I really am sorry.

No, really.  I have a some good excuses, I swear!  2009 was the worst year of my life, but 2010 is a good number for a new beginning, right?  I'm trying to do some evaluation, reorganization, and re-prioritizing of life right now...

Anyway, I'm catching up here now!

Here's some things I made for Xmas:

Mug Cozy for Mom
Knit in KP Main Line from a Knitpicks kit


Stocking for Rhiannon
Commission by her grandparents- knit in Lamb's Pride from a Mason-Dixon pattern.  “Rhiannon” BARELY fit. I lined the stocking with polarfleece so the fair isle wouldn’t get messed up with use…


Also, I did start doing that tumblr thing a bit- check it out if you have a chance...

Ready for the cold...

Mowat Mukluks
Pattern from Interweave.
Knit in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes and
Crystal Palace Yarns Splash Print.
-Please ignore my knees. Good God.-

Mmmmmm cupcake...

A birthday cupcake for Alison!

She's really lucky the cat didn't get it first.

A knit! I know, right?!

I swear, I am still knitting. But technically, I finished this a really long time ago. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out the crochet edging… I gave it to 3 crocheters and they couldn’t do it either, so I gave up- I think it looks good without it, though.

"Bed Jacket" from Knitting Lingerie Style,

knit in Knit One Crochet Too Angora Soft

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So. Much. Finishing. Seaming, embroidering,

crocheted edging… aaaaaaahhhhh…

Bobble Coif: Now with FREE PATTERN!

I made this headband/hat thing after being inspired by this one worn by Emily (here too). I had to make up the pattern, since there is no Seaplane near me (sad face) and I Had To Have One. I can post the pattern if I get a few requests...

UPDATE!

Here's the pattern:

MATERIALS
1 skein Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Aran
#6 DPNs
#7 straights

Tapestry needle

GAUGE
4 sts.=1 inch (exact gauge is not vital)

DIRECTIONS
With DPNs, CO 3 sts.
Work I-Cord for 6”.
Switch to straight needles and begin to work from chart (download here).

When chart is completed, switch back to DPNs and work 6” of I-Cord.
Weave in ends and block.

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Please let me know any errors you come across... I've only knitted this once! And I'd love to see any completed projects!

Slouchy Pirates (now with more eyepatch!)

We Call Them Pirates (pattern here)

My first fair isle!
I added an eyepatch to the middle row of skulls a la vikingmaid on Ravelry.
Sooooo… I had gauge, but I didn’t do a swatch to wash. I know, I know. It grew quite a bit after washing, but I think it looks pretty darn cute slouchy. I’ll just have to check if Tasha likes it that way (it was a request).

Louisa Harding at Babetta's!

This morning I got to meet the incomparable Louisa Harding

at my favorite yarn store, Babetta's...

She was doing a book signing and had stacks of knitted samples from her books:

They were amazing... I really wanted to just put all of them on at once, or maybe just roll around in them. I was pretty tempted to pick up all of her books, but my knitting diet prevailed :(

Louisa was very sweet and friendly... she told everyone about learning to knit and design, brought mock-ups of her next couple books (which I want to knit pretty much every project in), and complimented my hat!

I met some lovely people and had a lot of fun. By the by, if you haven't been to Babetta's, you must. It's the friendliest yarn store I've ever been to and the selection is amazing (and lucky me, it's local!).

Another one.

Another neckwarmer...

Celtic Cable Neckwarmer

Yarn: Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande, Pattern: here

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I swear I am happier about this neckwarmer than I look in the picture. I unraveled an old cable cowl that was a bit too small a bit too plain for me... I've made so many plain scarves that I've given away or abandoned. So now, I've been playing a little catch-up since I don't actually have many scarves to wear... and no black scarf! That's crazy talk.

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Though I could just wrap Black Kitty around my neck...

He's certainly long enough.

I have so!

See, I have been knitting!

Pattern: winged

Yarn: Jo-Ann's Marvel (unraveled from old skinny scarf)

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Pattern: Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks (buttons added)

Yarn: Araucania Aysen (Colorway 804)
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I have just been pretty distracted from knitting lately... I have a couple more projects in the works right now (as always) and a few abandoned:

Sweater #9 from Rebecca #33 (too big, wrong yarn I think)

For Alanah

Sweater set for Alanah Armijo:

She's Chris's cousin's baby-to-be... due soon!

I finished this awhile ago, but I had to wait

until after the shower to post it.

I hope I get a modeled pic!

New Model

Olivia's here! Olivia Mary Williams

Thursday, November 20, 2008

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She wore the hat I knitted her home!

Quite a perfect little model, I think.

Congratulations, Beth & Jimmy!

Hallowe'en!!!

I loooooove Hallowe'en... it's my favorite holiday, really, even though that is based more on childhood memories than actual current celebrations. My fondest memories of childhood always include Hallowe'en: roaming the streets in a pack of kids (after dark!), getting to dress up as a fairy princess in public, pillowcases filled near to the top with way too much candy to ever finish... Kids don't get to do all this much anymore- it seems that the majority end up at parties, school functions, etc., which I'm sure is fun too... but it couldn't possibly be as fun. Or maybe I'm just suffering from nostalgia overload.

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Believe it or not, I didn't finish all the decorating I wanted.

Hallowe'en Tree.

Yes, I have a tree for pretty much every holiday.

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Bat & pumpkins knitted this year.

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Candy Bucket.

I made this last year to hang on our door after we went out.

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I'd decorate the whole house if I could, but my laziness always wins out in the end.

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Close-up of the wreath.

I made it with a cheap grapevine wreath, a black feather boa and a fake crow from the craft store.

I like white pumpkins... they're like the ghosts of orange pumpkins, and therefore scarier. Right?

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I will hopefully have pics of my costume after Friday... not of Chris's though, as he is a big party pooper and never dresses up.

For Olivia!

Our good friends Beth & Jim are due in 4 weeks!

Beth's shower was yesterday and these were part of her present:

Mossy Jacket (modified to make newborn sized)

Seed Stitch Baby Jacket

I winged it for the matching hat pattern. Beth choose the patterns from a stack I gave her, and the colors, for the most part... the Mossy Jacket was supposed to be green & orange, but the orange just wasn't working with the green I had started with. The bunny buttons are all me- I hope they don't mind! They're very minimalist in style and are going pretty unisex for baby stuff... an idea I love, but unfortunately bunnies + pink = irresistable for me.

Fair Trade.

I commissioned this painting:

by Doug & Kathryn's lovely daughter Hailee.

I loooooove foxes, and the painting!

We traded for a custom Totoro hat… she wanted one like this one, but the knitter had unfortunately not taken any notes or anything, so I had to try to figure it out.

I think it turned out pretty well…

These pics of Hailee (& Trixie!) were taken by Doug.

This the most complicated colorwork I’ve done,

mostly because I’m not usually a fan.

But I am a fan of Totoro! And Hailee! So there you go...

Lil' Brown Bat

For Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'en!

Pattern here. Knit in Patons Classic Merino & Cascade 220.

I’m making some pumpkins from a different pattern to go with him…

He’ll go into my woodland pals display when he’s not

Hallowe’en decor!

Labyrinth Lux Scarf

This has been my carry-along purse project for a loooong time, but it's finally done...I call it the Labyrinth Lux Scarf because this Noro Aurora colorway has always reminded me of the set design in the movie Labyrinth... it is mostly shades of brown, shot with other color highlights, all wrapped with an iridescent thread that makes it appear slightly glittery (almost in a snail trail sort of way).

The solid brown stripes are Louisa Harding Grace, another favorite yarn of mine- it's 50/50 wool and silk with a gorgeous sheen, drape and feel.

Winter Hare

My version of the genius Hansigurumi's latest pattern, the Jackalope:

I just left off the antlers to make it a hare...

She's part of my growing woodland display!