Mini Punk Rock Gift Exchange

My pal kicked ass. Look at that pretty Debbie Bliss! Yummy!!!



Yes, they are bunny stitch markers. I squealed when I opened them....UBER CUTE!! I think I like bunnies WAY too much. Thank you so much Stephanie, you were a pleasure to spoil and get to know.

Very grey.

This is grey on grey. Stupid work carpet. I would have taken a more cheery photo, but well, I'm at work. This is at cheery as it gets around here. Now my office mate (who is a graphic designer) fully knows I'm a bit crazy. As if this was the first sign! *rolls eyes*

Moving right along

So after week 1 of knitting this sweater, I'm still liking it. Oh, and it knits up fast. I'm really suprised. I think I'm around half way done, but I'm not really good at guestimating. I'm into the waist ribbing. I love this damn yarn too. It is so yummy!

I have no idea how it is going to turn out, since I'm sort of doing my own thing with it, but I think it will be okay. At least I still like the colour.

Getting ready to hopefully send out my PRGE package soon. I have a skull to make for a client so that means I'll HAVE to go to the post office. And there was something I was supposed to pick up at the mall for DH (the post office is in the mall) but now I can't remember what it is. Hrm. Makes me think I should email everything to my phone at times like this! I know it probably isn't yarn ;)

Binary

I finally finished the Binary scarf. I did it in Caron Simply Soft because it was going to a guy (my husband) and we have issues finding yarn one of us isn't allergic or sensitive to. Plus, this thing will withstand the slush and dirt that comes with winter... I can pop it in the washer. Nothing like a thick warm scarf for July!



Hey look! There are flower things growing in my front "garden"! Cool!



We also have a bush and an old weathered bench. Exciting.

Math is hard.

Okay, it is 7am and I'm not awake. Can we go over some math? I'm not getting gauge in this cotton, and I washed and dried the swatch.

I don't want to go below a size 6 needle. I'm getting 4.5" per 18 sts in width, but my row count is on (which is great, means it shrunk up .25 and grew .25 inches).

So if I made the 32" bust, that is 8 4" sections. Add the extra .5 8 times (4") and I should get a 36" bust.

Right?

Also, when I'm measuring in length remember to add .25 for shrinkage (or pull it out of the dryer before it fully drys, haha).

That math makes sense right? I'd love to actually wear this, I love the yarn! I guess I'll cast on in the next few days. I'll post photos of the binary scarf when I get to work, I need some breakfast!

Finished

I finished the binary scarf, but forgot to take a photo this morning. Doh! Oh well. I started a swatch for the cardigan, but it looks like I have to go down a needle size. And damn, this cotton is amazing! Yum!



I can't get the damn colour right!

Ruffle Stole

I'm never afraid to post a crappy photo when it has knitting in it. Don't mind me, trying to smile as I have throbbing shooting pains going up and down my neck and shoulder. I got a really bad kink/pull when I was sitting down. Yes, I got injured sitting down.



The Ruffle Stole from Lionbrand.com. Made with probably 1 skein of Cherry Tree Hill Zebra Caribe. Just an fyi, this stuff bleeds. Wow, my once cool skull towel is now kind of ruined. Oh well. It only took a few days. It biased on the ends, but it is kind of cool that way. Silly cotton.

Now I'm 95% done with my binary scarf too. Yes, I'm going back to one project at a time, I can't take the distractions!

I'm so proud!

So last night I DID go home and rip out the damn Cherry Tree Hill. It was craptastic going and I lost some yarn out of frustration as it is wound really loose. Anyway, it was also hard going as I got my yummy Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton in the mail and some Rowan DK Cotton in a pretty pretty spruce green colour.

But I had already resolved myself to use the damn CTH. So I surfed around a bit and found the very very easy "Ruffle Stole" on the LB website. Basic lace with a ruffle on each end. So I cast on for that and started it last night. I have 18" out of 64" done from watching TV. This will be a nice quick knit as well. Since it is cotton I'm really hoping it will block out nice and big! I'm liking it so much better, and it is mindless enough for watching TV.

That Damn Blue Sky Alpaca is really really nice. The perfect colour too. I can't wait to start on that, and now I'm itching to start on the Central Park Hoodie. This is a new itch, as I didn't fall in love with it when I first saw it since I was already planning on making Rogue. This is way easier, and still has a great finished result. Not that I pick projects because of how easy they are...but it is motivation for me lately. Maybe I'll get some of that Charcoal Cotton Ease for it. Hrm. I do love Cotton Ease and I haven't gotten any of the "new" stuff yet. I have no idea how much I need. Then again, my Something "Red" will be grey...hrm. I'll have to think about it. It won't be in Alpaca, way too warm.

I can't do it.

I can't bring myself to knit anything on that damn binary scarf. I played The Sims instead. So I'm going to rip out my Cherry Tree Hill Wrap when I get home. Yes, it is almost done, that completely sucks. However, it is way too wide and doesn't have enough height, and I just don't like it. It hasn't told me what it wants to be, but I have a feeling it will be a plain bulky scarf just to get it out of the way. The colours are just too "crazy" and variegated (for someone who knits in all black) to show up pattern, so it might be a moot point to try.

I mean, it is pretty yarn and all, but this is what happens when I buy yarn without a project in mind. Oh well. I can't believe I'm almost done this project too...what a bitch to rewind all that yarn!! It barely fit on my ball winder the first time. Ugh.

I've worn my Clapotis around the office for 2 days now, and I have to say I LOVE it. Wow. It rocks. If I ever made a pattern again it would be this one. However, I'm still reminded of how dull it is, so that won't be in the near future at all.

Clapotis

Here is the finished Clapotis. Taken by Ben in pretty much the dark. Grr. However, out of the million self portraits I took, this one lightened up was the best of the bunch. So sad. Anyway, it is made out of 100% prime alpaca. I had no pattern problems, but removed one width increase. It turned out to be quite long, which is good and a great width. I blocked it because the ends were bugging me. Now it has much more drape than loft.

Thank goodness!

I finished my clap, I'll take a photo soon. I need to decide if I will block it out. I kind of like it curly, but I'm not in love with the ends curling. Maybe I'll snap something tomorrow morning and see what you all think. It isn't as cushy soft as some of my other Alpaca, which is kind of a bummer. However, it should keep the chill away.

What a great fun project. Now I have 17 more repeats of my damn binary scarf.

I think I'll just play The Sims instead ;)

Mini PRGE

Okay, I joined the Mini Punk Rock Gift Exchange. It should be fun!!

1. Why are you punk?
I'm not, I'm more goth. Punk does rock mind you. I do have a few punk Sims...hah!

2. What are your five favorite things? (these don't have to be knit related)
Bunnies, black yarn, chocolate, baking, Fluevogs (shoes)

3. What are your three favorite things that you have made with knitting/crochet?
I'll have to go with my diagonal scarf (easy and fun to wear), the puppy slippers I made for my boss' baby, and the skull and crossbone hat/scarf for my brother.

4. What five things would you love to see in a swap box someday?
Black yarn, punk-themed stitch markers, tea (or chocolate in non-melty months), black yarn, fun patterns (even if they are just copies!)

5. What are your three favorite yarns? What are your three least favorite yarns?
Top 3:
Calmer
Blue Sky Alpaca (and cotton, yum!)
Cotton modal blends

Bottom 3:
Wool
Wool blends
Wool

6. What are your five favorite delicacies?
I guess tea and chocolate. Multiply that by the appropriate number.

7. What are your three favorite guilty pleasures?
Baking sweets, buying expensive yarn and not knitting it, Fluevogs

8. What would you like your pal to know that is not covered here?
I'm deathly allergic to wool, please don't include it in my package. Or else I'll have the medics report you as a bad swapper ;)

Well, that was quick.

So I'm almost done Clapotis. Well, I'm done with the straight bits and I'm on the decreases, which is a good sign. I'll probably be blocking it on Sunday, therefore knitting on my Binary scarf. I guess I jinxed myself. Hah!

Oh, I was envious of Nicole's Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton on Sunday, so I bought some in Graphite (read: not black!! and I had a choice and could have gotten black, but I didn't!! Go me!) to make Something Red. Okay, it will be "Something Not Red" or "Something Grey" because I really want a nice grey cardigan. I have a pretty crummy one I bought at Goodwill I've been hanging on to, so this is definetely an upgrade.

But I can't start it until Webs gets me my darn order! So looks like I'll be knitting some binary or ripping out that damn sideways shawl that is just the wrong proportions. Figures.

Coming along

I totally forgot to snap a photo this morning of my Clapotis. Of course, it would probably only look like a black blob anyway, but it is my warm black blob ;)

Now that I'm almost done with the straight section I'm starting to get jittery. Not because of this project, but because of my next project. I don't know what it will be. That is just plain weird. I have a HUGE list of things to do, but nothing that I'm itching do to (or finish, shut up about the damn binary scarf already. hehe!).

I did say I was going to get some Calmer to start Fifi, but then again I'd have to go out to a yarn shop *gasp*. And would I wear it? I don't really wear anything I make besides the scarves and such.

Okay, who am I kidding? I've already come to terms with the fact that I don't wear what I knit. I'm okay with that. I like the process. Anyway, if I don't decide, I'm going to have to do a few refresher rows on my binary scarf. I have until the winter to finish it anyway :P

I know you won't believe it.

I know you won't believe it but I actually came through on things.

1. I cast on for Clapotis. I'm currently on the 4th repeat row of the straight section

2. I went to knitting.

Yes! I truely did miss it. It is just so easy to brush it off on a Sunday, but I was very happy I made it and I got to see both new people (who you know, started with the group over 8 months ago..heh) and familiar faces. It was really great.

Now, hopefully I'll knit more this week, post a photo, and gosh darnit, maybe make it to knitting again in the next 8 months or so ;)