Month: August 2006

  • things other people have said

    The Knitpicks circs? Friggin’ rock. Well…I will say that this opinion is currently limited to the 2 mm ‘classic’ circular. I’m not that hot on the interchangeables – too heavy, I don’t like having to screw on the tips (and some of them were really hard to get on; also, hard to grip due to slipperyness), and I found them too loud. Denise needles are nice and quiet.

    The point is really nice, though. I started this sock on Addis and switched to the Knitpicks, and that super pointy tip sure helps with the twists! It just gets right in there!

    They’re the “Traveler’s Stockings” from Knitting on the Road, in some superwash sock yarn I dyed, and I’m really liking it. I’m glad this chart ends after 35 rows, though – it’s a bit slow for me. I do like knitting stockinette socks – just round and round, little to no thinking involved. Needed a bit of a challenge, though, and I think these qualify.

    I’m done the body of Raspy (photo taken earlier in the day):

    I’ve started a sleeve. I think I’ll take out some rows here and there, but I don’t want them too end up too short!

    I’ve had itchy fingers lately (both figuratively and literally – damn eczema is flaring up a bit) and I want to cast on for a whole bunch of things at once. I think I just might…the other thing is that I want to buy yarn for projects I want to knit. Ha! Like I’m going to immediately cast on for all these things?

    The stash thing is kind of getting out of hand. So I’ve got a plan, I think a doable one – no yarn buying till the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter’s Fair, where I can buy some stuff; then, no yarn buying till Rhinebeck. I have plenty to keep me busy!

    And just a quick aside in finishing of old projects – anyone have a recommendation of where I can buy some 8 mm mother of pearl beads to put on my Vintage Blue Cardigan? I want to go non-plastic on this one.

    ETA: Alexandra suggested and ebay seller and I’ve already bought some! Vintage round buttons with a shank for nine cents each. Can’t beat that! Thanks for all the suggestions.

  • oh, the carnage

    So I go outside this morning to water my plants, and what do I see?

    A knocked over container (carrots, but they weren’t doing so hot anyway), and a hole dug pretty much all the way down to the bottom of the squash pot:

    And then….the peppers. Oh, my precious, precious peppers!

    Darn rascals got ’em all. Dammit. At least there are flowers, so there can be more peppers. I guess I’ll have to put a cage around them! Argh!

    Anyway. In FO news, I have some new socks all done.

    Strange Little Mama socks
    Pattern: basic, on 64 sts, short row heel
    Yarn: Vesper sock yarn, Strange Little Mama
    Needles: Addi Turbo US0
    Finished: August 6, 2006

    They’re a really good fit, nice and snug. And the turbos were fine for a plain stockinette sock, although picking up the short row wraps kind of sucked. Now, though, I have some Knitpicks circs and they rock! More on that tomorrow.

  • long-awaited FOs

    At long last!

    Supermerino Diamonds Cardigan
    Pattern: my own (hope to have it up for sale in the next few weeks)
    Yarn: Artyarns Supermerino…I think it was 10 skeins. From lettuce knit.
    Needles: Denise US6
    Finished: August 5, 2006

    After months and months of sitting, this sweater is finally done. I don’t even remember when I started it…I got the yarn at Christmas, but I definitely didn’t cast on for a few months. And then the knitting was done, but I waited and waited to block it. And then there’s the buttons, which I finally put on today. I think I’m in a finishing mood, so more FOs to come soon!

    Anyway, I love this sweater. Super, super comfy yarn that feels so good against the skin, and not itchy at ALL. Everything grew during blocking as I knew it would, so it fits perfectly now. A shot of the back, although a bit dark:

    Although there’s no shaping in the body, it’s a close fit and hugs well anyway. The sleeves are nice and long, which I like. I can see wearing this a LOT. Plus, I know that Supermerino wears really well too, so not so much worrying about pilling!

    Needs a snazzier name, though – suggestions? There may even be a prize involved, or something.

    An FO from my garden, also long-awaited:

    I harvested a good couple of burgundy beans from my container garden today! They are the most gorgeous, eggplant-y purple. Picked them a bit big, actually, but I haven’t been home much the last few days. There are quite a few more on the plants to pick in the next few days. And they turn green when you cook them! I had them briefly steamed, with my garlic broccoli and tofu tonight. Yum.