Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Knitted Stuff

Wow. Spring is here. I am so busy. You are too, I think, huh? I thought so. But thanks for stopping by anyway! I'm trying to go visit all of you, but argh! Busy! I miss my bloggy friends and I'm sooo behind on my blog-reading. What are you all up to?


I've been able to knit a little bit while watching the "Deep Space Nine" series in the evenings. I love anything Star Trek, but I missed that series somehow. I don't think I had a television when it played originally, so I'm finally watching it via Netflix. No commercials and I can see every episode in order. Netflix is great.


Here are some hats I finished for Angela and Grayson:


This little cutie is called "Center Square." It's by London Nelson and the pattern is free on Ravelry. I made it using two strands of Cascade 220 in two different colors.


Grayson's hat is the "Skull Hat" pattern by Gina Doherty. It's also free on Ravelry.


Single strand, easy chart, very fun pattern. I think it's easy enough for beginning colorworkers. I used Cascade 220 for this one, too.


Unfortunately, Grayson and Angela have run out of room in their tiny dorms (and both have too much winter clothing already), so I have to find someone else to gift these hats to. That's okay, I just wanted to make them.


Here are some socks:



Aren't the colors in this yarn GORGEOUS?? Yes, it IS Wollmeise. THEEEE legendary Wollmeise. The hundred-dollar-a-skein-on-ebay Wollmeise. I'll pause for you to catch your breath before I continue.


No, I didn't get my hands on any myself, I'm not that good of a yarn huntress. Nor am I willing to pay a hundred dollars a skein for it. My intrepid yarn stalker friend Jo Anne got into the Wollmeise sock club and she KNOWS people. Who know people. Who know when the Wollmeise is available. So now YOU know someone who knows someone who can get Wollmeise.


But I can't get you any, so don't even ask. Sorry. I'm not THAT special.


Anyway, I traded Jo Anne a pan I wasn't using for this skein of Wollmeise.


Wool is much nicer than a pan, I think.


Look at how pretty that heel came out! This is the "Basketweave Rib" sock pattern from "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. Oh boy, is that ever a good book. My favorite socks are from that book--they're all so well-constructed and the patterns are so clear and excellent! I made my very first sock from that book and I keep going back to it for patterns. Definitely my favorite sock book of all time.


At present, I'm working on this:



This is my "Shawl of Torture, Misery and Despair." It's original name was "Ishbel," but it earned the name change. When this shawl is not boring me with stockinette stitch, it's torturing me with charts, yarnovers, misplaced stitches, dropped stitches, sheer NUMBER of stitches, and impossible fuzziness. I'm using Malabrigo laceweight yarn in "Carrot." It's soft and the color is pretty, but that's all I have nice to say about it. The other things I have to say about it would involve cursing, which I try to avoid. Sometimes I curse in keyboard symbols. But I don't think they make enough keyboard symbols for my feelings about this yarn and project. But dang it, I'm gonna finish this thing. I'm stubborn and I'm not going to let a pattern or yarn beat me. I may end up at Happy Acres talking to the garden fairies, but I'm not going to let a sissy shawl make me give up.


Next post, I'll finally show you my new lavender quilt. I need to think of a name for it and take some good pictures.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

You go girl! You can't let a stupid shawl get the best of you. Besides, it's going to be so much fun when you get to the lace!

anne from finland said...

You´ve been busy again! I love especially those socks! I haven´t made just anything at home, but at school we´ve painted stone chickens and decorated willow twigs. Today there we make Easter bunnies and witches. Of course we sew more bags there too.

Cathi said...

You had me laughing with your paragraph about the shawl. You can do it -- just take your time!
I cannot wait to see the lavender quilt!

Joy said...

Those socks are gorgeous, but $100 a skein, that's outrageous!!! You couldn't possibly walk on them if you paid that much could you?? I think you made a good trade - much prettier than a pan :o).
I'm looking forward to seeing your lavender quilt - I went mad on lavender and green not so long ago, such a pretty combination :o).
Hugs,
Joy :o)
P.S ... Good luck with the shawl!!!

Anonymous said...

Talk to the garden fairies all you want; they're very nice, and even talk back occasionally, when they think you deserve it.

floribunda said...

coincidence -- I'm about 5 inches into a pair of basketweave socks right now -- I think I've gotten to the point where I actually remember the pattern sequence without having to keep looking at the book! great book!

BetsyE said...

I'm so impressed you can knit skulls! Looks hard. I'll come visit you and the Garden fairies one day... :-)

MichelleB said...

Darling hats! Don't you just love hats? They are so quick and easy to make.

That sock is incredible! I just love the heel. I'm definitely going to check out that book. I'm almost finished with my first "real" sock, so I'm ready to knit some more.

Your shawl is beautiful so far. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished, and seeing your new quilt.

Sheila said...

Seriously, now? They don't have room for hats? LOL

Love, love, love the socks! And the heel with that yarn. Amazing the difference from the blah picture in the book (my favorite!). Good luck with the shawl.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

I'm amazed and inspired by all the knitted goodness, well done Lisa! Best wishes with the shawl! Have a great day~

Anonymous said...

I recently joined Ravelry as a knitting newbie. Maybe I'll find you there. Don't think I'll ever ever ever spend that kind of $ on yarn either but it must be fabulous if it costs that much ;D

tami said...

I really like your socks. Great pattern and pretty yarn. I must not be a great yarn efficianado because I have never heard of that yarn, but I agree much nicer than a pan. Does it feel as nice as it looks?

Mom IsAmagpie said...

I knew you were goddess like with all your projects, the color work, the patience....
But you got Wollmeise! It's the unicorn of yarn! I myself am not a hundred dollar a skein person, or stalking their site but I hae read of this mythical yarn and think it's pretty amazing you got some.

Salem Stitcher said...

I'm envious of your knitting abilities. Some friends tried to teach me how to knit and it was bad. My shoulders were up under my earlobes and I cursed a lot. With that said, though, I still agree that wool is better than a pan.

Grayson said...

That skull hat is cool.

Laurie said...

You are amazingly talented. I love the hat and socks! And yes, netflix is great. I just signed up a few weeks ago and love it!!!

Pat said...

Oh, my....the battle of the shawl and the dorky homemade quilt gal. Stay tuned to see who WINS. :) (MY money is on the gal!)

Browndirtcottage said...

WOW...what a 'knitty' person you are...*LOL*...it seems odd a person living where you live knitting hats and socks....but, I know who you are doing them for!!
Cute hats!!

ladydi said...

I am so impressed, especially with those lovely socks! The skull hat is way cool, and it sounds like Grayson might be able to find room for it after all. As for the shawl - I think I'd call it quits and make a lot of really cute orange pumpkins, socks, squash, and even skull caps. Knitting is supposed to be fun and relaxing, not make you want to !@#$%

Angie said...

Lisa, I love the road trips on your blog, but I also really love when you show us pictures of your knitting! Especially socks! I've been following your socks for several years now---and you've made me want to take up knitting socks! Coddingtown (you remember that shopping center, right) Well, Village sewing has the most wonderful yard shop inside their sewing machine store there now---I'm really tempted to see if one of the classes they offer is knitting socks! I love the hats and socks you just finished! Can't wait to see the shawl...pretty color. Hang in there!

The Calico Quilter said...

Those are all very cute, but I'm stickin' with flat stuff. The socks are adorable, though. (When do you wear wool socks in Hawaii?) And, does hundred dollar a skein yarn knit any better than the regular stuff? I take my hat off to anyone who can knit anything out of any yarn. My brain hurts thinking about basketweave rib.

Needs Coffee To Live said...

I'm definately loving that skull hat!!! Makes me wish I could knit.

Natalie Rush said...

Wow...all the knitting is so pretty!

susan said...

shawl of misery...haha...i went into a fabulous yarn shop the other day called uncommon threads. have passed many times in the past when i was up in marquette but never bothered to go in. was i happy i did. i am still such a beginner but a very fast learner so there are some very tempting and beautiful yarns in there and tons of books and stuff. am still waiting for my two skeins of yarn to arrive from ewen...i could of walked up there and gotten them! they better be in the mail tomarrow or i am gonna whine some more....

Jo Anne said...

Hey there....the yarn is $100 on Ebay...but it actually cost me a little over $25.00 and 6 months of stalking the website. Lisa says it's a pan...but it's an expensive pan..which I use almost daily!!! I think it's now my favorite piece of cookware...and somehow...my food really does tastes good these days!!!

feutry said...

These are lovely. I cannot make them, but I always buy them, which is fulfilling too.

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Man I wish I could knit. I just cant get it. I tried and it's not for me but I love your things you've kitted Missy.

tina said...

YAY!I am so stinkin excited about your knitting I could just hula! Well, that wouldn't be a prize or anything but you know what I mean! :)