Holy crap.

I did NOT just spend almost $100 on yarn and needles I didn't need.... Yes I did. I feel no guilt. Especially for the quantity of items and the AMAZING quality. Willow's End, Boothbay Harbor, ME. Best. LYS. Ever. Missing from the photos: a pair of Susan Bates Silvalune 6s (the emergency needles that lead to all this), some Balene 17s (damn you, crazy bulky Joann's yarn), and some 16 inch Inox size 8 circs for future hats.

Berroco Quest, 100% Nylon

Trendsetter Yarns - Jupiter, 38% mohair, the rest all sorts of stuff

Wool in the Woods - Feelin' Fuzzy, 90% Kid Mohair and 10% Nylon, in Nothin' But Blues

Brown Sheep Company - Cotton Fleece, 80% cotton and 20% merino wool, in Limelight

Artful Yarns - Jazz, half wool half alpaca

Flash, 100% mercerized cotton, in Hot Tropic

More Flash, in Cool Mix

Making my first sweater

I bought the pattern off Chicknits, and I couldn't wait to get started. I'm making it with Plymouth Encore in magenta and Cascade 220 Superwash in black for the sleeves. Most of this was done yesterday, with about 3 inches the day before.

I enjoy knitting things that are seasonally inappropriate.

I made mittens! I used a pattern from 1959 from a book given to me by DBF's grandma...ok, I cheated and used 4s where I should have used 3s and sport where I should have used fingering, but whatever...I mean, it probably didn't help that I already have small hands and used a pattern for medium mittens. Oh well, I have some nice big mittens that will probably get stolen by a male friend :).



Now, back to my Chicknits Ribby Cardi! Jenna, and a real sweater...who'da thunk it?

Double. Pointed. Needles.

I still can't believe I can do this. And that I taught myself, without any of my knitting mentors from school guiding me along through the tears. Here's the ribbed cuff of mitten #1. It's actually pretty warm so far for just an acrylic sport weight yarn (as many KR members would guess, yup, Jenna's back at it with the godforsaken Microspun...) I thought about starting the six basic rows of straight up knitting, but God, I should go to bed.



Six little rows...argh, temptation.

Amazingly, this was once a chipmunk.

The pattern called for DK weight yarn and size 2 needles...Having neither, I opted to work with what I had - worsted and 8s. So my chipmunk was kinda sorta 13 inches long. I had only the body and a back leg and a half done before I put it down for other pursuits. I decided to pick it back up today, frogged the leg, remembering it had some issues, remade it, made the front ones, stuffed, made ears, put eyes on, and knit a long tail. But you know what? It just wasn't a chipmunk. It was something....like a capybara, or a...MOOSE. I re-did the tail, moved the ears to the side, and made antlers all of my own design. I absolutely love it.

It was a learning experience.

It was my first big project. There were measurements and gauging and so much focus. There were mistakes, oh God, were there mistakes, but it's actually done. I'm not as happy with it as I could be - it's a little short and I've already repaired a droopy chest, and I think the straps are a bit flimsy, but it worked out fine.

Except for that random 7 extra inches in the width.

Using measurements, math, and gauges. I have no idea. So the back is a little more stable than the flimsy front. I'll live.

Front:

Back:

Without the flash to show the glitter blobs:

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

so. sick. of this. WIP.

The blue halter is kicking my ass. It's heavy on my needles, itchy on my skin, and easily screwed up. I just want to get to 10 inches so I can bind off half and start shaping the....what would you call them...boob triangles?

I can't think of anything classier to do on a Sunday night.

God as my witness, I will finish the 10 inches by tomorrow night.

My first "big" project

I didn't feel like I'd be emotionally complete as a knitter until I made a garment of sorts. One visit to a LYS later, a blue halter top was born. All my own design, no pattern. 5 inches done so far.