Fiberphile

Long time, no post...

Whoa, that was a long blogging break I took! Wonder if anyone will still be reading this... :)

I went to the beach again with my parents for a long Easter weekend, and as per our usual, there was lots of knitting happening, and some yarn shop stops on the way down.

First my knitting progress:

I've finally finished my Stashbuster Spirals for the Six Sox KAL, and although I didn't much enjoy the constant fiddling to keep the yarns untangled, I actually did enjoy the construction of this sock. I loooove the figure 8 cast on for the toe. Yes, it's a little on the fiddly side as well, but it looks so good when it's done, and it fits me very well. I think I'd pick another short row heel besides the Sherman heel, but I did like the idea of adding the gusset stitches at the heel and will probably use that on my next toe-up sock.

And speaking of my next sock, this is one I cast on at the beach and finished on the ride back home. I'm using some Sockotta yarn that I had in my stash. It's going with the green theme that many of my current knits have taken on. I'm using Knitty's Crusoe pattern; I've been really intrigued by it since seeing Julia's version. I'm sure I've seen it before wandering through the Knitty archives, but had never paid much attention to it. It's a fun pattern to knit, and goes quickly. And I've avoided the dread second sock syndrome by casting on for sock #2 last night. Woohoo!

And still speaking of socks, my Sockapalooza pal finally got the socks I made her. Her name is Jackie, and her blog is Creating Me. She reports that the fit is great!

The stops on the way to the beach were quite productive for me... I found some buttons for my Leaf Cardi in Chapel Hill, and had them sewn onto the sweater before we got to the mall in Durham! Here's and up-close view of the buttons I got, and here I am, happy that the buttons are on and I can move on to the next thing.

Weekend Knitting

Lately, one of the most common terms that brings people to my blog has been "weekend sex," because of this post. To all of you passing through looking for tips, techniques, or random hookups... sorry! Other interesting hits though have been those searches for the occasional "aran sex," and the even more puzzling "sex for my leaf." What the????

Anyway, it seems that a cast of startitis has been going around, and it has hit me too. Last week I secretly cast on for a striped IK Retro-Prep cardi, and by the end of the weekend I'm nearly up to the armpits on the body piece. I'm knitting it with the Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed I picked up at Orchardside at their superbowl sale. It's a really tight gauge for this yarn, but will be a nice, rustic heavy cardigan once it's done. (And one that most likely will have to be put on a shelf until next fall, but oh well!)

And since both the retro-prep and the stashbuster socks are not so good for going to work with me (what with having 3 balls of yarn attached to them and all), I pulled out some white Katia Alba that I got from elann a month or so ago on deep discount. I'm going to make
this shell from the Katia #44 magazine. Notice that my "swatch" is strangely sleeve-shaped?

I don't look at Katia mags very often, but there are a couple other patterns in this one that I'm drawn to. One is this intarsia tank, and I've already started collecting the yarns for that one. And I really like this little top as well.

Sockapalooza Surprise

Yesterday I dragged home from a long day at work, and had a very nice little package waiting in the mailbox.

(Click the pic to see the socks inside)

These socks were designed for me by Kristi, the Knitting Fool, and are very well-travelled socks. She tells me the lace patterns were inspired by some waterfalls in South Dakota, they were knit in Colorado, and have come to stay with me in Virginia. I'm so impressed with Kristi-- the design is lovely, the knitting is exquisite, and she made the nicest little band giving details of the yarn used, and I'm assuming a photo of the waterfalls that inspired it all. (More pictures of the finished an blocked socks are on Kristi's blog here. I didn't make any real requests for these socks other than that wool yarn be used, and so I had no pre-conceived notions or expectations of what they would be when they arrived. I'm just thrilled with what I got. And even though I could be totally happy just staring at them, they really do fit! Alison, count me in for Sockapalooza the Sequel if you've got the inclination to do it again!

Thanks for all the compliments on the Leaf Cardigan... I'm really quite pleased with it, but you all are making me blush! Here is a shot of it on, taken in the last few minutes of daylight yesterday. I won't be putting it in the Gallery until I've got some buttons on it though.

And Liz was the first to nail my UFO as the Kate Gilbert bunny, a really fun and quick knit. The pattern is available from here website here for $4.95.

An FO and A UFO

My Leaf Cardigan is done! (except for the buttons, but I'll wear it without until I find some I'm sure I like) I've got a
view of the back too, if you'd like to see that.

Here's my final project breakdown:

Pattern: Leaf Cardigan by Deborah Newton, from the Interweave Knits Winter 02/03 issue. There were some errata for the pattern published here that kept me from pulling some hair out.
Yarn: I used the suggested Classic Elite "Lush," a 50/50 wool/angora blend, in color 4474, Keys Green. There were some concerns about this yarn. I did find that it shed a bit while I was working with it, but it wasn't too bad. Also I found that the yarn was perfectly adequate for seaming. I am sure that this won't be the hardest wearing sweater I own, but of course the jury is still out on that.
Needles: US 6/7
Miscellaneous thoughts: I like to learn new things with each project I choose. This was my first adult cardigan, so does that count? I also decided to try the tubular cast on for 2x2 rib, á la Montse Stanley, and I liked it a lot for this sweater. I also used the tubular bind off for the first time (for 1x1 rib) on the button bands. I don't like the way it looks with this yarn quite as well as I do the cast on, but I do like it much better than the abrupt edge I got when I used the standard bind off.

So what's a girl to do with leftover Lush? See if you can guess!

I love having a good day off from work.  (Does that go without saying?)  Tuesdays are the day that at most I'll have a half day of work to do, and yesterday I was done and free by 11:00.  I did a few errands, including getting my Sockapalooza socks into the mail (with an extra little chocolate surprise)to the recipient in Kansas. Gosh, I hope they fit!

Once the errands were done, I went home to do a little more finishing work on my Leaf cardi.  I'm still waffling on the buttons, and now the only thing left is to knit up the button band.  The rest of the sweater is seamed, and the ends are woven in.  I'll probably finish it tonight and debut it tomorrow without buttons.  I'll be going to the beach in NC over Easter, and on the way we're going to stop at a button Mecca in Chapel Hill.  If I can't find the right thing there, I'll make do with what I've got, but I've got high hopes for the stop. 

Last night I had dinner with a friend and then went to a folk music concert with the Kingston Trio, the Brothers Four, and Glenn Yarbrough and the Folk Reunion.  It was a night of nostalgic music, some of it I knew and some of it I didn't , but it was a lot of fun.

Gone Fishin'

Meet my new best friend.

Yup, it's a tacklebox... the Plano Tackle Systems model 7271, to be exact. This big box was purchased last evening at that ultimate of big box stores, Wal-Mart. (I'm sorry to all of you who may be offended by that. I try not to go there, but sometime you just gotta. And boy howdy, was that a hoppin' place on a Saturday night. I had no idea. Forget match.com, I'm just gonna hang out at the Wal-Mart from now on. Or maybe not...)

Moving on, I bought this to organize my growing button stash. I know I can't be the only one who saves all those extra buttons that come with garments you buy, and I've never had a very good place to keep them. And now since I'm buying four sets of buttons for every cardigan I make (yup, I bought more buttons for Leaf yesterday) it seemed like a justified purchase.

So let's get to know the Plano 7271, shall we? He's got two see through compartments in the lid, as yet unfilled, but I'm sure I can change that with a little time. If you open the latches, the lid opens up to reveal the tray-like area that will hold those assorted knick-knacks that float from drawer to drawer in my house. So far it's got an extra pair of scissors, some felting and cross-stitch needles, a set of Fiber Trends' leather soles for slippers, and my cord-spinner-thingy. Attention is then drawn to the front panels which flip down to allow access to the button and bead trays. Three larger trays are on the left, tray 1 holds the buttons I've bought in sets, tray 2 holds the extra buttons and bits of yarn I have from things I've bought, and tray 3 holds the beads I've been accumulating for nothing in particular. On the right side is a trio of boxes that I've yet to fill... but fill I will...

Thanks to everyone who has shared their opinion about my buttons, by the way. There seems to be a clear mandate for the darker ones. I really do agree with you all, color-wise, but I think that they're not quite right for the overall feel of the sweater. The angora-wool blend is so soft and fluffy, and the waist shaping makes the sweater look so feminine, and not really rustic at all. Yesterday I found some other buttons about the same color as the dark ones, but a little smaller and more polished looking, and I think they'll be just right.

Now I must get on with my Sunday. I wish it involved sitting and finishing Leaf all day, but I've got my painting clothes on, and a bucket, brush, and ladder waiting for me. I had a sunroom built in a former screened porch. The construction has been done for weeks, and now I'm just waiting for myself to get my rear in gear with these last finishing touches before I can move furniture out there. Here I go!

Button, button, who's got the button?

I did enough finishing work on the IK Leaf Cardi last night to get a mock-up of my button choices. I mostly think that I need more choices... but I've exhauted this little town's button sources. Tell me what you think:

Choice A:

These were the first ones I bought, and are slightly larger than called for in the pattern. They are really even a little large for the band I've knitted, but I think it would do. Maybe a little too dark? And I do prefer using buttons with a shank to these with holes, but you can always create a little shank. Here's a closer look at just the button.

Choice B:

These are the right size as called for in the pattern. Unfortunately, no matter what I tried I couldn't get them to photograph quite right, so they aren't as flat white as they look in the pic. They are just slightly pearlescent depending on how the light hits.

Opinions??? I might make a run today to Johnson City to a couple of other sewing shops I know, but I suspect I won't come up with much more than what I've got. Gee, this button thing is so hard!

Sometimes life gets in the way

Hey there! I'm not dead or anything, just been busy lately. Don't you hate when life gets in the way of your hobbies? I went up to Willimantic, CT for a few days early this week to interview with an ophthalmology practice there. They were very nice people, the doctors and their staff, and it certainly seemed like a good sort of place to be. I am a southern girl at heart though... I've lived my whole life in various parts of Virginia, with the exception of three years in Florida... and I really do think that it will be a different experience altogether to live in New England. I don't know. I'm still kind of turning this over in my mind.

Anyway, I didn't get much knitting done at all on my trip, with the exception of the time in transit. I did end up taking my stashbuster spirals along, but everyone who commented was right about how difficult they are to travel with. What a tangled mess they can become! I'm finally starting to see the end of the tunnel on the first one though. I've gotten through the figure 8 toe and Sherman heel, and although the photo doesn't show it, I'm about halfway up the leg now. Whew! This one has been tough going, hopefully I'll have enough motivation left to start (and finish!) the second one.

This was the other bit of travel knitting I took along. Just a little scarf, but I used a ruffle at each end that I found in Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge, and then continued with a 3x1 rib. Here's an up-close view of the ruffle detail. This scarf needs some blocking in a bad way to control its desire to roll up, and if blocking alone doesn't do it, then I might add a crochet edging along the sides (although then I'd need another ball of the yarn, and I didn't get it locally). But anyway, I think it's a sweet little thing.

And here are my first crocuses peeking up for the spring. Beside them, not in the photo, were some green stumps left by something that decided they'd make a nice fresh salad- hate that!

Delinquent

Yes, I've been a delinquent blogger this week, but I promise that it hasn't equalled being a delinquent knitter. First exciting news (at least to me) is that I've finished all the knitting on my Leaf Cardigan.

See the sleeves blocking? And the fronts and back are blocked and waiting for a little seaming action. I got started last evening, but only got through one shoulder before my attentions were called elsewhere. (Well, if I must say... yes, I am a Survivor and Apprentice junkie. You just can't seam during reality TV!) And I nearly forgot that I'm going to need buttons before I can call this an official FO! So this week I got a couple of sets that might work, but I'm not sure whether I like either one of them. Once I get one of the front bands on I'll take a couple of pictures and perhaps request a few opinions. :)

That's not the only thing I've been working on though... I decided a while ago that my cat needed a Kitty Pi, pattern compliments of Wendy Johnson. (Thanks!) I've been knitting it on the sly, and felted it this week. It's made from Patons Classic Merino, with a little bit of fun fur thrown in. I'll tell ya, that merino felted in a hurry! My mom had made one of the kitty beds from another yarn, and it took 4 or 5 cycles to felt. So I put mine in, let a cycle and a half go by before even looking at it, and EEK!, the thing was becoming very very small. Lucy might have liked it a little bit larger, but she seems to have taken to it pretty well anyway. Yay.

And I've finally cast on for the Stashbuster Spiral socks for Six Sox. That figure 8 toe took me a few tries to get right, but I like it fine. The hardest part has been managing the three balls of yarn. I think I've gotten the hang of the rubber-band/twist technique for keeping things from getting too tangled. I had hoped this would make a good airplane knit... I've got another interview up in Willimantic, CT this weekend and have some pretty long layovers... but with all the yarn ends and balls and such, I'm not sure it's the right choice. Hmmm... may have to cast on something else for that purpose...