Holly Knitlightly

Spring Sprung

Hi!

I'm sooooooo glad that Spring is officially here.  This winter seemed unusually long.

I don't have much to report other than that I have a couple of projects to show you:

 

This is the Fat Bottom Bag (Ravelry Link) from Happy Hooker Crochet by Deb Stoller.  I'm not much of a crocheter and all of the dishcloths and granny squares that I've attempted have turned out a little wonky around the edges, but I think this bag turned out okay.  It only took a week.  So, if you're looking for something relatively simple to crochet, give this one a try.  The handles are bamboo and the yarn is Cascade 220 Heathers (Brown). 

This morning I was avoiding homework and engaged in some "pro-craft-ination".  This is leftover Noro Iro and the pattern is One Skein Wonder by Stefanie Japel.  It only took about three hours to do.  It will be great to throw over a tank or tee in warmer weather.  It's still blocking.  Hopefully, I'll get an official picture later.  

 

Here's a blast from my knitting past.  It's the French Market Bag from Knitty.com in 2003.  It was one of my first knitted items.  I used a bunch of Cascade 220 leftover scraps.  It doesn't get used much, though.

   

I've also been working on this: 

This is the February Lady Sweater (Ravelry Link).  I only have one sleeve left to do and I'm suffering from "second sleeve syndrome". Not.Good.  But, it will be completed very soon, I'm sure.

I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are enjoying whatever it is you're knitting, crocheting (or studying). 

Blog Revisited...

...and, Francis Revisited (Ravelry Link). 

I love this pattern.  I did make some mods in guage which was really easy.  I've worn this many times since finishing and get a lot of compliments whenever I wear it.  I used Cascade 220 Heathers in a brown with red speckles.  I would love to make it again in something more squooshy.  Yes, that's a technical term.

 

 

This is my favorite handknit sweater.  I highly recommend the pattern.  The only finishing I didn't complete was tacking down the back collar.  I was too eager to wear it.

On a whim, I made two other projects:

HATS!

 

Fake Isle Hat (Ravelry Link).  Published in Magknits November 2006.  This is a great pattern.  I've been wearing this on the cold winter weekends.  The colors make me smile!  I used Noro Kureyon and the leftover Cascade 220 Heathers from Francis Revisited (above).

 

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret (Ravelry Link).  Again, knitting from my stash with Cascade 220 Heathers.  Not sure what happened with the "slouchy".  I had gauge issues as usual.  If I were to make another, I would add a cable repeat in hopes of more slouch.

I haven't been blogging, because I've been knitting.  Here's something new on the needles.

   

This is the beginnings of the Fountain Pen Shawl from Interweave Knits Spring 2009.  I'm so addicted to lace these days that I had to cast on with some lace that I got from my Mom for my birthday.  I'm not sure what kind of lace it is because the tag fell off, but it's two-ply silk something-something.  Thanks Mom!  You rock like a gravel pit, I'm not kidding.  (and yes, that's a compliment).

And, I have to show off my darling nephew (J.D.) and my sister (Pookie).  They went to a wedding last weekend.  Here they are, all fancy. Awwwww. 

J.D.'s vest is tres cool, no?  I wonder where it's from and who made it?

Sorry dude.  I dream of handknits for you and then realize you'll soon grow out of them. Bad Auntie Hollyknitlightly.

Hi 2009!

2009 snuck up on me.  Seems like I was just enjoying a little bit of time off over the holidays and now January is more than half over. 

I've had some finished objects that I've been waiting to show you.  I hope to get "real" pictures later, but these will have to do for now:

 

This is the Fake Isle Hat (Ravelry link).  I used one skein of Noro Kureyon and some leftover Cascade 220.  It looks much better in person.  It is so cold outside, I think the bright colors help.

 

This one is called Wham Bam, Thank you Lamb (Ravelry link).  It is such a "quickie" and the way it is put together is very clever.  Genius, really.  Just knit in garter stitch like you're knitting a wide scarf until it's long enough to wrap around your neck and join together starting in the middle of each end so you have a corner that folds over.  Use bulky or super bulky yarn.

I hope your new year is going very well and your resolutions haven't been broken.

Stay warm!

ps. Dad, your socks are done. :-)

Buh-Bye, Thyroid

Non-knitting content:

Yesterday I had an RAI treatment for my thyroid.  This means that I am technically radioactive until 10:30am tomorrow.  This also means that I've been sequestered, and bored.

When I went to the hospital yesterday to have this done (I swallowed a radioactive iodine pill), I had a conversation with the Nuclear Medicine Technician (who I've come to know and like very well over the last year) about the precautions involved with being radioactive.  This is how the conversation went.  For the sake of brevity, We will be initialed as follows in the transcript of our conversation: 

Holly Knitlightly (HKL)

Nuclear Medicine Technician (NMT)

HKL: After I swallow this pill, I'm worried that I'll puke radioactive shit everywhere.

NMT: Don't puke radioactive shit everywhere.

HKL: Um, Okay.  Has anyone ever puked radioactive shit everywhere after this?

NMT:  One guy said he did, but I don't believe him because the next day there was quite a bit of radioactive material in his system according to his scan.

HKL:  Great.  So, what happens if I do puke radioactive shit everywhere?

NMT:  You'd have to bring it to me, and I'd wrap it in seventy plastic bags and put it in a lead box for ten months.

HKL:  So, if I puked, how do you suggest I transport the puke to you so you can put it in the lead box?

NMT:  Not my problem, just bring it to me.

HKL:  Seriously?

NMT: Yes.  Are you planning on crossing any borders or going to an airport in the next 48 hours?

HKL: No.  Why?

NMT:  You'd set off alarms at the airport.

HKL: Awesome.  So I could go sit in the airport and see what happens just for fun?

NMT:  I don't recommend it.

HKL:  That would be cool though, wouldn't it?

NMT: Not really.

(The NMT went on to tell me how I should avoid close contact with people and use extra precautions in my toileting activities)

HKL:  I have a dog that is like a teenage boy.  She tries to jump on me and stick her tongue in my mouth all the time.  How do I deal with that?

NMT:  There are no legal regulations regarding animals, but your dog has a thyroid, too and I don't recommend contact for 48 hours.  After 48 hours you can make out with your dog, have sex,.....pee on people.  Whatever.

HKL:  Back to business as usual, then.  Right?

NMT: Exactly!

I have lots of homework and knitting that I could be doing, but instead I'm sitting at my computer reading blogs and ravelry and waiting until I'm not radioactive anymore.  I've seriously thought about how much fun the airport could be right now.  I'd bring my knitting.

I am really hoping that this treatment works.  I've been trying the medication-only route for about a year now with little success.  I had the option to pursue the RAI treatment immediately, but didn't and I guess the reason is I preferred a more conservative approach, initially.  After time, it became clear that my thyroid was trying to kill me, so I've killed it instead. 

When I was initially diagnosed with Grave's disease, I said, "I hope there's a pill for that." 

As it turns out, there is.

It's been awhile.....

  I was hoping to do a post for Thanksgiving last week and, well......last week slipped right by. 

But, I will tell you what I am grateful for. 

Here is a list of my Gratitude:

Today I am grateful for:  my family, my friends, knitting, yoga, Obama, democracy that works, tribal bellydance, education, reading for pleasure, music that grips me, freedom, love, honesty, beauty in art, the warmth of the sun, bright stars at night, peaceful moments and good memories. 

Thank you.  I am grateful.

*sniff*

So....

I've been knitting a bit.  Last year at this time, I wasn't really knitting so much because I was engrossed in school.  This year is a little different.  Oh, I'm still in school, but I'm knitting a lot just to prove that I can to spite my work schedule and homework load.  Because I'm a friggin' rebel like that.  So there.

Here's proof:

 

This is the Shalom Cardigan.  Sorry for the lazy Ravelry link.  It took about sixteen hours to knit and I used Lopi yarn.  It's a keeper.  I even wore it to work and got some compliments.

I also knit this:

 

It is the Wavy Feathers Wimple.  The picture is so awful, but my house is quite dark and it was nighttime.  Sorry.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a real picture in the daylight and post it properly.  I must tell you that the pattern was addictive.  I used Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight.

This next pic is for my friend Shannon (the sadly-blogless Shannon, who thinks she's not cool enough to have a blog. Whatever).  Anyway, she's not cool enough to have a blog, but she is cool enough to be in Jamaica right now.  Historically, On certain Friday's, after work, Shannon and I get together and drinknit.  We used to just knit, then we started to have a drink and that didn't mix well with the knitting, so now we just drink, but call it drinknitting, as a cover, you know? Wink, wink.

Here's to you, Shannon:

 

(this is my sad-knitting-homework-surlyfuriousbeer-endtable).  It is dusty.  If you are in MN, you can probably get this beer and I highly recommend it.

Yes, I am knitting (and blogging) whilst slightly under the influence.

 

This is Francis Revisited.  The yarn is Cascade 220 heather, in some sort of brown with red and black speckles.  I call it goth-chocolate.  Only because I'm currently reading the Stephenie Meyer's teen vampire saga that is listed in my sidebar.  I never thought I would, but I am.  And I love it, so far.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

 

Motivation and Inspiration

I've had a terrible relationship with lace knitting.  It has eluded me for years.  I've admired the lace knitting of others and struggled to knit it myself.  I tried a lace-knit-along last year and ended up with a finished object that looked like thread in the garbage can.

One day, last month, I decided I wanted to knit the Swallowtail Shawl from IK.  After four froggings and sheer determination to be smarter than the lace, I ended up with this.

   

Here is some of the detail:

 

I had a couple of things going for me.  I read a lot of the Ravelry forums on this pattern because after four froggings, something wasn't right.  One person had mentioned that the repeats seem to "borrow" a stitch from the previous repeat.  With that information, I just memorized the pattern and went with it.  I also used a sport weight yarn.  (This is Nature Spun sportweight in cranberry fog).  In my opinion, sportweight is a friendly yarn to begin doing lace patterns with. 

The success with this pattern caused me to pick up Icarus again.  It currently looks like not much of anything:

   

Lace blocking is magical though, and with a little luck, Icarus will look like it should. 

So, now, I am a lace addict.  I find that the repeats can be meditative and relaxing, even a bit mind-numbing, if you prefer. 

Changing gears:

About two years ago, I purchased a spinning kit with a drop spindle and thought it was the most stupid thing a person could possibly attempt.  About a year ago, I thought I'd try a spin on my cousin's spinning wheel and ended up with a string of fluffy weirdness.  Partly due to a tension problem but mostly due to user error. 

Lately, I've had some bravery or cockiness or a sudden rush of sh*t to the head and tried spinning with the drop spindle again.

 

The first attempt is from two years ago and the second attempt is from this past week.  I was motivated and inspired by reading about others who tried spinning with a spindle and just one day "got it".  I'm not saying that I've got it by any means, but it does get easier and something definitely clicked. The spinning process is fascinating.  I understand why people really enjoy it.  I've even been wondering where I can find some roving locally. 

This is my swatch of the finished product.

 

What?  You no likey?  Hee.

This will be a reminder that it is about the process, and if I just keep trying, I might get better at it.

Homework Avoidance

I have a fairly large research project due this weekend and what am I doing about it?

Knitting.  This is the homework avoidance sock known as The Rivendell Sock.  Yep, just like the Elven village in Lord of the Rings.

   

Notice the textbook in the background as a blatant statement of Knitting-trumps-Research Project?

I'm using Noro Silk Garden Sock and although it is a lovely sock yarn, I think a smoother yarn would make the pattern more prominent. 

Here is Homework Avoidance project #2:

 

This is the beginning of the Swallowtail Shawl.  This is actually my third attempt at the beginning of the Swallowtail Shawl.  For some reason, in the second repeat on row three of the Budding Lace chart, I mess up.  Every time.  I'm wondering if there is errata for this pattern.  I'm using the pattern as published in Interweave Knits Fall 2006.  I've looked everywhere.  No errata.  I must be the errata.  I'm determined to knit this thing, so we'll see how many more times I need to frog this thing. 

Next, the addiction that is cutting into my yarn budget:

 

Trollbeads.  God help me.  I do not need another addiction or obsession especially in the area of jewelry.  These Trollbeads are just wonderful.  They come in a variety of shapes and colors and they are fabulous quality.  Sorry for the horrible picture of the bracelet.  The bottom bead is "Horses", the middle bead is "Silver Mountain" and the top bead is "Jungend".  Each bead has a story and you can learn more about them on the website.

I hope your weekend is more productive than mine.  Hopefully my homework avoidance will not demote me from Dean's List to Dean's-do-not-call-list.

An Award

I was honored with the Arte y Pico award from Senja of Imagine Knit.  Thank you, Senja!  Senja lives in my neighborhood and is a fellow Knitter, Blogger (and Finlander).  If you get a chance, check out her blog.

Here are the rules:

1.) Show the award. Link back to the blog that gave you the award.

2) Pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award because of creativity, design, interesting material, and contributions to the blogger community, no matter of language, and link to them.

3) Leave comments on the blogs to let them know you've given them an award.

4) Show the link to the Arte y Pico blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) Show these rules.

My five picks are:

Yarnit- Lara has many gorgeous finished knitted objects and is an inspiration to me.  She's also a hardworking mom and nursing student.  Plus, her very young daughter is just learning to knit!

Northwoods Baby-Miranda is a hoot to meet up with at the LYS.  A fabulous knitter, and another hardworking mom and nursing student full of sassitude.  Her blog is hilarious.  She also has great recipes!  

Fig and Plum- Jess's blog is one of the first knitting blogs I ever started reading.  Her knitting projects are enviable at the very least.  She's also a foodie and has wonderful recipes and magazine worthy food pictures.  She is full of  the Newyorkness that I find so chic. 

The Heathen Housewife- I had the honor of meeting Shelly at the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival this spring.  She has a wonderful pattern for a sock yarn blanket.  It is pictured on the banner of her blog. 

Stricken- I just recently found this blog.  Jordan is a young college student who designed one of the most gorgeous sweaters I've ever seen, it's called Lyric Tree.  She also plays the viola.   

 

 

Hourglass and Random progress

I think my Hourglass sweater has been on the needles for close to a year and finally it's done.  I still need to block it.  The collar is very wide, it could have used a few extra rows I think.  Hopefully the blocking process will make the collar a little less saggy.

 

I'm close to being done with Koolhaas (it's a hat, for those of you who are not familiar).  This has also been on the needles for close to a year. 

 

I made a pretty major mistake in the middle.  The pattern jogs back and forth a stitch every few rows and I totally confused the "back" with the "forth" once.  Am I going to rip back? Absolutely not.

Off topic:  I don't usually blog about vehicles, but, I caved and bought a new one.

 

It's a Jeep.  It'll dash through the snow.  And dearies, the snow is not far away.  I haven't had a vehicle payment in like eight years, so...well....you know.

My parents just bought an RV.  It's KICKA$$.  I wish I had a picture to share.  I was thinking if there ever were a prime time to move back home with Mom and Dad, it would be right about now.   I'm envisioning a roadtrip to Rhinebeck.  Just think of all the storage space for yarn!  Zoom Zoom!!

I've fallen for a new guy...

This is my brand new nephew, JD.

I wish you all the joy in the world, little guy!

Love,

Auntie Holly Knitlightly

xoxoxo