The price of productivity

The past few days (and the coming week) is high gear time here in the land of Gathering Wool. Between work (remember, it's EOM time), some company come callin', and trying to finish a few self-imposed deadlines (the bastardly painting and those socks for the boy formerly known as my niece's boyfriend now hereby dubbed Sasquatch), I got a hurtie.

Thanks be to Otter Creek for the medicinal skills....um, it's like holding an ice pack...yeah, that's it.

And now back to our regularly scheduled knitting...

This just in: it wasn't all clean-up and painting this weekend (why yes, there was actual painting...er, priming!)

I finished the Crazy Anklets.


Project specs: this standard sock pattern on #2 Brittanys using leftover Regia Crazy Colors with a stash skein of Koigu KPM, dye code 2160/103.


Also finished was a stealth project which I can show, but can't tell you who it's for just yet (unless you check out my Ravelry page).


Project specs: Persnickety Knitter's Arrowhead Lace Headband pattern using stash remnant wool on #7 Addis. This project was instant gratification and I really hope the giftee loves them as much as I loved making them.

There was some knitting on the Size 14 socks (I really want these off the needles by the weekend.) And because I just picked up this book, I felt compelled to start the Felted Striped Tote using up my autumn-hued wool remnants.

Next on the needles is another pair of socks using a new Trekking colorway and (gasp!) a new sock pattern. Stay tuned!

Thanks, Mother Nature!

Last night, I was all set to have a nice dinner, watch a DVD, and knit.

Mother Nature had other plans: (this is outside our bedroom window)

The Weather Service is hesitant to call it a "tornado", but whatever the little weather/microburst/storm cell was labeled, it still spelled trouble. The farm was very fortunate. We had some tree damage, a few small structural issues, and a mess of the flowers - but everyone is ok.

(Neighbor cats Bart and Lexie are glad the excitment is over for now!)

Do you like our topiaries?
And the old pumphouse still stands -

At least something's getting finished around here!

Exhibit 1: Scarlet
Project specs: Oat Couture's Tropical Tee knit in Classic Elite's Classic Silk (a cotton/silk blend), Colorway 6953 on Size 10 circs (bias neckline done on #6 dpns.) I used just under 7 skeins. Pattern mods: Horseshoe lace hem, knitted bias neckline. (And yes, that is a primed wall you see behind me.)

Exhibit 2: 2008 Red Scarf #1
Project specs: Pretty much the same as #2. I used Lambs Pride in "Khaki" for the main colorway, with the remnants on the ends. Finished length is about 63". (I still have a little steam blocking to do.)

I've decided to backburner MS3 for a variety of reasons. Even if I decide to frog it, I've learned some good lessons: I can bead and I like lace on a smaller scale. In fact, I've got a project mulling over in the back of my mind even now.

And speaking of unfinished stuff - Mr. Cat loves me enough not to care if he has to nap on the taped-off floor.

Way too much

There's just too much stuff going on in the Catty household for the likes of a relaxing summer. (Who am I kidding? I think I had a relaxing summer back in 1980. Maybe.)

I've got 4 WIPs, 3 on the launch pad, and a couple with due dates in the fall. The only project I'm on the fence about is MS3. After Clue 5 was posted yesterday, I knew I wasn't going to knit it as designed, but go with a straight stole (as someone in the forums noted "Like a table runner.") My fence-sitting arises from the fact this is a 'knit-at-home-only-doing-nothing-else-including -watch-TV' project. Hmmm. I've just started Clue 2 and from what the discussion boards have been saying, things get easier from here on out. Hmmmm. I'm going to let this mull around a bit while I try to clean off my other needles.

Red Scarf 2 is done. Project Specs Cascade 220 remnants on #10 needles. Pattern: Stephanie's One-Row Handspun Scarf. Finished dimensions are 6.5" wide by 65" long.

Red Scarf 1 is about 65%:

These size 14 socks? Might be done by Christmas. They are for my neice's boyfriend - she got stuck in the process and I told her I would finish them. Before I heard he had size 14 feet. (And btw, Norma and Cookie rock the sock information! Thanks, girlies!)

Scarlet is progressing: I've just got to seam her up, finish the sleeve ribbing and tack on the neckline. I decided to do a bias neckline as described here. I think I will like it very much!

And to top it all off, I've been setting up housekeeping over here:

Now, if I could just get the upstairs painted, the housework done, and find time for a nap....

We have a winner!

It's Ms Alotta.Knittin! I had fully planned to get an action photo of Jack picking the winner out of the sap bucket, but he decided after reconning the paper, he was going to play chase with it (and me.) I would love to send each of you a giftie, but I'm pretty sure The CatMan would think 27 packages a bit excessive! Thank you all for the shout outs and emails!

(BTW, I'm not going to reveal Ms Lotta's giftie here and spoil the surprise. You'll just have to check her blog out in a few days.)

Meanwhile, back at the knitting. In just a few days, it's the next Project Spectrum combo and I'm a bit excited! My plan is to have Scarlet and the two Red Scarves finito by next Saturday. That should leave plenty of time for some socks and the dastardly Mystery Stole 3 (why yes, I'm still at clue #1 ...why do you ask?)

It's a party (and a contest!!)

Next Saturday I celebrate my third year here at Gathering Wool. Since I'm all about the party and the subsequent cake, I'm having a little contest! All you have to do is show up by leaving a shout out in the comments OR dropping me an email** anytime from today through Saturday, July 28. On Sunday July 29, all your names will go into the prize patrol (read: sap bucket) and one name will be randomly drawn (read: recon'd out by Jack the Cat) to win a lovely little giftie as my way of saying "Thanks for reading/lurking/commenting/just being you."

**Send the emails to: the muse medusa AT yahoo DOT com (delete the spaces and change the caps to the appropriate symbols) - enter "PARTYCAKE" in the subject line.

The only knitter still on clue 1.

The week after vacation can really be a bear. As in big, hungry, cranky grizzly. So not much was done in the way of Scarlet (and she's sooooo close to being done!) But I did frog and reknit my Mystery Stole. This pic is up to row 56 - and there is a lifeline.

I took the pattern's multiple 8.5 x 11 pages and messed with them until I got Clues 1 & 2 onto one 11 x 17 piece of paper. It's making for a much tidier knitting bag. I've also finally figured out that black just ain't gonna photograph well. I'm quick that way.

Well, at least I can read about it...

Can I get a Woo?

(That would be the car's antenna bisecting the pic. The CatMan is not Herb Ritts)

Or more like a 'whew'. There was some broilin' (floppy brim hats only work when you remember to take them to the beach), some drankin' (though there weren't many Southern accents where we were), some knittin', and a lot of laughter. The trip was looooooooooong, but luckily we had satellite radio to keep us occupied. Funniest satellite moment? Listening to Spinal Tap during Live Earth: "'ello Wimbledon!"

Part of the joy of unpacking is making up to the cats for leaving them alone in the care of their friend Judy who spoils them to no end. Izzy is not amused that I took my knitting, but not her.

Project specs: Opal Silk/Wool sock yarn, color #1120 (Tiger...rawr!). Knit on Brittany #2s using the tried and true pattern.

I yam what I yam

My tote and I share some similar qualities: structured, uniform exterior, slightly wild interior, and a little girlie girl icing.


Project specs: 12 mitered squares using hemp twine on #8 Brittanys. I made a plastic mesh frame for reinforcement which I placed between the lining and the tote. After lining, I used this scarf which I knotted on the side after I tacked it in place.

And here's Miss Bizzybellie sacked out for the count. I have no idea why she is choosing to sleep on the CatMan's stiff Carharts when there are two soft t-shirts right next to her. But then again, I have no idea why she does what she does anyway.

So we are off later today for the Chicken Vacation. The car is packed and I've just got some cleaning to do around the house. But it appears they've turned the water off. This could prove interesting. See you all next week!

Another Conversation

in the continuing saga of the Chicken Vacation. On the phone with CatDad last night:

CatDad: "Oh, hey there. I thought it was your aunt calling back."
Me: "??"
CatDad: "Yeah, she called me a few minutes ago to find out where we were going on vacation."
Me: "But I thought she was going with us?"
CatDad: "She is. I just never told her where we were going."
Me: "??"
CatDad: "Well, we got to talking and I just never got around to telling her the actual location. She knows now, though."

*Note to self - get more gin.*

Learning some lessons

with the white, blowing curtain and the angle of sunlight, this picture is quintessentially summer to me.

I started on Scarlet Thursday night. Instead of 1x1 ribbing, I adapted a one-repeat lace pattern (pssst- it looks strangely familar, eh?) I'm checking my progress each step of the way to avoid another Ed situation. So far, I've dropped my needle size down to an 8 (recommended was 9/10)and I'll be decreasing a bit from the waist to underarm. I am enjoying the Classic Silk slubbiness and it's knitting up so quickly, I might get to wear this on the Chicken Vacation!

However, some lessons take repetition to be valid. Note below:

The yellow exclamation point is the end of my red remnant. Yet 13 stitches remain to the end of the row. Since this is a lengthwise knit, I am not relishing the tinking of a bazillion stitches . So Red Scarf #1 is on hold until I make a LYS run. KYarns has a loverly little basket of wool remnant skeins which are perfect for projects like Dulaan and Red Scarf; I know I'll find enough to finish this row off. A visit is scheduled this week anyway since my niece has decided on socks as her "learn to knit" project. Her favorite colors are green and blue which are woefully lacking in my stash. So I've added needles and yarn to my "buy for vacation" list, right under the Bombay and tonic.

Enough with the swatching!

I feel like I've knit half the stole already! After consideration, I'm going with the 3rd swatch (#6s). I really love the look of the 2nd swatch, but at 5" for 35 stitches and Melanie indicating there would not be allowance for extra pattern repeats (whine but I'd only need one more /whine), I know I wouldn't be in the ballpark for the finished width of about 20".

I picked up some great beads from here - metallic dark blue iris - think of oil with the rainbow sheen on the surface.

I just hope I get the first clue before I leave on the Chicken Vacation.

What AM I thinking?

Well, at least the yarn I picked goes with this month's Project Spectrum.

A Conversation

A conversation with the CatBro this past week re: The Chicken Vacation -

Me: "So instead of staying overnight in Dover, we are staying in Salisbury. We'll meet you there instead."

CatBro: "But we aren't going through Salisbury."

Me: "If you're driving through Dover, you have to go through Salisbury. It's on the same road."

CatBro: "Salisbury is out of our way."

Me: "I'm looking at the freakin' atlas; there's only one main road down the center of the DelMarVa peninsula. It goes through Dover AND Salisbury."

CatBro: "We didn't go through Salisbury the last time."

Me: "I'm telling you. One. Freakin. Road."
CatBro: "Google doesn't say anything about going through Salisbury."

(continued bickering for a few more minutes.)

CatBroWife (exasperated, in background): "We have to drive through Salisbury just like the last time."

CatBro: "Oh."

We shall not discuss the conversation that occured re: getting on to the Outer Banks.

All knitting is completed on Hip2B. Just the sewing remains. So can you guess what I started?

Saving the day

So Ed is a Frogged Object. *sigh* I think the biggest mistake I made is using a #8 to knit - I got gauge, but Ed turned out to be way too drapey in the wrong places. So I'm gonna think about it some more and maybe try the pattern again in a few months.

Good news? Red Scarf 2008 is up and running. I think after the Ed disappointment, finishing Hip2B, and getting ready for The Chicken Vacation, I would enjoy a little scarf knitting. And it might be the perfect introduction for teaching my niece.

Cuteness alert: This morning, I was stopped by parade of 6 adult geese and 13 goslings of various ages crossing the road. Were they having a play date? Headed home from a late night? Early morning skinny dip? Only the geese know for sure.

hmmm

I finished Edward over the weekend and I'm not feeling a warm sense of satisfaction. The fit isn't what I was hoping for - the final decision will be made after blocking. There is enough cotton in the Wildflower DK blend to be stretchy - with the previous frogging and the abandonment time out, I think it might need a bit of refreshing. So stay tuned for either a FO or a F(rogged)O.

Hip2B is down to the last two squares. Tonight I'm hoping to start the lining with project completion slated by the end of the week. I'm holding off on starting anything new until these are done - that should help my motivation.

Project Spectrum Wish List

There are certain items that will always be my Holy Grail. 3 of them happen to fall into this month's colors.

Item 1: The perfect red lipstick. Not too loud, not too opaque, not too shiny, not too orange or blue.

Item 2: The perfect silver hoop earrings. Matte, not shiny. Maybe hand-hammered. Big, but not Sade-sized. (For the record - I adore Sade and want to be her when I grow up. I just don't want those earrings.)

Item 3: A black suede fringed coat. No, I'm not a biker babe or a cowgirl - I just have always wanted one.

And thank you to those who commented and emailed with clothing suggestions. I heard ya and ordered - stay tuned for the outcome.

Finishing is the hardest part

I'm cruising along with Hip2B - well, cruising might not be the right word when knitting with hemp twine. I've got about 11" left of the side panel and 3 mitered squares of the back panel. Then there's the whole sewing together, figuring out the handles, and making the lining bit. But I'll be glad to be done with the knitting portion - I'm starting to feel it at the base of of my fingers and thumbs.

I'm hoping to dig Edward out of hiding very soon - he was set aside (read: tossed in the closet) to make way for some deadline knitting at the beginning of April. My goal is to finish him in time for the Chicken Vacation.

And while we are speaking of The Vacation, anyone have suggestions for nice, lightweight cropped pants that do not rest on or about 'MuffinTopLand'? Seriously, I'm 45 years old with hips and would like to look like I still have all my wits about me!