Knitting Exposure

Don't get me wrong, I'm fully intending on celebrating

on June 10, but I knit in public almost everyday. I have specific projects for travel knitting, I knit at work unless I don't feel like being pestered by my co-workers, I even knit at the movies. Why do we need Knit in Public Day? Everyday is MY KIP day...

But not today; I am hurty as all get out. I'm actually wearing my cashmere armlets in this weather, just to help the aching in my arms. I can still type, but no more knitting for today... It's okay though, because I finished the first sleeve on Mariah yesterday before work! All I have left now is the right front, then the yoke, then the hood, then the finishing. I am very excited to have my first sweater done (eventually).

Contest Update!

Four comments so far, and they are all winners! I was thinking about Heatherly's idea to "tag" with my knitting, but in my neighborhood there is too much competition from the gun-toting sort of tagger; I'll leave the vandalism to the professionals =) Not to mention that, because of my public knitting, everyone would know it was me...

Thank you all for the suggestions! Keep it up, the prize pot is sweetening by the day!

The Panty Post

I take a short hiatus from my blogging and come back to a bunch of comments! You guys sure know how to make a girl's day! Damn, now I feel pressured to be interesting.

In Chiaogoo news: Wednesday at lunch I go into my bag to work on the second Ribble and find... another broken needle. This one broke right in half; thank goodness it wasn't holding any stitches! I come out of work about to lay a rant into my poor bf (yes, he walks me to and from work!), and he hands me an envelope containing my new needles. I learned two things from this. 1. Sometimes you have to bitch to make things right. and 2. My definition of "light-colored needles" is different than Mr. Zheng's. Overall, my experience with the company has been pretty good. The new needles feel sturdier than their predecessors, but only socks will tell.

I moved a dresser into my teeny apartment this weekend, hence the lack of blog. This means I have a more discreet place to stash my undies than the Sterilite 3-drawer hutch that once housed them. So, at Boy's request, my acrylic stash has migrated to the recently vacated Sterilite. And you know what?

I filled the entire thing. Absolutely stuffed. Crud.

I have to point out that this stuffage does not include the two (yes, I dug around and found two) unfinished blankets waiting in the closet to be crocheted. As this is way too much plastic for my taste, the infamous Rule of Three will be temporarily altered to help ease the pressure in my drawers. And yes, if you thought what I think you thought, it was intended.

Long Term Project: Chocolate Mariah
Go Anywhere Project: Ribble Socks, then I dig into the merino sock yarn I picked up on sale (more info to come).
and the Looming Deadline Project will temporarily become the Acrylic Reduction Project.

What to do for the ARP? I'd like to make at least one Nautie from Knitty and the bag from the Summer issue of Interweave Knits. But, to make things interesting, I'd like to propose...

ANOTHER CONTEST!

But, what about the last contest? The one that didn't work out so well? Well, this time the prize is a surprise. The person who comments with the most interesting way to get rid the most acrylic gets a tiny something nifty. Keep in mind that most of it is not "nice" acrylic, so suggestions to make it into undies will not be entertained (entertaining, maybe). I'll prolly send it out the first weekend in June, so bring it on!

A Sea of Green

Not just in a Beatles' song anymore. My Boy found me...

... a sea of green!

Actually, it's a collection of green knitting needles he found while cleaning out his aunt's garage. There are 3 sets of size 4's, a set of 2's, 7's, and 11's, along with 2 matching stitch holders and a counter-thingy. There is also one random plastic size 3, eh? Not a bad haul if I do say so myself.

And the Stitch & Beach? Not bad for the first time around, I suppose. Maybe I was much more interesting in Syracuse than I was around this big group of talented ladies. Maybe the group size was above my anxiety threshold. Maybe it was the number of belly-babies floating around, but I didn't feel as comfortable as I was hoping. I will try going a few more times to see if knitting orgies grow on me. I did get a lot done on the 1st/5th Mariah sleeve and the coffee at Viento y Agua was sensational.

Oh, and for my Secret Pal 8 Spoilee? Something is on the way!

Strange Things Are Happening

I decided that, in fact, I was very unhappy about my broken double-pointed needle. So unhappy that I used the power of the internet to find someone to bitch to about said dpn. I sent out a curt (okay, maybe a teeny bit irate) email to the company. Imagine my suprise when I get this response:

Thank you for using our ChiaoGoo needles and sorry for the problem you have. May I ask what color Chiaogoo needles that you have (light color or dark color) and where you bought the needles from?

If you bought the needle from one of our retailers, we will happy to replace them.

Thank you.

Leon Zheng, Manager

Holy customer service, Batman! I received another email today stating that the replacement needles (needles!) would be shipped in two business days. Color me impressed.

In other unusual news, I will be leaving very shortly to attend my first Stitch & Beach meeting (damn SFSE). I actually left work on time so I could pry myself from the dank cave that is my post-management social life and hang out some local knitters. I am really excited!

I finished the second Chocolate Mariah sleeve Monday night:
















And I have commenced ripping and re-knitting the first sleeve, leaving me with half a Mariah:
















(Note: neither of these pictures accurately depicts the actual color of the yarn, and they do match) This is much more fun with picures!

Getting Graphic

I love ze lazy Sundays when Boy is out of ze house, I get so much (useless) stuff done! Like this:

Adding thought bubbles to broken knitting needles has to be pretty useless, but at least I figured out how to get my pictures off my cell phone! I broke my poor size 2 finishing up the first of Jessie's Ribble socks last night. I have heard that ChiaoGoo's were not up to most knitter's standards for bamboo dpns, but I have to admit that I do tend to grasp my needles rather tightly, so I can't really fault the needle. I don't want to switch needle brands midstream, so I'll continue to use the remaining four for the second sock and use one of my multitude of Clover size 1's to do the ribbling.


And here is the culprit sock that killed my needle. Along with the culprit that is slowly covering my home in a fine carpet of fur. I was taking a picture of the sock and she butted in. She makes the sock look tiny in comparison, but I think it looks skinnier/longer than it should because of the ribbling. This is not Stinker's finest photo, but she should have made an effort to look more presentable when I say "Hey Stinker" and am holding a picture-taking device.


I can't even tell you how long I've waited to do this: STASH FLASH!!!

Please excuse the mess, I was going to clean up the stash today, I swear!


Top shelf in this photo is my sock yarn, the first two Yarn Harlot books and the first two Sefton knitting murder mysteries (yes, I am ashamed...) There is also an elephant coin jar, leather-bound Harvard Classics collection, and the invitation to baby cousin's b-day party two months ago.

Next shelf holds my wealth of acrylic, 95% given to me by well-meaning crafters who never started that poncho... My new needlecase is sticking out on the lefthand top with my red size 15's sticking out of it. The loose strands are from Stinker playing around.

The bottom holds my knitting books, yarn that needs to be properly housed (wound up, shoved somewhere else, etc.), the yarn and pattern for a wrap that I'll probably start on after Mariah, and some odds and ends. Above and below this area is my photography stash.

This shot does not include the mass of blue and white acyrlic in the closet waiting to become an afghan or the basket next to the television with the Chocolate Mariah. It's an admittedly modest stash by some knitter's standards, but I have more than enough to last me to my next paycheck.

Oh, and if you hadn't noticed yet, I have buttons now! Turns out I have webspace?!?

All Cabled Up

I don't know how I got on this mailing list, but Vogue Knitting sent me something today. Seems that I can test-run Stitchionary Volume Two: Cables for 21 days, pay for it in 3 easy installments of 9.98 (plus shipping & handling), and be delighted by advance installments of the new volumes.

It's like they know the unbridled lust I have for this particular book. I love cables, and I love brown, and I hate book clubs. I've been able to (narrowly) avoid them for years, but I was seriously considering signing up for this one. Then I went on Amazon and they made me an even better offer: 36% off. That's a skein of some mighty fine yarn right there. I'm actually hoping I can find it here; I found the first Stitchionary volume here for about $20 and I really like supporting the little local book store, even if it is staffed by a bunch of book snobs. Hey, if they are going to sell paperback war novels, they shouldn't shoot my boyfriend a dirty look when he buys them.

Ooh! Ooh! Look what I found on my SP8 hostess' blog:





If I had any clue how to put buttons up, this one would be the one!

Knitting Destiny

I finished the Acrylic Nightmare scarf the other night; I even put it in the finished objects list on the right.

See? See? --> --> --> -->

I love this thing!

It is sitting in a bag awaiting it's destiny (what, doesn't your stuff have destinies?). It seems that any time I knit something it always has somewhere to go, even if I don't know what when I start. Just as I was finishing this scarf (and running out of the red eyelash yarn), the perfect recipient just came out of the woodwork.

I feel bad that I don't share pics of my stuff (I think I can do it with my cell phone, but I haven't figured out how to yet), so make your own to look at. Here's the insanely simple stash-bustin' pattern:

Acrylic Nightmare Scarf Pattern

(A)some eyelash/novelty yarn
(B)some garden-variety acrylic (choose colors based on effect desired)
1 relatively long, relatively large circular needle (I used a 12.75mm (US 17) 39" long)

Loosely cast on an insane number of stitches using both A & B intertwined. Think you have enough? Adding 20 more won't hurt, trust me. Knit one row with both A & B. Knit next two rows with only B. Pick up A and knit next two rows with both. Continue in garter stitch in this pattern until you're sick of it (or until you start running low on one yarn or the other), leaving off with one row of A & B combined. Cast off super-loose with both yarns by adding a crochet chain between each cast off loop (I didn't even need a hook with needles this big, so don't freak).

Still confused? Check the chart:
//////////////////////.../////////////////////
-------------------...------------------
//////////////////////.../////////////////////
-------------------...------------------
//////////////////////...///////////////////// A + B = Both =)
-------------------...------------------ Yellow + Blue make Green
//////////////////////...///////////////////// Get it?
-------------------...------------------
//////////////////////.../////////////////////

I did about 10 rows with geez-I-dunno stitches and got a scarf that hangs about 2-3 inches wide and 9-10 feet long with minimal time investment. I also ran through a ball of eyelash yarn that would not stay wound and wandered around the stash like it owned the damn place.

Eeek, now I need a third project!

I'm not that all that bright

Okay, so I rip back and spend all weekend working on the second sleeve on the never-ending Chocolate Mariah. It is looking admittedly awesome; I'm getting pretty close to the point in the pattern where I left off on the first sleeve and I am totally not regretting ripping this puppy back.

But it looks kinda short to be almost to the yoke.

Like, mid-arm short.

So, I put the sleeve-in-progress next to the damn-near-finished sleeve. I can't tell what's wrong; the cablework is matching up beautifully. Then I notice that the ends of the sleeves don't match up. Turns out I put an extra cablework repeat into the first knotwork area on the first sleeve.

crap crap crap crap CRAP

I'm starting to think I'm entirely too retarded to knit full-blown sweaters. The plan, until my idocy strikes again, is to finish the current sleeve, then rip out and redo the first sleeve. Not until I calm down though, I don't want to end up burning it in the dumpster. I may have to do something nautie in the meantime... I've got to reduce my acrylic hoard somehow; my sock yarn stash needs room, damn it!

In SP8 news, I heard from my spoiler and spoilee today! I am super excited! Here's a question: how the hell do I get buttons in my sidebar? I pulled it off once, but the pictures died... I wasn't always suck a techno-weenie, honest!

More Public Knitting

When I was working on my knitting code I asked Boy if he would consider me a "public knitter". Funny enough, this is the ONLY time he has looked at me like I was nuts. After all the weird things I 've done (for example: felting a scarf in the tub while he was soaking in it). So, when we were invited to the Los Angeles County Police Canine Association exhibition, I had to decide whether to take Jessie's socks or the Chocolate Mariah sleeve.

I am a little nervous about the sleeve; I re-knit the first one so many times that I have the complex cabling pattern memorized. I put the new sleeve over the first one to make sure I was on track and, thank goodness they look the same size. Then I noticed that they looked different from each other... Turns out I messed up again, I put too many cables along the sides as I increased. I know this would be much easier to understand if I had pictures, I apologize. I briefly considered just leaving it, who's going to notice?

Me. I'll notice. Not to mention that the extra cabling would probably change the fit of the sleeve. So, for the hour ride from Long Beach to the Del Amo mall, I ripped out all my increases up to the beginning of the rogue cables. I re-knit all the way from Torrance to Santa Clarita, between the amazing antics of the drug/bomb/cadaver sniffing dogs, and all the way back to Torrance. I know I have to ride this Mariah obsession before I get sidetracked by some other project. I want my cardigan!

Oh, and to quote the announcer at the exhibition, if you are being chased by the police and you hear a dog barking, stop. No really, STOP!!! Those dogs hit the "bad guys" like freaking line backers, even with the muzzles on. Trust me, purse-snatcher, you're going down...

The Code

I have been wanting to put together my knitting geek code for a while now. So, this afternoon after work I conked out. Four-hour nap later, here it is:

-----BEGIN KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK-----

Version: 1.1

KCR++ Exp+ SPM+ Bam++ !Cas Alum+ Wool+++ Lux(+) Syn(-)@ Stash+(+) Scale+ @Fin Ent? FI Tex++ Lace+ Felt@ Flat++ Circ+ DPN+++ ?ML Swatch KIP+++ GaugeF++W+ KIP+++ EZ-- FO++ WIP+ Blog++ SNB- ALTcr--X---

------END KNITTER'S GEEK CODE BLOCK------

That was fun! I'm going back to my Chocolate Mariah sleeve!

Look at all them purdy FO's!

After I finished my post last night, I got the notion to start keeping track of my finished objects on the blog. Tired beyond comprehension, I somehow entered the code correctly, and SHAZAM! we have a list of accomplishments. I had no idea how much I had actually done. It doesn't seem like a lot when I'm working on them and sending them on their merry little way, but when you lay it all down, it's not a bad bit of work for four months.

Tonight is the local SnB night, but I don't think I'll make it. Again. I want to go, I really do, but it's kinda far off without a car and all. I saw this orange VW beetle for sale by the laundromat and fell in love. Too bad I'm broke.

I digress, we were talking about group knitting/fiber orgies. I live in downtown; there has to be some other knitters somewhere around here. I'm thinking about contacting the original group and asking if they minded if I started one down here on a different night. Hmm, there's a coffeeshop just down the street that would be perfect! What do you think?

Blocking & Secret Pal 8 News

Okay, that sucked.

Long story short, the blocking didn't take. This may sound insane, but I think I may have bound off too loosely for a change. Usually I bind off too tightly and have to rip it all out, so on the shawl I followed the knitting geek's instructions and crochet ch1 between every binding. So, as so many other things in my life, the shawl didn't come out as I was expecting. It still hangs very nicely, so I have decide not to mess with it. Am I settling or am I just that zen?

I am once again enjoying Jessie's ribble socks, thank goodness. No wonder I felt out of balance; I had 5 projects on the needles... See, the Rule of Three (see entry March 5th, I think) is a rule for a reason. I've finished the shawl and Jen's Bubby-Kitty, so I'm down to the Chocolate Mariah, Acrylic Nightmare scarf, and Jessie's Ribble socks. Still the sock yarn calls to me... The idea of knitting a sock used to scare me to death, but now they have to be my favorite projects.

SECRET PAL 8

I have to admit it, I feel a little isolated as a knitter. There's a knitting group that meets in town, but I never seem to get there. None of my friends knit, and my efforts to convert everyone I know to the cult of the needles is, frankly, going too slow for my taste. This knitterly loneliness + my love of spoiling others = Secret Pal 8 . So, without delay, here is my first assignment:

Da Questionnaire
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I don't have a lot of fiber experience, but so far my favorite yarn has to be Noro; it was the first yarn that made me sad when I knitted it all up. It's not that I do *not* like acrylic, but I have so much of it that I already don't know what to do with. I still use it, but now that I have felt the glory of natural fibers, it's hard to go back to plastic.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I used to keep them in an ArtBin case left over from my art school days, but I picked up this nifty rollup case in Syracuse from a woman who calls herself Bean.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting for... I dunno how long. Purling on the other hand, has only been mastered in the last two years or so. I was really frustrated because I'd have to find patterns where all I had to do was knit, BORING. I don't think I've crocheted much since the purl dream. Intermediate works.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I forgot all about it, but I do have an Amazon wishlist! I also have one at KnitPicks.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

This is gonna sound odd, but I have had a serious thing for Rosemary lately... It's kinda hard to find unless you know where you're looking.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yes, I have a sweet tooth (and a big fat behind). I can eat Reese's Minature Peanut Buttercups until they start leaking out my belly-button.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I used to crochet and, in fact, have an 1/8th finished crocheted throw hanging in the closet waiting to be worked on. I found the directions, but just haven't wanted to lately. I'd love to spin, but I'm sure I'd never leave the house again.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Right now I'm really into Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service (I know, same dudes). I wouldn't take them as my primary music for a cross-county business trip ever again though. My DB (Dear Boy) got me an mp3 player for the winter holiday ^-^

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I used to be only blues and blacks, but I've been trending quite nicely into browns; I seem to be collecting items with the color name "chocolate", hmm.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I live in a not-too-tiny studio with my boyfriend, for whom I knit two pairs of socks then cut him off until marriage. He's already starting to sweat. I also have a kitty named Stinker. Her fur is black on the ends and gray at the roots. No clothing is safe from her shedding.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I have this killer scarf pattern committed to memory, so I have several scarves and give them away all the time. Hats make me look like a weenie, but warm is warm. I have always wanted to knit mittens, but the thought of having my fingers restrained drives me bonkers. Ponchos? Eww... Not ewe, ewwww.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I just made these lacy socks during my trip to Syracuse that were a joy to knit. It was my first foray into lace. Right now it's lacy socks, but cables have been known to turn my head as well.

13. What are you knitting right now?

Long Term: Chocolate Mariah cardigan. Small project: Jessie's Ribble Socks. Transient project: Acrylic Nightmare Scarf.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Hells yeah. Handmade things are comforting. I get sick a lot, so I really appreciate that quality.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I like straights for flat work, I feel like I have more control. I am in the midst of amassing a collection of double-pointed bamboo needles to feed my sock fetish...

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I handwind my yarn, but not my choice. I need a yarn winder so bad. I tried one at the LYS and had a ball.

17. How did you learn to knit?

I learned to knit from the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework. Problem was, I couldn't grasp purling from the same illustrations. I actually figured out how to purl in a dream I had a couple years ago. I woke up and I could purl. Nothing around here has been the same since.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?

I have the aforementioned crochet blanket that I have no intention of touching for the time being. Next up is the Chocolate Mariah, which I think is circa September 2005.

19. What is your favorite holiday?

No favorite holiday really, but I love autumn.

20. Is there anything that you collect?

Rubber duckies. It's insane...

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I would do disgusting things to try out some Fleece Artist. Maybe a thrummed mitten kit?

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I just got my first taste of lace... and I LIKED IT! I would like to try something a little more involved (sounds like famous last words to me).

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I love knitting socks! I'm a size 8 wide in womens I think... Thin wrists and chubby ankles.

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

02/26, closer to 30 than 20....

Okay, that wore me out. Maybe tomorrow I'll have a good story instead of just a bunch of gimme-gimme crap.