Tuesday, July 6, 2010

It's that time again....

Yup, it's time to start thinking about what we're making/getting people for Christmas. Of course, many of my friends and family have fall/winter birthdays as well. I have begun my gift list - who's getting something handmade and what it is, some jewelry ideas for the girls on my list (Overstock.com is amazing for this, amazing jewelry at amazing prices!), etc. Also, since the startitis has not gone away yet, I've started one of the gifts, my sister Allyson's birthday present (she turns 13 on October 27th). It's a slouchy beret called Swirls Slouchy Beret, and it's available at Knit Picks through their Independent Designer Program. I'm making it out of two colors of Karabella Empire Silk - an aran weight 100% silk yarn. Pictures later.
Also related to gifts, I finished my first handspun yesterday! Well, it still needs to be plied, but the single is done! And what does this have to do with gifts, you ask? I'm planning on using this yarn for the birthday gift of a close friend. I'm planning on knitting a wolf plushie out of it - hopefully I have enough yarn! If not, the wolf may have some stripes or something.

It's quite exciting planning out all these gifts - I know what I'm going to make for another very close friend (really, we're sisters, just not legally or biologically). I'm planning on buying the yarn on Saturday when I'm at work (yay employee discounts!). Of course, I'll need a few more supplies, and the pattern, so perhaps I'll be able to start sometime next week.

And speaking of starting things (I told you, the startitis has not gone away, and it's driving me to look at yarn and patterns all the time), another Fellowship of the Ring series pattern came out yesterday - Strider. It's a gorgeous cowl and it's named after my absolute favorite character in Lord of the Rings. I don't have the yarn for it (otherwise no doubt I already would have started it), and the yarn called for is $40.50 (of course I had to check), but then I started looking at Malabrigo and I found a couple colorways that would be perfect.... and then I had to close the browser and develop a new mantra: "Must not start Strider yet, must not start Strider yet, don't have the money for the yarn or the time to make it, must not start Strider yet." I must resist!

Earlier this summer, Diana asked me if I was planning on finishing all of my WIPs by summer's end, and I laughed and said definitely not. But, I think I may change my answer. Or rather, I'm striking a bargain with myself. If I finish all the projects that are not gifts by September 1st, I will allow myself to buy $90 worth of yarn to make the Saoirse Shawl (from a semi-recent IK issue). We'll see how well this works.

Of course, frogging counts, too. And I'm thinking about frogging the Mystic Meadows shawl. The yarn is pretty, but it's not really calling me. I'm not sure yet, I'll have to look at the project again and reevaluate. If it's gone from the WIP column, you know what happened.

-Sami

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Summer Work

Now, normally, I would avoid putting those two words together if at all possible, but I'll make an exception for this. I have a job in my local yarn store, woo! I am now working Saturdays at Eva's Needleworks, and I am super excited. My first day was yesterday and it went really well. Of course, I am anticipating some bumps along the way - I doubt that everything will go as smoothly as it did yesterday.

While there, I made some progress on the Rivendell Smoke Ring (by Susan Pandorf.... told you I had a lot on the needles by her). Since I was working on that, and not Avalon, it could only mean one thing - I finished the first half of Avalon!
I love the colors. I did cast on (almost) immediately for the second half, but I've only done the two set up rows so far - I'm trying to get myself to work on other projects.

And speaking of other projects... There is yarn at Eva's that is used for this one projects I really want to make, the Saoirse Shawl (it's in a relatively recent IK). Normally, the total amount of yarn I'd need would cost $90, but I do get an employee discount.... Maybe sometime soon, eh? (Oh right, I'm trying to only spend the amount of money I have in Knit Wars... so I'll have to wait for a bit.)

~Sami

Friday, July 2, 2010

Finally!


The Hemlock Ring Blanket is finally all blocked out. I really don't know why it took me so long to do it, but now it's taken up it's rightful place - resting on my bed. It's really pretty, and I'm glad my mom came up with the idea to make it two-toned.

In other news, I'm still going strong on the Avalon scarf. I have 12 rows to go until I'm done with the half, wee!

~Sami

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Summer Time

Whenever I say/hear that phrase, I always mentally follow up with "and the living's easy." Darn Sublime cover gets stuck in my head. Buut, it is summer time now, and I just cleaned my room two days ago, along with going through ALL of my books to destash them. There are huge piles of books by the side of my bed now, and now all of my knitting books, magazines, and needles are on my bookcase, which in turn means more room for yarn in my storage thingies (technical term, that).

So, I admit it, I'm completely OBSESSED with Susan Pandorf. I love her designs, and I have 6 of them on the needles, and almost my entire wishlist on Ravelry is her designs. Right now, I've been working on one in particular, the one I started most recently, Avalon. It is a lace scarf and I absolutely love it, I haven't got bored yet, even though I've done the same 2 rows 67.5 times over. I'm about 80% done with the half, less than 50 rows to go, but then I have the second half to do. I'll have to cast on right away, I think. I'm working on it in some yarn I acquired at Stitches, Wolf Creek Wools Lace Silky Wool, in Gray. I absolutely love the yarn, I'm such a sucker for merino/silk blends.

The other project that I've been working on, even though Avalon has been absorbing my attention for the past week or so, is the Rivendell Socks, by Janel Laidman. I've had my eye on this pattern for a while, and I finally started them. I love them! (Although, like I said, Avalon has been all consuming recently.) Working on them in Knit Picks Gloss Sock in Jade. It's another merino/silk blend, go figure.

Hmm, summer time, maybe it's time to block out Hemlock? I told myself that I was going to do all the handwash laundry today, maybe I'll add that in.

Enjoy that sun!
Sami

P.S. I planted some seeds a few weeks ago, and I have so many little seedlings, it's so exciting!