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I had a fantastic day for a change. It could have started out poorly. Traffic was backed up earlier than usual but I still got to work early. Upon arriving, I checked my phone and discovered a message from my boss. She called me last night to tell me I had the day off because there weren't any tour riders scheduled. Luckily, my boss happened to be at the store, so I chatted with her a bit and got a free pass to the Mill City Museum, my parking validated, and instructions to make a list of books that we could use at the store.
The museum didn't open until 10am, so I had about an hour and a half to kill. I decided to go check out the Power Park and the Father Hennepin Park along St. Anthony Main, then walk across the Stone Arch Bridge. I figured that would kill plenty of time and I'd get to read some of the informational signs they have peppered throughout the parks.
The Power Park was nothing too exciting. It was kind of cool to get a first-hand idea of where the dams and mill ponds were and learn how hydroelectric turbines work, but it wasn't overly impressive. I did scare a blue heron that was trying to rest out in the middle of the park. My bad.
Father Hennepin Park was hands-down the coolest park I've ever seen in the metro area. It was like a tiny little nature reserve smack in the middle of the city. Once you were down at river level, you had no sense of the city around you. I saw a bunch of ducks, a bunch of geese, numerous small song birds, a couple heron (including one catching and eating a fish), and a muskrat swimming around the backwater. All the trees were blooming and leafing out, so the greens were stunning and it smelled great on account of it not being too warm and just breezy enough to keep the stench of the river from hanging in the air. Hard to believe that such an area exists right in the middle of Minnesota's largest downtown, tucked up against skyscrapers, heavily traveled pedestrian paths, train tracks, and highways.
The Mill City Museum was excellent as well! Such a clever little museum nestled inside the shell of one of the largest flour mills in Minneapolis. The single exhibit floor was dotted with creative little exhibits, all colorful, informative, and interactive. The two lab spaces were populated by school groups having fun. I really have to go play in the Water Lab at some point, which features several small flumes with running water to illustrate how mills utilized water to power their machinery. The highlight of the museum was a truly clever little moving exhibit made out of a freight elevator. It moved up and down through 8 floors of the mill and was narrated by folks that had worked there, explaining the milling process and the conditions in which they worked.
The museum also features a short film entitled "Minneapolis in 19 Minutes Flat." Written and performed by local actor/humorist Kevin Kling, it quite literally takes the audience through the history of Minneapolis in 19.5 minutes (with credits). It's funny and informative, featuring photographs and other media to give you a first-hand understanding of the changes along the river.
I made my little list of books for my boss and bought a couple as well (can't resist), and then drove back home. For what could have been a pretty awful day, it ended up being awesome! To top it off, I get to go to knitting tonight as well.
In which I grump about lace-weight yarn
I bought the Morehouse Yarns Verona Shawl kit because I thought it would be the perfect introduction to lace-weight yarn. Straight stockinette stitch through the body, super soft yarn... Can't be too bad, right?
Well, I tried working on it during American Idol last night and either I cannot knit during American Idol, or the lace weight yarn and I don't get along. I managed to get two rows done in an hour and made three mistakes. I'm ripping it out this morning and starting over. Maybe I'll give it a time-out so I can work on these two hats - Easy Lace Cap and Reverie Hat.
I need to get my bicycle out of storage and get it cleaned up so I can start riding around. I have great ambitions of riding my bike to the fantastic yarn store located the next suburb over.
And I haven't taken any photographs of yarn yet. I know, I know... I've had a lot going on lately! Well, not really. I have a lot going on in comparison to the previous year. It's taking some work to readjust to a faster pace of life. And let me tell you, I don't like living at a faster pace. This is why I drink tea and try to get places ridiculously early so I have time to knit. Tea takes time to brew and drink properly. It's a forced slow-down of my day. And really, getting up at 5:30 in the morning so I can get to work by 9am is a compromise of my sister's schedule (we share a bathroom and I'm the one accommodating her) and Twin Cities traffic. Ideally, I get to work 45 mins early, which is just enough time to sit down, chill out a little (after Twin Cities traffic), and knit a row or two on my future knitting basket.
Well, enough rambling. I have a date with the bench outside my work!
Well, I tried working on it during American Idol last night and either I cannot knit during American Idol, or the lace weight yarn and I don't get along. I managed to get two rows done in an hour and made three mistakes. I'm ripping it out this morning and starting over. Maybe I'll give it a time-out so I can work on these two hats - Easy Lace Cap and Reverie Hat.
I need to get my bicycle out of storage and get it cleaned up so I can start riding around. I have great ambitions of riding my bike to the fantastic yarn store located the next suburb over.
And I haven't taken any photographs of yarn yet. I know, I know... I've had a lot going on lately! Well, not really. I have a lot going on in comparison to the previous year. It's taking some work to readjust to a faster pace of life. And let me tell you, I don't like living at a faster pace. This is why I drink tea and try to get places ridiculously early so I have time to knit. Tea takes time to brew and drink properly. It's a forced slow-down of my day. And really, getting up at 5:30 in the morning so I can get to work by 9am is a compromise of my sister's schedule (we share a bathroom and I'm the one accommodating her) and Twin Cities traffic. Ideally, I get to work 45 mins early, which is just enough time to sit down, chill out a little (after Twin Cities traffic), and knit a row or two on my future knitting basket.
Well, enough rambling. I have a date with the bench outside my work!
Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival
I spent my weekend at the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival in Lake Elmo, MN. It was my very first fiber festival and I was completely overwhelmed. I had a great time though! I learned some new things, saw many amazing hand-knits, tons of beautiful yarn, and lots and lots of animals!
My aunt has a llama farm and fiber mill and she brought three llamas with her to the show. I decided to go so I could help her out, though she didn't need me to do a whole lot. Llamas are very low maintenance! I spent most of my time wandering around the four vendor barns, admiring everything for sale.
I am completely exhausted and headed to bed in a minute or two, but I wanted to post about the highlights before I forgot.
1) I found a lys near my house! The Yarn Garage in Rosemount, MN is within bicycling distance of my house and I'm planning on stopping by sometime this week to check it out. I'm very excited about having a shop so close to home!
2) My aunt has offered to give me a spinning wheel! I just need to find a spinning class somewhere...
3) I got my first knitting commission! I'm knitting the Reverie hat for my cousin, Kaitlyn. She purchased the yarn and I'm going to make it for her.
4) There were so many beautiful yarns at the festival that I had trouble keeping my money in my pocket. I managed to limit my spending fairly well though and only got three skeins of gorgeous yarn. When I'm less sleepy, I'll take some pictures and post them here so you may enjoy some yarn p0rn!
My aunt has a llama farm and fiber mill and she brought three llamas with her to the show. I decided to go so I could help her out, though she didn't need me to do a whole lot. Llamas are very low maintenance! I spent most of my time wandering around the four vendor barns, admiring everything for sale.
I am completely exhausted and headed to bed in a minute or two, but I wanted to post about the highlights before I forgot.
1) I found a lys near my house! The Yarn Garage in Rosemount, MN is within bicycling distance of my house and I'm planning on stopping by sometime this week to check it out. I'm very excited about having a shop so close to home!
2) My aunt has offered to give me a spinning wheel! I just need to find a spinning class somewhere...
3) I got my first knitting commission! I'm knitting the Reverie hat for my cousin, Kaitlyn. She purchased the yarn and I'm going to make it for her.
4) There were so many beautiful yarns at the festival that I had trouble keeping my money in my pocket. I managed to limit my spending fairly well though and only got three skeins of gorgeous yarn. When I'm less sleepy, I'll take some pictures and post them here so you may enjoy some yarn p0rn!
Stash Organizing Day
Last night at knitting, one of my friends mentioned some storage containers she got for organizing her yarn. They're handy little cloth boxes with a zip top made by Ikea. Well, I've been using tote bags to store my yarn. Not the most efficient or clean method, but it was functional. This morning though, I decided that an Ikea expedition might be a good idea.
I ended up with three of the large Flört boxes and one small one. I've got all my yarn nicely organized and it's less of a hazard. Plus, it will stay clean! The best part? I have one large box left to hold the yarn I pick up this weekend at the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival!
I ended up with three of the large Flört boxes and one small one. I've got all my yarn nicely organized and it's less of a hazard. Plus, it will stay clean! The best part? I have one large box left to hold the yarn I pick up this weekend at the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival!
The Baby Cardigan
I'm scared.
May as well get that out right away.
I knitted up a swatch and for some bizarre, unexplainable reason, I didn't knit tight enough. Is that even possible? Seriously?
My gauge should be 13 st and 17 rows over 2 inches. I got 12 st and 16.5 rows. Yeah, I didn't knit tight enough. I'm as shocked as you are.
Now I need to decide if I just risk my gauge and knit the pattern anyway, or if I try to go down a needle size... I'm thinking I should just risk it, because chances are good that my knitting will tighten up a little. I mean, seriously. I knit so tightly I can barely move the stitches on my needles.
Still, the discrepancy is enough to scare me. I've read enough about knitting to know that not getting gauge correct can be truly disastrous, particularly if you're knitting a fitted garment. I don't want to screw this up.
Then again, it is just a baby sweater. Not to say that I don't want it to turn out well, but it isn't like I'm using really rare, delicate, expensive yarn with an absolutely unforgiving pattern. I also have at least 3 months to get it figured out and finished.
Maybe if I wash my swatch....
May as well get that out right away.
I knitted up a swatch and for some bizarre, unexplainable reason, I didn't knit tight enough. Is that even possible? Seriously?
My gauge should be 13 st and 17 rows over 2 inches. I got 12 st and 16.5 rows. Yeah, I didn't knit tight enough. I'm as shocked as you are.
Now I need to decide if I just risk my gauge and knit the pattern anyway, or if I try to go down a needle size... I'm thinking I should just risk it, because chances are good that my knitting will tighten up a little. I mean, seriously. I knit so tightly I can barely move the stitches on my needles.
Still, the discrepancy is enough to scare me. I've read enough about knitting to know that not getting gauge correct can be truly disastrous, particularly if you're knitting a fitted garment. I don't want to screw this up.
Then again, it is just a baby sweater. Not to say that I don't want it to turn out well, but it isn't like I'm using really rare, delicate, expensive yarn with an absolutely unforgiving pattern. I also have at least 3 months to get it figured out and finished.
Maybe if I wash my swatch....
It's Dangerous!
Oh, credit card, thou art deadly.
I may have gone on a little yarn purchasing binge last week. Not the smartest thing in the whole world, but at least I have enough projects to keep me busy for a very, very long time. There's always a silver lining right?
There were a few projects in my Ravelry queue that I was coveting. I decided that I may as well get the yarn to make them and then I'll have enough to keep me occupied for the summer. Of course, I plum forgot about the Shepherds Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend. My aunt is bringing some of her llamas and I've offered to help. I even took the weekend off work so I'd be available. I will have to institute a strict spending limit so I don't buy too much yarn, though!
As far as wips go, I'm working on a really great knitting basket, the baby cardigan for my friend, and the evil lace cap. The knitting basket is fantastic because it's something I can pick up and put down any time. It's the perfect thing to work on at work when I have spare time because I can put it down as soon as a customer walks in and not worry about losing my spot. The downside is that it will take me forever to finish at this rate.
As far as the baby cardigan is concerned, it was on hiatus until I obtained appropriate needles. Those came last week, so I've finally got a start on the gauge swatch. Once I get going on it, I think it will knit up nice and quick.
The evil lace cap is having a timeout again. I've lost count of how many times I've ripped the whole thing out. I'm really tempted to forget it and move on to something else, but it's really good practice and I should finish it. I do need to learn those skills and this hat is a good way to practice lace knitting.
Next in line are a few more dishcloths, another shawl, and maybe some socks. I have a lot of projects in the queue, but those are probably good intermediate projects before I dive headlong into sweaters, colorwork, and whatever other crazy projects I have cooking!
I may have gone on a little yarn purchasing binge last week. Not the smartest thing in the whole world, but at least I have enough projects to keep me busy for a very, very long time. There's always a silver lining right?
There were a few projects in my Ravelry queue that I was coveting. I decided that I may as well get the yarn to make them and then I'll have enough to keep me occupied for the summer. Of course, I plum forgot about the Shepherds Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival this weekend. My aunt is bringing some of her llamas and I've offered to help. I even took the weekend off work so I'd be available. I will have to institute a strict spending limit so I don't buy too much yarn, though!
As far as wips go, I'm working on a really great knitting basket, the baby cardigan for my friend, and the evil lace cap. The knitting basket is fantastic because it's something I can pick up and put down any time. It's the perfect thing to work on at work when I have spare time because I can put it down as soon as a customer walks in and not worry about losing my spot. The downside is that it will take me forever to finish at this rate.
As far as the baby cardigan is concerned, it was on hiatus until I obtained appropriate needles. Those came last week, so I've finally got a start on the gauge swatch. Once I get going on it, I think it will knit up nice and quick.
The evil lace cap is having a timeout again. I've lost count of how many times I've ripped the whole thing out. I'm really tempted to forget it and move on to something else, but it's really good practice and I should finish it. I do need to learn those skills and this hat is a good way to practice lace knitting.
Next in line are a few more dishcloths, another shawl, and maybe some socks. I have a lot of projects in the queue, but those are probably good intermediate projects before I dive headlong into sweaters, colorwork, and whatever other crazy projects I have cooking!
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