'Round Cape Horn, and Headed for Valparaiso

The title probably makes no sense, and until I did what I was refering to in the title, I was going to title this post after a line in Jabberwocky, but I impulsively wanted to to title the post this.

Although I don't feel like going to the trouble of creating a progress photo at this moment, I worked madly on the Snowdrop shawl, minus the headache that had bothered me before, and reached the repeat after the point! So I am "'Round Cape Horn and Headed for Valparaiso," Valparaiso being the *halfway* marker on the second edge of the shawl. It is a weird looking thing, with the one side all scrunched up on the needle and the other hanging loosely.

I have gotten back to a more familiar computer, so if, if (!) I had my camera with me and the batteries had been charged earlier and I had remembered the USB cable, I would have given you some pictures, but all that did not occur. On that topic, this computer recently went through some problems, so I have lost all my bookmarks and am using IE rather than my beloved Foxfire right now. Also, I have been having line break/paragraph tag problems, er, difficulties, all day in Blogger, don't know why, but this post may look strange.

Last time you heard that I was waiting for a shipment from KnitPicks; well, the package arrived last Friday, along with the July KnitPicks catalog.

What did this package contain? Here, have a looksie at the list:

• 2 50g balls Risata in Dusk



• 2 50g balls Felici in Hummingbird



• 4 50g balls Essential; 2 in each of 2 colorways, Meteor Twist and Peacock Print



• 2 50g balls Palette in Rainforest Heather



• 4 50g balls Dancing; 2 in each of 2 colorways, Hula and Rumba



• and finally! Favorite Socks: 25 timeless designs from Interweave

I had some plans for the Dancing and for Felici, involving the Four Stitch Ribbing patterns and the Chevron Patterns for Self Striping yarns in Sensational Knitted Socks, but I didn't know what I was going to make with the other yarns until I got Favorite Socks. Plans:

• Risata: Meida's socks by Nancy Bush (Hooray Nancy Bush!), go over and visit Grumperina to see some pictures and her thoughts.



• Essential Meteor Twist: Mock Wave Cable socks by Ann Budd. I don't feel like finding pictures, but they're the ones with the rickrack/zigzag pattern made in a blue tweed yarn in the book



• Essential Peacock Multi: Possibly the Cable Rib Socks; I don't remember the designer. However, there may or may not be a problem with pooling. We'll just have to see.



• Palette: Candace Eisner Strick's Austrian Socks. I loves twisted stitch goodness; find more with Eunny's Bayerische Socks and the Chalet (?) Socks in Nancy Bush's Folk Socks

Several other patterns are lovely, but they didn't fit my yarn or needles, or just didn't stand out to me immediately. One thing I noticed is that the Felici Hummingbird colorway (view here) is strangely reminiscent of the yarn of my first socks, 100% acrylic-only, what, started back at the end of 2004?-in the Jazz Hot colorway of this yarn.

Okay, I neglected to mention this in the last post, but as of that so-called unlucky day, July 13, 2007 (a Friday, see), this blog turned a year old. So happy blogiversery!

New at the library:
First, a quick look at my new book:

Favorite Socks: 25 timeless designs from Interweave

Rating: 9/10
Why?
I didn't find many spectacular projects that stood out to me, but I love 'um all anyway, with few possible exceptions.

Do not deal misses (got Weldon's Vol. 5 out from the library and between that and some translation key between UK/US terms in crochet, I couldn't resist saying miss!):

Take a good look at any and all of the patterns I mentioned above, also the Hidden Passion Socks, Eastern European Footlets, Padded Footlets, and Resoleable socks. Look at all of them in fact.



I haven't gotten a look at this one yet, other than Cat Bordhi's preview page, but I am oh so eager to get my hands on this book! Which one...



So many people were waiting on that magical date

JULY 21,2007 for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows. Yes, and if you somehow read the same newspaper article as I did, you might have heard about somebody growing their hair out and bleaching to look like Lucius Malfoy (! *Here Arachnera raised eyebrows, may have formed o with mouth and had a bit of a laugh over the matter because beyond unruly bangs and green eyes, neither of which she wants to change, she doesn't look like any character.) And yes, I have read the first six books, although only recently (How I do like the Half Blood Prince-to clarify, the person is probably my favorite character-don't know why.), but I was personally much more excited about....

July 28, 2007

because Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters came out! I want to get my hands on this book, but I'm going to wait for the library, if the PLoC&HC can possibly get the book. I would also like to have a look at Victorian Lace Today, but PLoC&HC doesn't have that, or subscribe regularly to any of the Interweave Press magazines (except possibly Beadwork, which isn't exactly my area of expertise though I generally look over it.)



Now for the magazines I got out from the library on Monday:



Threads, August/September 2007

Ah, hmm... Threads is evidently on a big vintage clothing/vintage pattern kick this issue (Witness this list of articles, which I didn't mind but didn't love either due to aninterest (Inspired by The Outcasts of 19 Schyller Place, I invented a word) in vintage stuff), but what I wanted to see was the make it quick article on aprons. Thinking perhaps if I can get my Janome out and sew up some of the fabric stash that I may try to find a suitable fabric for an apron.



Another sewing project I wanted to make...

Well, I am officially out of time, and I believe this is already a long post. Hopefully I can tell you my opinions on Vogue Knitting Fall '07 next time.

Knit on for now!