Penguin Girl

First: I’m sorry it’s so cold in NYC today. I put away my winter clothes this weekend. I’m not responsible for the rain. It’s a Monday, what more do you want?

As I submitted my Project on Friday my other hand was grabbing for needles and yarn.

What was I casting on for?

A Hug for Mum
Weaver’s Wool Mini Shawl by Peggy Pignato
Debbie Bliss Merino Aran (3 balls of steel blue, 1 ball of grey)
6.5mm bamboo circs
CO: 20080509 around 11am
… שׁבּת …
BO: 20080511 @ 1:30am
This is the pattern that has made me like garter! I just wish I had more yarn to make it a bit longer, but mum says it’s ok. Why did I make this? Mum said she gets really cold at her work in the summer and her swallowtail is too delicate. May she wear it in good health and stay warm.

I’ve been chugging away at many other things too.

On the way out to see mum I finished the front of Anouk and started the back. I need to check my stitch count at the top, because no matter how I do it, I end up with 4 stitches for the shoulder straps and that doesn’t sound right. I’ve not taken photos of it because it is so grey and dismal outside and the colours really do need sunlight to look nice.

Speaking of grey I’m nearing the end of the Earl Grey socks. I’m not totally thrilled with the cable definition or my lack of ability to flip the chart but I am chugging on anyway. They make me happy and I have a feeling I’ll make them (or similar) again. I’m not sure what’s up next after them, but do need to decide soon. I hope to finish these soon.

And, in a nod to Maryland last week (yes I bought a lucet (which I’ve only used for about five minutes), my other purchases were some silk (which refuses to be photographed as it’s shyer than I am, which is why my MDSWF experience wasn’t quite as I had wanted so I probably won’t write more about it).

I also bought a new spindle. And wow. I can spin cotton now. It’s all about not trying to do wool-type drafting (aka remembering the staple length is much much shorter) and using a support spindle and something to support it with. I’m using a kitchen prep cup which seems to work quite well as one side is higher than the other so it works well in my lap, but I’m not yet married to this.

Hopefully next week I’ll still have survived to write about some other projects (seraphim, teasing on some stealth projects, the summer of clapotis and socks) and the results of fessing up the full contents of the stash to E (well… almost)

A quick post (hopefully) as everything has taken me much longer to do today and I’m terribly far behind on my writing and editing deadlines.

Crochet: I’ve decided I’d really like a new hat for pesach. I don’t really have enough yardage (or a colour I like) in the stash so today a $3 of Bernat Satin in Mocha followed me home and jumped onto a hook. I’m not sure it’s selection of my salmon pink H hook was right but I’ll let a few more rounds go before I jump in and intervene. Given time constraints I am not sure how smart this is, but since another pair of socks is misbehaving it might not be too bad.

Spin: I still haven’t taken it off the spindle. To ply or not to ply is the current dilemma.

Stash: I am very very slowly owning up to the full contents of my stash. Constant grey gloomy skies make for terrible photography, especially with my poor skills. So please, as I add to flickr don’t think I bought all of it recently. I try to put the date in the description. I recently rediscovered my cache of Berocco Love-it for example…

Knit: On Sunday I bound off for the main portion of the dragon wrap, mostly as per my goal. I still have an extensive punch list before this can be blocked and sent off to it’s growing recipient but I’ve accomplished the big part. Immediately upon snipping the thread for the dragon wrap, I cast on for Anouk. After dusting C’s blanket I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’m not in a blanket mood. I’m knitting the 12mo size and hoping that C stays little like her mum and aunts. I’m stash busting so we’ll see how creative the pockets become, and when reality sets in and I remember that I have to knit both the front, AND the back. ;) Many many thanks to knitter-E for inspiring me to try an Anouk of my own. (ps a belated Happy Birthday! I’m a dork and forgot.) The simple socks are progressing as long as we ignore a little bit of oddness in one heel and that I am able to have a stern talking to them and successfully untangle the mess that occurred on the train this morning. It was so terrible that I didn’t knit on the way home. I outlined this post. I have another pesach deadline which may or may not involve this ball of yarn. I’ve had grand plans for it for a while. We’ll see what happens.

Ok. First off, I’m not currently talking to the embossed leaves socks. I knew they looked big, but they were too large on E and well, that’s not good. So I tried to rip back but be all clever about it and I made a big royal huge mess and well, I’m not going to talk about it further. I’ll spare you the photos. It’s not pretty. Spot is talking to them like crazy in the sock bag. I hope he gets through to them soon and they understand what they need to do.

I finally finished the rushing rivulet socks and I love them. I am sad that the pattern does not mix well with two socks and two circs for the leg, but c’est la vie. They also aren’t considerably warm (as I unfortunately found out today), but it’s nice to have another pair of summery socks.
Yarn: Zitron Trekking Pro Natura, #1608, less than half a ball (other half went to E’s mitts)
Needles: 2.5mm circs
Pattern: Rushing Rivulet (Riverbed Architecture) by Cat Bordhi
Size: Mine
Mods: None intentionally, but we all know I don’t follow a pattern properly.

The third set of socks a revisit to my first pair of socks, in that I’m using the same yarn. That’s about it. These will be toe up, ribbed, and probably with Cat or Wendy’s gussets/heels. We’ll see.
Yarn: Bernat sox in crazy hot
Needles: 2.75 mm, they’re HUGE! ;)
Pattern: er.. hodge-podge of various things, toe up, current “plan” is for a k3,p1 rib …
Size: Mine
Mods: There is no set plan so any mods will be design features?

To go along with my attempt to eat better and exercise, I joined a site called “fit day”. You can see everything I ate and did at this link. I love how knitting burns calories. Hopefully this will help me. I’m not totally thrilled with the site, but it was the best one I found this afternoon. I’d love to be able to group the foods as breakfast, snack, lunch, etc. Anyway, hopefully the public humiliation will help. Though given my track record (my desk is a mess) I’m not hopeful.

[edited: I took out a bit on self diagnosis. E thinks I’m a big hypochondriac. So I’ll keep my mouth shut.]

I brought home some Louet Gems the other day in Caribou (a wonderful Brown) to go with the left over koigu and knit another pair of (sorry) little gem mitts. The Regia Silk hasn’t worn too well considering I’m wearing them HARD; as in I wear them every day, all day.

I will finish the gift socks. They just need to sit and think about themselves.

Each time I think I’ll just slap up a bunch of photos for a post, I end up writing much more than I thought.

I’m still in awe of what sara sent. I wore the spocks yesterday and they gave me good luck (I think). R didn’t believe me that they weren’t knit for me in the first place so I had to track down sara’s post. My current wonder is what to do with the Blue Sky Alpacas Brushed Suri it’s just under 130m in a dk weight. I have time because I became overwhelmed by startitis last week and am trying not to cast on more that I don’t have time for.

First, a finished knit and a request for assistance. I finished the smoke ring, and I love it. However, my blocking left much to be desired. Partially it is because I seem to have misplaced my pins. Partially because I seem unable to pin properly through a towel onto the carpet or my yoga mat. I’ve heard good things about the interlocking gym mats. Comments? Suggestions? I am also open to suggestions as to how to block a circular object and not have an icky ridge.

Next is a finished bit of spinning (I’ll leave the scary bit to the end). This is from some roving I bought at Rhinebeck in ‘06. It’s a two ply of sorts and is the first real thing squeaky spun. I’ve gotten much more comfortable on him.

My new coffee table makes me really happy in that the bottom shelf is mine. In gaining this accessible storage I did have to vacate the coat closet and that makes me sad. There will be some stash readjustment.

I started the baby blanket for S’s daughter C. Since I made C’s brother a blanket I felt obligated to crochet one for his sister as well. It involves counting so I’m not sure how quickly it will really go. I’m using the violet cotton-ease I had originally earmarked for the dragon wrap.

I really am enjoying spinning up the “robin’s nest” roving I bought last Spring at Maryland. I love the colours and how the different fibre lengths make it look as if my single is not one but plyed. I’m aiming for consistent spinning of about a light fingering weight for this. I’m trying to spin 5 minutes a day. E is still bothered by the “noise” of Squeaky (who I think is quiet) so I try to do it when he’s not around. I see how the consistent practice is paying off. Thank you Dave and Devorah!!

The universe can feel better again. Socks are back on the needles. I’m making the “Rushing Rivulet” from Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways, book one. I thought I’d be all “smart” and that I didn’t need stitch markers to knit the star toe. I believe that I don’t, unless I do the majority of my knitting half asleep at 6:30am.. They aren’t terrible, but after looking closely at the quality of Sara’s socks (honestly the closest I’ve ever gotten to a hand knit sock that I didn’t knit) I see how amateurish I knit. I’m sloppy. Most of the socks I knit at first served two purposes: 1) to learn how and 2) to give me socks that fit. I am nervous however that my gauge loosened up too much and the foot will be too loose when I get more knit. Since I just gained two new pairs of socks it isn’t as critical that I complete these quickly.. so do I rip ?

Ok. You can stop reading if your squeamish.

(this space intentionally left blank)

I’m attempting to be smart (probably not a good idea, see sock above) and fix the right side (of the front, the public side) of the baby dragon wrap. Mostly because I do not want to reknit the whole thing. It’s wonky to say the least and I don’t think that I’m actually fixing the problem even though I’m rereading the instructions again at each row. I’m not optimistic about this attempt at avoiding reknitting, but we’ll see what happens. I don’t know until I try..

or already, or where the heck did the past week (month) go, or at least I have a whole week until it happens again?

Because it’ll be easier this way, I’m going to give a status update of each item on my current WIP sidebar and include pictures if they aren’t really really bad. [It wasn’t a good week for pictures.]

The Dragon-Skin Wrap by Angela Hahn is cruising along. I’m to the decreases on the left side. I’m going to knit it up and then compare it to the right and if it looks good enough then I’ll be much further along and very happy (because after the decreases it’s all English that I understand). If not, it’s a fun pattern and the practice was good.

Leaf Afghan by Ann V. Gallentine is getting much more per ball than I anticipated. Ok, I only finished one ball, but I knit 2.5 repeats from it. I’m aiming still for 5 balls for the long strips. We shall see. Yes, the cables eat up more yarn than an open lacey thing, but I’m enjoying myself and that’s what counts. I’ve fallen off my one repeat a night goal, but I’m trying to touch it and knit a few rows at least every other day.

Little Gems Mitts by Donna Kay from the Holiday 2007 of Interweave Knits are my startitis, yet necessary project (so are thick house socks, but they will have to wait). The Regia Silk (in coal) plus the Koigu are beautiful together. I FROZE in class on Wednesday and my digits have been chillier than normal so I’m putting the Ring to the side until these are knit up. This afternoon while it would seem I was playing a round of untangle (you are hereby warned, and The Bon is in trouble) I finally gave up my goal of very few ends to weave in and broke a few strands to sort out my mess. While I don’t like the koigu when skeined very much, and even worse when it’s balled, i love how it’s knitting up with the Coal for contrast. It reminds me of stained glass and I can’t wait to finish them! (I can knit four rows per commute bit, so that’s two squares per day, which means I should finish at the second week of February, unless I start editing my writing on the commutes. I’m going to try to get some additional knit time in, as they are something I do need. The “answer to cold hands” was gifted to my mum because my gauge was off and they fit her nicely.

Both of Miriam’s beautiful designs, Seraphim Shawl and Logan River are waiting patiently for the kitchen to be completed so that I can get to them again. The small appliances have the basket surrounded and are guarding it carefully.

I made nice progress on the Old Shale Smoke Ring until I decided to knit the mitts. It’s really pretty and I want to get back to knitting it.

I have started the front of the Veste! Barely, but it is started. I can’t locate my 4.5mm circs, but I found another pair (er, part of some dpns) and have cast on determined to complete this project before August. :)

Lastly, I bought a new spindle last week, I needed some Soak (yes, I could use shampoo or other things, but this is my small luxury at the moment) and Spunky has very tempting stuff. I haven’t spun on it very much and I think it’s small and light and very pretty. I think the weather has caused some havok on the shaft, but I like it. The little I spun gave me a clean long run.

And it’s so good to see that my concerns from this time last year (how to spin and what to spin on[squeak and a few spindles]) have been answered. Now to find longer days to get it all done…

It’s amazing how projects progress when you actually *work* on them. :) Much of this may be a repeat from Wednesday, but I hope it will be slightly more coherent as I am much healthier today.

VJM’s blanket (that covers the entire hodgepodge of initials) is actually progressing. I decided to frog the log cabin because I absolutely detest garter stitch (that may be my problem with EZ patterns as well) and I chose a Leaf Afghan by Ann V. Gallentine after browsing through Ravelry. This will most definitely involve seaming, which I detest, but the pattern has enough purl/knit changes on each side to keep me interested and occupied. My irrational fear is still that I’ll run out of yarn but it seems I can get at least a foot knit (fourteen inches actually) of the wide strip with less than one ball so I’m aiming for 6 balls each for the wide strips and we’ll see what happens for the narrow ones. My only other fear is that this is called “barn board”. It’s BROWN. I’m knitting leaves. Is that morbid? I do wish that the pattern was charted, but alas.

[9:25a They are here to demolish the kitchen. I knew I should have gotten something to drink five minutes ago. *sigh*]

The Veste. Aah.. Zee Veste. She is progressing nicely and I’m probably an inch from dividing for the back shoulders and then, then she goes onto some spare string and I start the front. The end is in sight. Oh wait, seaming. Drat. I knew I should’ve knit this in the round. I hope to finish the back tonight. I’m not entirely positive this will happen, but it’s nice to dream.

Seraphim how I love thee. When I actually sit to knit you, there is progress. Yes, now each row takes much longer as you grow, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel which will be chart one (in about 50 rows). Even though you are quite plain right now you still excite me. Holding the two colours together creates a subtle effect and I enjoy it greatly.

Ring. Ring of warmth. I’m not sure if I’ll ever wear you. I had visions of you being worn around the building when I run to do laundry and things of that sort. Yvonne’s Yarn is beyond beautiful and my photos do not do it justice so you will have to wait (or just look in flickr). The pattern is simple and by Cosette Cornelius-Bates. You cast on a trillion stitches, join them in the round without twisting and go to town on the 4 row pattern. This is my perfect yarn, it’s mostly grey with hints of gorgeous colour. I do need to knit another pair of socks or three, but it’s nice not to have to think about heels or things. ;)

That is it on the knitting front. I know. The wrap is hibernating and that’s not good because if I don’t knit it now, she’ll be off doing research with her mum and I won’t know what hit me.

Oh and Squeak? There is one very critical spot I forgot to oil. Which E forgot to oil. Which was totally forgotten about. I noticed that the squeak changed depending how I treadled. I kept thinking about that for a while. Motzei shabbos Eureka! Squeaky noise gone. I want to draw up a simple guide to where to oil your HitchHiker but I’m probably the only idiot who forgets to oil there. Her second bobbin is almost full and I hope to finish that this week. There may have been a small spindle purchase this past week. I needed Soak (Miriam it’s your fault for getting me hooked on that stuff) and the spindle was just sitting there begging. I like Jade better than the one I purchased but as I spindle fine I bought by weight not by looks. The one I bought is no longer listed. You’ll have to wait til it arrives (probably cold and in need of wool) and gets comfortable before there are photos. Do I really need it ? No. But I was weak. Spunky’s store is pure joy and crack. I bear no responsibility if you spend you year’s budget there.