All's Well That Ends Well

Breathe, lady, breathe! It's over. You can stop hyperventilating. Go ice up your poor wrists.

First, the Ravelympics Dance o' Victory!


Pattern: "Aria" by Lynne Barr, available in Knitting New Scarves
Yarn 1: Debbie Bliss Pure Silk - single ply DK weight, 100% silk
Colorway 1: Aqua (21)
Yarn 2: Araucania Itata Multy - sturdy 4-ply, 70% wool/15% silk/15% bamboo
Colorway 2: 1014


Plus: Pure silk directly on the neck--how did I live without it? I've always been crazy about this pattern; it's one of the main reasons I bought the book. I respect most of the unique (often bizarre) designs on some level, but this one just said, "Baby, I'm yours." I held the two yarns together to create my version of the perfect handpainted yarn--depth, not dashes. Barr developed this undulating, slippery thing with laminaria seaweed in mind. Hence, I wanted a really flowing, drapey result, so I intentionally planned the gauge to be a bit more open than instinct would have led me to. I think I overshot that goal a bit at the beginning with a US10.5; about 1/4 of the way in, I went down to US10 and the whole thing just CLICKED into total happiness gear.


Delta: Jake pointed out to me that the Ravelympics seems like a stupid excuse to enjoy your hobby less. I'm starting to think he's right. I cast this thing off at exactly midnight, even though I was longing for another foot. I wasn't about to pass up my chance at the gold.....er....red...... rectangle:


Why couldn't they have made it look like a MEDAL?! Sigh.

As for the mitts and the blanket, a post is coming soon about each. Just know that everything ended up just fine, with a special thanks to Jill at the Woolie Ewe for saving my sorry behind. I'll tell the full story later, but just know: SHE IS A SAINT!

Square #18 (half-way! WOOT!) (wait, only half-way?! Grunt.)

Knitting Emergency!

Oh, sweet Jesus! I have never before seen such a perfect storm of knitting problems in one week.

First, deadlines:

1. Melanie--tiny, sassy, rocker chick--requested some charcoal gray fingerless mitts for wearing while she plays her bass guitar at outdoor venues. She needs them by Saturday night.

2. Baby Adler--not yet born daughter of English department colleague--needs comfy and colorful rainbow blanket. The baby shower is this Friday afternoon.

3. Ravelympic Gods--mean, spiteful deadline pushers--demand that I finish my Aria scarf by the end of the winter Olympics. This Sunday night.

4. Grades are due for 2nd trimester next Tuesday.

Second, stupidity:

1. I cast off my "Nereid Mitts" two nights ago, tried both on, and then screamed bloody murder. There are 10 more rows of ribbing on one cuff. THE CAST-ON EDGE OF THE CUFF! Twisted knit ribbing and lace. Fingering weight yarn. Help. Me. God. Several people argued with me that I should just give them over, flaws and all. But Melanie is a triple Virgo. I might as well just spit on her hands and call it a mitt.

2. Blankets (even the baby sort) are big and time consuming. I am stressed. Not a good combo. I should have gone with booties.

3. I scheduled a major paper and a spelling quiz due in the last week of the trimester, both of which must be graded by next Tuesday.

Third, solutions:

1. I CUT out the lower ten rows and am currently attempting (unsuccessfully) to shimmy 60 consecutive stitches onto some needles so I can bind it off. I'm going into my LYS today, my head hung with shame, to beg for assistance.

2. The blanket is worked from the inside out and bound off whenever you feel like it. I'm thinking this will be a small blanket. I don't know this colleague that well, anyway.

3. There's always Sunday for Ravelympic stress. Yeah, I can look forward to that....

A difficult scarf for some difficult hair

Pattern: "My So Called Scarf" by Allison Isaacs, available free here
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend - single-ply DK weight, 30% silk/70% merino wool
Colorway: Prairie (3104)
Mods: CO 36 on US10 to compensate for gauge differences


Plus: My, oh my, what a fine lookin' stitch! It's a pretty bizarre set of motions, and I can't imagine trying to figure this thing out without the helpful video, but after a few slow starts, my hands just knew what to do. I loved working with this yarn, far more than the rather rough Wool Classica. I have to give thanks to my knitting bud Shelley for gifting me with two skeins of this lovely fiber for Christmas.

Delta: A warning to fellow timid knitters: this is not a rip-back friendly scarf. Although it doesn't look like lace, I recommend treating it as such and using a lifeline (note, this is not advice I followed myself). Somehow, half-way through the scarf I noticed that my total number of stitches had decreased from 36 to 30!!! I can't imagine how I would accidentally decrease in this pattern without an outright dropping of stitches, but there it was. A Hanukkah miracle! After considering the possible merits of a lopsided scarf, I decided to make metaphorical lemonade--increase back out at the same rate to a total of 36 for an impressive hourglass-type-shape-thingy. This was easier decided than done since the stitch pattern is so funky. However, I am proud to report that the sneaky increases look....abysmal. Don't try this at home, kids. Count your stitches; use a lifeline.


This is a dreadfully late holiday gift for my dear friend Jessica (a crocheter, so she may understand). At our Christmas party, as my handknits were snatched up quickly by various folks, she waited patiently and calmly like the classy dame she is. Unfortunately, the only item left over was the Easy Wave Scarf, and the dear girl drooped her lovely auburn head and sighed, "Um, I can't...wear...pink." I'm thinking these colors with complement her trademark tresses beautifully, so beautifully that no one would dare say, "Hey, is it just me, or does that scarf have a waist?"

I'm currently gripped in the throes of the Ravelympics, by far the nerdiest place my knitting has taken me so far. The idea is to challenge one's knitting prowess and dedication, as inspired by those maniacs currently wiping out on the snowy mountains of Canada, by selecting a project which will be a challenge to finish within the 17 days of the Winter Olympics. Cast-on with about 10,000 other knitters during the opening ceremonies; cast-off before the torch is extinguished. Pat yourself on the back if you succeed. Hate yourself for two years if you don't.


I chose a scarf with short-rows, not because it's terribly difficult, but because it's just the sort of thing I would take forever to finish because it's not exactly riveting, nor is it mindless and comforting. We're more than halfway through the allotted time, and I just passed my 33% point. Better step it up.

Watts Afghan Square #17

Grief in the Snow

Over the weekend I spent in Wisconsin, reflecting on the life and death of my paternal grandfather, I had this comforting project in my lap the whole time:


Pattern: "Baktus Scarf," by former Norweigan blogger Strikkelise, available on her Flickr page here
Yarn 1: Rowan Calmer - stretchy 2-ply (Feels like DK weight, but Rowan encourages knitting it at worsted weight gauge) 75% cotton/25% microfiber
Colorway 1: Onyx
Yarn 2: Noro Kureyon - single-ply heavy worsted weight, 100% wool
Colorway 2: 170

Plus: Alternating solid and multi-colored stripes served three purposes: one, it made it easier to see when I was supposed to increase or decrease within the four row repeat, essential considering the distracting and fluid circumstances; two, I wanted to find a clever use for two leftover half-skeins of my Kureyon, so I increased until I used one up and decreased to use up the other; three, it looks purty. A fiber/pattern match made in heaven.


Delta: In an ideal world, I would have knit this on 8's or even 9's, instead of 7's, to get a more width and drape. However, I like wearing it kerchief-style with the point askew in front and the ends tied and tucked behind my neck. I've received several complements so far.

I had a hard time watching my dad and grandmother cope with the sudden, unfortunate event. They both seemed rather lost, unsure of whether they were playing their roles appropriately, trying to grasp the truth while avoiding the weight of it around friends and family. I was grateful for the opportunity to see and hug my relatives on that side, none of whom I see very often. I should also admit that I had a blast bunking in with my sister and her husband; despite the terrible circumstances, we kept one another in high spirits and constant giggles. We all found the abundant snow so exhilirating and special; knowing that we never see such snow in Dallas, we danced and played our hearts out.


Ah, the irony. Within the week, Dallas was blessed accordingly.


Mmm....cozy!


Watts family afghan square #16

Speak the Good News, Sista!

Pattern: "Sideways Grande Cloche," by Laura Irwin, available in Boutique Knits and Interweave Knits Accessories, 2009
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande - 100% Alapaca, ultra lofty 2-ply super-bulky weight
Colorway: Brown


Plus: This yarn feels like heaven in your hands, and I feel like a movie star wearing this hat. Nuff said, y'all.

Delta: Dear knit designers, please, please, pretty please, with rainbow sprinkles and cool-whip on top, give gauge specifications in stockinette. Because Irwin provides this gauge in ribbing, I totally psyched myself out on this piece and ripped it out at least four times before proceeding with my gut instinct needle (one size above the specified, my usual MO). This anxiety was intensified after reading the Ravelled comments about how many people's hats turned out way too large. It's no wonder, since I could never figure out whether I was on track for gauge or not. Totally, unnecessarily infuriating. It did come out on the big side, but I've got a pretty big noggin.


I wore this hat to school the day after I finished it, and one of my knitting students looked the construction over, wide-eyed, and then asked me, "So, did you....tapestry needle this twist thing down?" Best noun-to-verb conversion I've heard in all week.

We received our first law school "YES" this week. Washington and Lee, ranked #30 in the nation. Woot! That knocks out all the previously applied schools ranked lower. He also added this week U of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, Boston University, and Georgetown. Keep your fingers crossed for us! I've been busy writing personal statements and collecting recommendation letters for my own job search, which is a pretty odd search, indeed, since I don't yet know my city. Let's hope the good people at Carney, Sandoe, and Associates know what they're doing.

Square #15

Chilly Steers and Discount Yarn

Pattern: "Easy Wave" by Lynne Barr (you know, that chick who's getting all the buzz for her new reversible knitting book), available in Knitting New Scarves
Yarn: Fiesta Watermark - 60% mohair/40% wool; single-ply heavy aran (almost bulky)
Colorway: Tequila Sunrise

Plus: Lynne Barr is kind of crazy. She thinks of the most insane things to do with knitting needles. Every time I'm knitting this scarf around accomplished knitters, they stare in wonder and eventually pull up a chair so they can see how this textured is created. Perhaps the most amazing thing is that it's not hard at all. Easy memorize, easy to rip back, easy to keep your place, virtually idiot proof.


Delta: This yarn, while lustrous and beautifully dyed, itches like the devil and felt sweaty and hairy in my hands. Not a wise choice for a scarf, for sure, but darnit, it was whispering to me demands of structure. I have two full skeins leftover from when I snatched up everyone last one out of the 50% off bin at Woolie Ewe. I'm thinking it will also look fetching as a felted purse. Stay tuned!

Those cows were major divas, but they gave me some good advice:


Also, way overdue......


Pattern: "Ingenue," by Wendy Bernard, available in Custom Knits
Yarn: Karabella Marble - 55% Wool/ 45% Alpaca; loosely spun two-ply worsted
Colorway: gold
Size: 43" modeled here with 1" of positive ease
Mods: added 1.5" torso length

Plus: Love, love, love. I want to wear it constantly. In fact, by the time this picture was taken, I had worn the sweater out at least 5 times, hence the slightly rumpled sleeves. Bernard's design is both classy and wearable, and the seamless construction is a breeze. I demand that you make one right now! Oh, and I can't say enough about this yummy yarn, which incidentally, I also plucked from Woolie Ewe's discount shelf. Hurray for 50% off!!!


Delta: I'm wondering if the sleeve edges and bottom hems would look cleaner with a turned hem. Like, you could work your ridge pattern stitch four times, purl a row, then work the same depth in stockinette (in a smaller needle size) and tack it down behind the ridge stitch. I'm wild about the collar, and I sometimes worry that the sleeves and hem look flimsy in comparison. Maybe I'll try that someday, since I have two more lovely balls left....again. Coincidences abound here.

Jake applied to the following schools yesterday. More applications to come in the next month. Imagine me in the following cities....

1. New York U (Manhattan)

2. U of Texas (Austin)

3. U of So Cal (LA)

4. U of Minnesota (Twin Cities)

5. William and Mary (Williamsburg, VA)

6. Washington and Lee (Lexington, VA)

7. U of Georgia (Athens)

8. Yeshiva U (Manhattan)

9. U of Cincinnati (duh)

10. Penn State (Carlisle)

11. DePaul (Chicago)

My other husband - Xmas gift 7 (boy)

Pattern: "Seamless Saddle Shoulder Pullover," by the inimitable Elizabeth Zimmerman, available in Knitting Without Tears
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy (Tea Party and Happy Forest)
Needles: US7
Size: I calculated precisely for 41 inch chest, modeled here with 1.5 inch positive ease; I also measured his favorite sweater, a good move since it turns out he has the arms of a freaking ape, and I was going to need to add 2 more full inches to each sleeve length
Mods: By request, I made 2" ribbed edgings (1" around the neck), rather than turned hems



Plus: So easy, so joyful, so satisfying! You can't help but feel clever when working a Zimmerman design. The long stretches of circular stockinette were excellent for commuting or really good TV, while the shoulders were downright fascinating to watch take shape. I will definitely use Classy again, a multi-plied superwash yarn that improves dramatically after a bath. Garrett was so impressed by the depth of the colors and the softness of the wool, it was hard not to purchase more that very night!


Delta: If I could do it again, I would add at least 1.5 more inches in body length and taper a bit down to the waist. I had cast on and knit a great deal of the torso before I measured his favorite sweater, and it was then that I realized that I should have started narrower. Also, I'm not sure that 1/4 of chest width on each shoulder saddle was enough, since it left the neck hole oddly large and horizontally rectangular. Maybe 1/3? I offered to fix it right away, but he turned me down and said that he was presently too eager to start wearing it around. Spoken like a man who wants more handknits, huh???



Too cute, man.



KER-SPLAT!!! I'm finally getting back to Becca's afghan. I had been buzzing along at a decent one-square-a-week pace for a while and then fell behind.