Apparently, posting once a month is my new thing...

... because I just looked at the blog and realized that as of midnight it will have been exactly one month since I last blogged. *sigh* Well, the last week or so I've had the ultimate excuse - I've been moving! I just set up the computer in the apartment tonight and along with having a late night IM session with Dani (I missed those when I had no computer... for those three days. LOL), I finally uploaded pictures from my camera - and there are actual knitting pictures on there!

With all the moving stuff going on, I haven't been really motivated to work on anything I already have on the needles, but I haven't felt motivated to start brand new projects, either... until Steph brought in her almost completed Kelly Cardigan from the Classic Knits book by Erica Knight. I noticed that we didn't have a swatch of the CrackSilk KidCrack KidSilk Haze at the shop, so I quite generously volunteered to knit one. :) Which sent me on a swatch frenzy... However, upon washing and blocking said swatch for the shop... I discovered that I am NOT KNITTING TO GAUGE. I AM TOO LOOSE. This just does not happen for me. *sigh* While I could just knit a size smaller and be done with it, I decided to use some of the crack yarn I have at home to swatch on a smaller needle. Well, I hadn't gotten a chance to knit until the Comcast guy came to install my cable and cable internet... and then... well, just take a look.

The Comcast guy found it interesting that I knit and I'm sure he thought I was crazy when I pulled out my camera and took a picture of the swatch. I explained to him about the blog, which led us to talk about how big the whole crafting industry has become.

Anyhoo, yes, yes, there has been knitting at Chez Stash... at both the old and new places now! In the past few weeks I've been focused on a lot of the smaller projects that have been languishing in my knitting bag(s). I haven't really finished any, but there has been progress made. Which is something, right?

Please to ignore the really bad picture of me. If I remember correctly, this was taken at 1am and was the 4th or 5th shot. LOL.

Pattern: Calorimetry from Knitty Winter 2006
Yarn: Maybe half a skein of this gorgeous handspun cashmere, gifted to me by Ken of Jade Sapphire.
Needles: US8 24" Addi Turbos
Cast On/Off: One Wednesday evening in early February. I started it at Late Night and finished it at home.
Mods: None really. But lots needed to be made...
Fun Factor: Once I figured out how she was constructing her short-rows, it was a breeze!
Thoughts: I loved this yarn. I want more of it. However, my Calorimetry is WAY too big and loose for me. I don't have a tiny head, but I can almost stretch it 1.5 times around. I didn't do a gauge swatch, so that was a big issue with it. (I know, BAD Knitgirl!) The yarn is probably a Light Worsted to DK weight yarn... however, the pattern would still be too big. I actually made another with some Jade Sapphire 8 ply cashmere I had in stash... I went down to US7s and cast on 80 or so stitches. Much better fit. I even used just under a half a skein.

Pattern: My own - it's a garter rib
Yarn: 2 balls Rowan Plaid
Needles: US10.5 24" Addi Turbos
Cast On/Off: I cast on for this sometime around Superbowl Sunday - I was working on this at the fiesta... I cast off a couple weeks later.
Mods: Well, I originally planned on doing a modified scarf pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, but couldn't remember if you needed to knit or purl across the second row, so I made a decision and it became my own!
Fun Factor: Well, I wouldn't call it fun... but it was a great mindless knit!
Thoughts: While I'm not a fan of knitting scarves, I love wearing them! This is WARM and I *heart* it.

Oh, the STR Pebble Beach socks... the first one is finally done! I finished it on a visit to my gynecologist. (TMI, I'm sure.) While sitting in the waiting room forever and sitting in her office forever I managed to finish them. I was binding off as she walked in. Come to think of it, the last STR pair I worked on I finished the first sock in her office too... hmmm... maybe I need to go to see her more often. NOT. (Actually, she's quite fabulous and she's the only doctor I don't mind waiting for. And that's saying something.) Unlike the last pair, I didn't cast on for the the second sock that same day. Bad blogger. I still haven't cast on for it. But the yarn goes everywhere with me in my knitting bag or in the passenger seat of my car - just in case.

Oh the pretty Schaefer Miss Priss yarn! When we got it into the shop, I immediately cast on for a Le Slouch... and after 3.5 inches of seed stitch, I set it aside. It also travels in the knitting bag, just waiting for me to pick it up. Unfortunately, unlike Aimee and Michelle, I do not have the love of kintting the seed stitch. I do, however, have the love of wearing the seed stitch...

Then I decided that I needed to try the entrelac socks in the recent IK... I *heart* Eunny. I want to knit like Eunny when I grow up. When we got the Claudia's sock yarn in the shop, I immediately started to choose colors that would go together... Unfortunately, the Butter Pecan and the Honey colors go together a little too well for entrelac. *sigh* Oh well, I'll frog these and make a pair of knee highs with them a la Cara, I think. So I decided to buy some more yarn... this time more contrasty:

Rowan 4ply Soft in Clover and Sandalwood. So pretty. (Yes, you do see double points in those socks. No, your eyes aren't fooling you. Don't ask.)

And in Frog Pond News

I knit this at the beginning of last year for Michael's book. It was the sweater that eventually ended up on the cover, worn backwards. I had a few issues with the publishers (again, don't ask...) so it wasn't the happiest knit, despite the beautiful yarn... (Mountain Colors Weavers Quarters... so nice.) Michael (as his wonderful self) made sure I got the sweater back last week. I knew that I would never wear the sweater as it was, so I decided to frog it and make it into something that had less angst knit into it. So around 5.30 this evening, it became this:

Yup, 4 largish balls and 2 teeny balls, with only a yard or so sacrificed to my perfectionist finishing. (Note to self: If you start to rip out a sweater, find ALL the seams and woven in ends and unweave them BEFORE you start to rip it on the ball winder.) And I still have an entire ball of it left in my stash... somewhere.

So that's the latest. Blogging will still be intermittent while I get the new place straightened up - who knew I had so much crap?? I'm heading to NYC on Sunday to catch a couple shows, so there will be some fab knitting time to be had on the train! Now the question is: what to take?

Comments

[dani]

YAY monthly blog entry! YAY new apartment! YAY Monty!

[LauraRN]

Well, you certainly have enough to choose from.... If you like knitting on the socks, I'd take those-- compact, not a lot of thinking until you get to heels etc.

Great to see you tonight. I missed you guys!!!

[Ann]

What dani said. So happy for you and your new home!

[Nicole]

Wow, lots of WIPs! Hope you're settling into your new place.

[Jasmine]

Look -- is it a blog entry? And those socks you are knitting for the Sweet Shop? long forgotten in the month until the next posting. (not that I should talk at the moment) Can't wait until you have the apartment warming -- I better practice my chocolate baking skills.

[rofovnifo]

Hello

Looks good! Very useful, good stuff. Good resources here. Thanks much!


Bye

[Irritepreoria]

I'd rather be led to hell than managed to heavan.

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