As promised, here is Charlotte as of this morning:
The shawl is basically a series of 16-row repeats, where every 16 rows one either knits with one colourway only, or alternates between 2 colourways. I've finished the all-purple section, and now am moving on to the alternating-purple-and-pink section. I can't wait to knit with the pink! Currently there are about 180 or so stitches on the needles, and by the end there will be something like 300. It looks nothing like the finished product right now, hopefully after blocking the lace pattern will reveal itself. =)
So far it's been a fairly easy knit, the pattern isn't too complicated and stitch markers make things easy to keep track of.
In other news, I've broken my no-new-yarn-until-after-Charlotte (except for gift cashmere) promise. I couldn't help it, the Koigu is like crack. I went to Woolcott to buy some yummy white cashmere to make my godmother a Caryl's Kerchief (on the left), then I just had to go through the KPPPM stock and these 2 colourways just begged to be rescued (on the right, P107 and P117). Aren't they pretty? Argh, I have no willpower. I think maybe the solution is just to avoid yarn stores altogether, huh?
So, I'm working on my pink mohair kitty hat now. It's coming a long quite nicely, and I should have pictures of it soon. But now the question is what kind of scarf to make to go along with it. I talked to my friend Elaine, and she suggested something on the thin side, about 3.5 inches wide. And then we were wondering what kind of pattern to use. Perhaps a simple stocking stitch? Maybe a seed stitch border to the stocking stitch? And since the mohair is a bit on the heavy side, it probably wouldn't lend to any lace patterns very well, right? I'm thinking about the Embrace scarf from Knitty because while the stitch is simple (yay for stocking stitch), it's got a pretty unique construction. I might want it to be a bit longer, but in general I think the idea is pretty cool. I dunno though....what do you think? Elaine, if you're lurking out there, I wouldn't mind your take on this too.
Look, I made us a button! I have no idea why we would even need a button, but I've always wanted to have a button. It's not exactly what I had in mind when I began this little experiment, but at least it's a start. Attempt #1, if you will. Yes, I am aware that it is very pink. Yes, I am aware that I am ridiculously obsessed with pink these days. I can make a blue version, or a green version....? Or a mix of colours? Or something else altogether? What do you think? Next step, figuring out where and how to insert it into the sidebar. =)
ARGHH!!! I totally suck... I seriously think I'm going to buy the bag that I was intending to imitate by making the bag from Folk Bags (click here to check it out). It's the right size and has lots of pockets (which I had forgotten were lacking from that black bag o_O). The only drawback is that it costs more to ship it over than to buy the bag (which is why I was asking about getting is shipped to you)! I don't know if sending it to you would be an advantage though...I have no idea how much it would cost for you to send it here. Maybe I should go bag hunting....Shopping trip!
So....my dilemma is....WHAT ABOUT THOSE 3 SKEINS OF MANOS?? *sigh* I'm so dumb....I guess I could just knit it into that 'black bag' anyway. How do you think it would look felted? That Messenger Bag pattern in S'nB Nation is looking ever more attractive. I wouldn't have to alter the size anymore, just account for the difference in gauge. Hopefully some simple math will allow me to do that. And that way I could learn how to felt...but I'm such a chicken about it!! I'm so scared that I'll wreck it, and then I'll have wasted those 3 skeins!!
See what I mean? I just go back and forth like this...especially when I'm supposed to be doing work!! As Mr. Seshadri used to say, "What to do?" Please help this poor, indecisive chump...
Happy New Year! I haven't posted for a while, so here are photos of some 2004 FOs and a new project for 2005. I meant to take photos of people wearing their knitted gifts, but I'm a dork and forgot so maybe next year. First is a multidirectional scarf in Kureyon that I made for my sister: 
And a hat made from Green Mountain Spinnery mountain mohair (with a stripe of random Lion Brand yarn for variety) for my dad: 
I made my mom a feather-and-fan scarf out of Koigu Kersti but I forgot to take pictures of that one. Yes, I'm really on top of things, aren't I? =P And the first project of 2005, Charlotte's web. I spent some time rearranging the skeins, but I think this is the order of colours I'm going to use. I'm not 100% sure yet though: 
As for 2005 knitting resolutions, I really think I need to enforce a yarn budget. I don't even want to calculate how much money I dropped on yarn in 2004. I also need to get a better system for cataloguing projects. And, the stash needs to be depleted some before buying new stuff. For now, I'll say no new yarn until Charlotte is done, except for some cashmere I need for a gift. More on all this later.
I decided that I would finish those 'Sacred and Profane' mittens today come hell or high water. And so...
It's a pretty bad picture of me, but oh well...at least the mittens look good ^__^
Turns out I screwed up the button holes on the left hand pop-top a little, but it's not bad. Now I have to find buttons, and go through the pain of lining up the buttons and button holes. Good thing I have those new stitch markers... (>_>)
And a small stash update for those who might lurking around...
On December 31, Adrienne and I went to Lettuce Knit to pet and ogle all the yummy yarn. I originally went to return that extra ball of alpaca that I didn't need for my mom's cowl. And ended up buying 3 skeins of beautiful purple-ish Manos del Uraguay (colour 107, I believe), 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon (colourway 131, methinks), and a little bottle of wool wash. The stunning blue Koigu (2 skeins!!) in the photo comes to me courtesy of the lovely Adrienne. Oh, the dilemma of what to make with it begins...
Speaking of dilemmas, I'm having a crisis as to what bag to knit. That black bag from 'Folk Bags' is a little too small for me. I could alter the pattern to make it bigger...or, try the messenger/laptop bag from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation. But the latter pattern would also need to be altered a substantial amount. For starters, the yarn is a totally different weight, neither the messenger nor laptop bag is the right size, plus it's meant to be felted, which I don't want to do. *sigh* I don't know what to do!!!
*scurries off to see how hard it would be to alter any of those patterns*
