The Knitting Games

I don't normally do knit-a-longs or participate in any contests with knitting. I usually claim work or other responsibilities keeping me from such shenanighans.

Except for this time. I'm just shocked to say I've gotten 2 projects done, from scratch, and entered into a few contests. It's amazing what happens when I put work aside and just do something I want to do.

The first was the Gnomeacres Warm Up Make-a-long. You had to make something to keep you warm and it had to be with Gnomeacres yarn. Of which I have approximately a ton of. Winner gets a gift certificate to the Gnomeacres site. Of which I need more yarn from. Right.

Anyway, I had a skein of worsted Sonic Screwdriver, bought with the intent on making fingerless mitts to match the Hitchhiker I had already made. So I casted on....

Done and entered into the Make-a-long. AND entered into the Ravellenic games into the WIP event, since I started these pre-Olympics. Done and done.

I casted on the GAP-Tastic cowl for myself in yarn I found in my stash. I remember buying 2 skeins from Knit Picks in a color they discontinued and never using it because it was 100% wool and I wasn't sure what to make. I just bought, ok, without thinking.

I actually finished it. In a week. I was so happy I wore it the next day all day, even  in the house (it IS still cold in Indiana). I'm amazed at myself for hunkering down and completing something like this in a week.

Herbert the Head models

 Amazing.

This was entered into Team Knitting Dead (the team I joined for the games)  and in the Ravellenic games in the Cross Cowling event AND in the Stash Skeleton event (which I didn't even realize existed). Yay me.

I casted on the Rainbow Pride scarf as well on the 7th. I've been focusing on that and I believe I can get it done and entered by the close of the Olympics on the 23rd. If you go by ROY G BIV, I'm on the G and have B and V (purple) to finish. I can do this. I just need to finish the knitting and add the fringe. I can do this!

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

I still have mittens for my sister. The original pattern I posted did not work because my brain didn't register that the yarn I have is super bulky. I made one mitten from another pattern but it was pretty confusing and when I tried it on, I wouldn't give it away. So I found a new pattern and will be giving that a try soon.

My friend also bought a skein of gorgeous sock yarn during our trip to Chicago and wants a pair of socks. So that is on my list as well. I forget the name of the pattern but it's from the Joy of Sox book. I will post more once I start them.

I'm fairly certain that this year is the year of knitting for myself, however. I rarely do and I was so happy to finish the cowl and wear it...because it was MINE.

As a side note: I got a new knitting book and love pretty much everything in it. Once Upon A Knit is out now by most of the same folks who designed for Vampire Knits.

If you are participating in the games, post your project pages in the comments!

So much knitting... so little time.

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia are coming!!! I have always loved the winter Olympics more than summer for some reason (considering how much I detest snow.. it's a wonder). This one proves to be particularly polarizing since Russia is so blatantly against homosexuals and the rest of the world isn't.

It's also time for the Ravellenics! My first ever time participating. The events are up and I'm planning my strategy. I might have to assign more work to my team mates so that I have more time to knit in February. Priorities, people. Priorities.

I think my events are: Mitten Mogul (I need another pair of fingerless mitts OR I will make my sister's mittens that she was supposed to get at Christmas), Cross Cowling (I need the gap-tastic cowl. Made one for my sister and since I can't snatch it off her neck, I have to make my own) and possibly Scarf Super-G. The Hat Halfpipe is there so I can see how many chemo caps I can whip out for the Firewalker Project. How long is the Olympics? Surely I can do this!

As added events, I plan on, if I make fingerless mitts for myself, to make cabled mitts as a challenge and to enter into the Cable Cross Country.

So to the patterns I think I'll be doing!

The mittens will be Warmest Mittens and I did just get the needles I needed for these. The yarn will match the cowl I already made my sister which was Studio Tricot Cedrone.

 
Not sure of the cabled mitts yet because there are tons of patterns and I haven't decided yet. I'll post once I figure it out.

The cowl is the GAP-tastic cowl and it's beee-you-tiful! I know I have gray bulky yarn but that seems...meh so I'm going to stash dive a bit and see what else I can come up with

Sister's cowl

For the Scarf event, I want to make a damn statement. And that statement is:

The rainbow pride scarf. Pretty sure I have all the colors but have about 19 days to get everything I need.

The hats are basic chemo caps. I'm going to try and see how many people I can get to make the hats between February 7th and the 23rd.

That's it for now..... but come back. Gnomeacres is doing another Make-A-Long!

Did I add to my stash?? *sigh*

In Chicago, I found (with the help of my friend!) a few knitting stores. Since I must find local shops when I travel, I had to go.

The first one was ok. I was looking for more local, fun stuff and they had the traditional labels you see everywhere. They had some Noro on sale, so I got a skein.

Onward to Stitch(es) and yowza. Big, bright store! I found yarn that I can't find in Indiana and didn't want to order online without squishing it. Madeline Tosh and Sweet Georgia! Beautiful stuff and there was a sale going on.

I also got a cute new knitting bag. I spent way too much and was very happy!

We headed to Vogue Fabric store too and I wasn't as enthused since I don't sew. My imagination just wasn't as kickstarted but I want to learn to sew and plan to this year.

Chicago was a good trip! Even got to go downtown to see the Christmas decorations...

What a good town :)

Kool-Aid....OOOOOHHHHHH YEEAAAAHHHH!

I went with another round of kool-aid dyeing. I have acid dyes but need to get all the proper equipment for that and kool-aid takes pretty much zero effort. So ... kool-aid. Plus my house smelled awesomely fruity during this....

I choose 10 cent packets (not even real kool-aid!!! just "drink mix" from Kroger) of pink lemonade and black cherry. Set it up and knock it down.

I have bare yarn from Knit Picks, fingering weight, so I can make socks. We have black cherry on the left and pink lemonade on the right. Five packets a piece, mixed with boiling water. Hint: don't stand over lemonade when adding hot water. Wow.

I can't get a great photo to really show the brightness of the pink but it turned out well. I left the white portion deliberately, hoping for a neat variation of colors.

And now I need to make more socks.

A Tale of Christmas Socks

For some reason, I was determined that my mom, my sister and I each have a pair of handknit Christmas socks for Christmas morning. I'm not that bright.....

All yarn by Gnomeacres!

I made myself socks first with To Be Jolly. Easy peasy.

Ordered up Mistletoe and Under the Tree for my mom and sister. Slower going because work was entirely too busy and I have a hard time knitting the same pattern over and over. But I got them finished while I was in Chicago after Thanksgiving with friends. It's amazing what you can do when you are forced to relax in a hotel room and you don't watch TV.

The lighting wasn't great but here's the finished Sister socks:

Onward to my mom's socks. Mistletoe turned out to be a beautiful colorway. But it took even longer to knit because of work and holiday obligations. Did I mention that I was silly? My dog, Eva, got horribly sick on the 21st with vestibular syndrome and, since she's almost 100 lbs, she ended up in the animal hospital because I couldn't take care of her. Tons of stress but I was determined to finish the socks. Mom said not to worry, but I couldn't NOT do this. I couldn't leave mom with just one Christmas sock!

Christmas Eve, at 11:59pm, I finished mom's second sock.

And we all had Christmas handknit socks on Christmas morn......

The End.

A cup o'rooibos

My postman made me happy today.

I ordered a birthday present for a friend from Knit Picks and it arrived today. Because I'm mostly selfish, I also ordered me 3 skeins of bare yarn and a dye sampler kit. Take a guess what my Thanksgiving vacation is going to consist of....

I also ordered some of Gnomeacres holiday yarn. I already made myself Christmas socks and Amanda from GA has put out this year's round of holiday yarn. So I'm making a pair of Christmas socks for my mom and sister. The catch is they must be done by Christmas...hoo boy. Looks like I need to start working less and knitting more. Anywho, I got Under the Tree and Mistletoe. Wound up Under the Tree to start and it's gorgeous. Going to cast on a pair of vanilla socks tonight so they are on the needles and ready to be knit.

Started knitting a cap in Knit Picks Brava. I wasn't sure about using 100% acrylic but they had an offer a bit ago for a free skein to try so I got my free skein. I actually really like it! I'm making a cap for a friend who is going through chemo and it's the perfect softness with wash-ability.  I'm using my standard, go to cap pattern, Just a Beanie. Again, I want to get this complete soon so he has it when it turns wintery and cold.

I don't think my other friend reads my blog so I'm going to go ahead and show the pattern I'm knitting up for him. I'm taking this pattern and making it in gray for brain cancer. He does runs in memory of his sister who passed away a year ago from brain cancer and I thought this would be a good cap to keep his noggin warm and spread the awareness message.

And holy crap.... I need to make an adult size of this for myself:

Trying to figure out something fun for the December Knit N Bitch. One member suggested a get together at the Mounds Park pavilion. That could be good, with maybe a dessert pitch in or cookie exchange. Thinking...thinking.....

Not doing a terrible amount of holiday knitting this year. I've learned my lesson! But I'll post what I get done :)

A little bit geeky

Every time I travel, I look for local yarn stores. I got to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina for work and managed to sneak out of a conference for a bit to find a LYS.

I found Charlotte Yarn. I was a little nervous at first because it wasn't open at 10, like the sign said, and I had a limited amount of time away from the conference. I was worried I would leave my trip without yarn :( The owner was a little late but so sweet and nice that I didn't care. I was in one of the cutest yarn stores! Then, to add to the cuteness, she brought in her little dogs. Very friendly, very loving dogs. Made my day!

I did end up with a bit of yarn (*cough*) and bought a copy of the Downton Abbey knits magazine as well. I always always try to support the local shops when I am traveling. Because someday I want my own knit store where Eva can lounge and greet customers.

In the bag

I was in Charlotte to attend the SQL PASS Summit. Yup, I'm a geek. Technically, the title on my business cards is Data Architect but it pretty much equals geek. With over 190 sessions to choose from, it was a bit overwhelming. I took knitting to the conference with me, because that's normal... right? There's always down time somewhere. HECK NO.... I never once pulled it out. Never once knitted in the 3 days I was there. Charlotte had a lot to offer and I tried to take advantage. We hit some really excellent BBQ places and I was beside myself with happiness when I realized the breadth of beer that Charlotte has to offer. Not your standard Bud, Miller, etc. (until we hit Whisky River - that was slightly disappointing).

The SQL Sentry company set up a trolley to take conference folk around Charlotte. My mom, sister and I took it to the Music Factory area and hit Mattie's Diner. Oh wow...what great diner food. I honestly don't think we had a bad meal while we were here.... Anyways, it was dark by the time we got going and I have to admit, it was great seeing a SQL Sentry person at the stop. A nice touch :)

The first night there we went to Queen City Q's and met with my friend Warren for dinner. Delicious BBQ sliders and they had Chimay blue in little bottles! *swoon* This was walking distance from the hotel (pretty much everything I needed was...which helped a lot).

Lunch the next day had me and Warren at the Carolina Ale House. I got a huge (and delicious) chef salad and a Victory Golden Monkey trippel. I also went there after hours with several other SQL geeks to drink and talk.

Another excellent place was Leroy Fox. We went there after trying some beer flights at Ass Clown Brewery. Yes, that was really the name. The GPS got a little confused but we made it. They have very unique beers and I tried 4 of them. Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt was my favorite. I saw too late they also have wine.... shoot. But I got an empty growler, a pint glass and cozy and some cozies to take home to friends. Good little business they have!

Onward to Leroy Fox.... good food. I had the catfish and chips but I really loved the pretzel apps. Little pretzel bites with 3 dipping sauces. Yum.

Our last dinner in Charlotte was at Dale Jr's Whisky River (mom and sister are huge NASCAR fans). Disappointing beer selection but the food was terrific. Pulled pork BBQ sammich with the best mac and cheese I've had.

I usually flat out refuse to go to chains that are available back home. Traveling is time to try what the area you are in is famous for. In this case, it really was BBQ and microbrews. Who am I to say no to that?!?!