Going from knitting to Knitting...

So I've decided to try my hand at desiging a pattern. I hope it works, I'm a little worried about it.

I'm taking the Rib and Cable socks from the Fall 2005 IK, and making them into worsted-weight mittens, with a gusseted thumb. Yes, it's hard, thanks for asking :D

I just spent a long time working out how to make the pattern run evenly over the thumb and gusset, I've centered the thumb over one of the cables. I have it all written out, from bottom rib to where the decreases start at the top, and I haven't tried either that or the thumb yet. We'll see how it goes. I wanted a gusseted thumb instead of an afterthought thumb, although I may regret that decision because frankly, afterthoughts are much, much easier. Trust me on this one. Especially when you're trying to draft your own pattern. Oh well, I hope it goes well! If you're curious, this is what I have so far.


Patons Classic Merino
US 4 and 6 DPN

Sl 2 CNF: slip next two stitches to cable needle, hold to front
k2 CN: k2 off the cable needle

The | symbol denotes the marker placement, simply slip the marker when you come to it.

On size US 4, CO 40 st, join without twisting.
Knit in *k1, p1* ribbing for 3�
Switch to US 6
Increase row: *k4, m1*

Start mitten

1: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*
2: k4, p2, k2, p2, pm, m1, k4, m1, pm, p2, k2, p2,*k4, p2, k2, p2*
3: k4, p2, k2, p2|p1, k4, p1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
4: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p1, k4, p1, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
5: k4, p2, k2, p2|p2, k4, p2|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
6: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p2, k4, p2, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
7: k4, p2, k2, p2|k1, p2, k4, p2, k1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
8: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, k1, p2, k4, p2, k1, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
9: Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2CN, p2, k2, p2|k2, p2, sl 2 CNF, k2, k2CN, p2, k2|p2, k2, p2, *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*
10: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, m1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
11: k4, p2, k2, p2|p1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p1|p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
12: k4, p2, k2, p2|m1, p1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p1, m1pp2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
13: k4, p2, k2, p2|p2, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p2|, slip stitches between markers onto stitch holder, p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
14: k4, p2, k2, p2, cast on 4, p2, k2, p2, *k4, p2, k2, p2*
15: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
16: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
17: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*

Continue in pattern below until mitten reaches top of pinky.
Rows 1-7: *k4, p2, k2, p2*
Row 8: *Sl 2 CNF, k2, k2 CN, p2, k2, p2*

Dale of Norway Sweaters I would make if I had money-time-less sanity:


Besseggen


Lofthus


Bergsdalen


Peace


Bardonecchia

The only problem? The idea of knitting one of these kinda makes me want to spork my eyes out.

Here's my answers to Tiffany's contest for her leftover hand-painted sock yarn.

- favorite fall book to read: I like reading Harry Potter, since I first read it in the fall. Plus, all but one movie have come out in the fall-winter!

- favorite fall soup to eat: my Mom's potato leek soup - Mom, please e-mail me that recipe, by the way.

- favorite fall stew to eat: Beef Burgundy, ie a rich beef stew with a wine base, with turnips and carrots and potatoes. Either that or the beef and Guiness stew from O'Beirne's pub in Edmonton. It's the first time I've ever loved mushrooms.

- favorite healthy muffin recipe: blueberry! From the Betty Crocker Red Book.

- favorite fall tree: I think Tamaracks are really neat, since they're deciduous confiers. Really! To quote my favourite guidebook "As a deciduous conifer, tamarack is somewhat of an ecological puzzle since it sucessfully lives in what is normally considered an evergreen world". I also like Moose Maple* though, since it turns red (the only native tree that does up here).

# favorite fall knit: Mittens, socks, and ponchos. They're needed for warmth!


*um, what mountains? I don't see any mountains here. Or in Manitoba or Saskatchewan, for that matter (In fact, Saskatchewan mountain is a great example of an oxymoron)

I'm finally starting to feel better, but haven't done any more knitting. I just bought some Wool of the Andes in Hollyberry and Daffodil for Sean and I to make POA scarves. Yes, SEAN and I. Since I told him I wouldn't be able to knit TWO scarves that long before Nov 17, he decided that I could teach him to knit. After all, it's just straight knit stitch, around and around and around and around and around...

I have to wait for the wool to get here still, and I'm totally excited to start them. I think I'll start some other socks right now though.

There has been inconsistent posting, since this bad cold turned into a sinus infection - of the really nasty kind, where it causes a wicked cough all night and makes your teeth feel like they're going to pop out of their sockets. The only knitting I've done is on Sean's scarf, which is looking exactly the same, only longer.

I got some lovely presents from Sean for my birthday:

Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy DVD
Phantom of the Opera DVD
Foxtrotus Maximus (Fox Trot Collection)
60-day pass to World of Warcraft

I've already read the book, very funny. The first movie was good too, although it was kind of foggy because I have this terrible cold. I'm waiting to watch Phantom until I can sing along (I've already seen it though and loved it).

Why is it that only one nostril is plugged at a time when you have a cold? And only one ear is ever plugged at a time? Poor Sean is having to take care of me - I had to leave class early today because no one could hear the professor over me coughing. I also coughed all last night keeping him awake. He doesn't mind though, as long as he gets some sleep.

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes everyone :) My birthDAY didn't get any better, really, but the next day was fun. We went out and played pool, Sean and Laura bought me a *few* birthday shots, then we went back to our place and played Mario Party 6. Yesterday I felt fine (really! I didn't have all THAT much and I drank lots of water), mailed off my socks to my sockapal, and went out for dinner with my Grandparents on my Mom's side and my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Anton (6) and Olivia (3) made me some presents, very cute drawings and cards.

I have plans today too, although they will need to be assisted by DayQuil. Sean and I both have colds. Mine had appeared to be getting better, but attacked again last night and today with a vengence. We're both trying to stave off strep throat/ear infections with the DayQuil. Anyway, Sean's going to go out to get my bday presents (he couldn't decide what to get) and pick up more DayQuil (because there's only enough for one of us, so he's getting that dose, then buying more to bring back to me). Tonight we're going out to dinner again with my grandparents and aunt and uncle (no cousins), then we'll probably rent a movie or something. Depending on how we feel we may go out, but I doubt it.

Oh, and my watermelon socks are being made with a pattern out of "Socks Socks Socks", although I had thought my idea was a totally original one. I was going to space-dye the yarn by hand (still thought the idea was original) until I bought "Yarns to Dye For" to give me a leg up on what I was doing. What did I find there? Instuctions for how to space dye watermelon sweater and socks! However, I modified them. Instead of having equal widths of green, white, and pink, mine will be a large amount of pink, small amount of white, and moderate amount of green to look more watermelon-like.

Sockapal2za Socks

Finished socks! Yay! They turned out really nice, my Mom really loves them. They've been washed and are blocking on hanger sock blockers, and will be sent out tomorrow.

Gull Wings Lace sock pattern from "Socks Socks Socks" by Elaine Rowley.
"Sockotta" yarn, in varigated Blue-Green-Red-Purple

Now I'm working on the Alien Ilusion Scarf and my Watermelon Socks.

Birthday Blues

I've discovered that a birthday doesn't feel like a birthday (not even a regular day) if you don't have plans. Not necessarily plans for that day, since I can live with not celebrating my birthday ON my birthday, but plans in general.

Sean has a cold and is not feeling well, and Laura is feeling homesick and wants to go home for the weekend. I tried to make plans for Friday, but we're not sure yet. I'm surprised by how crappy I feel over this. After all, it's just a birthday, and it's not a "big" one either, like 18 or 21 or anything. Besides, with all the horrors going on in the world right now should I really be whining about this?

Tough. I'm going to anyway. This sucks! No family party this year, even, because I haven't been able to get back to Dryden. Maybe if I MAKE some party plans it'll make me more happy and excited. I'll try to find a free weekend to go home, and hopefully Laura will get back to me tonight about Friday. And maybe Sean will feel better this evening.

Have accomplished another 10%. Only 15% to go. Almost done. Hopefully will be done in time for Sept 15, but I don't think I'll knit on it tomorrow because...

It's my birthday tomorrow! Happy Birthday to me.
(I'll be 22).

Karlie has left the blog because she is frantically knitting on her sockapal2za socks. We would like to inform you that the second sock is about 75% done. She has gotten a small ways past the gusset and hopes very much to have them finished on time.

Thank you for listening.

What Angela and I did on a very rainy, disappointing Saturday. We were supposed to go to Dryden, to visit everyonoe and show Angela camp, but just outside of Thunder Bay the car started making scary shakes and squeaks, so we returned it and brought it to the dealership the next day ($175 to fix it - $50 for the part in the wheel assembly, $125!!!! for the one hour labour). Since it was pouring, and I mean pouring, out, Ang and I dyed some wool. The chunky candy floss coloured ball will be lovikka mittens (I may just eke out enough), the yarn is recycled from a Salvation Army sweater and hand-painted with kool-aid grape, ice blue lemonade, and solar strawberry starfruit. The watermelon ball is Briggs and Little Sport, carefully space-dyed in a 40 ft long skein to stripe like watermelon - using lemon-lime and solar strawberry starfruit koolaid, while leaving a small amount white (for the rind). I can't WAIT to start knitting it up, but first I have to finish my sockapal2za socks!

It's the return of Rogue! This is a picture of the side cabling - once again I've made a mistake cabling, I miscrossed a few stitches at the bottom left. That's OK though, it's not very noticeable so I'm leaving it right where it is. I really like this sweater, because the stockinette sections are nice and quick, but the cabling keeps you going and stops you from being bored. Plus, I have the most gorgeous yarn imagineable. The yarn really isn't this colour, it's a deep, deep purple. I don't know why it's so washed out, since this is a natural light photo. Oh well!

This is the pocket on Rogue, it turned out pretty well. I was desperately worried about picking up the stitches to knit across behind it, but it turned out OK. So far, so good!

This is lovely soft alpaca yarn Angela brought me, from a farm outside of Edmonton. It's a dark, dark chocolate-y brown, and I may make mittens for Sean out of it, although I don't know if I can let it go.

Rogue is Back

Ang is here, and we're having fun doing lots of knitting and torturing Kyp (the white and grey cat). She's knitting on a nice black sweater, and I've picked up Rogue again, in the same yarn. Ang convinced me that it was not, in fact, too small, and so I'm working on it again. I also want to make girl from auntie's new pattern, the zippered cardi. It looks so cute! If I can handle the cabling on Rogue, I'm sure I can handle it in the cardi.

The socks are at the heel turn, I haven't worked on them in a few days because I keep forgetting the pattern book in the car, and I'm scared to heel turn without it. They should be done on time though, hopefully. I have a few weeks left still.

I will be posting pictures here of the work I've done on TSS (The Second Sock). I'm up to the heel flap, which I couldn't work on yesterday because I needed the instructions. I have lots of time now though because...

I fainted at work yesterday. After a long few hours in the ER it was determined I'm suffering from "exhaustion". So I had to quit work at the Fort early (although Amanda is still wanting to rehire me next year) and take the week off Chapters as well. Perfect timing, if it had to happen, because Angela is here for the week (yay!). We're going to have a great time knitting and such.

Sean is back, yay! With presents from Lush, and Disney World. I missed him an absolutely insane amount, and thankfully he missed me at least that much too.

Jenny, my friend from Winnipeg, is here too. Yay! We are doing much girly things and she's met Sean and very much likes him.

Finally, my parents got to meet Yarn Harlot and they're SOOOOO lucky. And I got mentioned on her blog. Oh my goodness I think I might go faint now, on the way to Kakabeka Falls.

Here's a very fuzzy picture of the scarf I'm making for Sean. It's k3p1 ribbing, which is actually working rather wonderfully with the boucle yarn. It looks elegant, and unboring. It about matches garter stitch in speed too, since garter stitch goes fast, but pulls together more.

Scarfmark

Sean's scarfmark! It took quite a long time to make, despite the diminuitive size. It's made on size 2 (I think) needles, using crochet cotton. You can see it on my copy of HBP, proudly the Canadian version - Ancient Forest-Friendly paper!