riizu.blogspot.com

2 days until the contest!

PSA: If you are family do not read this post!!!

I finished my very first pair of gloves with fingers. I knit a picot edged pair of gloves for my mother in law to-be, and I'm very excited about them. The yarn is a mix of merino wool and silk, and they're really warm and soft. I'm sure she'll love them. Christmas knitting has been plugging along. I've made it really far down my list, and think that I can get a few more done yet before Christmas.

I already have knits done for my parents, my brother and his fiancée, my niece Emma, and my future father-in-law. I'm working on a secret project for my fiancé and have so far been able to keep it a secret from him, and would love to make a pair of mittens for his brother and his brother's wife. A pair of mittens for me wouldn't hurt either.

As of last night, I finished my goals for October.

October Wrap Up:

1. Gift Item: Llama Striped Hat for my brother, Joel (ravlink)
Pattern: Turn A Square Hat by Jared Flood (free pattern)
Progress: I finished this hat in record time. I think I started it on the last day of September, and it was done by the following evening. COMPLETED Oct 1



2. Gift Item: Baby Jacket for my new niece, Emma (ravlink)
Pattern: Buttons Hat and Jacket from Naturally Yarns
Progress: The jacket went surprisingly quickly, and the hat too. I had to wait a few weeks for the buttons to arrive, but once they did, they were adorable! COMPLETED Oct 13






3. Gift Item: Simple Hat for my FFIL, Gerry (ravlink)
Pattern: Jacques Cousteau Hat by Typy (free pattern)
Progress: Another really quick-knit. The yarn is from knit picks, and it's a big, warm hat. I know he'll love it. COMPLETED Oct 12




4. Gift Item: Embroidered Gloves for my FFMIL, Diane (ravlink)
Pattern: Cashmere Picot Edged Gloves by Insaknitty (direct PDF download link)
Progress: These took longer than the others. The picot edging on the first glove took forever but once I figured out the picot, I was much happier. after the edging, they went quickly enough. doing the fingers were a lot of fun, since I'd never done them before, and I learned some embroidery!



5. Gift Item: Striped Hat for my Fiancé, Chris (ravlink)
Pattern: Fibonacci Pea Cap by Lisa Bennett (free pattern)
Progress: Chris keeps complaining about being cold, and I've never knit him anything before. So, I went and bought a skein of some lovely alpaca, used up some scrap yarn, and made him a warm hat. This hat is very loosely based on the pattern above, but I didn't really follow it at all. This item wasn't on my original list. COMPLETED Oct 24

It's done, but I haven't been able to get him out of the apartment, so I haven't been able to get a finished photo.


6. Gift Item: Mittens for FFSIL, Anik (ravlink)
Pattern: Picot Edged Mittens by Carolyn (free pattern)
Progress: These were fun to make, and a really easy pattern. Instead of seaming the cuff, I'm attaching buttons that I bought on Etsy. I'll post photos when it's done. This wasn't on my original list either. COMPLETED Oct 24

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Knitting Meme! Here is a list of knitting techniques. Bold the ones you have tried, italicize the ones you want to try and leave the rest in plain text.

Afghan I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Mobius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf
Teaching a child/teenager to knit
American/English knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else's hand-spun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Knitted flowers
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Free-form knitting
Short rows Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine
Rug Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

I am 22 days and 8 posts away from my blogoversary (and a contest too!). So, watch for November when I'm going to host a month-long contest and I'll be giving away yarn! Wonderful Mirasol yarn! And maybe you'll get candy too, if you're really good :)

Lots going on in my world these days. In knitting news, I'm working on my very first pair of gloves with fingers. I'm knitting a picot edged pair of gloves for my mother in law to-be, and I'm very excited about them. The yarn is a mix of merino wool and silk, and they're really warm and soft. I'm sure she'll love them. Christmas knitting has been plugging along. I've made it really far down my list, and think that I can get a few more done yet before christmas.



I already have knits done for my parents, my brother and his fiancée, my niece Emma, and my future father-in-law. I'm working on a secret project for my fiancé and have so far been able to keep it a secret from him, and would love to make a pair of mittens for his brother and his brother's wife. A pair of mittens for me wouldn't hurt either.


I did pick up some Mirasol Miski so that I could make myself a hat. It's going to be so cushy and warm. I'm so excited about it.



There's also wedding news! We are in the process of booking the Crowne Plaza for our wedding reception next year. We need to work out a kink or two regarding a DJ, but are pretty optimistic about the whole thing. I've also commissioned myv eil from amandaarcher on etsy. I'm just so happy about how well things are moving along on all fronts.

Hope everything is well in your worlds,
~ Elizabeth

And for some fun, even though it's Saturday

And…



1. Follow the yellow brick road.
2. Knitting is something I always take with me on vacation.
3. To achieve your goals, you must leave your comfort zone.
4. My stubborness is something I'd like you to know about me.
5. I have a sense of accomplishment.
6. Egg floats.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging out with Vero, tomorrow my plans include seeing a band with Fran and Pete and Sunday, I want to do brunch!

Plugging away at the Christmas knitting, I finished a hat for my fiancés dad today. I knit the larger size.




Gerry Cousteau Hat (rav link)
Pattern: Jacques Cousteau Hat by Typy
Source: http://pirouette.vuodatus.net
Recipient: FFIL
Occasion: Christmas 2008
Started: October 10, 2008
Completed: October 12, 2008

Yarn: Just under 2 skeins of Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Lava Heather
Needles: US 2.5 / 3mm

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My October gifting Progress:

• Turn a Square Hat for my brother — FINISHED
  
• Baby Cardigan and hat for my niece — WIP
  
• Jacques Cousteau Hat for my fiancé's dad — FINISHED
  
• Picot Edged Gloves for my fiancé's mom — Have the yarn, need to start

In other news, I won a contest over at the knitallyear blog! Yay! I feel so special that I won ^_^ Apparently, I won 10 balls of yarn from Webs, and an autographed cartoon from Franklin Habit at The Panopticon blog! Yay!!!

My second FO this week was a pair of fingerless gloves for myself. This way I can knit while I'm waiting for the bus without getting (too) cold. I love the thumb on the pattern, and the yarn I used is really nice too.



Mirasol Valentino (rav link)
Pattern: Valentino by Emily Elizabeth
Source: EmilyElizabethKnits
Recipient: Myself
Occasion: Cold fingers
Started: October 2, 2008
Completed: October 10, 2008

Yarn: Just 1 skeins of Filtes King Kiss (which was splitty, but created a nice fabric) in 510 Charcoal and Mirasol Yarn Hacho (which I LOVE!) in a red-orange variegation
Needles: US 3 / 3.25mm

I'm nearing completion on the baby jacket I started last week. I need to block and sew all the pieces together, plus knit the neckband. And I would love to knit a matching hat… guess I'm further away than I though lol. I ordered buttons from rabbitandtheduck's Etsy shop, and they should arrive sometime next week.

I've also ordered a new knitting bag that I'm very excited about.

I was trying to knit while waiting for the bus the other day, and my hands were too cold, so I made some armwarmers for myself. They're wonderful, and I love them.



1. One of the best concerts/plays/movies I ever saw that I really didn't think I'd like was John Mellencamp. One of the best shows I've ever been to.
2. Malaysian Beef Curry is a recipe I recently made (or meal I recently ordered) that was delicious!
3. It's time for pajamas.
4. Honesty is quite refreshing.
5. If I never hear the words "my bad" again, it'll be too soon.
6. To one side of the curving road was my health, and on the other was my work ethic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to checking out the last of the reception halls we have to choose from, tomorrow my plans include laundry and Sunday, I want to draw up a second comp for my brother's wedding invitations!

At first I absolutely hated this yarn. I wasn’t very fond of the colour-way, it wasn’t all that great to work with, and none of the first three sock patterns I tried wanted to work.

It might have helped, if I had worked with the yarn, instead of against it. This yarn is not stretchy, and so it is very unforgiving. The fourth sock attempt, I chose a pattern that specifically mentions that it is stretchy, and this finished product is absolutely lovely. These socks are pretty, comfortable, and actually really nice. I’ve completely turned around on how I feel about this yarn. I actually love how it feels on my feet, and the colours are really quite nice. I now feel bad about how much I thought I didn't like it at first, and am sad I'm giving these socks away. Now I want a pair for me!

The (Not So) Hellish Socks (rav link)
Pattern: Go With the Flow Socks by Evelyn A. Clark (edesigns on ravelry)
Source: (book) Favorite Socks : 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave by Ann Budd and Anne Merrow
Recipient: My Mom
Occasion: Christmas 2008
Started: September 9, 2008
Completed: September 29, 2008

Yarn: Just under 2 skeins of Schoeller + Stahl Fortissima Socka in Brown variegated
Needles: US 1 / 2.25mm

I finished the socks too, but more about that later. I finished a hat for my brother for Christmas. I love it. It was fast to knit, it's soft and sqooshy and warm, and I think he'll love it. Hooray! Quickest FO in awhile.



A Llama Squared (rav link)
Pattern: Turn A Square Hat by Jared Flood (brooklyntweed on ravelry)
Source: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com
Recipient: My brother
Occasion: Christmas 2008
Started: September 29, 2008
Completed: Setpember 30, 2008

Yarn: Just under 2 skeins of Mirasol Yarn Miski in Green and Jade
Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm