Did I mention I'm happy?

I finally found yuzu cha. I first had a taste of it while studying abroad in Japan. The nice girl at the social security center where I did an internship gave me some and told me what it was called. What she didn't tell me was how to find it. I searched in Japan before I returned to The States, because I knew I'd have a hard time finding it. Couldnt' find it. I searched everywhere in the US as well and still couldn't find it. Then, after a few years, I finally did an internet search (save discussion on my silly negligence up until this point for later, lol) and found out that I wasn't finding it because I was looking in the wrong aisle. Cha=tea and tea=the tea section, right? Wrong. Wrong-a-mundo.

Now, I know many people already know of this tasty Korean/Japanese (but Korean FIRST!) treat. It's a marmalade made from the rind of the yuzu (a small citrus fruit) and honey. Put a spoonful or two into a cup of hot water, stir, and enjoy. I bought mine and am pleased with it, but there is one word in the ingredients that I am not fond of (I think it's a preservative...who needs that when you have FREAKIN' HONEY?), leading me to the decision of making it myself in the future. My jar will be empty soon anyway, which is good because now is the time of the yuzu. They are in season during November in Japan, so I should be able to find them quite easily at the Japanese grocer. Next time I go, I'll probably buy a basket full (no, probably not THAT much, but you get the idea). I was even thinking of giving some away to friends and family if all goes well and I think people will appreciate it enough. :)

So yeah. Yuzu-cha. Yum. Also at the Japanese grocer (well, technically at the bookstore), I ordered the most recent issue of Keitodama. They said it could take up to 4 weeks to arrive! Sheesh! Still, I love looking at Japanese patterns, even if I haven't knit any of them yet...

Look at this!


I started Max's Cobblestone Pullover. Can we say, "a million gazillion plus infinity stitches makes a man-sweater?" Yeah. It's a lot. I'm doing this as part of NaKniSweMo (National Knit a Sweater Month) so that I am urged to get it done quickly. It's an easy pattern, but it's going to be a boring knit.

I'm doing NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) again this year too. It's more important than sweaters and I wrote 1780 words today. Only 48, 220 words to go!

Gazillion

My mind is hop-skip-jumping around about a gazillion things right now. I'll start with those things most of interest to readers of a knitting blog. Mainly, progress.

The Snowdrop Cardigan is coming along nicely. I have finished the back piece, knit both of the pockets, and got a good start on the front pieces. Even though the fronts are all stocking stitch, I've really been enjoying them and they are working up much more quickly than I expected. Of course, I am knitting both at the same time--as is my preferred method. I won't, however, be knitting both sleeves at the same time. I only have one ball of each contrast color and I don't feel like taking the extra time to divide them.

Anyway, here's a picture of the pockets. They still need the borders knitted on the upper edges, but this is the general idea:


The sleeves have the same "snowdrops," making this the sweetest, most adorable cardigan EVAR.

I finished spinning that corriedale fiber, as promised. I ended up with approx. 900 yds total. It varies from lace to fingering mostly, but I only eyeballed it to come to that conclusion. I think it will turn into a triangular shawl which I will simply knit until I run out of yarn! It might end up a present to my mother, whose favorite color is yellow. Maybe. Really, this is more MY KIND of yellow than hers. She's more the soft, buttery type. I'm more the earthy mustard variety. But we shall see. And so shall you (the photo, that is):


The scarves from the last post have not been touched.

But surprisingly, a long neglected WIP HAS been touched. Last night, I seemed up the back and front peices of my Purple Lace Blouse. Remember how I was terrified that it wouldn't fit me (too big)? Well, after trying it on, I am convinced that it WILL fit me! This means that I must finish the lace border. Ugh. What I have decided to do is knit one lace repeat each day. JUST ONE! That shouldn't be too hard, considering that the rows are very very very short! I know I'm being a baby, but it's the only way this is ever going to happen...and I SO want it to happen, because I can already see that this is going to be a GORGEOUS FO! ((Rah Rah Rah!!!!))

Finally, I can't get a silly knit design out of my head. I have a pair of pants...and I have decided that my life is not complete without another pair...only this time...they will be handknit!!!! I am batshit crazy for wanting to knit a pair of pants. I'm even more insane for wanting to knit this particular type of pant (which I will not share until I actually make them! lol). These will likely not happen for quite some time. I will need to find the right yarn (I'm thinking a somewhat fine linen or a linen/cotton blend...and organic would be nice, but probably way too expensive).

But yeah. Batshit crazy.

As crazy as bat shit.

Scarves

Believe it or not, I do not have a huge number of scarves. I know it seems strange that a knitter doesn't have a lot of scarves, but really it is true. I don't even think that I have more scarves than the average non-knitter and it isn't because I do not love scarves.

I really do.

I love them so much.

So, to live up to my own knitterly expectations:




Scarves.

The first is a quick and silly crochet deal that I am working on. I've woven strips of satin fabric through it (and will continue to do so throughout the scarf) just for fun, but I haven't decided if I will keep it that way or not.

The second (and third, duh) is, of course, the Ribbon Lace Scarf that I started ages ago. I am still working on it here and there.

Here and there.

And that's what's great about knitting scarves, I've come to realize. They travel well and don't require crazy attention. Of course, there are exceptions, a few of which I will be casting on in the weeks/months/years to come.

I finished the back of the Snowdrop Jacket and decided I wanted to get to some of the fun stuff. So, instead of casting on for the boring plain front pieces, I cast on for a pocket. I thought it would be a good idea to do the pockets before the sleeves since the pockets are very small and like little learning swatches that will be sewn onto the garment. I don't have a picture for you, but let's just call what I have so far on pocket one, "So much cuteness and fun, fun, fun." Yeah. I think that's a good name for it.

:)

Sumpin' or other.

Yeah. What of it?

I've been a lagging knitter and crafter, but not so much that I am not creating anything at all. I am working on the Snowdrop Jacket from Vogue Knitting and it is coming along. I am working the armholes for the back piece at the moment and it is just plain stockinette right now. Stockinette=boring. Here's an older picture:


I haven't sat in front of my wheel for a disgusting amount of time. It is my goal to get some spinning in tonight as there is really no excuse for my negligence. That wheel was expensive and was intended as more than a pretty (OH SO VERY PRETTY) hunk of folk art. I was in the midst of spinning up some yellow corriedale wool before I shoved it in the corner. That was so long ago.

What else is crafty, you ask? You don't think that just because it's Halloween time, I would be making something silly like a costume, do you? Please, give me more credit, people. I'm a grown up. I'm so much of a grown up that just last night I wasn't sure how old I was going to turn on my next birthday (we decided on 25, for the record). Grown ups, while known for doing other silly things like destroying the planet and desecrating the economy, do not waste time on silly things like Halloween costumes.


This isn't what it looks like...

Hey, what's that over there?!


Mmmm...Braunsweiger! I try to be healthy around here, but please, do not deny me my love of braunsweiger. Grown ups eat braunsweiger and are also apparently not turned off by creepy tarantula-like dried hibiscus flowers...they knit practical things like socks and mittens (speaking of which, I have some fingerless mitts to get workin' on...).

Peace (which isn't likely with the two major presidential candidates, but whatever...that's for another time).

Eco

I'll bleed on these, thanks.



Homemade cloth pads and pad inserts. I like using these at night instead of the Diva Cup. Yay for eco-friendly (and vagina-friendly) menstrual cycles!