Monday, December 30, 2013

Thrilling

And sometimes there is time to knit more than one.

I know these blanket square posts are just thrilling but I'm too busy going out and doing things to actually write about it. The good news is the blanket is now a fourth done.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Single Square

There isn't always time to knit multiple squares. Sometimes I'm lucky to get even one finished.


Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Socks

I cast these on May 28th, 2012. They are made from two socks yarns held double over 40 stitches on size 1 needles.

Knitters know to write such things down, that the important bits that we think we will never forget like stitch count and yarn information and even the size we are making, will be gone from our mind if we set the project down for more than 3 days. So we have paper patterns highlighted, notes saved online or on mobile devices, a knitting journal, or a spreadsheet.

I do all that. I did all that. I even gave these socks the name Christmas Socks but I didn't write down who I was thinking of when I cast on. So here they are, finished just in time, if a year late is just in time and in knitting it is, and I can't remember who they are for.

I'll tuck them away for next year and maybe I'll remember or, perhaps, I'll take them around like Cinderella's Prince Charming to find who they fit. 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Sitlka Rose

I started this project August 6th, 2012 in yarn that was bought for me in Alaska. That's pretty exciting.

It's Rabbit Ridge Designs in the color Sitlka Rose and the pattern is The Amanda Hat. I love how it turned out and it's a perfect match for my winter coat. It's also a great yarn/pattern combo. I will be knitting other variegated yarns in that pattern because the little floats break up the pooling and alow the color to shine.

The best part is the hat used just a little more than half of the yarn so I have plenty left to knit something else.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

It's Not Easy Being Green

And back to the green. It's even more vivid in this pairing. I wouldn't have thought that was possible.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Friday, December 20, 2013

A Bit Small

I finished Shilling and while it was supposed to be for my brother it came out a bit small. It fits me ok but I think would be even better on a kid. Since my brother has a super sized noggin I will have to knit him a different hat. 

The yarn is Berroco Vintage and very nice to knit and it's machine washable, although, the swatch really fuzzed up in the wash.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Evil Bunnies

In July I tried the South Beach Diet. I wanted a gym membership but I thought it would be too expensive and healthier eating would be a good place to start. A month on that and the grocery bill showed what a bargain a gym membership really is. Rice and potatoes went right back into my diet but I haven't reintroduced sugar back into my apartment. I do eat it when out or with friends or I'm gifted candy in a swap box but it's not in my cupboards. 

So when my Secret Santa at work put a pound of chocolate on my desk every day for five days it was manna from heaven.



Earlier this year, in the silent mocking of the shrines coworkers put in their cubes, I had decided that my cube theme is knitted rabbits. This is the only one I got around to knitting. He is so cozy looking sitting between my awards and diplomas.

I had always planned on knitting more, on knitting a herd of epic proportions, although, it would never rival the Star Wars action figures five rows over or the Hawaiian Honeymoon shrine across the way.

However, it's been nine months since my last promotion and I've sucked every last bit that I can out of this position and I'm searching for my next place in the company. Looking around I'm thinking Hawaiian Honeymoon isn't going anywhere and I know that Star Wars action figure is not and keeping it subtle would be good way to go.

I still hope to get a few more bunnies up to soften my cube since I'm the only one that has left mine bare, even my supe (the most subdued of the bunch) has a mini shrine of cats, just not epic army of evil bunnies.


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Life Hack

Not only am I clearing out my pile of unfinished knitting projects, I've taken care of and finished filling in my budget. I track all of my spending in a spreadsheet, updating it twice a month, but I had let that go since mid November. So I took the time and filled it all in and while I was at it I made the new spreadsheet for 2014.

In making the new spreadsheet I rearranged my budgeted spending a bit. 2012 and 2013 I had $15 a month allotted for my home. That was just fine in 2012 but I failed at keeping it in 2013. That $15 a month is for cleaning supplies and things that are needed to keep a place up and running, however, in my heart, it's actually for making this place inviting and cute and a home so I do my cleaning with dish soap and white vinegar and spend it on other things for my apartment first.

I looked over the months and the reason I didn't make budget in 2013 was two incidents. In July the K-Mart next to me closed and I went to the going out of business sale then in October all five lights in my bathroom blew out and the specialty light bulbs to fit the fixture cost $41.19.

While the budget is to keep me from going to clearance sales it is not for me to live in the dark so I've increased the 2014 Household budget to $20 a month. I didn't magically make up the money but I had the electricity set at a $100 and for 3 months I did use $96.00 of electricity but most of the other months came in at $44. I lowered the electricity allotment adding to household and some to my food too.

Some people might think keeping a budget is a bit too much and I know mine is very tight, but it's what I have to do to live without a roommate and keep pets and I think it's worth it.




So, Saturday, when I opened my spice cabinet and things fell out onto my head, like it does every time, I just snapped and I wanted magnetic spice containers to put on my fridge.  I've wanted magnetic spice tins since I first saw them online in 2010 in a vague sort of way but this weekend I needed them and I needed them NOW.

That wasn't happening since the 2013 household budget is in a deficit but I looked online and read reviews and decided that they would be at the top of my list in April.

Most of the time needing something NOW is because I've told myself that I can't have it and I'm having an internal toddler temper tantrum. By setting a date I know I can get what I want, I just have to wait, and that NOW feeling subsides. After a few days normally I don't even want the thing anymore at all or if April rolls around and I still want it I get to buy it since I keep my word, even to myself. At that point I know I really wanted it and the item will make me smile every time I use it for years, unlike impulse buys. So I set the date and moved on with my day.

On Sunday I was lazing in bed and mulling over what I was going to knit this week and magnetic spice tins and how a few reviews said they leaked and the lids stick or fall off and would I even like spices on the fridge and surely couldn't I do something now to take care of the issue...


I have spices, I have magnets, I have glue, I'll just make my own with what I have.

Let glue set for 24 hours.

They are pretty sweet and I think just the cutest things ever.

What I learned from this.

1. The glue won't stick unless the spices are wiped off the bottom of the jars with alcohol. I used the Rum in the photo having no rubbing alcohol on hand.

2. I had almost no spices in my spice cabinet. The problem is not the spices but that cabinet shelf holds all of my baking ingredients, my rice, my pasta and anything and everything that comes in a smallish container. This is the smallest kitchen I've ever had and even after living here a year I still fight it everyday. Removing the spices did nothing to clear it up but at least I can cook with them without opening the cabinet door and facing the avalanche.

3. What I really need is thin, tall but not too tall, plastic storage containers for the rice, pasta, and flour. That is not in my budget at this time either and much less thrilling then cute tins. I don't see that going on my list anytime soon.

Maybe if I pull everything out of the kitchen and put it back in I can find a better configuration...

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Still Waiting for Daylight


The buttons are finally picked out and sewn on. It's knit from TOFUtsies sock yarn held double and the pattern is one I made up as I went along.



Saturday, December 14, 2013

Intensely Green

Two more squares finished for the blanket and that lime green is so very intensely green.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Memories

Another project pulled from the unfinished basket. This one I started April 4th, 2012 and all it had left was a few ends to weave in and the buttons.
Again I'm using Grandma's button tin, although, some of those buttons I've collected myself. The purple ones are from that silk skirt from my freshman year in college, the brown ones to the left are from my white oxford that I wore ushering so I could watch a season's worth of events for half an hour of light work. I saw Morgan Freeman preform in that shirt and it was so moving I cried and makeup ran. The pink buttons are from my favorite work shirt that I just wore to death and then wore some more before finally deciding I shouldn't wear it in public, much less to work. Most of my knitted shawletts are made to go with that shirt. I have socks knit to go with that shirt. I glowed when I wore that shirt.

But button sorting isn't just about the memories it's about picking the best match. My favorites are the orange and they are too small so they were some of the first to go.

I've narrowed it down and I'm leaving it out so I can see it in daylight before making my final choice.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

More Projects

 More squares finished for the Weasley Blanket.

I've also picked my next project from the unfinished pile. This one was started November 8th, 2013 so not all of the unfinished projects are old. The pattern is Shilling and there is nothing wrong with it. I just get too busy to knit for a bit there.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Boboli and Dolce

Another project I pulled out of my unfinished pile.

I started it May, 11th 2012 and this one didn't even have any knitting left, just 4 ends to weave in. Stalled out for more than a year from the weaving in the ends. Yep. Not a job I enjoy doing at all.

The multi colored yarn is Berroco Boboli that was gifted to me for my birthday, I think that year, and the brown is Cascade Yarns Dolce, an alpaca yarn, from my stash. It's knit in my favorite K1P1 rib scarf pattern. However, I've developed a sensitivity to alpaca and I'm wondering if it's this very soft scarf will be too itchy. The next step is to wash it really well and rinse with hair conditioner and go from there.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Cover Version

Nerd wars Challenge (Encyclopedia): VOLUME C: COVER VERSION

Your challenge this month is to take inspiration from an existing craft project - either one of yours or someone else’s - and craft something new.


The skein in the back is one I spun of a different round of Nerd Wars. It’s a ply of brown and one of pink. For this challenge I took the leftover singles of the brown and spun up a purple mystery batt and plied the two together. I then spun more of the pink and also plied it with the purple.

It was rather quick spinning since the fibers were well carded and I spun it long draw into a nice, lush, heavy aran weight yarn.

200 yards of the brown/purple
140 yards of pink/purple


Team tie in. There is enough yarn to knit Kaylee a scarf and the pinks, browns, and purples will look real nice with the pink, brown, and peach of her dress.

Monday, December 09, 2013

The Ron Weasley Blanket

Another Harry Potter project.

I don't know how I missed it when the movie came out but when I ran across it recently in The Prisoner of Azkaban (and The Goblet of Fire and The Order of the Pheonix) I was obsessed. 
I had to knit it. I had to knit it RIGHT NOW! I even considered buying the yarn for it but that seemed rather un-Weasley like. However, nothing in my stash looked like it would be enough. I had already knit all of my worsted weight into the Curve of Pursuit last spring.

It took about eight hours before I had the flash. I have a whole lot of scraps of Cascade Eco, it being the one yarn I would knit with for the rest of my life, you know, if I was made to choose and malabrigo Twist didn't exists.

I have two skeins of brown in the stash and one of lime green and a whole lot of scraps. It's not worsted weight so the squares are turning out larger but that will mean less sewing in the end. I cast on 30 stitches on size 6 needle and I'm slipping the first stitch of each row. 

The colors aren't a match the original but that is just right for a Weasley blanket. It's more real this way.

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Wave Your Flag High

Nerd Wars Challenge (Nerdology): WAVE YOUR FLAG HIGH!

Craft something inspired by a different nerdery that brought out your flag! Wave your Nerd Flag high!!



This is the hat that Hermione wears in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I love her so much in the books.
The hat is STUNNING. It's great that when I wanted to knit this hat I had the yarn in my stash. No trip to the yarn store needed. I love my stash. The color is a very good match too. It's the nighttime photo that makes the blue grey look so warm toned. And now a ball of Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport in  Grey Heather from 2003 finally found the right project.

Team tie in:


The color matches Shepard Book's hair.



Saturday, December 07, 2013

Button, Button...

Started April 7th, 2012 and it's a project that I had stuffed away for not working out. It's issue was running out of yarn before the arms or button bands were knit.

I think my way of addressing it is rather clever and very attractive and looks like the whole project was planned that way.

I pulled out Grandma's button tin and spent a good long time sorting and choosing. It's like Christmas shopping but better because of no crowds or spending money.

The pattern is Super-Natural Stripes and the yarn Mission Falls 1824 Cotton. I love that yarn so much if it's the spinning from before it was discontinued the first time.

A few weeks ago I helped a coworker set up as stash sale after a knitting family member passed away. I mentioned how nice it is and discontinued so they gave me all she had as a thank you and it was no small amount. I'm now set for a good long time. Hopefully long enough for me to find a non discontinued cotton yarn I like just as much.

Friday, December 06, 2013

Anthocyanins

It's time for more Nerd War entries. I'm still playing for team Browncoat.

Challenge (Discovery): CHEMICAL COLORS

These colours we see and love are due to the tree withdrawing green chlorophyll from the leaves and two groups of chemicals being revealed: the carotenoids (the yellows, oranges and browns) and the anthocyanins (reds and purples).

Your challenge this month is to craft something in the colours of carotenoids or/and anthocyanins

From the USDA Forest Service 

"During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors."

When I picked these leaves up they were such a dark brown that they looked black and were a perfect color match to the yarn. It was the burgundy of Anthocyanins that gave them that color. They sat around a while before I took the photo and the color has faded. I believe that the tannin is the leaves is now showing but mostly it's the crappy night time photo and indoor lighting that changed the color from a rich chocolate brown to dead leaf tan. I have a goal of setting up a nice photo shooting spot.

I started with the pattern Rikki but I modified it so much I don't know if it even counts as using the pattern. The cast on number is the same, at least. The yarn is madelinetosh DK in the color Whiskey Barrel. It's the first time I've worked with the yarn. I know. I know. I'm probably the last knitter to try that yarn it's so hot right now. It's rather nice and the best part is how smooth it is so there should be very little pilling.


Team tie in for extra points:
The color is a match to the brown coats worn by the Independence.

Team Unity Project with Team Robbingood for even more points. Team Robbingood represent movies about grifters and thieves, usually with the heart of gold.

I found the movie Burglar.

Bernice Rhodenbarr, a former burglar, resumes her life of crime when blackmailed. She needs the hat to contain her dreds. It’s much more stylish than the one she is wearing and will look great with her sweater

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Brought to You by the Letter V

The alphabet swap where each person was given a letter along with the name of their partner. daughterofartemis drew me and the letter V and, Wow, what a phenomenal package.


First. Wrapped? Seriously? That’s an extravagant touch for an overseas package sent from the UK. And look at all the LOOT! There is so much in there!

Let's do the best first, ok! 

Wow. Just wow.

This shawl is as light as a whisper and yet it’s pretty substantial. It has knit and crochet bits with the yarn woven through the stitches. daughterofartemis, says it’s tunisian crochet. It looks really really hard. A truly epic project. I’m in awe. The colors are gorgeous and it fits right into my wardrobe. I’m going to wear this all the time. The pattern is Venus

The vittles.

Viennese, chocolate truffle surrounded by special Viennese chocolate and encrusted with sparkling sugar. I’m watching what I eat and I asked that any yummies that are sent to be cheat worthy. So very cheat worthy. I can’t even describe how good these are.

Very Good Chocolate and Valina Chai. I’m hording these to get me through December. Thank you.

Vanilla reminds me, I also received a Vanilla candle that didn’t get a photo. It smells wonderful.



Vintage inspired tin for tea. Just what I need. My kitchen is prone to bugs in the fall when the weather changes and they want to move inside where it’s warm. I use lots of containers and this one is just my style and perfect.

Vivacious. This is the most crappy photo ever but the yarn is stunning. Aqua through blue, violet to periwinkle, with a little bit of acid yellow. It looks like the very first leaf of spring. It will be my first time knitting with Malabrigo Sock and I can’t wait.

 
Villains. The stitch markers made me squee and laugh out loud.

Vern, Vicious Viking and Virgins. What great choices!

I haven’t read Jules Verne since that dystopian literature class I took in collage and I haven’t read Around the World in 80 days at all. Right now my knitting time is watching Warehouse 13 and Jules Verne is a recurring character. It’s going to be fun to read it in that context rather than the writing an 8 page paper context. Although I enjoy that too. What a great gift. Thank you.

You obviously know I admire the Vikings their aesthetic and use of line in decoration. Now I have a chance to dig deeper into their culture and get the real scoop. This one made me laugh so hard.

Ooooo Virgin Suicides. That looks very promising.

daughterofartemis, you are amazing. The shawl is beyond amazing. I love everything and feel so touched. Thank you.

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Hearts

I finished one class and I can sleep again. The other class will be wrapping up soon. In the spirit of wrapping things up for the year I started pulling out unfinished projects and finishing them. They have been piling up a bit.

I started these March 4th 2011. The plan was to make a garland or bunting from them although I can't remember why. I do remember cranking them out over several weeks of watching Doctor Who.

All they needed was to be sewn together and stuffed. They might still become a garland but I'm rather smitten with the Woodland Wreath pattern that just came out it has hedgehogs so they could become the start of that.


Saturday, November 23, 2013

Nocturnal

I had another gaslighting moment. I woke up in the middle of the night  in my jammies and tucked into bed like normal but every single light in the apartment was turned on.

Again my first thought was someone had come in and had turned on all the lights as a creepy statement because who brushes their teeth, gets in their jammies, arranges the pillows and blankets just so but not only doesn't turn out the lights but doesn't even notice?

I have fallen asleep with the lights on before but fully clothed and on top of the covers because I was too tired to move. Obviously the overtime at work and the two continuing ed classes are getting to me. I must start getting more sleep.

Even with all that going on I still find a bit of time to knit at work either on break or at lunch. I keep a super simple project in my desk drawer.

This is Topographie and a fun way to use variegated yarns. The variegated bits are purled rather than knit. I did find it frustrating that I actually had to watch the knitting instead of doing it by touch but I'm ready to knit the pattern again.

I used up the last of the Malabrigo Silky Merino in Nocturnal so the two hats together count as a UILI project. My 7th for the year.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Sugar Covered Weekend

I had a nice full weekend. Saturday was eating out with friends at a Korean restaurant. Playing boardgames after at my place while eating mystery snack food from the Asian market. It's was decided that Korean snacks are the best and the ones from Japan... well, we didn't like those as much. It boiled down to the Korean snacks were sugar coated, even the potato chips, while the Japaneses snakes were lacking in sugar, even the candy. We do have our proprieties strait.

Sunday was with more friends and more boardgames. The highlight was both sets of friends pulled out Pandemic. It's no secret that it my favorite game. I only get to play it a few times a year so twice in one weekend is pretty great.

Another noteworthy incident of this weekend is I had to turn on my AC and run it on Saturday and Sunday. In November. In mid November. Isn't it supposed to be cold about now? My top floor apartment is naturally very warm but this is ridiculous.


A hat I finished for if it ever gets cold. Pillsbury by Erin B of the Doubleknit Podcast.  They have a new episode up that I'm going to listen to as soon as I'm done here.

The yarn is Malabrigo Silky Merino that I was gifted in a swap. The yarn and pattern are perfect for each other. The only modification I made is a folded brim. The Silky Merino didn't have much heft or memory to it and I was concerned that it wouldn't be strong enough to hold the hat onto a head. The double brim will be warmer and has the heft I'm looking for.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Vanity Sizing

My swim suit is a pair of men's trucks and a bikini top. Not very hip and less so since camping with family this summer all the plastic bits of the top broke and it's now held together with twine. Not really gym worthy but I figured I would make do. I did give it a test run at home and it turns out the trunks no longer fit. As in I can't get them up over my hips no longer fit.

I have a back up suit that I never liked. It has a plunging neckline kept a little more modest by a ruffle. Not a suit I particularly wanted to be seen but I gave it a test run in front of the mirror too. The plunging neckline was a real issue and would not stay in place. Seeing as how I don't want to flash whole world I would have to buy a new suit if I wanted to swim.

The only possible place to buy a suit in November would be a sporting goods store. While working the weekly overtime, I was having coworkers use their phone to look things up since there was no way I was going to type any variation of Dick's into my browser. I found it amusing that everyone was so willing to do it too. I was perhaps more demanding than asking and the requests were rather off the wall.

It turns out that suit shopping in November is the very best time to go. With only twelve different styles to choose from the picking out is easier and there is one of every size in stock. Also, there isn't a single plunging neckline or ruffle in sight.


This beauty is two layers of extra thick Lycra with high cut top and low cut legs. It's the first suit I've ever owned that I feel dressed in. The Lycra straps everything into place so there is not a bit of me that jiggles much less pops out. The whole thing is sleek like a dolphin and made for swimming and yet it much more attractive than all the bathing suits that come out every summer. In it I'm more attractive than I've been in a suit even though I'm inches bigger.

And that's another thing about this suit. It hasn't fallen to vanity sizing. This spring I bought new jeans for work because my size 8 were becoming too small. I was upset that I wasn't buying size 10. No. I was fitting into the size 6. The 6s fit so well that by lunch when they have sproinged out of shape I can pull them on and off without undoing them and I wonder if I would be better in a size 4.

I figured that all the jeans I bought this spring were a fluke and I started my fitting with an 8, then a 10 and finally I bought the 12. I'm now up to the same weight I was in 1991 and I was a size 12 then too so it is actually a relief to be buying a 12 now. Since I have a tendency to buy too large, once at home I checked out the sizing chart for the suit and the 12 exactly matches my measurements. It's nice to have some consistency.

I've already given the pool a go and it's wonderful but I've found that I really need flip-flops. Now where will I be finding a pair of those in November...

Friday, November 08, 2013

Walked a Crooked Mile

I just did something rather impulsive. Today, at work, I decided to join a gym. After work, and realize I get off work at 9:30 pm, I drove by a local gym asked to be shown around and bought a membership. Time elapsed from thought to signed contract was 2 hours.

Although, not really. Last spring I took photos for an online sweater fitting session. The photos showed that I've become crooked. My shoulders and bust line aren't square anymore. This was quite concerning but some sessions of yoga at home made an immediate difference.  While I will bring this up with my doctor, I think it's a lack of core muscles from sitting and from leaning on my desk at work all day.


I can't think of anything more dull than yoga at home except, maybe, ab crunches. I lasted less than a week. Ever since then I've thought I should join a class.

I'm pretty excited about the whole thing. Classes come with the membership but what I'm excited about is the heated lap pool and the sauna. It seems the perfect way to spend the winter.

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Keep on Flying

My first pair of mitts with fingers knit out of Silky Wool help double. Jayne inspired for the Joss swap.

I started out using the Wabi pattern but my gauge was off . Also, I don't have a printer and I wanted to knit them while lying on the couch, not sitting in front of my computer.

Most patterns I read through at the computer, put a few numbers on a post-it note, then knit it from memory. That wasn't going to happen with fingered mitts so I used my copy of Ann Budd's  The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns because I could lay it next to me.

While I know that "lying on the couch" is correct and to say I knit them while "laying on the couch" is not, I much prefer how laying sounds. It sounds lazy laying around all day.

Check in on the dog dish. I found it! It was under the water dish. I do pick up the water dish to fill it with water and I just put it back in the wrong spot. I'm rather relived to have found such a mundane explanation.

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Gaslighting

I feed Joey every night half an hour before bed. I fed him last night half an hour before bed. I remember the munching sounds and the scritching sounds that signal he is done and wants more. Besides, I was allowed to sleep which would never happen if a meal was missed.

His food and water bowls set into a holder to keep them corralled. So this morning when I got up and his food bowl was missing leaving an empty gaping hole I found it rather shocking. Then I found it very disturbing.

My first thought was someone had come in the middle of the night and taken the bowl as a statement.  I don't know what kind of statement breaking in and taking a dog dish and not touching anything else sends, but it was beyond creepy.

My next though was I had picked it up and wondered off with it. That happens with my phone but not a dog dish. I don't pick up the dog dish, instead I scoop the food into. Even so, I looked around. Then I looked harder. This is a small apartment and I have made a point that everything here has a place and it's not cluttered. There aren't that many places to look.

Still no dog dish. This time I started looking in the crazy spots. I looked in the bathroom, the freezer, the oven, under the fridge, in my bed, in the dirty laundry, in my knitting needles storage, in my desk drawers, and in the trash. No, no, no, no, no, no, and no. There is no place left to look. I'm back to thinking this is creepy statement. Or the cat is Gaslighting me. Yeah. That's it. The cat.

Hurricane Hat knit in Plymouth Yarn Tweed. A nice simple pattern with a pretty spiral for when things are clearly spiraling out of control.

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Like a Tea-tray in the Sky


Nothing much, but I posted the other two handmades of the swap box so I'll go ahead and add my third.


'it's always tea-time,and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.'

 A nice washcloth made from partial balls of yarn. I wrapped it around one of my bars of orange spice soap that I relabeled as Tea and Marmalade. The name worked well, not contrived at all, because the spice has a nice cardamom note.

Pattern I made up as I went.

Saturday, November 02, 2013

Lobster Quadrille

Another of the handmades for the Alice swap.

This is some of my oldest stash. Thin thin thin yarn that I spun from silk hankies back when I was seeing how thin I could spin silk. This lace weight yarn is a 3 ply. No, I don’t know what I was thinking. Yes, I am sort of insane.

I've been saving this yarn as too special to use for years now. It was the UILI challenge that inspired to go ahead and use it. Such an exquisite yarn needs a suitable pattern and Fragile Hearts is the perfect choice. I heavily modified it and the pattern is so well written that changes are effortless. It was the knitting with such thin yarn that was difficult.

However, the color wasn’t fitting for the recipient. I don't know if aqua, rusty brown, and acid early spring yellow is right for anybody.
It's been a long time since I pulled out my dye pot and it's just as fun and satisfying as it's always been.


It floats on the barest whisper of a breeze. I’m so pleased with this I could burst. The sun washed out the photo a bit, the red is tonal from true red to burgundy and it's stunning.