Secret Knitting

So my friend Kate came over tonight and fixed my bike! And all I had to do was let her raid my patten library so she can knit her boy a sweater.

Not only is my friend Kate awesome at fixing bikes, but she's wicked smart in other ways. Like the Econ way. She used to work for the Fed, but now she's a PhD student here in A2. Her boy? Also wicked smart. As in he's a theoretical physisict. So, obviously, he's also CRAZY. Ha ha ha. Just kidding. He does have a really long beard though.

Also, Kate and I learned how to knit in the same class, making her my oldest knit-buddy.






Also, my most awesomest secret pal sent me a PACKAGE!







That package has 3 skeins of yarn (2 Peace Fleece!) some buttons, a cool cross stitch kit that's a postage stamp, a change of address kit AND the latest issue of InKnitters, which isn't in the photo, because it was on the coffee table, because I was reading it. She sent it because it has an article on beaded knitting, which is convienent, because remember my secret knitting? Remember that Japanese book I'm lusting after that you can buy me here?







Well, check it out!













Weird things about this. I would swear those are my sister's hands, except, she's not in this STATE (but will be tomorrow! YAY!) But I don't think I've ever really thought about her hands, but when I saw these pictures, I just thought, those aren't my hands! They're Abbey's!

Also, I was making a coy-looking-off-into-the-distance face when Kate took these, even though I new my face wouldn't be in them!!!


Also, I've been knitting more discloths for Project Scrubbie:

Interweave Knits Review!

So... as promised, my review!

I'm not going to skip most of the intro articles as there are a lot of them, and I like them. I tend to like Interweave a lot.

Anyway, patterns...

Greek Tunic Pullover Sharon Shoji Love love love. Want want want. Simple, yet lovely. I've been scoping out possible sales on Kid Classic. Because, you know, that's what I need, MORE YARN.
Chenille Cutaway Jacket Teva Durham Interesting shaping, but not a good look if you have any hint of a stomach. Unless, you're pregnant. This might actually work for maternity wear, but I'm not sure. It depends on where it hits.
Cable Cascade Pullover Jennifer Appleby A bulky cable and lace pullover that makes it look like you have no shoulders or bust, but big hips.
Fur-Trimmed Wrap Pam Allen A wrap top that would be really nice if it wasn't fur-trimmed and if it didn't have dolman sleeves. Yes. Dolman sleeves. Ew.
Essential Indulgence Leslie Scanlon This could be a nice, simple sweater. A bit boring to knit, but nice line, if the exposed seams didn't run down the top of the arm.
Union Square Market Pullover Kate Gilbert This is the cover design. If it had a decent neckline, it could be OK. The problem, is the little fold-y over bit is created by excess fabric that is then folded and buttoned over. This could look alright, IF YOU NEVER MOVE.

I will pause here to give a shout out to the really cool article on Shibori.

Drop-Stitch Cardigan Amy King A bulky, basic cardigan that everyone needs, except that, instead of ribbed, the stiches are dropped and um, why?
Weekend Getaway Satchel Marta McCall I'm torn on this. On one hand, I have to respect the work and talent that went into it. But on the other hand, just because you can, doesn't mean you should... maybe if the colors were more muted. Or maybe if you were a British nanny.
Veste Everest Veronik Avery A nice, basic, cabled vest. Nothing overly special, but I like it.
Felted Floral Capelet Nicky Epstein Why is this shown on an adult? Why is this not a children's pattern?
Textured Coat Mari Lynn Patrick This makes the model look extremely hippy. The rest of us are doomed.
Blissful Jacket Debbie Bliss Misses the mark. I think it could be good if she weaved her ends in instead of leaving them out as a "design element"
Vintage-Inspired Jacket Deborah Newton Meh. Nice article documenting the design process, though. But seriously? The cable that goes up the side and down the underarm... what's with that?
Fair Isle Hoodie and Cardigan Annie Modesitt Generally I really like Annie's stuff, so this is hard, so I'll be brief. Why Annie? Why? With the gaping closures and the the colors and the cables and just why?! Maybe with more muted colors? I just don't think the fair isle and cables mix in this setting.
Bulky Brioche Raglan Ann Budd Um... This looks like a really comfy sweater, but the bulky means it won't look good on anyone and shouldn't be worn out of the house.
Cabled Shrug Shirley Pade I'm not big on shrugs, so this was doomed from the start, but seriously, Shirley? TAPER YOUR SLEEVES. Wearing this would be a disaster waiting to happen. I do like the cable pattern though. I might use it in something else.
Fair Isle Skirt Mary Jane Mucklestone Interesting. I'm wary of knit skirts, as I fear bubble-butt. Also there's something weird about how the increases look. They mess up the line a bit.
Braided Blues Norah Gaughan A basic, but nice men's sweater.
Suede Vest Margie Stanton The straps are too thin for a vest, so it looks like a tank top. A bulky tank top.
Poncho Loco Lots of ponchos for the staff project. Wee. Ponchos. Oooo. I will however, give props to the Hip to be Square Poncho Sandi Wiseheart as it's something new...
Canteen Bag Rachel Battaglia Nissen Simple, but nice.
Brioche Helmet Hat Kelly Bridges Basic, cute, kids hat.
Rib and Cable Socksm Nancy Bush Nice socks.
Laptop Cases Leigh Radford Not sure how practicle this is. I do like the design, but seriously, turning things on their side to make the stripes vertical? Not rocket science.

Slow Saturday at the Yarn Store! Lots of Reviews! Woo!

First off, just as a public service announcement-- 25 days until I'm 25. Woo!

Every Saturday at the Yarn Store starts with someone making a run over to the Kroger next door. The Kroger has a Starbucks. Us knitters need our caffiene!



And look! Ingrid and her Mum came in!



And how do they like that sale bin! (I mean, whom amongst us does not love a Sale Bin?!)

But we got this new book in! And we looked at it and OH.MY.GOD.



This book is amazing.

The photography is amazing. They have all these awesome photos of knit fabric melding with nature. There is an amazing one of a rocky shoreline and when you look closely, most of the smaller rocks are actually knitting. It's just, wow. And one of a fire and when you look closely, the charcoal? Knit. Oh my.

Most of the technique in here is written for the machine knitter, but the information on fibers is universal, and the vast majority of charts work for both. AND most of the techniques that don't explicitly transfer, an advanced knitter should be able to play around with and figure out. If nothing else, this book is filled with inspiration and beauty.

Amazing.

Which, sadly, I can't say for the Fall issue of Family Circle Easy Knitting.



First off, in the "Check This" section, they give credence to the Clan Aran website! ARGH! Why does this taunt me so. Tomorrow, I'm writing a complaint letter. WHY O WHY O WHY.

The magazine goes down from there.

I do say that I want this though:



Of course, when I went to the website to look at this shirt, their online store isn't ready yet and the site is well, I could design that site and I'm not even halfway through my online "Intro to Web Design" class. Um.

But man, I do want that shirt. I like that shirt. I like it even better in the pink that was in the magazine photo.

There is a photo spread of hats knit by kids (14 and under) for kids in need. Those young knitters had some fun and I have to say, they're pretty cool. Nothing I would wear, but um, I would wear if I were 8.

Interview with Louisa Harding that puts most of the focus on the Miss Bea series of books and barely anything about her brand new line of yarn and designs, because, you know, that's not what she would want to be plugging or anything.

An article about how knitting bridges generations.

An article about the bonds kids make when they knit together.

An article on how to knit ruffles on a knitting machine.

On to the designs! This works best if you sit down with your copy, too.

1. A soft shrug. Nice, if you like shrugs.
2. A ruffle-y surplice sweater. Could be nice if, you know, it didn't hit about the bellybutton. Because that's a good end line for all worsted weight mohair sweaters.
3. A pull over with some weird lace that is just ick. I mean, it could be better, but you know, it misses the mark by a wide margin.
4. oooo. a surplice that doesn't go down to a point, it goes up and down to a point and then BUTTONS! Wow. Ugly on a whole new level.
5. Chunky ribbed legwarmers. Meh.
6. Chunky arm warmers. Meh.
7. Chunky ribbed hat that doesn't cover the ears because you know, that's practical.
8. Uninspired thick and thin sweater. I'm sorry, isn't this yarn very 2002? Aren't we over it yet?
9 and 10 are ruffled collars you can add to shirts and stuff. BECAUSE THE RUFF, AFTER BEING OUT OF STYLE SINCE ELIZABETH 1, IS APPARENTLY BACK.
11. Men's sweater. Not overly ugly, but ugh.
12. Men's hoodie. Eh.
13. Ugly Yarn! Ugly Sweater! Ugly! Ugly!
14. Men's cabled button vest. Misses the mark a bit, but overall, ok.
15. Men's striped raglan v-neck. Could be ok, if the color choice didn't burn my eyes.
16. Men's crochet hat and scarf. Kinda funky, if you have a man that doesn't mind ear flaps.

I'm going to take 17-22 together, as it's a spread by designer Melissa Matthay.

OH MY GOD THE VISUAL PAIN.

Ok, so first off, I hate the way it paints Madison as provincial. Yeah, it's not New York, and you know what? It doesn't want to be. I'd also like to point out that Madison, despite Matthay's claims, is not a small town. It's a small city. I mean, the University alone is bigger than most small towns. 454,000 people is a small city. It's a hell of a lot bigger than Ann Arbor. About 1/2 the size of Detroit.

Anyway... if her designs are what is Manhattan, then THANK GOD THERE ARE PROVINCAL PLACES.

Did I mention the visual pain?

Let's see.
17. Is descriped as a "loose fitting cropped cardigan" knit in bulky yarns. Because, that's a style flattering for um, NO ONE.
18. Shiney, dropped stitch long tunic vest. VISUAL PAIN
19 and 20 are Novelty Yarn scarves, because, people apparently still need patterns for these things.
21. Dropped stitch poncho with Point 5. This just explemplifies the ick factor of this entire spread.

JUST LOOK AT IT



22. Side to side sweater with dropped stitches. Ewwwww.
23-26 are mittens. There's a really nice article on how to knit mittens and these designs are different variations using the basic pattern (stripes, argyle, color blocks). Basic, but a really good article for those who haven't knit mittens before.
28. Kid's sweater. Meh.
29. House scarf and hat for kids. SO CUTE! SO CUTE! SO CUTE!
30. Kid's sweater with an argyle chest. Nice.
31. OH MY GOD. This kid's sweater has a sock monkey face!!!! I knida want to upsize this and knit it for me, but I don't think I'd wear it, but cute for kids and the hipsters in your life. SOCK MONKEY!
32. Crochet fish pillows for baby. Nice (for a baby)
33. Mobile of crocheted animals. Cute.
34. Basic easy baby sweater in garter.
35. Hot water bottle cover. Nice.
36-39 Pillows with animals on them. I think my great-aunt might like one.

And that's that. Painful all around.

To ease our pain, my review of Interweave is coming soon. Promise.

Crazy!

Ok, so, um, the building across the street from my office is ON FIRE. We think it got struck by lightening.

I need to start carring my camera around a la Crazy Aunt Purl. But maybe the nice intern with the camera phone can hook me up. Because there were firemen with axes chopping into buildings!

Also, look what I did!



You should too!

Knit Night! Woo!

Tuesday Night was Ann Arbor Knit In. It rocked. Everyone liked my secret knitting project, which made me happy! And Ingrid brought along her Mum! And it was awesome. Here they are, with Ingrid debuting "Preppy", which she had just finished seaming! It was the first official trying-on, and I got to photograph.



And that's good, because I'm going to break in and STEAL that sweater. I want it! I might knit it myself though, once I realized that Ingrid is very smart and did that up all fair-isle-like, NOT intarsia.

must not steal sweater
must not steal sweater

AND! There was another felony-worthy debut when Emily showed up wearing Grace!



Check out that super-swank sweater! And it was done in Kid Seta, which is essentially identical to Kid Silk Haze, so you know I love it!

And Sarah came, working on her second sock! They're so cool with that green and purple action. Hmmm...

stealing others knitting is not nice
stealing others knitting is not nice



Look, you can see the first all-done sock on the table next to her.

And Kim is plugging away on a tank ALL FOR HER! (and look how happy she is about it!)



But I totally didn't get out the camera until after Denise and Elecia had left and Libby ran away from her boring meeting and came and talked to us a bit. And I ate a big piece of Key Lime Island Cheesecake. It was tasty.

And we totally snarked all over the latest Interweave. But I am totally in love with the Greek Tunic Sweater. This weekend I'll do my own full review!

AND! Tomorrow, or, er, TONIGHT! Thursday! Casa Dominick's! 7ish! Sangria! Knitting! Talking smart! Be there or be sorry!

I'll trade ya' for it

So remember the red dishcloth I knit? It wasn't for Project Scrubbie, like the other ones are. It's the Double Flower pattern from here.

Anyway, I made if for my friend Jen, who was offering to make us all mugs, but obviously couldn't do them all for free, so we brokered a crafting trade. I gave her the dishcloth and she gave me this:




Isn't it awesome?! I can't wait to drink some tea out of it tonight!

Saturday at the Yarn Store!

Ok, so right now, my knitting is a big secret suprise, so uh, no pictures of that. But I did document my Saturday working at Knit A Round!

You can't really see but there are lots of felted fish hanging in the window!




See the fishes?



Pretty, pretty fishes!



LOOK AT MY FISH! Isn't it awesome?!



This is the work table where we knit and eat and stuff when we're not helping customers.



Look! We have a whole wall of Koigu! I couldn't even fit it in one picture! It's a crazy Koigu Wall of Beauty!





Look at my sample, up there selling yarn!



We wind yarn for our customers if we're not too busy. If we are really busy, then we will try to wind a skein and you can leave your yarn and pick it up later, all wound up! Or you can bring it in later to wind.



There's this guy who likes to come and stand outside the window and watch us wind yarn. He was there to watch me wind this beautious bevy for customer making a mitered square poncho!



Do you see the Fiesta La Boheme?! The Prism Wild Stuff and Eyelash?! The Colinette Isis?! Plus the great shades of Casacade 220 to pull it together?!



*drool*

Sitting at home, all alone

Last night I was invited to 2 seperate knittin' nights. But, dude, I gotta write the resume. But how could you not miss this face?




So, what do you do? Knit these:












And really miss this guy:

Who? Me?

So um, who else drank a whole bottle of champagne by herself last night and wrote drunken post cards to Crazy Aunt Purl? and then tried knitting before swearing a lot and ripping a bit before realizing that ripping is an act best done sober.

Oh, only me?

She got me down

Yo. Ingrid has a great post today about last night's knitting debauchery.

And you know what? After that I did just say "oh fuck". Loudly. Because I have ripped that project too many times. And nothing's cooler than ending your night talking to the man who is NOT in your house and feeling lonely and frogging something.

ai ya

And yeah, so um, Sweetwaters was having a manager's meeting next us last night. It was FUNNY because we can't control ourselves.

So when they asked "what are the qualities of someone you want to put on register" and they were all like "friendly, upbeat" and I was all " someone who can count change correctly"

I mean, really? SOMEONE WHO CAN COUNT CHANGE CORRECTLY.

Elisha also said something devilishy snarky and funny, but I can't remember now, which is sad, because I wanted to share the snark love.

Face, meet Palm

So, um, yeah, I know, like, there haven't been a lot of pictures or anything but, um, man, yeah, I've, like, been real, busy, you know?

Any you know what else? I totally just typed "busty" instead of "busy". Which I am. I mean, I am both busty and busy. Because I know y'all wanted to know that about me.

The truth is this. Job searching is killing my knitting time. After a weekend of procrastinanting via knitting, I got hard on myself and set down some rules.

Rules like:
You will not even touch those needles until you finish the latest draft of your federal resume and send it to Dan to make sure you didn't put that you're busty under "special skills".

Yeah, girl, I know those needles are where you want your laptop to go on the coffeetable, but you know what?! Once you pick them up with your awesome new project, you will be all "it's only 46 stitches. I can totally do a row and it will be ok". Because I KNOW YOU. (because I AM YOU! bwuhahahaha) Just put your laptop in your LAP like the name says you should and DON'T TOUCH THOSE NEEDLES.

Or last night:
You will not go to knit group until you find 3 jobs to apply for. Which you will then apply for tomorrow night.

So, I didn't get to knit group until 7.30ish, because I was JOB SEARCHING (and then parking-space searching. What was up with last night downtown Ann Arbor?)

AND I TOTALLY MISSED THE PHOTOGRAPHER. Because there will be an article about us in some Ann Arbor guide.

And my knitting queen divaness will not be photographed.

My ego can't take these dissapointments.

Shawl

So... recently both Kate and Stephanie have created a beautiful Birch Shawl from Rowan #34.





It is not well photographed in the magazine. I mean, Rowan knew it was wonderful enough to warrent 2 photos, but neither showed off its beauty! But... then I saw a sample at the yarn shop Lynne works at (which isn't the one I work at, so it shall remain nameless.) And OH. MY. GOD.

I mean, just look at all it could be:



(That photo was ruthlessly stolen and uploaded to my own server from Melanie, whose blog I don't read, as it's in German, but whose picture I found via Google Image Search)

Last year (before I worked at a yarn shop and was therefore a lot less enabled on yarn-binging) I spent some of my birthday money on some slate blue Kidsilk Haze for this shawl.

It's aging.

I think this summer I need to knit it. But maybe I'll wait for my birthday to roll back around.

But Stephanie's commenters have renamed the yarn.

It is now known as Cracksilk Haze. I will start calling it this, but I will not be changing my email address.

I want! I want! I want!

Serious Book Lust.

It's in Japanese, so I can't find it on Amazon, but I can find it here

Blah

Dan left yesterday. *sigh*.

I mean, on one hand, I can watch the girliest, silliest TV ever and knit and not get smart comments from the peanut gallery, or, um kitchen as it is in my house.

But... but... :(

And that really pulls into perspective everything that must get done before I move in August. Like, finding myself a job. I worked a lot on my resume last night. puke.

The other day, Dan went Yakov Smirnoff on me and said "In Soviet Russia, resume writes YOU" and frankly, after staring at it for a week, I'm starting to feel like it!

My friend Katy loves writing resumes and cover letters, because she just gets to talk about how awesome she is. I look at my working life boiled down to a page and think "this is all I've done with my life?! I stressed out every night at my job for a year, but my job was only these 4 innocous-sounding lines?! What?!"

I also knit a lot last night. Sock now has about an inch of ribbing. Sock should be done this weekend, which is nice, because it got cold again, so I'm wearing socks and real shoes for the first time in a month or so and am thinking how nice the Koigu socks would look with today's shoes.

On the Road Again...

We went to Houston this week to see Dan's family.

It was a great visit. I read a lot. Especially with all that free time that I didn't want, but American Airlines (EVIL! PURE EVIL!) shoved down my throat anyway.

I'm always a little weird about flying with knitting. It's not that I think they'll take it away. I often don't check luggage (but this time I did and the knitting was in it) but just, I don't take it out in the airport that often.

Maybe it's just because I know it'll make others nervous.

Maybe it's just that I don't get to read that much anymore because I drive to work now, instead of taking the bus and I relish the long stretches of reading time interupted only by some pretzels and ginger ale.

Of course, I kinda wish I did have my knitting, as I'm not used to flying *with* someone and when Dan would want to talk I was all, Dude, I'm reading. Go away. Oh but the seatbelt sign is on, so you can't. Oh well.

I did start the other sock and am about an inch away from turning the heel, so it's not like no knitting was accomplished.

In other, very sad news, Dan leaves for DC tomorrow.

Which means I need a job, so I can buy yarn when I join him in a few months.

Rocking the Ugly Shrug

Lets talk about what's so very wrong with this picture.

1. The puffed sleeves.
2. The fact that said puffed sleeves do NOT hit at the shoulder.
3. How the waistband kinda hits at nipple height and does not cover the boob.
4. My double chin action

Let's talk about what's right
1. I'm wearing Renee, that means she's done.
2. That piece of Peanut Butter mousse Chocolate Cake. It was yum-tastic to the max.

Big Thanks for Denise for the pic!

Big Weekend Fun!

Dan took me on a suprise mini-break this weekend!

To Niagara Falls!

I had to wear a poncho!

See. Everyone looks like a dork in a poncho!

Um, I did some knitting while I was there.

Slowly Slowly

Last night was dedicated to Renee's seam-sewing and end weaving-in.

Both Bridget Jones movies later, and I'm still not done. UGH. And tonight's Knit-In A2 night. and I really want to go, but it will not be the most condusive environment for this last never-ending seam. gargh. So conflicted.

Bigger update coming, but I have a lot of picture uploading to do. It's been an exciting few weeks in Jennie-land.

Also, I've updated my Secret Pal questionare. Or at least, I'm going to when I'm done posting this.

Must Be I Wasn't Invited

How does a size 6 circular just WANDER OFF?

It has been in my knitting bag for a month now. A MONTH! Why is it no longer there? I have done nothing else with it!

How does this happen?

And, more importantly, WHERE THE HELL DID IT GO?!

Secret Pal 5

I joined Secret Pal and am super-excited, because I'm just like that!

Here're my questions:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I am a huge fiber snob. I like natural fibers. I'm not necessarily a brand snob, but I like high quality, natural fibers.

When I have kids and start knitting for them though, that will drastically change.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I do a bit o' the crochet. You can see that my spinning needs some help. I haven't given up, though.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

I'm allergic to some medications, so as long as I don't eat an medicated wool, I should be good to go.

4. How long have you been knitting?

7 years last January!

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Here I know my list is crazy long.

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

I don't necessarily have a favorite, but I like subtle and not too sweet. So, crisp or spicy. The 2 perfumes I wear are "White" by GAP and Chanel No. 5.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

Yes.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Random stuff-- I like general crafty-ness that doesn't necessarily have a name, like the bubble magnets I made for mother's day last year... I sew. I have my eye set on embroidery as the next big adventure.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like most kinds of music. My recent obsession is World Music-- especially Putumayo and Six Degrees samplers. My old standbys are modern folk (Dar Williams, The Nields, Eddie from Ohio, Moxy Fruvous, etc). But I like some good rockin' and alt and outlaw country. My favorite mix CDs that people have made me are heavy on the indie, because I like indie, but don't know anything about it. I'm always looking for new music, so if you want to make me a CD, I won't complain and just make a CD that *you'd* like. I can handle MP3s

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

My favorites are navy blue and light pink. I really like earthtones. Yellow has a way of making me look ill.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have a husband and 2 gerbils.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

To see more of the world. To find fulfilling work and make lots of money doing it so I can retire early and knit and read more.

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

I am a Rowan whore. My favorite yarn of all time is Kid Silk Haze.

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Not a big fan of novelty yarns.

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Shawls. Lace.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Things that don't suck. I don't really have a favorite thing to knit. I like classic, well-designed patterns.

17. What are you knitting right now?

The store sample that will not die. Some socks. 2 shawls. A languishing Colinette vest kit. I have a few forgotten sweaters and random other things...

18. What do you think about ponchos?

I don't like them. I think they're overrated. I think they need to go away. I'm seceretly knitting one.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

It so depends on the project, on my mood, on the weather, on what's closest to me.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

None of the above. I actually really, really like hardwood needles. Birch, rosewood, ebony, palm...

21. Are you a sock knitter?

I knit socks, but I don't know if I'd call myself a "sock knitter".

22. How did you learn to knit?

I took a class. My college had this thing called ExCo (expiremental college) where anyone could teach a class on anything. Not for credit, an hour a week usually. My first year I took knitting through ExCo. I made a hat. I still have it, but I don't wear it. I wear a really similair one made from the same pattern that matches my current coat.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

I've been knitting for seven years, so my oldest UFO would have to be 8 years old. Ha ha ha. My oldest UFO that I fully intend on finishing at some point is probably 4 years old.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Leela from Futurama.

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, followed closely by Thanksgiving

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Books. Yarn. Hobbies.

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

The 3 I love:
Rowan, Rebecca, Interweave Knits

The 1 I like:
Vogue Knitting

The one that I used to like, but am liking less and less:
Knitter's

The 2 I don't like:
Creative Knitting
Cast On

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Principles of Knitting. HA HA HA.

I haven't yet seen Rowan's RYC collection yet, so the 3 books that have come out in support of that haunt my dreams. Also, I don't actually own anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman (I take that back. I just bought The Opinionated Knitter, but I really really really want Knitting Around).

Tea and Yarn

Lots of knitting pictures from our meeting on Tuesday over here.

Renee has PUFFED SLEEVES. What the hell is with that?

Can't you just finish yourself?

I am SO SICK of knitting stupid Renee. It's just grown into a monster project. I'd have stopped working on it a long time ago if it weren't work-knitting.

There are good parts and icky parts to any knitting project. I define long stips of garter stitch and seaming and stupid edgings to be amongst the "icky parts". That's all I've been doing on Renee for quite some time now. And seaming? A lot ickier in this yarn. On reverse stockinette. Just saying.

I did, however, get a pleasent email back from Jane Ellision about my yarn quantity issues! Nothing committal, but outlining her process for determining yarn quantities and that every knitter is different blah blah and that she hopes I'll still be able to finish and enjoy (hah!) working on the pattern.

Now I'm a little skeved by the neck edging. It's, well, rufflier than the picture makes it look.

In other news, I'm going to Ann Arbor Knit In tonight. If you're in the area, you should, too.

Progress...

See, if I weren't so lazy, I'd take pictures. Pictures of Dad's new scarf. I'd even write up the pattern. It's a nice scarf.

Maybe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Renee is starting to irk me. I already had to get another ball of yarn than the pattern calls for. I'm going to need ANOTHER one. I can't find corrections, but of course Jane Ellison's web site is horribly out of date. I'll email her and see though.

My gauge is spot-on. I don't know what's up.

So last night I started a dish cloth for Project Scrubbie. (Happy Lynne?)

Lazy and cranky

No spinning for me last night. My stomach was upset ALL DAY yesterday. Pepto and peppermint tea had no effect, so I skipped class, because I much rather wanted to lie on the couch and feel sorry for myself.

I was going to take pictures and post them, but I was too busy feeling sorry for myself to bother with getting out my computer. Ah well...

I like the theory that a Crochety Knitter is a deragotory term for a Crocheting Knitter. Hmmm... I guess it's a matter of pronounciation. One I'm going to start using, especially when self-refering...

But back on real knitting content. You know my Dad's Christmas Scarf? I started to hate it. The edges looked weird. It was too skinny for a manly scarf. I didn't want my name on it. I didn't want to knit it. I mean, he's my dad, I bet he would wear a pink feather boa scarf because I made it, but yeah... so I decided I'd knit him a different scarf and I'M ALMOST DONE ALREADY. It's out of Pervuian Tweed Alpaca. That stuff is like knitting butter. For anyone whose ever wondered what kind of adjective "buttery" was for describing yarn, come feel my scarf. You'll get it.

Ooooo

Ha! Lots of comments to that last one!

Lynne, sorry I did not catch your look, as I had to look at my hands when she said that. I didn't want to say anything and be "that kid" as our class seems to have enough all ready! I think I would have felt better though if I had!

Ingrid, the thing was she *did* know how lucky she was to have the silk garden, which is why she refused to knit a scarf. She knew she wouldn't wear it and wanted something really nice out of it that she would use. But that only took 2 skeins...

Keely-- (KEELY!) It's not the new knitters so much, as you can tell them anything and mold them in your own likeness. (Insert evil laugh) It's the crochety knitters. It's the knitters who don't want to grow. It's the knitters that can't think for themselves. But more than anything? It's the flat-out bitches.

Ranty Ranty

Ok, so I try not to bitch about customers at the yarn store too much. In general, I really like the people that shop there and I know some of them read this (not that I'd ever bitch about Denise or Kellie!)

But, argh... when a pattern says "Free with Purchase of Yarn" FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PEOPLE! You can not get it for free if you do not buy said yarn!!! I don't care how much money you spend at the shop because you know what? Yeah, it's a lot, but it's a yarn shop, people go crazy, everyone spends a lot of money at the shop, so bite me.

Now, you may think my customer service skills have gone wonky, but look, a lot of the "free with purchase of yarn" patterns come from the distributor. If we give them out without the purchase of said yarn, we can get in serious trouble. You don't want the yarn shop to get into trouble, do you?!

Also, I could only wave at Ingrid when she came in, and not talk to her, because someone was having a knitting crisis that wasn't a crisis, but needed a lot of handholding, which I don't mind usually, but it was getting a little ridiculous.

Also, if people in Ann Arbor could stop treating people in service positions like they're scum, it would help a lot. I've worked service positions in a lot of places all over the world. Ann Arbor is the worst.

I would also like to say something that's been irking me from my last spinning class. The teacher said that Aran sweaters contained stitch patterns to identify bodies. ARGH! NO! But that's a rant I've done before.

THE FUTURE!

These boys are our future everyone! Look out!

Drop Spindles AWAAAAAAAY!

So Lynne and I are taking drop spinning. Lynne's really good. Me, not so much.

Yarn Store Give Away!

Look what I got!

renee

So here's Renee as she currently stands... I need to finish the tie... all 68in of it! Then you know, with the seaming and edging...

With Friends...

La la la la la la la la la la la la

Renee comes along as ever.

Back=done
Left Front=done
Right Front=done
Sleeve 1=done
Sleeve 2=almost done
Tie=not done
Seaming=not done
Edging=not done

Update!

Sorry about lack of posts lately, but last week was finals week. Not that I'm in school, but I think that living with someone who's in final week presents it's own challenges.

And then this weekend was graduation madness! Dan's family came into town and it was good and we had fun and I even did some knitting, but no blogging.

Dan ran my fish through the wash a second time, but when I went to stuff it I realized that it's not felted quite enough.

Renee is progressing nicely--back and sides are done and I've started the first sleeve.

Last Tuesday I went to Ann Arbor Knit In Night and it was good. You should go. You know, if you live near Ann Arbor.

ALSO! I'm moving. To DC. This summer. ACK!!!*







(The ACK is about the process of moving, not about the concept and thought of moving)