Thursdays are For What the Hell is This?

Dear Editors of Vogue Knitting,
Normally, I don't like your magazine much. The new issue, however, features several designs I think are pretty cute. But I've got to ask, what the hell is this?



When did the poufy sleeve, crop tops, covered in flowers, in 80s colors come back in vogue? Please explain.

Sincerely,
Jessica

P.S. I think I've figured out the inspiration for the hair.

Retro Prep Update

The bands are all knit and the ends are woven in. I just need to get buttons and sew them on then block, block, block.

The Dulaan sweater I'm knitting is nearly done too. I've got most of one sleeve left and the front bands. I should have some finished sweaters to show off soon.

Steeked!

Despite my best efforts my sewing machine refuses to sew. Fortunately, Purlygirl Rebecca shlepped one of her seven (!) sewing machines all the way to Seattle so I could secure my steek.
I sewed.
Then I cut.

I was a lot more nervous about the sewing. I would sew for a bit and then pause, exhaling, realizing that I was actually holding my breath while I worked. Once the steek was cut I picked up the stitches and knit the button band. I'm working on the buttonhole band right now.
Then I need to block the bejebbers out of this thing.

Knitting Math

I've been wondering for a while when knitting a triangular shawl how to calculate what percentage is complete as I go. I mentioned this to Wes and he created an Excel spreadsheet for it. You just need to tell it how many rows your shawl has and then you can see what percentage you've completed. Aren't geeks handy?

My hate-hate relationship with my sewing machine continues. It now will not work at all. I can't draw up the bobbin thread because the sewing thread keeps getting tangled around the bobbin case. When I can pull up the bobbin thread, the sewing thread winds around and around the bobbin case and makes a huge tangled mess. I found the manual in the attic but I still can't figure out why this is happening. This means that Retro Prep's steek is on hold until I can get my sewing issues resolved.

Yesterday I found some Bernat So Soft in my heap o' acrylic that I've been using for Dulaan hats. It seemed enough for an entire baby sweater so I ran over to Knitty and grabbed the pattern for Childhood. Mine is a boring solid color with no hood. I managed to get the back and one front done yesterday.

Easter Edition of What the Hell is This?

I admit that Thursday's installment of WTHIT was a bit weak. I mean, it was painfully ugly and ill-conceived but it wasn't quite on the laugh out loud level of previous installments. I apologize. I'd like to offer this special Easter edition.
May I present the Easter poncho.

What better way to celebrate springtime than having a dozen bunnies slaughtered, skinned and then knit into a poncho that retails for $695?

Many Pink Things and a Few Which Are Not

I'm a day late with the photos but the mail just kept rolling in.
First Lisa and the pups sent me this fabulous Regia sock yarn in a berry-ish colorway.

Thanks, guys!

Then my secret pal sent me all this.

A stuffed lamb weighed down with enough chocolate to sink a ship. Godiva chocolate. Guess I picked the wrong week to recommit to Weight Watchers...
Thanks Pal!

Then some spinning fiber I got off of eBay showed up.

If you happen to hear me say anything about shopping for spinning fiber, looking at spinning fiber or anything that might lead to my buying more spinning fiber, please, knock me down and take my wallet. I now have more than I can possibly spin in the next year or so.

And then at work today I picked out my yarn for the Martha-along. Dale Baby Ull. In a fuschia-berry shade which I did not capture well in this photo.


And for something that's not pink, today I got myself a little magnet board to hold my patterns. I'm using it for Backyard Leaves and it rocks. Look how much I got done tonight.


Lastly, yesterday I cranked out hat #8 and #9 for the Dulaan project.

I still haven't killed off that skein of Homespun.

Thursdays are Usually For What the Hell is This?

What a day. My boss is in Thailand right now. One of my co-workers came down with the flu and asked if I could come in at 11 instead of 1:30 today. I said okay and got a friend to sit for my four year old. This morning my friend called to say that she and her daughter are sick and they couldn't sit for me. I called about ten parents in my son's class. The one unlucky mom who was home to answer her phone got stuck with him.

The shop was steadily busy all day. I was able to squeeze in potty breaks and lunch between customers. Then, around 5, I had a customer who bought a skein of Blue Heron Confetti (gorgeous, handpainted railroad yarn) and asked me to wind it into a ball for her. It took probably 30 minutes to wind that sucker. Meanwhile everyone in the universe came into the shop. It was slammed for the next two hours. The credit card machine ran out of paper and I couldn't get the replacement in right. Finally a customer offered to help me with it and got it fixed in about a minute. And then the project help instructor never showed up! So I'm one tired knitter after working a nine hour day for the first time in seven years. But I had lots of great mail waiting for me when I got home. I'll share it with you tomorrow.

And now when thinking about what to feature for this week's WTHIS I decided to look across the Atlantic. One can always depend on the French for puzzling designs. I finally settled on this.



It's some sort of Frankensteinian melange of texture which seems to incorporate pieces of last week's featured garment. The patchwork, the tatters. Why? Why? Why?

Napoleon Vs. Fender

This site is pretty cute. Especially when there is a four year old watching it while dancing with pajama bottoms on his head.

Oh, That Wasn't So Bad

After spending most of my afternoon knitting time just untangling everything I frogged yesterday, I thought the end of body of Retro Prep would be days off. I was wrong.



I won't be able to finish the neckband until Thursday night because I need to get a new needle at work. I didn't buy it tonight because, as I mentioned, I didn't think I'd be here for a few days. And then I want to wait to steek it at Purlygirls on Monday. Give everyone a good scare. Hee hee.

Aw Crap

I spent about two hours at Purlygirls tonight ripping out half the yoke of Retro Prep. I took out several days worth of work. I was so close to finishing! Damn.

(Part of) My Weekend in Photos

Here's an adorable little package from New Hampshire.

Why it's my Sockapalooza socks! And aren't they lovely?

Diagonal Rib Socks from Interweave Knits in Special Blauband
Thanks Hannah!

I've been going around and around and around still on my Retro Prep. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

About 20, increasingly smaller, rounds to go to complete the yoke.

Evidence that I really am knitting Birch.

Eighteen fuzzy rows

Fuzzy leaves

And I've started the second half of Backyard Leaves.

On My Way Out the Door

I'm off to a Sneak screening. I haven't had a chance to pull out the camera yet and snap some pics of my socks.

Yesterday I taught my last of three sessions of my Big Sack class. My students figured out how to bind off the front (it's complicated in the book) and how to mattress stitch the sleeves to the front. They're still working on the backs but at least they left with something that looks very much like part of a sweater. I also worked until closing yesterday since the shop owner is out of town. I briefly touched base with my family for dinner ("Hi, kids! Remember me?") then went out to meet up with my best knit-buddies. I worked and worked and worked on Retro Prep but I'm still a good thirty rounds from the end on my yoke. At least the rounds are under 200 stitches now.

Okay, I'm off to my screening and then a birthday party. If I'm not in bed by 11 tonight I believe I will die.