Test knitting has commenced!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The blahs
It's so hard to post during these gray, cold wintery months. In addition to the general malaise that affects nearly everyone and makes me personally want to hibernate until May, the lighting is lousy, so I can't take decent photos of anything I'm knitting.
And I have been knitting. In fact, I've finished a whole sweater (albeit, short-sleeved). (Which was saved by the previously blogged-about Stephanie--but more on that next post.) And my First Design is nearly complete, I'll be looking for test knitters soon. I'm even plugging away at more socks. But alas, no photos.
The weather actually tricked me a smidge. Last Friday it was 70 degrees. SEVENTY DEGREES! We ate lunch in the park, enjoy a few beers out on the balcony, it was almost like summer. But then, it was cruelly yanked away, and on Tuesday, we got sleet and freezing rain, followed by 3 inches of snow. It's almost worse that way--you get the tiniest glimmer of hope, and then it's immediately buried under sleet and slush. I know you're on your way, Spring, please hurry up.
So, since I have no knitting photos, here are photos of stray cats and dogs I came across in Santiago. No, I didn't bring any home with me. But almost.
And I have been knitting. In fact, I've finished a whole sweater (albeit, short-sleeved). (Which was saved by the previously blogged-about Stephanie--but more on that next post.) And my First Design is nearly complete, I'll be looking for test knitters soon. I'm even plugging away at more socks. But alas, no photos.
The weather actually tricked me a smidge. Last Friday it was 70 degrees. SEVENTY DEGREES! We ate lunch in the park, enjoy a few beers out on the balcony, it was almost like summer. But then, it was cruelly yanked away, and on Tuesday, we got sleet and freezing rain, followed by 3 inches of snow. It's almost worse that way--you get the tiniest glimmer of hope, and then it's immediately buried under sleet and slush. I know you're on your way, Spring, please hurry up.
So, since I have no knitting photos, here are photos of stray cats and dogs I came across in Santiago. No, I didn't bring any home with me. But almost.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
To E or Not to E
Yet another day has passed with no one commenting on my stunning plethora of headgear. I'm starting to think people here just don't pay attention.
(Or maybe they're part of some kind of revolting underground anti-hat organization.)
But I will soldier on to fulfill my mission to display an absurd and somewhat inappropriate number of handknit hats to the masses this winter!
::Uplifting music::
Here's the latest member of my hat parade:
Pattern: Autumn Vines Beret from NeverNotKnitting, Alana Dakos
Yarn: Madelinetosh Pashmina (squeee!) in Saffron, about half the skein
Mods: None, though I left off the little bobblette at the top, and just used a regular cast-on because I'm an incredibly lazy knitter.
Verdict: Love! Gorgeous pattern, fast knit, warm hat. What's to complain about?
Oh, you know what? Now that I think of it, I had to knit row 13 like 3 times. There's nothing wrong with the chart, I'm just astoundingly dense. I know my right from my left, I swear, but when I see references to "right" and "left" in knitting patterns, I go into panic mode and all spatial concepts immediately fly out my ear. True story.
And in case anyone was wondering what steps I've taken to address the previously blogged about (over)abundance of Palette yarn, Stephanie, who shares her awesomeness over at They Call Me Yarn, has talked me into tackling these Camilla mittens. Pretty, huh? So far I've done just the first cuff and 5 rounds of the pattern, but they're looking quite gorgeous, if I do say so myself. I bought this Amazing Doohickey over at Knitpicks, and I can't say enough good things about it. My tension is even, and no puckering--a miracle for only $1.19. I'm giddy thinking about how it will speed up my abyssmal progress on the Deep V Argyle Vest.
(p.s. I spent several minutes pondering whether or not doohickey has an E in it. Then I looked it up. I really go the extra mile for my blogging, don't I?)
(Or maybe they're part of some kind of revolting underground anti-hat organization.)
But I will soldier on to fulfill my mission to display an absurd and somewhat inappropriate number of handknit hats to the masses this winter!
::Uplifting music::
Here's the latest member of my hat parade:
Pattern: Autumn Vines Beret from NeverNotKnitting, Alana Dakos
Yarn: Madelinetosh Pashmina (squeee!) in Saffron, about half the skein
Mods: None, though I left off the little bobblette at the top, and just used a regular cast-on because I'm an incredibly lazy knitter.
Verdict: Love! Gorgeous pattern, fast knit, warm hat. What's to complain about?
Oh, you know what? Now that I think of it, I had to knit row 13 like 3 times. There's nothing wrong with the chart, I'm just astoundingly dense. I know my right from my left, I swear, but when I see references to "right" and "left" in knitting patterns, I go into panic mode and all spatial concepts immediately fly out my ear. True story.
And in case anyone was wondering what steps I've taken to address the previously blogged about (over)abundance of Palette yarn, Stephanie, who shares her awesomeness over at They Call Me Yarn, has talked me into tackling these Camilla mittens. Pretty, huh? So far I've done just the first cuff and 5 rounds of the pattern, but they're looking quite gorgeous, if I do say so myself. I bought this Amazing Doohickey over at Knitpicks, and I can't say enough good things about it. My tension is even, and no puckering--a miracle for only $1.19. I'm giddy thinking about how it will speed up my abyssmal progress on the Deep V Argyle Vest.
(p.s. I spent several minutes pondering whether or not doohickey has an E in it. Then I looked it up. I really go the extra mile for my blogging, don't I?)
Friday, February 4, 2011
This little piggy . . .
Lately, I've been having dreams about babies. First, I had a dream that I needed to have a tonsilectomy and birth a baby the same day. So they knocked me out for the first procedure, and left me unconscious for the birth, so I woke up not knowing what kind of baby I had. It ended up being a girl, but it didn't much matter, because shortly thereafter, it turned into a cat.
Last night, my baby was growing at a ridiculous rate. Only a few days old and she was talking, and then after a year, she was around 6-years-old. Then she had to be studied for being an obvious freak of nature, and she wasn't too happy about it, so she organized a riot at the freak-of-nature camp.
Thoughts? Yeah, I don't know either.
I don't really have a segway from that rambling into my knitting, so let's just jump in. First, I'd like to introduce a new member of the menagerie, Percival:
Percival was super quick to knit, just using some scrap yarn. I used worsted because that's what I had on hand, but any weight will do, it just depends on how big or small you want your piggy to be. I think this one took all of 45 minutes.
As far as useful knitting, I've finished yet another hat (I wonder if people are secretly amazed at my extensive hat wardrobe. Probably not.) Here's a little preview, until I can get some good photos of me actually wearing the hat:
And I'm really working hard on a design! My scarf design is on the backburner, but this new one is moving along quickly, and I have high hopes. Stay tuned!
Last night, my baby was growing at a ridiculous rate. Only a few days old and she was talking, and then after a year, she was around 6-years-old. Then she had to be studied for being an obvious freak of nature, and she wasn't too happy about it, so she organized a riot at the freak-of-nature camp.
Thoughts? Yeah, I don't know either.
I don't really have a segway from that rambling into my knitting, so let's just jump in. First, I'd like to introduce a new member of the menagerie, Percival:
Percival was super quick to knit, just using some scrap yarn. I used worsted because that's what I had on hand, but any weight will do, it just depends on how big or small you want your piggy to be. I think this one took all of 45 minutes.
As far as useful knitting, I've finished yet another hat (I wonder if people are secretly amazed at my extensive hat wardrobe. Probably not.) Here's a little preview, until I can get some good photos of me actually wearing the hat:
And I'm really working hard on a design! My scarf design is on the backburner, but this new one is moving along quickly, and I have high hopes. Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Optimism? Or lunacy?
I have just purchased yet another set of Sterilite plastic drawers for yarn storage. This one has 2 large bins, one of which is now filled with various shades of fingering weight yarn (mostly KnitPicks Palette) that I've purchased specifically to do colorwork projects.
I have yet to complete a single colorwork project in my entire life.
There's just no logical explanation for this. I'm either incredibly optimistic (read: delusional) or just plain old insane.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Twinkle Toes
Looky, I'm off to a great start with my sock resolution: I finished a pair already.
Granted, I started them back in October, but still, they're finally done.
This is Through the Loops' Socktober 2010 Mystery Sock. I love doing these mystery sock-alongs, where a snippet of the pattern is posted each week. Unfortunately I usually finish the first sock in October/November, and then don't get the second one done until January. This happened for the 2009 sock as well.
Ooops.
Sometimes I wish a knew a one-legged person. Or one-footed person. But then I remember that's a horrible fate to wish upon anyone just for the sake of knitting fewer socks.
The yarn, some of you may have already guessed, is Skinny Buggy in Blue-Arsed Fly. What a fantastic name. There just aren't enough colorways with the word "arse" in them.
There's just one wee problem with my adorable socks:
I seem to have inadvertently knit one toe longer than the other. The socks are the same length, but I carried on with the foot pattern about a half-inch more in one sock than the other. I swear I followed the directions for BOTH socks, but clearly I didn't.
I really hope no one stares at my toes enough to notice this.
Granted, I started them back in October, but still, they're finally done.
This is Through the Loops' Socktober 2010 Mystery Sock. I love doing these mystery sock-alongs, where a snippet of the pattern is posted each week. Unfortunately I usually finish the first sock in October/November, and then don't get the second one done until January. This happened for the 2009 sock as well.
Ooops.
Sometimes I wish a knew a one-legged person. Or one-footed person. But then I remember that's a horrible fate to wish upon anyone just for the sake of knitting fewer socks.
The yarn, some of you may have already guessed, is Skinny Buggy in Blue-Arsed Fly. What a fantastic name. There just aren't enough colorways with the word "arse" in them.
There's just one wee problem with my adorable socks:
I seem to have inadvertently knit one toe longer than the other. The socks are the same length, but I carried on with the foot pattern about a half-inch more in one sock than the other. I swear I followed the directions for BOTH socks, but clearly I didn't.
I really hope no one stares at my toes enough to notice this.
Friday, January 21, 2011
If you're going to San-ti-ago . . .
be sure to . . . not be a vegetarian. Otherwise, it was a fairly good trip (and I ate a lot of avocado, or palta as they call it, which was fantastic). Although spending so much time with family can be a bit taxing. But the wine was delicious, the weather was gorgeous, and the city is impressive.
I didn't do a bit of knitting though, so I have nothing to show you.
Instead, here's a recipe for my famous breakfast burritos, just because:
1 8-inch flour tortilla
2 eggs (or 1 egg, 2 egg whites if you're healthy like that)
2 veggie sausage patties
2 tbs salsa, or to taste
1/4 cup shredded mexican cheese, or to taste - low fat is great, you won't notice much difference
Spray a skillet with cooking spray, and heat over med heat.
Warm the sausage patties in the microwave for 1 minute, then crumble with a fork. Dump into the skillet.
Beat eggs, then add as much salsa as you like. It's best to use a chunkier salsa, you don't want a lot of juice making your burrito drippy.
Dampen two paper towels; place one in the microwave, put the tortilla on top, then cover with the second towel.
Add the eggs to the pan and scramble. Even if you usually like softer eggs, make them pretty dry, because, again, drippy burrito = giant mess.
Heat the tortilla for 45 seconds. When it's nice and warm, put it on a large plate, add the egg/sausage/salsa mix, and top with cheese. Roll up and enjoy.
(For wrapping success, place the filling on the side of the tortilla closest to you, then roll away, pulling in the sides as you go.)
This is a very flexible recipe, and you can really improve on it depending on how much time you have and what you have on hand. This quick version I can do in 5 minutes before work. If I have more time, I might cut up some avocado or fresh cilantro to throw in with the cheese. If I have leftoever black beans or chopped tomatoes, those are good to add too. Also, specialty flavored wraps work well (I recommend the jalapeno cheese; the garden herb not so much). Also, be careful NOT to buy the maple-flavored sausage patties--they're delicious, but do not combine with this dish at all.
Next time, knitting, not cooking.
This actually isn't Santiago, it's Vina del Mar
I didn't do a bit of knitting though, so I have nothing to show you.
Instead, here's a recipe for my famous breakfast burritos, just because:
1 8-inch flour tortilla
2 eggs (or 1 egg, 2 egg whites if you're healthy like that)
2 veggie sausage patties
2 tbs salsa, or to taste
1/4 cup shredded mexican cheese, or to taste - low fat is great, you won't notice much difference
Spray a skillet with cooking spray, and heat over med heat.
Warm the sausage patties in the microwave for 1 minute, then crumble with a fork. Dump into the skillet.
Beat eggs, then add as much salsa as you like. It's best to use a chunkier salsa, you don't want a lot of juice making your burrito drippy.
Dampen two paper towels; place one in the microwave, put the tortilla on top, then cover with the second towel.
Add the eggs to the pan and scramble. Even if you usually like softer eggs, make them pretty dry, because, again, drippy burrito = giant mess.
Heat the tortilla for 45 seconds. When it's nice and warm, put it on a large plate, add the egg/sausage/salsa mix, and top with cheese. Roll up and enjoy.
(For wrapping success, place the filling on the side of the tortilla closest to you, then roll away, pulling in the sides as you go.)
This is a very flexible recipe, and you can really improve on it depending on how much time you have and what you have on hand. This quick version I can do in 5 minutes before work. If I have more time, I might cut up some avocado or fresh cilantro to throw in with the cheese. If I have leftoever black beans or chopped tomatoes, those are good to add too. Also, specialty flavored wraps work well (I recommend the jalapeno cheese; the garden herb not so much). Also, be careful NOT to buy the maple-flavored sausage patties--they're delicious, but do not combine with this dish at all.
Next time, knitting, not cooking.
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