Friday, October 03, 2003

 

Alone--almost

I didn't knit much last night because there's was lots to do. Craig is taking the kids to the cottage this weekend and I get to stay home all alone. I haven't been all alone for this long since the kids were born. It's going to be great. I get to stitch'n'bitch with the girls tonight, sleep late, get some time to work on my thesis, watch some DVD's and work on Rosedale. Sunday is the Run for the Cure and I'll be walking with team Knitty. And, after I'll still have some time to myself. I might have to grab a book or trashy magazine and have a long bath. So many possibilities.

Here's the progress on my second Rosedale sleeve:

I decided to be crazy and not make the two sleeves match. Since I'm recycling the kureyon, I want to be sure I have enough and I think this yarn shouldn't be overly planned. Besides, it's fun to see how the corregated ribbing works with other colour combinations. I am maintaining the continuity of the stripe pattern in each sleeve because I can't release the need for some symmetry--that's just the kind of gal I am.

Have a great weekend, I certainly will.

9:16 AM

Thursday, October 02, 2003

 

See Steph Frog

Here's how I took this:

And recycled the yarn to make Rosedale. I got the instructions from Knitty making this an all-Knitty production.

First I undid the seams of the sweater and then frogged it (rip it, rip it) using my ball winder. Kureyon is a bit sticky so I had to be careful, but it's neater and faster than doing it by hand.

Here's my sweater all wound up (it was a little sad how fast it become an un-sweater)

I took those balls and using my swift, wound them into hanks:

They're very curly, so they need a bath:

I soaked them in Eulacan for about 30 minutes until they uncurled:

Then I hung them to dry with a hanger to weigh them down a bit and get rid of the rest of the kinks.

See the difference?

Now I just wind up the hanks (using my handy-dandy swift and ball winder):

And here's some good-as-new kureyon, and the first sleeve I knit with the unused leftovers of the first sweater.

The one thing I had to consider was the stripe pattern of kureyon. I'm trying not to be too anal about the stripes (I don't mind if the sleeves are different etc.) but I do want the stripes to all run out of the ball in the same direction so I had to be sure to wind the balls with that in mind. It wasn't too hard, but it's something to consider when re-using patterned yarn.

I might have to do this again with a poncho that I never wear. I'm only waiting because the entire bottom is fringed and I can't see myself taking all those knots out!

One more thing, if you live in Ontario, don't forget to vote.

9:18 AM

Wednesday, October 01, 2003

 

Thanks

Thanks for all the comments on the scarf and wishes of a happy anniversary. It was a lovely day. Craig sent me some wonderful flowers (he's not one to surprise me, so it was very unexpected).

We also got to go out for a great Japanese dinner where we ate too much (mmmm sushi, sashimi, gyoza...) and had some nice quiet time alone.

Today, we're back to normal life. Emma's home sick again--poor thing--this time the strept infection caused an ear infection. But she's a trooper in her Dora the Explorer shirt, holding her Dora doll. This means I don't have time to work on my thesis (I need a space of uninterrupted time) but I can cast on Rosedale while she watches tv.

And, just a reminder, I'm walking for Breast Cancer Research this weekend with Team Knitty. I would appreciate any donations--just click the pink button on the left.

10:00 AM

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

 

Revealed

So here's the mystery project.

It's a Forty-Skull Scarf in honour of a friend's 40th birthday. There will be twenty skulls on each end and a stripey middle. (I know you only count ten--the other ten are on the back--it's a tube.) The whole thing is knit in the round to hide the fair isle floats. It's made in Wool Gatto in white and black. I chose this wool because it's washable and soft.

I'm pretty happy with it. Originally, it was going to be all skulls, but the idea of all that fair isle was scaring me--I was worried I wouldn't finish in time. Forty skulls seems more appropriate anyway.

I have to thank Stefanie for sharing the skull motif and Wendy for her fab advice on how to design in fair isle. It may not be traditional, but I'm trying to make it in traditional fair isle ways as practice for future projects. Also Lisa for the inspiration to do skulls. Check out the ab-fab skull vest she made a few months ago.

And, today is Craig and my 9th wedding anniversary. Wow, it amazes me how time flies when you're in love.

Maybe my Noro 1 book will be in the mail since it's part of my anniversary present!

9:12 AM

Monday, September 29, 2003

 

A Sock?

I finished one of Xander's socks yesterday, and I think he likes it. He wore it all morning while I started the second one.

I also got a bunch done on my mystery project. I'm still working on the design (which seems done because it's a simple project) but I'm afraid of making a gift the recipient won't like. I should be following Theresa's Things I Wished I'd Known #8. Whatever I decide, I'll show you tomorrow. I'll have enough done, if I'm not ripping apart that sweater.

9:23 AM

Sunday, September 28, 2003

 

What's Old is New Again

So, I'm taking out some of my autumn wardrobe and a I have a knitting epiphany. Why don't I take this sweater, which is too big and the wrong use of kureyon, rip it out and make Rosedale!

I think I'm more of a cardi person anyway.

I have a serious case of startitis--I won't even get into the patterns I'm loving from The Children's Collection

11:53 AM