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

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

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

Cabling AND Intarsia!

So Becky bought me this really cool yarn, so I took a break from my Christmas knitting to make something for myself. I know, I'm terrible.

This is my first (finished) cabled project. The pattern is called Bamboozled and I really love the way this turned out. The yarn is Ellyn Cooper's Yarn Sonnets Caribe Irisee and the colorway is called Misha. I used six needles. This only took about a day to knit up.




Detail of the cabling.

I love this headband and have worn it a ton since I made it!

I'm also working on my first ever intarsia project. Wish me luck!
~Kero

i can has sock yarn?

I finally got a photo of the hat I just finished! This is the one I made to match my star scarf.



Cute, eh? I'll post a pic of the recipient after I give it to her, it's going to look ten times more adorable on her.

Also, here's the lovely sock yarn I bought!



I hope I don't fail at sock-making. Wish me luck?

Headband is going well, I just didn't get around to taking a picture of it. Oh well, it will be a surprise! Mwa ha ha!
~Kero

Change Your Mind

Well, I decided that the pithy hat was not turning out like I had hoped, so I frogged it. Instead, I cast on the Blanche hat. I'm already finished! It was a really quick knit. It's also very lovely. This was made to match the star scarf, and I'll try and get picture of it and the set up tomorrow. I have also promised to help Becky update her blog, so hopefully I can be productive.

I've decided to hold off on the butterfly scarf and finish all my other gifts first. If I don't get it all done by Christmas, everyone will at LEAST get one gift and then I can give them the second part as I finish.

Next thing to do: Find a hat to match my Wavy scarf.

Oh, and btw.... I bought sock yarn!! Now if only Becky will finish her pair of socks so that I can steal the needles. ^_^
~Kero

A Buttload of FOs

All finished and photographed!! Warning: Picture heavy!

I'll start with the calorimetries. The pattern can be found here.


This is the first calorimetry I made, which turned out way too large. It was knit on US #6 needles with Bernat Softee Chunky. It lacks a button or woven in ends because I haven't decided whether I should frog it or not.





This is the calorimetry I made for myself. I used Noro Silk Garden and US #6 needles. This is my first non-acrylic project. I used the same alterations as I did with the brown calorimetry.



This is the one I made for Becky. I cast on about 112 stitches for this one. It looks great on her! I'll try to make her let me take a picture. I used Caron Simply Soft Deep Plum Heather on US #6s.

Next is the scarf.





This is the double-knit star scarf I've been working on for ages. I used Caron Simply Soft in black and Autumn red, knitted on US #7s. The pattern is here.

Last but not least, a couple of hats.





My beautiful butterfly hat. I am sorely tempted to keep this, but I think I'm going to make one for myself in blue. This was knitted on US #5 and #7 circular needles. The yarn is Caron Simply Soft in Plum Wine. I love this hat SO much!



Oh, Jayne hat, how I love thee. This is supposed to be Jayne Cobb's hat from the series Firefly. The pattern calls for wool or cotton, but I used Caron Simply Soft in Autumn red, mango, and lemonade. This is a gift for a friend, and I'll try to get a picture of her wearing it. This was knitted on US #10.5 circulars.

Well, that's all I got! Now I only have one WIP: Becky's scarf, which is hibernating. I need to get started on a few more things!
~Kero

Accomplished!

Well, I got a lot of work done tonight! I wove in the ends on my star scarf, finished the butterfly hat (my first time working on double-pointed needles), and wove in the ends/sewed the button on my calorimetry! The pink button I planned on using went missing, but I found a nice brown one instead. :) Also, I did one ear flap on the Jayne hat and am working on the second. dare I try to finish it tonight?

Pictures will be along shortly, I swear! I just have to finish picking the dog hair off of everything...
~Kero

Happy Birthday, Becky!!!

I had to work today, so I took the butterfly hat along to work on. I got pretty far! I'm a little worried that it might end up sitting too far off my head, but it isn't for me anyway. I also got the button sewed Becky's calorimetry and the ends woven in using my brand new tapestry needles! Becky bought me a set with three different sizes in a cute little case, and the smallest actually fits through the holes on the button. The calorimetry fits Becky perfectly and she loves it, so yay me! Now if I could ever finish her skull scarf...

Just for the record, I'm terribly jealous of the sock she's making.
~Kero

A Couple FOs! Rejoice!

Yaaaaay! I won't keep you waiting any longer!

The first project is the Windy City Scarf from Stitch 'n Bitch. I knitted this on US #7 needles (smaller than the pattern calls for) and I cast on a few extra stitches. I should have made it longer, but didn't realize that until I had already changed colors. I used Caron Simply Soft in Denim and Chocolate. This is a gift for a friend.


The scarf in all its glory.


A detail shot of the colors.

Now for the calorimetry... I edited the pattern so that it would actually fit me (this is only after a beautiful but failed first try). I cast on 106 stitches and used needles two sizes too small (US #6). Then I only worked about twelve or so short rows (I kind of just eyeballed it... When I got it half as wide as I wanted it, I started increasing again. It fits me perfectly! Too bad it's meant to be a gift. This is a fast knit, though, so I will certainly make more. This is done in the same Chocolate yarn as the scarf, and I plan on doing some Denim blanket stitching around the edges.


Here it lies...


And an action shot, just for fun.


And finally, the two together.

Thanks for looking!
~Kero

Pattern Woes

I finished another project! Go me! My calorimetry is off the needles and... much too large for my cute little head. However, it fits the girlfriend, so I may give it to her. Or I may just frog it and then redo it with few stitches and rows. Had I been a good girl and done my homework, I would have discovered they nearly everyone has had the exact same problem with the pattern, and I could have saved myself hours of work had I looked around. :( However, I am starting another one with smaller yarn and fewer stitches, so we'll see how it goes.

Number of times I had to explain what a "calorimetry" was today: 7

I promise I'll post some pictures soon! I'm just too damn busy at the moment. Do you still love me?
~Kero

Calor-whaty?

I finally finished my keyhole scarf! Yaaaaay! But, I lied: I haven't been working on finishing my star scarf. No, instead I let myself be sucked in to making a calorimetry. Oh well.

I don't have time to post pics tonight, but I'll try to tomorrow. Laters!
~Kero

Another Scarf, Anyone?

This is my second ever FO. I used the knitty pattern Wavy with a few variations. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn and US #7 needles. I used fire colors (black, red, orange, yellow) and then reversed the colors. This is a gift for a friend of mine who really likes fire, so I hope she likes it! Also, despite my love of fringe, I decided that this scarf looked fine without it.


This is the scarf laid out so you can see the pattern.


Hanging up.


Aaaand an action shot, modeled by yours truly.

That's all for today!
~Kero