Saturday, December 22, 2012

Meanwhile, back at the ranch no one really missed Timmy.

Because we're all enamored with this Treads pattern for fingerless gloves!

The red color distorts the photos enough that I had to do some funky work with the photo program.

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I love the lateral braid, even if it drives me a bit bonkers. I just get into a rhythm and then something happens and I forget where I'm at, then I go back and tink around to straighten myself out, and begin again. It's worth it.

The definition of the patterns aren't great also due to the type of yarn I'm using: GGH cashmere. I've had this for years, and actually this yarn was frogged from another pair of fingerless mittens that just didn't fit well any longer. So the softness of the yarn blurs the stitch definition in the photo, but it's lovely in person.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

FO - Wrap It Up

I still feel pretty narly and exhausted. I'm going on two weeks without my CPAP, and I can't believe I used to live with this exhaustion for years. How the hell did I get anything done?

There are benefits to holding down a couch while you're waiting for the antibiotics to kick cooties ass. Finishing up a knitted gift:

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It was knit length-wise, just knitted. The color and plying of the yarn was enough to make this scarf pop.

* * * * *

Needle:
US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn:
Cascade Yarns Cloud

How much?
2 skeins = 328.0 yards (299.9m)

Colorway:
dark periwinkle

Purchased at
Jimmy Beans Wool

Saturday, December 15, 2012

The Plague Returns

Usually it doesn't hit until January, but apparently it has arrived early. This week began with a cold, a fever, sore throat, as well as losing my voice for three days. I had a brief reprieve yesterday, and then was hit even harder today, once again losing my voice. This lack of voice is going to set me back *months* in talking.

In the midst of the plague haze, while holding down the couch with the basset hound lapdog Tank, there was a knock on the door. Fortunately for me, it was not Death. It was my order from Jimmy Beans Wool.


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I had DPNs missing from my collection, and since I've been knitting hats and gloves like no one is manufacturing except for me, I filled in the gaps.

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My gift knitting yarns arrived, too.

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Finally, there was a little something-something for myself. It was through a generous holiday/thank you gift certificate from a friend.

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I plan to knit this wrap from it.

Sunday, December 09, 2012

Sleepless Nights Put To Good Use

Probably the worse six weeks I've had in three years. For those nights I couldn't sleep more than a few hours, I had to do something. Put on a video or the iPod and knit. This is for a friend/colleague of mine.

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I always pin the label to my blocking squares so in case anything should happen to me, my fiber friends will know exactly what it is they're fighting over...

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A pouting Tank, who is not allowed in my fiber studio.

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It'll be dry by tomorrow morning, and I hope to get some photos of it when my friend receives it tomorrow night.

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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Universal Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

I was watching Stephen Hawking's program "The Story of Everything," and in watching it, was fascinated all over again that:

A) Albert Einstein said, "Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another."

B) The universe re-purposes itself all the time with red giants, black holes, pulsar stars, neutron stars, supernovas, etc.

And this got me to thinking about these fingerless mitts (stay with me):

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Details on the pattern and yarn can be found on my Ravelry page.

As I stated on Ravelry, the yarn while gorgeous and so soft, comfy, and warm, had stretched to be too large on my hand. So, as the universe recycles itself (as we all should recycle when we can), I decided to recycle/reuse the yarn again for another pair of hand-warmers.

Enter Treads.

It will be my first attempt at a pair of tipless gloves. Wish me luck!

By the way, I also highly recommend Stephen Hawking's books:

A Brief History of Time


The Universe in a Nutshell

The Grand Design

Friday, November 16, 2012

FO - Hats On!

Pooh Bear models the most recent hat, and I *really* dig this pattern. Simplicity, itself.

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* * * * *

Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm
US 7 - 4.5 mm

Yarn
Malabrigo Yarn Rios

How much?
.5 skeins = 105 yards

Colorway
870 Candombe

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Warm Feet Ahead

It's been a hell of a week around Casa de Tank, so the Tank has been given an extra marrow bone, and I bought sock yarn from The Yarn Shoppe. (Colorway: 5/8 Dragon's Breath Num#030)

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I've several projects on the needles and a crochet hook or two. Once I get things settled at work, a few things settled with college classes, some family issues squared away, and I've a few of the projects completed, socks for me are going on the needles.

Granted, it may be February 2013, but socks will be on the needles!

Sunday, November 04, 2012

FO: Mystery Knitting I

Done! I've been working on it off and on since September. Ridged Helmet Hat - minus the earflaps.

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* * * * *

Needle size: US 3 - 3.25 mm

Yarns:
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (pink)

How much?
1 skeins = 100.0 yards (91.4m)

Plymouth Yarn Mulberry Merino (hot pink)

How much?
1.5 skeins = 148.5 yards (135.8m)

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Autumn Knitting

I'm just charmed by this Malabrigo Rios yarn, and the colors of "Lettuce" and "Glazed Carrot." Since I have a skein of each left, I finally started a project that I've been eying for the past few months.

So far:

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Monday, October 22, 2012

FO - Reward Scarf

A little something-something for me.

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* * *

Needle
US 9 - 5.5 mm

Yarn
Classic Elite Yarns MountainTop Chalet

How much?
2 skeins = 196.0 yards (179.2m)

Colorway
grey

Purchased at
Home Ec Workshop in Iowa City, Iowa

FO - Mystery Knitting #2 Revealed

For a friend's toddler - it was a two sizes too big for the wee thing, but she'll be able to use it in the early spring next year.

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Finished:

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* * * *
Project info
Two Color Sweater - toddler

Pattern
Two Color Baby Cardigan by Kristin Spurkland



Needle
US 8 - 5.0 mm

Yarn
Malabrigo Yarn Rios

How much?
1 skein each
1 sken = 210.0 yards (192.0m)

Colorway
glazed carrot

Colorway
lettuce