UFO #3

Well, here we are again. End of the month, time for a UFO!

You saw a sneak of this earlier in the month, but I didn't tell you what it was. (*ahem* emphasis on was)

It's the super lacy Tiger Eyes sock from Socks! Socks! Socks!. This is about as far as they got. I can't put my finger on it, but the pattern just wasn't doing it for me.

The yarn is Lenten Rose from Sundara's Petal Collection. It's a beautiful dusty purple. I must find a more appropriate pattern. I'm thinking maybe Roza's Socks; Grumperina's addition to the Spring Interweave. We shall see.

Oh yes, and you might have noticed the little ticker on the sidebar. It's true. A yarn diet. Yikes. It will end right around our first wedding anniversary. What a way to celebrate!

Scarf crazy

Happy Monday!

Back to work after a very productive knitterly weekend. First, the man and I went to Oakland to visit Article Pract. You may remember that Kathy (my SP9 spoiler) sent me a gift certificate way back when. I had never been there before, and the man couldn't pass up an east bay adventure, so Saturday morning we headed over to check it out. What a fabulous little store!
I bought Koigu for the Chevron Scarf (everybody's doing it!), and had the man pick some yarn for the lining of his Pirate hat. I was really impressed by his choice. Set loose in a yarn store packed to the gills with suitable choices and what does he pick? Rowan Calmer! Is good taste in yarn inherent? or has he just been hanging around me and my stash for too long?
I also chose some Crystal Palace Daisy needles for my scarf. I hardly ever knit with straights, but they were purple. How could I resist?
After our shopping spree, we needed some sustenance. Vanessa had recommended the pizza place next door to Article Pract, but they weren't open. We found a deli across the street which was fabulous! Quite a line, but worth the wait.

When we got home, I immediately jumped in and did this. I love the way the colors are coming together.

This is Koigu KPPPM P508 and P436.

ETA: How about some better pictures of this beauty?

In the past week I also whipped up a So-Called Scarf. I knit it up with 2 skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in Jewel Blue and size 11 Denise needles. What a fun pattern! It's really easy to memorize, but creates a fabulous texture.



Of course, now that it's spring I decide to knit scarves. Go figure.

On sewing

Seeing all these knit-bloggers show off their sewing projects (you know, like her, and her, and her, and her, and her, and... ok I'll stop) has lately given me new naughty urges. Not that I don't already have enough going on. Ahem.

Anyway, sewing is not a new-to-me craft. Although I don't think I've mentioned it previously, sewing was actually my first love. I learned to sew at around, oh, probably 7 years old, on my mom's Bernina 830. I received one just like it as a high school graduation present. Living in a tiny apartment in the city, however, is not terribly conducive to creating luxurious and laborious sewn garments. I would have to tell the man, "Eat your dinner on the couch! The dinner table is covered in fabric, and I can't have you getting crumbs on my masterpiece!" which is ok every once in a while, but not good for an obsession. He puts up with yarn in every available nook and cranny, but would definitely object to a sewing machine taking up permanent residence on the dining table.



So, last weekend, while he was out of town, I gathered my supplies and did this.

While far from complete, this is Amy Butler's Weekender Travel Bag pattern in her fabrics from the Forest collection.

It was such a joy to drag my machine out of the closet, fire up my iron and get this much done. I hadn't realized just how different these crafts are, and how much I enjoy both for different reasons.

Sewing, for example, seems so definite, so final. You cut out your pattern (!!!) and there's no going back. Cut it too small? Tough - go buy more fabric. With knitting you can usually just give a swift tug on the working end of your yarn and undo all kinds of mistakes. Or just throw your piece off a tall building and watch it unravel itself. You know you've wanted to at least once. Try doing that with a sewing machine and see what happens. (No, don't. I was kidding).

Besides that, sewing is dangerous! You use a heavy machine that can easily poke holes in your fingers, a hot iron, and sharp pins. Even the pointiest metal dpns have nothing on the dangers of sewing.

Anyway, the point of all this is that you'll be seeing more sewing around here. Hope you don't mind. After I finish the Weekender, this is next. (Also seen here.)

Knitter's ADD

Pomatomus complete

Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A. from Winter '05 Knitty

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Georgetown

Needles: Size 2 Clover bamboo dpns

Mods: None.

This is a really great pattern! The lace is a little complicated, but not completely unmanageable once you get a rhythm going.

I'm a total Lorna's Laces convert! This stuff is awesome. And they're totally cute with my new Mary Janes, even if I do say so myself.

ETA: For those interested, the shoes are by Palladium, and can be found at Zappos. Enjoy!