Something that occurred to me yesterday...

It was absolutely freezing cold, and lately, I've taken to wearing my Clapotis that I knit over a year ago. Before, I had been reluctant because I found it bulky and thought it needed blocking. However, as time has worn by, I realized I prefered it curly and that the bulkiness gave me added warmth, especially now that I'm in the freezing cold temperatures of the Northeast. (I am currently wrapped up in a blankie.)



(Said Clapotis. Yes, it's a terrible picture. I took it last year.)

Yesterday, I was sitting in class, freezing cold. I had taken my jacket off because... well... who wears a huge poofy down jacket indoors? I wrapped myself up in my Clapotis and found that I was extremely warm. Furthermore, the yarn (absolutely luxurious and beautiful... Mountain Colors 4/8's in Raspberry... too nice of a fiber for a novice knitter like me at the time) was gorgeous and the variegation of it was lovely... except for the strange blue pooling in one part but we'll ignore that. It occured to me how much I loved the Clapotis.

Okay, so long story short, I decided I needed another Clapotis, but a lighter, springy one. I also thought that my darling aunt (for whom I knit the vintage beaded gloves) would happily receive a Clapotis as well. Perhaps for her birthday in early August. Clapotis knitting in the summer? I've decided to knit it in fingering weight, so why not? It'll be perfect for fall.

I've decided to start earlier with my Christmas knitting this year. The only problem is after I've finished something I REALLY want to give it to said person.

Pictures will have to wait. I'm in Connecticut right now. But since it's Eye Candy Friday, here's a picture of a beach in CT I took during Thanksgiving...

It's a bit lonely

I need to meet knitters in New York. Seriously. There must be tons and I don't know any of them.

I must confess, it gets a bit lonely.

Also, who knew it was so freaking difficult to take pictures? Since I've made my return to the city, I have been amazingly productive and finished off three (albeit small) projects. Anyway. I shall wait for better photos.

Eye Candy Friday? and FOs

Leafless branches against the blue, wintry Fremont sky... and in the corner, a palm tree? A sight I won't be privy to for another year. Sigh. I leave for New York tomorrow night!

One night my sister asked me for wristwarmers... or "ninja gloves" as she called them. What she actually meant was fingerless gloves. Oops. But I whipped up these guys and had 'em ready for her in a day.


Cabled Wristwarmers
pattern: my own... took the cable from a stitch dictionary
needles: 3.5 mm (US 4)
yarn: Wool-Ease Chestnut Heather

The unfortunate thing about having two "homes" is the fact I can't carry all my needles with me everywhere. I had left my DPNs back in New York so I knit these guys up on straights. Straights! Seaming! Le gasp! But they're nice and are warm. My sister still wants her ninja gloves though.


Misty Garden Scarf - for Jaimee
pattern: Misty Garden Scarf from Scarf Style... really just a feather and fan
needles: 5.0 mm (US 8)
yarn: Paton's SWS in Natural Plum

A VERY late Christmas gift, for my friend Jaimee. I'm not really a fan of the yarn, honestly. It's a bit too scratchy for my liking and it doesn't frog well at all. I do love the colors and the way the striping looks, especially paired with this pattern.


See? Ripply and pretty!


Twilight Lace Wrap - for Mom
pattern: from Interweave Knits' Holiday Gifts
needles: 5.5 mm (US 9)
yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Night shade 608

I love this yarn. So soft, so light, so wispy, and so warm. I didn't check gauge before I started. I figured, hey! Scarf! Gauge doesn't matter?

Hah. I ran into problems when I realized I couldn't make it to the 16 repeats the the pattern recommended for each half. So I fudged around, doing 15 for one side and 9 for the other. Luckily for me, you can hardly notice where one half ends and the other starts. It's still rather long (72" just like the pattern says) and I have quite a bit of yarn leftover... me being cautious and all.


I'd say this was a rather productive winter break.

Tying up loose ends

Historical fiction and knitting... two of my loves.


I can't say I highly recommend The Boleyn Inheritance... it wasn't nearly as good as The Other Boleyn Girl but it was still an intriguing read and anyone who loves Philippa Gregory or reading about Henry and his many wives (I would fall into the latter category) should give it a look. It was cheap at Costco! So I picked it up. It proved a nice companion as I stayed up way late knitting away at my Twilight Lace Wrap, determined to finish. The knitting's done, but I still need to block it.

After years of watching me, my sister finally decided she'd like to (re)learn how to knit.


Yes, English. That's how I learned. I've been trying to train myself in the continental, but old habits die hard. Here she is showing off her nice little swatch:


She's a dilligent little knitter, and she soon finished off a scarf for her bear, so creatively named (at the age of 2) Brownie.


I picked up some yarn at Michael's (sigh) as that's the closest thing I have to a yarn store here back at home... that's not an hour drive away, anyway. I picked up some of Paton's SWS in Natural Plum, drawn to the beautiful colors, for a scarf for my friend as a late, late birthday present. It's a bit itchy. I wouldn't knit another scarf for anyone else in this yarn again, I don't think, but the colors are devastatingly beautiful. Lovely, deep, jewel tones that melt right into each other. However, as I was knitting, I came across this...

I wanted to scream.

I finally finished the Infernal Hat and presented it to my friend on New Year's Eve.


Infernal Hat
pattern: I made it up and geez... the decreases were ugly.
needles: 2.75 mm (US 2)
yarn: Dale Ull Norway something something.

I'm almost done with all my gift knitting and am looking forward to knitting for me... though truth be told I adore knitting for others. But I'm wanting to venture off to sweater knitting. If I start now, I probably would finish in time for next winter.