I've decided that knitting lace is to "normal" knitting as cryptic crosswords are to normal crosswords.

At first you can't work it out and it all goes horribly wrong and frustrates the crap out of you, and you curse the person who suggested that "Really, it's not that hard!". But then you start to work it out and it becomes more fun... and then eventually, you're a convert, and you can't see why anyone would want to do the "normal" version because it's just not challenging enough. You become the person who says "Really, it's not that hard!" to everyone else, and annoy the pants off them until they too cave in and take up cryptic crosswords/lace knitting.

So anyway... now I can proudly say: I do cryptic crosswords, I knit lace, and I AM that annoying person! Photos to come.

Fun with crepe paper dye...

Fun with crepe paper dye...
Originally uploaded by indienial.

This was supposed to be green, blue, and purple, but only the purple

came out. Still, crepe paper + vinegar + microwave = dyeing fun!

Finished Tigger Cardy from knitty!! thank GOD!! Was driving me a bit crazy ( I get impatient and just wanna knit stuff for myself), this will be for my cousins daughter, Bella.. and puss decided she wanted to play too last night, well, she was trying to help I guess....her name's Lily

I have a terrible case of "knitters guilt". I have three projects that I've finished the knitting on, but they need to be sewn up, and I just don't want to do it. I don't understand why I like knitting, and I like sewing, but I hate sewing up my knitting. it doesn't make any sense!

I also keep buying yarn. I think the money I have spent on yarn this month would probably pay off the debt of a small African country, or at least feed a family of 12 for a few weeks. I defend it by saying "But think of all the lovely things I can make!"... and then realise that even if I do make them AND finish them properly (sewing up!), how many cardigans and felted bags does a girl really need?

So I am on a self-imposed ban, and it sucks. Tonight, I'm going to try dyeing some weird unidentified wool blend yarns I have lying around and see what happens. Hopefull it will turn out okay, and then I won't want to buy any more yarn for a while because I will be so excited about dyeing the stuff I have. Well, that's the plan...

Going to be knitting the lovely Orangina lace top from http://glampyre.com Stefanie Japel is so clever, and has lovely patterns...here's a swatch done in lambs pride worsted weight, the colour is 'jaded dreams' .. so pretty, I love knitting lace!

My "bitching" level was waaaay higher than my "stitching" level at last night's Stitch'n'Bitch— I hardly got anything done because my wool hated me and I was so incredibly unco for some reason. At least I wasn't the only one (hi Jasmine!). But it was a lovely evening anyway, hooray for Mondays! My favourite day.

It just sucked that instead of finishing the Apocalypse hoodie, I did about 6 rows... and at the start of the night, I only had 18 rows to go on the sleeve, so it *should* have been so easy! Seriously, I think everyone's wool misbehaves when there is a storm coming, and we spent half the night discussing why that is. I think it's because the wool is still psychically linked to its parent-sheep/alpaca/whatever, and animals always act weird when there is stormy weather. Everyone else decided it's because the humidity and static in the air just causes the wool to stick together and stuff. Pfft- that's boring!

Then we all talked about being stoners/not being stoners/how stoned we got at uni. There were some surprising answers... and maybe that answers the wool question— my sheep was stoned, and that's why I couldn't knit*.

* remember kids, drugs are bad.

My cat is more of a yarn slut than I am...

My cat is more of a yarn slut than I am...
Originally uploaded by indienial.

This is why my cat should be constantly supervised. I've lost more

than a few pieces of knitting to his fluffy little paws.

My Current Projects:
1. To Dye For sweater; modified as seen below
2. http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTtigger.html this childrens' cardy from knitty, 60%complete
3. http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/PATThedera.html pretty lace sox, about 10%
4. exchequered scarf from knitty
5. plus I need to finish my other legwarmer, as one really isn't enough..haha

okay my first post, yay :) I've been knitting a modified version of 'to dye for' from Stitch N Bitch the Knitting Handbook.. here are the front & back, currently halfway done with the sleeves, about to do the ribbing. .can't wait til it's finished, gonna be so warm.. will be my first ever handknitted sweater !!!

Current project list:
- Ysolda's Apocalypse hoodie, as shown below. I think I'm about 30% there, hooray!
- A maroon fuzzy chunky cardigan which is a bit dodgy cos I made up the pattern. Just need to put the buttons on and tidy up loose ends. 99% complete, but motivation 0.5%.
- A turquoise cardigan with lovely rainbow trim (the "Go Everywhere" cardigan from Stitch'n'Bitch book). 10% complete
- Green wool bag for a gift. Finished but I want to make a few changes cos it looks not quite right.
- Kitty hat for one of my Blythe dolls. Finished knitting, need to sew it together... again, motivation 0.5%. I hate sewing stuff together!
- Blythe-sized jumpers (working-out-pattern stage... knit, ctrl-z, re-knit)
- Skull 'n' X bones bag... 75% complete (I've been working on it on and off since last July, but after I did the fun bit, the big black panels got boring, so it gets pulled out when I am too broken to knit anything requiring brain power).

Apocalypse Hoodie progress

Apocalypse Hoodie progress
Originally uploaded by indienial.

Yes, this IS the worst photo ever in the entire world, but that's what happens when you play with camera phones after midnight!

This is how far I've got Ysolda's fantastic Apocalypse hoodie. I had to try it on for shaping purposes last night, and have decided it makes me look like a giant furry grape. It also sheds like a bitch but it will probably be fine after a wash. I'm using a 60% wool, 30% alpaca, 10% acrylic yarn which I have temporarily and very conveniently forgotten the name of. It's lovely to knit with though, and it seems to be an excellent substitute for the Rowan Polar, except for the shedding. But I have a cat, so I'm used to picking hair off all my clothes.

At the moment I'm worried I will look like a heifer in it ( ahh, vanity!) but that's most definitely due to my figure faults rather than to Ysolda's pattern. (Did I mention how much I love this pattern?!)

Also, I'm not sure if I wasn't paying attention somewhere along the line, or if the hood is designed to fit the Elephant Man. Whoops!

Anyway, the point of this post is that the original pattern has an intarsia tree at the bottom right hand front, and I'm not sure whether to go with the tree, or put something else there. I'm also torn between using pink or silver yarn for the intarsia and sleeve edges... if you have any ideas, post them in the comments!

Image001.jpg

Rowan Polar Love
Originally uploaded by indienial.

If I could sleep with this yarn, I would. Thanks Emma!

If anyone reads this, they should go to The WoolShack and buy lots of stuff from Emma because she is beyond awesome, and gave me Rowan Polar. Whee!

meow

meow
Originally uploaded by indienial.

Trinity modelling the Kittyville Hat from kittyville.com and the

Stitch'n'Bitch book. Okay, so you can't actually see the hat, but

it's a cute photo!