Thursday, March 27, 2008

In which a hat is actually a snake and an elephant

The weather has been nuts today. *gorgeous* sun right now, snow, hail, rain and wind earlier. I took advantage of the break in the clouds to snap a few shots of The Wee Ones (as I have taken to calling them). I spy them here and there every so often, but they mostly keep to themselves.

And how sweet is this? I bet they feel like they're all alone out there...

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But I think you are never quite so alone as you expect...

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(I just like this one. And the closer sir is reading... not being a creepy stalker, like me)

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Frankly, I think they all enjoy the sun as much as I do (though I live for the absolutely ridiculous weather days of the pacific northwest). I love the little bits that are left over form my knitting projects, I normally re-wind them into mini-skeins and hang them on this corkboard beside my desk, a kind of colour inspiration/retrospective. What do you do with your left over bits and bobs of yarn?

Ooh, also, this reminds me so very much of Le Petit Prince.
I am shocked to find that I do not own a copy!

Second Hedgerow sock is close to done. Well, I have the entire foot to do, but that's more than halfway!

Have a good day, peoples!

Monday, March 24, 2008

In which a most startling discovery is made

A most curious thing happened to me earlier today...
I was poking through my stash (oh no... it's true, I do have a stash. It's a small stash, but it's there...) when I heard someone calling to me.

"Hello. Sir? Hello."
I looked out in the hallway, poked my head out the window, but I couldn't see anyone, so I resumed my rooting.

"Excuse me sir, hallo."
I whipped around. No one there. Shoot, I really *have* lost it. I decided to go for a walk, surely some air wold he...

"Down here, by the... what's this, some cone of something or other?"
Cone? Oh, right, my neglected Harrisville Designs. But why would it be talking to me? can the wool fumes really be that strong in here? I looked closer, and much to my surprise, I saw a little man leaning against the yarn, waving at me...

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"Afternoon sir."
"...hello?" I ever so tactfully replied.
"I was just out for a walk, but my dog seems to have run off, I don't suppose you've seen her about?"
"Er, no. No, I don't think I have..."
"Well, thanks anyway. Have a fine day."
With that he meandered off, calling after his dog.
I promptly took a seat on the floor, before I fell over.
Then, I heard laughter.
Almost dreading what I would find (and making a note to check myself in at the soonest possible oppourtunity), I returned my attentions to the yarn and was greeted by these three persons, apparently taking advantage of the wonderful weather and having quite the pleasant afternoon.

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Frankly, this was all far too Swiftian for me, so I hastily tied on my shoes and went for a nice long walk. No sign of anyone when I returned. I'm not sure if I am more concerned with the possibility of my going mad, or my yarn playing host to a miniature community...

Friday, March 21, 2008

In which our hero makes his triumphant return

Well, I certainly have been absent, haven't I? I blame a combination of school crazyness (and other kinds), a solid week of cold misery and the deep and mournful lack of my camera (it is back now, as you shall see). To be completely honest, the crazy has nowhere near passed (the next 3 or so weeks just might make me kill myself... or whomever is responsible for the academic timetabling here). However, with my camera back, I shall at least keep y'all updated, even if it's not coherently.

I really haven't had the time nor energy to knit too much lately, so you actually haven't missed too much.

I finished the first Hedgerow sock a few days ago and finally cast on for the second last night. Ooh, and I made myself a makeshift (and kind of deformed, I think) sock blocker, so I can pretend to get some decent photos of socks now!

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And my pi blanket stalled right after the latest set of increases (about a week and a half ago, oops). It's 576 stitches around and I just whimper at the thought of it (48 rounds of this, then another increase section, I think). It doesn't look like much either...

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...that's it really. Now I am going to go to the gym and then buckle down and spend the next few weeks studying like a man possessed (as long as nothing shiny crosses my line of sight).

Sunday, March 2, 2008

*whew* big post!

Hey there folks.

First, a(n) FO! Ms. R's Redbow socks are done, and are due to be posted tomorrow! (first photo for colour accuracy, second for proof of completion)

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Pattern: Toe-up Socks with Gusset and Slip-Stitch Heel from Wendyknits
Yarn: Fleece Artist Basic Merino Sock Kit, colourway unknown
Needles: Addi Lace 2.5 mm circular
Start: February 3rd, 2008
End: March 1st, 2008
Mods: Worked over 64 stitches (increased one extra stitch at start of gusset and decreased it at end of heel). Double-wrapped short row toe. Worked with magic loop. 3x1 rib over instep and leg with an inch or so of 1x1 rib at cuff. EZs sewn bindoff.

Verdict: Same as the last pair. Love the yarn, the needles are great, an excellent pattern. It went suitably fast and I will definitely be using this pattern and yarn again (and again and again). Heather, I reallyreallyreally hope they fit well!

So what do I do when I cast off some socks? Start more of course. These will be in the Shibui Sock (colour more accurate in the last post, I think) for another birthday in a few months. Oh, and please note, goat shown for size comparison (there are more photos over in flickr and on Ravelry). I'm thinking the Hedgerow pattern...

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But of course I can't knit 2 pairs of socks in a row. That would be crazytalk! (hush you) So...

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(is that... damn goat...)

For now I will say only this, Harrisville New England Shetland (two 900 yard cones), a pretty darn popular project (I don't mind being trendy, I don't mind being trendy, I don't mind being trendy.... yeah, I'm not convinced either), and I will tell you more when I post next. I will post when I have at least *some* progress to show. Oh, and it's not a secret project this time, but I do need to hold back a little bit of content, eh.