Stripes Peek

I still haven't blocked my Stripe Study and my Color Affection is nearly done.

Rib and Cable Socks

Pattern: Rib and Cable Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Mountain Twilight
Needles: US1 Addi Turbos
Notes: I changed the toe to a standard wedge toe to go with my wedge-shaped feet. A really easy sock to knit, they are warm and squishy.

Vogue Knitting Preview

The preview for the new magazine is up and I'm really not feeling it. Is it just me or is it all fussy lacy things in pink/coral and big rectangles? The socks are cute.

Thursdays are for What the Hell Is This?

When I first looked at this photo it broke something in my brain. First off, it's a dog in a hat.



But then it's a dog dressed as a monkey dressed as a clown. It's like the turducken of dog clothes.

It's...it's turdoggen.

Backlog

I'm running behind on everything! I spent last Wednesday through Sunday at the Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat. I didn't take a single photo. What a negligent blogger!

I finished my Stripe Study shawl but haven't had time to block it or even weave in the ends. Did I even tell you I started it? I also finished my socks. I think I told you about those. Then I launched into a Color Affection shawl with stash yarn from Sock Summit 2011 (there may still be some SS2009 stash still lingering).

Now I'm trying to catch up at work, at home and online. Please stand by.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

So, the name of this pattern is simply "Vagina." Here is where you, the reader, need to decide if you should continue on or read this later when you're not at work/with your toddler/in church. I'll wait while you decide.
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Okay. Now if your vagina looks in any way like this please go see your doctor immediately!

Am I on Candid Camera?

In Seattle on north Aurora there is an exceedingly dive-y strip mall with one of the few Rite Aids in the city. I venture there occasionally during the kids' weekend music lessons to pick up makeup on the cheap. Next door to it is a Grocery Outlet. If you've ever shopped at one you already know, sometimes they have really good stuff. You just never know what you might find and the prices are really good. The first aisle of the store has personal care items, as I walked on these gave way to makeup. Like good makeup. L'Oreal, Revlon, Maybelline, Burt's Bees, Physician's Formula. Good stuff at really cheap prices. There was loads of it. I followed the aisle further and further murmuring to myself in wonder at all this incredibly inexpensive makeup. When I got to end of the makeup I stopped and looked down at my feet. There on the the bottom shelf were two boxes of YARN*. I immediately swung around to see if I was on Candid Camera.

And this, of course, reminds me of Noah.



* Sadly, not the good stuff.

Book Review: Extra Yarn

I was sent a review copy of Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett. I've been sent books before to review but I never liked any of them and chose not to share them with my readers. This book I am happy to share.



Extra Yarn is a children's picture book that tells the story of a girl named Annabelle, who lives in a muddy-colored world, and her discovery of a box of colorful yarn. She uses the yarn to knit a sweater and finds when she is done that there is still extra yarn in the box. No matter how much Annabelle knits there is always extra yarn in her box. (Every knitter's dream!) She proceeds to bring color and happiness to her town with her knitting with her seemingly endless box of yarn.



The story and illustrations are delightful. There's an evil archduke, adorable animals and lots of knitting. I love that Annabelle is a young girl who knows her own mind. She is kind and will not be swayed by other people. She changes the world around her for the better with creativity. It's a lovely, funny and magical story and I think any knitter would enjoy reading and sharing it with a child.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

Warning: The fourth image is slightly NSFW.

I've been a little short of Thursday inspiration so I reached back to June for a look at...wait for it...I know you love it...it's beyond awesome.

Yes, Kazahkstan Fashion Week!

No where else in the fashion world does the mysterious orient merge with the tackiest shit you've ever seen. Giving you exotic men in flowing robes and tightie whities.



Creating women in traditional kerchiefs on their face.



And this half-naked whackdoodle dancing with a snake.



Kazahkstan, forever krazy and klassy.

Sock Yarn Blanket

Pattern: Barn Raising Quilt by Shelley Mackie & Larissa Brown from Knitalong
Yarn: Uh...all of them
Needles: US3 Addi Turbo and US3 Crystal Palace DPN
Notes: I started this sucker back in March 2007. I took the square pattern from the Barn Raising Quilt and just kept going with it. I kept changing needles until I was on a 60" Addi Turbo. By the end it was extremely packed on the needle and I really had to fight with it to keep the stitches moving. The yarns are all leftovers from projects, mainly socks and a few shawls. I just randomly added them as I went. The overall effect is really busy and pretty clunky but it has a certain charm. I only wish I had not used that solid mushroom color. It really brings the whole color flow to a screeching halt. For the edging I knit ten ridges of garter stitch. I should have done much more but I was feeling lazy, as always. I then did a two-stitch i-cord bind off. I should have gone up at least one or two needle sizes for this as it wants to pull in quite a bit. I then blocked the hell out of it. The fabric is very light and drapey and the final size is about 52" square relaxed.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

This is an easy week. When you see the headline "The Most Disgusting Fucking Dress Ever Sent Down a Runway" on Jezebel you know you're in for some epic Thursday shit.



It's like Kang and Kodos had a baby with Leela from Futurama and that baby walked down a runway with a hairnet over its face.




Honestly, what was the designer thinking here?

Oh. My. God.

Cornflower Shawl

Pattern: Cornflower Shawl by Karolina Eckerdal
Yarn: Tosh Merino Light in Well Water and Charcoal
Needles: I didn't write it down! I think I used 5s.
Notes: This is a lovely shawl. The pattern is clever and throws a few challenges at you. But for the most part it's a simple, intuitive repeat. I had read that I would need two skeins of the main color. In the end I only needed the second skein to finish the bind off row. I'm so glad I had it but now will need to come up with another project for the nearly full skein of yarn.

Thank you, Karolina, for gifting me this pattern. It's beautiful!