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

February 28, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Just another week of cheerful, perfectly wearable knits from London Fashion Week.
 

 So much sunshine. So much joy.

February 23, 2013

70s Inspired Cowl



Pattern: 70s Inspired Cowl by Grace Akhrem
Yarn: Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock in Pine and China Blue, Hand Jive Nature's Palette in Light Teal and blue Koigu KPM
Needles: US6 Addi Long-Tip Lace Clicks
Notes: I was given this pattern by Grace Akhrem at TNNA last summer. I found it in my office while looking for something else but I had to knit it. The pattern calls for 75 yards of four colors of fingering weight yarn. It's a great stashbuster. I grabbed four shades of blue, green or blue-green and got started. It's a simple four-row feather and fan pattern so it's a really, easy and quick knit. I a) failed to follow the stripe pattern correctly and b) ran out of one of my colors so it's an improvised stripe and I only have 17 stripes instead of the 19 (?) called for in the pattern.

No Repeat Catch Up

I've been plugging away at my No Repeat Accessories challenge but I haven't had time to post the photos here. So here's the last 11 items I've worn.

1. No Repeat Day 23. Improvised Pi shawl in Kimmet Croft Fairy Hair. , 2. No Repeat Day 22. Idella by Myrna Stahman (who stopped by @fibergallery yesterday) in natural alpaca. , 3. No Repeat Day 21. 22 Leaves Shawlette. , 4. DSC_0086, 5. No Repeat Day 19. Spiral Cowl in Lorna's Laces Pearl. , 6. No Repeat Day 18. Orchid Thief by Ysolda. c, 7. No Repeat Day 17. Cornflower in Tosh Merino Light. , 8. No Repeat Day 16. Celeano by Romi Hill. Quite possibly the prettiest thing I've ever knit., 9. No Repeat Day 15. Color Affection on a bleary-eyed morning. , 10. No Repeat Day 14. Keeping warm in Jean Wong's class with my Stripe Study Shawl., 11. No Repeat Day 14. Clothilde in my bathroom mirror at Madrona.

February 21, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

I'm a little tired this morning but luckily London Fashion Week is letting me go on auto-pilot for Thursday.





You can see video of this show here.
Big Ass Knits continue to repel pants. Do I really need to add anything?




February 20, 2013

Hepburn



Pattern: Hepburn from Rowan 44
Yarn: Rowan 4-Ply Soft
Needles: US 2 and 3 Addi Lace
Notes: I added a little length to the body though it still is a bit shorter than I wanted. I also left out the beads and knit purls instead in the yoke. The chart on this is murder. It's tiny and I had a hard time following it even after enlarging it.

Faberge Cowl

I think I'm getting a little bored/loopy from photographing myself everyday. I had quite the photoshoot in the front yard just now.


Pattern: Faberge Cowl
Yarn: Noro Cash Laine (long discontinued)
Needles: US 7 Addi Turbos
Beads: 5/0 Traingles White Lined Crystal
Notes: A simple knit but the adding each bead with a crochet hook is always tedious. I had a hard time finding a hook that was small enough to pull the yarn through the bead but wouldn't shred the yarn. I believe I ended up using a 1.5 mm-ish size.

February 14, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Have you ever seen a freshly-shorn alpaca? They're the funniest thing. They're all tiny and skinny and bald over their bodies and then they have this giant fluffy head.



I can't imagine why I was thinking of that...



February 13, 2013

And...I'm Outta Here

It's Madrona time again, folks. I'm off to spend the next five days in Tacoma taking classes, working and visiting with my friends. See you all when I get back!

February 12, 2013

No Repeat Day 12


Koolhaas Hat in Alpaca Silk and Diamond Fantasy Shawl in handspun merino/silk.

Paisley Socks




Pattern: Paisley Socks by Verybusymonkey
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Dewberry
Needles: US1 and 1.5 Addi Turbo
Notes: I knit the smaller size as written. The pattern was easy to follow and I think they're gorgeous socks. They're not for me though. These were for my Purlygirl swap partner, Katie.


February 11, 2013

No Repeat Day 11

Nalu Mitts in handspun and Bertha Lace Shawl in mystery wool.

No Repeat Day 10

Mochi Plus Zig Zag Cowl in handspun and wrist warmers from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts in Cash Iroha.

February 9, 2013

Crafting of Another Sort

My secret swap project is done and I'll be able to share it after I give it to my swap partner on Monday night. My Rowan vest that I have been knitting since August (August?! Dear Lord.) is finally done and is blocking. I'm knitting swatches for a class I'm taking next week at Madrona. So I thought I'd share a makeup video I made last weekend. Yes, it's about makeup but in this case it's about makeup that you make yourself. Here's a lesson in making tinted lip balm using OCC Lip Tar. Or, if you're not into color on your lips, you can take the same recipe and make plain lip balm



Here are the finished colors.

No Repeat Day 9

Olatz in Fleece Artist BFL Aran.

February 8, 2013

Vogue Spring Preview

It's up and uh...well...I'm pretty put off by most of it. What do you all think?

No Repeat Day 8

Wool Peddler's Shawl in Queensland Alpaca Seta, knit in 2005.

No Repeat Day 7

Leaded Glass shawl, my own design in my own handspun llama yarn.

No Repeat Day 6

Willow Cowl on a windy day.

No Repeat Day 5

Haruni Shawl with Vancouver Fog mitts.

No Repeat Day 4

Blurry in-the-mirror shot of my Elis Cowl.

February 7, 2013

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?


At first I was thinking, "We come from France."



But Wes helpfully pointed out that they were the stewardesses from 2001: A Space Odyssey.



Once again a grateful hat tip to Janet E who keeps sending me solid gold!

February 3, 2013

No Repeat Day 3

Short-Rows Wavy hat (knit 2008) by Lee Meredith in handspun class samples and my recently finished scrap cowl.

February 2, 2013

No Repeat Day Two

Taygete by Romi Hill. I got so many compliments when I wore this at work we started carrying the pattern and made a shop sample. It was so popular we hosted a knitalong for it. It was incredibly fun to see it in so many color combinations. It's a wonderfully easy and colorful knit. I highly recommend it.

Repeat No Repeat

I had so much fun with my December No Repeat challenge that I'm doing it again. For February I'm tackling my accessory stash. This means a month of shawls, cowls, mitts and hats. Often I'll wear the same shawl or cowl for weeks on end while the rest sit in a box in the bottom of my closet. I've pulled them all out and am ready to take them out of on the town again!

For day one I wore my Birch, knit way back in 2005, for a party. I'm always amazed at how warm this little wisp of a shawl is.