pi = 3.14159265

Yes, I know that shows you how much of a geek I am...but it has 100% relevance with what I've been working on. I've been working on Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi shawl from The Knitter's Almanac. I was completely inspired by BrooklynTweed's version of it. There are two versions of this shawl: a simple knitted one or the lacy one. Being a sucker for lace, I decided to go lacy.




Here are the deets: (Remember that this is a WIP)
The Yarn: Plucky Knitter's Silk Merino Lace in Merlot. It is the best feeling stuff out there. I cannot tell you how wonderful this yarn is to knit with!
Needles: US Size 5
I modified the shawl by adding a lace pattern from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Amazing Knit Patterns and a edging from Lace From the Attic by Nancie Wiseman. It's been fun and challenging but I'm loving it.

Fun with my sewing machine!

Last Thursday at knit night I caught a glimpse of Gabarella's (new pouch style) Knit Picks Options case... I had been looking at this case and contemplating making one for myself out of fabric and seeing one in person was that last little push I needed. I sketched a bit, pulled out my fabric stash and came up with this:

Finished dimensions are 9.5" wide x 6" high x 2.5" deep (2.4cm x 1.5cm x 0.63cm) - slightly smaller than the KP case...

It has 13 slots/pockets. As you may be able to see, the slots are varied widths in order to accomodate larger tips and other items. I plan to make a couple small pockets to keep the cables and other small parts organized as well. It would be great to have the slots labelled with needle sizes but I was antsy and I had already sewn the sides on this one by the time I got the materials for labelling .

I'm quite pleased with this little bag and plan to make more for gifts and/or possible etsy sales :)

I had to go to the fabric store for notions and red fabric for this and (OF COURSE) I couldn't come home with just what I needed. I found some great vintage-y holiday print fabrics at 70%off!! How could I resist?? This one isn't vintage style but I thought it was cute.

Patterns, what patterns?

So my um, awesomeness at using patterns has been well documented. I'm okay once I understand what the portions of the pattern are supposed to construct, and you'd think I'd be a little more enamored of making socks for that reason! I'd been a bit cranky about using DPNs, mostly because when I go to pick up the stitches for the gusset I have some, um, issues.
But to make a long story short craftypancakes gave me some sock sized circular needles and I've been having a ball!
I finished some socks about a month ago and here there are!
The yarn is courtesy of craftycanadian, Mountains in the Moonlight by Indigo Moon Yarns. I did these on size 1s, and found out after I finished these that Cat Bordhi just put out a book about moving the decreases (right? I'm trying to remember the exact conversation) so I feel like I'm surfing on a wave of yarn cool.

Madame G, thank you again for taking the photos!