Friday, February 15, 2008

Pomatotmus Socks and MagKnits Review for January



Yep, they are done. I almost loathed making the second sock. Partly because I had to rip it out 3 times. Not the first sock. No. That went together without any problems at all. It was that stupid second sock! I truly need to sit down with the new two-socks-at-one-time-on-one-long-circular-needle book I just bought and just force myself to learn how to do that. Maybe after I get Jaywalking off the needles. I'm a third finished with the first sock which I'm doing with the new Noro sock yarn I bougth in Portland. Here's a peek:



The Review as Promised
Starting with Bliss which is a small blanket. It's pretyt and I think it is a darling small afghan, but I don't do afghans. Maybe if my brother were to produce me another niece or nephew I might maybe perhaps make something like this. It's listed as Intermediate, but I think that is a bit harsh. I don't think it is tres simple, but more brain power needed than just knit knit knit.

While I think that J.D. is a lovely sweater it still isn't something I would want to knit. It still doesn't have enough needle interest in it for me. Although I love the play of the houndstooth in blue and white and inconsistant throughout.

I like it when designers turn things on their sides and give you a diffrent perspective to knitting. I think that is why I am taken with Lucy. It's a nice lacy cap that is knit from side to side rather than bottom to top as most wooly hats are. Being purple helps as well. Definitely in my list of things to make (one day).

Emily has been looking for an interesting hand warmer to use for the lovely silk and tenceal yarn she bought in Portland. Evangeline may just be it. I like both the short and long versions, but think she may only have enough for the shorter version. This lovely likke cabled pattern is fun and interesting. But then I do love cables.

Orno Abaci is a nice simple geeky scarf pattern. Unfortunately the main geek in my life wouldn't wear a scarf.

Now this is fun! But then I like color work, so I'm drawn to Stranded. I like how al the different patterns are put together and it doesn't look overly busy. Wouldn't it be lovely in purple and buttercup yellow?

That's it until next month's issue (which hopefully will be out in a day or two!)

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

A long post of catching up!

UGH!! I'm so far behind with all my blogs. Here's a quick catch up though.

This the Hervor Hat I made from the Elsabeth Lavold Viking Patterns book. I love how it turned out. The kids call it my Pie Crust hat because it does indeed look like a pie crust. The only thing I don't like is that I ended up with rather large ladders between the dpn sections so if I ever make this pattern again I'll decrease the needle size one down to try to eliminate so much gapping. They didn't shrink much even after blocking (yeah, I actually blocked something!)


My friend Suna gave me a "You Make My Day" award. Now I'm supposed to list 10 bloggers that I like and give them awards. Oy! OK, here goes:

1. My Autumn Friend Diane. Diane is a wonderful left-handed knitter who has created a video and learning tools for other left-handed knitters. She has started her own crusade to dispel the myths that lefties can't knit uniquely.

2. Greet's Middle Ages This is my friend Sarah's SCA blog. While not totally about knitting, she is a wonderful fiber artist and does wonderful things with wooly stuff as well as sew, cook, embroidery, and all kinds of "Peasant Tech" things.

3. Knitting Guy Mason is a truck-driving-hat-wearing-knitting-guy that I met through KnittingHelp.com His blog is always fun to read and filled with all kinds of fibery and on-the-road curiosities.

4. Slug Crossings is my friend Laura's blog. She updates it about weekly and is filled with all kinds of information from medieval costuming to the current political woes.

5. Julie's knitting blog is filled with knitting, sewing and pictures of an ever so cute baby!

6. Silver(whose real namei is Kristin, but I don't know anyone online who calls her that) is another KH friend who has a wonderful collection of sock tutorials. I think she is my most knitting devoted friend seeing as she did get herself inked with a knitting tat!

7. Jeanie is a great knitter who also is able to organize swaps very well! I know her through both KH and Ravelry.

8. ArtLady is how I will always think of Dollyce because her knitted work is just SO gorgeous! Check out her finished projects on Ravelry to see for yourself. She's also "in charge" of the stash busting group at KH!

9. Astabeth is another SCA fibery friend who actually lives in my own kingdom, but we keep missing each other at events. I try to keep up with her through her blog and Ravelry, though (if she would actually update her blog more often!)

10. Elmsey Rose is a SCA calligrapher who dissects alphabets (I think for fun). I try to keep up with her blog as she inspires me!


This is what I found on my desk this morning. It is made by my daughter Emily. She's into making plushie things of late. This is a plushie tea bag. It's really cute! She's also made me a pin cushion, but I haven't taken a picture of it yet.

OK, I think I'm fairly caught up, although I do owe a review of the January MagKnits before they post the February one.