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Dear blog:
I’m sorry it’s been so long since my last entry. Clearly I failed terribly at NaBloPoMo but in my defense, my boyfriend was in town and now I’m up with him, doing relatively little knitting and certainly not taking any pictures.
I could show you this yarn I dyed last week for a WWFY swap:
It’s Sanguine Gryffon Bugga Skinny and I used black RIT dye. As an aside, I’ve never seen yarn suck up dye so fast. I usually dye wool and it takes a good 30 minutes. With this, I dunked it in the bucket for 30 seconds and it was already darker than I would have liked.
I could show you the haircut I got last week, which is super short and pixie-like:
Or I could show you a picture of a kitty:
None of which happened in the last five days or so. But I am knitting some things (spats and sharks for Etsy) and I’ve been finishing things (my garter belt, which works with thick knit socks but I need to find a better holding mechanism for lighter ones).
Hopefully I’ll be back for more posts this week (I’m going hiking at some point and I should definitely take pictures of that).
Okay, so I didn’t post yesterday. Life got in the way. Went to the oceanfront with the boyfriend and played some games and did not blog. So maybe there will be two posts today. Then again, maybe there won’t. : )
Pattern: Aviatrix
Yarn: Handspun Corriedale from Lakehouse Loft fibers
Needles: US 7/4.5mm and 8/5mm straights
Mods: I made the largest size but worked seven panels. I also made the straps even since I probably button it.
I’ve been meaning to knit this pattern in this yarn practically since I spun the yarn, but things had gotten in the way until now. And it was super fast–I blew through the pattern in about two days. And I totally love it. I love working with handspun, the colors are amazing, and the fit is great. Because of the extra wedges, it sits all the way down on the back of my neck and just above my eyes in the front to keep everything toasty warm if it ever gets actually cold. Which, who knows cause today the high is 77 and I’m wearing a short-sleeved dress.
I haven’t started anything new just yet, but you know I probably will soon. I ought to work on the things I already have otn, but starting something new is just so damn fun.
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!
I finished Karlsro yesterday!
Pattern: Karlsro
Yarn: Recycled wool from a gigantic sweater I thrifted
Needles: US 9/5.5 mm
Mods: Made the length a little shorter and went down a couple needle sizes for a slightly more fitted sweater.
I’m quite pleased with the way this one came out. I love wrap sweaters, it’s nice and warm, the sleeves are long (a little too much for the weather now). And it’s in a neutral color, so it’ll go with anything. I can’t wait for the weather to cool down some more so I can actually wear it.
(scuze my face)
This sweater makes ten for the year, for those in the know of IntKniSweMo. I have 11 on the needles (not that it’ll be done by the end of the year seeing as it’s lace mohair) and I may or may not make it to 12. At the moment, I’m casting on for a hat (Aviatrix) and finishing up some other wips.
The boyfriend arrives today, so prepare for less interesting posts for a bit.
I soaked and blocked Karlsro last night and instead of working on one of several projects I already had otn, I cast on for something new. Because we are nothing but class here at chez StitchBrinnStitch, I knit a thong. As you do.
Pattern: Lacy Thong from IK online
Yarn: Caron Spa (leftover from my favorite summer knit ever, Tank Girl)
Needles: US 5/3.75mm
Mods: Left off the crochet picot bits.
These only took about three hours total and were a super fast knit. Also, I rather like the finished product. Not that I am lacking in underwear (TMI maybe?) but sometimes a girl just needs a pretty lace thong. So, ya know, I made one. And I might make more. Maybe. But I’d probably go up a needle size and cast on more for the waistband (or tie sides).
Apropos of nothing (really, I promise), my boyfriend is going to be in town tomorrow for about a week and then I’m traveling up north to Fairfax for Thanksgiving and whatnot. So knitting might slow down (I haven’t seen him in a couple months). But I’m going to keep trying to get all 30 posts in this month (I’m 11 for 11 so far!) and I should have Karlsro finished up today or tomorrow, so there’s that. Yay.
It’s getting darkish and I’m in the middle of a bunch of knitting projects, so I’ll show you this sweater my mother found at the thrift for me:
It’s Shetland wool, fingering weight. Pretty sticky cause it’s Shetland, but I bed it would make good outerwear.
I’ll also say that within 12 hours of posting about my sewing machine and mannquin, I had two offers for both. I get rid of some stuff and I get some money woot!
I’ll get back to knitting so I have something more interesting for you tomorrow.
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. : )
Stitch, Brinn, Stitch! 