Fuzzy Noodle Knits

ATC Weekend

So, I was by myself this past weekend because the boy went to the Canadian border to ice fish...and what did I do with all my free time?  I made artist trading cards for swaps!  WOOO, par-tay! ;)   I haven't had the time to make a Typepad photo album for my cards yet, but you can see them here on Flickr.

Sorry for the limited blogging, life had been a little too busy.  I also had a death in the family, so the Hub and I are traveling to the funeral in the next two days, so a little more silence will continue.

Go Vote!

Hey folks, if you are on Ravelry, please go vote for Tramonto, nominated for "Most Colorful Project" for the Bobby Awards!  The link is here, and I'm number 15...just click on the "agree" button, and you are good to go!  And thanks!  Much obliged!

Holiday Weekend FO's

So, we did end up remodeling the mud room on Saturday (note to the international folks: a mud room is the room right off the attached garage where to take off your snowy boots and coats).  That was a lot of work as we have a large room with a closet, and use it for a lot of storage.  My reward for working so hard on Saturday was knitting and sewing on Sunday and Monday!

Pattern: "Titania's Revenge" by Cookie A. for Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Materials: Blue Moon Socks that Rock Light weight in colorway "Fire on the Mountain", US Size 1 needles
Finished: January 20, 2008

I did end up making a boo-boo in the pattern for the left sock.  I made the right sock correctly, and while you can sorta see in the first picture that they are not perfectly matched, I don't feel the need to buy another $20 skein to knit one sock to make them perfect.  They are gonna be in shoes, ya know?

Pattern: "Covington Bag" by Amy Butler
Materials: Exterior: Home Dec fabric by Liz Claiborne; Interior: "Lotus" by Amy Butler
Finished: January 21, 2008

I sewed this bag as trade for my graphic design work.  It's a little over due, but the pattern was complicated enough that I needed an uninterrupted day to make it.  Since I had the MLK Holiday off and the Hub didn't, it was perfect timing.  I adore this bag, and plan on making one for me for my annual trip to Las Vegas in March!

You may have noticed that I have been cranking out the FO's in 2008...that's because I'm not going to take a class this semester.  I just couldn't make the commitment this term because I have so many things happening to me in the next couple of months that I knew I was going to miss a lot of class.  So, instead of coursework, I have decided that I am going to get my Etsy shop up and running soon!  I already have one item done, have plans for 3 more knitted projects, and ideas for other crafty things.  I'm really excited to see what I come up with!  I'm also getting into the Artist Trading Card thing pretty heavily, and look forward to having some free time to explore new techniques and mediums to make the cards...what a perfect little canvas to try out new things!  So, while I'm not in class, I will still be keeping myself mighty busy!

Hat for the Freeking Cold

I whipped out this hat when I heard that it was going to be wicked cold this weekend.  I wanted something a little more stylish then my other boring rolled stocking caps. 

Pattern: Abalone from "Going Straight" by Woolly Wormhead
Materials: Araucania Nature Wool in colorway 11; US Size 6 needles
Finished: January 19, 2008

This hat is knit vertically with short rows, and was a lot of fun and very easy.  Now, let me tell you that have a really big head...24" circumference which, from what I am told, is sorta big for a chick.  This pattern was perfect because it allowed me to custom fit it because after each wedge section, I could sort of fit it around my head and see if I needed to add more sections.  Which I did...I made the largest size and added 2 sections.  I will also have to say that Woolly Wormhead's book is really wonderful!  I cannot wait to make more hats out of it because they are almost all worked with short rows, are really customizable, and are really cool.  I don't look good in hats, so it's hard for me to find patterns that would look good on me.

Today the DH and I are planning on remodeling our mud room, but it's almost 1pm, and we haven't started yet, so I'm not sure its actually gong to happen.  Oh well, more knitting time for me!

Etsy of the Day

      

Robot-Be My Electronic Friend by Kelly Newcomer

Appendages in 2008

Ok, I know...kind of a weird blog title, but accurate.  I have  a strong feeling that 2008 is going to be all about the hands and feet...and this is confirmed by state of my Ravelry queue.  For some reason, I'm just not feeling the love for sweaters right now.  Part of that might be that lately I have been feeling the need to be challenged in my knitting, however my sweater aesthetic leans more towards simple, elegant, and small gauge designs, so the sweaters I want to knit won't challenge me right now.  What does challenge me are socks with unique construction (hello Cat Bordhi and Cookie A!) and heavily stranded mittens.  So, last week I decided to try a sock pattern that has really intrigued me, using a Socks that Rock colorway that I have dreams about.  Meet Titiana's Revenge by Cookie A:

This is the left sock...and the colorway is "Fire on the Mountain".  LOVE!!  Anyway...I may or may not have had some "issues" with the lace decreasing/cable increasing during the gusset.

The pattern mentions that the cable will wrap over the foot and the lace section will be completely decreased, but that didn't happen for me, and I don't know if that is just how my foot measures up or I suck, so I guess I'll find out when I make the right sock.  Other than that, I adore this sock, and can't wait to have the pair done.  Oh, and I joined a Ravelry group last week where the goal is to finish a sock a week.  While I'm not sure I can be that productive, I am already on track...I finished the 2nd Vintage Ribbed Sock  the first week, and finished this sock the second week.  I think I'll be on track for week 3 as I'll most likely be home tomorrow as I am getting a crown done in the morning..woo.

This weekend the DH and I had dinner and went to a hockey game with friends (Hi Kelsey and Amber!), and some silliness with cameras occurred.

Well, at least its a good picture of the mittens.  Kelsey...this is my new Top Model pose...the episode where they use boys as props.

Etsy of the Day, x2

Both of these lovely stationary sets are from Snarky Designs, which also has beautiful hand painted yarn!

           Nostalgia Robot Cupcake Notecards

                     Little Gnome Notecards

I might end up buying these...It appeals to my love of both gnomes and robots.  Oh, and she has rad baby announcements...if/when I ever get pregnant, I would totally get these, but my family might not get the joke! ;)

First FO's of 2008!

Pattern:  Squirrely Swedish Mittens by Elli Stubenrauch, www.elliphantom.com
Materials: Dale of Norway "Baby Ull", US Size 1 Needles
Finished: January 6, 2008

I based the colorway off of Adrian's lovely version.  I decided to leave the k1p1 cuffs out instead of tucking them up into the mitten, like the pattern suggested.   I have long hands, so I needed the extra coverage to keep my wrists warm!

Pattern: Yarrow Ribbed Sock from "Knitting Vintage Socks" by Nancy Bush
Materials: Zwerger Garn Opal Hundertwasser in Color #1432; US Size 1 Needles
Finished: January 6, 2008

I really liked the German heel of this pattern...it is worked in St. st. with a garter boarder.  This is a great heel for clogs, but I'd probably knit the traditional slip stitch heel if I was going to wear these with a shoe with a back.  The French toe will most likely become my new "standard" toe...it looks much nicer on the foot and knits up faster as it is decreased at 3 points.

So, what to do next?!  I have so many things in the cue, I have no idea where I'm going next.  I have the new Blue Moon Socks that Rock Sock Club sock to knit (which I really like...Cat Bordhi designed, based on her new sock architecture), I have yarn for sweaters, a bazillion socks I want to knit, I have 1 more Christmas gift to finish...which I should really do, but I'm procrastinating...I have stuff I want to sew...ACH!  Too much, I am so overwhelmed.  I am going to go ball some yarn now, and hopefully figure out what I feel like tackling next.

 

Laid Back

Now that the Holiday knitting rush is over, I'm actually enjoying the projects I'm now working on.  I've been putzing around the house this week, doing some cleaning, re-arranging, destashing, general de-cluttering and stuff.  In my down time, I've been pretty evenly working on a couple of projects...just causally knitting, not the furious must-finish-or-I'm-screwed mentality I have had the last couple of months.  I am technically still finishing a couple of Christmas gifts, but the recipients know that they will be late. 

One of the gifts is for my Dad, who saw his gift under construction, so he knows what he's getting!

These are some garter rib socks I'm making for Dad...pretty basic, no pattern needed.  I am using Järbo Garn Raggi Multi, which is a worsted superwash that I REALLY like.  This yarn is sooo soft, I think Dad will really like them when it's -40 and he's plowing out the driveway on his John Deere tractor.  I am using US Size 4 dpn's, which is making a really nice and firm fabric.

I finally finished a Squirrely Swedish mitten last weekend, and am about 1/2 way done with the second.  This is going to be my priority project because I really, really want these done so I can wear them while it's still cold out!  The pattern calls for the 1x1 rib to be tucked up inside so the "poles" and trees are the base of the mitten, but I have long wrists, and they'd be a little cold if I didn't leave the cuff out!

I have tons of stuff in my Ravelry cue, and I want to knit them all, so I'm trying to narrow it down so I can be ready to go with projects once these are off the needles.  One of the best things about Ravelry is that if  you are interested in a pattern, you can see what other people have done, what yarns they have used, and most importantly, how the finished garments have fit.  I have disregarded many interesting patterns because I have seen that they did not fit well on people with my body type.  Oh, and just an aside....I have seen a lot of FO pics lately of garments on curvy gals (as I am one), and I have one word of advice to the ladies....make you garments longer!!!  I have seen sooo many sweaters hitting right at the waist, and that is about the most unflattering cut for a big gal...so make your garments longer, like about mid hip.  There, coming off my soap box now.

Oh, and to the local folks...the "Crafty in MN" group is having a meet-up tonight at Merlin's Rest in Mpls. tonight.  Not only will it be great company, fantastic draught beers...but Friday is Kilt Night!!  Men in kilts!  Someone put a leash on me, cuz I'm going to be offering to knit kilt hose for all the fine lads!  Anyway, hope to see you there!

Etsy of the Day

       

        Stained Glass Robot by Unblinking Eye