4 months of knitting

It’s been awhile I know. I choose to blame several things: post-wedding craziness, the holidays, and some health problems experienced by both my husband and myself.

This post is essentially just going to be a run-down of things I have been working on. It features some great patterns, including one I am writing myself (my first!). I guess that might be another reason for my lack of blogging: knitting addiction. I state where I got each of the patterns. To see which yarn(s) I used, click on the image to see a Ravelry description page.

I’ll start off with the arm knitting trend. Despite my already large stash, I decided to buy some extra bulky yarn and give it a whorl. I used the tutorial here and followed the guidance of Unwind Yarn House in using Mirasol Ushya yarn held double. I’m pretty happy with the look of the result, albeit it’s not as warm as some of my other scarves, and I’m worried that getting a stitch snagged on something might cause the whole thing to be pulled out of shape. We shall see.

Curious to see what arm knitting might possibly look like in progress? Voilà.

PS: I entered this in the Ravellenic Games, which coincides with the Olympics.

I’m also planning on entering a pair of slippers that I’m making for my husband in colours from Fallout, his favourite video game. I started off following this pattern, but had to make so many modifications due to hubby’s extra extra large shoe size that it’s practically its own pattern now. I’m considering publishing it 🙂

Before these I finished Shara Lambeth’s Dentelle Cowl for my mother-in-law. It’s a lovely short cowl, and I really like the finished result. Though I will suggest that if you plan on trying to make your own that you make the foundation chain very loose. The stitch pattern is very stretchy, plus you will be putting many dcs into the foundation chain, so it needs to be able to give a little.

Being at that age where friends and cousins start having kids, I’ve also been doing some baby knits.

This adorbale pair of booties is based on a Saartje de Bruijn pattern. Albeit I used the seamless version by Fleegle instead, because I hate seams. Hate. I had to learn the Turkish cast-on it order to do it. I highly recommend FluffyKnitterDeb’s tutorial, it’s really easy to follow. A little tricky until you get the hang of it, but I’m glad I’ve learned how to do it. It makes beautiful sock toes, bag bottoms, mitten tips, etc.

One of the babies was born in December. She of course required something more warm and snuggly, hence I made her a hat using the Bulky EarFlap Hat pattern from As the Bunny Spins and booties using Simple Soft Baby Booties from Adirondack Mama.

She might not be so happy about wearing it, but I think her parents are glad she’s warm in these -20°C tempertures we’ve been getting.

Then there was my Christmas knitting.

I made a Jayne hat again. This time it was for my middle brother, and I used this pattern, which I think I was happier with.

Here they both are, sporting their hats in true browncoat style 🙂

And now for my pride and joy of the whole lot. The pattern is Fightin’ Words by Annie Watts of Wattsolak Designs. These fingerless mitts were for my youngest brother, who seemed to get a kick out of them.

My first true stranded colourwork. A pretty awesome pattern, and a pretty awesome job, if I do say so myself.

Licence to shop

The last cowl of my cowl kick is done!

I’m really happy with it. Better pictures of the others to come soon.

In other, sadder news my bag of notions (more of a sort of pencil case I carry with my knitting) went missing sometime in the last week. It either fell out of my bag (I doubt it) or got snatched by one of the kids I teach to knit/crochet. To be fair, if it was the kids they may not have known better since I let them use yarn that I bring. I do tell them that I can only give them their first ball and that the needles are loaners, plus the notions were in my own personal bag… Ah well, at least it means they’re really taking to needlecrafts?

Though you know, sometimes it’s not so bad when someone steals your stuff… I got to go shopping for more!

Which means I caved and bought the Knit Picks Emergency keychain I’d wanted forever. It was only 3 bucks, but I couldn’t justify putting in an order of yarn I really don’t need in order to get the free shipping. BUT it turns out Knit-O-Matic carries Knit Picks in-store, and they had the keychain in stock 😀

And then it was off to Mary Maxim to top off my toy box notions necessities.

The darning needles come with a case!

And let’s finish it off with a gratuitous shot of Desmond. I’m attending the OLA Conference this week and he apparently wants to come with me, having made himself quite comfortable in my conference bag.

Albeit I’m a little peeved with him at the moment. The little bugger has figured out that there is a pill inside the “pill pocket” treats he’s been gobbling up for a week, and has now decided to refuse to eat them. I tried inserting them in a piece of ham instead and he just ate around the pill. ARGH. Any suggestions? Feel free to comment.