Saturday, January 17, 2009

FO: Butterfly Hat

So I started a new excercise class on Monday. It was called "Cardio Kickboxing", and I thought it would be fun and a good workout. I expected the instructer to be a tiny waif of a thing dressed head to toe in spandex workout gear and that the class would be more "Cardio" and less kickboxing, nothing too serious. I was wrong. Apparently I signed up for "Kickboxing/Self Defence 101". My instructor dude is a martial arts expert who trained in Japan and works at a Martial Arts studio in town during the day. He thought teaching this class would be fun, and if we wanted strictly cardio we could go run around the lake. He was really scary. I loved every minute of it!!! We learned how/where to punch and kick our attackers, and how to karate chop him in the neck. It was fantastic! I felt so tough when I left there. Aidan told me not to let it go to my head.

I was really sore all week, but I also felt so good. I'm really looking forward to my next class! We're going to learn the front kick! Woot! Oh I should also mention that I learned how to count to 10 in Japanese...Kickboxing dude likes us to count out loud...really loud...in Japanese. Thankfully I have two Japanese co-workers who have been coaching me all week. I'm sure to impress him! Ha!

Okay, on to crafty things! This is the last project I finished in 2008. I had to wait a bit to blog about it though because Maeghan lost it the first day she got it! She wore it all day long in the house because she like it so much, and then when it came time for pictures, the hat was no where to be found. It did turn up eventually though, and today it was bright enough outside to finally get some pics!

Doesn't she look sweet in it! Looks can be deceiving though you know! Haha!


Pattern: Butterfly Hat (Rav Link) by Sofiya Cremin
Yarn: Vanna's Choice Solids - icky yarn, thankfully my last ball!
Needles: US 7's/4.5mm

This hat was much easier than I thought it was going to be. I kinda over thought the butterfly's at first - turned out they were no big deal at all! One day I will make another one of these in a better yarn. At least this one is fully washable and if she loses it I won't cry.
b

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

FO: Vesper Socks

Remember these? I knit the first one way back in August and never got around to knitting the second one till December. As soon as I was done all of the Christmas knitting I picked this one up and had it done in no time. (Sorry for the same old pictures as before...winter does not allow for very good lighting!)


Pattern: Vanilla socks - 9st/inch
2" 2x2 ribbed cuff
6" plain stockinette leg
Slip stitch heel
Yarn: Vesper Sock Yarn in "Falling Water" from Knitterly Things
Needles: US 1.5/2.5mm

The first sock was done on DPN's and I did the second one by Magic Loop. I think Magic Looping socks is my new favorite. It went so fast! And the part I was worried about (picking up the heel stitches) was actually a piece of cake!

I love these socks and I love the way the yarn does such bold stripes. As long as they wear well, I will definitely be using this yarn again. I have a thing for stripes I suppose.



So I hit the Three Bags Full belated boxing day sale on Saturday. This was my first experience at a big sale like this! It was crazy. I stood in line outside of the store in freezing rain for almost two hours, thankfully I made it into the store when I did because the rain turned to snow! Then I was in line inside the store for another two hours. Four hours in line total. Totally not what I expected, but fun all the same. I met some great fellow knitters and got some really good deals.

- Elsebeth Lavold Silky wool at 30% off
- Cascade Eco + wool at 40% off
- DIC Smooshy at 15% off (not that great of a deal, but really yummy yarn!)
- Cascade 220 Heathers at 15% off (also not an extremely good deal, but the color is gorgeous!)

You'll see more about my plans for these yarns in the upcoming posts.

My legs are still tired!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Last of the Christmas FO's

Let me start out by saying a huge thank you to all the nice, generous comments. I wish I knew how to respond to them all individually, but since I can't quite figure it out (anyone know?) I will do it here and now. Thank You!

So, here we are with the last of the Christmas knitted gifts. Please ignore my wierd smile in the following picture. It was freakin' cold outside and I was standing up to my knees in a snow drift on my back deck. While the scarf is cozy, soft, and warm, it's not warm enough to be outside without a coat in the middle of winter. Aidan was my photographer once again and I told him to pretend he was Nigel from America's Top Model (not that I watch it or anything). He took his job very seriously and had me turning this way and that way and looking this way and that way. Very cute, and much appreciated!


Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf
Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss in "Dusk" - 2 skeins
Needles: US 7/4.5mm
For: My mom

I loved this pattern, but I had to use a lifeline throughout because if I got the least bit distracted I'd miss a yarn over or something, and I was horrible at trying to tink it back and then I'd screw it up so badly that I'd have to rip the whole thing out. So after a few false starts it dawned on me to use the lifeline and it was my life saver! I have a couple more skeins of this yarn in a dusty purple colorway, so after I give myself a break from this pattern, I will probably make one for myself too. I love it that much.






Next up are some felted clog slippers that I made for my Dad. Now these were a fun knit! The color is pretty bad in these photo's, but the yarn was actually a heathered brown with flecks of red in it. Very pretty. Not that my Dad wants pretty I suppose, but it sure helps a knitter to use pretty yarn.





Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clogs
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers
Needles: US 15/10.0mm

Here is the "before" felting picture:




I loved this pattern. It was such a fast, fun knit. I was a bit worried because my Dad has size 9 feet, and I knit the size 11, but I was able to felt them down to a nine, and he says they fit well. I will be making more of these.

I had the pleasure of going out with some girlfriends on Saturday night (Connie & Tara), and managed to get a wee bit smashed, but it was great fun and worth my horrendous hangover the next morning. Aidan was very kind to me and let me sleep till 11:30am. Once the Tylenol kicked in and my stomach stopped churning I was feeling much better. We don't get out together nearly as often as we would like, so when we do the wine flows freely and we have great conversation.






Friday, January 2, 2009

FO: Moss Grid Hand Towel

Onward with the Christmas present FO's! I knit this lovely hand towel for Aidan's Grandma during the month of October.


Pattern: Moss Grid Hand Towel from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Knit Picks CotLin, color Linen

The CotLin was pleasant to knit with, it didn't feel too hard on my hands, although I could only knit one repeat at a time before my hands started to get sore. I loved the finished product, I did make a mistake on one row it seems, but I didn't notice until I was taking photo's and there was no way I was going to rip back halfway thru the towel to fix it, even though it was a gift. I don't think Grandma is going to mind. ;) I will probably make myself a set of these one day, it is a very nice pattern.

New Years Eve was a fun night for us again this year. We had a family slumber party over at our friends (Connie and Kevin) and ate way too much food, and had plenty to drink, while we played the Wii. My left buttock is a bit sore from bowling, but that's probably a good thing, right? My Mii on the Wii is very cute, I want her to be my friend in real life.
New Years Day we were incredibly lazy, although, Owen and I did venture out to get groceries (good time to shop, the store was very quiet, everyone else was still in bed I'm sure!). And today we started organizing and cleaning before I head back to work, and the kids to school, on Monday. Aidan is doing some reno work on the upstairs bathroom in an attempt to make it a bit prettier without sinking too much $$$ into it. While the whole thing should be gutted, we are making do with new paint, light fixture, counter top, and taps. We don't want to put any more money than that into it before we sell.
My Central Park Hoodie is coming along, I've seamed it up and am now working on the hood.
Happy New Year!