Posts from — July 2008

So, does it look like a hat yet?  It seemed like a good time to cast on for another hat! I bought this yarn for a hat, and there’s a little “knit-along” going on Ravelry using this pattern for the knit hat and another slouch hat pattern for the crochet part of the KAL. Although  I haven’t actually joined the KAL – apparently that’s what inspired me to get this one started.  Both patterns they chose for August are nice, and since I had already downloaded Coronet from Knitty.com it became the pattern of choice for this yarn’s project.

I have a problem getting the patterns to print properly from Knitty. Often the right margin is missing a few KEY words! Learned that the hard way trying to knit Clapotis. I was going from my printed copy, and things weren’t lining up, went back and checked and there was part of the pattern that wasn’t printed. Yeah, so that’s why Clapotis got frogged.  That yarn is being used for Marialis now, so there still is no Clapotis in my immediate future.  I solved the printing issue (when I saw it was also here with this pattern) by copy/pasting the pattern into a Word Document, and then printed it.  It’s all there now.

I haven’t done a cable pattern in a few decades, so this is a nice way to ease back into one.

I’m using a couple of Denise Needles as my cable needle.  It’s a 3 stitch cable – and boy is this yarn SPLITTY – so it’s not something I want to even attempt to do without a cable needle.  It works great too, and the flexible middle makes it dangle there behind (or in front of) your work all nice and secure as it waits while you work on the other stitches before it’s turn.

Sometimes I feel like a genius. 

It seems like the days are just zipping by this summer.  Last week was particularly busy and there was barely enough time to even read my Bloglines feeds.  I’m still catching up – but some of the things that were waiting:

• Cool new socks update on the Sensational Knitted Socks KAL blog.
• And speaking of socks:  Jae of the beautiful Pretty as a Peacock shawl design, also has an interesting looking sock pattern up on her blog.
• As does my friend from back home, Alana, of Never Not Knitting – and her debut podcast is also up on her blog.
• And Wendy announces her new book(!!!) Socks from the Toe Up
• Alicia Paulson has Corgie Eye Candy up…although I think it’s supposed to be more about her window decor, but I was too distracted by Clover’s adorableness to really notice much else.
• A whole bunch more crockpot recipes to leaf thru.
• Pioneer Woman’s sweet Nell is still missing – that one required Kleenex to read…and apparently think about; and also this fun-to-make breakfast.
• Contests and chuckles were missed at Mason-Dixon Knitting and Crazy Aunt Purl’s blogs.  I actually did participate in the Yarn Harlot’s baby guessing one.  How beautiful are those sweaters and that baby?!
• There is an adorable February Sweater modeled on Fig & Plum – that is simply not to be missed.
• Which reminds me that Zimmermaniacs blog has also had updates – there are two Maltese Fisherman’s Hats from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac posted that are REALLY nice, as well as a beautiful Fair Isle type Children’s Yoke Sweater.

…to name just a handful of the blog updates that were waiting patiently for me to get back in there and read them.

Marialis has a few more rows on her, but so far, looks pretty much the same as the last update.  Apparently my knitting doesn’t move nearly as swiftly as my time…at least in the summer.

Now, does that sound like the name of a yarn store?  Well, actually, it’s the name of a bead store that is owned by a fiber enthusiast – meaning among other things she knits!  I had been meaning to peek inside someday but rarely get to that part of Jackson.  Finally had the opportunity yesterday, and it’s a cute little bead store, with one small wall of yarn, a few drawers have some yarns stashed in them, and evidently the new owner wants to increase her inventory.  So, I felt it my duty to help in any way I could.  Not a great contribution, but every little bit counts, I’m thinking.

So, new yarn for another hat and perhaps socks or fingerless mitts that I promised a friend.

There may have also been some dishcloth yarn purchasing at WalMart afterwards.  So, the hole in the yarn stash has filled in a bit.  Strangely comforting feeling, it is.

I’m to the feather and fan part now.  I need to take the time to count my repeats and place stitch markers.  Been kinda “knitting in the dark” here, and I don’t like that feeling.  I also need to thread in a lifeline.  But, so far it’s just a couple of repeats, so not sure yet if they stay or I’ll find a glaring mistake pretty soon and have to rip it out…(one of those “wait and see” techniques I use so liberally).  The red lace weight merino is probably the lightest yarn I have ever used.  This is going to be a very light shawl once it’s finished.

I love Myrna Stahman’s Faroese Style shawls and scarves.  I also enjoy the “feather and fan” lace pattern, so since I have been trying to get a lace project going, and since I made all those feather and fan dishcloths – I thought this just might be the time to make Miralis.  This laceweight yarn had already come out of the bin in a dismal attempt to make clapotis from laceweight yarn.  I may yet make that one, but not out of this yarn.  It seems to be cooperating with this project – so hopefully I have finally found the one it goes with.  I have actually had this yarn for a long time. I originally intended to make the Cherry Leaf shawl in Victorian Lace Today with it, but ended up using my Kauni (which is more like a sport-weight yarn) for that one.  I started that Cherry Leaf shawl many times with this yarn, but ended up ripping it out and just putting the yarn away.  So, now I’m hoping this time it ends up knitted up in to something.  Holding my breath here…