Where has my knitting gone?

First and foremost--knitting news (this is a knitting blog, isn't it?!?) I frogged my third Turn A Square hat because I did not have enough grey yarn to go on, and the Noro was turning a gorgeous shade of pink and magenta, but the recipient is a man who does not love pink and has a firey red beard... not sure hot magenta would look so awesome.


Good bye first Noro project (in its third iteration)..... I loved you so. I will move on to some more grey stash yarn, and throw in some Rowan natural silk aran (same as my cowl) for the stripes. I am visiting this mountainous recipient this weekend, so hopefully I can get most of the hat done on the car ride there.











In sewing news...


My bag plan seems to be working. I wanted to make a small reversible tote, with a bottom panel that I can use as a fun purse. My plan was to make two bags sans handle, of the same measurements, then put there wrong sides together, and sew the top.



This is completely fly by the seat of my pants, and it seems to be working. I labored over how to sew the bottom panel in last night, and after an hour we had this:








I love the sewing. It has such a different process that knitting, but is still as just as intensely process oriented. In sewing it seems to be in the prep, the geometry, the pressing, the pinning, the cutting. The actual time using the machine has comprised a surprisingly small amount of my sewing time--its mostly prep.



Did you know Chinatown is colorful and vibrant on a dark morning at 6am? Please forgive crappy ISO...it was early...



PS. Dearest Swallotwail, I have not forgotten or forsaken you. I have come to the conclusion that lace knitting might not be my favorite kind of knitting. Perhaps I will like knitting lace in a chunkier sock type weight. I will finish you, I will. --rosa

Purse in Progress

I have made the possibly unwise decision to jump directly from basic tote to reversible tote with a bottom panel... and I am not giving up! Here are my chosen fabrics, cut, pressed and pinned.














I love the fabrics, and have decided that rather than continue to carry professional black purses (read borrrrrrring), I want a handcrafted set of bags made from gorgeous and colorful fabrics. Everyone could use a little more color and beauty!

Stash Wars

After another trip to Petaluma's Quilted Angel shop, I came away with another batch of great little remnants. They sell teeny 1/4 yard remnant squares, perfect for making tote bags or patchwork pillows.







I think fabric may be more addicting than yarn....

Ladies and Gentlemen, We have a Sock!

Some cultural fun in the sun (ITS HOT IN SF!!!) yesterday... Sock Numero Dos and I hung out in the Civic Center Plaza before meeting up with a friend to check out the Ming Dynasty art exhibit at the Asian Art Museum.

I loved the exhibit-- it had tons of landscapes and portraits I studied in the college days that I had never had a chance to see in person. The brushstrokes and compositions of the landscapes are phenomenal! There were some intricate and beautiful textiles too-- batik type dyed fabric as well as detailed embroidery. I have actually never been to this museum at all, a travesty considering I have lived within an hour of it for all 24 years of my life. I will definitely be going back.

Now on to sockier business... here are some awkwardly snapped pics of my sock. I was wearing it while trying to photograph it from different angles, leading to some odd contortions and struggles with the pillow I was using as my back drop of sorts.

Here is my heel flap:






Gusset and foot:


After I was done grafting, I made a small knot before weaving in my end. Lo and behold, the knot drives me crazy, and I will have to take it out and figure a better way to secure my ends. Suggestions welcome....



And a quasi view of the whole thing:

Some GORGEOUS sunset pics snapped my mi padre, overlooking San Francisco. I have lens jealousy. I want a big lens for my slr!!! I was trying to snap some pics with my small camera, but they all came out grainy.




HAPPY FRIDAY!

Caught by WEBS

...the WEBS newsletter that is. I got suckered into buying 2 cones of Valley Yarns 2/14 Alpaca Silk, one in fawn and one in natural. It was only $15.75, down from $22.50!!! Who can blame me?!?! NO ONE! Back up off my grill!

*deep breath*

I must stock up for the long winter ahead.

Because winters in Southern California are so harsh.

so shiny.... can't resist...

(pics stolen from WEBS)

Labor-Free Labor Day

I don't know about you guys, but I had a great weekend. First, there was a little impromptu learn-to-knit party with my pal/neighbor, Jessie. She picked it up pretty fast. ...once I gave her a pair of 6's and took back the excessively large 8's that I started to let her use. And she actually kept knitting on it like, 4 different times during the weekend, of her OWN VOLITION. BUAHAHAHAHA. (I totally did an awesome evil laugh for this very reason while we were hanging out too, btw. It was amazing.)

And I almost finished a sock in only TWO days. The knitting gods must have been smiling down on me, because that is unheard of.

WIP: Coral Socks
Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer L. Appleby (Favorite Socks, IWK 2003)
Yarn: KnitPicks Bare (100% Peruvian Wool), Fingering Weight, custom dyed for me by me

I am loving this pattern. It is sooooo easy. You really only have to memorize one row and the rest are all knits. Maybe that's why it's going so quickly.

Happy 4-day workweek!

A week in photos

Fantastic camping at Kirby Cove last weekend:


REUNITED, and it feeeeels so good! SoCal this weekend...



Kristina, cranking out approx 76% of a sock in a couple hours. Oh how I am jealous of her marlin like speeds.



Kristina's bestest handspun yet:



My first sock, seen here enjoying some good times at the LA airport.



I have decided self striping yarn is not my favorite. I love all the colors in this yarn, but wish the skein was solid, or just maybe two of the colors. Also, as seen above, my first attempt at picking up stitches was a bit loosey goosey... a technique to master in the future, perhaps on sockie numero dos.


My first heel flap!


And here is some laddering in the ribbed cuff. Hooray blue socks! These are destined to replace my ugly grannyish house slippers, a much needed wardrobe addendum.

Today I hope to graft my first toe, and then, first sock will be done! I have really enjoyed learning the construction of the sock, and am excited to test the waters with some fabulous Cookie A. patterns in the future.

TTFN...rosa