Moving On

So, I'm gonna stop blogging on this blog. I can be found talking about life, and sometimes knitting, at my Tumblr blog, La Luna Bella.

Quick Update

I finished Sierra's birthday present in time for her party!

From KnitFr33K is Knitting

This is the Emily Dickinson pattern by Kieran Foley, made in Malabrigo Lace in the color Vermillion, with 6/0 beads in the color black gold.

And I still haven't found yarn for the Strider Cowl, but I am keeping up the search!

-Sami

On a Mission

That's it. Tomorrow at work, I'm finding yarn for the Strider Cowl and buying it, gosh darn it!

A Quickie Update

No, I have not vanished. Well, maybe for a little bit. But now I'm back.

Look at what I won at the latest HP gathering (Goblet of Fire, and it was hosted at my house).

Diana and I made these stitch markers (she made these) and she wrote out the font after looking at it on the computer (she's amazing).

I love them!

Umm, a better update later, but I won't be going over the past month, that's too crazy xD.

-Sami

Prisoner of TOS - Er, I mean Azkaban

Don't be fooled by the title, I love being with my knit night group! Yesterday was Prisoner of Azkaban (one of my favorite books, so the movie's awesome-ness doesn't mean as much to me), and it was a lot of fun.

Well, I'm not very articulate right now (woke up about an hour ago), so I'll leave you with some pictures!

These are the prizes I won! A pattern, 2 skeins of yarn, and a pretty handmade stitch marker.

This is a skein of Malabrigo Worsted (a hard find in our LYS's these days) in color Cabernet (oooh, I like the sound of that).

And this is a skein of Manos Silk Blend in the illuminating color of 3008. Well, it's black. That's not too difficult to identify. Maybe because of the silk sheen we could call it onyx. Or hematite. Thoughts?

-Sami

I finished something!

If you look carefully, you'll notice that something has gone from the WIP column... and made it into the finished objects column! It's been a long time since I completely finished something (since I made my sister's birthday present, the Swirls Slouchy Beret), and now my Rivendell Smoke Ring is complete!

It's a bit more... substantial than the original concept for a smoke ring, but I used a thicker yarn, and I still think it is gorgeous. I used BMFA STR Heavyweight in color Gail's Autumn Joy, and I used about 60% of the ball. I used fewer repeats (by 2) than what the pattern called for because otherwise I would have gotten a hood more so than a cowl, and I wanted a cowl. Even at this length, it's pretty long.

But it is so soft, and so squooshy! (Technical term, that.) And I just love the colors. The pattern itself is gorgeous, and I also think it looks fine what with the colors sort of masking it.

Right, now I just have to go and work on something else! (And finish it, too!)

-Sami

P.S. Di and I have started making really cool stitch markers. Next time I'll have lots of pictures of them. (I've replaced all the stitch markers in my projects with these.)

HP Madness!

In honor of the approaching premiere of the 7th Harry Potter movie (part 1 of 2) in November, my knitting group (aka TOSS) has decided to have get togethers every 3 weeks or so to watch the movies in order. The past two times (the Sorcerer's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets) have been loads of fun, with games and prizes.

Here's what I've won/received so far:

I won this by being one of the HP Bingo winners (we had to listen for HP words, instead of numbers and letters). It is Malabrigo Lace in Butter (and Stacey bought it when I was working, so that was kinda cool, too).

This yarn I won by being a trivia winner. The other winner was Stacey's 11 year old daughter, who knows probably as much about Harry Potter as I do (which is a fair amount. I'm by no means an expert, but I have read the books and watched the movies several times.), and Lynne, who ran CoS, created prizes from both of Stacey's daughters so they wouldn't be left out (so cute!). This is a Crazy Zauberball by Schoppel-Wolle.

These yarns were in my goodie bag (Lynne made goodie bags - everyone grab one, trades allowed). They are both skeins of Alpaca & Silk from Blue Sky Alpaca. So soft. The lighter colored one is destined to be come a pair of Bamboo Mitts (gorgeous fingerless gloves - the color seems perfect).

The next gathering is at the end of August. And then on the 19th of September, Si, Di and I will be hosting the Goblet of Fire at my house. Dad just bought a new TV (Sony Bravia, 52", so cool!) so it should be really fun. And we've come up with tasks, and that's how prizes will be won.

-Sami

P.S. Oh, I bought the yarn for the Saoirse Shawl and the Victoria cardigan yesterday. And I may have cast on the Saoirse Shawl... heh. It was too tempting!

P.S.S. I created another blog for my gardening, Seed of Serenity. Check it out!

These Past Weeks Paraphrased

Well, it's been a while, hasn't it? I didn't mean to have such a huge gap, but then I went on vacation... and well, time got away from me, I guess.

This is just a quickie post saying that I still live and that pictures will be coming soon. I've made a fair amount of progress on the Aeolian (11 out of 12 repeats of the Yucca chart), and I finished my first Rivendell sock today (on a related note, what is with that heel??? some errata needs to be published for that one). I finally picked up my Rivendell Smoke Ring once I got home and I'm now 45% done.

I meant to finish the Avalon scarf and Evenstar shawl when I was on vacation, but that didn't happen. It was a very low key vaca, and none of us did a whole lot (but it was really fun because both Si and Di got to come).

But I did decide when we were away that when we got home, I'd frog the Burnished Tunic. And that's what I did, a few minutes before we left for our knit night's Chamber of Secrets gathering (we're doing a marathon of Harry Potter movies, in preparation of the 7th movie being released in November. It's fun - there are games and prizes - I have - *counts* - 4 more skeins of yarn because of it). I decided that I would wait until I could acquire the amount of yarn that is correct for my actual size (I was optimistically delusional when I ordered the yarn intended for this sweater at first).

So, I still have a lot of knitting to do, and as always, when you have a lot of knitting to do, new projects call to you. I'll talk more about that in my next post, but at this point, I've been holding out - but who knows how long I'll be able to resists the startitis. Maybe I'll just do what Di did - I'll print out the patterns of the things I want to make (good thing I just got new ink) instead of casting them on. Hmmm...

Until next time,

Sami

P.S. Oh! I set the twist on my handspun (it remained a single) and I bought the wolf plushie pattern - I just need to buy the needles and I'm on my way (the needles I have are uncomfortable to work with for this pattern)!

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

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

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

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!

One month to go...

There is only one month of school left, and apparently, my teachers are intent on cramming it full of projects and deadlines (yuck!). But I have retained the little sanity I own through... you guessed it... knitting (and friends of course, they are a given in such a situation). I'm going through a bit of startitis right now, and I don't see it stopping (maybe slowing) in the near future... it's quite fun, and I still have three project bags that are empty.

I did finish something, too! In fact, it was such a quick knit (and I'm such an erratic blogger), that it never got to the WIP tab, and made it's blog debut on the Finished Objects list. It's a headband, from DROPS (86-10, I believe) and I made it out of Cascade 220 in a very pretty blue. I wish I had made it a little shorter so that it's a little more snug, but it does it's job and keeps my ears warm while allowing me to have my hair up. Good stuff.

The rest of the pictures will be my WIPs....

My Rivendell Smoke Ring, designed by Susan Pandorf (who is a frikkin' genius!), and an add on pattern with the Fellowship of the Ring series (which I signed up for, wee!). I'm making this with STR Heavyweight Gail's Autumn Joy. I know that it's highly variegated, which isn't that good for lace, but I like it too much to change yarn =D. However, I am thinking about going up a needle size (or two, not sure) because it's a little tight, and it won't have the drape that the original Rivendell Smoke Ring will have (I think the yarn had silk in it). Actually, that may be one of the things to do today - frog it and restart it on a larger needle size. Most of Susan Pandorf's (yes, I will repeat her entire name because I'd feel strange using just her first name, too familiar) pattern's are on US size 3's, so I think I'll just have to keep that in mind when I choose my own needle size for her designs.

This is my Singles' Awareness Day Scarf. I started it on Valentine's Day, 2009, and as such, it is my oldest WIP. For that, it is going to come with me to every knit night. Last week, I got a whole lace repeat done, so I think that this is a good plan, and I only wish I had thought of it sooner.

A closer look at the lace. The pattern is the Inverted Hearts pattern from the Harmony Guide's Lace & Eyelets book.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Were you sufficiently warned? I know that many people that participated (are participating) in the Evenstar Mystery KAL have seen up to Clue 4 (have gotten past Clue 4...), but just in case, I had to say something. The pattern is now completely released, although I'm behind (only one more repeat of Clue 4, then on to Clue 5!). This pattern is amazing and beautiful and I shall sing the praises of Susan Pandorf for a very long time (and not for the last time in the post). I hope she doesn't think I'm a stalker or anything... :D

This is the body so far of my sweater, the Burnished Tunic from Knitscene Fall 2008. The color is darker than in this picture, but I really enjoy this pattern, it goes by really quick. Now, I just need to get my arse into gear and get exercising, so I can fit into it once it's done!

Dad's Hunting Hat, made out of a Yarn Place yarn that I got from Stitches. Much easier than a sweater, by far. And it's so bright, it's pretty fun. This is my mindless knitting, the project I bring to school with me.

If the SAD Scarf is my knit night project, My Vampire Boyfriend Socks is my KIP project, because I need to work on them. I started them a while ago, out of Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed in the colorway Wine (so gorgeous!), but I've been slow to make progress on them. Probably a combination of the bluntness of the needles and the purl ladders I get when going to the next half of the sock (working it on magic loop). But I do love them (and I got Anna at knit night addicted to them too, I fully take the blame for that)!

Last WIP in the post, and also a Susan Pandorf (and FotR) pattern, the Legolas Kerchief. When I first started this, it flew along, but now I haven't been paying much attention to it, not out of dislike, but because other projects are claiming my attention. I love the colors in the yarn though, but the yarn is a little sheddy (mohair). Hopefully after a gentle wash (once I'm done, not anytime soon) it won't be as bad.

My other two WIPs are ones that are off the needles but not finished from some reason. My Hemlock Ring Blanket, by Jared Flood (a.k.a. Brooklyn Tweed), is all done, it just needs to be blocked. Diana's Sekrit Birthday Present was for her 16th birthday, and now she's already 17. But if I have it done (I need to pull out my sewing machine to finish it) with this year's gift at her birthday party (mid-June), it all evens out, right?

Catch ya later!

-Sami

Stitches West 2010

Here are all the pictures I took at Stitches that can fit into this blog post.

I think that it's pretty impressive I didn't spend all my money.

Enjoy!

Sami

P.S. Sorry for the blurry pictures, I didn't want to hold up traffic by waiting for the camera to focus!

Updates

Oh gosh, where to begin?

Stitches West 2010 in Santa Clara, CA (I attended Feb. 26-28) was absolutely amazing! My aunt and I went and all the fiber was sooo drool worthy. And the place was huge!! It's no wonder that I spent over $200 there. (I think what I'll do is a text post, for the most part, here, and then do posts with all the photos at another time.)

After Stitches, I signed up for the Evenstar Mystery KAL, designed by Susan Pandorf. Goodness, that woman is a genius. I absolutely love it so far, even though I'm a bit behind. Clue 5 came out today, and I'm almost half way through Clue 4. Hopefully I can finish both of those before Clue 6 comes out in two weeks. If I finish everything "on time," it will be the fastest shawl I've ever knit! I don't think I'll put any pictures up of it because of spoilers, but I will put them on my Ravelry page, after I update the project pictures.

Speaking of project pictures, I've finished the Muir shawl! At last! I actually finished knitting it way back in February, but it was only two weeks ago that I blocked it out. Oh, how I love it. (And a cool side note, I met Rosemary Hill, the designer of the Muir Shawl, at Stitches. I gave her my Rav name and she said she'd check out my finished Muir... how embarrassing, since I still don't have any FO pictures of it up yet.) I'm really wanting to do a photo shoot with this shawl for it's FO pictures, and I have rough concepts, but no definite plan. Plus, it would be nice if I was the one wearing it, but at the same time, I really don't like being in pictures. Not too sure what to do 'bout that one.

In personal news, I got my driver's license on Monday. The only problem is, I can't drive my car, which is a stick shift. I learned on my mum's, and it's an automatic. My dad says that I'll get used to it and get better at it, but I really don't like driving it. So I'm not sure if I'll be driving to school next week (this week was spring break) since I'm not too comfortable with it yet.

And in school, I have a crapload of work, which I really should have started on, but relaxing and essentially doing nothing sounded much better. It is spring break, right? Anyways, since school resumes on Monday, tomorrow and Sunday will be full of work *bleh*.

And in less that a month, AP and IB tests will begin. It's going to be horrid. In the first week of May, I will have a test every day, and two on Wednesday. After that, I'll have three more days of testing - one on the following Monday, and then one each on the Monday and Tuesday after that. But, I will still go to knit night (which I can drive to all by myself)! I'll definitely need some stress relief, and I'm thinking that that will be it.

Well, I think that's the gist - I'll be going photo dumps of posts later to show my FOs, WIPs, and Stitches, of course!

(Hopefully,) talk to you later!

Sami

The Saga of Ravelympics

Well, I guess super regular blogging isn't really an option for me, is it?

I'm not quite sure all that has happened since last time I wrote, but I'll try to get everything and be concise (what a concept!).

I frogged my dad's sweater. It was originally my Ravelympics project (go Team TOSSers!) and I worked on it some before deciding that I couldn't stand to do a sweater in pieces and at knit night, I frogged it, found a copy of EZ's Knitting without Tears (love having knit night at a book store =] ), and decided to make one of her seamless sweaters. When I got home (and I drove home, on the freeway, at night, with Si in the car), I told my dad to pick a sweater. And you know what? He said that he was over sweaters! He asked instead for a fluorescent orange hat (to wear when he goes hunting). So I'm off the hook (or maybe needle)! (But I will still probably make him a sweater with that yarn... eventually.)

Instead, I decided to make the Cinquefoil hat (from Twist Collective, not sure what issue though) as my Ravelympics project. It's my first true colorwork project, and it's way fun and totally flying. I figured out how to do the floats and even though I cast on on Tuesday (at 10:30 at night), I'm already on the border chart. Maybe I'll even finish before next Tuesday (*crosses fingers*)!

I also just frogged my Outside In socks (from an issue of Knitty). The yarn, Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight was just bugging the crap outta me. This pair was the second pair of socks I tried to make in this yarn, and you know, I'm just really not feeling it. I'm going to try to destash it.... =D. I had only knit the leg of the first sock (which took me forever - I started it in September!) so frogging was super quick. And I got to count it as another Ravelympics project!

I finished all the knitting on the Muir shawl, now I just have to block it. I don't have blocking wires (though I do have T-pins), so I've been putting it off. Hopefully this weekend I can get both the Muir shawl and the Hemlock Ring Blanket blocked.

Hmmm, that's about it knitting-wise. I haven't worked on my Burnished Tunic since I last posted (totally my own fault and wanting to correct it). And OH! Stitches West is this weekend, I can't wait. I'm so psyched, and I know I'll want to buy everything. I'm going to be stopping at Blue Moon Fiber Arts for sure, and I'll also be on the hunt for a drop spindle and some Romney fiber - Stacy (from knit night) is going to teach my how to spin! I can't wait. I told my mom, and she's like "Great, another space consuming hobby." She was just teasing though, as her hobby - scrapbooking - fills the entire computer room, so she doesn't really have room to talk.

My driving test for my license is scheduled for April 5th (my mom's birthday) at 10:00 A.M. I'm kinda nervous, but excited too. I really hope I pass the first time, I really do want my license.

Well, that's all folks! No pictures this time, but definitely next time!

-Sami

I'm back?

Well, there you have it. Murphy's Law in action. I said that I would update regularly - every week! - and then I don't update for months. Of course.

So, I'm not going through my entire list of finished and started projects that occurred during the interim - that would be crazy. So, if you really want to know and you're on Ravelry, check out my Ravelry page - my username is Candytuft.

I decided to post because as my best friends and I recorded another episode of our podcast (that was neglected for a long time, too), Sierra said that she had a blog. I'm not going to link to it because she uses pseudonym's for everyone and I don't, and I want to protect hers and our friends' identities.

Anywho, I'll try to be better about posting, but I won't promise or anything, otherwise we'll just get a repeat of last time. And speaking of repeats.....

I designed a hat!... sort of. (Did you like my segue?) I got the stitch pattern from the Harmony Guides' Cable & Arans book, while I based my stitch count off the percentages used in the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret (I still tweaked those to fit my original stitch count, though). I knit it in Cascade Sierra in a beautiful purple color that looks purply-pink in certain lights (and it is color number 30, in case anyone was wondering).

There are a few things I would change, like the initial ribbing and some decreases, but I'm very happy with it. I used the Branching Cable II, which is on page 214, but what I got did not match the picture. I'm not sure if the publishers made a boo-boo and didn't put the right picture, or if I translated the pattern into the round and a chart incorrectly. I still like my result, even if it wasn't what I planned on first.

In the picture, the hat is shown unblocked. Actually, it's still unblocked and going to stay that way. I'm afraid to put it anywhere near water because of its cotton content (Cascade Sierra is 80% pima cotton and 20% merino wool - which makes it really soft). I didn't wash my swatch - I really only swatched to get my starting stitch count - and I'm afraid that if the hat touches water it will explode and not come close to fitting my head. So it is definitely not a hat to wear in the rain, which means I'm not wearing it to school tomorrow, because there is a 90% chance of rain! Fancy that, but we're having several storms, which Southern California desperately needs, because of El Niño. This is great for our farmers, not so great for our teenagers who want to wear their newly knitted cotton berets to school to show it off. There's gotta be more than one, right?

I had today off from school because we are in between semesters and this is a teacher prep day. Finals were last week and I have all A's and A-'s in my classes, except for Calculus AP, in which I have a B (which makes me very happy, because before the final, I had a B-). Tomorrow, I start two new classes - Spanish Language AP (me: aaaahhhh!!!!) and Theory of Knowledge, often known as TOK (me: cool). TOK is a required IB class (IB stands for International Baccalaureate, which is a program/level of classes that gives me international college credit to participating colleges and is slightly harder than AP - which is why I signed up) and is kind of like philosophy as it explores what knowledge is and how we learn. Since TOK is an afternoon class (meaning it starts after the regular three periods and that most of the school leaves when I get into class) and I already have Physics H as a morning class (meaning it starts an hour before the normal three classes do), I will be in school for 8 hours every day. Fun, right?

Due to the three day weekend, I made several knitting goals (there was a reason for explaining my new schedule). I have completed one of them (finishing the hat) out of the five that I made. I'm hoping to be able to finish two more before the night ends - finish knitting the Hemlock Ring Blanket and finish weaving in the ends on the Little Green Wristlets.

My Hemlock Ring Blanket (designed by Jared Flood) is almost done - according to the little formula I figured out, I'm 83% done and I only have 9 rounds left (not including bind-off, which usually takes twice the amount of time a single round does, in my experience with circular items). The reason that 17% is equal to 9 rounds is that each round is (at this point) 440 stitches around. I still have to increase that to 472 before the end. However, I do love this pattern, I'm loving the way it looks, and it does go pretty quickly. I think a round takes a little less than 20 minutes - less than a round on one of the circular shawls I've done.

I'm making the blanket in Lion Brand Wool-Ease, which I love for blankets and afghans because it's soft and machine washable. I used the White Frost colorway for the center and the Oxford Grey colorway for the Feather and Fan stitch. What's cool about the White Frost colorway is that it is particularly fuzzy, which I love for this.

My Little Green Wristlets (designed by Therese Chynoweth) are made of Malabrigo - the same color I made my Moebius (I'm not sure if I spelled that correctly and I don't feel like checking right now) scarf and my Star Crossed Slouchy Beret it - so now I'll have a matching set. You know the crazy thing, though? Out of the two balls I used to make all three projects, I still have yarn left! I could probably make another glove, and start on a second one before I'd run out.

Well, my readers, real and imaginary (the latter of which is probably more populous than the former), I'm ending this long catch up post to hopefully accomplish my goals. I hope to talk to you again soon.

Love,

Sami

P.S. I started a sweater for myself, and I can't wait for be able to work on it more (I have a little rewards system set up that involves exercising and eating well for knitting it). Hopefully I'll have it done before Ravelympics, or close to it, because my dad's sweater will be my Ravelympics project, all of which I'll hopefully talk about next time.

P.P.S. I'm going to Stitches West next month as my birthday/Christmas present from my aunt! Yay!!

Oops.

Well, I guess my whole weekly update thing didn't work out. I am just popping in to say that I will blog tomorrow with the updates in my knitting and non-knitting life.

-Sami =D

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The Day After

Wow, it's been, what, another month or so since I last blogged? And I have not been just sitting around (although there was a lot of that, too). First off, let me just say that I'm going to blog at least once a week from now on. Actually, I should have said only once a week, but I said at least because who knows what will come up that just begs to be blogged.

So, every Wednesday, I'm going to take pictures of my current WIPs, update them on Ravelry, and then talk about them here. Sound good? Then let the tradition begin.

Since I last blogged, I have two new FOs. I finished my Evenstar Gloves, which I absolutely love. The length on my fingers is really comfortable, and I love the cables. Now it just needs to be cool enough so I can show them off.

Speaking of cool enough... I finished Francis Revisited! This is my very first sweater, and I'm so happy. I wore it today to pick up my school schedule (more later) and it was great. Except for when the cloud cover burnt off and I was wearing a 100% wool sweater in August in Southern California. Lucky for us, our days have been really cool, so I didn't melt. But it's very comfortable =]. (I'll put up a picture after I get someone else to take one of me.)

Yesterday, Diana, Sierra, and I went to Eva's for some yarn shopping. When Diana went to Poland, she was heavily disappointed in the lack of good yarn at her local yarn shops. Which explains her binge yesterday. I won't say the dollar amount, but three hanks of Malabrigo, two balls of angora blend, one hank of Colinette Jitterbug, and some bamboo DPNs were in her shopping bag. I, on the other hand, was more restrained and more broke. If I had the cash, I would have bought yarn to make a sweater from an old issue of Vogue. Instead, I looked for something pretty, and I looked for something pretty, and I looked for something pretty. Eva's is filled with pretty, so I wanted to pick out something that really spoke to me. Of course, we all know that when the wool fumes get to you, it is damn near impossible to think. I couldn't remember what was in my queue for the life of me.

About five minutes from closing, I looked in a bag and found a beautiful hank of Malabrigo. I fell in love with the color right away and went off to buy it. I tell myself that it is my treat to myself for getting my learner's permit (though I can't drive until Saturday, which is my first Behind the Wheel lesson). The colorway is Ibiza, which is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea. The picture doesn't do it justice. What looks like white has a slight yellow tint, and of course, the blues are amazing.

Also since I last blogged, I've cast on two new projects - the Shipwreck Shawl and the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret (which I'm just calling my Star Crossed Beret. I can do that.). Well, what can I say? I love both, but neither have a fantastical tale yet. But that is yet. The projects are young, and there is plenty of time for adventure.

Also, a little update. My "New Purse" which is a Drops pattern is really coming along. I started this in November, but I hope *crosses fingers* to finish all the knitting before school starts. The lining and the buttons may come after school starts, but I'm okay with that.

So, speaking of school, I got my tentative schedule today. And surprise, surprise, it had issues. My US Gov't & Econ classes weren't on my schedule. Instead, it said "See Counselor," which my mom and I did. Well, some people, instead of signing in, went straight to my counselor and talked with her for at least 20 minutes, even though I had signed in and my mom and I were waiting. Mom was really not happy, because she had to go to work right after I got my schedule fixed. Well, we finally got in there, and we came up with a solution. My US Gov't class was added every other day, and I'll have to take Econ online or at the community college. But, that means I get out of school early every other day. Of course, all of this will change if Spanish 4 becomes available every other day, which I hope not, because I want the early day and I'm not ready for Spanish. =D

Wow, that was pretty long. I promise it won't be too long next week, though I probably will have a lot to talk about.

Catch ya later!

-Sami

Tuesday, Tuesday, Tuesday.

Knit night was a lot of fun. Diana and I met a whole bunch of people who were lovely to be with. I found a few of them on Ravelry, and we have a lot on common. It's pretty exciting to know so many people in the physical who can add to an impromptu ode to cables.

I was able to go last night as well. We oo'd and awe'd over each other's projects and sympathized with each other's problems. Hopefully next week I can bring Sierra with me (she was already busy this week).

Tuesdays seem to have become my knitting days. In one of my favorite knitting fiction series, Chicks with Sticks, Tuesday is the day for knitting classes and then knit night. During the school year, knitting club met on Tuesdays. Now, I attend this knit night, which meets on Tuesdays. I guess it's my day.

I finished the body and cowl of Francis Revisited. This is such a quick pattern, I finished the body in only a week. I can't start the sleeves yet because I don't have US #10 DPNs. Hopefully, my mom can take me to a LYS on Friday so I can get working on them and finish soon (not that I'll be able to wear it, it's so hot here). She was going to take me earlier, but she had a lot of work to do.

Even though I'm 16, I don't have my liscense (because I'm a lazy butt), I don't even have my learner's permit. I'm nearsighted in my right eye, so even though my vision is good with both eyes, I'd still fail the eye exam without glasses, which I just ordered on Friday. They'll arrive at the end of July, so I have to wait some more before I'll be able to drive myself to yarn stores and knit night.

I finally finished my first Evenstar glove. I love it, it turned out great and looks great. And I have started the second one, no SGS (second glove syndrome, closely related to second dock syndrome) for me!

I also finally bound off on the garter stitch scarf I kept going for when I just wanted to knit and veg. However, I just got sick of it taking up space on my little table reserved for WIPs in my room, so it's done!

In non-knitting randomness, look at this little guy. Actually he (or she, I don't know how to sex lizards) wasn't that little, he was a pretty good sized lizard. Apparently he wasn't satisfied with climbing the outside wall and that it would be good to climb up my window screen. Nice for me, because I got a few good pictures out of it.

Well, that's about it for now, I'm outta here.
-Sami

P.S. My dog, Sunny, says hi.