So much to say! First of all, I won yarn!!! Free yarn!!! From the Briar Rose Fibers knitalong. Of course, this motivated me to start swatching for my project. I want to make a tank top - it's a laceweight fiber, so I think anything decent (you know, PG) will have to be knit on small needles. Not exactly the kind of project I was looking to start as an alternative to socks, but oh well. I swatched in the chevron scarf pattern from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" on US 3 needles. It looks nice but the shaping row is such a pain with the thin yarn and small needles. Also, I think the waviness will get lost farther from the edge and may be a waste of effort. The color repeats are too short to stripe and accent the chevron. I may just do the Lotus lace pattern (from Interweave Knits Summer 2006) that I've been planning on knitting, but with a modified top to use less yarn. I'm worried I'll run out - I only bought one hank! Granted, it's a large hank, and I'm a small person, but still.
Also wonderfully, I have finished my Clapotis! It is amazing, but it sheds over everything (50% mohair) but I don't care because it is so beautiful. And the fuzz comes off stuff easily. When I wear it as a scarf with my coat, it is incredibly warm. I love it, but not enough to knit another one. I don't think I really understand those people who knit three or four of the same shawls....there are too many other patterns to do. I guess if you like mindless knitting and know a pattern well, it makes sense because it's relatively automatic, less stressful to start, etc.
I can really appreciate that right now. I think I have some new project anxiety. I have so many projects that I want to do, but none of them are really appropriate right now. Like the Briar Rose top - I would cast on right now if I had a pattern that I liked! But I'm so picky, and really paranoid about running out of yarn. I may try to knit something top down so I can just bind off when I run out!! I came up with a really cool (but insanely difficult) pattern today for a top (on paper only of course) but it's not right for this yarn.
I should also be knitting socks for my mom. Okay, so I did wind the yarn into balls and I have ordered the needles. So I'm not avoiding it. I am excited to try socks on two circulars - hopefully it will help the knitting go faster! I think I'm discouraged because of how my Socks that Rock are going. Well, is going - just one so far. I'm almost to the heel shaping, having started toe-up, and I'm really worried about fit. Not supposed to be a problem with toe up, right? That's only if the DPNs the sock is on don't cut off your circulation when you put the sock on - another reason I'm glad to try circulars. And knitting these socks with US 0 may turn out to be a good thing, but right now it sucks sucks sucks. It's basically the Sock that Sucks. I'm switching to US 1 for the leg - might even do it on circulars too. I've got plenty of sock yarn in sock weight, but I may start buying sport weight and knitting with US 4. At least for gifts.
Hmm okay. Need to end on a good note. Did I mention I won yarn?!!?!?! And the tank top I'm going to make out of the yarn I have is going to be the best ever. Seriously.
Tuesday, February 20
Sunday, January 14
The digital camera is currently being fixed at 3/4 the price of a new camera. On a happier note, I started my next pair of socks! The Socks that Rock was calling to me, already nicely balled and sitting next to the pattern. All I had to do to get started was swatch, and I finally sat down and did so. I'm glad I did, because I decided to knit the STR on 0's (zeros!) instead of 2's (the label recommends US 2-3). My gauge is 9 stitches/inch instead of 8. This is a bit of a pain in the a..neck, but the fabric is so much nicer tightly knit. I'm following the universal toe-up sock formula from Knitty. The toe especially was a pain in the NECK but now it's done and it's smooth sailing from here to the heel. I'd like to have a heel-flap style heel, so I may switch to following the Widdershins pattern (also from Knitty) and hopefully figure something out. I don't know if I'll add any patterning detail. I'm really just enjoying watching the colors come together - the colorway is Rhode Island Red, which is red and brown and an in-between lighter orangey - really earthy and bright at the same time. I may do a fully ribbed leg, or start the seed-stitch rib pattern in Thuja (yes, that's from Knitty too). I've only knit a couple rows in the round so far, so I think I could start a pattern now and it wouldn't look too weird. Mmm socks.
I finished my Danica scarf and blocked it. I wasn't too thrilled about the colors while knitting it, but now that it's done I love it and I'm keeping it. It may be given someday, if I find someone special enough...and know that I can take it back if I have to. I also shipped off a hat to my best friend who just moved to Minnesota. Poor girl. She hates cold. I made it from Lopi Reynolds yarn in pinks. The yarn ended up making a barber-pole stripe, which I think looks pretty cool when the cuff (?) is turned up. I'll make her send me a picture when she gets it. I tested it a few times - it is SO WARM. Mmm Icelandic wool.
I think that's about it. Clapotis is still hiding half-finished in a bag inside another bag. Once the socks get going and become my portable project I'll go back to knitting the shawl. It is gorgeous and I love it, but I think it's the biggest thing I've ever knit. Yup, definitely.
I just finished listening to the latest Knitty D and the City podcast (from mid-December I think) and they did a review of their knitting in 2006. I don't know which project I like the most. I did a lot of new stuff this year - lace and beads for the vest, all the shaping that went into the vest (like armholes!), started a lace shawl, my first socks, entrelac, and of course more hats. Lots of hats. I think I'm proudest of the socks. My fave knitting experience was definitely Rhinebeck. I hope I can go again next year. :) Mmm sheep.
I finished my Danica scarf and blocked it. I wasn't too thrilled about the colors while knitting it, but now that it's done I love it and I'm keeping it. It may be given someday, if I find someone special enough...and know that I can take it back if I have to. I also shipped off a hat to my best friend who just moved to Minnesota. Poor girl. She hates cold. I made it from Lopi Reynolds yarn in pinks. The yarn ended up making a barber-pole stripe, which I think looks pretty cool when the cuff (?) is turned up. I'll make her send me a picture when she gets it. I tested it a few times - it is SO WARM. Mmm Icelandic wool.
I think that's about it. Clapotis is still hiding half-finished in a bag inside another bag. Once the socks get going and become my portable project I'll go back to knitting the shawl. It is gorgeous and I love it, but I think it's the biggest thing I've ever knit. Yup, definitely.
I just finished listening to the latest Knitty D and the City podcast (from mid-December I think) and they did a review of their knitting in 2006. I don't know which project I like the most. I did a lot of new stuff this year - lace and beads for the vest, all the shaping that went into the vest (like armholes!), started a lace shawl, my first socks, entrelac, and of course more hats. Lots of hats. I think I'm proudest of the socks. My fave knitting experience was definitely Rhinebeck. I hope I can go again next year. :) Mmm sheep.
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