FO: One Day Beret

I was basically finished with this yesterday during my break at work, but I wove in the ends and finished things off this evening.


I won't really know how I feel about it until Lyndsey tries it on. She said she looked like a "demented swami" when she saw this picture. I know I increased too far, so there's more "slouch" them normal.

Lyndsey has a small head, so the brim is small. I can't even begin to put it on my fat head. I didn't switch to a smaller needle for the ribbing, so I'm hoping it's the right size.


This is the pattern for the One Day Beret. I used one skein of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in "Black Purl." (I used almost the whole skein.)

I also used an extra long US Size 4 Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needle. (I think it was 40 inches long, but I'm not sure.) I used magic loop.


I'll follow up after I give it to Lyndsey. This is her belated birthday gift.

Catching Up

This past week has been kind of rough. Work's been stressful, but there are signs that things are about to get better. I've been tired and frustrated, and not blogging much. It's time to catch up.

In The Kitchen

Last week I made Applesauce Chicken in the Crockpot. It was good, except for the burnt edges. I think I cooked it too long.

It's taken all week to get all the burnt stuff off the crock. I soaked it over and over with dish soap, then I "cooked" water and vinegar in it twice. Finally, I managed to get the last of it off with a pocket knife this afternoon. All that's left now are a few specks.

Tonight I'm putting together lasagna for tomorrow night.

My dishwasher is broken again. The good news is that the apartment is going to replace it. The bad news is that I have to wait another week before they put it in, and the standing water is getting higher.

Also, I got chemical burns from cleaning the freezer with bleach last week. (I know, I should have used gloves.) They're almost healed, but the resulting calluses on my fingertips make it hard to appreciate fiber.

Maybe I should stay out of the kitchen.

Sleeping

Tuesday I saw a sleep specialist, something I probably should have done ten years ago.

I've never slept like a normal person, but when I was in college, it got a lot worse. I never seem to feel rested, I toss, turn, kick and moan in my sleep, and sometimes my breathing is shallow and rapid.

The doctor suspects Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. From what I've read, it looks like it can be treated with medication.

A week from tonight I'll be doing a sleep study, where they hook me up to all sorts of machines and monitor my sleep.

I'm anxious to get the results. There's a strong possibly that they'll find something that can be fixed with medication or some other relatively simple treatment.

Taco Xpress

I've lived in Austin most of my life, but until last night I hadn't eaten at Maria's Taco Xpress. They're known for their good food and the giant statue of Maria with outstretched arms. I went with my sister, Katie, and her boyfriend, Aaron.


(The tacos were messy, but good.)

I think I'm going to eat my leftover taco after I finish blogging.

All my Taco Xpress pictures are here.

Parting Shot

After much questioning, I'm finally confident that I got the decreases right on the One Day Beret for my friend Lyndsey. Here she is modeling it. It should be finished tonight or tomorrow.

WIP: One Day Beret (and a look at my "Reeling Machine")

Last I week I broke out the "Reeling Machine" (a.k.a. swift) that I got for Christmas.

I had planned to set it up either on my coffee table or on the "bar" around my kitchen. However, both were too thick for the clamp. Instead, I set it up on a clutter-filled table. (Eventually, I'll clean it up and taking all that stuff to recycle. I'm working on the bedroom right now.)


This is the skein of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb "Black Purl" that I bought on eBay. I wanted to make something quick and easy with really nice yarn. I found this skein while I was cleaning up, and I decided it was perfect.


The swift made winding the yarn much easier. No tangles.


I'm making the One Day Beret. So far, it's taking much more than a day, although it's still going quickly. The pattern is a "recipe" that can be used with any weight of yarn. I bet a chunkier yarn would have gone faster.

I presented the unfinished beret to my friend for her birthday. As you can see, it was the size of a small yarmulke when I gave it to her.

At her birthday party we watched Iron Jawed Angels. It's all about the women's suffrage movement. I highly recommend it, even if you aren't a Women's Studies major. (I have a Women's Studies minor.)

Anyway, I got involved in the movie and I increased until the beret was more than 8.5 inches in diameter. I debated unraveling it, but I decided The extra inch or so wouldn't be a big deal.


Here's where I am this evening. Hopefully I can make this a one week beret.

The Gauge Potluck and More

This isn't my best photography, but it'll work.

I mentioned the Potluck at Gauge yesterday. Now I'm finally getting around to posting the pictures.

I took more pictures of food than people. They had...

...pasta...

...cream cheese with a pomegranate chipotle sauce and...

...five kinds of homemade gelato! There was lemon, strawberry, pomegranate, chocolate and hazelnut. (Thanks Emily!)

There was other yummy stuff as well. Of course, I brought a two liter of Coke that no one opened. (But it will be there the next time they need soda.)

I found the elusive Black Purl
When I got home that night, this was in the mail:

That's Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in Black Purl.

And I didn't break my budget. I actually ordered this from eBay last fall for about the half the normal price. Somehow it was returned to sender, then I forgot to respond when the seller asked me for my correct address and then I forgot all about it. Until a couple of weeks ago when I cleaned out my e-mail. I e-mailed them back and they still had it! I'm psyched.

Contest

Knitasaur is designing gloves and she needs your hand measurements. Post yours here and enter to win some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. Be sure to tell them Large Marge Sally Comes Unraveled sent you.

Parting Shot
I saw this at the cash register at Gauge. If you put your money in Poncho Pig, I'll give you lessons.

Thoughts on Limitations and a Contest Entry

Cross posted at Sally Comes Unraveled and Kntters Scavenger Hunt Swap.

The Knitters Scavenger Hunt is having a contest (swap participants only, sorry.) All I have to do is answer 2 questions. But they aren't easy questions to answer.

#1 - If your knitting skill and the money to purchase the necessary yarn were no issue, what one pattern would you knit? (link & photo if you have one, so we can all ogle!)

This is a hard one. I know this sounds conceited (or maybe delusional), but in my mind I have no limitations related to my knitting skills. There are just new skills I haven't learned yet. I don't think I have this type of confidence in any other area of my life, which is one of the reasons why I love knitting so much.

So that leaves limitations of resources and time. It's hard to pick one pattern. The closest I can get is Morrigan, which I will knit eventually. Buying $300 worth of Rowan Calmer will be difficult, and I'm still trying other candidates.

Rather than a specific pattern, most of my seemingly unattainable project ideas are centered around specific yarns. I wish I could afford an entire sweater out of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, or entire sweater out of my own handspun. (The handspun is the part where my skills fail me.)

#2 - What is your favorite blog ?(doesn't need to be knitting related)

I'm not going to pick an all time favorite, but I will say at the moment I'm most interested in Yarn Pirate's blog, because she's due to go into labor at any moment. Also, I love seeing all her baby knits.

FO: Boogie Time

I checked with the ladies at Stash and Burn said I could enter something in the one skein contest even if I started it before the contest began. (I finished it in the allotted time period.)

So I present, Boogie Time, a project I didn't get done in time for the Knitty Calendar Contest.

This used less than a skein. Waaaayy less than a skein. In fact, it took the leftovers from another one skein project.

I had a tiny bit of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb in "Watercolor" leftover. This was very coveted yarn, and I wanted to make the most of it. I watch face was on sale at Joann.

I decided this was the time to finally learn Magic Loop.

Personally, I've used dpns from the beginning. In fact, I tend to use them when normal people use circulars. And my Mom agreed with me: all that extra cable? What's the point? But I wanted to challenge myself. So I got out some long circulars and some acrylic and tried it out.

I got the hang of it. I think I'll try it some more. It is good for hats, sleeves and other things that require changing to shorter needles.

(I think it would have been easier if I'd followed the directions and steamed the cables first.)

I was going to use magic loop for the whole thing, but I had trouble getting a good gauge....












So I switched back to dpns, because I didn't have the size I needed in circulars. (These are size 3 dpns. I know, my gauge is huge.)

So I completely changed the pattern because I was using a completely different gauge. And my wrists are so tiny. But I liked it, and I may make more for gifts.

And the best part....


There's still some leftover.