A Teaser

A number of people were confused about my previous post (since taken down). It was password protected, which is a weird thing to do all the sudden. I was working on an upcoming design and wanted to share photos with my knitting group so I could get their opinion. I wasn’t sure if I was going to submit the design or self-publish. I’ve decided to self-publish.

Anyway, for your patience, I offer you this teaser photo. My test knitters have the pattern right now, I expect to have the pattern ready in 2 weeks or so.

P.s.  If you’re not already in Ravelry, you should go get on the waiting list (it’s down to only a week or so).  It’s pretty much the best, easiest way to sell patterns… and really, do everything else related to knitting.

Why I Love My Knitting Group

From left, me, Huan-Hua, Kalani, Leigh, Norma and Elli.

I was a little harsh on my knitting group in a few posts ago… I love them, I really do. My plan was to follow the post with one about my Sunrise Circle Cardigan (unblogged so far) and talk about how great their advice was… But I haven’t yet finished the cardigan and today we went to the Fiber Event (which sounds like geriatric hell) in Greencastle, Indiana, a few counties over from Bloomington. It was fun….

There was some animal fondling…

There was some questioning and learning…

And of course… the haul. (Don’t worry, that’s not all mine. Only the stuff on the bottom in the paper bag). We carpooled and thought we should get a shot of all the yarn. It was a lot. All the drunk kids who saw us photographing this probably thought we were photographing our collection of hard alcohol or something.

Here’s the stuff I got:

The red stuff was WAY too cheap to pass up (1.20 an ounce)… and the blue stuff to the left of it was FREE with purchase. Absurd. The two pretty skeins in the middle are Briar Rose Fibers… I LOVE her stuff. I tried to resist (I even walked away), but resistance was futile. To left, I have a few small skeins of shetland that will become some stripy fair-isle mittens. The wooden piece is another random weird thing I can have in my apartment so people can ask me “what the hell is this??” (it’s a nostepinne for making center pull balls). I bought a small bag of fiber to make some fiber-covered soap and I also bought some new dye (that I can’t normally buy from Knitpicks). Not a bad haul… particularly because I spent less than 80$. Not bad.

Anyway.  I went to this “event” two years ago and it was fun… but not nearly as much fun as it was with these fine women.  It’s nice having a group of friends who aren’t associated with my job or school.

Giant list o yarns…

I was tagged in a Meme… by Huan Hua, from my knitting group… so I have to do it …  😉

Out of the top 50 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again,
Cross out the ones you’ve used and would not use again,
and italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters.
Link back to this post and to the person who tagged you.

Ready? Here’s my list:

1, Cascade 220 Wool, 11967 projects – a staple, available in so, so many colors (especially at my new LYS).
2, Patons Classic Wool Merino, 10445 projects – a staple, available at Michaels on Sundays.
3, Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted, 8421 projects – mmmm soft.
4, Noro Kureyon, 7947 projects
5, Caron Simply Soft, 7914 projects I quickly learned that acrylic of all forms sucks.
6, Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid, 6864 projects I love me some dishcloths…
7, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted, 6619 projects only in my recent scarf (but not before, oddly)
8, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Solids, 6176 projects
9, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid, 5554 projects
10, Noro Silk Garden, 5410 projects
11, Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM), 5094 projects
12, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 5071 projects
13, Lion Brand Homespun, 4296 projects the only widely available acrylic that I don’t mind (but I still don’t love it).
14, Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 4157 projects
15, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, 4086 projects
16, Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool, 3989 projects
17, Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky , 3927 projects
18, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 3751 projects
19, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Lightweight, 3723 projects
20, Plymouth Encore Worsted, 3573 projects
21, Cascade 220 Heathers, 3422 projects
22, Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres & Prints, 3384 projects
23, Zitron Trekking (XXL), 3348 projects
24, Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes), 3243 projects
25, Rowan Kidsilk Haze, 3203 projects
26, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2917 projects
27, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Ombres, 2658 projects
28, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, 2512 projects
29, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock – Mediumweight, 2503 projects
30, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, 2489 projects
31, Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids, 2476 projects
32, Cascade 220 Superwash, 2323 projects
33, Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 2286 projects
34, Knit Picks Swish Superwash, 2226 projects
35, Knit Picks Essential, 2149 projects
36, Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid, 2142 projects
37, Colinette Jitterbug, 2090 projects
38, Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid, 2030 projects
39, Knit Picks Shine Sport, 1976 projects
40, Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull, 1885 projects
41, Lion Brand Microspun, 1871 projects
42, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino, 1863 projects
43, Knit Picks Palette, 1765 projects
44, South West Trading Company TOFUtsies, 1762 projects
45, Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 1756 projects
46, Mission Falls 1824 Wool, 1725 projects I want to know what all the fuss is about…
47, Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK, 1718 projects
48, Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres, 1664 projects
49, Rowan Felted Tweed, 1646 projects
50, Rowan Calmer, 1571 projects

Oh wait.  I suppose I’m supposed to tag people now?  Hmm.  OK.

1.  Monica
2.  Elli
3.  Those sisters
4. Emilee
5.  Ruth

The Problem with Knitting Groups

Sigh…

So, I have this new knitting group. It’s pretty f’ing awesome… except for one thing. Everyone at my group always has such cool stuff… and my knitting ADD prevents me from finishing objects at a pace with which I can also brag. It seems like every week someone has something new to show off… except me. It’s really quite a problem and it makes me feel insecure. I’ve contemplated doing the whole “one project at a time” rule, but I’m just not sure if that’s realistic. So, in a bit of a fit of inspiration, I make a scarf. A rather nice scarf, actually:

It’s a basic scarf pattern, one you’ve seen millions of because of the inspiration of Jared of Brooklyntweed.

I liked the scarf though. It’s probably the warmest scarf I own, totally versatile (look at those colors!) and it goes great with both my corduroy and denim jackets. And it was a delight to knit. It’s one of those patterns where you keep say “oh, just two more rows” or “let me get into the purple and then I’ll stop” and then before you know it, you’re done!

Specifics (I want to be lazy and just link to my ravelry page, but not everyone’s on ravelry.)

Yarn:  Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Black.  Plymouth Boku in a warm, mix of colors
Needles:  US 7s, Bamboo
Time Spent Knitting:  One weekend (started Friday night, finished Sunday night)
Pattern:  See links to Jared’s page above
Mods:  None.
Love:  Tons.  It’s definitely not the softest scarf – but it’ll definitely be something I reach for on those windy days.
Regret:  I wish I’d bought more of the Boku in that colorway.  I wanted to take advantage of the color changing and make a set of winter wear… with maybe some mittens like this.  I should know better.  Always err on the side of too much yarn.  *stupid, stupid, stupid.

Also – super kudos to the first person who can correctly NAME the part of the IU campus where I took these photos.   It actually has a name, not just “over there by that one building.”