Moving forward

You know if your travel project goes from 0 to 50 in eight days, you’ve been doing a lot of traveling.  Well I have – eight days down and three more to go and I should be home by Tuesday.  Note to self: figure out a way not to have such a crap ass schedule next year.

My current travel project is Persephone from Miriam Felton.  I love all of her stuff and have finally gotten around to this scarf, now that I’ve unblocked my lace clog.  The chart is super easy to follow with the help of a postit note to keep track of my rows, off I went.

This is the kit I stole from my sister’s stash on Thanksgiving.  She won’t mind (I hope).  I think the yarn is the merino/tencel blend called for by the pattern, at least that’s what it feels like.  Purloined yarn doesn’t always have yarn bands on.

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!  Onwards!

Home sweet home!

After a very long journey around the world yesterday, I made it back to San Francisco in time to be one of the last patrons at the In-n-Out Burger by the airport at 1 a.m.  Dudes seriously, I was starving and by then all I wanted was a double double animal style.  Oh so freaking good.

There was lots of sleep, sun, sand and booze in Accra for me and my cronies and my knitting output suffered.  I only added a few inches to my Elektra laceweight version so I’ll be happy with that.

Now my knitting and I would like to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

This one’s hard to spell

My unbeaded version of Romi’s Celaeno is done!  It’s been pretty much done for awhile, but I just didn’t have time to finish the last of the knitting and block this.  But now that I’m back home I got on that.  I broke out the Thomas the Tank Engine blocking mat and went for it.  I even remembered to block points on this scarf (I forgot on the last scarf – Maia) and I think it’s a winner.  Romi’s patterns are just lacy enough for my taste and very wearable, plus they’re good travel projects.  This is from her 7 Small Shawls ebook, so next up is Elektra.  I guess I’ll be forced to yarn shop to find an appropriate yarn for Elektra…

What else is happening at casa de Sil?  I’m celebrating Christmas way early this year since I have to work from the 18th through the 31st with no time off for good behavior.  I’ve got to fit all my “must dos” into the next week and a half.  It can be done.  I started my “must” list with making SpindleRose’s caramels, these delicious candies are only made once a year.  This years batch came out super yummy because I finally figured out my candy thermometer is a bit slow.  This batch is chewy and rich.  Perfect!  Now I’m off to the gym to work off one or two of the pieces I had to taste test.  Had to!

Low country knitting

I was off for a few days and was knitting faithfully on my Nordic yoke Drops-esque sweater.  But I ripped it all out when I measured the work and found it was huge.  Huge!

Don’t worry, I recast on using this interesting cast on.  I recalculated and my knitting now looks like the last picture I posted of the body of a grey stockinette sweater.  Interesting it is not.

My travel project is a tad more interesting, at least to me.  I am a huge Romi fan, so it was time to cast on for the third small shawl in her ebook (I’m a tad behind the pace).  Celaeno is a lovely scarf (I actually have a problem calling something a shawl because I usually don’t like those patterns).  I really like the simple garter paired with the lacy bits.  So pretty, but not in your face “I’m lace”.  Subtle and pretty.  My yarn is from the most recent Rhinebeck and is Ellen’s Half Pint Farm 100% Merino Sock.  It’s dyed a super pretty midnight purple with very slight variegation.  Perfect in fact for Celaeno.  But no beads.  I don’t bead thank you.

What you see is the easy start of Celaeno, making it perfect for a travel project, namely Savannah World Series watching (go Giants!).  The start is just garter and increases.  Easy to remember, even if you’re super tired (like now).

I’m still working on Romi’s second project Maia.  That scarf is almost done, but it’s not at a travel project stage, too many details to get right.  Fear not, it’s close

The Pile

Here is the knitting equivalent of a to do list.  Mine is called the pile.  These are projects that will vie for the available knitting time.

The yellow area is Maia, an almost finished Maia it must be said.  If my memory serves me correctly, I could probably have that little shawl done in a day or so.  Hmmm.

The pink blob is one almost complete Azure sock which actually has a deadline of next week to make is NON belated birthday gift.  That may become my priority knit for the next few days.

The small gray thingy is some ribbing for my version of Drops 116-9.  My version will be a pullover with long sleeves, but I love that Norwegian pattern for the yoke, so that’s staying.  I’m making up all the other bits of the pattern and sadly those are still in my head.  This one may take awhile.

Those are just the knitting tasks.  There are so many more things to do when one comes home after a couple weeks of working neglect.  Maybe I should become a list maker?  Or an insomniac?  Both unlikely.  But stay tuned, something’s going get made around here.

Blocked and loaded

Merope is done!  It was a fun project, not too hard but easy enough to knit on when I’m travelling and sleep deprived.  This project was the first time I could use my new blocking wires.  I think I need to practice more with blocking wires, but they sure do nice points.

Specs:  Hand Jive Knits Nature’s Palette Fingering approximately 2.5 skeins, 3.75mm needles and no mods.  My shawl blocked to 61″ x 28″.

Now would it be wrong to gently suggest to Romi that she put her creative mind to a rectangular scarf (my personal preference)?  Please please please!  Fingers crossed she takes requests!

No really…

One of these is a classic video game icon, one is my knitting.  Coincidence?  You decide.

Favorites

 

I misplaced my Saturday.  Have you seen it?  No?

I got up at 3:30 am in California on Saturday and ended up in Manchester UK about 8 am Sunday.  The middle is a bit fuzzy.  Not unpleasant mind, I like my job and Manchester folks are rather nice passengers.  But it’s the kind of day where you eat Chinese food for breakfast and have a coffee right before bed.

Sometimes people think I’m weird for really liking Manchester (usually people from Manchester) as much as I do, but on a layover your needs and wants are not the same as for a vacation.  I have my Marks & Spencer just steps away, internet and a comfy bed.  I’m only here for 24 hours afterall.  After arriving and before going to bed, I walked to M&S to indulge my love for their superior tights and delicious food.  They are the best, that is my impartial rating fyi – they don’t sponsor me but I wouldn’t say no…These pics are from my walk down the street.

Enjoy the pretty cloudy sky and the view from my room.  Tomorrow I do all this travel in reverse and end up in sunny California, albeit with a bag full of superior tights.

Happy Sunday/Monday!

Knittingwise, I began Maia with some Shibui sock yarn from the stash.  My start is a bit wonky so I may rip it out and start again.  This doesn’t seem to be too uncommon after reading the comments from the knitters who started this project before me.  Or maybe it looks just fine…

Why isn’t this colorway called hydrangea?

I’ve finished the knitting part of Merope, now I just need my blocking wires to arrive and this project is done!  Rosemary helpfully posted the other day about blocking and killing a shawl made from sock yarn to foil the nylon in the yarn from springing back to the place you’re trying to coax  it out of.  It involves blocking, pinning and a steam iron.  I can do that, I love the steam iron!

Of course now my problem is that I’m working for the next three days and have nothing to knit upon.  Hmm, what ever can I do? <insert giggling here>

Pink don’t stink

I managed to sneak a few rows of knitting on Merope into my work week.  I keep thinking my shawl should be longer by now.  It’s not.  I thought I’d pin it out a bit to see what it looked like and it’s cute, if I do say so myself.  Pinning it out made it seem like I’m not knitting the tiniest shawl ever.  It just needs a good yanking.  (have fun with that one google)

I’m also thinking about cutting out another summer dress, but the pattern needs a bit of adjusting per the comments over on PatternReview.  Hopefully I’ll get it cut out tomorrow to work on next week.  My work schedule on permits crafting in short bursts.  Annoying but true.

AND, for those considering going to New York Sheep and Wool festival this year in October, I had a bit of trouble finding a hotel room this year.  Either there’s another event occurring in the Poughkeepsie area that weekend, or the festival will have a banner turn out.  I found a great hotel in Kingston Fishkill, so if you’re thinking about attending, get on those accommodations.  And the CIA is taking reservations for October, so foodies get on that.  I’d love to freak those adorable chef/students out with a diningroom full of knitters.  Oh yeah, and the food’s amazing…