Baby Blanket in Progress

So, I'm making progress on the baby blanket, finally. I changed up how I wanted to do in and ripped it all out and started over. I'm doing a garter stitch border with a single ss heart that I will embroider around when I'm done.

I'm doing it Orenburg style, which I will get into another time.

I will do a ss center pane with random (and I mean random, I'm not charting placement at all) reverse ss hearts scattered around.

I think it will be nice, solid and cozy. I just hope it's big enough. I wanted it to be a wubby, not a full blown cradle blanket....if you know what I mean.


Needles: Lantern Moon 9US/5.5mm

Yarn: Wick in cream

Pattern: my own design

Start: Well, guess that depends. I've ripped and redesigned so many times. But this iteration started on the 12th of August 2007.

Busy weekend

Well, I've been out running around a bit like a crazy woman the last week because I was heading to Blizzcon last weekend. I mostly went to see my friends, but have to admit the forums were really interesting.

I got to see snippets from the upcoming release of the Lich King and for Starcraft II. Really nifty stuff. Then got to see L70ETC perform after Jay Mohre. Jay does great at playing off the crowd....really brings his audience into his performance.

But, as I said - mostly, it was to see my friends.

Felada, Ook, me and Hyp

We wandered around Downtown Disney and...on Saturday...I got to witness a proposal. It was sooooooooo sweet. Particularly since I'd been in on it since way back in April. It had been so hard keeping my mouth shut the whole time. But as I told my gal friend...some things are too important to spoil by giving away.

I didn't want to say goodbye when Sunday rolled around, but alas - work, dogs and responsibility called me back to Austin. It was, however, quite a delightful time - and nearly not one stitch of knitting got completed (off the plane). I did finish the second jaywalker sock, but wound up giving them away before snapping a photo. So sorry about that.

Happy puppies!

Just had to share - two of my "babies" having a good time while I knit and play with friends.

And, just what am I working on, you ask? The Mystery Stole 3. I'm working it in black alpaca fino with dark, dark blue beads. I'm not sure I am happy with the colour combination - but I'm far enough along now that I'm letting it go and we'll see what we see. *grins*

I also just found out that my favorite cousin is getting ready to have an addition to his family. This puts me into a frenzy of digging through baby patterns. Hey, I have none of my own to knit for, so I gotta have my fun somewhere, right? *chuckles* I think I've found the layette set I want to make. Now it's just getting the yarn and getting started. I'm looking forward to it.

No Hippy and His Boatload of Animal Friends - Yet

Just to let my friends who are not in the area know...

No, I'm not getting flooded out. I live fairly close to downtown Austin, and am not in a floodplain.

We are expecting another heavy storm today, yes. And there have been lives lost. We do expect to have another week's worth of rain ...at least. However, for the time being, myself and my pups are doing just fine. I have never been more happy for that Jeep than I was this morning, though. Hit a bridge on my way in to work that had a good 8 inches of water over it. My previous car rode so low that that would have been....interesting. The Jeep just moved right on through.

Interestingly surreal moment of the day:

Walk out the door and stay in my perpetual state of oblivion that lasts until at least my second cup of coffee. Yawn. Stumble into the Jeep and head for the main road. Yawn and stretch. Turn onto main road. Drive three feet and *blam* hit a solid sheet of water. My brain stuttered and sputtered and groggily took notice that I had just driven from a perfectly dry, clear spot to a torrential downpour - in less than half a city block.

I battle my way in to work...and about a block or so before work...the rain lets up. Totally dry ground. I look up and notice the oddest looking scene. Stormy, dark clouds billowing all around - except for one area that looks like someone took their fist and punched a hole in the sky. Solid, clear, blue sky above my work. Maybe quarter to a half block in diameter.

So I managed to get from my front door of my house to my desk at work - walking through open areas, not sheltered - with nary a drop of rain touching my person.

Makes the mind boggle.

Knitting wise, it's the girl's meeting tonight at Borders. I find myself wondering if it's going to happen. I'm also worried about the ones further north. Here's hoping for them and praying for them.

I'm starting my second skein of yarn on the Everyday Tweed sweater. I believe I am really going to like this when it is finished. Ironically, I'm using yarn that I will never be able to get my hands on again. Thankfully, I should have enough to keep "patch" amounts after it's completed.

I have, indeed, started the second of my three Jaywalker socks. I really am not focusing on it too much. I don't care when they get done and I'm enjoying the absolute mindlessness of the sweater. Knit - knit - knit. Knitting stockinette in the round has got to be the most mindless process in existence. It's wonderful for just chillaxing.

Edit: For those of you curious ... a friend of mine did a post with a few photos of the wet stuff: http://chikuru.livejournal.com/180642.html

1 + 1 = 3?

So, I was making the latest pair of socks...doing my normal try them on as you go along thing. You know? I knit toe up, so I try them on as I go along. Always get them to be perfect length and such. Well. The foot is great. The leg is great. However, right over the top of my heel (if you've ever knit socks, you know exactly where I mean) is tight. Not so tight I can't get the sock on - but tight enough I don't want to wear them. **pouts** Thankfully, I make short socks. I refuse to rip all the way back. Which means....I'll be making three this "pair" instead of just two...The nice thing about the Jaywalker pattern, though, is that it is utterly mindless so it takes no time at all to do.

I am making modifications to it, of course. Working 60 stitches over the foot and then increasing to 68 for the leg. No, not because I have some wonky size differential, but because the stretch factor of stockinette is significantly more than that of the ripple pattern. The problem is that I should have started my increasing about 4 to 6 rows before the heel. Most of the time, I increase right after putting in my afterthought heel. Due to how snug this is, I need to increase before the heel so that it fits snug, but not too tight over the top of the heel.

I love how the yarn looks and the sock looks great except for that one location. So, I know that I will love the final product...now to go make two more socks.

Random update

So, my car finally gave up the ghost. It was going to cost me well over $6.5k to get fixed and...well...I just don't have that kind of cash sitting around.

All things considered, taking out a loan for that kind of repair on an 11 year old car with 160k miles on it just made no sense. The maintenance on it was getting worse and worse as it got older. That is only to be expected, I know. However, I felt it was time to investigate a new vehicle. Enter TJ.

I contacted a company and got a very reasonable deal on an auto loan, with zero down, 5 years and a fairly low interest rate. Then I went for a drive around town to various dealerships.

As I zipped into one, TJ caught my eye. I zero'd in on it, spotted the sticker stating it was - indeed - for sale and made a beeline for the door. Understand - this is how I shop. One of the many things about myself A saved me from when we were together.

I walk in, snag a sales guy, tell him, "I have a pre-approved loan, all the paperwork you will need and I want that Jeep. Get me out of here in under two hours." He just looked at me - I think I temporarily shut down his brain functions.

I said, "Well, I could get someone else?"

He snapped to, and only three minutes over two hours later, I walked out the door owning a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport...with only 10k miles on it, and only one previous owner....a man in his late 70s.

I justify my purchase (gas consumption wise) by rationalizing that I ride my motorcycle the majority of the year....well, that and my TerraPass.

I've been knitting away at a pair of Jaywalker socks (toe up) in this really sweet yarn. I am nearly done with one sock and should be starting the other in a couple of days. No picture, right now; but, I'll have one up when I finish the first sock.

I took a break from knitting for a while when life was rather insane. Just buried myself in other and sundry things and ignored the world around me. Happens from time to time, but I'm back now. Watch out. *grins*

Gloria's shawl is still a WIP^*, and I can honestly say I have no idea when I will finish it...though it is lovely. It just takes so much attention; and, I'm seriously lacking that, right now, since I'm knitting in rush hour traffic and while laying dead in my game waiting for the fight to end so I can come back alive and kick some more cartoon butt. Yeah, phear me.

I was in Aliso Viejo last week for work (I really do dig my current job). So, I hooked up with a friend while I was out there and we went to this restaurant called Claim Jumper. When we arrived, there was a fairly significant wait, but we were in no rush and just kicked back and chit chatted.

A while later we were taken to our table and ordered fire roasted artichokes. My first experience with this particular food, and I have to say that while it was not a bad experience...I can't make myself rave over it. It was tasty, but nothing to "write home about".

We ordered our main course and noshed more on our appetizer, not paying a lick of attention to the time ticking by.

The next thing we know, someone is coming up to our table and apologizing profusely. It was the restaurant manager. It seemed our meals were just then being prepared and they were just horribly contrite over the length of time it was taking to get our food to us.

We were startled, to be honest. We had not realized much time had passed and we still had more than half our appetizer left. We told them not to worry about it, and went back to our conversation.

We wound up with two people checking up on us from then until we were ready to leave - the meals themselves were tasty and very filling. I wouldn't have kept the name of the restaurant in mind, though, had it not been for how very solicitous they were and how excellent the service was...and...this is the kicker.

As we were preparing to leave, we asked for the bill and got informed that the restaurant was absorbing the cost. **blinks** We had run up at $120 bill...and they were covering it. Neither of us felt comfortable leaving without paying something since we'd enjoyed ourselves and experienced absolutely no discomfort whatsoever from the "unexcusable delay" in receiving our main course.

As a matter of fact, our main course arrived perfectly timed in our opinion, as we had just finished our appetizer when they arrived at our table. We left a significant tip and agreed that the restaurant deserved a visit again the next time we were in town.

Saturday, I went to see Shrek the Third. Oh my goodness! I want a plushy Dronkey. They are soooooo cute!!

It was an adorable movie, though there are aspects of it that I find myself wishing had been not so "moral of the story" oriented. But, as usual, Shrek had me laughing and enjoying myself throughout.

It doesn't hurt that I'd watched the "making of" a few weeks prior and so was spending a huge amount of time eyeing the movie and picking out various aspects that had been mentioned. It isn't a bad thing that I had some very nice company for the movie, either.

Overall, life is going well. I love my job, love my hobbies, love my friends and am comfortable in my skin (for the most part - need to tweak the whole workout thing again). It's a good place to be.

Maybe that's why I can't sleep - I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out from under me. *laughs* There's something wrong with a person when they panic when things are going well, and sleep like a baby when all hell is breaking loose.

Oh! By the way. I'm considering various ways of decreasing the inflow:outflow ratio of my finances (buying a car, no matter how well priced is expensive) and have cut a lot of things out of my budget. If it doesn't help alleviate the differential as much as I'd like, I may have to consider a roommate (per my landlord's approval and my ability to reduce my clutter at home). Any suggestions or such on how to go about finding a reliable, tolerable individual to share my space with would be greatly appreciated. *grins*


_{* WIP = Work in Progress}

Name that Price

Wow. So, I've decided to finally make a knitted afghan. In the past, they've always been crocheted. However, I've found this delightful aran pattern on CanadianLiving.com and I just can't pass it up.

So. The lovely act of yarn selection comes in to play. The suggested yarn is a nicely priced one, in the median range. Patons Classic Merino Wool. Joann's sells it for $4.49/skein. Not a bad price at all. Not really. But...it's wool. That means I'd use it maybe one or two months out of the year. And, well...it's wool. Handwash, lay flat, wool. Afghan. Um...no. So, I did some digging at one of my favorite places to shop...Webs. Oh la la. I found my yarn. This stuff is absolutely lovely. The yarn is a cotton silk blend that comes in one pound cones and is a little bigger than what is called for in the pattern...but it's an afghan...

I've wanted to use Everet Silk for a while, now. And, of course, when I finally get around to being able to do so...it's being discontinued.

However! This means that I get an excellent price and do get the chance to make a delightful pattern in a wonderful yarn. I think the tweedy factor will add a very nice quality to the afghan and I'm really, really looking foward to seeing how this works up. With it being mostly silk...well...the cables might not pop like you'd really want them to. I'm hoping the cotton helps alleviate that and gives me a nice "pop" for the cable. We'll see. I got it in the "dusty" colourway.

The ironic thing? I paid $10 less on the Everet Silk than I would have on the Patons.

Progress, life and so on

Request to any friends here in Austin who know good vets. The boys need dental work desperately. Bartleby in particular has a serious dental infection and needs dental surgery. I just cannot afford the $637 quoted me by the vet in one lump sum. Not to mention the near $300 they say Loki will cost. The boys need the work, but I need a vet willing to work with me on payments. If y'all know of any, please let me know.

Now. Before you read any further...Get comfortable. Have your drink? Don't drink it. Have a paper bag handy? You might want to go get one, then. Hyperventalation is quite possible to those of you who are as enamoured of STR as I am. What am I blathering on about? Read this link: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2007/01/11/freakin_muggles.html

Yeah...Exactly.

Got your breath back? Feeling a bit more stable? Alrighty...take a moment more. I totally understand.

...

Now, on to the rest of my blathering.

Icarus is moving along slowly. However, since discovering one of the girls at my Saturday knitting group is at relatively the same location in the pattern I am, I feel it only my duty to continue along. Particularly as this is her very first lace piece and she's counting on me to be able to answer any questions she has about the pattern! I'm making it out of Alpaca With a Twist Fino in....ready for it?....black. What's with me and black, lately?

I managed to get one of An tUasal's socks completed. Believe it or not. I mean it, his feet are huge! Ok, not as big as my brother in law's size 13...but still. A man's size 12 wide is pretty large. Particularly compared to my woman's size 7 narrow.

I showed him one of my socks up against one of his...it was amusing.

I'll pull out the camera tonight and do my best to get a picture to show the difference. There's nothing, really, to show concerning his sock in particular.

It's black...100%, unrelieved black. It knit up at ~9½ stitches to the inch on size 0 bamboo DPNs in Lanett Superwash Black.

The toe to beginning of the heel is 9¼ inches of pure stockinette stitch. Worked an afterthought heel. The leg is 5 inches of 3x2 ribbing and then 1½ inches of 2x1 ribbing. The circumfrence is 10 inches, spot on.

He says it fits great...I think it's a tad too long. But he's determined they are perfect "around the house" socks. I give it a day or two of wearing them and he'll be treating them just like any other sock. **grins**

The first round of layoffs happened last Friday...they will continue until they stop. Yup...that definitive. I don't want to relocate...My son is much closer with me here, and it's a lot cheaper to pay for gas back and forth to Sugarland than it is airfare back and forth to wherever they would relocate me. Also, An tUasal is just a bit too big to fit into my bags. Not to mention, comtemplating attempting to haul his dead weight around is rather daunting. Plus, I have a couple of people here in Austin, Houston and Sugarland that I'd prefer to stay in relatively close proximity to...and relocating to some place hours and hours and hours away just really isn't "relatively close proximity". Hard to please, aren't I?

On the school front, I'm finishing up my Organizational Behavior class with a paper titled "Ethical Transitions in Takeover Times: A Look at Ethical Management During a Hostile Takeover"...colour me odd, but it seemed quite apropos. It was, of course, after I got the topic approved that it dawned on me that this is only a 5 page paper. A double spaced, five page paper. That's a lot to get into what is basically two pages of text. It should be interesting.

I also have started Statistics and my Ethics class will begin the first Monday in February.

Oh yeah...life's getting a tad full. The only reason I'm getting away with all the schoolwork is that starting Monday the 15th, I go to third shift at work (11pm to 7am). Well, for as long as I have my job.

I really want one of these ones I've been talking with to snap me up, PDQ.

Big Feet!

In making An tUasal's socks, I have discovered just how big my man is. I am just boggling at how much yarn it is taking to make his socks. I kid you not. It is taking as much yarn to make his socks as it does to make myself a halter top.

**blinks**

It makes my brain hurt to contemplate. I mean....I knew he was big. I just...wow.

So sorry there has been next to no posting, lately. But I've been working on this one project.....

Yes. Just the one.

It's black.

It's frustrating.

It's not going to be done in time for Christmas.

However, I did manage to get him a full set of Anton Chekov's work as well as another Turgenev - the novel "First Love". I know he's going to love those.

So. I'll shove the sock on his foot and see how poorly it fits, make adjustments and then complete the pair. I figure finishing them will be his Valentine's present. **snickers**

He took me to lunch today. We needed that. He's such an amazing guy. I've been blessed with the men in my life. My son is just amazing. A child that just blows stereotyping right out of the water. And An tUasal is just...he's such a "macho man" in so many ways...yet quite a bit deeper than that. Even if he does earn the title Captain Oblivious from me from time to time. He's a good bloke with a great heart and always willing to listen when you knock him upside the head for missing the "obvious".

Happy holidays to you all, in whatever form or fashion you choose to participate - that includes attempting to ignore all the "holidaying" going on around you.

Nothing much

Camera's USB port's busted so I have a card reader on order. I was going to go to WalMart and get one, but the price online was $20 cheaper and I just couldn't justify the additional expense just for instant gratification.

So...not like I had too much to photograph, right now, anyway. Absolutely all projects are on hold until this pair of socks gets completed. Yes, you read that correctly. No other projects will be worked until this pair of socks is completed.

Why? Well, because they are for An tUasal and ... well ....I just don't knit fast enough to work on anything else and get a pair of size 12 men's socks completed in time for the holidays. Size 12 men's socks knit on size 1 needles. Sad, but too true.

They're black Lanett Superwash, by the way, so photographs of them in progress would have been unilaterally uninspiring anyway. Am I the only one who doesn't think twice about using "baby" yarn to make socks? **grins**

I did, however, take time out tonight from my knitting to make an orange gingerbread cheesecake for tomorrow. The boys at work have an appetite that I very much enjoy feeding.

Yup, you know it. I love the man something silly. **toddles off to knit some more**

Wonderful Saturday

I got to spend a great Saturday with a wonderful gal today.

My day started like most any other Saturday. Getting up at 6:30 to let the pups out - no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get them to understand that weekends means I get to sleep in. Puttering around the house until 9:30 am and then getting ready and heading to my knitting group at Cafe Caffiene. The gals there are always wonderful.

One that I always look forward to seeing in particular is Erika ((waves)) who has joined in on the Dulaan project ((YAY!)). Not that I don't enjoy all the ladies there, several in particular, but Erika is one I keep chattering with about hooking up outside of our knitting meetings.

After playing "show and tell" with some non-knitters at the coffee shop who wanted each of us to show them what we were working on, and a couple of hours of great conversation with the rest of the knitters, Erika went home to gather one of her spawn and I hit the corner shop to pick up a quick bite and some molasses. ((I'm gearing up to make orange and gingerbread cheesecake next week))

We took her oldest to "Ninja Camp" and then headed up to Bluebonnet Yarn Shoppe. She'd never been and I was really looking forward to introducing her to my favorite yarn shop in the area. She ooh'd and aah'd appropriately and behaved herself ((as well as can be expected when faced with such temptations)). She's promised to attempt to make the Lover's Vine socks following my pattern. I guess we'll see how badly I messed up as she struggles through my rather...not so intuitive....pattern.

She also got some absolutely lovely yarn to start a Clapotis. I can't wait to see how it works up for her.

Me? I was ((gasp)) a good girl. I had gone there to get a 42" or so circular in size 0s since my current set is occupied on another project. I ripped out the mister's sock that I had started...Why? Well, I found some great, black superwash at the shop. So...three balls of superwash black, a set of needles and I'm good to go to start my two at once. I'm hoping I can get them finished by Christmas, but if not - they'll be a great V-day present.

Erika's oldest is just adorable. She held my hand on the way in to "Ninja Camp" and chattered and joined in on the conversation and just overall enforced her mom's stories of what a great kiddo she is. I almost wanted to take her home with me.......though I think Erika might have taken exception to that idea. ((grins)) What a great kiddo.

On that note. I'm dosing myself heavily with ibuprofen and going to go lay down. I appear to be working on a mother of a headache....

But.....it was such a great day.

FO's

So, I'm now moving a bit more freely. I still feel the pinch, but it's not got me crying rivers or cursing like a sailor. Therefore, I deem myself much recouperated.

As promised, here are the projects from last weekend.

First up is the second Harald Watchcap. My son snagged the first, so I had to make a second since this was originally intended to be a gift for my father. I made it out of Cascade Pastaza on size 8US Addi Turbos and Surina size 8US dpns. I like it, even if I did mess up big time and have to rip all the way back to the ribbing when I was almost done. **grimace** The pattern is from Elsebeth Lavold's Viking Patterns for Knitting. There are several very nice patterns in this book. They are well written and very easy to follow. The hardest thing is finding yarn substitutions. Like this pattern. It called for Lord of Aran yarn. Yeah. Not exactly jumping off the shelves, that yarn. Enter a wee bit of digging and contemplating and out comes Cascade Pastaza. I'm happy with the results. Very much so.

Next up is a Dulaan project. Item one of my target 5 items. This is just a simple knit plain hat. I worked it in wool-ease and mohair. I love the halo it has and the mixed effect is really nice. I just hope it's warm enough. Goodness knows that simple things like hats and socks for children knit up fast enough that it's not any real time lost at all on other projects to make one a month or so. My next one will be made with two strands of wool-ease held together. It gets downright frigid there. I think Buddha is modeling it quite nicely.

Then there is the scarf and hat set I knit up for myself. I did this scarf in one morning, flat. Kid you not. If you really like the yarn, you can find more excellent stuff along this line if you keep an eye out on the spinner's blog. As for this particular yarn...it's most improbable that you (or I) could be getting anymore. The Redhead spun it up a couple of years ago for a competition. Both the pink and the beaded white. The woman spins like a dream.
They are 100% angora and a fingering weight. With angora the way it is, I felt a little better by working the white with a strand of Karabella Lace Mohair and the pink was worked with KnitPicks Shimmer FlowerGarden on size 15US. I know. I never use anything large you say. I agree. It felt so absolutely wrong using those needles. But I wanted the big, loopy effect like that and size 15s is what it took to achieve it. Then I was shocked to discover I still had quite a bit of the beaded white left and a whole skein and a half of the pink left. So....I made a partner.

Enter the matching cap. Again, both sections were worked with supporting yarn. I started off with a k2,p2 rib and then stepped it down to a k2,p1 rib over 6.5 inches. I then switched to the pink and knit plain for another 6 inches and then did a simple every other row decrease. I like how it turned out. It's warm, fuzzy and fits perfectly.

I'm now ensconded at work making a wee bit of progress on my Random Log Cabin and the Icarus....twitching to get finished so I can begin Heere Be Dragone....which looks something like this, as you may recall from my previous post:

Unbelievable

I actually have knitted stuff.

I finished my first hat of the year for Dulaan, knit a scarf and the watchcap for my dad.

I even got halfway through a hat to match the scarf I knit.

Then I hurt my neck and don't feel like screwing with the camera to take all the photos...

So, I'll do that when I stop hurting.

Slacker

Ok, I know I haven't really been posting much, lately. I suck the biggest toad toenails. I grant you permission to flagellate me with a cat of nine, soggy noodles. No, smarty pants, not flatulate, flagellate. **shakes head** Some people's children. I tell you what.

Anyway, life here has been rather disheartening. Work is a definite state of limbo.

"How's that?", you ask. Well, amazing what buyouts can do to the company being purchased. And, of course, none of us know how much longer we will be employed. And, if we are allowed to keep our jobs, it is 90% likely that we will have to relocate to Denver.

Now, I have nothing against Denver. I enjoyed the time I spent there. However, I don't live there any longer. I have a lot of friends here, not to mention a most wonderful man that is a wee bit too large to fit into my luggage...not to mention the interesting idea of accomplishing the monumental feat of managing to manhandle his 275 pounds of deadweight. Yeah.

Then, there is my son to consider. He lives in Houston. Admittedly, I could fly him up every summer. But, I kinda like having him that "close".

So, I've been putting my CV out and hoping for a nibble. I got one last night from Ntelicore. Now, I really like the job that I'd be doing - goodness knows I'm certainly qualified for it. And, the pay is certainly something to be happy about. However, it's a 5-6 month contract (with possibility of extension). I'm not huge on contracts, but you know what? "Permanent jobs" aren't so permanent anymore. The pay on the job would be great, it's with the state, etc. Ntelicore is based out of Dallas, so far as I can find and I really don't want to take jobs in Dallas. However, if they do a lot of contracting with the state, I'm sure quite a few of the jobs would be here in Austin. I was looking into getting HUB certified anyway so I could do exactly this, so - I responded that I would be highly interested in the position and filled out the forms. We'll see where that goes, eh?

As for knitting....

I'm working on the random log cabin as the mood strikes, so I figure it will be finished around my 80th birthday. I am working on the Vogue Knitting braided scarf - in silky wool. I am loving how it is turning out.

And for my main project.

The one consuming all of my time.

I am working on an Icarus Shawl in Alpaca with a Twist Fino (black) for Gloria.

It's so odd. I mean, it's a laceweight yarn; but, it feels so solid. I keep fiddling with it thinking, "Gee, this is aweful thick." And my friends laugh at me, because it really isn't. As one friend said, "You are just used to it being like a cloud and this just has more substance."

She's right.

Gloria really isn't a "shawl person", but I'm hoping she likes the shawl, anyway. I'd make her something else, but not knowing her dimensions makes it a wee bit problematic.

After Gloria's shawl, I'm making his father an aran lap blanket out of lightweight yarn. I hope he likes it.

On that note, I'm off to do what it is my company is paying me to do...which, oddly enough, is not blogging.

Toodles!

Lover's Vine Pattern

As promised, here is the pattern for Lover's Vine:





Lover's Vine sock pattern:

Lace pattern 9 + 4
Cable pattern 4 + 2

Yarn: STR Lover's Leap
Needles: Celtic Swan Forge brass dpns size 1, set of 5
Scrap yarn in contrasting colour


Pattern:

Cast on 10 stitches

Pick up 10 stitches from the cast on edge so that now two needles have 10 stitches on each needle.

Knit 5 stitches, change to new dpn, knit 5 stitches, change to new dpn, knit 5 stitches, change to new dpn, knit 5 stitches. 20 stitches total over 4 dpns.

You are now set up.

Row 1: kfb,knit to end of needle one. Knit to last two stitches on needle two, kfb. kfb, knit to end of needle 3. Knit to last two stitches on needle four, kfb.
Row 2: knit
repeat in these two rows until number of desired stitches are on your needles (for me, it was 60 stitches - I wear a size 7 in US women's shoes)

Set up your stitches by sliding one stitch from needle three to needle two. This will put 31 stitches on the "top" of the sock and 29 on the sole.

Begin pattern:

Row 1: k2, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1* repeat from *, end k2 (this pattern ends on needle two). Knit plain across needles 3 and 4.
Row 2 and 4: knit
Row 3: k3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1* repeat from *, end k1 (this pattern ends on needle two). Knit plain across needles 3 and 4.

Repeat this pattern until sock measures desired length for the sole. For me, it was 6 inches from the toe to the heel.

When you have reached the desired length for the sole**, work across needles one and two in pattern. Drop your working yarn. Pick up a contrasting colour scrap piece of yarn and knit across needles three and four. Return back to the working yarn and knit across the scrap yarn you have just worked. This will leave you a clear indication of where your heel will go.

Knit in pattern across needles one and two.
Knit across needles three and four.
Knit in pattern across needles one and two. On needles three and four, increase 5 stitches to a total of 65 stitches. 31 across needles one and two and 34 across needles three and four. This allows for two 4 stitch cables (purl stitch on each side) and two pattern repeats of the lace across needles three and four.

Hopefully, at this point, you are at row one of the lace pattern. If you are not, work in pattern (lace over needles 1 and 2 and plain over needles 3 and 4) until you are back to row one of the lace pattern.

When there do the following:

Row 1: k2, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1* repeat from *, end k2 (this pattern ends on needle two). Purl first stitch on needle three, knit the next four stitches through the back loop, purl, k2, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k3, purl, knit the next 4 through the back loop, purl.
Row 2: knit the knits, purl the purls.
Row 3: k3, *yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1* repeat from *, end k1 (this pattern ends on needle two). Purl first stitch on needle three, knit the next four stitches through the back loop, purl, k3, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, yo, k2, purl, knit the next 4 through the back loop, purl.
Row 4: knit across needles one and two. Purl, place two stitches onto a stitch holder and bring them to the front, knit the next two stitches through the back loop, knit the two stitches from the holder through the back loops, purl, knit to the next purl. Purl the purl, place two stitches onto a stitch holder and bring them to the front, knit the next two stitches through the back loop, knit the two stitches from the holder through the back loops, purl.

Work until the sock is as high as you want it to be. I like ankle socks, so only went with 8 repeats up the leg.

Stop working the pattern on a "row 3" row.

work the cuff of the sock:

Row 1: Purl
Row 2: knit
Row 3: Purl

Cast off by purling one stitch, slip it back to the original needle, p2tog, slip it back over to the original needle, and repeat across until all stitches have been cast off.

Go back to where the contrasting yarn is and carefully pick it out, slipping the live stitches onto your dpns. You will notice a bit of open area around each side of the opening. Simply pick up the yarn in these areas as if you were M1. Make sure that you have an even number of stitches across your needles.

Then work the heel as follows:

Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, ssk, knit across to last three on needle 2,k2tog, k1. Repeat same across needles three and four.

Repeat these two rows until you have the number of stitches you want for the base of your heel. I work down to 24 stitches.

Slip your stitches so they are across two needles (needles 1 and 2 to a single needle. Needles 3 and 4 to a single needle). Hold the needles together and graft the heel closed just like you would the toe of a cuff down sock.



**how to determine the length of your sole: Measure your foot, tip of your longest toe to the end of your heel. Subtract two inches from this length and that is where you will place your scrap yarn for the afterthought heel.

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If you make these, I'd love to see photos of them and make a gallery with a link from the sidebar.

Knit Out 2006

Thanks, ladies, for the fun time. Here are some photos from later in the day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/34398075@N00/

I loved meeting the "bloggals" as I think of you. *grins* I realized when I got home that only the two knitters had given me their blogs. What about you, Ms. Crochet? *grins*

Sorry that I pretty much stayed stuck in my chair with the exception of the quick run to get caffeine, or show off my Lover's Vine Sock. I wasn't very sociable. *hangs head* I do thank you all for the sweet and kind comments about my shirt and sock. You all are the best bunch of gals.

I had a lot of fun, even if I was half-snoring through the day. I got a bit of spinning done, though not a whole lot...and not much knitting at all. But it was a blast. Next year, hopefully, it will not be happening the day after (or of depending on how you want to look at it) a network upgrade.

Audrey made a lot of progress on starting her first sock, then ripped it all out and decided to give it a go with larger needles and yarn. You go girl!

Chris is going to make the Generic Toe-Up Sock. I have faith in her! She's got half the process done with short rows, and I know she'll get the other half done. Just remember, Chris....don't think so much. There's a rhythm to knitting, and once you find it, it all falls into place.

Judy A. is gonna rock dah house...man, I loved that yarn she is using for the cuff down. I may have to go get myself some. I don't know how much she's goin to get done over the next few weeks. She's a short term nanny and the next few weeks is full of newborn and toddlers.

I got to spin a little bit and visit a lot. I went home, and contrary to my intended homework time, I passed out hard. Slept through until 6 this morning! Twelve hours of sleep. Wow.

It looks like Friday Night Knits (knitting/crocheting) will happen at Borders in the Westgate shopping center (Austin, TX)around 6:30pm until we find the name & location of the knitter owned cafe down on Old Manchacha. I considered my place, but after poor Judy A left with half of Bartleby attached to her clothing last time....maybe that's not such a good idea.

I promise, gals, all those patterns will be written...here's the pending list:

Easy as Pie Toe-up Sock
Lover's Vine Sock
Midnight Flair Skirt
Rusted Paneled Tunic

Lover's Vine

Sock 1 is completed. I have a few areas that need tweaking. Overall, though, I'm very pleased:

Kate's sock

I've finished one of her socks! The other will be exactly opposite of this one colourwise. But, I really like it. The additional two stitches between patterns adds to it, I think.

The real bonus? She likes it. YAY!

Randomness Begun

So my Random Log Cabin has begun. Each colour has been assigned a number via a random number generator. Cast on stitches randomly generated and each section's number of garter stitch ridges is randomly assigned.

Here's the pertinent information:

Yarn: Knit Picks Palette - one of each colour (30 colours)
Needles: Addi Turbos size 2 US 39"
Gague: 10 stitches to the inch

Order:

1 Apricot
2 Hyacinth
3 Tan
4 Sunlight
5 Blush
6 White
7 Blue
8 Black
9 Green
10 Yellow
11 Orange
12 Ash
13 Pool
14 Mint
15 Sky
16 Wood
17 Bark
18 Fog
19 Nutmeg
20 Twig
21 Red
22 Petal
23 Grass
24 Purple
25 Lilac
26 Fawn
27 Peach
28 Mist
29 Lemon
30 Cream

I've been outted!

Kittie: sweet!!!
Her Sweetie: that's knitted?
Kittie: yeah
Kittie: I'm ordering the pattern right now LOL
Her Sweetie: neato
Her Sweetie: that's some skills.
Kittie: yeah - AND, I happen to have enough of the recommended yarn to make it without having to buy more yarn **bounces happily**...not that I'll ever really complain about buying yarn LOL
Her Sweetie: hehee...crackfiend


Seriously, though...you cannot tell me this isn't worth getting bouncy about:




I stumbled onto this scrumptious find at Dave's blog via Cassie's.

Yup, yup...I sooooo want to make this shawl. Once I do, how much you want to bet I sit down and try to figure out how to make a tiger shawl? I know the perfect person to give one to.