Ice Queen and other matters

I'm making real progress on Ice Queen. I've been knitting this at home and on the train. The latter can be a bit difficult, so there have been times I've ended a row and discovered too few or too many stitches, and had to increase or decrease to keep the lace pattern correct. Here's a sneak peak:



And a close up:



And how I keep all my beads together:



Pre-beading the yarn is both convenient and a hassle. It's great, because I don't have to worry about spilling beads on the train. However, constantly having to stop, and push the beads down the yarn on the rows I don't use them is a pain, and has created some tangles here and there.

I haven't been at SnB lately, because work has been incredibly busy. I'm barely keeping up with what I need to do. And, matters are complicated by the fact that I have a new job!! That's right! I just accepted a new position at a non-profit in my very own town of Salem. My last day at MIT will be in two weeks.

Things I'll miss about MIT:
My officemate and office friends
MIT SnB
Danielle, Femiknit, the Wanton Seed Stitch, and Rhonda the Stitching nut
My iMac and PhotoBooth
Having my own office with a door
A great boss

I'm thrilled about my new job, and my new commute (ten minutes anyone?). I'm looking forward to making news friends there and the exciting work that lies ahead. But all the same, I will really really miss MIT. Change is hard!

I think in the future, Rhonda can expect to see me more often at Seed Stitch!

you get the picture

My digital camera at home is out of batteries, and I'm too lazy at the moment to do anything about it. Here's a photo update of Ice Queen courtesy of my on-board computer camera. Not the best quality, but you get the idea.

No SnB for me today

:-(

I was out of the office yesterday, so I need to catch up on some things today.

I made some progress on Ice Queen yesterday while I was at home... It has beads! It has beads!

It definitely seems to resemble the Ice Queen as depicted in the photos on knitty, so I think I'm on the right track.

We'll see. Bead placement/chart reading could be an issue!

Ice Queen update

I finished doing the picot cast-on for Ice Queen. Here's a rather sketchy photograph that doesn't do it justice.



It's incredibly soft and fluffy!

I hope to get a few more rounds done, with beads, so I can see how it's going to look.

If I get this done in time (ya RIGHT!) I might give this to a friend who has a b-day coming up, and break the cycle of selfish knitting.

Ice Queen commenceth

Thanks to Rhonda, I finally cast on for Ice Queen (version B)

She recommended I do a "picot cast on" rather than a provisional cast on. Thanks again for teaching me how to do that! I finished the cast on over the weekend, and this morning on the train started translating the chart into a notebook for easier knitting.

Stay tuned for a photo....

Aimee Sweater - critique

I'm wearing the Aimee Sweater - in public - today. I feel kind of lukewarm about the final product. The douceur et soie brand yarn I used, which is a blend of mohair and silk, is very droopy. Plus, I think I could have gotten away with doing a size smaller. The net result is a sweater that looks/feels kind of baggy to me. I also think its a bit too long. I much prefer things that are fitted.

I might someday try this again, in KSH and a different color. and shoulder pads. HA! just kidding!

The Ice Queen stalleth

Well. I tried to cast on for Ice Queen. But the provincial cast on that Rhonda recommended is proving to be a little challenging. I printed out the directions for the PC that knitty.com linked to, but I'm all thumbs and elbows with this one.

I strung all my beads onto the kidsilk haze, though. This seems to be an acceptable technique. The idea being that everytime the pattern calls for a bead, you just slide one down the yarn, and presto!

We'll see.

Rhonda, if you're out there, and planning on being at SnB this week, I may beg your indulgence for another cast on demo.

Finished object! Aimee Sweater

I've finally finished the Aimee Sweater! I just need to add the ribbon thru the waist. I'll pick that up on my lunch break tomorrow. I thought I'd wait to do the official photo of me wearing it until I got that squared away. I also need to find a new short to wear with it. Most peope who've knit this wear it with a collared/button down shirt.

Here's a preview: