A Quick Note

I'm going to be very sporadic on the blogosphere for the next two weeks. I'm visiting friends in the town where we went to college together. I hope to be able to post with some pics but we'll have to see how it goes.

The best part of being back here? Besides the friends, of course.... My LYS. I bought 2 colors of Moutain Bearfoot today, one of which is destined to become a pair of Jaywalkers for my friend Sarah who is generoulsy lending me her futon for these two weeks. I've been coveting Bearfoot for a while, and this will be my first Jaywalker. Can't wait to get started!

In which our heroine is distracted

The back of Thermal is finished. It was a lot more work than I was expecting, because you do the thermal stitch starting on the wrong side, so the "bump" rows are purled instead of knitted, making it a longer process. I started the left front yesterday evening but in all the excitement of the Ugly Betty season finale and the Grey's Anatomy season finale, I screwed up. Can you blame me? Lexie Grey?! Priceless! So, I had to frog a couple of inches and I decided that maybe I should watch the TV or knit, not both. TV won.

In other news, I'm wearing the Ballet Camisole for the first time today, and my reservations about size are confirmed. It's now officially almost too big - and it's growing as I wear it, so things are just getting bigger. It's not that I can't wear it. It's just bigger than I'd like, and when you're wearing something with a low front, too big means gappy providing more opportunties for inadvertantly displaying your... goods... for the whole world.

I think this is happened because a) I didn't choose the right size and b) because of the gauge. I had to use a bigger needle size than I'd have liked to get the correct gauge, which means there's just more expansion of the garment. If I were to knit it again (and I would, because it was a fun knit, the shaping is great, and the yarn washes like a dream) I would use a needle one size smaller and knit the next smaller size.

But really, can you beat a machine washable and dryable knit? Didn't think so.

Thermal

Thermal, she grows! I'm really enjoying this knit. It's actually going very fast, considering the US3 needles. I'm finding the pattern very theraputic. I have to get a few rows done each day, even if I have to stay up late to do it. Unlike other knits, it's not about finishing but about doing. I have to knit a few rows because I need to do it. What with all the stuff going on around here - the little job I picked up, the moving (not me, my brother but I was very important in the planning), the vacationing, 3 days worth of Mother's Day celebrating - I've really needed the escape. I'm a person who needs time by herself in relative quiet to think and unwind every day. Thermal is my meditation.

Bits of New Mexico

Just look at that face, would you? Who could deny that adorable face? This is Azul, the llama (or "yama" if you want to pronounce it correctly in Spanish, which the people of New Mexico do) who trekked with me down the Rio Grande gorge. His name is Azul because he has one blue eye, which is clearly evident in this picture, and one brown. He is courtesy of Llama Adventures based out of Taos. We took a day hike, down into the gorge, on a day that could not have been more beautiful, contrary to weather for the rest of vacation. We had a fabulous time. Llamas are extremely gentle critters, and very llovable. ha! He took me to see this:


Real, genuine, ancient pictographs. These are big horn sheep, which I believe are no longer native to the area. Needless to say, it was a super cool experience, and if you're even in Taos (or Santa Fe. Or New Mexico in general) I highly recommend putting out the dough to take this hike. Next time, I'm going for the multi-day.

Lookie

So, you didn't think I was going to come back from New Mexico without yarn, did you?

This lovely stuff came from La Lana Wools in Taos. It's dyed with completely natural products, and it's a custom millspun 100% wool. The top color is called "deep grape" and the bottom is "bayetta." I'm thinking a hat and/or mittens in a traditional Norwegian Rose pattern in these decidedly untraditional colors....

Side note: Twelfth time's a charm... what is up with blogger? I've been trying to upload pics for two days! This is the only one that I managed to get to work, not to mention the problems I've been having with the internets. Stay tuned. I have some other pics from NM that I want to share if any of these problems ever get resolved...

May Day

Or M'aidez! Because, dudes, it's hailing.

But the Ballet Camisole is done! This pic makes it look really pretty.

Pattern: Ballet Camisole by Alexandra Virgiel

Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport in Coral

Needles: US 6

Modifications: Used only the larger needles (not smaller for the ribbing) because I didn't have the correct size.

I'm not sold entirely on this pattern. It's on the verge of being too big. I washed a swatch in the hopes that it would shrink a little. It didn't. In any case, the fit is not horrible, just not perfect. So I'm washing it today instead of blocking it, and I hope everything falls into place.

Incidentally, does anyone know how to make blogger not skip a line when you press enter? Because the whole pattern notes thing all spread out is getting on my nerves.

And let me apologize in advance for the crappiness of this next pic. See comments above about hail. This is my newest project: Thermal from Knitty Winter 2006. Yes, I know that sweater weather is (mostly) over, but I don't care. I don't have much else lined up (except finishing Ms. Marigold, which is taking a really long time) and this yarn and the pattern have been in the queue since this winter. The yarn is Knit Picks Gloss in Woodland Sage. It's a fingering weight yarn and US3 needles, so it's not like it's going to be a real quick knit, but that's fine with me. I'm really enjoying the process of this sweater. With the others that I've made since starting this blog, I've felt really pressured to finish, because I needed something to keep me warm or I needed the distraction. Now, since I don't need wool to keep me warm, it's all about the process, and I couldn't be happier. It's a very stretchy fabric, so it should fit wonderfully.

In other news, I'm going to be radio silent for the next week or so. I'm headed on a family vacation to Santa Fe, and I'm so excited. I've never been to the southwest. I'm looking forward to experiencing a totally different landscape and everything that goes with it.