see mi knit

The socks that won't finish

As busy as our Boston/Ny trip was, I was able to make some progress on the Paraphernalia socks:

By the way, the second one has NOT been a breeze.  This shot was taken after I ripped back about 2 inches because I belatedly realized I didn't decrease enough times along the gusset before continuing on the foot.  Regardless, I still find the socks charming and I can't wait to finish them so I can put them on my feet and combat the bitter May rain sweeping through the backyard.

Second one should be a breeze?

Behold! The humbling power of knitting!

After a month, 3 heel do-overs, numerous cable mis-crossings I'm finally groping my way towards trying to remember the kitchener stitch.

But it IS lovely.

Dangit! AND I've put it on the wrong foot!

Send backup and wine

Oops

Spring socks

I need buttons!!

Hmmm, and some better white balance skills.  I've tried it on without yet blocking and it fits like a glove... very snug.  Totally wearable but yowza, blocking better not bring about any nasty surprises.

I finally got around to starting some socks!  Some of you may have noted that I was having a panic moment before leaving for my ski trip, trying to find a sock project to bring with me.  I eventually settled on Titania's Revenge (leftover from my membership in the Socks That Rock club) on some Lorna's Laces.  Well, I took it with me, knit about 3 inches, hated the lace patter and ripped out.

Then I started with a 3x1 rib intending to still do the cable pattern. I got all the way to the foot shaping and again, hated it.  The pattern was kinda cool but it was too big.  Ripped out again.

So I came home, pondered, dove into the stash, wound and rewound about three other skeins and eventually settled onto this:

Tess' Supersock & Baby using the pattern as suggested previously.  I am a very happy bunny.  Delightfully quick and the yarn is doing some beautiful subtle color changes and the color just makes me smile. Spring is here!!

Speaking of socks:

The wool fumes have gone to her brain

All the snowboarding trip hats are done!

Norwegian Star earflap hat (rav link).  It's the first time I've used Lion Wool before and my verdict is that it's OK.  I guess I got what I paid for.  It's wool, durable, cheap... not the softest, not the most luxurious thing to knit with, but it'll work.  That said, I think I'd think twice before using it again. Life's too short. :P

On the other end of the yummy yarn spectrum is the Owls sweater:

I am using Rowan RYC Soft Tweed and get this, the name of the colorway?  Blanket.  Nothing could be more suitable and I can't wait to wrap this around myself.  It feels so soft and lofty and cuddly!  A very small part of me is toying with the idea of trying to finish it before we go on the snowboarding holiday.  Did I mention we leave in two days?

Brief bout of finishitis

So far the sock survey is 2 for Paraphenalia and 2 for No Purl Monkeys.  They both sound tempting, so what did I do?

I started on the Owls sweater of course.  I am absolutely hopeless. Thank you for your indulgence.  I am pretty sure I want to start some socks soon so your votes have not gone wasted.

To make up for my hopelessness, I do have some FOs to share!

Firstly the Razor Cami (rav link):

It's very "rowr"

The wool cotton is really nice to work with and it's surprisingly warm for a hole-y tank top.  I still plan to make a wee matching shrug for it, but the design of it is still forumulating in my head.

I also resigned myself to not finishing Craig's hat from last year in time for this year.  So instead, I went stash diving and whipped up a little something in a couple of hours (thank god for chunky wool!)  Unveiling Craig's snowboarding hat for 2009: Les Arcs (rav link)

He is not sad about the hat. In fact he is delighted with the hat.  He is sad because he couldn't get his PS3 to work.  Isn't my fiance a cutie?

Ok enough blurry pics of the cutie fiance, here's a close up of the  hat (after he finally got the PS3 working and could sit still for a minute)

It's your basic hat using a stitch called Irish Moss (stitch pattern follows).  I did a few rows in a different color to give it some zing.  I used some random Rowan Big Wool that I salvaged from a failed scarf.

Irish moss:
Row 1 - K1, P1
Row 2 - repeat
Row 3 - P1, K1
Row 4 - repeat

The decrease rows were a pain in the arse. I couldn't get my maths right to get it to decrease prettily while keeping the pattern.  I eventually got it but man, I'm glad he likes it!

I will now close with some pretty stash enhancement I'd like to share with you simply because it's pretty:

I'm almost scared to use it because I don't know what project would be worthy!

Feeling a bit sock-ish (socky?)

I have finished the Razor cami, washed, blocked, tried it on and everythin'. I just need to take a picture.

I have also finished a Norwegian Star Earflap hat for Craig's sister but that saga continues. It's too big, I knew it was too big, finished and bound off anyway and now there's all sorts of heartstopping experiments with hot water soaking and radiator dryin' these past few days.  Actually contemplated lining it with polar fleece but seriously, who am I kidding, I'm not going to do that when we go on our snowboard trip in a week and a half. (that's what the hat's for)

I'm also like 75% done with my clover mittens.  It would be nice if they were done for the snowboarding trip.  It would be nice huh?

Craig's own hat, which I have been working on since the beginning of last year's snowboarding trip is about 6 rows closer to finished than last year but closer is not done.  The yarn keeps catching on the join of the circulars (the one time Addi Turbos have failed me) so it's just not that fun to knit (although I'll be sooo happy when it's finished so I don't want to rip out or give up).

And despite all these half-finished and FINISHED items literally an arms reach away, I find myself reaching right past them and contemplating some sock patterns.

Wanna help me pick? (hopefully you are on Ravelry)

Mary Jane slippers
Paraphernalia
Embossed Leaves
Climbing Lace Socks
No purl monkeys (I ripped out my purl monkeys)
Froot Loop

I think I'm hoping that by starting socks I will magically feel like finishing those other WIPs.

hehe.

Snow day knitting

Our recent unexpected snowstorm landed me with a very welcome opportunity to knit, pretty much ALL DAY.  Le sigh!

So I picked up the mittens again and started on the second mitten.  The "dpn lines" I complained about on the first mittens are still visible but really, in real life, they are less visible and I'm happier with my progress.  I think I'm just getting used to the dpn technique and I've been reading up on tips on the interweb.

I also started a new project, the very popular Razor Cami (rav link)

Ok so what am I thinking, making a strappy little lacy number when I did just mention we had a snowstorm??  Well, I have a plan...  I really like how Saermae made a little matching shrug!  I couldn't really find a shrug pattern I liked for this so I think I'm going just wing it after I finish the cami.

Also, that color is totally off.  It's supposed to be a light blue-gray but I got tired of trying to force that color using a flourescent light and it just ended up coming out white-silver.  Very annoying as the mittens came out pretty close in color.  I am seriously going to start thinking about getting a lamp with a natural white lightbulb.

Teal FOs

I totally finished the hat in time.

I really like how it came out.  I contemplated putting a pom pon on top, but as it is a gift for a boy, Craig was quite stern with veto-ing the idea. (rav link)

The coloring is just bewitching. This is the second hat that I've made out of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky, which means I have one more skein left and I'm sure it's going to be part of the stash where I'm very very picky about what to make out of it.  The pattern is 18 Seconds to Sunrise (rav link) and I can highly recommend it if seeking a quick, satisfying knit.

Its been quite a knit productive week. I've also finished off Petersburg:

This was also really enjoyable to knit! I love bulky yarn.  This yarn in particular, Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Chunky, was a dream to work with. I am super sad it is discontinued!  Why oh why didn't I hoard it when I had a chance??

It's soft, lofty, and warm, all the hallmarks of Good Wool.

Some people who have made this weren't too keen on the belt loops and I can see what they mean as it kind of bulges out.  But I plan on using this as a house sweater to throw on when putting on the heater is overkill so I'm not too fussed about it.

Hrumph

How NOT to start an internet business:

1) Spam potential customers under false pretenses, continuously lie about motives, and try to play for their sympathy using insincere stories. (long ravelry thread) (Subway Knitter's excellent summary)

2) Trick suppliers into thinking your service is providing exceptional publicity when in fact, well they're just not.  Craftster post with very amusing "gotcha" moment.

shophandmade.com welcome to the shitlist. David Kovanen, dood, you're a slimeball.

Honestly, in this day and age, businesses are just plain stupid to think the craft community is tech-unaware and/or isolated from each other.  There is no reason and no value in trying to deceive us.