knits 'n bits

So ashamed :(

2007-02-07T23:25:00.000-05:00

I've been so consumed by my research lately that I have not touched any knitting in this year! I was originally planning to finish my thesis by April or May, and I was making such good progress! I mean, it's 11:26PM and I'm still at school! Well, maybe it's because I'm a little behind on marking the reports for the lab course I'm TAing, but nonetheless, I'm working!

Anyway, since there's no knitting, there's not much of an update. However, I HAVE finished the deep v argyle vest (in December actually), I just never got around to blocking it, and taking pics to put on here. With the weather being so cold, I probably should block it so I get to wear it!!! Hopefully, I will get to that soon. I also started on the back piece of the Phildar cross over cardi (which I mentioned in the previous post), and just got to the the sleeve shaping.

I seriously need to spend all my time on research and TA, so that doesn't leave much knitting time. :( But hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a row here and there, and next post should (it better!) have some more interesting things to show.

Finally! Some progress to show!

2006-12-20T12:06:00.000-05:00

This is seriously a fun knit! I just can't put it down! I just want to finish knitting so I can try out steeking. Although I've never done it before, and actually quite nervous about it, but it keeps me motivated! About another inch or so and I'll be upt ot the armscye shaping. I'm a little too tight on the stitch gauge, about 2-3 stitches more per 4", but I've put it on scrap yarn before and tried it out, and it fits, so hopefully blocking it will help. I'm perfect on row gauge though! There's also a bit of puckering. I think that's inevitable, and hopefully, blocking it will even it out.

Yes, more yarn. I went on a bit of yarn binging a couple weeks ago when I was stuck here in Waterloo over the weekend. I just went a bit crazy on the internet shopping. The yarn on the left is Phildar Quietude in Aubergine (a new colour - it's a purple basically), and on the right, we have Phildar Lambswool in Noir.

The Quietude is for the first sweater. It's from Phildar Tendances Autumn 05 06. They didn't have an English version for this, so hopefully, I'll be able to translate the French. 9 years of French and finally it can serve a purpose! :p The Lambswool is destined for this cute little wrap cardi also from Phildar Tendances, but Spring 05. Luckily, there's an English version for this.

Sarcelle has been a little neglected lately. I'll try to work on her during the holidays, but seriously, it is one slow knit!

Come Ye, Come All!

2006-12-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

Look what I've started! I've decided to knit this for the Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge instead of the Anemoi Mittens. I actually casted on a couple days ago and had gone up to the first row of colourwork, but then, realized I had casted on for the wrong size. So off to the frog pond it went.

This is what I knitted up yesterday:

I also didn't swatch. Shame on me. :( I actually tried, but trying to knit fair isle in the round on DPNs is rather difficult, and I didn't think I'd get same gauge on circulars anyway so I just went with it. The yarn had the same gauge as what's called for, only difference being I was supposed to use 4mm instead of 3.5mm, but for some reason, I didn't realize that until I was in the 4th or 5th row of colourwork, and I was NOT going to rip it out again for a 2nd time. I checked though, I'm not THAT off, so a good blocking should solve that problem.

I'm really enjoying the fair isle, although my hands got tired really quickly. I held one strand in each hand, and I guess I wasn't used to the continental knitting style. I'm using Clover bamboo circulars. You wanna see the back? Come on, you know you wanna!

Not bad for a first-timer, eh? This is actually a first time of many things. First knitted garment. First knitting in the round (aside from socks). First fair isle project. I'm loving it!

My very first KAL!

2006-12-11T17:55:00.000-05:00

I've joined my VERY first KAL! It's Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge. I'm planning to knit Eunny's Anemoi Mittens with RYC Cashsoft 4 ply in a charcoal grey colour, and a mauve colour. Just bought the yarn from the local LYS. Sorry, don't have any pics to show because by the time I got home, it was way too dark for decent pics. This is also the very first time I'm trying out fair isle. Looking forward to it. Hopefully, by joining the KAL, I'll have some motivation to finish it! It's a pair of mittens, so theoretically, it shouldn't be too time consuming. Um ... I'm setting myself a goal of December 31? It's totally do-able. We'll c.

In other news, remember in the last post I said there was no way I'm frogging Sarcelle? I ended up ripping back a couple rows and then picking the stitches back up. It's all good ... EXCEPT that it's going VERY VERY slowly! It's now taking me about 35 minutes to do a 6 row repeat. At least I've got the pattern down.

Probably start swatching for the Deep V Argyle Vest tonight or tomorrow. I really need to get some work done around here. Been having a bit of personal problems lately, and that's affecting EVERYTHING. School, sleep, knitting, eating ... It's like, I'm hungry, but the smell and thought of food makes me want to throw up! Well, this started BEFORE the "personal problems" started, but it's been a like a week now. Maybe I should go to the doctor's.

Sarcelle oh Sarcelle, why must you treat me so?

2006-12-05T12:44:00.000-05:00

Things are NOT going well around this part. Just as I've almost got the pattern repeat memorized, THIS happens:

Yuppers. Those are dropped stitches. On purpose. Because I screwed up. Mistakes in lace knitting = NO FUN! I've already spent hours on those measely little couple inches. I am NOT, I repeat NOT sending it to the frog pond. Besides, it'd be a pain to frog it since the stitches kind of catches on to one another like mohair does. What actually happened was I was missing a stitch on the edge. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I simply decided to increase a stitch. It was right on the edge, and after blocking, shouldn't be noticeable. I put it down last night, and woke up this morning to see that I've screwed up. I had accidentally shifted the pattern one stitch over. It was about 6 rows down so I thought maybe, maybe just perhaps I can dropped the stitches and fix it. It's no fun when you got yos, pfbs, and kfbs. No siree. Not having much luck so far, but I'll look at it a bit later. I really need to get some work done on my research. That's going to be on fun either since I'm trying to program something, and that also requires debuggin. Arg.

On a happier note, look what I got in the mail today! Socks That Rock in Midsummer Night and Rose Quartz. I love handpainted yarns in different colours ... when they are still in a skein. But once you knit it up, the colour's too busy for me. I prefer solids or near solids. Hm, any suggestions what to make with these?

The Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK is for this. Now I just need to wait for my needles to come before I can get started on it! Can't wait!

Walking in a winter wonderland

2006-12-04T19:30:00.000-05:00

This is what I woke up to this morning. Days of wiping snow off the car and sitting in a freezing car waiting for it to warm up have started! Also means I will soon be able to try out the new skis and boots I bought earlier in the year! If only it wasn't so cold and didn't have to walk to school ... brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It was only last that week that it was +12 instead of -12 degrees!

So I've finally started Sarcelle. I love the lace pattern! But it's progressing VERY VERY slow. It's taking me average of about 25 minutes to do one repeat. At this rate, it'll take me a good couple years to finish it! Hopefully, it won't remain in the WIP pile forever. Not to mention the additional times I have to fix my mistakes. I still haven't been able to memorize the pattern yet. I'm sure there's a method this madness!

What can you do with 1375 yd of laceweight yarn in 5 hours?

2006-11-30T23:34:00.000-05:00

This is what you get:

It took me 5 whole hours to wind the skein of Merino Oro into a ball by hand. I don't have a swift or ball winder and I have yet to justify spending money on that ... for now. I contemplated actually knitting from the skein, but the thoughts of undoing the mess of knots put me off that idea. I wanted to start Sarcelle, but I think I've had enough of this yarn for the night. Time to get some rest.

I can do this!

2006-11-29T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm back!!! Ok, so I was a little off estimating when I'm going to be able to post the pics. I fixed the computer myself (well, not really. I just uninstalled something so it wouldn't keep on popping up for no reason) and got my pictures uploaded.

Anyway, I present to you my VERY first pair of socks!

Pattern: Hedera from Knitty

Yarn: 1.25 Skeins of Knitpicks Essential in Grass
Needle: Clover Bamboo DPN in US0 (2.25mm)

No modifications. I wouldn't know what or how to modify anyway. The gauge is different when I was knitting the second sock. It came out a lot tighter than the first. Hopefully, a bit of wearing and washing will even it somewhat. The weather's still pretty warm, but it's supposed to be snowing on Friday and most of next week. These will keep my toes nice and toasty! I gotta think of a more creative way of taking pics of finished socks ... the socks look HUGE! But they're made to fit my size 7.5 feet. It's not THAT bad .... is it?

I got THREE packages of yummy yarniness today! One of them has been in the mail for like a month, and it took them an entire month to deliver it. What's up with that!?

From left to right:

3 skeins of Classic Elite Lush in Thistle
1 skein of Ornaghi Filati Merino Oro in Grey Heather
2 balls of Dalegarn Tiur in Rose Pink

I got them with projects in mind. The Lush is destined for the braided scarf on the cover of Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006 issue. I'm planning to knit it with this colour and white or pink and white. Haven't decided yet. The other skeins of Lush is coming in the mail from another yarn store. The Merino Oro is for Sarcelle. And the Tiur is going to be used for steeking in Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vest. I can't wait to get started! Now I just have to get school work out of the way.

Computer Problems

2006-11-29T14:09:00.000-05:00

I have pics of my finished Hedera socks, as well as some yummy yarn I got in the mail. Unfortunately, the computer is not corporating with me, and I think I might have to wait till the weekend when my brother fixes my computer for me to post anything else. Besides, I'm swamped with work lately, so not much to share. Hopefully things will be better after this week.

Is it IE 7 or is it just me?

2006-11-26T03:12:00.000-05:00

It's probably me. Computers hate me. All technology hate me. They don't need a reason to crap out on me. I wonder if anyone else has been having the same problem as me. I had just formatted my computer (well, my brother did, not me) and had installed IE7. I know that some sites don't support it yet, but not sure if that's the problem. Anyway, when I try to post a new post, it won't. Only the top header (where they have the Blogger logo is) changes to a band of white, and the bottom of the page remains the same as the page I'm currently on. Only way I can get around this is if I go back out to the Blogger main page and go back into my blog that way. Does that make sense? I'm not very good at explaining.

I've been such a bad blogger, haven't posted anything in so long. No FO pics today. I had spent the entire day cleaning my room. It was a total disaster zone, but now it's all nice and tiday. Wonder how long that's going to say. I don't have much confidence in myself, needless to say. I finished my Hedera socks today! I'll take some pics and post them tomorrow or Monday.

I had ordered some books on Amazon and it was waiting for me when I came home on Friday. Here's what I got:

Do you see a pattern there? :P There are several patterns that I want to try out, but I need to get more sock yarn first. Since I just started knitting (again), I don't have much of a stash. In terms of sock yarn, only have 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock mentioned in the last post. However, I do have 2 skeins of Socks that Rock coming in the mail. I've read such great raves on them I couldn't wait to try it out! I personally don't like wearing wool as I find them itchy and scratchy. I think I enjoy the process more than the final product. The Hedera socks were alright, but I have sweaty feet (I know I know, a bit too much info there) and not sure if wool is the best fibre for me. Does anybody have any good yarn suggestions for me?

And I want to thank those of you that commented on my first entry! It's nice to know that my ramblings are actually seen by people! Ha ha.

Mail Call!

2006-11-21T16:49:00.000-05:00

I had ordered 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl from yarnela.com on Sunday. Guess what was waiting for me in the mailbox!? It took less than 2 days for it to arrive. Talk about service! This is the first time I've bought Lorna's Laces (even though I have been eyeing them for the longest time!) and I just LOVE the colourway.

What's a knitting blog without some knitting, right? I present to you my ALMOST complete Hedera Socks in Knit Picks Essential - Grass. It's a first of many things. It's the first time I've ever knitted socks. It's the first time I've knitted in the round (on DPNS or circulars). It's the first time I've knitted anything other than scarves. I'm so proud of myself! LOL. Just an inch or so more till the toe decrease. I hope to be finished by the end of this week, but I left my darning needle at home in Toronto, so have to wait till the weekend to graft the toe.

In some knitting-unrelated news, I just got an advertising email from 7 for all mankind. There's this denim skirt that I really like! It's the perfect length, unlike the ultra short ones that seem to be so popular lately. Not everyone has mile long legs you know! But it's a bit pricey, so hopefully I can find a cheaper substitute.