Knitting, sewing, cross stitching, my life in general.





Preemie Project Volunteers
Previous | Next

Join | List Previous | Next Random

< - £ Stitching Bloggers & + >


Previous | Next

Previous Next

Momma to a Boy Previous | Next |

2006 ABC-Along Previous | Next |

California Knit Bloggers
Previous| Join | Next

 
Finish 1 project, start 2 more.

Hmmm, I don't think that's the way to reduce the number of projects. What can I say--I'm hopeless. Yesterday I started a new baby sweater. I couldn't help it. I saw my friend Karen's adorable sweater here and just had to ask her for the pattern. And I just happened to really want to knit a top-down seamless sweater after sewing together all those tiny pieces on the sock yarn sweater. And I just happened to have some Provence in my stash in my favorite yellow color (given to me by Karen, incidentally). So yes, I started it. I also started a little infant hat in some red heart, but that should be done in no time.


posted by Stephanie at 9:18 AM

 
One down, 24 to go.



This is the Trekking sock yarn baby sweater. The pattern is from Simple Knits for Cherished Babies. I still need to wash it and thread a cute little ribbon through the eyelets in the neckline, but I call it an FO.

I started on the second leg of the leggings, but I'm also thinking that I'd like to work on the Dale baby chicken sweater. Or maybe I just need a nap. I took my mom to the airport at 5am this morning. Anyway, I start my new job on Monday so I'm going to relax for the next several days. Knit and watch stupid daytime tv.
posted by Stephanie at 1:50 PM

 
I ended up ripping about four rows on the camisole. I missed a YO and that threw the whole pattern off. I think it's ok to go ahead now, but I put it away cuz it was irritating. It's not fun to pick up 211 stitches with very splitty yarn. Meh.

I did do some housecleaning of my ufo/wip basket. I frogged 2 more things and found a few others so the total is still at *cough* 25. My mom finds this hillarious and says I inherited this trait from her (although she did already finish the back of her vest and then started on one of the fronts). I think it would be nice to finish a thing or two before I go back to work, so I picked baby items (which should go quickly. They're small, no?) Right now I'm working on the little short sleeved baby sweater using some sock yarn in a rainbow multi. The back and sleeves were done so I just need to knit the front and do the finishing. Then on to the yellow cotton baby leggings (50% done).
posted by Stephanie at 3:03 PM

 
Man, am I tired. No, it's not from too much partying with my mom. heh. My Dr. gave me a new allergy medicine this week since Claritin D doesn't work for me anymore. The good news is that the new one seems to work well; the bad news is that it seems to make me tired (even though it's 'non-drowsy', naturally). So today we didn't do much other than get lunch and hit one more yarn store (The Needlecraft Cottage in Pacific Beach). Mom admired the Eros while I bought three balls of Plymouth Encore in 3 shades of brown. These are for 'man slipper socks' for Christmas presents.

Mom is cruising along on her vest and is already looking through my knitting magazines for her next project. Hee. I've been cruising along on the camisole, until just now when I made a mistake and I'm too tired to find it. Don't you hate that?
posted by Stephanie at 6:00 PM

 
Just a quick update since my mom is here.

Yesterday we went to three yarn stores (Knitting in La Jolla, The Black Sheep, and Common Threads). It was fun, but all I came home with was a single pattern (K1C2 enchanted lace jacket) and a ball of Opal. My mom bought a pair of needles cuz I gave her that Lion Brand Imagine and the simple vest pattern that I was originally going to make for her.

She's casting on right now ;) I started a pair of socks for my mom using yellow fixation and the broadripple socks in Knitty. They are fun to make and the pattern is easy enought that even I can memorize it. I finished the first regia ringel sock that I started at the retreat--they are going to be a xmas gift for my sister's SO so they are a whoppin' men's size 12.

My mom loves her new robe, and was impressed that it even has pockets. I went to a bead store and found some adorable silver knitting charms so I made them into earrings. Are they adorable or what??


posted by Stephanie at 9:33 AM

 
Yay!

My mom arrives this afternoon. We're going to relax and tonight I will make dinner. Ooh, and I get to give her the new robe I sewed for her. I think tomorrow we may have to go yarn shopping--I haven't been to the 2 stores in Encinitas in ages.

I'm continuing on my luminous lace camisole because I like it. Cotton twist (cotton & rayon, I believe) is not fun to knit with (very splitty), but I think the finished product will be worth it.
posted by Stephanie at 7:41 AM

 
I went through all of my ufos this weekend. Even after frogging several last week, I still have over 20. Oops. I'm thinking maybe I should try to finish up a few of these before I start my new job. Naturally, I can't decide which...plus I still want to work on my Creatures of the Reef Shawl. I did a few rows on a yellow Kroy lace sock that I started last summer. Then I did several rows on Joan M-M's luminous lace camisole in orange-y Cotton Twist (also started last summer). I'm really liking that one but um, will I ever wear it? Can I put on a cotton cami under it and wear it in public?
posted by Stephanie at 8:56 AM

 
Yarn shopping to celebrate my new job!

I am so bad. I haven't really been able to buy yarn for so many months (well, ok, I cheated with a bit of sock yarn recently, but still) so I'm going a little crazy.

First, I bought Rowan 4-ply cotton to make this beauty



it's lacy by Kaffe Fassett. I know I'm crazy to do a Fassett in cotton, but I've always wanted to do one of his designs. And I might as well do one that I really like and that I will wear often (cotton, Southern California). I'm so excited.

I also ordered the latest Rowan mag and a shawl pattern (Violets by the River) from Blackberry Ridge. Oh, did I forget to mention that I got some beautiful hand-painted laceweight cotton from ebay (Mystical Creations Yarns) that is in shades of lavenders?

Finally, there's a short-sleeved lacy Joan M-M sweater in an issue of Cast-On from last year that I want to make. It's in Heirloom 8 ply cotton, which is normally about $5/ ball. But, I got some in pink on clearance from ozeyarns for about half that. Whooo! And while I was paying international shipping, I threw in 2 balls of breeze cotton sock yarn (in mint) for good measure.
posted by Stephanie at 8:57 AM

 
Lots of news today.

First, I finally got a job offer! It's from Neurocrine Biosciences, where I interviewed on Wednesday. It's just a temp job to start out with, but it's full time and it's a really good company. It definitely could turn into a permanent job and there's lots of chances for upward mobility, etc. Phew, that's a load off my mind! I start on Monday, April 5th.

Second, I hung out with Kristin last night and it was really fun. I picked up some yummy Thai food, picked her up at the airport, and we knit the evening away. Ahhh, the life.

Third, my kind friend Deb went to her LYS sale room and picked up some clearance Classic Elite Imagine for me. I'm planning to make the lace tank top from the new Knitter's.
posted by Stephanie at 7:56 AM

 


Finally, a photo of the CTH blueberry hill socks. So nice and soft & squooshy. I think I must wear them to work today. Now to find an outfit to match them. heh.

I did a couple more rows on the shawl last night and ran a saftey line. I'm so proud of myself. It takes forever with so many stitches, but it's totally worth it.

Yay! Tonight my cute friend Kristin is coming to town and we're going to knit the evening away in her hotel room. I think I'll be smart & bring socks this time.
posted by Stephanie at 8:42 AM

 
Since I had to do all that ripping on my shawl on Monday, I was inspired to go through my ufos and frog. I ripped out the sleeve of the must-have, a baby blanket that was barely started, and the orange aran cardigan from cheap eBay wool, the peace shawl, and a sock. Somehow I feel much better going into spring with about 15 ufos instead of 20. heh.

Yesterday I did 4 rows on the COTR. I think I might put in another safety line before moving ahead!!

p.s. Happy St. Patrick's day. Are you doing anything fun? I get to go on a job interview, go to work, and come home and make dinner. Maybe I will buy something green for lunch from the work cafeteria.
posted by Stephanie at 7:26 AM

 
Ok. The retreat. It was soooo much fun. Imagine 12 knitters in a beautiful cabin in the mountains of northern Califonia. All we did was knit, eat, drink, knit, sleep, eat, knit. Oh, and a few people used the hot tub. The scenery was beautiful, the weather was perfect, the company was beyond compare. Sunday night my throat hurt from laughing so much.



As far as knitting goes--I did manage to finally finish my CTH blueberry hill socks and start a new pair of stripey Regias. I brought my COTR shawl along, which of course was stupid. I ran a safety line as soon as I got there and proceeded to make really good progress. Naturally, I woke up Saturday morning and tried to knit while I was still half-asleep and made some stupid mistakes. Yesterday I ended up ripping right back to the safety line. Oh well.


posted by Stephanie at 4:16 PM

 
I'm back from the knitting retreat! It was so incredibly fun. More details later.
posted by Stephanie at 11:06 AM

 
Seashells and bubbles



Now to run another safety line and then start the crabs and seahorses. I'm planning to bring this along to the retreat even though I probably won't work on it much. I'm sure I can't socialize and knit lace at the same time. So I will also bring my blueberry hill socks and maybe another skein of sock yarn. I'm so excited!!
posted by Stephanie at 9:57 AM

 
I'm almost done with the first section of bubbles. Then I get to start the crabs & seahorses! Of course, there have been a few little mistakes along the way, but I think everything is ok now. I'm wondering--does everyone make as many mistakes in lace as I do? Will I make fewer mistakes as I get more experienced or should I also only work on lace when I'm wide awake and there are no outside distractions? I'm also wondering if I'm the only one who just decides to leave some mistakes rather than trying to fix them? And I'm wondering how obvious said mistakes will be once I finish and block out the shawl? Oh well, it's all a learning process.

I really wish I could stay home today and knit and think about my great knitting retreat this weekend (I leave tomorrow)! But alas, I must drag myself into work where I'm (way) underpaid and underappreciated. Ciao!
posted by Stephanie at 9:27 AM

 
Ta da! We have seashells



Last night I finished the seashell edging on the COTR. The last row has this really weird thing where you purl thirteen together. That's how you get the cool pulled together seashell shape. I'm off to run a safety line and start on some bubbles!
posted by Stephanie at 3:54 PM

 
I knit a few more rows on the shawl yesterday. I went to bed irritated cuz I found a little mistake but I wasn't able to fix it. Do any of you have any tips on how to fix mistakes in lace? Like, I can drop down and fix a knit or a purl or a cable, but a lace pattern is a bit trickier. Like in this case I appear to have missed a K1 & P1 into a YO (I think I just did the K1). In any case, I think that this is an error I can live with and it shouldn't be very noticeable. Can you tell that I'm not a perfectionist? ;)

The sewing continues. Here's a simple fleece top, but I really love the fabric.



and, brace, yourself:



panties!!! They were truly easy and fun and took no time at all. Check out this great online tutorial if you're interested.
posted by Stephanie at 12:49 PM

 


I started a new knitting project and I must say that I am quite excited about it. This is the Creatures of the Reef Shawl from Fiddlesticks Knitting. I bought the pattern quite some time ago along with some teal Jaggerspun Zephyr. My sister will be getting her masters degree in Oceanography in a few months so I figured this would be the perfect gift! I cast on Friday--all 437 stitches--and I've only done about 4 rows. That's a lot of stitches! But, you start at the bottom so the good news is that you only reduce stitches from here. So far I would say that it's a very well-written pattern and it even comes with nice large charts.
posted by Stephanie at 9:54 AM

 
Knitting: Ok, so I did start the Dale chicken sweater. I went with a sleeve since I don't have the right length of US 0 circular to start the body. I'm using US 0 dpns to do the sleeve in the round, and then I will switch to US 2 dpns after the ribbing. This is going to be so cute!

Sewing: The panties were a success! I made a pattern by cutting up a pair of well-fitting underwear. Actually, I went to JoAnns yesterday on my lunch break and found some more spandex fabric on clearance and I started on 2 more pairs!

I promise I will post some photos of various projects this weekend.
posted by Stephanie at 8:31 AM

 
Check out this free slip stitch hat pattern. Nice!
posted by Stephanie at 8:10 AM

 
Whew. Today's big job interview was exhausting, but I think it went well. Now to cross my fingers and wait.

I actually picked up my CTH sock last night and knit a few rows and then started the heel. That was the extent of it. Today I received my fabulous new Dale baby book (so many cute things) and the yarn to make the chicken sweater (not penguin). I'm very tempted to cast on immediatley, as usual. In sewing news, I've been reading some sewing blogs and they have given me this crazy idea that I just need to sew myself some underwear. I know it sounds odd, but they are apparently pretty easy and cheap and of course you can use all kinds of cool colors and prints and most importantly--get the perfect fit. Don't worry, I will not be modeling the finished products on this blog.
posted by Stephanie at 7:00 PM

 
I was supposed to have another interview this afternoon, but it gost postponed. Probably Thursday, he said. It's just an informal first interview for a small start-up biotech company. I had a long day at work today, especially since I've missed several days while I was sick. Somehow my boss thinks I can work on four different projects in only 20 hours a week. Uh, yeah right.

Still no knitting. I think it's been about a week now! I did some sewing yesterday and finished my goofy easter print shirt. I will post some pictures as soon as I get the new hard drive communicating with my camera again.

Did I mention that I'm going to a super-fabu knitting retreat next weekend??! I cannot wait. More details later.
posted by Stephanie at 5:44 PM

 
Ugh. This stupid cold is lingering and it's driving me crazy. I need it to go away so I can concentrate on my upcoming interview! I feel like I'm studying for an exam or something. I just want to be prepared for the odd technical question they may ask me (my memory is poor, so if it's not chemistry I've done recently, I've probably forgotten it).

I still haven't felt like knitting, but naturally that doesn't stop my from buying yarn. I bought the new Dale baby book (139) and the yarn to make this sweater. I picked a different colorway, though--lime green instead of tan and white instead off-white.


What color of sock yarn do you prefer?
brought to you by Quizilla

posted by Stephanie at 12:46 PM