Some pictures

Sloth

So, I make this blog, because sometimes I make cool things, and I haven't made anything cool in a long time.

But I have thought of a few additional things I want to make.

I'll be cryptic,
Capes, and a fairy hunting trophy

Kisses

Trying to be better

I'm trying to actually post on a schedule and finish some projects. But as I wait for a hair appointment, I'm going to make a list.
Projects I need to take pictures of, and post about.
The grey shawl
Christina's wedding socks,
Lauren's socks
Rainbow shawl
And my dads socks

All but the grey shawl is is still on the needles.

Projects that I want to do;
Fricking bear rug
One boobed amazon out fit.
Swim suit
Super hero capes for Peter and Sammy
And the stupid mittens.

I also might do a series following the Mary Frances learns to do stuff series. Maybe even a few other things I would like to learn or do. But that might be another blog entirely. And there might be a weight loss blog. I hope the blogs will keep me accountable. Maybe.

Where was I ? Anyway, I got a haircut in the middle of this blog post.

Knitting is an adventure

So, while I was knitting my latest project it occurred to me that knitting, well actually all crafting is an adventure.

Let me explain.

You pick an adventure/project, say a shawl, hopefully something that is a little challenging, but something within your experience and ability. You gather your equipment- yarn, needles, row counter. If you are a cautious person you carefully read the map and look for places that might give you problems, maybe make a swatch.

You dive in, cast on, and go boldly forward, the further you go the more you are committed, at any moment one false step might cause much frustration, a careless interpretation of the map, can cause hours of wasted time.

It can take several days or perhaps weeks for any noticeable progress has been achieved. But then almost before you know it you are on the home stretch and next thing your know you are blocking your reward, and digging through more projects, more challenging than the last.

The one I picked up after I finished this last one is a bit like a journey into the heart of the amazon on the basis of a sketch, it's going to be great.

Well,

I'm not doing anything special for the Olympics knitting wise, just trying to finish my sweater. Which is about 2/3's of the way there. I hope to get some quality time camping next week. I'd take a photo but I'm taking a bath.

I also got a new app for the iPad, which is time lapse photography, so I might do something with that I the future.

I'm thinking of asking Sabine to join this blog, so she can post about dyeing stuff. Since I am pretty boring.

I did a little knitting.

I'm working on a sweater right now, I was going to do something for the Olympics, project wise but I made a hat for a friends mother who has a touch of cancer, and I really want to make decent progress on my sweater. So I can have it for camping.

Not much other creative things have happened lately, as my other job has seriously cramped my style.

My friend Sabine did dye some sock blanks for me, because she can't crochet right now. And we thought about getting a knitting machine and setting up our own hand dyed sock blank etsy store. But we still aren't sure.

I'm also thinking about about working with a pattern crafts person to make some mastectomy costumes. Like an amazon, victor/victoria and others.

The butterfly mittens have stalled but I am hopeful.

Rainbow Socks

So, I finished the socks, they ended up being mid calf.

The pattern I used had me begin the gusset increases 3 inches from the total foot length and it ended up being almost an inch too long. So, I picked out the toe and reknit it to my actual foot length and I used that extra bit to cast off the socks. I also to maximize yarn usage towards the end I grafted the two ends together, knit to the very end of the purple, through on the red, did a stretchy cast off and voila.

Startitis

It's more magenta-y.
But it will be a wispy scarfy thing.

Madrona

So, I went to Madrona fiber arts retreat today.

Took a class on pattern making, and I learned great ideas for getting creative. And it was gratifying to have people think my idea was interesting.

So, I am updating from
My phone, and so I am required to grumble about how I can't organize the photos from here. Errrrr.

Anyway, moving on, so, we have two pictures of the rainbow socks - one with flash and one without. They have turned out to be fraternal twins, but I still love them. Some one asked if I were knitting Jayne (Firefly) socks. Which is an interesting idea.

Next up, my madrona market place purchases - a beautiful red camel heavy worsted weight which will be a hat and mittens. Then a purple sock yarn by Madeline Tosh. Hopefully it will reduce my hankering. That is if I knit it.
Next up, is the new contrasting yarn for the mystery socks, I'm glad they had green and not yellow of the cascade heritage sock. The next part is shamrocks anyway. I would love to do a purple yellow sock combo at some time, but up here it means the UW Huskies. So, the conversation goes like this, "oo, I should knit that pattern in purple and yellow, that would be awesome" "ew.... Husky colors???"

Last but not least, I bought a project bag. Then Erika bought an even cooler project bag, and I had Bag jealousy, but it's all good

Only a matter of time.

Did you think I had lapsed into my old ways?

Well I still haven't updated my other blog.

But I wanted to show you my progress. And my mistake.

It took a long time, but I finally knit on one sock with the other socks yarn. I've been afraid it would happen. Then got complacent.

Ah. Milestones.

Supposed to..,

Be working on the green shawl, but I got to a color change on the socks.

Camera phones suck.

Another mystery sock day

But I have been working on the toe up socks.

I think watching DVDs is not actually helping with the knitting speed, I get distracted.

It might also not help that the apartment is a disaster, and I can never really do anything while I am actively avoiding cleaning the apartment.

The cats also do not help with the pawing and the "hold me" and the "feed me"

It's times like these I need a partner to take pictures of these ridiculous creatures.

Right now, Alice is lying on my knee with her fore paws tucked under my arm. Arranging herself so that she is being held a little like a baby. Looking balefully at me as I text this on my phone.

Anyway, I've made a little progress on the toe up socks. Which seem boxy, and too big but that's just perception.

More about socks.

So, I make arbitrary decisions and strange lists and assign days to knitting projects. I mostly don't listen to myself.

Today is mystery sock day (tomorrow too) but I'm done with the current clue, so, I decided mystery sock days where I cant work on the mystery sock are rainbow two at a time days. So.

I am making a little progress.

I am so impatient for the next color, but excited it is going to be very long color repeats.

The red are the rainbow, and the purple are the mystery socks.

On the needles... I like the hiya hiya better than the knit picks. At the moment.

Starting to get more reasonable.

New technique

Today I started my first ever two at a time toe up socks.

I blame my friend Sabine, since she hand dyed a rainbow in sock yarn, and I want to use every tiny scrap.

So a week ago I went to my closest LYS, but they didn't have the needles I needed. Boo. I then decided I could wait till Madrona Fiber Festival, when I am allowed to break the yarn diet, but then in a moment of weakness I ordered the needles on line (which was way cheaper than getting them at a store) plus I could get two different kinds, one knit picks harmony and one hiya hiya (which came with a pattern for a Barbie dress).

I immediately cast on with the help of YouTube and well, the beginning of socks are always fiddly. I'm sure they will go great.