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Ravelry tells me I started this project in May. It is now March. For those keeping track at home, that’s a total of ten months. Which makes this little pair of shorts the project spanning the longest time period yet. Anyway, they’re done now.
Pattern: Studio Shorts
Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton (it’s like kittens, for real)
Needles: US 6/4 mm
Mods: Fewer hip decreases, probably more short rows. I don’t really know at this point.
They’re not really that wrinkly but it’s difficult to take a picture of your own ass/short-wearing section even with a tripod. And it was cold out, hence the tights. I suspect it will warm up soonishly and I’ll get a chance to wear them. They fit really well with the drawstring and they’re super comfortable. Hobby Lobby’s cotton is super soft, much nicer than kitchen cotton.
Now, anyone who’s followed this blog for any length of time will know that I’m a huge nerd. I love the recent Marvel movies (and I’m constantly disappointed I never got into comics as a kid) and I’m completely obsessed with all things Joss Whedon. Naturally, this means I’ll be going to see the Avengers at midnight when it opens. I’m thinking these shorts, green tights, green shirt, maybe some lurid green eyeshadow. Maybe green flip flops. Even though the Hulk is not at the top of my favorite Avengers (I really love Thor and Iron Man), it is the one I can easily dress up as. So that’s happening.
Knowing me, I won’t get around to uploading a WIP post about the socks I’m working on, so know that I’ve started a pair of blotchy vanilla socks in Premier Serenity Sock. I’ll probably be able to get two pairs out of the two balls I have, actually. I also started a sweater in crochet, but I’ve sort of put that aside for the socks, so more on that later.
So I talk about my boyfriend fairly frequently on this here blog of mine. His name is Joe. He looks like this:
So he’s pretty amazing. He has a blog now! It’s muchly about music (orchestral and film in particular). He’s delightful and witty and humorous (and I’m not just saying that because I’m with him). Seriously, he’s great. Go read the blog. Be amused.
I usually like to post every other day but apparently have a real job that requires me to be actually working (not knitting) makes that difficult. I’m gonna shoot for once or twice a week and call it a success. Anyway, I knitted a thing. The knitting’s been done for a while actually, but I’ve just recently (meaning last week) gotten photos of it. In my defense, I’ve been deep in the throes of another TV show obsession (BBC’s Sherlock if you must know. I have a thing for pretty British blokes who are clearly madly in love with each other).
On to the knitting.
Pattern: None, am sort of writing it up. Need to make another prototype.
Needles: US 5/3.75 mm straights
Yarn: 50/50 wool/acrylic
Yes, I wore tights. No, you cannot see my skivvies. Yes, I possibly had to shop out some lines. DON’T JUDGE ME. (And for the record, I am firmly on the side of tights are not pants, but you gotta do what you gotta do.)
Anyway, I put off photographing this for so long because I was convinced I would come up with a way to attach it to my socks without threading the ties through the ribbing and tying them together. I didn’t, obviously. I have to make another one for gauge/size issues anyway (this one was too big til I chucked it in the washing machine and drier and it shrunk a bit). I’ll probably attach something different to that one.
The pattern for this (if anyone’s interested) is sort of written but needs to be developed for clarity. On the off chance you’re interested in testing, please shoot me an email (or comment; I get those in my email too) and I’ll let you know if it’ll be ready for testing any time soon. I’d like it to be since I haven’t released a new pattern in a while and I’d like to continue expanding my library.
Unfortunately I have a billion sharks to knit first. Yes, still. Yes, I’m sick of them. I’m almost done though. I think. I hope.
Yes, I know the Oncoming Storm refers to the Doctor and not the daleks. I did not name the pattern. But clearly I am the oncoming storm since I punched up through some daleks and out through the top. Suck on that, Davros. And yes, my obsession with this show is cemented.
Anyway, I finished these mitts:
Pattern: The Oncoming Storm
Yarn: Black Patons Classic Wool and silvery grey ArtFibers Ming, a merino/silk blend of delightfulness.
Needles: US 6/4mm
Mods: Changed the ribbed thumb to garter and fixed the first black stripe so it doesn’t have the grey purl bumps on the color change. I also used worsted instead of dk.
I really love how they came out–they fit really well and the Ming is soooo soft. It’s like kitten fur mixed with clouds and dreams. Seriously nice. And the silk makes it really strong too–I couldn’t break it with my hands, which is pretty impressive seeing as it’s a single.
This last picture features one of our four cats. His name is Scrawny and my mother found him in my grandparents’ barn as a stray. I think he’s getting old now because we don’t know how old he was when we found him, but he’s a sweet cat. Loves to sit on my lap and curl up next to me while I sleep. He never used to like coming in my room but now he pretty much never leaves. Here’s a better photo:
I’ve been somewhat remiss in blogging for the past, oh, two weeks or so. Sorry about that. In my defense I was out of town with REALLY terrible internet for much of that time. I went to Florida to visit my grandparents and we went to Disney since my grandparents work for the company. I, of course, brought my knitting to entertain myself in line.
I also fed kangaroos (!):
And made kissy faces at goats:
Also, this happened:
EPCOT has a Norway section. Because totes, that’s what you do in Norway.
Anyway, I mostly knitted sharks (I finished about three pair I think), but I did start a new thing which I will talk about later when I get some decent pictures of it thus far. It’s a thing for me because I’m taking a little break from sharks even though I have like three more pairs to knit. Bleh. I do like the income though.
Also, happy new year to all. I don’t really have any New Year’s resolutions (not that I’d keep them anyway), but my goals for 2012 are to be better and to finally move up to Fairfax and out of my parents’ house. I’m really hoping I’ll stick to that last one. I love working as a substitute teacher, but I’m sure I can find something similar in NOVA.
I’m currently feeling the Christmas crunch thanks to my apparently booming Etsy business. I currently have seven outstanding mitten orders plus a Marzipan Cowl someone requested. So I’m knitting my fingers to the bone.
Here’s some things I finished recently:
Teal Spiffy Spats in Vanna’s Choice acrylic (didn’t have any teal on hand). I usually don’t like acrylic, but Vanna’s Choice is actually quite nice. Kinda smooshy. Just fine for items for sale.
Sharks in some wool I dyed, as usual. I took some glamor shots.
I finished those last week sometime and have been knitting away since then in between my regular job. I have, in the last couple of weeks, watched seasons 1-5 of New Doctor Who and 1-2 of Torchwood. I am now completely obsessed with the Whoniverse, so expect crafts on that front. I’m currently watching Torchwood: Miracle Day and holy Christ, it’s gripping. I’m getting less knitting done than I ought to because it’s so gripping I forget to knit. That rarely happens.
And yes, I’m a huge dork.
Today is my birthday! I’m 22! And my boyfriend’s birthday is tomorrow. He’ll be 25. To celebrate, take 23% off all pattern sales with the coupon code BIRTHDAYTIMES. Take advantage of it because the shark mittens pattern has been selling like hotcakes!
Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow with a more interesting post. With pictures, even! I finished some shark mittens but then I mailed them before I could snap a photo. : ( I’ve been really busy with work (I’ve been subbing for third grade with minimal sub plans so I’m sorta playing it by ear).
I’ve been someone remiss about blogging lately, mostly because all I’ve been knitting lately are shark mittens. I have an adult small mitten part done:
And I’ve started on some baby sharks:
I’ve also been unwinding sweaters like crazy using my new winder. I finished up a couple of sweaters I’ve had around for a bit including an 80/20 wool/nylon pullover that now looks like this:
I’ve also been working. Both for my Etsy shop for my real person grown-up job. I’ve officially subbed (for money even!) for two different classes and I have a fourth grade class on Monday and Tuesday. I think I’ll be trying to work a lot so I can make some money. And so I can afford to treat myself a little now and again. I went to Farm Fresh today to pick up some meds and I felt I deserved a pumpkin spice latte from the Starbuck’s for my new job. And it is delicious.
When I was in NoVa this past week, my mother emailed me an ad from Craig’s List. I emailed the poster regarding the item in question. She replied; we arranged to meet up when we were both in town. I am now the proud owner of this beauty:
Ohhhhhh yeah. Antique skein winder that I bought for $30. It’s kinda beat up but it spins just fine. I’ve already done like four hanks on it and it’s way faster than the niddy noddy. I can even chain ply as I wind on it if I spin the wheel with my foot.
I’d have some knitting to show you today as well, but I once again finished commissions, packaged them, and sent them without photographing them. Sorry. There were some brown spats and some shark mittens. Speaking of shark mittens, I was working on an outstanding order on my way back from NoVa and I think I left a mostly finished mitten (just the grey parts) on the train. Now I have to make two more. : (
In less depressing news, I am officially employed! I am currently working as a substitute teacher and I worked my first official day in the classroom where I’ve been volunteering the last couple of months. I might go in again tomorrow and I’m subbing for fourth grade on Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately it is at the elementary school where myself and my siblings went to school and where my mother works, so I’m pretty familiar with a lot of the staff and the layout of the school. Hopefully I can do most of my subbing there, though I’m available to sub at several other schools.
So yes. Employment and knitting and yarn winding. Yay.
I am currently typing this entry on the Amtrak train back to Virginia Beach because god of gods, this train has WIFI which probably explains why the ticket was $64 instead of $45. So you get a blog post! I’ve not been a very good blogger recently because I’ve been hanging out with my boyfriend and his folks for the long weekend. There was food, there was wine, there was exploring, there was Dr. Who (my latest TV obsession, but more on that later). And there was hiking!
Joe and I went to Great Falls National Park and hiked the Billy Goat Trail part B. It was super fun. There were pretty views across the canal:
There were mini-picnics:
There were lots of boulders and rocks to climb over:
There was general cuteness:
It was a lovely afternoon. After hiking, we came back and I took a nap. And I rarely nap.
I have been knitting, more of which will probably be discussed tomorrow/this week. I’ve made some progress on my Lacy Ribbons sweater and I’ve been working on spats and mittens for sale. I’ll try to have pictures for tomorrow.




























