GOAL!

I finished the Liz Scarf. It's ready for the mailbox. I'll post a photo after she notifies me via excited text message that she received it. Must preserve the surprise! (Hint: It's pretty cute.)

Thankful for Knitting (and my sister)

Thanksgiving break was so relaxing this year. (Can I call it "break" eventhough I'm no longer in school? as a student!) I didn't do the crazy run around see everyone I love in the span of a few days. Instead...I relaxed on the couch with the kitties and my sister, watching bad movies (really bad), and knitting! What did I work on?

1. Liz's Scarf: I continued to work on Liz's scarf with plans to finish it. Except... I kind of messed up big time, and had to undo about 3 inches. (Which takes forever!) I tried to make up time by knitting in the car while driving (as a passenger) to Powell's...but there's plenty left to do. New goal: Thursday 11/29.

2. Secret Something: I will say, this project is my first time knitting in the round with DPNs. Something I've been shying away from. Big fat thanks to my sister for her patience and help. And I only made tiny mess ups! I'm very proud. Here's a sneak peak, it will probably look like a gray yarny blob...but really it's gray yarny love!



PS: I also finished a non-knitting project. Will post when I get some decent light in my room. (Gosh, that's funny)

Stess Ball / Birthday Hat

I've been wanting to make a stress ball hat since September. I ordered the Rowan big wool and everything. Finally a friend's request for a birthday hat gave me a reason. It was so fun, so easy, and so quick. I started it a few days ago, took it to a potluck and to work, and then finished it up last night.

I made a couple changes to the pattern. I wasn't sure how big to make it, but I figured bigger is better than smaller, so I cast on 55 stitches instead of 50. Then the earflaps looked too small, so I picked up 11 stitches instead of 9. Plus, he decided to not have a pom on top. So it's pom-less.

I also ended up not using the Rowan yarn. The color was awesome, camouflage but more brownish. But after reading the care instructions it just seemed too intense for the recipient. I went with a basic Lion Brand "thick and quick" in charcoal instead.

Here's what it looks like. I'm saving a zoomed out shot until after it's gifted... you never know who reads the blog!

A Blog in Four Parts

Wow. Lots of delight to share this time. (And lots of photos too!)

1. In a previous post I hinted about a new project...well I finally did it. I used a little paper, a few boxes, and some modgepodge to go from this:


To this:It doesn't look like much, but when your bathroom is more like a cave (dark and damp!) anything helps. I haven't been wanting to put anything up that will ruin easily, so I think this is a decent solution. And trust me, it looks better in person.

2. I finished the Palindrome scarf. It was way faster than the Irish Hiking scarf. If you are thinking they look similar... you're right. The Palindrome is basically a double sided Irish Hiker, more or less.

3. Yesterday a beautiful little package of yarn arrived on my doorstep, much to my surprise. A package on Veterans Day! The Rowan is for a hat and the Debbie Bliss a secret-something-else.

4. The hip little ladies of Garden Street hosted a Bake-Off last night. Theme: Childhood favorites. A delicious potato dish took first prize, and this little piggy came in second:

A Little Birdie

The most adorable little card showed up in my mailbox yesterday courtesy of a long-distance friend, Julia. I had to post it. It not only made me super happy, I think it inspired my holiday cards this year.

No School = No Work = Crafts

There's no school today, so I've been working away on my to-do list. I finally finished reading Moll Flanders which opens me up for more knitting and crafting.

The past few days I've been able to work away at a scarf for Molly's mom. She was a heroic figure in the life of Adele (who sadly passed away in September). To thank her for her help, I'm making her a Palindrome scarf. I started out following the pattern, then started over, then made adjustments, then started over, and now I'm back to the original. It's a pretty quick knit which is fortunate, since Adele died a month and a half ago! Here's the so far:
I've got another little project in the works. Can you guess what it is?!

India, Really?

According to my cluster map, someone in India peeked at my page. I've been trying to think if I have a friend I've lost track of somewhere across the globe. Do I? Or just a curious blog browser? If you come back, tell me!

Project Warm-Up

Project Warm-Up is a volunteer opportunity with the Whatcom Volunteer Center. You get to spend time sitting around knitting, and feel so good that the finished products go to people who could really use some winter warmth. This year's donations are almost due. I'm a bit bummed I don't have as much ready as I did last year. I think I got a later start... and definitely had more of life's happy not-so-happy events to contend with. That's ok. That's ok. Below is the family photo of donations.

Irish Hiking Scarf

The finished scarf and the lovely recipient.