AnotherPurl :: a knitter's life

Here I am - Knitter #3

Today (fine, yesterday), the Yarn Harlot commented about popularity and knitting patterns and broke knitters up into different categories based on their response to popular patterns.  Unsurprisingly to those that know me I am a knitter #3.  I see what is popular, but I have a tendency even for the patterns I fall desperately in love with to knit them rather late.

A case in point is the Bird in Hand mittens, which I saw all over blog land a year or so ago.  I bought yarn to make them, bought the pattern and then they languished unstarted.  I will probably get to them later this year or sometime next year.  Hopefully, if I am smart, before it gets too cold to even think about taking my time and doing a good job.  The endpaper mitts were also on my list of favorites, but have mostly met the same end.  My queue is full of some other examples of this phenomenon, though I eventually either take the item out of my queue or (slightly more frequently) finally knit it.

A non-knitting example?  Harry Potter.  While I didn't wait until all of the books came out to read them, I did wait until there was a fairly largish gap between books so the noise about the series could die out a bit.  I enjoyed the books a lot more by waiting than reading them at the top of one of the hype cycles. 

I know that my gut reaction to something popular is to go far away.  There is something about the cult of the popular that makes it (the book, the project, the tv show, what have you) feel to me less like a choice and more like a dictate.  Nothing irks me more than someone else dictating what I am going to like.  Heck, it is the sole reason why I don't like the Sound of Music.

Umm, and well, the image is unrelated but so necessary. 

dashing off to the gym

Just a quick post.

So, tomorrow I'm planning on downloading the Meeresrauschen socks.  I have a contrast yarn, and I want to try a little bit of the sock pattern in the comfort of my own home before I go vacation. 

I'll probably bring the diamond gansey socks I'm working on as well.  It's not much in the way of socks, but at this point I can do the gansey ones almost in my sleep.  Good for when I just want to sit around and stare at the other people around or look at the ocean!

race report: applefest half marathon

Hollis, NH is a beautiful town with well maintained roads, and gorgeous scenery.  Yesterday's Applefest (race results are up!) went from the Hollis Brookline High School up and down the hills of Hollis and Nashua, NH.  We passed Silverlake Park, went through some residential areas, passed a couple of paddocks (with and without horses).  The air was brisk and clear with the temperature under 70 and the humidity relatively low.  Perfect running weather.

My friend David is a great pacer (he remembered his watch), so I worked on keeping up with him for the first half.  The second hillier half he went on ahead as the pace and hills started to tell on me.  I walk-jogged (mostly jogged) most of the next two miles until I saw a woman running ahead.  She looked like she had a plan.  She was walking one or two telephone pole distances and then walking for a similar distance.  I started using her timing and eventually caught up.  We walk-jogged the rest of the course finishing in under 2:30.  Hi, Victoria!

My time: 2:28:57

Not bad considering my training was differently stupid from the spring half marathon.  This time around I did long runs and occasional speed work.  Almost no other street runs, and almost all of my long runs were done at about a 12 minute mile pace.  It just makes me wonder how fast I could have been if I hadn't done such a bad job on my training, because even with walking (and hills, lots and lots of hills) I beat my last half marathon time. (The last Boston's Run to Remember shorted the distance so I might have been faster, but the distance wasn't regulation...)

The finish area had finisher medals with an apple and a worm.  Like a lot of finisher medals I've seen lately they are beer bottle openers, which isn't really my style.  But I will put it on the shelf behind my desk at work with all of my other finisher medals.  Better was the food area.  The front half of the food tent was full of stacked bowls of apple crisp, like a pyramid of crisp reaching to the heavens.  There were also cut bagels (decent bagels too), bananas, cookies, cider and possibly a few things I didn't notice.  This race was definitely worth running for the apple crisp.  The slower runners (like myself) were chanting or saying apple crisp like a mantra towards the end. 

I also loved the themed water stations at about every two miles.  We passed Hogwarts and Thriller, though there were other themes along the course. 

I will quite likely do this race again next year only with hill training and a better base.  I think this winter will be a lot of treadmill running, getting my speed and base mileage to a comfy 7-8 miles before I start training for my spring half marathon.

After the race (much later) I eventually got home and finished off the buckeye cake I made for gaming with friends.  It was a lot of fun, but midnight was way past my bedtime!

Applefest!

Tomorrow is the Applefest Half Marathon in Hollis.  Part of me is nervous, because it is my first out of state half marathon and because I have not really been as focused in my training.  All long runs and almost no middle distance runs means less wind.  I will be fine, and my running partner will hopefully keep me on my toes (though he should just go ahead and get the best time he can!).

I don't remember being this nervous with my first half marathon, though I probably was.  What is it about time that makes all things seem scary and huge when they are approaching and then lets them fade into obscurity shortly after finishing?

Here's to wishing myself luck for tomorrow (and double luck for not getting up at quarter of arse-o'clock).

I cannot be trusted

Yesterday I went to Windsor Button over lunch, ostensibly to get another size 6 circular and another batch of size 0 dpns (because 4 needles aren't handy if you want to try the little buggers on).  I knew I wanted to knit a pair of fair isle socks next (we will get into my stupid a little bit later), and while I have one skein of yarn that will work I needed a contrasting skein of yarn.

I did not actually intend to buy the contrasting skein of yarn yesterday.  Now I own a skein of Trekking in a nice ivory color.  It will go very well from the skein of yarn from the Loopy Ewe (purchased as part of the I didn't get to go to the sock summit or Loopy Ewe sock fest earlier this year).  While I want to make the Kikko Hanabishi socks, I will do a much better job if the pattern is stupidly scintillating.

Enter Meeresrauschen (ravelry link).  It has vertical stripes, which I am a bit of a sucker for.  It has a visual motif, aka non-abstract, which is a huge selling point.  And because I am a sad individual, the modeled picture is in a beautiful teal color with a wonderfully contrasting lemon-lime (ish) yarn.  Not that I don't know I can change colors, and will be changing colors, but I do fall for things in the blue family faster than things in the magenta family.

Of course, between finishing my last pair of socks and starting this pair of socks I accidentally (Whoops! *thud*) started another pair of socks.  My latest pair of socks are the Diamond Gansey socks from Wendy's book: Socks from the Toe Up. 

warning: colors much more vivid in person

I started this sock Tuesday night and am about ready to start the gusset.  For me, this is blindingly fast.  I'm not sure if this is because I really love the pattern or the yarn (this is the yarn made by Caroline for Claudia's 2009 MS Fundraiser).  The colors just glow in the sunlight, which made knitting on it this morning a real treat!  This is a wonderful yarn and I am really loving it, though I think part of the reason the sock is working up so fast is that it isn't ribbing... I am definitely all ribbing-ed out.

Now, why I am an idiot.  I was photographing this sock in progress with my finished socks in my bag when I got the battery dead warning from the camera.  So, no photo of the finished socks until I can get home and fix the battery situation. 

Arr!

What's a pirate's favorite sock?

Arrrgyle!

Talk like a pirate day was Saturday.  It was a good day, and despite the MBTA shuttling from Quincy Center to JFK/UMass I was able to get to Davis and help a friend warp her loom for the first time.  Her loom from what I remember is a Beka, and it is very different from my Kromski.  Not in a bad way, but it is definitely not designed to be even quasi-portable.  I'm going to be bringing her a few books and some of my other gear.

The biggest thing with the Beka that was not an improvement was the use of a crochet hook as a sleying tool.  Pulling the warp through the reed with the crochet hook was just not as comfortable as using a tool more designed for the task (mine is a long flat hook, and I have not accidentally damaged the yarn using it).

Saturday was full of one bad thing too (the warping was a very good thing).  I knit the heel flap and turned the heel on the train only to realize that I somehow was one stitch over and that my heel was never going to look centered.  I don't mind if it isn't exactly the same as the first sock of the pair, but I figured that this was a simple change.  Rip, rip, rip!

Sunday I reknit the heel flap during more football and had to turn the heel twice.  Sometimes the socks don't want to be knit!  I'm finally done with the heel and I have at my last count 42 rows before I get to the toe.  Soon!  Soon I will have another new pair of socks.

I think my next pair of socks will be the Kikko Hanabishi socks.  I am interested in two color knitting, so this might be a good choice.  The only problem I see with them is that they might be too small.  They only come in one size, and the pattern is wide enough that I'm not sure how I would expand them for my slightly larger feet.  I've never tried to make a pair of socks for myself that were not at least 60 stitches. 

Of course, this means I am trolling ravelry now to see what other options there are.  Does anyone have a favorite fair isle sock pattern? 

mbta == stupid

Don't tell me it isn't true. 

Lately the MBTA, which for me is normally a reliable mode of transit, has had more delayed trains, accidents and what nots.  I got home fine last night, but my hubby who was traveling maybe 30-40 minutes later was delayed (upon delayed, upon delayed).  It's the type of thing that always makes me extra cranky.

Of course, I didn't knit while I was waiting, or do much cleaning, or anything useful.  Nope.  I read web comics.  I finished Girls with Slingshots.

This weekend I'm helping a friend warp her loom for the first time, which has me thinking about a nice weaving project that I can finish before I go on vacation next month.  I want something that is stole width, about 10-14 inches after washing.  It should use some of my nicer lace weight yarns, and maybe I'll knit an edging around it to deal with some of my wonkiness in the selvage.  Or maybe I'll figure out the selvage issue and just do it right. 

I'm panicking a bit about what to wear on the cruise (dress up dinners are making me nervous).

sitting in the dark

This past weekend was a lot of hanging out with friends (watching Glee with a friend on Friday, watching football with other friends on Sunday) and sitting in the dark.  Waking up early and reading books by flashlight, and one memorable run/walk from Quincy Adams T Station to Somerville, MA.

It was a great weekend, but strangely tiring given that I didn't stay up to all hours playing video games or watching Food Network.  I didn't even bake, which was a little odd.  Or play word games on Facebook to the exclusion of everything else.

A very surreal weekend.

Of course, now I'm in clean up mode.  My hubby is in laundry mode and I'm looking at the piles of dishes with this demoralized expression on my face.  Thankfully this weekend is not too far away.  I'll do some grocery shopping, some baking, and maybe even finish a pair of socks... after all, I am almost at the half sock to go.  It will be good to count another thing as done (other than reading all of Girls with Sticks).

you'd never believe it

But I'm finally ready to post another FO.

I finished Vestish (ravelry link) what feels like a dogs age ago, but I was debating pockets and avoiding weaving in the ends. 

Last week, I decided that I wanted to call it done and pulled it out of the craft closet, wove in the ends and voila!  I wore it the next day (because I was too lazy to block it... knowing it would be another 2 months or more before that would happen).

I love the vest, especially because it makes it easier for me to wear my white tops to work.  I love the idea of the white button down shirt, but my large back tattoo is very dark and often shows through the light fabric.  A vest feels like the best option.  Of course, with this vest, I felt like a librarian.  All I needed were the stereotypical clunky boat shoes, my hair in a bun, and a severe pencil or A-line skirt. 

I am still working on finishing up a few other things before tackling the beautiful cardigan from the latest VK.  That unfortunately includes the baby set, still.  It is just a very uninspiring project for someone who loves cables and lace.  I need to finish it, because one of my friends waants to trade lessons in something (probably jamming/canning) in exchange for knitting the Susie Hoodie from More Big Girl Knits.

The hoodie is exactly the type of project I love to do.  It has big bold cables and a bit of shaping, so I don't fall asleep with all of the stockinette.  The finished garment has very few, if any, seams, and is just a relatively easy piece.  I like the yoke style garments.  I have finished more of them than any other, and they even get worn.

Sadly, the hoodie is too big for me.  The smallest size is about 9 inches larger than my bust measurement, which is way more fabric than is needed for the overlap.  I will happily make it for my friend when I can pin her down for her measurements and select the size and the yarn she wants.

36 eggs (Part 2 - 16 whole eggs, 6 egg whites)

Not that this involves any of the eggs, but here are two of the ice creams I made for the party.  The lemon buttermilk sherbet is amazing.  A wonderful lemony flavor with just a bit of tang from the buttermilk.  Creamy and relatively light.  The chocolate ice cream is really an ice milk, made with Lactaid milk for one of my friends and a copious amount of cocoa.  The cocoa is dense enough and a large enough portion of the flavor that if I make it again I am going to cut it with something.  A smidge of coffee or a hint of mint or orange.  And I will use something of better quality than Hersheys.  This was not the time to stint.

I also made grape sorbet.  Surprisingly easy and refreshing, I could see this technique used for a large number of fruit desserts where it is permissable to use the whole fruit.  In this case about 3.5 pounds of grapes, a smidge of water, a tiny amount of vodka, and some light corn syrup.  I'm pretty sure it would work fine with agave nectar as well.  Any old liquid sugar without an overbearing flavor profile.

Outside of the ice cream, this was also a weekend of cake.  Glorious, delicious cake.  But I'm biased.  Maybe it was just mediocre.

I made the Chocolate Wedlock cake (mousse was posted earlier) and I made the Best Birthday Cake from smitten kitchen. 

The Best Birthday Cake I made first on Thursday.  Four eggs down the drain, because either I forgot a critical 2 tablespoons of flour or I didn't let it cool long enough.  Either way, the cake split diagonally down the middle and instead I have ingredients for trifle.  My second attempt at the cake on Sunday went much, much better.

Chocolate Wedlock is definitely a tried and true recipe for me.  I have used this recipe to make cupcakes, tester wedding cake, and a couple of wedding cakes for friends.  It never looks stunning, but that is the fault of the decorator and in no way reflects on its deliciousness.

The process of making Chocolate Wedlock looks complicated, the cookbook is very good at breaking down all of the steps.  I grated chocolate (Vahlrona, yummy!) while the plain Wedlock cupcakes were in the oven, and when everything was cool, I made the frosting.

I just have to say I hate this frosting.  I won't make it again.  The white chocolate buttercream needs the ganache as far as I can tell in order to not melt off of your baked goods.  At the party the following day, the frosting and the raspberries decorating the cupcakes slid onto the dryer (off and cool to the touch) that I was using as a food staging area.  For my money and slightly less sweetness, any standard buttercream would do.  There is a point where stability is an asset.

The last cake I made was for my friend who took the bar at the end of July.  Yup, day late on my part, but I was trying to make the cake look like a chocolate bar. 

This is the best birthday cake with the chocolate sourcream frosting.  Tasty.  I used some of the leftover chocolate mousse as a layer between the two halves of the cake.  I added confectioners sugar to the remaining frosting and used it to make a concoction thick enough to retain its shape when piped.

My big mistake here was not using a coupler with the bag.  If I had, I would have swapped out one of my smaller tips to make the lines around the word a bit less thick.

I did try to pipe the frosting, freeze it and then move it over.  That might have worked with straight chocolate, but it definitely did not work here.  Boo.  At least the reject was tasty!