Confessions of a Yarnaholic

I am officially addicted to yarn! (what knitter isn't??) I love and hate Ravelry for introducing me to so many wonderful types of yarn, especially hand-dyed yarns that I can't get at my LYS. Don't get me wrong I am glad to have these additions to my stash, but my pocketbook isn't . . . nether is my husband! I was watching Confessions of a Shopaholic last night and Rebecca's description of shopping and the pleasure she gets from shopping completely match the pleasure I get from buying yarn. For example:

You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better.

And comparing shopping to men:

A man will never love you or treat you as well as a store. If a man doesn't fit, you can't exchange him seven days later for a gorgeous cashmere sweater. And a store always smells good. A store can awaken a lust for things you never even knew you needed. And when your fingers first grasp those shiny, new bags... oh yes... oh yes.

Swap "store" for "yarn" and these quotes may ring true for some of us. Am I right? And, even more, is that a sign I (we?) have a problem? This is something to consider for a later day. As a newer knitter, and an even newer stasher, I still feel like I have time to keep stashing before going overboard.

I finally caught my first Wollmeise update last night! I got a small "We're Different" grab bag in Blau, Twin. I can't wait for it to arrive so I can check it out. I also bought my first yarn by Yarn Chef today. I posted earlier about Sockdown and knitting yellow socks in September. Although I bought some Dream in Color in butter peeps for that month, I found some on Yarn Chef that I like better. It's the Minestrone line (75% superwash merino, 25% nylon) in straw hat. It's going to be gorgeous! Maybe I'll exchange my butter peeps for a different color...

My recent exposure to these yarns got me thinking about hand-dyed yarns and smaller operations that I may not know much about. Does anyone have any they can't live without? How do you guys find out about new yarns? I get a lot of information from Ravelry, but there is so much out there that it is hard to process!

Louise Cardigan

I casted on last night for the Louise Cardigan!! I am knitting it as a gift, of course. It's for the same person my hap blanket is for and I was just going to give her and baby the blanket, but really like this pattern, so thought I'd give it a shot. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Whisper Pink and it is turning out darling! I am only about 12 rows in, though, so not much to report at this point. I am slightly confused by the pattern. It starts off by casting on, then working 6 rows in seed stitch. On the next row (Row 7), which is the RS row, you do the button band in seed stitch for the first and last 5 stitches, but switch to St st for the rest. It say to "work even for 5 rows." So, by my count that would make the next row Row 12. But, it's supposed to be a RS row. I noticed the same thing for other parts of the pattern, too. I am interpreting "work even for 5 rows" to mean repeat for 5 more rows, a total of 6 rows, so that I end up starting a RS row. Just thought I'd put this out there in case anyone else is working on this pattern and noticed that. Of course, if I am reading it wrong please let me know!

Sockdown 2009-2010

I was perusing Ravelry the other day, and found the Sock Knitter's Anonymous group. I have only made 1 and a half socks to date. I took a sock class this summer and loved it, and immediately started on my second pair as a gift for my dad. But, I had to stop working on them until I could get him to try them on, then I got side tracked. He was in town this week, so I had him try them on and was able to get the first sock finished! Now on to the second. But, I found this group on Ravelry and I joined! They do a Sockdown challenge throughout the year, and the new year begins in September. I am definitely going to do it! I may not be able to keep up every month, but I think it will be a fun challenge to keep me knitting socks.

Here is the schedule for the year and my plan of attack for the first two months. Each month they encourage you to use either the technique of the month or knit a pair of socks by the designer of the month. Plus, the odd months have a mystery sock! If you're interested, you can get more info here.

The Sockdown: Ravelry! Schedule 2009 - 2010

• September – Technique: All knit with the same color (Solid or Semi-Solid Yellow)
  Designer: Wendy Johnson Mystery Sock Designer: Nancy Bush

For September, I am planning on using their technique (knitting with yellow) to knit the Nancy Bush mystery sock. So, two birds, one stone! I am hoping to get some Dream in Color Smooshy in Butter Peep for my yellow.

• October – Technique: Holiday Stocking/ Man Socks/Knitting for a Cause
  Designer: Jeannie Cartmel

In October I will do the suggested technique, man socks. I have been promising my husband a pair of socks, and I even have the yarn (Lang Jawoll Aktion in a dark gray/black). I am not sure yet of the pattern. Here are some I like: Gentlemen Socks, Mr. Pitt's Socks, and the http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/globe-trotter-socks (I am working on that pattern now for my dad, so may want to do something different). Any thoughts?

• November – Technique: Mosaic/Slipped Stitches
  Designer: Chrissy Gardiner Mystery Sock Designer: Star Athena

• December – Technique: Almost Socks/Leftover Socks/Stashbuster Socks/Stripes/Self Striping Yarns

• Designers: Kirsten Kapur/ Kristi Schueler/ Hunter Hammersen

• January – Technique: Texture Other than Rib/ Beaded Socks
  Designer: Nancy Bush Mystery Sock Designer: Debbie O’Neill

• February – Technique: Underappreciated Patterns/Entrelac/ Intarsia
  Designer: Yarnissima

• March – Technique: Lace
  Designer: Janel Laidman Mystery Sock Designer: Kristi Geraci

• April – Technique: Designs from an Online Magazine
  Designer: Cookie A.

• May – Technique: Cables/Traveling Stitches
  Designer: Cat Bordhi Mystery Sock Designer: Cookie A.

• June – Technique: DYO, Vintage Patterns
  Designer: Stephanie van der Linden

• July – Technique: Stranded/Colorwork/Fairisle (Including Nordic/Scandanavian)
  Designer: Ann Hanson Mystery Sock Designer: Chrissy Gardiner

gift knitting

I am currently working on some gift knitting. My mom's birthday is coming up (it's at the end of this month and is actually on the same day as mine) and I am making a cute pleated tee for her, called Vesper. The designer is Heidi Kirrmaier (Pipibird on Ravelry) and she has some really great patterns out! I am using Elsebeth Lavold's hempathy, in dark coral. Here's a progress pic of me trying it on. Despite some initial set backs, it's turning out nicely.

The yoke is hand-pleated and sewn, giving the edge a "raw" look. I hope she likes it! She better. I am making the XL size, which required casting on 468 stitches. That was a lot of work!!! I was seriously skeptical about whether it would work out or not because the yoke does not take ANY shape until you sew the pleats. So, after I separated the armholes, I went ahead and sewed the pleats to get an idea about how it would look. And I love it! If you're working on this pattern, just trust the process! I know some people think it ended up being a bit heavy at the top because of all the extra stitches, but I think it works great! It's just a lot of stitches and DK yarn.

I will also be working on some more gift knitting after this. I will be doing Ysolda Teague's Hap Blanket using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in natural and poppy. It's for my cousin, who is having a baby in October. I have some other things planned for her too, but I'll get to all of that in time. Doing all of this gift knitting has me really wanting to spend some time doing some selfish knitting! I have recently acquired, for the first time, some wollmeise and I would love to work on a couple of projects using it. But, that is being put on hold. Don't get me wrong, I do really like knitting for other people (at least the ones that really seem to appreciate it!). But, I miss doing projects for me! I miss using the colors I like and being able to take as much time as I want to, instead of feeling pressured to finish something. I know I will keep gift knitting. Barring some bad experience, I don't think I'll ever completely give it up. But I need to be sure I don't get too overwhelmed with gift knitting. And, with December not really being all that far away, I am not sure that will happen!

beginnings (and endings)

I am going to try not to make a big deal about the beginning of this blog. My blogging attempts in the past have all failed miserably. Okay, that's got something to do with my failure to post after the initial post. Nonetheless, I am not guaranteeing this one will fair any better. But I will promise to attempt to keep this one up. I have more time now than I did in law school, so perhaps it will work out.

This is going to be a place for me to post my thoughts about my current knitting projects, the books I am reading, food I am eating or cooking, or really just life in general. Hopefully you'll get to know a little about me and the things I care about as I go. So, on with the show!

I love to knit. It's a newly discovered hobby. I've only been doing it for about ten months or so, and I am hooked. I started knitting by taking a beginner's class at Loopy Yarns in Chicago, and haven't stopped since! I have met some amazing women (and men!) at Loopy and they have all encouraged me to keep knitting. I have learned so much from them, not just about knitting! They have really become my peeps in the past ten months. Sadly, I am moving from Chicago in a few weeks and will have to tell them goodbye. I know we'll continue our friendships (thanks in no small part to the internet and sites like Ravelry!), but I will miss my weekly knit nights with them. Maybe this will help them keep up with me . . . hint, hint.

Anyway, welcome! I am not promising I'll be entertaining. That's not really why I am here. But, I am looking forward to having a forum for saying what I want, when I want!