May 2004 Archives

In between design deadlines and conference calls, I knit the ribbing. In between packing clothes and climbing gear, and packing the kitchen and food boxes, I started knitting the body. I like this cami already! I may have used a too-small needle for the ribbing, but I didn't have time to buy another needle. I really like mercerized cotton for the sheen and the way the colors come out so... yummy. Bright. Voluptuous (the color. Me, definitely not). Luminous. The artist boyfriend even commented on it. His current fixation in his painting is light, so he's really into how it affects colors. He likes this current project too.

We're leaving early this morning, coming back Tuesday night. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

I joined Laurin's knit-along. I've been wanting to knit the Lace Camisole from Sarah Dallas' Vintage Knits for a while; I even had the perfect yarn for it: Patons Grace in Natural. I just had to finish my other projects. Looking through the 2004 Knit-alongs List (see sidebar under "knit-alongs"), I found hers, so here I am. I'll probably take this along on the camping/climbing trip.

Knitting with bouclé... funny, I got used to it the first night, then I took the project up the following evening and it was like Hello! what's wrong with the yarn again? I finished the other side of the lambkin. And the two gussets:

And the ears and tail (look at the tail!!!):

Blocking this. Should be dry tomorrow. I want to put Laurie together before heading out Thursday for vacation (climbing and camping, of course).

I finished the raglan sweater! Yay, my first ever sweater... Here it is:

I solved the neckhole problem by keeping the right side raglan partially open and crocheting two ties. The resulting collar works out perfectly. Thanks to the boyfriend, who suggested the tie idea instead of plain old buttons. No time for pictures, I have a bad deadline I gotta make today.

I learned not to tighten the mattress stitch too much. But I learned this *after* finishing the sweater! Doh! If you look closely, the sleeves pucker at the seams. It's still wearable, though. On to the next project!

Not much productive (story below) knitting going on this weekend. Party Friday, recovery Saturday, climbing with the same Party group today at the Devil's Punch Bowl in the desert.

I started seaming the raglan sweater yesterday (after the effects of alcohol had worn off completely, lest I create crappy seams). I seamed up the raglan edges and thought, with much excitement, "Ooh, let's put it on and take a goofy poncho picture like Mr. Fluffa!"

My head. Did not. Go through. (cue boyfriend's hysterical laughter)

Maybe there was still some alcohol left in the bloodstream because I tried to insert head into sweater neckhole FIVE times. (cue hysterical laughter from boyfriend rolling on the floor)

WTF? Yes, I knit my gauge swatch. I even washed and dried the acrylic square before measuring. I followed instructions, proud of the fact that I could even understand as I read through. *sigh* So what gives?

I'm not in any mood right now to deal. That's why the climbing today (but then, we always climb on Sundays). I'm staring at the sweater and I think I'll leave one raglan partially open with buttons and crochet loops for closure. Then I'll finish sweater seamage. Then if it still doesn't fit, I'll find a petite someone with a narrow head at the climbing gym and give the sweater to them.

Have a happy Sunday! Five more days to Memorial Day!

Flush with the success of finishing a couple of projects, I looked around for another project to start on. I found Leya and Abby's Zoo-Along on the 2004 knit-along list, which I'll make a permanent link to on the sidebar. So I'm using Bernat Soft Bouclé in Natural to make Laurie Lambkin from Tessa Watts Russell's Nursery Knits, which I found at the local library. It's for my niece Hailey. Another buy at Michael's, I was going to use the yarn for a fluffy scarf (back when it was still cold) but this is a more fun project! My review of bouclé: feels yummy, a little difficult to work with! I've got broken skin, a couple of hangnails and roughened palms from climbing (my other passion) and the yarn catches on everything. But look how adorable the first side is! Oh Hailey, this sacrifice is for you!

Pattern: Coral from Rowan 31
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion Cotton in Natural

Here's the sister-in-law's present, Coral from Rowan 31, just in time for summer! It's perfect worn with a cami underneath, I think. I was tempted to try it on even though it's not my size. It hangs beautifully. Lion Brand Lion Cotton worked out well after all. I can't wait to give it to her, she thinks she's getting a beanie, he he he!

the CHP has a phone number you can call in to report naughty drivers? It's 1-800-TELL-CHP, and please, use it often! I've seen everything on California freeways: cars driving on the left shoulder (!), speeding past you on the right shoulder on an onramp, doing the grand slam (going from one lane to the very opposite), and even cars in groups hogging all lanes and driving at the same pace. If you live in California, this phone number will be your best friend: try to remember the license plate and any other info and call in. The CHP will send a nice friendly letter to the person who owns the vehicle matching the license plate and who knows, perhaps there'll be one less idiot on the road the following morning! (info from L.A. Weekly)

Knitting news: I finished two projects (one seamed, the other blocking now), which gives me license to work on two more! I'm staying with Nathania's Tank-Along, as I'm planning on knitting a tank for my mom (and tanks are instant instant gratification). I've signed up for two additional knit-alongs, more info when I've looked through the modestash.

Finally, Rowan Kidsilk Haze: almost every day I look at the 2 fluffy balls (impulse buy, mind you) and wonder what I'll make with them. At first I was going to make Breeze from Rowan 31, but I've already got some tank projects lined up... I was thinking either a lace scarf or a shawl (give me a reason to buy more!). Any ideas from anyone?

I finished the tank! I realized it's *very* white, but then again it will work with everything in my closet. This weekend I blocked and seamed it, and crocheted the straps to desired length after trying it on. I made it shorter than the pattern specs because I have a short torso, and of course I got rid of the top border fluff.

I'm learning as I go with knitting, things like m1, skpo, and k2tog. Since I already know how to knit cables, it's good to add something new to my repertoire with every piece I knit. Here's a close-up of the armhole shaping, a tip I got from Miss Skinny Rabbit on making rounded necklines, which I applied to the armholes. This is a great way of avoiding the staircase look:

I worked on the back Monday and last night before and after climbing, and I have to say I impressed myself! I'm a bit slow knitting, and stockinette stitch becomes tedious after a while. I finished the back early this morning, and later on I'll start on the front.

Gotta get back on the sister-in-law's present, as her birthday is a mere 2 weeks away! I started this last month and I try to knit a couple of rows every night. It's made from Lion Brand Lion Cotton in Natural. I thought it was going to be rough but it actually has a nice feel to it. This is as much as I can show of the front:

Lastly, the raglan sweater from Miss Bliss. I'm making this out of Caron Simply Soft in Bone. I was in Michael's buying paint and canvas with my boyfriend when I walked over to the yarn section. I like to buy yarn through feel, and this felt nice... Can't say I like all the colors, but this one was a classy cafe au lait. I've completed the back and sleeves, only the front needs to be done. I have to say, it's hard to get into the mood with this sweater since it's 85° outside:

Lastly, bought Sarah Dallas' Vintage Knits from Borders the other day. I think I have more projects down the line, starting with the Lace Camisole. Ooh, I think the mis-swatched Patons Grace would work perfectly for that! Yup, yup, yup!

Joined the Tank Time Tank-Along, my first knit-along! I tried swatching with Patons Grace, which turned out to be too fine and delicate. In my modest stash I found some Bernat Love Bug in white, and I got my gauge immediately. I'd been looking at a picture of the finished tank and decided that the white fluff trim at the top is not me. Pictured left is the 2x2 rib I decided will replace the white fluff at top and the garter stitch at bottom, and pictured right is the increase detail on the back.

On another note, there's already a Knitty Gritty out there, darn. And I just finished the design on this. Well, it's just a logo anyway. I'm migrate the contents of this weblog over to Yummy Yarn once that's set up. Maybe I'll send a mail to the original Knitty Gritty... just to say hello.

I'm tweaking the site design. Movable Type's templates are fine, but as a graphic designer I always like to redo things. Hence, although I'll be knitting in the background, I'll be working on this.

Projects on the needles: my sister-in-law's birthday present (60% complete) and a raglan funnel-neck sweater from Debbie Bliss' Knitting Workbook (75% complete). I have my eye on a couple of tank top designs, for which I'm hoping to join a couple of knit-alongs. So I'm not knitting as fast as the amazingly talented Wendy, but I'm trying!

Pattern: Toddle from Knitty
Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby in #2001 Pink

I'm a newbie knitter. I started knitting in March, inspired by a baby scarf I saw on Knitty. Before that, a friend of mine would tell me about all these things she was knitting on her needles. Pretty soon I got hooked and now I knit every chance I get. That is, when I'm not working or climbing!

I have a photolog as well, and one day I was reading some weblogs and found loobylu, and through a bunch of links, found Knitty. Which somehow led to finding all these knitters out there with their own weblogs. How cool is that? So here's mine. I hope you enjoy reading this!