FO: Ishbel

Pattern: Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: DIC Smooshy, in Gothic Rose
Mods: Did stockinette for the small size, but lace for the large size.

So much fun to knit! I took a gamble and didn't use a single lifeline, and I had to fudge the pattern a few times, but nothing too horrendous happened. Towards the end the rows were so long that it dragged a bit, but the lace pattern kept it interesting.



This turned out bigger than I expected. I wanted to use this beautiful yarn efficiently, so I opted for the large lace section, thinking it wouldn't be quite so large. It still works as a scarf, though.



Please excuse the crappy mirror shot. My bathroom is crooked, not my photography ;)


This one shows the colour most accurately, and you can see it was snowing outside this morning when I took the picture!

I've been wearing it all day, and I know it will be very useful. The yarn is quite soft, but still sturdy, so I hope it holds up.

Plus, now I can cross off #4 - Knit a lace shawl.

Fail.

Ishbel is finished and blocking, but that's about the only thing that has gone right today. And even then, I had to make a trek out of my way to find some sewing pins because they weren't where I thought I'd find them. Maybe I'm being overdramatic, but things aren't lining up the way I'd like them to. My timing is off, my motivation is low, I'm accident prone, and all I want to do is curl up with a cup of tea and something chocolate. (And maybe some knitting.)

Tomorrow:
-a less whiny post.
-pictures of Ishbel (hint: she's unexpectedly huge!)

Weekend words: an addendum to Thursday

Last night I got together with some friends for a night of jollity, including a rousing game of Balderdash, which led to me learning several new words, so I thought I'd add on the ones I remember. (Yes, Balderdash is rousing!) This puts me at 38 out of 150, in case anyone is keeping track.

biltong
(chiefly S. African) lean meat which is salted and dried in strips.
~OED

tamarau
a small brownish-black buffalo similar to the anoa, found only on Mindoro in the Philippines. • Bubalus mindorensis , family Bovidae.
~OED

sprod
(N. Amer.) a young cod, haddock, or similar fish.
~OED
(The Balderdash definition specified salmon...)

gundalow
a form of river barge, long obsolete, used in the USA. It had a high carved bow and a large lateen sail set on a short, stumpy mast. The lateen yard was very high in the peak and the lower end was heavily weighed and balanced so that it could easily be lowered on deck. The small offshore fishing schooners of Maine, USA, which had high sterns, were also known as gundalows. They, too, are obsolete.
~The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea

(The best thing was two separate players submitted definitions for Gundalow that involved one storey houses--i.e bungalows-- filled with fire arms. Good times, good times.)

contango
(Brit. Stock Exchange) the normal situation in which the spot or cash price of a commodity is lower than the forward price. Often contrasted with backwardation.
~OED

teenter
A seesaw
~Dictionary.com

craquelure
a network of fine cracks in the paint or varnish of a painting.
~OED

There were more, but some of them I can't actually find definitions for, and some of them I don't remember. These words are obscure and specific enough that I'm sure I'll never use them, but hey. Words!

Thursday. Word.

Still playing catch-up.

Esurient
greedy; voracious
~Free Online Dictionary

Lambative
A medicine taken by licking with the tongue; a lincture.
~Dictionary.com

Exiguous
scanty; meager; small; slender: exiguous income.
~Dictionary.com

Exiguous is one of those words I am sure I've looked up in the dictionary and learned a dozen times, but I keep forgetting what it means. Maybe I'll remember it next to Esurient: an esurient appetite on exiguous means.

numbering the queue

In a fit of organization yesterday, I went through my ravelry queue obsessively tagging, deleting, and rearranging. I'm a librarian - it's in my nature. Did you know Ravelry's queue-searching function does not support boolean operators? You can search for things tagged with multiple tags by putting each tag in the search box, but as far as I can tell you can't search for items with a particular tag and WITHOUT another tag. If I'm wrong about this, someone please let me know.

Here are the results, mostly for my own reference.

176 total items

80 items with free patterns
41 items whose patterns I have already bought in books, magazines, pdfs, etc.

Specifically,
31 scarves/shawls/shawlettes: 20 free, 5 already acquired
31 socks: 18 free, 9 already acquired
20 cardigans: 5 free, 6 already acquired
19 pullovers: 4 free, 6 already acquired
19 hats: 9 free, 5 already acquired
15 mittens and wrist/armwarmers: 3 free, 7 already acquired

Holy crap, I queue a lot of socks compared to the number I actually make. Maybe knitting more socks should be a priority. Note: socks are tied with scarves/shawls, but I have the scarf/shawl situation neatly in hand since I plan on making several as my next few projects.

Sensing a theme

Ishbel is in the foreground, the second Snail Mitten is in the background, and one of my favourite comfy hoodies is nearby. I swear this was not staged: I've been alternating work on both projects today, and I happened to throw the hoodie on my bed instead of putting it away.

You think maybe I like purple / aubergine? Oy. Time to branch out, I think! (To be fair, the Ishbel yarn is definitely more brown than the Snail Mitten yarn, but they are both dark and purple-y)

It's still Thursday, right?: Word

Here's word #28.

Scabrous

1. having a rough surface because of minute points or projections.
2. indecent or scandalous; risqué; obscene
3. full of difficulties.

~Dictionary.com

In my head I heard this in a pirate-voice. Arrr.

About that pattern-buying-freeze

Turns out I declared my freeze at an inopportune time. This is a great and ethical time for pattern buying from many designers through Ravelry, what with many pledging percentages of their sales to MSF and other charities for relief in Haiti. I've come away with a bunch of things I knew I would buy eventually... so why not now? Namely, Laura Chau's Flora and Fauna e-book, as well as the rather uninspirationally-named Top-down shoulder warmer, and of course Ysolda Teague's Whimsical Little Knits 2 booklet. So far...

(I'm stopping now. Really.)


Plus, the scrunched up beginnings of Ishbel. I know, I am likely the last one on this particular bandwagon, but it's exciting nonetheless! I can tell I'm going to have a hard time photographing this yarn. It's Dream in Color Smooshy, in the Gothic Rose colourway.

Resolved

January is the time for resolutions, and although I've been using my 101 in 1001 list over the past year and a bit instead of making resolutions, I still have informal resolution-type thoughts bouncing around in my head. Some of these have to do with specific 101 in 1001 goals, but others are more generic.

I want to continue challenging myself in my knitting, and try some new techniques. I'm thinking maybe it's time to try double-knitting and/or intarsia, if I can manage it. My 101 in 1001 list has lots of knitting related goals that I'll be happy to work through, but I might update it to include a double-knitting goal. We'll see.

The first 5 items of my Ravelry queue are things that I possess yarn and patterns for: I'm declaring a pattern-buying and yarn-buying freeze for the next while to see if I can work with what I've got. After Vivian I only feel drawn to small accessory projects, so I think a break from long-haul projects is in order.

I want to get more exercise (obviously. Most unoriginal resolution ever). Since I no longer have a broken toe, I can actually do that this semester, so I'm going to hold myself to it. Maybe take a yoga class (#70) like I've been meaning to.

I want to tackle some of the forgotten items on my 101 in 1001 list, and maybe replace some of the ones that I no longer have any desire to accomplish.

Specifically, I would like to spend more time trying new recipes (#92), since that kind of fell by the wayside last year.

There are a few items on my list that I definitely expect to cross off in the next 6 or 7 months, as a matter of course. These include #101 - Get a Masters degree, #48 - Get appropriate visa to work abroad in England, and it's mate #49 - Move to England semi-permanently. Perhaps #47 - Get a steady job won't be far behind? Ha. Exciting times, my friends.

Words words words

I've fallen behind on my word-learning. To be honest, I'm having a hard time remembering most of the words I've learned as part of this project of mine. But I'll press on, since I like words.


Lacustrine

1. of or pertaining to a lake.
2. living or growing in lakes, as various organisms.
3. formed at the bottom or along the shore of lakes, as geological strata.

~Dictionary.com


Just a scarf in progress to add colour. Kind of lake-coloured maybe? Okay that's a stretch.

Termagant

–noun
1. a violent, turbulent, or brawling woman.
2. (initial capital letter) a mythical deity popularly believed in the Middle Ages to be worshiped by the Muslims and introduced into the morality play as a violent, overbearing personage in long robes.
–adjective
3. violent; turbulent; brawling; shrewish.

~Dictionary.com

Pother

–noun
1. commotion; uproar.
2. a heated discussion, debate, or argument; fuss; to-do.
3. a choking or suffocating cloud, as of smoke or dust.
–verb
4. to worry; bother.

~Dictionary.com

Incarnadine

1. blood-red; crimson.
2. flesh-colored; pale pink.

~Dictionary.com

I don't really think I'll ever have the occasion to use "termagant," given that accusing women of shrewishness is not an acceptable course of action these days, but I still like the word. Words describing colours are always useful in a knitter's vocabulary, though.

Just 123 words to go!

Half an FO: A formerly secret knit is revealed.

I've finished the first of my Norwegian Snail Mittens by Adrian Bizilia. These were supposed to be a Christmas gift, but since I didn't finish them in time, they are no longer a secret.

This is my second stranded colourwork project ever, so I've been extra-paranoid about my tension. This first mitten is still unblocked, but I'm crossing my fingers that the crumply bits will even out.



It looked like the mitten would turn out too long, and I wanted to make it a bit less pointy, so I modified the chart a bit, and started the decreases more gradually. Not clear if this was a good decision, but it seems okay and I'm sticking with it. Plus, I did a different cuff because I just wasn't feeling those welts that are in the original. And I don't have a third colour for accent, but if I find one by the time I finish the second mitten I'll get on with the duplicate stitch. So far so good. I adore the snails.

The Entomology Mittens are next on my colourwork list. I have so much love for the quirky motifs in helloyarn mittens!

Even though I still have to knit the other mitten, I feel a sense of accomplishment seeing the first one finished. Now to avoid second-mitten-syndrome. Casting on momentarily.

FO: Vivian

A final catch-up post before university resumes. I saved the most exciting for last -I finally finished Vivian! I sewed the zipper on in 2010, but all the knitting was finished in 2009, so I count this as my last 2009 FO. Please excuse the picspam. I love it so much I can't contain my excitement!



Yarn: Cascade Eco+
Mods: Added a full cable repeat on the hood, and it turned out to be a perfect size. I also attempted to shorten the sleeves a little by starting the sleeve on row 7 of the cuff chart. The sleeves still came out quite long, but they are manageable.



Another brilliant Ysolda pattern, although I was inattentive at times, and occasionally couldn't understand the logic of the instructions. This resulted in me unintentionally modifying some bits, or else just misunderstanding, but ultimately it worked out fine. Except don't look too closely at the sleeve joins / yoke decreases, because they are the dog's breakfast. And my hood grafting isn't so great either. Ditto my hand-sewn zipper. But hey. I had reached the point where I needed to finish the sweater at all costs, and any designs on perfection fell away.



The back is a little rumpled in this photo, but I think that's due to my awkward posture. The sweater was a little small before I blocked it, but now it fits perfectly. This is easily my favourite 2009 FO, and possibly one of my favourites ever! I've been wearing it almost constantly since I finished it, and unfortunately, the yarn is already starting to pill. I hope it will stop that nonsense soon enough, but if not Vivian will just look more lived in a little sooner.

Holiday FOs, continued

I knit a few more gifts this winter, and now I can show them off!

Mousie, by Ysolda Teague


Here he is in his natural habitat, surrounded by lemon henchmen. His name is Horatio Nelson, according to my boyfriend.

This is my first project from Ysolda's first Whimsical Little Knits book, since I'm slow. (Ishbel is next, predictably). I adore the result, although I didn't enjoy how fiddly some of the knitting was. The ears, augh! Nonetheless, it's so cute I'll probably make it again at the first opportunity. Errata came out for this pattern after I had completed it, but it seemed to work the way I did it.

Next up is Cowl'd and Frosty Morning by Kelly Herdrich, which I made for my brother.



My first Malabrigo project, in Malabrigo Chunky. Awesome experience, will buy again.

Last gift is another cowl, this one for my dad.


I have been calling it "Camel tease," since the yarn is Debbie Bliss Fez: extra fine merino with a touch of camel. Using the stitch pattern from Norah Gaughan's Asymmetrical Cardigan, I knit a tube until I ran out of yarn. I'm pretty pleased with the result, and I have visions of experimenting with stitch patterns on many more cowls, now.

Ultimately, this year's gift knitting experience wasn't too stressful, though I rushed at my mom's Quincy to get it finished before I jetted off. Will I do it again next year? Maybe!

FO: Quincy

I'm in that in-between period when the holiday is nearly over and all I can think about is the impending journey to the airport. This is unfortunately making me a rather unexciting person. But what better time to share one of my pre-Christmas finished objects.



Quincy, by Jared Flood

No mods to speak of. I used Cascade Eco+ held with alternating strands of some angora blend that I used for a fuzzy mock-cable scarf for my mom last year. I ran out of angora before I finished the crown of the hat, but I like the effect. I intended to make a hat that sort of matched the scarf, since my mom has recently lost a matching hat.



Many others have gushed about the genius behind this pattern and I'll add my own praise. The construction is really neat, and garter stitch is fun! It was a quick project, and I love the finished product. Now I want one for me :)

Now to hope that the uncharacteristically snowy January morning doesn't hold up my bus or plane...

Happy new year!

I'm still in England having a very green holiday season, and Vivian is blocking! I fear it will never ever dry in this wet climate, but I'll try anything.

Here's what I finished in 2009, excluding Vivian which I haven't photographed yet, and another gift knit with no photo yet.



Only 11? hmmm. I'm definitely not prolific. More on specific projects later--I'm off to have adventures!

Frenzy

Apparently, I've been home for a week. Until I moved to southern Ontario for school, I didn't realize how much I love Ottawa, and now I try to make the most of my visits. But really, what have I done? Lots of relaxing, and quite a bit of knitting. Throw in some consumerism, as well, some of the yarny variety. Making the most of it? Not clear, but it's good to have a rest. I'm currently in the throes of packing to jet off on some fun adventures across the Atlantic which I've been looking forward to for months; that part of my holiday won't be particularly restful, methinks.



Anyway, here are the dregs of some lovely Malabrigo Chunky. What's left after I finished my first ever Malabrigo project. (gasp!). I'm probably the last knitter on the planet to make this discovery, but all the rumours are true. It's damn soft. Holy crap. At some point I'll have pictures of the finished product, but once again gift-knitting means it doesn't get an unveiling just yet.

Why I love octopi

Octopus and coconut video

Best thing ever?
Quite possibly.
It's all over facebook now, but it totally made my day.

My octopus obsession is well-documented. I've had Hansi Singh's octopus queued forever, and one day I'll buy this sinister cephalopod shirt.

However, until this point I had never though of octopi as creatures who scuttle.This video changed my mind. Plus, it also proves octopi can be cute, a dubious notion but something I have always maintained. Bahahaha.

Winter Knitty

This snuck up on me!

Things that caught my eye:

Citron: the ubiquitous shawlette, but this one isn't lacy. I can never make up my mind about ruffles/ruching/whatever, but I like this one a lot.

Knotty but Nice: I am a slave to the cable.

Mr. Popper's Penguin: Penguins are awesome. I find myself wondering about the variety of hot water bottle cover patterns out there. Do people actually use hot water bottles? Maybe I should start...

Bitterroot shawl: Oh hello lace! For awhile I thought all these lace shawls looked the same, but I think I'm getting educated and seeing the intricacies more clearly.

Spoke: Neat-looking, but I don't know if I'll ever make it.

Diversion: Wild.

Duet: I like the idea of a convertible hat/neckwarmer.

Things I might actually make in the near future:
Knotty but Nice
Citron

And in the far future:
Bitterroot

oh hello blogosphere

Neglected Keystrokes - this is cracking me up for some reason so I thought I'd share.

Tomorrow: last class of the semester!

back

Another sneak-peek!



That's the blue yarn I finally got wound, even though it was split in a billion pieces. I forgive it, though. It's so beautiful. The subtle colour variations don't really come through in this photograph. Sigh.

After November's obsessive blogging, I need to slow down. I've learned that I'm bad at storing up blog posts - in November, at the end of the day I'd realize I needed a blog post, but I couldn't come up with anything cool to talk about. I need to sit down and blog as soon as an idea strikes me, which isn't every day. Ah well, interesting experiment.