The L Word
L for looooser. As used in: "I've been a knitting looooser this week."
You wouldn't believe me from my lack of posting, but I've been knitting A LOT this week. Really. I have. I've been knitting, but I haven't knitted anything. Big difference. I think I might have angered the knitting gods this week, they stripped me of any good luck I had in me. Why would they do this to me? Maybe because instead of diligently working on my sockpal socks and casting on for the second one, I tried and tried to get some selfish knitting in. I have no idea why all of a sudden I just needed to cast on for something, ANYTHING, else. Sometimes I would pass the time by staring at my stash, as if somehow enlightenment would strike me. It didn't.
I did finish the first sock in the sockpal marathon:
For your enjoyment, here are some of my knitting failures and one success (for now):
I swatched for Diamonique last weekend and was so excited when I got gauge right away. In all my glory I forgot to check how much yarn is in the stash. I'm about 200 yards short and I don't have any other yarns in the stash that are the right weight. Thwarted!
Undetered to start something new, I decided to cast on for bpt with no gauge swatch or anything. I had swatched this yarn before, what was I worried about? Do I even need to tell you what happened? Yep, I had swatched for it AND I got the same gauge while knitting this, BUT it's not the same as the pattern gauge. For some reason I had remembered this yarn knitting at 5 spi, though I'm not sure where I got that number from (I could guess where) because this knits at 4 spi. Sure, I could swatch again on bigger needles. I could. The only thing stopping me is that increase row. I nearly died trying to figure out what the pattern wanted me to do. I need to rip this out and come up with my own pattern. I'm thinking a zippered jacket with a high collar. When will that happen? Don't know.
I started to think that maybe what I needed was a palette cleanser. Kerrie had sent me a partial skein of her cashmere sock yarn, in pink no less. The yarn is sooo soft, I constantly stop to pet it. I would be further along if it wasn't for the gripping fear that I won't have enough yarn to knit two ankle socks (with having two feet and all) and the mindnumbingness of straight stockinette. Do I keep going? Or do I knit something else with this yarn? Like what? I think I have just a little over 200 yards and I'm knitting with 2 mm's.
The one winner, which was so close to being a looooser. This is Sauniell's cabled hat pattern. (pdf). I orignially started it on Saturday afternoon, but the first time I twisted the caston, the second time I fell asleep while knitting (I was really tired yesterday) and the third time is what you see. Finally! I love everything about this hat so far. I'm using a lone skein of Malabrigo (sealing wax) that I had in my stash, it works as my first April knit for project spectrum (it's orangey I swear), and I get my cable fix in a quick knit. I'll try to post a detail shot tomorrow because I love the cables. With my luck though I may have to find a kid to give it to.
Comments
L is for lovely! I drool everytime I see that Sundara sock yarn! =)
Posted by: Angela | April 3, 2006 12:59 AM
Good grief, Charlie Brown. It's been one of those weeks! I'm so glad you found one project that will be a winner no matter what; that Malabrigo is scrumptious.
Posted by: goodkarma | April 3, 2006 01:26 AM
Hate knitting days like those.You just reminded me that I really want to knit bpt. Damn.
Posted by: Jessica | April 3, 2006 03:09 AM
everything looks so lovely, though! you should have enough cashmere for anklets, at least. yum.
Posted by: kris | April 3, 2006 08:24 AM
So much going at once! I can't evendecide on my next project and you've got, like, five. Can I take one off your hands? Haha...
Posted by: geeyouknit | April 3, 2006 09:27 AM
I so know how you feel - I have times where I swatch and swatch and swatch and NOTHING works!!! I get so frustrated! But then there are days (and they will come soon) where the knitting gods seem to smile down and things fall into place....I will do a knitting sacrifice for you...
Posted by: Stacey | April 3, 2006 09:42 AM
you could try making little ankle socks with that lovely pink yarn.. maybe.
Posted by: gleek | April 3, 2006 10:04 AM
Wow. I'm glad you persevered and didn't just give up knitting entirely!
Posted by: Chris | April 3, 2006 10:16 AM
oops I guess I forgot to say that I was trying to knit ankle socks, but I'm still fearful
Posted by: yahaira | April 3, 2006 10:18 AM
The hat looks orange to me....I love cabled hats, so I'm looking forward to the detail shot. :)
Posted by: brooke | April 3, 2006 10:37 AM
That was my last week as well! So frustrating. The pal sock looks lurvely though.
Posted by: Amy | April 3, 2006 10:49 AM
At least your one finished sock looks great. Sorry to hear you're having one of those kind of weeks. Boring as it may be, I think straight stockinette is worth it if, in the end, you'll have beautiful beautiful cashmere to put on your feet.
Posted by: Cara | April 3, 2006 11:13 AM
the sock looks GREAT. I really like the color. I hate the coming-up-short problem, i hope you find an alternative.
Posted by: xmasberry | April 3, 2006 11:51 AM
200 yards is enough for some "footies" (6-8 rnds of rib before starting the heel) but not ankle socks.
Posted by: Saun | April 3, 2006 12:01 PM
And there I thought you were going to blog about that Lesbian show on Showcase.
Posted by: Eve | April 3, 2006 12:44 PM
Boy, the knitting muses were having their way with you last week. Straight stockinette wouldn't be horrible with such lovely yarn. Anklets might be nice.
Posted by: Jennifer | April 3, 2006 02:32 PM
I am thinkin you might have enough yarn to knit ankle socks, I have done it with under 200 yds, but I guess it all depends on the foot size!:)
Posted by: Joelene | April 3, 2006 02:49 PM
I've knitted anklets (or footies) with less yarn, but I have small feet! What I usually do when I don't know how far my yarn will get me is knit just past the heel, like you would do for footies, and then put everything on a thread. Then knit the second one, do the same. seperate the left over in 2 equal balls and knit as far as you get with every left over! If you have any left over that is, otherwise you just cast off.Hope they'll turn out ok! :D
Posted by: Emily | April 3, 2006 06:11 PM
I luv your pal's sock. It looks great. I want to pet the cashmere sock yarn, too. Pretty please?
Posted by: Oiyi | April 3, 2006 10:05 PM