Yarn Mafia

We've moved beyond the frozen di*dos

2009-11-29T16:13:00.000-08:00

So, yesterday, I FINISHED a pair of socks! That's right, I finished something else. Me. It was a pair of socks that Angie and I were making for our friend Barrett. He's our friend, so we thought it was appropriate if we each made one sock. Well, then I got to the heel first and I couldn't stand it, so Angie did the heel and the rest of that sock, and I did the rest of the other sock. That was in August... I just finished the rest of sock number 2 lol. We had different gauges, so I had to use a 1.5 and she used a 1.

He has HUGE feet... ok so they're only like an inch or so longer than mine but still, sheesh. It felt like I was knitting forever. (Why no, my ends are not woven in yet. Why do you ask? lol). The yarn is Trekking XXL, color 184. I love the color, it's perfect for him. For some reason though, every time I worked on these I felt sick to my stomach... not really sure what that's about lol. Here's a close up of the stitch pattern.

It's hard to see, but it's 3 rows of k2p1 rib, and then one row is purled across (not on the bottom of the foot, of course).

I had to cast on for something different, I had to. I did finish two of the three things I wanted finished, so yay me! The problem was that the last two projects, those socks and Angie's scarf (see the posts a few days ago) were both basically k2p1 across. I can only take so much of that, ya know? So I cast on the second sock of a pair that Angie started and didn't like, so she gave me the finished first one and said I could make the second. :) Should be fun. I'll take pics as it progresses.

It's only funny when there's no blood involved

2009-11-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

Hiya! Just a quick post. I'm about to finish a pair of socks, I'll show them off tomorrow. I got the yarn in the mail yesterday! I ordered it from Slackford studio, it's the Stalwart Sock in Origanum. It's going to be socks with a turtle on them for Angie. :) There were also two pretty stitch markers in it! I love it!!

And just to prove that it's just a quickie post, look! Lily is not pleased with my ignoring her. ;)

Hmm... maybe I should say something else, since I am using a perfectly good blog post title lol... how about a book review?

Well, I've been reading a series called "The black dagger brotherhood." It's a romance series, so there's some s.e.x. lol, and some danger. It's about Vampires, and it's like, a whole different world. Each book is primarily about one of the brothers, who are the guys who defend the rest of the vampire society from the bad guys, who are called Lessers. The entire series has been great; I think my favorite part about them is that you could reach each book individually, but they all go together as a whole too. There's even an "insider's guide" to the books, which is about the books, with "interviews" with the characters done by the author, and a couple of little stories and things too, along with behind the scenes stuff that you don't see during the books. I think that was a very clever idea for her to write that, to tie the books together. I've bought all of the books that are out in paperback, and the companion. Well, except for one, Angie gave me that one lol. :)

I do not need a penis hat

2009-11-27T12:08:00.000-08:00

That's right, I said penis on the blog. :P First of all, happy black Friday! Did you do any shopping? Me, absolutely not. lol I HATE black Friday. I've worked in retail too much to enjoy it lol.

Secondly, I wanted to tell everyone to keep my friend Sinclair's son in your thoughts... one of his best friends was killed overseas this past Tuesday. :( My heart goes out to his family, especially his 7 year old daughter... this was his third tour, and he was supposed to come home for Christmas, which somehow makes it even worse. That is so very sad and horrible.

And as I try not to talk about politics at all if I can help it in my blog... onto the knitting?

I finally got pictures of my Vita Cloche.

The yarn is malabrigo worsted, in "bobby blue." I changed the brim of it, and the details are on my project page on ravelry. If you're not on ravelry (why not?? get thyself there, you know you wanna...) and you want to know how I did it, let me know and I'll email you the details. :)

I also finished the gloves I was testing knitting for my friend Paula, Bonnie Belle.

The yarn was a gift from Dave's mom last Christmas, it's called Marvelous Merino, and the color is "Dark Winter Nights." It's REALLY soft, and I love the colors. I have 135 yards left, and I think I'm going to turn that into a cowl in the same stitch pattern. Or maybe not the same stitch pattern, just a plain cowl, so that they match. I'm not sure yet. :)

I really like how the colors pooled, it makes the gloves look neat. :)

You enjoy your hate; I'm distracted by mine

2009-11-26T16:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US. How was your Turkey (or Turkeyless) day? Mine has kinda sucked. I'm all alone (except for Angie on the phone...) and I miss my family.

But, enough sadness, true? I have been knitting like crazy. I have SO MANY PROJECTS I want to start. It's frightening. I should type out my list so you can all see the insanity. In no particular order I want to start...

A cowl to match the fingerless gloves I tested for Snapper (They're almost done! Just one more pattern repeat, the ribbing, and the thumb and that will be a whole pair! Whoo!).
Socks for my nephew Zach, and my nephew Austin (They're only 6 and 9, their feet aren't... that big. right?)
Fingerless gloves for my sister
Fingerless gloves for her friend Toni (Those may sound like Christmas presents but they're not I promise... they were requested and I love my sister, so...)
Those marywarmers I listed the other day in the Noro Sock stuff.
A hat for Angie in the blue malabrigo I listed the other day
A hat for me in the red malabrigo
A sock that angie made the first of and didn't want to do the second, so she gave it to me.
A fake isle hat (just for kicks) out of silk garden and malabrigo.

UGH! That's a LOT OF STUFF. A lot. I have no time limit but... well, you know me, I usually cast on without thinking twice. Before I start anything off of that list though, I'm going to finish the fingerless gloves, a pair of socks I'm almost finished with that were supposed to be done by now, for my friend, and the cowl/scarflet for Angie... the last of which is over a third done now, and coming along nicely, see? (The link for the pattern was in yesterday's post.)

This is not including the... oh... dozen or so other things I have going, including the five things that are relatively important for me to finish, as I want them done... yikes. lol

Wish me luck?

I'm distracted by my hate

2009-11-25T11:08:00.000-08:00

So, a few days back in the insanity group on ravelry, James (aka Zortified) mentioned that she had some pumpkin spice tea that needed a new home, and I said that I would love it... I got it in the mail today, along with "packing material," you know, to make sure it arrived safely, I'm sure. :)

I was VERY surprised, and very happy! Yay! :) Thank you again James!!!!

In other news, I started a cowl/mini scarflet thing for Angie. It's using the pattern for this scarf. She loves it so far! Yes, I showed her. I can't keep a secret lol. The yarn is the Araucania I listed the other day. :) It looks like this so far...

Pretty, yes? And I also have a finished hat to show you, but I can't show you yet because it's still wet and I want a modeling shot. :)

I'm going to go have some pumpkin spice tea now, yay!

Also? Bonus picture of Lily. "Hmm... what have we here..."

Bam! Boobies!

2009-11-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, so much for posting every day for a month, huh? Things have been crazy here, in the personal department... which isn't an excuse, but, the good news is, I'm posting now, so yay!

It is SO HARD for me to look at my projects OTN and tell you what I have been working on because it varies so much from day to day. I'm not doing Christmas knitting because last year my gifts weren't really appreciated, and I'm not knitting for my husband's family because he is a STBX husband... that is a LONG story, and you're here for knitting, true? So Let's get to it.

Instead of showing you all the hundreds of things I already have otn, let's talk about what I have planned. First, I bought yarn today, and a few days ago, and I'm planning on using it all. Lots of hats and things. I'm going to make a hat and cowl set for Angie (Hi Angie!!) out of this... (sorry the pics are off center... I had to go through flickr to post them, and I don't have the patience to figure out how to center them right now... click to embiggen.)

The blue is going to be the hat, I think. It's malabrigo worsted, in Tuareg. The multi is Araucania Nature wool chunky, and it's going to be the cowl. I think.

Then I'm going to take this yarn...

And make the red (sorry it looks wonky, still haven't figured out how to take pics of things that are red...) into a hat to match Fingerless Gloves I made about a month ago. And the green is going to be either a cowl or a hat for me... or something. I haven't really decided, but I love it. Those are both malabrigo (I'm a junkie, I can't help myself...), in vermilion and lettuce.

Then this...

Is Noro Silk Garden sock, and it's going to be Marywarmers. Or, Krystalwarmers as the case will be. ;)

I also bought yarn yesterday from Susinok's shop, slackford studio, to make socks for Angie for Christmas. I know I said no Christmas presents but she's the exception to that rule. :)

What is in the frog's crotch?

2009-11-16T11:22:00.000-08:00

Look, I'm blogging! Actually, in my one group on ravelry, we're doing a "blog-along" for a month, so I'm going to try to blog every day. I'm sure this will last all of two days. But I'm gonna try it. :)

What have I been up to? Well, not a whole lot. Not as much knitting as I would like, though I have tested a few projects (Ok, so I knit half of a pair of everything I tested... I have issues lol), and I made some things for my friends... I made a hat, the "boyfriend hat," for my friend Phil, out of malabrigo in burgundy. I made a pair of fingerless gloves for my friend Liz, and actually I did the same pattern for myself, both out of malabrigo, in cactus flower and vermillion, respectively. I also made a pair of plain black ribbed fingerless gloves for my friend Bryan. That's a lot of gifts, for me, isn't it? :)

Currently I'm working on a hat for a KAL in "FGF: The Hat group" on ravelry, among other things... I'll take some pictures tomorrow of some of the other things I'm working on. :)

How has everyone been?

All sea monkeys must be supervised

2009-10-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Holy crap!! We haven't updated since July???

Ok, I promise I'll try to blog more. Honest.

I have knitted a BUNCH. If I wanted to share everything with you, we'd be here till January lol. But I will share with you my Icarus that I finished. The project page is here if you're on ravelry.

I started this waaay back in January (of 09, not like, 07 lol), and just finished it last month. I LOVE IT. I would wear it always if it wasn't so delicate.

The yarn is jojoland Harmony, color "05," it sounds so romantic and pretty lol... It used less than one ball, around 650 yards.

Why yes, this is my second Icarus. The first went to Angie, you can see it if you click here.

I love love love that shawl. I want to knit it into a throw blanket or something someday. But for now, I'm done with it. Next on the agenda is the peacock feathers shawl... and yes, yes I am insane. Thank you for asking.

I also finished a pair of socks, plain, my own pattern...

Yarn is Araucania Ranco Multi and... I'm not sure what colorway. Pretty though lol. And a few pairs of fingerless gloves that look like this...

Only... pretty and not weird cause the camera freaked out. The pattern is Smariek's four rib braid cable mitts, the yarn is of course malabrigo. I also made a pink pair, and I have plans for a possible matching hat (for the red.)

In other news, Angie will be moving back to Ohio soon, and so will I... more details as it happens. Right now, I'm living (temporarily) in Vermont. My husband is working here until the end of December. I LOVE it in Vermont, but I just want to go home now.

Nothing else really new... how is everyone in blog land? Miss us? :)

Criss Angel is not the messiah!

2009-07-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody! I've been waiting to blog till I got my new digital camera (I'm still shopping around for the best deal but it looks like I'm going to have to suck it up and pay full price, damnit lol) But I have something really important to blog about and it needs no pictures so...

I got something really awesome in the mail today. It's my permanent resident card. What that means is that since the 30th of June I've been a landed immigrant here in Canada. I can work here, go to school here, basically do everything a Canadian can except vote. And in a few years I can apply for citizenship, which I'm going to do.

It's been a really rough journey to get here. They should include a warning on the things you'll go through when you start this process. I haven't seen my family in nearly 3 years. I lost a dear friend because the distance was just too much and he's not a phone or chatting on the internet type of guy. I lost my grandmother. We paid nearly $3,000 (this is an estimate, I didn't keep track because I didn't want to know). We took a trip to Calgary where I got sick and then suffered the whole trip home. We've lived in a house with a person who doesn't like me and doesn't want us here for three years. And there were several times we nearly got divorced because the stress was just too much.

But all that's over now. I'm trying to get into school in October to study graphic design. And next month? I'm gonna go home and hug my mother. :)

It's a very tangled web of Kahootsness

2009-07-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Look, I'm alive! We both are. Angie's been in a not blogging mood (but say hi to her!!) and I've been out of commission. My husband had lost his job, and we were living with my mom, which was horrible. So I was anxious and depressed, but I'm doing much better now because we're out of there. He got a job with a traveling company, which means that his company foudn him a temporary job and they're paying for our place to live, plus he gets paid normal salary and then extra stuff, which is really nice. We're staying at a hotel (because they couldn't find an apartment that would let us have both dogs and the cat) near Burlington, VT. lol I love the area, it's gorgeous, though the people are sometimes not very nice.

I left my camera cord at home, so I won't have pictures for a while. I can tell you that I've started some new stuff, and I've been working on some old stuff (like, for instance, Sheherezade), and I've recently gotten some new sock yarn. I'll show you asap, ok?

How is everyone in blog land doing?

You are 46% Bacon

2009-05-14T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today is MAY 14TH. MAY 14TH!!!!

Why am I so worked up about today's date? Here's how I was dressed to go for a walk tonight.

Confused? Here, here's another hint

Why yes, that is snow. I think I died and went to hell. Except I believe in reincarnation. *cracks up*

Anyway, I didn't blog to show you that. I blogged to show you this.

That's Olivia's birthday sweater. Well, it's the first one. I want to make another one that has a hood. Probably a tomten like last year (there aren't any pictures of the tomten there. Apparently I didn't get any. Just Olivia's first birthday pics). It's Bernat Baby Sport in "Rosey Posey". I'd say the color is close in that picture. It's just a tiny bit lighter than that. I loved knitting this sweater and I think I managed to crank it out in 48 hours. I'm not sure. I used size 8 needles to get 4.5 spi so that it would come out around a size 3/4. It's actually a little shorter than I planned because I failed to account for the weight of the sweater stretching it out when I did my last measurement before starting the garter on the bottom. Oh well, I don't imagine it'll fit for long anyway. I hear she's a chunky little monkey. *smile*

You're a zombie, haha!

2009-05-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Sorry it's been a while for me at least, but life has been rough. My husband lost his job, and so we have to move. It really stinks, we're going to be staying with my mom for a few weeks, and it's going to be sooooooo hard on me. So, as a reprieve, or just because I can, I made a bunch, and I mean, a BUNCH of baby booties.

The green ones are crocheted, yeah, I CROCHETED them. They're mock baby crocs. I used cotton-ease in lime, and a size h hook. The other two in that picture and these two...

Are seamless saarje's booties, aka (in Angie's post...) those "hard to pronounce booties." These ones, the green and pink ones, are my favorites.

The red and gray ones are made from Claudia Hand painted in the special buckeye colorway; the blue, green, and purple ones are Bernat Sox in color Hippi Hot; the pink and green ones, and the purple and yellow ones, are Bernat baby jacquards, in spearmint candy and easter basket.

I also made these booties...

Which are the simple t-bar shoes from the book 50 baby booties to knit. I made them out of Bernat softee baby in pink, obviously. :) See, I told you, lots and lots of baby booties.

I've also been working on random socks, and I test knit a pair of secret fingerless gloves for my friend Knitasaur on ravelry, out of malabrigo, and I made a matching bucket hat. The color is Pollen.

The inside is also malabrigo, in Oceanos. Aaaaand I started, last night, an Estonian Garden Scarf, in malabrigo lace, color verde adriana.

And Oliver is totally bored by all of this. Isn't he getting big?

It's like playing charades with a blind person!

2009-05-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've beaten the camera into submission so that I can finally blog again! lol So recently Krystal told me that someone needed baby stuff and that's all I needed to hear. I made a blanket, a pair of socks, a pair of those hard to pronounce booties, a little pair of cotton sandals, and a hat. I love to knit for babies so any excuse is a good one.

The color on everything is right except the blanket isn't so... neon. You can hardly see the little colored speckles in the booties, which totally disappointed me. I love the little speckles. I'm seriously going to have to force myself to put those in the mailer on Monday! I actually made the hat because I noticed that readingknitter01 (the lovely lady that started all this baby knitting insanity) had the first hat I made like that in her favorites on ravelry. I just made this one bigger because I don't think a very warm hat in a newborn size is really a necessity for a baby born at the end of April in California. lol Want to see a close up of the edging cause it's so cute?

Of course you do! lol That color is totally off. I fidgeted with that picture forever to try to get it right. My camera just doesn't like that color. I do though. I'm making a mitered square blanket with that color and a darker blue. I don't have any pictures of that though. It was interesting getting the three pictures I took.

Yes, three pictures. *praying Mom doesn't read the blog* I made Mom a scarf for Mother's Day.

It's the Estonian Garden Scarf pattern by Evelyn A. Clark in my beloved Zephyr in "blueberry". I loved making this scarf. Even when it popped off the needles *sob* and I lost about 10 repeats. I worked on this mostly while watching Twilight so in my head this is the Twilight scarf. I loved making this so much that I cast on for another one today for me in dark grey Merino Oro. I'm not loving the Merino Oro though. We'll see if I can keep plugging along or if there's another ball of Zephyr in my future. Oh what a sacrifice! *grin*

(PS readingknitter01 didn't really start the baby knitting insanity. It's been all baby knitting insanity all the time for me since I learned to knit lol)

Mickey Mouse... wanted to kill them.

2009-04-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!!!

What has everyone been up to? I've been sorta busy, sorta not. I threw out my back the other day, doing nothing, and I was seriously ticked about that for a few days. I haven't been doing much knitting, mostly just playing video games. Remember the sock from the other day? I'm almost to the heel on the second one (I'm on the gusset already) so it should be done soon. Other than that... not much in the way of knitting.

I did start this scarf in Malabrigo Lace, color Verde Adriana. But, I frogged it because... well... well, see, here's the thing. I like the picture of the scarf. I like the fabric I was getting. It looked just like it did in the picture. But... I don't like it. I don't quite get it. I'm going to try this scarf instead.

In other news, I'm off to do surgery.

Wish "new duck" a happy recovery! :)

Update: The surgery was successful, and new duck is once again a fully functional member of the toy department here!

Unfortunately, due to a slight error in judgment (in other words, the surgeon was a little buzzed)...

The leg is now off center. Oh well new duck... now, fly, fly away! Or... be tossed to the other room to be once again shredded by Storm. Whichever.

Baked goods don't give YOU this much trouble...

2009-04-07T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, long time no see, I know. It's been kind of a rough month, so I thought I'd just catch you up on a bit of what I've been doing in a photo post. If you would like to know what the stuff is, and you're on ravelry, just check out my projects page, k? :) Except the stitch markers, I made those. lol here ya go!

Have a good week!!! :)

Man... you can't fit an alpaca into a bubble mailer

2009-03-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Just a quick post, to let you all know what's up with me. I finished the first half of Sheherazade, and I'm onto chart 2 of the second half already. Here it is at the end of the first half.

You can click it to enlarge. Here's a close up of the edging.

There are more pictures of it on my projects page. I've also been a bit obsessed with my Icarus lately. You're supposed to repeat chart 1 five times, and I'm almost done with the fourth repeat. But since the yarn's smaller and the needle's smaller, I'm going to add a repeat I think. The color has changed to orange and is now yellow. I love yellow!!!

Speaking of loving yellow... I got a new Betta fish! And, he's YELLOW!

I don't know what to name him. Any ideas?

It hurts me when you get the lint

2009-03-03T19:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I got my swap package today from Nikki (sfgwife on rav)! OMG my package was so incredibly AWESOME! It took me 20 minutes to link all the yarn she got me in ravelry!! Sheesh!

first of all, everything came in this awesomesauce mini suitcase that I am totally in love with. I think it’s the coolest thing I own now. And on top of the awesomesauce suitcase? The wollemeise. That's right. She sent me WOLLEMEISE baby!! She is so awesome! The color is “Red Hot Chili” and it’s reds and oranges and a little yellow and it’s so pretty and I’ve been petting it all freaking day. I’m in love.

I also got all of this stuff!!!

Which includes: A copy of Knit 1 magazine and Interweave knits, some stitch markers (are they handmade? They’re pretty!), a set of Harmony dpns from knitpicks, a tape measure (thanks! I needed that!!!), a pumpkin candle, one of those crocodile cases that zips closed, AND a ton of yarn!! Including Rio de la plata sock yarn (which I can’t find a link for…) in a marbled stone color, a ball of Regia stretch in burgundy, a ball of debbie bliss prima in a red color, a ball of Kauni lace weight that’s in a natural color, a ball of Sock-ease in Lemon Drop, Gedifra fashion trend sportivo (I had never heard of this, and it’s soooo soft!!!) In blues, pinks, yellows, and other colors, AND part of a ball of Bernat Sox in Hippy Hot, which will be cute for baby stuff.

Whew!! It's so AMAZING! I love it. Love love love it. Everything. I'm in love with it. All of it.

Thank you sooo much Nikki!!!

In an unrelated story, I claimed this last week on KYS. It's a gorgeous drop spindle!

I love it, and I'm going to learn to spin on it. I'm trying now. Well, not right now. Later probably. :)

Oh, and I've also finished Chart three on Sheherazade.

I'm like a woman obsessed lately, with the lace. I also worked on Icarus yesterday and today. Loving the lace. :) I'm gonna get back to it now. It and the Wollemeise.

Never underestimate the determination of a wet cat

2009-03-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

Look, I'm blogging again!!

I'm all laid up right now. See, I sprained my ankle yesterday, and I haven't felt like doing much of any walking. So I've been knitting like CRAZY the last two days. I am already almost halfway done with the first half of Sheherazade (for the link see yesterday's post). I'm almost done with chart 3. Here it is yesterday (at the end of chart 2).

This is actually the actual color of the thing, at least on my monitor. I am so in love with it. I've also been taken all day today by my annetrelac socks (link to my project). I was just barely finished with the heel when I started today, and I've done over 4 inches on the foot just today. I'll hopefully finish the first one tonight. They really are slightly hideous in their insane brightness.

I've also started working again on my Swan Maidens, because it's one of the KALs in FGF this month. Here's what I have right now.

So now I'm going to get back to "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," which is on TNT, and my sock. When I finish it, I'm going to cast on for the new one, and then work on my swan maidens. In theory. :)

Rollercoasters don't come with safe words

2009-02-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

Ok, so apparently this blogging thing has been kicking my butt. I just haven't felt like blogging lately, usually when I have a chance my head hurts too bad. But it doesn't hurt so bad right now, so I'm gonna do this!

I have knitted so much stuff since the last thing I shared... and I've also gotten a bit obsessed with the Karma Yarn swap group on ravelry. I've gotten so much stuff that while I'd love to blog about it all... I'm not quite sure I remember what all I've gotten. So I'll just share it with you as it gets used, k? :)

I also got Knit Picks Options interchangable knitting needles for V-day! Isn't that nice? I was so surprised, I honestly didn't expect them. They're the nickel plated ones. I love love love them, though I wish the cables were a bit longer. That's ok though. :) I did just find out (I was looking for the link lol...) that you can get the needles in longer sizes, so I'll be doing that soon.

Let's see... I've made some stuff recently that I can't share, because they're gifts for Angie, including a pair of merletto mitts and more than half of a pair of socks (don't worry, she knows about them... it's not a secret, I just don't want her to know what they look like). I made a pair of huge worsted weight socks... crap. I totally forgot to take a picture... argh. Oh well. They were really big... his feet were 12 inches around. They were just slipper socks, so I made them in heavier weight yarn. I loved them though, I'll be making myself some soon... soooo comfy. I totally recommend them.

I made "Lisa's Beret," and let me tell you, I LOVED that pattern. It was so fast, and easy. I got the pattern as an early gift for my swap package from Nikki, for a "Stash" swap we're doing in the Insanity group. That was nice of her, wasn't it? Here's a picture of it... by the way, I'm using a new picture system because blogger takes a year to upload the pictures... argh, they're too wide... well, either use your imagination or go to my projects page for the rest of the pictures. Angie, if you click on that link so help me god... Ahem. Sorry. ;)

And here's me wearing it.

The yarn is the Rio de la plata that Angie sent me for Christmas... I still have at least a quarter of the first ball and the whole second one left. The color is "rattan," and I used size 10.5 and 11 needles for the Bulky version of the hat, even though the yarn's aran weight. It worked really well. I'm going to add a button to it, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

I've also started two pairs of socks. The first pair is "Annetrelac" and I'm using the Cupcake factory "buttercream" yarn in "Birthday cake" that I got a while back. And yes, they are this bright.

The second pair is "BFF" socks, in Briggs and little yarn that I got in KYS last week. I'm pretty sure it was hand dyed. I am in love with them. I'm calling them "Easter Bunny vomit" socks. They were clown vomit but I think they're more easter bunnish, although a little darker than the pastel colors of easter. Angie says maybe the easter bunny had some coffee, haha!

I'm not sure if this is the last thing I started, but it's the only thing I can think of, so I'm gonna say it's last. Last night I started scheherazade, which was "Mystery Stole 2" back in the day lol. This stole is started from the center with a provisional cast on and then worked out to the end, and then you undo the provisional cast on and work out to the other end. The yarn is Zephyr that I got from taeka on KYS in exchange for some bare lace weight, dye, and stitch markers. The colorway is Dianthus. This is what the detail looks like...

However, the color is closer to this, just think less radioactive.

Whew! I need to post more often, huh? That way my posts aren't six years long... lol! :)

How has everyone been lately?

The oxyclean guy sells insurance now???

2009-02-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ok guys, I'm really really close to getting a migraine so I don't have time to post my 16 things, but I'll post them... tomorrow? Soon, I promise, soon. I just wanted to say really quickly that of the people who got all of them, Knittingjoy was the winner picked!!! Yay!!!!!!!!! I've already pmed you Joy, but congratulations!!!!! Thank you everyone so much for playing!

I'm going to organized this later this year, but bigger and better!! I'll have it last longer than 2 days, and have many many many more than 16 things. I'll be great fun to see what you guys come up with!!!

Thank you again!!!!

Oh, and be sure to check on the flickr group and see the pics there, and the people who commented and left the links to their blogs. They're a lot of fun to look at!!!

Go forth and Snap!

2009-02-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Ok guys, sorry I didn't get everything posted last night. Don't you just hate it when life gets in the way of fun? :)

Ok, so, here are the rules posted again so that everything will be in one place for you.

It's a scavenger hunt contest. Actually, it's a photo scavenger hunt.
At the end of this post, I'm going to post a list of things. It'll be... unexact, which will leave it up to you to figure out. For example, something blue that you find outside. You'll then have to take a picture of something that you usually find outside that is blue, and take a picture of it.

Here are the rules:

1) You should have a blog, that way you can post them on your blog (with a link here of course... hello blog publicity ;) hehe). If you don't have a blog, then you should have a flickr account. You would then upload your pictures to flickr and put a description of what each thing is supposed to be (in this case, something blue found outside). If you use the flickr account option, go to this page and join the group I created, and post your pictures there, that way they'll all be in a place where everyone can see them.

2) If you DON'T have a camera, or access to one, and you really really want in on this, then it would be acceptable to post the answers to your blog in descriptive form... but they have to be really really desriptive, and I think it would be much easier to just take pictures.

3) You have 48 hours from the time I post the contest to take the pictures and get them posted. Edited to add: The pictures HAVE to be taken in the next 48 hours. I'm not going to like, go through and check the timestamps on them unless I have to, just... be honest, k? :)

4) After you post the pictures, come back here to THIS post,, and post a comment, leaving a link to your blog post or flickr account so that I know where you've posted your pictures.

So, how do you win the contest, and what does the winner get?

Well, I know that it would be hard to find all of the items on the list for everyone, so the winner will be the person who gets the most things on the list. If more than one person gets the most things (or everyone) then I'll do a random number generator and pick the winner amongst those who get the most.

What do you get? That, my friends, is the best part. You get...

A HANDMADE pair of fingerless gloves, AND a handmade set of stitch markers.

Are you ready? Here is The List!

1) Something Funny
2) Something fun (as opposed to funny lol)
3) Something cold
4) Something hot
5) Something that you find outside that's yellow
6) Something tasty
7) Something that starts with the letter K
8) Something that starts with the letter P
9) Something that starts with the letter V
10) Something young
11) Something loud
12) Something local
13) Something you find inside that's green
14) Something you collect
15) Something that takes you from place to place
16) Something Round

Ok, those are the items. Go forth and snap pictures!! You have until Saturday at noon EST to post them. :) Have fun!!!

I take the giant alligator thing very seriously

2009-02-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, three things today, one small, one medium, and one large. Ready?

Small thing: Headaches suck. I can barely even watch TV anymore, which means less knitting, which means less blogging.

Medium thing: That doesn't mean NO knitting, just less. I've been working on my clapotis (almost done with 5th repeat of 12 of the middle section, and I'm not even halfway done with the second ball of yarn...) and the KAL for February in fgf, which are these fingerless gloves, and were designed by smariek. I've gotten one glove done, and I just started the gusset for the second one. Here's a pic of the first one.

You'll notice that's the yarn from the other day. It's knitpicks essential kettle dyed in bordeaux (you were right, psst! Hi by the way!! lol).

Large thing: It's officially...

CONTEST time!

Here's the deal. It's a scavenger hunt contest. Actually, it's a photo scavenger hunt.

Tomorrow night I'm going to post a list of things, it'll probably be a large list (like, 20 things). It'll be... unexact, which will leave it up to you to figure out. For example, something blue that you find outside. You'll then have to take a picture of something that you usually find outside that is blue, and take a picture of it.

Here are the rules:

1) You should have a blog, that way you can post them on your blog (with a link here of course... hello blog publicity ;) hehe). If you don't have a blog, then you should have a flickr account. You would then upload your pictures to flickr and put a description of what each thing is supposed to be (in this case, something blue found outside).

2) If you DON'T have a camera, or access to one, and you really really want in on this, then it would be acceptable to post the answers to your blog in descriptive form... but they have to be really really desriptive, and I think it would be much easier to just take pictures.

3) You have 48 hours from the time I post the contest to take the pictures and get them posted.

4) After you post the pictures, come back here to tomorrow's post, the one with the lists, and post a comment, leaving a link to your blog post or flickr account.

So, how do you win the contest, and what does the winner get?

Well, I know that it would be hard to find all of the items on the list for everyone, so the winner will be the person who gets the most things on the list. If more than one person gets the most things (or everyone) then I'll do a random number generator and pick the winner amongst those who get the most.

What do you get? That, my friends, is the best part. You get...

A HANDMADE pair of fingerless gloves, AND a handmade set of stitch markers.

Sound good? Any questions?

Tell your friends, cause this will be so much more fun if everyone plays.

Come back tomorrow for the items!!!!!!

Yes, I'm knitting doilies with foil

2009-01-30T23:02:00.000-08:00

Things have been very knit filled here the past few days. First of all, I have been kicking BUTT on my clap. I've got the body of it over a third done, and it's soooo pretty. I also started and finished the baby socks from the other day. I broke the yarn for both of them so the stripe pattern would be ok, and I ended up switching the socks and the ends of the ball, and so the stripe pattern is a little wonky, but I don't really care. They're just baby socks, and they're wicked adorable. See?

I also started a dishcloth last night, and finished it today. The dishcloth is a complete mystery. First of all, I used way over half a ball. In the pic, you see how much I have, which was more than I thought I had left, but still less than half a ball. Usually they only take about half a ball. Also, as I was knitting it, I was excited because there would be no pooling, you know, since every row is a different number of stitches (I used the grandmothers favorite pattern since it's so easy) and then, in the middle of the thing, I got serious pooling. It was quite confusing lol!

Next on the agenda, I'll be making something from this for someone I love. :)

Any ideas about what and who? hehe... And if you already know, don't guess *cough*Angie*cough* ok?

Rum goes with everything

2009-01-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hey guys. I know I haven't been posting much, but I have been getting lots of knitting in. That is, when I haven't been playing final fantasy x. I was a bit obsessed with that game (it's addictive! It's not my fault...) until it started to make me want to die every time I played it (because of my headaches... I NEED new glasses.)

Anyway, I've been knitting like crazy. I made two doilies that both look just like this...

Except that the second one is a little bit nicer and hasn't been blocked yet. I may even reblock the first one, it's a pretty crappy blocking job. Maybe I'll spray block it in the morning. I'm going to give it to my mom tomorrow. :) The second one is for my Angie (Hi Angie!!! *waves*) The pattern is "Flacon" which comes from a web site that offers a lot of tablecloths and stuff. The yarn is knit picks bare lace weight that I dyed myself, a silvery gray color (not purple, though it does look slightly purple in that pic...).

I was also working almost obsessively on my Clapotis and have finished the first ball of yarn. I'm starting to think it'll only take 3 even though people said it took them 4. I'm 2 repeats into the 12 repeat section on the straight knitting part.

The color is just a little bit softer than it is in that picture. Here's a close up.

Then for the last several days I've been ITCHING to cast on something, anything, two at a time, so I cast on this morning a pair of baby socks. I made up the pattern as I went, though you can see what I did (and what I'm doing) on the project page for them on ravelry. The yarn is Patons Kroy, color "Crayon Jacquards" and they're on size 3 circulars.

I also cast on for a baby surprise jacket, but I'll share pics of that when I get farther along.

The blog circle thing in FGF insanity this week is comfort food. I don't really have a comfort food recipe, so I wasn't going to post. But I decided to share my biggest comfort food. Sugary cereal. See, when I was a kid (until I was like, a junior in high school lol) my dad would make me a bowl of cereal every single day. He would always always have it ready right on time, because he'd get up to make it when he heard me brushing my teeth. He would also usually have a glass of OJ, and he'd put on a cartoon or, when I got older, whatever TV show he could find that I would like. I'd only watch like, 15 minutes of it, but he always did it anyway. It was like, our thing, and I seriously miss it sometimes. :)

Oliver didn't want me to share this picture with you, but he was so cute, how could I resist?

Without It You're Just Water

2009-01-21T18:48:00.001-08:00

I usually tend to keep the blog for just knitting content but I have to post about something else tonight. My grandmother, the woman who inspired in me the love for all things yarny, passed away a few days ago. Her funeral was yesterday. I wasn't able to be there for her last days or the funeral and that was tearing me up inside. The past month has just been a trainwreck for me. My hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows have even been falling out. I go from being ravenous and eating an entire bar of dark chocolate in one day (did that twice) to not wanting to eat at all. But I'm feeling a little better now.

Anyway, I wanted to share a little bit about Grama, because she was truly one of my favorite people in the world. When I was growing up Grama lived right next door, so I was always at her house. I ran to her when I was sad because she was never too sad or too stressed out or too busy for me. My first crochet project was a baby blanket for my nephew (he's 13 now holy crap! lol) that I did with her. She ended up doing most of it but I remember sitting on her couch sewing together the squares.

Grama always had a knitted or crocheted project going. Her favorite things to make were baby things or doilies and other lacy things done out of crochet cotton. I think that's where my love from lace comes from. :) She tried several times to teach me how to knit and I never got it until I taught myself, from a book. But I remember how proud of me when she saw that I'd finally got it.

Grama suffered from a disease that filled her lungs up with scar tissue and fluid, so she and I didn't talk very much because talking on the phone made her cough. A few days before she passed away my cousin set up a web cam in the room with Grama and I went out and bought one just so she could see me. I couldn't see her that well because she was too far away from the cam but at least she got to see me. Grama was a believer in reincarnation and believed that at the moment she died a baby girl would be born and she would be reborn in that body, so happy birthday Grama. Hope this next trip around the sun is the best life you can possibly have.

It's like I've died and gone to monkey heaven

2009-01-20T21:14:00.000-08:00

Ok guys, so I knew already that my cousin, bestest friend, (possible twin separated at birth) and co-blogger loved me but I don't know that I knew she loved me quite this much. She sent me a package with so many gifts! Wanna see?

...

No?

...

Then get out of here, I'm showing off! :)

For those of you that stayed... hi!! Ok, first, she made me not one, but TWO pairs of socks! The first are out of knitpicks bare that I dyed myself a long time ago, but the yarn got tangled and I couldn't get it undone, so I sent it to her and told her if she could untangle it, she could have it. I had NO IDEA she made these from it!

I LOVE them!! They're her own pattern, and you can't see in the pic very good, but they have little tiny cables. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get a picture of the cables. My camera hates red so... but they're there, trust me, and they're GORGEOUS. Then she made me these, which I didn't even know about.
She said that she made them on a day when I was working and she missed me, so she went to her lys to buy yarn so she could make them for me! Am I the most special person ever or what?

A long time ago, she made me a Kiri, and she had never been able to send it to me (shipping from Canada to America in a box can get expensive) and I got it too!

It has beads on the bottom that are unphotographable, but they're so pretty. It's so warm. I know cause I'm wearing it.

Also recently, she went on a dishcloth making extravaganza, and I got three dishcloths from that! :)

But wait, there's more! She bought me Rio De La Plata yarn, which is kinda like malabrigo only not quite as soft, but still yummy, in a pretty yellow color, and some yarn I didn't know about, it's called Diamond yarn luxury collection fancy free, and I had never heard of it but I LOVE it, it's fingering weight and it has ALPACA in it. It's the red stuff in this picture.

Also in that picture is a little journal, and a bookmark with a little chocolate lab puppy on it, and if you can't read it, it says "Stop and Smell the roses."

But, I saved possibly my favorite part for last. No, that's not true. I don't have a favorite part of this package. I love it all equally. Anyway, she made me a yellow baby hoodie, and a crocheted yellow baby blanket!!

I don't know what the pattern for the hoodie is, but I think the blanket is the tiramisu pattern. I only remembered that because she kept saying "you know, it's a kind of dessert?" :) Here's a better pic of the blanket.

Angie? You are the BEST. EVER. I love you!!!!!!!!

Yes, most of the time we are half Norweigan

2009-01-19T22:12:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been all about the yellow here at my house lately. I mean, you all know how much I love yellow, but it's been a bit obsessive lately. I have two pairs of fgs going, and I just bought the yarn for a clapotis. I got four skeins of "Pollen" Malabrigo from the Cozy Ewe, and I just need to tell you guys, this company is awesome. The service was so fast, and I even got it on sale. I highly reccomend them.

Here's my clapotis that I started.

I love it so much, I can not wait for it to be finished. I'm so excited.

And on the same kind of thought, about the yellow, I needed something that said Spring/Summer, something that was bright and cheery, so I made...

A pineapple upside-down cake! It's my mom's secret recipe, so I can't tell you what it is, or I'd have to kill you. ;)

That's what I'm doing to get rid of the wintery blues. What are you doing to get rid of them?

It doesn't matter how much you make that noise, I'm not barking at you

2009-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

Snow snow snow!!! I am sick of all the snow. I hate being cold. It is, right now, 7 degrees F and feels like -10. That's freaking cold for Ohio. The dogs, however, love it.

Storm honestly can't get enough, he loves to play in the snow as much as possible, and would all day if I'd let him.

Anyway, the other night I hoped to finish the first of my "Swan Maiden" mitts, but I couldn't do it because I'm not used to working on dpns and they started to hurt my hands after a few HOURS of ribbing. Seriously, I don't know why, but that ribbing killed me. Anyway, here's what I have right now. I'm about halfway done with the thumb gusset.

I LOVE them. The yarn is the Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock yarn in Sunshine that Zortified got me for my secret santa gift. I am so in love, and can't wait to be done. When my hands start hurting from working on them, then I go to either Icarus or my heart socks that I posted about the other day... oh. I guess I didn't? Huh. I really could've sworn I did. Oh well. I'm making these Heart Socks from "New pathways for sock knitters."

There were some issues at first, but that was because I am an idiot. Everything's fine now. :) I love them.

Everyone staying warm out there?

I'm helpless in the face of blueberry pie

2009-01-12T14:41:00.000-08:00

Ok, I was so happy today to receive a package from someone in my hello yellow group on ravelry, katknit65. I organized a yellow swap but then I was unable to participate... and she sent me a package anyway!

In the package is: Some lemon and pepper pasta, some little blank kitty cards, some exotic rum coffee (can’t wait to try it!!!), a card, and some little stickers, plus a little (handmade?) paint can that says “Knit your hearts with an unslipping hand.” and has little daisies all over it. It is so cute. Inside of it was…

That dishcloth, which has a little kitty knitted into it. There was also, as you can see, some peaches & cream, and some money chocolate. I am so happy, and if you're reading this, thank you again Kelly!!!! You ROCK!!!

Also today, I did a whole repeat on Icarus. Since each row you add 4 stitches, I'm positive that will never happen again on this shawl, lol. I am so in love with it. It's so gorgeous. See?

Here's a detail shot. The color is right in the first one. Technically, it's right in both lights, the first one if the lights are bright, and this one if it's darker.

I love it. However, I think I'm all laced out for the day, so I'm going to work on some socks or fingerless gloves for the rest of the day. :)

How are you guys doing?

Man, that was worse than roasted garlic in my eye

2009-01-09T20:26:00.000-08:00

So, two more finished thing that my month of bloglessness left you unaware of, I think. First of all, I finished recently my By Starlight's that I started... uh... in September. I'm finally finished with them, and I love them. I've worn them several times and I'm just now soaking them. The yarn is Malabrigo worsted in "oceanos" and again... mmm malabrigo. Can't get enough of that yarn. Here's a crappy pic of them because it is REALLY hard to take a picture of both of your hands yourself. Really hard.

The other thing that I finished but never talked about was this little lacey bookmark. I'm pretty proud of it, though I'm not exactly sure why. It's made out of Zephyr and size 1 needles.

Now, a couple of my WIPs. First, I started a two row stripe scarf like the rest of the world, but I'm using Patons SWS because... well... it's cheaper. I'm using SWS in Natural Geranium and natural earth.

Here it is so far. I lost steam on it for a while there because for a while EVERYTHING I was knitting was at a part that was k1 p1 rib and I couldn't handle it anymore lol.

And last for today, I started another Icarus, this one for me. I'm using Jojoland Harmony in this color. I'm in love with it. It's totally going to fly. Assuming I don't find something new and more interesting in the meantime. I'm way too ADD. :) Here's my progress.

Oh and, I finished reading ALL THREE of the books from the other day. If you're into sci-fi stuff at all you should totally check out the fever series. And if you're into romance novels at all you have got to read the highlander series. Just sayin. Go forth and borrow those books from thy library. Then hasten back and tell me what you think. ;)

Muzzy! I'm not insane!!

2009-01-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, how's it going? Ugh the weather out here sucks. It's snowy and icy and yucky. The dogs love the snow though. I'll direct your attention to this post last year when we had all the snow. Yeah, they really really love the snow huh?

Anyway, getting caught up on all the stuff I've done lately but haven't told you all about... ok, so on Thanksgiving, my nephew Zach, who's 5, saw me wearing these socks. He said "Aunt Krystal, could I have a pair of knitted socks?" Of course, I couldn't say no to him, he's so sweet. So I asked him what color, and he said "Green... but... could they have white flames on them?" No idea where that came from but...

They ALMOST didn't fit. Well, the one. I didn't leave quite enough standed behind two of the stitches. I just did a normal basic sock, if you want to see the pattern, check it out here. I used the flame chart from these socks. The yarn is Baby Ull in dark green and white. He was so happy to have them, he opened the package and said "I know what this is!! It's my SOCKS!!!!" and then he hugged me before he even saw them all the way. Best reaction ever. Here's he is wearing them.

I had to make something for his older brother too (not that I didn't want to!) so I made him a simple 2 by 2 ribbed pair of fingerless gloves, with a thumb a-la fetching. The pattern is here. The yarn is the leftover sock yarn from the socks Zach saw me wearing. Here they are on me.

They started out tiny, and stretched practically to infinity. Here he is wearing them.

A little before Christmas, I started and finished a Koolhaas in Merino et soie. Here it is on ravelry. I love it, but it's a tiny bit small, meaning I have to keep pulling it down. I also missed a cable cross but... you can't see it unless you look.

One last thing for this post, though I have a lot more to share with you. Remember Emmy's elephant that I started last... uh... May? And lost his head, and then he was headless? (We called him "Stumpy the headless elephant...") Well, I found his head!

Isn't he absolutely adorable? I am sooo in love with him, I almost couldn't give him away. We have to stop calling him a he though, because I think he's pregnant.

Here he is in his scarf I made him out of smooshy sock yarn. I thought he'd need it cause his feet are white, they look like snow.

He's made out of Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted, color is carnation, and his feet are Wool-ease. The pattern is Baby Elephant by Hansi Singh. She has such awesome patterns. I'm thinking about making another one in yellow, cause I like yellow.

In other news... reading this week: Well, the other day I read "Spell of the Highlander" by Karen Marie Moning. I needed a quick, brain candy romance novel. It's a little heavier than your average one, but it's really really good. I love it. I'm now rereading "Bloodfever" by the same author which is book 2 in her "fever" series, because the newest one, "Faefever" just came out and I needed to read it again cause I forgot. :)

What are you all up to?

You Must Pay to Anger the Tortoise

2009-01-06T19:47:00.001-08:00

Hey all! It's Angie, back again. Hopefully better this time because I've been feeling terrible about starting this blog with Krystal and then not keeping up my end of things. So I'm going to start trying to blog once a week. I'm going through some stuff right now, so if it happens less than that then I'm not going to worry about it.

I didn't do a lot of knitting for Christmas this year, just some dishcloths for Mom, Krystal, and Zana and this adorable dragon handpuppet for Olivia. Check him out

He's blind in these pictures because I hadn't done his eyes yet. lol

The blue and green yarn is Handicrafter Cotton, the red is some mystery acrylic I had kicking around, and the "flames" are Bernat Boa. I have a huge bag of that stuff and it haunts me. Seriously. I had some kind of plan when I bought it... I don't know what I was going to knit with it. Clearly I had been smothered in the crazy that day. Oh, the pattern is Elliott the Dragon by Jil Eaton from the Interweave Knits Holiday edition last year. DH fell in love with this hand puppet. He was sad to see it go on Boxing Day!

And I somehow ended up doing a KAL with Krystal and some friends of hers from Ravelry for Icarus. Here's mine.

This is just before adding another row of eyelets. I've actually got a lot more done than this. I've been playing Final Fantasy X (ah, there goes my geek factor, crankin up another notch! lol) and it has these long movie segments that you can't do anything, so I knit while those are going on. It's zephyr in Basil on my precious addi turbos.

I'm getting ready to start a Seraphim in Mini Alpakka in a pretty orchid color. My grandmother is very very sick and it's to the point where we know she won't be with us much longer. So I need a comfort knit. And then when I'm finished maybe I'll give it to my mother and hope it'll bring her the comfort that it brought me while knitting it.

Yes, chicken nuggets are made out of Satan

2009-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just a quick post, I have a ton of projects to show you, but for now, I just want to share this:

Knitting goals for 2009:

1) I want to make a sweater. Possibly this one or this one.

2) Socks, because I love hand knit socks, are going to be big for me, I hope.

3) A shawl for me, probably Icarus since I started that (and frogged it but that's cause the yarn is icky, I ordered better) already. Want to see the yarn I ordered? It's pretty. Clicky here. :)

4) I want to learn a new technique. Possibilities are: steeking, intarsia in the round, and really complicated lace.

5) Finish. Mom's. Tablecloth.

Happy New Year!!

Think of the poor toeless wombats

2008-12-23T12:48:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-17T23:26:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-11-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T19:18:00.000-08:00

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"?

2008-11-16T09:46:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-04T18:01:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-10-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

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"

2008-10-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

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!

You're all like, dude and stuff

2008-10-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

So, yay, it's my Birthday! I'm 23! Today, for my birthday, I get to work all day, and then go to my friend Kara's jewelry show. Fun fun! But, I did get some AWESOME mail yesterday. First, I got my order from knitpicks, including this yarn...

And another kind of yarn that's for socks for Angie. It's secret. I'm making the first sock from both socks at once. Instead of both socks from the same pair at once. Thought I'd mix it up. Plus when I'm done I'll have two pairs lol. Then, the next thing I opened was this.

It's a project bag and a birthday card, both handmade, from my friend Snapper! That's Paula to the "real" world. :) She sent it to me just because she ROCKS and it's my birthday! Isn't it gorgeous? Thanks again snapper!

Then, the NEXT thing I opened was my Autumn fingerless gloves fanatics swap package! It came from Tasha, and she spoiled me rotten!

I got the pattern for Roman Holiday Mitts which are gorgeous, and I had never seen them I don’t think. I also got some chocolate, some tea (mmm tea… and in my fave flavors too) and a traveling knitting bag that is GREEN and so nice! I love it! Oh yeah, and the bestest best best best part! Malibrigo!!! And it's PINK! Isn't it delicious looking?? I LOVE it! Thanks again Tasha!

So, yesterday, I finished the Noro socks. That's right. It took me TWELVE days to make a pair of socks. It's like a world freakin record. I need an award or something.

They pattern is Garden Path socks by Wendy Johnson. The yarn is Noro Kureyon Sock.

Well, technically, the lace pattern is from the Garden Path Socks. The rest of the sock I just kind of made up to fit me. I love this yarn but it has almost no stretch and that's irritating.

Also, they're so hideous, they're gorgeous! lol! I totally love them. Hey, look, bonus picture!

Anyway, everyone have some cake today ok? It's my birthday and I LOVE my birthday! Yay!!!

Not every carpenter is Jesus!

2008-10-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Hello there peeps! Not much to say. But I have a quick tutorial (not really. A joke tutorial) and some ooooooh pretty pictures. First, the fake tutorial.

How to get a new pair of socks from an old sock and some Stash.

1.) Find an old pair of socks or an old sock that doesn't have a mate but does have a corresponding ball of yarn. I went with option two.

That is one crappy looking sock.

2.) Find the end, and hope to god or whoever you pray to that you did not know how to weave in ends when you made said crappy sock. I did not, although I did do something interesting with the grafted toe... but regardless. Find something to wrap the yarn around into a mini skein. Begin unwinding until the whole sock is on said "thing" you're wrapping the yarn around. In this case, the legs of a TV tray.

3.) Wind the new mini skein and the old crappily wound ball into new crappily wound balls.

4.) Knit! I haven't taken a picture of this because it hasn't happened yet. Use your imaginations.

Tada!

Ok, that was totally lame. Look, pretty!

That is a new pair of Garden Path socks. Remember the old ones from last year? Yeah they don't look like a pair but they look more like a pair than this pair does. It totally looks like I just grabbed two random balls and started knitting. It's the Noro sock yarn that was going to be cabled socks but didn't like being them so they get to be something else. Look, you can see the pattern!!

For those of you who thought you wouldn't be able to see a pattern - *cough* Angie *cough* - told you so!!

Off to bed now!

When have I eaten a telephone?

2008-10-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

Hey there! Bet you can't guess who this is! *grin* Noooo, it's not Krystal... it's Angie. No, I'm not dead. If I were Krystal would have at least mentioned it. I hope. lol

So, knitting... dear god there has been so much that I can't even begin to start. I knitted Olivia a sweater and mittens for her birthday but I didn't get any pictures of her modeling them and didn't take pictures before they were wrapped up. This is all I have.

That's Olivia modeling her daddy's birthday socks and reading one of the books DH and I got her for her birthday. Don't mind the yellow spot, her mummy missed with the vitamin drops! lol

And then I started a project that I absolutely love. This project has been gestating in my mind for at least a year. Maybe longer, I'm not sure. It's the Peacock Feathers Shawl (rav link) by Dorothy Siemens. I'm using some zephyr laceweight that's been marinating in the stash for a few months now, in "basil". It isn't the perfect color but the only yarn I have in that turquoise color that I think of when I think of peacocks is merino oro and I figured if I'm going to do a shawl that enormous then I'd better do it in something I love. (By the way, the yarn harlot just finished her version of this shawl and it's gorgeous. Give popping over there and having a look a thought)

First far away

Then closer

Then closer still, just to see the detail

This is up to the first row of chart three. It's so lovely. And that's an addi turbo lace needle. I ordered it from my new favorite yarn store. I've been going to the Prairie Lily here in Saskatoon every other week, usually on Friday. The nice lady who owns it actually knows when DH gets paid and expects me on the proper day. *laugh* I love it. I didn't go there a lot before because the stock just wasn't up to what I prefer in a yarn store but there's a new owner now and she definitely takes suggestions. I lamented the lack of good laceweight and a month later? There's a whole SHELF of zephyr and two binders full of lace patterns. Yeah baby! I'll bring the camera with me next time to take a picture. It's wonderful. lol

Anyway, that's what I'm up to. I'm knitting other things but I figured if I blogged about it all at once tonight I wouldn't blog again later. lol So in my next post: Dad's "run deer run!" gloves, a yarn review, and some new fingerless gloves for me. Once I finish the gloves. Yeah, that'll happen. *grin*

PS Hi grandma! I love you! Look up there at what you caused. Geez, all that knitting and crocheting around me had an effect.

PPS Gratuitous Olivia picture!

And by then, I'll be in Mexico

2008-09-29T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey, is there anyone out there? *tapping glass* If you're still with us, leave a comment! I feel like I'm talking to myself here... lol! :)

I have cast on for something new. I know, you're (considering there is a "you" out there...) really surprised, but I thought, hey, let's do something unexpected and cast on for something. But, before I did that, I did finish the knitting for the baby dress. It just needs to be seamed and edged. So there. :P

I started "Waves of Grain," from Knitty. It was written for lace weight, but I really wanted to use this yellow sock yarn I had, so I am. It's Artyarns Ultramerino 4 in some yellow color (no clue where the ball band is...). It's so... deliciously yellow. I love it. See how yellow and yummy?

In other news, I bought some baby yarn today. Last week, my friend Jen gave me some baby yarn. I think I have a problem with the baby yarn. This is the yarn that is baby yarn specifically that has no intended project.

Yeah. I have a problem. Speaking of problems, P is for Pens!

My husband is like, obsessed with pens, and pencils, and highlighters... this is just on my desk. You should see his bag, and the hallway, and HIS desk... they're everywhere!

Off to work on something baby perhaps. :)

No, you can't chew koolaid

2008-09-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hey there guys. I haven't been blogging much, mainly because I just haven't been doing much exciting in the way of knitting. All I can do is knit garter or stockinette stitch. Which usually makes for pretty boring blog fodder. I am making a baby dress (ravelry link) out of the Bernat baby Jacquards, in the Berries n cream colorway. I love this yarn, and I LOVE this color. So pretty. I got the whole back done...

And half of the front. I'm not taking a picture of that. It looks exactly the same. Use your imaginations. :) But I've been doing so much just plain knitting that my hand has been hurting. Yesterday, I couldn't knit anymore, so I decided to crochet. I know right? Me?? Crochet??? I needed the practice so that when my friend Ibby's pattern, Pretty in Pink, comes out I can buy it and make it. I made an "Oh so soft baby dishcloth," only it's not for baby lol. It's not soft enough. I love the pattern though. It was super easy, and really fast.

I kinda messed up a couple times but I don't really care. It works. The yarn is peaches n creme, and color is peppermint. It's very blotchy lol... my husband said it looks like there are patches of blood on it. :) Look, a close up!

Ok, off to play monopoly online with my Angie. :)

No! The scrubbie things will hurt me!

2008-09-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

Alright, I promised you all a simple pattern, so here ya go! Make a dishcloth. They're super fast! You can even be cool like me and use Halloween colors. It gets it's name because it looks like garter stitch but you're knitting and purling. Sound confusing? Try it! It's easy. :) If you have any questions, please ask! See it on ravelry!

Not Garter Stitch Garter Stitch dishcloth

Matierials:

Worsted weight cotton yarn in two different colors. I used peaches n' creme because it's cheap.
Size 8 (or 7) CIRCULAR needle. It has to be a circular for this to work. The length doesn't really matter.
Tapestry Needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: Not important; you can adjust it to suit your needs.

Pattern:

Cast on 25 (or however many you want for an appropriate dishcloth) stitches in MC.

Switch to CC but do not cut MC; k 1 row.

Now, slide the whole project to the other end of the circular needle and switch to MC; you must slide the stitches down because that's where the MC working yarn is.

P1 row in MC.
P1 row in CC.

**Slide the stitches to the other end of the circular;

K1 row in MC.
K1 row in CC.

Slide stitches down;

P1 row in MC.
P1 row in CC.

Repeat from ** until it's as long as you want it to be.

Slide the stitches down; BO all sts in MC.

Weave in ends and go wash some dishes. Someone wise once said, "Until you wash something with it, it's just a swatch."

And hey, now you have a reason to wash the dishes!

I hate knitting boobles too

2008-09-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been 10 days since I blogged! Yikes!

I haven't been blogging at least for the few days because there's not much to blog about. Well, first, I lost my electricity because of Ike (the hurricane, not a person) so I guess that's blog worthy. I feel bad complaining because I only lost it for a few days and some people still don't have power, and some people lost everything, but... it's completely unfair. I mean, if I wanted to have hurricanes, I would live by a beach. I don't live within 500 miles of the nearest ocean. If not more. That's just... irritating, ya know?

Anyway, we have power now, but all I've had the brain capacity for is garter stitch. Seriously, just want to knit. That's so unlike me, you have no idea. But I did start and finish this in the past few days.

It's a preemie baby blanket. That picture is taken with the blanket laying on my computer chair. No WAY that's big enough for a baby. Poor little babies. OSU Medical Center is in desperate need of them, so if anyone lives in the area, you can make one and give them to the Yarn Shop in Columbus or Reynoldsburg and we'll take them there for you. Just needs to be DK weight and 15 inches square.

The yarn is Bernat Jacquards in the "Berries and Cream" colorway. I LOVE this yarn. Can not get enough of the squishiness. I'm about to wash it, so I'll let you know how it does.

I also made two Halloween Dishclothes in a weird garter stitch pattern that I sorta made up, though I'm sure it's been done. I'll post what I did when I post the pictures. Meaning after I weave in my ends.

Everyone make it through Ike ok?

I look like I have some sort of hairy octopus on my head

2008-09-10T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hello there! I have some pictures. I was doing good on my new socks, the Snicket socks?

But... well... I hit a snag. It turns out it's REALLY HARD to do this pattern two at a time. So, I'm going to pull one of them off the needles and put it on stitch holders, and just plow through one at a time. It's sad but... the pattern is a little bit... well, it just doesn't work. Here's some detail though.

Pretty cool. I actually LIKE this yarn. Big surprise there, because I hated regular Noro Kureyon. But the socks... it works up all velvety, and it's a little scratchy, but that'll wash out. It's not even hard on my hands. So I'll probably use it again. The thick and thin thing really annoys the crap out of me though. I'm afraid the thin spots are going to break. And look!

Mmmm Malabrigo. I'm going to make it into By Starlight by my friend Knitasaur! I'll be fun. Really.

Oh yeah, and I made a baby bootie. I'll show pictures later. But it's a little bit... big. I guess I'll get over it... lol now to work on MS4.

I'm all mmm brains if I try anything else

2008-09-07T19:58:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's almost been a week since I posted last. That doesn't seem normal. Huh. Anyway, Wednesday I finished the Porphyria's. By the way, P is for Porphyria!

Interesting story. Porphyria is actually a term for a group of disorders which cause, among other things, sensitivities to light and blood problems in which you need blood transfusions to replace the hemoglobin in your blood. There are some rumors that it was actually where the myth about Vampirism started.

These ones, however, don't make me think of that. They actually make me think about a sunset, and I'm not sure why. A sunset right before dark when there's a lot of purple in the sky.

I like them. A lot. They're short, meaning they don't go high on my knuckles, which is perfect because then I can wear them while knitting. They were super fast too! I started Saturday and finished Wednesday.

Anyway, Thursday, I got lots of work done on the log cabin baby blanket. I just need to do the edging and it'll be DONE! Yay for UFO Thursday! Then, we went to my husband's parents house over the weekend. I got lots of knitting on the baby blanket done (the one that's not the log cabin). I'm very very close to halfway. I decided to make halfway at the end of one ball, so it'll take exactly two balls (in theory). I also started a pair of socks two-at-a-time, they're called Snicket Socks. I'm using my Noro Kureyon sock yarn, and I actually like it a lot! It's a little scratchy but it works up so velvety. I may be in love, strangely enough. Surprised? Me too. I'll post picks once they get a little father along, they're only to the end of the ribbing right now.

I ALSO started the mystery stole 4, and I LOVE it. I want to work on it all the time but unfortunately can't work on it a lot because I NEED NEW GLASSES so much. I'll be making an appointment tomorrow. I mean, first my old glasses interfered with night driving, which was ok. Then football, which was not ok. Now knitting? Definitely not ok. At all.

Oh yeah! I also went to the yarn store in Salem, Ohio, where his parents live. It was HUGE for the size of the town. I didn't have a lot of money to spend, but I did score some Malabrigo. I don't think it's enough to make a scarf, but that's what I really want. I may start one and then add some more later. Unfortunately, due to the fire, I may not be able to get some more for a while. According to the lady at the shop, she won't be able to get any until at the very least January. :( So... hopefully I can work something out so that I can get more before then. The color is Oceanos and I LOVE it, it's so gorgeous.

I'll have pictures later! How was everyone's weekend?

Stick people shouldn't poke each other with sticks

2008-09-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, here's the deal. Lots and lots and LOTS of people have questions about the fingerless glove pattern "Fetching." We're talking, lots. So, I am doing a tutorial. I am going to go on to assume you know how to knit, purl, cable, cast on, and use dpns (or your preferred method of knitting in the round) and am just going to get right down to the parts that confuse people.

1.) Modifying the pattern to fit you. This is something lots of people want to do. I'm going to make it really really easy, but in order for it to work, I need you to do something. Check your gauge. In pattern. So that you know exactly how many stitches you get per inch. Now. in the original pattern, you cast on 45 stitches. That's with a gauge of 5.25 stitches per inch. Which is fine if your hand is bout 7 and 3/4 inches around (allowing for 10% negative each, so they're not floppy) but it doesn't work for a lot of yarns. So if it's too big? Take out stitches in sets of five. Meaning if your gauge is 4.5 spi, and your hand is 7 nd 1/4 inch around, then you need to cast on 35 stitches.

2.) The thumb, part one: waste yarn. I actually don't need to do a tutorial! There's already one. Go here and click on "help" on the left side, and then click on "fetching/dashing thumb." It shows you how to do the waste yarn but not how to put them onto the needles. I'll show you that below. Here's a little pic I made on the computer to show you what the stitches will look like with the waste yarn in.
3.) The bind off: keeping it from rolling. If you don't mind about whether you have the picots or not, then I would suggest binding the whole top off in purl. It keeps it from rolling. I would also suggest going up a needle size for the cast off row so there's a little give.

4.) The thumb, part two: Picking up the stitches from the waste yarn. Ok, I like to start out on the left side, but you can start from the right side, just do the exact same thing. This is what your glove should look like:

Pull the waste yarn out of the stitch on the bottom of the opening, and then the one on the top, so it looks like this:

You don't need to put a needle into those stitches yet. *Then, pull the waste yarn out of the next stitch on the top, and then put your needle through that stitch while the waste yarn is still in it, so that it looks like this:

Then put a second needle into the stitch on the bottom of the opening that the waste yarn end is coming out of (on the left) so that it looks like this:

Pull the waste yarn out of the two stitches you just put on the needles.

Repeat from the * for the next 5 stitches. At this point, your glove should look like this:

Go ahead and pull the yarn out of the stitch on the top of the opening. Then the yarn is just going through what looks like one stitch on the top, and one stitch on the bottom. The stitch on the top, however, doesn't need to be on the needle. If you look at the stitches, the waste yarn isn't the only piece of yarn going through that stitch. So, you can pull the yarn out of that stitch. Now, put the needle on the bottom through the final stitch on the bottom of the opening and pull the waste yarn out. It will look like this:

With 6 stitches on the top needle and 7 on the bottom.

Now, just follow the directions for the rest of the thumb, which read as follows:

Attach yarn and k the 7 sts on lower needle; using a second needle, pick up and k 2 sts in space between upper and lower needle, k first 3 sts from upper needle; using a third needle, k remaining 3 sts from upper needle and pick up and k 2 sts in space between this needle and lower needle. 17 sts.

This is very simple. Just knit the stitches on the first needle, and then with a second needle pick up 2 stitches as follows - put the new needle into the stitch directly to the left of the stitches on the bottom needle, like this:

Knit that stitch through the back loop, and then repeat that step with the next stitch up. K 3 stitches from the top needle onto that needle, then with another needle k3 and then pick up two stitches in the same manner on the other side of the opening. Ta da!

Then, just finish the thumb directions. Easy as pie, right?

If none of this helped you, and if you're on ravelry, then check out this group which is all about fetchings, or go to this thread in the techniques section on the topic of the thumb, or search for your problem in the techniques section.

Leave me a comment to let me know if I helped you or not, ok?

So... my soul mate is a cartoon baby?

2008-08-31T21:57:00.001-07:00

Just a quick report on the fingerless gloves. They're at the gusset. They're 4 inches from the bottom of the gusset to the bottom of the glove. That's long enough. I still love the method, though I'm getting bored. But you know me, attention span shorter than a 3 day old goldfish who happens to be high. Anyway... thought I'd do a Meme thing that I'm stealing from Cursing Mama who stole it from someone else and on and on... it seems cool. So here ya go, enjoy!

What is your salad dressing of choice? Depends on my mood... usually Ranch, sometimes French.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Olive Garden. Mmm breadsticks...

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Hmm... a bagel with cheese? Or peas and mashed potatoes. Yummy.

What are your pizza toppings of choice? Cheese? lol sometimes green peppers...

What do you like to put on your toast? Butter and cinnamon sugar, or cream cheese

What is your wallpaper on your computer? Isaac Hanson. See?
What color cell phone do you have? Navy blue

Are you right-handed or left-handed? Left

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? My tonsils...

What is the last heavy item you lifted? Hmm... Mattie. She was in my spot on the bed and wouldn't move for anything, so I moved her.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? Yeah, once. Long story. If you wanna know I'll share but it's a REALLY long story so... like... novel worthy.

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Maybe, but only like, that day, so I could tell the people I love that I love them. Gah, that was sentimental...

If you could change your name, what would you change it to? lol no idea... Katie? :)

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Ugh, no. Maybe 10,000 dollars but not just 1000.

How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Hmm.... like... 8 or 9?

What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't wanna grow up! (Cause if I did, I wouldn't be a toys r us kid...) But seriously? A professional computer hacker. Or a teacher. lol

Favorite Season? Fall

Favorite Holiday? My birthday! I don't have to share it with anyone. :)

Favorite Day of the week? Saturday. Football baby.

Favorite Month? October. My birthday and fall and the colors and.... it's all good.

Missing someone? Yes. Several someones actually.

What can you not wait to do? Start the mystery stole!!

What’s the last movie you saw? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Watched it this morning. In theaters? Um... I dunno. 27 dresses?

Do you smile often? Some days.

We will untie and spit the world for donimation purposes

2008-08-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my friends on ravelry for the fun blog title!!

I started something new today! Who, me, start something new? Wow, what a rarity. I started the KAL for the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group on ravelry for September. We're doing Porphyria. I love the way the gloves looked, and the pattern is well written. I am having a hard time doing the k3 into 3 that the pattern calls for. It's hard on my hands. I'm doing them two at a time on two circulars and I LOVE it. It was a little confusing at first (and I still sometimes get confused...) but I love how much I've gotten done so far. See?

There are two swaps going on right now in that group. One is the Autumn swap, in which there are two groups, one that does a glove exchange and one that does yarn and a pattern for gloves. I'm doing the second one. My partner that I'm swapping to is Tasha, and she seems really nice! I'm excited to be spoiling her. I already know what I'm getting for her!

The other swap (sign-ups are still open!) is a Birthday swap. I'm hosting that one. The year will be split up into segments according to the season. (I realize that on the other side of the world it's a different season but... well... that's just how I'm doing it.) The fall sign-ups close on September 1st, and we'll be sending presents to each other. I'm really excited about that one. :) Go sign-up if you have a fall birthday. It'll be fun!

Think that guy has enough lamps?

2008-08-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I got lots of knitting done today. I cast on for this baby blanket from Lion Brand which is knit on a bias (I actually started to do the pattern on my own but started over with theirs because I like the way theirs starts better). I actually did change one thing about the beginning. The first inc row is supposed to be k3, yo, k2 but I didn't like that. I did k2, kfb, k2. Much better. :)

The yarn is bernat baby jacquards, and for a 100% acrylic yarn, this stuff is pretty good. It's not squeaky at all, and it's really soft. It feels a LITTLE weird but I like it. I LOVE the way the stripes look so far. Obviously, the striped sections are going to get smaller, but that's ok. My friend Rachel said to me today, "Is that a blanket for your imaginary baby?" which for some reason seriously cracked me up. Yes! It is. Just because he's not conceived yet does NOT mean he's not loved. It's not his fault he's just a little bitty egg, right?

Anyway, I got new yarn today! It was yarn that was being clearanced because there were no more of that dye lot at the shop. It's one skein of Lorna's Laces Shepard Sport, in Irving Park, and one of the same yarn but sock weight in forest.

LOVE them. Can't wait to work on them. Unfortunately, I must finish some things before casting on for something new. If you would see my projects page on ravelry... phew. And of course, there are a couple of things not on there... like, for example, the Mystery stole. :) Here's my swatch. That's right. I made a swatch. Like, first time ever. Except once to see how yarn would felt, but I turned it into a coaster so it wouldn't ruin my image as the no swatching goddess. Or something like that.

Which beads do you like better? The red/copper ones or the gold ones? By the way? That's the yarn I dyed. I was going for silver. And I would have to say I rock. It's slightly heathered but silver all the same. :) Yay for dyeing!

Are we not funny anymore????

2008-08-25T22:46:00.001-07:00

Ok, I know I just blogged but I can't believe this... I totally forgot to post about my booga bag! I finished it!

The yarn is patons classic merino in "too turquoise" and black. My only complaint is that I made the handle too short. Even though it was 6 feet before felting... it shrank a LOT.

But I love it! Yay! :)

Old people don't reproduce

2008-08-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

She said "Let there be dye." And there was dye.

And she saw that it was good.

Hehe, sorry. I felt all giddy and god-like earlier. Cause I created that yarn. (Well, not from scratch. I didn't spin it or anything...). It is PERFECT. It's exactly what I hoped it would be. Silver. I mean, it's not dry yet, but based on what I've seen so far, It is awesome. The yarn is knitpicks bare lace weight. The dye was the Jacquard acid dye from knitpicks, in silver gray. I wanted the yarn to be silver so that I can use copper or gold beads on it for Mystery Stole 4. If you like knitting lace, I would seriously suggest you sign up for this. Because at worst, you won't like it and will rip it. Or not have time for it. But even if you don't have time for it, if you sign up in time, it's free, and that pattern will be for sale later.

Anyway, today I dyed my new yarn, but before that, I watched Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring (for the 100th time probably) and made a pair of Saartje's booties (pdf). I love them. I did not love seeming them. Or sewing on the buttons. I didn't like the way the loop of the original was done, so I changed it and added a little crocheted chain. Which I also hated doing. But look how cute they turned out!!!

The yarn is leftover lorna's laces from my Spirogyra's. The buttons say "baby" because those are the only four matching buttons I had that were small enough that weren't plain.

And finally...

N is for Nails! I know, I skipped N before, going straight to O but... well... I forgot about it lol. ETA: Actually, I lied. I didn't skip N, but I did forget about it. I did n is for nose! Thanks Heather for pointing it out! So...now I have two? :) Anyway, my nails are a point of pride for me. I could NEVER have nails before. Even if I got them done it was painful (because of my cuticles being chewed) and they didn't last. But look at them now!

All ten of them are like that! It's sooooo awesome!! Thank you, knitting. And on the seventh day, she rested. ;) That's what I'm gonna do now.

That'll make anybody's hand hurt

2008-08-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hey there peeps! What's up? Wanna know what's up here? More obsessions. First of all, I started an entrelac scarf. Danica, from Knitty. I'm in love so far. I haven't gotten far but... well, I learned to knit backwards and for some reason knitting backwards hurts my left hand. A lot. So it's slow going.

It's SWS (of course) in Natural earth. Love love love it. Love. Did I say that I love it? Well, I do.

In other news? Stitch Markers...

Are coming...

Out of my ears.

Ahhhh!

Don't worry, I hadn't started to lose my clothes yet

2008-08-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hehe, that title just cracks me up... So, I've been all about the cotton lately. I can not get enough, as witnessed in the last post. Since then I've made 3 dishcloth type things. The first was using the baby genius burp cloth pattern. The second one was a garterlac dishcloth.

The third was this thing called a tribble (No pic yet). And I've cast on for another garterlac one. I'm also going to make a crocheted one... which, I actually might do next instead of the garterlac one. It's called an"Oh so soft baby washcloth," and I really wanted to do it in the Bernat Cottontots, but I can't find it anywhere, so I'm going to do it in normal cotton, but just for a washcloth, not for baby lol. So, with all that in mind...

O is for... obsession. That's right. Obsession.

On the left is a lot of my cotton. Not all. A lot. There are still 5 or six balls of cotton ease (what? It's for the baby blanket. Remember it?), and a few other balls that I couldn't find. On the left is part of my sws collection. Only part because... well, the rest doesn't fit on there and... well, I'd prefer for Angie to not know exactly how obsessed I've become. Honestly, I've got it under control. Promise.

Anyway, Dave got me some of these things....

To keep my knitting supplies in one, and my beading things in another if I want. Beading you say? Stay tuned. I've made a LOT of stitch markers in the past week. I'll be blogging about them in the near future.

That's what happens when you make cookies by yourself

2008-08-19T13:53:00.000-07:00

So, you know those days when you get out of bed and soooo wish you could just go back to bed and never come out again? Well, this is SO not one of those days. :) I got paid today, and I went shopping. I bought some yarn...

Ok, I may have been a bit liberal with the word "some" there. I got a lot. I got nine balls of peaches n cream cotton, to make dishcloths, and two balls of patons sws in natural earth to make an entrelac scarf. I already had one. That orange and black cotton is going to be Halloween dishcloths. Angie says that it's impractical because you won't get to use them much, but I said seriously, who's going to know what dishcloths I'm using? Plus, I like em, so there. So now I'm going to go make some stitch markers (I'm getting really good - so good that I'm thinking about selling some) and eat some pixie sticks.

I'm not going to eat them all at once. Really. Promise.

And look! Oliver really likes yarn.

He was sleeping on it before he was so rudely awakened. Hehe, I'm off to get high on pixie sticks!

I have Foxy and nowhere to put it

2008-08-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have lots of new stuff to share with you guys today. First off, I have a new friend that I met at my LYS. Her name is Jen. Hi Jen!! (Say hi guys. Srsly. She's great.) I went to her house today to hang out and knit (which is so awesome... I have a knitting friend that I can hang out with in person!) and to swap some stuff. I traded her a bunch of straight needles for some yarn. She gave me some patons astra and some crochet cotton...

I told her that Angie might want the crochet cotton, but I think I'm going to keep it and make my mom a tablecloth. She also gave me six balls of wool, for felting.

It's called Vail Homespun and it's a little too itchy for most things, but I think it will make a cool felted purse. I had a really good time, and it's great to finally be hanging out with new people. Yay! And she's part of a mom's group, so when I get pregnant I'll get to be too! So exciting. And? The house across the street from her is for sale. We might look into buying it. How awesome would that be? I'll tell you how awesome it would be. It would be... well... awesome. Yeah.

Anyway... we have this yarn at the yarn shop called two fold by rozetti, and it's in these speckled colors, and Jen and I were wondering how it would look knitted up... so Joyce (the owner) gave me a ball of it on the condition that whatever I make gets to be displayed at the shop. So I did.

I made a simple rolled brim hat. It's pink with lots of different speckles. It kind of reminds me of a bird's egg, what about you?

Last but not least, I made some stitch markers for a friend. I can't tell you who. It's a surprise and she reads this blog. They're made from the dice beads that I got in Gatlinburg.

I love the way they turned out, and I may have to see if I can order some more, or find some online somewhere. I'm going to make another set for Jen. What have you all been up to?

I have to admit, sewing the monkey's boobs on was quite a challenge

2008-08-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm really really far behind on my ABC-Alonging, so I thought I'd post today and start getting caught up. Soooo...

N is for... NOSE!

This is a picture of a nose. It may or may not be mine. Use your own judgment. Suffice it to say I did take this pic.

The reason behind the nose pic is twofold. 1.) I am a VERY nosy neighbor. I spend a good deal of my time sitting in my office, and anytime anything goes on with my neighbors, I know about. I also know what all my neighbors drive, and like to play the "Who's car is that?" Game. I also strongly suspect that one of my neighbors is having an affair. Just sayin. :)

2.) My nose? An integral part of my face. Without it, I would look funny.

Thought I'd also share with you today the baby blanket I'm making. It's called "X's and O's."

Any guesses why? :) I'm making it out of Plymouth Encore worsted, in dark lavender and light yellow. I love it. It's made in strips, so that's two of them, side by side. I'm going to sew them together using I think blanket stitch. If that's the stitch that you can see when you sew them together. I'm also going to do a blanket stitch over the squares that aren't actually sewn together, so it looks like it was harder than it was. :) And I'm going to add a backing. I'm hoping to find a fabric that matches and has X's and O's or something like that. So cute.

Ok, I'm off to the grocery store.

Oh, by the way... head over to ravelry and go to the Fingerless Gloves fanatics group, and if your birthday is in the fall, sign up for the fall birthday swap. You know you want to.

Thunk?

2008-08-10T23:46:00.000-07:00

Hello there! How is everyone in the interenets? Just a quick post to show you that I actually do care about you! So, I have kinda forgotten about the ABC-Along... I'll start getting back to it tomorrow. But I haven't forgotten about knitting!!

You probably can't tell, but that is a baby sweater. Not just any baby sweater. It's Daisy, from Knitty. I just finished the right front. And hey, look, a sunset!!

Oooooh. Hehe, every time I hear "Ooooh" I think of that part of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (movie) where Barty Crouch Sr. goes "The Chinese fireball, oooooh."

Ok, that was a totally short and random post! You can all get back to your regularly scheduled blog checking! :)

Because you can't pet a live acrylic

2008-08-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, the Ravelympics are upon us! Probably getting more worldwide attention than the actual Olympics lol! Being the trendy person I am (yeah, right) I decided to play along. I am making my friend Wendy's Under the Rose fingerless gloves and I have to say, I don't think they're going to be enough of a challenge. The problem? I LOVE them.

Love love love love love them. And I want to keep knitting on them all day! However, they're the TINIEST bit too small for me (I have big wrists) so they may end up a gift. So, if I DO finish them both, maybe I'll make a pair for myself? I'm making them in Baby Ull which is a 100% merino wool fingering weight yarn and it's soooo soft. Baby soft. Really.

I'm making them in navy and white, but the pair for me may end up red or pink and white. I'm not sure yet. Anyway, I have discovered that I have a bit of an obsession with two color ribbing. I was sad when it was over. :( But it looks so good!!! I love it.

Wendy? You ROCK!!

You know who else rocks? Dianna, aka Knitasaur, a friend I met on Ravelry. She heard that I hadn't bought my copy of Under the Rose yet and she knew I was going to do them for my Olympic project so she BOUGHT IT FOR ME!!! I have never been so happy! I felt so lucky! Aren't my friends the awesomest??? I LOVES them. Thank you again Dianna!!!

Wow, I must be hyped. I used a ton of exclamation points and question marks... lol no more caffeine.

Anyone else doing an Olympic project? Whatcha doin?

If I'm signing away my soul, I'd like to know it

2008-07-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, first of all, I have to tell you that the blanket of last week is no more. It has been ripped and restarted. I couldn't stand the way the wraps looked. But it's restarted now, so it's all good.

In other news, I acquired a tin of buttons today from a lady... at my lys. Her name is Carol and she was going to sell them in a yard sale but I took them off her hands. As you know, I love buttons, and now I have like a thousand. Or more.

Srsly, that's a lot of buttons guys... we're talking, mountains. They smell though. Not sure why. It's weird. Anyway, last week I finished something! I know right? Crazy!!

It was the Spirogyras that I was making for a KAL for the Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group on Ravelry. They're made from Lorna's Laces Shepard sport in Tickled Pink, and I have some modifications, but they're not important. Just made them the length I wanted. :) Besides finishing those, I've been on a crazy knitting spree all week. I made an entire Sheldon since Tuesday! All I have to do now is put his shell together, put on his eyes, and add his legs, and he'll be all done. Here he is so far, sans legs, which are actually done, just no pic of them. They look like little finger covers hehe...

I love love love him. I'll post a finished pic whenever I finish him.

Anyway, I've decided to make next week UFO week. I'm going to finish Sheldon, finish Eden, Finish a baby blanket or two hopefully, naybe finish a pair of socks...basically, if it's on the WIP list ---> by tomorrow night, it's fair game. Anyone think I can do it? :) Casue I have my doubts, being the president of the startitis club... actually, the VP, Angie's the president.

Look, a random picture!!

It all started when she came back from Mexico

2008-07-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! First of all, everyone stop what you're doing and wish Angie a Happy Birthday!! She's 23 today. Yay!!! *singing "Happy Birthday to you, you live in a zoo..."* Ahem.

Next, I can't believe I almost forgot to mention this. I got my package from my Gryffindor swap last week! She was soooo much more creative than I was. First, on the outside of the package, the return address said "Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry" which was just really cool. Then inside the package was this.

That is "Charmed Knits" which I'm very excited about, since I didn't have it before; the yarn to make "Hermione's cable and bobble hat" which is in that book; Stitch markers that look like little wands made out of gryffindor colors, which came in a little "vial" labeled "Polyjuice Potion"; and a couple recipes (for Pumpkin Pasties and Shepard's pie) on what looks like the parchment they use in "Harry Potter" to do their homework and stuff. I am so very happy with my package, and need to send out a big big thanks to Selah for it! Thank you!!!

I also got a little bit done today (not much... my hand was seriously killing me yesterday after all the knitting so I had to stop...) on the Pastel Pinwheel baby blanket. I thought I'd show you guys how it works. So far, anyway. It looks a little weird where you pick up your wraps but that's ok. I think it kinda looks cool.

The yellow will go above the big purple section. I think those colors look nice together. What do you think?

And, for your added enjoyment... *drumroll*

Mattie!!!

In Mexico, they don't ask questions

2008-07-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Today at work (yes, I said work... I can't tell you about it yet, can I? I mean... I was waiting for a picture of it... I'll give you another hint. I have really fun but boring days.) I was really bored. There were a total of like, 6 people there all day. So, I cast on for a baby blanket (that's a really unhelpful ravelery link since there's no picture. It'll be COOL though. You just wait...). I was so bored that I finished almost an 8th of the blanket. The directions were really confusing, because there are very weird things going on with short rows and edgings and... it's just weird. I'm using Encore Worsted in light yellow, light purple, and a minty/pastel green color, which sounds weird, but I wanted gender neutral and that's just hard to do with three colors. Anyway, here's what it looks like now.

And just for you all... a Picture of Oliver the kitty.

How is everyone?

Go to Mexico; they don't ask questions there

2008-07-10T18:26:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, I have a new addition to my family! Want the story?

So, my dad called me today and said that he had rescued a cat. So I'm thinking "Ok, dad, are you on something??" Because... well, he hates cats, and he's got a bad hip and can't really walk and... it just doesn't seem like him. So when I get there, sure enough, there's this little tiny orange baby Garfield looking cat. (by the way, I'm trying out using flickr for my pics on the blog.)

So, my dad asks me if I want him. I'm thinking "Uh, no..." See, I have a cat, and two dogs, and you're only allowed two pets at my apartment. See the dilemma? But... I couldn't help myself. I fell in love with him. Look at him!!

He's so precious, and little...

Soo.... we're keeping him. I think his name will be Oscar, but I'm not sure... I keep calling him Oliver. Hmm... Mattie is a little too much in love with him... we think she's jealous. She stares at him all the time.

Storm doesn't seem to care. And Lily... ya know, the other cat? She doesn't seem to like him at all. She slept all day (I know, she's a cat, but... she slept more than usually) and she hasn't eaten yet today. And, she hisses at him every time he comes close to her. She actually acted scared of him, like, she runs from him. Very strange...

Anyway, today, M is for something different than what M was going to be for. It was going to be Mattie, but, I've changed my mind. M is for Malabrigo! I know, everyone's probably doing it, but... this is my first time using it and I LOVE it. Love love. Love. I made
A Better Bucket Hat out of it using "Velvet Grapes" and it. Is. Awesome. It's soooo soft and I love the colors...

I'm going to begin the search for an appropriate button. :)

Hey, if you haven't done it yet, check out my friend Wendy's Shop. She makes amazing stitch markers, and she makes patterns too. I bought a set of stitch markers. I'd show you but then I'd have to kill you. Actually, I just have to find them first... anyway, you're free to go now, so go forth and visit her shop!!

Toxic Pickles!

2008-07-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, well for DAYS there I was meaning to blog and it was this sweet post with pictures of Storm, to celebrate his fourth birthday, but... well, my scanner isn't cooperating, and that was bumming me out. So, no blog post.

But, remember how I skipped J? I have one now. I just have to get a picture of it. It's big news too! I'll just have to wait until hopefully Friday, if I remember to take my camera. In the meantime, I'll give you a hint. Some of you already know. It involves yarn, and money. And it's awesome!

Ok, if you didn't get it from that? I can't help you.

Anyway, onto the knitting front! I have been getting knitting done. For starters, I finished a spirogyra, that I'm making as a fingerless gloves fanatics KAL! You should totally join us. This is me, enabling you. I think I said it before, but the yarn is a pink colorway of some kind (don't remember the name right now) of Lorna's Laces Shepard Sport. I LOVE it. Love love love. I normally don't like pooling but this time it was all good. It had a really cool affect.

I'm also about an inch and an inch of ribbing away from being done with a cabletini. I don't have a current pic, but here's one of it nearly at the heel.

I love this pattern. Easy to memorize, as it's only four rows, but not TOO boring. Ok, a little. But not much.

I also re-cast on today for the bucket hat. And hopefully this week I'll work on the elephant of doom. What else...

Oh yeah!! I started a fingerless glove design. It's something I don't think I've seen before. It has cables... and color work. I know, right? freaky... I'll let you know the scoop as it progresses. For now, peace out!

Psychedelic Snake eye!!!

2008-06-24T21:08:00.000-07:00

The other day, I showed you a picture of a half finished blue thing. Well it turns out, ganiggle is a cheater, but she did guess right. It's Celtic Memories, the bag pattern that she designed. I'm making it out of knit picks Wool of the Andes in arctic pool heather. Here's another pic of it with the buttons I got the other day at my lys. They're celtic knot buttons. I think they'll look awesome with it.

So lately, I have had the WORST possible case of "Startitis." Be careful, it's very contagious. In the past week, I cast on for Celtic Memories... and at least 4 other projects. I say at least because... well one of them has disappeared. I may never know what it was.... I honestly forget. Oh well. :) So, I cast on for my Better Bucket hat from the other day... but had to frog it. You know that rule, join, being careful not to twist? Yeah well... I think I overlooked that or something. It was twisted, and I didn't notice until... well, let's just say I should have noticed by the time I did.

I also cast on for my first pair of socks for the Summer of Socks 08. I'm making Wendy's Cabletini socks, (pdf) with my ONline supersock stuff that I got a while back. Here's what it looks like so far.

The colors are more intense than that. Think eye-searing. They're BRIGHT. I LOVE them. Check out the toe, as viewed from the end. If you're creative enough...

That becomes a psychedelic snake eye! Awesome!

I also cast on for a pair of Spirogyra's from knitty. I'm using Lorna's Laces shepherd sport in tickled pink. I'm loving these. The pattern is really easy to memorize. The only thing I hate is doing a yo at the beginning of a needle. That just irks me. But I like the way it looks so...
And last but not least, I cast on today for a pair of gloves by Zortified from the fgf group, to test knit them for him. They're called "Notwoven Fingerless Mitts." I love this pattern. It's very clear, and quick! I did all of this today!

I am to the end of the thumb gusset, which means I am about done. Dave wanted fingers for his mitts, and I can't put them in these because it would be too thick, being worsted weight, so... If he doesn't like them, I guess I'll keep them. :) It'll offset some of those other bright bright colors I'm working with. The yarn is Knit picks wool of the Andes in arctic dove heather.

Oh yeah, and I also am doing a Gryffindor Swap (holy linkage batman!! Sorry ganiggle... you're contagious too apparently...). I think my partner will be extremely happy with what she's getting. I hope at least. :)

Next time, on "Yarn Mafia." We find out just what, exactly, M is for.... Stay tuned!!

Without knitting, you're just another primate

2008-06-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hey, look, new stuff! First, my order from the Loopy Ewe came in already! I just ordered it... I think Wednesday? That's just awesome!

That's a skein of malabrigo in velvet grapes, a keychain sized sock blocker, and a loopy stitch marker (that last one was a free gift.) I'm soooo excited to start my better bucket hat (ravelry linkage). I hate the way it looks there, but check out this one. I love it, and I'm about to wind my skein into a ball now just so I can get started. :)

Also, I got one of these...

So that I can make icord without all the work. I love the way they look, but I HATE knitting them, so it becomes waaaay too much work. Maybe I can teach Dave to do it and HE can make the icord for me... :) I tried it out, and it works ok, there's just a learning curve to it.

And it's a new project. If you can guess what it is you win! What do you win? Why, congratulations of course! ;) Have a good evening!!

How do you spell cannibal?

2008-06-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

L is for... Library! Ya know, that place where I get all of my books? I've been spending way too much time reading lately, not enough writing or knitting...

So that is, from the bottom up... Circus of the damned by Laurell K Hamilton (LKH), Knitted Toys, Mistral's Kiss by LKH, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee casts off, The Lunatic Cafe by LKH, Obsidian Butterfly by LKH, A lick of frost by LKH (am I sensing a theme?), The oxford companion to Fairy Tales, Three "how to" kinds of books on writing, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin, Stitch and Bitch Nation, Stitch and Bitch, Strange Candy by LKH, Blue Moon by LKH, and some book by Hannah Howell (I never read it and I took it back to the library already). Wow, that's a lot of books. The only one I'm not interested in is the Hannah Howell one. All the LKH one's are read already (I took this picture right before Vacation. Wow that's... a lot of books to have read...). So yeah. :) Way too much time reading. Must go knit now. As soon as I'm done with Obsidian Butterfly...

I've figured out that the ballons are too subtle

2008-06-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

I'm Baaaaaaack!!!!!!! I'm so so happy to be home. You have NO idea. Incredibly happy. I loved Tennessee but... dear god, all the mountains... and the family... it was just too much. It was a really wonderful vacation though. I loved it. It was fantastic. I'm adding the pics to my myspace page, if you have a myspace add me and you can see them. If not... well, I'm going to be putting them somewhere else too. Flickr doesn't have room for all 118 pics so maybe photobucket. We'll see. In any case, here's a preview.

Some mountains...
More mountains. (This one taken from atop a dirt hill that will soon be another cabin...)

And the place I spent a lot of my time (the swing).

I got lots of souvenirs, but no souvenir yarn. I couldn't find anyplace that sold yarn. It was horrible. I did get some nifty beads though.

And, I know, I'm short with the word thing, but here's a picture of what I did with my summer vacation. I learned to knit and read... and made good of it.

Confusion, hallucination... my kind of drug!

2008-06-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

No knitting content. I'm knitting but I'm not taking pictures of anything lately. I have a baby sweater otn that just needs the last bit of the button band and then the finishing and it'll be done. And I'm keeping up with Krystal in our KAL even though I've only been working on my blanket in fits and starts. So anyway, in lieu of actual knitting content I thought I'd do a cool little meme I picked up off of someone else's blog. Here's how it works:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker).

the questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What is one thing you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

1. A Little Lake, 2. Vegetarian Tacos even meat-eaters will love!, 3. Welcome to Hell, Bring your own bottled water., 4. ♫ YO Yo yo, there's no place like a green penthouse... so i told the genie i wanted to be well hung. ^o^ ♫ nah... wildlife from singapore♫, 5. Zac Hanson Walks With Fans, 6. Untitled, 7. - Middle-Earth? -, 8. oreo chocolate cake, 9. family day out, 10. Picture 006, 11. Knitter, 12. On being picky and fussy and colour obsessed

(note: I changed question #10 a little and I also cheated cause that's my photo but who cares. That's the only answer to that question I could think of that I could find a picture of. lol)

I look like I have some sort of hairy octopus on my head

2008-06-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. Just a quick post before bed (what? Me? In bed before 4 am?? *gasp*). I'm going to bed early because we're leaving tomorrow morning for Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a week with my husband's family. So, no posting for me until I get back, but maybe Angie will? Don't give her a hard time though, she's going through a rough patch right now. Think happy thoughts for her, k?

So, I promised knitting. I started a log-cabin baby blanket-along with Angie. We're both about at the same place right now, but we all know she'll kick my little behind. Not only can she knit faster than me, but she's like a garter stitch making queen! I didn't think I would like this blanket, but I'm LOVING it right now. I can't get enough of it. I started it Wednesday. Here it is so far...

I'm using Lion Brand cotton ease (so is she...) in Snow, Lime, Taupe, and Violet, and without thinking about it, I set my colors up to look exactly like the one in the Mason-Dixon Knitting Book. It's going to be BIG and I'm VERY happy about that.

Other knitting news, I can't take a picture because it's already packed, but I'm almost done with my first Eden in the real yarn, and I hope I finish them so I can wear them in the mountains!

Anyway, I'm getting off of here so I can go to bed now. See you guys in a week!!!

Oh by the way... look at what my husband did to my poor dog!!!

Nah, monkeys are too hard...

2008-06-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I'm stealing a blog post idea from Melanie at Pink Lemon Twist and doing a meme from the point of view of Storm... mainly him because Lily is taking so much of my time that he feels left out. (There has been knitting. Tune in tomorrow. Hopefully.)

So, here it is! :)

What were you doing 10 years ago?

10 human years ago? I wasn't born yet. 10 doggie years ago I was... hmm... living here without that stupid cat that hisses at me... and playing with Mattie!

What are 5 things on your To Do List for today, in no particular order?

Chase Mattie around the house
Pick up something for mommy (she drops stuff all the time)
Play fetch with my duck skin (It's not a real duck skin... I just tore the intestines out of my stuffed duck)
Beg for food at dinner and maybe get a scrap
Eat all of my food and all of Mattie's food, and then see if I can reach Lily's food to eat that too.

What are some snacks you enjoy?

Doggie cookies, chips, leftovers from dinner, cat food, and the stuffing of stuffed toys.

What would you do if you were a millionaire?

Duh! Buy the ocean! So I can swim in it allllllll day!!

List the places you've lived:

Presque Isle, Maine
Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Hey, everyone let their dog do a doggie meme! It's fun!! :)

It'll slip right into that milk jug

2008-06-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, what's up? Want to know what's up here? YARN! I've gotten so much yarn in the past two days... fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a very fun ride. :) Jumping right into it... 9after a brief pause to wonder about the metaphor... if we're wearing seat belts, how are we jumping? hmm..)

This is the yarn I got yesterday from knitpicks. (The idea just occurred to me that most people don't like to share every little yarn purchase. Well... isn't that just sad. I mean, don't we all like to see what everyone else got?) Anyway, From top left to bottom right, that's gloss in the woodland sage colorway, for my Edens; Wool of the Andes in arctic pool heather and dove heather, for my Celtic Memories bag (I couldn't decide which to get, so I got both.); and then shine sport, in sky and river, for Sheldon. Yes, a blue turtle. I know. Turtles are green. Moving on...

This is today's yarn acquisition. Is that the right word? Anyway... lets do it like this. Start at the left and then go across the top, the middle, and the bottom. Lorna's Laces shepherd sport, two skeins, one in tickled pink and one in Devon (I'm not sure what I'm making with these... probably fingerless gloves); a skein of OnLine supersocke 100... which I had never heard of but I loooove the bright colors. Click the picture to make it bigger and check out those colors. So bright. Next is a ball of Noro Sock, color 180. I like the colors, but I don't know how much I like the base yarn. But curiosity killed the... wait, I'm not a cat. Anyway...

Next, you on the next row, is a ball of patons sws in natural earth. For no reason other than to have it. I have a bit of a problem when it comes to this yarn... Next to that is four balls of cotton ease, in violet, lime, snow, and taupe, for a log cabin baby blanket-along Angie and I are going to do. And then, finally, a skein of BRIGHT blue cascade 220. Phew. That's... a LOT of yarn. No... that's a LOT of linking! Ahhh! :) I obviously have had a bad week and needed to spend all of my money on yarn. What else would I spend it on though, really?

Other than buying yarn, I have been knitting some. I even finished a cuff for Eden yesterday. See?

Well, that's just part of it. You'll have to take my word for it that it's done though. I love this yarn. So pretty. I'm in love with the color.

And also, I can't come up with anything for the ABC-along for J, so, I'm skipping it. I'll come back to it soon. I promise. I do have a K though.

K is for... Krystal! Duh! :)

I need two skeins of yarn and a hooker

2008-06-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hello there, peeps! What's cookin? Not much here. Mostly just more reading. I'm trying to read the Anita Blake series in record time. The series is so. good. I love it. But in my free (read: non reading) time, I did manage to finish the two fishies, which are now lost to the wilderness (read: my apartment mid spring cleaning). I stuffed one with a crinkley ball and some stuffing and the other with cat nip and some stuffing. She definitely likes the cat nip.

But of course, she loves everything. Her current favorite past time? Trying to get me kicked out of my apartment. (We're only allowed two pets. She makes number 3.)

But, she really likes the window sill, so... what are you going to do? :) Anyway, I also finished Eden number one. Sort of. Here it is pre leaf cuff.

And the palm...

And after sewing on the cuff (which wasn't NEARLY as hard as I'd imagined. Really. In fact, it was much much harder to knit the 10 rows of ribbing. But then, I hate k1p1...)

The problem? The cuff is a little too small. Which ruins the way it fits. It's ok though. I'm going to unattach it, and make another one with one more leaf. Or maybe with size 3 needles. I don't know. But I do know that it would fit if my arm was smaller. But it's not. So... there ya go. It's ok though, I'll fix it. Later. Sometime. Now, cross your fingers and hope my yarn gets here tomorrow so I can start the real gloves. :)

Yarn Mafia

We've moved beyond the frozen di*dos

It's only funny when there's no blood involved

I do not need a penis hat

You enjoy your hate; I'm distracted by mine

I'm distracted by my hate

Bam! Boobies!

What is in the frog's crotch?

All sea monkeys must be supervised

Criss Angel is not the messiah!

It's a very tangled web of Kahootsness

You are 46% Bacon

You're a zombie, haha!

It's like playing charades with a blind person!

Mickey Mouse... wanted to kill them.

Baked goods don't give YOU this much trouble...

Man... you can't fit an alpaca into a bubble mailer

It hurts me when you get the lint

Never underestimate the determination of a wet cat

Rollercoasters don't come with safe words

The oxyclean guy sells insurance now???

Go forth and Snap!

I take the giant alligator thing very seriously

Yes, I'm knitting doilies with foil

Rum goes with everything

Without It You're Just Water

It's like I've died and gone to monkey heaven

Yes, most of the time we are half Norweigan

It doesn't matter how much you make that noise, I'm not barking at you

I'm helpless in the face of blueberry pie

Man, that was worse than roasted garlic in my eye

Muzzy! I'm not insane!!

You Must Pay to Anger the Tortoise

Yes, chicken nuggets are made out of Satan

Think of the poor toeless wombats

Take your wombat toes every day to keep the crazy away

Better embarrassed and knitting that not wither.

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

Since when do turtles go "roar"?

I have magic spit!

You can't have the king neutered

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

Taylor Hanson's my cult leader

You probably have to go to Mexico for that

That's actually not as weird as the brother thing

I am many copycats

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

You're all like, dude and stuff

Not every carpenter is Jesus!

When have I eaten a telephone?

And by then, I'll be in Mexico

No, you can't chew koolaid

No! The scrubbie things will hurt me!

I hate knitting boobles too

I look like I have some sort of hairy octopus on my head

I'm all mmm brains if I try anything else

Stick people shouldn't poke each other with sticks

So... my soul mate is a cartoon baby?

We will untie and spit the world for donimation purposes

Think that guy has enough lamps?

Are we not funny anymore????

Old people don't reproduce

That'll make anybody's hand hurt

Don't worry, I hadn't started to lose my clothes yet

That's what happens when you make cookies by yourself

I have Foxy and nowhere to put it

I have to admit, sewing the monkey's boobs on was quite a challenge

Thunk?

Because you can't pet a live acrylic

If I'm signing away my soul, I'd like to know it

It all started when she came back from Mexico

In Mexico, they don't ask questions

Go to Mexico; they don't ask questions there

Toxic Pickles!

Psychedelic Snake eye!!!

Without knitting, you're just another primate

How do you spell cannibal?

I've figured out that the ballons are too subtle

Confusion, hallucination... my kind of drug!

I look like I have some sort of hairy octopus on my head

sigh I'll get the hose...