Kandinsky Inspired Slippers

Pattern: Keep Away Slipper (ravelry, sorry)
Needles: 9 and 10
Yarn: Patton's Classic Merino, wool roving


Modifications:
I only increased up to 24sts, because a lot of people on ravelry mentioned that their slippers were turning out too large. @4 ended up being perfect. I also knit 5 rounds instead of 3 after turning the heel.


I used the Turkish cast on and knit in the round on two circulars. This tutorial was really helpful in casting on. I think both techniques are pretty cumbersome, but the nice thing about knitting with the intent to felt is that minor mistakes blend away. The increase lines on my toes had huge holes. I went back in and wove a strand of yarn through them before felting and they closed up with no problem, but I would never use this for non-felted socks.


This project was really an excuse to try my hand at some needle felting. The needle felting was fun and really easy. The only drawback is that my wrist and shoulder would ache after a while. But, like any good knitter, I would never let a little carpal tunnel stand in the way of getting a project done!

Miles and Miles of Squares

Pattern: Sheep and Wool Hat
Needles: size 7 and 8
Yarns: GGH Campano (multi) and Plymouth Yarn Suri Merino (cream)

Modifications:
For the crown, I used the decrease style from Brooklyn Tweed’s Turn a Square Hat. I did double the decreases to make it more shallow. The only thing I wish I had done differently was pick 2 yarns closer in weight. Alas.

I really enjoyed knitting this. I've never done stranded knitting before, and I was surprised how easy it was. I don't think I'm ready to tackle some crazy 6 color sweater of a Nativity scene or anything, but I would like to make the Ode to Eames socks one day.

I've also never done a knitted hem before, but that went well also. It makes the hat very warm.

*mmm...hat guts*

I made this for my sister at her request and she says she likes it and that it matches her snowboarding jacket, hooray! I made two different sizes of optional pompoms to accommodate her level of whimsy at the moment.

*ignore the bizarre look of my shoulders. it's hard taking a picture of the top of your own head*

I have one more project I finished this 2008, but it's going to have to wait until '09 to be posted. Oh well, so it goes.

Happy New Year! My your 2009 be full of good cheer and fun projects!

1,000 Shades of Gray

We awoke to a dense fog this morning. Heavier than any fog I've ever seen. These pictures were taken about and hour after I got up and it had lightened up a little.

I took Mr. W to work this morning and we went over an overpass where the visibility was so reduced that it looked like the road would end any second and we could see nothing but fog on either side. From a safety standpoint, it was pretty scary. From a cool standpoint, it was awesome in a sci-fi way. I really wish I had had my camera with me.

The weather was dreary yesterday too, but not nearly as interesting as the fog. It was more stir-crazy weather. Can you tell I've been a little bored? I'm loving the free time I have to craft right now, but you can only do so much.

Knitting Bag

* how can I not make at least one gift?*

My 9 year old nice has started knitting. I taught her how to purl when I visited over Thanksgiving and she learned it easily. I'm really impressed with how quickly she can knit, especially since she uses really long straight needles. They reach from her fingertips to just past her elbows - forearm length needles.
Her yarn was all in a tangle too. It's hard to keep a yarn ball in neat order when you drag it around with you everywhere.

So I couldn't resist making her a knitting bag. Well, knitting backpack. I bought the bag pre-made at Joann's and stenciled it. I bought the star stencils, but I printed and cut out the stencils for the knitting skull and her name. (The weird snaky blur thing is her name I scribbled out in Photoshop for privacy.)

Her last birthday party theme was pink and black pirate skulls so hopefully she's still into it.

Growing up, I had a family member that I rarely saw and persisted in giving me ceramic carousel horses years after the very brief period in which I collected them was over. It's not the gift, of course, and as an adult I see that clearly. But I would like to give gifts that are thoughtful and relevant, even if I only get to see some members of my family once a year or so.

Also, I worry about being the crazy aunt giving homemade presents, but I think a homemade gift from one knitter to another is always welcome.

cout out and keep.net

There's a new craft website in town - cutoutandkeep.net. It's another online craft community, but it's entirely devoted to free step-by-step tutorials. Ravelry and I have quite the love affair, and Craftster is great when you just want to aimlessly browse so I'm not quite sure how this new site will fit into my online craft community thing. (OMG I am such a nerd.) It seems like it will be a good resource and eaiser to navigate than Craftster. My sn on there is wagon full of stars.

House

Mr. W and I have wanted to buy a house since last year. We occasionally break down and look at houses on Austin Home Search or Zillow even though we really won't be able to start looking for another 6 months or so. We got into a debate about what we would want in our perfect house. He wants a good kitchen and a comfortable living room. I want a sleeping porch and a tower, etc.

I had a bit of free time at school last Friday so I decided to design my perfect house. When you walk in, the room to the right is the living room. To the left is the dining room and from there you can walk into the kitchen, which is in the smaller brick tower. On top of it is the kitchen garden, where perfect tomatoes grow year-round. There's nothing like a really good tomato.

The next tower, the yellow one, has the library / studio and master suite. And, of course, the master bathroom has two sinks. The long, low part of the house is for the other four bedrooms. The roof is tin, so it sounds extra nice when it rains.

The taller brick tower has the lap pool on top and the garage on the bottom, with a little room below the pool with a changing area and dry sauna.

And you can't tell this from the drawing, but there is a courtyard in the middle and the sleeping porch in the back.

If anyone knows someone who works in daydream real estate, let me know :)

Colorless Green Mitts Breed Furiously

I made these immediately after Fetching, but it's taken me a good long while to write this up. I made up this pattern sitting bored at school one day and I'm very happy with the results. I thought I would share it. It takes very little yarn, is quick, and could be a good gift knit. so, here ya go:

Wiggle Fingerless Mitts

Yarn: Worsted weight and soft. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca. It took much less than one skein.
Needles: Size 6 dpns.

CO 44 sts an join rnd, careful not to twist
R1: (p1, k4) 4 times. p1. work in 1x1 rib, starting with a knit st, to the end of the round. Repeat this rnd 1 more time.

R3: ( p1,C4B, p1, k4) 2x. p1. work in 1x1 rib, starting with a knit st, to the end of the round.
R4: work the same as rnd 1.

R5: Work in cable panel pattern as follows:

1: (p1, k4, p1, C4F) 2x. p1. work rest of round in stockinette.
2: (p1, k4) 4 times. p1. work rest of round in stockinette.
3: (p1, C4B, p1, k4) 2x. p1. work rest of round in stockinette.
4: work same as round 2


Repeat these 4 rounds until you're ready to place the thumb. for me, that was at 4 inches.

Thumb: For the right hand, work across the cable panel. K2. Using waste yarn, k7; slip these sts back to left needle and k them again using working yarn. Continue working the rest of the round in pattern.

For the left hand, work the round you're on until 9 sts remain on the left needle. Using waste yarn, k7; slip these sts back to left needle and k them again using working yarn. K2.

After setting up to make the thumb, work in pattern for another 2 inches and BO. Almost done!

Finish the Thumb:
Remove the waste yarn and place resulting live sts on two double-point needles. There will be 7 sts below the opening and 6 sts above. Attach yarn and k the 7 sts on lower needle; using a second needle, pick up and k 2 sts (I wrap the picked up sts. to help avoid holes) in the space between the upper and lower needle, k first 3 sts from upper needle; using a third needle, k remaining 3 sts from upper needle and pick up (and wrap, if desired) and k 2 sts in space between this needle and lower needle. 17 sts.

K 4 rounds. BO and weave in ends.

Ta Da!

This is the first time I've ever written a pattern out, so please send me any corrections!