lovely little needle knits

as much as i like a quick project, i do love some sock-weight yarn. it makes a lovely fabric, and i seem to prefer my hand painted yarn in light weights. having ends of skeins hanging about after knitting socks, i wanted a project i could use these small yarn quantities to complete.

ta-da.
mini socks--dollar included in photo for scale. not entirely practical, but very cute. as set models and kittens prove--everything is cute when small. (well, not everything. teacup poodles. not so much.) in the future i hope to knit one of these after i finish each pair of socks. they are fun, fast, and a great way to hang on to a bit of wonderful sock yarn without simply leaving a scrap in the stash bin. these little darlings will probably also end up on my holiday tree.

in addition to tiny socks, i recently knit another small project out of koigu.

Heart Sachet
designed by Vicki Sever
published by Interweave Press
available for free on Knitting Daily

knit in Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (1 skein, 100% hand painted merino wool) purchased at Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 2 Brittany Birch needles.

started: october 25, 2007
finished: october 23, 2007

this was my first miter square/domino/modular knitting project. they are very popular in the shop i work at, so i thought i would give it a go and see what all the fuss is about. it was... okay.

what i told BossLady at the shop today was that i probably should have picked a project with larger yarn. the technique was a little tricky to learn on small dark yarn. and while it should always be about the process, i have to admit that i do think about the fact that by the time i finished the 14 squares of this little heart on size 2 needles, i could have finished 1/3 of a Rambling Rows Afghan on 8 needles.

still. it is cute, and i have one more little trick in my knitting arsenal. plus...koigu is yummy to knit. i think i have enough left to be able to knit a mini sock out of my leftover koigu. yum.

oh, my eyes.

it is no wonder crochet gets such a bad name. people with absolutely no taste design things that are supposed to be whimsical, but in reality, they are just horrifying.

i barely have words.

i mean, a cow print scarf could be fun.... maybe. but only for an adorable child. who loves cows. and it under the age of 8.

but i have to know.... udders?!?! why, oh, why?

just looking at this scarf makes me feel sort of dirty. like i am violating a cow's privacy or something.
they aren't even very realistic looking, but there is something about the intent that gives me the heebeegeebees.

this is what i get for not being able to maintain a normal sleep schedule--my eyes burned out from late night browsing.

from What Not to Crochet.

what's in a name

i have been meaning to write this post for a few months now. finally the day has come when the misspelling of my blog name and/or misinterpretation of its purpose in life has crossed the line into the absurd. so here is the story of my blog's name....

back in the 1990s when we all had to code our own html to have what were then known as Online Journals, i had a nickname given to me by some girlfriends. that nickname was kittythin(g). this was my public nickname because half the time one or more of them just called me skinnybitch (i was the smallest of our group and the one most likely to act as the enforcer).

it stuck. the few gals i am still in touch with do call me "kitty" as a term of endearment. so i used the nickname as my blog name because i'm just creative that way.

why this long explanation?

1. because knitters think the name is knittythin(g). nope. i write a lot about knitting, but the name is "meow".... not K2,P2.
2. i was sent an online test to determine which lolcat i am... with very little explanation for the choice. i was perplexed. i only know what a lolcat is because madhatternalice sends me one like.... every other hour. while this blog may have a lot of grammatical errors, it is not associated in any way to pictures of kitties doing giggle-worthy things.

i did take the test. i am serious cat. as if that was not obvious enough based on this post.

hat-o-rama part one

without actively deciding to, i seem to have made the hat my project of choice lately. several reasons... we needed more hat store models at work. i was itching to get back to my crochet, and a crocheted hat is a glorious thing. hats are my entry level gift, and i have several new handmade gift recipients this year. if i have never made you a gift before, i will probably start with a hat. (if you are lucky enough to make the list!) i don't really like making scarves very much, and a hat takes me less time and keeps my interest to the end. i don't like to begrudge gifts i have made.

than being said... let's meet the store models i made. we will start with the more prissy of the two.

Lace Edged "Sitting Pretty" Hat
designed by Louisa Harding
published in hats gloves scarves:
easy designer knits for family and friends

knit in Frog Tree Merino (1 ball #204, 100% Merino Wool) from Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 7 24" addi turbo needles.

started: october 4, 7, and 8 2007
finished: october 9, 2007

yes, that is correct. i started this project over several times. you know those projects that just give you fits? there is no reason why they should. they are not particularly difficult. you have done the techniques before... so on.... this was one of those.

we started out on the wrong foot, and i didn't get the upper hand again until the end. (wow! way to mix a metaphor, kitty!) it all began when i cast on and started knitting in the round. then i get to row 5 and see "on each WS row". wait. things knit in the round never get knit on the wrong side.

oops.
it went downhill from there. who knits hats flat then sticks a seam in them? a lot of people, apparently! just not me. i mean, derr. that is why they invented handy things like, i don't know... double pointed needles!

i will say that if you like the pattern, please knit it. but knit it flat, or take the time to mentally convert the pattern. also, use stitch markers to indicate the lace repeat. it will make your life so much easier, especially in the rows with double decreases.

two great things about this project. the yarn rocks. i love this stuff. it is worth every penny (and they aren't even that many pennies). the colors and hand are amazing. second great thing--top decreases. they are beautiful. the seems a little big when you are doing the lace (even at gauge!) but i think they do that so you will have a longer set of decreases. they spiral around the crown of the hat and look A+.

hat number two is another store model. this time i wrote up a pattern and crocheted a hat from a single skein of Manos. so....

Manos del Uruguay One Skein Beanie
designed by kittything
pattern available free with purchase of yarn at Knit+Stitch=Bliss

crocheted in Manos del Uruguay (1 skein #105 "Lava", kettle dyed 100% wool) from Knit+Stitch=Bliss with a size J Laurel Hill hardwood crochet hook.

started: september 5, 2007
finished: september 6, 2007

this was my fast and easy distraction from the evil lace hat. i started it because i wanted something that was totally the opposite of the lace hat. i succeeded--manly, crocheted, and easy! it was fun to work on, and i had never crocheted Manos before.

i think it turned out pretty well.
it looks good next to its friend for life--the pompom hat knit in #105 "Bramble". Lava and Bramble... BFFs despite their different modes of creation. ahh, to see the intercraftual love.

(ps- i did not knit the bramble hat. my work pal A. knit it. yay!)

next week, tune in to see how beanies and tiny needles took over the world.

good clean knitting fun

i have knit a few dish/face cloths in the last month, and i am ready to share them! we'll start with a belated birthday gift.

Mesh Garter Cloth
designed by kittything

knit in RYC Cotton Jeans (1 ball #360 "Canvas" 100% cotton) purchased at Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 7 Plymouth bamboo needles.

started: october 15, 2007
finished: october 16, 2007

this one is a present for one of my knitting pals. i can't reveal too much until i give it to said friend. i liked it. it was a fun quick knit, and the yarn is very pretty when knit up. it gets a little splitty when knit, but i like the look enough to forgive it.

it is very close to the end of the Fall Into Autumn Swap, and i have decided to finally reveal the cloths i knit for my buddy. she doesn't do a lot of pictures on her blog, so i want to have these in case she wants to take them for herself after she gets the package.

so our first friend is...

Traveling Vines Cloth
designed by smariek
available at smarieknits

knit in Karabella Windy (1 ball color #5 100% cotton) purchased at Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 8 needles.

started: september 11, 2007
finished: september 11, 2007

i love this yarn. it makes a super soft fabric, and it is really fun to knit. best of all, the colors are really amazing. i liked it so much that i knit a second cloth for my swap buddy out of it...

moving on to swap cloth number two...


Twin Leaf Lace Cloth
designed by smariek
available at smarieknits

knit in Karabella Windy (1 ball color #4 100% cotton) purchased at Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 8 needles.

started: september 12, 2007
finished: september 13, 2007

again. i loved knitting this one. it was lots of fun. enough said. let's move on to this week's Fall Into Autumn topic...

Now that it is getting cooler here, it makes me think of apple picking and hay rides. Are you the type that likes to go to participate in all the fall festivities like apple picking, pumpkins, decorating for the fall, hay rides, baking fall goodies, etc. or do you just sit and count the days till Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah?

i am hit or miss on my fall "participation". i enjoy eating apples and other fall foods like pumpkin treats, and i have been known to carve a mean jack'o'lantern every once in awhile.

i think if i had more "free" time, i might do more of the fall activities... who am i kidding? i would just knit and crochet more.

the big mushy post

i am back from the wedding, and there are so many things i could say... wow. what a weekend! it was very special for our family in many ways.

the day was beautiful. Jess was even more lovely. Mark cried like a little boy. and now they are married! i managed to get some pictures, but not many because i was 1. busy and 2. enjoying the moment too much to bother with a camera much of the time.



Mark and Jessie on the steps of St. John's Church. this is our family church. my parents and jess's parents were married here as well as our grandparents and many of our other relatives. we forgot to have the photographer take this shot, so i did it with my camera. i wanted Jess to get one on the steps because i love the picture of my parents on St. John's steps after their wedding.


my parents on the steps of St. John's in August of... 1978? my mum is wearing her own mother's wedding dress, and yes my father is in a tan leisure suit. you are not mistaken if you find yourself asking "are those platform shoes?" similarity i love between the two pictures... both brides look lovely and happy. both grooms have a funny look on their face.


my parents dancing at the wedding. isn't that sweet? working on 30 years and they still like each other! a lot! another exciting things about this weekend was a special anniversary. jess and i's uncle pat (my dad's brother) and aunt judy celebrated their 40th anniversary on sunday.


Jess and I together. my mother really wanted a picture of the two of us together all done up. and smiling! obviously we were standing together at the church, but there was a lot of happy crying happening.

we have an ongoing debate... do jess and i look alike? both of us say no, but mark insists that we do. maybe more now than back in the day...


jess and i before prom in 1998. notice that jessie is always the pretty princess and i always have the big hair. not that i am complaining... jessie is a princess (the good kind!) and i do have a lot of hair.


before we leave that subject entirely, let's meet a prince charming... this is my cousin carl escorting jess's mom to her seat. as i said... this was a big day for our family. aunt maureen was in a very serious car accident right after jess and mark got engaged. she has had many surgeries and a very long and painful recovery. her goal was to walk down the aisle at her daughter's wedding. she succeeded, and even surpassed the desired goal.


aunt maureen and uncle tom were able to dance together at their daughter's wedding. when it seems like a perfect day cannot get any better--it does.

i will close with one last picture...


me with our cousin alison. this was the day after the wedding. i was writing down the gifts as mark and jess opened them, allison was having fun with my camera. she is a rockin' photographer, and i can't wait to see the shots she got at the wedding.

so that's it. there are a million stories. little mishaps. big laughs. i'm sure i'll be retelling them for years to come.

coming soon to a blog near you.... crafty content, including a gift i managed to finish while traveling to and from the wedding.

there goes the bridesmaid....

i'm off to ohio for a few days to see my big-sis-type-cousin down the aisle. before i go i want to share a terrifying craft wrought by my own two hands for the bride.

this is the bouquet....

the rehearsal bouquet, that is. we follow the silly tradition of making it from the bows off the packages received at showers. J. had 4 showers (long story) so she had a ton of bows. i even threw out the ones that got really nasty or mangled and only used quality bows for this terrifying double sided monstrosity.

i love it.
let's hope airport security doesn't steal it from me.





i also got my hair cut and the gal blew it out for me, so i thought i would share. it basically looks the same, but all the yuck has been cut away. i like this gal. she understands and appreciates long hair. even when you are living in a Bob Only town.



back next week. i'll have a real knitting update and i will actually do next week's Fall Into Autumn topic.

this time i know....

this is not awesome. it is terrifying.

Knitting Nativity Charts.

i can't even post a picture of them because it burns my eyes. two things i will point out that are so wrong here.... first, the poor child wearing the sweater. it (she? i think?) looks miserable. second, on the sleeve there is a shephard tending his flock. it certainly looks like he is tending them all right.

lather, rinse, repeat. its gonna be okay. we'll get through this together.

two small things.

first! the lace edged hat is no longer thwarting me. i think i just had to attend my monthly Stitch'n'Bitch and bask in the positive knitting mojo of my knitting BFF, the lovely CG. picture soon.

second! i'm not sure if this is awesome of terrifying..... um. thanks, knitty.com.

south by southwest

it takes me a flipping long time to knit a pair of socks. i just can't seem to stay devoted to a single pair long enough to have them done rapidly. there is always a side project dividing my time... or other socks. the good news is that i finally finished this pair, and almost all of the distracting knitting along the way was holiday gifts. okay, okay... i knit myself a sweater too, but.... shh. i can't do a lacy pattern in the dark.

the details.....

Southwestern Socks
designed by Wendy Johnson
pattern available at The Loopy Ewe

knit in Mountain Colors Bearfoot (1 skein of the "Sun River" colorway, 60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, 15% nylon) purchased at Knit+Stitch=Bliss on size US 2 5" Brittany Birch double point needles.

started: august 13, 2007
finished: october 3, 2007

i love these socks. the pattern was fun. the yarn is a yummy color, and i survived doing my first pair of toe-up. woo!

as usual, these socks are slightly fraternal. my cast-on toe was different for each sock. the first one, i used the figure 8 toe, and i was never entirely pleased with the results. for the second i decided to make-up my own toe that is a combination of the provisional cast on using a crochet chain and the knitting circularly of the figure 8 toe. i wanted it to not have holes, so i did a little trickery with my first round of knitting. what i did was sort of a combination of all three techniques wendy details in this knitty article.

am i a convert, you ask? maybe. i like toe-up and i like top down. i'm happy to build my socks either way. as a change of pace, i like the way the heel without a flap looks on this sock, but i can also in enjoy a good heel flap (i.e. the cabled flap on the log cabin socks).

i will say that i like grafting. i just think it is fun. i know some people hate to graft, so they prefer toe-up socks, but i would rather graft 16 stitches together than execute a stretchy bind off over 52 stitches.

anyway.... i mentioned the fraternal nature of the socks, and it goes beyond the cast on. i have 4 extra rows in the second sock. i know, i know, i am a fool, and i should have torn back, but i realized it one full pattern repeat before i began the ribbing... which is to say about 30 minutes before the sock would be bound off. i'm not sure if the extra rows came about by starting the gusset increases too late, or by forgetting to increase on some rounds, hence making more rounds of knitting go by before i reached the correct number of stitches.

either way, i tried the socks both on before deciding to proceed or tear out 60% of the completed sock back to the 2nd repeat before the gusset. what i discovered was that the +4 sock is actually great on my left foot, which is larger than my right foot. so i decided to make lemons into lemonade (be lazy) and leave the socks as is. fortunately the 2nd sock had some odd color pooling that helps identify it as meant for the left. yes!

on thursday i leave for my cousin's wedding. there will obviously be no updates in the later half of the week. i am hoping to be able to post a picture of the Manos Crochet Beanie i did up as a model for the store, and i would like to do this week's Fall Into Autumn topic. we shall see if i make it.

in mixed news.... i am taking no knitting with me to ohio. i refuse to risk my needles and sanity being stolen by an ego tripping TSA agent. i have heard too many horror stories at the store of agents who don't give knitters the option to mail the needles back to themself or put the project on waste yarn. the problem is that the TSA doesn't address knitting needles on their list of banned or restricted items. when you call them, they say it is up to the discretion of the agent.

they do, however, assure travelers that they can wear a gel padded bra through security or carry less than 3oz of personal lubricant on a flight. so i guess the mile high club is in, but knitting at 30,000 feet it out.

instead i plan to bring crochet projects. it is a good thing i am happily bi-craft-ual.

we'll get through this together

i have been very neglectful because i seem to only get busier and busier. here is the short version.

go see The Trial at Catalyst Theatre Company. there are some very good performances, and the show has some pretty (awesome) disorienting moments. some cast members claim it isn't tight enough yet, but i dug it.

the reviews are out for The Arabian Nights. Nelson was very sweet to us in The Post. we are a Potomac Stages Pick. and then DC Theatre Scene seems to have sent a gossip columnist to review a theatre show. everyone is allowed to have their own opinion about a show, but i think people will pay more attention to your opinion if you don't go in for name calling mixed with inane compliments like "Most of the ensemble had to memorize an extraordinary number of lines for their multiple parts, and they do an excellent job". i am at a loss....

7. numbers of days in a row i have worked in some capacity for the store. i'm tired. but i did make a cool store model (crocheted hat), which i can take a picture of on tuesday.

i am being thwarted by a lace edged hat pattern i am trying to knit for the store. this thing is going to drive me to distraction. i have frogged it three times. i am on attempt number four and i have had to tink whole rows twice already and tonight during the greenbay v. chicago game, i threw it in disgust. yes, i chose football over knitting. i'm looking up errata after this.... rar.

on a positive note, i finished my southwestern socks on wednesday night. go me. pictures and project details tomorrow. related to that, i was able to try the first completed log cabin sock on a large male foot, and it was perfect. and beautiful! yay cables. the receiver will have nothing to complain about. yay!

ps- picture is from the show.... knitting pics tomorrow.

three things...

first, i turned the heel on the second southwestern sock yesterday, and i am part way up the leg. i only have about 30 more rounds before i bind off. woot!

second, i got an email last night around 11pm from one of my work pals at the store.... my Fall Into Autumn swap buddy stopped by over the weekend! and she just then told me! (hehe. thanks, D.!) i was opening the show, so i wasn't working. both good and bad--i'm a little excited still that we have an anonymous swap and i want to wait until after my package arrives to know who my buddy is. but at the same time, how cool would it be to get to meet your pal--especially in a yarn store.

well, swap buddy...
i hope you had a good time at the shop and that everyone was nice to you. the pal who emailed me is very sweet, so i'm sure it couldn't be bad! she also said you bought something, so i hope you are enjoying your goodies!

third, we have a new Fall Into Autumn topic of the week....

Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy?

for me, fall marks the return to real cooking and the beginning of holiday food planning.

a few weekends ago i did a big stock up on cooking. i go back to the things you make in the oven and freeze them because this is a very busy work season for me. fall means baked zitti, veg. lasagna, and homemade mac and cheese are back!

my mum and i also start to talk about the Christmas Eve dinner. this is our big special occasion for me, and my parents. we have dinner on the 24th before doing the big family gathering on the 25th. we use the crystal and make a several course meal. so planning it is a lot of fun, and we start early. in fact, mum and i talked about a new recipe while it was still september!

v-power

i took this picture at 8:23am last thursday morning on my way to a meeting. i left the theatre at approximately 1:47am that "night", and i know i was not in bed until after 3:00am.


no v-power?! come on, throw a dog a bone!

in!

i got my invite to ravelry today. i discovered it when i was working at the store and talking to some of the other ladies. a customer (a male knitter who was already in ravelry) was so happy for me that after he made his purchase, he congratulated me.

sweet.

i only played for about 20 minutes so i could say i used it, but i already have one complaint. because, you know, i am obviously ungrateful. i don't use flickr, i use picasa, and all photo sharing has to be done through flickr. i hope they decide to hook up picasa because it is attached to google/gmail/blogger.... the things i use.

we'll see.

otherwise, seems neat.

where my stitches?

i checked my wait list position on ravelry yesterday as part of my once a week opportunity to be self-indulgent. i was in the top 500, so i decided i should keep an eye on my spam box and that i would be allowed to check it again today without seeming a little too obsessed.

would you look at that?

Found you!

• You signed up on July 29, 2007
• You are #21487 on the list.
• 68 people are ahead of you in line.
• 16708 people are behind you in line.
• 55% of the list has been invited so far

guess it looks like tomorrow! just when i have a design project to complete, and i'm not allowed to play.

in related news....
i don't know how i feel about the relaunch of Crochet Me. i can see why she may want to get away from the online magazine format, but i don't know about this interactive business.... and willy nilly pattern posting. this used to be the Knitty for crocheters. now... i don't know.

free from the asylum

sometimes a big show with very crazy energy makes you feel a bit like you have been trapped inside the asylum--attempting to run it. well, we are open, and the inmates are left to run it themselves. woot!

i feel a bulleted list is in order to full cover the goings on...

• my sewing machine is sick. please think good thoughts for it because i need to take it to the doctor. boo.
• saw the show on friday night with the toughest theatre critic i personally know, and he had good things to say about what he saw. he even tip toed up to the line of gushing about my design. (his gushing would still be seen as sedate.) made me happy. yay.
• stuffed all the unused costumes back into my car saturday afternoon. there were still a lot, even though there is now a whole show upstairs on racks! it took many trips up and down the Stairs of Doom, and much cramming. now i just need to give it all back to the theatres i borrowed from.
• opened the beast on saturday night. i wore my favourite Really Hot Red Dress. it is a riff on the classic Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, and i always feel really good when i wear it. oh, yeah... the show was good too. ha. looking good and laughing a lot. that was what the evening was about. we also had a party at the theatre after the show. it was fun. there was wine and middle eastern food.
• sunday i had my first meeting for Life's a Dream at Journeyman Theater. while the director and i did not get overly specific about what we are going to do, it was fun and very informative. plus, i never realized how punk rock Byzantine fashion really was. ha.
• i had dinner over at A and R's place. her brother was in town from philly for the day, and he cooked an awesome roasted vegetable and phyllo dough pie. fantastic! A's brother rocks. always happy to see him, and this time i got to meet his pretty lady friend. very cool. and to top off the fun there... the little boy was in a good mood and let me play with him a lot. we swapped hats several times, and there was much giggling over the eating of baby toes.
• i am ready to turn the heel on my 2nd southwestern sock. finally! and i cast on for the 2nd log cabin sock! gotta get my act together!
• my cousin's wedding is in less than 2 weeks. i am so excited and freaked at the same time. woot!

the latest Fall Into Autumn topic next time....

the next big thing....

zoooom!

that is the sound of a drive by blogging. still really busy, but i cannot resist a quick little update. and i have to post my next Fall Into Autumn topic!

first!
thank you for all of the nice comments on my Log Cabin Sock. i have not been knitting long, but i try really hard to make my stuff look better than my duration of experience would suggest. i'm glad to see that is working!

i think my cables turn out pretty nice because i taught myself to cable early on in the adventure of learning to knit. since the first (unfinished still) cabled scarf, i have made fetching from knitty.com and the cabled neck tube from helloyarn. i say i don't like cables, but i really enjoy how they look. i just don't particularly like making them.

now.... ta-daaa! i finished the first sock sunday night. i'm pretty pleased with it. i did a few modifications to make it more to my liking, but overall i think it is a better pattern than people have been giving it credit for out in blogland. i have not cast on for the 2nd yet because... well...

zoooom!

Autumn has now officially begun here in the States!! What is your favorite thing about Autumn/Fall? Why?

my favourite thing about this time of year is the weather change. as much as i like summer, i prefer the cooler temperatures. i like to dress in layers, and i love to wear scarves and hats (both fashion accessories like silk scarves and newsboy caps as well as the warmer hand knit/crocheted varieties) with my outfits.

i also enjoy the look of fall--the leaves, fall flowers, and the quality of the sunshine. there is something about the angle of the sun once we reach fall that really appeals to me. it also seems to me like the wildlife gets more active during the fall. the squirrels and birds are out and about busying themselves with winter preparations after being less active in the summer heat.

fall is also exciting because it is the return of the live theatre season. i work a lot in the summer, but the new season beings to unroll beginning in september and it has a new energy that the last shows being dragged out in the summer lack. there is something about being in either a freezing (from AC) theatre or a sweltering theatre (lack of AC) that makes me long for the fall.

tech burnout

i keep trying to start an entry, but then i stop because i am too tired or what i am writing about doesn't seem that important. or i would rather be knitting a sock than typing.

all valid reasons.

i've been working a lot to get my show up on its feet. evenings in the theatre, weekend chained to a sewing machine. even a costume design emergency. maybe i'll talk about that later.

i started another sock. yeah, yeah, yeah... southwestern socks are still sitting there, but at least the new pair is a holiday gift. i'm knitting the Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays. they are really easy and pretty fun. i get tired of cables sort of fast so i am starting early enough to be sure they get done by christmas. these socks go so quickly (they are knit in a worsted weight yarn) that i'm sure i won't have trouble getting them done. i have about an inch more to go in the cable pattern on the instep before i start the toe decreases.

these will be going on a male foot, and i hope i get the size right. i'm actually more concerned about making them too big--not too small! we'll see. this recipient is very "free" with his size opinions.

southwestern socks might be taking a longish break because i have a lot of holiday gifts ahead of me. i've taken care of all of my girlfriends whom i knit for, and i am pretty far along for my father. a couple gentleman friends still need presents and i have not settled on any of the projects i'm making for my mum. way to put things off!

to be fair, some of what i have put off are my crochet projects because i know i am fast with crochet, and i can crack out those presents very quickly (two hats and a toy).

pretty fall flowers

* * *

hi swap pal!
don't fret about me working at a LYS. i am easily amused by yarn and pretty things made for me. i am excited that you are getting to come to DC and enjoy the beautiful fall we are having. i hope it stays pretty for you!
i'm sure your "company" isn't interested in going to yarn stores, but if you get the chance, here are some to check out.... Knit + Stitch = Bliss (metro accessible, this is where i work) A Tangled Skein (fairly new, i have not gone yet) and Stitch DC (3 locations in DC. i think their prices are high)

pants on fire

remember when i said little posting because i am busy? well, posting my topic of the week reply for the Fall Into Autumn swap means a chance for a cool prize. so i make exceptions.

a cool prize if worth the ten minutes of sleep i won't get.

When you knit or crochet dishcloths, washcloths or face cloths, what do you use? What size needle or hook? Wood? what type? Metal? Plastic? A specific Brand? Why do you love that needle or hook so much? Is there one you are dying to try? Is there a particular yarn you love and use all the time for cloths? What is so special about it?

I must be the least fussy needlework enthusiast in the world. i just use what i have on hand when it comes to needles and hooks. i have several sets of inexpensive crochet hooks (acrylic and metal) and i use those in an "H" or "I" typically.

for knitted cloths i use a handy interchangeable circular set in a size US 7 or 8. i also have cheap straights in those sizes that i am willing to use if i have my circulars in a project. i knit the two cloths for my pal on my stupid Susan Bates aluminum size 8 needles.

i like Peaches and Cream yarn for dish cloths. i only use Sugar and Cream if they have a color i Must Have. it just is too rough. peaches isn't a lot better, but it is enough better that i prefer it. since i work at my LYS, i'll buy fancy stuff for gifts and face cloths.

i am very excited about the cloths i knit for my pal. they were made with very yummy Karabella Windy. oooh. fancy. fancier than i would make for me!

now that i think about it, i knit a sweater for my friends' little boy out of Sweaterkits CottonLiscious , and i think i would like to try that for cloths. see how it holds up for the long haul. it is a lot like Mission Falls 1824 Cotton, and i really enjoyed working with it.

okay. done.

must. go. to. bed.

fingers are overrated

who really needs to use their fingers that much? we have thumbs for all the important stuff. i'm a fan of mittens. i think they keep your hands warmer than gloves because you get a nice pocket of warm air around your frosty digits. i also think that mittens are a great cover over a pair of gloves--especially for playing in the snow. get your mittens soaked and peel them off to still have warm gloves inside. yay.

i knit this mitten (his mate is on hold until november) for a class i will be teaching at the store. i have three: Crochet for Knitters, Glove and Mitten Fundamentals, Beginning Crochet. fun!

back to my non-work life. sorta.

the sample mitten trumped any sock knitting aspirations i had for the weekend. i took my 2nd southwestern sock to work with me friday, started the mitten, and the sock hasn't come out to play since. i have been busy.

• worked the store and finished the mitten friday night when i got home.
• had the most awesome fittings with my cast saturday morning and afternoon. (early too! i was up at 7:15. this is not normal kittything behavior)
• recovered for a couple hours. my awesome cast stole all my energy.
• had dinner at Mandalay with thehairyape. in was awesome. we walked over because it was such a beautiful evening. once there i had a mango and pomegranate martini and a different tofu dish i hadn't tried before. we also ran into the fantastic gwendo calrissian enjoying the cool weather and spicy food.

probably very little knitting for the next few days. i have costumes that need to be altered. i also really have the urge to cook. i may do a big "stock up" and put things in the freezer. i think i am making veggie chili tonight. it is a cool day and that sounds really good to me.

the friday of my randomness

with my current level of busy, the late week round-up is looking poised to become a new regular addition to the blog. this is what i have to say today... in no particular order...

1. i had the best night last night.
my friend AP and i have been trying to get together for over a month now, and last night we finally made it happen. he took me to Raku in dupont, which i had never been to for reasons that are now mysterious to me. i had sushi. he had noodley goodness. it was good, but i think i like Uni's veg sushi platter a bit better. now.... i have sub points on my great night.

• at raku i had a strange chick staring at me like i was the devil before her very eyes. or my face had gone green. come to find out, AP had dated said gal in like... 2004. she thought we were on a date. ha. psycho.
• we also had coffee and listened to the brass combo that plays in dupont. they were hot last night. i love the way music brings people together. young and old, all shades of the fleshtone rainbow, business suits and clubbing dresses... dancing. it was really cool. when we decided we had seen enough and walked on, AP led me right through the center of it, and it was awesome. you could just feel the energy around you amp up as you entered the fray.
• the weather rocked. i got to wear a sweater and jeans for the first time this season while we were eating outside.

2. i love etsy. i love buying yarn off etsy. i really want to buy some chunky art yarn for a hat, but i refuse to buy it from anyone who styles themself as Moustache Ride Yarns. i draw the line rightthere.

3. the new knitty is out! this time i am pleased, not disappointed. i want to make the urchin hat. i am also a big fan of the seed stitch hoodie and the lace throw. cover shawl is pretty too. yum yum.

4.hi Swap Pal! you get your own number this fine friday. as you asked about my affiliation with the Catholic University of America (link under 'work' in the side bar) in the comments. i will offer an explanation. i design costumes for the theatre as my "job". CUA hires professionals to design their theatre shows. they hired me last winter, and i will be doing a show for them again this spring. so they land in the work pile. i like to give a little nod to the folks who make sure i have food on the table and yarn on the needles.

5. Swap Pal also commented on my lack of understanding myspace. we share that confusion. maybe i don't get it because it is so loud, disorganized, and usually unattractive in appearance that my brain can't handle it and i overload. it offends my design sensibilities. i also don't like being stalked by people i meet randomly, and that has happened too. boo myspace.

6. my ravelry position. i check it about twice a week. people who check in twice an hour need to get a life. yes, i judge. not really. to each their own.

Found you!

• You signed up on July 29, 2007
• You are #21487 on the list.
• 9009 people are ahead of you in line.
• 11199 people are behind you in line.
• 37% of the list has been invited so far

7. i have started working the gusset on my southwestern socks. and both windy washcloths are done. pictures of sock progress soon.

remember me? soon i will have a friend!

one step beyond

i had an interesting blog-related experience in my real life today. i'm sure everyone eventually has this happen, but it was new to me.

one of the cast members of my current show interjected in conversation "hey, i like your blog." i kinda didn't know what to say because 1. i'm not related to this person. 2. he is a brand new friend, so i have not told him i have a blog myself. 3. this is the first time a guy has ever said something positive about my blog.

now, i started the blog for close real life friends and family to keep track of what i'm up to and see that i am, in fact, alive and well and knitting in paris. (i wish. couldn't resist a theatre joke.) and i only usually tell people about the blog if they are my knitting friends. they have a similar addiction, so we can't judge each other. other pals who find out... fine. and they usually won't tease because... well... they found the blog. no one wants to tease someone (right away) whom they have taken enough interest in to find the blog thereof.

and the last bit about a guy saying nice things about a (bright pink) blog mostly devoted to knitting.... well... as, i said K. is a new acquaintance, and he seems like a pretty good guy. his mother probably raised him right.

now, in other work-related nonsense. i was driving home from his design run tonight and got stuck behind a truck with a bumper sticker that was confusing. i understood it but as i followed it for block after, block, i kept think "what is the point?"

it was all red and in plain white block letters it read...

It's cheaper to yank your own.
Crazy Ray's

maybe the only point is that ray, in fact, really is crazy.

i need to stop now because i am using to many parenthetical phrases. there are a lot of them in the text of my current show. now they are gumming up my brain.

schlump + busy

when we last left our heroine, she was in a knitting schlump. that has improved somewhat because the Fall Into Autumn Swap has started, and that is exciting.

in fact i marched right out and bought the yarn i will make my pal's cloths from. yes, cloths. i decided i am making two for her. you see, i am very excited about the fact that my pal uses both face and dishcloths. i like face cloths too, so i am making her some. they can be fancier and use smooshier cotton. the smooshier cotton is the other motivating factor. my pal doesn't have a LYS so she doesn't get to pet the good yarn like i do because i work at my LYS.

aren't the colors great? the yarn is Karabella Windy. there is only a tiny ball of the butterscotch color because i knit the first cloth last night while talking to my friend B.

so all this talk of my new pal i get to spoil.... well, i am someone's new pal too. hi new friend! thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. i'll try to keep the content coming!

i'm about to run headlong into a busy spell. i have a design run tonight, fittings for the next show all weekend, drawings for a show in december that need to be worked on this weekend and tech week staring me in the face. i also managed to commit to a few social obligations here and there.

but before i slunk off to my life of work work work, let's not leave the fun behind just yet. this week's topic on the swap blog....

Topic
Now that in some geographic locations the weather is starting to turn cooler, do you change the type of yarn(s) you knit/crochet with? If so, what do you now knit/crochet with instead and why? If not, why do you not switch and what do you knit/crochet with?

i knit or crochet whatever i want whenever i want. i crocheted a cotton shawl while it was snowing out and i also completed an afghan during july and august. i think i don't change with the seasons because i don't get overheated all that often, and when i do, i'm not going to knit anyway.

i guess i change the tiniest bit when the holidays are coming because i tend to make my heaviest items for gifts during the cold weather. but is tarted my holiday gifts in august, so that doesn't have a lot to do with temperature at time of creation.

i think it also makes a difference that i am an equal opportunity fiber enthusiast. i like my cotton as much as my wools, but i don't get to do as much wool as some. many of my projects are gifts, and the majority of my close friends and some family can't wear animal fibers. so i use a lot of cotton or the occasional acrylic.

apples and oranges

i have lots of little things that don't really go together. so let's a have fruit salad blog post.

first, the cake.
no, no, no. there won't be a cake on the blog every week, but this one is special like S.'s cake last week. my pal D. at work got it for me because she didn't think i was working last week on my birthday. D. is great. she likes pretty, delicious things (and trying new things) and i think she likes sharing her discoveries as much as eating them. i own a previous act of D.'s generosity--a copy of an out-of-print sock pattern booklet from the 1940s calls "2 Needle Socks". i think this should accurately demonstrate the level of D.'s generosity.

at least it will to knitters.

anyway.
this is a Grande Mariner cake from Stella's Bakery in Rockville, Maryland. it is delicious. you should march out right now and get one.

second.
Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men. this is a real book. it came out in 1973. for those of you who, like me, were not walking this earth to know... Rosey was a football player in the 1960s. back when they were the Los Angeles Rams. go have a look-see. it is very amusing. i love books from the 70s. there is something about the "hipness" of them that is quaint.

like calling people "cats".

third.
i forgot to mention that i have a knitting profile running on the Knit + Stitch = Bliss blog. have i not mentioned that i am now running the blog for my LYS (and place of employment)? hm. well, i am. yes, i am a professional blogger now. go see my "Meet the Staff" profile here.

fourth.
i have been getting a lot of traffic to the blog from people googling the actors in my last show. i guess all i have to say about that is... hi, guys! but maybe it is wrong to assume they are googling themselves. i do it from time to time to see if i missed show reviews or the like. and i know at least one actor who proudly would tell anyone who would listen that he had 15 pages of listing in google. and that was 2 years ago, so he is probably up to more now. ha.

fifth.
at a local gift/variety store that sells yarn i saw a knitty.com Branching Out scarf knit in lace weight Malabrigo. i want to make that scarf, so i bought the yarn. now i can't get the eff-ing gauge to look like anything worth knitting. arrrrrgh! this is just random ranting. i'll get over it and knit something else from my Malabrigo

sixth.
Knit Lit is not a very good book. it should be, but i think the stories have all been edited to not really be stories, but rather those types of moments that you stop sharing and say "well, i guess you had to be there".

i think i could also be disappointed because reading about knitting is less fun than doing it. then why are blogs interesting?

and finally.
little to no knitting to report. i've been catching up on other aspects of my life. oh, who am i kidding... my sock is going in fits and starts. i keep eff-ing up the lace pattern by 1. getting cocky. 2. getting distracted. 3. drinking a 2nd beer while knitting.... which i guess is a combination of #1 and #2.

i'm halfway to the heel. maybe i'll have more to report after the weekend.

not entirely unwarm

reviews are out for my latest show. the critics were not entirely unkind, but they were very honest about the script itself. Sight Unseen was Margulies first success, and it is a very young play. but as Jonathan in the script doth say... "you can't fault the artist for being young." besides, criticizing formerly celebrated works because the playwright has grown and become better seems disingenuous to me.

the reviews....

The Baltimore Sun review by Mary Carole McCauley is here. and you can read a review by James Howard here.

and here are a few pictures from the show for you to enjoy. all photos by Stan Barouh.

Jonathan (Paul Morella) and Grete (Karen Novak) in the gallery

Nick (Bob Rogerson), Jonathan (Paul Morella) and Patricia (Deborah Hazlett) in the farmhouse

Jonathan (Paul Morella) and Patty (Deborah Hazlett) in the studio

the fairest of them all

it isn't very often i get to say i finished two projects in one 24 hour period and learned something new to boot! today is one of those days. i finished the sweater, cast on for the hat, taught myself to fair isle and finished the hat in one full day.

details...

Center Square Hat
designed by London Nelson
published on knitty.com

knit in Reynolds Rapture (1 skein #420 Charcoal Grey, 1 skein #244 Pale Pink, 50% silk 50% wool) purchased at Knit + Stitch = Bliss on size US 10 double points.

started: september 3, 2007
finished: september 4, 2007

this was a fun little knit, and as you can see in the photo to the right i now think i am a badass because i managed my first fair isle project. yes, that is my badass face.

if i knit this again, i will probably make a few small changes. i think i would knit a few more rows of ribbing and extend the center of the pattern by knitting two grey rows and two pink rows before continuing the circle/square chart (instead of one each). i think i just like my hats a tiny bit longer.

changes i did make... rather than placing my paired decreases directly beside each other, i spaced them on either side of the marker. it just looks a little prettier that way. i also decreased a little less before tying off the center live stitches. i didn't want to get a pointy top to my hat.

i still have 2 full skeins of grey and 1 full skein of pink. hm. i may try to make something to go with these, but i'm not much for matchy sets. so they may just end up hanging out in the stash for a little while. we'll see!

productive insomnia

i couldn't sleep last night, so i decided to teach myself how to fair isle. i don't know if i am doing it correctly, but it looks pretty good, and i don't have holes. we'll see how my floats stretch when i can finally try this baby on.

and, yes... this is the leftover sweater yarn plus the pink i bought as a back up plan if i had run out on the sweater. it looks like the hat won't even eat up what i have left. we'll see... maybe mittens?

speedy little sweater

i finished it! the sweater would have been finished last night, but my energy went downhill at midnight. i left 3 rows of sleeve knitting and the end-weaving to today. but here it is!

details....

Unseen Sweater
designed by kittything
available as a free download in ladies size xs/s

knit in Reynolds Rapture (6 skeins #420 Charcoal Grey, 50% silk 50% wool) purchased at Knit + Stitch = Bliss on size US 10 circular and double point needles.

started: August 23, 2007
finished: September 3, 2007


this was a fun little project. it kept me busy and out of trouble while i was in tech for the show Sight Unseen, which is part of where the name comes from. the other part of the name's origin is the fact that i knit at least half of this thing in the dark.

it is a super easy project and would make great TV knitting. also, with so little finishing, you could practically cast off and wear it if you weave your ends as you go along.

i have only written the pattern for one size because... well.... i would rather be knitting new projects than doing math for old ones. (and it is free. pay me and i'll size it up for you.)

if you understand the construction of a top-down raglan sweater, you can easily modify to size this baby up. as it is, you can customize the length by trying it on as you go and adjusting length or adjusting the increases (both in number and position).

i took the second photo without a flash. yes, really. the silk in the yarn really throws the light! yowza.

i really loved this yarn, and i am pleased to report that i still have two skeins of the grey and two skeins of pink. i think something fun will be happening to those little darlings soon.

but with all the leftover yarn... can you believe i knit a whole sweater (yes, short sleeved) out of less than 450 yards yarn? i'm shocked. i knit a sweater with roughly the same number of yards as a sock. i know it is a chunkier yarn, but sheesh.

ps- this is my first sweater design. and technically it is the first adult-sized sweater i have knit. go me.

my first swap!

i joined my first swap today. i'm starting small and doing a dishcloth swap. registration goes through September 8 over here. we get partners after that! weeeee!

now... my questionnaire.

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been doing it? I do both. I have crocheted for about 5 years, and I have been knitting for a little more than 7 months.

2. Have you made dishcloths before? Do you use them yourself, give them as gifts, or both? i have made them before, and i mostly make them as gifts. those that i own and use are gifts from others to me!

3. What's your favorite cotton to make cloths from? What cotton would you like to try that you haven't before ? I like Peaches and Cream for dish cloths and softer things like Tahki Cotton Classic or Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille for face cloths. i'm not sure what i want to try next...

4. If you knit, do you prefer circular or straight needles? For all, do you prefer wooden, metal, or plastic needles? i knit on metal interchangeable circular needles and wooden double points. i crochet with metal, but i hate addi turbo crochet hooks.

5. What are your favorite colors? Any colors you don't like much? depends on the project.... i like greys, black, deep reds, raisin, and pinks for clothing and accessories. i love crazy colors for socks and wash cloths. not a big fan of blues or lighter purples, and i actively dislike pastels.

6. What do you like best about Autumn? the crisp air, the way it smells, and the leaves. i also like dressing in layers but not being snowed on! so it is the perfect time of year.

7. Pies: Pumpkin? Apple? Pecan? All of em? or No Thanks! hm. pumpkin or pecan. but only a little bit.

8. When you were a kid, were you the one who couldn't wait to get started with school, or the one who overslept on the 1st day? i always liked school, but i was usually nervous about starting up again.

9. Do you celebrate Halloween? (The real key here guys is especially knowing if you have an aversion to the holiday or little goodies/decorations associated with it, given the timeframe of the swap) i like halloween, but i don't really do anything with it. (costumes are my job, so why would i do one for "fun"?) i'm not a huge fan of seasonal decor, but i love skulls all year round.

10. If you had to choose just 3 edible 'goodies' to eat for a full year, what 3 would you choose? deluxe mixed nuts, sorbet, twix.

11. Do you have any pets? Kids? Husbands who seem like kids? ;) none of the above. but i want a kitty desperately. send me one?

12. If you were to describe a particular yarn that shares traits of your personality, what would it be and why? hand painted sock yarn--it is springy and bright. and it takes a long time to knit. =)

13. Do you use your cloths mostly for dishcloths, or as facecloths? i use the fancy ones for my face and more utilitarian ones for dishes.

14. Favorite Fall Holiday: Halloween or Thanksgiving and why? (Feel free to share another fall memory if you do not celebrate either of these holidays) i guess thanksgiving. because i get to take a break and see people i'm not around very often.

15. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should know about? i have a boatload of allergies, but here are the pertinent ones.... mohair, angora, bananas, cucumber, apple-flavoured candies. my skin is wacky, so the simpler the soap, the better.

open!

last night i went to the opening of my show that is playing in Baltimore. thehairyape joined me, and it was a good time. pretty good opening night show. good audience. and so forth.

after the show we had tapas and sangria down the street from the theatre for my birthday. sangria seems to be my Official Birthday Drink. yum.

the picture is pink lilies and sunflowers that thehairyape gave me. aren't they pretty? he has good taste in flowers. maybe he should give lessons to the clueless men of the world who buy the same flowers over and over again for their mothers, partners, and female friends.

the show details....

Sight Unseen
by Donald Marguiles
playing at Everyman Theatre
now through October 7, 2007

Directed by Daniel De Raey
Featuring Deborah Hazlett, Paul Morella, Karen Novack, and Bob Rogerson.

Read more about the show here. Or buy your tickets here.

i'll post some pictures for your enjoyment soon.