Res Completa: Ishbel the First

Because no one seems to be able to make just one of these and, in fact, I have already made a second.



Pattern: Ishbel, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-1 Tsumugi Silk, ~265 yards of color 38
Needles: US 6 circs
Start to Finish: April 4-8, 2009

Mods: Because I didn't have as much yarn as was called for in the pattern, I did fewer stockinette increase rows, then fewer (horizontal) repeats of the lace pattern. I would tell you all about the extensive math I did in order to figure out exactly how many increases to cut out, but in the end, I was 6 stitches off so just did some decreases on the last row to get to the number I needed for the lace. Oh well.

Notes: First of all, this yarn was awesome and unlike anything I've ever used before. I won it during Chris' blog giveaway earlier this year, received it when we met at Stitches West, and was thrilled to knit with it. It has such a neat texture, kind of crunchy and soft at the same time, and almost looks like a tweed. Because of its laceweight-ness, it made a light-weight Ishbel (my second is the heavier weight version), and it will be perfect for wrapping around the neck on a hot day (when I go to Turlock. But I'm sure it'll be great on cold San Francisco days, too). I didn't do such a great job pinning out the bottom into points, so a re-blocking is in order, but here is what it looks like stretched out anyway:



Being still a little green in the lace department, this was a wonderful project to wet the feet a bit. Plus, 1,058 Ravlers can't be wrong...this is one fun and adorable little shawl.

Res Completa: Koigu Kerchief

I cannot believe how many comments my last post generated! A common love of Star Trek even brought out some folks I didn't even know were reading! Thank you all so much -- for the blogiversary wishes, the Star Trek comradery, and for being so darn fun in general. (And by the way, I saw the movie again last night with Sophy and Erica and I believe it was just as good, if not better, the second time).

So in the past few months, as I have worked on some attention-requiring projects and have tried to hone my pattern-writing skills (thus attempting to wake up the math part of my brain), I seem to have developed an addiction to triangular-shaped objects to be worn around the neck. There's something calming about them to me - they move so quickly at first (instant gratification!), then as they grow you get to enjoy long, repetitive rows that can be worked without thinking too hard. The first in this series: the Koigu Kerchief.



Pattern: Silk Kerchief, by Kate Gagnon of Zeitgeist Yarns
Yarn: Three Koigu ends purchased in Asheville, NC a couple of Christmases ago - I believe they added up to about 1.5 skeins
Needles: US 3 circs
Start to Finish: February 13 - March 10, 2009

Notes: Talk about a calming knit - all the garter stitchy goodness of this kerchief made me very happy. This was one of those projects that I kept around when I needed a break, I worked on it off and on (sometimes just one row per sitting), and one day it was time to bind off. Mine is not as long as the pattern calls for because I ran out of dark red yarn, but I like it mini, too.



I didn't really plan how the colors would come out - I just wound those Koigu ends and started knitting with nary a plan - but I love them together! I feel like there's something '70's-ish about the combo.

And finally, I have been honored with the "One Lovely Blog" award by the Clumsy Knitter (And really, she is anything but. Her knits are AMAZING and everything she makes seems to involve intricate lace or cable patterns that she executes beautifully.) and Kristen of Learner's Per-Knit (isn't that an adorable blog name?). Thank you so much, ladies!

The Yarniad: Book III

Two years? Really? I can't believe it was two years ago today that I started this blog. So much has changed since then, in my knitterly life, my work life, everywhere. Unlike last year, when I revealed knitted panties, I unfortunately don't have any exciting knits to show today. Well, I do, but I'm not allowed to. So instead, I am going to go with something that may make me lose all my readership when you realize the true dorkitude that goes on here at The Yarniad...but I'm going to take that chance. I believe on a blogiversary (like on a birthday), one should be able to do anything one wants. So I will show you a photo from last night at the movie theater, featuring my crafting partner in crime, Sophy, and our latest sewing adventures:



Indeed, we attended a showing of the new Star Trek movie...in Federation uniforms...that we made ourselves. (Well, the best Federation uniforms we could cobble together from Simplicity 2922 and some quilting cotton). One of the interesting things about living in San Francisco is that you can walk a mile in broad daylight, ride the train for three stops, then walk another three blocks wearing a full Deanna Troi outfit that is not only too tight, but also too short, and no one gives you a second look because you're actually not the biggest weirdo that happens to be out and about.

It's been a fun two years -- thank you to everyone who graces me with their online presence here...and please don't stop coming because you've found out I'm a Star Trek nerd. :)