5 posts tagged “ravelry”

Karen, a Ravelry friend has tagged me for a 7 Random Facts Meme!

I'm not usually that much into memes (and there are probably enough random facts about me floating around here), but I'm in a somewhat obliging mood, and figure this is as good an excuse as any to link to a few other people!

Here, then, are 7 bizarre/random/weird facts about me:

1. I love that being crafty gives me a chance to bond with my Mum. My mother became closer in my later teens, and after I moved back home - it's really nice having crafty stuff to talk about, and that we can inspire each other.
2. I am always surprised when I have the patience and perserverance to finish something; and not at all shocked when I fail to do so! I get bored and distracted easily, but have little or no guilt about that. Know your limits, I say.
3. I hate knick-knacks around the house, but have no problem with useless knitted or sewn objects.
4. I am terrible at finishing (that is, sewing, seaming, tidying) objects and garments. Not so much because I lack the skills, but because I lose focus and want to move on to the next thing.
5. I have a tendency towrds clumsiness, and slow reactions. I've considered spinning as a craft endeavour, but I fear I am too uncoordinated to work both hands and feet together - when I walk along the street it's hard enough to swing both arms (something I share with my paternal grandmother, I'm told).
6. When I was 12/13 I would go to the Art Society in town and do oil painting with a bunch of old women! I'd like to get back into painting (though maybe acrylics this time).
7. I collect paper and paper craft supplies. This was much cheaper before scrapbooking because big business!

Note that I've given my 'facts' a crafty/arty slant; this isn't part of the meme's rules, but as most of the peopel who read this blog of mine do so for crafty updates (or are otherwise frequently disappointed and annoyed), I thought I'd throw that aspect in. Each of the people I'm linking to I know, or know of, in a crafting way.

These seven random (as random as people I know/know of can be) people, I tag:

1. JustJussi (Ravelry profile), who knows and shares so much!
2. Kristine (Ravelry profile), who I kind of work with.
3. Daisie (Ravelry profile), who was my awesome scarf exchange pal!
4. Catherynne (Ravelry profile), who does the papercrafty stuff I should start doing!
5. Sairy (Ravelry profile), who has some Koigu socks I must copy!
6. EnnaVic (Ravelry profile), who reads all the books I make no time for!
7. Majorie (Ravelry profile), with her cute little art dolls!

Because order is good, here are the rules (they must be posted on your site):

• Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.
• List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.
• Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs (shoot me for putting mine in the middle :-P).
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!
• Let the fun begin!

If you're not into meme's, don't sweat it; nobody is going to chase you down if you don't tag anyone, or reply yourself. :-) This is *not* a chain letter!

Well, my part in the Ravelry Scarf Exchange is over now. The scarf I knit for my 'downstream' pal has been received and enjoyed, which makes me vary happy! And I received from my 'upsteam' pal has also arrived! I love the scarf that was knit for me (and happen to be wearing it right now); it's really lovely and something I would not have had the patience to knit for myself.

I had fun knitting for my pal, and even more fun making and gathering up various penguin related goodies to put in the parcel!

I'd defnitely chalk this up as a great experience - knitting for someone I've never met, and having something knit just for me (and not by my Mum), was awesome. :-) I don't think I'll sign up for the next exchange for this group, but I'll definitely consider doing so in the future. And in the meantime, I have two new pals whose knitting I can keep an eye on! The knitting world is pretty big, so getting to know a couple of people better is really nice. :-)

ready-to-rib

A friend (rightly) observed that my knitting reminds him that I'm clever, so I figure I'd better add some more evidence, lest he or anyone else forget just how darn clever I am! I've been working away on this project for a while now (probably not as long as it seems to me), but haven't really posted any great detail here because, well, it's basically a brown jumper, and that's not particularly exciting.

It's all documented over at Ravelry, for sure, but I realise that while there are thousands of people in there, a lot of people are still waiting for invites! Anyway, as I near completion (and have more to say than "I'm knitting a brown jumper"), I figure it's time to show it here.

Wendy's Somewhat Cowl is the first pattern I've purchased and downloaded; I've knit from free online patterns, and plenty of books, but never before had I handed over a few dollars for a PDF. I like to look at patterns before I buy them, so I was taking a risk with this, but I'm glad I spent the minimal amount for this (even if I did have to print it out at the library; one day I'll get ink for my printer). It's a pretty straight forward pattern, and I've enjoyed knitting it.

sleeve

This project is also my first top-down effort, my first short-sleeved knit, and the first garment I've come this close to finishing and actually still wanted (oh so many discarded garments, I usually avoid them to avoid that feeling)! ye, it's a lot of stocking stitch, but once you join to work in the round, it's all knit, and pretty darn easy to work at.

What do I like best about this project? Quite possibly absence of seaming. Even that fact that I have four inches of ribbing on the arms (I've just started the first short sleeve), and then 6 inches of ribbing around the large "cowl" neckline (to be folded and tacked down) doesn't dishearten me. No seams. It's not that I don't like seams, but I have terrbile seaming skills!

Coming a close second is the yarn I'm working with - it's a cashmere/merino blend from Naturally Yarns, and it's soft, and warm, and delightful to work with. Combined with the shaping at the waist, the drape of the yarn is just right, and I love the fit. I can't wait to wear it!

For those knitting at home, I'm working to the 34" bust size. That's a little bit smaller than my "high bust" measurement (up under arms), and about 4" smaller than I my actual bust. I decided though that I didn't want this to be baggy, and going up 4 inches in size to account for my boobs wasn't what I was after. The low/open neckline is allowing me to get away with working the smaller size without any additonal bust shaping/darts, and the only modification I've done is add one extra waist decrease (and the accompanying inch in length) and two extra increase after the the waist to account for my curves. Perfect! Sure, it was a bit of a hassle to try on (precariously watching two circular needles you pull it over your head), but it was definitey worth it - I'm getting the exactly what I want, so I'll have no excuses not to wear it!

Hrm, what else have I been knitting that I've not noted here? Well, I posted a picture of Maddy with my colour play scarf, which has had a lot of wear! I made slippers (and a matching tea cosy complete with pom pom), and I've just started knitting a jersey for my Mum. Yes, after years of knitting for me, Mum's finally going to get more than a pair of socks from me - now that I'm over my garment embargo, I'm happy to knit something just for her. :-) Otherwise, I've been queueing masses of Christmas decoration ideas - I might have to have a tree this year!

Turns out that time flies whether you're having fun or not! The absence of posts here does reflect quite well the absence of any serious knitting or other interesting life highlights in the last few weeks. There has been more swatching, a decision to unravel and restart (with a completely different pattern and yarn) my Ravelry Scarf Exchange scarf, and a half-hearted attempt to make (garter rib) socks to match Dad's vest for Father's Day.

I am pleased to report, however, that not all of my labours (limited though they may have been) were fruitless. A couple of meetings ago, a fellow Knit Ranger, Kristie mentioned that a friend had delivered a tiny baby boy before he was expected, and that any little knitted things would be appreciated. Having a fair amount of baby wool left after knitting my nieces' kiddies, I cast on a pair of little booties.

That took very little time and effort (they definitely qualify as easy), so I then started on a bootie and mitten pattern from Sheperd Yarns. A week later, I'd finished one bootie, and barely cast on for the second. So, this morning I woke up determined to get them finished. And I did!

In the after-glow of satisfaction that follows from completing something (particularly something that has been languishing), I picked up the will-it-be-a-jersey-or-will-it-be-a-vest project, and yep, now that's completed, too. And it's a vest.

So, that's three completed projects for my Ravelry projects page. Now I still have my blanket, some socks "in progress", so I'm not quite on top of things, but I'm getting there! I've pruned my queue a little, and reordered, and I'm feeling "on top" of things, rather than feeling like I'm playing catch up.

Now, back to Dad's socks! And the bright tweed socks, and the brown ribbed socks for me. Oh, and that blanket...

It's been a while since I updated, and I will blame work busy-ness, parental visits, the resealing of the footpath making my floor vibrate, lack of knitting progress, and laziness. Feel free to determine for yourself the ratio of laziness to other factors.

Anyway, since I last updated here there has not been a lot of knitting going. My red jersey is still sleeveless, an may stay that way as I'm revisiting the idea of a vest (and feeling lazy). I attended the Knit Out my my parents (my Dad and my sister mostly along for the lunch beforehand), and enjoyed it (and expressed interest in helping out next year). Mum had a good time, bumping into the president of the Creative Fibre organisation. At Knit Rangers the next afternoon she was helping both with crochet and knitting tips - she's good like that! :-)

I particularly enjoyed meeting Mel Clark at the Knit Out (and getting my book signed) and purchasing some lovely Koigu yarn from her.  Definitely looking forward to purchasing more from her range when she's all set (and her card is tucked away safely if I can't wait)! That's one of the three skeins in the top right there. I've not settled on a project for it yet, but that's hardly matters!

Red Ribs & Cables

A pair of brown merino/angora socks is half done, largely thanks to my neglecting to take any wool to enable me to work on my blanket at Knit Rangers last weekend. If you're lucky enough to be in Ravelry you can check out the not terribly exciting project here. As I've now worn a whole in the heel of my blue pair, I should hurry up and finish these so my toes will be toasty in bed again!

Also Ravelry related is the swatching that I've started for a scarf exchange that's going on. So far I've got the red rib and reversible cable idea (see left) going on, but I do have other ideas to play around with before I decide on what my pal will get.

Yesterday I wandered down to Wild & Woolly Yarns and picked up two balls of Noro Silk Garden (one skein is shown above), and some Sublime Merino/Cashmere/Silk in a complimentary blue with visions of a scarf for me. More projects to contemplate, and no knitting! When the wool shop owner remarks that you've spent a fortune, and are a "very good customer" you do have to wonder if maybe it's time to take it easy. ;-)

Now for more swatching!