So, no new pictures this post; I have them on the camera at home. The 5th round of BSG FPB briefings are in full swing, and I’ve only completed one ready room! I’ve also signed up for Gaeta’s Mutiny (socks), FlashBack (a WIP finishing room) and started but haven’t signed in for Chief Tyrol (warmth / winter readiness). For Gaeta’s, I’m knitting some Maelstroms, as I’ve already posted. For Tyrol, I’ve cast on the Ribbed Pullover Vest (w3 – Rav) by Hannah Fettig. I’m already 2.5″ into the ribbing, and am really excited. I’ve been contemplating buying some sweater vests, since it’s still 78 during the days here, so full warm sweaters (like some of you folks up North get to wear) just have no place here in Texas until December or January. If I like the look of this vest, I’m also eyeing the Tailored Vest by Ruthie Nussbaum in SIMPLE STYLE and the Back-to-School U Neck Vest by Stefanie Japel in FITTED KNITS. I invested a whopping $9 in yarn for the vest, but will happily buy a couple of skeins of Dream in Color Classy for another if this one looks good and gets some wear – I’ve got my eye on some Some Summer Sky ¬.¬.

For FlashBack, I have decided to finally get off my butt and finish my prototype of the Lace History of the Cylons Shawl (images – Rav). I haven’t decided what edging to use, but that’s all I need to finish on it. After that, she’ll hibernate again until the 2010 Ravelympics for the Designers Discus, where I’m going to make myself knit another prototype and finish the printable (publishable? salable?) pattern. If anyone wants to test this bad boy, let me know? I could use another pair of eyes. If you have a planet preference, I can chart a difference symbol for Section 2. The prototype pattern is on this site; just Rav pm me at jesknits for access :)

That’s all the knitting news that’s fit to report. Man, I hate socks on DPNs; I gotta order some US1 circulars. I feel like I’m gonna break these things! :)

Maelstrom Start,
originally uploaded by alex_maris.

Every year, a certain friend of Rob and I gets a hand-knit item. (Yes, many people receive them, but she’s not related to either of us nor was she at the hospital when Alex was born.. so.. you know, special!! :)) The last few years, it’s been a pair of socks. In keeping with the tradition, I’ve cast on this years gift. Now, it doesn’t hurt that it also counts for a ready room in this month’s BSG FPB briefings ;)

That’s right!  I never made him baby sweaters, but I’ve decided it’s time to make my monkey his own, hand-crafted sweater.  The pattern I choose is the Sock Yarn Sweater from Hannah Fettig (w3 – Rav).  We all know that I love collecting sock yarn, despite only knitting maybe 2 pairs of socks a year.  One 440 yd put up makes 1 sweater up to a 4T! And Joann had Serenity Sock Weight on sale for $2.50 a skein… so, I grabbed 3 (in case I need more than called for in the pattern) in this wacky colorway.  The pooling is… suboptimal, but it’s growing on me.  The next sweater? Same pattern but for ME!

Speaking of me, we have about a month until the b-day, so I thought Id drop a few subtle hints, like the fact that KnitPicks has an ENTIRE section of What to Gift Your Knitter, as well as new wishlists!  Which, you can find in the list of stash enablers over here to your right.. ;)

There’s a nice simple joy in a skein of sock yarn, a rhythmic pattern, and a pair of US 8s.  The Lacy Baktus (rav – pattern) is over half way done in less than 24 hours – go me!   I’m making it as a scarf, not a shawl, so with this happy 8s it’s looking to be done by tomorrow afternoon-ish.

It’s been decided that DS will be a Jedi for Halloween this year.  He’s been on a STAR WARS  kick for weeks now (yay – that’s my boy!)  I’ve looked around and while I COULD buy a cloak, meh!  Where’s the fun in THAT?  I’m thinking a few skeins of Wool-Ease (machine washable for the win), a kimono shape and a big ole hood.  Now I just have to find time and take notes….

Pretty much the only descriptor I have for the last few days.  So, to make myself feel better, I’ve decided to drop a project I don’t want to do for a project I’m really exited about: I finally cast on for Storm Blossoms by MMario today!  I’m only a wee tiny 4 rounds in, but I can say that I need more practice with circular cast ons.   Like, center, “Look ma, no holes!” cast ons.  My first attempt? Meh.  Hopefully blocking will improve its demeanor ¬.¬

No photo, as well, there just isn’t that much there yet.  Trying to soldier through what can only be described as the most stressful three weeks I’ve had in YEARS.  I’m burned out like there’s no tomorrow with no vacation in sight.  :: sigh ::

Holy FRAK! I am one purl row away from the edging, and I STILL haven’t killed this first skein of Gloss Lace! Best lace bang for the buck EVER, IMO. I really want to finish this today, but I forgot to bring my DPNs :( I’ve also got a pseudo-secret work-related knit I need to bust a move on, since that didn’t get worked on this weekend. I figure that one will take maybe 4-5 hours total (meaning over several days, of course). Time to go home and dig for US 5 DPNs in a few hours!

OK.  I found my 5s, but they feel a bit snug, so I think I’m going to use 6s instead.  After this, I have the work project and my WW Shetland triangle and then all of September to make what I want to! :: gasp!::  My last post I listed a number of ideas I had for projects… At this point, I feel pretty solidly torn between the Photosynthesis Shawl and Stormblossoms.  Stormblossoms is currently winning, as I’ve never ponied up and worked a full circle shawl before, so this seems like a good time to do so.  I do love me some pi ;)  Plus, I purchased that 1300+ yds of Palette in Eggplant that makes me think storm so… yardage + cool pattern that I haven’t seen around much pretty much = win for me.

Second repeat of chart #4, which still needs some tweakingI think I’ll change the point at which the pattern repeats.  But, I’m happy, because 23 rows until the edging!

And speaking of edging, the Harmony Guides are publishing an edgings book – yay!  I love the guides, although I have to admit to being a bit unhappy about the lack of charts in them.  Still, I enjoy a good resource, so I create my own charts when needed.  I also managed to snag a copy of Barbara Walker’s A Second Treasury of Knitted Patterns – w00t!  I still want volumes 1, 3 and 4, though.

After I finish up my shawl design and the worsted weight Shetland Triangle that I’m working on, BSG FPB is taking a break for September… what am I gonna do????  I’ve got two big bundles of Palette in Bittersweet and Eggplant (6 skeins each, so about 1380 yds a color?) and a crap ton of really cool patterns.   I’m stumped.  I’m looking at Girasole, which is really hot right now. It’s gorgeous but I am a smidge confused by the second chart (but that’s what Rav is for!)  Then again, I also have a copy of Desdemona that I’m eyeing.  Or, heaven forbid, I could test knit the full circle version of my own shawl… but THAT I want to do not in purple or brown. Because Palette just expanded – there are like 34 new colors!  How can I resist? (Heck, how can I sneak it into my house and my budget?)  I’m thinking Silver for my shawl, and then maybe turn the Eggplant into Stormqueen or Stormflowers (both patterns by MMario, a genius of lace).  Oh, decisions, decisions.  Oh yeah!  And I have to pick a sock pattern! Because the BF has a friend who wants me to help them learn to knit socks!  I’m thinking that the two skeins of Lorna’s Laces I have in Pilsen would make interesting Pomatomi?

I’m making headway into section 4 of my shawl, and I’m feeling pretty good about it.  It’s not the most ingenious shawl pattern ever created, but I have to say that I’m pretty proud of myself, having used traditional motifs in only one of four sections (five, if you count that I’m creating my own edging motif as well).  I know that they say there is nothing new under the sun, but I think I can fairly safely say that no one has publicize anything like my original motifs (which look pretty neat, but I won’t lie to you and say that they are revolutionary in any sense) and certainly not in the combination I have working.  I’m super excited, and have only 29 rows before I head into the edging!  This puts me on target to have a rough pattern draft done by the end of August (well, I’d have it ready now, but I want to finish knitting it before I get testers ;)).  At that point, while I have other folks test knit, I will be testing the full circle version of this myself :)  Am I excited? Oh ja, you betcha!!!!

What you see here is several weeks of charting, recharting, tweaking numbers and barreling into a design… without bothering to check my math :P This is meant to be a half pi shawl. Due to a mistake in my set up rows, this ended up being more like a 1/3 pi shawl.This saddens me, because that second chart took me FOREVER to work out and I really loved it… but I redid my numbers and it doesn’t fit any more :( Sadness. I’ve since reworked all of the numbers and charts, learned to love the swatch, and started again …

And have ended up here. Not a great photo, I know. But progress! I’ve knit past my original frogging point. The shape is fine. There have been many tweaks along the way regarding the charts (and my love goes out to Marni for the best Excel tutorial ever!) I’ve only got one more repeat of my fourth chart to go before I launch into the LARGE section: 288 stitches across 96 rows. I’ve also got an edging design that I need to swatch a few more times to ensure it is what I want it to be. Then, the really hard part: writing this out for publication. I still haven’t decided on what to charge (it will be test knit before this point, just FYI) or how detailed to get. I tend to overdo explanations. I also need a name for this bad boy that doesn’t infringe upon any copyrights or the like.

But I am glad I hosed the first take on this shawl. I have learned that just because the little holes line up nicely on a graph doesn’t mean they place well in the yarn. I have learned that it may look good on a flat graph, but when you stretch that sucker in a pi arc, it looks like you’re trying for surrealist lace. And I have learned that I really do love KP’s Gloss Lace :D