KelKnits: Knitting in Hawaii

Baby in Wool!

2011-11-13T00:16:00.002-10:00

The Best I Ever Made

2011-07-09T16:05:00.000-10:00

Baby Knitting for ME!

2011-06-26T21:41:00.003-10:00

I am expecting a baby.
I am due in about 10 days, and am excited but mostly nervous. The first 5 months I was
sick, but otherwise, I have been lucky and healthy throughout the pregnancy. Since I dive for a living, I had to essentially stop working as soon as I found out. This has been financially difficult, but restful at home, at least. I have been very blessed to have my DBF home most of the time with me as well.

But I haven't done too much knitting. I made a hat and bootie set for my friend (last post) and then finally made one pair of booties for Cletus the Fetus. (Socks that Rock leftovers from the River Rocked pattern. These are yet more of the Stay-On Baby Booties).
Then, in early May, I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes, and my life became daily worries and medical details, with carb counting, blood sugar testing, and this horrid fear that I was hurting the baby with my every move. Knitting cute baby things just seemed like the most superstitious thing ever. What would happen if something went wrong? So I worked on my brother's Christmas socks, now vastly overdue. For months. Okay, I was going to run out of yarn, so I had to rip back and re-do his first sock, but still: MONTHS! (I just checked. It took me 7 months to finish his socks. Sad.)
And so it went: The months went on, the worry and paranoia continued, the knitting of non-baby socks occurred. Then, slowly, I started making the Star Trek Bibs. I did the yellow, then the blue, then I worried some more. Perhaps armed with knowledge of my worry and exhaustion, my friends threw me a surprise baby shower, and they brought beads for one of those strung-together labor-bracelets. I got excited about knitting them together instead, and added some more beads, buttons, and jewelry to represent people not at the shower. The simple icord bracelet broke the knitting spell, in a way. Maybe having all those thoughts and prayers behind me?

Then I was on a roll. I finished the Ensign Redshirt Star Trek Bib, then, continuing the Sci-fi theme, used the remains from a Jayne hat to make a baby Jayne hat!
The watermellon hat came next, then pieces for a sweater, and parts of a bunny hat (still in progress). I am still nervous. I am still scared. But he will come any day now, and at least he will have good hats.

Baby Stuff! (Not for Me...YET!)

2011-02-27T23:01:00.001-10:00

Tomato Hat!
Stay on Baby Booties!
I used leftover STR in the Garden Daze colorway: It is supposed to be like heirloom tomato colors? But then they just looked like Rasta Booties. So the Tomato Hat makes it a set... Sort of. And the recipient owns a headshop, so Rasta Booties are fitting...
If the Bootie fits?

Half a Year's Knitting... Pretty Slim!

2011-01-14T14:07:00.002-10:00

My favorite hat ever: I thought it was time for a nice slouchy hat, and when the STR arrived (I obviously did not make the club selection with this!) I knew it had to be DBFs. Now, DBF is allergic to wool. I know, I know... but I love him anyway! And he loves subdued, military colors, and this olive drab yarn was so perfect for him. So I plotted! What I needed was an irresistible hat, versatile pattern, in the perfect color. And if all else failed, I would get to wear it around and he would get to look at it? But he loves it! Although he usually wears a cotton kerchief under it because of the wool...

These are two socks I made and gave away! Not even on Christmas! The Purple is a STR color and pattern- but a color and pattern that didn't belong together. Swing Sets out of Pepe La Plume. These went to a friend in trade- She made me an octopus diving hood!
And finally: Knetted by Cat Bordhi in River Rocked. These are a perfect color and size for a friend, and I hand delivered them when I visited her in November.
Not very impressive stash busting between August and December, is it?

Next projects: Tons of baby stuff!

Very Pretty Socks of Summer

2010-08-29T09:49:00.002-10:00

Beet Toe and Heel!
I am loving these "Beet Greens" pattern! This is My <3 Beets 4u, the July 2010 pattern. I loved the Beet on the heel so much that I repeated it on the toe... I thought the beet greens just petering out on the toe looked lonely!

Steam Punk Socks!
Ada Lovelace by Star Athena in the very subtle Sweet Pea colorway. This was the May 2010 RSC pattern. I love this sock, but the colorway is too subtle. With the red dirt stains we get on white socks in Hawaii, it already looks stained. DBF said, "Is it dirty already?!?! It looks like my workboot socks". I am sure he didn't mean the lace and cuff and eyelets... right? I made this with the gap in the cuff for folding up or down. It makes a good tattoo peek.

Colorado Alpaca!
My very dear friend and now-Colorado-resident sent me a care package including some local yarn! It is very delicate and I am thinking of a twisted stitch aran cable hat maybe?

Did I Mention I Was Diving This Summer?

2010-08-08T10:37:00.005-10:00

Busy, but Knitting, Part II:

These are the Spring Forwards, from Knitty. Made with STR In the Navy which I picked up a few years ago at Black Sheep Gathering. They are medium weight and thick and warm! I love the color and the pattern was fun.

These beauties are the March STR Rockin' Sock Club pattern. Secret Garden by Janel Laidman, in Wild Irishgirlie. I loved the roses and the gusset increases on this sock. Felt better doing these roses after the Yarn Harlot pattern Rogue Roses. Similar rosebuds in that one.

Ada Lovelace, the May 2010 RSC pattern. This is a steampunk-inspired knit in a very delicate "Sweet Pea" Colorway. Pretty! I am almost done with sock #1.

Stash Enhancement!

The July 2010 RSC kit arrived in Hawaii on August 3rd, pretty similar timing to the California Folks. Very pretty colors of Firecracker! I Don't know which pattern to do, yet. I have grand plans to knit every pattern they send me, just in non-club colorways for the patterns #2. Have yet to accomplish that...

Also an extra: Sock Candy in Granny Apple, and flip-flop (we call them Slippahs here) pattern, which may end up being useful for my lifestyle and disastrous to my slippah-tan.

Summertime Means Diving, Not Knitting, But Even So:

2010-06-10T18:14:00.004-10:00

There have been socks: Whale Tails, in a rather busy colorway, for my friend who is off doing whale research in Australia. I didn't get them done in time for her going-away-party so these shall be a "Welcome Home" gift! Azure Socks, by Deb Barnhill, From Knitty Winter 2007. Steinbach Wolle, in a self-striping, maybe? Way too busy to see the Whale Tail pattern, and the wool felt thin after all the Blue Moon.

More Socks (In Progress): Spring Forwards in a decidedly wintery colorway. I am into dark blues right now. This is STR In The Navy, in Mediumweight. Off the foot, this pattern looks quilted, or entrelac. On the foot, the zigzag and lace is clear. Pretty!

Tiny iPhone Covers: For friends, using leftovers from socks. All Blue Moon Fibers. These are numbers 8 and 9 out of 10.

Stash Enhancement: Club package for May 2010, in Sweet Pea. Very delicate. My first thought was, "I don't want white socks! They will get dirty!" Which is funny, because most people in the nation have white socks. Just us crazy knitters who proclaim loud colors and want pristine socks. My second thought was, "OoOooh! Ada Lovelace is one pretty pattern! I guess I shall have white socks!"

The other is dark grey wool for a commissioned diving shrug!

Sweet Pink Honey!

2010-04-03T10:23:00.002-10:00

This pattern is from Interweave Knits, and I was first drawn to the texture. Brioche-stitch... which is different than Brioche pattern?
It was easy and quick enough, and I like the look of the texture. I found the only problem was that I couldn't read the pattern too well, so if I put it down or paid too much attention to the movie, I found I lost my place.
The yarn is alpaca that I bought from alpaca farmers at the Black Sheep gathering in Oregon a few years ago. It is fuzzy and luxe.
Love it as a beret. But it is too pink: If I pull it over my ears cloche-style, it makes me look like a big penis head.
I asked DBF how he liked the texture, and he said, "It just looks like regular, only looser." Should have just made this with like size 18 needles?

The Twisted Socks in Reggae Tomato Colors

2010-03-22T20:43:00.002-10:00

I wanted to knit these socks purely because I wanted to know how they were done. The bias is so interesting, the heel so swirly! To tell the truth, after I completed the first sock I felt done: Okay, THAT is how that was done! And I was not inclined to continue.
Que: The Dreaded Second Sock Syndrome!
(Which I had not heretofore felt. Much...)
I felt I needed to press on immediately or risk a single sock and a half-skein forever.

The yarn is STR Lightweight in colorway "Garden"; A summertime evokation of tomatoes and such. It is a little busy, and I thought perhaps showing off the stripes on the bias was better than the pattern that came with the yarn (Rockin' Sock Club).
So I like them. Sort of. The fit is perfect for me, and I hesitate to give them away because they are just so... Tomato colored. Striped. And the pooling is weird. But check out those great swirly heels!

Baby Shower Goodness

2010-03-12T10:16:00.003-10:00

The recent three sweaters for two babies have taught me some things:
1) Baby sweaters are wicked cute, especially with cables or lace details.
2) Babies outgrow sweaters faster than you can say... well, anything.
3) Hats: Hats are more practical!
4) Babies outgrow hats faster than you can say how-did-that-huge-head-make-it-past-your-pubic-bone?!?!?!
5) Booties! Booties are practical!

So for my friend's upcoming baby, I made one hat (large) and two pairs booties (small and large), using machine washable cotton for the set. Mama lives here in Hawaii, but upcountry, so booties and hats are useful where perhaps a sweater would not be. Booties are the "Stay-On Baby Booties" pattern, which according to the inner-nets, actually stay on. Purple booties are Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock, in the Muddy Autumn Rainbow color, left over from the December 2008 sock club.
The little girl is being welcomed into a family of water people: He is a fisherman and she is a diver, so baby will be surrounded by ocean themed items!

A Return to Socks

2010-02-28T15:22:00.003-10:00

Whoops.
A Ravelry perusal of my 2009 projects reveal: Not one single sock! Perhaps it was an obsession with the Cromarty, perhaps it was the forced hours of knitting the Rogue Roses sock during a 13 hour stay in the Manilla airport, followed by airplane knitting- But SOMETHING made be be off socks in 2009. The one sock club pattern completed wasn't even a sock: I made it into fingerless gloves!
(Oh wait, I did whip out Holidazed, the Nov 2008 sock, at the beginning of January 2009, but those were so fast, and late 2008, that they hardly count stacked up against the rest of the year!)(DOH: I even proclaim in that Holidazed post how excited I am about the upcoming 2009 club.)
Add to that some guilt, as my membership in the 2009 STR sock club was a Christmas 2008 gift from my dearest...

But no more! The sock drought is over! After the impromptu gift of my knee socks to my mother, I decided I need to just give away all the socks I make, only keeping ones I adore or ones that are deeply flawed... and of course the stuffed sock drawer I already own. They are used, after all. The Following socks are in the Christmas basket.

I give you:
1) The finally-completed Manilla airport Rogue Roses. Completed January 2010!

2) The gorgeous (I may keep these) Raven Swirl Socks, completed February 2010!

3) The on-time completion of the January 2010 STR Club selection Cascadia!

4) One sock of an impending pair of Skew socks, made with STR Garden, a yarn but not the pattern of a 2009 STR club month. (Umm... Not photoed yet.)

And you know what I am making today? Baby Booties! Do they count as socks? What if they are made with leftover sock yarn?

I'm BACK, baby!

The Cromarty (3 years' worth?!?!)

2010-01-17T14:20:00.003-10:00

Once upon a time, in late 2006, I saw an icy blue sweater in Alice Starmore's Celtic collection book, and decided it was time.

"...the icy blue colour and textured surface reflect the stone material. I used a unit of knotwork from the Nigg stone...[and] numerous Pictish stones in Eastern Scotland."

Delicious, yes? Although the yarn was discontinued, I had 4 balls of light blue Rowan of a similar weight.
Commence the search for more balls of yarn: The pattern called for 15. Following online advice and some magic and prayer, I found 16 more in the same dye lot, equaling 20 balls to the required 15.
Commence gauge swatches: Swatches, plural. Apparently I made 4. Got close enough to stitch gauge and nowhere near row gauge. Which leads me to:
What the hell does "Starmore's Bulletproof Gauge" actually mean?!?!? Does it mean that what she says is so perfect that it is un-arguable? OR does it mean her gauge is so tight that it will stop a speeding bullet?
Anyway. 22 rows from the cast on and some quick math led me to the conclusion that I did not have enough yarn. Commence a TWO YEAR time out!
...
...
...
...
...

A couple of years and a few sweaters later and a whim to at least finish the front, and re-work the math from there. I also cut out the 4th repeat of the cables, since it's a cropped length sweater anyway. Figuring the sleeves would take less than 1/4 of the yarn, and the math worked out!
The rest of the sweater flew pretty fast after that (with other projects in between, of course). Mirrored the shorter front and back, and made the sleeves shorter as well. Only other altercation was neckline strips in the round: I figured they would be less apt to roll and stretch, as the neckline was pretty stretched to begin with. They still roll, and look pretty thick.
Overall: The sweater is boxy and unflattering. It is also heavy (about 2 lbs) and warm. But: I am really proud of myself for completing this! I am proud that it is a Starmore, proud that it is an all-over cabled Aran, and proud that (after a long time out and dubious yarn supply) I finished it anyway.
So what is next?

Remiss Sock Club Packages!

2009-12-05T14:06:00.003-10:00

Not only have I been remiss in photographing, blogging, and Ravelry-ing my last two Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock Club packages, I have also been remiss in knitting them. Instead, I have been stash busting/ Christmas knitting these little iPhone cases. These are numbers 3, 4, and 5 in a series. (Here are #1 and #2 using Muddy Autumn Rainbow and Goody Goody) These used bits of My Blue Heaven and Dragon Dance, I believe.

Next we have the very late view of September 2009 selection of gorgeous River Rocked for use in Cat Bordhi's beautiful Knetted Pattern. I took this photo, then filed and stored and did not cast on. Totally forgot about these, which is odd, since I love Bordhi patterns and this colorway. I must have been busy...

Which is why I pressed myself to add these immediately. Well, after a couple of days. This is perhaps my favorite colorway ALL YEAR, the deep, subtle and varied Blackbird from the Raven collection. So many shades that i just love in this yarn. LOVE! There is green and red and oh so many pretty shades.

Also included was the mini skein. Recent activity on the STR blog has asked if we love these so much to justify the cost. Yes, I like them, and yes, could do without them. I have only used one of them, last year, when I ran just a little shy on the 2nd sock. All the rest of them are hanging from the knitting basket. They look very cute, and I like the immediate visual reference of how the colors look together. Sometimes the skein is a little chunked for a good idea of how the colors will look in the forthcoming sock.
However: I LOVE the mini stitch-saver! I have been looking to purchase a tiny one, but hadn't pulled the trigger. It is like useful jewelry!

Forthcoming socks indeed. This year I have made 1.4 pairs from this delightful club: Queen of Beads, which I made into opera fingerless gloves, NOT socks. Rogue Roses has almost one sock done. I needed a break after the 15 or so hours in a row I worked on these in the hot Manilla airport and part of the ensuing flight. I just couldn't stand to look at them after that.

The truth is: I have a massive sock drawer filled with beautiful hand-knit socks in wonderful painted colorways... and I hardly ever wear socks. Or shoes, for that matter. I need to knit socks and give them away!

Babies! In Knitwear!

2009-09-22T09:37:00.000-10:00

Baby sweaters! When presenting a baby sweater at a friend's shower, one of the other guests remarked, "You don't have children, to have free time to do that, right?" True.
Three friends had babies this summer, and I made 3 sweaters... Only I didn't know about one baby so these 3 sweaters were made for 2 of the babies, but there you go.
I also read on Ravelry recently that the best baby gifts in knitwear are booties and hats, since they are quick, often worn, and last a long time. Sweaters are not recommended because they are warm, a certain size that does not grow with the baby, hard to make and hard for the mom to handwash and lay flat to dry. Whatever. These babies are loved and will be wrapped in handknits!
The brown and the pale blue are both the cabled Baby Yours by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. The green in a Peapod Baby Set by Kate Gilbert. All are cashmere, mohair, silk and generally luscious yarns.

Scuba Diving Surface Interval Shrug

2009-08-13T13:40:00.004-10:00

A photo of this sweater in action shall be forthcoming: i.e. Over the wetsuit!
I love when things work out how I planned, and since this is a rare occurrence...
This winter it was very cold in the water, and I found I was not warming up between dives. During the summer we have sun. Winter is a combination of cold water, clouds, and not-thick-enough wetsuits. I moved up to a 7mm suit (the same thickness I used in California 15 years ago- bleah!) and began shifting through many sweatshirts and fleeces for in-between dives. Wouldn't a sweater be better? Of course it would. So I Ravelry-ed shrugs and found the Aran Cabled Shrug by Crystal Palace Yarns, which calls for a Bulky yarn. I am a bulky girl, and therefore avoid bulky yarns. I found some Cascade 220 Superwash (Worsted) at a local store, in a rust color unusual for me, but I love none the less.
My original requirements, as blogged here:

Requirements for surface interval shrug:
Wool (exothermic in salt water)
Warm (the water is 71 degrees in winter and we have had rain, clouds, and crazy wind for the past 2 months)
Long sleeves, closely fitting, can be shoved up while bending over rinse tank or boat lines.
Short enough to not get wet from folded down wetsuit.
Long enough to keep torso warm.
Fold-up shawl collar for back of neck warmth, can be folded down if remaining in hooded vest.
Color: Nice with black wetsuit, swimsuit colors, and sunburn.
Washable: Not only from salt water but the microbes present in salt water.

These requirements have been met. Because of the relative thinness of the yarn, I ended up doing more repeats of the cabled portion, which was narrower than the pattern suggested. This made the sleeves tighter, which I wanted. It also required longer ribbed sections (which turned out to be boring, and thus a month-long hiatus ensued) which I did in the round, trying on as I went until I thought I had enough length. It is now just long enough to meet the top of a folded down wetsuit. The collar is thick and warm if flipped up. Unfortunately it is a shrug and my chest is large, so the side flaps don't come close to meting in the middle, thus assuring a cold tummy, and negating the winter-time wearing of this shrug (hmmm... it's whole inspiration and purpose).
Which just means I need a winter-time surface interval cardigan... right?

Summer Knitting Lull and PUPPIES!

2009-07-30T15:20:00.006-10:00

In all honesty, my recent lack of knitting has nothing to do with the recent additions to the family pictured here. It is just easier to blame them, because look how cute they are! And no one would reproach me for not knitting, blogging, or even cleaning because look how cute they are! And new puppies are hard work, and I have never been a puppy-mommy before and I am learning fast and perhaps badly... And look how cute they are!
This is Tango and Cassie, about 4 months old Border Collie/ Australian Blue Healer mixes. They need much attention (here they are in the back of the truck ready for a long walk).
In also-cute-news: The summertime heirloom tomato colors of Garden by Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock club, which unfortunately is languishing in the "someday pile" along with the last purplish shipment.
However, I am using up bits of stash, and specifically past Blue Moon Sock Shipment stash, with these very cute iPhone cozies. These are quick and addicting and great to throw down when one must take the puppies out. The one I am using for my phone was from last winter, Muddy Autumn Rainbow (with no pocket or carry loop) and the pastel colors of Goody Goody are for my mother. As soon as she saw this shipment, she said, "Those are my colors!" and I knit the socks up for her. She does not know about this one yet. I hope she doesn't already have a phone holder... Who am I kidding? If she does it shall be immediately replaced with HANDKNITS! I am thinking this little pattern will make nice gifts. So many people I know have iPhones or iPods, and it uses less than 20g of yarn! Oh, and they make me feel accomplished when I am too busy with work (it is summer season at the dive shop) and puppies!

Late To The Game Again: New Sock Club Package!

2009-06-19T10:08:00.005-10:00

Gorgeous colors, not so sure about the pattern: Seems busy.
I haven't been knitting much, just a couple rows here and there on the shrug. It is in a boring ribbing-only phase. And I haven't worked on the sock since traveling. Maybe 20 some-odd hours in a row was enough of that!

But baby sweaters are done! (Well, I still need to sew on buttons).

Chopsticks, Pens, but No Needles?!?! Crazy Insane on the Plane!

2009-05-13T09:57:00.006-10:00

Very last minute I traveled to the Philippines to meet my sister and brother-in-law on the last leg of their two-year round-the-world adventure. (Their incredible, beautifully photographed travel blog.) Now, I over-packed, bringing all my scuba gear including my heavy BCD, plus their two sets of snorkel gear, about twice as much clothing as I needed, a full bottle of conditioner (diving hair) and shampoo (I used them all up), and a bag of Reeses Peanut Butter Cups as a gift for them (we ate these all up quickly as well). And two knitting projects: Baby Yours sweater with 3 balls of yarn, and Rogue Roses sock, with one skein of yarn, along with bamboo straights for the baby sweater and knitpicks 2 metal circs in 2.5mm size, 2 metal stitch holders, small scissors, and assorted small tools.
Plane tickets to and from were bought with frequent flier miles, which means I had more stops than usual: Kona to Honolulu to Narita to Manilla for 17 hours or so, then 36 hours of travel from Cebu City-Manilla (13 hour wait in the crappy Manilla airport)-Guam-Honolulu-Kona. So did I bring enough knitting?
Oh, and then I got the flu and was in bed for a week.
And then: They tried to take my knitting needles away in Manilla, and I almost flipped the f**k out! After knitting, lugging my heavy gear all over the country, getting the flu, and waiting for 13 HOURS in the airport I was not... patient, nor nice, nor even very sane. This tiny little Filipino security woman dug all through my carry-on, took away my dangerous mini-yoghurt, opened all my glasses cases and my diving logbook, and then held up my sock in progress and asked, "What is this for?"
"Knitting", I replied. She gave me a blank stare (which I had gotten the whole trip. Knitting is apparently pretty rare in the Philippines, as is trying on a sock in progress in public, apparently). She then sat there with all 4 needle tips in her hand, slowly attempting to prick her hand with them and judging their, and apparently my, ability and potential for stabbing the crew, hijacking the plane, and flying to somewhere with wool. She asked if I had checked luggage, apparently weighing the PITA action of finding said bag, ripping the needles out of my sock in progress, and putting them in the bag.
"No", I LIED to the security agent, then went on to desperately claim that these were allowed, and even TSA approved (which is funny now, since TSA doesn't matter in a foreign country), and then insisted they were less dangerous than chopsticks and pens.
She stared at me.
I stared back, evaluating whether I would get in more trouble for attacking her, or boarding a plane with needle-less knitting for 20 more hours of travel at which time insanity may cause me to hijack the plane with a pen and some chopsticks to fly somewhere with wool.
She finally caved, returning the sock to its bag and closing up my carry-on and allowing me onwards for the shoe check and body pat-down.

So did I bring enough knitting?
Sure! It helped that I did not actually knit constantly, and while I had the flu I was actually too dizzy to knit for long. (That sucked, but apparently was NOT the swine flu, because I did get better. But it was fun to have the flu, in a foreign country, with the constant CNN swine flu feed going on.)
So I ended up using all three balls of Rowan Silk Wool for the baby sweater (and did not finish it, since I need another ball of yarn) and hardly got one sock done.
Rogue Roses is a great pattern, but I am altering it for a toe-up sock to use up all the yarn, and to make the rosebuds point upwards. Altering it was fun, since I had no reference materials and kind of had to invent the heel. Also missed the Rosebud video so my roses look a little knotty.

Yes, I know I took two Stephanie Pearl-McPhee patterns! Coincidence! And yet inspiring in my time of need: She has written a ton about traveling on book tours with knitting, and hijacking the plane, or knitting, with sharp pencils and chopsticks may have been her idea. Yeah, next time I will remember to tell that to my defense attorney.
Aha: Here it is!

So today I'm sitting there, knitting away and as the flight attendant walks by my seat she looks over, sees the knitting and advises me that I will have to put it away for take-off and landing and only knit when there is no turbulence and the seat belt sign is off because - get this....

Things could be bumpy and I could let go of a needle and it could go flying through the air and hurt someone.

I put the knitting away like she asked me to (of course, I'm not going to argue on a plane, Twitch a little maybe, but argue? Never)...but as I put them away I commented that this was the first time I'd been asked to do this, and she told me that technically, I should be asked every time. (That would mean that there are a lot of slacker flight attendants out there, but I digress.) I harumphed and looked out the window, hoping for a smooth flight so I could pick up my sock, but I couldn't help but notice that the guy next to me had a very pointy metal pen that he was using to fill in the airlines "sudoko" in the in-flight magazine, and that pen could totally have gone flying through the air too, and being about 100% heavier than my needle and since according to the laws of physics impact force equals mass times velocity...his pen was far, far more dangerous.

All I ask for is a little common sense and consistency. I hope I get that flight attendant again. I'll be the lady knitting with pens.

Mmmmmmm... Yarn! New Stash!

2009-04-15T11:40:00.003-10:00

Using a coupon in these economic times, of course. I have plans for the Quilla colorway (a very subtle wash of pink over white) in both the Luscious Single Silk and Silk Thread II. Wedding related plans... The rosebud silk is just because it is pretty.
And of course, the March shipment of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock club. "Gertrude Skein" in shades of roses, meant for the yarn Harlot's twining Rogue Roses pattern. I am looking forward to it, but it may have to wait.
Also in the works are a few baby sweaters for some expecting friends. One of them is a boy and the other we don't yet know, so I also got Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Baby Mine and Baby Yours patterns!

WIP: Scuba Diving Surface Interval Shrug

2009-04-15T11:22:00.002-10:00

It is rare when I feel the need for a sweater in Hawai'i: Woe for a knitter!
But I felt the need this winter. The water in the Pacific around Hawaii has been about 5 degrees colder than last year, and I have felt the chill between dives. I have been wearing various sweatshirts and a knitted cap, but wouldn't a sweater be that much better?
Requirements for surface interval shrug:
Wool (exothermic in salt water)
Warm (the water is 71 degrees in winter and we have had rain, clouds, and crazy wind for the past 2 months)
Long sleeves, closely fitting, can be shoved up while bending over rinse tank or boat lines.
Short enough to not get wet from folded down wetsuit.
Long enough to keep torso warm.
Fold-up shawl collar for back of neck warmth, can be folded down if remaining in hooded vest.
Color: Nice with black wetsuit, swimsuit colors, and sunburn.
Washable: Not only from salt water but the microbes present in salt water.
This yarn is Cascade 220 superwash in a color very rare for my stash! I was reaching for the usual periwinkle blue when this dusky rust caught my eye.
Pattern is Aran Cabled Shrug in Kaya Wool... and here is a pisser: What is up with "Aran Weight"??? The pattern calls for Aran weight, Kaya is bulky, and the store owner said that Aran and Worsted are about the same thing. Can we just agree on WPI or something?
As it is: I have not gotten gauge at all (of course) but would like it tighter fit than the pattern calls for. We shall see.

THIS is What I Am Up To With These Gloves!

2009-02-18T14:46:00.003-10:00

I LOVE this! I am done with one fingerless glove and just started on the second, but couldn't wait to share!
Those of you making the socks will recognize that I began with a few rows of ribbing around the knuckes to "grow" into the beaded cross pattern...
...And then grew the cuff ribbing out of the pattern as well! Plenty beads: I divided them up into two little bags and strung half on half the yarn. I had enough leftover to string them all around the ribbing on the cuff. Enough yarn leftover, too: For those doing full fingered gloves to the elbow length, you shouldn't have a problem. I did this pattern in the small size? 50 stitches after the fingers were all joined were increased to 60 stitches around the knuckles, and reduced to 54 stitches for the beaded pattern. Used #2 needles, predominately, with size #3s for the cuffs.

What Am I Up to With These Gloves?

2009-02-09T19:18:00.002-10:00

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Club selection January 2009: Yarn is "My Blue Heaven", beads are an azure blue, pattern is Queen of Beads by Silvia Harding...
I got the kit on... January 31st? Not too much later than the California kits. I love the idea of doing beads. I have never knit with beads, but always thought it would be fun. I love the beaded and twisted cable pattern, but do I really need another pair of socks? Beaded socks? What about pretty beaded mitts? On the club blog Deborah did beaded mitts: So pretty! So I started a pair (only I like fingerless gloves better than fingerless mitts: The fingerless mitts always seem to roll back...
What do you think?

Purpose.

2009-02-04T10:35:00.005-10:00

It is supposed to be the culmination of a knitters work, the reason for the craft, the act of love: We are supposed to keep our family warm. Am I less of a knitter because my family lives in Hawai'i and has no need of knitwear? Or am I just a warm, purposeless knitter?

Finally, a commission for warmth! My mother shall be traveling to Ohio later this month, and presented me with a task... Nay! A Quest! In my mailbox, she wrapped up an old crocheted hat, a new, beautiful skein of yarn, and a note of her somewhat cryptic, long and loopy handwriting.

The hat I should use for sizing, as it was loose, warm, and comfy, and had a thick, turned up brim that had the dual purpose of keeping the ears warm. The yarn was purchased from my friend Jan at the farmers market. Jan has the Hawaiian Homegrown Wool Company, and has raised the Romney wool, sheared, cleaned, processed, spun, dyed, and skeined up the yarn for sale at the farmers market.
I used Marnie MacLean's Nautilus pattern, and since I deny gauge swatches I just ripped into it... and ripped it out twice when it was too large. When it covered my ears, I added a purl row turning ridge (which was a bad idea since it wants to turn under like a hem instead of out like a hat!) and finished the brim on smaller needles and reduced 10 stitches for a somewhat too sporty ribbed brim.

The flower is somewhat abbreviated from Sweet Honey Beret by Faina Goberstein, published in this winter's Interweave Knits. Both the model hat and the pink yarn skein weighed 80 grams, so I figured I was safe, although I know nothing about crocheted yarn usage. This hat was knit from the top down, and I figured a white stripe would set off the white and pink flower (although it could have been a narrower stripe). I spun the white yarn to match, using Jan's roving. As it was, I nearly ran out of yarn, and the white stripe was needed for length. I finished the hat, and used the tiny bit of pink left for the flower. I have only a length of about 12 inches left of the pink! Perfect!

DBF thinks it looks totally 20's and very pretty, and he thinks Mom will like it. And it will actually be worn against the cold! Maybe even in the snow! So exciting!

2008 Socks and Holidazed are Done!

2009-01-30T15:09:00.002-10:00

What a fun pattern this was! Quickly memorized and just flew along. Maybe it is because I followed the pattern to the letter and only knit 6 inches of ankle: I have been making medium sized ankles and small sized feet to reflect my proportions, and ended up with 64 grams of yarn left over!
This was the last of the 2008 Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Sock club installments, and I loved them all for various reasons. I am looking forward to 2009 club, which my awesome DBF bought for me for an Xmas present, and I even managed to finish all 2008 before the first 2009 kit arrived!
This was Holidazed by Anne Hanson, in the beautiful colors of Muddy Autumn Rainbow.
And with props to Nartian, who did it first, I give you a recap of 2008!
Serendipity, Lucky, Cleopatra's Stockings, and Holidazed. Missing are the Sweet Tarts that I gave to my mom, and the Cloning Anemone Rib for my cousin. Yay!

Finished! Blue Celtic Knot Purse

2009-01-20T10:01:00.003-10:00

I am very happy with this bag! It was a quick enough knit, with the cabling keeping it all fun. I finished it a few days ago, and completed a lining with a ton of pockets a few days later. Yesterday I sewed in the lining, placed all my crap into the pockets, and took it to dinner and the theater, where a random woman in the lobby complimented it!
The wool and the button I purchased for this specific purpose at Weaving Works in Seattle when we were there for DBF's cousin's wedding. One of the only times I have ever used the correct yarn for a project!
I back-stitched along the cables with a double-strand of the contrast yarn. Other than the double-strand, I didn't even modify the pattern much:
I made the button flap longer and wider.
I made the handles longer by only one repeat (10 cables each).
The pattern seems wrong in two places: Purling should always be done on the correct side (there is a note about this on Ravelry) and I made the decreases on the second short side match the increases on the first short side.
Felting was resistant: I worked the bag in hot and cold water in the sink, without much shrink. I spun it in the washer, then threw it in the dryer until it shrank around the plastic netting. It could still have used more felting.
The only thing I would change isn't a knit problem at all. I should have made the lining from a thicker material: As it is, the lining is so thin that all my gear just falls out of it. A stiffer, stronger lining would have kept everything separate, and perhaps help the bag stand up.

I Love this Skirt!

2009-01-06T15:37:00.005-10:00

This skirt is finally done and I love it for these reasons: It is comfortable, cool, washable and dryable in machines! It has a cute flirty ruffle and lace cut up to there! But still can be dressed up or down.
This is Indigo Ripples Skirt by Kat Coyle from Interweave Knits Spring 2007. It took me several tries to get gauge (okay, I never really did) and I lengthened the stockinette portion for modesty, added short rows for a more curvaceous butt, and ended up only doing about half the lace portion of the pattern. I then threw it in the washing machine! And the dryer! It shrunk up a bit but not badly.
It took me from June 3rd to January 1st to actually get it done, and therefore is the first completed project of the new year. I also made it out of cheap, dishcloth cotton... which I purchased on sale at Ace Hardware for 60 cents a skein, meaning this skirt cost me just over $6!
I wore it out to sushi the other night and am just totally in love with it.
As for New Year knitting: DBF gave me a wonderful Christmas gift and renewed my membership with Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin Sock Club for 2009 (which there was no way I could have afforded this year!) So that gives me 6 socks for this year (as well as the last one from this year). Like this skirt, I am always looking for cool, wearable knits in a tropic environment. Any ideas?

Finished Cloning Anemone Rib Socks

2008-12-15T13:57:00.005-10:00

These socks don't fit me, because they are not for me. I knit these up for my cousin, who apparently loves warm wool socks! I am constantly amazed when people like socks, because I am surrounded by people who hang out barefoot. Or with slippahs.
My cousin is going through breast cancer treatment, and in the face of all this, she remains amazingly giving: She keeps all her cousins and relatives informed, and is even going through further testing to see if we are at risk (genetic pre-disposition).
It was nice to knit these for her. It was nice to think about her with each stitch, to send her good thoughts. And somehow the cloning anemone pattern reminds me of the repetition of good, healthy cells.

Also? The very last Blue Moon Rockin Sock Club installment came in the mail! I love the color on the skein but worry about how it will look all striped up?

Sweet Tart Socks for Mom are Done... What is Next?

2008-10-28T13:06:00.003-10:00

After ripping out the first of the gumdrop socks (used too much yarn. But pretty pattern!) I cast on for the alternative pattern for the July sock, with better success: I still have a bunch of yarn left! These are for my mother, who enjoys the pastel colors much more than I.
So what is next? I wound up the September yarn, which I find to be beautiful!

I Picked Up the Mail! (Spoiler?)

2008-10-14T11:02:00.002-10:00

The September Rockin' Sock Club installment: Tidepooling colorway and Cloning Anemone Rib socks. I love them both! And behind them? "Free Range Knitter" by Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Yay! Something to knit and something to read! About knitting!

Problems With Socks

2008-09-29T16:29:00.003-10:00

This was a Gumdrop Sock with BMFA Goody Goody, the last sock club installment. Where have I been? I have been attending some training that furthers my Scuba diving career. The knitting part of that? I was knitting on this sock, in women's medium, for my mother. My knitting in class inspired another classmate to pick up her knitting that had been neglected for years, and bring it to class. YES! There is nothing like inspiring an inpromtu knitting circle! I hope she keeps going with it.
Unfortunately, when i completed this sock and threw it on the scale, I found I had used quite a bit more than half the yarn I had. After attempting a few modifications and sock yarn stretching excercises, I gave up and ripped it out.
More knitting for me, right?
So I gave those up and began knitting these, the alternate pattern for the last club shipment. These are the Sweet Tart Anklets. Very cute. My mother didn't have a preference for either pattern, just loved the yarn, so now I have completed one sock in the pair. The irony, of course, is that this pattern will use quite a bit less than the other pattern, leaving me with leftover yarn! Arrgh!
Everyone at class was like, "Don't you own any other yarn color?"
Oh yeah, Spoiler alert for those of you still out there who haven't seen this shipment yet. I assume there is no one, since I am always last...

Finished Cleopatra's and New Kit (Spoiler?)

2008-08-08T11:23:00.002-10:00

Finished Cleopatra socks! This pattern is a bit stripey for my tastes, but I LOVE the purple. I made the small size, increasing needle size as directed, and once again at the top of the leg (3's) ribbing. I also added back in a repeat of the chart for a longer sock that looks more like the photo in the pattern. I guess they shortened the sock out of concern that the largest size would run out of yarn? No worries with my short foot: I had enough for the extra chart repeat, and extra ribbing at the top of the sock.
I started these on the airplane on the way to Seattle for DBF's cousin's wedding, but didn't get too much done. I then knit away happily until they were done. At which time they sat around for about 2 weeks until I got around to weaving in the remaining 4 ends. Lazy!
I also got around to picking up the July shipment of the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock club: A very pretty, candy-colored lightweight in Goody Goody. Upon opening the package, my mother exclaimed that they were her colors and she loves them, so I immediately told her I would knit the socks for her. She didn't have a preference between the 2 patterns, so I will go with the one I find more interesting, the Gumdrop Socks by JC Briar.
I hope this isn't a spoiler for anyone: Not only do I usually get my shipment last (Hawaii) but it took me so long to actually pick it up!

No Knitting Content At All. But Nice Whales!

2008-08-03T15:03:00.002-10:00

My Humpback Whale photo has been chosen for inclusion on the Schmap of Kohala Coast! This was a mother and calf that I photographed this winter. Yay! I am not a very good photographer, but I guess I am actually a Professional, since my photos have appeared in the (now defunct) Hawaii Island Journal.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with knitting.
Nothing at all.
On the knitting front I have been too busy diving to knit. I have finished my Cleopatra socks and just have to weave in the ends. I am knitting away on the boring cotton stockinette of the skirt, and I haven't even run up to the PO Box to pick up the new Blue Moon Socks that Rock kit. i know: I am a bad, bad knitter!

Seattle Stash Enhancement

2008-07-07T09:14:00.002-10:00

We went to Seattle for a wedding, and the hotel was conveniently located a block from Weaving Works, a large local yarn store. I went in with a list: Buttons for purple Angelica, wool for cabled bag, something in a sweater's worth quantity. The silk was the only impulse purchase. I got it because it was pretty and felt nice and HAUNTED my brain!

Shopping time was at a premium, so along with the list I went in only twice: Once was a scouting mission where I looked for the yarns on the list, felt everything I could, checked the buttons and didn't buy anything! Trip 2 was on our last night there, and I had about half an hour before the store closed.

The store is offering a 3% discount if you bring your own bag, which I did. I left when the store closed with a tote full of yarn. The funny thing was, I then ran into DBF in the lobby with 3 friends, and we all went out for Pho and beer. With my tote full of yarn. On the way home we ran into the bride, and went with her to a local club with live music and more beer. With my tote full of yarn. It is really funny to get up to go the the bar or restroom and scream over a punk band to a friend, "Hey! Will you watch my YARN?!?"

Finished Angelica Sweater!

2008-06-09T11:40:00.005-10:00

Pattern: Angelica by Stefanie Japel

Yarn: Bamboo from SWTC: 4 skeins: Purple

Needles: 6s and 8s. Mostly 8s.

Feb 10th to June 2nd. Still needs a button on the neck.

Oh my: Another top-down raglan. Swatched. Swatch lied. Started with too small a size (neck is small and round instead of open) worked increases and short-rows, kept trying it on. Decreased dramatically under-bust and gradually increased over waist and hips. Followed exactly for last 30 rows (the purl row stripes). At one point had a huge peplum from increasing too much and ripped it all the way back to the under-bust.

Is it super-obvious that there is a faded stripe right in the middle 3rd of the sweater? The dye lot was all the same, but this one skein looks faded. From my experience, bamboo on fabric isn't as thirsty as wool, and the color doesn't stay as well. Perhaps it will all even out in the wash?

Overall I like this sweater, finally. The yarn is soft and cool, the length is tunic-long, I like the belled sleeves and the hexagon in the neckline. I would make some changes if doing this pattern again, but this is good for now.

Cat claws cause this yarn to pull and snag something awful: I had to chase pinot away many times, and the time he slept in the yarn basket was disaster!

Spoilage? And New Skirt Project

2008-06-09T11:10:00.003-10:00

Just in case I am NOT the very last one to get my May 08 Blue Moon Socks that Rock Club shipment: Here is your spoiler warning.

New Project!
This is Indigo Ripples Skirt by Kat Coyle as published awhile ago in Interweave Knits. I am making it out of cheap hardware store cotton. I have made 2 gauge swatches, using 3 needle sizes, and of course the swatches LIE. I had to rip out the first cast-on after about 2 inches revealed that it was about 80 stitches too large. The next one seems to be okay, but I had to rip it out as well in order to add back in some increases. We shall see.
I'm worried about cotton shrinkage.

In the meantime: Here is the new kit from STR: The pattern is Cleopatra's Stockings by Yarnissima, and the skein is lightweight STR in The Incredible Shrinking Violet. Besides the mini skein, pattern, and dyer's Notes, we also got a luggage tag, which shall be useful for summer travels. It is a very rich color, and so far the striping looks distracting.

I fear that maybe I am making too many socks. I don't wear socks too much anymore, since my current job requires bare feet.

Finished: Dishcloth

2008-05-06T12:12:00.004-10:00

New Mason-Dixon dishcloth for our house! The white is plain and the rainbow pastels are Easter-eggish, but the pink matches my espresso machine! You know it's serious when I 1)Move the cat, and 2) Move the espresso machine over to DBF's house.

In other news: Finished sleeve and neckline of Angelica (must find good button) and ripped out odd peplum hip all the way up to just below bust-shaping. I don't know who I think I am, thinking I know better than the pattern. I mean, I wanted to expand for the hips, but not THAT much!

Leaflings are Done!

2008-05-04T12:54:00.003-10:00

Pattern: Leafling by JC Briar, the pattern from March 2008 Blue Moon Rockin' Sock Club.
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts mediumweight in Lucky
Began: April 16th, Finished May 1st.

I started these in size medium and then switched to small after the heel. They are slightly different because I read the heel wrap directions as "The last stitches are NOT wrapped" when it really was "NOW wrapped". Oops! I also altered the toe as directions on the blog dictated. Pretty! I like the lace pattern, the green color, and the pointy toe pattern.

Nesting

2008-04-28T12:47:00.003-10:00

I have been working on a new dishcloth for a new home: Ours. I have moved in with DBF into his house, and while he has plans for construction, I have plans for home-knits. This was a long time coming: Mostly we hung out at my little place, which I love, since his house had tenants for so long. And I needed reassurance of the emotional and organizational nature. Now I need to make dishcloths and curtains.
And here we have the March sock from the Blue Moon Socks that Rock club: I have one done so far and am working on the second. I began them both as size mediums and switched to smalls after the heel. Toe variation published on their site.
Still also working is the bamboo sweater: Sleeves are in progress, and then I will rip and re-knit the bottom half.
Can you believe it is almost May?

Baby Sweaters!

2008-04-06T11:57:00.003-10:00

My friend Jenn is having a baby, and her baby shower was yesterday. I made her some Mason-Dixon Baby Kimonos out of machine washable and dryable cotton.

Pattern: Achingly Cute Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting.

Needles: #6 for the green one and #7 for the natural one.

Yarn: Peaches and Creme. The green one took 2.5 balls and the natural one was off a cone. I only had 2 balls of the green, and put that one on hold and began the white one. Last week I was in Kona and hit up the walmart for another ball of green. Luckily they had the yarn, although not in the same dye lot, of course. It didn't seem to matter too much. I sewed ribbons on the green one, but used a green button on the white one. I think the button will be more practical.

A funny thing: I used some yarn to finger-crochet a ribbon for the wrapping paper. People were ooohing and ahhing over the ribbon. Heh. They were super-impressed when she opened the package and there was hand-knits inside! Jenn was working with me when I made this pattern in wool for my College Roommate's baby, and liked it. Now she has her own in Hawaii-appropriate cotton!

And speaking of Green:

The March Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Shipment, which I received at the very end of March, is very green and bright! I will begin it soon, now that the baby shower is over. I love green, and like the Leafling pattern by JC Briar. I assume it is old news to everybody by the time I get it and spoiler warnings are moot:

I'm Not Quite That Hippy...

2008-03-13T10:28:00.002-10:00

I'm working on Angelica by Stephanie Japel out of SWTC Bamboo. My gauge was off so I have been trying it on as I go. However, my needles in the round were cramping my stitches in the hip area. When I took it off the needles I found that I have a droopy, squared-off, saggy peplum-like ruffle on the bottom. No, it doesn't look like a peplum. I will need to rip it out, but until I am up to it, I will work on the sleeves.

I Miss Socks: Do I Have a Problem?

2008-02-14T11:50:00.004-10:00

I made some Fetching mitts. They are okay. I think I will wear them alot to keep my hands warm. I think next time they need to be fingerless gloves instead of fingerless mitts (with little fingerlets, like Knucks). DBF says, "But are they done? They don't cover your fingers?" Used size 3s, did them in 2 days, didn't use the whole skein of Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre. This is a good one-skein project (I had gotten this skein to see if it would work for a cabled sweater, and while I like the Alpaca in general, I don't think it shows off the cables at all!)
But I miss socks. I jammed out the STR club January selection already, and don't expect a new one until late March. I felt I should do something other than socks, because I have a closet full of them and don't wear them too much, but I just like knitting socks so much!
*sigh*
I started something else instead: Angelica by Stephanie Japel. I'm using SWTC Bamboo in a shiny purple color. My guage is way off, so we will see how that turns out. Maybe I will just start another sock?

Finally!

2008-02-08T17:31:00.001-10:00

The Tilted duster is finally done! After blocking, a small turn in the dryer (it stretched after washing), and application of buttons and a snap, it is finally complete! I like how the side seam steeks turned out. I guess it was worth the time out!
Pattern: Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan from Fall 07 Interweave Knits
Needle: #10 Circulars: Used the Denise set.
Yarn: Plymouth Galway Highland Heather in Teal, purchased in Hilo, here on the Big Island!
Began: September 6, 2007
Completed: February 8th 2008
Modifications: Did the 44" chest, but should have maybe done a smaller size back? Knit the sleeves in the round to sleeve caps, and when I re-knit them, I added about an inch to the length, then made the sleeve cap less extreme. Other than that... Oh yes: Sewed, steeked, cut the side seams to fit. Heh.

Some before and after armpit photos:

Now that it is done: I like the yarn, the color, and the design (except, of course, the bat wing underarms that needed trimming). I think the wool is soft and warm. I was unsure if the empire waist would fall from my bust and make me look preggers. And it does. But it is still nice, I just need to be careful about what I wear under it.

Gong Hay Fat Choy!

2008-02-07T15:03:00.000-10:00

Happy Chinese New Year!
And, just in time to show off it's good-luck red and firey dragon dance lace: A Finished Object!
Pattern: Serendipity by Adrienne Fong (Blue Moon STR club January 2008 Pattern)
Yarn: STR Lightweight in Colorway: Dragon Dance (STR club selection yarn) I used 87 grams from the 128 gram ball.
Size: Small
Needles: 2 circs: knitpicks 2.5mm (I don't have the 2.25mm needles called for in the pattern)
Began: 1/30/08
Complete: 2/4/08 Perhaps the fastest I have knit a STR club sock pair!
Modifications: Hmmm. Were there none? Oh: I only did one round knit instead of 2 right before the toe: I was thinking the toe would be too long, but it was fine. Not much of a modification at all!
Thoughts: I started off wondering if I would like the striping with the lace, but with the designer's urging to try it, I did. Now I like it, although I have been back and forth about it. But then I thought: The STR colors are so great, and they almost all will stripe or pool, and although I am sure the yarn would look gorgeous in a plain stockinette sock, who wants to knit socks like that? Especially in a sock club. We would all be complaining that the patterns were boring, wouldn't we? So now I like it. I also like how the colors combine to be more orange and brown, when the skein looked red and salmon pink. The deep heel, which has been of some concern on the blog, is actually quite nice: I didn't think I would fit a sock with no gusset increases (big ol' fat arches) but the deep heel compensates. So from being initially ambivalent, I am now thinking that I will wear this sock quite alot: It is lightweight and pretty, and was fast to knit and dry. After all, of all the club socks from last year, I wear the red ones the most (Solstice Slip)!

Jan STR Serendipity, and Sea Serpent

2008-02-01T15:33:00.001-10:00

I'm working on the January 2008 Blue Moon Socks that Rock Club kit: Serendipity by Adrienne Fong, in lightweight STR in Dragon Dance colorway. The inside of the ballband says "Seiryuu". I am making size small with 2.5mm needles.
And just for fun: Here be sea-serpents (not dragons...really)

Tilted Duster Armpit Repair (and Beverage)

2008-01-30T11:51:00.000-10:00

This was how I left the Tilted duster when I gave it a time out months ago: Huge bat wings in the armpits! I thought about ripping out the back and making a smaller back, but it seemed that the extra fabric in the armpits was the only problem: The rest of the back fit fine.
So I ripped out the side seams, and un-seamed the sleeve caps. Then, using hair clips and cotton basting yarn, I clipped up all the extra armpit fabric. The square of the cotton basting thread is a double layer of extra armpit fabric. Next came basting of the new side-seam: Then sewing with the sewing machine: Then, finally: The scissors and the adult beverage: This steeking of the armpits created a smaller arm-hole, and the sleeves no longer fit. I ripped the sleeve cap out until I reached the point where I was still knitting in the round, and added another inch of length (to snug it up into the armpit). I then re-knit the sleeve cap at a more severe angle and seamed it back in. Now I am blocking the sweater, and will work the buttons soon. Maybe someday soon it will be done?

FO: Salish Sea Socks

2008-01-29T13:06:00.000-10:00

Finished these just in time to get the new January kit.
I like the wake pattern on the arch, and I like how the pooling happens on the arch but the socks are mostly stripey. Doesn't it look like the pooling makes an arrow from one arch to the other?
Salish Sea Socks by Cat Bordhi
Socks that Rock Rocking Sock Club December 2007selection
Socks that Rock Medium Weight in Bella Coola
Needles: 2.5mm 2 circs (I don't own 2.25mm)
Began: Jan 12 2008, Complete Jan 26th 2008
Changes: I am not sure the foot circumferences listed in the pattern are right. If I went by them, I should have made an extra large. Indeed, I began an extra-large, but ripped it when I could see it was huge. I wear a women's size 8 shoe, but in reality I have about a size 6 extra-wide foot. So I just guessed and started a size small. They work. Other than that: I didn't do any of the wing stitches, I just reduced back until I had 54 stitches again. The arch was big enough in a size small, and I just made the foot super short. Also did another cycle of ankle stitches for a bit higher sock. Mostly because I was knitting at work without the pattern, and also because I knew there would be extra yarn (short foot) and may as well!

Confession: I know I am on a yarn diet and such (besides the 2008 sock club) but I spent some yarn money on the new Cat Bordhi book. Besides the Salish Sea Sock, I have also made the Flow Motion Socks from Vogue Knitting Magazine. While neither of these 2 socks are in the book, they both use an arch expansion technique explored in her book.

I Actually Get to Issue a Spoiler Alert!

2008-01-26T14:42:00.000-10:00

Spoiler Alert!

I got the January 2008 Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Sock Kit today in the mail! I am so surprised because I usually get it so much later than everyone else!
I like the colors: Reds and Salmon pink, and I like the pattern, Serendipity, but on first view I wonder if the lace pattern would show better on a single color than on stripey yarn? I also think it looks similar to the Solstice Slip pattern from last summer.

Along with yarn and the pattern, we have Dyer's Notes, the mini skein, a new bumper sticker, and two button pins! Along with a notice for sock camp 2008 and a notice about the new blog.
Yay! Technically I am still on a yarn diet...

Ocean Appropriate

2008-01-26T14:12:00.000-10:00

I'm working away at the Salish Sea Socks, and loving the pattern. I find it so appropriate right now, since I am diving alot, even doing a few rows in the dive shop. I love the wake pattern!
Here is another whale shot to share. I took this one of a mama and calf, which swam past the boat:
They are so amazing. The mothers have given birth recently and the baby whales are building strength and practicing skills for the upcoming journey North. We recently saw a new-born whale being pushed up to the surface by it's mama: They must learn to breathe as soon as they are born. Even more impressive are the breaches: Diving co-worker Robyn shot this incredible photo of mama and baby jumping out of the water:
Amazing.

NYE Socks for DBF

2008-01-26T13:45:00.000-10:00

Not only was I late in finishing the Christmas socks for my beloved, I am late posting them, as well. I had too many pairs of socks for people to open on Christmas morning, and since these were a surprise that I only worked on when I was home and he was not...
Well, as sorry as I am that he didn't get to open them on Christmas morning, I got them done on New Year's Eve. This made a great addition to my usual New Year's Eve tradition of washing my feet in Champagne (Long Story: Decadence without drinking) since I was able to clothe my sweetie's feet after the bath.

Ironic: These socks were made with Wick by Knit One Crochet Too (he is allergic to wool. I KNOW, right?) which should wick away moisture. Or Champagne. Since this is a ribbonish woven yarn, it made quite a thich and sproingy fabric which is probably supposed to be knit on a larger needle than the 3s I used.
Began Dec 11, complete Dec 31st 2007 from a pattern of my own design based on his preference for short socks with plenty of ankle ribbing to stay on. These are pair #2 for DBF.

Asleep at the Wheel

2008-01-12T11:22:00.000-10:00

Well, at least we are getting some use out of it!
I haven't had time to spin recently. Although this morning at the farmers market I was working with J on learning a drop spindle. I can't seem to draft the wool and keep the spindle spinning in the right direction. I think it is easier on a wheel, where your feet can do that work... Unless someone is using the treadles as a pillow!

On a Yarn Diet... Sort of...

2008-01-11T13:00:00.000-10:00

So since I quit my full-time job in November of 2007, I vowed to knit from the stash and not buy any more yarn. So far, I am doing pretty well. Christmas socks were all knitted from stash. I did drop $6 at Ace hardware for 4 balls of dishcloth cotton. But that was only six bucks!
Oh, and, um... the 2008 Blue Moon Rockin' Sock Club, which just was charged to my credit card this week. But technically I signed up for that and committed the funds before I quit the job.
So besides those...
Self Imposed Yarn Diet it is!

Um...
Well...
I guess I found a loophole of sorts...
Don't you just love wool?
See, I quit that job that I hated, and through the holidays I have been working steadily at the formerly-part-time Scuba Diving job (and LOVING it, BTW) and consecutive dives on consecutive days during colder winter seas leads to physical exhaustion and lower body core temperature, which in turns leads to impaired immunity and health during the cold and flu season, and my wetsuit is 3 years old and a thin little shadow of it's former warm self. So DBF bought me a new wetsuit.
What is my point?
Check out my new Pinnacle Aquatics Elastiprene Merino 5mm Wetsuit HERE!
Yup: That is right: My new wetsuit is lined with WOOL! (How cool is this?) In a brilliant move familiar with knitters everywhere, Pinnacle decided that wool in the ocean keeps you toasty. According to their website about Merino Wool:
Wool is "exothermic", meaning it actually releases heat when it gets wet. The wool fibers swell with water and actually create a warm, non-compressable (unlike neoprene) layer next to the skin.
The lining is comfortable, fine, warm, and soft. Unlike rubber or neoprene, it feels more like cloth. This also makes it warmer to re-don for the 2nd dive of the day!
Wool is more anti-bacterial than synthetic fibers, which keeps the wetsuit from developing that stinky wetsuit-funk smell.
And Wool is a renewable, natural resource!

So... I'm warmer, I'm less exhausted, and technically my new wool product isn't YARN!

(Photo from Pinnacle Aquatics website)

Happy New Year!

2008-01-05T22:23:00.000-10:00

So the Christmas knitting mostly got completed:

Socks for Dad, Socks for Mom, Socks for brother... socks for DBF didn't get done until New Year's Eve, but at least they were a surprise. And the surprise for me?
NEW COMPUTER!
yay!
(The old one is indeed dead. While that is sad, I was able to transfer everything. Mostly I was upset due to the inconvienience of not being able to write for work. And reading knit blogs, of course...)
But the reality is: I haven't had time to knit or blog or write, since for about 3 weeks straight I have been doing this:

This is a humpback whale spotted off of the dive boat. I have been diving almost every day since mid-December: Sometimes in the dive shop, but mostly on the boat with tourists and students, and while I am exhausted and neglecting my life, it has been great!
Also, this came in the mail a few days before the end of the year (once again I don't bother with the spoiler warning because I suspect I am the last one to get it anyway):
December 07 Rockin Sock Club shipment (and the last for this year):
Gorgeous. Probably my favorite. And I look forward to another Cat Bordhi sock with an arch increase. Pretty!

Slogging Towards Christmas

2007-12-18T16:53:00.000-10:00

STILL COMPUTERLESS!
AAARGH!
In the works are a few pairs of Christmas socks (I only have one pair done so far. Goal: 4 pairs. Think I will make it?)
The death of the beloved laptop continues to plague my addiction to yarn blogs. I can't take photos of my yarn, can't blog, can't hang out in Ravelry.
It makes me glum.
So after all the Christmas shopping is over then we shall see how much is in the bank account for a new computer, which I actually need for one of my remaining two jobs. What? You thought I only used the laptop for yarn related activities? (Heh: You wouldn't be wrong!)

Happy Holiday season to all y'all taking a break from your Christmas knitting to surf the yarn blogs. Oh how I envy you!

Spinning in my Tracks...

2007-12-04T12:52:00.001-10:00

spinning getting finer
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

The big news from my end:
I quit my full time job!
Yay! I have been slaving away at the macadamia factory for 5 years now, and I just reached a point where I wasn't learning anyhing new, I wasn't ever going to do anything new, and I was stuck right where they needed me: Working the hated tasks over and over, with no chance of ever doing anything new. I was in a rut. One day I realized that my workload was now filled with the things I hated most: Purchasing, packaging, inventory... and it was never going to change.
So I left.
Now I am doing the two part time jobs, (writing and diving) and I am so happy- happier than I have been in years.

And I have time for a little spinning: I am working on consistancy and a finer wpi. This is still the scoured Romney roving from J's sheep. I think it may be fine enough to attempt a Navajo ply, which ends up being a 3-ply.

Kitty bogarting the stash

2007-12-04T12:44:00.001-10:00

Kitty bogarting the stash
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

It is December, and I just have a few Christmas gifts I am working on. Not an undoable amount, but I did decide to put all my projects (okay, only 3 wips) aside while working on holiday stuff. I also had to dig deep in the stash for the dishcloth cotton and other fibers.
While I had those 2 boxes out, I thought I would do some Ravelry stash logging, but the cat had other ideas. It seems Pinot thinks this makes a great bed. "Why NO honey, that isn't more YARN... It's a kitty jungle-gym-bed!"

Bombshell Sweater Finished

2007-11-28T15:40:00.001-10:00

IMGP0671
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

All about the Boobs in this one, yes?
Began: November 11, 2007
Completed: November 24th 2007
Pattern: Bombshell by Stephanie Japel
Needles: As written: Size 8s and size 3s
Yarn: Berroco Softwist. I used every last inch of 7 skeins (100 yards/50 grams each)
Modifications: This is a top-down raglan that you try on as you go. I reduced more in the body, and did a much longer length. I added short-rows in the belly, which unfortunately can be seen due to the show-all nature of this yarn, and now almost emphasizes a crescent belly-shape under the ribbing. But as DBF says, "The what? Huh? Sorry, was looking at your tits in that sweater."

Finished Lenores

2007-11-24T15:24:00.000-10:00

IMGP0669
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

Began: (again) November 7 2007
Completed: November 24th 2007
Pattern: Lenore by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (Yarn Harlot)
Yarn: Lenore Raven Series Blue Moon Socks that Rock Lightweight Club yarn and pattern for October 2007
Needles: Cast on with size 4s. Rest of socks in size 2.5mm as directed.
Alterations: Found the cast-on edge too tight, and ripped and re-started on the 4s. Also did the Larger size for about the first 9 rows of lace, then switched over to the medium lace chart for the rest of the socks.
I LOVE these socks! The color, pattern, yarn,...everything! Gorgeous!

00110111001011101111000YO02tog

2007-11-15T13:13:00.000-10:00

Last night we got our small knitting group together (can we get a lil applause for teaching 2 of the SigOs to knit?) for some snacks and some projects.
J noted that knitting is actually a logical, linear, binary code. Knit and Purl being the binary. DBF said, "So I'm not doing a girly craft, I am CODING!"
Heh.
I still maintain that a Purl stitich is actually a reversed Knit, and therefore I revert back to my original theory that Everything is One, One is Everything. (Zero being not the mirror, but the lack of knitting, which we don't like!)
(I don't have a bunch of stashed yarn: I have but ONE stash!)

That is enough foolishness!
On the Needles: 2nd Lenore is about an inch away from some heel turning. Yay!
Christmas Projects: You think I should start on these?
Laptop: Still broken, so no photos. Sorry!

Stash Management

2007-11-08T14:18:00.001-10:00

Mango Moon Stash
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

My My My...
Don't you just love Ravelry? The other day I spent a little time playing in the stash, and Ravelry is the best place to have our stash compulsions recognized- nay- celebrated! There is no greater fun for an obsessive knitter than photographing and logging details of the yarn stash... except maybe knitting with it... but that is delayed gratification!
Barring more laptop issues (video isn't working, screen is blank, did some magic Apple troubleshooting but all is still not perfect) and some more closet-cleaning, I plan on having a bit more fun with Ravelry:
Flash your Stash Disclaimer: That wasn't all of it. Heh.

This is some very pretty recycled Sari silk from Mango Moon. I don't know what to do with it. It is probably enough for a purse?

Just in Time...

2007-11-05T12:36:00.000-10:00

Just in time for Daylight Savings Time (which we don't celebrate here in Hawaii) and FALL, I present:
Finished Object!
Summer of Love Lace Socks (A Rockin' Sock Club pattern and colorway from Blue Moon Fiber Arts)
Pattern: Summer of Love Lace by JC Briar
Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight in Flower Power (August Club Yarn)
Began: October 27th 2007
Finished: November 2nd 2007
Needles: Knitpicks 2 circulars size# 1 (2.5mm) The pattern calls for #1s (2.25mm) and I didn't read the fine print, so ended up with large lace and large ribbing on the cuffs, then switched to the small size for the rest of the foot.
Alterations: Besides my sizing issues? None. Just jammed them out when I was sick last week.

Photo pending broken laptop...

Am I the Last One Again?

2007-10-30T08:10:00.000-10:00

Look at this gorgeous stuff! As an Edgar Allen Poe fan, I LOVE this yarn, and the Raven notes, and the gorgeous gothic pattern by Stephanie Pearl McPhee. This makes me look forward to the Raven series as well!

Received: October 29th 6pm Hawaii Time.
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Sock Club Installment October 2007. Lenore colorway in STR Raven Series Lightweight Merino Superwash. Lenore pattern by the Yarn Harlot herself! This means top-down, DPNs (Although I don't think I have #1 DPNs...)

My wonderful DBF came home to me reading the Dyer Notes, and exclaimed, "Well? Aren't you going to show it to me?" He liked the color, hated the plastic spiders, and flipped through the pattern, saying, "It's really sexy. Although usually when I see someone taking photos of their feet it is you. And maybe that is why I think it is sexy?"
I love him!
(Yes, he is still knitting- working on a sock right now. And like the rest of us, he has begun aquiring a stash beyond his current conceivable projects. Come over to the dark side my sweet! Muh-ah-ha-HAH!)

The irony of a new October shipment?
This is what I just started on Saturday:
August shipment: Summer of Love Lace pattern in Flower Power. So I am a little behind? I just got email confirmation for the 2008 club as well...

Finished! Flow Motion Socks

2007-10-27T07:57:00.000-10:00

Began: Technically 10/17/07 (But that was after 2 false starts: One on a standard sock and once on this pattern.)
Complete: 10/27/07
Pattern: Flow Motion Socks. Cat Bordhi. Vogue Knitting Magazine Fall 2006. Pattern # 11. Errata on Cat Bordhi's site includes figure-8 cast on instead of provisional cast-on listed in magazine, along with more details on the sizing.
Yarn: SWTC Tofutsie Sock Yarn, 2 strands held together. Probably only like half of one skein, since I probably have enough left over for another pair of standard socks. Pink. This yarn is mostly wool with other fibers mixed in: Most noteable Chitlin, made from shrimp and crab shells. It is very soft. (Do you think it will turn red if boiled? hehehe!)
Needles: Clover Bamboo DPN. I started these on a US 3 3.25mm for an 8 stitch figur-8 cast on, then changed to a US4 3.5mm after I had 12 stitches on each needle. This was originally a mistake. After knitting a few rows I decided #3s were too small, and being too lazy to rip out, I just noted it and switched to a larger needle. I copied the mistake on the 2nd sock. Now that I look at it: I think it's a good mistake. You know how you always have to go back and tighten the stitches on a figure-8 cast on? Not so with smaller needles. Heh.
Needle Note: I had began a sock using #2s, and ripped them out for being too big. I then followed the pattern and used a size 6. They were too big as well.
Alterations: Besides the needle size, also used a figure-8 cast-on (only to discover that was what was intended by the designer). Otherwise: Followed pattern to the letter. Rare, I know.
Problems: On each sock I ended up with 2 extra stitches after the heel flap. I think it happened somewhere at the beginning of the heel flap and wasn't noticed until the end. As there is a "set-up row" before the ankle, I just fudged that until I had the right number of stitches. anyone else have this problem?
I love these socks! I love the lacy pattern and the color, but most of all I love how she skipped the usual side-gusset increase of stitches and instead increased right on top of the arch: A place I usually need room anyway! And such a gorgeous increase! Not just "M1 knit around" like a gusset, but a whole lace pattern! I am excited to get my hands on Cat Bordhi's new book (New Pathways for Sock Knitters: Book One), since I think she primarily explores alternative methods for the standard sock patterns.

Patience

2007-10-23T07:33:00.000-10:00

Knitting is teaching me patience. Or at least it is distracting me from irritation. They may be the same thing.
I finished the first Flow Motion sock while stuck in traffic. (This time, I wasn't driving!) I am prone to motion-sickness, and fare better when I am the one in control of the vehicle. This means I hardly ever knit while I'm a passenger (nor can I read. Car trips as a kid were hell.) This weekend I flew over to Oahu for my Uncle's birthday party. I knit waiting at the gate, I knit on the airplane, I knit as a passenger in my Aunt's car as we were stuck in traffic on the North Shore (surf was nice: Saturday, full of surfers and cars, big enough for a nice ride and small enough for beginners.) I knit while I waited for other people to pack, and then I finally finished sock #1 while in line for gas at Costco.

A note about that:
I saw this great Paul Taylor Ballet once where he had a line of people waiting for something that was happening offstage. Each person in line reacted differently: There was the impatient one who yelled and pushed, the cutter, the person squashed up to the guy in front of him (had him at the supermarket yesterday), and the dreamer who stared into space while the gap in front of her grew. Paul Taylor had no knitter in the ballet.
Our car at the Costco Gas line was much the same: Dad was impatient and bitching at all the slow people in front of him, and inching up their tailpipes. Mom was concerned that the gas tank was on the wrong side, and the other lines were moving faster than ours. Uncle got out of the car, ran around it to spot the gas tank, then stopped traffic and waved us into another line. I knit. At the pump, everyone is screaming and rushing and the card machine won't work and the attendant is called... I bound off the last stitch and held it up... My Uncle thought it was cute.

I cast on for the second sock and knit on the plane and 2 hours at the gate. I didn't even mind that I had to wait so long at the gate. At least the airport wasn't in motion! Two places I did not knit: The birthday party, and in the airport security lines. I figured that waving pointy sticks under the noses of TSA agents was just asking for confiscation.

Thanks to Nartian for letting me know that the pattern in Vogue is erred, and Cat Bordhi has some errata listed on her website. I had already decided that the provisional cast-on toe made no sense and gone with a figure-8 instead. The foot measurements I guessed from my ripped-out version, and they are working pretty well. But I still don't know why I ended up with an extra 2 stitches after the heel flap. Whatever I did, at least I am consistent: The second sock also had an extra 2 stitches.

Lost My Ability to Knit

2007-10-19T06:32:00.000-10:00

I have three WIPs right now and I hate them all. Gauge is wrong on the Cromarty. Tilted Duster has huge batwings in the armpits. Fed up with these two, I cast on with some recently stashed Tofutsie yarn, planning to make some easy socks. I used pretty #2 Sox Stix from Lantern Moon that I had recently purchased on vacation.

They were huge. I ripped them, and wondered about how long it had been since I knit a sock with DPNs instead of 2 circulars. Do you think that made a difference? I used the same yarn again and started Cat Bordhi's Flow Motion Socks from Vogue Knitting Fall 2006 using #6's. I thought I was pretty good at socks by now, but they are also huge. Last night I threw the knitting. And I'm not talking Throwing vs. Picking: I threw the sock across the room. Then I threw the yarn: Both Skeins, one following the other. Then I threw the magazine. Followed by the tape measure. DBF cleaned them up this morning because I couldn't stand to see them.

I have never thrown knitting before. Cakes: Yes. I had a wonderful pastry mentor who taught me that sometimes, no matter how long you struggle with a cake, sometimes the more you mess with it the worse it gets. At those times, it is often better to cut your losses and start again. At that point, nothing is more satisfying than taking that cake, and all it's frustrations and hours of work and just hurling the sweet, sticky f**ker across a room (preferably into the trash can). In knitting I guess we call that "frogging", but somehow the creative-destruction of frogging isn't quite as satisfying as the violent hurling of a squish of cake and frosting.
See, I guess I thought I was pretty good at this knitting thing. Hubris! I felt it was a satisfying use of time. You use your mind and your hands, and something pretty happens. And I think maybe I was happy with how I was getting the socks to fit on my feet. I felt like I knew the size and curves of my feet pretty well, and when I was frustrated with being unable to fit the Tilted Duster to my body I turned back to the comfort of socks. "I can DO socks", I thought. It was like when I feel too fat to go clothes shopping, but shoes and bags are fair game?
And the Hubris of thinking I know what I am doing: When you get those polls or Memes that ask, "Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced knitter?" What do you answer? I would like to think I am beyond beginner: But I have had to take a step down recently, and come to terms with a few truths that land me smack in the beginner's camp:

I don't know how to fit my body. In fact, I don't truthfully even see my body correctly. Recently I learned what "long-waist", "short rise", and "rounded shoulders" mean. I hear that short-row-shaping will help me, but I have never done short-rows on my body (just like...sock heels and toes?) I also suspect raglan shaping won't look good on rounded shoulders + big bust. (Can anyone confirm that?)
The fit successes I have had are luck. My gauge swatch almost never translates to a large object, I have never even measured my foot or calculated my magic sock numbers or anything. In fact, the only place I ever really have measured is my bust, and since it is disproportionate, that almost always assures a mis-fit.
I have made myself only 3 sweaters, and they are all too big.

Does anyone have recommendations for books that deal with shaping and fitting and what shapes look good on what bodies? I plan on going back and reading all those sections in all the books I have. That is, after I frog this sock AGAIN.

Finished Vacation Scarf!

2007-10-15T06:01:00.000-10:00

Pattern: Amy R. Singer's Montego Bay Scarf from Interweave Knits Summer 2007
Began: September 27 2007 on a plane to Wisconsin
Completed: October 4th, upon return.
Yarn: Blue Moon Socks that Rock Silkie in Lunasea: One Skein
Needles: 10.5 Boyle Circular

Pattern Changes: Used larger needles than called for: I wanted a more open look.
I knit away while on vacation until it was over 6 feet. Upon returning home, I measured the remaining yarn for the fringe (Wraps-Per-DVD-case) and realized I didn't have enough for the 200/12" pieces for the fringe. I only had enough for 88 pieces, or 44 per side. No matter, I didn't really want a huge fringe, prefering a longer scarf. I just divided the 88 evenly and made a fringe out of that. I braided 2 of them, and decided I didn't really like that so left the rest. A very fun pattern, easy to memorize, and great for a vacation project. Grew at a satisfying rate, and I was able, after awhile, to wear it as I knit (for warmth).
DBF also took me to Grafton Fibers again, where they were really wonderful and stayed open for us on a day they were usually closed. Got the following stash: (Note the 3 on the bottom of the photo belong to DBF. Also presented his grandbaby with the sweater I knit and the blanket he knit. (I shall find that photo of him in his new knitwear- super cute!)

Who's Got a Button?

2007-10-14T08:13:00.000-10:00

When I was little I used to like to play in my mother's sewing supplies: Bright ribbons and bobbins of wound thread, bits of fabric and buttons! Over years of sewing and mending, she had accumulated a large pile of buttons, which she stored in a Chock-O-Nuts coffee can which had been covered with contact paper. (We went through a period in the Seventies that included art projects of Contact Paper, tissue-paper mache, and crayons melted on an electric warming tray. I also recall something about shrinking styrofoam cups in the oven to make little leprechaun hats? Painted with green Tempura paint and adorned with a feather?) If I recall correctly, the coffee can of buttons was covered in a shiny gold foil and bright pink design remniscent of flocked wallpaper.

I remember how the plastic lid was slightly transparent, allowing a glimpse into the treasure below. I recall the sound of the buttons rattling in the can, and the distinct sensual pleasure of sinking my fingers deep into the plastic and metal buttons, like beach pebbles or pirate treasure.

She still has the buttons, although I was dissapointed to see that they are stored in a practical rubbermaid tub these days: The coffee can and it's bright contact-papered surface and plastic lid has apparently succumbed to the rust and wear of age.

Yesterday I dug through them, looking for ideas or treasures that can be used to close my in-progress tilted duster. These days the button collection includes less of the fun plastic children's buttons of the 70's, and more of those little envelopes of spare buttons from shirts and skirts, and buttons found in the dryer filter or laundry basket. They are mostly small: white, black, or pearly.

My mother pulled out a tiny daisy button, fingered it lovingly and said, "You had these on a little dress at some point." I remembered.

A few of the ones from my memory:

The daisy, the red smiley face, bright flowers, the white balls, the white one with the red rings... And one pulled off the couch: We all love that couch, and it has since been re-covered with a similar tweedy woven fabric, only this time less bright, less 70's, less cat-scratched, and somehow less familiar.

Reasons the Harlot Should Come to Hawaii

2007-10-09T09:05:00.000-10:00

A list for Jayme-the-wonder-publicist. (Aloha to all y'all who are following the link from Stephanie's blog!)

Canadian winter. I hear it is cold. Grey. Miserable. You wouldn't want The Talent to get those winter blahs, would you?
Careful reading of Stephanie's books reveals one skein of wool purchased in Hawaii, stashed as a travel memoir, and testament to the rarity and somewhat uselessness of wool in Hawaii. We wouldn't want that skein to get lonely, would we? Not when we have Hawaii Homegrown Wool Company for roving!
Aloha Knitters Group: They meet on Oahu, have blogs, have a Ravelry group, and would love to host a Harlot party! Those of us on outer islands are obsessed enough to fly to Oahu, the "Gathering Place". They have bookstores there. Plenty of chairs, I am sure. If they don't have enough chairs, we can sit on the ground. It isn't like there is snow on the ground or anything!
We are starved for attention. We just assume no one ever wants to come all the way out here to visit us. The truth is, we have one of the most beautiful States in the Union. Beaches, volcanos, mountains, jungles, cattle plains, even snow on the top of Mauna Kea. We love hosting guests. (I shouldn't really have to work this hard to sell it, right? I mean, it is HAWAII fergawdssakes!)
Kona Coffee. Vats of it. You can go to where it is grown and roll around in the freshly plucked berries. You can tour coffee plantations and drink all the samples you want. We also have beer (Kona Brewing Company, Mehana Brewery, etc.) and copious vegetarian food including Macadamias, Guavas, Papayas, Cocoa Pods, Pineapple, coconut, taro, breadfruit...
Flights are very reasonable, especially in the middle of winter from the West Coast. There aren't a ton of them, so they don't leave at horrid times in the morning, which would lessen the chances of needing to awaken at 3 in the morning. (And if they were early, see #5 above: KONA COFFEE. Did I mention the coffee?)
Eyelash Yarn. Sold everywhere and used for those ubiquitous fuzzy leis. Save us. Seriously. We will fan you with banana leaves and leave you offerings of chocolate covered Kona coffee beans.
I can promise you no snakes. I can't do anything about the spiders- sorry. However, I can promise that there are many people here with crazier, fuzzier, bigger, frizzier hair than you. Humidity + Ocean water (currently the ocean is 80 degrees Fahrenheit) means big hair is the trend.
Hawaii State Washcloths! How shall you ever complete your collection unless we lure you here! Think how exotic they would be! (Eyelash yarn? Heh.)
A chance to actually find out if that knitted bikini holds up in warm ocean water. Imagine the blogging possibilities!
Finally: (Jayme... don't you get to come with on at least some of the tour dates? Choose wisely. That's all I'm saying.)

Stephanie: Thank you for your words and your community-building spirit. Knitters who stop by: This list is for you as well. Come visit us! Bring your knitting!

Finished Baudelaire Socks!

2007-09-26T15:03:00.000-10:00

Pattern: Baudelaire by Cookie A. as seen in Knitty
Needles: 2.5mm 2 circular Knitpicks
Yarn: Austermann Step Superwash wool and nylon. One Skein.
Began: August 20th 2007
Complete: September 23rd 2007
Medium Size: And I used the larger-instep directions (8 row cable up each side).
Alterations? Did a short-row stockinette toe instead of a Figure-8. Just for practice.

I tried to get the pink to match on the toes, but chose the wrong pink. So the socks don't match, but are fraternally stripey. Come to think of it: I may have done the first sock from the middle of a center-pull ball, and the second sock from the outside of a center-pull ball, having had nothing but tangles on the first sock. Now that would make it stripe differently, wouldn't it!
I love the yarn: It is light and soft and makes the lace seem like lingerie. I couldn't tell any difference in smell or feel from the supposed Aloe and Jojoba infusion. I love that my DBF got this yarn as a gift for me!
I love the pattern. too. Next time I would do it in a solid color, which looks prettier than the self-striping circus that I have now.
(The Cat can't stay out of the photo! Camera-hog!)

I Love a Parade!

2007-09-25T22:21:00.001-10:00

IMGP0395.JPG
Originally uploaded by KelKnits

I finished the ribbing on the second Baudelaire sock while watching the Aloha Festivals Parade in Waimea. Thought I would give y'all who yearn for Paniolo Country a taste of how we roll...er...gallop?

Cross-Posted on the TD:KAL: Sizing Trouble!

2007-09-25T16:12:00.000-10:00

I am having the hardest time, and debating ripping almost the whole thing out. Advice? I am making the 44" size for (what I have to now admit) my disproportionately larger chest of 45". What I have found: The pieces across the bust fit okay, and the sleeves are tight, but also okay. The skirt is only half-complete but looking fine. (I would post photos but they are just too embarrassing!)

The back is huge, and the armscyes are huge. So much so that upon setting the sleeves, the arm holes almost pleat a little to keep up.
The neck is monstrous, and doesn't lay prettily like the photo, but creeps halfway up my head and hides the fact that, yes, indeed I DO have a neck!

I think my problem is this: I think I needed to do a smaller size to fit my body, and somehow increase through the chest (someone here...or was it in Ravelry? Has already asked about bust shortrows? But I think with the diagonal shaping it may be impossible?)
What do you think about:
Ripping out the neck to only about 2 inches?
Creating side seams to take up the massive amount of extra fabric under the arms?
Creating darts in the lower back?
Ripping out everything but the sleeves and skirt, re-knitting to a smaller size, somehow making the bigger sleeves and skirt fit onto the new smaller body, and not being disappointed when the new size stretches oddly over the chest?
And finally a question for everyone who loves the fit of theirs: Does it fit your body but have negative ease across your chest?
Thanks for being a part of this KAL. It is insanely helpful to have other people knitting the same pattern!

Because I Need New Reading Material...

2007-09-13T17:02:00.000-10:00

Have you seen? Knitty Fall 2007 is finally up! Yay! And I recently subscribed to Interweave Spin-Off Magazine, but until I get an issue in the mail, they have started a Spinners Connection Blog. I have been enjoying the Knitting Daily feature from Interweave Knits, as well. All this until I get my Ravelry invite... (Where IS that?) Enjoy!

Update: Got my Ravelry invite RIGHT after i wrote this... Now THAT is service! I am on there as KelKnits- come check it out!

The Tilted Duster

2007-09-06T13:33:00.000-10:00

I decided on a whim to make THIS: It is the Tilted Duster by Norah Gaughan in the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits. (I have been wanting to knit something of hers for AGES!I LOVE her book!)
Then I found the Knit-Along. Then I found some yarn last Saturday. I started on Monday afternoon and have been whipping along: I have been knitting socks for quite some time now and had forgotten how fast knitting goes in Stockinette on #10s. This is where I am now:
This is the back, the Right and Left Fronts, and one sleeve. And a SWATCH! The yarn is Galway Highland Heather in a heathered teal. I need to check the label but I think it is 100% wool. It has been quite some time since I knit a whole sweater!
Update: Oh: I altered the pattern only a little (so far) by knitting that sleeve in the round all the way up to the sleeve cap. (I like to reduce the amount of seaming and purling). Last night I sewed the side and shoulder seams on the top, and picked up stitches for the skirt and the collar. Technically this is a bit out of order (I should have done the other sleeve) but I am worried about the fit and want the top as complete as possible before I spend all that time on the skirt.

Flubby Spinning Attempts

2007-09-06T09:51:00.000-10:00

This photo shows my first attempts at spinning and 2-plying. The two multi-colored mini-skeins in the front were done in spinning classes at the Black Sheep Gathering: They are very huge and quite flubby. The little one at the bottom of the photo was plied from either end of a center-pull ball, while the middle one was plied from 2 bobbins. (If I recall correctly.)
Some beginner mistakes (er..."beginner tells" or...): They are uneven, large, and flubby. I thought they were over-spun, but when plied evenly (or as close as I could get to balanced) they ended up quite fluffy from the S-twist. Everyone was very gracious, telling me there are art-yarns out there that try to be flubby like this. Awww: You-So-Sweet!
The natural colored skein is the next attempt and the first from my new wheel. I got the singles to be skinnier, but also felt they were tight and overspun. But when plied (close as I could attempt to) balanced, they ended up fluffy as well. (Also plied from both ends of a center-pull cake). This skein is about 121 grams and more than 41 yards (I think. I will do some math later...)
This natural-colored fleece is Romney from my friend Jan's Hawaiian Homegrown Wool Company: Maluhia Farms!
Does anyone have any advice for me?

Credit Card Injury

2007-09-04T16:57:00.000-10:00

Yes, I live 65 minutes from the nearest Local Yarn Store. No, I actually get to Hilo only about once a year, and very often during hours that the LYS is closed. But guess where I was able to drop in on Saturday afternoon!
The Yarn Basket!

Big Island Bernina Sales & Service the Yarn Basket
50 East Puainako Street Suite 107 Hilo,HI
(808) 959-0034

I picked up some yarn needles, and some pink tofutsi's sock yarn (I hate to say it, but I actually probably have enough sock yarn. For now. Maybe.) But then I got enough yarn (hopefully) for three whole sweater projects!
DBF also bought yarn: He got some manly-colored cotton/spandex sock yarn and a bit of green wool for a hat and booties for the DBF's Grandbaby.
After YARN shopping, the rest of the errands seemed tame, but they did include Walmart and cocktails. Methinks shopping at Walmart should always be accompanied by cocktails. And a credit card sore from yarnage.

Was I the Last One?

2007-08-29T17:08:00.000-10:00

I got the August STR package on Wednesday 8/29. Seeing as how I think I am the last one on the planet to receive my sock club kit, I proceed without a single spoiler warning:

New Socks: Baudelaire

2007-08-23T16:22:00.000-10:00

I started these socks on the 20th and they are whipping right along. The yarn is gorgeous: DBF chose it as a gift for me, and it is delicate self-striping shades of greys and pinks. It is also impregnated(?) with Aloe and Jojoba Oil.

I am working on Baudelaire by Cookie A. as seen in Knitty, with some adjustments (#1 needles, short-row stockinette toe instead of figure-8 cast-on...). The sock feels and looks like lingerie for the foot!

The Spinning Wheel!

2007-08-22T16:30:00.000-10:00

This is it: It arrived from Oregon unbroken several weeks after the Black Sheep Gathering. I think it is very modern and beautiful (and goes with my ScanDesign Furniture... Am I a little too happy about that?)
I love this photo: That halo around the wheel isn't actually there: It is a reflection of daylight on the floor. And yes, that is the cat's butt in the distance...
Specs:
Louet S-10 from Woodland Woolworks in Oregon.
Double Treadle: Although apparently not a "true" double treadle since both treads attach to the same drive.
Upright: And a modern design.
Flyer Lead: Which I think means that the bobbin is connected to the wheel, and the brake band stops the flyer, allowing the yarn to be wound onto the still-turning bobbin. (I think it is more common for the brake to be on the bobbin, allowing the flyer to continue to wind the yarn onto a stopped bobbin? Anyone?)
Came with 3 bobbins and the lazy-kate attachment on the foot. Woodland Woolworks sent me a package with oil and some fiber, as well. I had purchased a hook, since it didn't come with one.
Some assembly: DBF helped me put it together. He jumped right in (male-style) and then had to back up and take some of it apart to make it go together correctly. I grabbed the directions (female-style) and started reading about A part into B part and count all the C parts. Then DBF adjusted the wheel very carefully so it runs smoothly and perfectly aligned!

It is very pretty.

I have even done some spinning of my friend's Romney fleece. (Can you see it on the bobbin?). While I am managing a finer yarn than my first flubby efforts, it is still overspun, uneven, and hard.

Stay tuned!

Heh

2007-08-21T11:33:00.000-10:00

DBF started a sock last night. And I started a sock last night. Both of us were using yarn he purchased for us at Grafton Yarn Store in Wisconsin. We both began with a provisional cast-on using hand-crochet. We did a little dis-ing of crocheters (no offense!) and he said:

"Crocheters SOCK! Knitters WOOL!"

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

2007-08-20T08:06:00.000-10:00

I finished my June STR Club socks!
Began: July 30th
Finished: August 19th
Needles: #1s (2.5mm) Mostly 2 circular, with some magic loop, on one pair knitpicks, one pair short Addi's, and one pair longer Addis (both longer cord and longer needles)- I was expirimenting!
Pattern: Toe-up version of the Solstice Slip pattern. The only variation was 8 rows of 3/2 ribbing at the top of the socks and then a crochet bind-off.

I thought this pattern was a bit busy at first, but now I really like them. I'm grooving on the garter-stich toe and heel (also recently done with the February STR Monsoon Inside-Out socks).

I'm looking forward to the August shipment: Shouldn't that be coming soon?

Solstice Slip Socks

2007-08-16T16:21:00.000-10:00

I started the June installment of the Blue Moon Socks that Rock Club on July 30th, which, for me, is not very late at all! (I admit, still haven't started the April Grasshoppers). 2 needles: Did the first one almost to the end with 2 different lengths of new Addi Turbos #1 (2.5mm), then left that sock on the longer needles and started the 2nd sock on addis and knitpicks #1s.
I think the pattern is fun, but I might agree with other members who have noted that the color and pattern together is a little busy.
Toe-up: Of course. I love toe-up because I can fit my feet exactly and I can keep knitting until I run out of yarn.
Needles: I think I actually like the knitpicks needles better than the Addis, because the tips are pointier, and therefore easier to do cable needle-less cables. However, I like the stiffer Addis cords. So jury is still out on that one.
I do think I will add some ribbing to the tops when I get there: I do like how that looks.

The Jayne Hat: A Cunning Fit

2007-08-01T10:12:00.000-10:00

Happy Birthday to my very good friend and co-Leo! The requested gift is on it's way to you!
A while ago he asked me very sweetly if "perhaps I had time to maybe just knit me up a Jayne hat? Pretty please? Because it would mean so much more if it came from you..." And of course how can I deny a request like that?!?!?!
After some searching for patterns and yarn sources and a quick review of my Firefly DVDs I found this excellent kit produced by Heather (blog HERE) of Wear With Style. She was a dream to work with, and has created a Jayne hat kit which provides not only an authentic pattern and dreamy thick portions of bulky wool, but a pompom, stitch markers, pattern help, the text of the letter from Ma Cobb (from the script) and cool Firefly-related stickers! The kit itself was sent Priority Mail stamped with Firefly-themed stamps! So very cool!
It did take me awhile to actually start the kit (sorry) but once began was a quick and fun knit.
I then had even more fun creating the shipping package for my friend, using straw and Chinese stickers and a card I made with the Ma Cobb text written inside. I'm even enclosing the original shipping envelope so he can see the stamps. I think he will get a kick out of them.

For those of you not familiar with the short-lived but awesome series Firefly by Joss Whedon (Of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel) go rent or buy the DVDs, then check out the movie Serenity. The rabid fan-base is well-deserved. And I love the fact that there are a collection of fans out there sporting this very distinctive piece of knitwear! It joins the likes of the Dr. Who scarf and the Harry Potter Knits in terms of crazed fans with knitting needles!

Gratuitous Black Sheep Stash

2007-07-24T19:00:00.000-10:00

The Black Sheep Gathering was awesome. And not just for the shopping: I am not a sheep farmer, and actually don't plan to be. But my friend is, and with her in mind, I started the weekend out with a Sheep Shearing class. It was kinda like cutting DBF's hair, only different:
This is the poor sheep before and after we got ahold of her (we drew no blood, thankfully!). The class covered shearers and clippers, some emergency vet care, blade care, and techniques for handleing the sheep, along with practice on our very patient model here. I went on and bought the Blue Moon yarn and some of the hand spindles the first day. Then I went in search of what I always search for on the mainland: Ethnic Food One Can't Find in Hawai'i! (That day I had Middle Eastern for lunch and Greek and Indian for dinner)
Saturday brought the excellent class of beginning spinning, which I have no photos of since I was trying to actually spin something. Ditto with Sunday's excellent follow-up class: Wheels and Plyers. Basically all three of these classes were way beyond my range. However, we have no mentors here on this island. So I figure I absorbed as much as I could, took photos and video and notes, and spent money on good equipment, and hopefully I have enough theory to practice on for the rest of the year! Knitty-Knoddy (Isn't it pretty?) and- could that be?- Is that a new wooden SWIFT in the corner of that photo?
Note the 2-color swatch. On Sunday I also took a class on color knitting techniques. This was my "skate" class: I figured that I knew most of it and could relax my brain a little after all the new knowledge I had gleaned. Indeed: I took the class specifically for some intarsia help (I have never done intarsia to my liking) and specifically the right-hand woven-in fair-isle stitch on the purl-side (got that?). I got both of these missing pieces, and a little practice in holding 2 yarn colors in one hand (both the right and the left). I decided I still love 2 handed woven-in Fair Isle best.
And of course: Some family-members of mine may maintain that I really went to Oregon for nothing more than the copious amounts of cheap blueberries. They might not be totally wrong. And just when you thought I couldn't possibly spend more money than this:
Stay tuned for the arrival of the Spinning Wheel! Shipped UPS!

Hokie Blankets

2007-07-16T10:17:00.000-10:00

Have you seen the finished blankets? They are amazing.

I Love the Rockin' Sock Club!

2007-07-15T10:32:00.000-10:00

There I was, alone and yarnless on my fiber-deserted island, clinging to the internet for love, when I started to hear rumors on other fiber blogs about this beautiful stuff called Blue Moon Sock Yarn. People were writing confessions about sniffing it, fondling it, knitting beautiful things out of it just for the sensual pleasure, going mad in the shops and taking piles of it home and rolling around in it...
What was this addicting stuff? I wondered. I found the sock club by surfing their site and signed up immediately: I had to get in on it, no matter what "it" turned out to be. Yarn sniffing-fondling-knitting-rolling in it? I was in! Then came the silly banking issue, the blog with it's many vocal members, and finally, the first shipment!

I sniffed. I fondled. DBF wound it into one huge ball, which I then separated into two equal portions. We remarked how pretty it was. I read all the notes and the posts on the Sock Club blog and I read the pattern several times.

I did not knit it.

Then came April. I felt guilt for not knitting the February kit. This guilt did not stop me from fondling, smelling, rolling (into balls, and also a little in it... SILK!). But I didn't knit it either. I vowed to finish the February kit before beginning the April.

I did not start April.

However, I did start February! Yes, it was June (maybe even late May?) and I was knitting the Monsoon socks. In the meantime, I read the blogs and was envious when knitters all went to Sock Camp. I read about all the technical problems (there was more than just the bank: Apparently there were shipping problems, blog problems, email problems, etc.) and I read the very polite notes from Tina and the crew about how everyone should try to be a bit nicer on the sock club blog, and how they were fixing problems as fast as they could. I didn't think too much about these silly complaints. Maybe because I know that there will always be someone complaining about something on the internet. Maybe because in Hawaii we have so many shipping and supply issues that I have ceased to expect perfection and haste. I thought the yarn and pattern-related complaints were just crazy because- well- have you rolled in the stuff?!?! So I shrugged it all off.

Then the big news:

I MET TINA!

(It is so silly how we have knitting celebrities, isn't it?)

Tina was at the Blue Moon booth at the Black Sheep Gathering. I was telling her that I loved the sock club when she went ahead and introduced herself. Then she asked who I was and where I was from, and seemed to even remember me! (There must not be too many of us in Hawaii?) She then hesitantly asked if I have had any problems, and if I had received the June shipment yet. (When I left for Oregon I hadn't, but when I got back it was here waiting for me.) I reported no problems and I think I get the shipments around the same time as California club members.

I then handed her my credit card and brought home my own stash.

But I have been thinking about it ever since. See, I was a bit star-struck and tongue-tied at the time. I wish I had been more clear with my praise. I really love the club: I look forward to each shipment, love the yarn and patterns, appreciate the beautiful dyeing, and love that there is a whole community of people out there that are as delighted and surprised by it all as I am! I fear the crew at Blue Moon (like many of us) perhaps get fixated on the very few negative squeaky wheels out there, when there is a mountain of people out there gushing (like this) ridiculously about rolling in and snorting the yarn.

This is just another love letter to Blue Moon. One of many, I hope. Check out the June Shipment! (Er...Which I haven't yet begun to knit...)

Hug your Cat!

2007-07-11T16:32:00.000-10:00

This made me cry at work and then run home and hug my cat.

DBF Gift

2007-07-01T15:53:00.000-10:00

DBF went somewhere cold (Mainland, Lots of knitters and wool shops and the like!) and brought me back a present!
Austermann Step Superwash wool and nylon. The yarn has Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil in it: I'm not sure if it just makes it smell nice or if it makes your skin smooth too? I think it's self-striping, too! What an awesome man who buys me sock yarn!

Tagged!

2007-06-28T16:23:00.000-10:00

Yay! I love this kind of thing! I have been tagged by Stilaholic Nartian Knits with the Wikipedia Birthday Meme, which I did over here on the non-knitting page.

Next: Black Sheep Stash! DBF buys me YARN! And I come home to Socks that Rock June shipment! Yay!

Black Sheep Gathering Coming Up

2007-06-18T14:27:00.000-10:00

I leave Wednesday for Oregon to attend the Black sheep Gathering. I will learn to spin! I will gawk at Sheep! I will purchase a spinning wheel! I will get drunk on Oregon Pinot Noir!
I'm very excited.
Any advice? What to bring, what to buy, what to wear, where to go in Portland or Eugene?

Baby Sweater

2007-06-11T18:05:00.000-10:00

Started: Sometime after 5/25/07
Completed: 6/11/07
Yarn: W.West Designs Elysee 55% Wool 45% Rayon 50g/60y 4 balls
Pattern: Daisy by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (Yarn Harlot to you!)
Needles: Clover Bamboo #7s
This little sweater is blocking right now. I'm not sure which of two little baby boys will receive it yet, but since their births are imminent, I thought I should get a move on.
Now I just need to find some cute buttons!
(Does anyone else fear that buttons on baby clothes are a choking hazard? Anyone? Ideas?)

Oh: And did you see the new Summer 07 Knitty is up?

Real Live Wool- Still on the Sheep!

2007-06-06T18:40:00.000-10:00

This is Gardenia, a baby Romney Sheep owned by my friend Jan. After a tough start she is still being bottle-fed (That isn't beer. I know it looks like beer but it really isn't beer. Although large beer bottles with nipple attachments would probably sell really well to a certain type of guy...)
Our little knitting group met at Jan's house for a field trip to visit her sheep.
This second photo shows the flock of Romney sheep. These are the ewes and kids. Aren't they out-standing in their field? (Har-Har: I am so easily amused.)
Unfortunately I will be off-island during their shearing this year. However, I will be taking a shearing class at the end of June and will hopefully be able to help next time. Can't you just see me wrestling one of these guys down and stealing their fleece? (And washing, drying, carding...)
Near Future Purchase: Spinning Wheel.
Anyone have any advice for a first-time spinning wheel purchase?

New Sock New Beach

2007-06-04T07:18:00.000-10:00

I took my sock to the beach. My knitting recently has been squeezed in between working and diving and relationship and family and writing. New on the needles is this sock, the February Socks that Rock club installment in deliciously warm and cozy wool dyed in stormy colors and named "Monsoon".
Seems rather inappropriate beach knitting: Warm, Stormy, Wooly, Thick and double ribbed. Not to mention: Hello? I just started the FEBRUARY sock club sock...
Also on the needles:
A baby sweater in the wrong gauge.
That Cromarty Aran sweater in the wrong gauge.
A cozy little house sweater was began (in the wrong gauge) and ripped out so I could give DBF the yarn for a baby blanket he is whipping up (yup: That makes project# 3 for the new knitting man! yay!)
This beach trip was a spontaneous side trip during the surface interval between two shore dives he and I did on Saturday. Neither of us had been to this beach park, so after a bumpy off-road truck ride, we grabbed the small cooler and a towel, locked up the dive gear, and hung out at the beach for a bit.
Guess what he said when I pulled the sock out of the cooler and started a new row? Nope. Guess again.
"No fair! I was gonna bring MY knitting then didn't!"
Muh-ah-ha-HAH!

Check Out How Many!

2007-05-31T10:21:00.000-10:00

Today I hopped over to the Mosaic Yarn Store site to see how many Hokie Healing squares they have already: Go take a look! Can it really be more than 2000 with more on the way? Incredible.

What have you Knit? MEME!

2007-05-18T16:29:00.000-10:00

Bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand
yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with
bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo
yarn
Two end knitting
Charity
knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with
circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with
your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items
on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing
knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace
patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting
with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian
knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting
items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths,
tea cosies...)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular
items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting
for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting
smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular
items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long
Tail CO
Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with
selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for
preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless
mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern
from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting
on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Hokie Bird and Squares

2007-05-16T11:22:00.000-10:00

This morning I mailed off my Hokie Healing squares to Mosaic Yarn Shop. Please, if you can, this is turning into a beautiful project: Take a look at some of the squares they have already gathered!
I worried a little while knitting these. I kept obsessively checking the measurements and worrying that the yarn wasn't nice or soft enough (no local yarn store and all). I obsessed over the Hokie Bird chart because I had never done intarsia before (and ended up falling safely back into semi-fair isle/ semi-intarsia).
Finally I settled into the thought that it is the action of knitting that becomes the prayer, and I relaxed. About that time I noticed that the squares were 32 stitches long. Huh.

Bamboo Socks

2007-05-08T15:46:00.000-10:00

My boyfriend is allergic to wool.
I KNOW! Right? But we have decided to try and make it work anyway.
Just kidding!
But to that end, when I found some nice bamboo yarn at the hardware store, I snapped up a couple balls and brought them home. When he saw them, he joked, "What are you making me?" To which I cheerily replied, "Socks! Bamboo socks!" He was shocked, and flattered, and pleased, and a bit confounded (as am I) that they can make yarn out of bamboo.
I immediately cast on for some toe-up socks. He usually only wears socks while working, so these were specific socks that he can wear up at my house where it is cold. Socks for warmth, socks for comfort, socks because and only because his girlfriend loves him.
The ensuing evenings were spent knitting away, and every now and then grabbing his foot and trying on the sock-in-progress. I was obsessed with his feet: Noticing the slope of the point of his toes, the curve of his long arch, the somewhat narrow heel. When I turned the first heel, he showed the amazement of a new knitter: Awe that this tube could be structured into three dimensions, could hug his heel exactly.
When the first sock was done, he remarked, "I've never had a sock that exactly fit my foot before!" He wore the one sock around the house. (It got a bit stretched out. I don't recommend this, since it makes it difficult to compare progress of the second sock. But who was I to resist? He wanted to wear it around the house! Knitter Pride!)
In the meantime, he went back to the hardware store and bought me two more skeins of bamboo yarn, "Just in case" and of his own violition. Of course I took this as the cry of a knitter-to-be: Muggles (especially MALE muggles!) just don't fondle balls of yarn at the hardware store unless they can sense the magic within, right? He apparently told anyone who asked that his girlfriend was knitting him socks! Out of bamboo yarn! And he needed to make sure she had enough of it!
So of course I taught him to knit: His first project can be seen below, and his second project, a knit cap, is currently being reduced in the crown. (12 rows to go!)
Last Tuesday night I completed his socks. The group was over at my house, and he had quietly taken the chair in the corner to work on his knitcap, while the girls gossiped and knit and compared projects and praised him for his plunge into the knitterly arts. When I was done, I knelt before him and slid his socks onto his feet: Feet I had come to know so well as I wrapped each angle in love and yarn.
What do you think?

Bamboo socks:
Pattern: Made it up. Toe-up, short row heel, bit of ribbing at the top cuff.
Needles: 2 circs: knitpicks #2's.
Yarn: Filati Punto Su Punto Bamboo Color 801 "Earth" Two 50g/ 125m balls plus about 12" of a proffered third.
Began: Sometime last month.
Finished: May First.

April Sock Club Yummyness!

2007-04-27T11:35:00.000-10:00

Spoiler Alert!
I received my April Socks That Rock in the mail yesterday! I was so surprised because I just assume that everything will take longer to get to Hawaii! It is beautiful: Soft and vibrant and silky. "Walk on the Wild Tide" Merino and silk. The inside of my ballband reads "Black-Tang". I can't wait!
However, since I still have yet to begin my February Monsoon Inside Out socks, maybe these will have to wait.
In the meantime: I scoured the stash and the store for Maroon and Orange yarn for the Hokie blanket squares, and was dissapointed in the selection. I hope I can make quite a few. Just feels right.
And on the needles are the bamboo socks for DBF, almost done. In fact, I should get to work because I have quite a list of knit-wants building!

Hokie Healing Blankets

2007-04-26T11:24:00.000-10:00

A Blacksburg, Virginia Yarn store, Mosaic, is organizing the creation of comfort blankets for the victim's families. They are requesting 8x8 squares in Hokie colors Maroon and Burnt Orange, along with black and white, in soft, comforting yarn. We can mail them to the shop through the month of May. I know it doesn't make anything better, but wrapping someone in knit-as-prayer has got to help a little.
Yarn store info here, and Jody's blog here.

Ice Cream Cozy Details

2007-04-24T09:21:00.000-10:00

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Cozy Made as a First Project by DBF:
Yarn: Red Heart Acrylic in Camouflage
Needles: Began on #8 Denise Circulars, then he switched to #8 straight Clover Bamboos
Technique: Garter Stitch knit flat: Knit on about 40 stitches. Knit a few rows. Measure against pint. Reduce 3 stitches every other row until good size is reached. Knit straight until matches the height of the pint. One turning row of purl stitches only. Knit one row, reduce some more, knit a few more rows to make a smaller base ledge. Draw end through and sew up side.
The flower-pot shape has an added benefit of catching melting-ice drips, and the Quarter-sized hole in the bottom is useful for pushing out the empty pint.

New Knitter! New Projects!

2007-04-23T15:10:00.000-10:00

Yep: Haven't had the heart to frog the Cromarty, so started new projects instead!

My fabulous BF requested I teach him how to knit! Yay! He picked it right up with grace and finished his first finished object in less than one day: A Ben & Jerry's ice cream pint cozy in camo red heart acrylic. It fits like a dream! He did a knitted cast on, knit stitch (continental), purl, knit in the back for a twisted rib, knit-2-together, plastic circs vs. bamboo straights, and basics of guage and design elements! He joked that he would be onto a cabled sweater by the end of the day! (Hmmm...Maybe I will make him figure out the panel reductions and yarn usage for the Cromarty Version 2.0...) Indeed, after the cozy was complete, he immediately began project #2: A Marsan Watch Cap in the same yarn. I feel flattered and loved that he went this far, so fast and so well, in order to understand knitting and what it means to me. And how cozy is it to spend a Sunday afternoon on the couch with a stack of DVD's, a pizza, and a couple of knitting projects?

Which brings me to: My project: Simple knitted socks for afore-mentioned fabulous BF in varigated bamboo sock yarn, knit to his specifications (short, no wool) and fitted to his feet. I am just doing my usual figure 8 cast on for a toe-up and short row heel. I'm really proud of the fit. I am used to knitting for my own feet, and I am really enjoying making perfectly fitted socks. I think a childhood full of altering the pointe shoes to my specifications has made me picky about socks and shoes, and made me appreciate the beautifully fit sock. He loves it! (I have only finished one. He wore the one sock around the house all evening.)

And in the Queue: My fellow Firefly-loving friend has requested I make him a Jayne hat. I found this fabulous kit, and hope to crack this one out pretty fast! A cunning fit indeed!