Monday, December 29, 2008
happy monday
Here's some eye candy to help us ease into the start of a new week...

photography by Colin Cooke
via housemartin


Wednesday, December 24, 2008
happy holidays!
a recent FO

pattern: reversible cabled brioche stitch scarf (link)
yarn: 5 balls Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk
needles: US 7



Saturday, December 20, 2008
prismatic scarf
front

back

A few days ago I started this Prismatic Scarf but now am not sure how I like it in this colorway of Malabrigo.  The front looks good but the back isn't showing off the slipped diagonal rib very well.  I do like this pattern a lot, especially the I-cord selvedges which I think I'll use in future projects, too.  And doesn't the gorgeous yarn remind you of a vineyard?


Thursday, December 18, 2008
latest stash enhancement
Last night our knitting group had our annual white elephant gift exchange. This year everyone was to bring sock yarn and here's what I ended up with, after having a few items "stolen" from me including a wonderful new book - phooey - but that's the way white elephants go. :) It was a fun time and I'm looking forward to trying out this Noro Kureyon Sock yarn I've heard so much about. After some quick and very unscientific research on Ravelry, I was left to ponder the following...

- extreme opinions about Kureyon Sock; I read a lot of passionate "I love" and "I hate" statements about this yarn

- the yarn is not machine-washable so maybe socks would not be a suitable project

- if the long color changes would look better broken up; here are some lovely examples

skinny stripes

entrelac

not sure what this is, fair isle maybe?

One skein of sock yarn sure has given me lots to think about!


Wednesday, December 17, 2008
pooling nightmare
BPT in progress

So I breezed through the body of this sweater and was pleased as punch that the color wasn't pooling too badly - the worst of it was on the sides where it wasn't very noticeable. And then came time for me to knit the sleeves. Waahh! The pooling was atrocious, even when I alternated two balls of yarn (and huge ones at that - 385 yards each). I tried alternating one round at a time, two rounds at a time, random ball changes, cutting and restarting both yarn balls, and nothing worked to prevent the hideous patches of pooling. I've ripped out the sleeve so many times that I could have knit a whole other sweater by now. Any ideas to resolve this problem or will this yarn just not work for a top-down sweater? I have a feeling it's the latter and will just have to rip the whole thing back and use the yarn for something else...[sigh]


Tuesday, December 16, 2008
playing catch up - part 2
Last month, a few of us from our weekly knitting group and friends road-tripped up to Torrance for the annual fiber festival put on by the SoCal Handweavers' Guild. I went prepared with this ginormous new fabric bag I made...good thing, too, since I bought a huge hank of yarn which I nicknamed "Big Bertha." The $35 festival price was a siren song I could not resist (retail $78.54). It should be interesting when I try and wind all that yarn!



pattern: Betty Shopper (large) by Amy Butler
fabrics: Bangle Dot and Mocca by Alexander Henry

1.32 pounds of Newton Country Yarns sportweight merino


Monday, December 15, 2008
playing catch up - part 1
Here's some yarn I purchased on a trip to Portland, OR a few months ago from Twisted.  I also bought some beautiful wood sock blockers that are handcrafted by one of the shop owner's parents. It's a lovely store and I highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area.






Monday, December 08, 2008
please vote for me
I entered a contest creating two spoofs of the phrase "Keep Calm and Carry On" (a saying used on posters in England during WWII) and both of mine got picked as finalists: "Drink Eggnog and Merry On" and "Squander Money and Ask For A Bailout"

I'd appreciate your votes if you have time to make a few clicks! You are allowed to choose two captions. Please vote here by Thursday.

Thanks and spread the word if you can!


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