First FO of 2008

And it is Extermaknit! This was the first thing on my list to finish and the only thing I have been working on for the last two weeks. It is also my first ever knitted toy. It was fun to knit and relatively easy. I didn't even mind my coworkers teasing me about being a nerd when I was picking out the provisional cast on at lunchtime (it was the subject of my knitting they found nerdish, not the knitting itself).

I was looking at pictures of other Daleks on Ravelry and there were some very imaginative ones out there. I even saw one with a bead knitted into the eyestalk. I never think of stuff like that. My knitting skills are really improving but I still need to work from patterns. About all I can manage creatively is choosing my own colors. I would like to be able to design something someday or dramatically alter a pattern and have it turn out brilliantly.

Well, now I have to do it. The second thing on my list. My sister's armwarmers, the thumbs of which led me to abandon them. I have to face those thumbs now. I feel much dread. I hate knitting fingers. I'm not good at them and they always come out looking messy. Good news is I have a four day weekend in which to really sit down and focus on them.

Extermaknit! and A List

That is the beginnings of my Dalek. I'm about to knit the third bobble round. The pattern is Extermaknit! I cast on Thursday and have been knitting on it all weekend. I am quite obsessed.

I thought the bobbles would be hard but it did not take long for me to memorize the pattern for them. This is my first foray into stranded knitting and I am finding it enjoyable. Not scary at all!

For those that do not know, a Dalek is a ruthless, lethal alien from Doctor Who. I have never been into sci-fi, with the exception of The X-Files, of course, but I am crazy about the new series of Doctor Who! I think it is the humor that is incorporated that makes me love it. Come to think of it, my favorite episodes of The X-Files were the humorous ones.

I love DW so much I spent way too much money buying the DVDs for all three seasons. They should arrive tomorrow. The Sharks don't have a game until Wednesday so catching up on missed episodes will be my entertainment until then.

I need to make a list. I get so excited to cast on stuff that I have a drawer full of unfinished projects. I need to finish them and am going to put them in order of finishing.

1. Extermaknit! I will not rest until it is complete.
2. Jen's armwarmers: I think she is getting impatient with me.
3. Luna Moth Shawl: Stop being a ninny and find that mistake!
4. Bonsai Tunic: I would like to be able to say I completed a garment that is not a sock, hat, or arm covering.

I am not including the second Tofutsie sock on this list because I keep it in my purse and knit on it when I am in line at stores or during intermissions of hockey games.

That list does not look so bad, actually.

One Sock Down

I love toe up socks! LOVE THEM!

I just completed my first toe up sock, using the basic pattern from the Ultimate Sock Book. It was so much easier than top down. I really hate picking up stitches (a vile necessity, in some cases) which is why I decided to try toe up. I find the wrap and turn technique to be much easier and easier to keep track of; no counting rows. The wraps tell you where you are. I finished this sock so much faster than the other socks I have made, which is a relief as I am an amazingly slow sock knitter. I managed to complete one sock in just a couple of weeks. I expect the second sock will take me longer, since I got a lot of the first done while immobilized by a bad ankle sprain. Still, I am not dreading starting the second sock. I actually want to start it! And tomorrow I shall.

Sole Christmas Knitting Complete

I only did one knitted gift this year: the House Slippers from Knit Two Together (I thought Blogger had an underline option...was I imagining things?). I am giving these slippers to my grandmother. I hope they fit! And I hope they are comfortable.

I was stupid. I did not check gauge. Who knew my gauge would be two whole stitches too tight? Two whole stitches on size 13 needles with three strands of yarn held together is colossally different. I compensated by not felting too much. They are firm but not as firm as they could be. And one is slightly longer than the other.

Take a look.














Somehow I managed to get the knit purl sequence backwards on one of the slipper's sides. I hope Grandma won't be too particular. I did work really hard on these. Size 13 needles with three strands is hard on the hands; especially since I am apparently a tight knitter.

Busy Spinning

I've been so busy practicing my spinning that I have forgotten to blog. But now I have a good amount of spun fiber photographed. My favorite is the orange and white:






Which was then dyed purple:











This photo is a tad darker than the actual purples it came out.
Here is all of my stuff, both plied and unplied:














The red was originally white. It is my favorite. I think the smaller skein was my most even.

In knitting news, I have been knitting felted slippers for my grandma. They are three strands held together using size 13 needles and my hands start to hurt after awhile. Also, I failed to check my gauge properly and have 2 full stitches less per four inches. With these slippers that is huge. Grandma has small feet so maybe just a light felt will do.

My vacation starts this weekend! I hope to spin and knit the time away.

I Can Spin!

I've been taking a spinning class. This class is very thorough. The singles in the picture below started out as unwashed wool. I did the whole process. I washed (yuck), picked apart (kinda boring), handcarded (fun, once I got used to it), and spun it (the best part). I also wound it into a ball using my ball winder. In one day I began to see myself getting a more consistent yarn. I am really enjoying spinning, which is good, since I jumped the gun and bought a spinning wheel before I had actually learned.


I was sent home with a boatload of fiber to spin as homework for the week, so I expect I will be posting quite a few pictures this week.

My main knitting project right now is the armwarmers my sister designed for herself. They were going well until I got to the thumb, which looks like some kind of mutant worm sticking out the side of the armwarmer. My sister tried it on and if thumbs could choke hers would be dead by now. She tried to say it was ok but I could tell she was lying so I will be cutting off one thumb this week. I'll need more yarn, too. I hope they still have the right dye lot.

I'ts a Matter of Motivation

I have probably lost any readers I may have had (did I have any, I should probably ask myself) since I have been completely unmotivated to blog for quite some time. I did not stop knitting, though, but I have been slowly plodding along on one project. I have stuck with the Luna Moth Shawl. I'm not sure, but I think I might be on the 4th skein of yarn. Or the 3rd. I hope it is the 4th.

Today I started a new project, however, as my sister has commissioned of me a pair of armwarmers. She drew a sketch. I measured, did a swatch and have knit about two inches, today. These armwarmers are navy and off white. She bought the yarn when I dragged her to a few stores during the Peninsula to Pier Shop Hop. I only managed to get to three stores because I had other obligations and was not feeling that great that weekend.

This week I am going to wash wool! It is my homework for my spinning class, of which I am the only member. Being a shy person, it is kind of weird to be the only person in a class, but I am glad the teacher did not cancel it when the other sign ups did not show.

The weather got icky today. Not ideal for air drying. It is supposed to be sunny this week, though, so I am aiming for Wednesday as wool washing day since it supposed to be warmer. I will post pictures of my first washed wool.