Bioshock

So, in keeping with the Ferengi theme, I am convinced the voice that yells about the 'Circus of Values' on Bioshock is Wallace Shawn. CONVINCED. IMDB says otherwise. I think it's a conspiracy.

Mumra

Thought I'd just write quickly about the shawl I knitted for my mum for her birthday in April. It's Ishbel from Ysolda Teague and it's awesome. She's a great designer. I knitted the larger size and it took me about 2 weeks - I knit fast when working to a deadline, it would seem! I used a tweedy Rowan number, not the softest or drapiest choice with 100% wool but the colour reminded me of Monet so it was perfect for my mum. Success!

Hiatus

I went away, I worked a new job, I started a Masters degree, I got sick, but no, I didn't stop knitting! My Owls made mega process and are an inch and a hair away from being done. Apologies for the pyjamas, I've been off work sick for a bit.

I currently have a bunch of other stuff on the needles - a cardigan, another sweater, a blanket and some weird toy concoction for my niece's birthday. It's all going on. Right now I'm hopped up on sudafed sleeping tablets and bioshock - did you know Armin Shimerman does the voice of Andrew Ryan? Awesome. Enjoy the picture and my bathroom. you shall see more soon

Early evening update!

I have been unsurprisingly rubbish at updating. But let me assure you, there's been a whole bundle of knitting going on. Here is the haps:

- The Emily is on hold since I ordered the wrong darn pattern book. The right one should be here shortly, though I think I am now more enticed by Calm (plus it looks like an easier knit).

- The socks are momentarily on hold, as I've decided double pointed needles are the devil's spawn and am waiting for an arrival of circulars (the rather awesome GetKnitted stock the even more awesome KnitPicks Harmony needles, only I guess in Europe they market them as KnitPro Symfonie Needles, probably because it sounds so much gayer and has a fancy-ass spelling.)

- My cardigan is complete, but I have decided that, given it's my first big project, it's crap and I will never wear it, so I am frogging it and transforming it into this, which is altogether more flattering, largely because it's not unisex. I cast on yesterday and am already past the waist ribbing. Go me!



- My next cast on: the amazing o w l s sweater. Above is the Rowan Cocoon I will be using for it, it arrived today. It's an awesome silver-grey colour:



Also, and finally, I treated myself to some Noro Kochoran, which I used for my Calorimetry and, deliciously, I have a bunch left:



(yeah, I don't know how to wind balls)

Oh the possibilities! More boring sweater updates coming soon. Right now have to finish my brother's top-secret birthday present.

Late night update

I finished the Calorimetry. I am tired

Sock sadness

I cast on for my sock (for the third time) yesterday. So far, as is going well, I worked about 10 rows in 2x2 rib and am now well into the stockinette section. The bamboo needles are great and switching from 4 needles to 5 was the best idea ever. If I could recommend one thing with regards to knitting your first pair of socks, it would be this: don't knit late at night. This knitting-in-the-round business requires a lot of concentration, but my brain tends to stop functioning around 11pm. So I woke up this morning and discovered 3 fairly big holes in my work and an extra seven stitches. Seven! I don't know what happened, I guess I experienced memory-loss knitting, but I could not be bothered to fix it (after all, these are only house socks) so I decreased back to the original number of stitches and carried on. I'll... fix the holes later. Nah, really though, they should be covered up when I make my first tuck. Damn socks. What kind of a fool knits socks anyway?! I can get socks at Primark for 50p! Sure, they may be acid-green and give me herpes of the foot, but at least it is instantaneous sock gratification. I'm miffed at socks so tonight I am knitting the final sleeve of what I shall call The World's Most Boring Cardigan. Wish me luck.

Boy oh boy

I met my first boy knitter yesterday! I was in the yarn section at John Lewis (I'm pretty sure they're getting sick of my face there) and I walked past a guy who works with The Yank. I gave my typical 'I-don't-really-know-you' smile and a 'I-can't-be-arsed-to-talk-to-you' 'Hi' and started heading to the needles, then did a double take. A boy! Buying wool! For himself! So I went and had a chat with him, helped him pick out some wool and tried my hardest not to find it weird that he was a boy knitter. I've never met one before and was starting to question whether they really existed.

To solve my sock issue, I ordered a set of 5 bamboo DPNs, so my project is on hold until they get here. That's probably a good thing, since I tend to rush things and mess them up. I ordered Folk Socks: The History and Techniques of Handknitted Footwear which has a variety of different heel and toe techniques which I'll probably sample, since I have not been having much luck with short rows.



I also ordered Heartfelt: The Dark House Collection (currently seems to be out of stock everywhere, but you can order from the author's website). I've heard good things about Kim Hargreaves and the patterns in this all look great. I particularly want to try my hand at Emily. However, we shall see, because it uses the slippery Kid Classic (we'll see how I go with the bamboo needles), I'm not sure I qualify as an 'average knitter', plus I should probably finish the cardigan my mum spent £25 on the yarn for. Erp!

Socks away

So I cast on today for my first proper pair of socks. Already, I am having many issues. I am knitting the Slouch Socks from Love to Knit Socks. I chose this pattern because it's straight stockinette with no ribbing, and the slouchy ruches hide a multitude of sins (in theory). I, very wisely, made a practice sock from a giant ball of spare yarn I inherited from my grandmother. I needed the practice of knitting in the round, and I wanted to try out knitting heels and toes at least once before I launched into the real thing with my shiny new wool. The practice sock came out... okay. It's kind of lumpy, kind of holey, but overall I'm pretty pleased that I managed to create something sock-shaped. However, I am having so much trouble now I've cast on for the real thing. I'm using Rowan Kid Classic and it's so slippery. I planned to work a few rows of 2x2 rib, a slight modification to the pattern, but I am struggling so far. I had to frog my first attempt yesterday. So here's my plan: try knitting while not watching The Prisoner. I don't think I can concentrate on two such complicated things at once. I'm abandoning it for this evening, but will pick it up again tomorrow. I'm thinking bamboo DPNs might help counteract the slipperiness of the yarn. Now if you'll excuse me, I have episode 3 to be getting on with.

Because I need another form of procrastination

This will mostly be a blog about stuff I make, largely knitting projects. It is partly to keep track of all the things I'm working on and any problems I am having. It may also be about random crap, we shall see. Mostly, I'm just hoping that if I write all these things down, I won't have to bother my boyfriend with them and watch him lose the will to live as I once again talk about swatching and frogging.