Priorities

School is turning into one big priority that, unfortunately, can not be ignored or pushed aside for a simple blog post. My goal was to post every day in December; I'm currently using borrowed time even as we speak.

How does posting every weekend sound? (WARNING: Feburary is going to be hectic.)

No blogging time does not mean no knitting time, however. 

I knitted 2 scarves for two separate friends of mine; pictures were not taken.

I have finished the super-secret presents, but haven't given them yet, so pictures will have to wait.

I am almost done with Ryan's vest, as you can see:

Unfortunately, the neckline is supposed to have ribbing. The pattern called for a circular knitting needle.

"No problem," thought I. "I can just use my straight needles. The fabric will be a bit stretched, but it will bounce back."

Allow me to illustrate. I thought that a straight needle could go around this.

I guess I figured it would bend or something.

which would you choose?

Right.

It's a good thing my birthday is tomorrow; I believe I need a size 3 circular knitting needle.

Stylish Fingerless Gloves

Ta da!!! I finally have a pair of gloves!

I love this pattern because lengthy decreasing is not needed, just a sudden increase to allow room for the thumb, and the ribbing shapes itself to your hand!




Needles: a set of 4 dpn, US size 5
Yarn: thin worsted weight, approx. 80 yards (I used handspun)
Gauge: 32 rows and 20 stitches is 4' square in 2x2 ribbing
Notions: 1 stitch marker
Fits: a medium woman's hand


Pattern:

**Note: Knitting begins at the fingers and works down to the cuff.


Fingerless Gloves (make 2)

-CO 36 sts and divide evenly on three needles. Place marker. Join, being careful not to twist.

-Work in k2 p2 ribbing until the piece measures 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) or desired length. This should fit comfortably from mid palm up to fingers.

-At the end of the next row, BO 4 sts You now have 32 sts.

-At the end of the next row, CO 8 sts. You now have 40 sts.

-Cont in 2x2 ribbing until work from BO/CO section is approx 4 inches (10 cm) or enough length to cover palm and go down the wrist.

-BO all stitches.

I finished the second super secret project, and am on a great start on the third.
School is still crazy, so please bear with me!

Knitting to Show!

My history teacher joked that he knew my position on an issue we were debating by the speed of my knitting!

This is the same teacher that has a cut out of Mr Rogers (maybe two index cards big) that I knitted a mini vest for :)

Enough about school.

How about some knitting?

The top picture is of a ski headband I knitted off the top of my head (no pun intended) one day. I think I used around 16 stitches, 1X1 ribbing tightly till it fit around my head. it's a handspun merino/silk blend. It kept my ears warm during color guard today, so that means it is doing its job!

The second picture is the first of my own fingerless gloves. This was another Fiber Chic exclusive; I'll post the pattern when I am done with them.

And the TV in the background? That's the World Series game-Phillies against the Tampa Bay RAys. My brother and dad are glued to the game. We've never lived in Philadelphia, but my dad has, so they are "the team" our family watches.

Ryan's vest is still underway--the book had to go to the library, so I had to wait a week (read as I only go to the library once a week now-waaah!) before getting the book again, and it's been too busy since.

The last Color Guard game is this Friday, and I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait till next year already-our captain says we might do cool show makeup every game! We did do fancy makeup for homecoming--I'll check to see if that's legit to go on the internet. If so, it'll be in this post, right here!

I'll leave you with the coolest things in the world. The henna that was on my ankle for two weeks, put on by my best friend:

And what my little brother told me to say:

OOOOGGGA OOOGGGA!

Update

The goal is to keep the blog aware of my goings-on at least once a month. There is a lot more homework this year than last, but I'm doing OK. I only had 10 minutes of homework today, so I have time for a short post!

I have not brought my knitting to school for the past couple of weeks, but before that, I did get Riley's bolero done:

It's packed away for Christmas now.

I'm barely more than halfway done with Ryan's vest; the argyle was fun to do, but a little confusing. I used 5 different balls of the dark blue yarn for the CC, and pulled behind the MC.The library book is due soon, so that's my first priority now.

After that, it's on the the Super Secret Presents, then a scarf for a friend, then maybe I can get started on spinning for that dress!

Off to enjoy my day of No Homework!

School Started Two Weeks Ago

This year is going to be more difficult than last year; I have a quiz in Bio tomorrow, will blog later!

I Can Not Think Of a Title

Well, Project #2 of Ravelympics complete.

(please excuse the shadows; that's what I get for wanting "natural lighting")

It definitely needs some blocking, but I have until Christmas....

Whatever I don't get done tomorrow (in time for the end of the Ravelympics), I'll finish on a road trip. Must go knit now..

Baby Steps

(no pun intended)

I now have both fronts, and the back done and the same length.

I had a bit of a scare regarding the gauge; it turns out that the yarn, although it's a similar weight, does not match the gauge in the pattern. Since it makes the bolero bigger, not smaller, I am going to continue on today as if I had the proper gauge, with my eyes shut. I know I am going to be embarrassed about this later, but my logic is that Riley wouldn't be able to wear this for long if it was in the proper gauge, maybe she'll get a couple more wears in it if the gauge is a few less stitches to the inch.

But before you send me "Are you crazy?!?" mental thoughts, just know this: it made sense around 10 last night.....

I'll be seeing the twins tonight, so I can sneak a couple measurements and see if my wonky-gauged version will fit her. If not, maybe I can adjust the pattern a smidge.

When I took a break from my Ravelympics project, I did a little spinning.

This is an alpaca and cormo (cormo is a brand of sheep that is desended from Corriedale and Merino sheep). I Navajo plied the yarn; it's the thickest I've made in a while. After I catch up on Ravelympics projects, this will probably be a hat.

And I Thought I Would Post More Often!

Color guard (not me in the video; I just youtubed it) was as tiring as I thought it would be. We have the two songs (both by Queen: Don't Stop Me Now and Bohemian Rhapsody) choreographed for the flags, but now we have to work it into the band's routine.

I also went to the State Fair with my cardigan, and got a superior, which I'm really happy about. The judge said that I had my work cut out for me to top this next year. I thought that was nice of her.

And what is my plan for next year, you might ask?

Well, it includes:

-roughly 1,000 yards of handspun silk with gradual color changes

-a mesh ruffle at the hem,

-and a ribbon at the waist!

Yep, a dress. This is going to be my ideal prom dress. I am not planning on going to any proms any time soon, and may not, even in the very far future, but at least I'll know I can make a dress!

I probably won't start it until Christmas or so--I have a lot of other projects I need to catch up on, like this bolero....

.....which doesn't really look like a bolero yet, and I am kinda having some issues with the fact that the back (on top) is shorter than the left front (below the back). Since this is the second of my four Ravelympics projects, I'm going to have to pick up the pace a little to get everything (or at least Ryan and Riley's presents; they've been in the back of my head and my queue for too long) done by the end of the Olympics.

Did I mention I still have homework to do?

And a room to clean?

Yeah, umm....I'd best be off.

Ravelympics Day 2

Beginning on Tuesday, I went on a trip to Ohio for school. On Friday, (the first day of the Olympics and the Ravelympics), we drove back. I got a good seven or eight hour car ride to work on my first project, fingerless gloves for my little brother. It was just the right amount of time. John loves them--and they fit. (Score!)I did the finishing today, and hope to go to a Michaels or JoAnn's this week to get the yarn for the other competition I am in: Baby Dressage. I also need needles for the gloves I would like to make for myself.

Unfortunately for my yarny plans, I have color guard (aka waving flags in pretty ways) all day, every day next week, and no planned long car rides till after the Olympics end. The knitting (and blogging) will be sporadic, but a little more updated than usual.

'Nuff Said

(above) purse, 5/8 done
(below) hat, done (and it looks weird on me--oh, well)

(below) handmade ceramic plate

(next post, after I find my good camera) the yarn and fiber I bought on an excursion today

Dearie Me

I am getting into the period of time between August and September where school is just around the corner, and I haven't even started most of what I wanted to get finished. This includes blog posts.

This week, we had 4-H judging. I entered the cardigan, the camisole, a ceramic plate with "You never can have too much fiber" on it, and a photograph. I was delighted to find that I had two grand champions (the cardigan and the plate and a reserve (the camisole) I got a blue ribbon on the photograph. I am obviously pretty happy about that.

School homework is getting done, a blessing to say the least. I'm not much for blood and gore, making the main book (In Cold Blood) a tough, though not impossible, read.

Fiber-wise, I did get some spinning done:
This is the second silk hankie. I still haven't decided what I'm going to do with it, even if I'm going to ply it. Perhaps I'll take a leaf out of Rachel's book and make a beret. How does that sound?

My (lovely) mom's birthday was last week Wednesday, and I just finished a seed stitch scarf for her, made out of a handspun soy silk single. I learned from a yarn book I got when I was up in WI that if you use a combo of knits and purls, the bias you normally get with singles magically disappears. An interesting epiphany, to say the least.

Coming up-

I signed up for the Ravelympics-I'm on Team Teen, and in the events Baby Dressage and Glove Decathlon.

Now, what exactly is the Ravelympics? It's quite simple. You sign up on Ravelry and you have to complete projects that are challenging for you, starting on the first day of the Olympics, and ending on the last day. (17 days total)

As the names of my events suggest, I'll be knitting gloves (fingerless for my brother-this one's way overdue and lacy gloves for me) and baby gear (remember the bolero and the vest for Riley and Ryan?). Think I can do it?

Before the Olympics start (since you can't start your projects early, other than the gauge swatches and getting the yarn, and I obiously need more to do), I'd like to try to make a purse out of some Tahiki I have, and a urchin hat out of old handspun.

Did I mention in the meantime, I am going to go to color guard camp, a school trip to Ohio and back, to the state fair, and (hopefully) finish my summer homework?

I DEFINITELY need a reality check.

Dyeing of All Kinds (Plus a FO)

Rewind, if you please, to the Saturday before last.
The day before, a certain ceramic hand was picked up from a certain ceramics teacher's workshop. This hand seemed to enjoy following me around, so I let it pose in some pictures.

Also finished around then was the Picovoli cardigan. All I have to do is steam the edges, and I'm done. One more 4-H project complete!

Anyway, back to the Saturday before last.....
Mom and I were at a spinning guild meeting consisting of fiber, yarn, and tons of dye.
We had lots of fun.
A pair of snow-white silk caps, bought on the first of this year....

.....are no longer snow-white, nor caps. The orange and yellow has already been spun, and is a hairband, and the blueish purple one will soon be spun. (The brownish hairband was also knit with handspun flax during the trip. In fact, I'm wearing it as we speak.) Some lovely alpaca, soon to be a pair of gloves... ...is now a brilliant blue (although it was meant to be lavender. I don't know how that happened.)
Mom even got in on the action, dyeing a beautiful silk scarf! Mom is very proud of her scarf, and I am, too. It's a wonderful creative endeavor. She says she's trying to keep up with me. I think she's doing a terrific job. The next day, we left for Wisconsin, with the gerbils in tow. Annie wasn't feeling very well, and we thought it wasn't right to leave her behind, to be fed by the neighbors every couple days.
She passed on on the way up, and is buried up there. It's really pretty, right by a little lake, with lots of trees and sunshine.
Be a good little girl, Annie. We'll miss you.

On a lighter note....
When we got to the cabin, I did a bit of dyeing. The first try turned out quite atrocious, but with some Rit dye remover, I miraculously got a second chance, which turned out a lot better, and is what you see here.
This yarn is for three super-secret presents, each a different color, intended to be finished before Christmas. Shouldn't be too hard, right? (McCormick food coloring and Kool-Aid. Never lets me down!)

And, hmmm....I suppose I'm all caught up. Great.
I'll go unpack the spinning wheel now.

A Camp Update

Well, I got back from camp on Saturday. It was only a week and a half session, but it was a lot of fun. We were in an outdoor cooking and building program, which meant starting lots of fires and (at least this year) lots of lashing. We made our own bridge, platform and tire swing, as well as a catapult that didn't really work (but it was fun anyway!)

I was with mainly guys this year, similar to last year, although this time I had another girl, instead of being by myself. We affectionatly called the program "girl boot camp", just because it takes a lot of energy to keep up with the opposite gender. :)

Next year, I hope to be a CIT (counselor in training). All of the counselors were so kind and helpful, it was great to get to know them!

I had a rest hour every day, which meant lots of knitting time. My brain was also on "get up early for school" mode, which meant I woke up an hour and a half early some days. As a result, I made this:
It looks done, but it's really a tad too short. I cast off too soon so that "the guys" could see that knitting an hour a day (give or take) really does amount to something. I wore it, loose ends and all the last day. A couple little ones who had watched me in amazement as I had knit throughout the session told me good job when they saw the finished project.

On the way home, I cast on another project:

The goal is to turn it into a shrug, one of those projects I've always wanted to try, but always got side tracked. The yarn was tie-dyed at camp. I spun it eons ago, it seems. It's so thin and weak, I doubted I could even knit with it. But it seems to be holding. The general idea is being adapted from this (minus the pretty lacey thing, I'll probably follow her pattern some other time, it's good) shrug. Perhaps I'll enter my version in Knotions Magazine, which I just found, something. Who knows?Speaking of dyeing, there's a dyeing workshop my spinning guild organized, so expect lots of prettyprettypretty yarn soon!

Oh, and I made this on the way to camp-

G'day all!

Ahem.

The bolero and vest were not created. No yarn was found.
*moment of silence*
Perhaps I will be able to make them for their Christmas gifts.

I did, however, create a little book of fiber for my cute twin neighbors--I'm always ready to push the knitting/fiber aspect!

Using some leftovers from various projects, I had a page for alpaca, wool, soy silk, silk, corn, and flax. By putting hot glue on the pages themselves, the paper stuck. If I put hot glue on the paper, it wouldn't stick to the yarn. There's probably some scientific logic to this; I wouldn't know.

We also got some hardcover books, one about sheep in a car that won't go, and, my personal favorite, "Is Your Mama a Llama?"

*personal happy rant ahead*

Their birthday party was adorable. I was worried that Ryan and Riley wouldn't recognize me with so many relatives around, but they gave their usual big smiles when they saw me, and Ryan even crawled over one time to be picked up. Happy 1st Birthday, cuties!

*ok, I'm done*

I'll be at camp for the next week and a half, the same one I went to last year and came back with dyed yarn and new fiber Mom and Dad had sent from home. This year, I'll be bringing some fiber, as well as the leftovers from the cardigan. (aka these 800 yards)I still have no idea what I will make with it, but I do have a few ideas. Please let me know what you think!

Choices (I have 800 yds of yarn):

A) Knit a shirt similar to the halter top, except instead of a single strap, I would make two thick straps, maybe even little sleeves, yarn permitting. Does that make sense?

B) Does anyone have a pattern for lacy gloves? *fiberfiend6891 was nice and found the pattern for me! I need the needles though. Off to look for them!*

I found a picture in the Spring or Summer Interweave Knits, but (grrr) the pattern wasn't there. I may not use the the cardigan yarn (wrong color), but I do have a couple hundred yards of white handspun I'm up in the air about dyeing. A problem about this idea is that I don't have enough double-pointed knitting needles to make a set. That, and I've never made gloves before in my life.

C) I'd say socks, but the double-pointed knitting needle problem would come up again.

D) Anybody have any other ideas?

I'll check the blog tomorrow, then I'm off! Camp, here I come!