updates

Well, since Ravelry came along, I haven't posted, because what's the point? All I want is already there. But here's a little update on my projects.

Montego Bay Scarf - picked this up again, about 40% done, and I love it now. I am looking forward to getting to wear it.

Log Cabin Blanket for Kari - this is all garter stitch so it is my current go-to project for kid-watching. No thought required.

Daisy Hats and Dishcloths for waiting to pick K up from preschool.

Bonsai Tunic for when I have focused knitting time. I've started the front and am only one pattern repeat in, but it's going faster this time because I don't really have to look at the chart anymore. I just have to make sure I put the decreases in the same places.

MUST. NOT. CAST. ON. ANYTHING. ELSE!

(but DANG is that Tilted Duster calling my name!)

Aak!

Ravelry is a giant time suck of yarny delight! I could browse for hours on end! I have so many ideas! I am finding uses for my leftover skeins from old projects! I am getting lots of tips about yarn substitutions and fit! I overuse exclamation points!

Back o'the Bonsai

IMG_5321
Originally uploaded by Selzhanik

Here's the back of the Bonsai Tunic, so far so good...still some guesswork measuring the armholes. Per the schematic, I assume it is measured from the top of the shoulder to the row that the armhole begins. So you are not actually measuring the circumference of the armhole itself. It looks right. Anyways, I have to move on to some other projects for a while, but I am looking forward to doing the front. Here's hoping it matches up with the back ok!

Ravelry!

Ok, I got my invite today, and already have a few things entered in my notebook. This site is incredible. This is exactly what the crafter needs to stay somewhat organized. The danger here, however, is that it is so dadgum cool to poke around and look at everyone's FO's, patterns, yarn substitutions, etc., that I might never get any actual knitting done!

(guilty grin)

Couldn't resist...Knit Picks having a big sale on books, so I ordered Mason Dixon Knitting and a bunch of various yarns. Here's how I have rationalized this purchase:

1. I need to make an afghan for Kari as a housewarming present, and I want to make the Log Cabin blanket from this book. (see, Jen, I'm a copycat too)
2. I would like to try out some of their yarns for future projects.
3. I need some more inexpensive yarns for the baby hat-stravaganza planned for Christmas gifts.
4. And why not, since buying MDK, make some of those nifty dishcloths I keep seeing on blogs, as more Christmas gifts?
5. And if I am going to make washcloths, of course I will need yarn for that.
6. Seriously, do I need to rationalize 13 skeins of yarn plus a book for only $50? That's a lot of bang for my Christmas gift budget buck. And doubles as entertainment budget too.

Rationalizing: That's how it is done, folks.

In other joy-worthy yarny news, this morning Ravelry told me there were 72 people in front of me! I'm poised and ready...

won't be long now!!!

Here's my Ravelry update:

You signed up on July 6, 2007
You are #7673 on the list.
370 people are ahead of you in line.
14044 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

And I bought (sort of) yarn yesterday! (squee!) Gift certificate to LYS + babysitter = Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Sublime Kid Mohair. I don't know what they are going to be, but mmm...so soft...

WIP update!

So I have been able to squeeze a row or two in between various child-rearing and housework duties. And it adds up. I am switching easily between my two big projects, the Bonsai tunic:
and the Montego Bay scarf:

It is gratifying to see some progress on each. The scarf is just sort of an ongoing project, I think. The tunic, well, I'd really like to have that done by the end of August. That probably sounds ridiculous to a lot of you knitters out there who whip the thing out in a weekend, but hey, that's a reasonable goal for me. Most of the time my hands are occupied wiping something or someone.

Bonsai Tunic swatch

IMG_5135
Originally uploaded by Selzhanik

This picture is pretty dark, but here's my swatch for the Bonsai Tunic. I got stitch gauge (using the recommended size 8's) but not row gauge, but I don't think that matters much since it says "work until piece measures x inches" and stuff like that. The fabric is really cool and makes up for a temperamental yarn. I didn't have trouble with it splitting like I have heard from some people - perhaps because I'm using bamboo needles with relatively dull points. I think using bamboo needles really helps control this slippery yarn.

So far I am only a couple of rows into the actual project, since I need focused knitting time to do it. I forgot to take my stitch markers with me to Oklahoma so I made some with cut up drinking straws (a tip I saw on Knitty Gritty once). This actually is a big help because I used different color markers to denote the different sections of the lace repeats. This will help me keep track of what I'm doing, and I ALWAYS need help with that.

Enough blogging, time to knit.

Knitting for the ungrateful child...

I am not motivated to work on the top for Kate because:

-She wiggled so much I got incorrect measurements and therefore cast on too many stitches.
-After figuring out I cast on too many stitches (several inches later) I was too lazy to frog and restart so I just decreased like heck and made a rufffle.
-After it became a pretty big ruffle I modified my mental design to become a halter top, apron style with ribbing at the top and a ruffle. I kind of thought this would look silly but it meant I wouldn't have to start over.
-She then totally refused to try it on so I have once again no idea if it will fit.
-After binding off the back and working a few rows in the front I discovered that I lapsed back into my old twisted stitch yarnovers so the ribbing looks weird.

Maybe this whole thing should be frogged and I will make her a hat. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing and fun. This project has suddenly become neither.

The downside to this is that I really liked how the colors were pooling at the hem. If I can find my camera I will take a picture of it.

What's on them needles now

Montego Bay Scarf, aka "adult knitting" (translate: will not knit with this fancy yarn while around kids and their inherent - ahem - "juiciness") And that means this doesn't get worked on a lot, because I am ALWAYS around the kids.

Summer top for Kate, patternless, made of Lily Sugar and Cream that I got for $.99/skein. This one is flying. And this is SO "mommy knitting."

The Petunia Tote: I do truly want to use this, I'm just not sure I want to knit it. But I'll probably still finish it eventually.

I'm having to resist casting on other new projects, but I have the itch...especially that Bonsai Tunic, because I got the yarn for my birthday...and some other stash yarn is calling my name...and Jen wants to do a knitalong which sounds so fun...well, I'm bound to get a lot of knit time in when I go to OK in two weeks (long car rides and lots o' babysitting).

Finished Object!

IMG_5030
Originally uploaded by Selzhanik

Pattern: Two Tone Shrug from Fitted Knits
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Olivette and Willow Leaf, just under 3 skeins total
Denise #8 and #5
Note that I only had 3 yards left of the lighter green...close one!

Eureka!

I figured it out! WHY the scarf pattern was not working. I have been wrapping my yarn overs on knit stitches in the wrong direction. I'm self-taught. I learned to knit from a book and knittinghelp.com. I didn't really pay attention to the direction of my yarn overs when learning because I was just trying not to drop the needles.

Now that I figured this out, I tried again, and this is what I am getting:


It actually looks like it should. Also, because I am wrapping the yarn the wrong way on knit stitches only, this explains why my stockinette has always looked a little funny (except in the round). Not that there is a stripe, but it looked like the knit stitches were twisted only they weren't really. I am almost done with the shrug, so I am going to keep at it with my old style of yarn overs, since I don't want to frog the whole thing. It doesn't look bad, I'm just being picky. But I am motivated to work on the scarf again!

I ended up ordering something for Susan from www.kpixie.com. I just love browsing that site and maybe someday I will get something for me from there. I'll wait until after her birthday to tell what I got for her, just in case she is reading. :)

Here's the shrug progress - I'm on the ribbing now:

Stuck in my patterns.

I've been stuck in my patterns. My brain doesn't work so I keep screwing up easy things like counting and ribbing. I have frogged the ribbing on the two tone shrug so many times I have lost count. I frogged the Montego Bay scarf, tried a drop stitch pattern and frogged that, and resorted to crochet. Now that too has been abandoned. (I really hate to purl so I am going to try the pattern with knitting the wrong side rows.) I would have to mail the dang thing on Friday if it is to get there by Susan's birthday. But I think I have been barking up the wrong tree anyways. Susan is a brand new crocheter. I will buy her some cool yarn and maybe a book instead. Why deny her the pleasure of actually making something herself?

I'm determined to finish the shrug this week too, since I have the "cast on" itch again. Thanks to birthday money and gift certificates there are 11 skeins of Berroco Bonsai on the way for a Bonsai tunic, and a ball winder too! (Yay for Jen going in with me on that.) I can't even tell you how much yarn made it into my virtual shopping carts that I had to talk myself out of. I would fill the cart, go do something else to take the edge off, then come back and delete it once I had become sane. Otherwise I might be in the poorhouse right now.

Montego Bay Scarf...maybe

Ok, I just don't know if I am going to get going on this scarf or not. Everyone online swears it is easy. But it isn't to me. I frogged 4 times trying to get the thing started properly and just gave up and fudged the beginning. Maybe I can't count. Maybe I am not that good with laceweight. Still, I only have two weeks to finish it in time to be mailed for Susan's birthday. I can't not do it, the yarn cost too dang much. I am considering ripping the whole thing out and starting over in a very simple drop stitch pattern that would look pretty and be enjoyable to make. I even started the two tone shrug out of avoidance, and every time I pick it up I feel guilty because I know what I should be working on. But if knitting isn't fun, I don't want to do it...especially right now when I am so sleep deprived from dealing with a refluxy 6 week old...

No matter what it becomes, it will be beautiful...this is an ethereal and lovely yarn. And for the record I wound all 660 yards into a ball without a winder. I used the baby swing as a swift. So it darn well better become something special!

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WIP's, June 2007

OK, so here's what's on the needles as of June 3:

Two-Tone Shrug from Fitted Knits, in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece (love this yarn) Yes, that's my toe in the picture. Sneaky.

Petunia Tote from IK Spring '07, in Tahki Cotton Classic (love this too)
This one is giving me fits so it is taking a break right now. I think working from a chart is easy in theory but not in reality, or at least my reality. I keep getting distracted by the kids and messing up the pattern. I need zombie knitting right now.

Montego Bay Scarf in Handmaiden Sea Silk in Peridot, intended gift for Susan.
No pic available for this right now, and it is also giving me fits. It's my first experience with laceweight. This is GORGEOUS yarn, very soft and luminous, but I am super clumsy with it. It will take me a while to get used to it. But I do think it will be a luxurious gift for someone who is very hard to shop for!

Itty Bitty Hat, the upside down daisy one, in Rowan Handknit Cotton and various remnants. It needs some flower petals. This is the 0-6 month size, for Audrey. I will make one for Kate so they can be flowers together.

the grand opening

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