Wedding Knitstuff, Part...One?

I promised a post about knitwear, and ye shall receive a post about knitwear!  I don't make promises I can't keep...I promise!

And now, it is my pleasure to present to you...The Completed (so far) Knitwear for the Wedding!  (yeah, the title could use some work)

Beautiful, beautiful hand/wrist warmers,
for the bridesmaids,
knitted and embroidered by Reed.
In the background, you can see the
bouquets and bouttonieres :)

I messed with the contrast because it really
shows off Reed's embroidery. 

While Reed was working on the hand/wrist warmers (and
a bunch of other stuff), I knit 6 scarves.  Yes, six.
Did you know that scarves take a long time to make?
I am about 3 months behind on The New Yorker now, but
I'm pleased with the way they came out!
Each one has a different stitch pattern, length, width, and
ratio of yellow to gray.  Coordinated but not matchy matchy.

So far so good, eh?  Reed's working on my hand/wrist warmers now, and is starting the dads' ties this weekend.  I'm about halfway done with the first mom cowl/neck warmer, and starting to think about whether I want something knit in my hair (decorative bobby pins? headband? hmmm) as well.

And that's the knitting update for ya!  Up next: a bonus wedding craft post!  I know you can't wait!

Adventures In Blocking

Before I proceed to the fabulous photodocumentation (although, admit it, you skipped straight to the pictures anyway--click on them to see larger versions), let me just say, blocking was an Adventure. An Adventure that took:

• 15 minutes figuring out new iron and preparing it for steaming
• 10 minutes creating the Cardboard Contraption so I wouldn't be trying to pin directly into the hardwood floor
• 25 minutes pinning the thing down
• many hours drying...just to be sure it was really dry

As you can see, I had some lovely supplies. Well, the iron is lovely. The pins, not so much.
The scarf wasn't stretching evenly, and I was a bit concerned about my edges turning out all scallopy...does anyone know how to make the yarn stretch in straight lines? More pins? I didn't think it was possible...but the final product didn't turn out really scallopy (except for a few spots where I think I pulled too hard) so maybe it doesn't matter? I'm guessing it's the type of yarn I used (Caron Simply Soft Shadows--100% acrylic. yep. that could be the problem).
The ribbing didn't hold as stretched-out as I wanted it to, but the end product did turn out more airy and light than it was pre-blocking, even if you can't really tell from the photo. It does feel like it weighs less, and it is much softer and more comfy around my neck, which is always nice. AND even though it only grew a couple of inches, the extra length is just enough so that it actually stays wrapped around my neck, which the short and stubby version did not.So there you have it. A longer, more airy scarf. Not as different as I thought it would be, but it was...a learning experience? Thanks to this blog and this blog from Crazy Aunt Purl for making me believe that I, too, could be a blocker. I do kind of want one of those steamer thingies...even though I don't need it. Ah, gadgets. Also thanks to Kristen for humoring me as I let out exasperated cries from the next room. And for this expert photo portrait, shown below.It's going to be a while before I attempt another photodocumentation blog...it takes a lot longer to put together than I had anticipated. So enjoy it while it lasts, kiddos, because I just may go on a photo-limited or primarily-text-based blogging binge in the near future. Matchingly (and awkwardly) yours, Kim

Rain, Glorious Rain...etc.

I must admit, I do love the rain. I especially love it when I can stay home and get all cozy in front of the fireplace (or at least I would if our fireplace was in any sort of usable condition), and I especially love it when I have a new pair of boots to keep my feet dry, and an umbrella that isn't broken. Such is the case this fine Thursday morning. It's gray and wet outside, and I got to work at 9:25, and I'm going to be here until 11pm, but I am in quite the good mood. Thank you, new boots/umbrella/messenger bag!

I have big, beautiful, blogtastic ideas for this here blog-o-mine, but as it is only Day Two, I don't feel too bad about not having uploaded all of my photos and jazzing up my profile and filling pages with glorious information (labeled, of course) about all sorts of hodgepodgey things. It will happen. Don't you worry.

For now, I leave you with the oh-so-interesting knowledge that tonight may be the night I try blocking. oooooh. For those non-knitters, blocking is a process in which you take the knit garment, stretch it to the desired size, pin it down, steam it, and let it sit overnight--the end result is (hopefully) a larger, better-shaped piece of knitwear. I'm trying it on a 2x2 rib scarf. Hey, I never claimed to be an adventurous knitter. Baby steps. More on this later...with pictures?

SuperSweetShoutout to Erin Messer, Jessie Gaskell, Reed Burton, and Crazy Aunt Purl (Laurie, whom I've never actually met or talked to...but her blog rocks!) for inspiring me to finally just do it already. Now I have a blog. Maybe you care, maybe not. Either way, I'm having fun. Enjoy! :)