Bron's Blog II

We All Live In A Yellow Submarine

...and I may not surface for awhile. I have things to do. Lots of things to do. Case in point:

Oh, what a tangled web we weave...

:::Gulp!::::

I did start Cabaret Raglan:

(I know....you're just as thrilled as I am. :::grin:::)

I figured out my automatic buttonholer & finished Doug's shirt. Here's a close-up of the buttons I used:

I thought the gray/black were a good match for the material. The buttons were among Mom's things when we went through the house.

That's my Mom - buttons only 29 cents for a card of 9, but dang if she didn't get them for 13 cents on clearance. Unfortunately, she was one of those who took frugality to the extreme (a good match for my father), so it's actually more tragic than comic. Sigh.

However, I get a kick out of finally using some things that she stashed. I've told hubbie the buttons are vintage - just like he is. :::wink:::

Whew!

Just in the nick of time, I got my "Deep Merlot" Perle Cotton. That color was the first to sell out in just 10 minutes flat.

So "Julianna" will be started shortly. :::grin:::

In other news, here's "Cynthia:"

Here's the pic from the book:

(Just ignore the fact that I don't have her figure, ok? hehehe)

Cotton Ease was a great substitute for the Reynolds Cabaret, which give my confidence a boost going into "Cabaret Raglan," my next CE project. I used just over 3 balls - about 3 1/8th. I did add 10 stitches to each side, giving me another 4" around since the largest size listed was a 40" bust and I'm not quite there yet. :::grin::: So if you were making a smaller size, I'm sure you'd be able to knit this with an even 3 skeins of CE. At 2 bucks a ball, this baby is a $6.00 masterpiece. hehehe

The biggest change was the neckline - I really disliked that doubled, cabled collar. I never would've felt comfortable with all the knitting bundled right there on my neck. So on the front (the back I left alone) I went through 8 of the 9 cable crosses, then put the middle 16 stitches on a holder. Where I started the lower neckline was really dictated by where the cables crossed so the neckline wouldn't splay out. (Looking at the completed top, I really should've started the new neck at the 7th cable cross - eh, knit & learn.)  I then just decreased on both sides every row at the neck edge until the stitch count on the shoulders matched the back & the lengths were the same. I sewed up one shoulder seam & then picked up stitches around the neckline & did about 6 rows of stockinette. I could tell the neck was still going to be high & I didn't want to add to it!

All in all I'm pleased with this one. I think it really cries out to have a Sitcom Chic to match (I've decided I don't care if a twin set would be "too precious" - I'll do one anyway) so I'll get on that one of these days (you know...after Cabaret Raglan, Julianna, Rosetta, finishing up Rosamunde, etc., etc., etc....)

The CE feels great on so this will be comfortable to wear. However, in general, I'm not overly thrilled with knits for summer. I tend to "run hot" and having anything knitted next to my skin - even cotton - just makes things worse. But as long as I stay in air-conditioning, I should be ok. :::wink:::

I'll get my "Cotton Ease Count" up today as well as getting those buttonholes done for Doug. Lucky for me he goes into work late today so I'll have time to finish his shirt!

I worked on Rosamunde last night, although I was sorely tempted to cast on for Cabaret Raglan. I'm just not sure of the color, so that's what held me back. But it's a pretty safe bet I'll have that figured out today so hopefully I'll have something to show tomorrow. ;)

Have a WIP Wednesday!

Rosetta - NOT Carved In Stone

This came yesterday from Elann:

Two Silk City Spaghetti Cones - .88 lbs each - 100% mercerized cotton. The color is called "Rosetta" and isn't quite what I expected. My monitor showed it to be a very light tan when in person it's more of a slightly rosey taupe. I might've known that "Rosetta" referred to the rose color rather than the Stone. ;)

But - I really like this color too, fickle knitter/crocheter that I am, so now I need to decide on a project. Here are my options:

This or

this, or

Julianna from "Cool Crochet" (that's the last pic.) I'm really torn between the 3. I'd thought to use the Silk City Perle cotton that Elann will be selling next week (in "Deep Merlot") for Julianna. Should I stay with that original thought? I'm thinking I'd get more use out of Julianna in Rosetta, but I love purple & haven't added anything purple to my wardrobe in ages.....hmmmm.....

Of course, if I went with the Silk City Perle I'd have to buy even more yarn. Dang. What a terrible thing.

Especially since I have some credit left at Elann and it wouldn't cost all THAT much...

Opinions? I'm sticking to crochet with this yarn since it takes a size 5 needle to knit  & I don't like going much below a 6, just don't have the patience for it. ;)

Knitting news: I'm almost finished with the armhole decreases on "Cynthia" - I'll probably finish her today if all goes well with my neckline modification. :) I should have the buttons sewn on the VW shirt today too, so hopefully I'll have a couple of FO pics for tomorrow.

Everything But The Buttonholes...And Other Things

Doug really likes his new shirt:

He's a VW Bug nut and loves Hawaiian shirts, so when we saw this material in the store, it was a must-buy. Now I either have to remember how to use my automatic buttonholer, or find the instructions to the machine. Either way, I'd like to finish this today.

Here's a pic of Cynthia's front that looks remarkably like the back:

This won't be finished today, but maybe I can get past the armhole decreases.

There's been some discussion here & there about what to do with a person's Cotton Ease bonanza. There's even a Yahoo group devoted to pointing out different patterns that would work with the yarn and listing your CE bounty for all to see (and possibly to trade.) When I was looking through last summer's IK, I came upon this:

It's called Cabaret Raglan by Norah Gaughan and I think it might be Cotton Ease-worthy. (Seinfeld anyone?) It calls for Reynolds "Cabaret" which is the exact cotton used for "Cynthia." I passed by this pattern the first time through 'cause it just wouldn't have looked good with my zaftig figure. However, in view of my disappearing bustline (why is it that the boobs are the first thing to go when you diet?) and my hoard of Candy Blue CE (or perhaps the Pistachio, I'm still deciding), I think this is going on my to-do list. Like...the next thing I cast on with CE after Cynthia is complete. That yoke detailing is really growing on me & I like the neckline. According to the directions, it looks like it will take just 5 balls of CE. Sweet!

I think - just for fun - that I'm going to create a "Cotton Ease Count" on my sidebar. I'm going to list all the CE I have (just a round # of skeins) and then list the projects I knit/crochet from it. I'll be interested to see just how far I can stretch it...and heck, it's something to keep me entertained. :::grin:::

Happy Monday!

More Cotton Ease Commentary

(If there was a sarcasm font, it would be on throughout most of this post - please keep that in mind. Oh yeah - there might be some hyperbole as well - forewarned is forearmed!)

Such an inexpensive little yarn to cause such a ruckus in certain parts of the knit blog world. There are those who are madly buying & hoarding & trading, those who couldn't care less & haven't even acknowledged the existence of Cotton Ease, and then there are those who simply must say something snarky about the whole scenario.

Yep - I've even been called crazy on a couple of blogs...that shall remain nameless 'cause, you know, I really don't care. ;) (Let me once again point out the "Bad Ass Knitter" link on my right side bar. Peruse at your leisure.)

Personally, I've bought Cotton Ease in the last few weeks not because it's being discontinued, but because it's been discounted! Sheesh - 2 bucks a ball for a really good cotton blend with phenomenal yardage is really too good to pass up. Yes - I've teased about hoarding & making a killing on eBay, but heck - by the time Cotton Ease is scarce enough to bring big bucks, I'll have already knit it all up!

You know the best thing? I've had fun finding the colors, deciding what I'd need, going back for more, reading about the Great Search on other blogs, watching the ebb & flow on the KList...

:::tongue firmly in cheek::: But, Gods forbid a knitter should have a little fun with her yarn buying. Knitting is serious and anyone buying up skeins of Cotton Ease should just forget about it & go knit "Rogue." I mean, really! To enjoy adding a few candy colors to your stash for a really great price - Holy Crappola, Batman! What the hell are we thinking? Get thee back to thy "real" knitting, Woman!

Honestly, if I'd known how much my little yarn buying spree would offend some people...hell...I would've bought even more. ;) But that's just how I am - contrary as all get out. hehehehe

Ok - on to more serious stuff:

The CE being sold at Tuesday Morning IS a bit thinner than regular Cotton Ease - but I've found I like it even better than the original. The fabric it makes is lighter & has a better drape then the old stuff, but it still knits to a worsted weight gauge and goes fast as lightning:

The completed back of "Cynthia," done in "Bubblegum" Cotton Ease.

Now...what have we here?:

Remember that turquoise & red CE that was really different than normal? It's been bugging me ever since. I really felt like I'd wasted $$ on yarn I'd never use. I hate that feeling. Plus I couldn't re-sell on eBay 'cause I knew it was different & I would never pass it on as legit. I couldn't return it 'cause I'd tossed the receipt but it hit me last night....

Exchange it!

I couldn't do anything with the two bags I'd already opened, but three others went back to Tuesday Morning this AM & I picked up 3 bags of Pistachio instead. I tore a wee hole in the plastic to feel the yarn - just in case this color was "bad" too - but everything was just fine. :)

If anyone would like 3 skeins of Popsical (sic) Blue and 3 of Cherry Red that are basically a shiny, dk weight of Cotton Ease, let me know & we can work something out. :) (Edited to add: Taken!)

Oh...by the way....I'd recommend bracing yourself for the next wave....

 

 

Rumor has it that Kool Wool is being discontinued next.
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A Startling Realization & Project Notes

I've lost 18 pounds in the last 8 1/2 weeks. The first 13 were in the first month. This weight loss is slow and tortuous. I plateaued for 3 weeks, then dropped 3 pounds. Right now I've plateaued for almost 2 weeks so I'm hoping to see that magic 20 pound mark sometime soon!

I take comfort from the fact that I've learned exactly how much I can eat to maintain my target weight once I reach it. :::major sarcasm::::

But that's all beside the point. (I'm going to try adding more exercise - Pilates - to jump start things and lower my carb intake a bit to see how my body reacts.) My realization was twofold: At 20 pounds I'll be 1/3 of my way to my goal (Yay - me!) and just 10 more pounds gone will let me wear about 15 items of clothing I haven't fit into for 5 years, since my last really serious weight loss on Atkins. I'm excited. It would be so great to wear those things this summer and on into fall. It's like a whole new wardrobe for free! hehehe That's my new mini-goal - 10 more pounds by August. (Providing I can get things to speed up a bit!)

When the health professionals say that a pound a week is the healthy way to lose weight, they don't tell you how discouraging it is to ONLY see a pound a week go away....and when it doesn't, it's even worse. I still haven't been tempted to cheat - I'm just impatient & wish all of the weight could be gone at once. But I keep reminding myself of my goal - 60 pounds by Jan/Feb - and I see I'm right on target 'cause the last pounds take twice as long to lose as the first. Grrrr!

I'm going to print out all my posts on the subject and keep them handy. After I've finally reached my goal I want to be reminded what a pain in the a** it was to get there!!!!!

On to project updates. Azteca:

I know the front & back look a little wonky - that's 'cause two of the yarns I used don't match the gauge of the others and I also did different width stripes toward the top. After it's all put together it'll even out just fine. But you know what? Even if it turns out to be a disaster, I won't regret making it. I had so much fun with the different stitch patterns and yes...even the entrelac....that I consider it a success, even as it is. :) Especially since all the yarns were odds & ends...no credit cards were harmed in the making of this top!

I'm feeling "in the pink:"

Not quite up to the armhole decreases on "Cynthia" 'cause I had an overwhelming urge to knit on "Rosamunde" last night after I finished Azteca's front. The back of Rosamunde is sitting on one of my craft tables & as I sewed on Doug's shirt yesterday I kept glancing over, regretting the fact that I haven't finished it. Soooooo....looks like I'll be inundated with pink for the foreseeable future. :::grin:::

Have I mentioned that one reason I love Cotton Ease is the yardage? I've got about 9" knit on Cynthia and have used approx. 1/2 ball of Bubblegum Cotton Ease. At this rate, I'll be able to knit the entire shell with only 3 balls. Now that's a bargain in anyone's book!

Must....not....buy....more....Cotton....Ease.....

But, unfortunately, I have a yearning for Ice Blue.....which I can only find on the LB website....for $5/ball. Grrrrrr! If anyone out there has some Ice Blue they're willing to part with - email me - let's talk. ;)

I found a new (to me) Addi Turbo pusher, dealer, salesperson on eBay and bought these:

Sizes 11 & 15, both 32" long, for under 20 bucks - including shipping! I feel that I truly need a size 7 Addi, 32", for $6.50...and probably another size 8 at that length also.

It's worse than crack, people, I swear!

More Goodies

I swear, the packages are winding down - at least the gift ones! But I just had to share. :)

The latest from my Crochetville Secret Pal:



Lots of souvenirs from Wales....a doily she made herself....and 4 lovely balls of hot pink size 3 thread along with a crochet pattern book! Those shells you see in the first pic are from Oystermouth, Wales - the town seen in the postcard in the left of the middle pic. (That is just the coolest thing to send!) The thimble is from Swansea, South Wales. The coaster with the dragon is honest-to-goodness Welsh slate. Isn't the Welsh spinner great in the kitchen set? (And check out those leeks!) The Sirdar patterns are wonderful - I'll be making one as soon as "Giselle" is finished. My SP knows I'm a sucker for anything having to do with the British Isles - rabid Anglophile describes me to a "T."

Besides...with a name like "Bronwyn" I kinda HAVE to love Wales! Makes me want to watch "How Green Was My Valley" again. :::grin::: Thanks one more time, SP - You're the best!

Now - from the totally opposite corner of the world, I also received this (the colors are deeper in person - the photo is a bit washed out):

Another 8 skeins of Paton's "Miraggio" from my best Aussie knitting bud, Nat. She'd sent me 4 skeins of this colorway months ago & I loved it so much I wanted more to make a vest. However, Miraggio is strictly Australian - it's no-where to be found in the States or even Canada. Soooo....we worked out a wee trade. Oodles of Highland Wool for oodles of this. I think I've found the perfect vest pattern to use, but more on that later. :)

Here's a pic of what I found buried in my stash closet under tons of packing materials:

It was the start of this centerpiece:

It's called "Plantation" and I still love this doily. However, I don't have the thread to finish what I started. I suspect I stopped because I ran out, then got distracted & never got back to it. Sooooo...my first instinct was to toss it, then I thought I'd try & save the work by making it into a pillow top. It's about 14" at this point & would be a nice size for a pillow.

Tomorrow - I think the front of "Azteca" will be complete & I'll also be to the armhole shaping on "Cynthia." Have a great Thursday!

False Starts, New Projects, Old Friends

Because both Larry and Vera are delving into Hot Knits by Melissa Leapman, I had to delve as well. 'Cause, you know, once in awhile I can be a lemming too. :::Grin:::: Here's what I started this weekend:

This is "Cynthia." Cynthia & I had 2 false starts this weekend - first with Popsicle Blue Cotton Ease & then with Cherry Red Cotton Ease. Time lost, yes, but I learned important info about those colors (see my previous post) so it wasn't a waste. :) Because I insist on having something on the needles using Cotton Ease after my buying frenzy, I settled on good, old, Bubblegum pink for this shell:

The pink is "real" Cotton Ease and I'm enjoying knitting with it. It might be just a tad thinner than I remember, but it's all good. :) It still has that dusty, cottony feel to it so I'm happy. :::grin::: The only thing I'll change about Cynthia is the neckline - anything higher than a crew neck makes me feel like I'm choking, so I'll ditch the doubled over cables for a nice 1x1 rib. :)

Next in the pic is another false start baby - the beginnings of Giselle from Cool Crochet:

Because I substituted yarn (like I always do!) the hdc pattern stitch looks decidedly different than the picture. I couldn't decide if I liked it or not, so I put this part aside & did a few rows with just plain hdc, no pattern stitch. I found that it basically looked the same (ha! on me!) so I went back to my original crocheted piece...which, luckily, I hadn't frogged! I really like Katia's "Pisco" and in this pattern it's making a very stretchy, spongey fabric. It'll be very comfy when worn & the color will look great with jeans. I'm into the decreases now, which are done on the right & left of several  center stitches, rather on the edges. A very nice touch. :)

The third project is my old friend, "Azteca." Just a couple more days & the front should be done. (Then give me a couple of WEEKS to weave in all those freakin' ends!!!!!!) Ahem...sorry. I'm back now. Had a momentary spaz attack.

Tomorrow I want to show something I found while cleaning out my yarn closet - what I was thinking, I'll never know.

I'll leave you with a rabbit being lazy:

And an alien being nosy:

A Cotton Ease Warning Amidst The Buying Frenzy

Just a head's up:

This weekend I played around with both the Popsicle Blue & the Cherry Red Cotton Ease. Both seemed somehow thinner and shinier than I remembered Cotton Ease to be. Sure enough - I had a few skeins of "old" CE in my stash & compared. The red & turquoise blue ARE a bit thinner than the other CE, the yarn feels "slicker", also the dye is more vibrant & catches the light differently. I broke open the other color bags & found that, as near as I can tell, they are thicker & feel "cottony" like the CE we know & love.

Sooooo....I might have gotten seconds, I don't know. I also wonder if this affects only the two colors I mentioned or if it's across the board. The change isn't a big one but it's enough to affect gauge slightly AND it just feels different than Cotton Ease should. Those of you who've stocked up on various colors might want to keep this in mind....especially if you've purchased from Tuesday Morning.  This might be the reason that particular store has so much stock at such a low price.

Taste The Rainbow

Ok- I'll admit it. I went back to Tuesday Morning 'cause I got to thinking of Christmas...and presents...and bright sweaters for the kids in my life. I really didn't expect them to have anything left.

I think I'm the only knitter in ABQ that knows about Tuesday Morning & Cotton Ease. All the better for me!

When I was there last week they didn't have red - this time they did so those 6 skeins will become a sweater for Colin. Another package of Popsicle Blue appeared & I grabbed it. I'd like to make this shell pattern from Bonne Marie's site - or something like it - for me. Some of the yellow & orange & blue will go to sweaters for my best friend's two youngest and Dylan has requested that if I HAVE to make him a sweater, make it all in one color! So all Candy Blue it is.

I'm going to use my handy-dandy "Handy Book of Sweater Patterns" by Ann Budd and see what I come up with. Hubbie wants an all blue Cotton Ease sweater too and he'd like some sort of cable something. That narrows it down, doesn't it? Oh - and that Bubblegum Pink I bought the other day will become a Sitcom Chic...or something close to it.

I'll be spending about an hour today rearranging my stash closet. I now have one complete shelf of Cotton Ease - I should be ashamed - but I'm not. ;)

Speaking of being ashamed, check out the prices on these  cute cabled clutches & purses! (I was cruising through the new blogs in the Knit blog ring & found the link on this blog.) I am SO going to make one - just 'cause I can & just cause $150 for a cabled purse is pretty amazing.

If you want to be spoiled for the Fall issue of IK, click here. For once I'm not sure what to say...except that I might be skipping this issue. I see a couple of "maybes" but nothing spectacular. I know I bought the summer IK with high hopes & they were dashed. Those little pictures can sometimes be deceiving!

Here's yet another "special issue" - this time for the "spirited" knitter and offering a hybrid of techniques. Hmmmmm...we'll see.

I'm back to knitting on Azteca (I was distracted with finishing Stacy) so I'm hoping to get the front finished in the next couple of days. I've scrapped by "Strawberry Milkshake" scarf, although I'm going to cast on for another "Midwest Moonlight" scarf (in another color) shortly. I also want to start "Marta" from White Lies - most likely in the black Katia Pisco I have in my stash. My next crochet project will probably be "Giselle" from Cool Crochet - I'm just not sure which stash yarn I'll use quite yet....it might be even more Katia Pisco in a denim blue.

Monday is my official 8 week weigh-in. I've been doing pretty well - it's slow, but more or less steady. I haven't lost enough to justify my Cotton Ease splurge to the DKYD ring, but I've said before that I'm having a hard time linking yarn buying & weight loss in my mind. If I see some yarn I need (or want!) chances are I'll buy without stepping on the scale first. Losing weight a pound or two a week just doesn't rack up the yarn points. The trouble is, the more weight I lose, the more I'd like to buy because suddenly sweaters & such are looking much better on me! 'Tis a Catch-22, my dears!

Now - to fight the sudden urge I have for Skittles.......