February 29, 2004
This and That
OK really a this instead of and that but I was trying to be clever. Why do I even bother? I am not clever nor have I ever been.... Anyway I have received numerous inquiries about the Poncho or Alchemy Yarns. I am knitting the poncho for work. That is to say I didn't go out and purchase the yarn, the pattern, or a kit. I have no clue as to where *you* may obtain them other than to direct you to the Alchemy Yarns website. If your LYS happens to carry Alchemy yarns they can probably order the kit for you in one of 4 colorways. I am doing the Fire colorway. The kit is called Elements Poncho. From checking the list of retailers on their website I noticed a few shops which I know for a fact are on the web. The Wool Connection in Conn for one. Colorful Stitches in Ma for another. This is not an endorsement of either shop. I actually do not purchase yarns from them having 6, yes 6, LYS. None of which carry this particular yarn as of yet. I am sure that sooner or later one of them will be carrying the yarn. In fact I should just check my calander right now to see if the next guild meeting comes before I need to mail the FO out. 3 yarn stores started carrying Kid Seta and Douceur et Soie after I showed off a shawl knit in it. A possible 200 guild members inquiring about a yarn is a good sales pitch not that my knitting was so abfab. Just people got to see it up front and personal in addition to handling the fabric.
Oh Oh Oh a and that after all--I will post a picture tomorrow bout noonish CST of what I have done so far. The yarn really is worth the search if I do have to say so myself. Another and that is I am hoping to get to MS&W this year. I may have to pick up *more* work to finance some major shopping fun. I say *more* cause I have already done more this year than I usually do. I try and limit my work. When I started knitting for work about 9 years ago I was given a rule of thumb. This rule is basically to save one's sanity and a good one irregardless of if you knit for pay or not[you can be knitting for charities or huge extended family I don't know but you do] The rule is: Every 3rd item you knit should be for yourself. Thinking back over my I can remember completing items the tally comes out to be:
Work: 11
Other people[charity/family etc]: 4
Me: 0
I need some ME ME ME time. If I ever figure out how to do a gallery and a tally thing I will put this information in the sidebar. Maybe it will remind me to keep things a bit more balanced?
Posted by Elka at 07:52 PM
February 26, 2004
Ab-Fantabulous
I don't feel much like knitting today. Don't know why. Maybe its the 2 months of constant daily deadline stuff I have been doing instead of laundry. I really really wanna clean. So thats what I am gonna do. Clean. Talk at ya laters
Posted by Elka at 01:45 PM | Comments (4)
February 25, 2004
Eh I lied
I know, I know. I promised pictures and there isn't one. I *have* knit quite a bit of the Synchronicity yarn and it is absolutely wonderful. I want to give you a natural light picture so that there is a chance you may get a glimpse of the sheen and drape. I could have done this earlier today but I kept thinking hmmmm do the full range of colors then hmmmm ok 2 full repeats of color range for effect then darn it all its too pretty I don't want to put it down just to take a picture. As 3C would say "swank"
How about some links? Would that do it for you? I am looking forward to Anne-Maj Ling: Two-End Knitting, A traditional Scandinavian Technique also known as Twined Knitting. From Basics to new Refinements and Designs advertised at Schoolhouse Press. You can see teaser pics here. Did you know our Ms Ling has a website? In some non-intelligable to me language with more pictures and what seems to be a place to order yarn. Check it out here. You want to check out the area under "Bilder p度quot; for mittens, pullovers, skirts, socks, and hats in that order. The hats just swoon me. Under her links page she directs you to this online tutorial in English.
Oh Oh Oh I just noticed that Meg is now carrying Here Be Wyverns by Nancy Spies. This book actually boggled my brain because The Fabulous Ms Devine mentioned it on her blog with a link which lists the book for a whopping cough cough cough $193.78. You don't believe me? Here's proof. Now any idiot can do a search for Nancy Spies and come up with her website plus several other needlework shops that sell it. I got mine from the lovely Marsha of Needle Arts Bookshop. Rumor has it that Marsha is gonna set up a wish list like the ones you get on Amazon. It may just be a rumor I am starting right now. But if you all harrass her it may just come to pass.
Posted by Elka at 09:57 PM
February 24, 2004
Finally!!
Whew...finally done with the poncho. It took way longer than a few hours to do the edges. I like this one more than the bunting. Something to do with being olive toned and all those mossy and yellow greens in the bunting vs the hot pink, purple and spicy red in the poncho. Does the whew and finally sound like the knitting was a chore? It wasn't. A very simple and enjoyable knit. BUT hello I wanna knit the Alchemy Yarns project soooooooooooo bad. Yipieeeeeee I get to start on that tonight. I did swatch it this weekend. Its Synchronicity a merino/silk blend and yummy to the max. The colors are the semi-solids and I hope its not rude to say this but upscale luxe luxe luxe Manos. Ok not manos but the same kinda color variation. I am sure I am missing some subtle accent colors since the site says its painted instead of done in a single dye bath. Please go check them out. They have several one skein projects that come gratis with a hank of yarn and the owners are extreemly nice. The yarn is ahem yum yum yum. You will get to see some knitted up wonderfulness tomorrow.
OH and I did find the pattern. I just knew that if I confessed my total disorganization it would pop up-- you guys got a lotta strong vibes. Smootches ;^)
Posted by Elka at 05:39 PM | Comments (2)
February 23, 2004
HELP
I need some serious good vibes from my few readers. I am almost done with my poncho --an est. hour or two left to do so figured I would gather up some stuff to mail. Terri want AS Aran Knitting, Laura wants BW Treasuries, Catherine wants some lace stuff. Addresses collected and written down on the UPS mailing form[yah I have a stockpile] books collected. Now where is the most requested lace pattern? NOTE to copyright police: NOT photocopies but my originals being loaned out. OK the AK I sold at cover price and the BW stuff is a gift--the lace stuff is irreplacable and a loan of ORIGINALS. God forbid the copyright people pounce on me cause I am very vocal on copyright stuff. I CAN'T find the pattern for Roswitha. I have looked everywhere. I have combed my file cabinet full of lace mags and patterns. I have thumbed through all my books on shelves on off chance I tucked it into one. I have shuffled through all the patterns I rudely rip out of magazines. I have emptied my other file cabinet which I throw papers to be mailed out or filed or otherwise dealt with whenever I feel up to doing so. Please send pattern finding vibes my way. Its been 5 hours of looking already.
Posted by Elka at 11:56 AM | Comments (1)
February 21, 2004
Hi Ho Hi Ho its off to work we gooooooooooo
Busy busy busy busy so here's the color for the day:
You are pink aluminum.
Retro, straightforward and fun, you love classic
things. If they're 99 cents at Goodwill all the
better! You are moved by striking colors and
tasty morsels, and you like a stitch-n-bitch
session in the sun. Just remember, while
you're being kitschy cool, don't get too cold.
Ice cubes are best kept in your cocktails,
baby!
What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Posted by Elka at 06:57 PM
February 19, 2004
Mail Day Reports
I've actually had 3 great mail days in a row but figured I would wait for today's package and not share my Darling's special day with something as common as my yarn habit. Oh isn't that a lovely batch of yarn? It comes from a newish company called Alchemy Yarns. I heard about them via Knitters Review. The yarn is lovely but I obviously have not had time to knit any of it up. My regular mail carrier is off today so everything is 4 hours behind schedule. I immediately thought of Lizzy and her Pele sweater which is now going more fiery due to Carolyn's masterpiece. Scroll back a few days to see it and don't forget to put in a mention that my birthday is coming up soon. I fully expect to be banned from her blog and shuffled into the auto trash folder soon.
Next we have Tuesday's mail which brought me Lorna's Laces Helen's Yarn in Purple Iris. I *had* planned on knitting up a semi-circular shawl for my little Angel but was sent the wrong color and didn't get the replacement until well the day before big birthday bash. The lovely curly locks tumbling from the basket come from a Gotland Lamb. I put in my order with South West Trading Company a few months ago and washed it up right away. Sooooooooo lovely. Jonelle tells me more is available so give em a ring if you want any. Don't forget my birthday is coming up either.
Posted by Elka at 04:52 PM
February 18, 2004
Happy B-day Angel Face
My girlie girl is 5 today. She requested the santa tablecloth so ignore it pls. She wishes you a big:
THUMBS UP BABY!!
Posted by Elka at 07:11 PM | Comments (2)
February 17, 2004
The Weekend Report
Can you tell I have been listening to The Lion King CD? And that I am tired. No zippy quip-y post today. Assuming you have found me quip-y and zippy or you wouldn't return. Saturday began as all weekends should: darlingest hubby sent me off to shop for clothing. What does this have to do with knitting you ask? Simple. The reason I have little to no clothing is because I augment my yarn shopping monies with clothing monies. A visit to the yarn store, after all, yields a pair of socks in the making , a hat and glove set in the making, a cardigan in the making. You get the picture. I got 3 pairs of slacks and 2 pullovers. I almost bought a sweater. Horrors! The knitter in me balks at purchasing anything which could be handknit. Can you tell we are cold over here? I did not get socks, hat, gloves, or sweater even though I have been shoveling snow and scraping ice off my car onto my nekkid within clogs feet, with bare hands, and red ears. I needed some clothes and I need to start clicking.
After shopping I went to the GSLKG thats Greater St Louis Knitter's Guild for those who have no clue where I live. Its the largest knitting guild in the country. Unless you count something like TKGA. I went to meet Rebekah. I met her via the net and when she discovered I lived in St Louis she offered to meet me there with information on the upcoming Lucy Neatby workshop. It was a very nice visit through a very boring meeting. I worked on finishing up the baby bunting pictured yesterday and on my shawl. After the meeting I came home and worked on the kimono, also pictured yesterday, until it was time to go out with my hottie husband.
Sunday and Monday were spent working on the replacement to Kimono WIP the baby poncho. Not to sound like a broken record but .... pictured yesterday. I also worked on my shawl. 4957 sts later[thats the last 7 rounds] I am now ready for attaching the edging. Wipieeeeee. I am guesstimating 1440 edging rowlets. I wish *my* hubby gave me a penny per stitch...
Having gotten to a nice stopping row on the shawl I pulled out my sock and after an inch or two found an error way way back. I spent 2 hours trying to correct it by dropping down the offending 4 sts and reknitting them. Over and over and over again til finally my little bamboo needles splintered and started fraying my koigu. Then I finally gave up the ghost and ripped back beyond what was pictured on the 5th. I would say the top of 2nd diamond. This led me to stay up way beyond my bedtime making progress on the sock.
Does the time spent reworking 4 freaking sts worry you? Especially in conjuncture with the comment yesterday about colors pooling? yeah I am a fussy knitter. And really I don't care if it makes me seem anal. In my book knitting is a simple task. I would go as far as saying tieing shoes takes more fine motor skills than knitting. Of course I am a thrower and make a wide sweaping arm movement instead of flicking of fingers but still its not that difficult. This is not meant to offend anybody who has difficulty knitting. And I am not speaking of working with many colors or working into rows below or twisted knitting or dicifering poorly drafted instructions any other specialized type of knitting. I am speaking of the actual knit and purl movements. Which kinda brings me back to why I won't purchase handknittable garments. Knitting is, in my mind, a matter of choices. Its certainly not frugal to knit a pair of socks when a half dozen can be purchased for a piddly $5 at target. But by knitting I have a limitless choice of self expression. Color, pattern, size and choice of techniques utilized. I'm gonna be fussy and I hope you are fussy as well.
Posted by Elka at 12:22 PM | Comments (1)
February 16, 2004
Tagliatelli Dreams
A little trunk show for my readers. I have been working for Unique Kolours lately and just finished 3 items. I figured I might as well show them off before sending them back to company. The kimono, one of my WIPs from last week, is made from Tagliattelli and I am in love. Yes love. I have a love/hate relationship with handpainted yarns. I admire them in the hanks and in other people's FO's but I have problems working with them. Its all about how the colors pool. On 100 ish sts[a back say for a WW 40" sweater] the colors fall differently t han they do on 40 ish sts[ a sleeve cuff] and this annoys me. NOT in other people's knitting but in *mine* Like a split st that nobody else would ever notice it stands out as a flaw cause I notice it while knitting. Tagliatelli has overcome this irk. I love all of it. I see myself wearing a nice close fitting pullover with a high neck in it looking inexplicably thin. Thin with fuller non graying hair, clear skin being charming and witty and a deadly beauty. I do not have a youth worship since I have never been charming or witty or thin. I have had fuller non graying hair and clear skin. But I wouldn't live through the insecurities of youth or give up my children for anything. However my children would allow this one garment to survive unscathed by prodding fingers or bodily fluids. Thats the most polite way I could think about putting it. But babies sux for nice garments. BTW very sorry for fuzzy picture-- I used this as the backdrop for several other pics so you can see the loveliness from those.
Next we have a point sweater in Giotto. Its an odd shape. Worked in one piece to armholes with decreases along front edges. When worn the fronts hang way down and the back hitches up. But I enjoy working with Giotto and I like the crispity fabric it produces.
Lastly we have some baby stuff for Mission Falls cotton yarn. I enjoyed working with the yarn more than I expected. Generally I don't enjoy cotton but this one zipped along. Really it has some zippity feeling as it flows through fingers. The bunting is missing a zipper. Do you notice the increases along the bottom? This shape is caused by Casting On 2 sts at beginning of several rows. When it got time to mattress st my garment together I had holes where I had increased the sts. Too much of a gap[almost half an inch] from end of last row to beginning of new row I guess. I turned to crocheting my seams together. A big first for me and I rather like it. Will be spending more time exploring it as an option. The bonus was that the stripes matched up perfectly. Sometimes when mattress stitching, even if you match up row per row, the stripes end up half a stitch off. Like the dreaded jog I think this is caused by pulling up on the working thread. Anyway next to it is yet another odd color combo[ I think the bunting has a slightly discordant color combo] for a poncho. Same yarn, same stripe pattern, same designer with same color sense. It might float other people's boat.
OK thats it for today. Tomorrow look for my very knitterly weekend report. Yes it will be tuesday but darnit its a long weekend.
Posted by Elka at 10:28 AM
February 13, 2004
Tuckered out
My camera woes are over. My darlingest husband fixed my problem with the inspired plugging in cord. Yes indeedie. When I said I was electronically challenged I was not exaggerating. And the thought that I might be a chore? Well suffice it to say hubby stomped off muttering stuff about rocket scientists after plugging in the cord. I have gone back and put in pictures for all the previous entries. Feel free to scroll down. I will not be taking more pictures today. I also took pictures of my first wheel spun single and a bit doubled over for what the 2-ply would look like. You can see this at Pink Tea.
Posted by Elka at 03:03 PM | Comments (2)
February 12, 2004
Its here
I finally received my Lendrum collapsable wheel. I have been asking my darlingest hubby for one and we ordered it a few weeks ago. A local spinner will be dropping by to show me the ropes before I pick up too many bad habits while playing.
Also on the yipie kai ai front my wonderful husband got me my camera. Mind you it says it isn't connected every time I try and use it so I must wait for him to show me how to use it *again* It really must be a chore being married to me. I am technologically challenged and he is constantly showing me how to do things with and repairing my computer. I shall do my bestest to seduce him into walking me through the camera/computer steps as soon as he gets up from his nap.
Posted by Elka at 08:36 PM | Comments (1)
February 10, 2004
Another good mail day
It is turning out to be a good mail week. Today I received the 4 Sanquar glove patterns available from Scottish Women's Rural Institute. It was a real headache to get them. I had heard that they were difficult to obtain so mentioned that my sister lived in the UK. This apparently made a difference[I had heard of other knitter's queries going totally unanswered] since I got a total price and request for check drawn on UK bank. My sister never did confirm that she would pay for them even tho I had bcc the initial request with SWRI and fwded the bill. I then fished around for a willing buyer on KBTH. What a generous group of women. 7 total volunteers! The first respondent didn't confirm that she had sent payment and after 3 weeks I contacted Joy to send the payment. A mere week later here they are with no note of who payed for them. Should I end up with 3 copies look for give-aways
Posted by Elka at 02:58 PM | Comments (1)
February 09, 2004
Fate?
I broke down and went to a not too LYS for a copy of the Threads compilation 'Knitting Around the World' sadly oop. I decided I must have this book for the twined knitting article. Luckily the shop still had 5 copies in stock. And my copy was on sale! A piddly $10.99 instead of the stickered $16.95. NOTE for anybody who might feel like sending me back over the river this shop is notorious for upping prices and also marking the same thing with vastly differing prices. I feel very lucky to have snagged a copy for less than retail and cannot promise that future copies will also be discounted. Anyway I peeked at the twined knit mitten instructions and it calls for fingering or shetland yarn. I have loads of shetland oddballs. I was all excited at the prospect of casting on. Of course I am trying to be good and finish my WIPs listed last week and some work stuff so thought eh laters. BUT WAIT....what should arrive in the mail? 8 oz of shetland wool purchased via ebay from a small farm. 'Our Own' shetland yarn in a lovely pewter grey. This must be a sign that I am to blow off work and WIPs to begin right away. Don't you agree?
Posted by Elka at 12:54 PM
February 07, 2004
Gimme a Break
Still no camera. Hubby is convinced I want to take nudie pics of myself to distribute on the web. Or something like that. Part of me is charmed that he thinks I am cute the other is rather horrified.
On the knitterly front, and in a desperate attempt to add color to this little site, I took this test:
You are Dishcloth Cotton.
You are a very hard worker, most at home when
you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly
born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain
Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla
Jeesh I don't even knit with cotton much less dishcloth cotton. Tho I was thinking I am in need of some white or cream or ecru colored linen for washcloths. Ya I know the curmudgeon would be amused. But I really do prefer to wash my dishes with a washcloth than a sponge. So much easier to get into crevices and much more scrubbity...
Posted by Elka at 06:33 PM
February 05, 2004
You love me you guys really love me
OK not really but lets face it...3 people have asked me to join their blogs so here I am. I will harrass hubby for camera parts and try to get some pictures up soon. Until then here's a blow by blow of what I am knitting:
a kimono for Colinette
socks from Knitting on the Road
shawl from Two Old Bags aka Wool You Order
Reef by AS[2 years to finish a sleeve help me you blog readers puhlease]
Embarrassing pics to follow
Posted by Elka at 01:47 PM