Ugh!

You can probably ascertain that I might possibly--maybe--have a knitty addiction . . . oh, who are we kidding?  I likes to knit.  A lot!

I also like to blog.

I also like to "socialize" on Facebook.

Of the latter, I have been unable to login for the past 48 hours.  Every time I try, I get this "site maintenance" message.  Yes, I 've reported my problem to the powers that be at FB, but its still really, really annoying.  Is this the way to cure an addiction?  Seriously . . .

Back to my other vices . . .

(origin unknown but came from a torrent of wallpapers)

New Project

So I cast on for a new project: socks for me!  It's been so long since I've made socks, that the 2.25mm dpn's feel like uncooked spaghetti strands in my hands!  With regular use, my hands should get used to the smaller sized needles.

I'm using Bernat Sox.  While I liked the colour in the ball, not sure I'm lovin' it in a sock.  What do you think about the colours?

Guess I'll have to reserve judgement till I've gotten further into the sock.  After all, the colour changes can vary from the cuff to the main leg. 

The pattern is a ladies' vintage ribbed sock from Vogue Knitting's Ultimate Sock Book.  I've made the child's version a couple of times (remember these socks and these ones--the latter is a Rav link).  I really like the ribbing.  I think it makes for a better fit. 

These socks represent a "first" of sorts.  I don't think I've ever made a pair of socks for myself.  Wonder how long it will take me?  The one good thing about my feet is that they've stopped growing.  Once I've found a pattern that works, the rest will be easier.

Happy knitting!

That Time of Year?

Hard to believe that November is drawing to a close.  Christmas is rounding the corner, along with all the requisite activities: cookie baking, decorating and gift shopping; staff parties and gatherings of family and friends; and community events such as our local Santa parade and tree lighting.   A few neighbours have even put up their outdoor lights and decorations.  As for me, I'm not quite "there" yet.  Hence this is the extent of "decorating" to date:

When the spirit hits, I'll dig out my lovely decorations and start putting them around the house.  But. Not. Yet.

Blue-Green Loveliness

This was the quickest knit ever!  That's my lovely Fern Lace Scarf folded neatly--all 60 inches of it!  After I weave in the ends, I'll attach a fringe.  The kit came with curly locks made from 78% mohair, 13% wool and 9% nylon.  Me thinks a fringe will finish off my scarf very nicely.

With regard to blocking, I'm not sure exactly how to proceed.  Most of my handknits have been acrylics, so blocking hasn't been an issue.  After I'm done, I launder the item and never think about it again.

I'm sure an online search will yield loads of information (heck Ravelry will probably contain all that I need to know) .  But I'll have to wait till the weekend (no time or energy during the week).  Besides, the weekend would be the best time to borrow some foam tiles/mats upon which I will pin my blue-green loveliness.

Whilst I wait for the weekend, back to me knittin' ;)

Visit DinaPurls at Bernat

Y'all know that I'm blogging over at Bernat's blog as DinaPurls?  Thus far, my ramblings tend to get posted on Mondays, so take a peak over there sometime today to check out the progress of my "secret" projects (sometimes they also appear in my Flickr photo stream).  Say "hello" and maybe leave a comment (feel free to leave a comment here).

When I post here at Stitichery and Such, I don't expect too many visitors.  At Bernat, its a whole new audience--a very large audience.  I wonder how many people read my posts there?  Hmmmm . . .

(photo above courtesy of photography website--which one I cannot recall)

It Grows (or Learn to Love the Curl)

I was gonna write about my lack of knitting this week, but in truth I've been working on my silky-alpaca scarf.  A little knitting during naptime, at lunch and in the evening as the boys got ready for bed.  Sure enough the thing has grown to approximately 37".  Not bad for a few days of sporadic knitting (Christmas knitting and Bernat knitting momentarily on hold).

At one point I frogged what little I had for fear that it would be too short (after all, I only have 175m worth of yarn.  I think that works out to just over 191yds).  Promptly I cast-on with 24 stitches instead of my original 28 stitches, eliminating the 2-stitch garter edging on each side.  The edge was curling just the same, so what the heck?  Eliminate it and learn to love the curl.

Two things I'm loving: the feel of the yarn in my hands and the colour effects.  The green pops out against the blue.  It had looked lovely in the skein, but not as pretty when wound into a ball.  What a pleasant surprise to see the colours mingle and coalesce as the eyelet curves to and fro across the scarf: bright greens, deep aqua, navy and cerulean--almost like blue waves over tropical sands.  Very pretty.

Here's hoping you're happily knitting on something special too. :)

Feels LIke Heaven . . .

Whilst my toddlers napped away, I cast on for the Fern Lace Scarf.  The original pattern had 56 stitches in lace weight.  It would be nice to make it a little more wider, but I don't have much yarn.  I'd rather have a long narrow scarf than a wide short one, so I only cast on 28 stitches (24 stiches for one pattern repeat with 2 stitches worth of garter edging on either side).  I hope it reaches a decent length.  The skein is only 175m.  Wonder how much length that will give me?

I must confess that the alpaca-silk-merino blend is yummy--so incredibly soft (heaven help us if I get addicted to this stuff!) And I absolutely love the warmth of the hand-crafted birch needles.

It feels like heaven ;)

Another One . . .

Finished!  Oh joy!

I was quite the happy knitter today, needles busily clicking away as I finished my "secret project" for the Bernat blog and then proceeded to finish another gift.  Oh yeah, Super Acrylic-Girl!  Rock on!

That just leaves ONE item on my Christmas gift list: fern and waves scarf. Thankfully that is already half way to completion (I think I've got about 30 plus inches done already.  Gotta check my Rav project list).  So I'm gonna go ahead and cast on something for me. 

Remember my little special stash from here?  Finally gonna start that silk-merino-alpaca scarf using a free pattern on Ravelry called Fern Lace Scarf (Rav link).  The original pattern used lace-weight, but it should still work with a heavier weight yarn;  I just have to cast-on fewer stitches (I'm thinking somewhere between 24-30 stitches). 

Heck, I might even cast on for that pair of socks too . . . . oh the excitement! :D

One Down. Two to Go.

The fishtail scarf made from Paton's Silk Bamboo is finally finished.  Hallelujah!  And I was right in my calculations:  it reaches approximately 52 inches unblocked (perhaps I can squeeze out another inch or two with blocking?).  A deep sense of relief washed over me as I cast off the final stitch.  Perhaps it was because this scarf started off as something else here and then had to be ripped out; maybe it was because other projects seemed more interesting; or maybe its 'cuz this one is for my mom and I was plagued by doubts over whether she would truly appreciate it . . . .  At least I only have two other items left to finish for Christmas and then I can focus on other projects--non-holiday related projects.

There's a big bag of Christmas knits that need darned ends or a little seaming or perhaps a button or two, but at least I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I'm actually quite proud of myself for having completed so much and for staying some what on the long and narrow path--and it was a long, long path 'cuz my Christmas knitting began in August! 

Happy knitting :)

Lest We Forget

This day always makes me think about all those soliders who fought for the freedoms we now enjoy.  Lest we never forget the sacrifices of our veterans (or of those currently serving), please pause at 11:00AM for two minutes and remember . . .

It's Live!

I'm so excited!  My first post for the Bernat Blog has gone live!  If you wanna read about my "secret" projects, go to http://bernatyarns.wordpress.com and you should be able to read the most recent posts (you should be able to find it via my blog links too).  Changed my moniker to DinaPurls, but I'll always be Acrylic-Girl: faster than clicking needles, stronger than nylon and able to leap tall mounds of petroleum based fibre in a single bound.

The challenge now begins: how to produce enough knitting projects and blog content to satisfy not one but TWO blogs!  Surely I've gone mad . . . well, maybe not mad, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.  Maybe I'll become a faster knitter **cough, cough**  Perhaps not.  More likely I'll broaden my knitting horizon by experimenting with new yarns and different projects. 

I am Super Acrylic-Girl!

:D

Note: Photo in post taken from a photography website

Happy Knits

Just had to share.  Remember I'd taught my boys to knit a little while back (blogged about it here)?  One of my boys finally finished his project!  He was so proud of himself (and rightly so).  I promised him I'd share his handy work online for all to admire.  Here's teddy with his new garter stitch scarf.

Yes, there's a dropped stitch that needs repairing.  The stitches are wildly uneven, but he improved towards the end and kept his tension more consistent (I gotta admire his perseverance).  The ends still need to be weaved in and I'm trying to convince the wee one that fringe would look nice (of course I'm only making more work for myself 'cuz I'm the one who's gonna have to put it on) .  Still not bad for a newbie. 

My son is already making plans for his next project.  He wants to make a hat for teddy.  After that, he's hoping to work on a blanket--for teddy I hope. 

I Got Nothing (or How I Learned to Love ALL My Hand-Knits)

Yeah, I got nothing.  No FOs to speak of **sniff, sniff**  Yet I've been knitting in ernest.  Finished part of a "secret project"  which hopefully I can reveal in the coming days (being ever so patient but its sooooo hard).

I suppose I could show the two fingers of the second glove that is awaiting more attention (boring).  Or I could show the lace scarf that is growing ever so slowly (more boring).

Instead I'll show something I've been wearing the last month.  Last fall I fell into "knitter's limbo": wanting to knit yet being unable to get jazzed about any project.  So after I made a few hats for charity, I thought I'd tackle a scarf (something I had NEVER made during all my years knitting).  My intent was to use up some stash yarn (leftovers of Paton's Divine and Bernat Softee Chunky from other projects).  With no real pattern to follow, I cast-on and worked a simple hurdle stitch (check out my Ravelry project link).  Unfortunately when all was said and done, my scarf disappointed: too wide and not long enough **sigh** 

To make matters worse,  I had developed an annoying cough and thought mohair in the yarn was the culprit (turns out my meds caused the cough--stupid side effect!).  Still, the scarf sat at the back of the closet.  I was loathe to dispose of it and there was no way I was gonna frog it 'cuz I'm just too persnickety when it comes to weaving in ends (that thing was not gonna unravel without a fight).  So it waited.  And waited.  Until . . .

Cold weather arrives.  I walk to work most days (about 30-minute trek).  It can be mighty cold on a windy day.  Enter "the scarf".  

She has served me well.  Lesson learned: part with no hand-knits.  They will someday find love. ;)

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Slogging away at the knitting . . . clickety-clack, clickety-clack go my metal needles (swish-swish go the bamboo needles?).  Waiting ever so patiently to finish all the Christmas gifts and I have been good.  Finished two fingers on gloves.  As well, I knit quite a bit on my mom's lace scarf: up to about 35 inches now (it helped that I was stuck for 4-5 hours waiting for my H1N1 and seasonal flu shots).  But I grow ever so impatient.  I wanna make something for me **sniff, sniff** 

So to soothe my soul I picked up some sock yarn in fresh, up-lifting colours.  Take a gander at this wonderfully colourful confectionary:

Yummy blues and greens swathed in silky-alpaca-merino goodness all waiting to be made into something for ME! 

I just lurve that skein from Lismore Sheep Farm so much!  Is it okay if I rub it against my skin?  Patience is a virtue, n'est pas?