crochet hyperbolic cacti
Originally uploaded by Margaret Wertheim.
check this out! Today I am proud to be a math geek and a fiber artist. The cacti are all crochet hyperbolic plane 'sculptures' ....it is the organic brilliance found through mathematics that is responsible for such amazing structures. i am speechless and so wanting to make my own cacti crochet garden!
sorry, no picture yet (until I purchase a digital camera- any affordable suggestions?)
I have proudly completed another project- the Ribs and Lace tank from Interweave spring knit with dark purple string of pearls...-and it looks amazing. More impressively is the ability to wear the gorgeous tank/camisole comfortably and 'safely' without a bra. I'm a small b cup, but still, I am very impressed with the functionality of this lovely little number. Stay tuned for FO pics... hopefully coming soon.
FO number 2 in recent knitting accomplishments from last week is a yummy mohair scarf for mom knit with ggh's soft kid (in a pink/salmon color). It has taken me way to long to finish this long, boring, stockinette st. scarf- and two balls later it looks so pretty. I can hardly wait until her birthday to give it to her.
In cooking news, my angel food cake was a success! my very first attempt at making the light and airy cake, and aside from it being a little lopsided upon inversion to the rack out of the cake pan- it was perfect. I am very proud of my accomplishment, and I enjoyed every delightful and victorious bite with my mom and grandma. I have to give my knitting experience some credit for my recent cooking and baking successes. I have come to a theory that as long as I can follow directions really really well, I can cook just about anything. I realized that in the past few years of challenging myself, I have learned from my knit adventures just how to follow directions meticulously and how to figure out and make up for directional errors.
So yay to knitting and the benefits to the rest of my life.
My next project sweater is the promised gatsby girl pullover from Interweave Knits last year (fall or winter I think- see previous post.. :-p). I'm using one of my all time favorite yarns ever; rowan's RYC silk wool dk in light blush pink. The pattern is terribly addicting and since casting on yesterday morning, I have already completed the first 5 inches. (the pattern is written to be knit flat, but i hate 'second side syndrom' and have altered a few details so i can knit the sweater in the round)
For my lace cravings, I've plowed head-first into the mystery stole 3 knitalong thingie through yahoo groups. I've finished the first 100 rows, and love watching it develop as I knit. I'm using misti alpaca lace wt alpaca in a light green, and I am knitting it with the beads with a white pearl (an optional feature).
and finally, in advance prep for christmas, i've begun a sweater in the RYC silk wool dk (again- I really love this yarn!) for my mr. sweetie man. another interweave knits pattern. more later- when i can picture update my in-progress knits
I hope to have in-progress pics up soon!
I think I am channeling martha stewart this week. It is ninety - something degrees by the time I sit down to breakfast, and by mid-day the baking bug has bitten me again. Yesterday, I succeeded at my very first attempt at a delicious Italian lemon cornbread shortbread tea cookie recipe; I even taught myself how to knead dough from an online tutorial! I am proud, and the cookies were a reward in themselves.
Today, in honor of our day of Independence, I am celebrating with dessert again. I am feeling fearless and a little more adventurous; I am diving right into my first ever angelfood cake.
I made my list, bought the appropriate pan, flour, sugar, et tous ingredients....as well as the necessary heaving whipping cream, blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries to be added later as garnish.
I am hopefull and eager as I am about to christen my brand new cake pan.
A thousand wishes to all for a happy, safe, and lovely mid-week holiday.
I am so close to being done with my gorgeous ribs and lace tank... I can barely wait to finish sewing in all the ends, and block it before I get to show it off to all the world. Stay tuned and look for a very proud FO picture within the next week....
In other finishing news... I am also on the home stretch with my pink sock# (the seduction socks I'm working on).
Next project....hmmmm....well, i'm committed to an unofficial KAL with my knitting pal Kiwi to knit the gatsby girl pullover. problem is i don't have all the yarn i need to knit the entire thing. anyone out there wanna trade for something or sell some of their rowan cashsoft dk in dark sea green (about 10 balls) or about 6 balls of silk wool in lt. pink?
besides the longsleeve sweater i won't be wearing anytime soon in this 90+ degree heat....! I just ordered the alene camisole and boy short pattern set from white lies designs.... and am eagerly awating the arrival.
in sewing news, I have pulled my machine out of storage, blown off the dust and started stitching up a storm. I'm just playing right now, but in my adventures with the machine, i've completed 1.5 circular needle cases, 1 everything case (circular & straights etc), and 1 straight needle case.
in secret knitting news, i'd love to share my other knitting project with you, but it's a surprise b-day present and until the blessed day passes, I must keep the details hush hush. it's killing me! can't wait to post a pic with her and 'it' when i give it to her.
ciao for now! and happy summer knitting to all!
ribs and lace tank
Originally uploaded by lady.cashmere.
work in progress... here is my beautiful ribs and lace tank i was just blogging about... ain't it pretty? the color is a little brighter in the picture, it's actually a dark purple and the yarn is string of pearls by muench. I ordered mine online from one fine yarn (see link at bottom of blog) and was very impressed with the customer service, prices, shipping, and speediness of delivery. (my order even came with a few little candies! :-)
Look for the finished tank soon... I can't wait to show it off...and wear it!
string of pearls from one fine yarn (.com)a
little wallet bag
Originally uploaded by lady.cashmere.
look what i did! the pattern is from knittingdaily.com and the yarn is by patons. it's a lovely soy and wool blend (i think it's called sws).
I loved knitting with it, the color selection was very pretty, and it is almost fool-proof to felt with.
I knit this bag up and felted it in about 2 days total. I am in love with it. I think I might play with her fabulous pattern an try to make a mamma size version that will hold more junk (and hide a knitting project while i'm out and about!)
I have given in...surrendered... to my over-enthusiastic need to be knitting on a brand new project every day of the week. Hello. I am a knit-a-holic. I am powerless when faced with my creative passions and fiber. This has caused a great deal of knitting frustration, and instead of (as i of course imagined) getting lots of things done all at once, I have gotten nothing done. In fact, many days I end up walking away from my knitting all together thinking I will never finish anything and it's hopeless. Meanwhile, I observed a talented and dear knitter friend of mine (you know who you are :-) plug away at her one project at a time... and finish countless items! One right after the other. I desired to feel such gratification- and through much inner knitter soul searching, I realized I would only obtain such a feeling through dire and drastic measures.
So I took action. I packed up my stash and put it in organized bins and out of immediate site. it's in fact in a storage locker. the storage is walking distance, and really a quick jog when i need a ball for what ever project- but far enough away that i can't just start any old new project at a whim. I know, you're horrified- right? The thought of it terrified me too. how will i ever know what's in there if i can't see it?! here's the funny thing about 'the stash'. it becomes an intimate part of our psyche. we know it inside and out, and when it's out of sight and reach, sadly enough, we still know of every ball that exists.
Once i competed the extraction process of me from my comfort yarn... I got down to business and an amazing happened. I learned to focus. I am proud to say I have almost completed the ribs and lace tank from interweave spring 2007. I finished my first pair of adult socks for my special man. he loves them, and i'm so proud to have finished a pair of socks in under a month! I'm working on my second pair of socks for me- the seduction socks from spring online interweave free patterns. I finished one of my pretty pink seduction socks and am turning the heel of the second!
I am so proud of myself and am living proof that even those of us with clinical attention span issues can indeed learn to focus on, and finish our knit projects!
I have actually been (technically) writing and revising this pattern... this may be the 9th revision...and the revision that takes it into version that resembles barely anything of the original- I think I maybe one of the few who may be able to relate them...
I'm working on an uber feminine, sexy, yet comfy (knit with my favorite cotton blend), corset-tank for the coming spring and summer months. I am overflowing with way too many ideas for this one- so it may be one in a series. I had to slow myself down or I'd be creating a 3-sleeved, diagonal-cropped top cardigan and perhaps forget to mention much about the finishing. I am using a clever arrangement of cable, stitch-count, changing stitch count, and close watch on movement of stitches and gauge to ensure nothing is too tight, and certainly not loose. don't want my cotton 'corset' to stretch. and i don't want it to prevent me from sneaking an icecream. I want it to HIDE my ice cream....
I'm using Goa, one of my absolute favorite cotton/acrylic yarns to knit with ever. They make it in a bulky, worsted and sport weight. the stuff wears like iron. I crocheted myself a mesh farmers market bag, and it held glass milk bottles every sunday when mom borrowed it. 8 months and going strong with miminal stretch/wear and tear...
I hope to have pics up soon so I can shop off my lastest masterpiece. I must brag, I'm quite proud you see. I know I wrote the pattern, but keep pinching myself. My first test knitter is very special. She knit my original version- a simplified tank, with a hint of princess seams at the waist, cables running from the bottom ribbing up to the top of the shirt, becoming the strap over the shoulder, then continuing into the garment down the back to the ribbing. The tank was knit to be fitted a little longer to just a hair above her hips and a touch modest in front with a lower neck in back, with fewer cables. I hope she lets me put a picture of her up. she's just gorgeous and did a wonderful job. I'm so proud of her,...and I think it might have been her project to really learn cables as a project to do together with her step mom.
And yes, it will be available on the blog- hopefully I shall have some sort of propper blog or site by then. Thank you again for the amazingly sweet and flattering reply to my fingerless gloves. I wrote the pattern based on what I would want, taking into consideration the comments and 'if only' 's I heard from fellow knitters.
I welcome any suggestions- I am inspired by every knitter I meet. Ideas come from everywhere...
can't wait to show you! I need to knit some more...
ciao for now
check out these beautiful FO's from a few of my talented fiber friends. The "Mt Tam Mitts" are my official (ahem ahem, official business here, important stuff to follow...:) first 'published' pattern. Well, published locally and available for purchase at my friendly neighborhood yarn shop (Marin Fiber Arts)
How did a year go by again? I admit it mom. you are right. I am finally agreeing with you. This year is the year time sped up and a year no longer feels like a year in 'real-time'. Holidays, events, weekends and seasons fly past and by the time I finally get my current age correct 9 times out of 10 when asked, I am turning 1 year older.
I received some super news this morning that rings of 'happy birthday to me' from the stars of fiber, passion and creativity (my 'maya religion') watching over me. I can return to the dance studio in january! I love to dance. I began dancing, ballet & tap, when I was 5 and continued to dance until 2002. Because of injuries and back/neck injuries, I was unsure if I'd ever dance again recreationally (let alone be able to take classes again). My current passion is modern and jazz- I can barely contain myself I am so excited. I'd love to try other forms that focus on core strength (like belly dancing, some african dance).
I don't need anything else for my birthday. just a dance class. no- the news is enough. My life feels like it began all over again today. new possibilies blew wide open and hopes that were on hold are alive again.
life is good.
Ms Crafty has been busy .... as one of the first to knit up my Mt Tam Mitts. They are just beautiful... and I am getting a little misty. I'm so proud of my little-pattern-that-could.
I wrote the pattern as an answer to the many requests (and frustration at the gap in pattern support )for fingerless glove/gauntlet/fingerless mitts I hear while working at the Yarn Shop. The patterns available were either too simple in shape/style and without a partial thumb or no gusset at all written into the pattern... or they were very elaborate and beautiful (ie time consuming, advanced, and expensive to knit)
I designed a pattern that seemed to meet the requests I heard, and prayed the public would like them :-)
Mt Tam Mitts are my first attempt at writing not only a glove pattern, but a first time writing a multiple sized pattern. Fingers and toes crossed...
I've seen a few 1/2 finished and almost finished pairs... and they sure look nice!
I'm so proud. (Just need to sort out the thumb section....and edit it one more time...)
I finished knitting my alpaca scarf, added bottle caps/balled-up tin foil/random odd objects- to my scarf from the wrong side and rubber-band them in place with the lumps sticking up on the right side. The fun begins ... I just put it in the wash to felt.... I am very excited to see the results!
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