Schrodinger's Kittie

It looks like I might be having to drop out of the SFCKAL. Unfortunately, the money I was going to use to get the yarn for the project looks like it is going to be slated for a new, unexpected project.

The gentleman who currently graces my life with his presence is soon to be celebrating his niece’s quinceañera and I am making her a shawl. It will be the Kiri shawl worked in Karabella’s Lace Mohair. Color 201, dye lot 53. Um, how can white have a dyelot? On size 7 (US)/ 4.5mm circular needles.

Started this evening at 7pm. I have 11 rows done, and – believe it or not – I’m pausing for a break.

I fell and busted the absolute hell out of my ribs today and staying in any one position for long hurts. I’m so not a happy girl when I think of sitting at work tomorrow for 8 hours straight. **weeps**

At least I have fuzzy, pretty mohair to work with! A bright spot in my day.

Well, that and the sweetheart of a man getting me food again. I hold him personally responsible for this extra 10 pounds I’ve gained. He seems to have a proclivity for feeding me. Not that I excel at telling him no, or anything. *chuckles*

They aren’t the best photos I’ve ever taken. I’m just learning how to use my camera phone, since my other camera is impossible to upload photos off unless I’m at work due to the no floppy issue here at the house.

But, thought I’d show you all a little of what I have in progress. The shawls have been on hold for a while. Mostly because the people I was making them for faded out of my life, so the impetuous to create them kind of faded. I will, eventually, finish them. For now, however, don’t expect to see those progress bars move much.

I’ve started on a set of socks using the Universal Sock Pattern:

I really like this yarn, though the colors are obnoxious. Sometimes a girl’s just got to have a bit of obnoxious in her life. *chuckles*

Yarn: Meilenweit Fantasy, color 4790, dye lot . 80% wool, 20% polyamid. I got it at my LYS on a lark.

Needles: 5 dpns. Size 2 (US) Clover bamboo.

They are 64 stitches around. It’s a perfect fit, so far. I’ve definitely decided I much prefer 5 needles to four.

I’m also working on the cabled scarf, using the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, and just cutting off one of the cables.

Definitely not the best of photos. But, you get an idea.

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride, color M-26 Medieval Red, dyelot 049. 85% wool, 15% mohair. 113g = 125 yds.

Weight: Bulky. 3 stitches per inch.

Needles: size 11 (US). Clover bamboo.

28 stitches across. It’s moving along pretty fast, which is good. Considering I should be called Myrtle the Turtle for how slow I knit, I need all the help I can get to get this done by February. I did the little bit shown here in a couple of hours today. Not too shabby, considering I was entertaining my son at the same time. That strange thing you see at the bottom of the scarf is how I store my cable needle when I’m not using it. *chuckles*

I’m also just starting (and will be very, very slow with this one) a lace project for myself. Considering it’s for myself, I promise you it will be the slowest to move of any active project on tap.

The pattern I’m using is coming from Lavish Lace by Carol Rasmussen Noble and Cheryl Potter. I chose “A Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness” (p62). Admittedly it calls for suri lace, but I’m using merino and enjoying the feel of it. The swatch turned out nicely, so I’m hoping this will as well. Obviously, I chose to disregard colourway all together.

Yarn: Merino Oro, color 728, dyelot 60603. Lana Merino Irrestringibile. 100% new wool. 100g = 1375 yds. Also purchased at my LYS.

Weight: Lace weight. 54 rows and 10 stitches per inch.

Needles: Size 2 (US). Clover bamboo.

It’s a delightful pattern to work, and goes surprisingly quickly considering I’m working solely from a chart. Something that always slows me way down. I’m looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Seriously. I’ve never, ever, ever understood novelty yarns. I mean…sure, it might be fun to spin up. But, I see these people on a spinning list I’m on making stuff with feathers, tinsel, bobbles, etc spun into the yarn, and the only thing I can think is, “Why?”

Point in case? Sure thing.

Seriously, what can you possibly make with this? I can’t figure it out. And, even if you had something in mind – like a crazy looking throw or something, you couldn’t even begin to make it with only 50 to 175 yards being the average for a plop of handspun like this. Maybe a scarf or belt? If you’d want to wear it…actually, if you could get the “bobbles” to be knitable.

Now this. Um. Words cannot express my confusion. It’s beautiful just sitting there, like that. If I had this given to me, I’d have to find a cake platform, or fairly flat bowl to display it in and just let it sit for decoration. I certainly couldn’t think of anything that could be made with this that would hold the beauty of it. Seriously. If you tried to make something with this, all the little bits and pieces would be scattered all over and it would look like you had knitted something up and then gone and rolled around enthusiastically in a waste bits pile in the corner of your craft room. Yet, it’s for sale. And, someone will buy it. Interesting.

Now, The Redhead. That woman makes some yarn like you would not believe. She generally has to beat me off with a stick when she puts some up for sale. She’s awesome enough, she’d have to beat me off with a stick regardless. *grins*

One day, I might, just might spin something worthwhile enough to post for you all to see. But, I know my shortcomings…and a great spinner, I am not. I do enjoy the process, though. And, that’s good enough for me.

As for what I’m up to? Well, I had made a really nice cable pattern that I was planning on using instead of the standard cable for the scarf for my friend’s birthday. However, the yarn I chose to pull from stash to attempt to make it with…well…not so much. I love the yarn, but I knew it was likely not going to be the one to use for such an intricate cabling pattern. I was hoping, though. Swatched up. Oh yah, definitely not gonna work. So. Back to the basic cable. *pouts* I just don’t have time to make this scarf with smaller, more appropriate yarn to get the definition necessary for intricate cable work. It’s not that intricate, but enough that a wool/mohair chunky blend (Lamb’s Pride for those curious) just will not cut it. So, suck it up, and do the basics. *chuckles* I really did know it wouldn’t work. But, hope lives on and swatches only take a short amount of time to do. *grins*