I've been working steadily on UFOs. Luke's Biker Boy is looking good. Some folks on Ravelry helped me figured out how to attach the sleeves to the body. I'm also working on a Multnomah shawl using Lisa Souza's Sock! Merino in Paprikash, this has to be one of the softest yarns I've work with so far. I decided on a shawl because I wasn't quite sure about the color for socks. Once I'm done with my yarn diet (February Stitches West!) I will definitely pick up more Sock! Merino for my stash. I also cast on a Spiral Cowl with my Malabrigo Silky Merino, the pattern is very easy but I messed up the spiral sequence a few rows back. It still looks good only it is no longer a continuous spiral. On the spinning front, I've spun up 2oz of my Shetland roving from Windswept Farms I really love this roving. The natural brown color is very rich and the fiber spins up beautifully. I'm spinning 8oz total semi-worsted and would love to spin up the remaining 8oz in more of a woolen spun.
Work is going well. My students are doing great, teaching once a week is nice. I'm also working 2 days at a non-profit HIV/AIDS organization and that has been great. Thursdays and Fridays are supposed to be writing days but most end up as chore days.
Cold weather has set in but we are determined to save serious money on our heating this season. L. has agreed to seal up all the windows with plastic and I'm going to knit up some draft stoppers for the front and back doors. Little man is already outfitted with numerous footy pjs so I think he'll be ok.
That's all for now. Happy knitting and spinning!
Showing posts with label biker boy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biker boy. Show all posts
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Girls' Night Out
I rarely go out. In fact, since moving to Detroit last year I haven't really made any new friends. But last week I finally went on a girl's night out with someone I met at wedding last March. I had such a good time. We're both moms trying to build our careers and it was just fun to talk to someone. I'm committed to getting out more.
And in the spirit of getting out more, I signed up for a class at Stitches Midwest. I am very excited. A very close friend of mine lives in Chicago and this is the first chance I've had to visit her since moving back to the Midwest last year. Of course this is the first time since my little man was born 2 years ago that I've been away from him overnight. I'm already a little freaked out but I'll only be gone for 3 nights so. . . .
On the Needles:
I've moved on to the 2nd Lacey Rib Sock. It's a really easy pattern, I don't know why I've dragged this project on. Of course I wasn't paying attention and had to rip back quite a bit. But I'm back on track now. Also on the needles is my dh's Biker Boy. I've finished the body and am nearly done with sleeve #1. It looks like I'll be done for the onset of Detroit's bitter cold.
Off the Needles:
I've finished a bunch of bibs for my friend's soon to arrive baby. I also finished 2 pairs of Fetching using my Araucania Aysen. I was surprised I was able to knit up 2 pairs from just one skein (191 yds). One of these pairs will go to my niece who started 8th grade this week
The Needles:
I recently purchased a set of Knit Picks Zephyr interchangeable needles. I had been planning to buy a KP set because my Denise interchangeables are constantly "overbooked". The Zephyrs are sleek, lightweight, slightly flexible, and super pointy. The sharp points are definitely a plus, I've been able to knit up lace which I could not do with the Denise needles. The points range from size 4 to 11 and the set comes with 4 cables (2- 24" and 2- 32"), 8 cable caps, 2 cable keys that I'm not quite sure how to use.
Although the needles are sleek they have enough "drag" to control slippery yarn. The cables are flexible enough to use for magic loop although I'll likely purchase a 40" cable since the 32" is a bit tough for knitting up sleeves using this method. I like the thin, flexible cables on this set for my more delicate knitting but I was a bit worried about their sturdiness for heavier yarns. One of my current projects is a sweater knit up in bulky yarn and it's heavy. The cable seems a bit vulnerable under that weight but it has held up so far.
On the down side, the tips on the KP inerchangeables are screwed on and unfortunately while knitting they tend to unscrew. I've gotten into the habit of tightening up the tips before I begin a knitting session and that seems to do the trick.
Another down side to the KP Zephyrs is that they are not labeled. In other words I have to use my needle/gauge tool to check the size of the tips. It seems like it wouldn't be too hard to chisel in the needle size at the base of the tips. Oh and by the way if you order a set, check all the tip sizes immediately. I discovered that my set was missing one size 6 tip. I called KP and they're sending replacement sz6 tips. They have great customer service by the way.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. The acrylic has just the right amount of slick for my knitting pace and the clear material helps me see the stitches when I'm working with darker yarns. And then of course there is the price: $44.99 is a pretty good value.
If anyone has more specific questions they'd like me to answer feel free to contact me.
That's all for now. Happy Knitting!
And in the spirit of getting out more, I signed up for a class at Stitches Midwest. I am very excited. A very close friend of mine lives in Chicago and this is the first chance I've had to visit her since moving back to the Midwest last year. Of course this is the first time since my little man was born 2 years ago that I've been away from him overnight. I'm already a little freaked out but I'll only be gone for 3 nights so. . . .
On the Needles:
I've moved on to the 2nd Lacey Rib Sock. It's a really easy pattern, I don't know why I've dragged this project on. Of course I wasn't paying attention and had to rip back quite a bit. But I'm back on track now. Also on the needles is my dh's Biker Boy. I've finished the body and am nearly done with sleeve #1. It looks like I'll be done for the onset of Detroit's bitter cold.
Off the Needles:
I've finished a bunch of bibs for my friend's soon to arrive baby. I also finished 2 pairs of Fetching using my Araucania Aysen. I was surprised I was able to knit up 2 pairs from just one skein (191 yds). One of these pairs will go to my niece who started 8th grade this week
The Needles:
I recently purchased a set of Knit Picks Zephyr interchangeable needles. I had been planning to buy a KP set because my Denise interchangeables are constantly "overbooked". The Zephyrs are sleek, lightweight, slightly flexible, and super pointy. The sharp points are definitely a plus, I've been able to knit up lace which I could not do with the Denise needles. The points range from size 4 to 11 and the set comes with 4 cables (2- 24" and 2- 32"), 8 cable caps, 2 cable keys that I'm not quite sure how to use.
Although the needles are sleek they have enough "drag" to control slippery yarn. The cables are flexible enough to use for magic loop although I'll likely purchase a 40" cable since the 32" is a bit tough for knitting up sleeves using this method. I like the thin, flexible cables on this set for my more delicate knitting but I was a bit worried about their sturdiness for heavier yarns. One of my current projects is a sweater knit up in bulky yarn and it's heavy. The cable seems a bit vulnerable under that weight but it has held up so far.
On the down side, the tips on the KP inerchangeables are screwed on and unfortunately while knitting they tend to unscrew. I've gotten into the habit of tightening up the tips before I begin a knitting session and that seems to do the trick.
Another down side to the KP Zephyrs is that they are not labeled. In other words I have to use my needle/gauge tool to check the size of the tips. It seems like it wouldn't be too hard to chisel in the needle size at the base of the tips. Oh and by the way if you order a set, check all the tip sizes immediately. I discovered that my set was missing one size 6 tip. I called KP and they're sending replacement sz6 tips. They have great customer service by the way.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. The acrylic has just the right amount of slick for my knitting pace and the clear material helps me see the stitches when I'm working with darker yarns. And then of course there is the price: $44.99 is a pretty good value.
If anyone has more specific questions they'd like me to answer feel free to contact me.
That's all for now. Happy Knitting!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Sweaters Are Heavy!
I am finally knitting that sweater I promised my partner years ago (Biker Boy - rav link). I'm knitting it in a bulky wool/alpaca blend and man does it feel heavy. Thank goodness the designer recommended knitting it on circulars to keep the weight off the wrists. This is officially the first adult sweater I've ever knit and I'm a bit nervous. I've cast on and frogged a few times now never getting past 2 or 3 inches of knitting but I've been steadily knitting without mistakes for 8 inches now, so far so good. I was concerned about the size but I'm trusting the gauge and I'm just going with it.
I'd love to cast on Pioneer using a 100% bamboo my sister bought for me but I'm worried that the bamboo may stretch out. I need to order Sz 5 dpns and then I'll cast on.
My entire family is suffering with allergies this week. My son is able to sleep but he is very runny nosed. Since the symptoms aren't too severe we've decided not to give him any drugs. His pediatrician said it would be ok to give him something but if he's eating and sleeping and generally happy, why bother. We adults on the other hand are not doing so well. I haven't been able to take in a deep breath all day without coughing. I'll have to sleep with my emergency inhaler tonight.
Oh I just got two books in the mail: Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross; and Little Stitches for Little Ones by Amy Butler. I really want to get some sewing done, especially for the new babies that are due this Fall and Winter. I figure if I practice on small projects the bigger ones will be easier.
I'd love to cast on Pioneer using a 100% bamboo my sister bought for me but I'm worried that the bamboo may stretch out. I need to order Sz 5 dpns and then I'll cast on.
My entire family is suffering with allergies this week. My son is able to sleep but he is very runny nosed. Since the symptoms aren't too severe we've decided not to give him any drugs. His pediatrician said it would be ok to give him something but if he's eating and sleeping and generally happy, why bother. We adults on the other hand are not doing so well. I haven't been able to take in a deep breath all day without coughing. I'll have to sleep with my emergency inhaler tonight.
Oh I just got two books in the mail: Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross; and Little Stitches for Little Ones by Amy Butler. I really want to get some sewing done, especially for the new babies that are due this Fall and Winter. I figure if I practice on small projects the bigger ones will be easier.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Unbelievable Winter
It has been so cold in Detroit that I've been in a terrible mood for the past week. It just makes me angry. Leaving the house and getting smacked by that frigid air is just an insult. On Friday I had to take our Little Man to daycare and the windchill was -27 (minus 27 degrees) INSANE. I literally had difficulty breathing, it was that cold. Today was much better since we hit the low 20's. We went to the mall for a bit but the baby was asleep so I went in for a quick run and then we headed back to Detroit where most spots were closed, so we ended up at a sports bar that makes great burgers, had lunch and then came home.
My spinning class was canceled because my instructor had appendicitis. I don't know when we will resume our classes.
I'm trying to finish my Bella Mittens. I've got one mitten down and the second is progressing. I will post pics soon. I want to cast on Biker Boy for Luke. I've had the yarn forever and gave up on the Cycling Aran because I kept losing my spot on the chart. The complex cables just require more attention than I am able to devote to any pattern.
My spinning class was canceled because my instructor had appendicitis. I don't know when we will resume our classes.
I'm trying to finish my Bella Mittens. I've got one mitten down and the second is progressing. I will post pics soon. I want to cast on Biker Boy for Luke. I've had the yarn forever and gave up on the Cycling Aran because I kept losing my spot on the chart. The complex cables just require more attention than I am able to devote to any pattern.
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