Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Stuff



A hiatus and stashbusting FO. Double-score!

I wore it for the first time today. I’m a little iffy about the “flattering” nature of this design. It’s the Ballet Tee from Loop-d-Loop. It's probably not the best design for my figure. I know other people have had issues with this. I’ll wear it, but you won’t see me waiting by the dryer for this. Especially since the dryer makes it grow strange fuzzies. Well, I’m not sure if it’s the dryer or the economy cotton I chose to knit it with. Who knows?

Thanks so much for the kind words on the “green feet” socks. I’m sure I’ll be re-naming it something spiffier when I post the pattern. I’d love to see the sock in different colors. Hell, it might look better. (hint, hint)

I can’t tell you how delighted I was to see comments on my recent posts. Thanks so much for sticking with me. Considering my blogging skills are amateur (at best) and that there a pasquillion other blogs out there, I’m so surprised I’ve managed to keep your interest. I’m glad you stuck around because I’m feeling refreshed after my hiatus and I’m aiming to step up “my game”.

Anyhoosen…

Not much in knitting content to report. I’m working on the Cropped Cardigan with Leaf Ties by Stefanie Japel which was posted as this Knitty’s surprise. I’m just about ready to split the sleeves and work solely on the body. I’m excited, It’s a cute top-down cardigan which is guaranteed to eat up 10 skeins of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton I have in my stash.

Yes, 2007 is the “Year of the Stashbuster” for me. I know someone out there in blogland is hosting a Stashbusting event. I’m not biting off of someone else’s idea, honest. I resigned myself to knitting only from my stash before I came across the event. My main motivation is to clear out my collection of cheapy acrylic and cotton yarn so I can by somewhat nicer yarn. You know, yarn that originates from some exotic animals nether regions. Plus, it would be cool to be a knitter who's not dependent on fossil fuels.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Fledgling

The ultimate goal for my knitting skills is to one day create lovely designs the likes of Anna, Eunny, Ysolda... etc.

But since I've only been knitting for just under 2 years (and they, I believe, since they were 2) I have a lot of work to do. But I have taken some steps in the right direction. Before last Christmas I completed my own sweater from my very own pattern. Simplistic in design, and modern in fit. It turned out well and wore it several times throughout the winter. I would have worn it more if the neckline wasn't so wide that it revealed my bra straps, assuming I didn't have a tank top underneath. Despite that, I considered it a success.

Then, during spring I kept myself sane/busy with designing my own sock. I've made a simple sock on my own before thanks to tutorials such as this. I did the same thing on this sock, but made it fancier. I grabbed the lace pattern from The New Knitting Stitch Library by Lesley Stanfield. I liked that it was a more geometric than foo-foo so I paired it with some bright green yarn to give it a "sci-fi" theme.


This version you see here is take two. The first take was to small since the lace pattern doesn't have a lot of stretch. Of course I waited until after the sock was complete, ends weaved in and all, to actually try it on and discover this. So for my redo I added stitches to my CO and split the lace panel in two with some 2x2 ribbing in between. Much better fit this time. It's actually a little roomy.

So I'm thinking this will be my first pattern that I will post on this site. It will be free, of course, since I can't take full credit for it's construction. I'm going to complete the second sock to test my notes, then post the pattern. Hope you like it. I think they're pretty neat myself.

Specs:
Pattern: My own
Construction: basic top-down
Yarn: Knitpicks Palette "Mint", less than 1 skein for one sock available at www.knitpicks.com

Friday, May 11, 2007

Testing, testing...

Is anyone there? Um, I'm back.

waves cobwebs from face
inhales dust bunnies
coughs

It's been a while. A long while.

crickets, chirping

So the class I was taking this Spring is over. I'm not sure why I thought that was a good idea, but now I can get back to important things like incessantly wrapping fiber around pointy sticks, taking pictures of it, and posting it on the internet. Ah, priorities.

You'll be happy to know that I HAVE been knitting. I have a small gallery of FO's I've been developing since Christmas. Nothing big.

Just bear with me. I have to get reacquainted with this whole blogging thing again. So if you're reading this, thanks for being a loyal blog reader (and writer, which I'm sure you are) . I have plans for this humble blog o'mine. One-step at a time, though.