twisted thread

it makes me want to buy school supplies

2005-07-31T11:10:00.000-04:00

Despite the lingering heat of summer, back-to-school sales abound along with daydreams of autumn and cooler weather.

Scarf weather!

A girl can dream, can't she?

a red cap and a speedo

2005-07-24T16:15:00.000-04:00

Inspiring, isn't it?

Indeed.

I just had to knit my own.

red, white and blue

2005-06-27T21:05:00.000-04:00

When I prepared my snack the other day,something about the arrangement struck me.

Upcoming holiday?
Summer festiveness?
Perhaps subconscious color coordination with current projects?!

in the midnight hour

2005-06-24T23:58:00.000-04:00

Oh what a long journey it's been. From fantastic plan to calculation disaster to freestyle adventure it's been, well, quite the saga. This baby even travelled on the plane with me to London (and yes, you can get knitting needles through the security checkpoints, though smuggling them through a nervous passenger does make - despite the all clear for knit accessories I was still fearsome they would confiscate hours of intesive knitting labor).

After a premature bind off, and a second frogging I was feeling a tad discouraged.

Dark days, my friends - dark days.
I almost could not go on.
Just three more inches I told myself. It can be done!

Mustering as much energy as I could, I struggled on, and have (finally!) finished, though not without a few hiccups (or namely some extra 'wings' acquired from over-zealous increasing) that needed some intense problem solving efforts.

Behold! The four-month tube top!

So versatile - it slices, it dices, it coordinates with khaki, and denim!

Whew.
I am amazed that I actually finished it 'in season' and can wear it while the weather is warm and toasty.

like a bee

2005-06-22T14:56:00.000-04:00

As often happens during summer, I'm seeing stripes. But no, it's not a bee.

This is knitted in Caron's Simply Soft, and let me tell you it is the softest acrylic yarn I've used. I'm not generally a huge fan of the acrylics, but this one was quite nice and fluffy.

Now that that is finished, perhaps I can finish up that top I've been working on since Spring Break - patience pays!

so retro!

2005-06-05T21:26:00.000-04:00

I've been told that I'm a bad knitblogger. It's true.

But here's what's been going on with the projects...

The sleeveless top is still pending. I started binding off, but it was still too short, so I now need to pick up the stitches again and keep going. Grr.
Also, I've been working on a HP scarf. Halfway done!

Now, here's the fun part. Today at the flea market I managed to snag a fun little vintage pattern book for only 50¢. Here are some of the highlights...

A fun skirt and jacket:

(note the pointy cuffs on the sleeves)

A snappy sweater perfect for birdwatching:

Strappy crochet sandals:

There are quite a few more cute patterns - more vests and slippers and little hoods modeled by a balloon with a face painted on it. No lie.

I've also been thinking of fun decorating ideas to snazz up the apartment. I have a great plan (it sounds good in theory at least) to decorate a lampshade with some fabric - we'll just see how that goes.

Also, I may even make a rug!
I pulled out some old Interweave issues for ideas:

Again, I think my ambitions are too great for the free time I have available to me!

give me the taste, give me the joy of summer wine

2005-04-02T09:39:00.000-05:00

Many moons ago, or more accurately last month, I was relaxing on spring break and exploring new lys's at home. The store I visited was in fact not new, but had been in it's present location for 8 years. And oh what a selection. This was not one of those precisely stocked and shelved stores. Nay - boxes and bags of yarn lay about and I found myself digging through piles of yarn throughout the store.
Not being a girl who stashes without knowing exactly what her yarn is intended for, I was on a mission.
A mission for cotton.
Spring green cotton.

Alas, the fates had decided that I owned enough green items and instead I walked away with this...

Tahki Cotton Classic in color 3416.
'Brick' was what the store deemed this color. Very nice indeed.

Now, I had mentioned that I prefer to have a plan before setting out for the store. Yes, indeed...my plan entailed a strapless summer top.
And as I was feeling quite adventurous, I decided to dive right in taking measurements of myself and calculating stitches, etc. and began casting on.
Well, apparently my calcualtions were wrong because the top ended up waaaaay too big after only a few inches. So, in keeping with my destructive mood, I ripped it all out and started over.

Started over freestyle.

After ripping out two in progress sweaters I was at the 'I don't care anymore' point and decided to just do my own thing with little planning ahead. We'll see how it turns out in the end.
I may be a renegade knitter. I may be crazy. But getting there is half the fun, right?

Here is where we stand now...

It fits snugly right now which is good so that it won't fall off. : )

I'm working on this one from the top down. Here you can see the little ties in the back for added stay-on-ability...

Right now it's barely long enough to be considered a bikini. Progress is slow, but I hope to have it finished in a few weeks...maybe.

spring stripes

2005-03-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

I'm so proud that I've actually finished a gift ahead of schedule.

I made this bag with the kureyon in color 102. I quite like it - it's nice and bright and fiery.

I wanted to experiment with purse handles and ended up buying three sets by the end due to handle attachment issues. Well, actually I had bought a set just for me, and needed to get another for this bag, but I digress. I think that these fit the bag perfectly (in style and in actual 'fit').

Here's another photo where you can see the handle attachy thingies a bit better:

And one of me showing off the bag to the mirror...

I'm sure my friend will love her birthday bag!!

Oh, and I even had enough yarn left over for a mini bag of my own.
I combined some leftover 131 from my very first booga bag (oh the memories!) with approximately one skein of the 102. The beaded handles were the ones I first fell in love with and prompted this entire handle adventure!

**

In other news, the saga of the navy blue sleeveless turtleneck continues. I had just about finished the whole top for the second time when I decided to try it on. Lo and behold, I had whittled it down a bit too much. It was a tad tight. So I ripped it out again and am about 4 inches into the third go around. I did put it aside to start on another top which has also stalled due to my insane school schedule. Hopefully I'll get some good knitting time in after this semester is over (one. month. left.!!).

if you want to destroy my sweater...

2005-03-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

...pull this thread as i walk away

I've decided to rip out my navy blue sleeveless turtleneck. I was never pleased with the way it fit - the middle part bulging and frumping out most unflatteringly.

So yesterday, I unraveled the sweater.

I'm about 2/3 done re-knitting it. I'm adjusting the pattern as I see fit so that I'll get a better fit. :D
Expect a progress report soon.

so throw your mittens around your kittens and away we go!

2005-02-13T00:24:00.000-05:00

Mittens!!!
I'm calling them my Strawberry Shortcake mittens.

Yes, it is now getting warmer in Florida, and yes, I will probably not get to wear them (if only they had been finished for the cold cold morning that greeted me as I stepped out the door on Friday).

I think they look lovely with my red jacket.

I used my kool-aid yarn that we dyed at the Angels summit - I'm sure they'll keep my fingers toasty warm.

Also, I did finish a sock sometime back in December. I have started on the matching sock, but only time will tell when it will be finished.

I fear that I am now looking ahead to warmer weather wears and am in the market for a nice lightweight cardigan that I'll be able to wear in the warmer months. In other words, March through November. So many potential projects, so little time.

Kozy in Koigu

2004-12-10T23:15:00.000-05:00

Using the multi-directional scarf pattern Axelle linked to a short while back, I knitted up this lovely scarf with the Koigu I purchased at Stitches East.

It is amazingly soft and, because I knitted it up using my trusty 10.5 bamboo needles, it has a fun spongy feel to it. It took two skeins of Koigu Kersti, and I used every last inch that I possibly could because I wanted to make sure it was long enough.

Hopefully I will have a few opportunities to wear it this coming January.

Christmas is all around...

2004-12-03T15:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas gift time!!
This may be the only one I'll actually finish, but hey, there are limited hours in the day.

This one is a novelty for my friend AJ, and did not take much time, but it is fun and will be sure to get a laugh.

I bring you.....

**ta da**

The ipod cozy!

Kind of makes me wish I had one of my own.

And since I do not have my very own shiny ipod, I had to guess at the knitted size, but thankfully apple has the dimensions posted on their website. Hence that fabulously stylish index card placed inside.

Knitted in Bernat's eyelash yarn, this gift is soft and fuzzy and will keep the ipod toasty warm.

Happy Knittingversary to me!

2004-11-29T16:30:00.000-05:00

Can we believe it's been a whole year? I certainly cannot. Honestly - I've finished so many projects that it seems like ages and ages since I first picked up the needles.

In honor of the event I have some photos.

A sock!
Well, almost.

How long will it take me to finish I wonder.
Then there's that whole business about a matching sock.
Perhaps I'll find more time over the holidays to finish these up.

caught in the act

2004-10-26T19:59:00.000-04:00

Yarn theives!

multi-tasking in the best sense

2004-10-20T18:35:00.000-04:00

Because I couldn't concentrate for hours on end studying I decided that I absolutely had to knit something while I was reviewing my notes.
Perhaps it was the conversation Axelle and I had about knitting helping to organize thoughts and ideas (as well as school notes) in your brain, or perhaps it was the fact that I was too fidgety without something in my hands, but either way I knit a scarf today.

(please ignore the un-woven in ends - I haven't decided on fringe or not)

This is made from the left over yarn I had from a friend's scarf and hat. I had just under one ball of the Lion Brand boucle.

It's a shame this only took two hours (even after ripping it all out once due to lack of sufficient yarn and starting again on larger needles) because after it was finished I returned to non-concentration mode.
For the next slew of tests I'm getting yarn for a blanket or afghan. :D

*

And because I didn't get around to it yesterday (and because I promised my sister some pics), photos of the kool-aid yarn - much thanks to Jen for the supply of yarn!!

No plans for these yet. Any suggestions?

As for the other stash, the Koigu is intended for a scarf...hopefully. They never called me about the pattern. The Cherry Tree Hill yarn is going to be a wrap or shawl of some sort. I have big plans to experiment with drop-stitch fun. : )
And the lovely purple wool? Hmmmm...we'll see!

she likes it! she really likes it!

2004-10-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

Woo!

That's my sista in the scarf...

Doesn't she look so chic and stylish!

Not to mention toasty warm, too.

**

Just for fun (and because I feel like showing off my stash, because well...I actually have a stash now!)...

(thank you atropos!!!)

Finished!

2004-10-06T13:46:00.000-04:00

Afflicted with an all consuming desire to finish the PBS before my sister's birthday (which is Saturday -!!), I've spent all of my time knitting. Not an unpleasant activity, although I'm ashamed to admit that this time really should have been spent studying for the test I have tomorrow morning. Fear not - the rest of the day is ahead of me!

So, here it is....

the scarf:

me modeling the scarf (and actually, I spent the past few days knitting while it was wrapped around my neck - it's so soft and cozy - not to mention that I needed to keep it off of the floor!):

the little white specks you see are the beads reflecting the flash from the camera

And here's the scarf all tied up and ready to be sent off to the birthday girl:

Woo!

just one more photo i promise

2004-09-21T22:28:00.000-04:00

Since it's *really* finished this time, complete with crochet trim along the neckline (thank you mum!)...

join me for an evening at the ballet

2004-09-15T01:35:00.000-04:00

The Ballet Pullover is finished!!

Feast your eyes...

And because I couldn't resist showing it off...

This is my favorite knitted item thus far. It actually FITS!

I technically still need to finish the crochet trim on the neckline, but I'll need mum's assistance for that since I tried and hopelessly failed to do it on my own.

In knitting this up I've discovered a few things...

1. knitting with two strands of yarn is tricksy because both want to twist in and of themselves as well as with each other

2. rings can be used as stitch markers when you small markers won't fit over the size 11 needles

3. sleeves aren't as scary as I had originally imagined

Perhaps heels aren't as frightening as I imagine them to be either. We'll have to wait and see, for I really *really* need to finish that PBS.

no power? no problem. uh, not quite...

2004-09-10T01:24:00.000-04:00

But with nothing else to do, why not knit?

I've always said that knitting calms me down - it really helped me not to go into too much of a tizzy during the hurricane.
I decided to forgo the PBS in favor of something a little easier to work on in low (or no) lighting.

I started off well on Sunday, though the going was a little slow.
Until the power went out that is.

Here is where I was on Monday morning (note that there is low lighting - the power had been out since Sunday):

And here is where I paused on Tuesday evening:

I don't think I could have chosen a better foul weather project. The color is very calming (to me at least) and it just feels so nice.

I decided to check my progress, and was found strutting my stuff around and about, but I was told I looked quite silly. I don't think so! :D

Almost there! Just a few inches on the bottom and the sleeves!

while anxiously awaiting mother nature's wrath

2004-09-03T22:56:00.000-04:00

I've spent a little time knitting.

Yes, a LITTLE.

Precious little.

As in swatching for the ballet pullover.

We all must have our priorities, and while I'd love to spend all my free moments knitting, it just can't be done. The PBS must come first - deadline and all of that.
I've been making fairly good progress. I needed to unravel the end of the first ball because I ran out of beads for the last couple of bead rows.

But, alas, the lure of the Napa has been too strong for little ole me.

Hence, I bring you the swatch.
And so I must quote in my best Rob Reiner imitating Cary Grant voice...
"Hello, Diane, take a look at these swatches!"

and another shot just for fun because the color appears different in various lighting...

If all goes according to plan (tempting fate here are we?) I'll actually manage to get a bit of free time to start the sweater.

I have a feeling I'll squeeze it in at some point - sweater disease is difficult to overcome!

I heart my new yarn!

2004-08-23T12:40:00.000-04:00

plymouth napa.
Isn't it lovely?
It's soft and luxurious and pink!

napa with sweater pic
I can't wait to start this sweater!

My yarn arrived Friday. Thank you UPS (we have a love/hate relationship). As soon as it arrived I ripped open the package to see all my new yarn lined up in two rows. It looked so delightful and cute all ready to be knitted up!
Woo!

stop to smell the flowers

2004-08-03T22:35:00.000-04:00

curtains

Remember those curtains I started almost a year ago?
No? Didn't think so.

Well, I've finally finished them.
I embroidered the flower pattern onto each of the four corners of two white curtians. Tedious? Yes, but I think the effect is very pretty.

the newest addition to the queue...

2004-07-31T18:55:00.000-04:00

ballet pullover

Here it is - the newest project taking it's place in the knitting queue. The ballet pullover from the summer 2004 issue of interweave knits. I saw this issue in the store the other week and after thinking it over I decided to go back and pick up the magazine. Much to my dismay they had already stocked the fall issue! Luckily they sell back issues on their website.
The fun part will be choosing what yarn I'll use!
I think I'd like to stick with a light pink like the one shown in the picture.
They used Plymouth Napa yarn - I'll see if I can find it or something comparable.

But isn't it lovely?

in the meantime

2004-07-28T23:42:00.000-04:00

Whilst anxiously awaiting my sweater pattern's arrival, I worked on the PBS tonight.
It was quite the change from working with the puffier bouclé yarn. Even mum noticed that I was knitting slower than usual. Slow and steady wins the race.

Since my eyes are crossed with exhaustion and concentration on kidsilk threads, figuring out how to add links to my sidebar shall have to wait.

well i'm here...

2004-07-27T21:48:00.000-04:00

I couldn't resist. I, too, was pulled over to the dark side.

So, hello! Welcome to my very own knitting space.

*waves*

I've been dreaming of yarn all day - it keeps my mind occupied during the down time.
A sweater pattern I recently saw has been haunting my thoughts for the past week, and I finally broke down and ordered it. I bet you can't wait to see it!! Once it arrives, that is.