BOO! Happy Halloween!!

Although I was quite depressed that I didn't/couldn't dye up orange & black sockyarn, I decided to start my Gryffindor "Quidditch" sock while watching Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban.

The best of all worlds:

We ate pumpkin icecream from Whiteys after my Botany labratory exam, and carved pumpkins!

Here's mine:

Joe's pumkpin is on the left:

I need your opinion! Mischief Managed!

Has anyone done the "Invisibility Shawl" yet?

Here's the deal-io. I'm using lace-weight in darker colors, because I like the idea of the shawl having the dark colorwork like in the movies.

I'm knitting on size 7 needles, as requested in the book. However, um, it looks too loose! I should just call it the "visibility shawl."

I've been stretching it this way, and that way, pretending to block it, but I really think the needles are too big to hold the integrity of the stockinette patches surrounding the Yo's.

What do YOU think?

Can blocking really salvage something this loose? Or should I just frog it and start on smaller needles? I'd rather it be a faster project...and not with smaller needles, but if it won't look good even after being blocked..it's frogito territory.

Pledge to take the "Waste Nothing" challenge

...and save our earth!
I'm taking a pledge to do my best at wasting as little as I can, to reduce my own ecological footprint!

-->If you would like to be a member, you know the drill. You can email be at: angelgirl_22@msn.com to post your own ideas on the "Waste Nothing" blog, or just simply give me a nickname to put on the member list.

Someone pinch me please.

Am I the only one that didn't know about this? Google.com is pretty fridgin' awesome!
So, ok... I like that series... but maybe as a knitter,THIS might interest you.
Here's a book I waited a while for, ordering it through the library. *sigh*
I think i'm going to have a little fun with this site.

The Quickie Plastic Bag Holder! (KUAS Original Pattern)

Designed by Anna Maliszewski
[RAVEL-IT!]

 

Here's a quick and easy project for those who have tons of plastic bags and pile up in their house or garage! You can really customize your bag to suit your needs. If you like storing a lot of bags, make it much longer than the photo.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Pumpkins. Crispy orange leaves. Chilly nights.

UPDATE!!! The "Fern" pattern is officially on a pdf document, and is waiting on Etsy.com, as well as the "All Twisted Up" designer bag. (See sidebar for links.) There will be more patterns for sale soon. All profit will be saved up to help pay for my wedding in '09. :) Thanks for looking & thanks for the sweet compliments everyone!! XOXO
I finished my "Fern" hat & fingerless gloves I started a few days ago. I absolutely adore the cables! I'll be writing up the official pattern on a pdf document within a few days, and will be selling it cheaply on Etsy. I'm also going to be writing up a couple additional patterns to for Etsy, so I can start working to save up some more $$ for my wedding. This hat requires bulky yarn, which enables a fast, gratifying knit for all of us impatient ones! Plus, it's incredibly warm for the chilly weather. I strive to be a sensible knitter, only knitting hats that cover the ears. So hopefully, my ears will always stay toasty warm during the winter.A view of the one of the fingerless gloves. You can knit a pair in under and hour. I originally created the fern being planted more toward each thumb, but I will also write an addition section for those who want their cables directly in the center of their hand instead. But, I kind of like that the off-centered look for the fern. It looks artsy. Whatever that means.
A ridiculously dorky, yet better view of the cables. Nope, I'm not feeling up the tree. Ha ha.

Other than that, I've been working some more on my research, and changed the width of this blog. Today, I found a really nice place to read during the Fall, which is awesome, because I'm a little sick of being cooped up inside. It's located in the courtyard in the middle of our business & religious studies buildings, with wooden benches and really old trees that give off that nice rustling sound in the wind. I'll grab a steaming-hot mug of apple cider, go outside and start flipping through some more pages of my books tomorrow. Life is too short to skip the small pleasures.

Fern.

Research project. Weekend. Total "Senioritis" basket-case.
Procrastination. Knitting. Sanity.

I'm not quite sure if it's just the laziness of the weekend, or if I really do have senioritis. My brain will not buckle down long enough to let me dig into my research readings. To keep myself sane, I started a quick new project, my "Fern" hat, to protect me against the chill of Fall.

Pattern: "Fern," my own design (on Etsy!)[RAVEL-IT!]

Needles: size 8 Dpns

Yarn: Cascade Yarns: Pastaza

Fiber: 50% llama & 50% wool

Yardage: 132 yards

I'll have to leave it at that. My body feels a little shaky... I think I drank a little too much caffeine to stay awake. I just don't feel well right now to do anything, even though I know I have to get back to my books & laptop. I guess that's what happens when you mix your period with a lot of caffeine & barely eat a decent meal today. Hopefully my canned broccoli soup will do the trick.

Please read the post below, I posted the WIP of my "Infinity Cardigan."

Turning. (with a knitting finale.)

I'm a pretty stagnant person, when it comes to likes and dislikes. I'll admit that. What's hard to admit is when you finally realize that something is different. Maybe even suspect. Ok, having a strong craving for meatloaf is one thing, everyone has one of those commercial white-castle urges once in a while, but felting?

.....OK, hand's up. You caught me. I hated felting.
(wait a second, did I just spot a past tense use of the word "hate?")

Don't get me wrong, the workmanship on certain items that are felted are wonderful, the colorways used are gorgeous, their stitching-impeccable. But the texture and the look of felted wool made my skin crawl. Wait, "made?" But now, I can't hide it anymore. It's almost like something's in the air,... and I'm not just talking about the wonderful drop in the temperature. I started growing an interest in the concept. Granted, we all know how that turned out. But this feeling I've had lately is different now... potent, even. Ideas have been storming around in my head during lectures. It has left my head buzzing, while I should be sleeping. What is this?
I've been day-dreaming of what I want my future house to looks like, the coziness of the couches, wood floors, soft sage colors, mosaic coffee table-top ideas, and even felted placeholders. comfy felted clogs. Clutches. Felted coasters. Stop me.

Joe and I went for a walk the other day. I think I love Maples the best in the Fall...the leaves are just so juicy!
Oh, wait a second, while we are on the subject of "botany," how did I do on the test?? Um, horrible, as expected! But since I did the second best (second-least-worst, really) in the class, I pulled of a B! Oh yeah! Thank the Lord for curves!

We also took the week off and lodged at this cozy cabin.
I knit during the day, and cuddled up by the fire with Joe at nightfall.
....I wish.

It's practically the "ancient ruins" of our campus. I once knew a guy that tried to make this "storage" cabin into a small student-runned coffee house. It's a shame noone listened to him.
However, it does make a great place to knit by.

Random note: I just finished Mary Kruger's second installment in her "knitting mystery" series, Knit Fast, Die Young. To be honest, I was a little disappointed. The setting was a little too stale, and only changed half-way through the book, and I knew who "dun-it" from the beginning. Either I'm getting a knack for being a detective, or it was a little too obvious. Unfortunately, I believe the latter is the correct one.

Oh, can I vent for a second?
How did I get stuck with the earliest day to present my research to my Seniors seminar?
I've got less than one month to research and create a ten minute (verbal & visual) presentation on my thesis (we also have to write a 12-ish page research paper), and the pile is still growing.
Some one please pinch me. Is this real?

Crap.
Bang head here.

...And I guess,the moment you have been waiting for...
Here's a quick snap of the beginning workings of my "Infinity Cardigan."

I'm in love with the cables. I love the symmetry of the snake cables around the edges, the tweediness, the color, and the i-cord on the edge, for the zipper. I picture myself wearing this around Halloween & Thanksgiving. Do you notice the sideways "8" look going on in the cables? Just checking.



Spending some quality time with the DF.


Happy Friday.

(This one doesn't count.)

EDIT: I just made an archive of all of the FO's that predate my blog!
Feast your eyes on this!!

First off, I just want to say thank-you to everyone who has cheered me on, and shared my depression on unfair exams! You gals are awesome, and I would do a group hug if I could!! :)
It stinks that bad (exams) happen to (good) people. ha ha.

On to knitterly things:
I am really sorry about the delay, oh wonderful craftsters. I know you all have been very patient for some more eye-candy that has not been sufficiently provided. Darn you academia and non-approved weather!! Anyways, if you live in the Midwest, you probably have empathy for my woes of sticky needles and sweltering rooms this past week. I'm sick of 90 degree weather...my room does not have air-conditioning. But, that's ok, it will start cooling off tomorrow, finally.
I am knitting up the cardigan, but 6'' of 1x1 ribbing goes a little slowly when you are working in the heat, and on 180-ish stitches with size 6 needles.
However, I am almost to the more exciting part (increasing), and will post pictures as soon as the cardigan starts to resemble a snippet of a garment.

I am also excited to announce that I have finally came up with the: suspect, a couple of awesome "big events" that happen in my plot, and some dynamics to my main characters in my "knitting mystery" book. I definitely don't want to wimp on the suspense & hair-raising moments (that some "cozy" books miss), so I came up with something good for now. However, I still don't have an outline on the plot, so this whole preliminary work will take time. Then, I have to figure out the "guidelines" of some mystery publishers. (Most people don't realize that the biggest reason that people get rejected is that they didn't think to get the official "guidelines" for certain sub-genres.) Mystery books have many genres, and you have to be ultra-careful while writing that you meet the criteria of whatever sub-genre you choose. Yikes.

The two skeins of lace and the Victorian Lace Today book was from a distant cousin in Seattle Washington, that just found out that I knit! The short story was that my dad visited Seattle on a business trip, somehow got on the topic about me, told her about me knitting, and she grabbed this pile out of her own house to give to me!! Wasn't that amazing?!? Thank-you Cindy! You're amazing!

On the left is a mystery skein of lace-weight in a almost light royal blue & dark brown. The other skeins is from Prism yarns, in the gorgeous colorway: Ginger.
I love awesome surprises like this! I've always drooled over this book at Borders.

This was from last Saturday, at Wilson's Apple Orchard.

The funny part (sad, really) was that we couldn't pick apples, because of the early frost. Ironic, really, since it's soo hot here.


This snap-shot was intriguing.
We did take a walk around the orchard.

This lovely gentlemen offered our huge group a ride! We rode for at least a half an hour around the orchard, and finally over a creek! Luckily there was enough room for our large group of 15. It was really nice to relax while the tractor did all the work. It was a lovely day. The air was a bit chilly and we had a picture-perfect sunset view above the orchard.



In the meantime, I will leave you with a paradox to answer:
Q: How is it that sometimes, you can feel soo comfy/lazy not leaving your house (ex: just feeling like watching tv) that the mear thought of going outside seems...."blah," yet feel so wonderful being outside that you don't want to come back, once you finally get that nudge to the "world" outside? Do you catch my drift?
This question was hard to formulate, since it's based off of those feelings you get, and I apologize now, because it might only sound clear in my head.


Ok, time to find air-conditioning somewhere in this residence to knit and play some more "catch-up" on my readings:
Luther, Botany & Christian Science.

Current pleasure reading:
Knit Fast, Die Young, by Mary Kruger
The Cairo Diary, by Maxim Chattham.

You've got to be kidding me!?!

I apologize to all of you right now. I really will try my darndest to filter my thoughts and words.
But it's hard. Oh-so-hard!

So, I just finished my Botany exam that I've been preparing for all week....
I skipped knitting.
I took "for fun" reading breaks and felt guilty, and then got back to the nose-in-your-notes grind again.
I ignored other assigned readings in my other classes to listen to the Botany lectures on cassette tape.
I studied until the apsolute last minute before the exam.
Basically, I studied my ass off....
I mean, I even studied through a TORNADO in my city, with a room full of people crammed in the basement and alarms going off.

So, what exactly was on this exam?
Hmm... an abundance of short answer questions, screw-you-over multiple choice that has multiple answers, short essay questions, plenty of cell structure charts that made you want to slit your wrists with the metal blades piled in bowls nearby. What a tease.

But who whould have thought a whole week's worth of studying reaps nothing. Nada. Zilch. Null. Zip??

Q: How do you clone a unicellular alga (that has no DNA, or any organelles)?
WHAT?

Q: give me an example of cells in 1.) primary tissue with primary walls, secondary tissue with extensive secondary walls, and 3.) primary tissue with extensive secondary walls.
OH LORD.

Q: Give the approximate size of these: membrane thickness, chloroplats, nucleus, etc. (choices: 1, 10, 15 angstroms, 1000 nanometers, 10 centimeters or 1 kilometers [obvsiouly a foux-choice], micronmeters, etc.
WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!


KNITTING UPDATE: I just started a new design of mine today that will knock your socks off! lol, I hope! My lips are sealed for now (who doesn't like supsense now and then?), but I will have pictures of the WIP in the next post...so stay tuned!

Thanks for all of the good-luck wishes on the exam, gals! I'm sure I did better than what I would have if I didn't study so much.

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.