These have actually been finished for a good while now. Pattern is Fetching from Knitty, worked in KnitPicks‘ Andean Silk. I’m pretty sure the color is Olive - of course I’ve lost the ball bands.
Yes, this was mainly a depression-lessening exercise. I’ve had one sock on the needles literally since I’ve started seeing the psychologist, and it’s worn on me. I keep getting to a point, becoming completely unhappy with it, and ripping it back to the beginning. I’m tempted to do so again, but for better reasons. Right now it’s plain stockinette, and I want to do something a little nicer with it. We’ll see.
In any case, I took some time and wandered through my stash to see if I could find some kind of inspiration. I had two balls of the Andean Silk, and they just seemed perfect to make something both useful and a little luxurious.
On a somewhat light note, I didn’t notice until halfway through the second piece that I was using three size 5 needles and one size 7. Normally I’m obsessed with being perfect (and yes, it’s getting a lot of work in therapy), but for once I was okay with “close enough.” That’s very good progress for me.
And now, I’m working on a large project for, well, the first time in ages. In fact, it’s the largest project I’ve started, and it’s for me. Currently in the “Oh, God, is it going to fit?” stage, I’ll post pictures after I know one way or the other. Otherwise I feel as if I’ll jinx it.
Okay, it’s been done for a few nights now, but with my current state of scatterbrained-ness, I just got around to taking a picture.
Hopefully it will go out to it’s intended recipient (and a very dear friend) soon!
Thanks for those who have sent warm, happy comments. I’m glad to be feeling better, and it’s good to know I have friends.
The mystery (heh) project is up to a point where I needed a model. Be kind, it’s his first modeling gig ever. He’s normally too busy saving the galaxy from evil.
I know, I’ve been missing lately. It’s been a bad few months, but things are starting to get better. I hope.
Without boring everyone with the details, I’ll just let you all know that depression sucks. I’m under a doctor’s care, and I’m starting to be me again.
And, for putting up with that, there’s this picture. What could I be knitting?
Or, alternately, "Wow, she actually started it again."
How about "Yeah, unblocked lace looks like crap?"
Nah? Okay, we’ll skip the caption contest. Especially since it’s 4am. But I’m happy I got past the first chart (finally!) and one full repeat into the body. Good news, right?
Bad news: This represents 2.1% of the entire shawl, according to the spreadsheet I have.
Yeah.
Oh, and I completely recommend dental floss lifelines. I tried crochet cotton before, and it was just a huge pain in the ass. Too thick, so it made the stitches in the next row extra difficult. The floss is much easier to work with. Except for when I had a ditz moment and was looking for something to cut the floss with. And this after remembering that some traveling knitters take a pack of dental floss with them on the plane, so they can cut their yarn without scissors.
I’m not always the brightest bulb.
Anyway, here it is, and it shouldn’t go backwards from here. I hope.
If you’re all good, maybe I’ll link you to my favorite stormtrooper’s website tomorrow. He is, after all, a sexy bitch.
Here’s the finished MaryElla, as worn to MSWF. I think it came out nicely, and was very comfortable to wear. The snap got sewed in at the Chick-Fil-A we stopped at one the way there, as I didn’t think to pick it up until we were on our way.
Remember the picture of all the beads strung for the project? Here’s what’s left over. Trying to think of something I can do with them all, and not sure what that is, honestly. I haven’t done any beading in a long time, other than this project.
No, it hasn’t stopped me from buying an inexpensive bead spinner. I’m never stringing that many beads by hand again.
;And I’m sure you’re all dying to see the lovely yarn I bought at the festival. Warning, crappy cell phone pics ahead.
On the left, we have what I think is "Confetti," and on the right, "Spring Garden." The pictures, as always, don’t do the yarn justice.
Seriously…could this pair of socks be any more boring?
Regia Silk, which is lovely yarn. However…I decided that I’d try size 0 dpns, which is making a nice, dense fabric. And since they’re for Mike, it’s plain, boring stockinette.
So…endless endless endless knitting. Movie knitting, if there was anything I wanted to see. Which is unlikely - been in a depressive slump lately. So the fact that these socks are even progressing is rather surprising.
Every time I knit a pair of socks for him, too, I go through the "That’s got to be way too big" thing. Seriously - they always look huge. Then I go hunt down another pair of socks I’ve knit for him, that he swears are just perfect, and they match.
But there you go. No thinking knitting. Except for when I stab myself in the hand with the DPN, because they’re a bit longer than the ones I’m used to. But then…I never claimed to the world’s most graceful knitter.
Oh, and Adamas got restarted as well. Is it sad that I put a lifeline in halfway through the starting chart? One of the end rows always gets me screwed up, and I’m tired of screwing the whole thing up trying to tink it.
So, where do you all think I spent my day today?
Maybe, just maybe, Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.
Yes, I made a few new friends. But, really, who wouldn’t want to take this cutie home with them?
The obvious answer there is, of course, Mike. Heh. But he did come home with a nice pair of sheepskin slippers, and a pen with almost as many functions as a Swiss Army Knife.
Myself? I came home with sore feet and two utterly gorgeous hanks of yarn from Tess’ Designer Yarns. I think the two colorways I got are Confetti and Spring Garden, but I could be wrong. I just know they’re incredibly lovely, and may never actually be knit. As I tried explaining to Mike, not all yarn is for knitting. Some is for being lovely and making you happy just existing. No pictures at the moment, but I’ll get them later.
I do wish I had taken more pictures. I only took three, and one didn’t turn out on my little cameraphone. But it was just overwhelming! We found the fairgrounds, saw the number of cars parked, and Mike’s first words were "Holy SHIT." He didn’t think there were that many fiber people out there.
The other picture that turned out is that cutie’s stallmate.
Apparently I’m too mysterious. *grins*
The new project is Knitty’s MaryElla, made from a lovely kit from EarthFaire.
Neither scan (this or the one I showed previously) show the wonderful color of the beads. They’re a dark iridescent, and just lovely. However, stringing them all was a pain in the butt.
Yes, I know the pattern tells you not to. I’d read elsewhere that it was a good idea anyway, so you don’t have to cut the thread every time you need to add beads. Plus, knowing me, if I didn’t get the unpleasantness done all at once, it would never get done.
This is very fun knitting, even if it’s on 0000 needles. Just takes some getting used to. Of course, I’m sure for those who don’t knit socks, it would be even harder. Doesn’t seem like too big a difference between a size 1 and 0000.
And yes, Becky. I am insane. But so are you, sis.
Who wants to guess what this will be? If there’s enough interest, maybe I’ll make it a small contest. Email me with your guesses!