Oops, oh my!

Dearest Chickadees and Chickadudes,

My humblest, humblest apologies for neglecting this blargh for as long as I have. Dearest Uhlissa has been after me to update, so I must confess it is my own lackadaisical nature that led to the dearth of updates on my part.

As if stands, the BHnPKS has been temporarily disbanded due to two things: Summer Break, and the Grandest A+ Adventure of All: Uhlissa's Graduation! On May 17th Uhlissa graduated from Tulane with a fancy fancy degree and neat hat. There were robes involved, as well. There will soon be pictures of this grand event, and of us and BHnPKS mascot Sheeps! looking our smiley best.

On the knitting front, it is probably best if you can join us on the Rav. Most of my updates go there now, although soon I will start a summer internship (June 1st, to be exact) and we'll see what working from 8 to 4:30 does for knitting time. The real world! How does one deal with it?!

On the needles now: Ene's Scarf. I KNOW! Here are the notes I've posted on Rav:

Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Circs US 6, 47"
Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Dolphin, bought 4 skeins

5/19/08: Arrive home from Tulane. Drop by library to pick up “Scarf Style.” Cast on. 375 sts later, wishing self to be dead.

5/20/08: Row 3 of Chart 1 is confusing me. I am sad. May stab self with sharp, sharp Harmony circs.

5/20/08 B: Have figured out sekkrit. Is most sekkrit of sekkrits - the markers must move. SCIENCE!

5/21/08: Am now onto Chart 3, having finished Charts 1 and 2. Three shalt be the number of the chart, and the number of the chart shalt be three. Chart 4 shalt thou not knit (yet), nor either reknit thou Chart 2. Chart 5 is right out. Once Chart 3, being the third number, be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Scarf of Ene towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.

As of today I'm onto the second repeat of five total of Chart 3... I can't say it's getting easier but I've definitely established a rhythm.

So keep cool, my babies!

<3 Ambrrr

We Meet Again

Dear Blog and Readers,

Ambrrr and I didn't mean to neglect you, and we are very sorry. Our lives have been overrun with things like school and trying to decide what to do with our futures. No big deal. In exciting news, I just got my acceptance letter for graduate school today. I already knew I had been accepted, because of some e-mail correspondence that had taken place, but having the physical letter is such a validation and thrill. Unfortunately, what this means is that Ambrrr and I will be separating ways in about a month. That does not mean the Black Heels and Purls will perish, it will just be written from cities 1400 miles apart. I promise you this distance will not affect our dedication (which exists, despite recent lapses in posting). And now dear readers, I update you on what's actually been accomplished, as far as knitting goes, in the past month of my life:

Charade Sock

Yes, just one. I finished it, and can't be inspired to start the other. I had a horrible time with this. I knit two inches knowing that it looked wrong before I figured out what I was doing. I ripped back and restarted. It went pretty quickly, and it's beautiful. I'm not really a big fan of the toe, but that's ok.
Made in Koigu KPPPM on size 2 dpns.

Spiral Baby Blanket

I've had my eye on this blanket for a long while, not really sure who I could make it for. A woman I worked with a few summers ago recently let me know she was having a baby boy in August. I decided immediately that a blanket was in order. I just started a few days ago, and am very excited about it.
It's knit in three colors of Lion Brand Baby Soft of US 6s. I'm worried that when it gets a bit larger in diameter I'm going to regret using something with such a fine gauge, but right now it's not so bad, and I'm really excited about how pretty it seems to be.

Sadly that's all that's been accomplished. Hopefully more soon.

With Love,
uhlissa

Hello World, How Are You?

Hello blog. I'm sorry I neglect you. I've been busy! I'd love to tell you I'm just focusing so much on school right now that I don't have time for anything else, but that would be a blatant lie. I play a lot of cards, juggle, knit a bit and am generally lazy.

But here's what I've been doing:
I knit juggling balls. They work. I love them.
Pattern: Oh Balls!
Yarn: Vanna's Choice in colors I just had sitting around
Needles: US7 dpns
I just used beans instead of fluff. Eventually I'll get a picture of my mad juggling skills for all of you to witness and appreciate.







On Valentine's Day I posted a picture of the Heart Bouquet, but didn't say anything about it. My friend Amy was my valentine. She put together a scavenger hunt and cooked dinner. I knit a bouquet of hearts and made desert.


There were a total of 16 hearts made from this pattern.
Yarns: Cascade 220 in Ruby; Red Heart Soft Yarn in Fuchsia; Vanna's Choice in Dusty Rose, Mustard, Purple, Brick, Dusty Purple, and some blue/green color; Wool Ease in dark rose heather, blue heather and ranch red; bernat cashmere blend in rain and ocean; karabella aurora 8 in some dark purple; and Berella 4 in burnt orange and rich pink.
Needles: US6 dpns

I also made some heart sachets for my roommates. The heart pattern is from the earflap of a hat in an old Knit.1. I stuffed them with fluff and added some potpourri.









I'm currently working on Charade socks. It's been an interesting adventure, which I will explore further once I finish them.

Happy Knitting!

<3 uhlissa

Oh. ... Whoops.

So, how about that knitblog? I vaguely remember something like that, where I would post pictures and talk about what I was crafting. That was nice.

Oh, what? That's here? Amazing!

I'm trying to remember what I've finished/worked on since we last spoke FOREVER ago.... I'l just go with what's up on the Rav.

THINGS THAT ARE DONE:
- Clapotis (post photos)
- Artichoke Sock (needs photos)
- Deathscythe and Secret Santa Axel Mitts (take/post photos)
- Cheap-O Thorpe (take/post photos)
- Happy Fun Lime (post photos)
- Koolhaas (post photos)
- Ou y Quant? (post photos)
- Mini-o-metry (take/post photos)
- Hearts for Merith (take/post photos)

THINGS THAT ARE WIP:
- Casey's Brioche Scarf (pretty much on hold at this point, haven't worked on it since December)
- Other Jellyfish Smooshy
- Jaywalkers - nearing completion and quite nice (take/post photos)

THINGS I MIGHT FROG:
- Glittens on Kittens Also Wearing Mittens - kind of tight; yarn is annoying me

OK, now I shall go back to paying attention to this Digital Media lecture.

Ciao, bella(s)!

<3 Ambrrr

Happy Valentine's Day from the BHNPKS

How Ambrrr and Uhlissa Spent Their Mardi Gras: A Photo Essay

Ok. You caught me. This isn't really how we spent Mardi Gras. It's how we spent about four minutes of Lundi Gras (or "Monday" to all ya'll who are unfamiliar). Making faces. It's what we do. Actually, we did lots of other things. There were parades. And a wee bit of knitting. And more than a few drinks. We'll update soon with an actual update. Maybe. I just like to keep you guessing.
<3 uhlissa

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