Christmas Message

Sorry for not posting my projects this time! I made a hat and  a tea cozy. I will add them soon. Right now I feel like rambling a bit. 

I have been too busy with holiday cheer, I guess. Actually my Christmas is quite a bit different than the traditional Christmas. You see, on Christmas 1997 my dad decided to leave the house. Now this is not when they decided to divorce, my mom actually had initiated that because she was afraid he was going to kill himself, this is when he left the house they had been living in.  Needless to say it has ruined Christmas for years. I thought our tradition was to watch one of the movies that just premiered and to have Chinese food but this year we didn't even have Chinese food. We did have ramen on Christmas eve and we did go see Valkyrie. The movie was okay. Usually I don't like Tom Cruise but he did a good job. I thought that the character could have been acted with a little more depth but this movie wasn't relying on character development at all. It was completely and entire based around the plot to kill Hitler. Actually it was funny because when we were talking after the film my mom said that while watching Valkyrie she kept wishing that the plot would succeed and that the Nazis would be overthrown. I mean really? Now that would have pissed a lot of people off! It's funny but this is the first movie of this kind that I have seen. Is this the first time they have made a film about any of the plots to overthrow the Third Reich? I do have a soft spot for WWII movies. Schindler's List, the Pianist, La Vite e Bella, Au revoir, Les Enfants,  Saving Private Ryan etc...

In any case, whatever you are doing, here is to a happy holiday!

Weird mood...but also some pictures!

Gosh I have been in such a funk all week. Holiday blues? Aww, I've wallowed enough! I've never going to shake it off it if I don't try to do something about it. 

Anyway, I have several projects for you all to see! The other day I went with one of my friends to this cute little yarn shop and picked up some interesting skeins. One is a 20/80 silk merino blend in a coppery brown, a 50/50 silk merino in a gorgeous shimmery blue that I can't think of a pattern nice enough to use it in, and a skein of superfine alpaca. 

The alpaca was the easiest to make into a pattern. I tried the calorimetry pattern once again with excellent results this time! I did run out of yarn at the very end, but I just used a scrap to finish it up and I don't think it it very noticeable. Also, I found a cute celtic knot button at Joanns.

The next thing I made were these cute fingerless gloves. The silk really defines the stitches well. These look kind of funny on my chubby hands but they are still very cute. I think that I will end up giving these away as a gift.

Know I just can't find a good pattern to use this Silkdream yarn in. Maybe I will use it in something with cables? It's such a beautiful color, and I know that it will have great stitch definition. I will have to keep it in the vault for a while, lol!

In other news, I am still looking for my Seacoast yarn. I have looked at the company website and found several shops that sell the yarn, but none that sell online. I might be able to phone one of the companies up and see if they will ship it to me. 

Why is it so hard to find an online retailer for Seacoast Handpainted Yarn?

I'm so frustrated. For the part hour I have been trying to find a skein of Seacoast Handpainted Silk and Ivory yarn. I can't find an online retailer at all and the only storefront that I can find in CA is in Santa Monica. Ughhhh....

I guess that the Horseshoe Pattern Scarf is going to have to wait until I can find the yarn. It's too bad, I really like the way that it looks.

I am going to keep trying to track this yarn down. If all else fails I can try contacting the store in Santa Monica and asking if they will ship it to me.

Finished my longest pair of Merino fingerless gloves

I've finished my longest pair of Merino fingerless gloves. They go all the way to my elbows! I will definitely post pictures tomorrow. I made these for my best friend's aunt who requested them at their holiday party. I hope that they will fit her. Apparently she has very thick arms. I thought that my arms were the maximum thickness that any woman's arms could be, so naturally I was not worried about the size when I knit them but now I am concerned. I also got a little lazy when I was binding off and weaving in the loose threads. What? I can't help it, I have made at least 6 pairs of these gloves the pattern just isn't all that interesting anymore.

Now I need to decide what to make next. I have been keeping some angora that I got from an estate sale. It's white so I will probably use it in something small and unlikely to be used all that often so it can stay stain free. I will have to look through my books!

My hand is feeling better and I am getting started on a pair of purple fingerless gloves

Okay! I am mostly healed. I still have a little blister on the pad of my index finger, but it doesn't hurt all that much anymore. Mostly it hurts when I accidently poke it while knitting, lol. I might just try knitting continental style. I've been meaning to practice continental more anyway. I want to try knitting two socks at the same time again and if I am used to knitting continental it will be so much easier.

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I will start taking some tomorrow. I also need to think of what I am going to do with a hank of very interesting yarn. It's hard to describe. It's an art yarn, in light shades of aqua and brown, and has a curly hair look. You have to see it to really know what I am talking about but I just don't feel like uploading a photo right now.

Update: Also exciting, I got the Sunset magazine Best Ever Cookies! I am definitely going to make some this year!

Ow I totally burned my hand

I burned my right had yesterday while taking a pan out of the oven. The stupid thing is that I was using a pot holder; it just wasn't thick enough.

Sorry but I am going to have to take a break from knitting for a day or two, or at least until the blister and redness go away.

All finished with the Serena Cashmere Cowl

Woah, I look like a redhead in this photo. Crazy.

Overall the Serena Cashmere turned out a lot better than I thought it would! It does feel soft, just not as soft as some of the fibers that I work with. I am such a yarn snob, lol. I am in love with the color! I like green in general but this shade is beautiful.

Although, maybe I like it because it's just so cold I don't care about style, stitching, anything else, hahah. I'm not sure if I am going to keep it or try selling it on etsy. Or I could give it to someone as a gift. I am not sure if the pom poms are very sturdy though. I would hate to have them fall apart on someone. That is probably a good reason to keep this piece.

Woah I think accident outside. I've been hearing sirens for the past 10 minutes. Hmm....

Almost finished with Serena Cashmere Cowl

I am so excited about finishing this project! I would really love a cowl to wear for December and January. I think that it is going to be really cold this year. Actually I have to admit that at first I didn't really like the design this pattern was making but now that I have finished a few rounds I've started falling for it. My mom said that it reminded her of peacock feathers. 

I have to admit that it is not as soft as most of the Cashmere that I am used to. It must be because I spun the strands a little to tightly. Or perhaps the quality wasn't all that great. Still. it is much softer than your average acrylic and it is a very nice color. I do love greens but this green in particular has a lot of depth.

Now what should I pick out for my next project? I would really like to make a shawl for my friend Lauren. A lavender or baby blue would look really good on her. Argh, how many days until Xmas? I better get to work!!

New leg warmer pictures! Also Serena Cashmere cowl pictures!

It's been a while since I uploaded pictures! I really try to get a picture every post I think it makes my blog look so much better.

These leg warmers have really come in handy over the past few days. It has been so cold! My jeans just aren't warm enough anymore. Our house has really terrible heating so it feels cold all

the time now.

Now I have also uploaded the pictures for the Serena Cashmere Cowl! It is coming out well now that I figured out there is an error in the pattern. At first it has you dropping the wrong stitch! Naturally this seemed like it was a little strange so I did some research online and found out that other people were having the same issue and it wasn't just something weird about the pattern that I didn't understand.

Small delay in Serena Cashmere Cowl Pattern

The yarn is too small for this pattern but luckily I have 9 balls of the stuff. Now actually when I got the yarn I was just starting out as a knitter and I had decided to make a lace pattern. I had only a vague grasp of yarn sizes and I picked out this cheap yarn that I found on ebay. 9 balls of cashmere for $45 seemed like a good deal. What I didn't know yet was how very small 1 ply is. It was like trying to knit with thread. 

Luckily I have advanced past that stage and I now know all about yarn sizes but I still have those 9 balls to work with. Being a prolific knitter and a curious cat in general I have also been toying with spinning. Now I haven't done anything fancy but I have my fair share of drop spindles. So I have been spinning this 1 ply into 4 ply. I'll just spin 2 of the 4 ply balls together to get 8 ply. 

New pattern from Luxury Yarn One-skein Wonders

It's official! I have decided on a pattern, drumroll please, my next project will be... the Serena Cashmere Cowl!

It certainly looks cozy and I have some cashmere that should knit up well on sz6 needles. I know! I said that I would try to knit only with the suggested yarn but this is the perfect size and I've been looking for a piece to use this yarn for a long time now. I will gauge it first. I promise.

The only thing I am not sure about in this pattern are the straps. I mean why would you willingly put something to choke yourself with around your neck? It just seems strange.  Also, the pom poms at the end at not really my thing. Pom poms on hats are A-okay, but I think its strange when they appear in other places. It might be fun, I'm reserving judgement for now.

I bought the Luxury Yarns One Skein Wonders book today

I bought the Luxury Knits One Skein Wonders book today at Barnes and Noble. It is so wonderful! I just love getting new skeins of interesting fiber but they can be very expensive. The colors and the patterns are superb! I can't wait to start trying things out. 

I think with this book I will try to stick to the suggested yarns unless I absolutely cannot find them. Also I promised myself that I would try to knit a gauge for every piece too. Sigh, I guess winging it is no longer my MO, lol.

Right now I am in the process of finishing my hideous leg warmers and trying to pick out a pattern to start with. The weather is making me lean towards something like a pair of gloves or some nice socks, but there were also quite a few patterns for cute clutches. I really need something nice and a little smaller to carry around things for the day so I might end up making one of those. 

Trip to Santa Cruz

Today I took the day off from knitting, blogging, and working on my website and went to Santa Cruz with my friends Ashley and Christie. We went downtown for some lunch and then walked along East Cliff. I wanted to walk around the beach as well but there was so much seaweed on the shore today we decided to just walk along the road. It must have been around 80 degrees! It was really nice; like a little Indian summer in the middle of the holiday season.

This first picture is me being artistic and getting a nice silhouette. The lower picture is of my friends. Ashley was a little camera shy so I thought I should ask before I put up pictures of their faces on the internet. I figured their butts were free game.

Pink leg warmer photos

Here are the missing photos from last night. It's funny but the color in the photos is way better than in real life, lol. Also, while working with the yarn I noticed that there are some huge bulges that weren't worked in the strand well. I have decided to just work with it that way. These will be my hideous leg warmers.

Update: The other skein of this color is crunchy. I know it's weird. No bulges thought. I hope that it "uncrunches" when I wash it for the first time but if not it is official, these are my hideous leg warmers.

I'm working on some leg warmers

I am on a leg warmer kick. I guess it's because it is getting colder outside. Well, inside too because we really don't have any heating. These leg warmers will be a bright pink. I bought this yarn by accident thinking that it would be a vibrant red but it was not. 

Sorry for the lack of pics, I just can't work up the effort to take a picture and load it. It's almost 4 am right now and I still haven't been able to sleep. My mom was violently ill for no reason about one hour ago. She is the only person I know that will wake up in the middle of the night and vomit for no reason. Then she was surprised when I woke up and asked her if she wanted tea or water or something. I mean she was hacking and blowing chunks about 15 feet away from me, the least I could do was wake up. Also weird, but apparently barfing makes her feel tons better? I'm not surprised she tossed her cookies with what she ate and all. She was drinking the watery cheese in the Kentucky Fried Chicken mac and cheese. It was so gross I almost gagged right there.

Lol, and I thought I would sleep decently tonight! Jesus, I won't be able to sleep in either. I am sure that people will be calling in the morning too. Ugh, I should just unplug it now.

The Simpsons has really gone downhill

Gosh I just watched a recent episode of the Simpsons and it was the most formulaic and uninteresting episode I have ever seen. I always liked the Simpsons when I was younger but it is just terrible. It's like the writers all quit and they replaced it with a formula with a current events and memes variable.

Also they hate on Apple. I know that they're popular right now but that doesn't mean that they're bad! They aren't all good but they're not all bad either. I like them because their operating system is really stable. Within 2 days of getting a PC with Vista I managed to crash it. In the entire time I have had my laptop not only have I never crashed it, but I also have only had to force quit one program when a malicious script was running on Safari. 

New beanie hat

I made this beanie on commission for a friend. This hat is similar to another hat I made a few weeks ago. For this hat I did use a pattern, and I knitted it instead of crocheting. It's a really fun pattern and so easy to customize.

Update: Apparently my friend's father hates this hat. Which is fine, because he is a total douchebag. I hope that whenever he looks at this hat it hurts his pathetic little feelings.

This project I am not all that thrilled about. I didn't gauge, and it came out the wrong size. It is way to big! That is why you should always gauge.  Although the yarn may just be too thick for this pattern. I will have to do some experimentation.

Beanie from a new pattern

This beanie is from an absolutely new untried pattern that I found on the net! I really love the cute spiral star it creates on the top. I am also thrilled that I finally found a pattern that I could use for my two skeins of cashmere yarn. This hat is so soft! Soft and warm!

Today my friend and I are making pies for Thanksgiving. I am going to document the process and share it with you, my readers! I hope that you like pumpkin pie.

Knit bangles are all the rage

Have you seen the new knitted bangles? I first spotted this concept on the cover of Vogue knitting while I was perusing the sewing patterns in Joanns. Something jogged my memory today and I was able to find a pattern for them. I can't wait to try making a few with my left over yarn! I'm just not sure where to find the bangles. I might try at a thrift store first and if that doesn't work I'll try Ross or something.

Lovely stripped wool socks

Strangely enough this is actually the first pair of socks that I have ever knitted. Now it is not the first sock I have knitted; but it is the first time that I made a second sock to match the first. I don't know I just wasn't that into the gusset with my first pair, and because I used ribbing for the cuff when it isn't on your foot it looks quite ridiculous. Like a duck with a thin long neck and a big fat body. I guess it doesn't matter what it looks like when it's not on your foot, but somehow it disturbed my sensibilities.

I don't think that I will use the pattern again. It has a little problem with forming little holes where some of the joining was done. I think that I will stick with the more traditional cuff down, gusset, and kitchener stitch approach next time. Oh, I might even try the double knit approach to make two socks at once! It's been awhile since I tried continental knitting.

At first I wasn't all that thrilled about the yarn. It was a lot scratchier then the stuff I have been working with (merino). They're growing on me though. I think I will probably save these for hiking trips when I need an extra pair of socks to go over my under socks and stuff into my oversized hiking boots.

New fingerless gloves in green!

I love this pattern and working with Merino wool I finished up another pair of these fingerless gloves in a lovely forest green.

While I haven't been posting I have been knitting like crazy while I was away. I made socks, a new beanie pattern, and a head scarf. I was very excited about my new socks. While the wool that I ordered is a bit rougher than I thought it would be I really like the pattern. Also, these are some heavy duty socks so I can probably wear them over another pair when I am using my hiking boots. The beanie pattern was fun but not really my style. I am thinking about selling it on etsy.com, along with the extra fingerless gloves. The head scarf was a little disappointing, which I will get into later.

All finished with the fingerless gloves in purple!

I hope that's the effect of the flash and I'm not really that pale...

These fingerless gloves are all finished! I really love they way these look in purple. The cuff of these gloves is a little tight but I think that it will be fine for the recipient because she has much thinner arms than I do. 

Now I love merino wool but I wonder if Malabrigo is a good brand to use. I do love the softness, the color, and the effect of the hand dying on the wool but I am not sure that it stands up very well. Some of the pieces that I made just a few months ago are piling really badly. Will a wash help with these or should I just try to pick out the little pieces? Is this a product of the merino, the hand spinning, or just the brand? I know that handspun pieces are less sturdy and more likely to pile, but they are so much softer and I really value that in knitting pieces. Plus aesthetically I like the look of a thick homespun strand. I will have to experiment with some new brands.

Fingerless glove no. 1 finished!

I hope that you like the fingerless gloves so far. People always request that I make these longer and longer. Even when I have added quite a few rows to the original design it never seems to be long enough, lol. I have the same problems with scarves. People, or my friends at least, enjoy long thick scarves. Honestly, never commit to making a scarf for someone if they are 5'10'' or bigger. You'll spend a fortune on yarn, a long time knitting it, and they'll probably still think it's too short.

Can't sleep

It's 1 AM but I haven't been able to sleep. I lost track of time catching up with season 3 of Dexter and working on the fingerless handwarmers. Now my mom is snoring so loud I can't hear myself think.

I wonder if it is normal to snore that loudly? I sure hope that she doesn't have sleep apnea. It would explain a lot if she did though.

I'm sorry this is so off topic. I will post again only when I finish the handwarmers or if I see something really cool. Until then I am going to look for some earplugs.

All new purple fingerless mittens!

I started a new project making some fingerless mittens. I went out to dinner with my friend along with her family and because her mom treated I thought I would knit up a pair for her. It's funny my family is so strange that I end up going out to more family functions with Ashley's family than my own. No one there was our age either so I am glad that I went because she would have been totally alone with a bunch of teenagers and baby boomers with no one to talk to.

I really like this pattern; it's very simple, easy to remember, and looks great. I got it from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts. They have a lot of cute patterns but I usually stick to the fingerless mittens and the hats patterns lol.

You should check out the user submitted photos on amazon! The look awesome in all sorts of different yarn.

Chuck Bartowski is annoying me!

Argh I am so angry! I just watched the latest episode of Chuck and he is totally falling for his ex despite so many reasons not to. She didn't believe him when he was kicked out of Stanford, left him for his best friend without even a goodbye, and then suddenly shows up in his life and demands complete honesty from him. I hope they aren't going to drag this out much longer. 

Plus Chuck seems to have totally forgotten about Sarah. I mean it just seems out of character for him. Well, I guess not. I mean when Lou showed up he forgot about Sarah pretty quickly. Chuck is kind of shallow. Or maybe it is just low self esteem? He seems to fall in love with any pretty girl that gives him any sort of attention. Well as much as it annoys me I guess I have to admit that he's not all that deep.

All new merino leg warmers

As of late my apartment has been very cold. I recently found a pair of size nine sixteen inch circular needles with 66 stiches of stockinette. For the life of me I couldn't remember what I was making at the time. I was too thin for a hat, to big for gloves. I thought it might have been a sleeve but I think if I had planned to make a sweater I would have bought more yarn. I have just two skeins of it. For a short time I thought it was a leg warmer which made me really excited. 

After I finished a few more rows I realized that it was way too big to make leg warmers but I have always liked the look of the loose ankle socks Japanese girls wear. With the thick proportions of my generous calves I have always had trouble finding socks big enough, so I decided to just make them into leg warmers.

All in all, the project was pretty boring. Strait stockinette with get to anyone after long enough, but I persevered.

Update: I thought that these would work but they are way too loose and fall off as soon as I start walking lol. I'm keeping them as pajamas for now but I may end up making them into something else.

Custom crocheted merino hat

I finished the hat I started making! I like the way that it turned out, although the ears are a little off center. I was thinking about putting it on Etsy, but now I am not sure about it.

I especially like how the earflaps flip out! It kind of reminds me of lamb ears or something.

Update: Gave this hat away as a very early Xmas present

Why I voted and so should you

I voted today and I think you should too. There are so many important decisions to be made and if you can't spend an hour voting I think you should really reevaluate your lifestyle. 

I know that Obama will win California and I know that a lot of people think that this is a good reason to skip voting. Now off the top of my head I can tell you two reasons why this is stupid. 

No. 1, if enough people think that Obama is going to win and don't bother to vote, McCain will actually have a chance. McCain supporters are definitely all out voting today so don't let 2004 happen again. If you really think that California is completely democratic look at the election results by county. See all that red in the interior and down South? Those are republicans. We outnumber them, but a higher percentage of them actually vote.

No. 2, and probably more importantly, that isn't the only thing on the ballot! What about proposition 8? 10? These all have to do with your civil rights, the environment and your tax dollars! 

Now I have to speak out a little about prop 8. I have seen so many ads all over the internet, in grocery stores, and even people walking down the street with signs. I don't care what your stance on gay marriage is this is about equality. I don't care if you are straight, if you are gay, if you have gay friends and family, or if you're a total homophobe! These are people we are talking about! People that are lucky enough to have love and now our government is going to discriminate against it? Separate but equal does not work. Read Brown vs. the Board of Education. Separate institutions of marriage are inherently unequal and a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of the United States. 

By voting no on prop 8 I am protecting families. Families that love each other, raise children together, and want to grow old together. My final thoughts on the matter; if you don't support gay marriage don't have one. Don't take away such an important moment in someone else's life.

Making a new hat

So I stumbled across a little blue disk of Merino wool that I had made a few months ago but hadn't the foggiest idea what it was supposed to me. I looked at it thoroughly and decided that whatever it was meant for in the past now it was going to become a cute crocheted hat. I just started it last night, but I'm about half way finished with it now. I still haven't decided about what kind of trim I am going to us on it. I love the spirally look that just crocheting through the furthest loop gives it.

I love Merino wool! It is so soft and sooooo warm. I have a ton of it stockpiled for Christmas this year.

Oh! This morning I remembered what the project was supposed to be. I was making a little bear from Amigurumi! It's this book of crocheted animals. Very nice. I found my copy at Joann's but I also found it on Amazon. It's so cute! I would recommend it if you crochet at all and know any children or people who like cute little stuffed animals. 

Delicious Domo cake with pictures!

Okay so I made this cake a few days ago but it was definitely blog worthy. Besides, I don't want anyone to miss out on the awesome Domo-kun.

Who is Domo-kun? Well, frankly, have you walked into a Target in the past few months? He's that brown toothy fellow that has been showing up on everything Halloween related. Well my friend loves him so I decided to make a cake for her!

Here's what he's made of:

Box of yellow cake + 3 eggs, 1 1/3 cups water, and 1/3 cup oil

Milk Chocolate frosting

Homemade Marshmallow Fondant + food coloring

Junior Mints (eyes)

Actually making the cake was pretty easy. I didn't use a mold for the body I just baked the cake in a square mold and cut away until I had a nice body shape. This way will generate some stray cake pieces but my brother and his friend made short work of those lol. 

The only hard part was making the Fondant. Man that stuff is sticky! Of course I couldn't find any pastry gloves so while I was mixing in the food coloring for the tongue so my hands got all red. 

Also, check out these awesome playing cards! They come in a really cute Domo-kun tin too! I got them for my friend and we spent the whole night trying to remember how to play speed and war, and how they were different. Strangely the only game that I can remember how to play is Egyptian Rat Screw.

Welcome to my craft blog!

Hello and welcome to my craft blog! I like to think that I am a creative person and because I recently got a wonderful Canon 350D Rebel XT camera I thought I would share the crafts that I have made with the community. I like to knit, crochet, bake, cook, make soap, jewelry, take photos and try out new things! Stay tuned for more interesting posts!