FO: Slouchy Stripes, a hat

2011 Knit Challenge: 17 Knit, 43 to go!

This hat began as another striped scarf, but when I saw the white and purple yarn together, I decided I wanted those colors to really stand out. And on a scarf, they get kind of lost among the other colors.

The white yarn is Berroco Cuzco that I purchased for my first Hearts Amore hat so long ago. And I honestly can't remember what the purple yarn is... I purchased it sometime last fall when I crocheted a hat for camping. I will tell you what, though, it is not a fun yarn to knit with. The yarn is fuzzy and you can't really distinguish individual strands. And when I would pull the yarn taut, it would sometimes break. Luckily every time it did break (about three or four times) I was left with a long enough tail to be able to sew the end in. Otherwise I would've had to back track and take a few inches of stitches out in order to secure the tail.

US 7 for ribbing and US 8 for the hat. The 8s are new! I bought them from Joseph's Coat but they're Harmony from KnitPicks. Aren't they beautiful??

via Knitpicks

And they are so pointy! I had to be careful when pushing yarn from the ends, because those points can really tear up your finger pad.

FO: Ribbed Pillbox

2011 Knit Challenge: 16 Knit, 44 to GO!!!!!

This is actually a pattern from 60 Quick Knits, which was part of my original 2011 knit challenge. The reverse stockinette edge at the top of the hat is a little puckered, I wonder if I knit too tightly? I'm hoping that with more wear it'll relax a bit.

I almost ran out of yarn! I used Patons something or other that was left over when I was knitting the Ugly Cowl (which is no more). I'm glad I didn't run out of yarn and I'm glad that I was able to use it for this hat.

We are almost halfway through the year, but I'm not even close to being halfway through my knitting list! I've got to step it up.

FO: Hearts Amore for Padee

In honor of her college graduation and moving away to MN, a hearts hat for my friend:

2011 Knit Challenge: 15 Knit, 45 to go!

I used my basic hat pattern, cast on 96 stitches on US 7 for the ribbing, and switch to US 8 for the hat body. The yarn is Cascade 220 Heathers (I don't know the color name) and Patons in Aquamarine (my trusty blue).

This is one of my best Fair Isle projects, as far as my technique. It improves each time I Fair Isle!

Photoless

I apologize that I don't have any photos to post. I don't have a good excuse. It's not that the weather was horrible and I couldn't go outside for photos, because it's been beautiful the last few days. And it's not that the finished objects aren't finished...because they are. And it's not for lack of wanting to write, because I've wanted to but blogger has been down since yesterday afternoon.

I guess I've just been lazy =)


I just got off work a little bit ago, and I have a few things to say about that.

The first is, there exists certain people who have so much nerve that they will bring food from another fast food establishment into yours (not that it's mine, God no. I just work there), precede to sit down, and eat it. Then ask you for a fork. And then refill their cup with soda from your pop machine. AND leave crumbs. Forty five minutes before closing.

The second is, some men think it's ok to say "good girl" to a complete stranger, in relation to sandwich building. It is never ok to do this, and it's downright creepy.

The last is, a severe disappointment. I thought my last day working with this particular woman was last Monday. In fact, it will be tomorrow. The best way I can describe this woman is to compare her to Kreacher, from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: short, skinny, wrinkly, crazy hair, mutters to self, and rude.

But I'm home and and showered and watching silly videos with Scott on wimp.com.

Congratulations to everyone graduating tomorrow!! I'm there in spirit!

FO: another Hearts Amore hat

Who'da thought procrastination would be my greatest knitting inspiration? Haven't typed one word towards my essay but I did just finish a hat for a friend...can't give out too many details yet. I will post pictures of both this hat and the Ribbed Pillbox, with project details as soon as my paper is finished.

I never noticed how loud the road outside my house is before. There are moving vans and diesel trucks, sometimes semi trucks, and every now and again, a train. Sheesh.

FO: Ribbed Pillbox hat

Yes, I am procrastinating on my paper. And yes, I've been spending that time being sick, playing DDR, and knitting. But I've knit a hat in the meantime. Pictures to come.

FO: Striped Scarf

2011 Knit Challenge: 14 knit, 46 to go!

I have been wanting to knit a striped scarf since I saw some cute ones a few Christmas seasons ago. I noticed they were basically tubes with their ends sewed shut. And that is the basis for how I knit my scarf.

CO 60 stitches
US 7 Hiya Hiya circular

The color scheme goes something like this (with fifteen rows of each, and Aran in between each color):

-Red
-Dusty Rose (or something like that. It's Wool Ease)
-Wisteria
-a Dark Purple (maybe Royal)
-Gray

All the other yarns I used are Patons Classic Wool.

I do have another color scheme in mind, something with less Aran and more rainbow! Scarf to come.

At first I was going to knit a Waldo-esque scarf, just red and white stripes. But then I saw a few different shades of purple and pink yarn on my shelf and thought they looked really great together. I was able to use up some of my stash yarn without needing to buy more. Ultimately, I did have to purchase more Aran and dark purple because I ran out during their sections. Not bad though!

This should be a super warm scarf for winter! Double layered and really wide, it will block the wind and snow. I am almost looking forward to winter just so I can wear it... almost.

Birthday Yarn

It has taken me too long to write this post. Especially since my birthday was in February. Heh heh

I received this yarn from Scott's parents, via gift certificate to Joseph's Coat! I waited for over a month to look at yarn there because I wanted to move into our new place first. The waiting was horrible because yarn-ogling is my favorite, but I knew I probably wouldn't have time to start a project with it before we moved, and it would be one thing less to have to pack.

I love Cascade 220! and I have a feeling that some of these hanks will become hats and mittens.

I really love the purple next to the mint

And this was my first ever yarn purchase online! This yarn was part of the ball winder bundle from Knit Picks (and I am still very, very pleased with the ball winder!) :

The blue yarn is actually more of a dark purple, but it looks blue in the photo. This is Wool of the Andes and it was really inexpensive so I thought I'd give it a shot. Buying yarn online is unlike buying it in person. For one, you don't have the experience of touching the yarn. And it's hard to judge what the actual color will be against the thumbnail. But I am glad I purchased this yarn and if I enjoy knitting with it, I will probably buy more in the future =)

One week left. One week until I graduate (not technically). One week and I am no longer Occupation: Student. It feels very weird. But I am reeeeaally looking forward to sleeping all morning and knitting/ reading all night...and occasionally working my part time job (finished HP and the Goblet of Fire).


Speaking of knitting, here's a peek at what I'm working on:

I am almost finished! Hint: I have to wait until October to wear it.

I downloaded Google's Picasa so I can resize images. If you notice, the new photo in my header is beyond huge. But isn't the blossom beautifully detailed? I am working on making it smaller. Has anyone used Picasa? I probably should have researched it more before downloading it to my computer. OK... as it turns out, I didn't need Picasa because there's an option on Blogger to size to fit your photo...oops. It didn't resize the photo so much as automatically crop the extra length out. Don't worry, I'll get it right still. You want to know something really cool about Picasa though? Like Flickr, it knows what sort of camera you used to take the photo, but Picasa also knows all the specs! Like, the aperture and zoom and date and stuff. I think that's really handy for someone like me, who is trying to take better photos and now can easily see what the settings were and how it could be improved.

In other developments, one of our neighbors stopped by last night to give us a welcome gift!

Cute, huh?

I think she was just curious about the house, since it's been unoccupied for years. I thought I'd get around to repotting it this morning, but darn picture uploading took longer than I thought. Our landlord said it was ok to plant a garden and flowers in the lawn, there really isn't a good spot. Plus, I am not the greatest with plants so I'd feel really bad if I tore up the lawn for nothing. So I think I'll set it on the front steps.

Egg baby update. His hair is really flying!

Well, that is about all the news I have. I checked out five books from the library to help with my last ever essay !!! I have one week to write this essay. zoinks.

Egg Baby

Egg baby is growing up! He seems to be channeling some Pauly D hair:

Either that or he is riding an imaginary roller coaster hehe

he likes to look outside

I think he needs a haircut soon. Maybe a flat top?

Mileage

Scott's car

This is like the wish of all wishes, if it was a clock. Impressive, to say the least.

Happy Easter!

coffee filter "basket"... but the walls don't hold the eggs very well

This is Scott's sumo egg. Even though the fundoshi didn't turn out, it's still cute!

I do have to say that I hard boiled these eggs perfectly :) I know this because I dyed a really ugly egg and ate it so no one would see it.

nerds

Hope you all have a happy and safe Easter!

Updates

Egg Baby:

"Ga-LORY!"

Round Ripple Afghan:

it's not finished yet because I want it to be huge

Boy, that red sure sticks out doesn't it? This is the first time I've really spread it out. I ran out of red yarn.


Berny:

this is her "mom! stop taking pictures" pose

Someone hijacked my camera

and took pictures of a ridiculously sleepy kitty. It was Scott.

She makes nests in the blankets by herself...perfect little caves

This is what Scott likes to call "circle toes" because she's so curled up her toes touch and make a circle

Streeeetch

In other news...I am in LOVE with this afghan!! I am most definitely going to start on one of my own soon! I think it's genius to crochet the circles together as you go, rather than sew them up at the end because that is horrible to do!


This is my egg baby:

"Hooray for the sun!!"

I received it for Christmas. It's finally warm enough (or so I thought...it snowed off and on all day) for this little guy to start growing. It's supposed to grow some sort of grass, and is kitty-safe to eat.

I just downloaded The 100 Thing Challenge from the public library (onto Cruz reader, yeah!) and am really excited to start reading it. The challenge is to live simply. I do not think I could ever consolidate to just 100 things so I'm interested to see how this guy (Dave is his name) does it. Even so, the idea of not consuming so much is appealing. But a girl does need earrings.