Mayor of knitty town

My mom and her/our friend J have been visiting so there's not too much going on in spinny town (next week there'll be a real update, not like the weak-assed update going on this week, jeez jacey, what's up with that? 2 yarns? really? 2? oh, well, at least Vitreous Humor is back). However, in knitty town, I'm the mf'in mayor! Yep, I'm a KNITAH! Check it --

First up there is the men's shooting socks. They're are almost done, lacking nothing but a toe on the second sock. Oh, and they're for me, I'll be wearing them to shoot men, yeah, shoot 'em with my piercing wit. Next is Poppy from yarnplay. It's chugging along, being the project I pull out least but not because I don't love it, it just doesn't have a deadline while the others kind of do. I've got 4 o5 five inches done on the body, I went dark. Next is the yoke of my artyoke sweater. I can't tell too much about this but all will be revealed soon. Finally, the last shot is of the yarn I'll be using tonight to cast on a top down raglan for a class I'm teaching. It's a new color for me, all organic and plant-dyed.

And that is what makes me the mayor of knitty town. Yep. This morning Sweetpea got elected Queen of Cute-Town but we're peace-loving nations, there'll be no warring for knitted crowns and what not.

Self-indulgent

Oh no, I went and did it.

How many stripes?

And it's on. Well, it's always kinda on, but it's on in a big way right now and I can't tell you why. Yep, it's secret time. I have a big secret. A Big One! I've been holding onto it for months now and it's getting so close I can taste it. Only a few more weeks. I'm nervous and excited (and stressed like crazy to get everything ready). If you're wondering why the podcasting, blogging, communicating etc. has been lagging, this is is. BIG!

Does anyone out there make little tables, stools, or stands? Like something fun and funky that's about knee high and could be used as a fiber table while I sit and spin? If you do, let me know, i've need of one and we might be able to benefit each other.

I've been a bad blogger so I'm going to update in list form today --

1. Little Bit got his blue belt in kung fu!
2. Sweet Pea has 4 teeth!
3. Spinster yarns opened up and it's so rockin' cool!
4. Erin of cyber fiber is my new BFF and we've got plans baby, plans!
5. My spinning studio is wonderful.
6. I finally sent my Pop's gift! I'll post pictures after I know he's gotten it.
7. For those of you waiting on Yarn Curtains, they are all being shipped tomorrow. Sorry for the wait but those suckers take time to get perfect. You won't be sorry!

Oh, my first yarn in the new room was lovely, wanna see?

Jason slyly suggested after my last post that I hold a raffle for the first yarn spun in my new diggs. However, I think I'll just have a little give-a-way contest for it. The first person to correctly comment with the number of strips (green and white) that are painted in my new spinning studio, gets the yarn, which I call Airplane through valentine clouds.

Hint: check the pictures, yo!

edited to say: had to close this entry because for some reason, the viagra spammers were really fixated on getting this yarn! Geez, with all the sex they're having, do they even have time to knit?

ps. the answer is 34, 34 stripes, I'll look through and find the winner, or, if it's you, send an e-mail!

Ready for the Eyeball Ball

Oh. My. Goodness. I knew jody was doing this, I mean, she told me when she ordered the yarn, but for some reason I never really thought I'd see it in all it's knitted Vitreous Humor macabrarosity! It's fantastic and I WANT ONE! Wow. Here's a slightly different view. Click here for Jody's Rav page on the dress, if you can't access it, I can tell you it's about a size 8, it was knit on US#13s, it took about 15 hanks of VH yarn (or at least that's about how many she had, don't know if she has any left over), and it's awesome! It has darts in the bodice (like they did on "hot tomato" pattern from knitting daily) and 8 panel flair pleats. She even wore it to her office! Also take a look at her other projects, she's an amazing knitter!

Speaking of super cool things knitted out of Insubordiknit yarns, have you added your goods to the insubordiknit knits group? Please do. Just click the link and do it! Only 8 people have done it so far and there's hundreds of you out there!

One more thing. The podcast has been done for a while now, I'm just waiting on one or 2 more who's that purl knitter IDs. Don't you want to be the fiber worker to push it over the mark? It's easy and will only take you a minute or two. Here's the info again --

I want you leave me a quick message answering a very few questions about yourself. There's two or three ways you can do it -- on is with the internal (or external for the fancy-pants among us) and the other is with any old telephone device, landline or cell-variety.

To leave it with your computer go here, to Odeo and follow the simple instructions, 2 clicks and your there! Or record it using your own software (garageband, audacity) and send it to me as an .wav or .aif file, uncompressed.

To leave it via phone, call 206-339-9155 and, you know, speak at the beep.

Here's what I'm asking:

Name
city, state or country
age(or decade if you're not comfortable with the age)
job/
knitting/crocheting for ____ years
last/current project worked:

you're welcome to spice it up if your so inclined, you know be yourself! You heard the ones on the last podcast, they rocked! You can too!

Flickr, podcast, flickr, podcast...

Okay, so I know that the last post is the Happy holiday yarn give-away week number 2 post (ohhh, you didn't see it, all the way at the bottom of that long post, it's there, now with extra commentable material, including woodworker crack) but I've got a few other things to post, so make sure and leave your comments there, not here.

First, I realized that I'm like a hundred projects behind when it comes to posting all your wonderful FOs on my website. You go to all the trouble to take pics and send them to me and what do I do? Nothing. I can't be trusted.

So instead of relying on me, which clearly is a poor idea, please upload your insubordiknit knits to this fickr group! ! I put up some of mine but haven't added the some of yours from my gallery. So, if you have any, even if they're currently in my gallery, plop them right over there, okay? thanks so much!

Also, guess what I finished last night? Yep! Episode 5 of the podcast! So go, listen, leave a comment on the podcast page, on itunes, on ravelry, on the bathroom wall of the nearest truck stop. Some of you may recognize the parking avenger story, but what the heck, it's the holiday and I needed to spread some good ol' holiday cheer.

The Best Mail day ever!

I had the best mail day ever! Really. The best! You remember my last post (which is still going strong, btw, I'll probably take comments until Saturday night and name the winner on Sunday) all about genorosity? Well when my man in brown showed up with an unexpected box the other day, I was schooled in the ways of the generous. Yes. A wonderful customer turned lovely internet friend saw my previous post about how I'd never knit with Noro and what did she do? She packed up 10 skeins and sent them to me!

Seriously, I was floored. It may the the sweetest gift for me that I've ever received from a non-family member. I must have told everyone I saw that day all about it, and none of them were fiber people, poor souls. So I've had this bounty, this glory, for 2 days and you know what? I've already knitted a sleeve and a half!

Not only did Ms. Diane's gift give me enough Noro for a stunning sweater, it also had the effect of giving me back the handspun I thought was going to be noro-esque but failed terribly. Oh, I didn't tell you? Yes, many things were wrong with this handspun, at least if I wanted it to be vaguely noro-esque.

1. the stripes were too long.
2. the color changes were too short. They were 12 stitches instead of being 12 rows.
3. the yarn was too springy.
4. the yarn was too dense (it's the same thickness of noro but I had to go up from an 9 to a 11 to get an kind of good drape).

I knit it up and hated it. Really really really hated it. However, upon getting my real noro, I realized that I didn't hate the yarn, I just hated my failed expectations of the yarn. The yarn itself is pretty okay. I spun it a bit thick and thin because that's how kuyreon is, so I like the homespunedness of it, the colors are medium okay, the softness is lush, so now that it doesn't have to be noro, I like it, well, I medium like it. Perhaps, if I find a good pattern for it I could love it. For now I'll be happy with medium liking it and LOVING the noro Poppy I'm knitting!

Thanks Diane, because really, you gave me 2 sweaters worth of yarn!

However, I think I'll try again with the spinning of this yarn, I've got an idea.

Ass-yarn

I'm hard at work on the next episode of the podcast, I just lack one piece -- a This knitter's life. I'd like to have it up this weekend, which means I could break down and write one myself or I could wrangle someone else into doing it. Hmmm...Wrangle wrangle. Anyone up for it? Come on, give it up baby. But really, if you're interested, lmk! You wouldn't even have to read it if you didn't want to...

I've also been knitting. I started knitting Teva Durham's Lace Leaf Pullover. You know the one, it's always in green and it's got the the lace leaf motif on the bottom and the neck and the sweet ladder holes running up the sleeve. Well, I decided I had enough
Araucania Nature Wool Chunky to whip it out in no time. So in one night I got 9 inches done, the whole bottom half of the body, in the round.

However, I knitted it while watching old episodes of Friday Night lights, which is such a good show, btw, and away from the engrossing friday night lights and in the real lights, like the light of day, or heck, even by the light of a dim refrigerator bulb, one can clearly see a 3, maybe 4 shade difference between balls of yarn! Seriously, it's like it's not even the same color, one is milk chocolate and one is dark chocolate.

So I rip back to the first join and I start alternating balls. What do I get? a striped sweater, light, dark, light, dark, ohh super dark, light dark...It's terrible. So I mope into the studio and dump the whole bag of balls onto the floor, all 11 skeins. Not two of them are the same color! Really! But they all claim the same dyelot! Is that legal? Is this a real yarn company? It's ass and I don't call yarn ass often. Bah. So, instead of giving up or ripping back or stabbing myself in the eye with an addi size 11, I knit on. I will finish it and I will over-dye the whole thing. Take that ass-yarn!

But I'm knitting, right? so YAY!

I'm also spinning. Here's a picture of me completing one of my last backordered yarns. Who wouldn't want to spend 5 hours a day doing this? It's lovely.

Seeking knitters/crocheters!

I know, I know! My entries have been few and far between and on the rare occasion they do pop up, don't contain much content. Sadly, this entry is no different. In fact, it's probably worse because I'm not only giving you nothing, I'm asking for something, as well! Yes, I'm asking.

Here goes --

I need knitters/crocheters. Mad knitters/crocheters. To knit/crochet out of my yarn. And have the items done and back to me by January 15th.

You see, the items are for a band, to be featured prominently in a video.

So, here's the specifics, or as specific as I can get right now --

5 piece band, all male (2 tall and thin, 2 average and thinish, 1 shorter and medium build). Need pieces that a band might wear, though I'll leave it up to you what you make, some suggestions might include -- fingerless gloves, arm-warmers, scarves, guitar straps, hats, vests, and for the truly ambitious -- sweaters. The pieces can be crazy and inventive, and it's not super-important that they be super-masculine! By that I mean, a cape? yes, a dress? probably not; a freeform hat? yes!, a bikini top? probably not.

You can use other yarn to supplement, if needed, but my yarn has to be featured.

There is no payment but I'll provide the yarn and I should be able to return most if not all items to you after the video shoot (sometime in February). If for some reason I can't return the item to you, I'll pay you back in your choice of handspun yarn!

It's up to me which yarns you get but if you tell me what you're making and what you'd prefer, I'll pick accordingly.

It must be back to me by January 15th.

You will get credit for your pieces and their might be follow up thanks as well...

If interested, leave a comment or e-mail me with your ideas!

Pass this info far and wide!

Thanks!

My arse, I'm off it

Apparently, all it takes to get me to do something is 18 months. Sheesh.

Sweet pea and answers

I made this tiny sweater out of one hank of Scout's Sock Swag for Sweet pea, to warm her on her first nights. Clearly I forgot how big babies are, or rather, aren't, because at 13 weeks, it just fits her. And now with the weather, it goes packed for baby number 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (if you remember, Little Bit wants there to be 10 kids - heh).

I'd also like to take a moment to answer a few questions --

* no, Sweet Pea is not her real name. I've never put my kids name on my blog. I'm not sure it's really protecting them, but I figure I invade their privacy enough with the stories and pictures, the least I can do is keep their names out of it. But I want to tell you their names, they are freakin' cool!

* the raw crepe wrappers, the ones made from banana, the bananas were put through a food processor first, then poured very thin on plastic wrap and dehydrated. You can get special teflon sheets but why spend three dollars when plastic wrap is so difficult and messy?

*The podcast, and this is in response to every one that's sent me messages and comments. First, thanks for the encouragement! It means a lot that people still like it and listen. Next, Yes! I'm doing another episode. In fact, it was giong to be a surprise but...I'm almost done with the comeback episode. I'm waiting for a piece from a friend and Bill and LB are making all new music for my transitions. So, it should be out soon!

*Yes, LB is busy devouring every goosebumps book he can get his hands on. He also readily laps up Captain Underpants, the Magic Treehouse series, and various D&D manuals. He walks around the house with a book held up in front of his face, tripping over the dog and various other smelly items.

* Yes, I am supporting us with the yarn tihng, no, I'm not doing a great job. However, the important thing is that we both are home while the kids are young. I'll spin until I vomit if I can keep us all together.

* soap, pink grapefruit method handsoap, that's what was on my toothbrush. way down in the bristles, hidden, not just on top.

Triangular ribbed highway

Tiny triangular pops of vertical ribbing. It's like a zig zag of highway lanes stretching out before me and my needles. I love it. I've named this year -- year of the sock! But I was a bit bored with knitting the same old stockinette socks so when the cat lady offered to trade a book I've been wanting for quite some time, for a bit of handspun, I jumped (up and down). And check those cool earrings, too.

But the socks, the year of the socks, back to that. Since I've like a million newly donated skeins of sock yarn, and a super fly sock knitting book, I'm going to knit every sock in the book, starting with the first. Well, that's not totally true, the first 3 are plain ribbed socks with I'm not counting (hell, Bush doesn't even count them, they aren't even listed in the table of contents as patterns).

The first sock, the one you see laid out like a highway of triangular ribbed chocolate, is call mens shooting stockings, and I can't wait to go out shooting with men while I wear them. The crazy amazing yarn is fleece artist.

I'm really enjoying knitting these chocolate beauties. I've missed knitting. I haven't done much since Sweetpea was born, but now that I've figured out how to knit and nurse, my mind is a bit more settled, my shoulders a bit lower, and my feet soon to be a bit warmer.

Wool for sale

Ack. No shop update this week. Bill's been gone and it's been all I can do to keep myself and the 2 fed and entertained, spinning took a back seat, heck, a hatch seat. I did get some done but I had to fill a couple of shop orders so my shop will wait until next sunday.

However, I've got something else, but it's for spinners more than knitters. Do any spinners read this thing? Let me say first that I am not going to start selling wool. Nope, absolutely not. This is a one shot deal. I happen to have some wool that I don't like as much as some other wool I have, and so I'd like to sell it to someone that will like it lots. It's actually kind of strange. There seems to be no difference in the wool, except to me, and only when I'm spinning it. Both bill and I have looked, peered, rubbed, etc and can find no discernible difference, however when I spin it, it feels different to me (but not to anyone else). And my mom just bought me a whole load of wonderful new wool, so...I'm selling the 10 lbs of the old stuff, if anyone wants it, check out the listing in the shop. I'm selling it cheaper than cost because I'd rather it get spun than just sit around and mope in my studio.

I don't know if anyone else cares about this type of thing, but it is from a humane, no kill farm and it's been combed into top for spinning ease (i like to have some of my fiber combed, some of it carded by me, and some of it raw).

It's listed here!

Spin. Knit. Sock generosity

What have I been doing all week? Let me give you a glimpse of my life right now. Spin. Knit. Spin. Knit. Spin. Knit. Get super cool sock yarn in the mail from super cool knitters. Spin. Knit.

Yes, that’s right. Ask and you shall receive, at least that’s how it worked this time. I mentioned my sad sock stash and what reared its head? Generosity, kindness, super-cool-osity. Look at my growing stash, look at it! There’s spunky eclectic, sunshine yarns, fleece artist, koigu, lisa souza. And that’s not all that’s coming either. There are several more people sending stuff. Can you believe it? It’s all so beautiful I don’t know what to knit with first. Well, first I suppose I should finish the little beauties below. Remember I said I had exactly one hank of sock yarn left, well, Monkey is taking shape all over scout’s swag. Amazing, aren’t they? The pattern is fun, pretty easy to memorize, and doesn’t that yarn sing with it?

And for the spinning, it’s going great, if not a bit tiring. I’ve got less than 4 weeks until the baby is due to arrive and my board looks like this.

What that reads is 40 custom and shop orders but that doesn’t include my weekly shop updates. Lots of spinning to do, but it’s great and needed and will really help during my whopping 4 hours of maternity leave.

On the heels...

I know that I said before that my favorite heel construction was the heel flap, gusset etc. I said it, there’s no denying it. But I left that baby behind last week when I finished these! The yarn is, of course, Scout’s swag, the pattern, nothing special, just a deep rib and stockinette, however, the real deal is the heel! Yep, I ventured, I risked, and baby, I WON! The afterthought heel is the one for me. Although afterthought is a bit of misnomer, is it not? I mean, I thought and thought, I even got online and looked up directions – with pictures! These heels were well thought about. Just look at that construction -- perfect. So lovely, so easy, so freakin' comfortable.

And I said that I left that heel flap behind last week when I finished these (well-thought-out) afterthought heels, but the truth is, I left those dirty rotten heel flaps behind 2 weeks ago when while innocently treadling along on wormy the wonder wheel, I felt a sudden chill in my left heel. Yep, a blow out, in new-ish socks, the slipped sanity slip stich socks that were finished so proudly only a few months ago. Argh. I mean, I did wear them often, 2-3 times a week, trying to wear only handknit socks when I only have 4 pairs, but still…

So on the blown out heel of those came these beauties. Now I’m hooked. I’ve only got one single hank of sock yarn left in my stash, I’m partial to the hand-painted stuff, you see. One hank left. What pattern should I do? I want something noticeable different but not super hard as I’m also about to start Rogue for Project Spectrum and it’s a pay attention knit. I’m also planning on starting a folk shawl for my mom sometime soon. So, any suggestions on a cool but not too engaging sock pattern that would make a hand painted (but not striping) sock yarn shine? Tell me!

Also, if there’s anyone out there that has huge piles of sock yarn and suddenly finds themselves without needles or you know, feet, I’m open to large donations. Heh. Or of course, a trade? I’ve got handspun, I’ve got monster hats kits, and soon I’ll be posting my new junkyard scarf kit (they’ve been waiting for their photo shoot for months!) Let me know socksters!

Okay, and for those of you foodies out there -- here’s this week’s vegan menu:

Mains –
potato leek gratin
tofu loaf
smothered collards and beans
pasta with swiss chard and caramelized balsamic onions
Simmered one pot tempeh
broccoli mushroom soup
maple butternut squash
Mac n cheese casserole

Sides –
potato leek gratin leftovers
glazed turnips
boiled cabbage (not a word! I adore this stuff
various veggies

Desserts –
chocolate chip brownies
lemon coconut rice pudding
muffins, of course

Guilty knitting and Monster hats

Do you think it was guilt? It may have been guilt. It may have been ugly, self-loathing guilt that made me do it. Yes, last week I bragged, in a rather shameless manner, that I was finished with all my holiday knitting. Several of you e-mailed your surprise, jealosy, and utter amazement. Of course, I didn't reply -- I was far too busy dancing around the house, body stacked in knits, homemade knitted by... tags taped to every finger, singing I'm so awesome, I'm so rad, one for mom, and pop, bill and Little Bit, look, just look at all I knit..." There was more to the song but it just got a bit self-serving and embarrassing from there. Anyway, it must have been the guilt, because I freaked out and on a midnight whim, I started 3 more holiday projects last night. Yes. I. Did. Which just goes to show, my high school guidance counseler, and every ex-boyfriend had it righ-e-o -- I don't want to succeed. I set myself up to fail.

Here's a pair of socks I knit last week for Bill, I can show you these but the rest? You'll just have to take my word for it, since I can't show you the holiday WsIP, or even the Holiday FOs that have yet to be sent. They are all here though, the FOs gently mocking the WsIP and the WsIP laughing outloud each time I walk by -- and knitted stiches can laugh, really, and it's not a pleasent sound, it's creepy and scratchy sounding, the kind of sound you're not sure you heard, the kind of sound that makes you question your sanity...

But there is happy news, though I haven't seen it yet, there's a piece about my monster hats in the new Knitscene! Yeah. Many of you have sent me congratulations and lamentations (that you'll never get one for yourself now that more than 10 people know about them). However, fear not, I spin up several a week that are posted but I also spin up several a week that never get posted because they're special orders -- orders that people send that go a little something like this:

Jaycee, (yes, even though it's right there in my e-mail address, it's still usually spelled incorrectly, that's okay though, I'm not picky. really)
I NEED a monster hat kit and I never seem to get to your site before they're all gone. Can you please spin me up one special? I look really bad in purple, but greens rock my eyes and red hair, so that'd be cool, if possible. I love all your monsters too, so anything you want to make me, but I really really loved Cap'n bloody stump, Dead-eyed Jan, and Pop-eyed Screamer, something like those would kick ass! But you know, whatever, as long as I get one!
thanks,
desperate for a monster hat

Yeah, so don't think just because your life doesn't allow you to be first in line for my friday night updates that you're out of luck. I'll spin you one special, even if you misspell my name!

Also, if anyone wants to scan me a copy of the knitscene piece and e-mail it to me, that'd be super-duper cool! I'm stuck at home with a 4 year old with a voice and cough that sounds a bit like Tom Waits in 20 years and so I'm not sure I'll be going anywhere for a few days.

Stranded naughty bum knitting

A Little Bit FO! This sweater took all of 7 minutes to knit. Okay, maybe not 7 minutes but no more than 7 days of non-straight, non-stressed, non-monogamous knitting. It was fast! It also held a few firsts for me -- first EZ's percentage sweater, first yoke sweater, first stranded sweater, and first hemmed sweater. Damn EZ is bad-ass! I can't wait to do lots more of these!

Particulars --
yarn -- handspun 300 yards
needles -- US#11s
pattern -- based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's EZ percentage system, knit all in one piece, circular yoke with stranded color work, and hem.

Also, there's the hat. The hat is my first ever stranded color work. This is what I learned on. This hat marks me teaching myself to knit with both hands at the same time, each carrying a color. Yep, I'm now that badass!

Well, I'm that badass if you don't know how to do this, when I didn't know how I thought it was the baddest-assest thing ever, now that I know, I realize it only makes me slightly badass, maybe a naughty-bum knitter. Yep, that's me, the naughty-bum knitter.

Knits and shop update

Finally I've done it...I think. I've updated the gallery of things knit from Insubordiknit yarn with all the pictures people have sent me over the last 2 months. I think. I hope. I tried to get them all but I've not been the most organized of gals lately, if ya know what I mean. But here they are (please let me know if I've left you out). For details, check the page. Also, the shop was just updated and the monster hats and ragamittens are gone as well as a few yarns, but there's a scant few left. Plus, a big order to KPixie went out this week, so check there later!

Soon a real update! I've got 7 FOs of my own to show off. Yikes! At least I'm a slacker with my own stuff as well.

I'm wistful, I'm angry, I'm carefree in my clapotis

The world famous clapotis, or maybe it should be Clapotis? Here's mine, about a year and a half after the craze first hit but I've always been a bit behind the trends, my hair standing (or rather feathering) as proof to that, it's only 2-3 decades late. Drat this growing out stage, why do I even bother? It is growing fast though, pregnancy and all. But back to the Clapotis, here it is in all it's 6+ feet floor-y glor-y. I really do love it and even though during the actual knitting I had to stick my addis directly into my nailbeds to keep my self conscious and you know, knitting, wearing the finished project almost makes me want to knit another...hell, another 5! I'm officially a shawl girl! all vestiges of hipster coolness have dissapeared and I'm a shawl wearing knitter who can't get enough.

Mine is knit out of black pearl by Lorna's Laces, about 10 yards short of 3 hanks, on US9s. I did 2 additional repeats in the straight section so it's a bit longer. So yes, the pattern, easy, though I'm sure you know that because you've already knit 2, right? But you've got to admit it's a bit boring, and not even boring like you can sit and mindlessly knit while watching Starbuck moon over Apollo while at the same time acting like she doesn't give a frack. No, not boring like that, that I can stomach (and you may have noticed, with me, that's saying something, stomach and all), but no, this is the kind of boring from which you get no reprieve. You can't ignore and knit, you've gotta pay attention to those twisted stitches and dropped bits every 5 stitches or so. Argh. But look how lovely it is. I twirl and it makes me look just like a real model. heh. The sign of a true great FO -- knitting it was truely painful but when it's done, you think about doing it again, like childbirth. Hey, think I could get an epidural for the next clapotis I knit?

olive sock in progress

I may have been to busy to blog, but not too busy to get my socktoberfest on! Yep, here's sock #1 for the festivities, a olive-y ribbed number for Bill. It's going supa quick, or it could be that I knit on it all day while I sat in the jury duty common rool watching bad movies and waiting to be called upon.

* When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I took a wonderful class at my lys about a year ago to learn how to knit these little suckers up. It was a 6 week class and we learned how to use dpns, magic loop, and 2 circs.

* What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

Oh, these were my first pair. Not too shabby. I loved them at the time but now I realize the heel flap was too short, the toes to tight and the rolled cuff annoying. heh. They may have stood the test of time had there not been an unfortunate incident with a mouse. Yeck, glad that's over with.

* What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

Hmmm...I haven't used too many different sock yarns. Mostly stuff I've bought and dyed myself. I am, however, looking forward to some of scout's swag! Yowsa girl, send it over!

* Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

Chroch-what? Circs baby, 2 of 'em!

* Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

Well, I've done both now and I have to say I like the flap, but that could be because it's my first and you always love your first...right? I'm willing to give shortrows another try but I'd really like to try an afterthought heel? yep, sarah's gonna teach me...

* How many pairs have you made?

Let's see...1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 Nine. Though only 3 are currently with me, the others are spread out among those I love. I hope to have 6 by the end of the year and by the end of next year to be totally free of commercial socks! yep, a nice little Frack you to seams that pinch and heels that sag!

Also, here's a few of the Little Bit's newest gems --

In a movie theatre bathroom: mama, I'm dunging, I'm dunging!
In our kitchen:
Little bit -- After I peel all these potatos for you, I'm going to throw the peels behind the stove so any mice outside can come inside and have something to eat
me: um...how bout we don't. We don't have any mice right now and I'd like to keep it that way.
Little bit -- Okay, but which is worse for the Earth, mice living in our house or all these potato peels in a landfill?.

Funky scarf swap scarf done

Saga of the funky scarf swap scarf, in pictures, click any pic for a close-up.

First there were the batts, including everything I had that fell into the purple/blue/turquoise/green arena, so there's lotsa different wool, soysilk, tencel, and bamboo. The the single, spun not quite even but not quite thick and thin either, 120 yards on US13s. I also spun up 30 yards of all tencel in limes and turquoise, for the details blobs.

Finally the scarf:

It's really, really long.

But you can wrap it and make it more...medium.

You can even wrap it three times and make it damn short.

Or, you can just throw it on a heap on the floor, that's really short.

I hope my swappee likes it. She didn't seem to want it supa dupa funky, at least not what I think of supa dupa funky, so it's long and skinny with a flare at both ends, lots of tenticles coming off (not just from the edges either!) with little shiny blobs on the ends. I think it totally rocks but we'll have to wait and see what she thinks.

Jaywalking

My very first pair of Jaywalkers! And they rock! Seriously, I love these socks, why did I wait so long? A simple pattern that does everything it should. Thanks Grumperina!.

I'm also knitting away on some other projects and working on the podcast (which should be done as soon as I get the audio from 2 people). Oh, and spinning, much spinning, and a lovely update on Monday.

Happy first day of Autumn, we celebrated, did you? Bill just fixed my comments so you can once again comment, heck, you can even go back and comment, iffin' ya felt the urge!

I'm off to finish my funky scarf swap scarf swap...scarf.

Living, in theory

You know when I said I was working on a mini-audio play? Yeah, well that was in theory. In theory I'm working on a mini-audio play. In theory I'm working on the next podcast. In theory I'm updating more regularly. And in theory I'm not napping endlessly and complaining to anybody that has ears to listen. But all that is over...well, not over as much as, well, not over at all. I'm still going to nap and complain but now I'm going to get off my arse and write the audio-play, record the podcast, update. In theory, of course.

Honestly though, I am feeling a little more motivated and a little less depressed, and it's not just because the government has finally seen my inner value and called me to do my civic duty -- yep, this gal's got jury duty and I'm strangly pleased as punch. But back to feeling better, which I am, mostly.

I've been depressed, wanting to scream at this growing belly why don't I feel better yet?, and I know it's not the fault of the baby, but still, in my mind I call it bad baby and imagine myself dressing it in acrylic handknits until it's 4, as punishment. Bad Baby! Which is actually a bit better than it's other working title -- Pipilotta Pinecone. Yeah, we're not so good with the serious names around these parts. Little Bit was almost Collapso, heh. Don't you wonder what his true moniker is?

And now down to bidness (oh my, too much netflixed the wire, which is so good it actually makes me love and fear my city at the same time). I didn't knit at all during my times of woe but in the last 2 weeks have started back with half a vengence (the other half being reserved for Pipilotta Pinecone, do you think a granny squared flounced jumper might be suitable?) Here are some things I've done or am working on, plain handdyed socks, handdyed jaywalkers, a clapotis and last night I CO for sizzle in bamboo (not pictured).

Oh, Bea...

Yes siree, it's done! The bea arthur cocoon monstrosity is finally done. And come to find out, it's not such a monstrosity after all. I knit it on US11s, using 1000 yards of handdyed kid mohair, 80 yards of 2 wacky handspuns from a while back that just happened to match (for the vertical stripes), and 150 yards of 2-ply even handspun (for the seedstich band and cuffs. The pattern was made up as I went along. It's knit from side to side, well...kind of, that was the original plan but how it worked was something like this -- a provisional CO down the middle of the back, knit over just past the neck, a provisional CO from there down the front and then the front and back knit on the same needle until the reached the shoulder.

A short rowed sleeve cap right in the middle, then the sleeves knit straight down to the cuff (which is in seed stitch). The same thing was done on the other side, picking up from the PCO. Then the front stitches were put on the needles all the way from one bottom, up around the neck and down the other side (these were not PUs, it was knit this way so they are just put back on the needle). Lots of short rows to build the front middle out without getting too much at the neck or bottom (because bea would have liked a nice curve). Finally, I picked up the stitches along the bottom and knit the seed stich band (all 100000 stitches scrunched up on a 24" circ).

I have to tell you, it was dicey up until the very end. I really did this sweater to learn the provisional CO and to cement my short row skills, so I was only slightly grumbly as I knit it, thinking all the while that it was crap. Tacky, terrible crap. I felt that way up until I put the band all the way around it, it really tied it together and now I love it! Look at those sleeves! Wowsa! Forget tissue, I could hide scads of snacks, tampons, and tiny toy unicorns in there! Blanche, eat your heart out!

If you listened to my last podcast, you heard a little ditty about what's on my knitting sticks, the above, of course, was talked about and so was this slip stich sweater I started last week for Little Bit, though it may not fit him until he's a medium bit. The front and the back are done and the arms should be joining in a matter of days. As always, you can click to enjoy a larger version. Yeah!

In other news, I've been spinning.

and while I do that, Little Bit's been using my idea white board that hangs in my studio for his own...click on that to really appreciate the full scope of his talent/madness.

Orangina

Would you look at that! How do I have a finished object with all that podcasting going on? And not only a finished object, but a finished object that I absolutely love! For those of you who don't know, this is orangina fromStefanie Japel of Glampyre and I knit it with the sexy knitter's kal. It was a simply delightful pattern to work, my first in lace, in fact. The pattern was easily memorized and was interesting yet mindless enough to knit while enjoying season 1 of Galactica on DVD. I used the rec'ed yarn, 4 balls of rowan 4-ply in a color most-not-me tutti-fruitti. But forget about how easy and fun it was to knit, how brilliantly simple the construction was, and instead just look how cute I look!

Podcast done!

I don't have a button yet, but here it is! My podcast page, my first podcast and lotsa ways to subscribe.

Progress

Podcast. I've been so obsessed with it, trying to figure it all out and keep it from being as boring as spit. We'll see. I hope to have it up by tomorrow. Exciting, at least I think so. Gotta figure out the RSS bit, and if I wanna use lisbyn or not...So there's a reason I've not been all bloggy.

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are your favorites? Lately I've been hanging on every word or Brenda Dyne's. Oh, and Sage Trytle, of quirky nomads. Please, share! What do you like?

Another is that I really have been knitting. I'm so close to finishing everything I have on the needles. The Hoody is coming along swimingly, I've got everything done less the shaping at the top of both sleeves. So, you know, one more night of actual knitting and then in my mind I can call it done. But of course, that doesn't include the seaming, which I'm not so morally opposed to as others I know.

The Bea Arthur cocoon monstrosity is also almost done. I've got the sleeves totally done, including this wonderful 4 inch cuff in seedstitch out of the chartruese 2-ply handspun. I think it made the sleeves. I need to do some short row shaping around the inner edge before I begin the same seedstich band around the inner edge and collor, because as it stands now, it only reaches to the point of maximum protrusion. I need a bit more.

And happily, orangina is almost done as well. 2 more inches of ribbing and then a few easy seams.

I know this entry is quick and there's no pretty pictures to accompany but I've gotta get back to the newer technology -- podcasting. It's my new baby. Heh. Don't worry, I'll be back soon.

Oh another quick thing, for the summer, I'm decreasing the shop updates to every other monday. I'm still spinning as much, but I'm holding it back for Stitches East. So, no update this week, next monday -- good, good stuff. Over there is a button for my blog and/or yarnshop, if you're so inclined, download it and stick on your stuff!

Sexy Knitters KAL

Here's what my busy little hands did last night, orangina, for the sexy knitters KAL. I've wanted to to this pattern for months as I got it free for being one of Stephanie's test knitters. I'm using, for the first time in my short knitting career, the rec'd yarn -- Rowan 4-ply cotton. The color is tutti-friutti and we'll just have to see about that. So far I love knitting it, it's my first lace, really. The stitch pattern in fun and easy, after 2 repeats I no longer needed to look at the paper. I've two concerns so far, one -- that although I purchased the right amount of yarn, I'll run out before I make it just a tad longer than the pattern calls for, and two -- that the lacework is open enough, pinkie's gonna make an appearance. Do other people wear something under this? Well, at least the colors are about the same, pinkie will blend.

I'm knitting a size small, which is a bust size of 36". I've always been about a 34" but lately I've had a bit of what I thought was heartburn but really was a too-tight bra, so now I guess I'm a 35". So I'm knitting a 36" but my guage is a bit tighter than the pattern's so it should (I hope, I hope) work out. I didn't want to cast on 9 more for the next size up because I thought that would be too big. Right now, with a CO of 112, it measures 17.5" inches, which would make it exactly 35" around. Should be perfect...right?

Fairy dust and tiny sweaters

After the near death debacle of the other night (who knew knitting could be so treacherous?), I settled in last night for a nice easy knit. Something sweet and scrumptious, and far too tiny to strangle me with it's knitted tenticals. Not that this is gonna do much to dispel the myth that I'm in the family way. I'm not, I promise. I'd tell ya if I was. I will tell you when I am, how's that? deal? Okay.

I have dear friends that are babylicous and this is for the little one when it comes rockin' into this bright world. On a real baby I hope the sleeves are more short to 3/4 instead of the puffy monstrosity they are on Garnet. I know it'll only fit for a month or two, but won't it just be the cutest 8 weeks ever? And yes, that is a short row collar, my first off-the-cuff employment of shortrows, and it worked just like I planned. Yay for shortrows.

Below is our Spring family painting. We do one at the change of every season and hang it on the front of the house to welcome the . In spring it's the Spring Fairy. In fall it's the Good Gourd, yeah, are ya done laughing yet? Good, listen up, this is a good one. Last fall the Good Gourd brought LB a trampoline, he supposes the gourd must've rolled it here, seeing as he's a gourd and has no hands. So now, when people ask him where he got his trampoline, which happens often, apparantly it's a big giftitem, he relpies The good gourd gave it to me and they, without fail, reply back to him, with a smile The Good Lord, how nice.... Heh.

My favorite part of the painting is the little blue fairy that Little Bit painted. I thought it might be a mosquito but he assures me that it's a fairy, and the fence he painted next to it is how the fairy get to spring. It flys over the fence. to spring. He's awesome. He named the pic, in a big booming voice, Fairy sprinkles dust and spring begins on Earth.

Knitter gone awry

This is how you see me, isn't it? Prancing around my house, pits 'aflowing, heat cranked up to 80, wearing a handknit halter that the best (and I don't just say that because she buys so much yarn, but because she's awesome and kind and sweet and generous) customer-turned-friend in the world sent me, sipping some home-brewed and mysterious liquid that not only makes you long, lean, and strong, but also endearingly tipsy. I know, it's the carefree and enviable mystique I cultivate.

It's just a front though. Observe, an insubordi-knitter-gone-awry in her natural habitat, it's rarely seen, pay close attention:

ohh, first she's posing, looking a bit too happy with herself considering what she's...what? is that the fabled bea arthur coccoon sweater? It can't be...I thought it was a myth...knit in once piece, starting at the horizontal middle of the back? it boggles the mind.

and clearly our subject has become boggled of mind, or addled, perhaps. She seems to be caught, tangled, or could it be that it's actually attacking her.

Yes, yes, I think it is attacking her. She's trying so hard, you see the beads of perspiration flying off her crazed face? She no longer in her zen place. Look at that raw fear and panic. I fear the worst for our troubled knitter...

Yes...the worst had indeed come to pass. She's gone. Not truly dead, but more like in a living knitting death. Notice the glassy eyes, the contorted body, the smug and partially knitted object, not too many knitters make it back from the living knitting dead. A shame, that's what it is. Take heed it doesn't strike you. Take heed, and give bea arthur the respect she so deserves.

Yarn shop update

Yarn's up! A vegan one, lotsa cool crazies, and four monster hats! Kpixie put up 7-8 hats friday at 6pm and by saturday afternoon they were all dissapeared! I was all giddy and for a minute felt like a rockstar spinner! They've got a few more and some freakin' beautiful yarns to put up in the next few days, so keep those peepers peeled! Also, check out their new material whirled yarns too! Those girls can rock a wheel!

Did I tell ya I got a new wheel? I did, and she's a spinning slut-machine, taking everything I give her and begging for more. Dirty, dirty. She's a lendrum dt and I'm a maniac with that girl. Also, here's proof that my plying station is officially out of control. Look at all of those colors! yowsa.

Here's the progress on the cabled sweater. Going along quite well. One more night on the left front and then it's on to the right one and then whip through the sleeves. I'm workin on the cocoon monstrosity too, pics of that soon.

Oh, and if you've e-mailed me, I'm not ignoring or spurning, just churning with business and fatique. Soon.

Shop update and Customer knits

I've got lots to tell but shop-update-nights are not bloggy nights, too much computer, you know? So, for your viewing enjoyment, here's this week's Customer Knits!

First there's Christine's flamelicker, now a chilly resident of Scotland. Then there's Jaime's stephen tyler scarf, from 60 yards of gloworm. Next is the cute-as-a-button Jen's hubbabubba scarf, all watermelony and gum-like, those colors always remind me of Roy Hart, whom in the 3rd grade I used to give watermelon hubbabubba to, in the hopes that he'd someday look at me with a burning love in his eyes. Finally, looking all sassy and freakin' adorable is Missa from KPixie.com in her exes-for-eyes monster hat. Man, did you know that kpixie was run by such a 17-year-old-lookin'-cutie. Not that she is 17, but she looks all fresh and young, but slightly sinsiter too, like she's got your number...

Offending the 80s

There is it folks! The brand new car! The knitting magnet has to go along the side because, if the laws of physics and attraction can be trusted, the 2006 prius has no metal surfaces on the back face of the vehicle. It was a hard decision which side to put the magnet on. I finally decided on the passenger side so random strangers on the highway can feel the knitting camaraderie (albeit briefly) as I zoom past them still getting 60 miles per gallon! I've knitting pride, dammit, and I don't care who knows.

I'm halfway through the left front of the hoodie. It's like I'm an unofficial olympian, without the pressure or the sparkly outfits, oh wait, I am wearing a sparkly outfit! I'm also planning on starting another sweater-type thing soon. It's something I'd once have found so heinous that I'm about to pee I'm so thrilled to knit it! I'm doing it with a class at my lys. What is it? A side-to-sode cocoon! Picture that! I've decided mine's going to be big, fluffy green mohair with random-ass stripes of kinda-matching homespun, knit cuff to cuff, slight curve to the sides, a bit longer in the back, front falling an inch or 2 below my beltline, big honkin' cocoon sleeves -- it'll be like it'll be like I'm going back to the 80s and offending both kirstie ally and cindy lauper! I can't wait for my big comfy affront to fashion! And to your right is the leaning tower of yarn that's gonna make it all possible. I think I'll spin one more yarn to stripe, maybe a fading dark to light green with beads? Oh, can you feel the sweet pain of sucha a thing!?!

Shwoomp and shop news!

And the knits just keep on comin'. Hmmmm...on how many knitting blogs do you think that phrase has been used? Many, I'd venture. The good-smellin' Allison knitted these Monster Hats for her friends, and they're all fantastic, expecially the brown/black/blue, but I like dark colors. You may wonder how I know Allison is good-smellin', well I'll tell ya. She graciously sent me some of her olfactorific bath products bach around winter holiday. Yum, I still smell like a pumkin pie! Check Shwoomp! out and you too can smell like you just came outta the oven.

Also, BIG announcement: New Insubordiknit handspun yarns will be posted on Monday mornings from now on! yep, going back to the old once a week update, it's just easier on me (I had to figure this out for myself) and honestly, I seem to need the schedule and deadline! But hold on to your hats, this Monday's yarns are gonna blow through like a leather daddy at the Eagle.

Yarns become...

Have you ever seen such a cutie-patootie? My oh my, Ellen is adorable, and the hat's not bad either!

And to the right's a vegan mobius made by the talented Yvonne! I just love seeing what the vegan yarns become, saucy!

For more pics and details check out the Gallery.

Now I'm off to see if I can finally get my yarnshop FAQ done and perhaps my links list.

Pirates, cables, and deadheads

A barely human hand emerges from the cesspool of an infected, grime-covered sofa, the stench of old tissue and dyhydration hangs in the air. That hand is mine, but the tangible heaviness of sick is lifting, finally, from the insubordiknit household. LIFTING! I can almost claim air through both nostrils, I can almost speak without cracking, I can almost live. I can blog!

And Iv'e got some stuff to blog about, questions to ask, advice to seek. First, the shop is updated. A little light for the above plague on my house, and also because I had to send a few yarns to a very special place, for a very special opportunity. More later, when I'm less glow-y and more...show-y. But the shop is re-stocked, old Red Beard over there is my favorite monster hat kit evah! How supa cool is he? The spinning is good.

The knitting is good too. Recall the cableing class I mentioned starting? Well, it started and it rocked. I love cables. Really makes me feel like a knitter, all complicated and difficult looking, but really, easy as pie-shaped knickers. Here's my cables after my first class, we had to do a little sample smattering to get the feel.

This is 4X4 right twist we had for homework so that we can learn how to repair cables. However, you'll notice the one on the right, right above the twist, there's a hole. It's kinda under the cable, not like super visible or anything. Is that normal?

So that was the question. Now here's for the solicited advice, everybody in the class is supposed to start thier sweater next Sunday and I've yet to settle on a pattern. I looked at the talented Jodi Green's Mariah, which I decided, much as I love it, that for this cabled class I want something with more cables on it. Same with Rogue, love it but want more. I've been seriously considering the cabled riding jacket from loop-d-loop, but am stuck on whether I wanna do an all-over cabled pattern or if I want one with variety. Oh, if it effects your advice, the color is that lovley poppy orange/red that the above learner-cables are done in. So, anyone have any good cabled sweater (cardigan) patterns they'd like tell me about?

Finally, here's some FOs outta some of my insubordiknit yarns! I love getting these pictures! Love it! First, here's an amazing hat by the lovely angie g. How hot is it? I'm gonna ask for a bigger picture so I can really see it! Next here's a beautiful neck warmer by the frayed knot. She used the cherry garcia pattern by Hello Yarn and the groupie yarn by me, between the two she calls it deadhead. heh.

Boatload of Cindy's FOs

Holy Guacamole! Look at what I see!

The amazing Cindy at Studioloo took 85 yards of purple tease and turned it into these sexy neck adorning lovlies. And they're for sale! Yep, I spun the yarn and even I'm having trouble keeping my money in my pocket! They're so goergous! Really. Head on over and have a look at her stuff. I'm not even gonna take the time to link only to the things she made outta my yarn, everything she makes is lovely and you'd (we'd) be lucky to get any! Check it!

Rockstar

The wonderful rockstar yarn (and green scuffle) couldn't have been made into a more rockstar scarf or for more of a rockstar than Gavin Elder. Made especially for him by his bandmate bill, for their winter east coast rock and/or cold tour. Impressive. A boy who wears my handspun is almost as hot as a boy who knits with it! More pics in my knits gallery here. Rock on you tall drink of rockstar!

and the knits just keep on comin

Two FOs to share and only one of them was lovingly crafted by my big 11s. What's that mean? Yep, you guessed it, one of my very wonderful yarn customers sent me a picture of her FO! I do have the best customers but I'll tell ya, some of them, to get a picture of an FO is like pulling teeth...out of polydented dentures. heh. I'm thinking of offering incentives, even. Oh well, can I really complain? That'd be a huge, echoing NO.

It's a lovely winter headband and scarf made from flowers in the larder by the very funny Amandamonkey. It's modeled by Viola and I for one was hoping for a creepy face shot, she's the girl of my dreams!

The other FO is a winter gift that flew offa my needles in one night. I'm so happy with it I can hardly stand to give it up. Niether can the rest of my tiny fam, as you can see by how everyone had to get in on the modeling.
Even the gourd! It's over 10 feet long with a alternating diagonal dropped stitch pattern. I think it looks so great, though I might have made it about a foot shorter to be able to wear it without wrapping (as it is now you step on the fringe if you don't wrap).

Other than the knitting and spinning, it's a whirwind of uberactivity here at the insubordiknit household. The little bit and I have been spending all of our days out about the town to give the old cussin' men thier space to do the bathroom and the nights are spent spinning, knitting, and attending all the various meeting for all the various things I'm over-involved in. More on that soon, it includes lots of hot queer girls!

Off to spin for a special big order! also, to all those who left such thoughtful and smart (and sometimes funny as hell) comments regarding the little bit and scared man -- thank you! I haven't had a chance to reply individually but I plan too, or at least do a follow up entry. But thanks, don't let my rudeness and lack of response quiet future comments, y'all rock my handknitted socks!

Red wedding and shop update

60 yards of red wedding make up this skinny scarf that's a little bit billy idol, a little bit steven tyler. Lace, ribbon, yarn pieces, and flowered bits spun right in and knitted on US11s. It took all of Pee Wee's Big Adventure and was quickly taken up by the boy with the beard.

Also, lookit, it's just barely Sunday and old vomit-boots has got the shop updated already! I hope the number of yarns isn't overwhelming, I know it's more than usual but I've an ad coming out in Bust this week and wanted to be prepared just in case.

Vomit boots and fashion bits

Pattern:tempting from knitty. Easy as pie pattern, if you don't mind endless, mindless 2X2 ribbing. I wanted to tear my nail beds out, but that's just me. Like I said, I started this when I first learned to knit and put it away after about a week, not to finish it until almost a year later. Continuous nightly knitting could've produced this in a week or so. And in the end, I think it's fairly lovely but it's a good thing I don't need a bra cause I'm not so fancy as to have a strapless bra, plus, I think you've gotta have a bit more upfront to make those puppies stay up.
Picture: Little Bit, he's got an amazing eye for detail, look at how he chopped off the rest of my face but made sure he got that brute of a chin pimple. Yeah...he rocks.

Speaking of him rocking, I feel like I should start a whole category dedicated to his fantastic fashion sense. Here's his latest concotion which he wore to the Baltimore museum of art on Wednesday and did a mad sparkle dance for whoever mentioned his fancy shirt. That's also the day I picked up the nasty name Vomit-Boots. It took Little Bit and I the whole drive into downtown after leaving the museum to figure out what the rank smell that filled out humble volvo was. I said baby, do you think it's me and he replied from the back seat yes mama, it must be you. Indeed it was. Vomitous boots from a joyful run through the boulevard park. Feh, see if I joyfully run again.

Also, notice the star Little Bit is holding, it's from my rockin' SP. She knows me so well, sitting at home she was no doubt filled with thoughts like old Vomit-boots is always losing her darning needles, I think I'll send her (Vomit-boots) a sweet little star-shaped holder filled to the points with sharp darning needles for all her knitting and spinning needs.

Of course she is right, I am always losing my needles, and I love the star (and the devoured dark chocolate bars that accompianed them) but dammit, I wish she'd stop calling me Vomit-boots, one joyful run and I'm gonna carry that foul moniker around forever!

Finally, here's all the kits I just sent out. A mixture of ragamitten and monster hat kits, 26 in all, hence the lack of an update last week. However, I've got some mad rad yarns for this sunday!

xo,
vomit-boots (by reclaiming this name, I hope to take away it's power to hurt me)

Like mama, like son

Is there any question where the Little bit gets his fashion sense (or lack thereof)? These are 2 outfits assembled and donned independently of each other. Yep, since the boy started dressing himself, he's joining the the ranks of the half-nutso ragamuffins, just like his mama.

And just to prove I'm really knitting and not just sitting on my wee hands to keep them warm, here's a few pics. The first is me finally getting the gumption and strength of will to finish tempting, from knitty. I started it when I first learned to knit and got all blurry-eyed from the tears of boredom at yet another round of 2X2 ribbing, that I tucked it deep in a bag and let it weigh on my conscience for months and months. I decided to clear it, my conscience, moved it from my shoulders into my lap and chuckled aloud at the 3 inches that are required to finish it. The question remains, can I really wear a sweater with a ribbon?

Here's a bitty bit I'm sconce more proud of. It's my first lace work and it's going along swimmingly. I'm knitting it (branching out from knitty) out of a thin single I painted and spun several months back and in natural light it's just beautiful. When it's blocked you should be able to see the leaf pattern better (and perhaps the mistakes as well).

Raggamuffin-mittens

Last weekend I saw a pair of fingerless gloves on a cute-patootie girl at camp and thought I might start making another kind of kit (in addition to monster hats) -- a raggamuffin-mitten kit, or maybe just raggamitten!

So here's my first attempts. The pattern is easy as pie, well, easy as eating pie, right? It's the yarns that vary. I'm trying to figure out the best crazy but soft yarn to employ. Click to see the pics a bit bigger! The purpley/blue/red pair is a spiral yarn with occasional supercoils, the multi-colored with blue stripes (the one on Little Bit) is just a big long strand of supercoils, and the other is my favorite, a shifting colored yarn, plied with a shiny yarn with large poofs of cotton wrapped and trapped in like little puffy prisoners! So far, I'm ruling out the all-coiled yarn, too much, I think (though the Little Bit hasn't let the back of his hands see light of day since they came offa the needles). The other 2 are super fun and I've been no better than LB, wearing them non-stop So, kits? Good idea?

In other knitting news, I'm gonna start branching out tonight! My first real (but easy) lace pattern! Wish me luck.

Too many handspun FOs!

So after many weeks working on the handspun green diamond monster sweater (a name that is still in the works), I needed some quick and chunky knits. And since I can't even imagine knitting with anything other than that crazy stuff called handpsun, I dug in my little (okay, very big) tub and pulled out some yummy yarns spun in my recent past.

First I knit something I thought I'd never wear. Ever. A freakin' cowl. Yep, I said it, a cowl, who's very name brings a bitter taste to my mouth. It's like a cow that went rancid with an L. Ick. Where does that little bit of language come from. Anyway, I was drawn in by the loop d loop lure and by the perfect yardage and guage. With each stitch I humphed. Humph.

And then it took shape. And then I tried it on. And HAVEN'T TAKEN IT OFF SINCE. It's amazing, warm in just the right places. I get all toasty without the annoying rubbing under the arms, promoting bitter pit stink. Plus, how much do I resemble Queen Elizabeth? Like exactly, right?

I've gotten several people wishing they knew how my handspun looked knitted up, so here's a close up (click for closer, even) of the stitches. Next to it is a pic of it in hank form, name, dead pools, like his eyes. By the way, a handspun knits gallery is in the works. Soon. Really.

Since that well-written and easy as pie pattern only took a night, I need something for last night and thought I'd give a go to some of my wackier yarn, corporeal glee, to be exact, a self-striping yarn replete with monsterous supercoils and uncarded fiber galore.

It's a nothing knit, no pattern, just knit knit knit on circ with a little decreasing and kitchner at the end. I wanted to leave it simple and let the yarn speak for itself. It was totally fun to knit. I love the supercoiles!