Knitgirl's Stash

A weekend where one feels like crap apparently results in something finished!

So, when you feel like crap for an entire weekend, what's a girl to do? Why, knit, of course!

Take feeling crappy, determination to finish something (just so you can cast on something new, of course), Season 2 of Grey's Anatomy, then an assortment of chick flicks... and Jemima is done! I literally just finished sewing in buttons and am weaving in assorted ends. Of course, it is well after midnight, so I'll probably go to bed soon and finish in the morning... Which means that I'll be wearing her to the shop on Wednesday! Woo-hoo!

Of course, now I have to decide which sweater I need to cast on for... there are just too many out there that I want to knit!!

No pictures yet, but I'll post them tomorrow - I'll have Michelle take them at the shop! :)

Because I'm a joiner... and I suck at the posting

Yes, I know, I'm such a joiner. At least with this one I can possibly clear a couple of the Socks WIPs I have on the needles by the end of the month? Maybe? You think?

To celebrate Socktoberfest, I'll answer the questionnaire Lolly posted on her blog:

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started knitting socks about 2 years ago, I think. It was definitely not long after I started knitting. I mostly taught myself - I actually started knitting socks because a friend (who has been an incredible mentor and someone I admire) convinced me that I could - and as I've said before, she's not someone who will just blow sunshine up your ass. I'm just sayin'.

What was your first pair?  How have they "held up" over time?

My first completed pair was from the Cat Bordhi book Socks Soar on Two Circulars. They were a simple 2x2 rib done in Regia Jubilee (India colorway). While I hated the pattern, I love these socks - I still wear them when it gets cold. They did not stripe or knit up in the space dyed pattern, but that doesn't matter b/c I hated that pattern, lol. They have definitely fuzzed up over time, but I still wear them proudly!

What would you have done differently? 

I would have knit these at a tighter gauge. I think that the pattern called for US3s, which was just not working for the socks. I also wouldn't have followed the pattern's convoluted heel instructions... I came up with my own shortly thereafter.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

Fleece Artist, Mama E's C*Eye*Ber Fiber, Koigu, Lorna's Laces...

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I knit my socks exclusively on 2 circs. I've tried DPNs and Magic Loop and they just aren't for me, even though I can knit those ways as well. (As demonstrated by a previous post, I generally end up hurting myself when I knit with DPNs, lol.) I completely suck at crochet, so I definitely don't crochet my socks.

Which kind of heel do you prefer?  (flap? or short-row?)

I prefer a short row heel simply because I find it less fussy than a heel flap and I like the look better. Nine times out of ten, I'll change a pattern to a short-row heel.
 
How many pairs have you made?

How lame is it that I have no earthly clue? Yes, I could go back in my archives and add them up, but that would require energy, lol. If I had to guess, I'd say about ten or so.

Knitting Updates? What are those?

I don't really have any knitting updates - I didn't get a lot of knitting done this weekend - I got a few rounds done on Anna, but that's about it. I had a good excuse, though!

I had to celebrate a first birthday with this cutie-pie! :) I'll get back to the knitting soon, I promise!

Anna and her European tour!

I've avoided blogging since I've gotten back for a couple of reasons: 1) my time just hasn't been my own since I've been back and I've been so busy that there's been no time to blog and 2) Dani's been doing one hell of a job in the recapping that I haven't felt it necessary to do so just yet. However, I thought I'd put up a quick post featuring Anna's trip to London and Paris...

Me sitting at the gate at Dulles... While it might look like I was knitting, I wasn't. The yarn for Anna decided to become one big glob of yarn barf while sitting in my carry-on, so I spent the time waiting to board rewinding it, to the surprise of some women who couldn't stop staring at Dani and I doing knitterly things and having a good time. (Jeez, do people really have to be so darn grumpy and serious when flying??)

Anna on the plane... as it was an overnight flight, I was able to catch a bit of a nap, so there wasn't a hell of a lot done on her. :)

Okay, so this might not be one of Anna, but it is of the Knitting Mecca Of London - Liberty!! (I actually got no yarn while I was there, I got fabric... but I was so excited to be there!)

I hadn't thought about taking Anna along on our excursions until I saw this blogger. Well, I assume she was a blogger. She kept photographing that pink item against different backdrops in Trafalgar Square. Of course, I took a picture of the blogger. :) There were two young guys who seemed very confused as to what she was doing, but I didn't think I could muster up enough Spanish to explain, lol.

Anna in front of Buckingham Palace. The Queen wasn't in, so the State Rooms were open and Dani and I decided to stop in and visit. However, there was a bit of a wait, so I pulled Anna out to work on her while we waited.

Okay, this one you're gonna have to enlarge to see where we were. (Just click on the picture.) Yup, that's Anna outside of Accident & Emergency at St Mary's Hospital. If you haven't read Dani's post on her accident, go and read it. As you might be able to tell, I managed to get a lot done on Anna while I was waiting.

Anna and I on the bus tour outside the Louvre. Dani and I worked on our respective socks while we were on the bus, listening to the tour. We got all sorts of weird looks for our KIPing, but we really didn't give a crap.

Okay, if you couldn't tell where that one was taken, you need a lesson in identifing landmarks! :)

While this one had nothing to do with Anna, I thought it was appropriate:

Why is it appropriate? Well, take a closer look at her hands:

She's winding yarn!! I know, I'm such a dork! :)

I took so many pictures while I was in London and Paris. Hopefully, I'll finish getting them uploaded to an album or two and will be able to share them soon. So, on that note, I'll leave you with these shots...

Le Tour Eiffel at night... at the top of every hour the tower is lit up with tons of twinkly lights - absolutely gorgeous! On a side note, that tower is DAMN big! So big that you think that it's a lot closer than it is.... The walk from the Musee Rodin to the Tour Eiffel is DAMN long! So long, that you need to stop for dinner and a bottle of vin! ;) (Okay, maybe not a bottle...)

The intrepid travelers doing the classic "Wish You Were Here!" shot. Really, we're both wishing that we were still there.... LOL!