All posts by peneloping

Finished Project: Laminaria

October 30, 2011 peneloping

Pattern: Laminaria by Elizabeth Freeman
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Emerald, 1 skein
Started: October 20, 2011
Finished: October 30, 2011

Ravelry page

I’m pretty bad at gauging how much stuff I need for a project. When I shop for a sewing project, I’ll usually draw up some sketches and decide that I need three yards of fabric, but then when I’m at the cutting table at the store, I’ll suddenly decide to get an extra half yard just in case, and of course when all is said and done I have two whole yards of the material left over.

With yarn it’s different. It’s string. And quantities are measured in the triple digits as opposed to single digits.

But I’m equally as bad at gauging how much yarn I have left for the amount of knitting that hasn’t been done and whether or not I need to be panicking. Usually I end up being fine.

This time I was short by about ten yards (again, a total guess). I ended up doing a normal (tighter) bind off instead of the fancy loose one. It’s blocking right now, and if the little pointy ends look ok I’m just going to leave it.

It should be fine though. I never wear shawls as shawls, and they always end up tied around my neck anyway so it shouldn’t matter.

Gahh.

Hippity.

October 14, 2011 peneloping

I can’t remember what was going through my head when I decided to search bunny slippers on Ravelry, but I came across the most adorable pattern and they’ve just been sitting in my queue for ages, bleating at me to knit them. Because bunnies bleat. Yees.

Anyway, yesterday I somehow ended up at the yarn store again (no idea how that happened) looking for some yarn for a Summer Flies shawl and ended up walking out with two skeins of white wool and size 11 circulars. Again, no idea how that happened, although I suspect it had something to do with an inability to decide what color I wanted to do that shawl in.

I worked on them for about an hour before class and about an hour after, and they’re all knitted up! Seaming was really quick as well.

I’m somewhat hoping my feet might suddenly grow an extra two inches longer and wider so these will fit because I haven’t yet grown the balls to go for my first attempt at felting anything ever.

2 Comments knitting bunny slippers - hopsalot - knitting

Gardening.

October 13, 2011 peneloping

From the left: parsley, mint, lavender, rosemary.

When I lived in San Diego I had an epic garden. I started out with the small stuff, just some herbs and a tomato plant. By the time I was through I had several tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers, butternut squash, cayenne pepper, beans, strawberries, and a bay tree, and then an indoor herb garden of mint, green onion, rosemary, thyme, chives, basil, and chamomile.

Needless to say, now that I’ve finally moved somewhere I’m going to stay for more than six months, I’ve been pining to start a garden of sorts again.

I know absolutely nothing about gardening in New England. Actually, I know absolutely nothing about gardening outside of California, so this will be interesting.

In any case, it’s been four days and so far everyone’s still alive.

2 Comments life gardening - herbs

Finished Project: Morning Walk Headband

October 12, 2011 peneloping

Pattern: Morning Walk Headband Earwarmer by Tif Matthews
Yarn: Suri Surprise in Wineberry, less than 1 skein
Started: October 8, 2011
Finished: October 9, 2011

Ravelry page

I mentioned previously that I hate the way hats look on me.

Another thing I’m not a huge fan of is hat hair, especially when it’s been raining and the dampness of confining headwear leads to utterly unflattering hair-dos reminiscent of drowned rodents.

While I was at the yarn shop the other day, one of the ladies there recommended this pattern and was kind enough to print me a copy.

It’s a super quick knit, and ideal Christmas knits..!

The flower was done with Karin’s Rose pattern on Ravelry.

3 Comments finished knit finished knit - headband - knitting - tif matthews

Finished Project: Jane

October 11, 2011 peneloping

Pattern: Jane by Jane Richmond
Yarn: Lanaloft worsted in Feather Gold, 1 skein
Started: October 7, 2011
Finished: October 7, 2011

Ravelry page

I should start this off by mentioning that I hate hats.

Actually, that’s not entirely true. I love hats, I just hate the way they look on me. Usually.

I usually look bald unless my hair is in front of my ears under the hat, but then the hat doesn’t sit right with all that hair in the way. It’s just a disaster.

Somehow though, this one works.

I’m going to have to knit at least three more of these.

Sidenote: Taking photos of the back of my head in the mirror is surprisingly difficult. This one took eight tries.