A brief update

I have been knitting hats this month.  I already finished 2 droplet hats from Knitting Nature, a Toque for Nate and a Marsan Watchcap for Andrew.  Things are clipping along on a Chullo for Mr. Luke.  I am decreasing for the top and should be finished by the end of the week.  I am planning on two slouchy berets to round out the end of the month. 

I have also been reading and listening like crazy.  I finished Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man this week and started The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler.  I am also still working on The Sound and the Fury which is really good but I got bummed out by the chapters narrated by the brother Quentin.  So I have completed the first five titles in the Modern Library list.  Onward to the rest of the 95.

On a happy family time note we had family movie day today.  The ladies (myself, sister and Jazzy) went to see Ponyo and the boys went to see District 9.  I remember when family movie day meant we went to the same movie but that is what happens when you have teenagers.  The movie was very good and well done but what do you expect from a Hayao Miyazaki's film?  We then went to the buffet and had some sushi and watermelon!  Boy is it crazy hot in the city right now.  Poor J.R. is drooling and panting like crazy.  I gave him a haircut last week with the boss man's clipper and he looks great.

Here are some snaps of Nate wearing his Toque.  He really likes the hat.  I made it from bulky black wool blend that  I had in the stash.  I think it was left over from when I did the cabled purses a few years ago.
I made the two droplet hats from the handspun I won during the Mitten Month thing on Ravelry.  I got two hats one full size and one slightly smaller from the two skeins I had.  One will go to Amelia and the other to her mother for christmas.

Ponyo Trailer
Laire Toque (rav link)
Droplet Hat from Knitting Nature (rav link)

naknimitmo 2009 and a sassy leftover

I love mittens and I cannot lie. I joined naknimitmo on Ravelry. Everyone has committed to knit at least one pair of something that goes on your hands. Great for a cold January. I decided I wanted to knit Ashley a pair of mittens for her birthday and this seemed like a logical tie in. I decided to do the Give a Hoot Mittens by Jocelyn Tunney. The pattern has a cable that looks like an owl. She had buttons for eyes but I used some green wooden beads I repurposed from the Nudge's bracelet making kit. I love the look of the eyes. The first pair was a little tiny so I uped the needle size to 7 and whipped out the second pair on the bus this week. They are so sweet and cute I just love them.

I also gifted Amelia's hat and scarf so I can share this last remaining FO from 2008. She wanted a hat that looked like an acorn and had a stem. So I decided to make her the Sunflower Tam from Knitting Nature. She wanted turquoise so I busted out some of the old reliable RHSS from the Walmart. This is a good choice for Amelia she is both a sloppy pre-teen and a swimmer who doesn't dry her hair. She loves it so mission accomplished.

Check out Morsbags.com if you like to sew, use recycled totes or care about marine mammals. I started a pod called Eco-friendly Bensalem, join me and help marine mammals.

Mittens first than Tam. Enjoy!

Tired and wired we ruin too easy

Ram's Horn you're lovely and you're done! I shortened the sleeves and extended the collar. I reblocked it and after three days of drying it is done. I need a new shawl pin for sure but I love it. Norah you may have needed a better technical editor on this pattern but it wonderful. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Blueberry. It took 14 skeins but may have been closer to 13 since I took so much off the sleeves. I totally love the hems! I am currently working on a shawl for my Aunt Rita. It finally got too big to be a carry around project so I am starting on the Yoga Mat Bag from IK Summer 07.

On another front I finished my final exams and my final paper so I have only 1 more week of school and then I am done! MLIS thats me!

Oh Ram' s Horn Jacket you are a real bitch.

Ok I had high hopes for you. You are so lovely in the book. (But why are you wearing bikini on the beach?) I made you exactly as written and re written with many extensive erratas. I scoured ravelry for help with your insidious but cute collar (and found it!) I ordered more yarn and squealed when the dye lots matched. I blocked and blocked your for three straight days, on the bed and on the table. You were so nice and smooth with great expanses of stockinette. Why do you do these things to me when I love you so much? Your a fickle and ever growing bitch.

My god how big can you get? The sleeves are freaking huge. They look like kimono sleeves and they are about six inches too long! Crap I probably didn't even need the extra yarn.

I seamed the beast and tried it on. Holy crap the thing is huge. This is just like the Oragami Cardi. So now I need to rip back the sleeves and reknit the hem. Oh to make matters worse the collar is about six inches too short! This thing is a big ole beast. I love Norah for making real sized patterns, but apparently I can't knit them. This beast goes into the closet for Sunday work only.

That means I don't love your any more Ram's Horn Jacket.

Sister Scarves

I mean really isn’t my sister and I worth at least two dollars? I got some great Moda Dea Vixen yarn at Michaels in the clearance bin. I got two skeins of Licorice and The Fuchsia. I did a simple 16 stitch garter scarf of the black for myself and the fuchsia for my sister. Here is my scarf it measures well it is long.


I also ordered some great Aran and Gansey knit books. I am hoping to find some neat cable combos to use the Aran yarn mom brought back from Ireland. I am totally in love with Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan! I have been carrying that book around for days. I know that have a KAL so as soon as I am done this quarter I need to make something from the book. I cast on for the front of the purple aran vest. I got 11 inches done this week and am hoping to finish the left panel today. I decided to invest in some snazzy celtic pewter buttons for the front. I am loving these celtic horses but may change at some point. I have to say this. My interest in these buttons has revived an interest of Charlies to dress up and go to the Renaissance Faire. Oh God! Dude I really don't think so. Sometimes one has to have a hobby alone, this one is for you my friend.

On a side note check out this contest. You take a classic book and design a knit for it. How fun is that?