Green Dilly Beans

Fear of Finishing

After nearly a month languishing in pieces, my Minimalist Cardigan is done.

The seed stitch pattern itself was rather soothing, it was seaming the seed stitch that made me seethe.  There's really nothing more to say besides it was not fun. 

The process also brought on a minor revelation about my overall feelings about finishing.  I've come to think about it as a knitterly day of reckoning. 

It's easy to imagine the perfect sweater when its disparate parts lie strewn about in sleeve, side panel, and back shapes.  In pieces, a sweater still holds its full potential.  I can imagine it to be perfection personified (or sweaterified?)  However, once the seaming starts, I face a persistent "what if?" refrain that introduces images of a sweater that is too big or too small, with lumpy seams and a saggy loss of shape.  It doesn't matter how much I've planned, swatched, or prepared, this fear settles in at the end of every project.  Finishing introduces the possibility that the reality won't live up to the fantasy. 

Thankfully the minimalist cardi turned out well.  The ribbing at the sleeve cuffs is a little baggy, but nothing I can't live with.  More photos and details are up on Ravelry.  For now, I'm free of my fear of finishing.  At least until I get to seaming my next sweater!

Pattern APB

I once saw a pattern for a knit panel to button onto a peacoat to keep mom and baby warm as baby rides in a sling or front pack.  I seem to remember it being on Knitty or Magknits, but haven't had any luck finding it.  Part of the problem is that my search terms are less than ideal (knit peacoat baby closer thingy?) and knitting pattern names don't always describe the item itself (why is a knit beret called Gretel?). 

Does anyone know what I'm talking about?  If you can help me identify the pattern, I'd be eternally grateful. 

Lost

I've written before about my tendency to misplace things.  This weekend my losing streak veered into knitting territory, once again in record time. 

I finished Tiny Sushi's wonderful Chevron Mitt pattern on Saturday, weaving in the ends from the Q train on my way to Cassie's.  My fellow knitters oohed and ahhhed accordingly over the chevron cable pattern running up the back of the hands.  They are were really lovely. 

Yes, I'm afraid you'll have to take my word (and theirs) that these mittens ever existed.  By Sunday afternoon they were gone.  The leftover yarn bits are all I have as proof of their origin.  As far as I can tell, they went MIA somewhere between Park Slope and Union Square.  If you happen to see them roaming the streets of NY, please let me know.  At the very least, I hope they're on the hands of someone who appreciates them. 

After a brief period of mourning, I picked myself up this morning and got yarn to make a second, identical pair.  I don't do repeat knits very often, but this is a special exception, and the pattern is really fun to knit.  A little part of me is still hoping that they'll turn up, so I'll be casting on for some gift knitting Stulpen mitts to tide me over. 

My pattern details, minus any finished photos, are up on Ravelry.

Crossing the Finish Line

Hmmm, I don't take statistics until next year, but it seems like there is a direct relationship between the amount of work I have for school and the number of projects I add to my Ravelry queue.  As it stands, I have two major papers due tomorrow and have increased the number of items in my queue by 50% in the last week. Coincidence? I think not.  I've never said that I'm not easily distracted.

I am very ready for these papers to be over and done with.  One paper analyzes affordable housing policy and the demolition of dilapidated housing projects, the other designs a client intervention for survivors of torture.  The combination of subject matter and heavy workload is not making for the most uplifting weekend.  Right now, I'd much rather be knitting.

In anticipation of the end of my first semester, I've been dreaming about the projects that will be cast on once I am a free woman.  My brain will now be capable of taking on projects more complicated than garter and seed stitch.  I'm still blown away by the fact that next semester won't begin until January 22nd.  A whole month and more, all to myself!  Here's what I've got in store for the needles:

• Kiri - will use up stash yarn and introduce my brain to a project beyond the aforementioned garter and seed stitch routine.
• Aran Island Mittens - with Bemidji's Original Homespun Yarn purchased in Duluth over Thanksgiving weekend.  I've yet to see anything that can beat their 225 yd skein for $5.25(!)
• Lotta's Entrelac Beret - will enter into service in the never-ending quest to warm my ears
• Veronik Avery's Layered Skater's Top will finish off the rest of the orange kidsilk haze that has been languishing in my stash.  As a former competitive figure skater, I had assumed that the "skater" referenced by the pattern was of the icy variety.  I checked out the book from the library this weekend and realized that this pattern refers to skaters of the Vision and Vans boarding legacy.  I'm no Tony Hawk, but this is still a top for me. 

Sorry for the pictureless post, the two way split B and I balance between residency in MSP and NYC have us sharing a camera.  Pictures will have to wait until I regain custody next weekend.

Oh Happy Day

With my birthday, Thanksgiving, and final exams soon to come, I got a package from Heather in the mail! 

The goods: A Rhinebeck skein of Jamie Harmon's 2 ply merino-angora blend, a bar of soap, and a bar of chocolate, a Mo's Bacon Bar to be exact.  Yep, that's a milk chocolate bar with bacon and smoked sea salt.  For any naysayers out there, just imagine the beautiful combination of maple syrup and bacon.  From there it's not a such a big stretch to arrive at bacon and chocolate.  I opened the box with the best intentions to share with friends and family for Thanksgiving.  Alas, all that generosity was quickly washed into my gullet with help from a glass of milk.  Sigh, guess I'll just have to buy another bar (or two, or three).  Read on if you still have doubts.  Who knew there were so many candy blogs out there?  Now that I think about it, I bet that's what people say about knitting blogs. 

The soap is equally appealing, it just lost out in to the chocolate in a battle with my rumbling stomach.  I'm not sure what flavor soap it is, but it is lovely, I assure you.  There is actually a free soap with purchase and blog link offer, so take advantage if you are so inclined. 

Every detail of the package was delightful.  Heather, where did you get your address labels?

         

After eying up the rainbow yarn at Rhinebeck year after year, Heather has officially indoctrinated me into the cult ofJamie Harmon.  I wasted no time casting on for My So Called Scarf.   Yes, that is a puddle of yarn you see.  I couldn't wait to find out what the next candy striping color combo would be.

For the record, pink and blue are on deck. 

Coincidentally, in my own package posting, I'll be sending off jam to Melissa and Heather following the Thanksgiving holiday. 

UPDATE: As proof of the excitement generated by this package, I once again found myself at a loss for my house keys.  Apparently, I was so eager to open my mail that I left my keys in the mailbox lock.  I spent a good amount of time looking for them, but never thought to step outside the apartment in my search.  Thankfully, one of my neighbors tucked them in a pair shoes left outside my door along with a note explaining their provenance. 

Also, I just noticed a small sticker on the Mo's Bacon Bar box.  It reads, "Best if Enjoyed By 1/8/08."  Heh, no worries there.  I'm very amused at the thought that it could have lasted until January. 

Covered

My ears are happy now that my shorn head has a hat to keep it warm.  I squeaked by using just one skein of Cascade from my stash. 

Gretel was knit over the course of a weekend trip to NYC.  Nothing like a whirlwind 36 hour visit to free lots of knitting time in the airport.  More pictures and details can be found on Ravelry.

Card Carrying Member

I recently had an epiphany.  I am a student.  I have a student id card.  Therefore, I qualify for the myriad of student discount rates available to this impoverished class.  Yippee! 

And where did I first cash in on my new student status?  Well, you'd be right if you guessed it was yarn related......I joined the Minnesota Weaver's Guild! 

Yeah, yeah, so technically I don't really weave, but the guild offers so many fiber related classes of interest that it seemed like the best fit for me.  I am most excited to attend the Whorling Spinsters study group, which meets every month to spin together.  I'm also hoping to take a beginning spinning class in January when I have a break from school.  The guild has more than a dozen really nice spinning wheels for members to use on site, which means I don't have to lug my wheel on the city bus.  While it would be a bit of a hassle, I do like thinking about the reactions I would get if I boarded public transportation with a spinning wheel in tow! 

The Weaver's Guild is housed in the MN Textile Center,  which is also a place of wonder to behold.  Seriously, and I mean seriously, if you are ever in town, you need to check out their textile library. According to the website, there are 13,000+ circulating and reference items on quilting, knitting, weaving, needle arts, beading, spinning, fiber, dyeing, embellishments, surface design, etc.  Forget visiting me, go straight to the textile center library.  Even better, contact me and we'll go there together!

But, enough background information.  I started this post to show you the fruits of my labor.  I recently took my first class, Naturally Dyed in Minnesota.  As the name suggests this class gave me the opportunity to dye fiber with dye plants harvested from Minnesota's woodlands and roadsides.  Very cool.  Here are the yarn samples I took home.   

       

Ash                                                     Cedar  - Northern White

              

Horsetail                                             Tansy

Willow

And for comparison's sake, here's a lineup of all of them together:

L to R: Cedar, Ash, Horsetail, Tansy, and Willow

While the colors are a little more subdued than my usual suspects, I'm learning to appreciate their subtleties.  Conveniently enough, my sister has been doing biology research in boggy areas of northern MN where many of these plants grow.  I'm already planning a gathering expedition next summer! 

Lucky Stripe

This really is too much fun.  I only wish I had discovered it before embarking upon two baby surprise jackets in a quest to use up yarn scraps. 

The Heat is On

Hooray!  After a stretch of cold, rainy fall days, my heat finally kicked in!

While waiting for the heat to come on, I was finally inspired to block my latest version of the Hourglass Sweater (appropriately enough made from yarn purchased last year at Rhinebeck).

I was foolish enough to think that I had no toys to entertain my 4 year old nephew and 2 year old niece when they came over last night for grilled cheese and tomato soup.  Who needs toys when you have a sweater to block and yarn to wind?!  A spray bottle and swift were all I needed to entertain.  Sorry the photo is so crummy, the camera has some night vision thing going on.  Thankfully B is coming in tonight for the weekend and can rescue me (and you) from a world of exceptionally awful photographs. 

I'll take a better picture of the sweater, with me in it, this weekend.  I'll be thinking of many of you as you head upstate this weekend!

In other heated matters, please explain to me: Why did the fire alarm go off when making this.....

but not a peep was heard as this was left on the stove during a mad bout of studying? Yep, those are were carrots. 

Scholarly Lessons Learned:

• Setting off the fire alarm at 11:30 PM is not a good way endear yourself to the neighbors.  Let's hope that a pervasive sense of Minnesota Nice and the smell of freshly baked bread is enough to keep you in their good graces. 
  
• Don't try to cook when trying to meet a paper deadline.  The good news is, the paper turned out infinitely better than the carrots, I got an A!

Raveled

Sorry to have left that gloomy post linger for so long.  Really, things here are good - school, life, all of it.  There are some ups and downs, but mostly ups.  Thanks for your reassurances, they really did help put things in perspective. 

There must be some sort of scientific law that would explain why my Ravelry invite arrived just as I was balancing my first paper and quiz for school along with a visit to NYC.  I am still impressed with myself that I didn't drop everything and lose myself in the Ravelry abyss. 

I've taken some baby steps into the labrynth and thought I would throw myself out there to you.  I'm under the name "greendillybean" It's still rough, no pictures yet, but I'll be adding to it bit by bit.  Hope to see you there!