Oh Dears

First off, let me just say how much I love the foto of Sheeps! in her pearls surrounded by yarns. This accurately depicts how Uhlissa and I spent our final times together at Tulane, but with more tears (in my case).

No knitting has been going on in these here Ohio parts, I've also hit something of a standstill in Uhlissa's graduation present. Hopefully it will be finished tomorrow and mailed soon... I sort of suck.

BUT! I know what I want to do for my next knitting project - Ene's Scarf left me drained and weary, I still haven't blocked the ends and it's been done for about 20 days now....

MONKEYS! Again! I knit Monkeys as my very first sock project, out of Knitpicks Memories in Yukon. They sadly felted and can no longer be found, and I was upset about this. BUT (AGAIN)! I have discovered Dream in Color Smooshy, in the shade of Lipstick Lava, and will soon (like in two weeks) order a skein to make Hot Hot Monkeys and everyone will be happy, most of all me.

So that is what's the what. Catch you later, my babies!

(Incidentally I too made a horrid 1930's housewife, which might be better for everyone in the long run)

<3 Ambrrr

Uh Ohs

So, Ambrrr found this quiz, and I am proud to report I would have been a failure as a housewife in the 1930s. Honestly, this result is perfectly inline with my goals for myself as a woman.

20 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

I'm sure if it asked more about knitting, I'm sure I wouldn't have been such a failure. However, I would apparently make a pretty awesome 1930s husband. Good to know.

129 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Just thought I'd share with ya'll. No knitting update right now, even though I've made some progress on a bad I'm knitting. I'm pretty psyched about it.

<3

Stash-Down Update

So, I've finished yet another project.

I made toeless socks. I'd been intrigued by the idea, and I have found them to be pretty much the best thing ever. I love knitting worsted weight socks because they go so quickly. I love toeless socks because I love flip flops. All of these things are wonderful. I love the color green I used. Check out some pictures, and then the details:



Pattern: Pedicure Socks from Knitty
Yarn: Cascade 220 in a gorgeous apple sort of green that's been in my stash since who knows when
Needles: US7 dpns

Took about two days to complete both of them. I tested them out by going to the mailbox a little while ago. They're totally great, especially on summer days like today, when it rained for eight hours and is about 20 degrees cooler than it has been the past few weeks.

Also, wanted to show my stashbusting progress:
The Baby blanket used 1 whole skein of cream colored baby soft and about half a skein each of blue and green. That's a total of 2 skeins.
The homespun hat used almost every bit of the skein of homespun. That makes three so far.
The quant used almost a whole skein of SWS. We're up to 4.
This beautiful specimen of footwear used about 75% of a skein, and I like to round up. 5 skeins!!

5 skeins is small when looking at it as a percentage of my stash, but still, it's a start. I'm in the mood to make a bag. I'm scouring the rav right now to find something inspiring.

<3 uhlissa

I Am A Knitting Machine

Hello World.

The past few days I've been knitting like crazy. I have also declared it THE SUMMER OF THE STASH. I'm going to try my darndest to resist purchasing any new yarn. I can't make any promises and it will definitely be an exercise in self-control, but I'm sure going to try.

Yesterday I finished a hat made from the homespun I received last year as part of the Secret Pal 10. I kind of winged the pattern based on my experience with Purl Bee Berets and the Mary Jane Pithy Hat.

I started with some 1x1 ribbing on a US4 circ. I changed to US7 and increased into every stitch. I decided it wasn't what I wanted and switched up to a 10 1/2, which I used for the rest of the hat. The yarn was a very interesting thick and thin in yellow with swirls of blue and red. In some spots the colors are gorgeously vibrant. I'm pretty happy with it. As a blonde, I really shouldn't wear yellow hats, but apparently I can't help my self.

Today, I finished my second quant.
I used Paton's SWS in natural pink on US8s. It went very quickly. I cast on last night and finished this afternoon. I'm totally enraptured with the joy that is entrelac. I can't wait to do some more. I'm not thrilled with how it turned out. It's almost too wide for my head, and I don't like the way the pattern ends. I'm not anticipating giving this a lot of wear, but it was indeed a stashbusting project, so no regrets.

As far as stashbusting goals go, I have four giant tubs of yarn, and keep finding more every time I unpack a box or dig through a bag. These projects almost completely used up full skeins. The baby blanket I finished used up a total of 2 skeins of yarn. I'm going to set my goal not in objects made, but in skeins used up from my stash.

So, here goes: Official Goal for Skeins Used This Summer*:3o

This number might be unrealistic or a complete underestimate. We'll see.

Share your goals, and let's all de-stash together!!

*Summer being defined as the period between graduation and the first day of graduate school.

<3 uhlissa

Baby Knits

The blanket is done! Well, the knitting is done. It has some ends to be woven in and I'm going to attempt to block it. But overlooking those things, IT'S DONE! It took about two months, from casting on to binding off. Of course, in those two months, a lot of things other than knitting took place, like finishing college, graduating and moving.










Details:
Pattern: Round or Pinwheel Baby Blanket (found on ravelry, just like everything else I love)
Needles: US6, dpns, 16" and 47" circulars
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby Soft in cream, bluebell and pistachio. I used almost exactly the whole skein of cream and about half of each of the others.
I used a border that another raveler came up with, that a lot of people have used. Mine's not lying flat really, but I think the slight curl/ruffle is kind of nice.
I talked to the mommy-to-be yesterday and told her I was knitting her something. She was really excited, but I refused to tell her what it was. Apparently the blanket matches her color scheme. As soon as I get it all blocked I'll be taking it to her.

I'm really happy with the outcome, but I'm glad to be done. Near the end it became pretty tedious, and I'd take breaks to wind balls of other yarn and plan out future projects. Look forward to a handspun hat, another quant and various other beautiful things.

<3 uhlissa

p.s. congrats to ambrrr on being employed.