Cake Tissue Cozy

Look what I made! New project I crocheted in just a day! Unfortunately, I didn't make enough cherries as I had intially hoped, but I'm pretty stoked on how it turned out. I'm excited to make various sorts of "cakes" as tissue box cozies for gifts this Christmas! /spoilers

Plastic Quilting Sheets

Starting a new project today. I felt inspired after watching Totoro. More details when I actually have some progress to show you.

You know those plastic sheets with holes for stitching that you see all the time at big chain craft stores? Do NOT take them for granted! It took me an hour to find them online. I had no idea they're considered quilting templates. Fuck, I didn't even know you had to template to quilt! But after some consideration, it makes complete sense.

I apologize for my lack of updates. I'm starting to finally feel like I have a life in the city. Hopefully I can balance that, my full time job and my need for a creative outlet. I miss knitting. Trust me.

Oh! By the way, cancel on that last project I was working on it. It was a pain in the ass for something I wasn't that excited about anyway.

Lost in Translation

Anytime you create a custom pattern, it is necessary for a series of trial and errors. I forget this and just assume the translated design will be knitted flawlessly and all will be well in the world. First off, the Apple logo I have designed is completely and mathematically accurate. Hooray! Secondly, knitting with silks and bamboos on a size 4 needle AND trying replicate the ideal logo is apparently harder than I had previously assumed. Oh, and bonus! I think I knitted an extra row in the purple section meaning my first trial is most likely fucked. Super bonus, it's also being knitted for a guy and there is this old wive's tale, a myth if you will, that once you knit something for a guy things will inevitably unravel. I knitted for one guy prior, but he's my best friend in NY and there is nothing either of us can do that could possibly damage our friendship. Believe me, we've tried. SO there ya go. Stressed over this stupid Apple and I'm three colors in and so far, not impressed with my knitwork. I am impressed with my design though.

Edit: (10:55pm) After some brief thought, I think I'm going to try to do a swatch of the pattern using Cascade 220 superwash, which I'm more used to knitting intarsia pieces with. This bamboo and silk, while very soft and nice, just isn't keep the stitches secure. It looks flimsy and fucks with the edges of the Apple. I'll report back tomorrow. Or later tonight. Demands how motivated I feel.

The End of the Owl Sweater

I would like to apologize for two things: The shitty quality of these pictures and the horrendous denim couch that my parents have. I'm staying here for a night as I'm heading north at the end of this week. My dad and his wife turned in at around 10, so I decided to spend this downtime of not packing to get some of my knitting stuff squared away. Anyway, the terrible pictures of the awesome owl sweater I made for Megan:





I would've taken better pictures if I hadn't packed my camera. Fail. Megan's pretty good at sending me pictures of things I've knitted for her, so as soon as she sends me a picture of her wearing it, I'll post it here.

I'm sure you're dying to know my next project. I'm currently juggling two and now graphing a new pattern to start sometime in the next week. I'll keep you posted.

Buttons! Buttons! Who's got the buttons?!

Today I indulged myself in buttons. Lots of wonderful, goth-tastic buttons. A wise man once wrote in a book about how buttons are the hardest to find when you're looking for them and to always be aware of them. That man was Mark Montano and you can buy that awesome book here. So I bought buttons. And I'm already inspired by them! I am now juggling two projects at once again! One being a simple wintertime scarf (two tones and striping of course!) and the other being a very particular purse. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but it's going to be pretty magical!

I finished Megan's owl sweater and will be sending it off to her shortly! Kind of pissed that I threw out a perfectly awesome box to send it in. It's now in my recycling bin. Booooo.

Somehow A Vital Connection Is Made

Pardon my wreck of a workspace (ie: my bed), but I kind of just get consumed by my project that I don't notice the mess I make until I'm ready to call it a night. Today I finished the second sleeve and connected it to the two yokes (the pieces of the body). Now I'll start on the owl cable pattern of the collar. I expect to be done in less than a week.

I'm On A Plane

One good thing about sitting on a plane for six hours is that you have a lot of time to knit. I managed to start the second sleeve of the owl sweater and finish about 9 inches in 3 hours. I intend to finish more this evening while watching The State. That show seriously ended too soon.