I'm referring, of course, to one of the first things I noticed through the torrential rains Tuesday as the cab lurched its way through Brooklyn. Detour sign right in the middle of Washington Avenue. Well, this post is sort of like that...ish. No knitting/sewing projects were harmed in the making of this post due to an unexpected detour, i.e. I packed project yarn and the only needles thick enough to do it justice, neglecting to realize you can't make a pair of wristwarmers on long circulars. I knew there was a reason for preferring my eccentric double-points. Eh, live and learn, and then give away Dalek washcloths as houseburning presents to quirky siblings.
But other than not having a knitting project, this trip has been just peachy. Shall I mention singing the Muppets theme on the subway? Designing wedding dresses? (Well, honestly, the likelihood of me ever getting married is up there with Hell freezing over and pigs growing wings, but it is a complex project not unlike costuming and therefore something of a mental/artistic exercise. My sister pines after a slightly Regency-inspired empire-waisted number with straps and a sweetheart neckline and enough give in the skirt to make it good for dancing without messing up the silhouette, and I'm curious about the suitableness of a large triangular panel in the back. My hypothetical dress skews more Renaissance with a front-laced bodice and flowing skirt with attachable train, but I stopped short of bell or Tudor sleeves 'cause I'm not that costumey. But anyhoo.) Or perhaps I should bubble on about finally being able to hit the loo at the Way Station (trust my sister to all unknowingly find an apartment a block away from the Doctor Who themed bar). Um...yeah, I know, hardly appropriate conversation, but you know how the outside is the TARDIS? It really is bigger on the inside. Seriously. Actually, my train of thought went more like this: this sonic screwdriver's going straight to my bladder, or maybe my head, is that writing on the door, it really is bigger on the inside signed scribble scribble the doctor, oh my turn, holy @#^! it really is bigger on the inside, is that a framed autograph over the toilet, seriously matt happily is spelled with one l not two, is it just me or has it been a surreal couple of minutes. I never said my trains of thought were amusing, or stylistically correct (capitalization? we don't need no stinkin' capitalization!), so look away if you're offended.
Also, as of Monday I will be back in St. Louis to re-addres (redress?) the issue of wristwarmers, on proper needles this time, which will put me (finally!) back on track. Detour? Derailment? We'll see in a few days/weeks/months/years/lifetimes. Meanwhile, "Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky," etc., and let's all get back to ringing in the new year...or something.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Chopstick power!
Remember back in October when I set out a certain challenge for myself involving chopsticks? Eh, that's okay, I don't remember the details either. But I think it was something along the lines of "I bet I could do an advanced-beginner washcloth on chopsticks to prove you don't need 'real' knitting needles to knit something cool." That said, since I haven't posted anything in almost a month, it's close to the holiday season, and I have something--well, not pretty, but kind of awesome--to show off...
Yes, I know it's not finished yet. Pbbt!
For the record, that is my couch cushion and the keyboard to my new laptop, and those are honest to goodness chopsticks. Actually they're kind of the nice-ish bamboo ones you get from the Chinese supermarket. Good for cooking, eating, and, apparently in a pinch, knitting.
By the way, bobbles are still a bit tricky with blunt-tipped "needles," and try not to swear a blue streak if you're going to be using Lionbrand Jiffy: the fuzz problem is part of the charm on a finished project. And, um, right-side-purl letters don't really show up so well. Drat, there is a purpose to color-work after all...
And for those of you in the know, yes, I realize this yarn is actually a rather lovely TARDIS blue. My few remaining brain cells are, in fact, plotting their next move.
In the meantime, happy knitting season--I mean holidays!--and don't forget to EXFOLIATE!
Yes, I know it's not finished yet. Pbbt!
And for those of you in the know, yes, I realize this yarn is actually a rather lovely TARDIS blue. My few remaining brain cells are, in fact, plotting their next move.
In the meantime, happy knitting season--I mean holidays!--and don't forget to EXFOLIATE!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Loose threads, part 2: at laaaaaaast!
After what might only be 2 months of very interrupted knitting and feels more like 2 years, I hereby present my finished lovelies:
Oh, and please ignore the bathroom accoutrements. Happened to be the best mirror and lighting to get the effects and picture quality I wanted.
Also, ignore the cat-tail. :) What was the purpose of this exercise, you ask? Why, to show off the "exquisite" detailing on the Amy scarf and gloves. The fringe is fairly self-explanatory, of course: just pull through individual pieces of yarn and knot. Unfortunately my few existing crochet hooks are enormous, so I made do with a tapestry needle. Note to self: in future, make fringe shorter--like, half a foot instead of a full foot, maybe.
Lessons learned on gloves:
1. To do the Wheat in the Wind lace pattern in the round, use a multiple of 12 stitches rather than (multiple of 12) + 3.
2. For all even/previously WS purl rows in the lace pattern, knit all stitches instead. Yay!
3. To create a cuff of some sort, try a textured stitch such as a rib or a seed stitch (1x1 seed stitch shown here).
4. I suggest stockinette for the fingers just to avoid driving yourself crazy. Just sayin'.
And, of course, what you're oh-so-anxiously waiting for, the Reverse Wheat in the Wind lace stitch (worked over a multiple of 12 stitches in the round):
For all even rows, knit entire round.
Rows 1+3: *p1, k11, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 5: *p1, k4, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k1, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 7: *p1, k3, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k2, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 9: *p1, k2, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k3, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 11: *p1, k1, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k4, rpt from * to end of round.
Actually, I hope that made some semblance of sense. Clear as mud? Great! Oh, also, for the thumb gussets I made increases at the initial purl stitch on my 2nd of 3 pattern repeats. Essentially, by the end of the pattern block I ended up with a purl stitch at the beginning of 1 repeat and the end of the previous, with 12 knit stitches in the middle that became the thumb (or was it 11 plus one of the purl stitches?). And, yeah, that really makes about as much sense as a Mensa quiz. All I can say is, don't take my word for it, try it for yourself/ves! Horrible "Reading Rainbow" paraphrase is horrible.
More loose threads to come! Take that how you will.
1. To do the Wheat in the Wind lace pattern in the round, use a multiple of 12 stitches rather than (multiple of 12) + 3.
2. For all even/previously WS purl rows in the lace pattern, knit all stitches instead. Yay!
3. To create a cuff of some sort, try a textured stitch such as a rib or a seed stitch (1x1 seed stitch shown here).
4. I suggest stockinette for the fingers just to avoid driving yourself crazy. Just sayin'.
For all even rows, knit entire round.
Rows 1+3: *p1, k11, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 5: *p1, k4, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k1, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 7: *p1, k3, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k2, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 9: *p1, k2, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k3, rpt from * to end of round.
Row 11: *p1, k1, k2tog, k1, sl1 k1 psso, yo, k1, yo, k4, rpt from * to end of round.
Actually, I hope that made some semblance of sense. Clear as mud? Great! Oh, also, for the thumb gussets I made increases at the initial purl stitch on my 2nd of 3 pattern repeats. Essentially, by the end of the pattern block I ended up with a purl stitch at the beginning of 1 repeat and the end of the previous, with 12 knit stitches in the middle that became the thumb (or was it 11 plus one of the purl stitches?). And, yeah, that really makes about as much sense as a Mensa quiz. All I can say is, don't take my word for it, try it for yourself/ves! Horrible "Reading Rainbow" paraphrase is horrible.
More loose threads to come! Take that how you will.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Picking up loose threads, part 1
It occurs to me I haven't posted at least half of what I promised in coming attractions, so because my brain is dead to all useful activity at the moment, I think it's time to deliver. Well, to some extent, anyway. In any case, without further ado, as part of the essential knitter declaration series (don't worry, I made that up), the following are my knitting heresies:
1. Gauge square? We don't need no stinkin' gauge square! Need I explain this to anybody? I have never had a project come out right with fewer trial-and-error cycles by knitting one of these stupid things. By the way, a glove/mitten cuff or hatband in the hands of someone comfortable with double-points does not take that much time, and if you know your own yarn tension and the appropriate yarn type for a project, you're pretty much 90% there. Plus you don't waste the yarn. Or have a bunch of stockinette squares wasting room in your stash pantry/drawer.
2. Always--no, never--use the recommended yarn for a pattern. Pppbbbt! Do I look like I'm made of money? Poo on your luxury yarns, poo I say! Honestly, just say on your pattern "worsted weight" or "bulky" or "fingering" or "sport" or whatever, and I can find something appropriate. Or tailor my yarn tension/needle size accordingly. And sometimes you can get a totally unexpected and awesome result by breaking with guidelines. Would I lie to you? Actually, don't answer that.
3. What are these standard size needles of which you speak? I own a handful of mismatched bamboo double-points that might or might not have belonged to my grandmother. Besides, "standard US size" doesn't apply to Chinese needles, now does it? I think I might have sizes 5 to 8. Ish. Does it matter? Uh...not for the past decade or so.
4. Speaking of which, who needs 3 different kinds of knitting needle? Be honest, now, when's the last time you really cared about doing a flat project e.g. scarf or washcloth on long single-points versus long double-points versus circulars? It looks the same. Period.
5. Finishing is for the birds. So...be honest again, have you never left a loose tail on the inside of a hat under the assumption that NO ONE WILL SEE IT? Yeah, thought so. Speaking of hats and other "shaped" items, wet-blocking? Are you freakin' kidding me? I will not hand-wash an object, roll it out in a towel (or stretch it over a perfectly serviceable plate which now can no longer be used for its original purpose), and let it dry, only to see it (especially in the case of stockinette scarves) curl right back up into its stubborn just-knit configuration the minute I throw it down someplace and forget about it. Not gonna happen. I'll take my knit items au naturel, thank you very much.
6. But not near least: Always--no, never!--take your "skill level" into account on a project. It just makes you psych yourself out, and then you're bound to fail. DOOOOOOM! No needles? No experience? No problem! Keep in mind this simple mantra: the end justifies the means. That intermediate/expert-level project's gonna look awesome if you keep encouraged, and who wants a garter-stitch washcloth anyway?
Honestly, I could ramble on for a few centuries, not that I'm gonna. Time to put my money where my mouth is, and if I can't force myself to study or write or try to become a better doctor, at least there are lace gloves. This has been another episode of loose screws--I mean threads!
1. Gauge square? We don't need no stinkin' gauge square! Need I explain this to anybody? I have never had a project come out right with fewer trial-and-error cycles by knitting one of these stupid things. By the way, a glove/mitten cuff or hatband in the hands of someone comfortable with double-points does not take that much time, and if you know your own yarn tension and the appropriate yarn type for a project, you're pretty much 90% there. Plus you don't waste the yarn. Or have a bunch of stockinette squares wasting room in your stash pantry/drawer.
2. Always--no, never--use the recommended yarn for a pattern. Pppbbbt! Do I look like I'm made of money? Poo on your luxury yarns, poo I say! Honestly, just say on your pattern "worsted weight" or "bulky" or "fingering" or "sport" or whatever, and I can find something appropriate. Or tailor my yarn tension/needle size accordingly. And sometimes you can get a totally unexpected and awesome result by breaking with guidelines. Would I lie to you? Actually, don't answer that.
3. What are these standard size needles of which you speak? I own a handful of mismatched bamboo double-points that might or might not have belonged to my grandmother. Besides, "standard US size" doesn't apply to Chinese needles, now does it? I think I might have sizes 5 to 8. Ish. Does it matter? Uh...not for the past decade or so.
4. Speaking of which, who needs 3 different kinds of knitting needle? Be honest, now, when's the last time you really cared about doing a flat project e.g. scarf or washcloth on long single-points versus long double-points versus circulars? It looks the same. Period.
5. Finishing is for the birds. So...be honest again, have you never left a loose tail on the inside of a hat under the assumption that NO ONE WILL SEE IT? Yeah, thought so. Speaking of hats and other "shaped" items, wet-blocking? Are you freakin' kidding me? I will not hand-wash an object, roll it out in a towel (or stretch it over a perfectly serviceable plate which now can no longer be used for its original purpose), and let it dry, only to see it (especially in the case of stockinette scarves) curl right back up into its stubborn just-knit configuration the minute I throw it down someplace and forget about it. Not gonna happen. I'll take my knit items au naturel, thank you very much.
6. But not near least: Always--no, never!--take your "skill level" into account on a project. It just makes you psych yourself out, and then you're bound to fail. DOOOOOOM! No needles? No experience? No problem! Keep in mind this simple mantra: the end justifies the means. That intermediate/expert-level project's gonna look awesome if you keep encouraged, and who wants a garter-stitch washcloth anyway?
Honestly, I could ramble on for a few centuries, not that I'm gonna. Time to put my money where my mouth is, and if I can't force myself to study or write or try to become a better doctor, at least there are lace gloves. This has been another episode of loose screws--I mean threads!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
It's beginning to look a lot like Nov--argh!
Hello again and welcome to my too-busy-to-blog blog! No, I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth, and neither has my knitting (although...2 or more weeks after finishing my awesomely awesome red lace scarf, and I have neither pictures nor matching fingerless gloves--really, what gives?). Oh, all right, that's a slight exaggeration: 1 glove is nearly done, just missing some really quick and easy to make stockinette fingers. For second glove, though, to do it justice, I really need to play around with reversing the "Wheat in the Wind" lace pattern. Well, it seems easy enough, and I did just sort of play the increases for the thumb gusset completely by ear on the first glove and managed not to screw up too badly, so what's the worst that could happen?
I'll tell you the worst that could happen. It could still remain stubbornly not made, that's what! November, November, what will I do wi' ye? Halloween/All Saints' Day found me captaining a group of interns on the always-unpredictable Neurology floor. While we won the Halloween costume contest (Clue! We look adorable! Or is it adorkable?), we weren't exactly winning prizes for light workload. Note to self: night shifts provide way more time for clandestine knitting. Then, on top of that, let's add the threat of USMLE Step 3 looming (day after Thanksgiving--woohoo). Additionally, I'll mention that November is National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo, for those in the know), and I'm a glutton for a good story idea--can't resist, know I have a problem, not contemplating changing it. And lastly, factor in a 6-year-old laptop that finally decided to do the expected thing and crap out for good (sure, it's only a ball-bearing in the fan, but is it even worth sending to the factory to replace at 6 years out? How 'bout no?). So...nearly 3 weeks into the month, and the score is 1 scarf, 3/4 of a glove, 8,000 words (goal is 50,000 by the end of the month), no USMLE studying, and a new laptop. Who da man? Um...not this chick.
I'll tell you the worst that could happen. It could still remain stubbornly not made, that's what! November, November, what will I do wi' ye? Halloween/All Saints' Day found me captaining a group of interns on the always-unpredictable Neurology floor. While we won the Halloween costume contest (Clue! We look adorable! Or is it adorkable?), we weren't exactly winning prizes for light workload. Note to self: night shifts provide way more time for clandestine knitting. Then, on top of that, let's add the threat of USMLE Step 3 looming (day after Thanksgiving--woohoo). Additionally, I'll mention that November is National Novel Writing Month (nanowrimo, for those in the know), and I'm a glutton for a good story idea--can't resist, know I have a problem, not contemplating changing it. And lastly, factor in a 6-year-old laptop that finally decided to do the expected thing and crap out for good (sure, it's only a ball-bearing in the fan, but is it even worth sending to the factory to replace at 6 years out? How 'bout no?). So...nearly 3 weeks into the month, and the score is 1 scarf, 3/4 of a glove, 8,000 words (goal is 50,000 by the end of the month), no USMLE studying, and a new laptop. Who da man? Um...not this chick.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Scarf picture
More to come: Will I ever start those gloves? Washcloth on chopsticks! My knitting taboos. Adventures in NYC (where I serendipitously or un-serendipitously missed Comic-Con by a mere week...). Etc. Back in a bit. You know, eventually.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Killing time, part deux
Actually, I'm not sure there was a part 1, but as I'm always killing time when I blog, not always for legitimate reasons, I figure part 2 is a perfectly reasonable place to start. So what am I killing time instead of doing right now? Well, where do I start? I am "mostly" packed for a flight to New York to visit my sister and one of my friends from med school. I've finished a couple loads of laundry which mostly means clothing, but there's a pile of bedding that just ain't gonna get done before I have to leave. I have patient logs that I'm at least a week behind on. I still need to find people to cover my clinic days when I'm floor senior next month. And I still need to locate a dentist while I have vacation time to actually get my teeth cleaned. All told, perfect time to procrastinate and blog about knitting/sewing projects. Knitting ahoy!
The Amy scarf is about halfway finished and looks friggin' gorgeous. No more dropped stitches (must locate wood to knock on without getting up from couch), and the pattern does get more manageable as you repeat it to infinity. Even the knit-elevens, especially if you remember where your yarn-overs were on the previous rows. Though I have to admit I've always rather hated purling. Something to look forward to when I'm doing this in the round for the gloves: all wrong-side purl rows become knit! Glorious! Knew there was a reason I have a preponderance of hats in my finished knitting projects drawer.
My next knitting challenge, should I choose to accept it (and should I ever finish the above-mentioned scarf and gloves), will be a horse of a different color. It's a pretty boring story, but probably necessary. So I was in Milwaukee last week hanging out with my pal the Desultory Knitter, and, naturally, we got on the subject of knitting and couldn't get off it, no doubt much to the dismay of her long-suffering husband. We were ogling patterns in one of the Stitch-n-Bitch series books, and there was a comment by one of the contributors about how she got her start with some loose yarns and two dowel rods run through a pencil sharpener. Being both a slightly kooky knitter and, well, Asian, my first thought was "What if you decided on a whim you wanted to learn how to knit, and all you had was some plain worsted-weight yarn and a pair of chopsticks?" Keeping in mind that most households don't have a set of size-8 all-purpose double-points tucked away in a drawer somewhere and that at least slightly more of them will have the aforementioned chopsticks. Some adventure in takeout or delivery from the local "Chinese" place, usually, although if you have a nicer pair that splinters less your fingers might thank you. So, can one Macgyver together a project out of boring yarn and a kitchen utensil? Eh, why not?
Thus was born the next challenge of my knitterly life: the Dalek washcloth, Asian-style. Don't knock it, the concept of the washcloth as a beginner project is much-maligned but perhaps unfairly, since it's one of the most adaptable palettes to both pattern-work and color-work available to the novice knitter. I bet that I could accomplish, on standard-issue eating chopsticks, using...hmm...a skein of blue Lionbrand Jiffy, a washcloth complete with Dalek picture and "Exfoliate" logo, for your nerdly pleasure. Think I can't? Well, you might be right, but if I forfeit due to time issues that doesn't count.
In other news, anybody got a good idea for a costume theme for the residents on one floor of a children's hospital? There's a costume contest every year, and they tend to go for humor (last year's winners dressed up as the animals pictured on each floor of the parking garage). All my tired old brain cells could come up with was Famous Fictional Doctors (not MDs), but I'm having trouble coming up with female ones that are family-appropriate (somehow don't think Doctor Girlfriend, aka Mrs. Doctor the Monarch, even in the pink suit and hat, would quite cut it). Sad, 'cause the male ones are pretty obvious: Doc Brown, Dr. Evil, Dr. Horrible, Doctor Who, heck I'd even accept House because he doesn't wear a white coat and/or scrubs and that's really my only goal. Ideas? We have until the end of the month, and my pride and my seniorly duties dictate that I come up with something at least slightly awesome. Whatever that means.
The Amy scarf is about halfway finished and looks friggin' gorgeous. No more dropped stitches (must locate wood to knock on without getting up from couch), and the pattern does get more manageable as you repeat it to infinity. Even the knit-elevens, especially if you remember where your yarn-overs were on the previous rows. Though I have to admit I've always rather hated purling. Something to look forward to when I'm doing this in the round for the gloves: all wrong-side purl rows become knit! Glorious! Knew there was a reason I have a preponderance of hats in my finished knitting projects drawer.
My next knitting challenge, should I choose to accept it (and should I ever finish the above-mentioned scarf and gloves), will be a horse of a different color. It's a pretty boring story, but probably necessary. So I was in Milwaukee last week hanging out with my pal the Desultory Knitter, and, naturally, we got on the subject of knitting and couldn't get off it, no doubt much to the dismay of her long-suffering husband. We were ogling patterns in one of the Stitch-n-Bitch series books, and there was a comment by one of the contributors about how she got her start with some loose yarns and two dowel rods run through a pencil sharpener. Being both a slightly kooky knitter and, well, Asian, my first thought was "What if you decided on a whim you wanted to learn how to knit, and all you had was some plain worsted-weight yarn and a pair of chopsticks?" Keeping in mind that most households don't have a set of size-8 all-purpose double-points tucked away in a drawer somewhere and that at least slightly more of them will have the aforementioned chopsticks. Some adventure in takeout or delivery from the local "Chinese" place, usually, although if you have a nicer pair that splinters less your fingers might thank you. So, can one Macgyver together a project out of boring yarn and a kitchen utensil? Eh, why not?
Thus was born the next challenge of my knitterly life: the Dalek washcloth, Asian-style. Don't knock it, the concept of the washcloth as a beginner project is much-maligned but perhaps unfairly, since it's one of the most adaptable palettes to both pattern-work and color-work available to the novice knitter. I bet that I could accomplish, on standard-issue eating chopsticks, using...hmm...a skein of blue Lionbrand Jiffy, a washcloth complete with Dalek picture and "Exfoliate" logo, for your nerdly pleasure. Think I can't? Well, you might be right, but if I forfeit due to time issues that doesn't count.
In other news, anybody got a good idea for a costume theme for the residents on one floor of a children's hospital? There's a costume contest every year, and they tend to go for humor (last year's winners dressed up as the animals pictured on each floor of the parking garage). All my tired old brain cells could come up with was Famous Fictional Doctors (not MDs), but I'm having trouble coming up with female ones that are family-appropriate (somehow don't think Doctor Girlfriend, aka Mrs. Doctor the Monarch, even in the pink suit and hat, would quite cut it). Sad, 'cause the male ones are pretty obvious: Doc Brown, Dr. Evil, Dr. Horrible, Doctor Who, heck I'd even accept House because he doesn't wear a white coat and/or scrubs and that's really my only goal. Ideas? We have until the end of the month, and my pride and my seniorly duties dictate that I come up with something at least slightly awesome. Whatever that means.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Behold them! Be-hold them!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Mission accomplished! Well, almost...
I am proud to announce that I have (almost) finished the Ringwood gloves. By almost I mean I still have to make a craft store run for buttons for the cuffs, sew on said buttons, and make sure everything buttons together correctly, but eh, who's counting? Pictures to come, but here I run into a bit of a conundrum. See, I apparently have freakishly long skinny hands...or something. Basically I misread the pattern a bit, gave myself an extra 3-row repeat over the metacarpals, and then still essentially needed the extra 3-row repeat over every single finger (not counting the thumbs since I have freakishly short thumbs which is probably why I suck at video games and string instruments/guitar, but are you supposed to count the thumb as a finger anyway? Discuss.), so while the gloves fit nicely and look rather pretty on my actual hands, they look a bit...weird by themselves. Which means I just might need someone else to snap the pictures. Or sprout an extra hand. Or learn to operate a camera with my mouth. Or teach Raiden to use a camera (wouldn't put it past her, actually). I'm sure there's a universe in which these are all equally valid solutions.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, glove-making. So I've finally gotten over my fear of knitting 2 of something by making gloves, of all things. I gather from people who do this sort of thing properly that it's supposed to be socks. Well, I never could do anything like a normal twenty-first century human (see my flip-top phone and collection of college-ruled notebooks and pencils; er...flip-top phones are cool?). Anyhoo, in celebration of my new-found ability to make gloves, I think an appropriate next project would be...Amy Pond's red scarf and gloves set? Yes, yes, I know, boldly going where so many fan-girls have gone before, but we forget a few essential things: 1) I look nothing like Amy Pond, 2) I look good in red despite looking nothing like Amy Pond, and 3) the scarf and gloves would go beautifully with the black blazer I've been meaning to break out one of these days when the weather gets predictably cool. That and I'm absolutely itching for a crack at fingerless gloves with a covered thumb: they look interesting to make. Plus I think I've found the perfect lace pattern for the scarf: Wheat in the Wind. Even sounds appropriate, like something Van Gogh would approve.
In short, I think this means I'm putting the Dalek cross-stitch on hold. Might have a few takers on the washcloths, as I could see giving them to family members or friends as presents during the holiday season. The Ren-faire hat might have to wait a bit too. And, of course, if the mood (or more likely request) strikes, I'll probably be putting them all aside for porcelain-free Jammie Dodgers. Just say no to porcelain shards. That concludes today's public service announcement.
Now, where was I? Oh yes, glove-making. So I've finally gotten over my fear of knitting 2 of something by making gloves, of all things. I gather from people who do this sort of thing properly that it's supposed to be socks. Well, I never could do anything like a normal twenty-first century human (see my flip-top phone and collection of college-ruled notebooks and pencils; er...flip-top phones are cool?). Anyhoo, in celebration of my new-found ability to make gloves, I think an appropriate next project would be...Amy Pond's red scarf and gloves set? Yes, yes, I know, boldly going where so many fan-girls have gone before, but we forget a few essential things: 1) I look nothing like Amy Pond, 2) I look good in red despite looking nothing like Amy Pond, and 3) the scarf and gloves would go beautifully with the black blazer I've been meaning to break out one of these days when the weather gets predictably cool. That and I'm absolutely itching for a crack at fingerless gloves with a covered thumb: they look interesting to make. Plus I think I've found the perfect lace pattern for the scarf: Wheat in the Wind. Even sounds appropriate, like something Van Gogh would approve.
In short, I think this means I'm putting the Dalek cross-stitch on hold. Might have a few takers on the washcloths, as I could see giving them to family members or friends as presents during the holiday season. The Ren-faire hat might have to wait a bit too. And, of course, if the mood (or more likely request) strikes, I'll probably be putting them all aside for porcelain-free Jammie Dodgers. Just say no to porcelain shards. That concludes today's public service announcement.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
MOAR progress tweets!
What? I'm at work and have 15 minutes to kill before my next task. What you want I should do?
Slow progress on the gloves thanks to busy nights, plus I don't work on them on my nights off 'cause that's when I tackle the more complicated projects. So...2-1/4 fingers down on glove 1, 2-3/4 to go, and wow, I really hope I have enough yarn.
I cut out pieces for the Ren-faire costume hat the other day but haven't gotten around to piecing them together and sewing yet. That'll have to be a project for another time, whenever that'll be.
No progress on cross-stitch since my last post. Also, side note, lesson 1 is do not spend long periods of time on Dalek cross-stitch before bed. Lesson 2 is not to try to improve work morale/inspiration by pulling up reruns of "Doctor Who" while working on said cross-stitch. Consequence to ignoring both lessons being extremely weird and vivid dreams. Let's just leave it at that.
And on a side note from my last tangent: quote remembered (more like a paraphrase I think), not important, not really about poetry, let's forget about it and move on now. Yeah, 'nuff said.
10:32PM. The score is 10 minutes to go, progress tweets done, no pictures (sorry y'all). Um...not sure where I'm going with that either. Till next time...or something.
Slow progress on the gloves thanks to busy nights, plus I don't work on them on my nights off 'cause that's when I tackle the more complicated projects. So...2-1/4 fingers down on glove 1, 2-3/4 to go, and wow, I really hope I have enough yarn.
I cut out pieces for the Ren-faire costume hat the other day but haven't gotten around to piecing them together and sewing yet. That'll have to be a project for another time, whenever that'll be.
No progress on cross-stitch since my last post. Also, side note, lesson 1 is do not spend long periods of time on Dalek cross-stitch before bed. Lesson 2 is not to try to improve work morale/inspiration by pulling up reruns of "Doctor Who" while working on said cross-stitch. Consequence to ignoring both lessons being extremely weird and vivid dreams. Let's just leave it at that.
And on a side note from my last tangent: quote remembered (more like a paraphrase I think), not important, not really about poetry, let's forget about it and move on now. Yeah, 'nuff said.
10:32PM. The score is 10 minutes to go, progress tweets done, no pictures (sorry y'all). Um...not sure where I'm going with that either. Till next time...or something.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Procrastination in progress
On a side note, I finally got around to checking out my friend the Desultory Knitter's suggestion of Dalek washcloths (well, we're on the subject, after all), and it seems a worthy pursuit...with a few small provisions. First, it's simple enough to do at work, but that'll be interesting to try to explain to people--pair of gloves it ain't. Second, I think I'd actually stitch "Exfoliate! Exfoliate!" onto the thing just for giggles, which might kick up the difficulty a notch. Third, for those of you who know me, the Dalek would probably be the tip of the iceberg; before you know it I'd have the whole collector's set crankin' out on the needles (Cybermen, I'm lookin' at you). And then I'd have copyright law sitting squarely on my hindquarters. Hmm...maybe better not. Like I said, live and learn, and then sew Daleks!
Monday, September 12, 2011
In Search of the Perfect Ren-faire Gown, Part 2
So...above was the work in progress, minus sleeves and trim.
Now, question is, to make the hat or not to make the hat? Yeah, one of those cone-shaped ones with the veil draped over it. Not particularly convenient for running around the faire in, but I just hacked off about a foot of hair for Locks of Love a few weeks ago and besides, hats are cool. Oh well, that'll be Part 3 if it ever gets made. Who knows?
By the way, in case you hadn't figured it out already, I have a drawerful of patterns catalogued in chronological order based on historical period. If time travel existed in my lifetime I think I'd have a ball. Or several.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Progress tweets and yet another tangent
There used to be a critical care attending at Children's who dictated extremely brief progress notes I once heard referred to, a bit derisively, as progress tweets. I thought the concept was howlingly funny, so I'm going to appropriate it for this post. Here, in no particular order, are my progress tweets on various projects:
I have to admit (sorry, folks) that my "Ren-faire" gown is actually finished, but I have pretty pictures to make up for it when I get the chance.
My PROCRASTINATE cross-stitch now includes both the Dalek and its armchair. Also 2 cans of beer and a bowl of popcorn, but I still need to give those a table. The force is weak with this one.
And the winner of the knit-at-work awesomely fun mindless projects contest is...Ringwood gloves? I cheated and surfed Knitty, breaking approximately 2 years of abstinence to do it. But gloves are cool. Warm. Oh, shut up, it looks good with the purple Kool-aid yarn if I have enough of it, and I have yet to make real gloves rather than mittens, AND it's not garter or stockinette.
Maybe later on the dice bag: at the moment I have only 1 proper set of gaming dice (RPG, not casino. Geez.). My boyfriend gave them to me after he realized the clear set he purchased in fact had iridescent green glitter in the centers, but he's quite content to shlepp them around for me.
The next time I bake cookies, I'm making them smaller than the specified size and using new flour and possibly new sugar. Unless anybody likes their Jammie Dodgers with an extra helping of porcelain shards.
Now for the forewarned tangent: random fits of poetry. Yeah, sorry, I have them. Definitely had "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" stuck in my head last night when I got to work. Try explaining to the work crowd why the lines "Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?...I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each" are on the tip of your tongue. Go on, I dare you.
Today I made a trip/pilgrimage to Borders, which is closing down (the inside of the store, by the way, is enough to make a grown lit-nerd cry). On the shelves: "Birthday Letters," by Ted Hughes. I thought I'd make myself a White Russian (yeah, I realize that's not particularly apropos, but I had all the ingredients handy) and have a good cry over his poems addressed to his dead wife. The melancholy poet in me wouldn't mind a Ted to my Sylvia, actually, mental illness and extramarital affairs aside. The Muse wouldn't mind a John to my Fanny (Keats and Brawne, a perennial favorite couple for completely inexplicable reasons, in case inquiring minds want to know). There's something intoxicating about a man who knows the magic inherent in words.
Though, speaking of Poet Laureates, this is going to bother me until I've found the answer, so I'm just going to have to float it out there: which British TV star recently quoted Seamus Heany? Has to be one I've seen recently (and remembering which side of the pond I actually hail from, there aren't many I'd know of), so tentatively I've narrowed it down to either James May or Matt Smith. The car-guy or the Doctor? Erm....well, no matter, what's as important to me or more so is the quote itself, which I also can't recall, so please help a self-proclaimed poetry dork and put me out of my misery. It'll count as a work of community service or something. I'll be right here, eagerly awaiting your answer (especially if you're tall, dark, and handsome and see above note about magic inherent in words--I kid, I kid!).
I have to admit (sorry, folks) that my "Ren-faire" gown is actually finished, but I have pretty pictures to make up for it when I get the chance.
My PROCRASTINATE cross-stitch now includes both the Dalek and its armchair. Also 2 cans of beer and a bowl of popcorn, but I still need to give those a table. The force is weak with this one.
And the winner of the knit-at-work awesomely fun mindless projects contest is...Ringwood gloves? I cheated and surfed Knitty, breaking approximately 2 years of abstinence to do it. But gloves are cool. Warm. Oh, shut up, it looks good with the purple Kool-aid yarn if I have enough of it, and I have yet to make real gloves rather than mittens, AND it's not garter or stockinette.
Maybe later on the dice bag: at the moment I have only 1 proper set of gaming dice (RPG, not casino. Geez.). My boyfriend gave them to me after he realized the clear set he purchased in fact had iridescent green glitter in the centers, but he's quite content to shlepp them around for me.
The next time I bake cookies, I'm making them smaller than the specified size and using new flour and possibly new sugar. Unless anybody likes their Jammie Dodgers with an extra helping of porcelain shards.
Now for the forewarned tangent: random fits of poetry. Yeah, sorry, I have them. Definitely had "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" stuck in my head last night when I got to work. Try explaining to the work crowd why the lines "Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?...I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each" are on the tip of your tongue. Go on, I dare you.
Today I made a trip/pilgrimage to Borders, which is closing down (the inside of the store, by the way, is enough to make a grown lit-nerd cry). On the shelves: "Birthday Letters," by Ted Hughes. I thought I'd make myself a White Russian (yeah, I realize that's not particularly apropos, but I had all the ingredients handy) and have a good cry over his poems addressed to his dead wife. The melancholy poet in me wouldn't mind a Ted to my Sylvia, actually, mental illness and extramarital affairs aside. The Muse wouldn't mind a John to my Fanny (Keats and Brawne, a perennial favorite couple for completely inexplicable reasons, in case inquiring minds want to know). There's something intoxicating about a man who knows the magic inherent in words.
Though, speaking of Poet Laureates, this is going to bother me until I've found the answer, so I'm just going to have to float it out there: which British TV star recently quoted Seamus Heany? Has to be one I've seen recently (and remembering which side of the pond I actually hail from, there aren't many I'd know of), so tentatively I've narrowed it down to either James May or Matt Smith. The car-guy or the Doctor? Erm....well, no matter, what's as important to me or more so is the quote itself, which I also can't recall, so please help a self-proclaimed poetry dork and put me out of my misery. It'll count as a work of community service or something. I'll be right here, eagerly awaiting your answer (especially if you're tall, dark, and handsome and see above note about magic inherent in words--I kid, I kid!).
Monday, September 5, 2011
The night she wouldn't shut up, or In Search of the Perfect Ren-faire Gown, Part 1
You ever have one of those nights when you just can't stop writing? I think the official pathologic term for it is hypergraphia. Pretty sure blogging counts in that too even if it is strictly typing not writing. Ow.
Bit of history: I love historical costumes. Once made a Regency gown just because the pattern and suitable fabric were on ridonculous sale and it looked cool. I just can't get the same thrill out of a pair of jeans and a novelty tee (though if anybody can tell me where my Zombie Kibble shirt has got to, I do sorely miss it, it was the perfect shade of girly pink to make me grin wickedly every time I wore it). Actually I volunteered to be the costumes mistress of the med school musical my fourth year just for a chance to teach myself machine sewing and make lots and lots of "Roman" tunics and things. So of course I love Ren-faire for a perfectly understandable reason.
Now, the garb, on the other hand. The first time it ever occurred to me to so much as show up in costume was my first faire as an adult--the Wentzville faire my third year of med school. Didn't know how to use a sewing machine back then, of course--that's what "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was for. That and good ol' Sondheim; actually, what don't I love about that show? Anyways, armed with brand new sewing know-how and leftover fabric, I trolled the intarwebs for tips on making "faire legal" vestments and came up with a surprisingly roomy and versatile gored skirt (think the pattern's gone now, sorry) and tips for drafting your own corset/bodice pattern. Had to cave and use another crafty friend's purchased chemise pattern later on, but after much cursing and gnashing of teeth I had...well...a costume of sorts.
Unfortunately, um, did I mention the Wentzville Ren Faire is in May-June and that the St. Louis area by that time is, well, hot? As in ninety degrees, 100% humidity, saunariffic hot? Yeah, might've touched on that a bit. The peasant-wench's ville-best, in other words, was soaked through with several layers of sweat within an hour's time.
When you're in a bind at the faire, of course, the first recourse is to buy things. After all, exorbitantly expensive is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to lightweight faux-velvet 16th-centuriesque gowns doing a sort of European tour of couture. And that's when I realized the problem. See, while the Elizabethan ideal reportedly might have been five-foot-two and straight up and down (yeah, add powder of arsenic and a red wig and I'd be quite the commodity, hoo-boy), the Ren-faire wearables' ideal most certainly is not. Try five-ten with a 24-inch waist. Wait, is that even possible?
Thus was born the quest for the perfect Ren-faire gown. Necessity as the mother of all invention? Perhaps. Though creature comforts and vanity are a close 2 and 3 on the list of candidates. In part 2 we'll discuss sacrificing historical accuracy for breathe-ability (goodbye corsets, hello sashes!). And no, that will not be tonight. Even Scheherazade has to shut up occasionally.
Bit of history: I love historical costumes. Once made a Regency gown just because the pattern and suitable fabric were on ridonculous sale and it looked cool. I just can't get the same thrill out of a pair of jeans and a novelty tee (though if anybody can tell me where my Zombie Kibble shirt has got to, I do sorely miss it, it was the perfect shade of girly pink to make me grin wickedly every time I wore it). Actually I volunteered to be the costumes mistress of the med school musical my fourth year just for a chance to teach myself machine sewing and make lots and lots of "Roman" tunics and things. So of course I love Ren-faire for a perfectly understandable reason.
Now, the garb, on the other hand. The first time it ever occurred to me to so much as show up in costume was my first faire as an adult--the Wentzville faire my third year of med school. Didn't know how to use a sewing machine back then, of course--that's what "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" was for. That and good ol' Sondheim; actually, what don't I love about that show? Anyways, armed with brand new sewing know-how and leftover fabric, I trolled the intarwebs for tips on making "faire legal" vestments and came up with a surprisingly roomy and versatile gored skirt (think the pattern's gone now, sorry) and tips for drafting your own corset/bodice pattern. Had to cave and use another crafty friend's purchased chemise pattern later on, but after much cursing and gnashing of teeth I had...well...a costume of sorts.
When you're in a bind at the faire, of course, the first recourse is to buy things. After all, exorbitantly expensive is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to lightweight faux-velvet 16th-centuriesque gowns doing a sort of European tour of couture. And that's when I realized the problem. See, while the Elizabethan ideal reportedly might have been five-foot-two and straight up and down (yeah, add powder of arsenic and a red wig and I'd be quite the commodity, hoo-boy), the Ren-faire wearables' ideal most certainly is not. Try five-ten with a 24-inch waist. Wait, is that even possible?
Thus was born the quest for the perfect Ren-faire gown. Necessity as the mother of all invention? Perhaps. Though creature comforts and vanity are a close 2 and 3 on the list of candidates. In part 2 we'll discuss sacrificing historical accuracy for breathe-ability (goodbye corsets, hello sashes!). And no, that will not be tonight. Even Scheherazade has to shut up occasionally.
Tangents ahoy!
This was going to be a post about my at-work knitting project followed by observations on knitting like an old Chinese woman (well, what d'you call it when you learned to knit from your mother and grandmother and therefore do things verrry differently from your friendly American neighborhood knitter?), but, predictably, I had a night off and got derailed. Very derailed. Epic levels of derailed. Let's just say I had a sudden craving for Jammie Dodgers.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Well, maybe not. I'm thinking you're thinking, "What in the seven hells does she even know about the entity known as a Jammie Dodger?" Because you'd be right if you were. Nevertheless, I had a craving for jam-filled cookies. With the little hole cut out of the middle of the top piece. Oh, all right, I like my tea and biscuits a bit more than is strictly conscionable for someone whose sole experience of life in the UK was a weekend trip to London at the age of 19. That was eight years ago for anybody that asks, and I'd rather you didn't. I was on foreign study in Versailles--I had a perfectly good reason (English major, heavy on the English lit) and a Carte Orange back then.
In any case, cookie craving plus night off plus desire to make something. Very bad combination unless you're prepared to face the consequences. So, naturally, I thought, "Eh, why not make my own?" The basic recipe, by the way, is not that much altered from the one that appears on the msn.com-linked food site. Let's see if I can find it again...ah, yes, here: http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/jam-sandwich-cookies?click=recipe_sr. I simply hijacked it and poked a hole in the top cookie. That and I have a rather shameful lack of vanilla extract at the moment and far too much booze, so I substituted French Vanilla Khalua (sp?--bother that). Cook down a 12-oz jar of red cherry preserves, apply liberally, and voila! (By the way, anybody know how to do accent marks on this thing?) I brought a few over to a friend who happens to be on vacation and can stay up into the wee hours, and he swore they were excellent. 'Course we were also eating them with tea, Belgian-style ale, and "Oz and James Drink to Britain" or whatever that show's called, so that ought to help a bit. Still could swear I'm crunching down on pottery shards from the time my flour jar exploded though...and this is why I only bake when I'm up all night, because only then am I stupid enough or brave enough to risk it. This shall not be attempted again. You know, until the next time I get a craving for random biscuitry.
Coming attractions: MOAR Dalek cross-stitch pictures, progress on a set of Victorian-style gloves, the quest for the perfect Ren-faire gown, and of course lots and lots of tangents. Cheers.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Well, maybe not. I'm thinking you're thinking, "What in the seven hells does she even know about the entity known as a Jammie Dodger?" Because you'd be right if you were. Nevertheless, I had a craving for jam-filled cookies. With the little hole cut out of the middle of the top piece. Oh, all right, I like my tea and biscuits a bit more than is strictly conscionable for someone whose sole experience of life in the UK was a weekend trip to London at the age of 19. That was eight years ago for anybody that asks, and I'd rather you didn't. I was on foreign study in Versailles--I had a perfectly good reason (English major, heavy on the English lit) and a Carte Orange back then.
Coming attractions: MOAR Dalek cross-stitch pictures, progress on a set of Victorian-style gloves, the quest for the perfect Ren-faire gown, and of course lots and lots of tangents. Cheers.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Crafty on call
OK, you got me. This is not a knitting, sewing, or any kind of crafting post whatsoever. That is, unless I can come up with a knitting project on the fly that uses a finite quantity of cheap stash yarn and looks cool despite being composed entirely of stockinette or garter stitch. Ew. But there it is: the Hamlet-esque to do or not to do of whether to bring one's latest project to work, particularly when one's work is...well...on a good night, sitting around waiting for the pager to go off.
Don't get me wrong. I actually kind of like working nights as the floor doc. You know, once my body stops yelling at me for thinking I can get away with being nocturnal (waaaaay easier 10 or even 5 years ago, probably). And also assuming I ever get over the tendency, when a nurse or patient comes up to me and asks "are you THE DOCTOR?" to look around frantically for a) the attending, b) the fellow, c) the TARDIS, all of which would get me off the hook of actually admitting to being "THE DOCTOR." You know, in different ways, and on various planes of reality. I like nights because it's much more low-profile than days, less formal and regimented. On quiet nights I catch up on reading and join the nurses in learning new dances with names like the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble (honestly? who comes up with these?). But seriously, right now, I'm just bored. And boredom is dangerous. Especially in a children's hospital.
So...I have in a dresser drawer at home several mismatched sets of bamboo double-points, a set of wooden circulars (size 11-ish), a set of plastic size 7 circulars, several skeins of Lionbrand Jiffy or its equivalent in various colors, 2 medium sized balls of purple-white-green Koolaid-dyed worsted-weight, probably 200 yards of black-and-rainbow bulky stuff, and...a partridge in a pear tree? Anyone who can come up with a passably interesting yet mindless project to make with any of the above is my new hero. I'll even name the thing after you. I'll try to make that a compliment. Please don't use the partridge.
Don't get me wrong. I actually kind of like working nights as the floor doc. You know, once my body stops yelling at me for thinking I can get away with being nocturnal (waaaaay easier 10 or even 5 years ago, probably). And also assuming I ever get over the tendency, when a nurse or patient comes up to me and asks "are you THE DOCTOR?" to look around frantically for a) the attending, b) the fellow, c) the TARDIS, all of which would get me off the hook of actually admitting to being "THE DOCTOR." You know, in different ways, and on various planes of reality. I like nights because it's much more low-profile than days, less formal and regimented. On quiet nights I catch up on reading and join the nurses in learning new dances with names like the Cupid Shuffle and the Wobble (honestly? who comes up with these?). But seriously, right now, I'm just bored. And boredom is dangerous. Especially in a children's hospital.
So...I have in a dresser drawer at home several mismatched sets of bamboo double-points, a set of wooden circulars (size 11-ish), a set of plastic size 7 circulars, several skeins of Lionbrand Jiffy or its equivalent in various colors, 2 medium sized balls of purple-white-green Koolaid-dyed worsted-weight, probably 200 yards of black-and-rainbow bulky stuff, and...a partridge in a pear tree? Anyone who can come up with a passably interesting yet mindless project to make with any of the above is my new hero. I'll even name the thing after you. I'll try to make that a compliment. Please don't use the partridge.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
and now for something completely different...
It's sort of an age-old conundrum: how to knit a hat without it coming out like so many knit hats before it, usually squashy and shapeless and relieved only by the pattern of colors or cables or whatever you can throw into it. But why should knit hats not be able to imitate other things? How about badass things? For example, a Viking helmet. Or hair. Funny how few really awesome Viking helmet with hair patterns exist out there. This was my answer.It's sort of a beginner-plus pattern, maybe early intermediate. All you really need to know how to do is knit, purl, and basic cable. Helps to be handy with a set of double-points or circulars too, but that's all hats. I had a pattern for horns, but got bored and decided it really didn't need it. I call my finished confection the Saxon. My boyfriend (the recipient of said confection) prefers to refer to it as the Gimli. Whatever. It'll make a nice balaclava when the weather gets cold (and in St. Louis, however remote that seems in late August, it will get cold). The helmet itself is a variation on the basic beanie. You pick up stitches for the noseguard. The hair's stockinette with a basic 3-part cable thrown in. May there not be a lack of cool headgear for future generations!
Cast on 90 stitches (or some multiple of 3) smooth worsted-weight yarn, join and work in round.
Rows 1+2: purl all the way around.
Rows 3+4: knit.
Row 5: *k5, bobble, repeat from *
bobble: k front and back in same stitch (makes 4 total), turn, purl those 4 stitches, turn, slip 1st stitch, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over, knit, pass slipped stitch over.
Rows 6+7: knit.
Rows 8+9: purl.
Row 10: *k13, p2, repeat from * to end (should make 6 evenly spaced narrow bands).
Continue approx 3-3/4 inches then begin decrease (remembering to maintain the 6 sets of p2's throughout for the "metal" bands):
Decr 1: *k4, k2tog, k4, repeat from *
Row 2: knit (knit all even rows)
Row 3: *k7, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 5: *k3, k2tog, k3, repeat from *
Row 7: *k5, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 9: *k2, k2tog, k2, repeat from *
Row 11: *k3, k2tog, repeat from *
Row 13: *k1, k2tog, k1, repeat from *
Row 15: *k1, k2tog, repeat from *
Knit 1 additional round, break thread and pull through.
Noseguard: pick up 8 stitches from front and center of hat, knit across. Continue approximately 8-10 rows until about mid-nose, then decrease. For decreases, k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog all odd rows, knit all even rows. At last 2 stitches, k2tog and bind off.
Hair/beard: Pick up 54 stitches from back/sides of helmet, knit across using appropriate yarn (I used Lionbrand Homespun, an old frenemy).
Knit across for 3-4 rows, ending on a wrong side row.
Cable as desired for braids. In my case I did a 3-part cable very much like an actual braid (sl 4 sts, bring to back, k4, knit slipped sts, followed 4 rows later by k4, sl4 sts, bring to front, k4, knit slipped stitches), but I advise playing around with it a bit before settling with your pattern of choice.
At the end of the noseguard (approx 12 rows or so), cast on remaining 36 stitches, picking up 2 from noseguard in the center. Join and work in the round. Again, insert cables as desired for braiding in the beard. Knit to desired length and bind off. Weave in loose ends and enjoy!
OK, I know the hair/beard part's a little less regimented, but honestly it works better that way. No two Vikings should look the same, right? Of course I'm right. That's what I'll keep telling myself, at least. Ooh, and maybe you can ditch the hair altogether for some chain mail, since that's easy enough to fake with a metallic gray yarn and garter stitch.
And now I'm fresh out of ideas for cool hats. Maybe I should take requests. Although I'll almost certainly categorically refuse a fez. I draw the line at Stetsons.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
PROCRASTINATE
Monday, August 22, 2011
Here goes nothing...
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (or just about), a none-too-web-savvy med student decided to start a blog and couldn't figure out what to do with it. Four years and a few projects later, this is the 2nd incarnation of bloggy goodness, and I've finally decided to focus on the cool stuff, i.e. sewing and knitting with a bit of a science (read sci-fi/fantasy) nerd twist. Well, mostly. Any whining about life in the medical profession will be strictly incidental and preferably stricken from the pages to follow. In the meantime, I leave this sort-of-test post with a picture or three of my latest project-in-progress, from which I may or may not have drawn the inspiration for my blog title (about 5% of the US web-surfing population just groaned, and if you're reading this in the UK, why???). More to come! Question is, is that a threat or a promise?
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