Happy Christmas!!

Christmas is over and it was amazing!

Harmony needles and wool, what more could you ask for? Except for a kitchenaid mixer my life is now complete!!

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year where families gather and enjoy each others company. In my families case, we get together and annoy the crap out of each other, but it's all in good fun. It's less about the actual gifts and more about the spirit in which they are given, but all too often people forget about that. So sad. I hope everyone got to spend time with the people they love and enjoyed the holiday spirit!

Finally, a FO

I finished a hat!  It's really bright.  I picked the most obnoxious colors ever and made a hat and it actually looks ok.  Well, minus the radioactive neon colors. 

I actually lost my other noro hat, which makes me sad, but this hat only took 2 days to finish, and now my ears won't be cold!!!

It feels good to have something done.

The end of the semester, and the monster called laziness.

I really need to get pictures up.  It's not that I don't want to.  I just don't want to go through the effort of taking the pictures, uploading them to flickr, then finding them on ravelry.  I'm such a lazy bum.

It doesn't help that I have a ten page paper due thursday.  Arg.  I just don't want to do anything anymore.

Kittens and Turkey

I finally have a glove finished.  One Glove.  I keep trying to knit but stupid things like work and school get in teh way.  Thanksgiving was good but I haven't knit as much as I would like and I had the stomach flu which no one likes.  I have a ten page paper due in a week which I haven't started on, but christmas break is almost here.  Hurray!  No more impending projects or papers!!!

I have started an illusion scarf for my coworker Neil (very cool, puts up with me very well, which is good cause I can be a real bitch) and I'm going to knit armwarmers for my other coworker if she ever picks out the yarn for them.

Almost Thanksgiving

Wow! I completely skipped a month in there!

Between classes and rehearsals and work there has been very little time to knit, much less do anything else. I've finished a project or two, started a bunch, and generally looked forward to the end of the year and thanksgiving break.

I started a pair of gloves with Paton's lacette. I found it at the dollar store!! Dollar yarn!!! I love it! Only one glove is done but I'm going to put the other on hold for a while as I finish a scarf I told a friend I was knitting him for christmas.

Life is crazy, and I really have no excuse for that, it just saddens me that there isn't more time to knit...

Tired of the same old thing

School is stressful. And it takes too much time. I have no time to knit, and when I do, I have to work on the blanket. I want to finish my Sahara. I want to start a new project. I want to stashbust at least a little.

I know I'm whining a lot, but I feel like no matter how many shapes I knit, I'm not getting anywhere on this stupid blanket.

I shall perservere, but I needed to whine a little bit to make myself feel better. Off to knit another shape!

School begins

So school has started again. The last year is a little terrifying, knowing that all too soon I'll be out in the real world working full time.

Homework has begun as well, and add marching band in the mix and there is not a lot of time for knitting. I've put a lot of my projects on hold, especially the ones I'm designing : ( , but right now if I have time for knitting, I want it to be something easy and less stressful then frantically wondering how many decreases to put into the waist shaping (and yes, I do find that stressful and more then a little frantic, though I don't know why I do). So it's the easy little projects that keep me going.

Annoying yarn

So I'm doing my sahara in Royal Bamboo from Plymouth yarns. It's a really nice yarn, a little splitty but a gorgeous yarn. I only have one problem with it.

In 2 of the 3 skeins I've knitted up so far I've gotten halfway through it and voila, a knot in the middle joining 2 strands.

I hate that. Absolutely hate it.

I know why they do it but if it happens again, I will never buy this yarn again. It annoys me enough that I cut off the knot joining the two strands and knit it as two separate skeins which makes more work for me but the finished piece turns out better.

Who in their right mind doesn't get that knitters and crotcheters don't like knots in the middle of their skein?

Sahara is started!

So I finally started my sahara. I love this pattern. It was the first pattern I ever bought (EVER!!) which of course led to other patterns but this one holds a special place in my heart. I have been waiting for the perfect yarn to complete the pattern and I think I finally have it. I'm doing it in a lovely bamboo yarn that makes me melt. Great pattern, great yarn, I may never leave the apartment!

I do have a conundrum though. I cannot decide how to attach my pentagons for my friend's blanket. Truly, I have a long time (till April 21, 2009) to finish it, but it's something that bothers me every time I look at it. Do I crotchet around each shape then join them and if so what color? So I just use the numerous ends to whipstitch them together? So many questions....

Top down ladder hat

Size

One size fits most adults

Materials

1 set US 6 double pointed needles or size needed to get gauge

1 US 6 16" circular needle

One skein Noro Kureyon or aproximate amount of another worsted weight yarn.

1 stitch marker

Tapestry needle

Gauge

16 sts/28 rows = 4in square in stockinette st

Pattern notes

The ladder pattern is made up of a multiple of 10 sts

Knitted flat:

Row 1(RS)- P1, K8, P1

Row 2(WS)-K1, P8, K1

Row 3 - P10

Row 4 - K1, P8, K1

These 4 rows make up the ladder pattern.

Directions

CO 3 sts onto 1 double-point needle. Distribute them evenly among 3 needles, one stitch per needle.

Rnd 1: Place stitch marker and join in the round by knitting 3 stitches into the first stitch. Do this by knitting into the front, back, then front of the stitch. Knit 3 stitches into each stitch. (3 stitches per needle)

Rnd 2: Knit

Rnd 3: (Kf+b, K1, Kf+b), 3 times (5 st per needle)

Rnd 4: Knit

Rnd 5: (Kf+b, K3, Kf+b), 3 times (7 st per needle)

Rnd 6: Knit

Rnd 7: (Kf+b, K5, Kf+b), 3 times (9 st per needle)

Rnd 8: Knit

Rnd 9: (Kf+b, K7, Kf+b), 3 times (11 st per needle)

Rnd 10: Knit

Rnd 11: (Kf+b, K9, Kf+b), 3 times (13 st per needle.

Rnd 12: Knit

Rnd 13: (Kf+b, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K1), 3 times

Rnd 14: (K4, P1, K8, P1, K1), 3 times

Rnd 15: (K3, Kf+b, P10, Kf+b), 3 times

Rnd 16: (K5, P1, K8, P1, K2), 3 times

Rnd 17: (K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, Kf+b, K1), 3 times

Rnd 18: (K6, P1, K8, P1, K3), 3 times

Rnd 19: (K5, Kf+b, P10, Kf+b, K2), 3 times

Rnd 20: (K7, P1, K8, P1, K4), 3 times

Rnd 21: (K6, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, Kf+b, K3), 3 times
Rnd 22: (K8, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 23: (K7, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 24: (K9, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 25: (K8, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 26: (K10, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 27: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K5, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 28: (K1, P1, K1, P1, K7, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 29: ({K1, P1} 3 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 30: ({K1, P1} 3 times K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 31: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K3, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 32: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K5, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Switch to circular needle when convenient.

Rnd 33: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 34: ({K1, P1} 4 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 35: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K3, Kf+b, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 36: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K5, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 37: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K4, Kf+b, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 38: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 39: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 40: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 41: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 42: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Rnd 43: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P10, K5), 3 times

Rnd 44: ({K1, P1} 5 times, K6, P1, K8, P1, K5), 3 times

Repeat Rounds 41-44, 3 times.

Work in K2, P2 ribbing for about an inch.

BO in pattern. Using the tapestry needle, weave in ends.

Abreviations:

K- knit

P- purl

Kf+b- Knit into the front and back of the same stitch

CO- Cast on

BO- Bind off

The perfect pattern

Finaly, I have decided on a pattern for my friend's blanket. I'm doing some pentagons that are knitted modularly and sewn together after. I don't know how many it's going to take, but i've decided to call it firmly rooted. I can't wait to see it grow!

Another new project

Sometimes I get so frustrated with my knitting. I just want to knit so I start a new project then the next day I feel bored with it so I start another one. Sometimes I just feel so constricted by knitting someone elses design. My hands itch to knit, but nothing seems good enough. Nothing seems exciting enough. I look through my entire ravelry queue but what once looked amazing holds very little appeal anymore.

The solution? Look through my notebook with all my scribbles in it and pick a project to start on. I know I dont' need to start another project, but sometimes you have to go with the challenge of starting something new and creating something unique.

My newest project? Another knitted dress. I know I've already knitted one, but I feel like I need something with more structure so I've started one with cables! I love cables and I know I haven't worked on my Samus for a while, but the thought of doing those cables just doesn't hold any appeal to me.

Ravelry Love

Dear Boss,

I must inform you that I will be eating my breakfast at my desk every morning starting immediately. I have decided that the time previously devoted to breakfast every morning will be better spent on Ravelry.

Have a great day.

Some FOs

I've been kind of busy for a while with work and summer music theatre has started up so I'm running around trying to get my fingers into music mode again. But here are a few more bracelets and such that I've made. My mom already stole them so they are no longer in my possession.

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday so I engaged in some yarn therapy with my newly acquired ball of Noro Kureyon and made myself a hat! It's kind of random and completely ungraceful, but it's got a little point at the top (just a little one) which makes me giggle and it covers my ears!!!! This is very important. I hate hats that don't cover my ears. Here is my top down ladder hat!!

The point!

From the front

Lying flat

And a close-up of the ladders!

My favorite part about the hat and the yarn?

THE COLORS!!!!

Love the colors, love the yarn, love the hat!! That's a lot of love for one hat.

I hate laundry...

...but surprisingly it can be very productive. I made a cute new bracelet and earrings today while waiting for the dryer! I love them and plan to make more with all the beads I have lying around. Here are pictures!

Beginner's Lace Scarf

The scarf in the photos is done in a bulky weight yarn.

This zig-zag scarf works well in all weights of yarn, looking intricate and delicate in a laceweight and warm and decorative in a bulky weight.

The lace pattern is really easy to memorize and looks impressive!

Beginner's lace scarf

CO 17 stitches (3 lace repeats and 2 edge stitches).

Row 1(RS): K1, *ssk, K2, YO, K1,* repeat from * to * until last st, K1.

Row 2 and all even rows: Purl.

Row 3-7 : Repeat Row 1.

Row 9: K1, *K1, YO, K2, k2tog,* repeat from * to * until last st, K1.

Rows 11-15: Repeat Row 9.

Repeat rows 1-15 until desired length. BO.

To make the zig zag more or less pronounced, simply repeat Row 1 and Row 9 more times or less times.

Dress details

The top is based off of knitty's tempting. I started mine from the top down though because I really wanted to be able to tell how long the skirt would be. The ribbon ties on the inside, mostly because I can't tie a pretty bow on the outside, but also because I didn't want the bow to show. I'm weird like that sometimes.



The skirt I simply divided up into 10 sections and increased one stitch every other row until it was as long as I wanted. It took a long time and I got so impatient, but I'm glad I did it that way because I really like it.The edge I knitted on and it took longer then the entire skirt!! I got the edge out of Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge (I love that book!).

I added ribbing along the sides for a more fitted/ stretchier look, but it turned out kind of sloppy. The waist shaping worked out but because I added the ribbing it kind of stretched it out and made it completely pointless. You can see in in this picture a little bit.

Some crazy picture my mom took. Please disregard if you think I'm too crazy.All in all, I'm very pleased with it. It's a very heavy piece of work, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I'm going to try to do another one, this time without the ribbing down the sides and maybe in a finer yarn so it's not so heavy. I might try writing out a pattern for this if anyone expresses any interest.

I can't wait to wear it again!!!

Finished!!!!

I'm done!!! I've been knitting a dress from whatever whim carries me and I'm so excited because I've finished it! Unfortunately since I've moved into my new apartment, we don't have internet yet, so once I get pictures it could be a while till I can post them. :(

I've decided I'm going to frog that blanket and do it in a more modular pattern so I can add the border later. I figure that will be less of a hassle for me and more fun to work on then rows upon rows of boring stockinette. I can't wait for pictures!!!!

Tired

So, its been a while since I've posted, but I've been through a lot.

I've gotten about a foot done on the afghan which isn't very much, but hey, its coming.

The saddest thing is that on Monday, my car died. I got it towed and I think its a problem with the transmission, which means big bucks. Erg. Just when I think I can save a little money, something goes wrong. On the bright side, the guy who towed it to his shop thinks its something really simple and really inexpensive (versus a transmission rebuild anyway), so here's hopin!

I wish the school year was over. Is it summer yet? (or even spring?)

Stupid weather

So, the weather has been really screwy around here lately, with a lot of highs and lows. Well, I have this really bad habit of leaving my yarn lying around strange places, and when I was done with a skein, I threw it behind my computer against the window. The other day when I was below freezing, I was cleaning my room and tried to move the skein, and found it frozen to my window! So what did I do? I took pictures.

Enjoy.

New Levels of being a dork

So, apart from starting the afghan for my friend's wedding, I finally started my Samus and I love the cables. They are so much fun and look so nice!

So I ran into a problem when starting this afghan. I didn't have any circulars big enough. So I went to the yarn shop in Macomb and looked around. I bought a size 36" size 6 circular but after casting on some stitches and doing a few rows, I realized that even that wouldn't be big enough. Well, 36" in any size was all they had, so I was stumped. I didn't know what to do until I searched craftster and found you could make your own!!! I got really excited and I did it! Then I made a couple more for my friends! It's so awesome but I'm am such a complete dork for it.

Another new start

So I've finally started a blanket I've meant to give to my friend at her wedding. She's getting married in June or July but I wish I'd started it sooner so that I know it will be done. It's going to have a leaf and/or nature pattern with creams and browns and greens. Both her and her fiance really like nature and those natural colors so I can't wait to see their faces when I finally get it done! I was originally going to double knit it, but I figure for my first afghan, I better start out with something a little more manageable.

I got my wool of the andes in from Knitpicks, and I already know what I'm going to make out of it, but for some reason I can't seem to make myself cast on. It's very strange, but I'm going to make myself pull out of it soon.

Finished

So I finally finished my double knit scarf for my friend, and I'm so glad. Double knitting takes a long time and isn't particularly interesting when you're just doing two colors and no pattern. Because of this, I got bored halfway through the non-striped part and added a few more flower things. Here are the finished pics:




It's done with Caron Simply Soft and US 6 needles. It was really interesting to learn this technique, and I wouldn't describe it as difficult, just very picky. If you don't do things just so, it doesn't turn out right.

A little spend happy

So, I've gone on a spending spree just a little bit on some yarn. I really haven't had money to buy much over summer break or even last semester, so it's nice to have a little disposable income, so when I see yarn on sale or a great deal on it, I usually buy it.

Thus far, I've bought some wool/cashmere blend on ebay for around $15 for 1100 yards and some local wool and alpaca, but today I couldn't resist. I bought some Debbie Bliss Pure Silk yarn because it was on sale and I love silk yarn. A couple of days ago I bought some Knitpicks Wool of the Andes as well because I really want to start on my Samus and I had the money, so I figured what the heck.

I still need to finish Ari's doubleknit scarf which is almost done, but I'm just tired of working on it right now. I'll do a little more tomorrow and hopefully finish it this weekend. It's really soft and comfy and she absolutely cannot wait for it to be done, especially since it snowed this morning.

I started yet another project because my Human Sexuality teacher said I could knit during class! The class meets once a week and I explained that it was nice if I had something to do with my hands, and she told me to sit in the back so I didn't distract everyone else and she didn't care. So I had to start a no brainer, garter stitch stole that I could work on without even looking at it. I used some of the novelty yarn hanging about since Mom and I bought a bunch of it on Christmas Eve anyway.

Classes are underway so it's hard to get back in the swing of things. I have so much to do and all I really want to do is knit!

New Project

So I'm back at school and the first week is always money central, spending it as fast as you can on various over-priced books and notebooks.

I've finished Bella and now I'm trying to decide what to start on next. I bought some lovely wool yarn that I've decided I want to make socks out of, but I'm hesitant to scour the net looking for sock patterns. I really want to start Samus (Knitty) but I don't really want to spend more money to get the yarn to make it. I think I'm just going to buckle down and spend the money before I realize how much I've really spent and just get it over with.

Natural is good

Hurray!
Finally after waiting all break, I got my scholarship check!!!
This means I have money at my disposal (not really a lot, but a little bit). I decided to splurge and buy more yarn, even though I really don't need it. I bought some wool/cashmere off of ebay, then visited the Fiber Station in Glasford and had a great time. Marie was very nice and we talked and had fun. She gave me an abbreviated lesson on spinning which I plan to use in the future and I got yarn!

Before I say any more, I decided last year that I was going to strive to work with more natural yarns. Wool, alpaca, bamboo, and anything else that wasn't acrylic or polyester or rayon.

Well, after visiting the Fiber Station, I am now the proud owner of Alpaca and Wool yarn! The best part is that it's all made locally which is good for our economy! I'm very happy!