Crochet Sighting

I can’t be the only one who spotted this…

I normally wouldn’t point it out, but Stranger Than Fiction was such a good movie, it was just waiting to be blog-ized.

 

I woke up one day…

and there was lace all over the bed.

Me: Whoa… *tries to pick up lace*
Lace: *snags on eight different things*
Me: Maybe size eights and laceweight don’t mix as well as I thought…

Yeah, I’m sorry. I’m too tired for a coherent post today.

 

Back, now with Springiness!

I have been working on a pair of socks for my friend Amira. Here they are:

It’s Plymouth Yarn’s Sockotta (45/40/15% Cotton/Wool/Nylon) in colorway 30.
Somehow, the “colorway 30″ doesn’t seem to properly evoke the color of the yarn. Hmmm… I guess you could call it “Easter Egg Hunt.” It’s funny how much the colors seemed springy to me, even though the only color I think is properly spring-y is green, maybe with yellow and purple (for flowers, donchaknow) on the side. That would be a nice sock colorway, come to think of it.
Anyway, this sock has been through a lot of exciting adventures.

And it’s still on the ribbing! The pattern is my own. It’s a lacy rib that you can’t see when it isn’t stretched out. It’s just interesting enough to keep me sane.
Also… tree sweater alert!

Aww. I’m just realizing that the picture doesn’t really show the arm. Oops. Maybe I’ll take another. Anyway, it’s back to my sock for me!

 

Lacey not-heck on size 8s

Here are some things different about Lily and I when it comes to lace:
1. Lily does. not. rip. things. out.
2. I knit losely.
3. Very very losely.

Here are some things that are the same about Lily and I when it comes to lace:
1. It can drive us insane.
2. Our sanity is threatened by it.
3. We have strange infatuations with plant-y lace patterns
4. We want to finish our shawls!

As you have probably deduced from the last few posts of Lily’s, she’s on the brink of… something scary. Time will tell.

P.S. My shawl is going just fine, thank you, but gets caught on things a lot.

 

Pheonix Handwarmers

Okay, first free pattern of Crazy Knitting Girls! These are the aforementioned One Skein Touch Me Hand Warmers. Now renamed…

Pheonix Handwarmers

These are one of three patterns I know of for that inevitable single skein of Muench Touch Me. The other two are Velvet Oblivion and a knitted flower from some book I can’t remember. Although, as I look back on it, a knitted flower hardly counts. Still, it’s technically a pattern.

My point is, there are very few patterns that can do something vaguely with the 61 yards of velvety rayon goodness that is Touch Me. Well, here is a pattern that is useful in a roundabout way (it protects your pulse points in case they are attacked by someone with a small weapon that could be deflected by a tightly knit chenille), pretty (at least, I hope you think so), and quick to knit (I completed my pair in a day).

The Recipe:
Muench Touch Me [72% Viscose/Microfibre, 28% Wool 61yd per 50g skein];
color: 3620 [Velvet Red]; 1 skein
Size US 6/4.00 mm double pointed needles OR two short circular needles OR one 29″ or longer circular needle
Yarn Needle

Note: The stitch pattern is originally from a stitch dictionary. I modified it for work in the round, renamed it, and fiddled with it to make it fit. So there.
Flame Pattern
1st row: P1, K2, P2, K2tog, yo, K1, YO, sl1, K1, P2, K2
2st row: P1, K2, P2, K5, P2, K2
3st row: P1, K2, P2, K1, yo, K3, yo, K1, P2, K2
4st row: P1, K2, P2, K7, P2, K2
5st row: P1, K2, P2, yarn back, sl 1, K1, psso, yo, sl1, K2tof, psso, yo, K2tog, P2, K2
6st row: P1, K2, P2, K5, P2, K2
7st row: P1, T3F, P1, K1, yo, K3, yo, K1, P1, T3B
8st row: P1, P1, K2, P1, K7, P1, K2, P1
9st row: P2, T3F, s1, K1, psso, yo, sl1, k2tog, psso, yo, K2tog, T3B, P1
10st row: P3, K9, P2
11st row: P3, T3F, P3, T3B, P2
12st row: P1, [P3, K2] twice, K3
13st row: P4, T3F, P1, T3B, P2
14st row: P5, K2, P1, K2, P4
15st row: P5, T5R*, P4
16st row: P to end
*slip next s stitches on to cable needle and hold at back or work, knit next 2 stitches from left handneedle, then p1, k2 from cable needle

Left Glove:

Cast on 28 stitches. Join to work in the round.

Note: I would highly recommend that you work this pattern on two circular or with the magic loop method, because that allows you to have half the stitches on each side. That makes it easier. This pattern will refer to the “first half of stitches” (on which the main pattern will be worked), and the “second half of stitches”, where the rib and thumb hole will be worked.

Work in 2X2 ribbing for three rounds.

Round 1: Start the Flame Pattern, Row 1 in the first half of the stitches. One second half of stitches (the second half starts with P2), BO 4 and continue in rib as established to end of round.
Round 2: Continue Flame Pattern on first half of stitches. On second half, cast on 4 stitches over the bound-off hole and continue rib as established to end of round.
Rounds 3-16: Continue Flame Pattern on first half of glove, and 2X2 ribbing as established on the second half of the glove.
After the whole Flame Pattern has been worked, work 3 more rounds of 2X2 ribbing. BO.

Right Glove:
Work the same as Left glove, except on the thumb hole BO round. Instead of BO the first four stitches in the second half of the round, BO the last four stitches. Next row, CO 4 stitches over the BO stitches and continue as written.

Finishing:
Weave in ends. This is a pain. It is good to try knotting the ends to the inside of the glove, or else they will come out over and over again.

 

Surprise Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow. Bronach, Amira and Drashian made me so yesterday. It started as a regular old day, except that I couldn’t figure out why the heck my mom wanted to make brownies. After completing my chores, I was all prepared to sit down with some quiet piano music on my iPod and re-read Harry Potter because I was totally bored.  I was fetching my ear buds from my room when I hear a ringing of the doorbell. My dad opens it and I hear “Oh My!!!!”

With a sigh, I lope into the living room and see the giddy faces of my three friends. The first thought that crosses my mind is- “Wait – I though Bronach had a get-together with another friend today.” Then I thought, “Hang on . . . Are they supposed to be here? Or is this some crazy scheme of Bronach’s?” (Because that is so totally something she would do. Especially holding on to bulging bags of something).

Then I hear, “Lily, we’ve come to take your kidney”

“Yeah, Lily, we’re gonna steal your kidney!”

And I’m laughing, and I’m like, “Wtf?”

And then one of them screamed, “Lily get your knitting, you’re coming with us”

And I ran, although it did cross my mind – “Is it okay with Mom if they just drag me off? Does she know about this? Why did no one tell me?”

Then I run back, laughing giddily. They jam me into a car, with the brownies that mom had made, and we drove off: the first laughing can of sardines. I was piled with yarn-themed gifts, and then was driven to a little knit shop, thrust with a $40.00 card for my choice of stash enhancements, and let loose. Bronach, see if you can find that picture of me worshiping the alpaca, to put in this paragraph.

IT ROCKED!!!!!!!!!! Next time I get a chance, I’ll review all the yarn I purchased.

 

Suprise Party!

Today, Amira, Drashian, and myself threw a suprise party for Lily!

We drove her to a fabulous, remote yarn shop and had a good time (at least I did). I’ll let her blog the details, but I would like to draw attention to the fact that I have discovered a new type of SSS (Second Sock Syndrome, for you non knitters) while knitting her a pair of birthday socks (that sounds so cheesy).

Here is how it happened:

See?

A complex version of SSS. I knit the majority of the Second Sock a few days before the party.

But I made it!

I assume Lily will be happy to fill everyone in on the details, but I will post this picture of us (with serial killer-esque masks so you creepy stalkers out there can’t see us).

Good times.

 

Hey, all you tech-loving, knitting hipsters!

(“Hipster” being the approved term used by the people who want to sell things to people with a fashion sense)

Don’t you wish you could carry knitting with you, just like you can with your fancy gadgets?

Well, has Lion Brand got a special suprise for you!

Knitting ruffle scarves: the 12 minute iPod video!

Kill me now.