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On the Needles: Season’s Shawl

Yes, I’m still working on this knitpicks kit. However (!), I feel confident that I could complete this within the month. Three weeks to finish one more chart pattern of twenty-something rows…

Hmm, we shall see. Let’s hope I don’t get too distracted into power-reading George R. R. Martin’s A Feast for Crows. I just finished A Storm of Swords and holy plot developments Batman! So much happened!

There’s also the matter of Tigana and Kushiel’s Dart, which I’m reading for The Sword and Laser and Vaginal Fantasy book clubs, respectively.

The colors of the yarns still blow me away though. Throughout the piece there are two strands yarn that are worked; sometimes it’s the same type, other times it’s two different colors or fibers. The colors were always the major selling point for me, the lace work secondary.

Even then, the patterned charts aren’t as difficult as I thought they might be, but it’s just all the double checking that kills me. Between the pinks and the orange/yellow section I messed up a step so I had to rip out about five rows to fix it- le sigh, but it all worked out in the end. Or am I speaking too soon?

After this, I still have the Gallatin Sweater to finish, but I’m really hankering for a simpler project to work up. Preferably a single color. Bulky yarn, perhaps? A cowl, even? Anything I can finish within a long afternoon during a TV marathon? #InstantGratificationFTW #ILoveHashtags

Any summer projects on your plate, crafting, creative, or otherwise?

June 7, 2012
crafting

Finished Object: Cloverfield Cardigan

July 2011 – December 2011
Size: 18 months
Pattern: “Cloverfield Cardigan” by Vickie Howell, Petite Purls Spring 2011 issue
Yarn: Stitch.Rock.Love Sheep(ish): Robin’s Egg(ish) (2); Chartreuse(ish) (1); White(ish) (1); Olive(ish) (1)

If there is anything that I will associate with this cardigan, it’s that it was a testament to my procrastination. However, it was also the first time I’ve sewn buttons on something I’ve knit, so although I am embarrassed a bit, there’s still some pride involved!

Yes, this was meant to be a gift and I only finished it sometime last week. If the recipient wasn’t in the UK, that wouldn’t have been much of an issue. Also, it was meant to be a gift sent in time for her birthday, which was in November. I know, I’m terrible. However, the completed size is meant for an 18th month old, and it was only her first birthday, so really, I suppose that from the beginning I started this with my procrastination in mind! ;)

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December 28, 2011
crafting

On the Needles: Gallatin Sweater

The kit for this came out last year, and I snagged it earlier this summer when it was on sale, with the intention of finishing it before winter really hit. Considering I’m in California this isn’t really an issue, but regardless, I want to finish this before my birthday (not just as a gift to myself, but also to justify buying it so long ago!), which is a little less than a month away… thankfully this is bulky weight yarn. I can get it done. There are many television marathons to be had, during which I’ll definitely get my knitting done. Oh, but then there are some holiday gifts… le sigh.

What it’s supposed to look like (images from the KnitPicks blog):

         

I’m more or less knitting like this, however I’m going to lengthen it so it sits about mid-thigh instead of at the hip. Usually I’ll make a more major change to a knitting pattern, but the deer and snowflake motifs are so perfect for the season! KnitPicks is always releasing these kits that I love– my knitpicks wishlist is primarily composed of ’em.

Anybody else knitting/crocheting/crafting themselves something to keep warm?

November 12, 2011
crafting

On the Needles: Burst & Bloom

Day 3 of the knitpicks Seasons Shawl for September KAL

September already? Well, my disbelief is clearly evident in my current crafting projects. Still holding onto summer (with residual spring longing), le sigh.

I’m on day three (I couldn’t help myself for the photo!) of working on the Seasons Shawl as part of the September KAL on ravelry. I’m hoping I can finish this by the end of the month. However, as per my neurotic tendencies, I’ve been counting the stitches every increase row, so that might not work out.

Although, should I get frustrated and need to walk away, I still have all these tails and seams to work on the Cloverfield Cardigan– so at least I’ll have to stay productive.

Cloverfield Cardigan tails and seams

I feel as though this picture is strangely grotesque- like I’m looking at its entrails, ya know?

September 3, 2011
crafting

Finished Object(s): Gryffindor Scarves

June 23, 2011 – August 11, 2011
Measurements: (including tassels) 96″ x 9″
Pattern: “House Scarves – Year 3-4 Scarf” by Lauren Kent, Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel
Yarn: (total) 2 skeins Caron One Pound Natura in “Claret” & 1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease in “Gold”

Although I had intended to finish them a little bit earlier, I’m quite proud to have them done before the end of summer; once I had passed my delusional, self-imposed deadline that I set in early July I thought I would never get them done. Had I not decided to reread Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows before seeing the film I might have been able to finish them before my friends moved away (these were supposed to be farewell gifts, but now I get to send them as care packages!). Well, that may not be true, considering I took some time to finish Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber, then started (and finished!) George R.R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones so that I could start watching the show… then I finished that as well. XD

Back to the scarves! The first one took the longest; not only did I allow distractions, but there was a gnarly knot in the skein for the main color that I foolishly spent about two or three days trying to untangle. But once I finally finished that one, I was able to barrel through the second, no knots dared interfere.

Knots aside, I love using the One Pound Natura for these; I used it before for the Slytherin scarves I knit my friend and I (see mine below) and I was pleased to find they had the right red too. Yes, it’s one hundred percent acrylic, but it’s not scratchy AT ALL once it softens up in the wash (like other Caron yarns), which can be done in the machine! Hand washing can be so tedious, ya know? Also, because it’s so massive I didn’t have to weave in so many ends (oh, but the secondary color…). I actually put off weaving the ends in for about a day or two because I dread that part of the process.

For any of my fellow Slytherins out there, Caron One Pound Natura in “Forest” is absolutely perfect for our green! I’ve got a Ravenclaw scarf on my future gift knit list and am a bit disheartened to find that there is no blue that Luna would approve to represent her house. Then there’s the issue of the bronze…

August 15, 2011