Hi all. Long time no blog. Long, long time, in fact. I've been knitting, but not nearly as much as when I blogged regularly -- so I thought maybe if I started blogging again, I would get some energy back into my knitting.
The picture is a swatch for a sweater I'm about to make. A co-worker had this fabulous sweater, and I am going to copy it. I had been looking for a pattern for some yarn I bought last summer (Sirdar Eco Wool DK), and I think I should have enough for this project. Even though its a DK weight, the sweater is going to be knit on US8s -- so that should stretch the yardage considerably.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Pea-nutty
Thought I'd share a pic of a recent baking project. These are peanut butter sandwich cookies. The filling is made with cream cheese, peanut butter and some sugar.
This picture is kind of like my life lately: nutty and nuttier. I've been at my 'new' job since December and I think it's messed with my head a little bit. I'm trying to get a little perspective on things now and hopefully blogging will help with that.
I've really appreciated the comments and notes I've received encouraging me to blog and/or to not to feel guilty about whether I blog or not. It's nice to know that if I want to share about my life through this medium that you are happy to listen. I hope you are all well and I plan to be checking in here more often.
This picture is kind of like my life lately: nutty and nuttier. I've been at my 'new' job since December and I think it's messed with my head a little bit. I'm trying to get a little perspective on things now and hopefully blogging will help with that.
I've really appreciated the comments and notes I've received encouraging me to blog and/or to not to feel guilty about whether I blog or not. It's nice to know that if I want to share about my life through this medium that you are happy to listen. I hope you are all well and I plan to be checking in here more often.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Whither Goest the Blog?
As the blog goes, so goes the knitting? You might think I haven't been doing any knitting, since I haven't been blogging - but that wouldn't be true at all. I participated in NaKniSweMo and actually finished my sweater, I made some holiday gifts (and even got them in the mail mostly on time), and now I'm close to finishing another sweater I've been working on for a while.
The truth is, I'm just not sure about the blog thing. I like writing and sharing about knitting, but somehow the blog feels like a lot of work for a small part of my life. Sometimes I think I should write about other stuff too, but I worry that a) it will get too personal or b) people won't want to read about anything but knitting/crafting. On the other hand, I know that some people read this blog to keep up with me generally, so maybe a (slightly) personal post every once in a while wouldn't be so bad.
I'm also aware that my new job has been a big change, so maybe once I get a new rhythm going I will get back to posting more regularly. But, blog posts were somewhat sparse before the change, so maybe that's not it either. I've also been somewhat flaky about other life commitments so the blog could be just another victim of my state of mind.
All of this to say - I don't know what I'm doing or where I am going just yet. Hopefully I'll make a decision soon. Talk to you then.
The truth is, I'm just not sure about the blog thing. I like writing and sharing about knitting, but somehow the blog feels like a lot of work for a small part of my life. Sometimes I think I should write about other stuff too, but I worry that a) it will get too personal or b) people won't want to read about anything but knitting/crafting. On the other hand, I know that some people read this blog to keep up with me generally, so maybe a (slightly) personal post every once in a while wouldn't be so bad.
I'm also aware that my new job has been a big change, so maybe once I get a new rhythm going I will get back to posting more regularly. But, blog posts were somewhat sparse before the change, so maybe that's not it either. I've also been somewhat flaky about other life commitments so the blog could be just another victim of my state of mind.
All of this to say - I don't know what I'm doing or where I am going just yet. Hopefully I'll make a decision soon. Talk to you then.
Monday, December 03, 2007
WOW!
Wow, what a welcome! I had no idea my presence in blog-land had been missed. I also really appreciate everyone's good wishes on my new job. I have another week to go (leisure!) before I start. I'm looking forward to it, but trying not to think about it so much, so as to enhance the relaxation. :)
I think I mentioned that I was participating in NaKniSweMo this year. It was going great until the middle of the month, when I just got really busy with work and preparing for Thanksgiving travel. But, I'm happy to say I got back into it and finished -- on the last day! Here's a couple pics:
This is the Radiance Cabled Jacket from Webs (there's a little picture here.) I thought the pattern was well-written, and the only think I changed was the cable pattern. I changed it partly because I was trying to finish in one month, and the braided cable seemed harder, and also because in other versions I saw, there was a weird hole at the bottom of the cable pattern. I also had to make the sleeves longer.
One note about the yarn. I used Blue Sky Alpacas' new yarn Suri Merino in Crimson. The yarn is amazingly soft and has a beautiful sheen to it. It definitely has a fuzzy halo when knit, so I will be interested to see how well the cable pattern stays visible as it gets worn. It's a single, which I guess sometimes means a weaker yarn - but I tugged and tugged and couldn't break it. The only difficulty is that the yarn is very, very splitty. This can cause problems with seaming (I struggled at first but it got easier). But all in all, this is a luxurious yarn that is worth the price tag. I ended up with a skein left over! I think there's a scarf calling my name...
I'm also working on some holiday knitting, but believe it or not, I'm mostly finished! I'll be giving a few things I made earlier in the year, as well as some hats I've just finished. I also need to make a few baby items, which are always fun! I'm hoping to wrap up a few more projects that have been languishing - I have a bag that needs one more strap and then a trip through the washing machine, and a cardigan that needs half a back to make it ready for sewing up. Hopefully I can jump-start myself to tackle these items!
Well, enough babbling. Hope you are all well!
I think I mentioned that I was participating in NaKniSweMo this year. It was going great until the middle of the month, when I just got really busy with work and preparing for Thanksgiving travel. But, I'm happy to say I got back into it and finished -- on the last day! Here's a couple pics:
This is the Radiance Cabled Jacket from Webs (there's a little picture here.) I thought the pattern was well-written, and the only think I changed was the cable pattern. I changed it partly because I was trying to finish in one month, and the braided cable seemed harder, and also because in other versions I saw, there was a weird hole at the bottom of the cable pattern. I also had to make the sleeves longer.
One note about the yarn. I used Blue Sky Alpacas' new yarn Suri Merino in Crimson. The yarn is amazingly soft and has a beautiful sheen to it. It definitely has a fuzzy halo when knit, so I will be interested to see how well the cable pattern stays visible as it gets worn. It's a single, which I guess sometimes means a weaker yarn - but I tugged and tugged and couldn't break it. The only difficulty is that the yarn is very, very splitty. This can cause problems with seaming (I struggled at first but it got easier). But all in all, this is a luxurious yarn that is worth the price tag. I ended up with a skein left over! I think there's a scarf calling my name...
I'm also working on some holiday knitting, but believe it or not, I'm mostly finished! I'll be giving a few things I made earlier in the year, as well as some hats I've just finished. I also need to make a few baby items, which are always fun! I'm hoping to wrap up a few more projects that have been languishing - I have a bag that needs one more strap and then a trip through the washing machine, and a cardigan that needs half a back to make it ready for sewing up. Hopefully I can jump-start myself to tackle these items!
Well, enough babbling. Hope you are all well!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ravelry ate my blog!
I'm only half kidding...I have been spending LOTS of time on the site. Browsing through projects was time consuming, but that was NOTHING compared to when I discovered the forums and started posting. But as great as Ravelry is, it doesn't take the place of my own little home on the web where I can talk about whatever I want.
Knitting has been abundant lately. I recently finished the sweater you see here - the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, done in Pear Tree 8-ply. Very soft, in a beautiful pale spring green. It's one of my best fitting sweaters yet. Now I'm working on the Radiance Cabled Jacket from Webs - I'm using Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino. (it's like that shampoo commercial: because I'm worth it!) I changed the cable from braided one to a - er, less twisty one. I don't know what it's called. Anyway, this is a terrific project in a beautiful (if sheddy) yarn). It's my project for NaKniSweMo - Knit a Sweater in November! I'm up to the armholes with one sleeve down. Moving right along!
Speaking of which - big new thing! New job! I start in December. It's a job I've wanted for a long time, but the timing never worked out. It's also more in line with my education. I'm REALLY excited. And, I get a couple of weeks to relax before I start! Can we say lots of knitting!!?I hope everything is well with all of you. More posts and more pics soon!
Knitting has been abundant lately. I recently finished the sweater you see here - the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, done in Pear Tree 8-ply. Very soft, in a beautiful pale spring green. It's one of my best fitting sweaters yet. Now I'm working on the Radiance Cabled Jacket from Webs - I'm using Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino. (it's like that shampoo commercial: because I'm worth it!) I changed the cable from braided one to a - er, less twisty one. I don't know what it's called. Anyway, this is a terrific project in a beautiful (if sheddy) yarn). It's my project for NaKniSweMo - Knit a Sweater in November! I'm up to the armholes with one sleeve down. Moving right along!
Speaking of which - big new thing! New job! I start in December. It's a job I've wanted for a long time, but the timing never worked out. It's also more in line with my education. I'm REALLY excited. And, I get a couple of weeks to relax before I start! Can we say lots of knitting!!?I hope everything is well with all of you. More posts and more pics soon!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
No Purling, Just Knitting
Hi, everybody! It's been a while. I've been knitting, just not finishing much of anything. I was all set last weekend to block and sew up Edie, but then I discovered that (ahem) my armholes did not match up. So, I have to redo the top half of the back, and then I should be able to sew it up. I'll be glad to see that project come together - it was essentially my big summer knitting project. Although, given the weather in Chicago - maybe I still have some summer left! It's supposed to be 88 degrees today!
I'm working on another sweater, one that doesn't require very much assembly. I'm making the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Somehow I always forget that making a sweater in one piece means no purling! This is hard on my hands - I definitely need the balance of the knit and purl. So - I'll be glad when this one is finished. Here's a progress shot:
I'm working on the sleeves, since the body is long enough to connect them. Only problem is - can you see it? - there is a slight stripe about a third of the way down. Sigh. I might rip back and cut out the length of yarn that is causing the stripe. The yarn is Pear Tree 8 ply, in the color Grass. The color between skeins has been remarkably consistent, with the exception of the aforementioned stripe. This yarn definitely makes a beautiful garment - kinda pricey, though. But, I don't feel so bad since I first saw it about four months ago, didn't buy it, but then when I saw it again last week I decided I liked it enough to justify the purchase. Sorta sad that waiting only delays my spending on yarn, rather than reducing it. :)
Hope everyone is doing well!
I'm working on another sweater, one that doesn't require very much assembly. I'm making the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Somehow I always forget that making a sweater in one piece means no purling! This is hard on my hands - I definitely need the balance of the knit and purl. So - I'll be glad when this one is finished. Here's a progress shot:
I'm working on the sleeves, since the body is long enough to connect them. Only problem is - can you see it? - there is a slight stripe about a third of the way down. Sigh. I might rip back and cut out the length of yarn that is causing the stripe. The yarn is Pear Tree 8 ply, in the color Grass. The color between skeins has been remarkably consistent, with the exception of the aforementioned stripe. This yarn definitely makes a beautiful garment - kinda pricey, though. But, I don't feel so bad since I first saw it about four months ago, didn't buy it, but then when I saw it again last week I decided I liked it enough to justify the purchase. Sorta sad that waiting only delays my spending on yarn, rather than reducing it. :)
Hope everyone is doing well!
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Craftivity (for want of a better title)
Hi all! Thanks so much for your encouraging comments on my little project. It gives me so much energy to try something new, and an even bigger boost since it's going well. Hopefully I can finish it this weekend.
In other project news: I'm still working on my Edie sweater. I need to finish the shoulder and neck shaping, and then I'll starting blocking. It seemed like a good idea to wait to block until all the pieces are finished, in case there are some minor sizing issues. I'm also working on the Pompom Tie Cardi I posted about a while ago. The Shelridge Farms is great to knit with, but the dyeing is a little inconsistent. I've looked around on Ravelry and on the Shelridge website, and no one else seems to have this problem, so maybe I just got a bad dyelot. I ripped out one piece because the tones were just too different than the back piece I already finished. Sigh.
All of that to say...I needed a quick project! I just finished a Montego Bay Scarf, featured in the Summer Interweave Knits:
The yarn is Blue Heron Rayon Metallic, and aside from the fact that it's so dang hard to photograph, I have NOTHING but good things to say about this yarn. It's really soft, but also sturdy (I tugged on it a lot to block it). The metallic thread running through it makes it gorgeous and shimmery - not gaudy. All the colors work together and there was no pooling. It has great yardage, too.
This scarf is going to someone close to me who could use a little pick-me-up. I hope it will remind her that *she* has a sparkle all her own, no matter what she wears.
Hope to see some of you at knitting tonight!
In other project news: I'm still working on my Edie sweater. I need to finish the shoulder and neck shaping, and then I'll starting blocking. It seemed like a good idea to wait to block until all the pieces are finished, in case there are some minor sizing issues. I'm also working on the Pompom Tie Cardi I posted about a while ago. The Shelridge Farms is great to knit with, but the dyeing is a little inconsistent. I've looked around on Ravelry and on the Shelridge website, and no one else seems to have this problem, so maybe I just got a bad dyelot. I ripped out one piece because the tones were just too different than the back piece I already finished. Sigh.
All of that to say...I needed a quick project! I just finished a Montego Bay Scarf, featured in the Summer Interweave Knits:
The yarn is Blue Heron Rayon Metallic, and aside from the fact that it's so dang hard to photograph, I have NOTHING but good things to say about this yarn. It's really soft, but also sturdy (I tugged on it a lot to block it). The metallic thread running through it makes it gorgeous and shimmery - not gaudy. All the colors work together and there was no pooling. It has great yardage, too.
This scarf is going to someone close to me who could use a little pick-me-up. I hope it will remind her that *she* has a sparkle all her own, no matter what she wears.
Hope to see some of you at knitting tonight!
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