Yummy Yarn

Early Spring Cleaning

2012-02-08T12:13:00.003+01:00

Bought boxes from IKEA and started sorting through fabric and yarn stash. Three medium sized boxes are now filled with yarn, two big boxes harbour my fabric. All are crammed underneath my project table.

BF's snarky comment: Doesn't look any different from when you started trashing this place.

Thanks so much.

Then again, looking at it from a distance...he sadly is right.

Need to do a lot more knitting and sewing, methinks. Haven't bought fabric or yarn in five months. Yours truly, a proud destasher.

Hellooooo!

2012-01-03T13:08:00.004+01:00

2012, can't believe how fast the days are passing by. *whooosh*

As is usual, I do have a few resolutions and yes, I'm not above it all and will tell you about the most important one:

Tomorrow I will go and get myself a health checkup and the incredibly fit person doing it will certainly tell me I need to shape up. And I am going to do just that.

My back is killing me but test results show it's nothing to do with intervertebral discs (at least not yet) but is due to a lack of tummy muscles. So I need more tummy muscles and that's the reason I've booked into a fitness center. They do offer Zumba and there's an adjoining spa so...

And then there's stash reduction and the likes *patati patata*.

End of resolutionary post.

Work, Life and So Much More...

2011-10-31T14:22:00.006+01:00

I've been drowned in work and life and people.

Work: Success! TQM rulez!

Life: The Big Day is approaching. Rapidly. Details are already set but what to place on the menu??? And a Kindle e-reader has moved in with us. I've finally broken down and invested. Makes me happy. Makes bf a lot happier (no more books crowding "his" living-space and no more lights getting on his nerves at night...living with a guy who doesn't like to read can be slightly trying).

People: Family can be alarmingly obtrusive, be it mine or the prospective in-laws. Especially mine. And the prospectives. Can't decide.

And fluffy-puffy heffapuffles are invading all free time left...you know what I mean, I'm sure!

Ahemm...

2011-03-02T09:10:00.001+01:00

Life has been quite meddlesome these past weeks and months.

There have been massive changes on the big scale of things but yeah! I'm alive and kicking and reallyreally pleased my career is finally taking off in a direction which is both personally and financially rewarding!

Three cheers for me sticking through!

Knitting has been sidelined, sadly, I got a few things done, but right now I can't even find the time to knit those plain socks for a good friend *lesigh*

Learning Curve

2010-09-25T15:18:00.004+02:00

Still working on the Irish Cottage Technique on dpns.

It took me quite a while to find an efficient way of wrapping my yarn around my right hand and still manage a correct tension.
The way I do it now seems to produce results which are acceptable:

Wrap yarn around right hand middle finger clockwise once (I have the yarn running over the back of my hand before I wrap it), then position ring finger under the yarn. The middle finger just holds the yarn, the ring finger actually applies the necessary tension.

The needle is positioned between the right hand thumb and forefinger and both play an important role when sliding the needle backwards through the loop, because then they make contact with the needle and guide it on it's way.

The limiting factor regarding speed so far has been my left hand which is not fast enough in pushing the stitches upwards.

I have managed to synchronize the motion of my right hand with that of the right hand needle when it goes through the stitch to be worked, but have not been able to do the same for my left hand.

So...practisepractisepractise and practise some more.

I am...

2010-04-03T17:40:00.000+02:00

right in the middle of some serious spring cleaning! And I did find the energy to finish a sewing UFO. *yay*

Today...

2010-03-23T13:45:00.001+01:00

I will, for the first time, meet a few people who are just as crazy about knitting as I am. *yay* for ravelry!

Sick leave...

2010-03-14T17:24:00.002+01:00

and trying to learn a new knitting technique! I have sharp needles and 2000 m of waste yarn and I will prevail!

Alive and kicking...

2010-03-07T12:01:00.003+01:00

No, I'm not dead. So much has happened around here, I don't even know where to start. And I have been knitting, actually a lot. My sewing machine is buried under at least a foot of dust (not really, I try to maintain a dust-free home since my allergies tend to protest, but it does yell at me, alas I can't bring myself to start one of my many wips which I've banned from the living room to sit and whimper in the cellar) and knitting seems just the thing to do right now. I've started and finished quite a few projects (care for ravelry) and yes, I am proud of most of them. And yes, I know I have to take pictures of them. Project infos without pics are stupid. And I will. Just not today ;o)

Hiatus...you bet!

2008-03-15T00:52:00.001+01:00

Since my announcement, I was forced to work a lot...and since my work allows for knitting but not sewing, I did knit:

This is the lace border for my Snowdrop shawl. And I love it :oD

Hiatus!

2008-03-11T18:41:00.002+01:00

With a costuming deadline creeping up, I need to take a knitting hiatus!

See y'all in a few weeks!

And lest I forget...

2008-03-04T23:43:00.004+01:00

a picture of my latest addition to the household (employed here with lovely Evilla laceyarn 8/1):

I am back!

2008-03-04T19:12:00.005+01:00

Wehell, back I am and really busy straightening out everything that was sorely neglected these past few weeks.

And of course I have pictures (two that is) of my knitting done during my trip to my sisters'.

The Snowdrop Shawl, preblocked and yet without the finishing lace border. Done in Wollmeise's gorgeous lace yarn in the undyed colourway. Intendet first as a present for a very good friend of mine, I have since learned she'd rather like a brown coloured shawl, so I am going to keep this one! *yay*

This is the Rebecca Shawl I did before for a German Christmas Swap. As I cast off that one, I knew I needed one for myself and since my wonderful and great pal from SP10 had sent me a parcel full of lovely things, amongst them the prettiest red yarn speckled with colourful bits of gorgeousness, I decided this would be the right yarn. Sadly, my inability to take nice pictures produced only this blurry picture which does neither justice to the yarn or the pattern...the shawl is also in its sad preblocked state.

Just in case...

2008-02-18T17:31:00.001+01:00

anybody is wondering where I have gone off to...I am not at home :o)

And won't be till the beginning of March! *yay*

I took along two knitting projects, one is already finished, the second one just as good as and so I went out and bought some green yarn I hope I will not find hideous too soon and started knitting an afghan which will take AGES!

This is all.

Well...

2008-02-11T01:49:00.000+01:00

I have been doing some knitting.

Pictures as soon as the thing is finished! (Hopefully tomorrow!)

Then I spent some money on a yarn winder and a swift and I do wish for the swift to arrive tomorrow so I can begin to wind my lovely, lovely Evilla and Wollmeise lace yarns into workable cakes!

I also started to sew my costume project (supposed to be finished by April).

Life goes swimmingly!

And when she was good...

2008-02-06T16:54:00.000+01:00

Today, I got up early and... really cleaned the flat. All is done now except the windows.
That I will leave for my boyfriend who managed to have an appointment today. Why am I not surprised?

Still kickin'

2008-02-05T12:20:00.000+01:00

I am still alive and now I will have time to do a little living!

Meee...

2008-01-27T11:26:00.000+01:00

OMG, I am just SO susceptible to trends...!

I SO want an Asus Eee PC!

Deadline creeping up...

2008-01-25T20:11:00.001+01:00

me feeling dead.

No knitting, no sewing.

No nothing but learning dreadful boring stuff...*lesigh*

Feeling weak...

2008-01-08T20:23:00.000+01:00

First, let me wish everybody a belated Happy New Year!

Ahumm, with two major tests coming up, my knitting is rapidly dwindling to ZERO!

And I am feeling a bit drained and weak (I hope there is not an illness creeping up...)

I did knit something, a pair of socks for my sister and she loved them but I haven't got a picture.

There you are.

And now I will go to bed and think long and hard why I did not study something more fun and relaxing. *grrrr*

And in between it all, I knit...

2007-12-18T11:45:00.000+01:00

this:

A shawl (Pattern: Rebecca 32 #21/33) out of mystery yarn for an ongoing Christmas swap in my costuming forum.

Since the recipient is less a reenactor but a dresser-up, I was able to find some yarn in the price-range set by The Rules (€5,- max) in my stash and knit her that shawl (which, after some washing and gentle steaming lost it's very stiff-chafey-poly character and became soft and fluffy) which I think will keep her snug and cozy on days outside when costume does not allow for a warm jacket.

I just jope she likes it! (My first shawl ever...but not the last one since I have lots of people who might need one...*hehe*)

I have the best of pals...EVER!

2007-12-17T17:20:00.000+01:00

A while ago, my secret pal told me to go to a specific shop site, pick any item I liked and she'd send it...and she did!

Whoa!

Lookee...

Yeah, apart from sweet cocoa, maple syrup (will try out a pancake recipe to go with it) and nice smelling soap, there are sweater blockers! *yahooo*

This is something absolutely unavailable in Germany (or at least they were the last time I looked) and now I own a set...

Thank You, Secret Pal!!!

(There was never a happier person than me!)

Now go and take a look at her blog and life!
Purlyspaniel

I should be learning...

2007-12-12T21:13:00.000+01:00

but right now I simply cannot.

There are matters pressing such as:

A list of UFOS!!!

And without rummaging and bursting through closets and drawers and yanking out all the UFOS I can find, I will try and list all the things which I want to finish THIS year! (Yeah, I know, I know...but never relinquish hope!)

1. Grey dress (back is finished, front 1/3 finished)

2. Stripey Green Pullover (ah, 1/3 of back finished)

3. Hoodie (just sleeves and seams and I forgot to add the pocket...*lesigh*)

4. Red Deep-v (will probably change to a more moderate v-neck)

5. Deep-v Argyle Vest (I am REALLY afraid of steeking!)

And the first projects for 2008:

1. Blue Jacket (like, cast on and then cast aside...)

2. Laura Pullover (mhm,also cast on and never knit one more row)

3. Lace Shawl (haven't decided on a pattern yet but probably YH's Snowdrop)

4. Fair-Isle yoke Sweater (And if I have enough money, that means Guld!)

And More to Come...and Socks, of course, since I have SUCH A HUGE sock yarn stash...

See? Nothing that cannot keep me from cramming...*hehe*

Oh, yummy...

2007-12-12T10:12:00.000+01:00

I love oatcakes!

They look very plain and grey and a bit suspicious...but after I heartened myself, I took a bite and, yeah glory, what a wonderful thing!!

Was I spoiled or what?!!

2007-12-07T20:16:00.000+01:00

Geez, I got a parcel!

And what a parcel it was!

My pal from SP10 sent me some amazing and gorgeous and wonderful and totally sweet things!

Have a look:

Now y'all go and have a look at that amazing woman's blog and doings!
Purplejen

Still...

2007-11-16T19:25:00.001+01:00

sick...baaad cold and coughing...

But wanted to show you my latest addition to the girls' gang:

She is SO gorgeous!
And still unpacked.

Promised my boyfriend to leave her in the box 'though my fingers are SO itchy to open her up and get my hands on her...*lesigh*

P.S. Can you see me hiding? Bad hair day...

We've got eyes!

2007-11-15T16:58:00.000+01:00

Today I picked up the eye chips from brainworm! So now Linnéa will get her new eyes *yay*

And I reworked the lips...so now I am just waiting for the new hair to arrive and we will have a complete made-over doll (*ahem* well, it will take some work...lots of it...to reroot...but eventually!*hooray*)

I want...

2007-11-15T00:09:00.000+01:00

Hermione's fair isle sweater!

Some knitting...

2007-11-12T22:55:00.001+01:00

Still got my bad cold but got some nice knitting done today:

It does start to look like something I might be proud of.
I just pray and hope it will fit or else I wil have to start screaming and banging my head since I AM very proud of my stranded knitting so far!

Asta has arrived...

2007-11-05T12:30:00.000+01:00

safe and sound...here she is...as pretty as can be!

Boyfriend actually ruining...

2007-11-04T19:43:00.000+01:00

all plans of yarn resistance!!!

Sometimes men puzzle me exceedingly.

Especially the one I am living with.

Just yesterday he posed a major threat to my yarn and myself.

Threatening to kick us both out. To burn the lot. To take hold of my account and neverever letting me buy things online ever and ever.

Today, he found me browsing patterns on ravelry. Hummed and hawed. Then the words that shook my world:

"Ah, now with our new bed coming on Monday, wouldn't it be nice to have some thingamabobs (a.k.a. afghans) to nicely drape and show off?"

I. Swear. To. God.

These were his words.
These were his words!!!

OMG, my boyfriend, who hates drapey things and such, who always rolls his eyes and yes, sometimes resorts to screaming fits when he sees my knitting and an't stand me knitting and reading/listening to him/watching tv (he says it makes him uncomfortable) actually related to thingamabobs as being nice and cosy and that he always thought them to be a nice addition to a home...phew!

Like, two...like one for him and one for me...like, matching...

Am Speechless.

I am ill...

2007-11-04T12:43:00.000+01:00

and I am sick of yellow (my skin is a natural olive...well, my boyfriend who btw is pink, calls it yellow).

This much said, I have to tell you that I sometimes am prone to buying yarn/clothes whatever in colors that definitely do not suit me. And mustard-yellow on yellow skin is, well, not good.

So my plans of a mustard paralello are probably done with.

Not the pattern, that is, but the colorway.

But since I just spent a lot of money on yarn (yummy yarn, that is), I will not start discussing further purchases in the near future (this month, I think).

Upcoming projects:

1. All things Blythe (waiting for more supplies)

2. Gray dress (did I tell you, I am sometimes prone to chosing designs which are unflattering to my slightly pear-shaped body???)

3. Eunny's argyle vest which I pested her so much about (the woll arrived...one of the purchases which make further purchases a no-no...in the near future, that is)

4. Dark blue jacket (more purchased yarn...yeah, db had a major fit about all that yarn arriving at a constant stream and it took me a lot of cookies to make him feel comfortable among all the bags and boxes)

5. Ah...don't remember...university? Studies? Whuzzat?

Mission accomplished Take Two

2007-10-30T16:36:00.000+01:00

I finished my green cabled sweater.
The pattern said to finish it with a roll-neck but since the wools are so fuzzy, I decided upon a ribbed border like in the cuffs and bottom edge.
I still have to sew in all ends but otherwise, it's finished!!!
I just love chunky yarn and big needles!;o)

Mission accomplished

2007-10-29T11:31:00.000+01:00

What does that mean?

It means I bugged the hell out of poor Eunny (sorry again for that) who was busy and travelling...

I am still feeling bad (well, I did not become unfriendly, but it scares the hell out of me if things like that seemingly go wrong)because she is such a nice person and sent me a new link right away after she had proper internet working.

So here is what will become part of my daily mantra: Don´t bug people busier than thou (that is, if they are nice and not the rip-you-off-kind).

So now I have the lovely deep-v argyle vest pattern all ready and wool coming along (I do admit, I stole the idea for the colourway off ravelry...but don´t we all sometimes???)

Accomplishements of the day so far...

2007-10-28T14:54:00.000+01:00

1. Removed the eye chips out of the sockets with the help of puchicollective's double-sided sticky tape tutorial.

2. Washed Linnéas hair (again).

3. Started the pullover's sleeves (both at the same time on one circular...will probably cure my finishitis).

4. Ate a load full of baked potatoes topped heavy with chicken-chilli sauce and will munch some kimchi my mom sent me.

5. Will smell badly of garlic for at least seven weeks.

6. Tried to buy (succesful) this and also tried to download it...unsuccessfully!

7. Immediately contacted eunnyjang.

8. Am waiting for a response...

Eye chips

2007-10-27T19:34:00.000+02:00

The woman behind Brainworm is a very nice lady, she responded almost immediately to my mails! And the olive-drab chips are not in stock *lesigh*

But anyway I ordered a few others and maybe can paint a set of lighter green eyes to more closely match the colour I want (or maybe a little swap? *ggg*)

And I have finished the back of my new sweater project *yay*

And I did get some learning done.

Am Very Good.

A name and a fine day of slaughter...

2007-10-25T21:34:00.001+02:00

I have found a name for Merry Skier.

It occurred to me, while I was butchering away at her head:

I have always wanted a matte girl and so have been lurking here and found this highly discussed.
And because MS is a relatively new SBL, I decided to give that method a try and *tataa*, as you can see, I was successful (although it did take some prying). The faceplate was really only glued at one side seam and otherwhise was easy to remove. Afterwards I reassembled the pieces to check if everything went together smoothly and *yay* it does.

Then I did this:

And found that taking off the faceplate was a piece of cake compared to getting the eye mech out...well, I was a bit hesitant since I feared ruining the chips or eyeballs. Fortunately, neither happened.

I have long been a great fan of puchicollective and referenced their matting tutorial. I sanded her faceplate (removing the blush, eyeshadow and lipstick,which was too blah! for my taste anyway) and the rest of her with two kinds of fine and very fine sandpaper and then endeavored upon painting new lips on her which didn't work the first/second/third...try...long story cut short, I do not remember how many times I had to clean her little face but now she has lips! (Not perfect, I know, way off from what I dreamed of but I never was good at painting...had a regular C- for years until I was able to kick the class off my schedule)

I like the colour but it is a bit lopsided and so I will have to do some fine-tuning still...

Oh, and I washed her greasy, greasy but wonderful hair (and will have to do it again...and propably again...).

More changes:

I want to change her chips. I am not a big fan of the pink and orange and foiled and rimmed eyechips are just great so I probably will go out and above myself to get some smokey-grey, sky blue, toffee and olive drab chips and some rimmed foils from brainworm (these are the eye colours I would have loved to have...*hehe* *lesigh*)

I *heart* her. A. Lot.

And her name is Linnéa.

Want to read some more?

I once had a children's book with lots of fun projects for gardening and environmental education and I remember how much I loved that book and the girl in it. And guess what? Her name was Linnéa ;o)

This is a good day for me!

2007-10-24T12:34:00.000+02:00

Because I can proudly present...Merry Skier (no name yet):
She's still looking around, getting to know her new home (I dressed her to match my outfit for a cold free day) and eyeing both my boyfriend and me.

She's sooo lovely!
(Please excuse my rumpled looks, I picked her up right after work this morning)

OMG!!!

2007-10-23T21:43:00.001+02:00

She's here...right here in my hometown (only I am not there since I have to work a 24h shift)!!!

Today the notification slip of the tax office was in the mailbox!

Will pick her up tomorrow, first thing, I swear!

Oh.My.God.

(Crepy, how one can have a fit of joy like that for a doll with a superhuge head and strange eyes...but what the heck, I Am Glad!!!)

And here is...

2007-10-22T19:19:00.000+02:00

what that lovely Secret Pal of mine sent me:

Which is...

A small parcel full of New England treats, namely:

Yummy Sock Yarn! Hand-painted by Dani! In a lovelylovelylovely early autumn colorway which I *heart*

A special New England Sweet (you can see we already started to eat the funny stuff, very different from what I ever had, but yummy non the less)!

Lip balm with pomegranate (wondrous stuff, let me tell you)!

A greeting card with a recipe on the backside which I certainly will try out (Lemon Cloud, sounding VERY tasty).

And last but not least a bracelet from a foundation which donates funds to breastcancer research, making me proud to own one and VERY proud of my Secret Pal, since she was so insightful to give something not only to me but also to others (btw, my mom is a breastcancer survivor so I at least know about being an affected relative).

What a great pal I have!

Parcel time!

2007-10-20T10:35:00.000+02:00

*yay*

My wonderful Secret Pal sent me a very sweet parcel full of lovely things!

Will add pics later!

Thank You So Much, You Are Great!!!

Pics Take Two...

2007-10-16T22:28:00.000+02:00

This is it...and I did try to rotate it but it somehow didn't work...

Pics!

2007-10-16T21:10:00.000+02:00

I proudly present...The Pink Blob!

At least I would like to, but am unable, since blogger has some technical problems.

Adding that to the fact that my flickr account has reached its bandwidth limit, I cannot show you the pics I would love to! *lesigh*

Woah, what a fun weekend!

2007-10-14T23:12:00.000+02:00

On Thursday, my dear sister visited me (she left today) and we had a wonderful time! Lots of talking, cooking, eating and shopping!

I love her dearly.

She even persuaded me to have my hair cut and I went and had 30 cm choped off :o)

And she loves my handknitted socks and left me with the order of knitting two pairs for her for Christmas *yay*

I am making great progress on my Secret Pal Surprise (50 % down) and will finish it next week.

And now I will clean the flat :o)

Just want to tell y'all

2007-10-09T16:47:00.000+02:00

I have finished the monster blob of a pink raglan sweater!

Not because I waned to, but because my yarn ran out!

So now I don't have a roll neck but added a ribbing, which turned out fine.
Strangely, I think I do like the thing.

Then I went out and above myself and bought lots of yarn for a secret project for my downstream pal. Will be a première again.

Can't wait to get started but my lovely boyfriend just made wafers and now I will go and stuff myself *yay!

Call me crazy...

2007-10-08T20:13:00.000+02:00

I just spent a horrible amount of money. On dolls.

Yeah. Dolls.

I have been forever wanting Blythes...and now hopefully two will move in with me (will take some weeks for them to get here).

I am thinking...historical costumes. Complete sets (must be cheaper, considering the samll scale, I hope).

I am thinking...drawers, chemises, corsets, bustles and crinolines and the likes...maybe eben a reproduction of a lovely chemise dress I have seen in one Gainsborough painting!

All in mini-sizes!

I am a bit wonky, I guess...but I have the lovliest silk that just screams late bustle (only its less than half a meter)!

Can't wait for them to arrive...

Progress!

2007-10-08T19:26:00.000+02:00

Making progress on the pink raglan...big needles mean big progress!

(My boyfriend asked me, why I was knitting a big blob of pink...men!)

Great Balls o' Pink

2007-10-06T16:34:00.001+02:00

Finally started my Pink Pullover project.

Wonders upon wonders: 8mm and 9mm needles are really quick...

No parcel...

2007-10-06T10:33:00.000+02:00

has yet arrived...I will try and be patient...

My downstream pal told me she got hers but hasn't put up any pictures yet...

Feeling tired...

Horror story:

Delved in my stash late at night and then and there it happened -> BUGS!!!

In one bag with especially expensive yarn, there were small crawling animals! *yuck*
I did, what every sane knitter would do: Although it was around 1 a.m., I started the battle of the BUG...*ick*

Shook all the balls on the balcony (luckily it was night and nobody saw me *hope*), inspected at least 10 balls of expensive merino, shook some more, threw it all in a fresh bag and did a yarnharlot (I put it in the freezer).

My boyfriend was out working so I did not need to explain.

Loss so far: 3 balls of burgundy merino

Fortunately, none of the rest of my stash has been infested *keeping fingers crossed*

Just now, I took out the bag from the freezer and it is now sitting in the living room, giving all the bug eggs an opportunity to hatch. After today, off to the freezer for a second frosting of the horrible creatures!

To take a break from socks...

2007-10-05T23:49:00.000+02:00

I started the most fun project ever:

And a test!

2007-10-05T11:29:00.001+02:00

My new dressy Townsend-shoes for 18th century costumes...

Money...

2007-10-05T11:28:00.001+02:00

is always fast to disappear...especially, if one buys this:

Yeah, hark this! my own digital camera, a special offer.

And since the battery is charging at the moment, you may expect pics of my works pretty soon!

And did you notice? The orange wall is gone *lol*

2007-10-04T20:50:00.000+02:00

And to show you what my sis has been up to all this time...

2007-09-26T10:02:00.000+02:00

I am proud to present you with my sweet nephew!!!

This is Tyler Liam and I love him very much!

Proof of progress...

2007-09-24T15:04:00.000+02:00

I finished pair #4 yesterday!!!

52 PP

2007-09-22T19:25:00.001+02:00

After taking some detours, I have come back to kniting socks...well, never really stopped, but now I have proof I really did knit socks!

And here you are:

Pair #3

Pattern: Cable Rib Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk col. 010

These are intended as a present and thus are so far the first socks I knit not for me (and I do hope she likes them...)

Pair #4 (first one)

Pattern: Waving Lace Socks
Yarn: Sockina Colori col. 0093

Second one is in the works and will hopefully be finished tomorrow at work (I do have the privilege of being able to spend a lot of time knitting...hooray for paramedics!

Pair #5 (first one)

Pattern: Clessidra
Yarn: Hand-dyed by Wollmeise col. Frosch (medium)

Remember me telling you about my adventures with Clessidra? And then about me knitting green socks?
After I had finished a lovely green knee-high sock, I was a bit bored so I decided to frog the whole thing and start over, now combining my love of the frog socks with the cursed pattern and lo! behold, it knits up like a dream and even the pattern seems a lot friendlier.

The Big Stash Reveal...

2007-09-22T15:13:00.000+02:00

took place today.

Ahem.

Since we are renovating our flat, I had to clean out all the closets.

And this is when it hit my boyfriend that stash is truly a living thing. Since he last consciously observed me putting something in (and sometimes take something out), he never really realized that stash can really grow.

So here it is:

Several UFOS of the pullover-family (mostly red, burgundy or red...seems like I really do like the colour...)

Several UFOS of the sock-family (all kinds of colours and varied stages of being finished...now I know where all the 2.5 mm needles did go)

Several bags full of red, green and brown, black and white and pink and purple balls of wool, waiting to be knitted into whatever I intended it for...

This whole thing ended in him having a fit and then me having a fit in return (eat my pants, ya!) and me promising to spend night and day of the upcoming winter holidays knitting all that stuff into true and wearable things.

We'll See Where It Goes (and thankfully I have a lot of needles and tape measures and such)

SP 11

2007-09-18T10:35:00.000+02:00

Getting there, getting there...will send off first parcel this week!!! *yay*

Back from Berlin!

2007-09-09T17:05:00.000+02:00

Arrived home late, am a bit squashed...need to rest a little and then start cleaning up the mess...

Will work on my 1790s chemise later this day and made considerable progress on my long stockings.

And by the way...

2007-08-31T22:20:00.000+02:00

after lots of ponderin I am redating my 1796 dark-blue popeline dress to 1797/98.

This may seem a bit of pea-picking (I really don't know if that expression exists in English, but you might get the picture), since it only differs about a year. But after much looking at pictures and paintings, I believe the difference was quite grand.

In 1796, dresses still tended to have the natural waistlines front and back. In the course of one year, waistlines climbed higehr and higher until they settled right under the (quite lifted looking) underbustline, while the back seemed to linger a few inches lower. The pattern by PP has the high-raised bustline and the dropped back waist. There you are...a transitional dress of the Directoire which would eventually become the Empire/Regency dress most of us know about since watching all the Austen releases (the PP dress looks a lot like the dresses the Dashwood sisters wear in the Thompson/Winslet movie).

Ravelry...

2007-08-31T16:48:00.000+02:00

I am such a sucker...I already am a member of Ravelry and have now joined the SP11 group there! I just put in the wrong email address and so found out about my membership just a wee tad late...*stupidme*

My profile name is jools!

I am back...

2007-08-31T11:38:00.000+02:00

from a very short trip home to visit my family!

Wonderful days of relaxing, good food and friends and family surrounding me (and dear boyfriend)...and returned late last night to wake up to a sweet little package sent me by my SP for my birthday!!!

I Love It!

A little kit to knit "The Original Knitting Basket"!
And a very nice card...Thank You So Much, Secret Pal!!!

Will take it along to Berlin next week!

When I grow up...

2007-08-28T11:05:00.000+02:00

I will own my own camera!!!

No camera, no pictures, sorry...

1796...

2007-08-23T14:28:00.001+02:00

is almost finished!

Some minor things (overcasting one seam, the sleeve edges and the hem) will be done today (I will take the shortcut on the hem and use the sewing machine) and then the dress is finished. Phew! That was a very quick and satisfying project, although I will make it up again someday in a patterned fabric and change some things (I already made the front part wider so as to have more to gather in the end), like longer sleeves (I easily catch a cold and like my elbows un-bared) and maybe even loger front parts and dress panels...).

I do consider this (since it is my first foray into the 18th century) as being inspired by "The Lady and the Duke" and lovelovelove it!

More 18th century:

I ordered the PP transitional stays pattern since view B is exactly what I was looking for and my bodiced petticoat (pattern by La Mode Bagatelle), though lovely to behold, is not really an option when it comes to the authentic feel of dress of the period (*lesigh*).

And I need even more stuff to complete the 1796-dress, like a kerchief (still looking for the right fabric), mittens (loooong mittens), a hat (a lovely straw top hat like one...well, the seaside hat by Lynn McMasters), at least one linen petticoat, a reticule and of course a "spencer" or maybe even a half robe in red wool which is already here and sooo soft and nice! Shoes will be ordered and since they are so expensive, they will have to make do for all my 18th century projects!

Stays: I did go out in the rain at last (mainly because I didn't have anything to eat anymore) and found buttonhole twist in a nice, slightly darker green (but it still matches).

Pictures: Sunday, because then my boyfriend will return with the camera!

Knitting:

Ahem, I did do some rows on the white stockings...to clock or not to clock is the question...

Weather...

2007-08-21T15:24:00.000+02:00

well, its raining like hell here. Has been raining for hours and hours. So I qui all plans of going into town and sewed instead. Am sewing, that is.

Finished the trial stays, tried them on, cut down the back some more, the side panel and then off to the final (hopefully) version, which is all assembled and waiting for lacing holes. These I cannot start on till I get to town and buy buttonhole twist in a nice green colour matching the binding (which hasn't been cut out yet).

Started a 1796 dress of dark blue popeline in between and finfished the bodice just now (it's the one from Past Patterns, wonderful but really a lot of fizzly work). Love it.
Have to go to town to get more buttonhole twist for two more cords.

See, it all depends on the weather...

Will start ripping the skirt panels in a moment.

Knitting:

Knee-highs are progressing nicely but...a lot of tedious stockinette...I used to love stockinette...but this is just a tad too much (and a second sock is waiting...*ack*)

The last days of holidays (well, meaning medicine-free August) are approaching faster than I wish!

And SP11:

Have contacted my very nice downstream pal and got contacted by my upstream pal! *yahoo*

Okeeeeyyyhooo...

2007-08-16T20:32:00.000+02:00

Got my SP 11 match *yay*

Worked on the stays and officially declare the current state a boned trial version.
Changes to de made: Cut down back (still too high) and take out a bone on the side piece (stays are still too wide). The boning pattern might need a little twitching too, mhm...

Knitting:

None, fell asleep in front of the tv and am now waiting for food to arrive. Yeah, fast food. *hooray*

Yaaaawn!

2007-08-15T22:37:00.000+02:00

I am at work right now.

Quite a boring day became quite a boring night and is still going on.
I forgot to take my knitting and so am forced to just sit and wait for something to happen...this feels so very unproductive...*lesigh*

Good news: My order of steel arrived (and an order of some pairs of shoes of which I promised to keep two at the maximum...*ggg*) So tomorrow I will get to work on the stays! *yay* And I have two days off so there will be plenty of time for lacing holes and binding!

Bad news: No news yet of the darn parcel! And no match for SP 11, as of now...

Ack!

2007-08-15T12:44:00.000+02:00

Came home from work on Saturday, cut out the interlining of the stays, sewed all the channels, started inerting bones...only to realize that I fell short of steel by 75 cm!!!

ACK!!!

So I had to order new steel (and some otehr stuff to soothe my angry mind ;o)) and am now waiting for the order to arrive. In the meantime I toiled a new 1880s corset. My, am I short in the torso, I guess I will have to shorten it at least for 6 cm...hopefully it will be nice!

Yahoo...

Today...

2007-08-08T16:24:00.000+02:00

I came home from work, ate leftover spaghetti and then toiled the 1780s stays. They fit quite well. The only things I will change are the back (way too high) and the straps (way too wide).

Knitting:

Overnknee-highs coming along nicely :o)

Secret Pal 11

2007-08-06T10:06:00.000+02:00

I was accepted to get a go at Secret Pal 11...*yay*

And I have posted the questionnaire on my SP 11 subpage :o)

The exam...

2007-07-31T21:52:00.001+02:00

went well, results are going to be out on Friday.

Tomorrow I have an important appointment and afterwards will go by the postoffice...I hope they will help me more with that (%§§" parcel which has been missing for a month now...

And then there is a lot of flatcleaning to be done and then I have allowed myself a week off learning anything remotely related to medicine!

Phew!

And to show...

2007-07-30T00:48:00.001+02:00

the first item of my future 1780s wardrobe...two nice pics of me looking a bit stupid ;o)

Now I am waiting for stuffs to arrive to get going on my fully-boned (or maybe only half-boned) version of a bodice...and, of course, a few days off...

This week was really annoying...

2007-07-29T22:32:00.000+02:00

REALLY annoying.

No parcel. Not at my place, not at my downstream pal's.

This means a disapponted downstream pal. Me being moved to a blacklist of people who don't fulfill their obligation of sending parcels. Me being extremely annoyed.

Then, I have an upcoming exam. I will pass that exam, that is sure for I have been sucking up information. I will pass, but the exam is on Tuesday. This means two more days of waiting. Me being annoyed at all the time being wasted.

I have a cold. I have a bad cold. So bad, I had to sleep for three days and it still is not over. This means sneezing and coughing and annoying everybody around me...especially myself. Being ill is stupid.

Knitting:

In between all that, I have started on the 52 Pair Plunge again, which I had to abandon previously. Three pairs on the go, one for a friend of mine, the green kneestockings and a pair of historically more or less correct over the knee highs for an upcoming 1780s costume *yay*

Nice, eh?

So, to add it all up, three annoying things versus three very nice things...mhm...should make for a less annoying week, but I guess the stupid things weigh a little heavier...*lesigh*

Parcel still missing...

2007-07-16T08:52:00.000+02:00

No news...parcel still missing...I hope they at least return it to me so I can send it off once more...asides from the fact that I spent quite a sum to fill it with nice things, I feel very bad about my SP...the postmen went on strike again on Friday and I just can do nothing about that...this has never happened to me before (except once during Christmas when bazillions of parcels were sent around and one of mine went missing)...
Keep your fingers crossed that the stupid thing resurfaces and reaches its destination!!!

I am worried...

2007-07-05T22:05:00.000+02:00

I am really worried stiff.

I sent of the reveal parcel during the week when the Scottish postmen were going on strike and since then it has not turned up!

This is horrible!

I put down my address on it too in case something goes wrong and they send it back to me but it hasn't been returned and my SP hasn't gotten it yet...it has almost been one week and I filled it with so many things and I just hope it will arrive safely...Please Turn Up and Make My Secret Pal happy...Please...

Wehell, here we gooooo!

2007-07-02T11:06:00.000+02:00

These past weeks have been really busy...and I didn't have the time and quiet to post, but there is something I do have to tell:

I passed my exams!!! Whohoooo!

And to top it all, my secret pal sent me the greatest parcel ever!

Since I don't have my camera at hand, I will describe the contents:

Two balls of a lovely green/blue Jojoland Melody...sooo soft and beautiful!

A Book by Louise Roberts "1000 Great Knitting Motifs"...just chock full of awe inspiring motifs which I will certainly work on in th future!

A sweet little book by Wendy Cope..."Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis"...I just love discovering the works of formerly to me unknown authors!

And another book by Jan Messent "Have you any wool?"...about making funky little things with wool...

And, you won't believe it...a pattern for making sheep...how great is that???

And then a couple of what we call in German "Pfeifenputzer"...pipe cleaners? Ideal for stiffening the little creatures!

And last but not least, a lovely card and a lovely letter...

Dear Secret Pal, I am so very much intrigued and charmed by all the care you put into your parcels...Thank You Ever So Much for making me happy!

And if anybody of you would like to share my enthusiasm for that wonderful person, go and visit her blog: http://zephknits.wordpress.com/

And as a short recap: I loved and enjoyed Secret Pal 10...and apologize for my being absent a while...I just hope my downstream pal got the parcel (she's off to some event concerning lots of wool ;o) and will come back blogging on Tusesday...)!

Good and Bad...

2007-06-05T22:57:00.000+02:00

Good: I passed psychology. Wasn't difficult. Was easy. More than easy. We had two old tests to practice marking and the one we took was compiled out of the two old ones. What a waste of time. Didn't even bother to read all the questions, just marked the answers and was finished in twenty minutes. Medical studies are weird.

Bad: Failed biochemistry. Yeap, failed. After hours, days and weeks of cramming. Marking. More cramming. No going out to bars and enjoying my young age. Simple as that, thirty minutes took away two more weeks of my life as a human knitting being.

The result of that being a test that I have to take in less that two weeks.

Everything is on hold here.

Sometimes trying to become a doctor is a disturbing process of losing track with everything one likes and loves.

Wehell, that is all for now.

Knit, knit...

2007-05-27T15:23:00.000+02:00

the needles go...

Busy, busy week, since I had a big test on Friday and another upcoming one next Friday...so no news except me being really industrious and in between learning am knitting on my deep-v neck pullover like crazy. Don't you sometimes wonder how productive one is when there really is no time for anything but the set chores like studying?

Strange world...

And pics: Will post after the next test since it is mighty important for me to pass and biochemistry is not really something I can do just like that. I do hereby solemnly promise that I will post a lot of pictures. Lots.

Green socks: Coming along nicely.

Bags: Felted but not assembled yet.

Deep-v: Back is finished, front cast on and on its way.

Clessidra: Will buy new Regia silk yarn in a colour I really like.

Studies: Ahem...am eagerly awaiting summer break...

Rest of life: What life?? (Just joking, everything is splendid)

SP 10: Haven't yet sent off my second parcel downstream, will do so this upcoming week, hope she likes the surprises!

See, everything as usual...

Good news and...

2007-05-18T10:25:00.000+02:00

not so good news...

Good news first:

Got my second parcel from my great secret pal! Will post picture as soon as the digicam decides to turn up again but let me tell you: I was COMPLETELY spoiled!!!
Wohoooow!

More good news:

Nonibag is currently drying on the block...mhm, felting IS kind of experimental, maybe I will have to felt a few spots by hand to get a more even look.

And still more good news:

I am knitting.

The not so good news:

Some things are seemingly just not meant to be -> Clessidra and I are having serious issues. I guess it has a lot to do with the yarn being white...well, this item is on hold and since I believe in closing a post with good spirits:

I am knitting green socks. (Get it? Green like spring like colour like not white!)
The yarn is yummy, the pattern mine *hehehe* and the colours just...a lot of greeny-beany-springtime!

Busy weekend...

2007-05-14T13:37:00.000+02:00

Didn't do much this weekend, had to work on Friday and Sunday and then there was my boyfriend's birthday on Thursday and a big party on that day and Saturday...so no real news to report here.

But something great arrived by mail today (a package) and I cannot show you the content or even go into details, since part of it will go to my secret pal...will send the parcel off soon...*happydance*

Still turning...

2007-05-08T21:54:00.000+02:00

Wehell.
My Booga bag is looking great. Felting has enhanced the brilliant colours. But it is not yet felted down tight enough (at least not according to my taste) so into the washing machine it will go again. Will be the third cycle. The i-cord turned out well.

My Nonibag is going along quickly and I am still in love with the yarn *mental note: will nit something nice from it soon* and the patterns *mental note: will knit more bags from Noni*

What a great day....:oD

The Bag...

2007-05-07T23:23:00.000+02:00

is in the washing machine and I am on the tip of my toes...I am really excited and hope this one turns out well, since this is my first felting project!

Today my package with the Cascade arrived and I cast on my first Nonibag. I love the yarn! And the patterns!

Lovelovelove the stuff!

I cord the i-cord...

2007-05-06T23:04:00.000+02:00

In between knitting Clessidra, the deep-v pullover and the cardie, I needed a quick project. So I went to my LYS, picked up 3 skeins of Noro Kureyon and set down to knitting a booga bag.

I have finished the bag and now am working on the i-cord. My guess is, it is called i(diot)-cord, since it turns you into a mess after doing a bazillion rows of 5 stitches...I do not like it.
And it takes forever to knit 6 feet of it...

The Noro Kureyon was also a bit of a hassle to work with.

I love the texture and the colours, which are so lovely and brilliant. The downside: Bits and pieces of woody thingies which kept turning up and which pricked my fingers. Quite unnerving. But anyway, I thing the yarn is worth it. If I ever work with it, I will tape my left index finger so as to save me the pain of picking splinters out of it.

As soon as I have finished doing the i-cord, the bag will go into the washing machine and I will felt my first piece of knitting. This does give me a slight twich over the eye, since I have simply no clue if it will turn out the way I want it to...

Ah, and asides from that, I treated myself to some Nonibag patterns and some skeins of Cascade 200. Should arrive tomorrow, since I got notice that it was mailed last week. *hooray*

Ahem...

2007-05-04T16:34:00.001+02:00

forgot to mention I forgot to putl the first row so there is still room for improvement on the next project...

One is...

2007-05-02T19:29:00.000+02:00

never to old to learn new things...

I happened to have a close look at my new project and lo! behold...I twist my knit stitches on that particular piece of knitting! Oh. My. Gosh.

So I grabbed all the projects I have on my needles and no, there everything is as it should be. Fortunately the ripping didn't take long (I am proficient at that) and now am taking special care. I want that pullover to be perfect.
I love the pattern, love the yarn and the colour I chose (cherrie red) and thus I want that thing to be perfect. Fullstop.

Ach...

2007-05-01T22:58:00.000+02:00

what a week! I had to work so many shifts (no internet!) and NO free May 1st for me! Poor me, but poor me wants to eat and wants to knit!

So I have found a way of dealing with all my UFOS...I do them all, bit by bit, all at the same time. Progress is slow but steady and I never have the feeling of either getting sick of one so much as to force it into the will-never-finish-bag or neglecting one piece I love a lot for the sake of project-knitting. Great, eh?

Stash enhancement: Successful. Lots of it. More to come, but will not tell...due to spoilee spoiling the fun by poking around blogs on the SP participants list and could accidentally be stumbling over this wee spot on the internet...*hehehe*

Clessidra: Progress is being accomplished.

Plunge in general: Have Clessidra and another pair on the needles...(see above part mentioning my new plan of getting rid of UFOs).

Socks: Got complimented at work for my hand-knitted socks. Felt like knitting queen. Still fell like it a little. Maybe a lot.

Ah...

2007-04-26T14:04:00.000+02:00

fickle me...

Just see what I got from my boyfriend:

Classic Knits

Isn't that mean? I mean, lovely?

Now I have 15 more Must-Do-Projects to add to the 1.987.456 which already keep me from sleeping at night...and of course I spent the first hour after ripping through the book searching for ALL the lovely yarns...and it's almost all Rowan which is really mean, since I LOVE Rowan...*lesigh*

This is a sign for enhancing stash!!

Oh my...

2007-04-26T08:44:00.000+02:00

Making lists and plans are a great way for keeping organized. Especially, if you have a bit of a problem keeping yourself organized.
But now just look at this...
Or this...

And I desperately WANT a red pullover...just like the one second to left...

*craving*
*mmmhph*

Lest I forget...

2007-04-24T23:56:00.000+02:00

My boyfriend walked in this morning, completely groggy and with sore red eyes (comes from working a 24 h shift with actual having had to get up at 01:00 am, 04:00 am and 07:30...bad timing) and saw me sitting upright and knitting with burning eyes so as to outspeed the sometimes ill-wishing knitting harpys...and the first thing after dropping his bag in front of me asked me with a slightly pained voice about the number of UFOs I was planning on leaving trailing my path.

So I have decided to make a list (*yay*, hark ye all, a LIST!) to make me remember all the things which I actually plan on finishing. So after rummaging about my drawers, closets and other secret hidey-holes, here's my gloriously shortened list of want-to-finish-these-during-my-lifetime:

1. Hoodie (still need to undo the bind-off of the sleeves, employ genius-freaky sewn bind off and get the pieces put together)

2. Cardie (find that stupied 4.0 mm needle and complete the sleeves using great wondrous sewn bind off, block sleeves, knit lace and get the pieces put together)

3. Clessidra socks (well, maybe they are first and maybe not...I will leave the misbehaving things stewing a while longer with uncertainty! *harharhar*)

4. Secret Project (so as to thwart any wild plans of the knitting hyenas)

5. Another Secret Project (so as not to let Secret Project One feel too secure)

6. New mustard-yellow Project in "Patent-Muster" (after having swatched and reswatched and finally simply dumped it in the bag for some time, I finally found out my mistake *it's all in yer 'ead* and managed to produce a nice sleeve, yeah, this one is started at the right sleeve -> this will hopefully keep the knitting hounds at bay and distracted)

Nice, eh?

Me thinks so!

Ha, eat my pants!!!

2007-04-23T16:55:00.000+02:00

I have cast aside the cursèd Clessidra (at least for now...will show it to be uppity like that!) and started a new project (cannot abide the idea of cardie, hoodie or socks at the moment) and will show you all when it is finished. Unil then I won't say a word lest the knitting goddesses might find it amusing to disturb my knitting peace again...

A curse...

2007-04-23T08:51:00.000+02:00

is on...well, at least I have the feeling there is one on my Clessidra!

What happened last week:

I was working dilligently away at my sock, being quite proud of myself. And then, whammo!, the curse struck. Something went wrong, I don't even know what, but I tried to repair the mistake which was SO visible! It didn't work and I frogged the sock! Frogged it! I didn't think it was a curse until yesterday, when I almost started crying, since I found a hole! I had mysteriously dropped a stitch and wasn't able to save it, so down, down, down it went all the way down to the cuff...and I ripped the whole thing apart AGAIN!

*lesigh*

So Clessidra the third is on the needles now...I think maybe, just maybe, the knitting goddesses are not with me and my beloved project...but I will still try and get those %$%&/$) socks finished...someday and sometime!

And now I will go and bang my head on the wall for some time longer...feels quite good, that...*grumble*

Clessidra update

2007-04-18T16:32:00.000+02:00

And tomorrow I will rush by the LYS and try and get a hold of 2 more skeins of Regia Silk since I hadn't anticipated how much yarn that pattern eats...usually, I get a pair of socks out of one 50g skein. That made me think I could get a pair of Clessidra out of 2 skeins...not true. I just hope they still have the color and the lot...

More progress...

2007-04-17T23:38:00.000+02:00

Clessidra hourglass cable pattern repeat one finished (7986 more to come)...my fingers hurt (comes from trying out a new technique -> carbles without cable needle, I will probaby become world champion, there are SO many of them!) and I will give me a good rest.

I really love the pattern. It is just as gorgeous as it looks. I wanted red and since my LYS is discontinuing the lovely Regia Silk, they only had cremes and greys and blues left...and somehow deep inside me I felt the young schoolgirl jump up and down screeching "I want, I want", so I succumbed and so creme it is.

But I also fear that after having spent days and days knitting away at the most complicated pattern I have ever used, I will not dare wear them...just sit there, smiling crazily, fondling creme stockings...

Clessidra progress!

2007-04-17T20:07:00.000+02:00

Today I cast on Clessidra and this is the progress I have made so far:

It occured to me after a while that this sock pattern is indeed wonderful and the yarn (Regia Silk creme) also...but also VERY demanding and quite futzy...hope it will be worth the pain in the a... this as been up till now!!!

They're perfect...

2007-04-17T00:54:00.000+02:00

here they are (my blister did decide to go away over night):

Pair #2

And why am I so exited???

They match like twins from cuff to toe...! First time this ever happened!

*yay*

Books...

2007-04-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

I forgot to mention all the lovely new books in my possession in detail:

Nancy Bush:

Knitting on the Road
Knitting Vintage Socks
Folk Socks

Elaine Rowley (Editor):

Socks, Socks, Socks

And just this moment I received the YH newest book:

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee casts off

Blister

2007-04-15T21:50:00.000+02:00

Oh my, I had cast on the first sock of pair #2 for the plunge yesterday and today while working on the second sock I developed a blister!!! A big and huge and quite hurtful one. Never happened to me before, so it is a bit weird...the pair is 75% finished but there is just no way I can continue at the moment...*sigh*
I blame the warm weather and my sweaty hands which I tried to cool by holding them under running water...whatever...ah, and one of my small dpns broke...*mhmpf*

But for you to see, a pic of the so far finished socks:

Pattern: My own generic stockinette (2x2 rib, then plain knitting)
Yarn: Regia Ringel-Jacquard
Needles: 2.5 mm dpns
Progress: 75%

What else?

I have found the perfect pattern for the next plunge-socks: knitty's Clessidra!
Had wanted to start it already but didn't manage to go to LYS and get lovely Regia Silk yarn, will do that tomorrow (in case the blister decides to disappear during the night, we want to be always prepared!!!)

And because I love them so much...

2007-04-12T17:43:00.000+02:00

a pic with the socks on my feet!!!

They are almost a perfect match: The heels are different and so is the tip of the toe by only a few rows, but I guess only you, esteemèd knitter, will notice...*hehe*

(And I can't work out how to turn the pic...whatever *rollseyes*)

My lovely Secret Pal...

2007-04-12T17:39:00.000+02:00

sent me a lovely packet!!!

Pic on my SP site!

Thank you so much, I am completely in love with that gorgeous yarn!!!

Pair #1

2007-04-11T01:32:00.000+02:00

Finished!!!