As Dee has quickly found out, I can be bribed to work with the tiniest amounts of my favorite drug... sock yarn.
My first rpm sock was made from an early batch of hand-dyed yarn from CarrotCate. This colorway is called Chocolate Cherry Tree and I think it looks rather interesting with the spiral pattern in the opposite direction. I made a few mistakes in the pattern due to sheer inattention on my part. I highly doubt anyone will stare at my feet long enough to notice.
There is nothing, and I mean nothing, more surreal and shameless than finding and rejoicing over a skein of yarn sitting in my chair at work. (Except maybe the incident where someone else carried in a backpack full of yarn and began hurling ball after ball at my head with full force. That was a good day.)
I am carrying around the copious remains of the yarn, hoping to start the second sock during my UFO clearance. I think I figured out my error with the Central Park Hoodie, so it's just a matter of ripping back and making a slight adjustment. I really have only the hood, edging and finishing left. My habit of letting nearly completed projects linger for months is disgraceful. Really, I think my gothy Foliage Bear will be the first to reach the finish line, but we will have to see what strikes my fancy first.
See? All of this whining over unfinished things and I had the nerve to start and finish a neon orange Hallowig this week. I found three different colors of neon acrylic (don't ask) in my stash and decided to make a wig out of each. I fully intend on mailing them to friends without a note of explanation.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Mostly Dead
About six days ago, my body decided to betray me by welcoming and housing severe infections in both ears and my sinuses. After being quarantined for the better part of the week, I want nothing more than to jump outside of my own skin.
The only good news is that plague apparently works wonders for knitting progress. I finished up a strawberry clutch (scroll to the bottom) and finished one of my rpm socks. Squarey is pictured here, and is a testament to my laziness when it comes to finishing. I should not be surprised by my unwillingness to sew a seam unless absolutely forced to do so.
More writing is postponed until my head and body return to one of the stages of normalcy. In the meantime, I will continue to dream up substitution yarns for this hot little number.
The only good news is that plague apparently works wonders for knitting progress. I finished up a strawberry clutch (scroll to the bottom) and finished one of my rpm socks. Squarey is pictured here, and is a testament to my laziness when it comes to finishing. I should not be surprised by my unwillingness to sew a seam unless absolutely forced to do so.
More writing is postponed until my head and body return to one of the stages of normalcy. In the meantime, I will continue to dream up substitution yarns for this hot little number.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Systematic UFO Eradication
Seriously, I just finished three projects, including my oldest UFO. I have not posted them as complete on Ravelry yet, as I still need to take photographs. That website has really changed my knitting process in a more obsessive, fanatical sort of way. Who knew it could possibly get worse?
This year has brought on a strong urge to complete the hibernating projects lingering around the house. The strawberry purse will be finished. This I swear.
I have a few pictures to show off, but gifts need to be delivered to their intended recipients first. In lieu of actual knitting, I am flashing more yarn porn, in the form of Mirasol Miski. This is spun from 100% baby llama and is indescribably soft. I found these skeins a while back when I went to my LYS for something completely different. (Yes, I'm one of those people.) Like any garden variety yarn pervert, I shamelessly groped my way around the store until my hands found their way to these hot little numbers. I would have felt guilty about grabbing them so roughly without an introduction, but I ended up paying dearly for just enough yardage to make a buttery soft hat. Sold into the slavery that is my illicit yarn stash, they currently await the poking of the needles. Shh... It's our little secret.
Speaking of dirty doings, I met my favorite internet stalker/stalkee at Ohayocon on my birthday. The meeting went rather well, I thought. No protective order was filed and the police were conspicuously absent. Either she is slipping, or I am.
In the true nature of finally connecting with crafty friends, I have received my first knitted present from someone who is not a relative. If Dee posts a photograph of the gorgeous scarf she made, I fully plan to steal and post it here. I would take my own photo, but I have already worn it on a number of occasions and I am under the opinion that anything I touch has visible paw prints. Or tabby cat fur, take your pick.
The craft panel at Ohayocon was rather intimate (read small), but productive. Several men were knitting and two wore Luchador masks. I love the anime community.
This year has brought on a strong urge to complete the hibernating projects lingering around the house. The strawberry purse will be finished. This I swear.
I have a few pictures to show off, but gifts need to be delivered to their intended recipients first. In lieu of actual knitting, I am flashing more yarn porn, in the form of Mirasol Miski. This is spun from 100% baby llama and is indescribably soft. I found these skeins a while back when I went to my LYS for something completely different. (Yes, I'm one of those people.) Like any garden variety yarn pervert, I shamelessly groped my way around the store until my hands found their way to these hot little numbers. I would have felt guilty about grabbing them so roughly without an introduction, but I ended up paying dearly for just enough yardage to make a buttery soft hat. Sold into the slavery that is my illicit yarn stash, they currently await the poking of the needles. Shh... It's our little secret.
Speaking of dirty doings, I met my favorite internet stalker/stalkee at Ohayocon on my birthday. The meeting went rather well, I thought. No protective order was filed and the police were conspicuously absent. Either she is slipping, or I am.
In the true nature of finally connecting with crafty friends, I have received my first knitted present from someone who is not a relative. If Dee posts a photograph of the gorgeous scarf she made, I fully plan to steal and post it here. I would take my own photo, but I have already worn it on a number of occasions and I am under the opinion that anything I touch has visible paw prints. Or tabby cat fur, take your pick.
The craft panel at Ohayocon was rather intimate (read small), but productive. Several men were knitting and two wore Luchador masks. I love the anime community.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A Sock for All Seasons
This is a mushy post. Be warned!
I have finally started working on a pair of socks for my long-suffering boyfriend. 2008 will mark our fourth year together and I feel a sense of peace when I knit for him. There are so many things I can say about our relationship, but I will stick to the crafty stuff here. He is the type of person who will tell me if he sees an LYS I haven't heard of; the sort of man to cook dinner when I am too obsessive to put down the needles; and most importantly, the person who happily wears everything I make and brags about owning hand-knitted items. He deserves the thousands of stitches that make up a sock. He deserves my constant search for patterns that suit his personality and style. He knows and understands that every time I make him a present, it is a public declaration of my love. I have had boyfriends in the past who were supportive, but none who are as openly proud of my craft and, well frankly, me.
2007 was a relatively quiet year, taken up mainly by focusing on the demands of my job. My old friends and family have once again demonstrated their loyalty, strength and patience. My newer friends have, in a short period of time, managed to inspire me and bring warmth into my life. Four friends had healthy children. My closest friend from childhood married a wonderful man and we finally healed ourselves and our friendship. There were unhappy times when I tried to turn on myself. No one would let me. In a few days, I turn 30. I wondered how I would react, but I can honestly now say that I don't miss my 20s. Not a single bit. The frustration, the fear and the regret have finally calmed and I can move forward. I resolve to not have resolutions, to not make pie crust promises that I won't keep.
I have finally started working on a pair of socks for my long-suffering boyfriend. 2008 will mark our fourth year together and I feel a sense of peace when I knit for him. There are so many things I can say about our relationship, but I will stick to the crafty stuff here. He is the type of person who will tell me if he sees an LYS I haven't heard of; the sort of man to cook dinner when I am too obsessive to put down the needles; and most importantly, the person who happily wears everything I make and brags about owning hand-knitted items. He deserves the thousands of stitches that make up a sock. He deserves my constant search for patterns that suit his personality and style. He knows and understands that every time I make him a present, it is a public declaration of my love. I have had boyfriends in the past who were supportive, but none who are as openly proud of my craft and, well frankly, me.
2007 was a relatively quiet year, taken up mainly by focusing on the demands of my job. My old friends and family have once again demonstrated their loyalty, strength and patience. My newer friends have, in a short period of time, managed to inspire me and bring warmth into my life. Four friends had healthy children. My closest friend from childhood married a wonderful man and we finally healed ourselves and our friendship. There were unhappy times when I tried to turn on myself. No one would let me. In a few days, I turn 30. I wondered how I would react, but I can honestly now say that I don't miss my 20s. Not a single bit. The frustration, the fear and the regret have finally calmed and I can move forward. I resolve to not have resolutions, to not make pie crust promises that I won't keep.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Fruity Caps and the Holidays
I am one hat and one scarf short from making my Christmas deadline. Altogether, this is not a bad thing. I had to break for one afternoon to make a fruit cap for a coworker's baby who is due to arrive immediately after the new year. They are having a girl, so I can finally try out some of the lovely patterns I have found.
This weekend, I attended the yearly holiday soiree hosted by Bruce and Mundee. The food and company was extremely cathartic as always. It somehow doesn't feel like Christmas until I exchange gifts, drink too much wine and manage to disgrace myself. This year was happily no exception.
One of the main selling points of the party (besides Mundee's incredible food) is seeing people from out of town. Victor and Susie were a happy surprise. Gracia even turned up wearing a hand knit scarf! The disease has slowly infected friends and coworkers alike. I will not be satisfied until there are vast numbers of personal friends and acquaintances who have a pair of needles and a ball of yarn hidden within their homes in secret shame.
Speaking of which, I am really looking forward to teaching people to knit at Ohayocon in January. My panel is scheduled for Saturday, January 5th. This falls on my birthday, so I am asking that people behave politely to me and each other.
This weekend, I attended the yearly holiday soiree hosted by Bruce and Mundee. The food and company was extremely cathartic as always. It somehow doesn't feel like Christmas until I exchange gifts, drink too much wine and manage to disgrace myself. This year was happily no exception.
One of the main selling points of the party (besides Mundee's incredible food) is seeing people from out of town. Victor and Susie were a happy surprise. Gracia even turned up wearing a hand knit scarf! The disease has slowly infected friends and coworkers alike. I will not be satisfied until there are vast numbers of personal friends and acquaintances who have a pair of needles and a ball of yarn hidden within their homes in secret shame.
Speaking of which, I am really looking forward to teaching people to knit at Ohayocon in January. My panel is scheduled for Saturday, January 5th. This falls on my birthday, so I am asking that people behave politely to me and each other.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Owning Up
I admitted to a few more (well, a lot of) lost orphans within my stash recently. To my lame credit, I bought a ton of expensive yarn when a local quilting store decided to liquidate their stock. Basically, anyone who was very lucky enough managed to snag pricey yarn below cost. I am embarrassed by my gigantic stash, but there is hope. There will be much rejoicing when my yarn storage finally reaches human proportions. Then again, I shouldn't have asked for Webs gift certificates this year. Um... Oops?
Speaking of yarn crack, Dee posted some new items in her store that sold very quickly. The Starry Night colorway was simply HOT. As lovely as the photos are, they do not give the colors justice. I stronglyenvy curse whoever managed to snag that skein.
In the indie dyer vein, carrot cate plunged into dyeing last weekend. For a fist run, she did an admirable job. I think I am going to jump on the bandwagon once I deplete my horrendous stash.
I received a stern talking-to. It wasn't pretty.
C'mon. Fall into the rabbit hole with me. You know you want to.
Speaking of yarn crack, Dee posted some new items in her store that sold very quickly. The Starry Night colorway was simply HOT. As lovely as the photos are, they do not give the colors justice. I strongly
In the indie dyer vein, carrot cate plunged into dyeing last weekend. For a fist run, she did an admirable job. I think I am going to jump on the bandwagon once I deplete my horrendous stash.
I received a stern talking-to. It wasn't pretty.
C'mon. Fall into the rabbit hole with me. You know you want to.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Gambled and Lost
Knitting for the holidays is really burning me out, but I am finally nearing the end of the line. I swore I wouldn't buy new yarn, but I had a moment of weakness when idly picking through a pile of new sock yarn at my LYS. I feel so... dirty.
Once I finish Josh's hat with the cursed brown yarn, I am probably going to make the sushi toilet tissue cozy. I was briefly distracted with starting a Foliage Bear, but I think I can push past this to complete the necessary knitting. I cannot wait to get back to my Central Park Hoodie once the holidays are over. Seriously, this is just getting silly.
Once I finish Josh's hat with the cursed brown yarn, I am probably going to make the sushi toilet tissue cozy. I was briefly distracted with starting a Foliage Bear, but I think I can push past this to complete the necessary knitting. I cannot wait to get back to my Central Park Hoodie once the holidays are over. Seriously, this is just getting silly.
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