Crafty as Heck

FO: Mr. Pitt's Socks

2009-06-23T14:35:00.003-05:00

I've been lazy about posting lately - these socks have been off the needles for two weeks already!

Pattern: Mr. Pitt's Socks (aka Dad Socks) by Kaitlyn Wong
Yarn: Lion Brand Sock-Ease in Toffee, 1 skein
Needles: Size 1 1/2 (2.5 mm) DPNs from Knit Picks
Date Started: April 25, 2009
Date Finished: June 9, 2009
Ravelry Link

These socks caught my eye because the recipient and I both love watching old Seinfeld reruns - in one episode, Elaine is on the hunt for the perfect pair of socks for Mr. Pitt. And these did turn out to fit quite nicely!

I usually don't get knitting requests, but when J mentioned that he really liked the yarn from another pair of socks I made, I just had to take advantage of the opportunity! This time, though, I used a slightly smaller needle and I am much happier with the resulting fabric - I'll have to remember that for next time because I've already added some more of this yarn to my stash (this time in the Rock Candy colorway).

It dawned on my last week that the year is already half over and that I need to start thinking about Christmas presents. Each year since I've been knitting, I've been trying to give more and more handmade items. Luckily, most of the people in my life appreciate my handiwork, so I certainly don't mind putting in the time. This year I am also aiming to use up some of my stashed yarn - it has started to overflow out of the two boxes I have set aside in my craft closet, so I want to get it back under control. It seems like I've also been drawn to lots of shawls and shawlettes, so I definitely see some of those in my future!

Sea Change

2009-07-29T14:47:00.002-05:00

I've been thinking about changing the scope of my blog to include a few more of my hobbies, so I'm taking some time off from updating for the meantime while I figure out which direction I would like to go.

This site has mainly become a log for my finished knitting projects, which is fine, but I suspect also a little bit boring. I'm toying with the idea of also including bento lunches, which I've been making for myself on a pretty regular basis for several months now. I'm also intrigued by a completely new hobby and I hope to start with it soon - Blythe Dolls. I've been aware of these dolls for some time now, and my fascination with them has been growing, so I've asked for my first one for my birthday. We'll see if I get one or not. If not, I know that I will not be able to resist the temptation to buy one for myself for too much longer. Is 30 (almost 31) too old to start playing with dolls? I hope not!

Anyway, I should be back soon with hopefully some new ideas and more frequent updates!

FO: Anastasia Socks

2009-05-11T16:03:00.004-05:00

I actually finished these up several weeks ago, but I'm just now getting around to sharing. Boy, have I been busy! More about that later...

Pattern: Anastasia Socks by MintyFresh
Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) in colorway P114, most of 2 skeins used
Needles: Size 1 1/2 (2.50 mm) DPNs
Date Started: March 13, 2009
Date Finished: April 24, 2009
Ravelry Link

These socks were a lot of fun, and I loved the colors in the KPPPM - very bright and festive, much like New Orleans where I purchased the yarn. I had originally tried another pattern for this yarn first, but got some not-so-pretty pooling - this pattern worked out much better, I think. The two skeins looked identical in the store, but I do think they were slightly different. One sock looks slightly more faded than the other, but nothing a casual observer would notice. Even though I enjoyed using the yarn, I'm not quite convinced it was worth the price - I'll know more about that once I start washing and wearing them!

The pattern was quite fun though I made a couple of tiny mistakes in the first sock - I think I just forgot to YO once or twice. It seemed a lot easier not to make that mistake in the second sock using SSKs for some reason.

Since finishing these socks up, I've been focusing on remodeling my master bathroom. I demolished the old shower, tore down some walls, and removed the tile floor, the old toilet, and the old vanity. The new plumbing for the shower has been installed and new tile has been put up - black, gray, and white mosaic glass tiles for the shower stall, black river rock for the shower floor, and new ceramic tile that looks like dark gray slate for the bathroom floor. Now I just need to prepare the walls, paint, install a new toilet, put in the new vanity, tack up new baseboards and I'm pretty much finished (easier said than done!). Unfortunately, May is a crazy month for me, so these finishing touches might not be completed until sometime in June. Luckily I don't mind using my guest bathroom. I'll post before and after pictures once everything is completed.

So what is making May so crazy? All of my favorite bands are touring right now! I caught the Toadies at Stubb's in Austin this past weekend, I'll be going back to Austin tomorrow for NIN and Jane's Addiction, then next weekend I'll be headed to Dallas for the Wildflower Festival. There I plan to see Jackopierce, the Toadies again, Kool and the Gang, and maybe one or two other groups. TV on the Radio also happens to be in Dallas that weekend, so I'll be able to catch that show too. Then the next weekend I'm off to San Jose and San Francisco for another NIN/JA show. This is supposedly NIN's last tour for the foreseeable future, and I'm actually quite sad - I've had so much fun the past several years catching shows all over the place (Atlanta, Reno, Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston, etc., etc.) and meeting new people. It's hard to believe that I've seen NIN 15 or 16 times now. That's a lot! At any rate, I'm really looking forward to these next two shows - the setlists for this tour look pretty good so far - I can't wait to see what Trent & Co. decide to do in Austin!

FO: Dean Street Hat

2009-05-15T13:12:00.003-05:00

I can't believe that I almost forgot to post about this one!

Pattern: Dean Street Hat by Nina Machlin Dayton
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Olive, about 1/2 of a skein
Needles: Size 6 and Size 7 16" circulars from Knit Picks
Date Started: March 26, 2009
Date Finished: April 13, 2009
Ravelry Link

I had purchased one skein of Malabrigo from WEBS last October and had been looking around for the right pattern for it - and I just loved this hat! I did have some gauge issues, though. I thought I was pretty close (I did actually get out my ruler and everything!), but I ended up frogging the medium size and restarting on the large. That nagging feeling that it was going to be too small kept cropping up. Boy, am I glad I trusted my instincts! Once I got the hat off the needles, I realized that my gauge had been way off. Luckily, this still fits me fine, and I think it will be even better after I get around to blocking it.

The Malabrigo was just lovely to work with, but I am worried about the pilling factor. Perhaps my tighter gauge will help with that some? The hat also used up a little less yarn than I expected, so I still have about half left - any ideas for another project? I may just end up doing another simple hat, or I have also been eyeing Pauline.

The needles I used were also new - I ordered several sizes of the Knit Picks 16" circulars to try out. I had heard that sometimes the smaller circulars can be a pain to knit with, but I didn't have any problems. I really liked them, actually - I'll have to eventually order a few more sizes.

So now I'm just trying to finish up a pair of socks (I'm trying not to fall victim to SSS - second sock syndrome) and I've started Picovoli using some recycled cotton yarn. I love the way the yarn looks, but it is proving to be a little hard on the hands, so I've had to take frequent breaks from that one. Oh, well, I'll finish it eventually - it's not a race, right?

Socks and Hats, Oh My!

2009-04-01T13:17:00.002-05:00

I've been knitting, but everything just seems to be crawling along lately. I went camping this past weekend and thought that I would have lots of free time to knit, but alas, it just wasn't so. The cold, windy weather was not exactly conducive to working with my hands - I could hardly feel them!

I have been working on a pair of socks with that KPPPM I bought in New Orleans. I tried a pattern by Cookie A for the first go-around (BFF Socks), but I wasn't too excited about the way the colors were pooling. I then tried MintyFresh's Anastasia Socks pattern, and I'm in love. See?

I also put in an order to Knit Picks last week and got some new small circulars - a few sizes both in nickel and in wood of the 12" circs. I figured that I needed them for hats and sleeves and things like that. I just couldn't wait to try them out, so I started the Dean Street hat in some olive Malabrigo I picked up several months ago. The needles were really much smaller than I thought they'd be, so I was a little worried that they would be uncomfortable to use. So far, so good though!

It will be a busy week and weekend, so you probably won't see anything new from me for awhile. This Saturday I will be taking a Copperplate calligraphy class, so my hands will be tied up with that as well. So many crafty things to do, and not nearly enough time!

FO: Basic Socks

2009-03-06T14:05:00.002-06:00

My trip to New Orleans was a lot of fun, and it did afford me quite a bit of knitting time since I didn't have to drive. I finished these socks a day or two after we got back.

Pattern: Basic Socks #70739AD by Lion Brand Patterns (it was on the ball band)
Yarn: Lion Brand Sock-Ease in Toffee, about 60% of the skein (according to my new digital kitchen scale)
Needles: Size 2 DPNs
Date Started: February 15, 2009
Date Finished: March 5, 2009
Ravelry Link

This was my first pair of socks worked from the cuff down, and I'm pretty happy with the fit. I haven't washed the yarn yet, but I've heard they will soften up, so I'll have to report back about that. I wasn't able to match up the striping exactly, but they look fine together. I was going to make matching socks for Kendra and another friend, but I think I will actually make Kendra some footies and then the other friend will probably be getting some using the Mr. Pitt's Socks pattern.

New Orleans was a great little getaway, and I did manage to purchase a couple of skeins of souvenir yarn from Quarter Stitch - KPPPM in color P114, which I think might be called Technicolor from a quick internet search. It seemed bright and festive, much like our trip. I hope to start working with it soon - I might do one of Cookie A.'s patterns.

FO: Saartje's Bootees

2009-02-25T15:51:00.003-06:00

My friends have started having lots of babies over the past couple of years, as evidenced by these, my 5th pair of Saartje's Bootees! These are quick-to-knit (despite the finishing work) and have always been a crowd-pleaser at baby showers. I'm sure I will knit more in the future, too - I have a feeling that the babymaking will only increase as time goes by!

Pattern: Saartje's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijn (the pattern is available as a PDF on her site)
Yarn: Vickie Howell Rock in Trent, about 1/2 of a skein and Sublime Yarns Extra Fine Merino Wool DK in Plume, about 20 yards
Needles: Size 3 DPNs (treated the DPNs as small straights)
Buttons: small shell buttons from Joann's
Date Started: February 10, 2009
Date Finished: February 11, 2009
Ravelry Link

I was glad that I was able to use up more yarn from the stash. Even though I'm not necessarily on a yarn diet, I did realize that my storage bins are overflowing. Until I can create some more room in my two giant yarn boxes, I'm trying to abstain from anything new. Of course, souvenir yarn purchases don't count into this, which brings me to my upcoming trip...

I'm heading to New Orleans this weekend, so I'm hoping that I'll have a couple of pairs of basic socks to show off next week using Lion Brand Sock Ease in Toffee - I should get in some good knitting time in the car! I needed a plain stockinette project to alleviate some stress, and these have done the trick! The Toffee colorway has been very popular in my little circle too - both my sister and another friend saw them and want some of their own! I'm even hoping to make some baby-sized socks with the leftovers for little Amanda - then we can all match! :)

P.S. Thanks to Kelley for the first picture - she was the official photographer at the shower and I couldn't resist stealing this great shot of the booties with the mom-to-be! You should really check out the larger versions of it at my flickr page - her camera is awesome.

FO: Woodland Shawl

2009-02-13T13:58:00.003-06:00

I have to say that I'm a little sad that this project is over, though I'm delighted with the outcome. This was such a fun knit! I don't know what exactly made it so much fun - I'm sure it was a combination of the pattern plus the yarn - the color practically screamed my name when I eyed it in the store!

Pattern: Woodland Shawl by Nikol Lohr
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in Strange Harvest, 1 skein
Needles: Size 6 Circulars from my Knit Picks Options set
Date Started: December 28, 2008
Date Finished: February 3, 2009
Ravelry Link

When first starting out, I was pretty dependent on the instructions, but after a few repeats, I was able to "read" my knitting and that's when the project became so much fun and incredibly hard to put down! I really enjoyed knitting with the Smooshy too - the color was very dynamic and it truly looks different depending on the light. Sometimes it is a sorta bright olive green with lots of gold undertones, and other times it is much more muted. Just absolutely gorgeous! Oh, and I should probably mention the great yardage as well - I really think I ended up with more than indicated on the label, which was a nice surprise.

This was my first attempt at blocking lace - I just hand-washed the finished shawl, rolled out the excess water in a towel and then pinned it out to block on my guest bedroom bed. In hindsight, I probably could have blocked it out a little more rigorously, and I may end up trying again at some point. The finished size was about 16 x 40 inches, and I think I could probably get a little more length out of it.

Now all I need to do is to figure out exactly how to wear a lace shawl - this is a new type of item for my wardrobe and I'm not sure that the way I pinned it is really the most flattering. Any suggestions? I'm sure there will be more lace in my future - and definitely more Smooshy too!

FO: February Lady Sweater

2009-02-03T16:38:00.005-06:00

The biggest gift I tackled for Christmas was a February Lady Sweater for my friend Karen. We are just about the same size, so I knew that I'd be able to make her a sweater that would fit reasonably well - and, if you check out all the FOs on Ravelry, it is easy to see that this little cardigan looks good on just about every body type.

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne
Yarn: Valley Yarns Northampton in Ocean Heather, 4 skeins plus a few yards
Needles: Size 8 Circulars from my Knit Picks Options set
Buttons: Wood buttons found at Joann's
Date Started: October 18, 2008
Date Finished: December 24, 2008
Ravelry Link

I had a hard time choosing the yarn, but I ended up with the Northampton based on some reviews saying it was a good value and a good workhorse wool. I enjoyed knitting with it - it wasn't too scratchy and it definitely softened up some after washing and blocking. I adored the color, and knew it would be a good shade for Karen. It probably isn't something I would want to wear right up against my skin, but it is perfect for this little sweater. I even ended up ordering some in the Light Green Heather, which will be a FLS for me at some point.

The pattern was pretty clear and I didn't have any problems except for the eyelet row. I don't know if I miscounted or if there was a mistake, but it didn't end up exactly as intended - but that didn't matter anyway. I ended up with the right number for the lace portion of the cardigan and that is what was important! I learned how to make a one-row buttonhole while making this as well.

Karen loved the cardigan and hopefully she will get lots of wear out of it. I can't wait to have my own!

FOs: Knucks and Carlsbad Hat

2009-01-16T13:01:00.003-06:00

This is almost the last of the Christmas knitting, I swear. I'm almost caught up with my blogging backlog.

J had requested a basic hat and gloves for Christmas. I was worried that basic was going to be boring, but these two projects turned out so well, that I can't really complain that they weren't more complicated or decorative.

First up, another pair of Knucks...

Pattern: Knucks by Pamela Grossman
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 Ply in Forest, less than 1 skein
Needles: Size 3 DPNs
Date Started: December 5, 2008
Date Finished: December 14, 2008
Ravelry Link

The yarn was a different weight than the pattern suggested, so I did have to recalculate the pattern, which ended up not being as difficult as I feared. This pattern always seems so fiddly to me when joining the fingers, and it was no different this time. Once I get past that part, these seem to fly! I did change the ribbing around the wrist to match the ribbing on the hat as well - a small detail but I really liked the effect.

Pattern: Carlsbad Hat by Marnie MacLean
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 Ply in Forest, less than 1 skein
Needles: Size 3 Circulars and DPNs
Date Started: November 28, 2008
Date Finished: December 3, 2008
Ravelry Link

This hat was pretty basic and straightforward, though I did make some modifications - first, I had to adjust slightly for gauge, and then I also decided to work this in the round rather than knit flat and seam. Once I started decreasing for the crown, it really started moving pretty fast. The result? A nice, basic hat that has already seen quite a bit of wear.

I did want to make a note about the yarn - while I was pleased with the resulting fabric, I was quite irritated about finding knots and a felted blob in the two balls I had purchased. Also, after wear, the hat still looks pretty good, but the gloves look a little raggedy. They might look better after a good shaving, so I'll have to try that, but I was hoping that it would have held up a little better. I'm not sure I would use this yarn again unless I was just absolutely in love with a particular color or something like that. I guess I just expected a little more.

All in all, two successful projects, which were even delivered on time!

FO: Two Noble Cowls

2008-12-29T13:08:00.003-06:00

It seems that I always make several of the same projects for Christmas gifts, and these two cowls are no different, though the types of yarn did make a big difference in the look of the actual finished objects.

I came across this pattern while randomly browsing projects on Ravelry, and it immediately caught my eye (and now that the pressure of Christmas knitting is off, I'll have to make one for me to keep!).

Pattern: A Noble Cowl by Emily Kausalik (pattern available as a Ravelry download)
Yarn: about one and a half skeins of Berroco Softwist in Blue Moon for one cowl, and about one and a third skeins of Rowan Wool Cotton in Elf for the other
Needles: Size 7 (Softwist) and Size 6 (Wool Cotton) circulars
Date Started: October 3, 2008 (Softwist) and September 27, 2008 (Wool Cotton)
Date Finished: October 9, 2008 (Softwist) and September 30, 2008 (Wool Cotton)
Ravelry Links

I made the same modifications on each cowl by reducing the number of cast-on stitches to 105. The pattern is written to be a sorta loose cowl that can be gathered and pinned, and I wanted something a little less roomy. I started running out of yarn in the Elf version despite casting on fewer stitches and had to stop the pattern a few rows short, and with the Blue Moon cowl, I ended up only doing 2 repeats of the lace rather than the suggested 2.5 repeats. My gauge was different due to the yarn weight, and it was plenty long by the time I got through the 2nd repeat. Both cowls washed and blocked beautifully - and they were big hits with the recipients, which is always a plus. I personally preferred the Blue Moon version, as the fabric was a little more dense and it seemed to scrunch around the neck a little better, so if I do make one for me in the future, I'll probably use a yarn that is closer to a worsted weight.

My next couple of posts will be more Christmas knitting - a basic knit hat and a pair of Knucks in green, and then the piece de resistance, a February Lady Sweater! Stay tuned...

FO: Fetching, Fetching, and more Fetching

2008-12-28T11:58:00.003-06:00

Now that Christmas gift-giving is over, I can finally post some more recent pictures.

Pattern: Fetching by Cheryl Niamath
Yarn: Sublime Extra Fine Merino Wool DK, 1 ball each of Mocha, Plume, and Grape
Needles: Size 6 DPNs
Date Started: October 26, 2008
Date Finished: November 27, 2008
Ravelry Link

I've made several pairs of Fetching before, and they have all been popular gifts. I knew they could go quick and still be really nice presents. The yarn was absolutely lovely to knit with - so soft and squishy! It seemed to wash well, too, which is a definite plus. I probably could have gone down a needle size, but the gloves turned out nice anyway. I did end up adding a few extra rows in the main hand portion as well as before binding off - I wanted to make sure that they were plenty long.

I ended up with extra yarn in all three skeins, and the colors look so nice together that I'm trying to figure out what I could make with all the leftovers. I thought maybe a cuff bracelet of some type? There's definitely not enough yarn to do much more than that. I'll have to give more thought to it.

Nearing the Finish Line

2008-12-15T20:09:00.000-06:00

With about a week and a half until Christmas, I am happy to be able to say I am almost done with all of my Christmas knitting! I will probably exchange some gifts with coworkers early next week, so then I'll be able to show you everything I've been working on (I know there has been a lack of pictures around here lately - that will change soon!). This weekend will be reserved for finishing touches - washing and blocking projects, taking some (hopefully) decent FO pics, wrapping gifts, etc., etc. I am still working on a February Lady Sweater, but otherwise I am done. It's a festivus miracle!

Of course, now my mind is wandering to what else is on the needles and what I hope to work on once the Christmas rush is over. So, what's been hibernating?

Let's see...my Brea Bag is complete except for adding a lining and some handles. Should be easy enough, but this project has sadly been sitting around since April. I need to remember to look for purse handles when I'm visiting craft stores - I've had the lining fabric for a while now.

Then there's my Tweedy Scarf (the Men's Cashmere Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts) - that one has been untouched since late 2007. I think this is destined to be frogged - I have no interest in finishing it at all. And I can use the Shetland Chunky Tweed for something else (any ideas?).

Next up is a crocheted baby afghan - Rainbow Ripples. I love this one but just don't ever feel like working on it. I started it back in 2005 if you can believe that! I suppose I will eventually finish it.

I also have a knitted afghan hanging around - a mitered square afghan in Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I started it in January for a friend. So much for that! I will pick this one back up, but I might be selfish and keep it for myself - is that bad?

And then there is also the Tilted Duster. I started this one in September of 2007 and still absolutely love the pattern. However, I will probably frog and restart to make sure I'm still on the right track. I got the top part done, but I'm not sure I did it evenly or at exactly the right gauge (or even using the right size). I am sure a restart is exactly what's needed!

I guess 5 unfinished projects is not as bad as it could be. I also hope to make another Lady Sweater for me in the next few months and maybe a Picovoli using a cannibalized yarn from an old Banana Republic sweater that I never wore. I'm pretty sure at this point my queue will outlive me - there's just too much out there I want to knit!

2008-11-26T10:59:00.000-06:00

Leisure Learning

2008-11-25T15:46:00.003-06:00

I was considering taking either a sewing class or a calligraphy class (or both!) through Leisure Learning. Does anyone have any feedback on these classes specifically or just on Leisure Learning in general? Leave a comment if you do...Thanks!

Where Does the Time Go?

2008-11-06T12:40:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I last posted! I apologize to the one or two loyal readers I know about (hi Kelley! hi Kendra!).

So, what's been going on? Well, on a sad note, a coworker passed away suddenly a little over a week ago. It has been a very difficult situation for the whole office - this week was better than last, and I know that time will heal our wounds. But it really is a staggering loss for us as a whole as well as for each of us individually. D was always so nice to me - most recently he had spent hours talking with me and giving me suggestions for my trip to Australia a few months ago. He loved it there and was so excited to share his stories and travel ideas. His generosity, humor, and humility will be missed.

I've also been busy knitting for Christmas gifts. I already have several completed, and with some work, I should be able to finish my list this year on time. I am working on a February Lady Sweater as well as several pairs of Fetching. I also need to do two pairs of Knucks (neither pair will be embroidered) and a simple hat of some sort. Most of those projects move pretty quick, so as long as I stay focused, I am hopeful. I will still be buying a few presents this year, but I really like the idea of being able to give so many handmade items.

Oh, I also ended up spending quite a bit of time over the past few weeks on another hobby I don't normally indulge in - reading. I finally got around to reading the Twilight Series. Can you say obsessed? I read all four books in less than a week! Loved the story, can't wait for the movie release later this month. Hopefully it will live up to expectations. And even if not, I think it will be fun!

Kendra and I are heading out of town tomorrow to visit my cousin's family. I feel like I desperately need to get out of town - I'm really looking forward to spending time with them! And I'm glad that Kendra will be driving, more time for me to knit.

FO: Knucks

2008-10-02T11:18:00.002-05:00

I had been watching the news pretty closely prior to Hurricane Ike roaring through the area, and for some reason I just knew that this one was going to hit us - we have just had too many come close recently to miss this one too. So, like any good knitter, I started thinking about what project I could start that could easily be my hurricane knitting. I chose Knucks - I've had the yarn in my stash for quite awhile, and had an idea to spice them up a little (this is my first project using fair isle), plus I have previously knitted this pattern, so I figured I could do it with less-than-stellar attention being paid to it. Here are the details:

Pattern: Knucks by Pamela Grossman
Yarn: a little less than 1 skein of Rowan Wool Cotton in Ship Shape, plus several yards of Debbie Bliss Cathay in Gold
Needles: Size 5 (3.75mm) DPNs
Date Started: September 7, 2008
Date Finished: September 16, 2008
Ravelry Link

I started knitting the fingers a couple days before Ike hit and then got the hands down to the colorwork portion done before we lost power on that Friday night. I ended up working the gloves in tandem - I would do a portion on one hand and then switch to the other - to ensure that I did everything evenly. This method seemed to work well, and if I make Knucks again, I plan to do them this way. I had to wait to get power back before picking a chart for the colorwork detail, but then finished these up that night. It took me awhile, but I decided on a wave chart found over at Knit Like a Pirate. It just seemed fitting. In hindsight, I probably should have reversed the chart on one hand so that the waves were mirror images, but oh well. I do love these two colors together!

I really lucked out during the hurricane - even though I lost power for several days, it was not nearly as bad as it could have been. And although I had quite a bit of leaves and twigs to rake from my yard, my house escaped more serious damage. My chimney cap did fly off during the storm, but I found it in my side yard, and I think I will be able to bend it back in shape rather than buying a new one (it is that rusty background in my pictures). Just for kicks, I've also included a picture of the sunset before the storm - there were all sorts of crazy colors going on!

I will have another FO post in the coming days - a lacy cowl that went so fast that I didn't even have time to take WIP pictures!

FO: Montego Bay (Again)

2008-09-29T14:31:00.005-05:00

I keep getting behind in blogging for some reason...probably cause I'm too busy actually knitting! I managed to finish up another couple of projects, and I'm about thisclose on a third (I'll get to those later!). For now, here's my second Montego Bay scarf...

Pattern: Montego Bay by Amy R. Singer
Yarn: about 3.5 skeins of Berroco Softwist in Blue Moon (discontinued color, I believe)
Needles: Size 10 circulars from my Options set
Date Started: August 8, 2008
Date Finished: September 6, 2008
Ravelry Link

This was my Ravelympics project, which sadly did not get completed by the closing ceremonies. I started on Friday night at the hospital while Kendra was in the beginning stages of labor with Amanda. (That is a much slower process that I thought it would be, by the way!) Anyway, I managed to knit up all the yarn I had brought with me before going home for the night. The next day at the hospital was a little too hectic for me to knit that much, and then I spent the next week spending a lot of my free time with Amanda or Kendra. Oh, well, that's how it goes... I am putting this in my stash of Christmas gifts for the upcoming holiday season, so at least I beat the most important deadline. I learned my lesson last year, and so far, I've done a better job of getting Christmas presents finished in advance. I'm sure I will still have a few stragglers, but hey, it's progress!

I'm sorta getting tired of using this yarn (I made Granny's Clapotis out of it last year), but I'm trying to be good and knit from the stash. I had originally planned to use it for a sweater, but then changed my mind. I saw it for a good price at Elann.com and just bought it up without putting much thought into it. Luckily, it does tend to work well for scarves and wraps - it has a nice drape once it's been washed and lightly steam-blocked - even though it is a little splitty. I will probably use this yarn again for a lacy cowl or some other quick Christmas gift, so you'll probably see it again before too long.

I'll hopefully add another picture of it soon, too, now that it has been blocked. Next up - Knucks!!

You Know What's Not Fun?

2008-09-15T12:14:00.002-05:00

Finding a big dead possum in your hurricane debris. Yuck!

But seriously, Ike did little damage to my home, mainly branches in the yard, so I am thankful. Still without power, but I have several friends with it, so that isn't too bad either. And this cold front has definitely helped.

My thoughts are with everyone else dealing with the aftermath, especially those who lost their homes entirely.

FO: Moderne Baby Blanket

2008-09-05T13:38:00.003-05:00

Back in June, I told you about the blanket I was making for my yet-to-be-born niece. Well, the baby arrived back on August 9th, and even though I didn't finish in time for the birth as I had predicted I would, I did finish within a couple of weeks of little Amanda's debut. I love how the blanket turned out, let me share it with you!

Pattern: Moderne Baby Blanket (pdf) by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne, from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Peru Naturtex Partners Pakucho Organic Cotton, approximately 15 skeins in four colors - Cream, Forest, Sage, and Chocolate (purchased through Elann, though I couldn't find a link to it there)
Needles: Size 7 Circulars from my Options set
Date Started: March 29, 2008
Date Finished: August 23, 2008
Ravelry Link

When I first decided to make this blanket, Kendra and I had been talking about the yarn and she mentioned how much she liked it. I thought it would be perfect for the Moderne Baby Blanket, so I devised my plan to purchase enough yarn to make it. I didn't want Kendra to know what I had planned, so I told her that I would be putting in an order to Elann to buy enough yarn for the Voyager Lace Stole (which I do actually plan to make sometime). She said yes, that she was thinking of doing the Moderne Baby Blanket using four colors. Well, crap! Luckily, she decided on a couple of different projects instead, so my original plan could move forward - and at least I knew that I was definitely on the right track for the perfect baby gift!

I really thought I'd be able to finish on time - I had planned to do one section per week, even giving myself a little longer than that for the larger sections - however, the best laid plans often fail. There were some weeks that I wasn't able to work on it at all and then I was on vacation for a big chunk of time when the blanket just sat there. I worked more diligently on it after returning back home, and what do you know it, slow and steady wins the race!

The border really pulled the whole blanket together - I kept thinking that it didn't look quite finished, but I quickly changed my mind after seeing the completed border. I didn't make any modifications to the pattern, save one - I didn't knit as many rows in the second-to-last section as called for in the pattern.

The yarn was a little splitty, but really soft and squishy, so the splittiness was easy enough to overlook. I was a little disappointed at how much it pilled after washing, but I gave the whole blanket a good shave, so hopefully that will do the trick. The colors are beautiful together, and classic enough that I hope this blanket will grow with Amanda as she grows up.

The finishing touch was the hand-embroidered label with Amanda's name. Nearly two years ago I noticed this FO by Bente B and just absolutely adored the handmade tags. Lucky for me, she posted some basic instructions that I used in constructing my label. I embroidered a little border, plus Amanda's full name (Amanda Dylan), a couple of little hearts, and then my initials and the year in the corner. I just love how it turned out, and I will probably do something like this for other projects in the future.

Anyway, I hope Amanda will love the blanket as much as I loved making it for her. She is the first grandchild for both our parents and Kendra's in-laws, and the first niece to several new aunts - so as you can imagine, she definitely has plenty of admirers! It really is amazing how you can love someone so much without really knowing who they are yet. Although I don't want her to grow up too fast, I am excited to see who she becomes! And hopefully this blanket will be there for her as she grows!

FO: Montego Bay

2008-09-04T15:39:00.003-05:00

Way back at the end of April, I had posted about the Montego Bay scarf I was knitting. I finally finished it and gifted it to a work colleague. Here's the specifics:

Pattern: Montego Bay by Amy R. Singer
Yarn: about 3.5 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cathay in Gold
Needles: Size 10 circulars from my Options set
Date Started: April 17, 2008
Date Finished: August 2, 2008
Ravelry Link

There is no reason why this project should have taken me so long, although I did only work on it while in the car or at the switchboard while at work. And I didn't really have a plan for it until close to the end - I finally decided that it would be the perfect birthday present for my boss. She is very tan so I thought the color would look good on her, and she is more likely to get use out of it than me. I think she liked it, and I hope she will be able to use it.

The Cathay produced a lovely fabric, though it was a little splitty when working with it. The pattern is easy-peasy once you get the hang of it - I finally figured out how to "read" the knitting, so I didn't even have to remember where I left off or what row was next. I liked the pattern well enough that I'm even making a second one using some leftover Berroco Softwist to gift around Christmas time (which will be here before we know it!).

It seems that my Options needles are the only needles I ever really use anymore - I am really glad I made the investment to buy more tips and cables to go with the set Kendra gave me last year for Christmas. I did have a cable break on me once, but Knit Picks was quick to send a replacement with no questions asked - can't ask for better service than that!

Australia: Sydney, New South Wales

2008-09-03T15:16:00.002-05:00

The last leg of our vacation was Sydney. We made it to the Sydney Hilton and were upgraded to the Spa Suite, which was very welcomed after having roughed it in the Red Center. It was a really nice room, well rooms, actually - we had a living/dining room area, guest bathroom, spa bathroom, and then the bedroom. The views were fantastic. We decided to head down to the Executive Lounge and we just had snacks and drinks from there for dinner.

We got up sorta early the next morning and decided to take a ferry tour and make a stop at the Taronga Zoo. I thought the zoo was very enjoyable - lots of animals that we don't see all the time in American zoos, and it seemed like they had a lot more primates than I normally see all in one place. Lots of gorillas and chimpanzees. And the giraffes have the best view in the whole place!

We did leave some stops without visiting, like Luna Park - maybe next time! I had also hoped to make our way over to Chinatown, but that didn't happen either.

We did have a nice dinner at the Meat and Wine Company. It was right up Karen's alley!

On our last day in Sydney, we visited the Museum of Contemporary Arts, which I thoroughly enjoyed - I don't get to museums nearly as often as I would like. We also walked through an outdoor market and through the Royal Botanic Gardens. I was amazed at the bats - they wrap themselves up just like you would think Dracula would. I made a stop at the Wishing Tree and made a few wishes - it is yet to be seen if all of them have come true yet or not. After that, we decided that we had had enough of the touristy stuff - we were tired of walking around. We made our way back to the hotel and lounged for the rest of the afternoon and packed and basically just chilled.

Our flight home was delayed by several hours, which unfortunately caused us to miss our connecting flights in LA. I had to make a mad dash to the ticket counter and managed to get standby on the next flight out. I rushed through security and made it to the gate just in time to board. I was completely exhausted and relieved to get a seat on that flight! My parents picked me up at the airport and we went and grabbed TexMex for dinner.

Overall, it was an absolutely amazing trip, and I do truly hope to make it back to that part of the world in the future. I know there is still lots there that I want to see and do and experience. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to go - and it is hard to believe that it was only a couple of months ago - it already feels like ages ago.

To see more pictures from the trip, check out my Flickr page! And click here to check out all my posts on Australia and New Zealand.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...I have a few knitting projects to share, so those will be coming up soon!

Australia: Camping in the Red Center

2008-08-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

After leaving Cairns, Karen and I hopped on a plane to Ayers Rock Airport. We were meeting up with our Great Adventures tour group to go camping and to explore Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon over the next few days.

We had a few hours to spare between landing and meeting the group, so we wandered around the Desert Gardens hotel and over to the common area of the resort. I finally got the chance to mail some postcards back home. The resorts were quite nice - it would be a pretty relaxing vacation, and it seemed like lots of families were enjoying the amenities. The weather was much cooler than it was in Cairns as we moved out of the sub-tropical climate zone. I was actually glad for the change.

Our bus finally came and picked us up, along with two other campers, Hank and Naomi. The other 15 or so were back at our night's campsite - they had been picked up in Alice Springs and were having lunch at the campsite while our tour guide (Andy) picked us up at the resort. It actually made it a little awkward for the four of us - it seemed like the rest of the group had already bonded earlier that day and picked their places on the bus, etc. I sorta felt like an intruder when the whole group boarded the bus for Kata Tjuta. Oh, well, I was a little disappointed but just glad to be somewhere different and eager to see the sights.

Our first destination was Kata Tjuta. We did a hike into the Olga Gorge. The colors of the rock were just amazing - everything was so red, especially against the blue sky. The rock formations were really incredible - it was really hard to believe that all of this was just basically out there in the middle of nowhere. I did feel a little rushed through this walk (which was a common feeling throughout the camping trip) as we were in a hurry to make it to the Uluru sunset viewing area. Sunset was spectacular - definitely one of the most amazing ones I've ever seen. We had some snacks and champagne as well, so it was really a good start to our trip.

We made it back to the campsite and helped prepare a dinner of steaks with potato mash and cucumber salad. It definitely wasn't gourmet, but you wouldn't have known with how quickly it was all gobbled up. We then sat around the campfire watching stars and playing some campfire games. I still didn't feel like the whole group had "gelled" by that point. Karen and I picked out our swags and staked a spot between the campfire and our tent and got ready to sleep under the stars. It was the best nighttime sky I have ever seen - zillions of stars that were everywhere, all the way down to the horizon. It was also very cold, in fact, the temperature dropped down to 1 degree celsius (so about 33.8 degrees farenheit - just above freezing!). I'm glad we had the chance to sleep outside, but holey moley, that is cold!!

The next day we got up really early for our sunrise hike around the base of Uluru. It was freezing! And stunningly beautiful - the rock changed from dayglo oranges and reds in the sunlight to dark reds and browns in the shadows. I kept thinking about all of the events that have taken place at this rock, and how stunned early explorers must have been at coming upon it. It's just a huge rock sitting in the middle of the desert. Absolutely amazing. We did see some people climbing the rock, though none in our group chose to do so, which made me happy. Seemed disrespectful of such a meaningful place.

We headed back to camp to pack up and eat lunch and then we were on the road to our Kings Canyon campsite. Upon getting there, Karen and I climbed up a small cliff to find a scenic overlook and came upon some dingo tracks. It was getting dark, so we headed back to camp to take showers and to crack open a bottle of wine to enjoy around the campfire. Unfortunately, by hurrying back to camp, we missed some excitement - some of our group saw a UFO!! I saw the pictures, and I really do think it was a UFO. Anything is possible in Australia... Anyway, our dinner that night was really good (a couple of types of chicken cooked in dutch ovens by the fire) and everyone really seemed to be getting along well. We even made damper, or bread, cooked on sticks over the open flame and smores. The sky was absoutely amazing again that night, and we saw several shooting stars and even a satellite. We did sleep in tents that night, mainly because of the dingo tracks we had seen earlier. I was a little sad that our last day together would be the next day.

Our third day of the camping trip got off to another early start. We made it to Kings Canyon just after sunrise. This was billed as the "Kings Canyon Walk", however, it was definitely not a walk. It was a climb to the top of the canyon and then a hike around it. A little more strenuous than I expected, but just amazing. I believe Karen decided to fire her trainer during the climb to the top, as her workout regime leading up to the trip did nothing to prepare her at all for that part of the "walk." Apparently several people have had heart attacks upon reaching the top, which did nothing to make me feel better. It was worth the effort though, and there was lots to see once we got up there.

After finishing that, we got on the road again to Alice Springs, where we checked into the Aurora Hotel. Karen and I desperately needed to do laundry, which worked out well as the washing facilities were across from our room. We met a few guys from Adelaide on the back patio and talked to them for awhile before getting ready to head to Bojangles for dinner and drinks with some of the people from the camping group. I hope that my path will cross again with some of them - everyone was really nice and it was a really good experience. The next morning in Alice Springs, Karen and I got breakfast and shopped a little, and I even picked out a piece of Aboriginal artwork as my main souvenir for the trip. I hope it will be something that I can enjoy for years to come.

A few more thoughts about our camping trip if for some reason you are ever looking into it - The group we chose was not our first choice. I was worried going into it that the groups were going to be on the large size, and I was pretty much right. We traveled on a small bus that was almost filled to capacity. I think in total we had about 21 people. I had really hoped there would be about 15. I did feel that some of our stops were rushed, but I think that was partly because we were there during the time of the year when the days are shorter. Our main tour guide was really nice and friendly and all that, but he was still in training. I didn't learn as much as I think I could have with a more experienced guide. The food was decent, but not great, but that might just be my palate. Everyone else seemed to be a little less picky than I was. We did seem to run out of some things, which made me think we did not get adequate supplies for the number of people we had on the trip. I was not really happy with the way the guides integrated the people who were picked up in Alice Springs with the people (like us) who joined the group at Ayers Rock. I'm not sure if things would have been much different had we gotten our first choice of tour company (Wayoutback Desert Safaris) or not. Despite all of the sorta negative thoughts I had about the trip, overall it was an amazing adventure and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have absolutely no regrets about picking the trip we did - it was a once in a lifetime experience.

Anyway, I'll be back again to wrap up the final leg of our trip - Sydney - in the next few days. I'm ready to get through with all of these vacation posts so I can get back to my normally scheduled programming of knitting...

Australia: Cairns, Queensland

2008-08-21T14:38:00.002-05:00

I've been remiss in posting about the rest of my recent vacation to Australia and New Zealand, so here's the second installment...

Karen and I landed in Cairns and checked into the Hilton, which left a lot to be desired. Even though it was the Hilton, it really wasn't as nice as most Hiltons we've stayed in before. Oh, well, the location was alright and our view was pretty. On our first night in Cairns, we walked around town and ended up at a Mexican restaurant, Buckin' Mex. There was a definite spring-break feel to the whole town. We didn't do much else that night as we were pretty tired from traveling all day and we had to get up sorta early the next morning.

On our first full day in Cairns, we took the Scenic Railway to Kuranda and then the Skyrail back down to Cairns. We had arranged this day trip through a tourist service, however, looking back, it wasn't really necessary. We could have easily done this trip on our own - and if I ever make it back there, that is probably how I would do it. The scenic railway went a lot slower than I thought it would, but was enjoyable. We stopped to take pictures at Barron Falls and then continued up to Kuranda. The Falls were neat, though not as spectacular as they would have been in the wet season. In Kuranda, we didn't really do a whole lot - window shopped, ate lunch, and went to an animal park. Our main goal while we were there was to hold a koala bear, which we did, so it was a successful day.

We had arranged for another day trip for the second day, this time to go to Cape Tribulation and into the Daintree Rainforest. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who will be in the area - it was through Billy Tea Bush Safaris. Our guide, Matthew, was very knowledgeable of the area and the tour was really interesting. I would probably rank it as my favorite day trip of the entire vacation. We drove on the Bloomfield Track (a pretty popular 4-wheel driving road) to Emmagen Creek and through the rainforest. We learned about plant and animal life, including cassowaries (too bad we didn't get to see one!), and they provided a pretty decent lunch and the chance to feed a couple of kangaroos. We also went on a river cruise and saw some crocodiles in the wild as well as lots of birds and a few snakes. The beach at Cape Tribulation was absolutely beautiful - all in all, it was just a great day.

Our third and final day trip out of Cairns was to the Great Barrier Reef. What can I say? It was just fabulous. We got up early and made our way to the boat. We met a girl named Brandy from Canada and chatted with her most of the day. The ride out to the reef took about an hour and a half and then we all donned our wetsuits and got in. The reef is really quite close to the surface, so snorkeling worked out really well - we were able to see enough without going to the trouble and expense of scuba diving. It was so beautiful - there really aren't words to describe it. As the tide started moving out, bits of the reef would start breaking the surface of the water. It was hard for me to believe that the effects of tide could be seen that far from shore. We had to be careful not to get into a section of coral that was to close to the surface to avoid being trapped when the water levels fell. Lunch was provided on the boat, as well as ginger pills and hot tea, of which both Karen and I needed copious amounts. It was quite cold sitting up on deck, but impossible for us (due to seasickness) to sit below deck. Aah, good times. At least we weren't as bad as the couple of guys vomiting for half of the trip (though on the way back into Cairns a large group of us just all sat around a table trying not to hurl).

Our last two days in Cairns really weren't very exciting. We did make a couple of visits to the casino - unfortunately neither of us struck it rich. We also did a lot of walking around town and lounging by the pool. It would have been nice to make it to a beach, but we were really too lazy to go to the trouble of finding one. Our whole trip was pretty active, so in retrospect, it was probably good that we had a couple of do-nothing days.

If and when I make it back to that part of the world, I think I would probably go ahead and try to stay in Port Douglas rather than Cairns. Most of the trips we did could also be done out of Port Douglas, and it seems that beaches and such are a lot more accessible from there too. A friend of mine tried to convince me that we stay there before we left on our trip, but it is hard to turn down free hotel accommodations (Karen had earned enough Hilton Reward Points to pay for our hotels throughout the trip), so we ended up in Cairns. Leaves me something to do next time!

I'll be back (sooner than last time, hopefully!!) for the last two stops of our trip.

Auckland, New Zealand

2008-07-29T15:56:00.006-05:00

Well, I'm finally getting around to wrapping up my recent trip across the world...

Karen and I met in Los Angeles to fly together to Auckland, New Zealand toward the end of June. As luck would have it, my plane landed in the midst of an airport workers' strike at LAX. I ended up pretty much following them through several terminals before making it to the correct Qantas counter. Excitement!

We made it to a rainy and gloomy Auckland around 5:00 am on a Saturday morning. We luckily were able to check into our room right away, so we took naps and woke up around 10:00 to start our first adventure - a ferry ride to Waiheke Island. The rain had stopped, too, which was good news. We met a nice fellow on the ferry who recommended the Lazy Lounge to us, so we went there for lunch before hitting a couple of wineries. I had a delicious Thai Chicken salad and Karen tried the nachos. While making our way to Cable Bay Vineyards, some rain clouds passed over us and we got completely soaked! Knowing there was wine at the end of our trek kept us going (ha!). We did the wine tasting of about 7 different wines and then decided it was time for a snack. We sat in the bar and ordered a cheese plate as well as an order (or two!) of warm bread and enjoyed another bottle of wine (plus the view and the fire, of course). Deciding that we had to try at least one other vineyard, we left and walked over to Mudbrick. We tried about 7 more wines there, and then decided to stay for dinner. I had a fillet, and Karen had salmon if I remember correctly. After dinner, we rushed back to the ferry and headed back to Auckland proper.

Both Mudbrick and Cable Bay had lovely wines, but I definitely preferred the view and the feeling of Cable Bay. I honestly could have stayed there all day! If I were ever to make it back to Auckland and Waiheke (and hopefully I will), I would definitely try to stay overnight on the island and visit more of the wineries. It was a lovely place, and Karen and I really enjoyed ourselves. We crashed that night as we had to get up really early the next day for.... .

Blackwater rafting!! Karen rented a car so we got up super early on Sunday and got on the road for Waitomo. Luckily, we made it there without incident - though it was definitely strange to be sitting on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road. And what is the deal with roundabouts? But anyway, I digress...we found the Legendary Black Water Rafting Co. and waited for the rest of our group. We signed up for the Black Abyss Tour, so we got to abseil, zipline, tube, float, and climb as part of our tour. And all while wearing super-cute wetsuits (not!). I had never worn a wetsuit before, but let me tell you, they are quite cumbersome. Well, at least this one was. We drove up to the cave entrance and practiced our newly-gained abseiling skills. I was a little nervous, but the 100 or 110-foot drop into the cave went pretty smoothly. From there, we ziplined further into the cave - what a blast! I would quickly agree to another zipline adventure. It was so much fun! We then stopped to have a snack and some hot tea - who would have thought we'd be snacking in a cave? Next came tubing, which was actually my least favorite part. I fell out of my tube for one. Then, once I finally got situated, it was really quite uncomfortable trying to hold my head up because of the helmet I was wearing. We then took a few minutes to admire the glowworms - really neat, but also a little icky! We then floated in our wetsuits through a large section of the cave. The water was pretty high as I had to crook my head to the side to go through one part to avoid being completely under water. Our guides gave us a choice to go an easy way out or a harder way out. I knew that I would have to take the easy way - I was already pretty exhausted and feeling weighed down by my wetsuit. So, we ended up climbing up a waterfall to get back to the surface. After getting back to tour company's building, we had some yummy bagels with butter and tomato soup. I have to say that was the best bagel I've ever had after being down in that cold water for so long.

Our last day in Auckland was pretty tame - we just walked around the city and shopped for the most part. We did also go up in the Sky Tower and made it to the Victoria Park Market. It was yet another early night since we had to get up early (again!) the next day to make it to the airport for our flight to Cairns.

New Zealand was absolutely beautiful, despite the rain and chilly weather while we were there. I hope to make it back there to explore more of the country at some point in the future. The people were also very friendly, which is so welcome when you are traveling away from your home and friends.

I'll be back later this week to wrap up some more of our adventures from our time in Australia.