The national pastime of the planet Zenn-La

I eat like I knit - I tend to scarf

2006-11-10T22:55:00.000-08:00

I'm off to L.A. this weekend for the second round of the Jeopardy college tournament! I'm so excited to compete! All week I've been studying for classes, and answering queries in the form of a question. I am ready!

I will definitely be taking my knitting on the airplane. Here are two scarves that are WIPs (I guess it would be more correct to abbreviate it as WsIP, but WIPs can be spoken as "whips" in conversation, so I'll stick with that):

Yale scarf:
so named because I was thinking of applying there for graduate school (I decided not to), but mostly because I wanted a navy blue and white extra-chunky scarf (five out of the six schools I'm applying to are on the very cold East coast, so this will be worth my while). I need to buy an extra skein of navy blue because I ran out, and there seems to be more white bars than navy blue; then again, this is another "dice" scarf where the number of rows I knit is determined by the throwing of two die.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease thick and quick
Type: super chunky
Needles: size 13 bamboo circs

Irish Hiking scarf:
The first one I did (well, it's nearly 75% done; it'll be a Christmas gift for my grandmother) turned out really well, so I decided to make a big ass one for me. I envision this scarf to be big, black, and chunktastic. And I will definitely add fringe to the end. I like cabling, it just takes awhile sometimes (even the simple 2 strand cable "C6F" that this pattern calls for).

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Type: bulky worsted
Color: Charcoal
Needles: size 10.5 bamboo straights

Stop the world, I want to get off!

2006-11-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

School is definitely getting in the way of my knitting! I'm enjoying Latin and environmental ethics, but applying to grad school is a full time job. I joined a LiveJournal community yarn swap! I'm really excited to meet new knitters and see what other people mail to others. I *love* getting mail, and having a winter secret yarn buddy will be just the thing to perk up cold days (in addition to chai tea and toe socks). Pictures of recent WIPs and FOs to come very soon.

It's hard to knit across a black hole

2006-10-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

Wow! Graduate school applications really do rip a hole in the fabric of space-time. Hence, there has been little progress on most of my WIPs - but then again, I tend to start twice as many projects as finish them. Here are photos of all my WIPs and FOs since the last time I posted.

Irish Walking Hat:

Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Type: Worsted
Color: dusty blue
Needles: size 8 circ, dpns, U cable needle

Homespun lap blanket:

a close-up of my seed-stitch border:

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Type: bulky worsted
Color: various
Needles: 24" size 8 circ

"Coca-Cola" dice scarf (and matching hat!):

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Type: worsted
Colors: Ranch red and oxford grey
Needles: size 8 straights and dpns

Homebody hat:

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Type: bulky worsted
Color: Lavender

Coming soon: a snap of my Yale scarf (Lion Brand Thick and Quick garter stitch scarf in navy and white)

Project updates

2006-09-29T17:25:00.000-07:00

Augh! I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. I've been distracted with school ;)

Here are all the projects I'm working on currently; this doesn't include projects I've "bagged" to work on many months from now, even if they're on needles already.

1. Yale scarf: super chunky wool/acrylic blend (Lion Brand Thick n' Quick) on a size 13 bamboo circ. Colors: blue and near-white (technically, "wheat", but it's really white with some light tan and very thin brown thread accents)

2. Lap blanket: Homespun yarn, various colors, size 8 INOX circ

3. Jig socks: I cast on for the first one a few nights ago, and will be working a very basic 2x2 rib pattern. I can hardly wait to finish this sock (I'm doing the 2 circ needle method on size 2 Addi Turbos, but only working one sock at a time since I hate having to switch between the yarn balls and needles) and do the next so I can order more "Dancing" or "Simple Stripes" yarn from KnitPicks.com!

WIP: Lap Blanket

2006-09-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have no desire to knit a baby blanket, as there are no whippersnappers in my life or any of my friends'. However, I do love the feeling of being snuggy and comfy where I knit, whether it's in a sofa chair at Starbucks, or the restaurant iron chairs at Mimi's Cafe, where my knitting circle meets. I bought a 29" circular needle yesterday, and am going to start my personal lap blanket with a seed stitch border.

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Type: light bulky
Colors: Hepplewhite, Gothic, Regency, Waterfall

Needle and project inventory

2006-09-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Circular needles:

size 1 29" INOX (2, for socks)
size 2 24" Addi turbo (2, for socks) - currently with blue/white striped sock project
size 4 29" INOX - currently with Monk's Travel Satchel project
size 8 16" Addi turbo - currently with Irish Walking Hat project
size 8 20" INOX - currently with Liesel scarf project
size 8 29" INOX - currently with lap blanket project (I bought the needle yesterday and just started it last night!)
size 9 16" Clover bamboo
size 10 24" metal
size 10.5 16" INOX

Double pointed needles:

size 3 Clover bamboo (5)
size 5 Susan Bates metal (4)
size 8 Clover bamboo (5) - currently MISSING :(
size 10.5 Brittany hard birch (5)

I rarely use straight needles anymore, but my dice scarf project is being worked on size 8 Clover bamboo straights.

Notions I need from my LYS or craft store:

-at least three sets of point protectors; my WIPs tend to slide off the needles if I'm not careful
-something to hold my dpns and crochet hooks until I make the circ/dpn holder from Stitch 'N Bitch: A Knitter's Handbook

WIP: Dice scarf

2006-09-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'm really liking how this scarf is turning out. As I've been going along, I like the "Coca-Cola" effect the red and grey is producing, but I thought about dividing the scarf into thirds, and adding the other primary colors (yellow and blue) CCs for the second and third sections, respectively. The MC would still be grey. I'll think about it some more.

I finished Stefan's iPod sock necklace yesterday for his birthday, but forgot to take a photo of the FO. Rest assured, it seems sturdy, and I think the cotton yarn will go a long way as far as longevity.

WIP: Go-Go Garter Stitch scarf - Dice edition!

2006-09-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had to worke an overnight shift at my job. Ordinarily, this is prime time to get really far on a project I'm working on, but like a doofus, I didn't pack my Irish hiking hat or any of my knitting materials. In a pinch, I bought some bamboo straight needles (very nice quality for only $5 at Jo-Ann Crafts; a chain store, not a LYS) and three skeins of basic all-purpose light wool yarn, not really knowing what I was going to knit. I love scarves, even though I don't get much of a chance to sport them here in Arizona. Still, I decided to branch out from my normal geometric blocked stripe routine, and throw caution to the wind. I decided to knit the basic Go-Go Garter stitch scarf from Stitch 'N Bitch: A Knitter's Handbook, but with a couple of interesting twists: I'll use a light worsted weight yarn, and throw a pair of dice to determine how long each stripe will be. I want the scarf to be more grey than red, so whatever I throw for the grey, I double. I think it'll be fun.

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Type: worsted
Colors: ranch red and oxford grey

WIP: Irish Walking Hat

2006-09-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

I'm now at the main cable pattern of the hat! I had only my skinny U-cable needle instead of my thick U-cable (which would have been more appropriate to use, since I'm using a bulky worsted wool blend yarn), but I obtained another one last night, so that should make the cabling more easier before I decrease.

WIP: Irish Walking Hat

2006-08-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

The cap fever continues! I started working on my first Irish Hiking Scarf for my grandmother earlier in the year; it's still on the shelf, because she doesn't want it until Christmas. When I found a pattern for an Irish Walking Hat, I was thrilled beyond belief - another hat/scarf combo I can knit! Even though I can now do more advanced cables, the two-twist cable will look awesome with the color I'm using. So far, I have just the 2x2 ribbed brim and a few rows of the background necessary for the cabling.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Type: Worsted
Color: Heathered steel blue

WIP: Stefan's iPod sock

2006-08-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

While my youngest brother has been at his high school's marching band camp, I've been working on a small sock for his blue iPod mini. He picked out the yarn a couple months ago, which is 100% cotton. I've completed knitting the main sock, but I have to sew the sides together. The I-cord necklace portion still has about 10" left to go.

Yarn: Rowan Cotton natural
Type: fingering weight
Color: black

FO: Coronet Cabled Hat

2006-08-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

School is in session, and I've been spending the gaps in between my classes working on small items, since they bring near-instant gratification. Knitting this cap went much faster than expected! I loathe picking up stitches, but doing so around the entire cabled braid made knitting in the round a snap. I went to my favorite LYS (Howard's Handwerk Haus) and picked up some more Lamb's Pride yarn to knit a heather grey/heather blue cap (and I'll add a pom pom to it!). Nothing beats the simplicity of a lovely cabled cap.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride
Type: Worsted
Color: Royal purple

As soon as I finished the purple cap, I started a second one, using the olive green (speckled with yellow and maroon) yarn I snagged at a more upscale LYS sale a few months back. I completed the Kitchener stitch correctly on the cabled braid, and the two ends seamed together magically. It was completely worth the ten minutes of concentration.

WIP: Coronet Cabled Hat

2006-08-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

Lamb's Pride 85% wool/15% mohair yarn is currently on sale at the upscale LYS, so I scrounged up all my extra change and bought two skeins in a deep, rich royal purple. I was browsing patterns online for cabled hats, and found one on Knitty in the "tangy" category of difficulty. And so, I started yet another project. I'll be utilizing a nine-stitch braid cable instead of the simple two-strand (six stitch) cable that I used for Grandma Elena's grey Irish hiking scarf. I can't wait to make a matching Irish hiking scarf to match this new Coronet hat! Pictures of the WIP to come when I find my camera.

It's fun to lose count of how many projects I'm working on

2006-08-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes it is! I've bagged up Liesel for awhile and have returned to the Monk's Travel Satchel, since I figured it was more logical to finish a messenger bag for my day-to-day college schedule than to finish a scarf that I won't be able to wear for at least another four months. I'm at approximately 50" on the strap, and I'll bind off at 60".

Every day, a new project tempts me. This one appears to be so simple, a child could knit it, and I've yet to tackle any kind of knit item that's wearable below my neck, so I'm quite intrigued.

Liesel redux

2006-08-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

So, everything that I said in my last post - out the window. While the cross-stitch work is still my priority, I was determined to master at least one lace item before the end of summer, so I started the Liesel scarf again. I had done two "large swatches" - this is Ingrid-speak for "I didn't want to frog back to my mistake so I just bound the work off" - but now I'm finally in the perfect groove of the 10-row pattern. I refuse to mess up again. Now, I'm about 70 rows in!

Unfinished projects, new timelines

2006-08-07T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back from my summer abroad in Europe! I tried starting my two socks on two circs on the plane ride over, but I kept having to rearrange the stitches on each needle after every row completed, so I must not have placed the socks correctly on the needles to begin with. That, and I left my two nice stitch holders on the plane in Munich...argh! So far, I have two very nifty wrist warmers...but I want to wind up with socks. Eventually, I will.

There are many unfinished knitting projects I have in my stash (Monk's Travel Satchel, Stefan's iPod sock, Phi Beta Chi scarf, and a couple others) but I'll all have to give them a rest for awhile longer. My number one craft priority is finishing my parents' 25th wedding anniversary cross-stitch sampler. Of course, I started this project nine months ago, and their anniversary was back in January...*d'oh!* My mother said as long as she gets it before the 26th anniversary, she'll be thrilled.

New needles and sock yarn!

2006-07-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

This morning, Cerridwen and I ambushed Purl's with our 40% off coupons from Jo-Ann's Crafts; Purl's said they would honor one coupon per customer for any one item. This was my big chance to snag the Addi Turbo sock yarn needles that I've been waiting for. I also scored some Italian sock yarn in a really nifty color combination. I hardly wait to start my 2 socks on 2 circular needles! Photos will definitely accompany my progress.

Needles: two 24" size 2 circular needles
Yarn: Sockotta
Colors: teal/blue/white

FO: iPod nano necklace

2006-07-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I love music just as much as I love ecology, language, literature and bicycling. Of course, I needed a fun iPod nano sock to hold all my tunes for when I stroll around my college campus! I knit this fun little sock a couple of months ago during one of my radio programs (kamp.arizona.edu) and just added an I-cord necklace. It works great! I'm going to knit another one for my youngest brother Stefan, who has an iPod mini. He specifically bought some Rowan cotton yarn (black) just so I could knit him one.

Yarn: silk/wool blend (the same exact yarn I used for my Acid Sunset hat and my first panta)
Type: worsted
Color: purple

FO: my first sock

2006-07-03T02:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally finished my first sock! And it fits! I thought I was knitting rather tight on my size 3 dpns (those are actually a large needle gauge by sock standards), but the stitches were sort of loose and stretched more than I anticipated, creating a few ladders and holes where I picked up stitches in the heel flap. I'll have to knit the second one a wee bigger.

I still need to learn how to do the Kitchener stitch (grafting) for real, since I kind of fudged the toe. I shaped it correctly with ssk and k2tog decreases, but at the end, I was so anxious to finish that I just made up some sewing technique and closed it. But who will be paying attention to my toes when I'm wearing this sock with a pair of loafers? I thought so.

Such an accomplishment! YAY!

Yarn: KnitPicks Parade
Type: Wool fingering weight
Color: Forest stripe

WIP: Irish Hiking Scarf

2006-07-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

I haven't touched this project in a couple of weeks since I've gone sock crazy, but I've learned to appreciate the simple cabled pattern. Like all good knitted accessories, "keep it simple, stupid" is the rule of thumb. I would love to make one for myself in Lamb's Pride worsted, in a heathered dark grey or a light color that would show off the cables.

Yarn: Smart wool
Type: Worsted
Color: Light grey

A scarf becomes a doily

2006-07-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

As if more proof of my ADD-style knitting were needed, I decided to bind off Liesel at 60 rows rather than frog back to my mistake and re-knit. I wasn't too crazy about the color, although I really do like the smooth feel of the cotton blend yarn.

I went with Cerridwen today to Howard's Handwerk Haus to look at Lamb's Pride Worsted yarn in a multitude of colors. The colors that struck me the most were "Framboise", a bright plum color, and a slight off white. I didn't purchase either today, but will go back next Thursday and see if there's any I want to take with me to Europe to knit on the plane.

My knitting goals for the week:
-Snag 40% off coupons from either Michael's or Jo-Ann's so I can purchase 2 Addi Turbo needles for my 2 socks on 2 circs project
-Finish my green Parade sock on the dpns
-Bind off the Phi Beta Chi scarf to where it's sort of a cowl. It's really way too wide to be a proper scarf; a 16" circ is just too much for a scarf knit in the round - either that or I cast on way too many stitches to begin with; I can use the Caron Simply Soft for other projects

The Phi Beta Chi scarf:

WIP: Liesel

2006-06-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

40 rows complete! I can almost see the leaf motif coming through the lace; I probably should have used a lighter color cotton, but this is what I got on sale, so I'm going with it. I'll have to block this when it's done for the full effect.

WIP: Liesel lace scarf

2006-06-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I started another knitting project. This brings my total number of projects to four:

1. Liesel lace scarf
2. Irish hiking scarf (1/2 way done)
3. Monk's Travel Satchel (on indefinite hiatus)
4. Parade Forest socks (1/2 way done on first sock, will need to make second soon after).

Holy cow, I'm turning into a knitting ho!

In any case, I completed 12 rows of the Liesel scarf this afternoon. I had attempted to start the pattern last weekend when I got my Rowan cotton yarn, but I kept running out of stitches at the end of the first lace row, and I couldn't figure out why. It turned out I was doing an extra stitch for every "yarn over" that the pattern called for. I finally realized that a yarn over was simply bringing the yarn to the front for a knit stitch, and to the back (and around again) for a purl stitch. I learned four different yarn over techniques at Purl's today (I was desperate and frustrated, so I drove over to ask for help; it was like pulling teeth to get someone to help me, but after asking nicely enough, a frequent customer finally helped me), all of which appear in my pattern multiple times:

-knit stitch
-purl stitch
-ssk (slip slip knit)
-sk2po (slip 1, knit 2 tog, pass slipped stich over)

And here are the first 12 rows:

Yarn: Rowan All-Nature Cotton
Type: sport weight
Color: earthtone brown

WIP: Monk's Travel Satchel

2006-06-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

I started this bag in late March, and I'm still only on the strap. When I finish this entire bag, I will make a second one with the hand painted yarn I acquired (see 2 posts ago for pictures!). The pattern is from the book Folk Bags, but I was able to snag a preview copy online so I didn't have to purchase the entire book.

The strap itself. It's so long already! Eventually I'll finish it and move on to the main panels.

A close-up of the seed stitch I'm utilizing for the strap.

Yarn: Marks & Kattens' Bomull
Type: 50% Cotton/50% Wool, sport weight
Color: Navy blue, turquoise

WIP: my first pair of socks

2006-06-28T18:14:00.000-07:00

If I would have kept my digital camera battery supply up to snuff, I would have posted more "stages" of my sock knitting process since I started the first one a couple days ago. I'm attempting my first pair on 5 double pointed needles. I figure if I can knit socks with them, I can do anything! Last night at the Stitch 'N Bitch, I completed the heel flap, turning the heel, and most of the gusset. I'm now on the actual foot!

Yarn: KnitPicks Parade
Type: sport/fingering/sock yarn
Color: Forest

One of these days, I'm going to put my size 1 circular needles to use and learn how to knit two socks simultaneously so I can avoid Second Sock Syndrome. I have one ball of KnitPicks' Simple Stripes yarn (color: Storm) - perhaps I can use the 2 circs to knit one sock from that ball for practice.

Recently acquired yarn

2006-06-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

I acquired some free yarn from my school-year job a few weeks ago, and it was a treasure trove. I kept three large hanks (unwound, unballed yarn) and gave the rest to Cerridwen.

2 hanks hand painted worsted (light bulky) yarn (100% wool)
Color: Arcoiris Fuerte

1 hank hand painted sock yarn (100% wool)
Color: Capricornio

Last weekend, I went to Purl's and snagged some great yarn at 75% off!

3 balls YarnArt Nope Lux
Type: Worsted
Colors: 2 Olive Green w/ maroon and yellow specks, 1 Lime Green with olive and yellow specks

4 balls Rowan All-Nature Cotton
Type: Sport
Color: Earth-tone brown

More recent FOs

2006-06-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

I made this hat on a whim because I found the blue/white lace yarn in the buck-a-ball section at Purl's and thought the speckled look would be fun. It is! I'm really pleased how it turned out. I decreased too exactly, so that's why there's a small point at the top. (You can't tell in the picture, but there's a wee "turnip" point - it's not truly garish, but the next time I knit a cap, I'll be a bit less frugal with decreasing.)

Yarn: Plymouth Encore; Domino
Type: worsted; fingering weight
Colors: white; blue & white
Needles: 16" circular size 8, size 8 dpns

This is a more bulkier panta than my first one. It still has to be sewn together at the narrow ends, but that's a snap.

Yarn: Lamb's Pride (85% wool, 15% mohair)
Type: Worsted
Color: Royal Blue
Needles: 16" circular size 8

WIP: Irish Hiking Scarf

2006-06-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

This is a closeup of my Irish Hiking Scarf in progress. It's my first foray into cables, and they're easier than I thought! Just sort of tricky. I'm using size 8 straight needles and a large U cable needle.

Current length: 24"
Desired length: 55"

FOs from the past year

2006-06-25T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here are some finished objects from the past year. Yarn brand, type and weight are included where I remember. Future WIP and FO posts will have all the specs!

I call this my ecology scarf, because the colors are the same of the UA's Ecology & Evolutionary Biology department. This was my first foray into block color, and it turned out really well!

Yarn: Red Heart Plush
Type: Fingering/Sport
Colors: Sage and Forest

This is a panta, a combination of a headband, bonnet and bandanna. Perfect for morning jogs!

Yarn: a silk/wool combination
Type: worsted
Color: Purple plum

This is my "Acid Sunset Hat", an original Ingrid creation. I used my second ball of the purple silk/wool yarn left over from the panta to make this hat, combined with a fun fur. It turned out surprisingly thick and gummy, but it still feels comfy - that's all that matters!

Yarn: a silk/wool combination paired with Whimsy fun fur
Type: worsted plus lace
Color: purple; pink/orange

This was my very first scarf! I still wear it today.

Yarn: Lion Brand Homespun
Type: Bulky
Color: Regency

Here is my very first hat!

Yarn: Plymouth Encore
Type: worsted
Colors: Navy blue and white

Needle inventory

2006-06-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

These are the circular and double pointed needles I currently own and the material they're made of (Clover bamboo or metal INOX). I have scores of straight needles in a variety of sizes, but I don't use them as much as I used to - and that's a good thing. Still, I'm not going to get rid of them. I never know if I'll need them in a pinch.

Circular needles:

16" size 8 INOX
16" size 9 bamboo
16" size 9 metal (It's actually a cool detachable needle, but the joins are rusted over, so I don't think I'll really ever use this one; I found it in my mother's stash in her craft room. She doesn't knit, so everything that was knitting related went to me!)
16" size 10.5 INOX
24" size 1 INOX
24" size 1 INOX (I have two to make socks simultaneously; I haven't figured it out yet, but that'll be for another post)
29" size 4 INOX (I actually wish I didn't get the needle this long; the pattern for the Monk's Travel Satchel called for it, but it's too long and unwieldy to work efficiently; a 24" probably would have done the trick.)

Double pointed needles (sets of 5):

size 3 bamboo
size 8 bamboo
size 10.5 birch hardwood

The knitwit begins

2006-06-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings, all! Welcome to my knitting blog. I'm Ingrid, a 23 year old senior at the University of Arizona. I keep two LJs: one for my daily life and another for my academic and creative writing, but I decided to go with Blogger for my knitting needs because my good friend Cerridwen has a blog, and she got me into knitting. I've been knitting for a little over a year, and enjoy finishing small objects such as scarves and hats.

My first big project is the Monk's Travel Satchel. I started it in March, but I just snagged some hand painted bulky yarn that I want to make it with instead of my thin cotton/wool blend that I've been working with - I'm only on the strap thus far, so I don't know if I'll frog the 55" I've completed so far or just try and finish the bag with the yarn I've got and just make a second bag with the new yarn I acquired. We'll see.

As soon as I get my digital camera USB cable, I will definitely post pictures of my WIPs and FOs that I've made in the past year. New posts will include pictures of WIPs for sure. The goal of my blog is to post pictures of my progress, and marvel at the accomplishments of having created something with my own hands. Knitting isn't just for fun: it's a living symbol of work, play and accomplishment. I'm glad to have found a hobby that gives me structure but allows me to be creative as well.