Lookie lookie!

Look what I did! I didn't have a lot of time, so this is just once through the wash, but already I can tell that felting in the new building is much better than in Michigan!!!!



It's pretty good now, but I want it a bit more sturdy, so probably once (maybe twice) more through. I was worried because I can only set one temp on my washer. Hot, Warm of Cold. None of this hot/cold stuff. BUT, when I checked on it during the rinse cycle? Ice cold water (I had set it to hot) so know I know my "hot" is really "hot/cold". Swank.

I would also totally do this bag again. But probably in one colorway of Kureyon. I think that would be pretty.

YAY!!!!!

Look waht I did today!!!



Today was a lazy day at home, as I got president's day off... I just hung around and watched TV and knit and knit and knit and knit and knit!

Yesterday, I had to drive Dan to the airport at a godawful hour of pre-dawn. And I was driving home at sunrise (ugh, I know) thinking of all the times I've driven home in sunrise and I came home and was walking into my building at 6am and thinking "I wonder if the doorman thinks that this is a walk of shame?"

Also, I need to give a shout out to HolyKnitter, who emailed me all excited about her new blog and for some reason, Outlook decided that her email was junk mail. Even though all of her other messages to me never are. WTF?! So, here is my shout out, my AoD sister! READ THE HOLYKNITTER!



Also, you should check out Trish's blog. Her market squares bag is looking swank! And! already felted! Gold for her! She asked what yarn I'm using and it's KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. It's working well and was DEAD CHEAP. All the yarn was under $20. Sa-weet!

I have one handle knit. The other is started. I think on Wednesday I'll start (I work tomorrow night and our laundry room as set hours, so I won't be able to then...) I haven't tried to felt in this building yet. We'll see what happens with this washer!!! I don't think I can have a hot/cold in the same cycle. Maybe I'll run 2 washers. One with hot and one with cold and then just switch between them, Thoughts?

Snow!

So, it turns out my camera wasn't FUBARed, I'm just stupid. Today was 60 degrees and all the lovely snow that made my weekend is now gone. But here is what I saw from my balcony when I woke up on Sunday morning.











And here is my Olympic Project... I'm 1/2 through the 5th tier. On the 7th tier, I start decreasing, so they'll get smaller. I feel I'm making good progress.

Olympics

So... of all the times for my camera to be completely FUBARed... it's now.

But! I got pretty pictures of the 8 inches of snow dumped on us! (But I can't get them OFF the camera. Sadly.) And now it's all white and wintery and positively lovely and driving to work in all of that on a sunny, cold day while listening to Jamesmade me ache for Iowa.

The market squares bag is going well. There is a starting band, 15 tiers, the straps, and the felting. I have done the band and am about 1/4 of the way through the fourth tier. Entralac is now my friend, as is KNITTING BACKWARDS. I feel super hard-core.

Yarn!

Woo-hoo! I was freaked out that it wouldn't happen, but my Olympic yarn came today. Yay!!!

Ta-Da!

Would you look at that?! Draped all down my back like that?




Look ma! No needles! (Also, I'm a tall girl. Look how big that thing is!) So, yes, I cast off darling Birch last night. She needs her ends woven in and to be blocked (a project for tomorrow) but the knitting is done and she is lovely and I loved knitting her. LOVED. I highly recommend this pattern to anyone and everyone. My only suggestion is to use LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of stitch markers. (I had one every 10 stitches, so that was 29 when I started!!!



So, big, even when I stand on chairs, I can't photograph the whole thing!



In other news, my wonderful Secret Pal is evil. The other day she commented on this very blog about how there was an entrelac wrap in Scarf Stylebut it wasn't on my wish list so she didn't know if I had it... and I thought to myself, well, I looked at the book when it came out in the book store, and it didn't really grab me, so I didn't want it but she mentioned this wrap, so I wanted to go see it. Luckily, I work in the library, so it just required walking about 50 feet and wow. What a book. I don't know why it didn't grab me before but it sure does now!!! (And that wrap! Gorgeous!) So now, it's on my wish list.

BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRCH

There are no pictures on this post, because I'm at work and stuff.

Anyway. So I went to Stitch and Bitch last night (suck it SFSE). And because I get off at the Chinatown Metro station, I got to see part of the Dragon Dance because it was the big New Year's celebration. I then kicked myself all the way to SnB because I forgot my camera.

At SnB I showed off how absolutely huge Birch is getting and freaked out that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish it. (Rowan says it only takes 3 balls of kidsilk haze, but that third ball was getting pretty small...) and they reassured me and I knew it would be OK, because I had more kid crack in the same shade of blue...

I got home and fretted to Dan (and his response was "Really? There might be more kidsilk haze around here? Who knew?" The master of sarcasm, Dan is.) I did some laundry and knit and knit and knit while watching the Superbowl, even though I didn't really care because, well, I just didn't care. But I knit and knit and knit and knew that there was NO WAY I could finish with that last ball so the great stash hunt commenced.

Why is it that the yarn you're looking for is always at the bottom of the last bin?! Gah. And I have way way way way way way way too much yarn. Gah.

But I found it and it's a different dye lot, so I alternated it with the other yarn to blend it in and am knitting madly away.

I'm down to 75 stitchs. WOO!!!

And, yes, Lynne, I could put it on a holder, but I'm so freaking close to being done, that I'd rather just finish it! Plus, the library is coooooooooooooooooooooooold so I want to wear it at work.

Yay for my Secret Pal!!!!

Look! Look! Look! I got a package from my secret pal today!



Here's some balls of Manos del Uraguay and Classic Elite Lush. And because she knows I don't have a swift, it's all wound up for me. YAY!



This is a binder that she put together for me for holding all my loose patterns and inside there are dividers for different types of patterns-- Sweaters, Scarves, Shawls, Socks, and Bags. AND there are three patterns inside to help me with my entrelac-- a scarf, a bag, and some socks. But I want to call special attention to the cover because it's all hand-done like a scrap book page and really really cool.

Of course, there was also something that I wanted to eat but couldn't:



But I could eat the insides! YUM.



And there was a big box of Chocolate Covered Cherries (my favorite!) and some Burt's Bees chapstick (also my favorite!) and butter popcorn (drool) and books! I got Oliver TwistElizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanacand Traditional Fair Isle Knitting. Yay for my secret pal!!!

DEADLINE!

Added onto my Olympic Challenge is the fact that I must finish Birch in the next week.

MUST.

Why? Because I need the needle I'm knitting with to knit Market Bag.

I have a million needles and yet, I always need the one I'm using. Is this the Murphy's Law of Knitting? I bet it is.

I give in!

So... I've decided to join Stephanie's Knitting Olympics.

I'm doing the Market Squares bag from Knitter's Summer 2001 because...

1. I've never ever ever done Entrelac before. Ever. And it's like the only knitting thing I haven't at least tried before.
2. I don't felt a lot and have a hard time getting stuff felted down to where I like it.

And guess what? I ordered new yarn for the project because I don't think I have enough felt-able stash yarn that will match. This is the first time I've bought yarn for myself since moving last August, which was almost six months ago!!!! (Thank god for my secret pals who keep supplying me with the good stuff!!!!) And I got it from knitpicks, so I spent less than $20. And I got a bunch of yarn for my secret pal.

Just Another Manic Monday

Except, you know, it's Tuesday, but whatever.

Last Tuesday morning, we went to the National Zoo and saw the Baby Panda. He kept falling off the branch he was climbing on and generally being too cute for words. (There's lots more pictures if you click on the photo)





And here's how Birch is going!





as you can see, she is getting big. Also, I'm now down to 143 stitches (out of an original 299) and so she's starting to really move, and grow quickly. I hope to finish her soon.

AND! Dan refinished the coffee table! See how it looked before?



See how nice it is now?!



And... here's a picture of my local pub in Manchester, where Dan worked as a barman and we had some really really good times. I'm feeling nostalgic. I spent a lot of time (and a lot of money!) here...

Grrrr

I didn't go to Stitch 'n Bitch today.

I worked on grad school applications.

I hate this.

Yarn Recomendations...

So, I had a friend tell me yesterday that I've ruined her, because I taught her how to knit using Peace Fleece yarn because "now nothing else measures up to my standards".

I told her I could name a few that would, because I'm EVIL.

So, this list is mainly for her, but you know, if you want to know what I love, here it is!

In general, anything Rowan does is top-notch. And, I am, as you know, a Rowan-whore.

I'm particularily addicted to Kidsilk Haze, because it's soft and fuzzy and comes in yummy colors and has a million yards in a ball and looks good in intricate lace AND garter stitch.

Kid Classic is good and soft, and for nubby yarns, you can't go wrong with Yorkshire Tweed. I'm assuming the Scottish Tweed is similair in it's awesome-ness, but I haven't used it yet. And for soft, smooth buttery small gauge knitting, 4 ply soft is HEAVEN.

Plus, there's the whole high-end RYC (Rowan Yarns Classic) with cashmere blends that make me swoon. YUM YUM YUM.

Noro is awesome. Especially Silk Garden.

Manos del Uraguay is very PC, being hand-dyed and spun by a small collective in Uraguay. And it's soft and the spinning and dying are slightly uneven, making it even more lovely.

Fiesta Yarns, especially La Luz are quality.

La Lana is beautiful and quality and hand-dyed using plant life and Luisa is so knowledgable about what she does and is awesome.

Colinette can be really awesome, but some of their novelty stuff grates on me (but it's all high quality, just me and novelty yarn... gargh). I love their kits though--I love the way they blend color and texture. (Someday maybe I'll finish my Vintage Vest. Maybe)

Good, basic, workhorse yarns are Cascade 220 and Plymouth Galway and Lamb's Pride (well, anything by Brown Sheep really).And if you want/need to knit something washable for a baby, I really do like Encore.

Progress report

Dan bought me this at a used book store last weekend. It now hangs in our living room and is from WWI! How cool is that?! (Sorry for the flash reflection)

And the birch, she grows...

Secret Pal 7

Oooo... Questionaire time!

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

I'm a fiber snob, not a brand snob. I like high quality, natural fibers, but just because it's expensive doesn't mean it's good... you know what I mean?

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

Um... I'm trying to spin. I do crochet.

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I have wine gift boxes that display them attractively on my knitting table.

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned how to knit 7 years ago this month. I consider myself to be an advanced knitter.

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

Mmm-hmmm. I've had issues linking to it in the past, so try this. If it doesn't work, let me know, ok?

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

I like spicy. Chanel No. 5. My favorite lotion and bubble bath that Body Shop so heartlessly only did for a limited time was "Ginger Lily". Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum.

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Mmmm... chocolate covered cherries make me melt.

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

I sew. I embroider. I dither and dather. I like making stuff, but little projects, not necessarily something that can be named.

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

I'm all over MP3s. I'm all over music. I was raised on folk and classic rock. Listen to a lot of new folk (The Nields, Dar Williams, Eddie from Ohio etc) and classic/outlaw country (which is what happens when you marry a Texan). I've also been getting into world music. (Paris Combo, Bebel Gilberto, Suba, Anything Putumayo puts out)

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

Navy blue and pale pink. I love great in brown and love earthtones in general. Yellow makes me look ill.

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

1 husband. 2 gerbils.

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

All of the above. Except ponchos, because they look kinda weird on me.

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

I am a Rowan whore. I like wool. Kid Silk Haze makes me drool.

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

Cheap acrylic that feels like plastic.

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

Sweaters.

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

Sweaters.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Birch shawl is getting all my attention at the moment.

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Depends on the project. I use both on a regular basis.

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Hardwood, then bamboo.

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Sadly, no.

22. How did you learn to knit?

I took a non-credit, taught-by-peers class in college.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

How long have I been knitting?

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

Leela from Futurama

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas, followed by Thanksgiving.

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Hobbies, books

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, Rowan, Rebecca

I have Knitters but I'm not renewing.

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

More of the RYC pattern collection (except Weekend. My last SP gave me that and it just whetted my appetite!) And anything by Elizabeth Zimmerman (except The Opinoinated Knitter as I have that already)

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Entrelac

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes. I'm too lazy to measure them again, but my last SP questionnare is in the "About me" link and the answers there.

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

07/27

Argh!

Nearing the end of my first ball of Kidsilk Haze and encountering an unholy number of knots.

So very frustrating!

Back from Wisconsin! (with a lesson about cheese!)

So... I got back from Wisconsin at the crack of yesterday after a lovely vacation and visit with the fam and drinking with my friends from high school. In addition to the sadness of leaving vacation and facing work again, I heaved a sad sigh as I climbed into the car to go to the airport because I HAD FORGOTTEN TO BUY CHEESE CURDS! I mean, how could I forget such a thing? Such a beautiful yummy thing as cheese curds? Such a reminder of home as you can really only get them in Wisconsin?!

But, my fear and sadness was for nought, as well, I hadn't completely forgotten that ALL AIRPORTS in Wisconsin have a cheese shop in them (seriously. I'm not kidding. The Appleton Airport doesn't even have a McDonald's, but they have a cheese shop!)

So here they are:



Now, some people DON'T KNOW what cheese curds are! Hmmmm. Ok, so when you make cheese, you have milk and some flavorings, and you add an enzyme and it makes the milk curdle. So you have CHEESE CURDS. And then you push all the curds together and drain off the excess fluid (called whey) until you have a big block or maybe a wheel and then you age it. CHEESE! (Incidentally, tofu is made almost the same way, but with soy milk and a different enzyme). And cottage cheese? Curds and whey.

So cheese curds are a really mild cheddar cheese (because they're fresh and haven't been aged at all) and because they're so fresh, they're a little salty and if they're REALLY fresh, they squek when you bite into them. Seriously. Love.

My dog also likes them, because they're dog-sized bites of cheese.

Then we got home and Dan's mom had sent us this!



A Shiner Bock nightlight. Sweet.

Also, I did some knitting! (of course!)

I cast on for Birch while sitting in the airport in Baltimore. And ALL THOSE stitch markers had everyone wondering what I was knitting, because there were LOTS AND LOTS of knitters catching that flight to the twin cities! It was great! And we had fun hanging out at the gate.



And people think I'm knitting jewels or something into my Birch, but nope, just lots and lots and lots of stitch markers.



It's shaping up, no? I think the main reason people think I'm using jewels is because I'm using those awesome stitch markers that my secret pal gave me (I'm also using the yarn she gave me!)

Next Year will ROCK

So, on Sunday I cast off the second sleeve of the Chocolate Decadance sweater. So lots of hemming and seaming, as I'd like to wear this while at home next week! See the pretty hem? Ooooooo



Also, to answer previous questions, no, I did not color my hair, 'tis the lighting and NaNo was OK. It was my first year, and I got 32,000 words. Next year will be better!

BUT! BUT! BUT! Dan got us tickets to go on our vacation this spring and it's even better than Niagara Falls! Look where we'll be in March!




BEIJING! CHINA! Fei chang hao! Wo gao gao xing xing si le!

I want to climb one of the Daoist mountains. Either Huang Shan:




Or Tai Shan:



I know they look zhen de li hai (super hard-core) and they are, but there are stairs carved into the mountains (I love China) and little old ladies will totally kick your ass while climbing. You'll be all panting for breath and they'll just run by you.


On Saturday I leave for home for Christmas and will be there for a week! YAY! Packing space is at a premium, so I'm going to cast on for Birch! Finally! Because 3 balls of Kidsilk Haze does not take up much room. But, alas, when typing the above, I typed "bitch" a portent of things to come? I hope not.

So if you really love Christmas, come on and let it snow...

Last night, I had all sorts of big plans.

I was going to bake gingerbread cookies for the library party today. I was going to go running. I was going to work on my short story. I was going to take a nice long bath.

Last night I... ate an entire pot of macarroni and cheese. I drank some wine. I realized that I had unopened cookies from when I went to the grocery store. I watched Love Actually (and bawled at the funeral scene in the beginning!). I wound up some yarn. I cast on for the legwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts but didn't like my color combination, so I ripped it all out and went to bed.

And now it's snowing snowing snowing and all the schools are closing early, but I'll be driving along the Beltway about the time this starts turning into lots of ice.

This Week in Knitting= AWESOME PANTS

You know, where pants is an adjetive meaning "Super", not that I'm knitting myself trousers.

BUT on Sunday I was big and brave and screwed up all my courage and went to the DC Stitch 'n Bitch at Warehouse Cafe by Mt. Vernon Square. I went all by myself. I didn't know anyone there, but I've been missing my Ann Arbor knitting friends like crazy. I went and then found they only took cash, but that was ok, because even though I only had $2, coffee was only $1.54. And I joined the group and it was fun and I'm totally going back. I'm so happy. I was giggly the rest of the night.

AND THEN! Today I discovered even more knitters than I knew about at work. And wanna-be knitters and it turns out there are underground plans to start a work-based knitting club and maybe a teen knitting club, which is cool, because we have some awesome knitting books in this library, let me tell you.

It was a good weekend in knitting.

Also, we went to Adam's Morgan yesterday for Amsterdam Falafel. OH.MY So super tasty.