pokingmyeyesout

So I am sitting on the floor in the guest room blocking ...

K came and sat outside the door (they arent allow in the guest room). I got up and asked her what she wants .. she persisted a little bit. So I sat down with her in the hallway, gave her a hug, and we had a little talk. She gave me lots of kisses and went back to her pillow.

It is not that unusual for the puppies to come see what I am doing. But she was acting a little odd.It is passed her bed time and we had an eventful night. She is a very sensitive puppy. Hrmph.

I returned to the task at hand, finished, cleaned up, and about to go lay down. Duh, I smacked my forehead!

I got up and went to check on their water dish ... it was empty.

K (and W) are the best :) The end.

Posted by E at 11:01 PM | Permalink

I finished the sleeves one minute before midnight .. phew. I realize I may have miscounted the bind off in the last four rows .. they will be ok. The four rows of bind off does not seem to make a smooth curve. They are funny looking :)

But heck, these are my first sleeves!

Posted by E at 12:08 AM | Permalink

I think we are almost there ...

I was giving myself brain cramp trying to figure how long this scarf should be ... J came up with a good way to ''wear" it to decide the length .. fold in half, tuck the two ends in the U .. :) "wingspan"

So here I am. When I folded it in half, then tuck the two ends in the U. The scarf hangs to my waist (sitting down on the sofa) unblocked. I am thinking that I should stop, wash, and block (?!)

Posted by E at 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

J who knows everything crafty .... answered the Knitting Meme. While perusing her answers .. and her links.. I see lots of goodies.

Ohman .. Unbelieveable! Lookie stockings from Hand Knit Holidays Or ... Tall socks Knitty I see tall socks in my future ...

Or Birch (in Rowan 34) .. how do we find all the time to do all the projects we want?

Posted by E at 6:01 PM | Permalink

The ever resourceful and helpful J found this:

http://www.textileaffairs.com/hirez.htm

Posted by E at 1:39 PM | Permalink

Projects that are 'ready to go'... almost monthly updates

Moved to WIP!
Lace scarf in CTH supersock burgundy. Pattern from Barbara G Walker's Second Treasury of Patterns

• Lace scarf in DB cashmerino aran #603 Dusty Pink. Pattern from Barbara G Walker's First Treasury of Patterns
• Scarf w/Nashua Equinox in Storm
• Scarf w/Nashua Equnixo in Latte
• Squares
• Rowan Big Wool cable from VK
• York from Noro Knits.I want to mod' York into a Broiche stitch
• Annie Modesitt's Corset Top in CEY Bamboo
• Drops cardi #88 in DB Cotton Cashmere
• Rowan Cloud cardi in Rowan Calmer book
• Saffron from Rowan #25 in 4-ply cotton
• Butterfly from Rowan #36 in KSH

Posted by E at 3:52 PM | Permalink

No pics tonight. Lame me couldnt get WS dec to pair correctly.

But I did complete 2+16=18 rows ... 26 more rows to go on the sleeves. They are picking up lots of fuzzies fur .. A quick glance tells me I am knitting at about the same gauage. Phew. With the exception of a SSK slipping off the needle .. so far so good.

2 + 8*2 + 4 * 3 + 0 + 2 * 5 + 4 + bind off

Posted by E at 8:10 PM | Permalink

Lookie. What's red? squish? crunchy? and wiggly?

You cant see the pattern at all. But .... It is as long as the arm of the sofa.

AND! like the previous lace projects ....in the 'beginning' of the 'project' .. I always end up frogging each time I pick it up. I have frogged a lot. And franky, frogging knitted lace is ... ugh. I ended up frogging 20 rows tonight. I hope it goes smoother soon.

oh yeah, ignore all the doggie toys, extension cord .. bleah. too tired to set up the background.

Posted by E at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This weekend was mostly house work and errands and etc ... I only got couple of hours of St st in. I am at row 102 of sleeves. Next row should be shape cap ... gurr.. oh. so I am holding it up to my arm .. the sleeve is almost to my armpit. I think I am on target?

Posted by E at 11:27 PM | Permalink

I cant figure this out. ugh. There is only one diagram ... and well. ugh.

Posted by E at 7:58 PM | Permalink

J is singing the praise of tubular cast on .. will try next time I work on socks (perhaps Lady Bug socks)

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/FEATfall05TT.html

Posted by E at 2:38 PM | Permalink

This is a test ... this is only a test ...

Fifth time is a charm. I tried size 4 three times .. then went to size 3.. Tt seems to be alright. I only did one repeat of the pattern. My goal is a long and skinny 'scarf'.

Posted by E at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

...on yarns and patterns

In previous episode of pattern and yarn pursuit .. I now have black denim yarn, spring cardi, and lace scarf pattern.

I want some socks for me. perhaps ...

• LL Lace in charcoal and LL Lace in pinstripe
  
• Lang Jawoll
  

And [stash] yarn that needs a pattern:

• Peace fleece worsted
  
• DB cotton cashmere
  

Posted by E at 11:27 PM | Permalink

Owl socks home at last!

The socks slept in really late! From Kalispell, MT to eastern Washington. They got up to stretch their legs at the rest stop before Ellensburg.

After a quick bath .. they are ready for the world!

Opal Rainforest Owl.
Size 3 clover dpn.
k4p1 rib
hourglass heel

Posted by E at 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Completed chart D (row 54), and 63 st on the needle... the trouble with knitting black yarn .. it just looks like a blob.

More calculation on sleeve ... I checked sleeve length and since my row gauge is good. (for the 24 inch length) ... the pattern calls for 102 rows . here is my calculation:

102 rows - 54 rows (at end of chart D)= 48 rows of St st
79Sts (before shape cap) - 63st (at end of chart D)=16st increase

16 St inc in 48 rows. starting at row 55, inc 2 every 5 rows, knit last 7 even.

phew. I hope thats right.

Posted by E at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A box! A special box! It is a CAT LITTER box! :) Two cones of Peace Fleece in Baku Black. One is ~1lb 4oz, the other is ~1lb 1oz. Kooler couldnt resist checking out the box ..

Bonus pic of fuzzies.

Posted by E at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Heh. I can recycle my first CO pic.

~2hrs later I have sleeves #3 and #4. I CO the larger size. At my 15%+ gauge.. the largest size 48"*85%=40". So my margin of error of any inconsistency in tension should land me about the correct size.

For my 'un'taper sleeve mod, I added:
- 2*M1 (for row 1)
- 2 sets of 2*M1 (for row 6)
- 2 stitches for selvage

total fo 47St+8St=55St

Posted by E at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The trip home was very relaxed...

The Owl brothers stopped at Bismarck, the capital of ND for a quick bite. No late night here. They passed by the Little Missouri River. He hitched a ride with unsuspecting Craig to have a lookie at The Badland at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. When the Owl brothers turn leave the park .. they ran head first into a buffalo. The enconter turned out to be pretty harmless. They greeted each other and went on their way.

Neither one of them were looking forward to the 600+ miles of Montana. It was near the Continential divide that we say good night ...

Posted by E at 4:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Owl sock wasted no time in explording Gackle, North Dakota....

He began by searching the sunflower fields ... the elevator woah! big tractors scared him out of his wits. But he pushed on ...

He heard rumors of a big town nearby so he headed east. He didnt find his brother ... however, he found good fried chicken at Pizza Ranch. Go figure...

Tired and exhausted... Owl sock returns 'home' ... to his suprise and amusement.. his little brother was lounging on the sofa!

Posted by E at 4:27 PM | Permalink

After a long night on US 2 through Eastern Montana ... Owl sock woke up and saw sunrise at snow covered western South Dakota on Interstate 94...

He stopped for a breakfast at Dickenson, North Dakota. Dickenson saw 12 inches+ snow the night before and power was out in half of the town. He grew more worried that he didnt pack enough warm clothes when the sky turned grey as he headed towards Gackle.

Fortunately, when the sky cleared when he passed the world's largest cow. It was mid day when he arrived at Gackle, North Dakota- where legend has it he will find his brother ...

To be continued ....

Posted by E at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Once upon a time ... there was an owl sock .. who set off to a place far far away to search for his brother.

He set off mid morning on October 6th from suburbia Seattle to the East.

He passed the Cascade, big trucks on the Interstate, the Columbia River near The Gorge, a quick rest before Ellensburg ...

It wasn't long before he was heading into the Spokane valley. A quick meal with the favorite DQ blizzard in Idaho and he was off to Coeur D'Alene.

He arrived at the Montana border and look out from LookOut Pass. It was starting to get dark. He was tired and need fuel. He refueled at the St Regis exit, called it a night...

to be continued ....

Posted by E at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

DH helped me frog both sleeves tonight.. I wanted to do that before I become too obessive. Also, the yarn will have a chance to rest.

J helped me worked out the gauage issue. I am about 15% over on stitch gauage. So... since I would like to stay with the needle size US#8, Pastaza, and the lovely fabric.

• I have to loosen up, really. I know I need to do that anyways.
  
• I will knit the larger size to accomdate the 5+a little stitches/in
  

Posted by E at 9:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I am making a list of projects and schuff to take on the trip ...

• Owl sock - want to finish that on the trip
  
• CTH Supersock burgundy - IF by chance I finish Owl, I will start on CTH scarf.
  
• Pattern and needle(s) for CTH scarf
  
• Accessories: scissors, stitch market, needles .. already in a little bag
  
• Post it notes, pen
  

Posted by E at 11:10 AM | Permalink

Here's the stats. (Without wash/block and while sitting on sofa ...)
Addi turbo US8, Cascade Pastaza
Gauge: 5 st/6 rows per inch
Cuffs: ~9.5 inches

Sleeve increases and mod
So I am sitting here reading the sleeve instruction ... a thought occured to me.. *utoh*. Even at 9.5 inches wide, the cuffs and the sleeves doesnt have the ease I was hoping for. What to do... I can frog.. or I can mod. Then I looked a the cuff again... and wonder .. perhaps I can add a set of cables to the 'underside' of the sleeve. I think so ...

Posted by E at 9:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

What a crazy stitch. argh.

(page 19) Centred double decrease (knit). I did it ok on WS .. When I tried to do it on RS ... I ended up taking too many stitches off the needle ..(TWICE! on both sleeves). So I frogged ... tried it again .. ugh... tried again ... is there a benefit in doing a crazy double decrease? Obviously...

BUT ..

I am still not liking the results.

Posted by E at 12:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The pattern specifies 45 stitches.I casted on 45 stitches + 2 * (1+1)= 49. I added two sets of M1 to the CO so I will have a wider cuff. I worked St st for 6 rows and knit together with the live stitch. I think I will stop here. It has been a dramatic night...

All the 'first' for tonight:

• first crochet chain cast on (provisional)
  
• first time using Addi Turbo
  
• first garment
  
• first time working two sleeves at once
  
• first evening with the house heater on
  

Posted by E at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Opal Rainforest Owl socks! CO 80 stitches on tuesday. sz 3 needles.

10 rows of 1x1 cuff. k4 p1 rib for 40 rows. The only problem is that the yarn is the same color as the bamboo needle. gurr...Work 32 rows of heel back ..heel front last night. These sosks will be traveling to ND with me :)

Posted by E at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)