Knit it, Violet!
Monday, June 25, 2007
What's This?
I've been doing some secret knitting for my secret pal. Well, not too secret, but Karla won't tell! I'll post a proper FO pic after my pal receives.
I've been doing some secret knitting for my secret pal. Well, not too secret, but Karla won't tell! I'll post a proper FO pic after my pal receives.
Labels: FO, secret pal
¶ 3:20 PM 1 Comments
Thursday, June 21, 2007
(almost) finished
The past two days have involved a lot of knitting with Karla and Brittney, which makes me a very happy girl. You probably remember that we're making the Bzzz Hat together. Well, here's mine:
It's not *totally* finished, because we're waiting until everyone is done to sew our buttons on, but you get the idea. This is actually the second time I finished this hat. I frogged my first attempt because I wanted a tighter gauge, prompting Karla to do the same. More about that later, though, when we're all finished.
I'm still working on my Monkeys, but last night I gave my Sweetarts socks a little attention. I'm also knitting a secret project for my secret pal, but I'll blog about that when it's safely at its destination! ¶ 3:43 PM 2 Comments
It's not *totally* finished, because we're waiting until everyone is done to sew our buttons on, but you get the idea. This is actually the second time I finished this hat. I frogged my first attempt because I wanted a tighter gauge, prompting Karla to do the same. More about that later, though, when we're all finished. 
I'm still working on my Monkeys, but last night I gave my Sweetarts socks a little attention. I'm also knitting a secret project for my secret pal, but I'll blog about that when it's safely at its destination! ¶ 3:43 PM 2 Comments
Friday, June 15, 2007
Swallowtails and Busy Bees
I'm plugging away on the swallowtail shawl, version 2:
The pattern is so much easier this time around. It wasn't exactly hard last time, but now that I really understand the construction, I can look at the stitches logically, so it's easier to fix any mistakes as they arise. I just finished the first lilly of the valley border, so only two more charts and this baby will be ready for blocking. I find it a little bit funny that I'm going so much faster than last time, when I was on a deadline. I have all the time in the world this time around, and I've buzzed through this far in about a week or two.
Speaking of buzzing...Brittney, Karla and I have just about finished our Bzz hats that we're knitting along together. Okay, actually all I need to do is break my yarn and weave in the ends (plus sew on buttons, which we're going to do all together. I lost mine though! That's what I get for cleaning...So another trip to the craft store needs to happen soon) The hat is not my only Bees on The Brain project though:
Pattern: McCalls M4323, with modifications. Fabric: from my local Joanne's. I'm not totally thrilled with how this came out, for one, it sat in my closet for weeks because I could not get the lining sewn in properly, and the directions left a lot to be desired. I finally managed to get it all together, but there are definitely more puckers and gathers than there should be. The handles are sort of ill-fitting too. I omitted the pockets and the snap because I just didn't want to sew them. Next time (if there is a next time) I'll use a stiffer interfacing too, since it's a little floppy. As a whole, though, I do like the purse. I am absolutely crazy about bees (my family raised them while I was growing up, and my father continues to do so.) and the fabric is way cute. Maybe I'll use it as a knitting bag.
Hey, are you on Ravelry? I just got my invite a few days ago, and I'd love some new friends. I feel geeky adding people when I'm not sure if they know who I am or not. So do a shy girl a favor, and stop by my page and say hi! And if you're not a member yet, join the waiting list, but be patient. It took a few weeks for my invite to come (but I think they're going through the list more quickly now) but it was worth it. Except now I have another excuse to spend precious knitting time online! It's a double edged sword. ...Or maybe, a double pointed needle? ¶ 11:20 PM 3 Comments
The pattern is so much easier this time around. It wasn't exactly hard last time, but now that I really understand the construction, I can look at the stitches logically, so it's easier to fix any mistakes as they arise. I just finished the first lilly of the valley border, so only two more charts and this baby will be ready for blocking. I find it a little bit funny that I'm going so much faster than last time, when I was on a deadline. I have all the time in the world this time around, and I've buzzed through this far in about a week or two.
Speaking of buzzing...Brittney, Karla and I have just about finished our Bzz hats that we're knitting along together. Okay, actually all I need to do is break my yarn and weave in the ends (plus sew on buttons, which we're going to do all together. I lost mine though! That's what I get for cleaning...So another trip to the craft store needs to happen soon) The hat is not my only Bees on The Brain project though:
Pattern: McCalls M4323, with modifications. Fabric: from my local Joanne's. I'm not totally thrilled with how this came out, for one, it sat in my closet for weeks because I could not get the lining sewn in properly, and the directions left a lot to be desired. I finally managed to get it all together, but there are definitely more puckers and gathers than there should be. The handles are sort of ill-fitting too. I omitted the pockets and the snap because I just didn't want to sew them. Next time (if there is a next time) I'll use a stiffer interfacing too, since it's a little floppy. As a whole, though, I do like the purse. I am absolutely crazy about bees (my family raised them while I was growing up, and my father continues to do so.) and the fabric is way cute. Maybe I'll use it as a knitting bag.
Hey, are you on Ravelry? I just got my invite a few days ago, and I'd love some new friends. I feel geeky adding people when I'm not sure if they know who I am or not. So do a shy girl a favor, and stop by my page and say hi! And if you're not a member yet, join the waiting list, but be patient. It took a few weeks for my invite to come (but I think they're going through the list more quickly now) but it was worth it. Except now I have another excuse to spend precious knitting time online! It's a double edged sword. ...Or maybe, a double pointed needle? ¶ 11:20 PM 3 Comments
Friday, June 08, 2007
fatty sheep is finally finished.
Remember a loong time ago when I mentioned I was knitting a sheep? At the time Kellen was working graveyard shifts because one of his coworkers quit, which meant I was up late drinking tea and knitting into the wee hours, because it's hard for me to fall asleep while he's working all night. Anyway, during a particularly late night I stumbled upon someones blog (I wish I could remember it!) and she had made the sheep from Debbie Bliss' Toy Knits. I had the book out from the library, some sheep-colored yarn sitting around (okay, actually it was Kellen's, from when he made his tattoo inspired laptop sleeve), and several hours before Kellen got off work, so I thought, "I bet I could make this whole sheep tonight!"
HA.
Just about two months later, my Fatty Sheep is done. The actual knitting took less than a month, but then there were several weeks where she sat in a plastic bag in my closet while I cursed seaming garter stitch and lamented over the fact that so many cute toys have so much freaking seaming. Get some DPNs, Debbie Bliss!! Luckily, my boyfriend is handy with a crochet hook and helped me overcome the perils of seaming.
Pattern: Ewe from Debbie Bliss' Toy Knits. Yarn: acrylic (maybe red heart?) in Fishermen. I know, I know! Acrylic to knit a sheep. I am bad. Needles: US 7. Modifications: I bought her eyes, instead of using french knots, and because I could not get the hooves to assemble decently I just picked up stitches around the leg openings and knit until I thought it was time to decrease. I also gave her a little bobble-type tail, since all the sheep I grew up with had docked tails. OH, and the biggest modification? She is almost twice the size of the sheep in the pattern.
Now you can see why I call her fatty sheep. While Ms. Bliss used DK weight and size US 2 needles, I used worsted and size US 7. Her ewe is 16" long. Mine is 21" long. While her sheep is proportional, mine looks like an armadillo. She also took two bags of fiber fill. I guess you could call this a completely useless project, but I don't want to frog her. She's lumpy and disproportioned, but she's kind of growing on me.
HA.
Just about two months later, my Fatty Sheep is done. The actual knitting took less than a month, but then there were several weeks where she sat in a plastic bag in my closet while I cursed seaming garter stitch and lamented over the fact that so many cute toys have so much freaking seaming. Get some DPNs, Debbie Bliss!! Luckily, my boyfriend is handy with a crochet hook and helped me overcome the perils of seaming.
Pattern: Ewe from Debbie Bliss' Toy Knits. Yarn: acrylic (maybe red heart?) in Fishermen. I know, I know! Acrylic to knit a sheep. I am bad. Needles: US 7. Modifications: I bought her eyes, instead of using french knots, and because I could not get the hooves to assemble decently I just picked up stitches around the leg openings and knit until I thought it was time to decrease. I also gave her a little bobble-type tail, since all the sheep I grew up with had docked tails. OH, and the biggest modification? She is almost twice the size of the sheep in the pattern.
Now you can see why I call her fatty sheep. While Ms. Bliss used DK weight and size US 2 needles, I used worsted and size US 7. Her ewe is 16" long. Mine is 21" long. While her sheep is proportional, mine looks like an armadillo. She also took two bags of fiber fill. I guess you could call this a completely useless project, but I don't want to frog her. She's lumpy and disproportioned, but she's kind of growing on me.
Labels: FO
¶ 6:48 PM 4 Comments
Thursday, June 07, 2007
7 things
Pam, Queen of the Badass Knitters tagged me for the seven random things meme, so here it goes:
1. I've been a vegetarian since I was 9 years old. Everyone asks if I had some great epiphany, but really, my older brother's friend, this gorgeous, super-cool punk rock chick, was a vegetarian, and I just wanted to be like her. 11 years later, I guess it was a good life choice anyway. ;)
2. I'm blessed with two amazing, talented grandmothers. They fostered my creativity and taught me many things, including how to read, cook, bake cookies, and why it's important to always take a jacket. They are truly my greatest heroes in the world.
3. I met my darling boyfriend on the internet. GASP! Everyone gives us a hard time, but we've been together for 5 years now, and I wouldn't change a thing. Besides, now that there are commercials for internet dating sites on daytime TV, I think it's becoming less shocking. For the record, though, we did not meet on a dating site or in a chat room.
4. I was a breech baby and had to be delivered emergency c-section.
5. My hair has been every color of the rainbow except orange. I started dying it at 13 and it hasn't been my natural color since. (Although for the past year and a half, it has been a natural color, but not my own. I hate it and I want rainbow colors again.)
6. I hated high school. Everyone thought I was really mean, my best friend moved sophomore year, and my boyfriend lived 700 miles away. The only good thing I miss is having virtually no responsibilities.
7. I don't drive, and I have no problem with this. Nothing makes me more crazy than people bitching about gas prices and then acting like I'm a freak for not driving. I might learn someday, but not until I want to.
Okay, I'm not going to tag seven people (because I can't think of seven people who haven't done this yet!) but I'm going to tag Karla and Brittney, and anyone else who wants to do it! Karla can do it if she wants, but Brittney better do it, because she owes us some blogging!
1. I've been a vegetarian since I was 9 years old. Everyone asks if I had some great epiphany, but really, my older brother's friend, this gorgeous, super-cool punk rock chick, was a vegetarian, and I just wanted to be like her. 11 years later, I guess it was a good life choice anyway. ;)
2. I'm blessed with two amazing, talented grandmothers. They fostered my creativity and taught me many things, including how to read, cook, bake cookies, and why it's important to always take a jacket. They are truly my greatest heroes in the world.
3. I met my darling boyfriend on the internet. GASP! Everyone gives us a hard time, but we've been together for 5 years now, and I wouldn't change a thing. Besides, now that there are commercials for internet dating sites on daytime TV, I think it's becoming less shocking. For the record, though, we did not meet on a dating site or in a chat room.
4. I was a breech baby and had to be delivered emergency c-section.
5. My hair has been every color of the rainbow except orange. I started dying it at 13 and it hasn't been my natural color since. (Although for the past year and a half, it has been a natural color, but not my own. I hate it and I want rainbow colors again.)
6. I hated high school. Everyone thought I was really mean, my best friend moved sophomore year, and my boyfriend lived 700 miles away. The only good thing I miss is having virtually no responsibilities.
7. I don't drive, and I have no problem with this. Nothing makes me more crazy than people bitching about gas prices and then acting like I'm a freak for not driving. I might learn someday, but not until I want to.
Okay, I'm not going to tag seven people (because I can't think of seven people who haven't done this yet!) but I'm going to tag Karla and Brittney, and anyone else who wants to do it! Karla can do it if she wants, but Brittney better do it, because she owes us some blogging!
Labels: meme
¶ 5:17 PM 2 Comments
Sunday, June 03, 2007
swallowtail, take II
I just couldn't stay away!
And since I've been on a sewing kick lately, here's a skirt I made a few months ago but never got around to posting:
I just couldn't stay away!And since I've been on a sewing kick lately, here's a skirt I made a few months ago but never got around to posting:
Pattern: Simplicty 4019. Fabric: Alexander Henry Zodiac close up photo here. I absolutely love this pattern, and I've made 2 more skirts since this one. Maybe I'll post them when I get a chance.
¶ 4:30 PM 3 Comments
Friday, June 01, 2007
Another look at Sheldon
I just got some film developed, so I wanted to post this picture of Sheldon I took with my new camera, since the last one wasn't all that great. 
I think Knitty's Norberta is next on my toys-to-knit list, but I definitely want to make another Sheldon one of these days.
I think Knitty's Norberta is next on my toys-to-knit list, but I definitely want to make another Sheldon one of these days.Labels: FO
¶ 4:10 PM 3 Comments
