Category: musings

  • see, now it can get cold

    Since I’ve got all these fabby new sweaters to wear ;) Thanks for all the compliments on Autumn (and Cloud)! I’m writing up the patterns between hours of studying, and I’ll probably just offer them up free – I don’t have a lot of time to put into them so the patterns will be minimal and probably only in one size.

    Meanwhile, I’ve got another sweater almost up for the camera! I’ll be finishing up the collar tonight while checking out “Weeds” (grr, showtime won’t let me view the site because I’m outside the US, and Showcase here in Canada doesn’t have a particular page for the show). Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, then it’s just sewing up and in and maybe a little blocking. I actually didn’t block Autumn, which is unusual for me; I tend to sing the praises of blocking! But it didn’t really seem to need it, and I’m not sure Katy will either.

    I’ve been working on that grey sleeve from last entry, which isn’t all that exciting, except for the fact that it’s got blue flecks in it! It’s Lavold Silky Tweed, and it’s just so soft and gorgeous. I’ve got exactly 4 skeins of the grey (so 2 each for the sleeves) and 4 skeins of red Silky Wool (2 each for front and back). It’s going to be tight I think, at least in the body. I’ll have to see if I can get any more tomorrow at the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival.

    I’m actually pretty excited about going, as it’s my first time! I do a little sewing as well, as some of you know, and I’ve actually made a (not-really-proper-type) small quilt. Wow, I used to be wayyy more into sewing – I’ve made pants, skirts, bags, even a corset-style top with plastic boning.

    I’m veering rather off-track here. Must be all the astronomy and ecology I’m trying to cram into the ol’ noggin.

    Anyway, I believe this shall be the end of my rambles for today. If you see me tomorrow, say hi, but I won’t be going until 4:30 (starlight pass, only $5!).

  • seeing red

    Gahhhh. Last night as I worked on the first sleeve of Cloud, I realized something was off…

    Then I realized what I’d done…I’d figured out the total number of sleeve stitches, and provisionally cast that number on to do the yoke. But, I had forgetten to count the underarm gusset stitches – so I had 14 stitches too many! Wayyy to much.

    Sigh. Well, it’s back on track, and I think I might do something different with the neckline this time – it’s still a v-neck, though.

    Speaking of red, here’s some yarn I wound up today:

    See a theme? On top is more Koigu for the skirt, in the middle Silky Wool to swatch/start a pullover, and on the bottom is Blue Sky cotton for a pullover a la “Simply Marilyn” from Interweave. Smaller gauge, though.

    I’m in raglans up to my ears! The Silky Wool and Silky Tweed I bought at the KW fair are going to be put together in a pullover with grey sleeves and a red body. I’m going to make a BIG swatch and be very careful about my calculations, so hopefully it’ll actually come out fitted! The Blue Sky cotton will be another seamless raglan (I think seams in this weight will be too bulky), but with a cable and a few other interesting details.

    Ah, red. Such an autumn colour – my favourite season!

  • do not use

    To be post-it-ed onto my credit card. And debit card, for that matter.

    Upon returning home from the first day of classes, a $180 purchase of a new ibook battery (badly needed) and a relaxing afternoon, I found these two rather large boxes. Okay, the top one isn’t very large, but the bottom one IS.

    It was BAD – I couldn’t remember what I had ordered. I must be getting fibre-blind from all the buying. Oy.

    Oh yeah – Knitpicks stuff.

    I ordered the Palette Sampler (it’s all Adrian’s fault):

    and some Color Your Own (the fingering weight merino), a couple balls of solid sock yarn and a whole whack of colour cards.

    I also found out that this massive amount (27 pounds!) of merino roving I ordered from R.H. Lindsay wool had shipped on September 8 – I had to email to get an update, and I got a one-sentence reply. I’d ordered on August 8. I must say, this hasn’t been a very pleasureable transaction. I’ll be happy when I get my wool, but I won’t want to order from them again, I don’t think.

    And no, it’s not all for me! I’m splitting it with a few people.

    Off to finish something cotton, seeing as how it’s been so dang hot here the last couple days.