Life kind of feels like futilely attempting to traverse a forest full of prickly bushes and poison ivy and itchy, itchy bugs lately. Due to several downright shitty events that have all gone down within the past week I've been less than cheerful, and my lackluster attitude has taken quite a toll in more than one area of my life.
My less than pleasant week has kind of been topped off by my trouble with the Mystery Stole. I joined the knit-along unsure whether I would actually participate, but started knitting with hopes that it would help me find some sense of camaraderie with my fellows and maybe even force me to make some friends in the field (As of now, I have none. Really. None.). Unfortunately, it's always been difficult for me to break out of my knitter's shell and embarrassing, if not nearly impossible, to plant myself in the middle of an already established group of people. Because of this, I've only posted one message in the entire time I've been a part of the group.
And clue one keeps kicking my ass. I had to reknit up to row 30-something twice, and once I finally got past that section it seemed like smooth sailing. Until I dropped a stitch on row 69 or 71 or somewhere around there. After I dropped that stitch I put the stole down. It was too much for me to focus on this afternoon. I've knitted lace before, I have no trouble reading the chart or my knitting, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I AM SO INEPT AT LIFE RIGHT NOW.
But it's okay. Because I am going to shower, rent a movie, eat some sorbet, take the train, and sleep in my wonderful boyfriend's bed tonight.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Happy Mothers' Day!
These are the monkeys I knitted for my mom:
Two months late isn't THAT bad. The regular-length sock was knitted first, and by request was knitted two more times in an ankle-length version.
No one can say I don't love my momma.
Pattern: Cookie A's Monkey, Courtesy of Knitty.
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Fingering weight in "Oops!"- Less than two skeins for these three socks. As always, the yarn and the socks themselves are much prettier than my camera phone is willing to acknowledge.
Needles: Magic Looped using KnitPicks' 32" classic circs (i am too lazy to check which size. Or link them.)
Skills Learned: No completely new skills, but this project did help me get used to grafting.
Mom and I have been in the new apartment for a tiny bit over a month now, and doing pretty well for ourselves considering the circumstances. Things are going well, but I am tired and stressed out. I quit my job at the piggy bank cart and now assemble gift baskets down the other end of the mall. The job is cool- the store is much more structured than the cart could ever hope to be, and my bosses always have something for me to do.
Two months late isn't THAT bad. The regular-length sock was knitted first, and by request was knitted two more times in an ankle-length version.
No one can say I don't love my momma.
Pattern: Cookie A's Monkey, Courtesy of Knitty.
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Fingering weight in "Oops!"- Less than two skeins for these three socks. As always, the yarn and the socks themselves are much prettier than my camera phone is willing to acknowledge.
Needles: Magic Looped using KnitPicks' 32" classic circs (i am too lazy to check which size. Or link them.)
Skills Learned: No completely new skills, but this project did help me get used to grafting.
Mom and I have been in the new apartment for a tiny bit over a month now, and doing pretty well for ourselves considering the circumstances. Things are going well, but I am tired and stressed out. I quit my job at the piggy bank cart and now assemble gift baskets down the other end of the mall. The job is cool- the store is much more structured than the cart could ever hope to be, and my bosses always have something for me to do.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Eesh.
Mom and I are moving. I have an intense urge to knit dishcloths and pillow covers.
The new apartment is just across town, but having to sort through everything I've accumulated since I was eight is turning out to be very difficult for me.
On the knitting front, I have yet to finish the summer top (my guage was slightly off, and the 3/4 finished tank will most likely be ripped and reknit into something even more summery), and UB's socks will get knitted before the end of the year.
A week before mother's day I began knitting my mom a pair of Monkeys. After I finished the first sock I asked her to try them on for size, and she informed me that she loved them, but would much rather have a pair of ankle socks.
I now have an absolutely gorgeous and lonely regular-length monkey sock haning out in my knitting bag. And it will stay that way. Until someone decides to buy me another hank of yarn.
The new apartment is just across town, but having to sort through everything I've accumulated since I was eight is turning out to be very difficult for me.
On the knitting front, I have yet to finish the summer top (my guage was slightly off, and the 3/4 finished tank will most likely be ripped and reknit into something even more summery), and UB's socks will get knitted before the end of the year.
A week before mother's day I began knitting my mom a pair of Monkeys. After I finished the first sock I asked her to try them on for size, and she informed me that she loved them, but would much rather have a pair of ankle socks.
I now have an absolutely gorgeous and lonely regular-length monkey sock haning out in my knitting bag. And it will stay that way. Until someone decides to buy me another hank of yarn.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Boo, internet!
The internet just keeps getting more and more boring.
I've been knitting, but I keep getting distracted from projects.
When the weather was nicer (BOO, THE WEATHER!) I started designing/test knitting a little summer top. I had plans for this little top, until the atmosphere turned on me. The crazy temperature changes have taken a toll on me, and I kind of think that spring will never come.
U.B.'s socks are truckin' along, though! Even if they are nearly a month late for his birthday, and four months late for christmas. When they are finished, I'm going to send them to him via snail mail with a little note that will say "You have no idea what these socks have put me through. Happy belated Christmas/birthday."
This pair of socks may be my longest running work in progress (with any chance of completion) ever.
Pictures... eventually.
I've been knitting, but I keep getting distracted from projects.
When the weather was nicer (BOO, THE WEATHER!) I started designing/test knitting a little summer top. I had plans for this little top, until the atmosphere turned on me. The crazy temperature changes have taken a toll on me, and I kind of think that spring will never come.
U.B.'s socks are truckin' along, though! Even if they are nearly a month late for his birthday, and four months late for christmas. When they are finished, I'm going to send them to him via snail mail with a little note that will say "You have no idea what these socks have put me through. Happy belated Christmas/birthday."
This pair of socks may be my longest running work in progress (with any chance of completion) ever.
Pictures... eventually.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Man, I'm so happy this pair is done.
Gram's "Aliene" slipper socks are finished as of Tuesday, but I failed to take a picture before I gave them to her. The gift was already several days late and I was too anxious to give them to her before I took a picture.
Toe-Up "Aliene" stats:
Pattern: My own, featuring EZ's sewn cast-off.
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Superwash. Less than two Balls Ballerina, and about half of one ball Capri.
Needles: Set of Five 3.75mm DPNs
Skills Learned: EZ's sewn cast-off. Plus, this is my first (and fully improvised!) pair of toe-up socks ever.
While I don't have any photos of the finished socks, I do have pictures of the second sock in progress, as modeled by Lolita's kitten, Artichoke.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
My next task is to finished Uncle Bobby's socks. Which have been laying around in my "to knit" box since like... September. I was thinking about frogging the first sock until I freed it from its white plastic prison and realised that it was close to half finished. So I'm trudgin' on. Men's socks at 9sts per inch make my wrists hurt, especially when I'm working double-time so they'll be ready for his birthday on the 17th.
Toe-Up "Aliene" stats:
Pattern: My own, featuring EZ's sewn cast-off.
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Superwash. Less than two Balls Ballerina, and about half of one ball Capri.
Needles: Set of Five 3.75mm DPNs
Skills Learned: EZ's sewn cast-off. Plus, this is my first (and fully improvised!) pair of toe-up socks ever.
While I don't have any photos of the finished socks, I do have pictures of the second sock in progress, as modeled by Lolita's kitten, Artichoke.
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.My next task is to finished Uncle Bobby's socks. Which have been laying around in my "to knit" box since like... September. I was thinking about frogging the first sock until I freed it from its white plastic prison and realised that it was close to half finished. So I'm trudgin' on. Men's socks at 9sts per inch make my wrists hurt, especially when I'm working double-time so they'll be ready for his birthday on the 17th.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Aliene Slipper Socks
Are 100% finished! The first pair, anyway.
Pattern: My own, using The Knitting Fiend's How-to for short rows.
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Superwash. Significantly less than two Balls Wisteria, and only about half of one ball Deep Ocean. Neither color is nearly as yellow as it looks in the picture.
Needles: Set of Five 3.75mm DPNs
Skill Learned: Short row heels and toes!
I liked knitting these, even though it took me nearly a month and a half. I really enjoyed learning short row heels and toes, but on these socks (top down version) they left gaps at the corners. I am knitting my Gram's pair toe up, and the hole problem is much less noticable.
Finished project stats on those (hopefully) within the week!
Pattern: My own, using The Knitting Fiend's How-to for short rows.
Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Superwash. Significantly less than two Balls Wisteria, and only about half of one ball Deep Ocean. Neither color is nearly as yellow as it looks in the picture.
Needles: Set of Five 3.75mm DPNs
Skill Learned: Short row heels and toes!
I liked knitting these, even though it took me nearly a month and a half. I really enjoyed learning short row heels and toes, but on these socks (top down version) they left gaps at the corners. I am knitting my Gram's pair toe up, and the hole problem is much less noticable.
Finished project stats on those (hopefully) within the week!
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
I'm not actually a knitter
I am a chronic swatcher/frogger. Some people would like to call this a "Process Knitter."
I have some technical knowlege, I know a good deal of the jargon, and I "get" the in jokes. Shit, I can even eke out a finished object or two once in a while. However, my overall lack of ability to finish the things that I start is overwhelming and downright disheartening.
On some level, I've learned to acknowlege my condition and even start combatting it. Last year I finished five knitting projects: A lace bookmarkfor my mommie, a scarf for the best boyfriend ever, a pair of socks for an ex, a pair of socks for my grandfather, and a pair of socks for myself. By december 2006 I had cast on and made good progress on at least four more projects, only to let them languish in one of my various yarn boxes. I finished at least 10 swatches (including my first cables and my first slipped stitch color patterns), and began another 50 (later to rip them apart). I began learning how to spindle, and created my very first hand-spun yarn. I finished several books. I completed all my papers and passed all my classes.
I cooked a Christmas dinner (with the Best Boyfriend Ever, Lolita, and others).
This year I'm trying even harder.
I've set impending March deadlines for myself to finish projects left over from christmas, as well as my grandmother's birthday gift.
March 1: Slipper socks ("JUST LIKE YOUR AUNT LEENIE'S,") for Gram and Aunt Leenie (these will be finished in like a day if I just sit down and KNIT THEM).
March 16: Uncle Bobby's socks.
March 31: Uncle Chris's hat, Falling in Love socks for MEEEEEE.
I would also like to have at least one other knitting project finished by the April 6th, a pair of manly socks for my six-month-thingy with Owen, but I'm not gonna push myself to knit those. Even though I already bought the yarn. And I panic when I am under a deadline to buy a non-knitted gift. And I wouldn't know what else to get him.
My entries never make sense!
I have some technical knowlege, I know a good deal of the jargon, and I "get" the in jokes. Shit, I can even eke out a finished object or two once in a while. However, my overall lack of ability to finish the things that I start is overwhelming and downright disheartening.
On some level, I've learned to acknowlege my condition and even start combatting it. Last year I finished five knitting projects: A lace bookmarkfor my mommie, a scarf for the best boyfriend ever, a pair of socks for an ex, a pair of socks for my grandfather, and a pair of socks for myself. By december 2006 I had cast on and made good progress on at least four more projects, only to let them languish in one of my various yarn boxes. I finished at least 10 swatches (including my first cables and my first slipped stitch color patterns), and began another 50 (later to rip them apart). I began learning how to spindle, and created my very first hand-spun yarn. I finished several books. I completed all my papers and passed all my classes.
I cooked a Christmas dinner (with the Best Boyfriend Ever, Lolita, and others).
This year I'm trying even harder.
I've set impending March deadlines for myself to finish projects left over from christmas, as well as my grandmother's birthday gift.
March 1: Slipper socks ("JUST LIKE YOUR AUNT LEENIE'S,") for Gram and Aunt Leenie (these will be finished in like a day if I just sit down and KNIT THEM).
March 16: Uncle Bobby's socks.
March 31: Uncle Chris's hat, Falling in Love socks for MEEEEEE.
I would also like to have at least one other knitting project finished by the April 6th, a pair of manly socks for my six-month-thingy with Owen, but I'm not gonna push myself to knit those. Even though I already bought the yarn. And I panic when I am under a deadline to buy a non-knitted gift. And I wouldn't know what else to get him.
My entries never make sense!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)