MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I FINISHED IT!!!!!!!! It took me about a week to knit through charts 2 through 6 but I did it! I came home from working at Jamba Juice, knit the freaking 6 last rows and bound off. I finished at 5pm and then had to block it. While it was soaking I showered, sine I did have to go to my grandparents house for christmas eve dinner. There was a gift exchange and my uncle, who gave me 15 lbs of romney cheep for my birthday, he gave me a 3 day pass to stitches west and some money! I'm excited.

The picture of the shawl isn't the greatest, but this is it blocking. I don't have a blocking board so I had to improvise with an old thick blanket and blocking wires and pins. I'll put up a better picture after it's unwrapped tomorrow morning. And my mom has no idea that she is getting it either. She's been hinting about wanting one and so I decided the Mystic Ice would be perfect for her.



The pair of socks only needs 3 more repeats to get to the toe and then toe and sew that bad boy up. I can't really knit that while I'm sitting here with my mom, while we enjoy the fire. I guess I'll just have to knit them in a little while. Probably tonight when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Or tomorrow morning when I am cooking the "traditional" baked oatmeal. Oh well.

I have decided that I don't like lace shawls, love the look, but don't like making them.

I am now again on a fair isle kick, and I want to make a beret. And fair isle sweater, and ..... you get the picture.

"IT" stage 4

If you have read the Yarn Harlot's The Secret Life of a Knitter then you will know what that means. If not let me break that down for you. I was going to make a few things for my mom this year for Christmas.

Stage one is when I plan for what to make this year. I wanted to make a few things for my mom only since I already made stuff for my cousins the year before and there wasn't anyone else I could think of that would like hand knitted items. Well there is one, but that wasn't until about a month ago.

Stage two I started buying yarn and patterns. Planning what to do. I decided when I saw the Mystic Ice shawl was available for a little knit along I decided to go for it. I also wanted to make a sweater for her, I found a great pattern she loved. Though I didn't have enough money for the yarn and I couldn't find a yarn that I liked (that and was warm/machine washable). I think I know of some now though. I blame my boss at Green Planet Yarn, there are so many great things there, but I digress.

I cast on for the shawl right when chart one came out. I knit it in less then a week and I thought that this would be easy and I could finish it in time. So then I put it down for a little bit.

Stage 3 is when I started to panic a little. I cast on for a pair of socks for myself and knit one of them in about 4 days of reading and knitting at the same time. I loved them so much, the pattern was perfect for reading. The shawl lamented while college winded down, which I had to study too. Then I thought oh crap, chart 4 (then 5) are out now, I want this done by when? (insert appropriate swearing here %^&(*&(*%& %&^(&*&&@^%(@&#(*%^&*#()$&Q%&*!*$%*^@(*&*%^@()_*&^&$*^&#@)^*).

I am in stage 4 which is when I am figuring out how many rows I need to complete daily to get back on track, even though I have no idea how many rows are on the last chart that is being released TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ignore my chores and cleaning. I take away as much sleep as I can without needing energy drinks (trust me I really don't want to be spending money on that). Now my dad knows about the shawl and the socks. He is now understanding that I am nuts. Oh the socks, attempt number 5. One sock is done and I am on the foot of the other. I should get those done quickly. They are really simple. But the %^*#()&$@*() SHAWL!!!!! Grrrrr

Its pretty eh?




The first is the first four charts and the next is of the actual shawl. Only half of it, but it's pretty. The green is a life line, this is the second I've used on this shawl. I know I'm nuts, but tis the season.

I will now knit the billion stitches on the needles now.

If you don't hear from me I might be recovering

I AM SOOOO DONE..

With this semester of college! Some of it was a lot harder then anticipated, others was a snore.

Ok, I didn't really explain the moth thing. I was cleaning my room one day, which it needs a little spritz again. And I grabbed three pairs of my hand knit socks. I decided that I would clean them and then I would have toasty feet for the cold winter (well California coldish) that lay ahead for me. After I washed them I found holes. This is one sock, if you are knitting, drinking anything non alcoholic, or anything that involves your hands, stop. Take a drink of something strong (if you are of age) and then look. Ok? This is what happened to my toe up STR sock.





8 holes, yes you read that right. Please breathe I know I wigged out when I saw this. Then 2 other pairs were affected. Just one hole in the ribbing of one and my own hand dye argyle socks has a small hole.

Needless to say everything was in quarantine and still is. I am not going to let this happen again.

Happier(?) note, Christmas knitting. After last years evil little (not) knitting spell I decided that I would not knit a lot of gifts. Even though last year was a sweater and an afghan, I didn't knit with blue for 6 months after. This year I decided to knit some socks for my mom and the Mystic Ice Shawl. So behind on the shawl, probably will be a Ireallywantedtohavethisfinishedbutineedsleeptooandthisiscompliatedsothisisapromisethatitwillbefinishedsoon. The socks were a quick knit though, I'm on the leg of the second one. I knit a sock from the New Pathways for Sock Knitters and I did that while reading. Such a great sock.

Then I got suckered into knitting a Noro scarf.



This is two skeins Noro Silk Garden, color no idea. Then 3 skeins of Misky from Mirasol. It's a gorgeous 100% baby llama yarn. I love it so much.

Ok, now I have been debating for a while if I should make a beret. I want to know if you think I would look good in one?

I had a case of schoolissuchatimesucker and mothitis

Yes it has been a while since I posted, I blame school. This semester is over soon.

That and I had a little moth scare. I got it all under control.

:)

I won't scare you with the sock with 8 holes, or my argyles with a hole.

I will post more, when I'm not holiday knitting.

I swear I'm not dead

For all of you who might have thought I died, I didn't, I've been extremely busy lately. I go to school, work, eat a little, and sleep sometimes. Repeat everyday, and you'll see why I'm not posting as much as I did before. I haven't had a lot of time for anything really.

I have been knitting a little bit, when I can or have time. I've knit this:






it's the new Habitat Hat by Brooklyntweed, and it's a wonderful, and fast knit. I knit mine in Misky a 100% baby llama yarn. It's so soft and warm!

I've still been knitting on The vest. Yes, that evil argyle vest, which may not be a vest. I might just make it a sweater, depending on how much yarn is left over after. I have plenty of all of the colors, except the brown I don't know about yet.



That little white piece of yarn is holding one stitch, and I've modified the pattern so I'm going to steek open the neck opening.


In other news, have you heard of the Color Co-Op? Macek Designs (me) is participating, and we are going to start dyeing up the yarn for the november shipment soon. If you want to sign up, you'll just have to wait until either November, or December, check the blog . If you need more convincing, then wait until November to see all 6 of us dyers revealing to everyone our colorway based on the choosen artwork by all participating.

Also, Macek Designs is a little back logged, I just finished a yarn order for my LYS, and it's gorgeous, but I have much yarn to dye to catch up. But after I am thinking of doing some new colorways, maybe a famous writter's stories yarn club?

Also, I've given in and knit the baby surprise jacket, knit in corntastic. You can see it at Green Planet Yarn, my local LYS that I work at.




Until next time. Hopefully this fair isle knitting bug will pass, I really want to make a fair isle sweater, or sweaters in general. Maybe it's the cold weather coming up? Who knows.

Knitting Olympics and look coffee!!!

Well I gave in when I said I wasn't going to do the knitting olympics. I wasn't going to because I didn't want to start anything else, because I am running out of needle cables. But then I saw on ravelry that you can work on your WIPs so they get done, and lessen the amount of them. After I saw that I knew I was doomed, since I have like 10 WIPs (not all in ravlery, I don't need to be reminded every time I look at my projects, which right now isn't much, stupid internet).



So, I am going to be doing my Hybrid Sweater, Wing-of-Moth shawl, and my vineland socks. I figured that the places they are all in that it would be enough for me to work on. Well, maybe not. I have 2 weeks to finish a sweater that is just about done, I just started the other shoulder, and so all I have to do on that is knit the rest of the shoulder, then the collar, then cast off and sew in all of the ends.


The shawl has more then half of the first chart done, and then I think I have maybe 2 charts left, and the pattern isn't super complicated. And then the socks just need a heel each (I do my socks 2 at a time, toe up, on magic loop, well when I can) and then a leg and cast off, and weave in ends.

And ok, this internet thing is really killing me. I want to look at ravelry and talk to all of my knitting and non knitting friends on skype and all of those aim and internet sites. However, out internet is still down, and I have another maybe 3 days of having to find free wifi. And so sitting here in Orchard Valley with my laptop out, headphones in, cell phone, sunglasses, coffee and knitting out, I get many looks. But they just don't get it. And I use my phone for pictures because I don't want to bring my big camera with me, and besides I have bluetooth on both the phone and m computer, so I might as well use it.

I have to get back to my olympic knitting, but what happens if I finish all of my projects (yeah right)?

Where the internet sucks!

The Internet is so screwed up at my house we don't know what to do. I'm in a local cafe, and thankfully they have free wifi. And so I will be here for a few days, since there really is no other option, since like I said I have no Internet. And so i sit here with my coffee and my knitting.

I was in my local yarn shop earlier, talking to the knitters I work with. They are such a great shop to visit, so warm and inviting, not to mention their yarns are to dye for!

My hybrid sweater is going very well! I finished the sleeves and they are attached to the body right now, and so now all i have to do is finish the decreasing, the saddles (I think that is what they are called) and then knit the neck and sew in the ends!



I really want to cast on these socks that I'm designing but I am being good, and being monogamous knitter, and want to get this knit up. Then I have to finish my pair of socks on the needles.

Good luck to all in the Knitting Olympics!!!

Until next time, when I have internet connection again!

Moths!

Not real moths, you can put the pesticide down, or lavender if you're like me and don't like or can't stand strong chemicals.

No I meant this moth



This is the beginning, well about 10 repeats in the Wing-of-Moth shawl, which I have not worked on for a long time. I decided I wanted something complicated to get me distracted from things in life. It did help, though starting this a while ago, I remember it was at least 2 attempts. However, I do like the pattern, it's a beautiful pattern, and I really like how it's turning out. Those lines are life lines, and will be taken out when I'm done with the shawl. I have not needed to rip out to a life line, but I don't want to take any chances.

The Hybrid Sweater is going well, I am getting a little tired of the monotonous stockinette in the round. I want to make a sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman, and so I will make one even if I end up in a straight jacket babbling about knitting all of those infernal stitches.

Now I want to start another project, or design another sock pattern to be available for sale in my etsy shop, once it's knit, and test knit of course. Hmmm........well back to my knitting.

What have I done?

Bold for stuff you've done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you're not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up)
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino/modular knitting
Shadow/illusion knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Knitting with your own hand-dyed yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable/aran stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit/crochet
American/English style knitting (throwing)
Continental style knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else's handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Felting/fulling
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Met knitterati/famous knitters

Actual content to blog about!

It's amazing that I actually have stuff to blog about, I suppose I will be blogging more, especially when I'm should be doing something else. *Undyed yarn gives me a look*

I went to visit a LYS called Purlescense, here and they are fabulous! They are the only spinning store in the area, besides the one in san francisco, which takes to long to get to. I had a question on how to spin cotton top, and so a fellow spinner there showed me how and now I love it! I also bought a sheep to shoe kit (yes they carry blue moon) and a hand dyed silk hankie.

The infernal Urban Aran Cardigan is DONE!!!!!! The button band works, and the buttons are amazing, below are some shots of it. The photographer said the one taken from the back looks really good, what do you all think of the cardigan, and the pic for that matter?



Here's a front picture. Believe me getting the fronts to the right number of stitches was a little more tricky then i thought it would be. Though the slip stitches helped for the button band pick up.




And here's the infamous back picture (which the photographer said that people would flock here to see). I don't know about that but it does look good I suppose.




And then, here is the Elisabeth ZImmerman Hybrid Sweater in progress. Which is made in Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Worsted.




Is anyone interested in learning how to spin cotton or spin in general? Let me know, I might just make a video hehe.

Till next time, when the cotton isn't pulling me into spin hehe.

When Sleep is over-rated

I haven't blogged in a long time, and there is really really good reason for this. ............or is there a reason more then being lazy? No, I had to finish High School, get good grades, pass my American Citizens Knowledge Test (which I promptly forgot a lot of things), graduate, and let my brain reform after turning into a pile of goo, which was stored in a bottle on my self. It's back in my head and now I am back and ready to blog.

I have had a lot of new projects, finished objects and lots of new yarn.

I finished my plain STR socks, in colorway.....no idea since I lost the ball band. Maybe that's what I'll call the ones I don't know, NISILTBB!!!! Anyways, they are pretty, comfy and I can't wait for the cold weather again.

I also finished my Urban Aran Cardigan, well the knitting portion. I originally wanted to do the zippered version that Brooklyn Tweed did. However, the sewing machine we have is quite old and set in it's ways. I didn't want to sew in a zipper on a sweater knit in bulky yarn on size 10 needles. So to thwart me it made a tangle and mess, which I promptly swore at and ripped the mess apart, and got everything back in order.

After this I decided to knit a button band, after I already knit the collar with shaping, which Elizabeth Zimmerman would be proud of, (I have been on a EZ fix lately but more of that later). So now all i need is 7, yes that's right 7 buttons.

In Macek Designs news, business is now picking up quite a bit. I have now, count them, 4 distributers of my yarn, my etsy shop , The Knitting Room in San Jose , Wool Girl and finally Green Planet Yarns . Which btw is an amazing store, great people, great yarn, and they rock. I am currently on a waiting list for dying, which is strange cause that rarely happens, only if I'm super busy, lots of orders, or I have a huge one to complete, or a combination of the three.

After watching EZ's DVDs I just had to make something she designed. I knew I wanted a sweater but wasn't sure, so I decided on the Hybrid Sweater knit in Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted on size 8s. So far it's going well and the math is correct, I hope. I have never knit with this yarn before but I like it, and it's strange since normally I don't like single ply yarns.

Spinning wise, my wheel hasn't seen much action but will be, especially with what I'm spinning up for my LYS.

Sorry about the long post, just wanted to catch up whoever reads this, (or it could be the expresso, my guess is that is more likely). And there will be pics following.

Socks, Sock yarn, and cutting hats!

Originally I was going to show pictures of these two pairs of gorgeous socks I'm knitting, but I'm being lazy and not taking pictures of them. I didn't want to pull out all of the equipment I use to take pictures for just 2 pictures. I'll post pictures of them when I have more things to photograph.


I am spinning sock yarn for my etsy store. Not like I don't have enough stuff to do. This is some roving I bought recently at Stitches West, and this was just a test spin. There is a little more color then the picture shows. It's really nice stuff, 384 yards total of 100% wool, in a heavy fingering weight. Available here if you're interested http://www.macekdesigns.etsy.com. I'm hoping to finish up this large dyed order, so I can dye some more sock yarn for the site. *fingers crossed*

I also knitted the Half-Pipe Hat from the book Son of Stitch and Bitch. I knit it with 2 strands of Hill Country Yarns Merino 280 held together. It knit up pretty quickly, but I knit it to the patterns recommended length. Unfortunately, it didn't go far enough over my head. It came to just above my ears, and I was kinda pissed at this thing. So I decided I needed to add some length to this thing. I threaded my darning needle with some contrasting wool, and put in 2 life lines, and cut the hat. Yes you read that right cut the hat. I then picked up the stitches on the bottom portion of the hat, and knit until there was 2.5" of plain stockinette stitch, then kitchenered the top and bottom together. Sounds scary, but after steeking my sweater, nothing is scary. If you want me to show you how to add length to a already finished knit item, let me know.

My wheel is now being worked, I'm finishing up the 4 out of 16 ounces of CMF roving for them. It's really pretty, a dream to spin, and the dye job is just wonderful.

Hopefully I will have pictures of the hat (when I can get up the nerve to take a pic of me with it on), the two socks, and a new sock pattern that I will be working on shortly.

Till next time.

I hear....I hear......Pomp and Circumstance?!?

School has been really.....well......interesting. Did I mention I'm graduating in less then 3 months?!? Gaaahhh!!!!!

I got back last week from a band trip where we competed in Fresno, and then went down to Hollywood to see the musical Wicked!
The show was amazing, and I had to have the music. I'm actually listening to it right now. If you have not seen it already, whenever you get the chance to, go see it! It gives you a whole new perspective to the story, I know that I will never look at the "Wicked Witch" and G(a)linda the same ever again. I saw the production at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The cast was phenomenal and Caissie Levy who played Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) has the most amazing voice.

In the news of knitting I finished my argyle socks! I finished them the day of Stitches west!

I wore them the whole day at stitches west, and Lisa Souza liked them. I still want to be in the Stitches West next year, but I am only one person. I don't know if I can come up with that fee, and I'm not sure I can get all of that yarn. Oh well, I guess that's just a goal I am going to have to work up to.

I was suprised that I didn't get swarmed with people asking about the Hardangervidda, but I'm kinda glad since I wanted to shop, which believe me, I did plenty of.



That would be my new Lendrum Folding Wheel. I love it so much, a nicer wheel then the Joy I had. Don't get me wrong I loved the Joy, but it just didn't fit my needs anymore.

Anyone interested in a Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine? I have one and I'm putting it up for sale, it has a new heavy duty hem and a short hem. The original hem is well, dead. Let me know through email if you are interested.



Last bit of news, I ordered the pattern book for this sweater (picture borrowed from brooklyntweed).
I don't know what it is about this pattern, I just think that it would be a fun knit and a nice cozy sweater. I just need to decide what yarn and color to make it in.

Till next time.
P.S. Does anyone actually read this?

I'm not dead, I just caught the bug!

I mean the Argyle Sock Bug, not like the flu but it kinda spreads and infects you like the flu. So after I saw the Yarn Harlots argyles I knew I had to make them. Though I didn't have any solid colored fingering weight, but then I got an order from Wool Girl, and so more undyed yarn came in. And I just had to test out the new base yarn, so I dyed it up, and started knitting.

But the yarn didn't dry fast enough, so I put it on the heating vent so that I could knit with it sooner.

I finished one of the two, and the other is in the charted section.




Then I finally sewed in the ends of the Convertibles and sewed in the buttons. They're knit in my own Deathly Hallows: Revival Stone. They are now off to another part of the country.



I also got hooked into lace. My Wing of Moth Shawl so far.



Then I got hooked (literally) into the bath puffs of doom!!! I swear these things are addictive, and really easy.




And on a sadder note, I sold something....



I'm sad to see it go, but it just wasn't fitting my needs anymore. Still it will be missed, and it was such a wonderful wheel to work with.

But on a happier note Stitches West is coming up this week!!!!!!!!! I will be there saturday right when they open, and probably leave when they close. I just can't get enough of this yarny goodness I guess. I will be buying at wheel there to replace the lack of one here. If you see a boy sitting at the Carolina Homespun booth spinning, you know it's me. Or if you see the Hardangervidda walking around, then you've found me too.

Curse you sock knitting machines!!! I want one now. Anyone have one they're willing to part with that works well and has many accessories? Let me know! I would love to do a cash and item trade for one.

I will try to post more!

P.S. Christmas was hit. The sweater and afghan were loved by the recipients.