One Geek to Craft Them All

I spent the weekend adding beads. Saturday was quite memorable for the beads and beer. We were at my usual Weds night beer and knitting bar, sitting at the windows with full sunlight streaming in, it was 5pm. We had just tried a new location for our writing group and post the meeting everyone wanted to know where one could get a beer.

 

I did quite well and around beer 4 or 5 I put the knitting away, because really there are limits. Also by that point the sun had gone down, and the light in the bar wasn’t the best to be stringing beads with though I have knit in said darkened bar. I had ten more rows left at that point, 5 of beads and that seemed a good stopping point.

 

Sunday night I parked myself on the couch and planned to bead my way to victory. And bead I did. I may have lost a few beads to the couch but for the most part I was binding off with an episode of Iron Chef. Apparently that is my late night project finishing TV. 

 

So come Monday night it was time to block my finished shawl. I dug out the blocking wires and mats, and pins.  Which reminded me I had planned to get more mats. Eh. I can make it work.

 

And we were done. It’s currently on the floor in my living room drying with the cat for company. And if any of you are wondering about my usual shawl blocking companion, she got her contribution in early.

 

So what have I gathered from this first adventure with beads?

• The crochet hook method is not so bad. Though I did have a couple moments of trial and error with too small hooks. They were so small that it was hard to hold on to the yarn. 
• My preferred method is bead onto hook, pick up knit stitch so yarn and hook form a right angle, and slide bead down, and I can do it full of beer.
• Have some extra beads, and then some more, as an old hat with beads from other projects I know just because most beads are x size doesn’t mean they all are perfectly so. Even if you don’t lose a single bead some won’t fit. I never actually counted my beads but I started with close to 1000 of the one I chose, so even with use in various projects I likely had 800. The pattern called for less than 300.
• I want to play more with beads, and maybe even try gasp pre-stringing
• I have woken up the shawl maker and want to make more. I mean I don’t have a green shawl, or some other colors, I’m sure.
• Now were does one wear a  their new fancy beaded shawl?

beads, Knitting 12in2013, adoro, beads, FOs, shawl

Last night instead of spinning I finished off chart three of Adoro.  Which means I am  one more chart, 12 more rows, from BEADS. I still don’t have a beading hook, but I do have wire. And lots of it. we’ll see how it goes.

 

It’s also been quite hard to get a picture of the shawl which is in Midnight in Manhattan in a light that truly shows off the color. I am hoping to reach beading by the weekend. Likely sitting in writer’s group with a little tub of beads and a wire, as we discuss the current piece.

That is the same yarn. The skein is much closer to the actual color.

 

beads, Knitting adoro, beads, shawl

And I’m back from Arizona, Phoenix to be exact. Mountains, Dry Heat, 3hr time difference! All very important things. I started Hitchhiker on the 6am flight from NY to Detroit.

Not a lot of progress (8 teeth), but really I am not built for getting  up at  3:45am when I went to bed after 11. The layover was so short in Detroit I had just enough time to find Starbucks and not get any. Sigh. I was even more annoyed when  I returned to my gate, as one of the last people to board, and saw I had missed a Caribou Coffee, because I had run from gate to bathroom and it was behind me.

Once I landed in Phoenix I had 16 teeth and about 45 minutes to kill as I waited for a co-workers flight to get in. I achieved my first Pumpkin spice latte of the season which is always fun.

Then began our first day on site, with a brief introduction, lunch then work.

 I had my trusty phone, and took a few shots of the landscape as I played navigator with my GPS app and looked in horror at he Weather Channel app. 105 degrees? Eep.  When we actually were outside, I blinked, doubled checked the app, and was more perplexed. It felt hot, yes, but 105 hot, not even close. Everyone’s answer.  Dry Heat, what you are missing is that 80% humidity. That thick cloying feeling that ups the temperature by 15 degrees, so your expected 90 is 105 or so.  Interesting.

 

I likely wouldn’t actually do well in  dry heat, as I don’t remember to drink water 75% of the time. But for a couple days it was a nice switch, and as everywhere I turned someone was offering me bottled water, I did not dry out much.  There may have been a bottle of sake, that proved I had dried out a bit.

Miracle of miracles I had a nonstop flight back to JFK.  So I worked my way up to 23 teeth so 55% or so done with the Hitchhiker shawl. I am making about 10 teeth per color change of my yarn so that’s fun.

We’ll see if that keeps up as I go along.

Knitting 42, hitchhiker, shawl, travel

Socks are cool.  I mentioned that I was giving away a prize at Rock + Purl’s Mystery sock KAL. ANd now with 3 incomplete sets of size 2 (2.75mm) needles I have enough to cast on both socks and have a few needles to spare.  Not that I would have had enough if I tried to do 4 needles per sock. I may have a wandering DPN problem.

Clue two, came out a bit early yesterday, but I haven’t made much progress there at all, and as the socks are next to my couch there will be no knitting on them today as I work on the Spidy Blanket on the bus.

I also in between weddings, and plague I finally got around to blocking my Nerd Wars Dissertation. Apollo Shawl Mark I.

Near the end it was odd working on a project that you know you are going to change immensely, but I did want to see what the edging would look like as an edging.  I have a couple ideas and a few vague notions I have to get through, not to mention to get another yellow yarn.

Knitting, WIP 12shawls2012, mysterykal, shawl, socks, WIP

It’s been a while since I updated what I have been up to in the wide world of crafting I live in.

Spinning: 

I’m hoping to get a  fingering yarn once I ply it with some green I have not yet started to spin.

I have also been pondering grabbing some black yarn and creating my first three ply yarn, with green, purple, and black. Seems my mind is on a Clown Prince of Crime. Or you know people who lose control and turn into giant green rage monsters (I’m not excited for the Avengers, not at all).

Crafting: 

I had someone ask me a question on etsy just as I started pondering the same. Why don’t I have any Tardis stitch markers?

And the answer to that is I do now! Also I am a bit in love at how well this picture came out. Sunlight in the still in progress craft office is a wonder.  And while I was working on those I pulled out these beads that once upon a time would have become a pandorica. Instead they became Pandora’s  box.

And of course. Knitting:

I finished my dissertation. At around 10pm on the 30th for Nerd Wars. I have about a dozen things I want to change, From yarn to pattern repeats. But I have the start of a pattern and I shall work from there.  And you know blocking… that does mean I have 2 complete shawls for 2012. 12 in 2012? Not sure yet.

The Spider-man baby blanket has grown a lot. And of course I’m carrying the blanket around in a Spiderman tote bag. What else would I carry it in?

I have joined in Rock & Purl’s sock KAL  and have donated a prize. A set of stitch markers. Now I just have to find more than 1 dpn in the right size and I will even be able to cast on.  Whistles.  Go join!

Also I have cast on Bigger on the Inside  Of course I have. A tardis shawl? Done. The fact that I had the right yarn in my stash is extra amusing. Though there is a chance I will run short as I made gloves from that yarn as well.

I should wander off to find all the other’s knitting this shawl as well, and see how badly I may run out of yarn. But, I had to start this and there was nothing to do but jump in and shout Geronimo!

beads, Knitting, Spinning baby, beads, blanket, Doctor Who, etsy, nerd wars, shawl, socks, spiderman, stitch markers, Tardis, WIPW, yarn

So I finally finished the Mystery Shawl now called the Belle Haven Shawl  and got it blocked right before I headed out  Sunday afternoon.

 

Isn’t it pretty? Though it does point out that I may need more blocking mats. To Knit Picks Batman!  The picture below shows a more true to color shot of the yarn, but I may have to see if I can find a time to run outside with it while the weather is in the 80s and take some bright sunny pictures, there are bursts of orange that are my favorite part of the yarn and aren’t really showing up.

This makes shawl 1 of 12 for 12 shawls in 2012, that are actually completed. I have three more on the needles… *whistles. I am nearly done with my Apollo shawl, mark I.

One of the biggest changes I want to make on that is a different yarn. There is nothing wrong with the yarn I am using but the lack of band complicates things.  I also think I want to start the lace sooner.

Since I cast off one project, I started a new one. That’s how it works right?

Spider-man baby blanket.

Knitting 12shawls2012, baby, FOs, lace, shawl, spiderman

I have a lot of projects in progress. And keep casting on new ones. I don’t usually have this problem but I am enjoying it, except for the weight of my purse with so much yarn in it. 1 and 1/4 gloves. Started these during the Superbowl and am plowing through the pattern.

Welig once again, I’m always surprised at how fast a knit this pattern is.  I have another set of these to work on. And a pair of gloves to go with these in gray.

Here are the Octopus mittens once again this time two at a time on circular needles. I have just gotten to the cuff work and haven’t had any time to work on it in a few days but yay progress.

 

The start of rock Island, I have to repeat the same 8 rows over seventy times, I think I am at repeat 14, I am sure once that is done I will move along on this shawl much more quickly. And if you know I do more than one repeat every time I picked it up.  Speaking of not picking something up.

Lothlorien. I think I did one repeat in the last two weeks. Sigh.  And poor Vivian looks like this, still. This picture is from October.  Fail.

I need to finish things, not start new ones but its hard to tell myself that, especially when I want to knit things, to wear in March. What is happening in March?

I am going to LONDON Weee! I still have no idea what I will be doing during the time but I will be there for about a week, with some work commitments when I land then free time the rest of the week.  More awesome my trip falls the same weekend as the Doctor Who convention.  Not sure if I will actually go, unless magic happens with the conversion rate or I have a surprise cash windfall but that is amazing timing. Sadly the Doctor Who Experience will be closed before I arrive.

So I need to find things to do, I went to London in 2008 so I did a lot of things then, London Eye, The Tower, Tate Modern, The National Gallery, Imperial War Museum, Platform 9 3/4,  that I likely won’t repeat. Though somehow I didn’t get to The British Museum which will be rectified. Any ideas? I’ll be poking my native friends, so I won’t totally be at loose ends but I’d like to have a list of sorts. Case in point I had a list of 20 or so attractions, grouped by location, on my first trip and would see how many I could get to on any given day.  Then repeat the next day.  It meant that I was free to as much or as little on a day and not feel crushing guilt.  And you know any secret Yarn and Fiber havens are things I would like to know.

 

Knitting, WIP gloves, london, shawl, travel, WIPW

So what should have been the last finished object of 2011 became the first finished object 2012.  My Taj shawl.

It hasn’t been a blocked yet but I finished it off last night at knitting. I haven’t gotten rid of my shawl bug yet and have a few more I will be making likely but before that I have picked up a pattern someone posted yesterday in my knitting feed.

Octopus Mittens  How could I not? I shall be making them in pink and purple below for a friend as I don’t actually wear mittens but have been wanting to try stranded mittens for some time.

Knitting 11 shawls 2011, 31posts, FOs, shawl

Looking back on the fact that I knit 11 shawls in little under 9 months I wanted  to look back on the things I accomplished/learned with each shawl. And what better time to do that then in the start of a new year.   As I sometimes  finished more than one shawl in one month, or would cast on a shawl then finish three others before going back to it,  I’ll just list shawls by  number. Shawls will link to their information on Ravelry.

Shawl 1: Batik 

This was the first shawl I started once i had learned about the challenge and I started with a bang.  My first bottom up shawl,  lace, and cables.

- Lifelines mean Never having to frog (seriously the second I put in some life lines, I did not need to frog ever again) – I see Murphy laughing at me  - Though I will still believe in life lines in chart switches.

- That little hole in knit picks needles is perfect for stringing your life line through and forgetting about it on a purl row (that said you should not actually forget about it, and find out it fell out 60 stitches ago).
- Discovering Kitman Figueora – who will make many more appearances  on this list.
- Just put in markers if you are casting on, there is no reason to count 200+ stitches 15 times. I will use the excuse that before this I hadn’t cast on more than 120 stitches or something….

 

Shawl 2: Deirdre

 

- This is how to use a shawl in winter.
- When colors are more important that pattern (K.I.S.S.)
- This may become a regular scarf alternative
- Oh worsted how I missed you already

Shawl 3:  Damson

  Two shawls in the same colorway? This is why Target (I had to hunt this down, I suppose that what happens when you live in a healthy neighborhood bubble) stocks Kool Aid. And even after soaking it in wash a few times the shawl will still have a lovely sweet smell that you don’t associate with Kool Aid.

- Dying is a fun way to get new yarn.
- You didn’t really think you would have enough yarn to do the edging when you used part of the skein to finish Batik did you? Really? Thought so. 
- You will make other people sniff your shawl The knitters will understand, the boyfriend’s of knitters will understand, the rest of the world, not so much.

Shawl 4: Peacock 

- Molly will always help with blocking. Accept it and move on. The fur adds a little special touch.
- Yes you will notice that mistake that has the right side off by one stitch. No you can’t frog, Molly is already helping you block. Accept it.
- You can accept that mistake only you will ever notice.
- Kitman Figueora is just a designer you will keep coming back to huh?

 

Shawl 5:  Mystery Medallion Shawl

  – Leaving yarn wound extremely tightly for 4 years is not a good idea. No Seriously, why did you do that.
-  A mystery can be a lot of fun
- You won’t need that second skein of yarn, but doing the Mystery shawl in a yarn you have a excess of takes out one stressor

Shawl 6:  Summer Shawlette 

- When you have followed the pattern perfectly then all of a sudden nothing works? Check the KAL before frogging 3 weeks of Clues
- No Seriously – someone else is likely having the same problem right now – don’t blame the bus
- Also you can read charts – do it!

Shawl 7: Rosa 

- Remember that thing you just said about reading charts? Um…
- You need more than a chart and two lines of text to get a shawl (To the Internet! It’s Ravelry my dear knitter.)
- You’ll make it work but it would have been a lot easier with more instructions
- Perhaps the next time you are knitting 2 shawls for a wedding in a few weeks, one shouldn’t be in lace so fine, it might as well be cobweb.
- You will not have anywhere large enough to block all this lace. Accept it.
- You will still have a nice shawl that is appreciated
- You just don’t like working in anything much lighter than fingering. Accept it and stop buying lace.
Shawl 8:  Gothic Moss Shawl 

- Hello Again Kitman it’s been a few shawls, I see you have come out with a couple new  patterns
- Really you don’t think 10 days to knit a shawl for a wedding while working full time is maybe pushing it? You like a challenge? Remember that when the men with white coats come.
- Oh and you have to learn how to graft? There’s no way that will go wrong.  (it didn’t, this time)
- Okay perhaps that part of you mind that’s all “Psh 10 Whole days? easy” is not as deranged as the other part that kept whispering ‘that mystery medallion shawl, matches the grey on your shoes.; you don’t have to do this’  would like you to believe.

Shawl 9: Damask

- After that wedding deadline you are invincible (you totally didn’t have to get up early to block the shawl before work to finish. You had plenty of time)
- Seriously just buy all of Kitman’s Patterns. There are no doubts at this point.
- Trust the pattern, sometimes you just can’t tell what is going on, at first
- So nupps are a thing

 

Shawl 10:  Trousseau

- Buy more blocking mats. Some people like having a couch they can sit on
-  Pies make for an interesting knit
- I don’t see you buying more mats.

Shawl 11: Blue Mystery 

- So nice you knit it twice
- See how much easier and faster that was when you don’t frog an entire shawl at the 80% mark?

 

So that was 11 Shawls in 2011. What did I learn from this overall?

- Sometimes I will run out of yarn
- Sometimes I will have an excess of yarn
- Some designers are my gold
- Bottom up shawls work better for me
- Life lines
- Cast on Stitch markers
- Not every mistake is your own
- I prefer written instructions to charts
- Sometimes insane determination pays off
-  Accept it (whatever “it” is this time)
- Molly is quite lucky she is cute and doesn’t actually kneed  blocking shawls

 

Knitting 11 shawls 2011, 31posts, blocking, FOs, lace, shawl, summary, yarn

Yesterday I blocked two shawls.  Shawls 10 and 11 of my 11 shawls in 2011 which brings another knitting adventure to an end.

Trousseau  came out really well. I blocked it and it dried pretty quickly, I know I had folded down the sofa  to block it around five and was able to unpin,  just before 9 so we could watch True Blood.

And shawl  11 was another  Summer Mystery shawl.

This one in a blue as opposed to the first I knit in an orange-ish color.  I forgot how fast a knit this was, likely because I tended to get a clue, ignore it, and knit it all in a rush on Thursday before the next clue.

 

So after knitting 11 shawls in 9 or so months (I started late January) what have I learned?

- I like shawls – there are way MORE that I want to make.
- Charts  do make sense, I can read them, but I will still default to written instructions because, I tend to triple guess myself when knitting from a chart, slowing myself down.
- I have something to do with all that sock yarn I bought with no intention of making socks (did I mention I tend to wear thigh highs and have a 35″ inseam?)

So now? A small shawl break, thought he next few have yarn and patterns chosen out. Right now I am working on my first sweater again.  Vivian  . I am knitting it in a red Eco Wool. Yes I cast on this project last year on Christmas day, but it got put aside and finally frogged as things went wrong.   I’m on row three, after knitting this morning on the bus and making notes, and so far none of the same Mistakes have returned to haunt me.  Crossing the cables at cable crossings is usually handy.  As is keeping left and right straight when you do remember to cross.

Knitting 11 shawls 2011, FOs, lace, shawl