Queen of the Universe tells all...

I’m a Blogging Failure

ickykitty — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:03:46 +0000

So, my New Year’s resolutions lasted for one post. That is totally pathetic! I have good intentions about blogging but that doesn’t seem to do the trick. When you say “It’s the thought that counts”…well that doesn’t quite work in the blogging world.

So what have I been doing for the past two months…the builders finally finished the bathroom remodeling from hell. OK, it wasn’t that bad but it did take twice as long as planned (thank you anonymous neighbor who reported us to the building inspector, just remember…paybacks are a bitch).

Knitting wise I finished a very cute cabled sweater and another ravenelli for myself. I am now working on the Patons Everyday Cardigan which is all the rage. I had been looking for a casual, not-too-challenging aran type cardi pattern for a while and this fits the bill. I am making it ultra alpaca which I love. I also was working on a little lace shawl and I ran out of yarn on the last chart. I am in a holding pattern until I can decide what to do. Of course I was using a one of a kind hand-dyed yarn so no hopes of another skein. My best hope will be a matching solid.

I still have not learned how to spin, another goal for the winter. I guess I need to make that a goal for the year to be more realistic…

My lack of resolution…

ickykitty — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 22:07:36 +0000

Well, I have already gone bust on my New Year’s resolution. I have not made any progress on the blog or fitness. I know I am hardly unique in this regard!

Knitting wise I have made great progress on my cabled cardigan and am working another ravenelli sweater as well. The paradoxical mittens are stalled out. They require too much atention to work on right now.

I bought some great yarn from Insubordiknits. It is handspun, green with little felted tomatoes. I have to find just the right project for it, probably a little scarf of some kind.

New Year’s Resolutions

ickykitty — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 20:35:25 +0000

O.K. I know New Year’s resolutions are generally crap but it’s worth a try. Here is my list for 2008:

1) Keep up with this blog regularly. This should be easily achieved.

2) Eat less/exercise more. I doubt this will happen but it’s good to put it on the list.

3) For everything I buy/bring into the house, something else has to leave the house. My house is so generally craptastic that I don’t even know where to begin. This seems like an easy start on the problem (or at least the problem shouldn’t get worse).

4) Learn how to spin. I have the wheel, I have the fiber…now comes the hard part!

Happy New Year!

Lacy Chain Scarf

ickykitty — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:00:25 +0000

Lacy Chain Scarf

Originally uploaded by ickykitty

Pattern for the easy First Lace Scarf:

The lace pattern is worked over 16 stitches/16 rows on a stockinette background. A border of 6 stitches on either side is added to prevent rolling. All even rows are purled.

Yarn used: Worsted weight cashmerino blend. 200-300 yards depending on desired length.

Size 7 needles.

Any soft worsted yarn will work. A solid color and smooth yarn will show lace panel best. The geometric design also works well for a man’s scarf.

Set Up Rows:

Cast on 28 stitches. Work in garter stitch for 4 rows

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: P4, knit to 4 remaining sts, P4

Row 7: Purl

Begin Lace Panel Design:

At begining of each odd numbered row p4, k2 then begin lace pattern. End each odd row with k2, p4. This creates a border for the scarf.

Row 1: K5, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k5.

Row 2(even rows): purl.

Row 3: K3, k2tog, yf, k1, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k4.

Row 5: K2, k2tog, yf, k3, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k3.

Row 7: K1, k2tog, yf, k2, k2tog, yf, k1, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2.

Row 9: K2tog, yf, k2, k2tog, yf, k3, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k1.

Row 11: K2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, yf, k2tog, yf, k2, k2tog, yf, k2tog.

Row 13: K3, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yf, k2, k2tog, yf, k2.

Row 15: K4, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k2, yf, sl 1, k1, psso, k1, k2tog, yf, k3.

Repeat lace panel pattern until scarf is desired length. Ending on row 16 (purl)

Finishing rows:

P4, knit to 4 stitches remaining, p4 Purl acrossP4, knit to 4 stitches remaining, p4

Work 4 rows garter stitch. BO

Kauni Bag 2

ickykitty — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:55:04 +0000

Kauni Bag 2

Originally uploaded by ickykitty

Here is the finished product! I’ll use this far more than I would have the sweater.

Kauni Transformation

ickykitty — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:38:47 +0000

Well my kauni sweater has now been transformed into a tote bag. As I worked my way through the body I realized I was making an extremely obnoxious sweater I would probably not wear all that often. My winter wardrobe is primarily gray and black so the rainbow pattern would have been an enormous departure. Why I didn’t realize this earlier I don’t know…I was having too much fun watching the colors change. One could also ask What part of rainbow was confusing to you?

But as I am a thrifty knitter and did not want to destroy many hours of beautiful work I felted the body, reinforced and lined the bag, added leather handles and now have a fabulous new tote.

I also ordered labels and ribbon from Namemaker and they are great. I now have lovely little labels saying Queenie Handknits to add to all my projects.

Size Challenged, Parts 2 and 3

ickykitty — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:17:30 +0000

Well, this seems to be a running theme with my knitting lately. First my Kauni sweater was too small and will need major surgery, secondly the ravenelli sweater I am making is a little snug also, third the second Opal sock is little smaller than the first. Why is this happening?

With the Kauni I think it was mostly me being a block head. With the Ravenelli I think it comes down to picking the wrong size. The ladies in knitting group (and the pattern’s designer) convinced me to make a small when I was inclined to make the medium. As for the sock, I have no idea what is happening there. Same number of stitches, same needles, not that much time has elapsed since making the first. Hopefully when they are washed and blocked the difference will be less. I am also hoping blocking will help with the ravenelli sweater, which is now a gift for Kelley.

OOPs, What have I done?

ickykitty — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:44:08 +0000

I’ve been working on a sweater in Kauni yarn I originally ordered to make the Ruth’s cardi. But I was feeling a little cocky and decided I needed to branch out, be different. So I decided to adapt a pattern on Astrid’s site to a different needle size and knitted in the round. I swatched in the round to get my gauge, did the math for to get the number of CO stitches and the end result is a sweater body that is too small. I’m up to armholes in the body and have to face the fact that it is too small.

Now this is a colorwork sweater on size 4 needles, many hours of work so far. I am not about to frog at this point. My solution is to steek up either side and add side panels (which is similar to Astrid’s, although her front and back are knit flat). Now of course I have no extra steek stitches to work with when I cut, so this will be interesting. The good news is this yarn is fairly “sticky” so it should hold together. My mistake=design element!

In other news I just received an e-mail from the Mason Dixon ladies telling me I was one of the winners of their little poetry contest for a chance at the Indigo blanket. What fun! The contest involved writing a poem, haiku, couplet about blue. Mine was something like:

She recalls a vision in blue .

Lusting,

She must eat chocolate.

The dark side…

ickykitty — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:41:07 +0000

This evening I am picking up my spinning wheel! I am buying it used from Craigslist, a Louet s17. I have virtually no experience spinning but have many friends that love it.

I knew the Husband was not going to be thrilled with the idea but his complete and abject HORROR at the the idea surprised even me. He has this notion that I am going to stop shaving my legs, go vegan, and begin composting for some reason. He sees this as slipping further into the dark side. Could you guess he might be a wee bit conservative?

Spinning will definitely be a challenge. I don’t generally like to follow rules and am a bit impatient when learning new things. Since spinning is all about technique and practice we’ll have to see how it goes. That’s why I bought a used wheel, not much invested and I can always sell it if I don’t like it. If I am successful, I will end up with really great yarn I can knit into really great things, a win-win situation if there ever was one!

Alone again…

ickykitty — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:19:11 +0000

Today is the first day of school and while the kids may not be happy, I’m delirious with joy! It is so nice to be alone again. Even though I have lots to do and catch up on, the silence of my house right at this moment is wonderful. I love my family but I also like to be alone sometimes.

I spent the weekend at the Maryland State Fair, where Soph competed in the 4H horse show. It was alot of fun but exhausting. While the kids may have boundless energy, most of their poor parents (including myself) do not. The girls had a great time and everyone did well. For most, it was their first big show and there were a lot of nerves (both riders and horses!).

I haven’t gotten a lot of knitting done in the last minute rush of summer. I’m looking forward to relaxing and planning my fall projects. I need to finish the Sraphim shawl. I’m almost to the lace border charts and it should be much more interesting to work on.