Back For Christmas

Haven't posted in forever, due to school, the holidays, birthday, and some minor comission knitting. However, this Christmas calls for a victory post!

First off, I finally have a yarn swift and ball winder!

Secondly, my family has enjoyed their gifts so far!

My mom's socks still haven't been photographed (she keeps wearing them, sticking them in the hamper, and washing them faster than I can keep track of). My lil' sister received my overly colorful earflap hat whose picture I have misplaced. I felt kind of bad about not having time to line it, but she's still beyond thrilled and wears it everywhere.

My dad has always proven difficult to knit for, as he fears anything tasteful will make him appear overly feminine. He couldn't care less if anyone else dressed in such a way, and has befriended many a man to do so, but he himself will never be caught dead in anything metrosexual or stylish. I spent most of the fall inquiring about his opinions of various hat patterns (supposedly they were "for the boyfriend"). The final decision was that to be acceptable, a hat could have colorwork, if it didn't depict anything. Tassles were acceptable, as they served a practical purpose-they allow him to remove a hat swiftly and easily with mittens on. Cables were okay, maybe, if they weren't curvy (what kind of cables aren't at least partially curvy???) and allover patterns were preferrable to the focus bring taken by one panel. Colors had to be muted, natural, and masculine. With all of this in mind, I found the Groovy Cables Tuque (it said tuque, not toque-I'm assuming they're the same thing) pattern, and knit it up in Patons Classic Wool, Tree Bark Mix, on size 7US needles.

I do believe it turned out fairly well, and he'll at least deign to wear it occassionally. The family thought it looked like something from this designer or that, so it was definitely a crowd pleaser. (It does look better on than off, but no one was home to model).

I also snagged the book Free Range Knitter, and have been reading the little bits of knitting humor all throughout the winter break.

And knitting more hats. I've knit LOTS of hats.

Christmas Gift Rush

It has begun.

'nuf said.

A Pair of Socks...

...for every day of the week!

Yessir, Sunday Swing is my offical seventh pair for ME to wear all winter long!

I think they came out alright, although they're a tad too large on me, so the pattern doesn't show as well as it could, and tends to bunch on the leg. Should have made the size small instead of the medium.

Later last night I had to babysit my cousins, and by the time the evening was over I had another quick project finished as well.

A helmet liner! One of the women at my church saw me knitting my socks, and handed me the free pattern along with some Paton Classic Wool in Deep Olive, supplied by Micheals. They get sent to troops serving overseas, which is why they need to be knit in 100% wool (acrylic is flammable) and in an appropriate color to match their uniforms. (Deep Olive was specified by the instructions). I think it came out alright, and I may look into whipping up a few more. I don't like war, but that's no reason not to support the troops.

Now off to an early Thanksgiving dinner with my mom's side...

You Know You're a Knitter When...

Your class starts reading To Kill A Mockingbord, and you see two books that have a ball of yarn hidden in a tree on the cover. You decide that you want one of THOSE copies.

You get the one with a picture of a ten-year-old.

You feel really, really dissappointed.

Study Hall

...has become knit time! My supervisor is one of the home ec teachers, and she also happens to be an avid knitter! Not in study hall, but still. We make good conversation.

She had brought a huge bin of novelty yarns into class the other day, and after wrapping up my notes on the French Revolution I skipped over to see what she was up to. (I was a little sore from craning my neck to sneak glances for an entire hour, not gonna lie). Turns out, she went to a fiber fest in Georgia, and one of the classes was all about taking scrap yarn and tying it all up into one huge skein to use as a scarf or whatever. Very cool! My little freshman buddy Alex had entered the room at that point, and decided that SHE wanted to learn to knit too! So guess who taught her?

Yes! The following Monday, our supervisor brought in needles and wool from her classroom, and I showed her the basics of garter stitch. Tuesday, she learned purl. And all the while, the tech teacher whose room we're assigned to chuckled at the visual of the three of us, all within six inches of her needles, holding our breath as we watched Alex agonize over each, painstaking stitch. I even brought my sock knitting, doing a pretty good job of ignoring all of the stares from everyone else in the room. I must say, it'll be nice to have one more friend who is as addicted as I am! She's HOOKED.

Literally. She's a crocheter, too.

Yarn Crawl '09!

Yes yes yes, a Yarn Crawl! Four of the main yarn stores in the area came together for a day of yarn sales, demos, door prizes, and (if you visited all four venues in the set time frame), huge gift basket drawings! My birthday is coming up next month, so instead of waiting for my present, my mom suggested that she give me a budget, and take me around from store to store.

Well, what would you have chosen? :) Ben Franklin doesn't have the most sophisticated, well-known-name selection, so I had such a blast digging through the mountains of wooly, sheepy hanks. At the first shop, I petted some Rowan Felted Tweed, and dug around in some Lamb's Pride before finally settling on some ultra light alpaca.

Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, 100% alpaca, 109 yards per 50 gram skein. Two skeins of each color, for a faire isle chullo! The Cross-Country Chullo from Knitty! I've had a total ear-flap-hat obsession lately, but I'll get into that another time...

At the next shop I grabbed some Malabrigo Chunky, kettle dyed, Intenso colorway? Or at least I'm assuming? Either way, it'll make something gorgeous and warm. Maybe a skullcap or mittens.

And then while waiting in line to pay, I snagged some sock yarn...

The Perwinkle Sheep, Watercolors Sock Yarn, 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon. There's 420 yards to a skein, all of it hand dyes Caramel. Either it was renamed or mismarked originally though, because right under that is a crossed-out butter cream. Either way, I think it's gorgeous, and just subtle enough for a cable maybe.

I shall continue this another time, or I fear I'll never finish another post...

It's Hailing Again!

But thankfully I'm inside. So. Moving on...
So last night I decided to skip karate in favor of the local knitting circle, which I had yet to attend. I had shoved my scarf in the nearest purse, quickly cast on my second mitten and completed the hem, and was foolishly considering trying to cast on something flashy that I have yet to attempt (like socks knit one inside the other) for shock value. However when i showed up, eagerly brandishing a pattern one of the women had been curious about and carrying a tote full of projects, I was told that there had been a cancellation. Awww. So, I skulked home and knit another large strip into my Harry Potter scarf, and later (after my right arm was numb from my position on the couch), I cast on another pair of socks!

I truly so apologize for how horrendous the picture is. My camera has been taking more pixle-y pictures every day, and any picture sized larger than the one at left is nearly unrecognizeable.

The pattern is Sunday Swing from Knitty, knit in Heart and Sole by Red Heart, colorway Faded Jeans. The design is a super predictable combination of yarnovers and knit two togethers, with at least one plain knit row between each patterned one. So it's beyond cinchy and mindless, with lots of visual "bang" for you knitting-technique-"buck", yet not so mindless as to bore you. Once I finish these, I'll officially have a pair of handknit socks for every day of the week :) Sweeeet!

NHM #14

One mitten is done!

I like the effect that the white on black has with the speckled stitches, and it fits near perfectly. The lace looks more stripey than chevron, but hopefully if I actually bother to block these (a rare occurrence) that will sort itself out. With any luck that will help the hemmed edge lay flatter too. I love hoe finished it looks though, so I won't complain much.
I also have picked up the ol' House Scarf again. (I finally read Beedle the Bard, and am now re-reading the entire series)! It's coming along...

ETA: Just checked the page on Ravelry for NHM #14, and apparently Terri Shea had the same color idea as me. Aww...I was feeling so rebellious too :(

Another Pair :)

Socks done!

Sorry the picture is so terrible-I'm becoming more and more convinced that I need a new camera for Christmas.

It's just 2x2 rib, eye of partridge heel. Instead of the gusset decreases occurring one stitch into the needle, I put the decreases right on the end of needle one and the very first two stitches of needle three. I also put the toe decreases immediately next to each other instead of having a stitch or two in between, so they wouldn't show up as prominently looking down. (Not quite sure why that was so important, but either way it looks decent so I'm not complaining). Was going to give them as Christmas gifts, but...I really like them :)

Quick Break

Oh my gosh. Portfolio week for IB, and I am BEAT. Since I last posted, I have accomplished the following...

Patrick's birthday hat is finished, with ample time between now and the big day. (Which is one day after mine except, ya know, a year earlier. So we're the same age for one day a year. So my dad can't complain that he's too old for me :D ). I won't post a picture in case my some accident I forget it's on here and he looks, but I'll just have you know. It's pretty sweet. Nuf said.

Secondly, following that hat victory I decided to take a swing at kinda sort half designing my own hat (as modeled by one of my teddy bears :) ).
The shape is an only slightly altered version of another pattern I found (can't remember the source just now...) and the designs are either borrowed from other hat patterns, or taken off of the street or from my own noggin. Overall it's a little big, but that means it won't flatten my hair, so it's all good. I wore it to the sectionals game the other weekend, and though I was freezing, it wasn't because my head was chilly.

I also began a quick pair of ribbed socks, and finished the first one and have started the second.

The ribbing goes from cuff to toes, and I used an Eye of Partridge heel just to see how it would look. Super simple, with a pretty colorway for machine dyed sock yarn. Whether they're for me or for use as a Christmas gift, the ribbing is sure to accommodate at least a few different sizes.

Yeah. That's about it.

Why I Knit

So lately the temperature has plummeted to almost record lows for this time of year, and with all of the homecoming activities and dog walks (and walks with the boyfriend :D lol ) I had skipped up to the attic to locate our bin full of winter gear. Now, as a knitter I of course own a plethora of hand knit hats, and have little if any real "need" for the store-bought variety. However, there has been one exception to this.

Last year for Christmas, one of my sets of grandparents bestowed upon me a hat. It was from my favorite store, made of chunky cables with a hot pink crown and a white bottom. It had huge ear flaps, and braided ties, and the lower half was lined with the softest ever fleece. I loved this hat. I wore it absolutely everywhere I could, and even declined to knit my own ear flap hat, only to have it fall short of this perfection.

Happily searching through the bin, I pulled out scarf after scarf and mittens galore, thinking fondly of their beginnings. The hat, though stayed in the back of my mind. It was only when my fingertips brushed the bottom of the container that I realized, with a gasp of horror...the hat wasn't there! I panicked, and by the time I had thoroughly searched the attic I had strewn bags and coats and pocket linings all about the floor. How could I have lost it?!? The mudroom received the same treatment. The pantry. The basement. In the end, I finally had to resign myself to the fact that my hat was gone. Heartbroken, I attended football games and tailgates, only halfheartedly displaying my homemade cabled cappers perched atop my hair. Then last night, the night of homecoming, this all changed!

Milling through the impossibly thick crowd, my eyes wandered from hat to hat. Funky color work, chunky diamond cables, and peruvian chullos were everywhere. Wait...it was the hat!!! Over in a group of freshman sat the same exact hat, only with a cheeky red crown instead of a pink one. I felt envy at her fuzzy fleeced brand-named warmth. Until I remembered-wearing that hat meant wearing the same exact hat as a girl I had never met, and may have had nothing in common with. My red topper, bobbled and cabled, spoke volumes more because I had made it. Even if Emmydee goes to the store tomorrow and picks up Charmed Knits and some Patons wool, her hat won't be like mine. Even just looking at our Half Blood Prince hats, anyone could tell two different people made them. This is why I knit. To add some personality and spice that can never be replicated, ever!

32 Degrees

Officially freezing as of 8:30 this morning. I now have another excuse to procrastinate on Christmas knitting-someone is gonna need all of those warm WIP's finished, right? That person could be my sister, my cousins...or, ya know, me. It would be irresponsible to knit thin little ankle socks in the face of possible frost, don't'cha think?

I Lied.

I re-watched The Prisoner of Azkaban, and the movie scarves are dark dark dark dark DARK burgundy. Oh well. I still like my colors :) Luna's scarf is still waiting to be started, but I fear she'll have to wait a bit longer...while crochet projects are quick, a one-day-only 20% off all yarns sale at Ben Franklin means an opportunity for more Christmas gift materials!

Ok, SOOOO...

Gwynedd is finished, and she was quite the marathon! (Or, at the very least, a 5K).

Super thick and warm, this scarf will be a gorgeous staple in my wardrobe this winter, I do believe.

Al so finished a while ago was my Fern Glade, the slouchy version, and while it's a bit big (shocking, I know. Usually my cranium is beyond any other sizewise), it's pretty and a nice change for boring outfit days when I want to funk it up a little bit.

Lovely.

When I needed a small, easy project to work on while on the recumbent bike, I cast on some easy handwarmers in Knitpicks Peruvian Highland Wool, color Cherry Blossom. The picture turned out terrible, I'll take another one later, but these have proved super useful. The pattern is called Emerald Green Handwarmers, but obviously these aren't. The wool is inexpensive, and the pair was knit in two or three hours, so these have become my workhorse handwarmers. I can wear them in the frigid school basement when writing essays during study hall, and if they start to pill or lose texture on the right hand from friction it won't be too large a loss. I even have two more skeins of the yarn if I want an exact replacement! (This pair took less than one skein).

Lastly, I finally started my Harry Potter scarf!

I picked up four skeins of Paton Classic Wool Merino in Burgundy and one in Old Gold, and so far the colors are pretty close to that of the movie. Some of the others I've seen looked too cranberry or plain red, and that was something I wanted to avoid. The 1x1 ribbing isn't boring yet, as the stripes keep it interesting at regular intervals and I'm a relatively quick knitter. It's fabulous mindless knitting for just before or after school, right before bed, or while watching tv. (These also happen to be the only times I'm really able to knit these days, so it all works out perfectly).

The merino is so much softer than the new Patons Classic Wool-I so wish they hadn't changed it! But of course they have, and I'll just have to resign myself to the fact that any other house scarves I make may not be quite as comforting on a cold winter day. I can't wait for this to be finished so I can wear it! (And start the Ravenclaw one soon after I finish Luna's)!

Sorry, Sorry...

Camera is acting screwy, too much homework. Just had to share I finally bought the yarn for both the Year 3-4 Gryffindor House Scarf (I plan on making a Ravenclaw one later), and Luna Lovegood's crocheted scarf from the fifth movie. I'm happy as a clam. Gotta run.

Not So Funny Now...Is It? :)

So last night was the first varsity football game of the season, before school has even started. Before I rushed off to the local diner for dinner with Bonnie and Hannah, I slipped into my bag...

Center Square Hat
Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat
Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat
Texting Mittens
Annemor 16
Fetching

...and a random scarf or two. In short, enough to outfit the three of us for the game. Sadly, as is usually the case with genius, my foresight was giggled at by many an acquaintance at the field, as it was still about 75 degrees out, and the hardcore fans were running around shirtless (guys) or in sports bras (girls) covered in paint. Sure enough though, as the game dragged on it got a little chilly. One by one, a each of my friends would reach for a sweatshirt or ask around for spares. Then it got colder still, the game was still going strong...and who were the warmest people there? Me and Emmydee! The only knitters of the posse :) A small victory I admit, but I'll take what I can get.

Another Gift Delivered!

Kelley loved her birthday hat, and it sat atop her head, the topic of much conversation, on the rides both to and from Seabreeze.

She has decided it will indeed match her winter coat, and that she will now be that much warmer at the varsity football games and all throughout the winter. Glad to hear it Kel! Happy birthday!

Also, Gwynedd is coming along. I burned through the first of the four skeins of Wool-Ease the other night, and am now at the start of the second. I doubt things will chug along quite so fast once school starts and I'm slammed with homework, but for now I think I've gained a decent head start.

I still need the pattern for the braided cables, but the other sections are generally fairly easy to figure out, and a quick glance at the page every couple of rows usually suffices. I hope this doesn't take quite as long as I fear it will-I don't want to lose steam just as cold weather sets in, and I actually need it!

Ooo! Pretty!

Well! Initially I was concerned about the stitch definition of this project, but as it grows the problem all but disappears, and it's already super warm, dense, and soft as can be.

I was thinking about giving it to Sempei Todd when he earns his third dan and gets his own dojo (I'm gonna miss that guy), but I think I'll have to pry it from my own fingers first! He can get by with just some socks, right?

For this project I decided to give cabling without a cable needle a shot, and while I'm not sure it saves a ton of time it definitely is less cumbersome than having to grab a plastic hook every couple of stitches. For this scarf I've only been using a cable needle for the eight stitch ribbed cables bordering the braided ones every six rows. Sometimes a twisted stitch appears from when it was transferred from one needle to another, but that's easy to fix and I'm sure this method will be used again, especially in the car when I drop my cable needle down the crack between the seat and the door for the tenth f#%*ing time.

Partial Luck and Substitution

Alright, so after some debate I finally decided to knit my year-three-and-up Harry Potter scarf from Lion Brand Wool-Ease, in Gryffindor colors for now and maybe another house once I recover from the ribbing coma. But my paycheck has a week or so to show up, so I've been knitting this scarf only in my daydreams. I thought about it all the time--the stripes, the rib, the fringe, how it would wash. Then the other day when I was antiquing with my Grandma Helen and my sister, I was thinking extra hard. Wishing and hoping for Wool-Ease. How much would I need for the main color? Four skeins? Certainly the contrasting color would only need one. Wool-Ease...Wool-Ease...Wool-Ease...I paused in one of the little booths to peek in an old trunk. Rug kit, embroidery...oh my gosh NO WAY! What did I find?

Four skeins of Wool-Ease, for $7.20. That's only $1.80 a skein, folks! Granted, it's not the right color for any kind of Hogwarts house scarf, but I think I've found something to divert me for a good long time while I wait. After a search on Ravelry, I pulled up the Gwynedd pattern from Knitty winter 2008. It's a gorgeous reversible cable scarf, super thick to hold up against winter winds. It's sure to take quite a while, but I figure it'll be the perfect landscape to try out this new technique on, and get an awesome result at the end of it!

Two Gifts Done!

I handed over the completed Tridactyl gloves to Bonnie last night for her 15th birthday. She had been asking for fingerless mitts, but I couldn't have her know what her present was! There had to be SOME surprise! But she loved them, and they'll serve her well on the bench.

I thought this pattern was pretty original, and the wave pattern kept it mildly interesting, although it was still kind of a zone-out meditation project in some parts, so it was cool for watching movies.

The twisted rib cuff is extra tight, and should keep snow out. I think I'm going to try it out on my next pair of mittens for me-in fact, I'm kind of surprised I didn't try it before :P

I also finished Kelley O's bday hat, but I don't have any pics yet. I'll post one once I give it to her-I think the off white is going to contrast fabulously with her reddish-auburn hair :)

Alpaca

I officially love the stuff. My scarf is finished, and I couldn't be happier. My dad is extremely proud of his yarn choice. Kudos!

The end result is fuzzy (hence the blur in the picture), light, and warm. Will be great for fall, maybe a bit light for our hardcore winters, but that problem can be easily solved with yet another scarf. Or I could just wear all of my past creations, but a Gryffindor scarf would be really cool...and maybe a Ravenclaw one after that?

Nanoo, nanoo!

Quick check in-the first Tridactyl glove (or, er, mitten?) is finished, and the second on the needles. When I showed it off yesterday, an unexpected perk was discovered by my aunt...

...while wearing them, you can hold your wine glass oh-so-elegantly, like so. Although why you'd drink wine outside in that kind of cold I'm not entirely positive. To each his own, I suppose.

Another Hermione Hat Finished!

I finished this hat while stitching and bitching at a emmydee's for a sleepover:

I had been worried that my overly large head would tug open gaps around the cables and make it a little less warm, but I think my fears were unfounded. I'm sure I'll find out for real when the mercury dips below 32 degrees, but for now I am a happy camper! The cabling is as addicting as the pattern description said, and very impressive yet tasteful, bobbles and all. Even one of my Flogging-Molly-loving fire-fighting friends agreed that it was "badass" (or was at least able to convince me that was his opinion), and informed me that I am to wear it when we go sledding this winter :) Can't wait!

And of course, the now discontinued Patons Classic Wool Merino (I still can't get over that...) performed beautifully. I have just started a pair of Tridactyl gloves from Knitty using the replacement line, Patons Classic Wool, and it definitely seems coarser and more dense. At least the color is nice. "Aquarium" to pair with the wave pattern on the back. Will probably be a present for one of two people for Christmas...can't say who yet, of course.

Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat

Based on the hat Hermione wears to Hogsmeade in the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, and another pattern found in Charmed Knits (love that book), this cap was started around 9:00 last night and is still going strong.


For yarn, I grabbed more Patons Classic Wool "Merino" out of my basket is the brightest red I think I could ever find. I was concerned it wouldn't be as dense of a fabric as I wanted, because I usually go down a needle size or two for winter hats. This pattern and gauge required I use the size 7 US as is recommended on the yarn label, but the cables have kept it cozy. It'll be the perfect addition to my school football game garb, as red is one of the school colors :)

Hermione's Half-Blood Prince Hat Completed!

I love love love love love love love this hat!!!

(As modeled by my sister).

I found the pattern on Ravelry, and am so glad I did! I had been planning on starting it for a while now, and even bothered to buy the specific yarn suggested (a rare occurrence on my part). I had carefully pondered...do I stay true to the movie with a sewn crown? Or knit the highly attractive decreases written into the pattern? I finally figured I prefer knitting to sewing, and I'm also better at knitting, so the decreases were my best bet. Besides, as a steek virgin I'm not yet ready to stitch and cut my knitting! (Excuse the blurriness of the next picture...it was taken on the fly).

The alternate cable cast on used to start this project was quite the ordeal, and I must confess I spent some of the time wondering how much I really needed this supposedly more attractive edge. My ribbing would look fine with a long tail cast on, wouldn't it? It's stretchy enough for socks, it'll be fine for a hat. How much better can it be, really? In the end though, I loved the result. The ribbing is plump and present from the very beginning, instead of being restricted by a fine line. I'll probably end up using it again if I ever get the to the 3-4 Year Hogwarts Scarf, as if I plan to bind off in pattern, I may as well begin the same way right?

I can't wait to start Hermione's Cable and Bobble Hat from Charmed Knits to continue adding to my wizard-style wear! As the Hogwarts climate dictates, Harry Potter knitwear is always super warm, and thanks to the fact that it was in, ya know, a movie, super stylish! I'm just unsure of whether to go up a needle size or two to fit my large noggin, and if I do, whether or not to use a slightly chunkier yarn than the Patons Merino Wool I was planning on. I may have to even track down the suggested yarn! Yikes! That would be twice in a row now!

Hanshi Camp

For the last three days, I've been training along with other schools in my area, under the tutelage of Hanshi Steve Arneil. He learned our style of karate (kyokoshun) under it's founder while it was still being developed, and has a plethora of knowledge on fighting and self defense. The camp has always been extremely hard work, and on the third day the adults would have not just one session but two, and I decided to take a little non-"om" meditation with me. My scarf! Little did I know what it would become a memento of later that day.

After lunch, I hopped into the locker room to grab my garter stitch and on the way out found my sensei. Uh, oh, smart remark sure to follow! Sure enough, after a quick double take, he sighed "Are you serious?"

I simply answered "Yes," and continued to stitch without looking.

"Does that, like, soothe you or something?"

"Osu," (some sign of agreement in Japanese, but can kind of cover anything in the dojo).

And with a reluctant "Alright..." I was off the hook! Huzzah! But the best was yet to come! Outside I plopped down on one of the picnic tables, enduring the usual questions. "Are you knitting or crocheting?" "What are you making?" etc. Sempei noticed, and soon all the black belts were chuckling at my expense. I'm used to it. Suddenly, an English accent cut through the little crowd around the tent.

"Are you knitting?" Hanshi was asking about my scarf! Oh wow!

"Osu!"

He answered with something along the lines of "That's good, you don't see many people knitting anymore." Hanshi approved of me knitting! Haha see sensei?

"Oh she's good!' Erica cut in. "She makes, socks and little animals, and all sorts of stuff."

"Oh! Do you think next time I come you'll have a nice pair of socks for me?" Hanshi wanted socks? Oh wow! And my witty self replied...

"haha...maybe..." Oh wow. Must work on my social skills.

An Alteration of Fates

Well, it does seem that my scarf wish came true! Digging through the stash, praying for some red wool, (though I knew from the get-go I only had one skein of red wool and it was being utilized for the black belts' Christmas presents, but hey, dare to dream), I stumbled upon an unexpected alternative.


100% pure spun alpaca, in a sport weight. Two hanks my dad had picked up for me a little while back. It's softness matched the many descriptions I have read, as well as it's lightweight feel. I had planned to save it for just the right project. Every time I saw it I would smile and wonder what it would become! A cabled hat? Mittens or gloves light enough for fall? A lacy little shawlette? I would hold out until I found the project worthy of it! And I do believe I have!

(Picture wouldn't load, sorry :P)

The scarf I was craving, knit on size 5US straight needles. (Can you believe it? Straights! I haven't used straights in such a long time! I found them sitting in the attic, pouting and collecting dust). This scarf, or swatch as it stands right now, is light yet warm, with a slight soft halo of fuzz and many different shades of grey. It will go with anything I decide to throw on, which is always helpful considering just how many mismatched cold-weather items a knitter accumulates. It is just thin enough to be tucked inside my pea coat, yet thick enough to stand on its own on top of a sweatshirt in the fall. This scarf will be absolutely, utterly perfect!


And to think. Just a little while ago, I would have never pictured this yarn or this project crossing paths.

Too Much of a Good Thing

I love seamless knits. I love knits for the extremities. Put those together, and you get lots and lots and LOTS of socks, mittens, gloves, and hats. All circular, of course. Hence the seamless part. (Insulting to point out, I know).

But now I'm suddenly tired of it! I've been utilizing circulars and dpns for months now. Not one back-and-forth project in what feels like forever. I'm craving garter stitch, pure wool, and beautiful, fabulous, STRAIGHT needles! Something mindless I can knit while watching TV, without having to miss all the action scenes, or at least the knitwear on the characters. Something long enough where I don't have to worry about it running out partway through a South Park marathon. Instead of small-scale noggin toppers, I want...scarves! No stripes, no color work, no multis or ombres. One plain, solid color. Red! A long, red, garter stitch scarf knit in warm, delicious wool!

All this, I want in August. And it WILL happen!

I'm sure of it!

Pomatomus FO!

Finally, these socks are conquered, over, and done with! I was working on the gusset and foot of the second sock at Shannon's birthday, and despite the snapping of a bamboo dpn (the second snapped stick from what was a set of five) I scrounged a metal size 2US from my bag (huzzah!) and finished the pair in time to wear to bed.

Of course it got rather humid all of a sudden and I had to take them off, but it was enjoyable while it lasted.

Most of the girls had at some point during the night inquired after the sock-in-progress, and by the time the last end was sewn in I had an audience to witness their maiden voyage. The birthday girl's mom knits, though only garter stitch scarves, so when she showed interest in the repeated pattern, the chart, and where to procure instructions for other projects, I directed her to Knitty. There are more awesome patterns to be had there. The only downside to this happily worn pair of socks was that I was left with just that-a pair of socks...and nothing else to knit the whooooooole night long :(

If at First You Don't Succeed...

Pomatomus may have kicked my butt once...

...but not this time!

I have since grafted the first sock shown, and started the cuff for the second one twice. For the record, it was not my own incompetence that caused the need for a do-over. There was a funnel cloud (good chance for a tornado) spotted touching ground near my village in Upstate New York (well, there is a first time for everything), and I attempted to work on the cuff while taking refuge in the basement. In the dark. Without a chart. Genius.

Regardless, I knit the foot a bit too long and thus shortened the toe, ending with 28 stitches to graft rather than 12. The stitch pattern is comfortably stretchy without falling down, interesting to work, and of course, resembles fish scales. How cool is that? This is the first project in a long time I haven't minded ripping back at all, it's so entertaining to whip up. I can't wait til I can wear the pair...

Warped Tour '09

No knitting, (shame), but still plenty of fun. But not as fun as knitting. No. Never.


My dad played chaperon to me and my friend (NOT boyfriend) Brad, on a day full of firsts!

• First Warped Tour (duh).
  
• First time hearing Less Than Jake, who turned out to have their fair share of charisma. Must hop on itunes, thanks for the suggestion Bradley!


• First time hearing or seeing Attack Attack, Underoath, and The Devil Wears Prada, who according to Brad are all Christian heavy metal bands. He showed me the lyrics beforehand, which were spiritual and deep, but when you can't comprehend what they're screaming into their mics, they're main selling point kind of loses its effect. Underoath was the most entertaining out of the three, if I had to choose.


• First time playing guitar on Rock Band. (Xbox had a relatively large promo tent set up). Turned out to be no harder than Guitar Hero. Fancy that.


• First time hearing (of) Chiodos, whose femininely-dressed lead singer (capri-esque shorts and I think it was a slight v-neck tee), actually was entertaining. His list of "crowd participation" songs gave everyone something to do, be it as simple as "jump up and down" or "everybody move," to something more chaotic. "Make these four mosh pits into one big one!" "Let's see if we can get 74 people crowd surfing at once!" "Wall of Death! Split down the middle!"


• My first viewing of a Wall of Death. The mosh splits, points out who they're gonna hit on the other side, and on cue charge across the gap. As my Dad put it, it's "Braveheart without the weapons."


• First time on the Viper at Darien Lake, as well as my first time going upside-down on a roller coaster. Wow, it really was nothing. Much easier than the massive drop on the Superman.


• First time seeing 3OH!3, who weren't that impressive. The only reason that sticks out in my mind is on the way out of the crowd I had my first experience pushing along crowd surfers.


• And my favorite "first," FIRST TIME SEEING FLOGGING MOLLY LIVE! They were the main reason I came to Warped Tour, and they didn't disappoint! They played my three favorite songs, made a not-so-favorite song interesting with different embellishments, and a few previously unheard titles will soon be added to my ipod. There wasn't much moshing to worry about, except for during "Drunken Lullabies," and by the time we left I had converted Brad from an Irish-rock skeptic into at least a tolerant. Thank goodness. My dad and I WILL be going next time they come into the area!

Overall? A cool collection of experiences, some better than others, and the best people watching I've seen in a long time! (I've never seen such creative variations on the typical mohawk)! Back to knitting next post...

Executive Decision

Last year, as with every year, Christmas was just the same. An assortment of presents for an assortment of people without rhyme, reason, or ample time to coordinate a beautiful yet practical parcel for everyone. So, my decision made this year, with PLENTY of time to see it through, is that every family member will receive a hat. Plain and simple. Thus far they're all ribbed to accommodate the craniums of many sizes that populate both sides of my family. The colors are dictated by the half-skeins of merino in my basket, and the striping patterns either by color availability or whenever I run out and need something to finish the decreases.

Since school let out yesterday I have finished two hats in between events and have a third spongy ring strung across my size six circulars. All made out of mystery stash wool, there is...

• ONE "The Boy Hat" by Elizabeth Heath-Heckman. Love the crown shaping, a little extra attention makes a very neat, pleasing finish. This one began in an olive, but when that ran out was finished in a rustic heathery off-white.
• ONE "A Hat Fit For A Boyfriend" by Stephanie Nicole. Plain chocolate brown, I actually had enough to reach the end! Another approach to carefully thought-out decreasing to add some variety to the endless ribbing, and with any luck impress the giftees.
• 1/5 of the "That Chocolate's Gone Straight to Your Ribs" hat by Leonie Connellan. Using up some obnoxiously bright blue for the body and hot pink for the stripes. I'll probably add some more color rings, but whether I'll end up with one additional stripe or several the whole way up I don't know. I'll find out as I go, I suspect!

So as long as I don't have a stroke as the ribbing continues on and on, forever and ever, this is a seemingly brilliant plan! Lots of time, lots of patterns still untried, and a plethora of colors to experiment with. They're seemingly one size fits all, and really; who lives in New York and doesn't need a hat?

Coincidence

On a troubling note, my grandma took a fall down the steps leading from the road to the waterfront at my aunt's lakeside cottage. We think a broken ankle, EMS got her to the best hospital in the area quickly and safely. I wasn't allowed to go, and in the midst of my disappointment I looked down and realized my second sock was almost ready to graft the toe. It's a berryish striping pattern-pinks, brown, and navy, the pattern a blend of the YH's Generic Sock Recipe and a lightweight Thuja.

My mom dropped me and my sister off at the house, and before she ran out the door to meet the rest of the family already at the hospital, I slipped the finished pair into her bag for her to find later.

If I can't be there, I suppose my knitting is close enough.

KICK BUTT ! ! !

No picture of this FO-it had to be handed off to the recipient far too quickly.

The occasion? As they do every year, people from our dojo go up to the Kanreikai tournament in Montreal. My bff from our dojo and I had been planning to make our first saunter north side by side, so we could room together and root for each other from the sidelines. However, due to conflicts with my softball season and lack of training, I wasn't able to go. How could I show support without actually being there?

Of course, you're right. Knitting is always the answer.

Knucks, in Patons Classic Wool. A dark smoky grey body, reddish magenta ribbed cuffs. And across the knuckles, in chunky white letters, I embroidered my message to her: KICK BUTT. Enough said.

She will too, mark my words. Look out Montreal! The Americans are coming! And the girl in the gloves is a badass!!!

Good luck E! Love ya! <333

Earth Day: Round Two

A donation of yet another t-shirt from my sister resulted in yet another recycled bag for me :) On a business trip to Austin, Texas my mom came back with shirts for each of us, each different, but having the same slogan on them-"Keep Austin Weird." No longer wearing her tie-dye tee, it was handed over to me, and the Generation T book reopened.

This time, I attempted to stitch up a drawstring bag. It called for two tees, but I had planned on acquiring a plain dude's undershirt for the lining rather than using one of my logoed ones. My (rather prominent) impatient side won out, and instead I found a scrappy old curtain in the depths of my fabric bin. "What if it frays?" I asked myself. "What if it isn't strong enough?" My impatient logic once again shone through, though perhaps with greater purpose. Buying a new shirt defeated the point of making this bag out of materials otherwise headed for the landfill, and this frayish curtain would be unseen anyway, sandwiched between the psychedelic outer layers.

Cut, pin, sew...what was next? Aha! Straps! Uh-oh...the instructions called for a slice of the shirt, cut from hem to shoulder, both sides still connected. I had scissored straight across the bottom while cutting out the body of the bag, and up the side, leaving myself strapless. Instead?

More recycling.

I found something funky in my attic. A bunch or rings crocheted together with cord. Thin cord. Use this...how? Cut, unravel thread from both ends, chain a long strap with two thin strands held together. Could have worked, but the drawstring tube was too thin for both straps to fit through. Back to the drawing board.

Instead, revert back to the (now modified) instructions. Cut open the tube resulting from slicing off the bottom, and split it into two short-ish straps. Instead of tying an overhand knot through the holes in the base of the bag and wasting precious inches, thread through, overlap ends slightly and run zig-zag stitching back and forth over each end. Done, and JUST long enough.

End result?

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Happy Earth Day!

I had completely forgotten the date of this holiday, but coincidentally it was not far from my thoughts yesterday as I broke out Generation T for a little DIY fun yesterday. Once the attic was cleaned and my sewing machine fixed, I hunkered down for an hour or two with my D.A.R.E. shirts (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). One was red from my year of D.A.R.E., the other blue from the year after. (My teacher from the previous year let me and one of my friend's take home the extras). So...same logo, different colors. Potential chemistry. I opted for the "Rock the Tote" bag, I think it was, and ended up with this:

And, such is the nature of the design and materials, it's reversible. So if I flip it around...

I get this (as modeled by my sister).

Not designer, not the best color mix. But hey, it's Earth Day. And a sturdy bag like this-perhaps sturdy enough to withstand knitting needle pokes-is the ultimate in Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

It's Not Knitting, But...

Before dinner at a new music bistro full to bursting with college students, the fam all ran to the nearby Barnes and Noble where I nabbed what I must say is one of the more inspiring books I've thumbed through in a long time. Generation T: 108 Ways to Transform a T-Shirt.

Find it here:

http://http://www.amazon.com/Generation-T-Ways-Transform-T-Shirt/dp/0761137858

It's full to bursting with what seems like endless ways to cut n' sew your old tees into skirts, bags, and, of course, more shirts. Many of the designs seem to require going bra-less, which really isn't an option for this chick here, but nonetheless it's innovative and just the thing I need to get a new tote out of forgotten tops.

Once I figure out what's wrong with my sewing machine, of course ;)

Diversity and a Shortcut

A saunter into the Ravelry group for "exotic" knitting techniques brought about several links to YouTube videos of interesting variations on preforming said humble craft. I myself knit in a self-concocted style that results from my book learning system, devoid of a real teacher. However for the sake of giving it a name, I would say I'm probably best described a continental or German knitter. That is, I hold the yarn in my left hand, and pick up the yarn with my needle tip rather than wrapping it around the needle with my right hand. I don't loop the yarn around my fingers for tension, and I don't loathe purling with the burning passion many continental knitters do. There is a mild dislike, but I'm probably not alone in thinking that, especially when in the midst of some kind of behemoth garter-stitch nightmare, the change is rather welcome.

And so I spent part of my afternoon giving some of these new skills the old college try. I had already attempted Norwegian Purling a long while back-it was advertised as a way to save continental knitters from purling, because the yarn stays in the back of the work. Alas, it turned out that we weren't meant to be. My stitches took forever and came out loose, me fighting my reflex to bring the yarn forward while ribbing every step of the way.

This time my first attempt was your basic knitting-throwing with the right hand. In the past? I had no tension control, and had to forgo the two-handed method of Faire Isle for an odd, bobbin-less, one-hand-two-strings version. This time though, I remembered reading a debate about rather it was needed to loop the working yarn around the fingers in one way or another for tension. I looped round the ring finger and over the pointer finger, and...well I'll be! Natural as breathing and even as anything I'd ever knit continental. Geezaloo. Maybe I was a throwing-type knitter in a former life or something.

My next try was...hmm I believe Irish Cottage Knitting? You know, needle tucked into armpit? Holy cow was that a nightmare. Can't even speak of it. Yarn Harlot, kudos to your for your speediness and efficiency in knitting...it seems I was never meant to reach that level. Lol you lucky duck :)

Last up was Portuguese Purling. I was going to look up Portuguese Knitting too, but read that it was basically the opposite of Norwegian Purling and opted out. Anyway, to purl this way you use your left thumb to hold the working yarn down in front of your work. I need to figure out how best to loop the yarn around my thumb, but other than that with a little practice I should be able to distribute the workload as needed by switching around to different purling methods.

All the video links can be found here:

Norwegian Purling

httphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DkwcejowiI://

Irish Cottage Knitting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P51GByV0H2w

Portuguese Purling

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5hYxupNcM

Gotta love YouTube.

Now for the shortcut part of the title...While at the cottage over the summer, I had started a zig-zag crocheted afghan with Red Heart Super Saver in some purple and blue shades. Finding it today, I realized that there was some errors in my stitching style I have since fixed, and there was nowhere near enough yarn to finish it. solution? Stop, edge it in purple and weave in ends. End up with this:

My first thought was...radiator cover! Random I know, but it fit over the top perfectly. My mind was quickly changed when I wrapped it around my dog, and she snuggled down for a good long time. Hence, the Lola Half-ghan came to be :)

Payoff

We had a home game last night, against a school within 20 minutes of us, tops. We ended up having to mercy by the fifth inning, because we were up 17ish-0, so in otherwords there was a LOT of walks around the bases for our runners, and plenty of strikes flying out of our pitcher's glove.

This kind of game is alright in sweaty, muggy July when no on wants to stand in the field any more than necessary, right? The story is entirely different in 40 degree weather. But luckily for me and my teammates, I was highly boyscout-esque in the sense that I had enough knit gear to outfit several individuals for the Iditarod. Norweigen mittens, texting mittens with flip-off thumbs, Fetchings, Dashings, a watchcap, huge scarves...all tumbled from my backpack and onto the forms of my friends. Call me nerd if you like...but in this case, being a knitter really paid off :)

Saturday

Though hardly a lazy Saturday morning, today started off well with a 10:00 softball practice with all the girls and plenty of fair bunts on my part :) So proud!!! The aftermath of a chilly two hours running around outside was a cold brought back on with a new vengeance, so the rest of the day was spent indoors. I knit on the Selbuvotter #1 gloves I started a few days ago, and managed to make it past the pinkie and onto the ring finger. Granted I've had to frog the same ring finger three times, but that's beside the point. I'm using the same yarn as last time, Regia, only with red and white instead of red and black to shake things up a bit. Looks pretty sweet if I do say so myself, and it matches my jersey for cold games spent on the bench. The best part? My set of five size 2US dpns are occupied, so I went hunting for a size 3US to work with my set of four...and actually found a misfit size 2US at the bottom of my dpn canister! Beast!

Of course three froggings has driven me to drop the set for a day or so, but fear not-knitting has yet to be forsaken. My Coupling socks still grace my feet, underneath the hem of my cheery pink-and-yellow flannel pj pants.

I think it's time for tea.

50th Post...Alright!

So yea...those GANGSTER gloves...puffy paint isn't my strong suit. The halo around the wool kept it from sticking right and it ended up sinking in a little, requiring a second layer. They just didn't look right on me, so I handed them over to another teammate who completely embodies the term gangster :) Here's a pic from right after the first layer of paint:

The paper thingies were to keep the fingers from getting glued shut.

Later that day we finally had another game, three of out four past games having been cancelled due to rain, snow, whatever. Out on the bench it got rather chilly, so out came my Selbu mittens. And soon after that, Kate's mittens found their way out of her bag...which led to me stating I would have to examine those later, and getting openly mocked, in a sisterly way, of course (I hope...). For the record they were knit with red thick-and-thin yarn with some kind of strategically placed psso decreases (possibly worked with yo's to offset them) to make a diamond pattern, and a 1x1 rib cuff :)

Omg...I am a NERD.

OhMyGosh

Softball season has begun, and thus knitting has fallen by the wayside (*sniff*). A sad fact, but at the very least it is being replaced by spending time with a great group of girls whom I love like sisters and not something pointless or illegal, right? Aside from practices and games 5-6 days a week, our coach encourages us to hang out together outside of that schedule, and thus we all had a massive dinner and sleepover at Bonnie's house over the weekend.

Perhaps the best thing she has suggested was the Kindness Swap, which got my sticks going again. We picked a name, and some time during the week had to do something nice for that person. Most people gave out sugary sweets and home-baked treats, but of course I had another idea in mind :) For Erica, I knit up a pair of Knucks out of Patons Classic Merino Wool in some heathery tan color, with the ribbed cuff option. Across the knuckles I embroidered "Redd Head" (yes, with two "d's" to make it fit). I got hugs back, so I think it was well received.

Now to continue knitting a pair for myself...this pair in royal purple, with puffy paint writing instead of embroidery, and the textured cuff. Across the knuckles? GANGSTER! Haha doesn't describe me in the least, but I'm just so proud to have figured out it has eight letters it has to be used! They'll probably end up on the hands of a certain teammate, but however this comes out, I can always knit more!

While I Catch My Breath...

...I may as well leave a post! I found out today that I made the JV Softball team, I've had karate and fight classes, and lots of advanced school-ish classes to keep up with. However in the midst of it all, my knitting projects left me unenthused. Uninspired. But then a huge sale at my local craft store and lots of unused half-skeins of merino in a rainbow of colors allowed me a deviation into this...

CROCHET AMIGURUMI!!!!

Granted this one was my first and had no plastic eyes...but soon to follow was another turtle for Brad's birthday, an owl that Chris drenched in cologne, a bunny with a hat, and a mouse in a skirt :) In the works is a monkey for Patrick with a blue pacman shirt, and a eventually I'm supposed to try to piece together a platypus for Robbie's late birthday gift. Sheesh. I had better go get some work finished...

Best. Quote. Ever.

I was googling quotes to put as my AIM status message, when I came across this...

"Life is a sexually transmitted disease." -R. D. Laing

I couldn't stop laughing.
It is now on proud display underneath my name on all of my friend's buddy lists :)

One Down...

Here's at least one photo I managed to take...

My first Coupling sock (please excuse the fan in the background...) I seem to have the hang of the toe-up style, and really like how the reverse heel flap still allows slip stitch reinforcing. I'm zooming along on the second one-three or four more lace repeats and some twisted rib and I'll have a pair!

Before I Forget...

I am ashamed to say I have yet to take pictures of these projects, but I figured I'd list them really quick before I forgot. So here they are...

• My dad's Manly Scarf is finished! Yayy! I thought I'd have to go for a good while longer in monotonous garter stitch, but he decided it was plenty long enough so I happily bound off.
• Becca's dk Scarf-fringed, washed, and in the hands of the recipient. I forgot to get a picture of it before I handed it over, so it may be a while before I can post one. That also was bound off earlier than expected, and I gave it to her last night at free skate for immediate use.
• The Coupling socks from Knitty? I only have to cast off and my first-ever toe-up sock will have been completed! Still only half a pair, but whatever I'm just happy to have figured it out all right :)
• Oh, and I finished the Edge-Anything-Lace-swatch that I plan on wearing as a choker style kind of scarf. Can't remember if I talked about that already or not.

Anyway we're reflooring the kitchen so I have to get back to keeping the house up while my parents do that. I promise pics eventually!

More!!!

Another FO!!! Yayyy!!! It also happens to be my first felted project ever :) During a jaunt up into the attic to put away some remnants from other projects, I saw the unshrunk version of this sticking out of my basket...

It was the second of a pair of checkered slippers from Knit One, Felt Too! on my missing size 11US 16 inch circular needles. I finished it and put the pair in the wash during one of my favorite romantic comedies, dried them in a few hours on my radiator while I was at the gym, and tried them on. Too big, and one was a size larger than the other. Drat. So half of another wash cycle later, they were rinsed, wrung, stuffed, and dried yet again overnight on my bedside radiator. I awoke on Saturday to a pair of fuzzy, felted slippers just for me! They may not be the prettiest slippers ever (the top seam still glares at me), but they're sooo warm and perfect for a drafty Victorian full of hardwood floors, and best of all I made them myself :) Will have to venture into felting again sometime soon...maybe a pair of eyelash slippers, or a Suki bag from Knitty.

Oh, and I am officially halfway on another project too...the black dk scarf for Becca? I finally procured the second skein of Red Heart Super Saver in black, and am just about to move to the second skein once I finish this blog post...

A Little Bit Over Halfway...

...On more than one WIP! I decided to use my FO victory as a jump start for some WIP reduction. I have attempted this before (generally after a foray into the basket of abandoned projects), to little avail. Now though, while I believe the basket will never be emptied, i figure I can at least shrink the number of unfinished projects that are strewn about my room.

As mentioned earlier, my little yarny space in the attic may hinder my WIP start rate since the yarn is no longer an arm's length away. This seems to have proven true, as I have time on the way upstairs to consider whether I really need a lip-shaped pillow, or whether it is really wise to knit yet ANOTHER sweater for my dog after she chewed the last one. Also, a majority of my knitting books and patterns are upstairs as well while they are not being used for a current WIP, so my obnoxiously delusional imagination has not had any source of encouragement. These factors paired with the high of finishing four items in one fell swoop have kept me from starting anything new. Well, that and the fact that I am out of both sock yarn and the money to buy more.

So finally, the big halfway-reveal...

The first of the Butterfly Socks is finally off the needles, thank god. I thought it would never end.

Don't get me wrong, the pattern is great. I loved the irregular rib, and the butterflies on the sides are pretty darn cute. The gauge is my issue...I usually knit my socks in a few days on size #2 US dpn's. This called for size #0, so my usual quick fix became something that actually required perseverance, and was abandoned for a while before I finally came back to it.

The other over-halfway WIP is my Dad's Manly Scarf, just a garter stitch scarf with color blocks.

The other day I finally reached the second skein of black Wool-Ease Chunky, indicating my halfway point. Granted this may be because I lost what was left of the first skein, but let's not ruin a beautiful moment.