mayflower

I've grown to tolerate frogging. In my earlier knitting days, to say I disliked unraveling work would be an understatement. I would sooner break out a big pair of sharp scissors and my sewing machine and make it fit, than rip and reknit. I'd always end up with really well-fitting knits, but then months or years later when the attachment and memory of the hours spent faded, I'd regret that I couldn't unravel and reclaim the yarn. Three or so years later I've learned to love (or sometimes just tolerate) the whole process, including the inevitable frogging, a little more.

So yes, the offending parts... the neckband, the sleeve and shoulder seams have been unraveled, and are waiting to be re-knit and re-seamed.

The great part about this project is that it only uses one skein of Silk Garden (though I chopped and borrowed from a total of 2) Here are the other 8, photographed this weekend when I REALLY didn't feel like reworking the sleeves. I'm getting much closer to a completely cataloged and organized stash!

In need of a mindless, easy knit to regain some knitting juju, I started a quick shell on chunky yarn and needles. This yarn was actually recycled from a sweater I found on major discount. Imagine my glee when I found out that this very soft, brand new, 100% cotton number bore the tag "handknit". Ah, fast and painless unraveling! I bought the largest size I could find for just 5 bucks...what a steal!

It's a variegated, yet non pooling yarn with a lovely thick and thin texture. The texture disguises any tension issues that might occur (yay mindless knitting) and keeps an easy stockinette project interesting. I'm actually completely finished with this, and I love it! Hopefully I'll have that to show next time.

Have a great, safe 4th!

After running into some construction issues on the Silk Garden Fair Isle, I decided that a short break from the continual, frustrating cycle of frogging and re-knitting was in order. But have no fear! It will not suffer the same fate of countless other knits, relegated for months (some years!) in my wooden UFO chest. I am quite determined to finish it, and am in fact quite close.

And what has the uncanny ability to recharge knitting mojo? Great yarn! I seem to be going through a brown/ pink phase. Here are a few recent additions to the stash. For more info such as yardage/ weight/ composition, check the "yarny love" album on the left.

Oh, and also the "7 things" that I didn't get around to doing sooner...

 

Lamb' s Pride Bulky- Victorian pink

1. I live in the second most conservative city in the US. In the past year, Chippendale's dancers were hand cuffed and jailed for "simulating sexual acts in public", and a lingerie store clerk arrested because the store sold "obscene devices" (translation: sex toys). I'm not joking!! Oh, and to top it off, we were one of the top finalists for Dubya's presidential library. Makes sense.

2. I am not a conservative.

Knitpicks Gloss- Cocoa

3. I'm ridiculously sad that destash has been shut down. :(

4. I'm a fan of good, dark beer. ZiegenBock on tap is my current favorite.

Knit Picks Shine Sport- Orchid

5. I'm a vegetarian with vegan tendencies.

6. I've gotten pierced a total of 14 times (some re-piercings of course) After voluntary and involuntary closings, I now just have 5.

Berocco Denim Silk- voodoo

7. I'm addicted to spinning. There's just something about being packed into a room with a bunch of sweaty bodies, biking nowhere, following commands barked out by ridiculously fit instructors, feeling the almost palpable, collective dread... "no! not another sprint!". Love it!

The SG Fair Isle will return next time!

 

Help! I can't seem to emerge from the boring-black-blahness that is Wool Ease. After spending so much time in Noro-land, completely mesmerized with the subtle shifts of colors and organic textures, knitting with such an average, humdrum yarn is such a chore. Am I forever spoiled?

I would have gone with a more comparable yarn, but I knew this thing would be HOT...hello, fair-isleing in worsted weight?  Something cooler with a higher synthetic content seemed fitting. Plus, I have an abundance of Wool-Ease from my earlier knitting days.

I picked up stitches along the neckline and back...

...then knitted about a 1 inch neckband in a 1x1 rib.

Oh, and my thoughts on the Clover mini-circs? It does feel a little awkward at first to knit with a circular that short, and my fingers, hands, and even forearms started to tense up. I found the angle at which you hold the two ends really matters. Since it is so short, holding them at more of an angle really eases things up a lot. Ribbing, or just purling for that matter, was quite awkward even with the slight change in angle/ technique. I would never consider using these for anything beyond a simple rib. But with the occasional reminder to relax your hands, it's great for a plain stockinette!

While the sleeves sat abandoned for over almost two weeks, I cooked!

When I was in early elementary school, it became apparent that two of my primary interests in life were art (and craft) and food. As a third or fourth grader I remember drawing in my journal, crocheting neon pink and black granny squares, and cycling to the specialty baking store in my neighborhood to spend my allowance money on cool ingredients, like a tin of Lyle's golden syrup.  Fifteen years later I have an art degree, I knit, and spend a ridiculous amount of time thinking about/ reading about/ making food. The  spices above were used in a red lentil dhal I made last night. They were toasted, sent for a quick spin through the food processor, then blended into a fine powder the old fashioned way using a mortar and pestle. It was a long and tedious process, but the result was an aromatic, sensitively spiced dhal with an amazing depth of flavor. Mmm....

Until next time, happy knitting (and eating!)

In the time that has passed since my last post, I knit the entire back and seamed it to the front, and am almost done with one sleeve! I am still very pleased with how my spur of the moment, sudden inspiration driven, Silk Garden baby is turning out.

The angle of this photograph makes the raglan shaping look a little shorter/ shallower than it really is. In my first post about Silk Garden, I commented on how I desire a clean, calculated shift in colors that match on both sides, whether it is in the sleeves, or in the front and back panels. So obviously both sides of the V-neck had to match, not just in color, but also in its duration.  Short 1 1/2 inch- 2 inch gradations in the body followed by long 4" ones in the neck shaping  would really bother me (haha, I feel so anal!). To get the colors to match, I cut the Silk Garden when I reached the neck shaping, and spliced it to the other side. Yes, this is many rows worth of splicing...but hey, no ends to weave in! Splicing is one of the coolest knitting tricks ever, more on it later.

To achieve a consistent gradation in the V-neck area, I removed long segments of each color. Look what cute bundles they make!

mmm, I adore Silk Garden!

Here is a shot of the reverse side, where I mattress stitched both sides together. Has anyone ever seen a pattern or garment where fair isle's "wrong side" is showcased? The backs of fair isle panels are so interesting, and is almost always posted in blogs along with the fronts.  Why not create a design that stars the always neglected reverse side? hmmm...

I've become accustomed to calling Justin "Hospital Boy"! HB is now walking BY HIMSELF!! I know...what?! After the doctors surveyed the damage on the day of the accident, they announced that it would be six long months before he would walk. It hasn't even been three months! Ah the miracle of a positive attitude and youth (being 25  has helped immensely) He is going to PT/OT twice a week to regain full range of motion in his wrist and ankle, and is still home from work. He has a slight zombie-esque walk from the boot on his right ankle, bringing to mind this scene from Shaun of the Dead..

Remember this scene? Haha...hilarious!!

Oh, and the 7 random things? I'm thinking! :)

The Silk Garden Fair Isle has been the most addictive knit yet! The shifts in colors, textures, and thicknesses of the Silk Garden paired with the beautiful and interesting chart work have been utterly mesmerizing. Overall I'm pleased with the way the colors have played out. You never quite know how a skein translates into a knitted fabric!

I do find that band of bright lilac in the middle slightly irritating. After that point, I started editing less-than-pleasing colors as I came to them. I cut out a section of the same bright lilac, some near-black, and about five yards of BRIGHT yellow  (Have you noticed I have never knit with, nor do I own, a skein of yellow yarn?) I'm about an inch or two into the raglan/ neckline shaping. Much more on the construction later.

As for the chart, it's actually the body chart for Venezia, Eunny's creation in a recent Interweave Knits. I'm not calling mine Venezia, because the only similarity is the actual chart. It's a completely different knit. I xeroxed the chart page, then highlighted the area that would be knit with the Silk Garden.   

After knitting and reading the chart simultaneously with little luck, I made marks on each row with a pink marker to help me visually. I would read the row until the first pink mark, knit, then look back at the chart and read from the first to the second pink marks, then knit it, etc. After a few rows, I realized I was just looking at the chart, then saying the numbers out loud

"black, 2, 1, 2, 2" or "starting with black, knit 2, knit 1 in color, knit 2 in black, knit 2 in color". 

I decided it would be easier to just write the numbers out for the entire row and chart. For most of the body, I knit directly from the written version. Much, much faster. Strange, since you'd think I'd be more visual...yaknow, with a studio art degree and all ;) How do you all Fair Isle?

Clover mini circs! I saw a pair over at pieKnits and literally squealed! They're 8.25 inches and perfect for sleeves. Brilliant! She sent me this link and I bought the three sizes they have. I'll report back after they've gotten some use.

Hospital Boy is Hospital Boy no more! After my last post, the surgeon gave the ok to start putting weight on his left arm and left leg. In a show of utmost determination and strength, he went from being bed ridden, to WALKING (or hobbling) on a modified walker in just one week!WAY ahead of schedule! He shocked everyone, including me, and was allowed to go home within a few days of his first steps. 8 weeks and 1 day. Amazing. His right wrist and ankle are still healing, and because of the severity of the damage, will take awhile to fully regain motion and mobility.

Kicking back, enjoying a couple cold Mexican brews on Cinco de Mayo!

I've taken a lot of pictures of his progress over these past two months, and have posted them in an online album. After I receive the okay from him, I might post the link. I'm continuing to document and photograph his progress, because this journey is definitely not over yet.

Have a wonderful week!

 

 

One of last month's purchases was a bag of Silk Garden color #247. I've always been intrigued by this yarn, but could never bring myself to pay $11 for 109 yards for any yarn, Noro or not! But when it went on sale at littleknits.com (beware yarn hos with no self control!!) at over 50% off, I jumped at my chance to FINALLY experience Silk Garden. Yes, I do believe Silk Garden, and Noro in general, is an experience quite unlike any other yarn out there. (Heck, you don't even have to knit with it to appreciate it!) I've heard mixed reviews on Silk Garden, and after working with it, I definitely fall in the "LOVE IT!" camp.

My only qualm working with Silk Garden is the difficulty of matching up the color transitions in sleeves/cardigan fronts/backs. Each skein seems to cut off at different points of the colorway. Considering my personality and the fact that I've become quite enamored with this yarn, it does surprise me that I desire a more consistent, clean, and calculated look in the overall final knit product.

The funny thing is that Silk Garden is definitely not a clean, calculated type of yarn. I LOVE its more rustic, organic, and subtle nature. The uneven spin with thick and thin areas seem to work well with the composition and color shifts of the yarn, and the random bits of veg matter don't bother me.

After knitting a plain swatch with it late one night, I had a sudden burst of inspiration, and HAD to start a fair-isle project. Crazy, I know, to do stranded knitting with WORSTED weight wool blend yarn, especially when summer is just around the corner!

In my very inspired, excited mind, The front panel will be fair-isled, the 3/4 raglan sleeves and back will be in complete black, and a V-neck will top it off. I do realize it sounds a little strange, and is completely untraditional. It could turn out to be a complete disaster, but I'm too revved up about it to care! We'll see what happens.

The yellow yarn across the swatch marks where I switched the Silk Garden from the main color to the background. I like the original with the black background much better. Even though the Silk Garden hovers around worsted weight,  the many thicker areas seem to really help design pop.

This thicker nature as you can see in the above picture, along with being conscious of yarn dominance will really showcase the lovely colors and design (anyone recognize it?). More on all this later.

Hospital boy is in his 8th week at the hospital, and is progressing very well!! His arm splints were taken off last week, and the 5 metal pins yanked out from his wrists with pliers (seriously...ouch!!) After a VERY painful couple days, his range of motion in his wrists are slowly returning with daily physical therapy, and the pain is finally subsiding.   

empty splints!

His orthopedic surgeon is pleased with recent x-rays, and said his left arm can start weight bearing therapy. His left femur seems to be healed up, and may join the left arm in bearing weight too, a MONTH sooner than anticipated!!! This is FABULOUS because as soon as he can transfer himself from bed to wheelchair, he can FINALLY go home!!! Two months is a terribly long time for a young, active, independent fellow to be cooped up in a hospital bed. Can you tell by the preponderance of exclamation points that I'm VERY excited that his hospital time is drawing to a close?!

Yippee!!! :D

Have a safe and wonderful weekend!   

The Great Stash and UFO Organization of 2007 is well underway!

I pulled all the yarn I could find in closets and cabinets and dumped them in piles on my bedroom floor...

...then organized them neatly in rows...

(a sea of yarn!! wheee!)

I found these fantastic 2.5 gallon slider bags at Target at $3 per box of 12. PERFECT for organizing yarn!

Bagged up and cataloged...

next up....

stay tuned!!

Ahh retail therapy. Never underestimate the power of new YARN! Last month I indulged myself in a whole slew of indulgent yarny goodness.  Financial guru Jean Chatzky warns us fans of retail therapy to STOP and ask ourselves "Is this purchase necessary?". Hmm, yes, I did in fact feel like I NEEDED 5 skeins of beautiful Noro Big Kureyon. The lovely blue-greeny woolly yumminess called out to me...at 50% off! How could I say no? I threw aside good financial sense (what savings and IRA accounts?), and said "BAH!" to Ms. Chatzky's suggestion to rank and prioritize my retail therapy wants.

mmm...don't you feel better already just looking at it? I sure do!

The package containing my Noro lovelies (and more!) arrived just I was headed back to the office after my lunch break. I tore open the package (can one calmly open a box knowing what goodies lie within?) and literally squealed out loud, much to the chagrin of my perpetually scared-shitless guinea pigs. Unable to leave my beauties at home, I stuffed a hank into my purse and headed back to work.

At work, I periodically pulled it out of my bag to admire it...the colors! the texture! the twisty, pretty hank-iness of it! (I love it when yarn comes in hanks!) I'd covertly pull it out of my bag, untwist it, ooh and ahh over it, retwist it, then stash it back in my bag. (heheh, the first couple comments reminded me of the SNIFFING that goes  on with yarn admiration...oh the sniffage! how could I forget?)

This continued beyond work, and into the evening at the hospital. Does anyone else do this? There must be some of you among the ranks of us yarn-hos that display this seemingly strange behavior. Is this further evidence of my definite yarn addiction?

This is just one of my many recent yarn acquisitions, the rest of which will be soon be photographed, posted and added my slowly cataloged stash. However, I've decided to COOL IT after seeing the final calculations for my March expenditures...observe...

   

I spent more on YARN in March than I did on FOOD!! *gasp!* Yarn was my number 2 expense after rent and bills. Hmm, perhaps I do have a problem...

I decided a thorough inventory of my stash is in order. While organizing the stash, I found crazy amounts of UFOs laying around, patiently awaiting the moment when inspiration spurs me to complete them.

While the Great Stash and UFO Organization of 2007 takes place, I'll be knitting away on my newest project, the "All over lace pullover" pattern I ordered from kpixie. (And yes, I decided the next chunky number could wait until next Fall.)

Cute! I'm knitting it with Elann's Sonata, a nice, basic, no nonsense mercerized cotton.  I've already finished about 6 inches of the body.

Cheers to yarn and yarn-hos! 

DONE!!...though it definitely needs a good blocking.

Pattern: Emerald from knitty.com
Yarn:  4-5 skeins LB Wool Ease chunky I've had in my stash for YEARS.
Needles: Size 10 Addis
Mods: The original didn't quite do it for me, but I could envision a very ME sweater after some moderate tweakage.

the original...

Here's what I modified:

- did some calculations and changed the number on stitches on everything to create a more fitted product

- shortened the body

- doubled the rows in the button band/ collar for a slightly more dramatic look.

- increased a total of around 20 stitches purlwise in the last few rows of the shawl collar to add a slight flare to the edge, and to compensate for the doubled rows.

- lengthened the arms to add cuffed sleeves

At first I thought the the cable raglan shaping was too bulky, and thought of ripping it out, and replacing the 3x3 cable with a 2x2 cable, but I think it fits the chunky-funky look of the sweater. Overall, a super quick and easy knit. Too bad the weather has already hit the 80s mark, and this little number will likely not get any wear until the weather drops again later this year. Reminds me of the Snowflake sweater last year!

I'm waiting for the yarn to come in for my next CHUNKY number. Almost instant-gratification is so fabulous right now! Until then,  I've picked up the Rebecca cabled sweater I abandoned a few months ago. I'm actually on my second sleeve, and the fronts and backs are done, and ready for the raglan shaping.

Mindless ribbing is great hospital knitting!

Justin, or as my coworker calls him, "Hospital Boy" is 3 weeks out of the horrific wreck. His strength, bravery, and optimism have been so amazing! Friends/ strangers/ nurses have shared experiences of how painful and terribly inconvenient it was to break a wrist, or a leg...but to have a femur, ankle, arm, wrist, ribs, and a cheekbone go ALL AT ONCE, and ALL needing surgery...I can't even imagine! The most used phrase in that room besides "bless your heart!" (is this a Southern thing?) is "Can I have some pain meds, please?"

That red nurse call button was pushed many, many times. We're all quite unhappy with how understaffed the hospital is (great nurses, just not enough of them!). Apparently there's a nursing shortage everywhere? Once, we waited 1 whole AWFUL hour, pressing that darn button every 5 minutes, his pain level escalating (he's post-op people!!) "Can I have some pain meds, please" turned into "pain meds, please" then just "pain meds!!". Ugh.   

But the worst is over now....YAY!... As far as we know, his surgeries which amounted to 5 sites total are completed. He's quite the bionic man now with metal plates, rods, and screws (9 just in his ankle!) in all four limbs and small plates and screws in his face! He moved into the extended stay floor, where he'll stay and work on rehab until he regains use of his arms. After that he's looking into finally going home!

Happy Knitting!

p/s I'm doing some blog housekeeping and updating categories, so those of you reading through bloglines will have  a bazillion "new" posts. Just ignore it.  :)

J's roommate went out to the junk yard and snapped this picture of the mess of metal that was once his car. As J wrote in his blog, "I am truly fortunate to be alive". Indeed!

This was after the door was cut off, and the top jacked up off of him. wow.   

He has bad days and good days, weak ones and strong ones, but overall he's feeling better every day. This Friday he'll have his last two (let's hope) surgeries on his face, and his ankle. In about a month his left arm, the least injured limb, should be out of the cast. He's eagerly awaiting this! As he says..."oh, just to have ONE limb!!". 

Ankle with external fixator (aka torture devise) removed, awaiting surgery.

Both arms *sigh*

What would we knitty types do with a broken left arm, and broken right wrist?! Oh the horror...

I'm definitely not taking my two upper limbs for granted. Plenty of hospital cot knitting has been going on!

I actually FINISHED my take on Emerald this past week! It came out just as I hoped...fitted, cute, chunky and a tad funky.  I'm not sure when I'll get the chance to photograph it, perhaps this weekend.

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers!

Oh, and I started a new photo album in attempt to create some semblance of order in my crazy stash...check out the early beginnings!