the Akamai Knitter

After the relief I felt once I finished the Gloves of Death, I was determined to knock off another such project on my list. So I pulled out a UFO that’s been sitting around since October and stubbornly got to work.

And thanks to many insomnia-ridden nights, my hard work paid off.

Pattern: Queen of Cups

Yarn: Opal Uni-Color, Color 1415

Needles: Size 1US/2.25mm and Size 0US/2.0mm (two circulars)

Started: 10/23/07

Finished: 1/30/08

Modifications: After working 2 repeats of the pattern on the leg in size 1US needles, I switched to size 0US needles.

I’ve come to the conclusion that it can’t always be total mind-blowing love when it comes to a project. So while I like the pattern and the yarn is nice, I just didn’t love knitting these socks.

I can’t pinpoint any one thing that set me off this project. Maybe it was an accumulation of little things.

The size 0US needles annoyed me. The yarn wasn’t Shibui. In fact, it felt like its polar opposite being somewhat scratchy. The pattern seemed just a mite too busy for the eye.

Or maybe I’m just getting really picky about what I what knit. Really though, is that so wrong?

Even though it wasn’t love, I still like these socks and I think I’ll get a lot of use out of them. Knitting the majority of them on the tiny size 0US needles makes them fit just right on my foot. The Opal yarn will soften up after they’re washed and I do like the intricacy of the pattern. (I know I said it seemed busy, but a girl is allowed to seesaw back and forth.)

All in all, a successful project.

Now do I cast on for another pair of socks? Cross out another project or two from my list? Or do I sink into decadence? So many choices, so little time in the day.

Maybe I’ll just snuggle a kitten while I decide.

Happy Thursday everyone! The weekend will soon be upon us!

The gloves weren’t the only things that I got done over the weekend. I also managed to finish the Pagoda Lace Twist Socks.

Pattern: Sedona by Lisa Dykstra

Yarn: Shibuiknits Sock in Pagoda

Needles: size 1US/2.25mm Knitpicks Circulars

Started: 1/15/08

Finished: 1/26/08

No modifications.

From the lace panels to the little twisted stitches, everything about this pattern tickled my senses. It was easy to memorize, which made it a wonderful project to take with me whenever I was out and about. But it also had enough going on to keep me interested so that I didn’t grow bored.

What can I say about this yarn that hasn’t already been said? Not much it seems. :)

I will say that I adore this particular color. The burnt orange isn’t something I would normally pick out for myself, but I fell in love with it when I saw Chris and Nova knitting with it.

Then I knew that it would be just perfect for this pattern. The dark pumpkin brings to mind sunsets in the desert. At least, that’s what my imagination dreams of. How could it not be perfect for a pattern named Sedona?

Another proof positive that this was a well loved project was the fact that I’ve since been hit hard with post-project depression. Nothing really seems to grab my interest like these socks did. I haven’t really felt the urge to cast on for anything new and I keep grappling for inspiration.

I’m sure this will pass, in the meantime I’ve been spending my time flipping through my patterns and going through my stash. Not even the promise of more Shibui has broken through this fugue.

What do you do when you’ve got post-project blues?

At last! The gloves are finished!

Pattern: Annemor #11 from Selbuvotter by Terri Shea

Yarn: Knitpicks Palette in Marine Heather and Cream

Needles: size 2US/2.75mm Knitpicks Harmony Circulars

Started: 12/26/07

Finished: 1/25/08

No modifications.

I cannot tell you how happy I am that these are done. Did you see the fingers? All done. No more fingers. Did you know I hate knitting fingers? I might have mentioned it, but it bears repeating. I hate it. Yup. Hate it.

The thumbs I don’t mind so much. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with thumbs. Not so with the fingers. They seem to go on forever. Even though the thumbs on these gloves seem enormous, there were still only two to do. Much more manageable then eight long fingers.

Did I mention the thumbs are ginormous?

Other then that I did enjoy the knitting. The pattern is beautiful. I loved doing the back of the hand. I loved the cuff. That part of the glove knitted up quickly and painlessly.

In fact, I’m thinking of throwing on a pair of mittens on the needles. Mittens have no fingers. Only thumbs. Like I said, I can handle thumbs. Thumbs are manageable.

Hrm. Mittens.

It was another outrageous night at Aloha Knitters. I had told blogless Michelle that I was cheering for the Green Bay Packers all the way once the Dallas Cowboys got eliminated from the playoffs. To test the waters of my allegiance she asked me if I’d be willing to wear the cheesehead hat. I told her not only would I wear it, I’d be willing to document it.

True to her word, she brought the cheesehead hat to the next meeting which was last night. True to my word, I wore it and had it documented.

I decided if i was going to wear a ridiculous hat and have it paraded on the Internet then I was going to do it in style. So I give you “Opal in the Cheesehead Hat“.

Michelle also donned the Cheesehead Hat to show her fightin’ Pack spirit!

Those weren’t the only antics of the night. Michelle has been working on a scarf hoodie in some gorgeous colors. She graciously modeled it for us. :)

Just imagine how that scarf will warm you up in the frigid north!
Veronica and blogfree Ariana were comparing sock heels. I’m not so sure that there was much technical discussion involved as there were giggles.

Good times. Good times.

Here’s wishing you good times this weekend! I promise to come back with some actual knitting content soon. :-)

The sweetest reward for doing what I do on this blog is making someone smile. Now that Karen B. awarded me by saying “You Make My Day” I feel that I’ve done just that.

According to the rules I must name 10 people whose blogs bring me happiness and inspiration. This was tough to do as I read a number of blogs and they all bring me a little something each day. After heavy deliberation here is who I chose in no particular order.

Alice of missalicefaye for her inspirational lace work. She continues to inspire in everything she does despite the time crunch she faces what with combining graduate school and knitting glorious shawls.

Cookie of Shut Up & Knit for being able to continually crack me up and spur me on despite her predilection for pink.

Jane of lacefreak for constantly inspiring me with her beautiful lace shawls, as well as her stash acquisitions. She’s an enabler folks, so beware. ;)

Barb aka Acornbud for her gorgeous photos of Hawai’i, the land I love, as well as her beautiful beadwork and (of course) her lovely knitting. I’m privileged to be able to know her in “real life” and she’s not only a constant source of inspiration, but a well of unending support.

Fleegle’s blog also for her lovely lacework, as well as her humorous tales.

Robbyn of The Yarnpath for the beautiful designs she does with her own hand dyed yarns.

Lisa of A Little Bit of Knit for her original designs and the fact that she has just about the cutest dog on the ‘net. Brodie always puts a smile on my face.

Jeanne of Jeanne Knits, she’s always inspiring me to try different patterns and different yarn.

Chris of Drop Stitch Knitter for she always manages to enable me one way or another, thus inspiring me to try something new.

Nova of novamade for not only are her pies delicious to look at, so is her knitting.

Those are the ten I came up with, but I wanted to give an honorable mention to my friend Shell as she’s a very important inspiration in my life. She’s constantly spurring me on to knit different things and to keep going when I falter with not only my knitting but in my life.

I would also like to mention Anne of Knitspot, Roseann of Possesed to Knit, Hattie of Stitch Therapy, and Patrick aka textillian. There are more, but they’re all on my blogroll in my sidebar of the main page.

All of these people inspire me in some way each day. Isn’t that what community is all about?