quiet Sunday

Well, it’s better than a gloomy one.

Although I have managed to get the WIP situation under control (i.e., ignoring the projects I’m not interested in working on right now), I still don’t have much progress to show.

I finally finished up the back of the CPH and started the second Charade. Kim kindly suggested this plan of action, and as she seems like a reasonable person, I took her up on her idea. Thanks, Kim!

The Charade is a quick knit, which I had forgotten as it languished in the knitting basket. The pattern round — alternated with a stockinette round — is really simple to memorize and a breeze to knit. And with only 44 stitches to cast on for the CPH fronts, I’m feeling highly optimistic that a cardigan might result someday soon.

In my feeble efforts to clear my needles, the Saucy socks were frogged.

I decided to concentrate on birthday brownies instead.

Not only was there no hope of an on-time completion, which usually doesn’t stop me, but the yarn just wasn’t right for the pattern. I’ll try again with something smooshier.

This morning I also realized that I could re-photograph some of my older knits, recorded before I understood the power of daylight.

easy v-neck raglan; mistake rib scarf; bejeweled [ravelry links]

Much better.

p.s.

This dominated the conversation at the knitting group last night.  Wha??

WIP parade

I like to think that I’m a monogamous knitter, one project at a time, very neat and orderly. This morning — in a fit of organizational fury — I dove into my knitting basket. A bit like Pandora’s box.

Needless to say, it turns out that I am a faithless hussy.

In order of appearance:

1. Saucy socks for a friend’s birthday. Next week. Right.

Two pattern repeats in and all is well. I’m using Trekking pro natura (75% new wool, 25% bamboo) in color 1508 — a lovely dark blue, almost indigo instead of navy, if that makes sense. Because the wool and the bamboo take the dye differently the color isn’t totally solid; the bamboo (I’m assuming, anyway) gives the yarn a lovely sheen.

The yarn seems a bit finer than other sock yarns I’ve used (Regia, Opal, etc.) and isn’t as springy in texture. Again, I’m assuming that’s the bamboo. Probably not the best choice for the Saucy pattern, which requires fewer stitches at a looser gauge (7 1/2 stitches = one inch). Instead, I went down a needle size or two (to 2.75 mm circs) and modified the pattern for 80 stitches = four, not three, pattern repeats. I like the finer fabric produced by the smaller needles and finer yarn, but it’s a lot of stitches. These probably won’t make the birthday deadline.

2. Charade socks. A pick-me-up for my sister.

I’ve been working on these for a while … and am, predictably, stalled at the second sock. I’m using Regia Silk color in 0190 on size 3 mm circs. I’m just not that excited about the yarn, which is slowing my progress — the colors are not what I expected and aren’t really doing it for me. I think my sister will like them, though. If I ever finish.

3. Central Park Hoodie [ravelry].

I’m not even kidding. As soon I as got it out, there was Alice. I still haven’t finished up the back. Too busy working on the Saucy socks.

4. Gentleman’s Shooting Stockings [ravelry].  For my dad.

Again, stalled at the second sock — this time, halfway complete. I was distracted by the CPH. Lana Grossa Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch Softcolor (quite a handle) in color 507 (blues and greens), size 3.25 mm circs. No mods in the pattern, I just need to finish them.

5. The Beast [ravelry]. For my sister. Without a doubt the oldest — most travelled — WIP in my collection.

This is my personal knitting nemesis. I have been trying to complete this project — in various incarnations, having also cast on and frogged it at least 5 times — since December 2006. It was planned as my third-ever knitting project. That’s right. I will not be defeated by mohair and an imperfect understanding of YOs. The YOs have resolved themselves, but the mohair is still a challenge. It’s ggh soft kid in lilac (13) on size US10.5 needles. I don’t want to talk about it.

6. Lizard Ridge.

This is square nr. 10: Kureyon 207, size US7 circs. I’ve been working on this off and on for a while, but I lost my momentum this summer when I knit up three squares on the wrong size needle. They were frogged and with them my ambition died. Even the lovely Kureyon in my stash hasn’t helped my motivation … it feels a bit like my dissertation: such a gargantuan task, I’m not sure I’ll ever manage 24 of these things (or 3 chapters, however you look at it).

Now the question is: where to begin?

premature cat blogging

It’s not Friday, but Alice wasn’t going to let that stop her.  As soon as I got out the camera to record a little boring cardigan progress, she swung in to action.

What?  You didn’t make this for me?

Central Park Hoodies are obviously improved by cat hair.  So far, the knitting has been the right combination of slightly complex (a cable every once in a while) to keep me awake, but simple enough to be quite fast.  I’ve reached the armholes on the back (pictured above, but covered by cat); maybe tonight at the knitting group I’ll be able to finish up and move on to the fronts.

The yarn — Valley Yarns Sugarloaf – is kind of odd.  It’s a wool/acrylic blend, very springing and soft … but almost slick, not really the “cashmere-like softness” mentioned in the description.  Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate it’s soft and sproingy feel and think it’s a great choice for those sensitive to the scratchiness of wool, myself included.  It’s just that I’m craving some really sheepy wool, the kind complete with roughage and vegetable matter, which is surprisingly hard to find here in continental Europe.  The more processed wools are lovely in their own way (e.g. ggh, lana grossa, lang — the main brands in my LYS), but I would like to get my hands on something a bit closer to the sheep.

But first, I must conquer my table of much reading:

Stupid dissertation proposal, cutting into my knitting time.

personal best

Four handknits at once.  If only I would knit a pair of socks for myself, I could go big time.

grr

The good news: I found a good compromise project that looks like it will shape up to be both a little bit more complicated than straight ahead stockinette, yet easy enough (and bulky-gauged enough) to be pretty fast: the Central Park Hoodie [ravelry]. Given the whopping 1081 projects on Ravelry, I’m obviously not the only one struck by this pattern. In black Sugarloaf [ravelry]. Stashbuster!

I’ll admit that it’s not the most exciting choice in the world — I kind of wanted to be brave and tackle this one purely for the funky factor — but the hoodie seems to be something that 1) I might actually be able to pull off and 2) have the appropriate yarn for.

The bad news: I should read the directions more carefully. And believe that if something looks wrong after 25 rows, it will probably still look wrong on row 42.

Thus could I have avoided this wonky transition from ribbing to cables. Despair.

just another Drops 103-1

I’m a little low on exciting knitting right now, although dreams of a gentleman’s cycling aran do dance through my head. I’ll have to wait until I can afford the admittedly modest amount of Scottish Tweed chunky required. Right now, in sugarplum fairy land, it’s between lewis grey or peat — the gentleman in mind has a distinct lack of gray tweedy sweaters; on the other hand, he’s got lovely brown eyes that would look smashing with a peat cardigan. Oh, these imaginary decisions.

I’ve also got a sweater’s worth of Valley Yarns Sugarloaf in the unexciting black. Originally, it was destined for a Sesame cardigan and although my feelings about the pattern haven’t changed — it’s super, just check out Lolly’s superlative version — I do feel I’d like a bit of a challenge. But a challenge that won’t take forever to knit. Because I also like the instant gratification. What’s a girl to do? Finish up the Gentleman’s Shooting Stocking, that’s what. And the Charades. If only I could remember what size needle I used.

a little boring sock progress

In FO news, I finished my second Drops 103-1. This time in the recommended Drops Eskimo.

I like the color (army) and the hot pink mega buttons I found at the department store. My only complaint is that after a week in the alps — a week of hard wearing, that is — the yarn has started to pill like nobody’s business. I should have known it would happen, single-ply yarn after all, is prone to this kind of thing. After washing — on the yarn-store-approved “wool” cycle — there’s even a bit of felting in some areas (i.e., the underarms, just where a backpack strap might rub — not that I know anything about that). I think this all means that I wear my handknit sweaters too much. Maybe denim yarn next time?

I guess it was worth it, though. A worn out sweater, but lovely scenery.

well hello there.

Here I am. Hope you’re all well.  My computer died, I went skiing for the first time, had a mini graduate school meltdown. You know, just the usual.

Alps!

Despite skiing — for a couple of days anyway, until my arthritic hip started acting up — I even managed to finish up a sock. Not just any sock, either, but a Gentleman’s Shooting Stocking from Knitting Vintage Socks.

The Mega Boots Stretch has caused some gauge issues, as has my chubby sock-knitting needles (3.25 mm), but I hope they’ll fit my dad. Despite the differences in yarn and needles, my gauge is only about a stitch off the given. Enough to feed my optimism.

I’ve got an FO or two to show off, but first I need to work out some new computer picture uploading bugs.