider purchasing standalone patterns from independent designers. It’s been pretty fun to fantasize about yarn and pattern combo’s and since the yarns aren’t set in stone after I make a selection I reselect the pattern. So lot’s of knitting fantasy and planning going on, which is good.

So far I’ve finished one pair:

Monkey‘s with ShibuiKnits Sock in Jewel

and I’m working on another:

Charade‘s with Claudia Hand Painted Fingering in Plumilicious

I also just purchased yarn for the July pair (Koigu KPPPM in P117) and now need to find a pattern.

I’m hoping to try the following yarns: Austermann Step, Trekking Pro Natura, Socks that Rock, Smooshy, and I’d love to throw in some independent yarnies as well.

Since I’m trying all these yarns I’ll try to comment more on the yarns as I work through them so look for more year of the sock updates.

No Comments | In: gifts, knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: 2008, gifts, socks, work in progress, xmas, year of the sock. | #

Ok, really just one more. I finished my first ever socks! Woot. I finally realized that, yes “working one more stitch each row…” does mean row 1 is p5, row 2 is k6, row 3 is p7, etc. Sheesh. I guess I shouldn’t wait more than a week to cast on my second sock or else I’ll forget everything I figured out about the pattern. I also found that charting this out on graph paper was really helpful too. So socks are done and the second sock turned out GREAT, I figured out the weird toe thing from the Kitchner finish and I got the toe decreases in the right place this time. I don’t think I’ll re-do the first sock, since these were for me, and besides it’ll show my improvement as I move onward with sock knitting.

I got my buttons for Ovaltine AND I sewed them on, so Ovaltine is way done now. I have made a little progress with the trim for Ella’s blanket, but frankly I do not think that is going to get done this month. That trim is some slow ass knitting.

So I’m basically down to 3 WIP’s (ha more on the #3 later), go me. I actually did a gauge swatch for the $1.50 Cardigan last week, but it’s too small so I need to re-do with the prescribed needles. It’s odd because I automatically went down a needle size to do the swatch, but I guess the lace knitting is different. I think I’ll have to do the reverse stockinette in the smaller size though to make it work. Anyway, I’m going to try to swatch for that today.

I also started gauge swatches for 2 sock projects but had to abandon both. The first is for a pair of socks for M. I am using Cascade 220 though and my biggest sock needles are US 1 and I tried a few rows of that and it’s just too stiff. I think I only need to go up maybe 1 size though. I also tried to swatch for Jaywalkers but again my US 1′s are actually too big for this and my US 0′s are in my suitcase which I believe is in Dallas now. Perhaps I’ll get it back today.

So all this sock activity is based on my desire to be in a sock club. I really do see the appeal in socks now and would love to try a club sometime. The problem is that most clubs are closed or if they are about to reopen require payment now and I can’t do that because of my no spending rule. So I realized I had bought 3 skeins of sock yarn recently (before march!) plus I had the socks for M. to make with the gray Cascade I have, so 4 pairs of socks. So I decided to do my own sock club (I totally got this idea off of some Ravelry forum which I can’t remember now). Anyway, this weekend I picked patterns (free ones) for the yarns and printed them out and put each yarn in a bag with the pattern and put those in a little box.

M.’s is supposed to be first, but I’m trying to decide of purchasing new needles is ok on this no spending regime. I think he wants the socks asap, and I do think I can afford to buy them right now so I’m leaning toward yes it’s ok because I also know I’ll do his socks right away if I get the right needles. If I decide to hold off on his socks though I’ll have to wait until I recover my bag to start the Jaywalkers, either way it’ll probably be until at least Thursday before I seriously start either of these.

So back to those WIP’s I have. So Ella’s blanket I should be able to finish maybe in April if I have enough yarn for the trim. I’ve pretty much decided if I run of yarn to finish that’ll have to wait until after my no buying time is over. So if I run out of yarn it won’t be until June or July that I finish.

I’ve also got the Noro throw I’m working on (Cavendish) using Noro Silk Garden. That is a long term project that I have no deadline for and that I do a little at time on, so no rush there.

I also have this crocheted blanket that I just found hidden in my desk when I did a little cleaning last weekend. I should finish this and it might actually make a good Ella blanket too, but not until she’s a bit older maybe. At any rate I have to pull it out to see how much I have left to do, etc.

In other news, I’m doing a bit better than last week, but have not gotten back on track with my 365 project. Will try to start today again. I was supposed to be in Atlanta right now at a conference, but the crazy weather yesterday killed my plans so I’m in Austin waiting for my bag to return from DFW (I never made it to DFW, but the bag did).

Oh, and I’ll be adding pictures to this post later today…

No Comments | In: fever, finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: blanket, cardigan, finished object, gauge swatching, photos, ravelry, socks, travel, work in progress. | #

So I’ve been getting into podcasts a lot lately and I listened to one last night as I finished Ovaltine (DONE!) and I started thinking about how I got started knitting and it made me think that would be a good blog post, probably. I mean how could it be any worse than the normal stuff I put on here.

So I started knitting in 1998. I had quit smoking at the beginning of that year and taken up cross stitch (I know) to keep my hands busy. Then I moved from New Orleans to Missoula, MT and decided that I needed to learn how to knit. I think I was getting bored with cross stitch. So I don’t remember exactly the first think I knit, but I did teach myself using some books + the internet. I made a bunch of people knitted presents that year. I made my first sweater, for my sister, out of some crazy acrylic/mohair Lion’s Brand yarn. She actually still wears it, but recently confessed to me that she’s never been able to actually wear it since the neck opening it so tight it would choke her. She wears it preppy style instead (over the shoulders). I knit most of the time I lived in Montana, but since 1999-2001 included me busting my ass to finish my BA and working as much as possible the knitting tapered off toward my last year there.

Then I moved back to Austin for grad school. You would think grad school would sort of preclude knitting, but I found a lot of would-be librarian’s were getting into knitting so toward the end of my grad school time I started doing more and more knitting. I also discovered better yarn (because really all yarn is intrinsically good right). Then I finished school and I did pretty steady knitting and crocheting (yes I picked up crochet somewhere in there as well, also self-taught) until I got engaged last year. Then I stopped everything. I really didn’t even look at my knitting for 9 months. I never really thought about this until after the fact when I picked it all back up and realized how much I had missed it. Now I am sooooo into it it’s a little scary. Ok, not scary but M. has commented how I’m so into knitting lately, and I am. I think I finally reached the tipping point of seeing myself truely progress as a knitter + starting to understand fundamentals better + Ravelry. Now I’m unstoppable knitting machine.

It’s funny though because I went to a knit class a few weeks ago and most of the people in it were new knitters and I had forgotten how dejected a new knitter can get. It’s really hard at first and it seems like you will never improve, but I’m proof: you will improve it will get easier, it just takes time.

No Comments | In: knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: knitting, learning to knit, ovaltine, sweater. | #