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

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

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

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

Failz0rs...

The butterfly scarf is causing problems. No matter what I do, it curls. Actually, right now it's folding down the middle. Do I keep knitting it and hope for the best, or do I give up before I waste another day?

In any case, I have cast on the pithy hat. It got off to a rocky start, but is now coming along nicely. :)
~Kero

There's a Low Moon Caught in Your Tangles

I hate tangled yarn balls. Hate hate hate. I decided to take my knitting to class today, and had to sit and untangle yarn for an hour. -.-

I'm still working on the scarf, so yay me. I'm a little worried that this is going to cut into the time I need for other projects, but Becky said she might help me with the hats. <3

All right then, work to be done!
~Kero

To-Do List

I just want to keep track of where I'm at project-wise. Right now the only thing I have on needles is Becky's scarf, so I can start a few more projects.

Hats:

• Black calorimetry for Christen
• Blue butterfly hat for myself
• Wavy hat for Kelly
• Pithy hat for Eilene
• Sock hat for my dad
  

Scarves:

• Finish skull scarf for Becky
• Butterfly scarf for Casey
• Ribbed scarf
  

Other:

• Afghan for me
• Towel toppers for my grandma

Not too bad, I guess... Only six of these need to be done by Christmas, so I have right around 25 days to finish everything up. That's about 4 days per thing, and the calorimetry will only take one day. I should probably start the butterfly scarf first, because I think that will take the longest.

...I think I'm going to go get started. ^^;;;;; Wish me luck!
~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

The Not-So-Happy Hooker

I finally finished the star scarf!! It's great. I don't like the way the bind off end flares out while the cast on end is square, but it isn't very noticeable. I think Cody ate my tapestry needles, so weaving in the ends will have to wait. I am really really proud of it, though, and I can't wait to give it to its new owner.

Before I worked on that for the night, my mom attempted to teach me how to crochet. I'm pretty sucky at it, but I might get it with practice. I still think knitting is way cooler (no offense), but I would like to be able to do both. In return, I tried teaching mom to knit. She has arthritis pretty bad, but she did a really good job for her first time. She did a row of knit and a row of purl with minimal trouble. She had a little trouble realizing it was harder to backtrack than in crochet, and that it was also harder to fix mistakes, but I think that if she practices she'll get it in no time.

I'm casting on Becky's calorimetry (I have the pattern memorized by now) so that I can work on it tomorrow in between stuffing my face. With any luck, I'll have it finished before Becks gets back from Texas.

Oh oh oh! While I was tearing the house apart looking for a tapestry needle, my mom took a crochet hook to the brown calorimetry. It's good as new! I can tell the dog got a hold of it at all! Crisis officially averted.
~Kero

It's a Dog-Eat-Knitting World

I mentioned Cody in the last post, right? Well, since he was in a new place we wanted him to stay inside for the first night. I'm not used to having a puppy around the house (especially a three feet high puppy), so I didn't put all of my knitting away like I should have. To make a long story short, Cody tried to eat the brown calorimetry. It looks like he ripped out a few stitches, but I haven't examined it closely enough to see if it's ruined. At least they don't take long to make... If he had tried to eat the star scarf, I would be pissed.

Speaking of the scarf, I've decided it only needs 14 stars instead of 15. Two left to go! I think I may stay up and finish it, but you'll just have to hear about that tomorrow.
~Kero

Dog Hair: NOT Suitable for Knitting

One of my dogs died last week, and as a result both my mom and the remaining dog were terribly depressed. Mom decided to get another dog, and after an unsuccessful trip to the animal shelter a friend of mine brought over a stray she had found. His name is Cody and he's a great dog, but he sheds like crazy and is still enough of a puppy (age-wise, not size-wise) that he wants to get in your lap. Because of this, all of the knitting I took home to work on is covered in coarse white hair. I am not looking forward to picking all of those hairs out of my work.

Star scarf update: Five more stars to go!
~Kero

Plum Crazy

Becky leaves for San Antonio tomorrow, so on our way to meet up with her sister we stopped by Wally World. I'm still trying to get Christmas presents done, so I picked out a really nice pink yarn (Plum Wine) for a scarf and hat. In case I wanted to change colors, I let Becky help me pick out a second skein. She chose this really beautiful dark purple color (Deep Plum Heather). It's totally coincidental that both colors are a shade of plum. I think I'm going to make Becky a calorimetry out of the purple. It all depends on if the Scarf of Doom (I love it, but I'm so tired of working on it!) gets finished anytime soon.
~Kero

Yay!

-^^- I've already finished my calorimetry! I was worried that it would turn out too small, but it's perfect and beautiful and I'm SO glad I did it in Noro! I can't find a tapestry needle at the moment, but as soon as I've worked away the ends and sewn on a button I'll take piccies. I am going to wear this EVERYWHERE.

I am a little over halfway done with the star scarf, and I'm casting on the Jayne hat as soon as I can get the needles away from Becky.

...Just wondering, but what the hell did I do before I learned to knit? O.o
~Kero

Nothing to See Here...

Well, I have been wearing the Calorimetry for two days. I was just testing to see if it works, yanno. I promise I'm not using things I made for people just because I can! Honest!

Anywho, haven't had much time to work on anything else. I am halfway done with the star scarf. I expect to have it finished in about a week (am I being ambitious?).
~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

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

Hat!

So, I got to wear the stylin' new hat Becky made me for the first time today! Okay, so I know this doesn't have anything to do with ME knitting, but I just wanted to show how awesomely awesome this hat is!



What about my projects, you ask? Haha. Funny. No, I should seriously be done with the keyhole scarf TONIGHT, and then I'll finish the star scarf. After that it's a toss-up between starting something new and finishing Becky's scarf.

Love, peace, and chicken grease!
~Kero

A Cunning Hat...

I WILL finish something soon, I promise! I am about 75% done with my keyhole scarf, and will finish the star scarf soon after that.

So. My first non-scarf project is going to be the Jayne Cobb hat from Firefly. However, I am conflicted. For one thing, the only size 10.5 needles I can find are Addi Turbos, and I don't know if I'm prepared to spend $20 on a pair of needles that I might only use once. Also, should I make the hat out of the acrylic yarn that I already have which matches the colors pretty closely, or do I order a kit like this one that includes all the yarn I need and a premade pom pom? Or do I just go and buy the wool, use the pattern off the internet, and make the pom pom myself? I have a lot of scarves to make, so I don't need to decide this anytime soon.

All right, off to hopefully finish my keyhole scarf. Love.
~Kero