*Ding!*

It's ready!

Fa-shwooom!

Drive by blogging!



Ishbel by ysolda teague
Yarn by Alina Shea Creations

Someone out there thinks I'm good at this?

My favorite ravelry group is letting me help out with their blog! I'm guessing it's just because they like me, because
my body of work here on my own blog isn't exactly Webby worthy :-/



I'll have to do better than pictures of the cheese tray I brought to the office party, heh!

I bought the app, so I'm determined to use it.

I paid for the blogpress app for my iPhone, so I'm darned well going to use it now!
Thanks for the finishing suggestions, I'll be sorting out the last details of my blanket in no time. Juuust in time for airconditioning season ;-). Ah well.
That reminds me, I need to get this sweater off the needles before it really heats up here :-/



I'm thisclose to being done with the front, which leaves two sleeves, a neckline and assorted finishing.



It's the "harry's red cabled sweater" pattern from charmed knits (love that book). I'm using my Christmas present yarn ( Webs own Valley Yarns, Northfield in 'wine') and it is awesome! Seriously, the most enjoyable fine(ish) gauge yarn I've ever worked with. It's squishy, springy, and has a beautiful sheen from its silk content.
Ok, I'm all psyched up with yarn-love and ready to get knitting!

Breakfast!

Peanut butter crunch Clif Bar! They are waaay tastier than they look and are nutrient dense (unlike those cereal bars).



Yes, I'm blogging my breakfast. But only as an FYI about a product I really enjoy. There will be knitting content later on today.
I wonder if the Clif people would consider sponsoring a knitblog...I'd accept payment in bar form ;-)

Happy Easter, and happy spring!

The ubiquitous Easter egg pic:



Yes, they really are that bright.



And brownie bunny treats! Yum.



There are egg shapes too, because I happen to have an egg shaped cutter as well.
There's no recipe really, just a boxed mix with half a tub of frosting and half a jar of marshmallow fluff melted on top. Refridgerate. Cut out. Eat! The best parts are the leftover scraps, because they have no calories ;-)



Look! All the tomato seedlings have survived! Well, not all, but 120+ plants is more than I know what to do with as it is.

I think this is going to be a glorious spring and summer, probably full of tomatoes :-)

Betcha didn't think I'd finish it!

My patchwork blanket is done (for all intents and purposes)!



Sorry you're only getting iPhone pictures, my camera battery was not charged and ready for action.



This behemoth even got batting and a backing! I just need to tack all the layers together in a few spots, but I'm not quite sure how.
I am exhausted from the effort this took, but I'm so pleased with the results! Plus, it's big enough for a queen sized bed! I'll have to do some "modeled" shots of it on my bed once the camera is ready.

If you're considering a Ron Weasley Blanket like this one, I should warn you about the extreme amount of "finishing" ( a.k.a sewing) required. Take a look at that pile of ends!



::shudder::

Big ol' pile of seams

Yup, that's precisely what I see here, cleverly disguised as a blanket.


Actually, there are a bunch of other squares that missed picture day (because they were upstairs and I was not, haha). This is a behemoth: 64" x 88" when it's all together (more actually, because the carpet is rather grabbity and leads to stretching)!
In other news, all of the tomato seedlings made it this year. Yessiree, all 110 plants :-P. WHAT on earth am I going to do with all of them! They have been settled into their own 4" peat pots and are taking up an entire table by a sunny window. It's a 60/40 ish split between Roma and Brandywine, and my dad has some HawaiianTropic variety to share, and I haven't even gotten to the wee little cherry and Juliet varieties! At this rate I'll need to plough the entire backyard and open up a produce stand.

Designs on a hat

I had a picture of a hat, conjured up in my imagination, and I now have the ability to make things like that into a reality. Which is very exciting for me, but all you get to see is a little stripey hat.
In an effort to pump up the excitement level for everyone else, I'll be writing up the pattern for this bulky weight yarn (quick) adjustable size (perfect for gifting) hat! The buttons on the side were placed that way so as to suggest eyes (snakey hat!), but I think I'll be replacing them with one larger button soon.
Well, not that soon. It's not exactly hat weather anymore here. Which is Fine By Me thankyouverymuch!
My favorite thing about this hat though is the stripeyness, because I really like knitted stripes for one thing, but there's no color jog! The end of the rounds keeps moving over in a physics-defying optical illusion sort of way. All of the color changes occurred in plain view in the picture, but unless you turn the hat insideout and find the ends, you wouldn't see it. Clever no? Not my idea you know, but clever nonetheless :-)

Let's see what's in the picture archive!

Might as well right?



Oh look! It's the sweater I'm working on. It was one of those "some assembly required" Christmas presents ;-).
It's being made from a yarn I am not-so-secretly in love with called Northfield (with merino and silk and alpaca, what's not to love) in color Wine.
This also needs to be finished up this month...better get knittin'!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Drive-by Blogging!

Well, I don't always have my laptop, camera, and assorted cordage handy but I am inseparable from my phone! I think I might get more blogging in this way...



Look! More blanket squares! I'm up to 50 or so, but I need 88 by the end of the month.



It's also seedling time again. I know, I know, but some day one of these little buggers is going to make it if it kills me. I have been all over the bottany archives of JSTOR in the off season and I've got some renewed hope for these little dudes.

Fingers crossed that this sort of blogging works...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Squares, squared

23 squares down, many more to go! I really like that cable-y one in the bottom right corner. So crisp! This is not the final layout of squares though, thankfully. Some will be swapped with other square-knitter's squares, and many more of my own will be added.

new year, new colors, new projects

You may have noticed that the blog has changed colors/design lately. I'm playing around with new and different layouts and color combinations because it is amusing :-) Things should settle down soon.

I have also embarked on a great big blanket project for the new year! It's a patchwork blanket made up of 8" squares. Some of the squares will be mine, some will be from a swap (over on ravelry). Progress is going well so far:
These are the first 14 squres I've come up with. Since this picture was taken I have completed 4 more squares and have another one on the needles. When I've accumulated all 88 squares I'll sew them up, give them batting and a fabric backing, and collapse from the exhaustion of completing this project before the end of March! Someone be a dear and throw it over me at this point.

I haven't figured out how I'm going to tackle the seaming yet ... I don't want to have to mattress the whole thing together, the seams will be too bulky. I'm sure there's a sewing solution out there, so I'll peruse the interwebs and cross that bridge when I get there.

Now for some actual knitting content

So, it turns out that I didn't burn my hand as badly as I thought (and the aloe helped a lot too). Which means, I had some actual knitting time and I chose to spend it working on my pockets for the Jackie Jacket (Knitspot creation) that I had to order justonemoreballofyarn to make. I tend to underestimate the amount of yarn I need sometimes. Hey! That sounds like a New Year's resolution to me!

I ... will ... remember ... to buy ... enough ... yarn. There.

And to all a good night!

The food was great, the gifts were fun, and that's another Christmas in the bag!

I finally have a complete and respectable set of sock-size-DPNs (and the new Zephyr circular set, not pictured)! I love my family, especially because they think the knitting is kind of ... crazypants, yet they have been cajoled into supporting it :-D

And I got the new camera too, but you already heard about that. Still reading the owner's manual. I know I don't seem like a "reader-of-directions", but I really really don't want to miss out on any of the cool features because I didn't read the manual.

Now, look at the shiny! Oooh, shiny!

This was a gift for my mom, Birthday or Christmas, whichever she feels like. It was made especially for her by the supa' talented Kelly, who is awesome (and also a very nice person)! She was able to take the inkling in my brain and turn it into this. I know, awesome right?

My Grinch moment for the day was when I burned my hand on a hot! hot! pan. So there isn't any knitting per se, but I'm totally thinking about what my next project will be. Hmmm.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas all you happy people!

I am getting a new camera, which means that meaningful blogging (without the use of iPhone photography) can begin again.

Hey, don't walk away! I really mean it!

Since I'm not much of an expository writer when it comes to knitting, I need Pictures! to show you what I'm rambling on about now. So when the old (old old) camera decided that it wasn't going to speak to my computer ever again, I sort of ran out of steam. It happens.

I like having this little piece of the blogosphere, really I do!

P.S. I'm also getting my favorite type of sweater ... "some assembly required"! So it's going to be a good day :-)

Aha! I can post things from photobucket.

I was not aware of my ability to post photos from photobucket before! This is a nice feature, especially since it means that you get to look at my Linoleum Dishcloth (by Mason-Dixon knitting blog).

I liked (very much!) the scrubby texture of the finished dishcloth, and I expect that it will be quite effective in dish-cleaning-endeavors. I don't plan to investigate personally, but I'm sure it will suffice ;-)

I followed the pattern, used the correct needles, and thoroughly enjoyed the results! Well whatdayaknow?! Also, I have enough yarn left for another one, maybe two.

Edited To Add: Hmm. It seems that these pictures come in a one-size-fits-all format. I guess I won't be posting photos this way anymore :-( Dangit, it would have been so convenient!

Hey, I have a blog?

Well, I've completely forgotten that I have this place to write, record, and create. Let's see if some resurrection can occur here, because I really do like my little blog. Really. I do!

So, what's OTN you ask?

I'm working up one of the latest patterns from knitty, dubbed Girl Friday, which is very neat so far. In two senses of the word; neat = crisp & tidy and neat = cool & engaging. Not in the last sense, which refers to a manner of serving whiskey or scotch ;-)

I think my mom will like it. It's being done up in navy colored cotton, so if she doesn't like it I would totally steal it back, haha!

I'm hoping to have this sweater-ette finished by the end of the month (so I can turn it in for house cup points too!).

Also seeing some progress is my Jackie Jacket (by Anne from knitspot) which is a bit more long term, but should be done for wearing this autumn. If autumn ever decides to get here! It was 90 degrees today.

There should be pictures of these things, but I'm just getting back into the swing of blogging. You'll forgive me this once right? Thanks!

Beeeeeeeeep!

I'm sorry blog, was that you flat-lining? Stay with me! I'm not going to lose you!

My goodness, I've missed the entire month of August. Not that it was particularly interesting anyway, but it went by without a peep!

Well, as soon as this BIG week is over, you can expect some much needed attention.

For now:

• The summer gardening went well, many tomatoes and peppers, happy happy herbs, the swiss chard really took off (which is a shame, since nobody likes it, live and learn!)
• The knitting has been intermittent, usually eclipsed by more important studying.
• The HPKCHC is back in full swing (expect more HP related dorkiness), so is Reducio Round 7
• The holiday gift knitting has begun. Really. (Felted slipper socks for everyone this year!)

I'll be seeing you again soon, I promise!

Love,

Your absentee blogger

Tiny sock knitting

Well, the people over on Ravelry that are responsible for the Reducio Mini Sock Swap are at it again, and so am I!

I don't have an assigned 'spoilee' yet, but that hasn't stopped me from knitting a pilot sock:

The penny is included for scale, and the Felix Felicis is included because this might be my Defense Against the Dark Arts homework assignment for the month as well.

I'm supposed to come up with something from Book 6, and hopefully stump the professor (for bonus points!), so this is the old sock of Uncle Vernon's that Harry uses to keep his prize bottle of Liquid Luck Potion. [Side Note: Not to be confused with Liquid Courage, a.k.a Adult Beverages.] Betcha didn't remember that! (If you did, kudos to you!)

True to my word, I posted it here first! Now, if someone could please tell me where the entire first week of July went, I'd be much obliged.

Can she knit it?

Yes, she can!

I have knitted a hammock. I'll let that sink in a bit.

That's right, a full-fledged, person-sized hammock for my enjoyment in the backyard! It was a bit trying at times, but since I was doing it as another "homework project" I persevered.

I'm going to copy/paste my homework submission now, because I worked really hard on it, and I don't think I could write it over again very well tonight. (Don't mind the HP dorkiness.)

Hello Professor! LNS of Slytherin, turning in my Transfiguration homework … a HAMMOCK!

I began this adventure with some closet-dowel, 8’ of 2x2 pine, and 800’ of 0.5” nylon rope. {Aside: If someone happens to know a good whittling spell, it would have been a big help, because doing it the muggle way (with a big ol’ knife) gave me blisters.}

I tried to cast yarnio, but the rope just gave a little wiggle and flopped down again. So, I tried to be more specific: Yarnio Hammock, no dice. One more try: YARNIO GARTER DROP-STITCH HAMMOCK and that did the trick. The unwieldy rope behaved like nice pliable yarn, and my giant kniting needles went to work (seriously, 1.5” in diameter, that’s huge! {which is also what she said}).

Along the first edge, I cast on through the spreader bar (pine 2x2, sanded, drilled with 30 odd holes, and stained walnut). Then the spell really went to work, and it created a nice open net with a lot of stretch.

The ends from the cast-on were ~4’ long, so they could be lashioed to 3” solid steel rigging rings. I also used some muggle eklectical tape to carefully keep the nylon rope from fraying. Fire was also employed.

Once the knitting was complete and attached to both wooden spreaders, I enchanted some smaller cording to lace itself through the edges in order to stabilize the structure. It worked like a charm (obviously) ;-)

And, lest you think that this is only for decoration, here I am putting my feet up and relaxing before the July classes start up.

Thank you professor, for your encouragement and input! I really enjoyed this class :-D

Holy Backlog Batman! (4 of many)

Here's another little project that was a homework assignment, but also highly useful and needed. It's a pouch, made out of cascade 220 superwash, and emblazoned with an apple logo (from the Tech Guy Sock Pattern).
It's used for, you guessed it, wrangling various bits of technology. All of these were churning around in the spin-cycle that is my big canvas bag, so to keep them from getting dirty and/or damaged they now all reside together in this simple drawstring pocket.
P.S. I wonder if I can sell this idea to apple? I mean, I could never keep up with the demand, but I'll bet they could charge $30 for one of these, even if it was mass produced.

Holy Backlog Batman! (3 of many)

Huzzah for mini sock swaps! I recently participated in the Reducio mini sock swap and, pictured above, is what I received from my lovely Spoiler. That is the fluffiest, loveliest cotton yarn I've ever come across and I'd love to make, well, anything out of it! The awesome inverted holly will be decorating my table top christmas tree this year :-) Not pictured were the little Toblerone treats. Because they were eaten.
This is the package that I sent to my spoilee. She got a mini weasley sweater with her initial on it (and some little Lavender buds) a couple socks (one quidditch and one regular house sock) and some other applicable goodies.

[Side Note: The sweater counted for HPKCHC homework, because it had a monogram on it! Sweet!]

I really liked participating in this swap, and I think I'll do it again in the future. It made going to the mailbox fun again!

Holy Backlog Batman! (2 of many)

Um, yes. It is a wand-tip protector. This is the toy wand that came in my stocking this past Christmas and I needed a quick and easy homework assignment.
Besides, I keep accidentally setting off the Lumos charm whilst rummaging through my bag. It makes the muggles suspicious you know ;-)

Also, there's no need to mock the dorkiness. I'm well aware of my situation. I have decided to adopt the "embrace it" approach, and I recommend that you all do the same.

P.S. Is this the wizarding equivalent of a pocket protector? Oh lord, I think it is. ::facepalm::

Holy Backlog Batman! (1 of many)

This little beauty is my doily version of the Jared Flood Hemlock Ring Blanket. My prize winning doily I might add! Seriously, is there anything better in this world than having your work appreciated by people you love and respect and admire? It fills me up with knitterly pride :-D.

I used crochet cotton (cardinal and gold, of course) and my newly acquired (on sale!!) addi turbo size 0 circular. It wasn't tedious until the picot edging. ::GROAN:: I have long entertained the idea of making this in the intended blanket size, but that border has made me think twice about it. I already have one giant blanket project languishing in the corner, sending me forlorn, neglected vibes; it sure doesn't need a partner to commiserate with!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads, Grandpas, Uncles, Godfathers, etc. out there!

I'm spending the day with my dad, watching baseball and grilling up some dinner. I might also take this opportunity to cast on something for my dad, most likely to be a Christmas gift. His mom (my late grandmother) was a marvelous knitter and accomplished crocheter, so he has the proper appreciation for yarny goodness, which makes him a great person to knit for!

Unfortunately, we lived clear across the country from my grandparents and she passed away before I was bitten by the knitting bug. I sort of hope that she is peeking down from time to time to see how my projects are going. (Lots of love Grandma Rose, and I really appreciate all of the time and effort you put into the little sweaters you made for me when I was just a tot. Especially the red one. With the little scotty dog buttons.)

Ravelry has eaten my blog.

I figured out where all of my blogable content is going. Right on to ravelry.com.

So, my plan of attack from now on is to post things here first. Simple eh?

Let's start with my Cable and Bobble Mitts.

These are going to be turned in to the HPKCHC (that's Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup, for you muggles). They are my herbology homework, which was supposed to incorporate bubbles (a.k.a. bobbles) this month. Twelve bobbles, present and accounted for!

These were knit to pattern specifications [Side Note: this is code for "I'm too lazy to look up what the needle size and pattern gauge were."] but I used some of the reclaimed sweater yarn that was used last summer in my Cable and Bobble Scarf project. (I also used this yarn to make my dad a hat. He loves it. He also wears it with no regard for the weather. As in he wore it driving a few weeks ago, when it was 100 degrees outside. Sigh. Parents.)

I might have enough yarn left to make myself a headband (or Calorimetry, those are quite popular on rav) and then I'll have a complete set!

See, that wasn't so difficult now.

Dear Blog,

Where did all this time go?  I really haven't posted in over a month?  Wow.  I am such a slacker!  

I think I mentioned that I was participating in a great big knitting competition/game on Ravelry (way back before this unplanned hiatus).  Well, it has been immensely fun, but bad for the blogging, because I've been putting all of my blogable content on there, and not here.  For shame!

I have recently made:  a wand tip protector, (no real purpose IRL, oh well, it's shiny and pretty) a scrub cap (see last blog post, prior to absence), a fancy-pants doily (the doily version of the Jared Flood Hemlock Ring Blanket, and it WON A PRIZE ::insert happy dance::!), a fluffy white tree-skirt for a table-top christmas tree (with silver buttons!), a blue market-bag for hauling groceries, and a mini weasley sweater that got sent to my Reducio swap buddy (along with a couple mini socks).  Whew!

Muggle Studies

I finished my first 'homework' assignment in the Ravelry, Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup!  [Side Note: this whole school dynamic is addictively motivating!]

The assignment for the Muggle Studies class was to knit something inspired by a muggle entertainment source (film, tv, etc).  Sooo, I designed and knit a Grey's Anatomy inspired scrub cap.  

It's a clever bit of shaping and careful use of reverse stockinette, and it worked out marvelously.  Here's the free pattern link!  CLICK HERE for PDF  

I made myself the medium size, but if I had it to do over again I'd make the large. 

Also, there are i-cord ties at the very back.  But it's physically impossible to take a picture of the back of your own head with an iphone and a bathroom mirror.  

Commence Happy Dance

Well, I've been sorted into my #1 (and only) choice, Slytherin for the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup.  [Side Note: Which I'm pretty sure also qualifies me for my "geek" merit badge ...]Anywho, I'm looking forward to the motivation that this group will provide to actually finish a knitted object sometime soon.  Oh, and making some like-minded knitting friends will be nice too!

They are going to post a list of "classes" tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to casting on for something interesting and new.  I'll be looking for patterns that use the same size needles as ones already tied up in other projects, you know, so I'll be forced to finish it to get the needles back.  I'm tricky like that with the self-motivating ;-)

P.S. Dark Mark Drawers! [Because I've posted them everywhere else already today, haha!]

Dear Blog,

Dear Blog,

Missing you!

--Me

Sometimes life gets away from me and I have to spend time catching up, and the blogging time suffers.  But no more!  I am super-dee-duper excited to get sorted into a Hogwarts house in the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup (HPKCHC), which should be happening any time now.  I will have PLENTY of blog fodder from the competitions, and I've got a few things up my sleeves now as well.  Secret things.

I am participating in my first-ever swap on ravelry and I've already knitted some reducio-ed things for my spoilee.  I'd also like to include something for his/her little one(s).  I have really enjoyed the blog-stalking and ravelry-stalking!  It's fun to see how much you can learn about a person without interacting with them.  

And speaking of sleeves (no really, I said sleeves somewhere up there ...) I really must use some of my time off tomorrow to sew that second sleeve into my gathered pullover.  Really. 

Finally, some whining:  Something happened to my US 1 dpns, something bad :-(  I'm down to 4 of the original 10, and they just keep breaking.  What's wrong with me?

Can't escape the gravity!

Sooo, I'm maybe a bit enthralled with Guitar Hero World Tour at the moment.  I'm becoming quite a drummer, and I just can't seem to put the sticks down.  At least not long enough to pick up the other sticks, you know, the ones used for knitting?  

So far, what I lack in 'natural rhythm' I'm making up for in obsessive practice.  There has to be a breakthrough moment where it all gels and I'm drumming like a pro, so I'm working towards that.

This might not be a very interesting blog post for anyone who hasn't played this game, so I'll wait patiently while you go pick one up ...

...

... (and for any karaoke fans out there, it has a microphone and scrolling words and everything!)

Aaand in other news, I've signed up for a swap on ravelry!  It's centered around tiny things, tiny socks, and the Herbology theme.  Yes, it's Potter related too!  I'll be knitting a mini sock and something else tiny while also including my swap partner's house colors as well as something Herbology-ish.  This is my very first swap, so I'm a little nervous about living up to expectations etc.  I mean, there are far better knitters out there than I'll ever be. 

I also have to rustle up some goodies to go with it, but I'll have to wait until I know who will be receiving them (personalization.  WANT.)