Catching Up

Amidst the coughing, wheezing, praying and eating there has been some knitting going on, even if much of it has become frog worthy!

Arietta
Still haven't finished seaming it. And what I have done isn't the best. Poor thing.

I'm planning on some quality time with her on Sunday. We'll see how that goes; best laid plans and all.

Druid Mittens
Love the pattern. No, LOVE the pattern. Love the richness and depth of colors in the yarn. The yarn itself, not so much. Yes it's scratchy as all get up, but it also snaps when pulled too snugly. How coarse and delicate come together in one yarn I have yet to figure out. At least I have perfected my spit splice abilities.


More importantly, despite my best efforts, I have made mistakes. And this pattern can afford no mistakes. So I've done a lot of ripping back. In fact, so much, I probably have done a whole mitten's worth of knitting. Not that I can prove it.

Here's the newest mistake I've found, about 25 rows back. One little cable crossed the wrong way.


Totally ruins the line of the thing. Oh, and they are a wee bit tight.


So do I rip back again? Can the yarn take it one more time? Or do I call it quits for this yarn and try again with something else. Because you know I found something else. I made it to Montclair (before I got sick,) to pick up a little something, something on Thursday evening after work. A few little something, somethings if the truth be told. Amongst them, a different, thicker, (and dare I say less scratchy,) Shetland yarn in plums with deep purples. Which means no more snapping yarn and a slightly bigger mitten.

For now the mittens are on hold.

Jeanie
Slow but sure progress. I love it. I really do. The yarn is gorgeous to work with as well as look at. And the finished product is truly elegant. But the knitting experience, let's face it. It's all ribbing. Fancy, cabled ribbing with drop stitches, but 1x1 ribbing nonetheless. I've finished the first ball of yarn. Finally! (Need to take a new picture!)

My Mini-Maiden will have more total yardage than the called for Smooshy so I'll either have leftovers or will make it bit longer. We'll see. All in all I'd guess I'm at the 40% mark.

And new to the game, the Malabrigo project, and I'm loving it! A true delight to knit with. Heaven. I guess it too is basically ribbing but there's a bit of shaping going on and it definitely knits up faster.

I'm hoping the blocking will even up those cables a bit. But is the color amazing!

Of course there are the multitude of UFOs languishing and an Amigurumi lamb waiting to be made for T's 6th birthday…

I'll get there. Eventually.

It's the Little Things

Parts

If the whole represents the sum of it's parts, then I am afraid there still isn't an Arietta to show you. But the parts have definitely taken shape. In fact there is no more knitting to be done. That's right, all the knitting is finished. Done. Complete.

Of course, now there is the seaming to do.

And don't tell anyone, but I haven't bought the buttons. I know. Big no, no. But I made a nice size hole and will find the right buttons to slide through.

And isn't that a mighty fine button hole?

Knittinghelp.com. Can't beat 'em.

It's A Mir-A-Cle

The last picture I posted of Arietta was this one:

Well I did finish that sleeve before I left for California (almost costing me my Ravelympics badge I might add. Take a good look at that badge. That one, over in the right side bar. Scroll down now to Buttons Badges and Bears, Oh My and have a good look. I earned it!) All that was left was to pick up the stitches for the front bands. So I ordered a little sumpin sumpin before I left to help me out. And yesterday, I put that super-gadget to work.

Behold, the Cro-Needle by Addi

One end crochet hook, one end knitting needle, joined by a flexible 32" cable. No more fighting to pick up stitches. Just slip the crochet hook through and pick up a loop. Then slide those stitches down. Down.

And there you have it. 382 stitches picked up quickly and easily.

Rock on!

Intentions

I had many intentions for this week. I intended to work really, really hard. I intended to finish up most of my WIPs. I intended to explain to you in layman's terms why I would not be knitting next week and thus not writing much either. Instead, I finished up only 2 WIPs. I came very close to getting through Arietta's sleeve 2 but, to my utter chagrin, I did not finish. Nor did I keep up my with my writing. So much for intentions. But you know what they say...

And then this morning the Twist Collective was launched and I was blown away. And when I went out to photograph look what I found!

So, despite the fact that due to the 9 days I can not knit, I have more than enough fodder to fuel my imagination and am sure I will have knitting fantasies to share. Of course, if something really interesting were to happen I'd share that as well. But I do not promise that it will be daily. At least not until August 11.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the 9 days, they mark a period of increased mourning over the destruction of both the first and the second Beit Hamkidash (the Holy Temple) in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago as well as many other tragic events in Jewish history, such as the expulsion from Spain in 1492. The mourning period actually started with a fast a couple of weeks ago on the 17 of Tammuz (this year it fell on July 20) where we began a decrease in joyous events. The second milestone is 1 Av (tomorrow) culminating in day of fasting and full mourning on the 9th. This time is not just remembered but, as much as possible, relived through the privations I mentioned and more. If you are interested in reading about the Three Weeks, the Nine Days and 9 Av, you can follow the link above or this one. The point is, I won't be knitting again until a week from Monday. And yes, this will definitely increase my level of mourning.

So, here I am. Only two hours before Shabbos and the needles have been put away for the next week and a half. I miss them already! But let us not dwell on that. For now I have some Arietta progress to show off!

Here is sleeve 2. I got to 17 increases before I had to put it away. There are 20 increases total before I do a bit of binding off and start shaping the sleeve cap. Shouldn't take too long at all when I get back to it.

And then there will only be the bands and the seaming.

I'm so close!

I also finished Little Sky which will serve as a baby present for young Azriel Yaakov. They were fun to make and I did learn a lot. Not the least of which: Take good notes! I had written down that these were worked on 3.5mm needles. I couldn't find my options tips in 3.5mm so I used the Harmonies. The drag dragged out the process by 200%! And when I was done. Well of course sock 2 was way, way too big. So I had to frog and cast on again. This time with 3.0 fixed Nickel Plated circs, and flew through it in a couple of hours.


What I really like about this sockatecture is that there are no stitches to be picked up. The increases work through the center panel so once you've turned the heel, you just decrease away and then straight stitching to the toe. And after Embossed Leaves, I quite enjoy the Star Toe finish.

And boy, does taking these pictures outside make a difference. I think this is the first time I realized I really do like the Bright Charcoal colorway!

It's always nice to show off baby knits with stuffed animals (no Pamela, they aren't part of the gift!)

This photo shoot reminded me of one I did when I was about 9 years old. It was the only time in my childhood that it snowed in San Francisco. And if we hadn't have been living in Twin Peaks we might have missed it altogether. As soon as we figured out what was going on, I scooped up my dolls and ran out to the patio where I loving set them up on the lightest of snow dustings one could imagine and snapped away. It was quite thrilling!

Little Sky (Sky architecture) by Cat Bordhi
New Pathways for Sock Knitters
Needles: US 2½ / 3.0 mm KP Nickel Plated fixed
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug
Colorway: Bright Charcoal
Sock 1 Cast on July 15 2008, Finished July 15, 2008
Sock 2 Cast on July 31 2008, Finished July 31, 2008

The Sky is Falling and the World is Flat

When Henny Penny let us know the sky was falling, I swear she must have been in Passaic. For more than apples are falling down around here. The sky was dark gray all day long, and the sound of thunder reverberated throughout the valley. (And for anybody reading this in the future please note the date, July 23. Not December, January or February. Not complaining about the weather today though I'm sweltering once I've turned off the air conditioner for more than five minutes. They tell me this normal for these parts. I think they must be cracked. Just saying...) I really wanted to get some natural lighting for the pictures today, but I'm afraid that even the dramatic displays of lightening weren't enough. Tomorrow promises to be more of the same so you'll just have to put up with these awful pictures.

Is this what prompts the general malaise in the knitting department? Or is it a fiberly ennui? For though I am faithful in my heart, my head and fingers are still not feeling the love. In fact I can honestly tell you my hands have not worked anything in the round since Sunday eve. What I have been knitting is flat. Flat as the world where ships sail off and over its edge into oblivion. Flat as Flat Stanley but with less adventures! (Trust me, I took Stanley to Moscow, where he went shopping at GUM, and St. Petersbug, where he sat on Peter the Great's lap and generally had a riotous time.) What? Not even socks? Well, almost. I finally finished up the cuff on Sock 2 of Marie Antoinette. The first shot I took earlier today, and yes I had to use the flash!

And here is the final cuff, I remembered to block it this time. We'll see if it makes a difference.
Note the wast yarn still attached and that the cuff is still on the needle. These two will be grated together using the yarn from the tail. This keeps the yarn still attached and once the two ends are joined I'll pick up stitches around the bottom of the cuff and start knitting in the round.

I also decided another headband was in order. I liked the idea of stripes rather than self striping and I went for bold colors. After working the 4 colors I decided I didn't like the yellow much so continued on without it. Since this will be tucked away under mounds of curly hair, I decided to keep going instead of ripping it out. Consider it a unique design feature!

And finally, Arietta. Yes, my heart is really into finishing her up. Even more than working on socks! It's still a bit slow going because my mind keeps wondering and though I am not messing up the mosaic work, I keep forgetting to increase every 8 rows and end up ripping back each time. The next row will be the 5th increase. I only need to do a total of 20 increases before I start binding off and shaping the cap...

And finally, a bit of tomfoolery from Photo Funia. This one's going around the blogs, but seems to have originated at Mason Dixon (I don't know how I missed it then!)

Look closely and you should recognize...

Mommy in Time Square,

The Wigged-One's Unoriginal Hat

and her Birthday Cupcake.

This set of ads for Target has always appealed to me, and now my knitting is the featured item. This site is so cool! I love it!

Now Where Was I?

Arietta, all blocked and waiting for sleeve 2. I cast on this morning...

but didn't get too far.

And with that same need to reach completion, I cast on for sock 2 of Marie Antoinette. And was just as successful with my progress.

Remember that passenger knitting I did last night? Two more pattern repeats resulted (lousy color, really need to photograph these in the light of day!)

And a baby's birth finally gave the push I needed to start with the practice socks from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters. Hard to find washable worsted in this house, but after some rummaging I came across a few odd balls of some TeDdy's Wool Merino that I brought back from Jerusalem.

Little Coriolis came out bigger than expected, rather for a two year old than baby.

So I went with the Colinette Jitterbug for Little Sky. Dropped needle size to 3.5 mm and added a couple of rows in the foot. The color is a little dark to see the sockatecture.

It's been interesting working with these and watching the socks develop. They don't seem to have a natural foot shape to me when done and definitely need a foot (or stuffing) to make them look right. I will definitely make the mates and carry on with the practice socks. Little Sky doesn't really appeal but I do like the adult size Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks. And I've had my eye on Coriolis for a while. Next up will be the Cedar architecture. I'll keep you posted...

Blocking

Between psyching myself up for Arietta's second sleeve and sneaking in some sock knitting, I blocked the body of the cardigan this morning. In this heat it should be dry by tomorrow.

While I'm thrilled to have inherited these great tiles for blocking, it was all a bit fiddly. The cardi was just too wide for one tile, just too long for two. And I only have four. Somehow I got it all pinned down. We'll see how well I did after the seaming.

Look Ma

No socks!

Great Expectations

Remember that new found motivation to flip my WIPs? Well that extends to Arietta as well. And I really thought I had it going on. That I would get to the neck decreases today and fly through the rest of the front. Moving steadily towards that second sleeve and then finally the bands. But alas. Just as I was finishing up the second pattern repeat I realized that indeed, 3 is the magic number. Hopefully by next week we'll be moving on to that elusive second sleeve. For now, some progress shots.

Here's where I'm holding:

The big pictures (sans sleeve 1)

I'm pleased to say that despite the long hiatus, my gauge seems to be holding up. See where the two fronts meet with the back peeking through? Looks like everything is lining up nicely.

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern. The stitches look a little inconsistent because of the slipped stitches but I think it will even out nicely once blocked.

Here's a super close up of the slipped stitches. If you are wondering the difference between stranded and mosaic, here it is. Unlike stranded, where the unused colors are floated across the back (and the work is usually done in the round,) in mosaic each 2 rows (knit and purl) is knit with only one color, the second color being slipped up from the previous row. If you look closely you can see the brown stitches in the green row are twice the height.

And here is a shot of the private side of the work.

It's a good thing I am motivated to get this finished. I've been invited to join a sweater KAL and I am tempted! Oh, and I still have to cast on for my sister's Big B-day Present.

I Have More than a One-Track Mind

Occasionally I think of, and do, things of a non-knitting nature. Why even this evening I went into Manhattan to enjoy a lovely dinner at Abigael's restaurant. Yes, visiting family. And I had a fabulous time! Of course I did have a little something-something to keep me busy during the bus ride, but today we don't mention the S word.

No today I prove that I can keep my hands, and by extension my needles, busy with things other. Like Arietta. Remember her? I do. And I've been working on her.

Remember the handy dandy chart I worked up AGES ago? Not only did I plot my own colors over the originals but I added notations for the decreases and increases. And so even though it has been an embarrassing amount of time since any real work has been done, now that I'm back the chart is making it very, very easy.

Yes that little section may not look like much...

But if you look at the arrows you'll see that there is less left to do than you think.

When I get to the red arrow I start the major decreases for the neckline. Yep, this little lady plunges right down. But worry not for my modesty, Arietta is a cardigan and I already have the right color T to wear underneath. Continue up a bit to the blue arrow and you'll see where the arm hole bind off begins.

So really I only have about 5" more to do until I start some serious decreasing. Then the Right Front will be done in no time flat. Of course I'll still have a sleeve and the front and neck bands. But that's ok. And lest you think my enthusiasm has waned, I am here to set the record straight. Every time I look at this cardigan I love it. I love the colors, the mosaic pattern, the design. Yes, I'm feeling very positive about this. It should be ready for the Autumn. Thanks Barbara for an awesome pattern.