OH HAI YARN DIET and some actual knitting

I may not have been knitting much at all for months and months (it's been impossible around Mr GiantBaby), but I've continued to buy yarn, slowly, in little bits and bobs. This combination of factors is not good, and after the last infusion of stuff into my stash, I called Yarn Diet until I get some of my many wips and planned projects out of the way. To help with that, I picked up a set of nickel DPNs from Knitpicks during my last bout of frustration induced retail therapy. I thought, maybe, if I spoiled myself with some new tools, I might be more likely to use my ever-multiplying stash of materials.

In aid of this lofty goal, I picked some rescued yarn out of my stash and decided to make my mom's Christmas present, which would be a circular lace shawl. If it's on one needle, in a circle, it'll be harder for the little guy to rip it our of my hands. That's the theory anyway.

I decided to use the 1940's lace tablecloth pattern from knitting-and.com - so far I've gotten through row 57, in two or three after-the-kids-go-to-bed sessions. Including a night in which MrGB did no such thing, and I discovered that he is less interested in pretending to be a cat in relation to my yarn and more interested in trying to sit on my shoulder while turning my work lamp on and off. Different? yes. Better? Maybe.

I'll let you know if I develop any exciting injuries this time. In any case, I've come back to being able to knit and things are going well. I may even get to put up a FO post some time. Perhaps I'll knit a pig with wings or a flaming snowball to commemorate the occasion.

Mindless knitting: a 3x3 rib scarf recipe

I've noticed that my Not A Gryffindor Scarf on Ravelry is marked "pattern not yet published." There's a reason for that. It's not a very interesting pattern, more of a recipe, or a knitting meditation.

Use yarn appropriate to the needle size. Swatch if you are unsure.

Cast on a number of stitches evenly divisible by three. Ideally, the number is also divisible by two, because that means you just reverse the knitting and go. Unless you choose to do something exotic, like stripes, it's a pretty mindless knit.

Knit 3, purl 3, to end of row.
Turn.
Knit all knit stitches and purl all purl stitches, to end of row.
Turn.
Continue to desired length or end of yarn, whichever comes first.
Bind off.

Garnish however you like.

Serves 1.

The Not a Gryffindor Scarf notes are as follows:
*Knitpicks Pallette in Yellow and Red (discontinued colors - use Semolina and Pimento for close match)
*Size 4 needles

As above, except change color with russian join every seven rows.

I Can Has Ravelry!!!!

I got my invite ... yesterday? Perhaps it was Monday. It's all a blur.

OMGWTFBBQ. It's great, even with the bugs and incompleteness. I'm trying to figure out how to best help with the live beta development. It was so worth waiting 3 months for (I signed up in early May or late April, I'm not sure which.), and I love it. I have only entered a few stash yarns, a few of the most interesting WIPS and FO's, and spent most of my time just browsing around and using the features. Also, it complements my other fiber-focused online stuff, instead of replacing it.

I have to say that I love having what amounts to a customized newsfeed of my favorite bloggers and online fiber-freinds, the forums are fantastic (only what you actually scroll past gets marked read, wow!), and the patterns, and the yarn, and the...

(cut for interlude of unintelligible enthusiastic blithering)

Okay, if you have not yet signed up, go ahead and do it. It's great, and I can't wait to see it in a non-beta version.

Did I mention it's GREAT? Yeah, like the cereal. I could eat it up.