I feel pretty, Oh so pretty

So I saw that Kim at Yarn Abuse did this face recognition thing, and I had to find out. I will admit that I totally stacked the deck, here. The first pic's list included some beautiful asian women as well as Daniel Radcliffe...? and the second one started strong with Melinda Clarke but followed up with the likes of Rowan Atkinson and Michael Keaton... (surely, My Heritage, you're not trying to tell me that Melinda Clarke would get Rowan Atkinson in her list?) but this one was perfect. I mean, Natalie Wood? Even Christian Slater is a total plus, in my books.

In other news, I finished the fronts of Ribby Cardi, am as far into the sleeves as I was into the fronts, last post (I would post a pic, but it would look exactly the same, only slightly lighter blue) and I've made a kimono for my HLM today, and done some mending, made a pillowcase... all in all a good day. More photos to come.

Progress

Well, as expected, things have slowed down somewhat, but not to a standstill -- I have several inches done on the fronts of Ribby Cardi. I'm doing both fronts at the same time, on the theory that it will be easier that way to make them match without having to think too much about it. I will most likely do both sleeves at the same time, as well. The colour in the photo is so off, despite my attempts to make it more accurate -- it is more of a periwinklish blue, and not so bright and garish. Trust me, it'll be great.

Bits and bobs

After I had laid Thermal out to block last week, I picked up some leftover wool I had sitting around and started a cute little 2x2 rib stripey scarf. I finished it Monday night. I love the colour combination -- a cool grey-green with a light icy lime. I had one full ball of the lime and two partial balls of the other. Worked perfectly. You can see below it another scarf -- garter stitch in red wool -- which I had from frogging a vest a while back. The scarves are part of my charity knitting plans this year. Rather than panicking during my holiday knitting and struggling to get something made for the local Knit for Charity program, I have decided to make a little project (i.e. scarf, hat, mittens) out of leftover stash bits between every major project I finish. This will kill three birds with one stone (not that I'm really into killing birds, mind you):

1. I will have lots of charity knits done, and won't have to rush during the holidays.
2. I will use lots of leftover stash yarn, which I am otherwise incapable of parting with.
3. I will get the instant gratification of doing many small projects, which will keep me motivated to work on the bigger ones.

See? Brilliant.


Next, we have the fabric I got for laundry bags. I'm modifying the pattern in Amy Butler's In Stitches. By "modifying" I mean that I am too lazy to make it as fancy as she does, and too cheap to buy the Timtex for a project of this sort. So they will be a mere shadow of what they could be. But they will be easier and cheaper, and they will do the job. I know a picture of the fabric isn't very interesting (that's the wrong sides, btw) but I thought if I blog it, maybe I will be more motivated to finish them. Whether that will work, remains to be seen.


Then we have the completed back of Ribby Cardi. Yes, it's true. I cast it on yesterday morning and finished it this afternoon. Wow, is it ever different knitting worsted weight after the fingering-weight Thermal. This thing is flying off the needles. Mind you, I've just had two days off work. Now I have to go back, which will invariably slow my knitting down. (Damn work.) It is out of Elann's Peruvian Highland Wool, which I've had for (literally) years. When I rediscovered knitting a couple of years ago, this is one of the first things I ordered yarn for. Then I got distracted. A lot distracted. Two years distracted. Having rededicated myself to stashbusting, I dug it out. And I'm still digging it. The body will be in a bright blue; the sleeves (and collar?) in a lighter blue. I am making a 40/41 size, which is several inches of negative ease, but so far I am really convinced it is the right size for me. Nothing worse than a big old boxy cardi that doesn't show a girl's curves, right? Right now I'm thinking of a cherry red zipper that really pops... what do you think?

Lastly, here is a little pic of a pincushion I "made" a while ago. It's an adorable teacup I got from a friend, which I put a little pillow into. So cute. The fabric is the sweetest pink with little coffee cups and cursive "Coffee" all over it. Me, to a T. I love how it looks like a cupcake with sprinkles. It is the sort of project that takes no effort but gives so much reward -- perfect.

C'est finis

Okay, so it took me a couple of days to get around to a photo shoot, but here is the big reveal -- Thermal in all her glory.

I actually knit a size that would give me a couple of inches of negative ease, but after blocking, you couldn't really tell. It still has a ton of stretch and could actually fit someone even bigger than myself. So so comfortable and also nice and warm. I won't point out all of the little flaws I see in mine, but I will say that the squareness of the sleeve caps puzzled me a bit. If I did it again, I would probably round them out a bit more, so they don't sit so awkwardly in the armscye. Other than that, I really loved this knit -- all the little details (like the short rows before the shoulder seams, to give them a nice angle) and the soft gorgeous yarn (I used the recommended Knit Picks Gloss in Serengeti, a colour which is a bit outside my norm, but I am really learning to love. It is more of a toffee colour than the sandy colour the name implies. I have about a skein and a half leftover -- any ideas?)

The buttons are adorable little wooden leaves... I ask my HLM for opinions on most aesthetic issues (though I don't always go with his suggestions) and he felt they were a bit "obvious." I spent the last week or so contemplating some nice teal ones, or darker brown, or plum, but in the end I gravitated toward the leaves. They felt right.

Overall, I love this -- the fit of it, the feel of it, the sense of accomplishment. It will be much worn and cherished.

I will show another little FO soon, as well as the new WIP -- a Ribby Cardi for which I have had the yarn in my stash for years... onward with the stashbusting!

So Close

Well, as you can see, Thermal took a bath. She's now blocking in various places around the little one-bedroom apartment we live in. I must admit to being a bit worried about how big she was, straight out of her bath -- I am trying to trust in the wisdom of my initial swatches.

When she is dried completely I will do the last little bit -- weaving in some ends, knitting the button placket and ribbed collar, and sewing in the sleeves. Oh, the anticipation. I also have three different kinds of buttons to choose from, which is always an agonizing decision.

In other news, my trip to the fabric store was pretty successful. I got lots of fabric to make a handful of laundry bags (in part of my ongoing and somewhat successful attempt at organization) and also some adorable gingham for a springtime purse. What can I say -- anything to get me through the winter. I put the skirts on the back burner for now, in an attempt to come home with less than, like, 20 pounds of fabric. Oy.

stalling for time

In lieu of a new photo of something I myself have done, I have to show you these -- one of the most gorgeous and inspirational ideas I've seen in yonks. (I found these at Sewl Sista, who is actually attempting one, herself.) I covet one. A pretty pretty princess-seamed one in a luxurious upholstery fabric. I've been thinking of a duct tape dress form for a while now, but I have to say that these totally trump them.

Yes, I know I have a hundred things to finish first.

I am even closer to finishing Thermal, but the queue is a long one, for which I will likely take an extended trip to the fabric store tomorrow, with about five different projects in mind -- a purse, a quilt, some laundry bags, a skirt or two... (but more about that another time.)

FO and WIP

I used Knitty's Three Tams pattern to make this lovely specimen. I actually used needles larger than called for, in a deliberate attempt to get a larger gauge and therefore a larger tam. I needed a hat for the winter that could accomodate my long and heavy dreadlocks, and thought that this tam would be a pretty way to do it. I used Noro Kureyon for the variegated yarn and a nice deep violet Cascade 220 for the background. The colours are slightly brighter than the photo would imply.

My current WIP is Thermal -- something few have attempted and fewer have completed. To be honest, I really enjoy knitting it. There's something so satisfying about knits at a small gauge, and the waffle knit pattern is just enough to keep things interesting. I am currently working on the second sleeve, so the end is definitely in sight. I will admit to trying the body on when I finished it, but anyone who has obsessively searched this FO out on the web (as I have) knows that it doesn't do anyone justice until it has been properly blocked. I do have a lot of hope for how it will turn out, but only time (and blocking) will tell.


btw, I must apologize for my somewhat blurry photos... I am still working on being steadier with my camera. Practice makes perfect...

A Christening

Full
Originally uploaded by rstovin

Well I am totally new to this world of blogging, but I finally got a sweet little digital camera and I wanted a way to chronicle my many projects and musings, so here I am. As I am starting from scratch, I can't promise that things will go smoothly, but I tend to learn quickly, so one can only hope.

I will try to post some pictures of previously finished projects over the next little while, but here is one I finished a while ago (November '07 maybe?) It's Amy Butler's Weekender Bag, which has been all over the web lately. I did mine in a sweet little print from Alexander Henry, called Flora de los Muertos (am I the only one totally into Day of the Dead stuff?) The trim is in a cheap little cotton print I bought at my local Fabricland. I love this bag to pieces.