The Sweatergirl Awards

I had a great week in Boulder, but am insanely happy to be home.

Worst place to get a good night's sleep: College dorms. No wonder I pulled so many all-nighters in college - who could sleep on those saggy, springy dorm mattresses anyway?

Drink of the week: Beer. Lots of beer. The two most prevelant beers: Fat Tire and Pass Time. I found the Sunshine Wheat to be a pretty wussy beer and not nearly as yummy as a good old Oberon. Beer loyalty still goes to Yuengling Lager, however.

Runner-up, Drink of the week: the Mojito. Yum. I hadn't had one before (I am so not hip, eh?). This is my new choice for post-gardening/post-lawn-mowing drink.

Best view from a college cafeteria:

Sentimentally, I still think Mt. Nittany is a happier mountain though.

Best/worst college rock graffiti:

Now that's serious school spirit. Ok - it's environmental defacement on a grand scale (what happened to leave no trace?), but - still a lot of school spirit.

Best Rockies shot of the week: A photographer I am not, but we went hiking at Indian Peaks. To the right, you can see Mt. Audubon, and just to the left of center, Mt. Tole. Foreground is Brainard Lake. Notice the glaciers! We had to hike over some snow still on the trail, even though we didn't climb much in altitude from where this picture was taken.

Best Yarn Store of the week: I thought I could live for a week without going to a yarn store, but I heard so much about it that I did break down and go to Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins. Great store! I was so enthralled with all the colors of Naturepun Sport that I couldn't stop myself. They also had all the Cascade 220 colors, but I resisted them.

I thought I would make some colorful Folk Socks...

Most scenic restaurant of the week: The Dushanbe Tea House. The roses were in bloom...and Boulder Creek was flushed with snow melt and recent rains.

Best Entomological Graffiti: "Bugs Suck (and bite)" (sorry, guys - MSU wins this one!)

Best Boulder sunset of the week:

Sweatergirl on the road

When I get back to my regularly scheduled life, I'll post a list of bootie-knitters. But, for now, I am enjoying geek summer camp at the beautiful University of Colorado at Boulder. Of course, it is cloudy here, which the natives insist never happens. Supposedly the mountans are beautiful, but we can't see them through the clouds. We are staying in the dorms (how long has it been since you saw a sign banning the use of glitter in the hallways?), and I am fighting the freshman fifteen with a lot of all-you-can-eat cafeteria food.

Travel knitting is always a challenge. The Snail's Pace Sweater is progressing - almost done the armhole shaping. I swatched for Paulina in Berroco Smart Cotton (Sandy's sponsoring this knitalong - thanks, Sandy!), but I get the same gauge on 7s, 6s, and 5s. It's that gauge in ribbing (slightly stretched) that's killing me. So I can't work on that until I get some advice. But, mostly, I am enjoying being surrounded by other geeks - although I was highly offended when someone on the shuttle bus from the airport pointed me out as a geek. Hmm.

Knew it would happen but...

I noticed a lot of, ahem, non-traditional knitblog readers here. Not that I care, but to save you some time, there's absolutely no porn on any of the links on the right. Not that knitters aren't cute and interesting people, but I don't think you are going to find what you're looking for! Just pictures of knitted projects. Yup. We are exactly that boring. Maybe try berocco yarns or karabella yarns or drops or rowan. By the way, if anyone does not want to be linked from here, please let me know.

Brainylady caught me...

There are lots of baby-bootie-makers out there - I forgot to link to Jennifer, who made a cute bunny slipper! Awww. Also from Zoe's book. And Jamie reminded me that there is a similar pattern in Debbie Bliss's The Baby Knits Book (also at overstock.com - and it also has a very nice alphabet baby blanket in lace). If you have pictures of baby booties on your page, let me know!

The Zoe Mellor book is basically four patterns, with variations on the theme. Not a criticism - I like the idea of taking a pattern and making it your own with different yarn, different stitch patterns, and different embellishments. Ann Budd's book is a good jumping-off point for other knitted items.

But Brainylady caught me. Alison says - one bootie does not a finished project make...probably true. Hmm. But, thanks to a little boy baby being born last week, I will finish the second one ASAP. And, by the way, moms and dads, do babies actually wear booties? It seems like the cuffed ones would work a bit better anyway, less kick-off-able - thoughts?

Sweatergirl finishes a project!

What project could I start and finish in the same night? Nah, this couldn't possibly work. Ohmigosh! It's a baby bootie.

This is from Zoe Mellor's 50 Baby Booties to Knit, which I bought at overstock.com. I like the spiral binding encased in hardcover. Very nice to knit with. I thought the directions were a little vague. But now that I have made one, they make more sense. Here's how it actually went together:

Sew some seams, and it's a bootie! Kinda cool.

Tonight, I will be waiting in line at the local Barnes and Noble to get my copy of Harry Potter 5. Should I wear the scarf? Umm, no.

Sweatergirl's recipe day

I just put up a recipes page - I've got more work to do, but I hope you enjoy.

Lookie what I picked yesterday! Strawberries are in, at least in southern Michigan. No recipe needed - just wash and eat. Yum.

Quick PB Cookies
I took these to the knit-in and they were well-appreciated!

1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat egg and sugar together until mixed. Add peanut butter. Form into balls and squash crosswise with fork. Bake for about 10 minutes (not sure of time since I was using stoneware, not regular baking sheet).

Barley and Corn Salad
I have been eating this for lunch all week - it's very filling (whole grains, baby!), and it's just fine if it gets warm. Would be good for picnics.

1 cup uncooked barley
3 T red wine vinegar
1 T olive oil
1/4 t salt
1/2 t dried basil
freshly ground pepper
2 cups frozen corn, thawed (or 2 cups fresh corn)
Diced crunchy veggies - bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, and/or celery

Cook and drain barley. Mix vinegar, oil, and spices to make a dressing. Toss veggies and barley with dressing. Refrigerate for a few hours before eating.

Oh yeah - this is supposed to be a knitting blog, right? Here's the Old Friend Aran, with a few more rows done. And have you seen David's Cable Grapher? If you have a cable pattern that is written out (i.e., k4, c4b, etc.), it generates a graph. This could be a great tool and he needs help in testing it. I'm going to dig up some of those Debbie Bliss and Gladys Thompson patterns and try it out this weekend.

Sweatergirl's sock secret revealed

Whoa - yesterday's was a little nuts. Somebody get me back into the office before I go off the deep end. Chalk it up to too many long days in the car.

But I am taking a road-trip to Toledo sometime to go to Tony Packo's. Anyone been?

Back to work - Remember this picture?

Well, close-up, they really look like this:

And the culprit? A little black dog who had some seroius dominance issues as a puppy. He's much better now (now that he's 5 1/2 years old...). I think they look just like a museum piece now. If you have Folk Socks, check out the example museum socks that Nancy Bush used. Where should I hang them?

I am inventorying (??) my projects for the gallery, and, wow - there's a bunch. I have always liked Cindy's blog and gallery, and I hope to be as well-organized. Here's one that I picked up last night, as it should be a quick-knit. This is a Cottage Creations Babies and Bears sweater. I'd like to move it to the finished category soon!

Here's the first half (mostly):

And here's the start of the second half:

Yes, that is bulletproof acrylic.

The Cottage Creations patterns are generally pretty ingenious, so if you haven't tried one, get thee to a yarn store and pick one up! I've made the Wallaby and the Scandanavian Cardigan (which explains steeking pretty well). And Sarah made the Rambling Rows blanket. There's a really cool Rambling Rows displayed in Matt's blog. All very cute.

Just a warning - I might not get to post much next week, since I'll be at a conference (in Boulder, CO - woo hoo!). But I will definitely have something to show when I return. Lots of airplane time.

Sweatergirl and the Field of Dreams

Out here in Michigan, New Jersey gets a bad rap as being a string of strip malls separated by subdivisions and landfills. But there are definitely farms in NJ, fewer and fewer each year. My Grandpa lived on one of them, what some would call a "hobby" farm, but it sure looked like a lot of work and a lot of time to take care of those few acres.

Every Sunday, my dad would drive us three kids over to Grandpa's house. Grandpa raised strawberries, concord grapes, sweet corn, cabbage, lettuce, carrots, rhubarb, kohlrabi, peas, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, and just about anything else that he could. He raised them from seeds planted in peat pots that covered nearly every inch in his living room. Summer Sundays, we kids would mind the farm stand from the front porch swing, or help Dad barbecue zsiros keny�r (more on this page), pick vegetables, or just entertain ourselves. I know I spent hours surrounded by the sugary humidity of the sheltering corn field, exploring the woods and stream on rope swings and fallen-log bridges, and squashing potato beetles at a penny a piece.

Today, as I tromped through the umpteenth potato field taking measurements for work, I dared to take off my shoes to feel the hot loamy sand. I missed my Grandpa, I missed the farm, and I missed my childhood as I was instantly transported back in time. It may be true that you can't go home again, but sometimes. if you close your eyes, you can come real close...

Whoa - it worked?

Did you find me? I think I found me (i.e., I think I figured out all the settings to make this mostly work). So, I've got more work to do - I'm installing a gallery. I'll invite all y'all to then opening. Of course, there will be wine and cheese at the gallery opening - but also beer and hotdogs. And hot dogs.

Indy panting and Bear hiding under the deck.

I worked on this page this weekend and a lot of gardening, so not much knitting. But I did take the back garden from this:

to this:

Not sure if it looks like much to you, but I split a bunch of hostas, weeded, planted, built a rock border, and mulched. Whew. And then I did it all again on the other side of the house. And only cut the Invisible Fence twice - whoops. Luckily the pups did not notice. Very well trained, they are. At least to the fence.

Oh - I did finally restart the Snail's Pace sweater at the right gauge and am about 5 inches into it. It seems to be going quickly, but I am sure that is an illusion. It will really crawl when I get to the sleeves.

A busy sweatergirl

Hi, all - thanks for all your supportive comments! I've decided this blogging thing is kind of fun, and I love being part of this community. In an effort to get serious about this and hopefully provide a better/more interesting/more useful site - I'm moving. To mindlessknitting.com. So come find me at my new home, and please update your bookmarks/links. Maybe Daphne will send some of those hot moving guys over to help with my move?

Sweatergirl shares a horror story

I saved this just for Friday the 13th, because it's so scary - oooooh. A knitter's horror flick. I'm working along on the Old Friend Aran, and I find a mistake in the center cable about, oh, 12 rows down. Leave it? Well, it's on the front, and it also extended the length of the cable by 2 rows, so it looks a little goofy. But 12 rows is a lot to have to reknit, you say. Not if you just reknit one panel. I've done this a bunch of times, and I thought I would share, since it might be a bit scary if you've never done it before. I feel like this must be explained somewhere, and lots of people know how to do it, but I thought I would still take a stab (hah!) at it.

Gather materials - 2 double-pointed needles (DPN) in the same size that the rest of the piece is in, the chart, and a cable needle.

Knit across the piece (in pattern) to the panel with the error. Slip all the stitches in the panel off of the left needle into thin air. The rest of the instuctions assume you are just working on this one panel. Kee the rest of the knitting at a safe distance! Ravel down (this panel only) to a row before the error, and put the stitches on a DPN, being careful not to twist. All the yarn used for those rows will still be connected to the rest of the project at the sides, so there will be big loopy things. Here's my project at this stage:

Ok - the scary part is over now. You can open your eyes! Now - to knit back up. This time, I followed the chart, having learned that I didn't learn the cable as well as I thought. Find the loop of yarn that is attached to the lowest row (it is cucial that you are always knitting with the yarn from the lowest row available.) Take your second DPN and this loop of yarn, and knit across in pattern. The last stitch may be a little tight, but the rest should go relatively smoothly.

You can either always work on the right side, or you can turn the work. In this case, since the cables are on every right side row, I took no chances and turned the work. If I'm doing this in stockinette or something simple, I usually just work on the right side. So here I am with the work turned, selecting the lowest loop.

Here's my lovely assistant while I am trying to take picures one handed:

Lather, rinse, and repeat - keep going, knitting back up in pattern until all the loops are used up! Yay! Now you can work across the stitches on the DPN with the main working needle and the main yarn, and no one will ever know (unless, say, you post it to the internet...hmm)

Sit back and put your feet up. Job well done.

Happy Friday the 13th, and may all your knitting nightmares be as easly resolved as this one was.

Rain, rain, go away...

A curious fellow died one day and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment. As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into Heaven. Others though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit. But every so often, instead of hurling a poor soul into the fire, Satan would toss a soul off to one side into a small pile. After watching Satan do this several times, the fellow's curiosity got the best of him. So he strolled over and asked Satan what he was doing. "Excuse me, Prince of Darkness," he said. "I'm waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn't help wondering, why are you tossing those people aside instead of flinging them into the Fires of Hell with the others?" "Ah, those . . ." Satan said with a groan. "They're all from Michigan. They're still too cold and wet to burn."

And back to business

Ginny asked about my sock toe. I am using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' (heretofore PGR) instructions for a short-row heel and toe. The heel and toe are constructed in exactly the same manner. It seems weird, but just trust her. The first place I read about these socks was in Interweave Knits (IK) Fall 2000; the pattern was called Priscilla's Dream Socks. I know this issue is out of print, but I love it (It's also got the Welcome Back, Old Friend aran that I have been working on). The techniques are also explained in PGR's book Simple Socks, Plain and Fancy and in several IK sock patterns since - Spring 2003 and Spring 2002 (maybe others?). That brings up the question of whether I like them. Well, yes - for several reasons, none of which is fit. I don't think they hug the heel particularly, as a gussetted heel does. But - they are very easy, once you have done it once. I never need instructions (but I guess I could get to that point with other heels). If you like contrasting heels, though, I think this is the way to go, unless you do an afterthought or peasant heel. I never was too fond of the contrasting heel flap thing. So, if I am working in a self-patterning yarn, or for Christmas stockings, I use PGR's heels.

The first socks I ever made (the first knitted thing that I made that turned out well - excepting a scarf) were the Mamluke Socks from Folk Socks. They also have a short-row heel, but it is very different, and doesn't fit me terribly well, but looks really cool. Folk Socks is the first knitting book I ever bought, and it may still be one of my favorites.

Sweatergirl's swatching success and scintillating socks

I got the 3.25 mm needles, and I got gauge! To just push the blame to something outside myself (I'm only human), there are many "size 3" needles. Which I didn't realize, because I usually work in the US 8 (5.0 mm) range, where things are more standard. Here's my circular solution's rendition:

My Boye needle gauge has US 1 = 2.25 mm, US 2 = 2.75 mm, US 3 = 3 1/8 mm (weird!)

The Addi needle package has US 1 = 2.5 mm, US 2 = 3.0 mm, US 3 = 3.25 mm

What's a girl to do? By the way, tha pattern did actually call for US 3/3.25 mm needles. Which is what I ended up using. I just used a lot of other "US 3"s first. So, children, today we have learned to read the instructions. Now can I roll out my mat and take a nap on the floor?

I am nearly done the second sock of a pair. Whoopee! I know many people love making socks, but I dunno. I love wearing them though, so I usually have a pair on the needles. I'm just not too aggressive about knitting them usually. I am using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts's heel-toe package, so I thought I would show you what it looks like in progress. I started the toe across the bottom, and gradually worked fewer and fewer stitches until getting to the point of the toe, then I gradually work more and more stitches. She uses a yarn-over technique to prevent holes. It works, but it's a little fidgety. Here's what it looks like in progress - extra needles for illustration purposes (grey stitches on sides are waiting to be worked):

Here is the finished toe (I cheated - this is from the first sock):

My package from overstock.com came. Just the sachets though. I like the way they smell, but my hubby doesn't. So - if you don't like Aveda products/strong herbal smells, these may not be for you. Unfortunately, my books must be coming separately. I neglected to mention Chris's adorable booty baby-booties project. Sooooo cute! She also did some ducky ones - awwww!

Sweatergirl's SOAR-ing!

Oh yeah, baby! I'm going to SOAR (the SpinOff Autumn Retreat) this fall! This is an exciting development; I have wanted to go for, like, forever, but now that I can knock off the cost of a flight since it is only a 3-hour (?) drive away, the cost is more reasonable for me. Anyone going/wanna bunk together? Oh boy.

I am just going for the workshop and am taking "Spinning 201" with Rudy Amann. Here's the description: "This workshop is for spinners who have recently learned how to spin and are now ready to try new challenges to increase their skills. It is also, a workshop for spinners with several years of experience who want some new ideas to revitalize their spinning. Different techniques of spinning and drafting will be practiced, plus experimenting with fine, medium, and long wools, and different fiber preparations. Spinning singles for use as singles and different ways of plying will also be practiced." I have been spinning for six years or so, but still spin pretty consistently the same way. This should really halp me expand my choices. Coolness.

So that's the most exciting thing about this weekend. I spent most of the weekend trying to find the bed in the combo guest/yarn room. Of course, I happened upon a few projects along the way, and I am nearly done a second sock - should be able to do the toe tonight and wear them soon. Yippee!

I also swatched (for real) for the Snail Sweater - on 3.0 mm needles, 32 st/4 in, and on 3.5 mm needles, 26 st/4 in. I am aiming for 28 st/4 in. I don't have any 3.25 mm needles, but I hope to purchase today. Ugh. I thought I had every needle known to knitter-kind.

Also went shopping for a car and a mattress. The mattress-shopping experience was BY FAR the worst shopping experience ever. Worse than buying a house. At one place, the salesman said, "Most mattress covers are made of polyester, but this one is made of crushed velvet." So I say, "Well, what's the fiber? Rayon, cotton, polyester microfiber, silk (could have been for the price!)?" He looked at me like I was a moron and repeated, "Velvet. Crushed velvet." I wonder how many people he sells on that one. Not many knitters/spinners/sewers. Dork.

If you are still reading, you deserve a treat! Summer Knitty is out, and Bonne Marie (of ChicKnits) has a very good article on short rows for us sweatergirls out there...

Sweatergirl - officially a KnitDweeb

Ok, the great curmudgeonly one has not personally visited me (why would she waste her time?), but I have committed (AGAIN) one of those beginner mistakes - cast on for a sweater after swatching, but before my swatch was washed. If you don't already know how you are supposed to swatch, read the Curmudgeon's article in Knitty. It's all those things that I already know, but think I can get away with not doing...Warning to my fellow recalcitrant swatchers/KnitDweebs: GGH Merino Soft (and probably many of those bijillion-ply yarns) stretches/drapes when washed. So it's back to the drawing- swatching-board for me and the Snail Sweater. Oh well. It is lovely to knit with, so reknitting is no great tragedy - just a bump in the road to Finished-Sweater Land.

Nannette asked how these sachet-things smell - I'll let you know when they arrive. But I have been using lavendar-rosemary-aloe shampoo for a few weeks now, so I probably already smell like a hippie and might not be the best judge.

And in other news, Daphne is going to learn to spin. Who believed her the other day when she said she could wait until next year or some such? Not I, my friends. Daphne is nothing if not energetic and energizing when it comes to fibery things. Best of luck with your new hobby - come get that wheel whenever you want to begin borrowing it!

Sweatergirl's buying spree

Not all that wild, but I just decided that I needed these cute little anti-moth sachets from overstock.com. Apparently, "these tiny silk pillows contain Himalayan herbs naturally repellent to moths: camphor, timor, eucalyptus and mint." Sounds good, and who doesn't need a little more moth protection? Just wanted to give youse guys a heads-up.

Oh, and I ordered the 50 Baby Booties book. Kerrie's been doing a bunch and they are all soooooooo cute! (You will just have to imagine the squeaky, girly voice that goes with the word "soooooooo").

Sweatergirl discovers the cure for TPBS

As I mentioned yesterday, I was suffering from stalled projects - terminal project boredom syndrome(TPBS). Well, I have cured it...I started a new project last night. Oh, the temptation! I had been thinking of this project since Christmas, having received the book Celtic Knits as a gift. There is an elegant ballerina-style wrap sweater with a tiny shawl collar that had been calling my name. Not very Celtic. It actually looks a lot like some baby sweaters I have seen. Gauge - 28 st/4 inches - finer than anything I've ever knit (excepting socks). I bought yarn for this sweater on KnitSwap back in February - GGH Merino Soft, a fingering-weight superwash merino, in a bright plum/dull magenta. (This color is discontinued, but Red Bird Knits is a good vendor who has this yarn.) I have about an inch and a half of the back done. Boy, is it lovely! But not much to show. The Snail's Pace Sweater is born.

Blog angst: I had a hard time starting the sweater. I thought it wouldn't be a good blog sweater - too slow, all stockinette, etc. I was surprised that I might consider changing my knitting just because of my blog. But - then I remembered - I did pull out both the Dale and the Old Friend because of the blog, so there are pros and cons to this whole knitting-journal thing.

Bliss rant/knitting history: I love Debbie Bliss's designs, but why no schematics? And, although this sweater is not cabled, why no charts for cables? (These factors have been pushing me toward Kim Hargreaves's patterns.) I was bemoaning this at the Knit-In, but some of the more experienced knitters, in the "uphill-both-ways" style, said that charts were a relatively new innovation. All patterns used to be written out, and you followed the directions to see what you got. Sometimes patterns had no pictures, and finished size wasn't always listed. I guess I am a bit spoiled, having started knitting in the mid-90s. I am very appreciative of charts and schematics now! Thank you to all the designers who work in both words and charts!

Blogger stuff: Is the page loading faster? I seem to have fewer reloads on blogspot pages lately...

Sweatergirl stalled

So, another big weekend task was helping some friends get their house ready to sell. One of the great disappointments of living/working in a university community is that your friends eventually move on. Which is great for them, of course! Oh well. The big project was resurfacing the flat roof/balcony. S has become quite the roofer - we did ours last year (I overcame my fear of heights), and then he helped a work buddy with his, and now this one. I was mostly along to carry tools and supplies and to prettify the garden. We weeded, planted a ton of annuals, and mulched - the garden looks great now. Now to find time to do my own...which is quite overgrown with grass and this mint stuff that is growing everywhere in the yard.

Listening to an interesting interview with the author of Ultimate Fitness. It seems to debunk some of the common wisdom on exercise - just when I was feeling so proud of myself for mowing the lawn and for walking to my Weight Watchers meeting. Apparently you really have to exert yourself (ok, I knew that, but it's easy to forget!). Guess I have to find that sportsbra and get running again.

I haven't knit a stitch since Thursday. Where are my priorities??? Actually, I am avoiding the Dale, since I have gotten to the point where I need to measure and start a new pattern. The Old Friend is just as it was last week - but looking at it, the front is 60% done! But I have serious start-itis. Weirdly enough, I want to start a fingering-weight wrap sweater from Debbie Bliss's Celtic Knits. Hold me back! I gotta finish something! And how fast could I possibly finish a fingering weight sweater?

Sweatergirl and a spinny weekend

No knitting this weekend - but I did start spinning for the Echo Lake knitalong with Debbi. I am spinning romney roving - one ply oatmeal/light brown, and one ply medium brown. Which I will then overdye in a medium blue. Does anyone know where to get decent-looking separating zippers? The ones at our local JoAnns are all really dorky. I really like the one in the picture in Interwave Knits.