Spent the morning hanging out with friends, helping pick out yarn for a knit along project, and knitting at my local yarn shop. I could spend more Saturdays like this.
Some things I have noticed while knitting on a plane.
In a nutshell, knitting on a plane generally means plenty of uninterrupted knitting time. Which, when you have no choice but to travel, is a great way to pass the time.
Back in 2008 (April 6th to be exact), I went to see the Yarn Harlot in Atlanta and ended up with 6 ounces of soy silk. Oh, and I also saw the Yarn Harlot. On July 5, 2011 I finally decided to spin it up. On July 13, 2011 I finished plying it and promptly did not record how many yards I spun. Seriously. How did I not do that? WHY did I not do that?!
Then in October, before leaving for SAFF, I decided that I needed to knit up the circus roving turned yarn into something. So I made myself a little handspun yarn cake and took it with me to Asheville, NC. On October 21, 2011 I bought Trillion (Ravelry link) at SAFF. I also promptly began knitting it. It’s a really simple knit and shows off my handspun yarn really nicely.
It’s a fantastic knit when you’re hanging with friends, drinking and not always paying attention to what your hands are doing. The two-row repeat is really easy to memorize. I highly recommend this pattern for when you need some easy but still enchanting to knit. And because I had no clue what the yardage was on my yarn cake, there was that element of danger as to whether or not I would run out of yarn before I had a wearable…Trillion.
And I still can’t help but wonder if I could have fit in one more row.
Neckerchief?
Wanna hear something kind of hypocritical? Even though I am technically half “yellow” I don’t actually like the color yellow. Since I’m half yellow and half white does that actually make me…beige? Either way, I still don’t love the color yellow.
Photobombed by My Own Husband
But when I wrapped the Trillion around my neck, the yellow is not so noticeable and I can live with that. This is not the best picture of how to wear the Trillion, but you’ll just have to use your imagination. Also, I feel that this is a completely acceptable reason to buy a dressform – to take photos of hand knits draped across it. Sans photobombers. And that is actually B photobombing me. I didn’t photoshop him in or anything. Clearly nothing is sacred to him. And yes, this is me wearing exactly NO makeup. (Note to self: get an under eye cream for dark circles.)
BAD Boy is learning about Greek mythology in school and next week is Greek Week. And on this coming Friday, he has to wear a costume. They drew costume choices out of a hat. His costume? Pegasus.
That’s right. PEGASUS.
In case you were wondering, the only pegasus costumes you can buy are for babies and/or sluts.
So we improvised. We ordered some angel wings from Costume Express. And I made him this hat.
Pegasus Hat Front
Pegasus Hat Side
Pegasus Hat Back
Pegasus Hat Mane
Let me start off by saying that I am freaking AWESOME. No seriously. I am also a genius. And being humble? It’s my best trait.
Seriously, though, I am really really really happy with the way this hat turned out. Especially since I was really ready to burn the pattern. And also drink a lot. I ultimately refrained from burning the pattern. The drinking, though, really helped with deciphering what the hat pattern was saying. I used the Mohawk Hat (Raverly link) pattern, altered the mohawk to a mane and then used the Horse and Unicorn Hat (Ravelry link) crochet pattern to make the ears. (The rest of my project details are here. (Surprise! Also a Ravelry link.)
That’s right. I said CROCHET.
I have a confession to make: I am bi-craftual.
Sort of.
Actually, I’m poly-craftual, but that’s a story for another post.
ANYWAY.
BAD Boy will have this hat, the wings, a long-sleeved plain white shirt, white pants, a tail (I have more of the same yarn the mane is made out of for the tail.) and white shoes. I think that this will make an excellent pegasus costume for a boy.
Also?
I ROCK.
A couple of weeks ago I went on my annual trek to the mountains of Asheville, NC for SAFF and stayed in a rustic cottage of mostly awesomeness with my girls Evil Science Chick, Evil Julie and Nytefalle.
Drinking Is Srs Bizness
Evil Science Chick
Zombie Nytefalle
We learned that if a bear shits in the woods, it definitely stinks. (A bear may or may not have shit outside our cabin. Or possibly the drunk boys 2 cottages down. OR there may have been an issue with a septic tank. We went with bear.) We pretty much blamed that bear for anything remotely stinky. Strangely enough, I think that bear may have followed me home.
Moving along!
We ate lots of tasty, tasty food.
Caramel Sea Salt Mocha Chocolate Cake
Spring Ridge Creamery Ice Cream (Pumpkin Pie & Peppermint)
Acropolis Pizza
Saw lots of cute animals:
Heeey, Baby!
Communing With the Sheepies
Check Out Those Horns
How You Doin'?
This Is My Good Side
I made several purchases. Again.
Corriedale Fleece
It is both awesome and dangerous to be friends with folks who on a fiber mill. I had 2 alpaca fleeces and also wool from Sugar Ray (I hope he’s getting plenty of tail in bunny heaven) that I wanted to blend and Jen picked out this gorgeous Corriedale for me. Then Jared took in my order. I’ll be getting a beautiful DK weight yarn out of the mix. I can’t wait to see what they do with it all!
Supporting My Friends
Sugar Skull Stitch Markers!
Gale-dar in Full Effect
Stash Enhancing
Because Everyone Needs A Ball Sack
You Can Never Have Too Many Project Bags
Oh Yeah. I Went There.
And the coup d’état :
Loom!
I blew my Vegas wad on a loom! [Sidenote: I won a grand in Vegas on the penny slots and my first thought was "OH MY GOD, I WON!!!" and my second thought was, "SAFF MONEY!!!!!"] I got a Kromski Harp 24″ Rigid Heddle Loom. As you can see here, I set it up as soon as I got home and started warping almost immediately. I think this is an excellent starter loom. You have the loom on one side, flip it over and the warp is on the other. Which is what you’re looking at. (The pegs are removable. Also very awesome.) I will be going through my used stash to find the rest of my sock yarn remnants to play with this baby on my first run. I imagine it will become a scarf that only a first-time weaver can love. But I can definitely see how easy it will be to use up a lot of yarn quickly. Maybe even some of my handspun. Also? It has the option of adding a second heddle, which means I can get fancy with the designs. Lots of options.
This was my 6th year of attending SAFF. I can honestly say that it never gets old. Asheville in October is absolutely gorgeous.
Scenic Drive
We usually see interesting things along the way:
You're Not Reading That Wrong
Let's Stop and Ask for Directions!
And I get to spend time with my tribe.
Bunch o' Weirdos
I can’t wait for next year!
Last weekend I spent the majority of it on the porch with the dogs while I finished up knitting and seaming a baby sweater.
SQUIRREL! TV
My Little Hoarder
They had a blast watching the Squirrels! and just being dogs in general. Can you tell Cody used to be a stray? He has a tendency to hoard and steal treats.
Seaming Trellis
I enjoyed being out on the deck, listening to my audiobook, knittingseaming and capturing the moments. Also, two tv trays and a large blocking board can make for an excellent workspace outdoors. I can’t tell you just how much I love my deck.
Perfect Afternoon
The dogs love it, too.
Not too long after that, I went to Chicago for work and also a baby shower. For which I made this swaddling blanket and Trellis.
Finished Trellis on Swaddling Blanket
Cutest Buttons on the Planet
The presents were a huge hit.
Then on the way home from Chicago, I ended up sitting across the aisle from another Raveler whom I may have stalked from time to time, Elliebelly!
Elliebelly!
All in all, it was a good, albeit tiring week. I’m glad to be back at home; I feel mostly caught up on sleep and I’m really glad to be with my family.
I have a baby shower to go to this coming Wednesday. This is one of two gifts I’ll be giving. Or it may be one of one gifts if I don’t hurry up and finish the baby sweater. To speed my knitting along, I’m going to take my time and show you this swaddling blanket.
The pattern is one I found on Ravelry called Jewell. I, as usual, slightly modified the pattern. Instead of knitting the points with alternating rows of stockinette and knit, I just made them all stockinette.
Oh, and the pattern also called for a single crochet edging. I’m not sure, but I don’t think that’s what I did. I’m not really sure what kind of crochet edge I did, but it’s definitely crochet. And I’m really proud of it all the same.
That’s right. I can knit AND crochet. I just don’t really know exactly what I’m doing with the crochet. I just wing it until it looks good to me. Also, so long as the edge of the blanket doesn’t roll, I’m happy. I am certain the baby will also be very concerned about edge roll. Babies can be fashion conscious, too, you know.
Anyway, to really appreciate this blanket, you need to see it in action. I do not have a baby handy so I used a teddy bear instead.
Pretend this bear is a baby.
See? This babybear is swaddled. Wrapped up like a little sandwich. Or a roll. Would you like a teddy bear roll up?
And here’s the swaddled babybear being held by it’s “parent.” Can you see the fear in that babybear’s eyes? I can.
So there you have it. One present down. One to go.
Friday night Evil Science Chick came over and we commenced our girl’s weekend. It involved a lot of knitting.
Pinwheel Blanket Modeling
Swaddling Blanket in Progress (my knits)
Catching ESC up on Doctor Who. She hadn’t seen Season 5 yet. Really, I was providing a public service. Sort of. Just… go with it. It was IMPORTANT.
LOTS of snuggling with doggehs.
Surrounded!
Normally, that’s me. It was really nice to get a break. That break, however, didn’t last all that long. The dogs just figured they would get twice the pets. Pretty sure they were right.
Getting pampered.
Spa Pedicure
The place where I go for mani/pedis has a special right now where if you get a signature spa pedicure (or whatever they call it), it comes with a 15 minute back massage. Also known as THE GREATEST PEDICURE IN ALL THE LAND.
Checking out all manner of metal animals while doing a little shopping.
Rabbits, Chickens and Pigs with Wings!
I kind of want to get a bunch of the little metal chickens and put them all over the backyard. Free range metal chickens! I’m pretty sure they’re easier to take care of than real chickens. The only downside is that metal eggs are generally inedible.
Metal Armadillos - Still Not Cute
Metal armadillos…I’m not sure who thought this would be a good idea. The one that’s laying on its side looks more armadillo-like to me. If they were all on their sides or on their backs it would be more believable. But still not cute.
Flamingo
I was so sure B would want a couple of these flamingos. But he wasn’t impressed with them.
Obligatory Giant Metal Chicken
He wanted one of these. I wonder if it’s because a giant metal rooster is more manly than a flamingo? I have no idea. But we do know they are all the rage. I’m sure this post by The Bloggess has nothing to do with it.
I’m sure not everyone wants a giant metal cock in their yard. So for the more refined metal animal lover, there is this fella.
And The Always Classy Giant Metal Giraffe
Because everyone knows that giraffes are classy.
So in a nutshell, it was a weekend full of awesome.
I’m knitting a surprise baby present for someone I know who doesn’t know I’m knitting this. Hence, the surprise part. Anyway, when it comes to garments, I love baby sized things because they knit up so fast and it’s a whole garment! So I thought I would knit Trellis again. It’s a highly engaging knit and I love the way it looks when it’s done. Also, it’s super duper über fast. And I’ve knit it before so I’m clearly an expert AND a professional when it comes to this sweater.
See? l am so totally a professional. And an expert.
The last time I knit this sweater up, I did it in a cotton blend because that baby lives in the south. This time, the baby will live in northern climes which are much more suited to an actual wool sweater. So I got some Mission Falls 1824 Wool (100% Superwash Merino) which is also an aran weight yarn and what the pattern calls for. It also calls for US size 7 needles or whatever you need to get gauge. Gauge, schmage. I know what I’m doing! I used size 7 needles last time and the sweater came out perfectly! Nevermind that I used a completely different yarn.
I AM A PROFESSIONAL. I know what I’m doing.
Or, if you live in the South, HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.
See this yarn? It is professional yarn. OK, it’s an aran weight yarn. Which is what the pattern calls for. Well, it actually calls for Rowan All Seasons Cotton yarn. According to Ravelry, Rowan All Seasons Cotton is an aran weight yarn. The pattern also calls for US size 7 needles. Which I used. And over the course of the last 5 days, 6 including today, I ended up with an almost completed back:
Trellis Back, supposedly Size 6 Months...
I’m knitting the 6 months size sweater. I, of course, did not bother with a gauge swatch because gauge swatches lie. And they take up precious knitting time. Unless you just jump right into knitting the garment. So let’s call this a gauge swatch. One that…well…does not compute. It looks a little big for a 6 months size sweater, doesn’t it? I thought so. I was about 9 rows from the neck shaping, but the back was looking a wee big large for a 6 month old. So I stopped and took a quick measurement.
FAIL
Hmmm… according to the pattern your gauge should be 21 sts/28 rows = 4 inches in pattern. What I’m getting is more like 16 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in pattern. Whoops. Looks like my gauge is a little off. Or I’m knitting a baby garment for a 6 month old baby giant. You decide. Um, on second thought. Don’t. So I’m doing the smart thing. Finally. I’ve ripped back and started over on US size 5 needles and still knitting the 6 month old size sweater. According to my fuzzy math logic, this will totally work.
Right?
You know how I was all “I’m going to knit from my stash” and “I’m going to finish Stardust by the end of January!” Well, I am definitely only knitting from the stash since I haven’t bought any new yarn. And I cast on for a new pair of socks. That’s pretty good. But finishing Stardust by the end of January? Yeah, I’m about 18 days behind on that.
However, I have the back, the left front and about half of the right front done. So maybe I’ll have it done by the end of this month. But I think that as long as I continue to knit from the stash, I’m doing what is most important to me.
Besides, back when I was a novice, project monogamy was good. But now that I have a few year of knitting under my belt, project polygamy is the best way to stay sane with my knitting. And that whole adage about sock yarn not counting? For me, it spills over into sock knitting as well. So honestly, if I cast on a pair of socks? Totally not cheating. And if I’m knitting a pair of socks instead of the project I’m “supposed” to be working on? I am so not cheating. But if I cast on for something else? Well, that’s another matter entirely.
I’m thinking about going through my stash and picking out the yarns I want to knit next and then finding the right patterns for them. And then knitting those projects over the course of the year.
But what I really need to do? Find a long enough space where I can block the Chevron Scarf I finished about a year and a half ago. The trick will be finding a place where the cats can’t lounge on it in the process.
And now for a picture of something completely unrelated.
DOUBLE YOU-TEE-EFF, NINTENDO?!
Can someone please tell me why advertising on bananas is necessary? I mean, I understand why they thought it might be a good idea, but really? Is nothing sacred anymore?!
