I'm finished the Harry Potter scarf! Well, not finished finished, but I'm done knitting it. I've just got to block it and add the fringe now. I might do that this weekend.
More about knitting when I never have to think about modern drama again.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
only loosely related to knitting
Darth Knittress: I don't even really like Winnie the Pooh
Her Boyfriendt: you don't!
HB: why not savage?
DK: I don't know, it always kind of bored me
HB: is it becuase he wasn't knitted?
DK: oh honestly
HB: well I'm not knitted either
HB: oh wait
HB: I see
HB: you plan on frogging me and knitting me into the perfect boyfriend
DK: ...
DK: you are raving
HB: well at least I'm not some dark lordess of the knitting sith
Her Boyfriendt: you don't!
HB: why not savage?
DK: I don't know, it always kind of bored me
HB: is it becuase he wasn't knitted?
DK: oh honestly
HB: well I'm not knitted either
HB: oh wait
HB: I see
HB: you plan on frogging me and knitting me into the perfect boyfriend
DK: ...
DK: you are raving
HB: well at least I'm not some dark lordess of the knitting sith
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
I'm pretty sick of garter stitch. I'd like some lace to knit, lace is fun. Well, actually, I've never knitted something that was specifically lace, but the first thing I decided to try knitting when I experienced my random urge to knit over the winter was this scarf, which had a lot of yarn overs and decreases and things, and I hear that's all you really need to know how to do to knit lace, so I don't imagine lace knitting would be much of a problem for me. That scarf pattern was actually really fun, I'd like to knit it up again with some nice yarn, not the cheap icky stuff I was using.
Knitting artists have been catching my attention lately. Freddie Robbins knits weird sweaters, tree cozies, and murderous women's houses. I really loved the tree cozies. Germaine Koh has an ongoing knitting project that is really quite outrageous, and made from recycled yarn. I'm an art student, and I must admit, sometimes I feel pretty lame in regards to my own work. I think if I started incorporating things I was truly interested in I might be happier with what I produce. But before I get really serious and introspective, how about that recycled yarn!
I came across the concept of recycled yarn a few months ago, mentioned in passing in an article I was reading. The idea stuck around my head for a while, but I didn't act on it until a few weeks ago, when I had to do an art video for my media art class. I decided to film myself unraveling a sweater, so I went off to Value Village and bought one. I think, truth be told, I was more interested in the yarn I could knit something with than the actual artistic implications of unraveling a sweater, but unfortunately the sweater I picked out didn't end up giving me such great yarn. I'll probably give the yarn to my cat. Last week, however, I really wanted to frog another sweater, so I went to Value Village again, and this time picked out a sweater fully intending to knit something out of it. The sweater I chose was, in its former life, a magenta 50% wool, 50% nylon turtleneck sweater from the Gap. I frogged it (I really, really like frogging, is that weird?), got the appropriate needles, and actually cast on for the sweater last night (bad me! should have been studying!). It seems to be going pretty well, my gauge is just a tad bit under the specified gauge, but I don't think I really want a sweater 40" around. I think, if my calculations are correct, my sweater should end up being 37" around. Hopefully I got that right. It looks right so far, but I'm only 12 rows into it.
Today I received the yarn that Marji sent me (thanks Marji!), and it is very exciting. It's the sort of yarn that comes wound into those cute little balls with the tag stuck in the middle. Maybe a lot of yarn comes that way, I don't know, but the only yarn I've ever seen come like that is the stuff I can't afford at Michael's or Jo-Ann's. So yes, exciting! But I'll wait to start the intended sweater until after exams. I promise. Actually, since I cast on for the other sweater I've calmed down about it, I think I can now set it aside for the time being. I just really wanted to start it. And as far as the Jo Sharp wool from Marji...well, quite honestly, I really like looking at it, because of the way it's wound. Maybe I'll set it out on my shelf and enjoy its aesthetic appeal for a bit.
Knitting artists have been catching my attention lately. Freddie Robbins knits weird sweaters, tree cozies, and murderous women's houses. I really loved the tree cozies. Germaine Koh has an ongoing knitting project that is really quite outrageous, and made from recycled yarn. I'm an art student, and I must admit, sometimes I feel pretty lame in regards to my own work. I think if I started incorporating things I was truly interested in I might be happier with what I produce. But before I get really serious and introspective, how about that recycled yarn!
I came across the concept of recycled yarn a few months ago, mentioned in passing in an article I was reading. The idea stuck around my head for a while, but I didn't act on it until a few weeks ago, when I had to do an art video for my media art class. I decided to film myself unraveling a sweater, so I went off to Value Village and bought one. I think, truth be told, I was more interested in the yarn I could knit something with than the actual artistic implications of unraveling a sweater, but unfortunately the sweater I picked out didn't end up giving me such great yarn. I'll probably give the yarn to my cat. Last week, however, I really wanted to frog another sweater, so I went to Value Village again, and this time picked out a sweater fully intending to knit something out of it. The sweater I chose was, in its former life, a magenta 50% wool, 50% nylon turtleneck sweater from the Gap. I frogged it (I really, really like frogging, is that weird?), got the appropriate needles, and actually cast on for the sweater last night (bad me! should have been studying!). It seems to be going pretty well, my gauge is just a tad bit under the specified gauge, but I don't think I really want a sweater 40" around. I think, if my calculations are correct, my sweater should end up being 37" around. Hopefully I got that right. It looks right so far, but I'm only 12 rows into it.
Today I received the yarn that Marji sent me (thanks Marji!), and it is very exciting. It's the sort of yarn that comes wound into those cute little balls with the tag stuck in the middle. Maybe a lot of yarn comes that way, I don't know, but the only yarn I've ever seen come like that is the stuff I can't afford at Michael's or Jo-Ann's. So yes, exciting! But I'll wait to start the intended sweater until after exams. I promise. Actually, since I cast on for the other sweater I've calmed down about it, I think I can now set it aside for the time being. I just really wanted to start it. And as far as the Jo Sharp wool from Marji...well, quite honestly, I really like looking at it, because of the way it's wound. Maybe I'll set it out on my shelf and enjoy its aesthetic appeal for a bit.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
I will take this moment to say that bamboo knitting needles are the greatest knitting thing I have yet discovered.
In other news, blogger.com has THE BEST verification letters EVER. You can actually read them! It's so awesome.
To do:
1. Knit a lot
2. Write those essays so I don't feel guilty about #1.
3. Figure out how to post buttons on my blog
If only I could write essays and knit at the same time. I can read and knit at the same time, provided the book is kind enough to stay open by itself, which will make studying Elin Diamond's definition of hysteria so much more comfortable. I think I'm going to take the scarf to class today, I've got at least one class I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have to take notes for, since it's the last day of classes.
Last day of classes! YAY! That means...study like crazy until exams are over (April 28) and then KNIT ALL THE TIME!
I. Cannot. Wait.
In other news, blogger.com has THE BEST verification letters EVER. You can actually read them! It's so awesome.
To do:
1. Knit a lot
2. Write those essays so I don't feel guilty about #1.
3. Figure out how to post buttons on my blog
If only I could write essays and knit at the same time. I can read and knit at the same time, provided the book is kind enough to stay open by itself, which will make studying Elin Diamond's definition of hysteria so much more comfortable. I think I'm going to take the scarf to class today, I've got at least one class I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have to take notes for, since it's the last day of classes.
Last day of classes! YAY! That means...study like crazy until exams are over (April 28) and then KNIT ALL THE TIME!
I. Cannot. Wait.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Progress:
-Four squares finished for Ron's blanket
I haven't worked on anything else since my last post. The idea of a quirky blanket is way too much fun. Someone in the livejournal harry potter knitting group found a better picture of Ron's blanket in the Leaky Cauldron galleries. The new Leaky Cauldron site doesn't always play nicely with my browser, so I hadn't searched the rest of the gallery after finding one picture, since it was giving me a headache.
There's a LewisCraft store in the mall where I work that is closing, so all their stuff's on sale! I got some more yarn to go in the blanket, since it was pretty inexpensive anyway (it came to about two dollars a ball with the discount), but I think I'll keep checking back to see if there are any better sales later on. This is how stashing starts, isn't it? Haha. Anyhow, the yarn I got is Paton's Astra. It's 100% acrylic, but it feels pretty nice and it matches the yarn I had from the frogged blanket as far as weight and gauge. And with something like a blanket, I'd prefer to be able to throw it in the washer. Hopefully none of the mystery yarn from the frogged blanket is 100% wool or anything...that'd be really awkward.
Well, actually, if it was, I could probably just cut out the ruined square and make another one to replace it. Tedious, but not the end of the world. Why I am thinking about this when I am only four squares into it (out of a calculated 143) I really have no idea, but that's how my brain works.
...and I'll have to stop now because the cat is trying to eat the squares. Ack!
-Four squares finished for Ron's blanket
I haven't worked on anything else since my last post. The idea of a quirky blanket is way too much fun. Someone in the livejournal harry potter knitting group found a better picture of Ron's blanket in the Leaky Cauldron galleries. The new Leaky Cauldron site doesn't always play nicely with my browser, so I hadn't searched the rest of the gallery after finding one picture, since it was giving me a headache.
There's a LewisCraft store in the mall where I work that is closing, so all their stuff's on sale! I got some more yarn to go in the blanket, since it was pretty inexpensive anyway (it came to about two dollars a ball with the discount), but I think I'll keep checking back to see if there are any better sales later on. This is how stashing starts, isn't it? Haha. Anyhow, the yarn I got is Paton's Astra. It's 100% acrylic, but it feels pretty nice and it matches the yarn I had from the frogged blanket as far as weight and gauge. And with something like a blanket, I'd prefer to be able to throw it in the washer. Hopefully none of the mystery yarn from the frogged blanket is 100% wool or anything...that'd be really awkward.
Well, actually, if it was, I could probably just cut out the ruined square and make another one to replace it. Tedious, but not the end of the world. Why I am thinking about this when I am only four squares into it (out of a calculated 143) I really have no idea, but that's how my brain works.
...and I'll have to stop now because the cat is trying to eat the squares. Ack!
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Ron's blanket
I found something to do with my little random balls of yarn from the frogged blanket!
Earlier I was listening to PotterCast, a Harry Potter podcast put out by the Leaky Cauldrom, and their fan interview this week was with a Harry Potter crafter! They talked about the general Harry Potter crafting community, and referenced a thread on the Leaky Lounge started by Harry Potter knitters! In this thread, I found links to Harry Potter knitting groups, Harry Potter knitting websites, and lots of Harry Potter knitting patterns. I have a new found love for the internet. Um, have I mentioned that I really like Harry Potter? So, anyway, I read through the thread and someone mentioned they were going to knit Ron's blanket from the Goblet of Fire movie, and I think that's a really fabulous idea, so I'm going to too! Obviously it won't be an exact replica, but from the picture I found you get the general feel of the blanket, and you can really go just about anywhere with it. Eventually I'll probably have to acquire some more yarn to finish it, but this should keep me busy for a bit.
Projects I have going at the moment:
Harry Potter scarf (almost done!)
random chevron-striped scarf (using the greens, light browns, and pinks from the frogged blanket)
thread crochet shrug
crochet afghan (started a few years ago)
The crochet shrug is barely, barely started, since the day after I started it I gave my left index finger a really nasty cut and haven't been able to hold the thread while I crochet. The crochet afghan is probably going to get frogged, I don't like it anymore. I'm just waiting to frog it until I find something to do with the yarn, so maybe in the mean time I'll like it again.
I'm going to cast on for the Ron blanket as soon as I publish this. Maybe I'll study for finals sometime soon...
I was going to work on the Harry Potter scarf, but Sassy decided that lying on me for eight hours while I slept wasn't enough together time, so now she needs to sit on me while I sit at my desk. I do most of my knitting sitting at my desk, actually. I like to knit while I listen to podcasts, but I don't have an iPod, so I listen to them on my laptop. I like to think of my laptop as my really big iPod...
It'd be fun to post pictures of the Harry Potter scarf and some other things I have going, but I don't have a digital camera either. I borrowed my roommate's to post pictures of my stash, but most of the time, when I think I might want to borrow her camera, it's at times when she's probably asleep, like right now, or yesterday at 5AM. My impulses need to get on schedule with everyone else. Actually, I'm supposed to be getting a digital camera-my grandmother bought me a very small digital camera for Christmas, but it was so small that it didn't have its own drivers, and, of course, the drivers included on the CD were Windows only. We called the company but they don't do anything for Macs (dorks) so the camera went to my little sister and my mom said she could actually find me a more versatile digital camera on eBay for the same price. I hate to pester her about it though, so I have no idea how that search is going.
I have to say a big "Thank you!" to Marji, who is donating, to my knitting cause, some Jo Sharp DK wool, intended for a sweater project. Marji has a very large, beautiful stash, and on Flash Your Stash day offered to donate yarn to someone with a needy stash. I shamelessly sent her a link and she decided that I qualify. Thanks Marji! I am thinking about making this cardigan. It should be exciting.
Ahh the cat has decided I am no longer interesting so now I can knit! Huzzah!
It'd be fun to post pictures of the Harry Potter scarf and some other things I have going, but I don't have a digital camera either. I borrowed my roommate's to post pictures of my stash, but most of the time, when I think I might want to borrow her camera, it's at times when she's probably asleep, like right now, or yesterday at 5AM. My impulses need to get on schedule with everyone else. Actually, I'm supposed to be getting a digital camera-my grandmother bought me a very small digital camera for Christmas, but it was so small that it didn't have its own drivers, and, of course, the drivers included on the CD were Windows only. We called the company but they don't do anything for Macs (dorks) so the camera went to my little sister and my mom said she could actually find me a more versatile digital camera on eBay for the same price. I hate to pester her about it though, so I have no idea how that search is going.
I have to say a big "Thank you!" to Marji, who is donating, to my knitting cause, some Jo Sharp DK wool, intended for a sweater project. Marji has a very large, beautiful stash, and on Flash Your Stash day offered to donate yarn to someone with a needy stash. I shamelessly sent her a link and she decided that I qualify. Thanks Marji! I am thinking about making this cardigan. It should be exciting.
Ahh the cat has decided I am no longer interesting so now I can knit! Huzzah!
Saturday, April 01, 2006
flash your stash
Today I learned that it is "Flash Your Stash" day, and that yarn-lovers everywhere will spend lots of time drooling over yarn porn. My stash hardly qualifies. It's more like yarn-Puritanism. But hey...I have a stash, no matter how small, pathetic, and ugly. It is my stash to protect from my cat and call my own.
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