Sackboy is complete!

Just putting the final touches on him! Pretty easy since he's supposed to look homemade and the stitching details are requested to be uneven. He's really cute. I almost want to keep him, but alas, he is a gift. Plus, we don't really know each other. Had I played Little Big Planet, I'm sure I'd be more attached. Post pictures after he's delivered.

Up all night!

I had NO idea how late it was because I was so into my Sackboy project. I have his head (with adorable face) and body stuffed and sewn together. Tomorrow I will attach his limbs and possibly complete him, which would be fantastic since I had tomorrow put aside for gift wrapping. Hooray!

OMFG. A Dr.Girlfriend illusion scarf?!

AHHH! I woke up this morning to a delightful little link of an email from Shine! Someone has actually made a pattern for a Dr.Girlfriend illusion scarf. MUST BE MINE. It's not available yet, but I cannot wait to start it! YAY! I haven't been this excited for a knitting project since I started Soulbot!

Sackboy now has a head!

Well, it's been knitted. It still needs eyes and a little yarn smile and you know, a body. Maybe some stuffing. Whatever, he's making progress! My fingers are so sore from working on tiny needles (those tips hurt!) and my elbows are not used to such strain. However I am happy with how it's coming along, and I really hope that didn't just jinx me.

Tiny Sackboy Body.

Tiny body.
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

This little guy is going to be tiny, it's so cute! Anyway, the pattern that I had to track down from a british knitting magazine reader, is actually flawed. The cast on stitches (12) and the first increase row instructions do not add up. I had to adjust it according, increasing six stitches per increase row the way I saw fit: and the beginning of the row and at the end. I just ate half a medium pizza by myself so my stomach is stuffed to the brim, but that is neither here nor there.

What the HELL?!

This is becoming ridiculous! First off, I'm not even sure knitting this thing is worth it, speaking finding sack colored yarn is near impossible, but now that i've managed to do my best color match, which who knows is even up to par to expectations, the zipper is too long, but I think since it's not actually being used, just decoration, I can cut and glue shut. We'll see. The big thing that is pissing me off right now (other than thinking this is SO NOT WORTH ANYTHING) is that my magic little shiny bag full of tiny scissors, pins, and my ROW COUNTER is missing! I JUST saw it Friday night when I was cleaning and I remember putting it away with all the rest of my knitting shit, but when I came home to get it, GONE. Is this a sign? All this bullshit is telling me to BURN all the yarn I just bought and go back to that silly crochet scarf for grandma.

EDIT: Found it. It was where I left it, just forgot I put it at the back corner of the bin.

Sackboy? More like sackBITCH!

Okay, I haven't even started knitting this fucker and he's already a headache. I had to snag two plastic drinking straws from the E-bar when I got my daily treat, and then finding the correct gauge of yarn for this fucker was NEAR IMPOSSIBLE, so I got the closest color/gauge I could find. I tried calling Shinerz, but she was too drunk and high to really comprehend what I was saying. Still love you, though! :) Couldn't find a 4in metal zipper, so I have to try JoAnn's tomorrow before work. The easiest part, the button eyes. I don't think I have the desire to start this guy tonight.

Sackboy

A friend has asked me to knit him this character from the video game Little Big Planet. After just a little over a day, I've managed to persuade this awfully sweet British mum to send it my way. I just got it today, and the British terms are adorable. Anyway, I'll probably start knitting it Friday night. I'm pretty excited, though it looks a little intricate. I deserve a challenge.

This Bitch Can Crochet.

Yep, taught myself how last week. It's okay. The first attempt at a scarf started kinda uneven, but it'll even out I think. At least enough for my grandmother to approve and treasure it. I prefer knitting tenfold. I think the stitches are more precise and lovely than the knots in crochet work. It's just my preference. I'll post pictures, you know, when I get around to it.

I still knit, thanks.

I've just been working on minor projects these days. Using up some yarn and making whatever.

Making Saucy Fast

IMG_3389
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

I've been doing really well with this tote! I was on FIRE, knitting it like crazy, and then my morale slowed to a hault, and I haven't worked on it in two days, and it's SO close to being finished! Just need to mattress stitch the pieces together.

I'm really happy with the fabric I chose for the inside. I'm really happy with the piece in general, though I feel like I should've made the knit bigger, to fit the plastic canvas better. Whatever. It looks fantastic.

I'm On A Roll!

IMG_3387
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

I just moved from the Desert to Mission Viejo, and I have no social life. Not that I had much of one back there, but now, really, there is only three or four people around here I can hang out with. It's sad. Which gives me more time to knit! Which is actually great, because I love it. LOVE it! So much, that after dinner, I whisked myself over to Michael's (the local yarn shops I looked up closed at 5) and found a big skein of this dark green yarn on clearance for $2. I actually found the yarn after I had found the cameo which called out to me from a rack as I was leaving the store empty-handed. I had brought one of my new knitting books (Stitch N Bitch Nation) and thumbed through it, looking for a pattern where I could use this amazing piece of charm as a button. I found hope in the Saucy Tote pattern, which is original pink and green. Eff that! I hope to line to bag with a really nice creme and gold patterned fabric, if I can find such a thing. I'm really excited! So far, it seems pretty easy!

The hardest part so far was making sure I didn't twist the needle. Circular needles are such a bitch for the first few rows!

So, I knit in the round until it measures 8.5 inches, so I'm going to get on that now.

FINISHED!

IMG_3386
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

Soulbot is complete. Finally. Three more little strands to sew in and it's on it's way to it's owner. I'm just it's maker.

How fucking badass is that? I hope fucking moochers don't try to steal it.

Collar!

IMG_3365
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

So, after the collar is finished (in the three rounds), my Soulbot sweater will be complete! FINALLY. Took me about seven months, but whatever! It's great! I'm proud of myself, that's for sure.

I'm already starting to think about what to make next. However, I have a lot of stashed yarn so I better work with that before buying more. Yep. Sucks.

Getting My Hands Dirty

I have one last seam to sew on the soulbot sweater, and then, pictures. Promise. However, whilst going about my typical Venture Bros. watching, I was inspired to try and create my very own Magic Murder Bag. So, there you go: My next project will be designed, created and mastered by me. It will be my first attempt at making my own structural pattern. Wish me luck!

No Need to Block

After looking at the sweater, I've decided the best route would be to sew the seams first and THEN block. It makes more sense to me and just because the books says to block first, doesn't mean I have to. So far one sleeve is completely seamed as well as one side. Almost done. And then the collar. And then the moment of truth. This blog is boring without pictures. I promise. Soon.

90% Done!

I know, I was gone for a bit. Maybe I was depressed with my blog layout not being more awesome, or maybe it had something to do with the slow progress. All pieces (minus the collar) are complete. I will start blocking after the weekend. I will sew the seams and finish the collar and yes, Soulbot Sweater will be complete.

I will post pictures of my first blocking experience, of course. Expect that to come soon.

Black Sleeves, Obviously!

I finished a sleeve yeserday. A fully knitted grey sleeve! And then I thought about it after a conversation, and decided the sleeves would look a lot nicer if they were black. With a black collar. So I have a useless grey sleeve.

This sweater was supposed to be done over a month ago. Shit.

Techniques for Knits and Purls

I taught myself to knit from a book. For the most part anyway. There was a time I knitted a wristband with the help of a friend Melissa, who I have not seen in easily five years. When I learned from this book, I skipped that whole part about knitting while holding your yarn. I don't at all. I drop it and pick it up every stitch. I'm sure a lot of you are thinking "that is SO lame" but for me, there was no other way to do it. This also goes with how I knit and purl.

I was showing my friend Debbie a knit and a purl stitch one day, when Angie (my roomie) noticed that I pull my yarn and knit it differently from her. I never really gave it much thought, there are tons of different techniques to achieve the same stitch, but today when I was watching videos online at http://www.knittinghelp.com, I noticed the different way to knit and purl. So I tried it. And I can't help but wonder which one is better. I'm still working on that sweater sleeve, so I did about four rows with the "new" technique and noticed the stitches looked a bit cleaner (that's my way of saying you can see them better in the wool yarn), but not by much.

I think I'm going to just finish the sleeves the way I knitted the rest of the sweater and knit my next project with the new technique. I'll let you know how it goes.

Coming Along Nicely...

The worst part about knitting an image into a pattern is that it takes a lot out of me. I'm concentrating much harder than a basic knit requires and I find myself tugging too hard and the image gets a bit fuzzy on the sides. I just hate how human knitting can be. How flawed. But at the same time, I love to knit. It's one of my favorite things to do.

So that's why it took me so long with Soulbot. He was coming along nicely, but taking a lot of effort and I was getting to the point where I almost dreaded picking up my needles. He wasn't hard, he was just tedious and time consuming. It took a lot longer than I had hoped, but the front of the sweater is finished! I'm currently working on one of the sleeves, and after one more and a collar, he will be complete. Then he will be rushed to his owner and hopefully he will be as loved and cherished as he is in my hands. Possibly more.

Someone suggested to me that I sell or release my image patterns for Fair Isle/Intarsia knitting. I would be so disgusted if someone wanted to knit this piece. Not because it's a terrible one, or that I'd be jealous of someone stealing my thunder, but because the love and time I put into this is worth much more to me than being recognized for it. I'm half regretting posting pictures of it, but I am so proud. And I want to remember just how long it took and how funny all the pieces were before they were sewn together. It won't be mine for much longer.

Soulbot legs DONE!

Soulbot legs
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

One thing I hate about working with a mid-row color change is how shitty stitches tend to look. Obviously from a fair distance, you can't even really tell, but I can and I hate! HATE! Hate ittt! How hard is it to make something perfect?! Obviously pretty hard.

I'm 78 rows in, not much further to go. I hope to finish it by the end of the weekend, get the sleeves done in two days, seam the last day and send it off for a marvelous birthday gift. Wish me lots and lots of luck!

The Difference Between Intarsia and Fair Isle is BEYOND Crucial...

I am an idiot. Wait, no, I just failed at the front of my sweater because I never bothered to read the chapter on Fair Isle Knitting in my SnB Handbook. So, yeah, I guess you could consider my actions idiotic, but this doesn't happen too often. I'm learning my lesson.

So yes, as you must have assumed, I have unraveled the front to start fresh, meaning I lost three days of knitting. This sweater MUST be done by the end of the month, and it's already the fourth! I have to finish sleeves, and sew seams, and make an attempt at BLOCKING! I have to buy fancy wool wash and write a card! Good thing I don't work tomorrow so I can stay up until five making up for lost work. Oh wait, I do have that tattoo appointment tomorrow. Well, Heather won't mind if I take a nap during it.

WARNING! Intarsia in progress...

soulbot in progress
Originally uploaded by drxgirlfriend

This is my workspace: my bed. Pay no attention to the Little Mermaid fleece throw: it was extra cold last night and it's the only extra blankie I had! Don't judge me! You can't see all the bobbins, they're underneath the sweater front, but trust me, it's a jumbled mess. It's such a hassle I can't even bring it to work! That means it's going to take me longer to get it finished, and I want it done in LESS THAN A MONTH!

All I can think about is knitting this thing. Work will be super long and boring today!

Back is DONE!

I finished the back of my beloved grey sweater a few days ago, and plan to start the actual intarsia pattern tonight after work. How sad is it that I have no social life because I'd rather be knitting? True story, two seperate parties invited me out last night and I said no to both so I could start the front of the sweater, knowing that I could get the bottom done, work some stockinette at work the next day and be ready to start Soulbot when I got home. Regardless, I love it and plan to never give it up.

I think I want to learn crotchet, mostly because I found some pretty cute patterns that I want to make. However, I still feel the need to learn more about knitting rather than just pick something else up as well. I'd like to be an expert in one trade, rather than so-so in two. I really need to tackle DPNs, so I think after I finish this amazing sweater, I'll try to make some gloves or something.

I'll post pictures of my progress tomorrow, or after I get some of the intarsia in. Pictures right now would be somewhat boring.