Where am I going? Where have I been?

Nov 102011

I’ve been absent it seems.  Okay, it doesn’t just seem that way.  I’ve been working pretty hard on school and at the same time experiencing some form of senioritis.  In 5 weeks I will have my Associate degree which doesn’t really feel as great as it’s supposed to.  With the end of one educational experience comes the start of a new one and I have a feeling the road ahead could be quite bumpy.

That aside, I mostly finished all of the hats that I was working on (saving the purple pismo as an emergency travel project).  I’ve started a Summer Flies shawl (in Dream in Color ‘Everlasting’) which is coming along nicely.  The pattern called for a slightly thicker yarn and size 8 needles but I am using a sock yarn and size 7 needles.  Things seem to be going along fine so far.  I might actually have to break down and buy some blocking wires.  I’m going to need them anyway for when the Print O’ The Wave stole is finished.

Also, I picked up the Jane Austen knits magazine and I have to say that it does have quite a few patterns in it that I would make.  The Modern Reticule was the first pattern I saw from the magazine that I just had to have.  It’s knitted on sz. 2 needles and a smaller yarn, but I’m thinking I will make it with larger yarn/needles to be sure it will hold all of my little things I have to have when I leave the house.  I understand that making it larger kind of defeats the point of a wrist bag but…that’s okay.

Lately I’m also struck by the urge to knit an Aidez sweater for myself but would feel too selfish spending the money on more yarn with christmas just a month away so I will wait.  Maybe I’ll get money for christmas to put towards the yarn.  :)

Thanksgiving is also around the corner and while I was looking forward to cooking, I think I’ve decided to just go to visit friends and family instead.  Unfortunately I have exams on either side of the break so I won’t really have a lot of energy to cook for 2 or 3 days straight prior to the holiday.  Anyhow…back to knitting and working on math (which is unfortunately not my strong point when it comes to school).

Best wishes.  :)

Still more hatting around…

Oct 022011

I’m not sure where September went but it sure went fast.  Here we are, looking October in the eye and waiting for the next thing to happen (whatever that is).  I’ve been so busy with schooling that I’ve barely had time to knit (let alone time to knit anything non-gift related).  Last week I received a bit of encouraging news though.  On Thursday a letter came in the mail from the University of Arkansas letting me know that they have accepted my application.  This is both very exciting and unnerving.  While I’m excited about my impending transfer, there is also a bit too much grey area for comfort.  Too many loose ends that must remain unraveled until a later date.  It seems like the only thing to do now is to stay motivated about the current semester (which is now the last one I will need in order to complete my associate’s degree) and to keep on knitting. 

We Call Them Pirates (again)Right now I’m working on (yet another) we call them pirates hat which is intended to be a gift for a dear friend’s son-in-law.  This time I am using Berroco Comfort with size 3 needles (yes this needle is way too small for the yarn).  The halo from the white yarn doesn’t seem so apparent in the image but in real life it seems like a bit much and that is sort of bothering me.  I am known to be overly critical of my work though so maybe the intended recipient won’t notice or mind.  We’ll just have to wait and see what happens (especially after I wash it).  Regardless, I have a feeling this might be the last Pirates hat I make for this season, though I have been getting an urge to try to come up with a Hogs fair isle pattern that might be nice to knit up this winter before I start at my new school (whose mascot is the Razorbacks).  We’ll see. 

For now I’ll keep on with the hat that’s in progress and possibly pick up one of the pismo hats as time permits.  Also I should finally be getting my Girasole back from the state fair next week.  It will be so lovely to have it on my bed at last (assuming nothing tragic happened to it during it’s stay at the fair.)  I’ll keep you posted about any ribbons or awards I may have gotten from my state fair entry.  :)    Until next time, happy knitting.

A Host of Hats

Sep 142011

We Call Them PiratesWith the cool weather season nearing, I’m finding it hard to resist all of the hat knitting I’ve been meaning to do so far this year.  I started my gift-knitting (a little late perhaps) by making a We Call Them Pirates hat from Hello Yarn.  I knitted this hat with a worsted weight yarn and size 6 needles (following the advice of some of the ladies down at the LYS) in order to achieve a hat that might fit my dad (his head is huge).  As I am a lazy knitter, I did not necessarily do the math or make a gauge swatch so…as I asked for, the hat turned out unpredictably large.  It still fits mPixie Dusty dad though and that’s what matters. 

I have also started on a couple of Pismo hats to give as gifts this fall.  One is being worked up with the remains of a ball of Pixie Dust sock yarn dyed by Mosaic Moon.  Since the first time I knitted this colorway, I’ve loved it so much.  I will definitely be looking for it again in the future.  The hat is being worked over 160 stitches on size 3 needles. 

My other Pismo in progress is being made for my best guy friend’s birthday which is coming up soon.  :)   I am knitting it with Trauco from Araucania which I got for 30% off at Hand Held in Fayetteville.  Knitting this laceweight cashmere up has been a joy so far and I look forward to getting back down to the shop to see if the sale is still on because I willPismo in Trauco certainly be picking up more of this yarn.  The Trauco hat is being knitted up over 240 stitches on size 0 needles with a gauge of about 10st and 12 rows per inch.  I can easily say that this is the finest piece of knitting I’ve ever produced even though it’s just ‘boring old ribbing’.  I like to think of it more like the perfect mindless travel project instead of boring though.  After all, what’s better than a project that you can just pick up and knit without looking at the pattern?   

 

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