Toasty Elbows

If you haven't spent any time in San Francisco then you're probably not familiar with the wierd changes in weather that we experience over the course of a week. It's cold, then hot and sunny, then windy, then rainy, and then it's just really confusing and hard to plan for. So in order to combat the mostly cold weather while continuing to wear short-sleeves, I decided to take things into my own crafty hands....

....and this is what I came up with.

Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Sport Weight in Plumilicious stranded with Zukii "Fluffy" for and extra undertone of purple coloring
Fiber: 100% Merino Wool
Best part about my new handwarmers: I made them so that I can slip my thumb out of the thumb hole without taking them off completely, which allows me to wear them all day.
Other good thing: I think I love working on size 4 needles, and of course the Magic Loop!

Cutey Crafter

A guy came into the store yesterday and told me about this girl. Her scarves are super cute and one of a kind.

The Crafty Wheels Are Turning

I know that I haven't posted in a while, but now that I've gotten a request to replace the last post with a new one I've realized how badly I've been ignoring my poor blog. The reasons for this are a combination of things, so I'll make a list:
- I really want to show you a picture of some fab finished objects, but my UO shrug is in the laundry and I've either forgotten to take pictures of my latest knitted gifts before I give them or I can't ever pin Matt down to take pictures of me wearing them.
- I feel guilty blogging and not doing my homework
- I'm knitting!
- I'm reading your blog
- I'm baking (because let me tell you, I just can't stop baking ever since I recieved this for Christmas!)
- I'm pretending to do my homework but really staring at the wall

I'm also going through this crazy crafty thing right now that has caused me to create a mental backlog of things that I want to make. I really have actually lost sleep over this because I don't know how I'm going to have time to make all of the things that I want to, so I've decided to create a sidebar list to keep me focused. First, I'll have to figure out how to make such list....so for now I'll attempt to show you my thoughts in this post.


1. My friend Kimi is Prego with #2, and this time around I want to make her a diaper bag that will turn heads, not that she needs any help in that department. I've already got the fabric for it, but I need to bust my new sewing machine out of it's box and learn how to use it.


























2. I can't explain my new obsession with sock monkeys, but I'm dying to make some and this book has some really cute examples. I've also found some good tutorials online to get me started.
















3. Mom's birthday is in April, and I've decided to take the plunge and make her something that she'll love. I think this jacket will look great on her.












4. These are from Alterknits, by Leigh Radford and I think it's a great idea. I went and got some wool sweaters from the local thrift shop and I'm almost ready to get started. (I just found the instructions here, and they're exactly like the ones in the book!)

I've also got a few knitting projects going on, of which I'll wait to post so as to conserve the little bit of exciting news that I have to share....So keep reading! I haven't stopped blogging completely.

Obsessive Tendencies Have Formed

As you can see, I can't stop myself from making these things! Unfortunately, I made the mistake of doing the second half of this pair while at a super bowl party, which resulted in two different-sized handwarmers. Oh well, they're just for Matt.

I've begun another pair of these that I like better, but I'll wait until I've got them done to post. I think the key is to use smaller yarn with a smaller gauge and a durable, ropey texture. That way when you're pulling them on and off you don't worry that you'll stretch them out or anything. Anyways, when I'm done with this pair it's very likely that I'll start another....there's just something addidictive about the whole instant gratification thing. I'm thinking that next time I might try some color work, maybe a big L and R so that I know which is left and right. Or maybe a big G? I'll have to think about it. I'm still a bit afraid of that whole color work, carrying yarn behind situation.

In non-knitting news, Matt and I went to the MOMA yesterday to see the Chuck Close exhibit before it's gone forever. It was definitely worth the $7. each to get in, we both really enjoyed it. It was really interesting to see all of the different ways that he has expressed the same image while maintaining public interest and exploring different mediums. Blah blah blah, I know.

FO's

It's been a long while since I last posted, and I'm proud to say that it's because I've been knitting like crazy. Maybe it's because I don't want to read my physics textbook, but I'd like to think that I'm just really into knitting right now. So, here are the Finished Objects:

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Wool
Pattern: Feather and Fan

You may remember that I first began doing this the short way

But then I realized that I'd have to weave in all of those ends....and so I changed it to knit the long way instead. I kind of prefer this short way, but only if someone other than me is doing all the finishing because I hate weaving in ends.

Next up are my oh so wonderful cashmere handwarmers:

Yarn: Trendsetter Kashmir
Pattern: Adapted from a mitten pattern
I really like this yarn, and I especially like the fact that you can get a pair of handwarmers out of just one skein. I initially made this pair for myself because I had an extra ball left over from the ruffle scarf. But now I've written the pattern for the store and I'm making another pair for Matt in green and black. I just finished one for the store sample using the Magic Loop technique that everybody's been raving about. I'm officially addicted! I like the fact that my stitches aren't loose like they tend to be when I'm using double points. I found that my gauge was really different. Anyways, thanks Joelene for the link!

My last creation is a neckwarmer for the knitting store:

Yarn: Cascade 220 and Kidsilk Haze
Pattern: Made up by me
Admittidly, I'm not too into the whole neckwarmer situation but other people like it and it's a good little project if you ski or something, I guess. Matt thinks that neckwarmers are stupid. Oh well.

Next up I'm going to make Matt's handwarmers and then pick up Clapotis again, because I made some kind of mistake somewhere and I've got to really sit down and figure it out. Also, I just have to admit that I have officially entered the dorky knitter zone and I've gotten myself hooked to Cast On. If you haven't checked it out, you should. It's super fun to knit and listen, almost like your own personal stitch and bitch.