Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Tinkering
I am pretty frugal when it comes to money: I always want bang for my buck and I love dual use or re-purpose. I have always wanted a swift (it holds hanks of yarn while you wind them into balls). It's on most knitters wishlists. It is pretty damn necessary: if you don't have husbands or children willing to hold the yarn for you. Now I have used chair backs: this is aggravating. I have used my own feet: also aggravating-especially if you need to stop and tend to a child. Like most non-swift folks, I have borrowed friends or gone to a ball winding party.
(You know: a bunch of knitters get together to take advantage of sole knitter that has a swift and ball winder)
Aside: also don't have a ball winder. They are expensive and a uni-tasker. So I am pretty unlikely to buy one for myself. So I use other things, empty cardboard paper towel thingy, a pill bottle, or more recently a cute nostepinde I picked up at the craft store.
It's pretty and it's rosewood.
So I don't have a swift. A few years ago I heard around the internet of a wonderful crafty solution for a swift (they are also expensive): a swift made from Tinker Toys.
Haazzaah! I have tinker toys! But this week I finally got around to digging them out from their putting place (they were in the garage, then the den closet). Armed with the tutorial from Crafty Jen, I set to work. Now over the years they've gotten pretty scarce, so I was a little worried I wouldn't have enough of the odds and ends.
But fortune favoured me and I had JUST enough to make it work.
Tada!
I haven't tried it out yet, I don't like to wind hanks into balls until it's time to start: it's a temptation to let the project to jump the line. But I did try to see if one of my hands fit on it...
Of course the real test is actually using it, but it spins fine. So I am not too worried. Besides it was 50 dollars and it's not some one's poor hands. lol
On the actual knitting front, I am still plugging away on the lace ribbon scarf and since I decided that it WASN'T near completion I'd let Citron cut ahead of those socks. (I really want to knit that beauty!)
I need to dig out the Celtic Knot bag and find my place and finish that thing!
Like Anne Shirley says: It's a brand new day with no mistakes. I am one of those annoying types that sets goals (not resolutions) for myself for the coming year. Since this is a knitting blog, well then: I get to share my knitting goals and plans for this year.
I decided to lay off going after submissions. I thought the deadlines would help, but they just made me feel panicky (and cranky) and began to stifle my creativity. I am not saying I am NOT going to submit anything, if a deadline happens to fall in line with a complete project, then I'll mosey it on over, but no more chasing. I want to concentrate releasing patterns here at my shop for all of you lovelies (and of course on my family--they are young and need me to be more present).
I also need to finish up some UFOs that are so near completion that it's ridiculous that they are still UFOs. Bad knitter, no cookie!
My rusty Ribbon Lace Scarf has like a few more rows and it's done. Purple slippers need to be seamed.
Then there's the UFOs that are halfway done. My Knitting Bunnies are excellent at knocking UFOs out of queue. I'm figuring that I won't let myself start any more outside projects (outside meaning Other Designers (OD) work), until I finish those UFOs.
Because I really want to start Citron from the latest issue of Knitty. I figure having one or two OD projects would be very restful from any sort of decision making when I am working out the Knitting Bunnies.
I also need to work on a few of my older BK projects: one of which needs to be finished by June for the arrival of my brand new niece or nephew.
The purple one is done, need to finish the red one. The other two socks are still in time out. My brain hasn't had the time to work out the wibbley wobbley sockie wockie problems.
I also have a few very OLD projects from when I first started knitting that I really ought to finish--almost forgot about those. Nice easy mindless projects...sometimes lately I have needed the easy and mindless. This year my brain felt very overtaxed. And from my current state of mind...it ain't gonna get better.
Also less submission less Super Secret Projects: so the tantalizing teasing will be lessened. Grin.
I also need to conquer the big near unravel of 2007.
One more thing before I go knit some more. The kids LOVED the knitted toys (Yay!) and someone wants a shawl like Granny's Shawl, but in pink. Grin.
Mic's Tiger Socks (rav link with details). I finished them on Monday (Lorelei's birthday) while we were at the library.
What to work on next? My swallowtail is very close to being finished--I just need to work on the beading. Sandy thinks I should work on the Celtic Tote next. She has a good point. But I have the Austin Knit Out in a few days--it would be fun to arrive with a new shawl--IF I can get it finished. Hmmmm.
I did work on the Lace Ribbon Scarf--it's my only other project that is immediately available on the needles. I finished one ball of yarn. So now it's half way done.
So I am think of giving some monogamy in my knitting a try. I tend to have at least 5 knitting projects going on a one time...and I really don't spend a significant amount of time on any of them. Sorta just skipping around.
So I really don't get anything finished.
It's getting rather aggravating--especially when I don't feel right starting new projects because I have nothing finished.
But what to concentrate on, Lace Ribbon Scarf, Swallowtail Shawl, Tiger Socks, Celtic Tote or those two skinny lace scarves I have been working on my my little shop.
Jamey suggested I work on the project that is closest to the finish line. That would be the shawl, but it's in time out (I am beading the edging and the beads are giving me troubles--and I need to tink half a row). I think the socks are next, then the tote and skinny scarves. Course I am really loving the Ribbon Lace Scarf--so I don't want to stop knitting that. And knitting on plain jane vanilla socks doesn't sounds appealing.
I love this Celtic Tote--the cables are awesome, but darn it--I keep forgetting the supporting increases and decreases. The latest: I have to tink back because I forgot some big increases to start a closed cable. Not my favourite thing to do. So it's taking me forever because I keep putting it down. So, I chant to my self power through, power through!
And of course, what am I doing? Blogging instead of tinking.
Folks, I am nearly at the point where tearing my hair out, screaming and frogging the entire celtic tote sounds like a great idea. And it's not the pattern--it's just me and...argh!
First I had issues with the grafting on of the strap--did it like 5 times--twice before I went to bed last night. (It was stupid of me trying to graft after I spent the entire day getting sunburned at the rodeo) Now I can't seem to make a decent button hole.
So the tote is in time out.
And I am working on itty bitty lace. I ought to take a piccie. I am knitting a wedding garter for a friend on size 000 needles and tread (DMC Perl 12). Much more relaxing than a stupid button hole.
It took me 3 tries to make the button look half way decent but the hole is much much too small. Maybe I'll just make a snap.
What is really sad: I am just on the back of the bag--I still have the front and side/bottom thingy to do--of course the front doesn't have a button thingy.
I am knitting on the Celtic Tote (I am almost finished the back end--one row away from BO and the handles), Lorelei looks at me and screams: KNIT MY SOCK!
And sorry no finished pictures. I'll put some up after they finish blocking with all the specs. I have a few people that have volunteered to test knit adult and toddler sizes (these socks are child sized--I keep thinking my niece IS a toddler but she's not--if I had my way my kids and niece would be babies forever). So in the coming weeks the pattern will be available for sale...with all sorts of sizes toddler to adult.
I had five yards of yarn left (you didn't think there wouldn't be any pictures--I am not that cruel).
It's a lot more than I thought would be left--I was fully expecting to run out of yarn. And I certainly did not have enough yarn for ANY extra repeats. I am very happy with the sock--although I do need a break and will finish knitting the back side of the celtic tote.
CONTEST! If some one submits (in the comments) a rockin' name (that I actually use) for these socks you'll get the sock pattern for free. I am not naming the socks "Sweetheart Socks" as the name is already taken.
Sorry for the no Tuesday Tip. Maybe I'll make it a bi weekly thing (I am all out of tips--sad huh?) I have now knit two pairs of socks for other people and the socks i started my self to teach me to knit socks are still unfinished (almost done though).
I am working the heel right now on the heart sock. I have officially become tired of these socks. Not sure if it's the frogging or the fact that sometimes I seem to knit so slow that I am knitting backwards.
In any case: woot! I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Although I am nervous about the amount of yarn left. We shall see.
I worked on the celtic tote last night--tinked back, fixed the mistake and now I am back to where I was before all the mess. I felt guilty that I was ignoring the sock so back to the sock. I may work on finishing the back of the tote after the socks are done, rather than jumping on the purple heart socks for Lorelei--just to give myself a sock break. I don't know if it's the pattern (you know the mind numbing sameness) or the pink that is chaffing me so.
I have a confession: I am beginning to wonder if there are sock knitting elves. Seriously, I am NOT joking. I swear I'll put down the socks at night disgusted because there is an issue or something and I just don't want to touch the thing. And when I go back to it--the mistake or whatever is GONE. It's happened a few times...and I am beginning to think about putting food out for my nice wee elves.
Yesterday when I collapsed on a sofa at the museum (while the kids explored the science tree house), I pulled out some knitting. First my heart sock since it is terribly late. I was only able to do a half round because I lost my special tooth pick cable holder. (It IS only a tooth pick, but it was sanded just right.) So I put the sock back and pulled out the celtic tote. I hadn't worked on it in a good two weeks (more sock love) and then I realised I had forgotten a decrease row two rows back. I was too exhausted to fix it (I told you I had collapsed on the couch.) In my knitting bag went the tote. LACE! I'll work on the swallowtail. Yeah for Birdy lace equals relaxation. I miss knitting with lace weight. I am hoping to get back to it soon. After all I knit all the socks I promised.
I still don't know how I am going to knit up Micci's tiger socks. Not sure what sort of heel and if I do a flap I need to decide on a gusset increase. Thank goodness I decided to do plain stockinette! Or I would be in another circle of hell trying to decide a stitch pattern.
I am still ignoring a small error in my gusset increase in this current sock. I am hoping the one row diff won't make a big diff...
My heart socks weren't that bad off--I just mistakenly worked a patterned row on a non patterned row on ONE side of the heart.
Aside: Sometimes I think I have a knitting elf. I swear I have had mistakes before I go to bed and when I wake up poof there is NO mistake. Wooooooooooooo...
And the mistake on the Celtic Tote? The judge has ruled it a design element. Upon the light of day I was going to ladder down AND take pictures. Thankfully reason intervened and told me in no uncertain terms:
Birdwell, YOU are nuts! It's 7 rows down a complicated cable. But that isn't THAT big a deal really, because you are knitting the BACK piece of the tote and NO ONE will EVER see that tiny mis-crossed cable. So breath. Put those stitches back onto the needle and just calm down.
So all it well in my knitting world and no knitted thing has suffered as a result.
This was going to be a tutorial before I came to my senses.
I am further along than this-about two inches further along. However, I am being bad--I should be spending more time knitting Ivy's Heart Socks (need some good sun time for pictures), but the tote is so darn addictive. I don't know if it's the larger needles and yarn or what, but it's so fun!
Out and about today we managed to stop by Michaels and I persuaded Jamey I needed more wool to for this gorgeous thing (ravelry link). It's a doily pattern, but with worsted weight yarn and bigger needles, it'll be a great lap blanket. And it's so pretty! I think I'll do this one instead of Hemlock Ring (another Ravelry Link) by Brooklyn Tweed (sorry BT) but I love that the outlaying pattern changes up a bit. I bought 5 skeins of Patons Classic Wool in Rich Red (of course red)--it was on clearance. It won't go with the orange chair in the living room, but hey I like red. It's still far out in my queue--it might be my list for next year when it gets cold.
Ack, my LIST! It just keeps on growing! Of course, Ravelry doesn't help--they're a big bunch of enablers. I've got Lorelei Hats, shawls (and more shawls), scarves, wrist warmers, cardigans... Heck this blog should be called: Birdy Must Knit!
In all the Christmas and New Years rush, I forgot to show off my birthday yarn.
Two of my local knitterly friends got me yarn for my birthday. I feel loved!
Leah presented me with this on her birthday (the 22nd) as a late birthday present...LOL. She said when she saw the yarn she immediately thought of me. Gee I wonder why?
Leah sees a lovely red sweater for Lorelei.
The on the night of Anne's Christmas party on the 29th, I was presented with this enormous hat box.
So much yarny goodness--I don't know where to start!!
Yesterday, I took the kids out to the post office to mail packages--my reward was a trip to Hobby Lobby. I mainly wanted some ribbon for a cardiganette and while I wandered past the yarn section some beautiful purple yarn jumped into my hands. It'll be perfect for yet another Lorelei Hat (can you tell I am drowning my sorrow for Lorelei's shorn hair in yarn).
The purple ribbon will look so cute with a Rose of Sharon hat I will knit for Lorelei.
I decided to further torture my children and dragged them to Hancock Fabrics for a button for the Celtic Tote. I happened upon the yarn section (looking for size 9 dpns--couldn't find any) and what did the kids see. Dozens of bolts of fleece--50% off fleece.
Mic zeroed on a tiger print.
Lorelei went for the hippo pattern.
It was on sale!!! Now I am in the process of cutting and knotting fringe. It tedious, but Micci is SO excited to have a tiger print blanket.
I also started socks for my niece, I promised her special pink heart birthday socks.
Yes, I do think that the number of exclamation marks are quite necessary. The Adamas Shawl is finished! I finished it on Saturday, blocked it, snapped a few pics, and now I am ignoring it while it quietly tells me--YOU NEED TO WEAVE IN THE ENDS!
It took me over 4 hours to cast off and 2 hours to block it with my new dressing wires. Most of the time was spent arranging the beads just right.
It's also on Ravelry as well--all the specs and the hordes that have begun knitting this up. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I am knitting it using the same yarn as KnitMongrel. I love the way the bag looks old in these colours. I was tempted to knit it in red, but I like these neutral shades.
I bought the yarn using my Michael's gift card that Jamey got me for Christmas. They are having a 30% off yarn sale this week. If you care to peruse my flickr yarn set, you'll see the haul. I got yarn for more Lorelei hats and a cardiganette for me as well.
I spent hours last night winding the yarn for my Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits Fall 2006, designed by Evelyn A. Clark. It was horrifyingly annoying and I am getting a swift! I can wind it myself--but trying to use my arm and knee as a swift was getting on my last nerve. Didn't help that the yarn had three breaks! In any case, I was able to cast on and complete the first chart this morning. I need to snap a picture of it for Ravelry and of course for your benefit beloved reader.
I need to finish the Swallowtail asap--I've heard of people knitting this up in a week or two. So that'll get my full attention, as it is a gift. Maybe someday I'll actually knit a shawl for me. I plan to knit on the Celtic Tote when I need a good travel project.
Oh shoot--I still need to start the socks for my niece. Heck I need to finish the gauge swatch and finish up the numbers for the design. Knitting bunnies may be cute and irresistible, but they sure are rascally.
