New FO and progress reports

(That's Finished Object for you non-knitting types...)

I really love how this piece came out. As seen in an earlier post this is my take on Interweave Knits Montego Bay scarf. It is knit is Southwest Trading Company Bamboo.


The drape is really wonderful and the pattern looks so much more complicated than it is (it's just a K1,Yo repeat on the front and purl on the back). I thought the tiny braid fringe was going to make me CRAZY but I am glad I did it, it looks good.

I decided I really didn't like the way the manly leg warmers were going so I started over. Why did I think I would be satisfied with something knit in acrylic anyway? The microfiber was in my stash (leftover from another time I thought I wanted to use it but decided not to ... I see a pattern developing...) so no harm, no foul, but I just didn't like the way the project turned out.

Luckily I remembered I also had some Regia sock yarn in my stash from the time I thought I wanted to make socks. I realized later I have no desire WHATSOEVER to make socks (I thumb my nose at the knitters who are scoffing at me for this statement!!) but that is a story for another day.


Manly leg warmers: take 2. This is unblocked but already so much more cozy and user-friendly to knit. It's got a swirled rib body section with K2,p2 ribbing top and bottom. And because it's superwash wool we've preserved the ease of care I was originally going for.

The visit to Milwaukee went well and I met some fellow knitters/crocheters in the prop shop there. I have a trip to Indianapolis for another interview this week so send some good travel mojo my way!

Bosom Buddies

So, here are the aforementioned sock yarn and mohair that I plan to use together on some sort of lacy little thing. So sweet, my Toronto yarn and my Texas yarn, coming together to make something wonderful! Awwww... I'm thinking small a lacy cowl/hood. There's about 225 yards of the mohair and 290 of the wool so that should be just about right.

My other Texas yarn, the linen, has been frustrating me to no end!! I started a project, not once but twice, only to tear it all out. The first time because I realized I would run out of yarn if I made the bag that big, the second time because I somehow managed to twist when I joined the round and realized about 20 rows in that I was making a mobius. Not really my intention. I rewound the linen back into a ball and have set it aside for the moment.

My current project: Manly Legwarmers!

I was talking to my dad a week or two ago (he's a blog reader! yea!) and he mentioned his workspace is quite freezing year round. He manages to dress for the climate in most ways but his legs are always cold. Thus the idea for the manly legwarmer was born. Made from soft, easy care Microspun by Lionbrand, it's a quick knit in the round on #5 double pointed needles. The other one should be done in the next few days and then I'll put up a pattern. It looks like one skein will do it but keep your fingers crossed for me, will ya?

Eat Your Veggies part 1

So, here it is, un-blocked, un-seamed, collar-less ... my latest creation which I plan to call the Eat Your Veggies sweater.

Question for any knitters reading this: at what point does the creation of a piece stop being a modification of a pattern and become your own pattern?

Case in point: I started with the idea of a short sleeve, striped sweater. I then found and used two different patterns from Yarn Girl's Guide To Knitting Beyond the Basics to get an idea of sizing and proportion, etc. However, I used a significantly different gauge yarn from either pattern, therefore changing all the numbers. I combined the stripes from one with the sleeve style of the other, and plan to do a polo collar, which neither of the originals has.

My question is can I put this "pattern" up as my pattern? I certainly don't plan to sell the pattern so maybe this isn't that big of a deal but I'm curious. Also, I'm hoping that by posting a free pattern I'll gain blog readers who aren't already my family and friends (which may actually someday earn me money seeing as I have Google and Amazon ads placed on my site).

So, weigh in. I really want to know. Can I call this creation my pattern? Is it really just a modification of another, copyrighted pattern that is someone else's intellectual property upon which I would be infringing by posting the steps necessary to making this finished object? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Separation anxiety and delayed gratification

As I was packing for my trip to Texas I pondered, of course, what yarn to bring with me. I've already chosen an airplane project (more on that below) but will likely need something more to occupy me over the 3 week stay. In the end I decide on some Cascade 22o to make an ear-warmer (or hat) and gloves set. This second project, however, will not fit in my carry-on, only in my checked bag. As I pack it up I realize that, in addition to the sadness of being away from my stash for nearly a month, I am feeling real, honest to goodness anxiety about checking my yarn! I find the minuscule possibility that it might be lost almost unbearable! This is, I am fairly certain, NOT normal ... :)

My airplane project: Interweave Knits Montego Bay scarf.

The original was done in blue variegated silk, mine will be burgundy bamboo (nice drape, I have a ton of it). Simple-check, compact for travel-check, durable yarn-check, more interesting than stockinette-check. We are cleared for knitting!

We are not, however, cleared for take off ... it seems my dreams of spinach enchiladas will be put on hold for a few days. Remember that lovely scenic photo of the snow out my window? Well, those nice little snow showers have backed up travel all over the northeast. The first leg of my flight to Houston today was cancelled and the soonest they can get me out is Tuesday. I waited around on standby for another flight for a few hours today but when they started asking for volunteers from the ticketed passengers to give up their seats I realized it was pretty hopeless. Besides, that was just the first leg of the trip and I was just as likely to get stuck in either Newark or Cleveland until tomorrow or Tuesday. Anyway, made some calls, rearranged the plans, and will begin my trek to the Lone Star State all over again in a couple days.

Mmmm ... pie

I like pie! Today I decided to do some baking. Since I had some strawberries in the freezer from a fruit picking adventure last summer I decided to make tiny strawberry pies. I have this fascination with making tiny food. It's so cute! Plus you get a whole pie just for you! And because I was feeling cheezy I even used a tiny gingerbread man cookie cutter to make the top crust so it's like little people holding hands on top. Awwwww ... and then when you eat the pie you can bite their little heads off! Muahahahaha ... sinister cackling ...



All this baking is keeping the apartment nice and toasty, seeing as outside it looks like this ...



Started snowing this morning, supposed to keep going until Sunday morning and we may see about a foot of snow before it's all over. Hope it's not too bad because I have a plane to catch on Sunday!



Here's a little sneak peak of my latest project. Apparently I am in a stripey mood lately.