Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Rogue Day 4

I did manage to knit on the Rogue for a couple hours last night. I wasn't motivated at all. I did get the front and back seperated and a couple rows on the back done. But if you consider that the first row I completed last night took me 20 minutes that's not bad. I had a terrible time all evening and reknitted several rows before I called it a night.

My spouse was being a wise ass and said I should just quit knitting and write patterns. Maybe edit them, but I'm not sure about writing them. The directions on the several of the last few sweaters I have started have been unclear and difficult to interpret. Which accounts for no small part of my frustration with a couple of projects I have on needles and some I've taken off needles and put aside.

From this weekend - I also have more than half of my mother's sleeves finished.

I'll post pictures later. It seems I left it on while I was playing with some of its features and the battery is dead.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Weekend workings

I finished this sweater this weekend.



Here is the sweater I've been making for my mother FOREVER

The Back:



The Sleeves:



This is a cardigan that I made for her last year. I can't finish is until she comes to visit. She has been waiting to see it since I finished it in December.




And tonight - Rogue Day 3

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Rogue update.

Here are pictures of our progress from Monday 2

Giovanna:


Mine:

I had to rip mine out and redo it. Silly mistakes.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Stash Reduction Update

Last night I finished a sleeve this sweater . I also started the body and the other sleeve. I started the body because the needles were right there - but the needles for the sleeve were in the needle case and I didn't want to get up and get them. How lazy is that! But after I had finished the ribbing and set the pattern I got the needles and started the second sleeve. The second sleeve is now off double points and on the 16" circulars. If it wasn't for Rogue Mondays I'd probably be able to finish the second sleeve tonight.


I'm going to have to rip out my aran. The stitches aren't tight around the cableing and they must be fixed.

My daughter is making a scarf for herself and her doll. She has been working on the doll scarf pretty steady. I raised a thrower. I don't know how I will manage to live with this. :)


Thursday, February 09, 2006

TKGA - update

I have found answers to the questions and I will now need to start knitting the swatches. After I knit the swatches I can answer the remaining questions, write up the answers, references and bibliography and proof the blocking report.

Maybe I'll have the swatches done by the end of the month. That would be nice. I am going to try to get this done by end of March.

I ordered new 'business' cards to attach to the swatches. They are here already. I will write the requested informtion on the back, punch a hole and attach a string. Quick and easy, and most important, legible.

Rogue

Tudor Roses - Mary Tudor


Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Monday Knitting

We started our Rogue sweaters last night. I got about three inches done. Liz hasn't ever worked from a chart before. A new learning experience. The instructions seem pretty clear to me, but I'm only learning what the new symbols mean.

I like the way this chart is done. I need to find out what software was used and get it. I have some patterns I'd like to do and if I'm going to make charts this would be good software to use. (Like for the Master Knitter level III)

I have a few things to take pictures of and post. Maybe later today I'll get a chance to take care of that.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Why?

So I've been running around the net, wasting perfectly good knitting time, reading knit blogs. I've found some really good ones. (I've also found some scary and crappy ones - but that's the way it is)

Today I stopped by a blog and read a post about news reports of men knitting (and I use the term 'news' in a sardonic manner). All I could think while reading the blog was: Why are people so obsessed with who others are attracted to, having sex with, want to have sex with and so forth? Really - why do you care? Aren't getting enough on your own? Why are you so sure that any male who practices any fiber art is gay? Why the hell do you care?

Of course the feminist in me says that it isn't really about gay men knitting so much as it is about knitting being a less worthy past time because women do it and if men do it then they might have to start giving it respect. But then that sort of implies that the conservative white christian male feels threatened by giving women and their work respect. Even if they did they wouldn't stoop to name calling and stereotyping. Of course not.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

So I did the math. I'd have to spin the singles at 250 wraps per inch. That is so not going to happen. I could do it at 80 pretty easy, but 250?

I did skein and wash the green that I spun and plyed at fingering/lace weight. The singles were more than 40 wpi but I'm not sure how much more since my gauge doesn't go smaller than that. I'll have to knit up a guage swatch and then start the socks. I'll attempt to post pictures once the skein is dry and I get it balled up.

I think I'll find a pattern for the mobius scarf/head covers and spin the baby camel/silk for that. Gossamer I'm buying. Enough to make the shawl will cost $25 + shipping, depending on the exchange rate. I have a few other things to finish up first and I want to practice my lace knitting techniques before I start so I've got time to do those things and still not buy any more yarn this year. Maybe I'll convince the spouse to get it for me for my anniversary. :)

I have started my own KAL. Liz, one the ladies in my Monday night fiber enablers get togethers, wants to make the rogue sweater. I already have the pattern and the yarn myself. Thus we decided yesterday to knit it together, but only on Monday nights. We can't work on it any other time. We both have other things to finish and if I can't obsess about it I'm less likely to get bored with it. Plus if I have to work on it every week I will be more likely to finish it in a decent amount of time.

I think I'll take pictures of our progress at the end of every get together and post them here. I'll have to talk to Liz about that. I'm very excited about the whole idea.