Spin, Knit, Purl and Be Happy

Cuba Book Cover

2012-01-17T16:12:00.004-06:00

On the eve of the spring semester, it seems fitting to post these pictures of what was my final for my freshman seminar titled "Mapping Cuba."

We were instructed to make a portfolio of work that we had written throughout the class, and add some new elements, including one item in an alternative media, so naturally I went all out, spinning, dyeing and knitting the cover for the portfolio. Pictures follow.

The color changes were a happy accident. The goal was to have one cohesive piece, but when that first piece proved to be too small for the pieces of cardboard I used as backing, I had to improvise, and this was the result.

Happy New Year everyone, and for those of you in college, best of luck this semester.

My Birthday

2011-12-31T19:02:00.002-06:00

My family knows me too well.

Is my dorky side showing?

Knitting-related stuff are on their way! Happy New Year everyone!

College Life

2011-12-03T08:22:00.004-06:00

What's this? A blog post?

Yes, well, I have a little extra time on this beautiful Saturday morning and I was going onto the blog to look up a pattern I designed ages ago for a scarf for my roommate, and I realized how nice it is to have a record of past projec

ts, because you never know when the information may prove to be useful.

So I'm going to start up again, as often as I can.

We'll just skip the "a lot has happened in the past year and a half, hasn't it?" talk, shall we? I'll get to know you and you'll get to know me just through what becomes relevant. Perhaps this will be my journalling/English practice, seeing as I'm going to be a math major and all--one of life's little ironies that the girl that grew up writing her own novels and practicing journalism would completely switch gears in a manner of m

onths to decide to be a math teacher. We'll see how it all goes.

In the interim, I have a project in the works, and once again, it will get me class credit. I love it when I can stick my yarny self into my academic stuff. It feel

s like I'm taking a study break, but I'm really doing my homework!

Anyway, I dyed some red (pictured below)

and blue (it's drying now) yarn, so that I can knit a miniature Cuban flag. More to come on that.

This post feels incredibly dry, but hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things.

Just a Test

2010-07-18T14:25:00.004-05:00

I'm attempting a new way to look at life, as per this quote (compliments of the Internet)

"Life is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real life, you would have been given instructions on where to go and what to do."

Although I didn't find this quote until after completing this, my mini end-of-the-school-year project kind of reflects these ideas. See this?

It's a mini clothesline!

Up in the tree like this, it looks like a little elf went out to dry her clothes. It made me smile.

I wrote down the pattern for each piece, so I'll see if I can get the pattern out later. All yarn was handspun, including the clothesline itself, which was flax.

I tried to make it chronicle a woman's life, from her birth, to her first prom dress, to her wedding, to the birth of her first child. It's a tad existential, but it seemed appropriate, what with all of the changes going on, college apps and such.

Just Breathe

2010-06-15T20:43:00.005-05:00

It's back to summer in the FiberChic world--hello, everyone!

Soo...recap of this year:

gave up the dog,

received the "outstanding aux." for our color guard

almost moved to central IL (but didn't),

almost moved to KY (but didn't),

found four kittens under a friend's stoop, kept two of them,

Knitted Christmas presents, including a guitar strap, "America's Next Top Model" Christmas ornament, and bitty mouse,

enjoyed a family round-up during Christmas,

(student) directed my school's rendition of "D**n Yankees",

stressed over Chemistry,

stressed over AP tests,

went to my first school dance (prom!) (with a group of friends, not by myself),

said goodbye to the fantastic school band director, due to district cuts,

and throughout it all...

spun, designed and knitted another dress (pictures pending).

You, Blogosphere, were so good to me my freshman year--you kept me sane through a dramatic transition in my life. I figure the least I can do is just let you know how I'm turning out.

Still Here

2009-04-12T20:00:00.006-05:00

Hello, everyone! Hows life been these past few months?

Pretty hectic for me, let me tell you.

End of January, I finished this:

I also spun up the yarn for my dream dress..

and dyed it...

and got the cutest dog in the world, named Laney...

and knitted the dress...

and modeled it! (Mom is now letting my face be on the web, since I'm now 16 (as of last Dec, this was just the first time I could put it to use)

My dad is a wiz with a camera--he's fantastic.

Thanks to everyone for their patience with my blogging (or rather, lack thereof). I'm still enjoying life knitting and smiling.

ha-HA! I have finally finished a post!

Life...

2009-01-21T19:53:00.005-06:00

...is getting in the way of life right now...but thankfully, life is working with knitting to keep me from going insane. ;) My enter key is not working, so there are going to be less paragraphs than there should be today.

Using a compilation of different fibers from my spinning career, I created a little shrug. It was just a rectangular piece of fabric that I sewed part of the long ways together. None of the fibers are dyed other than that big brown strip; that yarn was from a pair of socks I made for my mom a while ago. I am finding out I am actually quite enamored with the natural colors; I should buy more "regular" fiber! Every other strip was in k 2 rows, p 2 rows, and the intermittent strips were in garter stitch. It turned out rather well; this is the first shrug I've made that I wouldn't mind wearing in public.

I am also knitting a vest from the fall issue of Interweave knits; as you can see, the body is done. I just have to block it (the stockinette stitch really rolls!) and add the edging in the neck and arms. There also is supposed to be a strip to tie it off. I have found my interchangeable set, so the confusion of a straight needle being able to go around in a circle will not happen again. For anyone who is being super kind to me and continuing to read this blog, thanks so much for bearing with me. I have lots of other yarny "stuff" I'm working on, and will try to post as often as possible. I don't know how you seniors do blogging and knitting and school; I can barely keep up and I'm just a sophomore!

Priorities

2008-12-30T10:58:00.005-06:00

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

2008-11-08T12:47:00.007-06:00

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!

2008-10-22T20:22:00.006-05:00

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

2008-09-23T16:15:00.006-05:00

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

2008-09-08T20:50:00.001-05:00

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

2008-08-23T19:05:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-21T10:02:00.004-05:00

(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!

2008-08-19T08:40:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-09T20:39:00.006-05:00

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

2008-08-02T18:27:00.004-05:00

(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

2008-07-25T14:51:00.005-05:00

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)

2008-07-07T12:55:00.007-05:00

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

2008-06-23T12:39:00.006-05:00

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.

2008-06-08T12:53:00.009-05:00

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!

You Know You're a Child of the Internet When...

2008-06-01T15:32:00.006-05:00

...your friends check on your blog to make sure you're all right when you don't answer the phone, and panic when you haven't posted anything recently. True story. Sorry guys! Hopefully this will quell your (possible) fears.

I have a couple moments to breathe before buckling down into finals again, so I figured a blog post was in order.
Remember the yarn I won in Ravelry?
It is now a triangular shawl.

The possibilities with this baby are endless.I feel so safe in it--this will be what I wear for the last day of school.

I am also spinning some soy silk. I'm not quite sure what to make of it yet-it's so soft, I'm tempted to just knit a pillow!

Aaaand, compliments of Sarah at Mom's Knitting and her blogiversery contest,(I'll probably have a year-and-3-months contest, so stay tuned!) I got some yummy yarn in the mail!It's all so soft and yummy. Thank you so much, Sarah!! I'm still waiting for it to speak to me about what it wants to be made into. I'm hoping it's a teddy bear. The twins next door would love it to death!

Speaking of the twins, I have yet to start on their birthday presents. Of course, I already have the ceramic shoes, but I wanted something more knitty-related, if you could recall. I found a Debbie Bliss book with an adorable bolero top for the girl, Riley, and a little manly vest for Ryan. The patterns call for cashmerino, which, considering the fact that it's spring, wouldn't be a good idea.

When we go to the yarn store tomorrow, after exams (the one good thing about taking long tests is that we get at least the other half, if not the other 3/4ths of the day off!), I'll be looking for a cotton blend. I found something called "CotLin" on KnitPicks, perfect weight, colors, the whole shibang, but the yarn wouldn't get here in time for their birthday party this Saturday. As it is, the chances I'll give them a half-made gift is far from unlikely. My goal is to post every day this week to make up for the fact I've been a bad blogger.

I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty...

2008-05-09T18:26:00.008-05:00

*pictures deleted on account of a mother's theory and some odd places some people visiting this blog were from*
Here's the skirt that turned into a tube top that turned into a halter top. Thanks to my brother for taking the pictures.

The pattern is still a work in progress. (see #4 of the last post) I'll try to publish it (on this blog) soon.
As for my current knitting project, it's a "Leaf Kimono Top" from the summer issue of Interweave Knits. I haven't gotten very far, but it's my first lace project, so I'm taking it as slow as I can.

Remember the cute little twins next door, and how I made little ceramic memento shoes for them? (#3) Well, here they are!

I Swore To Myself I Wouldn't Forget...

2008-05-05T11:05:00.005-05:00

...but it seems Fate had a different idea. What am I referring to? Why, the first blogiversery of this here blog!

To see the first (lame) post I wrote, you can click here.
Now. Let's have some knitting info, shall we?
I knitted a scarf from that silk. This is the first scarf I've made that is actually longer than I am tall:

And I only had a bit of yarn left!

Remember that skirt I made out of the "scrap" yarn? Well, it turned into a tube top, then a tank top type thing. I'm hoping to get the pattern typed up in time for the fall Knitty (it really looks like a homecoming shirt type thing). If I don't get it done before May 16 (I think that's the deadline) you'll be seeing pictures soon!

I do believe a plan for summer knitting is due, seeing as school will be out in a month. (Eeeek! AP test next week!)

1) If I get to Jo-Ann's before the year's end, a certain guy friend at school will be getting a "flying" cape. If not, he'll have to get it next year. Seeing as I promised he would get it before we graduated from high school, I'm covered.

2) Ditto for my brother. Although, I'm guaranteeing him his cape before Christmas.

3) For the twins 1st birthday that is coming up, I have already made little ceramic shoes. They won't fit them, of course; it's just supposed to be a memento. I'm hoping to get something in the yarny nature snuck in, as well. After the AP test, I'll do some sleuthing on Ravelry.

4)I also have those two patterns for myself I'd like to sneak in.

5) My cardigan is simply screaming to be slightly redesigned; I'm imagining take two in a bright read Cascade 220.

6) A random piano scarf pattern keeps on popping in my head. The plan is to use the 100% alpaca my aunt gave me. I might have mentioned I wanted to dye it; that plan fell through. I have some extra white yarn from the cardigan I might dye at camp.

Well, that's all folks. In honor of my blogiversery, could any lurkers please make themselves known? I'm curious how many people are actually reading this here blog. Thanks!

Quick Meme Type Thing Before Bed

2008-05-01T21:21:00.003-05:00

I'm expecting time for a yarn-related post tomorrow, so stay tuned!
In the meantime-
Tama has tagged me with this word meme, let's see how I do!

WHAT IS YOUR NAME: Heather

4 LETTER WORD: Honk

VEHICLE: Hummer

TV SHOW: Hannah Montana (my brother thought of that one!)

CITY: Houston

BOY NAME: Henry

GIRL NAME: Hailey

OCCUPATION: Housewife

SOMETHING YOU WEAR: Hat

FOOD: Ham

SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM: Hand mirror (does that count?)

REASON FOR BEING LATE: Honking drivers

SOMETHING YOU SHOUT: Help!!!
Oh, and people to tag:
It's time for me to go to bed, so if you wanna do this, you're in, if not, you're out.
Good night.

My Day In Pictures

2008-04-23T17:25:00.007-05:00

Regarding the lace project: I didn't finish it, not even close. Will frog the several inches I did, since I misunderstood the pattern, as I so often do, and try again after life has settled down.
My brother's birthday went well. He got all sorts of cool sharp things to play with (seriously!) so I guess that's a sign he's growing up. He wants a black cape, and has given me time to make it past his birthday, especially since I don't have that kind of yarn right now. A guy friend at school wants a black cape too; not sure when I'll fit that in...I have plenty of other projects in my head, I hope to have a list tomorrow.
So. How was my day?
Well,
I went to school,

Made a lot of progress on my skirt (should be done by the end of the week)

(this was earlier than today) spun up all of that lovely silk, still deciding what to do with it,

When I got home, I:
Admired my new T-shirt (we all needed nicknames on the back, if you recall, my initials are HAH...my favorite that I know of is "Suspence" for a guy friend-not the same one who wants the cape; his name's Spencer...)

Played my cello

Now, instead of doing this:

I should be doing this:

Which is hard homework, but I'm rewarding myself with this:

I see lots of bitty knitted items in my future!(smiles)

As my dad would say, hasta lasagna!

Stop Everything!

2008-04-14T20:07:00.004-05:00

This is the second post in two days! Let's look at some yarn to celebrate!
Yay!
Now, you may be wondering where I got this lovely yarn. Why, the Party 300!
If you don't have a Ravelry account (and if you don't, go over there and sign up, NOW!) you won't be able to see this link. Party 300 was a raffle of sorts in the Teen Knitters and Crocheters group. It was lots of fun--I can't wait for the group to reach another milestone.
Anyway, one of the prizes was this fine yarn in the colorway "Into the Mystic". It's a beautiful purple, with overtones of red and deeper purple; I'm not sure how it looks on your screen.
The kind donator of this wonderful yarn was a Kris from Sonny and Shear. Fantabulous yarn over there, make sure and check it out!!
Now that my drooling is over, what am I going to use this great yarn for, might you ask?
Why, this lovely vest from the Spring 2008 copy of Interweave Knits! I was really looking forward to wearing something substantial knitting wise to a cello recital I'm playing in (I'm quite awful; if you're anywhere nearby northern Illinois around 2:00 central, be sure to plug your ears). My mom has made an unofficial bet with me that I couldn't get this done by Saturday.
I do love a challenge, and I have a free period on Tuesday and Wednesday at school this week-maybe I'll even knit in the cafeteria again.....
Perhaps this week I'll have a post a day, if only to keep ya posted!

In other business:
My lovely little brother, BowyerOyew, has started up a blog of his own, calling it Da bow spot. Could you give a little hello for me? Thanks.
(Oh yeah, and guys? I kinda lost 1/2 of the green yarn for his birthday present....anybody have any suggestions on what I can make with a skein of grey Cascade 220 and around 100 yards of alpaca green yarn? Thanks.)

Hello, World!

2008-04-13T17:25:00.004-05:00

I'm sure we're all tired of me apologizing for not posting, so from now on, I won't. But you know I'll be thinking it.
Well, as you can guess, I've knitted enough mini sweaters for an army of Polly Pockets. If anybody has any funny way of setting them up as a gift, it would be appreciated, since these are going to my teachers as end-of-the-year presents. The winner so far is tied between putting it on a pencil with a head-eraser, and calling it a pinkie finger puppet stress reliever. :)
Here's the pattern:
Pattern for Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Little Sweater For To Knitty:
Needles: US size 5, any small size will do.
gauge: negligible
yarn: 20 yards sock weight, but I'm being very liberal on this

Body (front and back knitted as one piece)
CO 10 sts
Work 3 rows in k1, p1 ribbing
8 rows st st
k 3 sts, k2tog, turn work
p4 sts. turn work
k2 sts, k2tog, ssk across the "valley" that was created, leaving enough yarn to sew in the neck at the end, k3.
p 4
ssk, k2
p3, m4 across chasm, p3
work in st st as many rows as needed till, when folded over, head hole looks presentable and needle is even with beginning of ribbing
work 3 rows in k1, p1 ribbing
BO all sts

Sleeves (make two)
CO 10 sts
work 2 rows in k1, p1 ribbing
knit in st st 10 rows
BO all sts

Fold sleeves over with right side in and sew them up, then sew them to body (with right side in). Sew loop around v neck, sew sides of body together, turn right side out.
You're done!

With the leftovers from the mini sweaters (which totals at least 400 yards), I'm trying to make a skirt for myself. I have a garter stitch waistband (with a little hole for elastic, which is definitely going to be needed). It's going to be made completely in ribbing, except for a little bumpy thing on the hem, inspiration from the edging on the FO below.

Remember those wristlettos?
Well, they only took me two days to make. The yarn is (literally) corny-somehow made from fiber you can get from a corn plant. It's handspun; I got the fiber from the Fold.
At the end of Thursday, I had wristletto one,

and at the end of Friday, wristletto two!

As for current spinning, it's some Gypsy Girl silk!
I'm halfway done, hoping the resulting yarn will be more stripy than one single yellow, one single blue. Not sure what I'm going to make with it yet; I have this idea for a sweater/shrug thingy...drawings to come!

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny...

2008-03-29T18:05:00.008-05:00

....little sweaters for to knitty! (Hah, took me a while to come up with that!)
This is the yarn I have finished for the mini sweaters for my teacher's end of the year presents. I already have three done, two more to sew up. It's really nice to have some quick projects for a change; I knitted two up in one movie!
As you can see, they're larger than my prototype, but no biggie. They're still cute 'n' tiny, as you can see by how bitty they are compared to my lipstick (from the musical, I'm feeling a tad nostalgic).
I am sure I will have plenty of this yummy yarn left over, which means I'll be making something else for yours truly:
Wristlettos/Anklettos! I can't wait to start them; they'll be my first accessory in a while, other than socks. They'll be quite fun to knit (and wear!) at school.
Before I start anything for myself, however, I need to start my little brother's birthday present. He's a real gamer, so I'm going to make a relatively old pattern from Knitty: bmp socks. I'll be using this yarn I just got from this cool yarn shop right by my grandmother's.The grey is Cascade 220, and it'll be the background, whereas the green (which is actually multicolored-each single is a different shade of green) will be the little bad guys and high score and such.
I have simultaneously cast on a get-well scarf for my science teacher. She joked about me making her a scarf last October or so, she even told me she liked navy blue. Since it was a half-joke, I didn't really consider to make one until recently. I got some mercenized cotton, and am making her a simple cotton scarf with an edging of border lace. I'm running out of yarn, however--I probably should have gotten two skeins of the stuff--oh, well. I now have an excuse to go to my grandma's again!

It's Done!

2008-03-22T21:21:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the slanted photos...

The edge keeps on folding inward-andy suggestions?

(there's the back-you can see the color variation)

It doesn't fit as well as I wanted, in the body or the sleeves, but I got the look I was looking for-it looks nice, no?

Brrrr!

2008-03-21T14:56:00.006-05:00

Well, it's the second day of spring. I left school with only my fleece windbreaker on. Now? It looks like this outside.Ick.

Well, at least I have some knitting and spinning I can get done. I don't have any school today or next week for "spring" break. I might get my cardigan done by the end of the week!

can you see the "wave" that I see in the ruffles from this angle?

The sleeves are already done, and I'm at the armholes with the body, which is being knit in one whole piece. I did a lot of knitting during school this week, since we didn't have much to do, it being the week before spring break and all. If I don't get this thing finished by the end of break, I'm not going to bring it to school. It's getting a tad bulky.
I'm having lots of fun with this. There's these really cool color variations popping up all over, like this:

I'm also getting some spinning done. 2 thirds done (above)

This is a silk/merino blend I got on my birthday. I'm thinking of making little sweaters (example picture at the end of the post) and giving them to my teachers at the end of the year, maybe with some sort of design on them depending on the teacher. I also might knit some for the teachers who helped out in the play. We'll see how much yarn this'll make.

3rd third (above)

In light of no school next week, I'll see if I can post more often. Who knows? Maybe I really will get 10 posts by the end of the month!

Oh, and whoever is hiding the second ball of yarn for my favorite socks? Can you get it to me ASAP? Sock 1 is getting lonely, and I won't be able to bear its sadness much longer before I crack and see if I can get another skein.

Take A Deep Breath...

2008-02-27T20:36:00.007-06:00

***Note: This post was written on the 11 or 12 of March, not in Feburary. Just thought you might want to know.***
...because the Play is officially over! It was pretty freaky and hectic, but I lived through it, and I can say I'm the stronger because of it.
I feel like I have 50 new brothers and sisters. They are all so kind, it's really cool.
What was great was that all of the people who got the leads were really nice, kind people-it was fun putting them in the spotlight. It was especially entertaining when the main female lead came into the dressing room one night with a KNITTED scarf that she had made HERSELF!! I was so proud. Her boyfriend (who was the main male lead) took one look at me with my knitting on closing night and shook his head. "You're a real trooper, you know that? A real trooper," was all he said.
Good times.
Now, back to knitting.
I have the fantastic purse that I got as a sort of kit from my grandmother on Christmas-she bought me the wooden handles and everything. The color is a deep maroon-I didn't really like the yarn, it was itchy and a little too thick for my taste, but it made a pretty cool purse.
I am also spinning on and off this all-American roving I got from the Fold for my birthday. It's really pretty.
I also have had a change of plans. You know that blanket I wanted to make out of all that dyed superwash? And that yarn I bought off the internet that I wanted to make socks out of? Well, those two projects are now one. And that project is neither a blanket or socks; it's a cardigan.
I'm going to hold the handspun with the white yarn together, size 6 needles. Hopefully, I'll have enough to make the cardigan go past my hips to add a bit of style. I'm also planning on having ruffles (like in the skirt) on the cuffs and bottom of the body, as well as a ribbed collar.
With some help from the most recent Interweave Knits, it's designed. Let's just see if I can make it work!
Here's a sleeve already done:
I'm also a ways with the second sleeve.Sorry for being abrupt; I have some homework to do!
Hopefully, I'll get in the double digits with the number of posts I do this month.

In Which I Crawl Out Of My Black Hole Long Enough To Make This Post

2008-02-22T21:17:00.009-06:00

WARNING: I AM TIRED. THIS POST, WHILE LONG, IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE CRAZY AND POSSIBLY MIGHT NOT MAKE ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER.

And then I'll be gone again for the next two weeks.
Blame The Play. The Play has taken over all waking hours of my day. Wednesday of this week, I had to get up at 4:00 in the morning because of The Play. The Play haunts my dreams, as well (or at least, the people in it do). Fear not, however; The Play will leave in two weeks time, and I'll be able to relax more.
And I still want to do all of this next year.
Can you say crazy? (as in, Crazy for You, the musical we're doing)

Well, now for some actual knitting.

Look!

I made a mushroom!
What do you think? Too corny-or is it mushroomy? (can you tell I'm getting tired?)
Well, I had fun making it.
I also finished the socks for my darling little brother. Thank goodness for that-the yarn was starting to get to me. I've gotta pick out happy, bright colors next time.

And that's why I did this!
I am completely and totally in lurve with this yarn. I have gotten more comments on this yarn than any other yarn that has been KIS. These colors make me very happy-just like the time I painted my toenails red.

This guy was finished in English today. I was so delighted, I put it on right then and there and did anything but shove it in my friend's face:
ME: "Look, Paige! I made a sock! And it fits! Isn't that great?"
*as "guy friend"/rubiks cube expert looks on* PAIGE: "That's great, Heather...why don't you go make another one now?"
Ah, well. *note: she's a great person, Paige. The statement above was said in kindness-I don't think Paige has ever said a mean thing in her life.

I also finished spinning the yarn for the blanket-knitting it will be the next step, but only after this weekend's crazy assignment: knitting a mitochondrian. (follow the link-warning: science content!)

And now, seeing as three people (Sarah from Mom's Knitting, Kaya from Sisterly Knits, and FiberFiend6891 from RAchel's RAmblings) tagged me on this, 7 random facts about me!

1. I get up at 5:30 every morning to catch a bus at 6:20 for school, which starts at 7:30. Logic? What's this you say about logic? I don't believe I've heard the term before. (I can hear you mothers out there-no, I don't usually go to bed at 10. This is just because it's a weekend and I wanted this on the internet before I went to bed.)

2. I don't have a boyfriend, but boys don't go below my notice. I have lots of guy friends, and have had several crushes (one crush at a time).

3. Unless I'm really really quiet, I can't sing. Any louder than a few decibels and I sound screechy and horrible and just...uugh.

4.Seriously? The only people who understand me well know how to knit.

5. I enjoy being called a knitting/yarn freak. (who doesn't?)

6. Without knitting, some days I would feel like I haven't accomplished anything. The reverse can also be true.

7. My little brother calls me Hee-duh. He's 11 years old and likes to be silly like that.

And I'll send this off to:
1. A Work In Progress
2. Gentle Sunset
3. Knittypants
4. The Twisted Hare
5. Tinky McFrog
6. Mad For Knitting
7. The Knits Of A Teen

The first appearance of The Play is next Thursday. I'll try to check in, but you know teenagers!

Oh, yeah, and for those of you counting at home?
I'm at 100 blog posts.

Good night, and have a great weekend!

The Longest Blog Post In The History Of Blog Posts

2008-02-04T17:50:00.000-06:00

I'm going to be bouncing all over today, so bear with me. I'll try to use the enter key a bit more often than I usually do, to stay organized.

I will also attempt to go a la 4th grade outlines. Let's see how this goes!

A. Spinning
1. I spun my first hand-combed blend!

a. It's very soft

b. It's a blend of angora, alpaca, and silk.

c. There isn't very much, but I had fun learning how to blend-this is going straight to my trophy-yarn pile!

d. Here's a picture of it!

Oooh fuzzy soooft!

2. Blanket Spinning

a. I got all of the single spinning done by the beginning of Februrary, but I am still plying

b. I have two balls of yarn already plied:

They look bigger in real life

c. I can't find the stick that connects the two parts of my niddy-noddy together, so I can't make skeins.

d. Just for kicks, here's my plying setup:So, yeah.

What's on the bobbins still

B. Knitting
1. I have my dad's socks done!

a. Here he is wearing them:

I used some extra white yarn, since I ran out of the sock yarn

b.The colorway was Ominous Skies, which is fitting, when you think that he's a water resourses manager (he studies storms)

c. The pattern was a simple plug-in-the numbers plan-I got mine from Spin-Off, but I'm sure there's on on Knitty.

d. He doesn't like how short they are, so next time, I'll get 300-400 yards for his socks!

2. I've started my brother's socks!

a. Here's my progress!

Just over the heel!

b. The colorway is Argyle Socks, it's a tad darker in real life than in the photo.

c. I'm using the same pattern as dad's socks (see B 1 c)

C. New Yarn!
1. It's from ebay
2. It's white

a. I'm planning on dyeing it

3. It's really thin, so I'm probably going to ply it.
4. Picture time!

17 hundred yards of merino goodness!

D. An Award? For Me?
1. It's called the "You Make My Day" Award
2. It looks like this:
3. aksunflower gave it to me
4. I'm going to give it to two people

a. UnusuallyHeather from Gentlesunset

b. And Sarah from The Knits Of A Teen

E. The End
1. Goodbye!

Does Anyone Else Feel Like It's Thursday?

2008-01-29T18:27:00.000-06:00

I'm barely into the week, yet I still feel like I haven't posted in at least seven days! Maybe my knit-picky (pun most certainly intended) self is beginning to make sure I post more by making time go faster.
Hey, I'm not complaining!

I have been knitting up a storm, which might account for feeling like every second is a minute....

I have successfully completed yet another pair of socks:
These are for Mom, but are on my feet, which explains why they might look a tad stretched.
It took me several tries to get the foot to be the right length; I am happy that they are finally done!

Now, it's on to Dad's socks!
He has a 11 inch foot--I'll be knitting for a while, although not as long as I thought I would be:

I've done all of this today, and I'll probably be doing a lot more tomorrow, as I have a Spanish test that I'm a tad worried about.

Aaaand spinning progress:
Getting closer! I might be able to achieve my goal of getting all of the spinning done by February!

Who Knows About Hydrocarbons? Raise Your Hand!

2008-01-24T17:58:00.000-06:00

That's what my science quiz tomorrow is about, so this is going to be quick--
Nothing new on the blanket front, but I did get some knitting done!
Ta Daaaa!
Bye-and if you didn't notice, the January 12th post was published yesterday....that one is a whole lot longer and has a whole lot more pictures!

I Can't Talk Now...

2008-01-15T18:30:00.001-06:00

I have finals tomorrow!
(edited: somehow, the most previous post is under this one, so keep on scrolling down!)

I'm Baaaack!

2008-01-12T13:36:00.000-06:00

And hopefully, I'll post more often in the future.
Thanks for your encouragement; I got good grades on all but one midterm, and the bad one didn't even knock me down a grade level, so I'm good and happy.
I have not one, not two, but two and a half, count 'em, two and a half, pairs of socks.
The socks I made from yarn I got from Christmas from a friend:They have afterthought heels, which I won't be doing again any time soon, but it was fun.
These are for me:
A little big, but they are comfortable.
Currently, I'm knitting my mom's present.
See? I already have a sock done!...and a quarter!
I got a $25 ebay gift card, which I hope (since the money goes through paypal) that I can use on etsy to get sock yarn for my friends' presents, and white yarn for a surprise (for you guys) project.
I am also getting some progress on my blanket:
This is the second third, FINISHED!!
And this is how far I am on the 3rd third.
I'm crossing my fingers on getting all of the spinning done by the end of the month.
Hopefully sometime next week I'll have some information about my brother and his recent introduction to the spinning world. (!!)

One More Day Until the New Year!

2007-12-31T13:18:00.000-06:00

So, I'd like to start out with a clean slate. Here's all of the things I've been planning on putting on this here blog, but haven't gotten around to it now. The finished hat, complete with a really sweet heart button: I'm planning on knitting this for myself in blue for when the weather gets warmer, in my "spare time".

The final third of roving for my blanket, which I dyed yesterday. You may not be able to tell by the picture, but it really is darker than the second third.

Aaaaand now, the amazing, the long anticipated.........BABY PICTURES!!! YAAAAY!!

I don't look this tired all of the time, seriously. The babies are cute, though, aren't they? I just melt every time I see them.
The hats I gave them turned out a tad too big; nothing a folded-up brim can't fix, thankfully.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Remember That Blanket? And Other Items To Reminise About

2007-12-27T18:55:00.001-06:00

You might recall the blanket that I am planning on dyeing, spinning, then knitting. Well, I am much farther along on it than I have let on. In fact, I am almost done with the second third!I also can now reveal something from the Fiber Chic vault: the super secret presents I worked on in October, November, and December. I knit a pair of Knucks, one pair for each of my three best friends. Here they are, in all of their glory:Remember how I said I'd give you cute pictures of babies in my next post? Well, that didn't work too well, did it? The problem is, when I got to play with my little friends last Thursday, I forgot my camera. BBR and BGR's mom, however, came to the rescue and took a bunch of pictures. So, once she emails those pictures to me, you will get baby goodness, I promise.

Clarification

2007-12-20T20:10:00.000-06:00

I just reread this post, and I realised: I am turning into a real, honest-to-goodness teenager. I have way too many capitalized letters, exclamation points, and starry things in my writing. *GASP!!!!!!!!!*

Know when I wrote that last post? All of that stuff that I didn't even have the yarn for yet? THAT was my Christmas list of things to knit. Therefore, I did NOT have even close to my Christmas list done. Sorry for instilling misplaced anger in anyone at me for having everything done already. Truth is, I was WAY behind. I guess I should have been a little more clear on that.
Now, however, I have almost everything done.(Yay!)
Sooo, may I introduce, the A-mazing, the IN-credible, FINISHED OBJECTS!!!!

(*Insert Cheering Here*)

This is the cotton hat for that good friend in California. As you can see, there isn't any cool, funky button on it. That's because I don't have the button--yet. Perhaps this will be her New Year's Present, yes?

John's missing Christmas present and I have been reunited at long last, and everyone is happy that it is back--even Mister Green Fox! (What? You can't see the absolute delight and joy on his little carved face? I guess not...)

Last but not least, these are BBR and BGR's Christmas presents from me. The blue one was started last night, and was finished 4th period today. The pink one was cast on shortly after that, and was done by 8th period. In light of the holiday break approaching, our teachers obviously gave us a lot of down time.

The reason for my hurry? I was going to see the twins next door today, after play practice. However, practice was late, so I was not able to visit *sob*. I wasn't able to stop over on Tuesday, either--the other day I usually help out. But don't fret! You'll have adorable pictures of babies in hats before 8:00 tomorrow, I promise.

Now, for two interesting websites:
How to you woo the love of your life using just a semester of Spanish? Watch here.

Want to improve your vocabulary and help people in third world countries have food? You can play this fun game!

A Long Put-Off Post

2007-12-15T09:05:00.001-06:00

Answers to the problems I had last post are highlighted.
Well. I've got a lot of catching up to do.
-I have to clean the gerbil cage,
-memorise (well, actually study) 20 lines of Shakespeare,
-figure out where I put my brother's and my dad's presents --which are knitted bow and long ties, respectively, since I didn't think I had enough handspun to double it back into fingerless gloves for my brother--
-get yarn for the babies (I'm making them hats, not sure of the pattern yet)
-and yarn for the friend (I do know what pattern, not what yarn)

I also started socks in this pattern, just as a relaxing complicated pattern, if that makes sense-it's Slippery Socks, a pattern by a TEEN KNITTER! I hope someday I could get into Knitty....You can't really see the colors, but it's pinks and reds

Hasta luego!

The Play Is Fun..

2007-12-05T16:49:00.000-06:00

..but December is upon us. It's Christmas/Hannakah/Kwanza/New Year/Holiday knitting time!
This is my list of things to do before I got to bed tonight (yes, I only have a couple hours to do all of this):

1)Update blog (I'm doing that now, see?)

2)Check everyone else's blogs (If I haven't gotten to you yet, it means I've skipped this to do less important things such as sleeping and breathing in between other things on the list. I promise I'll catch up by Friday)

3) Study for science and math tests that are on Friday.

4) Decide what hat pattern for a friend of my moms--She lives in California and likes the color purple, so it needs to be a pattern thats a little more on the summery side... Ideas?

5) Decide what I'm going to do for BBR and BGR. They tried on their sweaters the other day and were SO CUTE in them...I don't have a picture, but at their mother's disgression and when the sweaters fit a little bit better, I might post one! Ideas are welcome in this department, as well.

6) Wrap the super secret presents--I'll be giving them to their owners on Saturday, which means pictures of them wearing them Monday...

7) Figure out what to give my little brother. The yarn I spun for the fingerless gloves is WAY too thin, it won't work, and I don't have any good store-bought yarn to use. Help!

8) Practice cello for at least 15 minutes

Hope your days aren't as hectic as mine!

I Got In The Play!

2007-11-27T20:16:00.000-06:00

...and I also have a FO that isn't super secret!

Look, I even have pictures!

This was just a simple garter stitch scarf using the leftover yarn from Mom's scarf. I still have plenty left over, maybe I'll save it as memory yarn.

Now, you're probably wondering about the play. I am a Follies Girl, who won't wear as.....interesting as an outfit as the ones the Follies Girls wear in the movie Crazy For You (that's the name of the musical, by the way).

As for NaNoWriMo, it's doomed, at least for this year. I have 10k words, and I will work on it from time to time, but (obviously) not in time for the end of the month. Hey, I had fun!

Nervous Energy

2007-11-24T14:10:00.000-06:00

I didn't have any school this week for Thanksgiving break, but the Wednesday before that, we had the tryouts for the play my school is doing. During and after the tryouts, I suddenly had to knit. That's the knitting I did in just two days. I'm picking up on it again today, as we find out who gets in and who gets out-wish me luck!

Progress...

2007-11-13T10:05:00.000-06:00

Spinning progress, that is.

I am more than halfway done with the first third of the roving for my blanket. (So how many ounces have I done? You don't have to answer that....)

This is what I have left to spin of the first third. There is no more room on the bobbin, so I am now working on the yarn for my brother's fingerless gloves, which is taking up a bobbin.

However, I have only 10,000 words in NaNoWriMo--must go write now!

Pictures and A Meme

2007-11-07T19:06:00.000-06:00

Well, here's the socks:

As you can see, one heel was knit differently than the other-I misread the instructions for the first sock--oops! Then when I got to the heel on the second sock, I didn't remember how I made the first heel, so I couldn't even copy the first to look like the second!
Of course, it's not a big deal. Now I know when I knit socks, I should completely ignore SSS at all costs and make the second sock right after the first-at least I'll remember how I made a mistake in the first sock, so I can have socks that look more or less alike.
As for knitting progress..Zip. Zilch. Nada.
Now, for the meme
7 Random Things About Me:
1) My first pet was a newt. We didn't know its gender. At first, we called it Curious George, but then I read something about how the size of a newt tells the gender, we decided it was a girl. The name was changed to Curious Georgina, or GG.

2) My first knitting project was neckwarmers for some friends I had in a retirement home. I got six done in four-five months!

3) I knitted with mainly acrylic yarn for at least five or six years before I realized there was nicer yarn for just a little more

4) I learned to knit on circular knitting needles (they were the only ones Grandma had on hand)

5) Before I knitted, I did a lot of hand sewing-didn't get very good at it, though.

6) When I was born, the two names that were tossed back and forth was Sarah and Heather.

7) My initials spell HAH (on purpose) My dad thought that was hilarious-my mom didn't notice till I was a couple years old.

Now, for the NaNoWriMo update...
I have written 6,843 words-I should be on 10,000 by now. What with life, school, cello, eating and sleeping, I haven't found much time to write. I've changed my goals so that my personal goal is 30,000-40,000 words. I may not win NaNoWriMo, but I will get a lot of writing done. Perhaps next year, I'll try for the gold!

UFOctober Wrap-Up

2007-11-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

In light of Tinky McFrog's final contest, here is what I have accomplished in the month of October:

Before UFOcober:
-Get Mom's scarf done
-Knit 3 "Super Secret" presents for friends for Christmas
-Finish my "Cut Your Teeth" socks
-Exception: work on dyeing and spinning my blanket

After UFOctober:
-Finished Mom's scarf
-Knit 2 of the 3 "Super Secret" presents for friends for Christmas
-I did not finish the socks, but I did get far enough that I finished them last night! Yay! (pictures to come when I'm not 1,000 words behind in NaNoWriMo
-Exception: I dyed 2/3 of the roving, and began to spin the first third

So, there you go. In my (humble) opinion, I really enjoyed UFOctober and I hope I can do it next year as well!

My NaNoWriMo word count so far is 3,594 words. Seeing as it's the third day, I'm not too worried about being 1,000 words behind, but I probably should be working on it anyway! See ya!

I Found The DPN...

2007-10-31T16:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Halloween!(turn your sound on after you click "done"...)

Off to finish homework, then knitknitknitknitknitknit..
NaNoWriMo starts tomorrow-oh goody!

I Should Be Knitting Right Now...

2007-10-30T17:21:00.000-05:00

But I can't.

As you can see, I'm getting along with my sock. Not as far as I'd like, but I'm getting there.

"Why aren't you knitting right now, then?" you might ask. Well, it's because of this:

At first glance, this picture just looks like another one of the progress I've made. It takes new meaning when I tell you one startling bit of news: the dpns in this picture are the only size US 0 dpns I own. In other words, I have lost a size US 0 dpn. I can't knit anymore until I

A) Get more dpn, or

B) Find the lost dpn

Unfortunatly, Option B isn't possible, as I lost the needle at school, somewhere. Guess it's a trip to Michaels for me!

End Of (UF)October Rush

2007-10-25T16:30:00.000-05:00

I only just realized yesterday that the end of October is in a week-and I don't have my socks done yet!(That would be my second sock-cast on this morning!)
So I'll be knitting like crazy to try and get one more WIP in the FO pile before this cool game called UFOctober is over.
I am also working on my exception for UFOcober, my blanket. This is how far I am on spinning the first third of my roving:The color is a bit brighter than that...but you get the idea.
I'm hoping to get all of the spinning for my project done by the end of this year, then actually do the knitting bit next year-think I can make it?

The really observant of you readers can see I have a new button on my sidebar for some strange thing called NaNoWriMo. November is National Novel Writing Month. The challenge? Try to write a 50,000 word novel just in the month of November-no later, and no earlier. The cool people over there have this website where you can keep track of the number of words you have done, meet other people who are working under the same self-imposed stress as you are. I'm gonna try and do it, so if my posts get more erratic and less often than they usually are, that's why.

I have been planning my story (which is allowed before November starts, thank goodness), and it's turning out pretty good. I can't wait for October to end so I can start it for real!
But first, I should really get that sock done.....

Yes, I Am Alive (Part 2)

2007-10-20T18:10:00.000-05:00

WARNING: VERY LONG POST!!
Hello, everyone. I couldn't find the cable that lets the camera talk to the computer-turns out it was on a shelf, right where it is supposed to be when it's not in use. Who'da thunk that?
A library friend of mine asked me to do a review for her blog, and I agreed. You can peek over there and say hello, if you want.

Today, we'll discuss my dyeing venture-I used McCormic blue food coloring, but didn't quite keep track of how many drops I put in-I do have a general recipe I tried to go by, though. (Inspiration from Knitty's Color To Dye For by Julie Theaker--I didn't completely follow her instructions) The wool is superwash from The Fold.I first divided the 1lb roving into 5 1/3 skeins.
For the first third, I let it soak for about 15 minutes in water and 1/3 cup of vinegar. I then transferred it to an aluminum pot, covered it almost completely in water, and put the heat on the stove at medium. I then mixed my dye.
Dye Recipe:
1) In a plastic cup, pour 2/3 cup of water
2) Put 8 drops of food coloring into the cup
3) Microwave for about 15 seconds, or until the temperature of the dye is around 120 degrees
I then poured the heated mixture over the heating roving, trying to be relatively even. I used around 4 of these mixtures, moving the roving around with the end of a cooking thermometer to make sure I didn't miss any parts.
However, I ended up with deep blue spots (below), which isn't necessarily bad, just not what I expected.I let it "cook" for about an hour, then let it cool till it I could hold it.
After squeezing out all of the water, rinsing the extra dye out, and hanging it up to dry for a night , I had a blue speckled roving!
The fiber had kinda matted together, so I predrafted it before I began to spin it.
For the second third, I let it soak like before, but without the vinegar, and just for 10 minutes or so. I also added 4 or 5 drops of food coloring to the water before I put the roving in the soak. I then let it cook for longer than an hour, and with only 2-3 helpings of the poured dye. The roving was so hot, I let it cool overnight, then squeezed out all of the water, rinsing the extra dye out, and hung it up to dry the next night. The result? A 100% pale blue roving! The roving is more the color of the above photo than the below.When it came to the matting factor, I had the same problem with the second roving as the first. There is an obvious difference between the dried just-out-of-the-dye roving (right part of your screen) and its predrafted counterpart (left).
Well, I'm done rambling for now.
¡Buenas noches y hasta luego!

Tries and Retries

2007-10-16T18:25:00.000-05:00

I got a pound of superwash which I am planning on dyeing for my blanket/shawl thingy! Unfortunately, Blogger isn't happy with me right now, so you'll just have to imagine a picture of a pound of white superwash roving, divided into thirds.
(Yes, we got to the fiber store on Saturday, this isn't some part of my stash I haven't told you about...) I'm planning on dyeing it with food coloring today and tomorrow, and spin some of it on Saturday at my 4-H meeting. We're going to have an hour to work on our projects for next year-whew! We barely have time for breath in between years!
Now, before everyone starts wagging fingers at me for starting a project when it's supposed to be UFOctober and all, this is going to be my ONLY exception. I want a little break from my *wonderful* super-secret presents.
I did finish the second super-secret present, but through some freak of nature, one half of the present (which is supposed to look exactly like the other half) is significantly smaller. Why I didn't notice this as I was knitting it, don't ask me. I think it might have had something to do with the fact that I tried to take some twist out of the yarn before I knitted the second half, thereby making that half thinner and shorter. Whoops!
Well, perhaps Blogger will let me post some pictures of my dyeing tomorrow!

Yes, I Am Alive...

2007-10-11T17:55:00.000-05:00

And yes, I have been knitting. Unfourtunatley, it's nothing blog-allowable. I'm close to finishing the 2nd super-secret project, so I will soon have knitting to be able to show you!

In the meantime...

I have been doing a bit of spinning! The white is some wool I did during a spinning demonstration at this museum fall party. The orangey-red is, as all of you recognise, from Mom's scarf. I have some extra silk, so I figure I can make a skein of 50% wool, 50% silk.

Obviously I have a ways to go on the silk-it's a bit harder to take a spinning wheel to school, and with the craziness after school, I don't really have time to spin--I'm lucky to have this much done! I guess this is another UFO I can work on!

4 tests/quizzes tomorrow--oh goody!

UFOcober, Day 8

2007-10-08T12:11:00.000-05:00

I have another WIP going into the FO pile!
Unfortunately, it's one of those "super secret" gifts-and now, I'm working on a second "super secret" gift, using the same pattern, different yarn. (I'm considering my "super secret" gifts WIP, because I have already bought the yarn and I want to have them done soon so that I don't have to worry about not getting them done..)
I also would like to finish my socks.
My plan? I'll let myself start working on my second sock after the second "super secret" project is done.
I realise that on my knitting to-do list I have my blanket before finishing the socks, but I currently don't have the roving to dye or spin, so I'm in limbo for that project. In UFOcober it's my exception, and starting it in earnest will be my reward after all of my WIP are done.
I seem to use the carrot-in-front-of-head tactic quite often...
Now if you excuse me, I am off to study--and after that, I can sit in the rocking chair, listen to a new book tape and knit!

A FO!

2007-10-06T19:42:00.000-05:00

Yep!
I have something actually done!
True, it's done before #2 is finished (my super-secret presents for my close friends), but at least I have something to cross off my list, especially since I've joined Heather T's UFOctober!
Neat button, yes?
I am not sure how to add this to my sidebar, so if anyone has tips, I'm all ears! (UPDATE: I now have UFOctober on my sidebar! Thanks Janet!)
The pattern I ended up picking was doing the "fire" design for 20 inches, regular garter stitch for 17 inches, then the "fire" design again for another 20 inches. It turned out to be the perfect length to either throw around your shoulder, or folding it in half and feeding the two ends through the hole you end up with (does that make sense? I hope I'm not confusing anyone-I'll have pictures of the "styles" I'm talking about soon!)
Meanwhile, we've been cleaning up the old stasharoo here at Spin, Knit, Purl and be Happy-it's been tough, but I've been giving up a lot of yarn-acrylic, itchy stuff mostly, but hey, it's yarn, and it's been mine, at least for a while... :-(
I was surprised at the number of bitty little balls I have collected over the years. Dad had a big plastic tub that used to hold pretzels, so we're collecting all of the balls in there, as it's fun to look at each ball and remember the project it was used for...
I hope it's not weird how I have kept the little strings, some not even a foot long (that little yellow ball in the middle is one of them). Any one else out there who does this?!
While some people may hoard pictures or write in a journal to remember what they've done and what they were thinking, I have little balls of yarn. They remind me of the projects I have done, which I guess you could say gives me a little encouragement.
Come on, don't tell me you wouldn't feel good about yourself if you put all your mini balls of yarn into one place and you saw you had enough leftover yarn from completed projects to practically fill a pretzel jar. I'm sure you'd be as proud as I am now.
I'm willing to bet some of you have already done this!
(please? someone? anyone?)

Ravelry Really Is a Black Hole

2007-10-01T16:29:00.000-05:00

-but a good black hole. One that's filled with yarn and friends.

Well, I got half of my homework done Friday before I succumbed to my curiosity. Then, about 500 clicks later, it was time for bed. Ravelry is like a MySpace (which I am not, and will ever be, affiliated to)for knitters, crocheters, spinners and dyers. I absolutely love it!

I am in a group for Teen Knitters-simply wonderful! It's so good to know there are people my age who are as crazy about yarn as I am. (Hi Sarah!)

I have a question for those "in the know.."

How do you interface your blog into your "About Me" page? I have teenspinyarn.blogspot.com/ in the little box that says URL, but I don't have anything in the RSS feed box, and I'm not sure what I should put in there...Any ideas?

Meanwhile, in the actual-knitting department...

I'm still stitching away on Mom's Phoenix Tears scarf. I didn't find the proper yarn for the "feathery" part, so I'm just going with the silk.

You can see on the left where the fire part ends and the garter stitch bit begins. There is also a much redder part right where I'm knitting. It seems I spun some parts with more white than others, which is making a sort of stripey effect. Neat!

I think I might change the pattern so that there's a fire part on both sides, and a garter-stitch strip in the middle. I just can't imagine my mom with lots of frills and fuzzy stuff on her accessories. She doesn't wear style scarves much anymore. I've seen pictures of her when she was in her teens/just out of college, and she wore a lot of simple, smooth scarves. I sorta want this scarf to go with that theme.

Off to post on Ravelry!

OH MY GOSH!

2007-09-28T18:08:00.001-05:00

I just checked my email, and what did I find? Take a wild guess.
Yep. (!!!!!!)
Of course, this is the weekend where I have homework, and I have a playdate with some little friends, and I was planning on going to my LYS for secret yarn and Phoenix Scarf yarn, and I was going to give you all a list of my plans for this weekend....
But I can't, because I had tap right after school, so I need to work on my homework before doing anything more, and I promised myself I would go to sleep early tonight because getting up at 5:30 every morning takes its toll on you.....so it looks like no Ravelry for me this weekend!
WAAAAAH!
I'll live (somehow...)
Now, just a few pictures I've been meaning to post (you should be able to click for a bigger picture)...
My spanking-new tap shoes (another !!!!!):
The "fire" part of the Phoenix Tears Scarf:
Aaand the spinning I did at school today-everyone was just delighted to watch the whorl go round and round and round...

A Random Ball of Green Handspun, Plus a Random Pair of Knitting Needles = ?

2007-09-25T18:59:00.000-05:00

A random hair tie!
Last week was Homecoming week at my school-each day was a different time period. During 50s day (I think), I knitted up this little number-(With a little bit of guess-and-check, I took this picture myself!)
The pattern is really easy, so I'll put it here:
Row 1:CO 1 st
Row 2:k through the f&b of st
Row 3:k through the f&b of first st, k to end
Row 4:K all sts
Rep from row 2 however many times until 8 sts on needle, then do garter st till piece measures three times the length of your face.
*Next row: K2tog, k to end
Next row: K2tog, k to end
Next row: K all sts
Rep from * until there is just one st left-fasten off.
Cut string, weave in loose ends, and proudly wear!

PS: Thanks to Debolsollo for advice on my Spanish (I got that right on my test too; how could I have forgotten since then?!), and to Tama, Janet and Sarah for the Phoenix scarf yarn ideas-I just need to get to a LYS soon to get the yarn! :)

Lookie what I Got!

2007-09-24T20:36:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, DM and I went to a guild meeting, and one of the ladies there was selling the wool which her Rambouillette sheep had grown the past year. Well, I can't pass any spinning fiber, so I got this:
The darker colored roving is actually a bit more brown than black...I'm thinking of making some Knucks for my little brother for Christmas. The last time I made gloves for him, they kinda ended up a bit wonky. I hope this pattern works better! :)
Speaking of presents, I finished Mom's yarn for her scarf-I have finished the fire part of the Phoenix, but I am not sure how to go on. Should I add a fuzzy fiber for the feathers, or just let it be only silk and continue on? I'm leaning toward the adding a fuzzy yarn, but I don't really have any fuzzy yarn in the stash that goes with the orange, pink, yellow and red in the yarn. Hmmmmm....
And now, a Ravelry update!

Found you!
You signed up on July 19, 2007
You are #18748 on the list.
1285 people are ahead of you in line.
17140 people are behind you in line.
48% of the list has been invited so far.

Hoy es martes, el veinte y cinco, de septiembre del dos mil siete.
Spanish speakers out there: Did I write that right?

Short Post Today, SUPER Long Post Tomorrow...

2007-09-21T20:25:00.000-05:00

Hi all-
I promise to have knitting and spinning content tomorrow-too late today, and I have a friend returning from a long trip who is visiting right now (Hi B!)
UPDATE: Uh, yeah....I sorta ran out of time to post yesterday....I've learned my lesson to making promises you can't keep. How about I promise to post three times in the next week? That sounds do-able......

Distractions, Distractions

2007-09-18T18:22:00.001-05:00

Seeing as I don't have any knitting or spinning to show you today, here's some pictures of my gerbils, Annie (golden colored one) and Artemas (black one). Enjoy!

"What's this strange metal thing doing in my nest?"

Artemas in shadows

Sleepy Annie

Artemas with my foot in the background...

Good night!

Que tal?

2007-09-16T18:32:00.000-05:00

Translation: "What's up?"
You're actually supposed to have a little accent on the e, and that weird upside-down ? thing in the beginning, but you get the idea...

That is probably what you all are thinking right now. I mean, I barely post once a week! What's wrong? Am I being attacked by wild bears, poked with my own knitting needles, tickled by my wonderful Spanish test tomorrow?

Alas, it's none of those things. I have gotten some knitting done, but it's super-duper Top Secret stuff. (AKA presents for friends who might be reading this blog right this second-you can't be too careful!)

However, I do have spinning that's not in a file with SECRET stamped all over it...

Please excuse the bad lighting... That is one silk cap, dyed and spun. I'll probably just regular-ply it with the other cap once it's done.

A personal goal this week is to post every day-let's see how I do!

Off to study Spanish- ¡Hasta luego!

And Now, There Are Two!

2007-09-12T17:07:00.001-05:00

Yep, I finished them-buttons and all!

The middle button on the boy's cardigan looks darker in the picture, but I promise you, it's not!

The boy's cardigan turned out a tad bigger, but not too bad.

The pattern: Daisy, from Knitty.

Adjustments: I did a different pattern for the sleeves:

CO 33, work in st st till piece measures 6-7 inches, or desired length, work dec. same as original pattern

(Make 2, obviously)

I just made the sleeves longer and thinner, nothing fancy-I hope they fit!

Now that I have Goal #1 off my list, on to Mom's scarf!

I dyed half of my silk with Cherry Kool Aid for the red, Orange Kool Aid for the, well, orange.

It looks a little scraggly, but hopefully nothing a little carding can't fix :)

Yay for Wednesdays!

So Close-

2007-09-08T15:51:00.000-05:00

-and yet so far.

As you can see from this shadowed picture, I have the body of BBR's cardigan finished, and one sleeve. The other is about halfway done. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it this weekend or next week. It would be nice to start a new project and check an old one off the list.

I don't have the yarn for the super secret projects for my friends, so I'll have to prep for the third project next: the Phoenix Tears Scarf.

I'm planning on using the silk caps that were off-limits until school starts. Remember? It will be only part of the project, though. The pattern asks for a ribbon yarn as well. Perhaps I'll get fabric to cut into strips, or maybe I'll actually buy some novelty stuff. I'm not sure yet. I could just do an interpretation of the pattern, and not use ribbon yarn at all!

It's a debate on whether or not to dye the caps and spin them, or spin the yarn and dye that. Either way, it would be fun to test out the dyeing technique for my blanket; granted, the blanket won't be out of silk, but still.

Now, for a Ravelry update:

You signed up on July 19, 2007
You are #18748 on the list.
7146 people are ahead of you in line.
12850 people are behind you in line.
36% of the list has been invited so far.

Last time we checked, there was 3,000 more people in front of me. I'm moving up!:)

Some Progress...

2007-09-06T18:28:00.000-05:00

Thank you all for your comments about my wave pattern. My blanket will probably be blue and have the design in yarn overs, with a pentagon or hexagon shape.
In the baby cardigan news: I finished the right front in school today, and am working my way up the back. No pictures today, but maybe tomorrow I'll have an actual post, with lots of words and pictures at the same time!
I have another poll, if you don't mind, could you answer it? Thanks!
Off to dinner-
Bye!

Just Pictures Today!

2007-09-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

TA DAH! I knitted this stitch too loosely-what should I do?
I have a really long foot-the sissors are regular size.
After ripping back... This is the design I'm planning for my blanket-I want to make sure you can tell what it is, so in the comments, could you please tell me what the pattern looks like to you?

Happy Labor Day!

2007-09-03T16:57:00.000-05:00

In light of not having school today, I did do some knitting-however, my camera doesn't seem to want to talk to the computer right now, so we'll just have to live with verbal explanations, won't we?

I found the blue yarn ball for my sock, and one sock is finished, and fits perfectly. However, its mate will have to be put on hold, as the yarn (not me, the yarn) forgot to make an edging for the cardigan, so I had to visit the frog pond for a while, but now I'm back on track.

Remember the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the summer?
Well, I've been updating them, and adding a few, but in recent weeks, I suddenly found I had a lot more projects than I have written in one place. So, seeing as my planned post (that was complete with pictures) has been ruined, today I will make a list of my knitting goals for the 2007-2008 school year. It is in order of when I plan on finishing them, not necessarily the order I plan on starting them! :)

1) Finish BBR's sweater and put buttons on both his and his sister's ALL DONE!!

2) Make presents for 3 close friends (No, I'm not even going to hint about what they will be-these WIP will be strictly off-blog until they are given to their recipients!)

3) Make a Phoenix scarf for my DM (I just got the book!)DONE!

4) Dye, spin, design and knit a blanket of my own creation. I am planning the design now, but will have to wait for the resources to start the spinning/dyeing. This will probably be a 4-H project.

5) Finish the "Cut Your Teeth" socks

6) Knit my own pants-4H project?

7) Knit socks in school colors using the Quidditch Socks pattern from Charmed Knits

8) Make two Sheldons for BBR and BGR-this doesn't have to be by this year. They probably won't be able to play with it or be cute with it till they're 2 or 3....
Thanks to Knittypants for her post on the cute turtles to introduce me to them!

Gosh

2007-09-01T09:27:00.000-05:00

I have another friend's birthday today, so here's a tribute to our wonderful "Puppet"!
I wanted to do yellow for the color of the font, but it was really hard to read. We'll just settle for orange, shall we?
Thank you for laughing, groaning, hugging, and talking with me. You are so kind and helpful, always with a smile and a positive perspective. I enjoy your company, and I'm sure E and S do, too.
Thanks for all of the times you explained to me the rules in basketball and volleyball, and for the times you showed me how to crochet.
How is your blanket coming along?
Thanks for going with the flow when I had the crazy idea to have a knitting/crocheting club in middle school. I liked it that you were willing to go out of your comfort zone and learn how to knit-you are always game for something new.
I appreciated that you missed some of chorus those days, just to be with the Package. Your caring and support is beyond compare. Your funny stories was how I got through some school days.
Happy Birthday, L!
How does Craft Night at the library sound?

Stolen Time

2007-08-29T16:56:00.000-05:00

I don't have much homework today, but the past few days have had lots of homework in various classes-I guess that since it's the middle of the week, the teachers are giving everyone a little break.
I'm happy about that. My knitting is happy, too!I am right at the heel, which is supposed to be blue. I'm searching for the blue ball of yarn-I had it Sunday, put it down...and it seems to have decided to wander off.
"Here, yarny yarn yarn.....I've got some needles that are missing you! Why don't you come back?"
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I've started a new project. Well, yes and no. Yes, I just cast on another project, but no, this isn't a new one. This is the friend to the pink cardigan I finished a week or so ago. I can't wait till they are both done, so that I put them next to each other and coo. However, the cardigans aren't the same as seeing the babies to which the jackets will soon be owned by.
I stopped by our neighbor's house, where the twins (which I will call Baby Girl R, or BGR and Baby Boy R, or BBR) were. When I came to help, both were asleep, with BGR drooling (but it was very cute drool). Their mother was holding BBR, and I got to hold him. I accidentally woke him up, and he fussed quietly until Mommy was within reach. He (and his sister) are so adorable-I can't wait to see the cardigans on them. However, I still need to get buttons for the pink one, and, as you can see, I have a lot to do on the boy cardigan.
And now, it's time for "School Conversations"
Several people observed that I would get suspended if I kept on bringing my knitting needles to school. (I haven't, and I've talked to several teachers about knitting, so I guess I'm safe!) Other people asked me to knit them sweaters, and one boy swore at me when I said I wouldn't be able to-but hey, it's just the life of a freshman knitter.
PS: I have a new addition to my sidebar-a poll. If you're reading this, could you answer the question? Thanks.

Oh, Wow

2007-08-24T17:34:00.000-05:00

It's Friday! Did you know that?
Yeah, OK, you probably do. Don't worry, I do too-but I can hardly believe it. First 3 days of school- gone. I hope the rest of the year doesn't go by quite as fast-I'll barely have time to study!
Today, I have a little thing for a friend of mine-(notice how it's purple? Huh? Huh?) :)
I have a really good friend who had a special day yesterday. Unfortunately, the power went out before I had the time to write this up, or even call!:( -sorry!
I wonder if she brought treats to school (we now go to different schools-we didn't last year).
I wonder how many people wished her "Happy Birthday!" (My minimum guess? 100-and that's not even close to all of the lives she's touched with her smile!)
I wonder when she's read this, how much homework she has tonight. Not too much, I hope.
I wonder how she's doing on her knitting, if the pillow I made her for Christmas last year hasn't lost all of its stuffing yet (if it has, I'll bring more stuffing and a needle and thread the next time I come over, kay?).
But what I wonder most of all is whether I've said "Thank you" enough times to cover the friendship I feel. I am so lucky, so blessed to have this wonderful girl as a friend. She's kind, loving, smart, supportive, attentive, happy-go-lucky, huggy, giggly, hyper, and a lover of mints.
Many happy returns, Sridivya!
You're a terrific friend!!

Coming Soon (aka when I get my homework done)-
How far did Fiber Chic get on her sock?
What were the responses to 4 tiny pointy sticks being gallivanted around the school?

Time For School!

2007-08-21T19:01:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, that is. I am going to be up at 5:00 am tomorrow to get all ready for my 6:20 bus time. Oh, goody.
One thing that is a real good thing-(please excuse the blurry picture...)I finished the girl baby sweater!
Well, I actually just got all of the knitted part done. I'm still debating what to put on for decorations...Initials? Stars? Flowers?
And above, you can see Sock #1. I finished spinning the yellow yarn today-it's a little thinner than I expected, but not too bad!
In the pattern, there's a ribbing just after the cuff, and you fold the cuff over the ribbing when you're done. I'll have quite a bit of time on the bus tomorrow to knit, so let's see how far I get!

Time For Laughter

2007-08-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

I was really looking forward to showing everyone a finished ball of yarn, ready for knitting for my socks, and saying how I can't wait to go and knit at Rain Day again this weekend....but I haven't even started plying yet.

Next week, perhaps?

So here's some shirts I found on the internet, featuring knitting. (Please note: some of the shirts/bags/magnets I found on the site were ones I didn't find appropriate for a 7-year-old, so therefore I didn't put them here. If you go farther than where I linked, there may be some weird stuff. I'm just showing you the safer jokes-and by safe, I mean REALLY safe.)
Here's the links:
This one I want!
Just knitters would get this joke..
Heh.
One of those things I'm suprised I didn't think of earlier
Ineresting...knitting does promote peace and love, so I guess it counts, right?
Ha
For the punks..
I'll never see road signs the same way again!
Have you knitted too much when you recognise the yarn?
Aaand one last link.
See you next week!

Yay!

2007-08-15T16:31:00.000-05:00

My homework is finally done.
I am the happiest person on Earth, as now I only have 5 work days left before school starts, and I can spend most of that time knitting, spinning, writing, and helping my dad with "Rain Day" on the weekend. Above is my finished 4 1/2 pages of answers for my science homework.
On the subject of school, here's one of my new notebooks-I usually get plain notebooks, but this year, this will be my Spanish notebook.Below is the body of the baby girl's sweater. I think I will block it before I finish the sleeves, that way, I'll have something to do while the sleeves are blocked.
I am still plugging away at my spinning for the socks. I still have a lot of roving to spin. It appears that this third spool will have a bit more thread than the other two, but you never know!

I'm Off!

2007-08-10T08:28:00.000-05:00

My family and I are going on a little road trip to Springfield, to help with a tent called "Rain Day" my dad is setting up at the fair, so I can't talk long--
I got one homework question done, and I have the back and right side of the girl cardigan done-now I need a new ball of yarn to finish it!
By the way- thanks for your suggestions. I am planning on, right in the top of the back, putting one symbol (a flower for the girl, and something else different for the boy). Inside the symbol, I'm planning on putting their initials, so if anybody has another idea for a shape that could fit RJG for the boy and RLG for the girl, I'd appreciate it..
Pictures will come within the next week. I guess you could say I'm training myself to spend less time on the computer, now that school is just around the corner!

Lotsa Updates

2007-08-07T13:55:00.001-05:00

Sock update first:

I have knitted together the squares for one sock, and I'm as far as I can be without using the yellow yarn, which is a work in progress, still.

I weighed the already-done thirds...and they're the same weight as the third I hadn't started at the time. Huh. I guess I made thinner yarn on the bigger spool. Like I said before, however, I don't think I will even out any spools until all of the roving has been spun.

Aaand here's the info on Ravelry:

You signed up on July 19, 2007
You are #18748 on the list.
10495 people are ahead of you in line.
4980 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far.

10495 people--hmm. Shouldn't be too long now!

OK, now for the baby cardigan info:

The bitty sweater has been started, but I will need another ball of Bernat pink to finish the one for the girl. Since I'm using this pattern, I am also debating whether I should add the flowers (for the girl)/snakes (for the boy). I have A LOT of little bits and pieces of yarn I could use, so that's no problem. What do you think?

I am also being crazy and REALLY thinking ahead-to when I have finished all of these projects, and I need something for 4-H next year.

I've decided on a lacy shawl made by the late owner of Copper Moose. The pattern is in the book Spin To Knit, which I recently checked out of the library. I am planning on dyeing my own roving, then spinning it, then knitting it. If I get started soon (as in in November or December), perhaps I will be able to steal enough time to start the knitting in, like March.

Before I finish, or even start, any of the above, however, I should probably get my summer homework done, so in the next week, I can at least say I have some sort of FO!

Confessions Of A Teenage Knitter

2007-08-03T19:15:00.000-05:00

I. Am. In. Love.

No, we are not going to discuss my past and present crushes today--we are going to talk about the BABY SWEATER!!
I just want to hug this thing every time I look at it! It's beautiful! It's exquisite! It's what every baby girl wants........but it's too small.
No, I have not tried it on the baby yet, but it was supposed to be 10 inches long, and it's 8 1/2.
Obviously I did not check the gauge well enough. But, don't worry! Your Fiber Chic has a plan!
I will keep this sweater for my Hope Chest, and I'll make two more sweaters, in this pattern, for the twins next door.
Perhaps this new pattern will work up faster...I'll probably have enough yarn left over to make little mittens to go along with the sweater!
In other news...
This is 2/3 of my yellow for the socks. Notice how the third on the left is a whole lot smaller than the third on the right? I'm going to have to even out the spools.
I'll wait till I have all three spools, then weigh each one and divide the thread accordingly. My logic is, if the third spool is too small, I'd have to redivide everything up anyway, so why not wait? Here is eight, count 'em, eight little squares. They are for the cuff of my socks--as the spinning for the yellow is taking a while, I can work on the blue cuffs in between spinning spurts. Logical?

Ooooh!

2007-08-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

No, the "Ooooh" is not about the baby sweater (which will be done this week, I promise...), nor does it have to do with the fact I am finally posting early in the day. In fact, it is about more fiber to spin! Yay!!!
Please excuse the bad pictures--I tried to get good ones, I really did...
At the county fair (where I entered my shirt and skirt, the American Girl Doll clothes, etc), a nearby spinning shop had a booth. Our family looked around, and this

is what I found. It's unwashed (though still soft) alpaca. I got an ounce for 3 dollars, and brought it on my "playdate" with a friend of the family. I showed the 2nd grader how to brush the fiber, and we ended up with about 3/4 of the ounce looking like this:

However, there's still little bits of dirt and stuff, so I'll probably rebrush everything. Next time I see my friend, I'm going to bring a drop spindle, and show her how to spin the yarn. Perhaps we can make something together for her from the yarn!

Next order of business (see if you can guess what it is):

You signed up on July 19, 2007
You are #18748 on the list.
10986 people are ahead of you in line.
3505 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

Yep! I'm in the Ravelry queue! I was going to post this sooner, but I sorta got distracted! :) I can't wait till I get my invite, although that will probably be when Ravelry is open to everyone....

Yay For Pictures!

2007-07-30T12:36:00.000-05:00

http://mitstitchingnut.blogspot.com/

That's the link for the blog which mentioned the "Cuts Of Lamb". She also has a link for where to buy the shirt and bag with the pictures on it, if you're interested...
Aaaand, here's the wonderful, the fantastic, FIRST SLEEVE!
I'm around 1/2 way done with the second sleeve. This sweater took a bit longer than I expected, so I might use a different pattern for the boy's sweater, even though this one is adorable:)

Below is my current spinning progress for my socks:
I am about halfway through with the second bobbin. Here's to hoping I'll be able to finish the spinning part of my socks before school starts (although the third homework book is calling to me!)

Heh.

2007-07-28T19:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry, no pictures of the official type, but I just found this on the Internet, thought y'all would get a kick out of it!

(Just a side note here: I NEVER say y'all. I think it's cute, but my mouth can never get around it-I usually end up with "you guys". I do, however, like to type it. This is one of those things that never pop up in ordinary conversation, but I thought you might want to know.)

Have You Finished A Sleeve?!?

2007-07-27T20:26:00.001-05:00

Yes, I have! Hooray!
Sorry, no pictures today. Probably not tomorrow, either, as I have a spinning guild meeting all day. Monday, I've set the date. Maybe I'll have progress to show you on the second sleeve!
I picked up the stitches for the other sleeve, and knit a couple rows, but I'm not very far. Perhaps on the way to my spinning guild meeting tomorrow I can get more done!
As you might remember, I wanted to get some summer homework done this week. Well, I did! There was three books assigned that I had to read and answer questions on. I have read and answered the questions for two, and am a bit more than 1/2 way through with the third. Before you know it, I'll be free as a bird......just in time for school to start!
Heh.
Oh, well.
As for the socks I am working on:
I am nearly 1/3 of the way through with the yellow roving-if you recall, I want to ply it in threes, with one-third per bobbin, and ply it on a fourth.

Thanks!

2007-07-25T19:46:00.000-05:00

It's always great to get a kudos from someone, you accept your parent's as "the usual", you know?
Funny...I can't change the font here. I wonder what it will look like when I publish this post....
Sorry-no pictures today...the camera is in the car, which is with DM, on errands. I just have a couple rows to go on the first sleeve. Unfortunately, I didn't have the book to look up what to do next when I was helping out at the library today, so I couldn't finish it then-grr.
Right now, we're watching Mulan, the original one. It's my dad's favorite movie!
Pictures tomorrow?

Number 50!

2007-07-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

This is the 50th post of this blog! Hooray!
OK, enough of my weird number delights. Here's some pictures:

This is the first sleeve on the baby sweater...the last place I was knitting this at, I didn't have a measuring tape, so instead of just knitting till the cows came home and frog later, I decided to stop knitting until I got home and found the measuring tape. Guess what: I was only at 3 inches. Wonderful.

And what do we have here?
Above is the yarn for the cuff, toe and heel of my most recent socks. The diamond thingies on the side there are part of the cuff for one sock. Unfortuantley, the needles I need are making the baby sweater. That is definetly top on the list of knitting things to do!

Below is the yellow yarn I am spinning for the rest of the sock.I split the 4 ounce roving into 3 parts. I will spin a 1/3 of the roving onto different bobbins, then use a fourth bobbin to ply (spin) them together. I tried with the blue to spin 1/2 onto one bobbin, and 2/3 onto another bobbin, and make the latter bobbin into a center-pull ball. That didn't work--I lost the center-pull, as it got too tangled inside the ball. Hope the different way works!

I hope that the next time I post, you will be seeing a completed sleeve, and maybe some finished summer homework!

Oh, yeah: I did get all blue ribbons- as well as one class champion, the doll clothes (dark purple ribbon), and one reserved champion, my outfit (pale purple ribbon).

Sorry, No Pictures Today...

2007-07-23T19:16:00.001-05:00

....as I just got back from 4-H and got interviewed for the vase, the outfit, and the doll clothes and had lots of fun the entrepreneurship thing is tomorrow, and I would like to get some rest.
(whew!)
I'm around 1/2 way through on the first sleeve of the first baby sweater. (I'm not sure if I've mentioned that the neighbors who are going to get these sweaters had twins...) The next will be in blue, as it is a boy and a girl (they're adorable, too!)
See ya tomorrow, hopefully with pictures...

The Fair Is Coming! The Fair Is Coming!

2007-07-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

Next week, anyway.

Yes, there are little explanations for each item which will be at the fair. I also will be with each item as they are being judged, so the judges could ask questions if they wanted to. You will be getting the shorter version, as some of it would not exactly apply to this blog, or you already know what I'm talking about, so I might as well not waste your time over it.

However, I thought you would like to see what I'm entering!

First up: Ceramics!
I am just entering one item in ceramics, not the possible 2 (one with a pattern, one handmade) The duck is a present for my grandma, for her birthday. The vase is what I am entering into the fair.
Originally, it was just a white clay vase. I added the designs and color. See the white part on the left side of the vase (the right part of your screen)? That's where I didn't put enough paint. Next time, I will probably be more careful as to how much paint I put on.
Next is a textbook on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is having your own business. I got around 10 activities done in here, that ought to be worth something! :)And now, the yarny entries!
You already know the outfit for the Heritage Arts class....
Aaaaand now, the fiber class!
I wrote the patterns for these doll clothes-a poncho, a shirt, 2 skirts, and 2 pairs of slippers/socks. My American Girl Doll is modeling the outfits. I wrote the patterns and I have them all typed up and nice....perhaps when I figure out how to put a PDF file onto the blog, I'll make the patterns public!

Life Is Busy...

2007-07-18T17:36:00.000-05:00

...especially when you have a 4-H fair next week.
I've been working on my explanations for the fair, that's why you've gotten radio silence.
I am past the second armhole on the pink baby sweater, and I have spun all of the blue roving. It turned out finer than I expected, I'm going to ply it in threes.
Pictures soon!

I Went Shopping!

2007-07-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

For roving, that is.
First up, the fiber for my next project. The blue will be the cuff, heel and toe, while the yellow will be the rest!
Now, don't look at me like that. I know I need to make the baby sweaters, and that I have other things on the list, but hey, a girl's gotta have something to spin, right? Right?!? Next is something I need to have, anyway.
I'm doing this volunteer thing to teach kids how to spin, and how people did it in the olden days. Since I need to have a natural fiber, the above was what I chose.
The next two, I have no excuse. I just need something to spin for fun, as something to do other than homework the first week or so of school. These fibers are off-limits till the end of August.This is just an ounce of merino/silk blend, nothing super-special. I don't usually pick green, so I thought it would be nice to have a change of pace, color-wise.

Now, this is the treat. It's an ounce worth of silk cap, which is a bunch of silk cocoons flattened out. I'm not sure whether or not I'll dye it, but it'll be fun to spin.
Happy Saturday!

Real Cute

2007-07-13T19:35:00.000-05:00

This is not my only post for today, please continue scrolling down for more...
This is so amazing! It is officially on my internal list of things to do just for the kick of it.....

Ultimate Redemption

2007-07-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

(My DB decided on the title)

Yes, I am alive, yes, I do like to blog. However, the only thing worth blogging about happened just last night. Remember the sleeves on my Subway Sweater?

Well, I've made them a couple stitches wider, and a whole lot of rows shorter. (This is compared to my previous pattern for the sleeves, in which they were, if you recall, much thinner and a little shorter than the original pattern.)

This is the sleeve already sewn together, I just have to put it on the sweater.
The funny thing is, the stitches aren't coming out even. Is it because the yarn, which is all crinkley from how the previous sleeve that was made from it, is wacko? I don't know what to do.

I Know, I Know

2007-07-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

Sorry about how I haven't posted in a couple days. I have, however, gotten some knitting done!

May I present Exhibit A: The Socks.
That's right, ladies and gentleman, I have finished the second sock! The one on the right is the second. I did not do the toe very well (I guessed on how to graft, and on the first, I think I sort of did it right, but I messed up on the second). Ah, well. Mom plans on using them as slippers.

And now, the baby sweater:

Where the stitch holder is, that is what will soon be an armhole. I am now working on the neckline.

Now, I'm off to work on my explainations for my (mainly knitting) 4-H projects....other than the shirt and skirt I made, I am also entering a pair of American Girl Doll outfits, a partly completed entrepreneur booklet, and a ceramic vase. Perhaps I'll take pictures of them when I finish the descriptions, it can be my reward for finishing them!

More To Explain

2007-07-04T08:26:00.000-05:00

I should probably rephrase what I said about the socks. I did start the second sock, I'm actually on the top decoration thingy. However, I am now halfway through the body of the sweater. My fingers are confused. Should they knit the socks, which I am (technically)more than 1/2 way done with? Or, should they knit the sweaters, which I would like to get done soon, before they, like, grow out of them?
More about the sweater: the body is knit in one piece, with holes where you make the sleeves. There is another hole to put part of the sweater through, to make the front and back.
I'm probably confusing you more than I should, pictures to explain this soon.
(I'm in an area with internet, but not a good enough internet to get pictures to load easily)

Pictures and A New Project

2007-07-03T09:01:00.000-05:00

Well, here's the sock: And here's how comfortably it fits on Mom's foot:And now I have a new project: baby sweaters for the month-old twins next door!

I know what you're thinking: you're thinking "That's not a baby sweater!" Well, yes and no. It's this pattern from Greetings From Knit Cafe:

And here's the back:

Don't worry, I won't forget my other sock, but this is just a break, OK?

1/2 Way There!

2007-07-02T08:46:00.000-05:00

I finished one sock!

They turned up looking very winterish, but at least the colors match!
I've decided that Mom will get these socks. It's her birthday in a couple weeks, and they fit her perfectly!

She says that they're very comfortable, but she doesn't want to mess up the bottoms.....we'll put some sort of pad there.
Unfortunately, the downloading thing isn't working right now....maybe it'll work later?

A Lesson Learned

2007-06-28T11:48:00.000-05:00

You spin faster on a spinning wheel--WAY faster.

All of last week, when I had my roving and the drop spindle was working (at camp), I probably didn't make much more than 50 feet...I'm bad at guessing measurements, but you get the idea.

In the 3 days it's been since I got back, I have spun all of the roving I got and am on the heel of the first sock!

Speaking of, here's my progress:
I'm on the heel, done with the Fair Isle Dancing Ladies. I can't wait to see them all done...I'm already planning on what a second pair could be!

D'ja Miss Me?

2007-06-24T16:09:00.000-05:00

Camp was tons of fun....my brother can't wait until next year (we did the session together).
I did get some knitting and spinning done while I was there, though....

One color.... and the other
This is the roving I got in the mail. Not exactly the colors I wanted, but according to some of the counselors in camp, they matched for fall colors. Well, now I have a logical reason to go to the Fold: get colors that match and which I like. Normally, I wouldn't go for these colors, but I can say these were my practice socks.
At camp, they do many arts and crafts.....

My Camp Bowl
My roving fit into this bowl perfectly!
I also did some tie-dyeing!

MY TIE-DYED YARN!
Yes, you are looking at DYED YARN!!! The lady who helped with the tie-dyeing said that she had only dyed 100% cotton things, nothing 100% wool. She was willing to try it, however, and I began to dye the skein dark green. Yes, I started out with dark green, but a lot of the dye came out during the rinsing. It worked for my purpose, though.
And what was my purpose?

Well, one of the counselors is getting married in the fall, so I figured that, as a wedding gift/thank-you-for-being-my-counselor gift, I made a pot holder-one side was white, the other green, since green was her favorite color. I didn't think to take a picture of it (and I finished it the same day we left camp, so my camera was packed anyway, but you can imagine it.

On the way home on a bus where they take a bunch of kids halfway home so they can catch flights or their parents don't have to drive so far (does that make sense??), I made this headband for a camper who had been in my cabin-she had fallen in love with the green yarn, calling it Yarny.....something I would do!

Just A Quick Note

2007-06-09T12:47:00.000-05:00

Hi,
We ordered Sandalwood and Cranberry; they were out of Blue Noil.....I'm leaving VERY soon, see you in 2 weeks!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2007-06-08T14:01:00.000-05:00

OK, this is a couple days late, but better late than never, right?
My dad is so cool. He's one of those people who always, no matter what, finds the good side of things.
He also acts like a little kid in a candy store whenever he is within the vicinity of any sort of project store (think Home Depot and Hobby Lobby).
When my dad was a kid (when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, or so he says), he used to catch copperheads (yes, that type of copperheads) and crayfish in the creek/forest behind his house. He also played catch with his cat. I can just imagine the poor thing yowling as it went from person to person. He claims the cat never felt any ill will toward him.
I can't believe he lived past 20.
My dad is a project man. Currently, his project is creating a water table that shows what happens to runoff during a storm. (I should mention he's a floodplain manager) He wants to have a day called rain day. Well, that's my project dad for you.
Love you, Daddy!

Hey All!

2007-06-06T19:29:00.000-05:00

I have chosen the fiber I would like to use for my socks....well, sort of.
You see, I know what I want the main color to be: Blue Noils (the Merino Superwash), from The Fold. However, I don't know much about color, and I'm horrible at matching color. I would like to buy all of the fiber from the same source, and to save DM a trip, I'm going to attempt to order it via phone. What colors do you see at this cool little shop that would match my pale blue?
My starting colors was Cranberry, Rosequartz, Sandalwood, and English Garden. I'm also considering Sage or Laurel. (To view those, click on the link above, go to fibers, then Mulitcolored Merino.)
Do any of them match to you? I would like to have (preferably) a warm color as the dancing ladies on the socks, but if the green matches with the blue, so be it!

Good Morning!

2007-06-05T09:20:00.000-05:00

I usually get up around 6:30/7, hence the (usually) early posts. However, today is officially the first day of summer vacation, so I forced myself to get a little extra sleep.
Regarding the sizes not working: I was referring to the width around the foot being too small. I am not good with approximations, so I don't really want to change the width around. I also want a relatively simple pattern, one that I don't want to worry about while at camp. Oh, I haven't mentioned that yet, have I?
I am going to camp for 2 weeks with my brother--they have these rest hours each day, in which I will probably read my assigned school books (which don't look boring, thank goodness) while knitting. Therefore, I don't want to worry about whether the pattern size is good or not.
I think I'll start out with dancing ladies, then do either the felted clog things or the ones with the flowers in the heel. Maybe I'll try the ones on 2 needles....I'm still not sure they will fit.
Now, to pack the needles and yarn for camp.....

More Sock Patterns

2007-06-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

I did a bit of research on the internet, and found some more patterns I like:

This one I like because of the little dancing people on the cuff....I would probably do it with a light color for the actual sock, and a darker color for the dancing people, and maybe the toe and heel too...that would look cool!

I like this one because of the designs in Fair Isle on the heel.

What about this one? I like the idea of knitting socks on just 2 needles. Or this?

The one in Spin Off was a bit too small, and the other one didn't look like it would be good without the beads.
Update: I re-rechecked the socks provided, and the only ones that fit me are the dancing people one, and the felted pair. What do you think?