Four Things for a Thursday
Lately I've been thinking about a blog overhaul. We've been considering buying new domain names, and I could actually have an independent blog, all of which sounds cool and scary. With all this time on my hands, I thought, I could surely think of a name that was something clever, easy to remember, and representative of me and my interests. Well, I thought wrong. I am completely free of clever, snappy ideas. It's almost blissful, until I remember that it's really irritating. It's as if I don't know myself well enough to put my essence into a word or two. Then again, maybe it's a good thing that I can't fit into a word or two. Let me know if you think you could do it.
Know what else is really irritating? A room that looks like this:
That's the second bedroom in the apartment, which I tried to tackle today. I got about halfway through and suddenly ran out of closet space. What used to go in a huge walk-in closet now has to fit in about 4 feet of hanging space. The remainder of the closet is full of boxes, and there's nothing I can do about it. Anybody have any good storage solutions?
My blissful state means I've been knitting like crazy.
I am still trying like crazy to get a color-accurate photo of the Pomatomus socks, but I am coming to the conclusion that it's simply impossible.
These have been the bane of my existence for way longer than they should have been. Pomotomus got its introductory post way back in last September. I knit the first cuff on #2s, decided it was too big. Ripped. Remade the entire sock on #1s, which, of course, was too small. Waited until I could swap for #1.5 dpns, which aren't made by too many manufacturers. Ripped out the entire first sock and started over. Then when I finished it it mostly fit but the toe was too pointy. At that point I decided to give in and make the second sock, which was finished in line waiting for the iPhone; I ripped out the first toe and re-did it then, too. Finally they are done!
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote, 2 skeins.
Needles: #1.5 bamboo dpns (2.5mm)
Time to complete: 9 MONTHS
Mods: Stubby toes for my wide feet
Comments: This yarn is wonderful; beautiful jewel-like colors, but it's overdyed. It crocked (transferred by rubbing) all over my bamboo needles, which are sort of bluish now. And when I washed and blocked the socks, the water ran a gorgeous, brilliant electric blue. This seems to be fairly common for Brown Sheep yarns, so I wasn't surprised. But if you see me wandering around with blue feet, maybe these are the reason why.
On the other end of things, breaking a land speed record for finishing was the Baby Surprise Jacket. I love love love innovative patterns, and this has been one of my favorites for fun construction techniques. I think everyone who tries it and is careful to follow the directions feels the same way. I stumped a friend last night with the unfolded sweater when I asked him to fold it into the proper shape... it's such a neat feeling to transform the non-flat surface into something wearable (that is, if you're small). And I was so excited about it coming together that I neglected to take a photo of it unfolded.
Yarn: Hobby Kids, just a little over 3 skeins
Needles: #7 nylon circs
Time to complete: 3 days
Comments: Ok, so I messed up the buttonholes. That's okay. And it still needs buttons. That's okay too.
This wasn't my first BSJ; you can see that one (which, I have to admit, I like a little better) here. And there is a great shot of BSJ topography here.
Continuing in the realm of strange and wonderful construction techniques (huh, guess I must be feeling adventurous lately) are these.
Just like the ruffly thing turned into a baby sweater, this somehow is going to turn into a sock. Fabulous. I'm enjoying the Lorna's Laces and I think the instructions for the Sidewinders are exhaustively well written. Not looking forward to two giant grafts, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!
Last but not least, there is Argosy. I need a new scarf or wrap for the fall, and while I wasn't initially that impressed with the photos on the knitty pattern, seeing Argosy up close and personal changed my opinion.
Noro Silk Garden Lite is yummy, especially when you get it on discount from the yarn store where you were once employed as a graduation/going away gift! Thank you, Linda and Sara! I joined the KAL so I guess I should go introduce myself over there.
The marbled cupcakes are all gone (there were only twelve!). Next in the cupcake lineup looks like mojito cupcakes. Sounds good for summer, doesn't it?
Know what else is really irritating? A room that looks like this:
That's the second bedroom in the apartment, which I tried to tackle today. I got about halfway through and suddenly ran out of closet space. What used to go in a huge walk-in closet now has to fit in about 4 feet of hanging space. The remainder of the closet is full of boxes, and there's nothing I can do about it. Anybody have any good storage solutions?
My blissful state means I've been knitting like crazy.
I am still trying like crazy to get a color-accurate photo of the Pomatomus socks, but I am coming to the conclusion that it's simply impossible.
These have been the bane of my existence for way longer than they should have been. Pomotomus got its introductory post way back in last September. I knit the first cuff on #2s, decided it was too big. Ripped. Remade the entire sock on #1s, which, of course, was too small. Waited until I could swap for #1.5 dpns, which aren't made by too many manufacturers. Ripped out the entire first sock and started over. Then when I finished it it mostly fit but the toe was too pointy. At that point I decided to give in and make the second sock, which was finished in line waiting for the iPhone; I ripped out the first toe and re-did it then, too. Finally they are done!
Yarn: Brown Sheep Wildfoote, 2 skeins.
Needles: #1.5 bamboo dpns (2.5mm)
Time to complete: 9 MONTHS
Mods: Stubby toes for my wide feet
Comments: This yarn is wonderful; beautiful jewel-like colors, but it's overdyed. It crocked (transferred by rubbing) all over my bamboo needles, which are sort of bluish now. And when I washed and blocked the socks, the water ran a gorgeous, brilliant electric blue. This seems to be fairly common for Brown Sheep yarns, so I wasn't surprised. But if you see me wandering around with blue feet, maybe these are the reason why.
On the other end of things, breaking a land speed record for finishing was the Baby Surprise Jacket. I love love love innovative patterns, and this has been one of my favorites for fun construction techniques. I think everyone who tries it and is careful to follow the directions feels the same way. I stumped a friend last night with the unfolded sweater when I asked him to fold it into the proper shape... it's such a neat feeling to transform the non-flat surface into something wearable (that is, if you're small). And I was so excited about it coming together that I neglected to take a photo of it unfolded.
Yarn: Hobby Kids, just a little over 3 skeins
Needles: #7 nylon circs
Time to complete: 3 days
Comments: Ok, so I messed up the buttonholes. That's okay. And it still needs buttons. That's okay too.
This wasn't my first BSJ; you can see that one (which, I have to admit, I like a little better) here. And there is a great shot of BSJ topography here.
Continuing in the realm of strange and wonderful construction techniques (huh, guess I must be feeling adventurous lately) are these.
Just like the ruffly thing turned into a baby sweater, this somehow is going to turn into a sock. Fabulous. I'm enjoying the Lorna's Laces and I think the instructions for the Sidewinders are exhaustively well written. Not looking forward to two giant grafts, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!
Last but not least, there is Argosy. I need a new scarf or wrap for the fall, and while I wasn't initially that impressed with the photos on the knitty pattern, seeing Argosy up close and personal changed my opinion.
Noro Silk Garden Lite is yummy, especially when you get it on discount from the yarn store where you were once employed as a graduation/going away gift! Thank you, Linda and Sara! I joined the KAL so I guess I should go introduce myself over there.
The marbled cupcakes are all gone (there were only twelve!). Next in the cupcake lineup looks like mojito cupcakes. Sounds good for summer, doesn't it?
Comments
Good luck finding room for your things :) I still have boxes in the attic that never found a place in my home (and we moved in 4 years ago!!!). I hope you're more successful than I!
Sounds like you're happy in your writing. I like that :). The knitting looks nice too.
You also left the apartment real nice. Thank you.