Wednesday, September 23, 2009

And Atlas Shrugged

When I first started knitting again, my boss thought it was adorable. It was in the winter, our "quiet" season, and she needed me to put in more hours. Part of the compensation for doing so was a kit from Americo for the Atlas Shrug. Great, give me a reason to not be here. I've had the yarn and pattern sitting in a bag ever since... too many projects to finish for other people to bother making something for myself.

Just before my face broke, I pulled it out and started it up. It started out a little rough. I decided to make the Large size, so that it would be all prosh and comfy. The pattern calls for 14" single points or 24" circular. Or. Or. I am not the most fond of circular needles and it didn't quite click in that what would require 24" couldn't possibly fit on 14" straight needles. So I started. Then stopped and spent a solid hour cursing my head, hands and eyes as I dropped stitches and picked them back up trying to transfer everything I had done onto the long-ass circular needles. The pattern calls for an increase of nearly 3 times the cast-on, you see.

On the cast-on though, it's the first time I've used the "tubular" cast-on and I'm kind of excited to see how it turns out. It's supposed to be stretchier, so I can see how it'd be really useful for an edge.

I also bought the Vogue Knitting Fall 2009 issue and almost died laughing when I saw McKey from ANTM on the cover. Really, bb? Really? Glad that gig actually got her some work, and I know it's a knitting magazine, can't expect miracles, and god, can I use any more commas? She looked dumpy (where I was trying to go with the earlier failed sentance.) Except in the hats, which were greatgreatgreat and I need to make all of them right now.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Okay, AWOL

Missing teeth. Well, they're not missing, they are just not in my head anymore. I'm still getting used to cleaning out the gaping holes and thank god the pain in receeding. Things that suck:
  1. Having one of your wisdom teeth crack in half on your birthday
  2. Spending your birthday in tears in the hospital, then at home on painkillers
  3. Wisdom teeth extraction
  4. X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Things that rock:
  1. Sony eReader Pocket Edition
  2. Harry Potter
  3. Emily Post
  4. Most of my friends
  5. Making new friends
I took part in some serious retail therapy to deal with the past month, and am now more than $100 lighter in monies, and $100 heavier in make-up. I may have a wretchedly swollen face, but it sure is painted pretty.

Finished the love cove(r). As predicted, it brought the love.


I had initially hoped to do a houndstooth lining, but I didn't manage to get a sewing machine in time for finishing. My friend was still over the moon, so I guess it's okay if it's not my idea of perfect. Learned a lot about blocking with this one. I don't really have a lot of towels, and no big ones, so there was a bit of ghetto action going on with the drying process using a couple of old hoodies and my cat's big recliner. It took awhile to pick all the white kitty hairs out... but blocking was a success. The wild oak cable transformed from a tangled mess to something at least resembling the pattern. I do wish I'd used a much more plush yarn.

Started on another project, will write more about it later. I'll probably be working on it until winter, which is good, because I'll need it by then.

I need a new book to read, something not J. K. Rowling. Or Charlaine Harris.