Crafting Chaos

Noro blanket progress

I’ve finished with the Noro portion of Thebes’ blanket.

This Noro colorway is awesome. I’ve made eight squares.

Next up I’ll block the squares.

Then I’ll make the borders out of Lamb’s Pride wool.

Here’s Sieben on a recent walk:

He loves going on walks with me.

1 comment August 30th, 2010

Hedwig in Taos

Hedwig and the Angry Inch was playing as part of Taos Gay Pride. I love Hedwig and of course wanted to support Taos gays so I had to go. But two of my friends canceled out on me. Thebes couldn’t go because they serve popcorn when showing movies.

Going out to events alone is one of my biggest social anxiety fears. I get all nervous, my stomach knots and I often cry. But I was determined to see Hedwig. So I put on my big girl panties, grabbed my knitting and headed out the door.

And I did it! I had the typical stomach butterflies but I did it. I even saw a couple people I knew at the event. My favorite aunt gave me a necklace of my Uncle Marvin’s when we visited during our Midwest vacation. He died of AIDS when I was a little girl. Though I didn’t know him long he had a huge effect on me. He was a gay man so I wore his necklace to Hedwig in his memory:

I brought along my Sugas Lotus Blossom top to work on. Two women came up to talk to me about it. Knitting in public is a great conversation starter. Knitting really helped calm my nerves while sitting all by myself.

Hedwig was awesome to see on the big screen. The drag show beforehand was fun as well. Yay for Gay Pride in Taos! My friend Bevin said they may play Rocky for next year’s Pride and I said I am so in. Thebes said he’d buy a gas mask to come for that, bless him. (The popcorn in the air makes his throat swell up.)

If you haven’t seen Hedwig I recommend it. I laughed, I cried, I sang along. Goddess I love this movie!

1 comment August 23rd, 2010

Sock progress

I’ve gotten some progress on Thebes’ kilt hose.

Mostly I’ve been working on The Portal so I haven’t been knitting much. This sock makes for great car knitting though.

Monsoon season has started and we’ve been getting downpours. Sieben and I took a walk in the forest when the rain let up.

He was a happy boy!

Add comment July 26th, 2010

Slow knitting progress

Remember the Sugar Lotus Blossom tank that I started in May?

Here’s where I’m at now:

This project has been kicking my ass. I got one repeat into the medium size and then realized it was too big. So I frogged and started the small size. Then I wasn’t paying attention to the lace chart and had to frog back some. I’m still on the first repeat.

The lace chart is not terribly hard but the repeat moves slightly over on some rounds. Very confusing-to me at least.

And here’s a cute picture of Sieben as a puppy.

This was taken in the fall of 2007. He was such a cute puppy.

2 comments July 3rd, 2010

Another Freedom Skirt!

Apron Strings and Knitted Things blogger Stephanie made herself a Freedom Skirt. It’s so exciting to see people knit up one of my patterns!

She did a great job. More details in her blog posts here and here.

Add comment May 19th, 2010

New projects

I’ve started two new knitting projects. One is the Lotus Blossom Tank from The Best of Interweave Knits book.

Abbey and I were originally going to do a lace dress knitalong. I pulled out my Rowan Kidsilk Haze and thought-nope, not doing this. I just can’t motivate myself to do lace knitting with mohair that’s hard to frog. But I support your efforts Abbey!

Instead I went with an easier lace project, the Lotus top. I’ve had to frog it a few times already. The lace chart is tricky. I’m using my sugarcane yarn.

I’ve also done a gauge swatch for Thebes’ new kilt hose. The yarn is Trekking Pro Natura.

I’m going to do a basic ribbed sock with a checkerboard cuff. At least that’s the plan right now.

Add comment May 14th, 2010

Noro Striped Sweater

I finished my Noro Striped Sweater and just love it. Elizabeth Zimmerman’s percentage system worked perfectly. She was such a genius. She saved this project. Sieben posed with me.

This project started off as Tubey. After I finished it and put it on the thing was so tight on the armpits that I was worried I’d have to frog the thing off. I had to peel it off myself. The sleeves turned out to be a struggle. But then I used Zimmerman’s seam sweater percentage system for the yoke.

I worked the decreases until I thought it was high enough. Abbey suggested I do the collar in seed stitch. It really gives the sweater that perfect finished detail.

This sweater fits great. And the yarn-oh gods I love Noro Cashmere Island. It was soft but after blocking it feels even softer. It feels comfortable to wear next to the skin.

The Noro colors are just beautiful. I love this sweater so much!!!

Pattern: Noro Striped Sweater
Source: Zimmerman’s Knitting Without Tears
Yarn: Noro Cashmere Island, #10 colorway, 8 skeins
Needles: 4.5 mm
Size: custom
Modifications: custom
Started: April 2009
Finished: May 2010

3 comments May 8th, 2010

Round two…ugh

My Klaralund sleeves idea was a total bust. I finished both sleeves, sewed them on and faced another sweater failure. The sleeves just fell off my shoulders. Dammit!!!

What to do? I took the sleeves off yet again and assessed the situation. I had a knit body and two sleeves. An idea began to form. Grabbing Knitting Without Tears read the directions for a seamless sweater. Now I have all three pieces on one needle and am working on the yoke.

If the logic of Elizabeth Zimmerman can’t save this sweater I don’t know what will.

2 comments April 29th, 2010

Twilight vs Tubey: The rematch

I’ve finally taken Tubey out of time out. I actually started this sweater last April! It’s time to finish.

I got the idea for the sleeves from the Klaralund sweater from the Noro: Knit 40 Fabulous Designs book. But I’m changing it up and using the rib pattern on the sleeves.

So far it looks good. Let’s hope so. Because last time Tubey kicked my ass. I love this yarn though and am determined to make a sweater out of it.

2 comments April 18th, 2010

Blanket progress

The Noro blanket is a relaxing knit. Progress is slow but steady.

Instead of one large square I’m making several small ones. I don’t think I have enough of this Noro colorway so I’m going to use a gray or black yarn for a border.

This is a great pattern. Easy to memorize and mellow.

2 comments April 16th, 2010