June has just been a whirlwind for me. Unfortunately this is what happens when summer is the busiest time at work. I have been knitting a little in the evenings, but I don't have a photo of my current project yet so it will get it's own post later. In the meantime, here is a collection of disjointed thoughts that have been bouncing around in my head.
Knit Donut:
I have utterly failed at adapting a knit doughnut pattern into "Homer's Donut". This is due entirely to my lack of planning and/or patience. I'm frustrated at myself because I know it isn't that difficult to adapt a stupid pattern for a stupid stuffed donut, but I haven't taken the time to do it properly. The D'oh!nut is hidden away for now, to be finished (and awesome!) at a later date.
Expense and Frustration:
One day last week I dealt with a large unexpected car repair (my key was stuck in the ignition for the 6th time - that's a story in itself), large vet bill with the added bonus of worrying about a cat under anesthesia, and a flat tire on my hubby's car on a 110°F day with a anesthesia drunk-cat in his carrier, lug nuts that would not come off, and the gas light on (and therefore questionable air-conditioner running time). And almost $1000 dropped in one day. There goes my new couch.
Garden:
The weather has been spotty here this 'summer'. There have been a few hot days (see above) but today it is in the low 60's again. There was a seemingly unending period of rain this spring, but now the forecasted rain never shows up. This has not stopped me from fixing up the garden at our new home. In the past I have had a dozen or so containers on our balcony and I am happy to graduate to plants in the ground. And they are growing - despite the weather and somewhat poor soil we uncovered. There is a post coming about my garden soon.
Michael Jackson:
I'm almost sorry to mention his name again; the media is so thoroughly saturated with coverage of the same nothing over and over. I was never a huge fan, but I always liked his music (had them on my iPod - not that I would have admitted it before now) and thought he was a very talented performer. I think his life is a testament to what can happen when you are deeply unhappy with yourself and surrounded by enablers.
Although I am not sad or grieving by any stretch of the imagination, his death has stuck with me over the last few days. I think because it reflects the place where my brain has been stuck for a few months now. Everyone and everything I know will eventually come to an end. Obvious, I know, but also not a good place to be stuck. It's a good thing I don't have enablers!
Yarn Dreams. Knitting and Life.
Tuesday, June 30
Friday, June 19
D'oh Nuts
I wanted to make this knit donut for my dad, only modify it to look like Homer's donut. Easy enough, right? Especially since I found the perfect colors of yarn. But my inability to simply follow a pattern as written and my horrendous sewing-up skills have made this little thing the most frustrating project I've done in a long time.
This was my first attempt:
Thinking about it now, it would have been better to use a provisional cast on, instead of trying to neatly and invisibly sew together the cast on and bind off edges.
Also, I didn't really pay attention to the gauge differences of the two yarns and the pink frosting ended up too high and poofy. The second attempt was not much better.
I think I need to just rip it out and start over. So now my urge to stuff it in a drawer and forget about it is conflicting with my desire to finish it by fathers day.
I feel completely untalented right now.
This was my first attempt:
Thinking about it now, it would have been better to use a provisional cast on, instead of trying to neatly and invisibly sew together the cast on and bind off edges.
Also, I didn't really pay attention to the gauge differences of the two yarns and the pink frosting ended up too high and poofy. The second attempt was not much better.
I think I need to just rip it out and start over. So now my urge to stuff it in a drawer and forget about it is conflicting with my desire to finish it by fathers day.
I feel completely untalented right now.
Monday, June 8
Movie Knitting
I have a sock in progress that I keep under the passenger seat of my car to solve a case of Extreme Boredom. (No, this does not include stoplights, trains, traffic, or anywhere else I should be paying at least a little attention. My brain doesn't shift gears that quickly.) It's been under there at least eight months, probably longer.
Last weekend I found the perfect spot to work on it - at a drive-in.
The double feature we saw was Night at the Museum 2 (which was pretty funny, but then I don't have the most sophisticated taste in movies) and Star Trek (which we had already seen once at the IMAX). It was a fun night.
Several people who have seen the car sock have asked me about the short circular needle. It is a 9" 0US Hiya Hiya. I like using it but it takes some getting used to. And by that I mean that it takes some getting used to every time I pick it up. The first dozen or so stitches feel awkward until I find the right grip, which is different then I typically hold needles.
I think this awkwardness is worth the benefits of using one short needle. I can just knit around and around without paying much attention or stopping to rearrange needles. I haven't reached the heel yet, but I am planning on trying a short row heel with the instep stitches sitting on the cord. Theoretically, I should be able to knit the entire sock on that one needle up to the toe decreases.
I'll post again on how it is working out once I reach that point.
Last weekend I found the perfect spot to work on it - at a drive-in.
The double feature we saw was Night at the Museum 2 (which was pretty funny, but then I don't have the most sophisticated taste in movies) and Star Trek (which we had already seen once at the IMAX). It was a fun night.
Several people who have seen the car sock have asked me about the short circular needle. It is a 9" 0US Hiya Hiya. I like using it but it takes some getting used to. And by that I mean that it takes some getting used to every time I pick it up. The first dozen or so stitches feel awkward until I find the right grip, which is different then I typically hold needles.
I think this awkwardness is worth the benefits of using one short needle. I can just knit around and around without paying much attention or stopping to rearrange needles. I haven't reached the heel yet, but I am planning on trying a short row heel with the instep stitches sitting on the cord. Theoretically, I should be able to knit the entire sock on that one needle up to the toe decreases.
I'll post again on how it is working out once I reach that point.
Wednesday, June 3
New Addition
Meet Reggie.
He is a 9 month old, super cuddly, sweet kitten. He's lived with us for just over a week now, and has settled in amazingly well. We adopted him from the Humane Society, who received him as a stray at the beginning of May. My husband thinks he must have lived in a house at some point in his short life. He didn't have any reservations about exploring our entire place within 5 minutes of arriving, and knew immediately that a person in the kitchen might mean food and that the on our bed was the best place to sleep.
Reggie also seems to like, or at least not mind, water. He has jumped into the shower with me three times already. A very surreal experience for sure!
And has a huge bonus, he hasn't shown any interest in my plants and only noticed my knitting when he pushed it out of his way to sit on my lap.
He is a 9 month old, super cuddly, sweet kitten. He's lived with us for just over a week now, and has settled in amazingly well. We adopted him from the Humane Society, who received him as a stray at the beginning of May. My husband thinks he must have lived in a house at some point in his short life. He didn't have any reservations about exploring our entire place within 5 minutes of arriving, and knew immediately that a person in the kitchen might mean food and that the on our bed was the best place to sleep.
Reggie also seems to like, or at least not mind, water. He has jumped into the shower with me three times already. A very surreal experience for sure!
And has a huge bonus, he hasn't shown any interest in my plants and only noticed my knitting when he pushed it out of his way to sit on my lap.
Monday, June 1
In-Progress Roundup
I've gone on a yarn shopping binge recently (more on that to come) but I really want to finish up some lingering projects before I cast on anything new. Besides a sweater that I have been working on consistently for a week or so, my other projects in progress have been lingering for a while now. I think it is time for some decisions. Opinions or tough love welcome.
(Note: links go to Ravelry.)
1) Sedum Sweater
This has been my current go-to project for the past week. I am hoping to finish it soon - three cheers for bulky yarn!
2) Chevron Scarf
I've wanted to make this scarf for years. I've had the yarn for years. My desire to knit it only increased after seeing all of the colorful and beautiful finished scarves on Ravelry. I've held off starting it since I thought it would be a fun knit and didn't want the "fun" of it to be over. But. It isn't fun to work on. The colors are pooling even though I am using two different colorways, I have to use size 4 needles to get a fabric I like, and it is basically stockinette stitch so isn't it going to roll? I just don't know what to do. I know it probably sounds like a no-brainer that I need to frog this thing but I've imagined it knit for so long I'm having a hard time letting go of that dream. I suppose at the very least I need to rip out and restart one of the skeins a few yards in so the pooling stops.
3) Anastasia Socks
This is a project that looks good on paper. The yarn (Misti International Hand Paint Sock) is amazing soft and the colors are wonderful; the pattern is well written and attractive. I have 1.25 socks knit but I've stalled because it isn't much fun to work on. I know it sounds ridiculous but the yarn is almost too soft. It slips right thought my fingers and I get a cramp in my palm trying to keep even tension. I will finish them; I've done too much not too. Besides, I do love them and look forward to wearing them. I've almost cast on a few other pairs of socks but am forcing myself to finish these first or else they may never be done.
4) Perfect Periwinkle Turtleneck Tube Vest
I really want to like this. (Do I sound like a broken record?) My mom bought me the yarn (Cascade Sierra) specifically for this project. I think I shortened the turtleneck too much and I don't like how my increases look. So again, probably should frog the whole thing and start over. The biggest problem is I had to go down to a US5 needle to get gauge (and a nice fabric) and the cotton content of the yarn kills my hands if I work on it for any length of time. But, wouldn't it look cute with a white blouse and jeans?
5) Husband Scarf. No photo or link, since it hasn't progressed that far yet. I bought some Berroco Inca Gold to make a dressy scarf to go with his new black leather coat last winter. I had planned on use the Henry pattern from Knitty but couldn't be bothered to do the math to account for my thicker yarn. Besides, it looks a little fiddly to do with black yarn. He hasn't found any stitch pattern in my books that he likes as much as the Henry scarf. We are at an impasse.
(Note: links go to Ravelry.)
1) Sedum Sweater
This has been my current go-to project for the past week. I am hoping to finish it soon - three cheers for bulky yarn!
2) Chevron Scarf
I've wanted to make this scarf for years. I've had the yarn for years. My desire to knit it only increased after seeing all of the colorful and beautiful finished scarves on Ravelry. I've held off starting it since I thought it would be a fun knit and didn't want the "fun" of it to be over. But. It isn't fun to work on. The colors are pooling even though I am using two different colorways, I have to use size 4 needles to get a fabric I like, and it is basically stockinette stitch so isn't it going to roll? I just don't know what to do. I know it probably sounds like a no-brainer that I need to frog this thing but I've imagined it knit for so long I'm having a hard time letting go of that dream. I suppose at the very least I need to rip out and restart one of the skeins a few yards in so the pooling stops.
3) Anastasia Socks
This is a project that looks good on paper. The yarn (Misti International Hand Paint Sock) is amazing soft and the colors are wonderful; the pattern is well written and attractive. I have 1.25 socks knit but I've stalled because it isn't much fun to work on. I know it sounds ridiculous but the yarn is almost too soft. It slips right thought my fingers and I get a cramp in my palm trying to keep even tension. I will finish them; I've done too much not too. Besides, I do love them and look forward to wearing them. I've almost cast on a few other pairs of socks but am forcing myself to finish these first or else they may never be done.
4) Perfect Periwinkle Turtleneck Tube Vest
I really want to like this. (Do I sound like a broken record?) My mom bought me the yarn (Cascade Sierra) specifically for this project. I think I shortened the turtleneck too much and I don't like how my increases look. So again, probably should frog the whole thing and start over. The biggest problem is I had to go down to a US5 needle to get gauge (and a nice fabric) and the cotton content of the yarn kills my hands if I work on it for any length of time. But, wouldn't it look cute with a white blouse and jeans?
5) Husband Scarf. No photo or link, since it hasn't progressed that far yet. I bought some Berroco Inca Gold to make a dressy scarf to go with his new black leather coat last winter. I had planned on use the Henry pattern from Knitty but couldn't be bothered to do the math to account for my thicker yarn. Besides, it looks a little fiddly to do with black yarn. He hasn't found any stitch pattern in my books that he likes as much as the Henry scarf. We are at an impasse.
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