Res Completae: His and Hers Ankle Socks

Slowly, slowly, sock knitting has been growing on me. And what better way to fuel the fire than a cute socklet pattern that can be completed in almost no time at all?


(Please forgive the unblockedness.)

These ankle socks (in both manly and girly flavors) were both knit from the Alison's Ankle Socks pattern on US 3 bamboo dpns. The somewhat-larger-than-usual needle (I'm guessing -- in my limited sock-knitting experience, I've always used size 1's and 2's with similar weight yarn) made them light and quick-to-knit, and I think the pattern is just adorable.

First up: His



Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering, 1 hank of Navy Olive (doesn't it look like camo?)
Start to Finish: June 6-7, 2008
Mods: Because the Claudia's was a smidge heavier than the pattern-specified Koigu, I didn't need to add too many stitches to make these man-feet suitable. I added four stitches and kept going until the sock measured up to about 1.5 inches less than Neill's foot. I actually overshot the first one, but since Neill apparently has one foot that is freakishly larger than the other, it worked perfectly.

Next: Hers (ok, Mine)



Yarn: Koigu Premium Merino, 78% of a hank of color 1005 (which, in my opinion, was not bad for socks in size 9. I was very surprised when I didn't use the whole hank.)
Start to Finish: June 7-8, 2008
Mods: None.

Notes: What a fun way to use up a skein (or 3/4 of a skein) of sock yarn! These were quick and easy and I was very glad to practice my short-row technique. Actually, in doing such, I just realized that I need to practice my short-row technique a whole lot more as I still get lots of little holes. Anyhoo, I loved making these socklets, Neill was more thrilled than I have ever seen him to receive a handmade item, and even Stewart, who has very picky taste, approved. Win-win-win!

Res Completae: Bamboo Bangles (and a meme)

This is one of those projects that was borne out of me seeing something in a fashion magazine and immediately becoming irritated because I knew I could easily make the same thing for about 1/50th the price. I can't find the pages that originally provided the inspiration, but I remember the caption said something like, "Jewelry designer X got out her knitting needles to create these cashmere-wrapped bangle bracelets." I scoffed. One obviously does not need knitting needles to WRAP PLASTIC BRACELETS IN YARN. To prove my point, I got out my cheap-o plastic bangles from H&M and some pretty yarn (Alchemy Yarns Bamboo in color 4432), and went to work. After about a half-hour of hot-gluing and wrapping, I had some new hot pink bracelets. And they did not require knitting needles, any sort of skill, or $250.

Aaand...I was recently tagged by my dear friends Sarah and Margo in the "50 Random Things" meme. After starting my response, I realized that I was having a hard time coming up with these random things, so you get 25 instead:

1. I get irritated when I see expensive things in magazines that I know I could make myself (I bet most of us crafters are plagued by this!), even if my finished product would not be nearly as nice as the original.

2. Several of my friends are ones I've had for the majority of my life. Sarah (the tagger) has been one of my best friends since 7th grade. Margo since 5th grade. My oldest friend I "met" when I was 6 months old and she had been born only a few days before.

3. I bite my nails -- it's terrible and gross.

4. I agree with Sarah that drinking tons of water can either cure or prevent just about any minor health disorder.

5. I'm naturally quite blonde, but I get a little help with highlights. I only get them done every 5 months. I also only get my hair cut every 5 months because it's so darn expensive.

6. My favorite tv shows are Star Trek: The Next Generation and Battlestar Galactica.

7. I'm a Methodist.

8. I take water with me to bed every night. By the end of the week, I have usually accumulated 5 or 6 water glasses on my bedside table.

9. My brother and I have the same nose, and no one else on either side of our family has it.

10. I've been slowly losing my ability to speak Greek since I moved away from my wonderful paréa, but it still feels entirely natural for me to shout Greek obscenities at motorists in lieu of road rage.

11. I was at the World Series during the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.

12. The next time the SF Giants were in the World Series (2002), I was at my parents' house recovering from a tonsillectomy.

13. I met my husband at work. We were the subject of office gossip for quite some time.

14. 19 months later, he proposed to me on a sand dune in Death Valley.

15. I am currently taking accounting classes in the hopes of making a career change at some point. I was surprised to find that I'm pretty good at it, and am thrilled that I am finally doing well in and enjoying a marketable field (no love for dead languages here in the real world).

16. My favorite ethnicity of food is Mexican. I am therefore extremely lucky that my brother's wife's family owns an amazing Mexican restaurant in Modesto and they totally hook us up when we go there (top shelf margaritas, anyone??).

17. I have learned to combat it in social settings, but I am extremely shy and introverted. When I first joined the blog world, it took me a long time to start commenting on others' blogs. I still get nervous posting comments, even if it ends up being something simple like, "Your sweater is beautiful!"

18. My commute to work is 35 miles. It takes approximately 40 minutes without traffic, 1 hour with, and 1.5 hours in the worst conditions. Ick.

19. My old boss (my current boss' boss) discovered the center of our galaxy.

20. When I was in college, I was in the same Northern Renaissance art history class as the chick from My Two Dads and Step by Step.

21. My roommate took a neuroscience class in which Blossom was a TA.

22. After 5 years living in Los Angeles, I still get extremely excited when I spot celebrities.

23. Since moving to San Francisco, I have very often found myself in groups of people in which I am the only native Californian.

24. I get completely grossed out by ink on my skin.

25. My favorite place in the world is Crete.

Anyone else who would like to join in -- I tag you!

Res Completa: Lace Ribbon Scarf

Adding mine to the 1,181 already posted on Ravelry...



Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf, by Veronik Avery for Knitty Spring 2008
Yarn: Koigu KPM, 4 hanks of color 2323
Needles: US 3 circulars
Start to Finish: May 8-27, 2008

Mods: Nada.
Notes: LOOOOOOOVE!!!!! I can see why this pattern is so extremely popular -- it's amazing! The lace pattern is simple, but still lovely, and was pretty easy to memorize. After following the chart very closely for the first few repeats, I had it memorized, then knitting it was as calming and meditative as yoga. I also think this marriage of yarn and pattern was a good one (well, I mean, who can go wrong with Koigu?). Though I love the airy drape of the Alpaca Sox called for in the original, I think the simple increases and decreases and yarnovers sets off the semi-solid nature of the Koigu beautifully. I love it when it works out like that!

I finished this scarf the day before my boss' birthday, and when I realized that, I had to give it to her. She is a big-time scarf person so I knew she'd get use out of it, and I also thought a handmade item might be a nice way to say thank you for all the opportunities she's given me.

And because I thought Ravelry needed a 1,183rd Lace Ribbon Scarf, I started another in purple...

Res Originalis: Christmas Green Minisweater

Ok, so maybe I was a smidge overdramatic about the color and granny-square-ness of this sweater in my last post...



I actually think it turned out kinda cute.

Pattern: My own
Yarn: Cascade 220, 2 hanks of color 8894, ahem, "Christmas Green"
Needles: US 6 straight needles and circulars
Notions: 10 buttons bought for cheap at an antique store (I only had nine of the little ones so the top button is slightly larger)
Start to finish: May 4 - June 5, 2008

Notes: As I said in my last post, this minisweater is loosely based on something I saw in Anthropologie last month...but brighter. The stitch pattern is Roman Stripe (my favorite, due to its nod to the Classics -- whether or not the "Roman" in Roman Stripe actually refers to the ancient empire does not matter) and the shaping is very simple -- in fact, there is no shaping at all until the armscyes start. My idea was to make a little sweater that was less fitted than my usual knits, something to wear over the A-line-ish and flowy tops that I can't stop buying. The arm holes and sleeve caps are of the set-in variety. The little designing I have done has always involved raglan shaping, so I wanted to get some practice doing something else. Using Vogue Knitting as my guide, I planned the decreases very carefully, but I still think they turned out slightly boxy. Or that could just be from the overall boxiness of the sweater, which I'm not sure I'm in love with. Anyway, it was a good learning experience and my takeaway message is that I should make the shoulders narrower next time.



I want to thank you all for leaving such nice, encouraging comments after my last little indulgence in self-deprecation and for convincing me that I am not completely crazy. As Cyn pointed out in the comments, Christmas Green is not in and of itself an entirely tacky thing. A Christmas Green sweater does not necessarily spell cheesy unless, for example, worn with large, shiny, red Christmas ornament-style earrings. So I definitely won't do that. :)

La Fée Verte

One of the nicest compliments I have ever received was when someone left a comment on this blog saying she thought I had good taste. I can't tell you how flattered I was. Unfortunately, now, I seem to be blowing to bits whatever truth there was in that statement. Because for the past two weeks I have been hard at work knitting something that bears a strong resemblance to a giant granny square in the most hideous shade of green, and I am absolutely in love with it. It is all I can think about.



It all started back in March, when I developed an oddly intense crush on Kelly Green when I started seeing it in the stores. I'm not sure where it came from, but it hit me hard. First I had to have some shoes.



Then some shoes and a scarf.



Then some shoes, a scarf, and a long-sleeved tee from the Gap marked down to $5 because no one else was crazy enough to buy it.



Then some shoes, a scarf, the long-sleeved tee, and some...underpinnings. You get the idea.



Then when I almost bought this Diane von Furstenberg number because all those yards of green fabric made me weak in the knees (giving little heed to the fact that it was way outside my budget, it did not fit me, and that I had nowhere to wear it besides my own house)...



I knew I had a problem.

I don't know where it came from, but every single time I see something in this color I must either buy it, stare at it, fondle it, or take a picture. I've been able to resist a lot, but not the Cascade 220 I bought for this current project. I couldn't walk out of the store with it, but I'll admit that it's awful. The colorway is called "Christmas Green" for goodness' sake! Emerald Green? Pretty. Christmas Green? Tacky. I could see the look on Sophy and Erica's faces when they first saw it. It was that "You're my friend so I'm not going to say anything mean, but that is the ugliest thing I have ever seen and I'm going to gently suggest some helpful alternatives" look.



And the granny-square-ness? Well, my original inspiration was a little cardigan from Anthropologie made with various open and textured stitch motifs. In an attempt to mimic it from memory after it had been taken off the Anthro website I settled on the Roman Stripe pattern, thinking it would give me the lacey look I was going for. I didn't mean for the thing to look quite so crocheted...but it does...and I still love it.

It remains to be seen whether this cropped cardi will turn out anything at all like the cute, trendy Anthropologie original, or if it will scream "100 year-old bag lady". Either way, I'll probably still make it a central piece of my wardrobe.