Dear Kristen,
I'm in England! It's lovely and cool here with a light cloud cover. Perfect weather if you ask me. ;) On the flight over I started a scarf for my dad in camel coloured Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran. It's not knitting up quite as soft as I thought it might, but the sheen from the added silk content is lovely. I'm hoping to have it finished by the 31st so that I can give it to him as an early birthday present before he leaves the country... Yes, you did hear correctly, the entire family - both sides - will be together this Christmas. It's pure insanity!
I'm also still working away on Si's Christmas sweater. In a moment of inspiration I decided to buy him a leather jacket for Christmas so I'm not quite so pressed to get the sweater done before tomorrow. Good thing since I still have half the right front panel and two sleeves to complete. I'm very pleased with the Cambridge Jacket pattern. It's been a clear and easy knit!
I'm sure there's more to say, but since I'm without a way to upload photos I'll save it for later.
Have a happy holiday! :)
love,
Kate
24 December 2006
03 December 2006
Soooo Behind!
Oh Kate,
I am NEVER going to finish even half of my knitted presents! Good grief. I guess planning a heavy knitting load during a move to a new city and a job search is a bad idea. Who would have thought? ;) I'll finish the shawl for my aunt Pat and the socks for Dan's mom, but that's probably it. I have some pics of those things and stuff I've been working on, but of course I forgot my camera at home. *sigh* Soon there will be pics. Really. I swear. ;)
Your stuff looks fantastic! You've been knitting up a storm and I'm totally impressed with everything. :) I hope your sister likes those socks... It's hard to imagine someone not liking handknit socks, but they probably exist. I just bought some yarn to make Dan some boyfriend socks (months from now, of course, when I have all the rest of the knitting done!) - some lorna's laces (yum!) in baltic sea. I <3 sock knitting. Your piratey argyle ones are so cute! And I can't wait to see your holly shawl all finished - I bet it'll be gorgeous! What yarn are you using?
Ok, back to the job search. Wish me luck! I'm going to check out local churches now and see if anyone needs a secretary. Woo!
I miss you!
*big hugs and love*
kristen
I am NEVER going to finish even half of my knitted presents! Good grief. I guess planning a heavy knitting load during a move to a new city and a job search is a bad idea. Who would have thought? ;) I'll finish the shawl for my aunt Pat and the socks for Dan's mom, but that's probably it. I have some pics of those things and stuff I've been working on, but of course I forgot my camera at home. *sigh* Soon there will be pics. Really. I swear. ;)
Your stuff looks fantastic! You've been knitting up a storm and I'm totally impressed with everything. :) I hope your sister likes those socks... It's hard to imagine someone not liking handknit socks, but they probably exist. I just bought some yarn to make Dan some boyfriend socks (months from now, of course, when I have all the rest of the knitting done!) - some lorna's laces (yum!) in baltic sea. I <3 sock knitting. Your piratey argyle ones are so cute! And I can't wait to see your holly shawl all finished - I bet it'll be gorgeous! What yarn are you using?
Ok, back to the job search. Wish me luck! I'm going to check out local churches now and see if anyone needs a secretary. Woo!
I miss you!
*big hugs and love*
kristen
02 December 2006
Deal!
Dear Kristen,
I went down to my LYS seeking a few more skeins of the yarn I'm using for the Holly wrap when I came across a brand new copy of the 1996 ed. of Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting. It looks just like the one pictured below. Perfect condition and everything. The incredible deal is that they charged me cover price. $34.95 baby! There are copies on e-bay going for $85-$100!
I am so psyched. I never thought I'd be able to afford this book. It's a classic, full of wonderful information on the construction of Fair Isle knits. I know I will love having it in my collection and I can't believe I found a copy being sold at it's original price!
Now it's back to the salt mines and the holly wrap for me....
xo,
Kate
I went down to my LYS seeking a few more skeins of the yarn I'm using for the Holly wrap when I came across a brand new copy of the 1996 ed. of Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting. It looks just like the one pictured below. Perfect condition and everything. The incredible deal is that they charged me cover price. $34.95 baby! There are copies on e-bay going for $85-$100!
I am so psyched. I never thought I'd be able to afford this book. It's a classic, full of wonderful information on the construction of Fair Isle knits. I know I will love having it in my collection and I can't believe I found a copy being sold at it's original price!
Now it's back to the salt mines and the holly wrap for me....
xo,
Kate
01 December 2006
Hey K,
I started working on the shawl again last night and quickly decided that I didn't like what I had been planning. The color changes I envisioned are too symmetrical and I think I'm too far along to change anything. Bugger! I also only completed one row and quickly got bored. Not sure where that came from, it's been ages since a project bored me but I guess part of it was realizing that I am 8 skeins into a 14 skein project and it's only halfway done according to my measurements (I'm 104 cm into a 200cm project). After about 2 years of working on this on and off I can't even imagine ever finishing it. I suspect that it has at least another 2 years before it's done.
I also "finished" the spinning I was working on. After plying I was left with a VERY bulky 2 ply that was barely long enough to turn into a gauge swatch. It's going to take lOTS of practice if I ever expect to really get good at producing yarn. Luckily I have what has turned out to be a ton of fiber (Australian Top - super soft) to practice with. I'm thinking I need to join a spinning guild and get some expert training.
Hope your knitting (and your recent move) are both shaping up well.
xo
~Kate
I started working on the shawl again last night and quickly decided that I didn't like what I had been planning. The color changes I envisioned are too symmetrical and I think I'm too far along to change anything. Bugger! I also only completed one row and quickly got bored. Not sure where that came from, it's been ages since a project bored me but I guess part of it was realizing that I am 8 skeins into a 14 skein project and it's only halfway done according to my measurements (I'm 104 cm into a 200cm project). After about 2 years of working on this on and off I can't even imagine ever finishing it. I suspect that it has at least another 2 years before it's done.
I also "finished" the spinning I was working on. After plying I was left with a VERY bulky 2 ply that was barely long enough to turn into a gauge swatch. It's going to take lOTS of practice if I ever expect to really get good at producing yarn. Luckily I have what has turned out to be a ton of fiber (Australian Top - super soft) to practice with. I'm thinking I need to join a spinning guild and get some expert training.
Hope your knitting (and your recent move) are both shaping up well.
xo
~Kate
30 November 2006
Arrrg!
Kristen,
The pirate Arrrg-yles are done! I'm quite pleased with them although they are a little bigger than I expected...while knitting the first one I stopped short because I was worried that they migh not be large enough around the calf. Boy was I wrong!
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull
Needles: US 3 40in circular Addi Turbo
Pattern: A combination of the Moth Heaven Aarg-yle chart and the more detailed argyle pattern from a place I can not remember nor locate. It was a great pattern that I printed out in detail and barely used. (the best intentions, eh?)
When I finished last night Simon requested that I work on a project that is partway done so it's back to the saltmines and the Holly wrap from "Jo Sharp book 2" for me. (Picture of wrap below.)
The pattern in the book was incorrect so the original 6 skeins I purchased for the project was not nearly enough so at about 1/4 of the way through I siwched to a dark blue which will form the middle panel and eventually the fringe. I'm not quite as pleased with it as I would have been if it was all the same color but I think it will be beautiful in the end.
Happy Christmas knitting, friends!
~kate
The pirate Arrrg-yles are done! I'm quite pleased with them although they are a little bigger than I expected...while knitting the first one I stopped short because I was worried that they migh not be large enough around the calf. Boy was I wrong!
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull
Needles: US 3 40in circular Addi Turbo
Pattern: A combination of the Moth Heaven Aarg-yle chart and the more detailed argyle pattern from a place I can not remember nor locate. It was a great pattern that I printed out in detail and barely used. (the best intentions, eh?)
When I finished last night Simon requested that I work on a project that is partway done so it's back to the saltmines and the Holly wrap from "Jo Sharp book 2" for me. (Picture of wrap below.)
The pattern in the book was incorrect so the original 6 skeins I purchased for the project was not nearly enough so at about 1/4 of the way through I siwched to a dark blue which will form the middle panel and eventually the fringe. I'm not quite as pleased with it as I would have been if it was all the same color but I think it will be beautiful in the end. Happy Christmas knitting, friends!
~kate
20 November 2006
Kristen,
Knitting has been good even if I haven't really been keeping up with the posting. Simon finished getting our computers to network last week and since then I've been trying to free up space on my 5 year old iBook so that it will run a little better (and upload pictures to blogger). Last night I had a dream that I recieved a check for $8000 which I immediately used to purchase a new MacBook. I'm hoping that it's a sign (although it might just be a sign of Kate continuing to provide pulpit supply and performing weddings while setting aside the cashola for a new computer). Either way there shall be success, I'm sure of it!
In the interim, I finished the hideous sister socks. Since their completion I've been wracking my head for a way to ask her if she actually likes handkint socks since I happen to be in posession of 2 skeins of pink and yellow Lorna's Laces with her name on them. But now that I've finished sister socks the first I'm panicing that the reason we never see her wear the socks that my mom knit for her is that she actually doesn't like the slightly bulky feel of hand knits. Any thoughts? While you think enjoy the blinding brightness that is the Sister Socks the First...
Flower Basket Shawl from Fall IK '04
I also worked feverishly on a shawl for my mom. It's also a christmas present. Below is the in-progress shot that shows the yarn. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in the Aslan and Sand Ridge colorways. My mom is overwhelmed with yarn so she gave me two skeins of each colorway and I decided that since I thought I might use all of the 4 skeins of yarn that I would go ahead and alternate between the two. I think that it's a little too busy and I'm tempted to rip it out and start over since I didn't need more than 2 skeins total for the finished product. :/ But, Si says it's a keeper. He really likes the way that the colors accentuate the "v" shape of the shawl.
I added a repeat to make the shawl just a teeny bit bigger and it's currently waiting to be blocked. I've just been too lazy.
Maggie would like you to know that she continues to inspect my finished products. This one passes muster, but just barely... :P
What definately passes muster is when her "Mom" decides to learn how to spin. Oooh yarn, and dangling things and sheepy smelling fresh wool!
Friday I took a comp day (I've logged over 80 comp hours this semester) and headed out to the Mannings. www.the-mannings.com While there I met some enticingly enthusiastic spinners and purchased roving and a drop spindle (as well as 2095 yds of Jagger Spun and some Dale Baby Ull for "We Be Pirates" mittens, but then who's counting?). Anywho, the spinning is sucking at the moment but I figure that with a determined effort I can learn to spin with the best of 'em. Besides, my suckage is another person's luxury slubby yarn. If nothing else I'm really happy with my choice of beginning on a drop spindle. This one isn't the nicest, but I figure if I can learn how to use it well before Maryland Sheep and Wool then while I am there I can pick up something much nicer and have a better idea of what I need. :)
My new project is the Arrrg-yle socks which I had intended to knit in July. No time like the present, eh? I've got one mostly done and a second started. Alas matey, they will be taken the piss out o' me, while I try to sew up their blasted seam and add me sigil. (Which is to say that the finishing is extensive so it might be awhile before they are completed.)
Kate
Knitting has been good even if I haven't really been keeping up with the posting. Simon finished getting our computers to network last week and since then I've been trying to free up space on my 5 year old iBook so that it will run a little better (and upload pictures to blogger). Last night I had a dream that I recieved a check for $8000 which I immediately used to purchase a new MacBook. I'm hoping that it's a sign (although it might just be a sign of Kate continuing to provide pulpit supply and performing weddings while setting aside the cashola for a new computer). Either way there shall be success, I'm sure of it!
In the interim, I finished the hideous sister socks. Since their completion I've been wracking my head for a way to ask her if she actually likes handkint socks since I happen to be in posession of 2 skeins of pink and yellow Lorna's Laces with her name on them. But now that I've finished sister socks the first I'm panicing that the reason we never see her wear the socks that my mom knit for her is that she actually doesn't like the slightly bulky feel of hand knits. Any thoughts? While you think enjoy the blinding brightness that is the Sister Socks the First...
Flower Basket Shawl from Fall IK '04
I also worked feverishly on a shawl for my mom. It's also a christmas present. Below is the in-progress shot that shows the yarn. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in the Aslan and Sand Ridge colorways. My mom is overwhelmed with yarn so she gave me two skeins of each colorway and I decided that since I thought I might use all of the 4 skeins of yarn that I would go ahead and alternate between the two. I think that it's a little too busy and I'm tempted to rip it out and start over since I didn't need more than 2 skeins total for the finished product. :/ But, Si says it's a keeper. He really likes the way that the colors accentuate the "v" shape of the shawl.
I added a repeat to make the shawl just a teeny bit bigger and it's currently waiting to be blocked. I've just been too lazy.
Maggie would like you to know that she continues to inspect my finished products. This one passes muster, but just barely... :P
What definately passes muster is when her "Mom" decides to learn how to spin. Oooh yarn, and dangling things and sheepy smelling fresh wool!
Friday I took a comp day (I've logged over 80 comp hours this semester) and headed out to the Mannings. www.the-mannings.com While there I met some enticingly enthusiastic spinners and purchased roving and a drop spindle (as well as 2095 yds of Jagger Spun and some Dale Baby Ull for "We Be Pirates" mittens, but then who's counting?). Anywho, the spinning is sucking at the moment but I figure that with a determined effort I can learn to spin with the best of 'em. Besides, my suckage is another person's luxury slubby yarn. If nothing else I'm really happy with my choice of beginning on a drop spindle. This one isn't the nicest, but I figure if I can learn how to use it well before Maryland Sheep and Wool then while I am there I can pick up something much nicer and have a better idea of what I need. :)My new project is the Arrrg-yle socks which I had intended to knit in July. No time like the present, eh? I've got one mostly done and a second started. Alas matey, they will be taken the piss out o' me, while I try to sew up their blasted seam and add me sigil. (Which is to say that the finishing is extensive so it might be awhile before they are completed.)
Kate
11 November 2006
Dream Diary
Dear Kristen,
Last night I dreamed that I was purchasing a drop spindle so that I could make my own laceweight yarn... This fiber infatuation, it's a sickness, a disease I tell you! I think about the fiber at work, I worship the fiber at my LYS, I DREAM about the cursed fiber! If anything keeps me out of heaven it will be that whole thing about trying not to covet another's wool silk blend...
On an unrelated side note, I watched "The End of Suburbia" on Thursday. One of the best things about working at an academic institution is that I can go to see a movie and it counts as "work"! It's a fantastic documentary. You should really try to see it if you can. Simon and I have been talking ever since about the issues it raised for us. Peak oil is a scary concept and could be an even scarier reality. I mean, what if they can't ship me my fiber?!?!?!?
Kate
Last night I dreamed that I was purchasing a drop spindle so that I could make my own laceweight yarn... This fiber infatuation, it's a sickness, a disease I tell you! I think about the fiber at work, I worship the fiber at my LYS, I DREAM about the cursed fiber! If anything keeps me out of heaven it will be that whole thing about trying not to covet another's wool silk blend...
On an unrelated side note, I watched "The End of Suburbia" on Thursday. One of the best things about working at an academic institution is that I can go to see a movie and it counts as "work"! It's a fantastic documentary. You should really try to see it if you can. Simon and I have been talking ever since about the issues it raised for us. Peak oil is a scary concept and could be an even scarier reality. I mean, what if they can't ship me my fiber?!?!?!?
Kate
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