I have so much free time I should have knit more than this

So, I find myself in my last semester of college. Bizarre. It's one of the strangest feelings I've ever had. It means my real life is fast approaching. It also means I'm only taking 12 hours and have a lot of time to do the things that I enjoy. This semester I've been doing a lot of things I enjoy, not just knitting. Sadly, that means there's not much to blog about right now.

But here are the things I've accomplished in the three weeks I've been back in school:
1. Malabrigo Mary Jane

Yarn: Malabrigo in violetas
Pattern: Mary Jane Pithy Hat
Needles: US9 ( I think..) that I borrowed from ambrrr
I'm in love with this hat. I love the pom pom. I did the decreases slightly more gradually than written in the pattern, to smooth things out a bit, but it's still a bit too gathered for my taste. I've worn it a couple of times, and it's mostly fun to pet.

2. Amelia Earhart Aviator Cap

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Dark Wool Heather.
Pattern: Amelia Earhart Aviator
Needles: US 8 (I think...) I should probably pay more attention.
My roommate describes this as my 20s swim cap. I kind of agree. It keeps my ears warm. I also added some braids. I'm debating on a pom-pom, because I seamed pretty poorly. Any opinions?

3. The never ending purl bee beret

Yarn: Lion Brand Microspun in Ebony
Pattern: Purl Bee Beret
Needles: US4
This hat has taken me longer than the one I made on 2s did. I just can't get into it, and the yarn splits a lot. The splitting has gotten better, but the first several rows were unpleasant. It was supposed to be for my aunt's birthday, but that was yesterday. I really like how it's looking, I just can't get it done.

My other free time has been spent homeworking (not so much) and painting. I don't normally paint but I was consumed by the desire, and have been working on this New Orleans collage.

Also, learning to juggle. (Damn those attractive boys and their ability to convince you to learn things you'd probably never even consider) There are no pictures of this. Thank god. I'm bad. But I'm convinced that one day I will be fantastically talented. I'll let you know if that day ever arrives.


Next on my list:
My mom really wants another pair of socks.
I promised my mom some baby knits for a colleague.
I really, really want to make Endpaper mitts. And I have the materials.
I want a lacy scarf. And I have the materials. I'm thinking maybe column of leaves or marnie's scarf. thoughts?
I also want another purl beret. I'm addicted. I can't help it.

Well, that's all. Just wanted to check in and let ya'll know I'm still alive. Ambrrr's alive too. I'll get her to post some time soon. I know she's been doing some crazy knitting.

Happy Monday ya'll.

<3 uhlissa

Birthday Scarf, Malabrigo Mary Jane, and more

My dad's birthday was on Monday, and I tried to get this done for him by then, but it was impossible. He only decided three days before that he would be interested in a handknit scarf. I cast on with a different yarn, knit an entire repeat, and realized it just wasn't right. So, I headed to my favorite Tulsa lys, The Stitchworks, and got the Encore that worked fantastically. Right now it's blocking on my bed. I'm pretty proud of it. There are kind of a lot of minor errors, but nothing that really jumps out.

Pattern: His Scarf
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Worsted (love!) 2 skeins, gray.
Needles: US8 (which is why it took so long. I think the fabric would have ended up nicer had I bumped it up to a 9)

And, as promised last post, here's my quant. I just like how crazy I look in this picture. And yes, my hair just kind of defies gravity from time to time.

The specs::
Pattern: Quant
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Shadows (I love the color, it was just a poor choice in this pattern), about half a skein.
Needles: US8 dpns
I have decided I want to make a quant in a fingering weight version, kind of a narrower headband. If I remember correctly, I have some Knit Picks Memories left over from my Monkey socks that would be gorgeous. I'll have to hunt for it.


And finally - my brother gave me a skein of malabrigo for christmas! I'm beyond in love with the stuff. I'm making a mary jane pithy hat out of it. Unfortunately, because I was so focused on my dad's scarf, I haven't made much progress on it, but I'm already excited.

I've got a lot of fun projects planned. Mostly gifts that have been promised to people, because I pretty much can't say no. But, we can look forward to : a pair (or 2) of mittens, a muffler, some socks, a pocket scarf, a beret, and a very spirited scarf. And my stash keeps expanding, so who knows what'll happen next.

I'm headed back to school tomorrow, so the next update will be from New Orleans, where Ambrrr and I will be discussing some reader fun and other exciting adventures.
Until then,
<3 uhlissa

Oh mi gah!

I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED CLAPOTIS!!!

Pictures? Ha, you're funny, internet! Ok, ok, I promise (PROMISE) to have some up by this weekend. It is currently 16 degrees, not factoring in wind chill, and my mother categorically refuses to take my foto outside in the snow.

But yeah, the Clap is finally done. Thank the sweet, sweet baby Jesus. I ended up with 20 repeats of the straight section, as opposed to the 12 recommended. D:< And I still have the tiniest smidgen of Wollmeise left over, so we'll see what happens there.

I have the urge to finish that Artichoke Sock now. Hm.... we'll see. I'm somewhere in the short-row heel, I lost my place. Oh God, I don't want to have to rip it out.

UHLISSA, DARLING - I found my other issue of Interweave! And I have been promised a trip to Birds of a Feather in Avon, so I'm thinking some Mmmmmmmmalabrigo might be headed mmmmmmmmy way.

<3 Ambrrr, who kind of sucks at knitting things for other people

How I Spent My Winter Vacation

Ok, so the break's not over, but I can sum it up for you with one fabulous picture.














Me and my mom's dog spent approximately 95 hours in this exact position last week. I was cold, she likes to cuddle. It worked out. I did get some knitting done, despite any doubts you may have.

Finished all my Christmas knits! It's a miracle. Of course, there really weren't that many, but I did it.

Unfortunately there are no pictures of the two I finished while lying with the dog - my mom's ladder of life socks and my brother's balaclava.

But here's my step-sister's scarf. I'm in love with it. She leaves it hanging over the banister, and I almost take it every time I walk upstairs. It's just a simple one x one rib, in SWS. A beautiful purple color. There's also some sparkly stuff in the tassels. Pretty much, it's awesome. Ignore my chins. Yes, I know it's sideways. It's my good side.









In other exciting news, I finally got my own camera! There will be no more waiting for ambrrr to let me steal hers! I'm so excited. I've taken kind of a lot of pictures of myself, because there's not much else going on here, and it's 16 degrees outside, and there's no way in hell I'm going out there. I looked at a weather map a bit ago, and who would have thought colder in Tulsa than in parts of Washington, New York or Wyoming.

I also knit a quant. It's not very pretty, and I don't think I like it. I'll post about it more some other time.

Hope everyone's enjoying the new year and all that jazz.

<3 uhlissa
p.s. - look forward to some interesting activities for all you readers ( there are readers, right?)... And just for fun, here's me being a sassy knitwear model...








If today had a theme, it would be "new year. new camera. new contacts. new hair." As these are all the things I'm currently excited about.

Late/Early

Merry (Late) Christmas, and Happy (Early) New Year!

Also, Belated Happy Hannukah, Current Happy Kwanzaa, and what else happens this time of year? Ah yes, Whoops, Forgot Winter Solstice!

Knitting? Yeah, we've been doing that too. We promise!

<3 MUCH LOVE from the Black Heels n Purls Knitting Society

Longest Update in the History of the World, Part II

I LIVE!!

Dude, it has been a million billion years since our last update. I barely made it through studio again, and now I've got the pleasures of finals to wade through. Hurrahhhhhhh.

Anyways, KNITTING. LET'S DO IT.

1. Artichoke Socks



I'm still not done with these, I haven't actually worked on them since... uh... October? Awful.


2. Basketrib Headband



I slightly hate this thing. It's not to gauge, because I don't believe in swatching (the only swatches I'll own are the ones on my arm, etc). It looks interesting, though. I think a little blocking will do it some good.

3. Squishy the Jellyfish



I love Squishy the Jellyfish so so much. He's made mostly from random yarns in the stash, on the wrong size needles (as per usual), so he's tinier than the Jellyfish in progress, currently unnamed.



4. Moo's Bunny Hat



Here's a pattern I had to make up on my own, since I don't own the book the original pattern came from. It's for Marilyn's daughter, I think I was supposed to have finished this yonks ago. Haha, "yonks."

5. Wollmeise Clapotis



This photo doesn't do this yarn or pattern justice. And good LORD it is taking forever. I should have used size 6 or 7 needles, not 4s. BLERG.

6. Baby's First Noro



It's what I'm calling my first Noro scarf. I could probably knock it out in like a day, but I'm distracted as usual. D:

7. Dr. Who Fetching



Made for Sharon, who sent me Series One and Two of Doctor Who with the 10th Doctor. DAVID TENNANT! I love him. Ambrrr Tennant has a nice ring to it, yes?

8. Cottonease Funtime aka Bamboozled



This is a really fun and quick pattern. It's been through the washer quite a few times, and is still fantastic. Love it!! I actually took this photo with my iSight on my MacBook Pro.

9. Foliage



Here's Hott Steve rollin' and strollin' with my Foliage. I don't question what Hott Steve does.

Well, I think that's it. I could be completely wrong, we'll see.



WORD TO YO MOMMA.

PS - Squishy says be sure to check the blog these last few weeks of December, as we'll actually have time to update now!



(Project links and whatnot coming soon)

- Ambrrr

Longest Update in the History of the World, Part I

Hello blog-land.
I'm not quite sure if this will actually be the longest update in the history of the world, but I feel there are many, many wonderful things I must share with you.

Ambrrr and I have survived another semester of college. I'm not quite sure how we pulled it off, but I'm glad we did. Yesterday was our last day of classes, so today we finally found some time to have the photo shoot we've continually delayed due to school-related obligations.

We fought the ridiculously muggy 80 degrees that New Orleans has adopted this December and discovered a balcony of the business school that was more than willing to participate in our shoot.

I am proud to present "Things I've Knit This Semester But Haven't Really Posted About Yet Because School Owns My Soul":

1. Sock
I have only knit one of my Hedgerow Socks. I have utterly no motivation to knit the other one.
Here's ambrrr graciously modeling for me:

Details:
Pattern
Yarn: Katia Mississippi 3
Needles: US2

2. Rae's One-Row Scarf
I needled a mindless break from some more complicated knitting and tried out this one-row pattern. My friend Rae is allergic to wool, so I knit in acrylic. Vanna's Choice. Mostly because I'm beyond amused that Vanna has yarn. The color is pretty. I love the pattern. And anything with tassels has my heart.


3. Super Fetching
I made some fetching with a few added cable rows at the cuff and hands.

I also like to call them "fighting fetching"
I used Bernat Cashmere blend. I really like the yarn, but on the 6 DPNs, the fabric is so dense that they're almost too inflexible. They are effectively warm.

4. Ribbed Lace Bolero
This is one of my favorite things I've ever made. Unfortunately I've only worn it a few times, because it's either much too warm or much too cool. Silly New Orleans.

Yarn - Cascade 220
Pattern

5. Purl Bee Beret
This is my favorite thing ever. The color is nothing I would usually wear, but something about it is so wonderful.

pattern
Yarn - Knit Picks Palette
Needles - US2 Addis borrowed from Ambrrr. It was the first time I'd used Addis. I love them. I want them. It hurt me to return them.

6. Bamboozled!
I realized I really love headwear. I want nothing more than to have fantastic head accessories every day of my life.

Pattern
I clearly had to copy ambrrr and use Cotton Ease. I really liked working with it. Trying to come up with a new head band design for the left overs.

7. A Scarf Askew
I found this pattern on the Rav (my username is uhlissa. friend me!) and really liked the simplicity. I thought it was very sophisticated, without being complicated. In a fit of ambition I planned to knit all my Christmas presents. This is for my step-dad, who has the most intense blue eyes ever. I hope the color will be complimentary.

I used Wool Ease on US8s, and it went pretty quickly. I'm having some issues with getting it to lay flat. I left it pinned down while I was out of town for Thanksgiving, and sprayed it with some water, but the acrylic blend resisted the water. I'm going to have to try again with a greater quantity of H2O.

8. Diagonal Lace Scarf
This is for my step-mom. It seemed like a good opportunity to try out a yarn I would never really buy myself. It's Bernat Bamboo blend. It's one of the softest things I've ever felt. I'm not too wild about the color choices, but I felt like this pink is something my step-mom would enjoy. Knitting with the Bamboo blend was nice. I was apprehensive about the knobbly yarn texture for a lace pattern, but decided to go for it. I'm happy with the final result.


Gratuitous photos, because clearly I haven't posted nearly enough yet.

Scarves!

Ambrrr modeling my beret and my sock! She's pretty awesome.


That Is All!
<3 Uhlissa