FO: Strangling Vine

Finally.

After many stops and stops, a lot of procrastinating and even more T-Pins, I finally blocked and finished my Strangling Vine scarf. I unpinned it before Chicks with Sticks at Bluebonnet tonight, so I could take it in for a proper FO photo shoot.

I used US size 2 aluminum circular needles from my Boye Needlemaster and less than one skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk in "Capri." I used more than half the skein, but I still have enough left for a small project.

If you look closely, you can see little irregularities around the edges from the T-pins, but it's not very noticeable. In fact, it looks like I did it on purpose to add some sort of semi-picot edging.

The pattern is free, but the designer asks that you perform a Random Act of Kindness in exchange for using it. For my RAOK, I donated a small amount to the Night of Too Many Stars telethon to benefit the New York Center for Autism. It's a good cause. (And Comedy Central has Jerry Lewis beat when it comes to telethons.)

I hope it stays this well blocked. It stayed pinned down longer than it had to, because I was procrastinating on taking out all those pins.

I got plenty of compliments at Bluebonnet, and Suna even took some pictures for herself.

I can't wait until it gets cold again, so I can actually wear it.

FO: Fourth of July Scarf

Yesterday I completed the latest in my stashbusting scarves. It's kind of sad that my last three FOs have been furry scarves. At least this one is not quite as furry.

I used two balls of Patons Twister in Bongo Blue and my US size 9 Knit Lite needles.

It occurred me that I should try something more creative with my novelty yarn. I probably will eventually. For now, its good to have easy knits for occasions like watching fireworks on Independence Day.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

It may look like I'm done blocking...

...but I'm not.

*sigh*

I went to Jo-Ann and got a fourth box of T-Pins. But I'm still don't have enough for the very edge. I may have been able to take some of the pins off the sides, but this project has been special since the beginning. I'm not going to skimp on the blocking now that I've come this far. I've already fudged the end because I was about to run into the wall, and I don't want to unpin the whole thing and move it. (Yes, the pins are in the carpet.)

While I was at Jo-Ann, I saw that the striping version of Jo-Ann Sensations Angel Hair is on clearance. In between that and the coupons for the Fourth of July weekend, I'm having to use restraint.

I also got a good look at Spa and Country from the new Naturally Caron line. Caron is the latest craft store brand to offer up baffling blends of luxury fibers and acrylic. (Bernat has some similar yarns in their Natural Blends collection.)

Intriguing, but I'm saving my money for The Knitting Nest's Tom Hanks Birthday Sale.

One more box to go...

I wanted to post one last picture before bed. This is how far I got on blocking my Strangling Vine scarf tonight. I still need one more box of T-Pins.

A Million Little T-Pins

The Finishing on the Firsts Ravelry group got me going, but I still haven't finished blocking my Strangling Vine scarf. I'm farther along than last time, but I still have a long way to go.

Just before I took this picture, I had started on the third box of T-Pins. My goal is to at least finish the third box tonight. I think it will take at least four to finish. I don't know if I have fourth lying around, or of I'll need to buy another box.

I know that's a lot of pins, but other knitters have told me there's no such thing as too many pins when it comes to blocking lace. (Or maybe it was blocking in general.)

In other Ravelry news, I joined the "Tour de Fleece" group, and I plan to do some Navajo plying during the Tour de France. I haven't been spinning much since I got stuck while plying my Merino. I'm hoping this will get me going again.

For the parting shot, I made some good progress on my Broken Scarf today, and I', realizing that striping the two skeins was the right choice. I'm also taking suggestions for a better name.

WIP: Broken Scarf (Working Title)

So after sleeping on my swatches (not literally, of course) I decided to knit my scarf "the right way" and alternate the two skeins of yarn.

A while back I bought Knitting With Hand-Dyed Yarns, not because I wanted to knit a specific project, but because I thought it would be good inspiration. It's paid off. There is a whole section on broken garter stitch. (Hence the working title "Broken Scarf."

Startitis continues.

Meanwhile, tomorrow I'm determined to block Strangling Vine tomorrow for the "Finishing on the Firsts" Ravelry group. Hopefully we'll swap one scarf for another.

FO: WALL-E Scarf

This wasn't quite a one sitting scarf like this one, but I did manage to finish this in one day.

Today my friends and I saw WALL-E. It was a great movie, with a lot of social commentary on the environment, consumerism, technology and more, as well as cute robots falling in love.

While we were watching, I knit. By the end of the movie, this is how much I had finished.

I was more than halfway through when the movie was over. I used my Knit Lite Knitting Needles, although they were only one during the previews. I knit in the dark most of the time. After all, it's all about feel.

I worked a little more at my friends' house, at the restaurant and finished up the last few rows at home.

I used two skeins of Lion Brand Fancy Fur in Electric Slide and my Knit Lite needles in US size 9. I cast on 12 stitches and knit until I ran out of yarn.

It always feels good to bust some stash, and I've got another one for the craft show bin.

Things that cut into my yarn budget: The Dentist (plus a meme and a freebie)

Things That Cut Into My Yarn Budget
Today I went to the dentist. Again.

Since my dental insurance rolled over again, and I have my FSA, the bill wasn't as bad as it had been before.

Still, I owed $52 for the last trip. (I paid $50 before. I had to wait until they knew exactly how much insurance would pay.) This round will cost about $240. I paid half this time, and I will pay the other half when I get my permanent crown.

I'm also worried because I still hurt from last time. Also, if I have problems like I did last summer, the office will be closed from Thursday until the end of the month.

The dentist said I strained my jaw muscle. He recommends warm compresses, followed by stretching my jaw and bananas (for the potassium.) He said it was like a cramp. Does a cramp last for a month? If it weren't for the Advil, the pain would be constant.

I really don't get how he makes a living working four days a week all year, and taking frequent vacations. I also wonder about his staff. Are they paid for a forty hour work week? Are they ineligible for health insurance because they work less than 40 hours a week?

This is all pure speculation. I'm going to stop before someone calls me an anti-dentite.



Freebie
I don't know if it's full yet, but Hill Country Weavers is having a free class on Thursday.

Here are the stats:

NECK CANDY CLASS!
mmm... it's delicious!
free class and pattern

HCW is launching it's NECK CANDY CAMPAIGN to raise money to fight breast cancer.

SHELLI WESTCOTT of KNITTERLY will teach us how to create our own original piece of NECK CANDY.
Join us for this free class on June 19 at 10:00 - 12:00 or 6:30 - 8:30.

Treat yourself and consider knitting an extra to donate to the HCW CANDY JAR!
100% of the proceeds from selling your NECK CANDY will be donated to fight breast cancer.

RSVP 707-7396
Drop off your CANDY from now until the end of October!

The scarf pictured is a somewhat short one with cables and a ruffled edge. I think it's supposed to look like a breast cancer awareness ribbon. The one in the picture is pink.

I'll need to bring about 100 yards of worsted yarn. Decisions, decisions.

Meme
I saw this on Staci's blog, among others. She's be amused that one of her pictures came up (along with one of mine.)



1. Sally Lightfoot Crabs, 2. Pizza Porn, 3. LBJ robot, 4. Blue Purple Iris, 5. Michael Nesmith, 6. Homemade Ginger Ale, 7. Stitches West 2008, 8. mmmummm..mummm...mmmmummmmumumum, 9. 365days, day 144, 10. Jules, 11. quixotic impulse., 12. rsz_P3120791.jpg

Directions if you want to play:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

FO: Emergency Back Up Scarf

Yesterday I went to the World Wide Knit in Public Day after party at Gauge. Having left my Wickerware Socks at work, I brought Kiri with me. However, I had technical difficulties with the shawl, so it had to go to time out. (I'll have more about WWKIP Day and the shawl later.)

Fortunately, I still had my emergency scarf supplies with me from my swap partner.

I used my US size 9 plastic needles, cast on 12 stitches and went for it. The picture above is of the scarf in progress.

The yarn is a mystery. The label says "Time 4 Crafts Knitting Essentials Knitting Yarn." It's 100% polyester and hand wash or dry clean only. It was made in China and was imported by Canasia Toys and Gifts Inc. I used two 50 gram balls.

And that's all the label says. There is no colorway, dyelot, gauge or yardage indicated, and the yarn isn't listed in Ravelry. The yardage must have been low, because I managed to get it done before I left Gauge. It's kind of on the short side.

I'm glad I brought the yarn with me. I was desperate to knit something, and I managed to stashbust. I need to make a point of always carrying supplies for garter stitch scarves with me.

This one goes in the craft show bin with all the rest. Maybe you'll see it again at the next Fiber Friends Festival.

There's nothing like a project that you can finish in one sitting.

FO: Desperation Scarf

I started it Friday and finished it Saturday when Franklin came to the Knitting Nest. (More on that later.)

As I mentioned before, I used two skeins of Lion Brand Fancy Fur in "Rainbow Red" and US size 9 plastic needles. I cast on 12 stitches and knit until I ran out of yarn.

This scarf will go into my craft show box. It was good to bust through some of my fun fur stash. As fast as this was, maybe I should keep going until I get through my yarn.

WIP: Desperation Scarf

I've made so many of these novelty yarn scarves that I have to keep coming up with weird new names. Pretty soon I'll have to do like Koigu and start assigning numbers.

I'm joking that my current project is "calculator knitting." I'm swatching for an idea I have. (See numbers one, two and three on my list.) Right now there is a lot of thinking, writing and ripping going on.

I went going to a Sunday school get together tonight. At work it occurred to me that I didn't have any good "social knitting" to bring with me. At first I thought it would be no big deal. Then I checked my e-mail and realized a movie was on the agenda. I needed something to knit during the movie.

So I decided to run home for some "movie knitting." Unable to find the yarn for my next project, I searched until I found two matching skeins of novelty yarn.

For a while, I was stocking up on the stuff for scarves to sell at craft shows. I always bought in pairs because two seems to be the magic number for a scarf. I actually took two pairs just to be safe.

This is Lion Brand Fancy Fur in "Rainbow Red." I cast on 12 stitches and I'm using US size 9 plastic needles.

I've named this the Desperation Scarf because I was desperate for something to knit. Although we ended up not watching the movie, I'm more than halfway done.

FO: Last Minute Scarf

Poncho Pig models yet another scarf for me.

I managed to knock this scarf out last night for the Youth Auction at church today. I held two strands of yarn together and knit a simple garter stitch scarf with fringe. I used US size 13 needles from my Boye Needlemaster. The colors are a little subdued compared to my usual yarn choices. I had some other yarn combinations in mind, but when I took a good look, they didn't really go together.

I used about one and a half of skeins of Yarn Bee Mosaic Twist in Moody Blue and one skein of Jo-Ann Sensations Angel Hair in Black/Grey.

Yarn Bee is Hobby Lobby's house brand of yarn. Word on the web is that Mosaic Twist has been discontinued. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the Mosaic Twist. It's a nice combination of different plies, but the yarn had lots of knots and seemed to be coming unplied in spots.

The Mosaic Twist may have been called "Moody Blue," but it looks mostly gray to me (with a slight blue tint.)

Of course, Angel Hair continues to be my favorite craft store yarn of all time.

I didn't get to see who won the scarf. The last I checked there were two bids, and the highest was $12. I consider that a success.

FO: Single Skeins Scarf

On Thursday I said I hoped to finish my Single Skeins Scarf by Sunday. My plans were derailed when I left this project, along with the rest of my WIPs, at my parents' house on Saturday.

But tonight I stopped by my parents' house on the way to the The Knitting Nest and picked it up. When I arrived, I borrowed some tape measure to see how close I was to 45 inches. (My friend from church, who commissioned the scarves and provided the yarn, said 45 inches was a good length.) It turns out I had already gone a little over 45 inches. I bound off using the bind off Titianknitter taught me a couple of weeks ago. (Hopefully I'll find a tutorial later.)

I used wooden knitting needles in US size 17 and three different skeins of eyelash yarn, Jo-Ann Sensations Cello Yarn in Jewel Tone, Jo-Ann Sensations Persian in Jewel Multi and Patons Cha Cha in Salsa. I may have enough left of each skein to make another one. I'm going to have to do some math first.

Holding all three strands together, I cast on eight stitches, knit until it was the desired length and bound off.

The scarf seems to want to grow, so it's a good thing it's a little on the short side.

And while I wouldn't work with them all the time, some instant gratification knitting on giant needles is nice every now and then.

FO: Another Fun Fur Scarf

Tonight was movie night at Gauge. Somewhere along the way, I heard the movie was Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. It turned out to be Harold and Maude, which was a very different movie. But it was a movie I wanted to see anyway, so it was all good. (BTW - If you've seen the movie, what does the ending mean?)

I also got to finish another fun fur scarf while I watched the movie. Yes, the scarf is just like this one. It's a good thing I cleaned my mirror, because two Poncho Pig shots would have been confusing.

Like the first scarf, this scarf was knit using two skeins of Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes in "Mexicana" and US size 9 plastic needles. It's basic garter stitch. This time I cast on 18 stitches. (Or at least that's how many I ended up with.)

I cut it very close. I barely had enough yarn to finishing binding off. I probably should of unraveled a row, but I didn't.

Normally I just let self-striping yarn do it's thing. This time I did a little more screwing with the stripes than I normally would. The specific stripe pattern is pretty noticeable, and since both the scarves are going to my friend's grand kids, I didn't want to screw up the stripes on one scarf and not the other. I clipped off some of the red at the beginning of the second skein, then reattached it at the end to preserve the pattern. I had to rewind the second skien anyway, so I knew where in the stripe pattern the skein would begin and end.

More details and tips for knitting with fun fur are in last blog entry.