tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-221171552024-03-12T16:36:18.392-07:00Emily's Musings on KnittingEmilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.comBlogger333125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-8025866969940428232009-05-11T07:55:00.001-07:002009-05-11T11:11:48.468-07:00I'm Old!<span style="font-family:arial;">How old? Check out these custom M&Ms my mom sent me last week:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334580196620901122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxxY2p0mIbzJe2HTr1AW3FOXjbtd6s9Mn14dICdndcC5SQ5EFgnoVYmWabZLynNTBT2y8VW1Zym05sCR8Zq6SvNeENl65BSdy_EBzy_byvpt0hESlbNxfUn7gsTUkJIUUALQm/s320/Birthday+M%26Ms.JPG" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">How cool are they? In case you can't read them, they say, "Emily's <strong>30</strong> WOW." And they're my favorite colors as well :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I know I've vanished - I'll try to be back soon. Here's a brief update! I went to Florida. It was fun. I've been knitting. But nothing complicated. I think I'm going to abandon the Petal Halter. I finished my second Clapotis. It's great. I'm trying to schedule my thesis defense. Scary. Therefore, I have to write my thesis. Scarier. And find a job. Scariest...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">But today is my birthday, so I'm keeping a positive attitude!!! </span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-79200484282620442352009-04-02T22:18:00.001-07:002009-04-02T22:20:56.041-07:00I'm out of here,,,<div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm leaving this misery:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320330524658215186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZh3H9VtedUuZQ8qHkukYthA-36lWJcQ7AVO8dBRCNZXRUe0KVGssmapRhH2AgNB7evVm7D2MVpBCDV6MXgh6D7UjGiH_aMYDDNp-XeViQUyTpYZOsAUNRC2qwaQO5bAMeFgUd/s320/Rain+and+misery.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And this chaos:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320330520620394674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vxmzVCFgUEbG3peK_yW0ggoS8vBJPdPl43TQ1DudcOnps1aUBgRMvccJxBhae1df6ApQ8oIwxu3XHnFA_m0KtK2SW31KGw6RCLXwvKXWFmisueRAl6LectxEw85VNwRkLRm8/s320/Living+room+mess.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And spontaneously running off to Florida for the weekend. It's going to be tough to leave, don't you think?</span><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I'll just have to endure it...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">(Bonus points if you recognize that last line)</span></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-5390321303965051062009-03-31T15:33:00.000-07:002009-03-31T15:33:57.150-07:00Transition Mitts<div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Finished! Now if we could just <strong>transition</strong> into spring that would be great!</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319353985260620434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD5s572wEjWIiTMNDV4vy5NeeqBCrg0Ckb9NTgDErnWw4ShGru6HCrTVrQB6pmjulIFug_nPe9RqoP9XbkcEfj_vIuJd0gA8Iyc-G3PWWfuMQyvLi0KJ52Gtq-v5GbTzu0FKa/s320/IMG_4538.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Transition Mitts</strong></u></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/transition-gloves">Transition Gloves</a> by Kerin Dimeler from ShibuiKnits. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/transition-gloves">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: ShibuiKnits Sock in Pagoda and Ivory, one skein each with some to spare. Yarn purchased from Knit Purl (Portland) at the Madrona Fiber Festival.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 1 (2.25mm) and 2.5 (3mm) DPNs.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: February 13 - March 28, 2009.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319353994968573058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRPkjJhirNStjBaWeBvo1BFiIHrg5xiSQWH7YOBP9gzFr61I3xsxvGm-TYg_J-27SHbmeJWBuRq3HXEntQ0GPrnv3-9M7-G_Nf5Cou8yO8eESkgGcBaKbmc-KxRiw5p1ONyP4/s320/IMG_4537.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: None, aside from using slightly smaller needles for the colorwork section because they were seeming a bit big.<br /><u>Impressions</u>: OMG! These are great - I love them! I had a <em>really </em>tough time choosing colors, and it was actually good that I bought the yarn at a festival and they didn't have the full range of options - otherwise I'd have been completely stymied. Originally I wanted brown and turquoise, like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/TelmahQ/transition-gloves">these</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/TelmahQ">TelmahQ</a>, which I faved on Ravelry for inspiration months ago. And then I saw some turquoise and ivory <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knit1purl2mommy/transition-gloves">ones</a>, which I also loved. But in the end the orange won me over (and to be frank I have <strong>a lot</strong> of teal and turquoise already). As per usual any time I do colorwork, I was reminded how much I enjoy it. It's just so <em>satisfying</em> to see the pattern unfolding so rapidly - good motivation. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319353989515375922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBlkSH-W4teL4eNjopMSMFE64-T2ahdAuNcZTvAKZUqf-4GReAbBYvvVPtOyynFk8UGv5XdibwoZiqQGKrkW6xo9jk1xtK2khNvyYn2GVKy79xrhyxLsGntYopfM6MdUzeIfQ/s320/IMG_4539.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">All that said, I'm not sure how <em>useful</em> these will be. As you can see, they're quite long, almost to the elbow, and even though it's thin yarn it would still be tough to get them under most of my sweater sleeves. Plus, you really only see the orange bit unless a 3/4-sleeve shirt is involved, and I don't have that many of those. I do have a 3/4-sleeve grey jacket that they work well with, so at least I have <em>something </em>to wear with them. I had considered this problem before making them, but I really wanted to make them so I pushed it aside and figured it would work itself out, so I'm sure it will! Thanks to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mightbekatrina">Katrina</a> for taking the photos!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">It's not all FOs around here - I have a new project as well! This isn't actually new, I've been working on it for a few weeks now, but it's my work project so I haven't taken any photos of it. This is another <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html">Clapotis</a>: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319353998047722018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6380FV17QTYRmL2M1CIRIRcO0dbz6Pvqs-hmiAeXY05l76pbjr9X-fPJ8WEyG-uduH6c5IiI6BW23slIHL7JAZGXOwN_-lTPYTQ1Wcu4T8pEThawvWEO8nhqP976WwKKvgNb/s320/Clapotis+2+in+progress.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm hoping I'll actually get some use out of this one - my other one is really too bulky to wear comfortably, so I haven't worn it much. This one is knit with sockweight yarn, and it's very drapey, so I think it'll be more useful. Don't expect it to be finished very quickly - I'm only knitting it at lunch and I get a little less than one repeat done per day, so it'll be awhile...Here's a close-up of the yarn - it's Araucania Ranco Multi:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319354000014574946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejauRASR9a5YW2kHyQBxNOhwzqu42oWQ39fig5dhHaRXZzByb3v-ZMnmFCfpKeQsQ0lZc61HaG2Ptd-TQAEqDHGnqXeGpXor51PmXCbMLYxfQrvTP8k6FuS7dfPgLh2MpNwXb/s320/Clapotis+zoom.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Lovely, yes? So many colors :)</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-72301061161778100132009-03-25T09:19:00.001-07:002009-03-25T14:09:03.833-07:00A vest for David<span style="font-family:arial;">Thank you all for the comments on the evil cast-on for the Petal Halter. As you can see here, I've finished the first petal, and I must admit that, despite being one of the worst knitting experiences I can remember, the cast-on works pretty well. It's a bit looser than the rest of the knitting though, so I'm thinking about using smaller needles on the next one to tighten it up a bit. The shaping on this is really cool, and the pieces go pretty quickly once you get past the beginning. We'll see how long it takes me to summon the courage/energy/alcohol to start the second (of six) piece...</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDmHqcsGAvgvvf3pQztqHzZnbn0K_jA5E2CSTj67sQEi-nQ8Y-lCl6cS96cokdm8tNEdd8Aa_Ys_ekPokfP5VMoM-v0JSvjruyUAxeR3AB91Yky-xGkpcyyvi25ovJ_WYcLAz/s1600-h/Lotus+Halter,+one+leaf.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317160932399286546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDmHqcsGAvgvvf3pQztqHzZnbn0K_jA5E2CSTj67sQEi-nQ8Y-lCl6cS96cokdm8tNEdd8Aa_Ys_ekPokfP5VMoM-v0JSvjruyUAxeR3AB91Yky-xGkpcyyvi25ovJ_WYcLAz/s320/Lotus+Halter,+one+leaf.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> In other news, I have a secret project that can now be revealed! This is the vest I knit for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jhelanee">Jennifer's</a> baby, David, who was born on February 13th. It was just gifted this past weekend, so it can finally be shown off on the blog.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317160929968544114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB9yeghwzifVrix9y26huK3quqW25Rdw3iKSL-Qt0s_lxIK91sP4L9Uotz942mk1s1zOqbm90dm8NqS8cn4qSND5LMPeT1zI_Q72t0XH2YZm6CPY6AmRGU2AcHJhFBetFTpEPp/s320/IMG_4532.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Vest for Jennifer's David</strong></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/design-f---pullover-sweater-and-vest-tank-top">Design F</a> (seriously): <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/design-f---pullover-sweater-and-vest-tank-top">Pullover Sweater and Vest/Tank Top by Sirdar</a>. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/design-f---pullover-sweater-and-vest-tank-top">here</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/">Knit Picks</a> Cotlin, Kolhrabi - less than 2 skeins.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 3 (ribbing) and 5 (everything else) Clover Bamboo.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: March 4-15, 2009.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: I don't think I made any - if I did I've already forgotten them...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317160918587701458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyIIhL7ibAu1zxB02e75TjV0RfOj9TY6BNDPsPJE9TjcXqskXp0W4w92jCSbY9WilKgOa7EuLcfxghV79MvMneHQqxCX1fPCj-LcW47YWCsWOlehhzsMfVSPSSTdh-_sktNAx/s320/IMG_4530.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: This is a cute little item! The v-neck ended up being a little smaller than I was going for, and I'm not sure if that's something I did or the pattern, as the project photo in the book makes it difficult to tell how deep it should be. I love Cotlin - it's great to knit with, blocks nicely, and I assume wears well, although I haven't kept anything I've knit with it. This is the same yarn as the Petal Halter, so I'll find out about the wear soon enough. The color is more accurate in the second photo, but the flash obliterated the texture. Hard to get both texture and color these days, since the sun doesn't shine...I used much less yarn than I expected - the pattern had me ordering three skeins and I used about 1.5 to make the 6-12 month size. I think that was a good size choice, since this is a cotton/linen blend and will be good for summer. I met little David this weekend and there's no way this will be fitting him for awhile! So, congratulations to Jennifer and Aaron, and I hope David likes (or at least tolerates) his vest!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Oh, and I have a story. Yesterday I wore a new shirt to work, and then after work I went to the gym to go swimming. I'd already changed into my bathing suit, and I didn't want my new shirt to get sweaty, so I just wore my bathing suit under my jacket while biking to the gym. When I was finished swimming, it occured to me that I couldn't really ride home in the damp suit under my jacket, but I still didn't want to wear the new shirt, so I just wore my bra under my jacket. And I thought, "Self, this isn't the best plan. What if you crash? Or run into someone you know and they want to have coffee? Or crash?" I ignored all this and proceeded, and I did not crash. I got home, and I waited for the elevator with a nice couple just coming back from the airport, who were thankfully quite involved with each other when I decided I was warm and unzipped my jacket in the elevator. I realized my error quite quickly, and thankfully I have a messenger bag so my jacket stayed mostly closed, but it was entertaining. At least to me - I really don't think they noticed. And to Dave, who almost fell off the couch laughing when I told him about my new career as a flasher...</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-86575963506659362992009-03-17T09:16:00.000-07:002009-03-17T13:28:59.560-07:00Driven to drink<div><span style="font-family:arial;">Friends, I have encountered the project from hell. I'm not a big drinker, but the cast-on for this baby sent me running for the booze. This is the Petal Halter from the newest Interweave, and I loved it on sight. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313820455569130498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9ZkZQ1-Dy0pzEKwyLI4vfrEppzjxKjzNocoiIHVNyrEa97LMR9jYfZYQZRLor3_Vbp1oUi8booEhRQWZS9wogyJNfWk0hN88Ifo4OJYfkNT3lT7SDrHYKUOFmszL_aWZIBMb/s320/Petal+Leaf+and+alcohol.JPG" border="0" />In fact I still love it, but frankly I'm not sure it's going to be worth the hassle of making it. Each petal is knit separately and then seamed, which is fine. The issue is the Eastern cast-on, which is a morale-sucking experience like none I have encountered knitting. Why? I'll show you:</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313820457441962738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHmACdketDkrZigaDbyrm-vBfHOBAllkdl-w1W8f3Z03rtIrsI5uwkcgOXZ1z6iPd4AGIXMIoDiMhtzGRQxR5sETzE6Py6vypKzO6VunDCERy4A1xC0wWAJgeSoIMSHdp-tVu/s320/Petal+Leaf+Halter+cast-on.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;">Sorry that the photo is bad - white yarn + evening light + alcohol is a difficult combination for photography. Regardless, what you can see is two needles <em>next to each other</em> with stitches on them, that have to be knit by a third needle. Let me back up: to accomplish this cast-on, you wrap the yarn <em>snugly</em> around two needles held parallel (as above), and then knit across the top needle stitches. I'll wait if you'd like to go try this yourself, but even if you don't, you can probably imagine the physical difficulty that ensues when trying to knit stitches from one needle <em>when the stitch you're knitting into</em> is composed of yarn that is <em>tightly wrapped around another needle parallel to the one you're knitting off of</em>, all without slipping any stitches off of the bottom needle. AND THEN, just when you think you've got it, you turn it around to knit the other side of the stitches (which is also fiddly and difficult), which then results in what you see in the photo above. I admit, and you can see this in the top photo, that the end result of this is pretty cool, and creates a piece of knitting that is knit in both directions without a seam, but still! This cast-on, it's brutal. And I have to do it five more times...</span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-65025091278025196992009-03-06T20:25:00.001-08:002009-03-06T20:30:05.346-08:00A special dinner<div><span style="font-family:arial;">Looks like pasta, right? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310297800047584546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRLAq_JNFGZgbBqaecYL4V9q4wf9g8AeM8UrfpP09RrxI_DUVvLUxtFvBq_BuD5Bi7lkJglVGOP97NeFj4A0mhQYY35RqlYIQyd8-ndkpYskYLfEk3QWBE1o7_cTsXJNP0emX/s320/Serafini's!!!.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Wrong! This is <em>special</em> pasta, with sauce my parents sent me <u>overnight express</u> all the way from my hometown in PA. The sauce is from Serafini's, and it is the <strong>best <span style="font-size:130%;">sauce</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">ever</span></strong>. Thanks again - Dave and I very much enjoyed the sauce! <em>And </em>we'll be enjoying it several more times, as we have two quarts and we only used about half of one today!</span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-3957252186282260262009-02-28T20:51:00.001-08:002009-02-28T20:55:21.285-08:00Finally!<div style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3317811876/"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3370/3317811876_af55f6523e_m.jpg" /></span></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3317811876/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Crystal Mountain</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Originally uploaded by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/10183972@N03/"><span style="font-family:arial;">Emily E.M.</span></a></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;">I got to go skiing!!! It <em>finally</em> snowed again this week, so I headed up to <a href="http://www.skicrystal.com/">Crystal Mountain</a> today. I went by myself since Dave is out of town, but it was fun regardless. I took the express bus from Seattle, which is definitely the way to go. It's super easy (it leaves from Green Lake, about 10 minutes from my house) and saves a lot of time. They give you your lift ticket on the bus, and if the lines are long, as they were today, that's really great - I figure it saved me at least 20 minutes of waiting in line. Plus, no driving hassles and better for the environment. The snow from Wednesday and Thursday was pretty packed down already, but the groomers were really nice. Not much sun, but a very high overcast and really great visibility, both afar and of the snow, which is key. I hate skiing when the light is really flat - today was pretty ideal!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-66067675400649967652009-02-24T09:40:00.000-08:002009-02-24T09:46:37.478-08:00Started!<span style="font-family:arial;">As I mentioned last week, I have started the Urban Aran: <a title="Urban Aran, just a start by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3293240502/"><img height="375" alt="Urban Aran, just a start" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3293240502_fdb2b515e5.jpg" width="500" /></a>I'm about 5" in at this point, and it's going well. My original plan to knit the medium with a smaller gauge didn't appear to be working out - I got a few inches in and decided that it was going to be <em>way</em> too wide. The sweater is designed with more ease than I consider ideal for me, so I'm going with the small and my gauge. So far it's looking like a good width. The cables do pull in, but not as much as I expected - of course it remains to be seen how much they pull in when an entire body piece is complete, but they aren't doing much at the bottom. Plus, with 100% wool I can surely block this baby into submission if it's a touch too small...My fear that the side cables would be too similar to those on the Chevalier Mittens was unfounded. They <strong>are</strong> similar, but this yarn isn't being knit at a gauge much smaller than it would like, so they aren't as difficult as the mittens. Overall I'm enjoying the sweater, although the Transition Mitts are really addictive - I finished the first one on Saturday. I've resisted casting on the second one so I can work on the sweater, but we'll see how long that lasts...</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-26836173376079288812009-02-18T08:55:00.000-08:002009-02-18T08:58:41.286-08:00Madrona, or a break in the "yarn fast"<span style="font-family:arial;">Ack! I uploaded these photos on Sunday morning so I could post about them, and here it is Wednesday already! The annual Madrona Fiber Arts Festival was this past weekend in Tacoma (Why Tacoma? Really, why not Seattle itself?), and Katrina and I headed down Friday after work. To be fair - we left early. Working in a lab is very flexible. After braving the traffic, we arrived at the hotel and prepared ourselves for battle. Armed with detailed lists and debit cards we attacked the market. In the end Katrina didn't buy anything and I didn't really buy that much, although I'm really happy with what I got. First I bought two skeins of Shibui Sock for the <a href="http://www.shibuiknits.com/Patterns/Pattern.php?Pattern=46">Transition Gloves</a>, started here:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303102929235328818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Yj9xuyDQMvSGo4JK-oUPlBkykpRsDeNkYIgdM6VMPshM4lEpJ07UBv2wCgkSR44mLrY7Mj2uc3r0jhRPLNz_Q4umRcArQmGGWZ6AjiO17Q7vxomJpC4mT6sbLKtUJl1vUYY/s320/Transition+Mitts,+start.JPG" border="0" /></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;">That's what Ihad Sunday morning - by now I'm about 2/3 finished with the first mitt, and it's really lovely. I was also looking for unique laceweight yarn that I couldn't get in Seattle (harder than you think, we have a lot of yarn shops here), and I found some:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303102909519410050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqWhFfTZR4H3TtAuoDmVERX_hkNYbR8esAAUY1v_s9bpqSKlxjIM-T3hmLv1LwT1sW50IKpaMCWILBL5C11VVsCCBM57la_hmDbVLws6-UVPc-ti7U-O2xudEp0xVUdS7QI4_/s320/Black+Water+Abbey+lace,+Lt.+Jacob.JPG" border="0" /></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;">This is undyed wool from Ireland from <a href="https://secure3.macserve.net/BWAY/html/products_frame_page.html">Black Water Abbey Yarns</a>, and it's <strong>very</strong> sheepy. I'm imagining some rustic lace with it. I already have yarn for the <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spring-2008/Cobweb-Lace-Stole.asp">Cobweb Lace Stole</a> from Interweave, but this might be better. We'll see. Here's a close-up:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303102904195559202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JEG0JqulrOc0YL7XusD_yufzePRYf-BiomJskoJd3ny4iN0lPCdxUFrA6jyC1CpE3G40kvccDnz9-qw5Yw2kKnl3yo2GyeBHpqaFJJcWV50kOsDOz6ZAMGIbZ9rpslGBfkzh/s320/Black+Water+Abbey+lace,+Lt.+Jacob+zoom.JPG" border="0" /></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;">And I bought some yarn that I probably could've found in Seattle but hadn't, for <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/">Anne Hanson's</a> <a href="http://knitspot.com/?p=382">Morning Glory Stole</a>, which Rachel bought me the pattern for a couple of years ago (!) now. It's almost exactly the color of the yarn in the pattern, and it's very lovely in person - the photo doesn't do it justice.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303102923190591682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RVhumlRUGcD89Ux-LNdHoQOzNlxNIGA55lACOUdXHUTDAF6V_v0O_YvhiaZtN6mISppqSSUi7EGhI7Bc3mQLsxT-kTqoDSj-wfjbprWLQmkNzBKNhSTZ_jmatcj6WBYlipX7/s320/Pagewood+Farms+Yukon,+Plum.JPG" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">So, that's all I bought, and I have plans for all of it. I avoided the <a href="http://www.bluemoonfiberarts.com/">Blue Moon Fiber Arts</a> booth. Well, I didn't avoid it, but I didn't buy anything there. None of the STR leaped off the shelf at me, even though I was looking for some to match a colorway that I already have for a striped scarf. We met Rachel and Pam there and neither of them bought anything either, although they were taking classes and still had Saturday left for shopping, and I've not heard the final damage report. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">All in all I thought the mood seemed a bit subdued compared to past years. That's probably the economy talking - I think people are hunkering down a bit with what they have, and although they were there browsing, I didn't see much being purchased. One thing I really noticed, and I think I noticed this two years ago as well, is that the market has too much handdyed sock yarn. Now, don't get me wrong, because I love me some handdyes, but there were SO many vendors selling it, and how many socks does a person need? I realize the purple yarn above is actually sockweight, and I'm not intending to use it for socks, but really a lot of the crazy dyed stuff <em>really </em>won't translate that well into a lot of other items.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">In other news, I have started the purple Urban Aran (twice) and it's moving along. I jetisoned my original plan of knitting the medium because it was looking really wide, so now I'm knitting the small and hoping for the best. It's looking reasonable so far, about 5" in...I'd be further along had I not started those addictive orange and white mitts!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-49388287620631862012009-02-10T11:00:00.000-08:002009-02-10T11:10:46.524-08:00Swatched!<span style="font-family:arial;">Well, the mob, such as it is, has spoken, and it (you) have told me that I should knit the Urban Aran. I am in total agreement with you, and even had <a href="http://boucleeblog.blogspot.com/">Anne-Marie</a> not cast the tie-breaking vote yesterday afternoon, I probably would've proceeded with that choice. Having made this decision, I got to swatching:</span><a title="Purple sweater swatch by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3269289637/"><img height="375" alt="Purple sweater swatch" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3269289637_47532a3663.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I actually<em> cut</em> the yarn, and <em>washed the swatch</em>, which I photographed as evidence. May I just brag for a second that I took this photo with my phone (I got myself a Blackberry Storm for Christmas), and the color is really accurate, better, I think, than my regular camera would have done. Of course I took this at work where we have good light, so that might have something to do with it as well. I also uploaded it to Flickr <em>from my phone</em>, and now I can blog it, all without carrying around my camera. Hehe...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Now that I have the swatch, the problems can begin. <strong>Of course</strong> my row gauge is a disaster, which is frankly nothing new and I'm not worried about compensating for it, since I do it all the time and the pattern has things like "knit until 11 inches" in length, which make dealing with row gauge managable. The larger issue is my stitch gauge. I'm getting 4.25 st/in, and the pattern calls for 3.75 st/in. I did a lot of math and determined that if I make the medium size with my gauge I <em>should</em> get something in the range of the small size, maybe a bit smaller, which would actually be preferable. So, that's my plan. I was going to convert the pattern to the round to avoid seaming, but I think, with the stitch/row gauge issues, I should knit in pieces so I can knit the back first and make sure it comes out the right width before I knit the entire sweater. Thoughts?</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-61573555622579294452009-02-06T15:10:00.000-08:002009-02-06T15:25:38.755-08:00Tell me what to do!<span style="font-family:arial;">Folks, I am having a wee knitting crisis. I've been knitting loads of accessories lately, but I have trouble getting around to wearing them. Mostly this is due to the fact that I bike commute, so I don't really spend much time outside in situations where I need warm scarves (although I have a lot of them), hats (fewer, but still a significant number), or mittens/gloves. I ski, and snowshoe, but for skiing I don't wear scarves, and snowshoeing I really get too warm most of the time. Thus my compulsion to knit fun scarves/hats/mittens/etc is being tempered by the realization that I don't actually get to <em>wear</em> them very often, and although I'll keep knitting accessories, I need to move on a bit just now. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It's not that I haven't knit garments before, but I haven't made a sweater since last winter, and I figure I should get back on that. I have several sweaters worth of yarn hibernating in the stash, and it's time. But, dear readers, I need your help. I have several sweaters in mind, and I'm torn about which to make, and that is where you come in. I'm putting these as non-Ravelry links as well so my mother can see them and provide her opinion, as she is wont to do!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.patonsyarns.com/patternbook.php?PBS=500989%20">Patons Urban Aran Pullover</a> - in deep purple tweed (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/urban-aran">Ravelry</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://shop.interweave.com/Central-Park-Hoodie-P204C53.aspx">Central Park Hoodie</a> - also in deep purple tweed (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/central-park-hoodie">Ravelry</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://www.royalyarns.com/ptrn/RNW/rowanvinatgestyle/DEMI.html">Demi</a> - either tan or light maroon tweed (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/demi">Ravelry</a>)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I <em>had</em> pretty much decided on the Central Park Hoodie but then I noticed that some of the ones on Ravelry don't really look that great (although plenty do). Then I remembered about the Urban Aran, which I love the shape of due to the pulled-in side cabling. I had almost ruled out Demi since it's so complex, but I want to knit it sometime, so I put it in there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">What should I knit? I want to start soon, please comment!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-55400025539800185132009-02-03T08:21:00.001-08:002009-02-03T08:33:39.371-08:00Snowshoeing to Snow Lake<span style="font-family:arial;">Dave and I went snowshoeing on Sunday (before, not instead) of watching the Super Bowl (go Steelers!). We <em>attempted</em> to go to <a href="http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/snow-lake-1/?searchterm=snow%20lake">Snow Lake</a>, but we somehow (it <strong>might</strong> have been my fault) got off the trail and followed some ice-climbers tracks instead, and we ended up turning around when we got frustrated with essentially making our own way and I sliced up my hand in an unfortunate <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/glissade">glissading</a> incident (It was warm, I wasn't wearing gloves. Yes, that was a bad idea to begin with.). <a title="Running in the snow by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3250144817/"><img height="375" alt="Running in the snow" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3250144817_2804131b32.jpg" width="500" /></a>We eventually saw some other hikers about 200 feet downhill of us, and figured that they were on the trail, so we headed down there and went a bit further on the trail (which was completely obvious, when we were on it). In the end we didn't get very far but it was nice to play in the snow a bit - we haven't been skiing yet because we're waiting for some actual new snow. <a title="Cornice by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3250144683/"><img height="500" alt="Cornice" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3250144683_4e26307349.jpg" width="375" /></a>It hasn't snowed in the mountains for weeks and weeks, which is odd. Good thing they got a nice base back in December or things would be quite dire.</span><a title="Emily snowshoeing by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3250972814/"><img height="375" alt="Emily snowshoeing" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3250972814_0e5f6f8f6a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My hair is <em>really</em> long, isn't it?</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-60158303706127526112009-01-30T15:28:00.000-08:002009-01-30T15:28:33.026-08:00Parade of Christmas FOs - Part Three<div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And, finally, I knit my grandmother a lace stole: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197702041853618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzLEu3RHEz_3lfYqUIkzv9L_tJv2mRZHg1ZpEv57K4OavTMUa-BG3_sX48YT5F2Kmy5AYTQXpEdFkuyGzpw4OWs9364OvVZaoRCaPARcKG8miTYlhG0JkESHONu_XkPAx1ZNu/s320/Waves+of+Grain+end+detail+in+snow.JPG" border="0" />This was the last of the Christmas knitting to be completed - there was definitely some stress there as I was finishing the second half and grafting it the day before I flew home. The grafting? Major hassle and I can definitely see the line. While I like the concept of identical ends, I don't know if I can be bothered with that in the future. Someone remind me I said that as soon as I cast on something that will require it...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Waves of Grain Stole</strong></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/PATTwavesofgrain.html">Waves of Grain</a>, by Rosemary Hill, from <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall08">Knitty Fall 2008</a>. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/waves-of-grain">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Zephyr Wool-silk, colorway Curry, purchased at <a href="http://www.acornstreet.com/">Acorn Street</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/">Knit Picks</a> Harmony bamboo straights, size 4.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197713772222770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14oXPDPUMJKtCip4A_-JtII-jcNoVJm4DmYum-teYYft7y4Ub1CYkhWkjEohqjmAN6_sRf1GQBYMlJ6lsL8bvruuBH4Az12V4eKTCL3riTckgGRGtixbmyXvYdQ65uOCGAFM2/s320/Waves+of+Grain.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: October 15 - December 20, 2008.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: Aside from making it shorter (only 52"), I also added extra beads on the first row because I misread the chart and thought that the "b" meant bead when it actually meant knit through the back loop. So, I repeated that error on the second half, and I think it's nice actually. I would do it again - it adds extra weight to the end of the stole and it's shiny.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: This was fun! I really enjoy knitting lace even though (or perhaps because) I do it fairly infrequently and generally complain about it when I'm not physically working on it. I decided that I wanted to knit my grandmother something nice this year, and I had this yarn laying around from the <a href="http://emilysmusingsonknitting.blogspot.com/2008/04/elegance-of-swallowtail.html">Swallowtail Shawl</a> I made my aunt (her daughter) last year, and it was a match made in heaven. The Knit Picks Harmony needles are great for lace - nice sharp tips, not too slippery. The only problem, and this is likely just me, is that they're 10" and I prefer 9" because I knit with my needles propped on my stomach and 10" is a tad too long. But, I got used to it. You can get a lot of lace out of a skein/ball of Zephyr. I believe I started with 4 oz, knit this and the Swallowtail, and still have a ton left. Probably enough for another thing of similar size, which makes Zephyr an absolutely great deal. I think I paid $17 for the ball and that's a lot of bang for the buck!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197709965946434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAxxoyayjHA86sdrZIN2ZkF_W_jz5RyNIn3xUVus2nYaIEqKmwWFN1Gf6KdPMZ8i_1eHcMD2z5Whz2WQoN-47rpe5Z6eI6F4djOlb3SN6ocJKGFwAC0I-ivaKb_3VJOrODaKX/s320/Waves+of+Grain+on+bush+2.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"> My only real issue with this was that I had a tough time with the grafting. It was completely nerve-racking the entire time (almost 2 hours) because I was SO worried about screwing it up/dropping a stitch/not lining it up/etc. Part of that was because I was finishing <em>this</em> close to Christmas and I knew there wasn't really any room for error, but I think it would have been stressful regardless. And I <em>thought</em> grafting was supposed to be invisible, and although my line of stitches matches really well and looks like perfect stockinette, there is definitely a shadow there that I wish wasn't. But, it's certainly not something that detracts from the piece and maybe it's just an inherent problem with grafting in thin, light-colored yarn? Feel free to reassure me on this, or contradict it - if I need to figure out a better way to graft I'd like to know now before I screw it up again!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197695995205506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZ0pM7q_1HOSx2L4TGgcABmPEppMEOopUoiWi3Juy5y91OWlUh2OgUT6onaSbBs4EP2ES3Z7IIIpSBK03FvtvoaZKGrl3vKLTUUAGWx6ytZlZDSrCY1wbiyN131VmCeGNc4f1/s320/Waves+of+Grain+2.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"> My grandmother<em> loved</em> the stole, and was totally impressed with it. I'm glad that she liked it - I'm always really happy when people like and appreciate the things I knit for them. I knit this for her because I knew she would both appreciate it and use it, so I'm quite satisfied.</span></div><div> <span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, and these photos, with the actual snow, were also taken when I was in PA, when it snowed again just before I came back to Seattle. The weather was really all over the place...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"> So ends the parade of Christmas knits - now onto the more current projects, although there will still be gift knitting involved!</span></div></div></div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-81483737580703094592009-01-27T14:51:00.000-08:002009-01-27T14:51:37.093-08:00Parade of Christmas FOs - Part Two<span style="font-family:arial;">Okay! The second large Christmas gift that I knit this year was a vest for my dad, which I had been meaning to knit for a couple of years. I wanted to knit it last year but ended up making socks instead because I hadn't found a good vest pattern. The year before I made felted clogs. You'd think finding a simple men's vest pattern would be easy, but apparently not. I apologize to my dad for these photos, which I took candidly while he was showing Dave around his workplace, <a href="http://www.organsupply.com/">Organ Supply Industries</a>. So you know, they make pipe organs and parts, not livers and kidneys. It's a really cool place and I always like visiting. Big pipes, sheets of metal for making pipes, fancy woodworking, etc.</span><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197046024591730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sHNgnNQWNgF3J1nzS5PTBj67fYWKAi3IhBFMatyxaZoDPpbWZe6Qt81pZvwx_hZRFTJywTu0C84q0GkxNv_suB5DFvXhyk8wovRQm3LiKfqJZwGVcY0VOfoia2h3WCVVkmJb/s320/IMG_4450.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Dad's Vest</strong></u></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: Based on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/argyle-vest-2">Argyle Vest</a> from Knitting Classic Style, obviously without the argyles and with a different bottom edging. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/argyle-vest">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, in Cedar, about 6 skeins. Yarn purchased at Acorn Street in 2005(!) - note use of stash...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Clover bamboo circulars, size 5 (ribbing) and 6 (body).</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: September 27-December 16, 2008. There was a delay there while I hunted down appropriate needles for the armhole ribbing and mustered up the courage to pick up all those stitches.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: Oh, lord, where to begin. Obviously, no argyling. I did think about that, and I have this yarn in a different color as well, but I wasn't really sure about my dad's feelings on argyle. I also knit ribbing at the bottom instead of doing a sewn-under hem. More on that later. And, I converted this to the round until I had to split for the armholes/v-neck, which made the whole thing go much faster. As I've mentioned, I don't like seaming. I did do a faux seam with a line of purl stitches up the sides. I'm hopeful that this yarn has enough structure that it's not going to stretch ridiculously without seams. Oh, and I did shortrows and a three-needle bindoff for the shoulder shaping/seaming instead of doing stepped bind-offs. Why patterns don't use shortrows for this I really don't understand. SO easy, SO neat, and SO much easier to seam. Do they think shortrows are too hard? They're really <em>not. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197039264879858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZOxHrzwtI4A4G4wVgeVro-7F94QRhKxTw_O0kz2KWMmttZJonahXftBqGXB3HJrTb7cT-XPJdCc9sjHOKTkNzUh86xzfFmhZUhXkmh_AlygLtNaUEZWCQlRyVrDztG-K12q0/s320/IMG_4451.JPG" border="0" /></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions:</u> First off, I love this yarn. I bought it quite awhile ago and have enough for a sweater for myself in another color and probably a vest for myself left in this color. So, it's good that I like it. I'm a big fan of tweeds, which is clear looking through my stash but maybe not so obvious when looking at my projects because I'm keeping it for myself and most of what I seem to finish are gifts. I had a good time knitting this, I'm a big fan of large things knit in the round, no purling, just round and round. That said, I think this came out a bit big for my dad. I measured one of his vests the last time I was at home so I'd have something to go off of, and this is actually not that different in size, but somehow it seems really baggy. Part of it is the ribbing at the bottom, which doesn't pull in like I was expecting/hoping. That's what my dad is used to, so this is a bit more casual than what he usually wears to work. It's also a bit big in the back - definitely a comfort vest as opposed to a form-fitting dressy one. But, I'm hoping he'll get some use out of it!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">While I'm on a roll with this, I also made <a href="http://boucleeblog.blogspot.com/">Anne-Marie</a> a scarf:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197030708403554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81HMaBdLRnSFeCHDkdeThaAC2ujI-U5pPYhnWdYtxWN5ak4w4LxfpQ1k06rDuMxbAAFl3G-kgt7vj3CysMCxk1UOOcCVObs4yWlLevhRAQLwmhtBHS_plyDVk6kzMeRSM33Jr/s320/Juliet+Scarf.JPG" border="0" /></span></div></div></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Juliet Scarf for Anne-Marie</strong></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/juliet-scarf">Juliet</a>, from Knitting Little Luxuries. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/juliet-scarf">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Elsebeth Lavold Angora, cherry red, about 3.5 skeins.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 9 Clover bamboo.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: October 7-November 23, 2008.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: None aside from using bigger yarn and bigger needles than the pattern suggested.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291197025436252722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeYGr6emlXg0t99-37sKo5M75x1NDR-29uslpu5reOelGk5bBExDNLhJbK2rOinrxPnIXF-Ma24bfaCvP193Rov0u7aJKLa0p9TZmdgiG3uaXQMdt0GsvBOA_3zHGpfWudhGt/s320/Juliet+Scarf,+zoom.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: This was a nice knit, although it's <em>impossible </em>to photograph. That's not its fault of course, it's my fault for using red fuzzy yarn. My camera doesn't do well with either, so this is a double-whammy of photographic misery. Neither of the photos is really an accurate representation of the color. I used bigger yarn because Anne-Marie moved back to the great white north this fall, and it's cold there, and I figured something warm would be more appropriate than something dainty. I'd been meaning to use this yarn for her for some time, so I was glad to find a pattern that suited it. As for the pattern itself, I absolutely couldn't remember it, even by the end, which was frustrating. Not that it was hard, the lace panel on the left just wasn't intuitive for me.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Next, up, the Waves of Grain stole!</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-35871154697717251972009-01-20T11:44:00.001-08:002009-01-20T11:44:02.838-08:00Happy Inauguration!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3212497417/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3212497417_621098bae2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3212497417/">Obama cookie</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/10183972@N03/">Emily E.M.</a></span></div>Check out the sugar cookies they're selling at our coffee bar today! It's good to work in a liberal environment :)<br clear="all" />Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-84787447923791812822009-01-17T11:09:00.000-08:002009-01-17T11:09:50.509-08:00Parade of Christmas FOs - Part One<span style="font-family:arial;">So, <em>of course</em> I meant to show off the Christmas knits much sooner, but then <s>laziness</s> life got in the way and so on. To make matters worse, I actually uploaded these photos ages ago but then discovered that posts don't write themselves. But, without further ado, let me show you the Christmas knitting! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In addition to the mittens I knit for my cousin (<a href="http://emilysmusingsonknitting.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-made-mittens.html">here</a>), I knit several large (time-consuming) gifts for Christmas this year. The first of them was the Lady Eleanor stole that I knit for my mother:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291195424135424082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwpqfZW3UIBG7rj9rAXmtnahZQlrBcOOhgDR3kW2StbqV3_fPzVKZwq6toxfS4Zr4rq4CFTn1SONIz-AV8DsNnIHxF7WM1w2nFIyBiNqlCeEAitpm94epnm8bSY71dXgedaji7/s320/Mom+models+her+Lady+Eleanor.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">By the way, this was December 27th. Note the <em>complete</em> lack of snow. In western PA. When I arrived home on the 22nd (at 5:00am - I had a real adventure getting to PA from Seattle, but thankfully I did arrive without anywhere <em>near</em><strong> </strong>the hassle that many people had. When I have the strength perhaps I'll talk about it.), there was a ton of snow, which promptly melted and then fell again just as I was leaving. Such is life. Anyway, the stole...</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><u>Project Stats: Mom's Lady Eleanor</u></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-eleanor-entrelac-stole">Lady Eleanor</a>, by Kathleen Power Johnson, from Scarf Style. Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/lady-eleanor-entrelac-stole">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Noro Silk Garden, colorway 221, about 9 skeins. Yarn purchased from <a href="http://www.littleknits.com/">Little Knits</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 9 bamboo circulars.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: July 15-August 21, 2008. Talk about getting a head start on the Christmas knitting! This was my Ravelympics project, although I did start a tad early because I was so excited to get going.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291195411261204402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79KLfByyiCroNK1vgNIo4mv0ZIcETPTX8zub0eJ1qUDyO2SPLd6SFg4W0SODKzYb9AyLFl5xAZZVi_JdOjMirbKuXRA2kpX8NWhjynVLX4YkVEamX94sDbjkCVcp6-VCJuY8-/s320/Folded+Lady+E.JPG" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: I made this stole two squares narrower than the pattern suggests. I find mine to be a bit cumbersome and I thought something slightly narrower would be easier to wear.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: I'm really happy with this, In fact, I like it much better than the one I made myself, and I did contemplate keeping it and giving my mother <a href="http://emilysmusingsonknitting.blogspot.com/2006/03/may-i-present-lady-eleanor.html">mine</a>, which she's seen and liked. I love, no, <em>adore</em>, Noro Silk Garden. I know a lot of people complain about Noro yarns having random bits of grass/sticks/etc in them, and being scratchy, but to me this is part of their appeal. Plus, Silk Garden? Not scratchy. I like the "rusticness" of Noro, and use it whenever I can. It's such perfect yarn for this project, and it really does get even softer upon blocking. This pattern is really fun - enterlac looks all tricky and complicated but it's really easy if you just trust that it's going to work out, and it's addicting because you always want to do just one more square. My mother was very happy with this and wore it often while I was home, and I don't <em>think</em> that's just because I was watching...but if it was, I don't want to know. So, I count this one a resounding success!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Next up, the vest of improvisation...</span></p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-23739111741348606912008-12-20T21:43:00.001-08:002008-12-20T22:03:52.653-08:00Scarf of Procrastination, and Amber Waves of Grain<span style="font-family:arial;">So, I finished the scarf of procrastination, which I gave to <a href="http://daisysprogress.blogspot.com/">Daisy</a> in honor of her successful thesis defense last Wednesday. Congratulations Dr. Daisy, although I'm sad that this means you will no longer be obliged to come visit Seattle to finsih your thesis! Here is the scarf: <a title="Noro Scarf for Daisy, white by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3110990478/"><img height="375" alt="Noro Scarf for Daisy, white" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/3110990478_982eba9449.jpg" width="500" /></a>I also took a photo on a dark background because I couldn't really tell which one showed the colors most accurately. <a title="Noro Scarf for Daisy, black by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3110158819/"><img height="375" alt="Noro Scarf for Daisy, black" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/3110158819_0ed39fd228.jpg" width="500" /></a>Really neither of them are that great, but such is the lighting in my apartment, especially at night.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong><u>Project Stats: Noro Striped Scarf for Daisy</u></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: Noro Striped Scarf, made popular by <a href="http://www.brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/">Brooklyn Tweed</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/noro-striped-scarf">here</a></span>.<br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Noro Silk Garden, colorways 205 (2 skeins), 245, and 249. Yarn purchased at <a href="http://www.weavingworks.com/">Weaving Works</a> last fall.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 8 Clover bamboo, 37 stitches.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time on Needles</u>: 12.1.08-12.12.08.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: I love this! Thankfully Daisy also loved it :) It was really fun to knit, and I've already got the yarn to make another one while I'm home at Christmas. I'm going to use this yarn: <a title="Silk Garden for striped scarf #2 by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3124113246/"><img height="375" alt="Silk Garden for striped scarf #2" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3124113246_114444923f.jpg" width="500" /></a>It's also Silk Garden.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I know I've been slacking, and I have no excuse. I've been a bit busy preparing for the holidays and, once I was finished procrastinating, finishing up the Christmas knitting. Here is my finished <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall08/PATTwavesofgrain.html">Waves of Grain</a> stole, which is for the grandmother who appreciates my knitting: <a title="Waves of Grain, blocking by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3123286693/"><img height="375" alt="Waves of Grain, blocking" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/3123286693_0641f118a5.jpg" width="500" /></a>The photo is of it blocking this afternoon (I fly out tomorrow, weather-permitting). I hope to get some good modeled shots after it's gifted. Be assured there <strong>will </strong>be a project wrap-up when I have more photos. The other things I knit are still absolute secrets but will be revealed in good time...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I <em>really</em> hope I can get out of Seattle tomorrow but I'm not confident. We're having the worst winter weather in a decade, and it's <em>actually</em> winter weather, not just Seattle fearmongering. A lot of flights were canceled today and although things are supposed to taper off tomorrow I'm concerned about getting to the airport. Plus, I'm flying through Chicago, which is also having severe weather, and into Cleveland, where the bad weather that snarled Chicago today should be arriving just in time to greet me. Lovely. I fly every year at Christmas and I've been really lucky for the most part, so fingers-crossed and send good travel vibes if you can spare them! </span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-36114693997587485002008-12-04T10:38:00.000-08:002008-12-04T10:50:48.674-08:00Apparently it's the right time...<span style="font-family:arial;">I have a problem. Completely of my own doing. I have fallen prey to the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/noro-striped-scarf">Noro striped scarf</a> phenomenon. Now, I can't really blame the <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.com/">Yarn Harlot</a> for this particular problem, although she <strong>did</strong> bring the idea back to the forefront of my mind when she went on a <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/11/25/if_loving_you_is_wrong_i_dont_want_to_be_right.html">striped scarf binge</a> last week. I mean, loads of people have knit this scarf (there are 2378 of them on Ravelry), so it can't be entirely her fault. I've actually had this yarn in the stash since last fall, and <em>every time</em> I started a project I thought about it, and <em>every time</em> I dug through the stash I found it, and <em>every time</em> I stopped myself because it just wasn't the right time. Apparently, the right time is when I'm in a battle with laceweight Christmas knitting. I made a lot of progress on the lace over the Thanksgiving weekend, and as a reward (apparently) I decided to start this scarf of procrastination. I've not touched any other knitting since. I even brought the scarf to work yesterday to work on at lunch. It is pretty though, isn't it?<a title="Noro Striped Scarf #1 by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3081998711/"><img height="375" alt="Noro Striped Scarf #1" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3024/3081998711_41a8b2ee88.jpg" width="500" /></a></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-65835409419266044702008-12-01T21:48:00.001-08:002008-12-01T22:06:05.231-08:00Books!<span style="font-family:arial;">I <em>think</em> I might have done this before, but I <em>believe</em> this is a different list, and anyway, I love books, and lists, so I'm doing it again. Borrowed from <a href="http://mooncalfmakes.blogspot.com/">Saffron</a>...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1) Look at the list and bold those you have read (Honestly, I thought I'd have read more of these!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2) Underline those you intend to read (Apparently there are a lot in this category for me - I am full of good intentions.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3) I added this - *** for books I own but haven't read yet...</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">3) Italicise the books you LOVE.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1. <strong><em>Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2. <strong><em>The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">3. <u>Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte</u>***</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">4. <strong><em>Harry Potter series - JK Rowling</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">5. <strong>To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">6. <strong>The Bible</strong> (parts)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">7. <strong>Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">10. <u>Great Expectations - Charles Dickens***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">11. <strong>Little Women - Louisa M Alcott</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">12. <u>Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">13. <u>Catch 22 - Joseph Heller</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">14. Complete Works of Shakespeare </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">16. <strong><em>The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">18. <strong>Catcher in the Rye - J D Salinger</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">20. <u>Middlemarch - George Eliot***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">22. <strong><em>The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">24. <u>War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">27. <strong>Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">28. <strong>Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">29. <strong>Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">31. <u>Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">34. <strong><em>Emma - Jane Austen</em></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">35. <strong><em>Persuasion - Jane Austen</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">37. <strong>The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">39. <strong>Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">41. Animal Farm - George Orwell</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">42. <strong>The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">43. <u>One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">44. <strong>A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">46. <strong>Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">47. <u>Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">49. <strong><em>Lord of the Flies - William Golding</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">50. Atonement - Ian McEwan</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">51. <strong>Life of Pi - Yann Martel</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">52. Dune - Frank Herbert</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">54. <strong>Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">57. <u>A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">58. <strong><em>Brave New World - Aldous Huxley</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">59. <strong>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">60. <u>Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">61. <strong>Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> 63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">64. <strong>The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">65. <u>Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">68. <strong>Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">69. <u>Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">71. <u>Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">7</span><span style="font-family:arial;">2. <u>Dracula - Bram Stoker</u> </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">73.<strong>The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">74. <strong>Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">75. <u>Ulysses - James Joyce***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">78. Germinal - Emile Zola</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">79. <u>Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">80. Possession - AS Byatt</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">83. <strong>The Color Purple - Alice Walker</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">85. <strong>Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">87. <strong>Charlotte’s Web - EB White</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">91. <strong>Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">92. <strong>The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (and in French!)</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">94. <u>Watership Down - Richard Adams***</u></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">95. <strong>A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">98. <strong>Hamlet - William Shakespeare</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">100. <u>Les Miserables - Victor Hugo***</u></span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-61571640373836927762008-11-27T14:27:00.001-08:002008-11-27T14:29:30.594-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<div><span style="font-family:arial;">I'd like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving! I made pumpkin pie:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273467720539219618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEzrGupaJweA5OgG8D1fw2q_B_aqGYbPmYeg7mE_ee5K8CiYXE-fHshwTkRP-FmgdwQIJd_fj_VT72f4pJTHNUi6L-5iXZVfhbyXP0C-frSqTkxqi-j4Z1bTjU6g5iRjS673d/s200/Pumpkin+Pie.JPG" border="0" />It's my first attempt, hopefully it will be good...</span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-82951517693916421902008-11-19T16:21:00.000-08:002008-11-19T16:47:17.155-08:00I made mittens!<span style="font-family:arial;">Okay, I know I promised a post about the Estes Vest <em>weeks</em> ago, but then I didn't write it, and I have more to say about it than I feel like dealing with today, so instead of just not blogging about anything until I want to blog about that, I'm going to tell you about something else! </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Since the last time we talked I've finished three (!) Christmas gifts, only one of which I can show you, the mittens I knit for my cousin Andie. </span><a title="Andie's mittens, front by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3044037526/"><img height="375" alt="Andie's mittens, front" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/3044037526_d8945ba8b7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u><strong>Project Stats: Andie's Selbuvotter Mittens</strong></u></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Pattern</u>: Annemor #2 from <a href="http://www.selbuvotter.com/">Selbuvotter Mittens</a> by <a href="http://www.spinningwheel.net/">Terri Shea</a> (raveled <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eemarsha/annemor-2">here</a>).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Yarn</u>: Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift, Peony (dark) and Sand (light), less than one skein of each. Yarn purchased at <a href="http://www.weavingworks.com/">Weaving Works</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Needles</u>: Size 2 Brittany DPNs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Time to knit</u>: 9.20.08-10.25.08. I actually don't remember when I finished these, but I think it was around then.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Modifications</u>: None that I remember. I don't even think I made any mistakes (fingers crossed).</span><a title="Andie's Mittens, back by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3044037636/"><img height="375" alt="Andie's Mittens, back" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/3044037636_c91c5c17fb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><u>Impressions</u>: These are super cute! My cousin is 9, so I think these should fit, although I don't really have a good sense of how big her hands are. I made a girl's medium, and they're are too small for me so I'm hopeful. Her entire life has been a pink phase, which is why I picked these colors. They were supposed to be a gift <em>last</em> year, but obviously I didn't get them started in time for last Christmas, and then my mother told me that Andie is now in a <span style="color:#009900;"><strong>green</strong></span> phase. Well, I wasn't buying new yarn. And anyway, pink and green look good together. And probably she still likes pink - you don't let go that quickly after being obsessed with something for 9 years. Right? Anyway, about the mittens. They were fun to knit - Terri's patterns are really clear and the Shetland Spindrift is nice to knit with, if a bit scratchy. It gets much softer upon blocking and from my limited experience seems to wear well. Every time I knit fair isle I'm reminded of how much I like it and how I wish I did more of it...</span><a title="Andie's mittens, front and back by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/3044037388/"><img height="375" alt="Andie's mittens, front and back" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3044037388_581fc4b017.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">What else? I have three gifts left to finish, and five weeks in which to finish them. I'm hopeful that I can do it. One is probably 65% complete, one is only swatched and is of my own design (eek), and the other I can talk about as soon as I get around to taking a photo of it. It's the one that is most likely to not get finished because it's lace. We all know how it goes with lace...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">And yes, I <strong>am</strong> going to see <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1099212/">Twilight</a> at midnight tomorrow. Did you really think I could resist? <em>I</em> thought I could, but then I realized I was mistaken and acquired tickets for myself and some of my newborns. We are excited beyond all reason...</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-26403536652799990932008-11-03T18:36:00.001-08:002008-11-03T18:37:23.859-08:00Vote!<div><span style="font-family:arial;">It's the most important thing you'll do this year.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264625856628434514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE279gg0tS0PgHgxff5N2VwpaW2S7Agu2wmKSJwiDr7juhk80B1blje7xS7-avsPiwJAxnQrgKakGKxmpNCwc2CZevBYfawRqQHsFX0vrpK2mMCFMhBsGtLX9lrfQ2MWQVT48Z/s320/Ballot+and+pin.JPG" border="0" /></span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-1126910320807023612008-10-31T18:37:00.000-07:002008-10-31T18:39:49.138-07:00Happy Halloween!<div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's our lab entry for this year's <a href="http://www.fhcrc.org/">FHCRC</a> pumpkin carving contest:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263497682449548962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInRng0LpSP-nui_o5DPWQ8EJkYCDzx-ah-CSosCh9LyUe_bMd2j7zZZ7IvyQhP-r1n1v-Do_SIcw4H9N6XTsrk7pRQogLacaq9XZTM4-g6iaioQAHC0z3V8Ed4JSbhsIoyKdB/s320/IMG_4348.JPG" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">It's a translating <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribosome">ribosome</a>, in case you couldn't figure it out...</span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-4188106010615959552008-10-27T15:54:00.000-07:002008-10-27T16:12:23.424-07:00Tea Swap Package!<span style="font-family:arial;">While I was in Vermont I received a lovely package from <a href="http://undervictoriashat.blogspot.com/">Victoria</a> (raveling <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/vicjorob">here</a>) as part of the most recent Ravelry "Be Excellent" tea swap:<a title="Tea Swap Package from Victoria by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2958854648/"><img height="375" alt="Tea Swap Package from Victoria" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2958854648_193a4e6b03.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I know you want a close-up, so here's the yarn, which is Plymouth Happy Feet. <a title="Plymouth Happy Feet by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2958855002/"><img height="180" alt="Plymouth Happy Feet" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2958855002_0ba8c54c5a_m.jpg" width="240" /></a>When I opened the package I laughed out loud (lol!) because I bought the same yarn <strong>in the same color</strong> (on the left) in Vermont. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Victoria did a great job figuring me out - I love the mug (I've used it almost every day in the last two weeks, it's the perfect size), and I've tried (and very much enjoyed) two of the three teas so far, and there are some super cute felted polar bears in the Interweave Felts that I'm excited to make. Thanks, Victoria, I love my package!</span>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22117155.post-31952754865605802182008-10-27T15:19:00.000-07:002008-10-27T15:50:51.577-07:00Where I've Been<span style="font-family:arial;">Well. At least this time I have an excuse to explain my absence. Dave and I went to Vermont for a week to visit with his family (Let's not consider that we came home<em> last</em> Saturday.) and I couldn't really blog from there. The other problem is that I have so much to blog about and it's been so long that now it's become overwhelming. I can't even blame the scientific paper I'm writing because I spent last week doing actual science instead of writing, and there are always breaks in the science (and in the writing, to be fair, but blogging is also writing). So, let's have a quick recap of the Vermont trip, and then I'll do separate posts about my recent tea swap package and my finished Estes Vest.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Dave and I spent a week in Burlington and environs, relaxing and doing some touristy things like leaf-peeping. I'd been there before but it was nice to go back. <a title="Sunset over Lake Champlain by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2961027332/"><img height="375" alt="Sunset over Lake Champlain" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3159/2961027332_12e0cc5394.jpg" width="500" /></a>It's really a lovely area and we timed things perfectly for maximal foliage viewing. </span><a title="Fall Color! by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2960182063/"><img height="375" alt="Fall Color!" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2960182063_640e345ec8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the things we did was hike up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Mansfield">Mt. Mansfield</a>, which is the highest peak in Vermont. You can also drive up there on a really sketchy toll road, which we did on Friday when my parents joined us for the day (from <strong>western PA</strong> - we are a family that travels). There are some nice views from the top, and I have a lot more on my Flickr page (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/tags/vermont/">here</a>), but here is a good one looking east across the rest of the Green Mountains:<a title="View from Mt. Mansfield by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2960181221/"><img height="375" alt="View from Mt. Mansfield" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2960181221_60f7e8822a.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was significantly colder when we drove up on Friday than when we hiked up on Tuesday - there was frost on the trees! My dad took this photo of Dave, my mother, and I, which I love because we don't look like we should be in the same place. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261968109134305266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMh4TrPqQ65r56cKnooKpOBRU8aIMZSozB1Oia3R_BYK96fNQC3x5FuBibHTZPTW8RDyvpsRPO_9Joo_j4LfPtVG9dOSr5tTqdaRV3g8l-lnkI9Fs-8pVnJ8kwJhAJnFLSiWU/s320/Vermont_08_001.jpg" border="0" />I'm all bundled up and my mother is wearing sandals - in her defense she didn't know we'd be walking around up there, or that it would be 34F! And we're all wearing orange, which was honestly a coincidence...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Dave and I also went to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.shelburnefarms.org">Shelburne Farms</a>, where we saw lovely trees, sheep, and Cow Twister, which was one of the highlights of the trip:<a title="Cow Twister by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2961024064/"><img height="375" alt="Cow Twister" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2961024064_f2fe6443bf.jpg" width="500" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We also spent a day in Montreal visiting <a href="http://boucleeblog.blogspot.com/">Anne-Marie</a>. We saw many old buildings, the Modern Art Museum, and possibly the best sign ever:<a title="The Best Sign Ever by Emily E.M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10183972@N03/2960184081/"><img height="375" alt="The Best Sign Ever" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2960184081_72300804f4.jpg" width="500" /></a>Apparently the buildings attack! We also spoke grammatically awful French to each other (but not to the locals) and ate spectacular croissants. It was good to see Anne-Marie - I've been in withdrawl since she left Seattle in September...</span> <div><span style="font-family:arial;">We also walked around Burlington, went canoeing, went sailing, and ate a lot of yummy food. And drank a lot of delicious apple cider. And probably other things that I'm not thinking of right now. All in all we had a lovely time, and it was tough to come back and head to work, although at least the Seattle weather has been lovely so we've been easing back in!</span></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14574006822309679474noreply@blogger.com1