What's This?

I finally got the zipper set in the Ribby Cardi! It's been so long, the details on this project are kind of fuzzy, but I do know that I used Cascade 220 in navy blue and pink. I think it would also look smashing in navy blue and orange. I had some issues with the zipper, mainly with the zipper moving through the sewing machine faster than the fabric, but I finally got that sorted. The designer, Bonne Marie Burns, has a wonderful tutorial for installing zippers, but as I am without an Internet connection at home, I winged it.

Of course, today is the first day that it's actually been warm outside, so I can't wear it (NOT that I'm complaining!).

Wow!

I am mere rows away from being 25% done with the afghan. (Let's not speak of the border yet, shall we?)

Square #3!


Square #4!


Square #5 is still on the needles, and I didn't get a picture before I left the apartment in search of an Internet connection. I was afraid I would get sick of doing squares, even by now. Years ago, I tried to do a cabled throw that used different squares, but I completely abandonned it. I have theories as to why: 1. Each square was not unique. Instead, the pattern asked to have about seven different squares repeated. Bo-Ring. 2. Every single square was cabled (duh, "Cabled Throw"), and I got sick of all the cabling. This afghan is different because each square goes quickly, so I feel like I'm accomplishing something, and each square is unique, so I'm not gettting bored. Plus, I choose twenty squares out of over 70 options, so I can choose whatever I feel like doing. It doesn't seem like such a long shot that I may get this done before the wedding.

I have seen the light, and my wallet cowers in fear.

Last night, I met up with Amy for a knit date. It was a perfectly innocent plan; we'd meet up for some food, conversation and knitting out of the house, but not even in a yarn store where even the most virtuous knitter can find herself in trouble (as Amy can attest to after her innocuous trip into Halcyon earlier in the day). Except... Amy brought yarn. Exotic yarn. From far-flung locales. She brought yarn I've never seen in person. Yarn that I had been denying myself with the excuse that it probably wasn't all that great. Most notably, she brought Socks that Rock. I feel my life has been changed. Who knew that something with no nylon or elastic could be so sproingy and squishy? The lame online pictures could not prepare me for the saturation of color, or the beautiful way the yarn knits into fabric. I must get my hands on some. Unfortunately, I already bought yarn yesterday and I'm trying to behave at least a little bit until after June, so I can't order some immediately. But seriously, I've been to the Blue Moon site three times today already, and I don't know if I can hold out until the summer.

Oh, the things we do to blog!

After a fruitless search for an open wireless connection, I ended up here at work where I know the WEP passphrase and can log on with my own computer (which has my pictures), and make a weekend post. It's called dedication, people.

Work progresses on the afghan:

Square #1!


Square #2!


I've since finished square 2, so the next time you see that one will be in the finished blanket! I love the eyelet patterns in the book best, and it's a good thing. I was able to get these two squares out of one ball of Encore. I think I'll still order more though, just to be on the safe side.

The pattern calls for the afghan to have a crocheted border, but I'm thinking of hitting up Knitting over the Edge for other ideas. I know my fellow knitters will understand when I confess that last night I had a nightmare about... crocheting. I dreamt I had to crochet something (I wish I could remember what), and I ended up with a skinny, mangled piece of yarn twisted like a pulled-apart slinky after hours of effort. II think my subconscious may be telling me something.

Amy asked in the comments to my last post about my Branching Out scarf. I used GGH Mystik which I got from my secret pal, Parikha. The finished scarf does not hold it's shape, and the pattern overall is a little lost. That was the effect I was after, however, kinda rumpled old professor, kinda street urchin, kinda fashion model. Hope that helps!

Well, whaddaya know?

I have some new socks!!

Just plain old socks using Sockotta in the brown colorway (can't find the tag at the moment). These socks are incredibly comfortable. I love them and never want to take them off. By the end of the second sock, the yarn was feeling a little like string because of the cotton content. Also because of the cotton content, I went down to a US1 from my standard US2 for these babies and have subsequently seen the light! I will always use US1s with fingering weight from now on, because these socks hug my feet like a Mercedes hugs curves.

Now if I could just find the zipper to that cardigan, I'll be on a roll!

Somebunny is being awfully bratty.

And it's not me! Today is Mrs. Cooper's birthday (of course, we don't know for sure the DATE of her birthday, but we do know she was born on Easter), and she has been making her queen status clear all day. Hay has been flung, ankles have been nipped, extra-special salad (with grapes AND cranberries) has been eaten. She is done being the birthday girl:

You might think that my bunny talk is a clever ruse to distract you from lack of knitting content. You would be mistaken! While I actually knit this item some time ago, last weekend (was it that long ago already) this object went from this:




To this:




I felted the hat by hand, which actually wasn't bad. The only felting experience I had prior was with Kureyon and believe you me, that yarn does not want to felt. This hat was made using Cascade 220 which felted like a dream. There is zero stitch definition in this hat. I did notice that the light blue portion took longer to felt than the charcoal gray, but I've heard that lighter colors are like that. I plan to make one of these for myself, too. Would you like to make one? I am also officially amped to do a felted Bottoms Up Bucket Hat (though the "Bottoms Up" seems to be unnecessary now, as there appears to be only one bucket hat pattern available).

Work on the sock continues. I just have about half the foot left! I'm pretty excited about wearing them; the one that's finished is very comfortable. In other news, I had a pleasant surprise on Friday when the yarn for the wedding blanket arrived! I'm using Plymouth Encore (which I've heard referred to as "the cream of the crap"), which I've never used before. It's okay, but I can really feel the acrylic. I don't think a non-knitter would even notice it, though, as the yarn is fairly soft. I only have one repeat of one square completed (out of twenty squares!), so I'll spare you the photos. Hopefully next time I post I'll have another finished sock, a Ribby Cardi, and a completed square. The race is on! Want to bet on whether I'll have the blanket done by the June 15th wedding in Vegas?

Picture-Free Post

Well, we have all of our stuff in our new apartment. Girls have adjusted nicely, though Mrs. Cooper doesn't think much of her exile from the living room. It's only temporary, until we get some boxes out of there. Rattie girls are happy in their new cage, and enjoy exploring the bedroom while supervised. Eunice has again shown her love of yarn by continually climbing into a laundry basket full of yarn I have in there. Doesn't sound like much, but she has to scale the vertical ledge of a cardboard box to get to the basket.

We so much enjoyed having the yarn on display in the china cabinet in the old place (yes, the boyfriend liked it too), that we are in talks about getting a hutch or glass-fronted cabinet for my yarn. Until then, I'm thinking of getting a few of those canvas things that hang in closets to hold sweaters and shoes. We have an extra closet (ooh, the luxury), and I think it would a convenient spot for yarn. Speaking of yarn, I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention WEBS' huge annual sale, going on now! Yes, I am stash enhancing when my stash doesn't even have a proper home yet! I have my eye on some more 220, some Classic Elite cotton, and some Cathay. I'm trying to spread out the purchases, since I have a vacation coming in May, and then a long weekend in June (in Vegas!), to save up for. I did go ahead and order enough Plymouth Encore for a blanket I'm planning to make (for the happy couple getting married in Vegas in June), but it turns out it's backordered, so my responsible plan of getting that which must be used first has been torn to shreds. I won't see the yarn until May. Good thing you have a year to send off a wedding gift!

That first sock is finished, and it fits so nice and snug! I casted on immediately for the second sock, I can't wait to wear them! I did take a photo of a hat I made some time ago that needs to be felted, but the card reader is in a box somewhere. My knitting plans are as follows:
1. Finish second sock
2. Felt hat, send off to friend (I would like to do this in time for Easter)
3. Sew zipper into Ribby Cardi already! (Must find zipper)
4. Start Astrakhan cardigan
5. Buy yarn for a sweater I plan to make for my mom for her Christmas gift! (That's right! No more sneaking up on this chick!)

As soon as I find the card reader, I'll regale you with some photos. Perhaps even some photos of finished stuff!