2008 Projects

Finished objects of 2008! The only thing I didn't include was a picture of some mugs that I made for Christmas, mainly because it didn't fit nicely. From the top: 2 baby bibs done in linen stitch, Woodland Shawl, Mystery Stole 3, A-Line Drops Jacket, red baby quilt, blue baby quilt, Saartje's booties, Celtic Tote, Granny Square Pillow, Santa Ana Socks, Ripple Stitch Baby Blanket, and Drive Thru sweater.

It occurs to me now that I know a lot of babies. Or maybe it just seems like I do with Facebook constantly updating me about every pregnancy anywhere near my circle of friends.

I had a great time in Colorado for Christmas, and I'm back in Los Angeles for grad school. A long story short, I decided to do a masters degree in lieu of a Ph.D. I was more or less miserable, and the thought of four more years of it was overwhelming. I still have probably 7 or so months before I'm completely done, but knowing the end is in sight helps. So yeah, I guess that partially explains my disappearance for many months.

What am I up to now? My parents finally wised up to my yarn and knitting obsession for Christmas. I got 3 skeins of Manos and 1 skein of super bulky Lamb's Pride from my Stepmother, and a gift certificate to Shuttles Spindles & Skeins in Boulder, CO from my Mom. I used it to buy 5 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash, 2 skeins of Stacy Charles Savoy, and 1 skein of sock yarn. Once I take pictures of the stash, I'll upload them to ravelry this weekend. I've used the Savoy to cast on for the Buttercup Beret by Sarai over at Sweet Sassafras. For the Cascade I've been eyeing the Boatneck Bluebell sweater from Fitted Knits. Lots of plans and lots of ideas. After talking to my advisor yesterday it sounds like I may have a busy 6 months ahead of me, especially if I want to finish by June. Yet I hope to be around a bit more this year. If you're still reading, and haven't done so, come friend me on Ravelry: meg2885. I'm always looking for new friends and inspiration. Plus, I'm on Ravelry probably every day. Say hi!

Celtic Tote, finally

This was supposed to be a Christmas present for my mother, and ended up being a "Happy June!" present. Once I got around to working on it, it didn't actually take that long. I did have to go back and re-embroider in the lighter blue after I felted it. Took me about two hours. I wish that I had known before hand, because that was four hours of embroidery. Ye Gods!
I think this turned out fairly well. I probably would have lined it, had my sewing skills been better and I had more time. (I of course put this off until the last day of my visit home.) My Mom seemed to like it, so I guess that's what counts. A close up of the button:
My goals for the rest of the summer are to finish my current WIPs and hopefully start next year's Christmas gifts, so I don't end up finishing them in June of next year :)

I'm doing research full time since it's summer, and a friend has coerced me into working out with her after work each day, so by the time I get home I'm beat. Plus, I've been dating someone new. So it's all taking up time. But bit by bit hopefully I'll get things done.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I was supposed to go to Mexico with some friends (road trip) and it got canceled at the last minute. I'm kinda disappointed, because I haven't seen them in awhile. I guess I'll just have to enjoy my weekend here in LA, home alone. My roommate is gone until Sunday. It's been nice and quiet :)

Aaah!

I said I was going to get myself together enough to post this weekend, but here it is Sunday night and I haven't. I do have a sock to show off, but not much else. I think my knitting mojo has been lost for some time. School has been busy - but not prohibitively so. I've been reading a lot, and trying to take care of some stuff with my personal life, and I guess just evaluating in general. I sort of feel like I'm at a transitioning point right now- rediscovering things that made me happy years and years ago, and letting go of some things that have grown stagnant recently. I'm not sure where everything fits right now. I've been writing a bunch at my other non-hobby related blog: Megan Goes to Hollywood- stop by and say hi if you'd like. For now- I'm here, I'm doing well, just a bit quiet.

Spring Fever

I was recently complaining about my quilt, which I had actually coveted for a year before I bought it. It was black, blue, and silver, with lots of velvet and beading, and I love it. I just needed something lighter for summer. Thanks, IKEA (even if you tricked me into spending more money than I wanted!):
The cats go crazy on it. Seriously, running, jumping, rolling around like insane furballs. They love it. I'm not really sure what it is...the comforter doesn't even have real down in it. I have one of those arm/backrest things that you put on your bed, from when I was in college, and my bed doubled as a couch. But it's neon pink, and it's not really poufy any more (incidentally, that was to match yet another quilt that I had). Enter my crafty plan:

Pillow cases! I had pretty much exact color matches of Lion Wool in my stash, so it had to be done. At first I was thinking afghan, but the yarn is not too soft and I don't think I want something that warm. I'm still playing around with the idea of something in cotton/linen/bamboo, but we'll see. I got two 20"x20" pillows on 50% off sale today, I should be done with these fairly quickly. I mean, after I study for finals and do a bunch of work and stuff.

Santa Ana Socks

I figured I'd better not show my face here without something to show for the past month or so of silence. I finally finished both Santa Ana socks, and wrote up the pattern. (Check out the sidebar too --> ) I've never written a pattern before, and I tried to take good notes as I was going along. If someone actually does knit these socks up, I'd love to see them, and of course please tell me about any problems you have with the pattern.

Pattern: Santa Ana Socks by Me!
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in Chocolate Cherry
Needles: 2 circular needles, Size US 0
Time to Completion: something like 4 months (eek!)
How much I love them: 10. The yarn is really soft compared to my other hand knit socks, and these have the best fit of any sock I've made yet. Plus, I made 'em. Gotta love that.

We're on the quarter system at school so I've got finals starting in a week. I spent the last week or so writing a paper. But really, I haven't been that productive knitting wise lately. And it's not that I'm not interested, it's just sometimes I enjoy thinking about knitting or looking at patterns, or planning knitting enough that I don't feel real compelled to do a lot of actual knitting. I bought EZ's Knitter's Almanac and was perusing people's Pi Shawls on Ravelry early today, for example. And it's a fairly good bet I'm on The Loopy Ewe putting things in my shopping cart and then not buying them because I do have some modicum of self restraint. I keep an eye on Craigslist for spinning wheels (mainly, someone who does not know the value of a spinning wheel, and from whom I can acquire it for less than $100).

I got a tutoring job to bring in extra cash, and originally my plan was that all the money could go towards whatever I wanted, but now I think I'm going to save half to 3/4ths of it. So what did I spend my first paycheck's worth of spending money on? A new vacuum to suck up the mounds of cat hair covering everything. Oh yeah, I also got a new lightweight comforter (only $40! at Target) so I can go buy a coverlet in some summery colors from Ikea, new sheets (only $18!), a new outfit (or two), new earrings, and some Cadbury eggs. Ok, so I don't have any self restraint.

The kittehs(who produce so much hair) and the wintery quilt (that just won't do for springtime in LA):

Retro Rewind

I finally finished the first Santa Ana sock:
I ended up ripping back to the foot to do a gusset heel because it was a wee bit tight going on around my ankle. I did a picot edge on the cuff:
So far I really like these socks. I'm trying to take more careful notes on the second one so I can write up a pattern. I'm still stuck on the embroidery part of the Celtic Tote...I don't know why I can't just bring myself to sit down and finish it. Ugh.

I went to the public library on Saturday to get myself a library card (shameful I don't have one already, I know) and they were having a book sale. I rifled around through a bunch of craft stuff and found some really old knitting magazines and patterns for $5. Tada:
Some of these actually had some patterns I liked, some I bought for the retro kitsch factor, and some I bought just for the pictures. First off, Mon Tricot Baby Knitting, fall of 73/74. Originally cost $1, and probably about what I got charged...how is that shit legal? Anyway, the good:
I liked that this baby sweater fastened in the back...kind of cool.

I like the total preppiness of this sweater thing, but I would never make the shorts...there is also a whole body suit of similar colors.This was actually my favorite thing out of all the patterns:
Totally cute mini dress in navy and white, one of my favorite color combinations. I really like the ribbed top and sleeves.

And now the bad:
I think we should generally stay away from knitted overalls, as a society. Check out the platform shoes that kid is wearing!

The next magazine was a leaflet from Bernat with junior sweaters:
All of these sweaters are actually pretty plain, but I really just liked the pictures....remember back when kids were clean cut and not skankified by the time they were 12?

The next magazine is a issue of Reynolds, the "Continental Collection:
There weren't really any appealing patterns in this magazine, and I mainly bought it for the pictures. In fact, most of the sweaters looked really poorly knitted, or the gauge was off or the yarn was really bad....just not good. There were a lot of dudes wearing hand knit sweaters and smoking pipes though:

Next up was a collection of ski sweaters by Bernat, published in 1956.

Strangely, I think I kind of like the sweater with the tree on it. The other one could be cute if the colors were switched up too.

Last was this issue of Spinnerin, published in 1966, consisting of children's designs:
I really liked this wrap sweater:

Cute fair isle zippered sweater:
I think the collar is threatening to eat his head:
Never ever:
Too cute:

Whew! That's it. Hope you all had a great weekend! I know I did, I turned 23. A public service announcement for the ladies: PBS will be airing the Colin Firth version of Pride and Prejudice starting tonight and continuing for the next two weeks (ends the 24th). Just so you know.

FO: Baby Blanket

I made an executive decision and shortened the width by about ten inches. Good thing too, because I would have sooo run out of yarn. It still turned out fairly big, so I guess it'll be a toddler blanket, but I mailed it today so I finished ahead of schedule.

Pretty colors:
Pattern: Soft Waves from 200 Ripple Stitch Patterns [Ravelry]
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Yarn Solids, colors Fuchsia, Guacamole, Teal, Wine, and Tangerine, 1 skein of each
Hook: US I/9
Time to completion: Couple a months
How much I love it: 8

The yarn is a worsted weight so this is a heavier baby blanket than others I've seen (including some beautiful ones at The Knitter's Studio in LA), but I think it'll be sturdier this way. I really, really ended up loving the color combination despite my early reservations that it looked like a piñata.

I got my Malabrigo in the mail! As soon as I finish the Celtic Tote....