KnittyOtter

Knit Unto Others 2006

Today is the final day for Knit Unto Others. No that doesn't mean I'll stop knitting for others. Just that now I can start knitting for myself again. *L*

I've decided to give that Alpaca and Scarf to my lovely SIL. If I can finish it by Tuesday night that is. Yes, Christmas is coming early. More on that later.

Here are the five Charity Projects I completed from 11/18 to 12/2. I started and finished 3 hats during this time as well as completed a hat and a scarf I started before KUO's began.

I just finished up the Double Knit Hat. It was a long day and it only took a little bit to finish it off. I watched an episode of Dark Skies on DVD with my honey while I finished it off.

I'll post a proper post on the Double Knit hat tomorrow or so. :D

Here they are, my Fab Five. ;) (Clickety Biggety)

In other news I'm almost all packed up for my upcoming trip AND I finally wrapped up some stuff to go out into the mail Monday or Tuesday. I have a bunch of stuff to do tomorrow, but at least I have a few things off my plate. *deep breath* Just Keep Swimming...

Eye Candy Friday - Lanterns and a Hat!

It's Friday! I survived another weird week. If I can get through the rest of today in one piece I think I'll celebrate by finishing that double knit hat later. *L*

But first here is a photo I took several months ago at a party type thing I attended. Lots of pretty lanterns were about so I took a picture.

Last night I finished the pink and brown hat I started Wednesday night. I LOVE it muchly. I'm considering pulling a Norma and keeping it for myself. I don't think I will though, she's cute and can get away with that sort of thing. I'd probably be roasted over an open fire or something weird. o.0 I knit it with the intention of giving it to Dulaan so I guess I'll do that... even though I really want it for myself. I guess I'll have to make myself another one. I have plenty of leftover yarn so it'll be okay. But I want it NOW, ya know. o.0

I didn't use a real pattern, beyond the basic "it's a hat shaped thing". I was basically just playing around with color knitting stuffies. Just seeing what happened if I did this or that. I really should read a book on this or something. I really like how it came out and it was so fast to knit up. :D The hat design was inspired by some of the hats Kirsten has been making recently for Dulaan. Well mainly the top of the hat. I saw something like that on one of her recent posts and loved it muchly. :D The colors I used for this hat are in honor of Isela's Brown and Pink hats she's doing for her upcoming appearance on Knitty Gritty. She's making a BUNCH of them with her loom knitting and said she was going to donate all those hats to Dulaan when she's done. :D

Here's a basic view of the hat. Sorry about the bad lightening. It's weird over here. o.0

Here's the inside of the hat.

Here's the top of the hat.

I'm really happy with the way this hat turned out. It's far from perfect, but it was just so much fun and I think it's really cute. :D

Red Scarf Project 2006

Last night I finished my Red Scarf Project Scarf. :D Just a bit ago George and I headed out into my backyard to freak the neighbors out more than normal try to get a good picture for the Gallery. The Norma should find this amusing. I hope. o.0

Yatta you know the drill, click to see larger image

This was a fun scarf for me to knit up. Both for the fun had knitting it and for the cause.

I started this scarf back in September and have knit on it off and on as it wasn't due until January. I'm a slow scarf knitter so I knew I was likely only going to knit one. Plus I'm doing Dulaan also. Both important.

This scarf has been in four states and has met a celebrity. I figure when I write out the little note card for the giftie I'll write the scarfs life story so far so the giftie person can be amused by it.

Well I hope it's amusing.

Back in September I had an opportunity to meet Bruce Campbell. He's famous for being the worlds greatest B level actor. You may recall him as Ash in the Evil Dead movies. ;^)

We had to wait in a very long line for him to sign his book, Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way. So I did what any sane person would do, I knit. I was knitting on the red scarf. By the time I got up to him he was looking pretty rough. He was nice. Asked me who I was knitting for and I told him, some orphan type person I've never met and that it was for the Red Scarf Project. I asked if he would take a picture with the scarf so I could send it off with the scarf to the person who got it. He said okay and being a comedian was pretending to actually knit on it. *L* Too cute. Sadly my camera was being a pain and the lady who was taking the pictures took a moment longer than sanity will allow to actually take the picture so he kinda has a sour look on his face. In his defense he had been signing books and answering dumb questions for a long time. I can't really blame him. *L* (Plus many of the people who were in line hadn't learned about things like soap and water. Apparently playing WoW 80 hours a week leaves little time for such niceties. o.0)

Here's the picture:

The yarn I used was Patons Classic Merino. It's a little over 6 feet long and 6 inches wide. For a close up of the stitch detail you can look back on this post from September.

Doesn't George look dashing in the red scarf? I may have to make him his own later this winter. ;^)

Amazon Christmas and A Red & White Hat!

Julie asked for it. :P  Well it's not a song, but it's something. *L*

~ Twas An Amazon Christmas ~

Less than a month before Christmas and all through the land people were freaking out, even the cat. (The mouse was dead because the cat thinks having mice in the house is gross. I agree with the cat.)

The socks were being knitted by the knitters with care, in the hopes that everything would be complete by the time Knitty Gritty was aired. (or filmed ya know, whatever. *waves at Cookie @ Stephanie*)

And I in my triumph having avoided a fight at the malls was just settling down to wrap it all up. For an Amazon Christmas was making things bright. With a click of a mouse (not the dead ones) and the plink of the credit cards all was alright. (well it was okay. I can still be grumpy about the holidays even if I am listening to Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams non stop. I’m tricksy that way. :P)

But then what noise should I suddenly hear, the groan and moan of a Zombie coming to visit my dear. It was George the Christmas Zombie surrounded by gifts! He only had a head, arms and torso, the rest who knows where and his skin was creepy crawly like maggots doing swan lake. (nasty.)

No children were heard to scream in the beds, why one would assume they were all quite dead. The truth you see is that no children were about, because Otter doesn’t like them around anymore more than the mouse! (heh. You thought I’d be sweet or kill people and I’m just not today. Nyah Nyah!)

Next to George was the cat very full from the mouse, if she keeps eating this way she’ll be as big as the house. (not really, she's just fluffy)

The presents wrapped in festive snowman wrap were waiting to be mailed to friends and family… who would proclaim upon opening, “Oh Lookie, More Crap!”.

Yes, it’s an Amazon Christmas this year. The buying of love will never be easier. But take caution friends, and use your damn brains. (unless the zombie got to it already) Its phishing season for scammers, so never give your credit card number to weirdos in email. (people can be such assholes this time of year… hell everyday of the year)

With everything wrapped and mailed on its way it became a happy time for Otter to just knit and play. It’s an Amazon Christmas and you know what that means, a knit book or two should arrive any day. Making Christmas less painful for all who are near. (But mainly me. Woot! Charted Knitting Designs by Barbara Walker!)

So Merry Wintertime Holiday Shopping Season to All and to All a Zombie Fun Night!

This is George and TKK last Christmas. :D

Cute aren't they. :P

And now for another completed Dulaan Hat. It's my third completed hat. I love hats. Can't stop knitting hats...

Here's George looking fairly normal in the hat.

He looks startled here because of the way the hat's sticking up. *L*

Top of Hat

It's just a simple roll bring hat. Just made a big stockinette tube, in stripes and decreased when I thought it was long enough.

I finally made a pom pom. It's cuter than I thought it would be. Dave said something about my last hat needing balls (well ball) so I did it for this one. I think I'll go back and add balls to the last one too. :P

I need to get some white fleece to line it with.

I'm going to use this Dulaan Hat as my George Holiday Topper this year. I have a lot of wrapping to finish up this week. Plus packing and mailing... and the a different kind of packing. I'm not really sure when I'll have time to decorate George actually. I want to do some serious dusting first.

I'm pretty much done with my Holiday shopping. Got a few things on their way in the mail. It's good to be done early. Even if it feels late. My big holiday get together is in just a few weeks so I'm pushing it close on that. o.0 Where'd the time go.

Indie Swag & a Hat!

I got my Indie Swag today. I'm posting a picture so if you don't wanna see what's coming in your mail, if you are lucky to be in the club that is, then stop looking. Or skip to the bottom to see George in my second completed hat. :P

Clickety for a Big Pickety!

Isn't it TOO gorgeous!!! I'm so loving the yarn and the swag. SO COOL!

Scout created something special for this month. 350 yards superwash merino colorway Pomegranate. Lovely raspberry pinks, golden yellows, chocolaty browns and a bit of white to bring it all together. YUM MEE! :D

This month's non yarn swag is from Glamscience. Very Cute knitting themed note cards AND handknit gift cards, for when you give a knit and need to write out what it is and how to care for it. SO COOL!

I'm just thrilled to bits by this months goodies. Love!

In knitting news I killed off that mohair hat last night. :D Here's George modeling it for me.

Attractive isn't he. ;^)

Like to point on the top? Yeah tried something new. *L*

Okay off to go knit and maybe kill a pumpkin... or I may do that tomorrow. I may just go knit.

Yeah, that sounds like a plan. ;^)

Dead, Dead, Dead, someday you'll be dead

It's probably a wrong thing, the amount of South Park Christmas music, Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics I've listened to today. But that's okay, I'm a fairly sick individual so it's fitting.

I officially have the Dreidel song stuck in my head. Especially the part about Courtney Cox. I guess I was singing it while I was working today because the honey came into my office and asked who looks hot on what show. *L*

After I got off work today I spent a lot of time with my dishwasher and stove. Basically I detailed them. *L* Anytime cleaning involves a toothbrush and cotton points you know you're in for a nice relaxing afternoon.

No really.

I feel much better now. I'm still stressed and on a wire about to have my head pop off, but that was nice. I'm glad I took some time for myself to do that.

I'm a freak, but I'm a clean freak so that's okay. ;^)

Cookie said so!

Ya Bunch of Meanies need to stop laughing. :P

Hey Cookie, I have 2 bottles of Vanilla. One of them is pretty big too, so I still have more Vanilla than Almond Extract. *L*

*cough* Don't mind me.

I've been knitting unto others like a good little otter. Granted I've been knitting for others mostly for a few months now. It's amazing how time flies.

I need to finish up the decreases on the DK Hat. I'm just making it up as I go along, more on that when I post the FO though.

After a brief email with Cookie yesterday and her telling me about how she was double stranding her latest Dulaan hat I started a new hat. This hat is from the stash. See after I read Mossy Cottage Knits heartbreaking Dulaan post I dug into the stash and bagged up all the yarn I will use to knit with in the coming months. It's one of those Ziploc Xtra Large Big Bags stuffed with yarn and some felt for lining hats. It's a lot of single balls of yarn or colors I changed my mind about after the fact... as well as a few things I've discovered I don't care for but that is turning out to be really helpful in making this stuff warm. Mainly Mohair. I do not like Mohair. I inhaled so much of it last night while I was knitting that I may create a hairball if you know what I mean. o.0

Here's the hat I started last night after a long day of Holiday Shopping. I think I'm done shopping, btw. Mostly. 'Cept the honey, but he's having an Amazon Christmas. ;^)

I started with the blue wool/acrylic blend for the cuff and the added in a single strand of the mohair. The mohair really takes over the color. It's a really warm wind proof knit though, so that makes me happy. I was planning on lining this one, but dang it's so thick and warm now I don't think I will. Plus the mohair makes the inside really soft. :D

I'm not sure if I'll knit on this or the DK hat tonight.

Or I could start a scarf or something... I've got the cast on fever, baby!

This post brought to you by the makers of Krey and Zee. o.0

*falls over*

In addition to whining I knit. Really.

Here's the DK hat for Dulaan that I started last Wednesday. :D

I need to finish up the top decreases then it'll be finished.

This could also count towards the DK Knit Along Project. Although I still need to get started on the new kitty blankey.

Instead of finishing the hat or even doing much on the second sock this week I've been swatching for a lace scarf for myself. Last night I found the pattern I wanted to do. It's a really fun fast knit too. Already have the pattern stuck in my head. *L* It's a simple four row pattern repeat. It reminds me of cables as it's just ribbing except for the one row where you do something special. In this case it's K2toging, Yarn Overs, Slipping and PSSO's that make it what it is. :D Much Fun. The yarn is Alpaca and Silk. SO SOFT!

Still getting stuff organized over here. I hurt my damn ankle moving stuff around yesterday. I really am graceful. *eyeroll* I think the Accident Prone Knitter sent me some of her luck or something. *L*

Even though I have EightyGaBillion emails to send and reply to I am going out into the world. Rumor has it Christmas Shopping may be taking place.

No worries though I have a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge for when I get back.

Wish me luck. o.0

It's Friday and I have nearly half a hat!

It's Friday. Or so it seems. o.0

Where'd the week go?

I blinked and it vanished.

Been Busy. Things are more organized. Have another bookshelf up.

Progress is being made. :D

In knitting news My Double Knit hat for Dulaan is coming along nicely. I really like Double Knitting in the round. Wheeeeeeeeee!

Progress shots:

This yarn is very fuzzy. I'm not sure how I feel about knitting with mohair, but at least it will be warm and that counts for a lot. ;^)

In other knitting news I played around with toe up socks. I kept dropping my stitches though. It only occurred to me this morning that I perhaps should try that with any needle other than a 0US and fingering weight yarn. *L* So I'll practice my toe up cast on's with larger yarn and needles before I try that again.

The funny thing is that Cookie told me to try it out on larger needles and yarn first. I guess I'll start paying attention at some point. :P

I can't wait until I can really start my first pair of toe up socks. I have some really yummy yarn from The Cabin Cove Mercantile selected. Wheeeeeeeeee!!!

And yes I have had a large Venti or whatever it's called Valencia Mocha Cappuccino and I am hyper! Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!

Alpaca Fashion Show and Otters First Hat!

This past week has just been crazy busy with all kinds of fun stuff. Halloween now seems a million years away. Weird how time flies, and I swear it's speeding up faster and faster everyday. Everybody hang on tight, who know what will happen when all that centrifugal force really gets going. o.0

:P

Here's a picture of the morning sky facing Mt. Rose Saturday morning when the honey and I were heading out into the world.

Okay so Saturday I went to the Alpaca Fashion Show at the AOBA/ARI Fiber to Fashion Conference. Good thing my honey scans the paper for events he thinks I might like. :D Such a sweetiehead!

I was too late to take any of the classes or any of that cool stuff, but I was able to check out the little fiber and fashion market they had set up. As well as the Alpaca Fashion Show.

Now the first thing I thought of when my honey told me there was an Alpaca Fashion show was a bunch of Alpaca's strutting their stuff on the cat walk. I'm not sure what that says about me, but it did amuse me for awhile. *L*

First we hit the little market area. There was a lot of high end pricey clothes and accessories made from Alpaca. Well high end to me, $500 for a felted Alpaca purse. No thanks I'll make my own thank you! I didn't even look at the price tags on clothes or anything. It was mostly beautiful pieces, but if a purse is $500 what would a jacket cost. o.0

There were a few booths with roving and yarn. I was tempted but since I had just spend the previous evening shopping at SOAR I decided to be good. Well kinda good. I got two bags of roving. I think they will look really cool spun and plied together. :D They had all kinds of colors, but I really liked this blue to go with the natural grey.

By the time we looked through the market area they were almost ready to start the fashion show. After partaking of the lunch they had catered by the Grand Sierra Resort, formerly the Hilton we were ready to watch the Alpaca's strut their stuff. *L*

Of course humans wore clothes and accessories made from Alpaca, but it was still interesting to watch.

Most of the stuff was produced by established names and brands, but they did have a few items that were made by Design Students. They were of course very cool looking. :D

They had some big name Eco Model to wear the award winning clothes by the Design Students. Her name was Summer Rayne Oaks. Most of the people in the audience went bonkers over her. I don't know who she is or what achievements she has under her belt as far as making the world a better less cruel place to be, but she was beautiful and professional about her duty there.

There were some really cool articles of clothing being shown. I of course totally didn't take any pictures the whole time I was at the Fiber to Fashion Conference. Not one.

That might have been because I was laughing so much. I swear they used the phrase, "Fun and Flirty!!" way too many times. The funny thing is that "Fun and Flirty" to me sounds like something you'd tell a pre-teen girl to try to get them to wear something more appropriate for their age rather than some of the crazy stuff that's been going on for the last few years. Even then they'd think you were an out of touch dork and they'd be right. *L* By the way, have y'all heard about those Bratz padded bras being targeted towards SIX YEAR OLDS? o.0 The world has gone crazy. I pity the idiots that buy one for their kid. Way to screw up a little kid, buttmunch!

Blah. I don't get stupid people at all. Not at all.

Anyway so yeah they were playing the soundtrack to Moulin Rouge really loud while the models walked up and down the cat walk to show off the clothes and I found it all pretty funny. For one thing everything was Fun and Flirty! Reversible jacket? It's FUN and Flirty! Suri hat and Scarf set? Fun and Flirty! Business Suit that you can dress up or down? Fun and Flirty! *L* I tried not to laugh but it was really amusing. Plus the male model looked so embarrassed, as if he was tricked into participating at the last minute. Heh.

Overall it was very fun. I learned a lot about the different Alpacas (huacayas and suri's) and their coloring. All sorts of history and fiber facts really. We also got to look around at the different displays created by the design students and that was interesting.

Plus I won $15 dollars. I never gamble, but we were at the casino walking through to go to the convention hall and the honey gave me a dollar to play at the penny machine. Not because he thinks I should gamble or anything, but it was a Star Wars  Slot Machine. *L* He's so cute. I had no idea what I was doing and pushed a button. It took me to a screen that told me to choose Darth Vader or Obi Won in a LightSaber fight. I choose Obi Won even though I wanted to choose the dark side. Good thing I went for good though, I won $15 and said it was time to stop while I was ahead. So yeah I used my winnings to buy some of the roving. :D

In other news Saturday night I also finished my very first hat!! I love it muchly. It is also the second item I'm putting into my Dulaan Box. (Although I'm reworking that first scarf... it wasn't right)

I had intended to make a kids hat, which I guess it still can be. My sizing was a bit off and it fits my adult head perfectly.  Very Warm and Cozy. :D I'm muchly happy with it. *happy otter dance*

This picture best represents the colors.

Here's the top. I'm extremely pleased with how it came out. :D

Here's a Bonus picture of the hat on George. :D

Doesn't he look Fun and Flirty! *L*

Pattern: Basic Hat Pattern from Ann Budd's Book, The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns. I can't say I really understood all the instructions, but I think I reasoned it out enough to get where I was going.
Yarn Plymouth Encore Colorspun  The colorway #7990 was Grey, Pink and White.
Yardage:  A little over 100 yards/ 2 oz (I have enough leftover to make another hat!)
Yarn Source: Deluxe Yarns 
Needles: Clover Takumi -  US 8 / 5.0mm 16" Circular for the main portion & Crystal Palace US 6/ 4.25mm DPN's to bind off
Gauge: 5 Stitches Per Inch / Aspect Ratio 1.4

Notes:  I started this hat Monday evening and finished it up Saturday evening. It was a lot of fun and I will be making lots more hats in the future. :D The yarn was okay to work with. A little more stiff (less soft) than I'm used to, but then again it was an Acrylic blend which I haven't used before so I guess that's normal. Once knitted up it's fine and not itchy or weird against the skin. I'd use this yarn again, which is good as I have half a skein left and another skein that is Blue, Grey and White. ;)

Charity Scarf FO, OtterSocks & Tea Swap Stuff

I have actual knitting content. I bet y'all forgot I even knit at all. Just thought I was over here receiving lots of fun gifties. *L*

Well here are some pics of my knitting a few minutes ago to show proof of my knitting.

Well start off with the Patons SWS Drop Stitch Scarf. I've decided it will be my first item to go into my Dulaan box. :D I've committed myself to 5 projects.

I actually finished this a few weeks ago but haven't had time to post it.

Pattern: No real pattern. Just cast on however many stitches and k3, p1 and then when I was done dropped all the purls. There is a garter border at the end as I like those. :D
Yarn: Patons SWS.

It was a fun easy knit... until it came time to drop the stitches. This yarn loves itself and is a pain to force the stitches to drop. Ugh. Never again. Although I do like the way the loops are all soft on the reverse side. They look like a lambs fleece to me... so maybe not never. :P

Next up are my socks. I'm almost done with sock #1. Although I won't have the whole pair done by the end of October I will have ONE sock done! That's something. Oh hush.

I love the way my stripes are knitting up. I'm really enjoying this. :D

Here is an action shot of the sock on my foot. It is really hard to take a picture of your own foot, btw. It's not really a lumpy ill fitting sock. That's just because I was twisting around trying to take a good picture of it on my foot. Next time I'll ask the honey to take the picture. o.0

And yes I need a Pedicure. The last one I got was back when I was making the Bunny Bag for the KSKS. Crazy! (I also don't have any polish remover. *hangs head in shame*)

Finally I will say that my Gifted Upon Partner in the Knitters Tea Swap got her package. She got it a while back, but I've been busy/sucked/dead so I didn't mention it until now. Julie is a lovely gal and was a fun partner. :D Go check out her blog for all the gifties I sent her. It was muchly fun!

And with that I have to get back to it. I have had a pile of mail I need to get out sitting here for ages and ages.  *waves @ E* Today is the day... or tomorrow. Depends on how much I get done before I fall over. :P