Archive for December, 2004
Using the last three balls of that Silk Garden that I used for Clapotis, I made myself a multidimentional scarf (pattern can be found here). This was fun to knit. A nice change from back and forth garter. This is going to be someone’s Christmas pressie next year. Who, I don’t know. I’ve got a bit of a head start. I’ve never done THAT before. I’m thinking that this will be the year of the scarves for me. I’m going to make everyone scarves for Christmas next year and I’ll just knit them throughout the year so that by the time Christmas comes along I will be stress-free (we’ll see if that plays out next December).
I’m thinking I will do another Multidirectional scarf for the La Boheme yarn, only skinnier. I have yet to go get beads as I had mentioned. I’m feeling too lazy, and there has been three days of torrential downpours here on the California Coast. (Seriously. I just walked outside for second to go to the laundry room and got SOAKED. The freaking parking lot is flooded.) So there will be no bead shopping for me. No, I am going to stay inside in my cozy little apartment and watch The Return of the King for the 4th time (this time with the cast commentary turned on). Yes, I am a LOTR nerd.
Happy New Years, if I don’t blog before then!
December 30th, 2004
During a LOTR, Extended verion marathon, I knitted up these fuzzy scarves. My husband’s neices’ birthdays are coming up in January and I wanted to send them something. The purple one was knitted with Artfiber’s Starry Night yarn, one skien. Casted on 15 and knit in garter until I ran out of yarn. The black scarf was knitted with a yarn that I no longer have the label for…hmmm…if I find it I will post it. It’s a feathery kind of yarn and really soft. I casted on 20 and knitted a long tube on dpns, size 11. (both were knit with size 11 needles). I like the boa effect of the black one. I tried the same thing with Starry Night but got frustrated when my needles kept falling out of the stitches so I just went the easy route and knitted it in garter on straight needles.
I actually got knitting stuff for Christmas! I got yarn. I am so touhed that somebody who doesn’t knit went out of their way to go to a yarn store and pick out yarn for me, enough yarn for a scarf. It’s a pretty alpaca a wool blend. So soft.
My mom got me a knitty present, too. A beautiful project holder! I love it 
. Thanks mom!
I am currently in the middle of some serious stash busting. I think I have come to the realization that I am the kind of person that doesn’t like extra yarn around the house. I know, I know. It sounds crazy. But having it around makes me feel like I have unfinished work to do. Plus, I have a hella small apartment and no room, really, for a yarn stash. Perhaps when I get my own house I can devote a whole room to a yarn stash. But for now the extra yarn is just getting on my nerves. This morning, during the second dvd of ROTK, I started on a multidirectional scarf with the last three balls of Silk Garden left over from Clapotis. It will be a present for someone next Christmas.
Happy Monday, everyone! I have this week off. Yay!
December 27th, 2004
It feels soooooo good to be done knitting Christmas Presents. Ahhhhh. Here is my picture of Grandpa’s Scarf
No pattern, just casted on 30 and k2 p2 until the thing wrapped around my neck and was the sufficient length. I used size 10 needles and Cascade Ecological Wool in shade 8085.
A word about this yarn. It nothing really too fancy to look at, but this is a really fabulous yarn. It is really nice and easy to knit with, it has a nice little “spring” to it. I love the resulting fabric, too. It’s a light, fluffy fabric. And there is no itching whatsoever. I’m a little bit sensitive to wool but this yarn doesn’t make me feel itchy at all. And it truly is a good value. 475 yards for under $20. I still have a truckload of it left so I might buy some more try a cable sweater with it.
I also want to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. I have really enjoyed meeting all of you over the past few months! And I look forward to continued friendships. I have had so much fun with this knitblog thing and I have learned so much, too. It’s been a wonderful experience. Happy Holidays!
December 24th, 2004
I had to un-publish my last post because my friend Judy hasn’t opened my present to her yet and I don’t want to risk her seeing what I got her before Christmas. I’ll re-post it later. Hope you are all having a good week. Judy gave me a lovely, hand-crocheted poncho for Christmas and I am wearing it today. Here’s a picture of me in my poncho with my lovely knitty friend Judy.
I just found out that a good friend of mine at work is in the hospital and has Luekemia 
She has an acute case of it and had to start on chemo immediately, as of midnight this morning. I’m really worried about her and very sad. She is my mentor, and has really taught me a lot about librarianship. Please, if you have a minute today, send her your positive energy or your prayers….
December 22nd, 2004
Why am I insane? Because I decided on Saturday that I needed to knit Raffa’s 95 year old Grandpa a scarf for Christmas. So I went and bought him some yarn at my little LYS on Saturday (at quite a bargin, I might add… everything in the store is 20 percent off until Jan1) and bought the biggest hank of yarn you’ve ever seen of peruvian highland wool, Ecological Wool by Cascade Yarn. I actually didn’t start on it until yesterday, after I spent 45 minutes winding up that ginormous hank of yarn into a ball BY HAND. Here’s a picture of the worlds biggest ball of yarn and a smiggen of a scarf that needs to be done by Christmas Eve.
Is that the biggest friggen ball of yarn you’ve ever seen or what?? Now I know why people by swifts and ball winders. I actually got my husband to hold out his arms for me. It was very nice of him.
Before I started on the scarf (I just now took that picture), I needed to finished the beanie that I wanted to make for Raf’s brother. So I did actually get that done first thing Sunday morning. Here is it’s finished form as of Sunday
This version no longer exists. It’s too big. I almost said “fuck it” and wrapped it up anyway, but decided to reknit it. So I’ve been working on that non-stop and finished it just now. click here to see it on me.
I decided against the hem and knitted k2p2 ribbing instead. so there I’m done with THAT.
I also finished a pair a nearly gloves, a wonderful pattern by Marnie Maclean. I even used Ziti, the Artfibers yarn she recommends. I am gifting them to my knitty friend, Judy.
I started another pair for myself, too. I am knitting those in the round, though. I hate seaming so I thought I would try this patter in the round. I knitted one “glove’” so far and it turned out pretty good. I will show you both when I’m done with the other one.
You will also see a little teeny sweater in the picture. I finished this in about an hour and the pattern is by Julia from Mind of Winter. The little sweater was put on the package as a little decoration. I used some scraps of silk garden. So cute! If I have time I would like to make a couple more and put them on the gifts for my MIL and SIL.
I hope your Monday is going well…I’m not feeling well. I came home sick from work. I hope I’m not getting the flu…
Hey, go check out Stichy McYarnpants’ latest Museum of Kitchy Stitches..It’s hilarious!
December 20th, 2004
Previous Posts
Using the last three balls of that Silk Garden that I used for Clapotis, I made myself a multidimentional scarf (pattern can be found here). This was fun to knit. A nice change from back and forth garter. This is going to be someone’s Christmas pressie next year. Who, I don’t know. I’ve got a bit of a head start. I’ve never done THAT before. I’m thinking that this will be the year of the scarves for me. I’m going to make everyone scarves for Christmas next year and I’ll just knit them throughout the year so that by the time Christmas comes along I will be stress-free (we’ll see if that plays out next December). 
