tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9734857020332237832024-03-13T01:36:37.756-04:00CompileYarn()CompileYarn()http://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864542289654960noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-5634967289380220762018-10-18T22:12:00.000-04:002018-10-18T22:12:10.421-04:00Frogs EverywhereI think I've done more frogging than knitting the past couple of weeks. <br />
<br />
I can't say much because at least I'm now working on yarn crafting projects again. Between the month of sewing I had to do this summer and some other miscellaneous stuff going on, I didn't really get back in the yarn crafting gear until the fall hit.<br />
<br />
Sure, I did finish a pair of socks for my husband (finally, and without losing one this time!):<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBoxlg5QZDecdABhLYzyrKCPW961bHjLxPjPcSt6YMswAHvHCapvJ9YdDTxqwnA_KQHu7o8PQ8UE5QJQ_a1hnuFeQwqxCOZAc1BccOVEO4se8LmEUlT0NsX_ixzYgKD-gddBe3UqiDY/s1600/IMG_20181007_164145243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBoxlg5QZDecdABhLYzyrKCPW961bHjLxPjPcSt6YMswAHvHCapvJ9YdDTxqwnA_KQHu7o8PQ8UE5QJQ_a1hnuFeQwqxCOZAc1BccOVEO4se8LmEUlT0NsX_ixzYgKD-gddBe3UqiDY/s400/IMG_20181007_164145243.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But the rest of the time since went like this:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Finish up the custom baby dress and write up the pattern (which, being a on the fly pattern, mostly involves trying to figure out how the heck you wrote down what you wrote when making the darn thing). </li>
<li>Finally start an adult sweater to replace the one I been wearing so long I've had to darn both sleeves at the elbow (anyone remember when the work sweater was completed? It's been awhile; I can't say I'm surprised).</li>
<li>Realize that I could get a sweater done for NYS Sheep and Wool if I pick up the one I was designing and knitting two years ago and un-screw up the neckline idea. </li>
<li>Get past the neckline, do another trim, then decide on another neckline trim to better match the other trim, redo the neckline.</li>
<li>Finally get to the sleeves, so I do the math for the sleeves, try to work the sleeves, realize sleeve doesn't fit, rip sleeve out, adjust and restart sleeve. Now sleeve is too big on cap but tight elsewhere, rip sleeve out, get peeved at sweater when as I'm not going to finish it in time for Sheep and Wool and have no clue how to actually mathematically calculate an afterthought sleeve. I then banned sweater to the time-out corner for a couple of days. </li>
<li>Decide that due to all the other crap that I should start a nice seed stitch cowl out of some soft yarn bought two years ago. Then I realized that the yarn is too thin to work for a good seed stitch cowl, so I surf patterns, don't like any of the patterns, get idea, try idea, rip idea out, try another idea, rip idea out, chart third idea, start idea, rip idea out, adjust chart, start idea, rip idea out, repeat two more times. I finally get an idea I'm mostly happy with off ground, but at this point I've created a time-consuming pattern for what was supposed to be an easy cowl. I resisted the urge to go find more yarn in the stash to do that seed stitch cowl. Work on not-easy cowl on the subway for some reason.</li>
<li>Go back to sweater, figure out a way to recalculate the stupid sleeves, start sleeve again, get half way done, realize it's still screwed up, rip it out. I then realize I was using the stitch gauge instead of the row gauge to calculate everything for the sleeve, not that my method didn't work. Recalculate using correct gauge and start sleeve again.</li>
<li>Decide to also work on getting baby dress pattern tech edited, tech editor finds first row has one stitch off of cast on, realize the one stitch off is because all the other calculations are screwed up and spend all night trying to figure out how the heck I managed to knit the thing in the first place.</li>
<li>Then decided that I should write this blog post instead of working on sleeve or anything else I decided to design or start at the same time.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I mean, it's probably a good thing that I've gotten my design groove back. I'm looking forward to getting something out there given the time it's been since I've had actual time and inspiration to devote to this. But why do I have to make it so hard on myself when I could just simply work on something already written or easy without struggling through all the frogs? Then again, I write software as a day job. It all involves sitting there and beating your head against the wall wondering why on earth you're doing this when what you did isn't working for the 5th time...until you figure it out, get something done, and feel accomplished and confident. Then you're more than willing dive right back into another wall because it won't be as crazy this time...right?<br />
<br />
And if I have to frog that cowl or the sleeves one more time, the yarn is shot and I won't know what to do with myself. Probably ban it back to the timeout corner.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-16274654053524388632018-06-10T22:42:00.004-04:002018-06-10T22:47:22.260-04:00Follow Instructions? Never!So it turns out that I fail at following knitting instructions. Despite the fact that I wrote said knitting instructions. Why, yes, I may have had to just rip out a whole weekend's worth of work because I forgot to increase in one location.<br />
<br />
Since this is a pattern I am eventually planning to write up and most likely sell, I won't show you much, but here's a teaser (after I ripped out most of it):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyPA3Tt3EZObNK-Qx_fCCvy_kOIAlzIuATrU4Uq9dtftH17E4kX8F6msAvgt1zDBHZqLH4hgqmXvwBgBOqkQDPHnQEttEMnSjryIrDisoW7EDmjQzXmcrLF3Y63SZ71P0s3axytYa2IM/s1600/IMG_20180610_214919831%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyPA3Tt3EZObNK-Qx_fCCvy_kOIAlzIuATrU4Uq9dtftH17E4kX8F6msAvgt1zDBHZqLH4hgqmXvwBgBOqkQDPHnQEttEMnSjryIrDisoW7EDmjQzXmcrLF3Y63SZ71P0s3axytYa2IM/s400/IMG_20180610_214919831%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What makes this even more...well, I guess what makes it make more sense is that this is the second reproduction of this pattern. Story goes like this:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>My sister is having (now has) another kid. It's going to be another girl. Yay, make all the things with the yarn I got on the NYC Yarn Crawl because I got suspicious and so bought baby-appropriate yarn.</li>
<li>Start a blanket with yarn I had from last baby making spree, pick all the patterns out for all the yarn I can think of.</li>
<li>Promptly get nothing done because get assigned insane work project in the middle of capstone project for grad school.</li>
<li>Hit winter break, go on vacation to Iceland (was awesome), get one sweater done for baby over vacation.</li>
<li>Realize that all the yarn I bought is wool and baby is due in spring.</li>
<li>Find out WEBS is having a sale.</li>
<li>Find out nice colored cotton yarn is on sale as well.</li>
<li>I can do matching dresses in two different colors of this yarn for both my nieces, right?</li>
<li>Realize I don't like any of the patterns again for the style of dress I like to give kids.</li>
<li>Make up the pattern by coming up with the start, getting half way through the top, deciding I don't like my plan, futzing around until it works out, quickly scrap write it down with calculations, and continue knitting body of dress.</li>
<li>Start grad school again. Tons of schoolwork this semester again. Get to work all the hours again because nor'easters. Knitting? What's that?</li>
<li>Realize baby is due in a week.</li>
<li>Quickly finish up dress, writing rest down on paper.</li>
<li>Baby born, yay! Realize I am not going to see baby until I'm out of school, damnit.</li>
<li>Finish grad school. Get to work two nights right after. Somehow finish baby blanket same time.</li>
<li>Get to see sister and nieces. Give the sad pile of stuff I actually got done to sister. I tell her 'I'm going to make this dress for the other niece', and she goes 'the dress you made her before still fits. It actually fits both of them.' I think 'going to do it anyway; need to test pattern'.</li>
<li>Clean up notes made before, print them out, and start second dress.</li>
<li>Don't actually read notes carefully because I think 'ah, I see what I did here' and forget to do one increase, which screws up the whole pattern.</li>
</ol>
<br />
And here we are. Back to almost the beginning because I missed one last increase needed for the pattern to work.<br />
<br />
Oh well. At least I have time to knit again.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">So this was just the last year's worth of crap going on that lead me to end up abandoning the blog for...two years, yikes!. Grad school is completely done, work is ok at the moment, and everything else is not where I thought I would be when life went crazy, but it's now stable, so I should be getting back into the swing of things now. There's a lot of catching up to do so I may not get there right away, but I'll try to start blogging my mishaps and future projects again. There should be a number of those shortly.</span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-15243108351643165962016-09-05T17:34:00.001-04:002016-09-05T17:34:22.760-04:00Overlapping Stripes Baby HatTo get the actual pattern (pdf), please <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/compile-yarn-designs/351964?filename=OverlappingStripesBabyHat.pdf">click here to download it from Ravelry</a><br />
<center>
<h2 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Overlapping Stripes Baby Hat</h2>
</center>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTpIDUQF4WKVlVeYgxqvaTcw-0OxzRWJCJxf7gXmfN7F_a57ddkVC6uw1_aKSkzkgF1BUhqRs2F1warulZZ783duPZqefy-BOpBmrDGOCzN_l_4sPGKoteJtG2_nqpS-N1wFR6afIo4w/s1600/OverlappingStripesHatOnGrumpyCat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTpIDUQF4WKVlVeYgxqvaTcw-0OxzRWJCJxf7gXmfN7F_a57ddkVC6uw1_aKSkzkgF1BUhqRs2F1warulZZ783duPZqefy-BOpBmrDGOCzN_l_4sPGKoteJtG2_nqpS-N1wFR6afIo4w/s320/OverlappingStripesHatOnGrumpyCat.jpg" width="184" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOHCbH51-5f4cUcjb3DJ4_G7Aj1xqrDDK2eZ1F7_AKBTyiR90UeXXAwRy6h1V9xetlPL-b9NfyTV6kUANd0OYmCijfwP2ILZ8dE696TL-3FhVQKVlwW3UnAEsCHQLyX_CW5bb84X62Yg/s1600/OverlappingStripesBabyHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOHCbH51-5f4cUcjb3DJ4_G7Aj1xqrDDK2eZ1F7_AKBTyiR90UeXXAwRy6h1V9xetlPL-b9NfyTV6kUANd0OYmCijfwP2ILZ8dE696TL-3FhVQKVlwW3UnAEsCHQLyX_CW5bb84X62Yg/s320/OverlappingStripesBabyHat.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
A simple striped baby beanie with a slight twist.<br />
<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Craft Type</h3>
Knitting<br />
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<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Skills</h3>
Knitting and purling, decreasing, switching colors<br />
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<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Sizing</h3>
12.5 in (31.8 cm) around unstreached at brim, 5.5 in (14 cm) tall<br />
Fits head sizes between 12 – 16 in (30.5 – 40.6 cm) around<br />
<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Gauge</h3>
24 stitches and 41 rows per 4 in (10 cm) in stockinette stitch<br />
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<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yarn and Yardage</span></h3>
Color A: 1 skein of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (Sport, 137 yards per skein) in Citrus<br />
Color B: 1 skein of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino (Sport, 137 yards per skein) in Duck.<br />
Or two different colors, about 35 yards each, of a comparable yarn.<br />
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<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Needles and Hooks</h3>
US 2.5 (3.0 mm) 40 in. circular needle or DPNs<br />
<br />
Happy knitting!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-27448864263458013052016-07-11T21:52:00.001-04:002016-07-11T21:52:41.662-04:00My Life is Baby ProjectsJeez, where do I start? Well, I guess that one of the reasons I haven't posted any of my projects in half a year is that my life is currently baby patterns, and for awhile I couldn't even talk about it.<br />
<br />
I was merrily carrying along up to the end of last year working on things like the sweater pattern I swore I'd create and the sky shawl when one of my sisters announced she was pregnant. In my family's house, that goes quickly from 'yay!' to 'oh, shit now I need to buy yarn and make stuff!'<br />
<br />
Well, maybe that was just me. But other members of my family are also making stuff.<br />
<br />
Anyway, so for the past 6-8 months or so, almost all of my projects have been baby stuff. I made this sweater:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Hx2qMX0e_HpgusF02lmlRRHaiuosiaxKtX6hTjHEfc8UOTgNt61vk24ZoRs8Vc2NOFvuCnTYRzfAqxyUBJJ4uL4h8Yt9VAI6xIDGD22K1hejikTb0AmqF_e1cHnBS5VgKoWUjcO3rfg/s1600/ColorfulBabySweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Hx2qMX0e_HpgusF02lmlRRHaiuosiaxKtX6hTjHEfc8UOTgNt61vk24ZoRs8Vc2NOFvuCnTYRzfAqxyUBJJ4uL4h8Yt9VAI6xIDGD22K1hejikTb0AmqF_e1cHnBS5VgKoWUjcO3rfg/s320/ColorfulBabySweater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have to credit the woman who works at the button section of the notions store I go to. I'll be looking at something that would work, and then she'll come up with completely different buttons that work perfectly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and a matching hat and booties:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAScJqM-NQf8HktH0xYYq36vX0b6wWUN3_D7sUCusX-DjlyQDnP_8maoc0aPqlD85FVrIJz1MS1C8kAvRYJNK-xhMh9PISgB-7OwFzZ2C9Kc0MPNcNcV4SF0xKzn3dyoaetrQQJu6IeLs/s1600/ColorfulBabyBooties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAScJqM-NQf8HktH0xYYq36vX0b6wWUN3_D7sUCusX-DjlyQDnP_8maoc0aPqlD85FVrIJz1MS1C8kAvRYJNK-xhMh9PISgB-7OwFzZ2C9Kc0MPNcNcV4SF0xKzn3dyoaetrQQJu6IeLs/s320/ColorfulBabyBooties.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSe12xarmhli2t1K8q6oLp0xMEekLuLC8Zxk9l7ogHoCpGCmb9qTS0wr_laVEPMyPiPkc-BRX1oSajRWY-02ewkHBvh5lSvvOz8wvacEZLPlaSjInVCg2DzFWXny5djFFcT_v4S_HhE/s1600/ColorfulBabyHat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJSe12xarmhli2t1K8q6oLp0xMEekLuLC8Zxk9l7ogHoCpGCmb9qTS0wr_laVEPMyPiPkc-BRX1oSajRWY-02ewkHBvh5lSvvOz8wvacEZLPlaSjInVCg2DzFWXny5djFFcT_v4S_HhE/s320/ColorfulBabyHat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and then started this blanket (haven't finished it yet, though):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyy2p-uZyKgWNFJs5JBIvzGglzUl4taxeczl0xl4gJk35J1O_RwUyU4Q4YdjwS9L89T50RwiH5JXmYbtXCpcSdhDKxeXnNhDY5R2voZAH-pINQJWtUnvCrkMFi-tqfwLuSQfN87uw5g/s1600/IMAG1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyy2p-uZyKgWNFJs5JBIvzGglzUl4taxeczl0xl4gJk35J1O_RwUyU4Q4YdjwS9L89T50RwiH5JXmYbtXCpcSdhDKxeXnNhDY5R2voZAH-pINQJWtUnvCrkMFi-tqfwLuSQfN87uw5g/s400/IMAG1920.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
and then got this out of the way:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgxw4Ps5-4HcfXhyphenhyphenrMPWQafJAePDqmKythvZ8kpOML_C7FvgbvkyqSL5U6VGRYqtHevAEmOgFeZ6XvfoXtmQI7D5zyPlFVZ9DoMsg9j9ay-8sSb9IWUKcKIKqjJNF7kvlIut5RiFj6ow/s1600/WatermelonBabyDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgxw4Ps5-4HcfXhyphenhyphenrMPWQafJAePDqmKythvZ8kpOML_C7FvgbvkyqSL5U6VGRYqtHevAEmOgFeZ6XvfoXtmQI7D5zyPlFVZ9DoMsg9j9ay-8sSb9IWUKcKIKqjJNF7kvlIut5RiFj6ow/s320/WatermelonBabyDress.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<br />
and then started another, cooler weather sweater, for which I have no picture yet.<br />
<br />
We're not going to talk about the amount of yarn I bought for this (more than I've used, certainly). I always get into this 'I can make all the things!' mode when it comes to special things like having an excuse to make really nice baby items (since this is my niece). However, it turns out that, no, when you work full time and go to school part time and have to do things like keep up with an apartment and get distracted by my fiance and my attention-whore of a cat:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdVwBmEhjTHG_iy6F8euySae0w63nbGFkL_ilFUJ_Bnji-rMuKogq-CiEJqrowG0V7uUV33NElsW7NiqZE7xpjqG7DkiwR5C0uPAOinvZcDP5urKZ604UYVKGorXtI8aVXJ2pNPs3zvo/s1600/CatOnWatermelonDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdVwBmEhjTHG_iy6F8euySae0w63nbGFkL_ilFUJ_Bnji-rMuKogq-CiEJqrowG0V7uUV33NElsW7NiqZE7xpjqG7DkiwR5C0uPAOinvZcDP5urKZ604UYVKGorXtI8aVXJ2pNPs3zvo/s320/CatOnWatermelonDress.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who then proceeded to attack the sweater. He's already claimed the extra, wrong-sized, baby bootie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
, let alone all the scheming and planning I've done for various things, one being the baby shower, you in fact cannot make all the things. I can barely make the baby stuff; I haven't even touched the other projects in months, and I'm still in the middle of it.<br />
<br />
My niece is due next month. Oops.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-35613191415137041802016-01-28T23:03:00.000-05:002016-01-31T10:53:23.367-05:00I Think the Magical Yarn Babies Have Taken Residence in My Stash, However (The VogueKnitting Live 2016 Debrief)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOSMZrFrP7Jj65nBgUhEA9UjnzM5WFaM0yDFTgzAfAQqhT3Q1T0_vXQPrsTz5i6l3zU7TX_Wtr3oLgRcxrroDeYnHf9BzYyCrdcvZP66JVhfifUSfBaOuvgrIrJiPMTaQjm2Q6AOUiGYY/s1600/IMAG1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOSMZrFrP7Jj65nBgUhEA9UjnzM5WFaM0yDFTgzAfAQqhT3Q1T0_vXQPrsTz5i6l3zU7TX_Wtr3oLgRcxrroDeYnHf9BzYyCrdcvZP66JVhfifUSfBaOuvgrIrJiPMTaQjm2Q6AOUiGYY/s400/IMAG1497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Another year, another VogueKnitting Live debrief. Luckily, nothing else was going on this year behind the scenes. That also means I have no excuse for purchasing a package and spending over $100 dollars to go and spend more money. Oh well. <br />
<br />
<b>In General</b><br />
This year was a lot saner than last year. Well, not in the amount of yarn I bought, but in what they were offering. I don't know if it's because I spend all of Sunday attending class and lecture and was distracted but both all the pretties and other people on Saturday and therefore missed the crazier stuff (well, OK, crazier than this thing:<br />
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), but it still seemed like what they were offering was rather tame. <br />
<br />
<b>The</b> <b>Class and Lecture</b><br />
So, because it turns out that with VogueKnitting's price increases this year, it only cost me around $10 more to buy a class/lecture/marketplace package than buying the marketplace and class al la carte, I did so. It doesn't help that the package is called the <i>Times Square Day Tripper Package</i>. Because that's exactly what you want to be doing as a native New Yorker, going to Times Square. On a weekend. Where all the tourists and wonky, shady characters are. I might still be a bit sour that VogueKnitting moved to a hotel smack in the middle of Times Square, meaning I have to go through there on a weekend, but anyway...<br />
<br />
<i>The Lecture</i><br />
I signed up for the lecture called <i>Knit to Flatter</i> by Amy Herzog. Now, lectures always feel a little stunted to me, but that's simply because they're only a hour long, and most of the people giving them are used to classes. This has nothing to do with this lecture in particular, by the way, it's just something I've noticed from the past two lectures after taking a lecture and a class back to back for the first time.<br />
<br />
However, this lecture was semi-interactive and funny, and made some good points. It turns out what she was discussing (how to make a sweater that you would wear 'out to lunch with a non-knitter') is something I've already done, however, her point about fabric behavior being crucial was something I don't think I fully appreciated before. Also, the statement that (and I'm sure I'm paraphrasing a bit here) 'the yarn's not growing [when you block it]. It's not making magical yarn babies' will forever be in my vocabulary (it was also used in the context of pilling, as in 'when the sweater pills, it's not making magical yarn babies, that's material from your sweater'. I knew that, but that way of putting it is still funny).<br />
<br />
<i>The Class</i><br />
First off, all the really interesting classes this year seemed to be scheduled for Friday, which kind of sucks. Even if I could have taken off of work (I couldn't have this year anyway because I was too busy in company-approved training on how to build iPhone apps), I wouldn't have. However, I did find a Sunday class similar to one I spotted on a Friday date at first, and that was <i>Seams Like Surgery</i> by John Brinegar.<br />
<i> </i><br />
The good news is that the class was good. It was well-taught and led, we laughed at jokes and, for me, I learned some decorative seams as well as how to better due mattress stitch. It turns out I've been doing it pretty well, but his way of thinking about the instructions really helps with porting the technique away from stockinette. I was immediately able to seam a garter stitch item much better afterward despite that not technically being taught. While I will say I probably could have learned most of the material off of the Internet, I still don't regret taking the class.<br />
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<b>Fashion Shows and the Panels</b><br />
Honestly, I didn't catch too many fashion shows this year, and absolutely none of the panels. Actually, I don't think they had any traditional panels this year. The had events like participating in extreme knitting! (no thanks; I like my needles smaller than I am) and...I don't remember. Anyway, I did catch part of one, and two other fashion shows and they were pretty meh. Nothing too crazy. Nothing standard or overly practical either (after all, this is a <i>fashion</i> show and when is fashion not overly artistic over practical), but nothing that made me go WTF?!?<br />
<br />
If anyone from VogueKnitting is reading this, let it be known: I like the WTF?!? stuff; the best part of what makes VogueKnitting VogueKnitting was making fun of some of the stuff considered fashion.<br />
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Anyway, there was a couple of questionable items, including a really bulky garter stitch cardigan (what is it with rug-looking cartigans?):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwt6GWhpO78Xkow9bpUd41QUyZiLNhjnlLZi_PeuyNP9vOGc1Bh290Z1F1XxQvnEzMW9QbbVbXITQTFW1wkY14mkHL9wqQHpprcSNbf27WQhlWx47YDaCxFzxSMzE5BnEyxjJfhSekExX/s1600/IMAG1481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwt6GWhpO78Xkow9bpUd41QUyZiLNhjnlLZi_PeuyNP9vOGc1Bh290Z1F1XxQvnEzMW9QbbVbXITQTFW1wkY14mkHL9wqQHpprcSNbf27WQhlWx47YDaCxFzxSMzE5BnEyxjJfhSekExX/s400/IMAG1481.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And a very bulky, very glowing, hot pink shawl-scarf:<br />
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Otherwise it was your standard sparkly shawls and batwing sweaters that make the model look like they have short stubby arms, and as normal items that you're going to get that meet current trends. Oh well.<br />
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<b>Purchases</b><br />
Beyond my quickly-becoming-normal behavior of 'buy all the yarn for all projects I want to do now and then some!, in the early hours of being there Saturday this is the exchange I had with my mom over text:<br />
<br />
Me: LOL I found self-striping yarn that looks like watermelon<br />
Mom: Interesting. Are you at Vogue?<br />
Me: Yes.<br />
Me: Want something?<br />
Mom: Yarn for the baby blanket pattern you sent<br />
<i>At this point, I'm thinking 'this is the wrong place to look for yarn for a baby blanket', but this is my mom, so...</i><br />
Me: Ok, will look. <br />
<i> </i><br />
So I got stuck running around the marketplace, desperately trying to find a DK like yarn that had enough quantities to make a baby blanket. Now, there's two things about VogueKnitting that I don't know if my mom gets: 1) it's mostly mid to upper range yarn that is the type to not have dye lots and be hand-painted (oh, and good luck finding one that can be washed) and 2) there's usually limited quantities at shows.<br />
<br />
At one point, I asked my mom what her budget for this was, because I was finding really nice superwash yarn where the vendor had multiple skeins, but it was all at least $25 dollars a pop. Her answer was '$100 or so', so that cut those out. I ended up having to get three different colors of Malabrigo Rios at the Knitty City booth of all places (I try not to spend all my money at the local yarn shop booths; I can go to them here if I want and there's other vendors you can't get anywhere else attending, but sometimes they have the right stuff when you want it), because there wasn't enough of any of the colors I liked. <br />
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I ended up sending her another pattern to consider that used three colors as well. I also ended up buying her a present:<br />
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Because the joke is funny alone, it's even funnier when carried by a crocheting dietitian.<br />
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Oh, and despite this being the wrong place to buy yarn for a baby blanket, I also bought yarn for a baby blanket. Mine costs a bit more than $100 dollars, but it was perfect and superwash, and came in bigger skeins so I didn't need as many of them and my yarn budget gives up.<br />
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<b> </b>
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
All in all, I had fun. Sure, the fashion shows are getting boring and their free non-marketplace offerings were slim this year, but the class and lecture made up for that (despite having to pay extra for those). I really need to stop buying all the yarn, though, despite the fact that I did need a bit of it this year as I didn't have anything suitable in my stash. And I am using it now, so this isn't a 'shove in there and leave it for two years' situation. Well, maybe the yarn I bought for myself with no pattern in mind will be that, but half of it won't.<br />
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We'll see what next year brings.CompileYarn()http://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864542289654960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-1271735851949952862016-01-15T18:16:00.000-05:002016-01-15T18:21:54.279-05:00The Good Kind of RemakeIn the wirlwind of projects, both craft-related and not, that I've have to complete or are completing for others, I did manage to re-visit an old project of mine. I got better yarn and knit a new version of my Reversible Eyelet Hat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_PmUgf1mchaZL0u2csXMPJgX907WE7rBgA7Z177morD7g5OsfsDPIXe5fMOC11Ac7nR-420sCJOu9p5MVvmgUtcbG5lap-dWEBC-FbhMZ6zoOHZnDLKOrudE6z7pw1j-svogzmqNfIE/s1600/ReversibleEyeletHatTakeTwo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrp_PmUgf1mchaZL0u2csXMPJgX907WE7rBgA7Z177morD7g5OsfsDPIXe5fMOC11Ac7nR-420sCJOu9p5MVvmgUtcbG5lap-dWEBC-FbhMZ6zoOHZnDLKOrudE6z7pw1j-svogzmqNfIE/s400/ReversibleEyeletHatTakeTwo1.jpg" width="400" /></a>To be fair, I guess it wasn't 100% for me, though this version is better than my old one (which I still have and used). The person in my knit group who's responsible for the KALs (which work a bit differently in our group than the more traditional method) decided to focus on hats again, and out of the long list of hat patterns for it decided to list both of my hat patterns.<br />
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When she told me this, my first thought is 'dang, I wonder if the first one is good enough for that?' The Reversible Eyelet Hat was my first knitting pattern, and it was designed on the fly in one size. As well, I had already seen from those who did it on Ravelry that it ran big. I also found that after the first year, my original one has stretched out as well and was big for me as well, and I prefer looser hats. So I decided to take my own pattern and re-knit it using nicer yarn, a different gauge, and less stitches.<br />
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The good news is that I found that the pattern is 99% correct. The CO amount with the needle size it gives you will make a big hat if you have around a standard-sized women's head, but the instructions themselves are perfectly fine. The only correction I would make is that unless you need a large hat (think around 28"), you're better off COing around 92 or 88 stitches, even 84 depending on things like the yarn and needles you're using. I did 92 stitches using smaller needles for the re-make, but I also decided to use a wool/silk blend that had it's own stretching tendencies (this was probably not the best decision with a hat pattern that also has a tendency to stretch out, but it worked). The good thing about that pattern is that it is super adjustable, and any multiple of 4 will work with the instructions as written (so I guess I wasn't as much of a dumbass with my first pattern as I thought). Also, dropping down doesn't affect it as much as you would think, given the lacy and ribbed nature of the hat. The pattern itself has a tendency to stretch, so you need to counteract that a bit.<br />
<br />
So I didn't bother rewriting the pattern (though I will change the CO amount). But be assured that it is doubled checked now. Now if only I could take better pictures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg8m6rwdpzUNS_BFs1Pfg4X45-f5mMEZZDmvUQC8jc5inLssfMQ0pKEU6v4h852zlMZr4wKWbVPO9Wga0bMNUI726YXaQe2LyQli8_VhOjvipOA23g6m5S7k00_QBfLXLluRA9CXQPfxh/s1600/ReversibleEyeletHatTakeTwo2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEg8m6rwdpzUNS_BFs1Pfg4X45-f5mMEZZDmvUQC8jc5inLssfMQ0pKEU6v4h852zlMZr4wKWbVPO9Wga0bMNUI726YXaQe2LyQli8_VhOjvipOA23g6m5S7k00_QBfLXLluRA9CXQPfxh/s400/ReversibleEyeletHatTakeTwo2.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
CompileYarn()http://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864542289654960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-92034492058603468092015-11-13T16:53:00.000-05:002015-11-13T16:56:34.856-05:00Emergency Baby SweaterI used to have an extra baby sweater lying around, a couple of years ago, until I decided to gift it to my previous downstairs neighbors who had just had a kid.<br />
<br />
I should have made one to replace it. I wasn't expecting to be told a relative of mine was having a kid only two months before being due to have said kid (communication? Why would there be communication?). However, I decided to try, and managed to pull off making a baby sweater within a month.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUfnoGngRFR6LUeCOt47_wY8H0Xl9pLMawFf53DPg3P5it4kcGXVw716Np7zysKVel_dv1M21EJb_Z1HVsdAhpJmCVs1xM6za-lu4aOUbFM9THrfInzLZ_APzojy8AO1pjF-uDL4jPQve/s400/IMAG1307.jpg" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">The pattern is Pr</span><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">eppy Cardigan from <i>60 Quick Baby Knits</i>, the yarn Cascade Yarn</span><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;">s Pacific</span><span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="color: black;"> (which is one of my favorite acrylic/woo<span style="color: #0000ee;">l</span> blends now; it worked up wonderfully and you can throw it in the washer and dryer no problem. This is after I washed and dried it, by the way</span><span style="color: black;">).</span></span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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And because of that, there's a happy ending to this story. I managed to mail out the sweater to have it arrive just in time for the baby to be born (as in, the relative I mailed it to took it to the hospital with her to give to the new parents). So I have that going for me. <br />
<br />
As well, this is on top of the other relative I've known was pregnant for longer, which luckily is due in March and therefore that project is on the back burner, because holidays are coming up fast and I had to start making presents. I've already made at least two of my presents already and am working on a third:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55307MBhGkPVh3ZHxsDE8GLXYWxDGFVVw2jNtzx_lG1l5xL27LB9qia0bCVoPlURhIgfa8dWP98Kp4IDZvkcZtKl_D0-CvoS5KYtzRI4K01vYvD0YKjFXESDMeIVtF-T7EQ1Yfm0ntiN5/s1600/IMAG1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55307MBhGkPVh3ZHxsDE8GLXYWxDGFVVw2jNtzx_lG1l5xL27LB9qia0bCVoPlURhIgfa8dWP98Kp4IDZvkcZtKl_D0-CvoS5KYtzRI4K01vYvD0YKjFXESDMeIVtF-T7EQ1Yfm0ntiN5/s400/IMAG1200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDCW4onISt6pqtEugHfDMk3dqD3BRg0Qb-0Wa8lDIivtEaKnvMeJ9uCUKRuTrCiZKUzGdYQjbsXrBHXhn2cTBYmhRpmRdmTM9D5qC0peDNtN72imQfLAaq-eSPE6TyCwWQhRSVzNbyKSO/s1600/IMAG1351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDCW4onISt6pqtEugHfDMk3dqD3BRg0Qb-0Wa8lDIivtEaKnvMeJ9uCUKRuTrCiZKUzGdYQjbsXrBHXhn2cTBYmhRpmRdmTM9D5qC0peDNtN72imQfLAaq-eSPE6TyCwWQhRSVzNbyKSO/s400/IMAG1351.jpg" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I based this off of a pattern on Ravelry called Squishy Soft Cowl, but I cast-ed on a lot more stitches. And accidentally twisted the cast on, so it's now a mobius cowl. Oh well.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-csnQia_RgfKQIQEV8WPkGJZ_8cNQR65boiU-9FVA_gKWvSQ_krLGrTd6oWfhFJbiXtH3ECV7K2pCMF9kEtf_R0swgdBmYAUvsjL6_zGyo-EN0Mz0-eJWrVGfh4PSbGV9Br2nXlUYwu5/s1600/IMAG1352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-csnQia_RgfKQIQEV8WPkGJZ_8cNQR65boiU-9FVA_gKWvSQ_krLGrTd6oWfhFJbiXtH3ECV7K2pCMF9kEtf_R0swgdBmYAUvsjL6_zGyo-EN0Mz0-eJWrVGfh4PSbGV9Br2nXlUYwu5/s400/IMAG1352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern is Brain Waves, also on Ravelry.</td></tr>
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Yeah, I've got the socks done. And a baby sweater. And a cowl. And part of a hat. Wow, that's a lot given that I've had no time recently (going to grad school on top of everything can do that to you. Oh, and getting this fur-ball doesn't help either:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeKabULDsgtnWlCd2DmBl2gFf4UxdjDnh4uYIrK2Kg4sOqz6hDy7KxPJ066NhB6SS_EARqAT1AzbiMY7Ud1A2X68ME2JL0_gAwWzLS3rWZVYndi8ZF5mPhGGSnRfHUqBmxH7jWHyP84Lm/s1600/catonknittingbag1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeKabULDsgtnWlCd2DmBl2gFf4UxdjDnh4uYIrK2Kg4sOqz6hDy7KxPJ066NhB6SS_EARqAT1AzbiMY7Ud1A2X68ME2JL0_gAwWzLS3rWZVYndi8ZF5mPhGGSnRfHUqBmxH7jWHyP84Lm/s400/catonknittingbag1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Murphy. This is Murphy sleeping on the bag my project is in that I brought over to knit on because he was trying to sleep next to me on the couch. Instead, he immediately sat on the bag and fell asleep.</td></tr>
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). At least I still have my commuting time to work on things.<br />
<br />
Of course, the one thing I did sacrifice this year was making a Halloween costume, so I did forgo something. Can't have it all.<br />
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<br />CompileYarn()http://www.blogger.com/profile/04748864542289654960noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-54070953944143572082015-09-06T12:23:00.001-04:002015-09-06T12:23:26.541-04:00It's Going to Be Full Of StarsWith the sucess of finally doing and finishing Xeina behind me, I decided to start another I-planned-to-do-this-and-bought-the-yarn-ages-ago project:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5nSmoDogsQ8ydhaUqHlO1I7R4xYfF02fO3TzxOVVimDigeAr_mlyQDs1JLi4dc3ML43r1f9o525Gn4s5ysEgQsTjL7wJTSmisEeKlVhhSWulGrW5TDhsKoFCPSHIJiW5QJ_QUgFsQng/s1600/celestriumonDPNs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5nSmoDogsQ8ydhaUqHlO1I7R4xYfF02fO3TzxOVVimDigeAr_mlyQDs1JLi4dc3ML43r1f9o525Gn4s5ysEgQsTjL7wJTSmisEeKlVhhSWulGrW5TDhsKoFCPSHIJiW5QJ_QUgFsQng/s400/celestriumonDPNs1.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I ended up using DPNs in the beginning. It turns out while Magic Loop works for starting, it doesn't once you get a few rows in -- it puts too much pressure at the corners with only two points.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/celestarium">Celestarium</a>. It's a pi shawl. Why am I doing <i>another</i> shawl? Well, because this one's a freaking star chart of the northern sky in knitted form.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRnzp-XGN9gjtGbTPiV9bWGQb3ILn8QQpS3JhZ1tnKN4e4lxHGx7kcgdHXsWQpJZ69kEtIildj6MQ7OgbtP2tUhD0_9lPAJBu4tYuK6_MvjAqeCloDLjANmkR2sGi3G3Pd26M-mlR2GQ/s1600/celestrium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRnzp-XGN9gjtGbTPiV9bWGQb3ILn8QQpS3JhZ1tnKN4e4lxHGx7kcgdHXsWQpJZ69kEtIildj6MQ7OgbtP2tUhD0_9lPAJBu4tYuK6_MvjAqeCloDLjANmkR2sGi3G3Pd26M-mlR2GQ/s400/celestrium2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Honestly, since this was the other yarn purchase I screwed up on and got the wrong weight for (using sport weight yarn for a fingering weight shawl...because who knew a yarn with socks in the name would be sport weight?), it may come out bigger than planned. This works because I'm not planning to wear it. If it's big enough, I'll most likely use it as a blanket, or do what my boyfriend suggests and hang it up as a wall decoration. Especially if I, um,<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Nienke/celestarium"> borrow the edging pattern idea from this lovely person</a> (I'm a sucker for infinity cables).<br />
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If you're familiar with the pattern, you might have noticed that I've adapted it a bit. I decided to not do the yarn overs that were paired with the beads. I want it to look like the sky. Let me tell you, this makes it so much simpler as well; I don't have to worry about one star over two rows, I just have to find the stitch to put the bead on.<br />
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However, I upped the complexity a bit by also deciding to the luminosity version, which is the one where someone marked all the starts by their luminosity rating so that you could use different bead sizes for each rating. But it's actually not all that complex. If you're planning to do this, here's the trick: take an couple of hours to go through the charts and color each bead by the colors in the luminosity chart (this works if your doing the different color version as well, or both). Write a chart matching color to the bead size you're using. Ta da, don't have to worry about it again:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYjunrHkRcjN5PBFRwtfkR5jcUaK66pPRmXHxlC8qui1v21uJAVc1Yg5OyEluX7Z9LqxKrxcyLsZNSAYxnn4-Po49DnkZrPcxXgN785ZSnHmwd10454WEOClMYZoeLXwfe_u-YsfWcSA/s1600/celestriumbeadchart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYjunrHkRcjN5PBFRwtfkR5jcUaK66pPRmXHxlC8qui1v21uJAVc1Yg5OyEluX7Z9LqxKrxcyLsZNSAYxnn4-Po49DnkZrPcxXgN785ZSnHmwd10454WEOClMYZoeLXwfe_u-YsfWcSA/s400/celestriumbeadchart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Of course, I ran into a snag where I couldn't get enough different bead sizes to do all the luminosities. Hell, the 6/0 beads are a pain to string on the stitch with this yarn, since it's thicker, and you can only go so big. So I'm using the 6/0 beads for the lowest two luminosities, then scaling up. Also, watch out for total bead size vs hole size; I actually have to flip the 5/0 and the 4/0 mappings because while the hole is bigger in the 4/0s, the 5/0s I bought are bigger beads overall.<br />
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Despite all this, it's actually a rather simple pattern. It's mostly knit, knit, knit...place bead, knit, knit, knit... The only trick is looking at the chart and knowing where the next bead needs to be placed, which of course is easy if you put a set of stitch markers every 20 stitches in the circle, and mark where they are on the chart. This makes the thought process go: 'OK, my next bead is two stitch markers and 13 stitches away'. Boom, get there, put bead, look where next one is. And there are rows where it's mostly knits.<br />
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The only demoralizing thing is that I got this far so quickly and I'm on the second to last section, but now I'm slowing down (because pi shawl: the stitch count doubles when you double the rows). Also, looking it up? Less than 10% done, of course.<br />
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It doesn't help when this happens:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K0iim8dn3QL9NRK1-g2r9t5XunH8wOJyMoi8sgfa8ThbEEscskOAyrwe_BeAD9W_3IgHPa0lMEc4E88fZnnyFQXIeApifh-kCEAZQw9kz6iK6QMpbio5pyiTO2enrgWKUxXefLASnTA/s1600/AtticusOnPattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K0iim8dn3QL9NRK1-g2r9t5XunH8wOJyMoi8sgfa8ThbEEscskOAyrwe_BeAD9W_3IgHPa0lMEc4E88fZnnyFQXIeApifh-kCEAZQw9kz6iK6QMpbio5pyiTO2enrgWKUxXefLASnTA/s400/AtticusOnPattern.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my parent's cat, Atticus. Why the cat decided to sit there when there was a whole rest of the chair available is the mystery every cat owner has.</td></tr>
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It also doesn't help that the yarn keeps dumping dye on my hands, so every time I have to put it down, I have to go wash my hands:<br />
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Yeah, I've never had a yarn do this to me. Bleed when washed? Sure, all the time. Bleed a little on my hands? Yeah, once. Make it so half my hand is discolored? Never. The color is worth it, however. It really does look like a night sky.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-85962236788915284652015-08-10T22:33:00.003-04:002015-09-06T12:25:33.384-04:00As it Turns Out, I Didn't Get Too Distracted (Xeina Shawl Debrief)So I did manage to finish the Xeina Shawl this weekend:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtbKQNFaGmVXm2kt0EkyPQmu9Zxza6hRvIU1YK2KVjf0a4mgpoEjbYt3oQSO3Six82bz8YQYrdbY01Fcm5u5IJMX7hq2Qj_uXx3m5ySUP_3niiTtGnRnT2okfbqiIjQs0tjvQvaskXz0/s1600/XeniaShawlDone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtbKQNFaGmVXm2kt0EkyPQmu9Zxza6hRvIU1YK2KVjf0a4mgpoEjbYt3oQSO3Six82bz8YQYrdbY01Fcm5u5IJMX7hq2Qj_uXx3m5ySUP_3niiTtGnRnT2okfbqiIjQs0tjvQvaskXz0/s400/XeniaShawlDone.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its really hard to get a good picture of a large shawl</td></tr>
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Despite all the minor problems, I think it came out pretty decent. However, it also came out *huge*, which is completely my fault. I did a number of extra repeats in the body since I was using lighter yarn and later decided to just work the body until I ran out of one skein of the blue yarn, 13 repeats in total. Yeah, in hindsight, I probably should have done 10 or 11 repeats instead, especially since the lace border came out bigger as well (probably due to using lighter yarn...heavy lace weight blocks out lacier, it turns out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWnSUs75V3u0O_pDqNYja8JXIOlsfXQCbONhggpgifOWt0HqetZvwz6GIEDTcF_3uYxKksejMPJiidsebo5lnAOc2fhR2o9-eJN7mx_T57DwRZVqzAsKRZN53UDsEOAZcOzAhcjsOWRU/s1600/IMAG1151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWnSUs75V3u0O_pDqNYja8JXIOlsfXQCbONhggpgifOWt0HqetZvwz6GIEDTcF_3uYxKksejMPJiidsebo5lnAOc2fhR2o9-eJN7mx_T57DwRZVqzAsKRZN53UDsEOAZcOzAhcjsOWRU/s400/IMAG1151.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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). When I realized it was blocking out really big, I measured it, and it's 80.5 inches long, and around 20 inches deep. As a 5 foot aught woman, it means the tips of the shawl go past my knees.<br />
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Though I probably shouldn't fret about it being big. I rarely wear shawls as intended; I usually use them as coat stuffers, and having a big shawl with some cashmere content means I have a neck warmer with length to wrap it around my neck and down my coat. Or over my head and around my neck.<br />
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However, I'm still in love with the color scheme I used and how it works in this pattern, so I am a little sad this won't work so well with a dress. Not that I want to be wearing this <i>now</i>, with all the 85-90F degree weather we've been having here.<br />
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Ah, screw it, I'll do this properly:<br />
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<b>The Pattern</b><br />
I have little to say. It's a solid pattern that I had no issues with. All the issues I ran into were due to my misjudgement, not the pattern itself. Also, while it took me months, let me note that this was due to not having time to work on it much and the fact that I was using lighter yarn. If I had been using the sport weight yarn as intended, I could see this being a 2-3 month pattern with downtime, not a 6 month one.<br />
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<b>The Yarn</b><br />
I used<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/spirit-trail-fiberworks-sunna"> Spirit Trails Fiberworks Sunna</a> (the royal blue color) and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/spirit-trail-fiberworks-nona">Spirit Trails Fiberworks Nona</a> (the darker blue). Sunna is a fingering weight and Nona is a heavy lace weight, by the way, and so not recommended for this pattern unless you're willing to do what I did, which is do more repeats and get through more repeats of the lace pattern (which, honestly, if you manage to get the right count for the lace part after adding stuff, I commend you. I didn't, and had to fudge it, then fudge it again when my first fudge was miscalculated).<b> </b>However, these are beautiful yarns, especially the Sunna. The Nona one unwinds a bit and sometimes sticks to itself or splits, but I find this an issue with most lace weight yarns. I have a funny feeling that the issues I had, especially with the yo and k2tog rows in the body, wouldn't have happened if I had a heavier yarn than lace weight. Such is screwing around with the yarn choices.<br />
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Two warnings though: they do grow like no body's business (shame on me for not swatching, I guess) and it bleeds:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOUV94zOmJUwLbi10PkxnoFZtup9pW_5ZeFe6SR2Pab_9tSqOkRw-GqtVdsPLIEI41yzwcy7H4HhEDT7fYyRUjEKYE4s9nq1akVJa05HP6VWkTVhtaHdUyxECPEY7hHC_NJelNz-tpfU/s1600/IMAG1140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOUV94zOmJUwLbi10PkxnoFZtup9pW_5ZeFe6SR2Pab_9tSqOkRw-GqtVdsPLIEI41yzwcy7H4HhEDT7fYyRUjEKYE4s9nq1akVJa05HP6VWkTVhtaHdUyxECPEY7hHC_NJelNz-tpfU/s400/IMAG1140.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ran out of vinegar before I could completely set it as well. Will have to try again another time.</td></tr>
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Funny story on how I ended up with this yarn for this pattern, though. For the past two years at NYS Sheep and Wool, Spirit Trails has <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/havwool/xenia">had this shawl</a> as one of their display patterns, and it's still one of my favorite examples of it. When I saw it the first time I did two things: fell in love with the two-colored version of the pattern and decided that this was something I could use the Sunna I bought the first time I went to Rhinebeck for. However, because I though Spirit Trails only sold fingering weight yarn (they don't, by the way), I thought the Xeina Shawl had to be fingering weight. It was only after I had bought the Nona yarn, blinded to the pattern and finding a matching color for the Sunna I had, that I realized that Xeina was a sport weight shawl and that I now had fingering and lace weight for it. So I was determined to make it work.<br />
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<b>Conclusion</b><br />
All in all, it worked out, other than the size. And even that doesn't render it unusable. Also, now I finally have one of my big projects done. Now back to using more of my backlogged stash.<b> </b> <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-11861807783440532412015-08-08T18:02:00.000-04:002015-08-08T18:02:31.712-04:00A Cacophony of ChaosWell...I would say a lot of things have happened in this void, but in terms of yarn craft, I would be stretching the truth somewhat. I mean, sure, I got a couple of minor things done, mainly these bags here:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuW4WOzPmkVdPbz4plHXmtzH7QXFtz5gbB9VJMeVDUx7l0HcyegI7SbPENONq7fMf8tLrWR-fvWoQ_EjV4dkNLlDGhf9PKcHAU9hi_PYEONk_TCrqugEXOBwVZysUZLYFGJVH5NTYamc/s1600/MedievalishBags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuW4WOzPmkVdPbz4plHXmtzH7QXFtz5gbB9VJMeVDUx7l0HcyegI7SbPENONq7fMf8tLrWR-fvWoQ_EjV4dkNLlDGhf9PKcHAU9hi_PYEONk_TCrqugEXOBwVZysUZLYFGJVH5NTYamc/s400/MedievalishBags.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No pattern; made these up.</td></tr>
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I got the second one done just in time to use it, so I guess that was good. As well, I did finally get and set up a new place to store my yarn stash:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU94PfcuIt7b4OMxvtIuD0p5b8Q2veT1L3KKEG3jEMg9Nf_8rs_6jg_YxECWQcUP82oEzU4ox1D14eL6rtwbBwuRrz8jrXX5seD9M5Qb9p6tB13bxToYL-fWDmcwr9BMsHLjpRwMjUdY/s1600/YarnStashHolder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlU94PfcuIt7b4OMxvtIuD0p5b8Q2veT1L3KKEG3jEMg9Nf_8rs_6jg_YxECWQcUP82oEzU4ox1D14eL6rtwbBwuRrz8jrXX5seD9M5Qb9p6tB13bxToYL-fWDmcwr9BMsHLjpRwMjUdY/s400/YarnStashHolder.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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But otherwise, I've been starting and working on a number of things that still ain't done, of course. Like the Xenia Shawl:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQCs3Jnl7sYKzcty7ACpO2izwkwI2-UB_b44T3S8-wHBFfJunR_E4qfNxapAppGcZl3obkZpeFXqwGk9wINH5FqM4hXRuDC9YcQDIlxpoo2lzrkmnh_jjzUeGQ94EJST81AsXazqqBIQ/s1600/IMAG1129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQCs3Jnl7sYKzcty7ACpO2izwkwI2-UB_b44T3S8-wHBFfJunR_E4qfNxapAppGcZl3obkZpeFXqwGk9wINH5FqM4hXRuDC9YcQDIlxpoo2lzrkmnh_jjzUeGQ94EJST81AsXazqqBIQ/s400/IMAG1129.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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Ok, if I huff it I could probably get it done this weekend, which means most likely I'll be distracted by other shiny things to do and not touch it. But I could. Maybe.<br />
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I also, thanks to one of my knitting group people, ended up starting a dish towel that, due to the fact that I'm using scrap cotton, thought I ran out of the blue color, then found another fourth of a skein of it, is coming out just a little funky:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqTF1wgWiiee142IDccMLdCNIr1-IUeesyFANFhipSGM8tCJUNbcTq4JxtIaq9vTRDBb2MvhUWT_ErxfBB2NQ5Ts0WFIk0g4Pn7KbmPoJrGO_kfmY7G22GqBo6wtqnDpFdgfTB9zch-I/s1600/TriColorWashclothInProgress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqTF1wgWiiee142IDccMLdCNIr1-IUeesyFANFhipSGM8tCJUNbcTq4JxtIaq9vTRDBb2MvhUWT_ErxfBB2NQ5Ts0WFIk0g4Pn7KbmPoJrGO_kfmY7G22GqBo6wtqnDpFdgfTB9zch-I/s320/TriColorWashclothInProgress.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern is <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/2013/06/16/whits-knits-slip-stitch-dishtowels/">Triple L Tweed Dishcloth by Purl Soho</a>, though I'm making it much longer and with different weight yarn.</td></tr>
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My only excuse for this project is that I can work on it on the subway, unlike the shawl. That's what I'm going with. But having a subway project, of course, didn't stop me from swatching for a pair of socks with some really, really brightly offensive yarn (that I bought at WEBS, because one of the things I did in this void was go on the annal WEBS trip (I'm one of the drivers; I kind of have to). It turns out that between having moved my yarn stash recently and bringing my sister along, I spent way less money than usual (I got my sister to spend more than me, he he he. But she doesn't have a stash, so that made it easy). That didn't stop me from buying a number of skeins of yarn, of course):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeGtwKm06TAKMovYDKspxTUIhr0yJyPORa2Oh6UxUJGuFV_ZYkRl2DdhSFtp8LlX2Lk4PV-lo6UhljWU7ntuIrqNruHl_aBCOzNtPKWeO2eXEeziXK2vaqqqJBvzK7QgX9BliuN_eNEU/s1600/BrightYarnWSwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeGtwKm06TAKMovYDKspxTUIhr0yJyPORa2Oh6UxUJGuFV_ZYkRl2DdhSFtp8LlX2Lk4PV-lo6UhljWU7ntuIrqNruHl_aBCOzNtPKWeO2eXEeziXK2vaqqqJBvzK7QgX9BliuN_eNEU/s400/BrightYarnWSwatch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is not my type of yarn. That's because it's for my other sister, as she likes the loud bright colors. I'm planning Hanukkah presents early this year.<br />
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Also, I started swatching and doing the spreadsheet formulas for another sweater design. Because it's about time I started attempting a design again; I have way too many of them in my head, with the yarn ready to go as well, and no other work done on them. It doesn't help that I have a bit of a deadline to my free time (well, what little I have left after being in the middle of selling a house and going a little crazy at work). I'm going for my master's starting this month, and will be in class four evenings a week, plus using my weekends to do school work. This should be fun.<br />
<br />
But maybe I can get that all but started (I still need to order the needles for it because I need a different length circular; unfortunately a thought that only occurred to me after I attempted to create a sheet for my size to start it). Oh, who am I kidding, I'll spend this weekend (of which I'm taking off two days so it's a four day weekend) mostly playing Skyrim or XCOM or maybe even Karmaflow, if I feel like frustrating myself. Or actually cleaning the apartment. Or doing the thousand other things I should be doing that I didn't do yet because last week, I took a little vacation:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjXMfQNptEh90s9EkhQBAZ7z78YyDEhWaueaHJGvyIeNLoxfbbOSm7vjyinkQT41CbrJR_R7QUnW4tozFYPpSBtVxPmTTGJJP0Nc6UHwATsve9wJM_ReKAFk1Jhwvc_cYKd0GHQInkFM/s1600/IMAG1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjXMfQNptEh90s9EkhQBAZ7z78YyDEhWaueaHJGvyIeNLoxfbbOSm7vjyinkQT41CbrJR_R7QUnW4tozFYPpSBtVxPmTTGJJP0Nc6UHwATsve9wJM_ReKAFk1Jhwvc_cYKd0GHQInkFM/s400/IMAG1110.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went fishing one morning; caught nothing. Oh well. This is Lake George, if you want to know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Of course, got very little knitting done there either. There was too much to do, and any downtime we usually spent playing board and card games. I did, however, start teaching my boyfriend to knit. He's now attempting a one colored version of the dishcloth I'm doing, because it's only knit and slip stitches, it's a little more complicated than garter stitch, and I haven't taught him the purl stitch yet:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERo-Ei7FhXbOqx2ma7a43hhTt-XokhpXlb37AFJB1g4IJE_L3ACgZYKtphYfealsGUYflCMN-PYgCoQZH00816O3vx0yLWzdJXa_5N1mSy_M_UZtOGwBm5O6_WzeHcKeW1muWeiM77Dg/s1600/GreenSlipStitchDishcloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERo-Ei7FhXbOqx2ma7a43hhTt-XokhpXlb37AFJB1g4IJE_L3ACgZYKtphYfealsGUYflCMN-PYgCoQZH00816O3vx0yLWzdJXa_5N1mSy_M_UZtOGwBm5O6_WzeHcKeW1muWeiM77Dg/s400/GreenSlipStitchDishcloth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He wants it a certain size, so I'm teaching him how to swatch at the moment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We'll see how this goes.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-17905806182657729742015-06-23T20:58:00.000-04:002015-06-23T20:58:28.609-04:00I Fail at Yarn ChickenI guess this doesn't really count as yarn chicken as I actually had another skein of it, but I was hoping not to have to break into it, damnit:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIo4UcE4vH8-rgf47Ac3wKxaeBqbZCsXkAIyPSrLbgS9gF6PYvrt7a0UE66fOQHOiaNc3WNXDiYEi35gBgJgHEmNu66I6iDjleJpPOiX6jtC0ddHstg9p4vAtkUh5v-M17poQjlUYLOw/s1600/YarnChickenFailXeniaShawl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLIo4UcE4vH8-rgf47Ac3wKxaeBqbZCsXkAIyPSrLbgS9gF6PYvrt7a0UE66fOQHOiaNc3WNXDiYEi35gBgJgHEmNu66I6iDjleJpPOiX6jtC0ddHstg9p4vAtkUh5v-M17poQjlUYLOw/s400/YarnChickenFailXeniaShawl.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
<br />
That was how much farther I had to go with the royal blue color to finish the last repeat I decided to do. A measly one or so inches. But of course, since the other choice was ripping the whole last repeat of the pattern out, I did bother winding the second skein to use a tiny, little bit to finish the body.<br />
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I'm now on the border, which is a bit more fiddly:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kIFKStqyIPgWbL1NhodS8svFDVNiVMplMTaY-1aHCwwjfgm7ULOs3tOhuFKy0mdTL0HdWshtJ9Pi3o2BMYB3Zq8NtMkM9I-hP1xi5wkyilT2qVu77ZLdco4AYmU5aOX4BotSZcBlJtE/s1600/XeniaShawlBorder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kIFKStqyIPgWbL1NhodS8svFDVNiVMplMTaY-1aHCwwjfgm7ULOs3tOhuFKy0mdTL0HdWshtJ9Pi3o2BMYB3Zq8NtMkM9I-hP1xi5wkyilT2qVu77ZLdco4AYmU5aOX4BotSZcBlJtE/s400/XeniaShawlBorder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And oh so even slower. But it's still coming along, which I guess is a good thing.<br />
<br />
However, as it's a lace pattern and so I can't travel with it much, I've ended up knitting this as well:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_35NXQJc1uwFNRSiP_BspOjcmrAtnFq2skvsYEk0JmaGRECq-DoI-q2HuwEuZMk0c0V0WfvcVrMlN2xQqnQ_eeFNd_bY6fLQOA-UeoO66H7UoTfHnUn8595unYxUERVZWm4qszBoUJw/s1600/MedievalishBag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_35NXQJc1uwFNRSiP_BspOjcmrAtnFq2skvsYEk0JmaGRECq-DoI-q2HuwEuZMk0c0V0WfvcVrMlN2xQqnQ_eeFNd_bY6fLQOA-UeoO66H7UoTfHnUn8595unYxUERVZWm4qszBoUJw/s400/MedievalishBag.jpg" width="367" /></a></div>
<br />
A bag. Where it's obvious I got bored and changed up the pattern a couple of times. I was going for a medieval look, but the yarn I used kind of ruins that...however, that's what I had at the time, and I was playing with a concept there.<br />
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However, since I now have to carry my work phone on me for my next SCA event (yay for being the only support for my apps now), I thought I would make a new bag with the first pattern there. With better colors. Though it also turns out that all my sock and lace yarn is variegated modern stuff. Because of course it is; why else would I buy the random skein unless it was nicely colored variegated sock yarn? <br />
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Guess I know what to get at WEBS this year now. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-76671743847693846032015-05-28T21:38:00.000-04:002015-06-03T07:38:26.440-04:00Lessons in Math, or the Things I Shouldn't Be Doing<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">EDIT 6/3/2015: made the rule more general and removed the assignment = sign because that's not math, that's a programming concept.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></i><br />
The sad part about having a thousand things to do that don't include this blog post is that very little yarn crafting gets done. It doesn't help when you now have company on the train ride; it's not conducive to working on projects. But that's a whole different story.<br />
<br />
This story is about what I've gotten done. Mainly, about how I forgot how math works.<br />
<br />
You see, when my knit group decided to do stuffed animals as its next "knit-along", I decided to do something slightly different and crochet a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holy-hand-grenade">holy hand grenade</a> instead<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[1]</span>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8odP2oG9olXtQrAW1flm5H2CRr5uNeRHNIu4GN3bQ54AxFQ2XTG8zxe5IZrAuPQMPPszj4QMxRG6vne2FpTh_lVbpGT59URJReSnzmA3oeQj26j_iRUebc_HVd82Vi1X9dTNSiJIma4/s1600/IMAG1051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8odP2oG9olXtQrAW1flm5H2CRr5uNeRHNIu4GN3bQ54AxFQ2XTG8zxe5IZrAuPQMPPszj4QMxRG6vne2FpTh_lVbpGT59URJReSnzmA3oeQj26j_iRUebc_HVd82Vi1X9dTNSiJIma4/s320/IMAG1051.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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As you can probably see, it's not my best effort. I lost track of the beginning of the round in the sphere, didn't do invisible decreases, can't sew straight, and the cross on top was the bane of my existence. This is of course what happens when you buy the yarn and a crochet hook that's slightly too small for it on the fly and start the project on a bus. Anyway, since I had to buy a full skein of the gold yarn for this project, and the grenade isn't that big as written, I ended up with most of a skein of gold yarn left.<br />
<br />
So I decided to make a bigger, hopefully less screwed up, one. But in my quest to do so, I failed math. On the suggestion to make a grenade double the size, I immediately found a <a href="http://avtanski.net/projects/crochet/">crochet sphere calculator</a> (using my phone, on a bus...this seems to be a trend that ends badly) and doubled the maximum number of stitches which make up the equator of the sphere.<br />
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This doesn't double the size of the sphere, by the way:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hg85XzW3EZ7GZXfnFTSMOQCR8k_YIjv7qksTgZ2P7GjqusUw_7zuRm8y689RKDOon7YNMLtaLuGAKWQtDrABaRtT7b7kx6-W1okIbo_wrCgUpxSyBNM1S25Zx70W38NS33pyKGmzY3w/s1600/IMAG1052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hg85XzW3EZ7GZXfnFTSMOQCR8k_YIjv7qksTgZ2P7GjqusUw_7zuRm8y689RKDOon7YNMLtaLuGAKWQtDrABaRtT7b7kx6-W1okIbo_wrCgUpxSyBNM1S25Zx70W38NS33pyKGmzY3w/s320/IMAG1052.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It makes it way bigger than that.<br />
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You see, doubling the circumference of the great circle in the sphere does double one thing: the diameter of that circle. However, when we say 'size' what we're really referring to is the volume of the sphere; how much space it takes up. <br />
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Doubling the diameter of a flat circle roughly quadruples the area of that circle. Doubling the diameter of a sphere roughly multiplies the volume by <i>eight</i>. So the resulting sphere is eight times bigger, not two. Oops.<br />
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What I should have done was double the volumn of the sphere. Is there an easy way to do that in terms of equator size? In order to figure out what the hell happened and how to do this on the top of my head, I did it the hard way first and did some math.<br />
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The original sphere was about 50 stitches around. My gauge was 6st per inch. So that give me about a 8.3in equator, or using the equation C=pi*2r, a 1.33in radius.<br />
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My 'doubled' sphere was therefore 100 stitches around. That gives me an 2.65in radius.<br />
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The volume of a sphere is V=(4/3)*pi*r^3. That would make my 50 stitch sphere about 9.85in^3 in volume, and my 100 stitch sphere about 77.95in^3 in volume...as I said, about 8 times more. But I wanted only double the volume...that is, I wanted a sphere about 19.7in^3 in volume.<br />
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19.7in^3 = (4/3)*pi*r^3 give me a radius of 1.675in, which gives me a circumference of 10.5in,which is about 2in more than my original circumference. At my gauge listed above, this would result in about 14 more stitches, but gauge changes so let's stay in inches.<br />
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This isn't the rule, by the way. The rule actually turns out to be this: take the cube root of the multiplyer you wish to place on the sphere's volume (in my case, this is 2, so about 1.2599) * the circumference of your original sphere to get the circumference of a sphere with m*volume<span style="font-size: xx-small;">[2]</span>. Let's write that in math: C(m) = cuberoot(m)*C. That's how you change the size of a spherical item.<br />
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And people don't believe me when I tell them yarn craft is technical.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[1]My mom is convinced that now I'm on some watchlist due to the amount of bomb patterns I've been introduced to by doing this (there's a lot more on Ravelry than you'd think). Because this is the craziest thing I've looked at on the internet</span>.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[2] I was having issues figuring this out on my own, so thanks to my boyfriend's WoW friends (particularly the one who is a mathematician) for taking up the problem and figuring the actual rule between volume and circumference out for me.</span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-71797803220558819892015-04-12T17:06:00.000-04:002015-04-12T17:06:07.099-04:00The Other Important Thing To CheckI was naughty. I didn't swatch properly for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/CompileYarn/vellamo">pair of socks</a> I started working on and it bit me in the ass.<br />
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Ok, so I'm usually naughty in this way. Every so often I'll do a semi-proper swatch, and by a semi-proper swatch I mean I'll knit more than an inch long on a 3 to 4 inch piece before casting off. Very rarely, I'll have sufficient motivation or time to knit a proper swatch. This is usually when I'm designing, but I'll do it for other major projects where getting the size wrong is really going to ruin things. More commonly, however, I knit a small 2" x 1" swatch, get an idea of gauge, wash it to make sure it doesn't disintegrate or grow too much, and start the project.<br />
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Of course, by half-assing it this way, you would think what bit me in the ass was the gauge. Not so; actually the gauge is working out better than I thought it would. No, the problem was that the colors I chose for the project didn't work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZH1VXZHecFoihIsM-ocj9Z4KIj8HvfD-HIhqJTQryRlxs6O3YitkmYeF2IRPYn0tCEY880JEK0YCgC_TG2OSVjtyPor3WQh7vbJdiCyQYCKZr4DUMCUVMFb9ylO2Gzy8YG5DjYwXj1g/s1600/IMAG0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZH1VXZHecFoihIsM-ocj9Z4KIj8HvfD-HIhqJTQryRlxs6O3YitkmYeF2IRPYn0tCEY880JEK0YCgC_TG2OSVjtyPor3WQh7vbJdiCyQYCKZr4DUMCUVMFb9ylO2Gzy8YG5DjYwXj1g/s1600/IMAG0929.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
You see, in my love of dark colors, I was thinking these contrasted sufficiently enough to allow for some colorwork to be done. I explicitly bought the purple skein so that I had a color to contrast with the black. I was so confident, I barely did any colorwork in my swatch:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLZLW79X32-IiFAvmKvpfS9D-UJZWIDzXmyAoDVkRBss-n5xOKDtCgSFCyDt9HV6mKxsHI8fQBFCgKlZlQU4zCw4bowCkaiqIqpnxBGGgdggDNtE7kcu0YP0cfYkRd7cZtB-84FAJ3Hk/s1600/IMAG0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLZLW79X32-IiFAvmKvpfS9D-UJZWIDzXmyAoDVkRBss-n5xOKDtCgSFCyDt9HV6mKxsHI8fQBFCgKlZlQU4zCw4bowCkaiqIqpnxBGGgdggDNtE7kcu0YP0cfYkRd7cZtB-84FAJ3Hk/s1600/IMAG0930.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
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Which is why I ignored the fact that you can barely see that I did any colorwork in the swatch, and went on my merry way of casting on.<br />
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By the time I finished the first colorwork segment, however, it became obvious. You couldn't see the pattern at all. If I was just making a striped sock, it would have worked ok enough, but that first colorwork section wasn't even the biggest and therefore I said screw it and ripped the sock back out to the toe section. I then went statch diving and found this fingering weight yarn:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxF7i7x9_CdTl7VG8kRBlL6Fxg9YiQuoEv4FR42NQCgtrtOeeQoPB9KWa7H6HWnNWwGq8IJ4inpiJh6NEUsQytJGseC0AAWtJLpYRpAoPJX5GzQYyEByXEG0zy3DvEJVKPWVykFY6MYE/s1600/IMAG0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxF7i7x9_CdTl7VG8kRBlL6Fxg9YiQuoEv4FR42NQCgtrtOeeQoPB9KWa7H6HWnNWwGq8IJ4inpiJh6NEUsQytJGseC0AAWtJLpYRpAoPJX5GzQYyEByXEG0zy3DvEJVKPWVykFY6MYE/s1600/IMAG0931.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
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I was hoping to use this for something like a Hitchhiker, but I was already committed to the sock pattern and this was the only yarn I found light enough to work with the black for the colorwork. To be fair, it is coming out nicely (despite the fact that I had to pretty much write the heel directions myself since they didn't exist in the pattern):<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9lPrnTP7OtEzE4ms3VqgN7-fvdrLNxpitMpf_vCyfcMcFCObSnL3JzmoIAqg5q5qsHF1ssAeyhNBh_e3vmNrUp2ExWQuo4yFtnWfFWEnvkKaH8yIfdCOdA4VP-BLcmofOM1u84Mc_ZI/s1600/IMAG0940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9lPrnTP7OtEzE4ms3VqgN7-fvdrLNxpitMpf_vCyfcMcFCObSnL3JzmoIAqg5q5qsHF1ssAeyhNBh_e3vmNrUp2ExWQuo4yFtnWfFWEnvkKaH8yIfdCOdA4VP-BLcmofOM1u84Mc_ZI/s1600/IMAG0940.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vellamo">Vellamo</a> by Taina Anttila</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I guess the other lesson here is have a good stash. Not that I need to tell most yarn-crafters that.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-43267783486473803382015-03-12T18:58:00.000-04:002015-03-12T18:58:47.727-04:00Beats the RecordI finally finished my longest running project:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ggICuKfpNIwyuNc5gLCTfFisAGXqDXCvaocj9sYjl9bU0gjUKUW4GnRS_0xr2MWoK_e4kCNAvbbYe2hGJuDgiW3gBQZ9inDAEdztRufSD3czKyq_TNpZHP-mGjo7HIYsit9lTprH1I4/s1600/IMAG0885.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ggICuKfpNIwyuNc5gLCTfFisAGXqDXCvaocj9sYjl9bU0gjUKUW4GnRS_0xr2MWoK_e4kCNAvbbYe2hGJuDgiW3gBQZ9inDAEdztRufSD3czKyq_TNpZHP-mGjo7HIYsit9lTprH1I4/s1600/IMAG0885.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Recognize this? No? That's the blanket I made out of all the garter stitch log cabin squares that I started back in January...<a href="http://compileyarn.blogspot.com/2012/01/in-which-i-learn-importance-of.html">of 2012</a>.<br />
<br />
Yeah. Then again, I could have had it done months ago. It's not that the blanket took forever, its that things don't get done if you don't work on them part that took forever. The squares, since I picked them up and put them down a lot, took a good two years on their own. The border took a year, technically. If you remember, <a href="http://compileyarn.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-scrap-project-paradox-and-law-of.html">I sewed up the blanket during the Olympics last year and almost finished the border a few months later</a>. But I ran out of black yarn. So, to avoid buying more, I borrowed some. Except it was Red Heart. Which, by the way, doesn't work too well as Red Heart is a lot thicker than Simply Soft. So while the blanket was techically done, it flared out at one of the ends due to the other yarn. So it again sat there, with a plan to get more Simply Soft and re-knit the last ten rows. <br />
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I finally got the yarn about four or so months ago, and then it took me until last month to finally go 'this isn't staying here any longer on my couch like this' and do it.<br />
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Just in time for me to have to use it because throat infections <i>suck</i>. So, it's useful, at least?<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-30157942400781049822015-02-21T23:55:00.003-05:002015-02-21T23:55:44.764-05:00Seed Stitch Lattice HatSee, I told you I'd release another free pattern.<br />
<br />
To get the actual pattern (pdf), please <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/dls/compile-yarn-designs/260679?filename=SeedStitchLatticeHat.pdf">click here to download it from Ravelry</a><br />
<center>
<h2 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Seed Stitch Lattice Hat</h2>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_9nmchfK9H1IDClhFe-1ainGYs10g5_OLqnwx7AF6G5r77fzJElk6oHC8sRHJwcGpg2eCPGWgfSfUf7HodAwW1gDhBmHKxOMf_dHsLSZaweqHdqwEvY-WhQwIVew1OTAQVlqC2V9qk0/s1600/SeedStitchLatticeBeret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_9nmchfK9H1IDClhFe-1ainGYs10g5_OLqnwx7AF6G5r77fzJElk6oHC8sRHJwcGpg2eCPGWgfSfUf7HodAwW1gDhBmHKxOMf_dHsLSZaweqHdqwEvY-WhQwIVew1OTAQVlqC2V9qk0/s1600/SeedStitchLatticeBeret.jpg" height="366" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A beret style hat that's way easier than it looks. The lattice effect is created using a contrasting color in a slightly lighter yarn than the main color and working seed stitch throughout.<br />
<h3 style="color: blue; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
Craft Type</h3>
Knitting<br />
<br />
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Skills </h3>
Knitting and purling, decreasing, working in the round, basic stranded colorwork<br />
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Sizing</h3>
17.5" (21") circumference at band, unstretched and blocked. Fits around at 18 - 20" (21 - 23") head.
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Gauge</h3>
22st and 32 rows per 4" [10cm] in dual color seed stitch [the body pattern] <br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yarn and Yardage</span></h3>
MC: 1 skein of Madelinetosh Tosh DK [225 yds/205 m]<br />
or around 130 yds of a comparable yarn. Sample used<br />
suggested yarn in colorway Dirty Panther.<br />
<br />
CC: 1 skein of Madelinetosh Tosh Sport [270 yds/247 m]<br />
or around 100 yds of a comparable yarn. Sample used<br />
suggested yarn in colorway Baltic.<br />
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Needles and Hooks</h3>
US 5 [3.75mm] 16” circular<br />
US 8 [5.00mm] 16” circular<br />
US 8 [5.00mm] 40” circular for Magic Loop or equivalent<br />
sized set of DPNs<br />
<br />
Happy knitting!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-90125640445534296042015-02-09T21:09:00.000-05:002015-08-08T12:43:05.508-04:00For What it's WorthWhile, given it's a week into February, that my hopes for getting a new pattern out around New Year's are dashed, I am working on one. Here's a hint:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc985yx-4Iq3-uqrPoytEDAhr21rVteThSS1rkhQukpG6Jt_Y92mzCzEmLlD0DfAhUDAKiNzoFk-Tqq-f3iTD_HnpMeuEDixFQbc2nJDrDw9GcUn2QELVTomGjWd0t6Tysp6ZaSjMr64/s1600/PatternPlanHint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc985yx-4Iq3-uqrPoytEDAhr21rVteThSS1rkhQukpG6Jt_Y92mzCzEmLlD0DfAhUDAKiNzoFk-Tqq-f3iTD_HnpMeuEDixFQbc2nJDrDw9GcUn2QELVTomGjWd0t6Tysp6ZaSjMr64/s1600/PatternPlanHint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the reasons I have no pattern still is simply because I keep changing my mind. I keep changing my mind partly because I keep trying things out and they don't work. Or I don't like them. Or it's too small, too big, wrong yarn, etc, etc. It isn't helping that I only did one swatch, and it was small.<br />
<br />
This is what happens when you think you can knock out a 'simple' item of your own design without doing much pre-planning, out of scrap yarn. I should have known it doesn't work that way. Now, it doesn't help that I haven't had much time for knitting recently, let alone calculating things officially in a spreadsheet. Spreadsheets require hours in front of the computer working on them. I can knit on the subway, the bus, and wherever I may be at the moment. Might have contributed to my throw-it-to-the-wind half-ass planning, that did.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it seems to be working now. Hopefully. Though I can't promise when it'll be written up and out, or if I'll be more than one size, I can promise that I'll release it for free. <br />
<br />
I actually thought about that for a bit, even though this pattern is pretty simple and in the end I decided that it'd only be worth between $0.50 and a dollar, which means it doesn't pay to get it tech edited. And I won't sell a pattern that hasn't been tech edited, because that's not respectful of my users. If it's free, well, I try to make sure there's no errors, but that's the trade off for getting a free pattern.<br />
<br />
However, it does have a different aspect to it, which is why I paused at first. Even something as simple as this takes a good amount of planning and some time investment. This is something I have very little of at the moment. And since my last pattern was put for sale, there's the aspect of going legit on top of it. Where's the line between free and not? Should I give my efforts away like that, after I've said they're worth something?<br />
<br />
But then I realize, who am I kidding, I ain't a professional in this nor do I want to be. So, free pattern. At some point.<br />
<br />
I did also get this done:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizgWnAf3AuBcNjxkfI7ZE0V_mvpP2tuHSpK3ZknjpWwz3LdgSIVh7Bk3rMpgw7T-sESMqtRa3iDuuCooNi7FodlQULg-98EtfU4XvlHR73bTI6KH3Pw90uHjKHMNBtU7V3TotWFN2Wqo/s1600/ShinyCableBeret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizgWnAf3AuBcNjxkfI7ZE0V_mvpP2tuHSpK3ZknjpWwz3LdgSIVh7Bk3rMpgw7T-sESMqtRa3iDuuCooNi7FodlQULg-98EtfU4XvlHR73bTI6KH3Pw90uHjKHMNBtU7V3TotWFN2Wqo/s1600/ShinyCableBeret.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flame-hat-3">Flame Hat by </a><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/irina-dmitrieva">Irina Dmitrieva</a>. I did the beret version.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yay, shiny cable hat. It's a little big, but it stays on my head, covers my ears, and is warm enough. Now what to do with the other skein of that yarn...<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-39198094148002319762015-02-02T22:05:00.001-05:002015-02-22T21:07:17.182-05:00The VogueKnitting Live 2015 Debrief<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MF2JHT8kJ_SAkVH_TT3hVmnMa7RZ_PISwzRRovmnWdCfYjXrxEVDs5Ch2jwHNLEwNwHmkqWacsMxrFh-mVz8Pig9XX367TiVkzclq5osHs_R9cMJhdt-5IFwkXTJAGIdm-380lL1H38/s1600/IMAG0675%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MF2JHT8kJ_SAkVH_TT3hVmnMa7RZ_PISwzRRovmnWdCfYjXrxEVDs5Ch2jwHNLEwNwHmkqWacsMxrFh-mVz8Pig9XX367TiVkzclq5osHs_R9cMJhdt-5IFwkXTJAGIdm-380lL1H38/s1600/IMAG0675%5B1%5D.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh look, I did make it to VogueKnitting Live. Barely. Only because even though everything goes wrong the weekend you plan to do something fun (and by everything I mean a burst pipe flooding kitchen of the unoccupied house I'm responsible for), I had good relatives who stepped in and took care of the stuff someone had to be there for. You know, so I wasn't out $100. Instead, I spent more money.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'll make this shorter and sweeter than I usually do, in the interest of time (given I'm already late to this party).<br />
<br />
<b>In General</b><br />
Two things worked in my favor this year: I noticed that they had the guide on their website (it was linked at the bottom of a copro-spam email from them. I was lucky I noticed it) and since Rhinebeck wasn't as awesome of a time as usually, for reasons completely unrelated to Rhinebeck, I said screw it and signed up for a class and went yarn-shopping.<br />
<br />
So, since I saw the guide way ahead of time, I found out that yes, all the fashion shows were on Saturday again and I need to go early, which I did. I actually went a bit too early; by the end of Saturday I was ready to leave and spent 30 minutes sitting on the floor waiting for my knit group. That didn't stop me from running around the marketplace on Sunday, of course.<br />
<br />
<b>The</b> <b>Class</b><br />
This year I took my chances again and signed up for 'Knitting Bag of Tricks' taught by Patty Lyons.<br />
<br />
It was way better than last year's class. The instructor taught well, including taking into consideration what we wanted to learn, while keeping control of the class and not going off the rails. While a couple of the tricks taught ended up not applying to me since the hack was 'knit combined' and I normally am a combination knitter, I learned several things I didn't even think of. Like the fact that you can cast on purl-wise using long tail cast on. Or twisting the back stitch of an standard k2tog or ssk makes it neater. Also, it turns out that she's been teaching the whole Knitting by Structure concept I though I was clever in figuring out. Guess I'm glad I didn't continue on with those posts (sorry).<br />
<br />
I highly recommend this class, and I'm glad I just pony-ed up 90% of its cost instead of not bothering when the 50% coupon didn't show up.<br />
<br />
<b>Fashion Shows and the Panels</b><br />
Having gone early for the fashion shows, I first was slightly disappointed. The first two shows I
saw, Vogue Knitting and Classic Elite Yarns were pretty tame. Though Vogue Knitting did have these
questionable items on display:<br />
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<br />
But anyway, as I got to the Rowan show, I looked at the pamphlet, realize it was full of standard boxy cut, cable laden sweaters, and skedaddled off to shop the marketplace. While seeing patterns I either kind of like or or are so far in the box it's not funny modeled isn't bad, I really go for the WTF factor. Which, when I came back in the middle of the Stephen & Steven fashion show I got it in spades:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLw6lLxueG7DqahMLBOqnr5BBjaCDEzCrxN7GVBIPRBc2c5vTm_2AZJjLSHhdGeZXcoPO1GwtIHeIGfYY1jgmZuV8M-oL421eZA3en-dO36cc-ONAz-Jhc9ChMdBnlLQ-v5pC7YDkOVQ/s1600/SAndSShow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLw6lLxueG7DqahMLBOqnr5BBjaCDEzCrxN7GVBIPRBc2c5vTm_2AZJjLSHhdGeZXcoPO1GwtIHeIGfYY1jgmZuV8M-oL421eZA3en-dO36cc-ONAz-Jhc9ChMdBnlLQ-v5pC7YDkOVQ/s1600/SAndSShow2.jpg" height="310" width="400" /></a></div>
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This show made up for the last three. All the knitwear in that show was an insane conglomerate of brightly-colored sacks and scarves that served more purpose as decoration for the strutting and dancing models than anything resembling an actual outfit. Don't get me wrong, it was a fun spectacle. But it wasn't really a knitwear showcase, and I have no clue what patterns were modeled. Maybe it's was better because it didn't pretend to be one.<br />
<br />
Which leads me to the last fashion show I saw, Koigu. This was the standard fashion show I'm used to. Some stuff that's ok, some stuff that's trying to pass itself off as a wearable item but you still wonder what went through the designers mind when she came up with that. Like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/circle-of-summer">the target vest</a>:<br />
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and the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brocade-leggings">knitted yoga pants that don't even look flattering on the model</a>, and the<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/drip-drip"> carpet sweater</a>:<br />
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<br />
and, to top it off, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vintage-flowers">your granny's doilies turned into a dress</a>:<br />
<br />
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<br />
Oh, VogueKnitting Live, never change.<br />
<br />
On Sunday, I did go to see a specific panel called 'Design is a Process', which was a good look into how different designers approach designing. It really got me thinking about the designs I want to do, which is bad because I currently have absolutely no time to do them. But I bought the yarn for a couple anyway. Mission accomplished, VogueKnitting?<br />
<br />
<b>Purchases</b><br />
So, yeah, I bought way too much yarn for myself. And some yarn for my mother and the sister who got screwed dealing with the brunt of the burst pipe crisis while I frolicked here. And some stitch markers. And a shawl pin. Also, I have no pictures of any of it as I already packed it up (well, all but the skein I'm already using).<br />
<br />
Let's just say that I'm set for awhile in yarn. Which didn't stop me from ordering more two weekends later (one planned since I didn't find it at VogueKnitting, one because my original plan didn't work). <br />
<br />
<b> </b>
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
This year was a better year than last year as I got to see fashion shows and had a great class. And bought too much yarn, which is always fun. Here's to next year, where hopefully I'm not ducking around making phone calls to the insurance company and relatives on top of everything.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-78757676029248767312014-12-30T19:57:00.000-05:002015-01-04T21:10:32.337-05:00The Only Thing I've AccomplishedI may have gotten little accomplished otherwise, but in the past week I've seemed to have gotten a lot of knitting done while everything went to shit. Well, ok, I also got my car back to street legal in the same time period, but the knitting didn't cost me $670 either.<br />
<br />
You know what...I take my surprise back. As I worked furiously on this hat:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbbOF21aW2n6ID_grmwl5T_ksbz_f-1LC7picGPkjLI9T-zV7Gr9ZKkGXUDz-0ckvDuo6855bh7nBMRbucYbw4uwVhmEi5OzIsxAMVnQr3WVQklZ1VLtTpNlfPwzO3hw4STgufdqyLnY/s1600/BasicLinedHat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbbOF21aW2n6ID_grmwl5T_ksbz_f-1LC7picGPkjLI9T-zV7Gr9ZKkGXUDz-0ckvDuo6855bh7nBMRbucYbw4uwVhmEi5OzIsxAMVnQr3WVQklZ1VLtTpNlfPwzO3hw4STgufdqyLnY/s1600/BasicLinedHat1.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-lined-hat-pattern-directions">Pattern here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and this cowl:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf1hx2RyLymhDaE3WWVUHAY3r3oxwI8O4BhsAT72aMDtgfoVYUWFYfkS5FjOIxXOhEJGGmt41aZrF0vxy2-vD0BUGRHSnLpKw9gCQYo_FdIRYOVHLdTobdqgnpUEx7ed9B9xFzBMCnIk/s1600/IMAG0403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCf1hx2RyLymhDaE3WWVUHAY3r3oxwI8O4BhsAT72aMDtgfoVYUWFYfkS5FjOIxXOhEJGGmt41aZrF0vxy2-vD0BUGRHSnLpKw9gCQYo_FdIRYOVHLdTobdqgnpUEx7ed9B9xFzBMCnIk/s1600/IMAG0403.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I start with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-night-one-skein-seed-stitch-cowl">this pattern</a>, but I always add 20 stitches. Honestly, there's a bunch of similar patters on Ravelry...it's basic seed stitch in-the-round.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and this hat:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4L9LvEtEQPudYzEwpjo9i-_RB5JPQk28f0lfUR5mX74W5ThfyYYKISaiNBNU6VTOSkMqEVxRdAD5NFRcMOCoWLhlorSkHind2qq5vTjKGW8g1xR5vB8yYySCiQqL65Zq6wZa-kQhfrQ/s1600/SeedStitchHat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4L9LvEtEQPudYzEwpjo9i-_RB5JPQk28f0lfUR5mX74W5ThfyYYKISaiNBNU6VTOSkMqEVxRdAD5NFRcMOCoWLhlorSkHind2qq5vTjKGW8g1xR5vB8yYySCiQqL65Zq6wZa-kQhfrQ/s1600/SeedStitchHat1.jpg" height="400" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My own pattern...may write it up quick and dirty and release it as a free one...we'll see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
and started these things:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lsANLzHgpcqilHDKyQN9dGPJ-QUr3fP1Pbiv4giBxh7YngHNVhpZLYjbnvZPED57efqcTjOSy2WS1aWeMKlVQ6s6Z4zR0GK0ResQgTn2eGG6IrpKo_5pzGJ5ttDssD3Pra9cTPf7G64/s1600/IMAG0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lsANLzHgpcqilHDKyQN9dGPJ-QUr3fP1Pbiv4giBxh7YngHNVhpZLYjbnvZPED57efqcTjOSy2WS1aWeMKlVQ6s6Z4zR0GK0ResQgTn2eGG6IrpKo_5pzGJ5ttDssD3Pra9cTPf7G64/s1600/IMAG0407.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
and messing around trying to plan a slightly more complicated pattern, I wondered to myself why I suddenly got more productive. How did I finish a double layer color-work hat in four days, and a single layer one in the same amount of time (and the single layer one took that long only because that was my third attempt and I made up the pattern)? Ok, sure, I did take two hour long trips on a bus and have to wait an hour dealing with my car, but that's not the complete story.<br />
<br />
The complete story is that <i>because</i> things hit a iffy point elsewhere, I got more productive. You see, yarn crafting is my crutch. It's the one thing that, even when I want to throw it across the room, I'm still more successful in than anything else. Because when I can't move forward and Murphy's Law is in play, I can usually still successfully make a hat. A color-work hat (thanks to my knitting group for turning me onto that obsession at the moment...the first hat was one of our KAL choices). A double-sided color-work hat with humping reindeer on the inside:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBimfICwVcixibhBpmMLmnFzwZRPyZKVtPSNJLzhuyZH8DEjdumrBKjoL4Y7gHMHeASsekyriEhtxLtWXHPj1jrtRgZoL_u0QTK8G61LLPfuZJwQayHx5tT9_nAjQUMlL7TZK0_fvWIjs/s1600/BasicLinedHat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBimfICwVcixibhBpmMLmnFzwZRPyZKVtPSNJLzhuyZH8DEjdumrBKjoL4Y7gHMHeASsekyriEhtxLtWXHPj1jrtRgZoL_u0QTK8G61LLPfuZJwQayHx5tT9_nAjQUMlL7TZK0_fvWIjs/s1600/BasicLinedHat2.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In which I can sub DK weight in for worsted and only screw up the math (because where was I when I thought 32 went into 112?) , and aggressively block it because it's still small and...it fits. Mostly. And if I really do screw up, it's just yarn, and you can just rip it out. It won't screw me over irreparably or have legal ramifications. It can be annoying but not as annoying as some other things I have to deal with.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, that makes all the difference.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>P.S.: My mom's sweater, while still damp when I took it with me, did survive the trip and was dry enough to give her that night. My sister's socks fit her, and she was so busy talking about how she loved socks that my mom had to remind her why this was her first knitted pair. I think I may be able to get away with sock weight yarn next time...</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-35753265101954789992014-12-19T18:05:00.000-05:002014-12-19T18:05:00.591-05:00Just One More ProblemThe good news is that I got all the knitting done I needed for people's presents.<br />
<br />
The bad news is I miscalculated. You see, when I said 'I need to get this done by next weekend'. I was thinking 'I need to finish knitting this by next weekend'. Make sense, right? Just one little issue: everything also needs to be blocked. Well, since I got everything done by Thursday, I was able to start blocking it all:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0364XZUSdNR7oFSe4Jk_DWndlpVHXbklFaENv4OUVEWpMjzfeekrdipL8kViGD1a_3k01fdKwIu3ADd5BxNIFq146PcWMAkdg3sF17NrwxBxLGwHCmpChTu3XKyq7ky4D3NKgjKVdPA/s1600/IMAG0385%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0364XZUSdNR7oFSe4Jk_DWndlpVHXbklFaENv4OUVEWpMjzfeekrdipL8kViGD1a_3k01fdKwIu3ADd5BxNIFq146PcWMAkdg3sF17NrwxBxLGwHCmpChTu3XKyq7ky4D3NKgjKVdPA/s1600/IMAG0385%5B1%5D.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
But I forgot something. My mom's sweater, made out of nice warm alpaca-silk yarn that is <span id="goog_943148235"></span><a href="http://compileyarn.blogspot.com/2014/11/not-problem-i-expected.html">brittle when wet</a>? That one? Takes forever to dry. It's been sitting out there since Wednesday night and it is still wet. <br />
<br />
I have to pack it up tomorrow morning. It may have to be in a bag in my knitting bag, the way this is going, and even that's going to be an iffy trip. Even though I'm hoping re-purposing my space heater as a blow dryer for it will dry it....naw, I'm screwed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-33065631321185044702014-12-13T00:03:00.000-05:002014-12-13T11:36:44.160-05:00Me? Learn? Never...The computer ate my yarn again:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcyLczlV43VdzNfoIJUszsPGhSu-zGf4bXLHAuVOMB8mSlRNC5TV3FwUqdafCLgFqM38kPAB2VqZZRrYEpnqG9Ex3i_6BXFQGIbGbuj31k2lkKd_sIzme9xaWCqjBvhSrDJ3-qh8I6ek/s1600/IMAG0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpcyLczlV43VdzNfoIJUszsPGhSu-zGf4bXLHAuVOMB8mSlRNC5TV3FwUqdafCLgFqM38kPAB2VqZZRrYEpnqG9Ex3i_6BXFQGIbGbuj31k2lkKd_sIzme9xaWCqjBvhSrDJ3-qh8I6ek/s1600/IMAG0343.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
And I have no excuse, because I just bought the switch I needed. I really should shove the computer under the desk.<br />
<br />
But not right now. Because the yarn broke free on it's own and there's still a bit wrapped around the fan:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7noO3fI6dgN_a32s3foYe9yk2-tdmZ-mDHB7NHp9Fw-p8t-g48DjFxkEsdLXSKprlUD5FBRdEX8Jo6vqNqrtfvDMSK4xqT90vpcLOndDTNtuDMtyvWjm1FhcyhyphenhyphensmTnZiA_DADd_1k/s1600/IMAG0344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjL7noO3fI6dgN_a32s3foYe9yk2-tdmZ-mDHB7NHp9Fw-p8t-g48DjFxkEsdLXSKprlUD5FBRdEX8Jo6vqNqrtfvDMSK4xqT90vpcLOndDTNtuDMtyvWjm1FhcyhyphenhyphensmTnZiA_DADd_1k/s1600/IMAG0344.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
However, the fan's still running, so I'll get it out when I turn off the computer. Serves me right for knitting with a long tail around the computer again.<br />
<br />
UPDATE:<br />
So getting that out was a little harder than last time. Since this yarn was much skinnier, the yarn had got into the joint of the fan, and even with the top off I couldn't get a good angle to grab the yarn through the fan. So I had to open up my computer and de-attach the fan to reach it:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrCx7-D7lRnZaq5AXkp8AQRsgGNAqrCwdIEAZw-vbuuOQktQXCUFuG-Z8vmvis-o_d5gpxAUo2n5KXQtqfqB_QPx43NA917Z1DWwhwyWdtRMX7LfpI8VHKrAvxtjqHAWcJfKFJ8poWFQ/s1600/IMAG0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrCx7-D7lRnZaq5AXkp8AQRsgGNAqrCwdIEAZw-vbuuOQktQXCUFuG-Z8vmvis-o_d5gpxAUo2n5KXQtqfqB_QPx43NA917Z1DWwhwyWdtRMX7LfpI8VHKrAvxtjqHAWcJfKFJ8poWFQ/s1600/IMAG0361.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSbFCNSOY26msmZeZaHRJju6Qz6ojhbGo0qskovFgkQfMHzrB8Yx3zQECal_jYsqgaXkmVGNIPaws4tNQKNJ8_IaZV0aIpaTbPSwgy5fSkwSb5-ah3H8t-6y0M3TyJW5TE7hhBKmi9s/s1600/IMAG0363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSbFCNSOY26msmZeZaHRJju6Qz6ojhbGo0qskovFgkQfMHzrB8Yx3zQECal_jYsqgaXkmVGNIPaws4tNQKNJ8_IaZV0aIpaTbPSwgy5fSkwSb5-ah3H8t-6y0M3TyJW5TE7hhBKmi9s/s1600/IMAG0363.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qXaykq68hXIla3qLfWeRlW7wkIlZelFDx_uqUneeTwnVYeDHkvJumaKCea6LSZt4ZqQBz04h401JBea81RI959S3dcnyhkt7MvbVVPOT8TqHyAdV2cWURIPcmm6-5mGOxJPB_ytagH4/s1600/IMAG0365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qXaykq68hXIla3qLfWeRlW7wkIlZelFDx_uqUneeTwnVYeDHkvJumaKCea6LSZt4ZqQBz04h401JBea81RI959S3dcnyhkt7MvbVVPOT8TqHyAdV2cWURIPcmm6-5mGOxJPB_ytagH4/s1600/IMAG0365.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember people: unplug the computer first and make sure you stay grounded. Don't want to electrocute yourself or one of the boards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm still lucky this case is pretty easy to mess with. Then again, I wouldn't have this problem if it wasn't a custom case...oh well.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-37577276550976594152014-12-12T17:52:00.002-05:002014-12-13T11:39:47.450-05:00Trying Not to Get My Hopes UpFor a week or two there, I was under the impression that I would get everything done in time for Hanukkah. Then I was under the impression that I would never get close to getting my sister's socks done, so I started putting more effort into that and less into my mom's sweater. Now I'm left a bit of a conundrum.<br />
<br />
To start, Hanukkah technically starts on the 16th, but I'm not going to see my family until later, so I have a little more time than that (so, lets say I have about 10 days, max). However, I also have a lot to do. It is better place than I was expecting to be, but still not <i>done</i>, or close to it. Believe it or not, this is the first time I've run the risk of missing a present deadline*. I did get my brother's socks done at least:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj3VgInSLXUNGwu4lqeKsONEw3kQJYfai8hW62Dm_BFOeZvsghZCoLU0cJsScEVlfl4YJuD1HbFLOACTX66pcrPrRYy0IXxbacl-sALoJmB_gA0f0Cpzg9CGtDYB2fj9MjvL-VrbGFZw/s1600/CamoSocks1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPj3VgInSLXUNGwu4lqeKsONEw3kQJYfai8hW62Dm_BFOeZvsghZCoLU0cJsScEVlfl4YJuD1HbFLOACTX66pcrPrRYy0IXxbacl-sALoJmB_gA0f0Cpzg9CGtDYB2fj9MjvL-VrbGFZw/s1600/CamoSocks1.jpg" height="387" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patten I used was <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mr-pitts-socks-aka-dad-socks">Mr. Pitt's Socks</a>, using a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/schoppel-wolle-zauberball">Zauberball</a>. I really could have dropped a needle size for it to be better, but my brother just trashes things anyway and they fit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
However, my sister's socks were a bit more of a hassle than what I was expecting. To give a bit of background, one of my sisters loves crazy and colorful socks. You'd think she'd be the perfect person to knit socks for. Nope. She told me years ago when I started knitting that she doesn't want knit socks; she hates hand-made socks. At the time I left that statement as is.<br />
<br />
This year, at Rhinebeck (yes, I went. No, I doubt I'll be doing a debrief this year), my sister finally explained why. She associates hand-knit socks with the only pair of hand-made socks she's ever gotten -- a wonky pair of worsted-weight acrylic crochet socks my mom made when we were younger (and promptly had a crisis in confidence about, so she went back to making blankets). After a discussion where I assured her that knitted socks were usually <i>nothing</i> like that and I could even use lighter yarn than normal 'sock weight', and yes I'd make sure they were the same size...she picked out a skein of lace weight sparkly yarn for me to make socks out of:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtJGBj8oeGw_6OSzps9z6cjiG04mvGc23sfnG8WoIOkuvpoFLqTjOWlvDwK7-GGSZRF78WYKUdSXcpaBjm8vejPG2KfB7Z7zczSyaeTiGvQq3gLerSlibzbxJ9ylCkoPxP3NhoKry0wE/s1600/YarnForLaceTopSocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtJGBj8oeGw_6OSzps9z6cjiG04mvGc23sfnG8WoIOkuvpoFLqTjOWlvDwK7-GGSZRF78WYKUdSXcpaBjm8vejPG2KfB7Z7zczSyaeTiGvQq3gLerSlibzbxJ9ylCkoPxP3NhoKry0wE/s1600/YarnForLaceTopSocks.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/bittersweet-woolery-star-dust-lace">Star Dust Lace by Bittersweet Woolery</a> in colorway Cirrus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A couple of things turned out to be true about this yarn:<br />
<ul>
<li>It is nice and soft.</li>
<li>The tinsel that makes it sparkly does like to stick out of the sock a bit when you knit with it. </li>
<li>It is really thin and fluffy</li>
<li>It has magical gauge properties that make everything wear bigger than the measurements suggest.</li>
<li>It requires a size US000 (that is not a typo) needle to work in a close enough gauge for socks.</li>
</ul>
It's the magical gauge properties that got me the most. There are very few patterns for lace-weight socks (gee, I wonder why). Which is normally fine, since as long as there's no crazy patterning in the sock, I can adjust it to my gauge. But when you pair that with magic gauge properties and patterns that have a large repeat...you end up ripping stuff out a lot.<br />
<br />
You see, I first chose<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/no-purl-monkeys"> this pattern</a>. I thought it would work; even though it's a 16 stitch repeat, the math seemed to work out on it using the gauge I was getting in my swatch (which I even knit in the round!). So I started. I even tried a picot edge instead of the ribbing, thinking that would look cuter (my sister does cute). In the gauge I was using, the picot hem edging took forever and then I started on the pattern and...way too big. It was too big for me, let alone my sister. Knowing I had to get this right and give socks that fit, I ripped out and dropped a repeat of the pattern. I also did a k3, p2 ribbing instead. That seemed nice, and a went for awhile with that, but the voice in my head kept nagging me about how it still felt too big. It was ok for me, but would it stretch out too much because of the lace? Would it grow when being worn? It was already on the edge of too big for my sister and...I gave up and ripped it out. Due to the large repeat in the pattern, I really couldn't make it smaller comfortably. However, the pattern looked amazing in the yarn, I have to say, so I was sad it didn't work.<br />
<br />
Since time was of the essence, I quickly went to my backup pattern, which is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snow-queen-sock">this one</a>. It seems to work, but I wasn't sure if I felt that way because the colors were similar and I could picture it in the yarn I had, or it would really work. At least this kept the cute lace only on top, where fit wouldn't be as big of an issue. The ribbing would keep the rest snug. So I went with the same stitch count I did for the smaller sock (which -1 ease, supposedly, though it doesn't look like it) and started.<br />
<br />
Now I have a sock:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJoMqcwMGlkwQlnP_35mz4y2e6I18ZGyQTrGhcAkUSNRFJlkQ7yZ-zJ1wcVFBw_zHtRKL84K9OLloaMWztG1zzROnAo17sYOAGa3AO04Mn2bBZeCWutMQty7ELItO778_iGZcEyJHBo/s1600/LaceTopSockDone1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuJoMqcwMGlkwQlnP_35mz4y2e6I18ZGyQTrGhcAkUSNRFJlkQ7yZ-zJ1wcVFBw_zHtRKL84K9OLloaMWztG1zzROnAo17sYOAGa3AO04Mn2bBZeCWutMQty7ELItO778_iGZcEyJHBo/s1600/LaceTopSockDone1.jpg" height="400" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, it looks small, but it stretches...if it wasn't shorter than my foot, I could wear it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A couple of things about this pattern, though:<br />
<ul>
<li>The lace is nice, but very fiddly, at least in this gauge. </li>
<li>The yarn doesn't work as well for the lace as I would have hoped (the color changes obscure the pattern a bit), but it's good enough.</li>
<li>Once you get past the lace, it is smooth sailing. It took me two days to do the small lace top, and 8 days to do the rest of the sock, and part of that is simply life getting in the way.</li>
<li>Even though I changed the ribbing to be k6, p2 (mainly because p1's always look like crap when I do them; I can't seem to tighten them up enough), the damn sock still feels big to me. The ribbing helps a bit, but not as much as I would have hoped. I think it's just the yarn and it's light soft fluffy quality. Nothing's going to feel tight using this stuff.</li>
</ul>
<br />
So...can I get it done? Well, this is where I am now with the second one:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_JIkItxvQw6odEiczAs1Jl8K4a5K2_vSFyP-_3ser3K1-86fZpbY2cjayBwQ0z15agPLr-0as02N5jGKfd74VBi9Ehd9nblNm9pvy7qNr2KYXfC3jBJNgenq4C312GpQeXlUC59Vc_g/s1600/LaceTopSocks2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_JIkItxvQw6odEiczAs1Jl8K4a5K2_vSFyP-_3ser3K1-86fZpbY2cjayBwQ0z15agPLr-0as02N5jGKfd74VBi9Ehd9nblNm9pvy7qNr2KYXfC3jBJNgenq4C312GpQeXlUC59Vc_g/s1600/LaceTopSocks2.jpg" height="400" width="305" /></a></div>
<br />
Almost done with the lace part. So the possible answer is yes. However, it will most likely be at a price:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0LzAuWkb7MSeis3jbgj-xmRDec04oYDv8ISxa_qOC0pB-gnN2rUes-GLKYwcDC_jmS0cScR9eAd5VDdeDlu8cX5E-UgtmpVIrIFUSCRCvPXSaqMC3F62KtllP_yUKoULQunTlw8a5gQ/s1600/MomsSweaterCollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0LzAuWkb7MSeis3jbgj-xmRDec04oYDv8ISxa_qOC0pB-gnN2rUes-GLKYwcDC_jmS0cScR9eAd5VDdeDlu8cX5E-UgtmpVIrIFUSCRCvPXSaqMC3F62KtllP_yUKoULQunTlw8a5gQ/s1600/MomsSweaterCollar.jpg" height="363" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I still haven't finished my mom's sweater. I've been working on that collar for more than a week, and by working I mean mostly ignoring it and working on the sock. So the socks may get done, and the sweater may get done, but I don't know if both will get done in time...<br />
<br />
Better start working on it then, I guess. <br />
<br />
*[Wait, I take that back. I did almost miss a deadline for presents before. The first time I made my mom socks, I was quickly finishing them and blocking them before I left her house so she could have them during Hanukkah...and the only reason I succeeded was because the yarn I had used for the provisional cast on matched the sock yarn, so I wove in the ends and left it there instead of making the sock longer. The socks were wet when I left, but they were done!]<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-33316018924916693212014-11-10T23:25:00.001-05:002014-11-10T23:25:49.281-05:00Not the Problem I ExpectedThe other project I'm currently working on now-a-days is a cardigan for my mother, which will be her Hanukkah present. The good thing is I've had this planned since around Mother's Day and, knowing this was a little more ambiguous than socks, started back in September. (Funny story with that. I bought the yarn in front of my mom, on a special trip to WEBS, and explicitly told her I would use it for a sweater for her Hanukkah present. Fast forward to September, where I went to measure her for it. She asks: why are you measuring me? I go: for your sweater. She goes: oh, you're making me a sweater? I go: ...).<br />
<br />
Anyway, fast foward to now and I've got the body done:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfbfB00sru7pILhQjU83hrk496T2B0oLokhZl3mtzVjpDqJTZrm_TWaCUSbWL91lwOIMcZ_iWhvIRcogjghZ8shTGY675w6xmBDaqUfeP1eJyGBF3m1v2RU43wZy9UKEKaxJpim5eATE/s1600/RaindropCardigan_BodyBlock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfbfB00sru7pILhQjU83hrk496T2B0oLokhZl3mtzVjpDqJTZrm_TWaCUSbWL91lwOIMcZ_iWhvIRcogjghZ8shTGY675w6xmBDaqUfeP1eJyGBF3m1v2RU43wZy9UKEKaxJpim5eATE/s1600/RaindropCardigan_BodyBlock.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're interested, the pattern is Raindrop Cardigan from <i>Twisted Stitches</i> by Connie Chang Chinchio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, after you finish the body, the instructions tell you to block it. I debated about this for a bit. After all, the yarn I'm using is mostly alpaca; why should I block it and then try to pick up for the sleeves? What will that do? In the end, since I was in the middle of hand washing stuff anyway, I decided to give it a wash. <br />
<br />
It bled like nobody's business. But that wasn't the main issue; after all, it will get another bath and I'll set it then. The main issue is this happend:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq87zKhV8DiGTnkNPNmbI7nNQAk8KngXBOrUQyHqVAWvT5JuLPCprX78QXdqcPnudY7GRUZpG4ph1PWT1kfz82PnaDGFZgIckSELj3ehULiVqkaohenMZnTaQq59dAntR60lhNKSw1lGc/s1600/DroppedStitchesRaindropSweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq87zKhV8DiGTnkNPNmbI7nNQAk8KngXBOrUQyHqVAWvT5JuLPCprX78QXdqcPnudY7GRUZpG4ph1PWT1kfz82PnaDGFZgIckSELj3ehULiVqkaohenMZnTaQq59dAntR60lhNKSw1lGc/s1600/DroppedStitchesRaindropSweater.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That is part of the bind off sequence for the armhole. Broken. With four stitches dropped down and saved with split stitch markers (by the way, always have split or locking stitch markers. They suck for normal use but they're a godsend when you drop a stitch or four come loose in a wash). I have no clue how that happened. I didn't agitate it much. I wove in all ends. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?<br />
<br />
Now, this isn't that crazy to fix. I need to ladder up the four stitches back to the bind off, then re-bind them off with another piece of yarn. At least that's what I think will work. Unfortunately, it's still drying, and I can't try to fix it until it dries.<br />
<br />
Now, hopefully this is the last issue....it would really suck if, say, the armholes are too big after I join the shoulders together. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-58131154223061280882014-11-07T18:40:00.000-05:002014-11-07T18:40:06.622-05:00Because This Seriously Just Occured To MeThat I could, when working a heel flap, just leave the other half of the sock hanging out on the needle cord instead of putting it on a holder like I normally do:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOh3FKokWLtYqP_RRyivudnSdNU6D3ACGJEFR3dCEBsC5OfMhEIiG3KUcVExnT0SAXrI1vZuuE7pIiB784x8CNcyxEoQ3eOIpZ00_ttKgRti250N3LeKp7DtOEEK4Px6GweTpIC1q2RA/s1600/SelfHoldingSock-CamoSock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOh3FKokWLtYqP_RRyivudnSdNU6D3ACGJEFR3dCEBsC5OfMhEIiG3KUcVExnT0SAXrI1vZuuE7pIiB784x8CNcyxEoQ3eOIpZ00_ttKgRti250N3LeKp7DtOEEK4Px6GweTpIC1q2RA/s1600/SelfHoldingSock-CamoSock.jpg" height="400" width="365" /></a></div>
<br />
Um, yeah. Though I still don't like the fact that all my sock-sized stitch holders have run the coop. I have no clue where they are, and I just cleaned my apartment, so that's not an excuse. The last time I saw one of them was when I made the second sock of this pair:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL3TrRDyFqQJMkIetPerw5T6wd6AFEG-iK7QgQqyFz3nFYbZiayaabn45fNGjMCQakHKTu7eD9TSen8Cu0X4BreURYY1DpWDHo_7duVA7RNpHBws3yDimiXTxwH_ovIWEeIzLic3GvTI/s1600/IMAG0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHL3TrRDyFqQJMkIetPerw5T6wd6AFEG-iK7QgQqyFz3nFYbZiayaabn45fNGjMCQakHKTu7eD9TSen8Cu0X4BreURYY1DpWDHo_7duVA7RNpHBws3yDimiXTxwH_ovIWEeIzLic3GvTI/s1600/IMAG0254.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
(Sorry, I forgot to take of picture of them when I was done, and the recipient already absconded with them (it was supposed to be a Christmas present...but oh well)).<br />
<br />
However, I can't for the life of me remember what I did with it after I used it on that sock. Oh well. Hopefully they'll turn up at some point. If only for the sake of not losing my stuff.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-14879177487737830012014-08-30T00:30:00.000-04:002014-08-30T00:30:00.051-04:00The Computer Ate My YarnI'm not kidding:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpCTuIu3RDKbwPX66_Kx1qlkxyZpxgtdBJWddTUj6CmgzPeqTe9ESdF1ItGTFwgXS8r7e2ojkOFB3-rFoEsSmuyHSs1rdQPjWDf9UfWPiJ5iw5NS_qVc02hAgNGzmpgQyCGoCoeX4NvE/s1600/IMAG0166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpCTuIu3RDKbwPX66_Kx1qlkxyZpxgtdBJWddTUj6CmgzPeqTe9ESdF1ItGTFwgXS8r7e2ojkOFB3-rFoEsSmuyHSs1rdQPjWDf9UfWPiJ5iw5NS_qVc02hAgNGzmpgQyCGoCoeX4NvE/s1600/IMAG0166.jpg" height="400" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
I was knitting at my computer desk while surfing the interwebz when I heard a *slurp* and looked down to see a piece of yarn attached to the project I was working on sticking out of the back of my computer.<br />
<br />
I may need to clarify a couple of things here. One, there's a huge open space in the back of my computer due to the fact that I have a slim-sized motherboard in a full-sized chassis. Two, one of the case fans is right next to that lovely hole. Three, my computer is currently sitting next to my chair because I don't want to shove it in the corner it belongs until I get the switch I need to complete my setup (and of course I haven't bought the switch yet).<br />
<br />
So I guess it was a matter of time before it ate my yarn.<br />
<br />
Luckily for me, it only ate the piece left over from the start of my project and the top of the chassis comes right off. So I was able to cut the yarn off the project and open the computer up to unwrap the yarn from the back fan:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi112Qy8cIPyN00PpRitP6fY2qHo27GggC5SiAV3_3jfqtTizx6ohSc5thbSbLIO00DVvEa6_iIQhXy8flEyoAeJtnyy96jw3YJ3JHBV8tKtn0jiDRhVoXvV5XtaH6vb_MesyLcn7fP_pg/s1600/IMAG0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi112Qy8cIPyN00PpRitP6fY2qHo27GggC5SiAV3_3jfqtTizx6ohSc5thbSbLIO00DVvEa6_iIQhXy8flEyoAeJtnyy96jw3YJ3JHBV8tKtn0jiDRhVoXvV5XtaH6vb_MesyLcn7fP_pg/s1600/IMAG0167.jpg" height="226" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Now I know to keep my yarn away from the damn thing. Oye.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-973485702033223783.post-23491506170324392872014-08-29T21:34:00.001-04:002014-08-29T21:35:01.812-04:00Here We Go AgainFor one of the few projects I'm currently working on, I'm making a baby sweater for one of my cousins. Par for the course; I usually have at least one cousin who has a baby per year. Gives me an excuse to make baby stuff again.<br />
<br />
However, this time I decided that I should use some of the baby yarn I currently have in my stash, the majority of which is three mostly full skeins of some baby acrylic I bought for a blanket, all in different colors. That shouldn't be a problem; if I use one of the other colors as an accent color I should have plenty of yarn for a sweater and...<br />
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<br />
Yep, I'm almost out of yarn. And I still have another sleeve and the trim to do. And the only reason I don't have less than that is that I realized that I was running low on yarn about four rows away from starting the striping sequence you see at the bottom of the sweater there, and therefore deciding to start it early and then make up the length using the other color.<br />
<br />
That may not be enough, though. I may have to rip out at least part of the other sleeve, and do some more hacking of the pattern to get them to match. But right now I'm just carrying on as normal, hoping that the ball doesn't run out.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, there are good endings to some things:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitePWiIBeGGSsCxe2NTjo8liendDSUdiBsrOrqi190aQFlOfNo__qbGcrZfwk98NmwFJiP5MuuV3Lvw0JPy5wWKvj7uu0ewaGvL-d9NaWZW26sUlbaKGXz7dvs_98AouNjLNX9N1IpNM8/s1600/IMAG0141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
While I can't say she wore the shawl for that long, my sister did put it on at her wedding and show it off to some of the guests. Good enough.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12095952937931831878noreply@blogger.com0