Joke of the week

There are 10 Types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don’t.

Knitting.

Sparten pickings here, I'm afraid.

Progress on the probability tank (armhole shaping done and dusted):



I'm working both at the same time, because they are identical and I am lazy time frugal.

And a new and (supposedly) quick project, Aunt Alm's Dorm boots.



I'm using 100% wool DK that I dyed myself. That is half of the garter stitch soles. My current slipper socks/TV socks have worn through the heel three times, so I thought I should treat myself to some more!

I hold out zero hope that I'll finish the Amble socks before the end of the month (I only have half of one sock at the moment), but I can see the end in site for my revision which always means more knitting time.

In good, university-related news I've passed the continuous assessment part of both my courses, so I just need 40% or more in the exams to pass the courses as a whole. However, the level of the pass of these courses will determine the class of my degree. I was hoping for a 2.2, but I may end up with a 3rd class*. Given what I've had to battle through to get even to this stage (a tale for another time) I think that's something of a minor miracle!

My first exam is two weeks on Friday, so you might not see another post from me before then, but don't worry. I'll probably be bashing my head against a book in a vain attempt to force the information into my brain!


*In the British Degree classification, the top level is a 1st, then a 2.1, 2.2, 3rd or fail. I don't know if this is the same or different for other places.

1:30 pm :: 2 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

What's a girl to do?

I bought the Bella Lace Poncho pattern at the same time I got the Lotus Blossom Shawl pattern. I have a huge cone of grey/black slubby lace yarn which I was planning on making it with. I now have more than enough olive merino to make two of these, but I'm procrastinating! I've requested "A Gathering of Lace" from my library, so I'll have a look at these patterns and see if anything grabs me. If you have any totally favourite patterns for shawls (or stoles, or ponchos, or wraps....) would you mind sharing? I'm not above buying a pattern if it is "IT". I do have 4 x 980 yds of the stuff, so you can go big!





Oh, Caroline!

And now, for something new!



It is impossible to photograph this colour in any light. It's like a deep blood red, but in all the pictures I take of it the colour is always more orange!?

This is a straight-up-and-down cabled tank from the free patterns section of Berroco, knit in the Rowan Cork left over from my "Grandad jumper".

For those not interested in mathematics and probability, look away now!

OK: a straight cabled tank ain't the one for me. I need a little excitement. So, using my knowledge of maths I went for probability-based cabling.

Here comes the science! For each cable (4 per side, 8 in total) I have a choice of CB8 or CF8 - one option out of two. What has two of something and if you use it, you can only get one result? A coin! If you toss a coin an infinite number of time, half will land with heads, and half will land with tails - with me so far? A coin has a probability value (P) of 0.5, where P=0 is never happens and P=1 is always happens. For example, the chance of the sun rising in the morning (assuming you don't live in either of the polar circles) is 1 and the chance of me waking up and finding out that I am a fly is (I hope) 0.

I've kept the cable crossing on row 9, as per the pattern, but whether or not I cross forwards or backwards depends on the toss of a coin.

I'm liking the way it's turning out, so far, but I think the true impact will only be seen once it's full-sized and off the needles.

Martha:

It's getting colder and knitting with a harsh 4-ply cotton is not fun, but I'm keeping going. The problem with knitting a me-sized garment on 3 mm needles with a 4-ply yarn is the lack of visible progress. I know I've knit more than the last time I took a picture (I can see the difference and can count the pattern repeats) but seems like I've got miles to go. This is, after all, only the back of the blinkin' thing. I'm getting seriously tempted to shove it to the bottom of somewhere deep and forget about it until spring, but then I'll probably never pick it up again. :Le sigh: - onwards and upwards it is then!


Random whinging stuff.

• Bl**dy neighbours who wont pay twenty flipping quid to a plumber for unclogging a dodgy shared drain that just happens to be in my disabled parent's back garden (which means they have to go through the stress and literal mess of it all and may end up subbing some people).
• My incompetence in the general sock-making area (see entry below)
• The more I revise, the more I realise just how little I've learnt during the year, the more upset I get with myself.
• The more I revise, the more tired I get ....

EDIT: I just got the last assignment back that I did for the oceanography course and I got 73%. Needless to say, I'm feeling better!

To show this, here's a picture of the sky for Sandy.

11:45 am :: 0 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

I loves me my socks!

Look what I got from the lone star state this morning:



It says: "Treats for your feets"




A Postcard from Dallas (including big scary buildings - I get nervous above three storeys)




The shiny things are two lone-star charms (I likes shiny things).

How cool is this:




Riddle me this: why is it that someone I've never met, and who lives thousands of miles away, can knit a pair of socks that fit me perfectly, yet I can't?

Thank you Chris (Skittermagoo). Can you beleive that these are Chris' first ever cables?! You rock!

Now, I just have to check that my pal got hers! You'd think that the Royal Mail would be able to deliver a pair of socks to .... somewhere else in the UK???

EDIT: so, she got them and guess what? They don't fit :((((( They measure 6 1/2" instead of 9 1/2". What the hell did I do!? Did I not measure them correctly? Did I get my nines and sixes mixed up on the tape measure? Did they shrink a lot when I washed them? Quite frankly, any or all of these are a possibility. Anyway, they fit her daughter perfectly and she loves them (so not a total waste then).

[wanders off muttering: measure three times, check twice, cut once .....]

12:25 pm :: 2 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

The rules of aquasition*

This is not new yarn:



It's just your imagination. No, really. This is not Hand Painted Yarn's olive-coloured lace weight merino. It really isn't, honest. I didn't get it from the Yarn Coop at all. Nope. Just all in your mind. Yup!

Searching:

To the person who found this blog by search for fun fur knitting mice pattern - shame on you! I hope you've realised that mine is not that kind of blog. Get thee to a fair isle class!

Lotus Blossom:

Thank you to all of the people who commented on the completion of the-shawl-without-end. The only person IRL I know who knits is a "The pattern says use yarn X, so I'm using yarn X" kinda gal. She wont even use a different yarn even if it's in the same weight. I, on the other hand, love messing around with different types of yarn, different weights and different patterns. Just because it says use 2/2 ribbing, doesn't mean I have to (and I frequently don't!)

Kool!

Remember the RAK package I got? Well, this is what I did with it:




My mum says I like bright colours.

I



Can't



See



What



She



Means.



Do you?

New Stuff:

You may have notice a new project in my WIP sidebar: A cabled tank from Berroco. There'll be more on that next time. Oooh, I'm such a tease!

Well, this week it's Infectious Disease revision and next week it's Oceanography. Just three weeks and six days until my first exam. Help.

---

*A bonus point to the first geek person who can tell me where that's from (points, in this case, don't mean prizes I'm afraid. You just get the satifaction of being nearly as nerdy as me!)

7:11 pm :: 3 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

Lotus Blossom is done

11:30 am :: 11 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

Attack of the killer paper clips

partner Chris Hernandez. If you aren't confident in viewing HTML/Javascript code, I'd suggest using Amy's original version. As I've mentioned before, I've been coding HTML since the (internet) year dot, and I am fairly confident in winging my way through this kind of thing!

Sockapal2za:

Everything is parcelled up and ready to go. I've included a print out of two landmarks around my way: the local town hall (better than it sounds) and a really beautiful lake just up the road. I also included the rest of the yarn that I didn't use and the Lava Flow pattern.
Thanks for the comments on the socks - I'm now just hoping that they fit the recipient!

Tivoli/Picovoli:

I need something plain and simple to work on next (since it's lace, texture and cables on the needles now or will be soon), so I'm planning on Picovoli sans pico.

Here's the swatch I did in Jaeger Cadiz (viscose/silk mix aran-weight):



Obviously, I'll have to change the numbers to make it work with my yarn, but I've done that before and I "heart" maths!

So, here's a little equation:

no assignments + cricket = mucho knitting time.

Yay!

See you next week!

12:33 am :: 0 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

Watch the lava flow

Stick a fork in them (or two ciruclar needles), they do be done!





I liked this pattern and think it works really well with a regular-striping yarn like the Regia Mini Ringel I used.

As usual, all the details of the yarn, needles and pattern on it's own ickle webpage. (Yes, I did just use the word 'ickle'. I put it down to the assignment and revision stress. At least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.)

I worked the grafting using the instructions I found here. I am so chuffed with it you wouldn't believe. In fact, I may have to break out the happy-dance bunny!

12:55 pm :: 5 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink

Martha gets attention (at last)

See - progress!

Sockapal2za/Lava Flow socks:

I have toe-age!



Now, all I have to do is learn to graft!

Copper Desert:

Remember the yarn-winding nightmare in the last post? Well, this is the swatch:



Can you see how it biases at the bottom? That's the result of taking the yarn from the inside of the ball. It put too much twist on it and made it behave like (gets the only spinning book she owns) an engergized single - apparently! So, I switched to the outside of the ball and ended up on 3.25 mm needles.

Looking at the yarn, I think something in stocking stitch, maybe with a simple lace pattern somewhere, will be great. I also get the feeling that the garment will need side seams to stabilize it because it is quite drapey.

Still writing:

My penultimate assignment is done and waiting to be posted. So, just the Oceanography one to do this week and it's on to revision.

See you later this week (probably). TTFN.

EDIT: the spammers struck, which means I've implimented word verification to make sure that it's a real person on the other end! Sorry about this. It does mean an extra step for you, but no annoying crud in the comments for me.

1:18 pm :: 1 comments ::

AmyP :: permalink