I Want It!

Quickie post. I have been watching the videocast Round the Twist a lot recently. It is inspiring me to get off my tush and get my needles busy.

The woman who does it recently showed off some bags. I *want* the Starry Night Dr. Who bucket bag! The seller is all out of those bags. I really want to know where she gets the fabric.

The seller also has a box bag in Tardis fabric. I like that one too. But the Starry Night/Dr. Who combo is too wonderful. I actually just wish the Bucket bag had a drawstring or something. But otherwise it is a lovely bag.

I realize that it really does seem like one can never have too many project bags. *laugh* Mind you, most of mine are cheap bags I have gotten free at work or something. My current project bag came from my local health food store that was giving me one every time I shopped there. So I have about 5 of them. And they are super useful.

Back to work with me!

Finished Object Disaster

Well, it was bound to happen sometime, right?

I screwed up the Tomten sweater. In a big way.

I kept thinking while I was doing it that the sleeves seemed kinda small. But I figured it was just I am not used to looking at baby stuff.

I was seaming the sleeves this morning and knew they just weren't right. *sigh*

The light bulb went off in my head.

I double checked the pattern.

Sure enough. The sleeves say to decrease every 4 ridges. And I thought that was every 4 rows. So it is half the length it should be. *sigh*

In theory, I could rip back the sleeves and just redo the sleeves. But that isn't the only problem with the tomten. I was learning how to do two color work (technically, intarsia, but honestly, not that complex). I didn't realize there was a specific method to follow. So I was wrapping the yarn pretty haphazardly. So I made a mess of the front of the sweater. I wasn't happy with it as it was anyhow. I kept debating just pulling it all out but couldn't bring myself to do it.

I think the sleeves are just a sign to start over. I can do a much better piece and it will be something I won't be embarrassed to give away. *sigh*

Live and learn. Live and learn.

The good news is that I have time to get it done before Xmas. It only took about a week and a couple days to finish this one. And I have vacation starting Friday. So I will be off work. That gives me even more knitting time.

I have to confess. I haven't done squat with Jennifer's xmas socks. Then again, we haven't scheduled a time when we are going down to celebrate Xmas. So I know I have until at least mid-January to get those done.

I will cast on a new Tomten sweater today. I am hoping to spend my lunch with a coworker helping her learn to knit. I have already taught her some things. Thing is, one of her kids pulled her knitting off the needles. So I need to get it back on the needles for her.

I wish I had some extra circulars to lend her. I really do agree with Kelly at Knitpicks. They are great even for learning students. I listened to the podcast 28 which was about sharing the love yesterday.

Though I disagree completely about not having people start with a project. I *hate* not feeling like I am working towards something. I would rather have it be a mess, but doing something rather than working on something only to rip it all out. I love my sampler scarf. I love that I can see my evolution in knitting in it. I like having a project rather than nothing when I am done.

I think people differ a lot in what style of learning works for them. So it is never one size fits all. *smile*

Ah well. I have to get some work done today. Especially as I am taking off Friday through the New Year! Means lots of knitting time. *grin*

Drop Stitch Scarf in Recycled Silk

I cast this on last Wednesday, the 10th.

The color on the pic isn't great. Hard to get the depth of color. I really shouldn't take pics with my camera on my phone. They always come out more grey and dark. I tweak them as much as I can, but it is still not really great.

Pattern:

Double Dropstitch Scarf Pattern

http://freshgroundknits.com/patterns/drop-stitch-scarf/

Yarn:

Recycled Silk Yarn

3 skeins - 150 grams (0.33 pounds)/approximately 85 yards per skein

https://shop.theliteracysite.com/store/item.do?itemId=25528&siteId=2001&sourceId=2001&sourceClass=StoreSearch&index=4

Needles:

Size 8 of the Knitpicks Options circs. Love those needles.

Have to say, the yarn is pretty rough and gets twisted pretty easily. I chose the pattern as it would mean large areas that I had to knit less with the yarn overs.

I cast on 48 stitches as I wanted a wider scarf. Though I think it may be too wide. I am nearly done with the first ball and it is only about 12-14" long. Whoops... *frown*

I don't think I will have enough for a full length scarf unless I get more yarn. I suppose I could make it as a table piece or something. I really don't know.

There are some people on Ravelry that are willing to sell their recycled silk yarn. I should check to see if any have it cheap enough that it would be worth grabbing. But the theliteracysite.com has increased the price to its normal price. And for $9 a skein, it is not worth buying it.

I started this as a project that I could give away for Xmas. I was thinking it would be good for my sister, Millie. I suspect it will go to her. Not sure if it will be this Xmas or not. Kinda depends on if I can get more yarn or what I suspect. It is an easy knit so I can't complain about that.

Oh, the totally bizarre thing about this yarn?!! It turns grey under the yellow lights in the tunnel on the way to Baltimore!! It was so bizarre. Paul was fascinated by that. *grin* I really find it bizarre that all the color vanished. Really weird.

More work to do. Still have a couple more things I mean to post about today. Hopefully, I will have some more time. But maybe it will wait til tomorrow.

Daaaaammmmmmnnnnnn!

Daaaaaammmmmnnnnnnn! *in my best impersonation of Jim Broadbent as Prince Albert* (Name that reference without IMDB. *grin*)

I have been having a lot of fun with Chore Wars as my 'party' is the one set up by Lime & Violet. So I can enter knitting stuff and level my character. Yes. It is ubergeeky. And I love it. *laugh*

So I went to enter my evening knitting on Friday. I want to show Paul as a fellow geek. I am entering some stuff. He looks. All is fine. Then I enter another hour of knitting. Then Paul looks again. What does he see? My lunch time knitting which says "Sock for the hubbin for Xmas".

Daaaaammmmmnnn...

So he knows I am knitting him socks. *pout* I am not even sure I will finish these for Xmas. I really thought I would be further along as I bought the yarn in June... But I only have an inch done of the cuff. Long saga but there has been a bunch of things that slowed me down (including a lot of frogging).

Mostly I have only been knitting them once a week at my WW meeting so there is only about 15-30 minutes of knitting a week. I kinda figured I would have to start taking them on the train during the week to get them done if there were going to be finished for Xmas. *sigh*

But now he knows. *pout* Told him he may not get them this xmas. Of course, he is saying I should just give them to him for his birthday so I can bring it home! *laugh*

I still am not sure he will actually like it. The colors are right, blues & greys. Ideal colors for him. But he says he doesn't wear striped socks. I got the Opal Rainforest Frog from simplysockyarn.com. Also, he is always warm so wool is probably not a great solution either. *pout*

Ah well. He knows. So I guess I gotta get my tush in gear on these.

*grumblegrowl*