Archive for the 'shawls' Category

In Which I Become An ADD Knitter 21 Apr 07


18 Comments

You know, I used to be really good about only having one project on the needles. But lately that seems to have gone completely out the window. I actually have 2 projects that have been sitting for over a month, 2 that have been on my needles for at least a week or two, and I just cast on for another pair of socks today! What’s happening to me?! What’s next, buying yarn with no project in mind? Oh wait, I’ve already broken that rule a few times.

I guess I’ll just chalk it up to anticipation for school to end, and my short attention span these days. I’m juggling so many balls it seems that I can’t spend a prolonged amount of time with anything, so I guess that has migrated to my knitting habits too. Although, one positive note is that it gives me lots of knitting content to show off now!

So what do I have on the needles anyway? Let’s see…

  1. Garden Shawl (for my Mom) → I really need to pick this up again (sorry Mom!), but it definitely won’t happen until the semester is over. When it takes 30+ minutes to do a round, it’s difficult to find time to get much done on it.

  2. Emma’s Sweater → I’m not entirely sure this one is even going to fit, and seeing as it’s quite warm these days, I think this might be destined for the frog pond until Fall.

  3. Topi (for my brother Clay) → This one is a fairly quick knit, but it seems to have not gone right a few times. I’m knitting it out of a skein of Yarn Nerd 2400 MHz that I saved for my brother a while ago, and I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to make it sturdy and still have enough yarn. After a few false starts, I ended up double stranding the top, and single stranding the rest. I was almost all the way done when I realized that I’d made the bill way too big, it looked like a duck bill! (Why is it that it’s never possible to fess up to these things until it’s too late?) So now I’m almost done, I just have to wrap the bill, stick in the insert and sew it shut.

topi - for my brother
  1. Medallion Mitts → I needed to use up the rest of the yarn from my Dad’s Jaywalkers, so I cast on for these fingerless mitts, from my Knitting with Balls book a few weeks ago. I’m close to finishing the first one, but still seem unable to do so…they would be nice though, since my new cubicle is a bit on the chilly side.
medallion mitts
  1. Broad Spiral Rib Socks → This is a new knit (cast on today!), and I’m already in love. I happened to be browsing a bookstore yesterday when I noticed that they had a copy of More Sensational Knitted Socks. Needless to say I bought that sucker, and spent the evening browsing through it, and it’s totally awesome. There’s both toe-up and top-down instructions for all the socks, how cool is that? And lots more discussion on different heel and toe techniques, as well as lots of different cast ons and bind offs that can change your sock’s look. Charlene Schurch? I love you!
my newest infatuation could these socks BE anymore sensational?

Anyway, I was smitten with the Broad Spiral Rib socks, so I cast on first this morning. I don’t have a picture of the pattern, so you’ll just have to wait until I get there ;) The yarn is some Austermann Step that I got in Chicago a while ago, in turquoise, gray and black. Kind of last month’s Project Spectrum colors, but let’s be honest…I’m much more of a greys/blacks guy than a pink/yellow/green guy. (Although, if you want some PS goodies, check out the Yarn Nerd update on Monday!) At this point I’m definitely smitten with the sock, but looking at the above list we’ll see how long that lasts.

Do you think a doctor will prescribe ritalin for knitting ADD? Yeah, I figured not ;)

So there’s your knitting update, now onto Saturday Sky! Today’s lovely sky photo features some nice sky, clouds and…a green toilet? Yup, coming to you from the metropolis of Socorro, NM, here’s the crazy antics that those nerdy engineers are up to down at New Mexico Tech.

ah, the college days

One of my former roommates took this and sent it to me, and I just about died laughing. Some students managed to get a green toilet up on top of the library clock tower, which is actually pretty darn high. So high in fact, the firetruck ladder won’t even get close to it, so the poor school has no idea how to get it down! Ha! How good is that? We engineers can be pretty clever!

So why is the toilet green? You really don’t want to know. Green is a very mythical color down at NMT, involving tales of green sheep and drunk miners. I remember many a St. Patrick’s day that involved naked green people streaking across campus!

yup, that's a green toilet

The things you do when you attend a school with a 7:1 guy to girl ratio I guess.

T-1 Day 09 Mar 07


10 Comments

First of all…

AHHHHHHHHHH!!! My brother is getting married tomorrow!!!

Ok, I feel much better now. We had the bachelor party last night and I thought it was a lot of fun. I had gone back and forth over what to plan, since there was a wide age range represented, plus my Dad and one Uncle, so I wanted to do something that would be fun for everyone. We ended up going out to a sweet outdoor go kart track, which was a total blast. These Go Karts go around 40 MPH, and the track is very nice. Definitely a good way to start the night.

guy's poker night

Then after that we went back to my house and had a poker night with lots of pizza and other snacks. We split up into 3 games of poker and everyone put in a donation to buy into the game, so that we could give my brother a little honeymoon money. Then to end the night, a few of us went out to the porch and smoked some very good cigars which my brother provided. I’m scarring my Mother by writing this for sure…but my brother has impeccable taste in cigars.

Now there’s only one day left, and I’m heading off to the church soon to help with setting up the reception hall and getting things ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight.

In other news, Happy Birthday Mom!!! Your present is all done and you’ll get to open it shortly. But for everyone else who doesn’t get to open it and actually feel it, here’s the details.

soaking up some of that flora scent AKECU
  • Pattern: Manta Ray Shawl from Yarnplay
  • Yarn: Yarn Nerd (that’s me!) 900 MHz Merino in Raspberry Sherbet
  • Needles: US #11’s (Knitpicks Options are the bomb!)
  • Completion Time: 2 weeks
  • Notes: I absolutely love this pattern. Shobana has a real hit here, it’s easy to memorize, quick to knit and makes a beautiful shawl. It’s a great everyday shawl that has some nice lace touches and I think it looks fantastic. I also really enjoyed knitting with my yarn (this base at least) for the first time, and I think the color is beautiful. I highly recommend this pattern, you’ll love it!
manta ray shawl all folded up

Will that suffice for Eye Candy Friday? I’ll try to get a picture of her wearing it soon too, but I might be met with some resistance since last time I put a picture of my Mom up on the blog it wasn’t terribly flattering… ;)

Alright, I’m heading to the church now, there’s lots of stuff to be done! Look for my sappy retrospective post for my brother’s wedding tomorrow, and have a great weekend!