:: My Urban Eyes ::
All that I see, and then some.
:: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 ::
FO Parade!
If you can make a parade out of two things, that is. (Two's company, three's a crowd, four's a parade?) Let the finished objects begin!
Random Stripe Socks
Pattern: Plain Jane--top down, heel flap, wide toe; stripes culled from this Random Stripe Generator
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Fog, Pool, Sky, and Blue
Needles: size US 0 (2mm) dpns, set of five
If you sneak around you'll discover that the picture was taken a while ago... before the ends were woven in. Yes, it's taken me a month to do that. Yes, I'm ashamed. At the same time, this hasn't been a "must wear" pair of socks. I made a shorter cuff than usual in hopes they'll look good with my skirt. Palette is pretty scratchy and designed for felting, so we'll see how much (and what kind) of wear I get out of these. Nice to have them out of my knitting basket and in my sock bin.
One Christmas present down!
Pattern: I used this feather and fan from Extravayarnza, adding another pattern repeat
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Firefighter, one entire skein
Needles: size US 5 interchangeable circs (24")
I really like how this came out. The pattern was tons of fun to do... I'm falling down the lace rabbit hole! If I were to do it again, though, I would use size 4 needles (I don't have any now) to give the fabric a little more oomph. (Closeup of the stitch pattern in this post.)
It has really nice drape, though, and will keep my mom's neck warm during River Rat games. And the team colors? Red, black, and gray (okay, white), of course!
Being a lace project I should probably block it, but I'm afraid that the fabric will grow tons and get even thinner. I think I'll keep it as is for now and block it upon request once mom sees it in person.
After finishing those I'm embarrassed to say that there's still quite a bit on the needles. There my second Monkey sock, which I hope to have finished in time for the LYS Shop Hop on Friday. Right now I'm on the heel flap... luckily it's a light colored yarn so late night knitting is a go! Ken's scarf has been neglected lately... basically because it's a light sucking black and I can't manage it after dark. (Note to self: IKEA. Better floor lamp. Soon.) My 11 to 7 socks are languishing now that I'm up to the heel flap... the first sock had the first un-fun flap I've done. My Cables for Christmas project is also languishing, the culprit of straight needles (give me my circs or give me RSI!) and yarn with no give. It's getting done bit by bit, though.
As far as life goes everything is well. Just finished a stretch of nine opening shifts in 12 days. It's offical--the third open in a row is the day your brain fries. Luckily being an opener we have tons of regulars who make my day, everyday. Tomorrow I go into work at 11:30... it feels like an amazing gift, those hours and hours I'll have tomorrow morning to hang out and do my thing. If I'm going to be awake at 6 am I may as well get some knitting done! -_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 4:52 PM [+] ::
:: ... 6 comments
Comments:
I tried to open as little as possible, but I flat out REFUSED to open more than two days in a row. And that was a very rare circumstance. I probably wouldn't have survived a third day.
Nine opens in under two weeks? That is inhuman!
Keep plugging away on your 11 to 7s, they are so worth it when they're done.
Nine opens in under two weeks? That is inhuman!
Keep plugging away on your 11 to 7s, they are so worth it when they're done.
# posted by 
: 12:01 AM
: 12:01 AM
I'm happy to have stumbled over here from Ravelry (I'm BrownBerry over there). These are 2 great FO's and certainly worth their own parade.
Yay for finishing Christmas knits already!
Yay for finishing Christmas knits already!
I think your socks are beautiful. At first I thought it was a self-striping yarn. When I read that you striped them yourself, I gasped a bit. :-) I can't begin to imagine the ends you had to weave in.
Hi. The socks and scarf are beautiful! I have a question. Do you have any advice you could give to someone who is about to start her first striped sock (where I actually have to change yarn colors-yeep!)? I could sure use some. I was going to email you but I can't see the address anywhere on your blog. My email is thebeadknitter@yahoo.com
Hi Karla, Thanks for your kind comments on my Trekking XXL blue socks in the SAM KAL4. I like them, too! I don't have the ball band, but looked up Trekking XXL and found them on the WEBS site, Color 71, UPC 192203, QTY -- 10, price $13.95/skein. Enough for a pair, with plenty to spare. Also have some in dark to light purples - love them! Thanks, Paulette
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# posted by : 9:35 PM
: 9:35 PM:: Sunday, October 14, 2007 ::
Happy Blogoversary!
I can't quite believe it, but this blog has been around for five entire years. Five! Sure, there are some months (and even some complete seasons), without a post, but if you're ever interested in what classes I was taking my senior year, that's in here, along with some of my forays into acting. Not to mention nine months in Japan (here's days two and three).
So, if those are the last five years, what will the next five hold? Got me. How about the coming year, then? I'm looking forward to starting a career as an independent radio producer, so this site will probably head back into the podcast/audio/radio direction. A new domain, new hosting, and (somewhat) new look are all in the works. As I get comfortable with my equipment I plan to produce some polished audio pieces and release them in a podcast. Kinda like my audio blog (does anyone remember that?) but with reported stories, soundscapes, and interviews instead of my own ramblings.
2006-7 (I still think of my life in academic years, somehow) was a year of setting up and getting settled. '07-'08 is earmarked for discovery and transition. Here's to striking off in a new direction!
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 9:27 PM [+] ::
:: ... 0 comments
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:: Thursday, October 11, 2007 ::
Getting Stuff Done
I go through phases of "do nothingness" and "get everything done-ness". The former is full of free time but also a load of guilt, while the latter offers less sleep but more satisfaction.
There are a couple things I've been kicking myself in the butt about that finally got done. First of all--ordering more of my radio equipment. I already have my mic in hand, but it's a pretty expensive paperweight without a cable and something to record on!
As you can see interview subjects for a mic that cannot record are hard to come by, so I resorted to collecting ambient sound. Car alarms, anyone?
This morning I ordered a mic cable and a 500GB hard drive to house my aural pursuits. The only major piece left is my mini disc recorder--amazon doesn't sell it any more so I've turned into an ebay stalker. My goal is to be comfortable with my equipment by Christmas so I can take some cute recordings of my cousins and the rest of my family when I go home. We'll see how it goes.
I've also been working on the knitting, of course. A quick roundup:
This pretty yarn cake (Claudia Handpainted Yarns in Stormy Day, from this swap with Sam) is fulfilling its destiny as a pair of Monkeys.
The first one is a little tight on me, but knowing how superwash merino is they'll be fitting perfectly in no time. I'm now on the second sock, second repeat.
After much swatching (over a foot of scarf in half a dozen stitch patterns) Ken decided on this basketweave for his Christmas scarf. The yarn is Knit Picks Elegance and it's so soft and fun to work with. I'm going to use every last inch of yarn and see how far I get... here's hoping for 2 meters!
Keeping with the let's-keep-the-gift-getters-informed theme, here is a scarf I'm making for mom. The yarn is in the team colors of our Albany River Rats so I asked, would you rather socks or something showy to wear to games? The scarf won hands down.
The pattern is a basic feather and fan. I'm working this Knit Picks Felici loosely on size 5 needles to see how much length I can tease out of 440 yards--seeing as how I'm a quarter way through, I think it'll work out fine.
At work I've been opening a lot lately. Now, I know I sound crazy when I say this, but the 4:15 am opening shift is my hands down favorite. It starts with 45 customer free minutes of set up, two hours of fun regular customers, lunch around 8 am, then three hours of rush that fly by. Home by 12:30. Woot. It isn't sustainable five days a week, but three or four? I'm there. I'm currently in the middle of nine opens in twelve days, with only one day off (today), so if you want to see a crazy Karla, stop in sometime next week. I'm pretty sure you'll find a sweet, caffeine laden short chai in my hand and a tired look in my eyes... until I get my paycheck, that is. -_^
:: Kazen @ Always Doing 11:58 AM [+] ::
:: ... 2 comments
Comments:
So much pretty knitting...I'm impressed that you manage to take pictures on your day off. Though I guess when you get home at 12:30 everyday there's plenty of daylight left for photography...
Also, I love feather and fan scarves :)
Also, I love feather and fan scarves :)
# posted by : 4:00 PM
: 4:00 PM
I'm so proud of you. i know the initial capital(ol?) investment must have been a bit tough, but you're there! Yay! I can't wait to hear your podcasts again!
-E
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-E
