First Sweater Jitters

I guess I should say first "not a scarf, hat or shawl" jitters as it doesn't necessarily count as a sweater since it has no sleeves. Is it a vest, or tank, or...I don't know. It is my first big project that I am focusing energy on.

So I blocked the back to the green mimosa and she looks kinda big. Not enormously so, maybe only 1-2 inches bigger than my fitted shirts,but it is kinda scaring me as this is also one of the first times I have had to block anything to an actual critical dimension. (By the way, I work in manufacturing as a project manager so this critical dimension thing is all to familiar as something that can make or break a project).

It is also longer than expected. Yes, I know, I should have looked at the dimensions a little better to see if it needed to be shortened, but as my first large project I decided I would not tempt fate with my non-existant tailoring skills



I also thought I would show you the booty that will be added to my Stash from the weekend. This was all my discount yarn from Tall Mouse. Tomorrow I will have to fight yet another tempation as our Stitch and Bitch meetup with be at Banana Berry, a local LYS, and they are having a sale. Geesh, this could be bbbaaadddd. Wish me luck.

Today is my lucky day!!

Man, so much has happened over the weekend. I mean, nothing related to actually seeing people or existing in a community (remember future spinster here). I mean in the, I spent all time by myself sort of way.

1. I posted some stash on Destash for Cash and have managed to sell all but one item! How cool is that. I have already sent and collected the booty. Only problem is that is supported the next 4 items...

2. I bought yarn on Elann and Knitpicks for the first time. I know I just did the equivalent of changing from heroine to crack but everyone got an addiction mine is yarn, not necessarily healthy but definitely not deadly...I don't think. I will post the pictures when I actually get the new stash...I mean specifically project purchased yarn.

3. I bought 8 more balls of Queensland Llama Seta in beige, a light green, and a ball of purple for $1.98 per ball and some Louisa Harding Sari Ribbon for $2.94!!!!

4. I found a pair of $3.74 shoes that I love. They will match my green mimosa when it is complete. Now this is almost bigger than the $1.98 yarn as I wear a 12W. Shoeboxes are the next size up.

5. Last but not least...I have finished the back of the Green Mimosa! I feel like my own self managed sweat shop. I have imposed a 3 week deadline for finishing this project. So far I am on track but I think I will interrupt the mindless stockinette by making the Louisa Harding Easy Peasy Bag with the Sari Ribbon purchased during lucky moment number 3. See!!! I am trying to stick to my project on purchasing of yarn.

The only bad part is that my bronchitis is still here, I feel horrible and feverish and it has been 3 weeks. What did I do to you body to deserve this? Was it the fried chicken? the skipping gym workouts? the evil looks at the scale? What??? I just don't know! Whatever it was I don't deserve this. Gimme a break... k?

Check Out my Future Projects...Flickr Mosaics Rock!!

Future Projects, originally uploaded by MoPix.

1. brown cami, 2. Wisteria Sweater - knititude, 3. roses and leaves, 4. pink ruffle scarf, 5. deep V Argyle Vest, 6. Rhapsody in Tweed, 7. Pullover flair, 8. Juliet Pullover, 9. Floral Felted Bag, 10. Tubey, 11. sunrise circle jacket, 12. shimmer shrug, 13. mermaid gloves, 14. lace leaf scarf, 15. klaralund, 16. kimono styled sweater, 17. grey4sm, 18. danica scarf, 19. branching out scarf, 20. basketweave dress, 21. amelia earhart aviator hat, 22. Pullover-Vogue-Knitting, 23. Peacock Shawl, 24. KnittedBodice, 25. ITW-SM05 - Leaf sweater, 26. Indian Summer Jacket, 27. Diagonal Ribs and Cable, 28. Cables Toad, 29. Flame Stitch Cardigan, 30. Embellished Sweater, 31. Cabled bag, 32. 30739110, 33. Buttony neckwarmer, 34. union square pullover, 35. Round Neck Lace Pullover, 36. pink mimosa

I am loving the flickr mosaic maker! Here is a collage of quite a few of my planned future projects. One is already in the works and that is the pink mimosa (picture 36). Photo mosaics....ahhhhhh

Destashing - The four step and counting program

So have you heard of Destash for Cash? Well I have and I am trying to sell off some of mine. Given I LOVE my stash. It kills me to part with it, but I know that I must. I am a stuff hoarder and I admit I have a problem (first step, people!!) so I am parting with some parts of my stash (second step...taking action). If it goes well there may be more, but no promises. Here is what I have up for sale, so come take a look (third step...asking for help). Man, I am on a roll!!!


SOLD!!! - 4 balls GGH Velour Suede - $20.00


SOLD!!! - 4 Skeins Steadfast Fibers Marvelous Mohair - $25.00


SOLD!!! - 10 balls Jo Sharp Dessert Garden Aran Cotton - $27.00


SOLD!!! - 6 Skeins Rowan all seasons cotton - $25.00


SOLD!!!- 4 Skeins Mission Falls 1824 Cotton - $20.00

Escape the Chair!!

I must escape the chair! If you don't know what I mean check out this Reebok commercial which explains EXACTLY how I feel right now.


Now I know I am a bit of a nerd and a recluse but this is getting ridiculous. I have spent the past 5 days holed up in my house, with the exception of minor stints at work. My chair and computer have completely sucked me in. Between knitting and reading blogs, which has become an addiction, I have sat in this chair for the majority of my waking hours.





I do have an excuse though as I wasn't feeling well and found out that I have Bronchitis to blame it on (Note: box of tissue in picture, cup of tea, and Vicks container). Since I never go to the doctors when sick, only for the annual checkups, I didn't even know where to go and get my prescription filled. Thank goodness I stumbled on a RiteAid with a big sign that said PHARMACY.


Knitwise, I started on the Pink Mimosa Tank from Interweave Summer 2006.





Not very many people are knitting this on the web but I did find a very lovely blue one here and a grey one in progress here. Hmmm....I guess mine would be green Mimosa. Although it was not on my list, I had an epiphany at the end of the Shedir hat that this pattern would go well with the Green Cotton Twist yarn from my now dead Kyoto Sweater.


Yes, I did say that Kyoto was dead to me. The would be first sweater is now being dismantled for the sake of a newer knitting idea. I just couldn't bring myself to do finish it. The measurement, although a loose fitting sweater anyway, would have been too big as I casted on for that about a year ago and have since lost 20 lbs. So I felt justified in killing it off. I also killed of the Criss Cross Shrug that was on Hiatus because one, I am pass the garter stitch stage of my knitting and two, it appeared on You Knit What? and I am just a little too vain to let that go.


Speaking of new projects, I am also eyeing Knitpicks Wool of the Andes for use on the Sunshine Circular Jacket. Hope it is not too scratchy or at least not more scratchy than Noro, but I may have to order a sample skein. Anyway I am making progess on the back of the Mimosa and will keep you posted.

Finished Object: Shedir Hat

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed - Whisper 141
Inspiration: Knitty Shedir
Needles: Size 3
Yardage: 1 ball
Modifications: Yarn style and only 4 repeats instead of 5, but still turned out long enough to cover my ears. 3 repeats would have been better.
Enjoyment Factor: 7 - Good: Cabling was fun and kept my interest, love the pattern, Bad: Needle issues, 5 repeats of the cables is way too much, P2tog tbl (see yesterday's entry) enough said!
Knit Time: August 14 - 20


The shedir pattern is not for the faint of heart. It took me 7 days straight knitting to finish up. The size 3 knitting was not as bad as I thought it would be and went fast until I reached the decreasing. That is when all hell broke lose. The decreasing was long, my hands hurt, the needles were constantly a problem and I was on a mission to finish ASAP.


I took a lot of inspiration for the hat from Eunny (kinda feels like name dropping,as though she is my best friend) in terms of using the felted tweed, however, I should have followed her lead with only doing 3 repeats because mine came out long and I only did 4 repeats. I will do the pattern again, but not anytime soon. I highly recommend learning to cabling without the cable needle . I discovered this a quite late in the process but would have helped me immensely.

All Needles are NOT the same and Who the Hell Thought up P2tog tbl!!

I know that the title may be a little misleading. I really like the Shedir pattern. It was a great knit that kept me entranced for a week straight, but this pattern was a Bitch at times.


Needles


Now I KNOW all needles are not created equal. Eunny spells it out in her Majoring in Lace Part II but when in need I tend to pick the best of what choices I have when a project arises. But this project has taught me a big lesson that you really have to pay attention to your knitting tools.


First mistake was buying the Addi Naturals. These looked great at first sight - bamboo material, fairly sharp point, good joint - but when I began knitting on them I kept getting stuck. On closer inspection I noticed this:



(click image for larger view of gigantic chasm in needles)


What the hell is this? Why would you need an enormous ridge in your needles? Could this be for lace or for people who can't keep the stitches on the needles? My carpal tunnel and irritated wrist were cursing me for not looking closer. This made knitting slower and more wrist work as I would forget and wonder why my stitches were becoming harder to move so I would have to tug the stitches over the great divide to continue.


Next I needed Double Points. So I rushed to my LYS to buy needles and all they had was the Brittany's. So in my desperation I bought them. Well the damn things are blunt. You can see the difference between the Addi's and the Brittany's in the picture.



(left side Brittany, right side Addi Natural)


I might as well tried to stick my finger between the stitches because it was as effective as trying to P2tog TBL with those damn Brittany's. I HATE BRITTANY NEEDLES!! It basically resulted in the mess below in which I am trying to pick up the stitches with my sharper Addi's.





P2TOG TBL


This little acrobatic move was made the ending of this pattern massively laborious. I had to look it up to find out what the hell I was supposed to do. For those of us who still need the tutorial it can be found here. With my hella blunt needles I had to twist and bend nearly my entire body to get this to work. Was it worth it? I have no clue. The funny part is there are only two rows that call for this and that is all I can remember now. I will definitely be on the look out for this maneuver in other patterns and then decide if I really want to knit it.

So these were my troubles with knitting the Shedir. I am finished now and will post pictures soon.

Who am I? I am an ISFJ of course...

My Bloginality is ISFJ!!!


As an ISFJ, you are Introverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging.
This makes your primary focus on Introverted Sensing with Extraverted Feeling.


This is defined as a SJ personality, which is part of Carl Jung's Guardian (Security Seeking) type, and more specifically the Protectors or Nurturer.


In blogging, your journal will always be immaculate and have a touch of style. You may also feel overwhelmed because you want to be a part of everything going on. Because of your wonderful memory, other bloggers may come to you to ask about things you posted months before.


Wow, I feel a little naked..I mean personality wise. This fits me to a "T", which is kinda scary for this impersonal test to be so accurate. And yes, I know that is it kinda like horoscopes in that you can pretty much find yourself in every sign if you look hard enough (By the way, I was born a Pisces, but decided that I was really a Taurus), but this is surprisingly me. You have to take this quiz if you have not already. This is exactly me, which is kinda scary to be pinpointed to accurately.


Knitting News...


I ripped out what I had done on the Shedir hat. I was unsatisfied with how the cabling was getting all mottled in the tweed of the yarn so I took Eunny's approach and did the twisted knit stitch (aka knit tbl) to get greater stitch definition. So the real start date for Shedir begins today. I will try to have the hat done no later than Sunday. I think this may be fatally optimistic but I am up for a little knitting challenge as I have so many new things to try before the year is out.

Nubian Craftster gets a facelift

No...not me...my blog. I was inspired by so many nice looking blog sites that I decided to make some updates to my own. They are not all that obvious and you might not ever pick them out, but making these tiny little changes has given me blogging peace of mind that my site is not the worst looking in town.


The bad part was that this took me hours due to my non-existant knowledge of HTML. I figured it out through trial and error so after hours of looking for fonts, adding borders to pictures, centering text, locating HTML colors, and finally getting my comments to show up, I am pooped!! The worst part is that I was keeping me from quality time with my Shedir hat which I casted on yesterday.





This pattern is proving to be harder than I thought. Mainly due to the size of the chart which I need to enlarge at work tomorrow. The yarn is also making it a little hard to see the stitches being that it is so small and tweedy.


By the way, I am falling in love with tweed. Especially because of the wonderful FO from brooklyntweed. Gosh I wish I could knit like that.

Finished Object: Odessa Hat

(Click for Larger Image)


Yarn: Queensland Collection Llama Seta
Inspiration: Magknits Odessa by Grumperina
Needles: Size 5 throughout (because I was too lazy and cheap...uhh frugal to bye more)
Yardage: 1.25 skeins (approx. 110 yards)
Enjoyment Factor (1 to 10): 8 - beads and pattern detail were the highlight of the knitting. Had trouble with the beading at first and the ending decreases dragged on forever.
Knit Time: August 6 - 11



Odessa took 5 days of knitting to finish up. For this one the devil is in the details so I took appropriate pictures. I enjoyed the bead knitting immensely. I think I have gotten through the phase now. The pattern was excellent and easy to follow. I used Queensland Collection Llama Seta yarn that I bought a slew of during a Tall Mouse sale for $4.00 so this hat cost about $6.00 which is pretty cool. It is also beautifully soft and I loved touching it through the entire knitting process.


I can also say that I have kept my stashbusting oath and busted a ball...uhhh you know what I mean.

Tilkkupeitto - Fair and Square

Tilkkupeitto - Fair and Square



These blankets are amazing. I have been lurking on blogs all night as I knit away on my Odessa hat. I especially love blanket number 95. This woman is on a mission!

On a Knitting Mission

Odessa is moving along smoothly. I think I am well on my way to my goal of finishing it by this weekend so that I can start the Shedir hat. I even already bought my #3, 16" Circulars so I am rearing to go.


My other knitting related project for this weekend is to make a circular needle case. I have seen so many variations on the internet but decided to go the cheap...I mean inexpensive route by taking a placemat and napkin from Target and stitching them together. Sounds weird, we you will see the finished project come Sunday so you will have to wait and see.


I am hoping this will quench my desire to sew for a little while. It keeps coming up as a crafting alternative but I know that I am obsessive and will have to have every gadget and fabric on the planet. Delving into this new universe of crafting would definitely put me off my goal of budgeting.


Must resist...but resistance may be futile (if you didn't already know I am a HUGE Star Trek fan)

O....dessa

I am completely in a beading phase thanks to the Perdita's. I finished my 3rd Perdita on Sunday and decided that I had to take a forced break and move on to something else, especially because that embroidery yarn was not whiddling my stash significantly. So, I started back on Odessa. I will count Sunday as the start date because I had to rip out my first attempt as my beading technique was incorrect then I casted on AGAIN and the stitches were twisted. I nearly gave up because I hate doing the same thing over and over again. But having struck 110 beads I knew it would have to happen sometime.


So I am back in the saddle with Odessa slowly progressing to the end. Hope to have her done by the weekend so that I can start on the Shedir hat. I will be making with my Rowan Felted Tweed. At least that is the next project today...who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Finished Object - Perdita Wristlets

(Click for Larger Image)


Yarn: DMC Perle Cotton
Time: August 5 - 6 (approx. 1 day)
Inspiration: Knitty Perdita - Lily of the Valley version
Needles: Size 1 (The smallest I have knit with yet)
Yardage: 1.5 skeins
Enjoyment factor (1 to 10): 10 for quick, inexpensive, gift giving, and pretty
Knitting Time: approx. 1 day



This was the Perdita I made for myself. Please ignore the HUGE hand in picture. taking pictures of ones on arm is very hard. I commend anyone who can do it and have it look nice. Hence the intentional bluring so that you focus on the Perdita. Loook at the Perdiiitttaaa......


I made another one for my best friend Jill in a burgundy color, and another in fushia. I am addicted to these patterns. They are easy to knit once you get the hang of it, they finish up fast and are inexpensive. So far I have done the Lily of the Valley and Lilac, still have to do Bluebell. I found the yarn on sale at Micheal's so I couldn't resist. This is the cheapest....I mean least expensive knitting project that I have ever done. Love love love this pattern. Highly recommended.

Finished Object - Clapotis Scarf

(Click picture for Larger View)


Yarn: Schachenmayr La Nova Ribbon Yarn
Time: ?? Don't remember
Inspiration: Knitty's Clapotis
Needles:10
Yardage: approx. 6 balls
Modifications: Did fewer increase, decrease an straight repeats, making it thinner and shorter


Finally got around to posting the pictures of my scarf length Clapotis. This was a stash buster for me. Well, I had 4 balls and had to buy 2 more to finish her off. I needed more at the end but I just decreased more rapidly to end the ball just before it was too late.


Normally I would have a shot of it being worn but (1) I don't like it that much as it is not quite big enough and it's stripey which is not really my thing and (2) I am too lazy to go back and truly showcase a project finished months ago. Instead I am making another Clapotis that is the actual Stole size and will show that one when it joins the FO listing.

My Stash - How did it get so bad?

(Click Here to view Photoset)

So I got my annoucement that Tall Mouse was going to have a 40% off entire purchase sale today. Well, my mind began reeling. What would I buy? More Noro, some cotton yarn, some wool for felting, glitterspun? There were so many options until I started thinking about....The Stash. I hadn't inventoried the stash in months and never in the capacity in which I was about to embark and I felt bad about not knowing my inventory


Now don't get me wrong, I still went to Tall Mouse and searched for 1.5 hours for the special buy that I just had to have that I would wake at the crack of dawn and buy at the Saturday morning sale. But despite my search there was nothing. I was not overtaken with the purchasing urge as I normally am. Instead I was just tired and bored with the search. I ended up spending $5.00 on beads and velcro.


This lack of buying desire immediately peaked my guilt again and I began to inventory my stash, I took pictures of nearly every yarn I have. Now the picture above doesn't look like much but it takes up two laundry baskets.





I was embarrassed to even think about buying anymore yarn. I must bust the stash!!!





Thus my resolution begins... On this August 4, 2006 I, Monique, fight the urge to buy yarn as much as is possible for an obsessive personally and will bust at least half of this stash before this time next year. This includes any new yarn so that I am at 50% capacity by next year.