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This post is a little late, but it’s still today, so it still counts. I may have started another project.
It’s Aviatrix in some delightful handspun. At this moment, it’s quite a bit further along (I have four full repeats done), but this is the picture I have. More tomorrow probably.
Also, apropos of nothing, this week was the boyfriend and my third anniversary. We’ve been together three years which is totally bitchin. We celebrated today with Mexican food and later this week with a movie date. So yay! Boyfriend!
In cleaning out some stuff in my back bedroom today, I finally got around to photographing some things I’m trying to get rid of. There’s my old Singer sewing machine, Mary:
It’s heavy, so I’m looking to sell it locally (unless you want to pay shipping). The Craigs List posting is here if you happen to be in Hampton Roads and in the market for a sewing machine.
There’s also my first mannequin, Elizabeth Mark I:
Also selling locally. I like this mannequin and the size is similar to myself, but I like my adjustable one (Elizabeth Mark II, natch) better. And with limited space… Anyway, that one’s here
Sorry for the probably dull post today, but I’m still working on Karlsro. Tomorrow, maybe yarn. I’ve been recycling.
So I finished up that second pair of Baby Fan Mitts. They look exactly the same as the first pair:
I believe I’ll be mailing them today. I also finished up the grey mitten part of some sharks, so I rewarded myself by casting on for a new project (more on that later).
GPoY stands for Gratuitous Picture of Yourself. GPoC stands for Gratuitous Picture of Cat (says me). I think I introduced Stretch a week or so ago. This is why he’s called that:
He sleeps on his back, spread-eagled. Frequently in the middle of my bed, making it awkward for me to get into. I’ll let him though since he usually sleeps snuggled up next to me, and that is super cute.
First thing’s first: Announcement! Etsy has finally allowed one-time shop name changes, which I took advantage of to overwrite the silly name I picked in high school. You can now find my Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchBrinnStitch. The old url will still redirect to the new one, so don’t worry about links (mine or yours).
Second thing: I won an award!
The person who awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award is Renee of Confessions of a Yarn Addict., who is completely delightful. Thank you!
By accepting the Versatile Blogger award, I have agreed to the following:
1. Thank the blogger who presented it to me and link back to their page.
2. Share 7 things about myself.
3. Pass this award to some newly discovered blogs.
Alrighty then, seven things about myself (some of which you probably already know):
1. Having just recently graduated from college, I am unemployed and live with my parents. It is cheap but not always pleasant.
2. I love cats. LOVE. We have four here, two of which like to snuggle up on the bed. One of the others is outside most of the time and the last is usually in the living room, knocking things over so he can sleep where he wants.
3. My room has scary bugs, so I moved into my sister’s while she is at college. She will probably be upset at the changes when she gets home (YES, I did tell her).
4. If I had the space, time, and money, I’d do every craft. All of time. Glasswork, pottery, book-making, beading, quilting… I can’t think of a craft I don’t want to do. If it has a board on Craftster, I want to do it.
5. I suffer from depression (well controlled) and anxiety (working on controlling) as well as mild OCD. If you are suffering, GET HELP. I waited until my senior year of college and I shudder to think of all the things I could have done and been if I had gotten things together way earlier. Seriously, go to your local Community Services Board or Dept. of Health or non-profit hospital. You CAN afford it and you DO deserve the help.
6. I am a huge nerd. Which shouldn’t be a surprise. I love grammar and BSG and the Whedonverse and sci fi and biology and astronomy and comic book movies (and I would take up comics if I could afford it) and video games (when I can afford it, I want to buy a dedicated gaming tower. My MacBook can’t really run graphics-intense games and that makes me sad. I’ve never even played Portal! How sad it that?
7. I am completely (possibly weirdly so) obsessed with Rodney McKay from Stargate: Atlantis. Every time I think about it or see an actor from it elsewhere, I am utterly dejected all over again that it’s done and there really isn’t a movie coming. (Also, McShep. Yes.)
Okay! There’s seven things about me you probably already knew or didn’t want to know about me. Here are some blogs I’m awarding Versatile Blogger to.
1. Finny Knits In addition to having 101 hobbies (as she says), she is also completely hilarious. Um, also, she swears a lot (not that I care, but you might have sensitive eyes).
2. Wool and Cotton Muchly knitting but also gorgeous pictures of Greece, where she lives. I wish to go to Greece.
3. Odessa Knits She knits with pretty yarn. And works at (owns?) a yarn shop, so I am jealous.
4. Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts Nessa is completely delightful, very friendly, and does some nice crafts. Her blog is a lovely blend of crafts and life and other stuff.
5. Aunt Peaches She does many different crafts and has a delightfully quirky sense of humor. I always look forward to her posts!
6. Mich L. in LA Mich’s blog is one of my favorites, full of quirky and cute jewelry tutorials and giveaways and contests.
7. Kitschy Coo Sewing, fabric, Scotland, snark, kids, and daily life. Also hilarity.
I think seven is good. I follow a lot of blogs (I have 213 in my Google Reader account. Some are no longer active or are updated infrequently, but I usually have about 80 posts a day to sift through) so I forget which ones were added when. If you haven’t already (I think I linked Finny during the last blog week?) please do click through and add some delightful blogs to your reading list.
Sooo the other day I participated in a test knit on Ravelry for a pair of cute slippers. The pattern hasn’t been released yet, but I’ll edit this post with a link when it has.
Pattern: Options Slippers by KrisKrafter
Yarn: Two recycled wool/acrylic blends
Needles: US 8/5 mm
Hook: I (whatever that mm is… 5.5?)
Mods: Fewer heel stitches, blanket stitched the heel.
This was a pretty solid pattern, and it knit up reeeeeally quickly. It was sort of annoying to knit the upper and sole as separate pieces and sew them, but I like the two color effect. And also they’re super comfy.
There’s not a tremendous amount of things to say about these slippers, so instead I’ll tell you about some WIPs. I’m currently working on some baby shark mittens (they’re so wee!), a pair of black spats, and a single shark mitten to be used as a puppet. I’m nearly finished with the first two so they’ll probably go in the mail tomorrow. I’m thinking about adding custom knit dinosaur mittens to my Etsy shop, but people so rarely give me their hand length (it’s in caps in the description) that I doubt they would specify their dinosaurs. Maybe I’ll just say if you don’t tell me, I’ll do what I like.
Unrelated fun fact: I am on Twitter as Brinnanza. Feel free to follow me. I post things about knitting, live tweets of various shows/movies, and funny things people say. Sometimes I say swears, so be aware. : )
So, before we get to the FO: Bad news, bears. I did not get the job I was hoping for. Good news: More time for crafting and therefore blog posting. Bad news: My only income is my Rav pattern store and my Etsy store (so like, buy my shit please). Good news: The intent to move up to Fairfax with my boyfriend is back and stronger than ever. Bad news: Not sure who’d hire me for less than a year since Joe’s planning to go to grad school next year.
Anyway, that’s enough good news/bad news.
Pattern: Box 96 Pullover from IK Summer 2010
Yarn: Recycled 60/40 cotton/acrylic sportish weight.
Needles: US 5/3.75 mm KP Options (I seriously love these needles)
Mods: Removed the roll brim in favor of garter sleeve bands. Crocheted the lace bits to the sweater. I didn’t knit the roll edging at the bottom but started right in on the decreases. It’s stocinette, so it rolls, but not much. And I still might do a row or two of sc along the bottom.
So I totally fell in love with this vest when IK Summer 2010 came out. It stuck in my brain. I eventually got the magazine from someone on Ravelry and have just now gotten around to making the vest. And I love it. I totally love it. The V is a bit deeper than anticipated, so I have to wear a tank under it if I wear it as a shirt.
It did come out a titch too big because I steam blocked it and there’s a substantial acrylic content. It’s got a lot of cotton too, so I think a spin through the washer and dryer should shrink it up a bit. And it does fit as is, I just might have to wear a belt as styled.
I can never remember whether I’ve told you about the 12 sweaters/12 months challenge I participate in on Ravelry (the group is here, but this marks number nine fr the year. I frogged a couple I made (some Leah versions), but I still made them, so I’m right on track for knitting 12 sweaters this year. Also, not all of them were for me.
I’ve pulled out the yarn, needles, and pattern book for Karlsro, a wrap sweater from Noro Book One. I knit a version for a WWFY swap and I rather liked the pattern, so I’m starting one for myself in a brown recycled wool. Y’know, once I finish all the shark mittens. : )
So for the last couple of days I have been (and will be for the foreseeable future) very, very busy. I started volunteering at the local elementary school (here’s hoping they’ll be hiring….). This has left me with little crafting time as it’s quite a tiring affair, but I’ve been knitting a bit.
Here’s my Box 96 pullover so far. Have edging and lace yet to knit (sorry for the crappy pic).
I’ve also been working on a few pairs of shark mittens for sale. Still have lots of knitting to do. I’ll keep you updated. : )
*awkwardly shuffles to the front*
*taps mic*
Hello?
Well, it’s certainly been a while, huh? Two and a half weeks. Do I even have readers left?
I know it can be irritating to read posts that are just apologies for not posting, so I’ll keep it brief: As I mentioned before, I spent some time in DC and then I spent some time in the hospital (I’m fine now, it was a mental health thing). I just got back to Virginia Beach yesterday and spent most of the day cleaning.
I haven’t been doing a whole lot of knitting, but I’ve sort of been working on the first of a pair of Skew socks:
I also did/am doing some unravelling:
(A 60/40 cotton/acrylic with horrible seams)
(lambswool/angora/nylon)
(wool/nylon)
Oh, also, while I was in DC, I visited a yarn store (Knit and Stitch = Bliss in Bethesda) and purchased a skein of Malabrigo worsted in Noviembre:
So I’ll go back to the knitting and then I’ll get back to the posting. : )
Today was a WWKIP (World Wide Knit in Public) Day event at the D’Art center in Norfolk. I went and though I didn’t take any pictures (cause I don’t really know anyone and I feel weird about snapping random photos of people) I did have a lot of fun. I finished a pair of socks (which I’ll post about later) and worked on my WWFY sweater. I also got lots of swag!
A bag, some mags, a button, some samples of Miss Babs yarn, a Euclan sample, and some coupons/business cards. I’m never thrilled with Knitter’s, but there are a couple of cute things and there’s a dress in the Debbie Bliss mag I might make (out of cotton, not pure silk like suggested cause I’m not crazy).
There were probably about 50 people there total. I sat with a group of lovely women who welcomed me (as I’m sure I looked SUPER confused upon arriving, not knowing anyone there). Of COURSE I didn’t get their names, but they were lovely. I sat down, pulled out my sock to knit and started to flip through the Knitter’s mag. One of the women there (not at my table but wandering around) came over, saw me flipping through the mag and said, “Oh, I have to give you something! I’m with Knitter’s and you’re actually looking at the magazine!” So she gave me a Juniper Moon Fiber Farm button (yay!) and a tape measure.
Everyone who came got a ticket for a door prize drawing (there were a LOT of prizes), two if you brought a charity knit (I didn’t but I SHOULD HAVE). They drew a bunch of tickets every half hour or so. I had arrived at 12:45. I left at 4:45. I kept listening to the numbers–not mine, not mine. Finally, the Knitting Guild President (the sponsor of the event and the woman who was running things) said, “Is there anyone who’s still here that hasn’t won something?” I raised my hand.
I was the only one. She drew the last of the tickets and I did win (finally) but I was literally the last person to win anything. Gah. I won a book and some yarn:
I’m not crazy about either but I’m thinking I can trade the book and the yarn will probably be a shawl or scarf of some kind. I don’t especially care for the 47% acrylic, but I’ll deal. After all, I won it!
It was nice to hang out with other knitters who know what they are doing, can knit more than garter stitch and know what ssk, MadTosh, and US 6/4mm mean. I had a lot of fun and I will definitely be looking for more KIP events in my area next year.
Today was the first day of the Pungo Strawberry Festival, an affair celebrating strawberries, farmlands, and Virginia Beach. There are tons of food vendors, arts/vendor booths (mostly jewelry, embroidery/bags, and soap this year), and a 4H tent. I went with my sister and though we didn’t buy anything, we spent a lot of time in the 4H tent, which was filled with pigs, sheep, and cows. Fortunately, I remembered my camera this year (I forgot it last year).
These little guys (St. Croix) were only two months old:
There was also a section called the “Fun Barn” which was sort of closed off from the rest of the tent–for a donation of a dollar, you could pet chicks, ducks, goats, a sheep, a pony, and some pigs. There were also chickens and rabbits, but they were in small cages with small holes (and they didn’t get close enough to pet).
That’s my sister’s hand. The sheep had a heart on his head.
These little pigs were so cute! Their names are Jack and Jill.
Posing next to a grown up duck. He was super soft.
Petting a baby duck (well, that’s my sister’s hand). I got to hold one of these little guys (not in this picture, that’s some kid whose family owns the ducks) even though I wasn’t supposed to. He was super cute! That alone was worth my $1 plus $5 parking (though that was split between me and my sister).
We also saw lambs competing in an obstacle course. They didn’t like it very much though. It was pretty funny and the lambs knocked over the jump bars more than they made it through. Also, apparently lambs really hate having wet feet. Seeing children trying to get their lambs to put two feet in a little kiddie pool was pretty funny. They were Not Having It.
It was a pretty fun trip. My sister and I went to Skinny Dip (frozen yogurt bar) afterwards and drove around Pungo attempting to get back on the right road. More knitting stuff tomorrow or Monday!
Stitch, Brinn, Stitch! 