In which I continue to claim I am not dead!

So, I have stopped counting the months between postings. It's shameful, I know.

But I have been squeezing in knitting time little by little, and when I did get a minute, it would just fly by. As a result a pair of socks was finished!



Pattern: Ironworks, size small
Yarn: Tanis Fibre Arts Blue Label Fingering Weight in Peacock
Needles: 2.5mm aluminum circulars
Start: September 24, 2008
End: Jan 24, 2009
For: Old Man (neither an old man, nor my old man)
Modifications: None!
Verdict: Love knitting this, it sped by whenever I could have enough time to get into the pattern groove. The yarn is gaaaaaaawgeous, and just fabulous to work with. No word yet on the wear, but given it's a wool/nylon blend, I am not too concerned. As the clincher, the recipient loves them! I just feel bad it took me so long to finish.

In which I present proof

Well golly gee, I only finished this first sock AGES ago, and am still trying to get the second done when I have bits and bobs of time.

Not really in the mood for chatting folks. See you around!

In which the beast surfaces!

Oh.
Oh dear.
Oh dearie dearie me.

I am terribly sorry for my complete and unforgivable disappearance from the interwebs, fine people!
I would post more (er, at all), if I had any free time! I am just barely keeping afloat in my courses (I'm doing well enough to be comfortable), and trying to keep my place of employment in one piece (or at least several *clean* pieces).
There has been knitting, minimal but present. I have completed 1 (one) Ironwork sock, and will get my tuccus in gear after the current round of tests and papers clear out. I am still negotiating the use of a camera (so desperate...), but hopefully come mid-December I will be able to cram knitting in aplenty (I have an urge to make a sweater - just a simple-ish raglan), else I may lose it completely!

Miss you all, and I will be back the second I have pictures!

love, Michael

P.S. The little fuzzball is doing well, quite the terror still.

In which the sheepishness continues

It's been a month? Really? Oops.

Hemlock Ring has not progressed.
Swatch has not progressed.
Shetland Triangle has not progressed.
Ironwork Socks have been cast on (progressing slowly).
Kitten is getting bigger and possibly cuter. Oh, didn't I mention? There is a kitten in my life now, who happens to be an adorable longhaired grey tabby called Xavier. No, of course he's not interfering with my knitting time, why do you ask? (sorry about the poor photo)




Back to studying and some kitting. Er Kittening. Er... Knitting?

In which I am beat

Wow. I have been gone for... far too long.

In that time I have knit a vest, started a shawl (Shetland Triangle), started a blanket (Hemlock Ring) and started designing myself a new sweater. I have also moved into a new house across town with some pretty fun individuals (and I am *finally* unpacked).

On the downside, I no longer have access to a camera, though I plan to work on that soonish, and the move and new digs and work have just left me wiped.

So I am sorry I have not been about more, either here or flickr or Ravelry (or even Plurk... I so cannot keep up with that anymore). I will try to at least keep you all updated verbally until I lay my hands on some picture-taking solution.

Until later, enjoy the rest of summer!

In which there were some tasty bits

I know, I know, two posts in a day? I'm going to burn out!

I just had to share what I did today. My lunch plans fell through, but I saw no reason not to make good use of the items I had picked up anyway. So while watching the last two days' stages of the Tour (I didn't get through yesterdays, but I haven't got time now, darn!), and knitting a bit, I slapped a quick meal together.

Gazpacho (and the solids left over from straining make an excellent spread/dip for a snack), melted brie on toast and a mango shake/fizz (with blueberries).



And for tea? (BC) Cherry Clafoutis. I used Miss Posie's directions (I like to whisk the egg and sugar together first). I made a batch in a 9.5" dish, but had more custard/batter left over than I chose to throw out, so out came the Mason jars! 6 cherries to a jar, custard to just below the threads, and voila, single-serving desserts (I got 6 jars worth). They didn't take quite as long as the big dish to bake of course, but are so much cuter.



Want to come by? I made extra.

Man (or Anyone) Cowl

As there were enough requests after my last post, here is a quick write-up (a recipe, really) for my Man Cowl (ravelry link).
Sorry for re-hashing the other photos, so little free daylight time for me lately.
Hope it makes sense, and let me know if anything needs clarification/correction.





Man (or Anyone) Cowl

Materials:
Yarn - I used about 150g of fingering weight yarn held doubled (Fleece Artist Sea Wool). I believe a similar amount of worsted weight would do as well.
Needles - Circular(s) or DPNs suitable to get gauge. I used 5.0mm.
Notions - A stitch marker to mark the round (optional).

Finished size: Approximately 11" wide (22" in circumference) by 14" in length.

Gauge: Not terribly drastic, but 20st/4"

Notes: The stitch pattern is worked over a multiple of 10+1 stitches. I used 101, but if you prefer a snugger fitting item, I ould suggest reducing by 10 or 20 stitches, depending.

Directions:
Cast on 101 stitches (multiple of 10+1) using preferred method (I used a longtail cast-on).
Garter edging - *P1 round, K1 round* 3 times, P1 round
Transition - Note: the last stitch of each round will be the first knit stitch of the next round. The result of that is that the purl stitches will start to spiral to the right.
Round 1: *K1, P9* to one stitch from end
Round 2: *K2, P8* to one stitch from end
Round 3: *K3, P7* to one stitch from end
Round 4: *K4, P6* to one stitch from end
Round 5: *K5, P5* to one stitch from end
Round 6: *K6, P4* to one stitch from end
Round 7: *K7, P3* to one stitch from end
Round 8: *K8, P2* to one stitch from end
Main Portion - Mark beginning of round and work *K9, P1* until desired length (approximately 11.5" from start, about 60 rounds)
Transition - Note: I worked exactly 60 rounds which ensured that the first repeat of the round was larger than the others by one stitch. If you work a number of rounds that is not a multiple of 10 rounds, you will need to identify it (it will be apparent in the first round, as it will interrupt the stitch pattern) and work one extra knit stitch in that repeat (absorbing that extra one stitch). I have indicated this at the start of the round, but it may be in a different place depending how long you knit the main portion.
Round 1: K9, P2 *K8, P2* to end
Round 2: K8, P3 *K7, P3* to end
Round 3: K7, P4 *K6, P4* to end
Round 4: K6, P5 *K5, P5* to end
Round 5: K5, P6 *K4, P6* to end
Round 6: K4, P7 *K3, P7* to end
Round 7: K3, P8 *K2, P8* to end
Round 8: K2, P9 *K1, P9* to end
Round 9: K1, P to end
Garter Edging - *K1 round, P1 round* 3 times, K1 round, bind off in Purl.
Finishing - Weave in ends, block, be awesome.