Status report: Still setting up the new apartment. Still an insomniac. Still haven't picked up my knitting needles in about 4 months.
And honestly, I haven't really wanted to. My crafting inclinations are a Karma Chameleon. They come and go. Sometimes I really want to knit. Sometimes the crochet hook calls to me. There was that beading spree last summer. Lately, though, I've been much more interested in catching up on all the books I found in storage and playing my bass. I've practiced nearly every day since I moved.
There are a lot of UFOs idling in my knitting bag right now: my Knitty Shimmer, a beard hat for a gentleman I'm no longer seeing, not to mention yarn for planned projects that aren't even underway. At this rate, I'm not sure when they will be.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Techincal Difficulties
Wow, almost two months since my last post, this must be a new record in laziness.
Actually, there have been several factors conspiring against me:
-The aforementioned combo of no laptop or camera power sources, thus limiting my ability to post new stuff
-Insomnia since February which has left me unable to do much besides sit like a lump on the couch and watch tv when I get home from work, let along make things
-A long-ass commute, made all that much worse by construction, which doesn't leave me much time to sit like a lump on the couch before it's time for bed
-Getting sick twice in the past month. I'm still recovering from a cold and can barely talk after losing my voice completely last week
However, I just moved to a new apartment which is much closer to work, and the doctor gave me some meds which should help with the sleeping issue, so hopefully I'll be back on the creative track soon.
Actually, there have been several factors conspiring against me:
-The aforementioned combo of no laptop or camera power sources, thus limiting my ability to post new stuff
-Insomnia since February which has left me unable to do much besides sit like a lump on the couch and watch tv when I get home from work, let along make things
-A long-ass commute, made all that much worse by construction, which doesn't leave me much time to sit like a lump on the couch before it's time for bed
-Getting sick twice in the past month. I'm still recovering from a cold and can barely talk after losing my voice completely last week
However, I just moved to a new apartment which is much closer to work, and the doctor gave me some meds which should help with the sleeping issue, so hopefully I'll be back on the creative track soon.
Friday, March 28, 2008
I'm just a big ball of excuses.
I've been back from Japan almost two weeks, and I still haven't made good on my promise to post fun stuff. Here's the deal: my pictures are being held captive on my laptop and my camera.
The power cord appears to have died on my laptop, so I can't turn it on; and I can't find the battery charger for my camera, so I can't turn it on. I hope to rectify these problems over the weekend.
What I had planned to post pictures of: a new Hangover Helper. Using my pattern and leftover yarn from the one I made for the book, I knit a bottle of Asahi as a (very extremely super-duper) belated birthday present for a friend and finally gave it to her when I visited.
The power cord appears to have died on my laptop, so I can't turn it on; and I can't find the battery charger for my camera, so I can't turn it on. I hope to rectify these problems over the weekend.
What I had planned to post pictures of: a new Hangover Helper. Using my pattern and leftover yarn from the one I made for the book, I knit a bottle of Asahi as a (very extremely super-duper) belated birthday present for a friend and finally gave it to her when I visited.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Greetings from Japan!
Consider this an internet postcard of sorts. I'm back in Japan for the week, mainly so I can attend a junior high graduation ceremony on Tuesday. It'll be a whirlwind trip and I'm tired already, but I should have some fun stuff to post when I get back.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Fandom knitting - the Harry Potter edition
I'm a geek. Or a nerd. Or whatever the proper term is these days. I know people tend to argue semantics. At any rate, I make things based on media I enjoy.
While in Japan, I decided I was going to make a Ravenclaw house scarf. Despite being a cosplayer who often bends over backwards for accuracy, I determined that wasn't the point of this scarf. No, I just wanted a gigantic, wooly, geeky scarf. Ravenclaw colors weren't quite as reconizable as Gryffindor either, so it seemed like the type of thing I could get away with wearing on a regular basis.
Given my short attention span for projects, it had to be done in chunky yarn on thick needles if I ever wanted to finish it. The yarn store obliged with Hamanaka Men's Club Master, a 60% wool / 40% acrylic blend, which I worked up on US 10 (6mm) straight needles in a 1x1 rib.
As you can see, it's pretty flippin' big. I finished it during my first winter in Mihama, which was pretty cold, and wore it to class almost every day. Elementary students liked to use it as a leash and drag me around by it ^_^; Also, about 4 of them could share it with me (well, the younger ones anyway).
Of course, the geekiness doesn't end there. Oh no, certainly not. I decided that I would put together a whole Ravenclaw school uniform. Then I came to the conclusion that instead of being "Random Ravenclaw student #156", I'd rather be an actual character. Well, I always liked Ginny Weaseley, so out came the cranberry and gold.
I used the set-in shoulder pullover pattern from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, to which I added waist shaping and short-row bust shaping. It was done in Wool-Ease on US 9 (5.5mm) needles. Again, I wasn't aiming for 100% movie accuracy (the color is far to light, for starters). The sweater's finished, but I don't like how the sleeves turned out, too full at the shoulders, so I have to revisit the pattern at some point. Not currently high on the priority list, though.
Lest you think the Potter-palooza stops there, this little guy comes along:
Yes, he is a pygmy puff. He was described as a "psychedelic pygmy puff". His name is Frankie. I was bored one afternoon and had leftover clapotis yarn. The pattern came from yclept djinnj; I think I used the crochet pattern but can't remember hook size or any of that good stuff.
While in Japan, I decided I was going to make a Ravenclaw house scarf. Despite being a cosplayer who often bends over backwards for accuracy, I determined that wasn't the point of this scarf. No, I just wanted a gigantic, wooly, geeky scarf. Ravenclaw colors weren't quite as reconizable as Gryffindor either, so it seemed like the type of thing I could get away with wearing on a regular basis.
Given my short attention span for projects, it had to be done in chunky yarn on thick needles if I ever wanted to finish it. The yarn store obliged with Hamanaka Men's Club Master, a 60% wool / 40% acrylic blend, which I worked up on US 10 (6mm) straight needles in a 1x1 rib.
As you can see, it's pretty flippin' big. I finished it during my first winter in Mihama, which was pretty cold, and wore it to class almost every day. Elementary students liked to use it as a leash and drag me around by it ^_^; Also, about 4 of them could share it with me (well, the younger ones anyway).
Of course, the geekiness doesn't end there. Oh no, certainly not. I decided that I would put together a whole Ravenclaw school uniform. Then I came to the conclusion that instead of being "Random Ravenclaw student #156", I'd rather be an actual character. Well, I always liked Ginny Weaseley, so out came the cranberry and gold.
I used the set-in shoulder pullover pattern from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, to which I added waist shaping and short-row bust shaping. It was done in Wool-Ease on US 9 (5.5mm) needles. Again, I wasn't aiming for 100% movie accuracy (the color is far to light, for starters). The sweater's finished, but I don't like how the sleeves turned out, too full at the shoulders, so I have to revisit the pattern at some point. Not currently high on the priority list, though.
Lest you think the Potter-palooza stops there, this little guy comes along:
Yes, he is a pygmy puff. He was described as a "psychedelic pygmy puff". His name is Frankie. I was bored one afternoon and had leftover clapotis yarn. The pattern came from yclept djinnj; I think I used the crochet pattern but can't remember hook size or any of that good stuff.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Random Thought 2/12/08
The bulk of the hats and scarves I made in Japan, while suitable for the winters of Mihama-cho, are nowhere near warm enough for Chicago.
I need more wooly ear-flap hats.
I need more wooly ear-flap hats.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Random Thought 2/5/08
If I had a signature stitch, it would have to be seed stitch. A lot of people are put off by the alternating knit/purl/knit/purl, but I think it keeps things interesting. Plus the texture is so dang cool.
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