32 posts tagged “knitting”
Well, I've been putting a lot of thought into the knitting that I've been doing over the last year. I've gotten a lot better at it, and I think the stuff I make turns out quite well. I've gotten better at photographing my projects and keeping track of my yarn. To keep the good times rolling, I've decided to make a list of goals for 2009. Resolutions are for suckers. These are things I will do.
1- Major stash-organizing. I have little room to work with at my house, seeing as my bedroom is only 9'x10' (thanks, roomies!). The result is that my yarn gets shoved in big rubbermaid containers in a hall closet. I forget what I have in there and it's a major pain to get to. So when I get some $$$ I'm going to invest in some storage for my yarn. While organizing I'll need to do some ...
2- Major stash-busting. One of my big rubbermaid containers holds a ton of acryllic yarn from Warm the World, a non-profit that makes blankets. I can't explain why, but I just can't get myself to do the work. Maybe I am that big of a jerk/selfish knitter. Either way, the yarn should go somewhere that will use it. So I'll probably box it up, plus some extra acryllic stuff that I will never use, and send it back to Warm the World. That will clear up a lot of space.
3- Learn intarsia. I really want to get into colorworking, and I feel like my total avoidance of projects involving colorwork is keeping me back. I'm pretty sure my LYS will have some sort of class at some point. I may ask the owner about it.
4- Do more weaving. I took a weaving class back in August and it was awesome. The owner of Hill Country Weavers reminds me every time I go into the shop that I should keep it up, and I agree. HCW has three properties, one of which is a house filled with large looms and warping umbrellas that are open and free to use. So I think I'm going to make a rug for the hallway outside of my bedroom. I'll use up some acryllic yarn and scraps that I have from old projects.
5- Start selling projects on Etsy/etc. I've made plenty of things because I like the patterns. But what should I do with them? I think I'll try selling stuff. I would naturally give full credit to the designers and would only look for reimbursment of material costs. I think that's reasonable and fair. I don't want to get in trouble with copyright but I'm not really trying to make a profit. If I want to make a profit from this then I'll need to stick with #6.
6- Design more original projects. I've made one original pattern and it has over 100 projects on Ravelry. I think that's pretty good! I've been asked by two different people to think up stuff from various knitting magazines/online zines so I'd really like to do that. Hopefully I can budget myself time to design and test stuff out this semester.
7- Learn to spin. I know there will be spinning classes at HCW, so whenever one pops up I'm going to take it. That will involve, at some point in the future, probably buying a wheel. We'll see about that. I can't really afford that and if all goes according to plan and I get a teaching job in the UK after I finish my PhD I won't want to bother with trying to sell it/move it/whatever. But I definitely want to learn how.
8- Knit at least one project from every knitting/crochet book I own. I have quite a few, and this will be a good test to see what I should keep and what I should sell.
I think that's a good list of stuff to do, and it seems pretty reasonable. I'll keep track of the projects I finish for the year, like I did last year (62!), but now that I know I can have a large output of quality/cool items I don't feel like I have to challenge myself in that way. This year I want to streamline and learn new things. I admit, though, that forcing myself to make so many projects this year has really improved the quality of what I make.
Here's the list of what I did in 2008:
- Pineapple Hat
- Amigurumi Bear
- Amigurumi Squid x2
- Quant
- Womb
- 2x2 Ribbed Hat
- Amigurumi Raindrop x2
- Amigurumi Whale
- Birds of a Feather (amigurumi bird) x2
- Cthulhu Baby Bib
- Aramis (sweater)
- Tudora (cowl)
- Katamari Earmuffs
- Biscuit Pillow
- Adipose (Doctor Who, stuffed animal) x2
- Smocking Stitch Mug Cozy (by MK Carroll)
- Garter Stitch Mug Cozy
- "Cashmere" Cowl by Purl Bee
- Triple Cable Muffler
- Train Tam
- Lopi Lace Scarf
- Brain Slug x2
- Aspen Cowl
- One Skein Wonder (shrug) x2
- Parallelograms Scarf
- Twirly Top Toque
- Calorimetry x3
- Stella's Hat
- Rose Red x2
- Sunray
- Reverse-Bloom Flower Dishcloth
- Rose's Wristwarmers (Doctor Who)
- A Nobel Cowl (my original pattern!)
- "Cashmere" Neckwarmer by Kim K.
- Woven Scarf x2
- Amigurumi Ninja
- Beech Wood Cowl
- Clapotis x2
- French Press Cozy
- Wedding Shrug (improvised pattern)
- Amigurumi Lion
- Spring Beret
- Gooseberry Hat
- Baby Hat (from One Skein)
- Rib & Cable Quarter Gaiter x2
- Urchin
- Abalone
- Propeller
- Fence
- Give a Hoot Mittens
So that's 50 unique projects and 62 total projects. Pretty good year, I think.
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I started off the new year with my favorite pattern, Rose Red by Ysolda.
1- This red is not NTSC safe. Really. It was impossible to get a good picture.
2- I am really flippin’ pale.
3- This yarn is great for showing off stitches and stitch definition, but doesn’t shape very well.
4- Knowing me, I’ll be making this again in a few months. I love this pattern.
5- I really need a haircut. My bangs are out of control.
Well, I'm off to read up on Matt Smith. Happy New
I was going to do some retrospective additions of posts about things I've been working on, but thought that'd be pretty lame. So I'll just post some pictures.
Part of a set I'm making for a friend for Xmas. We have yet to exchange gifts so no details or real pictures ... yet.
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p.s. I've completed 63 projects this year. I think I did a good job of exceeding my goal.
School > Me. The semester is over but I'm working on some fact-checking for a text book that two of my professors are putting out in the spring. Busy. But Fence is finally finished blocking!
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Yeah, I'm overdue for my #1 Trek episode post. If anyone out there in the internet is really waiting for it is only something the internet knows. For my own satisfaction it will come either later tonight or tomorrow. Trekkers probably already know what it is.
This post is actually about something I've knit, which is actually the prime directive of this blog. So here we go.
I also finished Urchin by Ysolda Teague.
It only took two days to knit, which is awesome because I love instant gratification. Another hat knit straight with short rows.
Right now I'm working on Propeller from Woolly Wormhead's book Wee Woolly Toppers. So cute.
Back to Sunday Night Football (go Ravens!).
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p.s. I'm hat 59 completed projects in 2008. I've noticed that I have gotten exponentially better at knitting this year, and I think it's because I have done so much of it. The work is paying off.
Today is the last day that a feature film will be part of my Ten Days of Trek. I'll get to why in a moment.
A brief point about my reaction to this film. Did I cry for Kirk? No. Did I cry for the Enterprise? No. Did I cry when Data found Spot? Yes. Like a little baby. So there you have it.
I also decided that I was going to stop re-watching the Trek films at this point. It really was the final send-off for the original cast, even if it was a disappointing send-off. So for the next three days I will highlight my favorite episodes. Tomorrow will be #3, the next day #2, and I'll end with #1, my favorite and arguably the best episode of the original Star Trek series. Because I know how much you all want to know.
As a heads-up, there is a strong possibility that my judgment will be swayed by episodes parodied by Futurama. Just saying.
I did knit tonight. I started Urchin by Ysolda Teague. It's a very clever hat and will knit up quickly if I put my mind to it. Which I haven't been, really, because I've procrastinated schoolwork to the point where I'm feeling guilty about it. At least classes are almost over for the semester. I need a break.
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Now we get into where Trekkies say the odd movies are poo.
1- People seem to really hate the tongue-and-cheek jokes of this film. I, for one, find them refreshing. The film knows not to take itself of the franchise too seriously. At this point why wouldn't you point out there age or some of the oddities of their lifestyle? They're the cowboys of outspace, and cowboy films and cowboys are comfortable with poking fun at their lives. Why should Star Trek be any different?
2- Everyone always seems to think that Kirk is a womanizer or whatever. But take a look at this film. It was co-written by Shatner and directed by Shatner. There was no love interest for Kirk, even remotely. I realize that Shatner =/= Kirk, but for the man that played the part for so long, wouldn't you think he'd include that angle if he thought it was important to Kirk's character? I do think, though, that Kirk is mostly interested in his friendship/relationship with Spock and McCoy, and I think the focus on those feelings is more in line with Kirk's character than any romantic fling.
So yeah.
As far as knitting goes, I finished the front and back panels of Fence today, and seamed up the sides. I hate seaming. Hate it. I then started picking up stitches for the neck ribbing and ended up picking up 10 too many. So this project is going to chill for a few days. I overloaded myself on it and I don't want to hate it and never finish it, so it's just going to sit for a day or two.
Now I'm on to two patterns I've been plotting. I might send one to Yarn Forward magazine. We'll see how that goes.
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I had to skip yesterday because of the holiday. Worth it, though, because I watched two football games, ate tons of fantastic food, spent time with great friends, and played many hours of Rock Band 2.
Back to business, though.
- Nuclear wessel.
- Whale biologists are lame. See Futurama "Three Hundred Big Boys" for further proof.
- Kirk and Spock are absolutely hilarious when trying to be inconspicuous. See Star Trek "The City on the Edge of Forever" for further proof.
- Scotty is still pretty much my favorite, Sulu pretty much tied, but I also really love Spock's dad for some reason.
- I have a cool idea for an article about the music of this movie, and Star Trek in general. No spoilers about it yet, though. That might be my project over break.
Knitting:
Still working on my Fence vest. I finished the back yesterday, and am making good progress on the front. I'm almost finished with the decreases.
More Trek tomorrow. I know you're excited.
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Oh yes, the shows go on.
- They used five difference actors to play Spock.
- Scotty is pretty much my favorite ever.
- Well, Sulu too.
- Essentially everyone that Kirk loves ends up dead at some point. Rough life. How melodramatic.
- The adventure goes on ...
- ... OH! Some other actress playing Saavik? Weak, guys. Weak. Seriously all the things she did that probably kept Kirstie Alley from being in this movie were crap.
Here's a progress update on Fence:
I have to wait a couple of hours before I can roll out my cookie dough to make sugar cookies, so I think I'll watch another Star Trek film, ahead of schedule. I'm going to go insane soon.
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Tonight's viewing is:
Notes:
- Totally forgot Kirstie Alley was in this movie. Hilarious.
- She's a Romulan? I didn't think Romulan-Federation interaction had been solidified by that point, or if they ever were. Maybe I'm forgetting a later episode of Star Trek that dealt with that. Or supposedly she's Vulcan-Romulan? Whatever.
- Watched "Space Seed" on cbs.com before watching this to make sure I remembered Khan's origins correctly.
- As such (see last bullet point) I was really mad when Khan said he recognized Chekov. Damnit! Canon, people. CANON!
Accompanying knitting: Still Fetch by Maria Leigh. I should have the back panel finished tomorrow.
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