After a 6 week hiatus or so, I finally figured out where I was on the sunrise back. It has a strange rate of decrease for the raglan shaping on the back, and I wasn’t sure at which point I left it at. Bonus points for not taking note. I stopped working on it when I went on vacation, and now that the weather is all warm, I figured I’d finish it. So I whipped out the rest of the back on Tuesday night, and started the right front.

Did I ever tell you how much I love blocking, and blocked knitting for that matter? Well I do. I love making a crumply crappy looking piece of knitting into a lovely, soft shape of fabric. I checked my gauge(!) before I blocked, and was right on the pattern gauge(!) after blocking my row gauge grew about 1/2 a row, so I’m happy. This Lana Grossa Royal Tweed I’m using has fabulous bloom after blocking, and is surprisingly light weight.
The real reason I want to finish this is because I’ve been twitchy to knit Eunny’s Deep V Vest. I started swatching. Whoops. My intarsia is terribly tight, so I always go up a needle size or 2, we’ll see what happens after I get the swatch blocked. If anybody out there is keeping track of my WIP’s, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.

I’ll distract you with my new shoes. Normally I live in Flip Flops all summer long. The Old Navy ones especially. Occasionally I like to mix it up. Remind me to show you my Green CowGirl boots sometime. Mmmm, green cowgirl boots….

Chuck also appreciates the shoes- those are his fluffy mittens to the left.

For all you animal lovers out there, I got 3 words for you:
Teacup. Yorkshire. Terrier.

This little guy belongs to a friend of mine. His name is Ryder, he weighs 3 lbs. Doesn’t he look like he’s smiling?- he’s 6 months, and absolutely charming. He’s a lady killer alright.

I’ll also be posting Vesper Yarn around, oh, let’s say 8:30, 9pm-ish tonight.

Filed by Julia at 2:42 pm under Get Your Yarn!!,Knitting
19 Comments

Nuff said.

First on today’s menu- a thank you to the awesome Amanda for knitting me a pair of “Neopolitan Dynamite” Socks. Who says scrapbooking and knitting don’t go hand in hand? Aren’t these great? I love them.
Wouldn’t it be cool if they were like those spongey shape things and grew when I soaked them in water?

I included the penny for scale.

I actually made time to sit and knit. Mostly at night, mostly after 10pm. Sleep is for pussys.
I’ve been knitting lace. A lace shawl. I find this amusing as I don’t knit lace and I don’t wear shawls. I also don’t usually care for purple. I think, secretly, I just want to block the finished product.
This is Charlotte- yep, the Charlotte’s Web shawl.

This is about 102 rows of the 154 pattern rows. But mine will be bigger. Huge. I’m not following the pattern color thing here, I’m knitting all 5 skeins of koigu until I run out. Should be ginormous. We’ll see.
Yes, I boldly, blatantly, scotch taped my knitting to my dirty (on the outiside) front window. I layed it out on the floor, but you know how unblocked lace looks alot like tangled yarn? That’s what this looks like. Unless you should decide to tape it to your dirty (on the outside) window. Then it looks like this-

Slightly separated tangled yarn. This is purely a personal challenge. I made of point of swatching about 3 times, until I got the hang of the pattern, and until I could “read” my knitting. Lace is no fun if you lose your place, and/or forget to purl a yarnover. Ask me how I know.

Also- I’ve got more yarn for Etsy!! This posting of a few skeins every few days is really working out. I’ll continue this pattern for awhile. I’ll be posting them around- let’s say 5pm-ish today. I’m also going to open today’s stock to International Knitters out there. So today- 5 pm eastern standard time-Vesper Sock yarn- Etsy.

Filed by Julia at 12:58 pm under Get Your Yarn!!,Knitting,Socks!
13 Comments

I saw this over at Lauren’s, originally from here, I think. There’s also a Flickr Pool.
Here’s mine

I’m not one for the meme’s but this one I can get into.

I also have a new-not-sure-I’ll-keep-it-around-colourway for you
This is Antigone-

This was one of those bored and throwing dye around like it was free days. Total lack of a plan on this one. Didn’t even write down what I did.

A special something for all you late night knit bloggers out there, I’m putting some Vesper up at etsy around Midnight tonight. I won’t announce it here, just check over at Etsy. Just a few skeins, about 10 or so, there will be more this week, maybe Saturday. I totally dyed my butt off this weekend, it’s so worth it, so I have quite a few skeins over here, I just have to put them through post production.

In other, I’m so fucking thrilled it hurts, news: MY CAMERA IS BACK FROM NIKON!!!!
I’m very surprised to have it back so soon, about 3 weeks since I sent it in. Amazing what happens when you send repair service people a big fat check.
I’m charging the battery now, so that I can test drive it. Cross those fingers, people!
This means I’ll have it for Maryland-Phew! Thank you again to everyone who bought my yarn last week-it’s because of you I was able to get my camera out of hauk.
Also good, good, great news, go read about Catty

Filed by Julia at 6:51 pm under Get Your Yarn!!,New yarn colors
23 Comments

The Chuckster has allergies. Springtime allergies.
Not treatable with benedril allergies.
So his eyes have looked like he was stoned for a day or two now, but yesterday morning found him with one of them gooped shut. Not what we like to see around here, let me tell you.
So I call in backup for work. I do keep some sort of regular job, I swear, and got myself to Target by 9:30, for a new carrier for him, cause I gave away the old carrier with the FIV+ cat, and at 10:45 Chucky-Charles and I found ourselves at the Animal Rescue Leage clinic.
Oh, what a fun, fun place. Right. 3 hours and 26 bucks later we were home with antibiotics.
Now, I don’t like being at the clinic, but for not a real emergency, but for when they need a vet, it’s great, and at least 100 bucks cheaper than dragging him to our regular vet.

These are the times I couldn’t be happier to know how to knit.

My boy is home and he’s fine, and his eyes look way better. He’s not real happy about the antibiotic gooey jell stuff though.

He doesn’t actually have 3 ears, that’s his brother, Little Dude, snoozin behind him.

Project Spectrum bonus, they’re both orange.

ETA: Oh man, Allergies nothing, I was just over at Jess’ Blog. Go over there right now and read the last 2 posts, and send all your good thoughts, wishes, and if you pray, those too, to her and her pretty Catty. She’s got way more need for them.

Filed by Julia at 5:52 pm under Meow Mixers
15 Comments

That is what the guy behind me at Starbucks ordered yesterday morning. That just fuckin cracks me up. I got outta there real fast and practically ran to work to write that one down. I thought I’d share.

These, people, are my finished Sockapal Socks. I am so happy I finished these babies. I wasn’t worried, but it’s like, okay, cool, 2 months to knit a pair of socks, no prob! I can do that with my eyes shut.
Then. Then, it’s WHAT? I only have 3 weeks to finish the 2nd sock!?! There’s no way! Oh, crap, I’ll be the only loser to not have socks to mail to my pal, 3 weeks, How did this happen!! What am I going to do?! I had 2 months!
Then you’re done and it’s all good, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Phew. What? You want photos? Sure!!

Want me to model them? Why not!

I took these at work today, can you tell? If you want people to really look at you sideways, try taking pictures of your own feet. Not so easy. Yeah. I was trying to hold the camera at a slight angel, so the shot wasn’t all floor, while holding a mirror behind the camera, so I could see the LCD sceen, so I could line my feet up properly, while trying my very best not to fall over. I didn’t.

Then I started a new pair! Now, I rarely, rarely keep my yarn for myself, I’m always tempted, but I restain. SweetWater though, I needed to knit with that color. I think I lurve it. I’m also knitting it with DPN’s instead of my usual magic loop. Just wanted to change it up.

That’s the Turkish cast on from VK fall 2005. I love this cast on. So neat. This is totally the way to go when knitting toe up. I know there’s also the figure 8 cast on, but having never done it, I can’t offer any thoughts on it. If you do this cast on with it, and short row heel, no kitchenering. Bonus! Even though I afterthought heel, and kitchener anyways….

So tomorrow, I will update Etsy, at around 2:30-3pm. Eastern Standard time. Packages will go out in Mondays’ mail, if there’s mail this Monday, I think there is. Then I’ll be dyeing this weekend, so maybe I’ll do another shop update in a week and a half or so. I’ll keep you updated here.

Filed by Julia at 11:13 pm under Socks!
25 Comments

I really don’t know what I was waiting for on this one. I’ve only dyed it once before, I think I remember liking it then. It’s back and I love it! This brings my colourway total to 10. I think I’ll stay at that number for awhile; alot of the time I’ll try a new colorway, but don’t quite like it, so you’ll see those from time to time.

Okay update time! This week, we’re going to have 2 Etsy shop updates, and maybe one next week. I’m going to post 2 of every color I have right now today, but later. Say around 7:30-8pm eastern standard time. Now, don’t panic if you can’t stalk today. On friday, I’ll be posting the same amount, or close to it, but earlier in the day. Say around 2-3pm eastern standard time. Sound good? Everybody got that? Okay!
I decided to do it this way, cause honestly, shipping and paypal coordination on a bijillion skeins makes my brain melt. I also wanted to give everyone some equal opportunity. Also- I will not combine shipping for todays purchases with Fridays purchases. This defeats the non-brain melting goal. Please don’t ask. Okay? Feel free to ask questions in the comments. I have to go prepare yarn for dyeing now, and make a big pot O’ coffee.

ETA:Holy mother of yarn! I love all of you! You and you and you and you, and everybody who just sold me out in minutes! By the time I got another color posted, all the previous colors would be gone, and like, 30 people had viewed everything. You are all wonderful! I’m so flattered! Especially sice Nikon just spanked me with a HUGE repair estimate to get my camera back to me. You have no idea how much this means to me. Remember, I’ll be posting more on Friday, and dyeing all weekend!! Thank you people, thank you thank you, we’re glad you enjoyed the show, thank you!!

Filed by Julia at 12:16 pm under New yarn colors
15 Comments

Well, she came, she spoke, she signed. I have a few, albiet crappy photos, but hey, you get the idea.
i was a fan before, but this won me over-

After they bring her out, cause they hide her in the back of the shop, they introduce her, and before she does anything else, she photographs the crowd, with sock in forground. She said,” I’m sorry I have to this, it’s for my mum who couldn’t believe knitting could be a full time job.” We’ve all seen the crowd photos on her blog, but it’s a whole ‘nother ball game to be in the crowd when she snaps that photo. Then she speaks. You get the whole story, how she got into writing, knitting, you hear all about her kids, and husband. She spoke about the Knitting Olympics, and how she was totally overwhelmed by how big it all got. I saw THE SWEATER, in PERSON. It is gorgeous, spectacular, even. I didn’t get a photo. I kick myself. She answered questions, then craziness ensued as she wrapped it up and the signing began. Two words: LONG LINE. The shop gave out tickets, so you’d get your book signed in the order you came in. Yea, not so much. But no one got in to it, and no tears were shed, so it was all good.

I love how she incribed my book. Really flattering, and get this, she called me and my yarn famous. Yea, right, I’m a little blip on the radar by comparison. Really.

So you get like, no time, to chat really, just a few awesome minutes, while she signs your book and you snap a few pics. I would have loved to stay longer to chat after all the book signing, but I had a sushi date with a good friend.
I feel like a more of a fiber artist knitter person having met someone who writes about knitting for a living. Is that weird? I don’t care. I can’t wait til MSW so I can meet all of you lovely bloggers I’ve been reading about for so long.
I got my TSF pin-

and I’ve been slogging it out with my Sockapal socks, one more heel to go!!!

….and I’ll have some Vesper Yarn up for sale this week- I’ll let you know when.

Filed by Julia at 2:12 pm under Harlot,Socks!
15 Comments

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is every bit as charming in person as she would seem to be if you were reading her blog and imagined her in person. Really. She spoke of everything we’ve all read about, and everything had whole new meaning hearing it in her canadian accent, also even more charming in person then in the podcast. I love the “eh” she sneeks in at the end of “you know what I’m talking about” sentences. I don’t how many, if anyone picks up on that. I’m accustomed at this point to listening for sound variations in accents. Ever since moving to Pittsburgh, where the native accent is kind of like a drunken slur.

She signed my book! I can’t wait to read it cover to cover. She inscribed “For Julia- Queen of sock yarn- mistress of the dye pot.” I love her. She’s great. Stephanie, next time I come to Toronto- coffee’s on me!

More tomorrow- with the few pictures I managed to take with my point and shoot digital- my digital slr pro camera is in the hospital. Send it good thoughts.

Filed by Julia at 10:50 pm under General
6 Comments

It’s almost that time!! Anyone in the Pittsburgh area- Knit One on Murray Ave, in Squirrel Hill 7pm.
The Harlot is coming!!

Filed by Julia at 3:58 pm under General
3 Comments

Well, lookit that. A finished Sockapaloooza Sock. I never thought I’d see the day. I’m even proud of myself for avoiding 2nd sock Syndrome. The dreaded SSS. Minutes after Kitchenering the heel, I cast on the toe for #2. Watched a spooky movie, cause you know how when you’re nervous, you knit faster? Yup. Took me all the way to the heel. I want these babies done ahead of time so I don’t have to worry about rushing. Planning ahead, who knew?

Actually, I’m blogging as a way to avoid winding the bajillion skeins of yarn hanging behind me, and covering my spare bed. I love dyeing, but the winding up part sucks. Very time consuming, but I’m sure I’m toning my arms with all the niddy-noddying, so there you go.

Furthermore, I will distract you with a photo of the rarely seen, highly elusive, difficult to photograph because of her coloring, Gladys the cat.

Gladys spend most of her days snoozing in the very middle of the bed, looking for drippy sinks from which to drink the water, and running away from her brothers; Who all outweigh her by at least 4lbs. She’s the only one allowed to have long claws. Dude, and check out her funky eye. It’s from an infection from when she was just a wee kitty, doesn’t bother her one bit though. Actually, because of her messed up depth perception, she’s the best fly catcher I’ve got.
Oh, and before I forget, go wish Kaity a happy birthday, she turned the big 1 8 on Saturday, and go Congratulate Rachael, and Lala, they just got hitched.

Filed by Julia at 6:42 pm under Knitting,Socks!
11 Comments