Adventures and exploits with yarn, knits, crochet and other crafts.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Mark My Works



Here's an embroidered tag that I created to add to whatever projects I give/sell to someone in the future. I used the font from the upcoming "Where the Wild Things Are" movie.

And fyi: I shortened my last name to match my shortened first name.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Knits, knits, knits and needles

Okay since our phone call yesterday, which was so extremely helpful and I can't thank you enough for explaining the Springtime Bandit chart to me, this is what I have so far.


Not gonna lie, I did have to frog it twice before I finally got through the start-up chart, but I definitely have the hang of it now. It's gonna be so pretty!
















In other news, this is the hoard of needles I bought off ebay for ten bucks last week. They range from 1-15. I think the only way I'd feel more excited about getting a bunch of needles this cheap was if I got them for free, ahem haha. What kinds of needles did your grandma's collection include? I don't think you ever said.

I can't wait 'til my circulars arrive!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!

I am going to cast on for this beauty right now...It's totally inappropriate that I should be doing this, considering I have significantly decreased my needle supply since so many are in use right now.

Terrible.

And yet, like any true addict, I sat down, found this, unrolled some yarn, got the great math mind that is Carl to help me reduce its size for my yardage. And here I go!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Non-knitters say the darndest things

To inject a little humor into your day, here is a list of a few amusing quotes my obsession has incited. Most of the time, anonymity will be maintained to protect the naive:

"Why did the baby llama have to die for you to knit a tie?" While props for the poet-and-don't-know-it rhyme of this one, it is always a treat to run across someone who doesn't catch on right away to the idea that the animals are getting haircuts and not skinned. I've had the equivalent of this one more than once--including others who have claimed to have been told not to buy certain yarns because the age at which they shear them...kills them? What? Quickly dispelling this rumor is the only appropriate course of action, though the bleeding-heart naitvite is to be respected.

"I thought moth balls came from moths" This, along with its other variations of "Why are you freaking out, it's just a moth?" or "Why can't you put that in the washing machine?" stem not necessarily from the ignorance of the speaker, but from a cultural shift in which we have almost completely stopped wearing wool fibers, because of cost and ease of production (Why buy 1 really good sweater when we can buy 10? Woo-hoo consumerism!) so mostly introducing this person to the superiority of wool is the best course of action. Bonus: Take advantage of the green trend to note the better-for-the-environment properties of wool over oil-fabric. Burning Question: How exactly does one imagine a moth would go about creating a moth ball?

"Will you knit me a...hat, scarf, onesie, snuggie etc.?" Any knitter gets this--how have you handled it? This goes along with the related question "Why don't you sell your knitting?" (It should be noted that I think the whole "don't sell knitting you made with my pattern because its my copyright" thing is bullshit) I don't sell my knitting though, because I don't think the hours of work could ever really be compensated. Usually I just suggest the person pay for the yarn (totally fair, also ensures they choose it) and bring me over some wine to enjoy with them (which makes me also like them more and want to knit for them). Some people I just love so much they get knitted things without those two processes--they know who they are.

"I realized today that dreadlocks are felted hair" While wholly unique, and almost shocking in its perceptiveness, strange statements like this from non-knitters are to be revered and respected. People who apply knowledge learned from your knitting to everyday occurences have internalized respect for the knits. Keep them around. Also, statements like that are really funny.

OK, this one I'm just going to be frank and say that it was Andrew, but it's more of a reflection on his sense of humor and my lack of skill on skinny yarn. In response to my asking if I had joined a sock, in sockweight yarn, on size 0 needles without twisting it: "It looks like one of those Escher paintings". I clearly had a sneaking suspicion (OK, was 90% certain but wanted some validation, some sense of hope) that it was twisted, one never hopes one's knitting will be compared to an impossible object.

Well there you have it: Any silly phrases from your friends?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Strings n' Tings (but mostly strings)

I am glad to see that some finished objects have managed to emerge from your ADD bout; I, however, am still roaming aimlessly around the land of non-commitment. The thing is, though, that I really don't care. I just keep picking up yarn, scouring pattern sites, and casting on things and I haven't been remotely distressed about my lack of finished product. I blame it on the heat--oh damn, I haven't finished my tunic yet. As though I'd be wearing a 100% wool A-line with a long sleeve shirt underneath in 80 degree weather. Maybe when the heat is gone (literally), it'll be on (figuratively) for finishing these things up.

But in the meantime, there's no harm in taking a look at the many things that are lying around unfinished in my apartment.

First up: The Cabled Kanga Tunic. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why there are only 2 people knitting this on Ravelry (me included). I think it's one of the most unique pieces in the latest Knitscene, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. The yarn I chose was the Berroco Peruvia the pattern called for (not heinously expensive, by the way) and the color is the prettiest purple. It's practically a neutral its so muted, but when you're up close you can see the heathering of the yarn, and variations of pink, blue, and yellow come out. Gorgeous.

The pattern has been pretty easy thus far. Despite some ambiguity in when to decrease toward the top, it's been no problem. This is just the back of it though, which I have about 15 more rows on and it will be DONE and I can start the front, with the very exciting, very adorable pocket. So, of course, being this close to completing something, what do I do?

Cast on for this cowl. It's the State Fair yarn. The pattern is a lace repeat the is worked on decreasing needle sizes (8 to 7 to 6 to 5). Unfortunately the hairy mohairy-ness of it all is making it slightly difficult to keep track of where I am within the repeats, and I've had to frog some rows (the whole thing after the first repeat, ugh).

So that naturally being frustrating (though looking very pretty) I merrily moved along to this:This is my swatch for my Heather Hoodie Vest. In a freakish moment of luck, I got stitch gauge perfectly, but row gauge was slightly off. It shouldn't be a problem though, since the pattern is mostly based on measurements and blocking. In any case, I cast on for that, promptly got pissed at the cable pattern (a set up row mistake, plus lame symbols) and moved on. I don't have a photo of the scarf I've been knitting on the bus though (a post in itself) so maybe I will post that when I write about my bus experiences. Suffice it to say, another thing was in the mix. I also bought yarn/swatched for the Emerald Isle Cardigan, but my stitch gauge was way off, and that puppy is tight enough already.

Today, I am going to finish my second handwarmer, goddamit!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

I tend suffer from project ADD most of the time, which means if something takes a long time, I am very likely to get bored of it after a while.

Exhibit A: The baby blanket.

Even though this should have only taken me about three days to make, working on it exclusively, it took me about two weeks due to boredom (though on day four and 3/4 of the way I realized that I had a huge fail side and frogged the whole thing and started again). The second time around everything was much straighter (I just kind of flopped it down to take a picture, so don't be mislead).


I still haven't decided if I'll put flowers or any other embellishments. I'm waiting for some inspiration. I have two months before I'll be seeing my cousin, so I definitely have some time.


I find the perfect remedes to project ADD are hats. They can be challenging and interesting and take much less time then other projects.

So I have two to show, though I've made four in the past three weeks (and some other things, but I'm waiting for pictures from the people I gifted them to).


First up: The Durango

I need to put up some embellishments on this one as well, but I don't think it looks unfinished without them. I usually prefer slouchier hats, but I like the vintagey-ness of this pattern.








Next: The Retro Rings Tam

I fell in love with this hat as soon as it was completed, no lie. I think the yarn is partly what did me in. I think its Red Hart: Collage. I totally missed a row while I was crocheting it, but I don't think it's lacking anything. I'll definitely be wearing it most of the time this fall.





I've decided to not allow myself to crochet for at least a month, because it's been ages since I've knitted.

First on my knitting list is this pretty vest.

That's all for now, hopefully next time I'll post all those things I gifted.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Moving

So knitting time has been greatly reduced lately by the insanity that is moving. We moved into a new apartment, subleasing from a professor. However the good thing about that is that I get my own space dedicated solely to my crafting. For starters, my sewing machine is finally set up.

Here it is in all its glory, surrounded by a mountain of my acrylic yarn, 99% of which I got for free from my grandmother. Unfortunately, none of it is really worth putting any significant time into it. However, I was able to crochet Andrew and his friend two pretty sweet Renaissance caps for the festival they're working at from the brown yarn (each during two wine-filled evenings).

In any case, it's not sweater or hat or really even scarf yarn. I'm thinking pom-pom rug.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Next up we have a very special place for my actual stash, which is so beautifully remaining contained in a single tub of yarn, with my needle box on top of it (aka, the floor).

What has been knit with this recently though? Aha! Moving and unpacking also bring out things that got buried under mountains of stuff, and today's find was (*drum roll*) my first pair of socks, made of Cascade Yarn that I got in a local yarn shop during one of my "reconnaissance missions" (on sale) when I first moved here.

Naturally they're for Andrew, as I've been diligently working away on "pretty socks" for myself made out of sock weight yarn that will probably be finished some time in the next year. But I wanted to give some quicker socks a try and this is what I came up with.















I think he wears them well. Stay tuned for a tunic update.