Sunday, March 9, 2008

A Year for Hats?

My head must be cold. Or, I must be tired of knitting large projects or projects with matching elements, because I've been knitting hats all year. Everything else has been thrown to the wayside -- I'm on a roll!

For my Grandma, I've been knitting Gretel, in the most fitted style. It's a beautiful shade of red -- Cascade Cash Vero in Ruby. Very hard to photograph. Here goes!

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I'm doing the cables without a cable needle, which works well enough. And, I am completely in love with Ysolda and her hats. I love them far too much. They're beautifully designed and entirely worth the money you pay for the patterns.

I say that, because I'm knitting another one! I'm almost done. It's a bit small, so it'll probably be a gift, but here's Verity (Cascade 220 in Marine)! I'm definitely going to make another one, probably in a drapier yarn. The only thing keeping me from finishing Verity is that I don't have a button!

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Also, here's Koolhaas, designed by the incomparable Jared Flood, a.k.a. Brooklyn Tweed. I love the Malabrigo Worsted that I got to work with, in a fabulous shade of blue, Buscando Azul. However, it's snug to the point where I worry it will fall off! So, as my grandpa has been asking for a hat to wear to sleep, so maybe I'll give this one to him. Come to think of it, I finished this before the new year, but whatever. It's a hat, it's lovely, and it has yet to be seen!

Koolhaas - Malabrigo Buscando Azul

Monday, March 3, 2008

This is the plan, see?

The handspun was the final straw. I have a problem.

In order to save both my wallet and my academic career, I'm putting a stop to the knitting (and purchasing!) until I'm done with most if not all of my projects (for school). In fact, my roommate is hiding my handspun when it comes in the mail so I cannot be distracted. I told her to do it. It will be my carrot. :) Or at least I hope so ...

Anyway, I know it's a tragedy for my knitting, but if I fail a class, I believe that that may be a greater tragedy, and I'd rather not actualize that fear. Until then ... perhaps I'll update on all of the projects that are lingering. There's a lot of lingering going on.

Too much!

It's a new year, and my house is overrun by yarn. I haven't even been able to categorize it all. I keep buying more ... and yeah. That just can't be good.

There's lots of new sock yarn, including:

STR Lightweight in Space Dust
Socks that Rock - Lightweight, in Space Dust (a Christmas present from Chelle!)

STR Lightweight in Panzanite
Socks that Rock - Lightweight, in Panzanite (another Christmas present from Chelle! ... I feel so loved!)

Madelinetosh Somewhat Solid Sock in Scarlet
Madelinetosh Somewhat Solid Sock, in Scarlet (a present to myself ... oh dear!)

And theeeen, there was a sale at Two Sisters and Ewe, my LYS in Mira Mesa ... that was a good day.

And before that, I had extended family visiting, and we went out to Common Threads in Encinitas, and more yarn was purchased there, along with some Soak Wool Wash.

And of course, there were more yarn escapades online, one for the Mirabella Cardigan that I'm dying to make. Right after I finish my languishing Minimalist Cardigan ...

And, as a belated birthday present to myself, I purchased a hank of MudCreek handspun in Diamondback. This is possibly the most daring thing I've done yet, as it's my first handspun. I'm possibly the most excited about this! Obviously, there are not nearly enough photos to express my words, so words it'll be. However, I hope to finish documenting my stash and whatever other yarn things are running around. I'll save WIPs for another post, as this one is getting rather long, and additionally, I don't have updated photos! I will soon, though. Til then, at least I'm sort of back! It's just been too long. :)