I, Clapotis

One week into the needle reclaimation process, and I am making steady progress.

I am through repeat 10 (of 12) in the main body of the scarf, which means I am about 70% through or so? I'm not sure that I like how the edges look, but I think its a pretty forgiving pattern and will roll up in attractive way, anyway.

There is an ominous cloud hanging over future progress however. I'm almost out of balled yarn. Which means winding two more balls (440 yds apiece) by hand since I don't have a winder.

Must stay dedicated!

(Random picture of Dogus, hanging out)

Reorganization

A rainy Saturday means no gardening, and I was looking for something to do. With the advent of the warmer weather I've been yearning for lighter projects. I decided to dig out the green lace sweater on tiny needles.

What greeted me was another project. Stash reorganization. And as I sorted out my knitting needles it occurred to me that I have to have more circular needles than this:

It distrubs me a little when I realize I have yarn and projects stashed in many little hiding places. Isn't this what alcholics do? I found projects in the dresser in my closet, different projects on the floor of my closet, another project in the drawer by my night stand, projects in the crystal bowl downstairs. And this does not include the incomplete projects in the plastic bins which make up the majority of my stash.

This brings me to :

Operation Reclaim the Needles

I have decided that I will work on finishing up the many projects I have laying around. I have added a WIP (Work in Progress) column on my sidebar for motivation. And as you can see I have lots to do.

First there is the aforementioned green lace sweater. I've been working on this sweater for two years. I spent a whole summer knitting the front, only to rip out the whole thing when I figured out the correct way the p2tog (which I don't remember at the moment, but I know where to look it up), Currently the front is done, but the neck line ended up badly uneven and needs to be ripped back and reknit. The back is halfway done (close to the armholes)

Second, is tiny baby blanket. This project is the typical naive young knitter project. The major complications are its a blanket on size 3 needles, and that the back is an absolute entangled snare that makes my garden look trim and neat by comparsion. I won't even show you a picture because it is to gruesome. I also got bored. The baby it was for is know over 1 1/2.

Third, is another baby blanket made of acrylic yarn. This is one of yarn harlots patterns. Basically I just bored. The baby it was meant for is about 6 months old so probably won't need it by the time it is complete

Fourth, Clapotis from knitty. Everybody's favorite scarf. I got a little bit mixed up on the row I was on and ended up with the stiches on the beginning of the row not matching the number on the end of the row for a hypothetical pattern row. It is also on straight needles, which I find really ackward.

Also don't forget the aforementioned feather and fan scarf, and the Mariyln sweater

I know that it would make the most sense to start with Mariyln because its the one that I haven't technically put down yet as I have no other major projects, and that the green lace sweater is the sweater I started this whole reorganization thing yearning for, but the thing that is calling to me after all of this stash visitation is Clapotis. And of course I'm still allowed a sock

The real question is how long can I stay committed to this little project? How long until that list of WIPs just starts growing and growing? I'm hoping to tackle some of these and am going to try not to make any new yarn purchases (except for Maryland Sheep and Wool) or plan any new projects. We'll see.

An IKEA Easter

Last weekend was Easter, and I hosted the family.

We decided it was about time we got actual furniture for the dining room, thus eliminating one of the two empty rooms we have.

So, Saturday it was off to IKEA to pick up Bjursta and Roger and his seven twins

We got the stuff, and had the classic IKEA moment, Will this actually fit in our car? And after some careful consideration we managed to get the table and all eight rogers into the back of the wagon. It was a good thing we didn't get ten chairs.

Well, Sunday morning first thing we put everything together. What is Easter sunday without a carpentry project? I mean Jesus was a carpenter! Actual the construction went pretty smoothly. If I couldn't get something to fit I would hand it over to my husband and he figured it out.

And then I cooked and people arrived, and sis made green beans, And this is the spread (on the new table) that we ended up with.

This picture is particularly for my brother in Tokyo. Japan might have great fish, but does it have ham? See what you miss!

And look who came to visit us, the Easter Bunny!

Sorry about the blurry face on the sis

Anyway I was exhausted after all the cooking and watching my nephew. It was great seeing everybody, and the weather was gorgeuos. Let's do it again next year! (I mean that NEXT year, not sooner, man was a tired all week.)

Signs of Spring

Well for someones birthday we made a trip out to Baltimore to see the Red Sox Nation

It was a little chilly in the shade at Candem Yards, but the air was crisp with that baseball in the spring kind of feel.

I worked on the second sock of Zinnia, I knit a red sock during the red sox game!

Seven of my players(Chadwick league) were present at the game. Including Manny being Manny. (and not getting any hits in April) Does he always have to start out so slow?

The game was fun. The Red Sox won. I got to see Manny, Loretta, Foulke, and Rodgrigo Lopez in person. And Varitek was hanging around during batting practice. I must say the Red Sox fans are perhaps a little overzealous. In that people oughta be repectful of the home town crowd. I mean you can cheer for your team, but tone it down a little when your in some one elses house, particularly if it happens to be the hapless Orioles. I mean they really surfer under the tyrannical rule of Angelos!

The sock has come a long way since the game. I am nearing the home stretch.

There are many signs of spring coming out around our house. The cherry tree in the front yard in know in glourious full bloom. And the peony by our front door has blossomed. Though it is a little shy and hides its face in the side of the house. I managed to coaxed it out for a picture.

Stay tuned as this will be a busy Easter weekend and I'm sure I will have more pictures to share.

Cherry Blossoms

Every year we take a lab trip to see the Cherry Blossoms on the tidal basin

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JSC

Just wanted to say, that I am grateful everyday they I met you, and feel graced to be able to spend each day with you. Five years of grad school were definitely worth it, sense it meant meeting you. I love you

Just Something To Think About

"We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens,
whatever their background. We must remeber that any oppression, any injustice,any hatred is a wedge designed to attack our civilization. "
Franklin D.Roosevelt, Picture taken at Roosevelt Garden accross from the tidal basin in DC

March 2006 in LAC's knitting world

March has been a month for Hobbies, all kinds of different hobbies.
And yearning for spring, and gardening. Even Sock gardening.

I started basil seedlings, and they sprouted!!!

And I haven't killed them yet!

I treasure them like my babies. Look they have cute little
unfurling second leaves.

I've also done a little sock gardening. Working on Hydrangea
socks with my default sock pattern, which is 2x2 ribbing. I don't
think Hydrangea are remotely close to these colors, but I do like
the yarn (and its price!) They ended a little loose, but still
cozy. I think I will use fewer stiches next time

I've also been trying to finish this
Marilyn sweater (scroll down). I loss
my pattern, and then its gotten warmer so I haven't been motivated to
finish the sleeves