2007 November « The Weaselmomma

Archive for November, 2007

Back…With WIPs

{ November 26, 2007 @ 4:33 pm } · { wip }
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Yes, yes I did survive the first major holiday of the holiday season. And Black Friday shopping…survived that too. The rare self-portrait...

Did ‘cha miss me?

Yeah.

So, with the holiday and my personal commitment to avoid all things holiday knitting related, I had a glass of wine with Startitis and we had a little holiday party of our own.

First came the herringbone mittens…or mitten, rather…in the lovely School Products Yak Merino. This is great yarn and it makes a nice fabric. The thumb turned out kinda shallow on this bad boy, though I’m not sure if that’s the pattern or just my knitting.

A lonely mitten And, in true Startitis fashion, there’s only one mitten of herringbone goodness at this point.

There is, however, not only enough Yak Merino for the matching mitt. There’ll be quite a bit leftover as well.

Probably enough for this awesome little number. I will have to buy a new circular needle, though. I had some serious issues with knitting hats all on dpns, but needle purchasing is not my thing.

On a semi-related tangent, I think these are just about the prettiest needles I’ve ever seen. These (and the Lantern Moons) make me want to try to use wooden needles. Mariah, kinda...

But, I digress.

Startis also made me grab that ginormous cone of wool-silk-cotton-rayon blend Italian tweed from School products and my pink aluminum Susan Bates to cast on for Mariah. I already had to frog an inch, only because of my own inability to pay attention to what I’m doing at times, but I’m digging her so far.

Log Cabin

Startitis wasn’t finished with me there, though.

Startitis took a good hard look at The Stash and decided that there was way, way too much leftover yarn from other projects and way, way too much acrylic and acrylic blend sitting around in there for comfort.

However, since I can’t stand to throw anything away, and since Startitis is just so compelling, a Mason-Dixon-esque log cabin blanket started evolving.

There’s no rhyme or reason here. No color scheme in mind at all. Only a tote bag full of oddballs and my US 10s.

So far, I’m actually really liking this project. There’s way more room in the stash now, the blanket itself is kinda neat looking, and it’s really great mindless knitting. Lots’n'lots of garter stitch

The only real problem: I’m going to have to buy a new needle. Soon. This puppy’s getting big already. Can we say 40″ circ? Oy…

A Keeper

{ November 15, 2007 @ 10:55 am } · { FO, fiberlicious, lacy bits, the awesome }
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I know what I said.

I know I said that the flame lace scarf was a gift…specifically, a gift for mom. Blocking out

And, really, I did have every intention of actually giving it to mom when I cast on.

But I just couldn’t, for a number of reasons.

First is the color. It worked lovely with the pattern, no weird pooling or anything. And it’s such a lovely color.

Second is the pattern. So simple, at times tedious, but the swirls and yarn overs are just heavenly.

Third is that this is my first major lace project that I’ve actually completed. I’m pretty proud of that.

Ummm, malabrigo... Fourth is the yarn. The Malabrigo lace has such body to it. It drapes amazingly. I’m enamored with it.

And finally, perhaps my most compelling reason for holding on to this one: This is the only merino that I’ve been able to put around my neck. There’s no itch. At all. Malabrigo worsted: itches like crazy. Malabrigo lace: no itchies. Go figure.

How could I possibly be expected to let go of that?!?

Tangled Yoke has buttons, and actually got worn once already to good reviews. In the Linen Isle, it’s too casual for work (since I have to be all businessed-up for So. Many. Yarn overs. work), but it looks great with jeans. Photos and an FO post to come, at some point.

I’ve also decided against holiday knitting this year. Last year, I over-extended myself, and knitting became a chore instead of a pleasure. So, this year I have a couple of FOs already ready to gift. And if I happen to have some new ones ready by the holidays, then groovy.

But, no lists. No deadlines. No hand cramps and wrist braces. No stiff neck. None of that.

What’s up next? Need to buy needles (NNOOO!!!) to start the knee-high entrelac socks, and last night I started swatching for Mariah with my massive School Products Italian tweed cone, though I think I’ll be leaving off the hood.

Hello Gorgeous

{ November 10, 2007 @ 9:15 am } · { heels, musings }
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Thank you, Macys.

Because of you, my weekend-o-crap last week was made a little bit brighter. Literally.

I was actually asked where the batteries go in these thing. Don't step on my blue suede shoes!

Response: Not in the heels! No room!

Yowza, that’s a heel. When you said 4.5 stilleto, you weren’t kidding. Surprisingly comfortable, though, which I wasn’t really expecting.

And having to go with a size 8 (only because they seem to run on the big side)…yeah, a total plus. The idea of smaller feet is totally awesome.

Thanks for the sale price too and accepting one of my many, many coupons. You helped make an otherwise sucky weekend a lot better.

Pretties! I guess that I have to thank you, too, Marc Fisher, for designing such lovely shoes. And for making the insides of the shoes as awesome as the outsides. Reflective silver. Nice touch.

And thank you too, pedicure lady, even though you cut my big toe and kept scraping the cut with the file. Pain is beauty, right. But on the serious side…ouch.

And last but not least, thank you Radio 104 for coming back. I’ve missed you terribly over the past, what, 6 years? Music in Connecticut has been lacking without you. Welcome home.

Been dealing with stomach ickiness for the past few days, so not much new to report. The Malabrigo scarf is about 3 feet long now, and I’m going button hunting today for Tangled Yoke.

Knitter’s Magic

{ November 5, 2007 @ 7:44 pm } · { fiberlicious, lacy bits, sweater, wip }
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Tangles and tangles What’s driving me crazy now? Finding the right buttons.

I’m thinking wood. Or bone. Or horn. Or a combination of one of the three with brass.

But I’ve yet to find the one that really makes me go, “Wow! That’s it!”

Ah, dilemmas.

Where's my buttons? Tangled Yoke is just crying for some buttons, though. Very badly. Especially now that she’s all washed and blocked and pretty. The stitches didn’t even out quite as well as I’d hoped they would, but I have a good feeling they’ll get better with wear.

Or with a good trip through the washing machine. I have an even better feeling that hand washing isn’t going to cut it with this one.

This is pretty workhorse stuff.

Sproingy and Smooshy Lace

What isn’t workhorse is this lace-weight Malabrigo. It’s as delicate and beautiful as it comes. And the flame lace pattern is working perfectly with the colorway. I’m digging this project. Hardcore. After a stressful weekend, one of those weekends where you actually can’t wait to go back to work on Monday, this was exactly what I needed.

I haven’t done much lace, beyond the Razor Shell Lace Scarf of Doom that is, but what I really love about it is how downright homely it looks while you’re knitting on it. Then, when it comes time for a blocking, it’s like knitter’s magic.

I tried to explain it to my non-knitting mother, about how that one little hang was going to produce a sizeable piece of knitting and about how some fibers have memory. Totally over her head, one of those yeah-right-sure-thing-like-I’d-buy-that responses.

Knitter’s magic, I say.

What also helps with a rough weekend? Four-inch blue suede stilletos on sale at Macy’s. Plus a coupon. More on those later…

What really helped with this rough weekend? The return of Radio 104. A whole lot more on that later too…