putting the knit in shizknitz

I’ve had this one lovely project on hold for over a year because I haven’t been able to figure out Fisherman’s Rib!!!! The sleeves are done… I’ve looked at numerous sites on the web (some with some lovely photos) and still cannot seem to figure it out. Any suggestions?

I know that this is a frequent question brought up by knitters, here is the official TSA Announcement, but from my experience using those nice metal circular Addi Turbos:

LAX (Los Angeles): International or Domestic, no problems
Pudong (Shanghai, China): International, no problems
Incheon (South Korea): International, no problems
Buenos Aires (or anywhere in Argentina): Not allowed

Pattern: Streakers Shrug, Design by Pam Allen from Interweave Knits Spring 2006
Yarn: Joann Exclusive Bellezza Collection Cosetta, Wool Blend in Cosetta Red, 6 skeins
Revisions to the Pattern: None other than the substitution of yarn.

I found this pattern one day at Joann’s but didn’t want to waste time looking for the yarn listed in the mag. I perused their yarn section to come across huge lots of this Joann Exclusive stuff. Now I’m kind of a snob when it comes to yarn (I always buy the GGH stuff for Rebecca patterns) but it was close to finals, I had limited time and the creative bug had set in. I purchased this red verigated color and started working on it on my spare time. What a great pattern! Its simple, simple, simple. Its one big piece that you sew up together and I’m really not a fan of shrugs (these half of a sweater things) since you can’t pull it to hide your tummy after a good meal. However, this was so much fun to make, and really goes with anything (I wore it over tank tops in Argentina since its fall there) and the sleeves look elegant (its a lace pattern) enough that you could wear it to dinner. I had finished this the night before I had left on my trip and it certainly paid off!

I’m in the photo with a Llama, but this is more to give you an idea of where Cafayatte, Argentina is… the NE region of the country (within the Andes Mts) and very indigeonous. At the first store we ducked into, I was thrilled to find a mountain of yarn (which the sign I think translates to Sheep and Silk) and couldn’t help but to purchase about 600 g of this beautiful green color. At $5,90 per 100 g, this totalled $35,40 pesos, or $11.80 U$D. Had this been purchased anywhere in the US, it would have rung up closer to $200 U$D. Now its a matter of figuring out what to make!

Side Note: Our tour guide that day (from Salta) commented, oh you knit? Your husband must be very lucky (pointing at Tienshiao)! I started laughing, and said, no not lucky because I buy lots of yarn! I think Tienshiao prefers me not to make him things anyhow

Finals and upcoming trips haven’t kept me from my knitting - I had a great excuse to knit something baby related when one of my Chinese groupmates had his first son (in China)! I pulled out my Last-Minute Knitted Gifts book and voila! There was Angora Baby Booties under the “less-than two hour gifts” section. It took me a few weeks to get myself together with yarn - Bouton D’or 100% Angora and dp needles (size 4). Not only were they easy to knit, but quick… thank god, I haven’t had a full nights sleep in quite some time.

I started this project in the middle of winter to ensure that I would be finished by spring. Orangina, or more like Purplegina for me is not only fun to knit but its NOT COMPLICATED. No shaping, no nothing. Just do two sides, then rib-knit them together in a round. Seam up the sides and shoulders. Well, easier said than done - I’ve been working on this using Jaeger Siena yarn and size 2 needles for almost 2 months. I’ve just started the ribbing, with 5 more inches to go!

Mmmm hmmmm..

Here are two works in progress - the Jaeger is being used on the Orangina and the Kid Seta is being used on the Aimee from Rowan Vintage Style.

I also have a stack of unread, brand new books as well - another work in progress. Had I discovered audiobooks for my ipod a month ago, perhaps I wouldn’t have so many “in progress” things to do.

Pattern: Ruffles from Scarf Style : Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet
Yarn: Porto Cervo in Beige, #23, only 3 skeins
Revisions to the Pattern: Since the yarn was a little bigger than the one in the pattern, I CO’d only 18 instead of the 22 listed, and skipped the Row 1 in the pattern (so I started with the k6 row, skipping the k8 row altogether). The thickness and the twirliness still stayed nicely! I liked the cotton in that its stiff enough to keep the shape and warm enough, but next time would like to try something that looks more exotic.

I remember starting this wrap back on the 4th of July when I had to rush my good friend to the ER after she sliced her hand open. I actually finished this sometime in September, but never had an opportunity to post.

Pattern: Eyelet Wrap from Rebecca 29
Yarn: GGH Soft Kid in Lime 54 (the real color is more like the photo on the left)
Revisions to the pattern: Made a longer torso section (and it’s still a little too short)

The pattern itself took me a little bit to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, you can easily tell when and where to throw down on some yarn overs.

I need some suggestions - I have 10 skeins of GGH Esprit in White 06 leftover (yes, leftover) from another project which turned into something that makes me look like the abominable snowman. Any ideas for projects?

Pattern: Knitting Pretty 2005 Wall Calendar
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Soho in shade 03
Changes to Pattern: None

I had picked up 4 skiens of this SoHo at a sale… it coincidentally matched the pajamas my mom bought for my sister and I, so I threw together a roll-up hat on size 7.5 double pointed needles (I didn’t have the right size circular, and no time to pick some up) which worked out fine, especially as the circle got much smaller. The yarn works fantastic and it keeps your head nice and warm. I used 1.5 skiens - hopefully the remaining 2.5 will be enough for a matching scarf!

I’ve been so busy and distracted lately, I haven’t had time to post. A few weeks ago I received the sweetest surprise in the mail from Leslie. It was even more special since I was especially down that day. There was a cute birth announcement of her new bundle of joy, Kate, and the cutest little bag.

I’ve also been ferociously been working on (and can’t seem to knit as fast as many of you out here!) the eyelet wrap from Rebecca 29. I’m now finished with the back and the two sleeves.

Oh, and I went to Titos the other day for the first time in weeks… and thankfully they changed the damn salsa back to normal. It had been so long that I think my stomach wasn’t ready for the 9 AM taco breakfast - I was jacked up for the rest of the day.

And so it did this past Wednesday night, as our jewelry class with Ralph Goldstein ended with the academic year. I was able to finish the emerald cut amythest the week before, so I did a quickie project to finish in one class - a thick band, fit for a man Ring size, 7.5, and the best polishing job comes with lots of sanding, inside and out as well as the sides. I sanded for about 3 hours total until my hands looked like they were covered in ash. Final polish was the regular bling polish on the inside, and a brushed polish on the outside. Next up is to figure out how to occupy my Wednesday evenings!

Many of my long time friends frequently hear about how busy I am… but these last few weeks have been beyond busy. I’ve taken on some new duties at work, I was finishing up an evening class, and I’ve been trying to keep some resemblence of a life. However, I love every minute of it. I swear by the “work hard, play hard” type of motto and adore the fact that life keeps me on my feet. I’ll do one update post on a few things….

Emerald Cut Ring
This has been my project since my last lucida-inspired ring, I had purchased a gorgeous 5.1 carat emerald cut light amethyst (light pink in color) which I’ve been working on a very basic (look, not basic to do) basket prong setting with knife edge band. The stone is so beautiful that I wanted everything else understated. The basket setting takes quite some time, as I ran into a number of times where soldering one corner un-soldered another, just from the heat. The reddish stuff you see is the anti-flux, which helps keep it from un-soldering. This last week I was able to saw off the bottom of the basket and attach the band, and sand paper. Hopefully I will finish this upcoming week - I only have 2 more classes left! Please forgive the crappy photos, the lighting is all wrong…. jewelry is one of the most difficult things I’ve found to photograph.

Birthday, etc.
Wednesday was a crazy, crazy day. With everything else going on, bless my guys for remember my birthday (or even to know when it was!). They got together with a few more of my coworkers to get me a new espresso machine. Let me explain. One of my guys found a small espresso machine he cleaned up after my complaints about the latte’s at work. We started making our own dang espresso-based drinks - any given day you’ll hear us whistling away some milk in the mornings (and sometimes in the afternoons too). I’ve been looking for a nice espresso machine for home, usually when I’m that into it, I’ll buy it. But what do you know, where on earth do you go to buy one? We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, Dept Stores and a few other places but I could only find either super-cheesy or super-expensive. Well…. they got me something really, really special. Then I started doing some reading on the art of espresso. Who knew there was so much to it - the tamping, the milk, the art of it all. T also sent me some gorgeous flowers too….

Because of all the crazy things going on, dinner had to wait until last night. T surprised me with dinner to Yamashiro’s, a well-known asian fusion restaurant atop a hill which has the most amazing views. The place looks like an old Japanese Palace… it is all one-way streets up this hill until you get to the very top. The food was pretty good too….. T had gotten a great table which overlooked the city at sunset.

Work Party

Good food, good wine, and good friend. ‘Nuff said.

So I finally got a new photo for my drivers license. I got sick and tired of “is that really you?!” and “can I see another ID?!” and the “Corr Lens” comment on the card (which was quickly removed after I could read ALL of the eye exam signs in the room, thanks to lasik) although the lady at the counter had curtly reminded me up update other items, such as the “WT:” field. Hrmph. Does anyone actually put their real weight on these damn things?

But lookie here - Jury Duty. It hasn’t even been a month yet since I’ve officially changed to my LA address!! Give me a break! To top it off, NO KNITTING NEEDLES ALLOWED IN THE COURTHOUSE! WTF! Right, this is so when they put me on another Jesus-juice length case, I can take my circular Addi’s and strangle the crap out of the lawyer who picks me to be on the jury. United Airlines lets me take knitting needles but not the LA County courthouse?! Since when?!