Pre-holiday gifts

I always feel bad for December birthdays – people are spending so much time trying to find that perfect gift for someone…and then they have to do it twice in the same month. (I will say January birthdays, for me, are worse – there are 4 very close members of my family – including CoffeeBoy – who celebrate birthdays within one week in January. )  So I really wanted to make the 2 close members of the family feel special on their birthday this year.

Mom is one December baby and she’s had a rough year.  I decided she deserved mink – not some crappy fur jacket, but a mink/cashmere blend scarf.

Mom Deserves Mink Scarflet

Started: November 19th

Completed: December 1

Yarn: Great Northern Yarn Mink/Cashmere

Pattern: My own

Needles: Size 5

Notes:  I really wish I got a better shot of this, it was a lovely little scarf.  It took me forever to figure out a pattern for this yarn – it’s a very light yarn and it feels so fragile, when I’m used to more a tough wool.  I had a bunch of ideas, none worked so I went with just a garter stitch scarf with a twist -  I started with one stitch & just YO on each end until it was wide enough, then did YO K2tog & YO SSK on each end until it was long enough.  Then YO K3tog & YO SSSK on each end until back down to 1 stitch. I bought the shawl pin on etsy from AmericanCarver – it ended up a bit wide for it, but my mom loved it, plus she has a bunch of funky pins that she can switch it off with.  She was very happy with it – and timing couldn’t have been better since we are in the middle of a very cold snap here – cold even for me, after 2 MA winters.

The other December baby in my family is my youngest nephew.  And when I saw this pattern, I knew I had to make it for him.

Bruce the Mittens

Started: November 30th

Completed: December 3

Yarn: KnitPicks Swish Bulky in Squirrel Heather (way less than one hank) and some random Wool of the Andes held doubled for the mouth

Pattern:  Deep Blue Sea Shark Mittens

Needles: Size 8

Notes: These were a big hit.  Again, I really wish I got better pictures of them, but it’s hard to get him to sit still to pose.

These were super quick to make, especially  in his size – my only issue was with the sewing up (I’m not so great on that).  There were a couple of issues in the pattern with sizing (without the person nearby) but they were minor.  I’m even tempted to make a pair for myself!  He was really excited about them – my sister told me he wore them bike riding and every time they stopped, the sharks “attacked” each other.

I’m still slowly getting through the rest of my holiday gifts but it’s been a busy couple of weeks – the past 2 weekends I’ve been out of town & my job has been pretty crazy busy at work.  I know I’ve hinted at what I do, but I can talk about it now since my project is now live – I’m working with outside knitwear designers on the Independent Designer Program – we put the first wave of patterns up last week.  It is a fun job – all of these patterns are fantastic! (one downfall to my job – I look at cute patterns all day long, which makes my knitting queue longer and longer).  We’ll put out more information out in January, but if you’re looking for a great pattern, check out what we have!

My job rules, by the way.  I’ve been very very lucky this year in my job opportunities.

 

Glossy Grove

I have seriously been slacking on the photographing projects & yarn both for here & for Ravelry. Not quite sure why – I have way better areas to photograph stuff outside (um, my neighbors can’t see me when I haul yarn or do goofy poses in front of my camera) and it’s not like I’ve stopped buying yarn or anything.  I try to pretend I don’t by working through my stash but yeah, I’m still obtaining yarn either from work or because I just need something from Twisted.  I also try to pretend it’s because the weather hasn’t been great when for me to take pictures of them outside but since it was hailing when I took these photos, that’s not really holding up. (Yes I have a covered porch)

So enough of the non excuses.  A couple of weeks back, I was on the Knit Picks podcast again (always fun) talking about Impractical Knits.  Well, that fits these, at least for me at the moment.

Glossy Grove

Started: Oct 4th

Completed:  Oct 10

Yarn: Knit Pick Gloss HW in Aegean

Pattern: Grove by Jared Flood

Needles: 6US

Notes:  I fell in love with this pattern the minute I saw it.  It’s the reason I bought Made In Brooklyn actually.

And while these would have been perfect when I lived in MA & taking public transit in the freezing cold, I don’t think they will get much use here.  I drive to work and, baring some freak storm, it doesn’t get that cold here.

But they were very fun to make – the pattern is excellent.  And I used my favorite KP yarn at the moment, Gloss HW, which made it even better.   It is larger than the yarn called for but I have big hands anyway.  And how gorgeous is this color?

It matches the My Wave Cowl I made & I have about a ball left that might be enough to do a matching Ripley (rav link).

So that’s one project done & photographed at least – I have a couple more goofy things (more DangerCrafts toys) that I’ll post about later.  I’m currently working on Christmas gifts – I think I’m doing okay on that front, but ask me again in a month & I’ll probably be freaking out, like always.

One last note – I got some fantastic news last week in regards to work.  I got a promotion!  No longer will you hear my sexy voice (heh) on the customer service line (sorry J.P., you’ve missed the boat ) I will now be working directly with Knit Picks on a very exciting new project.  I am so happy, it’s going to be so much fun!  Not too many details yet – I can’t for a bit yet plus the one downside is I don’t get to start until mid November.   I am so very lucky – I couldn’t get anyone to call me back for a job when I started applying here & now I’m working for a company I already really loved and I get to work with a kick ass bunch people.  Plus – it’s all about knitting & yarn!   What could be better?

 

 

An ode to two kitties I haven’t met…

…yet

Calvin & Ripple Socks

Started: September 20

Finished: Oct 4

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Mediumweight End – no idea what color it was suppose to be but I love it.

Pattern: Calvin & Ripple by Cristi Brockway

Needles: size 1.5US circ – magic loop

Notes:  This is how I got my sock mojo back.

I manged to finish these in 2 weeks, which used to be normal time for me.  Of course I did little else, knitting wise, but these were so worth it.

I may have a new fave sock pattern.

This is a wonderfully unique sock pattern – one toe up, one top down, different stitch patterns for the front, the same stitch pattern for the back of both heels

And believe it or not, I enjoyed the toe-up sock more.  Maybe it was the very fun Calvin stitch pattern (it’s the one on the left in these photos), maybe it was the fact it was the first toe-up I enjoyed (Judy’s Magic Cast-On & doing Magic Loop instead of dpns played a significant reason for that), whatever the reason, I loved it.  While the Ripple pattern is lovely as well, I couldn’t keep the stitch pattern in my tiny brain – even to the very end I had to keep tinking back every other row because I would mess up somehow.  Still they look so lovely together – I never have had so much attention paid to my socks at work.

I didn’t really plan to use similar colors as the pattern – though it makes sense for a couple of orange kitties.  There’s not much more I can say about the yarn that hasn’t been said before by me or others – I freaking love love love Socks That Rock.

And am I over my toe up phobia?  Well I started another pair of Calvins for a holiday gift for my mom – what do you think?  :)  Thank you Cristi for such an awesome pattern!

 

Finishing FOs…and starting a new one

So this weekend was spent finishing a couple of projects.  It was a lovely cool grey Saturday, so it was perfect.

First was my biggest sewing project to date:

I made duvet cover for my bed!  And I’ll probably never do another one!

So, I hated the comforter on the bed – the fabric was a little rough & I was getting super tired of it – I bought it 3 years ago when we bought the bed.   When I bought Simply Sewing, I saw the pattern for the duvet & thought “prefect!” (after my first reaction of “12 yards of fabric? Are you kidding?”)  It’s not a difficult project when you read over it – basically 5 long pieces of fabric sewn together, then folded in half & sewn up again.  But…those pieces of fabric are LONG (especially for our king sized bed) – 105 inches in fact.  So first was the adventure of ironing the fabric & cutting it out while trying to keep the cat off the pieces since I had to use the floor.  Then sewing it together tried my patience.  That was a lot of cotton fabric, which is not light.  But it was worth it in the end, I even had enough for some pillows.

The fabric is from Connecting Threads – the other company I work for.  I saw the colors in the Twilight Frost collection & decided that those were the ones I wanted in my room.  Luckily, the fabric is really nice & not too expensive.    So I really love it – I’m trying to convince myself I sleep better with it on my bed.

I also realized, with this project,  it is unlikely I will ever quilt.

The other finished item is a pair of socks I’ve had on the needles for an embarrassingly long time.

Groovy

Started: April 3

Completed: September 19

Yarn: Handgefaerbt Merino Extra Fine (or as I like to call it, the “Other Pretty German Hand Dyed Yarn”

Pattern: Groovy Socks

Needles: Size 1.5US

Notes: No I don’t know why it took me so long to finish these.

The yarn is nice. The pattern is nice.  The first one I finished is nice.  I just couldn’t get motivated to work on the second sock.  I never used to suffer from Second Sock Syndrome but it hit me bad.  I finished one in, oh way back in April. I think I even cast on for the second right after I finished the first…and ignored it until Sock Summit.  Then I worked on it there & completed the heel…then I ignored it again.  Finally last week I picked it back up & finished it up.  And hey, guess what?  They are nice socks.

Mostly I wanted to finish them because I really wanted to start a new pair (I am going to conveniently ignore the other two socks with unfinished mates I have, as well socks for CoffeeBoy for now).  When Cristi stayed with me during Sock Summit, she made me promise to do a pair of toe up socks, especially after I learned Judy’s Magic Cast-On.  What better way to do it then with Cristi’s own pattern?

So this is my first adventure in a very long time of doing toe up socks (what can I say? I love my top down socks.) Judy’s Magic Cast-On made a huge difference – you know when people say they hate kitchner stitch? I bloody hate provisional cast-ons, which is what my other toe up socks started as (short row toes).  I am just an idiot when it comes to crochet hooks apparently.

The pattern I choose is Calvin & Ripple (although, sorry Ripple, I keep wanting to call it Calvin & Hobbs).  I freaking love the stitch pattern.  I still didn’t quite get the toe (forgive me, I did just a plain toe) but I’m having fun with it…partly because of the pattern, partly because of the yarn…it’s a Socks That Rock mediumweight mill end, no idea what color way it was suppose to be but I love it.  It reminds me of fall, which is officially starting tomorrow, (according to the calendar although Mother Nature isn’t paying attention because it’s suppose to be in the 90s again. UGH).  Anyway, I’m enjoying every bit of this sock…I haven’t decided if I’ll do another Calvin Sock or switch to Ripple…hey maybe that will solve my Second Sock Syndrome!

 

Very Silly Things

So I’ve been moody this week – just a lot of stress & negativity seems to be surrounding me and getting me down.  It’s nothing really horrible, don’t worry. I am usually a pretty cheerful person & I do my best to keep my annoyance & frustration to myself instead of taking it out on poor unsuspecting people…although it seems like I am the poor unsuspecting person on the receiving end of a lot other people’s negativity.  So when that happens I like to  make silly things to cheer me up, even when I have a ton of other projects I’d like to finish in this lifetime.

First there was the pickle…

Fredrick the Giant Pickle

Started: September 11

Completed: a few hours later

Yarn: a random partial ball – I’m pretty sure it’s Swish Worsted

Pattern: Christmas Pickle Ornament

Needles: size 4US Zephyrs

Notes:  So we have this pickle ornament pattern & I had to make it. Why? I have no idea, I don’t even like pickles.  Still, I added some eyes & Fredrick was created.  Actually, there is an accessory that several us in the office are making in different yarn weights, so I of course I had to have something to fit it. (Not trying to be mysterious, just some fun silly things we are doing. I love my job) Anyway, he’s sized up – worsted instead of fingering & on size 4s instead of 2s but everything else is the same.  He now sits on my desk & cheers me when I’m having one of those days.

A week or so ago, I got interviewed for the KP podcast again, talking about unusual knits (the podcast won’t be up for at least a couple of weeks). I got to talking about Mochimochiland & especially my Grass Guy.  Yesterday I was particularly down & decided another Grass Guy was needed.

Mo

Started:  September 17

Completed: September 18

Yarn: Another random ball, I think this is Cascade 128

Pattern: Grass

Needles: Size 8US

Notes: This pattern just cheers me right up.  I means it’s just so silly & quick – Mo is my third grass guy.  He is a lot bigger than his brother, the Original Grass Guy Who Never Got A Name But I Just Decided To Call Him Jo.

Plus, Mo has better eyes, now that I discovered a place to get plain black safety eyes.  I hate doing embroidery.   He’s squishy & soft so I think he’ll join Fredrick & Little Boo at my desk so I can something to hug on those bad days.

Then this isn’t finished yet because he needs legs.

he is scared of legs & wants to stay in the grapevines

Right now it’s just the Giant Grape but it’s going to be one of the Monster Chunks by Dangercraft.  I love those patterns as much as the Mochimochi ones so I think my nieces & nephews will get some of those for Christmas.

I have no plans this weekend so I am hoping to actually finish a big sewing project during that time   Not to mention some knitting projects to work on…but I have some movies and a new audio book to keep me going, not to mention a lovely rainy day tomorrow (before we go back up to the 90s – BOO!  I want fall!  I can’t even wear my new knitwear yet!).  Have a lovely negative free weekend everyone!

 

Finally…some FOs

Well, I ended up not taking pictures until today – lots of little things and some stupid family drama pretty much killed my desire to blog or even photograph my knits.  But now I have some fall items to show off.

First the Sunny Cabley Beret I mentioned in the last post

Sunny Cabley Beret

Started: August 26

Completed: September 5th

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Heavyweight Mill End

Pattern: Laurel by Jared Flood

Needles:  Size 3 & 7 US

see? I smile in photos sometimes.

Notes:  I love this hat.  This actually had started as a different cabled hat but then I picked up Made In Brooklyn and immediately had to make this one.  Believe it or not, this is the first big cabling project I’ve actually completed – what I mean is more than just doing a 4 stitch cable every six rows or so. Funny, because I love doing cables so much – keep your colorwork, your lace, I’ll take beautiful cables anytime.

And of course the yarn is a delight.  It’s a bit thinner than what was called for so mine is a bit more floppy but I don’t mind.  I did go down a needle size for the ribbing so it would stay on my giant head.

Be warned, if you have Made In Brooklyn, there is some errors in the pattern – nothing too huge but the chart key is incomplete.  I pretty much figured it out on my own, but there is now errata for it.

Next up…more fall wear:

My Wave

Started: September 4

Completed: September 8

Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss HW in Aegean, a little over 1 ball

Pattern: Wave Cowl

Needles: Size 9US

Notes:  I have been in love with this yarn since I first got to squish it a few months ago.  And the color…photos can’t capture the glowingness of this.

until I took this photo, I didn’t notice the short row stitches standing out that much.

My original intent was to make a scarf version of the Every Way Wrap from the new IK.  I did one repeat…and hated it.  So I decided a cowl was a way to go instead.  I don’t really like knitting scarves anyway.

This pattern was really fun – I’m one of those weirdos who love to do short rows (though obviously they can use some work). and I love how it turned out.

I look derranged.

Obviously, I would get more use wearing it like this in MA rather than out here (unless we get another crazy snow storm this year) but it’s still a lovely item to have around my neck when it’s chilly.

A couple more little projects in a future post…and now it’s time to work nonstop on Calluna.  After another brief heatwave, it’s hopefully going to be fall now and I am loving Calluna so much.

Funny, I realized I haven’t really been working on socks all that much.  My purse project is the same damn socks I worked on at Sock Summit, but I’m determine to slog through them before casting on for any more.

 

I love Fall

It is finally feeling like fall around here and I couldn’t be happier – there is just so much I love about this time of year.

I love the changing of the leaves….

I love wearing my knitwear again…

Laurel by Jared Flood...a proper FO shoot as soon as it finishes blocking

I love baking…

especially in my new apron

I love the color style in fabrics & yarn..

Little Pumpkins! From the other company I work for - Connecting Threads

And I love just being in the house watching the ever changing sky…

I’m going to continue to enjoy the official start of fall for the rest of the lazy 3 day weekend.

 

A Blue-Green Life

So…I still do knit.

While I’m really enjoying sewing (I have a couple more bags to show off – thank you everyone for your compliments & suggestions I sell them.  They really are not good enough to sell – I’m not going to take pictures of my crooked stitches!  Maybe in the future – after I’ve been sewing longer than a week & half!), knitting really is my favorite crafty activity & I don’t really see that changing.  I even finished a couple of little projects this week.  Funny enough, while I won’t get much use out of these until the fall, I finished them up on cooler grey days so I put them both on immediately.

First up – no surprise – some socks.

Lunasea Socks

Started: June 15

Completed: July 8

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock – mediumweight in Lunasea

Pattern:  Just a plain pair, short row heel, plain toe.

Needles: Size 2US circ

Notes: Not really much to say about these – I’ve made so many pairs of plain socks but they are the best for movie/work knitting because I don’t have to pay attention to what I’m doing much.  I started off with 60 stitches, did a 6 inch cuff & a short row heel, finished with my usual foot & toe.  It did reaffirm my love of STR – I actually love how the colors worked out and I’m very excited for my class with Tina Newton at Sock Summit!  Plus I’ve noticed my STR socks have really held up  - STR, Opal, & various Knit Picks socks have survived multiple washings & wearings- I don’t wash them any different from the rest of my socks but they all are still very wearable.

After finishing these, I needed a new on the go project so I chose a hat.  I haven’t actually made a hat for awhile so it was fun.

City Tweed Shouch

Started: July 8

Completed: July 12

Yarn: Knit Picks City Tweed HW in Jacquard – 1 ball

Pattern: Le Slouch (pdf) by Wendy Bernard

Needles:  size 7 & 9 US circs

Notes: So I really loved everything about this project.  This pattern has been in my queue for awhile & it just seemed perfect for this yarn.  It’s funny though, I’ve made several of Wendy Bernard’s patterns but I wasn’t that excited by her book – I checked it out from the library but didn’t see anything I wanted to immediately knit up.  Anyway, when looking at the projects on Ravelry, I didn’t see many that were as slouchy as I wanted so I added an extra inch on the body before beginning the decreases for that extra slouchy effect.

forgive sleepy puffy face – but how cute is my favorite coffee  mug?

And the yarn…okay, I have been obsessed with trying this yarn since it was first released (before I started working there, I might add) and it did not disappoint.  I loved it – next to the skin soft & comfy & loved the texture & the tweedy bits.  I have two more balls of this color so I might make a matching scarf or cowl but then…well, I really don’t need to start another sweater but I am obsessed with the Calluna Cardigan.  It has some my favourite elements – cables & tweed plus it’s a cardigan!  I live in cardigans!  I’m trying to convince myself that the other sweaters I’ve started are more spring type sweaters while this is a fall sweater and should be done first.  And you know, since it’s work related, I shouldn’t feel bad about starting it.  Sigh.  I really want to start it, I do get paid this week…

As a note, while I do now work for the Knit Picks company, I want to point out that my gushing over the products has gone back years.  I’m not getting anything out of it.  I just wanted everyone to know that.

Now, back on the needles is a pair of socks I started awhile ago but broke my size 0 needle so I couldn’t finish them at the time.  But now I’m ready to finish up all these single socks!  Oh I also have a bunch of new bags to show off (not all for me either – I’m seeing my family next weekend for a long standing date to see the new Harry Potter movie!) but I’ll save them for a separate post.

(note-smallish Harper’s Island spoilers ahead – though not the BIG spoiler.  But if you haven’t watched the show & want to, don’t read any further. If you just haven’t seen the finale, it’s okay.)

Still kind of recovering from the finale of Harper’s Island last night.  The show started out a bit lame – I didn’t like any of the characters & thought it was a little boring.  But by the 5th episode, I started to really enjoy it and ended up, as the weeks went on, loving some of the characters (RIP Cal & Chloe – who funny enough, when they were first introduced, I told my sister “wow, I can’t wait until they get killed off”.  They ended up being my favourite characters, along with JD, who I also didn’t really like at first.).  I also feel so vindicated as I thought the person who ended up being the killer was a bit creepy back in the 3rd or 4th  episode and was totally convinced it was him/her by episode 8.  My family thought I was crazy, but I knew it! Sadly they haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t gloat. Usually I watch it “with” my sister – either in person or exchanging texts or chatitng online but they were out of town this weekend.  I did get to exchange tweets with Carrie though, which didn’t make me feel quite alone. Anyway, it was good summer show (they really should have started it later, rather than in April), so if you like somewhat silly slasher/mystery movies, it’s a fun one to check out online or on dvd when they come out.

 

Reversi, again

Reversi, again

Started: May 16th

Completed: May 24

Yarn:  flydesigns Cashmara

Pattern: Reversi by Jen Showalter

Needles: Size 2US 

Notes:  I think it’s pretty obvious I love this pattern.

First of all, I love how it looks.  Second, while it’s a 20 row stitch pattern, it’s easy to memorize & goes quickly.  Third, there are no purl stitches.  Plus, it’s one of the few sock patterns I’ve purchased – I have so many sock books that I don’t really need to purchase sock patterns, so I guess I”m getting my money’s worth!  These are my fourth pair, but the only one I currently own – as stated, I’ve shrunk two pairs & the other went to my best friend for a gift.  So let’s hope I can hang on to these.

This particular pair was probably one of my quickest sock knits – about a week from start to finish & included frogging half of one to change the heel.  I only cast on 56 stitches & they just flew by.  Love knitting with DK weight!   These are going to be nice when my poor feet get cold – Cashmara is lovely lovely lovely stuff & feels like heaven on my feet, which tend to get cold a lot.

My biggest fear was running out of yarn – I haven’t knit DK weight socks in a very long time & was a bit nervous as I started the foot of the second sock – the skein was listed as 290 yards & I was knitting at a slightly tigher gauge.  But, obviously, I was successful.

Whew!

These made a nice birthday gift for myself – yes, today is my 36th (eek!) birthday.  Right at the moment, it’s not the most exciting day – I’m waiting for a delivery that’s not even for me – it’s CoffeeBoy’s motorcycle.  Why they are delivering it today of all days – a holiday- I have no idea but I’m getting impatient.  Then I”m headed south to spend the rest of the day with my family, which will be nice.  But I think most of my celebrating will be in 48 hours when my CoffeeBoy will finally be here.  :)

 

Summer of Socks

After a brief stint of  comfort knits & toys, I’m back on pretty much only socks now.  I keep casting on for more – maybe it was a mistake buying more long circular needles because if I have free needles, they need to be put to use, right?

I did finish up a pair in time for CoffeeBoy’s visit next week:

More Boy Socks

Started: April 19

Completed: May 19

Yarn:  KnitPicks Bare Superwash Merino/Alpaca/Nylon Sock Yarn and KnitPicks Essential (Ash)

Pattern:  Tubey from Son of Stitch & Bitch

Needles: Size1US

Notes: This will be the 4th pair of socks for CoffeeBoy, hopefully these will stand the test of time (and CB’s doing his own laundry) –  two pairs have felted or shrunk, one pair bled everywhere so they are now pink.  Sigh.  Anyway, these are not the most exciting socks to knit, but CB likes them so of course I’m going to make more.  I’m loving this new Bare yarn – soft & fuzzy!  One day I’ll have to get the actual Imagination yarns, but the Bare is lovely to work with.  Anyway, I used Tubey again for inspiration, but it’s my basic top down sock, slip stitch heel & plain toe.  I did go down a needle size for these (usually I knit the socks on 2US because…well, it goes faster) so maybe these will last a bit longer.

More socks!

An update on my Sunshine Socks – I’ve been working on them while watching season 2 of Veronica Mars – funny, I finally have cable, yet I keep watching my old videos.  Anyway, I like the  pattern a lot, as always with Cookie A.  I probably should be further with these but…

…I had to cast on with my new Cashmara yarn from the Knit/Crochet show last week.  Oo, I forget how much faster socks go on DK weight yarn.  I’m doing another Reversi – and hope these last.   I would have had a complete sock but I had to rip back – I did the pattern heel and got half way down the socks & worried I would run out of yarn on the second sock.  So I did a simple short row heel instead.  I’m also planning on not sewing up the toes right away on this sock until I’m sure I have enough yarn – if not, I’ll have rip back again.  Now that I think about it, I guess I should have done an afterthought heel.

But to be honest, most of my days (nice days that is) have been spent working in my yard – I kind of got lazy for a week or two and spent way too much time being a depressed couch potato and I am fighting falling into that again.  So it’s been yard work for the past couple of days – and I really need to invest in better sun block. Ow!

Here’s my latest project – my “orchard”

That’s a nectarine, plum & peach tree planted there, along with my grape vines that are finally coming in.  I doubt I’ll get much fruit off of them this year, but we’ll see!  Obviously, I still have some work to do in this area.   It’s suppose to be beautiful the next few days, so I think I’ll get more done!  :)

Have a great weekend everyone!