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Saturday morning and I have bacon and hazelnut waltz coffee. I’m still in my pjs and I’ve much spinning ahead of me. I also have a knitted bag to line. That should be interesting, considering my sewing skills are not the greatest. (That reminds me, I really need to start the bag that I am making my sister for Christmas. Oh, and the mittens for my mother.) Monday I am scheduled to return to the working world and I am SO NOT looking forward to it.
But on with knitterly things, as this is what this place is supposed to be all about, right? I finished the forsaken lace ribbon scarf! I even blocked it. I pinned it out and it was surprisingly not as terrible as I imagined it would be. It still doesn’t change my views on blocking. I still hate blocking.
The colorway worked perfectly with this pattern. I think that I may be in love with this scarf.
I also finished my cowl.
Eh, it’s nothing impressive really. It was more a spontaneous need to knit something utterly mindless than anything else. I decided at the last minute to make it all mobieus-like and add the twist before seaming. I thought that might give it a little more interest. It’s crazy soft and I know it’s going to be hella warm. So, I guess that I accomplished part of my goal. I still think it needs something. Like a large groovy button or flower pin or something. Something turquoise. Hmm… It’s boring. But it was knitting for knitting’s sake. And that’s always worth something.
South Carolina was awesome. Just so you know…
Thought I’d give a quick WIP update on this Thanksgiving Eve. Here’s my newest project: a cowl.
I’m using some novelty yarn that I had hanging out in my stash for this one. It’s going to be a rather large cowl (think head, neck, and shoulders) and I’m thinking about playing with large buttons or maybe a flower… something. I’m kind of improvising this as I go along. I’m trying to find the redeeming qualities in novelty yarn, as it is something that has a tendency to make me cringe as it’s often used in a way that borders on tacky. But I think that it can be used as the “main attraction” and can still be quite stunning. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. I’ll let you know how this one turns out. The only drawback to the project thusfar is the use of size 13 straights. Larger needles aren’t my favorite thing to knit with. I love my smaller sizes (like 2 – 4) and I seriously ABHOR straights. Like, with a passion. But my size 13 circs are on a sleeping project and it rather pains me to remove them. So, I’m going old school with this. They’re killing my wrists actually. I can’t believe that I learned how to knit on straights. Wow.
Next on the needles is a pair of Noro stripe socks. I started these while waiting at the airport for my flight to SC.
The color contrast on the stripes is quite stunning. I’m doing a 4 row stripe this go around and I’m loving the larger stripes more than the thinner ones that I used on my first pair. But, as nothing in my life can ever go smoothly, something HAD to go wrong with these socks.
Oh, that’s right folks. The green ended up on both strands at the same exact time. I thought that it would only be an issue for a stripe or two at the most. But no. It went on and on and on. And me being the complete ding-a-ling that I am kept knitting through it thinking that it would end soon. Needless to say, there will be some serious frogging taking place as soon as I get the stripe mojo back. Most likely, these are going to sit on the needles through at least the holidays. I’ll probably pick them back up in January. I hate when the knitting fates are against me.
Oh, and there’s been some hardcore knitting on the forsaken lace ribbon scarf (which I forgot to take a new pic of). There’s probably an hour or so left of knitting and then it will be ready for the dreaded blocking (which can’t take place until I get my blocking wires back from my friend who is borrowing them). It’s amazing what a couple of flights with a layover can enable you to knit.
I’m still riding the Twilight high, for those of you who are also fans. I’ve seen the movie 2 times now and I’m ready to see it yet again. It was just a fun movie.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! There’s much to be thankful for. :)
Guess who got her Twilight End Swap package today? ME!
And can I just say, that the ever-awesome, Troismommy, put together the best package ever! I love everything!!!!
WARNING: PIC SPAM AHEAD
Here’s what I saw when I opened the box:
Everything was all wrapped up. It was like christmas! So, I pulled everything out and there were little notes!
And all opened up, it revealed SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS!!!!
Is that not some serious swappy goodness? Everything was so perfect!!! She found such wonderful goodies for me!
Mmm Twilight Delight chocolate. Must resist urge to eat the whole bar tonight… Mmm the world’s best coffee: Senseo Hazelnut Waltz. This coffee is my vice. If I don’t have a cup of it every morning, I am unpleasant. Ask my co-workers. It’s sooo good. Yummy yummy!
Gorgeous Twilight stitch markers from the fabulous Velvet Hippo. I had spied these same markers or some that were very similar a few weeks ago in her etsy shop and had contemplated buying them, but was trying to save for my vacation so I didn’t! How lucky! :) And check out the ever-so-awesome key ring! It’s a mini Twilight book! I love it!
And the sock yarn! Holy crap, this is some gorgeous sock yarn! It’s MacKintosh Yarns Celtic Sock Yarn in the colorway Half Blood Prince. Oh, yes. Harry Potter goodness!!! This will most definitely become some fabulous socks to wear to the Half Blood Prince movie on opening night next July! (I’m still bitter about the date change, by the way.) And it feels wonderful!
But oh, here’s the best part:
About 2 months ago, I did a test knit for the WONDERFUL Troismommy and made this scarf. THESE GLOVES MATCH MY SCARF!!!! How awesome is that? The fit perfectly. They match perfectly. (Although, it’s hard to tell in this picture with the crappy indoor fake light. I hate that it’s dark at like, 5:00 pm now!) I’m so wearing them to the movie on Friday. I love them. I really, really, wicked love them!
This was such an awesome surprise to come home to! She had mentioned in the swap thread on ravelry that she had sent her package to a “midwestern blue state” and I wondered… because I’m in a midwestern blue state (for the first time in decades). And when I saw the package on my porch as I pulled into my driveway, I got excited. When I saw who it was from, I squeed with joy! (I would like to apologize to my neighbors for said squee, as it was a little on the loud side.) Thank you, thank you, thank you Genevieve for such an AWESOME package! :)
Now, I’m off to pack (and eat my chocolate) as I’m heading to South Carolina tomorrow!
What a great day!
I’ve been slacking on the blog posts. I have no excuse for my absence. But I promise that I have spent my time away working diligently.
Actually, the majority of my time has been spent spinning my September Spunky Club fiber, Acadia. It’s taken me a bit longer to spin than I expected it would as I was spinning a little more fine than I usually do. But I’m pleased with the finished yarn. While there’s still the thick and thin areas, it’s far more consistent than any other yarn that I’ve spun.
Excuse the crappy photography. The battery was low on the camera. And it was freezing cold. And there was no sun. And it was actually just starting to snow as I ran outside to take the photo. This whole dark by 5:00 pm is not conducive to my desire to document knitting and spinning progress. Plus, I’ve not set the twist on this yet, so it’s still a little kinky. But I did get about 400 yards. So, that’s rockin’. I did spin it for someone else… but I kind of want it for myself! That’s terrible. It’s just so pretty.
Anywho… I’ve finally come to some realizations in my spinning. 1. I love my spindles. I spin more consistantly with a spindle. 2. I hate using a wheel. It’s boring. However, it’s necessary for plying as the thought of plying on a spindle makes me a little faint. The wheel is much easier. But again, ridiculously boring. I literally sit down to use the wheel and I’m immediately sleepy. I have to at least have some good dance music that I can sing along with blaring on my ipod when I sit down at wheel. I find that Cher works best for this. Especially her song “Believe”. I’m sure my dog cringes when I sit down at the wheel because he knows that there’s a terrible sing-a-long-at-the-top-of-my-lungs in store for him to suffer through. This afternoon was no exception. But the sing-a-long keeps me going. I just treadle to the beat and before I know it, all is plied.
On the good news front, only 3 1/2 more days until I leave for my vacation. Can I get an “amen”? I’ll be heading down south to the hopefully much, much warmer state of South Carolina for an extended weekend to hang with a friend and participate in Twilighty fandom, yarny activities, and any other debaucherous goings ons (she used the word debachery, not me…). It’s certain to be a good time. Of course, now I have the daunting task of trying to decide which knitting projects will accompany me on the plane. I’m thinking lace ribbons, a still-to-be-determined sock project, and maybe the mittens that I want to knit for my mother for christmas (I haven’t picked out the pattern yet. I should do that tonight.). I should probably take my spinning with me as I still have 3 spinning projects left to finish by christmas. Can you take spindles on a plane? I should figure that out.
Well, I’m off to scavenger something for dinner out of my barren fridge. I really should go get some groceries. Woman cannot live on rice cakes alone.
I woke up saturday morning with a plan: get as much done this weekend on my christmas and swap items as humanly possible. Distractions would not be tolerated. Sleep would be forfeited if necessary. And the birthday socks would be completed. No excuses! I am happy to report that all has gone well this weekend and I actually accomplished WAY MORE than I had planned. Go me.
First off, birthday socks: Check.
Good thing I finished these. I’ve sworn off wearing non-handmade socks and have realized that in order to really pull that off, I need lots more pairs of socks. Plus, they’ve been sitting unfinished for about a month now. They needed to get finished.
Supersecretninja knitting: Check.
Did you really think that I was going to post a photo of the whole thing? Just a sneak peek is all that I’m giving on this. I’m not even going to say who it is for. Just know that I started it yesterday morning and I haven’t touched it at all today and I’m still 75% done. Because I’m that cool. And yes, there was a wholelotta moss stitch. And I kinda love it. And I might not want to give it up…
Ridiculous amounts of stitch markers for various people: Check!
Again, I have to be vague on this too as they are all for other people and I don’t want to destroy all suprises. But I was a stitch marker making machine today. Really. I was.
Progress on Sarah’s Juno: Check!
This is the Juno Regina stole from Knitty. I’m making this for my sister for Christmas. It’s all kinds of lacy goodness and it’s surprisingly easy. Not sure if I’m going to get this one done by December 10th, so that I can drop it in the mail to her or not. But I’m giving it my best effort. If I see that I’m not going to make it, then I’ll figure something else out. Who knows…
And since I had such a productive weekend, I can focus all of my efforts this coming week on the massive amount of spinning that awaits. Again, none of which is for me, so deadlines loom.
And just one more thing… A reminder that this coming Tuesday, November 4, 2008, is election day. Please go out and vote for the candidates that are right for you. It’s so important that you do. Vote.
Vote.
