Friday, July 31, 2009

Color as Therapy

A finished object! Yay! I finished the unending grey socks, and they turned out very well. I think Harb will appreciate them once it gets cold and he needs some around-the-house socks.

This was an on-the-fly pattern. I've found that using 50% of the number of leg stitches for the heel flap (standard reinforced heel) makes for a heel that is uncomfortably loose, so I've been doing 40% or so. The whole sock is done in 2x2 ribbing, except for the bottom of the foot and the toe.

As an antidote to the grey of the previous socks, I've decided to work on some very, very pink socks for Little Rogue.

I'm doing a two-fer in the difficulty department on these: 1) first time doing 2 socks at the same time using the magic loop method, and 2) using master numbers for LR plugged into Cat Bordhi's Upstream sock architecture, and adding 2x2 ribbing into the increases so that it flows up into the leg portion.

So far, it's going well, though I'll probably hit a bit of confusion when I get to the heel and need to do one backward from the other. Wish me luck.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Weird

It's very odd. I'm not sure exactly what to do. I've not had this problem in over 2 years.

I have no knitting project on the needles. None.

Understand, it's not that I don't have plans, or yarn (heh!), or projects to do, it's just that there are none cast on at the moment.

I finished the unending grey socks for my husband. The fit well, and I'm very happy with how they turned out. I think I'm most surprised that the stripe pattern ended up nearly identical on the pair. I didn't try to match them, I just randomly started on the ball on each sock.

Now I have to decide what to do next. I've got some stealth projects for the little rogue, but I need to wait until she starts school to get going on those - they're supposed to be surprises. I could figure out mittens for me, or start the lovely lace shawl out of alpaca, or confirm gauge and sizing on the hourglass sweater and get started on that, or figure out how to do magic loop for some socks for little rogue (not a stealth project).

Or, I could clear off my table and do some sewing.

What to do? What to do.....

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Mini Vacations

I'm the type of person who needs the occasional solo break. Around here we call it "running away". Sometimes, on the weekend, we'll just arrange time for me to head out on my own for a couple hours or for me to spend some time alone at home for a couple hours.

Had a marvelous time running away today. Went to the library to peruse some books I'd requested and pick the ones that had workable patterns. Headed down to the nearest LYS to find the last bit of yarn I needed for the Little Rogue surprise projects (sort of coordinating hat, mittens, and poncho - made with our kool-aid dyed yarn). Wandered into one of the local bead shops, just because, and had silly conversations with the owner [What exactly is it about cinnamon gummy bears and girl scout cookies that the box can sit unopened in the cabinet for months but the once they're opened .. they're gone?].

Finally ended up at a bookstore, which I think was playing about the most annoying music I've heard - it drove me out of the store, and then the associated Starbuck's for an extremely chocolate cookie and iced latté. KIPing was done. I got looks. I really wanted a t-shirt or bag with one of the slogans Wendy has up for voting - "It's not a 'hobby'. It's survivalist training for the Zombie Apocalypse." Though in my case I'd have to change it to "They're not hobbies", as I have far too many.

I think that once Little Rogue starts school again my need for the running away will decrease to nil, which will make our weekends more family affairs - not at all a bad thing. Can't even express how much I appreciate being able to do it on occasion now, however.

On an update note: Yes, the wedding sweater did get finished. It got finished in the car on the way to Kansas, but it got finished. Looked lovely, though if I were to make another I'd do some fiddling with the sizing. I'd make the same size in the stockinette portion, but I'd add a repeat or three to the lace portion to really make it proportional. The lace does not stretch as much as one would think, so the sweater tends to bulge out at the transition from the lace to the body of the sweater.

The wedding was great, it was terrific to see family all in one place, and the drive was not at all bad. Lovely weather for the whole thing.

Now to get through the next few weeks, make sure Little Rogue is all registered and supplied, and get in some more fun things.

Just a couple hours and I'm feeling recharged and ready to tackle things. Good times.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Fish or cut bait.

It's down to the wire on the projects I need to complete by end of day on Wednesday. I started to work on the skirt tonight, laying out the beautiful edge embroidered linen and considering whether the pattern I was considering would work.

Nope.

Hmmm, another pattern?

Nope.

Ok, what about this one?

Nuh-uh.

Well, crud.

Deciding that the only viable pattern for the fabric is either a) a dirndl - sooooo not flattering, or b) a pattern I've never seen and thus would have to create, I went for what was behind door number 3.

A nice linen skirt, embroidered with an all-over pattern, which I made several years ago and love wearing. I'm not completely certain about the lace edge of the top with the all over embroidery of the skirt, but hey! it makes for a fully handmade outfit which is the overall goal of this deal.

Sometimes you eat the fish, sometimes the fish eats you, but either way - someone's got a full belly.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Not much

Really, today, I've got nothin'. I've 4 days to finish 3 projects, one begun and 2 not, 2 big and one tiny. And no idea where I'll fit them in amongst the normal, everyday things like swim class, housework, grocery shopping, and such.

So instead, I share the joy which is this. Because the Muppets will live forever.

[Yeah, grammar fails today as well. I'll add it to the list.]