I told you so!

The first project completed isn't any I talked about in my last post. It's a completely different project I saw and just had to complete.

The Calorimetry

The picture shows there are some issues with it, as I figured it out while I knitted, and I didn't feel like backtracking. The original instructions are on Knitty, but I had read around on various blogs and message boards there were some sizing issues with the gauge as written. I decided to knit pretty much as written, but on size US 6 needles instead of US 8 as the pattern calls for. I think it worked pretty well, and now I know much better perfectly. The yarn is Diakeito Diamusee 100% wool in their 40 (gray/mauve) color. I think my favorite part is the little band of butter cream in the center. When worn, the 'issues' aren't visible, and the headband fits very well. despite trying to roll along the bindoff edge.

All in all, I'd say it's pretty much a success, and I plan to adapt and modify a bit.

And, because I was already taking pictures, here's a shot of a felted bag I recently finished. I had intended to give this to my sister for Christmas, but I got sidetracked and didn't finish in time. It's made of LionBrand Wool Prints in Majestic Mountain colorway. I knitted it on size 8 needles, and I don't remember the original, unfelted size. Felted dimensions are -12" x 8" and the strap is 44" inches from end to end.

Now, back to the socks.

Knitting ADD

I've decided I have knitting ADD. There you have it. Otherwise, there would be a rational explanation as to why I have tons of yarn, a dozen projects half started or in various stages of completion, and now I'm researching my newest knitting obsession.

Entrelac.

It's so cool. Basically, you knit little squares, then switch colors and directions. Like this:

The first is someone's entrelac scarf I found on Flickr. The second pic is entrelac socks in the Spring 2007 edition of Interweave Knits. And, I'm totally enthralled. Not just your normal, "Oh, what a cool pattern" enthralled, but obsessed and consumed. Oh, yes, I will make it mine.

But, I also have the half dozen projects lying about. I've finally found a sock pattern that makes sense. Toe UP! Who'd of thunk it? I have had to start, frog it and re-ball about 3 times before I figured out the right gauge and such, but I've got it now. I've also decided to work the socks in tandem. When I get to a major changing point or increase or decrease, I stop, work the second sock to the same point, and move forward. It less than a day, I actually have two toes. I'm pretty pumped about that. Here's the mostly done toe, and the just started toe, in Lorna's Laces Bucks Bar colorway. Maybe it's supposed to stripe, but I kind of like the color blocking.

And, just because it's so scary, here's a picture of what I'm working on for the hubby. He says I never knit anything for him. Well, that's true, basically. He wouldn't WEAR it, so why waste the yarn? But, in a fit of total insanity, I purchased some of the most God-awful hunter/blaze orange acrylic yarn, and I"m working on a simple skull cap. You must share in the horror:

Oh...and my to-be-knitted entrelac project? Yes, I (almost) have a colorway picked out:

Be blessed....

I have been told by a certain 'friend' that my blog is boring. Well, yeah. I know that. It's not really intended for mass consumption anyway, but more for me to use as I see fit. That's assuming I actually remember to post to the thing, which, admittedly, I forget to do.

So, to spice things up, and to see who is paying attention, I thought I'd add some info here that might help certain individuals, should they be seeking information about a particular item of jewelry I wear. All I will provide is the picture below. The rest is up to you.

What do you do with a scurvy blog?

Make it walk the plank?

Drink more oj?

Post more?

Probably the latter. So, I suppose I should do that.

What have I been doing lately?

Letterboxing. The family has made a couple of trips over the past month for boxing excursions. One to Atlanta, where we met up with Eidolon and Artemis and the infamous HH puppies, Community and Cemetery. Did a spot of boxing, a bit of planting and a LOT of walking.

Most recently, we went to Columbia, SC. We spent the day boxing, a little bit of planting, eating a spot of bar b que and walking. :-) We planned to go to the Zoo as well, but Mixed Up Chameleon had a bit of a mishap on the trail (MUC fell into the muck), so we decided to make that part of the journey another day.

When we go on these trips, I'm always amazed at the sites we find. These places are so near and having lived in this part of the country/state all my life, you would think I would have known about them. But, I'm constantly awed and thrilled at the new places we see. Some of the more recent ones:

Arabia Mountain Park

Harbison State Forest

Clemson Sandhills Research and Education Center

Here's a shot from the last. I didn't take this, but it definitely expresses the beauty there.



Also today, took MUC and went to check on some of my local boxes, one of which is near the James Brown statue downtown. Given the traffic lately, I thought it a good idea to double check. While we were there, two couples came by to take pictures and such. I did have the foresight to bring my camera, so I made MUC get up there with James as well. He thought that was really cool. Unfortunately, you can't tell that by his expression in the picture.