Finally! Some progress to show!

This is seriously a fun knit! I just can't put it down! I just want to finish knitting so I can try out steeking. Although I've never done it before, and actually quite nervous about it, but it keeps me motivated! About another inch or so and I'll be upt ot the armscye shaping. I'm a little too tight on the stitch gauge, about 2-3 stitches more per 4", but I've put it on scrap yarn before and tried it out, and it fits, so hopefully blocking it will help. I'm perfect on row gauge though! There's also a bit of puckering. I think that's inevitable, and hopefully, blocking it will even it out.

Yes, more yarn. I went on a bit of yarn binging a couple weeks ago when I was stuck here in Waterloo over the weekend. I just went a bit crazy on the internet shopping. The yarn on the left is Phildar Quietude in Aubergine (a new colour - it's a purple basically), and on the right, we have Phildar Lambswool in Noir.

The Quietude is for the first sweater. It's from Phildar Tendances Autumn 05 06. They didn't have an English version for this, so hopefully, I'll be able to translate the French. 9 years of French and finally it can serve a purpose! :p The Lambswool is destined for this cute little wrap cardi also from Phildar Tendances, but Spring 05. Luckily, there's an English version for this.

Sarcelle has been a little neglected lately. I'll try to work on her during the holidays, but seriously, it is one slow knit!

Sarcelle oh Sarcelle, why must you treat me so?

Things are NOT going well around this part. Just as I've almost got the pattern repeat memorized, THIS happens:

Yuppers. Those are dropped stitches. On purpose. Because I screwed up. Mistakes in lace knitting = NO FUN! I've already spent hours on those measely little couple inches. I am NOT, I repeat NOT sending it to the frog pond. Besides, it'd be a pain to frog it since the stitches kind of catches on to one another like mohair does. What actually happened was I was missing a stitch on the edge. I couldn't figure out what was wrong, so I simply decided to increase a stitch. It was right on the edge, and after blocking, shouldn't be noticeable. I put it down last night, and woke up this morning to see that I've screwed up. I had accidentally shifted the pattern one stitch over. It was about 6 rows down so I thought maybe, maybe just perhaps I can dropped the stitches and fix it. It's no fun when you got yos, pfbs, and kfbs. No siree. Not having much luck so far, but I'll look at it a bit later. I really need to get some work done on my research. That's going to be on fun either since I'm trying to program something, and that also requires debuggin. Arg.

On a happier note, look what I got in the mail today! Socks That Rock in Midsummer Night and Rose Quartz. I love handpainted yarns in different colours ... when they are still in a skein. But once you knit it up, the colour's too busy for me. I prefer solids or near solids. Hm, any suggestions what to make with these?

The Jaeger Matchmaker Merino DK is for this. Now I just need to wait for my needles to come before I can get started on it! Can't wait!

What can you do with 1375 yd of laceweight yarn in 5 hours?

This is what you get:

It took me 5 whole hours to wind the skein of Merino Oro into a ball by hand. I don't have a swift or ball winder and I have yet to justify spending money on that ... for now. I contemplated actually knitting from the skein, but the thoughts of undoing the mess of knots put me off that idea. I wanted to start Sarcelle, but I think I've had enough of this yarn for the night. Time to get some rest.

I can do this!

I'm back!!! Ok, so I was a little off estimating when I'm going to be able to post the pics. I fixed the computer myself (well, not really. I just uninstalled something so it wouldn't keep on popping up for no reason) and got my pictures uploaded.

Anyway, I present to you my VERY first pair of socks!

Pattern: Hedera from Knitty

Yarn: 1.25 Skeins of Knitpicks Essential in Grass
Needle: Clover Bamboo DPN in US0 (2.25mm)

No modifications. I wouldn't know what or how to modify anyway. The gauge is different when I was knitting the second sock. It came out a lot tighter than the first. Hopefully, a bit of wearing and washing will even it somewhat. The weather's still pretty warm, but it's supposed to be snowing on Friday and most of next week. These will keep my toes nice and toasty! I gotta think of a more creative way of taking pics of finished socks ... the socks look HUGE! But they're made to fit my size 7.5 feet. It's not THAT bad .... is it?

I got THREE packages of yummy yarniness today! One of them has been in the mail for like a month, and it took them an entire month to deliver it. What's up with that!?

From left to right:

• 3 skeins of Classic Elite Lush in Thistle
• 1 skein of Ornaghi Filati Merino Oro in Grey Heather
• 2 balls of Dalegarn Tiur in Rose Pink

I got them with projects in mind. The Lush is destined for the braided scarf on the cover of Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006 issue. I'm planning to knit it with this colour and white or pink and white. Haven't decided yet. The other skeins of Lush is coming in the mail from another yarn store. The Merino Oro is for Sarcelle. And the Tiur is going to be used for steeking in Eunny's Deep V Argyle Vest. I can't wait to get started! Now I just have to get school work out of the way.

Mail Call!

I had ordered 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl from yarnela.com on Sunday. Guess what was waiting for me in the mailbox!? It took less than 2 days for it to arrive. Talk about service! This is the first time I've bought Lorna's Laces (even though I have been eyeing them for the longest time!) and I just LOVE the colourway.

What's a knitting blog without some knitting, right? I present to you my ALMOST complete Hedera Socks in Knit Picks Essential - Grass. It's a first of many things. It's the first time I've ever knitted socks. It's the first time I've knitted in the round (on DPNS or circulars). It's the first time I've knitted anything other than scarves. I'm so proud of myself! LOL. Just an inch or so more till the toe decrease. I hope to be finished by the end of this week, but I left my darning needle at home in Toronto, so have to wait till the weekend to graft the toe.

In some knitting-unrelated news, I just got an advertising email from 7 for all mankind. There's this denim skirt that I really like! It's the perfect length, unlike the ultra short ones that seem to be so popular lately. Not everyone has mile long legs you know! But it's a bit pricey, so hopefully I can find a cheaper substitute.