Sunday, May 30, 2010

Let the Sidetracking Begin!!!

I've been craving some nice lightweight cardigans for the office.  While we are coming up on summer rather quickly, I still find that I want/need a bit of extra warmth to deal with the air conditioning system in my office.  Just a little light something on my arms. Preferably something stylish and not the oversized plaid fleece shirt that hangs on the back of my door.

Conveniently, Knitty Gritty Yarns, one of my LYS, had its 5th Anniversary sale this weekend and marked all cotton or cotton-blend yarns at 30% off.  So I picked up sufficient Cascade Ultra Pima in a grassy green color to make myself the Painted Silk Cardigan in the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits.  I even did my swatch last night.  I have yet to wash and block it, but so far it looks like I'll need to go down a needle size.

So why haven't I knit the second swatch yet, you ask?  Because I haven't got a size four circular needle that I can find.  Sheesh. It appears to be the only size I don't have.  I'll make sure to get a needle that's nice and pointy too.  I was having some difficulty with the twisted stitches using my old Susan Bates  needles.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Fibery Pursuits

I've made my decision. I'm going to attend the 2011 Sock Summit.  It'll be my very first fiber-related conference.  The primary deciding factor was that it's only a six hour drive from here. It also sounds like it'll be a whole lot of fun and if I start saving now, it'll even fit in my budget!  In the meantime, I can work on knitting down the sock yarn stash.

On my trip to Chicago I bought no sock yarn when we stopped by my Sis and Niece's local yarn store.  I did, however, buy six skeins of Cascade Lace Alpaca.  My initial intention was to knit an Apres Surf Hoodie. Of course, I failed to remember what weight yarn was needed so I bought lace weight intead of fingering weight.  All is not lost, however.  I think I'll make a Featherweight Cardi since I could use a few more cardigans for routine office wear.  My current favorite work sweater is a lacy pink nylon/mohair cardi I picked up at the GoodWill store for a couple dollars.  I need about two more of them.  I may unravel a black mohair pullover that I don't like very much and turn it into a black mohair cardi too. At least that way I'll wear the thing.

My knitting progress during my trip wasn't as much as I'd hoped.  I mostly slept on the way to Chicago.  I did knit quite a bit on the way back.  I finished Sis' first sock on the way to the airport to come back.  I cast on the second sock while waiting for the plane.  I'm now a bit over halfway up the foot.  I could get the second sock finished by the end of the weekend if I don't do anything but knit.  Given that I'm getting over a bad cold, I might get more knitting done than usual. Otherwise, it'll be the end of next week. Once her socks are done, I'll finish up my Crabby Socks and maybe start a sweater unless, of course, I get sidetracked by something else!

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

New Knitter Pics!

As you know, I started teaching my niece to knit before I moved across the country.  My sister then decided to learn too.  To facilitate this whole process, they signed up for some private knitting lessons at Wool and Company in Geneva.  Everybody think it's totally awesome that Niece (age six) has taken to knitting like a duck to water.  She's now featured on their FaceBook page.

When Sis and Niece were at the shop this week, one of the guys at the shop asked Nephew if he wanted to learn to knit. Nephew said he knew how but had trouble handling the needles. The guy (sorry I don't know his name) raced across the store to find a project for Nephew to work on.  The little ditty the guy used to help Nephew remember what to do was hilarious!

Stab him.
Strangle him.
Rip his guts out.
Throw him off the cliff.

Nephew won't be forgetting any time soon.  We've also decided that what Nephew needs is small, short needles.  The longer single point size 8s in the knitting kit are just too big and heavy for him to manipulate easily. He did very well with the much smaller needles that Knit Shop Guy had.  Now Nephew will just have to develop an attention span that last longer than 5 or 6 stitches.

I'm headed to Chicago this weekend. Sis and I will naturally be hitting the yarn shop to see what there is to see and I'll be officially outed for being the instigator of Niece's knitting habit.  With any luck, I should finish Sis' blue socks while I'm there and can leave them with her. I have no clue what I'll use as my return trip portable project.