mama-of-purl

09/20/2006

Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed:-)

Yay, the trial work day went really well and the boss pretty much told me I had the job, but I won't find out 100% until Friday morning at the latest. It'll be such a cool, diversified and challenging job, I can't believe how lucky I am to even have found this kind of job AND to have gotten a chance to show my skills. Big changes ahead...

Another wonderful surprise was in the mail today- a 25$ gift certificate for Halcyon Yarns given to me by Paul as one of the prizes in the Bitchin' Mittens KAL! I won in the category 'best use of color' for the Squirrelly Mitten(s). Sweet, eh?

Now I'm having SUCH a hard time deciding what I'm going to order... Malabrigo, I think, some roving from Maine sheep, just because that's where the company's at and because that's one of the things I certainly won't get over here. 

THANK YOU PAUL! 

21:25 Posted in Gloves and Mittens , Knitalongs | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this

09/18/2006

Let's say I'm in limbo...

I'm in a weird space, folks... I'm trying to figure out if I can realistically finish my University degree. I need money and I have a possible opportunity for a job I'd really like to do. Had an interview there 10 days ago, it went really well, so I'm going to have a trial day on Wednesday, keep your fingers crossed it's working out. No matter how I'm going to decide on the University thing, I sure can use some new input/perspective/silver lining.

Anyhow, I've had some serious finishitis lately! There's so much to talk about, I've been making notes;-)

First of all, I had finished the cabled sweater for Johanna, which tuned out really cute, but getting it over her head was close to a second birth experience for her. Man, that collar turned out so tight! Here's her posing proudly and then there's the 'after' picture of her complaining about the collar.Okay, the hood has to be taken off again and I need to rip back the collar a few rows to make it wider. Good thing I decided on knitting the hood separately and doing a bottom-up raglan this time.

The next finished item on the other hand is so stretchy, it even fits ME! Wow, me and my toddler can share some of our clothes!;-)

Here's the hand-dyed, hand-spun, hand-knit sweater in action

 

 

 

Finished item Nr. 3 deserves a drumroll... the Pretty Petals socks are DONE!!! 

These were actually supposed to get finished during the Trek-Along, but I've been terribly frustrated with them and had too much welcome distraction.

Some stats:

Pattern: Pretty Petals by Jeanie Townsend 

Yarn: Trekking XXL 110

Needles: US 1/ 2.25mm Pony Pearl DPNs. What an annoyance. Those needles are so wiggly and wobbly and constantly snagged on the fiber. Terrible.

Pattern modifications: Since I used smaller needles, I ended up having to add one panel of the pretty petals pattern in order to get the right circumference. Therefore I have two panels going down the foot, which I really like. I could have just used 2.5 mm needles and stuck with the pattern but I liked the texture of the yarn being knit with the US1s.  

After alreading wanting to throw out those crappy plastic Pony Pearl needles, I was up for an extra special surprise in the mail:

MY DYE-O-RAMA PACKAGE! It finally got here! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Katherine!

In it not only my luscious soft 100% superwash merino yarn in beautiful blues and greens, but also a set of wonderfully smooth bamboo US1 DPNs. Weeheee! But wait, there was a lot more.

I actually rummaged through the box extensively and wound the yarn into a ball before I realized I'd forgotten to take a picture of everything unopened. The chocolate was missing some chunks already;-) And, uh, there's almost half a Mata Hari sock there already that I've knitted Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning while waiting in line to get a spot at the local fleamarket next Sunday.

My wonderful, talented Dye-o-rama pal Katherine also sent me one of her awesome handprinted T-Shirt for which she carved the wooden block herself. Isn't it cool? She's planning on selling those on ebay some time soon.

Oh, and something curious about the tea filters Katherine included in the package to go along with the excellent Earl Grey tea- they're available here, too, so I was wondering where they were produced. Check this out: these are some crazy travellin' tea filters! Hamburg-Salt Lake City-Hamburg-Salt Lake City-Hamburg. What a trip:-) 

 

21:15 Posted in Baby Stuff , dye-o-rama , Knitalongs , Socks , Sweaters | Permalink | Comments (8) | Email this

09/04/2006

Still here...

Hey everyone,

yes, I'm still here, just quiet. Unfortunately not because I'm having too much fun. I feel like such a fool. Some things really are too good to be true. 

So there you have it, the knitting world has me back. And I guess it's time to fess up what's on the needles. The sidebar with all the WIPs was way too short-  I've been camouflaging my cast-on addiction. It's pathetic. That's when you know you're addicted- you're hiding new projects from others! 

I secretly cast on for another Wavy in Noro Silk Garden. Those three balls in amazing fall colors(colorway 230) that I got on sale were just calling me...

Alright, I'm going to post a true account of what's on my needles, go and check out the sidebar (in case you're reading this in Bloglines...) Oh NO! I've just counted- EIGHT WIPs. How many do you have?

I'm pretty pleased with the name for those reddish Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch socks that I've started as a mindless stockinette project when I first started *mumble* falling in love. "The Thrill Is Gone Socks". Great song.  

In other news, I'm such a loser knitalonger- both the Trek-Along as well as the Bitchin' Mittens just ended and I haven't finished either of my projects. At least I've been working on the Pretty 'Spring' (haha) Petals socks, so I can at least finish those for the Sock-A-Month KAL. 

  

One item I've continuously been working on this month was the cabled sweater for Johanna. I'm in love with that yarn, it's wonderfully soft and those colors are just beautiful. I've picked up the stitches for the hood a little too tightly, so I'm going to have to frog back. I could've just done a crew neck, but Johanna insists on the hood:-D 

 

12:05 Posted in Baby Stuff , Blog , casting-on addiction , Knitalongs , Socks , Wavy | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this

08/21/2006

All the falling leaves...

...filling up shopping bags.

Oooh, who figures out which song these lyrics come from?

Now really, check out what we collected yesterday. Turned freakin leaves. On August 20th.

So things are going well here at mama-of-purl's, I have an interview tomorrow for a job that I think I'd really enjoy, nothing big, just a few hours each week to pay the bills, but it sure helps finding something fun. Cross your fingers:-)  I kind of hope I don't start working this week already, because the New Guy and I are planning to take a weekend trip to the Baltic Sea.(yay!)

My main reason is taking my Trekking socks for a spin, honestly;-) They have been shamefully neglected after I had to rip back a bunch of times, but after a trip to the local zoo, where I knit a few rounds  posed with the sock while Johanna was watching the giraffes, I finally set up the stitches correctly and made some substantial progress. Whoo-hoo!

I hope I can finally contribute to the Trek-Along, which I love reading, but I just haven't had much luck with sock Nr.2.

 

My mindless stockinette sock project du jour, the passionate red socks, are doing okay as well. Knitting does help me deal with my current relationship impatience;-) 

Oh yeah, I got some good news from my super-secret dye-o-rama pal! The package she mailed waaaaay back was returned to her, so my yarn didn't get lost. And she'll mail it again asap:-) 

14:35 Posted in Knitalongs , Socks | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this

07/09/2006

Urban Beach Trekking

We've finally been going on a little trek to our city's riverside beach and I took the Pretty Petals with me. Despite the frustration with sock Nr.2 because I misread the pattern and happily knitted away in company, not realizing it for an entire pattern repeat. Great. 

So it was frogging and trekking, really.

Anyhow, here's a picture of me trying to figure out what went wrong:  The weirdest thing was, when we got to the beach at around 10 a.m., there were quite a few young couples sleeping there. I assume they went there after the World Cup parties last night (Germany came in 3rd, yay!) and passed out. Umm, one couple was up again making out :-o Look away, children!!

 

15:32 Posted in Knitalongs , Socks | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this

06/30/2006

Last day of SYAC

Today is officially the last day of the Sock Yarn Addicts' Club. I've been so good. Only one large accident in the first month, and then NO purchases whatsoever. What a great relief that was for my wallet. And storage space.

But guess what I'm doing today? Buying a few balls of sock yarn online that I've been drooling over. Ahem. Great gratification for not buying any for almost 3 months;-) 

10:28 Posted in Knitalongs | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this

06/19/2006

Bitchin' Mitten Knittin'

I'm such a joiner! The Bitchin' Mittens KAL was the best excuse to start these mittens- I've come across the pattern a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't stop thinking about the cute squirrels! Add some frustration with the Peasant Socks, voilà: a new project!

I'm using chocolate brown Opal and Regia Canadian Colors, don't remember if it was Toronto or Montreal...

Yeah, those Peasant Socks look like they're not going to be knit in the near future. The pattern needs SO much attention because it's a really un-repetitive 22-row repeat... sigh...I do love the pattern and the color combo, but this is too hard right now. The squirrels are much more fun to knit.

As the Peasant Socks were supposed to be my 'Trek Along With Me' socks, I need a substitute- luckily, I'd almost forgotten that I still had some socks using Trekking XXL on the needles;-) Kimberley reminded me of the Pretty Petals socks, because she's making the same pair (only slightly smaller) using the same colorway. What a competition- another urban mama in Germany! She's made it hard for me coming up with photo ideas for the Trek-Along since she's already done a trek to the zoo and the playground:-)

Anyhow, I've finally cast on for the second Pretty (now summer) Petals sock, just a joy to knit with the Trekking!

12:21 Posted in Knitalongs | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this

05/05/2006

WARNING: sock yarn addiction can cause brain to malfunction!

That's what it should say on the ball bands. Seriously.

My brain has been severely affected by my sock yarn addiction.

I signed up for the Sock Yarn Addicts' Club on April 1st, which includes a 90-day yarn diet during which there can only be a single purchasing day. I thought it'd be great to give my sock yarn stash some rest, work on the existing projects and maybe start some new ones to use up what I already had.

Until Tuesday, on my trip to the post office which is right next to a LYS that always has these baskets of sock yarn out front, I thought 90 days really weren't that long.

But then I suddenly realized that I friggin' confused how many MINUTES an HOUR had with how many DAYS a MONTH had. I don't know if that's a serious case of mommy brain, or if I was just in an enormous state of denial.

OMG, what have I gotten myself into!? How could I be so DUMB?

Now I feel like I need to punish myself for my own stupidity now and there shall be no more purchases until the end of June. Promise.

Well, it's warmed up here in Northern Germany and I've had a great time at the mini S'nB on Wednesday, hanging out in the sun knitting with Elsa, who showed up having knit both cuffs for her socks and knit her first heel that day. Later that night I finished the first Pretty Petals sock. LOVE IT!

11:55 Posted in Knitalongs , Socks | Permalink | Comments (6) | Email this

05/02/2006

I'm on a roll!

I've been making some great mileage lately:-)

The striped raglan sweater got finished Sunday night, just in time for the weather to warm up... I'm quite happy with how it turned out, although the sleeves are not as long as I'd thought.

Anyhow, they may be long enough to fit Johanna in the fall. I also realized she didn't have any pants to go with the sweater, so I gotta pick up some jeans for her now- great excuse to go clothes shopping, hooray!

Last night I also turned the heel on the 2nd Alberta sock and it's almost identical to the 1st, maybe 3/4 of a row off, but who's counting?

 

 

 

Here's a new shot of the 'Fun' (haha) Nation Socks. They're going to be plenty long if I bind off after the yellow stripe, but that knot incident really bugged me. I sent an e-mail with evidence pix to the Regia customer service, I'll keep you posted on what's going to become of that...

Did you see I signed up for the dye-o-rama swap? I've actually done quite a bit of secret dyeing that I have not yet blogged about, and I'm lovin' it! I got my swap partner's address today, and I actually know her:-) Well, not personally, but I've read her blog before and she's cool! What a nice change being able to check out my swapee's blog!

The sockapaloooza socks will be off to the US today, and I feel comfortable about sending them after all the lovely comments I've gotten on them. THANKS!

10:30 Posted in Baby Stuff , dyeing , Knitalongs , Sockapaloooza , Socks | Permalink | Comments (10) | Email this

04/24/2006

Ef-Ohs!

Waah! I already got an e-mail from Alison yesterday giving me my sockpal's mailing info! She's sending out the addresses for international sock exchanges a little earlier in case they're expected to travel longer. But boy, that really put some pressure on me dealing with the Mata Haris that have been spending some down time at the bottom of my socks in progress basket. So I finally drew them out again last night to see what was the problem with the different-length feet. It really wasn't a big deal at all. I think I remember doing something different on one of the places where one of the YO, k2tog spiral lines stopped on one side of the foot and I hadn't realized that left me one 4-row repeat short. Ripped the toe, put in another repeat, that's all there was to it. *sigh of relief*! And look: matching feet!

Then I steamed the picot edge and got the Mata Haris all set to be mailed. I think I'm going to send them off on May 2nd as everybody else, though- mail to the US usually takes only 4 days. What do you other international pals think?

Today I also sent off the squares for Warming Grace and I'm so looking forward to seeing what'll become of all those squares. Cynthia got such a great response for this project and I hope she can put together lots of blankies for the children. Those blankets are going to be so cool- squares coming from all over the place from all different kinds of knitters hoping to provide some sort of consolation during trips to the hospital.

Oh, and it's gotten a tad warmer here and I finished this little hat for Johanna. Looks great with her new spring coat. I actually knit this hat this time of year in 2004 when I was pregnant. Unfortunately, the hem was waaay too tight and so the hat was just lying around until now. I fiddled around and kind of undid the cast-on, picked up the stitches, knit a few more rows of ribbing and did a loose bind-off. The hem doesn't look too great now and I think I used smaller needles when I first knit the hat, but it doesn't bother me much. The colors are just great for Johanna and the yarn has some cotton in it, so it's perfect for spring.

12:05 Posted in Baby Stuff , Knitalongs , Sockapaloooza , Socks | Permalink | Comments (11) | Email this

04/01/2006

A day in the life of a sock yarn addict

10:50 Posted in Knitalongs , Socks | Permalink | Comments (12) | Email this

02/13/2006

Les Jaywalkers sont finis

Another FO in the mama-of-purl house! Here's a shot of the finished pair:
the colors are somewhat okay after I've messed around with the flash pic a bit...

After looking at another tutorial on the Kitchener stitch for EVERY SINGLE STITCH at the end, I managed to get it right, hooray!

I love having new socks!!!

 

 

 

Now the specs:
pattern: Jaywalker by grumperina
yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Multiringel color 5122
needles: 2.5 mm Prym DPNs
started: Jan 10th 2006
finished: Feb 12th 2006

21:55 Posted in Knitalongs , Socks | Permalink | Comments (15) | Email this

02/02/2006

I'm not a knathlete

I feel urged to post something about me not participating in the Knitting Olympics... it's because...well, I just don't care much about it. I can see that it's a cute idea, it connects knitters in the world, etc. and I hope you're all enjoying this knitting event, but it's not for me. Maybe because I don't care about the actual Olympics either, or sports in general. Or I don't want to sign up for something that'll put further pressure on me. I've got so many other non-knitting related deadlines to meet already!

Anyway, here's a button for all you non-joiners, I know you're out there!

13:20 Posted in Knitalongs | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this