tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1458321009338392042024-03-12T18:04:06.237-04:00Playing with StringQuiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-69458982650250619122011-11-15T23:48:00.001-05:002011-11-15T23:57:34.895-05:00Still Fluffy<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fluffy thing is lasting longer than I thought it would. I shouldn't complain though. I've only been to the gym a handful of times in the past few months, so I haven't actually been doing anything about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Or rather, not much. I stopped eating like a glutton, which also helped my wallet. But now when I step on the scale at the rare occasion I am at the gym, I find it very hard to swallow the number it shows me. It is NOT, however, that hard to realize daily that my pants are too tight and I cannot afford a new wardrobe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The ironic thing here, is that I cannot afford a new wardrobe, not because I do not make enough money to support myself, but rather because I've already spent several years worth of spending money on my credit cards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...On clothing appropriate for exercising.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><insert humorless="" laugh=""></insert></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I guess I should fix one of those two problems, that of proper fit and fitness, by utilizing that which also makes me broke.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yes? Yes! Good idea I say to myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So to get rid of some extreme frustration at work I went running last night. It felt good. And by good I mean horrible and slow and disappointing. The happy news is that I'm sore from it today, but my knee doesn't hurt (old injury, ITB) and I know I can do better next time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm calling this an auspicious beginning. I am in the absolute worst shape of my life at this point, I am also the heaviest I've been since highschool, and I know I can change all that. I remember very well what it feels like to be fit, and am very much looking forward to feeling like super girl again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wish me luck, and if you're so minded, pray for me. I'll need all the motivation I can muster. Ciao.</span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-18484561047929598952011-08-22T20:05:00.002-04:002011-08-22T20:09:23.090-04:00I'm getting fluffy<span style="font-family: arial;">I can't remember the comedian's name, but he's a big guy, latino, and his catch phrase is that he's not fat, he's fluffy.
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<br />I discovered (or rather, finally admitted) that I'm getting rather fluffy. After showering yesterday I noticed a little pad of fluffiness on my back that has never been there before. Right over my tail bone. I suppose this means I've finally outgrown my teen and young adult metabolism, and cannot, in fact, eat whatever I want without exercising it off and expect to remain slim.
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<br />It's a beautiful night, and I have new tunes. I'm skipping my daily dose of fiber to take a long fast walk. We'll see how long this fluffy thing lasts.
<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-87842961008355841382011-07-04T14:54:00.003-04:002011-07-04T15:16:06.651-04:00Very Sporadic<span style="font-family: arial;">Turns out I'm not much on the blogging. I signed in to Ravelry for the first time in...months? A year? Addictive site! Going on vacation next week and had to line up a few projects to take with me.<br /><br />I plan on bringing the peach colored Malabrigo laceweight with me and pick up on the meandering vines scarf I started. Possibly one or two other smallish portable projects as well. Perhaps my first Clapotis?<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-6689556596069724472010-09-05T11:44:00.001-04:002010-09-05T11:44:40.268-04:00Smell of Fall<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>*breathes deep* Ahh. That delightfully chill fall smell. Makes me want to knit!<br /><br />And with a plethora of books on CD (now on my zune) and a holiday weekend (sans BF, *sigh*) I guess I have plenty of time.<br /><br />Throw on some french press coffee and bring on the yarn!<br /><br />In recent news, I bought some yarn a Fiber Space a few months back, and a book from their neighboring store (can't remember its name) and started knitting some leggings. I actually did a gauge swatch and decided to use the size needles the pattern called for. And found that I was getting "ladders" for the first time in my knitting life. UGH! Ripped back, and went down a few needle sizes into actual sock yarn needles. Still, the ladders, noticeable and ugly. So I ripped back again yesterday and started up again with more stitches in the count and size 000 DPN's. No ladders, yay!<br /><br />And to use Genie's (from Aladdin) tone, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitty bitty stiches.<br /><br />I think I'll pick up on some big knitting now. So where did I stash mom's sweater... *goes a-hunting*</div>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-13718564911926582812009-10-04T11:15:00.001-04:002009-10-04T11:15:38.106-04:00Blisters<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Okay, this might sound silly, but I don't get to knit much. I bring a project with me just about everywhere, but there just doesn't seem to be time to pull it out and work on it. Even at home. Right now I'm simultaneously making soup/stew, doing laundry, downloading new podcasts, and washing dishes after typing this up. I need my hands fo all of those activities, so they don't get to knit. And this is a weekend. I haven't even started on cleaning the bathrooms, doing the dishes after I'm done with my soup/stew, and picking up the messes left from the past week.<br /><br />I'll probably be done with all of this just about the time when my boyfriend gets home from work, and then it will be social time. Not that I begrudge the social time.<br /><br />Anyway, I started writing this post because, with all the time that I spend NOT knitting, I tend to overdo it when I can take time to knit. Yesterday I knit for an hour or so while I had my front brade rotors and pads replaced, a rear brake drum service, and oil change at my local shop. And now...I have a blister on my left pointer finger where I tend to rest the tip of my sock needle. Painful little bugger, and it means I shouldn't knit. Woe is me ;) ...I'll try a bandaid.<br /><br />Cheers.</div>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-4924162651613944952009-08-04T22:57:00.001-04:002009-08-04T22:57:45.446-04:00little knitter<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>My emergency babysitting (kid watching really) yeilded an unexpected result. Samantha, "almost 9", knit three rows on the blanket I'm making for her new little sister Alex. Two purl rows, and one knit row, only breaking long enough for me to do the border stitching. 3 rows! And I'm not even going to rip out and re-do! What's more, I forgot to mark them before I continued and now I can't tell where she worked versus my work.<br /><br />So now Sam can tell Alex she helped knit her blanket..<br /><br />What's more... Sam doesn't have any distaste for the purl stitch versus the knit stitch, and in fact, says it's easier. *giggle*<br /><br />Had to share.</div>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-11525390632901458472009-06-18T23:09:00.001-04:002009-06-18T23:09:58.743-04:00My First Experience with "Yarn Fumes"<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I think I had my first experience with "yarn fumes" over the weekend. I was in my LYS, looking around, not planning to buy anything, so I checked out the pattern books and leaflettes. Rarely do I buy a pattern book because I wouldn't make or even like at least 75% of the stuff they contain. But this book was a lot of stuff that I DO like, and would LIKE to make!<br /><br />So I picked up the book. $20 was do-able. Besides, it wasn't like I was buying yarn. So I set the book down on a table to flip through it again, admiring one particular pattern, and I thought...maybe I'd better look for the yarn it calls for, I might have something in a similar weight in my stash.<br /><br />I think that's when I should have put the book down and RAN from the store...the yarn fumes were starting to make everything feel like a good idea. Oh yes, of course I'll pick up that ball, I don't have any cotton blends at home after all, maybe I'll just compare it to these other cotton blends... Nope, didn't find anything I like that's the right weight, I'll just put it back. OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS OTHER COLORWAY!!!<br /><br />Did you detect the moment where I should have recognized a full blown yarn fume high?<br /><br />I purchased the book, and the yarn, exercised the tinsiest bit of restraint and did not buy a button to put on it when I finish. And then earlier this week I took a look at my credit card statement and wondered what the heck I was thinking.<br /><br />The good news (for my knitterly soul, not so much for my wallet...) is that the book AND yarn were both on sale this month at 30% off. And my LYS doesn't give refunds, just store credit. Well now, I've already started knitting this bolero I'd planned during my fume high, and since I can only exchange there's no reason to feel guilty anymore about keeping the yarn... I'll get my bolero and wear it too!<br /><br />I hope. With my extreme case of startitis, project ADD, and perfectionist trends who knows if I'll ever finish it. But it's such a lovely yarn, and I really could use the article of clothing I hope it turns out to be that I should make a more solid attempt to finish this one.<br /><br />We'll see. I'll keep you updated. ;)</div>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-45046962162991871472009-06-16T18:59:00.001-04:002009-06-16T18:59:50.934-04:00Healthier Hygiene<a href="http://www.webmd.com/health-ehome-9/healthier-hygiene">Healthier Hygiene</a><br /><br />Shared via <a href="http://addthis.com">AddThis</a><br /><br />Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-62618858690454041462009-06-11T23:50:00.001-04:002009-06-11T23:50:23.224-04:00Where have you run into a knitter lately?<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>My nephew Dillon's 5th grade graduation ceremony was last night. It was cute, all the kids in nice clothes sitting up on stage while their teachers read off a list of kids with awards.... I think he felt left out since his name wasn't called for any of those. =( One of the girls read 179 books over the school year and was involved in EVERYTHING, I spy an overachiever...<br /><br />Jess made a funny comment before it began, and I laughed but agreed. In a crowd of 300-500 semi-bored people you'd think you'd see more than two (us) people knitting.<br /><br />I was thinking about that comment this afternoon while I was sitting in my doctor's office getting ready for my appointment. I'd just finished filling out this year's update to my personal information, sat down and pulled the zipper on my knitting bag when they called my name. Drat! Well at least it'll be quick, and I WAS the only person in the waiting area after all.<br /><br />I told them what to put on my chart before they weighed me, and sure enough, 150 with clothes and shoes on. The girl taking my vitals and inital info laughed at that, saying that just confirms that everyone else that day that insisted their scale is 10lbs too high is a big fibber. I let on that I weigh myself once a week at the gym with a similar balance scale, that number is no shock to me.<br /><br />When the CRNP (clinical registered nurse practicioner?) came in I had only knit across one needle on my sock, and commented that they're all just too quick tonight, I haven't had enough knitting time. She asked what I was making, and of course it was a sock, so I started describing it like I normally do... "It's going to be a sock, see this will be the cuff" and stretched it out in the appropriate area near my foot. She said something like yes I can see that, what kind of yarn? I knit too.<br /><br />She knits too!<br /><br />So in a room of 300-500 people there were two knitters. And in an office with less than 10 people in it there were still two knitters. I find that ironic and amusing.</div>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-10822588246430334332009-05-23T03:30:00.002-04:002009-05-23T03:35:24.776-04:00Slow Knits<span style="font-family: arial;">It's been a slow few months for me on the knitting front, there just doesn't seem to be a whole lot of time to knit. I think my problem is I don't really have a good project corner. My stuff is a little scattered, definitely unorganized, and the house is too messy to make a dedicated knitting corner (which I would really like to do with the spare bedroom...).<br /><br />Haven't finished any projects lately but am determined to finish two of them tomorrow--er, um, later today. Baby booties for new baby Clay, baby booties for July/August arrival baby Ceresa, and at least start on booties for September arrival baby Boettger. If I'm really productive, I'll even let myself start on some booties for November/December arrival baby Wachter.<br /><br />Then again, maybe I should just finish baby Clay's booties and work on updating my stash and project photos instead. Argh, see?! There's always something to do INSTEAD of the knitting part of it. *sigh* Okay well, back to bed for me, I'm tired enough to sleep again. G'nite!<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-81603920742544662092009-04-29T00:11:00.002-04:002009-04-29T00:19:03.729-04:00MDS&W<span style="font-family: arial;">I might not be able to wear my leafy hedgerows socks, not knitting fast enough<br /><br />...actually, not knitting. It's amazing how many things you have to do at home instead of knitting.<br /><br />Dishes come to mind. And laundry, and eating, and sleeping...hmm. Maybe if I stop eating and sleeping I can have more knitting time. Come on, I'm not going to go around naked, gotta keep up with the laundry. If I'm not eating that means there will be no dishes to wash, and my entire food budget could go towards yarn. In fact, the entire kitchen could be converted to yarn storage!<br /><br />This is a fun delusion, let's run with it while I sleep. ;)<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-13986900409543320982009-04-26T18:37:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:41:44.693-04:00Arbonne?<span style="font-family: arial;">This afternoon after hitting the gym (hard, by the way) I met up with a lady who took the bodypump class Saturday. She's an Arbonne rep. I have some of her samples to try. Day one, so far I'm in love.<br /><br />If this love connection continues I'll end up buying the set, and probably looking into small business start up costs. What kind of tax breaks do home-based businesses get? What sort of reporting/tracking do you need? What's considered a write-off? Should you incorporate first? What about insurance, the business and health sort? What sort of income could I actually generate doing this part time in conjunction with my insurance career?<br /><br />It would be nice to be connected to a product I believe in. So far Arbonne sounds like all good stuff.<br /><br />Hmm.<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-61882456464208283562009-04-12T07:43:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.074-04:00Knitting Time<span style="font-family: arial;">Guess how much I've knitted lately. Go on, guess! You'll never guess.<br /><br />Zip, zero, nada. I have not knitted one stitch in the past week or two. Aww, sorry, I should have warned you to sit down, maybe surround yourself with pillows... you never know which direction you're going to go when you faint, best to be prepared.<br /><br />Yeah, no knitting for me for at least a week. Not because I didn't have time, or didn't want to, but because I've been playing with my favorite-est hand-me-down ever: Eric's "old" iPod Touch 16GB. *squeeeeee!* I'm kind of glad I'm seeing family today (after I hit the gym with the other hard core Body Steppers out there, and my favorite instructor Sarah), it's rude to sit there playing on an electronic device with one earbud in, but knitting during conversation is perfectly acceptable. Or maybe they just expect it now and think it's weird when Jess and I don't knit. Either way, I'm going to be knitting today.<br /><br />I think I'll bring my Jitterbug "velvet leaf" colorway "Leafy Hedgerows" socks to work on. I'd kind of like to wear them to MDS&W, but I have to finish them first. I'm done the first of the pair but only on the cuff of the second (cuff down). And it's what, three weeks away? Better get stitching.<br /><br />Aww, Shelby just laid down on my lap.<br /><br />And I need her to get up, just looked at the clock, time to get dressed and head to the gym.<br /><br />Happy Easter everybody!<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-13642135689845209012009-03-07T10:34:00.000-05:002009-04-26T18:21:08.075-04:00another long silence, and now Frankie<span style="font-family: arial;">since my last post a lot has happened in the yarn world, most of which I probably don't remember well enough to type about them now.<br /><br />The most significant though is... I got a kitten! He was 12 weeks old when I picked him up from the SPCA on 12/20, all 3lbs of him. Now he's almost 5 months old, and somewhat above 6lbs, probably 6.5lbs. He's a brown mackerel tabby-abbysinian mix according to my vet, and he's as friendly and outgoing as a puppy.<br /><br />Unfortunately, my boyfriend's kitty, a 6 1/2 year old tortie named Shelby, does not get along with Frankie. But Frankie thinks Shelby is great... so they have this annoying little brother to older wiser sister relationship. Problem is, Frankie will be bigger than Shelby when he's all grown up, she's only 7.5lbs, itty bitty kitty, and they're about the same size right now.<br /><br />Also, I haven't been able to teach Frankie quite yet (and he's still young and stubborn) that my yarn is not his toy. I've had to start making sure that I don't leave a random ball of yarn near the floor because if he finds it... oh my, I found a yarn birdsnest all over the bedroom floor one night. I should have taken a picture of it before gathering it together to toss, it would have been funny at this point in time. Fortunately it was just some woolease so nothing to be heartbroken over. And the hank of jitterbug that he turned into a birdsnest, well that I wound into a centerpull ball with the help of my favorite knit shop owner Deb, who sold me the hank in the first place. It wasn't all that bad, just a little scary looking. Still had the yarn ties in a couple of places so all he did was muss it up a bit.<br /><br />He still like stalking my yarn. He will jump up on the couch near me, trill a little and do that walking-on-me-because-i-love-you side rub, then sit down and look at my yarn, crouch, creep forward (he thinks he's invisible if he moves slow enough, it's cute), and then pounce. Ahem, I mean TRY to pounce. I touch his nose before that point so he looks at me, then he gets scruffed off the couch. After another 1-2 times of this he realizes that yes I CAN see him and no he will not be able to attack my yarn, so he curls up next to me to sleep.<br /><br />I love my kitty, I'm the only one he talks to. Shelby has fallen down on her big sisterly duties such as teaching him a proper meow. Frankie, who was quite silent for the first week he was home, has not gotten out a full meow in all the time I've known him, and they're all quite high-pitched and baby kitteny. He gets out the "meee!" part and skips the "ow". Sometimes he prefaces the meeee with a little trill. It's adorable. I am besotted.<br /><br />I am slightly less besotted in the mornings when my wake up alarm goes off because he takes that noise as license to walk all over me. Let me rephrase that, he takes that noise as license to walk all over the parts of me that he can see, which given that this is the cold season, is my neck and face. He will trill, walk onto my neck, rub my face while I'm trying to inhale, step off on the other side, then go back to the original side, sometimes taking a detour up to my forehead and back before rubbing on my face again. He is the best alarm clock ever.<br /><br />As cats go, I think he must be on his second life, and in his first life he was a dog. He is so puppy like; friendly and outgoing with strangers, will play for hours, wants to be right next to you where ever you are, will flop down to sleep near you if you're not moving, greets me at the front door when I get home with a running trill-meeee hello...<br /><br />I think it's time to stop waxing passionate about my kitten now and get ready for knitting at panera. yay. =)<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-10367643754339749342008-07-08T18:45:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.075-04:00Knit List<span style="font-family:arial;">I borrowed this from <a href="http://knitmama78.blogspot.com/">Jessie's blog</a>...<br /><br /><br />*Mark with <span style="font-weight: bold;">bold</span> the things you have done, with <span style="font-style: italic;">italics</span> the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest plain*<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Afghan</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I-cord</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Garter stitch</span><br />Knitting with metal wire<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Shawl </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stockinette stitch</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Socks: top-down</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Socks: toe-up </span><br />Knitting with camel yarn<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mittens: Cuff-up</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Mittens: Tip-down</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hat</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with silk</span><br />Moebius band knitting<br /><span>Participating in a KAL</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sweater</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Drop stitch patterns</span><br />Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slip stitch patterns</span><br />Knitting with bananafiber yarn<br /><span>Domino knitting (=modular knitting)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Twisted stitch patterns</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with bamboo yarn</span><br />Two end knitting<br />Charity knitting<br />CardiganToy/doll clothing<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with circular needles</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baby items</span><br />Knitting with your own handspun yarn<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slippers</span><br />Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Continental knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Designing knitted garments</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lace patterns</span><br />Publishing a knitting book<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scarf </span><br /><span>Teaching a child to knit</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)</span><br /><span>Knitting to make money</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Button holes</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with alpaca</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fair Isle knitting</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Norwegian knitting</span><br />Dying with plant colours<br /><span>Knitting items for a wedding </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)</span><br /><span>Olympic knitting </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with dpns</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Holiday related knitting</span><br /><span>Teaching a male how to knit</span><br />Bobbles<br /><span>Knitting for a living</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with cotton</span><br />Knitting smocking<br /><span>Dying yarn</span><br />Steeks<br />Knitting art<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fulling/felting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with wool</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Textured knitting</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kitchener BO</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purses/bags</span><br />Knitting with beads<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Swatching</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long Tail CO</span><br />Entrelac<br />Knitting and purling backwards<br />Machine knitting<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stuffed toys</span><br />Knitting with cashmere<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Darning</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jewelry</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting with synthetic yarn</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Writing a pattern</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Gloves</span><br />Intarsia<br />Knitting with linen<br />Knitting for preemies<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tubular CO</span><br />Freeform knitting<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Short rows</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers </span><br /><span>Pillows</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine</span><br />Rug<br /><span>Knitting on a loom</span><br />Thrummed knitting<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting a gift</span><br />Knitting for pets<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shrug/bolero/poncho</span><br />Knitting with dog/cat hair<br /><span>Hair accessories</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Knitting in public</span><br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-86801609578188299582008-06-29T13:25:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.075-04:00yarn diet & fitness<span style="font-family: arial;">Yep, I'm officially on a yarn diet. As far as knitting goes, I've decided there is too much fiber in this house. I took a look at my stash in ravelry and thought, good grief, what was I thinking when I bought that? I could trade that easily with no regrets. How on earth did that creep into my stash? Ye gods, the bad yarns are taking over! De-stash! De-stash!!!<br /><br />So I moved a bunch of stuff from "stash" to the "trade or sell" category. The rest of it remaining are things I think I might actually use someday, or can't bear to part with. Actually, the cotton crochet thread is more nostalgia than anything else, I keep thinking, of course I'll finish the other three Winnie the Pooh characters someday, I'll need that thread! Do you have any idea how hard it was to find Eeyore's colors? This was long before my discovery of LYS's or even online ordering. Nobody had the right periwinkle or lavender. I HUNTED those colors, and they're MINE dammit.<br /><br /><br />Ahem. I haven't really been knitting much lately. It seems like all of my weekends are taken up by social engagements, which are quite enjoyable but not very conducive to knitting. I was so desperate for knitting time that yesterday, in the 90+ degree 100% humidity end of June weather, I pulled out my traveling (wool) sock and knit a few rounds while the sweat dripped down from everywhere while attending the outdoor wedding of a good friend and co-worker. Of course in doing so I discovered a fellow knitter at the same dinner table *lol*<br /><br />My sister's friend (hi Jess) Chris P., who is engaged to be married in 41 days (as of today) to Meg, has inevitably stumbled upon a knitter. She does scarves almost exclusively, and started doing them to donate to homeless shelters. However, she is drawn to excessively bright colors and doesn't think her creations are appropriate for most homeless men so... they remain in the house. Chris had a look on his face like he wanted to fall at my feet and kiss my hand when I suggested to Meg that she treat her unworn and undonated scarves like unworn clothes. Put them in a closet somewhere and if after a year she still hasn't worn them, give them away. I think Meg might be considering this. And she has NOT been on ravelry yet. I am amazed at the number of knitters I've come across that are technically saavy that have not experienced ravelry. ...and maybe I need to find a better way to describe it, telling someone "it's addicting!! you should try it..." probably isn't the best way to sell them on it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />On to fitness! The non-yarn portion of my bloggish tendencies today.<br /><br />I've been on a steady strength training and cardio plan for 8 weeks now. My arms looked toned, my calves are looking good, my overall physique is changing in a way I love. And I've lost all of *drumroll please*...<br /><br />3 pounds.<br /><br />Yes, 3 pounds. In 8 weeks. I've gone from a solid 151 (with my shoes on) to 148 (again with my shoes on). I'm torn between laughing at that measly little number and wondering just how much muscle weight I've gained versus fat weight I've lost.<br /><br />And you know what, it's taken me 8 weeks to formulate into words what my strength training and cardio plan is supposed to get me. You're always supposed to have a goal to work towards when you're changing something in your life, but until now I couldn't say it in less than a few hundred words. I don't have any specific numbers I'm going for, I don't really care what the scale says, which makes setting a goal pretty hard. So here it is, my exercise goal is:<br /><br />I want to LOVE the way I look and feel.<br /><br />To expand upon that notion, I've crossed paths with a lot of people that seem very insistent that I "don't need to exercise", as if having an average sized figure means that I've achieved some sort of success in life. Yes, I'm probably thinner than a lot of people out there, but that doesn't help me when I look in the mirror and see extra padding where there never used to be any. It doesn't help me when I have to buy a larger size in pants so that I can sit comfortably without my waistband biting into my stomach. And it surely doesn't help when it comes down to my doctor appointments and hearing for the first time ever "and you could stand to lose a few pounds".<br /><br />So overall, I was "okay" with the way I looked, and unhappy with my lack of energy. I have a lot more energy now, more motivation to get things done, and I'm moving towards "liking" the way I look. I'll let you know when I love it. It's coming, don't worry.<br /><br /><br />Back to yarn.<br /><br />I think I'm going to stick to socks this summer. I have quite a few projects in various stages of completion, but I really don't want to sit down with a pattern, or have big pieces on my lap. I want something small and portable that I can work on piecemeal. Socks are perfect.<br /><br />Okay, done blogging now. Must clean up the mess I've made of this house in the past week and take care of some laundry. Toodles!<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-88438300724129194342008-06-03T21:49:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.075-04:00Long Time No Postie<span style="font-family: arial;">Yes yes, long time no postie, I know, I've been busy.<br /><br />Here are the last five or so weeks of my life in a nutshell:<br /><br />didn't feel like blogging, babysat a 7 y/o girl for 3 days and 3 nights with BF (never again), started working out 6 times a week, went to MD S&W, bought yarn, promised two girls whom I don't know from Jane a pair of socks each, got sick, got better (mostly) and started going to the gym again.<br /><br />Oh yeah, and I've only finished one full pair, and one half of the second pair of those socks for the little girls. I've hardly knit at all in the past few weeks. So sad.<br /><br /><br />Fun recent news, sister gifted me with THREE SETS of Knit Picks sock needles; the smaller 1, and both size 2's. They're nice and pointy. So pointy in fact, that I've poked holes in my little sock knitting callus (sp?) in two places. Yep, split the skin right open like a papercut, right on the groove of my finger prints. It's wild.<br /><br />It's almost 10pm now and nearly an hour past my new bed time. Bed by 9pm (ha, ha ha ha), and up by 4:45am so I can hit the gym with BF and other friends before work and daily life. It's much better than coffee, by the time I get to the office and actually start working I've been fully conscious for over 3.5 hours.<br /><br />Time to turn into a pumpkin. Ta ta<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-32449352672902549102008-04-22T17:59:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Socks and Monkeys<span style="font-family:arial;">Monkeys first.<br /><br />My drive home from work today was awesome. Traffic was great, but even better than that, I had entertainment for several miles of it. I'm one of those weird drivers that will follow a slower larger vehicle at a nice distance just so they don't have an as$ tailgating them.<br /><br />So I was following this school bus. No big deal, it's far past the hour of the day when there would actually be kids riding the bus home from school. But there WERE kids on this bus. How do I know this? Because even through the tinted bus windows I could see them waving at me. And they were determined to get me to wave back.<br /><br />But I remained stoic. Oh okay, I did smile a bit, and I certainly laughed at them a few times, but I was just as determined not to wave, it was too fun watching them try to make me wave. I relented when it became obvious that they weren't taking the same exit I was taking, so I rolled down my window and waved as I rode by them on the ramp. They loved it. I laughed all the way home.<br /><br /><br />Onto the socks!<br /><br />I'm re-working my "sea and sand" socks. Again. For the fourth time. But this time it might stick! I'm using a sock recipe from the May '08 issue of Creative Knitting, an issue my sister gave me. And with excellent timing, I started using that pattern within hours of the gifting. I am liking it very much.<br /><br />Chief differences are:<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">DPN's instead of magic loop</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">cuff-to-toe instead of toe-up</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">size 2 instead of 0 needles</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">short cuff instead of calf-high (of course, that was just a concept on the toe-ups since I never even turned the heels!)</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;">ONE SOCK AT A TIME</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />All of these things combined are making me very happy with this yarn again. That, and I tried it on last night for new pictures and wow... now I'm hooked, I must have a pair, and more pairs, I need many many more handknit socks!! =D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietraine/2432457603/" title="04202008_ribbed anklet #1 3-1rav by quiet raine, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2432457603_a0fea43f47_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="04202008_ribbed anklet #1 3-1rav" /></a><br /><br />Okay, it's off to be healthy and run or something.<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-60242587974779806872008-04-13T19:07:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Knitting Software<span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, you read correctly, I'm looking into knitting software. There's a really neat graphing program offered by <a href="http://www.knitfoundry.com/">www.KnitFoundry.com</a> called Knit Visualizer. I downloaded the demo and am trying it out to see how I like it. My "simple" attempt at graphing is the diamond brocade pattern I decided to use on my "brown socks" (now my "brown purl-brocade socks").<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietraine/2411112655/" title="Diamond Brocade Graph by quiet raine, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2078/2411112655_1032fb1b8d.jpg" alt="Diamond Brocade Graph" height="427" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Between the two dark horizontal bars is stitch pattern #28 from the Vogue Knitting Stitchionary #1, Knit & Purl. I've been looking through my stitchionaries and patters for a simple pattern repeat that I could use on my brown socks to add some visual (and knitterly) interest to the top of the feet without detracting from the color, which is my main attraction to this yarn along with the soft feel.<br />I decided this one would do well. It's a 12 + 5 stitch repeat, so I have enough stitches on my 35 stitch top for two repeats.<br /><br />Back to the software. I came across this Knit Visualizer software by doing a search on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> groups for one on cables, celtic cables, braids, etc. The sticker price of the program...is a bit prohibitive. I added the windows version on CD to my <a href="http://www.thethingsiwant.com/quietraine/list/sarah%27s%20wishlist/">TheThingsIWant</a> wish list but.... I get the feeling that I'll be buying it for myself eventually, I doubt anyone else would want to spend that much money on me for a single item for no special occassion.<br /><br />So far I like it, I would like it more if I had a desk set up for my computer where I could hook my mouse up but I'm okay with it just on my touchpad.<br /><br />I've been trying all last week and the majority of this weekend to reverse-engineer the main celtic cable from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/st-brigid">St. Brigid</a> sweater. I LOVE that cable pattern. But I have almost zero chance of getting my hands on the Aran Knits book by Alice Starmore.<br /><br />From what I've read she seems to be a bit of a snob about her patterns. She must know that the knitting world WILL substitute other yarns instead of her proprietary expensive collection, so she will not republish the pattern books. She's not even including a copy of the pattern with the yarn kit, just says on the website that you must have a copy of the book in order to make the sweater. Well I guess there will always be other snobs out there that will pay the outrageous amounts she asking for her scratchy yarn and out-of-print book. I am not one of them. Hence my attempt to reverse-engineer the cable pattern.<br /><br />I think I'm close, but, I've never charted an unknown cable pattern before. I have no experience to draw on to tell me that when you decrease from 5 stitches down to 1 how you mark that down and when the "no stitch" section should come to an end. I'm stuck at the top and bottom points of the swirl.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietraine/2412085924/" title="St Brigid Celtic Swirl Cable chart2 by quiet raine, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2412085924_546e793ae8.jpg" alt="St Brigid Celtic Swirl Cable chart2" height="500" width="426" /></a><br /><br /><br />So... if anyone can help me finish mapping out this cable chart, help would be appreciated!<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-5306960403189175842008-04-06T22:15:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Yarn Harlot Ho!<span style="font-family:arial;">That is to say... onward towards the Yarn Harlot's speech and book signing! I'm sitting up at 10:15 wondering, what should I wear tomorrow? Sadly, the only things that I've knitted and are wearable at the moment are a "Jesse's Flames" sweater I made that ended up fitting me instead of my ex-boyfriend (not the best look for me) and one slipper sock that is waiting for its mate to be knit up. Maybe I'll just wear my work clothes and bring some small knitting projects.<br /><br />Of course, with most of my clothes being freshly washed this weekend, the choices of store-bought clothing combinations is simply staggering. I own... well, a LOT of clothes. And somehow it's never enough. I'm thinking the brown and medium blue plaid pants with plain brown sweater and brown suede boots (with the really cool brown and cream wooly stripey socks that nobody will be able to see beneath the boots). Or maybe go with the indigo jeans, burnt orange collared tee and olive sweater over top with the brown suede boots... Or maybe go for total comfort and wear my dark grey fleecy lounge pants with a light grey tee and medium grey sweater along with a pair of crocs. OR perhaps I'll be SO freaking excited that I'll forget to change out of my work clothes before I leave and I'll end up going to Borders dressed in "business casual". Hmm.<br /><br />And why am I so worried about what to wear anyway? I should be spending this nervous energy on preparing my knitting bag. In fact, I think I'll go do that now. Good night everybody!<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-47948800023130857772008-04-05T13:14:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Brilliant!<span style="font-family: arial;">I just got a brilliant idea!<br /><br />I'm doing a pair of toe-up socks. I've noticed that most toe-up sock patterns don't make any effort to increase around the arch of your foot before the heel and leg, making it very snug for that couple of inches on your foot.<br /><br />I came across a pattern for a toe-up sock that includes increases and a heel-flap, I like the increasing idea but I don't like heel flaps much. I've also been eyeing my expensive store-bought exercise socks with a "Y" short-row heel. This morning it came to me, this brilliant idea... I can increase along the gusset, do a Y short-row heel, decrease up to the ankle, move on up the leg as usual. HAHA!! I'm freaking brilliant!!<br /><br />...ok, now that I've sucked up all of my leisure time for the day on ravelry, time to get that shopping done. ciao<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-64890407234916442742008-03-30T01:20:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Enjoy It<span style="font-family:arial;">**note!** I'm tired, I feel like typing, but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So if you're in the mood to listen to my eyes-closed-because-I-can-type-that-way rambling, read on.<br /><br /><br /><br />That's right, I enjoy it, I love knitting and all its quirks, and I think my friends are starting to understand just how much enjoyment I get out of everything knit related.<br /><br />I have a group of friends that gets together most Friday nights to play a game of poker together, just to hang out and have fun, and do it relatively cheaply. I mean, think about it, I buy into our cash game for $15 (we have a $50 buy in limit but nobody ever goes more than $30), and generally leave with at least some of my money, sometimes more than I came with. So for an average of $8 every week, I spend hours of fun with my friends. Can you even get into a movie for $8 now? I don't think so. Oh, and I knit while I play until it's my turn to be the dealer. So double-enjoyment for me, yay.<br /><br />We normally play texas hold-em, it's pretty easy as poker games go so anybody can join in. But playing hold-em with four or fewer is.... ugly. Five to eight is optimum for a table. If we have four people we'll play other cash games, like 7 card stud, or draw, or something that requires and ante instead of blinds. When there are less than four people it's not worth playing, so you wait for other players.<br /><br />I digress.<br /><br />Two of my friends were there waiting for more players when I showed up, so I thought I'd knit a bit. I've been getting pretty excited about the chance to go to the Annapolis Borders store to listen to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee speak, and then maybe get her autograph. I must have started waxing passionate because they started making comments about excited knitters. So to demonstrate how amusing, how true to life I find her writing to be, and how other knitters share my enjoyment of the craft, I asked and received permission to read out the 4-page chapter from "Secret Life of a Knitter", page 60-63, "Nothing in my Stash". I am greatly amused by this chapter, it's so true, no matter how much yarn you have, there's nothing to knit. Harry commented that I must really identify with this woman based on the amusement and emotion I put into the reciting, and Kim loved how much I enjoyed sharing the chapter with them and the subject matter.<br /><br />That's right, I enjoy it. I love doing it, talking about it, reading about it, hearing about it, I love knitting. There are worse hobbies I could have.<br /><br />That being said, I am REALLY looking forward to this Annapolis appearance. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is one of the bonuses of my sister learning to knit; I'd been knitting for years and never bothered to check out books about knitting, just patterns, and the occasional online magazine. But my sister, ever curious, is far more adventurous in both the internet and real life and managed to find this treasure of an author who also happens to be an avid knitter like us, and my sister shared this treasure with me. And now she's coming to Annapolis. For the first time ever.<br /><br />It's just like Christmas, but without all the last minute shopping and knitting involved, wooo!<br /><br />Okay, now before my heart starts beating faster (that would be the opposite of winding down for sleep...) I'm going to start talking about my projects.<br /><br /><br />I just finished my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/elegant-lap-rug-pattern">fluffy-elegance lap blanket</a> this morning. It took just short of four balls of Caron Bliss, in a lovely lime green. I photographed it with my new digital camera. I just couldn't resist, sometimes having plastic money is dangerous, especially when woot.com has something I want.<br /><br />I knit a round on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/hemlock-ring-blanket">hemlock ring blanket</a> before finding an error in a round knit in a previous session, a missed yarn-over. Grrrr. So I ripped back to fix it (it was only two and half rounds back... no big deal close to the center of this blanket in the round) and knit enough to make up for my ripping and make actual progress. I also to pictures of the ring blanket with my new camera. And the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/felted-clogs-ac-33">single pre-felted clog</a> that is awaiting its mate before being felted.<br /><br />And remembering that I want to wear my first pair of socks to the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival in the beginning of May, I knit a few rounds on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/universal-toe-up-sock-formula-2">magic loop toe-up socks</a>.<br /><br />I think this concludes my rambling post. And yes, I did open my eyes so I could go back through and link things. I dare you to find a typo. G'nite.<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-44634391727018554182008-03-22T12:37:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.076-04:00Too Froggy?<span style="font-family:arial;">I think my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/top-down-raglan-cardigan">mom's new-used sweater</a> started a mental trend with me, and maybe I'm being a little too froggy lately. I'm trying to stick to a yarn fast, I have so many things in mind to make and for the most part, I have the yarn to make it. So... perhaps I'm compensating for the lack of new yarn by frogging projects I'm less than pleased with? I'm actually considering frogging a 90% completed (yes, I said 90%) shrug because I don't like the way it folds in the back. And it's $9 a ball merino in gorgeous multiple browns and coppers. *sigh*<br /><br />So what should I do with all my new used yarn?<br /><br />I still have <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/lap-blanket">lap-blanket</a> plans for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/quietraine/stash/bliss">lime green caron bliss</a>, but I keep changing my mind about the pattern to use. I came across this one, <a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/free/laprug.html">Elegant Lap Rug</a>, that I like the look of. The pattern notes mention that it's simple, and from the stitch pattern it looks like it won't shrink widthwise as much as the dimple stitch I was thinking about using. I'll have to swatch though (ugh) to make sure my all acrylic fuzzy yarn looks okay with this sort of "traditional" or "simple" look.<br /><br />As for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/feather-fan-scarf">mohair scarf</a>... I have no idea. I'm not crazy about the colors, maybe I'll just put it away and let my mind marinate on it.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/quietraine/stash/online-supersocke-cotton-beach-color">beach colored online supersocke</a> is, of course, going into a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/universal-toe-up-sock-formula-2">fresh pair of socks</a>. I'm about an inch past the toe section, so from toe tip to needles it's something over 2 inches. I might rip back, just a teensy little bit... I keep changing my mind, again, about what do do across the top of the sock for visual (and knitterly) interest. I'm only a couple rounds into the current pattern so no big deal there. Maybe a purl brocade? I'll check my stitch dictionary again. I'm still determined to have this pair finished so I can wear them to the <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.org/">Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival</a> the first weekend in May.<br /><br />And finally, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/quietraine/shrug">the shrug</a>. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/quietraine/stash/extra-stampato">100% Australian merino, Filtes King Extra Stampato in color 8016 "earth tones"</a>, each strand a different color in a long color change, revolving around browns and coppers. So soft, so pretty. But not as the shrug. I'm not sure what to make out of it, but I don't think I can leave it as a shrug. I might try the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/niangii/provincial-waistcoat">Provincial Waistcoat</a>, I'm not so busty so I think it would look like this on me, this project in particular is one of my faves. I have a bunch of 3/4 and full length sleeve collared shirts I wear to work, the colors would like nice on a few of them, and they're the same sort of shape that the waistcoat calls for.<br /><br />So which one should I work on today? ;-)<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-70018062367921353102008-03-22T11:39:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:10.409-04:00Too Froggy?<font face="arial">I think my mom's new-used sweater started a mental trend with me, and maybe I'm being a little too froggy lately. I'm trying to stick to a yarn fast, I have so many things in mind to make and for the most part, I have the yarn to make it. So... perhaps I'm compensating for the lack of new yarn by frogging projects I'm less than pleased with? I'm actually considering frogging a 90% completed (yes, I said 90%) shrug because I don't like the way it folds in the back. And it's $9 a ball merino in gorgeous multiple browns and coppers. *sigh*<br /><br />So what should I do with all my new used yarn?<br /><br />I still have lap-blanket plans for the lime green caron bliss, but I keep changing my mind about the pattern to use. I came across this on, <a href="http://sutherland-studios.com.au/free/laprug.html">Elegant Lap Rug</a>, that I like the look of. The pattern notes mention that it's simple, and from the stitch pattern it looks like it won't shrink widthwise as much as the dimple stitch I was thinking about using. I'll have to swatch though (ugh) to make sure my all acrylic fuzzy yarn looks okay with this sort of "traditional" or "simple" look.<br /><br />As for the mohair scarf... I have no idea. I'm not crazy about the colors, maybe I'll just put it away and let my mind marinate on it.<br /><br />The beach colored online supersocke is, of course, going into a fresh pair of socks. I'm about an inch past the toe section, so from toe tip to needles it's something over 2 inches. I might rip back, just a teensy little bit... I keep changing my mind, again, about what do do across the top of the sock for visual (and knitterly) interest. I'm only a couple rounds into the current pattern so no big deal there. Maybe a purl brocade? I'll check my stitch dictionary again. I'm still determined to have this pair finished so I can wear them to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival the first weekend in May.<br /><br />And finally, the shrug. 100% Australian merino, Filtes King Extra Stampato in color 8016 "earth tones", each strand a different color in a long color change, revolving around browns and coppers. So soft, so pretty. But not as the shrug. I'm not sure what to make out of it, but I don't think I can leave it as a shrug. I might try a cabled vest out of it, I have a bunch of 3/4 and full length sleeve collared shirts I wear to work, the colors would like nice on a few of them.<br /><br />So which one should I work on today? ;-)<br /></font>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-145832100933839204.post-7048817364947518562008-03-17T23:12:00.000-04:002009-04-26T18:21:08.077-04:00Brief yarn thoughts, and more frogging<span style="font-family: arial;">So, is it wrong to look at yarn just for the color? I love the colors of this </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/4234/">Rowan Cocoon</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> yarn, all natural tones, not completely uniform, gorgeous.<br /><br />In other news, most of my progress with projects lately seems to be negative progress, in that I'm frogging projects instead of continuing to knit on them. The mohair scarf, braided-cable lap blanket, and XoXo socks are all frogged or waiting to be frogged so I can re-work them differently. The mohair scarf I've never been crazy about, the feather-fan pattern has been bothering me. The lap blanket... eh, it's easy, and boring, I want to do the dimple stitch to liven up the finished look and working up (k1 sl1 across, sl1 p1 across, k across, p across, sl1 k1 across, p1 sl1 across, k across, p across) so it will still move quickly but have infinitely more visual appeal all over.<br /><br />As for the XoXo socks... well, they haven't been XoXo for about a month now, I was just working them up plain when it occurred to me that the toe increases were ugly, and since I'm working them toe-up I have to stare at the toe for the longest time, and got increasingly dissatisfied with it. I ripped them back tonight and am re-working them, still toe-up, but from toe joint to toe end, back around the bottom, and only then joining in the round. The <a href="http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/?p=585">tutorial by CosmicPluto</a> was an imense help in doing my short-rows without any annoying holey areas. I feel silly now that I didn't think of an extra wrap and turn myself, but that's what other knitters are for, to learn from their experiences. I am loving the look.<br /><br />The recent frogging of the XoXo socks was the direct result of my musing about the upcoming Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I thought, wouldn't it be nice to wear my first pair of FINISHED socks there? I could finish the XoXo socks (henceforth entitled "Sea & Sand Socks") by then no problem. But I don't know about those toes... let's frog them! Woohoo!<br /><br />And so I did. And so far they're just lovely. Except for the one little spot where I forgot to pick up on of the wraps, but I'm ignoring that for now and will fit it from the inside later on.<br /><br />I am sock happy. What is up with this spring knitting fever on my part, I just can't get enough of little projects and will work on multiples in a single day. I have knitting A.D.D.!<br /><br />I'm also working on a case of sleep deprivation if I don't get to bed within 10 minutes so ciao gang, and a Happy St. Patrick's Day to all! ;)<br /></span>Quiet Rainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04451683296827456763noreply@blogger.com0