Wednesday, March 22, 2006

furry basket shawl

What?? Two posts in one week?! I know, I almost need smelling salts myself! But there's no time for fainting now- I have something I want to share with you!

Yarn: Crystal Palace Kid Merino in Blush
Inox Size 4 circs & Grandma's vintage aluminum circs
Started: 3/10/06 Completed: 3/21/06
Blocked Dimensions: 72" X 36"
Modifications: None; 11 repeats of Chart 2
This was such an enjoyable knit! The Kid Merino was an absolute joy to work with and I loved this pattern. I have to say, my relationship with FBS went a lot more smoothly than my tryst with Kiri. With all of the leftover baggage after being dumped by Kiri the first time around, though, I couldn't help but be paranoid in a new relationship. Like a jilted ex, I was always looking over my shoulder for warning signs of trouble ahead with FBS. I think I grew wiser after courting Kiri, though. I didn't allow myself to fall blindly this time. I wasn't deceived by promises of perfect row counts. No, this time, I over-analyzed every stitch like a paranoid freak, checking the alignment with previous rows and never letting my guard down. FBS grew patiently and indulged my crazy compulsions. She never betrayed me, though I tested her many a time. In fact, I even learned to trust again- trust in my ability to analyze how each row was built upon the last so that I could catch mistakes several stitches later, rather than several rows later.


In the end, we really hit it off! Overall, I'm really pleased with FBS. It actually initially blocked out a little larger than what's in the picture, but lost about half a foot in length and width after unpinning, presumably because of the high nylon content (44%). Nonetheless, it's the perfect size for a vertically challenged gremlin like me. I could actually see myself wearing this one... you know, with my scintillating social calendar and myriad of formal engagements to choose from! That's okay. Even if it only serves as my princess-in-training diva costume at home, I'll wear it! This was a fun Project Spectrum knit and a great warm-up for the big-gun, the Sampler Stole, which I'll be casting-on for tomorrow. Uhm... yeah, okay, seriously, that wasn't a punch line, so you can stop laughing hysterically now. Yes, let's try to remember to laugh with, not at. Aww, who am I kidding? Even I'm LMAO right now, so you may as well, too!! Start tuning up the Man of La Mancha chorus for The Impossible Dream!

One of the aspects I liked best about working on FBS was the yarn, which was soft and cuddly. You can't really tell in the pictures, but it's also actually quite, well... furry. In a good way. Like stuffed animal furry. Or like domesticated animal furry... you know, the usual, dogs, cats and the like. Not to be confused with bad furry. Because there's definitely bad furry. Like orthoptera furry. (This one's for you, Aloha Knitter Michelle!! :-)) Better known as B-52 Flying Cockroaches to you and me. Back in my swinging bachelorette days, I had my own little pad near Waikiki, just me and my cat. I was used to him falling asleep near my leg, and his furry little presence always brought me comfort. So, one night as I was drifting off to sleep, I thought nothing of it when I felt something furry on my thigh. I insticinctively reached down to pet what I'd presumed was a little furry paw. Of course, just then, that little paw crawled up my shorts and my eyes flew open as I realized that something was terribly amiss. That furry little paw was about to scamper into the unmentionables when I grabbed it and hurled it against the wall for all I was worth. I ran to turn on the lights and saw the biggest, nastiest, furriest, Chibi needle sized-roach you've ever seen, kicking futilely upside-down on the floor! Like a twisted gladiator overseer, I loosed the real furry paw to take care of the imposter furry paw. Natural insecticide, if you will. Revenge is sweet!

63 comments:

Erica said...

Your FBS is gorgeous!!! I have a few balls of Kid Merino and I'm glad to hear that it knitted up nicely. Also, thanks for that tip on shrinkage; always a good thing to know.

Karen said...

Wow, you knit that whole beautiful FBS in ELEVEN DAYS!!!! Now I see the wonder of Project Monogamy. Chris, it came out so awesome and you look so cute modeling it. Heck, if you have no formal occasions to wear it, I say wear that baby to the grocery store (coming from the girl who wears a tiara and socks on her feet!!!). As sour as your first Kiri tryst went, at least she taught you something good. :) But ugh, that "furry paw" story . . . . how many nights did it take you before you could sleep again???

Mamma said...

simply beautiful. And you look stunning in it. I second the grocery store idea. If I looked that good I would never take that puppy off. I'd wear it everywhere, the library, the park, my kitchen, well for me, that's everywhere. It looks great.

Furry cockroaches. Ewwww. I didn't know such a thing existed. I might not sleep tonight.

Mintyfresh said...

Absolutely. Positively. Gorgeous.

Great job!!

Ragan said...

The shawl is so beautiful! :) I enjoyed your roach story! When we first moved to Hawai'i my neighbor (a native Hawai'ian) told me NEVER mow your lawn at dusk (which I was out doing), she said the roaches will get you. AND...she was SERIOUS! They come right for you. I was so paranoid about those B52's. AUGH! I cannot wait to see pictures of your next project!

Jo said...

FBS looks so dainty and pretty - very well done! I've notice you have made a few shawls - do you wear them often? I love the idea of them, but have so far pretty much shied away because I think they would just end up hanging in my closet (like my Clapotis).

Hey... how do you keep Bossy and Stinky away from the blocking piece?

Jo

Sonya said...

Ok, I may have to give lace a try. Your Flower Basket is just stunning! The pattern, yarn and color are all perfect together. Very feminine. I think you should wear it to the grocery store. Of course, we'll need a picture of that. My skin is crawling from your cockroach story. Eeeeewww.

Alison said...

Okay, absolutely cringing at the roach story. Ick!

As for the FBS, absolutely in awe. It is really beautiful, Chris! And come on, there's always the grocery store, the library and the kids' Tae Kwon Do lessons. Oh, wait, that's my social calendar. (And yes, I do wear my shawls to all of them.)

Anonymous said...

Your FBS is lovely and looks stunning on you! I can't believe how quickly you knit it.
EWWW! Furry cockroaches. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Chris said...

Eeeeeeeek! Furry flying roaches!!!! Eeeeeeeek! Ok, Minnesota may not be paradise like Hawaii, but we do not have furry flying roaches. Yowza.

Your shawl is STUNNING. Wow. And it turned out to be the perfect size for you, didn't it? Enjoy lounging in it, you diva, you!

Scoutj said...

Holy COW is that beautiful! You did the two things I'm thinking I'll never have the patience to do. Lace and Kid Merino! You should be damn proud of yourself!

amandazen said...

Wow! It is beautiful you did a fantastic job Chris!!!

Amanda

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, you lace diva, you! I've been wanting to make the FBS for quite some time. I fell in love with the Yarn Harlot's variegated Chai silk one, and I want to make one with the same (rather pricey) yarn!!! I am diligently working to reduce my stash before that can happen, though.

BTW, your furry cockroach story is going to make me jump every time a furry husband-leg brushes upa gainst me at night!!

Jennifer said...

FBS is gorgeous!! Chris, it's so beautiful. Nicely knit. I, for one, and not laughing at you or with you about the sampler stole. I think you can do it!

I loved the Roach story. And yes, that Roach with a capital "R". Eeks! I would unleash the furry feline fury as well!

Sandee said...

The shawl is just faboo!

Cockroaches...Bleah! I don't miss those nasty little creatures, believe me! I remember my mom always on me about making sure the cups were all upside-down when I put them away. Couldn't figure out why until I reached for a coffee cup (that was right side up) and a big fat flying roach climbed out onto my hand! I must have been a sight screaming and hurling the cup across the room! My mom laughed and told me THAT was the reason why you put the cups away upside-down. echhhH!

msubulldog said...

Wow, that Sampler Stole isn't going to give you any problems when you can turn out a Flower Basket Shawl like that! Really beautiful, Chris. :)
And the cockroach--eeeeek! That's one thing I don't miss about living in warmer climates . . .

carrie said...

oh, it's simply lovely! you did such a great job -- and so quickly.

i've been known to have the occasional cockroach, but they've never approached me! now i have a whole new fear to overcome ...

Agnes said...

11 days? You are knitting like a devil on the Hawaiian island too! hahaha ...
How many balls of yarn did you use? I like that Kid merino too ... always fondle them when I'm in Beverly's (the craft store that carries this) ... You know what? If you like CP Kid Merino, I think you'll definitely like Kid Silk Haze ... it is just divine.
Have to warn you about the Alpaca Cloud though, it is extremely slippery ... a lot harder to work with IMHO. But just need some adjusting.

K8 said...

It looks absolutely beautiful - what a great shade :)

Anonymous said...

I grew up in South Florida, and we had the B-52 roaches too. Man, I hate them!

FBS is gorgeous, I agree with everyone else--wear it everywhere!

Anonymous said...

Hey gorgeous babe! No headless pictures here and I know why-unlike me, you look fabulous in that shawl. I've counted the your rows of baskets going up the center and I have two more repeats to go and I'll be able to wear mine. I think our social planners might look very similar so why not come over and we'll go out together in our shawls. Yours really is gorgeous and I love that color. Put your coffee down! I'm so impressed you pro!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous! Who needs a "special occasion" to show that off? If I'd done such beautiful work, I'd be wearing it to the grocery store, the post office, the beach...okay, maybe not the beach.

kai

Anonymous said...

FBS blocked out beautifully. I love those pointy edges. And I'm sure you'll get on fine with the sampler stole. Look forward to seeing the yarn you're using.

Knittypants said...

How can you start a post with such a beautiful shawl that leaves me oooohing and aaaaahing, and then wind it up with such a gross story that leaves me shuddering! Your FBS is gorgeous, but that cockroach story made the hair on the back of my neck stand up! :-0

Debi said...

Stunning Chris!! Beautifully knit and lovely on you!

Can't wait to see you sampler stole too!

I loved the furry in the unmentionables story but now I feel all itchy! EEK! :)

Laura said...

Gorgeous FBS!

Look, Chris, about the Sampler Stole ... if you are the Knitter of La Mancha, then I am definitely Sancho Panza. (Wasn't that the sidekick?) I look forward to tilting at windmills with you!

Trying very hard to forget the roach story... :)

Dina said...

FBS is lovely and looks great on you! Show it off and take it with you everywhere!

Had to laugh at the roach story! Everything my cat caught during his late night house hunting hours were brought to me, belly up and in a row, on the floor beside my bed. Late night pees were always accompanied with wake-the-dead screams. In the Philippines, my Mom would sweep the roaches out, "Too messy to squash," she says or we'd play hockey -- we'd grab our plastic sticks and use the open door as a goal!

TC!

Jillio said...

absolutely gorgeous, chris! you're quite the lace-knitting extraordinaire!
gawd, i HATE roaches! if ever there was a state bug, that would be it. blech!
duke is actually quite the roach-nabber. he'll catch the roach in his mouth as it scrambles away, and drop it close to him so he can swipe it with his paw to kill it. not very healthy to take it in his mouth (those are such dirty, nasty things), though he is very smart; he'll scratch on the bathroom door so he can drop it in the toilet! good doggie! i didn't even teach him that one :)
happy knitting!

Sayward said...

You make a lovely princess-in-training. ;) Surely there will be an ocassion worthy of it one day.

As for the cockroach... Ergh. I'm having flashbacks of bushwork in Minnesota, where ticks that escaped daily searches or were hidden in a folds of a cuff, for instance, would spend hours crawling toward the bed, then up and over the sheets toward sleeping breathing people. They have a very distinctly, sticky way of walking, as though their feet are catching your skin with each step. I hated, hated being woken up with that feeling on my arms and legs.

And that's the end of my flashback.

Casey said...

That is one gorgeous shawl! Don't worry about the sampler stole. Trust yourself and your skills and you'll be fine!
That "furry paw" story was great! (in a bad kind of way) While staying with my friend in Japan for a while, I was never sure if I wanted to see roaches caught in the traps. If there was one, it meant the apartment had roaches and if there wasn't one, it meant the apartment cuold have roaches on the loose!

Cathy said...

GOOD LORD!!! FLYING cockroaches?! I don't know if I'll sleep tonight, how long did it take you? ugh! Beyond that, the shawl is absolutely GORGEOUS! You do such beautiful work and I'm with Karen, where that baby to the grocery store, the dr's office, the mailbox.... wherever! :) I have absolutely no doubt that you will make quick, beautiful work of the sampler stole, you don't give yourself enough credit - you do great work! Have a wonderful Friday Chris! Take care.

Acornbud said...

Very beautiful pinkness-perfection!! Thanks for letting me pet it.
Eh, no scare all those potential Hawaii vistors with those flying, furry orthoptera stories (wink). The industry is enough trouble what with the (shhhh....)rain.

Mimi said...

Your pink shawl is absolutely gorgeous! Can't believe how fast you knitted it. Now i am really inspired to knit one.

yahaira said...

you are so funny. I'm glad this relationship worked out for both parties, the shawl looks lovely and so snuggly soft. I would just wear it everywhere. To the supermarket, the mall, the movies, to taco bell...you get the picture

Allison said...

AHHH Furry bugs! What will they think of next?
Your shawl is so beautiful :) Hope everything is well.

Jenn said...

Look at you, rocking the Flower Basket Shawl! You're certainly showing lace who's boss. It looks great!

I'm kinda twitchy now about the giant roach. A giant furry roach. A giant furry nasty chibi-sized roach. I have to go lay down. ;)

jennifer said...

that looks INCREDIBLE! congrats on finishing it and surviving the blocking madness - great job!

stricken madchen said...

Beautiful! I'm in awe that you could knit it that quickly with 2 little kids in the house!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous shawl! I haven't tackled lace yet, but seeing something this beautiful makes me want to try!

PS: One thing I DON'T miss, having moved from Hawaii, are the huge ass roaches! YUCK! :p

Anonymous said...

ohmy God, Chris it's GORGEOUS!!!

Catherine Kerth said...

it is beautiful! i have that pattern and some "happy dance" on hold! ;) OMG!!!! ewwwww! we have a lot of pecan trees in our front and backyard so we get a lot of huge cockroches wandering in our home! my hubby and i take turns who has to kill and dispose of them! we need a "terminator" too!

Bron said...

Oooooooooooh your shawl is sooooo beautiful!!!
It looks so soft!
I can't believe you finished so quickly!
Thanks for coming by my blog too!
have a fab weekend!

amylovie said...

I can't believe you knit that so fast! Makes me pine for my needles (I haven't knit a stitch in a week. I'm on shop overload).

I feel your pain with the roaches. There were some man eaters in my grandmother's house in Houston.

Amy

Ragan said...

OMG...I JUST now noticed your button! DUH! That is what the flu will do to you!!! I will add that to my sidebar this morning. Woo-hoo! :)

WandaWoman said...

amazing! it blocked out oh-so-beautifully and it looks wonderful. I love it!

Anonymous said...

Wow !! You're FBS is just stunning!! Gorgeous color and it came out really beautiful. Great job.

Olga said...

Absolutely gorgeous! (and the shawl is pretty nice, too. :-)

Jillio said...

so what are you going to use for your sampler stole?

Jen said...

YAY for FBS! It's beautiful, and err, thanks for sharing the flying cockroaches story. I'm never coming to Hawaii again...

sorry for being so absent. I've missed you!

Kim said...

Your FBS is just stunning! I never thought about it before but lace is the perfect Hawaii knitting project: (1)the weight of it is perfect(you won't roast while knitting or wearing it), (2)you can get lots of mileage from your yarn(a big plus especially if you have to get it shipped from the mainland), and (3)you end up with a product as beautiful as your surroundings! Thanks for sharing the shawl. . .now the roach is another story entirely(I was eating my lunch when I read that-ewwww!) ;)

Terri said...

You are an amazing knitter! My gosh that shawl is beautiful, and you knit it so fast! I don't know whether to be amazed or frightened - my needles weren't built for that kind of speed, or maybe it is me that wasn't... Okay, impressed won out...

Ragan said...

Hi Chris! I wanted to visit you again to let you know that my BLOG VANISHED! I got on to post last night...thought that it was posting...and POOF...it was GONE! Not just the post...the entire thing!!!! :( Oh well.

Cheryl:) said...

we haven't had roaches (thank god) but other bugs have provided alot of entertainment for the animals over the years...we've always referred to them as "kitty candy".

Love the shawl...GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS.

Carrie K said...

That's one gorgeous shawl! But Kid Merino is not a joy to work with. It's my excuse why my Adamas Shawl is taking so long.

Lynette said...

Wowee! FBS is a beauty! I would wear that everywhere. It's sexy, demure and innocent all at the same time. Hooray for lace!

Chuckled at the story about the cockroach. I didn't know they come in a furry version. Eewww.

Hope you're having a great week!

Anonymous said...

your knitting is awesome. so are the kiddies! they remind me of my niece and nephew. ha...i had to get myself a pad in waikiki during my single days, too. those were crazy days. did you get the kid merino on oahu?

Bitterknitter said...

Chris, you are an inspiration, as always! Lovely, lovely work! I used Kid Merino for my Kiri, and it is quite snuggly and fuzzy, I agree!

-Lisa

Kathy said...

The shawl is absolutely stunning!

emy said...

Your FBS is lovely!

lexa said...

Gorgeous FBS!!! I really have to try a shawl.

I have to laugh at your roach story. It reminds me of one time when I was just a kid, maybe 10ish, I was walking to town with my mother. We were on Main Street when she felt something inside her pant leg on her calf. She stopped to take a look, thought maybe it was a dryer sheet balled up that stuck to the inside of her pants. It was a big Junebug! She threw it off her leg, jumped up and down, screamed and hollered. People came outside of stores and offices - they thought someone tried to mug her or something! It was a terrible scene. I can still see her now!....

Anonymous said...

That shawl is just gorgeous!! Love the colour..the pattern is divine too. You did a great job

Katt

Anonymous said...

The shawl is fabulous!

But a big ack! for the kakaroach story. I wrote a story on my blog about the kamikaze kakaroach that flew down my back small kid time in Manoa Valley. OMG. I hate those B-52's with a passion! I'm glad it never made it to da kine.

Anonymous said...

The shawl is really beatiful!!
Regards from Pia in Sweden