Sunday, November 30, 2008

an addict.

this is likely one of the most addictive patterns i have ever done. after reading the needle size for the selbu modern hat, i thought i must be going insane to think of making myself one. however, after eyeing others' finished hats, i decided to go for it. i ordered the needles and yarn from knitpicks, and when they arrived... oh, lordy, let's just say i nearly had a heart attack over the size 0 circular needles and the teeny-tinyness of them.

once i got past the ribbing at the lower edge, though, and started the colorwork, it really was addictive and seemed to go far faster than i had anticipated. i started the hat on november 26. here it is, four days later, and it's blocking away as we speak.

since i'm so proud, here are some pre-blocking shots:
081130. selbu modern, all done!

me looking rather odd... but whatever, the hat looks cool. i was afraid it would turn out far too large, but i actually like the fittedness of it (and i hope it doesn't stretch out to much with blocking!).
081130. i'm not sure what i'm doing here... but the hat looks cool!

081130. selbu modern hat, pre-blocking.

the next "am i crazy" project will be the squirrely swedish mittens in the same colors as the hat. yippee!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

sick of being sick...

i started getting under the weather on tuesday. here it is, saturday, and i really don't feel a heck of a lot better. a little bit... but not a lot.

right now, i'm watching "home for the holidays," my favorite holiday movie (along with "love actually"). robert downey, jr., is hilarious, although clearly high on something. oh, rdj, you are ridiculous.

i've been busy with the knitting, of course, in preparation for christmas and just, you know, in general. i went to the yarn store yesterday to get some more yarn for a sweater i'm knitting, but i neglected to pick up the yarn i need for one of my dad's christmas presents. d'oh! oh, well - guess i'll just have to go back!

anyway, here's a general "making stuff with my hands and two sticks" listing of the current/recently completed projects: first, another copycat hat and a christmas present for someone near and dear to me.
081122. it's not easy being green.

next, a sweater i'm making for myself. i had leftovers of both colors from my pseudo-ski sweater, so i figured, eh, why not. i'm very loosely following my version of the anthropologie-inspired capelet pattern, only i'm making this in pullover form. and, of course, i'm keeping notes, so if it works out, i'll post the pattern notes soon!
081122. grape and raspberry.

and, finally, i started the genius, new give a hoot mittens pattern! one down, one to go. again, this is a gift for someone who has been clammering for me to make her mittens since, oh, last christmas or so. these'll get little buttons for eyes, too.
081122. hoot hoot!

that's all for now! time for some cold medicine and coffee... and "home for the holidays" and probably some more knitting on the couch. oh, and perhaps some napping.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

point me towards the ski slopes!

when i finally got my copy of elizabeth zimmerman's "knitting without tears," i jumped right into that sweater for my dad... but the whole time, my eye was being drawn again and again to the fair isle yoke sweater. it reminded me of being a little kid, of vintage, early 80's winter, mittens, and hot chocolate all wrapped up in sweater form. so i decided it was high time i made something for myself.

i just finished the underarms and weaving in all the ends, and i am SO FREAKING PROUD of my pseudo-ski sweater! like, i haven't been this proud of a knitted object in quite some time. i think it's mostly because i followed the zimmerman "recipe" for a yoke sweater, but you know how that goes... it could turn out exactly as you had hoped, or it could turn out all wonky, too long, too tight, etc. i purposely made the body quite fitted and, wouldn't you know - it worked! fitted in the body, long arms, and the shoulders even fit my big ass girl shoulders. hooray!

081112. no hair and a new sweater.

081112. me and my newly knitted sweater!

look! fair isle!
081112. deets.

and more details and me looking, erm, dreamy? spacey?
081112. pseudo-ski sweater.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

halloween recap...

okay, this is purely photo/costume-based. i was really proud of my costume. me as the operation game guy!
oh, halloween.

and me and my favorite married man, james (who was dressed as the bearded lady).
me and the bearded lady, giving kisses for free.

in knitting news, i'm making myself a ski sweater. you know, crazy, ridiculous, snowflake pattern around the top and all. only i don't think i'm going to do snowflakes... it'll be more awesome than that.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

november 4!

081104. obama!

so nervous! so excited!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

also? i heart daylight savings time...

but only in the fall. i HATE spring daylight savings time. indiana just started doing daylight savings time last year, so now we're on eastern time year-round.

i got up early and went for a walk. it's beautiful out, and i know it won't be beautiful out for much longer. things i love this morning: coffee and leaves and scarves and sweaters. and my cat, boombox.
081102. daylight savings walk.

our cemetery is pretty amazing.
081102. daylight savings walk.

elizabeth fell down.
081102. daylight savings walk.

burning leaves.
081102. daylight savings walk.

favorite doorway(s) in town.
081102. daylight savings walk. my favorite doorway(s).

a sea of color.
081102. daylight savings walk.

part deux...

i had some leftover forest green yarn from my dad's christmas sweater, and i LOVED the slouchy copy cat hat pattern... so i had to make one for myself! voila, people.

081101. my very own slouchy hat.

081101. my very own slouchy hat.