RIP my first UFO sweater

RIP my first UFO sweater, a photo by knittingbrow on Flickr.

This is a picture of the first sweater I almost finished knitting. The color is perfect for me; however the fiber is not. It's mohair.

As a new knitter, I quickly acquired new yarns mostly because I enjoyed the colors and price. I found this yarn for $12/hank and purchased an obscene amount intending to knit many projects for friends. I didn't know how much I disliked knitting with mohair. It gets in my nose and is scratchy.

I finished all the pieces to this sweater fairly quickly after I started but never seemed it so I could finish the collar and start wearing it. I started it almost 10 years ago.

I've had the best intentions of finishing it but I haven't succeeded. It's time I let myself out of the obligation to finish the sweater. I'm going to use it for bedding for the dogs. They will love it!

And I can move on to completing other UFOs.

Tintern Abbey Socks update

Tintern Abbey Socks
link to my Ravelry project page

Sothia Update...a bit of frogging

knittingbrow's quilting adventure

I recently visited my sister and quilted for the first time. I took my friend Connie who is already a quilter.
Here's a picture of the fabric before I started.


Here's a short video about me starting my adventure.


I cut about 595 2 1/2" squares. A few of the squares were made from four 1" squares.
I was really organized.


I turned those squares into this very long strip of fabric. It was a lot of knitting sewing. 


And the morning after video.


I didn't get the quilt top completed like I hoped but am pleased with the results. What do you think?
 

I give you my video about my experience.



Overall, I really enjoyed myself.
I've spent the last week denying that I have a new addiction. 

What's in Kare's Knitting Bag?

Neighborhood Fiber Company
The Fiberists I love the color of that yarn.
Knitter's Pride Symfonie Cubics DPN
hiya hiya circular needles
Zauberball in color 1963 I think.
I'm putting together a blog post about my weekend quilting adventures.

I got Urshuz

While visiting Chicago for business, I stopped at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum store had this interesting display of shoes that you put together (think Legos). I bought myself a pair of green soles called OG Ur Green, flip flops called Derek, gray uppers Race in Cement, black Vern (currently not found on their website.) They are comfortable, easy to put together and very stylish.

Here are my combinations: Race























Derek 

Vern

I got great customer service from from UR Shuz because my Vern lace was snipped and I didn't notice it while at the store. The response was quick and they replaced my Vern uppers. The problem with the replacement uppers is the attachment is off slightly on the left upper. Notice in this picture how odd the shoe looks?

I snapped this photo of the u rings and you can see they are incorrectly aligned. They should go around the round u locking channel. The replacement upper didn't.

I think my next parts will be soles in Baltic or Sunburst with White Race or Sienna Brax uppers. What combinations do you like?

author edits:
I realized I wasn't clear. If you like the idea of these shoes, go out and buy a pair! I am glad I got mine and enjoy wearing them. They are stylish and comfortable.  I might actually be on the cutting edge of footwear for once.  ;)  Read about them on their website, especially for sizing. The FAQ section gives a lot of useful information. I noticed they don't have women's or children's lines yet.  Sad for you...but it's weird to me to have a line for men first (and kinda cool) 

If you buy a pair, tell them knittingbrow sent you. LOL!

Ambitious Projects

In response to this tweet from SpaceCadet Stephanie, I talk about ambitious projects.




I ramble about:
intarsia
Lucy Intarsia DVD review by Knitter's review
Kaffe Fassett Persian Poppy Waistcoat
(but stone circles as a vest would be wonderful)
Designing a vest scares me a bit

Tintern Abbey Socks

I started my pair of Tintern Abbey Socks Friday night (my Rav link)

I learned this pattern while taking Brenda Dayne's Tintern Abbey Sock Class in Chardon, Ohio at Knitting on the Square.



I'm using Gypsy Girl Creations Transitions fingering weight yarn. It transitions from white to green to brown. Here is the yarn cake.

And the completed Sherman Toe. I found the toe easier to knit the third time I worked one. I knit this toe on size 2.0 mm DPNs because I like a firm toe. Once I completed the toe, I went to size 2.25 mm for the foot. It's lovely.

I really enjoyed meeting Brenda. By this picture, I think she liked meeting me.

I am a 15 year old boy

I am a 15 year old boy, a photo by knittingbrow on Flickr.

I saw this handspun yarn while at the Great Lakes Fiber Festival a couple of weeks ago. I read the contents twice to make sure I read what I read. I put the yarn down quietly and walked away.

Then my inner 15 yr old boy showed up. I giggled and had to walk back and take a picture. I share my adolescent, sick humor with the world.

Wait for it.
Wait for it.

The adult in me thinks it is probably CVM, whatever that is... but the kid in me laughs that is it hand spun yarn.

Carry on.

Nuts Again socks to be frogged

My Rav Link.

Previous blogposts

Lessons learned: gauge swatch, read a pattern carefully and notice the size, trust my instinct and stop knitting sooner rather than later, a good design is a good design regardless of my knitting mistakes, and it's acceptable to frog a project.