knitting school dropout

i keep resolving to myself to become a better blogger, but it just hasn't happened yet.

well, i'm here now, and i come bearing a completed project!

pattern: baltic socks from clementineshoes
yarn: bmfa socks that rock lightweight "in the navy"
needles: us1 addi lace 32" circular for magic loop.
mods: the pattern is written cuff-down, but i knit mine toe-up, with a figure 8 cast-on and a short row heel. i knit a 68 stitch sock, adding the extra stitches to the stockinette panels on the sides.
i truly love thes socks, yarn, color, pattern, everything. i highly recommend the pattern, the lace panel is actually very easy to memorize. it is similar to the twin leaf panel from barbara walker's 2nd treasury, which is one i swatched once for a sweater idea that was never realized.

other than the socks, i've had a few little projects going. i've knit a really neat little swatch to plan for future fair-isling. i'm working on fixing a wide-necked disaster. i've also been knitting a few rows here and there on the two-toned shrug from fitted knits, although mine is one-toned. i have a few more things too, but it just started raining so i'll take photos another day.

for the last year, knitting has really taken over my life. if i'm not looking at knitting mags, technique or stitch books, admiring the knitting of knitters online, then i'm working on my own knitting. i used to read 3-5 books a week. now i can't think of more than 5 that i read this year that weren't knitting related. i also used to go to a gym 3-5 days a week. when i
did, i looked and felt healthier. i've also kind of lost touch with music, which my life used to revolve around. i'm mean how on earth did i miss the fact that electrelane came out with a new record months ago when the power out is one of the most listened-to records i own?
anyway, what i'm trying to say is, i still love knitting, but i'm going to be inserting more books, music, and exercise into my knitting time, because i really need to. i've already started walking on my lunch breaks, which used to always be my knitting time and my summer reading pile is looking good. maybe i should just quit my job, so i can do everything. yeah, that would be nice.

Posted by melissa at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

baltic sock #1 is officially finished, and i couldn't be happier this time. my first try didn't work out so well, largely due to the yarn i chose. this time i used bmfa socks that rock in the shaded solid "in the navy". instant love, i tell ya. i also knit the pattern toe up this time and i'm loving the leaf pattern going up the leg. swoon. the pattern is one that is easily memorized after only a few repeats, so i was knitting the bulk of the leg while watching pan's labyrinth (so good) and the 3rd season of the wire (shitbird!).

i've already started the toe of the second sock. miraculous, no? but i feel like i should take care of some unfinished business first. my arrowhead lace cardigan is only a half-sleeve away from being done. finally. i'm finishing up that sleeve right now, but i have some worries about the length of the body. it seems a little long for a light summery thing. this cardigan was supposed to be a little protection against the chill of air-conditioning that seems to bother me everywhere i go. i tend to wear 3-quarter length sleeve, slightly cropped cardigans around work and in restaurants throughout the summer. the problem is, i've knit this one with my usual length for sweaters, and with the shorter sleeves, it seems a little weird and less like something i would throw on everyday at work. i may adjust the length later today, but either way, this one is going to be finished this week. wish me luck!

don't forget to join the i made it with noro! flickr pool, i'm really enjoying looking at everyone's projects.

have a great sunday!

Posted by melissa at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBacks (0)

many thanks for all the sweet comments in the previous entries. buddy is home and doing really well. we're both in need of a nap.
see you soon with (gasp) a bunch of knitting content!

Posted by melissa at 07:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

i'm a mess with out my little manimal by my side. so as i avoid being in touch with my feelings, please enjoy some random and possibly useless linkage:

yesterday i was searching for a noro-centric flickr group and couldn't find one, so i created one. go forth and join i made it with noro and give me some new ideas for the noro i've been hoarding.

filed under: things i can no longer buy because the vet bill is more than i make in a month

-i love camper shoes, they're my absolute favorite. i must have these. so cute! someday.

good things:

-i finally tried addi lace needles. so good. they've made a huge difference in the sl3ks and k3togs of my new upside down baltic socks. i need a few bigger ones. i feel a shawl coming on.

-i've been semi-obsessed with making a mitered square blanket after seeing cara's project. so gorgeous. buying all that yarn at once would be a little overwhelming right now, but i'm thinking if i could just buy a few colors every month, i could make this an on-going, in-between-projects kind of knit for the rest of the year. no?

thanks for all the feline love. if all goes well, he'll be back at home tomorrow evening. yay buddy!

Posted by melissa at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

sock knitting has become overwhelming. there are just too many great patterns out there. i started another single sock at an emergency vet visit the other day. i figured that jaywalkers would be a perfectly mindless, but cute, knit while i was waiting. i returned home with a sick cat, his antibiotics, and a 76 stitch sock cuff that was way too big. so i ripped and started reknitting over 68 stitches while at the yarn harlot. now it's too small. i mean i can pull it on, but not without a stream of expletives, and i wasn't all that thrilled with how this particular colorway was knitting up in the pattern. before i ripped though, i had to take a photo. the yarn is socks that rock in the "socktopus" colorway, modeled here with my very own socktopus. aww...

i'm going to ask a little favor. could you please send all your good healthy kitty vibes this way? my very sweet cat, buddy, took a turn for the worse this morning and had to have emergency surgery to get rid of a blockage. he's out now, and i got a chance to see him after the surgery and he was rubbing his face against my hand, purring and letting out these cute little drugged kitty meows. he can't come home for at least 3 days though, they still have to see how his kidneys are doing after he heals a bit. i'm thinking positively. i'm sure he'll be sitting on my shoulders and trying to stick his paw in my mouth while i'm sleeping in no time. a little extra positive energy wouldn't hurt though.

Posted by melissa at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (1)