More Piano!

After finishing the first piano scarf I was worried that nobody would buy the pattern or queue it up in Ravelry. Boy was I wrong! It's been a thrill to watch it pop up in queues or to get notification of sales. Each time is like a secret gift that randomly appears in my inbox. It's awesome!



So when Amy asked me to make her a piano scarf I was glad to do so. This time around I popped it into my bag and carried it with me if I knew I was going to be sitting somewhere for several hours.



Apparently, seeing somebody knitting in public down here isn't that common and pair that with something as large and striking as a giant black and white piano scarf and you get lots of questions. I love questions though since it gives me a chance to share a little of my passion.

Sometimes sharing a passion that's not the normal is seen as silly. But that's okay, because the people I knit for come to me to have help in sharing their passion. And in this case I'm glad to take cues from my husband, who doesn't mind being a little silly at times if it means helping somebody with what they need.



I mean, how can you not laugh at somebody doing this? And he's such a good sport, allowing me to drag him out into the sun after a long day of work and an hour drive home to drape wool around him for pictures. I'm glad he puts up with me and supports me in my passion.

Pattern: Piano Scarf
Project Page: Ravelry

WIP Wednesday: Piano Scarf Part 2

Knitting:
The scarf grows. I've finished 2 repeats of the pattern so only 4 more to go plus an additional 8 rows. I'm not quite as far along as I'd like to be but spending the weekend with Dragon here was well worth the lost knitting time.



Reading:

A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton. I do love my silly romances and this one has fey of all kind in it. I've read it once before but not as part of the series, so now I'm trying to read the series in order. This, the second book in the series, is just as much fun as I remember it being.

WIP Wednesday: Piano Scarf

Knitting:
Since I have a pattern for this and I know how to juggle my yarn more effectively it's going much faster this time around. I've already finished the first repeat of 7. I should be able to get a lot done this weekend as weekends are high movie watching times for us.



Reading:

Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I'm not sure what I expected ... but this isn't it. It's not a bad book, it's a very well told story. I suspect I simply would have appreciated it more at a different time.

More Geek Love

The cliff I jumped off this time wasn't as high since I'd already done double knitting once before. I had some issues getting the chart to look the way I wanted so the Deception symbol would show up as accurate as possible but luckily I got a friend to help tweak that a bit.

I find that the hardest part for me is the parts where you have to knit for $inches. That seems to always be the part where I have the most trouble keeping my focus. If I know I have x rows left then it's a bit easier.  

Anyhow, I finished the scarf and I'm really happy with how it looks. Huge thanks to my husband for being willing to go stand in the sun in 90 degree weather while I drape wool around him and take pictures.

The pattern is now live and available for purchase, . It includes detailed instructions on double knitting, binding off one color while continuing in the other, and grafting knits to purls.

WIP Wednesday: More Decepticons

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 21,391

Current Word Count: 21,391 (Up 0)

My mind has really not been able to get into this lately, just way too much stress in other areas.

Reading:

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris. I love the Sookie Stackhouse books and simply eat them up. They're like brain candy. I'm also a fan of True Blood, though it's interesting to see where they diverge. I haven't forgotten about the book I was reading last week, I just have no comfortable way to read it at the moment.

Knitting:
So much progress! The hardest part of these types of projects for me is to Knit for X Inches. I need a goal, an expected # of rows. When I don't have that it feels a little endless and seems to drag on forever. But! I have the number I need for the second half of the scarf now and I'm almost halfway there after just one night of chatting with friends. 

WIP Wednesday: Decepticons & Not Much Else

Writing:
Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 20,390
Current Word Count: 21,391 (Up 1,001)

Honestly I'm surprised it's that high. I wrote some Wednesday after updating and some on Thursday but I was having a really hard time focusing. There was no writing on Friday due to driving to Austin and Saturday and Sunday were spent being 'very' Dragon Distracted.

Reading:

 

Fall From Grace By Matthew Munson I'm really not far enough into this yet to say much. My problem at the moment is it's a PDF version and I primarily read at dinner or in the bathroom. I 'could' use my phone but that's a really small screen. I am working on it though.

Knitting:

Because of the previously mentioned travel and reasons for not writing .. I've also not had a ton of knitting time. But there has been progress, I should have plenty of time to work on it tomorrow as I'll be spending a good chunk of time in a waiting room.

Piano Scarf Pattern

The pattern is now up! It can be purchased for $1.99 (US) at either Ravelry or Shadow's Knit Knacks. Thank you so much for all your encouragement!

I'm hoping to have the Autobots Scarf finished in time for next FO Friday. I just need to figure out how to graft knits to purls.

WIP Wednesday: Autobots x2 & Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 17,196

Current Word Count: 18,474 (Up 1,278)

The problems the group will have to deal with are cropping up more and more, the ripples of their existence is spreading, and action will have to be taken soon. Some are looking to ignore it ... but how long will that work?

Reading:

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest I'm closing in on the end of this one. I happened to pick up another book from this series this weekend so I'm looking forward to reading through them and seeing what happens to a lot of the big characters in here. The world created in these stories is interesting.

Knitting:
A respite for my overworked brain! I really struggled through the double knit portion of the scarf simply because I'm used to being able to keep track of knitting while watching a tv show and chatting online and reading various blogs. This? Not a chance. I had to hyper focus on each row that had pattern. The non pattern rows were really easy though, as long as you remember to knit with one color and purl with the other. I do think the next one will go a lot easier both for simplicity of design and for practice.



That's the second pattern I've had on the neck portion. The other one was ripped out after about 8 rows because I really didn't like it. I think I somewhat worried the guy next to me at the theatre when I did that since I slipped the needles out and simply yanked all the progress out. He didn't realize I'd put in a lifeline after finishing the logo portion so that any ripping I did would stop there. The look on is his face was rather amusing when I got to my lifeline and slid the needles back in before winding up the excess yarn.

3KCBWDAY5 - Play me a Song Mr. Piano Man

Pattern: Piano Scarf by Shadow Byrd

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Project Page

WIP Wednesday: Autobots and Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 14,156

Current Word Count: 17,196 (Up 3,040)

That's a nice healthy number! The main characters are fitting into the Fey society and finding ways to be useful, even if there is a relationship snag. I've cut a lot too. It's amazing how much I refused to use contractions when I wrote this, just so that I could hit that magic word count. I also cut a couple of scenes that were ... not necessary to the story but a lot of fun to write. They might come back.

Reading:

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. I'm about halfway through and still enjoying. It's really interesting to see her world building and how her characters interact. Because I've read the author's journal for so long there are bits I'll recognize scattered here and there which is always amusing, though wouldn't cause anybody else confusion. I can't wait to see how the movie plays out as I think it's going to be really awesome.

Knitting:
Well ... There was knitting sadness yesterday, which I posted about. I was really happy with my progress in terms of row count and looking forward to sharing those pictures today. But the more I thought about it ... the less I liked what I held in my hands. It was wide, bulky, and a lot of stitches seemed wonky. I knew some of the wonkiness would be fixed in blocking and I considered felting the logo sections of the scarf a bit to lock the stitches in a little closer. But it was still just too wide at a little over 10.5 inches and wouldn't have been something I was happy to mail out to a customer. So I went back to my design, poked at it a bit to make it smaller, went down a needle size, and ripped it all out.

  

That's how much I managed to get done yesterday before going to a book signing. Well, a couple rows were done when I got home too. The stitches are still a bit wonky but blocking comes later so I'm not worried. It's about 7.5 inches wide and I'm a lot happier with that. Plus the fewer stitch count should mean that I make up for the lost day a bit faster, provided I can follow the chart which apparently I was having major issues with last night.

Wave Goodbye

*sigh*

Look at all that progress...

   

Now wave goodbye ...


it was coming out to be 10.5 inches wide ... and that's ... a lot. So I poked around, revamped the chart, ripped it all out .. and started over.


We'll see tomorrow if it's looking any better and living up to my quality expectations.

WIP Wednesday: Scarves & Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 13,685

Current Word Count: 14,156 (Up 471)

Killer migraine for a couple of days puts a huge kink in productivity.

Reading:

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest. I haven't had a lot of time to read, since we were out of the house most of the weekend and I was pretty useless the last two days but what I have read I've enjoyed. I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes and reading more. I enjoyed the last novel I read by the author, though it was a different genre. I have high hopes for this one as well,

Knitting:
You kind of get a two for one special here:



Yes that's the piano scarf as the background. I decided not to focus on that for this week's picture because, honestly, it looks the same as last week, only longer. I'm a bit over halfway through repeat 5 out of 6. I predict it being done very soon.

I couldn't take it with me this weekend though and I finished my traveling project (pictures on Friday!). I needed something to do. So I got Lynn to help me wind up the yarn for the Autobot scarf I was commissioned for. Why yes, I am the freak that takes a ball winder with her when she sits in line for tickets, it's easier that way.

Anyhow, while we traveled or waited for various things I played with the yarn to figure out how I wanted to do things. I cast this on 3 separate times while trying to nail down the technique. I'd get part of it but then have to figure something else out. I wasn't bothered by having to start over though. 1. I knew it was something new and 2 I never knit more than 3 rows before I ripped back. Less pain that way. 

WIP Wednesday: Piano Scarf & Magic Balance The Return

Writing:
Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 13,254
Current Word Count: 13,685 (Up 431)

Woo! Look at that word count soar! </sarcasm> *sigh* Not been very free to write lately and it bugs me. Tomorrow's another day though, no?

Reading:

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld Still enjoying this world and the way the people interact. If I could figure out a way to prop the book open while knitting I'd be thrilled.

Knitting:
So ... you may not have believed me about the Piano Scarf last week. Can ya see it now?



Still no? But it's right there! Oh fine .. How about now?



Play me a song! *laugh* I'm having entirely too much fun with such a simple knit. Sure I'm juggling 5 balls of yarn (Which Dragon says is far too many by the way.) but it's still fairly simple. I'm nearly done with the 2nd repeat of 6. There have been some learning moment, such as I must twist the yarns together every time I switch colors because otherwise I end up with a big hole that I'll have to go back and fix but once I got the numbers figured out I was pretty much good to go. 



I am completely enchanted by the back side, a side that once I finish and sew it up nobody will ever see. It's good that I'm charmed by it though. Currently the scarf and I are at that awkward stage where's it's too big to just sit on my lap and wants to keep slithering off. Then all the weight is on the needles and makes it hard to keep even tension. It's also just a touch too small to fold up to fit on my lap easier. Hopefully soon it will have a growth spurt.

WIP Wednesday: Piano Scarf & Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 11,214

Current Word Count: 13,254 (Up 2,040)

Yep, I'm back home and vacation is over. At least I'm still getting in decent writing time. Monday and Tuesday of this week though have been pretty full of stuff that had to be handled. Story-wise the two cultures are learning about each other and trying to make it work.

Reading:

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. I read Uglies last year and really enjoyed it so I was glad to add this one to our library when I found it on sale last year. I've just started it so I've not gotten very far but I'm glad to be back in this world and enjoying aWesterfeld's portrayal of it.

Knitting:
It's a piano scarf. Yes it is. Don't look at me like that ... it's totally a piano scarf. It'll just take a little while before it's obvious. Trust me okay?



The observant of you will notice that it's 'not' a giant shawl, as I posted about yesterday. That is because it's currently stretched out in my living room floor taking up room as it learns how I want it to drape. If it behaves pictures will be forthcoming. 

Dropping Stitches

I'd seen it around. I'd flirted with the idea of doing the pattern. I'd even had it in my queue for a little while. It took a friend asking me to make one for her before I finally settled down to work on it.

I was interested to see how the dropped stitches would look and to see how the colors would line up in this different stitch pattern. It was really interesting to see it come into being. I think it came out exactly as hoped. I can't wait until it arrives home and the packaging is opened by the waiting owner. I suspect I'll be able to hear the squee of happiness from here.

Pattern: Drop Stitch Scarf by Christine Vogel
Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino in Color 123
Modifications: None
Ravelry Page

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Many Finished

Day 3 in A Month of Craft Photos by Untangling Knots is An Old FO.

Pictured are Chinook Shawl, Shrug This, Chastain Park Shawl, Traveling Woman, Clara's Cowl, and Triangular Leaf Shawl.

This is a hanger by our front door that holds lots of scarves and shawls for when we head out to the cold.

WIP Wednesday: Scarf & Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 2,624

Current Word Count: 3,285 (Up 661)

They've started on their journey and, for the first time ever, they're in the natural world around them. Many of the comforts of their automated world have been stripped away; that could send them both running back to the known world ... or not.

Reading:

Just After Sunset by Stephen King. I'm back to loving short stories. Apparently King is the only one who can make that happen. He's got notes on the origins of each story at the back of the book and I'm reading those as I finish each story. It's always interesting to see the various things that can trigger stories for authors.

Knitting:
Both the wrist warmers are complete, with no help from the designer. I suspect that at this point, with the project being marked complete on my site, she won't be replying. It's obvious that I figured it out after all. I do hope she updates the pattern for anybody attempting to make it in the future. Anyhow, since those are finished I started on the second half of the project.



That right there is 25 inches of Drop Stitch Scarf. I'm not sure how long it should end up being ... I should probably ask about that. I know it'll stretch a little bit, probably between 1/2 inch and 1 inch, with I block it. I won't want to stretch too much as then I loose width and the dropped stitches look wonky then.