He Might Not Be a Pirate...

...but a Ninja could definitely pull this off:





Pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Adrian Bizilla
Yarn: Knit Picks Telemark in Grey Wolf and Burlap, Knit Picks Merino Style in Tide Pool
Needles: Inox size 4 and 2 16' circulars, Crystal Palace size 4 DPNs

I think he likes it.


What a Block-head! Get it? Block-head?

And now for a little section I like to call, "What I've learned."

I've learned through this, my first stranded colorwork project, that you must keep your floats loose, but not too loose. I have not, necessarily, learned what that means.

I've learned that maybe I should have gone up two needle sizes instead of one. The hat still fits the boy, but it is more like a beanie than the flat topped number in the pattern photo I linked to.

I've learned that doing colorwork on DPN's is something to be avoided at all costs, as it is difficult to maintain your rhythm, let alone hold the two strands of yarn at a steady tension with those awkward points sticking out everywhere. The top section of the hat exhibits a much less even tension than the bottom section simply because of the awkwardness. In the future, I will simply use two circulars when the circumference proves too small to work comfortably on one.

I've learned that hemming up a lining invisibly is not at all as difficult as it sounds. You simply whip stitch around into the purl loops on the inside of the hat. I was surprised to discover that it didn't actually matter what color the purl loop was, making the hemming just that much easier!




These lessons having been learned, I am ready for my next color project. Next up is a hat for me! I bought the yarn for it together with the yarn for Max's hat. All I need now is to decide when to cast on. I may choose to wait a bit and make some more progress on other projects, maybe after the wedding (this Saturday, whoo-hoo!)?

Next Projects

I know, I know...I have a lot of unfinished ones right now. I know, I know.

But I think I want to start another pair of socks. I haven't finished Max's second sock yet, I know, I know...

I'm going to finish the lining in Max's hat today, I think. I am at a stuck point with the top of the hat because I need size 4 DPNs, which I don't have (you'd think I'd have every needle there is, but alas, I don't). So, I'll have to run out and get those tomorrow. I think Max will have a nice finished hat tomorrow. SO, LET'S JUST FORGET THAT I HAVEN'T FINISHED HIS SECOND SOCK, OK? :o

I'm makin' yo-yo's like a fool. I have 14 already. I have an idea that I want to bring to fruition with these...we'll see how it goes. I'll probably make a few more today.

Other than that, I'm incredibly bored today. I know that knitting and crafting shouldn't be boring, but sometimes it is...like when you want to start something new! lol

Ok, BACK TO WORK!!!!

I sick-y

Well, actually, I'm feeling a bit better now. I'm not as congested as I was ALL WEEK. I have been sitting on the couch and eating (drinking?) a hell of a lot of soup. I think I should be fine by tomorrow...at least fine enough to enjoy my "day with Sandra," as she calls it. That sneaky bridesmaid...she's up to something...

I got a phone call! My issue of Keito Dama has arrived at Sanseido!! I'm so excited!! Maybe I'll actually make something out of this one. I just love the femininity of Japanese patterns. I'll probably want to make everything out of it, and I'll post pictures!!

Did I mention my cool new toy? I bought a yo-yo form (I guess that's what you call it). So, be prepared to see a lot of yo-yo's in the future!

I have gone a bit overboard with podcasts...I think I listen to 13 knitting podcasts and (are you ready for this?) 3 anime podcasts. Did you know that I love anime? Did I mention that? I'll bet it is because I've been sick and haven't felt like doing much more than listen to podcasts...oh, and I don't have TV.

Sigh. I don't know what else to say. I'm tired.

Hold on a sec...

You mean to tell me that I'm almost finished with Maxim's Pirate Hat? Is THAT what you mean to tell me?

Yes, it is true. It is near completion. I will probably finish all but the lining today...no promises, though. It's going to fit, too! He's excited; I'm excited. Par-tay.

I am sick, so I don't feel like taking a progress shot. Here's the most recent shot. Get over it.


Like I said, he's excited.

St. Louis was a good time. There was a balloon race that we were able to see a bit at from "The Loop." ((in other words, Delmar in U-city))



I got to see my family. Here's me and my "widdle brudder." Yes, he's bigger than me.


We drove WAY out to Wildwood to do the test-run on my hair and make-up for the wedding.


It was a very hectic little trip and our afternoon romp at The Loop was really the only opportunity we had to relax. We (after a lot of begging and pleading on his part) took my brother, his girlfriend, and her friend along with us. I thought for sure there would be TONS OF DRAMA that day, but I was pleasantly surprised. Those who have met my brother know why I might have been worried, but it turned out to be a really nice time. The rest of the time it was "go, go, go." I guess that's how things are when you have a wedding in two weeks.

Speaking of which, we still have some stuff to figure out. First in my mind is the rehearsal dinner. First of all, we can't afford one. We've checked just about every restaurant in the area and they are wanting about 15 bucks or more a plate. THAT'S RIDICULOUS! Especially when it's a SET menu and people might not even WANT what they are given anyway. I've basically decided that we will "make a reservation" for a "large party" at a restaurant nearby and everyone can pay for themselves, dammit! It might not be the traditional way to go about it, but I tell you what, if our friends don't understand that neither we NOR OUR PARENTS can afford it, what good are they?

Ehem...so, yeah...now we just need to decide where to book a reservation and that will be settled. The second line of business is checking the hotel bar to see if they'll allow people under 21 to come in, as long as they don't drink...that's a tricky one.

I have to make the ring-bearer's pillow.

I have to decide if I want a blusher or not...the hair looks cute without it, I think.

It's ok, though. Things will come together. I'm very excited!

Out of Town

For my "regulars," I will be out of town this weekend. I am leaving this evening (or eeeeeaarly tomorrow morning, depending on the situation) for St. Louis. I won't be back until Sunday, which means no obsessive blogging will be done by Yours Truly.

I have a lot to do this weekend in St. Louis. Tomorrow, we are going to the courthouse to get our marriage license. Who knows how long that will take! Also, we have to meet with the Pastor and discuss the wedding, assure him that we are, indeed, serious, we believe in God, etc...standard stuff, really...but it will take some of our time. The rest of the time will most likely be spent on all the other tiny details of the wedding: looking at things, scoping out stuff, trying on shoes (no, none of us girls have our freakin' shoes, yet...including ME!), what have you.

I am excited about it all, but at the same time I hope that I will have time to breathe. I want to spend some quality time with friends that I haven't seen in a while...but I may not be able to. I want to go to all of my favorite places in St. Louis...those places that I find myself missing from time to time despite the fact that St. Louis was a place that I could not wait to leave.

Isn't it funny how we can have relationships with places? St. Louis, I would say, is my home...more than any other I've lived in. The Chicago-area is also my home...and I love it here. Yet, I get excited over St. Louis. Strange.

So, yeah. I'll be gone and pretty busy...but hopefully it will still be fun (and I DO want to go the zoo--which has THE COOLEST penguin and puffin house...AND a hippo aquarium--they're my fave).

Knitting news:

I don't know if I ever blogged about Max's Pirate Hat?? Well, I've started it and have made a bit of progress. I have one of the skully repeats completed! There are two more and then shaping left to go! This project moves pretty quickly. I think it is quick because it is fun to see the pattern emerge...that and the yarn is pretty thick. I need to work on keeping my floats loose, because I can see the pattern sort of "puckering" in places (ok...A LOT of places...). I'll be taking it with me this weekend and hopefully will make some photo worthy progress.

I started another sweater for myself. Now, before you start yelling at me, it only required me to buy two balls of yarn AT MICHEAL'S, because I already had 3 of the 5 required from a frogged project!! Granted, the dye-lots won't match, but EZ taught me a nifty trick to minimize the effects of the different lots! We'll see if it works. It is the Boatneck Sweater from the latest Knit.1. It is very Flash-dancey. I'll be bringing this along as well.

Oh, that stole? What about it? I won't be able to finish it. I am still working on it, but I haven't even gotten half-way finished yet. The lesson I've learned here is that lace takes me a long time. Oh well. I have a veil to wear anyway and, now that I think about it, a shawl on top of everything else I'll have on might be a bit too much...especially since I'll be nervous and NOT COLD anyway (that means maybe even a little sweaty...lol). But, guys, seriously, I WILL finish it, if only to cast on for the Honeybee Stole! :)

All right, well, I think that's enough for now. Have a safe weekend! And F and O if you can!

Decisions, decisions

Well, I have had two FO's within a short period of time. Now, unfortunately, you will all have to wait AGES before the next one comes around. I am still slowly trudging along on my Lace Blouse, but it is definitely slow going right now. I am itching to cast on something new!!

My queue on Ravelry is four pages long. That's four pages of possible next projects...and counting. Realize that the fall Vogue Knitting is coming out soon, as well as the fall knit.1, and the fall Interweave Crochet. Multiply that queue by four. lol. Oh, wait, as soon as I get the latest Keito-dama (Japanese knitting magazine), multiply that by seven. :)

The Crochetinator and I have decided to cast on for a crochet project from the new Interweave Crochet after my wedding is over. ((That's right, I'm holding you to that, Kara)). I've pretty much decided I'll be doing the Hook and Weave Shrug.

But, that's CROCHET and it doesn't keep me from fantasizing about what my next KNITTED garment will be. Here are some of the "hopefuls" for the upcoming cool seasons (note these are only sweaters, not socks, hats, mittens...they have their own little queue):

I'm really loving Kyra, which is a Berroco free design.
I really love the Best Friend Cardigan by Wenlan Chia
I adore the Bed Jacket by Jennie Atkinson
I love Demi by Kim Hargreaves
Swooning over the Waist Cincher Top by Joan McGowan-Micheal
Can't stop thinking about (nor can I find the pattern) for Grove Short by Elsbeth Lavold
A Drops Designs 3/4 sleeve Jacket
Juno, by Amanda Crawford
Menja, by Elsbeth Lavold
Bridesmaid Wrap, by Suss Cousins

Ok...so, yeah, this is sick. The sad thing is that most of these are patterns that I actually have. So, taking out the patterns that I don't have does little to change this list!! The only two patterns I do not have are Grove Short and Juno. Tell me what to do here, people! :) I can't decide!!!! I've been toying around with my Ravelry queue for a while now and can't seem to make a decision!! Ahhhh!

What's unfortunate about winter knitting is the price tag. Unfortunately, more knitted fabric means more yarn, means more money spent on said yarn. Poo!

Oh, I love blogging days like these...

Because on days like these, I blog about things people care about around these parts!

FO'S!!!! And today, I have my favorite FO to date: My Rusted Root!!

((Also, you can see my new spectacles, I heart them dearly))

But seriously, let's not waste any more time here!





This one took me about a month to finish (I was finished blocking on September 1st). All in all it was a good time. Cotton really dries out my hands, I've noticed, but the pattern was so fun and the color was so...I don't know...red...that I couldn't help but work on it all the time!

The fit is basically PERFECT, if you ask me. I have no complaints so far. It is perfectly comfortable and good item to have while the seasons are changing. Yay! Fall is coming, and I have a leafy autumn colored sweater!

...and how about them specs? Do they work? I quite like them.

I also have some Japanese uber-cute to show you all. I bought this book today:


Mainly because I saw this little cute on one of the first pages I opened up to:


Hello, snuckie-wookums...you're a cute little wool-bearer, aren't you?

I also got my hands on a Temari book, because I wanted it:


Eh, let's throw a cute shoe shot in there for good measure:

Things come together...

...and things fall apart. I am making progress in my life. I really am.

So, why does it feel like as things begin to make sense and work out, things that were making sense to begin with seem shaky and kind of risky.

What am I doing, really? Can I really afford what I've put myself up to?

It's ok. I'm fine.

I'll be fine.

ps--still no new glasses and my eyes are getting anxious.

Whoo Hoo!!!!

Hip, hip, hooray! I have finished my Rusted Root. It is gorgeous!!!! It fits me PERfectly!!!! It's all blocked and lovely, but I don't have any photos of me wearing it just yet. I'm planning on doing a proper photo shoot and FO blog post later this week. I don't know, I may decide to wait until I have my new glasses and do a combined shoot! Regardless of how I plan to present them, you will get to see both (even if I don't like the glasses too much). They told me 7-10 days on the glasses...Naturally, I'm really impatient...if only because my eyes are constantly yelling at me to take out my contacts, while my aching head is telling me, "don't you dare put those old, heavy, black frames with the thick plastic lenses on me...I'll kill you...I'll keeeeeel you!"

Ok...just wanted to let you all know that I have an FO. Check back soon for an FO post proper!

Curry Peanut Butter Chicken

Yeah...sounds good, doesn't it? Yeah...it was good. I made it. No pictures, sorry.

Guess what. I am nearly finished with my Rusted Root! All I have to do is weave in the loose ends and block the sucker.



Gues what. I FINISHED my Breeze Socks.




Yeah...I'm happy.