Cardigan and Yarn Inspiration

Yaaaaayyy, progress! I’m loving making this blanket.. even though this is only my forth square, it’s a lot of fun. Besides the fact that it *is* Noro.. (who wouldn’t have fun with that?) the idea and the construction is just a fun idea.

And in my opinion, if you’re making a blanket… it seems a whole lot less overwhelming if you do blocks/squares/bits of it at a time. Rather than cast on almost 400+ stitches and have to knit for forever. That just doesn’t sound fun, to me anyway :-P

Also, I think I blogged about this yarn awhile ago, when I got it. It’s Madelinetosh DK in…the colorway.

But it’s been sitting in my UFO bin/”please use me, I’m yarn, calling your nameee” bin that’s in my room. And I realized that I could make something else with this yarn… that would be way better than what I had originally planned for it.

Originally, I planned for the Railroad Vest by Madelinetosh, the yarn would be a bit different from what the pattern called for, so I’d have to mess with needle size and all that jazz.

So it kinda sat there, not started, because Christmas knitting came along, other projects came along. I was busy… heh heh.

Then just yesterday afternoon, I was thinking of all the sweaters I want to do in 2012 (and that list was massive, haha). The Gnarled Oak Cardigan by Alana Dakos from Coastal Knits (which this is an OUTSTANDING book. I’m pretty sure it’s been the talk of the knitting world for forever.. because it’s *that* amazing. Really, you should check it out!) came up, and I started thinking about the yarn I had…

(Here’s a better picture of the pattern on the top)

and then I remembered I had 5 cakes of Madelinetosh DK in my stash, I wasn’t as excited about the Railroad Vest as I was about the Gnarled Oak cardigan. So, there was a plan change ^_^

I don’t know when I’ll cast it on. My mom wanted me to cast it on last night, haha, so she could see what it would look like. But I knew I should probably finish a block/square/thing first… so I did, and that was all happy.

But I finished it rather late, haha (thanks to not being able to sleep, joyyy, haha) so if I *do* cast this cardigan on.. it’ll be this weekend. As a “Happy first week into your *last semester*, you can do this!”

It’ll be kinda like therapy, it’ll help me through the tough bits :-P

More books than knitting…

Yaaaayyy… obviously a lot of progress since yesterday… Yeahhhh, no. Oh well. I tried.

It look me literally three tries to get the third block thing connected in the right place. Which was only mildly annoying. I’d start it, thinking I was totally in the right place, get more than halfway through the block thing, and then realize, oh it’s pointing in the wrong direction -_-… so out it came… twice. Finally, I got it right. Third time is the charm, I guess, haha.

I’ve also been trying to read more fun stuff recently. Instead of knitting. Which is a insane thing to understand, I know. Me? Not knitting? Yeah, I’m astonished too. Haha :-P But I’ve been reading some pretty good books.. and have more on my list.

I’m reading The Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly, and so far it’s proven to be really really good. Bits of it are confusing, because it keeps switching between times… (like, flash back for several chapters, then it goes back to present day. And there’s not a whole lot to tell them apart. Though.. this is not the end of the world, haha) but I’m really loving it. It’s some kind of mystery.. that I.. don’t quite understand.. now, haha. Hopefully I will later.

And after that.. I’ll read The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson and Gone by Michael Grant

….and a spinning magazine, haha. Maybe not a book, but it’s fun reading. Don’t judge ^_^

That weird bug thing I got is… stupid. Its causing me to not get a lot of sleep… or enough for me to function happily and correctly through the entire day. Alas. I really hate it. Makes school a bit difficult… and this is only the second day back :-/

Bertie sends a sleepy greeting your way, and hopes you’re having a good day :-)

Nutella, that creamy goodness…

my mom made bread yesterday. *drools*

holy cow, it’s amazing.

But if you add nutella (like… a lot of nutella. But I have ballet later today, so I feel better about myself, haha) and an amazing cup of tea.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh ^_^ It’s so nice. Soooo soo nice.

Bertie, the cutest cat in the entire world, also agrees with me.

Though, he thinks that this particular sun patch might be more amazing…

But that’s ok, because it’s all personal preference anyway, haha :-P

NaKniMo update, it’s definitely grown. But not enough to get a picture, haha. I’m just about to do the next big cable round. I’ll do that right after I post this, haha.

My stitch count is nowwww… 14,440 out of 100,000. Woot woot. I’m going to try and put a little.. counter thing on the side, so that’ll be… awesome. *joins bandwagon* ^_^

I have a lot of physics to do. Like.. a lot a lot. And it takes me a long time. I… better go… do that. Urgh. >.<

99.5% Complete Honey Cowl ^_^

^_^

So, I took pictures for today’s post. Annnd then 2 minutes cast off one of the projects I had just photographed.

I’ll get FO pictures soon, haha. But for nowwwww… here is the 99.5% complete picture :-P

Color just makes me happy. Especially *that* kind of color. Colors that are extremely vibrant. The don’t go together, but they do at the same time. And that random color that is always thrown in in every ball of Noro.

*wiggles* Color is awesome ^_^

(and yes. That’s an owl eraser. And it’s *that* awesome :-P)

That earflapped-Steven West hat thing for someone’s Christmas present is going along really well :-)

During the spring/summer I got used to knitting everything (and I mean *everything*, haha) on size 7 and smaller.

This hat? Size 10. Booyah. It’s definitely an “aaaaaaahhhhh ^_^” moment, haha :-P

Also. Important things for during school….

…that Dr.Pepper keeps popping up… heh heh ^_^

How I was Mauled by a Fuzzy Purple Muppet

I didn’t realize how much knitting can get done if you’re reading something…

And even though I already knew this, it’s still really cool… but I remember a whole lot more, if I knit while I do stuff… that allows me to knit, haha.

So, Lorimer? I’m… around..85% complete. I finished the other side about 20 minutes ago. And, attached the two fronts to the back. Next comes to pockets! Annnnd then I’ll probably block it.

the pattern doesn’t say to block it… but it’s rolling pretty badly, so I’ll go ahead and do it anyway… probably.

Because I finished that.. and still had a bunch of reading to do. I dove back into one of my huge UFOs/WIPs bags to find something that was almost, if not completely, knitting. Not pattern, no shaping, no nuffin.

And I found Snowbird (by Heidi Kirrmaier)! Which I’m calling Blackbird, cause…my yarn isn’t white. Oooor anything close to white, haha.

Annnd it’s perfect for reading. At the moment, I have to knit till the body is 31cm (around 12 and a bit inches) from the underarm. Then I start the pockets (haha, lots of pockets..)

One thing that I noticed about Blackbird.. that I had forgotten about, but I remember finding this out.. BUT.

Out of the whatever balls I got, there was one odd ball, from a completely different dye lot. *all the knitters gasp with horror* Yes, a different dye lot.

Sadly, it’s kinda…obvious. And, I didn’t realize that one was different until I had knit the entire ball, and gotten way past it. *headdesk*

I thought it was only in the back, and after thinking about it… I decided it looked kinda cool. It’s this lighter stripe of purple in the back. It adds character, so I’m cool with it.

But upon looking at the sleeves…

One sleeve is one shade. and the other is another shade. -_-

Only relatively annoying, haha. (it’s kinda hard to tell in that picture. But trust me, it’s really obvious.)

Thankfully, I think the sleeves were picked up at the top, and knit down. So if I were to take it out (which I think I will, cause it looks absolutely ridiculous, haha), it shouldn’t be *that* hard.

…hopefully…

Heh heh… let’s be optimistic… it’s always a good thing, right? :-P

I also forgot how much this yarn sheds while knitting with it. Which isn’t a huge problem.

But, when wearing a white shirt… I’d rather not look like I was just mauled by some huge, fuzzy, purple muppet. Or something like that.

So in general, I’m feeling pretty good about working on my UFOs/WIPs… when I get to the ones that do have a pattern and do have shaping, that won’t be as cool…cause then I can’t work on them while I read. BUT, it’ll be all good.

BECAUSE I WILL BE VICTORIOUS. …over my UFOs. ^_^

Goodbye Summer, Hello School…

and so. begins my senior year (yeah, messed up with my age. I already know, haha. you don’t need to point it out.)

I’m excited. Sad…ish. Happy. Looking forward to the knitting I’ll get done, haha.

So today is Labor Day… the last day before school officially starts tomorrow, haha. With everything… not just online classes..cause those started last week.

Today. I’m not sure what it’s going to hold. Hopefully knitting… and just kinda getting ready for tomorrow. *writes down assignments, and divides them between the days*

So organized, haha.

Knittingness: I’ve been definitely working on finishing all those WIPs I have laying around. IN FACT. I’m like… about 90% done with one. It’s like SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE.

But tragedy struck last night while I was putting it together. Annnnnd, I gotta rip back today, and add on another pattern repeat (which is only about 20 rows. Which is ok, cause they go pretty quickly.) then re-do the stuff I ripped out… :-/

I have no idea what happened… because I am 100% positive I followed the pattern and did what it said. Word for word.

…typo, possibly? I hope so, haha.

Anyways, besides the fact that one side is indeed longer than the other… it’s adorable. annnnd I can’t wait to wear it :-D

So many fun things have happened to me this summer, I can’t… even like.. begin to say how much fun it was. And the word “fun” doesn’t even begin to cover.. how awesome it was, haha.

But, this past weekend… starting on Friday, and ending on Sunday evening. Katie came for a visit ^_^

Which was just soooo cool :-P But it’s always fun to hang out with her.

Among many…crazily insane pictures…some where taken. that will remain epic. for forever.

Liiiike, that one. Hahahaha… aaaah, makes me laugh every time.

And then there were pictures which remain epic for forever for totally different reasons, haha.

I love my sissy. She’s the bestest <3

(also, today's Musical Monday is down below :-P)

Rainbow Whale ….starting school?

we already knew that I love bright colors, right? Cause I do. I adore it.

What I love even *more* is brightly colored yarn. And…that’s kinda what I’m working with right now ^_^

We went to Yarntopia on Monday (stinking love that place. but that’s another thing you guys already knew, haha) and…I saw this yarn. and it SPOKE TO ME. and it had to be gotten. ^_^

Then I went home and finished *TWO* (yes, TWO) projects…so I felt better about getting a new skein of yarn, heh heh. (FO pictures will be coming soon :-) Zola was finished…and my shawl that I designed! *so excited*)

Anyways, I’m doing another Stephen West pattern (heh heh. But I mean, who could say no to *any* of his patterns?? THEY’RE SO AMAZING.)

I’m doing Blue Whale which…looks *uhmazing*

and the yarn I got is Elle Rae Lace..Sock… either Lace or sock (heh heh, don’t have the ball band with me currently ^_^)

On a side note, have you noticed how many school-ish things are popping up? THE SUMMER JUST STARTED! It’s not time for school yet. -_- oh well… I’m excited about the coming year. I’ll be a senior…exciting stuff (and yes, before it’s questioned, I know it doesn’t fit with my age. but everyone is different, haha.)

…but seriously?! Must school start so soon?!

…Jeeves doesn’t seem to be too worried though…

yeah, no. He’s not worried. Haha :-P

I GOT MY TRINDLE! and it’s amazing. and I now SPIN! EEE! *so excited*

I’ll get a trindle-focued post up…hopefully before I leave for Summit, haha. But I have tutorials that I used, and definitely recommend for the beginner trindler/drop spindler. Pictures.

Today I spun two little…balls of the eggplant color collection thing. And then I just finished plying them together. *extremely proud of self*

Anyways, pictures will be coming soon :-) a post in general about trindling…and spinning will be coming soon :-)

Another sidenote: HAPPY BIRTHDAY. to mah little brother ^_^ Who is now 16. Which is kinda scary. O.o. but he’s the best :-)

My Knitting was Hijacked

I have no idea what Jeeves’ problem is…I mean, I just left my knitting laying on my bed for two minutes. And when I come back….he’s like

hai. I’m laying on your knittin’. And theres nuffin’ you can do about it.

I’m gonna rub my face all over it…

Just be adorable….

all over your knitting…

But…even though he took it over. Shed all over it.

I’m ok with it…cause he’s adorable.

Even if he *did* *VIOLATE* it.

I’m a softie when it comes to moving cats…They’re just….SO CUTE. AAAAAAHHHH

*kitty kitties* *again*

But, on the subject of that project, it’s almost done! I have…8 more rows of the stitch pattern, then 28 rows of garter stitch.

Which doesn’t sound like a lot, I know. But now the rows are HUGE. SOOO BIG. Like…400ish stitches. Er, maybe 300 stitches. Something like that….

So it’s almost done…but I probably won’t get it done today, haha.

*goes back to working on the last Great Books 3 paper* I CAN FINISH THIS. BOOYAH.

Daybreak, SAT, Designing, Revelation…

So…this morning. I woke up at 6:10…to take the SAT.

I really don’t like getting up early. I don’t like taking tests either. So when you add those two together, it’s not cool, haha.

Anyway, so we got up. Got a Starbucks on the way. Got there…

Long story short, during the middle of the last math section…I was thinking about what I had to do on this problem…while I was looking at this Vincent Van Gogh poster that was right in front of me.

And the past two days, I’ve been trying to decide what other design element I want in this shawl thing. but I had no idea…besides the basic stuff, and this particular stitch pattern that I had already picked out.

So, I’m sitting there. Staring at Vincent Van Gogh, trying to decide what to do next in this hard math problem…then….

BINGO!

I knew what I would add to my shawl. Not what I was should do next in the math problem. Noooo. But what I should add to the shawl pattern. Cause it was totally relevant to my current situation… O.o

I don’t know if it was Vincent….or if it was the math that caused my sudden idea. Or maybe all the SAT prep had finally gone to my brain, and I was going insane (but…everyone knew that already, haha) Well, whatever it was, it was definitely an amusing time to think of it, haha.

On that subject… the whole designing a pattern is going pretty well for my first time…I think, haha.

I ripped it out a couple times last night, while watching Dr. Who (which I’m now definitely addicted to…haha) and after maybe 5 tries, I finally got it to do what I wanted it to, haha.

It’s definitely looking like what I want it to… I found a fun stitch pattern in an online stitch dictionary…which was sweeeeet.

So I’m really happy with that :-P

I’m…finally jumping on the Daybreak (by Stephen West who is absolutely brilliant) bandwagon, haha.

I’ll be using the rainbow stuff (Zauberballs FTW!) for the stripes…and then the grey color for the main color…(so technically the purple parts of it in that picture…)

I’m….EXCITED to start it. It’s knit on size 4s…and so is Emma…and so is something else that I want to start. So, I think I’ll…do Emma first. Then Daybreak. THEN the other thing, haha. Which…I haven’t mentioned at all yet, haha.

Nail polish = one of the best things in the world. Just one, haha.

AAAAHAHAHAHAAAA. the SAT is OVER. O-V-E-R.

I’ll need to knit for a week+ to recuperate, haha.

Inside a Knitter’s Brain

I was browsing a yarn blog that I read on a regular basis…and this was posted. A picture of a knitter’s brain…

Genius. Brilliant. So very true. This was found on Dydy Knits

The weather has turned cold again, after about a day and a half of nice 60-70 degree weather. There was a really…chilly wind to go along with it, haha. But it was good :-)

It’s raining currently, and with the 45 degrees…there’s a small chance that it could snow in the next couple of days….which is SO exciting. Another chance for actual snow! Yaaaaaayyy!

The store sample is coming along swimmingly. I got past those 10 and 1/4 inches on the front….now on to the “opening” as they’re calling it. Doesn’t look like anything too tricky, but it’s different enough that it’ll be a little challenge :-P

On a pleasure knitting knote: I’m pondering knitting a pair of shorts. Yes, shorts. It is possible. Just for…fun and to try it out. I’ve been seeing a bunch of shorts and pants patterns popping up everywhere. I’ll most likely end up using left over Berroco Comfort from Cranberry Leaves (which…I still need to post finished pictures of that…heh heh)

But those probably won’t get started for awhile :-P I have….other things to finish. Lots of other things to finish. Buuuut, on the other hand…knowing me, I’m most likely to start them tonight. But…I WON’T. I will resist. *twitches*

…*sigh* the trials of a knitter. After writing this, I looked to my right and saw the box thing I’m using to hold my Purl Bee Granny Square Blanket. Annnnd now…I really wanna work on that. BLARGI.

Knitting during Great Books class learning about Dante…can’t really get better than that ;-P