A blog about my life, knitting, and other stuff.

December 29, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

We say it a lot but it's true. Sometimes the look on the model's face is all the commentary a design needs.


"Moooooooommmmm, can I go back inside now?"


"When you are not looking I will eat your favorite shoes."


"I want a divorce."

December 27, 2011

198 Yds. of Heaven




Pattern: 198 Yds. of Heaven by Christy Verity
Yarn: Cascade Eco Duo, 1 skein
Needles: US8 Addi Turbos
Notes: Knit as written. It's quite petite but can be worn as a neckerchief when pinned. The yarn is delicious but a bear to rip out.

December 22, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Sometimes a designer thinks a pattern needs that little something to make it special, to help it stand out from the crowd.



The one thing I'll say for this pattern is it certainly stands out.

Now I'm off for a double feature of Idle Hands and Evil Dead II to work out my strategy for when those hands become sentient and start killing people.

December 20, 2011

It Was Supposed to Be a Hat



Pattern: Improvised
Yarn: Universal Dolce Merino, 1 skein
Needles: US5 Addi Turbos
Notes: This is a FAIL that ended up cute in spite of itself. I started this at a movie, intending to make a hat to donate to charity. I knit the bottom garter band and joined in the round and knit up. At some point I realized that it was HUGE. Far too big to be a hat. I decided it would be a cowl. Then ran out of yarn on the top garter band (which was inexplicably at an enormously different gauge despite using the same needles. I put a small recycled glass button on the bottom band and I think it’s actually pretty cute.

Vogue Winter Preview

It's up. Other than a few nice accessories it looks overflowing with ponchos, capelets and blankets with armholes. Your thoughts?

December 18, 2011

Still Elusive

Three years later and that squirrel still just out of reach.


December 15, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

When I saw these photos I thought they were an entry into last year's Regretsy Skant contest.
 Alas, they are not.

 

December 14, 2011

As These Things Happen

I have been using my Wool Peddler's Shawl a lot recently. I keep it in my car and put it in my lap if I'm cool while I'm driving or bring it with me if I'm going somewhere I think I will be chilly. This weekend I was very happy to have it since I went for a walk and it was a lot colder than I was expecting. I had it wrapped around my neck and shoulders keeping me quite warm. Then it started to rain and I pulled it up over my head and stayed warm and dry until I got where I was going.

This has lead me to realize that I want some more big, worsted-weight shawls. I looked through my Ravlery queue and found Olatz. I received the pattern as a gift back in January from knittybarb on Ravlery. It would be lovely in the Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester Aran I got at the November retreat. I needed a size 8 circular needle. I went to my needle case and had none. Hmmm. Where could it have been? I searched my hibernating projects on Ravelry and found that I had started 198 Yards of Heaven last December as a gift but changed my mind about it for some reason. I never ripped it out so it was still on the needles. I searched and searched and eventually found it. Hmmm. It wasn't so bad. The Cascade Eco Duo is pretty nice. Hmmm...



Olatz? What Olatz?

December 13, 2011

Carnaby



Pattern: Carnaby by Nikol Lohr
Yarn: Tahki Yarns Designer Homespun Tweed
Needles: US6 Addi Turbos
Notes: I cast on 90 stitches and worked my short rows at 80, 70, 60, etc. I was worried it would be too short but it's probably a bit too long on me now.
I'm still struggling with how to wear it, what shoes, tops, etc. But I thought I'd give it a try today and see.

December 11, 2011

Slouchy Copy Cat Hat





Pattern: Slouchy Copy Cat Hat by Terra Jamieson
Yarn: Lana Grossa Evento
Needles: US7 Addi Lace
Notes: A small gift for my hairdresser. I thought she would want something simple but trendy. This is a nice, free pattern. I love the way it came out.

December 10, 2011

Simplest Mitts




Pattern: Improvised but I'm sure there are hundreds like this on Ravelry
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Verde Adriana and Paris Night
Needles: US7 Addi Turbos
Notes: I was wearing my Prairie Mitts at the shop last weekend and a customer said I should write up the pattern and teach a class on it. I don't know if I'll do that but I did think these would be great, fast holiday gifts so I whipped up two pairs in the last few days. I kept them short because I was working with leftovers and only had about 40-45 grams of each color. They are just garter stitch with a basic buttonhole for the thumb. If I had been a more diligent knitter I would have gotten out Knitter's Almanac and done a proper One Row Buttonhole.

December 9, 2011

Eight Years!

Holy cow, I started this blog EIGHT years ago. How is that possible? I want to thank you all for coming by and reading my thoughts, my rantings and general weirdness all these years. It means so much to be a part of this online world of knitters.

December 8, 2011

Embracing Her Thursday Side

Designer Deborah Newton discusses the reaction to her design, Hat With Wings.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Hello there.



What? You're quite muffled. I can't hear you.




Oh, you're trapped? Don't worry, I'll send for help.

December 4, 2011

To Photo or Not to Photo

I finished Carnaby over a week ago but haven't taken any photos yet. I can't decide how to "style" it yet. I bought tights in two colors. I don't feel like I have the right shoes/boots for it. There's nothing to be done for the footwear though. I have really wide feet and zero tolerance for shoes that are not completely comfortable which makes finding shoes that I like nearly impossible. In the meantime I've been knitting a Rib and Cable sock by Nancy Bush, a slouchy, faux-cabled hat, some handwarmers and my Cornflower shawl.

Wes is out singing in a concert tonight and I was making oven barbecued ribs for dinner for the kids and me. In the midst of my whisking around the kitchen I dropped, no, not dropped, flung, a glass dish of tomato sauce across one quarter of the kitchen. Amazingly the glass dish did not break but a large section of the kitchen was dripping in tomato sauce. I stood there for a moment and thought, "Should I take a picture of this before I clean it up?" But before I could make a decision the dogs swooped in to assist with clean up. I'm sure dried patches of tomato will be discovered for decades to come.

December 1, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

This series of photos answers an ages-old question.





"What does camel toe look like in reverse stockinette?"

Special thanks to Janet E for bringing this to my attention.

November 27, 2011

Snowshoe the Third



Pattern: Completely improvised
Yarn: Butternut Woolens Thick n Thin
Needles: US11 Crystal Palace circulars and Brittany dpns
Notes: I tried to use every last bit of the yarn here. I cast on with my reminder of the blue from the first hat and used up all of the yellow. Now this yarn is completely used up!

November 26, 2011

Toadstool Baby Rattle



Pattern: Toadstool Baby Rattle by Purl Soho
Yarn: Sophie's Toes (green) and unknown sock yarn (gray)
Needle: 2.75mm Addi Lace Needle
Notes: I decided to make a gift last night for a one year old's birthday party today. The invitation suggested as a gift, "What small item might she find while lost in the forest that she could safely amuse herself with." So toadstool rattle. I could only find one store nearby with the appropriate cat toy to go inside but it's larger than the usual ones so my mushroom cap is bigger and rounder than I wanted. It's a very cute, fast pattern. I would use a slightly larger yarn next time with the same small needle to make a denser fabric.

November 24, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This? Thanksgiving Edition

It's my Thanksgiving tradition.




Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

November 22, 2011

Kissy Kissy

My Miss Piggy eye shadow arrived yesterday. I was so excited to try it out this morning. Piggy's coloring is very different from mine. I wore my bluest shirt to bring out some blue in my eyes. I got out my pearls. Alas, I do not have elbow-length lavender satin gloves to complete the look. The weather is extremely gray and stormy which made getting a reasonable photo pretty hard. This should give you a little idea about the shadow color and also show how wobbly my attempts at liquid liner are.




Kissy kissy!

P.S. I'm really close to finishing my skirt but am trying to not overdo it and give my sore thumb a rest.

November 20, 2011

Two Worlds Collide



My love of Muppets and makeup have converged with MAC's Miss Piggy collection. I got myself the eye shadow though though I really want the lashes too. I have always wanted eyes like Miss Piggy. I had this poster on my bedroom door as a child.

Random Thoughts on a Sunday

  1. Last night, while talking with Wes, I went to give him the thumbs up for something I can't recall now. When I extended my thumb something inside slipped or popped or somehow got askew and I yelped in pain. I woke up on and off all night from the discomfort. Today still very sore. I haven't been able to knit and I am sad.
  2. I decided to get a little cooking done. I started a big pot of cioppino by chopping a large onion. I probably should not have worn mascara on my lower lashes today.
  3. While the cioppino was simmering I also made a puree of broccoli and cauliflower and some salmon onigiri (just cooked salmon and rice for the kids). They were looking really great until I dropped the mold on them. These two still look cute.
  4. I thought I was beginning to develop a really mean looking bruise on my injured hand until I realized that I had swatched some dark blue eye shadow while walking through Nordstrom earlier today.
  5. I am still obsessed with makeup. This week I got some Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner. It's very easy to apply, unlike liquid liner which I really struggle with, and it stays put all day. No sliding down my face or fading through the day. I also really like these Dream Mousse blush and bronzers. They are a fluffy cream-to-powder formula that is pretty much fool-proof to apply. They give a subtle sheen of color with the tiniest bit of sparkle. Ulta has them on clearance for $3.50 so I have three colors now.
  6. My Carnaby skirt is about 65% done. It's killing me not being able to work on it today.

November 18, 2011

Snowshoe Two




Pattern: Snowshoe Hare but seriously altered
Yarn: Butternut Woolens Thick n Thin
Needles: US11 Crystal Palace circulars and Brittany dpns
Notes: After I knit a few stockinette rounds I paused and knit the earflaps onto the hat. This allowed me to keep knitting the hat up and up and up until I used every last inch of the yarn. It's quite a silly hat and, like the last one, too small for me. Though I imagine this will become a child's holiday gift.

November 17, 2011

Interweave Knits Preview

It's up. I see some very nice knits. You?

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

This one has been in my Thursday file for some time. Every time I look at it my heart starts to flutter. I mean what fugger wouldn't get excited at a stream of consciousness title like "Amazing wide leg palazzo lace nude crochet peekaboo summer fishnet pant romper jumpsuit."




I can't decide what aspect of that turns me off more. But in the end I just keep thinking, "Honey, that thing on your face is called a necklace and it's supposed to go around your neck."

November 15, 2011

Snowshoe Hare Hat




Pattern: Snowshoe Hare Hat by Shelly Whitman
Yarn: Butternut Woolens Thick n Thin in Boreal Sky
Needles: US11 Brittany double points
Notes: This hat has several variations. This is the plain ribbed hat. I could have knit one or two more plain rounds (I had a little yarn leftover) and wish I hat because the hat is a bit short for me. Instead of ripping I will give it as a holiday gift as I don't really need another hat! I have two more skeins of this yarn so I think I'll make one in each style from the pattern.

November 14, 2011

Why, Hello There

I have a child with a sloppy cold at home from school today which means I am home for the day which means I finally got to take some photos despite the gray, gray, GRAY sky here in Seattle. I have to admit the two things holding up my blogging lately are not having photos and sheer laziness. Like today I took a bunch of photos of things but you won't see my progress on my Cornflower Shawl or my latest pair of socks because they are upstairs and I am downstairs. You do the math.

I can show you a few things though. Last week I went to my retreat at Fort Worden*. This is a retreat where there are no classes or scheduled anything other than meals. You can spend your time as you choose. Many participants go shopping in Port Townsend, walk along the beach, walk to town for coffee. I sit on my butt and knit. The whole time. I also usually spin but this year despite bringing my Hansen Mini-Spinner and my current spinning project I never brought any of it out of my room. I knit on Cornflower. I knit a few Hexapuffs. And I--gasp--crocheted! Allow me to explain.

In January, we are going on a cruise with Weezer.



Many cruises have theme nights. This cruise will have an 80s Prom night (which will be less funny for those of us who were old enough to attend a prom in the 80s). It will also have an Ugly Sweater night. Weezer sings The Sweater Song. Get it?



I am taking this challenge seriously. I intend to make the ugliest sweater the world has ever known. Given that I have been studying ugly sweaters for nearly seven years I need to turn it out. So I gathered every strange, ugly, fluffy, furry yarn that lurked deep in my stash and I began to crochet. Why crochet? Because using a giant hook it goes faster than knitting. When I got to the retreat I was offered my pick from an entire box of novelty yarns. Then I let my friends pick which yarns I should add next. It's really coming along but I don't want to spoil the surprise. So here's just a tease of what's in store.



Just before the retreat I decided I really wanted to knit the Carnaby skirt and that I wanted a tweedy yarn. The very first thing I found in the stash sale (one of the best parts of the retreat) was a bag of about 6-7 skeins of Tahki Designer Homespun Tweeds in a great shade of purple. Sold! I would have cast on on the spot but I didn't have any needles. I did start it right away when I got home and it's an addicting knit. So easy and fun to watch all those little wedges of skirt grow.



I bought several other great yarns like this bag of Koigu.



This stunning handspun by Sandi Soreng.



Color changing yarns like this cotton.



And this surprisingly matching shade of Kauni.



Oh yeah, and some Fleece Artist.



So I left for the retreat with a giant shopping back to sell or give away and I came home with two shopping bags full of yarn! Okay, I better get back to work.

* This retreat has been a super secret, you need to know the secret handshake type of affair for years. After 20-something years they have realized that some new blood will be a good thing. If you would like to get on the mailing list for the it please email me with your name and address and I can pass it on to the retreat coordinator.

November 10, 2011

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Sometimes when I need a pick-me-up I go to Etsy and search on "crochet pants." The results always bring a smile to my face.



If the words "drop crotch" are part of the description it's an extra bonus.

The same designer made a "shirt."



I don't know about you but I'm feeling better already.

November 6, 2011

A Little Thursday for Your Sunday

Thanks to Sarah Kate for sharing this wacky video with me. It fully explains why I don't like thrift stores.

Seventeen Evergreen - Polarity Song from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.

November 2, 2011

Retreat!

Yes, it's that time of year when I run away from home and spend five days knitting, spinning and relaxing. I think my phone knows what's up because I was playing Words with Friends last night and got this "bingo."



See you next week!

October 29, 2011

Falling Tears





Pattern: Falling Tears by Lucy Gerbil
Yarn: Watercolors II from The Periwinkle Sheep in Silver Lining
Notes: I loved knitting these socks. The pattern is so simple but I think it really pops in this yarn. If you are not an experienced sock knitter this pattern isn't for you. The heel turn and gusset instructions read, "Now work the heel turn and the gusset decreases after your own fashion." That's it. I also forgot about the patterning on the top of the foot so my socks have an abbreviated version of it.