Goodbye, Christmas. See you again next year.

Whoa, where have I been? The older you get the more stressful Christmas seems to be. Remember the days when all you had to do was wake up Christmas morning? There was no shopping, no traveling, and no splitting time between families. Those were the days.

Anyway, in the upcoming weeks there may be some posting that isn't knitting related. I was much more into crafts when I was younger and learning to knit has got me started up again. I received some great books that I am really looking forward to getting into once I settle down from all the holiday action:I also got 2 years subscription to Martha Stewart Living. What a lucky, lucky girl I am!

Creepy?

Does anyone else think this picture is a little creepy? It is the Kitty pattern from the Winter issue of Knitty. Once I scrolled down and saw the second picture, I felt a little better. But that first picture, man. Creepy.

Le Slouch

Because I mentioned it, here is Le Slouch:This was finished while the camera was broken and I never bothered with this post. It is, of course, Le Slouch by Wendy of Knit and Tonic. I used Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight yarn in black.
So...maybe I like black hats. Don't judge me.

Oh, a hat.

Another slouchy hat? Yes, please!Pattern: Sea Urchin Hat

Needles: US size 10 circs and dpn

Yarn: Knit Picks Cadena in coal, just over 1 skein

Modifications: I only made the hat about 5.5" before starting the decrease rounds because I didn't want it to be that slouchy.

Yes, it is similar to the Le Slouch that I made but that hat is made of sport weight yarn and this one is bulky yarn. (I just realized I never posted Le Slouch here, you can find it on Ravelry though.) This will actually be a great warm hat when it starts to get really cold.

I'm really starting to wonder how many hats one person really needs. Well, the most basic answer would be one. To keep a head warm, one hat would be needed. Alright, add in the fact that I am a female: two more hats. Take into consideration I am knitting them myself: two more hats. I live in Chicago and it is really cold here: another hat, maybe. I ride the bus and the subway and hats seem to be left on seats at least once a year: one hat for every hat lost. How many is that? Seven hats; seven hats are necessary for a girl who knits living in Chicago. How many do I have? Well, lets just say we are currently in double digits. How many have I made myself? Four...in the last three months. So, I need just a few more and I'll be set.

Really?

So I saw this post on Re:Knit and just starred at it with a gaping mouth. I absolutely love this. It is made by an artist named Rachel Denny and you can find more examples of her work at her website racheldenny.com.My childhood home is decorated with not one, not two, but three deer heads. One of which, lucky for my mother, is in my parents' bedroom. While I am a vegetarian, I still love the aesthetic and homey feeling this represents for me. A knit deer head is a perfect compromise. I really can't afford a $550 knit deer head right now but maybe someone will be generous for Christmas. Is it silly that I do really, really want this?

Take that, Harry Potter.

It's finished, it's finished! That dang Harry Potter scarf that has been giving me an ulcer is finally finished, tassels and all. I was thinking that this scarf would be a lot longer than it is. But, I've followed the pattern exactly and there is no chance that I will make it any longer.

Now on to more Christmas knittng....

Lace knitting?!?!

I've read online that people who try lace knitting for the first time are often frustrated and feel like it is learning to knit all over again. It can't be that hard, can it? These people have probably known how to knit for most of their lives and don't remember learning to knit. I'm still fresh, still learning, it won't be that hard for me.

Well, yesterday I cast on with my newly purchased knit picks yarn. No pattern in mind, I wanted to knit a few rows garter stitch and then stockinette stitch just to get the hang of it before I started in on a pattern. All my feelings of, 'it can't be that hard,' went out the window. This is hard. I have cast on and then ripping out different shawl patterns five times in hopes of finding a pattern that will work better than the previous one. Eventually I am going to have to suck it up and just pick one and come to terms with the fact that the finished product isn't going to look very nice.

To all you lace knitters out there: you are all crazy and I am envious of your skill and patience.