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

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

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

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

Another LYS Trip...

Becky, Valerie, Justin, and I went to our LYS yesterday! Much fun. We bought Valerie a birthday present (some beautiful lace weight yarn. She's making a gift for her host mom when she goes to Japan). Becky found some of her favorite yarn on sale, the book she's been wanting, and she bought me some crazy cool novelty yarn that I'm making a headband with. Pics to follow.

ALSO!! I got compliments on my calorimetry TWICE yesterday. Once was from a random girl on campus that stopped Becky and asked, "Where did you buy that?" and the other was the other of the yarn shop who thought it was amazing and had to look up the pattern for herself. Squee.

We're going back to the store today for Becky's b-day present. I found the yarn I want to make my afghan out of, but it's $10 a skein and I need over ten skeins. :( Not in the budget right now. I wish I could buy it one skein at a time, but then my dye lots wouldn't match. Anywho, I do need to go back to Wal-Mart and grab a few skeins of Caron Simply Soft to make my dad's hat and Kelly's hat.

One last thing! The person I made the Jayne hat for received it yesterday and LOVES it! I am sooo happy!
~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

Another Hat!

I have to go and get Becky today (yay!), so I don't plan on doing much knitting. I started on a butterfly hat using the Plum Wine yarn, and so far it's looking great. I like making the little butterflies! Anywho, I imagine I'll get a few things 100% finished when I can get a tapestry needle and some fabric glue.
~Kero

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great holiday. I know I did! I ate a bunch at both dinners (one on mom's side, one on dad's) and had a bunch of time for knitting. Becky's calorimetry is off the needles, but since I don't have a tapestry needle I can't finish the darn thing. She did give me some hat patterns over the phone, so I think I'm going to cast on one of them. Time to use the Plum Wine yarn, perhaps?
~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

Love Love Love Love Love Love

I am happy.

Today Becky and I took a trip to our LYS and splurged! That's right, we bought yarn from somewhere other than Wal-Mart! Becky came out of the deal with some very beautiful sock yarn (Tofutsies) and sock needles, as well as a skein of yarn for a Christmas present. I bought a skein of Noro Silk Garden (my first non-acrylic yarn!) to make myself a calorimetry (so I can stop wearing the one I made for someone else).


Becky's sock yarn.


Becky's hat yarn


My precious, beautiful Noro. I'm in love.

We also decided to go ahead and get our joint Christmas present to each other. Here it is!! We needed it to make some more Christmas gifts, and I can start on my Jayne hat! Yaaaaaay! This also means that now Becky and I can both knit hats at the same time.

I don't know if I've ever been happier. :)
~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

New Yarn!

Okay, so it's not for me, but I'm always excited about a trip to the LYS. The girlfriend bought four skeins of this beautiful yarn called Berroco Comfort. It's 50% Nylon and 50% Acrylic, but it feels heavenly. She's making Christmas gifts with most of it, but there is promise of some mittens for me... Excited!

Yeah, I promise I'm working on stuff instead of playing on ravelry... No really, I am...
~Kero