OMG OMG OMG

Shirley, the organizer of the Pratchgan, just received this e-mail!!!!

Dear Shirley,

I’m sorry not to have come back to you earlier, but there seemed no time at
all between Edinburgh and the
Discworld Convention from which I returned only yesterday.

I am amazingly touched by all the work that has gone into the Pratchgan and
in the fullness of time hope to get a letter out to every single
contributor. I must confess to you that we are having real problems
positioning it here in the property! As a throw it could cover several
chairs at once. As a wall hanging
it would have been fine except that we would have to move the built in
bookcases on those walls big enough
to accommodate its width. That’s the thing about flat walls - they grow
bookcases. Currently it is hanging in a doorway in my library and even then
(bookcases again) we can’t tease it out to its full width and depth. I
really am beginning to wonder whether it should be carefully rolled onto an
ornamental scroll and brought out to be demonstrated to special visitors -
you know, like the Tora or Magna Carta, although obviously more sacred. It
seems an awful shame and I think we’ll see what we can do with the doorway
version. We are also going to experiment hanging it from the ceiling in the
way of regimental banners you see in cathedrals. At the moment the doorway
is pretty good, although I am worried about the weight of the material
distorting the Pratchgan.

I really am sorry to tell you all this because I know it was a labour of
love and kindness and is accepted
as such. I do kind of like the idea of having a sacred scroll in my office
and will ensure that it gets a box of suitable dignity. Rob is going to put
your photos and, if you do not object, this letter on
www.terrypratchett.com. In the meantime Patch, the office cat, is asleep on
the Librarian, who she seems
to find quite attractive.

Again, many thanks and best wishes.

Terry Pratchett

..... ZOMG! I cannot put into words how I feel! I am excited, and pleased, and... just overwhelmed! ^_^ I know I was just a teeny tiny part of this project, but I'm very proud of what we made and that Terry was pleased with it.

~Kero

Pratchgan 2008 - Mission Accomplished!

I know that there is no way I can possibly do the Pratchgan justice with words, so I will instead link you to the post of its organizer, who handed the Pratchgan over to Terry in person!



(My square is the third from the left on the top row!)

Accompanying the Pratchgan was the following letter, along with many letters from the people who contributed squares.

Dear Mr Pratchett,

The Ankh-Morpork Knitter's Guild is a group on the fibre arts website ravelry.com where fans can come together to indulge our passion for all things crafty as well as all things Discworld.

At the end of last year we were trying to think of a way to show our support following the news of your Alzheimer’s diagnosis and being a bunch of knitters and crocheters (not to mention spinners, weavers and dyers) we decided a Discworld-inspired afghan blanket was the way to go.

Since 26th December 2007 ninety-nine people from all over Roundworld have contributed a square or two, causing my postman to start giving me some very strange looks. The project thread on ravelry has been a joy as people suggested themes, egged each other on or just had a rant when a brilliant idea turned out not to be so brilliant after all. Somewhere along the way the project became known as The Pratchgan 2008 and the name has now firmly stuck.

We send you this gift and the accompanying letters with all our love, to let you know that a bunch of strangers are thinking of you and also with our thanks for all the years of laughter that your books have brought us. If you ever manage to find the time to join ravelry (a wee birdie has told us that you spin and weave so it’s not entirely outwith the realms of possibility that you might feel the urge to join some day) we’d be honoured to have you as a member of the Guild.

We hope you enjoy The Pratchgan and that it brings you as much pleasure as we’ve had creating it.

Warmest wishes,

Shirley (ravelry name cherryred)
On behalf of the Ankh-Morpork Knitter’s Guild

For more on the project, you can check out the Ravelry thread or the flickr pool. Also, a Google search turns up a lot of results. =) One of my favorites is here.

~Kero

Long Freakin' Post

Okay, so I've done quite a bit since last we met!

First off, I have some great new yarns in my stash. I have enough Lamb's Pride wool in Sun Yellow for a clapotis, as well as a skein of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino aran (gifts from my swap partner!). I have some really pretty palette yarn from Knit Picks, which may or may not become some socks. I also have all the yarn for my afghan, and some Mountain Colors Bearfoot in Deep Blue.


This will be a pair of socks.

Speaking of socks... Remember the StR Pebble Beach yarn I bought?






They are an amazing pair of socks, and I couldn't be happier with them. The pattern is Grapevine from "More Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. I used US #2 needles. I LOVED knitting with Socks That Rock yarn, and can't wait to buy more!

Next are the socks I made for a swap a while back, but couldn't post so my partner wouldn't see!


These were made using Traveling Vine from the same book as the previous socks. I used US #2 needles and Cascade Sassy Stripes sock yarn. My partner loved them! I love them too.

The other thing I made for my swap partner was a little knitted elephant. I had to make one for myself, because it was SO cute!


I kept the one on the left, and his name is Francis. Both were knitted on US #3 needles.

I've been working diligently on my afghan, and it's coming along nicely. Right now it has three balls of yarn in it, with twelve or so left to go!


This is the beautiful pile of Cascade 220 superwash yarn that is waiting to join the afghan.


And this is the afghan so far! It's getting really heavy!

Next is the pair of socks I'm making for Becky. I've finished one, and just finished the gusset of the other.




The pattern is really nice in person!

Other than those things, I have almost finished the Neopolitan scarf, and I promised Becky I'd knit a little Yellephant (yellow elephant, get it?) to go with Francis. Sooner or later I'll be doing a post of non-knitted crafts I've done, but Friday I'm going home for the summer and don't know when I'll be online next.

~Kero

Nothing New

So... I've been teh suck at both knitting AND updating lately. I still owe y'all pictures from my swap, as well as an update on my afghan (it's HUGE!!) and the socks I'm making from my pebble beach yarn. I haven't had much time to knit lately, and I have a couple of things I have to finish before I can get wrapped up in my knitting again. However, the semester is over in four weeks and without internet access all summer, I will knit a ton. A shit ton, even.

Knitting goals:

• Finish scarf
• Finish afghan
• Start clapotis
• Finish second sock
• Start yellephant for Becky
• Lots of other things.

That will occupy me for a while. Pics when I'm not being a bum!

~Kero

New Name

So, I've decided that "Knitty-Gritty" is a little generic and overused, so I'm witching to a term Becky uses quite often: Creative Tangling. ^_^

In other news, my swap partner received! Pics coming soon. <3
~Kero

A Few Pics

I got around to photographing my StR yarn. God, pictures don't do it justice.



Also, I've been slowly handing out the gifts that were meant for Christmas, and here's a picture of my friend Eilene with her set.



Lastly, Becky recently made what we like to call the Monster Scarf. The thing is at least a foot wide and about ten feet long, made out of burly spun wool. To give you an idea of how long it is, here's Eilene wearing it as a dress.



Also, all of my swap items are packed in a box, ready for mailing. So excited!!
~Kero

ZOMG!

My Socks that Rock yarn came today! I had never seen any in person before, and it is AMAZING! The colors are so vibrant and lovely, and it feels so soft... I hope I can pick a pattern that suits them! I am really excited to start using this yarn...

In other news, Becky and I participated in our residence hall's craft night last night. Sadly, only about four people showed up, but we did manage to send them all home with yarn and needles, as well as some knitting basics. Everyone learned how to cast on and knit, a couple learned how to purl, and one girl was even doing ribbing and binding off by the time we were through. It was a lot of fun.

I have finished EVERYTHING for my swap! I'm going to go pack it now so it'll be ready to send out tomorrow!

~Kero

I'm a Bad Person...

... For three separate reasons!

Reason #1: I should be studying.

Reason #2: I haven't updated here in forever.

Reason #3: I spent a ton of money on yarn, some of which includes...


Cascade Sassy Stripes sock yarn. It's really pretty, and nice to knit with.


Some Noro Silk Garden. Not sure what to make with it...

My first skein of Socks That Rock, in the colorway called Pebble Beach. The socks I make from this yarn are going to be mine. ^_^

Knit Picks fingering weight Palette Yarn in Rainforest Heather. Absolutely beautiful!

Becky also bought a butt-load of yarn, and finished her first sock last night! Yay her!

WIP Update... The afghan is hibernating because I'm a little busy at the moment.



Same goes for the Neopolitan scarf. I'm doing a swap on Craftster right now, and it's been fun so far. It's a yarn-related scavenger hunt swap, and we have to send one item from each of the following categories:
1. Something green
2. Something related to the letter "T"
3. Something hard
4. Something funny
5. Something local
6. Something round
7. Sender's choice

I have my round, green, local, and funny taken care of. "T" is halfway done, Sender's choice is halfway done, and hard is almost finished. I don't have to send out until March 19th, but I plan to get done this weekend. After my partner receives, I'll be sure to post what I sent!!

I don't think I've mention this, but one of mine and Becky's favorite authors, Terry Pratchett, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's very recently. In response, the fan group on Ravelry organized the making of an afghan to be sent to him. A bunch of people are submitting blocks, and the middle it's going to say "I aten't dead." I did a square based off of a character named Nobby Nobbs.



I promise it's SUPPOSED to look ugly. Nobby is described as having almost every known (and some unknown) skin colors, boils, and has to carry a certificate proving he's human. I think I pulled that off, yeah? My first time with bead work. I'm so damn proud. All of the Pratchgan squares submitted so far can be seen here. I'll link to pictures of the afghan when the whole thing is finished as well.

I think that's all I've been up to lately... And I have a test I need to study for. I promise a real update soon!

~Kero

Pic-Chubby Post: Yarn and FOs!

I know I talked about free wool a little bit in my last post. I have since e-mailed Bernat to try and find out how old it is, and I've taken a few photos of the labels. Here's my pile of wool (this is excluding the stuff Becky was given):



Here's a close-up of the Bernat Meadowspun:



And the Glenspun:



There was also a skein of Companion 3-ply yarn. It's reeeally soft.



All-in-all, there's some really nice yarn. I'm looking forward to turning it into socks.

Now for some FOs! My swap partner received her mug warmer, so I can post a picture of it now.





The pattern can be found here. I used Caron Simply Soft in Deep Teal Heather on US #8 needles. This was a really quick knit, I had it done in an evening.

Also, a (mostly) finished snatchel!





It still needs ovaries, I'm afraid. I knitted this on US #6 and #7 DPNs, using several different types of yarn. Also, I used 2-stitch i-cord for the drawstring instead of crocheting a chain. I love the way this turned out! It's almost too cute to be vulgar. ^_^

I'm working on the commissioned scarf, which I've decided looks like neopolitan ice cream. I'm also working on my afghan, but had to start over when I figured out I had cast on 224 stitches instead of 225. *sighs* At least I was less than twenty rows in.

Back to work.
~Kero

Free Wool and Snatchels

So, what have I been working on since my last post? I have been making a commissioned scarf, I made a gift for a swap, and I started on a snatchel. Mwa ha ha. Mine is much more feminine and a little larger, but I think it's beautiful. I originally made it to be given away at the Vagina Monologues Raffle, but I don't think they're doing one this year so I'll either keep it or give it to someone (and I have just the someone in mind).

Also, a little LYS love: We were given a bag full of free wool! Mostly fingering weight and in some strange colors, but still! And we're kind of sure that some of it is a little old, but it's going to make lovely things nonetheless. I'll post a stash-pile when I get bored.

Okay, I have homework to get to and a snatchel (tee hee) to knit. Peace!
~Kero

Winter Break FOs

Hello!! Here are some FOs, as promised.

I'll start off with the hats. The first hat was knit as a Christmas present for my dad. The pattern is the New York Hat. I used US #6 needles and Caron Simply Soft in Dark Country Blue. Dad really seems to like the hat. He wore it all day after I gave it to him, and has had it one every time I've seen him outside.



Next is a hat I knit for a friend, Brandon, as a wedding present. This hat is called 1337 Hat Redux, and was my first attempt at intarsia. I like the way it came out! This hat is actually two hats knit together at the brim, and then the plain one is stuffed inside the decorated hat as a liner. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Black and Lemonade on US #7 needles.





The project I'm the proudest has to be the socks. I call them my Johnny Socks, because after I turned the heel of the first sock I declared that its name was Johnathan (I name everything!!). I knitted these socks in about a week, and they fit like a dream! I am very pleased that my first socks turned out so well. It's hard to tell, but thet have a cabled pattern. The yarn is Brown Sheep Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn in Elderberry. I used four US #2 DPNs.





And last but not least, here is the yarn that I hand-painted over the holidays. There's about 450 yards of worsted weight silk yarn there, and I'm planning on knitting a hat and wrist warmer set. I call the colorway Silkberry because I can't think of anything better.





And that's all for now! I have one hat in the works, I ordered the yarn for my afghan today, I'm getting ready to start a scarf, and I'm contributing a square for the Terry Pratchett Afghan (or "Pratchgan"). Busy busy busy! And to think, school starts in a few days!

~Kero

Didja Miss Me?

So! I'm back from break, which means I have internet again! Although being without internet a whole month gave me plenty of time for knitting! My next post will contain two hats, some hand-dyed yarn, and a pair of socks! I can tell you're all thrilled. ^_^

Be back soon!
~Kero