Clapotis revived! February 28, 2005

So.. after much deliberation, i decided to frog Clapotis.. the lace weight yarn was going to take me forever, and it was sticking like crazy to the needles…. So I went shopping, as I really want to wear this wrap to my brother in laws wedding in May, with this gorgeous black strapless dress. I couldn’t afford the Lion and Lamb it calls for, so I was on the hunt for something more… um.. cheap. I ended up buying some Berocco Cotton Twist. Note to self… that yarn sucks. It shreds and splits easily… and was way to heavy for this project. So… i returned it.. and looked through my stash and decided to pair the orginal yarn with some fingering weight wool that was given to me by a friend (nothing like free fiber!)Turns out.. that was an excellent decision.

Clapotis 

Here’s a closeup of the color. I think it will look great with my dress.. and of course my blue shoes!

close up of clap 

So.. then I realized that i may have to frog the front and back of Mariah… I was knitting it in the smallest size.. 33 inch bust. And i realized like a dork that they don’t mean your chest.. they mean your bust (which is sadly only about 35). So the 33 will probably be too small. My decision was to frog the front and knit it in the 37 size… you need more inches upfront, right???

In the midst of all the frogging, I decided to knit up some clogs for my niece.. they turned out fab.. just need to be felted now. Then I decided to knit some socks. I know.. I’m failing at the WIP challenge! This is the Broadripple pattern.. knit in cascade fixation. I think they are way too big for me… so I’ll try and shrink them in hot water, but think they will end up a gift for someone with more ample ankles than I. (read: less boney)

sock… too big! 

I should finish the second sock tonight, then I’ll frog Mariah and get back to that.. oh after I knit a quick purse for my other niece who was visiting this weekend. She really liked one of my felted purses and wants one for her birthday. So.. I guess I’ll do that tonight. Yes.. I’m a fiend.

Finished!! February 21, 2005

So I finished the Silky Wool baby blanket! It’s about 36inches in diameter… plenty big enough for a baby, right? it’s so soft, and so lovely. I can’t wait to make a buritto baby in it!! (as R said)I used the baby blanket pattern in The Knitting Goddess It still needs to be blocked, and have the ends woven in.. but I consider it a FO.

 

 

So… I’m thinking of getting started on my niece Kelcie’s felted clogs…. but I’d also like to knit a bit on Mariah…

I love freshly dyed wool.. February 19, 2005

I love freshly dyed wool.. all wound and ready for knitting.

freshly dyed wool 

I also dyed the soaker for my sweet friend Shannon.. who just gave birth to a long awaited baby, Molly….

Molly’s soaker front 

You can see, embroidery isn’t my strong point.

finished soaker… it really looks better in real life. really…. 

my dance card is full.. but hopefully I’ll have room soon! February 16, 2005

I’ve been inspired by Jodi to complete some projects before I start a new one. I don’t think I can finish them all….. (see, i’m already weak) so I’m going to alter the challenge a little bit… I won’t start anything new until at least one thing is done. (kind of a WIP trade) yes, I know this makes me seem weak and spineless… but I only have 5 projects on the needles.
1. My Mariah…. I’ve got a ways to go.. just started the back, so it’s doubtful she will be first.
2. Clapotis … also… long way to go. But i’m gonna keep on keeping on.
3. Blue and red soaker ( also have to buy buttons for soaker wrap and embroider it) This should be a quick finish, as I just dyed more blue yarn and it’s almost finished.
4. Pink Shawl for R’s cousin Cherie. I need to order more yarn… I’m out and my LYS doesn’t carry this color, although they will order it for me.
5. Silky wool baby blanket. I stopped this, cause it was killing me. Not because it’s hard, or boring, or anything.. but because I wanted it to be a blanket for my own baby, and infertility was breaking my heart, and my will to knit it. But… maybe picking it back up will shift the energy a bit. Hmmmm maybe I’ll pick it up tomorrow.

Ok.. the first thing I’ll knit when I have room on my dance card are another pair of felted clogs (yes.. I am willing to knit more felted clogs! Even after the felted clog disaster of 2004!!) for my niece Kelcie. I knit her a capelet for her birthday in November, but it was way to small, so she asked for clogs instead.. and I JUST got around to dyeing the yarn this weekend.

So I’m off to the races! I’m not setting a date to have them all finished… but I’d like to have Clapotis done by may when for my brother in law’s wedding. I’d also need the pink shawl done then too, as Cherie will be there. The silky wool blanket.. well it needs to be done before I give birth ….so who knows when that will be! And Mariah well.. folks she’ll be done when she’s ready.

Off to sleep and dream of FO’s

A friend in need…. February 16, 2005

A very dear friend of mine is struggling with infertility. A and her husband have been trying to concieve for over 3 years… and now… they are finally heading toward the pie in the sky… IVF. However, IVF is an expensive, invasive proceedure. SInce I too am dealing with infertility issues, this hits close to home. So… I’m starting a fund raising effort for her and her husband so that they may hopefully achieve their dream of having a baby….. So if you’re interested…click here

I saved them! February 15, 2005

So…. this morning, I decided to rip out that extra 2 inches of Mariah. Sigh.. It was scary, but A gave me a genius idea… stitch through the row you want to rip to, and you won’t lose any stitches… GENIUS!!!
so here is where they sit today…. at an even 20 inches … and they match! The flash really messes up the glorious red of this sweater… I’ll take an outside pix later.

sleeves… finished… finally! 
In other news… We’re remodeling our downstairs bathroom. And of course Elwood wants to help. Here he is asking R to let him help…

Elwood helps tile the bathroom while telling R a secret. 

Here he is showing of their handiwork… my men are soooo talented!

Elwood shows off his tiling work. He’s a genius! 

After that he needed to rest.. so he hung out in his fave spot. You can see his FABULOUS pink vest. He’s sooooo fabulous!

Elwood hangs out. 

Read ahead little grasshopper! February 14, 2005

Note to self. READ AHEAD ON FUTURE PATTERNS. If I had read ahead, and understood how Mariah all came together… I wouldn’t have to rip out 2 inches of sleeves tomorrow morning. I thought “19 inches! I have freaking monkey arms, that won’t fit me!” till I knit 22 inches. and then read ahead to find out that i should have stopped at 20. Blah. I’ll post a pix tomorrow of the sleeves when I’m all done rip rip riping. But then they will be finished and I can start the back!
Or.. work on the Clap!

For you, Lisa! February 11, 2005

Clapotis

and Shedir

Hold me back!! February 10, 2005

I’m developing a bad habit… I desperately want to start a project… get going on it, then I start something else. I haven’t given up on Mariah.. don’t worry. But… I have this….

Mystical Creations yarn… delicious! 
This is soooo delicious! A over at Knit Spiral and I split the order from Mystical Creations Yarns. She’s making a gorgeous shawl… and I’ve decided I want to make Clapotis, and Shedir. She is being a pill, and tells me I shouldn’t start till I finish something else. *mean girl!* So I’m finishing another soaker that needs to be dyed… then I’ll work on Mariah a bit longer…. then I’m starting something new!! I’m a bad bad girl. But you still love me, right?

baby sweater… done! February 7, 2005

So… I finally just decided to make up a pattern, by using a couple that I had found on the net. It’s so very very cute. I’m not sure about the ribbon closure… the ribbon may need to be longer. I’m going to make a matching hat… Should it be in the round? or A square hat with tassels??

baby sweater. sigh…