Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Roll wit' it, Tomato!

So I made Tomato from No Sheep For You, which is a cool book and a cool pattern. Very easy, took me a week to make. I raised the neckline a bit cuz it would have been slightly scandalous otherwise. I definitely plan on making more, or at least more top down tops.



But this yarn. I used Blue Sky Alpacas cotton. Now, I distinctly remember liking this yarn and enjoying knitting with it earlier in my knitting history. Then again, I also remember having no problem working with 100% acrylic and that certainly isn't the case anymore. Okay, so a tiny bit of it is my fault, as usual. I did swatch, but not in the round, so my gauge tightened up a bit when I ended up making this in the round. I was already going for the smallest size, which was already 2 1/2" smaller than my actual bust size. But in reality, this top came out about 4" smaller than my actual bust. Don't worry, it still fits (knits stretch nicely, people, even in cotton), but it's a bit stiff. Actually, it's a lot stiff. Almost like I'm wearing cardboard. In the previous post, though I complained about the bleeding of Jaeggerspun Zephyr, I did note that it has exceptional drape, even when knitted at a tight gauge. This yarn, not so much.

And do you know what a stiff cardboard-y top does? I bet you can't guess. See, it remembers my rolls. Now, when I stand up, I'm a pretty slim girl, comparatively speaking, but I'm not going to lie, some rolls do appear when sitting. Well, I discovered to my great dismay, that my rolls leave an impression in the top! Yeah, I know it's funny. To you. I stood up the first day I wore this and lo and behold, what Koreans would call sam-kyup-sal (3 layers of flesh) was imprinted into the very fabric of this shirt. Just hanging away from my torso, still showing the fat rolls of a minute ago. Thanks a lot, BSA cotton. You're the best.

Plus, knitting this stuff hurt my hand like a mofo. I'm talking pains shooting up my right wrist for real. Owie. So I think I'm sticking to blends from now on.

In other news, I went to Maryland Sheep and Wool festival the weekend before last. Everyone I know thinks I'm insane, and with good reason, admittedly. Yep, my broke ass bought a ticket to the east coast, rented a car, got a motel room, and went to a festival OF SHEEP!


Wait, 2 quick diversions. The first, there was something freaky going on in the room next to mine. We've all stayed in one of those no-tell motels before, we know how it goes. But this was unlike anything I had ever heard before. It was screaming. And I mean just that, screaming. Screaming. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!! AAAHH, AAHHHHHH!" Not moaning, groaning, talking, just screaming. Don't know how many hours, cuz I lost track. So if ever you're thinking of offing someone, know that you can do it in a Red Roof motel without fear of anyone calling the police.

Second diversion, have you all seen this trailer for Black Sheep. Whoa.

Okay, back to MDSW. I took a drop spindle class and haven't touched my roving since. I suck. And I kept thinking I shouldn't suck, because sheep hair is a lot like my hair. I kept wondering, would I get any better at this if I first took my pick to it and sprayed it down with some afro sheen? I considered braiding it, or perhaps adding it as some sort of psychotic extensions to my own hair. Then I just accepted that I suck and moved on. But I did manage to spin this:




Um, since Ipod Cozies are all the rage amongst knitters (I don't want to ever hear a knitter who made one of these look me in my eye and tell me crocheters make a bunch of useless trivial stuff (like doilies)), what about an Ipod Shuffle Cozy? Those things are only about an 1 1/2". A coin purse, that can hold one coin? Huh? Huh?


But outside of the yarn, the festival was cool. I'll show you festival goodies on another post. So for now . ..

19 comments:

3goodrats said...

Despite the stiffness and the "roll memory" of the yarn (snicker), your sweater looks very lovely.

You are one funny woman!

James said...

The sweater is good. Maybe it'll chill out with a few washings mixed with wear and tear. As far as screaming motel rooms go, at least you didn't have to pay for softcore on motel pay-per-view. I think you should knit an ipod shuffle cozie. What is it with otherwise reasonable people wanting to create inane, useless objects just because they can? I need to cut this short so I can go work on my felted waffel iron tote. Peace out.

Kris said...

oh...so jealous! you got to go see sheep-eez.

The fit on the Tomato is looking fabulous...kinda sucks that the cotton is out to expose you.

urbanknitrix said...

I like your sweater. It looks nice. I missed the festival and I am in DC bummer. I hope to go next year. And your post is very funny - the next time my boss works my nerves, I am going to invite him to lunch at the red roof inn.

Catherine said...

You should have come to Shepherd's Harvest in Minnesota last weekend! Much closer. (www.shepherdsharvestfestival.org) For the love of wool, it was heavenly.

Adrienne said...

Looks VERY good! I really love this pattern!!

AR said...

Cool! A week! Dang!

Unknown said...

Love the sweater, it's great how you can just improvise the pattern to make it your own. I know what you mean about the cotton yarn, I am knitting a handtowel from a cotton linen blend with alot of moss stitch. I can only do it about 15-20 minutes at a time. I am being told that it really "loosens up" nicely after washing. Your "expedition" sounds like fun. I'll have to see if there is anything like that in Florida.

somebunnysloveDOTcom said...

Despite the stiffness, the sweater looks fab. And I do know that Rachel from Lickety Knit (Amazing Lace) created one: http://www.licketyknit.com/?p=183

Hope that helps!
Bunny hugs,
=:8

Lily said...

Hi Nikki, thanks for purchasing my orchid pattern. I am glad that I found your blog. I like to read your post. It's very hilarious.

RandomRanter said...

Hi! I am working on a Tomato of my own and I do rotate it with other projects. I find with cotton - needles matter - I use plastic or wood cause there's a little bend to 'em. I am super careful about gauge, cause yeah - tight is bad - for the hands and the garment. But this yarn does soften up after a few washes, so maybe give it a good soak.
But - it looks amazing!

Libi said...

That sweater is really, really lovely.

I loved your comments on my blog. There are so many movies that I love that are NOT listed. I watch many, many movies. But, I have asthma and spend a lot of time in bed. I think it's better I watch movies than talk shows!

Have a great day!

z's momma said...

Love your sweater. And totally feel your pain (in the hands as well as that roll thing). I'm working on a white tomato sans motif and in hindsight, should have left it in, oh well.

Anyway, beautiful job on the sweater.

VR said...

lol that's funny about the roll memory. I'd hate to vizualise what that yarn would make of my mega rolls. Anyway, the top is fab. Won't it stretch into submission if you block hard?

Sherri said...

Pick out the roving and spray some Afro Sheen on it ... Hilarious! The Tomato loks good.

Mully Nex said...

I'm about to do Tomato too - looks good love the colours you chose. I've decided however to use Rowan All Season's Cotton which is the same weight yarn but not 100% cotton. I found knitting with 100% cotton almost made me never want to knit again it hurt so bad!

buttercup said...

I love your Tomato sweater. Too bad it isn't behaving and is stiff. Maybe you can wash it into submission?

Loved this post. Laughing at work is always a good thing. No matter how many people look at you like you're crazy.

Sandra said...

Nikki
I really enjoy reading your blog, you have a wonderful sense of humor. Sorry I missed you at the Sheep and Wool show.

Virtuous said...

Just discovered your blog from the No Sheep KAL. Definitely adding you as a fav!

Cute Tomato! :o)