I finished this the other day



And I Don’t Like It. I bought this Rowan Plaid on special in Arizona (the shop owner was clearing it because no one in Phoenix wanted to buy Plaid.) This color was the only one I liked with enough quantity available to make anything. And I bought the Plaid book because I wanted to use it right away and didn’t know what to make and this design, Spray, was the only thing I liked in the book that used six balls. I knitted up most of it in Phoenix, and then I had trouble seaming the shoulders and put it away for a while. Took it back out this past week because it was COLD outside and finished it up to wear while it is COLD….

And it is too big. And I don’t like how fat the ribbing looks. And I messed up the collar so it splays and drags downward. And I made a mistake with the style of decreases I used on the sleeve cap shaping and it looks yuck. And I don’t like it.

I though about wearing it anyway, but every time I put it on, I think, “Yuck.”

This is what I made while watching SciFi Friday on the SciFi channel Friday night



It is a lovely faux-sable carrying case for my Sweet Little Roady. And it is lined, too



I made the pattern up as I went, and I considered putting a handle on it so it could be a Roady Evening Bag, but I didn’t like any of the ones I tried.

I consider it a Great Personal Victory that I have had satellite radio in my car for over a week now and I have not rear-ended anybody. Whoo-hoo!

Here is a much better, less Blair Witch Project, picture of the Gala hat



I wanted a good photo of this project on record because I am proud of the seaming I did on the band. At Rowan, they don't seem to believe in working in the round or picking up and knitting. There is a seam in the back, too. All the Rowan hat designs have back seams, and the sweater Lysette has that lovely edging worked side to side and sewn on the body of the sweater after it is sewn together. Rather like the Gala hat. One would think picking up and knitting would be easier; but I'm getting pretty good at finishing and I'm starting to enjoy it.

Also I meant to note that I made my band wider than the pattern specified to accommodate the size of my pretty ceramic button.

Kicked around in my stash to see what sweaters I had I could start since I have no needles for Lysette. Can't find anything that sings to me at the moment. I'm kind of in a Knitting Funk. Seems like I'd rather do small projects. Luckily, I have about nine bags in there somewhere and at least half a dozen miscellaneous scarves and hats. And socks. I might be in the mood for socks.

Orange Peel scarf complete



The pattern size was 86” long but I stopped mine at about 70. I tried it on and it seemed plenty long enough. Scarves that are too long are a pain. My substitute yarn made for a scarf that is less “drapey” and more “sproingey” than the original. Rather like Tigger’s tail. Looks good. Have half a ball of 220 left.

Whipped up a Gala hat



Began it yesterday and finished today. This pattern is in Rowan Mag 36 and uses one ball each of Kid Classic and Kidsilk Haze worked together. In the magazine it is done up in “Juicy” and “Marmalade” which is, naturally, orange. Mine is “Merry” and “Heavenly.” Yarn purchased at Stitches Midwest 2004 from two different vendors, because no single vendor had both Kid Classic and Kidsilk Haze. Would have liked to have green, but second choice blue is very pretty. Used ¾ of the ball of Kid Classic but have half a ball of Kidsilk Haze left. Should probably buy more so it won’t be lonely.

After I finished Gala, I wanted to start a new sweater. Pulled out the stuff for Lysette and discovered I don’t have the needles for gauge. I need a 2mm and a 2.5mm -- one size smaller than the pattern specifies. It has now officially been a long time since I had to size up needles for gauge, but I don’t know exactly why I am knitting less tightly. I fear carpal tunnel has left me with less grip.

On the subject of carpal tunnel, I started taking evening primrose oil recently. My husband’s stepmother gave me GLA in a different form, borage oil, when I was there for Christmas because I was complaining of dry skin. According to what I read subsequently, GLA is also good for arthritis, sore joints, rosacea and PMS because it is an anti-inflammatory. When I went to buy it for myself, I got the evening primrose because it has smaller dose and it has been more heavily tested by the FDA. Not that I trust them necessarily.

More progress on Ruby



Bit boring now that I have nothing to do but drop stitch pattern back and forth, so I went over to my sister’s house to retrieve the project I accidentally left there Christmas Day.



Another Scarf Style scarf -- the same one Lisa made a while ago, only I think hers was green. I can’t remember what it is called in the book, but I’m calling mind Orange Peel for obvious reasons. The book sample was made in Classic Elite something-or-other that is a cotton and tencel blend: mine is made of Cascade 220 Quatro #9436 which I bought in Phoenix.

Efforts this week to acquire new yarn were thwarted by the words Out Of Stock. Got some new DVDs, though, including Andromeda Season 2 and V: the Series. I watched V: the Series when I was a kid and it was first broadcast on TV. This show is the reason I have a slight lingering crush on Marc Singer. I saw him once at a SciFi convention but I didn’t meet him because I didn’t pay for a “Meet the Guests” ticket -- I just paid for general admission. I was, however, standing practically right next to him and I can report he does have a really engaging smile.

I think I need my own cooking show. Considering how many people watch reality TV, I believe there is a huge audience out there dying to see me set potholders on fire, break spatulas and say “F#$%!” every 30 seconds.

But forget New Year’s. On the subject of Christmas, the lure of new yarn was too much for me



This pattern is from the Winter Knitter’s magazine. It is called “Victorian Ruby,” designed by Jane Sowerby, and made up for the mag in Rowan Kidsilk Haze #606 Candy Girl (hot pink.) I asked Santa for a different color, #595 Liqueur. The lace scarf is made by working the first end side to side, then tipping it and picking up along the edge to work the length of the body in a drop stitch pattern. In this photo, I have just tipped, picked up and worked one repeat of the body pattern. New skill learned with this project: crochet cast on. It is not difficult, but it was tricky with skinny yarn and (comparatively) large needles.

I LOVE KIDSILK HAZE. For the first few rows, I was hating it, but after I got used to the feel of the yarn I liked it, and after I felt the fabric it makes I was in love. I am intrigued by the idea of a garment made with this yarn, like Aimee from Vintage Style, but I quail when I think about seaming. Point of interest: Kidsilk Haze is the same weight and fiber composition as Doucer et Soie and also Madil Kid Seta, both of which are about $2 or $3 cheaper per ball, but don’t come in the interesting colors that Kidsilk Haze does. Also a technical note: I began on a bamboo needle which gripped and held the fuzzy yarn well for the lace end, but I think I am going to change to a slicker needle for the body stitch.

All of this scarf so far was worked while watching selections from the New Year’s Eve Law and Order SVU 24-hour-marathon, the New Year’s Day Monk 24-hour-marathon, and the first three episodes of The 4400 on DVD. The 4400 is a great show. I don’t know how I missed it when it premiered. Season 2 doesn’t begin until June. Way too long! But January is bringing the Battlestar Galactica series premiere and new episodes of Stargate SG:1 and Atlantis and a new season of Deadwood. It is a little embarrassing how much TV I watch. I wish I could read while I knit. I have about 50 books that I have bought and not read yet because I just want to knit.

Oh, also, part of the time invested on Ruby was spent correcting a mistake. I was more than halfway through the lace end when I found an error on one of the ladders -- I had knit through instead of yarn-overing. I had to drop a Long Way Down, fix it, and crochet hook my ladder back up. A real pain. I hate dropping on a yarn-over and working it back up: on any other project I might have just ripped back and reknit regardless of how much progress was lost. This yarn does not rip back, though. Two rows of unknitting convinced me of that.