I've Been Robbed

Okay I'll admit it. I'm sulking a bit about my defeat on Saturday at Knit One. While many folks indicated how absolutely divine my wrap was, I was beat out by a cute little Rowan wrap. The creator had only been knitting for about a year and she did a great job. I do however think that it was not quite as fab as my project. I'd post a pic, but I need a good camera to get that.

In spinning news, I'm working on using homework time to spin more. Since the Celtings sit in the kitchen to do homework, I sit there to be sure homework is what's happening. Rather than knit or read, I think spinning would fit the area best.

In the mean time, I'm working towards kicking off the holiday knitting. Wish me luck.

Overheard Conversation

Younger Celting: Nuh-uh!

Elder Celting: Uh-huh!

Younger Celting: Nuh -uh!

Elder Celting: Yuh-huh!

Younger Celting: Dad!

Celtic Consort: What?

Younger Celting: Does Elder Celting know more than God?

Celtic Consort: No, God knows everything, and your brother is only a fourth grader...

Younger Celting: Hmph... are you sure??

Celtic Consort: Yes

Younger Celting: How do you know?

Celtic Consort: Because I went to Catholic school with nuns.

Younger Celting: See I TOLD you!

This whole dialogue made me think of that show Are you smarter than a 5th grader? I also think that it's interesting that the selling point for validation that it wasn't just Catholic school... it was Catholic school WITH nuns.

Back to School

First let me show you another newbie sock. Dee finished her first sock at our last meeting and I've been lax about posting. She did a fabulous job and I can't wait to see it as a set.

In other knitting news, I've finished the MS3 and now just need to block for Saturday. I'm trying to get Laurie to take some pictures so you guys can see it in a decent view. The Celtic Consort is working on getting me a digital camera but I have to wait.

Now the big news. Today is the first day of school. Both boys were excited to get out the backpacks and get moving today. For Elder Celting, it's fourth grade. His only disappointment is that the male teacher he was expecting won't be there this year as he had some health problems. Instead we have another woman who's introductory letter sounds promising. Let's hope for a smoother year this year.

For Younger Celting, it's the First Day of School. He has the same kindergarten teacher as Elder Celting had and even the same time (afternoon). He was quite excited to be an official big kid. I got a little teary eyed at my baby going to kindergarten. Where did that time go? He'll catch the bus from daycare and ride it back there for the first half of the week. Second half of the week, Dad will help with getting him there. Coming home will be with his older brother. I'm anxious to see how he likes it.

Newbies

Can I just say there's nothing like someone's first sock? I mean as sock knitters go, you take a leap of faith that the heel will magically appear every time. But having done it before, you're somewhat reassured that yes, it really DOES happen. When it's your first sock EVER, despite reassurances, you're not really sure. You almost feel like it's an initiation ritual that they will reveal is a joke and show you the real way. Then you get to the toe, and while not nearly as intimidating, grafting is a whole new mystery. I mean come on, can you really get single piece of knitting from two without a visible seam? But then you see it happen, MAGIC!


















So why the spiel? Well Stephie (forgive any mispelling), completed her very first ever sock on Friday at Knit Knite. She promptly received a round of applause and much congratulations. She even said there was no second sock syndrome as she was anxious to do the second to have a pair. She started with a pattern and then moved on to the sage advice of Heather who help guide her beautifully. I gave some minor advice on her continental style as out of the group I'm the only one. ( I know I'm weird) Beautiful sock and I can't wait to see the pair.

Stacy was also there working on her first sock. She seems to be making some good progress despite a few little pauses on Friday. It was a fortunate thing that we managed to find her again and she joined us at Borders.

And I suggest you all demand photos of Heather's current socks. I got to see the beginning parts and they are BEAUTIFUL. A lovely use of the color rich Shibui Knits Sock yarn.

But CQ, what about YOUR knitting? Well I finished the model for Bloomin Yarns and I'm finishing a matching cap. I also picked up some yummy Tilli Tomas silk yarn to do the River Rock scarf in a color called Glazed Ginger and found teal beads. YUM! I've also got back to MS3 and only have about 25 rows to go on Clue 4.

P.S. Laurie seems to think that I've cursed her with my witchy ways as she's now had to rip all the way back about 3 times. I have no idea what she could be talking about (whistling)

PeaPod Revisited

So I had two baby sweaters to make. The first was my traditional Babies and Bears which was sweet and I promptly forgot to get a picture of. I'm told the recipient becomes quite active and cheerful when it is tried on. :) The second is this take on the Peapod. I like the one piece for the body as I'm not a big fan of seaming. I also thought it lent itself well to the yarn. It's Lifestyle yarn from Zitron. I bought it at Bloomin' Yarns and I'm glad I did. Nice hand, knits up fast, and easy care. The colors are a nice take on gender neutral without those washed out mint green and softy soft yellow. I'm thinking I'll have to try some of the other colors too for baby sweaters.

Speaking of Bloomin' Yarns, I'll be stopping by tomorrow to pick up stuff to do a shop model of a baby sweater with some cool sock yarn from Shibui. Heather picked some of this up in some yummy colors which I think will make some beautiful socks. I'm thinking some of these with a golden yellow or orange and teal. Trust me, you'll have to see.

Oh and if you're looking for an MS3 update, well I've taken pity on Heather and Laurie and have slowed down. Although seeing the message about Knit One's fashion show, I'm thinking I need to finish in time. I mean there are PRIZES people!

Where Have You Gone...

No I haven't forgotten my friends in the blogosphere. I've just been running amuck in the real world. Heather would say that it was the reason I'm further ahead on MS3. She might be right but it wasn't on purpose. See she and Laurie tried to get me to sign up and I knew they already had by the time I did at the 11th hour. So I thought I'd be WAY behind. From the pic of our progress, you can see I was mistaken. Laurie's is the lovely lacey navy on the left. Heather's is the bright and sunny piece on the right. And mine is the plumy perfection (for me anyway) in the middle. I'm just about to start Clue 3. Special thanks to Heather for the shot as I've been lax about taking a picture since I couldn't do the yarn justice with the camera phone. This pic was taken at Knit One, while the three of us shopped in honor of Laurie's Bday. She turned 29 (with some experience) on Friday. I still find it fascinating how the same pattern can be played out so differently to reflect each person. Laurie's has the classic perfect dressy piece feel. Heather's reminds me of warm summer days and yummy nectarines waiting to wrap around you. Mine reflects the punk/Goth side coming out in something I can wear around less "adventursome" folk. :) So different, so same, all BEAUTIFUL.

Friday we also joined the mob at B&N for the Harry Potter release. I took both Celtings and they had a blast. Elder Celting won some Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and Younger Celting won some make your own charm kit. Both were thrilled. Neither has read it yet but I finished it on Sunday night. Satisfying even if the epilogue is a little cheesy.

In other knitting news, I'll be at Borders on Friday nite as this is where we moved to. I missed the initial move due to Family Weekend. I'll be bringing one of the baby sweaters I'm working on. A faux fairisle self striper based off the Pea Pod sweater construction.

But EVERYONE's Doing It...

So first off, I want to share my Sock in Socks. I finished on Wednesday but have not had the opportunity to post. I wore them to work yesterday with my crocs and loved how the colors peeped through the holes. I felt so accomplished when I pulled them apart after grafting the toes. So how did I do that? Well first I knit my usual toes and then seperated the stitches for inside and outside sock with 4 dpns(2 inside, 2outside). I then grafted the inside sock first but left the weaving in of the end until after. Then grafted the outside sock. This was trickier as I was grafting from the opposite side of the fabric than I was used to, but I did it. I wove in the end and then did a magic trick of pulling a sock out of a sock. Finally I wove in the last end and VOILA! A beautiful pair of socks. I think I'll do this technique again but we'll see how much I like it when the colors are not so wonderfully striped.


Things I learned from this:

• Don't watch TV while casting on, you'll have to redo too many times.


• Use stitch markers to count blocks of stitches when casting on, less counting


• Ribbing isn't scary once you realize your rhythm


• Continental or combination knitting makes this easier to figure out (thanks Laurie!)


• First time round, do a self striper with easy to distinguish colors. This will help with being able to tell if you're using the right yarn


• Making the socks face to face (knit the inside, purl the outside) really helps. (thanks again Laurie!)


• Frequently check for crossed stitches. Much harder to go back


• Don't be inimidated. When you first knit something it looked hard then too.

So what now? I'm working on one of my required baby sweaters but I've succumbed to the siren call of Mystery Stole 3. It was hard but I held out against Laurie and Heather signing up and trying to get me to as well. I even held out agains Yarn Harlot's post about it. But then I started reading more and more. And then the deadline was happening in mere hours. And beads... I love beads. But the nail in the coffin was Celtic Consort saying "that's good. you should pace yourself. Show some control." He might as well have said just do it. Most of you know that saying I shouldn't/can't/won't do something is issuing a challenge to do it. Right then I went, signed up, and starting looking at laceweight options. I knew I wanted something I could find locally but wanted to research online.

The Celtings and I were off this morning to cruise the local crack dealers for options. I decided that since I'd been thinking about Knit One lately, I'd hit there first and pick up on the back side. Fortunately, I didn't have to stop anywhere else. Lots of choices. They had the Helen's Lace in Black Pearl which was tempting. I had decided on the murky man colorway idea for my version. Something dark with a purply hint. They also had Handmaiden Camelspin (70% silk, 30% baby camel) which was REALLY tempting but no dark colors and none of any one to utilize for the project. Some nice Malabrigo laceweight too. But what captured my heart and wouldn't let go? Handmaiden Yarn's Sea Silk in Midnight. Heck even those pics don't give you a full idea. I even found beads that match almost exactly. I got my teeny crochet hook there too. The nice girl who helped (sorry I didn't catch her name) was even cool enough to help handwind a "naughty" skein when it kept snagging as we tried to do the ball winder. So now I'm off to catch up to everyone else. Check in for pics later.