tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-193339182024-03-08T11:10:01.891-05:00Persnickety KnitterA chronicle of my knitting life.Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-39752048962932164172008-01-25T17:31:00.000-05:002008-01-25T19:45:16.038-05:00Page 161 and Pillows<p>Don't die of shock, but, yeah, I'm actually posting something.</p>
<p>I just got tagged by <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melissa</a> (the famous <a href="http://www.amazon.com/2-at-Time-Socks-Melissa-Morgan-Oakes/dp/1580176917/ref=sr_1_1/104-9817856-4479146?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181238817&sr=8-1" target="_blank">author</a>) with this book meme. You open a book you're currently reading to page 161, and copy out sentence five.
Here are the sentences from some of the books I'm currently reading:</p>
<ul><li>"The boys were avenged."<br />
from <i>Tom Sawyer</i> by Mark Twain (for our homeschool literature class)</li>
<li>"Richard calls it 'The Geet.'"<br />
from <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i> by Elizabeth Gilbert (recommended by a friend)</li>
<li>"I realize that I can roll."<br />
from <i>What is the What</i> by Dave Eggers (an impulse buy at the book store since I really liked his book <i>A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius</i>)</li></ul>
<p>I'm supposed to tag five other people, but I'm no good at that. So consider yourself tagged if you're reading this and you're interested. Let me know in the comments that you responded so I can check out what you're reading.</p>
<br /><br />
<hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" />
<br /><br />
<p>I've been knitting a lot, but I haven't had much time to post about it. I've taken a lot of pictures lately, so I hope to update my blog soon. In the meantime, here is a picture of one of the things I've been working on.</p>
<p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/pers-tile-ip-zm-800x585-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 10px auto; display: inline; cursor: pointer;" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/pers-tile-ip-zm-350x256-50.jpg" border="0" height="256" width="350" /></a></p>
<p>It's the Persian Tiles pillow kit that I got for Christmas (available <a href="http://www.virtualyarns.com/designs/backcat_coll.asp" target="_blank">here</a>). It's knit using Alice Starmore Hebridean 2 Ply on a US3 needle. I'm using Calluna (dark green) as the main color and Red Deer (reddish brown) as the contrast color. It's coming along well, but I think I'm going to run short on yarn. I haven't even reached the halfway point and I'm on the second of the two balls of Red Deer that were provided in the kit. Big bummer.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-32513054026897942542007-10-18T01:15:00.000-04:002007-10-18T01:17:22.124-04:00Loads of WIPs (and Rhinebeck!)<p>Howdy. I was just taking pictures of some of my current works in progress for Ravelry, and I thought I'd post them here, too. And, no, these aren't <i>all</i> of my WIP's. Unfortunately, there are many, many more. Yes, I am easily distracted (knitting-wise anyway). <i>Sigh.</i></p>
<a name="ukrainian"></a>
<p>First of all, there is the pair of socks that I am making for Sister#1 as a belated birthday gift. (Her birthday was in July -- how lame am I?) I'm using the Ukrainian Socks pattern from Nancy Bush's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Folk-Socks-Techniques-Handknitted-Footwear/dp/0934026971/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9817856-4479146?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192659692&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Folk Socks</a> book, but with several modifications. These socks will be very similar to <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/naturalbrown-fair-isle-socks.html">this pair</a> that I made a few years ago, but with a thinner yarn (Regia 4-ply).</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/ukr-ip-800x550-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/ukr-ip-350x241-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="241" /></a><br/>Ukrainian Socks for Sister#1</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="bayerische"></a>
<p>Next up are some <a href="http://www.eunnyjang.com/knit/2006/09/bayerische_sock_part_ii.html" target="_blank">Bayerische Socks</a> that I started a long time ago. They are languishing because they are too narrow for anyone except the fine-boned females in Sister#1's family. So maybe if one of them shows a strong interest they will be finished. Otherwise, I'll need to rip them and restart. It's a great pattern, but it's a lot of work.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/bayer-ip-800x907-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/bayer-ip-350x397-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="397" /></a><br/>Bayerishe Socks for ???</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="ilga"></a>
<p>Below are some socks I just started for Daughter#2. I was cleaning out her bureau drawers lately and discovered that most of her handknit socks no longer fit. So she's in need of some new socks. These are not colors I would have picked, but Daughter#2 likes them. This pattern is an adaptation of Ilga's Socks from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Socks-Timeless-Designs-Interweave/dp/1596680326/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-9817856-4479146?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192660550&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Favorite Socks</a>.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/ilga-ip-800x970-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/ilga-ip-350x424-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="424" /></a><br/>Ilga's Socks for Daughter#2</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="jaywalkers"></a>
<p>These are another pair of Jaywalkers that I am making with some Lorna's Laces yarn. I tried this yarn in another sock pattern, but I didn't like the way the color was working out. I'm not sure if I like this yarn as Jaywalkers either. What do you guys think?</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/jay-ll-ip-800x876-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/jay-ll-ip-350x383-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="383" /></a><br/>More Jaywalkers (to be ripped?)</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="egyptian"></a>
<p>The socks below were inspired by some pictures I saw online of knitted pouches done in medieval Egyptian patterns (can't link because the site is currently unavailable). I charted out some of the patterns from the pictures. I'm hoping to combine a few different patterns into a pair of socks for me. This is as far as I've gotten, but I really love them so far.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/med-egyp-ip-800x538-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/med-egyp-ip-350x235-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="235" /></a><br/>medieval Egyptian socks</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="stockinette"></a>
<p>These are just some boring stockinette socks for Uncool Guy, who needs more socks that he can wear to work. This is my first time using the Trekking Pro Natura wool/bamboo yarn (color 1603). I'm liking it so far, except for the little white fluffy bits that I keep running into. They are hard to pull out because they are so embedded in the yarn.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/trk-bam-brn-ip-800x532-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/trk-bam-brn-ip-350x233-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="233" /></a><br/>Boring stockinette socks for Uncool Guy</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="ribbed"></a>
<p>Here are some more boring socks, with some basic 3x1 ribbing. These are in Trekking XXL. I'm hoping these will be a Christmas gift for someone.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/trk-brn-ip-800x640-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/trk-brn-ip-350x280-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="280" /></a><br/>Basic Ribbed Socks in Trekking XXL</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="gloves"></a>
<p>These gloves have been on my needles for a <i>loooong</i> time, maybe since the beginning of last winter (possibly even the winter before that). They are for Uncool Guy, to match his <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/09/forbes-forest-scarf.html">lovely scarf</a>. However, I abandoned them because I was having problems with sizing. He has very large hands and I had to rip and reknit a few times (and then I got bored). Hopefully I will finish them before this winter is over. (Wanna bet?)</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/glv-g-ip-800x967-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/glv-g-ip-350x423-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="423" /></a><br/>Gloves for Uncool Guy</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="angela"></a>
<p>Here's another project I'm working on -- some mittens for Brother#1's girlfriend. They are temporarily on hold until I can check the sizing with a fitting.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/ang-mit-ip-800x726-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/ang-mit-ip-350x318-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="318" /></a><br/>Basic Mittens</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<a name="skull"></a>
<p>And <i>finally</i> there is this illusion scarf for Nephew#2. It was supposed to be a birthday present for him (birthday in March -- again, I am <i>lame</i>). I made up the chart for this myself. It's supposed to be a skull and crossbones. However, I don't think the bones are coming out very clearly and the mouth needs work, so I think I'm going to modify the chart and try again.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/skull-smp-ang-800x528-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/skull-smp-ang-350x231-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="231" /></a><br/>Skull Illusion Scarf viewed from an angle</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/skull-samp-st-800x792-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/skull-samp-st-350x347-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="347" /></a><br/>Skull Illusion Scarf viewed from above</p>
<br /><hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" /><br />
<p>That's not even all of my current WIP's. Those are just the ones that were conveniently lying around when I had my camera out. Yeah, I know. I need to focus and actually <b>finish</b> a few things. Ah, but that's so <i>boring</i>.</p>
<p>You know what's <b>not</b> boring? I'm going to Rhinebeck in a couple days!!! Wooo hooo!</p>
<p>This will be my first trip there and I'm excited. I'll be traveling mostly with <a href="http://melissaknits.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Melissa</a> and Sister#1 (pic of us <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2007/02/cowgirls-and-some-fos.html">here</a>, I'm the one without the cowboy hat). Say "howdy" if you see us.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Buttons/07-bingo-web-button.jpg" border="0" width="144" height="263" /></p>
<p>I'm also signed up for <a href="http://stitchymcyarnpants.com/knit06/?page_id=246" target="_blank">Rhinebeck Blogger Bingo</a>, as both a square and a player. If I'm on your card, you can identify me because I'll probably be carrying <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/01/lookie-what-i-got.html">this red bag</a>. Hope to see you there!</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-39235772849830706782007-10-02T09:28:00.001-04:002007-10-02T09:28:59.205-04:00Silly Knitting<p>So, I recently went to a <a href="http://www.oneofsusannas.com/finnishmittensclass.htm" target="_blank">Rovaniemi Mittens</a> class taught by <a href="http://www.oneofsusannas.com/" target="_blank">Susanna Hansson</a> at Webs. I should really be telling you about that (it was fabulous) and showing pictures of the "wristlet" that I started in class. However, it's not finished and my gauge is so super tight (11 sts/inch instead of the recommended 8-9 sts/in) that I think I'm going to rip it and try again. Anyhow, I'll get back to that sometime. But not now, because currently I am obsessed with making this silly thing.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/allg-ip-cp-800x788-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Scarves/allg-ip-cp-350x345-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="345" /></a><br/>How stinking cute is this?</p>
<p>It's the <a href="http://www.morehousefarm.com/KnittingKits/Scarves/Alligator/" target="_blank">Alligator Scarf</a> from Morehouse Farm, and it's <b>super cute</b>. I'm making it with some Jaeger Baby Merino DK that I got on sale at Webs. It will be for either Niece#4 or Nephew#4 -- the only family members who are still young enough to actually want to <i>wear</i> an alligator scarf.</p>
<p>Morehouse Farm has a lot of other cute animal scarf patterns on their website. I just noticed they now have a <a href="http://www.morehousefarm.com/KnittingKits/Scarves/Dragon/" target="_blank">dragon scarf</a>. Oooh, I'm tempted.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-17576377578865429862007-09-19T23:17:00.000-04:002007-09-19T23:58:49.555-04:00Ravelry!<p>Yay, I finally got my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com" target="blank">Ravelry</a> invitation!!!</p>
<p>Too bad I will be away this weekend and I won't have any time to enter more of my projects, stash, etc. It's going to be a lot of work since I currently store all my photos on <a href="http://www.photobucket.com" target="blank">Photobucket</a> (I love the amount of organization it gives you for free). Now I'll have to copy them over to Flickr -- what a drag. A question for those of you with Flickr accounts: Do you pay for the upgrade so you can have more than 3 sets or do you just go with the free version? If so, is it really hard to find stuff once you've uploaded a lot of pictures?</p>
<p>If you're already on Ravelry and you want to be my friend, then look me up. My username is "persnicketyknitr" (boo-hiss to the 16-character username limit, but I'm grateful for the invite, really).</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-88457831040845572782007-08-09T10:00:00.000-04:002007-08-09T10:01:06.075-04:00What to do With Leftover Sock Yarn<p>Want to see what I've been knitting lately? Well feast your eyes on <i>this</i>:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-ball-700x483-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-ball-350x241-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="241" /></a><br/>Oooh, pretty.</p>
<p>Can you guess what it is?</p>
<p>Well, when you knit a lot of socks, you invariably are left with <i>lots</i> of leftover sock yarn. And what do you do with all of those tiny little balls? [No you don't throw them out! Who said that? You should be ashamed.] No, you <b>use them</b>. You knit something like this:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-det-800x600-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-det-350x263-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="263" /></a><br/>It's a Leftover Sock Yarn Afghan.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-flat-800x705-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-flat-350x309-40.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="309" /></a><br/>It's colorific.</p>
<p>The plan is that I will knit one block on this afghan for each pair of socks I have ever knit. Since I give away a lot of the socks I make, this will serve as a nice little memento for me. The problem with my plan is that I have no yarn left from several pairs of socks. That bums me out. Maybe when those particular socks die (I officially hate to darn socks), I will unravel some yarn from their ankles and use it to make a block. We'll see.</p>
<p>Anyhow, as of this morning, I have knit 43 blocks. My current sock quota is 61 pairs, so I've got some more blocks to go before I catch up. Also, clearly, it will be a <i><b>loooooong</b></i> time before this thing is big enough to actually use as an afghan. Guess I better knit some more socks then. ;) [Do you see a cycle here?]</p>
<p>I'm knitting the afghan in entrelac (so no seaming, yay!), with each block consisting of 24 sts and 47 rows. Since I've knit socks from many different weights of yarns, from aran-weight to very thin sock yarn, I've had to mess around a bit with various needle sizes to get the blocks to come out roughly of equal size. I divided the plies of the aran- or worsted-weight yarn to use only half of its thickness. The DK yarn I knit fairly tightly. The fingering-weight yarn I knit at varying degrees of looseness (mostly looser than I would for socks). I'm going for an approximate gauge of 7.5 sts/inch, which is giving me a block size of approximately 3 x 4 inches. It's going to take some serious blocking to get this afghan to lie flat, but I did a little trial steam-block (love that Scunci steamer) and it seemed to work fine.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-corner-800x500-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Afghans/afg-corner-350x219-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="219" /></a><br/>The trial steam-blocked section is on the left side of this pic -- nice and flat.</p>
<p>I haven't yet decided what kind of edging I should do (since that step is far off), but I'm thinking it will be black. Does anyone have any suggestions?</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-68031802703519914812007-08-06T21:02:00.000-04:002007-08-06T21:03:55.422-04:00A Long List<p>Thanks for the comments welcoming me back to blogland. I'm actually surprised you guys didn't give up on me after my long absence.</p>
<p>I've been catching up on my blog reading and I saw this list on a couple of blogs. It looked like fun, so here goes:</p>
<br/><br/>
<p>Mark with <b>bold</b> the things you have ever knit, with <i>italics</i> the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest. <i>[And I, in my ultimate analness, have made things bold and italic if I have tried the technique (like in a swatch or a UFO) but not finished an item with it yet.]</i></p>
<ul>
<li><i><b>Afghan</b></i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've started a sock-yarn afghan, but it's not very big yet.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>I-cord</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Garter stitch</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Is this question really necessary?)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting with metal wire</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Sounds painful, but still intrigues me. I think I saw some wire & bead candleholder thingies I'd like to try.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Shawl</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Stockinette stitch</b> </li><br/>
<li><b>Socks: top-down</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(my favorite way)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Socks: toe-up</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with camel yarn</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(very fragile)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Mittens: Cuff-up</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Mittens: Tip-down</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I might try gloves starting with the fingers)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Hat</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting with silk</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I'd like to make a silk shawl someday.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Moebius band knitting</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Need to buy the book.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Participating in a KAL</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(However, the <i>level</i> of my participation is not exactly stellar.</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Sweater</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Drop stitch patterns</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Hmmm, I don't think so.)</span></li><br/>
<li>Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I did unravel a sweater a few years ago with the intention of reusing the yarn, but I never got around to knitting with it. Now I've got too much stash to make this worth the effort.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Slip stitch patterns</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting with banana fiber yarn</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Not sure. I guess I might do this just to say I tried it?)</span></li><br/>
<li><i><b>Domino knitting (=modular knitting)</b></i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've done some swatching, but this is definitely not my favorite technique.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Twisted stitch patterns</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(love 'em)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with bamboo yarn</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Two end knitting</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Took a great twined knitting class and made a kid's mitten. Very cool technique.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Charity knitting</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Dulaan)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting with soy yarn</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I recently bought some Tofutsies though.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i><b>Cardigan</b></i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I started one, but never finished it.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Toy/doll clothing</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(doll socks)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with circular needles</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Baby items</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting with your own handspun yarn</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Only in the very distant future. I am currently trying to resist the urge to become a spinner.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Slippers</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Have a pattern waiting.)</span></li><br/>
<li>Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street) <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(This wouldn't really work in my neighborhood.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Continental knitting</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Designing knitted garments</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Lace patterns</b></li><br/>
<li>Publishing a knitting book <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I guess I shouldn't say "no", but it's very unlikely.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Scarf</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Teaching a child to knit</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(a whole street worth of little girls)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(my preferred method)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting to make money</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Hmmm, not if it sucks the joy out of knitting.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Buttonholes</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with alpaca</b></li><br/>
<li><b><i>Fair Isle knitting</i></b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've done 2-color stranded colorwork, but not with traditional Fair Isle patterns with the shading of the foreground & background colors)</span></li><br/>
<li><b><i>Norwegian knitting</i></b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've done 2-color stranded colorwork, but not in a sweater and I've not done steeks.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Dying with plant colours</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Maybe, in the very distant future)</span></li><br/>
<li>Knitting items for a wedding <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(sounds stressful)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies...)</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I love using 2 circulars.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Olympic knitting</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/02/knitting-mojo.html">sucked</a> at this. Never finished.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(<a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/05/socks-summer-cottages-and-day-to-rant.html#socks">Yes</a>, thanks to Anne of <a href="http://www.knitspot.com">knitspot</a>)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with dpns</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Holiday-related knitting</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Mini mittens that I intended to use as ornaments, but never hung on the tree -- do those count? I keep saying that I'm going to knit Xmas stockings, but somehow I never get around to it.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Teaching a male how to knit</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've taught 2 boys to knit. Does that count?)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Bobbles</b></li><br/>
<li>Knitting for a living <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(not sure -- may kill the love)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with cotton</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting smocking</i><br/>
<li><i>Dying yarn</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(again, distant future)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Steeks</i></li><br/>
<li><i>Knitting art</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(hmm?)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Well, <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com">one person</a> I know is very fond of knitting 2 socks at a time. She's even written a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/2-at-Time-Socks-Melissa-Morgan-Oakes/dp/1580176917/ref=sr_1_1/104-9817856-4479146?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185765551&sr=1-1">book</a> about it, although on one circular. But I am far too apt to rip back in search of the elusive <i>perfect</i> fit, and ripping back 2 socks is just too painful.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Fulling/felting</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with wool</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Textured knitting</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Kitchener BO</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(love it)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Purses/bags</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(drawstring bags, no purses)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with beads</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I've got a huge stash of seed beads. I should do this more.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Swatching</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(enjoy it)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Long Tail CO</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Entrelac</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting and purling backwards</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I can <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/03/sdrawkcab-gnittink.html">knit backwards</a> fairly smoothly, but I haven't gotten the hang of purling backwards yet.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Machine knitting</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(maybe, distant future)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Stuffed toys</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(I made a stuffed seal. It was kind of a pain. Too much sewing for me.)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with cashmere</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(yes, and it's lovely)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Darning</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(not much fun)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Jewelry</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(a knitted bead bracelet)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with synthetic yarn</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(novelty scarves, and maybe a foofy tank top here or there)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Writing a pattern</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Gloves</b></li><br/>
<li><b><i>Intarsia</i></b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(only a little bit)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting with linen</b></li><br/>
<li>Knitting for preemies</li><br/>
<li><b>Tubular CO</b></li><br/>
<li>Freeform knitting <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(hmmmm, I don't think freeform fits my oh-so-methodical style)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Short rows</b></li><br/>
<li><b>Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers</b></li><br/>
<li><i>Pillows</i></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Jaywalkers, Wavy Scarf. Surprisingly, that may be all.)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Rug</i> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(Have the book. Have been meaning to make something.)</span></li><br/>
<li>Knitting on a loom <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(not really interested)</span></li><br/>
<li><i>Thrummed knitting</i></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting a gift</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(lots)</span></li><br/>
<li>Knitting for pets <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(have no pets)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Shrug/bolero/poncho</b></li><br/>
<li>Knitting with dog/cat hair <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(ummm, no)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Hair accessories</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(headbands)</span></li><br/>
<li><b>Knitting in public</b> <span style="font-size:80%; color:#808038">(ALL THE TIME)</span></li><br/>
</ul>
<p>Holy crap, that was a long list! It will be interesting to review this list in a year and see if I can bold any of the non-bolded items by then. Which do you think would be the most likely or the most unlikely? Any guesses?</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-47610099597312557652007-08-02T15:20:00.000-04:002007-08-02T15:20:49.225-04:00Blog Avoidance<p>Wow, it's been exactly 5 months since my last post. How much do I suck? In case you are curious, I am not dead. Nor do I have any other good excuse for my shameful lack of blog posting. I <b>have</b>, however, been knitting. But I still haven't attempted to fix <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2007/02/crappity-crap-crap-crappers.html">that shawl</a> (is anyone really surprised?).</p>
<p>In an attempt to get back into the swing of blogging, I have updated my Gallery. I have listed <i>every single stinking pair of socks</i> that I have ever knit (cuz I'm anal like that, in case you haven't noticed). Anyhow, it contains several things I have never blogged about, so you may want to check it out.</p>
<p>Here are some teaser pics from the <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/">Gallery</a>:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/05/chipmans-block-mittens.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/m-mitt-250x302-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="302" />Chipman's Block Mittens</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/05/cashmere-fingerless-gloves.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/m-fingls-glv-on-350x332-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="332" />Cashmere Fingerless Gloves</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/06/silk-garden-ribbed-hat.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Hats/silkg-rib-bot-350x467-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="476" />Silk Garden Ribbed Hat</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/cascading-leaves-socks-2.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/casc-leaf-KS-inst-350x298-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="298" />Cascading Leaves Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/ugly-purple-jaywalkers.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/ppl-jay-350x254-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="254" />Ugly Purple Sockotta Jaywalkers</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/greenish-brown-trekking-xxl-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/g-trek-grn-det-250x305-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="305" />Manly Greenish-Brown Trekking Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/bluegreen-regia-6-ply-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/mom-bl-gr-350x269-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="269" />6-ply Regia Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/marias-cabled-bearfoot-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/maria-sks-250x266-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="266" />Cabled Bearfoot Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/blue-trekking-american-girl-doll-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/bl-ag-bot-250x186-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="186" />American Girl Doll Socks</a><br/>(made from Trekking, of course)</p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/mistake-lace-american-girl-doll-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/am-girl-gr-lace-det-250x333.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="333" />Lacy American Girl Doll Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/ik-simply-lovely-mistake-lace-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/lace-sks-350x276-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="276" />Simply Lovely (or not so lovely) MISTAKE Lace Socks</a><br/>(Trekking XXL again)</p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/orange-crazy-patterned-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/oran-patt-350x310-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="310" />Crazy-Patterned Opal Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/trekking-greenorangeyellow-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/trek-oran-gr2-350x342-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="342" />More Trekking Socks</a><br/>(Apparently I am addicted to Trekking XXL. It's like <a href="http://madmadhousewife.blogspot.com/2007/07/fun-things-to-do-with-kids-but-not.html" target="_blank">crack</a>.)</p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/motherdaughter-simple-stripes-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/mom-daug-vert-250x407-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="407" />Mother/Daughter Socks</a><br/>(click for cute stuffed bunny picture)</p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/blue-white-jaywalkers.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2006/jwlk-blu-mom-top-300x335-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="335" />Strange Blue & White Opal Jaywalkers</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p>Plus some oldies from several years ago:</p>
<br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/naturalbrown-fair-isle-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2004/brn-nat-stranded-350x367-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="376" />Brown & Natural Stranded Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/childs-green-socks-with-purple-details.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2004/dk-gr-w-purp-250x360-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="360" />DK-weight Purple & Green Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/daughter1s-fluffy-sockotta-socks.html"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for details" alt="click for details" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2005/sockotta-flf-k-350x320-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="320" />Crazy Furry Socks</a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p>And much more in the <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/sock-gallery.html">Sock Gallery</a>.</p>
<br/><br/>
<hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" />
<br/><br/>
<p>Oh, and if you are looking for some entertaining blog reading, go check out my friend Rachel's new blog, <a href="http://madmadhousewife.blogspot.com/">Diary of a Mad, Mad Housewife</a>. It is a wickedly funny look at the trials and tribulations of a slightly paranoid "Suburban Mommy". It's good stuff.</p>
<br/>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-24345269203678585952007-03-02T14:20:00.000-05:002007-03-02T14:26:00.321-05:00Shawl Fixes, Austrian Mittens, and Bacteria<p>Thanks for the supportive comments about my <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2007/02/crappity-crap-crap-crappers.html">shawl problem</a>. You gave me some good things to think about.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://cattyscorner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cattycorner</a> pointed out, since the shawl is circular, I <i>would</i> probably wear it folder over. However, I'm thinking that I would like to wear it not quite doubled, but with the top 12 inches or so folded down -- I like the look of having the center of the swirl in the center of my back. And I think I will be annoyed if every time I go to wear it, I need to arrange it so that the stupid error isn't falling right smack on my butt (thereby drawing unneeded attention to that part of my anatomy ;)</p>
<p><a href="http://franticom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">franticom</a> suggested that I try to hide the mistake under some embroidery, which is an interesting idea. However, my embroidery skills are sorely lacking and I think I might just totally mess that up.</p>
<p><a href="http://paknitwit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SJ</a> suggested that I do some creative blocking to make it LOOK like there are yarnovers in that row. I'm really intrigued by this suggestion and I think I'll try it. I'll let you know how it works.</p>
<p>I'm in the process of making a test swatch for the kitchener fix, just to see if it works. If it turns out to be too difficult or annoying, I will just leave the shawl as is. The mistake does kind of blend in and look like a variegation in the yarn, especially when seen at a more normal angle (and against a darker background).</p>
<hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" />
<a name="mittens"> </a>
<p>Well, enough about my shawl. In an attempt to give you something interesting to look at, I am finally posting pictures of some mittens I finished a couple of months ago (during my blogging hiatus).</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/austr-bks-700x438-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/austr-bks-350x219-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="219" /></a><br/>Austrian Mittens</p>
<p>I made these mittens after taking a Strickmuster class with <a href="http://www.strickwear.com/" target="_blank">Candace Eisner Strick</a> at <a href="http://yarn.com/" target="_blank">Webs</a>, back in October. This was a great class, in which we learned all about Austrian twisted stitch patterns, including some of Candace's special adaptations. Candace gave out the pattern for these mittens as part of the two-day class, and I started them on the 2nd day.</p>
<p>Here are the details:</p>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/austr-zoom-palm500x789-40.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/austr-zoom-palm-250x395-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="395" /></a><dl><dt>Pattern: </dt><dd>Austrian Mittens, designed by Candace Eisner Strick (provided as part of her Strickmuster class)</dd>
<dt>Yarn: </dt><dd>Reynolds <a href="http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/3162/" target="_blank">Whiskey</a> [100% wool],<br />
color: 16</dd>
<dt>Needles: </dt><dd>US 3 (and US 4 for the i-cord at the bottom)</dd>
<dt>Gauge: </dt><dd>7.5 sts/inch in stockinette, about 9 sts/inch in pattern</dd>
<dt>Modifications: </dt><dd>My gauge with this yarn was a little tighter than that specified in the pattern, but I did not change the number of stitches for the hand since the mittens made from the pattern (which Candace brought to class) were a little big on me.<br/>
I started with the i-cord edge, but I kitchenered the i-cord together at the ends, instead of having extra i-cord hanging down (kind of like tassels). Also, I did not want to include the gauntlet part of the cuffs, so I cast on just enough stitches for the hand of the mitten. I widened the thumb and knit the inner part of it (the part toward the palm) in reverse stockinette, instead of twisted ribbing.</dd>
<dt>Comments: </dt><dd>I really enjoyed making these mittens, although it did require me to pay a lot of attention to the chart. Once I got about halfway through the first mitten, all of the manipulation of the stitches started to come more easily, and the project moved along more quickly.<br/>
I really like the way this pattern had you start with an i-cord edge and then pick up stitches from the side of that to start the hand. That makes a nice, clean bottom edge for the mitten.<br/>
I used Reynolds Whiskey for these mittens because it was one of the few yarns then available at Webs that was the right fiber content and roughly the right gauge for this pattern. It really doesn't show off the stitch pattern to its best advantage (a lighter color and a smoother yarn would probably have been better), but my choices were limited and I do like the color. I would definitely use this yarn again for a different sort of pattern.<br/>
I love these mittens and they fit great. I intend to make another pair of them sometime, but using a yarn like Louet Gems Merino (the recommended yarn for the pattern).<br />
</dd></dl>
</p>
<hr size="2" width="80%" align="center" noshade="noshade" />
<p>Oh, and I wanted to let you know about one last thing. I was just on the website for the Boston Museum of Science and I stumbled across a very interesting bit of science news. Apparently, some new research has shown that the amount of certain types of bacteria we have in our intestines may help determine how fat we are. Check out the museum's <a href="http://www.mos.org/events_activities/podcasts&d=1364" target="_blank">podcast</a> about it -- fascinating.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-40664224733962334942007-02-24T12:13:00.000-05:002007-02-24T12:29:19.844-05:00Crappity, Crap, Crap, Crappers<p>So, I finally got around to blocking the <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/08/some-catching-up-to-do.html#shawl">spiral shawl</a> that I started last summer. I finished it sometime in the fall, but I was too <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">lazy</span> busy to block it until now.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-full-700x562-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-full-350x281-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="281" /></a></p>
<br/><br/>
<p>All was fine and dandy, and I was feeling pretty proud of myself, until I stood back to admire it and <b>whammo</b>, I saw it. ARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHH! A big fat mistake!<p/>
<br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px;" title="stupid shawl" alt="stupid shawl" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom4-350x278-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="278" /><br/>Can you see it?</p>
<br/><br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px;" title="stupid shawl" alt="stupid shawl" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom3-350x263-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="263" /><br/>How about now?</p>
<br/><br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px" title="stupid shawl" alt="stupid shawl" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom2-350x263-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="263" /><br/>Can you see it now?</p>
<br/><br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom0-700x511-50.jpg" target="_blank" onmouseover="document.flawpic.src='http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom0y-350x256-50.jpg'" onmouseout="document.flawpic.src='http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom0-350x256-50.jpg'"><img name="flawpic" style="display:inline; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-zoom0-350x256-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="265" /></a><br/>Yep, there it is.<br/><br/>
<i>(rollover the image for a lovely highlighted effect)</i><br/><br/>
<b>I knit across one of the segments instead of doing the yarnovers!</b></p>
<br/>
<p>At first I thought, "Well, maybe it's not that noticeable." I had Uncool Guy look at the shawl to see if he could find the mistake. He didn't see it. I directed his attention to the general area. He still didn't see it. I told him which segment it was in. Nope. (The man must be blind.) I had to point it out to him. That was encouraging.</p>
<p>However, I then located Daughter#1 and challenged her to find the mistake. (sigh) She found it within 10 seconds. (She's got a touch of the persnickety in her, that girl.)</p>
<p>Maybe you just have to be a knitter to see it. Anyhow, it bugs me and now it's all I can see when I look at the shawl. I'm <i>hoping</i> I can fix it by cutting the yarn, picking out the one offending row in that section, and kitchenering it back together with some added YO's and K2tog's. Sounds fun, huh? I'll have to test that <b>very</b> carefully on a swatch. (big sigh) But not anytime soon -- I'm just not up for it.</p>
<p>What a big fat bummer. Anyone have any other ideas?</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-41308268056384009472007-02-22T16:52:00.000-05:002007-02-22T16:53:16.346-05:00Cowgirls and some FOs<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;">Do you know what these pictures mean?<br/>
<img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" title="" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Nonknitting/m-party-gifts-250x342-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="342" /><br/>
<img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" title="" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Nonknitting/m-party-lights-240x248-50.jpg" border="0" width="240" height="248" /><br/>
Why, it's a semi-surprise cowgirl birthday party for <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Melissa</a>, of course.</p>
<br/><br/>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Nonknitting/mel-w-cake-2-600x676-60.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Nonknitting/mel-w-cake-2-250x281-60.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="281" /></a>Here's a picture of the birthday girl herself, contemplating the number of candles on her cake. Wait a minute -- aren't there a few missing?</p>
<p>It was a fun celebration of "all things Melissa", with great margaritas to boot. I discovered that I suck at Pictionary (or, at least, I suck at drawing chicken- and baseball-related clues).</p>
<p style="clear:both"><br/><br/><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px;" title="me & Sister#1" alt="me & Sister#1" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/Nonknitting/m-party-me-c-250x188-80.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="188" />Daughter#1 managed to get a halfway decent picture of Sister#1 and me at the shindig. I'm the one <b>without</b> the cowgirl hat -- unlike Melissa and Sister#1, I'm not even a small part cowgirl.<p>
<p>For a laugh, go check out the <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com/2007/02/sweet-cowgirl-weekend.html" target="_blank">funny picture of Daughter#1</a> caught eating wasabi peas at the bar.</p>
<div style="clear:both; margin:30px 15%; border-top-style:dotted; border-top-width:1px;"></div>
<a name="franklin"></a>
<p>In knitting news, I finished those <a href="http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/3551/" target="_blank">Franklin</a> socks for <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Melissa's</a> book. I really like the yarn. It's not splitty at all, and it holds up great to lots of ripping (ask me how I know).</p>
<p>Here's a picture of the chutney color. It looks very different when knit at 72 sts (on the left) than it does at 60 sts (on the right). I really dig the diagonal flashing the yarn does when knit at 60 sts around. Too bad that size doesn't fit my foot. :(</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/mockcblsks-72vs60sts-700x460.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/mockcblsks-72vs60sts-350x230.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="230" /></a></p>
<a name="trekking"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><br/><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/dad-trek-gray-700x520-40.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/2007/dad-trek-gray-250x186-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="186" /></a>I have also finished a pair of Trekking socks for my dad's birthday. These are color 62, done on US1 needles. I'm getting a little tired of Trekking yarn -- these are my 7th pair, I think. Yet, for some reason I just started <i>another pair</i> of Trekking socks for Uncool Guy. He has recently put holes in two pairs of his handknit socks (<a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/red-sox-socks.html" target="_blank">these</a> and <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/03/mens-brownblue-magic-stripe-socks.html" target="_blank">these</a>), so I need to whip out some more for him.</p>
<a name="handwarmers"></a>
<p style="clear:both;"><br/><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/carey-wrist-700x531-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0px 10px 10px 0px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Mittens/carey-wrist-250x190-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="190" /></a>Here's another FO that I need to mail off to its recipient. It's a pair of handwarmers/fingerless mitts for Sister-in-Law#1. This pattern is from Interweave Knits Fall 2005, in the Yarn Spotlight section. The yarn is Peruvian Collection <a href="http://www.elann.com/productdisp.asp?NAME=elann%2Ecom+Peruvian+Sierra+Aran&Season=&Company=&Cat=ALLY&ProductType=5&OrderBy=&Count=43" target="_blank">Sierra Aran</a>, used with US8 needles.</p>
<p>This is the fourth pair of these I have knit (see the others <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/05/mitten-gallery.html" target="_blank">here</a>). It's about time I tried a different pattern, huh? Well, last year Sister-in-Law#1 saw the ones I made for Mother-in-Law#1 and decided to knit herself a pair. However, she did not finish them before she decided to <b><i>give up knitting</i></b> (SHOCKING -- yes, I know), so I told her I would finish them for her.</p>
<p>I have a lot of other finished objects to show, but right now I need to get away from this computer and ride my bike. I can feel my butt expanding as I sit here...</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-51303091114265121862007-02-14T15:23:00.000-05:002007-02-22T17:36:15.847-05:00Sugar Rush<a name="candy"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://www.harborcandy.com" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="Fruit Jellies from Harbor Candy Shop" alt="Fruit Jellies from Harbor Candy Shop" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/PID_158.jpg" border="0" width="250" /></a>Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. I'm running on very little sleep today, since I spent a lot of last night trying to install my new blogger template (more on that later).</p>
<p>Uncool Guy has continued his customary Valentine's Day generosity and has showered me with flowers (tulips) and candy. These are the most wonderful fruit jellies from the <a href="http://www.harborcandy.com" target="_blank">Harbor Candy Shop</a> in Ogunquit, Maine. Man, are they good. Plum is currently my favorite, but that could change because they are all just so lovely. If you are ever in Ogunquit, be sure to stop in at this store -- it is a chocolate/candy lover's haven.</p>
<div style="clear:both; margin:30px 15%; border-top-style:dotted; border-top-width:1px;"></div>
<a name="felted-bowl"></a>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-hts-600x486-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-hts-350x284-30.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="284" /></a></p>
<p>In knitting news, here is the completed bowl that I showed you the <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2007/02/book-list-and-felting-first.html">other day</a>. It came out pretty well for my first felted item, I think. I had a little problem with the edge though. I kept stopping the washing machine every 5 minutes or so to check on the progress of the felting, and I didn't notice until it was too late that part of the edge had started to curl in. By the time I noticed it, the edge was already too firmly attached in some places to unfold it. So I tried to curl the rest of the edge all the way around and felted it some more. It sort of worked, but the edge came out lumpier than I would have liked.</p>
<p>I based this bowl on the mancala pattern at Knitty, but I doubled the yarn and used bigger needles. Here are the specs:</p>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-600x472-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-300x236-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="236" /></a></p>
<dl><dt>Pattern: </dt><dd>I followed the instructions for the Large Bowl in the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter04/PATTmancalamia.html" target="_blank">Mancala pattern</a> at Knitty</dd>
<dt>Yarn: </dt><dd><a href="http://www.yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=1815" target="_blank">Manos del Uruguay</a> [100% wool],<br />
color: 38 (dark purple), which I got from <a href="http://www.windsorbutton.com/" target="_blank">Windsor Button</a> last year</dd>
<dt>Needles: </dt><dd>US 15 (used with the yarn doubled)</dd>
<dt>Gauge: </dt><dd>who knows?</dd>
<dt>Finished Size: </dt><dd>3" high by 6" wide</dd>
<a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-zoom-600x582-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/ppl-man-zoom-300x291-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="291" /></a>
<dt>Comments: </dt><dd>I felted the crap out of this bowl and it came out pretty thick and sturdy. Interestingly, the felted fabric seems to have a sort of "boucle" surface. I wonder if this has something to do with the fact that this is a thick & thin yarn. I'm guessing that the thicker yarn sections turned into the boucle "bumps" when felted. Anyway, it's a cool effect.<br /><br />
I shaped the bowl by stretching it tightly over a glass bowl. The bowl had slight vertical ridges on the outside and a sharply defined bottom ridge. It's funny that I can kind of see the ridges in the dried bowl and I can definitely see an indent from the bottom ridge in the bottom of the bowl. So next time, I'll have to find a different bowl for the shaping and drying.</dd></dl>
<i>[<b>Updated to add: </b> It has been brought to my attention that the bowl in the mancala pattern has an attached i-cord edge. I did <b>not</b> make an i-cord edge on my bowl, because I, apparently, cannot follow directions. Anyhow, I bet if I <b>had</b> made the i-cord edge, it wouldn't have partially curled in like it did. I'll try that next time.]</i>
<div style="clear:both; margin:30px 15%; border-top-style:dotted; border-top-width:1px;"></div>
<a name="tiger"></a>
<p>Oh, and Daughter#1 made this little shrinky dink tiger for me the other day. Isn't he cute?</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/shrink-tiger-546x426-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" title="click for bigger picture" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/shrink-tiger-300x234-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="234" /></a></p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-42486549854787573982007-02-14T03:45:00.000-05:002007-02-14T03:48:56.061-05:00Back in Business<p>OK, I think the new template is completely installed now. I have a few more changes to make, but please let me know if anything looks funny. I'm going to bed.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-85250496955113578672007-02-14T02:15:00.000-05:002007-02-14T02:19:02.521-05:00Chaos<p><b>Warning:</b> I am <i>currently</i> in the process of updating the template for this blog. Expect chaos, confusion, and general ugliness. You may want to just come back later...</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-73968271021284985632007-02-03T21:56:00.000-05:002007-02-04T00:15:29.349-05:00A Book List and a Felting First<p>Well, I finally upgraded to the new Blogger, and I can see that it has caused some problems with my template. I'll be trying to fix those soon, so don't be surprised if this blog is a little flaky for a while. Also, I think it might be time for a blog design overhaul; it's looking a little cluttered around here.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/basic-ribbed-part-700x523-3.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/basic-ribbed-part-300x224-5.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="224" /></a>So what have I been up to lately? Well, I finished these sample socks in Trekking XXL, color 69, for <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Melissa's</a> upcoming book.</p>
<p>I'll be knitting another pair of socks for her, as soon as the yarn arrives on Monday. It's going to be Webs' new sock yarn, <a href="http://yarn.com/webs/0/0/0/0-1001-1294-1323/0/0/3551/" target="_blank">Franklin</a>, which I am excited to try.</p>
<p style="clear:both"><br /><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Other/manos-ppl-bowl-300x267-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="267" />Here's something I just made today. It's my very first felted object -- a bowl made out of doubled Manos del Uruguay. It's really thick so it will probably take forever to dry, but I'll post another pic when it's done. I hope it comes out well because I've got a skein of almost-solid red Manos that I think would make a cute bowl, or maybe a little box.</p>
<p style="clear:both"></p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<p>Oh, and hey, check out what's in my personal <a href="http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=PersnicketyKnitter" target="_blank">knitting book library</a>. I just created this list at <a href="http://www.librarything.com/" target="_blank">Library Thing</a>. If you have a list there, leave a link in the comments so I can check out what's in your library.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=PersnicketyKnitter" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://www.librarything.com/gwidget/widget.php?view=PersnicketyKnitter&type=random&width=300&num=20&hbold=1&tbold=0&top=** 20 RANDOM BOOKS FROM MY LIBRARY **&bc=dddddd&hc=408080&ac=000000&tc=808038" border="0" /></a>View my complete knitting book library <a href="http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=PersnicketyKnitter" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1167759455560807642007-01-02T12:36:00.000-05:002007-01-02T12:37:35.580-05:00Discos and Fibonacci Stripes<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-w-snowman-600x800-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-w-snowman-250x333-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="333" /></a>Happy 2007, everyone!</p>
<p>I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I know I did. I was so busy there was not much time left for knitting, but I'm not complaining</p>
<p>We finally got a little snow on Dec 30th and Daughter#2 managed to scrape enough together to make this cute little snowman.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-w-snowman-det-600x863-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-w-snowman-det-300x431-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="431" /></a>too cute</p>
<a name="disco"></a>
<p>Unfortunately, he melted yesterday in the rain, but he did survive long enough to help us ring in the new year, which we did <b>disco style</b>. We set up a little discotheque at Chez Persnickety and had a dance extravaganza. In fact, I'm <i>still</i> sore from all the dancing.</p>
<p>I forgot to get a picture that night (too many Cosmopolitans?), but here's a picture the next morning, looking up at he ceiling of our "disco". Just imagine it with more balloons, strobe lights, and the disco ball going...</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/new-yrs-decor-700x525-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/new-yrs-decor-350x263-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="263" /></a>I just love to hang stuff from the ceiling.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="striped-socks"></a>
<p>I did manage to get a few knitted items finished in December. One of them was a pair of socks that I made for myself with some leftover Yarn for Sox.</p>
<p>I usually hate stripes, but after reading an article on Fibonacci stripes in the Fall 2003 issue of Cast On I decided to give them a try. [The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number" target="_blank">Fibonacci sequence</a> is a series of numbers that starts with 0, 1, and then every following number is the sum of the two previous numbers. So the sequence is: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, etc.]</p>
<p>Apparently, there are many, many ways you can make use of this sequence in knitting. I decided to use just two alternating colored stripes, but to let the sequence determine how many rows of each color to knit (up to a max of 5 rows). So my pattern went: 1 red, 1 blue, 2 red, 3 blue, 5 red, 1 blue, 1 red, 2 blue, 3 red, 5 blue (repeated).</p>
<p style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red-2-700x623-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red-2-350x311-60.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="311" /></a>Fibonacci-striped socks</p>
<p>To add even more interest, I used a two-color corrugated ribbing at the cuff, and I made one sock with a red cuff and toe and the other with a blue cuff and toe. Here are the specs:</p>
<p><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red1-600x752-60.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red1-250x313-70.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="313" /></a><dl>
<dt>Pattern: </dt><dd>my own</dd>
<dt>Yarn: </dt><dd>Accessories Unlimited <a href="http://www.yarn.com/yarns-knitting/sox.html" target="_blank">Yarn for Sox</a> [80% wool, 20% nylon],<br />
color: Red Mix and Blue Jean (<1 skein of each)</dd>
<dt>Needles: </dt><dd>US 4?</dd>
<dt>Gauge: </dt><dd>4.25 sts/inch at ankle, 5 sts/inch on foot (hmmm)</dd>
<dt>Finished: </dt><dd>December 2006</dd>
<dt>Comments: </dt><dd>I loosely carried the yarn along the "seam" for the narrow stripes, but cut the yarn when I got to the widest stripes. There were still plenty of ends to weave in, believe me. <br />
I used <a href="http://tiajudy.com/jog.htm" target="_blank">this technique</a> to try to camouflage the color jogs at the end of the rounds. I've used this method successfully several times before, but it didn't work as well with such thick, rough yarn. Well, I think it still looks better than not doing anything, and it's at the back of my ankle and the bottom of the foot so it doesn't really matter.<br />
I'm not a big fan of this yarn. I like that it is a worsted weight yarn that is made with some nylon content so it will wear well when made into socks, but it's just too rough and "au naturel" for me. It has bits of vegetation still in it that must be picked out (but not as much as a Noro yarn). It sure makes really thick socks though.</dd>
</dl></p>
<p style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red-on-700x597-80.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/bl-red-on-350x298-70.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="298" /></a> I like funky socks.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<p>I'm still working on updating my gallery. I'll let you know when it is up and running. I'm focusing mostly on the socks for now. It's taking me a long time because <b>a)</b> I am anal and want to have every project properly documented and <b>b)</b> I have knit a lot of socks.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1167250837637435512006-12-27T15:20:00.000-05:002006-12-27T15:20:37.690-05:00None of me<div style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><table width="350" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" cellpadding="1" border="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><tr><td style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(0, 102, 179); color: white;">HowManyOfMe.com</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black; text-align: center; font-size: 14px; background-color: white;"><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" border="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td width="120" style="text-align: center; padding-top: 2px; background-color: white;"><a href="http://howmanyofme.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="http://extimg.howmanyofme.com/extimages/howmany-logo.png" alt="Logo" width="100" height="100" style="border: 1px black" /></a></td><td style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;">There are:</span><br /><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">0</span><br /><span style="color: black;">people with my name<br />in the U.S.A.</span><br /></td></tr></table><a style="color: #0066B3; font-weight: bold; line-height: 180%; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://howmanyofme.com">How many have your name?</a></td></tr></table><br /></div>
<p>Does this mean that I don't exist? Or that I live on my own little planet?</p>
<p>Some of you may be wondering whether I do, in fact, still exist, since this blog has been quiet for so long. But I'm hoping to remedy that. Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution. Forget those resolutions about exercising more, or using up my stash. Maybe I can actually accomplish a resolution to blog more.</p>
<p>Actually, there are 137,986 people in the U.S. with my first name, but no one with my last name. I guess that's one reason to hyphenate your last name when you get married -- to confuse little programs like this.</p>
<p>I'm tempted to convert my blog to use the new Blogger format. However, I've spent so much time pimping out my template I'm afraid to switch. Has anyone done so successfully?</p>
<p>Well, I'm off to update my Gallery. More soon, hopefully.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1159496477537358022006-09-28T22:20:00.000-04:002006-09-28T22:32:39.073-04:00ETD 10:38 AM<p>The UPS guy had a package for me today, and, since I haven't ordered any yarn lately, you know what that means... I'm dead.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/mlle-udah-socks-250x183-50.jpg" border="0" width="253" height="183" />Socks of Doom received from my assassin, Mlle Udah</p>
<p>So, no more Sock Wars for me. Too bad, it would have been fun to kill more than one person, but with all the international mailing involved there was just no chance of that. Although this game was fun, I think the downside was that no matter how quickly you knit your socks it could not save your life. It was just luck of the draw as to whether you got a fast assassin or a slow assassin assigned to you.</p>
<p>I think it would be fun to have another sort of sock war where knitting a sock quickly would actually SAVE your life. I'll have to give that some thought...</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="str"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-700x580-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-250x207-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="207" /></a>In other sock-related news, here is a pair of socks that I finished recently. I made them with the Socks That Rock that I won in the Sock-a-Month KAL. Here are the specs:</p>
<dl><dt>Pattern: </dt><dd>just a run of the mill top-down sock, but inside out</dd>
<dt>Yarn: </dt><dd><a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/" target="_blank">Blue Moon Fiber Arts</a>, Socks That Rock, mediumweight [100% superwash merino],<br />
color: Farmhouse</dd>
<dt>Needles: </dt><dd>US 2</dd>
<dt>Gauge: </dt><dd>7.5 sts/inch</dd>
<dt>Comments: </dt><dd>This was the first time I've used STR yarn and I have to say, I can see what all the commotion is about. This yarn is great. Very boing-y and soft. I wonder how it will hold up to wear though? It seems to be getting fuzzy rather quickly.<br />
You may be wondering why it looks like my socks are inside out. Well, that's because they are. I decided I liked the way the colors mixed better on the reverse stockinette side of the sock, so I decided to make that the outside. I knit them normally (with the knit side out) and just turned them inside out at the end before weaving in the ends. All I did differently was to pick up the stitches on the sides of the heel flap as to purl instead of as to knit.</dd></dl>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;">Which do you like best:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-det-700x525-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-det-350x263-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="263" /></a>the interesting reverse stockinette side, </p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;">or</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-stockinette-700x510-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-stockinette-350x255-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="255" /></a>the boring old stockinette side?</p>
<p style="clear:both"><br /><br /><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-side-700x406-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/str-side-250x145-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="145" /></a>There was a bit of color pooling with this yarn at the ankle (as you can see in this picture) but it doesn't really bother me very much.</p>
<p style="clear:both"><br /><br />Oh, and by the way, my index finger seems to be better now. Yay, back to knitting.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1159223368575326732006-09-25T18:27:00.000-04:002006-09-25T18:29:28.873-04:00Persnickety Knitter, in the Office, with the Cleckheaton 8-ply<p>So, I did it. I killed someone today. <a href="http://peety.livejournal.com/" target="_blank">My victim</a> in <a href="http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/07/are-you-ready-for-sock-wars-2006.html" target="_blank">Sock Wars</a> just received her Socks of Doom from me and she is now officially DEAD. Here is the weapon I used.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/sockwars-700x568-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/sockwars-300x243-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="243" /></a><a href="http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/09/yaaah-hurricane-fuelled-technical.html" target="_blank">Socks of Doom</a>, made with Cleckheaton Country 8-ply, in size 9.5</p>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Stitch%20Markers/stars-600x680-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Stitch%20Markers/stars-250x283-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="283" /></a>I tried to lessen the pain of my victim's demise by sending her some hematite, crystal, and silver stitch markers that I made. Beading was my previous hobby, but it has been sorely neglected ever since I was introduced to knitting. If you think my <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/04/late-flashing.html">yarn stash</a> is crazy, you should see my bead stash. ;)</p>
<p>Before taking her last breath, my victim (in Georgia) was able to send off her finished socks to kill her victim (in England), so I will now be responsible for killing my victim's victim's victim (try to stay with me here). My victim's victim will not be officially dead until she receives her socks in the mail, and in the meantime she will be knitting socks to kill someone in Canada. However, since a little birdie told me that she hasn't started yet, I'm thinking she won't finish them before she gets her package of doom. So, all I can do is sit here and wait for my victim's victim in England to die and mail me her uncompleted socks.</p>
<p>With all the international shipping this could take a while, which is fine with me since my stupid right index finger STILL hurts. I am <i>trying</i> not to knit until it is better, but that is <b>sooooo</b> hard. [I'm sure you can relate.] In the meantime, I may be killed by my designated assassin who is in Utah. However, I emailed her on Saturday and at that point she had not started knitting and seemed rather unaware of the rules. So, who knows. What a confusing, but fun, game this this is turning out to be.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1158989098863325112006-09-22T23:50:00.000-04:002006-09-23T01:24:58.876-04:00My finger hurts<p>Due to technical difficulties (hurricane in Northern Ireland which caused power outages) the <a href="http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/09/yaaah-hurricane-fuelled-technical.html" target="_blank">Sock Wars</a> pattern was not posted until about 3:30pm EST. This was good timing for me, since we had just finished school for the day (we're homeschoolers). Well, I cast on <i>instantly</i> and knit almost <b>non-stop</b> for the rest of the evening.</p>
<p>I lost a little time when I hit the turning of the heel and discovered that there was an error in the directions for that section (making the heel off-center). I spent some time posting a correction to the <a href="http://sockwars.forumup.com/index.php?mforum=sockwars" target="_blank">Sock Wars forum</a>. Yes, I know that I may have helped my own assasin by doing that, but hey, there are a lot of newbies in this challenge and I'd rather be killed by receiving a pair of socks with a nice, centered heel than a pair with an off-center heel.</p>
<p>Anyhow, after that I think I paused only long enough to eat dinner and check my email about a thousand more times. By 11:30pm, here is what I had:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/sockwars-ip-700x479-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/sockwars-ip-300x205-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="205" /></a>Not bad for about 8 hours of work, huh?</p>
<p>I can't finish these socks because I have not yet received my "assignment." I do not know the shoe size of my victim, nor do I even know <b>WHO</b> my victim is. Hopefully the email difficulties will be resolved by the morning and I can finish these off and get them in the mail before the post office closes at 1pm.</p>
<p>I have to say that I really like these socks. The pattern is simple but it makes a nice and cozy pair of socks, especially with the DK weight yarn we had to use. Hopefully my target will like them and not be too sad to die such a quick death.</p>
<p>Oh, and now the joint in my right index finger is suddenly rather painful. I think it was all that ribbing that did it. I'd be happy to be killed quickly to get out of this crazy challenge. My hands can't take too much more of this speed knitting.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1158886018134914122006-09-21T20:45:00.000-04:002006-09-21T20:46:58.153-04:00Ready to Rumble<p>So, <a href="http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/07/are-you-ready-for-sock-wars-2006.html" target="_blank">Sock Wars</a> starts tomorrow. Are you ready?</p>
<p>Me? Oh, I'm ready.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/sock-war-yarn-300x225-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="225" />My arsenal</p>
<p>I've got my DK-weight yarn, my US 5 needles (2 circulars, my weapon of choice), and I've swatched to make sure I've got the required gauge.</p>
<p>Let the carnage begin.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1157062191002093972006-08-31T18:09:00.000-04:002006-09-01T09:46:56.670-04:00Some Catching Up To Do<p>Howdy! I'm back. My work should be over for a while so I should now have some more time to do things like reading blogs and posting to my own sadly neglected blog. I may not have posted much this summer, but I sure have been knitting. I've got a lot of FO pics to take and post about. Here are a few things to start us off.</p>
<a name="frost-tank"></a>
<p>First up, we have the Frost tank from Rowan 30. I made one of these last year for Daughter#2 (see pic in my <a href="http://persnicketyknitter-gallery.blogspot.com/2005/12/rowan-frost-sleeveless-turtleneck.html" target="_blank">gallery</a>), but it was getting a little tight in the chest for her, so I decided to use up the rest of that yarn and make a bigger size. We passed the smaller one down to Niece#3 who seemed very pleased to receive it.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Sweaters/mad-em-frost-561x600-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Sweaters/mad-em-frost-350x374-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="374" /></a>Daughter#2 and Niece#3 in their matching Frost Tanks.</p>
<p>Here they both are modeling their tanks which they wore to <a href="http://www.tanglewood.org/armsOfBSO.jhtml?catName=Tanglewood&area=tgl" target="_blank">Tanglewood</a> two weeks ago. We went to hear a violin concerto by Dvorak and Beethoven's 3rd symphony, but we got caught in the continuous POURING rain partway through the performance (we were sitting on the lawn). Luckily, we had raincoats and umbrellas ready, but still -- it was a drag. I got leg cramps from sitting all squished up under my umbrella, followed by a wet butt after getting up to stretch my legs and sitting back down again. Oh well, the music was great (particularly the violinist, Hilary Hahn) and we did get in a very nice picnic before the rain started.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="cindy-socks"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/cindy-blue-flat-700x525-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/cindy-blue-flat-250x188-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="188" /></a><p>Next up, remember <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/07/crap.html">THESE</a> annoying socks from early July?. The ones where my gauge was completely and totally off? Well, I ripped them back to the ankle and knit the whole sock on the 2.5mm needles (with LOTS of trying on along the way).</p>
<p>What did I learn from this experience? Well, let's hope I learned never to <b>ASSUME</b> that just because you are using the same damn yarn and the same damn needles that you will get the same damn gauge. [You know, it's stuff like that that just sucks all the fun out of knitting.] Anyhow, here they are finally, on Sister#1's feet. She seems to like them.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/cindy-blue-700x514-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/cindy-blue-250x183-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="183" /></a>Trekking XXL, color 71, on 2.5mm ndls, with picot trim ankle.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="shawl"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-shawl-700x525-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Wraps/spiral-shawl-250x188-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="188" /></a>With regard to current projects, I am working on Meg Swansen's Super-Spiral Shawl from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Gathering-Lace/dp/1893762246/sr=8-1/qid=1157057328/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2124330-9275863?ie=UTF8&s=books" target="_blank">A Gathering of Lace</a>. I'm using some laceweight yarn I got this summer from <a href="http://handpaintedyarn.com/index.php" target="_blank">handpaintedyarn.com</a>. It's their Kettle Dyed Pure Wool Lace Yarn in the color <a href="http://handpaintedyarn.com/product_info.php?cPath=47&products_id=435" target="_blank">Paris Night</a>, which is sort of a purplish-grayish color.</p>
<p>This is a circular shawl that's worked from the center out. In this picture you can kind of see the center (bottom left) with the spirals moving out from there. I love how it's coming out so far. Sure, it's super monotonous knitting, but that's what I needed for the summer. Something I could just pick up and knit, and knit, and knit, and knit, and knit without thinking about it. And this shawl seems to be the perfect project for that.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="prize-yarn"></a>
<p>Oh, and I received by <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/08/in-which-i-get-off-my-lazy-butt-and.html">prize yarn</a> the other day and it is WON-DER-FUL! That yarn in the upper right corner turned out to be Artyarns Ultramerino4 (as a couple of you guessed). Also, <a href="http://melissa-knits.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Melissa</a> wanted to know the color nbr of the Lorna's Laces. It's #18, Watercolor. And, no, I'm not trading it. ;)</p>
<p>I have already almost finished a pair of socks with the Socks that Rock, and I am loving that yarn. I've also started some socks with the Knit Picks Simple Stripes. The yarn is a bit splitty, but I really like the colors. Hopefully, I'll have finished pics of those next time.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="garden"></a>
<p>Well, that's it for today. I'll leave you with some pictures my garden (which I should probably go water).</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/garden1-700x425-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/garden1-350x213-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="213" /></a></p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/garden2-450x600-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/garden2-300x400-30.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="400" /></a></p>
<p>One final thought: Don't these flowers remind you of fried eggs?</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/fried-egg-flowers-300x355-3.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="355" /></p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<p>Oops, one more final thought: I signed up for <a href="http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/07/are-you-ready-for-sock-wars-2006.html" target="_blank">Sock Wars</a>. I'll be on vacation in Maine that first weekend so I'm betting I get killed before I kill, but it should be fun anyway.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1155750111807989292006-08-16T13:41:00.000-04:002006-08-16T13:41:51.826-04:00In which I get off my lazy butt and post something<p>So, you've probably noticed that I haven't posted in quite a while. Nor have I been reading any blogs (or leaving any comments -- sorry, people). And I have no great excuse: no long vacation, no major illness, no overwhelming work schedule. I'm just a lazy blogger. Sorry about that (hanging my head in shame here). I just don't know how you dedicated bloggers can keep it up so regularly. Hats off to you.</p>
<p>Anyhow, I have been getting some knitting done. I finished the socks for Sister#1 (the annoying ones from my previous post -- the socks, not the sister). I'll be giving them to her this weekend, so wish me luck with the sizing. Also, I have very nearly finished a <a href="http://www.magknits.com/Aug05/picovoli.htm" target="_blank">Picovoli</a> tank for me. It think it's just a touch more "form fitted" than I would like. But it's cotton so maybe it will grow with washing. And I'm maybe 2/3's of the way into a spiral shawl (can't remember the exact name and too damn lazy to look it up). No pictures of these items, because again -- I am the essence of blogging lazitude.</p>
<p>You may be wondering what finally inspired me to post again. Well, because I was looking for a way to avoid work this morning, I decided I'd waste some time and check my blog stats (assuming they'd be way down since I haven't posted in eons). I was surprised that they weren't really down and started looking at the referrals. I noticed several referrals from <a href="http://knittinmom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Knittin' Mom</a>, which I thought was unusual. So I visited her site and discovered......</p>
<p>I won one of the grand prize baskets of sock yarn in the <a href="http://knittinmom.blogspot.com/2006/08/here-we-go-with-prizes.html" target="_blank">Sock-a-Month Knitalong</a>! Woo hoo! I am SO excited!</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/sock-prize-basket-400x224-5.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="224" />My prize. Yay!</p>
<p>It's just what I needed to get me out of the funk that I've been in. Also, I'm thrilled because I haven't tried any of those yarns yet. I've especially wanted to try Socks That Rock for the longest time, but I kept telling myself that I really should use up some of my sock yarn stash before ordering more. Lorna's Laces has also been on my "must try" list. And that yarn in the upper right corner looks very nice -- anyone know what it is? I didn't even know that Cascade made sock yarn, so I'm interested in trying that. Those bright colors will make some fun socks for me or the girls. Also, it will be nice to try out the two kinds of KnitPicks sock yarn.</p>
<p>OK, enough excitement and chit chat. I've got to get back to work. Then I've got to finish ordering homeschool curriculum materials and organizing our schoolroom/office for the new school year.</p>
<p> I will try to get back to more regular posting and commenting soon. I hope you are all having a great summer.</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1152233610764457352006-07-06T20:53:00.000-04:002006-07-06T20:53:30.786-04:00Crap!<p>So, the plan was to secretly knit a pair of socks for Sister#1 for her birthday (which is at the end of July). I recently knit a pair of <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/06/busy-june.html#graduation-socks">socks</a> for Niece#1 which fit Sister#1 perfectly. I had another ball of that same yarn (Trekking XXL) and I took detailed notes about what I did to make those socks, so I figured this would be easy peasy -- I could use the same pattern and quickly whip out another pair. [Queue the music of impending doom.]</p>
<p>So that's what I did. I used the same type of yarn (just blue instead of purple), the same needles, the same number of stitches, the same number of rows, the same everything. [OK, I did a different thing at the cuff, but that's not significant.]</p>
<p>And here's what happened:</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/trek-blu-too-small-300x241-.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="241" />Craptastic socks that won't even fit over a ten-year old's heel.</p>
<p>Say it with me, "AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" Somehow I managed to knit the whole damn sock without noticing that it was <b>extremely</b> narrow. I was just knitting merrily away, so happy in my thoughts of how wonderful it was to be able to knit a sock without having to try the damn thing on all the time to check the fit. Sigh. Granted, most of the foot of this sock was knit in the dark in the car, in the movie theater, or while trying to catch up on some blog reading, but still. I really should have noticed. [Shoulda, woulda, coulda...]</p>
<p>I checked my gauge and it's 1/2 stitch (on the 2.5mm ndls) to 3/4 stitch (on the 2.0mm ndls) tighter on these blue Trekking socks than on the purple Trekking socks. According to my calculations, that should give a difference in circumference of about a half inch. Hmmm, that doesn't sound like a big enough difference to explain the amazing narrowness of these socks. Maybe I knit the foot on those purple socks with more stitches than I wrote down -- possible, but unlikely. Next time I see Niece#1 I'll have to examine those purple socks -- I'm really mystified.</p>
<p>At first I thought it might be that this color of yarn is thinner. But I just did a wraps-per-inch comparison and that does not appear to be it. I guess it's just me. I must have been 0.75 spi less stressed a month ago. Hmmm. Maybe that could be a new way to measure my stress level -- by knitting a gauge swatch with this sock yarn on US 0's. Kind of like a mood ring for knitters.</p>
<h5>Persnickety's Handy Gauge Swatch Mood Indicator:</h5>
<ul><li>8-9 spi = super mellow (aka, too many cocktails),</li>
<li>9-9.5 spi = calm, relaxed (a rarely experienced state of mind),</li>
<li>9.5-10 spi = slightly on edge (my normal mood),</li>
<li>10-10.5 spi = overscheduled and stressed out, </li>
<li>10.5-11 spi = watch out, she's gonna blow!</li></ul>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<p>In happier news, we had a birthday party for Daughters #1 & #2 today. This was their "friend" birthday party, not to be confused with their "relative" birthday party, or even the celebration that happened on the <i>actual day</i> of their birthday. [It's been a week-long celebration basically.]</p>
<p>Anyway, Daughter#2 helped me make this Piggy Cake for the event (they have a thing for pigs lately). Not the best workmanship, but kind of cute.</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/piggy-cake2-300x288-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="288" />Piggy Cake</p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1151603500241679922006-06-29T13:51:00.000-04:002006-06-29T13:51:40.263-04:00A Busy June<p>As you may have noticed, this blog has been rather quiet lately. June is one of the busiest months for me. All four of the people in this household have birthdays within the 30-day period from June 3 - July 3, plus there have been multitudinous other events to prepare for such as:</p>
<ul><li><span style="font-size:125%">Father's Day,</span></li><br /><br />
<li><span style="font-size:125%">a ballet recital,</span></li>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/ballet-500x623-50.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/ballet-300x374-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="374" /></a>Can you tell that Daughter#1 has had a growth spurt recently?</p>
<br /><li><span style="font-size:125%">a piano & voice recital,</span></li>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-piano-300x240-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="240" />Daughter#2 playing something from the Magic Flute</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-voice-300x241-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="241" />Daughter#2 singing The Rainbow Connection</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/k-piano-300x237-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="237" />Daughter#1 playing . . . ummmm <span style="font-size:75%">(bad Mommy can't remember)</span></p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/k-singing-300x239-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="239" />Daughter#1 singing The Candy Man <span style="font-size:75%">(note the candy-themed outfit, with candy necklaces adorning her various body parts -- her idea)</span></p>
<br /><li><span style="font-size:125%">two graduation parties,</span></li>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/j-at-grad-party-300x276-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="276" />Half-brother#1 <span style="font-size:75%">(I only have 1 of these, but I figured he should get a number just like everyone else)</span> swinging at a giant smiley face piñata at Niece#1's party.</p>
<br /><li><span style="font-size:125%">many, many softball games,</span></li>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/k-pitching-350x331-50.jpg" border="0" width="350" height="331" />Daughter#1 pitching</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/k-batting-250x400-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="400" />Daughter#1 at bat</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-batting-300x370-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="370" />Daughter#2 hitting the ball</p>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Misc/m-on-base-300x400-50.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="400" />Daughter#2 ready to run home</p>
<br /><li><span style="font-size:125%">a mini-vacation</span> (more on that in another post),</li>
<br /><br /><li><span style="font-size:125%">plus all the usual crapola</span> (trying to finish up homeschool lessons, trying to find time for work, etc).</li>
</ul><br />
<p>Anyway, I've been busy. But I have gotten some knitting done. I've got a pile of completed projects to blog about. (OK, it's a small pile, but I feel good about it.) Here is the first on the list -- the Graduation Socks.</p>
<hr size="5" width="80%" align="center" /><br />
<a name="graduation-socks"></a>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/purple-flat-600x479-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/purple-flat-350x279-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="199" /></a></p>
<dl><dt>Pattern: </dt><dd>No pattern, just basic stockinette socks</dd>
<dt>Yarn: </dt><dd>Zitron <a href="http://www.yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=900" target="_blank">Trekking XXL</a> [75% wool, 25% nylon],<br />
color: 109 (variegated purple)</dd>
<dt>Needles: </dt><dd>ankles done on 2.5mm, heel & foot done on 2.0mm, top of foot done on 2.25mm & 2.0mm. <span style="font-size:75%">(Yeah, I like to make good use of my needle collection.)</span></dd>
<dt>Gauge: </dt><dd>8.5 - 9.5 sts/inch</dd>
<dt>Comments: </dt><dd>I made these socks as a graduation present for Niece #1, aka <a href="http://janeundercover.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Oh, Jane</a>. She has tiny little muchkin feet so I had to rip back a little to make them smaller at her graduation party, which just happened to be on Knit in Public Day. I guess that sort of counts as knitting in public. There were certainly several people there who were amazed by the whole sock-knitting process.</dd></dl>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/purple-c-600x519-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Socks/purple-c-250x216-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="216" /></a>Oooh, the pretty purpleness -- as modeled by Sister#1, who, like her offspring, also has petite munchkin feet with dainty little ankles. <br /><span style="font-size:75%">(Who, me? Jealous?)</span></p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19333918.post-1150426942024436002006-06-15T23:01:00.000-04:002007-09-19T10:25:16.598-04:00Free Arrowhead Lace Headband Pattern<p>As I mentioned in my <a href="http://persnicketyknitter.blogspot.com/2006/06/quickie.html">last post</a>, making the <a href="http://wildyarn.blogspot.com/2006/05/saving-grace.html" target="_blank">Saving Grace</a> headband has inspired me to look through my pattern books for other potential lace patterns that would work well with a worsted weight yarn for a quick headband. This turned out to be a bit more difficult than I anticipated. The use of worsted weight yarn meant that I needed to keep the pattern under 14 stitches so the headband did not become uncomfortably wide. I swatched a few options, but the headband below is the most successful one so far.</p>
<p>This headband is based on the Arrowhead Lace pattern stitch in Barbara Walker's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942018168/103-2704812-9047050" target="_blank">A Treasury of Knitting Patterns</a>. It has a tendency to poof up in the middle (I didn't bother to block it), but it seems to flatten out when worn. Here's the pattern.</p>
<a name="headband"></a><h2>Arrowhead Lace Headband</h2>
<p style="clear:both"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Hats/arrowhd-hdbd-sd-600x542-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0px 0px 10px 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Hats/arrowhd-hdbd-sd-250x226-50.jpg" border="0" width="250" height="226" /></a></p>
<h3>YARN</h3>
<p>Cascade 220 [100% wool],<br />
color: 9455 (turquoise heather)</p>
<h3>NEEDLES</h3>
<p>US 7</p>
<h3>GAUGE</h3>
<p>approximately 5sts/inch</p>
<h3>DIRECTIONS</h3>
<p>Cast on 11 sts.</p>
<p>Follow the arrowhead lace pattern (using chart or directions below) until the headband is approximately 16 inches long (or long enough to fit around your head when slightly stretched). Bind off and seam ends together.</p>
<h4>Arrowhead Lace Chart</h4>
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px;" alt="" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Technical/arrowhead-lace-chart.gif" border="0" width="256" height="354" /></p>
<h4>Arrowhead Lace Directions</h4>
<div style="border:1px solid #444444; padding:.5em .5em 0 .5em;"><p class="step"><span class="step-lbl">Row 1 (WS):</span>k1, p9, k1.</p>
<p class="step"><span class="step-lbl">Row 2 (RS):</span>k1, yo, ssk, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, yo, k1.</p>
<p class="step"><span class="step-lbl">Row 3:</span>same as row 1.</p>
<p class="step"><span class="step-lbl">Row 4:</span>k2, yo, ssk, yo, slip 2 together as to knit--k1--pass the 2 slipped sts over, yo, k2tog, yo, k2.</p>
</div><br /><br />
<p style="clear:both; text-align:center;"><a href="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Hats/arrowhd-hdbd-700x435-30.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display:block; margin:10px auto 10px; cursor:pointer; cursor:hand" alt="click for bigger picture" src="http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/PersnicketyKnitter/Hats/arrowhd-hdbd-400x249-50.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="249" /></a></p>
<br /><br />
<p>Pattern & images © 2006 Tamara Stone-Snyder.<br />
<i>May be distributed freely <b>for personal use only</b>. Cannot be reprinted on the web or otherwise without permission.</i></p>Persnickety Knitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06950696520380150950noreply@blogger.com24