FO : Koolhaas Hat

Yes, I am on a knitting roll…

Koolhaas Hat in Karabella Aurora 8 - Rust

Pattern : Koolhaas Hat by Jared Flood
Needles : KnitPicks Options US 5 (3.75 mm) & US 7 (4.5 mm)
Yarn : 2 balls of Karabella Aurora 8
Color : Rust (16)
Size : Large (men’s)
Modifications : None, I followed the pattern exactly.
Notes : I started with size 6/8 needles and it was a little bit larger than the recommended gauge. I went down a size to 5 & 7 since I read that this yarn expands after washing. I used the Magic Loop with my KnitPicks Options and this pattern went fast. It looks complicated, but really it isn’t. If you can ktbl and do basic cables, you can make this hat.

Here is a close-up of the stitch detail:

Close up of Koolhaas Hat in Karabella Aurora 8 - Rust

I picked this color to match the Opera Scarf I just finished. I made the small size (women’s) and when I tried it on, it was about an inch above my ears. I like my hats to cover my ears. I ripped back a few rows and added another pattern repeat (5 in total). I want to make another one of these hats, but I have a few more projects I’d like to tackle before doing this again.

FO : Opera Scarf

Misti Alpaca Chunky Opera Scarf

Pattern : Blue Sky Alpacas Opera Scarf
Needle : KnitPicks Harmony US 13 (8.0 mm)
Yarn : Misti Alpaca Chunky
Color : Roast Chestnut (3729)
Notes : Fast and easy to knit. I bought the yarn Monday evening and cast on and had it finished by Friday evening. Here is a close-up of the stitch detail:

Close up of Opera Scarf

I tried it on with a black jacket and it looked nice. It’s warm and soft. It doesn’t feel itchy at all. I was pleasantly surprised with the yarn. I will definitely be buying more of it!

A New Year and a FO

Happy (belated) New Year to everyone. I know it’s been a while since anyone has heard from me in blogland. Never fear, even though other things have managed to take up some time, I still have been knitting (ask anyone in my knitting group). If I were really good, I’d say “My New Year’s resolution is to go on a yarn diet, knit from my stash and blog more.” However, I am realistic and will make attempts to go on a yarn diet, knit from my stash and blog more. I’d rather live vicariously through others who have vowed to knit from their stash.

Since my last blog post (can’t believe the time has flown by), I have enhanced my stash, finished some projects, and joined Ravelry.

One such project finished is the Yarn Harlot’s Unoriginal Hat.

Thraven Unoriginal Ha

Pattern : Unoriginal Hat
Needle : KnitPicks Harmony US 11 (8.0 mm)
Yarn : Blue Moon Fiber Arts Leticia in Thraven
Notes : If you want a quick knit, this is it. This hat took me one evening to complete. The followed the written pattern and made no changes. I used the Magic Loop to do this. Casting on, I worked the first round flat, then joined in the round. I usually like the the look of the cast on row that way. It didn’t work too well for this version. The brim flared more than I liked. Next time, I’ll cast on and join right away.

Marisol Peru

I was over at Loopy Yarns today and picked up some new yarn. Mirasol Peru benefits children and their families in the highlands of Peru. The minute I picked up some Marisol Sulka, I had to have some.

Marisol Peru - Sulka - Cocoa

It’s a chunky weight yarn that is 60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk. Can you say soft?

There was also some Marisol Hacho which is a 100% merino wool (DK weight) yarn. I think they will make a pair of quick knit socks.

Marisol Peru - Hacho - 308

I also recieved my latest STR shipment (finally… mail is slow in my area). This is Flower Power. I like it!

 

Socks That Rock - Flower Power

I also received my first package of the Lucky Lurker club from A Swell Yarn Shop, but I forgot to include it in my photoshoot tonight. I had many skeins lined up as I am still updating Ravelry.

As I mentioned, mail is slow in my area. I’m supposed to recieve my package from Fearless Fiber’s Seven Deadly Sins Sock Yarn Club. It was sent and I checked the tracking information online. It said the post office attempted to deliver my package this past Saturday, but no one was home, so they will either redeliver or I have to go pick it up. First of all, attempted… LIES! I was home. I was home all day Saturday playing with Ravelry. I heard the mail carrier. I checked the mail. No package. Nothing. Nada. Zip. I called today to find out if I could pick up my package. They asked if I had the little slip. Um… no. I didn’t find anything in my mail or stuck to the door. I was told that they can reschedule them to redeliver the package. I said I could pick it up at the post office, but I wanted to make sure it was not in transit to be redelivered. I was told on the phone, if the tracking info said it had to be rescheduled, then it was there at the post office. Guess what? It wasn’t (or the employee didn’t want to go searching for it any longer than necessary). I was told to call the number to have them track the package in the morning. So is it out for delivery or not? No, but I suspect that they didn’t want to dig around since it was after 5pm, there was a long line behind me, a shortage of employees working, and the air-conditioning wasn’t working. I love getting the runaround. I know I should have stayed and made a bigger stink, but I was ready to get the hell outta there since the air-conditioning wasn’t working. I just want my yarn!

As for my green Blaze, it’s going to the frog pond. I’m not all there with the color to spend all that time knitting it and then wear it once or twice isn’t worth it. One project out of the way. Now to pick another.

Since I am finally up and running with the whole blog and photo thing, I wanted to post about the first blog contest where I won something over at Moon Tea. I was one of the lucky people who guessed her age (she’s a young’un). She let the winners pick from a list of things. I picked two skeins of KnitPicks Gloss in Dusk.

When I received my package, I discovered she also snuck in a Bath & Body Works product, as well! Thank you!

I swear I’ve been knitting

I haven’t been knitting a lot, but I have been knitting (despite playing around on Ravelry). For a while there, I was knitting Blaze. I’m still knitting it, but it’s not quite the portable project. The pattern is fairly simple, even though it looks complicated. If you’re comfortable with cables, this project is a breeze.

WIP - Knitty - Blaze

I was kind of worried at one point when I saw how bright this green color was in sunlight. Like, blindingly pea green. Indoors, the color isn’t so bad. I still like the pattern and Cascade Indulgence is so warm.

I’m staying with the green theme this summer. I’m not a huge fan of bright green, but I love the yarn from the last Yarntini sock club package.

Penllyn Socks

I think the Penllyn sock pattern from Wildhorse Farm Designs shows off the colors nicely and yet you can still see the pattern. A male coworker referred to them as “alien socks”. I have a feeling it was more of a comeback to what I just said to him: “[Female coworker I hang out with] went home early, so you’ll have to be my girlfriend for the rest of today. OK? Thanks!”

Ravelry

After watching the number of people ahead of me in line for the past two weeks, I finally received my invite! I spent some time yesterday and this morning playing around and updating My Notebook. I have to get pictures up and linked now. If you’re on Ravelry, I’m UrbanKnitter over there.

Waiting…

I’m waiting for my Ravelry invite.


You signed up on June 17, 2007
You are #9683 on the list.
1402 people are ahead of you in line.
14209 people are behind you in line.
34% of the list has been invited so far


That’s actually not bad considering there were 2001 people ahead of me over the weekend.Until then, I’m snapping away photos of my stash to upload to Flickr.

Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair 2007

This past weekend, most of the gals in my knitting GROUP went to the Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair in Crystal Lake, IL. The weather couldn’t have been nicer. We shopped and ate a bit and then shopped some more. This was my first time to this fest and I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t huge, but they had quite a bit of vendors. I managed to pick up a few things.

Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair 2007 purchases

I also picked up a mug and bowl. Here is the Turquoise Yarn Ball with Needles Mug:

Turquoise Yarn Ball with Needles Mug by Jennie the Potter

Turquoise Yarn Ball with Needles Mug by Jennie the Potter

Turquoise Yarn Ball with Needles Bowl:
Turquoise Yarn Ball with Needles Bowl by Jennie the Potter

Both are handcrafted by Jennie the Potter. I’ve already put the mug to good use with my morning coffee today.

I was also excited to finally get my hands on a set of Hold My Socks! from The Traveling Knitter.

Hold My Socks! by The Traveling Knitter

I’ve already put a few of my new purchases to use already. Hold My Socks! is a very sturdy holder for DPN WIP socks. No poking your bag and all your needles are in one place. If notice from the first picture above, some of the needles are missing and there is only one skein of the Painted Desert yarn. I’ve cast on the Painted Desert yarn with the HiyaHiya needles. I really like how the Painted Desert colors are coming out (photos to come). The HiyaHiya needles are made of stainless steel and very lightweight. It’s wonderful knitting with these needles.

I really enjoyed the Fiber Fest and look forward to next year. Plus, Stitches is coming in two weeks. I love it all!

Soxx Appeal

On my way to knitting GROUP yesterday, I stopped by Three Bags Full in Northbrook. They had a large assortment of the much sought-after Smooshy yarn from Dream in Color. Once again, I resisted (but my resistance is wearing thin, I can tell you). However, I did break down and pick up two balls of the new sock yarn from K1C2.

Soxx Appeal 9580 (Jungle)


It’s called Soxx Appeal. It’s 96% superwash Merino wool / 3% nylon / 1% elastic. This color is called “jungle”. It’s very springy and squishy. It reminds me of Fixation, but it’s thinner. I want to cast on, but I don’t need another WIP. For now, I’m just going to just squish it and be happy with that.

Any pattern suggestions? I just want to be ready. 🙂

Yarntini Sock Club : Mint Mojitos, anyone?

Today, I received my 2nd package from the pure knits Yarntini Sock Club. Once again, it did not disappoint.

Yarntini Sock Club - 2nd installment

Wrapped in lovely brown and pink tissue paper:

  • Yarntini hand-dyed yarn in Mint Mojito
  • set of Pony Needles Rosewood DPNs (US1/2.25mm)
  • Pure Cricosaura sock pattern
  • Mint Mojito drink recipe
  • Mint Mojito flavored Yarntini lip gloss

It’s taken a lot of restraint for me to not wind this yarn and begin knitting. I have a few WIPs (what else is new) and I also received an order from Elann (which I will save for another day of blogging). I’ve never seen Pony DPNs in rosewood. I’ve seen their single point needles, but not the DPNs. According to the website, it’s “new”. They feel very smooth and fairly strong. I may need to give this set a try soon!

Did I happen to mention that I am thrilled to have joined this club?

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