Oogyknitter

I haven't even cast on for the Dunella Scarf (aka COBWEB lace, aka Lace KAL), and already I've changed my mind about a couple of things - at least for now. Firstly - I've got a set of ChiaoGoo minis that are designed specifically for knitting lace, and I've never used them.  If I don't use them for this project, when would I ever?  They come in sizes 000, 00, 0, 1, and 1.5 (that's 1.5, 1.75, 2.0, 2.25, and 2.5 mm, respectively), along with three different lengths of cable.  I'm going to start with the size 1s, since that is also the size of my Addi Turbos.  There is also a slight difference in the pointy-ness of the needles: That's the ChiaoGoo on the top. Secondly - as you can also see in the first picture, I've acquired some unsegmented tapeworm dental floss.  I'll start with this, but will try the fishing line as well just to see how they compare. I guess all that leaves is the casting on and knitting of the bottom border!  I...

So - remember how elated I was when the Hocus Pocus (currently becoming MONKEYSOCKS) yarn arrived in the mail a few weeks ago?  Now, multiply that by like 5, and add a fear factor multiplier as well - because look what arrived yesterday along with a note from Neuro about starting a lace KAL: Folks - that is some serious lace knitting there, those Shetlanders don't mess around.  First off, that yarn is COBWEB weight - a single ply, spun very fine.  It makes laceweight look like rope.  Secondly, this is "true lace" - that is, there are increases and decreases (what makes the holes) happening EVERY ROW, so you don't get a break by straight knitting or purling every other row (although there are some solid places inbetween).  Among other things, this calls for the use of lifelines. In knitting, especially complex knitting like lace or cable work, things can go wrong - stitches get dropped accidentally, counting goes awry, YOs get overlooked, you name it....

This morning I cast on for May Hat: I'm making this using some of the Northampton left over from my dad's slippers.  For some reason I way overestimated the yardage I needed for this lighter color (which is a subtle heather that looks just plain tan in this photo but is much nicer in person, creatively named Brown Heather), and I have nearly two full skeins remaining.  May Hat is one of the more unisex-looking hats of the series thus far (as is June Hat, but let's not get ahead of ourselves), so I thought a more neutral color would be suitable. It will be a while before I need to release the provisional cast-on, but I think I figured out what I've been doing wrong all these years.  The latest set of directions I consulted (that actually accompanied the hat, but who looks at those when you think you already know how to do something!) has you picking up the live stitches starting at the bind-off end of the crochet chain.  Previously, I would always start at the ...

My Wild Iris pack from Miss Babs arrived today!  This is for the mystery shawl KAL that starts in a few days.  What I need to do between now and then is figure out which colors I'd like to have at the edges, and which in the middle.  So many choices: She also enclosed some stitch markers (I think I'll need them), a cute little straight ruler, and a small sample of BFL fingering weight (the color is called You Rang?, which is a dark, raven-ey purple when viewed in direct sunlight). On the way back from getting the mail, I stopped at the tree that the red-winged blackbirds have been guarding - and from which they were shrieking their warning cries at me as I passed by.  This is why - cherries!! They're still green, but I'll bet those little birdies aren't waiting around for them to ripen! I also explained to them that I wouldn't be going after their fruit hoard any time soon - look what's all over that tree (and everywhere else around here, it tu...

All the socks had their photo sessions yesterday afternoon! First are the Mercury Socks, aka SRS #1, all set for delivery to their intended recipient: Next up are SRS #2; the pattern is Monkey Socks (because who can make too many pairs of MONKEYSOCKS?), and the yarn is Hawthorne, color Concordia: So, a couple of things.  1) I really need to stop giving Hawthorne such a hard time, even though it does tend to give me a hard time.  I think it's because it's so round - and also has such a tight twist (Neuro pointed this out to me, it makes sense now.).  I'm going to venture that this makes for some sturdy socks.  (Maybe not so much for a well-behaved shawl, however.)  2) I chose Monkey Socks for this particular skein of yarn because it is hand dyed, and we all know the evil COLORPOOLING that can sometimes happen with some hand dyed yarns.  Patterns using slipped stitches can also deal with these issues, but the Hawthorne is so round that I th...

My parents just left after spending a delightful long weekend with us.  One of the highlights was the work they did to build the beautiful puzzle that Neuro had brought us during her recent visit: (They love this puzzle so much they wrapped it up in cardboard and duct tape and took it home with them!!) They brought us a propane-fueled fire pit for the deck (that they had won in a raffle!), which my dad was quick to assemble; the two chairs I'd ordered for the deck also arrived on Friday, and they were hastily assembled as well.  There were Allen wrenches flying around all over the place!!  That fire thing is great and we had a lot of fun watching the flames.  The deck is starting to look like a happening place!  I've ordered two more chairs (since we liked the first two); the table will need an umbrella eventually as well - all in due time! While they built the puzzle, I finished the SRS #1 and started SRS #2 (pics to follow; hopefully SRS #1 can get de...

When she visited me last month, Neuro had to endure a guest room that was warm with no ventilation: the only window, a skylight, wouldn't open.  I quickly realized that, although this room is delightfully sunny and cozy in the winter, it's not tolerable on warmer days.  I decided to switch it to a yarn room from a guest room, and then move the guest part (mostly the futon) into my current study/yarn room. Little did we know that the movers must have disassembled the futon to move it, and also to get it into that room.  There was no way we were going to get it out of that room and into the new room without taking it apart.  And we had no idea what was involved. Hello internet!  I had to read a bunch of different things, but once I did that and then studied the thing in the daylight, it was pretty straightforward - although there was some elbow grease and careful balancing involved so as not to bend the bolts: It's now back together and in the proce...

I spent some time yesterday afternoon enjoying the nice weather and finishing all the pre-felting work for my dad's slippers: (It was early enough in the day that I was still drinking water, although it was of the flavored and carbonated variety!). While I was out there, the two hummingbirds that have been visiting the feeder pretty much ignored me and kept up their frequent trips.  At one point it sounded like I was being buzzed by a drone - they can make a lot of noise as they zoom around! Speaking of noise, at one point I heard the FWAP FWAP of large wings overhead; I looked up and there was a heron, headed east.  It's possible that it had been perched on one of the trees along the driveway before it took flight, but I didn't see that part. I also spied a yellow and black butterfly a couple of times (or there were two flying around).  I thought they were more yellow and rounded than the Yellow Swallowtail appears to be, but I don't have any better suggesti...

Since I’m in the midst of flinging around a bunch of familiar knitting projects, and still planning out the next ones, I thought this would be a good time for another book report! I had this one for a while before reading it fairly recently – The Informant, by Kurt Eichenwald.   This true story is a bit dated – the book was published in 2000 and evidently there was a movie in 2009 – but it’s still a fascinating and relevant read.   Eichenwald began his career as a journalist with the New York Times, and has since written, among other things, Conspiracy of Fools (about the shenanigans at Enron - another excellent book!). The main character in The Informant is a scientist-turned-business-executive, Mark Whitacre, who spends most of the book interacting closely with a small group of FBI agents in order to reveal inappropriate collusion and price fixing between large-scale food additives manufacturers.   Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is at the center of the...

I took this pic yesterday, but it could be from any random day of the week - morning coffee and knitting whilst awaiting the cooking of the oatmeal: Oogyhubby had a great idea for a seating arrangement where Neuro and I spent our mornings and evenings happily knitting and drinking (coffee and adult beverages, respectively).  It's also the perfect vantage point to the stove, where I can keep watch on the bubbling oatmeal (or anything else, for that matter). By now I'm closing in on completing SRS #1, and hoping to cast on for #2 before heading out to visit with LW and crew for the evening.  (I can usually manage to navigate some straightforward knitting inbetween the lively conversation, pets, and adult beverages - but I'll be happy if I make it through the ribbing!)  I'm the cocktail culprit for these events - I like to find a fun drink that I think most or all would like to try, and then see what comes of it all.  Sometimes it's a huge hit - like the time I ...

Old Problem:  Can work on only one pair of socks at a time that require the participation of the Karbonz: Mercury Socks (AKA SRS #1) on the left; Hocus Pocus MONKEYSOCK #2 awaiting beginning on the right. New Problem: I admit - they're both First World problems.  But what fun!! In other happenings: I need to start preparing the house for my parents' visit next week.  Thanks to Neuro, we identified some needed improvements, not the least of which is re-thinking the location of the guest room, especially in the warmer weather.  As always, it's also an occasion for a good cleaning!

At long last, the FM socks were presented to their intended recipient last evening, on the occasion of her wedding - which turned out to be a most unusual, very enjoyable, and super fun event.  This is the second or third pair of socks I've made for her, and last night was the first time we met.  I'm sure it won't be the last, either! Before they left, the socks posed for some pictures.  Here they are in their finality: Here are some close-ups in case you'd like to see more details. Lime slices on leg: Lime slices on toe: Salted Rim (aka the backwards beaded lace): And the acceptable heel (Eye of Partridge, but done in reverse due to the toe-up): In the meantime, I got another inch or so done on SRS (Special Request Sock) #1 and finished the knitting on my dad's slippers.  I'm feeling like some spinning might be in order for later today - I'd really like to get that first half of the Only One spun up and ready for its next phase!...

This arrived yesterday and is currently awaiting placement in its final location in our house (probably somewhere in that room with the pink carpeting): Long story short: my parents are coming to visit later this month, and my dad prefers to sleep in a recliner; we had nothing here even remotely resembling such a thing.  Fortunately, in this day and age the furniture manufacturers understand that a lot of people sleep in recliners, and so they are making chairs that are firm, durable, and roomy.  This one is made by Lane (species Rancho), and I got it through Amazon.  I have nothing but good things to say about my experience with the entire process, and I think my dad is really going to enjoy this chair.  I haven't tried knitting in it yet, but I do expect to spend many happy hours reading in it (that will require a lamp, which will be a whole other adventure - all in due time!). I also took a picture of one of the flowers on the now-confirmed lilac bush: ...

Knitting updates from the deck earlier this week: Special Request Socks #1 are in the bag there, and the brown yarn is what will become Dad Slipper #2.  The beverage is a gin martini with a splash of Grillo's pickle juice.  The pickles are long gone now, but the juice is still absolutely delicious. Not pictured:  FM socks (cuff is done but needs to be grafted - the wedding is Saturday so I need to step it up!!), Only One spinning, Monkey Socks (on hiatus awaiting the return of the Karbonz), May Hat, and 8 million other projects in various stages of completion. One of our deer definitely has a baby - I saw the both of them a couple of fields over the other day when I was driving back from the recycling place.  I haven't seen the rest of the herd in some time, but it sounds like there's lots of food in the forest this time of year so perhaps they only venture out for lawn salad occasionally? A couple of hummers stop by the feeder periodically, bu...

So while I'm finishing the FM sock cuff, working on Special Request Mercury Socks, and chipping away at my dad's slippers, I'm also thinking some more about the newly-dyed Caprettas, particularly since Neuro made the suggestion about combining the two mauve/lilac colors. I definitely want to make a scarf/shawl from these yarns; such items add a lot of wardrobe flexibility as well as warmth.  And now I associate these specific yarns with our awesome dyeing weekend as well as Neuro's beautiful lilacs that have overtaken nearly all of New England!! I could go with a two-color option, such as All About That Brioche .  These skeins are 460 yards each, so I'd have plenty of yarn. OR - I could go crazy and use all three colors in something like  Color Affection .  Neuro and I originally thought that the blue color was so amazing that it had to stand on its own.  But 460 yards doesn't yield that much fabric. What do you think? There is always an opportunity f...