WIP: Test Knitting

My friend Jackie decided to design a pair of fingerless gloves for her husband, and asked me if I would be interested in test knitting them for her. So of course I said Hell to the Yeah.  Her husband is currently reading A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, and he suggested a few titles such as Gauntlet, Bracer and Vampire.  Jackie asked me my thoughts and I came up with just Westeros. Thus, the Westeros Fingerless Gloves were born.  

All Cuffed Up

It's a fun knit so far :) And I'm looking forward to tackling my fear of the thumb gusset.  These gloves will be for Nate once they are complete.   

I am probably not going to participate in these memes weekly - but it worked out this week :) So this is my first post participating in:

FO: Maid Marian Portland Cowl

 Another Christmas present can be crossed off my list.  This was a very quick knit, in that it only took me two days to do.  It was all seed stitch....my favorite! Might I remind you all of the seed stitch baby blanket of doom never-ending seed stitch?  

For the Marian cowl, I cast on very loosely so that I would get a good stretch to it.  I bound off loosely as well, but not as loosely as I thought it would have been - the bind off edge is  little tight...but it wears well, so hopefully it won't be a problem.  I've never worn a cowl before, so I'm not sure how they work exactly.

The pattern called for an optional twist to make it a mobius, and I opted to not do it. Mostly because I forgot to intentionally twist the first stitch and I always chant in my head "Do Not Twist" when joining in the round.  I think if I knit another one, I might add the twist.   This was also the first project I've knit in the round NOT using the magic loop method. 

Not my favorite photo of me..

Maid Marian Portland Cowl Project Details:
Pattern: Marian by Jane Richmond 
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn De Aire in Portland
Needles: US 19 circular
Gifty: My Aunt Mary Ann
 

And Everyone Was Kung Fu Knitting...

Can I just say that knitting with size US 19 needles is like knitting with pointy nunchucks? These things are huge! 

First off - Thank you everyone for your kind words. It means a lot to me. I'm super stressed lately, and trying not to let it ruin my disposition but it's hard.  Thankfully, I'm OK on the unemployment money front for another 13 weeks. I'm using that time to set a personal goal of finding a job. We'll see what happens. Nate OK'd me looking in other states, so I think I might try Georgia...I have some friends from HS down in the Atlanta area, and they love it...so we'll see. I've also been looking for a lot of jobs in Boston - I don't think I'd mind a commute and I can knit on the commuter rail :)

I finally cast on my cowl, and I'm only 3 rows in but I feel like I'm almost done already! Thank you knitting nunchucks and super bulky yarn!

In Which No Knitting Has Been Done

*peers out from behind a rock* Ah, hello there. Um, knitting? This is a knitting blog, no? Ah...knitting. I think I remember what that is.  Two pointy sticks, eh? And some fuzzy wuzzy string stuff? Ah, yes...it's coming back to me now.

Needless to say...I haven't knitted anything.  I haven't even started my instant gratification Marian cowl yet.  Or used any of the alpaca.  You see, I am in a rut.  And definitely hiding under rocks.  

What I HAVE been doing is applying to jobs.  Lots and lots of jobs. So far this week I've applied to 19 jobs.  And so far, I have already received 2 You Suck emails.  [You Suck emails = automated email from job that basically says you suck and we're going with another candidate] Pair that with the fact the ONLY phone calls I get for job interviews are scammers who found me on Monster [I have since taken my resume & phone number off of Monster]....let's just say, too much time spent being depressed and stressing and not picking up my yarn and needles.  I also get to call the unemployment office this week to extend my benefits.  Fun. Fun. Fun.  Nothing like feeling small and unimportant than talking with the "nice" folk over at unemployment.  Last time I spoke with someone I was told I was eligible for two more tiers....so I'm more nervous then stressed at the moment, but there is still the fear that they will be like "No, sorry, thanks! Have fun picking out your refrigerator box and might I recommend the area down by King's Park?"

In Which Kitty-Chan Helps Model the Gnomey Ga-nomey Baby Hat

Almost there....

** NOTE: This post was written right after I finished this hat over a month ago so as not to forget anything **

I love bulky yarn. I love, love, love it. The only time I used bulky yarn was my very first project, so I didn't really have a good appreciation of it.  My knitting circle threw a baby shower for one of the knitting girls, Jen, who is having her second child in October.  For a present, I knit a very cute gnome hat in some great autumn-esque, bulky yarn.   And with the help of Hello Kitty, I will show you it in multiple stages.

Kitty-Chan thinks she is a gnome

With size 10 needles, this project flew by.  I was very pleased to see that I remembered how to use the magic loop.  What was not as easy to remember was how to end the hat...but thankfully YouTube is very helpful.

I debated for awhile on whether or not I should add the ear flaps and pom-poms.  I was intimidated by the thought of picking up stitches. Even though it was only 12 stitches...it was still scary.  In the end, after searching YouTube for some videos, I finally decided to try it. And I'm glad I did! It was much easier than expected. I don't know if I did it correctly or not, but it worked.  

Yeah, Kitty-Chan didn't know what the big deal was either

"I will get even with you for this...."

And finally, the pattern called for pom-poms.  I used my Clover Pom-Pom maker and sewed them on with some leftover brown Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino from the baby blanket. If I had a smaller pom-pom maker I probably would have used that, as it is I used the smallest one I have...and absolutely adore how ridiculous it looks!!

Gnomey Ga-Nomey Project Details:

Pattern: Gnomey Hat by Adrian Bazilia

Yarn: Loops & Threads Charisma in Deep Woods

Needles: US 10 (Thank you Jackie ♥ )

Camping & Evergreen Ridge Alpaca Farm

My Mini very well packed

I had a great camping trip up to Mount Desert Island in Maine.  I didn't knit a single stitch, but all in all it was a great camping trip. 

I did stop briefly at Knit Wit in Portland on the way up, which was recommended to me by several people. Its a very cute shop and I wish I had more time to browse...but someone, who shall remain nameless, didn't quite understand why I would go to a yarn store without a project in mind. I didn't purchase anything, but I did think about Quince and String Theory.

Sunrise in Acadia National Park

Climbing Beech Mountain

 It was a very restful time. And it was nice to be away from cell phone service, cable and sadness. Ten years after 9/11 it was very nice to not have the media throw it in our faces. See, some of you might not realize that I am from New York. Long Island to be exact.  And on that fateful day I was a senior in HS and I panicked that my father, who worked very close to the Twin Towers, was in trouble.  His former company had talked about moving their office to the World Trade Building...I was very thankful that they didn't. But, my dad used to eat his breakfast at the base of the Towers in the a park...and I was scared.  At lunch time my friends and I walked to Sunrise Highway and looked west towards NYC.  I will never forget the dark smoke that we could see.  So many friends and loved ones lost that dark day in American History. So, needless to say, I did not want to have to relive it. Again.  

So, we hiked and relaxed and had a great time just being Us. And rather than be depressed we celebrated life.

My yarn loot

On the way home, however, Nate and I took the scenic route back - meaning, we drove down Rt 1 for a looooooong time.  And found an alpaca farm! Evergreen Ridge Alpacas in Warren, Maine is a very nice Alpaca farm.  They definitely have some cuties...including babies :)  I picked up three skeins of alpaca yarn, a lavender sachet, and some homemade soap.  

So. Freaking. Cute.

Portland

"It's so FLUFFY!!!!!"

I found the yarn for the Marian cowl...it's DeAire by Plymouth Yarn company and it is super squishy and lovely.  The picture doesn't do the color justice...it's almost a lime green with threads of yellow in it. The color is aptly named Portland -- which I will be visiting on my way to Bar Harbor tomorrow! And at 109 yards, it gives me a little bit of cushion...so hopefully no worrying about running out of yarn!

And a very special thanks to my friend Amy who is lending me her US19 Addi Turbos.  Seriously, it's going to be like knitting with a nunchuck or something. 

Upcoming Projects

George and Mels the Mismatched Alien

I'm apparently an alien making sweatshop machine.  My little cousin (*sigh* She's not so little anymore) started High School today, so I knit her a pink one for her locker - I added a strong magnet to the inside.  And Nate's cousin wants one for his dorm. For them free...but I think if any of their friends want one I'm going to charge $3 per alien.  

Next week is going to be nuts, but should be conducive to some knitting. Nate and my 9 year anniversary is the 18th, and to celebrate we are going camping in Bar Harbor, Maine for four days starting Saturday.  And then my folks are on vacation all next week and I have been informed that they are swinging through Newport to kidnap me and bring me with them on their trip up to Boston and Salem.   

My next project is going to be the Marian cowl by Jane Richmond as a Christmas present for my auntie. Just need to find a budget friendly, pretty, squishy super bulky yarn in a non-pastel color.  And pick up my friend Amy's size 19 Addis.

(C) Rebecca Danger

I also have a KAL with my friend Christy coming up :) We are going to knit Jerry the Musical Monkey by Rebecca Danger. And, I am being bad and ordering a Jerry kit from Dancing Dog Dyeworks. Some of you may remember that Christy is the awesome person who got me knitting.  She sent me some awesome fingerless gloves and they made me think "I can do this!" (lets not mention the fact that I'm currently terrified of thumb gussets, shall we?).  She lives out in Cali, so it's going to be a coast-to-coast KAL. She is also an expert at knitting monsters....so I will inevitably be slowing her down.  And harassing her with questions. 

I also need to start thinking about what I'm going to knit for my mom (she wants a monster) and dad (he wants a hat), my cousin (what does a 14 yo girl like?), Nate's mom (fingerless gloves), Nate (slippers), and others.  We'll see how many people actually GET a knitted item for the holiday lol. 

I was also invited to a KAL on my friend Inky's other blog...which I'm truly honored and thrilled about...here's hoping I will be able to fit it into my schedule. 

By the time all is said and done...this is what I will probably be working on:

Yes...that might be a pitcher of sangria