Knitting is a lot like dating. There are some projects that you love through and through. You had the hots for it at first sight (or thought), you chose your favorite yarn for it, and in your mind's eye the two of you lived happily ever after. Then there are those other projects, the ones that you like it's personality but you aren't neccessarily attracted to. You figure it's a nice project, maybe I'll grow to love if I give it a chance. There are the ones you know to stay away from, they are way too complicated, too ugly, or you've been burned by this kind before. There's another kind that noone ever really thinks about, the too easy project. It sneaks up on you when you don't feel ready for a commitment, you just want an easy one night stand. The problem is, that it's too fast and too easy. You are left with a mess to clean up the next morning. How do you part ways? Do you have to see eachother again? Can you make it work? This is where I find myself this morning. I tried to ignore it while I drank my coffee, hoping that it would go away. But this one is a stubborn one, still hanging out in my room after breakfast. It wants to make it work, maybe I can change or, better yet, I can make it change.


Good and Plenty Scarf
Pattern: My own
Yarn: Handspun Thick and Thin Wool and DK Mohair
Needles: US 19
Date Started: July 28, 2005
Date Finished: July 28, 2005

Look at how it just hangs there, all full of itself. Little does it know that I will change it. You hear me? I will change you! I was sucked in by the yarn, the quickness, and the idea of it. But when I was done, the bf gave me a look like "what did you just make?". That killed it for me. Then it was a lot longer than I wanted, which sealed the deal. It needs to be reworked. I was going to post this yesterday and then last night, but I was too embarrassed. This is the equivalent of calling your friends after you met a guy at a bar and took him home. How do you tell them that you really thought it was going to work? You know you are thinking, what was she doing, why didn't I stop her?

If you want the pattern, it's pretty easy. Just be careful and don't let it get the best of you.
CO 4
Row 1 k
Row 2 k1fb, k to last stitch, k1fb
Row 3 knit
Repeat rows 2 and 3 till as wide as you would like (I went to 10 stitches)
Row 1 k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1
Row 2 k
Repeat rows 1 and 2 till you are back to your original co number.
Switch to thinner yarn and either knit in either garter or garter ridge
Knit for as long as you want and then switch to bulky yarn again.

I'll be reworking this today, and I'll show you all that we were meant to be. It was kismet I tell you.

edit:

I was only able to work on the scarf for a bit this morning, so I figured I would show what I got done then. Should I continue as is, or do as Diana suggests and make it a striped scarf? I'm using 19's so does this mean I should go up a needle size? Has anyone else noticed that my "quick" projects are my most annoying?!
Oh, I think I should mention that I only have about 50 yds of the handspun stuff, that doesn't matter right. Right?

Posted by bitter purl at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

A test knit that is. Some of my projects have taken a backseat for a while because I was test knitting a shrug pattern. Since this is a "knitting blog" after all, I figured I would show a bit of my latest FO. Isn't it just gorge!? I used cashmerino aran in gray, though I hate that it's called that since it's more like mercrylmere. The sheen and softnest go straight to my heart, so I guess I'm ok with that.

I should have a couple more FO's soon, I hope.

Posted by bitter purl at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

or maybe it's all the time.

I was rushing to the gym and left no explanation as to what I posted last night. Or maybe I'm just playing a cruel joke on all of you for a laugh. Nah, that's not like me now is it? Ok, so the top picture is knitted on US 17's and the bottom is on 19's. I just wanted to see if it made any real visual difference to you guys. It felt really stiff on the 17's so I tried 19's. I think it's well documented on this little blog that I am an extremely indecisive person, so I always hope you guys make a decision for me.

It's a scarf I'm knitting up with some stash yarn; the bastard child of the wavy gravy from s'nbn and my "24" scarf. I was knitting it up before and then I saw Stefanie's version which kinda made me stop mine. I decided to continue on since I don't believe she has released a pattern yet and I've been meaning to finish this scarf for a while.

So do the needles make a difference?

Posted by bitter purl at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A:

or

B:

Posted by bitter purl at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

More like a super sharp one.

Sorry I've been quiet for a few days, especially since my last two posts were just me complaining about stuff. And this one will be no different!! Just kidding. I've been working away on a test knit (though I ran out of yarn!), so there hasn't been that much progess on those projects just hanging out there on the right. I was slowed down a bit by that aforementioned knife. The idiotic part is that I wasn't even cooking. Nope, I went to grab something when I bumped the knife, the knife went flying, and for some reason I tried to catch. I think it ended up catching me right between my middle and ring fingers on my left hand. My first thought was "thank god that wasn't my right hand!" (I'm a thrower) then I was like "@#$!, it hurts!" I'm ok, just typing slower with my left hand (I can't stretch my fingers if that makes sense).

Not much else has been going on, still no IK in sight. So that this isn't a totally boring post, who likes those, I'll show you the yarn I dyed for my SP. Remember a few posts back I was winding it? Well here it is (I already know she got it):





Sorry I had to put two pics, but the flash doesn't let the different colors show. It has reds, pinks, and a little bit of purple thrown in .

To everyone that has emailed me, I'll be emailing everyone back tonight. Sorry it has taken me so long.

Also, I'll probably post again tonight with a question or two

Posted by bitter purl at 04:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Because I sure haven't. Yeah, that's right. Everyone else in blog land got their fall issue of Interweave Knits while I'm still here waiting for it. Why don't I have mine? Is it because my lys doesn't carry it? nope Is it because I'm too lazy to go to the bookstore and buy it? Wrong again! No, it's because I was foolish enough to subscribe to the damn thing. Maybe I misunderstood what subscriptions were all about. I thought they were a more convenient way to receive a magazine you really like, usually before newstand customers could get their hands on it. According to Merriam-Webster it means: "an arrangement for providing, receiving, or making use of something of a continuing or periodic nature on a prepayment plan: as a : a purchase by prepayment for a certain number of issues (as of a periodical) ...". According to Interweave, it means never sending you a magazine, but yet having the balls to sending you a subscription renewal form.

If you thought about subscribing, don't! My bookstore had the magazine before the IK posted newstand day. Apparently I am going to get screwed yet again in the winter. According to their site, the winter issue is due out on December 13, check when mine is due to be mailed out:

In case you can't read it, mine is shipped 12/15/05. I'm sure it will be much later than that, since my fall issue was supposed to be mailed out in June before it was mysteriously changed to July.

Posted by bitter purl at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

I know you are supposed to be the cute and "hip" or even "edgy" host of knitty gritty. We got it! You aren't my grandmother and you will never knit what she did, fine. But you've gone too far, you need an intervention. Guess what...I'm happy to say that I don't think my grandmother would knit what you showed today. She's probably rolling in her grave right now!

What am I talking about? Oh you know, those multi-yarn atrocities you showed off today. Where do I begin?!
Oh god, let's start with this poor girl.

You acted like this was the cutest sweater Marc Jacobs knitted up for you. But open your eye's Vickie! If not at the layers of Lion Brand crap you put on this girl, then please look at her hair! Why is it so tall? Why does the random pocket have a tassel? Why does she look like she was pelted with bobbles? Please notice at how she looks away in shame, she can't even look towards the camera for fear of being recognized.

Now this girl, this girl really tried to work it.

It must have been all the crack she took before putting this on. What is it with the fun fur?! I love how you said that you could throw this jacket over anything? Did you really mean this?!

Well, at least she's pretending to look happy.

Now Vickie, I know you aren't the only one to blame for this crap. You are just the host after all, there was only one episode where you actually knit (and it was the same damn guitar strap from what, the first knitty issue?! Please move on!). At least one of the other people to blame wasn't hiding. I just couldn't believe she told everyone she designs for Lion Brand without shame. I think she's just as shocked as I was though.

Posted by bitter purl at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

I've been tagged by Sylv, so I'll just jump right in.

10 years ago:
I was all of 16 years old (my god, has it been that long?!). All I remember from this year is my father being diagnosed with throat cancer and, somehow, a friendship completely dissolving. My father is fine, but I never spoke to that friend again. The weird part is that nothing really happened, it was one of those slow endings. The kind where you stop calling or hanging out with each other as much until, eventually, you moved on with your life.

5 years ago:
I met the bf, Tom, shortly after transferring to Cornell. I didn't think I would jump into a long term relationship after the messy breakup I had with the ex before I transferred. But Tom must have put a spell on me or something cause here we are. It got serious really fast; all of a sudden his dad and his grandmother (his grandmother people!) came up to Ithaca for a "visit". Later I found out they were doing recon for his mom, who wasn't able to come up. I swear he's one of the best things that has ever happened to me (and the one that aides my yarn addiction).

1 year ago:
I moved up here to be with Tom after graduating from grad school. It was a bit of a culture shock moving to South Jersey! It's such a tiny town, after Miami and even Savannah. (Thankfully I can drive or take the train to Philly whenever I want) I still don't know many people in this area and I'm still looking for that dream job all this
education promised me. But I'm happy, I live with my best friend and have met some great people.

Yesterday:
I don't really remember what I did yesterday (I'm getting old). I ran some errands, knitted a bit, went to the gym, and watched yet another episode of 24. Oh, I did get some Harry Potter time in there. I'm trying to read it slowly in order to make it last, so far I'm done with three chapters.

Today:
I mailed out some yarn to Illanna, started a pattern I'm testing/proofreading, went to Target, made dinner, and I sit here waiting for Tom so that we can go to the gym. I really don't know where my time goes. I did some knitting on the minisweater, but I still have a bit to finish up. Now I'm looking at it and it seems that the sleeves are a little big. I might have to go down a size to make the sleeves tighter, though with my luck they will be too tight!

Tomorrow:
Hopefully, I'll get more knitting and pattern proofing done. I also set a date with Tom to go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (yes, sometimes I have to set dates with my own boyfriend, I can't wait for him to decide on something. Have you noticed how much 24 I've been watching? That's all Tom.)

5 snacks I enjoy:
I haven't been snacking much since I started going to the gym. I do have a major sweetooth. One of my favorite things are cupcakes! I love them, they are so pretty and taste so good. I also love Nutella, yum! Some other things I enjoy: Pocky, cookies, and does sushi count as a snack? How about lox?

5 bands/singers that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs:
I hope nothing is too embarrassing here. nine inch nails, U2, Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines, The Shins. I also know Britney Spears stuff, but I don't listen to her. Really I don't. Ok except for Toxic, but that's the only one.

Things I would do with $100,000,000:
To be honest, nothing. I think Tom and I would just do nothing, we would just hang out. I would like to travel to Europe and Japan, pay off my student loans, and probably give a ton of money to my parents, brother, and friends. The rest I would just save as our "retirement" account.

5 locations I'd like to run away to:
Tokyo, Paris, Barcelona, Provence, and then anywhere my friends are (yep, I cheated in this question).

5 bad habits I have:
I tend to procrastinate, I never make the bed, I don't fill the ice cube tray, I don't call people back sometimes, and I tend to hoard things (hence my yarn stash).

5 things I like doing:
Taking pictures, knitting, hanging out with friends, sharing an awesome meals with friends, and baking.

5 things I would never wear:
Pleather, fake designer stuff, a trend to be trendy, a fake "vintage" tshirt, or orange lipstick (don't ask me why).

5 TV shows I like:
The Office (the British one), Reno 911, Chapelle Show, Desperate Housewives, and 24. (these are just off the top of my head, I would say Seinfeld if it was still running, or any HBO show if I had been quicker)

5 movies I like:
hmm, this one is harder. Old Boy, The Machinist, HP Prisoner...., and I'll think of another two later. (I'm a harsh critic)

5 biggest joys at the moment:
Having good food in the kitchen, a roof over my head and sharing it all with my boyfriend/best friend. Meeting awesome craftsters from around the world and helping them out whenever and however I can.

5 favorite toys:
My digi cam, my 40gb iPod (40 baby. 40.), my Kitchen Aid 5qt stand mixer, the yarn/needle stash of course, and my comp because without it I wouldn't get to know a lot of you.

I don't know if I'm supposed to tag people, so I'll just email you to tag you.

Posted by bitter purl at 06:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Yarn: GGH Aspen Color #10 (camel)
Amount: 3 skeins (the two on the bottom = 1 skein)
Status: Taken

Left over from an old project, GGH Aspen is a bulky wool and acrylic blend. All are from the same dye lot.

Oh God, it's that time of the week again where I reveal to the world how deep in this knitting obsession I am. I must admit though, there hasn't been too much knitting going on in casa de Yahaira for the last few days. Frogging angora when you may be allergic to it isn't the brightest idea. I basically passed out for an hour after trying this. Let's say good-bye to the lovely angora, it will soon be on it's way to a new home. You are going to love it Illanna!

Posted by bitter purl at 04:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days (or maybe you are happy about that, who knows!?), but I haven't been able to get to my comp. Either we've been out and about (Tom's best friend was over), sleeping, or just vegging. Not too much knitting going on really, but more about that later. For now I wanted to show you something, ready?

Ok, so it doesn't look like much, but to me it's huge! If you look closely you'll notice that this weird thing has some short row action going on. Yep, I finally get along with short rows thanks to Teva Durham. Sunday was the short row workshop at Rosie's, where a dozen of us got to sit in a hot and humid room with Teva the great. She was so personable, I love her! She already was one of my knitting goddesses, but meeting her really sealed the deal.

For some reason, I was the only one with no short row experience. Everyone else had made scarves, sweaters, and socks with them. I really don't know what was going on there, but hey to each their own. That weird ruffle that isn't a ruffle up there is nature wool mixed with artful yarns vaudeville (I got it from the scrap basket we were allowed to pick from). The bulky ribbon is really making my little swatch stiff (the nature wool is a worsted weight yarn), but I still love it. Now I'm ready to tackle a couple of projects I didn't think I could, such as Teva's octagon purse and the little capelet from Scarf Style.

Teva was cool, she told us about her next book which is going to be all crochet. While that won't be out till 2007, look out for a new pattern in that knitscape that's coming out this fall. She also showed us some of the designs from her book (did you know she was knitting the ruffled scarf for Scarf Style, until Melanie Falick told her to keep it for the book?), while also showing us things that didn't make it in. She also told us a few other stories, but I just don't remember right now.

Here's another look at my swatch:

Posted by bitter purl at 01:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

What is that I'm winding? Don't you wish you could see! It's some luscious yarn I dyed for my SP and I'm so nice that I wound it into a center pull ball for her. awww, ain't I sweet? I can't really show you the finished product since I haven't sent it yet. Don't worry though, I took a pic of the skein so if anything I can show it later. While I was winding it I almost decided to keep it for myself, that's how nice the color came out. Thankfully I saved the formulas I made up. Can you tell I'm on a red kick lately?

In other news, I started a small quick project last night for someone (it's a surprise) and found out that, apparently, I'm allergic to angora. The weird part is I was fine when I started, it wasn't till I went to sleep that I felt the angora hairs allover me and started sneezing/itching. I'm going to try to finish it today and see if this is true. If it is I may have 1.5-2 skeins of french angora to give away! It kills me since this is twenty dollar a skein yarn and it's so incredibly soft! Let me know if you are interested in some yarn, I'll post a pic when I'm done with it.

Oh, you still want to see the red yarn? Fine, I'll give you a sneak peak. Just keep it on the dl. Shhh.

Posted by bitter purl at 09:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I got inpatient that I stopped two rounds before I was supposed to check the sizing. The sleeves don't meet yet . I need to add a few more rounds before I separate the bodies and sleeves. I wonder if keeping all the increases (the puffiness) had something to do with this. Apparently, I'm the only one that's kept the puffy sleeves (reminds me of Seinfeld!). The next part is increasing so that both sides meet and figuring out what the mods are for us busty gals is.

But as you can see, I need to get some more bamboo. And by get I mean dye some more. The mini will have to wait then, sigh. I have no clue how I messed up the amounts, I thought I had weighed it correctly, but I still have thousand or more yards so oh well!

In the meantime, I dyed some yarn for my SP which I really hope she likes. I also got help from Melissa on the Eternity Shawl, so I'll be trying out a new swatch tonight. I also have a couple of scarves and the mesh tank I want to get to which will keep me busy.

Posted by bitter purl at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

So I thought I could be cool and figure out that Eternity Shawl pattern. Well you be the judge:

Posted by bitter purl at 05:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

and not looking too bad if I say so myself. The color is not quite as dark as the pic suggests. I do like the slight color variation within each skein, though, can you tell which skein is not like the others?! umm, yeah that one on the top left didn't get as much dye for some reason. I tried a gauge/color watch out for the ribbing that's left to do and a) gauge is way off and b) I must really suck at ribbing. Look at how ugly that is!! I emailed Stefanie, to figure out which cast on number I'm suppossed to follow since the pattern is not too clear on that part.

I'm so happy all of you like the scarf (I got some compliments on craftster as well!). Especially since that's the scarf that started the whole "selling stuff at my friend's store" thing. I'm working on a new one, which I hope is as big of a hit as the first one. I'm still not sure if I'm going to go for it or not, especially since I wouldn't know how much to charge for a weirdass scarf like that.

For now, I'm working on the minisweater, the scarf, figuring out what the shawl pattern really is, and using my new swift I picked up yesterday. I think after seeing how many hanks I needed to wind, the bf got scared that I was going to recruit him. He so subltely suggested I needed a swift (it was more like, "damnit! I don't want to deal with all that yarn! Get a swift NOW!"). He now calls it the yarn carousel and any time I'm winding anything has become "carnival time". It's a small plastic/metal one from Japan that has some weirdly translated directions. Notice the scale, I needed it to wind the laceweight bamboo since I have no idea what I have on the cone. Now I'm just too lazy to take it back into the kitchen.

Posted by bitter purl at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm going to try to make Sundays the day I figure out how much yarn I've used up or bought up during the week. It's mostly so I have a constant reminder of where my stash is at.

If I count the week I was in Miami, then I used up:
7 skeins of Mission Falls
1 skein of SWTC Phoenix
1 skein of Colinette Point 5
1 skein of some random mohair.

Ten total isn't bad.

I haven't bought any yarn so I'm upgrading myself to cotton and keeping my eyes on wool. :)

Sorry this is a boring post for the rest of you. I'll try to be more exciting later today. Oh, I just remembered, I get to meet Teva Durham in a week! I still haven't decided what lucky yarn from my stash gets to come with me.

Posted by bitter purl at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I swear I must know my secret pal in "real life" or something, because she knows exactly what to get me. I just got my July package today and I love it! First up some fingering weight handpainted wool:

Posted by bitter purl at 06:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Yarn: Colinette Point 5 in Mist and a 3 stranded mohair yarn in pink and brown
Needles: US 17
Pattern: "24" (my own)
Date Started: 6.20.05
Date Finished: 7.7.05

Ok, I didn't really take me that long to knit this scarf, but maybe some of you remember that I started and frogged this many times before it looked the way I wanted it to. Funny enough, I finished this with the pattern I originally started with (don't tell the bf that!).

I had all this Point 5 that I got for my bday, but I really didn't know what else to do with it. I originally asked for it to make some hats, but I made one and hated it! So a scarf it is. This one only took less than one skein of both yarns, so know I have to think of something to make with the leftovers. I see myself making one of those freaking scrap wraps once I have enough of these leftovers. I'm not sure what I feel about that!

What about this scarf? I think it's one only it's knitter could love. I love it, I think it's ugly enough to be cute. The bf thinks it's weird, so maybe that makes me like it more muahaha. I like the difference between the thin mohair and the super thick and thin wool. I wanted the wool to thin out the mohair so it was skinny and fat and thick and thin. I also knit it so that it would curl in to help out my thinning out idea. If I decide to later, I might get a better pic of this since the ones the bf took were all weird and the ones I took cut off my head.

The pattern is super easy, I just randomly decided where I wanted the wool and the mohair. All you have to do is knit one row and then k1p1 in the next. This really helped the thick and thin style of Point 5 come out even more.

Posted by bitter purl at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

After two days of going to the gym, I feel pretty good. It helps that I have the bf as my gym buddy, I have no clue what I would do there without him. I would feel so awkward and out of place, I swear our gym is the one people who've been training for years switch to. Somehow the bf and I were allowed to join without being massively buff, there's probably some sort of fatass quota they have to meet each month. I just hang around the weights or the cardio machines, I never want to go near the freeweights area with the bf. It's all the cool kids with six packs looking at themselves in the mirror. Maybe in a few months I'll be confident enough to join in.

Enough boring you with gym stuff, on to knitting. I forgot to post a pic of my scarf...it's done! I'll write about it tomorrow, but now I have to find a new project to knit while watching 24. I'm thinking of a skinny scarf with that cashmere the bf got me or a leaf scarf from loop-d-loop.

Posted by bitter purl at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sorry I've been so quiet for the last few days, but I was busy driving back up north, spending some time with the bf on Monday, and finally resting all day yesterday. I've been plugging away at my knitting and all I have to do is dye some yarn and we are set to go. Hopefully I'll have some new FO pics in the coming days. Oh, if anyone is interested in three skeins of Mission Falls cotton let me know.

In other news, the bf and I joined a gym last night. Gasp!! Yep, I'm making the big move and finally getting off my butt again. It's a bad sign when you notice you haven't been wearing any of your jeans. I'm hoping to fit into them again in the next month or two. My big incentive is that once I loose some weight, I'm going to knit myself up a lelah and then I'm going to go to Loop to get some yarn for an awesome sweater I want to knit up (I'll show pics of it later!). I figure announcing it on here will definately keep me motivated, well you guys better keep me motivated! :P

Posted by bitter purl at 02:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by bitter purl at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

what is up with lion brand?

Posted by bitter purl at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

(Ignore purple outfit!)

Yes that's right, I finally finished it! Just a few minutes ago no less. I don't think it really took me three weeks to knit, I mean, I knitted it off and on ever since I started it on KIP Day.

It's a pretty easy knit (lace knitting, not knitted lace!) and I'm glad I got to use mission falls. I got to use a little kitchener stitch and do some sleeve seaming, woohoo! Other than that there isn't much to say about the knitting. Oh, I did find that when seaming the sleeves I had to go beyond my markers to make it look right.

What do I think? Not so sure yet. I had fun knitting it so that's a plus. But wearing it? Well, let's just say it's not quite my style. Apparently I have very short arms, I thought it was suppossed to be a three-quarter sleeve! I measured it and it's right, but it's big on me. Maybe after blocking it will look better. What?! I seamed it before blocking? oooohhh yeah! I know no rules! That and the pattern said to, so there.

ugh a post without a pic, so boring. I promise I'll post one later tonight.

edit: here they are. The more I look at them the more I hate this thing. It's so frumpy! At least mine doesn't have that weird pointy thing I've seen a bunch of people end up with on theirs. Nope, no pointy thing here. Just a lot of lumpiness around my neck and it sort of does a folding thing on the lower back part. Now that I tried it on again I realize how hot it feels (grant it, it is a million degrees and humid outside). Nope, not a good bias at all.

Posted by bitter purl at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)