Shut Up & Knit!

A Sky w/ a Side of Lace

That was last night's sky.  I noticed the clouds rolling in while making dinner and had to go outside and take some photos. 

Oddly enough, it didn't really rain much last night.  However, the weather people are full of warnings of doom and disaster for this weekend.  I'm staying home with the cat, cable tv and my new lace project. 

Want to see the last lace project?

Go HERE to see the photos and the story!

Pattern:  Cozy from knitty.com
Yarn:  Malabrigo Lace Weight in Sealing Wax.  Two hanks plus part of a 3rd used.
Needles:  US 6 Options Circular
Time Served:  Started: 02-09-08  Finished:  02-18-08 
Knit for: my Christy
Mods: I cast on more stitches to get a wider finished piece because I was using lace weight yarn this time.  I knit until I was bored.  Then knit another day beyond that point.  Tried it on and loved the length, so I cast off.

This is the second time I've knit Cozy, so I was expecting to get bored part way through.  I wasn't expecting to fall in love with the combination of the yarn and the pattern, but I did.  Now I think I want one in Cactus Flower.  I'm blaming Christy for this.

Knitting Cozy this time was much easier on me because I am a better/more experienced knitter than I was almost two years ago when I did this the first time.  Knitting all that lace in the intervening time has helped me a great deal and made this version of Cozy knit up far more easily ( and quickly) then the first one did.

Cozy... Completed

Pattern:  Cozy from knitty.com

Yarn: KnitPicks Dye Your Own Fingering Weight... 100% merino wool.  Dyed with Black Cherry Kool Aid using the steam method.  I used just under two hanks and only stopped because I was tired of sitting under it.

Tools: Size 9 metal needles... Boyles, I think.  More straight pins than I planned to use.

Mods:  I did the same garter stitch at the end that I did according to the pattern at the beginning.  I think it made the piece look a little more even and balanced.

Lessons Learned:  Going with the flow of the pattern made making this much easier.  I am ashamed of how long it took me to find the flow.
Always use a thimble when pinning.  No matter how much you hate thimbles.  It will save the mouse finger from a great deal of pain later on.
Washing the home dyed yarn after dyeing and before knitting is a happy thing.  I did not worry at all about bleeding during the blocking/pinning process because I had already washed and conditioned my yarn.
Taking pictures of yourself while wearing something you made is not easy and editing said pictures can be downright depressing.

Note to Self:  Get married, so someone else can take the stupid pictures next time.

Do it again: I will knit Cozy again.  It was a lot of fun once I found the rhythm and flow of the pattern.  It wasn't about trusting the pattern.  It was about knowing where the stitches were taking me.  Once I got that, the knitting became much easier for me. However, it will be a while before I'm ready or willing to pin block another.  It took over an hour of sitting on the floor of the garage... sweating and swearing for most of it.

Finished length is over six feet long and about twenty-two inches wide.  We will not be discussing how long this took.

No, we won't.

Oh, and I totally love it.  ::bounces::

Actual Knitting Content... Kinda

I finished my wool Cozy last night.  More like I got tired of sitting under it, but still...  I soaked it and pin blocked it this afternoon.

I am ashamed of how long it took me to 'get' that pattern, but I did and I want to make it again.  However, I will never pin block a Cozy again.

Ever.

It was not a good time.  I finally gave up on the idea of perfect and settled for getting my sweaty self out of that very hot garage and into a pint of B&J's Mint Chocolate Cookie.  I more than earned it, lemme tell ya.

I have cast on for a sock and already given up on the pattern.  Are you proud, Dave?  That pattern wanted me to knit into the front of the third stitch in while leaving the stitch on the left needle.  I could do the stitching, but could not for the life of me figure out how to get that new stitch onto the left needle so it could slide with it's friends at the right time. 

I may be too stupid to knit socks from a pattern.

Oh!  Boy got his hat and loved it.  Sadly, it didn't fit and ended up being regifted to his stuffed panda, who is our 'baby'.  Don't ask, but just happy for us... and thankful that I vetoed his idea of referring to the 'baby' as if he was somehow a real baby to confuse y'all. 

*blink*

Like I'm not confusing enough on my own... thankyouverymuch.

Along with Saturday Sky , tomorrow there should also be a picture(s) of a dried Cozy.

I hope.

Or I'll be making whiskey floats to drown my pain in.

ick ...   Okay, maybe not.

Blocking A Cozy Swatch

She kept an eye on me while I was taking bad pictures of projects.  If she ever writes a book about life with me, I am going to look very bad.  There's a very cute picture of her doing cat yoga from this morning, but she is wearing her serial killer face and y'all do not want to see that.

Trust me.

A certain knitting Otter wanted to see my re-blocked wool swatch of Cozy.  There's your bad picture, Otter. 

Clearly, I needed to use more pins and I shall next time.  Need to buy more pins before I do this with the bamboo Cozy.  I don't have enough pins.  A million quilting type pins, but those won't help me.

The first time I blocked this, I tugged here and there and that was it.  I'm over being gentle, I think.  I love how the pattern has opened up and how it is now wide enough to be a wrap.  I had been afraid that I would have to add to the stitch count to get it wide enough.  Not a worry now.

That's a close-up of the bamboo version of Cozy.  Pretty close to the colors, too.  I'm getting close to the end of my second ball of bamboo and realize that I do want another ball.  As is, it's just not long enough.  I'm thinking half of ball will do it.  Although, a really long Cozy would be cool.  A total pain to pin block, but totally cool.

My list for the yarn store is getting longer and longer.  Good for them.  *L*  I have decided on the yarn for my KSKS person.  Need to get that before it's gone.  I only saw two skeins in the colorway that I want to get. 

Keep your fingers crossed.

I also want/need yarn to dye.  My mother dyed the hank I got her the other day.  It's a much nicer softer finished product than what she had been using.  So much so that she even admitted it.  Huge thing, that.  She wants me to get her some more yarn to dye, too.  I cannot tell you how happy I am that she has finally seen the light about knitting with wool.

Oh!  And speaking of my KSKS person... I have started my test run at a bag.  I really like it and am happy with it.  I need to explore grommets, but I'm hoping it will be painless and make me a better person in the long run.

No... really.

Reassured

I got a comment last night regarding my bamboo issues from a young lady who made a cardi out of bamboo.  She was very reassuring and I am truly grateful. 

Go here and scroll down a little bit.  You're looking for a purple cardi. 

If you scroll down more, you can read about how she had to block the cardi every step of the way. 

Suddenly, I am very glad that I'm only making a wrap.  Although, I'm already starting to wonder where I'll lay it out to block and dry.  I have more wood floors than carpet.

While I won't be good enough to do a cardi like that anytime soon, I do feel inspired by JoFrog and I think that's the key.  Btw, look at the totally cute kitty she made on her front page.  Yeah, you need to scroll down again.  Think of it as exercise.

No... really.