It's all facebook's fault

Okay, so I am blaming facebook for part of the not blogging enough; my cousin got me to join and now I am part of the FAA (Facebook Addict Anonymous) on facebook. J/K. But there is such a thing as FAA.

So what have I don't since? Lots of Koolhaas:

The Cascade 220 superwash in "grey" is done:


The malabrigo worsted in "American Beauty" is done:


The Classic Elite Portland Tweed was half way through before Christmas:

Good thing this one didn't need to be finished before Christmas because the recipient is away until after the new years.

Here are the hats together:


One more koolhaas to go and it's going at the pace of snail because I am just so sick of it already. After this one is finished, no koolhaas for a while until I recover...

These are the first baby socks I made for Orion and I think I will make more.

It's just not right that I have so much sock yarn and I still go out and buy him socks.

But more baby socks will have wait until after another gift knitting is done for my good friend's new baby girl!

Many knittings but no blogging

I have been a busy little bee but haven't been able to blog because I got a new computer and everything is different so I am still trying to figure things out. But here it goes for now.

Peony Shetland Triangle shawl

Here's a close up of the shawl


The whole shawl. You can see where the skein changed because the color is slightly different.


This is my baby making a funny face posing for me :-)


Firebird Clapotis

This is at the end of increase, before the "even" row.


I am about half way through now, but putting it aside for christmas knitting


Sunrise Circle Jacket

This was done before the Thanksgiving trip and not a christmas present. In fact, nobody will really ever get an adult sweater that's not related to me or share my last name. Sleeves are a bit longer but I can live with that


My second Pomatomus sock out of MamaBlue seasilk yarn.


love it, love it! I have to confess: it was gonna be a present but I like the finished object too much and couldn't let it go.

My favorite model showing the Yarn Harlot's Unoriginal Hat:

I love the smirk on his face. This is going to charity.

Series of Koolhaas hats. First up is The Fiber Company's Road to China:


Side view:


Top view as the model tries to run away (tired of modeling)


Immediately caste on for the second one right after. Using Sundara's worsted weight yarn (color mossy)

(my model is napping so didn't get a picture of him wearing it)

Working on the third one out of cascade 220 worsted in silvery color:


Okay, I am gonna breath now and go learn how to back up the computer.

It's too hot to knit sweaters

It's been too hot to knit sweater so I've been knitting socks like mad. I forgot how quick they are. Here's the finished Merlot Monkey Sock. It's BMFA's STR lightweight's rare gems color way I picked up from Stitches West. I thought Monkey might be a good idea for it. What do you think?


And what's so neat is the color matches Jasmin's hair color! That's her posing with the sock on the WWKIP day.



The Baudelaire was finished before the Merlot Monkey got started. Here's a finished photo.



I actually started another sock (pomatomus) before the monkey was finished. The color is so just so intense I needed to take a break from it. I think the pattern and the yarn color is good together, no?



On a non knitting related note: We went to the DeYoung Museum up in SF for father's day. It was free and the new Chihuly exhibit was opening that weekend too. Thanks to our friend Renee and Stephen's family we were able to go to the cool things that happen around the bay area. Baby seems to like it too!

My first adult size sweater!

I really like the sweater. I love the color, I like the pattern and everything. It would have fit better if I do the next size up. But I was afraid of running out of yarn since the size I did called for 1430 yards and I only had 1400 yards. It turns out I could have done the next size up because I had one whole skein untouched! [ravelry link]




Earth Day Sock
I finished the Earth Day socks! I casted it on Earth Day last year and after finishing the first one, I didn't touch it for almost a year. I think it's having to tackle the Japanese short row that was making me procrastinate. In the end that was a good reason because I did a bad job with the Japanese short row on the second sock. They turn out a little longer for me so I might make them a gift. [ravlery link]


Gentleman's Fancy Sock
First of the Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Sock with Schaefer Anne yarn is done. I hope the color is not too complicated for the pattern. [ravelry link]


Retro-Style Shrug
Retro Shrug from Lace Style with Malabrigo in Stonechat color way. Two skeins of Malabrigo worsted was just enough (cutting pretty close) for the medium. I think large would fit me better though. That means we'll need more then two skeins for sure (with lots of left over). [ravelry link]

My model learned a new skill!

Very excited about finishing Icarus. Maybe I can wear it to my brother's wedding if I don't (and most likely won't) finish the shawl I want to make for the occasion.

And my model learned a new skill - Sitting up all by himself! How long would he continue to let mommy drape these lacy stuff over him without complaining? We'll see.


Here's a shot of the Swallawtail shawl and the Icarus. They look pretty together. Now if I can only figure a way to rotate this picture....

Finally finished the Pomatomus. I know I like like a few years late on this because everybody's on to Monkey now. I really like the twisted stitches that makes this pattern really show. Thanks Cookie.

Knitting and Watching Comedy

Knitting and watching comedy don't work well together! We watched Fun with Dick and Jane the other night. I didn't think the movie was going to be that funny because the trailer seem a bit lame. The ending was pretty okay but most of the movie was really funny. Funny to the point that I couldn't keep a steady hand knitting! At some points I even put my knitting down and so I can hold my stomach and laugh.

Anyway, I have half of a FO. First sock of the Orchid Sock done. I cast this on when we were visiting my brother at Budapest (I remember knitting at the airport) and when we came back, I just stopped. I didn't knit much toward later part of the pregnancy. Lately I am just so sick of having so many WIP so I decided to work on it.



Yes, it's a Koigu again. But it's the first Koigu I ever got! I'll probably work on the second sock much much later. I want to finish some other WIP first. Well, mostly not have so many things on the needles.

This sock also uses the Japanese Short Row! Mel first show us the Japanese Short Row at one of the meetups. I really like the way it looks and try to learn it myself. I don't remember how I closed the short row for this sock but I got stuck when I had to do it again for another sock. Mel was nice enough to help me get unstuck.

Plus there's my brother's wedding coming up. I wish I had more time to make the Frost Flower Shawl from A Gathering of Lace for the big occasion. I got this nice silk yarn from Sundara waiting for it. I don't think I can finish before his wedding though.. Not with having to take care of baby O.

Maybe Icurus shawl would be nice enough. I am on the last repeat of the first chart. Can't wait to get on the next chart.

My socks are here!

I am so excited. My socks are here. Thanks to Malle. I love the color and I love the pattern and I love the elephant measuring tape! The candy was so yummy too! I wish I can understand her blog or that google translate has Danish to English already. I was so worry that I wasn't gonna get anything because I wasn't contacted at all so I was super happy when I got my socks.

Now I just have to hope that my pal like the socks I sent.

Swatched

Some updates first. Here's the photo of the Swallowtail show after blocking:

Here is it model by one of my favorite subject (while he was napping):


Got a bit tired of the sock pal sock so did a quick project: Made cuffed booties from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby. I think it might show off the stitches better with a simpler color.


Sockpal sock: Almost there. At the gusset.


Okay, I actually swatch for once! And not just with one size needle but with two of them! This has never happen before... Plus I didn't just measure it and tear it out and use that yarn in the actually project (like I do with the socks), I actually blocked it!




But I think I blocked it too aggressively. Some people might think there's no such thing as blocking too aggressive when it comes to lace. What do you think?

The one on the left is using size 2 (3.0m m) and the one on the right is size 1 (2.5mm). Which one do you think I should use for the MS3? I still have to get beads...

Now I need to resist starting MS3 before finishing the sockpal sock or else it'll never finish on time...

Instant gratification project

I thought socks were instant gratification projects, plus they are small and portable. I just found a more instant gratifying knit: baby socks! I am knitting socks for my cousin's boy who turned one not long ago. I got this beautiful variegated baby blue Koigu yarn. It's knitting up so nicely that I am tempted to keep it for my own until he can fit it. I'll most likely end up going back to Purl and get another skein of yarn to make a pair for Orion too. People at Purl must think I am crazy. I've been picking up Koigu like they are free. They do have the most Koigu I've seen at any yarn store. Or maybe it's the way they organize the yarn, the colors just really shine.

I will be making more baby socks in the future. But in the mean time, I still need to work on the Jaywalker in Sundara yarn as well as the sock for the Sockapalooza 4. Of course there are two more sock work in progress too...

Cascading Leave Socks

One sock done. I didn't start the second one until after the Cherry Blossom Shawl was finished. It only took about three days to do this first sock because it's the thicker medium weight.
















4/12/2006 Update

I couldn't wait to start another sock. I've been eyeing this color way before the first one was done. I winded it up in a ball and was all ready. It's a Sock that Rock yarn and let me tell you I did not know why people were crazy about this sock yarn until I started knitting it myself.















It's the medium weight Sock that Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. They did not have many light weight sock yarn at Stitches West (problem with shipment, dye, etc). I really liked the color and went for it in the medium weight. The color on the lable is actually "Fred Flinston" but I did not like the image that name conjours up. So I've decided to rename it to "New England Autumn." My husband agrees it reminded him of autumn when I showed it to him and force him to tell me what he thinks of it.*

Which let me to think perhaps I'll use this yarn for the Cascading Leaves from the Jeanie Townsend. That way I will have the leaves in autumn! :-)















It's working out really well. I took Streets and YOs' advice and shifted the pattern so it matches up with the ribbing on top. It was her sock that inspired me to do this one.















I made another modification: I extended the pattern to the instep of the foot. I want more of the pattern. Not sure how comfortable it will feel but I am willing to sacrifice comfort for look. Now I just need to cross my finger hoping I have enough yarn...

* Poor husband is constantly bothered by me seeking opinion on knitting which he understands as "it's like zero's and one's." That's how I explained it in the computer terms so he can understand better.

My first sock!

Finished! I think they are the first Finished Object that's for me! I've been knitting for five years and I haven't knitted for myself yet. Well, I did try to make the leg warmers for me but they are too itchy for my skin, so that doesn't count.















They keep my feet nice and warm...

Pattern: Simple "Garter Rib" from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Lornas Lace Shepherd Sock custom color for Purl
Needle: 2.5mm Susanne's ebony dpn

Notes: The Susanne's ebony needle is so beautiful, however it has more friction then the Lantern Moon ones. It was a bit hard to get the stitches to slide. Plus I am a tight knitter so that doesn't help either.

Finally mastered Kitchener stiches, thanks to Pam's help! She patiently guided me through the first half of first sock. I was able to do the second sock myself but it took about three starts to get it right.

3/8/06 Update

Oh what a joyous moment? I finally started my sock knitting journey. The yarn is Lorna's Lace from Purl's Custom Color an I am just doing a simple stitch so it doesn't compete with the yarn color.















Of course this means I am not touching the other projects at ALL ....

Sock class!

I finished the "sock class" from one of my sock book. It was so awesome!! I've been wanting to do this for so long. I've been buying sock yarns before I can knit socks. This sample help demystify the sock mystery. I learned to pick up stitches, which will be helpful when I try to do the Orenberg shawl.

This was a top down but there are other methods I want to learn. Definitely want to try the toe up method. The Vintage Knitted Socks also explains so many different toes and heel methods. So many things to learn, so little time!





























You can see that I am just not good at Kitchener stitch. The toe area is too bunched up. I want to do a better job...I really do. Just someone show me how!!!

One thing to note about knitting socks...I've been so obsessed with it. It's causing me to do very little of everything else (including eating)

Last note: The toe is red because I ran out of the other yarn....It wasn't intentional.