Super Fabulous

Busy Busy

Last night I got distracted by my huge multivariate stats exam I have tonight, so I didn't have time to post. I am still trucking along with my Branching Out scarf. I didn't bring it with me to Montreal, since I am using aluminum needles and didn't want to chance TSA. It is just as well, because I really didn't have any time to knit with going to the conference and climbing mountains (well, one mountain at least). When I came home, my WoolGirl Sock Club kit was there. I haven't uploaded the pictures for the latest kit, but in an effort to have SOME eye candy in this post, take a peek at my first kit. Ain't it gorgeous? It is like Christmas morning when I get a WoolGirl package. The yarn is Zen Garden and it is the most luscious stuff you have ever felt!

Everyone Should Move to Montreal

Hi all. Just a quick note so you know that I am alive. :) I just spend 5 glorious days in Montreal (for a conference). I am in the midst of crazy finals, but I should have a few great pictures of my latest WoolGirl Sock Club kit tomorrow for you. It is the best kit yet!

Clean Knits Are Happy Knits

Not to toot my own horn, but I am quite proud of my current knitting status. I am in the process of washing (and blocking) all of my knitting goods. I just did my fourth load (I wash my goods in a basin for the sink, so these are small loads) and I just have one load of scarves and three store bought sweaters and I shall be done! It is super nice to have my knits clean folded nicely in drawers than dirty and in a canvas bag. As an added bonus, the desire to clean my knits, pushed me to finish up some projects and weave in the ends! I FINALLY finished Argosy and a couple of other projects. Like any annoying project, if I just sit and do it, the project only takes a few minutes. BTW, check out my very pretty and flowy Argosy, now that I have woven in the ends and blocked it within an inch of its life. Now that I see Argosy in all of its glory, I kind of want to knit another one. ::sigh:: Must...remember...how...painful...this...project...was...the...first...time!

I am still working on Branching Out. I have done 15 pattern repeats (in 1 week no less!), and have (according to the pattern mind you) 12 more repeats to go. I must admit that I am a bit skeptical about this, because the ball of yarn from which I am working is pretty small for 12 more repeats. The scarf is long enough now that I know I will be happy with just a 1 skein scarf (which is good, because I don't have another ball of this yarn), but I am a little surprised about the discrepancy between how much yarn I need and how much yarn the designer needed (yes, it is the same yarn brand and whatnot). Of course, this discrepancy between the knitter and the designer is quite common in the knitting world, but it is the first time it happened to me, so I am still getting over my naivete about patterns. ;)

On a personal note, I am off to Montreal next week for a conference! I am super excited to check out the knitting scene up north.

Look How Far We've Come

Every so often, I think back to how I felt about knitting when I first learned how to knit. I especially remember feeling frustrated when I had to frog an entire project, because I did not know how to rip or tink. For the past three years, I have let my Branching Out scarf sit in No Man's Land, because I got so annoyed at the pattern and my constant errors. I distinctly remember writing a post about how I was going to live with the errors in the scarf and chalk them up to "Design Elements." Ha! I am a perfectionist. What on earth made me think that I would believe my errors were design elements? Of course, as soon as I wrote that post, I stuffed this project in the back of my WIPs drawer.

The scarf stayed dormant until last Friday. I decided I needed to finish it and get on with my life. I figured that I needed to push through some of my current WIPs, so I could move on to other projects. (I recently got into spring cleaning mode and organized all of my planned projects - very daunting let me tell you. Thus, I realized that I need to finish some of my current projects so I have room to store new WIPs.) Anyway, I ripped back the entire project and recast on. I came to grips with my OCD and decided that I could not live with the "serious errors" of the beginning knitter that I was when I first tried this pattern. Oh my goodness. How do I describe this project today? It is easy. Granted, there is a bit of thinking, but it is far easier now that it was three years ago. I just am just plowing through it. Do I make mistakes? Yes, but I am able to tink back a row and fix the error quickly. This project is not frustrating like it was the first time I attempted to knit it. In four days, I finished half of the scarf! Plus, I can see myself knitting this scarf again in different yarns and colors, because it is a fun pattern. Craziness.

Here is hoping that this new love for a hated project vibe continues when I restart Odessa. ::shudder::

Success Is Mine!

I am so excited! I finally finished my Fish Net scarf! I had some friends over last night for a craft night and pushed through the pain and bound off last night. I really love the finished product. It is going to look fabulous with a black dress or another dark, plain color. My one concern is that I think if it not being held taut, the scarf twists on itself. If you ignored all the YOs and decreases, it is a stockinette scarf and therefore subject to twisting and curling. If only I could find a nice opera to which I could bring my scarf...

I have also started working on an old WIP that it needs to see the light of day. I frogged Branching Out and restarted the pattern. When I started this project years ago, I didn't read the instructions before I started and my interpretation of the pattern is a bit different. The scarf looked okay, but this time around it looks better. I am really enjoying knitting this scarf, because the pattern repeat is pretty quick (only 10 rows and 30ish live stitches), so I feel like I am accomplishing something. Of course this sense of accomplishment only comes when I pay attention to the pattern and remember which row I am on. I have a hard time reading my stitches, so many times I rip back to a row that I can recognize if I get mixed up with the pattern.

The Neverending Scarf

I am nothing if not stubborn! I have been working on this scarf for ten million years. Okay, that may not be exactly true. I think it has been 9,543 days 10 hours 14 minutes and 32 seconds. Don't get me wrong. I love the Fish Net pattern from Ocean Breezes: Scarves Inspired by the Sea. In fact, I love the entire book, and if you love scarf patterns, I highly recommend this book. The issue I am having is that no matter how much time I spend on this scarf, I still have a big old ball of yarn that needs to be knit up. ::sigh:: In all honesty, I would like the scarf to be a bit longer than it is, so I do like the fact I have enough yarn to get a nice long scarf, but, really, how much more time do need to put into this scarf? It is a simple two pattern stitch AND has lots of YOs. I should be using up yarn like crazy! Alas that is not the case. I guess I will continue to knit while waiting for therapy patients, while watching second years do clinic intakes, while waiting for lab meetings to begin, and while doing everything else. As much as I moan though, I do love how the scarf is turning out. Isn't it so pretty? I need to find a nice, neutral dress to make this scarf pop!

A Finished Object! Finally!

Long time no see. Things have been a bit crazy here, since I haven't had a computer and well my life kinda exploded with work. Note to the wise, do not try to do 2 classes, an advanced practicum, and study for qualifying exams in the same semester. Apparently it is a bad idea.

I am proud to say that I FINALLY finished a project this year. Yeah, it's April, but I have been busy (with my best and whine-iest voice). In my own defense I have started a ton of projects this semester, I just couldn't seem to finish them. What saved me from a world of UFOs? Coach Taylor and Friday Night Lights. OMGoodness. Have you seen this show? I just watched the first season and knit a hat (pattern: Butterfly Hat). The plots are compelling and believable. Plus, several of the male leads are not too hard on the eyes. ;)

Okay, enough tv! Let's see some knitting! Here is the lovely Butterfly Hat!