Author: Laura

  • cardis and things

    Well, the top-down cardi is done! No pictures yet though, because it needs a nice long bath and some resting time. I’m a bit worried that the somewhat shrunken-cardigan look isn’t good on me – like i’m just wearing too-small clothes. We’ll see after it’s been blocked. Otherwise it may go to a smaller person. Who, I don’t know.

    Let’s see, what else…oh, I started a sock with that Lorna’s Laces, cuff down, ribbed, and I’ll probably do an eye of partrige heel flap for some variation. I’ve got a bit of a sock secret – I’m intimidated by fancy sock patterns. So those of you who think that I’m fearless with my knitting, well, that’s my deep dark secret. Lace charts and teeny tiny stitches do seem like a bit much for me, but that’s not to say I won’t try them anyway!

    So back to the sock. I started out trying to do a toe-up, then cuff down, on size 1 double points. They’re Pony Pearls, and both attempts were Not Successful. They’re just not pointy enough for me, plus I was getting ladders with the cuff down. So even though I know I should be doing them on smaller needles, I’m using the Garnstudio 2.5 mm circs. They just work so well. I’ve been trying to find suitable bamboo circs that come in smaller sizes, and the only other ones I’ve come up with are the Crystal Palace ones. I’m not opposed to trying them out, but after buying two needles that just didn’t work for me, I don’t know if I really want to shell out that $18. I also haven’t found a good place online to order them from that didn’t have excessively high shipping.

    Does anyone want, for trade or buy via Paypal (cheap, make me an offer):
    1. The Collection bamboo circular needle, 3.5 mm (US 4), 80 cm length
    2. Pony Pearl size 1 double points

    Both are in perfect condition, they just didn’t work for me. Let me know!

    Pictures will come this weekend!

  • i need me a coffee..and cheetos*

    The toe-up tall socks are done! Sorry about the picture (definitely not the greatest) but it’s DAMN hard to get a picture of one’s legs.

    Some slight problems – they’re a little too big at the top. I shouldn’t have increased as much. One sock is slightly looser at the top than the other (stupid gauge problems). And, they are definitely not going to stay up on their own. So I’m going to run them through the wash, hoping they’ll shrink up a tiny bit, and get started on Betty.

    Oh, the top-down cardi is almost done too –

    Just a few more rows on the body and some ribbing and I’ll be done (except for blocking and that pesky stuff). I don’t want the body to be too long because the look is “cute, cropped cardigan”.

    One more thing, I returned a ball of Kidsilk Haze and picked these up at SnB tonight.

    The new issue of Interweave, and two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shephard Sock in “Flames”. It feel so, so nice. Unfortunately it’s on the skinnier side of sock weight, and I don’t have size 0 needles. I’m impatient, so I’ll probably go back to the store tomorrow to wind up one of the skeins and start a sock on 1s anyway. If the fabric sucks, then I’ll get some 0s. I wish those Garnstudio bamboo circs came in 2.0 mm…

    * Cheetos are one of my junk food weaknesses. I don’t love chips when I need something salty and crunchy – Cheetos all the way! They’re especially good for late-nigth study sessions…like tonight.

  • quiet

    I’ve got to go to chinese new year’s dinner in a few minutes (which I really don’t want to go to) but here’s a quick update:

    I worked on the tall socks a touch today, but there’s still so much to go…ah well, mindless tv knitting for when I have time to watch tv. Oh, the sleeves of the top down cardi are turning out okay – they’re going to be three-quarter length after blocking (I hope). So those are almost done, then there’s just the body to finish up. I really want to get that down soon.

    Urban Aran sort of stopped after that first sleeve, but I do want to get back to it – it’s so nice and fast, and has fun cables. Maybe I’ll start the back so I can just go forward on it without having to worry about increases or shaping for a good long while.

    Feeling rather overwhelmed with school at the moment – so I gotta get back to the books. Cheers.

    EDIT: GAHHHH!!! Elann’s got the return of solid colour Esprit (their fixation ripoff) DIRECTLY AFTER I ORDERED IT FROM THE STATES for almost $2 US more per ball plus shipping! Grrrrrrr. At least now I can order some for other purposes from Elann…