What I Knit To This Week

What I knit to this week was Emma, Star Trek - the prequel, episodes of Bones Season Two and John Tucker Must Die. All good fun and entertaining.

I worked on a new felted clog project that corresponds with the class I am teaching, another mitten - this time without a pattern (it did not turn out so well but will make a cute hanging holder for silk flowers or leaves)

Right now I am trying to design a pine tree motif to embroider on the front of it. (pictures to come soon). And I got the Ooh La La scarf off the needles - finally.

My plan is to go through the box of UFOs and get some of them done before summer. It is a slow process but has been good so far to see what I was excited about and need to get done so I can evaluate the project for giftability and class possibilities.

In other news, Pedro kept me company by watching from his perch by Duck Central. I hope everyone had a fun-filled and productive weekend~!

Proof of Warmth

I have proof that someone is wearing what I knit. I am so proud to present one of my sister's good friends modelling his birthday gifts that I was commissioned to knit. The hat is from the Reasonably Hip visor beanie pattern and the cowl is from the Cowl'd and Frosty pattern.

He says that he really likes them and I can tell he looks "hotter" with them on.

Thanks for the picture! I really like seeing my knitting displayed.

I hope everyone is having a great time pursuing their passions with proof to spare~!

First Mitten: Decorated with Surface Embroidery

Once I got my first mitten done I realized that it was the perfect canvas for testing some embellishing techniques.

I found a drawing of the mitten you see in the picture and used is as a sketch document to design what I wanted to do with the mitten.

I found buttons to use for flower centers, as well as some theme buttons of cat and mouse. And I used beads for flower centers to give it some more visual interest. I used the darker color yarn to do the surface embroidery.

It was a fun way to spend an evening while I watched Post Grad (cute movie) and episodes of Bones.

I am already finding yarn and embellishments for my next one. I may end up with a matching pair from the yarn that was an unexpected gift from an unknown donor that came into the shop. This will be on display after Friday this week.

I hope everyone is finding new ways to express their creativity~!

First Mitten and Pawprints

I knit my first mitten this weekend and have found a new passion in the portable knitting arena. Mittens are simpler than socks and offer a wonderful canvas to be as creative or simple as you want to be.

Since I got excited about this I requested "Pawprints" from my mom and brother so I can be making hand coverings for both of them in either a fingerless or regular format.

I will be decorating the one in the picture tonight and adding the finished picture to the blog. This mitten will be an only child and will be on display as a shop sample after this.

I hope everyone is finding new things to be excited about ~!

Knit O Rama Means New Ideas for Projects

Knit O Ramas are a great time for me. I learn things from my students and I hope they learn something too. Friday was no exception.

I tried to find my way through the beginning of knitting 2 socks at a time on one long circular. I think the method may be valid. Now if I can just figure out how to split the hanks/skeins of sock yarn I have that are 400+ yards. I researched a tool I found at KnitPicks - the yardage counter - and thought that $50 was a bit spendy. However, I can justify that I will only have to buy it once. The other method is to weigh the yarn and wind off half the weight. Not sure how that will work if the yarn has to go on the swift.

So I have evaluated the needles I have and plan to do at least one pair like this to see how it all works. More knowledge is good. I hope everyone is learning new ways to do things!

Three

To steal an idea from the Yarn Harlot, I would like to address my third year blogaversary.

Let me begin by saying, THANK YOU!! for your readership, for your kind comments and for your continued support. I realize this is a medium akin to a journal and I enjoy writing it, taking pictures for it, thinking about new titles and information that I want to share with my virtual community.

I hope that my efforts have been interesting, entertaining and, perhaps, educational. My goal for this year is more of the same. Happy blog reading to all~!

Olympic Countdown

IMG_3482, originally uploaded by anniemaude.

Loopy and I ventured over to the Olympic Training Center to take some pics of him with the Winter mascots to get ready for Ravelympics and the lighting of the torch in Vancouver in just 20 days.

The sign on the board across the way says "20 days to Vancouver and 916 days to London". That says alot about planning ahead.

I hope everyone is pursuing lofty goals!