Black Olive Is: In The Loop

There Will Be NO Nipple Darts!

First, let me start by saying that there have been knitting and knitting-related stories and bursts of newness to share, so my lack of updates this past week has nothing to do with any sort of content shortage. In fact, I now feel like I have to keep little notes about all of the things which constantly pop into my head so as not to forget.

The lack of updates is directly due to a serious lack of sleep, which in turn, is due to my ongoing inability to properly estimate the amount of time something will take. I tend to get very excited about new projects -- both knitting and career-related -- and while I correctly estmate how long things should take, I INcorrectly estimate how much time I realistically have to actually work on any of these projects.

You see, despite actually GOING TO WORK EACH DAY, I am forever operating as if I still have those large chunks of knitting time at my disposal. Those large chunks which were afforded me while "freelancing" from home (i.e., unemployment).

Also, I have difficulty saying no to things I genuinely want to do.

So, I've been suffering the consequences of this issue of mine all week. I think, in total, I've had about ten hours of sleep since Monday.

My emails, conversations and brain activity in general have been scattered at best and I've been seriously nodding-off at work and while knitting.

Time to step back and reasses.

In any case, I did manage to figure out the rest of the Tivoli math before the sleep deprivation caught up with me and I now have a complete set of notes to reference in the event I make another Tivoli (a definite possibility, depending on how the fit turns out on this one after washing).

I had already worked out the Yoke portion last week.

So, this week, my focus was on the body.

Now, I have to say, my torso is rather short/small and I was worried about making all the required decreases across such a short number of rows. And, for a minute there, I almost lost my head and actually considered starting them right after the armhole. Until, that is, I thought it through and realized the massive err of my ways.

Did I really want darted nipples?

Uh...NO!

My worries were confirmed by both Grumperina herself and Natalie from A Stitch Above. Both of them had small coronaries at the thought of such a thing.

My only explanation for such a stupid consideration is lack of sleep.

In fact, I'm blaming everything this week on lack of sleep.

So, I am knitting until I safely pass over the bust (This term for my boobage always makes me laugh because I keep picturing an actual "bust" as in, SCULPTURE, sitting on my slight cleavage. Again, lack of lseep and also years of Art School influence. Ahem.), THEN starting the decreases and, if I can, I plan to leave at least ten rows (in my gauge, the equivalent of one inch) after decreasing to the desired width before beginning the increases. I was planning on leaving two inches (20 rows) but I'm worried about such a long transition while incorporating the decreases at such a quick rate.

We'll see.

The only thing left, is figuring out excatly when the stripes will begin and how they'll transition and enlarge over a certain number of rows before becoming a solid mass of chocolate.

I have to say, the introduction of the chocolate is making me woozy with excitement.

Is this normal, or do I need to start getting serious about the whole dating thing?

I have been making progress on the Tivoli, but will only post another progress shot when it actually looks different from the last progress shot.

Until then, there will be pictures of notes, more yarn porn and possibly a side project or TWO to talk about and visually display.

Did I mention how tired I am?

Step Away From My Stash!

Score!

Or, at least that's what it felt like, anyway.

See, the second I placed these babies down on the table -- next to the other hanks of Lorna's Laces I was deciding between -- a most annoying woman landed in my periphery and started to grab at them TOTALLY INVADING MY PERSONAL SPACE.

Now, here's the thing, if I can SMELL you, then you are WAY TOO CLOSE.

And she was. TOO close.

I politely mentioned that I was deciding between the hanks and she actually said "Oh, so you might be taking those?"

Uh...YEAH!

So, her grabbing and fondling of the hanks was actually an attempt to scoff away with my find!

I managed to stave her off for a bit so I could think about what I was doing. Did I really NEED more sock yarn? Then, I realized that it was a moot point. I stopped actually NEEDING sock yarn about six months ago. The real question was whether I should purchase this stuff or hold off so as not to break the bank.

You see, I was on yet another yarn crawl to both Circles and A Good Yarn to pick up specific things. After meeting up with the always lovely and highly entertaining Colleen at Circles, we headed over to AGY specifically for more Lorna's Laces (well, that was MY reason, anyway...hehe). I was looking for more solid hanks -- another green hank for swatching and working out my sock pattern and two hanks of this gorgeous colorway...

for another sock design I'm planning.

I had no idea I was going to fall in love with the variegated colorway above. And there were only three hanks! I could feel that this was clearly a situation where if I didn't get them, I'd definitely regret it later. I have to give Colleen credit, though, she did try to talk me through it so I could really get a sense of whether it was an impulse buy or something I really wanted or even needed at that moment.

Nice try, Colleen. Hehehe.

Anyway, back to the odiforous vulture looming over me as I tried to concentrate and make my decision. This woman was SO ANNOYING. She walked around eyeing me the entire time and actually came over and asked me if I'd decided yet.

And no, I am NOT -- I repeat, NOT above buying them just for the sake of pissing her off.

I'm evil that way. ;-)

But, it turns out, I really did love this colorway and despite my dislike of the infamous Lorna's Laces pooling tendency, I purchased them with glee. The plan is to find a good stitch pattern to break up the pooling.

Also, there was Tivoli action last night. It was so hot (how hot was it?) that I just parked myself in my room and knit. There was no media of any kind. Just me, the birds chirping, an open window with a cool breeze and my knitting.

I was totally in The Zone.

And BOY did I need that!

However, I was so much in The Zone that I completely forgot that I needed to leave the sleeve stitches on a holder for modification at a later date! Thankfully, this only means unravelling two rounds.

But, I'm pretty pleased with my progress.

More stash photos tomorrow and possibly a sock thrown in for good measure.

Stash "Enhancement" (or, More Obsessive Purchases of The Fiber Kind)

Update: I received a comment about the ArtYarns Ultramerino which reads:

"I saw your post on Artyarns Ultramerino4 and wanted to let you know that it is brand new fall yarn and just started shipping! It will be available widely in the next few months. We are a little behind on updating our web site, but should be there shortly.
Take care,
Iris"

So, yay!

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Saturday started out cloudy and dreary and I began to get that icky feeling I get when I've just about had it with crappy weather -- that feeling that alerts me to the fact that my Inner Cranky Pants is about to make an appearance. Thankfully, as I got closer to Wickford Village (a cute little coastal town in Southern Rhode Island), the clouds started to disburse and the Golden Orb made it's way out to save the day. Literally.

Oh yeah...

It was gorgeous. Perfect weather for some walking, shopping and yarn shopping -- which is, OF COURSE, different from plain 'old shopping,

I must admit, though, as soon as I parked my car and headed toward the Wickford Gourmet to meet my friends, I started feeling twitchy and could think of nothing else but the yarn shop just MERE FEET AWAY!

Is this bad?

Should I be worried?

Anyway, after popping in and out of a few stores, we finally made it to And The Beadz Go On. I Know, it's an odd name for a yarn shop, but none of that matters once you walk in. Once inside it's just "ahhhhh" all the way.

The first thing I noticed was a couple of bins of Koigu containing at least four colorways I haven't run across. Can you believe how bright and Summer-y, orange-y and pink-y this yarn is?

There is NO way I could've left without it.

I was then confronted with some luscious ArtYarns Ultramerino4 which, for some reason, isn't listed on their site (PLEASE tell me this isn't discontinued!) I own some Supermerino -- which is fabulous -- but have never actually seen or fondled the Ultramerino4. The colorways were beautiful and rich and it's strikingly similar in feel and weight to the Rowan 4-ply Soft I'm currently using for Granny's socks.

So, of course, I had to have some of that as well.

By this point, I could tell my friends were glazing over, so I decided to make another trip this weekend to inspect the inventory more thoroughly and to pick up a hank of this gorgeous yarn whose brand, price, make-up -- or anything, for that matter -- I don't remember. I was trying to be considerate and yank myself away from the store before I had a mutiny on my hands, hehehe.

All I can say is that it was thick and silky soft. It really feels like there's a touch of silk in there. It's handpainted and I think it was from a local company.

Oh, and did I mention that I loved it so much I can't stop thinking about it and obsessing over whether or not it'll still be there when I go this weekend?

I think my lust for this hank is fueled by the vision of the sock the owner was making from the same yarn. I never knew a thick sock could be so luscious!

Pray for me, people, and for the successful acquisition of the nameless hank.

(Oh, and for World Peace).

In other news, for those who care -- and there seem to be quite a few of you -- Granny and Grandpa have resumed their regularly scheduled programming. I visited this evening and walked in on them cuddling under the blanket while watching the WWF. Granny LOVES the WWF -- but that's a WHOLE other story!

There you go.

Knitting Can Lead To Marital Strife

Another Hallmark Holiday under the knitting belt.

My Dad LOVED his socks!
(Please forgive the awful indoor sepia effect. It was later in the evening).

As you can see, they were a perfect fit. Another successful sock using The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook Measurement/Gauge chart.

I have to say, discovering the secret to perfect sock fit is what triggered my sock obsession. I now have everyone's foot measurements -- much to their dismay.

Seriously. I've been harassing everyone I know to take off their shoes and let me fondle their feet for some tape measure fun. I do this in coffee shops, parking lots and bookstores -- pretty much anywhere anyone will let me.

Can you say Sock Fetish?

Speaking of recording measurements, I've been playing around all weekend with knitting-related organization of the paperless kind and am planning a series of posts about this very topic all week -- partly to inform and partly to record my mania.

I'm on a mission, people! (Either that, or I've completely gone off the deep end with my obsessive tendencies).

On a sort-of-related-to-knitting note, I was headed downstairs to show Granny some sock progress, only to walk into a heated discussion between her and Grandpa. Butter knives were flailing from butter tubs, voices were at high decibles and doors were being closed loudly.

I asked her what was going on and, apparently, Grandpa is in a jealous rage over her backyard conversations with the 60 year-old man who is painting their house. I guess Grandma likes to stretch her legs every-so-often and offer the guys some lemonade and cookies (COOKIES people! Can Granny be any cuter?).

Hehehe.

Grandma is EIGHTY-FIVE and Grandpa is EIGHTY-SEVEN.

How is this related to knitting, you ask? Apparently, Granny was out there showing off my knitted wares and proudly going on about me and my cousins. I guess she hung out there longer than Grandpa liked. Hehehe. He accused her of flirting in a very loud way, they argued, and she's been mad ever since.

Grandpa tried to make nice-nice this morning by offering to go to Church with her, but Grandma politely declined.

Apprently, she is still pissed.

See, it just goes to show how something as innocent as knitting can lead to marital strife. And this time, it had nothing to do with bloated stashes! :-)

The Big Eye

I received this happy little melange of snack baggies, yarn bits, Big Eye Needles and hand-written (HAND-WRITTEN) pages the day before yesterday from the very sweet and VERY "attentive to detail," Miss Kathy.

Normally, I wouldn't blog about a piece of snail mail. I can't even remember when I last received any snail mail. But, this, THIS...well, I couldn't NOT blog about it -- for two reasons: 1) It shows that there are others just as (if not more) obsessive than I; and, 2) It's just so darn charming!

Here is an Illustrated list of Reasons Why This Package Totally Made My Day and Quite Possibly My Week:

1. The dainty, perfectly spaced handwriting. FIVE pages of it! FIVE!

2. The little bits of yarn carefully placed, like thumbnails, next to their respective descriptions -- really, my favorite part (see how Hello Kitty is flying UP toward the yanr bits? hehehe).

3. The "colorway" feel of the whole thing. As if I'm pouring through a Designer's Yarn Journal.

4. The descriptions -- accurate and peppered with signature Grumperina humor (I particularly enjoyed the use of the words "spiffy" and "loosey-goosey" and may have to appropriate those word for normal everyday usage).

5. The cute little "snack size" ziploc baggies (LOVE the little snack-size baggies!)

6. The PERFECTLY ROLLED bobbins! (Nobody, but NOBODY rolls those yarn balls and makes those bobbins like Grumperina!)

7. The LABELS -- all carefully handwritten (My God! She's even MORE thorough than I am!)

8. And, of course...the VERY best thing: HELLO KITTY STATIONERY!!! Just like mine! I even have post-its with this "Blue Angel Kitty!"

So, you can clearly see why I needed to blog about this package.

Included in the package are samples of KnitPicks Merino, Louet Gems and Alpaca Cloud Laceweight. I'm LOVING the Louet and will definitely be buying some soon.

Also included in the package was a Big Eye Needle. I forgot to pick one up -- despite the fact that Kathy reminded me TWICE -- at BeadWorks last week and couldn't start my beaded adventures without one. The place closest to me has odd hours and I wasn't sure when I'd be able to get to it, so Kathy kindly offered to send me one of hers.

Isn't she the Best Egg?

(I love how the needle package says "The Big Eye." I'll probably go around saying that all week. "Don't give me The Big Eye!" She gave me The Big Eye." Hehehe.)

So there you go. A peek into my snail mail and an example of just how nice and obsessive-in-a-very-good-way knitters can be.

I'm totally motivated now tofinally start that Yarn/Fiber Journal!

Blame It On The Heat

They're finished.

I was right down to the wire on these. It was 8:23 pm at the Knitting Clinic when I handed them over for steaming. Phew!

Interestingly, they softened up quite a bit after a simple steaming. So, I'm holding out hope that they'll soften up a bit more after a washing.

We'll see.

Now all I need is a tie box and some other goodies and I'm set!

Of course, I can't be content with just plowing ahead on my Cool Cagoule sleeves. I'm all about the socks this summer and I'm already planning some sock designs. I can't help it. Somehow, I've lost steam on Cool Cagoule -- which is sad, really, because I am SO CLOSE. It just seems like those sleeves will take forever and I'd really like to start working on the Subway Sweater so I can wear it to work at some point. And, it would also be nice if I could work in a tank or two before the Summer is over. In the back of my mind, I know I won't get much mileage out of Cool Cagoule until Fall and it's probably affecting my interest.

I'm fickle. What can I say?

But, I won't stop working on it. However, it will have to be a project I consider on-going.

Granny claims to not be interested in her socks until the Fall, although she is really loving them. She had been bothering me to finish them until the heat wave this past weekend, but after the sweltering weather, I don't think she can imagine wearing socks for a while. Hehehe. So, there's no time-pressure on the IK Padded Footlets anymore -- although, I do crave them and will probably continue, despite their snail's-pace pattern.

So my main focus will be some sock designs and re-working the Subway Sweater pattern. And, of course, I am weak and will most likely be lured toward some other project (I actually already have one in mind).

I think my lack of satisfaction with my knitting -- which I described in yesterday's post -- may have more to do with the fact that the projects I was working on were either; 1) not for me, or, 2) not things I could reasonably wear anytime soon. And, for me, that's all part of the excitement.

Let's face it. I was a crazy woman to actually think I could restrict myself to knitting on just one project at a time. Let's just forget about what I said yesterday and blame it on the heat. ;-)

My Name Is Black Olive And I'm a Sock Start-a-holic

I cast on for the Interweave Knits Padded Footlets -- found in the bowels of the current issue -- using Rowan 4-ply Soft in Splash (Turquoise) and Expresso (Chocolate).

I cast on for these a few days ago. I was just too ashamed to admit it. Isn't that silly? So, in order to make myself feel better, I rationalized that since these socks were lacey and involved focusing the attention -- they were justified. I'd have one mindless sock and one complex sock going at once.

See how nifty rationalization can be?

I then realized how close Father's Day is and remembered my Dad's request for a pair of socks. There was nothing else to do but to promptly cast on for yet another pair using Lana Grossa Meilenweit Multiringel (I have no idea what that means, but I'm guessing it means self-striping, because that's what they do). I've never used this Lana Grossa before. It's 80% New Wool and 20% Polyamid. They're a bit scratchy, but I knew my Dad wouldn't like the craziness of the Koigu, so I branched out for a more "manly" sock. I plan to do a pre-wash, and hopefully they'll soften-up a bit.

Now, in my defense, I did finish the Surf Socks -- not BEFORE casting on for the other two (so technically I did have three socks going at once for about one day) but soon after.

I love the surf socks. Very comfy and just the right height.

I'm calling this my Summer of Socks. Since, for whatever reason, I have a few sock designs in mind for Sockapal-2-za and for my own amusement. So, I probably should just admit right now, that there will always be multiple socks on the needles while I work on the other non-sock projects.*

*That's how I refer to my projects now -- they're either, Sock Projects or Non-sock Projects -- because somehow, socks are excused from the overrall project count in my mind.

I told you people I was a little nuts.

(I have much to say about the Interweave Padded Footlet, but I'll save it for another post).

In love, I am. Yet, happy, I'm not.

In love, I am...

with this Regia Cotton in the aptly named "Surf" colorway. Look at those candy colors! And, so, SO soft. Not as soft as my precious Lana Grossa, but VERY close.

I started these after finishing up my Brightest Blue Socks Ever last night. Here they are on my tired old dogs (I love that expression, even though I struggle to understand why feet are equated with dogs):

And here they are on their own:

Is it me, or is there a tiger stripe thing going on with these?

Anyway, so even though I haven't finished my Crusoe socks, I cast on for these because it's Spring and I needed a color motivator to get me in the mood and to help me push through all of the craptastic weather we've been having in these here parts.

Not happy I am. About this.

Ok, I'll stop. Can you tell I went to see Return of The Sith last night? That is where I managed to finish The Brightest Blue Socks Ever. So, they'll forever remind me of that movie and my realization that Yoda and his annoying grammatical swtiches have completely lost their charm on my cranky 30+ self. Also, if we're going to accept all the snappy special effects and other assorted updates, can we go all the way and update that goofy Darth Vader outfit please? PLEASE? I know I'm going to get all sorts of hate mail from the purists, but I don't care. I think the weather here has finally gotten to me. ;-)

That being said. It was fun. I love a good Sci-fi landscape and storyline. And, having worked at Hasbro when all of this was still in the works, I have a special place in my heart for that lava pit. Hehe.

So, yes, I happily knitted away and perfected my not-looking-while-knitting skills at the movie last night and it was amazingly calming. Then the calm was ruined as I drove back home, dodging downed power lines, a large oak tree and trying to keep my tiny cheese-wedge-shaped car from being flung across the highway from the unbelieveably fierce winds. I'm not kidding. What is going on, people? It's May!

So, you see why I had to cast on for a cheery sock, right? My crankypants self needed some happy fiber between my fingers.

I've also been re-working the math for The Cool cagoule sleeves and The Subway Sweater. I have more swatch photos of the Jo Sharp Summer Soho on deck for tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Hopefully the Surf Sock will do it's magic and dispel my cranky, weather-related mood. ;-)

What is Your Ball Count?

What is your ball count?

Mine is at 144 (I promise I'm going to try to refrain from lewd "ball" humor, but it's so hard...).

I spent the better part of last night organizing and cataloging my stash. Now, visually, my stash is rather small compared to stashes I've seen elsewhere -- whose caretakers shall remain nameless -- so I figured it would only take an hour or so.

Why do I always underestimate how long it'll take to organize something? I should know by now that my obsessive tendencies will get in the way and make a simple task into an all-out production with a capital "P."

I started out with a simple desire to just organize the pile of yarn bags that make their home atop my Papasan chair (I still haven't found the perfect storage bin for my lovelies, so for now, I tip the Papasan top into "bowl mode" and pile everything on there), and before I knew it, I was pulling out the Excel stash template I'd downloaded from another blogger's site (I can't find the link at the moment, but will post it as soon as I do). Not only did I pull out the template, but I started making all sorts of modifications -- adding columns for gauge, ounces, grams, care, etc. -- and REALLY complicating everything. Before I knew it, it was 4am and I was just finishing the last line of the novelty yarns that still linger after the Christmas requests of 2004.

It got so ugly, that I started thinking about making templates for current projects, needles and remnants (it turns out I have a bunch of very cool remnants to swatch with and I'd like to have a record of them somewhere for reference). Luckily, you bloggers beat me to the punch and I was able to find links to templates for needle and project lists. I couldn't find anything for remnants, though, so I'll probably just take one of the templates I've downloaded and modify it accordingly, since I am NO Excel expert and have never actually created one of these things.

I have to say though, this little excercise has awakened my love of lists and nifty organizational tools and, as a result, I'm now delving into the joys of Excel. Somehow, work stuff just wasn't enough of a motivator to uncover the magic that is Excel for an obsessive-compulsive like me. But yarn, well, that's a whole other matter altogether!

Here is a link to a screen capture of My List So Far. It isn't finished yet. I still have some wayward balls to capture (hehe). And this list doesn't include any of the yarn I have for projects that are currently on the needles (my Jo Sharp, Tahki Cotton Classic, etc.). Should I include those?

Of course, I know this info is boring to most of you peeps out there. I'm really only including it for my own record and for the amusement of my fellow obsessives. Enjoy.

(And, please don't judge me for the crappy novelty yarn you'll see toward the bottom. Is it my fault everyone requested a fucking furry scarf for Xmas? I'm a sap and can't say no, so there they are -- remnants of my foray into The Fur. Hehe.)

Achy Face

The front piece of Cool Cagoule is finally finished. I must say, the pocket was the highlight. I've never actually done a pocket before, so I had a lot of fun experiencing the construction. The best part was knitting in the flap.

Of course, the whole thing has yet to be blocked and the pocket needs to be sewn, but I think you get the idea.

Here's a close-up:

Next up are the sleeves. I've only done one repeat of the pattern so far and I have to say, I'm not understanding how this will all flesh out. I thought it would be more like the cables on the pocket front. But, as with other repeats, I guess I need to give it a few more turns before I can really see what's going on.

----

In other news, I accompanied my friend Kristin last night to a local yarn mart to pick up some starter supplies. I can't tell you how excited it makes me when my peeps express an interest in The Knitting Arts. Hehe. I get SO excited that I need to consciously control my excitement for fear of turning them off to knitting forever.

But it's SO hard!

----

Oh, and I'm already planning another project out of necessity (yeah, right!). The Lucy Bag is my next conquest -- my first felted project.

Here's what I plan to use:

Isn't it pretty?

It's Cascade Quatro. Does anyone have any experience with this stuff for felting? I know Cascade 220 is great, but haven't heard anything about this stuff.

Anyway, the Lucy Bag is amazing. I've seen a few already in my Knitting Clinic and I fall in love with it every time. My plan is to make it my knitting bag for work.

That's about it. I must go soothe my achy face now with some peppermint tea. Sinus issues are no fun.