Apple java and anthropologie capelet

It's hard for me to update much. My computer time is mostly while Zack is napping - right next to him. And too much typing wakes him up. So I will be brief.

I finished Tim's anniversary present awhile back. It came out okay, but it could be better. I really need to learn how to do colorwork better. I just kind of winged it. It serves it's purpose and he likes it though, and that's what really matters.

Apple Java

I started working on the Anthropologie Capelet in hopes that I would have it finished to wear to Tim's work's holiday party, but that's Thursday and I'm not even half finished. My weekend wasn't really nearly as knitting-productive as I had hoped.

I think I'm going to a knitting night tonight though. If it goes well with Zack, maybe it will become a weekly outing for me. I sure do need one of those.

baby knitting

What's this!? An update!? With actual knitting content!?

Amazing.

Yes, I have started some knitting for the baby. A mixture of feeling better plus not having much to do now that I'm not working plus wanting to do something to get ready for the baby has inspired me.

First off, here's the hat I knit a couple weeks ago. The one I just made up and ended up probably being too big for a newborn, but that the baby will definitely grow into. I just borrowed a baby bootee book from Rachel, so I will make some bootees to go with it soon. I might also make some matching mitts so he doesn't scratch himself, though I don't know how practical those are.

Then I went to the knitting store on Friday for the first time since February (!!!) and bought a couple of books and some yarn. The project I started on today is from Rowan Babies and is called Buster. And the baby in the picture is just too cute.

I'm using Rowan wool cotton for it (as the pattern calls for) but am using sliiiiightly different colors to make it a bit brighter. The yellowish-green will be the main color and the teal will be the stars and the sleeves. I'm hoping this will fit him around xmas time.

I think I'm going to like this knitting baby clothes thing. So much faster to actually complete a project!

so much for lots of knitting

So I said this would be a good year for knitting. Well I'm not off to a good start. But I have an excuse, seriously. As many of you know, my husband and I are expecting our first baby! :) Good for family, bad for knitting (at least so far).

My first trimester has left me somewhat queasy and extremely exhausted to the point of not being able to focus on knitting without feeling sick or wanting to fall asleep. It has been put on hold, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm starting to feel better, though I'm still quite tired. Hopefully (*cross fingers*) I will feel like knitting again soon.

I just got some KnitPicks Shine Worsted in the color grass to make something for the baby. The green is actually much brighter than what shows up on my monitor though, so it won't be as delicate as I was hoping. I have plenty of time though (210 days left) and baby things are so fast to knit, that I plan on making a lot!

We're a quarter of the way there!

stitches west and hourglass sweater

I went to Stitches West this last weekend and had a great time. I took four classes: Where Do They Get Those Numbers?, First Choices, Joy of Finishing, and Toe-Up Socks. The first class was definitely my favorite, because it taught me how to actually make sure things are going to fit perfectly before I even start knitting. First Choices was also interesting, but it was not as great as I had hoped for. Joy of Finishing was okay, but I actually knew most of the stuff already. And Toe-Up Socks was also nice, but I think I could have learned most of it just as well from a book. I have already started a pair of toe-up socks though, and they are looking really good.

I did finally finish my Hourglass Sweater too! I say finally, but this actually took me only 2 months to finish, 2 weeks of which I wasn't actually working on it at all because I was finishing up Tim's xmas present. So a month and a half -- pretty good time for me!

Hourglass Sweater

Close-up of the boatneck hem and raglan shaping

Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Knitpicks Andean Silk Twist
Colors: Poppy Field
Started: December 11, 2005
Finished: February 11, 2006
Modifications: Altered the shaping some, shortnened the sleeves to 3/4-length, altered the raglan shaping for narrower boatneck.

I'm so happy with it! It fits really well and I love the flared 3/4-length sleeves. This is a sweater I would definitely knit again with a different yarn.

more knits in 2006!

I want to finish more knitting projects this year than I have in past years. It's not really a resolution - just something I would like to do.

So to get off to a good start, I've got two projects going right now. The first is the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, but it's not a gift. It's allllll mine. I'm using KnitPicks Andean Silk in the poppy field colorway. It's actually going pretty quick. It's knit in the round from the bottom up, and I'm almost to the armholes. If I finish this soon, I think it will be the first sweater that I began and finished in the same season. ;)

I also decided I needed a smaller project to work on at the same time. Since I don't have a scarf or gloves that match my coat (which is pink), that seemed like a good choice. I've loved the My So-Called Scarf pattern since I saw it and decided to use the same yarn and colorway (Manos del Uruguay in Wildflowers). I'm thinking I will use the same stitch to make some fingerless gloves. It looks so pretty.

I would also like to go to more SnB gatherings. Maybe I can go to more than 2 this year.

xmas 2005

We had a nice, relaxing xmas this year. Both Tim and I had last week off from work too. Tim went back to work today, and I go back tomorrow. I was going to do some cleaning and such today, but I think I will lazily enjoy my last day off instead. I can start cleaning tomorrow afternoon.

such a cute snowman on top

wolfgang enjoyed rolling around in the wrapping paper

All my xmas knitting got finished, though Tim's sweater was a couple days late. I was frantically trying to finish when he told me he would rather spend more time with me than have a finished sweater xmas morning. So I wrapped it up as it was (still needing seaming and a collar) and began to enjoy the holiday. I finished it up a couple days after xmas and it turned out great! It's super soft. I don't have a picture of him wearing it yet, so this will have to suffice.

Pattern: Loosely based on Jesse's Flames from Stitch n Bitch Nation (w/o the flames)
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft DK
Colors: Thunder & Lime

I also made a hat for the secret santa exchange at work, which I model here. I have enough yarn leftover that I will probably make another one for myself.

Pattern: My own
Yarns: Manos del Uruguay, GGH Almeria
Colors: Brick, Berries & Cream

And lastly, since Lara asked for it, here's a picture of Tim in his anniversary presents. With the weather lately, it's hard to get a nice sunny shot.

There. I think I'm all caught up.

only 2 more knitting days til xmas

While frantically trying to knit up my last present, I asked the Christmas knitalong I'm in to boost my morale and tell me that I can actually finish in time. Someone suggested I call 1-877-SOS-KNIT.

Oh my goodness. Best advice ever.

I have to say, Tim was also amused by choice #3 (if you would like to get better gifts this year, press 3 and hold the phone up to your spouse's ear). I haven't listened to that one yet, but by how hard Tim was laughing, I'm guessing it was good.

Us knitters. We're so predictable.

it's that time of year

Over Thanksgiving, Tim's sister and her husband came to visit us. Since we were together, we decided to exchange xmas gifts! Not only did we exchange them, we opened them too :p

Last week as I was knitting away trying to finish Daisy's present, Tim was talking to her on the phone. Somehow in the conversation, it came up that she thinks she is now allergic to wool. Yes, I was knitting her a wool scarf. After almost crying (I was on the last 25 rows of about 600), I decided to research it some on the internet. Apparently, it's not really an allergy. It's more about having a skin sensitivity to the fibers. Many wools have large fibers and those are often scratchy. I was using merino wool which has really fine fibers and most people aren't "allergic" to it even if they are allergic to wool. I decided to chance it and give it to her anyway. We also bought a backup gift ;)

Well I think it turned out okay! She said it didn't feel like it was too scratchy to her. I don't know if she really meant it or if she was just being nice, but she will let me know if it won't work. She really liked the pattern though, as far as I could tell. :)

Pattern: Midwest Moonlight from Scarf Style
Yarn: KnitPicks Merino Style
Color: Asparagus

She looks like she likes it!

It was so long and sooo cozy. I might have to make one for myself.
After a long break to recover from the tedious pattern.

i've been knitting!

I've actually been knitting a lot. I'm just really bad at taking progress pictures and then actually posting them. But here are some pictures!

The first thing up is the baby shower gifts I made for a coworker (who just had her baby yesterday - she was due nov 4).

 

Booties Pattern: Seed Stitch Booties in Knits for Babies and Toddlers
Hat Pattern: I made it up
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in teal and pea green

In the middle of all my gift knitting, I also wanted to make something myself. I decided the One Skein Wonder was a nice, fast project that would keep me satisfied.

 
Chewy is helping me model

Pattern: One Skein Wonder from Glampyre Knits
Yarn: Rowan Cashsoft Aran in Foxglove

The last project I have finished recently is Tim's anniversary gift.

Click only if you are NOT my husband!

More details on this project after it has been given to Tim. :)

I have also been working hard on the scarf I'm making for Tim's sister. She and her husband are coming to visit us for Thanksgiving and we decided to exchange xmas gifts then. I only have one skein of yarn left (out of 6), so it should be easy to finish it in time. I'll have a picture after it's finished.

stitches west

Well Stitches West is coming back to Santa Clara February 16-19, 2005. For those of you who don't know, it's a knitting convention that happens every year just 10 minutes from my house. Yes, I am a big knitting geek. They have a great marketplace where you can buy lots of yummy yarn and they also offer lots of classes.

Last year I took 2 classes - Stashology and Demystifying Gauge. This year I am taking four!! Joy of Finishing taught by Christine Bylsma (who taught the stashology class I took last year), Where Do They Get Those Numbers? taught by Edie Eckman, Toe-Up Socks taught by Susie Hodges, and First Choices by Sally Melville. The last one now says that it is sold out, so I hope I submitted my request when there was still an opening.

I can't wait!

secrets

I have been knitting, I promise.

A couple weekends ago, some friends had a baby shower. I knit up this baby hat called Miss Dashwood. I used GGH Via Mala in petal pink (or rosa in German).

Isn't it cute?

I can't wait to see it on their baby when she arrives at the end of October! I'm happy to report that it was well received. I have some yarn leftover, so maybe I will knit up some booties too.

I'm working on another baby present for a coworker who is also having a Halloween baby. I hope to have it finished by the end of the upcoming weekend, so I will take pictures then.

In other knitting news, I 've finished part of Tim's anniversary present. It came out so well, that I'm going to knit something else to go along with it. I think I have teased Tim already with past posts regarding gifts for him though, so I am going to save pictures of this until after our anniversary.

So I have been knitting. Everything is just so very secret.

socks finished!

Just a quick note to say I finished my sockapal2za socks! I forgot to take pictures before I mailed them out though. No worries, the second one looks quite similar to the first one. After completing them, I decided that I wasn't too sure that my sock pal would be too fond of the ankle socks though, so I included some extra yarn in case she wants to pick up stitches and make it longer. Hindsight and all that. I do hope she likes them though.

knitting away

Yes, I have been knitting. I have not been sharing much because a couple of the items are going to be gifts and who knows who actually reads my blog. But I just want to post them so bad that these people are going to have to deal.

First off, Bad Penny is on hold. I cannot get the waist ribbing and eyelet pattern to come out looking right. I emailed the designer, but she is busy with her own life right now and hasn't had time to get back to me. I've asked other knitters who have finished this project, but they all seem to have had similar problems and so they have just revised this part. I like the eyelet pattern too much and don't want to get rid of it though, so I shall just wait. Let me know if you have knitted this pattern successfully as written. Or if you are really bored and a knitting genius, maybe you can just take a look at the pattern and help a girl out.

After getting stuck on Bad Penny, I decided to knit up a sweater using Knit Picks Get Away in the "hiking" colorway. The knit fabric is kinda hypnotic.

If you stare at it awhile, will an image appear?

I haven't yet finished my Sockapal2za socks, but I have our road trip to Arizona coming up during which I can finish them. Don't you worry, sock pal.

And now for the gift knitting...If you are my husband or his sister, you had better not peek!!

Last winter, my husband complained that I never knit anything for him. Little did he know at the time that I was already working on a scarf for him for xmas. Now I think I want to try a little larger project for him, because wouldn't it be great to see your beloved wearing a nice sweater that you made by hand!? So he is the inspiration for my very first sweater knit for someone besides me.

 

This is going to be a much revised version of the Jesse's Flames pattern from SnB Nation, revised because, well, I don't want my husband wearing a sweater with flames on it. Hey, if I'm knitting it, I have some say, right? I'm using Rowan Cashsoft DK, and oh my god is it so soft. My husband will love me so much for this. Especially if it actually fits.

I also started the Midwest Moonlight scarf from the book Scarf Style without a clue of who it would be for. As I was knitting away though, it just reminded me of Tim's sister. I asked Tim, and it turns out that green is her favorite color. Perfect!

 
This will need much blocking, but you can kind of get a sense for the pattern.

This is being knit with Knit Picks Merino Style in Asparagus. The color in the first picture is close, though it is more vivid and less yellow in reality.

Starting in August, I might actually have these finished by xmas!

Real Women

In the past couple days I have noticed what seems to be a new trend in the knitting world - books focused on plus-size patterns. This is a great idea. Not all women are model skinny and there's a need for larger size patterns. Though I am fairly skinny, I understand the frustration that larger women must feel in not being able to find any patterns for garments that they can actually make for themselves. Being tall, I have the same frustration in finding pants that are long enough for me, but that's a different story. This frustration can add to their negative self-image built from the media's portrayal of how women should look. Women of all sizes should embrace who they are and be equally accepted by others and by themselves.

That said, there is one aspect of these books that irritates me. Both titles include the descriptor, "For Real Women." Hmm, plus size patterns. For real women. The assumption made in advertising that all women are skinny is not positive; it's even insulting. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky, but isn't this doing the same thing in reverse?

If these books contained patterns in a wide variety of sizes, demonstrating the broad range of women's sizes, this descriptor would be great. Real Women - we come in many sizes! However, the actual use of this phrase just irks me.

I am skinny. I am a real woman too.

1 down, 1 to go

After posting yesterday, I finally figured out that I was picking up the stitches wrong on my sockapal2za sock and this was stretching the yarn out all wonky. I ripped it all out and started over. Just finished the first ankle sock!

Pretty colors!

That was so quick! Just one more to go. And I was worried that I wouldn't be able to finish these before the September 15th deadline! I think I'm in love with sock knitting.

I'm also feeling a bit better. At least I'm not coughing as much as yesterday. Ow.

knitting smorgasborg

I have been very bad about updating this. So many posts to make, never feel like doing it.

Today I am at home sick. I will be going to the doctor in a little bit for what I am predicting is strep throat. I've had this sore throat and cough since last Thursday and it will not go away. I shall take this time to at least catch up on the knitting part of my blog.

Some time ago (a year and a half) I started the Under the Hoodie from the first SnB book. School kept me busy so I did not have much time to work on it. Then it got warm last summer and I did not feel like working on it. Then I actually worked on it some more but my gauge had changed during the time I had taken off from knitting, so I had to rip out a lot and reknit after discovering this. Then, the hoodie was complete but I was busy with kitchen remodel stuff and never got around to blocking it. What I am getting at here, is that this hoodie is finally finished**!

 
Pattern: Under the Hoodie from Stitch 'n' Bitch by Debbie Stoller
Yarn: Rowan Calmer in Laurel, Aqua, and Night Sky

I have also started working on my sockapal2za socks for my sock pal. I have the yarn and began working on these little anklets last night. Unfortunately, these are the first socks I have ever tried to knit and I am having a bit of a problem with picking up the stitches after the turn in the heel.

If you look closer....

The picked up stitches look very stretched out. I've tried picking them up in four different ways now and I always get the same result (though some worse than others). I don't know what I'm doing wrong! How can I get them to be nice, neat, LITTLE stitches like the rest of them? If I don't get any advice here that works, I guess I will have to make a trip down to the LYS to see what they suggest. I just wanted to get more done on these while I am sick and not going anywhere anyway.

Lastly, I have not really been working on Bad Penny much lately. Hopefully that will change soon, but I did make more progress since the last update before becoming too busy to work on it more.

Bad Penny is looking kind of big right now, so I am hoping it fits me without being too overly baggy when finished.

And that's all there is right now on the knitting front. Perhaps I will update regarding other areas of my life soon. I know Tim has been taking lots of pictures of the kitchen updates.

** I say finished, but really I am not satisfied with how the hood seam came out. I'm planning on ripping that out eventually and seaming it up a different way than the pattern suggests. However, since the seam does not show during regular wearing, this is not going to happen soon.

pictures!

I finally took some pictures of the things I'm working on, plus some extra ones of our yard.

First is Bad Penny. I'll probably get an orangey color similar to the one in the pattern for the trim. It's knitting up pretty quickly, though I've gotten to the monotonous part of it and haven't been working on it as much as I should. I also need to learn to start putting stitches on string instead of holders when I set them aside, because I got an awful stretched out area on the underside of each sleeve when I did this. I'm sure I can just stitch it up with some extra yarn, but it would be better if I just didn't have it in the first place!

The full shot

Up close and personal

I also have some of Orangina knitted up, but I haven't worked on this since I started Bad Penny. I usually like to knit when I'm watching a movie or listening to music. This lace pattern doesn't really allow me to do that yet though. I've lost my place a few times, and I'm just now getting the swing of how to find it again. I'm just so worried that I'm going to make a mistake and then have to rip all the way back to the start because I won't know how to fix it in lace.

It sure is pretty though.

Wolfie isn't too interested.

Ah, I feel better now. I need to buy some new yarn and start on the socks for my Sockapal-2-za sock pal. I think I will try to make a pair of socks for myself first though, since I don't want to give someone else my crappy first try pair.

Anyway, I am loving parts of our yard (while other parts still need some work). Here are pictures of some of my favorites.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

interviews

I had two interviews today and I have one tomorrow.

One of the ones today I definitely did not like. I expect to get an offer (because she Really seemed to like me), but I will most likely turn it down (I wasn't too thrilled with her). Just not my style of preschool. A little too structured in some ways, a little too unorganized in others. Plus she said a couple of things that made my jaw want to drop because I just could not believe she was saying them. It's too bad really; I had high hopes for this one from our phone conversation.

The other one from today I have mixed feelings about. I would have my own classroom. I would not be a "head teacher" because there is only one teacher per room. Though the thought of having my own classroom makes me somewhat nervous, it is also pretty exciting. I could do things the way I want to instead of how those who have been there longer think it should be. I would get to plan everything myself (and boy do I like to plan and organize). AND if when I screw up once in awhile (as I know I will having never run my own classroom before) there will be noone there to see it but the kids, and they don't care. ;) Being the only teacher in the room would allow me to wing it better. And the part about doing circle time that always makes me anxious is the other adults watching me - the kids don't make me nervous - so this would be perfect.

Drawbacks are that it is in San Mateo (a half hour drive) and that it is a really tiny classroom. There's not much room for having more than one activity available to the kids at once, for large motor activities during circle time, or even for keeping lots of different supplies. I'm not sure yet what my response would be if they offer it to me.

My interview tomorrow is with an organization that provides substitute teachers to preschools in my area. If no other opportunities seem great to me, I can always do this for awhile while I look around more. Flexible workdays, lots of variety, possibly find out about other permanent openings while also bringing home some money too. Excellent.

I really need to do a knitting post. I'm working on a few different projects. Orangina (a lacy tank top), Bad Penny (a short-sleeved shirt), and I joined a secret pal sock-along for my first try at socks. Links for all three can be found in my right sidebar. I will post pictures soon (ya, I said that last week about kitchen updates and still haven't done it, but I really do plan to!).

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. I could really use some air conditioning. My slurpee will do for now.

help pick a color!

I've decided I'm going to make this top for summer:

Orangina
from glampyre.com knits

What color should I make it in? Remember, I have dark red hair and pale skin. I was thinking one of the lighter colors, like cooking apple or bluebell, but I can't decide!

well, this was depressing.

Could it please stop raining for at least a week? My poor flowerbeds are drowning.

My mom called this week though and gave me some bad news. My doggy (Oscar) was seeming to be in more and more pain last week. Mom took him to the vet a couple times, but the painkillers he got didn't seem to be helping. You may recall that he is now 17 and that I wrote out the long list of his ailments after returning from my xmas trip. He didn't seem to be suffering then, but his old age caught up with him. His kidney issues were getting worse and worse, so much that he was peeing blood. My mom said that at the end of last week, it was so bad that it was actually making him bark out loud from pain. So my mom took him last Friday and had him put to sleep. She said he fought the sedative - didn't want to go to sleep. But he finally did and the vet gave him the last shot. I'm pretty sad about it. He was 17, which means we've had him since I was 12. My mom was upset and said the house was too quiet, but she also said that my dad was taking it particularly hard. Oscar was his little buddy. But now he's keeping Jingles company. I'm glad I got to see him at xmas. I knew it would probably be the last time, so I said a nice, long goodbye.

As if this wasn't enough, my mom also told me that her cousin died this past week too. (He was actually her double cousin - her dad's sister married her mom's brother). He was her age and they aren't sure what he died of, so it shook her up a bit. Then last night, my mom called again. My Uncle Lewis (actually my great-aunt's first husband) died Friday night so my parents drove up to Kansas today for the funeral. Three in one week. A lot for them to be dealing with. To me, though, they are just relatives I have heard about but don't really remember. I have faint memories of playing with other kids in Uncle Lewis's basement when I was maybe 4, but that's about it.

I haven't been updating much. You might have noticed. Busy with school and getting ready for kitchen remodel (which should start next weekend). I've also been getting a little knitting time in. Went to Stitches West last weekend (big knitting conference in Santa Clara). I took two classes - one about gauge (loved it!) and one called stashology (which was okay, but not what I was hoping for). I bought lots of yummy yarn though: some really soft, fuzzy stuff which I'm making a baby blanket out of; some "suede" type fabric which I will make a poncho out of; some alpaca for a sweater, pattern still to be determined; and a couple other fun things. It was a pretty fun time.

Tim left today for Pittsburgh and the house was very quiet and lonely. The cats really are boring when you have to look to them for entertainment. I did some homework and then took Emy's advice and went to the snb for awhile. I have a hard time with those usually because I can't knit while having conversations; I always screw something up. Today I was working on that easy baby blanket though, so I was able to talk a little bit. It was fun. Maybe I will find time to go again soon - though probably not until after kitchen remodel.

I'm really wanting to get ahead with papers and stuff so that I won't be stressed out later, but that never works out. Hopefully I will get a lot of reading done while Tim is gone this week though. It's up in the air whether I will be more or less productive without him around. Will just have to wait and see.

I got some coffee this morning on the way back from the airport and my head is still wonky because of it. Nonetheless, I am going to try to get some sleep now because I have to get up to go to my internship tomorrow, even though no one else seems to have to work. Lucky bastards.

xmas knitting

Ya, I'm finally getting around to posting these pictures. There's even one with me in it for you, Jes. :p

So we needed to get a xmas present for Tim's brother's wife. We had no idea what to get her and one of the only things we were told is that she's always cold in their big drafty house. So we decided on some wrist warmers and a headband that will cover her ears. Tim picked out the color of yarn and I knitknitknit. I modified the pattern by Bonnie Marie in Knitty to get a slightly different design for the wristwarmers. I also checked out this pattern for the general idea of how to make a headband and then substituted the same design that I used for the wristwarmers. I learned new knitting techniques too (like how to bind off in a stretchier way)!

  

Me showing off the goods before wrapping them up (with a very silly look on my face):

They were so cozy that I need to knit some up for myself too.

While I was finishing these up, Tim was joking to his family that he has a wife that knits but that he doesn't own a single handknit item. Little did he know that this nice cashmere blend scarf (from Last-Minute Knitted Giftswas waiting for him under the tree. I think it still needs a bit more blocking.

 

Last but not least, I made this cute little ipod case for Matt (which I found the pattern for here). I think I'm also going to have to make myself one of these.

I'm still knitting while not being able to walk very much. I am very, very close to finally finishing my hoodie. All I have left is to sew it all up, so expect another post soon.

a little foot, a little knitting

Still working on this healing thing. I can't believe how hard it is to walk still. I've also decided that if you have foot surgery, the doctor should really give you one of those temporary handicap parking things. I ran some errands yesterday and it was Not Fun. Which I think is why I am mostly sitting all day today because it hurts worse than it has been.

I really need to do that post with pictures of recently finished knitting projects. Maybe I will make it a goal to do that tonight. I've been working on my hoodie again. I'm a little discouraged because the tightness of my knitting seems to have changed since I was working on it last. I'm knitting looser somehow. I decided it wasn't off by enough to rip back and redo though. I just did a couple less rows in this last sleeve than i did in the other and it should work out fine. This is a good reason to finish projects faster than I have been though. All I have left is seaming it all up and adding the hood! I've also been working on a pretty metallic bronze/orangey scarf. I have yarn for a couple other projects too but don't have the right size needles yet so I need to go get those tonight. Whee.

p.s.

That pretty much means that all knitting projects and knitalongs are called off! At least until January. Maybe I will have time to finish my hoodie sometime in the next few months though. I need SOME time for myself, after all. But all my crafty focus will go to that one project.

knitting along

I'm so bad about updating. I just want to actually finish something or have something worthwhile to write first, but I don't knit as much as most other knit bloggers I read, plus I knit slower, so it takes me a lot longer to have something of interest to post. I'm still working on my hoodie. Pretty much only have the sleeves and hood left, so that is good. I need to also make something for a friend who is having a baby at the beginning of next month. I can't decide whether to start working on that or finish the hoodie first. Probably I should start working on the baby outfit so it will actually get finished in time. I also really need to start working on some more of my knitalong projects. Though the hoodie is coming along, I haven't even started sophie yet and I'm only a third of the way through the first tank. I only have a few more weeks before my busy school schedule recommences, so I better take advantage of all this free knitting time while I have the chance.

Goal: have a finished object to post by the end of this week.

Pictures!

Ahh..we once again have pictures. Joy! Joy! Now I can catch you up on what (slow) progress I have made. First, bucket hat pictures — which are long overdue — for the bottom's up knitalong/contest

  
Made with GGH Samoa in white and Filatura Di Crosa Giardino in orange.

 
Made with Rowan Linen Print in peachy.

Lovely, eh?
And then there's my progress on the ruffle tank. I think it's going okay so far. I got up to the armholes on the back, but the pattern got a bit confusing there plus it will take more calculations to convert so I haven't taken the time to do all that yet. Maybe later today.

Last but not least, I joined a couple of knitting web rings (whose links are now in the right navigation bar): California Knit Blog and Knitting Kitty. Since the latter is for knitters with cats, I thought I would post a picture of each of my kitties: Merf, Chewy, and Wolfgang.

  
Aren't they cuties?

Pictureless

As some of you may know, we are having problems with our web hosting company that is causing us not to be able to upload pictures. Tim is working on switching us to a new company who might have a bit better customer service (let's hope). But until then, no pictures for me. Which may be okay, because I hadn't had much time to knit lately anyway, what with summer classes.

I did start a new project though. I went to the Knitting Arts 4th of July sale last weekend and got some really cool yarn - Lana Grossa Elastico - for pretty cheap. So I'm modifying a tank pattern from Rebecca #18 considerably since I'm not using the recommended yarn type. It's my first time winging it, so let's hope this goes okay and that it turns out actually wearable!

Eventually I will actually finish a big project. I seem to get sidetracked quite easily by new, exciting yarn and patterns that I just have to try. Then, before I finish those, I get sidetracked once again. I think I need to not go back to a yarn shop until I finish something. Even if there is a sale.

:)

gah!

After making half of the front of my hoodie, I finally came to the conclusion that it wasn't coming out big enough. In fact, it was 2 inches narrower than the back of the hoodie. Know what that means? Ripping all of that work out and having to start the entire front over again. I guess that's what I get for setting a project aside for so long that my knitting gauge changes. I don't have the strength to start it over again tonight. Perhaps after some sleep, I will be able to begin anew. In other news, my bucket hat for the summer contest is finished. I will take pictures of that and my other bucket hat tomorrow.

Hold me to that, okay?

home again!

Actually I've been home for a week and a half, but I've been getting settled into my new summer class schedule (which is pretty fast-paced, as one class needs to fit into only 5 weeks) so I haven't had time to update.

Italy was fun :) And man was it a lot of walking. And a lot of Italian food. And a lot of people talking in a language that we couldn't understand. So while we did enjoy ourselves, it was quite draining and we were glad to come home. Venice was definitely our favorite — we loved the canals and how everything was within walking distance. We also found a favorite restaurant in Florence that we visited a couple times — once for three and a half hours as we thoroughly enjoyed the Italian cuisine, some fabulous wine, and the company of our Scottish waitress.

While we were there, we happened upon a couple yarn stores as well (lucky us!). The first was in Venice, called Lellabella.

Nice small shop, but everything seemed pretty expensive in there so I declined purchasing something. It had a great location though, with one window facing right onto a quaint, narrow canal with a gondola stop right outside.

The other yarn shop we found was in Florence near the Ponte Vecchio bridge, called Beatrice Galli.

I found some extremely soft yarn that I decided to get there - Filatura Di Crosa angora & extra fine merino in a muted mint color. I can't find it on any website so I will try to take a picture later. I'm thinking of using this for the sophie bag knitalong. I also missed the deadline for the spring bucket hat contest - I had the hat finished but never got around to taking the picture! Darnit. Anyway, I'm going to go for the summer contest instead. This time I should be a-okay since I'm almost finished with the hat. I'll try to get pictures of both hats up soon. Other than that, I'm back to working on my hoodie from Stitch n Bitch too. It goes so fast. After these bucket hats, I forgot how wonderful some yarn is to knit with. Calmer is much nicer on my fingers than this linen print that I've been using lately.

today's plan:

Finish the bucket hat!

(and perhaps write that report that is due Monday)

update: Finished! Now I just have to block it and take pictures. p.s. while I was out buying the dpn's to finish off the hat, I found some lovely yarn to start another hat :p

I know, I'm crazy.

so many projects, so little time

I haven't had too much time in the past week or so to work on knitting. My classes have been keeping me pretty busy with exams and end-of-semester projects, but I took some time today to go meet up with the local SnB and get a bit of knitting done. It turned out that I couldn't concentrate really well though because of the heat. I took two projects and messed up on both of them within the first half hour. First, I dropped a couple of the cast-on stitches on my honeymoon cami. Then, on my bottoms up bucket hat, I started knitting in the back loop because that's what the cami pattern calls for. Silly heat-fatigued brain. Fixed the hat at least, but I need to figure out how to pick up those stitches on the cami. Even though I've been knitting for awhile, I'm not too great at error correction without just ripping everything out and restarting. Though I haven't gotten too far in the cami, it would be a pain to rip because this yarn likes to split really easily and it might cause me to waste a bunch of yarn. I'll have to check my SnB book to see if they have any tips, or check in with Knitting Arts, which has someone help you fix errors. Here's my slow progress so far though.

So far, this pattern is really tough, especially with the yarn I chose. First of all, it's somewhat painful on the fingers because the brim is knit double-stranded and is a bit tight. Second, the Giardino yarn has those little fuzzy areas, which don't necessarly end up on the right side of the hat. So I keep having to go back and pull them through to the front. Quite cumbersome.

Ya, this honeymoon cami is supposed to be done by the end of May to take with me on my honeymoon. The deadline is not looking so good, is it? Maybe I'll make it the knit-while-I'm-on-my-honeymoon cami.

My hoodie has been postponed with more pressing projects. With the recent heatwave, I wouldn't get to wear it for awhile anyway. Still need to finish the one washcloth before mother's day too. That shouldn't take too long though. Happy knitting!

bottoms up!

I went to my LYS today to pick up stitch holders. While I was there, I was bad and bought yarn for the Bucket Hat knitalong.

So exciting! My first knitalong! And it has more than 80 people participating. It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with. For my yarn, I got GGH Samoa in white and Filatura Di Crosa's Giardino in Orange — which actually looks more red to me.

I'll swatch today while cozied up on the couch watching a movie. It's somewhat chilly and drizzly outside today, so this sounds like the perfect use of my day. I think I'm justified in ignoring homework for the day — at least I will keep telling myself that.

Where's a stitch holder when you need one?

Well I finally had some time tonight to work on the front of the hoodie but then I got to a point where I couldn't go any further because I don't have any spare stitch holders! Argh! So, ya, I got to the point where I needed to make the pocket, but I guess it will have to wait a couple of days until I find time to go by my LYS. Won't be tomorrow because I have a long day of classes ahead of me.

In other news, the yarn for my honeymoon cami arrived yesterday — GGH Mystik in mauve. It's shinier than I expected, but I think the final product will turn out stunning. Here's hoping.

I also think I want to join in the Bucket Hat knitalong but I need to buy some more yarn first. And I don't think I should be buying any more yarn yet until I finish a couple of projects, so this will have to wait.

photo time

Just thought I would share some pictures of my current projects. First is the flower washcloths from Weekend Knitting. I've made this one so far, for my mom.

I'm also in progress on a burgandy one for my mother-in-law. I think these plus some nice homemade soap will make great mother's day gifts. Maybe then I will make a washcloth for myself too!

I'm also working diligently on my hoodie. Well I had been, but school is getting in the way somewhat. So many reports to write, so little time. I've finished the back of the sweater though.

I didn't want to use mohair for this, like is recommended, so I decided to use Rowan's calmer. I love love love this yarn and can't wait to make many future projects with it.

first real entry!

Hello! This is my new knitting blog. Mainly knitting, that is, but there will probably be crochet and other crafts here too. I've been reading other people's knitting blogs for awhile now and can't wait to contribute and participate in some knitalongs. Right now I'm working on a couple projects, including the Reverse-Bloom Flower Washcloths from Weekend Knitting and Under the Hoodie from Stitch 'n Bitch. I also bought yarn to make Pippi Kneestockings from SnB, but I can't find the elastic thread needed for the pattern anywhere. Has anyone found elastic that works?

Oh, I also love the new spring Knitty, and plan to get the yarn to make Honeymoon Cami before I go on my honeymoon in May!

I'm still working on making the site look pretty and putting pictures up of my projects and stuff, but I just wanted to have a welcome post.

:)