Monday, May 30, 2011

Mystery Shawlette Clue 2

While I might be smack in the midst of knitting through clue 3 of Wendy's mystery shawlette, I haven't yet shown off clue 2, and my procrastination can be interpreted as keeping the mystery and suspense.

Or something.

Mystery Shawlette Clue 2

Clue 2 was another super short one, only 12 rows, coming up to 2 rows of border and 24 rows of pattern. Just easing us in gently before 72 rows of clue 3.

I have learned, however, that doing the long rows while you're high on the new project fumes? Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I may need to try and figure out how to do all the boring parts first, although perhaps that will just end in my getting bored on something else, but for this little thing? Brilliant. Each row gets shorter than the last, in direct contrast to my usual circular knitting where it rapidly gets huge.

I was going to add another picture, a close up of the first two clues here, but apparently I am incapable of taking a clear photo of it even with a quite nice camera and a monopod. I am that inept, clearly. So have a blurry one and just squint so that it's supposed to look blurry, or something.

Mystery Shawlette Clue 2

It's a gorgeous day out, I think I might have to do some knitting on the front porch this evening.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Lace Knitting to Philosophy

Based on the mouseover for this xkcd comic: Extended Mind, one can get to the wikipedia page for philosophy from.. anywhere. So of course I had to try it.

I started at Lace Knitting and passed through such topics as Matter to Knowledge and Mathematics to get to Philosophy in 18 steps.

An amusing way to spend 5 mins of curious clicking, certainly.

As for actual lace knitting, I'm slowly plugging away on Frosted Ferns (Rav link, sorry about that.. although if you're not on Ravely, why not? You dont need to talk to people, but it's terribly handy for keeping track of your own stuff). It's a Niebling. It's more accurately, my first Niebling.

I am not a novice lace knitter. I have enough hubris to recognize that, I can cope with just about any pattern dropped in front of me, and I've knit a helluva lot of lace. This keeps my attention. Almost too much sometimes. I can't just go on autopilot, and let me tell you, that's pretty rare these days. I am rarely active challenged in my knitting, and I like that. I just wish I liked more of his pieces, but ideally I can eek out enough of his that I do like to keep my needles and thread happy for quite some time to come.

Frosted Ferns rnd 75

I'm on round 75 of 122, which is not more than halfway it's only 38% completed. Area is a far more accurate measurement than plain row count when you're working from the centre of a circle out.

Basic specs: 2mm needles (currently knitpicks metal circulars), size 60 Oren Bayan cotton in ecru, which is turkish and very nice. I found 5 balls of it at the thrift store for some piddling amount, and I'd guess I'm not even halfway through the first ball of thread.

Less than halfway by area, I am going to be at this for quite some time to come. At least it's reasonably scenic along the way.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Not dead yet.

Alright, mostly dead.

But I am knitting, and as awesome as Ravelry is for letting me keep track of what I'm working on. (How /did/ I manage to keep track of what I was working on before ravelry? Oh right. A little orange notebook I lost a lot.)

Currently in progress is the Summer Mystery Shawlette by Wendy of Wendy Knits. It's adorable, it's like eating potato chips, and if you want to jump in, we're only 24 rows in and they get shorter with each one. Go for it! I only have clue one photographed (and badly at that), so if you don't want spoilers, close your eyes.

Mystery shawlette clue 1

Okay, you can come back now. Isn't it adorable? Relevant info is 4.5 mm needles, KnitPicks sock yarn in a tweedy russet. Just yum. In theory, it will only take two balls. I hope that theory pans out, even with the larger needles.

Tomorrow, or later, I will show you the Neibling I'm working on. Call it incentive to come back. If there's anyone still reading, that is. *laugh*