Who who who who?
Hello all. I have not been killed in a fake suicide or pretended I was buried alive or anything.* I am in fact alive, but was so crazy I have had no time to update. I am like 700 posts behind in reading in Bloglines, so I'm so sorry if I haven't seen your blog in awhile. If you have emailed me I SWEAR I will get back to you soon. Just too much going on...
BUT WOWIE LOOK!!!
I finished my sister's sweater, finally!! And like a good sister she immediately sent a pic for the blog.
Here's the inside, where I carried the yarn up the sides:
I did this because, and TRUST ME ON THIS, this yarn will not work well if woven in as you knit to change colors. You will see it from the front, I tried, it sucks. And you don't want to weave in all those ends, no you don't. Carry it up the side. It will work. ;-)
Pattern: "Stripes Go Round" from Interweave Knits, Summer 2004
Needles: US 1 and 2.
Yarn: AllHemp3, in Aubergine, Sapphire, Sprout, and Avocado. This yarn is slubby, so beware. It softens up a lot when you knit it and even more when you wash it.
Info:Here's the deal: As before mentioned, I found it very difficult to get this yarn to match the required row gauge, even though it's the yarn called for. In fact, I couldn't get it to match at all and had to rework the yoke math. But it was worth it, as it fits her well. I hope she gets a lot of wear out of it.
Uh, that's a frontloader, sweatheart.
And just for Keohinani, here's a lighter picture of what I so carelessly called a tractor. ;-) I'm a city girl, what can I say.
Mahalo for any big truck clarification you can give, Keohinani!
SOCKS!
And in other news, I started a new pair of socks:
and I love them. I think these will be for me, I've given away a lot of knits lately. This pattern is a subscriber-only pattern from Interweave Knits called "Diagonal Rib Socks." The yarn? Koigu. I feel good that I have 1 1/2 socks done, and I worked on them really only over 4-5 days so far. I want to finish a pair of socks a week! (or maybe that's a tad ambitious). And also, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MISS ENABLER, for this. You are in huge trouble.
OK! Big love to Anne-Marie who basically just mumbled something on her blog about her first MARATHON!!! 26.2 miles and smiling! You did it!!!
And even though it's daytime, she's wearing her reflective vest.
She's a safety gal.**
See you later!
*Methinks I have been watching too much Season 1 CSI.
*Name that movie. ("I'm a safety girll!" is the actual quote.)
Who comes between me and my sister...
Thanks for listening to me rant, and being supportive. Today I'm here to talk about better things, like the birth of this girl 25 years ago today:
Reasons I love this kid:
10) She wore this bulky wool sweater that I made her in 100° Maryland weather so I could take a picture RIGHT THEN:
9) She is really good at board games. And likes to play them.
8) She doesn't hate me that her birthday sweater is not quite done:
7) She's hilarious. On seeing the animated movie Brother Bear, we asked her what she thought of it. Her totally deadpan response was, "You know, the moose just weren't that funny."
6) She's adventurous. She's moved all over by herself, did different jobs, lived in different cities. Very independent woman. Also can kayak/canoe. And count deer antlers. And fire a gun.
5) Her hair smells good. Like the outdoors. Even when she's indoors.
4) She's a movie quoter. We're not making cheese sandwiches here, Jerry.
3) Not only CAN she still wear her 8-year-old She-Ra costume, she recently did:
2) She asked me to knit her this 12" wide, 15 foot long, Doctor Who Scarf, in garter stitch dk weight yarn, and she's 5'3" and lives in Florida. And she was serious.
And I'm actually considering it.
1) She's always, ALWAYS, been there for me. I aspire to the same, but I know it's not even close.
I love ya, Melissa. Happy Birthday.
And the world shines for meeee today...*
Hello, and welcome to 2006 here at HEK. Looks pretty much like 2005, truth be told, but be assured, there will be all new knitting screw-ups. Just you wait!
I sold all that stash, thanks to everyone who helped out. I'd love to see pictures if you make something with it, so send me an email!
I am very happy with this de-stashing, because I feel now my projects are all mostly things I am excited about, and have diversity and wearability and all that. I am really trying to knit on only a few projects at a time, so I can finish things in a more timely fashion.
To that end.
Remember "Baltic"? Of course you don't. I hardly did either. But it has been given new life and I am knitting away. Here's an update:
This is Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed (with Lambs Pride Superwash in the fair isle). I put it on metal needles last night and it is really flying now. It's funny how the right TYPE of needle can make a difference. If you are struggling fighting with yarn, try a different type of needle. Some yarns respond better to plastic, or wood, or metal. It took a long time for me to learn that. Please believe it. I just want to make your knitting easier. ;-)
Tell us about this so-called "Stripes Go Round"...
Also, although there really has been no photographic evidence, my sister's Stripes Go Round is underway. Let me explain what happened:
1) I couldn't get gauge in the Allhemp3. At all. Even though it's the yarn called for in the pattern. So after many attempts I finally scrapped it and am just re-working the pattern to fit.
2) I then cast on and worked EIGHT INCHES and then decided I didn't like the faux side stitches. The crossed stitches called for looked like SHIT. Click here to see how much like shit.
3) So I decided to start over. Did I mention I had EIGHT inches done??? This time I am doing a simple two stitch seed-stitch for the sides and it's much better. See for yourself:
It needs to be done by the 29th of this month. Funny how, coincidentally, in a wacky twist of fate, that's my sister's birthday. Need we all be reminded it is on US 1 (2.25 mm) needles. At a gauge of like 48 stitches per inch.** LORD HAVE MERCY. Knitknitknitknitknitknit.
My sister must never doubt my love for her. ;-)
Quit Whining. You know you love it.
That's probably true.
I also love this hat:
And here's a picture of the versions I made for my new nephew-type and his sister:
This is the ever awesome Kate's pattern called "Shining Star." Go buy the pattern here. Go NOW. I made mine less deep than the pattern calls for, cause I wanted it to hug the head and just go over the ears.
I used Artyarns Ultramerino 8 and Oh. My. Lord. that is gorgeous gorgeous fabulous yarn. SO soft. So smooth. Beautiful colors. We shall not talk of its cost. Did I mention it's soft?!
SO many more to show. I know I should blog more frequently with shorter entries, but I should do a lot of things, huh? Another resolution for 2006!
Corn chips are no place for a mighty warrior.
Lastly for today, Allison (who changed her blog name and look - check her out) made me proud by knowing my trivia quote from last week was INDEED from a very funny Teen Girl Squad from Homestar Runner. She wins, well, my admiration.
Yah, she got gypped. ;-)
*Xanadu. What a classic. Who's with me?!
** Some statements in this blog are larger than they appear.