Selbu Class

I must say, the first session went rather well!

I had chosen NHM #3, as I figured everyone could speed on up the striped ribbing and get to the harder parts (colorwork and thumb increases) quickly. As it turns out, only one or two people made it to even the increases before the first chart for the wrist, and so a third session will probably have to be added for the completion of the thumb. I told everyone to keep going at home if they felt comfortable, but to stop right before the thum stitches are put on hold and then more cast on. I want to be able to make sure everyone's thumb will blend as well as possible into their palm. Granted, it will never blend perfectly, since the two are knit in opposite directions, but still. Ideally, it will look something like this...

Decently well done, I must say. A different pattern, but the same general idea.

This brings me to my next topic...my first Annemor #2 mitten is, obviously, complete!

I actually bought Norweigian wool for this set, Heilo, up in Lake Placid. Thick and warm, yet light. The colorwork is charming, and there aren't too many parts where it is required to wrap strands for long stretches. I had to stop right before the thumb stitches are dealt with, so I'll have something to demonstrate on, but by the time the class is over I'll be able to whip through the rest. (Actually, I have a feeling I'll give in and knit the pair and have to sprint to catch up on a demo version, but we shall see).

As a last little addition, I finially have a picture of my Harry Potter worsted bookmarks.

The house colors aren't all exact, as I was using scraps, but they get the point across. I picked up some pearl cotton for a few laceweight versions at Joanne's. I had planned on getting some wool for a full-size slytherin house scarf, year one, or ravenclaw, year three, but I was disappointed to find they didn't have any of the full sets of house colors in Patons Classic Wool. There was only ever one color of the two, such as grey, but not green. Burgundy, but not gold. (Yes, I was at the point of considering another Gryffindor scarf)! My business will probably go to the local Ben Franklin...perhaps its a good thing, supporting small business and all that.

Anyway, off for some tea and a lovely winter morning...

Vacation...

...was a great oppurtunity to catch up on some knitting!

The family went to Lake Placid for a few days, and our laid-back schedule allowed for not just car knitting, but naps and knitting breaks each afternoon, as well as a little stitching during meals. Fabulous. As a result, I have quite a few new projects on the go.

The Cross Country Chullo from Knitty a few years back, In Classic Elite Inca Alpaca. I knit the majority of the crown on the two size 3 Addi turbos my Aunt Nancy sent me, and while I still have some issues with bunching where the needles meet, overall it wasn't to difficult to adjust. By now, all of the stitches are on one circular needle.

Another pair of Slippery socks, only in Saki by Prism, in a type of colorway which will better compliment the slipped stitch cables. Soft, but this is the second time I've had issues winding this type of yarn into a skein. Their hanks seem to be wrapped funny.

Annemor #2, in Heilo. Fabulous. Can't say enough about how beatutifully rustic this yarn is. However, I have to go...shall finish later today...

Picture Gallery

A quick backtrack...here are all of the projects that I haven't mentioned up to this point!

Dad's Hat for Christmas. Groovy Tuque patterm, Patons Classic Wool.

The Knotty but Nice hat. Patons Classic Wool. Lots of compliments at school. Started and finished on Christmas Day.

Down-to-Earth Russian-y hat from Hattitude. Took two tries, as the first came out too large for any human. Made with the chunkiest Wool-Ease.

Cabled Hat of Awesomeness. Malabrigo Chunky. Finished in a day. Beyond soft and warm.

First sweater ever! An EZ seamless, probably the Saddle Shoulder, thought the Hybrid keeps tempting me. It's still in pieces :P

An attempt to re-cerate a pair of my mom's old gloves, the pair she bought years before they became so fad-y. Probably will frog it-I want an orange hat, and the second swirl repeat came out looking like a mutated crescent moon.

Gloves for Becca, cabled and ultra dense. Too dense to knit very fast though, meaning she's had to wait a week or more. Whoops! Oh well. She's paying me-I may as well do a good job.

My mom's socks have yet to be photographed. I feel as though I'm stalking an elusive wild animal for the good of modern science...will get to that eventually.

Goodies Galore!

I have skipped quite a few planned posts, but trying to backtrack just keeps me from writing frequently enough. So.

My Great Aunt Nan and Great Aunt Mary are both fabulous knitters over on the west coast, living in lovely Oregon. And each have been awesome enough to send me some surprises in the mail this past month :)  I couldn't be happier! Everything is "da bomb!"

First, Aunt Nan had been e-mailing me about a cross stitch (as in a knitting stitch/technique) pattern she had finished on a scarf, and when I didn't find anything online, she offered to send it to me. Curious as ever, I waited around and finally...it came! Along with three sets of...Addi Turbos! She's confirmed the fact that they do in fact make you knit faster, and as soon as I get all of these offers for paid jobs out of the way, (you would think people would realize they should ask in the summer when I actually have time, but whatever), I'm definitely trying some magic loop with those! Knitting on two circulars? Oo, now I can give that a whirl, too! I'll have to time myself.

I don't have the picture on the computer, but the scarf has plenty of texture due to the cross stitch. It's really similar to the bottom of a beach bag I knit a while ago, but this seems to be a little less obnoxious to actually carry out. Hopefully I'll find some hand dyed stuff on sale on KnitPicks when I go shopping for mitten yarn, and can get one of those churned out myself. I can't waaaaaaait!

And just this week, Aunt Mary sent me a Beka loom! Someone gave her an ultra nice one for free, and she sent her old one out east for me (and my sister, if she's interested) to learn to weave! Sure, we both have learned the extreme basics in art class, but this is a tad different...

I haven't the slightest idea of how to work it yet, but I'm pretty proud that I actually managed to put the thing together! Hopefully with the help of Youtube and an old school instructional book, I'll be on my way fairly soon!

THANK YOU AUNT NAN!!! THANK YOU AUNT MARY!!! You guys rock :)

Ooo! Wow!

So I had received a Barnes and Noble gift card, and upon reaching their knitting section I picked up two titles. A gorgeous hardcover, Norwegian Handknits, which is full of all sorts of patterns and historical information and even a few recipies, and Amigurumi Knits. This book led to a kind of revelation.

Now in the past year or so, I've become, if not a fiber snob, a bit prejudiced against fibers that can't be found growing in the natural world. This means my substantial stash of Red Heart Super Saver has been quite neglected as of late. Howver, when it comes to amigurumi, cheap and colorful are pretty much the only criteria the yarn needs to meet. Alright, up to the attic to grab the Super Saver. Down to my room, dump it on my bed. Sort by color...ooo! Wow!

Holy cow!!! That's a lot of yarn!

Time for some stash-busting amigurumi...

Loch Ness Monster! With a black belt for sempei!

Anglerfish!!! Can you say Finding Nemo? "I'm gonna getcha..."

A snail is up next :)

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.