Tagged for a memememe

Thanks to SweetP for drawing my attention to this meme, I've been really slack about reading the blogs I follow lately - need to get back into doing it. Meme's are great for that - both for writing and reading blogs.

What is your current obsession?
I guess I'm between obsessions at the moment, which is probably why I feel so restless. Once I get some more money though I'll put my World of Warcraft account into credit and probably start playing again - I've been on a self-imposed ban due to needing time to focus on my study... but that's finished as of this past Thursday, so I am a free woman.

What is your weirdest obsession?
Some people think knitting / yarn is weird. Other people used to think my compulsive buying of books is weird. (I don't do it anymore.... I switched to yarn but also to a single income and now don't 'compulsively' buy anything). Other people think my babies wearing cloth nappies is weird. Really, it comes down to a question of a definiton of weird.

Or, I could be simple and say - banana splits.

What are you wearing today?
Pajamas at the moment. Though to my credit, it's midnight here.

What's for dinner?
What WAS for dinner was KFC because I am lazy and a fat girl at heart. Dinner tomorrow (today?) will be pork mince with lentils and couscous though. Assuming the vile weevils that have made our pantry their home haven't bedded down in the couscous that is.

What would you eat for your last meal?
Mexican. Nearly anything mexican.

What's the last thing you bought?
Technically, KFC dinner. If we're not counting food.... then a couple (small!) pieces of Tupperware.

Do you have a nickname and/or handle, and if so, how did you get it?
I go by 'Wonder' and versions thereof after a Natalie Merchant song. Wasn't intended to be a long-term nickname, but it's stuck.

What are you listening to right now?
The background noise is DH's computer - I think he's watching an episode of something or other on there. Nothing in my immediate surrounds though.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
My 'home', in California.

Which language do you want to learn?
New Zealand Sign Language.

What do you love most about where you currently live?
The house - That we own (well, with a mortage). So at least I don't have to panic over yet another spill on the carpet, it's our own responsibility...
The neighbourhood - That conviences such as bus route and dairy are within easy walking distance.
The city - That virtually everything is here, in one form or another.
The country - The scenery. The people. The mindset. The freedom.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe?
Probably my velvet tie-die elastic waist skirt, which has fit me in all my fluxuations of weight, and is now around 9 years old. Needs a little mending, but not bad for a 9 year old skirt.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully homeschooling my kids, in a different (slightly bigger) house that we own, and otherwise doing much the same as it is now.

Describe your personal style?
Funky, fashion victim. Possibly towards the hippy-ish.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on?
Top up my WoW account, and buy a decent winter coat.

What are you going to do after this?
Go to bed. Or just possibly, read.

What are your favourite films?
Shrek, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, 10 Things I Hate About You

What inspires you?
People, mostly. People that are real and down to earth and still seem to be doing much better than I can manage. People like Kelly, Mama-to-Many, Sarah Bean, and many other "everyday" people that make life a value-add enterprise.

Your favourite books?
All of the Diana Gabaldon books, Time Traveller's Wife, and a good amount of 'trashy' escapism reading at it's best - mostly stand-alone romance novels or soft crime.

Do you collect anything?
Does yarn count?

What makes you follow a blog?
People that inspire me, as above. People that make me want to be a better person. People with a great voice. People that talk about what I'm interested in, of course - mostly knitting, pets, reading, and life in general. And frequent posting doesn't hurt. (Yeah, I should follow my own advice here...)

What was the most enjoyable thing you did today?
I designed and sewed a bag to hold the bathroom reading material, in the hopes of stopping K1 from biffing all our books / magazines / newspapers into the toilet. Not to mention keeping things cleaner and neater. Was sewed entirely from stash, in an afternoon, and matches the toilet decor (what there is of it) too.




The rules:1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own.2. Tag eight other people.

Tagged:
Caity
Cheri
Sarah
Wendy

and anyone else that should feel so inclined... ;-)

At long last

My wide-leg longies pattern is nearly ready to be released.

But, before it can be, I need some pattern testers and a name for the pattern!

Thus, I reckon it's time for a little competition. Submit pattern name ideas via the comments section (make sure to either link your blog, Ravelry name, or leave an email address) and the winning entry will receive 100g of hand-dyed 8-ply (DK weight) yarn - perfect to do the longies in! (but no obligation to actually do so). International entries welcome.

Entries close 5pm Friday, June 5, 2009 New Zealand time.

Running behind on life

I stole the title phrase from a fellow blogger friend of mine. It fits perfectly at the moment.

That massive list of gifts I intended to make.

Yeah, it didn't happen.

The lace scarf for a friend. I've discovered I HATE knitting lace in 2ply. Seriously. It's a simple lace pattern really. Too simple. I started it at LEAST 5 times, probably closer to 10 times if you count the amount of times I cast on with the long-tail method then ran out of tail with 5 or so stitches left. And I managed to knit an inch or two - at the longest, I think, three inches thereabouts - before I royally stuffed up the pattern.

Lifelines are my friend. However this was not a lesson I heeded for this knit. Everytime I thought about putting a lifeline in, I stuffed up the pattern, and had to frog the thing anything. I would still like to finish it... if only to say "so THERE" to the project as a whole.... but right now I'm so hacked off with both it and myself that the yarn is sitting (and probably tangling) on the end table of unfinished projects.

Next item: Katerina's Op Art blankie. Well, it kinda was finished, and kinda not. I ran out of wool two stripes away from the edge. Rats. But hey, it's big enough to at least be a pram / throw blankie for a baby / kid, so I shrugged that off. I finished the knitting of it around 2am on Christmas morning. The blocking, however, not so much. It still needs to be blocked. But before I do that, I must finish weaving in the ends. The hundreds of ends.



But overall, on the 'right side' it's not too bad. Even without blocking.



The pattern was nice as well... garter stitch in the round, so a pain in the bum in that regard... but still better than seaming (and thus dealing with MORE ends). Also just when it would tend to get boring, it'd be time to change colour... so that kept it lively, for a garter stitch blanket. I used the WOOLganic wool I bought in a co-op a friend ran, and it is simply devine. The wool is slightly lighter than the one reccommended in the pattern, and thus I used the recommended needle size for the wool rather than the pattern, but I probably could have afforded to go up a needle size. Mind you, the blanket's not too thick - but it would have done fine being slightly looser. And thus would have stretched the wool further and had a bigger blanket to boot. Now, however, I think it will just be winter blanket.... that sucker is WARM.

Other projects:
Socks for hubby. Didn't get done. Didn't get started. Looked longingly at the wool a few times though.

Double-knit scarf for my step-mother. Did get started. Discovered double-knit is a bitch. Got to the colourwork and didn't have a clue what to do. Will have to do some reading somewhere to figure that out, unless anyone has done this technique and can tell me.

Knit toy / bear / doll / bunny / whatever for Zamara - didn't happen. Didn't even buy the wool for this one. Slightly sad at myself for it too, Zamara didn't have anything handknit by me for Christmas. I also had plans to do her a rainbow dress, but that didn't happen either. Road to hell, best intentions, yeah, that's me. To save face (to myself, because seriously she's not even three yet and does NOT know the difference) I sewed her a crayon roll at 4am on Christmas morning.



The sewing of it is crap, but hey, she's two....

Accidentally by design

I got this lovely 4ply yarn in the hand-dyed yarn swap on TNN.



The suggested yarn was for opera gloves, but I wasn't convinced I'd wear them... plus I've recently finished fingerless mitts anyway, so I'm a little over it. But because of the wonderful vibrant colours, and the 4-plyness, I figured it'd make a darling little something for Katerina.

But then I had a devil of a time finding a pattern for a cute dress or frilly top that was written for 4ply yarn, that was a free pattern and that was cute. I found several things for thicker yarn, and several things that were wintery, but I wanted something light and summery.

I did find one pattern, that called for more yarn than I had, that wasn't quite what I wanted, but it was almost the right weight of yarn (5ply instead of 4ply) so I figured I'd fudge it, and knit that since it was the closest thing I could find to what I really wanted.

Except then I altered the pattern so it was done in the round.
And then I figured I'd rather not have it be a cardigan at all, because I rarely put cardigans on babies, and certainly not in the late spring and/or summer.
So then the item 'became' a dress.
And then did away with the sleeves.
And then I did a gauge swatch to determine how many stitches I actually needed to cast on, since it was no longer the same ease (as cardi's are different to dresses in that regard) and since it wasn't the right weight of yarn anyway.
And then I changed a few things about the bodice, too.

So all in all, I have a lovely dress that was inspired by a different pattern, but the only thing it actually has in common with it is the lace stitch pattern. Which is just any old lace stitch pattern.

I'm still to name this outfit, but I'm thinking either the Butterfly dress or the Zamerina. I want to knit one in a plain colour too, to better show off the design of the actual knitting too.


That's not the best picture, it's not nearly as crooked / lopsided as it looks.

And on my incredibly uncooperative model:


My only slight reserve is that I should do something with the arms, to tidy up the rolled edges a bit. But I haven't bothered, and to be honest, it doesn't worry that me that much.

It's finished...

The Venus top is done.

I have mixed emotions about it.

a) I'm thrilled to be done with it, I'd originally intended this to be finished a couple weeks ago but what with exams and life it just got put on hold (with all other knitting and sewing projects)

b) I'm really wishing I'd done the Large instead of the 1X size. I think it would look better with more negative ease. I originally planned to make the large, but my gauge swatch came out too small, so I figured I'd size up since using larger needles resulted in too loose a fabric... it would have left nothing to the imagination. Which wasn't quite my intention.

c) I think part of my feelings with this is coloured by the photos of me in it - somehow I hadn't realised I'm that big. But, meh, oh well.

I had a couple minor issues with the pattern.... but they were minor in the run of things... certainly didn't really effect my knitting of it.

Blanket overambition

Apologies for the utter silence, my life has been full. I've now officially finished the semester - which might just squeeze me a BA if I end up passing a certain course - and with exams and parties and family hum drum there's been little time for knitting, and even less for blogging.

I'm still trucking away on Venus, but I'm now the the not-quite-finished but incredibly impatient stage. I'm OVER it and just want to WEAR it already. It's no fault of the pattern, it's just me being almost, but not quite, done and impatient with myself.

Meanwhile, I'm planning and plotting - and all my upcoming (but not yet cast on) projects seem to be blankets.

Firstly I'm knitting the OpArt blanket for Katerina for Christmas. Because I still haven't finished her baby blanket, and I'm thinking although I still intend to finish the blanket, I don't intend for it to be her baby blanket as such anymore. Now that she's born, she needs a more girly one.

Secondly I'm doing an Afghan for my husband's sister, who's getting married in March. It's a wedding present. I'm debating between the Tree of Life blanket (Rav link) or just a granny square style blanket with variegated yarn. Still haven't decided. Might not until I cast on.

Thirdly I'm thinking I'll do another baby shawl, for a good friend of mine. She doesn't know it's coming, I'm not sure she reads the blog.... but I'm wondering if that's overcommitting myself at all. Hmmm. I guess really I just want to do another shawl, cause in the end, it was fun ;-) So it's a good excuse!

We'll see what gets done though. So far I've only bought the yarn for the OpArt blanket, though I have some variegated that I'll use if I go that route for the Wedding Afghan... will likely need to buy more of those colours, but I have enough to start.

Because I'm procrastinating

Might as well do the knitting meme I saw on Sassenach's blog - because, well, why not?

The official rules are mark with bold the things you have knit at least once, with italics the ones you plan to do sometime, and leave the rest.

Afghan - I'm actually planning to make one this coming year..... best laid plans and all. ;-)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl - several, now
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down - done heaps!
Socks: toe-up - tons of socks, and yet, haven't done these yet.
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat - lots. Adult hats, baby hats. I quite enjoy making hats.
Knitting with silk - I've knitted with blends of it, but never anywhere near pure. Would like to - would love to be able to *afford* it!
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater - two 'vests' / sleeveless sweaters for me, one sweater for the toddler, which I figure counts :P
Drop stitch patterns - I have one in my queue....
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - had some plans to do this not too long ago, but it hasn't eventuated...
Slip stitch patterns - did a dress with a bodice that utilised a slip-stitch pattern.
Knitting with banana fiber yarn - originally I wanted to do some of this, but I've since heard that the yarn is scratchy and horrible.... so I may just forego it.
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn - I've done pure bamboo yarn and blended with cotton. Blended was by far my preference.
Two end knitting - huh??? I'm not even familiar with this!
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan - well, a baby sized cardigan. But obviously I counted it. Started planning one for me though, so that must make up for the other half ;-)
Toy/doll clothing - would like to do some for Christmas
Knitting with circular needles - all. the. time.
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting - my main mode of knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns - enough to know that although I often like the look of cables, I don't love the actual knitting.
Lace patterns - hated them at first but it's really growing on me. And love the finished look of it.
Publishing a knitting book - ohhhhhh but it'd be nice!
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit - I have no doubt I'll be making
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental) - enough that I can fumble my way through it, but that's about it.
Knitting to make money - well, a little bit. Would love to do more.
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca - can't say I love alpaca that much. It's very soft.... but it sheds like mad.
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items - do dishcloths count?
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn - kinda. I've used Manos de Uruguay - so it's handspun, but not like by someone I know. I've also knitted with yarn my friend Lou spun... but the item it was in ended up getting frogged, so I'm not really sure if that counts. Thus I have the experience, but not the proof.
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting - not counting Christmas gifts I take it, as that's another item.
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking - something about this scares me. Which is probably all the more reason to do it.
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere - I've done a blend, but not pure. Oh, if only for the budget for it!
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern - I didn't design it, but I wrote it in "pattern speak" for a friend.
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting - a couple items worked brilliantly. One item in particular was an epic fail.
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - funny, I've knit a pattern from an online magazine but not from a printed one. Despite having bought several, with full intentions of knitting patterns from them. Some day. Eventually.
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting - say what?
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public