Hyvetyrant Knits

Public Service Announcement

Before I enter my self-pitying post, please jump over to Beth over at YarnEnvy. She's donating her hair to Locks of Love and is trying to raise the money needed to make her hair into a wig for a needy person. On top of that - there's a contest! She's only asking for a dollar....

End of public service announcement!

Join the Pity Party!

I've got the end-of-winter blahs. Complaining post follows....

I have start issues. I'm trying to settle on a project. I _think_ I'm sticking with Klaralund. (Whether I stick with the current color or the other Silk Garden yarn I've got is another question...) I started Blaze, but the yummy chocolate brown I bought a couple months ago for it seems... wrong now. (I'm thinking a lovely purple like Margene. But, that involves finding shopping time. I was thinking of starting a Flower Basket Shawl - but I can't find Fall 2004 IK. I can find Spring, Summer and Winter 2004. Not Fall. I'm knitting a baby blanket - not inspired. I am trying to knit Dulaan hats... and discover I really dislike needles larger than 5mm or so.

I had an annoying day - small things kept going wrong. I spent all afternoon trying to get a piece of software working. I'm supposed to be a Computer Professional (tm), but it didn't feel like it today.

I did exercise this morning, but forgot my headphones so couldn't listen to music. I then took a shower and realized I forgot my brush. Sigh.

Work got ... weird. It'll clear up, but its a bit odd right now.


Just little things. But they add up...

Sigh.

posted by Melissa @ 7:22 PM

I've not wanted to post and push my pretty sweater down on the page... but - oh, well.

Since I'm in California right now (working...), I'm (mostly) going to talk about Sabrina today.


Sabrina and her scarf

A couple weeks ago, Sabrina fell in love with a scarf. Not just any scarf, but this one:



The scarf is from Scarf Style, and one of the more complicated patterns in the book. They had a shop sample at the LYS (Needlework Unlimited). Sabrina was captivated - she didn't want to leave it.

We bought a kit for it - she started knitting and was this far on Thursday:



She's doing a great job - she learned to pick up stitches, is keeping consistent gauge, and next gets to learn Fair Isle.

Unfortunately - we missed a basic instruction, where the pattern requires you to divide the yarn into 2 of its 3 strands. So, all of that got ripped out and she's starting over. (Granted, using the 2 strands means she won't run out of yarn in the middle of section 9)

I'm very proud of her for tackling this project - its big. But she thinks its awesome, so she's driven!

My knitting

I finished the baby sweater, and gave it to the mom. Its a bit big, but that's not a bad thing. Cute... I'll have pictures soon - I needed to thread in the ribbon tie on the way to the gifting opportunity, and so didn't get my usual flat pic of the finished object. And, I forgot my camera, so am waiting for the mom to email me the pictures we took of the baby wearing it. When I get them, I'll post one.

I've started another baby blanket (part of the never-ending stream of baby gifts) - which is my travel knitting.

posted by Melissa @ 10:01 PM

I've not wanted to post and push my pretty sweater down on the page... but - oh, well.

Since I'm in California right now (working...), I'm (mostly) going to talk about Sabrina today.


Sabrina and her scarf

A couple weeks ago, Sabrina fell in love with a scarf. Not just any scarf, but this one:



The scarf is from Scarf Style, and one of the more complicated patterns in the book. They had a shop sample at the LYS (Needlework Unlimited). Sabrina was captivated - she didn't want to leave it.

We bought a kit for it - she started knitting and was this far on Thursday:



She's doing a great job - she learned to pick up stitches, is keeping consistent gauge, and next gets to learn Fair Isle.

Unfortunately - we missed a basic instruction, where the pattern requires you to divide the yarn into 2 of its 3 strands. So, all of that got ripped out and she's starting over. (Granted, using the 2 strands means she won't run out of yarn in the middle of section 9)

I'm very proud of her for tackling this project - its big. But she thinks its awesome, so she's driven!

My knitting

I finished the baby sweater, and gave it to the mom. Its a bit big, but that's not a bad thing. Cute... I'll have pictures soon - I needed to thread in the ribbon tie on the way to the gifting opportunity, and so didn't get my usual flat pic of the finished object. And, I forgot my camera, so am waiting for the mom to email me the pictures we took of the baby wearing it. When I get them, I'll post one.

I've started another baby blanket (part of the never-ending stream of baby gifts) - which is my travel knitting.

posted by Melissa @ 9:59 PM

Kersti is finished - here she is. And me, doing the Rachel!



Project Specs:
Pattern: Ribby Raglan from The Purl Stitch
Yarn: Koigu Kersti color K624x
Needle size: 4.5mm
Size : L (44inch)

What I learned.
I got gauge with some give left in the ribbing. I then decided to knit the 44" size, figuring that the ribbing would stretch just a little around my 44" bust, but not hang wildly loose around my 38" waist. Somehow, this plan failed. The sweater is much larger than I expected - in fact, I think it measures 47 or so inches. (I'm going to try to block it longer and narrower next time I wash it)

Kersten's suggestions for doing the sleeves were great.

I needed to pull the bind off very tight, or this would have been an off-the-shoulder sweater. (fortunately, Sally Melville gives great directions for this in The Purl Stitch itself).

I bought enough yarn to make the 46" size. I ended up with about half a skein left... I think I would have run out making the XL size.

This is my first sweater for me. And I LOVE it.


More finished objects!


So, last week when at the Apple Store, I stopped my husband from buying iPod socks, because they're silly. I promised to knit him an iPod cozy. Saturday morning, he asked when I'd get to it, because he was carrying his iPod around in a loose case. I pulled out some Kersti left over from a baby blanket (and a hat, and the booties Sabrina made), and knit this (it was done Saturday afternoon):





Here's a quick pattern (not that it was hard...)

iPod Cozy:

Koigu Kersti, and a 4.0mm needle

CO 28 sts. Knit 2x2 ribbing for 4.75 inches. (this is knit flat and seamed up the side)

This covers the body of the iPod. Reverse the rib - purl the knits, and knit the purls. Knit in 2x2 rib (reversed from the main body) for 1/2 inch. Bind off in rib. Seam up the side and bottom. Put iPod in case.

The case is snug - its meant to stretch around your iPod.

I'm making myself one in Koigu KPPPM... pretty purples.

In addition, I've finished my test knitting sock. Its been a knitting-filled weekend!

posted by Melissa @ 5:57 PM

SEE! SEE! SEE!



Seaming tonight!!

posted by Melissa @ 6:25 PM

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes for Rebecca. She had a great day - as did all of us. She's great fun (most of the time :-) )!

Here's a picture of her with her birthday cake!



In other news, its my Husband's birthday. I love him dearly, and wish him a very Happy Birthday!. How 'bout jumping over to his blog and wishing him a Happy Birthday? His blog is mostly a gadget blog...we're huge gadget freaks here, especially Troy.

(Yes, the 4 of our birthday's are very close together... why do you ask?)

In knitting news, I'm ALMOST done with the knitting on the Kersti Ribby Raglan. 30 rows left. I'm so excited - I've loved this sweater for a long time, and may get to wear it soon! (I'm not taking pics until I'm done, though. Sorry!)

Also, I'm doing a spot of test knitting for Lynn (if you want to knit a quick sock for her, she's still looking for 3 more test knitters!)

And, that's what I've got time to post today - gotta get back to knocking off rows on the Ribby.

posted by Melissa @ 5:53 PM

3 years ago yesterday Rebecca came into our lives. It has been fun so far!!

(for more pictures of her first month, you can look here Heck, for the first pictures taken of her ever, look here!)

We had a small party last night - just her parents, her sister and her grandpa. (Her grandma was there in the morning, and came with to daycare - witnessed the class eating frosting-laden cupcakes!). Very Dora themed - cake, plates, placemat, etc. She is _so_ cute... but aren't most kids this age?

We had cake and ice cream, and she opened her presents. The Fisher-Price Little People Zoo was a hit. As was the Barbie my mom gave her, and the play parachute. When she got bedtime kisses, she insisted that as people kissed her, they wish her a Happy Birthday instead of saying Good Night - she was all into her birthday yesterday.

Ok. Enough proud-mama talk.... and, since much of this post is an edit - thanks to those who have left birthday wishes!

posted by Melissa @ 11:53 AM