Week Recap

Wow, it has been a very busy week. I'm still without a personal home computer so I have been jetting to my parents house, the library, and using my cell phone to check my email. None are optimal of course. My parents live on the other side of the county which, normally, wouldn't be too much of a problem except that I live in one of the largest and most populated counties in the state. On a good day it takes only 30 minutes to get to their place. A good day happens on Sunday afternoon around 3:00. On a normal day it takes an hour to get there. Normal days are much more frequent. And posting at the library is the worst. I always feel like people are looking over my shoulder as I try and read personal emails or update my facebook status. I only went there once this week when I had exhausted all other possible routes and absolutely had to check my bank account. I did sign up for one day of internet usage on my phone. It could check my email, tell me the weather, and not much else. But at least I got the notice about one of my private lessons needing to be rescheduled. I've once again made it back to my parents house though and this makes for a much nicer posting experience. I've just spent the better part of an hour checking other blogs that I read. I haven't touched Ravelry yet but I'm going to have to because I need some patterns to take with me on vacation next week.

Yes, next week I will be at the beach on vacation (or holiday if you are from outside the US). I'll be in South Carolina in a secluded little town with my parents, brother, and my brother's girlfriend (the ever charming and lovely BB). I had a really tough time trying to decide what to take as far as the knitting goes. Thanks to the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (and the 6 disks of extra, behind the scenes info) I finished the Honeymoon Cami. If the previous statement seems a bit nerdish to you, have no fear. My dear friend AG has been (and continues) to harass me about how much of a dork I am (this from the guy who played D and D growing up and watches Lost religiously). But it is very cute and, most importantly, wearable. The yarn wasn't very forgiving so if a stitch looked wonky when I was knitting it, it stayed a little wonky after I blocked it (Which really just involved me washing it in the washing machine and throwing it over the shower rod in my bathroom. But I like that it turned out fine after that. I like things to be durable.). I'm just pleased as punch that I made something that I can actually wear. It got put in the bag for vacation wear. So, anyways, back to the projects... I threw in the rest of the cone of Texas Cotton (used for the cami) because I'm participating in the Summer of Socks and I haven't started a pair yet. Then I threw in some stash gifted sock yarn that I used to make some magic slippers thinking I would try another pair of those and maybe some sort of wee little socks. I also started (and have almost finished) another vest/sweater for Warm Woolies. I say vest/sweater because I took the pattern for their simple vest and I'm going to try and add sleeves. I attempted the first one (this, of course being all of my own devising without a pattern or any real guidance) by using 8 lives stitches and some picked up stitches around the arm hole. But the stockinette ended up on the inside of the sleeve. Which would have been good if I had been working it inside out, but I wasn't. I got as far as turning the sleeve inside out and then the thought of trying to pick up those stitches again made my head hurt and I realized it was 10:30 at night the day before I was supposed to leave for my parents house and a week of vacation and I hadn't finished packing or cleaning and decided that vest/sweater could wait. Well, it's waiting for me in the bottom of my knitting bag. Next to a bunny hat kit I picked up in Savannah. And the perpetual pink sweater (of doom).

Today, after I squared away my knitting, I spent time running all around town and prepping for my leave. I had to make sure that someone covered my private lessons, that my apartment sitter was lined up, that there were plenty of (very) detailed instructions about everything from how to feed the cat to how hot the water gets (I have an obsessive compulsive disorder, so sue me), and that all the orders I filled for Eat Sleep Tweet got mailed off in time. On a side note: I really like this new job. I can't wait until it becomes a little more involved. I got a little taste of it this week but eventually there will be a mini warehouse in my apartment. It's very good for the organized, logistical side of me. Now I am ready to relax. I will (thankfully) have internet next week that I will check on a regular basis and maybe even post. Unfortunately, I won't get to put the pictures up yet. Once I get this new computer I'm going to do about 15 all picture posts of (k)nifty things that should have already graced these pages.

FO's Abound!

I finished up on a lot of stuff between last night and tonight. First off, the 4th baby hat. I tried to get Penelope to model the hat...
But she didn't want to wear it on her head. How about here?
And....ta da! Yellow socks!

So cool...oh wait...what's that?
Oops, different decreases on both socks. On the left sock I did the gusset decreases on ever row and on the right I did them every other row (as suggested in the Yarn Harlot's recipe). I like the decreases on the left sock and in the future if/when I make these socks again I would probably do the decreases that way.
I still love these socks. I kept them on until my feet started to sweat because it was 80 degrees in my apartment.
So, there was celebrating...
Once I finished those I immediately cast on for an ear flap hat from the book Knitting in No Time. I finished it tonight.

Side view:
Side view 2:
Whee!
I like this hat very much. I was afraid that I would run out of yarn so I did a crochet bind off (a la the Yarn Harlot) instead of a regular bind off. In the future I would do a regular knit bind off. There was plenty of yarn left over. Also, the ear flaps come down past my ears. But it looks pretty cool none the less. I really like the colors and the hat is really warm. Penelope came to check out the action. However, she didn't really seem to care too much. Maybe I should have let her try and wear it...

Recap

Valentine's Day came and went. In typical Melissa fashion I realized, as I was walking into work on Thursday, that this was what I was wearing:
All black. On the perkiest, lovingest day of the year. Is there some subliminal message included there? Penelope didn't care either way. She didn't get chocolates or flowers. Sorry kitty.
I have been able to get a few things to the almost finished point. But that's the good and bad part. 3 projects are almost finished but still need to be seamed or embellished.

Baby Hat #3.
Pattern: My standard baby hat pattern
Needles: US size 10
Yarn: Bernat Krysta in an off white-ish color (don't bother looking for this yarn, I'm not sure it exists any more)
All this bad boy is missing is some seaming.

Second yellow sock
Pattern: Yarn Harlot's simple sock recipe
Needles: US size 6 DPNs
Yarn: Caron One Pound in Sunflower
Still need to make it to the toe. Almost there so long as the needles didn't fall out as I was putting this back in the knitting bag of doom. And that is a big if.
T-Strap Baby Booties
Pattern: T-Strap Baby Booties
Needles: US size 9
Yarn: Bernat Chunky in Nature's Way
Needs seaming and some buttons. I was thinking maybe some antique looking silver ones would be cool.
My hopes for tonight are first and foremost to get a gift for a one-year old's birthday I'll be attending a party for tomorrow (I know, if I was a real knitter I would have made him some sleep pants or something. So sue me). Then I plan on getting some dinner, coming home, watching American Beauty, and finishing at least 2 of these WIPs.

P.S. You can follow me and my other great knitterly plans on Ravelry. Check me out!

Procrastinators of the World Unite...Tomorrow

Today was early release at school (where I work). To meant to take my huge knitting bag with me so I could knit for 2 hours without worrying that the President might call and declare my apartment a disaster zone (it might need a little cleaning). However, I was rushing out the door because I was late (go figure) and I left the bag sitting neatly next to the door. Always prepared though, I picked up some yarn from my knitting class stash and worked on a 4th baby hat that I had cast on earlier this week.
Plain stockinette stitch baby hat with a 1" K2P2 ribbing at the bottom. US size 10 needles and some old skool yarn, I mean, seriously old. So old that I can't even tell you what it's called because the ball band is at work and I can't even find something remotely close on the internets (I think it was Krystal by Bernat or something along those lines). And dudes, this yarn is funky.
It's all fuzzy and I don't even think it's plied. It's just like someone pulled long lengths of fleece and then kind of bunched it into a skein. Weird.
And it is sooooooo split-y. Every time I go to pick up a stitch I have to be careful or I'll take half a loop with me and then make it look all wonky. It's turning out to be an ok hat. I ripped back to the ribbing twice because I was trying to use some cute stitches but they just weren't working for me (I think it was knitter error). I finally gave in and began some mindless stockinette. I wish I could do some cool snowflake pattern because that's what this yarn reminds me of. But I'm not that motivated to figure it out nor to write a pattern for it.

Tonight I braved the 30 degree (Fahrenheit) temps to do my Valentine's shopping (do not even lecture me on waiting until the last minute, that's just how I roll). After coming home I decided that tonight was for sock knitting.
I'm wearing one sock to motivate myself to finish the other one so I can have 2 warm feet tonight instead of just one.

I Think in Blog

Today hasn't been too eventful. After work (and a little nap), I went to dinner with my parents and got an early Valentine's Day present.
I came home and dug around in my knitting bag to find something to work on that wasn't too challenging. Behold the Knitting Bag of Doom. Enter if you dare!

I found the second yellow sock and have been working on it for a little while. I'll be happy if I can make it to the heel tonight.Then I remembered I hadn't shown off this hat that I finished over the weekend.
It's just a simple baby hat. I used a new stitch though. It's called the trinity stitch and it makes these cool little bobbles all over the hat. I used some Rainbow Classic yarn in the purple colorway (berry) and some US size 10 needles. I cast on 44 stitches and did 2 inches of K2P2 ribbing and then did the trinity stitch until the whole thing measured 7 inches from the cast on edge. Then I threaded some yarn through the top, pulled tight, and topped it off with a pom pom.

This is a (poor) close up of the stitch. Take my word for it. It looks cool.

I must say I'm exercising restraint by not casting on for this hat.

I have the yarn suggested in the book and the needles and I really think the pattern is cute. But, alas, I've told myself that I will wait until I have finished one of my other projects first:
1. Second yellow sock
2. Second T-Strap Baby Bootie
3. Back of pink sweater
4. 4th baby hat
5. Ripple scarf

It's Been a Madhouse

This has been me since Monday night:
Bad hair and all. I did something to my wrist and now it's all wonky. At first I thought I just slept on it wrong but I couldn't move it at all by the end of Monday morning. I called my friend Jenn, who is an MA for an orthopedic surgeon, and asked her what I should do. She said to wear a splint and take lots of ibuprofen. I have since been drugged and patched up. I'm going to the Dr.'s office tomorrow to figure out what is really going on.

The splint did slow my knitting down a little. But I pressed on.
I got some gorgeous flowers to help speed my recovery.
And so, the seed stitch baby hat (baby hat #1) was born. Ha ha, get it? Baby hat and born. Born like a baby is. Te he...
Close up of seed stitch for any seed stitch virgins out there.

I immediately cast on for another hat. This would be the heart hat (baby hat #2). My first try at intarsia.
And without the wonky lighting.
The words "cute" and "adorable" were invented for this hat. And I came up with the pattern. It's at the bottom of the page for those interested. I had to tink the stupid thing back 4 times trying to get the pattern right before I realized I was doing it right the first time.

I wanted to model the hat but, alas, I have no baby. So I got out the next best thing...

Yes, I'm 24 and I still have a baby doll. He was very expensive. And no, I'm not telling you where I keep him.

Nathan, the baby doll, generously offered to model the seed stitch hat too. Even though it was too big at the top for him. If you have a melon headed baby it would fit nicely.

The hat making will continue. Time elapsed: 1 week. Time Remaining: 4 weeks. Baby Hat Count: 2. Needed Until Goal: 3.

Melissa's Baby Heart Hat:

Materials needed:
2 colors of yarn in a similar weight
4 US size 6 dpns

Loosely cast on 40 stitches in MC (main color) using a long tail cast on.
Work knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 1".
Rows 1-4: knit
Row 5: Begin pattern. Note: Keep all yarn loose when working the pattern. If you pull or draw the yarn tight as you begin a new row then the pattern will pucker and be too tight.

Pattern:
Row 1: *k 3 in MC, k 1 in CC (contrasting color), k 6 in MC repeat from * 4 times
Row 2: *k 2 in MC, k 3 in CC, k 5 in MC repeat from * 4 times
Row 3: *k 1 in MC, k 5 in CC, k 4 in MC repeat from * 4 times
Row 4: *k7 in CC, k3 in MC repeat from * 4 times
Row 5: repeat row 4
Row 6: *k1 in MC, k2 in CC, k1 in MC, k2 in CC, k4 in MC repeat from * 4 times
If you would like to see the pattern as a chart go here. Scroll down to the bottom. I modified the chart by adding two more MC stitches to the left hand side.

Knit 4 more rows in MC.

Shape top:
Row 1: *k2tog, k2 repeat from * across
Row 2: knit
Row 3: *k2tog, k1 repeat from * across
Row 4: knit
Row 5: *k2tog, k2 repeat from * until one stitch remains, knit last stitch
Row 6: knit
Row 7: k2tog across

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Draw yarn onto yarn needle and through remaining stitches. Draw up tight and knot or weave end in.

Turn hat inside out and weave in all ends.

A Challenge and An Acquisition

Today I presented by knitting class with a challenge. I've been having issues with some kids not staying on task and getting side tracked from what's really important in life...knitting. I challenged them to finish one of 4 simple projects: a simple hat, a harder hat, a washcloth, or a scarf. I figured these were all things a very beginning knitter should be able to do. The harder hat was the real challenger with decreases and ribbing. I told them if they finished the project by the end of the nine weeks (in 5 weeks) then I would bring them doughnuts, muffins, and juice for a breakfast party.

Seriously dude, it worked magic that can only be worked with middle schoolers.

Suddenly even the least motivated (and constantly complaining) member of the group was rushing to cast on. Suddenly there were 100 questions. Is this enough to start a hat? Can I use what I've already done? Can I make a baby hat? Why does mine look like this? It was great. And the best part was, I jumped in and challenged myself.

I told the kids I was going to make not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 5 baby hats. One hat a week. Not a hard task, unless you are 12 and just learned how to cast on. I think the fact that I was pushing myself showed them they could be pushed too. I was very excited.

Also, I'm acquiring a stash of sorts from an outside benefactor. The primary use of the stash (and needles and other tools that come with it) are for the knitting class. My question is, how do you view "stash passing?" I think it's very intimate, one knitter to another. This stash is coming from another teacher's mother. She never learned herself and her mom apparently has stuff just sitting around out of use. My stash will probably have to be written into my will but I can see how if my children (heaven forbid) never take up knitting I would want it to go to good use with another knitter. Or maybe I'd make them keep it for a possible knitting grandchild. Either way, I'm eternally grateful to this woman for letting me have her knitterly things.

Sorry there aren't any pictures for the blog today. I did start a baby hat last night but I never got around to taking pictures. Tomorrow though, there will be...me thinks...

Yarn is a Souvenir

When go to a beautiful place...
Tybee Island

Visiting beautiful and historic places...

Fort Pulaski

Staying in a beautiful place...

The Steven Williams House, Savannah, GA

Drinking, um..., beautiful beverages (?)...

Kevin Berry's Irish Pub

You might pick up some very beautiful yarn as a souvenir.

Lumpy Bumpy Yarn in Grapes on a Vine for a bumpy and wooly hat (purchased from Wild Fibre).
2 skeins of Artyarns Ultramerino color number 154 (also from Wild Fibre).
And a baby-sized bunny hat kit from The Lamb's Wool from Twiggs.
All in all this has been a good trip. I got to see some old friends, got to learn some neat stuff about what I do everyday (the teaching bit), saw some wonderful sites, and of course, will be taking home some lovely new yarn.