Knitting Overhaul

Moving On Out...

2004-10-27T09:34:00.000-04:00

This blog has moved. The new URL is http://quirkyknitgirl.blogdrive.com

Please visit at my new space!

The End is Near

2004-10-25T08:28:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the wierd double post deal. The first day, it kept loading and loading but wouldn't post or shut down...so I figured that blogger ate my post. Turns out, I was wrong!

Zeeby's bag from SnB is ALMOST done. I have a strap and a half left to do, then I just need to sew it together. And it's only half a year late! (Sorry, Mom.)

I'm about to run out of yarn though, which means an emergency trip for some more Lamb's Pride. *looks sheepish* Heh. Sheepish. Pun. Um, anyway, yeah, the two skeins of MC I think is going to be not quite enough. Gah.

Mostly, it will be used as a strap, and to sew together, so I'm not overly concerned about dye lots, I'm just not sure where to find Lamb's Pride in this area, and I'd really like to have this all done and wrapped up to give to my Mom as soon as I get home on Sunday. Otherwise, I can buy the extra yarn at home on Monday and then give it to her before I leave on Tuesday.

I've made progress on Broadripple, too, am through the gusset and into the toe. YAY! I've signed up for netflix, in order to facilitate the knitting. I shall have DVDs to watch, and doctors appointments to wait for, and much knitting shall be accomplished. And Christmas/Channukah/Winter Solstice shall be good this year. It shall, it shall.

Pictures will be coming soon.

Owie

2004-10-21T13:12:00.000-04:00

Size two dpns make my wrists want to cry.

Broadripple makes me smile, though. So....I supose the wrists will live.

Sore

2004-10-19T09:53:00.000-04:00

Size two double pointed needles make my wrists want to cry.

The sock is quite pretty, though, and makes me want to smile. :)

My apartment has been taken over by yarn. I must knit faster. Or hide. Whichever. ;)

Knit

2004-10-09T07:53:00.000-04:00

Haven't accomplished much, was distracted by wallowing in self-pity and my mother being in town.

Did knit some more on the blanket, which is lovely. Very pretty, in a manly sort of way.

I may have to make myself one in some very bright, girly colors when I am done.

Stash Enhancement

2004-10-05T06:57:00.000-04:00

Major, major, major stash enhancement. *swoons*

Went to visit my parents this weekend (and my orthodontist and oral surgeon...surgery date set for 21 December!) and went to AC Moore, Michaels, and my grandfather's house to retrieve YARNS!!

YARN I BOUGHT

First the yarn I bought--from AC Moore, two skeins of Classic Wool in a sort of rusty brown to make slippers for my Dad, a skein of TLC luster in blue for my aunt's socks (broadripple) and some needles. I heart AC Moore.

Then, Michaels, who is frantically putting stuff on sale to compete with AC Moore. Gotta love capitalism! I bought a bunch of homespun in various shades of green to make a small lap blanket for my grandfather, two skeins of microspun in bright orange and lime green which will become my aunt's 'parrothead' socks. And my mommy bought me two skeins of purple homespun to work on a comfy sweater. The kind you just want to curl up into when you don't care about looking cute, but want to be cuddly.

YARN I GOT FREE

I took most of the yarn left at my grandfather's house while I was there. My grandmother had some stashed away when she died, and since I am the only knitter, it is mine.

A trash bag and small tupperware container full of yarn. Mostly scary 70s K-Mart yarn, back from when good yarn required traveling long distances and paying lots of money. Some in some fugly seventies colors. But I'll use a lot of it for charity, and really, do animal shelter kittens and puppies care if their blanket is fugly gold? No. Not really.

Also, a lot of ends from baby yarn since she used to make preemie hats (started when I was born and they realized nothing fit me) for the hospital. Which I'll use to make multicolor baby hats or buy some baby yarn and use this stuff as accent stripes.

Knitting Progress

Got some progress made on Zeeby's bag. One side and the bottom strap are finished, and the other side is started. Must get this to my Mom soon.

Also, started on the lap blanket for my grandfather's Christmas/Hannukah/Birthday gift. It's birthday, though his birthday was in June (he turned 85) because a blanket is large enough I count it for holidays and birthday. Also, I'm running out of ideas of stuff for him. And it's Christmas/Hannukah because I'm converting and thus will be celebrating Hannukah--also, I will be seriously doped up on vicodin come Christmas, so I may be giving out gifts on Hannukah anyhow, as I will still be coherent enough to do so.

No progress on Haiku, as my parents get seriously wierded out by me knitting a baby sweater, and it's not good to scare the people who have the Visa.

Ciao, all!

The Bag Won't Die

2004-10-01T18:00:00.000-04:00

Made some small amount of progress on Zeeby's bag while I was in the hospital waiting for x-ray. I know my Mom really wants it, but oh my god it will not fucking die.

This is the bag of no end, I kid you not. 39" of garter stitch, plus another side, a pocket, and two long-ass straps. *sobs*

I also got a bit more done on Haiku which is zipping along very quickly and quickly leading me to develop a love affair with knitting baby items. I'm already through the first side and am starting the back, just after the back neck bindoff.

It's a little busy, what with the varigated yarn, but still adorable.

Must continue to knit evil!purse. Die, purse, die.

Cuteness!

2004-09-27T07:18:00.000-04:00

So, I started a completely useless project this weekend.

I have this random skein of baby yarn--no idea why, I assume I bought it for some reason or it's one I inherited from my Nanna, I have no idea which--and it's just been sitting around for a while.

So, after literally tripping over it for the tenth time, I decided it needed a better purpose than getting dragged across the floor by Padma. Who apparently thought that the baby yarn must die.

Thus I began Haiku from Knitty. It's ubercute and I've been totally girly with the knitting it--aww, look at the cute baby sweater!!

I have no idea what I'm going to do with Haiku when I am finished--give it to charity, perhaps, or hang on to it with the theory that eventually people I know will reproduce and I might need an emergency baby gift.

*pets Haiku* SO MUCH cuter than my organic chemistry homework.

2004-09-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

Padma says, "Chemistry? On SATURDAY? WHY?"

2004-09-24T07:56:00.000-04:00

Version two, significantly less blurry.

2004-09-24T07:55:00.000-04:00

Version one, slightly blurry.

Geeks + Knitting

2004-09-24T07:51:00.000-04:00

Today I'll be posting photos of the two variations on Fibonacci stripes I am debating.

That's whats happens when geeks are knitters! :)

In good news, my chem exam was pushed back to Wednesday, presumably due to the fact that half the stuff on it had yet to be covered--he just said, read it in the book.

Um, yeah. If I could learn organic chemistry just from a book, I'd be....much smarter than I actually am.

Stayed home sick yesterday, but couldn't even get much knitting done. Which I'm not real happy about, but oh well.

Now, I'm off to get ready for chemistry lab.

Ciao, all!

Knitting is NOT Organic Chemistry

2004-09-23T10:52:00.000-04:00

So why am I knitting when I have an exam on Monday??

Pictures below of the oh so pretty Noro dropstitch scarf.

I've noticed myself apologizing for the scarf...and I've decided to stop. Yes, in some ways a scarf is a 'beginner' project. But that doesn't mean it's just for beginners.

I don't knit because it's complicated. I knit because I like to, because I like to create things, because I like to be artistic.

One of the things I learned in art classes over the years, is that sometimes you have to let go and allow the project to direct you. I saw this yarn on clearance it was gorgeous, and there were three colorways that reminded me of myself and two of my friends. So I bought it.

I decided on a scarf because it was afordable, and because it suited the yarn well. I love the way this looks as a scarf. It's a cute, dresy little accessory. It's fun. Just because it's not hard, it doesn't make it less appealing.

Not to mention, while I enjoy the hard knitting, sometimes I just want to chill. If I'm knitting on the metro, or in between classes, or while watching the four hours of Sunday morning political shows. I am concentrating more on other things--sometimes I don't WANT to think any more.

In other knitting achievements, I also swatched two versions of a stripe pattern for my Dad's gloves. Not in the yarn or colors I will use, but just to see. Both are based on the Fibonacci sequence, and I'll post pictures later, while I figure which I like best.

Ciao, all!

More Scarfness

2004-09-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

Close up of the scarf, with more accurate colors

Finished Object!

2004-09-23T10:49:00.000-04:00

Drop Stitch Scarf (with speech I should be watching in the background)

Scarf!

2004-09-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

Finished object from last night--a drop stitch scarf.

I feel like such a newbie, being all look, I finished a scarf!

Normally I'm not a scarf kind of girl, but I found this lovely ribbon yarn from Noro, and it just begged to be a drop stitch scarf. It was on clearance, too, and I bought it in three colorways, to make scarves for myself and two of my best friends. I even have extra, as it turns out it only takes one skein instead of the two I had anticipated (I made the scarf super skinny, but I like it that way).

No pictures yet, as I am still trapped in Comsuck...er, Compaq hell. But as soon as I have a way to post photos, I will.

The scarf is fun, rainbowy colors--pink, purple, tan, green--and I can't wait to wear it.

Yarn, yarn, everywhere!

2004-09-20T08:05:00.000-04:00

The Knit Out on the Mall was fabulous.

I met up with Mary (who is, sadly, knitblogless), and a few friends of hers. One of whom we taught how to knit.

I attempted to learn Continental, as I want to do colorwork...also, they were giving out Bamboo needles, so yeah. :) *pets nice needles*

I also got some progress done on the drop stitch scarf that has been languishing in my stash, as well as the Princess Snowball cat bed I'm working on.

I'm vaguely contemplating ripping out the Princess Snowball in favor of doing Kitty Pi by Wendy. I don't really know. I can still return some of the fun fur. Decisions, decisions!

It was tons of fun to see all the knitters, although I have a sunburn on my face from knitting in the sun.

I liked a few things from the fashion show--the red tank and silver tank upcoming in..Vogue, I think? But the large amount of fun fur and ponchos and, even worse, armwarmers frightened me.

I just don't get the poncho thing. I really don't. Especially when said poncho is striped with fur. And paired with armwarmers. *shudder*

Funny, I don't remember my yarn being so furry..

2004-09-18T17:43:00.000-04:00

It's funny how often I look in my knitting basket and see not yarn, but the tail end of a kitten.

I keep telling Fred that isn't HIS Princess Snowball Cat Bed I'm working on, but he doesn't listen. It's not his though, it's for one of my cats at my parents house.

Pink would clash with his fur anyway.

Not much knitting done.

Lots of wallowing in the 7th circle of Hell--aka Compaq customer service. And lots of refurbishing an old beat up computer so that I may have some small prayer of passing classes while Compaq fucks up one more time.

Three days. About ten phone calls. They still can't get there shit together to get a computer to where it needs to be to get fixed. And when something goes wrong, they proceed to tell you that the only option is to repeat the whole process over again.

I am now cowering from the giant amount of work I need to do. It's really terrifying and...yes, terrifying.

*whimpers*

Even the knitting isn't making me smile.

Yarn is fun to play with.

2004-09-10T08:29:00.000-04:00

I did manage to knit a bit yesterday, the ribbing for my design, Sexier Than Your Average Aran.

I know probably one's first garmet design should be easier than an aran...but whatever. I never do things the easy way.

Case in point--I am probably dropping baby math in order to eventually take calc. Why? I have to have math to graduate. Math 9 seemed easy. I figure, no sweat.

Well...not so much.

Turns out, this guy doesn't use a book. He doesn't give practice problems. Well, he gave like, two, but he won't post the answers.

I asked him, where was it in the book? He said, it wasn't. I asked if there was another book he could recommend that I could look in. He said, no, just you have to come to class and take notes.

Thing is--I do. But if I don't practice problems, I freeze on a test. I panic. I can't write anything. And that happened in chem and physics, and I realize it and am trying to work on it, even though it means I may study more than some people.

But he won't give any help. I was so upset, by the prospect of failing EASY math, that I had a massive panic attack. And I don't know WHEN I would take a math class. I have one elective spot left, but I'm not giving it up, because that was my reward for next fall--one class I could pick whatever I wanted. For my last semester.

I don't know about dropping it, but I couldn't do anythign in my other classes, I felt so stupid and upset I just wanted to hide under my desk.

So, there was more crying than knitting.

Perhaps today I shall get some knitting done....

Again, I shall be really pissed if I fail easy math--I just did the algebra to design a freakin' sweater. An aran sweater no less. So obviously it's not that I am completely stupid.

Bah. I didn't want to go to grad school or med school anyway.

The Good, the Bad, the Completely Terrifying

2004-09-09T07:16:00.000-04:00

The Good

I began swatching a few days ago for my idea for a cute aran sweater. I don't like many published aran pattenrs because 1)they are just a tad TOO bulky, 2) they are completely shapeless and 3)the smallest size is a 38" bust, which leaves me 6" of ease and makes me look like a kid playing dress up.

So, I began work on my design "Sexier Than Your Average Aran" and last night I worked out a good bit of the algebra, and began to knit on the front. Which I am doing before the back, because the back is fairly simple (no cable) and if I completely screw up the front, I can figure it out before I do that.

I also began a Princess Snowball Cat Bed, made a acrylic keyboard duster, and a catnip stuffed mouse for my kittens.

The Bad

Car is back in shop. Now it won't start if it's warm, and leaves me stranded.

I don't think the mechanic dude is listening to me, because he's treating it like it never starts, which isn't true. It starts cold (like, not driven for a day) but not warm, and I'm afraid they are just going to stick another new starter in and not test it by driving it around and THEN starting it, and I am going to get stranded again.

The Completely Terrifying

Last night I turned ABC news in DC, and what should I see but my hometown, in NC! I looked up to see what I think was some people I know paddling across what USED to be a main road and is now, apparently, an extension of the French Broad River.

A friend of mine tells me that the French Broad is 10 ft above normal and 6 ft above flood level.

My parents are, thankfully, ok, as are my aunt and grandfather. And all animals. And I know my best friends family is okay, because they live on the side of a mountain, and if their house floods, I'm building an ark and renaming myself Noah.

No one has any water though, and it looks like a mess, and its driving me crazy that my car is in the shop because I want nothing more than to jump in it, head home, and help out. And make sure no on I know got flooded out.

Knitting...Knitting...What's That?

2004-09-02T07:19:00.000-04:00

KNITTING

I haven't done any lately . I know, oops.

I started a cable panel two different times, but kept being dissatisfied with it. It was late at night and I'd loose my place, or I just didn't like it...

I had been debating ripping out the last start, but Padma decided for me when I caught her trotting across the floor with the skein of yucky acrylic clutched in her mouth (it's as big as she is!), knitting unraveling behind her.

She's a strange one, my Padma. She appears to have much love for the acrylic. She likes to suck on it, which is very gross when you don't realize she has done it, and suddenly run across this soggy, thin, lifeless section of yarn.

Perhaps today I shall start some acrylic cat toys so they will leave my yarn alone.

SCHOOL

This semester I am taking organic chem, mathematical ideas, psychology of attitudes and public opinion, media politics and government, and information media and national security. And weight training.

CAR

Still not here. The mechanics got it back from the transmission place, the transmission stopped making funky noises (the new transmission, that is) but now the engine is missing (my dad says that means a spark plug misfiring or something) and the AC doesn't work. So they are looking at that.

It's been over a week past when it was supposed to be done, and they've created more problems than they've solved, and I am only paying what he quoted me. I'm not going to pay for their mistakes.

Not Much Knitting

2004-08-29T09:11:00.000-04:00

Much more frantic running about getting ready for school to start. Which I am horribly excited about.

I did finish the third block for the dog's blanket. Which is, as I said, just is a big excuse for me to try new stuff. And I'm enjoying that.

I have lots and lots of design ideas, I just am stuck on one thing--ribbing.

Usually , in patterns, it's worked on smaller needles. I just can't seem to find a rhyme or reason as to how one figures out what size smaller needles to use. Is there a formula? Does it involve swatching? If so, what is one swatching for? *scratches head*

So, not much on the knitting front, lots on the schools starting, school is starting front! YAY! *does happy dance*

I am SUCH a dork.

Cables, Cables Everywhere!

2004-08-25T08:21:00.000-04:00

Last night I finished two cable panels for the dog blanket I'm making for my mother's dog. Which is really just an excuse for me to practice new stitches and stuff. On cheap yarn.

I have pictures of at least one finished square, as well as the adorable kittens, but this computer is (old, and evil) not equipped to handle digital photos from my palm, so until I get mine fixed or deal with this....no pictures. :(

I have lots of stuff that needs finished--like weaving in the ends on my Faroese Style shawl, and my mini waffle knit socks, and Grecian Plait...gah. Then all the Holiday knitting....

My car was supposed to be fixed yesterday only it wasn't....so, I'm stuck here again today. They said my car would be done yesterday, probably in the morning. I called, they said, almost done, by this afternoon definately. So I returned the rental. Then afternoon came--we had a problem with some noise from the transmission...we'll have to look at it, but it will be done by this evening.

This morning I still haven't heard, and I need my CAR!!!!!

If I don't get it, though, I hereby declare this work on projects from the knitting basket day, in the hopes that I shall clear some of them out.

Especially my mother's birthday present (in May) that I NEED to finish before I go home again in September.

And Grecian Plait, because its hot out, but my school cranks the AC up, and I think it would be a really cute sweater to wear over a tank top when I'm in class.

Returning to Society

2004-08-22T10:13:00.000-04:00

Amusing quote last night from one of my friends: "You know, it's not unusual for sixty year old women to knit and have cats, but a 21 year old woman?"

Yeah, thanks dude. ;) I know, I'm wierd.

Yes, I do return, after no computer and no car for a week. I still don' t have a car--not really. I have a rental (WOO! Rent a Wreck!) so I can get to work, but it's limited milage so other than work and the store, I don't really get to GO anywhere.

And my computer is still not fixed, but I got my old one sort of running again, enough so I'm not completely cut off.

Meh. I'm going to go to a museum or something now. And then I'll clean. Really. I will.

I Really Am Alive

2004-08-07T10:45:00.000-04:00

What's New!

So, I have actually been getting knitting done. And a lot of sketching out stuff I want to design, since I keep running out of things to do at work. I have so many ideas!!

I'm currently having a lot of fun working on a project I wasn't thrilled about. My Mom wants a blanket for her dog (aka the Empty Nest Dog), and so I agreed for Christmas, Abby would recieve a blanket. I bought some yucky acrylic (not Red Heart though) because I know the dog will chew it up.

I wasn't looking foward to it, but then I got The Encyclopedia of Knitting from the library, and the blanket has become an excuse to try new stitch patterns! YAY! So, it's actually sort of fun.