![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stitchy_stitchyThe nice surprise? I went to pick up my shawl kit at the yarn store. It wasn't what I thought it was...I figured, for some reason, that it was going to be the mohair lace bias rectangle kit, but it was the Artyarns/Be Sweet Synergy shawl. The kit has a bit of "gonzo" yarn that seems to be mostly mohair boucle (but it's also got ribbon and other stuff I can't identify), a bit of smooth silk-mohair, and a bit of sequined yarn, and you use giant needles to knit a triangle shawl. I'd looked at the shop model and thought the effect was...a little odd. But the colorway I got (Pebble Beach) is a little more subtle than the shop model - I think it's the same one used in the main photo on that website. It's not anything I would have bought in a million years, but I'm going to make it up (someday!) and see how it goes.
The not-nice surprise? Can't find the beads for my Mystery Sock. It'll cost me $5 and a trip to Michaels to replace them and the crochet hook that was in with them (which will be their cue to turn up, of course) - but it meant I had to stop when I got to a bead row. This will make finishing by the end of February a bit of a time crunch. I finally started knitting the hexagon for the first Boxcar sock - starting the hexagon was a RPITA, but once I got past the point where my needles were interfering with the process of knitting, it's not too bad.
The non-surprise? I made my Ravelympics plans for way too big a shawl. My swatch used 1.0125 grams of yarn (analytical balance at work, yo). I was correct to say that it blocks to be about 2" on a side, for an area of about 6.93 square inches. Assuming the same area-to-weight ratio, using 100 grams of yarn, I can make a shawl of about 684.25 square inches, which will give me triangles about 20" on a side. Not only is this a more reasonable goal for the crochet project, it'll give me a more reasonable-sized shawl: I realized at some point that while it would be nice to have a big wrap equal to my wingspan, it would come down to mid-thigh, which is not a really suitable length for "something to throw over my shoulders at work." 20" hits about mid-butt - much more practical for sitting in a chair. It also means only about 40% as much crocheting! Woo. I stand a much better chance of finishing. :)
Pondering a wardrobe overhaul. Wonder if "white blouse, navy pants, wacky lace shawl" is a good model for a personal uniform. Can't say it isn't...
The not-nice surprise? Can't find the beads for my Mystery Sock. It'll cost me $5 and a trip to Michaels to replace them and the crochet hook that was in with them (which will be their cue to turn up, of course) - but it meant I had to stop when I got to a bead row. This will make finishing by the end of February a bit of a time crunch. I finally started knitting the hexagon for the first Boxcar sock - starting the hexagon was a RPITA, but once I got past the point where my needles were interfering with the process of knitting, it's not too bad.
The non-surprise? I made my Ravelympics plans for way too big a shawl. My swatch used 1.0125 grams of yarn (analytical balance at work, yo). I was correct to say that it blocks to be about 2" on a side, for an area of about 6.93 square inches. Assuming the same area-to-weight ratio, using 100 grams of yarn, I can make a shawl of about 684.25 square inches, which will give me triangles about 20" on a side. Not only is this a more reasonable goal for the crochet project, it'll give me a more reasonable-sized shawl: I realized at some point that while it would be nice to have a big wrap equal to my wingspan, it would come down to mid-thigh, which is not a really suitable length for "something to throw over my shoulders at work." 20" hits about mid-butt - much more practical for sitting in a chair. It also means only about 40% as much crocheting! Woo. I stand a much better chance of finishing. :)
Pondering a wardrobe overhaul. Wonder if "white blouse, navy pants, wacky lace shawl" is a good model for a personal uniform. Can't say it isn't...
