Knitting while driving....

It's that time of year again when the stress of the season makes us do silly things. All we can focus on are our Christmas knitting guidelines. That is what lead me to attempt to knit while driving. I was thinking one day about all the time I spend doing other things, when I could be knitting. Driving takes up a lot of my time. Therefore, if I knit while I drive, I could save a ton of time.

Thankfully, no car accidents occurred and I only did it while completely stopped at traffic lights. I hardly got any knitting done. And the alpaca yarn was so slippery, I lost a row because of it sliding off my needles. So all in all....don't try knitting while driving. As much as you reason it to be a good idea, it's not.

I finished up my other cousin's Ipod holder and I did a super cool Mosaic design, but I was in such a frenzy to mail it that I forgot to take a picture of it. I still have the pattern, so I might design another one eventually.

I have my last final tomorrow. WooHoo!!! Then I can finally finish up all this knitting.

Death to Finals

UPDATE 2/24/13: Come find me at my new blog, www.mysweetnomsa.com where I post other patterns and generally awesome things. See ya soon!
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So throughout this hellish week of finals, I decided to unleash some creative energy by creating my first pattern. I apologize if there are any mistakes or if it is not written properly. I dig this Ipod holder though. It is for my cousin Ben for Christmas. I present....Death to Finals Ipod Holder.
Size 3 Needles
Worsted Weight Yarn (Main Color and Contrasting Color)
* I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Black (Main Color) and Cream (Contrasting Color)
* I am not sure about yardage. I don't think I used even 75 yards of each. But have 100 just to be safe.

With the MC, Cast on 24 stitches
Work 10 rows in K2, P2 rib
Work 1 row Knit, 1 row purl
**Start Pattern**
The shaded areas are the contrasting color (cream) with the empty squares being the main color (black).

Work these 24 rows of the pattern in stockinette stitch (aka alternating knit and purl rows).

After the pattern is complete ten rows of stockinette stitch in MC, ending with a purl row.

Repeat pattern again backwards, staring at Row 24 and working up.

Work 2 rows in Stockinette stitch with MC

Work 10 rows in K2, P2 rib with MC

Loosely Bind Off

I blocked mine before stitching it up by wetting a washcloth and ironing over it.

Stitch up sides using mattress stitch. Weave in ends.

Sew button in middle of rib stitch on one side. Braid yarn for two inches for the closure. Sew to opposite side.

Rock out.

Big Happenings

I have some big news. I finally figured out how to take decent close-ups on my camera! I never knew how to do it, and when I zoomed in....life became a bit fuzzy. But now i know i just have to press the flower button. I'm not sure what it does or what it means....but the flower button works.

I finished the sari silk scarf for my grandma. I think she will dig it. I also got into jewelry making yesterday and busted out half a dozen pairs of earrings. I made some wooden ones for her. I think she will enjoy those with her scarf. Here a few of my other earrings I made. Freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals. I think they are b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. Good first attempt at jewelry.

Started my Aunt's scarf. Simple drop stitch but done in Patons Rumor (Alpaca/Nylon blend). I dig it. I think she will too.

Oh and sad news about my good Samaritan. His car was gone in the morning. I had to recycle my thank you/go out on a date with me note. Apparently he isn't my soulmate. Too bad.

To My Large and Faithful Audience

I know that everyone has been waiting all weekend to hear about an update on my life. Well...the hour has come.....

I just burned popcorn. Seriously. In my microwave. Actually....I ignited popcorn is probably the correct terminology. I am inept.

I had a good Samaritan help me today. There has been some crazy snow the last few days in Boulder and I had to run some errands today. Since I had my car out, I figured that I would just drive it to the library to save me some time. I came out of the library around 10:30 and couldn't get my car out of the stupid parking spot. The ice was too extreme. I skidded and burned rubber for about ten minutes, poured antifreeze on the ice near my tires (sorry environment!), and called my parents. Then a handsome young man came up and started pushing my car for me. As he is pushing my car, my stepdad is on the phone yelling that I need to ask him out. Weird to be peer pressured from your parent. Anywho, I totally wussed out....which I regret. He was pretty cute. So I am hoping that his car will still be in that parking lot in the morning. I wrote him a thank you note with my number in it. I gave him the option of dinner (meaning - has no girlfriend) or a knitted hat (meaning - has girlfriend). We shall see.

Not that my popcorn and damsel in ditress updates weren't thrilling....but lets get back to knitting. I have almost finished my grandmas scarf. I am making it out of the recycled sari silk. The person I bought it from said that it was picked up off of factory floors in India and then spun into this yarn. I believe it. I can't tell you how many sticks, dirt clumps and what not I have picked out of this darn yarn. It does go far though. One skien gave me about 5 feet on a scarf (drop stitch). I am hoping to finish it tonight/tomorrow (pulling an all-nighter). Stupid school.

I have to have all of my out-of-state christmas presents done so I can mail them out hopefully by Thursday. Latest is Friday. For those boxes I still need to make.....

~ Finish Silk Scarf for Grandma
~ Drop Stitch Hat and Scarf for Aunt Kerry
~ Embroider Towels for Aunt Kerry
~ Ipod Holder for both Steven and Ben
~ Earrings for Aunt Kerry

With all the schoolwork I have this week....I don't think I can do both the scarf and hat for my Aunt Kerry.

Oh yeah....I also got some yarn this week. I had ordered from Knit Picks a while ago and it finally came yesterday. I don't really have any projects in mind for this yarn.....just got it to see some of the different types that they had and to see if it was cheap. I also bought some natural yarn so I can try my hand at dying it. I think that will be a winter break activity. I am pretty stoked for that though. I have no clue how that will turn out....hopefully not like my popcorn.

On a roll....another FO!

I have completed another Christmas gift!!

I will wait for your applause to finish.

Thank you, thank you.....my studies have suffered, but I managed to finish up the seaming for the argyle Ipod holder I was working on for my cousin. I think he will love it. I have to make two more for my other cousins. One is going to have a skull and crossbones design on it and I haven't figured out how to decorate the other.

Other than that, I didn't do much in the world of knitting.

I did make some mice though. The bodies are chocolate covered cherries, the heads are hershey's kisses and the ears are sliced almonds. I am making a couple hundred of them for small gifts to friends and for a baking contest this Sunday. I will also be forming a giant cake to look like cheese. If it comes out at all like I have envisioned, it should be adorable!

Cable Hat FO!!

Huzzah!!!

I finished one of my hats! It's a cable hat for one of my good friends. I made it using Patons SWS in the colorway of Natural Geranium. It turned out pretty good. I had to fudge the pattern due to a difference in gauge, so if it was for me, I would have liked it a bit tighter, but the recipient has uber curly hair, so this should be perfect.

Random thought.....I don't know what it is about me, but I can't properly pop popcorn. I always manage to burn it, and have set it on fire on multiple occasions. I blame my frugality because something inside of me feels like I am wasting money if I don't eat every kernel.

I actually really don't enjoy popcorn. But when I get that craving twice a year, it never turns out well.

Isn't knitting supposed to be stress relieving?!?

It's that time of year again. When absolute panic sets into the hearts and souls of crafters. When the joy of making handmade items is diminished because of deadlines. Also....being a college student with finals starting in a few days doesn't help either.

Right now....I currently have 8 WIP's.....wow.....

Afghan for my mother - 50% completed
70's golf club covers for my stepdad - 15% completed
Cable Hat for my stepmom - 75% completed
Sari Silk bag for my grandma - 5% completed
Candle Votives for my mom- 50% completed
Felted Jewelry for my mom- 50% completed
Argyle Ipod Holder for my cousin - 95% completed
Tea Towels for my mom - 40% completed

Yikes....and I still have about 30-40 other things to craft.

Tick....Tick....Tick....

gosh....I am starting to sound like Scrooge. I swear I really enjoy Christmas....I am only temporarily cranky because it is 11:30 and my bedtime is nowhere in sight because of a silly paper.