And I'm Off

I'm heading to Port Townsend for my annual knitting retreat first thing tomorrow. There won't be a Thursday post this week so sorry for that. I've finished up a few more charity knits plus a really cute little something. I'll share photos and updates when I get home. Have a great weekend!

Charity Knits

I've had the urge to knock out a few quick projects lately. I did a little stashdiving and first came out with some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky that I bought at the Fort Worden stash sale last year. I did a little Ravelry searching and choose to use Cirilia's Columbia Cowl as inspiration.


Needle: US15
Notes: I cast on 65 stitches and did K2, P2 ribbing around and around and around. This was my "knitting while walking project." It worked well because the pattern is offset by one stitch on each round due to casting on an odd number of stitches. So my mantra while I walked and knitted was "different, same, different same." Meaning when I would knit two, purl two over purl, knit two, purl from the previous round so my first knit would be above a purl (different) and my second knit would be above a knit (same). It's silly but it kept me on track with my pattern and kept my walking pace up too!

Then I grabbed a bunch of worsted scraps and made yet another helix stripe hat.



Needles: US5 and US7
Yarns: Dream in Color Classy, Rowan Kid Classic, Dale Hauk and Heilo and whatever else I found that was around the same size.
Notes: I love these. I've knit a zillion and I could keep knitting them forever. They just satisfy my stashbusting soul like no other project.

And lastly another hat.


Pattern: Cranberry Sauce by Brittany Tyler
Yarn: Rowan Cork (I got this as a membership gift in 2004!)
Needle: US9
Notes: My yarn was a bit smaller than the original yarn in the pattern but I didn't care since it's for charity. It came out to a child size or small adult. Nice little pattern.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Did someone call the Puffy Floral Spaceman?

Here's here to save you from fashion that makes sense or seems reasonable.

He's joined by his partner, Mardi Gras Float Man.

And their trusty sidekick, Gaudy Picnic Blanket Boy.

Fashion Avengers unite!

Knitting on TV

I was staying up way too late last weekend watching Prime Suspect (season 2). A moment passed that I simply had to capture to share with you.

I hope none of you feel this way about your knitting.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

What? Why? Who? How?????

Why???????

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Okay, guys. I have a really good excuse for why I'm late this week. Instead of blogging last night I was knitting. I'm *this close* to finishing my Rorschach. 

Sometimes the tail tells the tale. This is not a happy dog.

In fact, I imagine this dog is frequently unhappy.

The dog's body language in this shot actually says, "What the hell is this?"

Woof.

Thanks to Janet E. who keeps sending me the most amazing things!

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Fashion is always turning things on its head. For instance you've probably heard mullet hairdos described before as "business in the front, party in the back." In this case the short hair in the front of a mullet is the business side while the long, flowing locks in the back represent the party.

Now let me rock your world.

Business in the front...

Party in the back.

Did I blow your mind? You're welcome.

FO and WIP Roundup

I had a pile of FOs waiting to be photographed for ages. I finally pulled out the camera and, in typical Seattle fashion, the sky turned completely black. Here's the best I could do.

This is a hat knit from some of my first hand-dyed fiber. I think it's Coopworth. The pattern (loosely followed and not easily visible here) is Bobcap.



Here is one of my helix-stripe hats knit in bulky artyarn I spun in a class with Jacey Boggs several years ago at Madrona.



I knit this hat with some leftovers from my latest Retro Prep sweater knit in Dale Falk. The sweater still needs blocking and has some ends to weave in.



This cowl is called Solstice. It's by Janel Laidman. I got it as a kit with a skein of Lorna's Laces Sportmate a few years ago at TNNA. It's coming out, I recently noticed, impossibly small. Hmm...



I started a cowl that is simple enough to knit while walking with some Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky. The pattern, Columbia Cowl, is by Cirilia Rose. It's free on Ravelry.



I am making some good progress on my Rorschach that I started by in August. Though there are still miles of garter stitch to go.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

The Girl with the Pearl Earring. And a huge, honking hat. And the meat sweats.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Ooo, yeah baby. Handknit purses are so sexy!

They make me want to massage my calf so good.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

A day late again. Sorry!

When the sweater you're trying to sell is just a HUGE, shapeless sack of garter stitch you need to liven things up with the poses.

Here's the "You Have the Right to Remain Silent."

Of you can opt for "October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month."

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

I hope I'm not boring anyone by banging the same old drum. Motif placement, people. Location, location, location. This matters. It really, really matters. Because one day, when you decide, "I'm going to turn my freeform crochet into a tank top," it would be nice if you choose a crocheted piece that didn't look like moldy bread. But it would also be good if it didn't appear as though you are a lactating basset hound with a raging case of mastitis.

Or, for the Orange Is the New Black fans out there, "You've got a little freeform on your nipnip."