iPod is so cozy
I have given in; I joined the Cult of i. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
I don't want to proselytize, but the iPod has changed my life. Before, I had to schlep around a duct tape-secured CD player and overstuffed caddy of discs - those things get heavy. Think of the stress I'm not putting on my body. And podcasts of
Democracy Now! and
The Ricky Gervais Show have already begun to enrich my life.
Furthermore, in the spirit of the calico-quilted, lace-covered bibles carried around my high school and colleghttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gife campuses:
My pattern was kind of my own. I cast 36 stitches onto size 8 double pointed needles (that I made
myself), and knit in the round until it was 6" long. About half way, I put the semicolon in there, and finished with a blanket stitch to close the bottom and embellish the top. I used Patons Classic Merino in black, and Lamb's Pride Bulky in Blue Blood Red. My attempt at felting was limited by the fact that I don't have a washer. Next time I go to the laundromat, I'll toss it in the wash and see what happens.
One of us...one of us...
Meow
This one I got right!
Michele happily models her Kittyville hat on New Year's Eve. I made it with Lamb's Pride Bulky, Blue Blood Red. It matches the very first scarf I ever made and my first attempt at mittens. It took three years, but now she has a complete set.
Christmas Hatastrophes
I had a terrible time getting my ladies' Christmas presents to come out right this year.
I made my first attempt at felting with a cloche style hat. The pattern was straight forward, but it seemed like it was getting too big as I knit. I cut the height short by several inches, but it was still very tall before felting. But I pressed on, and threw it in the wash. Four times on the hottest, longest cycle. It just wouldn't get small enough.
The yarn I used has been around since at least the early 80s (a gift from a friend's mom when she cleaned out her crafty room). Perhaps the age of the yarn effected the shrinkage, but no matter the reason, revafisheye looked more like Nefertiti or Donald from Fat Albert than Thoroughly Modern Millie.
I was so excited to make personalized Jayne Cobb hats for my two favorite Firefly fans. Unfortunately, I misread my gauge. That wasn't all. When I finished the first one and realized it was too big, I thought, "Hey, it's a wool blend. I'll just wash it and it will shrink." With this plan in mind, I continued on with the second one using the same yarn and needles. When the first went in the wash with one of the aforementioned felting attempts: disaster. Not only did it not shrink, it lost all elasticity, coming out bigger than before.
Post-wash
Pre-finish
Criminy. I was on track to finish Christmas prezies before the New Year. Oh well, it just wouldn't be February if my friends weren't getting Christmas presents from me.
Happy holidays
... whatever you celebrate!
I crocheted a garland for my Christmas tree with a size Q hook and Paton's Divine in Regal Red. It's just one long chain - and took about 3 minutes. It looks especially nice with the pug accent.
Merry Happy!
Make your own knitting needles
I looked high and low for size 13 double pointed knitting needles while visiting my family in NC. There were none to be found anywhere, so I made my own (plus Dad and I got to bond over a trip to Lowe's and discussion of appropriate power tools for the job). Ultimately, mujerisma was the only power necessary.
Oak dowl rods (3/8" = approximately size 13 (9mm) needles), tape measure, pencil
Measure and mark dowl every 8"
Cut dowls with saw
Make dull points with a pencil sharpener
Sand until smooth (I used fine sand paper and followed with 000 gauge steel wool)
Hold your awesome needles aloft in victory
Show off battle scar with pride (blister from pencil sharpener)
Kids love hats as much as toys*
Luke in the SnB Umbilical Hat
Levi in a slight variation of the Umbilical Hat sans cord
Laine in a striped rib knit cap
The most surprising reaction was from Laine: "Aunt Leigh, these are pretty colors!" He put the hat on and went back to playing with his new Transformer. About 20 minutes later, he looked up and said, "Aunt Leigh, I have to take my hat off 'cause I'm hot."
They like them; they really like them.
*okay, almost
Kittyville hat
For Jen's birthday. She's wanted it ever since she got me the
Stitch n Bitch book for my birthday last year.
