Tres Chic Veronique

Do you also keep a mental list of things you want to do or buy? (I hope I'm not the only one...).

Every once in a while, I'll reward myself by indulging in something on my list. This is how I came to purchase the latest Cat Bordhi book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters (I bought it from Knit Picks, where it is a whole 10 bucks cheaper than Amazon!). Its placement on my mental list was confirmed after reading Steph's post about it.
Upon receiving it (3 days after ordering it!), one detail made me like it right away: the author's picture on the book is taken by the Yarn Harlot. Actually, it's one of her famous "hold your sock at arm's length in front of your camera" shot. Hee hee!
I followed the instructions and made one Sky sock. Meh. Next step: the Coriolis sock. I liked this pattern much more, and finally got to use the Lorna's Laces Angel (70% angora) that I received in the Spider's holiday swap 3 years ago from Virginia.

Happy banana and bruised banana purchased from My Paper Crane at last year's Renegade Craft Fair. (I also have a strawberry frosted chocolate donut and skim milk. My collection grows every year).
Oh, and I forgot to make the instep slant in the opposite way when I made sock #2. Oops!


Next on my list: the Habu book! The rumor is that only 2,000 copies of Setsuko Torii's book were printed, and I managed to get my hands on one. Can I blame this one entirely on Olga? Her love of all things Habu is contagious...

Labels: cat bordhi, coriolis

It seems that maybe, just maybe, Spring is here to stay. I'm not so sure though, this NYC weather is always unpredictable... Nonetheless, I've boldly put away my winter coat, hand knit scarves and mittens. And now I'm pondering Spring knits. Actually, I'm pondering all over the place, as Spring has made me very scatterbrained. (It seems that Spring's energizing effect is being felt by others).
Hopefully, Spring will not distract me too much from knitting a mate for this lovely Charade:

I'd been checking out Noro Kureyon socks on Ravelry, trying to decide what the best pattern would be... I couldn't decide between 2 row stripes or Sandra's Charade pattern, until it hit me: I can do both!
Note: I used size 0 needles, as many Ravelers noted that this yarn can be very thin in spots. Do you know how annoying it is to knit on size 0 needles? Fortunately, it is balanced out by the addiction of Noro's self-striping yarn and by Sandra's interesting stitch pattern.

I really like the greens on the foot.

And the turquoise on the leg.

Also, I've come to term with the fact that the second sock will be a fraternal, not identical twin. That's how much I like this yarn and pattern combo!

However... I might just like Plucky Knitter's silk/merino yarn and the Hanami pattern even more. And I'm drooling on IK's Spring 2008 Flutter Sleeve Cardigan...

Labels: Charades

My knitting mojo has been picking up :)
I am halfway through Hanami, a project I am knitting for the Plucky Knitter. She needed a few handknits to show what her fantastic hand dyed yarn looks like all knit up, and I immediately volunteered my services. I already have some of her sock yarn, and I could not pass up knitting with more of Sarah's yarn... She was kind enough to let me choose any pattern I wanted, and, well, I've always had my eye on the Hanami stole!
I could not resist these before blocking/after blocking shots:




After knitting half of the stole, I decided to be scientific about yarn amounts. You know, because I'm a scientist, and because I get a certain satisfaction from applying scientific principles to my hobby? Well. As you know, logic is heartless: it does not care that you are hoping against hope that there is enough yarn to finish your project... My lab scale shows that the completed half of the stole weighs 60 grams, and that I have 37 grams of yarn remaining. Argh!
I have a plan though...
Next up: half of a pair of socks!

Labels: Hanami, Plucky Knitter

Yahaira's second book, Pure Knits, now has a cover! Quite a few knit bloggers have a pattern in here (myself included!) , and I'm sure you'll have a blast recognizing everyone. The concept of the book was to have only white designs, to emphasize stitch patterns and shaping. I spent a good portion of my summer knitting an alpaca cardigan and trying not to sweat on it. The book should be out in the Fall.

By the way: I lied in my title. There has been *some* knitting going on. Sock knitting, to be precise. I've finished (and worn) my pair of Pride Marigolds, and I've been working diligently on a pair of striped Charades with Kureyon sock yarn, on size 0 (ZERO) needles. Yeah, it's going to take a while...
I am deliberately not showing you any pictures, because, people, I am living the life: I just bought a new camera! You might say this is essential for a knit blogger, but it still feels like an extravagance to me...
My previous camera, a Nikon CoolPix 5200, had lived its life to the fullest. Not that I am an accomplished photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but even I was getting frustrated by its limitations (the least of which was a battery cover held together by tape). A seed was planted after reading Claudia's post about getting a new camera.
After a little internet search, I settled on the Canon PowerShot A 590 IS, mainly because it has both manual and automatic settings, lots of megapixels, a good zoom, and is cute. And it costs only $150. Sweet!
Pictures soon...