periscope knits

my KTE pal responds with questions, and I answer on the blog

Hi KTE pal,

How funny that you have to ask me these things.  I have a blog, I should post!   And, now that The Event That Shall Not Be Named is over, I will.  Perhaps I'll even post the answers to your questions – what an excellent thing!   Thanks for the idea, and sorry for being such a mystery.

To answer your questions:

I'm not a monogamous knitter at all, so there are several things that  I'm currently knitting (and thus, last knit).   The last knitted item that I finished is a Shifting Sands scarf (pattern by Grumperina), while I was in Tucson.  There are a few pictures on my blog, though no finished ones as of yet.   I'm in love with it – the texture, the colour, the length.  It's like the surface of a pearl, or the moon, or a choppy sea, or the sky about to storm.   What good things!  With this same yarn, I made a pair of shootin' stockings for my dad.  I used a different stitch pattern, but the results are the same.   I'm a bit sad that I can't get more of the yarn.  But, then, if I could, would I have purchased it?  Sometimes limited edition can be a good thing – I have to get it then then then, or I regret the chance missed.

Now, I'm in a sock phase.  On my needles I've got:

1) moss green knee socks (though I might turn these into gauntlets instead, with perhaps a hat to match)

2) red and white striped anklets

3) pink lace stockings

I'm also working on a Lizard Ridge blanket, square by square, and a couple of little mohair triangle shawls as gifts for my niece and sister.   Accessories are easiest for me.  I'm busty AND plus-sized, so the investment required for a jumper or vest is quite a bit, even in an inexpensive yarn.   I'm looking at knitting a sweater in the vein of the hourglass sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  I'd like to keep the yarn the same, but aiee!   I have to buy over a bag's worth of Cash Iroha, and that's stressful in more ways than I care to think about.

So, on my knitter's wish list?  Something to felt, I think.  I'd like to felt a bag, a largish-one to take with me to the farmer's market.  Maybe a neck pillow or something equally sweet and modern-ish.  Gloves.  Knee high striped socks.  Thermal, from Knitty.com.  Placemats.  A pair of socks using the motif that Eunny Jang created for this sweater.

What about you?

Janine

3(x + 2y) = happiness.

The subject heading is the equation I used to dye my yarn last night (I heart chemistry) with various red-toned Kool-Aids and very, very little sleep.  Despite my careful math, the yarn came out far more varied than I had planned.  If I had to guess, I think it has something to do with how very acidic Kool-Aid is.  The dye uptake is very quick, even with careful wetting and stirring.  I hadn't planned on a solid colour, luckily.  The finished result is something like what you see if you pile all your Valentine's candy together and cross your eyes.  You know, kind of like this:

The blue and yellow and green yarn is the VERY FIRST ONE that I dyed.

and a close-up:

Yes, I hear your cries for pictures!  Soon, chickens, soon. How about now for pictures!  Instant photo gratification!

I've planned out a few patterns for stockings and knee-highs.  This may seem a little ambitious as I've knit only one pair of socks, but really it's quite logical.  I have very large calves and (in proportion) small ankles.  Shapely?  Yes, but a complete impossibility when it comes to patterns.  Any length between knee-high and ankle slouches unbecomingly (one can only defy gravity and physics for so long).  I have A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker at my side.  Such excellent guidance and a good grasp of knitter's math should see me through just fine. 

Besides, who's afraid of a little frogging?  Not me!! (Pay no attention to the post about the shooting stockings.) With socks knit for myself, with no impatiently excited recipient keeping time, I have no compunction frogging until the cows come home.

Tonight and tomorrow:  The Madrona Fiber Arts Festival!  If you're there, I'll be seein' ya.  If you're not, I promise to tell you alllllllll about it.