Monthly Archives for January 2008

FO: Clapotis Deux

I started this just before my birthday with yarn I bought at the Alamitos Bay annual sale. The colors aren’t my favorite when the yarn is in the skein/ball but I really love how it knitted up in this pattern. I still love the Clapotis pattern but the boring repeats sort of drove me crazy after awhile. I’ve told myself I’ll think about making another one in a few months, probably using sock yarn.

This was actually finished a couple weeks ago but I just hadn’t gotten around to writing an FO post yet. Not that I’ve actually taken any FO photos or woven in the ends yet, either. I WILL weave in ends, take photos, and ship this to Erin next week. I really have no excuse. For now you just get a whole ton of WIP photos all at once.

Pattern: Clapotis
Source: Knitty
Designer: Katie Gilbert
Alterations: Two less increase repeats, Two less straight repeats
Recipient: Erin

Yarn: Classic Elite Flash (Print)
Colorway: Gulf Green (6172)
Amount Used: 6 skeins (approx 600 yards)
Needles: Size 6 32″ Addi Nature

Project Started: September 9, 2007
Project Finished: January 16, 2008

Clapotis Deux - WIP Pics

January WIP Update

Here’s what I’ve been working on this month. Despite the fact work became really hectic and FIRST started, I’ve actually had a lot of knitting time. In case you’re curious, I’ve little to no work on the shawl for my mom (takes far too much concetration), the hat for Sterling, or the shawl for myself.

I’ve got three different scarfs going right now. The first two are both using the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf (link, Ravelry). I really like this pattern as it’s very simple yet results in a cool effect.

trianglescarf001

This one is for myself using Araucania Ranco Multi and size 3 needles.

othertriangle002

And this one is being at the request of my boss, Eileen, using Trendsetter Tonalita and size 7 needles. She was really great and paid for the yarn. I really wanted to make her something as thanks for getting me my current job.

2colorscarf002

When Eileen’s daughter, Rachel, found out I was making her mom a scarf, she requested one, as well. Here’s progress on hers. It’s in her school colors of Rowan Cashsoft DK and Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. The pattern is called Vertigo (link). This is my first time doing anything with two colors (other than Danica) and it’s far easier than I anticipated. I’m hoping to finish this before Spring Break then start back working on the scarf for Eileen.

FO: Multidirectional Scarf

It seems to be a season of finishing for me. Maybe it was the fact that I had so many projects out there over 50 percent complete. After finishing my mom’s shawl (photos/redux post-blocking, whenever I figure out how to do that), I decided to work on finishing Eileen’s scarf. I anticipated getting it done two or more weeks later but mid-terms gave me lots of small snipets of time to work on it. Having really short rows helps because one row doesn’t take 15 minutes!

This is the first of two scarfs Eileen, my boss, comissioned me to make her. Well, sort of. I told her I would make her a scarf for her upcoming trip to Alaska, as long as she bought the yarn. This was a total joke; I doubted she’d want to pay the forty dollars or so needed to buy quality yarn. Before I knew it, she had purchased four balls of the gorgeous and squishy Trendsetter Tonalita. I had no idea that Trendsetter even made anything non-fun fur or ribbon yarn. Apprently the yarn is spun then died, hence the really vibrant colors.

On top of not having to pay for the yarn, Eileen made my day by telling me I could choose whatever pattern I wished. That was easy. This pattern is just short row garter stitch triangles. Even a beginner (with the knowledge of kfb and ssk) can make this impressive-looking scarf. This is going to be a pattern I keep coming back to, over and over again. It helps that Eileen really loves the finished product and keeps commenting on the pretty colors and quality of workmanship.

Pattern: Multidirectional Triangular Scarf (link)
Designer: Karen Baumer
Alterations: None
Recipient: Eileen
Yarn: Trendsetter Tonalita
Colorway: 593 (why don’t they name colors?)
Amount Used: Approx 225 yards
Needles: Size 7 addi natura (not sure of type, size is correct)
Started: Mid January, 2008
Finished: March 6, 2008

scarf001

Anyone want on in a different yarn or colorway? These are really fun to make.

Ravelry has slightly more details on the project.

FO: Baby Surprise Jacket

Note: This post isn’t new, so don’t get all excited that I’m finally writing up some long-finished FOs. I’m just moving all of my knitting project details from pages to posts. A few ones like this may pop up every now and then.

Yeah, this is really late coming. I actually finished stitching this a few days after Christmas. My excuse is that it still doesn’t have a recipient so there’s no need to talk about it. I wanted to make one of these ever since I first saw samples of the completed sweater. I grabbed a copy of one of her many books which include this pattern (think it was The Opinionated Knitter but I can’t remember) and got started. Of course I had to refer to some online sites to follow it because, well, her “pithy” directions were greatly lacking. Or I’m just a crappy, crappy knitter. I really like the finished product, despite the fact my gauge was off which leads to some odd parts. I’ll make another for Maeghan and Jeremy’s baby girl soon.

bsj2

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmerman
Source: Most EZ books
Alterations: None
Recipient: Bradyon, the son of classmate, Byron
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy
Colorway: Blue, Green (no clue as to official color names)
Amount Used: 1 skein each color

Needles: Size 7, misc Addi turbos/nauras (kept changing)

Started: Early December, 2007
Finished: Late December, 2007

bsj

Ravelry project page can be found here.

Fun with Koigu

Remember when I got that handspun at the swap in October and was so excited about using it? The stuff turned out to be super itchy so I put it up for trade on Ravelry. Almost as soon as I did so, I got a message from someone wanting it. Not long after, the yarn was on its way out and I’d received two skeins of Koigu. My very first Koigu. I’ve only ever seen it in a store once (back home) but couldn’t get myself to pay the steep price usually asked for. Matt decided to play around with the skeins and below is the result. He’s probably going to kill me for putting up these photos but whatever. He likes to mention my distaste of veggies and other picky eating habits on his blog on the time.

koigu 2

koigu1

koigu3

2008 Goals

1. Blog: Write in here four days a week, on average.

2. Knitting: Finish ten knitting projects; two must be larger projects (think sweater or lace shawl). End the year with less stash yarn than I had to start with.

3. School: Keep grades up (aka higher than 3.0 GPA).

4. Photos: Take an average of four photos a week.

5. Friends/Family: Make the most of the postal service by writing more letters and sending care packages to friends and family just because.

6. Work: Be the best employee I can be in the new work group. Take tasks outside my comfort zone.

What Went Down in 2007

Don’t fear, I used old blog entries to figure out what happened when. My memory isn’t quite this good.

January: Starting working with a new FIRST team. Got most of the design and construction finished on the robot. My laptop’s hard drive bit the dust (and was soon replaced). Did a lot of work on an Around the World quilt. Started back as a full-time student and had all sorts of fun getting into the classes I wanted. Used the last Macy’s gift card from the wedding to buy myself a sewing machine.

February: We got our kitties. And they hid from us until mid-March. I purchased the fabric for and completed most of Rob’s (my brother’s) quilt. We finished building the robot.
March: I bought a new point-and-shoot camera and started taking photos like crazy. Matt and I discovered Eaton Canyon, a park with a waterfall, in Pasadena. I bought an expensive pattern and fabric and made myself a reversible bag (which I haven’t used in months due to it’s size). I started a blue and green fractal cross stitch pattern. The cats finally decided to become friendly; ok, Willie finally decided to become friendly. The robotics team went to the LA Regional and did pretty well; we made it to every single match. Matt made tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes.

April: I spent most of my Spring Break watching TV and doing cross stitch. I caved in and got myself a Flickr account. Matt and I went camping together for the first time at Yosemite. Had issues starting a fire but had a great time nonetheless. Amy and I explored Downtown LA together. I met a lady through SWE who said she could get me a job with her medical devices company; she has yet to return any calls or emails. Matt and I visited the Getty Villa. I started a challenge to take one photo every day. I taught myself to knit.

May: The month I really started to get obsessed with knitting. This was when I discovered podcasts, interlibrary loans, and my SnB. I finished the semester and started back at work. Had one very boring first week back (things picked up the next – big time). My car got rear-ended. I paid almost 3.50 for a gallon of gas but still drove to work.

June: Started back at work full-time working with my old program and a few of the small repair programs. Matt and I went to Yosemite with a group from his work. I got my invite to Ravelry. Finished a scarf for Matt’s mom and a potholder. Probably also finished the head scarf thing then but I’ve got no real record of that.

July: My parents came for a visit and we took them to a baseball game, Knott’s Berry farm, and all over Long Beach. I got Book Seven; Matt finished within a few days. I wouldn’t finish until Wednesday. Went to student orientation. My adviser gave me a pass to register for whatever I wanted.  I started to slowly read through (and write responses to) Writing Down the Bones. We signed up for Netflicks. Amy left me for a year to be an au pair in Germany.

August: Finished up my internship for the summer. Got my first crown. Started a Clapotis for myself (first one). Found out the Check Engine light usually comes on because your gas cap isn’t all the way screwed in. I complained about the large size of my stash; it fit in one small Rubbermaid bin. I went to my first ever fiber festival. My friend G came to visit and we dragged him all over town, showing him our favorite places. I went with Steph to see the Jimmy Kimmel Show. We went to Baltimore to go to Steph’s wedding.  Had time to squeeze in a trip to Philly (saw King Tut) and go to Shenandoah National Park.

September: Started a new school semester. Got volun-told I would be SWE’s EMIN and AESB rep. Matt took me to see Wicked for my birthday. Had a great birthday party playing buzzed Cranium with Joe, Steph, Josh, and (of course) Matt. Went up to the Valley to hang out with Amy’s family over Labor Day (it was actually cooler there than here, amazingly). Started knitting a pair of Jaywalkers, another Clapotis, and made lots of progress on the Evening Bag. Attended a sleepover at Yarn Lady and met two girls that go to my school there. The cats got fleas.

October: Matt and I celebrated our first anniversary by going to San Francisco for a long weekend. I fell in love with the city (culture, food, knitting stores, prevalence of good public transit) and we briefly thought of moving there. I started and mostly finished a baby sweater for Amy D’s baby. I missed a day of school due to Vertigo. I got Matt a Nintendo DS for his birthday (which he now plays when I drag him shopping). I got annoyed at how boring my blog was. My SnB held a yarn swap where I acquired lots of pretty stuff that I’ll probably never use.

November: Matt’s parents came for a visit and we took them to Solvang for a few days. Bought far too much wine and signed up for two wine clubs. Matt went back East for a week for work and I managed to keep myself busy with knitting and schoolwork. Thanksgiving was held at Amy D’s rather than our place due to a non-working oven (now fixed). We got a Wii. I took the WPE; still don’t know whether I passed. I bought a drop spindle at a fiber show. Matt taught me how to fix my photos in Photo Shop.  I managed to finish multiple knitting projects (though most were started in previous months). I participated in NaBloPoMo.

December: I basically forgot what happened between Thanksgiving and Christmas other than finals and getting the new job. Started my new job the week of finals, two weeks earlier than expected. Finished the semester on a high note, an A in two difficult classes (and only a C in one I really didn’t understand). Steph had her first solo painting show. Visited my parents and brother in Florida for a week (eventually photos of that will be posted). Finished Danica (entrelac scarf) and started/mostly finished a BSJ for Amy D’s baby.

2007 Resolutions Results

  1. Make school a priority: I had two full semesters in 2007. I earned a 3.56 in Spring and a 3.45 in Fall. Not shabby. My two highest GPAs since, oh, high school. More importantly, I love school again. I only missed classes because I was ill or had a FIRST event. I look forward to attending classes (except with a certain prof ’cause the man cannot teach). I don’t put off studying until the last minute. I finally found people in my classes I could study with. I’d say I fulfilled this one.
  2. Complete at least two quilting projects and two cross stitch progress: I must explain. When I wrote this resolution, I was only a quilter and cross stitcher. I had never really sewed anything (made two bags this year) and hadn’t learned to knit yet. I’d say I’d probably have had a seventy-five percent chance of meeting this one if I hadn’t become obsessed with knitting only a quarter into the year. I managed to almost finish a quilt for my brother (still need binding) and did maybe fifty hours of cross stitching in those short months.
  3. Write daily in my notebook: This was never going to happen. Sure, I love to write. But try to write, on paper, daily? I go in cycles with writing. Sometimes I can only blog, others I can only use paper, others I must write NOTHING because life is way too crazy to record on paper. I’d say I wrote about eighty percent of the days this past year. Not bad, but not what I wanted.
  4. Get (and stay at) my Weight Watchers goal weight: Not only did I quit Weight Watchers (financial reasons) before officially hitting goal, I am also up about ten pounds above my lowest weight. Do I care? Not really. I think I still look great. Screw their little BMI-is-the-best-indicator-of-obesity thing. Size six ain’t fat, people.
  5. Make new friends and reconnect with old ones: I’ve made lots of friends just this past semester. Blame AESB, SWE and my need for study groups. Reconnecting, eh, didn’t happen. I still talk to the same few people from high school and UF. Katie and I actually had a long discussion this weekend about how little we want to talk to most of the people we hung out with in high school. They made no attempt to keep in touch, so why should we?
  6. Not take Matt for granted: Talk about a goal I really couldn’t measure. I think I met this one but it’s hard to explain why or why not. Must remember in the future that goals must be measurable (as well as attainable and something else I always forget).