Someone pointed out The AntiCraft to me today. That's just what I need at the moment. I think Snowball's Chance in Hell will be my next project after the scarf. I was wondering what to do with all the sport-weight I've been spinning. I'll use what I've spun as the contrast, and spin a bobbin of black for the main color.

I'm spinning again, I just haven't been blogging. In fact, I'm knitting again as well. I'm currently working on a scarf.









And I've been spinning corriedale on the weekends while watching movies.










I'm tempted to spin enough for a sweater, but I know I don't have the patience. That would be at least 2 months of spinning at this rate.

For what it's worth, the aforementioned yarn store, which sold us multiple dyelots for that aran project, gave a full refund for all of the yarn, even that which had already been knit/rolled into balls. I understand they were very apologetic as well.

I did not mention their name when I spoke ill of them, and I will not mention it now, lest others take too great advantage of their generosity.

We're going to School Products Thursday to re-select yarn.

I made a hat yesterday.

I tried to use this pattern, which I found a link to on You Knit What?!? I used a bulky, charcoal grey cashmere from School Products, which I had bought for my birthday.

But since I seem to be physically incapable of following simple instructions, I changed a few things.

1. My hats are always 88 stitches. They just are. It makes my life simpler.
2. I don't understand why one would do seed stitch in the round on an even number of stitches, as called for in the pattern, when on an odd number, it's jogless. I did it on an even number for the hat band (see item #1), but switched to an odd number on the earflaps (where technically, it didn't matter, but it appealed to my sense of symmetry).
3. I can't bring myself to put cat ears on this. The stockingette is so smooth and nice. If I want to be irreverent, I'll tie the earflaps on top of my head.

I haven't done the pompons yet on the flap ties. I can't decide if I want to do a pompon on top too.

There's a Devil Hat pattern on the same site. Since I still have a ton of the red cashmere leftover from my entrelac turtleneck sweater, maybe I'll do a hat with horns yet.

Oh well, thus ends that project. The recipient is as pissed as I was about the dyelot issue, and plans to return the yarn.

Bah fangool!

See that line in today's picture. I thought it was just a crease. I'm looking and the #$(&% gave us different dyelots. I specifically asked her to check. (This brand of yarn doesn't have any labels on the skeins. She took the yarn outside and looked at it in the sun. She said it all came from the same order so it should be the same. )

Shit. I basically have to frog all of that and try to figure out how many dyelots I have at home and how I want to handle this. (Bloody yarn store is 120 miles away.)

A morning's worth if knitting, wasted, if not more. (If the preceding two balls are the "off" dyelot, then I basically have to start all over.)

Day 4, Ball 3

I'm making progress, but it's slower than I'd like.

This isn't really a proper aran, so I'm mentally planning how I would change it were I to make it again. It definitely needs a center panel, and other aran elements, and I'd probably do it in the round.

Day 3

I didn't make much progress. For one thing, it's miserably hot in the Northeast, and I've just been tired; it was still light out when I went to bed last night. So I've only added maybe another 3 inches.

Day 2 - on my second ball of yarn.

(I'm counting Sunday as Day 0, since I didn't get much done but casting on & beginning the latticework.)

A while ago I promised to put up a picture of that red cashmere sweater, so here goes:

Well, I haven't blogged here in a while.

I'm starting a new sweater, by request. And since I now have a crapcam on my cell phone, I figured I might as well document it.

This is a day's worth of work. I cast on yesterday morning, but I was doing a lot of driving yesterday, so I didn't have time to sit & knit. Once I start the regular commute, I will get it done more quickly.









And here's a closeup with a little more detail.

Well, I had been on a spinning jag: I got a very full spindle of lace weight Corrie done - about 80 yards - but a woman on the bus was so engrossed with my plying that I just gave it to her. I have since lost my momentum.

Test cell post

I'm just trying to figure out the best way to post from my phone.

Hmm, it seems as if I've gotten kicked off of the Sheep Thrills ring. Ah well, I'll leave the ring code up there in case you want to peruse their sites.

I have made a sweater; I'll try to get it up here soon.

Well, I still have the spindle; I never managed to meet up with the "real" owner.

I didn't do any fibery stuff; it was vacation, I had better things to do. I did manage to wander into a knitting store. But only because my hotel was on fire and we were wandering around Magazine Street during the evacuation. I see skittle-puke yarn is still prevalent. I won't have to visit another yarn store for at least 5 years.

There is also a store in the French Quarter with looms. The owner weaves rugs. We visited there too.

Other that nothing much to report ... on this blog, anyway.

I ... can ... not ... wait ... to ... get ... out ... of ... here!!!!

I thought I'd add a little "list flavor" to my blog. The lists are driving me nuts today. Just because everyone is entitled to an opionion doesn't mean you HAVE to weigh in about every little thing. How about minding your own damned business every once in a while.

Basta!

It's really work that's bothering me today, but there's nothing to be done about that. Just try to bring my blood pressure back down. 3.5 more hours, then I'm on vacation for 8 days.

I was in LA a couple of years ago, and another Thriller had a Hatchtown spindle with which she was uncomfortable, so she gave it to me. I said I'd just hold it for her until she learned to work it. It spins like butter, as do all the Hatchtowns I've ever used (well, all the Kaaris - I don't particularly get along with the Lady Anns) but you've got to be able to read the spin. Each has a certain amount of fiber (in the drafting zone) it prefers, some are long spinners, some are fast spinners. Once you understand it, it's all good. But if you don't get it, it'll backspin on you or just plain out stop. In any case, I'm getting my last spins on it today. I'll meet its owner in New Orleans on Sunday and give it back, with a few skeins for inspiration.

In fact, I should go upstairs and spin for a little while to calm down.

Ugh, I'm sick. I have no desire to spin or knit or anything.

Pity, though, as I just have the thumbs to complete on my cashmere Turkish mittens.

My chest cold is starting to break up, so I'm at that miserable, hacking, expectorant stage. Fun fun fun.

I don't care, as long as I'm well in time for my trip to New Orleans for spring break.

I have a new blog. It is nothing like this one.

It is about sex. I will try to keep it on topic.

I will probably update the other more.

Fair warning, if you like this one, you will probably not like the other.

Well, I managed to find/make Mardi Gras here in NYC. I'm shocked that I came home with more beads than I left with. And I was giving them away! Sajnos, senki sem mutatotta a pöcsödet.

It looks like the New Orleans trip is starting to flesh out as well. I have one other person who's already bought tickets, and 3-7 other people who are trying to fit it into their schedules. So I won't be entirely alone all week. There's so much I want to do; now I just have to decide what I want to do with other people.

T-30 days to debauchery!

Laissez les bon temps roulez!

It's Mardi Gras. Break out the Hurricanes & beignets. Throw me some beads, mister! What will you give me for my beads? (Mutasd a pöcsödet!)

I'm happily decked out in my beads, here in the den of iniquity, but no one else seems to be celebrating. Well, it is New York.

I'm thinking about going down to New Orleans for Spring Break, but having a hard time getting anyone to go with me. Not that I particularly need the company.

Who'da ever thought I'd like a southern city so much?

It so figures. Just two days ago I was rejoicing at my finally being able to spindle again after having sprained my finger playing volleyball this summer. And wouldn't you know it, I dove for a ball last night an burst a bunch of blood vessels in one wrist - sprained the other.

sigh

Wow, Blogger.com has changed a bit since I first started this. I may be time for me to rehaul my blog - redo comments; start adding pictures, etc.

Well I finally started spinning again. My finger doesn't hurt anymore! So I'm working on the Cinderella mittens. (Mittens that are too big for me, but maybe they'll fit a SO.)

I also gave away a pair of socks that were too small for me. The recipient loves them. She wants to commission a sweater of similar design. (Aran) We have to get together to see exactly what she wants, and whether I have to design it myself or if there's a pattern she likes.

I don't purposely make things that fit or don't fit. I make things - according to the pattern. Obviously, I can tell that they're going to fit or not fit by the time I've finished the first one. Just because thay don't fit me is no reason not to make them, or to frog them, or what not. They'll fit someone, and I can always make another set for myself if I like them. If I don't like them, then at least I'll still have the experience of having knitted them. It's all about the process, isn't it?