I’ve been meaning to get this post up for a while now, but it seems I just haven’t found the time until now…isn’t that how it goes? It’s not really for lack of time, it’s just that I’ve been doing other fun things that have kept my free hours occupied. Like blitzing through the first 4 Harry Potter books in 4 days! Obsessed much? Yeah, I definitely am. I wanted to read them all again in preparation for the new movie and book in a month, but I just got a bit carried away. And I’m already making headway on Book 5, so I’m pretty much unstoppable at this point. Oh well, at least I’m getting some fun reading in…that doesn’t happen often when you’re in grad school!
In addition to reading my brains out, I’ve done a bit of knitting and yarn purchasing in the last few days. Village Wools is having a big closeout sale on Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Wool (only $4 a skein!), so I picked up a few of those, since they look perfect for stranded knitting. I got some great colors to make a Red Light Special for myself, in Gray, Yellow and 2 shades of Brown. I was inspired by Knitting Philistine’s new Fiberlicious! Flickr Group, and had a late night photo shoot involving bananas, yarn and peanut butter. I think yarn as food is my favorite new art form!
a banana w/ peanut butter and some milk…my favorite snack!
Unfortunately, Dallas went on a bit of a stash rampage when I wasn’t paying attention, and chewed up a gray and a brown skein, plus 4 balls of Felted Tweed I got from Fricknits! I wasn’t too happy, but it was my fault for not closing the office door, so I suppose that’s a lesson learned. (Combined with the previous lesson of not leaving freshly dyed yarn on the table, maybe I’ll be able to prevent future yarn tragedies!) I guess I’ll just have to go pick up more of that Jamieson & Smith yarn…what a shame. 
I also picked up some Dale of Norway yarns, in black and white, for a secret gift project. I’m working on it now (and loving it!), but I’m afraid I won’t be able to give too many details until it’s gifted. It’s my first major project with stranded colorwork, and it’s quite interesting so far. It requires a lot of brain power to manipulate my left hand into holding one of the colors continental style, but I seem to be getting better at it. If anyone has any tips or tricks for stranded knitting, I’d love to hear them!
Then I spotted this fun swag at the checkout counter…“where my stitches at?” I’m not sure who got the buttons and dropped them off at Village Wools (Scout?), but I was sure happy to score one. Ravelry is an awesome site, and now I have a cool button to show it off!
You know what’s even cooler? Casey quit his day job so that he could work on Ravelry full time, because he and Jess feel that strongly about building an awesome site for us fiber lovers. That also means that development speed will pick up, so those of you still on the waiting list, don’t despair, because I promise they’re getting close!
Finally, in bike commuting news, my goal is to ride all 5 days this week, and so far I’m meeting that, having ridden today and yesterday. I’m getting lots more confident and really enjoying myself, so I’m determined to keep at it. The shrinking gas bill is definitely good motivation. Wish me luck on the last 3 days!
Oh I sympathise with the Harry Potter tour de force!! And now having finished the exam for this semester, I might just do a copy cat (since I already plan to wait in line for premier ticket for HPOotF). As for two color knitting, I’m afraid my tricks won’t do you good as I knit continental style. I actually knit with both strands over my left hand (keeping the dominating color to the left at all times) and then let the needle do the work. Best of luck on replacing the lost skeins ;)
So you bought a new bike then? Cool! As for 2 color knitting - it took some work to get my left hand to cooperate but I’ve also managed to do it with both strands in my right hand. Just have to be careful which one you’re flicking onto the needle.
oh no! bad doggie!
I’ve learned lessons that way too - one of my dogs has a taste for flip-flops…
as far as the 2 color/2 handed knitting goes, just practice - you will get better as time goes on!
Does this mean the new bike will have a name? I bike commute as well…I find that it’s very relaxing to be right there against the wind (minus the car exhaust) and just whizzing by the cars stuck in traffic.
As for stranded knitting, I think with practice it will get better!
eek on the dogs & yarn! I think I must be lucky that my fiber-munching pup doesn’t have any interest in my yarn — just our rugs.
Like Karen S, I do my stranded work all continental style with all colors on my left hand, holding the dominant color in front constantly, and letting my needle do most of the work. It works out fairly well for me — but that doesn’t help you at all! My only suggestion is that while you’re working the stranded portions, occasionally check to make sure that your floats aren’t too short or too long by spreading the stitches out on the needle the way they will be when you complete the item. Also, keep in mind that a wash + block does AMAZING things for colorwork. :)
excited to see you’re back. you’ve been missed while you’ve been reading. sorry about the yarn. so far my dogs have left mine alone–i’ll keep my fingers crossed that that trend continues. brave of you to put peanut butter so close to new yarn. that could be dangerous! can’t wait to see your stranded project. i really enjoy stranded work although i haven’t done anything too complicated yet. i don’t do the two handed thing. i find my tension is much better (more even) if i just hold and drop. i forget the exact method, but it’s described in Stich n’ Bitch. It works well for me for both flat pieces and ones knit in the round. anyway, glad to hear you’re biking again. much luck with your motivation to bike the rest of the week. it’s been in the 90s everyday this week here so if it’s hot there, my heart goes out to you. happy biking, knitting and reading!
Great yarn pictures! That sucks about the dogs, though. I understand, to a point- my wee one likes to try to get into the yarn, and when she succeeds, I have hours worth of untangling! I may have to get my butt to VW just for a cool ravelry button.
Dogs and yarn sound about as bad a combination as cats and yarn…
I had to laugh when I saw the bit about Harry Potter. I finished the first book two days ago and have started on the second. I want to get through 5 before the movie comes out and then do six before the next book. I love the arty photo.
Good for you Adam! I reread the HP books all the time!
Yeah, once I get to Pittsburgh (tomorrow, hopefully), I want to do the HP marathon as well. Doubt I’ll get to the movie any time in the first few weeks before it comes out, but a reading marathon? sign me up!
I just spend a day and a half with my best friend’s dogs. He wouldn’t let me take Delta home with me. Oh well. She wouldn’t have fit in my car anyway, thanks to the cross-country move! :) a
I haven’t read any of the Potter books. I’m trying (operative word) to wait until Z gets older and we can discover them together. Completely uncharacteristic patience on my part :-)
Good luck with the cycling. I’ve been secretly training for a triathlon (well, technically only a “thlon” since I’m on a relay team and only doing the mile swim). On July 14 ::gulp::. Really happy with the progress thus far. My main concern - getting kicked by another swimmer.
from your title I was hoping you had taught a dog to knit…sigh…oh well!
Yeah, HP books are hard to put down once you get started.
i am not an experienced two color knitter … but, i have had some good practice while knitting on the bmp socks from knitty. i carry my dominant yarn in my dominant hand (my right) and the contrast in my left. so, i “throw” (though, i wouldn’t really call it a throw … i look more like some kind of funky mechanical machine) with my right, and “pick” with my left. i have not mastered my tension while changing needles. it does help to spread out the stitches on the right needle though …. and when changing needles. i could benefit from some giant question/answer session myself. that said, hey! i’m excited about your biking. i have not gotten “back in the saddle”, but will be back “on trail” (foot-wise) tomorrow morning. perhaps that will be the proper “kick in the seat” i need to get my arse outside ?!