I forgot to mention that I also worked on the Witterings hat yesterday during our Labor Day cook-in (the cooking was out, but it was hot, so the eating was in).
The thing is totally kicking my butt, and I am severely annoyed about it. It's taking forever, the yarn, while plenty soft in the skein and once knit, wears out my fingertips during the process of knitting.
I got through all of four and a half rounds yesterday. I was so not pleased. 2 of those rows were knitted through the back loop. I like to think this is why they took so long and bothered me so much. I don't really understand the purpose of doing this, but I have faith that it was important.
I kind of expected that leaving the hat and then coming back to it would make it seem easier, but it hasn't. It's still an annoying PITA. Is all cotton yarn this obnoxious or did I just choose poorly? Maybe it is the texture of the yarn. It is kind of wierd and pebbly.
Regardless, I am deeply vexed. I plan to soldier on and finish the stupid thing (I WILL NOT BE BEATEN) but I'm definately not having the time of my life. :oP
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Woohoo!
It is with immense glee that I move the columns scarf from the "On the Needles" list to the "Completed Projects" list. It's done!!
It is actually a few inches short of my goal of 5 feet...but I ran out of yarn. Not the nutmeg, which is what I thought would happen, but the moss!! The pattern requirements said I would need 2 balls of each to make a 72" scarf. LIES. It took 3 balls of the moss (main color) and 2 of the nutmeg, and even with the third ball, again, I only made it to about 57 inches or so. I didn't really measure once I ran out of yarn.
Anyway, it is finished and put away for the opportune moment. I didn't bother to take a picture since it pretty much looks just like the picture I posted earlier, only longer.
Once I finished it I worked on my cape. I immediately discovered that I had misread the directions, and ended up having to rip back twenty rows or so. I continued to have problems with it throughout the evening, almost entirely due to my inability to count. I'm a little concerned now that the finished border section will look wierd, because my increases are not all in the right place, but...I'm not going back and doing it again, so I'll live with it. :oP It's really frustrating to have nobody to blame but myself. Lessons I have learned during this time:
--I am too stupid to follow directions that say 'do this 9 more times' without assistance. From now on, I will acknowledge my stupidity immediately and write out next to each line of instructions the row numbers on which I am supposed to follow that particular instruction. I do think it is especially mean of the pattern designers to nest these things by saying things like 'row 5-6 repeat rows 3-4' and then 'repeat 1-6 nine more times.'
--I don't work well with the rowcounters that you have to turn to increase. I am better off with the ones you hit on the top that make a fun clicky noise.
--I need to take better notes when walking away from a project for a while.
--Alpaca sheds like a mofo.
The last is kind of disappointing...wearing my fetching cape will be a lot less fun if I have to have a lint roller in my pocket to use every time I take it off. I am trying not to think about this for now.
I'm waiting on some measurements for my friend for her Urban Necessity set and then I will get started on that. I was seriously tempted to start the Dimple Shale scarf because that yarn is so luscious, but I am afraid of another bout of scarf boredom. I hope it wouldn't be as big of an issue since this will be lace which should be more interesting...but I fear that it will still be a problem. :oP Maybe I will just make it a short little thing that she can tuck in her jacket. We'll see.
It is actually a few inches short of my goal of 5 feet...but I ran out of yarn. Not the nutmeg, which is what I thought would happen, but the moss!! The pattern requirements said I would need 2 balls of each to make a 72" scarf. LIES. It took 3 balls of the moss (main color) and 2 of the nutmeg, and even with the third ball, again, I only made it to about 57 inches or so. I didn't really measure once I ran out of yarn.
Anyway, it is finished and put away for the opportune moment. I didn't bother to take a picture since it pretty much looks just like the picture I posted earlier, only longer.
Once I finished it I worked on my cape. I immediately discovered that I had misread the directions, and ended up having to rip back twenty rows or so. I continued to have problems with it throughout the evening, almost entirely due to my inability to count. I'm a little concerned now that the finished border section will look wierd, because my increases are not all in the right place, but...I'm not going back and doing it again, so I'll live with it. :oP It's really frustrating to have nobody to blame but myself. Lessons I have learned during this time:
--I am too stupid to follow directions that say 'do this 9 more times' without assistance. From now on, I will acknowledge my stupidity immediately and write out next to each line of instructions the row numbers on which I am supposed to follow that particular instruction. I do think it is especially mean of the pattern designers to nest these things by saying things like 'row 5-6 repeat rows 3-4' and then 'repeat 1-6 nine more times.'
--I don't work well with the rowcounters that you have to turn to increase. I am better off with the ones you hit on the top that make a fun clicky noise.
--I need to take better notes when walking away from a project for a while.
--Alpaca sheds like a mofo.
The last is kind of disappointing...wearing my fetching cape will be a lot less fun if I have to have a lint roller in my pocket to use every time I take it off. I am trying not to think about this for now.
I'm waiting on some measurements for my friend for her Urban Necessity set and then I will get started on that. I was seriously tempted to start the Dimple Shale scarf because that yarn is so luscious, but I am afraid of another bout of scarf boredom. I hope it wouldn't be as big of an issue since this will be lace which should be more interesting...but I fear that it will still be a problem. :oP Maybe I will just make it a short little thing that she can tuck in her jacket. We'll see.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
What to do, what to do
So, I'm nearing the finish line on the Columns Scarf...relatively speaking...and I'm REALLY looking forward to working on something else. The question is...what??
Should I go back and work on the Witterings Hat and try to finish that?
Should I work on the cape I want to make for myself that is barely started?
Should I take a break and work up a quick chunky shawl to keep from constantly freezing at work?
Should I get started on the Urban Necessity stuff from my friend?
Should I work on the Dimple Shale Scarf for my other friend?
I'm really kind of stuck. What should I do?? I want to do all of these things!! Perhaps it would be best to put off the Dimple Shale Scarf for a bit, since I am just coming off the Columns Scarf. I may be a little scarfed out. Also, I have not told that friend that I am making this scarf for her, so she cannot be disappointed that I have not started it yet.
I think I'd like to work on the cape. It's a bulky yarn so it should go pretty quickly (which would certainly be a change from this last project), and I'd really like to have one. Urban Necessity doesn't NEED to be done until the cool weather sets in. I'd like to finish the Witterings hat just to get it off my needles, but there's no rush on that one either. The recipient doesn't know about it, and we're coming to the end of the season in which it would be useful, so I may just put that on my low-pressure, low-priority list.
Should I go back and work on the Witterings Hat and try to finish that?
Should I work on the cape I want to make for myself that is barely started?
Should I take a break and work up a quick chunky shawl to keep from constantly freezing at work?
Should I get started on the Urban Necessity stuff from my friend?
Should I work on the Dimple Shale Scarf for my other friend?
I'm really kind of stuck. What should I do?? I want to do all of these things!! Perhaps it would be best to put off the Dimple Shale Scarf for a bit, since I am just coming off the Columns Scarf. I may be a little scarfed out. Also, I have not told that friend that I am making this scarf for her, so she cannot be disappointed that I have not started it yet.
I think I'd like to work on the cape. It's a bulky yarn so it should go pretty quickly (which would certainly be a change from this last project), and I'd really like to have one. Urban Necessity doesn't NEED to be done until the cool weather sets in. I'd like to finish the Witterings hat just to get it off my needles, but there's no rush on that one either. The recipient doesn't know about it, and we're coming to the end of the season in which it would be useful, so I may just put that on my low-pressure, low-priority list.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
RIP
I have decided to make a new section on my sidebar - the Project Graveyard. These are for projects that I have decided are doomed and I don't want to work on them any more. The first entry is the Love Heart slippers. The first one came out too big for me, and while I think I would have gamely carried on and finished the second one and given the finished project away - the yarn color I used is no longer available and I do not have enough yarn to make a second slipper.
I hope I will give this project another try sometime in the future. There is a smaller size in the book, and I do still like them. However, I will have to use different yarn. I'm not sure whether I will frog the existing slipper or just get rid of it altogether, but if this project is seen again, it will definately be a new entity and not a redo of what I've already done.
Fare thee well, not so little slipper. Fare thee well.
Afterthought: You know, that yarn was really hard on my fingers, and I do still have concerns over how comfortable that seam down the middle of the sole would have been. I think I will have to look at this one long and hard before I amke a decision to try it again.
I hope I will give this project another try sometime in the future. There is a smaller size in the book, and I do still like them. However, I will have to use different yarn. I'm not sure whether I will frog the existing slipper or just get rid of it altogether, but if this project is seen again, it will definately be a new entity and not a redo of what I've already done.
Fare thee well, not so little slipper. Fare thee well.
Afterthought: You know, that yarn was really hard on my fingers, and I do still have concerns over how comfortable that seam down the middle of the sole would have been. I think I will have to look at this one long and hard before I amke a decision to try it again.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Photos
Pretty, yes? I'm in love.
In the meantime, I'm making progress on the columns scarf, but it feels like it will never end:
45" and counting.
And, while I'm at it, an FO - the candy wrapper sachets from One Skein. Only 2 out of the three - I dropped one in the car and haven't gotten it out yet. Plain stockinette on the left, diamond pattern on the right. Next time, a less busy yarn would be best - this is Old Rose from Cherry Tree Hill.
Yummy colors
The Paris Rain socks are so pretty...right now they are half grey-brown and half green-blue. I've made it through the inch of ribbing and started on the stockinette last night. Ah, the beauty and quickness of those simple round and rounds! I can't wait to see what they will look like.
I have read about things like flashing and pooling and puddling, and have made up my mind not to care if that happens on this pair. I do worry about running out of yarn before the pair is complete, but I am hoping that is just paranoia.
Paranoia caused by the number of times recently I have run out of yarn!!
Well. We'll see. I have decided not to bother casting on both socks at once (which may be a mistake given the afforementioned worry about running out of yarn) because I am lazy and I was having too much fun with the first one.
Scarf is at 42 inches. I am literally inching along on this thing. I may have to wash it before I give it to BG. My aunt is visiting; she is a smoker carries this smell around with her and leaves it on everything she touches. As BG is not a smoker I don't think he will appreciate having his scarf tainted with eau de nicotine.
Also, I want to make totally sure of how the thing behaves in the wash before I give it to him.
Yarn for Urban Necessity is on the way...and I am kind of kicking myself for not ordering enough to make a scarf as well. I have a thing about complete sets. I'm already contemplating how I could make this darn scarf pattern into a matching hat. Because after just over 3 feet I am not sick enough of this stitch pattern yet. I'm telling you, it's a curse. If you get a hat from me, you know your next two gift giving holidays will consist of a pair of gloves and a scarf. Iam obsessed with like sets.
After this relative visit is over, I hope to get my craft room set up, including my camera and tripod so that I can start adding pictures to this blog. It feels all naked without any.
I have read about things like flashing and pooling and puddling, and have made up my mind not to care if that happens on this pair. I do worry about running out of yarn before the pair is complete, but I am hoping that is just paranoia.
Paranoia caused by the number of times recently I have run out of yarn!!
Well. We'll see. I have decided not to bother casting on both socks at once (which may be a mistake given the afforementioned worry about running out of yarn) because I am lazy and I was having too much fun with the first one.
Scarf is at 42 inches. I am literally inching along on this thing. I may have to wash it before I give it to BG. My aunt is visiting; she is a smoker carries this smell around with her and leaves it on everything she touches. As BG is not a smoker I don't think he will appreciate having his scarf tainted with eau de nicotine.
Also, I want to make totally sure of how the thing behaves in the wash before I give it to him.
Yarn for Urban Necessity is on the way...and I am kind of kicking myself for not ordering enough to make a scarf as well. I have a thing about complete sets. I'm already contemplating how I could make this darn scarf pattern into a matching hat. Because after just over 3 feet I am not sick enough of this stitch pattern yet. I'm telling you, it's a curse. If you get a hat from me, you know your next two gift giving holidays will consist of a pair of gloves and a scarf. I
After this relative visit is over, I hope to get my craft room set up, including my camera and tripod so that I can start adding pictures to this blog. It feels all naked without any.
Monday, August 27, 2007
So close, yet so far
The scarf is 40 inches and I've joined in the third ball of Moss. Only 20 inches to go - and yet, it seems like such a long way. I've got a lot going on at home now with visiting relatives. I've missed my deadline to get this done - BG's birthday was this past Thursday - but as we've all got a lot going on right now we put off the formal birthday celebration for a bit. If I can get this done before my family leaves I think I will be safe, but I won't know for sure how much time I have until we set a formal birthday party date.
Last night right before I went to bed I cast on a pedicure sock in Artyarns Supermerino, colorway Paris Rain. I think it's beautiful so far, though I've only got a couple of rows done. I feel a little guilty for starting it, but I felt like I needed something quick and simple to make me feel better about how long all my complicated projects are taking me. Besides, everybody does socks while doing other projects, right? Right?
I started to try casting both socks on at once, but I was tired and it seemed like too much work. I guess I could put this sock on a holder, do a couple of rows on the other sock, and then put them both back on my circs.
I'm using my addi turbo needles and after using the knitpicks options - the tips seem SO blunt!! It's actually really bothering me! I may have to switch...it's driving me nuts. I'm sure I'll get used to them again eventually, but having been accustomed to one, switching to the other is difficult. I had problems when I switched from the addis to the options for the same reason, in the other direction.
Ah well...
Last night right before I went to bed I cast on a pedicure sock in Artyarns Supermerino, colorway Paris Rain. I think it's beautiful so far, though I've only got a couple of rows done. I feel a little guilty for starting it, but I felt like I needed something quick and simple to make me feel better about how long all my complicated projects are taking me. Besides, everybody does socks while doing other projects, right? Right?
I started to try casting both socks on at once, but I was tired and it seemed like too much work. I guess I could put this sock on a holder, do a couple of rows on the other sock, and then put them both back on my circs.
I'm using my addi turbo needles and after using the knitpicks options - the tips seem SO blunt!! It's actually really bothering me! I may have to switch...it's driving me nuts. I'm sure I'll get used to them again eventually, but having been accustomed to one, switching to the other is difficult. I had problems when I switched from the addis to the options for the same reason, in the other direction.
Ah well...
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