Monday workout

I'm late with this one.

• Push-ups: normal, wide, narrow, wide, repeat
• Step onto bench and jump
  
• Crab walk x2
• High jump, bringing knees to chest
• Lying on side, with hip raised and propped up on one arm, lift dumbbell - first, perpendicularly out from the body and up, then parallel to the body and up

There may have been more, but my mind is blanking on me.

Clearing Out

It feels good to finally go through my stash & random WIPs.  I'm also clearing through my Rav stash/projects.  Once I organize all my stuff, synch everything up, come up with storage solutions, and frog the abandoned projects, I'll be able to actually plan and work on new things.

Updates

I need to post pictures of my finished Renaissance Faire costume....but I'm too lazy to do that right now. :P

I'm almost done with my "White Nights Camisole" (in purple!). I'm up to the armhole part where I need to separate for the front and back. It goes from there up to the neck, and then there's a collar.

Stuff I need to work on:
- Finish off Vixen Tank - it was almost done but then I got caught up finishing the gifts for my uncle.
- Finish off Kai-Mei socks - I got hung up on the fact that I had the wrong number of stitches at the toe. I need to finish the toe and finish the 2nd sock.
- Knit/crochet a top for Scarlett. Maybe a baby item as well.

- Sew a pillowcase for the long body pillow we have.
- Sew a tote bag for Michelle.
- Sew a magazine/book holder to hang on the bathroom wall.
- Hem my dress pants.
- Experiment with sewing another top. I want to achieve spectacular bustiness.

DOH

Didn't get much done last night. I had to go to JoAnn's to pick up more double folded bias tape (picked out an olive color) with matching thread. I also went to Borders to get the latest Vogue Knitting magazine. It's got some really nice pieces in it this issue. I also picked up a few sewing magazines that looked like they had really good tips.

So last night I sewed the bust darts on the vest pieces with the interfacing. I sewed the shoulder seams and side seams too. On the lining I have one shoulder seam done with the other shoulder seam and both side seams still to be done. It was annoying because I screwed up sewing and had to pick out stitches....TWICE. Ugh. I hope the rest of it won't be too bad. I can't go to sleep too late tonight if I want to get up at 7:00am tomorrow for archery. If I can't finish tonight, I'll have time tomorrow afternoon as well. That should be enough, I think.

Only a few days left

...before going to the Renaissance Faire. I may go on Sunday instead of Saturday as Lawrence declared that archery plus Faire equals too much activity for one day.

Tuesday night, after knitting, I stayed up until almost 4am sewing. This is one seriously addicting activity. It didn't even feel like I got much done! I ironed the red fabric and traced the vest pattern pieces onto it. I cut it out, pinned the bust darts on the front and sewed in the darts. That was all.

After sewing them together, I took a look at the pattern and realized that I had done it wrong... You're supposed to baste the interfacing to the cloth *before* you sew up the darts. GAHHHH. Then I realized that I could just have those pieces be the lining.

Last night, I traced and cut another set of the vest pattern pieces. I had already cut the interfacing a week ago, thankfully. I pinned the interfacing onto the cloth and basted it all together. That ended up being rather time consuming as well. The only thing I had time for at the end was to pin the bust dart seams together and mark out the line I was to sew on.

Reading through the instructions, I also realized that I used the WRONG bias tape. I had used the double folded bias tape for the blouse's elastic casing, but then I realized I was supposed to use the single fold - no wonder I ran out! It's the vest that calls for the double folded bias tape to enclose the edges of the outside, interfacing, and lining fabrics. I'm going to have to head back to JoAnn's for more bias tape...joy! I doubt they have more of the dark brown I've been using since I took the last one in the store on Tuesday. On the bright side, that means I could pick a different color to use for the bias tape! I realized that dark brown edges on a dark red vest would probably not show up very well. Unfortunately, I don't know what would work better. Black maybe? Black matches everything...

If I can go to JoAnn's tonight, I *might* be able to finish the vest tonight. Besides the darts for the front of the vest, I will have to sew the shoulder seams and side seams together. Next comes the bias tape all around the armholes, neckline, front opening, and bottom edges. That will probably be the most time consuming part since there are so many curves everywhere. Once that is done, all I have to do is hammer in the grommets and create a cord to lace the front with.

Costume Update

Skirt - Done except I need to sew on the eye & hook. I sewed on the eye...but then I realized I did it upside down. Who knew that bend in the wire is actually there for a reason? I bought the smallest size JoAnn's has because I didn't want it to be visible, but after trying to manipulate it I'm starting to think that wasn't a good idea. It's a real pain because it's fiddly in my clumsy fingers and it's hard on the eyes.

Blouse - I've got the pieces cut out and ready to go. I studied the drawings and the instructions and I *think* I understand. Problem: I bought the wrong color of bias tape. I thought the bias tape was for the vest so I bought it in brown as accent that matches the skirt. Apparently the [white] blouse needs bias tape for the elastic band at the sleeve cuffs. ::sighhhhhh:: I'm going to have to go back to JoAnn's before I can even start sewing the blouse.

Vest - I didn't get to meet up with Annette today for further fitting because she had to go in to work. I did get to talk to her on the phone and she gave me some advice on what I could do on my own. She suggested I cut out the pattern pieces again with the broadcloth with an extra inch on each of the side seams so I have room to play around with the angles. Then, when sewing the side seams, I can experiment sewing straight halfway up, and then turning the fabric on the front piece so the seam angles in. That would reduce the extra space I had at the armhole. Then for the bust dart, I follow the line but a few inches from the tip, I dip in close to the edge of the seam and end it almost parallel.

Renaissance Faire

I'm planning to go to the Renaissance Faire for the first time this year. It came about rather suddenly as I was at work going through a demo of our County's website for the redesign of our Department's webpages. I saw a listing announcing the Renaissance Faire starting in April and that reminded me that I had never been to one before.

I asked my boss about it because he used to go every year. I thought Lawrence might consider it too geeky, but he said he'd be interested. I was okay with not going in costume but at knitting night, Annette convinced me to make my own costume. She said she'd help me out too - how could I turn down that offer? :) I would get to go in costume (I guess I've always had a thing for that since cosplaying at my first anime conventions). I would get practice sewing garments. AND, I would have the help of someone experienced with sewing from patterns.

I picked out 2 Simplicity patterns from advice I found online - #5582 and #3618. I got real lucky and bought both for $.99 each from Jo-Ann's pre-Easter sale.

I met with Annette and she showed me how to get started. She also gave me a bunch of tracing paper so I could trace the patterns onto the paper and cut out the paper. When I got home, I was so excited I stayed up late making my practice vest (for fitting purposes). I got fabric for my costume and stayed up till 3am cutting out all the pattern pieces.

Current Status
Vest - Practice vest sewn. Need less pointy darts (make tip flatter along fold). Maybe need more in circumference. Armholes a little baggy. Annette will help me fit it.

Blouse - Pattern pieces cut and fabric ready. Will start on this as soon as the skirt is done.

Skirt - Sewed the panels together. Currently attaching the waistband. After that, need to hem the bottom. Still need to buy twill tape to run through the waistband, and maybe an eye/hook closure.

Morgan Hat

After much knitting on Friday and Saturday, I reached the top edges of the hat where you knit each stitch together with the one 3 rows below, creating a sort of rolled edge. I measured the hat at that point and realized it was way too big. The pattern says it has a width of about 8.25". On size 6 needles, I was getting a width of nearly 10".

On Sunday afternoon, I sat at Borders and ripped everything out so I could start over. I used size 4 needles and now have a width much closer to 8.25". The fabric is tighter too, which is nice because I felt it was too loose and had too many holes before.

At the rate I'm knitting the hat, I can probably finish it tonight or tomorrow. I could potentially even finish up a pair of Knucks made in the same Rowanspun yarn. I don't think the socks will happen. They would be the odd ones out since they wouldn't be made with a matching yarn.

The Rowanspun is softer than it felt in the skein. I hear it blooms and gets much softer after a good wet soaking.

Current Project Status

Quick update on the status of my active projects.

Rona Lace Shawl - It's been a while since I've worked on this because it is now at the point where each round takes me at least half an hour to finish. With at least 50 more rounds to go, I'm not looking forward to all the time I still need to spend on this.

Crusoe Socks - I'm past the heel on the 2nd sock. These may be done by this weekend but I've got a few other projects I need to start.

Vixen Camisole - I started this the same time as the Crusoe socks. This is also almost done - it's such an easy pattern that I've just been flying away on it. I also may finish this weekend (although I'd still have to buy the ribbon for the straps).

Projects I plan on starting and completing by next weekend (they're going to my uncle for his 70th birthday):

Comfy Socks - These socks are knit with a bulky yarn. I actually made a pair using this pattern for my grandfather. Unfortunately, I gave them to him right before he was taken to the hospital and he never got a chance to wear them before he passed away. I put the socks in his coffin before the was cremated since they were made for him. I should have some bulky yarns in my stash I can use for this - Moda Dea Tweedle Dee & Valley Yarns Berkshire Bulky. I've got some leftover bits Cascade Magnum I could use for stripes too.

Morgan Hat - This type of hat is called a "flat top", "golf cap" or "driver's cap". An excellent item for an elderly gentleman! I'm thinking of using my Rowan Rowanspun 4ply in Sludge, doubled. It's dark and has a tweed look to it. I've even got some super heavy interfacing I can use for the lip of the cap.

Knucks - These are fingerless gloves that still have a bit of each finger. I'm thinking of also doubling up the Rowan Rowanspun 4ply in Sludge for these. I'll have matching hat & gloves.

* My thanks to the wonderful people who replied to my post on Ravelry with their suggestions.

The Circle of Crafting

I've been knitting so much stuff recently that I'm at that point again where I'm feeling the urge to work on a different craft for a bit. After receiving my new heddle, I never took the time to put the warp back onto my Kromski loom. I wanted to take it out of the closet on Monday but I got preoccupied. Last night at the knitting group, we had two people who were spinners. Maybe I should take out my drop spindle and give it another whirl? :P I was also thinking about digging out my jewelry wire and pliers so I could try to making ear cuffs.

Updated projects with photos

I took some time this weekend to upload photos of projects I hadn't yet uploaded onto Ravelry. Here are just a few photos:


Muffin playing with the bumble bee toy I made for her:



"Crusoe" socks (because they're "stranded"):



"Monterey" socks from The Eclectic Sole:



"Endpaper Mitts", pattern by Eunny Jang:

dramaz?

I love my online communities but I think reading about the drama that inevitably goes on is getting to me. I need to focus more on my knitting!

Seaming sucks

I didn't realize it would take so long to seam sleeves. Because there's all these curves, diagonal lines, and matching rows to columns, I have to make sure I line up the pieces perfectly. Otherwise, it will look really crappy. My sweater should be done by now but I put off blocking & seaming the pieces in anticipation of the suckiness. The pieces got washed and blocked. I looked up instructions on what to do and then started to realize how annoying this could get.

The pattern for the Multiplicity sweater calls for a slip-stitch selvedge. I can't actually seam into the selvedge stitches because they're too big, so I have to make my seam one stitch into the fabric. At least those big slipped stitches make lining things up easier. Some people suggested using a three-needle bind-off for selvedge stitches like that, but I wasn't sure if that would turn out pretty, and that would mean picking up stitches. In the end, I used this blog post's guide to seaming sleeves. I used tiny little safety pins to pin the pieces together.

In the entire 2.5 hours of Tuesday's knitting night, I was able to seam the shoulders, match up one sleeve to the front/back pieces, and seam up half the armhole. I finished the rest of the armhole last night. I did rip back two times because I wanted to get it right. The sleeve edge does seem to be a little shorter than the sweater armhole allows for, but I was able to match it up evenly. Now it's time for the second sleeve...ugh. Once I finish it though, the rest of it will be smooth sailing because it will be matching up stitches one-to-one.

WIP Progress

I'm slowly but surely getting through all these piled up WIPs now that my pieces to my sweater are done.

Clementine Shawlette
- I decided not to graft in pattern and just do the kitchener grafting described in the instructions.
- The yarn relaxed a lot after washing, and the shawlette is longer than I expected. To wear it, I'm going to have to pull the ends up, causing the back to droop low, which isn't a bad thing.
- The ends still need to be woven in.

Monterey Socks
- I bound off the first pair of socks.
- The ends need to be woven in.
- I need to make the 2nd sock.

Marilinda Socks
- I started the 2nd sock.
- I need to finish the rest of the sock, from the cuff on down.

Rona Lace Shawl
- I have not worked on this much.
- Same, I still need to finish around 40 rows.

Multiplicity Sweater
- I finished the front, the back, and the 2 sleeves.
- It's been washed & blocked.
- I need to seam the pieces together, first the front piece to the back piece, up the sides and across the shoulders. Then, each of the sleeves need to be set in at the armholes.
- I need to buy buttons.
- After seaming, I need to knit up the cowl neck.

WIPs

Works in Progress

Clementine Shawl
- Both sides are done but the gauge for each side does not match. One side takes more pattern repeats to reach the same length as the other side.
- I may have to wash/block them both before deciding what to do.
- I have to figure out how to graft them together.

Monterey Socks
- First sock needs to be bound off.
- Second sock needs to be knit.
- I need to do some research first and figure out a better way to cast on/cast off in the middle of a row.

Marilinda Socks
- First sock is done and the ends need to be woven in.
- Second sock needs to be knit.

Rona Lace Shawl
- I need to finish the 45 or so rounds left.

Multiplicity Sweater
- I need to finish the 2 sleeves.
- The cowl portion needs to be knit.
- I need to find suitable buttons.
- I should also figure out if I have enough yarn left, and then order more if necessary.
- The pieces then need to be blocked and seamed (3-needle bind-off?).

_____________________________________________

Christmas Presents

After the debacle that was last year's Christmas gifts, I don't know if I can bring myself to knit presents for everyone again for this year. Maybe I could do it if it were something quick but with all the stuff I've been working on, I can't figure out what that could be. If I don't knit or crochet something, then what should I give my cousins? I wish I could give chocolate, since I found a bunch of cool chocolate companies, but they're all boys who probably don't eat chocolate. I was thinking about cooking. Maybe not my chocolate truffles, but something like homemade toffee? Packaged up nicely?

Knitted Dissections

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5197504&section_id=5395372

These are awesome - knitted/felted dissected rats & frogs. These things earned a mention on the Pharyngula blog.

Lawrence wants a sweater?

Doh. I get so lazy and preoccupied with other things that I haven't updated this blog with pictures of my work in SUCH a long time...with Ravelry there, the prospect of having to upload pictures and update twice is not-so-appealing.

One thing this blog is good for is getting thoughts out of my head.

Yesterday night, Lawrence asked me to make a sweater for him! :D I was so surprised because he hates wearing sweaters, he doesn't like the look of knitted stitches, and prefers smooth, finely woven fabrics that are cut and tailored to a nice finished look. He specified that he still doesn't like cables, which unfortunately so many men's sweaters make use of. What he would like is argyle. I think that's because argyle is one of those traditional elements that has been utilized by the young, hip crowd - much like tartan plaids. So, wearing an argyle sweater, he can pass as suitably stuffy at his sales job AND pass as a yuppy punky hipster when we go out.

Perhaps I could try to add in some cool design elements to exaggerate the transformation. Or...maybe I've been watching too much Project Runway.

Like an Addict

At the time I wrote the previous post, I was probably over-reacting to things. We talked things over the next day because he didn't realize how upset he made me. I tried to step back and look at things from a different perspective, and I could see how many of my actions were a bit too overboard. I was also using my knitting as a crutch, or sometimes even an excuse to not participate in social situations. I can't truely say that knitting does not divide my attention until I become more sociable. Being able to knit without looking would help too (eye contact!!!).

So when I'm with others, I will refrain from knitting at restaurants while we're waiting for our food. I will try to engage in conversations. bleh :P

Torn

I'm feeling really torn right now. I feel like everyone in my life thinks I'm overly obsessed with knitting. Apparently it's all I think about, it's all I talk about, it's all I do. Lawrence feels that it has become a harmful addiction, like when I played World of Warcraft all the time - except this is even worse because I can bring my knitting with me anywhere.

I really don't want to become petulant and turn this into a wedge between us but I'm afraid my initial reaction is to do something rather pouty. He's often said that he supports my hobbies and he's happy that I have things that I'm interested in, but I don't know. I feel like it causes him too much trouble with too little for him to gain. For one thing, he doesn't wear knitted things so it's not like he's getting anything out of my knitting. When I'm knitting or on Ravelry, my attention is not fully focused on him, nor is it fully on activities with him. I don't go and sit with him to watch TV. I decline to play video games with him in order to knit or be on the computer. When I go out, I always bring my knitting with me and find ways to get a bit of knitting done. It takes up lots of closet space and random balls of yarn always find ways to place themselves all over the apartment. I feel like he also thinks that if I weren't so obsessed with knitting, I would "take care of myself" more and do things like exercise, style my hair, cook, etc.

He feels that I'm blinded by my feelings because I have a whole Ravelry community at my back, enabling me and telling me to ignore anyone who says anything negative about my knitting. It's like a cult, and being in the middle of it I can't see how harmfully deep into it I am. I can see his point, but I still feel that my crafting is important to me (is this what cultists and fundamentalists feel like when someone challenges their worldview?). I was trying to figure out why and I think it's a result of a natural progression. I grew up with the message drilled into me that I could do anything.

All throughout high school this felt true for the most part. Nothing was so difficult that I couldn't get through it. I started to see some cracks in my junior/senior year when I took classes outside my high school. I took an online Physics class through the John Hopkins program. I was bored out of my mind and could not stay awake through the video lectures - fail. I took a C++ class at the local community college and so much of it felt beyond me. The only reason I got through was because I had a friend who was willing to help me out on my projects. I took a 2nd semester Calculus class. Math was one subject I had always felt confident in because of all the work I had to put into it. I got a C- in that Calculus class. Come college, everything took work and time - things that I put off and ignored until I ended up almost failing out of school.

I found satisfaction in what felt like the few things I could still succeed in. I started crafting. First there was the physical crafting - origami, sewing, knitting, crochet, beading. Then I started playing World of Warcraft and through my boyfriend I was able to learn to be a good player and raid successfully in a great guild. After the guild splintered and my gaming stopped, I picked up the knitting and crochet again. This second time around I had Ravelry and a previously undiscovered online world of crafting. With so much knowledge at my fingertips, I could take on anything. My hobby would also result in tangible, utilitarian objects. This was something gaming would never have. I could be successful at a skill, AND I got a useful bonus prize at the end.

I feel like taking knitting out of my life would be like taking the potential for success out of my life. Watching TV and playing games is great and all, but I can't accomplish anything through those activities and I need to accomplish things with my life. I also don't want to give up doing what I want to do with my life and end up resenting Lawrence over it. I'm sure he doesn't want that either but I don't know how we can reach a compromise.

First Weaving project

I finally got a chance to start weaving last night. Yesterday I finished up the crochet hook holder and the baby blanket. I had my calculations ready for the warping and I was mentally ready to get started.

I sure am getting a lot of practice warping...The first 2 times I had to take apart my warp and rewind the yarn into balls because one of the pegs was loose and my tension was way too tight. I loosened up a bit for the 3rd try. When I was almost done with the first ball I counted the number of ends and I was already beyond my calculated number of ends. The problem is I had calculated that it would take me 1.5 balls of this yarn. I then proceeded to smack myself on the head. I used a different yarn initially to mark out my path. This yarn I cut to be roughly 2.33 yards, and then I proceeded to wrap for the entire circuit of the path. The thing is, each END is supposed to be 2.33 yards. My first 3 attempts at warping were actually producing ends that were roughly 1.16 yards long, half of what I needed. No wonder one ball was more than enough.

For my 4th attempt, I took a second ball, wound it on the ball winder, then joined it to the first ball (still sitting on the warping board) with a weaver's knot and finished winding the 2 into 1 ball. I will probably have to fine a better solution to join ends for warping, but a weaver's knot is tight and I don't think conventional knitting joins (spit slicing, Russian join) would hold up to the tension. I am now almost done warping, with 126 out of a needed 144 ends on the warping board.