Hi friends!!

Just wanted to say a quick hello! I will hopefully be back this weekend for a regular knitting post :)



Thanks for reading xx

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays, my friends!! I hope you are all well.

What a busy month! I am very pleased to say that I managed to finish everything that I planned on making and baking. And I say these two things every year too: 1. I'm not going to make gifts anymore and 2. I'm going to start making them earlier. haha! The gifts were all well received and that made me feel very good. Makes all that knitting worth it! The two major items I knit:

Mom and Antarktis
Yarn: Knit Picks Hawthorne in Alameda (the pattern calls for just one skein, but since Hawthorne  has 357 yards per skein, I dipped into a second skein...but overall used 418 yards)

This pattern was gifted to me by the so sweet Andi. I really enjoyed knitting this shawl, and would love to knit myself one!  I really love the garter sections paired with lace. And after blocking, the shawl grew and has such a lovely drape!

Aunt Karla and Nurmilintu 
Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino Light in Black Velvet (used about 377 yards)

This is another shawl I would love to knit myself! The lace sections tripped me up at first. This also has garter + lace ...hmm, I see a theme! I really like this shawl!! very pretty



I have been very busy at work. My co-worker has been on vacation since last Monday, until this coming Tuesday, so I have been working full days to cover her. Today was the first day I was able to pleasure knit!! Dani of Little Bobbins blog and podcast started a Christmas Eve Socks KAL and I've been so eager to cast on!! I decided to use Cakewalk Yarns in Peppermint Bark to knit Madeline Gannon's Evergreen Socks. (The designer is also going to have an Evergreen Socks KAL on Instagram if you're interested!)

oh! I finished this little guy:

little cutie :) he went to live with a friend in Canada :)

I also finished the Sugarplum Fairies socks, but I'll post about them next time! My sock total for the year is 24 pairs! Pretty happy about that!


Are you curious about how Berny and Bruce have been doing?? ;) It seemed like after that horrible week of thinking Bruce had feline leukemia and then hearing the good news, everything would be ok. And it is, sort of. Bruce has since met Berny. They are still adjusting to one another, Berny more so than Bruce. When we first met Bruce, he was so quiet and timid, we thought he would get along with Berny perfectly. As he's grown, his personality has emerged and he's one wild kitten! Very extroverted, LOVES stimulation of all kinds, and is incredibly food motivated (he actually gained too much weight and the vet said he was fat!! oh the horror!! We've been feeding him by dispersing his food in a muffin tin and it slows him down. Has worked wonders!). Berny is basically the complete opposite. She's also gotten accustomed to sleeping all day...

I was able to take this picture one day:

If I don't have a chance to write again before 2015, Happy New Year!! Thank you all so very much for reading my blog, it means an incredible amount to me. May the new year bring you happiness, health, and many good times. 

Love,

Jesse 

always socks

Hi friends!

I have been such a polygamous knitter lately, it's kind of driving me nuts because I haven't finished anything! I should add, while I usually have several projects going at the same time, this feels a little out of control. eep!

 

Dad's socks have been receiving more knitting time. They won't be finished in time for Father's Day, but I think I will give them to him anyway. I really want him to try them on so I know how much longer to knit them.

 

Look at the cute Belgian waffle stitch marker I received from Brie!! Cute stitch markers definitely help motivate me in that sea of navy blue :)

  

I also have been knitting on Sue's socks. I think I was still on the leg the last time I posted about them. I have turned the heels on both and have knit a little bit of feet :)

  

An eye of partridge heel is still the prettiest, in my opinion!!

 

I finished one hiking sock! Even though they are short, they are sure taking a long time to knit ;) The cuff and the leg are both one inch long, and then I started the heel flap. The yarn is Patons Kroy but doesn't it look like handspun? 

In my polygamist state, I cast on a new sock. It's Sunday Swing by Kristel Nyberg in Juno Fibre Arts Buffy Sock, colorway Lilac Pool. This is a BFL yarn and super squishy! One thing I have noticed about knitting with BFL (the other time I knit with BFL was with the String Theory Christmas socks) is that while it stretches very well, it doesn't really sproing back, know what I mean? I started this sock 64 stitches on 2.25 mm needles, which is my usual method, but they were too loose. I started over, 64 stitches on 2.00 mm needles and it fits much better. 

 

  

I really love the pattern! I am ready to start the heel :)

One last project: LACE!

  

It will be an Echo Flower shawl (isn't it pretty?) It's for my friend's boss, who was looking for a light something to wear over her dress at her son's wedding. This will be my first full lace project, with lace yarn, and I am a little apprehensive but also very excited about it. My deadline is July 29. eek!


I didn't take a progress photo of Mrs. Weasley's blanket but I finished the first quadrant (36 squares) and have knit about four squares of the second quadrant. I've received a bunch of mini skeins from Instagram friends and am slowly working them in!

little lovelies!!

oh, that little mouse? The sweet Dani made and sent it for Berny!!

(I posted a video of Berny going crazy for it on Instagram! it was so cute. But then she crashed hard, so I took a photo, of course)

Scott is enjoying his new toy, a PS4 !! He traded in an old PS3 plus some games, and that credit was applied towards the purchase. I think it was a great deal. But while he is playing with his toy, I think I will knit!! I haven't been able to knit as much this week because my coworker is gone, which means I've been working full days. I will tell you what, this weekend has been so blissful and leisurely!!!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekends, and Happy Father's Day!!!
xx

FOs and books, but no FO photos...

Hi friends,

I thought I'd check in even though I don't have too much to show you yet. Thanks for your lovely comments of support and advice on my last post, they were so nice! I am still very nervous about teaching but I know with more experience I will gain confidence.

In the past week, I have finished two pairs of socks! One is the Diagonal Lace Socks that I started so long ago, and the other pair is for my friend Lorri. I haven't taken photos of either pair yet, but I will not forget to snap some before I send Lorri's socks to her! They turned out beautifully and I really hope they fit.

I cast on this pair a few days ago:

ssss

with the fabulous Cakewalk Yarn I purchased from my podcast friend, Amanda at Knitting Psychos. They will be nice and plain stockinette socks. 

I also received this wonderful San Fransisco/German care package from my cousins:

They are expecting their first baby and I knit them a baby blanket. This box of chocolates and coffee was a thank you from them :) Right now they live in California so I don't see them very often, but I am getting excited about knitting baby things now that I know it's a boy ;)

In other news, I'm voting via absentee ballot for the first time this year, and I just got my ballot! They didn't send me a I Voted sticker though... I've also started several new books. One is Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, which I've skimmed a lot. I borrowed it from the library which was a good decision. I think the problem I have with it is the pace and her writing approach. The writing itself is good, it's just that what it says doesn't excite me. She says she spent a year researching first before writing The Happiness Project, which seems weird to me. Happiness doesn't need research does it? Her research appears in the first chapter in the form of quotes and thoughts from famous dead people. I also have a problem with her dialogue recreations; if this is a book about a past journey, why include dialogue? It feels fake since it's absurd to think we can remember an exact exchange of words between two people that happened years ago -- and I realize we're probably not supposed to take it word for word, but I don't like it. This book would be better without dialogue. /rant (funny how talking about The Happiness Project did not make me happier...)

I'm also reading Mariana by Susanna Kearsley, which was the Kindle Daily Deal the other day. It's a time transportation book. In this case, the main character goes to 17th century England. I really enjoy this kind of book so I'm sure I will like this one.

Did I tell you I finished Gone Girl? Ultimately I didn't like it because the ending was so disappointing! That's all I will say. 

Berny masters the back leg face palm

I didn't mean to write so much, especially about The Happiness Project... if you have read it, I would like to know what you thought!  

 Bye for now, TGIF :)

Sock roundup

I finished two pairs of socks this weekend. If only all weekends were like this, right?

These are the worsted weight socks:

I substituted Judy's Magic Cast On instead of the Star Toe, mainly because I think JMCO is perfect. This is the first pattern I've used from this book, and I have to say I wasn't very impressed with it. I did not like the short row heel pattern, it gave me holes. I'll try another pattern from this book and see if I change my mind. I LOVE the photography and variety in socks pictured, so I don't want to completely give up :)

...and these are I am Happy, I am Elate socks! They really do make me very happy!

Though, the time spent wearing them to take the photos was painfully hot!

Today I made some progress on these socks:

I think I'll call them, Mrs. Grinch socks

That's Red Heart's Heart and Sole yarn! I found it on clearance at JoAnns and really wanted to try it. I am very pleased with the colors and the yarn quality. For $3 a skein, you really can't complain :) Though, my stripes are about half an inch off...which sort of bothers me. But I had no idea what the pattern repeats would be like, and I think I would have had a mess had I tried to make them match! How do you make stripes match? Is there a secret? (I just got lucky with the Felici ones!)

Berny has been too cute the past week:

staring at her lover (a ball chain attached to a string)

If we don't put her lover to bed at night (i.e. on top of the coat rack) she will drag it around while we're sleeping. Sometimes she even drags it up on the bed! She is so silly.

And this expression cracks me up:

"Don't mess with me mama, I'm hot!"

I feel like this sometimes at work when a client has a ridiculous question or need, just dead pan.

In other news, I think I'm going to hop in on Stephen West's summer mystery shawl KAL! So many gals on Instagram are making me envious of their lovely shawl pictures...I think I just have to! I purchased the pattern, I just need to find the right yarn.

Check out Andi's fabulous striped socks! I love the colors and the narrow stripes! Also, her heel looks perfect... no weird one-row-of-one-color stripes along the instep that I always get...I think she's magical.

Also, Susan B. Anderson is having a giveaway for a beautiful hank of Dyeabolical Super Ego Yarn! It looks like it's still open, but I'm not sure for how long.

One last thing, an Instagram friend sent me some wonderful yarn, just because she is so nice and generous.

How beautiful are these?!

Her name is Lorri and we met through Instagram. She lives in the UK and the fiber for this yarn was collected over the course of several years, from specific sheep! Pretty neat. I think the colors are just beautiful too. Very subtle and simple, but lush. Thank you again, Lorri! I'll be sure to keep you all posted with what this yarn turns into.

I am reluctant to let go of this weekend, but I have to :) Hope everyone's week is awesome!
Jesse

WIP Monday

What's on the needles:

I pulled this faux cabled afghan out again because I really would like to finish it. I vowed to knit one twelve-row pattern repeat a day. So far, I have pretty much stuck to it, but it's only been three days since I made that vow! Right now it's 36" long! I started with six skeins and I'm on the fifth now. I think I will need to buy one or two more.

Happy/Elate socks are still going! This photo is showing my wrap and turn heel. I am becoming more comfortable with this technique. As far as progress on the socks, I am actually past the heel flap and am on the leg. I'm not really knitting this at full force, just when I need some easy knitting :)

Tina the Tap Dancing T-Rex is happening! This photo is a bit dated, she has arms, a tail, and a belly panel now! I have one of her legs almost finished, and will just need to knit a second. Legs and arms are the worst parts for me - I always dilly dally on them!

The card I made for my dad, for Father's Day. We celebrated last night since they were gone last weekend.

I had to sneak two photos of Berny in... the other day she was lying on the couch, halfway on this blanket. The rules are she can be on the couch as long as she's on a blanket. So I pulled the blanket up under her rump and she fell into this position (with her rump more elevated than her head)... and stayed in it! It was so cute.

Happy Monday everyone!

New socks

Remember the yarn I received in a contest?

the yarn!

Well, it became two cute little yarn cakes...

...which became two cute little toe cups!

I am so excited about this yarn and the colorful socks it is becoming! The yarn is sport weight and I'm using size 3.0 mm circular needles from Knit Picks. One of my LYS stocks and sells a huge variety of Knit Picks needles which is great because then I don't have to pay for shipping :)

Let's end this post with a cute photo of Berny, shall we?

May the Fourth be with you! -- Happy Nerd Day!

What's on my plate

Man oh man, my plate is full!

In my last post I wrote about Hugo, the Couch Potato Monster. Hugo (or as Scott likes to call him: Hubert) is nearly finished, I just need to knit and fill his arms. It turns out I needed THREE skeins of yarn in total. I ran out of the main blue color twice, so I ended up using up some yarn that I had previously purchased. Now he is wearing a sweater. More on Hugo/ Hubert when he's finished. He is already stuffed with Polyfill (it took over TWO whole bags!!) and he is the comfiest, squishiest, most delightful pillow EVER!

Here is a picture of Berny for you all :) I think it needs higher contrast, or a black background. I know how to do neither of these.

Remember the hat I knit for my dad this Christmas? Well, one of his neighbors (and a longtime family friend) really liked it and put in an order for one! And she offered me money! This will be my first paying order :) and I am stoked. It is so exciting and I am thankful that she supports my craft! She sews beautiful quilted banner-like scenes so I know she understands the time and love that goes into crafts.

I have also signed up for a swap on Ravelry and am super excited for it! It's themed around Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, or Leap Day :) and with a real birthday this year, there was no way in heck I could pass this one up. My swap partner is awesome and we both love Harry Potter! I can't say much more about this now.

Next weekend I am going to Scott's brother's girlfriend's baby shower (whew!). For Christmas, I knit her a baby blanket and gave her some baby gowns. With the leftover yarn, I've decided to knit a baby hat and some booties. This will be my first time knitting baby accessories (besides afghans) so I am a little nervous about sizing and how little time I have. But they should knit up quickly since they're so little, right?

Let's see, I was also asked to review a yarn app for the iPhone recently, and am just finishing up my review! I will post the review here, so more on that later.

Gosh, I think that is all. Oh! The pair of socks I started for Scott in November are about halfway finished; I am at the gusset decrease. I would really like to finish them in time for Valentine's Day! If I do finish them in time, they will be the fastest socks I've knit so far! (well, that and my second pair :) )

Now all I need to do is make a knitting schedule and stick to it!

Hearts in the morning

I woke up at the perfect time to witness this special moment:

Happy birthday, Berny !!

Yup, she's turning five years old. This means for the next month or so, we are the same age. Leap Year age, that is :)

Guess what she received?

Happy birthday, little.

There's a kitten under my couch!

Berny will sleep under the couch for hours at a time. If ever I can't find her, I shake her treats bag and sure enough, the runner on the couch twitches and out she comes, stretching.

Day 14... All about Berny!!

and because you can never take just one picture of her:

She likes to EAT paper too

The story of the broken toy: 
It was one of those kitty wands with a string of detachable feathers on a ball chain. One day I came home and Scott told me it was broken. Now the end of the wand has a string attached to the ball chain... and no way to attach the feathers to it. She LOVES the chain! She bites it and drags it around with her. I would cut the string and chain off of the wand, but I'm afraid she would try to eat it. At any rate, when we aren't playing with her with it, we put it out of Bern's reach. The end.

Berny

On second thought, this one IS kind of creepy...

Whirlwind

This past week has passed both quickly and slowly. Nick and Julie's wedding was beautiful. Thank goodness it stopped raining! Although, I am disappointed I didn't take more pictures, especially since I hadn't seen some of my relatives in years. It was delightful to see them, and I am still overwhelmed by the love and support of friends and family who made it.

July was a very bad month for knitting! I only finished one thing; a baby blanket for Harmony. I still need to take photos, but I promise I'll post about it!

silly girl

Yarn as Addiction