J'adore

Words cannot express how much I love these socks. A little while ago these:


Became these:


I love the lace panels. I love the 1 x 3 moss stitch body. I love the almost-but-not-quite-solid color. I love the round and slightly crunchy yet still squishy texture of the yarn. I love the organic-ness of them.

The shot is dark, but it was the best exemplar of what I mean. (Click to make bigger.) They just flow.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Child's French Socks by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Blackberry
Needles: 4 US size 0 (2 mm) metal dpns
Size: CO 63 stitches to fit a slightly narrow US size 7 1/2 foot
Started: 23 September 2006
Finished: 31 January 2007 (This is grossly misleading - it took only 6 days to complete the second sock. Then again, maybe it illustrates my knitting habits perfectly.)
Pattern Mods: None. This pattern is perfect.


And, as it is still January 31st I have met my challange to knit (well, finish knitting anyway) a pair of socks every month. Two pair, actually, since I finished the Beaded Ribs last week.

More later...

posted by Carrie @ 5:36 PM 7 comments

Winter at Last

Patrons of tonight's double bill in Lincoln Center of Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana were greeted with this sight as they exited the Met:


While I'm sure my opinion might have been different had I needed to drive anywhere, I was delighted to say the least.

By the time I got to the East Side the streets (my street, anyway) looked like this:


Incidentally, this is what happens to bad socks:


All this and more tomorrow. It's late now! Time to sleep.

posted by Carrie @ 9:13 PM 0 comments

Three More

Two more quick things. (A proper post soon, I promise!)

1. A weekend of opera is condusive to knitting an entire sock and more!

2. The inability to read instructions causes the incorrect knitting of the toe of a sock, causing the unknitting of the toe of said sock.

3. I have done this twice.

I got all the way to the last decreases of the toe, counted the stitches left, and wondered why there were four too many on the top. Then I read the pattern and realized that not only had I forgotten the very first decrease after the last pattern repeat, I also didn't knit any plain rows before the toe decreases proper (there should be four of them).

I also realized throughout all of this that the first sock, the one started back in September, is also knitted wrong and contains one less pattern repeat than is strictly called for. It probably is missing the four plain rows as well with my luck. (I haven't examined it that closely, having chucked it across the room when I realized my mistake.) Seeing as how the sock is actually a wee bit short I believe I actually need said pattern repeat to make these socks the most enjoyable they can be. Who would have thought that Nancy Bush actually knew what she was talking about? Apparently not me. I am dutifully shamed and bow down before the sock goddess. So not only did I have to unknit one sock, when I am done with this one I am going to have to unknit the other as well.

There are two days left to January - will they be done in time? Tomorrow's Cav & Pag will complicate things... (it's another early curtain too - what was I thinking?)

Secret knitting is progressing, but will likely not be finished by the end of January...

posted by Carrie @ 9:51 PM 2 comments

Great Performances

More later, but three quick things for now:

1. I am in the processing of revamping the look of the blog. Bear with me as I make changes ove the next few days (or weeks...) And please let me know if something looks crazy to you. I surf with Firefox, so I don't know how things will look on other browsers...

2. The abridged English language version of The Magic Flute wil be playing on PBS this afternoon at 2:30pm if you are in the NYC area (WNET 13). If you're not in NYC check your listings - it may be playing again in your area too. (The name of the program to search for is "Great Performances at the Met".) This is the production that was broadcast in HD to movie theaters all over the country and select countries around the world this past December - the first of its kind. It's very short - about 90 minutes of singing, plus one intermission with features; it's in English, and it is an adaptation of last years new (unabridged and in the original German) Die Zauberflöte production by Julie Taymore. Julie Taymore is the brains behind the artistic design of The Lion King on Broadway, and The Magic Flute has that same magic. It is brilliant, and Nathan Gunn is adorable. Do check it out, or tape it and watch it later. It's well worth it.

3. I promised a video clip of the cutest tenor around a few posts ago, so here you go! No, not Nathan Gunn, he a baritone sillies! I am talking about Juan Diego Florez in Royal Opera House's brand new production of La Fille Du Regiment! (Don't worry opera fans, this production is coming to the met next year!) I listened to the broadcast last night and both he and Natalie Dessay are brilliant. (It may play again, let me know if you are interested and I can find out.) Check out this (short) news story video about the new production. I dare you to tell me you don't think he is the cutest opera singer in lederhosen! If the link doesn't work just navigate to this link:

http://www.channel4.com/player/v2/player.jsp?showId=4237

Enjoy!

posted by Carrie @ 6:19 AM 3 comments

Fearless Fibers

Hi! Remember me? Thou shalt not buy any more yarn? Thou art on a financial diet? Well, thanks to Opal's beautiful Here There Be Dragon socks I broke the unspoken rules and bought some Fearless Fibers sock yarn. Whoops! The yarn is an incredible deal (550 yds of superwash merino for only $14.50) and looks beautiful to boot. I bought it at around 8am Tuesday morning, got an email verifying payment received not a half hour later, and it was here, in my greedy little hands, today. Yup, it got shipped out that day from Hillsboro, OR and made it cross-country to NYC in two days. I know it is Priority Mail and all, but when they say they will ship immediately they really mean it! And here's another incentive to buy lots of yarn from them - shipping was $4.00 for the first skein and only $0.50 for the second!

posted by Carrie @ 6:38 PM 6 comments

Winning and Losing, Part II

I win! The SKS Beaded Rib Socks are done:


The beaded rib socks are almost knee socks since I wanted to use up all the yarn I had. I used some mystery yarn from days gone by, and part of it began life as this sock/impromptu wrist warmer. I suspect the yarn is an alpaca-synthetic mix, since it fairly fuzzy and seems very similar to the yarn I made socks for my roommate many moons ago, and she has washed and dried those in machines! They are toe-up, the first (completed) ones of this type that I have ever done. (Oriel are also toe up, but were until yesterday in a semi-permanent stall.) Since I do not own a ball-winder or a yarn scale, I needed an alternative method. As such I maximized yarn usage as follows:

Knit as far as I could with one skein

Knit as far as I could with the other skein (this was a different length)

Reclaim the maroon yarn from the old sock/impromptu wrist warmer

Wash said yarn (it was really kinky from being knitted for like, I don't know, 8 years or so)

Do not wind newly washed yarn into a ball, but lay carefully over the arm of the sofa

Knit on shorter sock until the two socks are the same length

Count the number of loops left in the "skein"

Divide by 2

Subtract a few for good measure

Keep track of the number of loops I am unlooping as I knit

When the halfway point (of loops) is reached, bind off first sock

Wind the rest into a ball

Knit the other sock to the same number of rows as the first

End up with about 8 yards extra

That's it! I was so impressed with the economy of it all. I had to incorporate some increases since, as you can clearly see, the socks go halfway up my calves. I cleverly hid them in the purl spaces of the ribs, such that the purl spaces get wider but the knit spaces to not. They are topped off with about 1/2 inch of regular ribbing (I would have done much more but I didn't realize how close I was to the end of the first sock, and I was not going to rip 20 or 30 rows of perfectly good sock since it is ribbed already anyway.)


On with the Specs:
Yarn: Who the heck knows? Possibly an alpaca/synthetic blend (see above)
Needles: 5 US size 2 Empress wooden dpns
Size: CO 50 stitches for a slightly narrow size 7 1/2 (US) shoe
Started: 02 January 2007
Finished: 22 January 2007
Mods: Increased in purl spaces for sort-of knee socks (somewhat haphazardly but luckily hidden by the fuzzy nature of the socks). Did the short-row heel as proscribed and find I like it much better in a sock that actually fits my foot (refer to the Sixth Sense Socks for more details about that).


So why do I lose? I think I am allergic to alpaca.

I loved my clever way of dividing a single skein of sock yarn into two that I decided to do the same thing with my new Socks That Rock yarn. Unfortunately I was a tad enthusiastic and forgot about my Big Plan until after this happened:

How will I divide up my precious Scottish Highlands now? (No, I am not winding it by hand back into a skein only to unwind it again.)

Speaking of Scottish Highlands, Leah asked if I had any particular plans for this yarn... It is so lovely and I really don't I don't know what kind of pattern would look good with a variegated yarn like this. The color transitions are pretty close together. Any suggestions?

posted by Carrie @ 4:05 PM 3 comments

They Keep Going and Going...

I thought I would have a finished knit ready for all to see by now, but not quite. Like the Energizer Bunny, they just keep going and going. They are almost out of juice now though, so to speak (as am I with working on them!). Dare I predict tomorrow for the Finished-On Date?

Thank you, kind friends, for the thoughts, ideas, and words of encouragement on the Embellished V-neck. I have had to put this project away for the time being, lest I give in to my desire to chuck it off the balcony. I have a sneaking, sinking suspicion, however, that the whole thing will have to be scrapped, and if I really want it I will have to reknit it at a larger size. Thing is, I'm not sure I want it badly enough, especially considering the issues with the joining of the garter stitch border to the neckline. We shall see.

On to happier thoughts.

Last week my cross-town friend told me, "Yay! It's going to snow!" I told her not to be silly, it wasn't going to snow. Ever again. She called me mean and said she would hold out hope.



It did snow last week, for about 5 seconds. It doesn't really count in my book, however, unless the white stuff sticks around for at least a day. I want a blizzard, damn it! The forecast doesn't look too promising, though temperatures have been in the twenties.

Then, miracle of miracles, the sun came out on Saturday. Sunday too! I grabbed my slippers and coat, ventured out onto the 22 degree porch, and snapped off a few choice shots for your amusement. First up, I win:


That's right, the girl who never wins anything has managed to win two lovely gifts in the past few weeks! The first was that oh-so-scrumptious chocolate bar in the front there, actually received around Chrismas time and devoured within minutes despite the best of intentions. That, my friends, is from Sarah, for being "fast on the draw". Thank you Sarah! Go say "hi" to her, she does some pretty nice work! And can anyone tell me where I can get this chocolate in NYC? It was without doubt the very best chocolate I have ever eaten. Ever.

The second was just in the last week or so. I guessed correctly what Opal was making and was picked randomly for the lovely prize of four skeins of that charcoal Nature Spun there. Four! So go say "hi" to her too, because her shawls are awesome and because she sent me almost 1000 yards of worsted weight wool! What can I do with this? Ideas?

Next up, I lose:


I joined the feeding frenzy over at Cara's (and Blue Moon Fiber Arts') Socks That Rock contest, having never knitted with the stuff before. Well, I didn't win, but was persuaded by the plight of Blue Moon Fiber Arts to peruse their selection and make a purchase, to show my solidarity with small (yarn) businesses run by women. In doing so I have violated my (unwritten but understood) resolution to only knit from my stash, since finances may get a little tight around here. Still, I think I won in the end. This yarn looks and feels lovely, and though it seems rather darker than what was pictured on the website (and yes, I know monitor variation, etc., etc...) I still love it. Even though it is variagated! We'll see when I knit it up if I still love it. I can't wait. It's going to have to be patient and wait a bit for some other knits to clear the queue. Thanks, Cara, for prompting me to check out this company!

Coming soon to a blog near you: A review of Rossini's Otello presented last week at Carnegie Hall, a video of Donizetti's Marin Faliero from Tetro Regio, and maybe, if you're really good, a video clip of the Royal Opera House's new production of La Fille du Regiment starring the most adorable tenor around.

posted by Carrie @ 6:20 PM 2 comments

What Would You Do?

Here's the thing. It doesn't really fit.

I like the general sillouette and the general idea, but though I swatched and even got gauge (I think, more or less), I am at least two inches shy in circumference of it actually fitting. At least. Maybe more like four.


Sorry for the somewhat blurry nighttime in the mirror shot. It's the best I can manage. I might try Sandra's trick of knitting in additional panels for the sides (yay, more seaming), but then the sleeves won't set in properly. Or will they?

But the biggest complaint I think might be the delightful aforementioned garter stitch seam on the bias:


This is as tight as I can pull the seaming thread because, since it is on the bias, it pulls the fabric in a weird way. And you can still clearly see the thread. I tried to convince myself that I might be able to ignore it, but in reality I think it just looks bad. Homemade, crappy, bad. Plus I can't even get the darn thing to line up at the bottom properly. And then there's the puckering. The garter stitch border is a delightful design element at first glance, but as it turns out, a really bad idea. (I would also like to take this opportunity to also point out that the one and only photo from the magazine is from a great distance, you cannot really see the detail, and the sweater is done up in a dark, flaw disguising yarn. Bastards.)

So I ask you: What would you do?

This is not a rhetorical question, I really am looking for a way out. I mean, suggestions.

posted by Carrie @ 9:08 PM 6 comments

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

Do you see what I see?


Really, I don't know how that could have happened.

Aside: I have learned how to draw straight lines with my photo editing software. Thank goodness for small victories.

posted by Carrie @ 5:49 PM 0 comments

Garter Stitch on the Bias

Does anyone know how to seam it without it looking like, well, so that it looks nice? Because quite frankly I am at a loss. Anyone?

Bueller?

posted by Carrie @ 12:52 PM 1 comments

Two Things

1. Why didn't anyone tell me that finishing the damn Embellished V-neck would take so long? Thus far I have seamed the shoulders (and it looks terrible, thanks), soaked the lace (but still haven't blocked it - yeah, hopefully it doesn't disintegrate in the water), and picked up and knitted the border to the neckline (228 stitches is a lot of stitches to pick up). Did I mention there are about 100 ends to weave in for some reason? It's like a second cousin to the flying spaghetti monster.

2. I think it is going to be too small.

posted by Carrie @ 12:09 AM 1 comments

A Rose by Any Other Name...

...would definitely smell as sweet. The Rose of Persia, a work by Sullivan and not Gilbert, but rather librettist Basil Hood, was a joy and a delight. But rather than me repeat what I have already said over at Opera-L, why don't you just go over here and read it for yourself.


Back so soon? You did go read it, didn't you? There will be a quiz at the end of class.

I realized this evening that it only was taking me about a minute and a half to complete each 4-row lace pattern for the edging of the Embellished V-neck and that at that rate I should have been done weeks ago. So, I buckled down, whipped out the last two pieces, and sent them to the bath. Tomorrow: blocking the lace and, if you're lucky, maybe some seaming action!

posted by Carrie @ 7:14 PM 0 comments

Yin and Yang

Opera first, then knitting.

Last night, once again, I had the good fortune to be able to go to the Metropolitan Opera House to see this:


For those of you who do not know, this is a new opera. Yes! There is such a thing as new opera in this day and age! Actually new operas happen probably more frequently than most people realize. Last year the Met also hosted the world premiere of An American Tragedy by Tobias Picker, with, among others, Nathan Gunn, Patricia Racette, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajeck, and Jennifer Larmore. Wow, what a lineup! All in all, the Met has actually presented the world premiere of 31 works over the past 124 years, and countless other American premieres. Some of those world premieres? La Fanciulla del West and Il Trittico by one Giacomo Puccini, in 1910 and 1918, respectively. And by no means does the Met have exclusive rights to world premieres in the US, let alone around the world! Opera is a living, breathing art form, evolving even now, the evolution of which although is sometimes suspect is frequently astonishing.

This was one of those astonishing times.

I don't know if this opera will stand the test of time, but I can and will say that it made for a tremendously good night at the theater. Tan Dun's The First Emperor is essentially a story about the first emperor of a unified China and his desire to unite the country with an anthem. You can find more information about The First Emperor here and the story here. It work is a mix of eastern and western musical traditions, and the production itself, sumptuous in visual imagry and symbolism, is wedded closely to the music. The rhythms and sounds and movements are mesmerizing at times, and tremendously exciting at others. On top of that we have Placido Domingo in the title role, looking, and sounding, far younger than his actual years. I have read the opinion that Puccini was actually headed in this direction before his death in 1924 (the mixing of eastern and western music), and his final opera, Turandot, certainly suggests this. If this is the path that opera in the 21st centrury is taking I'll be following right behind. (Let me assure you this is much much better than Glass, no offense to any Glass fans...)

Here is my fervent recommendation: if you are at all interested in unique music and visual spectacle (the opening scene itself is worth the price of the ticket), and if you can at all get yourself a ticket to this Saturday's matinee broadcast, get thyself to the movie theater! (Search for locations here.) And report back to me what you think. This opera is sure to be a success on the big screen. It's an event and a half.

Perhaps all this culture has been keeping from my knitting?


It's true, it has. Even the long bus ride crosstown and short subway ride downtown isn't sufficient to get very much done. Still, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm almost there though... This is the only piece I've worked on in the last few days. I have only 2 more pieces of trim to go, which really are quick work once I get down to it. Then there's the seaming (not quick work) and knitting of the collar and that's it! There's a bit of a kink in the plan for tomorrow however, a little something called The Rose of Persia...

posted by Carrie @ 9:35 PM 1 comments

I Have a Song to Sing, Oh!

(Sing me your song, oh!)

Today I went here:


To see this:


Yeoman is one of those Gilbert & Sullivan pieces that seldom gets performed. It is one of the most melancholy and non-comedic operettas in the G & S canon, but it also has one of the most symphonic sounding of all overtures, and also has a fair number of lovely numbers as well, lesser known perhaps than, say, "I Am the Major Model of a Modern Major General", but charming in their own right. One of the best is the one referred to in the title, and this one received one of the biggest ovations of the afternoon.

As for the performance, well, the orchestra, while playing well, sounded underpowered. I couldn't see the pit from where I was sitting, so I actually couldn't see how big it was. Some of the performers were merely adequate, and couldn't really do the work justice. However, some were just great: Richard Alan Holmes as Sergeant Meryll, Laurelyn Watson Chase as Elsie Maynard, and, most especially Stephen Quint as Jack Point, who was the epitome of the classic G & S character. All three were in exceptionally good voice. (I felt so sad for Jack Point at the end, a true testament to Quint's performance.)

Incidentally, the choreography of the above performance was really amateurish. Really. At times I felt like I was watching a high school musical. Nearly every second was filled with pointless (and distracting) movements and motions. I'm not a huge proponent of stand and sing operas, but really, let the actors act. It's a wonder I could take any of them seriously with all the skipping and gesturing going on.

By the way, notice the opera glasses above? Those would be the most excellent Christmas present from one very generous roommate. Thank you M! Though I still feel a little selfconcious using them I am honored to have them. (They actually made their debut at I Puritani, but I forgot to include them in that post. Whoops!)

Resolution #5

I will not waste any more food.

I don't intentionally waste food, but it happens. Fresh produce, bread, and sometimes leftovers sometimes don't get eaten before spoiling. So, in the spirit of Resolutions # 2 and 3 (still) I will try to eat everything I buy before it goes bad. It may take a little creativity, but I am not one of those folks that doesn't like eating leftovers. Food is expensive (and time consuming to cook), so I'm going to try to not let any of it go to waste!

No knitting progress on anything, but hopefully I will have something enticing for tomorrow...

posted by Carrie @ 8:42 PM 1 comments

Sirius-ly

I mentioned a few days ago that my sister collaborated with the rest of the family to orchestrate the best Christmas ever (for me, anyway). Here's one reason:

My very own Sirius! And a subscription for one full year (6 months from my sister and 6 months from my parents). The channel I'm tuned to here? Met Opera Radio of course! I am in heaven.

On with the resolutions:

Resolution #4

I will drink less coffee. And soda.

We all know that caffeine is "bad" for you, if for no other reason than it is addictive. Oh, you didn't know that? Just ask my tired self every morning before my ritualistic coffee consumption, and then ask my same self again afterward. Soda is similarly bad. (Plus it rots your teeth.) Back in college (at which time I didn't drink coffee) I had a caffeine withdrawl reaction so bad once that my hands shook. This kind of madness must stop.

Since it would be pretty hard to just quit cold turkey (and since I don't think I could anyway), I am going to try slowing backing off of the coffee and soda consumption. This will be accomplished in part by supplimenting my beverage intake with tea. At last count there are something like 15 different varieties of tea in the kitchen cabinet - so this is keeping with Resolution #3 as well!

posted by Carrie @ 7:55 PM 3 comments

Resolution #3

I will cook from my stash.

In keeping with Resolution #2 a fair bit of cost reduction in other parts of my life will be necessary. And in keeping with the theme of knitting from the stash that I have seen circulating the blogosphere (and that I will have to exercise as well), I have decided to try to "cook from my stash". I have lots of basic ingredients with which to create some pretty interesting things, including an impressive (in my opinion) spice collection. I'll show it to you sometime, I promise, but not today. This is going to take a bit of dedication in terms of both time and patience, but I'm going to give it a try and see how far it takes me.

On tonight's menu: quinoa with onions and a nice salad. Not the most balanced of meals, but I don't have any plans to cut meat out of my diets, so it's fine for a day. Anyway, cooking from my stash doesn't mean I can't have desserts, so for my first trick I give you Gingerbread:



This is the second sleeve of a certain Embellished V-neck. I did try blocking both sleeves at the same time, but they wouldn't fit on the corkboard. Sigh. I knitted them both at the same time from separate balls of yarn. What fun! Not really. It made the going really slow, but on the plus side, it eliminated the need for me to keep meticulous notes on shaping. The only thing left for me to do is some of the trim (and stay tumed to find out what I decided to do about the cuffs), the neck band (which involves picking up a ridiculous number of stitches), and all that seaming...

Finally, say goodbye to this sock:


Let me explain. I have small wrists. Freakishly small wrists in fact. That sock fits my wrist perfectly. Which means I can't get the damn thing over my heel. Yeah. My first colorwork project (started literally years ago) was knitted a tad on the tight side. Well, that'll teach me to go so long without trying on my handknits. Live and learn! The maroon-colored yarn is the same as that which I am making the beaded rib socks out of, which is good since I am just about out of yarn and I would like to continue on for a while yet. On the downside, though, I think I need to wash the yarn before I incorporate it into those socks, because it is really crimpy from being knitted for so long. The socks will have to wait for a few days. Not to worry though, more nearly-finished projects await in the wings!

posted by Carrie @ 8:04 PM 2 comments

Resolution #2

I will allow myself the freedom to spend as much money as I want (within reason) on cultural events.


Opera is one of the few things in this world that I really love. Opera tells stories that transcend time and geography. This music was written by great masters, in some cases hundreds of years ago, yet still has the power to enchant us with its beauty, haunt us with its power, and linger in our minds long after the final notes have been sung and and the final chords played. The performances themselves can be pure magic. Not all the time, but some of the time. The mere possibility is a thrilling prospect.

I live in a fantastic city that affords so many opportunities to see world-class performing arts of all kinds. As long as it doesn't land me on the street I've decided that I am willing to forgo a lot of convienences in order to take advantage of those opportunities. This means I may have to knit from my stash until it is all knitted up. But I don't have space to store it anyway.

Excuse me, I need to go buy a ticket to Rossini's Otello. Knitting content tomorrow!

posted by Carrie @ 9:39 PM 2 comments

Resolution #1

To try to post more regularly.

(I would say every day, but that would set me up for failure right quick.) So here is a shot of one of my current works in progress:


I would guess that these will be done in a few days! Too bad I started these instead of finishing some other socks that I had already started. (In my defense, I can't find the second ball for the Oriel...) Of course I watched some more of my beloved Blake while I worked:


And here's a news flash: another WIP is very nearly ready to be assembled. Which one could it be? To find out, tune in tomorrow, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel...

PS Thanks everyone for the well-wishes! I do feel better, though not super. And I can't wait for the CD Sandra!!!

posted by Carrie @ 8:52 PM 3 comments

Happy New Year!

New Years Greetings to all! I am back in the Big City, have been here 1 1/2 days, and wouldn't you know it, I am sick again? What the...? I did get some knitting done over the break, just a little bit (and you know I brought way more with me than I could possibly hope to get to...) I got some cool presents too, especially from my sister who really paid attention this year and from whom everyone could take a lesson. :)

So knitting news, and opera news, in the days to come! Until then, I am going to bed early...

Cheers and welcome 2007! It's going to be a great year.

posted by Carrie @ 8:42 PM 2 comments