I've been so busy with work and school lately, I haven't had a chance to blog. I started my junior year of college and a new job, and tomorrow I start a second job, all within the span of 2 weeks! Whew! I realized tonight that I never got a chance to blog my Sweettarts Socks, so here they are!
Pattern: 56 st basic stockinette. Yarn: Knit Pick's Simply Stripes (sadly discontinued!) in Sweet Tarts. Needles: Susan Bates US 0 dpns.
This yarn is really wonderful. I knit Kellen a pair almost a year ago and they've held up perfectly. He wears them all the time, and trust me, he is not gentle about washing. He just tosses them in the washer, and the hot dryer without any problems. No felting, pilling, holes or signs of wear. I'm really looking forward to wearing our coordinating socks together!
Other than that, I'm plugging along on Christmas knitting and sneaking a few rounds of a new pair of socks whenever I can. I'll blog about those when I actually have some significant progress!
Labels: FO
¶ 9:05 PM 2 Comments
It's been all stockinette, all the time at la casa de VioletsKnits. That's all well and good, but sometimes a girl needs a treat when it comes to knitting. Something chunky, squishy, slubby, and woolly. Something quick and easy to knit without being mindnumbing. Enter the Blue Liccorice Scarf and Hat.
A few years ago I knit a hat out of a different colorway, my first hat without a pattern as a matter of fact, and I loved the yarn. It has a thick and thin, almost handspun feeling to it, with two yummy plies. When I saw the gorgeous blue color at JoAnn's last Friday on clearance for $2, I jumped on it.
I cast on the hat Friday afternoon and by Friday evening I had a hat. With a skein and a half left, I cast on for the scarf, and finished it the wee hours of Sunday morning. A cozy set that was easy and comforting to knit.
Yarn: JoAnn Sensations Liccorice, color #120. Needles: US 13 Clover circ and Brittany dpn for the hat, US 15 Susan Bates for the scarf. Pattern: basic hat, CO 47 St, 3 rows of seed st for the brim. Alternated 8 rows of garter st with 4 rows of stockinette for the scarf. I'll enjoy wearing this on chilly days at school this fall!
¶ 2:59 PM 3 Comments
Also, see the hat in the foreground of The new Stitch n' Bitch book?
That's a Kellen creation, too!
Labels: Kellen
¶ 8:57 PM 6 Comments
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1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
Let me just come out and say that I am not a yarn snob. I think every yarn has it's purpose. That said, I like natural fibers, especially wool (Wool of the Andes and Lamb's Pride are favorites). I love alpaca and silk. I like trying new, fun yarns as well.
2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
My straights and circs are in wine bottle holders, my dpns are in a pretty glass.
3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting for about 4 and a half years. I taught myself using pages ripped from a Martha Stewart Living. I'd say I'm an adventerous intermediate with advanced tendencies. ;)
4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
The link to my amazon wishlist is in my sidebar.
5. What's your favorite scent?
I love baking scents like vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and "sugar" scents. I also like clean scents like "fresh cotton" types, and most floral scents in they're not too dizzying.
6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I have a wicked sweet tooth. I love chocolate. I'm not huge on sours, though.
7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I sew, embroider, make jewelry, mosaic, block print, print gocco, make soap, play with polymer clay, paint, and occasionally put out a zine. I'm learning to spin.
8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like 70's and 90's punk, indie, and indiepop, and folkpunk. and cheesy 80's pop. a few of my favorite bands are listeded in my profile. and yes, I can play mp3s.
9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love pink, purple, blue, black...reds, greens. Brights and jewel tones. I don't really have a color I can't stand. Even if it's not my favorite color, chances are I can think of a good project to use it in.
10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I live in an apartment with my darling boyfriend (who crochets). My parents are separated and live 45 minutes south of me, as do my older brother (25) and younger brother (11). I can't have pets in my apt, but my chihuahua, cat, and turtle live with my mom.
11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
All of the above except ponchos. And I'm not really anti-poncho, I just haven't found one that tickled my fancy.
12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
socks, lace, anything cabled or fair isle. hats. I'm currently working on two sweaters. I like trying new things.
13. What are you knitting right now?
Two sweaters (one for kellen and one for a secret christmas present) and that's about it. I have a Mon Petit Chou hibernating. I usually have a pair of socks on the needles, too, but I just finished some.
14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Of course!
15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I like both straights and circs depending on the job. I usually use aluminum, but bamboo or other wooden ones are great too. I've never met a plastic needles I could stand, but they might exist...
16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
yes, and yes. (Thanks, Kellen!)
17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Less than a year. I had a purging session not long ago.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
Halloween, but I really love Christmas because it involves knitting gifts! Thanksgiving is a favorite too. Anything with family and food.
19. Is there anything that you collect?
Teapots and tea! Knitting books, and things with bees, lately.
20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I have a subscription to Interweave. I can't think of any needles or patterns I have my eye on. I've been eyeing the Felted Hedgehog from Fiber Trends and the Wicked Sweater from Zephyr Style. The books I want are on my wishlist.
21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
Steeking. I'd like to get better at intarsia. I haven't knit a sock from the toe up, yet...
22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes. I usually fit a women's M. My foot is about 9" long, about 8 1/2" at the instep and calf.
23. When is your birthday?
May 13th.
24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am. My name is Violet on there. go figure. ;)
Labels: secret pal
¶ 8:51 PM 0 Comments
Christmas knitting has commenced. I know there are a few family members that spy on me show their interest in my life by reading my blog, so I've thought long and hard about how to blog about Christmas gifts without ruining the surprise. So, here we go. I'll post some progress shots, but I'm going to be vauge about exactly what I'm knitting and who it's for. If you hang in there until December, I'll be posting it all before it's gifted, though. I'll also be posting details on Ravelry, since my family won't be able to peek there. Anyway, I'm a few inches into the above pattern and I'm loving every second of it. So easy! I got to knit on it while enjoying coffee and chocolate with The Girls today. I also snagged a copy of The Knitter's Almanac at the local used bookstore. Yay!
God, this is an AWFUL picture, but I was tired and it was the best I could get. Bear with me! Since we were stitching out on the town, I needed a cute outfit, so I whipped up another Built By Wendy/Simplicity 3835 top. By "whipped up" I mean cursed the neckline and wanted to set the whole damn thing on fire, but I perservered. It's an easy peasy pattern but something just wasn't working. Kellen took me out for ice cream, which helped. I think it turned out pretty cute, too, and the girls and I all matched in our polka dotted cuteness!
¶ 5:51 PM 1 Comments
A dear friend of mine is going through some unexpected and, to be honest, quite scary medical problems right now. Being a knitter, I did what knitters do when someone we care about is in need. I cast on. I'd been wanting to knit Odessa for quite some time, but never really got around to it. When I heard my friend's news, though, I knew it was the right time. I cast on with some hot pink to match my friend's bright personality, and a few days later, here it is, ready to be sent. She lives across the country, and while a hat might not do much, hopefully it lets her know I'm thinking about her.
Pattern: Odessa by Grumperina. Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Watermelon. Needles: US 5, Brittany Circ and Susan Bates dpns.
Labels: FO
¶ 9:14 PM 2 Comments
