Ta-da!
Wordless Wednesday: Schrodinger’s Cat is Alive!
WIP: Holla Holla & Pep in My Java
After I finished the Inlay Markham socks, I thought that I would attempt to finish knitting some of my other projects. I frogged the beginning portion of the back of Holla Back Tank and started anew. For some reason, this second attempt looks much different from my first attempt. I think I had previously knitted an inch in stockinette stitch before the lace started. However, after reviewing the pattern, the lace portion should start as soon as you start the back. The wonders of picking up a project after a year in the project bags means that I have no clue what I was thinking when I changed the pattern like that.
Lace Back of my Holla Holla Tank
I made it through the waist decreases when I ran out of yarn. My excitement was high when I went to the local yarn shop (LYS) in search of the bright yarn to finish the project. Alas, always buy more yarn than you need — because you never know when a yarn will be discontinued like the colorway Lily in Shibui Sock. Thank goodness for Ravelry! This is the second time that I have had to buy some stash yarn from a fellow crafter to finish a project.
To brighten my mood, I bought some variegated Shibui Sock yarn called Roppongi on sale and set to work on the Java Sock pattern from Knitty (for some moving relaxation and an early birthday present to myself). Every time I knit socks for myself, I always pick some yarn that is variegated. I’m not sure what that says about my style as a knitter or my fashion style, but I love how variegated yarn makes such intricate designs with the sock pattern.
Always go Variegated – Pep in My Java Socks
FO: Inlay Markham Socks
About two years ago, I started making a sock with a complicated twist design from Knitty. It was so beautiful that I couldn’t wait to knit it up in the special yarn that a friend had given me for Christmas. At least I was excited … until I got confused on the twists and realized that I didn’t have enough yarn to finish both socks and that the yarn was discontinued (unable to buy new at stores). Somehow, I muddled through the first sock just as Z and I finished moving into our apartment on Markham. After much searching, I bought more yarn from a fellow Ravelry user and put the project aside.
One lonely, mocking sock – circa September 2011
Every time I finished a project, I would glance at the one mocking sock and the half ball of yarn. Every year, I would promise myself that I would finish the socks. Every time I would pass the project over in favor of something with less twists and more instance gratification (something that knits/crafts up within a day).
When I started packing up our apartment last weekend, I found the one finished sock with the remaining yarn. There was something poetic about finishing one sock when we moved into this apartment and finishing the other sock when we were moving out.
With gusto, I cast on the stitches for the small sock and began to knit. As I prepared for a confusing week of managing left and right twists, the second sock unfurled from my needles at a speed that would make Flash glance back. The twists didn’t seem that confusing now and the charted design flowed beautifully without the aid of frogging row after row.
In less than a week (and about two years), I finally had a matching pair of socks … which will now be full of memories from our time at this apartment. I had named these socks “my selfish socks” but after two years, I think these socks are something more than selfish.
Finally finished socks
Yarn: Simply Soft Shadows by Caron – Color – Soft Merino
Needles: Size 1, dpn
Ravelry Project Page: Inlay Markham Socks
Wordless Wednesday: Yearly Haircut
Before
After
Twice As Nice
While goofing around on the internet, I stumbled upon my friend, Attorney At Large‘s invite to join Twice. Twice is a site that sells brand-name used clothes for way less than retail – the only catch is that it’s secondhand designer/brand clothes. I visited and bought a pair of Joe’s Jeans at about 50% off their original price!!
They only sell clothing that meets their approved list, that is no more than five years old, and that is in good condition. They even will buy your clothes from you. Anything that they won’t buy is donated to Goodwill or you can have shipped back. I’m shipping a box of gently used clothes to them tomorrow.
They are doing this $10 gift certificate promo now ($10.00 for you and $10.00 for me when you make your first purchase), so try to take advantage of it if you can!
Wordless Wednesday: Tornado Weather
Kickball Monkey protecting WG from the tornado weather
April rain = Tornado warning in Arkansas
Crafting: Parade of Elephants Baby Shower
A friend asked me to craft some decorations for an elephant themed baby shower … and this is what I came up with.
Beginning of the parade of elephants
As a crafter, I always try to link to the exact place that I bought a specific template, fabric, yarn, or the name brand of a product; however, not all bloggers follow this method. After a googling and cursing websites, I went with Plan B – I traced an elephant and made my own template.
This template became the medium parade of elephants, the large parade of elephants, the small elephant mobile, the mother and baby elephant rosette, and an elephant mom to be pin.
Elephant Mobile – Almost too cute to give away
Mom to Be Pin
Welcome Baby Rosette for Door or Lamp post
A finished elephant parade garland on my mantle
