I am working on a pair of knucks right now - they are going to be a special battlestar edition! I don't have any pics yet but I will post when I'm finished.

This week my poster for my research project is due so I will be pretty busy trying to get it together this week. Then I'll be pretty much done with my summer program! After that I'll be going to Idaho to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. I'm excited! It'll be nice and relaxing before I have to start school. We are starting surgery this semester - yikes!

I just wanted to get in my weekly post but I will probably post again this week with my finished knucks if I get around to them.

Chevron Scarf, Robin's Egg Hat

I finished my Chevron Scarf on Friday, after many episodes of Gossip Girl and Grey's Anatomy. I have done a lot of waiting to finish my data collection in my research project over the past few weeks and I'm getting pretty bored. Not bored enough to want to go back to school in a month though! Anyway here's a photo of the finished project. I ran out of the Koigu before the StR yarn so the former determined the length.



Next I decided I wanted to use up some handspun yarn I had purchased at the medieval fest in Norman Oklahoma a few years ago. It had just been sitting lonely in the yarn closet all this time. I focused in on the Robin's Egg Blue Hat pattern that I found through Ravelry and thus, after a Saturday afternoon of knitting, here is what came out:



It's really cute! It's hard to tell in that photo but the yarn is a pale baby pink plied with hot pinks, purples, and a little bit of black. I wish I had a BIG matching button like the one on the pattern photo, but maybe I will keep an eye out and replace this one. Close up of the yarn:



And here's the amount of yarn I had left when I finished, boy was that lucky! I had a feeling I would get 3/4 of the way done and then run out.



I haven't decided what I will start to work on next, but I am trying to de-stash so probably some socks.

Craftiness update!


I've worked on a few projects this week while I've been waiting for the CT machine to open up so I can continue my research project.



A couple of wallets from a pattern bought on Etsy.. the top one is mine and a friend was so enamored she wanted one of her own. I forgot to take a picture of the lining, but it is blue Beatles Yellow Submarine fabric - love it! On hers, I forgot to topstitch the flap before sewing it to the main piece but I don't think she'll care.



This is from the Buttercup Bag pattern. I could not for the life of me get the button flap to look good so I finally just left it out. My sewing machine can't make curved seams very well. Also, I made darts in the fabric when the pattern called for pleats and didn't realize there was a difference until later - woops! Anyhoo, the buttons are vintage but I like that they make the purse look more "modern."



And finally a knitting project I'm working on, the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I was able to find this book at the public library.






I'm using one skein of Koigu (don't have the colorway on hand) and one Socks that Rock - Rook-y left over from my Simple Short Socks. They're just two sock yarns I found in my closet that go together surprisingly well.



Well I'm off to finish Harry Potter Weekend on TV, then watch the OOTP on DVD so I'm prepared for another journey to Hogwarts on Wednesday! Excited!!

Finished Granny Square Throw



All done! Okay, so I left out the fourth row.. hey, it fits well with three rows anyway! I was wanting to start a new project and get this one out of the way. I ended up having to do the last few finishing rounds with a much smaller hook to help keep it from curling. The throw is surprisingly warm for having so many holes in it!

After that I finished my second Bellatrix sock. I know I did the first one probably 2 years ago and it was sitting lonely in my sock drawer. Now I've figured out I shouldn't put off making matching socks for a long time - the new one is a lot looser than the first - guess my tension changed! Lesson learned I guess.

SP14 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I love alpaca or alpaca blends, or pretty much any wool, cotton, bamboo, and I like to experiment with some of the weirder fibers. I'm not a big fan of acrylic but I do use it occasionally for things that I might need to wash.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? I have a needle case and a makeshift container for hooks.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I first learned to knit quite a while ago, maybe 5 or 6 years ago from a friend who was luckily also left-handed. I would consider myself to be advanced just because I've been able to complete big projects and little ones.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes! Right here.

5. What's your favorite scent? I love anything citrus.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have a huge sweet tooth. If I have to pick a favorite, which is hard because I've never met a candy I didn't like, I guess I'd pick Starburst.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I do spin but I am just a beginner and use a spindle. I also sew and like to draw and paint and make scrapbook type stuff.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) Yes I can play MP3s, and my favorite bands are Muse, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Most of the music I like is indie or alternative.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I like bright colors, my favorite right now would have to be anything in the blue family. I'm not a big fan of neutrals.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I have a dog, two cats, and a bunny, who are my roomies.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes to the first three.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I LOVE socks. I lose patience with big projects sometimes.

13. What are you knitting right now? Right now I am finishing a granny square throw to brighten up my couch/living room.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I think I have straight and circular needles in most sizes but I like bamboo the most. However I usually use aluminum because they're easier to find around here. I guess I don't have a preference between straight or circular.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? Yes, both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? I try to unwind things after a few years of not wanting to finish them.. but there probably is something at least a few years old.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? Christmas is probably my favorite with Halloween in a close second.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Anything with swallows (as in birds) especially jewelry or clothing.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I don't get any magazines at the moment. There are a few knitting books on my Amazon wishlist that I have been wanting.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would like to learn how to make more clothing because I've only made a few items, a cardigan, a vest, and a big shrug so far.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am a sock knitter. My feet are a size 8.5, are 9 inches long and of normal width.

23. When is your birthday? Feb 20th.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? blasehurri