Bimini

I finished these socks ages ago, but never put them on the interwebz for everyone to see (have you noticed me and this blog thing haven't got along that well lately? Well I haven't been getting along that well with knitting either, due to too much computing)

The socks are the usual plain and simple out of the head pattern. The yarn is Dublin Dye Company in Bimini. I think I posted ages ago about this semi solid experiment... it has since become a proper yarn sold in the shop, but of course I had to have this skein for myself :)

PSA

I had a bit of an accident last week. I have no memory of what happened, and there were no witnesses. We can be pretty certain though that myself and my brand new bike (a replacement for a third hand mountain bike I'd been using for my cycle commuting) ended up much more horizontal than vertical, at a very quick pace.

My helmet and head seem to have taken the brunt of the damage, including a crack (in the helmet), a concussion and about 5 hours of missing memory. If I hadn't been wearing the helmet it would have been worse. There would have been fractured skull, and I can't think that would be in any way a good thing.

Moral of the story? Buy a good helmet. Wear it. Always. I am a 'safe' cyclist, and I was on a quiet side street when this happened. I could have made a mistake. Someone else could have done something stupid. I could have blacked out. We don't know. But if it happened to me, it could happen to anyone. I went out and bought myself a new helmet yesterday. I will wear it. Always.

After all that bad news, here's a happy kitty to make the world a better place :)
And for those not to kitty inclined, this is what I brought to This is Knit last night (after the helmet shopping).

Crochet

Remember this?

The wonderful ilovesmekitty reverse engineered it for me. And she did a great job. I ran out the the yarn shop and bought me some yarn, 4 ply Rialto, to give it a try.

Pretty Colours

However, my attempt does not look as good as hoped...

How sad looking is that? I'm almost embarrassed to show it to you. The whole thing is slanting significantly to the right. No idea why, no idea how to stop it. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Help, please!!

Progress?

I finished my socks.

Trekking Hand Art, a present from Heidi

Also, too long ago to admit (so long ago, I don't remember...) I started a clapotis in Noro Silk Garden Sock. This is as far as it's progressed.


I have also done a little (and I do mean little) bit of crochet, and finally woven in the ends of a sweater. But that's for another day.

June

I title that like there's a lot to say about June. There's not. My Mr. Greenjeans needs blocking and end weaving still. My other UFOs remain somewhere not in my mind, never mind in my hands.

I did go on holiday for over a week and brought a sock project with me. I very much liked the Outside In sock pattern from the newest Knitty, so I printed it off and brought it along to the beach.


The observant amoungst you will notice that that's not it. I did about 1/2 the leg of the sock and then decided to try it on. And couldn't get it over my heel. Apparently the small size is not meant for my feet. Even though it's 64 stitches, the same as this sock that does fit. I should know by now a biased rib has no elasticity.

Ah well, I tore it out and started a plain ol sock (I hadnt' planned a backup pattern, and I'd only printed the chart for the smallest size). I'll try the knitty pattern again with another yarn someday. Which is rather useful actually, since I have to teach a sock class on Saturday. My first class in the new TIK space!

And thanks to everyone with comments about the Dublin Dye yarns. I was thinking I'd get way with an easy summer dye-wise, but it's running off the shelves in the shop! I'm so chuffed, and will have to get back out to the 'studio' for some more dyeing!

Yarn, lots of it

Myself and Elana have been very busy, dyeing yarn before she heads off to the US for the summer. This isn't even 1/2 of it... there is a lot already at This is Knit, and many more waiting for labels and 'shipping' (aka, me busing them into town). Lisa has kindly given them pride of place in the new shop!

Lots of dyeing, very little knitting. Must finish sweater(s) soon.

Noro wrap

This pattern was originally written for one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock. But I am a sucker for silk in yarns, so I bought two skeins of Silk Garden Sock and now have this:

One Skein, A Stole. It turned out fairly big, and I've got a 1/2 skein of yarn left. I'm wondering if it'll go with the dress I'm wearing to a wedding next week. But then, looking at the weather and taking the leaving cert exams into account (they start tomorrow) I might not need it. Too optimistic?

Half way

I bought two skeins of Noro Silk garden not long ago. I'm hoping it will be a shawl for a wedding I'm attending in two weeks. One ball down, one to go.

Please Ma'am, can I have some more?

This is what happens when you spend at least an evening a week in a yarn shop. You buy yarn. Manos silk blend in a slightly less than solid purple (purpler than it looks here). I think enough for a pretty cardi. I'd finally decided on a colour during the week, and had emailed and had Jacqui put it aside for me just in case someone else tried to buy it.

I'd almost got out safely with only those four skeins, then I realised that the last colour of Noro Silk Garden Sock had come in, and it was the one that I'd originally wanted. So I had to grab the last two skeins of it (there is more in Powerscourt though, so I don't feel so bad). I think this will make a fab shawl.


In other knitting news, I'm starting the cable section on my Mr. Greenjeans. So far, I'm happy with the results. I've put Printed Silk in a corner, so that it can grow. That'll work, right? If not, I'm going to finish it and Block (with a capital B).

Seams

I haven't knit a sweater in pieces in a long time, And Now I'm remembering why. Seaming, even when you know what you're doing, is drawn out and boring. Boring, boring boring. I've been working on the seams of this sweater for several days now, and I'm still not done.

But now that I'm on the last piece (one side seam to go) I'm starting to think it's not going to fit. It's just not big enough across the chest. I'll try to block it a bit bigger, but I'm concerned. I've also realised that I love this sweater. The yarn is lush. The pattern is pretty. I want to wear it. And it isnt' going to fit. Suggestions???

In the meantime, I've cast on for a new project. Something seamless. A top down raglan. The only downside in the lack of seams, is the purling. Lots and lots of purling.


This is going to be Mr. Greenjeans. But using Yantarik's version as inspiration for some modifications. And I'm using DK yarn. I've had my eye on this sweater since it first came out, it's only now that it's starting to come together.