Heart, Sock & Brain in a Coil

Well, I finally finished the sock. Yes, just one. I searched campus for some juicy red & yellow leaves and set them up around this space for some photography of my sock. Unfortunately, I will be severely reprimanded (again) for showing you any more pictures of my sock...so this orange *blob* will have to do (for now). Now that the sock and the pattern is officially finished, I can get back to my academics.

I already went through "Doom's Day Tuesday:" 5 hours worth of classes, plus a paper, a speech and a quiz due in the same discussion class!... plus catch-up reading and knitting!

I probably will be taking a leave of absence from the blog for several days, to focus on my assigned readings & study like crazy all week for my Botany exam that is coming up soon (which will run me over and leave me plastered to the "leafy" ground until the public works can come and scrape me off with a shovel and stamp "road kill" will a scarlet "F" on my forehead.)

Anyways, it's been a little quiet here in blogland. Although I haven't been posting an incredible amount of actual knitting, I do hope that in time that we can get the lurkers out and see if we can make this into a "learning community," one with comments, suggestions, and feedback. That's really the purpose for my blog (not just me giving out patterns or providing pretty pictures to just look at.) To those who comment regularly, I give you much thanks and hugs! I appreciate your feedback greatly!! I value opinions (and constructive criticism, as long as it has "sensitive" consideration)

BUT... Fall is here, so the bulk of the knitting will commence! Get ready for it! It's going to be good!!!

Lightning-Fast Slippers (KUAS Original Pattern)

Designed by Anna Peck-Maliszewski

This free pattern has been removed 10/17/12. It may or may not return, but if it does, it will be tweaked and pdf’ed and available for an inexpensive $1.99 price.

Materials:
Needles: Size 13 US --Straight Needles Size 11 DPNS (pack of 4)
Darning Needle
Crochet Hook: just to pick up stitches. (I used “ I ”)
Fabric: Any Kind—Just keep in mind that different colors & stripes will show more than pictures! For slippers without lining, use fleece or silk (silk needs 1 ½ inch cut strips)

Shown in shoe size 8 (US)

Gauge:
1’’ wide cut strips (using the “Maze Method”) & size 13’s : 3 sts= 1’’ 3 rows= 1’’

"Maze Method" Note: Keep cutting around edges of the fabric, maintaining a 1'' width. You should NOT have have to tie any edges, because it should all be one continuous strip of fabric. The corner edges will stick out a little bit, but don't fret too much about that. When you knit it up, the edges get tucked in. After you have finished cutting, roll the fabric into a ball.

The morning after...

This had my heart from the very first page. If you like suspense, mystery & romance...I would highly recommend checking this book out! I seriously couldn't put the book down. Please remember that it's a fiction book.

Random Friday #1

I very well will be knitting this WIP for the rest of my life, but I thought that this view was pretty interesting, and definitely a photo-taking chance that I couldn't pass up under any circumstances. Cries for more battery juice just had to wait.

Although my empty battery really did shut the camera off right after this shot, I walked home as happy as a drunk, with a nice comparison of my colorway to this seasoning tree.
You can almost hear my sigh of knitterly pleasure...
But, I've got to get a grip of reality. Seriously.
I need to work more diligently on this WIP, so I can finish it before Winter! Part of the whole problem revolves around my insistance on knitting a shawl with small needles. Now, if I were a normal person, which I'm not (lol), I would be knitting this shawl on size 7's or such.
Nope, I'm knitting the dang thing up on size 4's. Tisk Tisk. It better keep me warm.

~the dreaded "senior's project~
As a Religious Studies Major, I'm required to do my "senior's thesis" project (research paper) on a subject of my own particular liking that relates to my professor's theme, "the part and the whole." You can almost laugh at the dramatics of the theme. As you can see, I've already snatched several books at the library. I've decided to do something related to desert fathers or other such persons who seclude themself from society to inhance their spirituality. As you can see, they generally are more in the "part" category, but I've got to somehow figure out to incorporate how their search for salvation through seclusion & feirce deprevational practices connects them to the whole. The quest is on. (later.)

Good thing it's due at the end of the semester. I've got time to procrastinate.

~me writing??~
Speaking of books, I've decided to work more on my own knitting mystery book.
I'm beginning to realize why I insist on reading mystery books lately: I'm in love with good "cozy" mystery books. I don't like the gore, I love the spice of romance, and a dash of supense within...kind of like a "Ross & Rachel" relationship on Friends, and how everything isn't too intense. So, last night, I decided to look up the criteria for a cozy mystery book.
So ok, don't get me wrong, I realize that my book may never actually be published, but I feel this urge to get my "creative writing" tingle out. I may stink at writing clear and concise essays, but I've always had a nack for writing good fiction snipits. Remember, creativity first, grammer later. lol.

Foliage, cozy & murder.

Alas, after much frogging and diverse designs for the sock club, we have a winner! It tingles my heart that it's 100% better than my first version, as it also captures the real quality of the cables. You're looking a sneak peek at my "Coiled Cables & Ribs" cabin sock pattern, before I move on to the heel. (it's useless to take pictures any further, since the beginning of gusset-work looks like poo on the camera.) I've got to finish these socks, finalize the written pattern, take an awesome fall snap outside modeling them, and send them in to the yarn queen by the end of this month. That gives me about a week and a half to finish the socks.



I'm quite in love with the pattern. It's my personal favorite, and I wish that this camera could capture the true beauty. Maybe you can really see how cool the cables work in conjunction with the Fall colorway once they are on the footsies. (I hope really so.)
If You're interesting in joining the "Cuaran Sock Club," go to Liz's etsy shop, where she handles the membership. I think she only has the year-round sock club left, but If you want to do it the month-to-month way, I'll ask her to add more on etsy. Just let me know first.


I'm am so into the mystery & thriller genre right now! This is my 5th mystery book this summer. I've read all of Meggie Stefton's knitting mystery books (which I love, by the way), and decided to venture off to Mary Kruger's knitting mystery books. This one is the first in the series, and has a slightly different style than Stefton. It's really interesting seeing how they both go about mystery books. They both go about characterization in totally different ways, but equally hook you to the plot, credible characters & slight romance...


I have been busy this weekend knitting up this whole pile, "weeding" & "re-templating" my blog. You've probably already noticed though. I think the sidebar is more condensed and manageable. I really love the colors, and the new title photo. Change is good. Honk if you like it.
P.S-The cute small square is actually for me. I've got an interesting afghan idea brewing in my head. My lips are sealed for now.

"All good things"

I've been a little busy knitting. I've been a little busy designing. I've been a little busy watching Friends. ...But, I would definitely say that I spent more time *writing up sock patterns, changing them, knitting it up, and frogging it again* (rep. *to* several times)....more than anything else!

I'm also working on squares myself. It's a shame that I didn't really bring any Red Heart with me to school. I'm using the yarn from my own aghan... because that's the only bit of Red Heart I packed with me! (...and to think that I have bins full at home...I'm such a dummy.)

I was knitting at Liz's apartment last night, and I forced her to dye up the colorway for the club, since we changed it. See my point, the club starts in a couple of weeks....and I've got nothing knit up yet! lol. Anyways, I did more teaching (her sister) to knit, than actually knitting myself. But, I did get to take home one of my favorite colorways of hers, "Japanese Maple." Yummy.

...and I was already thinking of what to knit my own grandparents soon. This one would be perfect for both of my grandpas. Do you think I have the patience and endurence to knit two of these?

And of course, as soon as you got some inches done on your own fir cone shawl, you see a cooler one on the web. Oi.

An afternoon stroll.

P.S- Look at the post below for the "Gracie" pattern I just posted! :)

~Intricate details~





~"Easily passed up" simple beauty~




~When trees are characters...~

...I swear, this one is creaping me out. It's clawing the ground and has two eyes.

Gracie. (KUAS Original Pattern)

Reversible Beret and Fingerless Gloves  
Pattern By: Anna Maliszewski
Download PDF  

Sometimes, women just need instant gratification (and chocolate). Gracie was a highly satisfying and fun project that I did freehand as my first knitted beret. I was amazed on how fast this knit up. Use bulky yarn, and you'll have your holiday gifts knit up in a flash--in under a weekend!! Never grump again about all that extra yarn you have left after the project is done...make matching fingerless gloves!

MATERIALS:
Yarn: Bulky soft wool or alpaca (hat: approx. 200-250 yards)
Needles: set of 4 dpns, size US8 & Size US9 circular needles (24'') and a darning needle.
SIZES: S/M & L/XL

MEASUREMENTS:
Ribbing: 19.5 inches diameter for the small/medium, unstretched. This will fit a decently big head. If you are worried, bump up to size 9 US needles on the ribbing, or dare to knit the XL size.
Height: about 9 inches.
GAUGE: 4.5 stitches= 1," & 5 rows= 1'' on size 9 US.






(stockinette side)........(garter side/original intent side)

Gracie. Gratias. Nature.

Sometimes, a woman needs some instant gratification.
(and chocolate.)
This weekend, I had just that while working on my first Beret. Because I had leftover yarn, I even made matching fingerless gloves. It was quick. A little too quick. These are the sort of knits that you would do for last minute gifts, or holiday gifts for your female relatives.

I present "Gracie," a reversible & chunky beret that knits up lightening quick. I couldn't really ask for more in a beret. It has spunk, a soft fluffy quality, and most importantly...a slouch. The yarn is some sort of wool or alpaca blend. I got it from the thrift-store, so I can't tell you what brand, type, yardage or colorway. lol. I can tell you that it's incredibly soft, it's bulky, and has little animal fibers in it. Voila! I'll assume it's not acrylic.
(Don't spoil my assumptions, please.)

"My Side (mostly purled)"......"Inside out (mostly knit side)"

Yeah, you heard me right...I said that the RS was the purled one. I originally designed the hat to have a mostly garter look. It really has a flower-like quality to the tip, don't you think?

Oh, and recently....I actually won a contest!!! I never win!
Liz was destashing, and did a "which Hawkeye football player is the hottest?"contest. Here's the catch, she made it clear that we had to pick someone that she would sleep withthinks is hot. I picked Adam. So did others. But I won the "three" way coin toss. I asked her how that's possible, racking my brains on how such feat could be achieved. It's possible.

Merci beaucoup for all of the yarn! And Happy 22nd Birthday! Apparently, 22 is "ancient" and she feels "old." Someone please bonk her on the head! I can't wait until she is over the hill. Since i'm a night owl, I can officially give you the good b-day tidings since it's 12:30 am. Old habits die hard.

A tingle of anticipation for Fall

There is no doubt that Fall is my favorite season.

I love the way that the air turns crisp. After a hot season of Summer, your skin gets a tingle of chill underneath your bones, and you just want to cuddle up...whether underneath your fleece blanket, or with your partner. You finally can wrap that warm knitted scarf around your neck.

I love the way that the air smells of burning wood. The instant that smell reaches my nose, I think of the old-fashioned Halloween "trick-or-treating" at night, or memories of camping...and roasting marshmallows over a campfire.

I love the way that in Fall, the leaves turn gold, maroon, and many other shades of colors...and drop to the ground, for you to trample through, or fall in.

I love the way that in Fall, you can finally cozy up on the couch with a good book, and sip on hot chocolate by the fire.

Finally, I love that in Fall, you can pick apples and pumpkins in an orchard or farm, drink steamy hot apple cider with fingerless gloves, take long hay rides, and stumble through corn mazes, or eat apple turnovers and pumkin spice icecream...

Therefore, I dedicate the premier of my Fall knitting this year to the "Cabin Shawl." That way, I can wrap myself up in the natural glory of Fall itself, the colorful spectrum of leaves, and cozy up with that good novel on a comfy couch and finally wear my warm woolen socks that I knit in the summer.

I love how it's all nubbly on the backside. It's all the little things that make life great.