Think of the poor toeless wombats

Hello there! Merry Christmas everyone! I figured I should probably share what I got in my secret santa swap that we did in the FGF Insanity group on ravelry. Zortified sent me my package, and I LOVE IT! I'm so sad though. I sent my package to my person a little late because I was sick... and she went on vacation before she got it. :(

But anyway, here's what I got. A skein of Lorna’s laces (that’s the yellow. sock. yarn. I love yellow. I’m so in love), a skein of elizabeth lavold silky tweed in like a jean color but it’s got a little green tint to it? lol and a ball of sugar and creme, and a skein of sirdar denim tween in like a pink granite variegated color AND a skein of handpainted sock weight yarn but it’s handwash only so no socks, but it’s like a green and brown and…. it’s really pretty and soooo SOFT I felt it and I went *gasp* lol. There was also a package of pink beads, a package of magnetic beads which are awesome, a bar of Pike Place Espresso Dark Chocolate… yes, it’s still here, it’s not in my belly. Yet. I’m gonna save that for a bad day. :) AND a little handmade bag which I love that had stitch markers in it! They’re little fall leaves. I love them, so pretty. And a card that says “Not listening!” Which is totally me! Did I get spoiled or what? Thanks again Zort! :)

For Christmas, I made my Sister-in-Law Nancy a Wisp, but just simple, without the buttonholes or buttons. Just a simple scarf. It's so pretty and soft and I ALMOST couldn't give it to her. Here it is all finished. Sorry the picture color is a little weird, but the scarf color is accurate.

The yarn is Malabrigo Lace, and the needles were size 8 straights. I made it just a little over 5 feet long. I LOVE this yarn. Oh, it took less than half a skein. So little yarn.

My mother in law got me this yarn for Christmas. It's supposed to be sock yarn but it's more like a light sport weight. It's from Alaska. The yarn is called Marvelous Merino and the color is Dark Winter Nights. I love it. So so pretty.

She also got me a bank, yes a bank, that has balls of yarn on it and says "Knitting Money." It's very cute.

Then last night and today I made one of these paper snowflakes. It's HUGE. Here it is.

So pretty. The only problem is my blue glue didn't dry clear like it was supposed to. So... there are blue spots on it which really stinks.

Have a good holiday everyone!

Take your wombat toes every day to keep the crazy away

Hey you guys! Long time no see. Sorry it's been so long, but I've had a bad month. I've had those headaches for a while, and they were really bad until like, a week ago. Then I got sick. We went to this thing called Jingle Ball on Wednesday, and stood outside in like for almost 4 hours. That was a mistake. So got either bronchitis or pneumonia. So I went to the doctor and he gave me antibiotics. Which made me feel worse at first, but I'm feeling better now, even though my cough started to come back. I also think it helped with the headaches. Or I would if I didn't have a headache right now... lol anyway, enough whining, eh? Want to see some things I've made in the past... month?? Holy crap. Lots of stuff to share. Where to start...

First of all, I did a test knit for my friend Tracy of her fingerless gloves "Twist of Elegance."

The yarn is knit picks swish dk in Jade and Grain heather, I used a size 4 circular and did them with magic loop. I love these, a lot, but they're a little too small for me. Soooo I decided to send them to my secret santa partner! I'm sending that out tomorrow. Yeah, it was supposed to go out a while ago but... come on guys, I've been sick, give me a break. :) Anyway... To send off with these I decided to make a tiny turtle! Omg I am in love with him. My secret santa had better be glad I like her a lot because he almost didn't get sent out.

Isn't he so cute! I went down a needle size to get him right. He's so imperfect. His legs are all wonky, and not even with each other, his head is crooked... but I love him anyway.

I actually had to manipulate his legs to get him to stand up right, cause he's a little head heavy.

I also finished Emmy's elephant... except... well... I lost his head. *sad face* So... here's his body!


And... yeah... that's just really sad. I think I'm going to have to suck it up and make a new head. Which is a weird sentence.

I also made my sister in laws both Christmas presents. One is a stripey hat...

Pattern out of my head. I used this tutorial for jogless stripes.

I also wanted to talk about my swap package I got but... next time? Also next time, the other SIL's present, my nephew's socks, other nephews fingerless gloves... yup, there's catchin up to do. :)

Better embarrassed and knitting that not wither.

So, yesterday I promised you a finished scarf. First of all, I have to tell you. I didn't get a pre-blocking picture, but let me tell you... blocking is WONDERFUL. Hands down, my favorite part about knitting lace. It's like, you finish it and it's a pile of knitted crap. You wash it, it's still a pile of knitted crap, only now it's soaked and smells like a wet sheep. Then you block it and unpin it and it's...

Wonderful. I loved this pattern. It's "Waves of Grain" from knitty. The yarn is Ultramerino 4 by artyarns. It's so soft...

I wore it all night last night (well, not to bed but you know...) and I wore it out today. It makes me feel so happy because it's YELLOW and happy. Of course I wore it out with my new blue hat (omg I haven't blogged about that yet either? Tomorrow tomorrow...) and pink fingerless gloves, so I looked like a freak, but it was awesome anyway. Here's a close up of the beads.

I'm so in love with it. I'm going to wear it at work tomorrow. Not just to work. AT work. As part of my outfit. It's going to ROCK.

Remember way back in February when I cast off the Pinwheel baby blanket and started to add a crocheted edging? Yeah... so... that didn't happen until last night and today. But it's FINALLY FINISHED!

And yes, it still looks like an eye. That's ok though. I love it! It took me AGES to do the edge. Crocheting is so not my thing. I did stay up late last night though, working on it. The edge is so beautiful and... scallopy and ruffly. I love it.

So, you may be asking what's up with all the UFO's coming back to life? Well, I seem to have lost something lately. I can't get into anything that I'm working on, there's nothing new I want to start (except a test knit I'm doing in FGF but that's different). So I figured I'd go through my hibernating projects on ravelry and get rid of some of them. Doing good so far, yes? I want to work on Emmy's elephant but I can't find the pattern. I may reprint it.

Alright, I'm off to watch the Steelers game!

Alright, that's it. I'm getting the hose

It's all about the bibs here today. I've made two since the other one I showed you, and I have plans for 3 or 4 more. First I made one from the "Grandmother's best" baby bib pattern (scroll down on that link for the pattern.)

It's out of Bernat Cottontots too. It was really really fast and super easy. Look at the cute button!

Then today I made one from this sunshine dishcloth pattern. You might have to look closely to see the sun in the bib.

For the strap, I just followed the pattern until the cast off edge, then I cast off all the sts but 5 and word 9.5 inches in seed stitch. I put in a buttonhole like this: k1, bind off 3 in pattern, k1. Next row k1, cast on 3 via backwards loop, k1. Then k 3 more rows of seed stitch and bound off. Super easy. :)

Tomorrow, I'll blog about my finished hat and my finished scarf. It'll be great.

Since when do turtles go "roar"?

Hey guys, I'm blogging TWO DAYS IN A ROW! Is it the end of the world? lol I just wanted to let you all know what I did last night. I made this.

It's a Modern Cabled Baby bib, and I made it out of pink Bernat Cottontots. I went and bought it last night because Angie started making a baby bib and I can't let her make something without making it myself. It only took me like 3 hours, including choosing and sewing on the button and weaving in the ends. So freaking cute. It's gameday today, so hopefully I can watch the Steelers kick butt while finishing my Koolhaas. :)

What are you guys up to this weekened?

I have magic spit!

Ok, first things first, I need to tell you guys about my new cafe press shop. It's called Knit for the Cause, and I'll also put a link to it in the sidebar. There are just a few things now, but if there's more interest I'll add other things. All proceeds from that shop are going to HIV/AIDs research or poverty in Africa. All of the designs have somewhere on them the phrase "Knitters for the cause" and there will be more funny sayings. If you have a request for a design, let me know and I'll add something with it on it. Alright? Sweet. Now on to the other fun stuff!

As you all know, I have startitis. But before I tell you about all the things I've started this week... I finished the Waves of Grain scarf, but it needs to be blocked yet so no pics. Hopefully this week. It was so fast. I did almost all of it last Friday at work. So easy. I've also been working on Wisp, and I'm more than halfway. Ok, now for the new stuff. First, I started (under much peer pressure thanks to my co-blogger and fellow enabler Angie) a Swallowtail Shawl.

I've done 7 repeats out of either 14 or 19, depending on the size when it gets there. I love it so far, but for a while there I was having serious issues. My brain wasn't working. I was actually scared I had lost my knitting mojo, but I think I found it again. It's smooth going now anyway. Angie just finished one for herself, maybe if we pressure her enough she'll blog about it. :) She's also making THREE more, one for each of three of her family members.

I also started "Spring Forward" from Knitty in my yellow and pink birthday present to myself sock yarn. :) I swear they're not nearly as ugly as they look in this picture.

My camera did NOT like taking that picture. I seriously don't even know why I bothered lol. I'm loving the pattern so far, and I got to turn a heel. I love to turn heels. It's freaking magic. Then, yesterday, I started Koolhaas. I. Love. This. Hat.

I had put it off because I heard that the cables were hard. They're not hard! They're a bit of a pain because they're only one stitch, but if you do it without a cable needle it's so easy. I'm using Merino et Soie and a size 7 circular. I just started yesterday, and I'm over halfway. I love it. Love love love it. Can't wait to finish it.

Ok, two more things. First, Angie's trying to get pregnant this weekend (she is soooo going to kill me for telling you this but there ya go...) so think happy pregnant thoughts for her, k?

Last, here's what Mattie thinks about all of this.

You can't have the king neutered

R is for... Rolls! Specifically, double pointed needle rolls.


I told you the other day that Tracy made me one. Well, my friend Anne (Nano!) made me one too! It's the one on the bottom. Aren't my friends awesome? I have some of my needles in each one, though I took pictures of each with most of them in them. Most because.... well... I'm missing some. I think they're hiding in the stash. Like, 3 or 4 sets lol! Crazy needle eating stash...

Anyway, here's Tracy's roll with needles...

Mostly. lol there was so issues with my batteries dieing so I wanted to be quick. Here's Nano's roll with needles.

I love them both the same. I can't decide. Nano's roll has a tag (that I'm keeping forever) that says "Lovingly sewn for Krystal's needles. Isn't that sweet? Thanks Nano and psst (Tracy) too!! You guys rock!!

I have more stuff to show you. You want to see? Vote here!

Oh, wait. Sorry. Too much election stuff. It's starting to mess with me. You don't get to vote. This is the yarn MAFIA. I'm the mafia boss. I say what goes, and you will see more so there. :P

I finished another pair of socks!

Pattern: Anastasia socks. Yarn: Duet Skinny Sock yarn in Midnight Mantis. Needle: Size 1.5, 40" circular. I knit them both at once via magic loop, which is now my favorite method. I have virtually no ladders on the sides. At all. Amazing. This sock yarn is so perfect. I love it. I will be buying more. Probably in this color. Or something. I'm not sure. LOVE it. I was completely enchanted with these socks from the part where I finished the toe and joined the other color. Love it. My favorite part?

The heels and toes. My least favorite part? The ENDS. Oh god, the ends. Took me forever to weave in all TWELVE of them. Totally worth it though. They're completely enchanting and comfy and perfect. They took me eight days. I thought it was nine, but I counted. Eight. How cool is that? That was my fastest pair of socks ever.

And one more thing to share. I cast on for "Wisp" in Malabrigo Lace for my sister in law for Chritmas.

I changed a couple of things. I don't have the patience to memorize where the YO rows on the edges are, so I'm not doing it. I also took out the ones on the ends. I figure I'll just sew on the buttons in the end, and they can go through the YO's on the project. It'll still be versitale without my pulling my hair out every time I forget to do it. This thing is flying. I did virtually all of that today. Amazing. Here's a detail pic of the lace.

It is SUCH an easy lace pattern. Seriously, anyone, ANYONE who can knit can do this. All you have to know is how to cast on, knit, yo, k2tog (which is really just... well... knitting 2 stitches. Together.) and binding off. That's is. So simple. It's so light and airy. I'm going to have a problem giving it away. I can see it now.

"Oh no! I had another present for Nancy but I think we left it at home!" (They live 4 hours from here). "But on the plus side... look at my new purple scarf I made!!" :)

*sigh* I'll get the hose...

Hey guys! Remember the ABC Along? That I was keeping track of? Well, I remembered it today, and I just realized I didn't do a J. I couldn't think of anything. So...

J is for... Jewelry!

That is a small selection of my jewelry. I have recently had a couple of jewelry parties in which I got lots of free stuff so I have a lot. It's just kinda scattered. I love wearing it, it makes me feel so much better about myself. And everyone compliments me. It's so great!

And, since this is the second post today, just a quick update so you can see the cuteness... I finished one of the heels on my stripy socks!

Aren't they enchanting? I LOVE them!!

Taylor Hanson's my cult leader

Hello there!! How is everyone? (Ya know, all 3 of you who read this. Hi! *waves*) Sorry, I've had... erm... a bit of caffeine today. So, yesterday was a rockin day for me! I got lots of stuff in the mail again. Not as much as that one day but... I got a handmade dpn roll from my friend Tracy (aka Psst, aka Psst the sniper...)! There were also some suckers that were handmade by her daughter.

There's only one sucker now. Did I mention I like suckers? :) Isn't that so cute? I didn't get a picture of the inside but if you want to see it you can go here. I LOVE it. Thanks again Tracy!!

I also get some stitch markers in the mail. I can't show you some of them cause I'm sharing them with Angie, and I sent them already so she should get them in like a year (border guards SUCK) but I can show you these ones!

They're dominoes! Those have a special place in my heart cause my dad and I play, and Angie and I used to play, and it just makes me happy to see the little dominoes.

I also made a lot of progress (for me) on the stripy socks from Sunday.

I am seriously completely enchanted with these socks. I LOVE the striping. Love it. Looking at it on the screen, there's almost a weird green stripe going around them, which is really weird cause I don't see that in the actual socks. Weird...

What's everyone else up to?

You probably have to go to Mexico for that

Hello there! What did you guys do this weekend? Didn't do much here yesterday, just watched OSU lose to Penn state. :( Then today, besides watching Pittsburgh lose to the Giants (which wasn't actually that bad... I mean, it sucks because I'm a Steelers fan, but it's ok because I really like Eli Manning) I went to my sister's house. At her house, it was Trick or Treating tonight, and I got to pass out candy. It was... alright. Not the most exciting thing, and the kids were kinda rude (most of them don't even say anything but "thank you." When I was a kid, I had to say "Trick or Treat" and thank you or else I didn't get to keep walking around.) but I got to see some cool costumes including, and I kid you not, a girl dressed as a shower. She had one of those circular shower curtain rods with a curtain on it mounted somehow on her shoulder. Very funny. My nephews were Darth Vador and a Clone. They're practically obsessed with star wars.

Me? I was a black cat. See?

There's a better picture, blurry wise, but I like my hair better in this one, so it wins. My sister and brother in law didn't dress up, but they were in their Cleveland Browns clothes. I said "Oh, god, you're going as Brown's fans? That's fricken scary."

Anyway, I realized today that I haven't shown you a picture of my Gelato socks. I'm working them two at a time, but not both of the same sock. I'm doing that one, and a secret sock I can't show you cause it's for Angie for Christmas. But I can show you this one.

Pretty, no? It's on my new sock blocker from The Loopy Ewe. I also got the Duet Skinny sock yarn that I'm making my newest socks, Anastasia socks, out of. I'm doing these two at a time on magic loop using a size 1.5 circular needle from knit picks. I. Love. This. Needle. This yarn may be a little expensive, but it's worth it. It's spun neatly and I really really like it.

Yeah, I know, not much, but it's a start yes?

That's actually not as weird as the brother thing

Hey there good peeps! I thought I'd pop out a quick blog post to let you all know what I've been up to. First of all, I wanted to let you know that I have chosen a name for my snail. This is big news, yes? Stephanie told me that her son was calling him Heinrich, so I asked her to please ask him if I could keep it, as I think Heinrich is a BRILLIANT name for a snail. She said that he said it was ok with him, as long as I pronounce it the German way. I'm pretty sure I am, so Heinrich it is! He also told me that I should "take care of my salad" which I'm assuming means to watch my salad. So cute!!

I started a different tablecloth for my mom out of laceweight that I dyed for MS4 but since I'm not making it, I decided to use it for this. The pattern is called "Mommes Lysedug" which translates, I think, to "Mothers give out light" which is just really really beautiful. Here's what it looks like so far.

I've also been all about the baby hats lately. Can't get enough. See?

The top one is a Zeebee, and the yarn is Dreambaby DK, on size 5 needles. It's for Angie's future baby girl, Clair. The bottom two are both this pattern (rav link) in Bernat Baby Jacquards, on size 3. I LOVE them. A lot. I want more of them. Lots and lots more of them.

As you can see in the picture of the tablecloth, my sister got me a manicure for my birthday. Well, the paint was all chipping so I wanted to redo them, but my hands were too unsteady to do red, it looked like crud, so I did this.

How cool are they? :)

Have a good weekend!!!

I am many copycats

I got my birthday swap package today! It came from Stephanie in Germany!! I got the mail today and there was a big pink package! I opened it up to find this.

Which is completely full of all of this stuff!

There is so much stuff in the package that it took me almost 10 minutes just to examine it all! First, there was a pair of fingerless gloves which I absolutely LOVE!

There was yarn...

That's a skein of sock yarn, and two balls of baby merino. I love those two, they're so soft! And sock yarn! I love sock yarn. Sock yarn rocks lol.

There was also a tape measure and a needle gauge, and the cutest little snail! I LOVE him! I don't know why it's a he, since he has a pink body, but he is. I love him!!

Look at the close up of the snail. He doesn't have a name yet. What should I call him?

There are also a TON of sweets. I am so seriously spoiled.
Yummy... and...

More sweets! Including some chocolate covered cherries that are alcoholic, which I did not know until I bit into one and I choked on it lol! So good. Yummy... also, some candles.

Consider me spoiled. Thank you so much Stephanie!!!

There are no purple dudes in "Pirates of the Carribean"

Ok so today was such an awesome day! First, I went to work, which sucked. But my husband went and got me a Kroger cake (the BEST ever!) and then I spent the next 4.5 hours doing absolutely nothing and getting paid for it! It rocked. But I was bored. See... no one came into the shop in the whole 4 and a half hours. No one called. I was all alone and bored and I couldn't stand it so I called my boss and she said I could leave, so my friend Jen came and picked me up. We went to Joann's with the little girls she watches. It was cool. She gave me this for my birthday.

That's a cool straight needle case and some mouse stitch markers that she made. Look how cute they are!

They're AWESOME! So cute. Love them.

Then I had two hours to myself before I left for my friend Kara's jewelry party. We had fun too, and I got some more pretty jewelry. It was a lot of fun!

Tomorrow my sister and I are going somewhere, I don't know where, and then we're going to watch the Buckeye game and have some pizza with her fam and my mom. Sounds fun!