Saturday, February 16, 2008
February fun
I can't believe February is already half over, but that means we are closer to spring and may eventually leave this gray world of slush. On Wednesday it snowed, then rained heavily, so there were several inches of standing water underneath the snow and my socks were wet all day. Wet socks are just hateful, right up there with too-tight ponytails and toothaches.
But! Today is sunny (cold, but I'll take it) and Alex and I are going up to Boston to visit our friend Heather. Should be a fun little trip--we both have to work on Monday so it's just going to be an over-nighter. Last weekend I was in Baltimore visiting another friend, Stef, and the weather was also cold but sunny. I really like Charm City; Stef is cute and likes puzzles, the food is great, and the city has an intriguing weirdness to it. This may be because I think of John Waters movies whenever I'm there. I've also been reading a lot of Laura Lippman mysteries and she offers a pretty stark look at what makes Baltimore great and not-so-great.
So, knitting. I've been sewing the blanket squares together, which is slow and not very portable, because it's so large and heavy. So, in addition to the Noro socks, I'm also working on Snicket Socks.
This pattern has a cabled diamond pattern that was pretty slow going until I used Grumperina's cabling without a cable needle tutorial, which saves me a ton of time. The pattern is by a German author, and I think the heel must be a German or European style. I've not seen it before.
It's a short row heel with "double stitches," which are difficult to explain . . . well, there are these instructions from Lana Grossa. They call this heel a "Jojo heel." Ha! Did you guys grow up eating jojo potatoes, which are basically huge fried potato wedges, kind of like steak fries? I did not have them in my homeland (Fargo, ND) but they seemed to be prominent in eastern Minnesota/western Wisconsin. Anyhoo, I will call these heels the Jojo Potato Heel, in honor of the potato goodness.
Have a great weekend! I'm off to Boston, all Johnny-Tremain style.
But! Today is sunny (cold, but I'll take it) and Alex and I are going up to Boston to visit our friend Heather. Should be a fun little trip--we both have to work on Monday so it's just going to be an over-nighter. Last weekend I was in Baltimore visiting another friend, Stef, and the weather was also cold but sunny. I really like Charm City; Stef is cute and likes puzzles, the food is great, and the city has an intriguing weirdness to it. This may be because I think of John Waters movies whenever I'm there. I've also been reading a lot of Laura Lippman mysteries and she offers a pretty stark look at what makes Baltimore great and not-so-great.
So, knitting. I've been sewing the blanket squares together, which is slow and not very portable, because it's so large and heavy. So, in addition to the Noro socks, I'm also working on Snicket Socks.
This pattern has a cabled diamond pattern that was pretty slow going until I used Grumperina's cabling without a cable needle tutorial, which saves me a ton of time. The pattern is by a German author, and I think the heel must be a German or European style. I've not seen it before.
It's a short row heel with "double stitches," which are difficult to explain . . . well, there are these instructions from Lana Grossa. They call this heel a "Jojo heel." Ha! Did you guys grow up eating jojo potatoes, which are basically huge fried potato wedges, kind of like steak fries? I did not have them in my homeland (Fargo, ND) but they seemed to be prominent in eastern Minnesota/western Wisconsin. Anyhoo, I will call these heels the Jojo Potato Heel, in honor of the potato goodness.Have a great weekend! I'm off to Boston, all Johnny-Tremain style.
Labels: Baltimore, Boston, socks, travel
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Hump day
First: can you believe the news about Heath Ledger? I actually gasped in the car listening to NPR last night. It sounds like maybe it was just a really tragic accident. So sad. I guess we'll always have Brokeback. Also, apparently, a really terrifying depiction of the Joker in next year's Batman movie.
Second: What do you think of the term "time consumptive"? I've heard this used twice in the past few weeks: once at a conference and once on a conference call. In both cases, it was used where one might say "time consuming." Time consumptive reminds me of Nicole Kidman coughing blood at the end of Moulin Rouge, which in turn reminds me of Ewan McGregor. Yay! Except for the consumption disease part. Anyway, I haven't found a reference to "time consumptive" in dictionaries or grammar guides, so I would guess it's only been used recently. Have you spotted this term? Seems to me people just love to throw on suffixes when they can: problematize, methodology, fabulosity. 'Tis moronosity!
To the task at hand: here is another pair of socks I've been working on:
These are made with the intriguing new Noro Kureyon sock yarn, which the Beckers gave me for Christmas. It's totally cool single ply yarn that goes thick and thin, and constantly varies its color. Here's a closeup of the heel where you can see the yarn's variations.
The pattern is just a standard issue sock with a faux cable every six stitches. Faux cables are super easy: just knit as though you were going to knit 2 together, but instead of dropping the stitches off your righthand needle, knit into the first stitch, then take them off the right needle. It really does look like a cable.
Well, I don't want to be too time consumptive, so ta ta!
Second: What do you think of the term "time consumptive"? I've heard this used twice in the past few weeks: once at a conference and once on a conference call. In both cases, it was used where one might say "time consuming." Time consumptive reminds me of Nicole Kidman coughing blood at the end of Moulin Rouge, which in turn reminds me of Ewan McGregor. Yay! Except for the consumption disease part. Anyway, I haven't found a reference to "time consumptive" in dictionaries or grammar guides, so I would guess it's only been used recently. Have you spotted this term? Seems to me people just love to throw on suffixes when they can: problematize, methodology, fabulosity. 'Tis moronosity!
To the task at hand: here is another pair of socks I've been working on:
These are made with the intriguing new Noro Kureyon sock yarn, which the Beckers gave me for Christmas. It's totally cool single ply yarn that goes thick and thin, and constantly varies its color. Here's a closeup of the heel where you can see the yarn's variations.
The pattern is just a standard issue sock with a faux cable every six stitches. Faux cables are super easy: just knit as though you were going to knit 2 together, but instead of dropping the stitches off your righthand needle, knit into the first stitch, then take them off the right needle. It really does look like a cable.Well, I don't want to be too time consumptive, so ta ta!
Labels: diseases, movies, socks
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monkey monkey
The first of several pairs of socks-in-progress I'll be revealing (exciting!) over the next week. These are Monkey Socks in Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Peacock. I added an extra pattern repeat to the leg, but otherwise they were knitted as written.
Love the colorway. These are for my ma.
This past weekend Mr. C and I had a very nice visit from my college roommate Emily and our friend Noah (who was also my roommate for a summer, come to think), both from New York. We mostly just hung out, watched reruns of ANTM on MTV and Babysitters Club videos (I could explain, but I choose not to.). I love old friends and falling into the exact same patterns comfortable laziness that were enjoyed ten years earlier.
Also I learned that Sparky is a little minx who loves boys.
Awww, suddenly she's so nice! No wonder she was an unwed teenage mother when we met her.
Speaking of unwed teenage mothers, have you seen Juno? It's fantastic. It's so nice to see a movie with a young teen/woman who has a personality (not just "friendly"), and is interested in things IN ADDITION to boys. Also, the Minnesota license plates really warmed my heart.
Love the colorway. These are for my ma.
This past weekend Mr. C and I had a very nice visit from my college roommate Emily and our friend Noah (who was also my roommate for a summer, come to think), both from New York. We mostly just hung out, watched reruns of ANTM on MTV and Babysitters Club videos (I could explain, but I choose not to.). I love old friends and falling into the exact same patterns comfortable laziness that were enjoyed ten years earlier.
Also I learned that Sparky is a little minx who loves boys.
Awww, suddenly she's so nice! No wonder she was an unwed teenage mother when we met her.Speaking of unwed teenage mothers, have you seen Juno? It's fantastic. It's so nice to see a movie with a young teen/woman who has a personality (not just "friendly"), and is interested in things IN ADDITION to boys. Also, the Minnesota license plates really warmed my heart.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Making progress
I finished my Mama-E cruise socks--a delightful memento five months after the cruise.
The pattern is Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn Clark from Interweave Knits' Favorite Socks.
The colorway is Seasick, an exclusive from Mama-E's C-eye-ber Fiber for the SeaSocks Cruise. I seem to have a ton left over--I could have made knee socks with the amount of yarn left over.
I really liked making these socks but it is kind of a relief to be done. The yarn got hopelessly tangled in June and added a "knot un-tying" challenge to each row.
In other news, I have started recording everything I eat in an online log (available only to me, thank the lord). It is striking how much the act of having to write down what you eat changes the what you eat. It is deeply humiliating to write: "106 candy corns, 13 ritz crackers, chunk gouda cheese, half a red pepper, and 4 glasses wine" for dinner, so I end up (honestly!) eating more normal, less toxic food. This is not a diet, but an attempt to exercise self-control and good judgement. I did accidentally eat both cheesecake and ice cream yesterday afternoon, but overall I have been v.g. about eating sanely. I'm also listening to Bridget Jones's Diary on cassette from the library. V.v.g.
The pattern is Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn Clark from Interweave Knits' Favorite Socks.
The colorway is Seasick, an exclusive from Mama-E's C-eye-ber Fiber for the SeaSocks Cruise. I seem to have a ton left over--I could have made knee socks with the amount of yarn left over.
I really liked making these socks but it is kind of a relief to be done. The yarn got hopelessly tangled in June and added a "knot un-tying" challenge to each row.
In other news, I have started recording everything I eat in an online log (available only to me, thank the lord). It is striking how much the act of having to write down what you eat changes the what you eat. It is deeply humiliating to write: "106 candy corns, 13 ritz crackers, chunk gouda cheese, half a red pepper, and 4 glasses wine" for dinner, so I end up (honestly!) eating more normal, less toxic food. This is not a diet, but an attempt to exercise self-control and good judgement. I did accidentally eat both cheesecake and ice cream yesterday afternoon, but overall I have been v.g. about eating sanely. I'm also listening to Bridget Jones's Diary on cassette from the library. V.v.g.
Labels: cruise, Sea Socks, self-improvement, socks
Saturday, September 22, 2007
knitting progress
This past weekend, Mr. Cupcakes was in Austin
When we moved in, we had lots of plans for how to organize our new place. But somehow, it's over two months later and we still have boxes in every room. It's starting to make me feel antsy and unsettled. So I will tried to get as much organized as possible, even if it meant stashing things in the basement or attic....just as long as its out of sight for day-to-day living. I made a lot of progress on the first floor. This weekend, the second floor is going to get its makeover.
Through all the events of summer, I have been knitting. I just finished some socks for Mr. C.
I love this yarn. It's Mega Boots Stretch, a name that always makes me giggle and pronounce it as though I were Arnold Schwartzenegger. It makes a very attractive sock with enough color variation to keep it interesting. This is just a vanilla sock pattern (68 stitches) with a four stitch cable running down the leg and foot. I like it! Next time I might put a purl stitch on either side of the cable to make it pop, but it's good as a subtle pattern, too.
I've also been working on the Mystery Stole.
Lace is so mysterious and futzy and beautiful, I must occasionally stop, stretch out the lace, and admire the pattern. There are beads in there too--it's so cool to know how to add them now! It's a technique that doesn't require you to string them on at the beginning.
I don't have much to report about
Toilet phone!
Labels: lace, phone, socks, yarn
Monday, June 11, 2007
moving on up
The Cupcakes family has had an exciting week. We chanced upon a listing for a house (a duplex, really) for rent, looked at it, applied to rent it, and were accepted! It is only about 5 minutes from where we currently live, but it has:
(We're on the left.)
That hasn't stopped me from knitting, of course. Socks using Mamma-E's Seasick colorway from the cruise.
Mouse is a great (big) model. The pattern is Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn A. Clark, originally in the Winter 2004 Interweave Knits, but also in Favorite Socks. You need to get this book immediately.
I also got some beautiful yarn from the Sweet Sheep, a merino/tencel blend in Poppy (now out of stock).
Mouse was a huge fan, immediately. I might add that it was about 90 degrees that day.
But just look at that shine! Mouse, you have good taste.
- 3 bedrooms (instead of 2)
- 1.5 bathrooms (instead of 1), including a bathtub! I miss taking long baths and reading junky magazines. Your body gets clean while your mind becomes clogged with celebrity gossip. A lovely dichotomy.
- a basement, attic, and garage (instead of none)
- a yard (instead of containers on the porch)
- normal human neighbors (instead of our "troubled" neighbors)
(We're on the left.)That hasn't stopped me from knitting, of course. Socks using Mamma-E's Seasick colorway from the cruise.
Mouse is a great (big) model. The pattern is Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn A. Clark, originally in the Winter 2004 Interweave Knits, but also in Favorite Socks. You need to get this book immediately.I also got some beautiful yarn from the Sweet Sheep, a merino/tencel blend in Poppy (now out of stock).
Mouse was a huge fan, immediately. I might add that it was about 90 degrees that day.
But just look at that shine! Mouse, you have good taste.Labels: house, Mouse, socks, yarn
Saturday, March 03, 2007
That's hot
It was 55 degrees here on Saturday, which is amazing considering it was snowing earlier this week. Lest we get big hot heads, the temperature will steadily drop this week to a high of like, 12 degrees on Tuesday. But! I am going to Florida where the sun is hot and the bikinis are small. Perhaps by the time I get back it will be springtime in Connecticut (HAHAHAHAAAAA). I had a terrible anxiety dream about United Airlines last night where I kept running and running around an airport building trying to get on my flight. Also, there was a carnival at the airport, which made it even more terrifying.
Down to business: I finished my sweater, and I think it's the best finishing job I've ever done. It only took 12 years to get seams down! (I'm not going to talk about how I broke one of the seams on my way home from work and had to repair it.)
I think it might be a good sign that people didn't say, "Did you make that sweater?" at work. I think "Did you make that sweater?" is code for "Did you really think you could leave the house like that?"
Anyhoo, I like it a lot, although the braided trim is completely unlike the trim shown in the photograph. Whazzah? It looks fine, but it kind of bugs me. There is not a correction on their website. Perhaps I'll write, because the decreases on one side were incorrect (I think) as well.
I also finished these socks in GGH Marathon.
Very denimy, no? I don't remember where I got this yarn but it's been discontinued, so I would guess I bought it quite a while ago. Gives me a bit of stash guilt. They're for me, but my next pair is for my cruise sock buddy, and I learned a new cast-on this weekend. It only took 12 years to learn a second way to cast on!
The knitting cruise is less than two months away. I can't wait.
P.S. Blogger issues may have dropped Susie C. from your RSS reader, so make sure you're subscribed, kay?
Down to business: I finished my sweater, and I think it's the best finishing job I've ever done. It only took 12 years to get seams down! (I'm not going to talk about how I broke one of the seams on my way home from work and had to repair it.)
I think it might be a good sign that people didn't say, "Did you make that sweater?" at work. I think "Did you make that sweater?" is code for "Did you really think you could leave the house like that?"
Anyhoo, I like it a lot, although the braided trim is completely unlike the trim shown in the photograph. Whazzah? It looks fine, but it kind of bugs me. There is not a correction on their website. Perhaps I'll write, because the decreases on one side were incorrect (I think) as well.
I also finished these socks in GGH Marathon.
Very denimy, no? I don't remember where I got this yarn but it's been discontinued, so I would guess I bought it quite a while ago. Gives me a bit of stash guilt. They're for me, but my next pair is for my cruise sock buddy, and I learned a new cast-on this weekend. It only took 12 years to learn a second way to cast on!
The knitting cruise is less than two months away. I can't wait.
P.S. Blogger issues may have dropped Susie C. from your RSS reader, so make sure you're subscribed, kay?
Labels: gray v-neck sweater, socks
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Aruba, Jamaica, ya know I wanna take ya.
I made some new socks for Mr. Cupcakes, and he is pleasing me to no end by wearing them often.
These were made with some lovely, manly yarn that my mom gave me for Christmas. I hit a minor snag when I seemed to be having an alarmingly small amount of yarn left after turning the heel. A closer look at the label revealed that this was a slightly heavier yarn than typical sock yarn, and therefore had fewer yards. Luckily, the awesome Borealis Yarns (you must click; cat in fair isle to be seen) in St. Paul has a superb selection of yarn and I found a gray that matched the pattern.
This pair of socks is special to me not only because they are for my darling domestic partner (we're notarized!) but because it was the first pair I made without a pattern. It's in my blood now, people. And that's lucky, because in just two and a half months, I set sail on a knitting cruise with some of my best gal pals! It sails up the Pacific coast at the end of April. Is it weird that I'm planning my outfits now? I am dreaming of wearing floaty skirts and handknit tops and beautiful espadrilles. Obviously, I need to re-read Babysitters On Board (Super Special #1) to become acquainted with the cruise lifestyle. This "familiarizing technique" stems from my 1989 repeated re-readings of Logan Likes Mary Anne! (#10) which had a detailed account of the first day of junior high. Despite the fantasy of warm palm trees and Kokomo-like breeziness, it will surely be 39 degrees and rainy and I'll have to huddle with a bath towel around me to stay warm.
I don't care. It's going to be my personal Love Boat. To celebrate my love of socks and sock knitters.
These were made with some lovely, manly yarn that my mom gave me for Christmas. I hit a minor snag when I seemed to be having an alarmingly small amount of yarn left after turning the heel. A closer look at the label revealed that this was a slightly heavier yarn than typical sock yarn, and therefore had fewer yards. Luckily, the awesome Borealis Yarns (you must click; cat in fair isle to be seen) in St. Paul has a superb selection of yarn and I found a gray that matched the pattern.
This pair of socks is special to me not only because they are for my darling domestic partner (we're notarized!) but because it was the first pair I made without a pattern. It's in my blood now, people. And that's lucky, because in just two and a half months, I set sail on a knitting cruise with some of my best gal pals! It sails up the Pacific coast at the end of April. Is it weird that I'm planning my outfits now? I am dreaming of wearing floaty skirts and handknit tops and beautiful espadrilles. Obviously, I need to re-read Babysitters On Board (Super Special #1) to become acquainted with the cruise lifestyle. This "familiarizing technique" stems from my 1989 repeated re-readings of Logan Likes Mary Anne! (#10) which had a detailed account of the first day of junior high. Despite the fantasy of warm palm trees and Kokomo-like breeziness, it will surely be 39 degrees and rainy and I'll have to huddle with a bath towel around me to stay warm.
I don't care. It's going to be my personal Love Boat. To celebrate my love of socks and sock knitters.
