The Knit Hedgehog

My dad takes in foster children. For several months now, he has been taking care of a little baby girl named Victoria. She's adorable! Since it looks like she'll be staying for a while, I ended up making her a Christmas present.

I really enjoyed this pattern. Its very simple, very soft, and very fun. It took about a day and a half to complete, so it was perfect for a last minute gift. 

A great gift for a one-year-old, I used some stashed acrylic and stuffed it with polyfil. Completely machine washable. 

Now I want one for myself!

The One Ring Scarf

One Ring to Rule Them All, One Ring to Find Them. One Ring to Bring Them All, and In the Darkness Bind Them

The One Ring Scarf is double-knit on 4mm needles with Caron Simply Soft yarn, 2 skeins Black and 2 skeins Autumn Red. Total yarn cost was about $12. It took 2 months to complete. It's about 8 feet long from end-to-end. It's incredibly warm. I made it for the biggest LOTR nerd I know, my boyfriend. Now I can steal the Ravenclaw scarf I made for him....

I pushed really hard to finish this in time for Georgia to get its first snowfall in three years. I finished the last phrase in 2 days. I wanted it to be useful before Georgia's notoriously short winter came to an end.

I highly suggest using an acrylic for this. I could not have afforded to use a nice yarn, as the pattern used about 1200 yards. Not to mention, Caron Simply Soft is really warm, pretty sturdy, and drapes nicely. It's machine washable, I didn't worry about it getting wet in the snow. I'm very happy with the yarn choice.

Everyone I talk to thinks I should make it an infinity scarf, but honestly, it is way too heavy and way too long to be useful as a ring. Perhaps if you used a sport or finger weight yarn, but at worsted, its just too big.

So prepared!

It really covers the face well, though. It's very wide. It gets good coverage from nose to neck, and ass someone whose chin freezes easily, this is a great thing.

The Deathflake Chart

The Deathflake Chart is something I'd been wanting to try out for a long time, but Faire Isle really scared me. A very well written a versatile chart, I initially intended to make a table runner. My boyfriend thought a banner would be more presentable. 

I have to say, I'm impressed with myself. The tension turned out the best of any Faire Isle I have attempted previously.

I learned how to properly block acrylic, as well. And by that I mean, I put a towel over it and steamed the shit out of it until it lay flat. It drapes fairly well now.

. 

Finished Items and Hallowe'en

After some stress of school, my dishwasher breaking, my HVAC unit leaking, the outlets in my kitchen all not working, and school, I've finally been able to finish a few things. Stress knitting is the best knitting.

I finally finished those god-forsaken stockings!

Here's a link to the Ravelry Project Page.

I'm getting in full swing for the Hallowe'en season! The weather has been gloriously cool these past few days. 

I made a little candle holder. I'm still experimenting with Sculpey, and I'm not very good with it.

I'm working on a pattern for a Hallowe'en table runner. I really like the idea, its cute, its classy... I'm going to need more yarn. 

I'm attempting to plan a party. There will be movies and friends and delicious foods.  And a poster. I'm still working out a theme. 

I have a shoulder octopus, your argument is invalid.

Dragon*Con Prep!

I live for Labour Day Weekend.

You might think I'm exaggerating, but I honestly, Dragon*Con, for me, is about living. Its a massing of tens of thousands of people, all held together by a love of a culture. Its a diverse culture, to be sure, but it takes every single person who wears a badge and makes them one of many. You will never be the only one in the room who likes a certain TV show, or who reads a certain series of books, or plays a particular game. Your interests are shared by many; you are never singled out as different. It is the ultimate celebration of 'being yourself', letting loose and not being scared. For me, its about living life to the fullest.

And, one top of all that, one of my favourite parts of the Con is the preparation stage. Piecing together a costume; making lists of things to do, bring, and eat; poring over the guest list to find the people I can't wait to see. Not only am I really prepared when I get there, but I had a month of enjoyment out of my ticket!

I plan on bringing the market bag I made last year. Looking back at the post, I had hoped to empty it of yarn by this time... That didn't happen. Oops!

Here is a Packing List I suggest for your Con bag:

Food/Drinks

• Water! I'm bringing a Camelback insert, and refilling it every night. Hydration is extremely important.
• Snacks: Granola bars, homemade chips (in a tupperware so they don't get squished), Goldfish.
• Lunches: I plan on creating bentos with high-carb foods (onigiri for me, fresh bread for the boyfriend). I'll post about them later. There is a food court, and hotel food, of course, but lets save a bit of money, shall we?
• Hip Flask: Its got a map on it and will have rum in it. 

First Aid/Costuming Aid

• Small First Aid bag with Band-Aids, Neosporin, and pain killers. I expect that blisters and headaches will be the only real injury we will receive.
• Feminine Hygiene Products. Even if you don't expect to red tide to hit, the stress of the con often will mess with your cycle. Or, you could be like me, and somehow match it with this weekend, 3 years running. In an emergency, stores in the hotels sell them, but I like to be prepared.
• Deodorant. Its hot and humid in Atlanta. You don't want to smell like... well, the rest of everyone.
• Sewing kit with needles, black thread, and safety pins. Both costumes are black this year, but if you're wearing something with lots of colours, pick up some clear thread, or bring bobbins with matching colours. Don't let your sewing kit get too bulky, though!
• Steampunk Handkerchief. It matches, and a hanky always comes in handy.
• Parasol. This goes with my costume, but will also keep the sun off us for the walk there and back, and any intermittent outside-ing we will have.
• Hairpins and hat pins.

Electronics

• Cell Phone and charger. Airplane mode while in the basement of the Hyatt. I have one of those wallet cases for it, so I will be keeping my debit card, ID, and cash in it. 
• If you have a smartphone or tablet, be sure to download the DragonCon App! It works offline, so its great on tablets without wifi, or phones in airplane mode. I strongly recommend it!
• I also suggest installing a QR Code reader. Lots of fliers and such have QR codes, and it will make life a bit easier.
• Camera, if your phone sucks/doesn't last that long.
• Kindle, pre-charged, loaded with a few books, for waiting in line and such. I have one with month-long battery life, so I don't expect it to die over the weekend. Make sure to bring your charger if you have a fancier version!
• When it comes to electronics, its best to keep it simple. For one, if something gets stolen, you don't want to by carrying your laptop around. Also, you really don't want to be distracted from the Con around you, because you were playing Pokemon on your DS. There is already so much you won't be able to see, because of time and being human, you don't want to miss out on anything else.

Other Accessories

• The Pocket Guide. The app is awesome, but your phone WILL die.
• Umbrella, if it looks like it will rain.
• Hand towel. Cleaning up messes, wiping one's brow... Its much easier than having to find paper towels.
• Gaming accessories (Dice, Magic the Gathering Decks, etc). I would advise against bringing large books (like Players Handbooks), because they are bulky, and the gaming room tends to have everything.
• Cash. Vendors prefer cash, and when you have cash, there's a definite limit on what you can buy. Moreover, check out the list of vendors, so you have an idea of what you want to purchase. But keep a bit for those 'must have' buys. I'm going to hit up the bookstores and Chessex this year!
• Calling Cards. For people I meet (and like!), and photographers to send you your picture. Ask the photographer for his card! Also, its a great form of advertising! Put your blog or etsy store on it. 



Calling Card! Complete with blatant advertising.

• Notepad. You're going to meet people, see things, need to remember things--its important to be able to write them down, even when your phone dies. Notepad and some cool pens are a must.

Things to Make Sure You Do at the Con

• Find one panel a day you can't live without missing. Go to that panel.
• Get business cards from stores you buy from, and store you wish you could buy from. Keep them in your wallet, or someplace safe. You can even write a note on them, so when you look at them later, you remember why you liked them.
• See the Atlanta Radio Theater Company. Seriously. They do a great job of whatever they perform, and radio theater is a bit of a lost art.
• Stay hydrated! You don't want to spend the convention sitting in a first aid room because you passed out in line. Remember: don't start drinking water when you get there, start drinking the day before!
• Use the 3-2-1 rule: 3 hours of sleep, 2 meals, 1 shower DAILY! 
• Visit the Art Room. There are a lot of really cool things, and many forms of media. Its pretty fantastic!
• As someone on a diet, I also suggest letting it go by the wayside this weekend. You're going to be spending a lot more energy than you're used to; its better to get behind on your weight loss by a pound than passing out due to lack of food. 
• Remember: DragonCon is about an experience. Its not about what all you buy, its about the people you meet, the fun you have, and the time of your life! Go bond with people! Make new friends! See some cool panels! Enjoy yourself!

Mono green and Peaches and Cream

Mono green infect is the symbol of MTG players with no intelligence.
Seriously. Its a one-trick-wonder. The intelligence required involves watching turn 2. If opponent has no creature, win. If not, destroy creature,  win next turn. Rinse and repeat.

Sales on the Peaches n Cream mega skein make life awesome.
Seriously! I'm gonna make some dish towels. Tea towels. Its a useful summer project,  when you can't bear to think about wearing warm clothing.  And all I can think about is tea parties.

Steampunk Handkerchief

I am a bit of a steampunk. The engineer in me just loves it. Gears as jewelry? Incredible contraptions? Welding goggles as a fashion statement? Who wouldn't love it?

I prefer the classier side, more Victorian than Street Urchin. I love to find old Victorian knitting patterns, although her come with pictures, so I've been hesitant to try them.

I have found a depressingly small amount of really steampunk-y knitting patterns. I did buy the Ladies of Mischief's Needles and Artifice, and I do quite enjoy the items in there (particularly the scarf!) Unfortunately, there are few other items I have been able to find. Yes, I have looked at everything with a steampunk tag on Ravelry.

Anyway, all that blather leads me to my pattern. I made a handkerchief! I can't say its authentic or anything, but I like it.

I wanted a solid piece of fabric, a solid core. Then I wanted a nice lace edging, sort of symbolic of function encased in fashion. I think the colours are what give it the correct rustic feeling.

Folds up nicely.

You will need:
Sport weight cotton yarn. I used Knitpick's Simply Cotton in Heather Brass, but the colour has been discontinued,to my dismay.
Contrasting colour of crotchet cotton.I know there's different sizes and such, but it does not matter
US Size 4 needles
US Size 2 needles
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 6 sts = 1 inch
Finished size: 8"x8"

Cast on 54 sts
K1,P1 to end
P1, K1 to end
Continue in seed stitch until work measures 8".
Cast off.

Switch to smaller needles. Pick up stitches on edges; purl across. I did it by side, then attached the corners together.
K1, [YO, K2Tog, YO, SSK] to end
Purl across
K1, [YO, K2Tog, YO, SSK] to end.
Purl across
Bind off in picot lace; that is to say, k1, slip back to left needle, cast on 2, bind off 4, slip  back to left needle, continue on to end.

Sew up corners, if applicable.

Close-up on lace

Weave in ends.
Monogram if you wish; I added a little pendant.

I like to bring my lunches to work/school in a tupperware, wrapped in a handkerchief, so I quite look forward to using this.

Happy Knitting!

Finished items and Christmas

I finally finished my Cables and Garter Cardi I started back in October. After hibernating for a while, I decided to finish it for Reddit's Finish ALL the Things! I'm really proud of myself, its the biggest project I've ever done.

I call it the Prude Jacket! I picked this pattern so I could wear my tank tops to work--I would have my shoulders covered and I wouldn't have to worry about cleavage.

I really couldn't be happier. I put a lot of work into it, and it came out great. One of those moments when I'm happy to be me. :)

I finished a pocketed scarf for a Christmas Present!

Its a Common Knowledge Pattern:

Cabled Pocket Scarf
CO 12 sts
Stockinette twice the length of the desired length of pocket
Even Row: k3, p2, k6, p2, k3
Odd Row: k5, p6, k5

Every few Even Rows, cable 3.

When scarf is desired length, stockinette the same length as the previous pocket.

Fold pockets in half; stitch sides.

I used Super Bulky yarn and size 13 needles. It felt like cheating, but it was good. One present down!

I went to a local yarn store--Sheepish--for Small Business Saturday. It was my first time in an LYS! IT WAS SO COOL. The people there were really friendly, really helpful, and overall made the place really welcoming. I bought some alpaca and some nice doublepoints. I say nice, but they are SO light--they are birch--that it feels weird. It'll take some getting used to.

I made a headband for my mum.

KnitPicks is having their Cyber Monday sale. Its probably bad for my health (and wallet), but OMG SO MUCH CHEAP YARN. I bought the fixings to make all my Christmas presents. Good news is, I'm selling a scarf with a profit margin that of the amount of money I spent, so... I don't feel too bad!

We have a little 5' tree in our apartment (fake), and we need to decorate it. Of course, it'll be with nerd decorations, hopefully all hand-made (therefore, free). I'm going to knit a few things in between gifts. Christmas is always super busy...

Happy Knitting, everyone!

The Great Fingerless Gloves Debate

Partial fingers, or no fingers at all???

It tears me apart! I can't decide! Does the partial fingers make them something other than fingerless gloves? Is it simply born of laziness that one does not knit the fingers?? QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED!

Seriously! What is the point of having gloves if they don't warm your fingers? Of you simply knit them long, so they cover part of your fingers, without the individual finger holes, ARE THEY FINGERLESS MITTENS? Does that even make sense?? Where is the line??

I must preface this story with a fact about me: There are few things I dispise more than an ameteur that claims to know more about a skill than they actually do. Never bullshit knowledge. If you don't know, ask. Moreover, if you're going to publish a pattern, research that it isn't common knowledge, or at least don't claim inspirational genius when creating a garter stitch rectangle.

I once subscribed to a 'Rock Knitters' website, where everyone was teenage girls in love with Fall Out Boy (not an insult to Fall Out Boy but to blind followers), who were 'inspired' to create a lumpy set of garter stitch fingerless gloves (6" rectangle, seamed together with a hole for the thumb. Obviously no research was done.) so they could 'practice guitar outside, without getting cold,' and look cool doing it. (Girl, please. If you're practicing guitar outside, either your parents regretted getting you the damn thing for Christmas and sent you out there until the lessons start kicking in, or you're annoying your neighbourhood crush by playing on the porchswing whenever he walks by to pick up his little brother from the park. That is, if that isn't your Dad's guitar from his teenage years that you found in the attic and swiped for a facebook photoshoot) It made me dislike the fingerless fad for a while.

Then I got a touchscreen phone.

So then I had to backpetal. As a slight elitist, I still resented the teenage angst I had associated with the things, but... usefulness! I need gloves, but taking them on and off just to send a text? What a nusance! Maybe if I just left the tips off, and made a hybrid Half Finger Glove...??

Don't get me wrong, I love me some fingerless glove/mittens. So simple to knit--I once made a pair two hours before a concert--so cute. Useful if you're worried about your warms/hands getting cold with a short sleeve shirt. Great for warmth when you still need your bare fingers. Hell, they just look awesome. They are a great way to learn knitting in the round without getting yourself into too much trouble with socks. Its like knitting a tube sock with a purpose besides sitting in the bottom of your sock drawer until every other pair of socks in sweaty and gross in your hamper. A tube sock that's edgy. But to actually wear them... I had some issues with it.

So the debate continues. I wear them now in places of low-judgement--Friday Night Magic, concerts, costumes, etc. Meanwhile, I've been sticking to full mittens in other places. (I always neglect to think that unless you are a knitting/are close to someone who knits, the technique of knitting is a mystery anyway. People can't tell the difference between a poorly knit item and a well-knit item, unles syou shove it in their face. Moreover, they don't care.) But the Knitting Elitist in me still feels like unless you've got some interesting patternwork or colourwork going on, knitting Fingerlesss Gloves is the equivilent of knitting a 3' scarf on size 15 needles with super bulky yarn. Sure it looks cool, but I can teach my 10-year-old Autistic stepsister with a learning disorder to make that. At the moment, I am knitting boyfriend a pair of gloves with partial fingers, because its more manly and because I think it'll look sexy, but the debate still runs strong. I am torn with resentment of an archetype and love of a look. Maybe I'll switch to mittens and just leave the debate unanswered forever.

Hats, Scarves, and Collars

With the advent of a cold front here in Georgia, I've turned my knitting to warmer things, rather than decorative.

Seed Stitch Collar

I prefer collars to scarves for a few reasons: One, they are a much faster knit. Two, they don't get caught in zippers and on velcro on your jacket. Three, they just look cool.

I made a really simple seed stitch collar with buttons for these reasons.

CO 30 sts
Knit one row
[k1, p1] to end of row
[p1, k1] to end of row

Repeat until work measures around your neck comfortably

[k1, p1] Twice, k1, cast off 6th stitch, repeat until end of row
Next row, seed stitch, and add the cast off stitches back onto the needle
Repeat another 4-5 rows of seed stitch, cast off.

Its a rectangle with button holes.

Add buttons, and you're done!

Newsboy Hat

I'd give you the pattern for this, but I honestly can't remember what I did.

I know I used elements of Starcap, and I did a seed stitch band (I love seed stitch). Other than that, its not too clear.

Ravenclaw Scarf

I'm currently working on a Ravenclaw scarf for Boyfriend. He really wants one. I wanted to do it in book colours, rather than movie colours (blue and bronze vs blue and silver), but we had limited yarn choices. I went with 1x1 ribbing; I think that makes it look really clean. Using Caron Simply Soft (like the poor college student that I am) in 'Celestial' and 'Grey Heather'.

I think Matching gloves would be pretty awesome, too.

Candy Corn Earrings

Probably the easiest thing in the world. And so cute!

They are really lightweight earrings, so they are great for sensitive ears/children.

Materials
Scrap yarn in Yellow, Orange, and White (I used worsted weight)
Size 2 dnp
Tapestry needle
Earring Hook

Important things to note: When changing colour, make sure the tails point down. Its get messy otherwise.
These are 'stuffed' with the knots of the colour changes. No filling needed!

Cast on 9 stitches in Yellow across 3 dnp.
Knit 2 rows.
Change to Orange yarn.

Make sure to pull the colour change ends down!!

[k2tog, k1] 3 times. (6 sts)
knit 3 rows.
Change to White yarn.
[k2tog] 3 times. (3 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Place all 3 stitches on one needle. Purl all three together. Hook onto earring hook. Break yarn, knot, and pull though the bottom of the corn.

I didn't have any earrings on my when
I  made this one, so I put it on a needle.

Weave starting tail into bottom stitches; cut all ends so none show.

Viola!

Knit Cthulhu

I have seen crotchet Cthulhu's everywhere. However, I cannot crotchet to save my life. I'm so terrible at it. So, I made a knit version.

DragonCon 2012!!

Note: There is a small amount of 'crocheting' here. However, I do this with my fingers. I'll post a video or something on how to do this later.

Yarn: Worsted Weight Yarn (any)
Needles : 4mm (Size 6), dpn. Or any dpn, really, the product will just turn out to be a different size.
2 buttons

Ball 1
CO 8 sts, divided onto dpn. Leave a long tail.
k 1 round
Increase every st
k1 round
[k1, inc1] 8 times
k 1 round
[k2, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k3, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k4, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k5, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k6, inc 1] 1 round
k 3 rounds
[k6, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k5, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k4, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k3, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k2, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k1, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
Dec every st
k 1 round
Cut tail long. Thread into a tapestry needle, run yarn through remaining stitches. Pull tight.
Making sure the ball is the right side out, stuff through hole in top. Run cast-on tail through cast on, pull closed.

Ball 2

CO 8 sts, divided onto dpn. Leave a long tail.
k 1 round
Increase every st
k1 round
[k1, inc1] 8 times
k 1 round
[k2, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k3, inc1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k4, inc1] 1 round
k 3 rounds
[k4, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k3, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k2, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
[k1, dec 1] 1 round
k 1 round
Dec every st
k 1 round
Cut tail long. Thread into a tapestry needle, run yarn through remaining stitches. Pull tight.
Making sure the ball is the right side out, stuff through hole in top. Run cast-on tail through cast on, pull closed.


Sew balls together, preferably at a hole.

You can either do the tentacles or the eyes first. I prefer to make the tentacles, and then arrange everything on the face at the same time. I sew the the buttons on with red thread, to indicate evil eyes. Its the little things.

Tentacles
Here comes the crotchet. Here is how you do it with your hands; I assume tis similar with a hook, but that's fancy stuff and I don't get it.

Make a chain just longer than you want the tentacle.
Insert 2 links up. Chain one. Repeat until end.

You can kinda twist the tentacle as it happens, to define it.

Add button eyes and sew the tentacles into place!

Happy Knitting!

Edit: I forgot a decrease row! Its in there now.

Knitting.

One would think that with a title including the word, I'd have talked about it by now. Honestly, I haven't had much time to knit. Normally, I'd knit during class, but seeing as I'm working this semester, it really cuts back on my yarn time.

Knitting is one of my Time Wasters. Those wonderful little things you do that make life worth living. Time Wasters are some of the most important things in life--without them, where would we be? Not all of us are blessed with a job that we love--I'm certainly not. But knitting--and really, creating things in general--makes it all worth it.

I've been knitting on some level for about 15 years. I started by knitting tiny little scarves for my dolls when I was 5--must have drove my mother mad, all these little rectangles everywhere--and over the years, got better at it. It probably wasn't until high school that I actually realized what someone could do with the skill of knitting. By that time I'd perfected the technique, but had no idea what to do with it. It was over those four years that I came to develop and research patterns, and started to make things I could use.

Now, the only thing that really stops me from knitting whatever I want is willpower. Its tough to do big projects! Lots of work! Not to mention, I have a strange stiffness in my left index finger that flares up when I knit big projects. Well, if I do them quickly. Know your limits! Don't push yourself too much, or you'll never finish anything.

I would advise new knitters to pick a project that isn't too outrageous. Most people I've met start with the old standby scarf--a great start! Its not complicated, only has one type of stitch; you can use big needles to make it go faster, and its functioning! It also fixes the knit into your muscle memory, which to me is very important. It lets you watch how tension affects your knitting. Overall, the ubiquitous scarf is a fantastic first project.

For medium knitters, I suggest socks. Socks open up the world of double-pointed needles, which once I mastered, let me do almost anything. Socks are great projects because they are very easy to customize and there is a multitude of websites with advice, how-to's, general patterns... Youtube is a great place for that. And I will probably mention this again at some point, but I love this website. Probably one of the most useful things ever. 

Expert knitters... I couldn't advise you on that. I wouldn't call myself an expert knitter in the least bit. The only advice I could give is to make things that you like, or that challenge you. Otherwise, you'll get bored and stop knitting!

There are all sorts of knitting clubs and things, although I've never been in one. This is the best way I can share my knitting. However, knitting with people is a great way to bond--and if you have questions, you can ask each other! Friends make everything better.

There are thousands of free patterns online. You can join Ravelry and get even more.. I'll post patterns/where I get my patterns from whenever I post a project. Always give credit where credit is due! And at the same time, always feel free to eyeball something and make it on the fly. The great thing about knitting is that you can always unravel and start over. Be creative! You can make almost anything by knitting.

I'll post small Knitter's Guide in a separate post later. 

Happy Knitting!