O-wool

I finally busted out the O-Wool Balance that I had bought on the internet. Since I didn't think it would be a good yarn substitution for Le Slouch, I found a hat pattern on the O-Wool website that was cute. Knitting with this yarn isn't that all that nice. The finished product feels good but while knitting the yarn is so dry that my hands were getting sore.

I went up a needle size because I have an enormous head. If I would have used the correct needle size, my hat would have been uncomfortably small, but now my hat is just a little too big. I probably won't rip it out though, at least not any time soon. I have one more skein left and I think I am going to use it to make Knitty's pattern, Knucks.
I'll try to post pictures of my Fad Classic progress and another small project I am working on to finish off the last of my Malabrigo from my fingerless mitts.

Another finished project!

Wow, two finished projects in as many days, I am feeling good. These are my fingerless mitts all finished and beautiful. One thing I don't have to worry about is warmth, I wore them for five minutes while Jim took pictures and my arms are hot. I suppose that could also be because I live in Chicago and it is July. Wait until January and then I'll be complaining that my fingers are cold.

A FO, finally.

Lately I have been spending so much time researching new yarn and patterns and then starting new projects, that I feel like I haven't finished something in a long time. Don't worry, I have been knitting, but I pick up a different project to work on everyday. Well, last night sat down with some movie that Jim put in about Denver, CO and a glass of wine and finished my enormous bright blue scarf. I knew I wanted this scarf to be just ridiculous in length...I measured it and it is 130 inches. That is 10.8 feet, or 3.3 meters to those of you outside the States. I can comfortably wrap it around my neck three times and the tails still hit right at my waist. Chicago winters are nasty, nasty business and I don't mess around with my winter wear.

(the picture is horrible, this is the best of the 6 that Jim took of me last night. I have red eyes and the all of you get to see my laundry behind me in the hall. Oh well.)

I used three skeins of Cascade Yarns, Baby Alpaca Chunky and size 11 needles. The entire thing is k1, yo, k2tog. I love this yarn, it was on sale at my LYS and when I went back, I bought more in a creamy off white color. I've been holding off to buy the needles I need to start my Fad Classic because I would like to finish Jim's scarf first. For those of you who remember, Jim's scarf is just garter stitch using Malabrigo yarn. I love the yarn (I'm bought more and am using it for my fingerless mitts) but when I know I could be knitting something with pattern, garter stitch just doesn't seem that exciting.

Beginnings of a Yarn Stash

Ok, book finished. Everyone needs to reed the Harry Potter series, they just do. Also, anyone who is a fan needs to read the last book before people start talking and ruin it for you. It was fantastic.

Back to normal posting... I never posted pictures of the yarn I bought from Purl. The yarn comes wrapped up so nice.

The O-Wool is supposed to be for my Le Slouch hat. This is part of my fear of ordering yarn online, it doesn't feel like it will hang right for the pattern, too much cotton. I should have expected that, lesson learned. It can always be used for something else. Besides, this will help out my 'stash envy'. All the yarn I have bought has been for specific projects that I just haven't started. I'm not at a point that I can walk into a store and buy some yarn just because I like it and find a project later. I'm not sure how much to buy of one thing and I would be disappointed if I bought, say, 5 skeins and then I found the perfect pattern and that pattern needs 6. But little accidents like this O-Wool situation, starts my stash! I'm sure it won't take long before I get the hang of buying yarn just to buy it.

The Cascade 220 is meant for a pair of gloves or socks or something. Probably for Jim because the green isn't exactly a green that I like to wear but looks very handsome on him. Sorry, in the picture it looks brown. I need to figure out sunlight vs. flash to show colors correctly. Originally, I was nervous that this yarn would be too itchy, but it is actually quite nice.

Harry Potter is here!

Just because I haven't posted in a few days, don't think I haven't been knitting. I had a wedding to go to in Wisconsin, drove to Kankakee to see Jim's family, had a birthday that involved an all night sushi feast, and now, Harry Potter! Rough week. I am about half way through The Deathly Hallows and should resume posting in a couple more days.

Orange gloves.

One half of Dashing is done! I was originally planning on knitting Fetching but decided I liked this simpler design better.

Yarn bought at 3:30pm, yarn arrived home at 4pm, yarn was on the needles at 4:30pm. No point in messing around when I get to try something new. The left glove turned out well. I was a little unsure of knitting the thumb. In fact, that is my only complaint about the first glove, the holes from picking up stitches along the side of the thumb opening seem a little big.

Overall I am very pleased. Especially considering this was my first project with cables. Cable knitting is far easier than people make you believe. I will have to look into scarf or hat patterns with a few cables thrown in.

About a minute after I started knitting with this yarn, I wondered why I bought bright orange yarn. I usually stick to neutrals or blue/greens. But, I love the orange! I like orange, just never thought it was a color that I wore well. However, a little bit peeking out from a coat on the hands will be just perfect.

Onto glove #2!

UPS MAN!!!!!

My first ups package of yarn arrived today. Not the order I posted about... I may have, you know, accidentally bought more yarn the next day. In just a few days I have managed to go from extreme nervousness about buying yarn online to 'wow, that was easy.. click, click, click... more yarn!' But this yarn will be part of a big step for me as a knitter. I'm doing it. I am going to knit a garment. I must give some credit to my bravery of knitting the first sweater vest to Jen at Law & Garter. She has been knitting about as long as I have and her blog is filled with pictures of garments! I need to stop hiding behind this 'beginning knitter' thing and get out there. I bought Wendy Bernard's design Fad-Classic from Knit and Tonic. The pattern uses Tahki Cotton Classic yarn and I thought it would be best to stick to the pattern as much as possible the first time around. So, I bought Tahki Cotton Classic yarn but in a deep teal color. Progress pictures to come soon...

I hate our crappy car. I love my boyfriend.

The Jim scarf had been put on hold. I finished the one skein I had of Malabridgo yarn and Jim looked at the scarf and said, "that is way too short." My reply was, "well, I thought you wanted a really short scarf to just tuck into the top of your coat." "Yeah, if am I only three feet tall. And what coat do you think I am wearing that buttons all the way up to my neck?"Yesterday I got in the car to make a 'quick trip' to the store to buy the second skein of Malabrigo for Jim's scarf. I was driving north on Lincoln Ave and about a block away, I realized that Rock around the Block was going on. Chicago has neighborhood fests all summer long; in July and August there is one just about every weekend. This neighborhood fest was in between me and my yarn. I realized I wasn't going to find parking and turned around to go home, the yarn would have to wait for another day. When I was about a mile and half away from home, the car dies. The service engine light went on then.. nothing. After trying to restart a few times, I called Jim. He walked the mile and a half to get the car while saying, "don't worry we can still get you to the store!" and, "I see you, I am a block away. I'll save you!" (while waving his arms dramatically above his head) We got home, hopped on the scooter, got to the store, bought the Malabrigo (and more) and were home before 4pm. What a man!

Was it worth it? Oh, yeah!

The yarn I went to the store for is the Malabrigo in Rich Chocolate. I also bought another skein of Malabrigo, two of Cascade Yarns, Baby Alpaca Chunky, and two balls of Bambini Soft. I've never heard of the Bambini Soft. It was made in Italy and most of the tag is written in Italian. I can tell you, however, that it is 54% pure new wool, 24% nylon, and 22% cotton. Not sure what I will use it for but there were only two balls left and they were on sale. Overall a very satisfying Sunday.

Blast from the Past

I was recently at my parents house and my mom had found old boxes of my stuff. Among the boxes was a crochet project I started when I was around 11. I plan on finishing it, I'm just not sure how to do it yet. It is supposed to be a blanket. When you are 11, a blanket doesn't need to be that wide. This blanket covers my shins and feet, if I never move. I have more of the yarn I used so I think I might just crochet another piece and seam them together (I don't think anyone will notice because the blanket is already pretty...well, lets just say you can tell an 11 year old made it). Nerdy side point: I remember working on this project while roller blading. Yes, while roller blading. I had the yarn in a backpack and rode around the neighborhood while crocheting. If I saw someone doing that now I would think, "What the hell is wrong with that person? That isn't safe. Who rolls around the neighborhood while roller blading? What a freak." and on, and on. But hey, that's just what kind of person I was while in grade school. I was cool like that.

New Yarn

Yesterday morning I bought yarn online...for the first time. I am nervous. As I have stated before, I don't really know anything about yarn, but I want to. I figure the best way to find out is to just buy some! Good for me, not so good for my budget.

Ok, I bought Cascade Yarns 220 in yakima heather for a pair of manly socks. It is 100% pure new wool. Hopefully it isn't too itchy for socks. I am trying to make slightly baggy, slipper-type socks.

Also in my shopping basket is O-Wool Balance in opal. This is supposed to be for Knit and Tonic's Le'Slouch pattern. The pattern calls for Classic Elite Yarn, City Lights which has some sparkle in it. I don't think I am down with the sparkle. The O-Wool is 50% organic merino, 50% organic cotton. At least it will be soft!

If the yarn doesn't work out, I can always use it for something else. But this is why the two times I have bought yarn, I have gone to the store to ask the very knowledgeable staff their opinions. However, yesterday I had to work from noon to eight, the stores were only open while I was at work, and well, I wanted to buy something. Is that wrong?

A Few Ripples!

I have a few rows of ripples done for my blanket. I am afraid the colors have taken a turn for the ugly. My plan was to blindly reach into my very large box of old yarn that I got from my grandma and whatever color I came out with was my next row. Perhaps I should start paying a little more attention. Maybe it will turn out to be one of those things that is 'kinda ugly but in a cute way.'

Also, just because it is cute: My new job is at The Animal Medical Center of Chicago and this is a cat that we are trying to find a home for (hoping the owner will let us keep as the house cat). His name is Kipling. On my break yesterday, I hung out with Kipling while I worked on Jim's scarf and he was very interested in the bottom of my knitting bag. He normally has very lovey dovey eyes, he just doesn't like the flash on my camera.

Toys from Knitty

I can't believe it! I forgot to list Pasha the penguin with my completed projects post while back. Pasha is a free pattern at Knitty. I remember her because I was finishing up Norberta the dragon and she needed somewhere to live. I don't really have the kind of house that allows space for stuffed toy decorations, so I put them on the bookcase. This are fun, fast projects that let me practice shaping but don't require a big commitment. However, after finishing Norberta, I am seriously considering going to the store and getting better colored cotton yarn to make a nice version of her as a gift for someone. I think they are just adorable, perhaps I will give them to my little cousin. (or selfishly keep them forever on my bookshelf)

Sushi Night

I have been, until recently, in job search mode. Jim and I decided that when I got a job, I was taking us out for sushi. We went to Bob San and it was delicious. A few days later we decided we needed sushi again but choose not to leave the house. About thirty minutes later, fresh sushi was at our door. Mmmm...I wonder if you have the same feeling as we do when we eat sushi. So full, you can't even think about eating another bite. Then about fifteen minutes later (when the sushi is gone) you think that a couple more pieces would taste fantastic. Sound familiar?

Well, I saw a pattern for these online (MagKnits.com) and made Jim some more sushi. A little salmon roll, wasabi, and ginger. Jim wanted to know where the soy sauce was, I told him to shut up and enjoy his knit sushi. Overall, he thought it was hilarious. I'm sure this will be one of those things that only we find funny. Oh well. (Sorry about the bad picture, I shouldn't have used the flash.)

Yarn Bag

While searching the internet for new, fun, free patterns to try out, I found this at Knituition.blogspot.com: It is a yarn bag to hold a single ball of yarn while you are on the go. I love this idea! I would like to take my projects with me on the bus trips to and from work but I don't want to carry my purse and a knitting bag with my project because I would be in the way of other passengers. Nothing is more annoying than the person on the bus or El during rush hour who has just a ridiculous amount of crap with them. Where are they going that they need a large purse, a shopping bag filled with who knows what, a book bag and a briefcase? Can't you consolidate your stuff so you don't have a bag hanging off of you in every direction?

Anyway, I can take a small project with me and then put my yarn and needles into my purse when I am done and I don't have to worry about my yarn falling on the floor or being in the way of others. In case you were wondering, I only carry enormous purses with me and that is why this would fit in my purse. So many people make fun of the large purse trend going on right now but I think it is great. When you live in the city and take public transportation you need room to carry enough stuff to be prepared for anything. For example, my purse currently has sunglasses, my camera, my phone, my wallet, a headband or hair tie, lotion, fingernail file and clippers, my i-pod, a small journal with pen, and when it starts to get cold, a hat.