Browsing Tag

knitting

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
crafting

On the Needles: Gryffindor Scarves

“…daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart” – (Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone)

Gryffindor Scarf

(No full-length shot because I cheated in taking these photos-I haven’t even woven in all the ends! ha)

Completed one of two Gryffindor scarves. They’re meant as gifts because I’m certainly no Gryffindor (although I will say I love their colors). Slytherin pride forever and ever.

This is my third HP House color scarf in less than a year. Right before Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out I managed to finish one for a fellow Slytherin; crazy determination got me to finish it in less than two weeks! Unfortunately I procrastinated in starting that one and couldn’t finish knitting my own until before my birthday in December. However, I was able to wear my own for the midnight premiere of Part Two; Northern California, thank you for your weather.

Also, this is the first post since I’ve updated the layout!

July 29, 2011