Entrelac? Enchante!

(I love alliteration… couldn’t you tell??)

I’ve become obsessed with entrelac and lace. I was afraid to try either of these for a long time, but I got over myself. Like most things in life, they looked hard until I figured it out…now I’m obsessed! Madness, I know

Yes, I’m still working on Wisp. I’m ~80% done with it. I hope to finish it before July starts. I wonder if I can just use one skein of Parisienne to do so… I reckon I’m cutting it close already. But the tiny ball (hehe) has impressed me so far. I have 6 repeats left! Can I make it??!?? *dun dun dun*

I’ve just been slacking lately.

My life has felt lackluster… I’m so fed up of my yob (job) and my life in general… so I decided I’m going back to school! Yes, it’s true…. I don’t wanna be stuck at a dead end job for the rest of my life, so it’s back to hitting the books for me.

Enough about that! Pictures of my first entrelac project:

These are the base triangles.

This is tier 1 - left side triangle and middle right slanting diamonds.

Tier 1 - right side triangle

The beginning of Tier 2 - first left slanting diamond completed

Tier 2 - two left slanting diamonds done!!

I’m using di.Vé Teseo (rav link) and US9 needles… and I;m glad I didn’t use the recommended needle size on the label. I’m using needles a size down and it’s still a bit loose. I dunno if that’s good or bad… * shrugs*

I’m using the Entrelac Scarf Tutorial by KnittyOtter. It’s a great tutorial… however the way certain things were worded were a bit hazy. Whenever she says “pick up and knit x stitches along the selvedge edge of the next triangle/diamond. It took me a while to figure out it’s not the one next to the one you’re working; you pick up stitches from the *bottom or side*.  Also, the first time I attempted to pick up and knit the stitches, I always came out on the wrong side of where I was supposed to be… I literally knit them after I pick them up, one at a time. Other than that, it was easy to follow. I’ll be making more entrelac things in the future

In other fiber news, I’ve joined up with the Rubberneckers on Ravelry for the annual Tour de Fleece. We’ll be spinning along with the bikers of the Tour De France. We’ll spin everyday the tour is running, with two dedicated rest days, and a challenge day. I’m looking for ward to it, as I haven;t been spinning much lately. It’ll help reduce my fiber stash, add more lovely yarn to my yarn stash, and give me an excuse to buy more fiber

My friend Bonnie was kind enough to give me a $30 gift certificate to buy more roving for the TdF

It was the best birthday present I got this year… well, pretty much the only gift I got

More updates on (the hopefully finished) Wisp and the entrelac tutorial by Friday. Soon I’ll be able to start that entrelac hat pattern by Nangelini! I already have the two skeins of Noro Silk garden and all of the accouterments necessary to start it. Squee! <3

Tags: accomplished, awesome, colorful, cool pattern, di.Vé Teseo, entrelac, hand spinning, Knitting, noro, obsession, project, ravelry, shawl, tour de fleece, tutorial

Yes, I AM Still Working on Wisp!

Yes, it’s slow going! I hope to finish it before July…

I'm about halfway done. I have 7 out of 15 pattern repeats done

I got a lot of compliments on it when I went out to the Brooklyn Central Library for World Wide Knit in Public Day. It was a nice little gathering… I ended up signing up for the newly forming Brooklyn Fiber Arts Guild. There was a raffle and I won a prize! I won this:

Squeee!

Which I had on my BOMC2 queue to get next month!! I was so happy… I never win anything in raffles <3

I’ve made some more ice creams; I’ve made a chocolate and a strawberry to keep the vanilla company I’ll take pictures soon. I have to start making some more. So many things to do… it feels so overwhelming sometimes. I just want to make myself things, and to hell with selling stuff… not the best mentality to have…but I iz lazy

I have been neglecting my shop! I haven’t made anymore earrings or bracelets. I must do that this week… just not today or Wednesday.  Wednesday is mah birthday!! But I’m broke, so I didn’t go overload on yummy yarn this year Maybe next paycheck… but I have so much yarn right now, it;s a non-issue. I have more yarn than projects I wanna do

I might start either an entrelac tutorial, or [fiiinallllyyyyy!] the Blue Curacao shawl tonight… I’ll see how I feel. Come July, I’ll be doing the Tour de Fleece, so I won’t be knitting at home much, if at all [I will have a To-Go project of some sort, dunno what yet...]. I suppose I’ll be starting entrelac, then… and I guess that can be my To-Go project for July… but I have so many more yummy projects I wanna do *wails*

I’m too damn decisive for my own damn good :/

Tags: books, colorful, cool pattern, entrelac, Knitting, shawl, WWKIPD

I iz Finished! Woot!

I finished these on saturday, but I was too lazy to post the pictures then

They are way more comfy than the other socks I made...

Squee! <3

Sorry for the shitty picture quality; Ash took this in her room

Shitty picture of the bottom

They took me way longer than necessary to finish… I got bored of them, I think. I did find two other sock patterns to get excited about though. I actually paid for them (shocking, I know!)

I attempted to start one on Saturday while I was at the laundry mat…. the way the pattern was written made it so there was an extra 4 stitches left over from the pattern repeat…which seemed to make no sense to me. I was also using variegated yarn (my nummy rainbow-esque merino handyed sock yarn<3), which did not mesh well with the stitch pattern… I couldn’t really see what was going on . I frogged it and decided to start it over with another one of my handyed yarns, this one mostly solid (it has flecks of color, but not distracting

I’ve also warmed up to Wisp. It has gotten easier (even on the train!) to work on. I’m up to my third repeat. There are supposed to be 17 panels of fisherman lace; I have three done, and am on my third knit panel… a little ways to go. I might just keep going and use up both skeins for this; I suppose it depends on if I can squeeze out the whole 17 panels in one skein or not.

I think this is more of a scarf than a shawl… I’ve been mislabeling it the whole time! (oh well).

Hopefully I’ll be done before the end of the month… I might be able to make that  happen. I’ve pretty much finished up the one swap I have due this month. I have two swaps due in July… will start cranking out shit for those later in the month/early July.

I feel like making a hat. Having a bad hair week made me rediscover ,y love of hats! I’ll have to make a hat by the weekend… I’m getting my hair done, which will prolly defeat the purpose, huh? But I can make a hat in an evening…

I have the most awesomest idea for a crocheted hat, too! <3

Stay tuned. Pictures of Wisp later this week. hopefully there will be more progress

Tags: colorful, crochet, Hat, Knitting, shawl, socks

Super Awesome Netbook Sleeve

^__^

This was a quick crochet; the only problem I had with it was it was a bit awkward to hold while working on it, and my ring kept getting caught in it

Ta da! <3

Back view

With my baby inside...

Top View

Side View

If anyone is interested, I’m going to make another one and take notes so I can post a pattern for it. It’s seamless… crocheted in one piece with only minimal weaving of ends required. I’m too lazy to make something and have to sew it up afterwards

The few notebook sleeves I’ve seen on Ravelry are either knitted, or seamed (if crocheted)

My decision to use Red Heart worked out wonderfully… it’s sturdy, but has a bit of give (as I made the sleeve slightly smaller than the netbook) and it cushions nicely.

I’m thinking about making some to sell in the shop… I think they’ll sell well (har har)

Tags: accomplished, awesome, colorful, crochet, original pattern

WIP it Good!

I’ve been a busy bee!

Updates on Wisp:

I'm getting there...

Slowly yet surely.

I’ve gotten up to the first knit panel! (gee, I only have like 15 panels to go :/) I’ve made this my main travel project, as I am just about done with the socks… which still need to be finished. I am so close, I can almost taste it—-

So close!

I just have like one more row of the cuff to do, and then the heel I’ll try to finish it tonight, but I prolly won’t get to it until tomorrow, as I have a BBQ to go to later

I didn’t bring Wisp with me today. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked

I just got a netbook this weekend (squee!) I got this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Asus-1001P-MU17-PI-10-1-Inch-Netbook-Computer/dp/B00322PYW2

It was on sale at PC Richards for $289… good deal, and I really needed it so there went about half my paycheck :3

I needed a sleeve for my new baby, but (broke as I now am) wasn’t gonna spend $15-25 on one.

So I decided to crochet one

Squee! Isn't it looking swell?

I’m a genius, what can I say?

I started it like I would a crocheted sock… but this time, I measured the short side, and chained 1/2- 1″ less than the length, then increased it until it was the length needed (I wanted a nice, rounded end). I chose to use Red Heart, as I needed a good, sturdy yarn that would cushion… the colorway (lipstick) is coming out in this amazing stripey pooling effect… I couldn’t have planned it better myself. People talk shit about variegated yarns and their pooling effects, but they have been nothing but good to me. This reminds me of when I made the Vertigo Hat… the colors pooled to make stripes! <3

I’ve brought it along to work on…. I started it at 12:30 this morning, and I’m about halfway done now. Should take 2-3 hrs in total, tops.

I may make some to sell in the shop… I was thinking about making some with fabric linings and foam inserts for extra protection… Guess we’ll see.

More pictures when finished… which will more than likely be tonight.

Tags: awesome, colorful, crochet, netbook sleeve, original pattern, red heart super saver, shawl, socks, technology

Yarn!!! (and Other Things…)

I haz yarn!! <3

I ordered some Malabrigo from TheCozyEwe.com. They have Mal yarn at fabulous prices… I was on a yarn diet for a month before I placed this order. I figured if I was gonna do a yarn binge, might as well do it fabulously with my fave yarn brand!

Squee! [don't mind my lunch int he background...

Malabrigo Lace - Shocking Pink. I dunno what's so shocking about it...

Malabrigo Silky - Amaoroso. Very Valentine-ish, I know...

Malabrigo Silky - Marrecuos I <3 their variegated yarns!

Malabrigo Lace - Azalea I wish I could find this colorway in the worsted line... gorgeous!

Squee!

I love Malabrigo (did I say that enough times already??!??)

I haven’t the foggiest idea what to make with it… but when do I ever? I stockpile yarn like I’m waiting for the apocalypse, and it is rare when I purchase yarn with a specific project in mind. Well, I’m definitely making some sort of scarves out of the Silky. I’ve been very fascinated with lace knitting, and making shawls, so… mayhap another lace shawl shall be made.

Can I even consider the eyelet shawl to be lace?

I think so…

I want to start something with the Mal I just got, like yesterday. But I’ve got a sock to finish, and a Wisp to pick up again… That wisp. I’ve been hesitant to pick it up again… perhaps I’ll work on it tonight while watching Law and Order: SVU.

I’ve been watching it on Netflix since Friday… I’m in the middle of Season 3 right now. It’s so bad, I didn’t even open the Season 3 Disc 1 I got of Dexter… and I love that show! I got like 12 seasons of SVU to get through… I’ll have to take a break eventually, I guess. (soon?) My friend Wallace burned me season 1 of Glee that I have yet to watch, and I also have a slew of bootlegged movies my mom got that I want to watch. They make for great background noise when I work…. until I get caught up watching and get no work done

I am 70% done with the socks. I am less than an inch away from the heel breakdown, so I could prolly finish it tonight and start lugging Wisp around instead. Or I could start another project to lug with me. I dunno what to do…

I’ll figure it out.

Last night, I realized my Ravelry queue is hugemongous, so I whittled it down from almost 400 (!) to 219… and it’s still too high. I’ll never be able to do all of those projects! Besides, I have over 20 books filled with patterns that should probably take precedent… seeing as how I actually paid for the books and all But there are so many awesome patterns, and my Rav friends are always making such nice things so I tend to stalk ‘em and add whatever they did to my queue

Business, business! I’ve made some charm bracelets for the shop. I’ve also made a paid of OOAK earrings I am loath to part with; they’re really ossum… I really have to figure a way to convert standard earrings to wear with my tunnels. It’s the only regret I’ve had about stretching my ears. I’ll figure it out someday. In the meanwhile, I have more than enough 2g ear ornaments (can’t really call them rings, n’est ce pas?)

Enough blabbing for now. Hopefully I’ll finish the socks soon. I reckon I might start another pair of socks, this time with that rainbow one I dyed up a month or so ago. Or maybe another shawl?? -__-

Tags: colorful, Dexter, law and order SVU, malabrigo, Netflix, obsession, ravelry queue, socks, TV Shows, yarn

Wispy Progress! Yarn Diet Over!

Well, progress at a snail’s pace anyway:

Aren't the colors amazing??!??

It'll look better when blocked (I hope... )

ZOMG this is a bitch on my hands and wrist… this yarn is hard to work with… could be my needles, could be the fact the needles are (intentionally) too big for the weight, could be the yarn… or a combination of all the above.

I did consider frogging this, or hibernating it. It takes me like 20 minutes to complete a fucking row. It’s gorgeous, but this is going to be a time suck. I *could* frog (O__O) and use needles a size or two down, which would be counter-intuitive, I think….

Arrgghhhhhhh.

I knew I should have started Entrelac instead *smh*

Anyway…

I’ve ordered some more of my favoritest yarn in the world, Malabrigo Silky. I really think it’s the Bee’s Knees <3 It’s soft, warm (but not too), and the drape? Ohhhh. It has the subtle shine of silk….the softness of Merion… who can ask for more? Of course, Malabrigo are known for their awesome colorways, too. I was tempted to get some more of the ones I’ve had…but nah. I decided to get two new ones, Amoroso and Marruecos (two of each… enough for more shawls/scarves ). I also picked up some Malabrigo Lace… I’m becoming more and more interested in lace knitting… which surprises me ’cause I have the patience of a match in the wind. I sincerely think that knitting these shawls have helped with my patience I also bought some more undyed yarn to dye up for the shop…

So, uh, my Yarn Diet is officially over.

I lasted a whole month, though

This one lady on Ravelry has a stash of over 700… I was flabbergasted. I thought I had a huge stash… I should have known better. Mine (as it is now…) can at least be used in a year or two (three?). Hers…? There is no humanly way possible for one person to use that much yarn… if she made one project a week, (even two) she’d die before she finished O_o

….I may love yarn, but I have other interests and do spend my money on other foolishness stuff >__>

I also bought more bean bag fill, and 13 skeins of black embroidery floss… I had bought a multi-pack of36, with two skeins of most colors. Guess which one is running out first?  I cannot find any in my local stores of just black… I’d have to buy another pack; which would be wasteful as I barely use any other colors besides black and pink… and there were like 4 different hues of pink in the multi-pack. *whew*

I searched and searched… JoAnn’s had them like $.50 a skein… the cheapest I’d seen them online, so… I bought 13 (don’t ask). I also needed more bean bag fill, and they had it pretty cheap there (compared to how much I paid for the one I’m almost done with anyway).

I’m all over the damn place.

Tags: colorful, Knitting, malabrigo, ravelry, ravelry queue, scarf, yarn

Ice Cream!

^_^

I love ice cream…. too bad it doesn’t love me back. Or so I thought.

I have made some amigurumi ice cream cones.

This is my prototype. I think she came out very cute ^__^

Being a prototype is a lot to live up to. I wasn’t satisfied with the way the cone came out on this one… I wanted a more realistic cone, like this:

I wanted that prominent ridge on the top...

So I decided to try again…

This time, the ridge was perfect...but the head too big :/

You can see more pictures of her on my Flickr Photostream; I iz too lazy to put anymore up

From one problem to the next: This time I made the head too big. The cone has (to my estimation) the same stitch count as the first, minus the ridged part… I think that’s where the crucial difference lies. The ice cream part also; I got a bit carried away with the increases on it…

I’ve actually made an Italian Ice one, too… pictures later. I am happy with the way it came out; I’m learning as I make up shit

Another ice cream or Italian ice (mebbe one of each?) will be made today

Tags: accomplished, amigurumi, crochet, cute, fun!, pattern, project, squee

One Down, One to Go, Shop Open, and Wispy

I got one sock done! <3

Ta da! <3

This is really comfy ^__^

Top view.

Doesn't look too glamorous here... but *shrugs*

I’ve started the second foot, but I’ve been slacking. I should have been at least halfway done with it. This weekend was rather hectic, so I didn’t touch it once. I also didn’t work on it on the way to work today, like I always do. Huh. I hope the novelty hasn’t worn off…

I like the other sock's toe better :/

I’m gonna start Wisp tonight, too…. I want to at least cast it on. It’s one of the patterns I’ve been dying to do! <3

The Beginning

Eek! I didn’t realize how late it is… time flies. I’ll only have the strength to cast on and nothing more

Damn, I lost one of my point protectors when I was doing the Eyelet Shawl :/

I’m tired. Updates perhaps on Wednesday or Thursday, as I’m off both days this week.

BTW, the shop’s open! I’ve only put up 13 items so far (all stitch markers), aaaand I have a ton to go…. i have like 10 stitch marker sets alone left to put up, not to mention the earrings, fascinators, amigurumi and other assorted things…

I’ll be listing forever…

I got some new charms in today, too. Pictures this week, I promise!

Tags: colorful, cool pattern, design, shawl, sock, socks, wisp