Ask and you shall receive*

*Obviously, we are NOT talking about my totally, completely, wholly, utterly BOGUS 7:30 am final in Prehistory which I'm quite sure 90% of the class populus failed. Not kiddin'. Talk about taking out the "big guns" with this one. My Linguistics final this evening went pretty well. Thanks for the encouragement, Kate (and all)!
Waking up at the crack of dawn was interesting. Really.

What I did take from Prehistory, as a relevant knitterly fact, is how far we have come with animal domestication, such as our famous Andean celebrity, Mr. Paci. Clearly, we have room for improvement, such as knitting socks for Anna while she's studying...but balancing an uneven load of spinning wheel stitch markers is a good start. He's even a gentlemen and offers what he can to hold my page.
My Aunt Charlene ordered these stitchmarkers during one of her ebay escapades. She was visiting when I just got into the stitch marker business last summer (gosh, that was a year ago. Lordie Lord) and finally bought a set for me to have, because the spinning wheel charms are pretty sweet. I hate to get all "lit" on ya, but perhaps this is a "foreshadow" of many wonderful things to come in the future. E-hem. hem. hem.
Like I said, ask and you shall recieve. My Brittany replacements came in the mail (oh crud, I forgot to check who, oh you wonderful person, mentioned about the 5-year replacement deal). It really did take a while, but they came! Two of mine broke, and I really only expected them to send me one, but here-be THREE! Whee!!

Oh kiddos. I've got two finals left. I'm off to take a quick shower (what, you expected me to wake up that early...AND take a shower?? Ha.) and then get a little bit of studying done. Then, I'll probably read a little bit more. You must get Water for Elephants! Squee! It's soo good! I do plan on making a colorway inspired by the book, as well as The Secret Life of Bees, because that book was really awesome too!

Oh, May 20th is coming up. That means that the Gatsby club sign-ups is closing in few more days. I have room for only 2ONE more member!

Takin' care of business

You should run. Jog. Skip. Anything that gets you quickly to the bookstore or library to get your hands on this book! I've only read 100 pages and I'm entirely captivated!

It's about the 1930's, when the depression hit, and a college vet drop-out who joined the circus having no other choice, where he faces hardship and crueltly, and later romance.

My allergies are really acting up, causing a nasty sore throat. Ick. I was a fool, and took some "severe allergy" medicine, forgetting that it makes you drowsy, and I had a very hard time staying awake in the front row of my Prehistory class. Half way through it, I realized that I was falling alseep in the last actual class I have, ever...as an undergraduate.

Don't expect me to see the sunshine this entire week. Here's my schedule:

Today:
Classes-9:30am & 11:30am
Study for Earth System, exam III (not the final)
EXAM (such a nice prof,...huh?): 2:30pm
Work on fiction porfolio
Study for 2 Monday finals

Friday-Sunday:
Turn in porfolio
Study mainly on 2 Monday finals, and than other finals

Monday:
FINALS: 7:30-9:30AM-Prehistory & 7-9pm-Linguistics
Study for last two finals

Tuesday-Wednesday: study & pack

Thursday:
FINAL: 9:45am-Western Music and Concepts
Pack

Friday:
FINAL: 7:30-9:30AM- Earth Systems
Packing
Getting drunk & seeing my family

Saturday:
Graduation at 9AM

Sunday:
Party!!

Monday, on...dyeing!
Doing whatever I want!

Because I don't want to bore you all week, here's some cute of some of my past hammies:

Kit. (or "kit-kat" or Joe's version, "Twitch.")

Missy. Eating. What else?

Also, some "pictures of pictures" in B&W. I love that syle for hammies.

They sleep in the weirdest positions sometimes.

They once ran away, and I found Tunip sleeping soundly in a shoe on one of the basement stairs! I still have no clue how I spotted that!

Yes, we are both musicians.

I see you.

Sniffing. He looks like such the puff-ball.

The early bird catches the worm

EDIT: I'm starting to sound like a person with issues. I have now ordered more yarn (yet again), and will extend this club to 15 members, meaning that there is only 9 slots left! They are going like hot-cakes, and I don't blame them...LOST is AWESOME, and this type of club gives me so many ideas! I'm at the point where I think only allowing 15 members per type of club is sufficient, and doable for me...as I am taking the first week or two off when I graduate.

LOST! Yeah! I had this idea after the Gatsby club went up. I couldn't help myself!

This one is a lot different. It has fingering weight yarn (theme colors) and laceweight yarn (jungle colors), as well as different SECRET extras! You're like Ben & Locke...and will have to let the island reveal its secret when you're ready.

to be only 15 spots in the Gatsby club. We have 11 members already. Sign-ups close on the 20th for those.

One of the secrets

Remember over break, I said that I had a couple of things I was working on for my shop, but I wouldn't show you until I was done. Well, after tinkering with the whole thing, I'm finally ready to show you my cards. I've tried ribbon, and other stamps...but these simple, yet elegantly textured cards are my favorite.

They are up on my shop.

I've gotta go study some more now, so I'll leave you with this pretty picture. If you want to see some more pics, feel free to browse on my shop. I also reactivated like 30 expired items. Oops.

Thanks Cassie for wishing my eye well! (See post below.)

A perfectly normal Saturday evening

So, ok. I guess spending an hour in the ER isn't that normal, I guess.

For a couple of days, I've had a grey blotch in my right eye (not the clear "floater" circle with a grey strand) that moves everytime my right eye moves. I've read that it could be "vitreous fluid/floaters" or a detached retina. I definitely didn't want to sit around and get the latter, so I went to the ER tonight to get it checked out. The doctor and his intern (oh God, I thought she was going to give me the exam) looked it over, and decided that since my peripheral vision is fine, and I don't have headaches or sensitivity...it most likely is the "vitreous floater," a protein fluid inside your eye that will slowly get dissolved within a few more days. If it doesn't go away by Tuesday or Wednesday, it's back to the doctor again (maybe a slight detachment). You have no idea how weird I felt walking into an ER while looking absolutely normal, despite the grey spots.
Pray that it's just the darn fluid. The doc calls them "ghosts."
I hate ghost stories.

A quick note

Sorry, I'm just popping in here real quick to say how exited I am about my KUAS sockclub, and how it's taking off so well, concerning members & their assured excitement with me.

I know I said that I can only take 20 members, but it is now down to 15, because I also made the LOST theme package as well.

So far, I have 11 members for June, and 5 of them being 3 month-ers. That means that there are 14 spots left, and if you want in...now's your chance. I'm closing the sign-ups on the 20th, so I can get right to dyeing them , creating the stitch markers and sending them out.

I also want to let you know that if you are one of the members already, I have created the ravelry group: "KUAS June Sockclub" for you all to post your pictures, comments, discussions, etc. Now I just have to learn how to link the picture to that group in a month.

YAY!!! I can't wait to start dyeing up a storm. :)

Not totally useless

What did I say...what did I say? You say you aren't planning on knitting for a week, and then you finish an object the next day. It's magic, I tell you.
Well, magic and a little "knitting in class" time.

Yarn: Lorna Laces
Needles: size 2 dpns (Crystal Palace Bamboo, the ones Joe got me)
Pattern: My "LT Rib Socks"
CO: 72 sts
Status: single, & looking for a hot date

I bought my cap and gown today! Squee! It's almost over, It's almost over...It's. Almost. Over.

Ok kiddos, I'm off to study some linquists for my exam tomorrow. I have a couple of those classes that have an exam right before finals. Go figure. They like to tell us that it's good prep-work for the final. I tell them to shove-it. (But only in my mind.)

Get your greens.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL "CONGRATS" WISHES!

YOU ALL ARE SWEET! :)

So I haven't been knitting much. Here's my poor excuse of a progress pic of the mini cardigan.

I have been working my tail off on my "last couple of weeks left...stop your frickin' procrastination" work though.

I guess you'll have to bare with me the next couple of weeks. I can't promise how much knitting I'll do.

It always seems to be the case though that if I plan on "not knitting," I do get a whole lot of knitting done. Very logical, huh? It's like quitting piano lessons, and finally starting to practice. Maybe I should just play Alanis Morsette's "Ironic."

Here's what Joe and I had planned, Friday night: Movie & a flick. I was stoked when I found "Dracula" at the library, so we (eh hem, "I") were going to cook some pasta, and watch it. Well, the cooking went GREAT! This is still my 15 dollar rice cooker. I made the sauce my scratch, with tomato sauce, diced tomatos, green peppers, onions, and a whole lot of garlic (oh yeah, gotta repel those vampires!). We bought some (poor excuse of) meatballs at the local market, and added it in too, and sprinkled (loaded) on some fresh parmesean cheese. YUM-O!

I even had some leftover tomatoes and such, and made fresh salsa with my cilantro plant. Please excuse the chinaware.

Poor thing, It's missing quite a few leaves.
Here's some more nature pics from a few days ago. Here's what Spring looked like here on Thursday: I love this photo!!!! I love how there is a "barren" contrasting background!
The forest floor:
It makes me want to bike on the trails again!

Guarded?

The Official KUAS Sockclub!

KUAS Summer Sockclub!
(June, July & August)

WHAT:I'm created a summer sockclub: "reading the classics."

(Fall's club: "watching the movies")

June's theme is "The Great Gatsby!"

WHEN: June, July & August 2008

MEMBERS? Up to 20. It's on first-come-first-serve basis each month unless you have a 3-month membership.

There will be a flickr group exclusively for members to post their pictures & comments & have the option of discussing the book if they so choose.

SIGN-UPS: for the June Sockclub runs from April 26th-May 20th. You can join through my Etsy shop, just look for the "Gatsby" book-cover item.
If you see that I ran out, just email me...and I'll add another one for you.

(Amazing) PRICE: I'm making it pretty cheap to suit everyone's interests: $22, that includes:

(1) skein of superwash sockyarn in the theme colors of a chosen book for that month

(Approx. 430 yards dyed with love, using Jacquard dyes)(75%merino/25%nylon)

(1) exclusive matching set of 6 fancy-schmancy stitchmarkers

(1) Optional freebie treat (baked cookies or candies) included. However, I know how everyone is iffy about trusting over the 21st century, so if you don't want the treat, that's fine. Just let me know if you want it added though (I make great cookies). Yum-o.

Maybe: [(1) sockclub pin!!]-I'm working on trying to find the materials for this.

My Etsy shop: http://www.knittyknitter.etsy.com/

YOU: if you are interested, please email me (knittingupastorm@gmail.com) or officially reserve your spot early at my Etsy shop. I'll need to know how much yarn to order & dye up. Please also tell me if you want the optional edible goodie.

PACKAGE: Your package will arrive at your door the beginning of the month you belong to. Club months are sold seperately, or in 3-month memberships.)

KUAS=Knitting up a storm

5 years, my love

I absolutely love this photo. This was from last year's anniversary, when all of Spring's flowers were lush & gorgeous! Joe and I celebrated our 5 year yesterday, which is a little scary, but time has that funny way of blending time together so smoothly.

Can you believe that it has taken me one year to finish the second sock? Can you BELIEVE that I had the pattern out for about one year already...but ironically am the last one to actually finish a pair? This was Joe's big gift for our 5-year. I was just that busy. But...as I hoped for.... he absolutely LOVED them!! And most importantly...he had NO IDEA that I had a pattern devoted to him...and that people on Ravelry have been knitting them up!

Pattern: Joe's Office Socks (My pattern)
Yarn: My colorway, "Moss" in doubled up Laceweight
Needles: size 2US double-pointed needles
Shoe size: 7.5 Men

We had a wonderful anniversary, despite the rain (we were going to have a picnic outside)and the irony that I couldn't really eat at a semi-fancy restaurant because their bruchetta appetizer gave me the worst stomach ache and I had to leave before the main course came. Oh well. Joe bought me the book 2-at a Time Socks and size 2US bamboo needles, because my Brittany needles broke. He's such a great guy!

Can you believe that I only have 2 more weeks before I graduate?

Here's the scoop: I just finished the Spring sockclub pattern. The club is almost over, and my patterns will be up on Etsy in a couple of months. Now that I'm done with the sockies, I'm going to plunge back into my mini cardigan and afghan. I'll put up at least a teaser picture soon. I know I've been boring you lately. (well, it's been equally quiet on the frontier as well. ) Is it bad that I keep getting new ideas for patterns, but haven't even come close to finishing the previous patterns that I started?

Enjoy the gorgeous weather.

Just one of those mornings.

Sunday should be a day of relaxation.... a day to take your mind off of things.
Not today, I guess.

My pre-existing frustrating morning was followed by disappointment in something I was working on last night with paint (the white paint dried clear...I guess I should have read the label right when I bought the bottle), and the death of TWO of my Brittany bamboo needles, not to mention not being able to find the third needle, of the size 2 US dpn set. I sat on one last night, and apparently this morning...I must have forgotten to take it off my bed and slept with it.
I'm really, really sad about the needles. They were good to me, and they are my most used needles... I had to put another sock on stitch holders so I could use something to continue working on the sockclub sock. My dilemma, besides the fact that if I should be paying another $7.50 for a set of needles...it should be because I'm "adding" to the collection, not "replacing," is that I bought those at the Midwest Fiber-fair over the summer...and I don't know which store holds these. I don't want the clover bamboo needles, like the LYS holds here. Ach! Me and my stupid big bum! Snapping needles two different times in under 24 hours is some sort of record when your not knitting with them.
Tears.

Rainy Days

I just love rainy days. I especially love those cool misty days too, like today, where you just know that you're make-up doesn't stand a chance but you don't care because it's just so damn refreshing. Maybe I really should just move to London. I love the whole "I've got nothing better to do put put on pjs, curl up with a blanket and chill with the needles (or a book) and sip on some hot cocoa" feeling. It's great. This is what makes life great. I do like sunny days, but I also appreciated when the dim-lit skies and water-works happens. Ah.

I've been wearing my "Marianne" hat, since it has been a little chilly, and I normally don't say this about myself...but I felt pretty darn cute! Since my recent hair cut, my shorter wavy hair works well with the hat, and I love seeing the layers flip out around the sides of the seed stitch band. I have another idea for a new type of hat band...why do ideas always come so late? It's almost summer. (Well, by this rate...maybe not!) I've even been wearing my hat during classes, because it matched my outfit today.

I've put up the afghan again, and started working a couple more rounds. I need to get cracking on this WIP, don't I? I also recieved the yarn for the sockclub a few days ago, and am In the process of formulating another pattern....not to mention the shrug too. All I have to do this week-end is really study for my Prehistory exam, and work on these WIPs.

I've been meaning to post about "miracle-grow." Now, you have to understand me. I would rather work with organic soil, and enjoy not having to worry about chemicals and such, but I have killed a cactus before. I've killed a cactus. People then ask me, "how did you possibly manage to kill a cactus plant?" It's simple. There was a drought.

Hopefully you now understand that I did not inherit the green-thumb jeans from my dad. I don't want to sit around for a month wondering why I can't get the simple germination proceedure down right. So, I took the help where I could. It took a full week to germinate. On the first day upon sprouting, the morning produced one seedling, and than at night, 3. The second day: bing-badda-boom! There were 6 full seedlings, and several arched over, waiting for the stem to grow higher so it can full pop out of the soil. Day three: holy cow! There was a small population of tall seedlings. Day four: looks almost like in the picture, just a half an inch shorter. Can you believe it? They weren't kidding when they called it "miracle grow." Right now, you're looking at cilantro (the blank side was supposed to be mint) and the lilacs in the other pot aren't doing so hot. Maybe it takes some more time.

Call me the biggest nerd ever, but when I was in 8th grade, I was really into the Sailor Moon series. Now, I found out that they have all of the episodes up on youtube, and I've been seriously plowing through the episodes because there's no commercials, you can fast-forward through the theme song, and it's a trip down memory lane. Don't get me wrong, I do see the corniness of the show. I just missed a whole bunch of episodes and would finally like to close the gaps a little bit.

Marianne (up on Etsy now!)

"Marianne." No, "Amelie." No, "Marianne." "Amelie." "Marianne." I think I strained a brain muscle. That was a hard one. I really was torn between the spontaneous and corky nature of the "Amelie" idea and that of the head-band and button looking "Marianne." But, I rest my case. It's "Marianne."

Congrats to Erica! You get a free pattern of my latest O.D, "Marianne."

I'm off to continue working on my second short-story, called "The Legend of the Fortune Cookie Trio." Sound intriguing, no? It's not quite as funny as it sounds...believe me. If there are any Lost lovers out there, you'll be the first to realize that I was inspired by Hugo's character, using powerful numbers to win the lottery...and what the consequences entitles.

Spring Fling (quick contest!)

Although I finished the hat a couple of days ago, I'm finally getting around to posting it. I finally found a simple, yet intersting enough pattern that suits this wonderful skein of malabrigo yarn...and I'm quite satisfied with it. I just wish I'm a better model for it. My battery was about dead when we started, so here are some quick pics.

This pattern is going up on etsy really soon, and I've been having trouble coming up with the perfect name for it. I was thinking of calling it "annabelle," because everyone should be able to name one pattern after themselves (I added the -belle because it seemed less corny), but now I'm not so sure. Then, I named it "Amélie"...you know, after the main character in the french movie. It seems ok.

So, now I leave it up to you guys to decide! Contest time!!!

WHEN: Sat, April 5th- Mon, April 7th (at 12pm 5pm!)

So hurry, hurry, hurry!!

WHAT: Come up with the perfect name for this pattern. It should relate more to the texture, not the color. It can be a name, an idea, a place, etc.

If you really liked any of my original names for it, let me know.

Whatever your name for it is, please explain why you feel so strongly about it. :)

PRIZE: the answer that I feel most strongly suits the pattern wins, and receives a free pattern of it as soon as it's up on etsy! (So please leave your email address.)

The whole pattern is a play on texture. Yum-O!

The best part about the pattern, despite the fact that the yarn is soo fluffy (like heaven), is that the band is adjustable, and you can wear your favorite pin as a button! Neat, huh?

Well, I'm off to get some icecream and read! My library just notified me that "Atonement" is on hold for me know! Whoot whoot!

Socks & books: crack for knitters

Have you ever felt like glaciers retreat faster than your WIPs grow?

Granted, I haven't been working on this sock regularly, and I might as well be working with laceweight yarn, but I did start it in December.

Actually, I been feeling like all I do is frog-frog-frog. I've started and ripped out 3 hats in a row. That should be some sort of record. Who ever said "practice makes perfect" clearly didn't waste hours of their life knitting and ripping hats out. Otherwise, they would have said, "just buy it."

I'm actually feeling a little under the weather today. I have a sore throat and couldn't sleep until 5am. I've still gotta dig into my linguistics assignment that's due at 6, go to my 2.5 hour class tonight and come home and study my hinney off for the Earth Systems exam (that I'm screwed for) tomorrow. *sigh* It's going to be a long day.

But... let's end postive! I went back to the LYS yesterday, and Joe bought me three skeins! (Well, it wasn't that random. He got the "hint hint" and drew on my jacket design.) What a guy. The guitar store is located next door, which is really amusing. Me=knitter Joe=guitarist Us=connect at the hip.

You're looking at Malabrigo in "Cactus Flower" and di.ve Zenith, which will be made into a short cardigan (for my tanktops)that ends before the belly button. I'm thinking something lacey, with LT ribbing, and has a couple of buttons. The official design is still bubbling around in my head.
The yarn is really soft and squishy... I can't wait to knit with it.

Take a "breather."

There are a lot of things I regret in life. One of them is reading too fast through the "classics" in high school. I plan to reread The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Giver, and maybe one day read The Scarlett Letter (since our class read The Crucible instead).

I've been really stressed out lately, and found some rejuvenation from reading my own books. I started and finished For One More Day by Mitch Albom last night...which I recommend to anyone who needs a little reminder that you should appreciate (and show your appreciation to) your loved ones, because you won't be with them forever. This story is a tale of a man who gets one more day with his loved one, and how he makes the most of it.
I didn't get senioritis in high school. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to get out, because quite frankly...their heavily enforced hall bathroom and hall "passes" contradicts the whole "college preparation" and "you're an adult, so act like one" school mentality.

But now...6 weeks left. I'm on the final last-stretch. I'm excited. I'm scared (what am I really going to be?...quick, quick, decide! Here comes the loan bills!). I'm just so darn worn out. Even the smallest paper is a "waste of my time" now. I don't want to read their assignments. I don't want to study their courses. I don't want to sit in their class for 50-150 minutes. I don't want to take their exams. But I do it. All I want right now is to take a vacation-no school, no "real life" job searching (or not searching)-and grab a pile of "my books" and my knitting bag, and relax by a damn waterfall or something pleasant. Throw in a pina colada, will ya?

I started a new pattern using my wonderful alpaca silk yarn I just got. However, it croaked. It was going to have a seed stitch edge that buttons (inspired by Ysolda), and an "entwined leaf" pattern I created on whim on excel. But, I can't do larger than a size 6 without making the stockinette look icky. I felt like I needed to add another 14 more stitches to the body to give it a more noticeable width than the seed stitch. After it was out of the needles, I tried it on...and it wasn't as tight as I imagined. But, my intuition was right...I should make it more slouchy to enjoy it more. I just hope when I do it again, I don't run out of yarn. It was up to 130 stitches before...when it was tighter that I wished.

The happiness is overwhelming.

Update! I just got back from the brand-new LYS! Can you believe that it's only 3-4 blocks away!! Now, if that isn't dangerous...I don't know what is!

The "Blue Sky Apacas" Skein is actually turquois, and the fiber content is 50% alpaca & 50% silk, which in my book is 100% pure joy to knit with. It will turn into a light spring hat or beret. I even got a free pin and a coupon for a free cookie upon the completion of my WIP. Whoot Whoot.

Hufflepuff/hawkeye socks
Originally uploaded by Knittyknitter

Well, once in a while we learn to do something new. I fully completed one sock using a short-row heel method. That might have been on my resolutions list.

Pattern: mod's of my"LT Rib Socks"
Yarn: striping in black & gold
Neeldes: size 3 US (next time, just #2's)

I just also finished Albom's Five People you Meet in Heaven just a moment ago. The book was interesting...unique in idea and construction. It was "different" for me to read about his various birthdays as a "intermission" to some of the chapters. It's a short book, and you should read it sometime in the future if you haven't already. It was on my "must read before I die" list. The next book, For One More Day is also on the list...and I'm reading it next. I'm still trying to compile a worthy list of other books. Any suggestions?

Did you know that Lion brand is coming out with "Sock-ease" in the future? The Yarn Halot got some free samples, and it looks great! It's the standard wool & nylon blend, as well as a aloe vera finish. Sounds pretty sweet...and good for a budget like mine!

Spring cleaning.

So, I'd rather like to believe that it's truely Spring now...regardless of the new snow last night, and the chilly weather that likes to linger in the air still. You know what that means: Spring cleaning.
I decided to jump into the black hole that is my walk-in-closest (if you can really call it that), and take out all of my "school yarn," and only select those that could possibly be knit in 7 weeks, plus several extra for the looks and/or leeway for more choices. Some made the cut-off, some didn't. Some were taken home just for Spring Break and will return once more...(da-da-daaaaaa.....)
Here's after the weeding out:
Books, yarn, clothes, and what-nots are now missing. The shelf looks rather baren now... but it's definitly neat & skinny. Who really needs more sock yarn for only 7 weeks anyways?

I was a dummy, and realized only 2 days before the holiday that I had the perfect skein of greens & white for St. Patricks' Day. Oh well. Maybe I'll save it for Earth Day...

I've been exercising a lot lately, and am enjoying the luxury of going to the health club in my hometown, while I'm on Spring Break. I'll miss it greatly when I go back to Iowa. Their elipticals are amazing, as well as being able to swim without having to take a bus to the campus fieldhouse. It was a great graduation present. Now, I just have to "graduate." (hee-hee.)

The Harry Potter knit along on flickr is going great. Look what Squib-Stitcher whipped up in a couple of days? Look familiar? She knit up my "Simply Ginny" socks in honor of good 'ol MollyGinny Weasley!(yeah, I need to read the 7th book again...) Actually, she's been whipping up pairs of socks faster than lightening. She already finished 3 HP socks for the knit-along, while I only did one so far. (*sigh*) I have to start working on my Hufflepuff/Hawkeye socks soon, before they become Alumini socks.

Kudos to Squib-stitcher, Dreams in Fiber, Bobilicious, and all other HP knitters who are apparently doing more work than the dang hostess.

Oh, and by the way... I hope you all had a wonderful St. Patrick's day. Don't laugh, but I baked this cake, cut it out into a shamrock, and made a cream-cheese frosting with coconuts inside. The worst part is that my mom was poking fun of the "stem" of the leaf. You can only imagine what she said it looked like. *Oh dear. What am I going to do with her?*

Let's just say I had my fill of St. Patrick's day. I had it THREE days in a row. Yeah. Eh.
Yeah, I know. The cake does look like a peice of crap. It was hard though.

New craft #1 has almost been completed. Pictures are to come (later).

A fusion of color

The idea of creating a fun and spunky plate-mat has been storming my head for quite some time. I started one yesterday starting from the ends and decreasing to the center, but it was more like a tent than a perfect circle. So, I frogged it and went to bed. Today, I decided to try again, using EZ's "Pi" (Joe has issues with her terminology) technique. So, I guess I'm on a circle fad lately. I'm getting pretty excited about the idea of owning my own apartment with Joe in the near future. This would be a great table piece. I was thinking about a collection of 4 or 6 of them, as well as crocheted squares for bowls. That's still to be determined.

It's really hard to admit it (well, maybe not that hard), but I was really digging the whole crochet edge with this yarn. It actually made me want to create another mat solely out of single crochet stitching. I did only 4 rounds, and should have done 5, because it looked nice...but what are you going to do?

Pattern: my own

Needles: size 10.5 dpns

Fiber: Yarn Treehouse's "Daisy" 100% wool. It's chunky & wonderful

Yards: approx. 90 yds

Diameter: TBD after further felting

Felting this was fun. I was really worried about the middle, because it wouldn't flatten down for some reason. Luckily, water works magic, and gave me enough leeway to felt it flat with piping hot water in my sink. I will end of felting it just a bit more, to be a pinch smaller, and more evenly felted. Until now, it's chilling on my floor...and screaming for a partner.

Maybe tomorrow.
P.S-I also posted yesterday. Sorry about the once-a-week posting thing lately.