Wednesday, July 28, 2010

So I promised some Ravenclaw Scarf pictures. Well, here they are:It's pretty amazing. And, with the finish of this project, I've started on another. SOCKS! The pattern is called "Catnip". They're pretty amazing. Here, look for yourselves:
Size ZERO needles. They kill my eyes. But it's fun. I wish the tips were pointier; it would make things easier. Oh well. This is after...3 nights of work? I mean, the one night it took me almost 2 hours to cast on because I had never done a closed cast on before. I could have done 2 socks at once, but since it's my first time doing socks, I decided to just do one at a time.

I CAN'T STOP KNITTING.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Done, Done, DOOOOONE!

Well, as of last night at 11:35, I finished the Ravenclaw scarf! The includes a hand wash, an attempted block, a run through the dryer, and all of the fringe added on. It looks amazing. I reeeeaaally want to keep it, but I obviously can't, since I can't possibly whip one up before school, since I have 3 other projects I want to do. It is approximately 7 feet long. Pretty damn long. But it's lovely. I want to make one for myself, but for now, NO. I'm sick of seeing the colors in my hands. :P But at some point, I will. I didn't have time to take pictures today, but soon! When I do, I'll post them. :)

So...2 days ago, we went to 2 different yarn stores, and I bought some amazing yarn. Both kinds are Alpaca. The first yarn is pure Alpaca, and will be used for a Celtic knot scarf. The second yarn is Alpaca and Wool, and will be used for some gauntlets. They're both amazing. I'm excited to cast on! I also got some new circular needles, so I can do socks and other things. The sock yarn I've had for over a year. I got it in Scotland. I cast on socks and well, they didn't work out. So I'm going to frog the one sock I started, and use the yarn for a pair of amazing socks. It'll be fun.

Today I bought the book The Happy Hooker. It's a crochet book, by the lady who did the Stitch 'n Bitch books. XD I want to learn to crochet, and my mom needs a refresher course. So, I got it. I also found out that the Stitch 'n Bitch Nation yarn is at Jo-Ann Fabrics! I should have gotten some of the Bamboo Ewe, but I was like nah. *sigh* Oh well. Next time!

I should go finish Lydia's scarf. I need the needles for the Celtic scarf. :P

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

SO CLOSE

I'm starting the 11th set of stripes right now!! I hope to get it done tomorrow. I mean, I'll still have to flip it inside out, weave in all of the ends, possibly wash it, and add the fringe on the ends. BUT STILL. SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE KNITTING IT!! Aaaaaand then there's Lydia's...that shit's going to make me pull my hair out BUT IT'LL BE SWEET. Also, I'm on the last chapter of Harry Potter and Sorcerer's Stone (audiobook). I've been listening to it while knitting. Keeps me focused. I'll be moving onto Chamber of Secrets very soon. Hopefully I'll get through them all by the time the movie comes out. Yeeaaah....just been knitting....nothing else exciting to report.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Seriously?

So, the other day, I was watching a knitting/crocheting show on tv (Knit and Crochet Now! or Today! [can't remember which one]). This isn't an unusual situation, as I make it a point to catch the show at least once. The unusual thing was the person on it. Now, the host lady was clad in "normal" type clothing. Something the average person would wear. She didn't look strange at all. The strange person was her guest knitter. There were SO many things wrong with her.

Firstly, she had a knitted flower in her hair. Oh yes.

Next, she had on a jean jacket from the 90s. Even better.

Lastly, she had the same haircut that she probably had in middle school, which was many years ago. It needed to be cut.

Now, this show isn't old. The particular episode was shot....last year I think. So really, a knitted flower/jean jacket combo? TERRIBLE. She was seriously the epitome of terrible, nerdy knitters. When the average person thinks of someone who knits, they either think grandma, or this terrible lady. It's aggravating. That's why I normally keep my knitting to myself, unless it's given as gifts. So please, the next time you see one of those terrible people, try not to stereotype all knitters.

P.S: I am working my way to the 6th set of stripes on the Ravenclaw scarf! Almost halfway done! It's going to be amazing when it's done. :)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Two Scarves...

I said I'd post about the scarves, so here it is...

The first is a Harry Potter Ravenclaw House scarf for Claire. I was actually supposed to have this for her 2 Christmases ago. Oops! Well, I didn't work on it for a loooong time because I didn't have a pattern I liked. Well, recently, I joined Ravelry, which is an amazing website for knitters and crocheters. Anyways, I decided to look through the "Harry Potter" tagged patterns and lo and behold! I found this AWESOME HP scarf. Now, there were a lot of...other kinds of HP scarves, but this one was definitely the best. It's super easy, knitted in the round, so you'll never see the stripe changes AND I never have to purl. And it will have FRINGE!
Here are some work-in-progress shots:
I think I'm going to be doing 12 sets of stripes, and I only have 5...But hey, I'm working really fast on it, since it's in the round and all knit stitches. I've already used 1 skein of the blue, and I'm expecting to use a total of 4 of the blue and 1-1.5 of the bronze. I'm using Vanna's Choice in Colonial Blue and Honey. They are probably the best Ravenclaw colors I've seen.

The second is a "Lacey Eyelet Rib" scarf for Lydia. I decided that since I was making a scarf for Claire, I'd make one for Lydia (both of their birthdays were already this summer, so they'll be belated birthday gifts)! I found this stitch at KnittingTipsByJudy on YouTube Her videos are good for people who want to learn how to knit. Easy to understand, and very encouraging. ANYWAYS! The stitch. I found it while looking through her videos. I thought it was very pretty and worked well with the yarn I had bought. Here are some WIP shots:
This probably shouldn't be taking as long as it should, but I really need to pay attention to what I'm doing. Yesterday, I had to unknit 3 different times. The first time was 4 rows, the second 2, and the third time 1/2 of a row. It's a pain because there are slipped stitches and stitches that are knitted together, not to mention lots of purling. But hey, it's coming along nicely. I'll have to definitely block it (wet it and stretch it out so it's not all curled) because it's all curled, but that will have to wait until it's done being knitted! The yarn is this lovely green, much lovelier than the photos can show. I bought it at a local yarn shop. There's enough yarn in one skein to make the whole scarf (thankfully). It'll be lovely, and I hope she likes it. Hm, you can't see the eyelets (holes) very well in the pictures, but they're there! And they're pretty!
I didn't start these too long ago, and I'm already ready to be done. :P It's bad. I have project ADD.

OH! To tell you about my current dream. My one wish right now is to have a set of Harmony Wood Interchangeable Circular Knitting Needles from KnitPicks. Too bad they're $75. I'd also like a set of the Nickel Plated ones ($60), but only after I get a set of Harmony ones. I wish I had $135 to blow on needles. Circular needles are my new favorite, best friends. SIGH.

I want to dye my own yarn. I found this awesome website telling you how to dye yarn using Kool-Aid! I reeeeeaaaaally want to. KnitPicks has awesome Dye Your Own yarn, but I wouldn't know what to get! I'm so indecisive when it comes to yarn! GAH!

I found out that there was another local yarn show near me. How did I not know it was there! Then again, I don't ever go to that area, so I'll excuse myself. I need to go there soon.

I have a yarn problem.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

First post

Well, I decided that it was high time I started a blog. This will be my "everything blog", from drawings/sketches, to knitting, to books. Who knows what I'll talk about next....

Yeah...tomorrow will probably be my ACTUAL first, cool post. About my knitting. I'm currently working on 2 scarves. I'll post pictures tomorrow. But for now, good night!