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.

Amigurumi Mushroom

Amigurumi Mushroom
Originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

I'm churning out these toys like a factory! Well, not really but they're really quick to make in a few hours. It's the best kind of instant gratification.

Mannn it's really hard photographing red and white together. I tried my best to soften up the colors.

*edit*

I finished the baby snail from the kit. Here's the whole family!

Cutie Hootie

I finished up my second Amigurumi project...Hoot Hoot. What should've taken me less than 2 days took almost a week to finish. Sheesh. I thought I got my stitch count all wrong by the time I was almost done with the body. I had to put Hootie down for a couple days and breathe before I sent him flying across the room. I ripped it all out and started over.

I didn't have brown embroidery floss so I just took what brown yarn I had left from the kit and stripped it down to 2 strands. Stitching in the ears and wings in the correct place was a challenge but it turned out ok. I was trying my best to not make it look like a blue bald headed alien and more like an adorable owl.

Happy Snails?

At least mine is. Ain't he cute? I still have to make the baby snail and the mushroom that comes with the kit. I'm sure it would take another night or two to make both but I'm ready to go back to a knitting project. Yippee...I can crochet!

Hooking Can Be Fun

I bought Stitch 'n Bitch's Happy Hooker last year and I've been dragging my feet cracking it open to teach myself. I've been wanting to learn so I can make some cutie cute cute cute amigurumi and Interweave Crochet's Babette Blanket. I finally put down the needles, pried myself away from the next knitting project and picked up a crochet hook. I'm still learning the basics (yuck...learning new terminology) and this is my beginner swatch. I keep losing stitches. I think I figured out what I'm doing wrong. It's frustrating when I keep thinking that it shouldn't be this hard! This is supposed to be easy, right?

Dexter "Ice Truck Killer" Socks

Yay! Socks for me. It only took a month, but I'm finally done.

Zigzaggy Goodness

It fits really well. It's a shame I couldn't figure out how to knit two socks on one circular needle. I didn't have 40" length needle anyway. Just working on one sock on a 32" kinda screwed up the cable of my Addis.

One more sock to knit and I'll be done with the pair. I need a break from this project so I'm thinking about breaking open my Happy Hooker book to figure out crocheting. I'd really like to finally make the amigurumi kit I ordered through etsy.com last year.

I'm a knitting fiend!

The mojo is back baby! I've been knitting up a storm.

I'm working on Dahlia from the Knitty Winter 07 collection. It's a knitted top down raglan but the first part is not knitted in the round. I'm still trying to figure out how this will eventually be done in the round. I don't get it yet. I'm using Cascade 200 wool in a cranberry color.
I got bored by all the stockinette in Dahlia and decided that I needed a side project. I knew I wanted to use my ITK sock yarn and teach myself how to knit 2 socks at the same time with two circular needles. One problem. I couldn't find the book I bought to teach myself. I realized I left it at my brother's place when I dog sat for him a few weeks ago. CRAP!

I was eager to start the Jaywalker socks so I settled on figuring out magic loop. I looked up the video on knittinghelp.com and casted on. The zigzag pattern is easy to memorize. Magic loop goes so much faster than knitting on dpns. It's fairly easy so far until I turn the heel...that will probably be a challenge. It's a shame I can't seem to figure out how to do 2 socks at once. I'm already feeling second sock syndrome.
I'm using a basic superwash sock yarn that's been hand dyed from Cosmic Fibers. It's zig zagging along quite nicely but it's like knitting up dental floss. This is the finest gauge yarn I've ever used.

I've lost my knitting mojo

Picture 035clap
Originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

I should be done with clapotis by now but since catching this ass-kicking cold over a week ago, I haven't been able to finish. Believe me, I've tried. I'd get as far as getting it in my lap and holding the needles getting ready to knit...then I get sidetracked. Most of the time I'd have it in my hands, knit a couple of stitches and then...zzzzz. I pass out on the couch. Argh. On the brightside, I am finally satisfied with the length of the straight rows and now I'm in the decrease section. Yippee! I'm in the home stretch then I can finally move on to making some socks.

STITCHES West 2008!!

I joined Erin and her mom at the knitting/yarn vendor show over the weekend. Was it just me or did it seem more overwhelming than it did last year? I'm sure it's because we went on a Saturday this year when the majority of attendees go. We did go late Sunday and it was pretty mellow, although I felt ill and was in no mood to shop.

I made a list of what I wanted and stuck to it. This is what I found:

• 2 more skeins of the Malabrigo Silky Merino I need to finish up my Clapotis.
• I bought enough Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Burgandy to make a jacket.
• Addi circular needles (Sizes 1 to 3, two diferent lengths each) to make socks.

I couldn't find yarn for 2 other projects I want to do and didn't feel like finding substitutes. When I get to them I'll know where to find it at the LYS or online. I talked myself out of buying a different color of silky merino since I didn't have a project in mind. I always know where to find it at LYS's that don't mark it up higher. Most of my budget went towards the Addis. *pout* I needed them so I can make more socks without dpns and other lace items on my To Do list.

Oh wait, let me geek out for a sec. I have to share my knitting celebrity sightings! Yes, I'm a dork. First stop at Stitches was the Ravelry booth and saw Jess and Casey! They were crazy busy of course with all the Ravelers swarming about them. We picked up a Ravelry Passport and played the stamp scavenger hunt. For those of you who are familiar with Knitty Gritty on the DIY network, I saw Vickie Howell!!! We were waiting to get a stamp on our passport at a vendor. I hear a familiar voice...I turned around and there she was standing next to me talking to the vendor. She's petite up close as I imagined. There were other Ravelry regulars I recognized on boards I frequent. It was kinda cool actually seeing them in person. Anyway...

It was pretty fun looking and shopping but soooo exhausting. Can't wait till it's in town again next year!

Do you like it raw? Silk...that is.

I forgot to mention that I'm done with the Filigree Scarf. It's gorgeous!

It's made with Artfibers Golden Chai. It's a very nice light scarf. I like the idea of wearing raw silk but it's very "sticky". I probably won't seek out any 100% silk yarn any time soon but I'm finally happy with this finished knit. =)

I attended the local knit group down the street from my house for the first time tonight. Why the hell did I wait so long?! I truly enjoyed meeting the people I met...everyone is so friendly. Knitters generally are really nice people. =) I hope to attend regularly from now on.

Silk + Merino = Luscious

I finally found Malabrigo Silky Merino at Imagiknit earlier this week. YAY! This stuff is dreamy soft. They had just got in 3 colors, 4 skeins each. I took all the Nocturnal. I just LOVE purple. I had decided that if I ever found a good deal on Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb or found something similar to it I would make another Clapotis. I hate the first one I made using Noro Silk Garden. It's pretty but so scratchy on my skin. I've barely used it. Silky merino is very similar to Lion and Lamb but a smidge lighter in weight.

I couldn't wait so I casted on Clapotis. It's beautiful :) I'm probably going to buy every color of Silky Merino I can find at Stitches West!

I should be fixing (or frogging) TD but I don't wanna. Not ready yet.

Last week I went to Daiso (Japanese dollar store) in Union City. Lookie what I got:

- stitch holders

- bamboo crochet needles

- buttons

- foamy mats to use for blocking

All $1.50 for each item. Daiso is awesome.

I love it. I can't have it.

*sigh*

This lovely pea coat pattern that calls for a bulky wool is so cute. Problem is bulky wool and my bulky Jean-sized body don't mix. As much as I want to make this I can't. I'll end up with a sweater that will make me look like a linebacker. Not the look I'm aiming for.

I'd knit it up if I could figure out the math/stitch count using a different weight yarn for this pattern. I'd rather not think that hard. On with my quest for another pea coat.

Another lesson learned after knitting a sweater

I'm done with the Tilted Duster with the exception of button placement. It's blocked and the sleeves were a bit damp but I tried it on anyway with the anticipation of loving everything about it.

Before blocking, the ribbing was ridiculously tight and I was concerned. There was a lot of "butt hugging" going on. Last thing I need is attention in that area of my body. Fortunately I found other Ravelry TD knitters who gave tips to assure others that the hugging will become drapey after blocking and they were right. The back turned out great. It's the front and sides of the skirt that came out too big. *pout*

The sides of the skirt. Oh man. Where do I begin? They look like wings. OK, I'm being way to critical but it's just not how I expected this sweater to turn out. I wasn't expecting so much positive ease when I thought I was going to have too much negative ease. There must be a way to re-plump the wool without fucking it up. I swear there's an article somewhere...


So my hard lesson learned this time? Wet block swatches before casting on and be patient. No matter what. I read this tip all the time regarding swatching but I never do. Now I know why. I could've gone down a needle size or gone down one sweater size.

Once I move my buttons to a better spot on the collar I'll take some pics. For now, I need some time to grow to like my TD because I'm not sure if I want to take her out in public.

One more TD sleeve to go and an addition to my stash

Seaming sleeves = NO fun

It's not difficult but it took me HOURS to figure it out on my own. I researched online, asked around in Ravelry, and looked for tutorials in my knitting books. Jeezus! If I drove over to my favorite yarn store and asked for help I would've had it down in minutes. Unfortunately any yarn store is out of the way for me around here. It sucks. The Antioch/Brentwood area needs a yarn store BAD. It would do very well out here considering this area has grown quite rapidly and there are crafty people out here. There's no competition except Michael's and Walmart but us snobby yarn enthusiasts prefer premium yarn stores with great customer service. Know what I mean?

What was I was talking about before my rant? Oh yes, my finishing. So yeah, I need to sign up for a finishing class (too late now to sign up for anything at Stitches West). My shotty job is ok for now but with future projects I would like to make my finishing much nicer. I still need to block and re-do the placement of the buttons. This isn't a great pic, but here it is:

On Ravelry I'm part of a fan group for Showtime's series, Dexter. I LOVE that show and have seen every episode. Carrie, of Socks in the City created Dexter themed colorways available for purchase that are sooo cool. Some of the colorway names are Dexter, Dexter's Canvas, "103", Lila, Hawaiian Shirts, Ice Truck Killer, Dark Defender, Bay Harbor Butcher, Beneath the Bay, and Hooker's Fingernails. If you watch the show then you can only the imagine the colorways. Carrie is so right on with the dyes. The one I had to have is Ice Truck Killer, pictured below. It's a basic superwash sock yarn. I can't wait to knit myself up a pair of socks! I found a little red splatter on the skein. I find it kinda funny, like a little blood splatter that the ITK missed. Not that blood splatter is funny, but if you watch the show...OH nevermind.

I gotta get back to seaming now.