I’ve been really busy these last few months. I’m working a lot, usually around 45 hours a week, sometimes closer to 50. The boy that I spoke of back in June is no longer around. I became a bit of a hermit for a while, but now I’m back to my usual “social” self. Okay, that’s a lie. I’ve never been very social, seeing as I hate most people, but at least I’m not shut up in my room anymore. That’s a step in the right direction.
I haven’t been knitting too terribly much. I was in a funk for a few weeks, which also extended to my knitting. Also, I’m having some back issues, thanks to a rather large hank of hand-dyed cotton/silk blend that decided to entangle itself so badly that even after 6 hours of work, it’s still only about halfway unraveled. Ugh. My back problem from last year is back, and sitting for long periods of time exacerbates it. So my knitting time has pretty much been reduced to my morning and evening commutes, which, if I can find a seat, totals between 1 and 2 hours each day. Even so, I feel like I’m accomplishing nothing. But here’s what I’ve been working on….
Endpaper mitts. Made for the ex’s sister. Knit Picks Palette, 1/4 ball of each. Only 1 done.
Crumpets. Made for my niece. Lion Brand Cotton Ease. Too big. Need to frog.
Wisp #2. Made for a friend. Patons Lacette. A couple more pattern repeats to go.
Wolverine Socks. No pattern. Toe up with a short row toe and heel. Knit Picks Merino Style in Dusk and Harvest. One down, one to go.
Thujas for Mommy. Toe up. Knit Picks Merino Style in Moss. Almost done.
Womb (with accessories). For Soulmate. Worked flat, except for fallopian tubes. Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick. Only took a few hours. Need a wire hanger.
Next up?
*Finish Thujas
*And Wolverines.
*Make a stump cover for Gramps. (Yes, I said stump cover. He just had part of his leg amputated, and Gran is having a hard time getting the bandages to stay in place. So she asked me to knit him something to help keep them on. Which is weirder: a stump cover or a womb? Hmmm…)
*Mancalamia
*Mrs. Beetons
*Fake Isle
*Dashing
*Clapotis (I know I’m 3 years late, but I finally found the most adorable yarn for it that won’t make it too heavy. I live in Phoenix. Scarves are usually scoffed at. Seriously.)
I’ll try not to disappear for another 3 months. Really. I’ll try. :p
It’s been a whole month since my last post, I’m a lazy bastard, I know. But I’ve been busy with life stuff. I moved in with my uncle, quit my job, started a new (fantastic!) job, and found myself an incredible boyfriend. Life is pretty damn good lately, which is a far cry from where I was a couple of months ago. 
There has been some actual knitting, but not much. I’ve all but abandoned the baby sweater halfway up the front. I didn’t like the way it was turning out, much longer than I think it was supposed to. I also gave up on the SP socks. I got the Knitpicks needles in, and they seemed to make things smoother and quicker, but the yarn was still a pain. It was taking forever and a day to get through a single round, so I scrapped ‘em.
So what -have- I been doing? Well, for starters, I finally blocked the Phineas socks and wore them to work on Thursday. I had some slight indentations on the tops of my feet by the end of the day, but other than that, they were fabulous. I almost forgot I was wearing any socks at all, because I didn’t have an elastic band digging into my fat ankles.
Next, I decided to reknit the Jaywalkers I knit a few months ago. Crazy? Definitely. Necessary? Absolutely! Since one of them turned out wonky, I never wore them. So I frogged them both, reset the yarn (wound it in a loop around my forearm, tied it in a couple of places to avoid knots, gave it a dunk in lukewarm water, wrung it out, then hung it from a hanger in the shower to dry) and started reknitting them on 0’s. Oh, and I’m doing them toe up with a short row heel. They’re quite snug around the foot, which is wonderful. I hate loose socks. But when I’d gotten about 2 inches up the leg, I tried them on and discovered that they’re too tight for comfort around the ankle. I frogged all the way back to the heel and increased to 9 knit stitches and may end up going to 10, depending on how they feel when I get an inch or so into the leg.
A few days ago, I received my invitation to Ravelry. I visit it nearly as often as I visit Myspace lately! I’ve updated my queue, entered my stash, and started on my projects. I’ll probably get to my needle inventory in the next week or two. I haven’t gotten aro
und to adding any friends yet, so if you’re on there, add me!
This morning, the boyfriend and I decided to drive up to Prescott, which is about 100 miles northwest of Phoenix. Before we left, I was clever enough to look up yarn stores in the area. As luck wou
ld have it, there were three within the downtown area. He was wonderful enough to let me drag him to two of the three shops. He even helped me choose a couple hanks of Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino. And! He wants to learn to knit. Have I hit the jackpot, or what? This boy is amazing. *sigh*
I’m going to be spending my 4th of July at Tempe Yarn and Fiber, working on some Christmas knitting. They’re starting something called the Stress Buster Association, which is every Saturday from 6-8:30 and is meant to help cut down on holiday knitting stress. They’re doing a “retreat” of sorts in August, and I plan to take part in that as well.
Whew, that was a lot of updating! Time for a Doctor Who break!
I’ve been knitting for less than a year, but I think I’m a little above “beginner” level. I’ve progressed past scarves and hats and have a few pairs of socks under my belt. I’ve even started a couple of small lace projects. But there are two things that every knitter must have before they can consider themselves a “real” knitter.
First, they must have knit a sweater. I’m not quite done yet, but I’m 1/2 a front and all the seaming away from it. Granted, it’s only a baby sweater, but still, it’s more complicated than a hat, yeah? It’s Knitpicks Shine Worsted in Reef and Sunflower. Quite bright, but I like ‘em. This kid I used to work with knocked up his girlfriend (before prom), and I think that little boy is going to need a nice, handknit sweater. I’m using the Pirate Sweater pattern from Zoe Mellor’s Adorable Knits for Tots, but with a few superficial modifications. I may put a small “k” (for Kaden) on it, like a little monogram. Or maybe not. We’ll see how I feel when I get to that spot.
I also made a hat with his name on it, but I think I’ll make a new one to match the sweater.
And the second thing you need in order to be a “real” knitter is a stash. I’ve been a broke ass ho for quite some time now, so acquiring a stash has been rather difficult. However, my situation is improving, slowly but surely, and so is my stash. For her 20th birthday, I gave my soulmate (aka best friend, Jen) sock knitting lessons, so of course we had to make the journey to the lys, right? Indeed! In addition to buying her yarn and needles, I also came away with enough yarn for 3 pairs of socks with only 1 pair being necessary (SP10 gift). So why did I buy the other two? Because they’re pretty, that’s why! It’s a small stash, I know, but it’s mine, all mine! Enough rambling, onto the goodies!
Left to right: one ball of Southwest Trading Company’s TOFUtsies in Stand on Your Own Two Feet, two balls of Crystal Palace Panda Wool in Ultramarine, and two balls of Cascade Fixation in color 9054.
The Fixation is destined to be SP10 socks, but I’m not sure it will ever reach its destiny. This stuff is a pain to work with! It may just be my needles (Clovers), but it seems to be knitting up really tight, even though I’m making an effort not to. I ordered a set of needles from Knitpicks and am hoping that helps. I should get them by Friday, I think. Here’s the sock in progress, k3p1 ribbing.
On a completely non-knitting note, my soulmate and I got tattoos for our birthdays. She got a spider chrysanthemum, and I got apple blossoms. They’re on our left wrists. We’re hot stuff.
Filed under: sp10
I had a very long day today, and I was near tears by the time I got home. My Secret Pal cheered me up immensely!
There was lavendar chocolate (haven’t tried it yet, but I plan to break it out the next time I’m in a foul mood), lanolin soap, delicious-smelling candles, a felted Easter egg, daisy seeds, two hanks of Reynolds Garden Tweed, and a package of Peeps (not pictured, because they’re staling on the kitchen counter).
Thank you, Pal!
Things in my personal life haven’t really improved all that much lately. My roommate is psychotic, so I stayed with my best friend for a few days. Now I’m housesitting for my big gay uncle and will be moving back in with him when he gets back from his business trip. Yup, I’m almost 24 years old, and I’ll be living with my mommy. Wonderful. Work is still challenging. We’re resetting the entire scrapbooking section, because in less than 2 weeks, we premiere the Martha Stewart line. Yes, that’s right, Madame Martha now has her very own scrapbooking line. I’ve been working overnights, and I’m just exhausted. Oddly enough, though, I’ve been in a relatively good mood recently. The weather is gorgeous right now. I know it won’t last long, then it’ll be 115 degrees every day. But it’s not long until monsoon season, which is my favorite time of year here. Enough rambling! Onto the knitting!
I’ve fallen madly in love with toe up socks, and I thought I’d give Wendy’s Feather and Fan socks a try. I used size 1’s, so I expected them to come out a little larger since the pattern calls for 0’s, but it’s pleasantly snug. The simple lace leg is just gorgeous. My co-workers oohed and aahed over it aplenty. I worked the cuff as the pattern called for, including the cast-off. It’s very loose, so I’ll either frog it and decrease a few stitches after ending the pattern or I’ll add some elastic to it (nevermind that I still haven’t added elastic to my Jaywalkers or even blocked my Phineases.). Since I’m not at home, I don’t have the ballband with me to tell you what kind of yarn it is. I remember it’s something-Mountain in Wildflower. Now to make the second one. Oy.
Now I’m working on some house socks using Paton’s Merino and Lion Brand Felting Wool and size 6 dpn’s. The bright colors cheer me up immensely, and it’s fun planning out the completely random stripes. It’s going quickly, so hopefully I’ll have them done in the next week or so. They’re just simple stockinette right now. I may see how a 3×3 or 4×4 ribbing looks once I get to the leg.
I’m also working on the first package for my SP. I was going to just do one big package toward the end, but then I saw something I couldn’t resist, so I’m sending a small package out this week, and I’ll still do a big one next month. Here’s a hint:
Also, I finished the socks using the foreign yarn, but I didn’t get a picture of them before I gave them to their recipient. She went mad over them. Sadly, though, they’re way too itchy for her to actually wear. The next time I get to my LYS, I’ll pick up some wool wash and see if that does any good. If not, she’ll have to wait until next “winter” to wear them so she can wear a second pair under them. Haha.
Filed under: life
Things have been pretty rough lately around Chez Rozeecheeks. In a short span of time, I fell in love, had the single most loving relationship I’ve ever had, then my heart was broken. Less than an hour later, my roommate informed me that she has decided to move out, which dumps the house and $975 a month on me for the next 6 months until the lease is up. So I’ve been trying to find a new place to live, because I just can’t afford that much on my own, and I don’t trust anyone else enough to live with them. And in the midst of all this, I’m dealing with all these crazy emotions and feelings with my ex. I haven’t been knitting a lot lately, but not for lack of wanting. I know that every time I wear those socks, I’ll remember all the pain I was feeling while I was knitting them. Eventually, I’ll end up just putting them in the back of the drawer and never wear them again. Does anyone else do that, associate their FO’s with a certain time in their life or a person or even just a general feeling?
I promise I’ll have actual knitting content soon. Once I get things sorted and figured out a bit, I’ll get back into the swing of things. Really, I will.
SP- Sorry I’m not more interesting. 
It’s not -officially- summer yet, but it’s already in the 90’s here, so it sure feels like summer! Due to the warm weather, I haven’t really felt like knitting much. *gasp* I know, I know! But when it’s 90 degrees outside, do I really want to be working on a wool sock? Granted, it’s just a small bit of wool, not like a sweater or a blanket, but still, it can be uncomfortable.
Despite the heat, I’m slowly slogging away on another pair of socks. I have the first one done, and I’m almost to the heel on the second one. I can’t wait to finish these! They have a very special destination, which I won’t spoil here, just in case the intended recipient stumbles across it on accident (very unlikely, but not impossible), but I’ll definitely post pics when they’re finally a finished pair.
My boss at the school where I work jokingly asked me to make him tube socks one day, and now it’s become a thing with us. When I’m being a pain in his ass, he’ll just look at me and say, “Well, where are my tube socks?” And I’ll reply, “I can’t make them until you tell me what color you want the stripe to be.” He usually just smiles and goes back to being bossy. But yesterday, he finally told me what color he wants the stripe to be: lavender. A lavender stripe he wants, then a lavender stripe he will get. I know he doesn’t think I’ll actually do it, but that’s what will make it so great when I finally do it. I’m planning to use worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles, so they should go fairly fast. Maybe I’ll start them tonight. Or maybe I’ll just go to sleep.
Filed under: fo's
Pattern: Phineas
Materials: 2 hanks of Nature’s Palette in Dark Teal and US 1 dpns
Notes: How adorable are these socks? They were worth all the extra trouble. If you recall, the first sock came out wonky due to my miscalculations. Not only was the heel misplaced, but it was also fairly loose, which is completely my own fault for using size 1 needles when the pattern calls for zeroes. (The only size 0 needles I have are rosewood, and they’re very… bendy. I’ve already snapped one, and I’d like to keep the other 4 in working order, thankyouverymuch! Although, if I never use them, are they really in “working” order? /ramble) So I modified the pattern a bit by doing a 16 stitch diamond instead of 18, which worked out perfectly. When I ended the second diamond repeat on the foot, it was the exact length it needed to be to start the heel. Then when I ended the second repeat on the leg, it was the perfect length to begin the ribbing. Sadly, I bound off a bit too tightly, but I sort of did that on purpose. I have fat legs, so even with 1×1 ribbing, the cuff is a bit… not right. At least with the tight bind off, they’ll stay up better. My Jaywalkers are so loose, I have to put elastic in the cuff. Anyway, my point is: I love these socks! Thank you so much for the pattern, Rosemary!
So I’ve been working on these socks for the last couple of weeks, and I knit all the time at one of my jobs. (I work at an elementary school with the after school program. Yes, I’m totally teaching them to knit. Hehe.) My kids (and coworkers) are always asking what I’m making, who I’m making them for, is it hard, and on and on and on. I don’t mind. I could go on about knitting all day. Anyway, I was thisclose to being done today, so I told them I’d wear them to work tomorrow. The thing is, I don’t want to ruin them by putting them in my sneakers! Handmade socks are a great excuse to buy new shoes. :p
Next up, I’m going to be working with the SandnesGarn Tove in color 9380 that I picked up a while ago. Since it’s self-striping, I’ll probably just do a plain stockinette sock, unless I find a pattern that works well with self-striping. Any recommendations?
Filed under: sp10
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I’m madly in love with Lorna’s Laces. I love wool in general, but LL makes me super happy. I can’t stand acrylic. I’m not a yarn snob (too poor for that), but just the way it feels…. ew.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
Most of my needles are in an old vase, and I keep some of them in a drawer.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I’ve been crocheting for about 17 years. My nana taught me when I was 6, and I just never stopped. I’d consider myself intermediate. I make simple things, because I prefer it that way. As for knitting, I taught myself using books and the internet. I’m probably an intermediate beginner. I’ve done the usual scarves and hats, and I’ve recently been branching out into socks and lace. I still have a lot to learn!
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Indeed, I do. Can you tell I like socks? And baby knits? Hehe.
5. What’s your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
Pomegranates, peaches, the ocean.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I’m a fat kid. Of course I have a sweet tooth! I love those little peach rings. And kinder eggs are my unattainable dream candy. I haven’t had one since I moved to the US, and I miss them so.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don’t really do anything else. I tried spinning once with a drop spindle, but the yarn came out really funky and it made my back hurt. Maybe I’ll try it again someday. I dabbled in silk screening (simple process using an embroidery hoop), and I plan to make my own t-shirts with random movie quotes on them.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I listen to a lot of different types of music. My favorite bands/singers are: Josh Groban, The All American Rejects, Boys Like Girls, Anberlin, Fall Out Boy, MAE, Panic! at the Disco, Eisley, Ted Leo and the Pharmacist, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, Regina Spektor, Mates of State, RX Bandits, Nerf Herder. I use my computer to listen to music, so yes, it plays MP3s.
9. What’s your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can’t stand?
My favorite color is blue, but I’ve been leaning toward green a lot lately, like sagey greens. I like all colors as long as it’s the right shade. Bright orange=ew, but a deep, rich orange would be lovely.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live with a roommate, her teenage daughter and her 2 year old granddaughter. We have no pets…. well, unless you count the two-year-old. :p
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
It gets pretty chilly in the late night/early morning time out here in the desert. I wear hats and scarves, and I’d probably wear mittens too, I just never got around to making them.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting socks. They’re so small, I can easily work on them on the bus, and they’re one of those projects you can work on whenever you have time, no worries about finishing them before it’s too warm to wear them. You always need socks! I also love knitting baby stuff. I have 2 little nieces, and I’m waiting for the day when I’m not too poor to knit them cute little sweaters or blankies.
13. What are you knitting right now?
I’m currently working on Phineas. I also have a purse for my Soulmate in the works, as well as Column of Leaves around here somewhere. I’ve been sick (and poor) lately, so I haven’t been in the knitting mood.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Indeed, I do.
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I prefer circulars (or dpn’s) in bamboo. Aluminum is too slick, plastic is too light.
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Not yet.
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
My oldest crochet UFO is about a year and a half old. My oldest knitting UFO is about 4 months old.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Purim, especially the “eat, drink, and be merry” part. 
19. Is there anything that you collect?
I collect “The Source” by James A. Michener. It just seems to find me. I also collect dreidels and other Judaica.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I’m dying to knit the Central Park Hoodie, but I can’t afford even the pattern at this point. I don’t have any magazine subscriptions at the moment, but I will, oh yes, I will.
21. Are there any new techniques you\’d like to learn?
I want to learn to knit socks on two circulars. I also want to try my hand at thrumming, but I don’t know anyone who lives in a cold enough climate.
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes, I am. Size 8 US.
23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
5/22
I finished the first Phineas in only 3 days, and I have to say, I absolutely love toe-up socks! It went so much faster than cuff down. I think it’s because you start off with something more interesting instead of miles of stockinette before you get to the fun bits. The pattern was easy, and it turned out really great, except…. the heel is too loose. I started the short rows probably 1/4 of an inch too late, so the heel is all saggy. The way I see it, I have two options. First, I can make a second sock exactly like the first and gift the socks to someone with slightly larger feet than me. The downside to that is that I love this yarn, and this pattern is exactly what I had in mind for it the instant I saw it. My other option is to make the second sock the right size and frog this one and reknit the whole thing. The flaw in that plan is that I want them to be done NOW so I can wear them all the time, so maybe I should just try to get my feet to grow another 1/2 an inch or so. What to do, what to do…
My SP9 spoilee sent me a message thanking me for the package I sent and explained why she had contacted our hostess about me being a bad pal. Apparently, she thought the exchange ended on the 15th instead of the 30th. I’m glad it was all a misunderstanding, but I’m still choosing not to tell her who I am. I just hope that she has a better experience and more patience next time.
Something odd happened the other day. I got an email from someone from a publishing company who saw the cabled hat I knit for my niece from the Zoe Mellor book and asked if I’d help a fellow knitter with a problem she was having. Sure, that’s what knitters do! I’ve been trying to explain it to her via email, but it’s just working. Either I’m misunderstanding what her problem is or she’s made a mistake in the pattern. I think what I have to do is work the pattern to the point where she’s having the trouble and then try to walk her through step by step over the phone or something, but I truly don’t have the time right now. I’ll probably end up doing it anyway. I can’t leave a fellow knitter hanging, now can I?
