Knit Fish

Long Time...

2009-09-30T05:29:29Z

Hi Everyone!

I know it's been so long since I posted anything at all, and I did claim that I was forever moving to knit-fish.blogspot.com, but recently I've been thinking...why not just put my posts on both sites? That way some of you LJers will find me here, and other bloggers like blogspoters will find me there..
Anyways, I wanted to post a few projects I've been up to lately...
The above pic is of my Imogen, made from a lovely Fleece Artist kit in my favourite colourway, Mermaid.

The pic is silly, because it is ridiculously hard to photograph oneself. BUT I love this sweater! It is so cozy! It is made from an alpaca/merino blend & is a wrap style that is wonderful to snuggle up in on chilly days. Bring it, Winter! I'm ready for you!

The other thing I wanted to mention, is that I've got some of my patterns back for sale on Ravelry (for all you ravelers out there, you know who you are ;-) Find em at My Ravelry Shop!

There's Ella Phint!

And Pinot noir, a sock pattern which I can't find a pic of right now, but it's on the site. So check em out! I am working on some more patterns right now, which are in the test-knitting stage. So stay tuned for more fun knits!

Moving Day!!

2008-08-31T02:05:50Z

Here is my new addy on the interwebs Knit Fish!
Please come visit me there!

Thanks to all who have read this blog throughout the years. I am grateful for all the friends I have made, like marydotmusic, paranee, & jabberworks, & I will make sure to keep on reading your blogs :-)

Artist weekend

2008-08-25T22:35:44Z

Well The Knitting Olympics are over. And I didn't complete one single project on my list. Oh well, sometimes life just gets in the way. I did, however, finish the July/August Lady sweater of Ravelry fame last night.

These pics are the best I could do since I had to take them myself.

That last one looks so much like a baby cardi to me, since there is no scale to judge size from. I guess it is fitting, since this pattern began life as a baby cardi.

The reason I was unable to finish all of my knitting projects for the Ravelympics was that I was busy doing another form of art...

This painting is just one of the ones I've been working on for a show during the Artist's Weekend at the Roost cafe in Sidney. I will be showcasing & selling some of my paintings, & collectible stuffies. Come check it out if you are in the area on Saturday & Sunday, August 30 & 31 between 9am & 5pm.
The paintings are acrylic on canvas.

As always, I have a love/hate relationship with my artwork. Part of me is the proud mama of each painting my brush touches, the other part doubts my talent. I guess it is hard to be objective about something you put a lot of time & creative energy into. I hope you guys like them!

p.s. I just ate the best lunch! I'll share the recipe here, but no pics cause I gobbled it up too fast. Inspired by Smitten Kitchen (see my fave links list)

Brunch Quesadilla:
(serves one)

2 corn tortillas
small amount of olive oil
1/8 cup of piquante salsa (or mild if you like that)[add as little or as much as you like really]
3 chopped basil leaves
chopped up strips of cheddar cheese
1 egg

pour a little oil in a non-stick pan
place one tortilla in the pan, and 1/2 of the cheese strips on that
when cheese begins to melt, crack the egg over top of the tortilla
break the yolk
top with basil, and dot salsa across egg evenly
cover with the 2nd half of the cheese, and the other tortilla
Let fry until egg is almost done cooking
flip it (careful! this can be messy)
Let fry on other side until it puffs up.
It should look golden on each tortilla side, with egg and melty cheese coming out the edges...mmm...

Serve cut into quarters, or however you prefer to portion up your quesadillas
EAT IT UP!

Shameless Plug

2008-08-23T16:16:41Z

Hey knitters!

Does anyone in the Victoria area wanna learn how to knit socks on DPNs?
WHY? you ask.
Because I'm teaching a sock knitting class at the Beehive Woolshop starting September 2nd!
Yes, ME, teaching a class! Yay! I'm very excited about it.
The classes will be from 6:30pm - 8pm and are going to be every Tuesday for 4 weeks.
To be a part of this, just hop into the Beehive and sign up!

Hope to see you there!
~Nessa

Handspun Yummyness!

2008-08-17T02:29:16Z

This is the first yarn I have spun on my new wheel! I can't even believe how fast this spun up, it is about 75 - 100g of Merino wool from Ashford. I am kind of obsessed with this colour this season. Can you tell?

I love how it has that classic handspun thick & thin texture. I think I might knit a slouchy hat or toque out of it for this fall. I still have the handspun I did on the drop spindle to use up too & I think it will work nicely together with this wheel spun yarn.
I can't wait to knit it up!

~Nessa

Get your geese in a row...

2008-08-16T05:08:42Z

I am trying my darndest to get the E.Z. take-off sweater finished for the Ravelympics. I think, I might just make it!

I am officially onto the sleeves, which of course are only 3/4 length. So really it's like 1.5 sleeves worth of knitting. (I feel like that was really terrible grammar, but I don't have the brain to fix it right now. Sorry grammar police!)

You are probably noticing that the waist band isn't finished. That is purposely on hold to see if I have leftover yarn from the sleeves to make knit the band 1.5" long, right now I am running out of yarn for the band and am about .75" into the band. I still have one ball reserved for the sleeves.

I am also feeling a bit overwhelmed that summer is coming to a close very soon. I am heading back to school on September 2nd, and I just don't feel ready. There is so much to get done, and all I feel like doing is procrastinating. I am looking at my schedule, and all of the commitments I have made & starting to freak out just a tad. Work one day a week, 4 lab science classes, volunteering one day a week, teaching a sock knitting class! I really need to get it together, but am finding it hard to get out of the summer groove.
Speaking of summer grooves, check out Jon & Roy. They are a local Victoria band that I have recently fallen in love with! (Their music of course, not them personally :-P). The song, Right Groove, has been running through my head at work a lot lately. They are just the perfect West Coast summer sound.

Here's a pic of the bike out on the Galloping Goose. I can't believe how much fun riding a bike is!

And speaking of geese...

happy summer knitting,
~Nessa

Shop Update & KIP Update!!

2008-08-11T03:23:46Z

Hey all!

There are some new goodies up on the Coy shop! With more kinds to come in the next few days. I have been test driving this new style of stitch marker to make sure they hold up to real knitting. I am using them with a basic vine lace pattern in a worsted weight yarn. They have not snagged on anything & have held up to knitting action just fine!

& here's my update on the February Lady Sweater! I have now memorized the lace pattern so it is moving along much more quickly! It is one of my Ravelympic challenges to finish this baby by Aug 24th!

And a couple of proper daylight pics of the Bella Bike Seat Cover!

my awesome friend Bonnie from work gave me a bike helmet today! So now I can hit the road on my new Bella Bike!

happy sunday!

lacking clever title

2008-08-10T05:52:09Z

This past Monday, I spent the day with my friend Victoria. It was BC Day for all those non-British Columbians, and so the city was in full festivities. It was a lovely day! I didn't even mess with the colours in photoshop, these dreamy colours were what my camera actually captured!

We walked around Beacon Hill Park, and then on to the Inner Harbour to see some great free concerts, including Collin James, Sarah McLaughlan, and Feist.

Then, yesterday I bought a bike! It is a used vintage Italian folding bike in a wicked orange colour. The seat has a tiny hole in it from previous use, so until I get a new one I will use this crocheted cover over it.

I used my freestyle crochet skills to make this cute cover, which I have dubbed the Bella Bike Seat Cover, since my bike was called an Anna Bella model.

I intend to use my new bike to get to & from school & work. I love how it is so compact, and fits my tiny frame very well. More photos when the weather is not so miserable!

~nessa

Tofino/Ucluelet Adventure!

2008-08-03T05:31:53Z

Last weekend, the hubby & I took off on our very first vacation together! Yes, we have been together for five years, and married for three, but nary a vacation have we been on!

Last weekend the hubby & I were supposed to go camping with his friends. We even booked time off especially for it, but at the last minute his friends all bailed. On Friday night, the hubby phoned me at work, and told me to try and find a place for us to stay in Tofino for the weekend.
So that night I spent the evening frantically phoning around up island to find us a campground, hotel, or b&b. I lucked out & found accomodations for both Saturday & Sunday night at a B&B in Ucluelet, which is about 40km from Tofino.

Saturday morning, we hit the road.

Knitting in hand of course...

Along the way, we found a cool glacier fed river to check out.

The water was so green.

After which we hit the windy road up to Tofino, which was an adventure in and of itself. Especially with Jeffy being so new to driving standard, and our new car (btw. we got a new car, well new to us, a buick 2-door). Luckily, we didn't drive off the edge of the mountainous road, and we arrived safe and sound in Ucluelet.

Our B&B was a beautiful new home in a weird little rainforest. They called it Old Growth, but we knew better. It was pretty though.
That night, we had dinner in town, and then snuggled up to watch a movie (the owners had a good DVD collection to choose from).

The next morning, we went to check out Tofino.

We puttered around, and chatted up some of the locals. Had some wicked chai latte, and checked out the many art galleries and shops.

We ended up having lunch at Sobo's (nothing to do with this photo, this was a carving that I liked), a unique cafeteria style restaurant that started out in a van. Then headed back out of Tofino.

Then we went to Long Beach

A couple of times actually...

We would check out part of it, then get back in the car...

and drive to find more...

and walk through some trails, and down stairs...

and there was more....

It is aptly named.

The evening was capped off with an evening stroll through Ucluelet, some Khalua mudslides, another good movie, and some real stars! Seriously, it puts Victoria night skies to shame.

Because of our evening fun, we slept in on Monday, and had a lazy drive back to Victoria.

with more knitting

and more gorgeous views.

It was a lovely weekend, and two pairs of socks are almost complete now. I just have the toes to do on 2 socks!

~Nessa

No recap just yet...

2008-07-31T06:18:39Z

I've been wanting to blog about our Ucluelet/Tofino adventure, and show you all the fantastic photos we took, but the hubby downloaded them all onto the laptop & there they are stuck until I can transfer them over to the pc. Oh the frusterations of having multiple computers! (I know, my life is so hard).

So you will have to be appeased with this cute pic of the pony at Oldfield Farm, one of the Island's local organic farms. This fellow was quite pleased when I let him sample one of my blueberries, and quite insistent that he have more. He demanded more by agressively hoofing at the gate, and snuffling at me after he ate said blueberry, which was decidedly poor manners even for a pony.

And to give you a taste of what is to come, here is a short list of weekend highlights:

1. our first real holiday in 5+ years
2. car knitting
3. 680 km/8 hrs on the road
4. a b&b in the rainforest
5. a long beach
6. two pairs of socks

~Nessa

wahoo!

2008-07-26T05:52:07Z

Goin to Ucluelet & Tofino for the weekend + monday!

WAHOO!!

happy weekend to all!
~Nessa

Monday is for Show & Tell

2008-07-21T17:30:28Z

So loads to show & tell today!

My pattern, Algormortis finally went live today on Anticraft! Check it out! Thanks to Sylvana, & Lorraine for being my helpy test-knitters :-)

Next Up: Preppy Socks

I am on a sock binge lately, somewhat aided along by the staff free-leftover-yarn bin at work. These are being made from some leftover Kroy from aforementioned bin.

I finished spinning a skein of yarn on my Ashford Drop Spindle!

It is about 65 meters long, so I guess I'll need to spin one more if I actually want to make something out of it. I haven't done a swatch yet, but I'm guessing it is around a worsted/aran weight.

AND FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST: I got a spinning wheel!

My friend Tiffany suddenly found herself with too many spinning wheels, so she sold me this Ram Spinner for a great price! She also, so very kindly offered to come and teach me the ropes sometime soon. Here it is modelling the drop spindle yarn.

Happy knitting, & spinning!

~Nessa

Huzzah for me!

2008-07-17T04:19:33Z

The fantastically bright Huzzah For Me Socks are done!
I used one skein of Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 to make them. I think I want to cast on for another pair straight away, since these were so quick and easy to make. A lovely mindless project that I can do when I want a break from my bigger harder projects.

A gratuitous flower shot from a local organic farm's U-PICK garden. This one is of Bergamot.
I also picked up some sour apples, rhubarb, & ginger & made a fantastic apple/rhubarb crisp, but alas, we ate it up so fast there are no photos to share. I will definitely be making more soon, since it is a relatively healthy and oh so delicious dessert! Oh & I have lots more rhubarb left...

And a bouquet of poor-man's orchids, aka, wild sweet pea blossoms from my garden. So pretty :-)

So what haaave you been up to, Nessa?

2008-07-08T19:04:47Z

I know, that's the ten dollar question. What do you mean I'm supposed to say million dollar question? You think I'm MADE of money?

Last weekend we had my Uncle come up from Seattle to visit us. We haven't seen him since the Christmas before we got married, so it was nice to catch up with him. Being the rad uncle that he is, he brought me some antique teacups that belonged to my grandma.

The green flowered one is my favourite. It somehow seems so mod for being made in the early 1900's which is when I think it was made.

But what about knitting?

I finished one sock of the now dubbed "Huzzah for me!" socks. I am using The Comfy Soled Sock Pattern. This pattern is for people with sensitive feet, such as diabetics. The soles are purled rather than knit, so the knit side is on the inside of the sock, much smoother.
I just like the feel of my socks worn inside-out, so this pattern was a good fit for me. Cast on while travelling to Saltspring Island, I later realized that I really needed this project, since two of my other on-the-go kips have lace involved. I need a break from lace!

With that said, here is one of the two lace things I've got on the needles...
I present, The Leming Cardi. Thusly named due to the high volume of ravelers knitting this sweater.

Of course I am at 282 sts, and on the first lace repeat I missed 3 YO's, this will be my second time ripping back on this many sts, as the first was due to an error in the pattern. Aiya. I really need to bring myself to just do it!

If the whole thing was garter stitch instead of just the yoke, I think I'd be done by now.

And finally, since it is finally feeling like summer here... here's a pic of my new Indian summer scarf! Love.

Saltspring Island Fun

2008-07-04T04:27:53Z

This past Monday, I got to spend the day on Saltspring Island with fellow knitters, Iona, Tiffany, and Iona's all-around-crafter friend Barb. The day could not have been nicer! It was sunny & warm, and felt like real summer weather. This first pic is of Ganges Harbour.

We had a lovely lunch at Barb's parent's place on the top of a mountain (they own the top!). This is their view from the porch!

After lunch we walked to the tippy top of the mountain for amazing views of Saltspring, but of course I forgot my camera. You'll have to trust me when I say it was incredible.

Barb's parent's have an adorable black lab, his name is Cash. Look at him pose ;-)

Myself, Tiffany, & Iona on the porch.

Later in the afternoon, we headed out to Ganges to check out the local yarn shop/quilt store, Stitches. It is a lovely shop & I reccommend that you check it out if you're ever on Saltspring. I left the shop unscathed, with no yarn or fabric purchases! It was difficult, let me tell you, but I was saving my money for unique locally produced yarn which they didn't carry.

Next, we hit up The Rainbow Road Trading Co.. This unique little shop is always a must-visit when I'm on the island. When you enter the shop, which is located in a victorian style heritage house, you smell sweet incence and spices. In every nook & cranny of the house you will find a funky assortment of odds and sods, with everything from real Indian garam masala spice, to intricate hand-knitted garments.

I ended up buying a cute brown strappy camisole (scroll to the bottom of page 1 to see), some gauzy cotton luxa scarves from India (top of page 4), and some cute little carved wooden tea spoons. This eclectic shop is too awesome to leave empty-handed (I don't think I ever have!).

It turned out that Art Craft was on while we were there, so we decided to check it out. While there, I picked up some lovely handmade soap from local soapsmiths Kama Soap. It was lucky Art Craft was on, because I had almost run out of their soap that I bought last year. I love this soap!

More soap was procured from the Saltspring Soapworks, wherin I obtained a little 3 soap sampler. While I love the Kama Soap the best, the Soapworks shop is so cute to visit. They have bubbles blowing from their sign into the street to welcome visitors. Too adorable.

Finally, we went to the chocolate shop for some gelato...

Time ran out to visit any of the farms, so no unique Saltspring yarns were procured. However, in all it was a great little mini-vacation & it was nice to get to know Tiffany & Iona a little better. Thanks Iona!

Done like dinner....mmmm...dinner...

2008-06-27T02:23:50Z

Today was so tiring, and I am not sure why. I think it is because it was a cloudy, overcast day, which sort of drags me down a bit. I'm going to feature some garden photos to cheer things up a bit; these were taken recently in my garden.

Today I bought a nice little yay-for-me gift for myself! I purchased the new CEY pattern booklet, Make It Modern! I have been drooling over this magazine ever since I first laid eyes on it, and waiting for it to be put out on the sales floor. I was a bit concerned that I would miss out on getting a copy, as I did with this book. Today I finally broke down and asked the manager if I could please just buy it & she said yes! So yay for me!
I know some of you will be thinking, Nessa, you don't even use patterns usually. And if I am dying to own this pattern booklet, it is because the designs are so adorable that I just *have* to have them in my arsenal! I think I would knit pretty much everything in this booklet! Every design is *so me*. They are all quite feminine, pretty, and yet comfy looking. I can't wait to start knitting from it.

Also, as some of you already know, I have jumped on the Ravelry bandwagon and am knitting the E.Zimmerman take-off sweater. I am very excited about it, and I'm sure I queued this pattern the day she made it available! I'm making it out of dark teal Cascade 220 & it is knitting up pretty quickly so far. I think it will be a very wearable sweater, that I will use all the time.
Again, I wouldn't normally use a pattern, but the design is so loveable that I couldn't resist!

And, here are some pics of my friend Sarah, wearing her beret! I think it looks so fabulous on her, & it suits her so much more than it suited me :-)

Well, I think I'll toodle off & make some Vegetarian Garam Marsala. Yum!
~Nessa

yarn fiesta weekend!

2008-06-23T07:02:45Z

This weekend was the Victoria Fibre Festival! Aka, the stash got enriched!

First, a list:

1. The new banner & icon come from jabberworks, aka Sarah McIntyre illustrator extrordinaire! It was her end of the deal for our art swap, which was blogged about in this post. Words cannot express how much I love this piece of artwork! The full pic is an original painting in watercolours and pen and ink, 8 1/2 X 11 inches approx. It is called The Yarn Tree, and yes that is me knitting with some sheep. My cat, Roo (seen in the icon), is knitting in the tree above.

2. Fleece Artist Merino 2/6, Seconds? Yes please!

3. Alpaca/Tussa (wild silk) roving.

Can you say yum? The soft soft alpaca is enhanced by the shimmery gold sparkle of the wild Tussa Silk!

4. I'm calling this one Spun Gold.

Gorgeous, silky smooth 100% rayon. This looks like it is spun from gold, and feels like silk!

What a lovely day! The sun was out and shining for a glorious spring day, the wind was a bit chilly but all in all it was nice weather for a fiber festival! Still glowing from my yarn purchases!

Happy yarn revelry (no not ravelry),
~Nessa

fun with FO's

2008-06-18T06:57:21Z

Well folks, these photos are as good as it gets around here I guess. I have asked multiple people to photograph me wearing the Drops Cardi, and mostly the pics were not up to par. Blurryness, closed eyes, unoriginal & unflattering angles all caused me to reject most of the pics. However, I think these pics are alright, albeit a bit dark but I'm just going to post them and call it blogged.

The Pattern: The Drops Asymmetrical A-line Jacket

The Yarn: Cascade 220, in heathered brown

The Mods: Crazy math skills were utilized in order to knit a sweater of medium measurements in a smaller gauge than the pattern called for. I ended up knitting a size XL stitchwise, a SM lengthwise, and ending with a petite size M overall. This is what I wanted, but I think I could have even gone to a size SM overall since the jacket has lots of positive ease on me. However, I still love it because the design is flattering, and the yarn is cozy & soft.

The second FO to show is Sarah's beret Caliente!

Project Notes are Here
This actually turned out alright. It was touch and go for a while, when the beret turned out to be massive, and I had to felt it down a bit. This, even when I ACTUALLY BOTHERED to KNIT A 4" GAUGE SWATCH! & my gauge was even giving more sts per inch than pattern gauge. I give you so many chances to just be honest with me, gauge, but you always lie to me! Why gauge? Why?

Anyways, now I am working on a semi-mystery project. As to how much of a secret it is, I have not yet decided. You may hear more sometime soon.
I am also working away on the Flower Basket Shawl, and I have only about 7 repeats of the main body lace to do, and an edging chart. When I knit this project, I have to really concentrate, so I work on it a very little bit at a time. I really should get my butt in gear on it though, because I have told myself I am not allowed to cast on for anything else, until I get these 2 things off the needles!

going for a spin

2008-06-14T17:48:06Z

Yesterday, I finally procured for myself an Ashford Classic Drop Spindle, & some teal merino roving.

roaringbravado helped me start it up, and she pulled off about a quarter of one skein of roving. I have since spun the whole piece, and I guess I need to start on another quarter strip. I bought 2 skeins, probably around 50g worth of fiber, and I hope to make enough yarn to knit a toque. I might spin another colour and ply it with this one, but we'll see how this one goes. So far I am finding it pretty easy, although my yarn is a bit thick & thin looking, but let's just call that a "design element" :-)

HAPPY KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY!
Too bad Google doesn't have a knitting related icon for today!

happy public knitting,
~Nessa

warning: unbridled cuteness ahead!

2008-06-13T04:57:25Z

So ndanukiwi, aka Carolyn has emailed me some photos of baby Leah with her Ella Phint! I just had to share these adorable pics of our finished objects (her baby, my knitting).
I know I *just* posted pics of this project, but I couldn't resist sharing the cuteness!

there, are your cheeks sore from smiling yet?

AND a note to all you non-knitters, who recieve knitted gifts. Knitters LOVE getting pics of their gifted knits in action! It tells us we are appreciated, and also lets us know that our knitted object has found a good home :-)

~Nessa

Sarah's Beret Caliente!

2008-06-10T02:07:29Z

Pattern: Tweed Beret, by Kristen Tendyke. Interweave Knits, Winter 2006.

Yarn: Berocco Peruvia, colour "Caliente", one skein=160m. I used pretty much the whole skein to make the beret, and a gauge swatch.

Needles: 4mm - 60cm circular, & a set of 4mm dpns

Size: Large (supposed to be 22" circumference)

Project Notes: When it came off the needles it was WAY HUGE! I measured my head, which is 22" around & corresponds with the largest size in the pattern, and this hat is still too big for me!
So into the sink it went with a little soap, and some hot water & I hand felted it. It thickened up a bit, and finally shrunk to a more decent size. I think it will now fit a 22", or slightly bigger, head in a flattering way. I am waiting for it to dry now so I can try it on, and put the finishing i-cord onto the top. I will likely felt the i-cord to keep the look consistent.
Then this hot little beret will fly to the UK to be with Sarah!

Final Photos to come soon!

Pattern: Ella Phint, by Vanessa Carter

Yarn: Gallway in colourway Lavender. I used way way less than 1 skein, maybe 25m-50m.

Notes:I realize that I never showed you guys Carolyn's Ella Phint! The original Ella! I've made a couple of mods to the pattern since I made this first one.
Apparently, baby Leah loves Ella! Yay!

~Nessa

Toque Emergency!! aka WTF??

2008-06-07T06:36:40Z

Several years ago in a fit of fandom, I knit a Jayne Toque. It was right before the movie, Serenity , came out and everybody was making them to wear to the premier. If you have never seen the show then the fabulousness of this toque will be utterly lost on you, as it is kind of a "you had to be there" sort of thing.

As all good Canadian Toques, it had a fluffy pompom on top. Jeff removed this soon after recieving the toque, as it was for him to wear. It was/is the warmest toque I've ever put on my head, and a bit itchy since it is made from Alafoss Lopi.
Despite all of this, I love this FO dearly as it was the first time I knitted with a friend, & my first KAL item. I actually knit this with Beth from the Vancouver knitting group! It was the first time I met her, we'd been friends online for awhile and I actually went to her house at night time alone. Jeffy phoned me when I got there saying "are you being held hostage?", and Beth and I have been friends since then.

So, imagine my shock and dismay when I discovered this!

yes, that is a HOLE in the toque!

and another one here!

and here!

What the heck? I don't know how these holes got there. The yarn seems to have been cut right along the ladders between the stitches. I looked for evidence of moths, ie. the little larvae, or cocoons, and there are none. Could it have been moths? Should I be looking for another perpetrator? I will debrief the hubby on the situation when he gets home, and maybe he will have some explanation for it. It kind of freaks me out to think moths could have done this, but I imagine raw icelandic wool would be like caviar to those little winged bastards!!! (ok, ok, I'm jumping to conclusions on the moth thing, it could be something else.... but what?)

Anyways, I don't have any leftovers of the yarn, so I might buy some more yarn to repair it. But is it worth it to buy 2 skeins of yarn to fix a toque that Jeff & I hardly ever wear?
What should I do?

~Nessa

and a "box of chocolates"

2008-06-06T03:26:16Z

I finished knitting these little boots several months ago, but didn't get around to weaving in the ends and adding the little buttons until a couple nights ago. I made these for a friend's new baby, and they are soon to be shipped out to Spain where he, and his new mum live.

I seriously love this pattern, but I think you already know that, since I've knitted these booties up many times.

The other night, Jeff came home and told me that he had gotten me a "box of chocolates" (his words). He handed me a box containing the above. No not the beret-in-progress, the fabulous skinny mac keyboard that I adore! The thing is about 1/4 inch thick, and has all kinds of cool buttons on it, like eject disc, wigets, play, stop, rewind, ffwd, pause, volume up and down, and screen light up and down. I feel like I can type faster with this keyboard (although that is possibly all in my head). This is almost as romantic as when he gave me my mac mini for my birthday a couple of years ago. Folks, when you're married to a tekie this is as romantic as it gets. <3 <3 <3

EDIT: I've been surfing UTUBE & ran across some pretty rad music I thought you might like to check out...

Death Cab For Cutie ~ Lightness This is one of my favourite bands, but for some reason I have never heard this song until tonight. I don't think it's new.

Metric ~ Between the Bars This is an acoustic cover of one of Elliot Smith's best songs.

Headlights ~ Cherry Tulips This is a band I've just discovered. I think this song reminds me of listening to oldies on the radio. Plus, they (pic yoinked from their site)

SALE!

2008-06-04T16:33:38Z

The collectible toys are on sale for the month of June only! Yay!

rainy tuesday

2008-06-03T21:04:16Z

I finished the Manos redux scarf. It is just a simple seed stitch, but it blocked out flat and super long. It is almost as tall as me when I have it folded in half! I am really happy with how nicely it turned out, and how quickly it knit up. I am surprised because I seem to remember hating scarf knitting because it always took so incredibly long to finish a scarf. Lately my knitting has become a lot faster, and now it seems I can pump out a scarf in no time. In fact, this simple project was my zen project for when I didn't want to concentrate on knitting.

This yarn is from a yarn dying kit from Louet that marydotmusic gave me for my birthday this past March. (BTW, you rock Mary!)
I finally dyed it last night at my friend Ursa's house. She very generously let me come over and use her dyeing space, and skillz to help me achieve this fabulous colourway, which I have dubbed Oceanus.

Ursa let me use some of her turquoise dye, which I used instead of the grey-blue dye that came with the kit. The other two colours that came with the kit were blueberry (the brighter blue), and cornflower (the pale blue). I LOVE how this turned out! I don't know what it will become, maybe a shawl? I will have to see how the colourway looks when knitted. I achieved this look by doing an overall pale dye with the cornflower blue, and then laying out the skeins and painting the other two colours on with sponge brushes.

In other news, on the needles right now I have a red beret

which I am knitting for a swap with my friend jabberworks, aka Sarah. In exchange, she has used her fabulous illustrational skills to create a custom work of art for me!!! I am so stoked!
I am using Berocco Peruvia in colour 7135.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Tuesday, I'm off to do some laundry now.