SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

So I am doing something I said I wasn’t going to do I always said “why should I learn to spin when there is so much beautiful yarn to knit?” But on September 16 I am signed up to take a beginning spinning class. And I am really excited about it. Then when it comes time for Madrona, I will be able to take spinning classes and shop around for roving. I will be using one of the shop wheels to take lessons, but of course if I love spinning, hopefully my own wheel is in my future.

I finished my scrunchable scarf, finally! I will get a picture up soon, but right now I am in Ellensburg and my camera is in Seattle. I am also working on finishing my Girl Friday cardigan that has been a WIP for a long time, but I left my next ball of yarn in Seattle also Of course, I have other projects to work on in the meantime and I will be going back to Seattle on Monday.

Well, there’s not much else to say today, since it’s my little brother’s birthday and I am spending the day with him

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

Add a comment August 12, 2010

Okey-Dokey Artichokey

Madelinetosh DK in Dusk and Tart

This is the Fruit Loop baby dress/top pattern and the Fresh Picked baby hat.

Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Geranio

This is my finished Liesl, one of the fastest sweaters I’ll ever make.

Blue Moon STR Mediumweight in Rare Gems

This is the Simple Things Shawlette, which was a quick and fun knit.

Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight Black

Here’s my Flower Basket Shawl.

That’s it for my most recent FO’s, but I am in the process of loading all my projects onto Ravelry, so you can check out my page if you wanna!

Here’s the little bit of yarny goodness that has come in the mail lately:

L to R: Madtosh Merino Light in Waterlily, Faded Chinos, Seawash, Geranium

Yes, I ordered some TML from The Loopy Ewe. I just can’t help myself when it comes to TML! Plus, The Loopy Ewe is so awesome and has great customer service.

I also promised you pics of my new bracelet:

I think it’s really pretty even though it’s simple. I’m excited to get back into beading.

So I think that’s pretty much it, since I caught you guys up yesterday.

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

1 comment August 3, 2010

No excuses.

That was the longest break ever. I know I said no excuses, but here is one: 8 credits. 4 weeks. Yup, I’m talking summer school. :p It was super intense, but now it’s over and I have lots of down time to knit. So tomorrow I will take pics of all my FO’s, including that pic of the Liesl that I promised you back in May.

So I finally lost 11 pounds in about 5 weeks (not by my goal date, but hey, I’ll take it!) and now I am working with the most fabulous personal trainer who is helping me with strength training and some other personal goals, like wearing a bikini and running a 5k. Seriously, this woman is unbelieveably high energy, but she pushes and motivates me. If you need some specific help on things, I would recommend finding a personal trainer. It’s not just for the rich Hollywood stars.

So there really hasn’t been too much yarn buying lately, but I will be able to show you a couple of things tomorrow (some yummy Madtosh Merino Light just arrived today ). I really want to save and save so that come February I can splurge at Madrona Fiber Arts. Especially at the Blue Moon booth and hopefully this booth if it is back this year. I’m thinkin’ a sweater’s worth of Butter to make the Cable and Lattice pullover, perhaps?

Plus, I’ve started beading again, and beading isn’t a cheap hobby either. I’m gonna be getting some supplies to start me out again, but there’s this bead show in Bellevue during November that I definitely want to go to, so I’m saving for that too. Tomorrow I’ll show you the simple bracelet I made today just to start me out again.

I’ve got like 5 kajillion more WIP’s than I had last time, but you won’t get to see those tomorrow since most of my stuff is at home (my actual home). I spend the majority of the week at home, but then I come back to school for my clinical observations and piano lessons, so you will get to see my WIP’s soon. Although, I’m not sure that you really want to.

So everyone, share in the comments: what hobbies do you have other than knitting. Do you quilt? Bead? Crochet? Scrapbook? I wanna hear it!

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

Add a comment August 3, 2010

This one is gonna be picture-less…

Hey guys hope I still have some readers here Well the school year is wrapping up. After this week there is just one more week and then finals! I am really nervous for all my tests and my 15 page paper that I am writing, but super excited for the quarter to be over. Also, something fun is happening the week after finals. My mom and I are going to Chicago! It is something for her business, but I am just happy to be going! And then summer quarter starts. But I am actually excited for that quarter because I am starting to get more in depth with my major, and I will actually be testing some hearing at elementary schools! Then in fall I start to apply to graduate schools. I can’t believe it’s going so fast….

And now onto knitting. I finally recieved my blocking stuff from Knitpicks, so I blocked my first sweater that I made that has been done for quite a while now. It is the February Lady Sweater made with Blue Moon Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Ruby Slippers. Beautiful yarn, and fun, easy pattern. I will get pics of me wearing it up soon, probably on Friday when my mom comes to visit and she can take the pictures! If you have not tried any of Blue Moon’s yarns, I would highly reccommend it. They are high quality and there are TONS of beautiful colors.

I also started a hat in Malabrigo Worsted in Rich Chocolate for Michael. Remember him? Well he is graduating this quarter, so a little going away present is in order. I knew it needed to be hand knitted since he is the first new friend I made here that I told about me knitting He thought it was really cool and he even used to do some needlepoint when he was a little kid! That made me like him even more. I will really miss him when he goes, he has been such a good friend.

Progress is still coming along on the scrunchable scarf, should be done soon. And, I started another sweater. I know, I know, too many WIPs. But Liesl is such a fast one, especially when you make it cap-sleeved. I am almost done with it! It will be the fastest sweater I’ve ever worked on. I’m making it in Malabrigo Worsted in Geranio. It is such a vibrant color, I love it!

Well, that’s all the news I have for now. But there will definitely be another post Friday!

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

1 comment May 27, 2010

I’m a bad girl.

So I am a bad blogger. It’s been quite a while since my last post, but seriously? School has decided to repeatedly kick my butt for the past week. Two tests on the same day, two quizzes, and one three page paper all due this week. It was stressful to say the least. But I think they all went fairly well (I passed at least) and I am just sooooo relieved that they are over. And I have been very good about not ordering new yarn! I only fell down once. What? What was I supposed to do when I log onto Madelinetosh’s etsy shop and there are 5 skeins of bulky in Calligraphy just sitting there?

So I haven’t finished anything in this last week because of school, but here are some new WIPs. I know, I know, but I was stressed, ok? The first is a scrunchable scarf in Malabrigo worsted in orchid. Oh so pretty a colorway and so buttery soft on my neck It’s coming along nicely, I think.

Can’t say enough good things about Malabrigo. The second is a pair of Sunshine socks by the most wonderful Cookie A. These are in Knit Picks Essential Solid sock yarn in the colorway Coral that was sent to me by a swap partner for my birthday. I am surprised how much I like this yarn. You get a little spoiled and snobby by using indie dyers all the time, but this yarn is springy, bouncy, and very soft. These will be favorites when they are done for sure.

Cookie A.’s patterns are so beautiful and very clearly written. And is it just me, but do they seem to go faster than plain vanilla socks even with all the cables and yarn overs?

And to end this post on a yummy note, here are some pics of things I ordered before my yarn diet that have come recently

Wollmeise in Gazpacho and Johannisbeer und Brennessel

Madelinetosh Peruvian in Creme de Menthe

Madelinetosh Pashmina in Byzantine

The Wollmeise are from a Ravelry destash, when right before the Y.D. I was on a mission to bulk up my WM stash. So pretty! Love it! The second picture, which is completely horrible, is actually a lovely light green color, like the little green stripe inside Ande’s mints. The pashmina is from last month’s shipment of the Magnolia Society yarn club. I am so glad I picked the jewel tones!

I just want to say, if you are ever in the Seattle or Bellvue area, stop by Trophy Cupcakes. Their triple coconut is to die for and cheered me up after my test this week!

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

1 comment May 15, 2010

Sorry…

Madelinetosh Merino Light

Madelinetosh DK

Madelinetosh Merino

1 comment May 5, 2010

There’s really no excuse….

You know that one project that is soooo close to being done but you can’t bring yourself to pick it up and finish it? Exhibit A: the Noro Striped Scarf.

Yup. I finally finished it. And it only took me… almost this whole school year. I am so glad to have it done. The sick thing is, I have yarn for three more of these. Uh-huh. Right.

I hope no one sees this and thinks “wow I really, really want to make that color combo” because being the bad knitter that I am, I totally took the ball bands off and lost them

I have a love-hate relationship with Noro. I love the colors and the finished objects, but I swear this yarn broke at least four times during this project, causing me to have a million more ends to weave in than needed. Maybe it was a faulty couple of balls, but I dunno. We’ll see.

So I finally went to the post office today (this week has been crazy busy with school) and sent out my prizes for my three winners. So they should arrive sometime next week Speaking of the post office, why does it seem like the rudest and most anti-social people go into jobs like the post office, DMV, animal shelters, etc.? There are some nice ones, but it seems like the majority just hate to help you out…

Also I stopped by Weaving Works to get some needles I needed and of course I am a total yarn hoarder so:

The first pic is a ball of Cascade 220 (color # 8906- a beautiful sky blue) and Trendsetter Cha-Cha (color # 413- a chocolate brown) for one of those super cute and funky Cha-Cha scarves. Sorry this is not linked, but I couldn’t find the pattern on Ravelry, so maybe it’s a Weaving Works pattern? I am not sure but if anyone knows what I’m talking about and finds the pattern, feel free to post on the comments. The second pic is two skeins of Malabrigo Twist in Teal Feather. SOOOOOOOOOO YUMMY!!!! The flash is blowing the color out but it is a dark deep rich teal color. I need some suggestions on this. I really want to make a mini shawl/scarf sort of thing kind of like Saroyan. I’m already making that in Barbie Rose Worsted as you know, but I really enjoy that pattern and would like the same sort of construction/finished look. Any pattern suggestions in the comment section would be greatly appreciated. I’ve kind of been feeling the blues lately, I don’t know what it is. Pink is still my fav color, but I’m starting to build up a blue stash too What is your favorite color to knit with (or just in general)?

Have a great, knitting-filled day!

Oh, and ps…. I got 100% on my anatomy of the speech mechanism test!!!! Yeah!

1 comment April 30, 2010

Yarn!!!!

Okay, so my anatomy test went pretty well yesterday. I couldn’t quite remember what the primary tensor of the vocal folds was, but I took my best guess Unfortunately, I have a latin test tomorrow…. the horror never stops!!!

Yesterday I came home to a bunch of packages outside my door That cheered me up considerably, and here are the spoils.

Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga Orange Assassin Bug

Sanguine Gryphon Eidos Charybdis

Yarn Love Marianne Dashwood Nostalgia

Sweet Georgia Tough Love Hard Candy

Claudia Handpainted Plumlicious

Tosh Merino Light Forestry

There’s quite a bit more, but I’m not sure how much everyone wants to see Those are not that good of pictures, by the way. The Forestry TML is unbelievably gorgeous…. it’s so green it practically glows.

And I have another FO, plus a modeled pic of the Malalucie Slouch hat:

Isn’t that the cutest hat? It is one of the only hats I have knitted that is flattering on me, I think. I will have to make more colors!!!

Not quite as flattering, but still a cute hat and fun to knit.

The stats:

Pattern: Chunky Cloche Hat

Yarn: Malabrigo Rasta Baya Electrica

Mods: With the amount of stockinette they tell you to knit after the brim, I don’t know about other people, but that was not enough to even come down 3 inches on my head. I knitted 10 extra rows and it still could have been a little longer.

This yarn is sooooo yummy. Beautiful colors and so very soft! Only downside is the price, which is why I only have one skein of it. So in terms of WIPs, the toesicles are coming along, I have turned the heel and hope to finish the first one very soon.

Also, Natalie has very generously donated her prize back, so Kat will get second pick and the new 3rd prize is: miastick! I will contact both Kat and miastick about their winnings!

Have a great knitting-filled day!

3 comments April 27, 2010

A little scared…

Today I have a test in anatomy of the speech mechanism. Arghhhhh!!! I hate tests! But I studied hard, so hopefully I will do well…

Little update on Michael: I decided to tell him. At first he didn’t believe me, because obviously now I don’t look the way I did in highschool, but I told him that I lost a lot of weight. And he was really sweet about it He is such a great guy. Thanks for the advice on this situation everyone…

And now, a FO! My first on this blog!

Here it is blocking (stuffed with garbage bags). I will have to get a modeled shot later today or tomorrow

Stats:

Malalucie Slouch Hat

Malabrigo Worsted Apple Green

This was a great hat and sooooo quick to finish. I really love the outcome too, it is super cute!!!

And now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for….. the winners! From random number generator: 1st place is Anoriell! 2nd place is Natalie! And 3rd place is Kat! Anoriell please pm me on Ravelry (profile is fishfin18) with your choice of the three prizes and address, and then I will contact Natalie and Kat for their choices! Congrats you three! There will be more giveaways at this blog for sure!

Have a great knitting filled day!

2 comments April 26, 2010

Well it’s a pretty good day….

Wow! I am happy to have so many comments so far and hope to get more.

So first, I kind of have a dilemma I want to ask your advice about. There is this guy that I have liked for a long time, about a year. Let’s call him Michael. Michael and I are really good  friends, but unfortunately, he has a girlfriend   Anyway, today we were talking about what we were like in highschool, and he told me he had really bad acne (he so doesn’t now) and he got called “pizza face.” I was like “oh, that’s really mean. Well don’t worry, I got made fun of a lot in highschool too.” (of course I was talking about my weight problem. But no one in college knows that I had a weight problem because I had already lost it all when I came here.) So now he is obssessed with finding out why people made fun of me. It was a really bad time for me, and I really like this guy. Do you guys think I should tell him? Do you think it would be really embarassing and make him look at me in a different way, or should I trust him?

Anyway, now for the knitting content (sort of). I went to the bookstore today and got three great new knitting books:

Vintage Knitwear for Modern Knitters

Baby Knits

The Sock Knitter's Workshop

The first one has some great patterns for me in it that I can’t wait to cast on (like I need more WIPs). The Baby Knits has lots of cute baby stuff, but my favorite is the teddy suit featured on the cover I think I will start that very soon. I will probably just save it for the future because I know I’ll have kids someday. Is that weird, or does anyone else do that too? And the last one is because I really want to learn to knit toe up socks and possible two at a time. I will do it if it kills me

Well anyway, my aunt is having a birthday party today and so I am heading home for the weekend. I have an anatomy test on monday that I will have to study for, but hopefully there will be some knitting this weekend. I think I will take the toesicles home…

Have a great day everyone!!!

2 comments April 23, 2010