my life in stitches

i've got my mojo back

this scarf was commissioned by my friend, candice. i rarely knit scarves. i seem to have a bit of a scarf problem. the more intricate a scarf design, the uglier i find it. so, i try to keep it sweet and simple. and then i feel like a bit of a loser because my design is so vanilla. i've concluded that in this world of chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, and a gazillion other flavors you need a little vanilla to keep things in perspective.

my tivo is full and i've definitely got my mojo back! last night i re-started last fall's disastrous Courtney. this time i decided to cast on for the small instead of the medium. i think this should solve the problem. i'm expecting this to be a quick and easy knit. hmm... i wonder if i'm jinxing myself by saying that?

done and dusted!

it's done and, god, is this thing difficult to photograph! i'm mostly pleased. it came out a bit smaller than i'd intended and that often happens with i knit a piece in the round, so i'm attempting to block it out bigger. i definitely did not intend it to be so fitted. i really wanted it to be a bit smockier. hopefully, the blocking will do the trick. if the bottom doesn't unroll, i'll have to add a couple of rounds of crochet to keep it flat. we'll see what happens. now i am absolutely sick to death of color. ugh. next on my wish list is a black cashmere pullover. i seem to have mysteriously lost my favorite, ratty, black cashmere turtleneck. it's weird because i never ever lose clothes and this sweater had more holes than a sieve, so i know that no one would have stolen it. i suspect that perhaps it was left behind one night when i was invited over for drinks by an ex-boyfriend turned supposed friend who erroneously believed that our friend status included benefits. i left in a huff (possibly leaving said sweater behind) and we haven't spoken since. c'est la guerre. anyone know where i can find a deal on dk or aran weight cashmere?

make mine a double

for two and half hours i was totally in the zone. with the finish line so close in sight, i thought i could definitely finish this little gem today. no such luck. first, i had to undo the neck and reknit it because the neck hole was too small. after re-knitting and trying it on i realized that i took a wrong turn after the last set of decreases and the top portion of the yoke is entirely too small. mind you, all along i've been trying it on, trying it on, trying it on. before the last set of decreases it was still looking freakishly too big. grr.. i think i need fewer decreases on that last decrease round and a few more rounds between those last 2 decrease rounds. i tend to make things on the small side because there's nothing you can do if a sweater's too big. and i knit on the tight side, so i know that, if need be, i can block a sweater like there's no tomorrow. i totally had that knitter's high that you get when you're cruising along and everything seems to be proceeding according to plan. it was good while it lasted. now that i've blown my wad, i need a drink. actually, i'm having a beer right now. and then i may have to have another one to gear up for an evening that will be spent watching good television (finally! - the premiere of True Blood, Entourage, and then Mad Men) and meticulously, stitch by stitch, unknitting a dozen or so rows. c'est la guerre.

it's been a long time...

since i've posted about shoes.

i just ordered these Stephane Verdino lace-ups. whenever i buy clothing or shoes online i always say to myself, 'i'll probably send them back.' that only happens about 20% of the time.

if i keep these that means i'll need a crisp, new pair of skinny jeans.

the real problem with buying things is that one purchase begets another.

new pattern alert! mohawk sock!

i designed this sock for Scout's Indie Swag Club in 2007. i am now making the pattern available for purchase!

stats:

skill level: experienced beginner (if you can knit a basic sock, you can knit this!)

gauge: 32 sts/ 4 inches

yarn: 100 grams of fingering weight sock yarn

needles: US size 2 double points

price: $4.50

pdf file will be sent by email within 24 hours of receipt of payment.