Saturday, November 7, 2009

A revelation!

I have taught myself to knit backwards!!! It saves so much time now that I dont' have to flip the project around. It's awkward when I have to purl, but when I'm working in garter stitch, its amazing!

It's perfect now that I've started playing around with modular shapes in a vaguely vision of a blanket. I say that because I know i will probably get tired of working on it so it will probably never actually become a blanket.

Friday, October 23, 2009

<3

I love knitting. I love reading about it. I love doing it. I love talking about it with my knitting friends! I never would have thought that back in 7th grade when Mrs. Edwards brought in someone to teach us to knit that I would fall so deeply in love with it.

My scarf is coming along nicely. I have a name for it already but I am still undecided about charts or written instructions. I don't really have a program for charts, but I'm certain I could do something equivalent in photoshop. I really enjoy using a chart when I knit, and I know that is what I would prefer, but I also know there are knitters out there that do not prefer charts, even despise them. Hopefully in the next month or so I will be able to get the pattern written down and posted for all to enjoy!

Yesterday I spend more money than I should have. I went to walmart, for lack of a better place to go, and bought a skein of yarn that I've been wisting after to make a pair of fetching for myself. I also bought a ton of fabric because it was on sale and I really really wanted to! I managed to wander down the magazine aisle after that and I bought myself a magazine too! I absolutely love looking through magazines! I love the patterns, even the ones I would never dream of knitting for myself, and I love taking it home and poring over the articles. I even love looking at all the ads! It is my opinion that nothing in the world could be more perfect than the knitting magazine in all its splendor, except perhaps that softly beautiful skein of yarn in the perfect color.

My crazy watermelon scarf is almost done. I've been working off and on for a while now and since the weather is growing colder I have decided I need to finish it. Of course, that means I will have to start a new project that is easy and I can work on while I'm working, but that shouldn't be a problem for me. :)

Life is good, though I have so many ideas and dreams that sometimes I think they might all burst out of me!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Getting my butt in gear!

I finally kicked myself in the butt and started something original. I have such a bad habit of aspiring to larger, intricate sweaters and non-realistic projects unless I want to spend every waking hour knitting. So yesterday on my day off, I got tired and frustrated and I started a new project! I wanted to do something quick with the herringbone fagoting pattern that I've been playing with so I started a scarf! I knit like a maniac yesterday, with a little cleaning thrown in there (HURRAY ME!) and I've got about a third of it done.

I'm doing it in a lace weight yarn, which is taking forever. I might knit up two scarves, one in lace and one in sport weight to show what it looks like in different gauges. Plus the sport weight is going to go a lot faster than the lace weight. I hope.

It's really a simple project, though I think it looks pretty complex. I'm pretty sure it will be a free project since I've been trying to up my free projects so that more people become interested in what I'm knitting.

I may try to work up charts for it, as well as written instructions since some people don't like charts, but that seems like a lot of work. I haven't decided yet, and since I'm only partway done with it I can think about it for a while.

I'm so excited to finally be working on something again. I've been back and forth on starting on new projects since I've got so many in progress right now, but I've decided my original designs should take precedence over the others I'm knitting. I really want to work on it nonstop like I did yesterday, but I'm afraid if I bring it into work that I'll screw it up. Better just to knit like a maniac while I'm at home. I'm so excited I might not get any sleep for a while!

Friday, September 25, 2009

New stitch pattern

Fagoting - noun, an openwork decoration of fabric in which thread is drawn in crisscross stitches across an open seam.

I am in love with a stitch pattern. It is open and beautiful and amazing. I'm having so much fun imaging ways to incorporate it into designs.

It is much more workable in the round. The only issue I have with it is that when you work it flat you have to work a yo followed by a P2tog. I find it a little awkward, but I'm not used to working YO's on the WS of the work.

I'm trying to work a suitable ribbing to openwork ratio. I cant decide to do knit 4 purl 2 ratio since the pattern is 4 stitches but I'm not sure if I like it. I kind of want to do alternating plain ribbing with the pattern so I don't overwhelm a piece. I haven't decided. I'm in the process of swatching and seeing what I enjoy. I'm so excited!

I really want to make socks with it. I think the pattern would look cool with alternating ribbing and the herringbone fagoting. I have to figure it out though. I'm totally stoked. I have so many ideas, but I'm such a procrastinator. I hope I actually work on something this time, and not just talk about it.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Not what I expected.

I thought after you get out of college, things got easier in some respects. You had more free time, you got a better job, you started living life instead of trying desperately to work through school and having no free time.

I'm just not seeing it. I have more free time now that I'm graduated, but it seems to be filled with more mundane things, like laundry and dishes and housework. I was envisioning coming home from work and enjoying hours of yarn and knitting time. It's sad to realize it isn't the fiber paradise I envisioned.

I don't know if its just the economy or if I'm unhire-able, but the better job isn't working out either. I finished my test for the position at western, but I'm not anticipating getting a call. There were about 5 other people taking the test for the same position while I was and I completely sucked on my typing test. No one seems willing to call me or offer me a position except the one that required absolutely no skills at all. What a bummer.

I think I just need to get out of this funk. Any ideas?

Friday, August 28, 2009

Too much!!!

Everything is happening at once, it seems!

Good stuff!

I applied for a job at western and I'm testing for it on tuesday! Hopefully I do well enough on my test that they call me for an interview and I get the job. I'm tryin not to be too hopeful but I really want this job.

You gotta take the good with the bad though. I applied for a job at the ethanol plant in canton where my best friend brandy works. She thought they were hiring but it turns out all the wanted to do was hire on the temp workers so they didn't have to pay them as much. I was really excited cause she was sure she could get me a job. Sadness. No job there.

Job hunting just sucks. Its discouraging, especially in this economy. I think if I don't get the job at western and nothing turns up soon then I'm going to apply to teach english in a foreign country. I really have nothing holding me here and since I'm young and adaptable then I can hang out for a year and teach english and then maybe come back and get a job once the economy is better. THe only downside to that would be my cats. I'd either have to convince someone to take them or I'd have to give them away. I would be sad, but I don't think my cats are a good reason not to take a chance if I get it.

On the bright side, I have cast on a ton of new projects. I'm starting to crotchet a blanket. I'm pretty sure it won't get done anytime soon, but its a good way to get rid of acrylic yarn.

I'm working on one of my original designs. I need to try it on right now before I can work more on it, but it's going well. I just need to not be lazy and put the stitches on waste yarn so I can finally see if my math was correct.

I still need to start on my second sock, but I started a project for a cabled band purse that is double stranded for durability. We'll see how that turns out.

I've been working on some other projects too, such as some scarves I've been ignoring. I'll still only do a few rows here and there, but its progress at least. I really need to update my ravelry page with all of these little projects, but I still can't get flickr to work and thats really frustrating me. Eventually I'll get productive and work everything out, but for now I'm kind of down about the job hunt. I figure if starting new projects helps me not feel sad, I'm going to start new projects.

One last happy thing! A few weeks ago a I found out about a guy named Matt Held. He paints portraits off facebook profile pictures. HE IS AMAZING! I decided to friend him and join his group and he painted my picture!!! He's been getting so much publicity lately and its amazing for him! This project of his is really getting him some attention and I'm so happy. His last interview was on ny1.com and it featured the picture he painted of me! It had a lot of other people too, but I feel a little like a celebrity! I really wish I lived closer to Brooklyn where he lives cause I'd love to go see his upcoming show! If you are on facebook check out his group cause he really is talented!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

SSS

Alas, second sock syndrome, like second sleeve syndrome seems unavoidable to me. Maybe it's because I'm just not in love with the yarn I used. Or maybe its because I just spent two hours looking at knitting patterns and I now have more than i'll ever knit or crotchet in a lifetime.

Why is it that knitters and crotcheters alike seem to have this urge to stockpile. First it starts out as yarn, lovely mountains of soft, cuddly yarn. Then once you have the yarn you find patterns to look for the yarn, but the patterns just don't fit the yarns you have, thus you spend more money on the perfect yarn for the pattern. Its a vicious cycle, one I personally am doomed to for life.

I am very proud of my addiction to needles and hooks and the wonder that is turning a long piece of string into something beautiful. I want to convert the world, one stitch at a time!!!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Sudden urge!

I have almost finished my first sock! I'm knitting the on-your-toes socks by ann bud and its soo cooool!

I decided yesterday that since it was my day off I would do something specifically for me that I wanted to instead of just unpacking and being dreary, so I cast on for my first pair of socks. The middle eastern cast on kind of scared me a little, but after a couple tries I got it no problem! The heel is done in short rows so that didn't bother me, but I do have a couple of small holes, but for a first sock I'm so proud!

It's done in Patons Pure Wool Crepe in burgundy that a friend gave me. I didn't want to use some of my good yarn in case it turned into a disaster and I had to throw it away, but its turning out great! It's also done on US 3 needles instead of teh US1 the patter calls for. Usually I'm a tight knitter so I don't know how this one happened...

Pictures!



Just a couple holes in the heel...but that's ok!


More pictures to come when I'm finished! Hopefully I don't succumb to second sock syndrome...

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The internet is out to get me...

My flickr account isn't working. It makes me sad. No matter what computer I use, the first file gets to about 10% and then stops. No matter how long I wait, it stays at the same percentage and my photos don't get uploaded. I finally took pictures of some projects that I needed and I can't upload them.

Also, for whatever reason, whenever I start typing an address in the address bar, it won't recognize it or it takes 20 minutes to find it. Grrr. I think I may just be oversensitive to that though.

As a side note, I've been following several threads on ravelry about why people knit their own socks. I am intrigued, and I might actually start my first pair of socks soon. Every time I think about it though, I tell myself I need to unpack a little bit more. It gets me unpacked, but i'm itching to start a new project!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

A lot has happened

Wow. I am currently moving. It's been long and stressful, but good. The new place is nice and has nice ledges in front of the windows for the kitties!

I never realized how much yarn I had and how I carried it everywhere throughout the apartment until I had to pack. I tried to be organized and put crafty things together and kitchen stuff together, etc, but I didn't realize how scattered I really was. Even now with all the furniture moved out, I'M STILL FINDING YARN! I think teh kitties have dragged it under the furniture, but still. This is a little rediculous. I really need to stash bust, hard core.

I also need to work on my organizational skills, but that's another story entirely.

Monday, June 15, 2009

COFFEE IS GOOD!

I just find it amazing what a little coffee in the morning does for my mood. It's only 10 o'clock and i'm happy and bubbly, instead of dead on my feet. Course, it might be the friends and the ravelry thrown in there as well, but I'm surprisingly chipper for a monday. Yay coffee!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Too many patterns, too little time

Summer is here, and all I want to do is knit. I've started the beautiful frost flowers and leaves shawl from a gathering of lace, but thats a stay at home project. I really love doing a few rows each night and seeing the pattern bloom!

I really really want to start a spiderman blanket, but I just don't have the time for two big projects. I have so many things I want to start, and I no longer want to finish my drop stitch lace tank because I spilled something on it. White yarn and orange stain won't go well together. Plus the yarn is not good to work with like I'd hoped.

I really want to buy a cotton blend or bamboo yarn to make the lotus blossom tank, but I have so much yarn already. I hate giving it away because I know as soon as I do then I'm going to think of something to make with it. I get too attached too easily.

I really have to think of things to do with my novelty yarn, but there are only so many rectangles you can knit with ultra fuzz before you want to pull your hair out. Camera cases maybe?

I really want to start focusing on some of my ideas for designs, but between work and my other projects, there just isn't much time.

Sometimes I feel like my life doesn't have enough time to get everything done. Between work and stuff around the house and two cats that want every second of my spare time for loving and groceries and laundry... the list goes on.

I guess I'll just have to give up sleep!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

New career aspirations

I got a new camera!! I got a D90 from Nikon for a graduation gift and I'm so excited! What I would love to do is specialize in shooting hand knits, but I know thats a little way out there.

Honestly though, who would showcase stitches and textures better then someone who knows them as well as the knitter who made them?

I'm trying to get one of my friends to let me shoot pictures of her after she blocks her shawl but she won't get her blocking wires until after we're on summer vacation. I'm hoping she has some other projects she hasn't photographed yet!

The really nice thing is that I pulled a muscle last week, so through the vikoden haze I get to knit a lot! The pain sucks but the forced lack of movement of my leg makes for great knitting time!

Friday, April 17, 2009

New project!

I decided I was bored last night. Unfortunately for me, that means I started a new project. I started then after I got about an inch on The Drop Stitch lace tank, I realized my gauge was way off so I started frogging.

It was a blessing in disguise. After I was done, I realized I didn't have as much of the yarn I had been using as I thought I did, so it probably would never have been finished anyway. I was going to start with a different yarn so my gauge would match a little better, when I decided I should probably finish one of my other multitude of projects. With only about an hour of work, my peacock stole was done!!! Hurray! Now I just need to find a suitable place to block it... Pictures to come though!

I still had time before bed, even after a bath, for a little more knitting so I cast on for the lace tank again!! Hurray!! NOw I have several projects that are super fun!! I'm so excited that I finished something and I got to start something new!!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

OMG VICTORY!

For spring break I went to new orleans to visit my little brother. He is externing with Chef John Besh at the restaurant August. My mother and I flew down there, and I am proud to say I made it through security with my knitting needles in tact!!!

I felt a thrill of victorius pride that they hadn't looked once at my needles! Then on the way back they once again overlooked my suspicious(to some) cargo and my needles and project were safe!! I feel like a dork, but I'm so glad my Samus wasn't subjected to some rude treatment.

I got to knit while I was down there as well as on the plane which made me happy, and New orleans is fantastic!

Pictures!





Me knitting at an old blacksmith that had been converted to a bar. Yay Bourbon Street!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Knitting existentialism

I knit a lot. I'm known as the girl who knits. But somehow I never have any knitted projects that are finished. I know I give a lot of them away, and the several knitted wearables I finished aren't really wearable at all. They are too big or the wrong color for my complexion. I feel like I'm always knitting and never get anything done.

I knit a lot of small projects to combat this feeling, but then I end up with a lot of small projects that I never use and therefore get lost. So then I'm back to feeling like I never knit.

It's an interesting dilemma that I've come across. The solution, I think is that I need to finish something I can actually wear, even if it means no more little projects for a while.

Or I just need to knit a lot more, but as much as I like knitting, I like sleep more...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

couple new projects

I've started a couple new things, including another hat for someone that was supposed to have it before break.  Ooops.  I started doing it in teh round then I realized the design I wanted to do on the front wouldn't work in teh round, so I've started doing it side to side and slipping a stitch in the back so it will still be all in one piece.  It's kind of a pain, but hopefully it will turn out ok.

I also started another set of headphone sleeves for one of my friends, but I don't know if she's ever going to get them.  She's kind of gotten sort of arrogant and patronizing the past few weeks and she really pissed me off yesterday, so we'll see.  I hope everything turns out ok.  Either way, the headphones are going to be cool.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Knitting gremlins!

So shortly after returning to classes, I had a brillliant idea!  Knitting gremlins!!!

They are the cause of all knitting related accidents, including but not limited to losing needles and other notions, dropped stitches, and missed repeats!

If you happen to be an avid knitter, they follow you around and reek havoc in the rest of your life as well.  Non knitters can be found with knitting gremlins, but generally they don't interfere in non knitters lives.  

I got bored at work and even drew a picture!!



Enjoy!!!

Friday, January 16, 2009

The Adventures of Knitter Girl!!

After much debate, and surprisingly little alchohol, I am unveiling my superhero identity as Knitter Girl!!

After playing with several slogans, I have come up with "More effective in winter!"

Basically my friends and I are dorks and drank too much caffeine. I got cold and she gave me a blanket with snaps around the edges. My first thought was to make it a cape and Knitter Girl was born.

She knits you socks that are too small! And glorious wool sweaters, then felts them around you!!

How devious.

I'm seriously contemplating knitting a mask to go along with her and making her my idea for a halloween costume. I know halloween is forever away right now but if I'm going to knit the majority of my costume (and with a name like Knitter Girl, how could I not?) , then I might want to commit to something now.

Also! My friend is getting married this summer and she wants to know if I'll knit her veil. I was all like, HELLS YES!!! so I'm totally excited about this!