Okay....I've pretty much finished the multi-directional scarf that I was making. BUT, what that really means is that I've used up the 3 skeins of Silk Garden that I had bought. The scarf that I have so far is wide enough to cover my entire neck easily, and is long enough that when I wrap it so both tails are in the front (does that make sense?), the tails hit just under my boobs (such as they are). And when I finish up the last triangle, that's pretty much where it would end.
So, the thing is, I'm kinda thinking that I want the scarf to be longer, which leaves me two choices. Go out to buy more of that yarn, if I can find it. Or frog everythingt and start over and make it thinner. How much do you think I could gain by dropping 12 to 15 stitches off the width? The only reason I'm even considering the re-start option is the fact that the scarf is meant to go with my early spring (or late winter, however you wanna look at it) coat, so having it be really wide isn't as important. And I've got a great scarf for the winter that I love already.
What to do?!!!
And I'll post an update on the Peacock Feather's Shawl soon! I wanna finish a bit more before I take the photo because you can't really see the pattern all that well when it's not blocked.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Yarn swap anyone?
Well, I took a look at my stash for things that I haven't got already pegged for projects, or don't really feel inspired to use at the moment. You are welcome to anything there (except for the nosey kitty ^__^ )
I should probably have taken a picture of stuff individually, but maybe providing a description for them might help.
The yellow and blue in the top row are Elisbeth Lavold (or however that's spelled) Cotton Patine. I only have two balls of each colour. The pink stuff is the mohair-y stuff that I used to make my kitty hat that I cut the hole into when moving the ear (remember that disaster?). I have a total of two balls of that too. The Noro there is Kureyon that I got to make those armwarmers for Miranda. I had to use a bit of it to finish the armwarmers, but the skein is mostly untouched. I like the bright colours, but I just can't think of a project to use it for. The ball of black is this novelty yarn that I got. What doesn't show well in the photo is the fact that it's got metallic silver glints woven into it. It's really thin stuff that I got on a whim, but never figured out what to do with it. I wound it, but now I can't remember how many yards there are in it. It's pretty thin stuff so the size of the ball is a bit deceiving. And lastly, that turquoise-y yarn is something that a nice lady from dance class gave to me. I originally thought to make a Clapotis out of it, but changed my mind. It was also a bit too thin a well (I think it's sport weight). I've got about 8-9 balls of that stuff. Any suggestions as to what I could do with it? It's not bad looking, and has these neat hints of pink in them, but I just don't know what to do with so many balls of it.
And there you go. If you would like clearer pictures of any of the stuff shown there, let me know. Or, if you have any ideas of what I could do with any of it, please feel free to voice them!
I should probably have taken a picture of stuff individually, but maybe providing a description for them might help.
The yellow and blue in the top row are Elisbeth Lavold (or however that's spelled) Cotton Patine. I only have two balls of each colour. The pink stuff is the mohair-y stuff that I used to make my kitty hat that I cut the hole into when moving the ear (remember that disaster?). I have a total of two balls of that too. The Noro there is Kureyon that I got to make those armwarmers for Miranda. I had to use a bit of it to finish the armwarmers, but the skein is mostly untouched. I like the bright colours, but I just can't think of a project to use it for. The ball of black is this novelty yarn that I got. What doesn't show well in the photo is the fact that it's got metallic silver glints woven into it. It's really thin stuff that I got on a whim, but never figured out what to do with it. I wound it, but now I can't remember how many yards there are in it. It's pretty thin stuff so the size of the ball is a bit deceiving. And lastly, that turquoise-y yarn is something that a nice lady from dance class gave to me. I originally thought to make a Clapotis out of it, but changed my mind. It was also a bit too thin a well (I think it's sport weight). I've got about 8-9 balls of that stuff. Any suggestions as to what I could do with it? It's not bad looking, and has these neat hints of pink in them, but I just don't know what to do with so many balls of it.
And there you go. If you would like clearer pictures of any of the stuff shown there, let me know. Or, if you have any ideas of what I could do with any of it, please feel free to voice them!
In Which I Confess My Limitations As A Wearer-Of-Accessories
To a knitter, accessories can be fun, portable, quick-to-knit projects. Hats, headscarves, headbands, neckwarmers, mittens, wrist-warmers, what-have-you. For me, they were also an excuse to buy yarn. Tiny amounts of yarn, a ball or two here and there when I couldn't bear the expense of an entire sweater's worth, or when I "had to have" something that I didn't already plan a project for. I'd think "oh, I could make wristwarmers! And a matching headscarf, if I bought 2 skeins!", or "sock yarn can also be used to make gloves!", all in the name of justifying my impulse shopping.
But you know what? I hate most accessories. I can't go out between November and March (or more realistically, October and April) without both a scarf and a hat, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to what I'll wear on my person. Here is a list of things that I don't really like wearing:
- mittens
- gloves (I will, but only when it's too cold for just hands-in-pockets)
- wristwarmers
- headscarves
- headbands
- tiny insubstantial scarves that scrunch up and get super-skinny
- novelty yarn scarves
- neckwarmers
- I've never tried one, but I'm sure I'd hate cowls
That pretty much limits me to these things:
- long, warm scarves (yarn-eaters, all of them!)
- lace scarves long enough to wrap around the neck twice, to make up for the lack of bulk
- hats
- plain store-bought gloves
So, that's it. No more haphazard yarn purchases to make accessories I know I'll never wear. I feel so mature and level-headed. Now if I could only stop buying sock yarn....
But you know what? I hate most accessories. I can't go out between November and March (or more realistically, October and April) without both a scarf and a hat, but I'm pretty picky when it comes to what I'll wear on my person. Here is a list of things that I don't really like wearing:
- mittens
- gloves (I will, but only when it's too cold for just hands-in-pockets)
- wristwarmers
- headscarves
- headbands
- tiny insubstantial scarves that scrunch up and get super-skinny
- novelty yarn scarves
- neckwarmers
- I've never tried one, but I'm sure I'd hate cowls
That pretty much limits me to these things:
- long, warm scarves (yarn-eaters, all of them!)
- lace scarves long enough to wrap around the neck twice, to make up for the lack of bulk
- hats
- plain store-bought gloves
So, that's it. No more haphazard yarn purchases to make accessories I know I'll never wear. I feel so mature and level-headed. Now if I could only stop buying sock yarn....
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Clapotis #2
Yes, I know that's a boring title, but I'm not feeling very inspired today. =)
Clapotis #2 is done! The knitting got really tedious towards the end, but I think the final product was totally worth it. She still needs a good blocking (maybe, I'm tempted to just leave her the way she is because I'm lazy, but I've heard that Silk Garden softens up a lot after being washed), but she looks perfectly lovely otherwise. I love the contrast of the horizontal stripes with the vertical dropped stitches!
And a poorly-taken photo of her being worn around the neck:
Project specs:
Clapotis pattern from Knitty
6 skeins of Noro Silk Garden, colourway 34
I did one fewer increase section, so the scarf would be a little narrower and I'd get more mileage out of each colour change, and I think I did 2 or 3 additional straight sections. I wish there were a little bit more purple in this dyelot, but I still love love love the colours.
P.S. WTF is up with all the popups? Are you getting the popups? How can we get rid of the popups?!?
Clapotis #2 is done! The knitting got really tedious towards the end, but I think the final product was totally worth it. She still needs a good blocking (maybe, I'm tempted to just leave her the way she is because I'm lazy, but I've heard that Silk Garden softens up a lot after being washed), but she looks perfectly lovely otherwise. I love the contrast of the horizontal stripes with the vertical dropped stitches!
And a poorly-taken photo of her being worn around the neck:
Project specs:
Clapotis pattern from Knitty
6 skeins of Noro Silk Garden, colourway 34
I did one fewer increase section, so the scarf would be a little narrower and I'd get more mileage out of each colour change, and I think I did 2 or 3 additional straight sections. I wish there were a little bit more purple in this dyelot, but I still love love love the colours.
P.S. WTF is up with all the popups? Are you getting the popups? How can we get rid of the popups?!?
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Core Stash
I've been obsessing over the stash lately. In trying to keep with the resolution to keep the stash under control, I've been evaluating the relative merits and knitability of every single skein. And you know what? There is a lot of yarn in the stash that I know I'll never knit. Either because I don't know what to do with it (what to do with 2 mismatched skeins of Colinette Zanziba I got on sale?), because knitting with it will likely drive me to insanity (early in my knitting career I thought 4-ply sweaters would be a good idea, um, no thanks), or because it is just too beautiful to knit.
And that's where we come to the Core Stash (terminology blatantly stolen from the Yarn Harlot). Yarn that will never be knit because we are unworthy of its beauty, that exists solely for inspirational purposes. Surprisingly for me, saver/hoarder extraordinaire, there are only 5 skeins of yarn in my own personal Core Stash so far. 3 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in colour 36, and 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM in a particularly beautiful dyelot of colourway P118.
These yarns are so lovely that it makes my heart melt to see them. I may also add my last ball of Noro Silk Garden 34 (leftover from Clapotis #2, which I will post about soon) to the mix, but I haven't decided. As for the other yarn-I-will-never-knit, I don't quite know what to do with it yet. Give it away (to who? Would you like some random yarn?)? Sell it on eBay (I'm too lazy for that right now)? Abandon it on the street (nope, it may be unloved yarn, but it's still yarn)?
How about you, have you started to accumulate a Core Stash?
And that's where we come to the Core Stash (terminology blatantly stolen from the Yarn Harlot). Yarn that will never be knit because we are unworthy of its beauty, that exists solely for inspirational purposes. Surprisingly for me, saver/hoarder extraordinaire, there are only 5 skeins of yarn in my own personal Core Stash so far. 3 skeins of Noro Silk Garden in colour 36, and 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM in a particularly beautiful dyelot of colourway P118.
These yarns are so lovely that it makes my heart melt to see them. I may also add my last ball of Noro Silk Garden 34 (leftover from Clapotis #2, which I will post about soon) to the mix, but I haven't decided. As for the other yarn-I-will-never-knit, I don't quite know what to do with it yet. Give it away (to who? Would you like some random yarn?)? Sell it on eBay (I'm too lazy for that right now)? Abandon it on the street (nope, it may be unloved yarn, but it's still yarn)?
How about you, have you started to accumulate a Core Stash?
Friday, February 10, 2006
Yarn shopping: Cheaper than therapy
Well, so much for resolutions. But I lasted a good month before buying more yarn, that’s something, isn’t it? Not to mention that it was a very LONG month, what with craptastic things happening one after another. So behold my latest yarn acquisition, 4 skeins of Claudia Hand Painted sock yarn from kpixie, in the Stormy Days and Pink Dot colourways. I need more sock yarn like I need a hole in the head, but who could resist this gorgeous stuff?
In the interests of full disclosure, let’s take a look at the rest of the sock yarn stash, shall we? There’s Koigu, Lorna’s Laces, Fleece Artist, and Trekking XXL. Yipes. The Koigu is not necessarily for socks per se, but these are the colourways that were bought in pairs so they could conceivably become socks (or mittens, or scarves, or lace-somethings….). What I’m not showing is all the single skeins of Koigu that I’ve hoarded for other purposes. OK, so I’ve knit precisely 5.5 pairs of socks, and I have enough sock yarn for more than twice that number. But that’s ok, isn’t that what we knitters do? Stockpile yarn for a rainy day?
But it’s not all glorious shopping over here, there is knitting too, albeit very slow knitting. Behold all my WIPs in a pile:
The dark thing is my Edda cardigan, or as I lovingly refer to it, my big blue blob. It’s in the seaming-up and sewing-in-ends stage right now, I sure hope it fits when it’s done. The red thing is my new sweater-in-progress, a sweet little cabled tee from the Holiday 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting. It’s going to be loverly when it’s finished (I hope), but the knitting is such that I can’t lose focus for even one second or else I make horrid mistakes. I'll try to take more detailed pictures later. The yarn is Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Aran, rather squooshy and yummy. The green and purple thing is another Clapotis, in my very favourite and recently discontinued Noro Silk Garden #34. I’ve realized that I could never knit a Noro sweater (too anal about the striping), but I also couldn’t let this colourway disappear off the face of the earth without getting some. So, another Clapotis it is. The knitting is even more boring the second time around, but it’s fun to watch the colour changes. =)
In the interests of full disclosure, let’s take a look at the rest of the sock yarn stash, shall we? There’s Koigu, Lorna’s Laces, Fleece Artist, and Trekking XXL. Yipes. The Koigu is not necessarily for socks per se, but these are the colourways that were bought in pairs so they could conceivably become socks (or mittens, or scarves, or lace-somethings….). What I’m not showing is all the single skeins of Koigu that I’ve hoarded for other purposes. OK, so I’ve knit precisely 5.5 pairs of socks, and I have enough sock yarn for more than twice that number. But that’s ok, isn’t that what we knitters do? Stockpile yarn for a rainy day?
But it’s not all glorious shopping over here, there is knitting too, albeit very slow knitting. Behold all my WIPs in a pile:
The dark thing is my Edda cardigan, or as I lovingly refer to it, my big blue blob. It’s in the seaming-up and sewing-in-ends stage right now, I sure hope it fits when it’s done. The red thing is my new sweater-in-progress, a sweet little cabled tee from the Holiday 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting. It’s going to be loverly when it’s finished (I hope), but the knitting is such that I can’t lose focus for even one second or else I make horrid mistakes. I'll try to take more detailed pictures later. The yarn is Jaeger Extra Fine Merino Aran, rather squooshy and yummy. The green and purple thing is another Clapotis, in my very favourite and recently discontinued Noro Silk Garden #34. I’ve realized that I could never knit a Noro sweater (too anal about the striping), but I also couldn’t let this colourway disappear off the face of the earth without getting some. So, another Clapotis it is. The knitting is even more boring the second time around, but it’s fun to watch the colour changes. =)
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
New Projects
Well, with the New Year, comes new projects. The first thing I should probably do is to go through and do an inventory of all the yarn I already have! Ha ha! But anyway, that can wait...
I started myself a multidirectional scarf out of Noro Silk Garden that I purchased at the Lettuce Knit Boxing Day sale. They were taking 30% off, so I just couldn't resist. Here's what I've got done so far...
At that very same shopping trip, I bought some Lorna's Lace for some socks, but I haven't started those yet either. And the reason why I'm not going to get to for a while is because of....
The Peacock Feathers Shawl. I wasn't able to get the yarn from Lettuce Knit (well, they said they'd order it for me, but they weren't planning to order from Fiddlesticks in a while so they didn't know when that would be), so I ordered it off the web. It arrived yesterday, so I'm itching to start the shawl for my dance teacher. I have until June, so I figured that if I start now I should be okay. Here's a picture of the yarn.
I've also decided to hurry up and wrap up that baby sweater that I was making. I'm pretty much done, but never really felt the drive to complete it. But now one of the medical fellows who sat in my office has become a dad, I figured that I could give it to him! The sweater is knit for a baby about 1 year old, so it'll be a while before he can use it, but it's good incentive to get it done. It's not going to be the best looking sweater, I'll admit, because I didn't really do the best job in doing ths stripes, but oh well. You live and learn. I've learned that if I'm going to knit that sweater again, I'm going to use variagated yarn! Ha ha!!!
I started myself a multidirectional scarf out of Noro Silk Garden that I purchased at the Lettuce Knit Boxing Day sale. They were taking 30% off, so I just couldn't resist. Here's what I've got done so far...
At that very same shopping trip, I bought some Lorna's Lace for some socks, but I haven't started those yet either. And the reason why I'm not going to get to for a while is because of....
The Peacock Feathers Shawl. I wasn't able to get the yarn from Lettuce Knit (well, they said they'd order it for me, but they weren't planning to order from Fiddlesticks in a while so they didn't know when that would be), so I ordered it off the web. It arrived yesterday, so I'm itching to start the shawl for my dance teacher. I have until June, so I figured that if I start now I should be okay. Here's a picture of the yarn.
I've also decided to hurry up and wrap up that baby sweater that I was making. I'm pretty much done, but never really felt the drive to complete it. But now one of the medical fellows who sat in my office has become a dad, I figured that I could give it to him! The sweater is knit for a baby about 1 year old, so it'll be a while before he can use it, but it's good incentive to get it done. It's not going to be the best looking sweater, I'll admit, because I didn't really do the best job in doing ths stripes, but oh well. You live and learn. I've learned that if I'm going to knit that sweater again, I'm going to use variagated yarn! Ha ha!!!
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