Thursday, June 28, 2007
Swatches
Last night I sat down and swatched for the Mystery Stole. I figure since I’ve got the mystery thing going on what better wool to use than some mystery stuff I’ve got in the stash. I do know it came from Henry’s Attic. I also know its a little bit finer than the Zephyr Wool Silk that Melanie is using. It’s about 33 WPI vs. 30 WPI for the zephyr. Here’s a comparison – the white is the mystery wool the purple is some zephyr from another project. 
Not bad - right?
Since my size four lace needles are otherwise occupied I started out on a five. Didn’t like the fabric at all – it was nearly impossible to “read” and you could barely tell the stitches from the yarn overs. So I dropped down to a four (which is what was recommended for the zephyr) I felt that was still a bit on the big side so I tried a three.
Walla - yarn barf. I love unblocked lace - it’s so full of potential.
I blocked the crap out of it and came up with this.
Now this little swatch has absolutely nothing to do with the finished pattern, its only purpose is to decide if you like the fabric you’re creating. How come the stuff knitted with the four looks tighter than the three? What’s with that? Now I’m not sure which needle to use. While I was knitting it the three was much easier to “read” and I thought the fabric was better but now that it’s blocked I’m not so sure.
Not bad - right?Since my size four lace needles are otherwise occupied I started out on a five. Didn’t like the fabric at all – it was nearly impossible to “read” and you could barely tell the stitches from the yarn overs. So I dropped down to a four (which is what was recommended for the zephyr) I felt that was still a bit on the big side so I tried a three.
Walla - yarn barf. I love unblocked lace - it’s so full of potential.
I blocked the crap out of it and came up with this.
Now this little swatch has absolutely nothing to do with the finished pattern, its only purpose is to decide if you like the fabric you’re creating. How come the stuff knitted with the four looks tighter than the three? What’s with that? Now I’m not sure which needle to use. While I was knitting it the three was much easier to “read” and I thought the fabric was better but now that it’s blocked I’m not so sure.I also decided to abandon the beads. Notice the atrocity that is my lace at 
the very bottom? The beads (all four of them) screwed me up so bad that I couldn’t get the pattern back together. Not that I tried all that hard – didn’t really feel like tinking back on a swatch. Not only that but I broke half a dozen of the dumb things trying to get them threaded. If I can’t get them on without breaking them how are they going to hold up? Of course I could step up and buy premium beads as apposed to these which came from AC Moore but then I still have to deal with the PITA that is threading them. What do you think – is it worth the effort to add the beads? 
the very bottom? The beads (all four of them) screwed me up so bad that I couldn’t get the pattern back together. Not that I tried all that hard – didn’t really feel like tinking back on a swatch. Not only that but I broke half a dozen of the dumb things trying to get them threaded. If I can’t get them on without breaking them how are they going to hold up? Of course I could step up and buy premium beads as apposed to these which came from AC Moore but then I still have to deal with the PITA that is threading them. What do you think – is it worth the effort to add the beads? Labels: MS3
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Looza’s
I finished my sockapalooza pal’s socks. Whaddaya think?
The pattern is from Knitting on the Road I think it’s Conway but I’m not really sure. I tend to forget the names of the patterns. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in the Jewels colorway. 
I really like the way they turned out. The yarn is wonderful soft and squishy, and the pattern was fast and easy and oh so cute! I have no worries about fit cuz they’re really stretchy. I hope she likes them.
The pattern is from Knitting on the Road I think it’s Conway but I’m not really sure. I tend to forget the names of the patterns. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill in the Jewels colorway. I really like the way they turned out. The yarn is wonderful soft and squishy, and the pattern was fast and easy and oh so cute! I have no worries about fit cuz they’re really stretchy. I hope she likes them.Saturday, June 23, 2007
Wet Felting
I learned a cool new thing today. Wet felting. I wish I had pictures of the whole process but I forgot to take my camera - bad blogger. I'll try to explain it to you - the abbreviated version. We did this outside & I do not see any logical way you could do this in the house without making a huge mess. You take a bit of roving or fleece or what-have-you (so long as it's woolly felty type stuff) and kinda fluff it up a bit and lay it out first one way, then the other, then back again mimicking a warp & weft. 
When you get a nice fluffy bunch of stuff you soak it down in soapy water and roll it up in a bamboo mat. Then you roll it a bunch flip it roll it some more and repeat until you get a nice felty piece that's seems like it's almost done.
Then you pour some boiling water on it and roll it a bunch more & you get a piece of fabric that you can now use to make a bag or a pillow or whatever. I have no clue what I'm going to do with mine. I'm thinking I might nail it to the wall as is cuz I don't really want to take scissors to it. It's a really cool fun project - and a great excuse to buy roving!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
MS3
I'm usually don't do knit alongs as nothing kills my will to knit faster than have a zillion people doing the same exact thing. I've tried it a few times but no matter how much I love the end product knit alongs make me not want to knit it. However I love mystery projects. I couldn't help myself - I signed up for the Mystery Stole Along 3.
This group is gianourmous - over 2,000 people as of this morning. I've really been wanting a new lace project. I checked out some of the designers other stuff and it's all really beautiful so here's hoping. First clue comes out the 29th. That means I've got a week and a half to get some of these other projects off needles so I can knit lace without guilt.
This group is gianourmous - over 2,000 people as of this morning. I've really been wanting a new lace project. I checked out some of the designers other stuff and it's all really beautiful so here's hoping. First clue comes out the 29th. That means I've got a week and a half to get some of these other projects off needles so I can knit lace without guilt.
Labels: MS3
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Rock Godess
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Worth the Wait!!
My sock-ret pal partner came through! Lookit what I got!!! 
There's some Brooklyn Handspun in there - and a new Chibi and the almighty chocolate (can't have a package without!)
Buttons!! I luv buttons - it's already hangin in it's new home on the traveling backpack. 
There's some Brooklyn Handspun in there - and a new Chibi and the almighty chocolate (can't have a package without!) This awesome bag - which has already replaced my knit bag for the summer, I'm such a bag ho!
Buttons!! I luv buttons - it's already hangin in it's new home on the traveling backpack.And bestest of all!!! I got Potomas socks!! I love these! They fit awesome & the color is so beautiful. My new favorite socks - I'm just upset it's too warm to where them!
Thanks Chrissy - this package was totally worth waiting for!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Neglect
I can't believe I completely forgot to show you what I got. I'm such a bad blogger!
The internets is SO cool - you make the mostest awesomest friends! Look what Nora sent me! I've been lusting after one of these (follow that link her picture is much better) since she put them on her blog eons ago. Trying to figure out who I could bribe to do the sewing (we've discussed this - I can not sew straight) now I have one of my very own! No bribes necessary. Yea!!! I love getting handmade stuff!!!!
The internets is SO cool - you make the mostest awesomest friends! Look what Nora sent me! I've been lusting after one of these (follow that link her picture is much better) since she put them on her blog eons ago. Trying to figure out who I could bribe to do the sewing (we've discussed this - I can not sew straight) now I have one of my very own! No bribes necessary. Yea!!! I love getting handmade stuff!!!!Friday, June 08, 2007
Distraction
I’ve probably written four posts this week & haven’t actually managed to post any of them. Why? Because I haven’t had a chance to take the pictures that go with the posts, and they really do deserve pictures (I think – I have to go re-read the posts so I can see what pictures I need to be taking.)
Since I won’t have the time to take the pictures until probably next week – I’ll distract you with some pictures Megan was kind enough to provide me with.
The extent that women go to….
Beam me up Scotty!!!
Since I won’t have the time to take the pictures until probably next week – I’ll distract you with some pictures Megan was kind enough to provide me with.
The extent that women go to….
Beam me up Scotty!!!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Jewels
I didn't manage to take a single picture of my view from my aunts deck. It was pretty hazey all weekend and you couldn't see the water anyway so you're not missing anything. My weekend away turned out to be pretty great. I got to knit all durning the Memorial day picnic / BBQ thingie that we had on Saturday and on Sunday I spent the entire day in the hammock with a book - what more could a girl ask for.
Plus I think I found the secret to knitting in the car. Dramamine. Popped one about a half hour befoer we left & was able to knit away for the whole trip! I started and finished the first sock for my Sockapalooza partner. Unforturanley I haven't had a chance to photograph it for you but I did take
this crappy cell phone shot of the beginings of sock #2. Dontcha just love the colors?! The yarn Cherry Tree Hill in "jewel" colorway. It's going to break my heart to give away these socks - I am so in love with them. I do have until August...
this crappy cell phone shot of the beginings of sock #2. Dontcha just love the colors?! The yarn Cherry Tree Hill in "jewel" colorway. It's going to break my heart to give away these socks - I am so in love with them. I do have until August...
