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Yesterday, I went to the Land of Shoppertunity. This is amazing for two reasons. One, I hate crowds and going to Meadowhall on a Saturday? So busy. (Don’t even get me started on the women bringing their massive strollers into the tiny shops where they knock over everything because they don’t fit in between the racks.) Two, I actually found something! I’m going to my youngest sister’s confirmation in July and it hit me that I didn’t really have anything to wear to it. So I went dress hunting. The key to a successful shopping trip? Do your homework. I went online the night before and browsed websites until I found about ten or so dresses that had potential. So when I went in, I knew exactly what I was looking for and that the shop had at least three dresses that fit my criteria. In the end, I went with a dress that I hadn’t seen online, but that’s not the point. It was a lot less stressful when I knew what I was going for. So to go with the above dress, I also got earrings, flower clips for my hair and a green cropped cardigan that ties in the front. I considered buying shoes as well, but then I remembered that I have the perfect pair at home which I’ve only worn once so far, so I’d better go with those. Yesterday’s shopping trip also made me miss Jaz. She’s the perfect shopping partner. We really need to live closer together. She would’ve been way more excited about my purchases than O was.

As for knitting? Not a lot of progress. I started knitting Rhombus by Cookie A with my Nerdclub2000 sock club yarn, but I tried it on yesterday and I’m not loving how it looks. It started doing this weird pooling thing after the heel flap and the leg just looks really muddy when I wear it. So I’m probably going to rip it back and use another yarn for the pattern (I think I’ve got some pink-ish Ranco Multy in my stash that’d work). And obviously use the Nerdclub2000 yarn for something else. Maybe BFF? Or Wedge?

The above socks have been done for awhile now. The sad thing is, they’re not for me. I mentioned them awhile ago. My sister replied to my e-mail with: “thank youu, i like socks !” so she’s getting them. I’m just annoyed that the second one fits me! I realized why my gauge changed so much between the two socks. I knit the leg of the first sock while at work, but the second leg was knit while I was at home during the weekend. Less stress at home so… yeah. At least she likes and appreciates socks (even if she calls the ones I knit “fancy-pants socks” and doesn’t like wearing shoes with them).

With all of the bank holiday weekends, I went on a little lace shawl kick. Knit Adamas by Miriam Felton in three days (used Misti Alpaca Lace). I almost don’t want to give it away, but it’s not for me, so I can’t show it off until the recipient has seen it first. I then started the Echo Flower Shawl by Jenny Johnson Johnen, but as it turns out, that shawl just isn’t meant to be. I cast on with 3.75 mm needles; decided I didn’t like it, so I ripped it out. Cast on again with 3.25mm needles, dropped a stitch and had to rip back. Cast on again and after the set up chart, the yarn broke. So I’m just not meant to knit that shawl right now. Maybe later. So instead, I’ve made more squares. I haven’t forgotten about the blanket, but I ran out of leftovers, so I had to set it aside for awhile. But I’m over the half way point, so yay!

Oh oh oh! Almost forgot. O & E went to a dance comp in Northwich yesterday (I was supposed to compete too, but my partner dropped out last week. I’d already said that I’d drive and E’s bf needed their car, so I drove). They entered Beginner’s Ballroom, Novice Ballroom and Beginner’s Latin. And won! All of them!

Judi - Apr 5, 2011

Great pics, those socks look fab!

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I have cast on another pair of socks. No, the Sake socks aren’t done. Last night, I finished the gusset decs on the first Sake sock and decided to try it on. Guess what? It doesn’t fit! I can’t get it to go past my ankle. So, either my youngest sister will want them and I’ll finished knitting the pair, or then it’s to the frog pond. If I have to rip it out, I’ll restart them with a larger needle (am using 2.5mm currently). I don’t usually have a problem with Cookie’s pattern, so I’m not sure what’s up with this one. Anyway, the new pair is Mona (also by Cookie). I found some really pretty blue Ranco Multy so that’s what I’m using.

The weather here is gorgeous. So gorgeous that yesterday, I managed to burn my back. My own fault really. I know I burn easily and I did’t put on any sunblock. So today, I’m wearing SPF 50. Just in case.

Got almost all of the yardwork done yesterday. The only thing left for today (which I’ve already done) was mowing the lawn. More like weeds, but whatev. And I managed to get caught up with the laundry! Only one more load to go later today, then it’s all done. I love being able to put laundry outside to dry. The wind really softens up the T-shirts.

Oh, I had a dance exam last Wednesday! Did Silver Ballroom and Silver Latin (3 dances each). Some of the feedback was amusing, like for the Jive I got: “Pleasing facial expressions”, Cha: “Lovely ‘Latin’ hand” and all of the ballroom ones said “Nice head line”. So basically, from the waist up I’m good. Just need to work on my footwork.

Today, the post’ll have to be in list form because, well, I like lists and I don’t really have much to say.

1. Thira is done. Took less than a week to knit. No pics yet because the weather is being uncooperative.

2. Cast on new project: Kernel scarf (knitty pattern) from the Manos Silk Blend I got for Christmas two years ago from O’s parents. Love it. Adore the yarn. Pattern’s not easily memorized though.

3. The story I started writing last week is almost done. The first draft is done. Now it’s time to refine and edit. I don’t get these writing urges that often any more ever since I started working, but when I do, it’s all I can think about. I don’t even think about knitting! That’s how obsessive I get.

4. This year’s planting has been done. Planted the usual: basil, rocket, coriander, lettuce (two varieties), peas and beetroot. And the experiment plants (along with the beetroot) are strawberries. I’ve given up on tomatoes. Can’t keep ’em alive when I work full time so I’ve stopped trying.

5. Feeling adventurous with my cooking. Will be trying out a new recipe tonight. Or maybe tomorrow. The new recipe is for Pesto Chicken Tagliatelle, the tried-and-true is prawn risotto. Either way, I’m sure it’ll be tasty.

6. Also feeling the urge to bake. Made brownies yesterday when Lucy came over. O really liked them. Now, I’m thinking cupcakes. Just haven’t decided what kind (which probably means that I won’t get any done).

7. We went over to O’s parents’ place yesterday to drop off his mom’s birthday present. His dad said to me: “You know those little bugs that you don’t like?” Understatement of the year. Have discovered I’m waging war on two types of carpet beetle rather than just one. No damage found yet, but spring has only just arrived. I am displeased, to put it mildly.

8 ) At the car wash, one of the guys opens my door (to dry the inside of it), and says: “Hello, love, how are you?” I automatically replied with: “I’m good, how are you?” On our way home, O asked me all amazed: “How can you do that so calmly? It catches me off guard every time someone asks me that.” Guess I’m just used to making chitchat because of work. All phone calls are like at the office.

These have been done for awhile now, but I haven’t had a chance to blog because omg Busy. First there was IVDC (in Blackpool), then the following weekend was O’s birthday party. ‘Twas awesome, almost the whole dance team came! Had a bit of a *flail* moment when I realized how many would actually be coming over (almost 20 people), but it all worked out in the end. The house was actually cleaner on Sunday morning (before the clean-up began) than it was on Saturday morning. Having parties is an excellent motivator for cleaning ALL THE THINGS. Which I did. And I baked over four dozen fairy cakes.

Back to the socks. I cast on March 1st while at the pub for knit night and things were going swimmingly until it was time to remove and rename stitch markers. Hoo boy does this pattern use a lot of stitch markers. Ten to start off with and as the lace panel travels, some get removed and renamed. It was just too mind boggling while at the pub to do it so I set it down until I could work on it again when it was quiet. Good thing I did that since it turned out that I’d mis-read the pattern the first time, so I frogged the whole 2-3 inches I’d knit and started again. After that, it was smooth sailing. I still think the whole renaming stitch markers thing is very confusing but once I got what the pattern was meant to do, I just ignored the names. And voila! A pair of socks. Knit with Trekking XXL in 305 so they’ll get a lot of use (if the socks can be washed in the washing machine, they get more use because I don’t have the time to handwash everything any more). I know from experience that Trekking holds up wonderfully to being thrashed around in the machine.

Currently, I’ve only got one project on the needles. Thira, a textured ribbed halter top (knitty pattern), using Sublime Cotton-Kapok DK in a pretty, soft yellow. I don’t wear yellow that often, but this one just called out to me. It helped that the yarn was on sale when I bought it. The plan is to have it done by Woolfest (which is in late June). Lucy had the idea for the three of us who are mini-roadtripping up North to knit a Woolfest “sweater”. Now, since it’ll be in June, both Nina and I have decided to knit summer tops. I think she chose Coachella (another knitty pattern) and Lucy did tell me what she’s thinking of knitting, but I can’t remember. I blame the fever. I’m currently ill, as was evidenced last night. Apparently I was making worrying noises while I slept. Which I know I do when I’m not feeling well. Kind of like whimpering. And how do I know that I do that, even without O telling me? The noises wake me up! So yeah, not feeling that great. I do have anti-biotics since the doctor said I’ve got an ear infection, but I’m not convinced that that’s all I’ve got. But 13 hours of sleep did do wonders. I felt perfectly fine when I woke up this morning, although I can feel the tiredness coming back.

Anyway, that’s enough about my non-health. In other news, we now have a 6'9 Greek man in the office. He’s very nice and smart. And omg tall. He’s got a two month old baby, which just makes all the girls go “Awwwwwwww” when they imagine him holding the tiny human. And the Chatty Guy in the London office is still chatty. Not all the time, but on the days that he feels like talking? I’ve learned quite a bit about him. Enough to use my Google-fu to find his MySpace page and Facebook (because I apparently turn into a bit of stalker when I get bored). He seems normal enough. Good thing too, since he already knows a lot about my dancing habits…

I’ve reached the halfway point in my crochet blanket! Yay! Now onto the knitting content.

Just realized I hadn’t blogged about the first socks I knit this month, so this’ll be a double FO post.

Both of these are a part of the Knit.Sock.Love KAL I’m in.

The green socks are the Marilinda pattern knit in The Unique Sheep’s Sushi Sock base. I got this yarn in the Sip N Stitch tea club. At first I wasn’t thrilled with the colorway (Sencha Green Tea), but seeing it in an FO makes me like it more. The pattern, while it looks like something I’d enjoy, I didn’t. It felt like the socks just dragged on and on. I also had to go up to 2.75mm needles to get gauge, instead of my usual 2.25mm for 8sts/inch. Don’t get me wrong, I like the socks, I just wasn’t as enamored with the process was I usually am.

The purple socks are the In and Out pattern using another yarn club yarn. This one’s from the Goth Sock Club that was run by Selana a few years ago. Called Fairy of the Night(? or something similar). Now these are socks that I loved. The pattern’s really easy to memorise, feels like it flies by, the yarn was nice and springy (which is something the Sushi Sock base lacks due to the bamboo content). I think the non-patterned heel flap helped the “flying-by” feeling. And the great thing about this yarn? It can go in the washing machine. I foresee lots of use for these socks.

Oh and I just applied to be a zombie extra. I’ll let you all know if I get picked.

This is us doing the Viennese Waltz last Saturday at the Sheffield Social. And thanks to my camera having its settings wonky (I was messing around with it and didn’t put it back to normal before I had to go dance), a lot of the pictures came out blurry. But, occasionally, the blurriness created cool effects, like missing limbs and Monet-esque photos. So now my partner has no left leg. XD (For those of you on Facebook who have me as a friend, I’ve just uploaded a bunch over there if you want to see more.) And we won stuff! The medals are gracing the mantelpiece above the fireplace, along with the rest of our dancing awards.

Then yesterday was NUDC. I went, but didn’t compete. I spent most of the day just watching the others dance and knitting. Which brings me to…. my Marilinda socks are done! Mostly thanks to yesterday when I finished the leg, completed the heel flap, heel turn and gusset decreases. Today was just knitting up the foot and toe. I also knit on Annis, now that I’ve finally sorted out my bead situation. The ones I had originally planned to use were too small, so I found other beads that my crochet hook would fit through. My first choice beads were mainly blue with a few white, but now I’ve had to use blue, pink and hematite. The effect’s not quite what I had in mind, but it’s growing on me.

I’ve just finished the mittens I talked about last week. Tried them on now that they had thumbs (pre-blocking) and they’re still snug. As long as I don’t have long nails, I’m fine with them. So now they’ve had a bath and hopefully once dry they’ll have stretched enough to be comfortable. On the whole, they’re very pretty. And the pattern’s fairly easy (even though I still think that the thumb gusset is way too short).

Since I can’t cast on my next pair of socks until Feb 1st (part of the KAL prize rules), I’ll be casting on Annis with some lovely blue laceweight that Emma Jane gave me for my birthday last year. I think I’ll be substituting the nupps with beads. Nothing against nupps, but I just feel like trying beads for this one.

As for my ankle? I went to dance practice on Friday, hurt it again during Quickstep (it’s always Quickstep!) so now I’ve got an ankle support strap thingy on it and won’t be dancing again until the comp on Saturday. I’d love to practice beforehand, but I don’t want to risk it. I want to be able to compete, darn it.

And speaking of dancing, I gotta go drive O to practice. Next week, there’ll hopefully be a picture of mittens that fit!

So, apparently I’ve got freakishly large hands. I’ll back up a bit:

I’m knitting this really pretty colorwork mitten (Andalus by Heather Desserud). I picked a gorgeous orange and yellow so that I could wear the mittens with my Haruni shawlette. I waited three months for the yarn to arrive. I finally get my yarn and cast on about a week ago. The mitten comes in two sizes: small (knit in fingering weight) and large (knit in sport weight). The gauge for both is 10 sts/10 rows = 1 inch. I figured that since I’m getting 9sts/8 rows per inch, I should be fine. I am aware that I’ve got large hands, even if they don’t look out of proportion with the rest of me (they go with my large feet). Another tiny gripe about the pattern, even though it says sizes small and large, it doesn’t give exact measurements for either. Just how big is large? What’s the total length of the mittens? Just something to give me a better idea of what I’d need to change about my gauge to get the size that I want.

My first stumbling block came when it was time to separate for the thumb. It came way too early if I wanted the mittens to fit comfortably and be long enough at the wrist. One expects the cuff pattern to be on the wrist, n’est-ce pas? Not halfway on the palm. So I delayed the thumb gusset separation by about seven rounds. Now the cuff is where it’s supposed to be and the thumb opening is where I want it to be. The only problem is… now it looks like the mittens are too short. They’re uncomfortable at the top where the decreases are (and I can’t change where to decrease/just knit more rows until the correct length since it’s all worked into the pattern).

So now I’ve got my fingers crossed: blocking will magically give it an extra half inch to an inch and make them fit right. Right?

(P.S. If you want pretty feet, don’t dance. Both of my feet now have lovely purple-y patterning from the bruises I got during yesterday’s dance practice. And a swollen ankle from landing awkwardly during a scatter chassée. Just an FYI.)