Sweaters and Sushi

I sucked it up and started a sweater in the middle of summer. I'm being a good little knitter and using stash instead of buying more yarn. I'd like to be done by fall but who knows what other projects may catch my eye. Until then...Flair sweater it is.

The real reason I started a sweater is so I could use my sushi stitch markers.

I *heart* my sushi stitch markers. =)

Stuck in a Rut or Indecision?

My creative juices have dried up. I have a good sized stash of yarn and many patterns to try in my Ravelry queue yet I can't figure out what my next project will be. I've been so indecisive that I ended up braiding the fringe of my Montego Bay scarf to buy more time. Nothing has been inspiring nor exciting. I take that back, I really love the new Leisl and February Lady Sweater patterns that were recently released. It's just been too warm to want to work on a sweater. My problem is I'm putting too much pressure on myself to make the perfect knit. After finishing Montego Bay I thought I'd continue with the swirl shawl. After knitting 4 pieces of the shawl that seemed to take me forever to knit I have no interest in making 80+ more swirly pieces. It's insane! I don't want to waste the beautiful green lace yarn for something I'll hate. Back to the drawing board for that yarn.

Send me to Jamaica

montego bay scarf
Originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

I kept this Montego Bay scarf in my purse and knit it up whenever I had some down time at work or when I had time to kill waiting...for whatever. I brought it to my nephew's graduation party last Saturday and finished it off while chit chatting with the fam.

I still have to add fringe. There will be no braiding of fringe. I've been working on it for so long. I'm ready to move on to the next project. Whatever that will be.

*yes, it is a dark sucky pic but i'm so done and there's no need to show it off. see the hundreds of other montego bays on ravelry.*

Alpaca & Silk Neckwarmer

OHHH! Just what I need in 98 degree weather!
Whatever.

I'm ecstatic that I finally used this ball of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK that's been sitting in my stash forever. It's snug, but it'll be useful when it gets chilly outside again.

I will never get used to this early summer heat. September isn't coming fast enough.

Compulsive Yarn Shopping

Dream in Color Baby Lace Weight (wound)
Originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

I had no intention of buying yarn when I walked into my LYS today. I ONLY wanted a couple of size 1 needles. I want to teach myself to knit a pair of socks at the same time on 2 needles and I needed this size to get gauge for my Shibui sock yarn. I did get the needles, then I got sucked in. All the pretty skeins were calling for me.

If you wandered into a yarn shop and saw this yarn, you'd buy it too. It's Dream in Color Baby lace weight yarn. Happy Forest is the colorway and happy it is. It's so bright and cheery I couldn't help not putting it back on the shelf. I thought, "I'll just buy one skein."

I headed to the register to pay and then the swirl shawl I had a pattern of at home caught my eye. This lace yarn would be soooo pretty in this pattern. I asked the shop employee if the yarn I'm purchasing would work for this pattern. YES. How much yardage do I need? You'll need 2 skeins. Oh crap. Back to the shelf I went. I bought 2 skeins. There's another color called "Blue Lagoon" that is gorgeous. I had to hold back from buying it until I can come up with a project I'll use it for.

I need a little happy today. All this yardage is worth every penny.

Sweet Bunny

This is by far my most favorite amigurumi I've crocheted to date. Crocheting it was easy. Sewing the appendages was not. I moved and re-sewed his legs 3 times before I was satisfied with the way he looked!

He's made out of cotton/acrylic yarn. Cotton isn't my favorite to work with. It looks great but so rough on my hands. He has a cushy scarf made out of extra merino wool I had from my left over stash. I would've finished yesterday had it not been for the crappy neighborhood Michael's. They had a million googly eyes with adhesive backing. Not one pair of safety eyes was found. I went to Jo-ann's at lunch today and found safety eyes in many different sizes.

I need to take a break from amigurumi before my house is covered in them.

Bubba loved his Invincibility Star that I made for him. I'm renaming the little guy "Biscuit" though. The dog thought it was a Scooby snack. Biscuit is OK. Just a little drooled on.

Because Everyone Needs Invincibility

I was browsing through one of flickr's amigurumi photo pools and came across this Super Mario Invincibility Star. I thought "this is perfect for Bubba!". He's very much a gamer and even dressed as Mario of Super Mario Bros. for Halloween a couple years go. I also had yellow yarn I've had in stash forever that I didn't know what to do with. I had a lot of down time at work and whipped this little guy up in a day. Easy peasy.