memento

What’d you do this weekend? Among other things, I did this:

That’s the famous gramma and me, of course! The photo session was first thing in the morning Saturday – needless to say it was a heavy on the caffeine day.

I’m gearing up for another dyeing run this week, after having shipped out yet another box to the Loopy Ewe on Saturday, plus a pile of boxes. Next mailing date, this Saturday! Exciting.

What am I knitting? Today, the edging chart on the flower basket shawl! Imagine that, finishing things….

So what’s going on with you?

329

Fully blocked! And while it’s lacking the final crochet around treatment to just neaten up the edges, I love it. Love love love love love love it. It only took 329 pins to block out what turned out to be 7 feet long and 20 inches wide.

And of course, the catchen, who hate water, by choice sat on the sopping wet stole for two days. WHY? WHY?

Full FO shots… later. 18 feet of crochet, twice, first. So, you know. That’ll take a while.

the process of resurrection

There are some things that you just set aside, for a day, a week, a month at a time. Or longer. Maybe it needed a timeout. Or you found new shiny things to play with. Or you felt frustrated with it. Or it clashed with your knitting needs at the time. Or maybe, like me, you were learning how to crochet at the time, and couldn’t find the rhythm to keep going. The two clashed, and thus it was put away.

And so it was with my second flower basket shawl. Until this weekend, that is.

I’ve looked and I’ve got 11 repeats of the lower lace chart so far, and I’m still going – I’m “only” on ball five of the six balls of Regia silk 6 ply,
so I figure I’ll keep going for now. What I want is a large practical shawl that’s simple but lovely, and eventually I’ll get there.

I’d like for the ripping back and tinking to not happen so often, though. It would be more practical I suppose to only knit it when I’m not watching TV, but…. heh. Too easy. And no, no lifelines. Tried it, don’t want it. It works fine without one.

Someday is good enough. It’s a lovely pattern and a good sturdy yarn. And that’s good enough for me.

what I did this weekend

Ate fruit with actual flavor. That’s thick vanilla yogurt atop, in case you were wondering.

Got stared at by the Matisse.

Got poked many many many many times by the Picasso. Be not fooled by his death-defying cuteness. I know better. You should too.

What did you do this weekend?

just in time for…. spring?

The stole that I thought I would finish in February? I finished it this week. Not because I was lazy, or because I abandoned it, although both are true. But because when I reached the prescribed 60″ and 49,280 stitches, I had this crazy notion that you know, I had a lot lot lot of yarn left, so why not knit some more? Especially since 60 inches seemed so small when I wrapped it around me.

I must have been delusional, or something.

The thing already had nearly 4 wavy scarves worth in it…. And apparently? That wasn’t good enough for me.

It’s now a good solid 72 inches long give or take and 14 inches wide and 59,136 stitches big.

I wonder how huge it’s going to end up being when I block it…. that should be interesting. And then I’ll crochet around the edges, just to neaten it all up. I’d originally thought I’d use the yarn itself for the edging, but now I’m not sure I’d have enough, I do have some left, but not even a baseball’s worth of either yarn. I have a coordinating Sundara sock yarn though, so maybe that one. And maybe a strand of white mohair/silk yarn, to coordinate. Or not. Opinions? You can see a better closeup of it on my project page.

All in all though, I know this for sure: I LOVE IT. I do. And I don’t regret my delusional decision to enbiggen it. At all.

the good works of others

Did you see this? Dude. I can’t believe what she came up with! And that was with my yarn. Can you believe that? It looks like a whole another colorway entirely doesn’t it? Too cool.

I need to make my own pair… right now. Well, maybe not right this minute. Too much to knit, not enough time. You know how it is.

But I’m saying this only because Tiphanie threatened me with harm otherwise: I have kits available! There, Tiphanie? Happy now?

PS: Why is it that spring is much longed for, and then the minute that it gets warmer, my head explodes and it becomes seriously puffy sinus and headaches and facial muscle cramping season? That’s cruel. It’s all pretty outside and I wouldn’t know it, I’m too busy trying to remain conscious. I would be grateful I’m not deathly ill with sinus infections or you know, infected metal, I really would be, except I have so much to do and I’ve been glued to my chair for three days in a foggy haze of feelinglikeassitis. Really, people. I’ve had enough of it. It’s Thursday, right? Except that in my world, I’m still trying to catch up from last week Tuesday.

an atelier of one’s own

Two months ahead of schedule, but that’s what happens when you stumble over a store closing sale. Offering half price on 153 pound tables with brass locking levers to join the leaves together. Instead of just butting them together. *drooling*

Wait, what? What’s two months ahead of schedule?

The physical beginnings of my atelier, that’s what. Sunday heralded the entry of this table into the home… 40 inches wide and 72 inches long and 29 inches tall, and really, can you believe I’d already had those five drawer units beforehand? And they fit in the nook between the legs *perfectly*?

It was meant to be. And I’m glad I went for it now. Because really, this is my job. It’s my day job. It’s my real job. And replacing five rickety little tables and carts with this huge solid work island? I’m worth that. My job is worth that.

It’s starting to really feel good around here.

preorder!

Forgive me for my talking about bellamoden the yarn company on the blog – I just wanted to let you guys know that if you want this specific dyeing method, I’m offering it for pre-order for two more weeks….. Want it? Better get it now I’m not offering this dyeing method on the loopy ewe, nothing, and while there may be leftover skeins I’ll offer as a straight sale item on etsy…. this is the only guaranteed way to get lolita in complex graffiti. Love you all… but this is a labor intensive method.

Thank you for your support!

words

Words have been a bit thin on the ground for me lately. Let’s start with a few.

Birthday outfit!

Juliet.

Heavily modified. Obviously, I went for a pullover instead of a cardigan. I went with the XS cast on, increased enough to accomodate my bust, and then after I joined the body, decreased rapidly. At the stockinette portion, you’re directed to increase to 160 stitches… I only increased to 125. There is otherwise no shaping included in my version… but I think it fits me very well. More vest-like, exactly what I wanted. The yarn is handpaintedyarn.com handspun handdyed bulky yarn in polar grey. I love the undertones of green and blue throughout the yarn, and the thick and thin nature of the yarn makes it that much more interesting, I think.

All in all, something that I think is successful.

can’t blog, knitting

Tomorrow’s my birthday. I am knitting a birthday sweater for it. Would help if I had it finished in order to wear it tomorrow, yes?

I hope it looks okay.