Olympick'ed out

I haven't had a chance to write just exactly how done I was by the time the Olympics finished. It's hard even now to sit down and want to write about it.

But victory is mine! I completed three good dishcloths and one ugly monstrosity which will be lovingly used by me on all my dirty chores- simply for the fact that it survived being munched by my dog, frogged three times and still I could not get the darn pattern right. It is hideous but functional, and represented more time and hard work than I care to remember. And I will use this dishcloth until it is frayed and worn, holey and faded- because it nearly bested me this Olympics and I (barely) came out on top!

That being said... I have moved on to make a panta out of my lovely Araucania Nature Wool. It's my first time making ribs and increases. I like the way the yarn knits up, too.

The home stretch

Two days left and I'm struggling through a dishcloth that just does not want to be made. First it was eaten, then I've frogged it several times. Finally I just grit my teeth and am working through it, even though I suspect there's a number of errors. I'm not sure why I am finding this particular pattern difficult. But I have lost track so many times of where I was, and I know I've screwed it up. Luckily the varied coloring on the yarn makes it look halfway decent if you aren't trying to see stitches.

This one is obviously not going out in this condition. It will remain here at home as our first one to use. It's not fun anymore. I'm going to crank it out today.

I'm scaling back on my final dishcloth (after I finish this one). I was going to attempt cables but now I am thinking maybe just a simple pattern, on a plain colored yarn so I can keep track of what I am doing. I've yet to try Yarn Overs or Knit togethers, and there's plenty of beginner patterns with those, so maybe I can try something new but not too advanced for my own good.

Stash addition!

Today is yarn day! I came home to find two pounds of dyeable, merino wool for socks waiting for me. Then someone was de-stashing and I siezed the opportunity to augment my growing stash pile. I purchased Koigu KPPPM, 135, three hanks and a copy of the Twister Sisters Sock Workbook

I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but it was a great price and I've heard good things about both the yarn and the book. I can't walk away from a good sale.

I'm getting dishclothed out. I'll be glad to see the flame burn out on the 26th. I've frogged my third dishcloth a couple of times (after it was eaten) and am starting to think this is just not a good pattern for me. I'll give it one more try and then try a different pattern.

Don't be fooled by the cute face

This dog ATE my Olympic dreams!

After two hours of knitting, I lay my dishcloth aside and take a break to check on the laundry and use the ladies room. I come out to find my dishcloth unravelling across the floor, with a munched up bamboo needle in pieces on the floor. The culprit was nowhere to be found, and when I did come across her, she gave me this =>
"I'm soooo not sorry" look!

I'm frustrated. Back to square one tomorrow. No more bamboo needles- that's the third she's stalked and killed.

I did manage to take a picture of my Koolaid yarn knitted into a small swatch.

Two Down....

My second dishcloth is done! This one came out really pretty (the color's not that accurate, it's the color of sweet butter) but it seemed to be a really tight knit and normally I am not that tight of a knitter. Maybe it's just the cotton against the bamboo.

This picture does show the pattern well- it's a simple but pretty texture and I'm sure it will be well received.

Knitting Olympics

My Olympic challenge is making a series of dishcloths. My goal is to basically learn how to follow patterns, keep my stitches even and learn how to do trickier things before I attempt them on a larger scale (cables, etc). I cast on last night and have made quite a bit of progress! It's a good thing I am working on them now, since I have some major projects due in the next two weeks and I want to get as ahead as possible, in case I can't find the time towards the end. I must finish my goal!

I'm a bit sad I started off using the multicolored yarn. There's a diamond pattern in that dishcloth that I worked painstakingly over, but you can't see it that easily. My next one will be a raised triangle pattern on a soft buttery yellow yarn, so hopefully the pattern will show up better. But I am very fond of blues and yellows together- the colors are so cheery that I couldn't help but use it first.

I'm glad I am giving these to someone else- they are too pretty for me to use. I'm not sure I could bear to scrub and clean with these after all my hard work!

KoolAid pic

Here's some of my dyed yarn- should make for some interesting (but much beloved) socks. I did one small batch of pastels, and one more "jewel" tones.

Experimentations with KoolAid

I'm sporting some blue stained fingers and a scent that can only be described as "fruitilicious". And a triumphant grin- I have entered the world of dyeing yarn! (note to self: invest in plastic gloves)

I was going to save the KoolAid dyeing for a rainy afternoon this month but being the instant gratification person I am I broke down and did it already! The yarn is drying now and I'll have pictures later. Most importantly, I had a lot of fun.

I'm not sure how much I like the results. I was going for a nice carribean color scheme but started playing around with it and now it looks a bit like Rainbow Bright. I'm usually not a "use every color in the crayon box" type of person so I'm a bit in shock- or maybe dazed by the fruity powders. One of the yarns I made in deeper tones than the other pastel ones, just to see how it would turn out. I used Brown Sheep Nature Spun in the sports weight, and this will probably knit up to be the wildest pair of wool socks I will ever own. It will probably be the first pair of socks I ever make, but that's a ways off.

Anyway, I have a much better idea of what kind of colors, techniques, etc I'll be trying for my second batch.

Flexing my needles: I'm so ready for the Olympics! I think they have 2500+ people signed up so far. I can't believe how much work that would be... thank you, Yarn Harlot!