September 23, 2008

Blocking Sideways

After a feverish 2 weeks of knitting my Sideways Spencer Jacket is blocking! It's doing a very good job of holding the carpet down in the living room, for sure, but it won't be there for long.


And how does one cope w/ 2+ jobs, a boyfriend, an incredibly inspiring new sewing book, AND feverish knitting? Tarantula. Delicious.


Past Due; Please Remit
At the beginning of the month I entered 2 items in the Chelan County Fair and won 2 blue ribbons! I've since found out that our fair uses the Danish Judging System (or something very similar) where entries are awarded ribbons based on a points scale rather than simply choosing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. This way most entrants receive awards and everyone is happy... However, to allow for discretion and appearance of ribbon credibility rosettes for Best in Class, Grand Champion, etc are awarded for utmost excellence. I present Endpaper Mitts (which also won Viewer's Choice!!!! "Beatiful Beyond Measure") and Brambley Hedge Socks.


Interestingly my entries were both missing their critique sheets, so I was able to have a live critique from one of the judges. Her comments for the mitts mostly acknowledged that my stranding was tight in some places making some tiny stitches. And for the socks she wanted them to be entrelac, but in fact the lace just makes them look that way, so I told her and she recinded her compliment. Don't I make it sound terrible? It wasn't at all; in fact it was kind of fun to be able to talk to the judge. Her biggest comment for both was that the items have been worn and that in the future this point should be mentioned as it could have kept me from the Best in Class status. Good to know!
Here is a friend I found while at the fair. I probably could have spent all day in the animal barn! Although, I was sad that there were very few animals raised for the purpose of knitting. I believe only 1 sheep that I don't think was Merino, there were a few Alpacas, a few Angora bunnies, but no Cashmere goats. Nevertheless, they were adorable! I would have such a hard time raising an animal knowing that it's purpose in life was for me to eat it. I just get too attached; it's much better getting my meat at the grocery store and not knowing where it came from. Here is one of my little firends, a pigmy goat!

September 4, 2008

Oh yeah, argyles!

I haven't actually forgotten about my argyles that I was so excited about a few months ago. I finished the argyle part and then blocked them. They're not on the Christmas gift list, so I don't plan on doing much with them for a little while still, but they're pretty awesome looking :)


In other news, I'm watching "My House is Worth What?!" and this guy living in a 750 sq ft convertible studio just had it valued at THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS!!! It has NO LAND. My parents' house is worth approximately that much and it's 2400 sq ft on a half acre!!! I will never be able to own anything. Rich people suck. I have a hard time with a lot of conspiracy theory type politics, but the notion that the upper class is crushing the middle class is becoming abundantly apparent. I suppose if I had the job I have in NYC, though, I'd probably be making at least 3 times what I make now. That still wouldn't allow me to buy a studio, though.

I need to mention some more knitting now since I can't think about my life potentially meaning less for very long. So here is another sock :) Sockotta in a pink colorway. As I said I don't totally love it, so I'm planning to gift them away. They're on size 2 knit picks harmonies w/ 6" cuff and standard heel flap heel. I learned my lesson w/ the eye of partridge method last time and this time I had no trouble w/ it scrunching up too much. I'm right on track for my typical amount of time required for sock knitting of one week per sock.

*MMMMMMMMMMMMM my neighbors are bbqing. Time to go drool!

P.S. here is the gang at Stitch & Pitch last month. Fun times worth repeating.

September 2, 2008

It's still August

It's still August and I'm feeling prepared for September this time. I know it's coming and the weather is already turning a little toward fall. It's disappointing on one hand that fall is coming so fast since I'm not ready to be done with the summer, but on the other hand it means I'll be able to wear my sweater soon!! Oops, just kidding, it's September now! but I think the following still apply :)

Despite being fairly inactive lately, I've definitely not slowed the knitting at all since I'm still riding the bus with some regularity. I finished that baby blanket from a while ago and I love how it turned out! (Notice the length of yarn on the table, that's what I had left at the end; incredible!)

I also finished Maizy socks that look like powder blue camoflauge to me. Never worked w/ corn before and since it's like other Crystal Palace Sock yarn and super splitty I don't love it. I gave them to my mom for her birthday and that makes me happy :)

I've started more Sockotta in a pink colorway this time. I liked the others better because I liked the patterned bands better than wide solid bands. I'm thinking about giving these as a gift as well. No sense in keeping something for myself that I don't really like when I'm sure that someone else will love it!

Off the knitting topic, Drew and I finally went out camping and hiking again! It's been too #($*%&ing hot for the last month or so to do anything other than lay on the floor and eat ice cubes. We headed down to Roslyn (think Norther Exposure) and camped for 4 days and 3 nights. It was great - we cooked only in the dutch oven, buzzed around the lake and saw elk, had my parents for lunch one day, hiked to Pete's Lake (about 5 miles from the lake we were on), and had the most amazing boat-in-only campsite. It was a really nice break!