Ketchup

Did you guys miss me? I have been so freakin' busy. And it's funny how going more than two weeks without blogging about current projects means you have a TON to talk about, even if it's been light knitting.

1) I got into Ravelry at last! I've found some of you already, but you can look for me as EverwhelmingLiz.

2) I forgot to say, but I passed my comps. I am now ABD (all but dissertation), and once I fill out a form and turn in a transcript I will have completed the requirements for a Bonus Master's Degree. But now I'm frantically working on a dissertation proposal and, soon, grant proposals. I should be doing that right now, but I missed you guys!

3) The wedding plans are... progressing. Slowly. Hopefully on Friday we'll get the final news about whether the seamstress can do the dress I want. I'll post about that later, if it works out it is going to be really awesome.

4) If you guys pray, please pray for my grandmother and our family. If you don't, send us some good thoughts. She has Alzheimer's and finally had to go into a nursing home last week. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry, it was so sad to see her there, with her mind essentially gone.

Ok, and the knitting.

1) I've mostly been working on the second Twisted Flower sock, which is done at last. In a fit of generosity last weekend I offered these to my aunt, but I don't know how well they will wash, so I guess I ought to test a swatch.


These were some very challenging socks, but so much fun. Also, Dave had better keep an eye on me, because I am tempted to run away with Louet Gems and have its babies. Softest, prettiest yarn EVER.


2) With the socks winding down, I started working on smaller things. I made a baby hat with some leftover 1824 Wool. The Yarn Harlot is coming to town next Tuesday, and this is my contribution to the representation.


The pattern is the Umbilical Cord hat from Stitch n Bitch. This was my first ever baby knit, and it is so freaking cute. I hope it makes somebody's baby very happy and warm.

3) With the baby hat done, I went even smaller.


The plan is to make enough of these to cover my entire Christmas tree, then have a Christmas party and let everybody take one home. They're lots of fun to make. Would you guys be interested in a pattern? They're pretty basic, just the normal sock on normal US1s, except only 16 stitches around.

4) This post is quickly approaching critical mass, but I need to include the status of the Equestrian Blazer. I am really not happy with this thing. My row gauge is off and it's coming out too long. I made some adjustments and lowered the armpit a couple inches. It was still too long, and then the other front came out about a half inch longer. Groan.


I have the back and both fronts done (they're those long skinny curled up things), but now that I can see other people's finished blazers on Ravelry I am falling more out of love with this project. It is just not as tailored or sleek as I had hoped.


I think it is destined for the frog pond. I want to make a cardigan with the same lines as the Tangled Yoke cardigan from the latest IK, but maybe without the cable. Any thoughts?

Mmmerino

Lots of knitting with Merino here in Orange Couch Land.

I'm working on the second Twisted Flower sock, finally.


I also whipped up this project for a dear friend who spends her days in a refrigerated lab.


Pattern: Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat, Charmed Knits
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Zara (100% merino), just under 2 balls.



I am obviously no good at this "self-portrait" thing. Let's pretend the off-centeredness is me being arty.

This is just a tribute

I want to say happy birthday to the greatest boyfriend in the whole world.

You listened to my constant waffling over whether I should do this hat in allover cables or mostly stockinette.



You comforted me as I panicked and despaired over the total bitch that is the edging for my shawl, which tried to detach itself last night. I am sorry if I scared you while I was hyperventilating.

(knitters--it turns out I am attaching it backwards, and there's a visible seam. I am tempted to like it, but I kinda can't decide. Any thoughts?)



You cheered me on as I blocked "that brown thing," and then you learned the difference between "feral"



...and "fair isle."

Bonus: Calorimetry Mods

Yes, I did modify Calorimetry. This pattern has come out much too big for a lot of people, and I definitely didn't want that. I was knitting when I should've been doing other stuff, so I wanted it to come out right the first time. You know, so I didn't waste the time I was already wasting.

I already knew I'd want to resize it anyway, as the pattern is for a 24" head and mine's only 22.5". It turns out that I have no straight or circular US 8s, so I used a US 9. I cast on 108 stitches instead of the pattern's 120, and it's loose but not too loose. I did the same number of repeats, though, because I did want it to be kind of wide. The yarn is Brown Sheep Company Lamb's Pride, in a skein I have used for four small projects now and just can't seem to get rid of.

Calorimetry, and Fair Isle February

A new knitalong for me:

I'm hoping to get some inspiration and commiseration from these folks. I've been thinking about turning Venezia into a v-neck, so once I've formulated the idea a little more clearly maybe I'll hop over there for advice.

I switched patterns on the swap socks. I needed something more fun--I liked the old pattern, but I kept wanting to knit Venezia more. This one is awesome, and much harder to put down. I'm going toe-up this time, and am nearly done with the gusset on a Widdershins-type heel. I figure I have about four weeks left before these need to be in the mail, so this is the plan: Each week I have to knit half a sock--either the foot (with heel) or the cuff. Once I've finished that, I can knit on Venezia until the new week starts. I think poor Venezia won't be seeing much daylight till they're done, but she knows it will be worth the wait.

On Tuesday night, after I'd gotten the socks under way, I was browsing some flikr groups and suddenly could no longer resist-- I HAD to have a calorimetry. How the heck do you say that, anyway?

Short rows are like potato chips: you can't stop until you've finished them all. I had a really, really hard time putting the thing down at bedtime, and finished it early yesterday morning in time to wear to school.

I like it! Notice that I'm wearing my first sweater there.