Just Like Riding a Bicycle

After quite a long knitting hiatus, I'm back. Not exactly back with a vengeance, but back!

I've managed to make it twice to meet up with the Aloha Knitters on Thursdays. The first day I didn't want to delve into anything to mentally taxing (which included picking up any of my WIPs), so grabbed some cotton yarn and Mason Dixon Knitting to start on a ball-band dishcloth. Unfortunately, even that was a bit too much for my brain to handle and I made a mistake early on but didn't realize it until a while later; I ended up having to rip it all out.

Last week I picked back up the Clapotis. I don't think I've worked on it since Thanksgiving when I accidentally left it at my mom's (I got it back at Christmas). Luckily I have the charts from the Yahoo group and I'd marked where I was so I was able to start back up pretty easily. I don't have a ton left to do on the Clapotis, so I should be able to get it done soon. I think it's going to love at my office, which is pretty much the only place cold enough to warrant the Lion & Lamb.

And, because I need another craft like I need a hole in the head (though at least this one shouldn't take up that much more space), this book is making crochet really tempting! The deer and the "skully fish" are probably my favorite.

Wedding related knitting

Okay, I promised no wedding stuff, but I just had to share these:



Knitted ring bearer pillows from Martha Stewart.
I'm thinking about knitting these for ring bearer pillows. I might even try to duplicate stitch (or embroider) on the pillow the design we are using for the wedding (which is based on the beading on my dress).














I'm thinking of knitting a basket for the flower girl:

The the one at right is the Nantasket Basket. The pattern can be downloaded at The Knitting Zone.

It can be made either with the slip-stitch pattern (like shown) or plain.







I also really like some of the purses and/or embellishments put out by Noni. I'm thinking about making some of these to embellish a basket.


Here are a few other wedding and knitting related things:

A few free wedding patterns (everything from a garter to a whole wedding dress)
The Knitted Wedding
Wedding Knits (an entire book for wedding related knits)
I do (shrug pattern, if I wasn't getting married in a very warm place I might consider making this)

Cupcakes!!!

Well, it has been over 6 months since I last updated. When I got engaged I promised myself that I wouldn't use this blog to talk about wedding stuff. And I've kept to that promise. But, the result of keeping to that promise has been that I haven't had anything to blog about. I've done almost no knitting since last summer. A bit on Clapotis, and a bit on the Falling Leaves Socks, and one cat bed (the only thing actually finished- it was a Christmas gift).

We moved (back) to Hawai'i last month, and things have been rather hectic. We've finally found a place to live, but don't move in for 10 more days. I'm studying for the Bar exam, which is at the end of July; I have classes at night, which prevents me from being able to make it to the meet-ups on Thursday night. Other than that, my life is pretty much consumed by wedding planning.

But, I thought I would check in and share this little gem I came across the otherday. From VeganYumYum.com:







Aren't they adorable? Unfortunately, they are made with marzipan, which I find to be one of the worst tasting things out there. But they are cute! Cupcakes and knitting, what more could you ask for? More pictures and a link to instructions here.

And, for cupcake related crafts (instead of craft related cupcakes), check out this thread on craftster.com

No wonder there isn't much knitting going on...

I keep losing knitting related things.

Somehow over the move back to California this summer I lost the pattern for the Diagonal Triangle Tank. I can't find a store in California that carries the pattern, and I hate to order just a pattern online. This might be an excuse to order other things, but I'm really trying to not buy more yarn as I contemplate moving everything to Hawaii in May.

I cast on last month for the infamous Clapotis. I've had the yarn (Lion & Lamb in Black Purl) for ages, but every time I think to start on it is when I want a semi mindless pattern for travel knitting, but then I remember that the hanks haven't been wound into balls. Well, in the last trip to Hawaii I decided to just go for it. I knew we'd be spending a lot of time LAX because our flight was canceled (the put us on another flight- but it meant spending 5+ extra hours at LAX and missing the Thursday Aloha Knitters). We wound one hank by hand while standing in line to "check-in" for the cancelled flight. I made decent progress on it, despite not doing much, but then I forgot it at my mom's house over Thanksgiving. I could have her sent it to me, but I should be doing school work (finals!!), so I think I'll just get it over Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I've decided not to do too much Christmas knitting (maybe the fact that it is December 4th decided that for me). I need to finish up the slippers I made for my mom which were supposed to be a Christmas gift at least two years ago! They are mostly done, I think I just need to finish sewing on the soles. The only other thing I think I'll attempt is a mobius cat bed (from the Second Treasury of Magical Knitting) since my mom just got a new cat, Max. This leads me to the next knitting thing I can't find: my set of Denise Interchangables. The must be somewhere in the apartment, but I can't find them. I think they are going to have to wait until after finals to be found. Or, I could use this as an excuse to order some of the interchangables from Knitpicks.com. Hmmm....

The Last Knit

Not sure exactly what the message of the film is, but worth a look (and a listen)...

Embossed Leaves (and the Hedgehog)

I hit a knitting slump after returning from Hawaii. I lost the pattern for the Diagonal Triangle Tank, and couldn't find any of my small DPNs to start socks with (the two are probably somewhere together). I just wasn't in the mood to work on anything else. Finally I bought more small DPNs (and some yarn- who wants to pay for shipping) from KnitPicks.

A few weeks back I cast on for the embossed leaves with the KnitPicks Essential Tweed in Plum. I'm really liking the yarn, but as these are my first socks I don't have much to compare it to. It is a bit splity at times as it untwists sometimes after ripping, but overall I'm rather happy with it, but we'll see how it wears.

Here is my progress after some knitting (two flights, one night of Aloha Knitters, and a few hours of TV). The cast on took be a while to figure out, and the first twisted ribbing at the top seemed to take forever, but the lace part is enjoyable and I feel like I am making progress.


I've got about 15 more rounds before I start working on the heal. I've heard that the heal in this pattern is a bit odd. I'm not sure if I should just go forth with the pattern or try to do some adaptations. As this is my first sock I feel like I shouldn't mess too much with the pattern. I may leave this for a time when I can have some guidance and fellow knitters with me.


Also, here is the final version of the hedgehog. I'm so happy with it and my mom loved it. I'm thinking I might make a crazy colored one for my sister. I highly recommend the pattern (Fibertrends 228), it was fun, quick, not to difficult (plus felting hides many mistakes), but still interesting. The shaping is done with short rows, much like the Fibertrends Felted clogs. I tried some eyes that I had bought, but they just looked strange, so I needle felted the eyes on. I have to say it was kinda fun to sit there and stab away at the critter to get the needle felting done. I may have to try using this technique more.

A bit of knitting and life in general....

I just finished what I think might be the cutest knitted thing ever....


He still needs eyes and a nose, but he's almost ready to be sent off to my mom for her birthday. He's from a pattern by Fibertrends which I picked up at Isle Knits.

Here are some prefelting pictures...


I've also made some progress on the Diagonal Triangle Tank. This picture doesn't even come close to doing justice to the gorgeousness of the yarn.




And, in non-knitting news, I got engaged last month. I just got the ring yesterday (it was being resized) and here is a picture I took today.




Yesterday was my last day at work for the summer, I'll be here in Hawaii until next Friday getting to play tourist and have some fun before school starts.

Thursday was my last Aloha Knitters Meet-up for the summer. I just want to say thanks to all the wonderful ladies I've met this summer. It was great to get out and knit and hang out with people. I will miss our Thursdays (not to mention the Lemon-Spinach Crepes). And, and extra big thanks to Barb, who gave me these gorgeous earrings she made. I'll be wearing them tonight at Casino Night.