I hate socks.

I really do. I was having the worst issues with the Jaywalkers, which are frankly not very difficult. I don't know why. I think it was the knitting pixies. They made me drop stitches, and forget what in the world I was doing. Now this would've been bad enough, but I tried on the sock to make sure it would fit, and I was having issues getting it over my heel. I know, that's a common problem with Jaywalkers, because there isn't much stretch in the pattern, but this was just another thing. And then on top of that, there was some funky pooling and striping that I wasn't too fond of, so I just ripped it out. All of it. I decided that this sock was just not meant to be. I think I'll let the yarn rest for a while, and then make it into a little shawlette for my mom. I think it will be some time before I'm able to try a sock again. I'll stick with my mittens, thank you. Speaking of mittens, I still haven't cast on for the second. I know, I know, bad idea. Once it's cast on, there's no excuse not to knit it. But after that last mind blowing stretch of colorowork, I think my brain needs rest. So really, I'm in between projects. I finished my Noro Scarf one night while staying up really late watching Frasier. Have I mentioned that I love Frasier?? It's really funny. And I want to live in Seattle, so that just makes it all the better. :D The only bad part is, Frasier comes on when I should be asleep, but I don't record it because I don't watch it any other time.... such a dilemna! So I solve it by staying up late and drinking caffeine. Wonderful solution I know... Solves everything except for that part where I should take care of myself... oh but another thing on the shawlette! I think I'll make it in garter stitch. I don't really know why, but lately, garter stitch just seems ridiculously cute to me!! I love it!! Just do a little triangle in sock yarn... I think it would look nice. ^-^ I was thinking about doing Springtime Bandit, but it's not sock weight, but I might use my malabrigo for one... I don't understand my recent obsession with shawlettes, I don't think I would ever really wear one, but they're so cute!! I'm blaming Ysolda Teague. Ishbel calls my name.... :D

What is it with me?

Apparently I like restarting my blog right before I leave. This weekend, I'm going to my grandparent's house and I won't be back until Sunday. But oh well! I'll take pictures and post them.... maybe.... :D I mentioned the Jaywalkers in my last post, and they're coming along really well!! I still haven't turned the heel, but I'm probably four inches into the leg on the first sock, and I'm going to make them shorter than the pattern calls for, so I think I'll start the heel at five inches.

This was my sock two days ago. Sorry for the bad picture, I took it with my phone...

And this was my sock today!! Amazing what two days of actual knitting will do. :D But this is a short post because I'm about ready for lunch!!

I'm back...

I'm still here. Really, I am. And I'm still knitting. I kind of gave up on my blog, at first because I didn't really have the time, but I also felt futile, letting my words out with no one to read them. But today, I checked into my flickr account, and there was a comment from crochetnhugs asking me to start blogging again. And well, okay. :D since I last posted, I have knit three hats, started a scarf, ripped out my Jaywalker and recast it on in the larger size, survived finals, and started my job! I knit two of the chunky knit beanies by a friend to knit with (a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com), a Norwegian Totoro Mitten (minus the thumb) and the Amanda Hat by Gina House from Sleepy Eyes Knitting (sleepyeyesknitting.blogspot.com). Also, I'm going on a road trip this summer with my family, so I've started planning my knitting already. Yes, I have made lists and researched the items, and yes, I know I'm a dork. I'm very proud of that. I'm considering the Monk's Travel Satchel by Vicki Square, which I have fallen head over heels for. One of the points in the description is that it has lots of pockets, which just makes me very happy. I like having a pocket for my phone, my ipod, stitchmarkers and other notions, scissors, and I just generally like having pockets. :D Another thing!! I have completely fallen in love with just about everything that Ysolda Teague has designed. I think I may try one of her sweaters on the road trip too.... Yay my first sweater!!! I made a little cotton raglan shrug during last summer's car trip, but I want to make a real sweater this time. Maybe a February Lady Sweater... As you can tell, I'm having problems deciding. I think I'm also going to work on a scarf during this trip, and surprisingly, I can't decide what pattern to use for that either. I'm thinking the September Scarf by Karen Konop or the Traveler's Scarf by Kimberley Cunningham Varland. They're both really beautiful patterns, but I think I'm leaning more towards the Traveler's Scarf, considering I'm going to be knitting it on a road trip while we're travelling and all... Yes I'm a cheeseball like that. :D but it really is a beautiful pattern, and I think having a scarf that is slightly different won't hurt me... the September Scarf is definitely beautiful though, so I think I'll knit it sometime in the near future. The only problem is I have so many beautiful cabled scarves in my favorites!! Oh, woe is me, there are too many good patterns to choose from. :D
So, my life outside knitting. I know, it's shocking, but it does exist. :D I work as a secretary, answering phones and filing and such. Sadly, they don't have a lot of work for me to do while I answer the phones. Happily, that gives me time to read my blogs and get some knitting done. The Totoro Mittens are my first fair isle project, and I am very happy with how they are turning out. I used size 3 needles instead of size 4, but I also used thicker yarn. However, either my row guage was really off, or I have unusually long hands, or maybe both, but I ended up adding in an extra section of colorwork to make them long enough. I looked up the japanese characters for rain and dust, because one side had Totoro standing in the rain, and the other side had the dust balls. I charted them out and put it in right before the decreases. Thankfully, it worked, and the first mitten fits perfectly! However, after spending several hours trying to chart out the characters and messing with the spacing until it looked right, and pushing through until the end of the hand, apparently I've run out of steam to finish the thumb. Which is probably all of ten rounds. It's a little bit pathetic. So I'm ignoring it for a little while and working on my Jaywalker!! Actually, I started out not really wanting to work on my sock, but as I started kntting it, I realized I was having fun! So life is good. :D Wow, this has been a very long blog post.... well, I have been gone for a while. If I happen upon any other projects that I've forgotten to mention, I'll mention them in my next post! (Yes, that means there will be a next post!!) So, I'll be posting again soon! Maybe with actual pictures next time... :D