k r o o m (knitting room)

Friday, February 20, 2004
hot hat love

Wednesday I visited Yarntiques and got help with sock number two. I picked up stitches in the side, to form the gusset maybe? I'm so clueless, and I hope that doing this sock will, at some point, make me more knowledgeable about what I'm doing exactly. Just need to knit on that sock a few more inches in time for my last sock class tomorrow afternoon. But, while I was there, I picked up another ball of Berroco Pronto yarn in a bright kelly green. Maybe I'll make another hat. They knit up so quickly, they're contagious. I think I could be happy knitting only hats for the rest of my life.

I bought more BSLP super bulky yarn in black to finish up Kellie's scarf. Then, I had more than enough left over, so I made her a hat, too. I had a small amount of red yarn, so I cast on with it. Had to cast on several times because I had such a limited amount of yarn that I couldn't figure out the best place to start my slipknot. After about seven or eight attempts, it finally worked out. So the hat has a red edge on the bottom, and the rest is black. I tried it on my head once or twice, and I like how it fits. I sort of went by the pattern in Rowan's Next Big Thing; can't remember its name, but it was a guy's hat, a ribbed pattern. I just used the cast on information and row info, too. I did mine in seed stitch, to match the scarf. I took photos, but alas, don't have my memory stick adaptor handy to upload them now.

Monday, February 16, 2004
scarves, hats & socks-- oh my!

This weekend was a knitting frenzy. I've finished up as much of my second sock as possible. That is, I turned the heel, but have issues with the gusset, and there's something funky that I have to do with the needles that I can't quite recall.

Then I worked on a scarf for Kellie. I wanted to give her one for Christmas, but I didn't have time, so this one was a V Day gift. Only, I ran out of yarn before finishing it, I was just four or five inches away from it being done. So, I'll have to buy more of that. Since I didn't get to finish the scarf, I decided to start on a hat for Bergen. I'm using Berroco Pronto yarn in a luscious tomato color. But, I didn't knit a round between each decrease, so I'm afraid the hat is too small. So, Perrin could wear it, but I'm not satisfied with it. The yarn is lovely, a cotton acrylic blend that it very stiff. No stretch whatsoever, and so where I didn't have my yarn tight enough, there are gaps. I'm not I like them, or if that's normal. Anyway, I'm thinking about ripping it all out and doing it over. I whipped it out in under two hours, I think. The time seemed to fly by. I was lounging on the sofa, Ian was working his jigsaw puzzle, and we were both soaking in the fire.

And, here are photos of the BBB, which I'm very slack about. I can't seem to get excited about finishing it up. It's my loser project. One of many, so it seems. I have other updating to do to my pages, mainly just putting up photos, but it seems that that will have to wait as well. The ceiling is leaking in the den, and I'm sure to have a date with the plumber.

Thursday, February 12, 2004
new interweave knits

The new Interweave Knits arrived in the mail yesterday. I was tickled pink, you see. The cover sweater was darling and pink. But, I'm not sure I would go with that color, nor could I whip up something that complex, as I'm somewhere between beginner and intermediate in my knitting skills. It's snowing today, a perfect day to be inside knitting, but I have to be at work, drat! I saw several lovely projects within the magazines pages, but the patterns looked so complicated.

Wednesday, February 11, 2004
no knit time

I haven't had any time at all to work on any of my projects, though I did get Vintage Knits in the mail yesterday and I'm so eager to try out some of those patterns. Maybe I could handle the Silk ribbed camisole, although knitting anything on size 2 needles makes me cringe. And cramp. That's right, my left hand starts cramping from how I hold the needle. That's what I'm knitting socks on now, and aren't they a pain!? Actually, after much ripping along, I finally turned the heel on sock number one and I desperately need to finish up some knitting on it and begin the second one. Anyway, I am truly a knitting slacker. Just too much else to do, that's all. And I've been sick with various ailments, too. I'm not one who can knit when sick. I spend my time asleep.

Friday, February 6, 2004
blanket bonzo fizzles

I was so relieved when I finished up the last swatches for the Bliss Baby Blanket. But, when I compares those pieces with the others, I realized they were too small. I thought maybe my tension was really tight, but no. I had forgotten to knit 24 rows and only did 20 on all 9 of those pieces! Yikes. So I knitted up 9 new pieces; thankfully I had just enough yarn left in that color to do so. And I've sewn together two strips of the blanket. The colors turned out better than I hoped, but the problem with my variety of tensions is so evident. And, I sewed the second strip up incorrectly, so I'll have to take all that out and try again. I took photos, and meant to upload them, but I've been sick almost all week and haven't had the energy for anything, really.

Monday, February 2, 2004
a new month calls for new yarn

Finished the hat for Ian on Saturday. It was too long on me so I assumed that it would be the same on him. I looked like that character from Fat Albert, whose name I can't think of, the one with the pink stocking cap pulled low over his head. After Ian tried it and it had that same effect, I rolled the brim and tacked it. Will take/post photos of it later. New skill added: decreasing with dpns!

Am working on the Alfie bag that I received with my Rowan membership last year. I just keep going on and on.... but, I finally started the Alfie bag. I lost the pattern but went into Rowan's forums and compiled a massive list of email addresses from people who also lost the pattern. Then I emailed them, asking them to send me the pattern if they ever received it. And, several did. I am still so grateful to them. So this year, when I renew the Rowan thing, I'll be sure to keep the pillow pattern handy.

Started the first of the last batch of swatches for the Bliss baby blanket. And, started Marie's scarf, which I've ripped out three times now. No doubt I'll have several complaints to share about that.

Visited a yarn store yesterday that I had never been to before, Yarn Paradise. I bought Rowan's Next big thing and Jo Sharp's Village (book six) . And, YP had a copy of Unexpected Knitting, which I browsed. And still want. The store was paradise. The yarns were gorgeous, expensive, soft, etc. Their book/pattern selection was above average, and their tools were the nicest sort as well. Three other Rowan pattern books that I crave but didn't find there are: Linen print collection, cotton braid, and calmer. Everything you want from yarn and more. The store was really loud though, and there was one work area that I assumed is where they hold classes. While reading about their classes at the register, I noticed that their policy is that you must buy yarns for classes from them. I'm so not down with that. And their one-day classes were pricey, too. Luckily I live an hour away from the store, and won't be taking any of them.

Finally broke down and bought Stitch' n bitch. I've browsed the book several times and never thought it would be very useful, but then I looked at it again Saturday afternoon and decided that I should have it.

Oops, I'm off on a lunch date to the cafeteria with my hungry hubby. I don't' really talk like that, normally. It's all for effect.

And here's a lovely photo of SJP knitting. Did she knit her hat? Almost forgot to mention reading a knitting article in Country Home. “A Tight-Knit Affair” (March 2004 issue of Country Home, page 136) was basically a write up about inviting your friends over for a knitting bee. It included recipes for the shin-dig, and apparently they're selling kits, as well.

Lots of people are making the French Market Bag, so why can't I? Because I don't think I'm good enough to do so, yet. And what yarn would I choose? Decisions like those are what stymies my knitting!