Windy Knitty

Summer, Summer, Summertime...

2009-09-10T18:00:00.006-07:00

The summers in San Francisco really do not feel summery to me. I'm used to the heat and humidity of a Midwest summer. Here, we are lucky if the temperature tops 65, and don't get me started on the fog!

Joel ran a race in Santa Cruz about a month ago, and this was the weather...

It can get a little depressing when you are hoping for some sunshine! Thankfully, we've had a few breaks from the fog. About a week after that race, we were in desperate need of some sun and took a last minute trip to San Diego...

That's more like it! I think it's funny how similar these beach scenes are scenery-wise, yet so different weather-wise.

We caught a Padres-Brewers game in San Diego. Unfortunately, the Brewers lost. Joel was more heartbroken than I was though...

In August we traveled to Madison, WI for a wedding. It was a beautiful, hot day, and we enjoyed some Mariachi music (the full band arrived shortly after this) and time with our friends. That was one whirlwind trip--way too short.

Fall is usually the warmest time of the year here, so I'm hoping we'll start seeing more sun soon. Cross you fingers!

In crafty news, I made this Buttercup bag a few months ago. I used to do a lot of sewing, but at some point knitting took over as my craft du jour. I'm really happy with how it turned out, but it is really small. A little too small. I'd love to make another one that's about 2-3x larger. It's on my to-do list!

I also just finished up this hat for my cousin's new baby.

It's the Pixie Hat from Knitting for Two by Erica Knight. (Just in case you are looking for this book, I think it may have been reprinted with a new title: Baby Boom.) This was super fun and easy to knit. I used Cascade 220 for the yarn.

My pompom technique definitely needs a little work. These are my first pompoms ever, and although it's hard to tell from the photo, they are a little skimpy. Does anyone know of a good pompom tutorial?

I'm thinking of adding another pompom to the top--what do you think? In my book, you really can't have too many pompoms, but maybe it's just me!

Hello, and Something to Show

2009-07-30T18:21:00.007-07:00

Well, hello. It's been quite a while since I've posted here. I'm not sure where the time went, but I guess I just needed a break. I haven't meant to completely desert things here, so I'm going to try to get back in the habit.

The past few months have been very busy. I finished up my 15-month long mini-MBA program at work (now I just need that promotion!), cheered on my husband in one 5K and two 10K races, started running myself (and stuck to my other healthy resolutions, too), traveled to Yosemite, smashed the competition in Connect 4 (that would be Joel), and much, much more that I cannot remember right now.

I actually haven't been doing a ton of knitting--I've been feeling a little uninspired lately. I'm not sure what it is, but maybe I just need to get back into the swing of things. However, I do have one FO to show you...

It's the Reclamation Scarf from Stephanie Japel. Sadly, I seem to have lost the information on the yarn, but I will try to find it. I do know that it's 100% bamboo and was hand-dyed, somewhere local I believe. I bought it on our NorCal vacation last November. Here is a closer look at the color...

This pattern was very enjoyable and super easy to knit. It only took me a week, too, which was nice considering how large it turned out...

The pictures are from April--proof that I did have intentions of blogging! I have a slightly different haircut now, which I'll have to post a picture of.

I have lots more to say, but I need to save it for another post. I'll be back soon with more knitting and maybe even some pics from my new hobby... jewelry-making!

Still Around

2009-03-05T18:24:00.004-08:00

Yikes... it has been almost two months since I last posted. Time goes by so quickly. It's a little scary sometimes.

All is well here. I decided after the New Year, that I was going to stop making excuses and start eating healthier and exercising... and I have been. I've always been a somewhat healthy eater, but I think I lost sight of what a normal portion size is, and we eat out a ton. So I've been cutting back on both and exercising a lot. It has really paid off, but it has been taking up a lot of time, especially during the week. So that is excuse #1 for not blogging!

I've also been in kind of a knitting funk. I'm not sure why but I just didn't have the urge to do any knitting for a while there. Lately, I've started a few new projects, and that's helped. Here's evidence that I've been doing a little knitting...

It's the Montego Bay Scarf from Interweave Knits. This is the perfect thing to knit while watching TV--not the most exciting pattern ever, but very easy to follow. I'm using the called for yarn, Handmaiden Sea Silk, which is amazing. So soft, light and silky.

I've been working on a few other things too, so hopefully I will something else to show you soon!

P.S. If anyone is interested, I highly recommend checking out SparkPeople. It's online tool for tracking your diet and exercise, plus much more. Both my husband and I use it, and it has been super helpful.

P.P.S. A couple people have emailed me knitting related questions. If you are reading this, I promise I will try to get back to you soon.

Playing Catch Up

2009-01-06T16:55:00.006-08:00

I don't think I've ever blogged about my Tree Jacket, which was started it in October 2007. I didn't get very far before setting it aside to work on Forecast for NaNiSweMo (I haven't finished Forecast either, but that is another post!).

Don't ask me why I didn't just knit the Tree Jacket for that! I finally picked it up again a couple months ago, and have been working on it off and on since. My progress so far...

I still have a way to go on the body, but I'm getting there. I'm using Malabrigo and it's very soft. This is the first of several WIPs I hope to finish before moving on to bigger and better things (or just other sweaters). I truly admire knitters who can focus on one project. My own attention span is not that great--something I hope to improve upon this year!

I'm a little behind here, but I thought I'd share some pictures from our Thanksgiving road trip. The destination on our first day was Mt. Shasta--the town and the mountain. The only snow was on the peak, but it was very cold. I really regretted not putting on my winter coat before taking this picture!

Unfortunately, we couldn't go too far up, because the road was closed for winter. Mt. Shasta looms over the landscape for miles though, so I don't feel like we missed too much. The next shot was taken on our way down Mt. Shasta.

We saw a totem pole in Weed, a small town located near Mt. Shasta. It was located in a grocery store parking lot though, so I'm not sure how authentic it was!

The next day we got up early and headed toward Ashland, Oregon with some stops along the way. The weather was strangely foggy. It was a little eerie.

The weather cleared up as we headed into the mountains again, but there was a strange haze hanging over Ashland, as well. We checked out downtown Ashland, and then stopped at Morning Glory for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person at all, but this was one of the best meals of our trip and definitely one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten. So good that I even attempted to recreate a few recipes. If you are ever in Ashland, I would recommend stopping by.

Cheery decor at Morning Glory.

That day we also stopped at a couple wineries and then headed to Crescent City, California to spend the night. We made an error in judgement and ended up driving over a very twisty mountain road in the dark to get there. It was scary! Next time we'll be sure to plan that stretch of road for earlier in the day.

We eventually made it to our destination though: Curly Redwood Lodge. This place was very cool and retro. It was built from one curly redwood tree that produced 57,000 board feet of lumber.

Joel doing his best Don Draper pose.

As you can see, the decor has not been updated in some time--perhaps since it was built. But it was very clean, fun and cheap. Not to be missed, if you enjoy that kind of thing.

This is getting long, so I will do another post with photos from our next two days. One last highlight though: all the cool vintage signs along the way (most shot from the passenger side window!). Unfortunately, the mosaic maker clipped a lot of the photos. If you're interested, click the links below for the full photos.

1. Hi-Lo Motel Weed, 2. Townhouse Motel Weed, 3. Yreka Motel, 4. Rex Club Yreka, 5. Shamrock Dinners, 6. Motel Ashland, 7. Omar's Ashland, 8. Roy's Italian Dinners Eureka, 9. Bob's Fine Cars Eureka

I hope everyone's New Year is off to a great start!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T13:13:00.004-08:00

I can't believe that another year has passed. It is amazing how fast time goes by the older you get! I thought I would do a little wrap-up of what I've been up to this year (knitting-wise)...

I think it was the year of the fingerless mitts for me. I really love those, and I think the pair on the top row may be my favorite project of the year. It's definitely the one I wear the most! Actually, I'm happy with everything, and it's nice to think back to when I was working on these projects.

It has been kind of a slow year for knitting. Looking at the above, I feel like something is missing. If I counted all my WIPs, I think I'd need double the space! I'm hoping next year will be a little more balanced (work-wise especially) and that I will have more time to knit. My main knitting goal is to finish the sweaters (especially the one for my husband, which he doesn't think I will ever finish!) and other projects that have been lingering too long.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. We froze in the Midwest--I'd show you pictures, but it was too cold to take any. It's now official: I can't take the cold and snow anymore. Hopefully, we will be able to spend next Christmas somewhere warm and sunny (which also leaves out San Francisco!). Happy New Year!

A Hat & Mittens to Keep Me Warm

2008-12-04T18:43:00.003-08:00

I've been preparing for winter...

Hat: Feeling Frizzy from The Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits
Mittens: Knit Simple magazine Fall 2007
Yarn: GGH Soft Kid

This hat and mitten set has been finished since mid-November, but it's hard to get a good picture at this time of year with so little light.

Both patterns were very quick and easy. I absolutely loved the yarn, which was used tripled for the hat and doubled for the mittens. So soft!

I've had an overwhelming desire to knit lots of scarves, hats, and gloves/mittens lately. I'm not sure what it is, because I can't really remember wearing any hats last winter. It does get chilly in San Francisco, but not that chilly. Scarves... I definitely wear those, but how many do I really need. Mittens.... hmm, maybe fingerless mitts.

I'd originally planned to use this yarn for a short-sleeved wrap sweater. I've been thinking a lot about some of the projects I have yarn for though, and and whether or not I have any use for these things here. A lot of my yarn was bought when I was still living in Chicago, so I'm trying to rethink things a little. Anything sleeveless or short-sleeved and anything very heavy or wintry will probably not get worn--either too cold or too hot.

Maybe this hat and mitts will get worn on our Christmas trip to the Midwest. It's bound to be cold there!

A Single Sock

2008-11-12T18:16:00.002-08:00

All I have to show for the last few weeks is a single sock...

I started this sock way back in June on a trip to Florida, and obviously, it has been slow going. There is something about this stitch pattern. It's not very stretchy, and it's a little boring to knit. I think the yarn looks OK in this pattern, although there is some pooling of colors. My favorite sections are the bottom of the foot and the toe.

I'm just not sure I want to invest them time knitting the second sock. I think I will let this sock sit before doing anything drastic though.

I've also been working on a hat and mittens, and a long forgotten sweater. I should have some pics of the hat and mitts soon--I have half a mitten to go.

The past few months have been busy. The last time we were in Sonoma wine tasting, we came across a fiber fest and some adorable Alpacas.

I have to say that they are very cute, but a little strange. Very skittish and they made some funny noises. Although if I was caged up with a bunch of ladies gawking at me, I'd probably be a little jumpy, too.

We had a too short visit from Joel's sister, and we attended a beautiful fall wedding.

I also got a major haircut--at least 5-6 inches.

I've wanted to cut it for quite a while now, but finally got the nerve, and I love it. It's been at least 5 years since I've had it this short, so it has taken me a while to get used to it. It's a lot more high maintenance than I remember short hair being. So much for retiring my blow dryer!

The next month and a half promises to be very busy. We are going on a northern California road trip over Thanksgiving--can't wait for that. Then my sister and her husband are visiting in early December. For Christmas we are heading home to the Midwest to spend time with family and friends. So much to look forward to!

Two New FOs: A Sweater and Some Mitts

2008-10-07T16:53:00.006-07:00

Although I haven't blogged much lately, I have been knitting. In fact, I've been doing a lot of knitting, and I have two new FOs to show you!

Pattern: Mirabella Cardigan by Jennifer Tallapaneni (Interweave Knits Spring 2008)
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton

This cardi was something of an impulse knit, but I'm very happy with how it turned out. I started this sweater back in June and knit a little here and there. The knitting itself went very quickly and the pattern was very easy to understand. I even learned a few new techniques: double knitting and a little crochet. It was actually the crochet that held me back from finishing it sooner, but it was very easy in the end.

The pattern has lots of nice touches. I love the ribbing along the front edges and all the little buttons.

I love the hem--it adds a very neat finish. The darts are also a nice touch.

I do need to block it. It's not tight, but the buttons gape a bit around the bust, and I'm sure some blocking will fix that. I loved the cotton yarn, but I'm hoping this sweater does not grow to gargantuan proportions when wet. Cross your fingers!

My second FO is a pair of fingerless mitts...

Pattern: Welted Fingerless Gloves from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas
Yarn: Manos Silk Blend

I picked up this pattern and yarn while on a quick overnight trip to Seattle a couple weeks ago. Joel and I were planning to rent bikes and tour Bainbridge Island, but the weather didn't cooperate. Instead, we toured the town and came across Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. I swear that I wasn't planning to buy any yarn on this trip, but this was just the nicest store. Everyone there was so friendly--the man who rang me up actually invited me to "sit down and knit a few stitches". Beautiful yarn and helpful/nice staff--my idea of the perfect yarn store!

Anyway, the pattern was free with purchase of the yarn. The mitts were super fun to knit and super quick, too. I finished both in a couple nights. The yarn is a dream--I love a silk/wool blend and the color is gorgeous.

The shop model was adorned with three tiny shell buttons, and I think this is what drew me to the pattern in the first place. I searched my button box for a few options, but couldn't find quite what I was looking for.

I like these crystal buttons, but I think they are a little too big.

I actually love this big button--it has a slightly retro feel. Alas, I only have one of these buttons in my box though! So the search begins for the perfect buttons, but in the meantime I will wear them without.

What's next? I've been going through all my WIPs (specifically sweaters), and I'm a little alarmed at the rate at which they are piling up. So I'm hoping to finish a sweater or two or three before beginning any new ones. At least that is my goal for the rest of the year. I've decided accessories are OK, but no big projects. Wish me luck!

FO: Cabled MIni Jumper

2008-09-08T18:43:00.005-07:00

Well, it's a miracle... I actually finished something!

Pattern: Cabled Mini Jumper from Knit.1 (fall 2007)
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease

I really enjoyed this pattern and it went quickly. I started this in the second week of August and knit on it fairly sporadically. It also sat for a week waiting for buttons, but in the end I decided that I liked it better without buttons.

The only other change I made was to cut four inches from the length. It's the perfect vest length now. I even used the called for yarn, which was OK. I can't say that I'll use it for every project, but it was cheap!

It really does seem to be a long time since I've finished anything substantial, although I have a few other things nearing completion. Hopefully, I can focus and finish some other projects before starting anything new.

Back to School Time

2008-08-25T19:26:00.005-07:00

I've been out of school for more years than I care to admit, but I still seem to measure the days by semesters and school vacations. If only I still had that many days off... Anyway, I've always considered September 1 to be the start of fall, even if there are still have a few more weeks of summer to go.

I can't say that I'm sad summer is ending. Maybe if I lived in a sunnier locale, but I'm looking forward to the sun and warmer weather that I hope fall will bring here. Here in San Francisco, summer is a great time to get out of town--we live in the foggiest part of town. Who wouldn't want to exchange this...

for this?

Another way I've been trying to enjoy summer is by making lots of trips to the farmer's market. We have been living on sandwiches of heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pesto and local bread this summer. I'm definitely not ready for that to end.

I've also been making lots of jam. It started out innocently enough with a batch of freezer jam made with strawberries fresh from the farmer's market. Soon however, I'd made way more jam than two people can reasonably eat.

White Peach, Raspberry-Peach, Strawberry-Blackbery, and Strawberry
(Just a sampling, the rest is in the freezer.)

If you haven't made it before, freezer jam is so easy and so delicious. I used the recipe that came with the box of pectin. You need to use a scary amount of sugar though--just a warning.

I've also been knitting, believe it or not. Not wanting to finish any projects anytime soon (ha!), I cast on for yet another sweater. I just couldn't help myself. This one is moving fast though, and I'm already done with the front.

I'm in love with cables right now.

It's the Cabled Mini Jumper from Knit.1 (Fall 2007). I've had my eye on this pattern for a while now, and just couldn't resist anymore. Wish me luck in finishing this before something else catches my eye!

Last Summer Getaway

2008-08-11T18:02:00.005-07:00

I've been knitting, I swear! But not too much, because we just got back from another trip--this time to New York.

View from Brooklyn Promenade

We flew in on a red eye for a long weekend, which wasn't nearly enough time. After dropping off our bags and eating breakfast, we headed to the Met to see some art. I'm not sure zero sleep and museums mix well, but we tried. The museum itself was very beautiful.

The view of Manhattan and Central Park from the roof garden was beautiful. There was an installation by Jeff Koons. If you look very hard, you might be able to see the reflection of Joel and I in this piece, Sacred Heart.

After the Met, we headed back to our hotel for a much-needed nap. Then it was off to see Xanadu, which was great. It definitely exceeded my expectations, which were admittedly low. Joel and his best friend in high school were obsessed with the movie, which I can't really say I enjoyed that much. The musical was very funny though and quite different from the movie. I would definitely recommend it.

We concluded the day with a delicious meal at Toloache and headed to bed. At that point, I was about to fall asleep whether I wanted to or not, those red eye flights are brutal!

The next morning we rented bikes and toured Central Park. This was one of my favorite parts of the trip, although after that I can tell I'm very out of shape! Here I am taking a quick break.

This was the only day it rained while we were there, thankfully. We managed to find shelter under a bridge just in time to miss the downpour. It was strange to see rain in summer--it's pretty dry in the bay area at this time of year.

Joel waiting out the storm.

This was a jam-packed day. After a quick shower, we headed out to the Bronx to catch a Yankees game. Joel wanted to see the stadium before it's torn down at the end of this season. We were in the nose bleed section and getting to our seats was a little precarious. Thankfully, this is one of the last stadiums where the beer vendors will come to you. Joel appreciated that!

We left at about the 6th inning, so we could catch a quick dinner and then meet some of Joel's friends from college. They're all involved in theater in some way, so it was interesting hearing their stories. Joel was a theater major, but he gave up on acting pretty quickly after college. He still works in the entertainment industry though, which is more that I can say for myself as a former art major!

The next day was one of my favorite days--friends, shopping, crazy kitsch, and great food--that is my idea of a great day. We headed out to Brooklyn to meet some friends from Chicago for brunch. They moved to New York about a year before we moved to San Francisco. It was fun catching up and meeting their son, who was so cute!

After brunch we did a little shopping (I got the cutest jacket and bag!) and then walked to the Brooklyn promenade, where I took the first picture above. This was the only time I saw the Statue of Liberty, which looked about an inch tall from there.

After parting ways with our friends, we headed to Coney Island. We were really torn about whether we wanted to go there or not, but I'm glad we did in the end. I'm not the biggest fan of boardwalks and amusement parks, but it was worth seeing.

At one point there were three amusement parks at Coney Island, but Astroland is the only one left. From what I read beforehand, there is an ongoing battle between developers and those who want to preserve what's left. Who knows if it will be there next time.

This photo of the boardwalk mistakenly gives you the idea that it wasn't crowded. Ha!

Wonder Wheel! I loved all the vintage signs that I saw. We didn't go on any rides, but we did see a freak show (Joel's idea). We saw a sword swallower, lobster boy, electra-girl, and then we left. It was interesting.

We capped off the day with dinner at Otto, which was delicious. The pizza and wine were great, and we ordered way too much food. My favorite thing though was the favada bruschetta, which was a warm garlicky white bean puree on thick slices of bread. Much better than it sounds, I need to figure out how to make that!

Our last day in New York was spent tooling around Greenwich Village and Soho. I managed to get some yarn shopping in, of course. We stopped at Purl Soho, The Point Knitting Cafe and on the way back to our hotel, School Products. My favorite was The Point, and I think that was Joel's too, because he could sit down at a table and relax! I picked up a little yarn and a couple pattern books, nothing too crazy.

All in all, it was a great whirlwind trip. The tree-lined streets, architecture and hot summer weather reminded me a lot of Chicago, but on a bigger scale. It was the perfect trip, and I can't wait to go back.

Actual knitting content is coming soon, I promise!

A Couple Knits and a Couple Months!

2008-07-21T19:26:00.007-07:00

It's been a while! I didn't mean to take so long in between posts, but things have been super busy with work. My company purchased a new database, which has meant lots of data entry and lots of overtime. It hasn't been fun, but I think we are almost up to speed. I sure hope so, because I am getting burned out!

I have managed to get a little knitting in...

Pattern: Soy Cardi by Irene McKisson
Yarn: Classic Elite Provence

I started this way back in April, before things got totally crazy, and finished it at the end of June. The only change I made was to add ribbing along the front with one buttonhole at the top. It's actually more of a teal color, which I love.

I'm happy with how it turned out, but I'm not sure how much wear it will get. I actually purchased that white shirt to wear with it, but it makes me look like I'm about 3-4 months pregnant (hence the hanger photo). I'm not sure what I was thinking there!

I also started the Mirabella Cardigan from the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits.

These photos are really bad, but summer in San Francisco means lots of fog and little light. I've actually seamed up most of the sweater at this point. Just one more side seam to go, the collar and the button band. The button band is crochet, which I will need to figure out somehow. I've been trying to block it out of my mind until I get to it!

I'm hoping to finish this soon, and I'm hoping it fits. I always get paranoid when knitting sweaters in pieces.

Now I'm going to go way back to May, and show you a few pictures from when my in-laws were visiting. We did a lot while they were here, including stopping at a few wineries in Anderson Valley on our way to Mendocino.

Husch Winery

Isn't it pretty? The flowers were absolutely gorgeous and the wine was good, too.

We also visited Yosemite while they were here, and that was beautiful, too.

Yosemite Valley (click to see waterfalls)

Mirror Lake

Mariposa Grove

We stayed at Camp Curry in a tent cabin.

It was not very comfortable--I think I got about 2 hours of sleep the whole night. I probably would have been better more comfortable in a sleeping bag than those uncomfortable mattresses! But this is what really kept me up...

I heard so many bear stories before I left, that I was a little freaked out. Joel went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and when he came back he told me I'd be fine out there on my own. Despite my better judgement, I walked to the bathroom alone. As I was heading back, someone in the tent across from us was shining a flashlight out their door and yelling "Get out of there!" I don't think I ever ran that fast before! I screamed and headed back into the bathroom.

I did manage to get back to my cabin safely, but needless to say, I was pretty nervous. The scariest thing is that I probably walked right by that bear on my way to the bathroom! I saw three more bears the next day at Glacier Point, too. A mother and two cubs, which were so cute. I'd rather see them in daylight, that's for sure!

In June, we spent a long weekend in Florida visiting family. It was very fun, but so hot. Miserably hot, really. I felt like I was under a heat lamp. I don't think I'll be visiting there in the summer again anytime soon. We did see this peacock (one of many) just hanging out in our friend's neighborhood.

OK, that takes us up to this past weekend (skipping about a month in between). Nothing like condensing 2 months into one post! The Milwaukee Brewers played the Giants this weekend, so we spent the whole weekend at the ballpark.

It paid off... the Brewers swept the Giants. Joel was very happy, of course. We sat right behind the Brewers dugout all weekend, which was pretty cool. I'm usually more interested in the food and people watching, but it was fun. Go, Brewers!

Mini Update

2008-06-17T19:20:00.003-07:00

Just a quick update here. Things have been super busy between work, visiting family and a vacation. Joel and I just got home from a very quick vacation to Florida last night (1:30am!), so between that and our recent trip to Yosemite, I have lots of photos to show. Now I just need to sort through them all!

I thought I'd give a small knitting update, since the knitting has been a little scarce around here lately. For most of May, I was in a big slump and hardly picked up the needles at all. I think it was due to frustration with a few project not working out quite as planned.

Right now I have lots of half finished or nearly finished projects, but I seem to keep casting on for new ones. So I haven't been the most productive. For the trip to Florida, I cast one to a new pair of socks...

Faceted Rib Socks
from The Little Box of Socks

These socks are a little slow going, but I love the way they are turning out. They even look good from the inside out...

Apart from the socks, I've also been working on my Soy Cardi. I just have to finish one button band and the collar. Hopefully, I'll have a new FO by next week. It's been a while!

I also started another new sweater, which is progressing fairly quickly. More on that later.

Finally, I've done a little yarn shopping, thanks to the Webs Anniversary Sale. I managed to restrain myself fairly well, but did get yarn for three sweaters...

Cascade 220 The Heathers
for Side-to-Side Sweater (Knit Simple Holiday 2007)

I've wanted to try a sweater with side to side construction, and I love cables, so this should be fun.

di.ve Zenith
for Twist (hoodie version) by Bonne Marie Burns

More cables, and this yarn is so soft. I can't wait to try it!

Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre
for the Shawl Collar Cardigan from Jo Sharp Knit Issue 1

I've wanted to knit this cardigan for quite a while now, so I was really happy to find the called for yarn on sale. This should get a lot of wear.

That's about it. I'm hoping to finish a project or two before casting on for anything new, but we'll see how long that lasts!

Catch Up

2008-05-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Hmm... I started this post on April 28, and somehow got sidetracked! Here's a little bit of what I've been up to.

I'll start with some wine tasting. This is one of our favorite things to do when the weather is nice here. So a few weekends ago, we headed up to Napa Valley. It was the first time I'd been to Napa--we usually go to Sonoma, which is closer.

Joel recently finished The House of Mondavi, and he had to see it all for himself. First we headed to Robert Mondavi Winery. The wine was OK, but the grounds were beautiful.

The Mondavis are quite the drama and scandal ridden family. Joel had fun telling me stories from the book as we walked around.

Next we headed to Charles Krug Winery, which is still owned by a member of the Mondavi family and is where the Mondavi family rift started. No pictures here, but we enjoyed the wine and the man who poured for us was great. He had lots of information and stories to share, along with a little Mondavi family gossip.

On our way home we made our final stop at Domaine Carneros Winery, for a champagne and cheese tasting. The grounds and winery were both very beautiful, and we enjoyed the sunny patio.

I think I could spend every weekend this way! I enjoyed Napa a lot--it definitely has a different feel than Sonoma, which I think is a little more laid back. There was a lot more traffic, too!

We also spent a little time in the Bay on a big sailboat.

Passing under the Bay Bridge

I'm not really sure I'm the sailing type. It was a little terrifying at times, and I didn't have the most confidence in the crew (for some of whom it seemed to be their first day on the job). Plus, I'd mentioned the trip to my boss, who is a nurse, beforehand and the first thing she mentioned was all the boating accidents she's seen. That really didn't help!

Raising the Sails

It was really cold and windy. At one point, I was wearing 3 mismatched handknits--a hat, scarf, and Joel's mitts--which I stole. I definitely broke the don't wear more than one handknit at a time rule, plus a few fashion rules, too.

This was before I broke out all the knits. Also before I got a face full of water (notice that I'm already wet). Good times!

The night ended with fireworks, which was really the reason for the trip. As you can see, it was a little foggy. All in all, it was a good experience, but I'm not sure I'll rush back out anytime soon!

Last week we had another heat wave in San Francisco, so we headed to the park for a picnic on Saturday.

We enjoyed some wine, cheese and other snacks, talked and listened to music. Very fun and relaxing. The day ended when the fog started rolling in. You can always tell the weather is about to change in San Francisco, when the fog starts rolling over the tree tops.

I've even done a little knitting. I finished up one of my Swirly O socks. Now I just need to start the second one.

I also started a new project--the soy cardi. It's almost finished. I just need to buy some buttons and add the button bands and collar. The buttons are holding me up though, as I need to determine how many buttonholes to make.

That's about it. We have family visiting from Wisconsin for about a week, starting tomorrow. I'm really excited to see them, and I'm also looking forward to a three day weekend--starting now. I hope you have a great weekend, too!

Weekend Knitting

2008-04-14T19:30:00.005-07:00

My weekend started off very nicely, thanks to my husband...

He knows I love flowers, and often brings home a bouquet at the end of the week. Very sweet!

We had a heat wave in San Francisco this weekend, especially Saturday. The temperature climbed into the 70s which, if you are used to 50s and 60s all the time, can feel very hot. It can seem like the whole city is outdoors when it gets that warm here, because as we joked all weekend, it only happens about five times a year. That's actually not far from the truth though!

Our apartment felt like an oven, so we grabbed a blanket, my ipod and some wine and headed to the park for some shade and a lazy afternoon. I also brought along Marilyn's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan, which hasn't seen any action in quite some time.

I made lots of progress on it Saturday, and by Sunday evening I had finished the body.

Unfortunately, after all that knitting, I'm worried that it's not going to be very flattering on me. For one thing it's a little boxy, which could be OK, but it's also cropped. That's usually not a good combination for me.

I don't have enough yarn to add extra length without shortening the sleeves quite a bit. So I'm feeling a little stuck at this point. I also hate to go through all the effort of knitting the sleeves, and end up not liking the cardigan. That seems like a major waste of time.

One thing that did turn out well is the hem.

Instead of binding off and sewing it up later (as the pattern suggests), I knit the hem up as I went. This took forever, but I love the way it looks. Definitely much neater than my sewing would have looked. Now I just need to figure out what to do about the rest of the sweater.

More Progress on Joy

2008-04-08T18:29:00.005-07:00

I'm happy to say that I've finished the back of Joy. It actually went pretty quickly--a little over a week.

It looks slightly deformed here, but I promise that it's not. The pattern has lots of waist shaping, which is nice. I really hope that it fits.

I'm really enjoying the pattern that is formed by all those purl bumps--sort of a zig-zag. Watching the pattern emerge has really kept my interest in this so far. Hopefully, I can keep up the momentum. I'm going to work on one of the front pieces next.

I also need to pick up my socks again, which I haven't worked on since mid-March. They need to be finished a pair by the end of April for the Sock a Month KAL.

Quite a few people in this group knit multiple pairs of socks every month. I am not that fast or dedicated, however. It has been a great KAL though. I love seeing the different patterns and getting ideas. My Ravelry queue/favorites has definitely grown because of it!

Beginnings of Joy

2008-03-31T17:20:00.005-07:00

I picked up some Brooks Farm Solo at Stitches, and ever since then I have been looking for the perfect pattern. The yarn didn't work for any of the patterns I had in mind--the gauge was just too small. So I started looking through my books and came up with Joy from Vintage Knits.

I have wanted to knit this sweater for quite a while, although it has never been at the top of my list for whatever reason. In any case, I am so glad I thought of it for this yarn.

I am making surprisingly quick progress considering the size 3 needles. I've come to realize between the Purl Scarf (done on size 13 needles) and this sweater though, that I knit a lot faster on smaller needles. Of course, that means there are a lot more stitches, so it probably evens out in the end. It feels faster though!

I've finished the peplum and have started the body. I really enjoyed working moss stitch on the peplum. The texture is wonderful, and the yarn feels so sproingy (is that a word?).

For the body, I'm substituting a purl stitch for the beads. I'm not really a beaded sweater type person, although I do love the look. Also, I think I might go slightly crazy if I had to pre-string 5,300 beads! Other knitters have done it though--you can take a quick peek at Ravelry for the results. Very impressive.

Apart from knitting, I've spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying our neighborhood and the park. One of the things I love about the park is it's size--even on crowded weekends you can find quiet areas with no one else around. For a minute or two at least.

Path around Stowe Lake

Path in the Botanical Gardens

Mystery flower in the Botanical Gardens

Having lived in San Francisco for a little over a year now, I can say that spring is my favorite season. I always loved fall in the Midwest, but here I think spring is the best. It's lush and green, and the rains have almost stopped. The weather is sunny and cool. Hopefully, this weather can stretch a little longer into summer this year--I'm not ready to face the fog again!

Seasonal Knits

2008-03-25T19:38:00.002-07:00

Before...

After...

Pattern: The Purl Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay and La Gran Mohair

OK, so this is not a seasonal knit. Spring has arrived in San Francisco, but you wouldn't know it from my latest FO. After I completely ran out of yarn for Forecast (with a quarter sleeve and the button bands to go!), I decided that I needed a quick and fun project.

Ravelry to the rescue. I've been looking for a project for this mohair yarn for some time, and I had the Manos del Uruguay on hand, too. The colors were a perfect fit, so I thought why not?

This scarf was started and finished in one evening--what a super fun and quick project! It is soft, too. Thanks to the mohair, I'm sure.

This only change I made was to shorten it quite a bit--the original is 104 inches long!

The picture is pretty bad, but you get the idea. Plenty long enough, and I only used half the yarn called for. Now I just need to decide what to do with that other ball-and-a-half of bright pink mohair!

Up Next

2008-03-20T18:23:00.003-07:00

I'm at a sticking point in both of my current projects.

I've picked up Forecast again. I haven't really blogged this sweater much, but it's almost complete. This is a really quick knit--I just haven't focused on finishing it. I'm half done with the final sleeve, then it's on the the button bands, and I'm done.

Unfortunately, I think I'm going to run out of yarn. This has never happened to me before, but it would take something of a miracle to finish this sweater with the little bit I have left. I purchased the yarn a couple of years ago, so finding the same dye lot at this point would be difficult. I'm going to see what happens, and unravel part of the body, if necessary. I did add lots of extra length--hopefully, I will be able to block it longer if I need to.

I've also started a new pair of socks.

My first sock is turning out fairly well. I learned a new technique, the provisional cast on. It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure this out with lots of frustration involved. Joel seemed to find this very funny. I had to warn him not to laugh at me with such sharp objects so close by! It was actually fairly easy once I figured it, and I used it for the picot edge.

Now I'm stuck on another new technique--the short row heel. I've always done socks with heel flaps. I was sailing along, but I was less than happy with the result when it came time to pick up the wraps. I need to rip it out and find a good tutorial.

I'm dying to cast on for another project, but I'm trying to be good. Last night I wound up the Sea Silk and Solo that I got at Stitches. I have a pattern in mind for the Sea Silk, but I'm not sure about the Solo. I need to swatch that for some sweaters.

My goal is to finish Forecast before casting on for anything new. We'll see how long that lasts!

Snicket Socks Complete!

2008-03-14T18:29:00.003-07:00

Finally, I can check these socks off my list!

Pattern: Snicket Socks from Magknits
Yarn: Rio de la Plata kettle dyed sock yarn -- Love this yarn!
Started: July 2007!
Finished: March 2008

I am so happy to have finished these socks. Toward the end, I was really starting to hate them--doing a million little cable twists on size zero needles just got tedious--but I am very pleased with how they turned out. Thankfully, I was able to ignore my natural inclination to move on to another project!

I started the pattern way back in July, but most of the knitting was done in the past month. These socks were supposed to be my Sock of the Month for February, but I just couldn't finish in time.

I made a few modifications to the pattern. The first was doing a heel flap instead of a short row heel. I was inspired by this version, and I love how the heel looks with the twisted stitches running down it. (Don't look too closely, because I made a mistake. I saw it at the time, but just kept going!)

I also did a slightly different toe. The pattern tells you to decrease every 4th row until you have a certain number of stitches. At that point you are to decrease every row until 8 stitches remain, pull the yarn through these stitches and tie off.

I did this toe on the first sock, but I ended up dropping a bunch of stitches while trying to pull the yarn through (I'm still not sure how that happened!) and having to go back. Long story short, I decided to do kitchener with 36 stitches remaining. I'm glad it did this--the toe is roomier and it was also getting a little too long.

I did make one other mistake. Because the pattern was written for a short row heel, I had to figure out the heel flap for myself. When I distributed my stitches for the heel, I centered the pattern on the instep for one, and on the other I didn't! So the pattern is off by a stitch on one socks, which is hard to tell from the front, but the from the side I can tell. Of course, I don't think anyone is going to look at my feet that closely, and if they do I should probably be afraid!

All in all, this was an excellent pattern with an impressive result. I don't think I would knit these socks again, but I'm happy that I did. On to the next pair...

Lunchtime Fun

2008-03-11T19:57:00.005-07:00

Work has been totally crazy for the last few months. There is so much going on, and I have been going a little nutty trying to keep up. So a few weeks ago, I decided to head over to Japantown for a little pick-me-up, lunch and some book browsing.

First, I stopped at Sophie's Crepes for a quick lunch. Sophie's is tiny little shop, and you can watch them make your crepe from your seat. The crepes are the handheld kind and are pretty good. Sadly, they only have one vegetarian option, which is pretty rare for a crepe place, but I'm sure I could get creative or just go straight for a dessert crepe!

After that, I headed next door to Kinokuniya, a Japanese book store. I've been there a few times before, but have never purchased anything. Lunchtime during the week is the perfect time to browse their huge craft section, because it's pretty quiet.

Of course, I picked up a few knitting books/magazines...

I had to limit myself--everything is relatively inexpensive, so it's hard to say no!

ISBN978-4-8347-2617-6

Did I mention that I don't speak Japanese? I'll call this one the Mitten Book. Here are some pictures from the book, which is mostly crochet.

I especially love the mittens on the cover and the handwarmers. I think it would be fairly easy to create a knit pattern for the handwarmers. My crochet skills are pretty sad. I have wanted to learn though, so maybe this will motivate me.

ISBN978-4-529-04477-6

The second thing I picked up is the Autumn Winter 07 magazine from the Let's Knit Series. This one has tons of cute patterns, some crochet but mostly knit.

There really are too many cute patterns in this one to show everything. I love that hat, which is a mix of knit and crochet. This one also has some cute granny square accessories--an apron and bag. (Not that granny squares are really my style, but I like the look of these!) I also really like the cabled wrap and the cardigan. So cute!

The final book, which I'll call the Hat Book (ISBN978-4-529-04487-5), is the center book in the first photo. Yes, this one is all hats...

Again, way too many cute hats to show them all. This book is also knit and crochet, and it makes me wish I lived in a slightly colder climate--I obviously need more hats! I really love the cable newsboy hat on the bottom left.

All the books are in Japanese, but every pattern has a complete chart, so conceivably I could just knit from the chart. I'm really curious to try something, probably a simple pattern. I will save the sweater and crochet for later!

Wonderful Weekend

2008-03-03T20:13:00.004-08:00

We had some unusually warm weather this weekend. It wasn't tropical or anything, but high sixties can feel like a heat wave in San Francisco. You really have to take advantage of warm, sunny days here, so Joel and I spent to most of the weekend outside.

Saturday we went to the beach for a picnic and some wine. It was so beautiful!

The beach wasn't crowded at all, which was really nice. People came and went, but it was pretty empty. The coast here is pretty windy and cool--I was wearing a wool coat and Buttony--and as a result, it usually doesn't get too crowded. At least that is my theory!

Perfect for lounging...

and enjoying some wine and cheese.

Can't forget the chocolate!

It was relaxing and fun. Even the stairs were beautiful, although it was hard to make it back up after all our lounging on the beach!

This was one of those weekends were I didn't get anything done, because on Sunday, we decided to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. This was actually the first time we've done this, so it was a lot of fun. Long though!

Also, a long way down...

San Francisco is a small city mileage-wise, and you can see just about the full length of the city from the bridge. The views were pretty amazing.

This is looking toward downtown, the Bay Bridge and the East Bay. The Bay was full of boats, although for some reason there aren't too many in this photo.

We made it! The Marin side of the bridge is the prettiest, I think. You can see Angel Island in the background.

The walk back across went much more quickly, not as many stops. After a delicious, late brunch and some shopping, we headed home. All in all, a great weekend!

Now Even More Yarn!

2008-02-26T17:56:00.006-08:00

This past weekend was Stitches West. I live so close--how could I not go?

Needless to say, I picked up quite a bit of yarn. When I lived in Chicago, I went to Stitches Midwest. It was a lot of fun, but I didn't really have a plan for what I wanted to buy. This time, I tried to focus on yarn that I couldn't buy in any local stores.

The first thing I did was head straight to Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I visited this booth the last time I attended Stitches, but at the time I hadn't knit any socks. I remember it being totally crazy and packed, and I wasn't sure what the fuss was all about. So this time I decided to go there first, before all hell broke loose!

I bought one skein and a pattern, which I had originally seen on the Yarn Harlot's blog. Hopefully, the yarn lives up to the hype.

Next up... more socks! I checked out the Cookie A trunk show at Full Thread Ahead, where I picked up the Django pattern. I'm really excited to try this pattern, and I think it will the Pagewood Farm yarn I picked up a little later will be a good match. I'd never heard of this yarn before--it's a mix of wool, bamboo, and I think nylon.

I also bought a skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk at Full Thread Ahead. This was one of the yarns I was on the lookout for--I've wanted to try it for a while. Maybe for a Montego Bay Scarf, or maybe not... we'll see.

Another of my planned stops was at Lana Knits, where I picked up some Allhemp6 for the Ruffles and Lace sweater.

I'll probably skip the ruffles.

I'm really curious to try this yarn. I've never knit with hemp before, and the best way to describe it is crunchy. Supposedly it get softer with knitting and washing though.

This will also be the first time I've knit anything in black. I've noticed that my yarn choices don't necessarily reflect my regular clothing purchases, which aren't nearly as colorful as my knitting is!

Speaking of colorful... this is Tess' Designer Yarns Peruvian Socks. Amazingly, the color is even more vibrant in person. It is just gorgeous!

I also picked up a skein of Superwash Lace at this booth. This yarn is so soft--it feels like Malabrigo Lace. It's hard to believe this little skein has 500 yards.

The last time I went to Stitches, I feel in love with a silk/wool blend at Tess' booth. Alas, I couldn't afford the 30-something dollar price tag, but I would have loved to make a sweater out of it. My choices this time were quite a bit more affordable. Maybe next year, I will get a sweater's worth (that might have to be my only purchase, if so).

This was another booth that was completely swarming with people, by the way.

My final purchase was a sweater's worth of Brooks Farm Solo. It's so soft, and I love the dusty grayish-blue color. I love Oblique and Twist and a few others, but I'm not sure this yarn is the right weight. Time to swatch, I guess!

Oh, I almost forgot... I also bought a sweater pattern at the Windy Vally Musk Ox booth. It's very pretty and lacy, and it was the only thing I could afford there! Unfortunately, qiviut was definitely not in the budget this year!

Other highlights were seeing Vicki Howell (she is just as cute in person, if not more so) and Joan McGowan Michael. The sweater very beautiful at that booth. I definitely need to pull out that book and knit something from it!

I also noticed that the novelty yarn trend is still alive and kicking--both in yarn and in sweaters being worn throughout the show. It was everywhere!

Well, that's my report. I think I'm going to try to restrain my yarn purchases for a while after this!

FO: Chunky Baby Cardigan

2008-02-22T18:45:00.004-08:00

The baby cardi is complete...

Pattern: Chunky Zip-up Cardigan from Knitting For Two
Yarn: Araucania Nature Cotton

This was a fun little sweater to knit, and the end result is so cute! Originally, I chose stripes as a kind of last resort--I was having a really difficult time finding yarn. This cotton was one of the last yarns I looked at, and it just seemed right. I've used it before and liked it a lot. It's very soft and has a great thick and thin texture. Hopefully, the new parents don't hate me for choosing a yarn that needs to be hand washed though!

I made quite a number of modifications to the pattern, starting with the stripes. The biggest change was using buttons instead of a zipper. I had originally planned to use a zipper, but I couldn't find a suitable one.

My first thought was to do button loops, but in the end I decided to knit a button band. I'm very happy with how this turned out. The front pieces are all stockinette, so this eliminates any rolling edges, as well. The leather buttons are from my button box. I think another button or two would have looked better, but that was all I had!

I actually picked out different buttons at the store...

...but my husband thought ladybugs were too girly! I was on the fence myself, so that's why I started searching the button box. I'm still not sure about those ladybugs--what do you think, are ladybugs for girls only? In any case, it's too late now. I'm sure I'll find another use for them, because they are so cute!

Now I just hope it fits... eventually. I knit the 9-12 month size. It's for a Florida baby, and having lived there myself, I know there is not much more cool weather to be had at this point. I figured the baby would get more use out of a sweater come November.

I have also been working on my pair of socks for the Sock of the Month knitalong, and it's not looking promising at this point.

I only have one sock started, and I had something of a disaster last night on the toe. To start with, I wasn't sure if I liked how the decreases were looking. Not a neat as my normal toes, but I kept following the instructions. But that is not the bad part. The pattern instructs you to decrease down to 8 stitches, and then draw the yarn through the remaining stitches to close the hole.

Well, I got down to my 8 stitches and drew the yarn through. Somehow I dropped a bunch of stitches, which promptly unraveled. In order to fix it, I had to pull out the yarn I pulled through the other stitches, which only increased the unraveling.

I was so close to finishing this sock! Well, I'm not giving up, but I think I need to start the toe over at this point, and maybe do a normal toe. I'm actually looking forward to kitchener stitch after this!

Stripey Goodness

2008-02-18T14:06:00.003-08:00

For the past week or so, I have been working on a little striped cardigan. It is amazing how quickly baby knits progress! I just finished seaming it, and although I can't say I ever enjoy that process, it is very satisfying to see everything come together.

a sneak peak

I still need to put in a zipper. Actually, I still need to purchase the zipper, and I'm headed to JoAnn's in a little bit. Hopefully, I will find something suitable, but if not, I think I will pick out some buttons and add button loops. At this point, I just want to finish it, and I think either a zipper or buttons will look cute.

On a completely different note, one of this things I like about my current job is that I get most federal holidays off. Like most three day weekends, this one has been great! I spent Saturday cleaning and organizing, and while cleaning is generally one of my least favorite activities, it does feel good to have a clean apartment.

We spent Sunday doing one of my most favorite activities since moving to California... wine tasting. I'm definitely not an expert, but it is a lot of fun comparing different wines and wineries. Yesterday we went to two: Picchetti and Ridge. I don't think we'd visit Picchetti again, but Ridge was great. If you like Zinfandel and Syrah, this is a must stop.

Not only was the wine wonderful, but there is a picnic area and 360 degree views from the top of the Monte Bello Ridge. It was truly beautiful, even on a hazy day.

I hope everyone had a great weekend, too!

FO: Evangeline Mitts

2008-02-12T17:46:00.001-08:00

My mitts are finished!

Pattern: Evangeline from Magknits
Yarn: Misti Alpaca 100% Baby Alpaca Hand Dyed

Apart from a difficult beginning, these mitts were a very quick knit. I finished them in just three evenings. I'm so glad that I went with the Misti Alpaca--it is so soft and the colors are very nice. No pooling!

The cable pattern is actually quite simple to work. It shows up well, although the photos are a little dark. If I were to make these again, I think I would add one more cable repeat to make them a little longer, or maybe even go all out for the full length version. My only mod was to add a few extra rows ribbing on the bottom--they were just a little too short.

The best part is that I have enough leftover yarn for a pair for myself!

Moo and New Project

2008-02-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

So I finally upgraded to a flickr pro account, and I got something really cool out of it...

Moo cards! The cards are so cute and little, and the order of 10 was free with the flickr account upgrade. The back of the cards have my blog, ravelry and flickr info. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with them, but I'm sure I can think of something! Plus, an order of 100 is only $19.99--you can't really beat that, so I'm sure I'll be ordering more soon.

I did finish my Evangeline mitts, using the Misti Alpaca yarn. I should have photos soon. I just need a second pair of hands. In the meantime, I'm about to start a new project with some new yarn.

My husband's best friend is about to have a baby (well his wife is), so I'm going to knit a little sweater. I really wasn't sure what yarn to use, and I had a hard time finding anything cute but non-pastel, so this is what I came up with. A striped sweater in Araucania Nature Cotton.

It's going to be a boy, and they live in Florida... hence the cotton. I'm planning to knit the 9-12 month size, so hopefully he can get a little more use out of it. My one concern is that the yarn is hand wash only--it seems a little high maintenance for a baby, but all the superwash yarn I saw was pretty blah. (Speaking of which, I saw the cutest baby bell bottoms today, knit in Koigu.)

I had originally planned a blanket, but I'm not sure when that would ever get finished considering the long line of previously mentioned UFOs. After this it's back to working on those--I swear!

A Slight Dilemma

2008-02-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

Do you ever start knitting something, and it doesn't turn out quite how you pictured it?

I found out last week that a former co-worker, who has been ill, is not doing very well. So I thought I would knit her a little gift--a pair of fingerless gloves in some soft Malabrigo yarn--and hopefully cheer her up a bit. Of course, I didn't have any of this yarn on hand, so I braved some scary/rainy roads and a totally insane knitting sale on Sunday, and still came up empty handed. (Although I did wait in line for 45 minutes to purchase two skeins of Cascade 220 and a book!)

Not to be deterred, I drove to another store, where I found the yarn I wanted. At this point I was happy, went home, swatched and began the pattern.

The pattern progressed quickly, but I noticed almost right away that the yarn was pooling badly. It's hard to see in the picture, but for the cable is dark with light spots in the ribbing, on the right and in the back. Very annoying. I kept going through the second cable repeat and then stopped.

Next I tried some Misti Alpaca that I had in my stash.

The yarn is really great--I swear that it feels like cashmere! It's pretty dark though and the cable is not showing up that well. I've only done one pattern repeat though, so I may do one more to see how it looks before totally giving up.

So much for a quick and simple gift!

In other, non-whiny news, Amanda at Fancie Pants Knits gave me the You Make My Day Award. This really cheered me up after a stressful week at work. Thanks, Amanda!

Here’s how it works:
Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about Blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!

A Friend to Knit With - beautiful photos and knits, plus delicious looking cookies of the week.
Busy Bea Knits - pretty socks and lovely sweaters, including multiple Central Park Hoodies
So Much Fun - the name says it all! I love her latest sweater.
Craft Pirate - great sense of humor. She just finished a beautiful Greta Garbo sweater.
Green Apples - one of the most prolific knitters around. Her sweaters always look perfect.
Lolly Knitting Around - always a fun and informative read. She just took up weaving!
Right Out Loud - not only does she knit, but she creates really cool books and prints, too
Sour Cherries - great photos and beautiful projects, plus she spins
So Much Yarn, So Little Time - I was completely amazed with all of her Christmas knitting
Yarnstorm - the most amazing and vivid sense of color. I can't wait to read her book!

Monkey Off My Back!

2008-01-30T19:13:00.000-08:00

OK, I couldn't resist the totally cheesy title after my last post about unfinished knits. Anyway, one FO down, and a bunch more to go...

Pattern: Monkey Socks from Knitty
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

I loved knitting these socks! The pattern was so easy to remember and the eleven row repeat just seemed to fly by, which made it feel like things were progressing quickly. I never even got bored--a first for me. I highly recommend this pattern to anyone who hasn't knit it yet.

This shot is closest to the actual color.

Of course, I also loved the yarn. The colors of Koigu are just so pretty. I can see an addiction forming (I picked up a new colorway just last weekend).

My only modification was to knit only four pattern repeats on the cuff, since I was worried about running out of yarn. I ended with just enough yarn leftover that I might have had enough for another repeat, but you never know. Better safe than sorry is my sock knitting motto!

I actually finished these on Sunday--well in time for the end of the month deadline for Sock of the Month. Yeah! It's taken me since then to get some decent pictures. I've taken a crazy amount of photos, most of which turned out quite blurry. There are just not enough sunny hours in the day at this time of year. One more reason to look forward to spring!

Backlog of Knits

2008-01-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

One of my knitting goals for 2008 is to complete some of my many UFOs. I've started a few projects in the past year or so which I've completely deserted for whatever reason. These projects are always in the back of my mind when I start something new, but for some reason I never pick them back up.

I'm at the point where I either want to finish these projects or send them to the frog pond. The guilt is getting to me! Here are a few of the oldest listed from least to most guilt-inducing...

All Season Shell

I posted about this one way back in March, and I don't think I've knit a stitch since then. There are a couple reasons for this. First, I'm not sure it's worth spending a lot of time knitting something out of this yarn which I purchased at a going-out-of-business sale (Lion Brand Microspun). Second, I converted the pattern to be knit in the round, and I made a mistake lining up the ribbing. Of course, I didn't take any notes about this! Finally, it's not warm enough to wear sleeveless here. I think this one is a definite candidate for ripping.

Flora from Knitty

It basically just needs a button! This is also knit from kind of a cruddy yarn, but I'm not sure why I never took that extra step and just bought a button. I think I need to check my button box soon!

Hourglass Sweater

This is a project that is hanging a little more heavily over me. I am this close to ripping all this work out. For one thing, my gauge is off. I'm a pretty loose knitter and generally go down at least on needle size. For some reason, I convinced myself I was getting gauge on the suggested needle size. Not quite. I'm pretty sure it would still fit, but it would be a little loose.

I really love all the finished Hourglass sweaters I've seen, but I've noticed a few other projects lately that I think would look nice in this yarn--Smoke, which is actually a cardiganized version of Hourglass, and Sayuri Sweater from Sensual Knits (the last picture on Amazon). I still need to think about this one some more, but I hate to waste this yarn (Noro Cash Iroha) on something I don't really love.

Cambridge Jacket from Interweave Knits

Of all my UFOs, this is the most guilt-inducing one! When I began this sweater for my husband well over a year ago, things were progressing really quickly. I finished the back in practically no time. By the time I got to the front though I lost steam, set it aside and haven't picked it up since.

I actually really love this pattern, so I really need to force myself to restart it. I've occasionally tried to distract Joel with other knits, but he keeps asking about it:) I'm going to start working on this one up soon.

This list does not even include a number of more recent projects (ahem... Forecast, Tree Jacket, Becoming the Bag Lady, Trellis Scarf, Snicket Socks and Marilyn's Not So Shrunken Cardigan) which haven't seen much action, but I'm not giving up on them yet either. The good news is that many of these projects are nearing completion. Time to start knitting!

Sock of the Month: It's a Monkey!

2008-01-23T17:51:00.000-08:00

One of the most enjoyable parts of my recent trip (aside from visiting family and friends, of course!) was all the time I had to knit. There was plane time, car time and even a little downtime at our destinations.

I brought along a few projects, but only worked on one--a new sock. I cast on shortly before takeoff and never wanted to put it down.

This is my first Monkey sock, which I was able to finish before the end of the trip. I had high hopes of getting a good start on the other sock on the plane trip home, but that was not to be (never get sick on a plane!!!).

I have managed to finish about half of the other sock though, and hopefully, by the end of the weekend I will have a pair. I'm hoping to contribute these to the Sock A Month KAL, so that is my motivation to finish.

I joined this group with some reservations, since I have a tendency to get bored and not finishing things until much later. I think I should be OK for the first couple months though. I already have a languishing Snicket, so I should be in good shape for February at least. After that it may be all bulky slipper socks though!

Happy to Be Home!

2008-01-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

Our trip to the Midwest was a lot of fun, and I even managed to survive the cold! I'm glad to be home though--this vacation was a major whirlwind of activity. First, we visited our friends in Chicago, which made me a little homesick. After two days there, we headed to Wisconsin to visit family for a few days. This was the most relaxing part of the trip.

From there we ventured to Iowa for my sister's wedding. I managed to find a yarn shop along the way, where I picked up a few skeins of yarn...

Alpaca with a Twist Fino -- so soft!

Louet Gems -- the color is off here

The morning after our arrival, my sister and I traveled to a local spa for Sonoma mud wraps, massages, manicures and pedicures. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. It was so relaxing and also lots of fun to hang out with my sister. I'm not really a spa person, but I think I could become one after this!

The next day was the wedding...

My sister's bouquet and dress.

My husband and I pre-wedding.

The ceremony was very nice, although a bit nerve wracking. We spent 1.5 hours rehearsing the night before, but I still don't think anyone really knew what they were supposed to do. It all went very well though--no major mistakes! My favorite part of the evening was dancing at the reception.

It was all over too quickly, and the next day we headed back to Chicago for the night before flying back to San Francisco the next day. I was looking forward to a quiet flight with lots of knitting, but unfortunately, that was not to be!

I woke up the morning of the flight feeling a little queasy, and promptly threw up after my shower. Things just went downhill from there, and I spent the majority of the flight sick in the bathroom. Not a fun way to spend a 4+ hour flight! It was pure misery, and I spent half of last week home sick from work and the other half feeling only slightly better and trying to recover.

Things are finally back to normal though. On the bright side, I did manage to get a little knitting done on my days off from work. I started a new pair of socks over vacation, so I was able to work on that--more to come on the socks soon.

I also have a new FO to show, which was actually completed before we left.

Pattern: Fingerless Mitts, my own pattern
Yarn: Karabella Soft Tweed

After making Le' Slouch, I still had quite a bit of yarn left over, so I decided to make a pair of fingerless mitts. Basically, I cast on 24 stitches on size 10 needles, worked 33 rows in garter stitch and bound off. Then I seamed up the side, leaving a hole for the thumb, and voila... a finished mitt. I completed both in a few hours--a super simple and fun project.

I'm pretty sure that I still have enough yarn to make another pair--the yarn went much farther than I predicted.

Now I'm just looking forward to seeing what everyone has been up to and knitting!

Looking Back... and Forward

2008-01-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

2007 was a year of big changes for me. Moving from Chicago to San Francisco was definitely the biggest! I started a new job that I actually like--that may be a first for me. I also traveled to a lot of new places. All in all it was a great year.

I also did some knitting...

1. Buttony 2, 2. Le' Slouch, 3. Waterfall Scarf, 4. Birdy Buddy Bag, 5. Basket Weave Rib Socks, 6. Diagonal Rib Socks - Complete!, 7. A Sweater For All Ages 2, 8. Silk Lace Scarf from Stitch and Bitch Calendar, 9. Dashing Complete!, 10. Elfish Toes, 11. Two-tone Ribbed Shrug Back, 12. Yarn Detail, 13. Center Square, 14. Cupcakes, 15. Camisole Tube, 16. Cables in Chamonix--Complete!, 17. Finished Garter Scarf, 18. Sunkist Cardi, 19. Unbiased, 20. My First Socks

I learned to knit when I was in high school, and have picked it up off and on since then. It's only really been in the past couple of years though, that I've really stuck with it. I feel like I've really learned a lot in the past year, which is really exciting to me.

Over the next year, I'd like work on some knits with more complex textures--I'm loving cables right now--and also do some colorwork. I'm also hoping that I find a little more time to spend actually knitting--sometimes I think I spend more time thinking about knitting than actually doing it. That should help reduce my ever-growing stash, too!

Our trip to the Midwest is almost here. We are leaving for Chicago Saturday morning. I'm very excited to be headed back there, as I have been really homesick lately. Joel keeps telling that I won't miss it as much once I feel the cold--we shall see:)

After a couple days in Chicago we are heading to Wisconsin to visit family, and then we are going to Iowa for my sister's wedding. I can't wait to see everyone, and as you can see, I'm going to have a lot of driving/plane time for knitting. Now I just have to decide what projects to bring!

See you in a week!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

There hasn't been much time for knitting in the past month, but I somehow managed to fit in two more FOs before 2007 ended!

Pattern: Buttony from OhMyStars
Yarn: GGH Savanna

I am so happy this sweater is finished. When I first began this, way back in September, I intended for it to be a quick project that would only take a few weeks to finish. The body flew by, but then I got to the sleeves. By that point, all the stockinette was getting a little dull. So it sat. I finally finished the knitting in early December, but then I was faced with all those buttons!

So I finally got my act together, and I'm very glad I did. It is warm and cozy, albeit a bit Flash Dancey in the neckline. The perfect sweater for just hanging out and relaxing in.

I think it looks cute with a few buttons open, too...

I made a couple small modifications--adding some waist shaping and length to the body, and also working fewer decreases in the sleeves for more of a straight effect. Overall, I'm very happy with it.

Last week I began a quick project in preparation for my upcoming trip to the very snowy Midwest...

Pattern: Le' Slouch by Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic (pattern is on side bar)
Yarn: Karabella Soft Tweed

This was such a quick and fun project. It only took two nights to knit--gotta love that. The yarn is very nice. I think I have enough leftover to make some fingerless mitts, too. We'll see.

Hopefully, this will help to keep me warm on our trip. I'm starting to get very worried about the cold. When I first moved to San Francisco (almost a year ago now) I thought the weather here was very mild. I saw people wearing winter coats, scarves, hats, etc. in May, and I thought they were crazy. Then I adjusted to the weather, and now I'm one of those crazy people!

So I'm not sure I can handle January in the Midwest anymore! I am looking forward to the snow though:)

Happy New Year! I'm wishing everyone has a year filled with lots of joy and peace.

Alpaca for the Holidays!

2007-12-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with their families and friends!

My husband and I enjoyed a very quiet Christmas this year. Because we are traveling to the Midwest for my sister's wedding in a week and a half, we decided not to travel for Christmas. Instead, we spent Christmas Eve in a nice hotel downtown where we could relax and enjoy a great meal. Mmm... the food and wine were great, and we ended the meal with a delicious goat cheese cheesecake which has me curious to try this recipe.

Christmas day we headed back to our apartment, opened presents and relaxed. I received some great presents, including a new knitting book and a gift certificate to one of my favorite local yarn stores. We also enjoyed another great meal--if I do say so myself!--mexican lasagna, cauliflower-chili gratin and chipotle-cheddar mashed potatoes. Yum! I enjoyed that for lunch today, as well.

Before we left the hotel, Joel took some pictures of my new scarf...

Pattern: Waterfall Scarf by Linda O'Leary ( from the book 101 Designer One-skein Wonders)
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Baby Alpaca Hand Dyed

While I can't say that this scarf was particularly enthralling to knit, I am very happy with the end result. I love this yarn--so soft and the colors are beautiful. I've used the bulky non-hand dyed version before, and I know that I'll use it again. As a matter of fact, I already have the lace-weight version set aside for a swallowtail shawl.

The scarf ended up being fairly long, but I wanted to use up all the yarn. Perfect for wrapping up in! I'm perpetually cold here, so it will get a lot of use.

I should have another FO soon, if I ever attach those buttons on Buttony. I guess I just need to buckle down and do it!

That's LA for Ya!

2007-12-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

My husband and I spent this past weekend in LA. He works in a very small office (2 people, including himself!), so we were invited to the LA branch's holiday party. The party on Friday was fun, but the best part was that we got to spend the rest of the weekend checking out the city. It was my first time in LA and Joel's second, so there was a lot to see.

Saturday we went to Hollywood and checked out the stars on the Walk of Fame. We also had a lot of fun at Graumans's Chinese Theatre.

A not very good picture of the theatre!

It was really interesting seeing the size of some of the stars hands and feet. Some of the women's were absolutely tiny--they must have been very petite!

We also checked out the men. John Wayne had tiny feet...

But Sidney Poitier's are huge...

From there we headed up to Mulholland Drive for some beautiful views of the city. It was clear and cool--very lovely weather. You can see a little of the hazy smog the city is famous for in this photo.

One of the coolest things we did was attend an Academy screening for the movie Juno (very good--go see it!). Apparently, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon showed up to a screening the week before, so we were hoping to see some celebrities. Alas, all we saw were aging Academy members who looked like they last worked in the industry about 20 years ago--but it was still fun.

We also really enjoyed The Farmer's Market, which was across the street from our hotel. It had lots of food stalls and even live music. We spent Saturday night there and went back for breakfast! It's definitely worth a visit if you're in LA.

It really was a packed weekend. We also tried the frozen yogurt at Pinkberry--yum!--and drove around Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice Beach. I attempted, but failed to make it to any yarn stores though:) All in all a very fun trip, and I really liked LA-- I wasn't sure I would!

The whole time I was there certain songs kept popping into my head, including one my husband had written and performed with his sister when he was nine. They even made a taped recording which my mother-in-law still has a copy of! Some of the lyrics:

"Rockers! Knockers! LA! LA! Food Nutritionists? LA! LA! That's LA for ya! LA! LA!"

It is quite funny set to music. Yes, he was very talented at such a young age:)

I haven't had much time to knit in the past week, but I did manage to almost finish my scarf on the flight home...

I just need to drop those remaining stitches and this scarf will be complete.

Super Cute FO: Birdy Buddy Bag!

2007-12-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

This may be my cutest knitting project ever...

Pattern: Buddy Bag
Designer: Anny Purls
Yarn: Bernat Satin, plus some leftover yarn for the leaves

This pattern was so much fun to knit, and I just love the end result! So cheerful and cute (how many times can I say cute in one post)!

There were a few very minor issues. All the little pieces were a bit fiddly, and the long i-cord was a bit tedious to knit (only because I hate knitting i-cord), and I think I could have improved my finishing of the pocket. The acrylic yarn was a little squeaky and scary.... but overall it was a super fun project and a great, versatile pattern.

The bag was a present for my nephew Aidan who, along with his mom and dad, visited us for Thanksgiving. We had a lot of fun with them, although I was sick and cranky for most of the visit.

I managed to get a few action shots...

I think he liked the birdy!

I have lots more to come soon. Buttony is blocking and awaiting buttons and Forecast is almost complete--sans sleeves. I've also started a new scarf in preparation for our upcoming visit to the Midwest in early January. Hopefully, I'll have more FO's to show soon!

Lots of Knitting but No Pictures to Show!

2007-11-08T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hmm... it has been a while since I've posted. I'm very impressed by people write daily or near daily posts. A lot of times my mind is just a blank, and the daily minutiae of my life is just not that exciting (trust me). I've actually had a lot to say and show lately, but Day Light Savings has completely thrown me for a loop.

I just haven't been able to take any good photos since the time has changed. The complete lack of daylight after work has thrown me a little off course. Plus, it's usually pretty foggy (they call it the marine layer!) in the morning here, so that is not an option either. It's just hard to take good (knitting) photos with a flash. So I'll just tell you about the knitting, and I'll intersperse that with some vacation photos that I never got around to posting.

A beautiful view in Yosemite

I'm almost finished with Buttony--only part of one sleeve to go. I still need to find the perfect buttons, too. The thing that is slowing me down is that I've picked up a few new projects along the way.

Another Yosemite photo: The deer are very tame there.
This one was maybe 10 feet away.

I've joined a couple knit-alongs. The first is the Sexy Knitters Club. I'm knitting the Tree Jacket with Malabrigo, which is just amazing. I haven't gotten very far on this one. The turtleneck is complete, but that is it. Judging from the photos on the website, I'm a little behind. I had to set this one aside though to work on some more pressing projects.

On to Las Vegas: the mirrored wall at Beatles Love.
What an awesome show!

I also decided to participate in the NaKniSweMo KAL (Knit a Sweater in a Month). For some reason it didn't occur to me that I should knit the Tree Jacket as my sweater, thereby killing two birds with one stone. No. Instead I decided to knit Forecast. Its actually coming along really well--I'm about to divide the body and sleeves. The bobbles really slow things down though. Its going to be a challenge to finish this in one month (although that is the point!), especially since we have family visiting for a week around Thanksgiving.

More Las Vegas: a beautiful
glass installation (Chihuly?) at the Bellagio.

I'm also working on a secret project. If you have access to Ravelry, you can check it out here (still no photos though).

The ever-classy Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas.
Definitely my least favorite part of Vegas,
but we saw a lot of cool neon signs.

That's about it. Oh, and I got a ball winder and swift, but that is a separate post! I have lots of new yarn to show, too. So I guess my goal this weekend it to take lots of pics!

FO: Basket Weave Rib Socks

2007-10-21T11:53:00.001-07:00

After a long FO dry spell, I finally have something show off!

Pattern: Basket Weave Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Panda Cotton

I am so happy with how these socks turned out! The Panda Cotton was wonderful to work with--very soft and stretchy. I will definitely be using it again, and on size 2 DPNs the socks progressed very quickly. Pink and green is one of my favorite color combos, as well.

The color is more accurate in the second picture...

The sole was done in reverse stockinette, and is called the "princess foot"--so called because the flat knit stitches are more comfortable to walk on than the purl bumps. I have yet to test this theory, but in any case, I think this sole looks nice with the basket weave pattern.

As I was admiring the socks last night, I commented to Joel about how bright they are. He said that he'd like a pair of bright socks, too. I don't think pink and green is quite what he is looking for, but now I'll have to be on the lookout for some neon yarn (his words) suitable for a man. Hmm...

San Francisco Sightseeing

2007-10-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

My sister's visit was super fun. We spent the first day in Sonoma sampling wine. Poor Joel was the designated driver, and he wasn't feeling well. He did a lot of sniffling but didn't complain too much. Thankfully, he recovered quickly.

We spent the rest of her visit touring the city and local area. My favorite part was the day we rented bikes to ride around Golden Gate Park.

A couple views at the Japanese Tea Garden--one of my favorite places in the park.

We live 2 blocks from the park, so we spend a lot of time there. Of course, you can see a lot more territory on bikes because the park is huge. I think we will buy some eventually.

We also went to Moss Beach, another one of my favorite local spots. When the tide is low you can walk out on the reef and check out the marine life. We lucked out and arrived at just the right time.

We saw lots of birds and harbor seals, but not much marine life other than a huge and scary looking starfish. We also saw a crab who we hope made it back into the ocean.

Kris made it home safely after a very long flight. We are traveling to the Midwest in January for her wedding--I can't wait.

The day after she left, Joel and I climbed up to Grandview Park to check out the sunset. The views are just beautiful from there and the sunset was one of the best we've seen lately.

Looking toward the Marin Headlands

Looking toward the ocean.

Last weekend was spent knitting and cleaning out my closet. I finished a sleeve on Buttony--one more to go and I'm done. Yeah!

I didn't feel like working on the other one right away, so I began my second basketweave sock. I forgot how quickly the first one went.

I've finished the cuff since this picture, and I'm ready to start the heal. Hopefully, I will finish this sock or my sweater soon, because it has been a long time since I've finished anything!

Almost Buttoned Up

2007-10-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

After hardly knitting at all for a month, I've been knitting a lot this past week. The body of Buttony is finished, and it looks promising so far.

I just need to finish the sleeves. Hopefully, that will go quickly as well.

The button in the photo is not the one I'm actually going to use. I was testing the button holes for size, so now I have something to shop with. Having to find the perfect buttons and then sew them all on is the sort of thing that may drag out the completion time of this sweater a little.

My sister is visiting from Iowa this weekend and part of next week. I'm really excited to see her. She recently quit smoking and has a self-professed addictive personality, so I may try to hook her on knitting instead. Wish me luck!

Long Vacation

2007-09-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't really been on vacation for a month, although I did take a long break from blogging. The past month has been a whirlwind of activity--from visiting family to a Las Vegas trip to an extremely busy job. So I have been left slightly reeling, especially in regard to work which has left me exhausted.

It has been a fun month though. We hit all the fun spots with our family, including Yosemite which was very beautiful. Las Vegas was fun, albeit expensive and smokey (yikes!). Photos to come (as soon as I can sort though them).

I've also taken a break from knitting somewhat, partly from being too busy and also just a small needed change of pace. Of course, that didn't last too long, and for the last 2 days I've been obsessed with a new project--please ignore all the unfinished ones:)

It is the Buttony Sweater and will be perfect for fall, which is strangely the warmest time of year here. I finally got my invite to Ravelry, which is where I saw a few versions of it. I even had the perfect yarn! It is progressing quickly, so I'm loving that.

I'm also loving Ravelry so far. I haven't had a chance to enter many projects yet, but I have spent a lot of time checking out everyone's FOs and finding lots of new patterns to knit. It is so cool to see all those knitters in one place, too. There sure are a lot of us!

Looking Forward to Summer

2007-08-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Things are a little crazy here. We have family visiting in two days, and there is so much to do! Of course, we are waiting until the last minute to do everything, too. Why plan ahead when you can be totally stressed out in the end? That seems to be our philosophy.

I haven't knit much lately, but I did start a new pair of socks.

The first one went so quickly, just a few days. I'm using Panda Cotton, which is very nice. The colorway is Strawberries-Limes--I love the pink and green combo.

Our relatives will be here for about 10 days, and then three days later Joel and I are going to Vegas. I can't wait! I'm not really a gambler--I always seem to lose all my money almost immediately. What I am looking forward to is the spectacle of it all (I've never been there), the pool and the heat... and drinking some frou frou drinks at the pool in the heat. Can you tell I've been missing summer?

Knitting in Slow Motion

2007-08-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

I have a serious case of knitter's ADD lately, and I'm finding it hard to focus on any one project. This weekend I picked up a cardi that's been sitting neglected for a while and added a few rows.

I'm ready to start a set of decreases. It's turning out a little larger than I thought it was going to, but it think it will be fine in the end. I know I'll wear this sweater a lot, but it's not very exciting to knit at this point. Lots of stockinette and a small gauge--good for TV and movies though!

The neck has a rolled edge, one of my favorite details...

It was really a stretch for me to get a few good photos today. For one thing, our apartment is a total disaster. I'm a very bad housekeeper--it's really quite sad. We are having guests in a few weeks though, so at least it will be clean soon!

Also, it's really hard to photography yourself. I do have a tripod, but I was feeling lazy. For each of these three photos, there were about six others that were blurry, made me look like I had a double-chin, etc. Not very flattering.

Then there were photos like this one...

... which seems to have focused more on the wall behind me! That is a watercolor I did in college--it's actually a copy of, I believe, a Ralph Going's painting. I always loved photorealism, but it's not easy to capture that style in watercolor!

Plays, Plays, Plays -- and a Snicket Update

2007-08-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have been busy lately, not neccesarily with knitting though. Last Saturday we went to see two plays. It was a bit much for one day, but it was fun anyway. My husband works in the theater business, so we see a lot of plays.

The second play was at Cal Shakes, which has an outdoor ampitheater. They have such a beautiful setting there.

The picture really doesn't do it justice. It is set in the East Bay hills, and there is a lovely picnic grove in the other direction. We've been there three times this summer, but haven't actually picnicked apart from wine (a must!) and snacks. It gets pretty chilly there--you can see the fog rolling over the top of hills. Plus it's near our favorite Mexican place in Oakland (which is dangerously near a great yarn store).

I have been making progress on my various knitting projects, with not much exciting to show. My purse is all stitched together, except for the handle. It has been sitting in this state for about a week. I just need to suck it up and figure out the crochet trim. What can I say, I'm easily intimidated by crochet!

My Snicket sock is progressing slowly, but surely. I'm doing an alternate heel, inspired by this lovely version. This is a leap of faith for me, as I'm still not the most confidant with sock construction, but it seems to be turning out OK.

I'm ready to pick up stitches for the gusset--cross your fingers for me that it turns out. I'm also slightly concerned that this sock will be a little snug. It's not a very stretchy. I really love this pattern though, so I'm hoping for the best!

Sneak Peek

2007-08-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have all I can do to restrain myself from casting on for about a million different projects. There are way too many cute things to knit out there! I usually try not to go too crazy though, or I won't be able to finish anything. My three current projects are all moving very slowly, even though I have been working on them consistently. I think that may be part of the issue.

Earlier this week, I picked up a copy of the new book The Yarn Girls' Guide to Knits for All Seasons. I have one of their other books, and I've been waiting for this one to come out. This new book has a lot of really cute patterns. I like reading the stories that accompany each pattern, as well.

After looking through the book a few times, I started to wonder if I had any yarn I could use for any of the patterns. (I also started searching the internet for some of the yarns they used, but thankfully I restrained myself!) I had a skein of Cascade 220 leftover from the Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug I made a while ago, and it seemed like it would be a good fit for "Becoming the Bag Lady", a cabled bag.

On size 8 needles, this is moving very quickly. I finished the front in about a night and a half. Tonight, I'm starting the back. Cables are so much fun to knit, especially simple ones like these that don't require too much concentration.

I'm not sure how practical a purple, handknit bag will be, but I'm loving the instant gratification!

Don't Eliminate Me, I'm Knitting!

2007-07-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week we went to see a Giant's game, and my husband failed to mention that it was Stitch and Pitch Night! Actually, we were in the stadium for a while before I realized what was going on. It wasn't until they showed some knitters on the scoreboard screen, that I figured out what was happening.

So I didn't bring any knitting, but I'm not good at knitting in public anyway. I get too distracted by everything else that's going on. It was pretty interesting anyway though...

Also nearby was a woman who had knit her whole family matching hats...

I couldn't get a picture of the actual knitter, but she was was wearing a handknit scarf in Giant's colors as well. My pictures are really bad. Blame it on a couple of beers and low-light conditions--not a good combination.

I only saw one other knitter in my immediate vicinity--I think most of the knitters may have been concentrated in a special area. They showed a group knitting Giant's baseball gloves at one point. It was pretty funny.

My Snicket sock is progressing slowly. This pattern requires a lot of attention, but the result is very impressive. At least I think so!

The yarn is one I had never heard of before: Rio de la Plata. It is kettle-dyed in Uruguay. I love the subtle color variation you get in yarn dyed in this way.

My one annoyance with these socks is the needles. They are Addi DPNs, and they are just too long. It's makes for very awkward knitting, especially on such small needles. I don't have many smaller size DPNs, so I may have to invest in some if the sock knitting is going to continue!

Socks to Keep Me Warm

2007-07-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

My socks are finished... just in time to keep my warm during another cold, foggy stretch! Actually, I shouldn't complain too much--we have had a few nice days here and there. Last Saturday it was in the 70s, and it felt like a heat wave. Plus, it's getting closer to September every day, and I hear that's when it starts getting summery here.

I probably obsess about the weather a little too much (my husband thinks so!), so I will move on to the socks.

Pattern: Diagonal Rib Socks from Knitting Daily
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Needles: US1 DPNs

I enjoyed everything about these socks. The pattern was easy to memorize and follow, and the yarn was beautiful. I love the tonal variations, and the socks are so warm and soft. This was my first time using Koigu, and I'll definitely use it again. In fact, I've already picked up some more:)

My least favorite part is always the kitchener stitch. I'm never quite sure if I'm doing it correctly. I followed the directions, so I will just have to assume I did it right. The toes haven't fallen apart on any socks I've knit yet--I guess that's a good sign!

My only disappointment is that I have so much yarn left over. I didn't have nearly as much as the pattern suggested, so I took 3 inches off each leg. I could probably have gotten at least another inch out of what I have left. I'm not sure what I can do with such a small amount--maybe I'll make an iPod cozy or something.

I've definitely been bit by the sock bug after knitting these. In fact, I've already cast on for another pair!

Lots of Knitting Going On!

2007-07-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of knitting over the past few days. My husband has been feeling under the weather (that's actually a major understatement!) with some wisdom teeth issues, so we have been hanging around the house trying to relax. We never made it to the play last weekend (somewhat of a relief since it was cold and drizzling) or did much of anything, actually!

I managed to add a few inches to my cardi. I was so happy to set aside the sleeves--that made for much quicker knitting. The rest of the body should move fairly quick.

I also began my second Diagonal Rib Sock. The leg is progressing quickly thanks to the easy to remember pattern. I'm looking forward to wearing those socks soon!

One thing that is slowing me down on both of these projects though: the new scarf I cast on for...

The pattern is the Trellis Scarf from the Spring 2006 Interweave Knits, and the yarn is Malabrigo Lace, which is just amazing! It is so soft. I'm really loving working with it. This is the first time I've used Malabrigo-although I've heard a lot about it's wonderful qualities-and I definitely plan on trying the standard variety at some point.

This is my second lace project, and it's much more challenging than the first, which basically consisted of YOs and K2togs. The pattern for this scarf has a crazy stitch called the "7 into 5 cluster", which is: K7tog, leave stitches on needle, YO, Knit same 7 together again and leave on needle, YO, knit same 7 together once more and slip stitches from needle. Needless to say, it is pretty difficult to K7tog. I had to use a crochet hook to draw the yarn through the 7 stitches. Thankfully, this stitch only appear every 8 rows!

The true color of the yarn is closer to this...

Sort of a strawberry color

I realized last night that all my current projects are on size 3 or smaller needles. I may need to do something super bulky next. I do have a couple of sweaters that I haven't worked on for a while though, so I if I feel the need for some instant gratification I can always pick up one of those!

Trying to Stay Warm: Summer in San Francisco

2007-07-14T13:43:00.000-07:00

The fog has rolled into our neighborhood over the past few day, and it is thick. I never saw fog like this until I moved to San Francisco. The fog here is usually pretty high , and you can see it moving through the air in thick wisps (it's a little ghostly). When it's really thick it hangs at street level, and you can feel a fine mist when you walk through it (which makes for a lot of bad hair days).

This is a view from our living room window. Our apartment is at the back of the building, and on a clear day you can see the ocean (20+ blocks away) and off the the right you can see Golden Gate Park (a couple blocks away). Our current view is about one block out.

As you might imagine, it's pretty chilly. Perfect weather for staying inside with a cup of tea and some knitting! This morning I finished my first Diagonal Rib Sock.

I'm really happy with how it turned out. This fit is perfect, snug but not tight, and I love the subtle variation in the yarn. I shortened the leg portion of sock by several inches, because I wasn't sure I'd have enough yarn. I could have added at least an extra inch though--I have a sizable amount left over. Now I just need to knit the second sock and at least my feet will be warm.

Tonight we are going to see an outdoor play. We went to see Richard III at the same place about a month ago, and it was freezing. People were wearing down jackets, wool hats and mittens. We were totally unprepared (it was June--summer is supposed to be hot!), but thankfully we had a blanket in the trunk of the car.

I'll be ready tonight. This will be a good excuse to wear some of my handknits. There's nothing quite like alpaca in July. I may end of looking like a miss-matched dork, but at least I'll be warm!

A Little Progress

2007-07-10T19:09:00.000-07:00

The past two weeks have been really busy. Our friends were in town from Chicago, so we had a lot of fun hanging out and showing them around. While they were here, we headed up to Mendocino/Fort Bragg--another beautiful California area!

We spent a lot of time in the sun, and I got burned a few times. Anytime I'm in the sun for more than half an hour, even with sunblock, I will burn. I know it's bad when strangers start commenting. Now I'm peeling, and it's not a good look!

I have managed to get a little knitting done. My cardi is coming along--I'm almost ready to join under the arms.

I really like knitting anything in the round, especially from the top down. I am at my least favorite part though. It seems like there are a million stitches in every row, and it's taking forever. Only an inch or so to go until I set aside the sleeve stitches. I'm getting impatient!

Beginnings of a Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan

2007-06-25T18:27:00.000-07:00

After finishing my scarf, I wanted to start a new project, something big. By big, I mean a sweater. Although I have a few big projects going already (one of which I'm thinking about restarting), I wanted to use some of my new yarn. So yesterday I cast on for Marilyn's Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan from Knit and Tonic.

Not the greatest photo, but it is a top-down raglan and smooshed onto a 24" needle, so there's not much room to spread it out. I'm using Silky Tweed and really enjoying it so far. It's a soft pink with bits of hot pink, white, orange and a touch of grey.

I had to go down three needle sizes to get gauge! Generally, I start out by going down two sizes (apparently, I'm a very loose knitter), but three is a lot. I think I've mentioned before how much I hate swatching, but I really hate ripping more, so I tend to do mini 1-inch swatches, 2 at the max. This method hasn't really failed me yet, so I don't foresee any 4-inch swatches in my future.

Yesterday was spent reading, watching movies and starting my cardi. It was the perfect day!

At Long Last.... Finished Silk Lace Scarf

2007-06-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this scarf took me a month and a half to knit. Every time I worked on it I seemed to make a lot of progress. I just never really seemed to get anywhere. Scarves are just not very exciting to knit--even lacy, silky ones.

Pattern: Silk Lace Scarf by Darlene Joyce from the Stitch and Bitch Calendar
Yarn: Shadyside Studio Wools Raw Silk

This was my first time knitting lace, and I really enjoyed it. I picked the perfect pattern--it really was simple. It's the perfect kind of lightweight scarf that I'll be able to wear year round.

The yarn was very nice as well--my first time knitting with 100% silk. Very decadent. The especially nice part is that I have enough left over to make another (small) project.

All in all, I'm very happy with my scarf, although I can see by the photo that I need to trim the ends of the fringe:)

Last weekend we ventured out to Mt. Tamalpais for a little hiking. (Happily, everyone refers to it as Mt. Tam, because I still haven't figured out how to pronounce that.) We left our chilly neighborhood all bundled up, but by the time we finally made it to the top it was, as they say, hotter than the blazes. Whew... I've grown accustomed to constantly being chilly, so it was a bit of a shock to the system.

The views were amazing, albeit a bit hazy. If you maximize the picture, you can probably make out San Francisco in the top right corner. This shot is looking toward the bay; the ocean view was even more hazy. I can only imagine the views from there on a clear day--it must be absolutely amazing.

Monterey, Big Sur and Even Some Knitting!

2007-06-14T19:49:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in Monterey on Saturday, and we even checked out the touristy parts, which we usually skip. Fisherman's Wharf wasn't too crowded, and we saw lots of cute sea lions.

We also had a very friendly bluebird on our hotel deck.

Our hotel was a nice surprise. We weren't sure what to expect, but it was very relaxing. There was a fireplace, deck and lots more. Most importantly though, it was located within walking distance of dinner and the main event...

Joel is a huge Beach Boys fan, and Brian Wilson (along with "special guest" Al Jardine) was playing in Monterey. So we celebrated his birthday a little early. He even bought a Hawaiian shirt especially for the show. It was a really fun. Of course, drinking copious amounts of wine beforehand added to the fun, as well:)

On Sunday we took the 17-mile drive, picked up a picnic lunch in Carmel and then drove down through Big Sur. The day started out a little foggy, but it turned into a beautiful day.

It was very windy--California is one windy state, at least in my neck of the woods. Most attempts to get my picture turned out like this:

Big Sur was amazingly beautiful. It took us a really long time to get from Carmel to San Simeon, because we kept stopping. I don't think we drove a mile straight the whole time!

One of the last things we saw before heading away from the coast, were these crazy, huge Elephant Seals. I have never seen anything like them--they were a little scary and just absolutely enormous. It was a cool surprise.

I even got a little knitting done...

I'm just about ready to bind off my silk scarf, which I have been working on little by little. It will have fringe and will grow with blocking, so I think it's just about the perfect length.

Yarn, Yarn Everywhere!

2007-06-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Even though my stash is threatening to overtake our second bedroom, I could resist picking up some new yarn recently.

Some lovely Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted. I LOVE this yarn, so I couldn't resist picking up more! I may make another pair of cabled footies, but I'm also looking for other patterns.

Frog Tree Alpaca in sport weight. I had originally imagined this yarn as a pair of Endpaper Mitts, but I don't think it's the right weight. We'll see...

Malabrigo Lace. This yarn is SO soft! The actual color is a bit darker--it's a mix of dark red, deep pink and a touch of orange. I'm thinking this will become a Trellis Scarf (pattern in Spring 2006 Interweave Knits). This pattern includes a "Knit 7 together" stitch. Hmm...

And finally, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed. This is destined to become a Not-So-Shrunken Cardigan. This pattern never really appealed to me... until I saw this version.

We are off to Monterey tomorrow morning to celebrate my husband's birthday. He is turning the big 3-2 soon. We are both becoming firmly entrenched in our 30s, but I like the fact that he will always be a little older than me:)

Diagonal Rib Sock Progress

2007-06-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

I've made some progress on my sock. Not a very exciting photo, but socks are hard to photograph. I'm ready to start working on the gusset.

The pattern is simple and easy to memorize, which is always nice, and I'm still enjoying the yarn. I shortened the cuff by about 3 inches--thankfully, I re-read the pattern and realized I that I had less than originally called for.

This week seems to be going by quickly. Tomorrow is Wednesday already--Yeah! Things are looking good for the rest of the week. Work has been really busy lately, but I have no more meetings this week, so hopefully I'll actually be able to get some work done. AND we are heading to Monterey for the weekend. I'm definitely looking forward to that!

Beginnings of a Sock & 7 Things

2007-05-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

I really love knitting on planes--I find it very relaxing. I'm not a nervous flyer, but knitting really helps pass the time. Just before our trip to San Diego, I came across the Diagonal Rib Socks pattern from Knitting Daily and decided they would be perfect for the trip.

I'm not very far, but the plane ride to San Diego is not very long! Plus, on the way back I was sleepy, and decided I needed to read a fluffy magazine instead (my other travel must).

I'm knitting these out of Koigu, and now I know why people love this yarn so much. The color in the photo is way off. San Francisco has been having some overcast weather, so it is hard to get good photos. It's not pink/magenta at all, but really more of a deep plum. I'm loving working with this yarn!

Right Out Loud tagged me for the 7 Random Things meme. I'm glad it wasn't the 8 Things one that is also going around, because it is hard to come up with this stuff!

1. My husband and I were married in New Orleans under a giant oak tree a year before Hurricane Katrina. We think the tree is still there, but are not sure. I have so many good memories there, that I think it would be depressing to visit there now.

2. Since graduating from college, I have lived in 5 states: Florida, Wisconsin (my home state), Illinois, Michigan and now California. I grew up in a small town near Green Bay and always wanted to get out and live in a big city. This is one of the few things I imagined myself doing as a child/teen that actually came true!

3. I'm pretty shy, and I especially dislike large groups of strangers. I find mass networking events especially unpleasant.

4. I've always been into art and craft, and I was an art major in college. I was especially into pinhole photograpy and printmaking. A newer interest of mine has been book arts.

5. In high school track, my event was discus. My school didn't really have any good female shot putters, so all the girls who did discus also had to do shot put. I've always been fairly wimpy, and I got by with discus by having "good form". That didn't really work with shot put, so this event could get pretty mortifying at times!

6. I've only had two cars. The first was an '88 Plymouth Sundance, that I finally replaced about two and half years ago. It still ran very well, but both air conditioning and heat were issues. When the ceiling started falling down, that was the last straw:)

7. Normally, I'm not an indecisive shopper, but whenever I receive a gift certificate, I have a very difficult time deciding what to use it for. For some reason, I feel like I need to purchase something special with it. As a result, I tend to hold onto to them for a long time before finding the right thing.

OK, if you are one of the 5 people out there who hasn't done this meme and would like to, consider yourself tagged!

Finished Sweater and San Diego Fun

2007-05-29T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished my sweater... yesterday. I decided early Friday night that it wasn't worth stressing to finish it. The night before a trip is crazy enough as is.

Pattern: A Sweater for All Ages from The Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics
Yarn: Artful Yarns Fable
Mods: Added 1.5 inches to length.

This sweater turned out fairly well over all. I only used 2 of the 3 skeins called for in the pattern, which was nice. I like the fit as well.

However, even though I added an inch and a half to the length it is still way too short. We're talking stomach exposing (see second photo). This is the second sweater I've made from this book, and I had the same problem with the first, although not nearly so bad. I'll definitely be keeping this in mind if I make anything else from the book.

Not a very good photo, but I think you get the idea. Believe it or not, I was pulling it down the whole time I was taking photots.

Since I have so much yarn left, I guess I could undo the side seams a little and add a few inches to the bottom. I'd definitely wear it more if it was longer. What a pain though!

We had a really fun trip to San Diego. The weather was warmer than the mid-60s they were predicting, so we were a little toasty. We stayed in a really nice hotel with an amazingly comfortable bed. It was great!

What wasn't nice was being woken up by the fire alarm going off at 2am! Talk about terrifying. I think we would have been burned to a crisp by the time we made it downstairs if there had been a real fire, but thankfully someone had just burned their popcorn! It was hard to fall back asleep after that.

Saturday we walked to Balboa Park, which was really pretty. The architecture of all the buildings was beautiful and it was very warm. I wish I had packed my shorts!

We had a good time at Petco Park, too, although the Brewers lost both of their games. As you can imagine, Joel wasn't very happy. We had great seats for both games which was a plus though. The food at this stadium was pretty bad, although we had club seats for the second game, so the options were a little better. You can tell what I go to games for!

Before the game on Sunday, we walked around the waterfront for a couple of hours. I was determined to wear the only pair of sandals I brought, even though I knew they wouldn't be good for walking around in. I think I may have jinxed the second game by wearing a Padres bandaid over my blister. Oops!

TGIF!

2007-05-25T18:38:00.000-07:00

I’m so close to finishing my sweater. I just need to seam the sides (the shoulders and sleeves are done) and then add some ribbing around the neck and front placket. I can still do it. Right?!?!?!

We are leaving at the crack of dawn* tomorrow morning. This is not your normal sightseeing trip; it’s more of a baseball pilgrimage. My husband loves the Milwaukee Brewers, and they are having a great year. Unfortunately, since our move away from Chicago we are no longer a short 2-hour drive away from Milwaukee.

So we are traveling to San Diego to see the Brewers play on Saturday and Sunday, and then we are heading back to San Francisco on Sunday evening. Hopefully, we can squeeze some of the sights in… a whirlwind tour at the least!

I’m not really a baseball fan, but I definitely enjoy the atmosphere, people and food. Plus, Joel is really excited, so it should be fun. They are also playing three games in San Francisco in August… you know where we’ll be then.

We had the day off on Wednesday, and so we decided to go to Alcatraz. It was really interesting.

Alcatraz is swarming with birds. I’ve developed something of a bird phobia, as I seem to be a magnet for bird poop. I can normally be seen running for cover anytime there is a flock of birds flying overhead. Wouldn’t you know it? Right before we left, one got my jacket. Pretty soon, I won’t be able to bring myself to go outdoors anymore!

* I normally consider anytime before 6am “the crack of dawn”, and we need to catch a 7:30am flight, so I’m sure you can feel my pain.

Making Progress

2007-05-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

I'm still holding out hope that my sweater will be finished in time for our trip. I finished the back Friday night, but didn't work on it much over the weekend. Last night I cast on for the front, and finished a few inches...

but I still have quite a bit to go. I'll see how many inches I can add tonight.

The yarn is a really nice blend of pima cotton and silk. It's a mix of colors I wouldn't normally go for... kind of a salmon, dusty mauve/purple and light khaki mix... but I really like it anyway. I'm making a small size because all of my other cotton sweater have really stretched out, but I'm starting to worry that it will be too small.

We spent a little time in the East Bay this weekend, and on the way back we stopped on Treasure Island. I've always been curious to check it out. There wasn't too much to see, but the view of San Francisco is great.

Aside from knitting, I have a new obsession. I first had this tea at my office, and it is so good.

It's hard to get excited about tea, but this Sweet & Spicy Tea is amazing. It's a really flavorful red tea, and the name says it all. Plus, it smells delicious. I pictured myself searching all over for it, but found it at Traders Joe's.

I realize the weather is probably getting hot everywhere else, but it's chilly here. At least I can still enjoy a cup of hot tea!

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

2007-05-18T18:20:00.000-07:00

I am so happy that it's Friday, and my weekend has begun. I have been feeling sleep deprived all week, and now I can finally catch up. It's pretty rare that I ever get enough sleep. I've always enjoyed staying up late, and I have a hard time getting to bed at a decent hour.

In addition to sleeping, I'm hoping to get a lot of knitting done this weekend. We are going to San Diego next weekend, and earlier this week I started thinking how nice it would be to have a new sweater to wear. A hand-knit sweater.

I realize that I am most likely totally deluding myself that this will be finished by next weekend, but I am still optimistic at this point. Things in my favor: cap sleeves, heavy worsted yarn and a super simple pattern. What's working against me is the lack of time and the fact that this sweater will need to be seamed.

I'm still holding out hope though. I'm almost to the armholes on the back, and it should progress quickly after that. I have a day off in the middle of next week as well. Cross your fingers for me!

I'm slightly embarrassed to say that we are still not completely unpacked from our move in February. For the most part we are done, but this apartment is so small that we seem to have run out of space to put things. There are still a few pictures to be hung as well.

The sign in the second photo used to hang in our dining room, but in our new apartment the kitchen and dining/living room are one big room. There really isn't a good wall to hang it on. We finally decided to hang it from the ceiling. That will be my other weekend project.

Taking It All In

2007-05-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

After a couple weekends devoted to watching Footballer's Wives (which devolves pretty quickly from fun/trashy to just plain stupid), our last few weekends have been spent enjoying our new city and surrounding areas. Last weekend we tried some new restaurants and went to our favorite local bakery. Yum!

We also went to Moss Beach, which was really interesting. During low tide you can walk out on the reef--we saw lots of hermit crabs, plants, mussels and one star fish. Sea lions also hang out there. By the time we turned around and started heading back toward our car, the tide was really high. We went around a corner and there were about 20 of them on the beach within about 50 feet of us. That is the closest I will probably ever come to a sea lion. It was a little scary!

I've made some progress on my scarf...

I'd say it's about half done, maybe a little less. It's actually a fast moving project--when I'm knitting on it that is! I should be able to wear this year round with the cool weather we have here. As summer approaches, it seems to be getting cooler. So strange!

Slow Going

2007-05-07T21:02:00.000-07:00

For a while there, I felt like I was turning out completed projects left and right. But now that I have a job again, I remember why I didn't get as much knitting done before. It's not really that I have less time, although that is true. It's more like a lack of motivation--my inner couch potato is returning--and a bit of knitter's ennui.

I know this won't last, but lately I have been more interested in thinking about knitting than actually picking up needles. I've been going through my books, and I picked up a couple new ones, too.

I have been eyeing both of these books for a while, and I finally gave in and bought them. The first, domiknitrix, is a really interesting book visually. Each page is like a little piece of art. It has lots of instruction and not just the basics, so it will make a good reference.

1. The Slink, 2. Swizzle Vest, 3. Bob Dobbs Vest, 4. City Coat

Some of the patterns are a little crazy, but there are some good ones, too. My favorite is the City Coat. Joel wants me to make him the Bob Dobbs vest, but I want to make sure he'll actually wear it before investing hours in it.

1. Rowena Cardigan, 2. Pimlico Shrug, 3. Peapod Cardigan, 4. Luxe Neck Warmer, 5. House Slippers, 6. Baby Cape

Knit 2 Together is the other book, and Tracy Ullman is a co-author. I find it really interesting that she is a knitter, and it sounds like she really knows what she's doing, too. This book has so many cute patterns--above are just a few of my favorites. I really love the Rowena and Pea Pod Cardigans. I even like the slippers, and normally I think knitted slippers are tacky.

Now I just need to take Tracey's advice to, "Go Home!! Go home! And knit."

Up Next...

2007-05-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

I've never been much of a swatcher. I do swatch, but I usually only knit a couple of inches, and that's it. Swatching is one of my least favorite parts of knitting, mostly because I become very impatient to start the project. Needless to say, I never block my swatches as many people recommend... until now.

I'm working on a silk lace scarf, and I knew that I wouldn't get a good idea of the end result without doing a proper swatch. So I knit a little more than usual (still not a full 4 inches though!) and then blocked it. You can really tell the difference between what's on the needles and what the end result will be. As you can see, I need to practice my blocking technique. It's a little wonky!

This is my first lace project, and it's really simple. I hope I don't make too many mistakes though, because I really hate ripping back when yarn-overs are involved.

I also picked up some yarn to make the U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits. I've wanted to make a vest for a while, and I think this will be a good pattern. The yarn is Cascade 222 Quattro, and it's really pretty. It's not quite as bright as in the photo.

This (and all the other projects I have going!) should keep me busy for a while.

A Finished Pair of Mitts

2007-05-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

The mitts are finally complete. I really only spent a few days working on them, but those few days seemed to be dragged out over a couple of weeks.

Pattern: Dashing from Knitty.com
Yarn: Mountain Colors Twizzle
Needles: US6 DPNs

This was a fun pattern, and if I had knit consistently on them, they would have been finished in a few days. The yarn was great to work with--so soft and the colors are beautiful. It's generally pretty chilly here, so these are perfect. I'd like to make a pair for myself at some point, but I would definitely make them shorter if I did. They are very long on me.

My husband is happy as well. Believe it or not, this is the first thing I've knit for him. I'm a selfish knitter! There is a much promised sweater in the works, but I haven't worked on it for quite a while. Hopefully, these will keep him happy for a while.

Loving the Library

2007-04-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

My mitts are coming along slowly but surely. I had a minor setback last night when I realized, just before starting the second set of cables, that I had done the first set in the wrong direction. I briefly considered continuing on, but then decided to rip back. They really do knit up quick, and I only had to do ten rows over, so it wasn't too bad. I'm hoping to finish them this week.

One of my favorite things about San Francisco so far (and this may say something about me) is that the local library is two blocks away. It is small but has a surprisingly good selection. One of the best parts though is that you can access the catalog, reserve and renew online.

We moved here from Chicago, and although you could check the catalog online, you had to do everything else in person. I have problems with returning books on time and have been known to rack up some sizable fines, so this makes me very happy!

I went a little crazy requesting books from other branches, so now I have quite the stack of knitting books. It has been so much fun going through them. Of course, I've picked out a few that I want to buy. My favorites are Wrap Style, Modular Knits, The Opinionated Knitter and Hip Knit Hats.

Next Monday is my first paycheck, so maybe I will pick one (or two!) up. Also dangerous: my new office is about three blocks from a yarn store. This is where I picked up the lovely yarn for my Cable Footies. They have a very nice selection, but it is a little pricey. Hopefully, that will help keep me away!

On top of Mt. Diablo

2007-04-23T18:15:00.000-07:00

I have had very little time to knit in the past week--due to my first week at the new job and also Turbo Tax hell (I'll never wait until the 17th to file again--that is for sure!). I did manage to finish one mitt over the weekend, and I should be able to finish the other this week. It turned out very well, but it's really long. Too long for me, but OK for my husband.

We went to Mt. Diablo on Saturday. The views were amazing, and the pictures don't do justice since it was really overcast. We drove to the top, passing many bikers and hikers struggling to make it up. They all looked about ready to fall over in exhaustion.

It was so cold and windy at the top, but we took a few pictures before jumping back in the car.

A pretty picnic spot for a much warmer day!

Before heading home, we went to BevMo! and stocked up. Who can resist a 5 cent wine sale? Not us!

Dashing Along

2007-04-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

I started (and restarted) these mitts this weekend. The first time I had some cable and sizing issues. So I ripped them out and began again with a much better result.

They are for my husband, and I promise that they fit him much better than they look on me in the photo. The yarn is really great. So soft and lovely. I spent just a few hours on them yesterday, and I feel like I have a lot to show for it. Sometimes you need a little instant gratification!

Elfish Feet?

2007-04-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

My footies are complete!

Pattern: Cable Footies from One Skein by Leigh Radford
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted
Needles: US6 DPNs

I loved everything about this project - from the beautiful, soft yarn to the simple cable pattern. They were so quick to knit that second sock syndrome was never really an issue. Perfect for my chilly apartment!

The one thing I was unsure of was the kitchener stitch. I remember feeling this way after my first pair of socks was complete as well. Does anyone know of a good tutorial or book I could refer to in the future?

The toes turned out very pointy. They fit me well though, so I guess that is the shape of my foot. The footies stand up on their own, and I think they look like wacky elf shoes when they're not on. Very cute!

Completed Shrug

2007-04-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

After a major ripping session, I finished my shrug last night. This was such a fun project!

Pattern: Two-tone Ribbed Shrug from Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel.
Yarn: Cascade 220
Needles: US6 for body and US3 for ribbing

I really enjoyed knitting this shrug. The only problem I had was with the ribbed increases, and it was my own fault and [somewhat] easily rectified. The sleeves are shorter than I would have liked, but I'm hoping they'll lengthen with a good blocking. If not, I'm OK with how they are now.

I love the colors, too. I didn't have anything specific in mind when I went the yarn store, and this is what I came home with. Even though its purple, it feels somewhat neutral, and it will go with a lot of things.

I told myself I wouldn't start anything new until I finished something, and I kept my promise. I seem to have a million things on the needles right now! I picked up some Lorna's Laces Shepard Worsted a while ago, and it has been taunting me. So last night after weaving in the last ends on the shrug I cast on for the Cabled Footies from One Skein.

The yarn is so amazing. Very soft and the colors are just beautiful. I'd love to knit a sweater with this yarn, but I think that would totally break the bank. I will just have to enjoy my footies. This is going to be a quick project--the socks are short and the yarn is thick!

Knitting Inventory

2007-04-06T15:36:00.000-07:00

Last night I decided to inventory my knitting needles, just to see exactly what I have. Most of the needles (apart from some of the circulars and DPNs) were inherited from my mom, who in turn inherited them from her MIL.

What I learned: I have an obscene amount of needles (only a very small portion is pictured). Many are duplicates of the same size. For instance, I could have six projects going on size 15 needles at one time. This does not seem very likely to ever happen, thankfully!

I have no plans to get rid of any of any needles--at least at this point. They have sentimental value, and of course, it's nice to be able to start most projects without having to purchase needles. The only times I need to buy needles are occasionally for circular and smaller size DPNs. The straights are definitely covered!

I've also been going through my yarn to pick out projects for Project Spectrum: April/May. The colors are pink, green and yellow. I have absolutely no yellow, and I doubt that will change soon, but I do have some pink and green.

Pinks:
Berroco Cotton Twist (back left) - I started Glampyre's mini sweater with this, but I'm not sure if I have enough or if this is a good sweater for me. Shadyside Studio Wools hand colored raw silk (front skein) - I'm deciding between two scarf patterns for this. Suss Twisted - I have two skeins, but I'm not sure what to use it for. I made a tank out of this last summer, and I loved it.

Green/Pink Combo:
Trekking (XXL), pictured with vintage Majesty needles. Only 65 cents! This will most likely be used for the Rhodie Gus Socks pattern from Through the Loops.

Greens:
Mountain Colors Twizzle (ball) - intended for Dashing from Knitty. Misti Alpaca Lace for Swallowtail Shawl from the fall 2006 Knits magazine. I'm not sure if my skills are up for tackling this yet. Manos del Uruguay - 5 skeins for the Hot Lava Cardigan from Blue Alvarez Designs.

This should keep me busy for a while!

A Little Bit of Progress

2007-04-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

I've finished both sleeves on my Two-Toned Ribbed Shrug. This has been a simple and quick knit so far. I'd probably be close to finishing, but I needed to buy needles for the body ribbing.

I'm having a difficult time capturing the true colors of this yarn. The darker shade is a deep plum color. The body is a heathered purple with lots of blue. I'm really happy with the colors I chose--I don't wear much purple, but this will be nice for a change.

I've also made a little progress on one of the sleeves for my Hourglass Sweater. It is currently about elbow length. I'm having a really hard time getting into knitting on this sweater, but I do want to finish it soon. Part of the problem is that my gauge is off. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I cast on, but it should still fit. The sweater will just be a little more relaxed than I had originally planned.

In non-knitting news, I finally landed a job after living in San Francisco for two months. I'm really excited about it, and I'm sure my husband is, too! Hopefully, this doesn't cut into my knitting time too much, but at the very least, I will be able to afford lots of new yarn!

Project Spectrum - February & March

2007-03-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

1. Cables in Chamonix--Complete!, 2. Camisole Tube, 3. Cupcakes, 4. Center Square on Joel, 5. Secret Window, 6. Haircuts, 7. Cavern Cardi, 8. Beads, 9. Finished Garter Scarf, 10. Into the Water, 11. Shades of Blue, 12. Sand Dollars, 13. Blue Cupcake

As you can see, blue is one of my favorite colors! I do have a few projects planned for April/May, and I'm sure a few unplanned ones will be started as well.

The Perfect Day

2007-03-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a really fun day and my birthday. I got up early and went to a local bakery, where I had my favorite, a cheese roll. So good, but not very healthy, I'm sure. From there I walked over to the Japanese Tea Garden. I have been meaning to visit for weeks, but just haven't made it.

It was so beautiful and peaceful. I love it! It was pretty crowded for a weekday morning, but not too bad.

In the afternoon I decided to check out a local yarn store. What a great store! There was so much yarn of all types stacked from floor to ceiling. They had all of my favorites and lots more to try. I had a some birthday money (thanks to Joel's mom and grandmother!), so I picked up a few things.

Cascade 220: 2 skeins of the lighter color and 1 of the darker. The colors are a little off here, but you get the idea. This is for the two-toned ribbed shrug in Fitted Knits.

Three skeins of Noro Silk Garden. The colors are off here, too. This is for More Stripes from the latest Knitty. There is quite a bit of orange in this colorway. I'm not really a big orange fan, but I think it goes well with the other colors.

I've already cast on for the shrug--not a very exciting photo! I have a bunch of works in progress right now... maybe too many.

I spent the rest of the day hanging out with my husband. We went out for some drinks and dinner... the perfect way to end the day.

All done!

2007-03-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

After lots of procrastination, I finally put the finishing touches on my Cavern Cardi this afternoon. Just in time for the nice weather we are supposed to get later this week.

Cavern Cardigan by Cosmicpluto Knits
Yarn: GGH Illusion (recycled from Round Yoke Sweater)
Needles: US6 circular and DPNs

This sweater, a simple top-down pattern, progressed really quickly. I recycled the yarn from another sweater I knit last spring that I wasn't happy with. This is not my favorite yarn, that's for sure. Although I like the color and stripe effect, it snags like crazy. I think this is due to the loose cabled construction of the yarn. There are quite a few noticeable snags even though I was very careful not to catch the it. The yarn is also pretty crunchy, although it did improve after blocking. Hopefully, the sweater will get softer the more it's washed.

Other than the yarn, I'm very pleased with how this turned out. I was originally planning long sleeves, but decided to go with short instead. Perfect for spring!

The tie for this sweater threw me for a bit of a loop. The pattern calls for you to crochet a 10-inch chain and then slip stitch back to the start. Crocheting a chain is my one and only crochet skill, and for the life of me I couldn't figure out the slip stitch even though looks really simple. My hook kept getting caught on the splitty yarn, so I decided to skip the slip stitch and just go with a simple chain.

My final touch was to add a couple beads to the ends of the ties. Very cute! This is something I'll wear often.

Quiet Weekend

2007-03-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

What an uneventful weekend! The weather was very blah--super foggy with some occasional rain. We watched a couple movies and relaxed. I love quiet weekends.

I spent yesterday trying to get the smell of bleach off my hands after cleaning up some sand dollars found at the beach. If you go to the right part of the beach at the right time, then there are lots to be found. I have always loved them, and I'm thinking about putting some in a shadow box for the bathroom.

There has been quite a bit of knitting done over the past few days as well. I'm starting to get shoulder pain--that can't be a good sign! I finally bound off my Cavern Cardi, which just needs the finishing touches before it's complete.

I also started a new pattern, the All-Season Shell. I had the called for yarn, which was purchased at a going out of business sale. If it hadn't been so cheap, I probably wouldn't have bought it. I can't resist a good bargain though. Anyway, this seemed like a good way to use it up--something simple that I'll actually wear. I think the name is funny. Is it just me, or is a shell something you wear under a suit with pearls?

Tonight I'm going to start the sleeves for my hourglass sweater. I'm having a hard time getting motivated to work on this pattern, but I think once I get going it will progress quickly.

Center Square

2007-03-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

My first fair-isle project is complete! This was such a fun project and very quick, too--finished in just two nights. I'm looking forward to trying this technique again on a more complex project.

Center Square by Knitty.com
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool
Needles: US11 DPNs
Mods: none

I'm very happy with how this turned out, much better than I expected with my first fair-isle project. I think I did a fairly good job of maintaining even tension, although it was tricky with the DPNs.

My one problem with this hat is that it is too long. My gauge was off, and this was the unfortunate result. It is still wearable, although it's a bit large on me it fits my husband (the reluctant model). I may try to shrink it down a bit with some hot water.

Speaking of water, when the hat was finished I soaked it with a little detergent. This yarn has a really strong wet dog smell when wet... ugh. I think it needs another really good soak to get rid of that.

All in all, a great pattern. I would definitely recommend this as a first project for someone who wants to try fair-isle.

In other knitting news, I've joined the new Hourglass Knit-along. I started this sweater many months ago, but it was deserted as I became more excited about other projects. I'm hoping this will kick start me into finishing it.

Just for Fun!

2007-03-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

Cupcakes from One Skein by Leigh Radford
You can also find a free pattern here.

This was a fun and quick project using odds and ends of yarn, buttons and beads from my stash. I had a great time picking out the "sprinkles". I think they would make a really cute birthday present.

Knitting... in Two Colors!

2007-03-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

When I saw this pattern, I knew that I had to try it. It was just so cute. Which meant that I had to learn fair-isle knitting... something that has really intimidated me. It just looks so hard.

I'm not usually afraid of trying a new technique--I tend to jump right in with nary a swatch (not always so smart). The thought of working with more than one color was different though. It looks so complex.

I was determined to at least try, because there are so many patterns I would like to knit. This seemed like the perfect starter project with its chunky yarn and only two colors. First I taught myself to knit the English way, which really wasn't so bad, just slow, slow, slow. I'm sure I would speed up with practice, but I've always knit Continental style, so it was a little awkward.

I decided to jump right in after that, and start the hat. You know what? It really wasn't that hard at all. My main issues were joining in the new color of yarn (what is the best way? tie it on?) and keeping my tension even. It probably would have been even easier if I hadn't been juggling the DPNs, but I don't really like short circular needles either. For all the awkwardness of knitting with two hands it went pretty quickly--the photo shows just a few hours work.

I spent the rest of the night admiring my work while watching Tsotsi (I highly recommend it--but it has subtitles, so no knitting) with my husband. Afterward, he said that he thought I kept looking at him during the movie, but whenever he turned to look at me I was looking at my hat sitting between us on the couch. Guilty! I'm so glad I finally tried this--there really wasn't anything to be afraid of after all.

Camisole Tube Complete

2007-03-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Camisole Tube is finished--mostly because I was knitting non-stop like a crazy woman on it. I finished it in exactly one week (not counting two days of starting and restarting). Whew!

I bought this as kit about a year ago, and it sat there while more exciting things were being knit. This wasn't on my to do list last week either, but I noticed it while going through my yarn, and I decided needed a change from the sweater I had been working on.

Camisole Tube
Pattern by Stephanie Japel (Glampyre.com)
Yarn: TLC Cotton Plus
Needles: US7 body & US4ribbing
Mods: I added an extra pattern repeat before the lower ribbing.

The agonizing details:
Despite the simple pattern I got off to a rough start. I thought I had cast on for the size small, but realized shortly after finishing the top ribbing that I didn't have enough stitches. I had cast on for the extra small... so rip, rip, rip.

So I cast on again for the size small. When I started doing the rows of yarnovers, they didn't look open enough. Now, I have always had a feeling that I wasn't doing yarnovers properly, despite having done them in a few projects. After a quick search of the internet and a pattern swatch, this was confirmed. I feel like something of an idiot for not knowing how to do this, but in my defense, I taught myself how from a book--apparently I misinterpreted something.

At this point, I ripped back up to the a few rows below the ribbing. I decided to try it on before putting it back on the needles, and it was way too big. So I had to completely start over yet again, and cast on for the size I had originally (supposedly mistakenly) cast on for. I am truly amazed that I even restarted at this point.

Everything progressed smoothly after that, however. I learned to make bobbles for the first time, which was fun. The only thing I would change would be to add a few more rows of stockinette before starting the ribbing. I think it looks strange with the way it is now, but I'm OK with it.

All in all, I'm very happy with the end result. This is perfect for the weather here since it is light, but will provide a little extra warmth. I'm picturing it paired with cuffed jeans and my favorite espadrilles. All I need now is some sandal weather!

Moving Right Along

2007-03-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

My camisole tube is really shaping up quickly--especially since I stopped making silly mistakes. I am just about to start the lower ribbing. I will probably add one more pattern repeat first though... I'm still undecided.

This is a somewhat distorted photo, but it's difficult to photograph yourself! I have a tripod somewhere that I'll have to dig up. Can you make out the four rows of bobbles? Each bobble row also has a row of yarnovers in between.

The yarn is a real el-cheapo variety. I purchased this as a kit, and I probably wouldn't have picked it out myself. I've been pleasantly surprised with it though--it's a cotton blend with a slight gloss and isn't too hard on the hands. Even though the top part of this was ripped twice, the yarn isn't showing any wear or pilling.

The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, so we were out a lot this weekend. I saw two women knitting in public yesterday. The first on was with a friend at a local bar, and the second was part of a wacky, older hippie couple we saw at a coffee house. She only knit a few rows before they stood up and began hugging and kissing over their table. It was quite the scene. You've got to love San Francisco!

Mmm...

2007-03-09T18:12:00.000-08:00

Apart from knitting, one of my favorite things to do is cook. I love to try new recipes or concoct my own dishes. Last night I made something new--Lasagna Soup. I saw a link for this on someone's blog a while ago (unfortunately, I don't remember who) and bookmarked it.

It turned out very well, evidenced by the fact that Joel ate half the pot. I substituted veggie sausage for the Italian sausage since I don't eat meat. I think you could cut that out all together and just add more vegetables, like zucchini or mushrooms, instead. Anyway, it was delicious!

Another new recipe I made yesterday was Instant Chai Mix, found on the Knitting Nurse's website. Chai is one of my favorite drinks, so I had to try that. It was very simple to make, tastes great, and is better than other recipes I've tried. Now I can have some whenever I wish.

In knitting news: I've started a new pattern, the Camisole Tube from Stephanie Japel. To say that this has been frustrating is an understatement. It's not that the pattern is difficult. I just made a lot of really stupid mistakes, and had to restart 3 times. Ugh. When I finally cast on the third and final time, I accidentally cut the wrong yarn--the one that was attached to the ball! There was no way I was casting on again, so I just winged it and joined the yarn back in. No progress photos because they just aren't that exciting, but this promises to be a quick knit.

Unexpected Finished Object

2007-03-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

This sweater, last seen here, has been lingering for months. The reason? I did not have the correct needle to finish the neck. Now, I've bought other needles since then, but for some reason, I just wouldn't buy this needle.

So it has sat there, taunting me. Two days ago I decided I must finish it ASAP. Since I still did not have the required circular needle, I decided to use some DPNs and wing it. There were some dropped stitches here and there (the DPNs were too short, which is why I hadn't used them before), but once I got going I finished in no time.

After I weaved in about a million ends, it was done. The funny thing is that this would have been a really quick project if I hadn't set it aside. Sometimes it's the little things that hold you up though.

Pattern: Cables in Chamonix from The Yarn Girls Guide to Beyond the Basics
Yarn: GGH Savanna
Needles: US8 (the pattern called for 10.5!)

I'm very happy with how this turned out. The yarn (a blend of alpaca, linen, new wool and nylon) is soft and lofty, making for a lightweight but very warm sweater. Hopefully, we get a cold day here so I can actually wear it!

The one downfall is that it is too short. I do have a little yarn left, so I may try to remedy that. Most likely though, I will just wear it with a longer shirt underneath.

Here is a closeup of the cable rib pattern, all done without a cable needle. I love doing cables--they make such an impact with very little effort. I can't wait to try a more complex pattern, perhaps Shedir from Knitty.

Heart on Display

2007-03-05T15:00:00.000-08:00

While driving near a local college, I happened to look out the window, and what did I see? A giant heart with a knitted cozy. I quickly snapped a picture before we drove away.

Apparently, this is all part of a local art installation, and at one point, there were other hearts on display throughout the city. This particular one was created by artist Adele Louise Shaw. She knit the cozy out of polypropylene rope using hardwood handrails from a construction site.

According to Ms. Shaw's website, she is designing and knitting seasonal cozies so the heart can be well-dressed year round. At one point, the heart even wore a knitted bra, which was stolen. Wouldn't you love to know what they are doing with that?

All done!

2007-03-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Garter Stitch Scarf
Yarn: 2 balls GGH Amelie in color Teal
Needles: US8 straights

A quick and easy garter stitch scarf made with a soft, fluffy yarn. My original plans were a little more grand, but the yarn called for something simple. The scarf is shown with a vintage pin from my collection.

I'm glad this is finished. It was a little boring to knit, but I know I'll wear it.

Shades of Blue

2007-03-03T13:58:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling blue lately, thanks in part to Project Spectrum. From a perfect sky to the dark ocean to a fuzzy, soft yarn... I'm enjoying it all.

Yesterday, I headed to San Jose with my husband on business (his). So of course, I had to pack a few things. I may have been a little overly ambitious, but a girl can never be too prepared.

I have been able to accomplish very little car knitting since moving to California. There always seems to be something new and beautiful to see, even if you are driving on the interstate. Yesterday was no exception, so I simply enjoyed the drive.

Once we arrived, I was on my own. So after wandering around for a while and deciding there wasn't much to see, I pulled out my knitting. I had started a simple garter stitch scarf on the drive out west, and that was what I decided to work on.

The yarn is a lovely, soft faux-mohair that is somewhat difficult to work with. I had originally planned on doing something more interesting with it, but after swatching a few different ideas it seemed best to switch to something super simple. This is the first time I've made a garter stitch scarf, believe it or not. My mom taught me both knit and purl stitches right away, so I did a lot of stockinette when I first learned to knit. I have a number of curly scarves to show for it.

When Joel's second meeting ended I was left with only a few yards to go. I was a little sad to pack it away when I was so close, but that may give me the motivation to finally finish it.

I also packed the sweater I have been working on, but it never made it out of the bag.

I finished the body the night before, so I'm ready to start the sleeves. I'd hoped to make it a little longer, but I'm worried about running out of yarn. I'm really happy with how this is turning out. I even like the mis-matchy stripe effect. My goal is to finish this in the next week, so I can move on to something else. Maybe something that has been sitting around for a while.

Can we get some heat in here?

2007-02-27T17:38:00.000-08:00

I have been freezing all day. I keep adding more layers, but it doesn't seem to help. One of the more unique features of our new apartment is the lack of central heat. Instead, we have what appears to be a giant space heater in the hall between the two bedrooms.

Now, I'm not sure if this is normal for San Francisco apartments or not. I've never lived in an apartment that did not have central heat before, but it's usually just warm enough here that you don't need much heat. Maybe it's a California thing, but somehow I don't think so.

Thankfully, I came across an afgan my mom knit for me while unpacking some boxes yesterday. This should be the perfect thing for keeping the chill away. I could also go for a roaring fire, but that is just wishful thinking.

Something New

2007-02-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

The weather here has turned chilly and wet. I can't complain, because although San Francisco is known for being rainy at this time of year, the weather has been unexpectedly nice. Before moving here, I pictured constant rain storms, but I've been pleasantly surprised.

One thing that has interested me, is how one area of the city can be warm and sunny and another cool and foggy. It's hard to dress for that! The area we live in is known for being foggy, but so far it hasn't been too bad. I love to watch the fog roll in though. You can actually see it moving--so different from the fog I'm used to which didn't seem to be coming from anywhere. It was just there.

I've started a new sweater, the colors of which remind me of this dreary day. It's another top-down pattern, which was not intentional. After our boxes arrived, I started going through my yarn and came across a rather unfortunate sweater I had knit in last spring. About the same time, I came across a pattern I had printed out a while ago. I wanted to start something for Project Spectrum, so I spent the night frogging the sweater, and started it the next day.

I think the gauge is too tight for the yarn, since it's a bit stiff, but I'm happy with how it looks anyway. I'd like to edit the pattern slightly and do straight sleeaves for a more noticeable bell effect. Hopefully, I have enough yarn for that.

I also started my Jaywalker socks about a week ago. There hasn't been too much progress, mainly because I've been focused on other things. So far so good, although once again I didn't do a gauge swatch. I did go down a needle size though, since I tend to knit loose. We'll see how that goes.

The yarn is really pretty (more dark berry and less fushia than in the photo), and the pattern is fun. I made a few small mistakes, but decided to ignore them.

I've also had a lot of fun going through boxes and unpacking all my yarn, knitting books and other craft items. It's almost like getting something new. My new craft nook is small and disorganized, but it still makes me happy to have access to everything again. My next job will be to organize the rest of my yarn, all of my magazines and most of my needles, all of which is currently being stored in the living room.

The Joy of the Couch

2007-02-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, our belongings finally arrived in San Francisco. It is so nice to have stuff again. Our butts had become so sore from sitting on the floor, that we went to Target and bought an inflatable love seat. I can't wait to pull that thing out on camping trips.

Of course, now that it is all here, the unpacking begins. The morning was spent arranging and rearranging the living room furniture. Unlike our old, huge Chicago apartment, the space is a little tighter here. We no longer have a separate kitchen, living room and dining room, now we have a Kitchen/ Dining Room/ Living Room. I'm very happy with our apartment though, especially considering what some of the options were.

The most difficult room to tackle will be the extra bedroom. Although I did manage to clear a space to the computer, I think most of the boxes will have to be removed before much else can be done. There are a lot of things that need to be crammed into this room!

Well, back to my boxes...

Something Sweet

2007-02-14T17:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!

This afternoon I spent some time driving around San Francisco, and I discovered a few things. My original plan was to pick up a magazine, eat lunch at the mall and then come home, but I took a detour on the route home.

I ended up driving along the beach on the road Joel and I have been wondering how to get onto. It was beautiful. The road takes a steep curve by the Cliff House, and another amazing view appears. As I drove around the block to turn around, I pulled over and got out. As I walked down a trail, I noticed another road leading to an overlook. So I got back in the car. This road led to an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

It was windy and cold, and being the wimpy girl that I am, I did not take any of the trails which I'm sure would have led to an even better view. I think that will be more fun when I can go with Joel anyway.

I also got to enjoy the sunset from our living room window. The view from our apartment is fairly good, and includes a small bit of the Pacific on the clear day, the trees of Golden Gate Park, the Richmond and Presidio neighborhoods, and a number of backyards. I particularly enjoy checking out our neighbors' backyards.

Last Sunday one neighbor hung out two pairs of ladies briefs to dry on coat hangers. It was an amusing sight. Personally, I prefer to dry that sort of thing indoors, but to each his own. I also wondered why there were only two pairs.

Finally, here is a picture of my finished cardigan. I'm very happy with how it turned out. I had to chop off my head due to an unfortunate facial expression.

Pattern: Sunkist Cardi from Through the Loops!
Yarn: Auracania Nature Cotton

Mods: I stopped the raglan increases and inch or two short of the pattern directions. I also added button holes, a first for me!

This was a really fun and quick sweater to knit. The best thing about top down sweaters is that there is very little finishing to do except weave in a few ends. I also found out the reason it is usually recommended that you alternate skeins of hand-dyed yarn every few rows! You can definitely tell on the body of the sweater where I switched skeins, but I'm ok with that. I did alternate on the sleeves though, since the effect probably wouldn't have been as nice there.

Westward, Ho!

2007-02-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

We made it! After not seeing my husband for a month, it was great to spend the long drive from Chicago to San Francisco with him. I don't think I drove him too crazy with my backseat driving, although I'm sure that is one thing he didn't miss about me!

What Cheer, Iowa

As expected, the ride through Iowa and Nebraska was a little dull. That was the only time I got any knitting done. I finished half of a scarf for Project Spectrum, and finished most of the body of my Sunkist Cardi. I had knit a good bit of this sweater before we embarked on our trip, and it seemed like a good car project. It was, until I noticed dark pink fuzz all over my coat--and I mean completely covering it. For the rest of the day, I was totally embarrassed to leave the car. Thankfully, I was able to pick up a lint roller that night. Needless to say, that was the last time I picked it up on the trip. I finished the sweater this morning, and I'm hoping to post some finished pics soon.

Cowboy Country (Cheyenne, Wyoming)

The drive through Nebraska was windy, but nothing prepared us for Wyoming. When we arrived at the Motel 6 in Cheyenne Thursday night, it was well below zero and crazy windy. Some of the worst weather I've ever experienced. The next morning was not much better, although it was clear and sunny out. Cheyenne has a charming downtown and was much more cosmopolitan than expected. I enjoyed a chai latte and cherry scone for breakfast, and we had fun checking out the vintage motel signs before leaving town.

Joel braving the cold.

After leaving Cheyenne, the real fun began--for Joel that is. Even though the weather was clear, the wind was so strong that it was kicking up all the snow. At times the road was a complete white out. This continued for the majority of the drive through Wyoming. We kept seeing signs saying "I-80 Closed When Flashing", but the road was open for travel. We wondered how much worse it had to get before they closed the road. I'd hate to be there during a snow storm!

Crazy Wyoming weather!

Even though the weather was insane, Wyoming was beautiful. I didn't get any knitting done, because I didn't want to miss anything. I spent the rest of the trip taking an obscene amount of pictures. More to come soon!

Distractions

2007-01-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about the projects I want to take on the drive from Chicago to San Francisco. Nothing too crazy, but whatever I take has to last about 3 weeks, since that is how long it will take for our things to arrive. Since I'll be looking for a job, I will also have a lot of free time on my hands. I am envisioning lots of knitting time.

I meant to do a guage swatch for the Sunkist Cardi, pack the needles and yarn, and work on it in the car. Once I started I couldn't stop though. I'm loving the yarn, even though it's cotton and it's freezing here. There are subtle variations in the color, and it is so soft.

Today I created a pile of possible projects for the trip. It is laughably huge. Currently, I have four sweaters on the needles, including the cardi. One is almost finished and the others have been sitting for a while. The pile also includes numerous other projects. Since we also have to fit a lot of our belongings in the car, I'm going to have to cut back a bit. Did I mention we have a very small car?

At Long Last

2007-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:00

This purse has been sitting around, 95% complete, for months now. All that was left to do was to finish one of the straps, and then connect the two together.

When I saw this recycled silk yarn on sale at a local yarn shop, I knew I had to try it. I had seen a pattern calling for it, and it looked fun. It was an enjoyable project, but by the time I got to that last strap, I had lost interest.

For one thing, the yarn is difficult to knit with. It is very beautiful and has an almost oily feel, but there is no give. Also, this is a little too hippy for me--I probably should have considered that before starting. The yarn also sheds like crazy. I'm still finding little bits of fiber in the strangest place, not to mention all over many of the knitting projects that have shared the same knitting bag with this purse.

Last week I rediscovered it. The finished bag is very pretty, so I am happy with how it turned out--finally. I overlapped the two straps, instead of grafting the stitches as the pattern called for, and attached a vintage button to the top. I'm not sure what, if anything, this will be used for since it is very floppy, but it feels good to cross it off my list.

Socks: The Pair

2007-01-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

The second sock has been completed. I worked on this sock whenever I had the chance, and it was finished fairly quickly. Especially compared to the first sock which took 4 months!

The socks are not without issues. For one thing, one is larger than the other. This is especially noticeable in the ribbing. They are both a little big in general, but not so bad that I won't wear them. There are also little mistakes throughout both socks--none of which is too noticeable. I'm not sure I've mastered the Kitchener Stitch either, but the toes turned out ok, so who knows?

I never did a guage swatch for these socks, so that may be where some of my problems lie. One of the reasons for this is that I didn't have the next size smaller needles, so I just decided to wing it. Probably not the best idea, considering I am a somewhat loose knitter. Also, these are the smallest needles I've ever knit with, and I think the thought of using smaller than a size 2 turned me off at the time.

All things considered, I love the socks and I learned so much working on them. It's always fun to learn a new technique or two.

I'm already planning my next sock project. I've been looking for a pattern for some Trekking XXL that I picked up around Thanksgiving. I was originally going to use this for a pair of mittens, but I've changed my mind. Last night I found the perfect pattern (named Rhodie, and found here), but the method involves using 2 circular needles. This would involve buying more needles and learning a new technique amidst all my packing and general moving craziness, so I'm not sure. Maybe I will try to convert it to DPNs. I also have some Fleece Artist, which I want to use for a pair of Jaywalkers, so maybe I will focus on those instead.

The drive to San Francisco is coming up in a week and three days. Let the countdown begin! This week I am going to choose my projects for the drive. As long as I can avoid car sickness, I will be knitting practically nonstop for 4 days straight. That is definitely something to forward to!

More on the Sock

2007-01-15T15:19:00.000-08:00

First... I finished my sock! I'm very excited and proud. I keep trying it on and admiring it. I immediately cast on for the second sock, and I'm making great progress. I'll post a picture when the second sock has been completed. Hopefully, it will not take as long as the first sock did.

Second, I've decided to join Project Spectrum. Project Spectrum is an exploration of the color wheel with specific colors for each two month period. The February/March colors are blue, white and grey.

I am on a very strict budget due to my impending move, so at least for the first two months, I will be knitting from the stash. I have some slubby, hand-dyed yarn which I think would make a pretty drop stitch scarf. It is blue and green though, so I'm not sure if that qualifies. I also have some GGH Amelie, which is kind of fuzzy and very soft. I only have two balls though--maybe a pillow. There is also my Hourglass Sweater--I got sidetracked from that some time ago.

I'm focusing on blue, because I do not have any white or grey in the stash. There might be some off-white though. I'll have to get creative--which is the whole point.

Sock Progress

2007-01-10T20:08:00.000-08:00

I made a lot of progress on my sock today. It even joined me in listening to Bush give his spiel.

Now that I've restarted it, I have to say that it is exciting. When I first started knitting, I wondered why anyone would knit a sock. It just seemed tedious and illogical. Why not just buy a $5 pair? Then I started reading other knitter's blogs, and I thought I'd give it a try.

While it has been tedious at some points, I've also learned a lot. I'm on a roll and hoping to finish this sock soon. I may or may not knit the second sock, but I can't wait to tell people (non-knitters) that I knit a sock. I can only imagine their reactions.

BTW... yes, that is a hole by the heel flap. I missed a spot when I was picking up stitches. The plan is to stitch it shut when I'm finished.

My First Sock

2007-01-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

I have been knitting this sock since early September/late August. It has been so long, that I can't remember when I started it anymore. Originally, this was going to be my "bedside table project" that I would knit before going to sleep.

For any number of reasons, there hasn't been much progress. About a month ago, I started a book that I can't seem to put down. Needless to say, there hasn't been much bedside knitting since.

I've also been somewhat uninspired by the pattern. I rediscovered the sock today and tried it on. It does look nice, although I'm not sure about the colors. It's a good first sock though I would imagine. The yarn is like string, but feels ok knit up.

I keep telling myself to get through this pattern, because I have some Fleece Artist yarn that I want to use to make some Jaywalkers. The colorway is much nicer than the one I'm currently working with, and the yarn feels great.

I'm nearing the home stretch for this first sock, and I've regained interest for now. Hopefully, I will finish before something more exciting comes along. I don't know if the second sock will ever get knit, but at the very least this has been a good practice.

Last Christmas Hurrah

2006-12-31T16:52:00.000-08:00

My sister and her boyfriend visited Chicago over the past two days, and we were able to exchange our handmade Christmas presents. Here is a picture of her modeling her scarf. She really seemed to like it, and even wore it a few times.

She gave me a recipe box, and included some of her favorite recipes. I love cooking, so this was a great gift for me. We are going to start a new Christmas tradition of exchanging 10 of our favorite recipes each year. I was very curious to see what kind of gift she would come up with, since she is not the crafty type. I was pleasantly surprised.

Here is a picture of me with my recipe box.

It has been an interesting weekend. My sister and I have always had a difficult relationship; we are very different, and have not always gotten along very well. As long as we avoid certain sujects things are fine. There were a few tense moments, like when she said that a lot of my belongings "were kind of ghetto" (gee, thanks!), and when I dared to bring up her smoking (always a touchy subject). Overall, it was pretty fun though.

I have to say that I'm glad 2006 is almost over. It has been a difficult year. 2007 is going to bring with it many big changes, and I'm looking forward to a new start.

Happy New Year!