WIP Wednesday

What do you mean it's Thursday? Last time I checked...Dang it! Somehow, I missed a day again. I hate it when that happens. That whole holiday thing always throws me off.

But in theory since the work week didn't start until Tuesday and today is only the third day of the week, therefore technically hump day we will call this Thursday "Wednesday" in order to honor that middle day. *say that all in one breath* Fuzzy logic much? I love it.

So my WIPs look like this. Hold the phone. I said WIPS! Plural! What happened to that monogamy boat? I still have it. I cast on for embossed leaves one late night at work while I was dying for something to do. For all the burning passion I have for this sock pattern it's about time I cast them on.


Sadly, my passion for these socks is but a wee match lite compared to the bonfire of desire in my heart for Rusted Root. Although, it looks about the same as you saw last time, it is actually many stitches increased and 15 rows deeper. I'm afraid this blog is about to get very boring. I might have to rename this blog "I love my Rusted Root." That or go into warp speed so I have something else to show you.

Tonight, I will knit my little fingers off just to have something to so you two days from now on Friday, which in actuality is Saturday. Goodness, I hope we gain a day somewhere this year or else I'll never be back on track.

Rusted Root Deuce

"Sk@nky" was not exactly the look I was going for when I cast this on. Nor was "looks painted onto my skin." I am not Pl@yboy model and never go for that exact look. However, this version of Rusted Root seems to be going for just that.


So what was has now become this:


Which in turn is now this:
I'm not completely upset because I kind of saw this coming and I get to fix all those mistakes from the last one. Like EZ says, "Oh look! More of my favorite hobby!" and I love this pattern, so fun to knit. I think I have been morphed into a top down sweater girl, which ironically I was avoiding because I don't like the look of raglan seams. HA!

First I am starting with a provisional crocheted cast on, so that when I need to pick up stitched for my neckline, they are already in place with no weird seams. This makes me very happy.

Two, I can fix all the m1 stitches where I didn't twist the bottom stitch to close up the hole from making a new stitch. I only did this like three times on the last one, but unfortunately all three of those stitches where on the front and it was bugging the hell out of me. Now no more holes! Presto!

Three, I made use of my swift. I could have just used my ball winder to take apart my sweater, but playing with the new swift was an added bonus. I even got the hubby involved. He really like watching the sweater unravel.

Much more progress soon.

Rust Root

It's done, I finished it at 1:06 am on Sunday night/Monday morning. Rust Root:


This would have been a really quick knit if I hadn't screwed up on the first go round. (must swatch. must swatch.) Y'all have read that drama, so I won't continue with it.

STATS
Patten: Rusted Root from Zephyr Style
Yarn: 3 Skiens of Cotton Fleece in colorway Victorian Pink. I have probably about 1/3 skien left from my third skien.
Needles: I used a US size 6 needle from the neckline down. The bottom ribbing and the sleeve ribbing used a US size 5 needle instead of a recommended US size 4. In retrospect, I probably should have used a size 7 on the body to get the correct gauge (5 stitches per inch). I was getting a full 6 stitches on the size 6s. Which would totally explain for the ripping and reknitting I had to do. (must swatch. must swatch.)
Mods: I knit this shirt to a little longer than 15 inches from underarm to bottom edge. This is something I plan on wearing to work with some hip hugger pants and there can be no belly at work. As cute as the undershirt sticking out is in all the ravelry pics, that probably won't fly either.

I'm not knitting

As you can see if haven't been up to much knitting since casting off Rusted Root. In fact, I have been up to absolutely no knitting at all, which as you can all imagine doesn't make for very good blogger fodder.

But today between paying the water bill and picking up my allergy drugs (plural. I am that medicated.) I stumbled upon this little joy:


A bunny in a sweater. And not just any sweater, a sweater which he has burrowed his neck into in order to feel it's softness on his face. I imagine this sweater was knit by his Bunny Mom especially for him. I mean they made his sweater out of velvet on the cover of this book! It has to be hand knit to receive all that attention.

Now, before you get all excited the book has absolutely nothing to do with knitting or his sweater, but I can admit freely to all of you that I may have purchased this book for the reasonable price of 3.20 (including tax) because of that red sweater. Or rather because of an adorable bunny in what I imagine to be a hand knit sweater.

I knew you'd understand.

Quickie

There is progress on the Rusted Root, but I have [really clever] post that isn't ready yet. So instead I will give you the cutest picture ever of Maya, the living model for Dr. Suess' book "Oh, the places your will go."

O-M-G

Has anybody perused the sneak peek for the Spring 08 IK? I generally like one or two patterns, but not enough to really buy a subscription you know? I'm kinda dizzy from how much this issue has me in the musthaves, if you know what I mean. And I think you do, Jen.

I can so see myself in the sylph cardigan, because well, slyph is a nice way of saying I am shaped like a coat hanger (read: no boobs) and I could use some flouncy ruffle to give me some curves.

The Alieta Shell would be the perfect thing to wear at work while I wage in a temperature war with the menopausal woman I share a thermostat with. I think she is trying to make me the first ever human popsicle. What I really want to say is, "Woman, the gage is in my office. Go suck on a ice cube!" but since I am not the human popsicle an am actually the human-weenie-who-avoids-confrontation-at-work -and-instead-is just-snipey I just lock my office door so she can't come in. I digress...

It's quite possibly the first time a knitted skirt has caught my eye, but the Linen Trumpet Skirt has me at full attention. Once again, the totally feminine-ness (?) of this design might make it worthwhile to knit with linen yarn. BTW, that model kinda reminds me of Julianne Moore and she's definitely in my list of women to imitate clothes and all.

And although it's not for me, I would love to knit up A Good Stripe Dress on day. Nevermind that it would take me about a million years of knitting and a lifetime of movie watching to get it done.

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There has been progress on the Rusted Root front. I watch A Midsummer's Nights Dream and lets just say a girl can forget how long she has been knitting when there is naked Christian Bale chest on the screen. I added 4 inches...

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I am also in the works of planning my very own birthday bash which will involve a road trip to see friends, yarn and good alcohol. My birthday is a month away, but we might as well get things started right. Leave me a comment about what really makes a birthday celebrated by midnight on Friday. I will pick a winner a skien of sock yarn (enough for a pair) by WhiteWillow in colorway Campfire Girl.

It's about time I had a contest!

If you give a girl a pair of needles

If you give a girl a pair of needles...

She'll want to knit.

When she begins to knit, she makes a Garter Stitch Something.

Halfway through the Garter Stitch Something, she'll decide she wants to knit something better.

And while she's at it she wants to document her progress.

So she'll start her very own knitting blog.

She'll need photos for said blog.

So, she'll get a digital camera.

When that digital camera breaks, she'll con work into buying a new one.

Then she'll take a picture of her most recent knit, 'Rusted Root' to post it to the blog.

So, she'll go to the bathroom to use the mirror and realize that the counter's dirty.

So, she'll clean the counter.

She'll move all the items from the counters into the sinks so that she can clean under them and they won't be in the photo.

Then she'll realize that she forgot to put on her knit.

But her knit isn't on needles big enough to try on, so she'll have to put it on some spare yarn.

As she's putting it on the spare yarn, she'll realize that she needs to rearrange the needle so that the spare stitches are in back.

So she'll stand hunched over the bathroom counter knitting just one more row.

After she's got the needles and stitches all arranged, she'll realize that she needs a different shirt on to try on her knit.

So, she'll go get a top, but while she's at it she figures that she'll just change completely out of her work clothes.

As she's putting on her photo shoot top and is looking for her sweat pants, she'll realize that she forgot to take the photo.

So she'll stand pantsless in the bathroom taking a photo of her knit.


When she'll decide she needs to have her needles...

One sock does not pair make?

This has got to be the biggest sock I have ever knitted.

I have always thought my cankles with their 60 stitches were "chunky" to put it politely, and my husbands thin-no lithe ankles were so attractive. Weh-ell, this new 96 stitches really puts my ankles in to perspective. 96 stitches is a serious circumference. It's not that his calves are toned to perfection.* Its that his foot is 5 times the size of a normal person. His monster feet just make is ankle appear to be shapely. That Coke can is placed in the frame for perspective. HUGE!

The next sock shows his "high score" and the worth of each alien. The design has more negative space where I need more black yarn to fill in. I'm beginning doubts that the 440 yds that came in the skein will be enough for both his feet. It's gonna be a nail-biter until the very end.

But looky what came in the mail today...


What you can't guess what comes in a squishy package like this? Here's another hint...


I did not order this yarn, so I can only guess that this is an anonymous yarn gift. No, no, no. It must be Christmas Yarn! I requested the pattern and yarn to knit up a Rusted Root and the yarn to finish up this baby blankie. Ohhh, which one is it? I am having a really hard time not diving right into the package as the Hubby is out of town. He won't really know if I snuggled with the yarn for a few days prior to Christmas, right?

*Actually, he does have really nice legs. I'd post a picture if he'd let me.