Square #5
Square #5 in Staghorn cable from Barbara G Walker book #1. CO 40, 9 rows bottom border, 7 repeat of 6 cable pattern, and ended with 7 rows + bind off.
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December 30, 2005
December 29, 2005
Bamboo corset progress
Corset is worked from the top down and I am at 3.75" (~54 rows tot) measured from the start of ribbing. Here is a closer up of the lace and the ribbing.
The top part pulls up for the 'tank strap', which makes a L shaped opening for the arm. I managed to sling my arm in the armhole for a sanity check. The arm hole /sleeve joint keeps me up at night. I tagged the ribbing pattern so I can match the ribbing later. Lots of stitch markers help a bit.
Square #4
From Barbara G book. #1, pg 102 English Diamond Quilting Pattern. It is a bit small. gurr. The next And #3 block'ed. On a side note, I pinched a nerve and I cant really turn my head. argh.
December 28, 2005
Square #3
Square #3 in double moss stitch.
I bailed on work after lunch and hid. I even skipped a walkie with the fuzzies. Knitting was the only thing I wanted to do, so I sat on the sofa and knitted the whole square.
I thought it fitting that I am knitting a square for an afghan for a wedding present and during lunch's chit-chatting, I offered the following antedotes on marriage to my recently married friend:
1. year 1, holding on to ideals
2. year 2, fighting as hard as you can to hold on to ideals
3. year 3, gives in, self reflection
Oh, and dont argue with spouse' family in front of spouse.
Wish list
More list for me. This one is a list of yarn and pats that goes with my project list. They are roughly prioritized. List helps refresh my memory. List keeps me from buying stray yarns and patterns. List!
Yarn:
- baby yarn
- dale heilo for G's sweater
- bulky wool yarn for M's sweater
- mittens yarn
- something for SS aran sweater in VK winter'05*
- something for cheesylove *
- LL Pinstripe
Pat
- baby pats
- mitten pats
- Naturally Noro (for Mavis)
- Audrey in Rowan #35
* I am eyeing cotton blend. I am finding wool is too warm for me.
December 27, 2005
Bamboo corset - progress
Row 44 (2.75" into the ribbing).
The bust decrease starts at 3.75". The rib pat is not difficult, but it is a little tricky- WS does not equal to RS stitches. I found two mistakes tonight. I am almost done with Ball 3 of bamboo. CEY Bamboo is 77yds a ball. eek.
December 26, 2005
Square #2
Sq #2 : DB cashmerino in White/Cream - Plain St st (together with Sq #1)
I CO 38, garter stitches for 8 rows, and 5 stitches on each side. 36 rows of St st. I blocked Sq#1 and Sq#2 and there isnt a noticible difference in the texture. I will check on the fabric once they are dried. I did, however, notice a problem I have with cast on and cast off edge - the 8 rows of garter are not matching up. gurr.
In other note. I am debating whether to make a olive + cream version of the same pat. Hrmph.
December 25, 2005
Project list for the year
Yet another update to the monthly project list. I like list. I am a list maker. I find it easier to remember and prioritize once I make list. I try to plan in three months increments - a quarter. But, there is a chance I may have created a year's worth of projects.
WIP
* Annie Modesitt's Corset Top in CEY Bamboo
* secret project
These two projects will take me through the winter /spring of '06. Then my garment options become:
* Drops #88 lace cardi in DB Cotton Cash
* Dale Gerbera in Dale Sisik
* Rowan Cloud cardi in Rowan Calmer book
* Saffron from Rowan #25 in Rowan 4-ply cotton
* Butterfly from Rowan #36 in Rowan KSH
* York (or Marvis?) from Noro with Mano bing cherry
Of course, there are other technique to learn and other projects, such as Rainforest Ladybug gloves. And I have two babies to knit for (due in May'ish, I think). I am also targeting three good size projects for next year's holiday:
* Dale Hardangervidda for G
* Mittens, Norwegian mittens like these available from Nordic Fiber Arts for G's mom
* Bulky cardi for mom
So. Yeah. There are other projects, new technique, and yarn ... all part of the fun. Happy New Year.
DH +Owl + K(&)
DH got his owl socks. They are way too big for him but he doesnt seem to mind.
December 24, 2005
Bamboo Corset
CO tonight and worked 18 rows. The next row is the bind off for the sleeve opening and the following is the "CO". Er. I need to look that up.
December 23, 2005
Square #1
Sq #1 : DB cashmerino in Olive/Green - Plain St st.
I CO 40, Garter stitches for 6 rows, and 6 stitches on each side. duh. That didnt work. I didnt have enough garter stitch border on the bottom. I miss read J's notes. After 13 rows I pulled it off the needles and it was too big.
So I errorred on the side of smaller (blocking :) ) Take 2. I will try to make one just like J's.
CO 36,
Garter stitches for 8 rows, and 5 stitches on each side.
36 rows of St st in the center.
It ended up smaller than I thought it would be. However, it will block to 8". Hrmph. Should I CO more or work with 36 so we are at the same stitch #s?
-12/23
December 22, 2005
Corset, swatch, sleeve, and misc
A quick swatch: CO 4+22+2 and 28 rows with US#7. CEY listed Bamboo as 4½ - 5 sts/#6 or 7 needles. ModeKnit's Corset gauge is 22 sts x 24 rows = 4” / 10cm in ribbing.
The ribbing looks fine at 22st/4". BUT... The row gauge is 26rows/4". That's -8%.
So ... Bamboo will drape nicely and I think the ribbing will adjust. Therefore, I can either a) use US#8 needles b) make the 46" size, which will give me a target bust size of 42.32". I am not hot on too much negative ease.
... and
Trumpet sleeve mod:
http://knittingobsession.blogspot.com/2005/08/heres-modified-sleeve-for-silk-corset.html
and the sleeve bind off tip
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/silkcorsetknitalong/message/478
The sleeves will prove to be a little tricky. The pat instruction is given for cap sleeve only - stitches are picked up on the top of the sleeve only. I need target arm hole/sleeve cap measure .. but first, a (c) and Essential Bakery Biscotti break.
December 21, 2005
Rogue FO!
I finished Rogue with ~2hrs to spare. It is 9:51pm and my goal was Winter Solstice. Phew.
Overall, I am very happy with the pattern. It is very well written.I am glad this was my first sweater. I learned a lot and now I feel a little more confident to tackle other garments. You can see a little pucker on the finishing, I hope they relax after a while.
Finishing notes:
- Casade Pastaza Black (two different dye lots). I can see the dyelot difference once I put the sleeves on the body. This is where I declare I am very particular about the different 'blacks' - from what shades of black to how the black fades. It shouldnt bother me after a while.
- I am off stitch gauge, therefore, the cables appears smaller than intented
- Addi turbo US#8 for flat and round
- I am very glad I frogged when/where I needed to frog
- I like cables
December 19, 2005
Halley's Hat FO
A few of the stuffies wanted to model the hat :) This one won the gig. I simply washed the hat, didnt block it. And a shot for the top.
December 17, 2005
Baby patterns
I have two babies to knit for next year! whee! So I started to peruse baby patterns:
Star hat:
http://www.kategilbert.com/h_star.html
Dragon cardi:
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/Dragon/index.html
or .. an Erika Knight - Simple Knits for Cherished Babies
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1855859262/qid=1134845352/sr=8-3/ref=pd_bbs_3/103-5414521-0412613?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
or!
Equinox? waning? waxing?
Both of the Equinox scarves are finished! While I was at it, I also put the label on WC :)
December 16, 2005
Patience ...
Rogue relaxing
Here are the parts.
Soaked in Eucalan and laid out. The body + hood is on top of W's crate. The sleeves are on the foam chair. They will probably take forever to dry.
The hood grafting was a little tricky, but not too bad. I am about 60% happy with the grafting. The purl stitches didnt turn out as good as I had hoped. You can see the line down the middle.
Here is a side view of the hood/neck and the sleeve detail.
Pastaza didnt relax much (unlike Big Wool). So I anticipate a little trickiness sewing the pieces together.
Oh, I tried it on. It is going to be scratchy, comfy large and .. I cant wait to finish it.
December 15, 2005
WC - FO
Wet Cat in the Wild.
I blocked the WC to get a little ease from the sleeve/body joint. It is dried and I let it out so I can photograph it. Big Wool is a very heavy + warm fabric. Even at this unseasonably cool temperature, it was still too warm to wear it. I need to make WK (Wet Kitten) to keep WC company.
Estimate total time = 30hrs
Size US 15 add turbo
Big Wool and Big Wool tuft
December 14, 2005
Time formula
So J asked whether I know how much time I've spent on Rogue (and I added the deadline of december 21st). Here is my SWAG:
October 1 to December 21 = 30+31+21 = 82 days. I worked on Rogue every other day (with Owl sock & CTH burgundy scarf), then vacation (to ND), then T-day long weekend (shared with WC), then vacation (to Cali). So I would guess that evens out to 1/2 *82 days = 41 days. Each day knitting time is between 2-3hrs = avg 1.5hrs. 41 days * 1.5hrs = 61.5 hrs
With the margin of error of about 20% (80/20 rule), that leads me to 49.2 hrs - 73.8 hours.
Oh, progress pic ... here it is...the body + hood and the back of the hood.
All in all, I am happy with the cables, but not really thrilled with the hood decrease. I just notice the hooded fleece jacket my mom gave me has the same 'hood thing' going. hrmph.
Oh, I am on step 21. Next up: grafting of the hood cables and the back of the hood into the cable border.
P.S. Rogue is laying on the comforter that I hide under when I knit, and you can also see the puppies who are sleeping on my feet.
December 12, 2005
Socks yarn->gloves
J pointed me to Opal tiger mittens the other day. Hrmph. Perhaps I can use ladybug or tiger in my stash for gloves.
There is always more projects to work on. I keep reminding myself - Rogue, Haley Hat .. then squares. :)
Row 30, chart C .. page 8 .. step 16
I have been missing Rogue. I havent worked on it since t-day weekend. I ignored the pres'sy tonight (bad me!). I am on row 30 on the hood ( of ~75 rows). Knitting body + hood in one piece is a little awkard. Each turn takes a little more work. However, that means less seaming! My goal is to finish it before Winter Solstice - 8hrs of daylight. I am so looking forward to that (finishing Rogue AND the shortest day of the year).
G, (&), and (&) are all snoring .. I am behind on pics.. they will just have to wait. Tis bed time for me.
December 9, 2005
Musing: trip planning for Knoxville, TN
Granted .... I have FOUR months to plan this trip. But .. the way I look at it, it is never too 'early' to start.
In Knoxville, TN - the Confederate Memorial Hall, James White's Fort, Tennessee Riverboat Company at Volunteer Landing, etc (http://www.knoxville.org/) and in Nashville, TN .. - home of Andrew Jackson ... plantation, museums, etc (http://www.nashvillecvb.com).
.and J and I look for LYS!
Oh wait. here is more info from nwa.com to Nashville, TN
Why Go: Trip Ideas
Photo by Jeff Schwartzenberg
Nashville, TN: Grand Ole Opry-tunities
From jubilant jug bands to the likes of Lyle Lovett, Tennessee's rolling Cumberland River hills are alive with the boogie-sweet sound of music.
Place we love, even if it's touristy: Having outgrown The Ryman (a.k.a. "mother church of country music"), The Grand Ole Opry lies 15 minutes outside Nashville proper, and broadcasts the world's longest-running radio show in a format little-changed since the '30s. Check out the Disney-eseque tin roofs, river-fed hotel, and, of course, country legends.
Where the locals go: Famous for its real country ham, fried chicken, made-from-scratch biscuits, and pecan pancakes, Loveless Café uses all local products and a generous amount of savory bacon grease (and we mean that in the best of ways). Located on the Natchez Trace Parkway, it embodies the true spirit of the south.
Chill-out spot: Hold the music for a moment and set your soundtrack to the rolling Cumberland River during a stroll over the Shelby Avenue Bridge. It's an easy walk from downtown, and views of bobbling boats and yonder mountains just might inspire you to make like a Dixie chicken, you Tennessee lamb, and head your way to Dixieland.
Where to do a do-si-do: Kick up your heels at the Wildhorse Saloon, where you can participate in everything from "Achy Breaky Heart"-style line dancing to sashay-promenade square dancing. If you don't know how, just take a free lesson. At 66,000 square feet, this place is so huge it goes through 3,000 gallons of barbecue sauce a year.
Local secret: After working up a square-dance sweat, it's time for totally tubular refreshment. Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles was nominated by our readers during our "Local Secrets, Best Finds" survey due to its fresh ingredients and daring Mexican-inspired flavors ranging from prickly pear and hibiscus to honeydew and chocolate wasabi.
History lesson: Step into the plantation past at Belle Meade, where the mansion dates back to 1853, and the stone columns out front are riddled with bullets from the War Between the States. After checking out the antique carriages and 1790 log cabin, whinny your way over to the stables, where two famous rival horses trace their lineage: War Admiral and Seabiscuit.
You can take it with you: Get your vintage old western concert posters at Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop featuring the likenesses of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and other country hall of famers. After, get your music-to-go at the Ernest Tubb record shop on Broadway.
email this package to a friend
We will email you all of the following information if you book this trip.
Recommendations & Suggestions:
Phone: 615.356.0501
Belle Meade Plantation
5025 Harding Rd
Set amidst ancient oaks The Belle Meade Plantation is a 19th Century House Museum devoted to preserving a century of heritage from frontier cabins to a working farm and world-famous horse nursery. The Plantation overflows with history, including stone columns riddled with bullets from the War Between the States. Union and rebel forces actually skirmished in the front yard during the Battle of Nashville! Explore the 1853 mansion restored to its elegance of the Victorian era, the 1890 carriage house and stable displaying antique carriages, or the 1790 log cabin, one of the oldest houses in Tennessee. History comes alive with tour guides in period costume.
The Cafe at Belle Meade offers dishes with a Southern historic flavor. We recommend the luscious walnut mocha cake with coffee cream that will melt in your mouth.
Phone: 615.646.9977
Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre
8204 Highway 100
Chaffin's Barn, a dinner theatre nestled in the southern countryside, was Nashville's first professional theatre. Located just a short drive from Nashville the Barn is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike. The cozy rustic atmosphere offers two performance stages for enjoying Broadway musicals, comedies and mind-boggling mysteries. The down home cooking is one of the South's best "All-You-Can-Eat" buffets. Sample rounds of beef, teriyaki pork, Cajun catfish, meatloaf, mashed potatoes or country green beans.
Phone: 615.327.0202
Emma's Flowers and Gifts
2410 West End Avenue
Emma's Flowers was founded in 1937 by Emma Sneider and is now one of the largest and oldest florists in Tennessee. Offering everything from traditional florist arrangements to specialty baskets with a southern flair, Emma's can deliver to Nashville area locations as well as cities around the world. Call ahead to have flowers waiting at the hotel.
Phone: 615.862.5950
Nashville Trolley
130 Nestor Street
The Metropolitan Transit Authority operates 13 trolleys that make circular routes through downtown Nashville and also run along Music Row and Music Valley Drive. On weekends, trolley cars feature live music and other special events. With an Site 59 recommends all-day trolley pass, which allows you to get on and off as often as you like.
For more info go to the Nashville Visitor Information Center, located in the Nashville Arena, or to the Visitors Info Center on Music Valley Drive for passes, rates, and schedules. Or call MTA at 615.862.5950.
Phone: 615.254.5030
Pralines & Candies by Leon
138 2nd Avenue North, Suite 102
In 1869, Leon's grandfather, Constantine Vlahos, began providing extra money for his family by making pralines and other candies. Demand for his "sweets" quickly became so great he had to quit his job and make candy full time. You'll understand why when you
bite into a creamy nut-filled whiskey soaked Praline. Still made in copper pots and hand-stirred by Leon himself, Leon's famous homemade candies are made fresh daily with absolutely no preservatives. Taste the unmatched Southern flavor that has made these confections famous.
Phone: 615.902.8200
Wildhorse Saloon
120 2nd Ave N.
Wildhorse Saloon is one of Nashville's hottest dance clubs so grab your 10-gallon hat, snakeskin boots and blue jeans and hit the 3,300 square foot dance floor for some boot, scoot 'n boogie. But watch out you might get caught on TNN's Wildhorse Saloon dance series. The Wildhorse Saloon, simultaneously a restaurant, bar, concert site, dance venue, and TV studio, is one of Nashville's must-sees. "Every group, when they come to Nashville, feel like they have to go to the Wildhorse. If they don't, it's like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower."
If you don't know how to country line dance try Wildhorse's free lessons daily at 6:00PM, 7:00PM, & 9:00pm. Call 615.902.8200 for more info.
Equinox Storm
I started Storm when I was in Cali. On US#13 needles, Equinox Stripe is a breeze. It makes simple & fast presents Attach label and it will be all set.
December 8, 2005
Storm + Latte ... and mom's cardi
I finished knitting both scarves. Latte is washed and dried .. I will post pics of both of them later (once Storm is dried and I trim the fringes). I like Nashua Equinox. It is fast and smooth.
Mom especially like the dark blue/green bit of Storm. I am hope I will find something suitable for her cardi :) Here is my "notes" from one of her fleece cardi she likes:
- no waist shaping, button front
- 20" width
front:
- 22" from hem to to top of collar
- 21" from hem to top of shoulder
- 11" from hem to beg of sleeve/shoulder shaping
collar:
- 3", 1-1/2
sleeve:
- 19", 15" from sleeve cap to cuff
cuff:
- 10"
I need a proper drawing .. not that chicken scratch.
December 4, 2005
Halley's comet
I started Halley from Marnie on the plane on the way to Cali using leftover DB cashmerino Dusty Pink.CO 8, split into four US#8 needles is not a simple task on an airplane tray :) I am at the 'repeat until desire height' portion of the pattern.
December 3, 2005
Latte equinox ..almost
Latte multi-directional scarf is almost done. I couldnt figure out the last bit of direction so .. after frogging a few times .. i ... er ... made up the ending.
When half of the stitchs is on each needle, I switched out the increase at the beg of the row with a decrease. continue ... the scarf will start to turn towards itself. (I made a face but .. huh.. this is how the scarf started. maybe ). I proceeded and ...
Well, I am going to add fringe and whoola. Oh, I ran out of yarn... literally. So I winged the bind off too. (I am missing two stitches. sheesh.)
December 1, 2005
Presents .. and trip prep
I put my signature on CTH Burgundy scarf and Cordelia scarf. These are 'proof' labels from labelyourstuff. I didnt place my order in time for these presents so I used the proofs .. I sewed them on as straight as I can. It is a funny process. I have never sew something on a knitted object before.
These scarves are now ready to make the trip to Cali with me along with Mtn Color socks. Whee..
I am also hunting around for a project to take to Cali with me. I cant knit with US #13 needles on the airplane, but I will probably bring them and finish them at mom's. I printed Halley's Comet Hat and may attempt it ..