3rd time is the charm

Homespun yarn + needles = scarf I like

Entrelac scarf made with blocks 8 stitches wide rather than 10 (better width than before). I'm really liking how this is turning out. I've actually been faithful to this project... perhaps I'll finish something :)

Birthday meme

Wiki Birthday meme (January 10th). The rules are… you go to www.wikipedia.org and type in your birthday (only the month and day). Then you write down 3 events, 2 births, and 1 holiday. I decided to tag myself after reading this one at octopus knits.

Events:
*49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war.
*1927 - The film Metropolis by Fritz Lang premieres.
*1990 - Time Warner is formed from the merger of Time Inc. and Warner Communications Inc.
and a bonus one that is scary considering the Time Warner one above
*2000 - America Online announces an agreement to buy Time Warner for $162 billion, the largest corporate merger in history.

Births:
*1883 - Aleksei Nikolaevich Tolstoi, Russian writer (d. 1945)
*1949 - George Foreman, American boxer

Holiday
*Margaret Thatcher day in the Falkland Islands

two failed attempts

I wanted to knit a scarf from my handspun


so I started an Irish Hiking Scarf:

but decided it was too striped for cables.

So I ripped it out and started an entrelac scarf:

but it was too wide (super wide scarf or really narrow stole). So I ripped that one out too and started a more narrow entrelac scarf. I finally have a winner (but no photo... I'll get one up soon)

IK Fall 07 preview

preview here
these all look like things I'd like to make (from looking at the small photos at least):



the first one looks good without the belt (I hate belted sweaters!) There were also a bunch of socks that looked interesting.

Raverly waiting list

I'm not one of the poeple who has been sending the folks at Raverly annoying emails demanding that they work 97 hours a day so that I be let on now... but I really do wish it were ready for everyone now. I'm antsy and so not close to being let in...

* You signed up on June 15, 2007
* You are #9334 on the list.
* 2866 people are ahead of you in line.
* 10414 people are behind you in line.
* 32% of the list has been invited so far

instant gratification

Everyting is just going too slowly... so I started a narrow single rib scarf in size 11 needles. It's Cashmerino superchunky in a forrest green and dusty pink. It's practically done already. I feel this need to use up a bunch of yarn since the moth discovery. I just want to knit thorugh it all and give it away as gifts or wash it up really well and put it in my closet. Hopefully the eucalan really does help moth proof my knitting. Here is the scarf:

cause I don't have any new photos :)

I am 67% Addicted to Coffee

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

Baby Kimono knitted

I'm just trying to shame myself into seeming it up now:

MOTHS!

I had noticed a moth or two in our second bedroom where I keep my roving and yarn (all of it). So I thought it good to go through my jumbo stash moth hunting and stash prtecting. Bought some plastic bins and some big ziploc bags and went to work.



I'm not quite done yet but so far 2 bundles of roving are in the garbage as well at 3 balls of cascade 220. There was some obvious breeding going on. The rest of my yarn and roving have been put into bags and bins so if any of it is infested (although I didn't see anymore evidence) it will at least be contained. What a hassle. This is going to make my yarn diet a lot easier. I want to use up what I have and not add more yarn to the stash that might possibly get infested. Sheesh what a way to spend your weekend.

Roadtrip Merino

I swear I still knit. But lately the spinning has been taking over. I'm guessing that eventually I'll have to sell some of the hand spun yarn as there is no way I can knit it all up (plus my substantial machine spun yarn stash). But here is some more spinning goodness.

Roadtrip colorway Spunky Eclectic Merino roving. (can you tell I'm a fan of her roving?):


Single ply:


2ply on the flyer:




and all twisted into a hank:


I did up 8oz of this yarn so it's destined to be a scarf of sorts... have to find a good pattern for this stuff. I really like this one!

castaway

Superwash merino fiber from Spunky Eclectic in "Castaway":


Single ply yarn:


2ply yarn:




perhaps it's a good thing my yarn purchasing has slowed.... so much handspun to use now.

handspun flip top mittens

Yarn: my handspun (merino spunky ecclectic fiber)
Color: autumn
Pattern: Handknit Holiday Flip-top Mittens
Needles: Knitpicks Options #7
Yarn Quantity: about 2 oz (I need to weigh the remaining yarn)

It's really cool knitting with your own handspun! These are earmarked for my mom. She saw them and really liked them (yesterday was her birthday so I figure one more little gift is in order).

Dunder Mifflin Personality Quiz

You scored as Pam Beesly, You're Pam! Oh, I mean Fancy New Beesly. We're all so proud of you. Pam Beesly 60% Ryan Howard 45% Jim Halpert 45% Karen Fillipelli 43% Toby Flenderson 40% Creed Bratton 35% Dwight Schrute 35% Kelly Kapoor 30% Kevin Malone 25% Jan Levinson 23% Michael Scott 23% Andy Bernard 18% Meredith Palmer 15% Angela Martin 10% Dunder Mifflin Personality Quiz created with QuizFarm.com

got a new knited toy book... kinda excited

Knitted Toys
by Zoe Mellor

there are so many cute patterns in here. I'm going to make up some of these just to have around for the birthdays of our friends kids. Click on the "view more images" under the image from knit picks site. There is a dinosaur that I just HAVE to make :)

And I finished up a couple projects (need to get some decent light and take some photos). The handspun flip top mittens are all done and washed. And the Baby Kimono (pink thing from a couple posts back) is all knitted... just need to sew it up. I feel good about finishing a couple projects. There are still quite a few on needles but I'm getting through them.

cheeky monkey

that's the name of the color of this fiber. Amy over at spunky eclectic has fun with her naming.

Here's the yarn as single ply & 2 ply:


And with all this handspun yarn I've been posting... I have actually been knitting with it as well. Making some fliptop mittens with the Autumn 2-ply merino:

friend having a baby!

There is a baby girl due in August. So I'm making the Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting (using Rowan All Seasons Cotton):




there is something about garter stitch that I just love. I need to use it more. Perhaps one of my bundles of handspun would work into a nice scarf that way. Anyhow... this pattern is super easy to follow and the Rowan ASC is great to work with (I am not normally fond of working with cotton yarn). So 2 thumbs up on this project so far. I just need to actually finish this one up (rather then move along to the next shiny project I see).

most sucessful single ply so far

it's actually mostly even! (color Pine Shoreline - Falkland wool)

here's the fiber (got from fat cat knits on etsy):


Very pleased with the fiber... spun like a dream and is sof t enough for a scarf.

Monkey Saga

So I really like the monkey sock... I've started it 4 times in different yarns now.

First time:

monarch sock yarn in Nasturtium. Love the yarn, love the colors... but it's a thicker sock yarn so the sock was too big.

Second time:
some green hand dyed yarn that was too fine and therefore too small.

Third time:

I should have stopped here (the cuff was pretty tight getting the sock over my heel. But I kept going thinking "no it's fine.. I can get it over my heel if I work at it".

I actually got the heel flap all done before I ripped it out.
Claudia's fingering weight in chocolate cherries (love the yarn and color).

Ok Fourth time seems to be the charm:

Sundara sock yarn in sweet brier rose. I cast on more loosely and changed the rib to 2x2 rather than single and twisted (got the idea from Mrs. Octopus Knits). It seems to be ok... we'll see if this is it. Luckily the pattern seems to knit up pretty fast. Going quicker than my jaywalkers (although both are awesome patterns)


whew... with all this monkey knitting I should already have a finished pair... sheesh :)

Really Really 100% finished Jaywalkers

this one has more accurate color:


Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock
Color: Martha's Vineyard
Pattern: Jaywalker from Mag Knits
Needles: Addi Turbo #1
Yarn Quantity: about 350 yards

These are my first knitted socks. I've knit scarves, sweaters, mittens, hats, purses, toys.... just never socks till now. Which is odd. I love socks and I really enjoy knitting them! Now I just can't stop making them :)

I love these even though I knit them just a tad big.... I'm even working on a second pair :) The Lorna's Laces Flamingo Stripe just begged to be jaywalkers:

Autumn Colorway 2ply

The single ply (autumn merino fiber from spunky ecclectic)


2ply:


yummy soft!