the first hat was one I’ve wanted for myself since I first saw the pattern ages ago.

quincy 02

pattern: Quincy by Jared Flood

yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK (2 balls for 284 yards/259.7m)

needle: US size 10 and 10.5/6 and 6.5 mm

start date: 18 Sept 2010

finish date: 2 Oct 2010

the first Quincy I made came out too small and had to be passed on to someone whose head it would fit. This time, it fit. Therefore, it is mine! It makes me feel dashing, almost fashionable.

I saw the yarn one night at Sit ‘N Knit and knew it was time for me to make my hat. Besides, the Maternal Grandfather’s scarf was too big for the purse and I hate knitting for someone while they’re watching (and Mom was everywhere that week). The pressure to finish and just hand the item over is too much. An added bonus was the super-large needles, letting me feel like I was actually making progress on something.

purple bands

pattern: Trenza by Woolly Wormhead

yarn: Berroco Jasper (2 balls for 196 yards/179.2 m)

needle: US 6 – 4.0 mm

start date: 25 Sept 2010

finish date: 2 Oct 2010

I bought this yarn with mittens in mind. However, the yarn did not want to be mittens. It dreamed of being a hat and I gave in. Yes, I could have forced it to be mittens; but it wasn’t worth the battle. We compromised with this Wooly Wormhead pattern I loved in a Yarn Forward magazine. This project was started when I wanted something more complicated than garter stitch from quincy 02 or plain stocking stitch from Mom’s socks. Naturally, Trenza was more than up to the challenge. I struggled with the cables and the pattern of the WS rows; and the yarn split like mad if I did not give it my full attention.

now that my hats are done, I can cast on the second sock of a pair of socks for me. If I can find my needles. They’ve seem to have run off on me.

this is the part where I warn you about the High Knitting Content.

a few weeks ago, knowing that I would be stash-diving for gifts, my Maternal Grandfather told me he wanted a scarf wide and big enough to “wrap around my head and neck.” I immediately set about digging for my thin supply of Malabrigo worsted weight. For those among us familiar with this wonderful wooly goodness and my oath as a Selfish Knitter: yes, my Maternal Grandfather is Malabrigo scarf knitworthy.

as a general rule, I do not like knitting scarves. They take forever. There is an obvious “Right Side” and “Wrong Side” (or “Pretty Side” and “Ugly Side” if you like). All that work only to have everyone see the “Wrong/Ugly Side” by mistake, because who would want that side to show when there is a much prettier one that really shows off the stitch and yarn? This Grandfather in particular wouldn’t notice (or let’s be honest, care) what side was showing as long as he was warm. I however, would care. People know I knit. They know he is related to me. They will ask if I made the scarf he is wearing. He will say yes. And as silly as it is, I don’t want everyone thinking my knitting is going shotty.

so after a handful of hours spread out over a week, I realized that I would be falling back on my stand-by. The moss stitch. (Yes, I know in America it is call ‘seed stitch’ but my first pattern book was unknowingly from Brittan and I learned it as ‘moss stitch.’)

perhaps my favorite stitch, I love how simple the moss stitch is while creating a wealth of texture to the garment. Quick to memorize, my hands don’t even realize they are knitting half the time. It shows off the yarn beautifully no matter what. It never tries to take all the attention for itself like cables and lace do. Both sides look the same, eliminating the problem of “Pretty” and “Ugly” Sides. So as I celebrate how wonderful this stitch is, I cannot help but wonder…is this scarf done yet?

two years ago, I made a pair of socks for myself. Only when they were finished did I admit they weren’t my colors. And they were a slight too big for my feet. The yarn was that delicious. Mom happened to be nearby when I was sulking over all the wasted time and energy. She loved them. Loved them so much, that after two years of wear/tear, they finally died.

I took them away from her for the time being; I like being able to compare size and see where the heavy wear takes place (that’s the part that tells about the foot itself). For Christmas, she is getting replacement socks. She was getting socks anyway, but now I actually have to finish them by 25 December. I knit one up already. But it was a slight too big for my feet. I mean, it even looks to big for her. See?

not wanting to set myself up for disappointment, I had her try it on. And it was too big for her. Yes, I could have possibly frogged the whole thing, but I have plenty of yarn. Some I got for working at a LYS, but I have a skein from a Knoxville Area LYS (The Knitter’s Nest, I think). The sock above now lives at my Memphis LYS with all the other sock samples.

I threw another sock OTN this past Thursday at Sit ‘n Knit. Not only have I removed four stitches, I am also knitting tighter. This means a nine inch circ needle (these things are quickly becoming popular among the sock knitters I know in Tennessee) since my tension/gauge is tighter on circs than dpn. And just to be on the safe side, only the cuff itself is in a 2×2 rib with the rest of the sock in stocking stitch.

currently, I am on the heel flap. Yes, that is a dpn I am using. I’m not advanced enough as a sock knitter to turn a heel on a circ. However, I will say that I love the nine inch circ needles. I think I knit faster, since I don’t have to keep up with extra dpn. Could be an illusion, but the tighter tension/gauge isn’t (my knitting friends can feel the difference).

StepMom needs replacement house socks. I’m turning Ravelry upside-down trying to find a pattern I like. Good thing I’m working at a LYS that pays in yarn, ’cause most of my yarn has wool in it and StepMom is allergic to wool. Even merino.

I have to admit, it’s been nice to spend the week just going through books. My Happy Pill is being changed and I’ve been on an emotional roller-coaster for the past week and a half. I’m getting better, not so many quick dips and highs. However, dealing with people is tough. Especially well-meaning people who just can’t find a book.

knitting wise, I’ve turned two heels this week. Too bad they weren’t for the same pair of socks; but at least they were not the same sock.

this is the first sock in a pair for me. It is the Tristan and Isolde pattern from The Enchanted Sole book by Janel Laidman. As you can see from the photo, it is a toe-up construction. I’d show you the cable on the top of the sock, but right now it doesn’t show up very well in photos. I think it is shy.

this is a blurry shot, but the best of the series. Maybe I should work on my camera skills. Or get someone else to take the photo. This cuff-down pattern is from Ann Norling (#12). I like this line of patterns for its straight forward simplicity. This pair of socks is for Mom’s Christmas. I can only work on it during Sit ‘n Knit Nights so no one gets wind of it. Good thing this side of the family doesn’t read blogs. For socks, it is a pretty quick knit (the above was done in two sessions). Now I’m in the “home stretch” as it were, which is a good thing considering I still have another two pairs of socks to go before December.

green thumb

pattern:Linda Choo’s Leaf and Flower Shawl

needle: 3.5 mm/ US size 4

yarn: Cascade Alpaca Lace (1 and 1/3 skein=576.8 yards/527.5 meters)

date started: 27 May 2010

date finished:4 August 2010

and I cast off a project way sooner than my plan was. Though in the spirit of honesty, I had already compromised on my original goal several times before yesterday.

I started a project with a huge dream and plenty of yarn. I was ecstatic about the pattern. It was knitting up so quickly. It was pretty.

but somewhere along the way, I just quit caring about it. Knowing if I set it aside it would never be finished, I refused to start another project. So last night, I just decided to CO. I hadn’t even finished the border lace chart.

since the world hasn’t grind to a screeching halt, I guess somehow I’ll survive.

as I type this, it is blocking and have a sock OTN.

I don’t like the fact that nothing new is going on. I miss literature searches! It was always a different topic with new variables to consider. I keep creating mini-projects to do during my work day, but it comes down to the same things.

a big plus to working in a Public Library is seeing what people are reading. Charlaine Harris has a new book out and there has been such a rush over it, that I’ve started to read her myself. If money wasn’t a bit tight, I would buy the series on my Kindle. As it is, I am saving lots of money and it isn’t like Amazon will stop selling her eBooks. And I hope I don’t start reading all the Magic Tree House books (another series in high circulation), mostly because it would take me all of 12 hours to read the series and then where would I be?

both my lace projects have developed black holes. I knit and knit and knit, but there is no obvious growth to them.

something needs to change.

if only to knit. I’ve been cold-sheeping (like a yarn diet but not so strict). I only have three projects OTN. The Evenstar Mystery Shawl is to the boarder. The beads are slowing me down. The Green Thumb shawl has more yarn left on my first skein of yarn than I thought there was. And the purse project (just a hat) is to the crown; but I am so over it already.

there would be photos, but it is too dark outside.

1. I drove 8 hours with a friend of the family to Lexington, KY for a job interview. We made a 3 day trip of it.
2. Day 1: Drove and scoped out the city
3. Day 2: Interview and scoping out the city
4. Even found a really, really cute apartment in Lexington with a washer/dryer unit.
5. Day 3: Drove home and had adventure. Also started a new “Purse Project.”
6. Adventure: visited a World Heritage Site: Mammoth Caves. It is the second World Heritage Site I’ve been to in the USA.
7. I’m a dork, so seeing a really big empty space inside the Earth was really cool.
8. I’m also a bit odd so being inside said empty place for an hour was super exciting; even when they turned off the lights and showed us how much you could see with only a candle.
9. Got a new chair from an estate sale cast-off, which I really need to put in storage.
10. Also salvaged some pretty neat looking book titles like: “Being Dead is No Excuse” by Gayden Metcalfe.
11. Worked hard on Collection Development at the Local Public Library I’m temporary working in.
12. Picked up some books from the “Donated” pile of the Local Public Library to read.
13. Called such books “work.”
14. Walked out of the Church of Christ service to attend “Casual Sunday” at the local Anglican Church (whose service was much better).
15. Realize that Church Hopping on the same Sunday morning is like double-dipping. Think about it.
16. Enjoyed a quiet 4th of July until the fireworks started up.
17. Went to the Neuro for our bi-annual chat about my head and how screwed up it is.
18. Said Neuro is impressed with all the progress we are making and put me back on over-the-counter pain relief in very small dose-taking.
19. Read “When Satan Wore a Cross” by Fred Rosen. No link, because I think the book was poorly written.
20. Finished the Evenstar Mystery Shawl KAL Chart 6.
21. Started the Evenstar Mystery Shawl KAL boarder. With beads.
22. Frogged it once during Antique Roadshow.
23. Got on the right path during History Detectives.
24. Got mad at a non-library degree staff member of the Local Public Library for being unable to shelve books.
25. Restrained myself from going up to the desk and lecturing her on how to do her job.
26. Restrained myself from asking said staff member if she has ever sang the “Alphabet Song.”
27. Got an email that said I did not get the job in Lexington.
28. Started wishing neighbors would quit setting-off fireworks. It is July 6. July 4th was two days ago. Sorry you missed it. There were fireworks then too.

now, all I need is to focus.

and pack. Packing would be nice.