On a roll

Two finished objects in a week! And finals just around the corner! How many of you knit more and more as finals approaches? I just need to kick back after studying for hours and hours and it's a lot easier to listen to a professor go on and on about the importance of Sigmund Freud and how he is not just a sex addict...

I finished one of my Christmas projects! It's a scarf for DK's sister. She's cute, blonde, and perky. Very perky. But she's a sweetheart and asked for a scarf as soon as she found out that I knit.


I present: M's Edgar. It's 6' long and only 3" wide. She's a tall skinny thing too. It'll fit her. It's made with Posh Yarn's Alice. It's handspun cashmere. Why I am giving a 13 yo girl a handspun handknit cashmere scarf....I have no idea. But I love her brother...that might explain why.
Edgar is a modular knit. You need to do a centered double decrease and cast on additional stitches at the end of the rows.
Using US size 6, it took me 20 repeats to hit 6'.
Not sure I want to block it out too much. It's a very pretty light airy scarf. Perfect for southern California winters. Now only about a dozen and a half more projects to go. I have time...

I know it look as if I never knit anymore but...

Contrary to public opinion, I'm still a knitter (albeit a much slower one than normal). I just wanted to share with you my newest FO. It's Koolhaas from Interweave Knits Holiday, designed by the amazing designer Jared Flood, aka Brooklyntweed.

I learned how to cable without a cable needle. It's tricky and you need to have fast fingers. I dropped a few stitches towards the top.
It's a warm hat and will get a lot of use (especially in Southern California). I'm thinking ski trip now that winter is here.

Do you think the hat needs a pompom?
	Yes
	No
	Maybe
	I have no idea. I just wanted to vote.
pollcode.com free polls

Someone lucky might get an early Christmas present...after all...it is the season to be giving

Starting the Holiday Rush

I was going to do a post for Thanksgiving but this is what happened.

All my relatives came over for dinner. Apparently, my mother promised them that I would cook! (It's a good thing she didn't... love you Mom). So people in this picture: (sitting down) my 4th aunt, my 4th aunt's husband (aka as my uncle), my 3rd uncle, my 2nd aunt, and my mother. Standing up in the back are my cousin (mom is the 4th aunt), my brother, and the husband of another cousin (dad is the 3rd uncle). My cousin is taking another picture from a different angle. Are you guys confused yet? My mom is the youngest of 8 kids. She has 3 older brothers and 4 older sisters. We have 25 kids in my generation (the grandchildren). You really don't want me to count how many are in the generation below me...(I'm guessing 31...and counting) For dinner, we had an earl grey tea brined turkey (seriously yummy), chinese black sticky rice stuffing, roasted beets and carrots (recipe courtesy of la canadienne), butternut squash with maple syrup, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, regular plain jane mashed potatoes, and a salad of mixed greens with gorgonzola cheese and dried cherries and blackberry balsamic vinagrette. After 16 years of making Thanksgiving dinners by myself, this was one of the easiest to put together. (Thank goodness for ovens...multiple ovens.)

Now that is done and over with, Christmas is on my mind. Specifically knitted Christmas gifts. I promised my sweetie to make a scarf for his sister (almost done), a hat for my 2nd aunt (not even casted on), a scarf for my mother (in the planning stages), socks for my brother (Wal-mart seems to be a good place), a sweater for Dad (Neiman Marcus, here I come), a scarf for my sweetie's mom (maybe a modular scarf from modular knits?), and socks for my sweetie (ummmm...we'll see). I've got a lot of things to do, not a lot of time to knit them. On top of this, I've got finals in two weeks. I've got one thing to say...Oh vey! (and I'm not Jewish!) Wish me luck...and if you don't hear from me....I jabbed myself with a needle by accident...

And here is some yarn porn to keep you occupied.



Malabrigo Worsted Weight in Loro Barranquero...made into a Koolhaas (designed by Jared Flood in Interweave Holiday)
Socks that Rocks Lightweight in Undertoe
Mama Llama sock Yarn in absolutely gorgeous purple from Twisted Knitster via swap
Cashmerino 80/20 in Casino Royale by my favorite dyer in the whole wide world...the Plucky Knitter!
Malabrigo Worsted Weight in Damask Rose... (slated to be a hat of some sort)

Sweater Mania!

I just finished my first sweater! I've mentioned earlier (and shown the yarn) for the Deep Ribbed V-neck from Stefanie Japel's Fitted Knits. Here it is in all its glory!


A few items of note:
Neckline was obviously changed. I really liked the open keyhole look, so I kept that.
The sleeves were not seamed, but knit in the round.

This was a lot of fun to knit. The Cascade 220 gets softer and softer as you knit with it, I really love that yarn. The pattern itself was basic, but not boring. I think it is a great first sweater project. And of course I couldn't have done it without the help of all my knitting friends, so I just wanted to thank everyone for all their help! I love you guys :)

A new obsession perhaps?

I previously eluded to my intense desire for the Ivy League Vest and have been remiss in updating... I guess my desire to blog goes in waves...

I (not surprisingly) cast on a swatch the day I received the yarn.
Knit Picks Palette in Fog, Twig, White, Nutmeg, Rainforest Heather, and Marine Heather (there is actually a significant amount of green in the Marine heather but it doesn't show too well in the photo)

I had a bit of trouble getting used to the two handed knitting but I did catch on. I suspected (and was right) that part of my difficulty was due to the small, in-the-round swatch but I was excited by the prospect of wearing that little tube as a wrist warmer later tee hee. Well somewhere along the way I made a mistake and I attempted to go back and fix it but I wound up frogging the whole swatch. I seemed to be getting gauge so I decided to throw caution to the wind and just cast on for the actual vest!

Check it out:

The I think the green and blue are fairly close to the Harrisville colors called for in the pattern but the browns and grey are different. I didn't have the color card when I ordered (I do now) so I had to guess on a few shades... If I were to knit this vest again in the KP Palette I would choose the lighter grey (Mist) and Tan instead of Twig... I am happy with the colors as they are though so I ain't changing anything :) And for $20 total for the yarn - I sure can't complain!

With every row I become more and more hooked on this stranded knitting thing! I can easily see myself getting a little obsessed with it :)

It is SO rewarding to see the pattern developing before your eyes. It really makes you feel like you are making progress FAST. I think a couple of things have really helped me...

1. knitting continental
2. knowing how to throw (I started English style)
3. I am generally left handed but moderately ambidextrous... after the initial awkwardness and figuring out how to hold yarns without getting them all twisted, I feel very comfortable knitting 'two handed'.

I only wish the weather here were cooler so I could knit a closet full of fair isle sweaters!! Vests are good so it's quite possible I may knit this again but in different colors... I really like the Clematis Heather and the Iris Heather... hmmmm ;)

This just makes me cry...

I can't get over how aweful some people can be... I found this sad story and felt it was definitely worth passing along. If you can help, please do!!

edit 11/14/07:
Breaking news from Hope Animal Rescues on Sugar Ray's progress and the case against the poor excuse for a human who did this to him...

Update 11/11/07
As of today Sugar has gained a total of 1lb and six ounces which is great news. The doctor has increased the amount of food that he can have to a half cup at a time. He has more energy, is starting to show a desire to play, and is being spoiled rotten by his growing fan club. He has a lot of people who love him and are wishing him the best and we think he knows that and doesn't want to let any of them down. So he is doing better everyday, and soon we hope to take a picture of him without the ribs showing.

Update 11/13/07
Today is the day we go to the prosecutor with our evidence. It is our hope that by the end of the week the person responsible for this crime is charged and justice can be served.

Monkey Behavior

I'm taking a physical anthropology class right now. In it, we study genetics, primate behavior, and evolution. Part of our exercise was go to a zoo and observe the monkeys. Living so close to the world renown San Diego Zoo, a group of us decided to make the drive. For those who have never been to the San Diego Zoo, it is an amazing place! In terms of primates alone, there are over 20 species! There were the cute pandas, the gentle gorillas, the crazy chimps, and the artistic organutans.

A beautiful 12 year old silverback gorilla.

A four year old panda cub who is leaving for China soon. Edited to add: He was shipped off yeserday.
His two year old sister.
And also being in San Diego, I had to go play in La Jolla. For those knitters who read this, Knitting in La Jolla is closed on Sundays! I found that out the hard way. But, very close to Knitting in La Jolla, you can find these... Obviously well fed sea lions lolling around La Jolla Cove.

What would life be without a couple of great ASS shots of the beach? It is Southern California. This is a nod to Dave.

The beautiful Pacific Ocean.

The requisite Ass shot.

Thanks to a certain sweetie being a good sport.

Edited to Add: Kit, this is not your A**. :-)

New pattern in Progress

This is a new design that I'm working on. It's based on this ring.
I'll take better pictures but if you like this pattern, let me know. I'm planning on selling it on etsy.

And here is some cuteness:

This is Loki. He belongs to the Crafty Canadian. That chest belongs to the husband of the Crafty Canadian. Stay tune for a possible contest.