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February 28, 2006
Olympic Recuperation
I'll be taking a little break from posting - the Olympics really wore me out! I'm sewing together the pieces of Cutaway -- when you hear from me next, she should be ready to reveal!Posted by zarah at 9:08 AM | Comments (2)
February 27, 2006
Secret Pal 7 is cookin' up something good!
My SP7 is totally spoiling me. She's sent me all the best ingredients for a knitting jambalya! I've got a cookbook (Interweave Knits Spring 06), sizzling sausage (two BIG skeins of Malabrigo... yum!), and some spicy red & green peppers (KnitPicks Essential sock yarn and Heirloom 8-ply superwash).
I really love the Malabrigo -- I've never had any merino of my very own before!
Thanks, Secret Pal. You rock!
Posted by zarah at 9:45 AM | Comments (3)
February 26, 2006
No Olympic gold for Zarah
Well folks, that wraps it up for Torino 2006. It was a valiant effort, but the last push on the seaming put her over the edge. She just hasn't trained for these conditions, she's spent most of the season knitting in the round. These seams were just more than she was able to muster in the last few moments of the Games. Not to worry, though. She's still young knitter, and we definitely expect to see her back in 4 years in Vancouver. I imagine by then she will have much more experience in international competition and hopefully a few more sweaters under her belt. This was a fine effort for this first-time Olympian. Now back to Bob in the studio.Posted by zarah at 9:42 PM | Comments (3)
Cutaway buttons
Which one should I choose?
A B
C D
If none of these are good, I have to go to the crat store, and I'm pretty sure I don't have time!
Posted by zarah at 9:34 AM | Comments (2)
Olympic Knitting Update
Just a quick post before I head off to church this morning: As you can see, I FINISHED knitting all the pieces of Cutaway last night. The plan is to do all the seaming and add the ribbing today! I am meeting with my knitting group this afternoon then I have the rest of the night free to work on it.
"This one's going to come down to the line, Jim, but she just might pull it off."
I'm sure the Olympics officially end sometime this afternoon, but I'm giving myself until the end of the day. Watch this blog to see if I make it!
Posted by zarah at 8:43 AM | Comments (0)
February 25, 2006
Looking forward to March!
I just ordered some Dye-Your-Own merino sock yarn from Knitpicks to play with during Project Spectrum. I've never dyed yarn before, so it should be a good introduction. I know lots of people use Kool-Aid, and I've also heard of using food dyes or Easter egg dyes. Any suggestions or resources I should know about?Posted by zarah at 2:39 PM | Comments (2)
February 24, 2006
Are YOU a sexy knitter?
I am! The Sexy Knitters Club is an online group dedicated to changing the common perception that knitters are all old grannies sitting in their rocking chairs making toilet paper roll cozies. Right now we are deciding what our next KAL is going to be, but you have to be a member to nominate your favorite sexy pattern. So go to the website and join! (There's also lots of fun SKC merchandise to buy.)Posted by zarah at 1:25 PM | Comments (1)
View from my front door
I've seen this meme floating around several blogs I read, and I really like it. The neat thing is, everyone's view is different. Maybe that seems obvious, but here's where I'm going with it. The first one I saw, I thought: "Well, sure. She lives in the mountains. She has a beautiful view. But my view is boring. No one wants to see my view, it's the same as everyone else's."
But that's not really true, is it? Every single one I've seen is different -- some people have a hallway as their view out the front door, others look like they live on a postcard. But the whole point is to get that glimpse into someone else's "everyday" and realize that yours isn't so boring after all.
As you can see, I live in a residential neighborhood at the end of a cul-de-sac in a small midwestern city. (Where I grew up, we called them "circle drives," but my husband informs me that no one else know what that means.) Like I said before, this view seems really boring to me, but maybe it will seem exotic to someone who lives in a big city or a foreign country. Who knows?
Anyone else who hasn't done this meme, consider yourself tagged!
Posted by zarah at 9:15 AM | Comments (1)
Somebody needs their own blog!
I got home from work last night and sat down to check my email, when I discovered one from my sister. Subject line: More photos for your blog. No note, nothing, just more pictures of stuff she's been making for her wedding. (I think this is their unity candle, but I could be wrong.)
Now I know that planning a wedding brings out the crafty in a lot of people, but my sister (we'll call her "Muffy," 'cause she hates that nickname!) is a legitimate craftista, even without the impending nuptials. She once crocheted an entire blanket on a long bus trip -- because she was cold! (And who besides a true craft queen would just "happen" to have that much yarn packed for the journey?)
We should probably give her a break until after the wedding and her last semester of classes (this May), but then I say the "Get Muffy a Blog" campaign should start in earnest. (Although maybe I'm just a little biased. She is my baby sister, after all!)
Posted by zarah at 7:53 AM | Comments (1)
February 23, 2006
Crafty runs in the family!
Aren't these just the cutest vases ever? My sister's been making them for her wedding reception. She lives in Kansas City, so I haven't been able to join in the crafty fun, but she gave me directions over the phone last night.
She bought some inexpensive glass vases at a craft store, then picked out several colors, widths, and textures of ribbon. She used a glue called "Zip Dry" to glue the ribbons to the glass -- and voila! beautiful vases custom-designed to match any occasion. My husband and I usually like to host a party around Christmas or New Year's, and I was thinking that these would be really neat with different types of metallic ribbon, too.
In Olympic Knitting news, well... there's not much to report. The long march to the end of the sleeves continues. I have to admit, I'm starting to get a little nervous about whether I'm going to be able to finish on Sunday. There are still a whole lot of stitches to be picked up between then and now. I had coffee with some friends last night after dinner, so I didn't have much time to knit. (I know, the Yarn Harlot would be disappointed. I don't think she's even sleeping or eating anymore. Just coffee and knitting.) But I have to have some balance in my life, and Wednesday is my night to hang out with the girls. I'm sure Cutaway will understand.
Posted by zarah at 11:08 AM | Comments (3)
February 22, 2006
Sock love
Do you love Socks That Rock from Blue Moon Fiber Arts? Join the Sock Club!
Link from Whip Up
Posted by zarah at 2:41 PM | Comments (0)
Slow but steady wins the race
Well, there's not much new to report on the Olympic knitting front. The sleeves are a few inches longer than they were yesterday, Sasha Cohen looks like sh'e sone track to win gold in ice skating. Personally, I like the other American skaters better -- they don't seem so "perfect," but that's just me.
For your vieweing pleasure, I decided to post a picture from my Santa Fe vacation last fall. This is the Sanctuario de Guadalupe in central Santa Fe. It is a neat old church, but it's not in very good repair. And there are usually some bums hanging around outside. But hey, that's real life. I like going on trips where everything isn't "sanitized for your protection."
Okay, okay, back to knitting. Here's my plan for getting the gold: Finish the sleeves by Thursday, Work on the ribbing Friday & Saturday, then I have Sunday to block & seam. The directions start getting trying once I finish the sleeves (I haven't done much seaming before) so... watch this blog for questions. I'm gonna need your help!
Posted by zarah at 1:07 PM | Comments (0)
February 20, 2006
Olympic spirit
IMG_0532.JPG
Originally uploaded by kerner.
We've been having great Olympic knitting weather here in Springfield. It snowed a couple inches over the weekend -- here's the view off my back porch. I especially like the snow on the big magnolia tree in my neighbor's yard. It just seems so contradictory -- I usually don't associate snow and magnolias.
I managed to finish both "fronts" of my Cutaway cardign Sunday afternoon. I really felt a sense of accomplishment for finishing the "main" part of the sweater, then I started contemplating how long sleeves really are. And there are two of them.
The last thing I want on my first sweater for myself is two different length sleeves. So I decided to cast on for both of them on one long needle and knit them simultaneously.
I've got about 11 inches of each sleeve knitted right now. The good thing about this project is that it is so boring, I am learning to knit without looking at my work. Usually I don't mind knitting and just listening to the TV, but the Olympics is more of a visual thing. I'm getting sick of ice dancing (3 nights of competition, really?!?) but I am loving the ski racing events (Bode - you suck! Go Austrians!). Tonight I was especially impressed with the Aerial Freestyle skiing event -- as my husband said, it's like diving on snow. Basically, the skiiers ski off a ski jump that sends them directly into the air, then they do a ridiculous number of spins and dips before trying not to land on their butts. Seriously -- I think almost all of them slid down the hill a little bit before standing up to ski off the hill. The finals of this event are still coming up, so you have a chance to see it if you missed it the first time. I hope they add skiboarding to this event in future years - I would love the see what kind of tricks they could come up with.
All right, that's enough Olympic nerdiness for one night. Tomorrow I might take a break and watch a little of my favorite embarrasing TV show -- American idol! (The audition shows are over now, so it should be a lot better.)
Posted by zarah at 10:01 PM | Comments (1)
February 19, 2006
Drop-stitch scarf for April
I ran across an easy drop-stitch scarf pattern using yellow ribbon yarn that is almost identical to something I have sitting in my stash. The pattern is here. I think it will be perfect for a cute spring scarf. I found this on a blog that has all kinds of crafts, including knitting, Craftlog.
Just for reference, here's the colors for each month of Project Spectrum:
March - Red & Pink
April - Orange & Yellow
May - Green
June - Blue
July - Violet & Purple
August - Neutrals / Black & White
Posted by zarah at 6:46 PM | Comments (0)
Olympic knitting progress pics
My Olympic "challenge" project is finishing the Cutaway cardigan that I started around Christmas time, then put away when the directions for the front were confusing me.
So, when I decided that this would be my Olympic challenge, I had only finished the back and half of one front piece. As you can see in this picture, I finished off the first front got a good start on the second.
I have actually finished the second front this weekend, and started the sleeves. I decided that I'm going to knit them both at the same time, side by side on one long circular needle. That way, when I finish one, they will both be done. Also, the increases should match up perfectly -- no uneven sleeves for this handmade sweater!
The bad part about that plan is that it feels like it takes twice as long to make any progress. I'll give you a sleeve update tomorrow.
I have to nominate Lindsey Kildow for an honorary Knitting Olympics gold medal. She is skiing her heart out, even after a bad fall. I hope she wins a real medal... she definitely has the most heart.
I loved the snowboard cross event, but I couldn't believe Jacobellis lost the gold at the end with her little stunt jump. Although I do have to say, I think the media was a little too hard on her. She was just caught up in the moment. You know I'm going to be throwing down some bodacious moves when I get close to finishing Cutaway. Hopefully I won't drop a stitch and blow my chance for a medal.
Posted by zarah at 6:38 PM | Comments (0)
February 17, 2006
More FOs! Conwy possum hat
Whew! I've been finishing lots of little projects around here lately. But don't worry, that won't stop me from achieving my Olympic goals: knitting a One Skein Wonder for my exchange with Jeannine and finishing my Cutaway sweater!
Do you remember this yarn? It first made its debut on this blog about 5 months ago -- it's the possum yarn I bought in the sale bin at Simply Fibers. (It's actually mostly superwash wool, but the possum fiber makes it softer and also gives it that halo effect.) Possum yarn sounds nasty, but it's actually really nice stuff.
I tried to knit socks for my husband out of this yarn, but I didn't use a pattern and they turned out to be way big and baggy.
So apparently while I had the flu I had a lucid moment and decided that this yarn should be a hat.
Pattern: My own made up hat pattern, based on the twining cable from the Conwy socks in Knitting on the Road, by Nancy Bush.
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supermerino in Java, just over 1 skein
Needle Size: Size 6, 5 DPNs
Skills needed: knit, purl, twining cable, decreases
Pattern Modifications: I made up this hat pattern myself, using the 6-stitch pattern repeat from Conwy. I had four pattern repeats on each of 4 DPNs, so I guess that means I casted on 96 stitches to start, knit even for about 5-6 inches, then started decreasing.
Time to knit: One and a half days
Final impressions: Groovy. This yarn was meant to become this hat. Plus, I haven't done much knitting for my husband that has turned out well, so I'm glad I was able to make him something nice. (He has been wearing the first hat I ever made, with its twisted purl stitches and all.)
Posted by zarah at 10:30 AM | Comments (4)
February 16, 2006
FO: Picovoli
I actually finished this about a week and a half ago, but I've been too sick to feel like posing for a picture. I'm feeling much better now, so here you go!
Project Details:
Pattern: "Picovoli," Magknits.com by Grumperina
Yarn: KnitPicks Shine in Orchid, 5 skeins
Needle Size: Size 4, 24" circular
Skills needed: knit, purl, increase, decrease, casting on additional stitches during knitting (cable cast-on or knitted cast-on)
Pattern Modifications: I knit the top a little longer than called for, and added one additional increase at the waist.
Time to knit: About a month and a half
Final impressions: I'm really happy with the way this project turned out. It fits great and it's very wearable -- I've already used it as a shell underneath a suit for work. I will probably knit it again in another color, maybe as a gift for my sister or mom.
Posted by zarah at 7:11 AM | Comments (9)
February 15, 2006
Olympic Challenge
I guess no one has any better ideas, so I'm declaring my official Olympic challenge to be finishing Cutaway -- hopefully it will fit! I already have the back and about half the front done, but I put it down several weeks ago because I was having trouble following the pattern. In the spirit of the Olympics, I will take on that challenge!
Posted by zarah at 8:21 PM | Comments (1)
She's back in action!
Hi everybody! I'm soooo glad to be well again! And I got some exciting news on my first day back on the land of the living... Simply Fibers is having another Knit-In! It's March 10 from 6-midnight. This time we're also going to have a fashion show of knitted items. I will probably enter my Conwy socks and maybe my Picovoli.
Hmm... what's new on the knitting front. It seems like I've finished a lot of projects lately. On the needles, I only have the Clapotis scarf (mostly done), a One Skein Wonder for Jeannine (mostly done), and Cutaway (long abandoned). I kept messing up the shoulder shaping on the front of Cutaway, where it gives you the direction in two different places then tells you to do them at the same time. At the last knit-it I knit it and ripped it out twice. Ergh. I think it is a knit that requires more concentration.
I've been wanting to start another pair of socks, but I'm planning to start a pair in March for Project Spectrum -- my Secret Pal sent the perfect yarn! It's self-striping, so I think I'm going to do a plain stockinette sock. Does anyone have any suggestions for a pattern? I just need something easy but I'm not quite to the point of making it up myself.
Anyway... I need something to knit! I guess I could work on Cutaway. What do you think? Finish up an old project or start a new one? I don't really have anything in mind.
Posted by zarah at 10:00 AM | Comments (2)
February 14, 2006
Flu B Gone!
I'm not sick anymore!!!!
Knitting news to follow.
Posted by zarah at 12:43 PM | Comments (2)
Flu
Sorry I've been so quiet lately. I've been suffering a nasty bout of the flu. I've missed three days of work and spent the whole weekend in bed. It's in my sinuses and is messing with my balance. I feel dizzyu and can't even think straight (much less knit). I think I'm finally getting better, though.
Has everyone been watching the Olympics? I think it's so inspiring, even when I don't understand what's going on. That goes for the luge and the Knitting Olympics -- you people are amazing! My Olympic project is a One-Skein Wonder exachange with Jeannine in Denmark. We've each taken measurements, and now we're knitting OSW's for each other - to be completed by the end of the Games. Considering my illness, maybe its good that I didn't pick something too challenging. =)
Happy Valentine's Day!
Posted by zarah at 10:29 AM | Comments (1)
February 10, 2006
FO: Conwy Socks
Well, I guess sick days are good for something! In between naps and doses of cold medicine, I finished Conwy the Second!
Thank you all so much for all your well-wishes. You guys are so great! I never knew how generous people could be until I started blogging.
Okay, enough with the sappy stuff... I give you: Conwy!
Post here
Project Details:
Pattern: "Conwy," Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, 1 1/2 skeins
Needle Size: 1 DPNs
Skills needed: knit, purl, "twining cable," picking up stitches, decrease (k2tog & ssk)
Pattern Modifications: None. The pattern didn't specify how long to knit the foot, except that it should be 2 inches shorter than your own foot before the decreases begin. I knit for 7 inches before the decreases (I wear a size 8 1/2).
Time to knit: Approx. 1 month
Final impressions: I've had Knitting on the Road for a while, but this is the first pattern I have knit from it. I really loved it -- intersting without being too challenging. I did have some problems with the twining cable on my first sock, and I learned that it can be quite tricky to rip back when there are cables involved. This was my first "really small needles" project. I guess I'm just starting to knit faster, because this really didn't seem to take too long, compared with other projects I have done.
The socks fit like a dream and are super-comfortable. Perfect for my Birkenstock clogs!
Posted by zarah at 10:00 AM | Comments (3)
February 9, 2006
Home sick
That is, I'm sick at home today, instead of at work. I think I might have bird flu. Or maybe its just a nasty case of regular flu. Anyway, I have made some progrss on Conwy the Second! This picture shows how much of the second sock I was able to knit with the leftovers from the first skein. (Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock)
Okay, I'm going to go back to sleep now! I hope everyone else is doing well.
Posted by zarah at 9:33 AM | Comments (3)
February 7, 2006
Two surprises
I went home to visit my parents this weekend. It was the weekend before my mom's birthday (Hi Mom!) and so my sister and I decided to surprise her. We set it up with my dad to make sure she would be home on Friday night. We both drove home that day and met up a few blocks from my parents' house. We drove over together and rang the doorbell... she was very surprised! (My sister and I both live over 2 hours' drive away, so we don't get home too often.)
This is a picture from Seasons restaurant in Gallatin, MO. It is only open on Friday and Saturday, but if you're ever in northwest Missouri and looking for a good meal, this is your place!
I got Surprise #2 when I came back home to Springfield on Sunday afternoon. I was talking to my husband on the phone while I was driving back and he told me I had gotten a package in the mail. I figured it was from my Secret Pal, so I told him to open it. He found these little packages inside. He said, "it feels like yarn" and left them for me to open when I got home.
So, what was inside the packages, you ask?
Well, I got quite a haul for my first SP gift. Dark chocolate Hershey kisses, a darning needle, a cute little notebook, some blank card with a knitting theme, the self-patterning sock yarn of course, AND a gift card to Barnes & Noble to buy myself a knitting book!
Thanks Secret Pal! You totally spoiled me. And I love it.
Posted by zarah at 10:01 AM | Comments (2)
February 6, 2006
Attention Ozarks knitters - Fiber Fair this Spring
12th Annual Fiber Fair - May 20 2006
Sponsored by Highland Fiber Artists, this event will be held at Webster County Fairgrounds located at N. Marshall St. at Banning St in Marshfield, Missouri from 10am to 4pm (rain or shine). Booth info: $10 for 8x10 pavilion space. Contact for vendor information. Estimated attendance: 300-400. Show & sales of fiber producing animals, finished items produced from animal and plant fibers, supplies for dyeing, knitting, spinning and weaving, education demonstrations, workshops, children's hands-on booth, fashion show and more. Free admission and parking. For more information contact Helen Grace Muzzy at 950 Fellowship Rd., Marshfield, MO 65706 or call 417-859-7840.
Posted by zarah at 12:21 PM
Photography blog
I recently discovered a really neat photography blog, A Walk Through Durham Township, PA. The photography is amazing and the landscape reminds me a lot of where I grew up in northwest Missouri.
This site is definitely inspiring me to learn more about photography.
Posted by zarah at 10:00 AM
February 3, 2006
Knit-In Photos
Here are some pictures I took during the Knit-In at Simply Fibers last weekend. It was a really fun event, held after-hours at my LYS here in Springfield, MO. (and there was a sale - bonus!)
Of course, in typical fashion, I didn't take any pictures of myself! But you can tell everyone is having fun and getting lots of knitting done! (This was before the sale was announced - we all went from knitting mode to shopping mode very quickly after that!)
These are the nice ladies I was sitting with during the Knit-In. Can you tell that the two in the middle are mother and daughter? I think it is universal that knitters are really nice!
Posted by zarah at 10:00 AM | Comments (4)
February 2, 2006
I'd like a heaping bowl of YARN, please!
Posted by zarah at 10:00 AM | Comments (5)
February 1, 2006
Wedding pics (not mine)
Here's the happy couple! These pictures were actually taken by the groom's 5 year old nephew, who was playing with my camera while we (the bridal party) were riding around in the limo before the reception. They are some of the best pictures I got all night!
Here's me and half my husband!
Posted by zarah at 9:02 PM | Comments (1)
I heart free patterns
A new Magknits is up! (now, with more knitted sushi)
Posted by zarah at 10:39 AM