shit and double shit

Bad: I dropped a stitch. Good: I recovered it before too much unraveled. Bad: I didn't do such a hot job picking up the stitch again - there's now a noticeable hole in the front of the left side.

Bad: I bound off on the RS when I should have BO on the WS for the left back. So I had to BO the last st entirely and start a new ball of yarn, picking up where I left off. *sigh* This just isn't my day :oP

back to work...

Okay, so I finally made myself pick up my knitting again. I think I was scared to start shaping the left side - the "reverse shapings" part, again. BUT I think I'm getting it. I hope so, anyway. There doesn't seem to be any reversal of shaping required, which is kind of throwing me, making me doubt myself. So. Here's what I've done so far.

I did the V-neck and back shaping for the left side for 11 rows, purling the WS rows and for the RS rows, K1, KRPR, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1. Then on the next row (RS), I bound off the center six sts for the armhole, moving live sts (I think it's the left back, whereas for the right side it was the front part) to my new Clover stitch holder, the little ones I bought last weekend. So right now, it looks like I'm working on the left front section.

I think I'm supposed to purl the WS rows (actually, I'm certain that's what I'm supposed to do). Then for the first RS row, I think I'm supposed to BO 4sts, k to last 3 sts, SSK. The next RS row, I should K1, KRPR, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1. I think. I'll figure it out as I go... For now, back to work.

delinquence + ADD...

Okay, so the Honeymoon Cami - not quite done yet. I haven't made any progress since finishing the right side; the left side remains on the needles, waiting to be picked up again. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to get to it until tomorrow at the earliest. How exciting.

Now, my girls (and some guys) know that I have a history of ADD when it comes to men - I have a short attention span, and I get bored easily. This hasn't been the case for the past oh, year or so, but I'm waiting for another recurrence of my particular condition.

Anyway, evidently I have a bit of the same problem when it comes to knitting as well. I have already decided on two finalists for my next knitting project:

- Second runner-up is another Julia-designed tank top called Asana, and can be found in the latest (Spring '05) edition of Knitty: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTasana.html (level: tangy)

- First runner-up is cowl-sleeve mini-sweater called Cleaves, also in the Spring '05 Knitty: http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTcleaves.html (level: mellow)

The final project will be selected from among these two patterns. Clearly I am leaning toward Cleaves, though I am tempted by the Julia design. I have a fondness for Julia Trice, as I will forever remember her as the lady that taught me (indirectly) the art of the increase and decrease. I figure after the "piquant" Honeymoon Cami, I could handle the "tangy" Asana and the "mellow" Cleaves should (theoretically) be a breeze.

What I need to do is to find out where exactly Julia's LYS is; her little mini-bio at the end of her Knitty pattern indicates she lives in the DC area, and evidently she teaches a knitting class at her LYS. I'm going to go with Stitch DC - not sure which branch, but I can find out...

almost there...

Okay, so I just dove right on in with the right side. And it doesn't look half bad. Of course, I still have to fiddle with the length of the i-cord strap so my nipples aren't on display for the world to see. But more importantly (at least for now) is figuring out how to reverse the shaping for the left side of the cami. I'm trying to remember which decrease method is which - left-leaning/right-leaning. I think I've made quite enough progress for tonight, and choose to leave the rest for tomorrow. And after this project is finished... I get to pick out the yarn for my next one :o)

the other half

Okay, so here's what I have for the other half of the right side (that is, the right front piece).

RS row (1): K1, KRPR, k to last 4 sts, BO 4 sts
WS row (2): P entire row
RS row (3): K1, KRPR, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1
WS row (4): P entire row
Repeat rows (3) & (4) until 3 sts remain.

With remaining 3 sts, make an i-cord 3-5 inches long. Put a safety pin through the live sts, then through the live sts in the back. Position to perfect strap length, then graft together.

I don't know how to graft the strap on - which is where the Vogue knitting techniques book becomes mighty helpful. Need to purchase a copy for myself.

Now that bit of reversal of shaping wasn't too horrible, but now I have to apply all of this to the other side - the left back and left front. Which could be a lot more complicated. But I think I'll leave the left side for tomorrow/Friday, so maybe I won't have to worry about it just yet? :o)

i've figured it out... sorta. half.

Okay, so the right back part I've got, methinks.
RS row (1): BO4 sts, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1
WS row (2): P entire row
RS row (3): K1, KRPR, k to last 3 sts, SSK, k1
WS row (4): P entire row
Repeat rows (3) & (4) until 3 sts remain (so essentially, you're decreasing 2 sts per row until you are down to 3 sts, though the pattern says to decrease 1 st per row)
End with WS (purl) row and place the 3 remaining live sts on a stitch holder

Now the right front part is supposed to be worked like the right back, except with reversed shaping. Question is, do I attach a new skein of yarn to work with this side? Because after the BO of the center (armhole) sts, the working yarn ended up attached to the right back portion. I'm guessing yes. Working on that assumption, time to figure out the reversed shaping part...

this is what happens on no sleep...

I got quite a bit done last night, at least until I was sidetracked by (a) a phone call from a certain someone, and (b) an unexpectedly long AIM conversation with Jaan. For the record, I should not be allowed to operate vehicles, heavy machinery, or AIM after midnight. Because all kinds of wackiness can ensue. At the stroke of midnight, someone should tie me to my bed and... Okay, we'll stop there because that just sounds way too kinky and way too intriguing. Back to the cami progress report.

So last night, I took a deep breath and plunged into what I’d imagined would be a tricky part of the cami – the V-neck/V-back shaping and beginning of the armhole shaping. To my surprise, the shaping was not at all difficult – I just did the decreases at the beginning and end of each RS (right side) row as I had done for the row immediately before dividing the work (k1, KRPR, k past side marker to 3 sts before V-back marker, SSK, k1). The only “tough” decision that had to be made was when to start the armhole shaping (which requires binding off the middle 6 sts). The dilemma arose because the pattern called for 1.5” of V-neck/V-back shaping before doing the armhole shaping, which fell right around the 9th row… Not too bad, right? But the 10th row was a RS row when I needed to end on a WS row so I could do the armhole shaping BO on the RS row. So I had to decide whether to stay a little short or go ahead and overshoot the 1.5” called for. And of course, always one to favor low-cut necklines, I went ahead and did the extra row. I hope I won’t regret that.

So status report: the right front segment is on a second stitch holder, and the right back segment is awaiting the next set of shaping. I hope to finish with the right front and right back segments by tonight. For now, it’s back to the pattern to try to figure out the “reverse shapings as necessary” part.

never mind

I feel stupid(er than usual)... The pattern does not call for 2-points, it calls for straight needles. Which is still a mini-dilemma, because my Denise Interchangeables set only comes with one pair of US7 needle heads. Ahhh, but methinks there is a way around this, as the cami divides so that you keep the right and left back sides on a stitch holder or on the circulars while you knit the right and left front sides on the straight needles. So what I can do now is to transfer the live stitches to a stitch holder and work the other stitches on straight needles. It will be a little bit tricky, but it can be done...

eureka! and yet not...

Okay, so I not only finished knitting up the body of the cami last night, but also started the neck shaping - though I use the word "started" very loosely. I placed the markers as called for in the pattern - K43 sts, place marker, K85 sts, place marker, K43 sts. Except the instructions call for knitting 172 stitches total, when there are actually only 170 on the needles. Which stumped me. I did some weird combination of 43 and 42 stitches, alternating the two. But apparently what I want is for the front and the back to be symmetrical on either side of the V-neck. Which is logical, right? But at 3:30am, I'm not known for being my brightest. So I'll just have to re-position the stitch markers so that there are 42 stitches on either side of the V in the front, and 43 stitches on either side of the V in the back - symmetry :o)

I know I've been talking about how intimidating I've found some of the techniques - first decreasing, then increasing... And done quite well when it came down to actually knitting the damn thing. However, knitting on double points really is intimidating to me. I've literally never done it before, and I'm nervous about messing up royally. Not to mention, I don't even own a pair of US6 double pointed needles.

So for today, my goal is to slowly and carefully read and re-read the instructions, and try to teach myself the art of working on the 2-points. Maybe by the time I'm ready to turn theory into practice, I'll actually have a set of needles to work with. At least I have managed to get my hands on a copy of the Vogue book of knitting techniques to help me out...

Back to work. Y'know, work really gets in the way of the whole knitting thing :oP

i must, i must, i must increase my bust...

Okay, enough sillyness, I don't even remember what that's from. Anyway... The point is that I am done shaping the bust of the cami. I just have to do straight stockinette until the body measures 12 inches. Problem is, it's kind of hard to tell whether I'm currently at 11.25" or 11.5" due to the whole knitting in the round thing. I have to keep the knitting all puckered and squashed together so none of the stitches slide off the needles. I'll try measuring again before deciding how many more rounds I need to knit - anywhere from 3 to 5. Maybe I can stop at the happy medium of four more rounds?

So... I will (1) finish writing a response to Quinci's email; (2) finish knitting the body of the cami, leaving the neck and armhole shaping for later this week; (3) go to bed. That's the plan, let's see if I stick to it :oP

TODAY :: knitting completed: too little; money spent: too much

I took a shopping break today. Knitting can do a lot to solve life's problems (or at least help with the forgetting), but some things require something a little more intensive - therapy of the retail kind. Yes, I could spend my money lying on someone's couch, whining about all my problems, but I personally would rather spend a fraction of that money wandering the local shopping mall and end the day with an armful of stuff to show for my efforts. But that's just me.

I knew I was in trouble the instant I walked into the department store and spied the matching thongs to go along with a bra I bought a few weeks ago. And when I walked into Sephora and started spritzing men's cologne onto the tester strips, only to capture the stubborn interest of one of the salespeople... I ended up walking away having purchased a new blush (how appropriate that I would wear an item of makeup named "Orgasm" - though there have been precious few of those in my life lately - at least I can have a cosmetic-induced flush :oP), along with a handful of men's cologne samples. Great, another reminder that I don't have a man in my life. One of my great weaknesses, that - I just love it when men smell good. An especially delicious man-scent has the ability to make me go just a little bit weak in the knees. I've been known to go up to strange men and bury my face in their necks just to smell their cologne. Then again, I've been known to do a lot of rather unconventional things... Back to shopping. I also managed to identify what I think will be my new signature scent for spring/summer - Trish McEvoy #3 Snowdrop & Crystal Flowers - and obtain a sample vial of the fragrance. I like to test out a new fragrance for a few days to see if I really do like it or if it's just a passing fancy. And then a bunch of assorted shirts and other items of clothing. They were on sale, though, so they don't count. Until I get my credit card bill... :oP

Simple shopping expeditions seem to turn into odd adventures in Jieun-Land... (Then again, simple anything can turn into another story to add to my repertoire.) For example, the high school boy who asked me out at American Eagle Outfitters - so adorable I wanted to pat his head and pinch his cheeks (not that head and not those cheeks, mind out of gutter!); either I really don't look my age, or he's into the whole Mrs. Robinson thing. Or the baseball team (yep, an entire baseball team) that whistled and commented on various parts of my anatomy as I walked past them in the food court. I'm convinced it's all due to ass jeans version 2.0. I thought ass jeans version 1.0 were incredible until I got the new pair. They have this miraculous ability to disguise my flat butt and replace it with a darned good imitation of an attractive ass. Fantastic. Now I just need some item of clothing that'll boost my B-cups into eye-opening, jaw-dropping boob-age :oP

What I didn't get to do today was pick up those stitch holders, which are kind of necessary for the next stage of the Honeymoon Cami. Ahh, but I'm forgetting that I am the proud owner of a set of Denise Interchangeable Needles - which means I can create a makeshift stitch holder from the various components of the set. I knew that $50 investment would pay off!

don't count your chickens...

Bad news. I celebrated the recovery of slipped stitches too soon. I've discovered an extra stitch, but can't identify where it comes from. So now I have to make a decision. I can keep on going and omit an increase on this round, or I can rip out stitches and try to figure out where the extra stitch appeared. My best guess is that either I picked up one stitch too many when I was picking up those stitches, or I made a mistake in the previous increase round. What to do what to do... Okay, still can't identify the mistake, so I think I'll have to go ahead with the increase round, omitting a single increase. Dammit I really didn't want to make a mistake with this project... But then, maybe this is why this is merely my prototype version of the Honeymoon Cami and not the ultimate, final end product...

pictures posted - sort of

I still haven't been able to get them on here directly. I've had to post them to an online album instead. They can be found here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/313925513KErWOz

I'll keep posting updated pictures as I take them. I'll probably wait until I finish shaping the bust to post another set. Those photos will document my pride and joy - before I potentially ruin everything as I start on the V-neck and armholes. I have to admit that I did try knitting a sleeveless top before, but the neck and strap shaping tripped me up. It's the whole "reverse shaping as necessary" thing that stumps me. So I guess this might be where the official Honeymoon Cami KAL (Knit Along) blog/bulletin board may become useful. We shall see...

And now, back to work.

disaster - almost

Okay, so I suppose I'm being a tad melodramatic, but not too much - considering I almost lost a big chunk of my knitting. A dozen stitches slipped off the right needle, sending my heart plummetting to the floor. Luckily, I managed to grab a stitch holder (though it ended up being pretty useless - read on) and salvage those stitches. So I won't have to rip out any stitches or even re-knit any stitches. Whew!

I did discover that my stitch holders are way too big for this project. I should have thought of it earlier. I've mostly used larger needles (sizes US9 through US11, mostly, but on up to US17) on my projects to date, so I didn't realize I would need smaller stitch holders for this project, which is being knit on US7s. I might have time to pick some up tomorrow at my LYS (local yarn store for the uninitiated)... Problem is, most any trip to the yarn store ends up being a marathon yarn lust event. I will literally spend an hour (sometimes longer) browsing and fondling and drooling, and then walk out empty-handed due to indecisiveness. Which, I'm fairly certain, must piss off whoever my shopping companion of the day is, not to mention the store owner... Maybe for once I can control myself, and focus only on the notions rack, ignoring the shelves overflowing with beautiful, vibrant, silky-soft skeins and hanks of yarn...

Okay, I am getting ridiculously excited by my yarn fantasies, so I think it may be time to return to my knitting... I'm coming up on an increase round, which is fantastic, as knitting stockinette can get painfully tedious. In fact, I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to knitting scarves after tackling this more complicated project.

"never mix pleasure with commitment"

I've been working non-stop on the cami all day. Okay, I lie. Well, more like exaggerate. I worked constantly between getting up and dinnertime, and again from post-dinner until Desperate Housewives - so essentially, noon-5 and 7-9. And now I'm taking this timeout to watch DH and write this.

So how much progress have I made? The waist part is all done, and I'm working on shaping the bust. As intimidated as I was by the increases, I'm discovering they're not so bad. Well, that's assuming I'm doing it properly. Too late to turn back, I'll just keep doing what I've been doing and hope for the best.

I was kind of a late convert to DH, but now I'm totally hooked. I wait all week for this show (this one and Alias, one of my other guilty pleasures). I seem to collect at least one quotable every week. Tonight's is a piece of advice from town slut Edie (not to be confused with town whore Maisy), who has no problem mixing business with pleasure, but dispenses the advice: "Never mix pleasure with commitment." New motto?

knitting in my undies...

Well, so far I have put in between 7 and 8 hours of work on the Cami. I've just spent two hours sitting here on my bed, knitting in my undies (is there anything I don't do naked?). The decreases for the waist shaping are done, though I do have approximately 2.25" (~15 rounds) more of straight knit before I can get started on shaping the bust. That's where the increases come in, and as I'm far more comfortable with decreases than with increases... I may have to go back to the drawing board - in this case, the much hated but quite necessary practice swatch.

I do hope I did the decreases properly. The pattern calls for two types of decreases - left-leaning and right-leaning - for symmetry. Symmetry there is, but I wonder if in the wrong direction, which would be the case if I've switched the two types of decreases. Oh well, I followed the instructions, and the mere existence of symmetry is the important part. I choose to focus on the positive.

Speaking of positivity (and negativity)... I wish I'd decided to work on this project two weeks ago, as it would have gotten my mind off the disappointments of last week and helped me ward off the mopeyness. Even so, I'm glad I have the cami now to distract me from current disappointments and frustrations.

Just a little bit more, then I'll don my nightie and go to bed. Really... I'll just finish the waist part, and leave the tricky bust part for tomorrow.

whew!

What a pleasure to switch back to the "good" yarn after practicing my increases/decreases using crappy acrylic yarn. Oh, the joy of having mercerized cotton slip-slide across my Denise Interchangeables...

The knitting is also going much faster now that I've abandoned my efforts to retrain myself to depend less on my currently-injured left index finger. I've just slapped a bandaid on the paper cut to help me suck it up and ignore the twinges of pain so I can knit faster, but at the cost of feeling the individual stitches beneath my finger.

The great thing about knitting in the round is not having to worry about switching back and forth between knit and purl. I like knit, I like purl, I just don't like having to alternate between the two. And since knitting in the round eliminates the need to purl, progress is considerably more rapid. I should be fine as long as I remember to place the markers as necessary. Perhaps I should invest in those tiny padlock-like stitch markers, in case I forget...

snags

I'm realizing just how difficult it is to knit with a paper cut on the left index finger, squarely across the pad of the finger - an area that comes into regular contact with the needle each time I make a new stitch. I've been trying to compensate by shifting the burden to the middle finger of my left hand, but it feels awkward and progress is slow. At this rate, my prototype version of the Honeymoon Cami is going to take an inordinate amount of time to complete... Which isn't such a tragedy, as the weather is still chilly and gloomy - not exactly bare-skin, shorts-and-cami weather. So perhaps I should focus on the spring scarf instead? Another snag not directly related to the knitting process itself; I've been trying to post pictures of my knitting to this blog, but am having trouble with this Hello/Picasa software. With a bit of luck, I'll have my photos posted shortly...

not much progress...

Alas, I have made no progress on the Honeymoon Cami since I finished the lace ribbing border two days ago. I want to pull out my practice yarn and practice some of the increase/decrease techniques before I apply them to the shaping portion of the cami.

I've also been sidetracked by the skinny spring scarf I've been working on with the lovely shell-pink baby alpaca-silk blend yarn (Blue Sky Alpaca's Alpaca&Silk in Blush-i33) I purchased at Stitch DC last weekend. Such pretty yarn, but progress is slow. I don't want to risk making a mistake on the lace rib stitch pattern, because then I'd have to start all over again... for the 4th time :oP The yarn is also very "tricksy" (to borrow a term from Julia of Honeymoon Cami fame), and splits rather easily. At least I seem to have figured out the right tension to use with this non-elastic yarn. The first time I worked with this yarn (in an equally lovely silver-blue), the lack of elasticity discouraged me so much that I surrendered the yarn to my mom and her crochet hook. Not this time, not this time...