incommunicado March 19, 2009

Hello all. I’ve lapsed from my once religious fervor of blog reading. And I haven’t been writing either. It’s been a rough couple of weeks. I decided to apply for the PhD program in my area and I have an interview next week! I’m excited, but also apprehensive.

In other news, my boyfriend and I broke up. I haven’t been able to bring myself to just sit and knit lately. All I want to do is be around lots of people, most of whom happen not to knit. I get really extroverted when I get down, unless it’s the pit-of-despair kind of down. I don’t really have much to say at this point. I’ve been working out at least every other day to keep my endorphins flowing, and that seems to help. I’ll keep you posted, and hopefully will bring myself to post some knitting progress soon.

West for the winter February 20, 2009

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks. The last week of January we, and many areas around us, were hit with an ice storm that knocked out the power and downed many, many trees.

The University of Arkansas was actually closed Tuesday through Friday of that week. As a point of reference, up until this ice storm the university had only closed 18 times in the past 100 years. I was ecstatic at first. But then I started to get anxious because school closings also meant I couldn’t go to my internship site, so I missed a lot of potential client contact hours, and I knew I was going out of town the next week, so I was a bit worried.

We didn’t have power from Tuesday around midnight (technically Wednesday) until Thursday around 8:00. I consider us very fortunate because a couple of my friends just got their power back yesterday. We have some awesome neighbors that have camping equipment and a grill, so we actually ate better than usual. They were off for most of the week too, so Drew and I had company. I had 20+ candles going in my living room when we were hanging out in there (yes, fire hazard) and when the power came back on the thermostat registered at 70 degrees. I was really surprised they put out that much heat.

The next week we went to Portland, OR to visit. We might potentially move there in the next few years. Some of it was really fun, and some of the trip was so-so. On the way there we had a FOUR hour layover in Atlanta. We left from Tulsa, OK, so this was completely out of the way and looooong and boring. We got to Portland around 10:00 their time and were exhausted when we got to the hotel. Drew had some kind of stomach bug and spent most of the first night sleepless and hangin out with the toiles. Then things got significantly better.

The next day we looked at a really expensive and gorgeous apartment at 10th & Hoyt just for fun, ambled around downtown, and took it easy for the most part. I went to Knit Purl. I was impressed with the wall of Koigu they have, but I was expecting more overall. I bought some “gold” yarn that looks very green when not in sunlight. I was very weirded out by the color change.

All in all it was a good trip. I saw a guy from high school that I haven’t seen in 9 years. He had some really good pointers for fun stuff to do. We ate at Portland City Grill downtown and loved the food and the views. I only went to one other yarn store: Yarn Garden. I loved it. They had a great yarn selection and the staff was really friendly. I bought a bunch of sock yarn, yarn for another N.Cap lookalike, and sock blockers. Here are the goods:

I’ve been meaning to get sock blockers for ages, but I never have. I usually just put the socks on and go.

Speaking of socks…I finished a pair of sock for Drew for V-day.

It’s the Ron Weasley colorway from Opal sock yarns. I gave them to him early because I can’t seem to wait to give gifts and I wanted him to have a little more time to actually use them. I also finished the Sock Ease socks in Lemon. Ugh. They look fine, but they are so so so scratchy. I actually haven’t washed them because I’m lazy and wanted to wear them immediately, so I’m praying they soften. They are fine for sitting, but walking around in them made me very itchy. At this point, I do not recommend that yarn. I was swayed by the $10 price point.

I’ve started a new pair of socks out of Colinette sock yarn, which I love. It feels wonderful and is about $22 for a pair of socks, but I wish the ball had slightly more yardage. It has around 310 yards for the pair. These socks are heavily inspired by the Spring Forward pattern. I had to cut down the number of stitches to 54 instead of the 66 called for in the pattern. I don’t know what it is about socks. I’m on gauge with size 0 needles, but the 66 stitches would have left at least an inch to an inch and a half of slack. The Jaywalker pattern was the same for me. I don’t wear narrow shoes and I have size 9 feet. What gives? Does anyone else radicaly alter the width of sock patterns on a regular basis?

While in Portland we also checked out a couple of breweries. According to wikipedia, Portland has more breweries than any other US city. We only made it to two of them: Rogue and Deschutes. I love Rogue Chocolate Stout and Drew’s favorite was at Deschutes, X Hop Henge something. He said it was the best beer he’s ever had in his life. And he loves beer. I worked on a hat at Rogue with yarn purchased the day before.  I wanted to imitate the ubiquitous Noro striped scarf somewhat, and make another N.Cap inspired design, so I used two self-striping yarns, alternating every three rows, and started one from the outside and one from the center. I like the way it looks in this picture, but I wasn’t twisting the yarn at the color changes so I had many unsatisfactory little holes. I frogged and restarted, going with only two stripes this time. I’m not sure which I like better.

Shrimp socks February 15, 2009

I was eating some leftover shrimp cocktail today, and it occurred to me that the socks I started last night have the same color theme.

This is my third ongoing project. I started it because I need a movie theater plain stockinette project. It’s some of the first Koigu I bought and it’s been dwelling in the stash for a few years. I think Koigu is probably still my favorite sock yarn. They have amazing colors, it’s superwash, and it feels amazing. If only the price was a bit lower…

Yesterday I had started socks out of Cascade Mini Mochi yarn in a beautiful rainbow color. It is extremely soft, but is unfortunately single ply, so it won’t wear as well. I was splitting some of the stitches, and realized it would not make ideal movie theater knitting. Then, to top it off, there was a knot in the strand followed by an abrupt color change in one ball where there should have been a slow fade as in the other ball. I was disappointed and will rewind the balls to study the color changes and look for knots before I embark with that yarn again.

I did not set out to make a pair of socks each month, or at least 12 this year, but I may get there anyway. Exciting!

Happy Valentine’s Day! February 15, 2009

Shown above is my first every attempt at chocolate torte. The recipe is this one, minus the blackberry coulis because I wasn’t up for that much effort. I’ll let you know if it’s tasty. We’re going to pair it with some Rogue Chocolate Stout that I love. We’re spending v-day cooking and playing games with our neighbors. I also made stuffed mushrooms with pepperoni, cream cheese, goat cheese, gorgonzola, and parmesean. And beer cheese dip inspired by the dip at Deschutes brewery in Portland with havarti, gruyere, cream cheese, swiss, Sierra Nevada Torpedo beer, with a rim of Sierra Nevada Stone Ground Stout mustard around the edge. The neighbors made melt-in-your-mouth salmon with lime butter and a spinach salad. Yummy!

I have a looooong post in the works all about Portland and the kazillion projects I’m working on or recently finished. More to come soon.

Lazy lady January 26, 2009

I’ve been a lazy blogger of late, and guess what…I don’t even have a photo for you. Not a single one. School is back in session, and I suppose that and my counseling internship should take priority over knitting endeavors. I don’t always agree.

I’ve made some major life revisions, at least mentally, in the past couple of weeks. For the past few months Drew and I have been thinking of jetting off to Portland, OR to live when I graduate in May, but just last week we decided that wasn’t as feasible or responsible as we would like things to be right now. Damn, I think I may have one toe in the grown-up pool. Part of it is fear, I admit. The economy, though I seldom pay attention to such frivolity, is in tatters, and I hesitate to move to an area with a higher cost of living and shockingly lower rate of pay for counselors. Especially because I don’t know the job market or potential employers in the area. I can more easily network here and maybe get some good employment for the next two years while gearing up for the doctorate. Or I may skip the PhD part. See, I’m still revising.

Making the decision to stay in Fayetteville has lifted an enormous weight off of my shoulders. I was worried about being able to get a job thousands of miles away, and the interview process was especially worrisome. Now my visit to Portland (next week!) will be just a vacation. Albeit, a cold and rainy one. If you’re from the Portland area or know it well, please suggest good yarn stores, and breweries. Or just fun things to do. We have Wed-Fri full days to fill up.

In other life changing areas…the band I have been a member of: Man the Helm, is disinegrating. This is a bittersweet end. Though I hated practicing and my availability for weekday shows was quite limited, I am still sad that it is ending. We’ve had some fun memories and my band mates are my best friends. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this band on the blog or not, but here is a video from possibly our last show. Feel free not to watch it. And if you do, I suggest turning up the brightness on your screen.

Drew and I may be playing our own music soon. I just bought a synthesizer that I have to learn how to use. We still have to get an appropriate amp. Egads. I thought knitting was expensive. So a synthesizer, keyboard, and bass/guitar…we’ll see what happens.

Knitting content? Ah yes, this is kind of a knitting blog. I’m still working on the endless Sock Ease lemon yellow socks. I made a hat that imitated the N.cap out of Ozark Companion and LOST it a mere week and a half after finishing. I actually cried over the loss. The color was a yellow-orange with splashes of teal. The LYS might be able to get more yarn in this colorway in, but it will never be the same.

Ah the memories in that week and a half…I finished the hat (including decreasing) during The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (excellent film) and wore it probably every chilly day after that. The hat kept me company while I rode the bike trail for the first time in 45 degree weather. I am a wimp about cold weather, and hat made this transition much nicer. I never even got a picture of this hat. It is seen in the horribly dark video above. I’m on the right.Then I lost the hat, probably on my way home Wednesday night because it was warm enough out that I didn’t need it on my head. Silly me.

How do I cope with this loss? Keep on knitting. Luckily I was working on a second hat in this pattern before the loss of the first one. It’s made with Creative Focus worsted in a blue/green/purple color. I will post pictures soon.

I also found out this past weekend that apparently I prance while running on a treadmill. We went to a shoe store in Springfield, MO called the Starting Block with Drew’s brother and his girlfriend who is a badass runner. She has run several marathons and does all kinds of adventure races. She was purchasing shoes and they do some different tests to analyze your running style and one of these tests involves videotaping the runner barefoot on the treadmill. So I tried it. Just for fun. I was a little bit tipsy at the time or perhaps it was performance anxiety, because both Brady (Drew’s bro) and the shoe salesman asked if I “really run that way.” I have no idea.

Cinderella, dressed in yella… January 6, 2009

Pardon my blogging absence. I was all set to post xmas FO pics, clever xmas sock pics, etc., but then I just ran out of steam. The holidays were wonderful. Drew and I had a lot of fun with friends and family members. Remember folks…nearly any game can be turned into a drinking game. Unable to find Catchphrase one night, we made do with Uno as a drinking game. I don’t think Uno was ever quite that fun or filled with drinking revenge.

Then my band (Man the Helm) played a couple of shows with another band called Giants. They’re a great group of guys. After our Fayetteville show we ended up eating at a local 24-hour diner called Sunrise Cafe. We were the only patrons and ended up blasting heavy metal and rap over the jukebox. The cook was very into it, searing our ears with the volume and eliminating all possibility of conversation. He even surprised us by playing a little Eminem/Evanescence later on.

I also got a Facebook account. I’ve had a Myspace for years, but I resisted being a slave to yet another social networking system, but I finally broke down. And I’m addicted…to finding people I haven’t seen for years, learning what they’re doing, and looking at all they’re pictures. I could make a great stalker if I wanted to.

I have been knitting too. Quite a lot actually. I’ve been working on these yellow socks out of Lion Brand Sock Ease:

I like the yarn, but it’s not nearly so soft as Opal, and is slightly more rough than Regia. Hopefully, like Regia, it will wash up much softer than it knits. Sigh. I guess there is a benefit to 20-30 dollar sock yarn. I got some Fortissima sock yarn from my brother and some Malabrigo sock yarn (third down on right) from Drew. The Malabrigo color Alcaucil is MUCH darker in real life.  It seems very light grey-green on multiple websites but is nearly black in person. I was shocked at the difference. I’m not disappointed, per se, but I will have to rethink my usage a bit. They will still be socks, but will have to be lace to stand out. The Malabrigo yarn is deliciously soft and squisy, just as I expected.  The Fortissima feels somewhere between Regia and Opal in softness, perhaps less squishy, but miles more durable. I was hoping for the book Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn because I own so much self-striping or wacky handpainted yarns, but I’m still waiting…

I also made this hat from Boutique Knits. I’m not sure if I like it yet. It seems pouffier on top than it should be. I think some blocking can help, but I’m never really sure what to block hats on. Any suggestions? I have a bowl that might work, but it’s not totally round on top and might not be big enough. I will probably wear it anyway, or I might rip it and take some of the decreases out.

I also got a set of Addi Clicks for Christmas. Best present ever! My mom thinks it was a ridiculous purchase. Little does she know of the addictive ways of knitting and how frugal this set really is.

I’m in love. December 24, 2008

I don’t have much to say, other than I am in love with this sweater. It’s the first I’ve made that I truly love. We battled a bit. I knit that button band 4 times yesterday, the yoke three times during the process, and had to improvise the numbers on several parts of the pattern.  But it was worth it. There are more details in an earlier post and I’m too lazy to rewrite.Here’s the evidence:

I apologize for the very crappy pic. I’m lazy about pics in general and usually just use my phone, but today I actually broke out the camera and all of the rechargeable batteries were dead and the charger is not working. Meh meh meh. Also happy to know that the horizontal stripes don’t make me look gargantuan. I’m on to more knitting…next up the Minimalist Cardigan or a top down raglan cardigan with a shawl collar. I’m also going to be knitting many, many socks. Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Hi, my name is Cassy and I’m a sock yarnaholic. December 20, 2008

I have a problem. A sock yarn problem. I just can’t get enough of it. When will I ever make all these pairs?! Why do I love it so much? Maybe I’m having an existential knitting crisis. I love the promise of sock yarn. When I’m just itching to buy yarn, sock yarn always seems like a safe bet because I know it will be just the right amount. So many times I have fallen in love with  yarn and bought some just to buy it and then I have no project in mind and it hangs out in my stash for perhaps all of eternity. Sock yarn has so much potential. It can make plain workhorse socks, elegant lace, fun and funky socks, or an endless list of possibilities. I find the whole process comforting. I’m sure you don’t need convincing, dear reader.

Today I bought five skeins of sock yarn. Yes, I need help. I’ve been coveting this colorway of Opal Hundertwasser for awhile now and it seems to be getting harder to find…so I bought two skeins. Just in case. Then I bought a skein of Opal Rainforest in the Toucan colorway. I bought this skein so I could teach Drew how to make socks, and he’s agreed. I’m so excited! I know some people aren’t crazy about self-patterning yarns, but it makes a nice and colorful mindless project that you can take anywhere. I’m also motivated by the way the pattern unfolds. It keeps me knitting just a few more rows, and keeps the socks moving quickly.

I also was curious about Lion Brand Sock Ease, and I needed new sock yarn in hand today, so I went out and picked this up:

Ah, the temptation of a pair of socks for ten dollars. It’s 75% wool and 25% nylon like Regia and Opal, so I will see how it holds up in comparison. The yarn is also finished with aloe vera to moisturize your hands as you knit. I’ll keep you posted.

And just for fun:

I dub it the Arkansas Parking Brake.

Oh, Canada December 17, 2008

My xmas knitting has gone more smoothly than I anticipated. Don’t hate me if you’re scrambling and stressing. I’m only knitting small things for immediate family members because a).  I’m kinda selfish about knitting and b).  I don’t want it to feel like a chore.  I have just a hat left to do for my dad. The most boring of the projects. I won’t post any of those pics until I can show the fam modeling the items.

Two nights ago I got frantically feverish for sock knitting. I have three pairs of hand knit socks, the first pair accidentally made for someone with one clown foot and one normal foot, and I treasure wearing these mini feet heaters. I have enough sock yarn for at least 10 or so pairs, so I thought I should just get to it. Enter the Regia Nation yarn I’ve had sitting around for months that I got on sale last spring. I made a pair in green and white for Drew and mine are red and white:

Canada love

I suppose the colors represent Canada, or maybe Switzerland. I’ll go with Canada because I want to visit several places there. The boring background is a shelf that I cleared off in my office. Let’s call it “industrial” and make it sound artsy.

I’m really enjoying the mindless stockinette that is self-striping sock knitting. I started doing socks toe-up as a way to avoid the kitchener stitch and use up every last scrap of yarn. I no longer have a problem with the kitchener stitch, but making socks this way has really grown on me. I do a heel flap too, and magic loop. I’m rather stubborn about it. I’m willing to do some top down patterns, but I still want to do them two-at-a-time. Hmph.

I’ve noticed, as I’m sure that every knitter has, that when someone admires your knitting and you tell them you made it, many of them inevitably want you to knit them something. I’m pretty quick about saying no upfront with most people, especially people I barely know. I always tell them I’ll be happy to teach them how to knit. I rarely stray from this, and I was wondering if others feel the same way. I like the items I make to be admired, but I hate when people ask me to make them things, especially replications. I would do this for close friends and family, maybe. I just don’t like having little say in the creative process and make knitting feel like a chore. Bleh. That’s enough rant for today.

On the fun side: I went to a xmas party chez Whitney. It was a good time. There was a gift exchange that you could either bring a gag or serious gift for 10 dollars and under. I made a pair of turquoise mittens and threw in some sour Jelly Bellys. Here was my first gift and my reaction:

Animal trap at the gift exchange

It’s not a very flattering picture of me, but it’s funny nevertheless. It was a rusted small animal trap. Thankfully someone stole it from me and I ended up with condoms, Tough Guy cigarettes, and some Aristocrat vodka. I considered that an improvement, but maybe the trap could have been interesting as wall art…

I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday season filled with family time, warmth, excellent food, and creative gift-giving.

Queen of green December 7, 2008

Admittedly, I should be working on studying for my final, or the big ‘ol research project (which really isn’t that bad), or typing up my case report for my final presentation of a counseling session. Yep, I’m procrastinating as usual. I was just moving things around in the living room and was struck by the number of green knitted items I have been working on or wearing lately. From left to right they are the Opera Scarf in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino which definitely rivals Malabrigo Worsted in softness. It’s a Christmas present for my mom. I cast on 3 fewer stitches and I’m doubling the yarn on size 9 Addis to give the lace pattern more meat.

The second green item is the completed sleeve from my Treeline Striped Cardigan. I have more details on an earlier post. I’m about halfway up to the armpits on the body. This project has been pushed to the size somewhat as I’ve been concentrating on gift knitting.

Next comes the February Lady. I “finished” this back in September, I think, but I’ve never been quite satisfied with the length and I haven’t sewn on buttons. I’m going to rip back about 2-3 inches in length on the body and about 1 1/2 inches on the sleeves to make it more like the look on the original pattern. I did not account for how much this baby grows when wet. That could also be the alpaca blend yarn having its way.

The Give A Hoot mittens are really fun and cute. I think there might be a slight number error on the right mitten when you get to the decreases. This mitten came out smaller than I intended. I think I will finish it and try to block it to size before I rip it out. It’s for a gift exchange and there are likely to be girls there with smaller hands than me. I may just need to extent the length by a couple of rows before the final decreases. More details on these mittens in an earlier post.

EDITED TO ADD: I got a message from Kate and she said anyone that downloaded the pattern before Thanksgiving would have this error, but it has since been corrected. Thanks Kate.

Last is the Mrs. Darcy Cardigan. I did this one last winter. It was my first seamed sweater. Beware the numbers in the pattern. This one ends up being pretty cute though. If I made it again I would make the garter edge around the collar wider since it tends to curl under sometimes. I would also make it out of softer yarn. Lamb’s Pride Worsted get’s itchy after awhile.

I suppose that’s it for now. I really should be doing homework. Boo.