Oh dear

Only two more days until February is over... and I still have one more thing to knit... and I'm going to turn 23. Yikes bikes.

silly

We're Moving !!

and in just a few weeks! to a HOUSE with a WASHING MACHINE and a BATHTUB and a GARAGE !! OMG !! And there's this neat space in the hallway between the living room and the bedroom that's perfect for a yarn nook. It'll be my little stash.

Also, knitnana has inadvertently planted a seed in my head to visit the Smithsonian and see the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef. Why didn't I know about this sooner? Seriously, how cool is a coral reef completely crocheted out of yarn? Spring break is April 4-8... I looked up plane ticket prices... I am seriously planning. I wish the museum was on this side of the country, though. I have never been to the Smithsonian, and even if I don't see the Reef display, I still want to visit it. But honestly, I would love to go ANYWHERE with nicer weather than Missoula right now.

Spillyjane knits has also inspired me a little. Have you heard of FM3 Buddha Machine? I hadn't until this morning. omg. Probably the coolest thing ever and I'm not even sure how it works. Watch some of the Youtube videos, seriously. It has the most soothing and cool sound in the world.

Better get back to packing up books
=)

FO: Blitz hat

I adapted a stitch pattern from Melissa Leapman's Mastering Color Knitting for this hat. I am so pleased with how it turned out!

2011 Knit Challenge: 9 knit, 51 to go!
And I am still loving Fair Isle =)

I combined Patons Classic Wool in Royal Purple with Loops and Threads Impeccable in Grass to get a sweet color contrast. Brim is 2x2 ribbing with size 7 US circulars and then I switched to size 8 US.

It's a Wrap!

I finally finished the Happy Heart fingerless mittens! I haven't figured out what sort of face Righty needs, so it's still blank. I'm up in the air about making a Dr Jekyll/ Mr Hyde pair of mitts, which I think would be funny. Maybe for another pair.

It's too bad mittens don't count as two Finished Objects, since I am knitting two different things. C'est la vie.

New Things

1. A notebook to use as a knitting journal. I like it because it has grid paper, which I love anyway, but it's perfect for charting designs and pictures. Someday I might blog more about it, and whether I like using a knitting journal. It's still a new thing for me, but I kind of already journal about my knitting here and on Ravelry. But you know me, I love pen and paper =)

2. This book:

via knitty.com

I am so very, very excited about this book!! It's authored by Melissa Leapman. Mastering Color Knitting has tips and designs for Intarsia, Double Knitting (to make the design on a fabric reversible!), and Fair Isle. I really wish I would have known about this book when I first started color work, definitely would've helped.

3. I swiped creamer from work. I'm enjoying it in my coffee right now. It's the kind that comes in little plastic cups and is vanilla flavored ^-^ but it makes me feel like Linda from Better off Ted...

So those are my new things. I'm spending my day off catching up on school reading and knitting (...duh!).

Happy Weekend =)

Stuff

I'm still figuring out my camera. The other day we (er, Scott) cleaned. I took pictures.

we have so many damn cords, you wouldn't believe it

delicious wine! we usually don't drink dry wine, but this was good

new label maker!

bulbs

I love this one, even though it's blurry, because Bern's saying Meow!

she was tumbling with that crumpled paper

Any photo tips are welcome =) 
(it's really the ISO and shutter speeds and all that that get me)

Night!

Small Review: Oxo Stainless Steel Can Opener

It seems that everyone has a a certain appliance that craps out on them, time and time again. For my parents, it's toasters (seriously, growing up we went through toasters like hotcakes). But for me, it's can openers.

I buy one and it works great for the first few uses. Then the wheel crank starts getting stuck or won't turn at all. It's not like I use one everyday, so it's hard to justify shelling out a lot for one. There are some things that are actually worth spending more money on (you get what you pay for) but some things are stinky no matter how much dough they cost. I'm not sure which category can openers fall into.

This is the (amazing) Oxo Stainless Steel Can Opener:

via Product Scoop

We have only used it once, but it was magic. No squeaking, no getting stuck, no hand cramps, and none of that label-cutting spirals that crappy openers are famous for leaving behind. It was cutting butter with a bread knife - simple. Easy. Fast.

You know the really cool thing about this can opener? The arms swing out to 180 degrees so it can fit long-ways in a narrow drawer. Pretty nifty. It's stainless steel so it won't rust and it has a built-in bottle opener (what doesn't these days?)...which aren't exactly the selling points for me but are nice additions.

I look forward to a long relationship with my new can opener =)

FO: Happy Heart is Happy

Happy Heart is Happy mitts:

2011 Knit Challenge: 8 knit, 52 to go =)

It looks blocky, but is very snug and hand-fitting

My own design!

Palm of lefty. I think righty's palm will be more interesting =)

Great resource for Intarsia. Helped immensely since this was my first Intarsia project.

Patons Classic Wool in Aran and Bright Red

Happy Valentine's Day!! <3

FO: Fortunato

Meet Fortunato:

2011 Knit Challenge: 7 knit, 53 to go


I honestly knit this on the fly. I knew I wanted it to be brown and blue (aquamarine, I believe) but didn't know how to reincorporate the brown again after the brim. The striping actually came out ok, to my surprise.

Yarn used: Patons Classic Wool in brown and aquamarine
Needles: 8 US 16" circular

Bits of end yarn

Since I like knitting with colors, I change yarn a lot and end up with a bunch of tail ends. I used to throw them away, but recently have discovered a good use for them.

Left: yarn bits. Right: stitch markers

I like to save them in a coffee mug near the couch where I usually knit. If I start a project that requires stitch markers (anything knit in the round like mittens and hats for example) I pull out a small bit of yarn. I make a loop and knot it twice. Voila! Homemade, basically cost-free, from-trash-to-use...stitch marker.

I use these for knitting only, not crochet. I've never used stitch markers in crochet, but I am pretty sure they are claspables, like safety pins. If you used one of my stitch markers, you'd have to cut it out because it would be stuck in your crochet (which, I suppose you could do if you don't mind!).

You can definitely purchase stitch markers at any yarn store, they are usually made from plastic. But why buy something you can make for virtually no cost? Plus, if you lose one (and they are pretty small) it's no big deal because it was scrap yarn. Yay!

FO: Griz Mitts for KayCee H.

Man. Have I been on a small knitting hiatus. No clue why. Unfortunately it happened smack in between knitting a pair of mittens. I believe this is what they call "Second Sock (er..mitten) Syndrome." Fortunately, I kept thinking about my friend KayCee and her twin babies on the way, and knew I must finish these.

Ok...enough chit chat, here they are!!! First Finished Object (FO) of February!

Juust another silver

2011 Knit Challenge: 6 down, 54 to go!

KayCee really liked the first pair of Mock-Cable wristers I made and wanted some in Griz colors. I couldn't say no =)

I used Patons Classic Wool, in a grayish and a maroonish color (I think the actual name is Plum Heather, or something). I threw the ball bands with the information away. oops. I really like the different tones in the maroon. Sometimes Patons can be on the opaque side, but this one is very rich.

It seems silly to be knitting woolen things on the brink of spring, especially when we had a full day of sunshine and warmth yesterday. But then the weather goes around and snows on us. So it must not be too silly for hats and mittens still =)

Odd bits

Hooked on Lip Balm ... Yes, you can. I am.

Yarn Harlot: Culling the Herd ... Impressive collection of knitting needles! Seriously, Scott, beware.


Rebecca Danger: Chubby Chirps! ... These are basically adorable! and um...a free pattern too, wha?

French Press Knits: Just Like Mom ... Gorgeous baby mitts (and adult mitts too) and a testament to love; to put that much work into something that will be outgrown in a few weeks.

Baking Bites: The French Laundry, Yountville, California ... Art on a plate. Delicious art.



It's a sunny day, I think I'm going out to take pictures.

I will not lie...

the beer cozy works amazingly well. So well, in fact, that I might add cozies to everything cylindrical in the house.

Today I also picked up Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Knitting Rules. wow! I just read her section on hats and didn't realize how easy they really are to make (can't wait for the sock section!). I mean, I know hats are easy to knit, but now I really know. My problem solver is to make swatches...which I should have been doing all along. But I hate numbers and counting things so I avoid it. I recommend this book to everyone, even non-knitters because maybe you'll want to knit after reading it. Plus Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is hilarious.


Hope you all's fingers are staying warm while you drink your beer...if not, give me a shout!

Seattle.

FO: Keep Chill II beer cozy

I really did finish this beer cozy yesterday, honest. And it was in time to make my Rocket Goal too.

2011 Knit the Book Challenge: 5 things knit, 55 to go!


I'm not really sure why I added this strip. I think I was going to do ribbing the whole way up but then thought a basketweave would be nice, and then I abandoned it. It's kind of random now.

Bottom

For whatever reason, this cozy is looser than my first cozy. No clue why. (not true, I'm just too tired to consider the possibilities).


ETA: beer is Kirkland brand, Hefeweizen variety