geeyouknit!

Pattern: Ene’s Scarf by Nancy Bush, from Scarf Style
Yarn: Hand Jive Nature’s Palette Fingering in Autumn Leaf, 4 skeins

Oh hi! How have you been? Me, I’m fine. Finished college today…oh, and I finished this shawl!

I’m actually really excited about this one. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, I just knew I wanted something yellow. When the yarn came into work it was love at first sight…and it all fell into place from there. I started knitting it last month in the few spare moments I had. But it kind of took over my life. I found myself sneaking off to spend time with my yellow shawl, telling lies about important errands that needed to be run and important assignments that had to be tended to. I hunkered down in unfamiliar coffee shops, and found favorite spots in a new-to-me park. All of the sneaking around was so worth it. I’m in love!

I apologize if I sound conceited, but I’m really amazed at this thing. It’s massive! The shawl measures 53 1/2″ from end to end, and 31″ down the middle–and it could still be blocked larger. I know it’s not the biggest shawl ever, but it’s definitely the largest thing I’ve seen come off my needles.

But with every good, there is always a little bad. While I’m impressed by the sheer size, it also makes the shawl hard to wear. I used a slightly heavier yarn on purpose because I like the look of lace in yarn that isn’t a cobweb, but I neglected to adjust the pattern for a smaller shawl (it’s cast on along the bottom edges of the triangle–the pattern calls for 375 stitches).

I’m still trying to figure out exactly how to wear it. Any suggestions?

This whole finishing the BFA thing…I’m starting to think it’s a lot like having a newborn. No sleep, no time to yourself, and when you do get time you’re much too tired to really enjoy it. Except, I can still eat fish. That rules. And the Knitter Project doesn’t wake up for 3am feedings (knock on wood).

I finished a pair of socks that I’d love to tell you about, but I’m too tired and I have to finish up some odd tasks this afternoon. But, hello everyone. I miss you.

It’s electric!

Pattern: Landscape Shawl by Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Lobster Pot Whale of a Skein, color unknown

I started this in March, maybe even February, but my blogging has been so intermittent that I never even bothered to say anything about it. In fact, I don’t think I’ve taken one progress picture.

This might be the first time I’ve knit something because I had to have it. Two of the girls at work have Landscape Shawls of their own, and I loved how comfy and stylish they look, and I wanted to be comfy and stylish too! The yarn is one of those odd, unlabeled skeins I found in the back of the shop, so I wasn’t even sure what weight I was working with. I decided it was about a sport weight, and cast on with size 6 or 7 needles. I definitely could have gone up a needle size.

I didn’t have enough yarn for the full-size version, so I stopped knitting about halfway through the moss stitch portion, skipping the reverse stockinette all together. I also had to fudge the bind off and shaping of the ties because I didn’t have the pattern with me.

I really love it. It was a great, simple knit for my totally burned out brain, with just enough pizzaz to keepit from being boring. (Oh my god, I just said pizzaz) I still have to block it, but I’m pretty content to wear it un-blocked for now. I’m looking to make a second one out of fingering weight yarn, as soon as the next paycheck comes in.

That’s a list.

I’ll pay good money to anyone who can provide 100 haikus (or a fraction thereof), 8 poems (same deal), a bunch of political blog entries, or one 10 page paper about the internet or movies or something.

I can also provide cold hard cash to anyone who is willing to clean the abyss that has become my apartment.

Oh blogging, you always seem to fall by the wayside. Since I’m far too tired to put together a cohesive entry, I give you a list!

1a. The Knitter Project was juried and accepted into the senior show! I was so excited to find out that all of my (and your!) hard work paid off. The show will be on May 2 at the Power Plant, with more details to follow.

1b. The Knitter Project might be getting a test run this Saturday at the UArts open house. I’m not exactly sure how it will come together, or when I’ll find the time to make it pretty enough to show humans but I’m still extremely excited.

Hello, we are dishcloth!

2. I have a ridiculous amount of projects on the needles. However, my goal is to finish the Katharine Vest by my show in May. I have a few inches completed:

Red, Blurry, Lacy!

3. I’m still searching for my next sweater project. I’m thinking cardigan, preferably in one piece, but I’m open to seaming if the sweater is worth it. Any ideas?

When the going gets tough, and the lists are made, the blog is the first thing to go. And that is really for the best, because when I’m running on stress and caffeine I shouldn’t be writing anything on the internet.

But I had to show these to you! My jury packets are finished and turned in, a huge weight is off of my shoulders. I won’t find out if I’m in the senior show until Friday–let’s hope I don’t completely fall apart between now and then.

In one day, the first leg of the Red Herrings went from this:

…To this:

I really love working with two colors. I thought I’d never work the technique out, but the class with Beth Brown-Reinsel changed everything. Not only did I find a technique that suited the way I already knit, but I gained a skill.

Things are really starting to click with knitting for me. For a long time I didn’t bother to challenge myself, and I always used a busy life as an excuse. Why would I ever knit something other than plain stockinette, or a simple stitch pattern if I barely have time to do it? While I still love a stockinette sock, the challenge of colorwork and lace have made my few hours of leisure time much more fulfilling.

I’m in ur yarnz, knitten ur sokz.

Yarn: Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Sock in Capitol Hill
Pattern: Generic Sock Pattern from my brain

I finished these last night and I was going to wait for Johnny to model them, but the only time me him and the sun are together is 8am, and I just felt bad waking him up for a photo shoot.

Just a simple 72 stitch, top down, heel flap pair of socks. They’ve been my travel socks for a couple of months. The yarn is fantastic; it’s so soft, and so ridiculously bright. As soon as it arrived in the store, I knew they would make fantastic boyfriend socks.

I knit these two at once, which I usually do with 100+ gram balls of sock yarn. However, I’m realizing that working that way isn’t always conducive to travel knitting. I have to make sure the ball is sitting in a certain position, and I have to constantly shift it, to knit comfortably. All of that shifting makes it hard to just whip these out anywhere and really eats up a lot of knitting time. Maybe I’ll just start weighing and splitting the skeins?

I’ve already started on a new pair for me, Red Herrings.

However, B might actually be for my Brain is too tired to Blog. Maybe.

Something fantastic came in the mail today…

A Knitter Project Package!

This package was the best little “reward” when I got home this evening. After a long day of Senior Studio, I was starting to doubt the project a little. I’ve been having a hard time visualizing a display for all of the knits–especially since I don’t have them all in front of me yet (but don’t rush yourselves, knitters! You still have until late March to finish). Holding the scarf in my hands helped a few elements fall into place and I’m excited once again.

Thanks, Karoline!