Thursday 18 July 2013

Knitting and crochet... and new glasses.

First off, if you want to see any of these links, you'll need to be logged in to Ravelry as a member. Otherwise, they're not going to show up.
 
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More about knitting. The Baktus is finally finished. Ends dealt with and I put in a tassel at each end as well.
 
Then I did a hat in Rowan Bamboo Tape. I also finished that one with a tassel. I put myself as less than enthusiastic about it because it's too loose around the band, it's a terminal issue I have with ribbing... my ribbing is always larger than the actual plain stocking stitch when it's supposed to be smaller. I think it's because when I switch from knit to purl that it takes up two stitches of space. Meh.
 
I started the Magical Cosy Warmer and finished the actual knitting; I haven't sewn in the ends because I'm still trying to decide if I'm just going to frog it and maybe do it again with 200+ stitches instead of the 160 of the "medium"; which according to their instructions ought to have fitted me. It fits... tightly... Too snug to actually wear with anything else. No. I don't like tight garments. I'm too pudgy for tight garments.
 
Ugh.
 
I was steaming long with the Sycamore Poncho but I stalled. I stalled because of several factors, or excuses, whichever you want to call it. I got the main body done, but the third part where you start doing the netting isn't adding up or I'm not getting it lined up correctly and at the time, I couldn't figure out why. I think I have to go ahead and block it, whilst still incomplete, and then attempt to count rows and be certain I actually have the 60-odd required rows for each panel and then maybe mark where I should be putting in the dc's (US sc's) for the mesh/netting stitches to go in.
 
I want to do more crochet, found several new items, but the truth is, I'm having guilty thoughts about all the crochet pieces started and are 99.9% incomplete, but for things like sewing together and dealing with loose ends. It's the putting together and dealing with the loose ends that I dislike.

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New glasses... I think I'll have to ask for an alteration with regards to my pc glasses. Otherwise, I now have to sit with my nose practically up against the monitor to get clear vision with them. I'm sitting at arm's length from the monitor and it feels far too close, but that's the only way I get a clear vision with these things. I usually sit about 3' to 4' from my monitor. My knees are banging into the computer desk with the new glasses. :( I've already waited two weeks for the lenses. Ugh.
 

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Projects now in progress:


 
"One skein stole my Noro" it's a one-skein of Noro sock yarn to make a scarf. Wrap-n-drop stitches throughout with a row of 'yo, k2tog' lace every nineteen or so rows. I've got to do ten repeats of the 19 rows and so far, I've got part way through the fourth one. I'd like to have this completed before Autumn.
 
The other is one that's been on my 'get started on it' for a few years is a "Knit mesh top". It's the kind of top I'd wear. Loose, simple and not overly complicated. Suitable for wear over a tank top. Another one I hope to complete before Autumn.
 
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Looking ahead:


Winter's projects, assuming I don't completely stall, will likely be several hats >.> It's a good way to burn up surplus single balls of yarn... or balls of yarn over 100gr. If they're under that, I'll have to consider either a crochet or knit poncho/wrap/thing to use up single yarn balls of similar or complimentary colours.
 
I might give gloves a go as well. We'll see. I have the "Purple Sparrows" for fingerless armwarmers as well as "Wizard City Gauntlets" to muck about with.
 
Crochet... "Wrap round my shoulders" is calling to me. Though I might use the Yeoman cannel yarns instead of the other stuff, I like how the cannel holds up.
 
Shawls and wraps are jumping around at me, ones that I've been sitting on for years. Am trying to get enthusiastic about some of them and the rest that aren't, I might look at donating both pattern and yarn to someone for their benefit.
 
As usual, 'We'll see'.
 

Friday 3 May 2013

a knitting mention... for a change.

So after sitting dormant in a bag for... years? I've taken up an old project, the Baktus scarf, with the intent of finally finishing it. Yes, about time some of these hanging projects got finished. I think for a change I flew in my knitting because I've managed to do about ten inches in the past 12hrs. Astounding.

Part of what kicked off the desire to finish it had to do with my current project: uncluttering my home and disposing of hundreds of magazines that have accumulated for ten years. The craft magazines I'm sharing with other craft friends after I've removed the patterns, techniques and so on that I want from the magazines. My craft friends have gobbled them all up and I think only one, maybe two, actually ended up in the recycling bin out of the 40 or so mags I've so far shared out. And those were just the knitting mags with a half dozen or so painting, beading or other forms of crafts.

The magazine piles are shrinking... I think over the summer I'll deal with the Vogue, photography and non-craft mags, still too many of those piled about.

I guess I should thank the mice for annoying me enough to get on with uncluttering my home.