Sunday, February 29, 2004

Happy Leap Year Day!!

Recently, I've been asked to make a wedding dress and corset for the wedding of a friend of a friend. Whom I've never met. Who I'm assuming lives far away from me.

After waffling a bit, I've had to decide to say no. For several reasons:
1. Only ever made one corset, for myself, and I would hate to have the need for constant tinkering on someone else.
2. I'm not comfortable that my sewing stuff is up to par. Sure, I'll wear stuff I've made, but it takes a lot of tinkering before I'm done. Especially considering that I've yet to find a pattern company to be reliable. I have some custom pattern software from Wild Ginger, but I haven't had a chance to use them yet. The current set up of our apartment is not conducive to my creative efforts, and sewing just takes up too much room at the moment. Hell, I'll be glad if I can find a place to block the Vamp Cardigan. In short, I wouldn't want to sell the stuff I've made, especially for something as involved as a wedding dress.
3. I would have to charge a decent amount per hour to make it worth my time. But as I have not made a wedding dress yet, it would take a lot longer than a professional would. Really, you would probably be able to get a professional, who has a higher wage, but takes less time, who can make it for less than I ever could. Because there is no way in *hell* I would work for minimum wage.

Now, I've made a few dresses for choir, and a school musical before, but let's face it. The patterns were simple, I was making more than one of each of them, and no one was close enough to see the screw ups.

I just wouldn't feel comfortable, and I'm sorry for that.

Anyway,
I've got a paper due on Tuesday, so what am I doing? Updating my blog and baking bread of course! Ugh. It's the last paper I'll ever have to write for my degree, it's not difficult, but I just can't get the motivation.

I'm almost finished the toe of the second Regia, and I think I'm probably about 2/3 done the back for Vamp. I'll work on what I can when I can.


Sharvanne purred at 3:36 PM
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Wednesday, February 25, 2004

Go Me!!

I finally finished the first Regia Sock! Here is it in all of it's socky goodness:

(Ignore the end that I still have to weave in)

And here is my attempt at detail of the pattern that knits up, I took pictures for a good 15 minutes, and still couldn't come up with something halfway-decent:


I've been plugging away on the Vamp cardigan. Not much to show other than a huge sleeve and several inches on the back of a big black piece of stockinette.


Sharvanne purred at 9:19 PM
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Saturday, February 21, 2004

Recipe Day!!!

Today, I did some cooking, so I thought I'd share a couple of recipes... such as they are.

#1 A-Lotta-Fritatta

1. Grate and fry a couple of potatoes
2. Beat a couple of eggs with a little milk, pepper and garlic powder
3. Pour egg mixture onto grated potatos (while still in pan), leave on meduim heat until mostly all cooked, ocassionally lifting eggy-goodness away from sides.
4. Throw on some grated cheese, and pop whole thing under the broiler.
5. Broil until cheese is bubbling, cut and serve.

2. Peanut butter cookies

1.Mix together:
two cups PB
two cups sugar
two eggs
2. Drop balls of dough onto cookie sheet, squish with a fork for authentic PB cookie-ness
3. Pop into 350 degree oven for about ten minutes or so.

Mmmmmmmm.....................



Sharvanne purred at 8:26 PM
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I went to the Dr's office on Thursday, and I have bronchitis, again. So, I've been home since Wednesday. I'll be going in on Monday, but I'm out almost a whole week's paycheck.

Therefore, I've been working on the Vamp cardigan. I finihsed one of the HUGE bell sleeves (something's wrong when your sleeve is wider than one of your fronts, right?) and I'm working on the back. I also managed to get the exact guage on the ball band, which is what I designed the sweater on. I used software from Knitware to design this, using the demo version. So far, I am impressed and pleased.

Pictures will come soon, I promise



Sharvanne purred at 6:53 PM
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Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Uh... What?

I was sent home from work today.

Not because I'm fired, but because I'm still sick. Okay, whatever. Just wish I wasn't out $83. Time to talk to the Bank of Mom&Dad (BMD). That is, whenever they get back from Cancun.

Nevermind. I rode the bus all the way around the University (getting off at the stop on my side of the street, rather than my usual stop across the street), giving me an extra 20 minutes to knit on the bus, and calm down.

I finished the first Wrist warmer, and not sure that I like it. Don't get me warm, it'll be perfect for it's intended purpose - to keep me warm, but I didn't want warm, I wanted stylish - and red worsted does not equal stylish. Wasn't what I was going for. Not to worry, I've got another project in my head, going to see (when I get a chance) what it's going to take to complete, then I may just write up and offer a pattern (although, getting something published in Knitty would be cool, I don't think that it's in my near future). Then I could be all cool, and junk.

Oh. And the mailman delivered my Vamp Cardigan and Army sock yarn. Except that I don't get to play with it, because he was lazy and instead of ringing the bell, just shoved a "you've got a package" slip into my mailbox. I only have to walk to the 7-11 (about 10 minutes, tops), but it's annoying. I should get around to picking that up in a few days.

Gotta keep in mind, however that I have an essay due March 2. Meh. Lots of time!!!


Sharvanne purred at 5:18 PM
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Tuesday, February 17, 2004

Oh. And by the way...

I finished the I*Scream Tank! Whoo!

Actually, all I had to do (for the last week) was throw it in a hot dryer. It shrunk down just the right amount (even though it is a little short now. Darn it. I have a feeling that this one will be one of those items of clothing that can only be worn once before it needs to get washed againt to return to the ideal shape.

Not that I ever wear something more than once before washing it. Well, hardly ever. Well, sometimes. Well, generally. Okay. All the time, but it has to past the sniff test first.

Being a student and living with coin operated washer/dryers suck.

Ta Daaaaaaaa!



Sharvanne purred at 7:42 PM
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So, I've been sick. Nasty sick. Sleeping on the couch in the livingroom sick. But silly me, can't stop knitting.

The only thing I had on the needles was my Regia sock, so I cast on my version of the Voodoo Wrist Warmers. I'm using some of the massive ball of red worsted that went into Katie's sock (see earlier postings... probably near the beginning of this blog), and 3.25mm DPN's.

I guess I was just getting sick of such a small guage required by my sock. Sometimes sock knitting seems like running on a hamster wheel: getting nowhere, fast.

I'm waiting for my Titan Bulky to get here from Mary Maxim. I'm excited to make my vamp cardigan, and I bought another skein of purple Boa for the collar. It's all 100% acrylic, but I don't care. I can only afford the good yarn for sock-sized projects, so I won't cry over it.

One day I'll have the money for the nice stuff, and hopefully my skills will be up to snuff.



Sharvanne purred at 7:12 PM
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Sunday, February 15, 2004

Suck it!!

PhotoBucket totally kicks PictureTrail's ass! Just try to take away direct linking from me now, Sucka's!

This is for Tekgrrl...



Sharvanne purred at 10:47 AM
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Marriage is love.

Sharvanne purred at 10:31 AM
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Friday, February 13, 2004

Ooopsie...

I ordered the yarn for the Vamp Cardigan. And some green camoflauge verigated sock yarn. And needles for the cardie. Nevermind that I promised myself to wait until I had done some sewing.

Whoops.

But darn it, I want that sweater. I may even add some Parrot Boa yarn to the collar, as I still have some left from the purple/black striped corset top that I knit for Gay Pride in Toronto last year. Which reminds me... I'll need to come up with something even more fabulous for this year. Hmmm... Maybe I'll see if I can do some sort of fishnet number with a fire print bra. Or a new corset. Mmmmm.... corsets.

Anyone know a fishnet-type knitting stitch? I can't seem to come up with anything other than using teeny tiny yarn and huge needles. And I'm not sure about that one, is there an acutal stitch? Even an open lace pattern would work, I guess.

The Regia sock is coming along nicely, I've finished turning the heel, and just need to decide what I want to do for the leg. I'm guessing 3X2 rib, as it worked really well on Tekgrrl's socks.

Oh. And Marcos? If you are reading this, have fun this week and be safe. And I'm almost done your afghan, I'm just draggin my feet on finishing it. I hope you like pink.


Sharvanne purred at 10:39 PM
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Thursday, February 12, 2004

I forced myself to finish the knitting on the I*Scream tank. And I'm definatly screaming. Man, it's bad. Never again do I use a non-elastic yarn for a tank top. It would have been nice for a skirt, though.

I'm just now finishing the gussets on my first Regia sock.

I haven't posted much, because I've been working overtime, and doing school work.

In honour of my new webring (Knitting Kitty!), here is a gratuitous Isis shot...


You can see the underside of my "sewing table" AKA Tekgrrl's newest computer desk. Underneath, you can see the boxes of yarn and fabric I've carted around with me. There is more in my bedroom, too.


Sharvanne purred at 7:24 PM
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Sunday, February 08, 2004

Finished!!!

The Grandma's Stash socks are done, done, done. Yay! I finished something. You will undertsand when I let everyone know that the I*Scream tank is still not done, even though I could finish it in an evening. I just don't like it, but I'll perservere.

Eventually.


Tonight, I started the Regia socks, so pretty! Also, so blinding since half of the colours are dark red and purple, and I'm using teeny-tiny needles and teeny-tiny yarn.

Today I also made two huge loaves of cheese bread, as well as some roasted chickpea crunchies. Yummy. And much better for me than candy. I just need to munch at work. Which reminds me that I need to pick up more chickpeas because the current batch of hummus is almost gone, and I've only got three cans left. I swear, I eat probably 4 cans a week or more. At least I know I'm getting protein.

So, without further ado, the Grandma's Stash socks:



Many thanks to the wonderful and sexy Tekgrrl for modeling her new socks.





Sharvanne purred at 7:44 PM
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Friday, February 06, 2004

Looking for a Knit-A-Long...

While the next project I'm thinking of tackling (a tester pair of pants from my sewing software, probably out of a burgandy crepe) is nice, I would like a portable knitting project. I'll be working on the Regia socks soon (Tekgrrl, your socks are almost done), but I'd like something else too.

Basically, I have a short attention span.

Anyone know of any current KAL's? Is there anyone doing anything from White Lies? I would love to know...

May I even be so bold as to host a KAL?

I would appreciate any comments on this subject.


Sharvanne purred at 8:11 PM
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Well... the I*Scream tank is almost done. I just need to finish the armholes. Problem is, I tried it on, and HATE it. It's too big, the shaping is weird, and it just hangs there.

I know why this happened, how such a wondnerful pattern could go so horribly wrong. I thought this pattern (for some reason) was in Canadian needle sizes, so I used a 5.0 and 5.5 mm needles. Instead it was american sizes, so I should have used, something like 3.75 and 4.0 mm. So the size I should have made turned out huge, I frogged and remade a smaller size.

Silly me, not thinking that proportion of fit would change with that one.

I would remake it, but I'm not enitrely fond of the color (makes me dizzy). Maybe I'll just throw it in a hot dryer and hope for the best. It is 100% cotton, afterall.

If only you could felt cotton, this would be perfect.


In sock news, I just need to finish turning the heel and do the leg of the last Grandma's Stash sock. Then I get to play with my Regia!!!

I've also drafted a pattern for the cardigan, but I'm wondering about using a hood. Somthing tells me that the look I'm going for is going to need a shawl collar. But we'll see. I may order the yarn soon.

I've decided that i can only afford the "good" yarn for socks. No way could I afford a wool sweater right now. But socks I could probably deal with.

Well, I'm off to get Tekgrrl out of bed. Wish me luck.


Sharvanne purred at 6:53 AM
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Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Can someone please tell me...

1. Why I can't seem to put my knitting down and pick up my schoolbooks. I have plenty reading to do, but I just keep knitting.

2. Where in the world my sock pattern went... I can't find it anywere.. I'd print off another one, but Tekgrrl's printer has PMS.

3. Why work doesn't let me knit. Sure, I could process data and knit at the same time. If I had a set of bionic arms, that is...

I look forward to the day when I'm not in school, and have a nice house to live in. Then, I'd have my evenings to do with what I will. And space to store all my crafting stuff.


Sharvanne purred at 6:52 AM
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Sunday, February 01, 2004

Ahhh.... Sunday...

This is how I've kept myself entertained today... bread and Finding Nemo


Oh. And I've been a good little Heathen, too...



Sharvanne purred at 4:10 PM
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Random Kitty Cuteness!

I thought I should just share that Isis loves my blog, too.

Or maybe, it's the warm monitor.


Oh. And I've realized that it's really annoying when you are working on a sock and a tank concurrently, and when you've decided that it's time to go back to the sock (because you don't want your girlfriend's precious feet to get cold), the sock pattern is nowhere to be found.

I can print out another, it's just annoying.


Sharvanne purred at 12:55 AM
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