Jofrog is Knitfrog!
February 28 2006
So, trends... the world seems to like to follow trends. Clothing, weather, all about trends. Knitting, sure, we often follow trends in the way of knit-alongs. Knitting patterns though, I'm not so sure about this: It seems as if short rows are everywhere all of the sudden! ...Short row bust shaping ...Weekend Knitting's "Pi Shawl" ...that crazy curly scarf from Scarf Style ...the super cute "Petal Bib" from the One Skein book ...short row heels of course. ...and now Ted's hood. Short rows there. All I can think whenever I see a pattern with short row shaping is, huh, I couldn't have figured this out! It makes me really appreciate a pattern. Whenever I knit something and realize that it's designed SO MUCH BETTER than I could have, I really respect it. The knitted flowers from Pick Up Sticks are another awe inspiring set of designs. What inspires you? So Hip, it's Curvy
As always, there are more projects going on here than are reflected in the WIPs sidebar! Today I'll reveal "Ted". Ted is designed by Knitting at Knoon, and was just too cute of a pattern not to knit! Don't you think? Also, because I'm knitting the smallest size, it is so fast! I was all prepared to show you pictures today, but really they just look like little pieces of a raglan sweater... I started to seam them, but I want to get the zipper first and sew it in while the front is unattached. I don't want to have to maneuver that whole sweater around in my sewing machine... it's just trouble waiting to happen. Speaking of finding zippers... are there good places other than zipperstop to find zippers? I need a short, closed bottomed zipper, and any that I'd want to order from zipperstop only come in black or white unless I wanted to order 12 or more! I need one, I need it to be light brown/tan. I may have time to go to a fabric store around here Thursday afternoon, but I don't expect anything spectacular to jump out. Worst comes to worst, I'll get an alright one from zipperstop, and make it be wonderful, but I welcome any input you may have! Johanna be Nimble, Johanna Knit Quick
February 27 2006
After hours of swatching and planing and calculating, I've finally started on my newest sweater. The pattern, as it stands now, can be seen here. I'm calling it "Maple Trellis" now in my head, so I guess that's what it will be refered to here... so much nicer than: the new purple sweater with the yarn from Maple Bank Farm, don't you think? A few hours of knitting at Knitsmiths yestersay, and here I am: I was having doubts about the ribbing being too busy with the trellis pattern, but Emily assures me that I should keep on going and that she often feels that things are too busy at this stage, and it all evens out as the sweater grows. It is C O L D here today and I hear it will be all this week. Too bad I didn't start this sweater a month ago, I'd be wearing it right now!My Baby Swatches Are Growing Up!
February 25 2006
Everyone, put your hands in the air, and swatch swatch like you just don't care! Still basking in the glow of finishing Huxley (and your wonderful comments, thanks so much, I love it as much as you all seem to!), I started serious planning tonight on the next sweater. You may remember me getting yarn from Maple Bank Farm for Christmas this year. It's time has come. It was a tough choice on what sweater I'd start next, but really I just couldn't get this yarn out of my mind. It sits out in a nice pile... Mr. Stegs stood on it before he got his spikes... it's been calling to me! How could I resist? I've had an idea for this yarn since I first saw it. I talked it over with fellow Knitsmith May and she had some suggestions. Anyone that knows May knows that you should listen to her suggestions and her advice is ALWAYS valid. I swatched my first idea, and then went on with hers... she wins! I may cast on during Knitsmiths on Sunday! Anyone in town for Boston Closing Ceremonies, I can't make it, but Knitsmiths will welcome you if you are in need of an afterparty!Swatch it, Swatch it Good!
February 22 2006
Yeah new sweater, yeah new sweater! Finally, after one very big, long, last push, my Huxley sweater is finished! Ta Da! I'm so happy to finally be able to wear this sweater! The texture shows up so beautifully on it, despite the dark color. See: It was either crappy, low light, pictures close to midnight or waiting for ages to do a proper photo shoot... I chose the former! Yeah again! Oh, you want to know where to find the pattern and how you can have one of your own? Okay! Love your knits!Ta and Da!
If I'm lucky I'll be able to pop in for a quick showing at the Boston Knitting Olympics Closing Ceremonies on Sunday, but either way I'll be wearing it Sunday, so if you know where to find me come and see me! I take to flattery very well thank you!
February 21 2006
Usually when I knit socks with two small balls of yarn (rather than one large Opal sized skein), I'll start each sock with a new ball of yarn, and end up with two small balls that can be used for baby/kid socks some day. That leaves a lot of "small someday" balls of yarn in my sock yarn drawer. With hand painted yarns this is probably the only option, but with a computer dyed... well, this time I went for it! Look at how far I got on the first ball of yarn! WOW! One and a half socks! Should I start buying the small ones three at a time so that I can make two full pairs? Nah, I think there are too many beautiful sock yarns out there to make a habbit out of making two identical pairs. As this sock nears the end, naturally, I'm thinking of what's next. I can't get these socks out of my mind. They've been requested in a subtle red heather. I'm shopping today! Value Added Packaging
February 20 2006
My mom was here this past weekend! We had a great time. We went to the Harvard Museum of Natural History to see the glass flowers, definitely worth checking out if you are in the area! My mom brought her newest finished sweater to show me. It grew a bit after the first washing (bummer, we've all been there), so she's going to shorten the sleeves a little, but even with slightly too long sleeves, it's beautiful! Bad blogger that I am, I don't remember what book it's out of, but check in the comments later, I'm sure my mom will fill us in! Despite the fact that my mom is a knitter, we missed Knitsmiths this week to go to the Super 88 Market, (an incredible asian supermarket), with my cousin Jenny. Let me tell you, the feast that Jen made us was well worth missing knitting for a week! Any time I'd choose this: Family Visits
February 17 2006
What do you do when life is CRAZY BUSY, and you have so little knitting time? Do you knit 5-10 rows a night on the last sleeve of a sweater, or do you knit a leg of a dinosaur? It's obvious what my answer is: Yeah for Trice! I had a lot of fun making him, and even in my limited time it took me two nights or so to do! Still two more to go, but I haven't picked those colors yet. I think I'm going to buy them today so that I can keep on going before I lose my "Dino Mojo". PS Project details are the same as for Mr.Stegs. Happy Weekend Knitting!Meet Trice
February 14 2006
Yeah, I finished a pair of socks in a reasonable amount of time! Thanks to Cara for the push to finish them by today! I'm very happy with my afghan socks. ...wouldn't you be? And they fit! Afghan Jaywalkers = Finished!
February 12 2006
One dino done! Meet Mr. Stegs!
Naomi thought it was good enough to eat. I hope the little recipiant does too!
February 10 2006
This week has been busy every night but Tuesday! Last night we went to see Gregory Maguire talk at Boston University. It was meant to be a talk about religion and evil and childrens' introduction to both, but really it was just a talk a little about his early childhood and a lot about "Wicked". I'm so good with that! Tonight we are off to see INXS and The Lovehammers! I can't even think about getting into the American Idol craze, but Rockstar INXS, I loved it! How could I pass up an opportunity to see the winner and the runner up in Boston? This means no Opening Ceremony party at Doyles tonight... but, seeing as how I'm not a Knitting Olympian, I think it's okay! Maybe I'll crash the closing ceremonies party anyways! So, this all begs the question, am I a busy bee or a social butterfly?Bee or Butterfly?
February 8 2006
What fun! Very little knitting time, and an almost FO! What a great idea! Thanks to Jen for this great pattern. Poop on Knitty for not accepting it. Jen, you obviously put a ton of work into these patterns. Thank you. He still needs some spikes to become Mr.Stegs, but he's almost there. At least one more of these to go, but maybe three more! Dino-licious!Everyone Should Knit a Dino
I call this "Dinosaur Climbing Yarn Mountain"
Look at that sad WIPs list over there... How about a recap and why I NEED to start something new. Red Set Go: Needs one more sleeve, (40mins of knitting), and sew that one sleeve in (the others pieces are all together). I should get with it, right? ...but then I'd only have two things on the sad WIPs list. Afghan Jaywalker Socks: One sock done! One cuff done, ready for a heel and a foot. I was trucking along to finish this by 2/14 to qualify for Cara's contest/KAL/prize. We'll see, but again, like Red Set Go, I'm VERY close to finishing. Huxley: I haven't talked about Huxley in forever... It went from the active list to the inactive list and now it's back. I started the sewing last night! One half done being seamed, one half of a sleeve left to knit. Almost done too! What happens when I finish all of these projects? Of course another sweater for me, it's about time. More socks, probably, I did sign up for a sock a month... I should have known that would be the kiss of death for the scock mojo. Of course it would be illogical to actually finish those three projects before starting a new one, so here is the beginning of what's next: Sad WIPs List
Ori-ori-orange!
February 6 2006
Saturday was spent at the wonderful Kellee's house for a baby shower for Ms. Melanie. I'd been looking forward to this for a while, and really, really, really, hoping that my teeth would allow me to go. Thankfully all was well, I was up and about, and eating all sorts of yummy food! (Am I supposed to be playing it easy with the food? Other than Friday night, I've been pretty much eating everything I normally do... except for the dry shredded wheat, I haven't gone back to that yet.) I can't even start to list the wonderful women that were there, but all of the usual Boston suspects were there or had been invited. Melanie was kept in the dark until she got there, it was great. As for the gifts, I'm sure she'll speak about them at some point, but there were plenty of hand made gifts and I finished the "Spirit Trail Fraternal Twin Socks". Many of you voted, two thirds of you voted for me to win. How could I let you down?
Saturdays Are For Knitters, and Babies!
Maybe Melanie will take a better picture, I was rushing to wrap them!
Of course I made something for the babies too, but not knit. I pulled together all of the wit I had (and borrowed some from Mike as well) and made these. Gift to mom, dad, and babies.
Wear them in good health babies. Only a few more weeks to go Melanie!
February 5 2006
I left work at 4 on Friday! Woo Hoo... oh wait, I left at 4 so that I could make a 4:15 appointment to get my wisdom teeth out. All in all it went amazingly well. I was even smiling in the chair, see: Less than an hour after I got there I was walking out, numb, four teeth lighter, but feeling fine. I even got this lovely parting gift of a t-shirt. ...and four other parting gifts that are not for the squeemish to look at. After so many stories and warnings I was really happy to be up and about that night and the next day... and what a next day it was, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for the Saturday recap. Happy Knitting! How I Spent My Friday
Not that any of your are surprised!
Even my X-rays smiled.
February 2 2006
Have I told you that my dog is a Gremlin? Just sayin'. ...now go knit, enjoy your weekend, and tell Phil if you see any shadows.Naomi, not quite a groundhog...
February 1 2006
I finally cast on for the right front of my Huxley sweater last night. (If it's been so long you don't remember, there is a picture from the pattern under my "WIPs" section on the left.) I didn't get too far, but I did get past all of the waist decreases and I'll be increasing soon. Of course, tonight is another late night for me, so probably minimal, if any, progress after I get home. I really want to wear this sweater though! ...and, as an extra added bonus, I really enjoy knitting it too. Enjoyable process and product. Perfect!Hu, Hu, Huxley!
