Friday, March 31, 2006
Finishing Bless
This week? I had guests visiting our American Studies program Monday-Wednesday from the Concord Public Library. We had lots of fun visiting and learned a lot about our joint project.Then there was the child's performance. We have a struggle with bath time every night, but this week marks the start of the ability to wash her own hair. While this would SEEM good, it means that we are ready to leave for school, and we are told that it is TIME TO WASH HAIR. NOW. Ahem. Add to that the 3 year old oddness of dress---only skirts right now, socks are a huge problem in fit most days and shoes must be properly adjusted--we have multiple difficulties in functioning . Don't tell me this is easy compared to teenage angst. I can't deal with it. Really.
And the ongoing project. Would someone tell me why I seem incapable to easily putting together my knitting? This is a new development and one that is vexing, to say the least.
Here's Bless blocking (last Sunday):
Since Rowan Cork is very light and airy, I was able to lay sleeves and fronts on top of each other when blocking to guarantee the correct size. All was well at this point.
I stitched up the sleeves and sides--all still well. I'm feeling pretty good about how the seaming is going, happy with the sleeve length, but I notice that the neck seems a bit gappy (not an adjective, but it should be).
I stitched up the sleeves and sides--all still well. I'm feeling pretty good about how the seaming is going, happy with the sleeve length, but I notice that the neck seems a bit gappy (not an adjective, but it should be).
I look at the directions for the collar and decide that I have not properly stitched in the raglan sleeves. I think they should be set in a bit further--but it was almost impossible to tell this from the pattern, so my best guess didn't work.
Too much shoulder?
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
I think I need some support for the ripping. I'm heading to the local yarn store after work to rip away.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Alice Starmore
OOh. Look what I just picked up from the library:
Yes, that is Alice Starmore's Tudor Roses. Apparently there are a few copies floating around in library land, which is great because I can't afford to buy the book on ebay (around $100).
Lately I've been thinking about how to raise my knitting skill level. I've done some color and cable work, but I'm not that skilled. I'm ready to try something much tougher. Part of the preparation is looking at lots of possibilities and reading about techniques. This book has the most gorgeous stuff in it. I really like the Catherine Parr sweater:
I see that you can buy appropriate yarns for this design at Starmore's Virtual Yarns. Has anyone bought yarn from this site? I would love to buy the yarn for this as a reward for finishing a few of the items in my stash...
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
My Mess
I think I need to get my knitting house in order....We returned on Monday from the family/friend visit over Spring Break. It was COLD on the east coast. I think I'm just totally not prepared for having to go from shorts to sweaters on a plane ride... But we had a lovely time with Great-Grandparents, Grandma, Friends, and extended family. It was particularly nice to see my daughter with my friends two boys and my cousin's little girl. I think that the worst part of living farm from family has to be the loss of those family visits. I got to hang out in Charm City (Baawtimore), eat crab cakes (serious deprevation here in Texas...) and go to Baughers in the old stomping ground of big Westminster, Maryland, place of growing up. What more could a girl want!!
I hit the ground running once I returned, as I have some serious memo writing to do at work. For those of you that are curious, here is my knitting mess:
My Mess
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
That grey pile is Bless. I swear that I'm going to start sewing her up soon! I ended up dragging the dreaded second sock on the plane and am getting ready to turn the heel. Pictures soon!
Monday, March 13, 2006
Sliding at the Houston Livestock Show
As the weather turns warm in Texas, our thoughts turn to animals... Well, at least the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We love this show--there are lots of animals for kids to touch, some youth shows (yesterday was the hog competition--one of the winning hogs looked a lot like our brown dog--that's very odd), some rides, and of course fair food (in Texas that means lots of meat--sausage on a stick, jerky, corn dogs, bbq, etc).We watched baby chicks hatch, momma cows nursing their calves, kids chasing lost pigs, and rode this ride--the apparent highlight of the event:
Sliding at the Houston Livestock Show
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Sliding at the Houston Livestock Show
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Sliding at the Houston Livestock Show
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
It was fun and way more Mommy friendly than those rides that spin in circles!
You wonder about knitting? Well, Bless is knitted and sitting in a pile. Once I can clear out the wash machine I will soak and block her. I have to find a nice long zipper somewhere... but then I might have another FO!
You wonder about knitting? Well, Bless is knitted and sitting in a pile. Once I can clear out the wash machine I will soak and block her. I have to find a nice long zipper somewhere... but then I might have another FO!
Thursday, March 09, 2006
TKGA Presentation
A quick post--I will be presenting on digital knitting at tonight's Brazos Valley TKGA. We'll cover blogs, podcasts, aggregators, and ebay! We meet from 7-9 at the College Station library. I hope to see you there!Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Trains, Frogs and Bags
Trains
The Bush Library has a spring special exhibit on trains in their gallery and part of the celebration is the inclusion of model trains. They have invited model railroad groups to bring their minature railroads on various weekends for the publics' viewing. The Houston Train Collectors Association set up a nice (free) exhibit during this past weekend.
They had two different platforms, one of which was for short people and had lots of little buttons to push that made things go. The small one enjoyed looking at the trains:
The Bush Library has a spring special exhibit on trains in their gallery and part of the celebration is the inclusion of model trains. They have invited model railroad groups to bring their minature railroads on various weekends for the publics' viewing. The Houston Train Collectors Association set up a nice (free) exhibit during this past weekend.
They had two different platforms, one of which was for short people and had lots of little buttons to push that made things go. The small one enjoyed looking at the trains:
Train yard
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
My Dad collected Lionel Trains from the 50s so the set ups bring back fond memories. Every Christmas Dad would set up a fairly large train yard for his trains, and I would help to arrange the buildings and remote controlled contraptions. I particularly loved the horse car that let the horses wander out of the car into a corral. Dad would let me push the whistle and add the fake smoke that comes out of the train stacks.
Trains
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Apparently Lionel decided to manufacture a girl's train in the 50s. It was pastel colors with a pink locomotive. Here's a repo:
The Girl Train
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
No one bought these trains (something about the 50s and restrictive roles for girls... ahem), and now they are one of the most expensive items in the Lionel Train collection.
Frogs
I dropped into my LYS, the Hook and Needle, to check out all of the new books and Nancy, the owner gave me this super cute little pendant:
Frogs
I dropped into my LYS, the Hook and Needle, to check out all of the new books and Nancy, the owner gave me this super cute little pendant:
I Frog
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Nancy told me that these are for those of us that spend a lot of time frogging. Hey! That's me! I'm a frogger!
Bags
Our local TKGA has given us a challenge for the spring--make a bag. Here's my choice:
Bushoong ZigZag Bag
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
This is the Bushoong ZigZag Bag from Folk Bags by Vicki Square. It is made with Brown Sheep Bulky and, upon completion, gets felted. Here's what I finished so far--the first side and bottom. That teal thing is my make shift stitch holder. It turns out that I only have one set of size 11 needles and I need them to finish my Rowan Bless--that long unfinished cardigan.
Bushoong Bag, side 1
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Post Olympics Funk
Yes, I'm in a post olympics funk. Knitting on a deadline obviously does not suit me. In fact, I think it makes me so stressed that I don't enjoy the knitting. So I am trying to regroup.Another bit of news--Paris in July! Yup. I have a conference so will be there for about a week and a half. Any advice will be welcome. I think that it the whole family might end up going, so a flat to rent might be a good solution. Suggestions?
