Sunday, July 16, 2006

FOFOFOFOFOFOFOFO

Can you believe it? Of course, it is only a dishcloth. I knit it up in the car on the way to Ohio and then another hour or to and my Grandma's house who was, in fact, the recipient. The pattern is from that one site with all the dishcloth patterns.. Eh heh. The feather and fan one I do believe. Made with Sugar'n Cream naturally. Grandma seemed to like it, so it's all good.


Stupid dream swatch thing is not working. I don't know. It's too wide. Does cotton block well? Cause if it doesn't I'm screwed. I really want to work on Katie's Razor Cami or Ubernatural but I need either the needles from the dream swatch or brand new ones.

And I've picked up boy's birthday present again considering his birthday is on Tuesday. It's coming along okay. I'm totally modifying the pattern. Modifying meaning like totally flying by the seat of my pants. There wasn't exactly much of a gauge and so I just knit it with less stitches and and and yeah. Who knows.

I AM SUCH A BAD KNITTER.

But the one benefit of the Ohio trip was that I basically knit Continental the whole way. I learned English and have found it hard to switch. It is faster, though I think it hurts my hands more. And I don't think I'm purling right. Oh well. Still a good start. Posted by Picasa

Thursday, July 06, 2006

New yarn!


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Originally uploaded by macksmack.
Isn't it pretty? I found a nice place for it as well. Kind of cramped though, I could probably fit more if I got rid of the box.

So from left to right:

Blue stuff is Carron and I know this because I had a skein of it before to make baby socks. It's alright. But there's enough of it for a sweater. 8-10 skeins of both colors.

Top left is that weird stuff that I don't get/have no idea what to do with.

Green stuff is nice. One skein is Carron as well, the one on the right. I think I'm going to combine them with another green skein I have and make the Purl Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. We'll see.

The multi-colored stuff is thicker and will be a scarf as well I think. There's 4.5 skeins though so it could be something more?

The burgundy skein, no idea. It's kind of weird.

The redder ones are nice and chunky and I'm hoping that they'll make Ubernatural. The white blobs there are the same stuff just in white. I didn't want to make Ubernatural in red, but when I only payed a dollar a skein for it, I won't complain.

That's it for now. Still need pics of my grandmother's stuff.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Man. It's been a month. How sad. You know I see the Blogger link in my toolbar everyday and I feel so guilty for not posting anything. Too much work. I'm so lazy about uploading and posting pics as well.

Oh hey I just discovered this post thing directly from Picasa. I don't know about doing multiple pics though. We'll see how this works.

Anyway this is Knit and Tonic's Dream Swatch. It's bit wide so I don't know how it'll work as a headwrap thing. We'll see. I hate frogging things which is why even if they don't work, I'll keep going. It's sad rather. I did get the strength to rip out the Branching Out Scarf I was making though. I just need real mohair you know, not fingering weight yarn stuff.


So the big news is that I went to a garage sale the other day and got 37 skeins of yarn for $25. If that is not a deal. It's nothing like way nice, just your general craft store lot. But the nice thing was there were many skeins of one color and I don't get to buying that much usually. SO SWEATER. I've been searching and searching for a good sweater and/or cardigan pattern. All I've really come up with so far is The Medallion cardigan in the Loop-d-loop book. It looks hard though. I also got a Vintage Knits book out of the library and there's some nice stuff in there. So we'll see. I also have some plans for a couple scarves as well. And a hat or two.

I will take some picutres sometime. I need to organize it all as well. I think I will use this bookshelf that is pretty short and not a lot of my bigger books will fit there not to mention I've got a thousand other bookshelves.

Gosh, I guess part of the problem is that once I get typing I can just go on and on and on. So basically I have seven or so skeins of some chunky red stuff. I'm thinking Ubernatural? Yes maybe? I didn't want to knit it in red/burgundy, but hey. Less than a dollar a skein? I think so.

I really should talk about this when I have pictures too.

Also I went to my dead grandmother's house in June to clean it out and I found tons of needles and yarn and unfinished knitting projects and those basket things. So I brought half of it home because that's all I could fit in my luggage.

One of these days I'll get my act together if I didn't have to work all the time. Sigh. But next weekend I'm going to my grandma's and that's always way boring so hopefully I'll get some knitting done. Posted by Picasa

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Hey it's been a while.

Wow. I started this sweater on the 11th? I thought I had only spent a week on it, but yeah I guess it was two. The first week was for the back. Anyway, it's done. I spent the past week knitting like mad. I knit at night until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Thursday night I stayed up til 3:30 knitting and then woke up to finish at 8:30. It was insane. But I finished it and I'm very proud of it. I blocked and seamed on Friday, the day before graduation. But it is my first real knitted garment.

Blocking...
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I don't have any pictures of me with it and the dress, but it looked good. I also had red shoes.

Knitty's Spring Fling
Yarn: something cheap and wool from Michael's.
Needles: US4 (I should've done the sleeve ribbing on smaller needles however)
I used a button instead of a hook and eye, even though I went out and bought some hook and eyes. I like how the white button looks though.
There are a few spots in the back where you can tell there are some mistakes, but other than that I think it's okay. It fits very well.

I don't know what's next actually. I may go back after the Hug. Right now though, I need a couple days break. My Grandma has requested that I knit something for her, and so I may end up knitting dishcloths for the family. I still have three unused Sugar'N Cream. I have also been eyeing Katie's new razor cami. And there's so much more.

And I finally finished my Isabeau purse. All I had to do was sew in the lining and I did that on Friday too so I could use it on grad day. I will have pictures at some point. It really is the perfect size and I like it a lot.

Mom had said that I may be getting some needles or a nice lys gift card for graduation from people, but it didn't show up, so I think I will just go out and buy what I want. I think I will pass on getting one of those big interchangable needle kits and just get the individual interchangable ones when I need them. They have them at Hobby Lobby, but not Michaels I think.

Okay that is all.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Deadlines are good right?

Okay so I got this great dress from Anthropologie for graduation.

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And at the store it was shown with a lovely red cardigan. But the cardigan was almost as much as the dress and if you know Anthropologie prices... So I decided to knit one. I searched high and low and finally found Spring Fling from Knitty.

So yesterday I went out and spent a long time trying to find the perfect matching color. Finally decided on a nice red wool. Everything is going well. But then I spent all last night knitting a swatch.

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The gauge is supposed to be 6 stiches per inch. I got 4 sts/in on the size 6 needles, and 5 sts/in on the size 4's. So after some calculations, a lot of calculations, I'm knitting it as a xs instead of a medium. It should work. I really hope it does.

I haven't actually cast on yet either cause I had to work this afternoon. I did knit a couple rows of the pattern to make sure I understood it and it turned out fine. Pretty easy and repetative. Which is nice.

I also started on a secret project for teh boy a few days ago. And I want to rip out my Branching Out and do it with different yarn. And I still want to knit the Hug, I've been reinspired. Sigh.

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Helloooo

Well. Gosh I've been a lazy knitter. Last week I worked like mad on baby socks for Penny's baby. They're a bit big but they turned out very well. Only problem I had was with picking up stitches. And I know, I'm using cheap yarn. But I only had like a dollar and maybe a bit more change so...



I'm still working on the Basketweave scarf. I'm about two thirds the way through my second skein. I am learning a very good lesson about dye lots. As in, they must be the same. Especially when it comes to striped yarn.

So today was my birthday. My mom picked up some US19 needles and some yarn at a garage sale, for free. The one skein of yarn is nice Lion Brand heavier stuff. I will try and make a hat with it I think. The other skein is kind of tacky, but will be usable somehow. Pictures eventually.
Gosh I just need to finish somethinggg.

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Oh my blocking

Well. Wait hold on I have to see what I posted last time. Okay.

I've got over a foot done on the Basketweave scarf with the Sugar'n Cream stuff. It's weird looking and I don't know if I like it but Mom and Sister too so I'll keep going with it. Also it's easy and I don't have to think about it which is nice for knitting in the car and when watching a movie.

I have not started the Hug thing back up again. I started knitting a swatch but didn't even finish that.

I have also not done anymore on the Branching Out scarf, sadly.

I have, instead, spent all my time knitting the Isabeau Purse. I believe I cast on on Thursday, knit most of the body on Friday while watching the Passion, and finished everything up today. I spent like five hours on it today. I blocked it too. I've never done that before. Here it is being blocked the first time.

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And no, those are not rust proof needles. They're safety pins. I messed up a lot. I didn't pick up the stitches right for the sides and so it goes over farther than it should. Also, I do not have any clue how to crochet. So the sides and the strap were totally winged. So I don't know. I think it'll look okay. I've got this fabric with hot air balloons on it for the lining. I have no idea how that'll go either.

Yesterday I made a skirt. Well, it was a dress first. I just chopped it off and took it in a little and put elastic in it. It turned out nicely actually. It's brown and tiered or whatever. There will be pictures. But I was so frustrated putting it together, the same with this purse. I just kept going though, not really caring if I made any mistakes. Ah well.

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Two posts in one day!

Okay so. I have knitting ADD. I had three seperate projects with me today while watching Gilmore Girls on dvd.

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After doing some researching, I realized that this Sugar'n Cream stuff is meant for dishcloths. Probably why it looks a little strange as a basketweave scarf. So we'll see. It's 100% cotton and feels different which is something I didn't realize before, I was just so in love with the colors and the 97 cents part. But we'll see.

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Also here are some pics of the progress on Branching Out. Most of it has been done in the past two days.

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So there you have it. Question: do you think I should start using flickr?

Friday, April 07, 2006

Stashing it up.

Whoo went to Michaels today. They were having a sale. I went looking for something to replace what is running out for my hug. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be enough, but I can go back.

And then they had that Sugar'n Cream stuff that just looks nice so I got five skeins because it was only 97 cents. They're quite small but I'm hoping it's enough to make the Basketweave scarf out of Loop-d-loop. I saw someone else's basketweave scarf that was in similar colors and now I have to have it. And so, pictures!

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And Branching Out is coming along, even though I totally destroyed a couple rows. I'm just moving on.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Bad bad bad

Okay so I was just going along, knitting the Hug that I mentioned in the previous post. I got to the back and I began to realize. I am not going to have enough yarn. The skein is looking quite pathetic and I still have another sleeve to do! I am so so so doomed. I guess this is what happens when you use yarn that you know nothing about. So I don't know if I want to keep knitting, or just frog the entire thing. I mean what's the point. My mom just said, hey did you know they sell yarn in stores? You can buy some more! And then last night I dreamt I was at the yarn store. So I don't know. I doubt I could match the yarn I'm already using, but you never know. But in the meantime, I've picked Branching Out back up again.

I've got two knitting books out from the library, Loop-d-loop and one for making animals. I think I'm just going to copy the pattern for the basketweave scarf and return it. Everything else is way beyond my level and kind of weird. I did see a picture of that scarf in this really pretty green and purpleish yarn and so now I want some. Hum hum hum.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Ravenclawified yes.

I finally finished my Ravenclaw scarf. I'd been wearing it for a few weeks now, but last night and today I finally weaved in the ends and added the tassel fringe stuff. It makes it look a lot better. It is very warm and I am pleased with it. Too bad it's supposed to be seventy degrees tomorrow. Better pictures later maybe. My camera is in North Carolina with my dad so I have to use my sister's and hers isn't as good as mine.

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Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Hey kids

Okay. I've got an almost FO! All the knitting on my Ravenclaw scarf has been completed. I still have to weave in the ends and add the fringe stuff, but I've been wearing it anyway. It's warm. And nice. I will take pictures when it's finished.

And my goodness I still haven't put up any pictures of boy's socks. They are very much done and given to boy. He wears them, I think. Well he must because they've been washed. I'm glad they didn't fall to pieces in the wash, that always worries me.

A while back I started the Branching Out scarf and here's a picture of what the lace looks like so far.



I haven't been working on it as much though, because I've started a new project! The Hug from magknits. It's basically sleeves. I needed my 10.5 needles from the Harry Potter scarf, so that's why it got done so quickly. I'm using some yarn from the stash I got from Bea. I have no idea what it is. It's black, stretchy, kind of oily, and kind of glittery. So we'll see. My gauge is a bit off but I hope that's just cause I am using a rib pattern.

Oh gosh so much updating. I also went to Hobby Lobby this weekend and bought a basket thing to hold all my knitting crap in so it's not strewn across my bedroom floor. It's ugly, but works well and was half off. I'll get pictures of that too sometime.

Okay I think that's all. For now.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Well. I've got no pictures for you today, but lots of updates. I worked on three seperate projects on Thursday, it was a good day.

Harry Potter scarf: Coming along. Okay no I lied, I'm only like three rows from where I was a million weeks ago. And it's 60 degrees today so I'm never going to get to wear it this winter. Oh well.

Socks: Almost done with the second one. I'm just knitting up the foot and it's taking a while. I did most of the heel and everything yesterday. I'm also getting low on yarn so it's good that I grabbed the other skein from Bea.

New project: It's a scarf. Ha. It's this one. I'm using this thin blue stuff that I got from Bea. The label looks old and I really have no idea what it is, but it's turning out nicely. I'll put up pictures sometime.

That's it for now. But those ipod/camera cases are going straight on the dpns once I'm done with the socks.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Whoo.

This is a happy post. First off, I finished my first sock! Sock as in singular as in I still have to knit another one. But still I'm pretty proud of myself.

This is a picture of my wearing it. I'll take some pictures of boy wearing them when I get the other one done.

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I still have to block it though I guess and I don't know how to do that.

Also! This lady I work with, Bea, is a knitter and she had a whole ton of yarn that was just going to donate somewhere and so she let me pick out as much as I wanted. For free!

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It would've taken me ages to accumlate this much yarn. I am so appreciative. Soooo exciting. Now I just have to find somewhere to put it all. I need a basket or something for my room.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Socks are definitely coming along. I do think I enjoy knitting them. I like figuring out new things. Of course the heel bit confused me for a while, but thanks to knittinghelp.com, I got it all figured out. Also, I measured boy's foot so hopefully I'll make them long enough and everything.

Pictures! This is the heel part, so you're looking at the back of the sock.

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Detail on the heel:

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It's been about five days for the first one, which for me isn't too bad. I'm sure the second one will go faster.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Socks!

Last night, boy and I went to Michaels and I got US6 dpns. Here is how I feel about them.

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I also got some nice green wool blah blah yarn. It looks nice.

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And I started.

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And I must say, it's going well. I've got the hang of dpns, and currently I've got a couple inches of k2 p2 ribbing action. I'm sure there's certain death ahead when I reach the heel, but so far, so good.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

FINISHED YAY

I actually finished something! Isn't that wonderful. I think so. Mr. Dinosaur is done. I stayed up til midnight working on him last night, and I finished everything up today. He looks pretty good, his head is a bit funny, I think he just needs a face.

Some assembly required.
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Today I am going to Michaels and buying needles and yarn for socks. Can't only be working on one project now can I. My Ravenclaw scarf will probably be done for next winter. But it does match MY NEW COLLEGE. DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY. WHERE I'M GOING. Heh. I think maybe a camera and ipod case should be next. In addition to the socks. Maybe the sweater will come later.

Monday, February 13, 2006

Well. It's coming.

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Sigh. I was able to get a lot done this week. Also the secret project is pretty much done. It didn't turn out too well, I realized I read the pattern wrong. Ohhh well. Sorry kid. I still need to work on the dinosaur. I want to start this cardigan, but I'm scared. Socks are still on the list and just as terrifying. I think I knit too slow.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Le sigh.

Well. Going to your lys is depressing, no doubt about it. Or just discouraging I guess. "Magic loop is so easy!" "Wahhh" And gosh things are so expensive. Fifteen bucks for needles? I do not think so.

But anyway. Here's my progress on the scarf. I'm about to where I was, oh a month ago.

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Here's the duct taped bit. You probably can't see it too well, but it's just looped and taped and stuff.

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I need to get more knitting done. I'm also working on another secret project that shall not be named. Or seen. But I have two hours of 24 and an episode of Gilmore Girls and Lost to watch tomorrow, so we'll see.

Also my dad didn't bring me home any knitting needles from my dead grandmother's house because he didn't think he could get them on the plane. Even though he could. Oh well.

Monday, January 09, 2006

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    Made from this pattern off Knitty. He went pretty quickly, but his construction might have been better. I'm still not the best at sewing things up without leaving a ridiculously huge seam. But you can't tell from the front. Also, does he need eyes?


Current project: Purple Dinosaur of Doom (!!!)


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    Here's another project I've started, from this pattern. I'm making the Brotosaurus. So far all he's got is the body and a half a leg. I'll finish him eventually. But still he's been teaching me lots of new techniques. Because of him, I know more than just knit and purl. And also the yarn isn't as shimmery as the picture shows. I need to find a better place to take pictures.
   


Current projectsss: Third time's a charm. I hope.


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This was my first attempt at making a Ravenclaw scarf. I started with US9 needles and just the regular stockinette stitch, but I soon realized that it was not going to lay flat. If you notice one end of the scarf is twice as wide as the other end and THAT IS BAD. So I started over on my US10.5 circular needles. The pattern I used called for 75 stitches or something ridiculous like that, so I took it down to 60. However, that was not enough. I don't have a picture, but I got halfway through the first grey stripe and I realized that it was way too wide. So I frogged it and decided to start over again with less stitches. But then I realized the plastic cord thing was too long and I couldn't stretch 45 stitches over the whole thing. And I thus became very very frustrated. But then! Then I notice the roll of duct tape that my boyfriend left at my house and I say hey, duct tape works well right. So I looped the cord and taped it and shortened it, so hopefully that will work. We shall see. I sure hope so. I'm tired of always being at the beginning of this scarf. More pictures later.