Ravelry and other things

I've spent seriously the whole day on Ravelry, but I have all of my projects and stash up there. Go check out my page!

In uploading my projects, I reliaze how many of my blog posts mention Lizard Ridge. Before too long it'll be over. Except, I'm thinking of backing it, which will take a little while, but the tutorial here is really good.

Interestingly, The Yarn Harlot's books aren't in the Ravelry database yet, which amuses me.

I must be insane, by the way. I signed up for the Ravelry Summer Camp swap. The package goes out end of August, which is after my LJ swap is over. But still. I'm nuts.

Plane knitting will be two things from my LJ secret pal (in case of confiscation)

Either knitty's toe-up sock pattern in this:



Or a headband in this:


I've changed my mind on what yarn to use for Wicked, since the cashmerino is pretty warm. I'm thinking now that I'll use Malabrigo or Artyarns, even though they're not machine washable. they're just so pretty.

Anyway, packing and stuff must happen, so that's about it until I hop across the pond.

Love you all!!

YAY!!!

Have Ravelry Invite!!!! Must sleep. Must resist temptation..... My username is Chelseyblair.

Lizard Ridge is seamed. Will pick up edging Monday once I get new needles, going to do mitered garter stitch.

Sleep.....

FO: Fingerless Mitts

Alas Lizard Ridge is not quite an FO yet. Two large seams, edging and the final blocking need to be done. It's looking good though.

BUT! I did finish the Fingerless Mitts I started with the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I started in between LR squares ages ago. (better pictures in the daytime tomorrow)

They're self-designed, and I like them. The yarn is quite warm, but that will be nice in winter/my dorm room. If I could do it again, I'd do a thumb gusset instead of the Fetching-esque thumb, because that one skews the cables. I'd also look at doing a braided cable, and use a smaller gauge for that maybe.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied.


My mom really likes them, and she's been after me to make her a pair of fingerless for a while, but these ones are a little small for her.

The thing is.... she can knit. Could make herself a pair, but she's too wary of trying new techniques. It's not that she even uses the perfectly valid 'I don't have enough time' excuse. She just doesn't seem to be comfortable with new techniques. For me, this is what knitting is about. I love taking a project and learning how to do things in the pattern. It's part of the fun. And I like to teach myself, asking for help only when I've tried already.

I'm like this with pretty much everything. For instance, I just got a book I plan on using to re-teach myself how to swim. (my lessons were stalled, and thus I don't breathe or move right). I've taught myself about many historical periods and how to hypnotize, do magic tricks, and best of all, knit.

So, because I know she can do it but won't I'm hesitant to knit for her. Is this weird? Or is it the whole "give a man a fish, he eats once; teach a man to fish, he eats for the rest of his life" thing?


That's about it, knit-wise. Lizard Ridge is nearly done! Still not on Ravelry, which probably means I'll get the invite, like, the day I leave for Europe, but with my pictures on Flickr and my mom taking her laptop I can probably get set-up then anyway. :)

Lime and Violet

Blog and bookswap was mentioned on L&V

*dies ded*

PS. have people received their books?

Let me know. I'll be in a corner seaming this afghan until I die

OFF THE NEEDLES!!!

Lizard Ridge is off of the needles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not an FO yet, but off of my needles!!!!!!

See? Last three squares to prove it:



Anyone who can give me an idea for the dregs is welcome....



Off for a day or two of end weaving, and then blocking and sewing :D

I Really DO Have a Camera and Other Things

There's knitting in here, promise, but first of all, thanks to Google Analytics I found out that someone found my blog by searching "Can you swim with your nose pierced?". The answer is yes. You need to wait a few weeks after it's been done, and wash with antibiotic soap afterwards until it's healed (2-3 months) and after that you're fine. :D

Now then. I e-mailed Casey today, of Ravelry fame, to make sure I put my name on the list. I'm paranoid, okay? He said there are 2000 people ahead of me. TWO thousand. TWO THOUSAND! *Sigh*. That's what I get for listening to Cast On a week late.

The Official Knitter's Book Swap sign-ups end at 7:00 EDT tonight!

And guess what? I officially ordered the rest of my Kureyon from Yarnmarket. 102 and 207 are on their way! Debbie Bliss 300 is too, so that I can finish the fingerless mitts I started a few--

Actually, I lie. I literally had this revelation while writing this post: I actually need three more balls of Kureyon, not two. In addition to that, I accidentally ordered a skein I already had. Oops. So, I called Yarmarket's customer service, but they're closed. We'll see what they say tomorrow. Hopefully they can cancel that order and I'll send in a new one immediately. *crosses fingers*

Pictures of the Kureyon Squares I've done since last time I posted pictures!


Colorway 33, which reminds me of the Shrek Milkshake Lime and Violet were talking about

184:


215: 040:


183 (sent to me by my LJ Secret Pal:





I'm working on 194 now, have 180 in the stash and will hopefully have three more coming. Sigh. I thought I was so much closer to done :-/

Addiction

TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE OFFICIAL KNITTER'S BOOKSWAP VOL I

Tell your friends!!!







I think I'm addicted to Lizard Ridge.

Seriously.

As in "knitting when my wrist hurts, binding one off casting on another two seconds later" addicted. But it's because I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Four blocks from now I'll be done. As little as a week if I get the yarn. DONE. As in block and sew and have afghan and be able to knit other things and have a beautiful piece of knitting.

It's mind-boggling.

But, due to said 'Lizard Ridge only kniting' and 'wrist hurts' (just a little, from overuse) and my camera still not having batteries all I have for you is a book review:



Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
I have two things to say before the actual review. First of all that cover is new. I liked the old one well enough, but particularly like this one as the girl's expression is very Ella-ish. She looks young, but then again Ella is only fifteen. Second, I don't recommend reading this book the first time you're exposed to it; I recommend listening to it. Audible link You should look at the book, to admire Carson Levine's great made-up languages and the glossary and extra scene in the paperback, but Eden Riegel's performance and the music in the audiobook is too good to miss. (And great for knitting to!)

I had only ever listened to the book, but had listened to it many times since middle school. I had it on cassette, and now on my iPod and it's been my comfort listen for ages and ages. I have often said that if I can write as wonderful a book one day I will be happy. Having read it in print now, I am more amazed by Carson Levine's made-up languages, but annoyed at her short paragraphs. In the audio that isn't a problem.

Before now, though, I just saw a delightful story of a willful girl, with a wonderful romance. It is all that, but in Ella Enchanted a wonderfully detailed world is set up, for a bit of an Austen-esque social commentary. Every one around Ella after her mother's death, save the fairy cook Mandy, is obssessed with society and money. Her merchant father sees her as a mere pocession, her stepsisters are obssessed, one with power and one with money (because she knows she should be), and her stepmother marries for money. Ella is not concerned with that, nor does she see her friendship with the prince as a way to gain power.

But, because of the curse upon her to be obediant Ella becomes what the society wants: an accomplished girl. This is where Carson Levine deviates from Austen. Austen's girls are pointedly not accomplished. Elizabeth Bennett is horrible at the piano and her mother never put much effort into her education. Catherine, of Northanger Abbey, cannot draw and Austen points this out. Ella can sing, dance and stitch. But she is obedient not docile. She is not society's puppet. She can write well, and has a nack for language. Her impertinence and spunk cause Char, a prince who cares for all his subjects (if he cares less for anyone it's the peerage), to fall in love with her.

Although the story is, at the core, a fleshed-out Cinderella, Ella Enchanted is so much more than that. It is a wonderfully detailed universe, a fairy-tale, a coming-of-age story and a wonderful social commentary. Definitely worth a read, or better yet a listen.

A meme, some pictures and a request

So, with the yarn I have right now, I only need five more balls of Kureyon to finish. That scares me and excites me all at the same time. I want to order the next five online as soon as I finish the ones I have, and i will be able to do so if my mother permits or if the credit card I applied for arrives soon. But with Europe in the works we have zero dollars.

I get that, I promise, but it's SO annoying! I want stuff! Like, I put a few cookbooks on my amazon wishlist today for next year, but can't get them now. Can't get yarn. Can't get theWaterproof Housing for iPod I want. Can barely get my book for the swap (but tis a necessity!). It's annoying. I'm used to us being fairly able to afford things minimally, every once in a while something, you know? This is vaguely ridiculous, but will be nice in Europe I suppose.

On another note, I'm nearly done with the rewrites on my novel, and I really need someone dependable who's a fairly quick reader to look at it. Would anyone be interested? Someone who'd be interested in working with me on this and maybe future things? It's a YA novel.... Comment me if you're interested!

Oh! I got my hair cut yesterday:


It's my first time having any kind of bangs, ever, and I reallyreally like it!

Yesterday I finished a LR square, in 215. i have 184 on the needles, own 183 and bought one yesterday.... I don't know the colorway, it's dark brown with some reds in it. Pretty. My square is prettiful too, but my camera is dead and I'm to lazy to go get batteries :D

Looking at other people's Lizard Ridges, I feel like I could just keep going forever, but I'm also excited about the prospect of having it DONE! I'm probably going to order from Yarnmarket, because they have good colorways for $8.35. I'm pretty sure it's going to be: 194, (because of this square), 40, 214, 164 and one other but I'm not on the computer that has my basket. I think it was 207. I really like the new Kureyon colorways. At the same time, I see all the gorgeous ones they have and go: "I could make another row.... or another blanket to donate to Afghans for Afghans as done here"

But then again, I'm ready to move on, and whilst I plan on donating to charity with my knitting through the club I want to form, it'll probably be baby hats. It's time to move on, and stop judging yarn stores by their Noro Kureyon stock....


Had Starbucks with my friend Seppy today. Was très excited that a lightly blended Javachip w/o whip is only three points on Weightwatchers I realized that my friends and I are starting to branch out, and won't be home all summer any more. I definitely don't want to be next year, although it is nice.


Anyway, a meme from Gabrielle and a reminder to sign-up for the Bookswap!

4 jobs I have had in my life:

1. Babysitting my mom's co-worker's kids. It was my first real babysitting job. Carl was eleven and severely ADHD, never shut up but we talked about Harry Potter. His sister was a strange duck, eight, too smart for her breaches (oh, I'm not southern. noooo) but over all a nice kid.

2. Receptionisting at my mom's work. Not official, I had nothing better to do because I had a broken knee.

3. Calling alums for money at the school Phone-a-thon

4. Haven't actually done it yet, but speaking at a few conferences about the whole disability. I mean, I've done break out sessions, but I'm the closing speaker at two this summer.

4 films I can watch again and again:

1. A Very Long Engagement
--I love it. I relate to the main character sooo much
2.A League of Their Own
3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Widescreen Edition)
4. Rent

4 places I have lived:

1. Pensacola
2. Tallahassee from the ages of 5-7
3. Pensacola again
4. Atlanta

We moved house a lot the last time in Pensacola, and it was quite different from my first five years; promise.

4 TV series I watch:

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. House
3. Gilmore Girls
4. I guess.... Nothing, really
4 places I have been on holiday:

1. Orlando (many times)
2. Chicago (with my mom for a few days)
3. Willmington, Delaware (where my grandparents live)
4. New York City

4 things I do every time I am on the Net:

1. Check email
2. Read blogs
3. Go on Facebook
4. Read Livejournal

4 things I would NOT eat for anything in the world:

1. Bugs
2. Pasta that's not lo mien. Don't ask. Just picky.
3. Raw meet
4. anything that makes me gag

4 places I would love to be right now:

1. Back at school
2. Europe
3. With my friends
4. Somewhere exciting

4 people I tag, if they have not been tagged already:

eusebius
Erin
Jessica
wierdlings

okay, that's it. and let me know if anyone wants to do the read the manuscript thing

Lizard Blocks and Bags of Ends (No Odds)

Well, if the trip to my dad's was good for one thing, it was knitting. I already told you all about the yarn stores, but I also got a fair bit of knitting done.

For a bit of yarn pr0n, that's Debbie Bliss cashmerino DK and I'm planning on making socks with the blue as the heel and toes. Pretteh, no? I really like it. I also picked up a ball of Cashmerino Aran, because I'm plan on making my Wicked out of that, and I wanted to try it out.





As for FOs, this one's not completely finished yet, but this bag is all the ends I had to weave in for it. I ended up duplicate stitching them in thanks to Thersea's tutorial on Knitty and that seemed to work well. Pictures once it's blooked.


I got four Lizard Ridge blocks done in between the day before we left (last Friday) and yesterday. It would have been Friday-to-Friday, but it got too dark on the ride home. Here they are in all their glory. Clockwise it's: 147, 150, 209 and 175 aka Witch's Lake, Winter Store, Gelly Roll and Rose Garden. (Gelly Pen because that one reminds me of the gel pens I was obsessed with at thirteen)


That's about it. I plan to spend today working on editing the novel I wrote for last year's NaNoWriMo and working on my gloves. I'll also be listening to podcasts and waiting anxiously for my Ravelry invite still.... :D

Charms and Color!

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting my first colorwork! It's a washcloth/display piece for my best friend's eighteenth birthday, knit in cable cotton and it needs to be blocked, but it's done!

I got the letters from the Knitter's Alphabet and I probably could have just as easily duplicate stitched it, but I felt the need to try stranded colorwork, and it went pretty well!

Next up will be the twelfth Lizard Ridge square.







Today, before my follow-up eye appointment my mom and I stopped by Books-A-Million, where I picked up a copy of Alison Hansel's Charmed Knits


I've wanted it for ages, and it was between that and The Yarn Harlot's Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off! I really wanted both, but since the Potter Premieres are in July, I decided that Charmed Knits was more time-sensitive.


I really like most of the patterns in it; and the Hip House Scarf is going directly on my To-Knit list, and will be knit after the Lizard Ridge block, as I have yarn left over from the Gryfindor scarf I knit last year. After that will eventually be Hermione's Magical Knitting Bag, Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat, the Quidditch socks and the Invisability Shawl. Also, probably, the Snitch tree ornament and Errol for my friends for Christmas. Also, eventually and ambitiously the Clock Blanket.

Some of the projects are a little out there for me, like Molly's Amazing Technicolor Housecoat, and of course I haven't any kids to knit for (my brother and nephew live in Florida. Not so much on the sweaters, although maybe an elf-hat at some point), but I think that's what makes the book well rounded.

I also really like that the yarns are mostly common and affordable; some from Knitpicks and a lot of Cascade 220, which is readily available at my LYS.

Overall, I'm VERY impressed!!!!!

We're heading off to south Florida on Friday, and I'm really hoping to make a couple of yarn crawls with my mom, and shall update then, of course!

Lizard Ridge Update and other musings

I was going to post last night about how I did a Lizard Ridge block in twenty-four hours. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

'Tis Greek Week, you see, and we had Sing last night. It was a lot of fun, and my sorority put A LOT of work into it. It was evident that ours was better than at least one of the others, and we got third, out of three sororities.

That would not have been so bad; we had fun, that's what matters, but then the Greek advisor said something particularly awful to our president. He made her cry. Needless to say I didn't feel like doing the final repeat on the block that I have decided to christen Motley (it's not so Crayola any more....)

Here it is:


I'm having a lot of fun with Lizard Ridge, and I've decided to focus on it a bit more. When I started I wanted to be done by June. Not sure that that will happen, but I want it done by the end of the summer. I'm up to nine squares (eight picture) which is three-eighths of the entire thing. Why Knot Knit's most recent newsletter mentioned something about a sale room, and I think my friends and I are gonna go check it out tomorrow, as I'm out of Kureyon in my stash.

Finals are fast approaching and I'm oddly unmotivated. Still, off to contemplate my Honors paper and watch Grey's Anatomy

The Saga of Scarf (Sock's Second Cousin)....(Once Removed)

Perhaps you remember this yarn?

It's Trendsetter Tonalita. 50% wool. 50% acrylic. I thought it would be okay.... Oh, was I mistaken!

Scarf started out as just an idea, a garter stitch scarf, 200 yds of yarn. Simple, yes? But The Nose-Pierced Knitter thought that such a pretty yarn deserved ever so much more. So, it became a slanted rib. However, it was determined that two rows would look better between each slant. Thus, frogpond. However, the yarn decided to tangle, so angry was it at being taken down from a flag to mere yarn again:

But during this time of frogging this pattern was discovered, thanks to the help of the LJ Knitting community.

Gorgeous, yeah?

Unfortunately, after one repeat it became grossly apparent that Tonalita was just not going to work for this pattern. The drape is not so great. At all.

It looks pretty, but just doesn't feel good. The needles slant in a really cool way when it's being knit...

So.... here come the frogs!

Rip it....

Rip it...

"No!" cries Scarf, in agony, "Please! Save me!"

"Why should I?"

"I'm a pretty yarn! Maybe one day you can make something of me! I can't help that I'm half nasty, man-made fiber!"

Okay. Okay. The NPK decides. Maybe stitch holders are in order.

But for now, it's time for Lizard Ridge Square the Eight:

It's Noro Kureyon 95. I think I'll call it the crayola square.

I got an A on my last Medieval and Renaissance lit paper; it was a creative work parodying both The Miller's Tale, from Canterbury Tales and Sir Gaiwin and the Green Knight. (Do you know, I almost typed Green Knit?)

Today skipped a couple classes to go to get my passport then got sushi and went to Ben & Jerry's for free scoop day. AND the B&J was attached to a Starbucks. Hello, Heaven!

This morning I actually slept in. And by that I mean slept through the night until 8:30 when the landscaping outside decided that it hated me. Le sigh. But still, later than I've slept in a while even if was before my 8:42 alarm. Yay Tuesdays and Thursdays when I don't have class until 10:00 and my ride doesn't get here until 9:45.

Got batteries for the camera. I swear I have double As somewhere but they have been stolen by Robin Goodfellow and the other fairies in my room. Speaking of gentle Puck, I have notecards and a plan for my presentation, which means I feel better about posting when I should be working on, you know, schoolwork.

The more I read A Mid-Summer Night's Dream the more I love it. My initial reading of it (my first Shakespeare play) was due to this book which no one's ever read, and I love more than life. Now it's because I'm just a little bit fairy obsessed.

I mean, look at my purse:











But back to the topic of this post. Today Sonya, Rie and I got Chinese. It was meant to be a bit of an informal knitting club thing because we didn't meet yesterday, but only I had out my knitting, because Sonya had class. Still, the sock likes Chinese.



Here, I google text to find out the addy of the cheapest Chinese place we know of:


Sock + Chinese. And Rieddhi's hand....









Sonya eating yummy food

Sonya and juicebox! I've decided that college brings your food likes back to the age of ten....



And speaking of the sock; here's sock on the Knitting Chair:









Miss Violet, I must tell you that last fall when the Knitty with my darling Lizard Ridge came out I was scared silly. "Maybe some day, when I'm more experienced" I thought. And then I read the pattern. Short rows? I can do that.... maybe. And thus far my only problem has been yarn tangles, since I'm knitting with two ends alternately. Safety pins make my world.


Pictured are Under the Sea and The Secret Garden. Carnivale is in my bag in Sonya's car, so there shall be pics of him when he is retrieved.

Tonight is Real Life Metro over at Tech. I shall probably get odd looks for knitting, but whatever. People at Bible Study have stopped noticing. It helps me focus. I do not put knitting above God, and He knows it. We've talked about it.

I want Starbucks. I need a car like yesterday.....

Oh, and remind me that I never ever want to read the AOL message boards. This story was up there today and if I saw "Sew her up" or "Catch her and preform a full hysterectomy" one more time I was going to scream. Honestly people, this woman needs help. Be compassionate!!


I'm going to go answer my pen-pal letters and then knit before trekking up to dinner. *wishes she could knit self a car*



PS. You know you're a knitter when your first instinct upon finding out your phone has fallen between your desk and the wall is to attempt to fish it out with a needle. Only when that fails do you move on to a hanger....