Oh, What a Feeling!

I admit, I am participating for this button alone. So here's a little trivia:

What was the name of Jennifer Beals' dance double?

How many dance doubles did Jennifer Beals have in the final dance sequence?

Was Jennifer Beals a good welder?

On to the stash...


Organized by color - top shelf is pinks/oranges/reds. Second shelf blues/purples. Bottom shelf browns/greens. This is the cupboard I go to when I need a yarn porn uplift. Unfortunately I don't have time today to go through and take pictures of the different varieties in there, but trust me, this is the yummy stuff. There's cool Finnish yarn, mitten kits, sock yarn, this weird fleecy stuff that you have to twist together as you knit, self striping mitten yarn (Finland, again). I love this cupboard.


I just organized this section of the stash which lives in the closet. Top left is weaving cones. Yah, gonna outgrow that REAL quick. Bottom bin is all odds and ends I want to keep. Leftover skeins, lots of baby yarns, cheap yarns, extra stuff that just doesn't look as good in the pretty cupboard. My goal is to use a lot of this over the summer to make things to donate to charity or sell in the fall. We'll see what happens. Highly recommend these bins btw, they are stackable, tops come off and open from the side. I got them at The Container Store.


This is what's hiding on the side of the knitting chair. My most current project is on top, Kate for a little guy who is the son of hot boyfriend's co-worker. Little guy was hospitalized recently and was in ICU, so I postponed all my projects to get this one going. Under that project is a lot of cool yarn, linen, silk, unfinished gloves, unfinished scarf, drawstring bag....yah I'll get them done....someday....


Decorating with Stash! Wine Rack that I made into a Yarn Rack. Changes with the seasons.


And here's why I didn't have time to take pictures of individual skeins from the stash... I am in the process of sleying my reed. Kinky! Ok I'm really busy too, and actually did this late last night 'til I couldn't see anymore.


It's a tedious process and my heddle hook is too short, but I have to finish this today. This is only my second time winding a warp, and the first time was on a table loom. This is a whole different beast. I had two helpers yesterday, and there are so many knots to remember, warp order, tension to check, ack. I have to finish it before I forget.

I'm off to LA tonight for a quick trip...I know of one yarn store in Santa Monica. Anyone know of any others?

Tuesday is for Progress

Despite being a tad tight, I still love these socks. The Koigu is a dream to knit, no surprise there. Both skeins are from the same dye lot, however the lighter colors dominate the sock on the left and the darker colors dominate the sock on the right. Groovy.


I wasn't sure how I was going to like knitting with this cotton Manos. It's that cotton that has a thread going through it, I guess to keep it from breaking since it isn't plied. I am enjoying working with it and since it is hand dyed, it has some subtle pooling that is quite nice.


The beginnings of the Child's Placket-Neck Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.


My very first weaving sampler thingy. I am still in the process of finishing. Finishing weaving is very similar to finishing knitting. The difference is that when you wash weaving, you wash it in as hot of water as your hands can stand to help the fibers puff out. So wild. I would never put my knitting in hot water! (well you know, unless I was felting) The next step is to iron it, which I haven't done yet. Thursday is my warping party, moving on to my floor loom! Next project is a small table runner. Woo hoo!

Unbeweavable!

I've learned plain weave. I've learned twill. I've learned double weave. Broken twill. Hooray! Tomorrow the small sampler comes off the loom and I learn about finishing. I worked out my calculations for my next project, took me about 3 tries to get the calculations right. (Are they truly correct? I don't know...) This is way more tedious than knitting, or maybe I am numb to it.

My next project will not be on this table loom, it will be on my "Oak Tree", as Mary calls it. I'm itchin' to treddle, throw & beat, I may have a go at my warping board before my warping party on Thursday.

Still working on my Jaywalkers, started the baby sweater, have some lace linen thingys I want to work on this week... I'm done with weaving for the day so on to knit knit knit.

Ketchup!

Ah yes, it's been a busy week. I've decided that today is my Catch Up Online Day, as well as Catch Up On My Weaving Day, and Maybe Throw In a Little Knitting Day.



I am loving my Jaywalker socks. My first attempt with this Koigu (love!) produced a sock that seemed a little wide. Rather than go down in needle size (I knit tight so I was using a size us2 instead of the us1) I decided to cast on 68 stitches instead of the required 76.

Well attempt #2 produced a sock that seems the right size, and then I tried to yank them over my heel. @#$%! They are just a tad tight, and the ribbing is loose! I don't want to unravel them AGAIN. So I think I'll keep going and try to block them a little wider. It seems like they will give a little bit with some work. I mean, it's not like they are cutting off my circulation, I just have to give a good tug when pulling them off. I have been having the worst luck with Jaywalkers.



My knitting group is still plugging away at a block blanket for Project Linus. 64 squares down, 32 to go! Boy, that's gonna be fun to put together.

Ok, so here's what's coming up. I'm going to make a baby sweater for a friend's baby out of this:




Manos Cotton Stria in color 203 (green). I'll be making the Child's Placket-Neck Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. This has to be done by early May. I also want to make my Frost Flowers project (previous post) and have that done by my birthday in early May.

Then I hope to make the Falling Leaves socks and that has to be done by end of May. I have another baby something that has to be finished by early August.

And somehow I want to fit in there the Sunrise Circle Jacket. I saw the Sunrise Circle Jacket Knitalong....and then Mary said she was making it, and then my friend Rachel said she liked it too (Hi Hoover! Come on, you know you wanna make it!) So yesterday I had to stop by one of my yarn spots, I figured that if I saw some yarn that was screaming "SUNRISE!", I would get it and make the jacket. Well, I found perfect yarn. Cascade 220 in this dirty light tealish color. I didn't even hem and haw too much (well, once I found that yarn). It goes with my new purse (very important) and goes with my style and colors I like to wear (hello, screaming "SUNRISE!") They even had the toggle buttons. So I decided I would make it. 4 skeins please!

They only had 3.

Is there a word that explains my disapointment and frustration? I don't know. I just don't know. Instead of sneaking away and ordering it online, I am waiting for the store to get another shipment of it. That gives me 2 weeks to finish up/make progress with/ditch other projects.

knit knit knit knit knit knit knit.

This post is terribly long. This is what happens when one doesn't post often. And this information is incredibly important too, heaven forbid I edit. Blessings to all of you who actually read all of this. It's 9:38am on a Friday, who's got the hooch?

Weaving updates over the weekend....gotta weave something first...

Where Are the @#$% Tulips?

It's March, it's cold, I want Spring.

(What a crank!)

This is a swatch of Frost Flowers Lace made with Louet Sales Euroflax. This isthe result of the March challenge for Project Knitaway. The theme was "Spring", so I made a swatch of lace for an idea I have for my outdoor table. This is actually my first real attempt at knitting lace. I enjoyed it, though linen can be challenging to work with. It drapes beautifully and is such an interesting texture. I want to finish this project, just as soon as I get momentum with my Koigu socks....I'll cast on....

Pinch Me

Flap-Top Mittens from Handknit Holidays. They are done. I have been released.

NEXT!

I want to make Jaywalkers with the Koigu I have been drooling over for the last couple of days. I want to make Falling Leaves with some grayish-purple Koigu. (Also eyeing Yukon Leaves, Wyvern and Alison's Ankle Socks.) I want to make Branching Out with something that I either have in my stash or will soon be adding to my stash. I need to make 2 baby gifts. I have squares for the Project Linus blanket that my knitting group is working on. I have a hat to finish for Project Sunshine. I have my Spring Challenge for Project Knitaway....

I'm packing my yarn and heading to Swatch City. WOO HOO!

Guilty Pleasures

Making progress on Mitten #2, so taking a quick break. Sockaholic tagged me. What the hell. I have no new pictures anyway.

Help me, I'm a blogger.

Four jobs in your life:
1. Performer – dance/musical theatre/acting
2. Dance teacher
3. Intern
4. Retail

Four movies you could watch over and over:
1. Better Off Dead
2. Strictly Ballroom (I almost named my cat “Fran”)
3. A Christmas Story
4. Anne of Green Gables (oh shut up!)

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Project Runway
2. Apprentice
3. Gilmore Girls
4. Miami Ink

Four places you have lived:
1. New York
2. Michigan (U.P.)
3. Michigan (Lower penin)
4. London, England

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Tuscon, AZ
2. Bermuda
3. Florida
4. Finland

Four websites you visit daily:
1. Meetup
2. Yarn Harlot
3. You Knit What?
4. actually, everything listed over there to the right…

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Salmon
2. Buffalo Mozz
3. Proscuitto
4. Ravioli from home

Four places you'd rather be right now:
1. Bermuda
2. Weaving in my Loom Room
3. Bed
4. Yarn store

Four favorite types of yarn: (added a 5th, c’mon, it’s yarn!)
1. Koigu
2. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
3. Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
4. Louet Sales Euroflax (I have this weird thing for linen, but I rarely knit with it)
5. all this stuff my cousins send me from Finland, love it

Four bloggers I'm tagging:
1. Mary
2. Knitting Fiend
3. Necia
4. Hilde

I'm Knitting My Apartment

Love!

I still can't start my Koigu socks, despite the fact that I finished ONE mitten. Not only do I have the other mitten to finish, I have my challenge for Project Knitaway. Knit Knit Knit Knit Knit Knit Knit Knit.

It's the mitten's fault!

Hello lover.

Yesterday I participated in a charity knitting event for Project Sunshine. It was held at a yarn store, and the owner graciously gave us a 10% discount on anything in the store for that day. I graciously accepted the discount. This is Lorna's Lace's shepard sock yarn in cranberry.



Artyarns Ultramerino4, handpainted and yummy. The orange is a burnt orange with hints of pink. I can't wait to make socks. The green is a bit brighter than what shows in the picture.



Well look at that! I knew there was a reason those two colors popped out at me at the yarn store.



Habu Textiles 2/48 merino. Very delicate. Knit with it? Nah. I hope to use it with this:



My Leclerc floor loom is in place and almost ready to go. I still have to attach the treddles. Oh, and I have to learn how to weave.

Koigu is Taunting Me

I'm still not done with my Flap-Top Mittens but I have a massive crush on 2 skeins of Koigu.

Must finish mittens.

To be continued...

My Cheese on the Hamster Wheel

Oh yum. Koigu. For socks that I will make someday. I have decided to re-try the Jaywalkers with this delicious yarn. I'll have to fiddle with the gauge and pattern a bit, but you know, this is New York. I'll call them "Jayrunners" instead of "Jaywalkers". I can't start them until I finish the Flap-Top mittens. I simply can't be distracted by any other projects. So I work with the Koigu staring at me, my cheese on the hamster wheel.


And speaking of Flap-Top mittens, isn't this taupe Karabella Aurora yummy? These will be *my* Flap-Top mittens, once I finish the other pair, and the socks as reward for finishing, and the dog sweater....lovely mittens for me for midsummer. Fantastic!


Oh, those Flap-Top mittens I am working so hard to finish...I had to start over. The alpaca was just too much. They were turning out like oven mitts and it just wasn't right. They are being made on consignment and I want them DONE! So I switched to Karabella Aurora and am plodding along. In the end I think this is better. Alpaca is quite offensive smelling when wet.


Say adieu to the Jaystreakers. They just make me angry. Some have written that they like the streak. I really don't. I just love this yarn and I don't see the point in continuing to quarrel with it. So I have decided to frog and save for a different pattern that works with this not quite variegated, not quite self striping yarn. They may end up just knit knit knit in the round. I'll hold out a little longer to see if a different pattern surfaces that works well with Lorna's Laces. *Sigh*

Just Trying to Move On

Not only am I Jaywalking, I am STREAKING! Ah, the beauty of self-striping yarn (Lorna's Laces). I just can't get rid of the zig zag white spot that is invading. Freak socks.



Several knitters answered my pathetic cries for help with these mittens. I now see the pattern clear as day. Don't you just hate a knitting wall? Couldn't read the pattern to save my life. I am making slow progress, but it's still progress. (Flap-Top Mittens from Handknit Holidays in double stranded alpaca - yah, super toasty.)



And since I am talking about slow moving WIP's, here's the dog sweater that is taking forever. Fiber Trend's Dandy Dog Sweater with mock cables. Karabella yarn in a deep teal. Love the color. Wish I could get it done. Ha. What can I say, I am having more fun watching the freak stripe unfold.

I Felt Smart For One Whole Day

I achieved gold in the Knitting Olympics. Yarn Harlot's Podium Ceremony made me feel talented. I was a Good Knitter. Until today.

See those needles? I am ready to poke my eyes out. I'm sure it's a stupid mistake. I might be tired. I might be hungry. (Wait, I am hungry!) I can't, for the life of me, figure this out. I am a huge advocate for reading a pattern stitch by stitch. The directions are in there somewhere! I know that what I have to DO is not that difficult, the way that it is WRITTEN is making my poor little head hurt. Yup. Not so smart anymore. Can SOMEONE please tell me what this means?

So, Flap-Top Mittens from Handknit Holidays. They are on DPN's. At this point in the pattern I have 48 sts on my needles.

The instructions read:

Prepare Flap

[K1, wrapping yarn twice around needle] 26 times; knit across to last 2 sts, repeat [ ] twice.

Note: It will look like you have a lot more sts on your needles now. For next rnd, using more than one spare dpn to hold slipped stitches makes it easier.

Next Rnd: [Knit next st, slip second loop onto a smaller dpn at front of work] 26 times; knit across to last 2 sts, repeat [ ] twice. Transfer slipped sts [loops] on spare dpn to st holders or waste yarn. Knit 2 rounds.

My questions are -

26 times meaning 26 stitches? Meaning I will end up with 52 stitches?

Knit across as knit the rest of the row, and what am I to do when I get to the last 2 sts?

And repeat HOW with WHAT? The flap doesn't go all around the mitten obviously, so what in the heck am I supposed to be repeating?

ACK. So I may be writing tomorrow about how embarrassed I am about not being able to work through the silliest thing ever. I hope that's the case. In the meantime, I will start my Jaywalkers AGAIN. I mentioned the part about not being smart anymore, right?