Quietish

Have a finished shawl.

Pattern:
Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark, Interweave Knits - Fall 06
Yarn:
Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima 100 Socka, black
Comments:
My 2nd Swallowtail. Love it, still. Used bottle-green beads instead of working the nupps. Nupps are evil and pointless.

If you know me at all you’d guess that the current coolish weather has likely been making me happy and giddy. You’d be mostly right. I love Fall!

Unfortunately I’ve also been spending my time fairly overwhelmed. Or more accurately, spending my time thinking about how I feel overwhelmed. Not for any particular reason (although, I am behind on Crafty Witch goings-on); I guess I am just thinking about too many things and my brain doesn’t care for that at all. It makes me anxious when there is a lot going on. And then depressed, because it is such a natural progression for the mentally healthy.

Hm, I came on here to show you my knitting, not to whine about stuff I don’t realize is a problem until I start to describe it.

I’m back to taking my sweet time with the sock knitting. Here’s the sock I started the night before we saw the Yarn Harlot.

It’s a lovely pattern and I’m still completely digging the random stripeage. I will finish them when I get through with this pile of lace:

I’ll post the details on that when it’s done. The last time I knit this, it was done in 5 days so you won’t be waiting long.

Alrighty, I’m off to do a little thinking about the future and the meaning of life. Ciao!

2 out of 3 sweaters for the fam are complete. In other words: 2 Hobbits down, one Bowtruckle to go.

After taking so long on Cian’s, I’m a bit worried that when I do get going on Justin’s sweater it will take me til Summer next year. He’s definitely not a wide fellow but he’s pretty long.

I loved Cian’s yarn and the sweater is nice, but somehow I wasn’t excited enough to fly through this one as I know I have been in the past. So I’ll have to think awhile before picking just the right thing for Justin that will be entertaining for me at the same time.

Yesterday, pre-block.

Pattern:
Figured it out by looking at Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown Reinsel
Yarn:
Plymouth Galway Highland Heather, less than 3 balls (!!!). I got a bunch of it from Bonne Marie, and still have enough for an adult sweater.
Comments:
Knitting Ganseys was an excellent guide to the different elements of a traditional gansey. Cian said he liked the “christmas trees” motif from the book, so he got a bunch of those on either side of the diamonds. I’m glad to have gone through the method of making this.

Ok, loads to do today. I’m off for now!

The combination of road-tripping all weekend and the still-strong excitement about Cat B’s latest book, made for a new sock project. I have already done the Cedar architecture, Susanhas knit the Riverbed architecture, and Mary Ellen is knitting the Coriolis. So I chose Upstream.

The yarn is making it especially fun because I had thought, all this time it has been in the stash, that it would be more variegated. Instead I have fun, random stripes!

Also, will you look at these stitch markers? Mary Ellen gave them to me as an early bday present. They happen to match my sock!

Wichita is only a mere 3-4 hours away, so of course a road trip is in order when the (completely brilliant) Yarn Harlot is booked for a signing. Knitpals Jeanell, Mary Ellen, and Matt joined me. I had fun spotting the knitters lurking everywhere.

Click here for photoset.

I also happened to get a SPS out of the deal.

The road tripping itself was fun. I drove, but didn’t realize how itchy I would be to knit when the rest of the car’s occupants were knitting. I really liked how Watermark had things set up. They used an auditorium for both the speech and the signing, which meant that we could stay seated with our knitting while we waited for our turns to get in line.

We also stopped in at the new knitshop, Twist and had dinner at Chipotle, putting us back in Norman at 10… something. Long day, but very good.

Who doesn’t love socks that are started and completed in the same month? These certainly went much faster than my last pair, which I think were on the needles for 3 or 4 months. Things must just be lined up really well for sock knitting lately.

Pattern:
Cedar Dancing Socks, by Cat Bordhi from New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One
Yarn:
Sweet Georgia Superwash Sock, a gift from Julie
Comments:
I am totally impressed by Cat B’s new sock “architectures.” I loved this one and can’t wait to try several more.
These socks are not for me, hence the lack of Harry Potter name.

Sorry I’ve been so quiet. My internet connection is completely uncooperative lately. I seem to be able to log in now though, so I will take my opportunity to post.

Sorry for the randomness although really, life is pretty random.

First: Please look at these pictures of my lovely girl-hobbit, who has been enjoying dressing herself for school.

Second: I was about to post a pic of a good local-knitter friend who finished sock1 of a pair of Fred and George socks this past week when I checked my email and saw that she had just finished sock2. Go look.

Third: FUZZY KITTEN!!

Fourth: I love Bonne Marie. *hugs* CLICK for her post. She totally rocks my socks, often.
I shall now, once again, not tag anyone. I’m lame that way.

I stayed out way late knitting tonight, so I’m off to veg. Smooches!

Since Jamie has been spending her afternoons at school Cian and I have, more often than not, spent the time between drop-off and pick up at Charlie Bean.

Yesterday after I picked Jamie up, we popped BACK in for “dinner” before I rushed off to knit in Norman. The dude that usually brings me drinks throughout the afternoon accused me of being a coffeehouse addict.

Then today when Cian and I arrived our normal 45 minutes before Jamie’s dismissal, the gal who also waits while I do told me that we really smell like coffee. And that it was a good thing. Well yes, there are certainly much worse things to smell like.

Then this evening as I worked on finishing up the toe of my current sock, I took a whiff and sure enough, even the knitting smells like coffee. They do tend to be roasting beans when we’re in there.

Anywho.. I said yesterday that I would pop in and show my knitting progress.

Here’s Cian’s gansey. I still haven’t charted the sleeves, but I intend to keep them simple so that part will be easy enough.

And my sock, which is actually a few rounds from done now.

BTW, this is a Cedar Dancing Sock from Cat Bordhi’s new book. Spiffing!

Now I’m going to go walk jog (I totally need to do a Rivendell update soon) and then have some coffee because I actually didn’t have any today. I just smelled like it while I drank tea.

I haven’t posted in like 5 days. And I have no idea why.

Here, let me distract you with a cat doll.

And a very purple pic.

I’ll see if I can cook up something interesting to post before we escape with Kelly and her crew for the weekend.

This week has been completely crazy. Kindergarten really is an effective monkey wrench in a homebody’s schedule. I don’t think I’ve ever spent this much time out of the house in one week.

I have managed to finish a few things though.

Scarf

Yarn:
Opal Rainforest Chameleon
Pattern:
Multi-Directional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer
Comments:
I hate knitting scarves. I yawn the entire time. But they do generally come out nicely when you bother to stick with them. Several local folks have been seen knitting this pattern using sock yarn. I love the variations one can get.

Crocheted bag. The one that won me my sanity the other day when I couldn’t work on my afghan.

No pattern. Leftover Schaefer Lola (which Ravelry keeps insisting on calling Little Lola for whatever reason). Sewed in a lining. I love crochet; it’s quick.

I’m so tired. I think I will sleep for some hours this afternoon. This will also serve to keep me from rushing off to the bead store or a quilt store, like I’ve been itching to do all week.