WIP Wednesday 1/13/10

My FO of the week wasn't even on the radar last week.

It is a chemo cap in some Homespun leftovers. (I think the rest of this skein was some sort of bag.) I went into a bit of the background yesterday, but the pattern is Braid-Edge Cap. I really liked the pattern. I did this on the size 8s and followed the directions for the smaller size, which gives a bigger hat with the bigger yarn and needles. As is always the case with gage, YMMV. I enjoyed this knit it was interesting enough to be fun but not complicated enough to be frustrating. The only thing I would do change if I were to do it again is to do a provisional cast on and graft the beginning to the end. Sure, a kitchner would be more work, but I'd rather have a grafted seam than a sewn one for a chemo cap - or any cap fpr that matter.

I've been attempting to replenish my Prayer Shawl supply to donate to the Church. First, I started Urchins and Limpets. LOVE the pattern. I did not love the yarn choice I made. Homespun. See for yourself.

I've got leftovers of sage and white in my stash. I may use those. I may pick up a couple of small skeins in other colors. I may not. I'm not ready to return to this one right this minute. What I am working on is the Shawl Ministry Prayer Shawl from the book Knitting for Peace (Christmas gift from Mom). Homespun again. I used the US 11s as suggested by the pattern, but the stitch pattern was just lost in this yarn. I went up to a US17. Mostly because I love working with this particular set of needles. smooth, soft and warm. I frogged out about 6 inches and started over.I'm on row 3. Not much to see. Pictures next week.

I've made progress on my socks. Heels are turned and I'm on the way up the leg.

Simple 4x2 rib, but I decided to stick alternating cables in the middle of each color band. Why? Well, why not? I just wanted something to break up the monotony. I made 4 pairs of basic rib socks for my guys for Christmas and varrying the rib repeat did little to hold my attention.

WIP wednesday 1/6/10

This is actually an FO now, but I wanted to show you the WIP photos. The pattern is from Knitting Cables on the GO and is actually for fingerles mitts. I decided early on that I wnted my fingers to be warm too. Might have been that day the wind chill was -2 and I was standing on the tracks where it was probably more like -6. I devised a decrease method that sorked out well and they fit great. Notes on the decreases are here.

as I was about to start the thumb gussets, I realized that the stitch markers and stitch holders I normally have on me were stolen. It occured to me that I had plenty of paperclips in the office!

talk about a multipurpose tool! they worked great as markers, then I just slipped the thumb stitches on when the gussets were complete. The original pattern also called for an open thumb as well. The instructions are here.

I've cast on some socks for me next. It is my basic toe-up sock pattern with a 2x4 rib. I'm adding alternating cable twists just to make it interesting. Kim gifted me with the yarn (5th Avenue Socksation) and another ball for her BUT her feet are in WI, so I need her to send me a tracing so I know how big to make them. I'll start hers as soon as I know what size they want to be.

I am now thinking about the Ravelympics again - what shall I make? I'm thinking that I may re-work this pattern with a crochet lace. Need to chose yarn and so far, I'm thinking Cotton Ease.

WIP Wenesday

remember way back when I used to do weekly WIP update? Now that I can blog somewhat regularly, I'm going to attempt to resurrect that. I'm also putting out the challenge to other knit/crochet/quilt/craft bloggers to join me for WIP Wednesday. Drop me a comment and I will add your link to my post.

Before I explain the photo, let me tell you a little story. I usually ride the train to work. I knit on the trains - nothing new there. Well, now I'm working at 3 different stations. I have a backpack with my knitting, makeup and about 30 pens. I also carry my clipboard stuffed with forms in it. I left my bag on the platform in SoNo (which has recnetly been made "famous" by this story) while my clipboard and I went to talk to the cops. There was a RR employee standing about 5 feet from it. I guess he went to go get a coffee and some crackhead swiped my knitting! Did I mention that this was Christmas knitting? I made matching socks for all of my boys. I was halfway done with Andy's -the last pair - when it was taken LESS THAN A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!! I ran back to Joann's got mre yarn and a new needle and managed to get a new pair done on Christmas Eve! AS frustrating as that was, I have to laugh because the joke was on the thief. There was nothing of any value to anyone but me in there. Good luck pawning a half knit pair of socks and some used lipgloss.

The hat is Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret from Strands of Me. The yarn is Debbie Mumm Traditions (Heather Haze) from Jo-Ann etc. It is a wool blend - soft and warm. It is a loosly spun single ply, so it can be a bit of a pita to work with. Each skein also had a knot in it which messed up the pattern repeat. The pattern was well written, easy to follow and fun to knit. I started it Saturday night and finished Sunday afternoon!

Right now I'm working on a pair of cabled gauntlets in the same yarn, but I have a feeling that they will end up being mittens. I'll post a picture of those next week. There isn't much to look at now.

I need to shovel out the sewing room and then I can post new pictures of my quilts. I am mid quilting on the feed sack sampler and I have another quilt top that needs batting, backing and quilting.

Can't come to the blog right now...

well.. I suppose I can .. I just did... my mind has just been on unblogable things.. well again, I could blog them, but people actually read this - quite a few actually. This topic is way to personal and deep for me to begin to discuss in such a broad forum. It (with the help of Kathy) has inspired me to write a collection of fictionalized essays/short stories, which I may at some point share. Possibly in this forum, but maybe not. How is that for vague? See.. I'm still sorting this all out in my head and it's pretty full in there right now between the topic I ponder, new changes at work (more regulations=more work) and getting ready for Halloween (it's big here!). Not to mention that I am still cold, damp and bitchy about my clusterfuck of a commute this morning. "on or close to schedule" my ASS!

as for my knitting/crocheting:

• 2 gifts in the works- can't blog those yet...
• socks are black/grey and it is WAY too dark to take a progress pick and have it actually look like anything.
• the wedding shawl looks EXACTLY like it did last time I showed you.
• I did finish this: a felted drawstring bag.

Sick of the Scum

The Pond Scum socks are D-O-N-E! finally! It was starting to feel like I've been knitting these for.E.V.E.R. I did manage to use up almost all of the yarn though.. That is always nice. I hate waste.

Details:

• Pattern- Seaweed Socks by Wendy Johnson
• Yarn- ONline Linie 3 Supersocke 100 lost the ball band with the colorway... but I bought it at WEBS.
• Ravelry project link
• Notes- I like the heel - I'll probably use that again. The lace was OK, but I'm clearly sick of it. It does bias a bit

Up next:

I promised the next pair of socks to Todd. He Picked out some "MANgenta" sock yarn at WEBS,

BUT he was flipping through the latest WEBS catalog (he'll read anything in the bathroom!) and saw a picture of CookieA's "Monkey" socks and a black/grey sock yarn. So I ordered the yarn. It came in as I was Casting off the Pond Scum, So I started the Heavy Metal Monkey Socks this morning.


Toe-up - as usual. I'm also going to omit the picot at the cuff. It isn't very manly...

I'll distract you with my knitting...

Still don't have the camp pics up.. so how 'bout some knitting?

First, I Finished Ryan's socks to match Todd's. Both pairs were test-driven at camp and got the seal of approval. they are both knit in my standard sock recipe. Toe up, 2x2 rib, short row heel. yawn.. but it shows the self-patterning yarn nicely and it makes for an easy commuter knit. the yarn is ON Linie supersock 100. needles US 1.5 (addi turbos).



I cast on a new sock project for ME.



The yan is more ON Linie Supersock 100, pruchased at WEBS. needles are sitll US 1.5 ATs. The pattern is Seaweed Socks from Wendy Knits. I'm thinking I'll make the Large. Right now I am almost up to the Medium increaes, so I'll try it on and see.

Next up...



Longies for Colin. I bought the green (Cascade 220 Heathers from WEBS) thinking shorties, but spring turned into summer and we are approaching fall, SO, I picked up some Patons Merino in Brown to coordinate with it. I'm working 2" horizontal stripes. The pattern is the Booty-Extreme Knit Pant which I am really enjoying!

Finally, You will notice the addition of Bobicus Maximus to my sidebar. Yes, I got all 36 squares joined and the whole thing bound. final pics are with the camp pics. I'll post the details with the final photos, which are worth the wiat! for now... a close up of the "Dudessembly".

Train Tact

It seems that a few of my fellow commuters can use a refresher course in manners. It really isn't hard, but you have to at least try to use some common sense. Here are just a few ways to be a better commuter.

• when you are on a train platform that is packed shoulder to shoulder, do you really think that 6ft golf umbrella was such a great idea?
• when the train arrives at the station, you will need to close it BEFORE you get on the train. plan ahead.
• once you are on the train, where do you plan on putting that giant wet umbrella? In the overhead luggage rack? uh, NO! try again....
• I realize that I take an early train, but sleeping across three seats on a peak-hour train is grounds for a beat down - and this train stops in Bridgeport, pal!
• If your cell phone/crackberry ringer is set to "obnoxious", ANSWER THE FUCKING PHONE!
• No one else in the train car wants to hear Miley Cyrus on infinite repeat for 40 minutes little girl!
• If you want to get your arrogant Armani covered ass on this train, you better move and let me get the hell off - unless you want to "watch the gap" up close.

And while I am whining about the people on the MTA, let me complain - again - about these freaking trains. I've covered this before, but apparently no one was listening.

Now, don't get me wrong, the MTA staff on the train rocks. They are professional, polite and they take pity on you when you aren't paying attention and end up in Harlem (nothing wrong with Harlem, but I was aiming for Greenwich).

BUT can you PLEASE maintain the train cars? Yes, I am aware that you've ordered new cars. great. That may help when they get here - NEXT YEAR. Oh, wait, my bad they begin to arrive in a year, but you won't have them all until 2012. thanks. even if the train fairy delivered them all today. It still isn't enough.

Gas prices are going up. I-95 isn't getting any less crowded. More people are taking the train, 20% more in the first quarter this year. Every day the trains are more and more crowded. The Friday afternoon trains are SO full, that the conductors can't even move up and down the aisles to collect tickets. it can't be safe to run the trains that full.

What does NOT help matters is when trains are regularly a car short. Even worse? A car short and at least one car with rain leaking in so badly that half of the seats can't be used. No, actually, even worse was the Friday afternoon express that was not only a car short, BUT two of the cars were without a/c - in July - in CT. It was so hot in those cars that it was unsafe! So glad you got that one fixed - almost a week later...

Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying the commute - since I don't have to drive. I really like my job, but I couldn't handle the commute if I had to deal with the mess on I-95... even if gas were free. It is just that some mornings, the little things piss you off... and some days I just feel like bitching (I'm tired and I'm sore and it's my blog. get over it.)

Back in the saddle....

I got my bike back on Saturday (yes, I bought a new helmet!). I was really happy to be back on the bike Monday morning.. until the clouds unleashed their vengeance on me about 3 blocks from the station. NOT.FUN. neither was the cold, wet train ride (I had a change in the office thank goodness!). My commute didn't improve with the bus ride. Some lady pulled out into the side of the bus. She destroyed the front end of her car and scratched the bus. Still, it is better than being hit on your bike... but really, 2 accidents in two weeks? Enough already!

Monday night also meant stitch removal for me. While I am THRILLED to be rid of them, the bandages and the itching, I'm not liking the return of the pain! It hurt getting them out and it hurts to even touch my leg again. Still, the doctor said it looks good and is healing well. I'll take his word for it. It looks like I have a vagina on my leg. (nice mental picture, no?) I did bring Andy with me. He was fascinated adn asked lots of questions. He said it looked easy...

As for the potential legal action, I'm leaving that up to my lawyer and not expecting any news soon.

While we are on the topic of commuting, I finished Todd's Patriotic Socks. He was putting the first one on while I was sewing in the ends on the second. Guess he likes them! I know Ryan does because I have been oredered to make a pair for him. I've got plenty of yarn leftover for a kid pair, so why not? next pair is MINE.

Yarn Barf

One of my biggest pet peeves.

The whole point of working from a center-pull skein is so that you don't have to deal with knots, tangling and balls of yarn rolling down the aisle of the train car (or is that just me?)

I'm knitting Todd's socks in ONlinie 3 Supersocke 100 - which I got on sale at WEBS because it is being discontinued. It isn't the softest sock yarn, but it seems like a durable yarn and a bit more "grabby" than some others. Maybe I just got used to primuim sock yarn. My last 2 pairs were in Loran's Laces afterall... there are no knots (so far and I'm not even to the heel yet) and no bizzare dye screw ups (had that happen with Fortissiama Colori). It isn't even splitty (again with the Fortissima - which hasnt' held up for anything).

BUT the skeins keep barfing! I spend more time untangling than knnitting these days! BAH!

knitting -1 FO and 2 WIPs

I finally finished my Zaftig Tank. I added lenfth in a horseshoe lace. I increased the needle size a couple of times as I went down. I finished it off with a crochet BO. I also opted to sew the straps to the center back to make it a tank rather than halter. I have long hair - it knots.

you can't really see it in these pictures, but the last ball of yarn was a different dye lot (WHY didn't I check first???) I didn't notice until I was 2" into the lace and said "eff it"! Now, it still bothers me. it isn't distinct enough to look like an on-purpose stripe, and it isnt' close enough that it isn't noticable - well to me anyway. I'm considering a slight over-dye to attempt to even it out.

I have 2 things OTN right now.

I have a pair of shorties for Colin as my home/soccer project:

It is basically my "Twisted" pattern, but I did the cuffs in seed stitch and added crotch gussets.

My train/travel project is a pair of socks for Todd:

They are coming along, but he does have some big feet!

All the yarn in this post was from my trip to WEBS for the Harlot signing. There is still yarn in that stash for another pair of shorties, 1 more pair of socks for Todd and 2 pairs for me!

All about the knitting

If you aren't interested in yarn, then move on- nothing to see here today.

First up in the FO parade is the Everlasting Bagstopper . My initial thought was to put backpack straps on it and use it as a beach bag, then it occured to me that I did not want to carry the kids sandy, soggy beach toys on my back. Plan B was to make fabric straps with a really pretty shell print left over from the fish quilt. I like Plan B! the yarn is Sugar & Cream leftovers from the stash.



Hmm... looks like there is something in that bag... nope not sand toys... Zaftig! Since I would like to be able to wear this in public, I am going to add length to it in a lace pattern to make it a proper top. I am considering converting the straps from halter to tank, but I'll decide when it is done. Yarn: Cascade Fixation, color # 6399. Part of my haul from WEBS.


Speaking of WEBS, I had my "Emergency Knitting" (not practical? LMAO!) with me on Sunday. I knit during the talk and while in line. I would have knit in the car too, but I was driving. It was really cool to be around so many people who not only knew that I was indeed knitting socks (not one person asked me why!) but most also recognized the pattern. It is Pomatamus. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Super Sport in the "Jeans" colorway. They are on my feet. They are Comfy!



I worked them toe-up instead of cuff-down as "suggested" by the pattern. I modified my short-row heel by knitting the back of the heel (where I picked up th estitches/wraps) in the twisted rib. I love how it ligned right up with the pattern!

Other than that, I am finding great use for leftover sock yarn (design forthcomming) and I am goign to be casiting on some Shorties for Colin in the very near future.

weekend recap

not that my life is all that exciting...

• We are suspecting that Ryan has ADHD- not a big shock in this house... but we're waiting on a professional opinion late May. yes, that is as soon as we can get him in.




• the elder two boys were having a tough time behaving adn listening. Mommy removed ALL toys from their room. They are left with a couple of stuffies they sleep with and their books. I don't think they believed me at first. Andy damn near flipped when he saw me bring the stuff down to the toy dungon. Ryan wanted to know which bin they got to keep (NONE!) and when they'd get it back (depends on them!). I made it clear that I will not hesitate to keep taking more stuff away until they get the picture.
• Colin grabbed his RPI baby Puckman onesie out of his drawer, brought it to Mommy and said "hockey!" We went to a Sound Tigers game later that day (yes, he wore the onesie!). They lost in a 6 round shoot-out! good game though.

• Colin is picking up our love of reading. So what if the book is upside down!
  
  
• again with the Colin.. I've had ENOUGH of him pulling down the gate and headed for big kid territory upstairs. I had to buy a new gate and mounting kit so he can't pull it down. Before you even ask - the house had a slightly different configuration pre-fire (all of our gates were destroyed then anyway.) so this gate was unnecessary.

• I've been doing some stealth knitting. I can't wait to show you, but it'll have to wait until the gift is given.. totally worth the wait!

• I should have some nice LL super sport for my Pomatomus today or tomorrow YAY! I'm running out of protable projects... although my Ravlery queue isn't getting any shorter...

socks and such

I've finally finished Todd's Safari Socks. It seems like forever, but for a oair of his socks, they went pretty quickly. about a month of karate classes and a month of commuter knitting. As soon as they were off teh needles, they were on his feet. I did manage to snap a quick pick with the phone:


on yesterdays commute, I whipped up an inhaler sock for him to keep in his gym bag. The tops always come off and you get gunk in them - ICK!



I'd love to take credit for the idea, but it isn't mine. I found it on Ravlery, but you can also find it here. I didn't follow that pattern per se. I used the same formula as I did for Todd's socks, just scaled it down.

Cynthia had a great idea for reusing outgrown baby socks as inhaler socks on her blog.

Nervous traveler

I've been mulling this post over in my head for a few days, yet I'm still not sure I can articulate my thoughts properly.

As a kid I was painfully shy. My mom maintains that she signed me up for dance class and I got over it. Nope. not even close! I enjoyed the classes, so I put on my big girl panites and did it anyway. I've been trying to push the boundary ever since. I'm still terrified of new situations and it takes me FOREVER to warm up to new people.

What does this have to do with traveling? Lots. The whole reason - I think - is a need to know what is going to happen. I can "wing it" with my knitting, but that is about it. I NEED to know when the train is. which platform my transfer is on. where my stop is. where to catch the bus. if I need to walk up/back for my stop (I almost never know which car I'm in. I don't count).

Then you have the fact that I am packed in with hundreds of complete strangers. Granted, most people are just waking up or trying to wind down at the end of the day and get lost in their own thoughts (except the two "gossip girls" who yap inceasantly from Stratford to Greenwich and back EVERY day). Occasionally people like to make polite conversation. I suck at small talk. One lady asked me about my knitting and wanted me to show her how to knit socks. It was like talking to someone I'd known forever. funny how that works.

So this commuting thing has gotten easier after a week. my only disaster happened the first day - it sucked, but I lived and I am over it. the faces are getting familiar. and I am gettign home at a decent hour - relaxed.

Visit http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/outoftown/connecticut/metro-north/index.htm for more MNRR New Haven Line pictures.

the Commute

new job - new commute. the first morning didn't go so hot. my stinkin' cab was 40 minutes late*! I missed FOUR trains and screwed my shutle connection at the other end. I ended up being 1:15 late for my second day - nice. Fortunately, the new boss is not an ass, so it was ok. The ride home was better.

On the way back a lady saw me knitting and sat down next to me. She is a new knitter and we talked needles and yarn shops and I introduced her to magic loop and HK socks. she asked "the" question "why not just go to Kohls?". I told her to knit a pair, put them on - then ask me. Its like parenting. you think you know - but you don't - not until you are ankle deep in it.

This morning, the planets aligned and the commuter gods were kind. My cab was about 10 minutes early - which meant that I caught the early train - semi express, through train to my stop - no transfer in stamford :happy dance: I got off the train, down to the street and my shuttle was wating. My stop is the last in the loop, so I was the last one on the bus. the driver pulled up to the driveway of my building instead of the regular stop next door. I hope the rest of my train rides go this well!

so, if you are on the MNRR New Haven Line and see someone knitting this:



come and say "hi"!

*Note to Cab drivers: if you are 40 minutes late and I miss 4 trains - you do NOT deserve a tip - so don't ask for one - jerk!