Ingenuity
The cowl is done. Let me be more specific. The first cowl is done. A second version of it is currently on my needles and fighting me, but we'll talk about that later. But the first cowl is done, which means it needed to be blocked. This is harder than you might think. The most obvious approach would be to pin it out flat. But that will give it a crease on each side where it's folded (not a big deal for a sweater, but annoying in a cowl). I considered stretching it over the dress form's shoulders and pinning [...]
New Directions in Sock Knitting (plus giveaway)
If you've been here for a while, you know I have opinions about socks. Socks are supposed to start at the top, go for a while, make a turn, go for a while more, then make a toe. It's the natural order of things. And while I understand that some folks may make their socks other ways (which is cool, you make your socks however you want, my sock opinions only deal with my socks, not yours), I never quite got why. So I was more than a little surprised when the lovely Ann Budd asked me to contribute a [...]
Nearly
This needs about 8 more rows to be officially done. Which is, of course, very fitting, as it looks all set to warm up for the next few days. Given that I'd very much like the cruddy snow to finish melting off the driveway and sidewalks, I feel I have a civic duty to go ahead and finish this up. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Not Exciting
I'm not sure what it says about me that I continue to be amused by this. It's a tube. A very slightly tapered tube. But amused I am. And from what I can tell, one or two of you share my proclivity. Another day or two and I'll be done. Though I am playing yarn chicken (I have a second skein, but things will feel more tidy if this fits into one), which at least lends a bit of dramatic tension to the proceedings.
Blankie
I have been led to believe I am not supposed to actually walk around in public with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. So I'm going to do the closest thing I can manage and still maintain my (marginal) level of social acceptability. I think that's a cowl. It's String Theory's Caper Aran (also known as one of my very favorite sock yarns ever) in Didgeridoo. And it's mine, and you can't have it. With any luck at all, just as soon as I finish it we'll get a thaw and I won't need it anymore.
Chamfer
I have some bad news. It's January. It's cold. It's dark. And it's probably going to be like this for a while. If I could help, I would. But the most I can do is offer a distraction, so it seems like the perfect time to bring Chamfer back out. These are more fun than they have any right to be. The stitch pattern is marvelously orderly and easy to memorize (which means they're way easier than they look, which is always a plus). And I know I shouldn't be so easily amused, but I really do love how nicely [...]
Faith
So anything resembling lace (especially in dark yarn) looks like a pile of moldering spaghetti at some point in the proceedings. It's just a law. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong. You just have to keep going and have a little faith. It will look much better when it's off the needles. And much better indeed when it's been blocked (which this hasn't, but it will be soon, and I'm quite confident it will shape up nicely). Oh, and for everyone following along at home, Chamfer are coming back out Tuesday. If you want a heads up (and a [...]
Not Enough
So the cowl was apparently not enough. I mean I had a whole extra skein of yarn sitting around, and I didn't want it to languish. (And who knows when this uncharacteristic tolerance of blue will wear off and I'll go back to my accustomed grays and browns.) So now we have the Blue Thing of Blue...Part Two. Not even a little bit sorry.
Insufficient
According to the little weather gizmo on my shelf, it's 14 degrees outside. This is an entirely insufficient number of degrees. I do not love you enough to go outside in that, much less to drag poor Verity out to stand in the snow (even if I would drape her in wool first). So instead you're getting a picture of this taken in my office. Now you'll note my office has dark red walls (um, also books, books and hand forms and jars of needles). And you may also have noticed that it's January, and the yarn is dark. So [...]
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