I am a little cranky because I can’t do any strenous exercise or anything that requires me to put my eye below my heart level still. I really, really miss yoga and I am sad that I have to delay dancer’s bootcamp that I got an awesome discount for one month of unlimited dance classes including bootcamp. Walking is okay but I have to be careful because if I try to look at anything further away from me then 30 cm I get a headache and nausea from the blurred vision. May seems si far awat right now, but I have to keep postive because this can be solved, I just need to heal some more.

So I have been entertaining myself with audiobooks and knitting. Simple knitting, so I am getting a wee bit bored though. I am working on three shawlettes, I’m to L to find all the names and they aren’t on my ravelry page yet. I will get on that in a few days or so. A problem that I am finding is each shawl has a differenet edging and center sts., so when I jump from one to another I mess up and there has been a lot of frogging.

I did finish the cutest little project meet Kroll he is going to leaving for his new home (my Doctor Who swap pal. I made him with left overs of Knitpicks comfy fingering from my Scare Isle Tam. The pattern calls for worsted, but I love the fingering mini version. I am starting on my second squid to give to a friend fro her upcoming birthday The pattern is a Hansi Singh pattern click the rav button to see

What do you have on your needles?

So I have been keeping myself busy with some simple knitting.  I yarn bombed my bus stop for a challenge in Nerd Wars for Team TARDIS.

I also finished my (rav link to my project page for )Chop Suey, the galactic emperor! Not Socks. These were a fun and easy knit.  I didn’t use all of the hank of sock yarn, but I haven’t had a chance to actually weigh the left over ball yet.  I used Whimzy Pinzy Creations hand-dyed panda cotton in the Slytherin colourway that I  received from HSKS ( I think round 9) swap pal Guinifer LeFleur. Thank you again I lurve it) I started this pattern a few days before my surgery to help calm me down with some simple knitting and finished the rest while recovering slowly.  Good thing this pattern is well written and simple;  otherwise I won’t have been able to pull off finishing them this week.  These fingerless gloves are awesome and keep my whole arm warm while reading, I highly recommend this pattern.

It was such a wonderful sight to see knitters, weavers, spinners and crocheters everywhere.  Oh all the beautiful FO’s that were seen all over the hotel and surrounding area.  It was a fibre crafters wet dream!

Even if you don’t get any classes if you live in the area the marketplace and just crafting around the hotel common areas meeting new people is worth the trip.  The marketplace.  Well it was fantastic and overwhelming.  It is not everyday you turn around to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee fondling yarn in the Habu booth, there was much more knitterati and spinnerati to be seen, but alas my eyes suck.  I only noticed Stephanie because she was fondling stuff in my favourite booth!  Jasmine over at the Abstract Fibers booth has these great origami flat bags that I resisted buying then smacked myself for not grabbing the bag that had labs all over it.  I did end up buying one or two off their website and I will take pictures when they come.  I got fibre because I am planning to learn how to spin on my Bosworth spindle, I bought the lovely so I should really learn how to play with it!  I tried not to fall to hard at the BMFA booth and the one that had all the beautiful tencel yarn (sorry can’t recall the name!)  Here is a picture of my Madrona stash enhancement pile.  I didn’t fall down too hard and my credit card and His Tallest thanks me.

My classes were fun, educational and at times overwhelming frustrating.  The fine finishing class I took was in the Bite restaurant gallery and the lighting was horrible for me.  I have purchased myself a knit lite and will be prepared next year!  Jean Wong was delightful and very patient as well as her assistant (I’m sorry I am so bad with names).  Even with one assistant missing I learned quite a lot.  Like I need a lot of good lighting to do an invisible cast off.  I can do Japanese short rows in my sleep and in crappy light.  I was starting to feel really incompetent due to the light and slowness of my invisible cast offs till the short rows swatch took me only a minute or so.  My only complaint was the lighting, but I will come prepared next year!

My class with Franklin on photographing your fibre was an eye-opener.  It helped me not to be afraid of my new camera.  I went from a easy point and shot Canon to a Canon MegaZoom, so all my photos were on automatic.  Now I am playing with the aperture and ISO on manual and it’s so much fun.  He also taught us that a good photographer can take great pictures even with a cell phone camera.  I plan on playing with my camera a heck of a lot more now because practice will help me become more comfortable with my new camera.  I did startle him when I came into the room with my sunglasses and Faye, a blind girl in a photography class — oh boy what did he get himself into.  Thankfully, I noticed the confused look on his face and sat down and started playing on my iPad and knitting.  I could feel the relief emanate from where he was standing.  Yep you can teach a legally blind girl with a small window of functional vision how to get true colour in your photos!  Faye had a interesting time in this class too.  I introduced her to some of my classmates and Franklin and we got our picture taken.  I managed to keep my squeeing fangirl internalized when Franklin Habit asked me if he could blog about his reaction to Faye and I in his class and take our picture.  It was hard!  See here we are.  Also his talk at the banquet was hilarious and educational.  Thanks for being so awesome Franklin!

I also took Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Knitting with Mawata class.  I thought being a non-animal fibre knitter who mostly knits with silk that I had silk and its properties all sorted out.  I was so wrong.  Knitting with Mawata is so much different then spun silk and so much fun.  You have to be careful that you don’t get paper cuts from the silk, seriously strong stuff!  She had her Sock Summit BFF, the depraved dyer herself Tina Newton to help her out.  We learned how silk hankies are made and got to open a cocoon (thank the passenger the silk worm while taking him/her out) then spread the cocoon onto a canvas with nails on it, which is one layer of a hanky.  I also got to try on this mitten. Stephanie did not let them out of her sight nor let the two mittens meet unless they were in her hands.  Good thing I would have stolen them, they were the perfect fit for my small hands!  I have ordered from mawata from a few stores on etsy and plan to make myself a pair of fingerless gloves.  I do need sharper needles though.  I thought my Knitpicks Harmony needles would be sharp enough, but they were not.  I think next I’ll give my Addi Lace clicks a try.

Also there is this awesome deli across from the convention centre.  It is divine and has the best raspberry lemonade (with real raspberries) ever!  I plan on going there everyday during Madrona next year except Sunday, because sadly they are closed on Sundays.  They get super busy and crowded, but it is so worth the wait.  Lauren and I found this lovely restaurant called Indochine and the food as well as drinks where lovely.  Faye was very happy to have a little den between our chairs to curl up on my jacket.  I also tried Two Kois Japanese Restaurant and it was okay.  It’s not their fault I live in Vancouver, the home of awesome and cheap sushi.  I was taken back by the lack of diversity on the menu, but then again I am from Vancouver lol.  It was good and I will go back, the bento box was huge.  Next time I will make sure to only get a few rolls.  Here is the last of my food adventures at Madrona that I wanted to share with you, my experiences at Bite (Hotel Murano’s restaurant).  The servers were wonderful at checking food for me to help me avoid my allergies and my epi-pen.  I had a delicious lunch there on Sunday and breakfast on Monday.  Here’s a picture of my tasty breakfast on Monday.

I wish I took more pictures, but I was too busy soaking up everything.  This was my first time at Madrona and I am definitely going back next year!

Favourite Companion: Romana (both regeneration) and K-9 then Amy, Rose, Sarah Jane and Mickey the Idiot! I got so excited when I saw K-9 with Ten then I squeed really loudly and might have shed of tear of happiness

Favourite Master: Anthony Ainley

Favourite Episode: Blink followed by The Doctor and Vincent….then anything written by Stephen Moffat and some old ones that I can’t quite recall right now

What do I love about the series? What isn’t there to love? Sci-fi, excitement, puns, geeky goofiness, the hilarity of old-school props, and the dreamy doctor.

An Icon from the series: The TARDIS? A dalek? The Scarf? Oh it’s so a tie between the TARDIS, the Doctor and the Sonic Screwdriver Daleks and other creatures are awesome though.

Favourite Threat/Non-Threat: The Ood

Favourite villains: Daleks and the Master. I also like the Adipose, Daleks, Sutekh(I found him kinda scary as a kid, but now I kinda like him — I like Egyptology and when it mashes with the doctor it’s bound to be even more fun).  Cassandra cracks me up too!

UK DVD’s okay? sure

What memorabilia do you have?: One sonic screwdriver (11th doctor model), one big River Song journal, one awesome handmade TARDIS journal, 2 pairs of awesome handmade Dalek stitch markers, One TARDIS hide your money in it keychain, all episodes of the New Who and all Tom Bakers, and a couple of Doctor Who audiobooks narrated by David Tennant

Cutest villains: Adipose

Sexiest creature on (and beyond) earth: Besides the Doctor especially Ten, Captain Jack especially in Bad Wolf

What monster/villain/character would you not want to receive? The Master (any incarnation love him, but he gives me the heebie jeebies ), Cybermen (especially the new versions!), Weeping Angels (still have nightmares and can’t look at angel statues the same way anymore), Slitheen (they smell horrible!),The Empty Child (Makes me want to call for my mommy ;;shivers and hides;;), Autons (new or old they are creepy!), Zygons, The Empress of the Racnoss (spider-like alien, not my cuppa tea thankyouverymuch), Magnus Greel (one word: yuck – btw he is from serial 91 if anyone is interested, The fourth Doctor Tom Baker and Leela was his companion, but I really like Professor Litefoot) as well as Mr. Sin(he gave me more nightmares then Chucky!), and Meglos(needs no explanation there!). Those are the ones that come to mind the most!

What was your first Who experience? I can recall watching it religiously with one of my childhood friend’s mother when I was around 8. She was a huge DW fan I’m positive that I watched them before with my mom, when they played Tom Baker reruns and such, but this is my first fond memory of watching the Doctor. My friend and her brother would make fun of me, her older sister and mom for being transfixed to the television when it was on.

How do you feel about receiving used (vintage) books? Sadly I can’t read print books anymore due to craptastic vision, but I love used audiobooks and comics

If you could see a DW episode set in any historical period/event, what would you choose? One I would have chose have been done.  Ancient Greece (Pompeii), Shakespearean era, and Dickens era  Oh Modern Japan and Ancient Japan would be awesome!

Homemade treats – Yeah or nay? Yay, as long as they are allergen-free

And for the old vs. new preference? I actually just started watching the very first season of the Classic Who, but most of my love is for the new series, since I have watched every episode as they have been aired. There’s just something about waiting for the next new Doctor Who episode to air that makes me all giddy

What episode(s) scares you the most? Blink, The Empty Child, The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead

Which yarn weight would you prefer, lace weight, fingering weight or sport weight? What kind of item would you like to make with above mentioned yarn? Any specific pattern? Or just a special kind of item like a shawl, socks etc?** I’ve been on a shawl kick lately and have lots of shawl patterns. I’d say a cowl or fingerless mitts

Would you like spinnable fibre? Or handspun yarn?  Mawata or silk hankies would be awesome, I just took a class with the wonderful Yarn Harlot on knitting with mawata.  I will also be learning how to spin on my spindle soon too!  I prefer silks, soy silk and bamboo since it is easier to spin then cotton.  I love handspun non-animal (minus silk) yarns!

What about favourite fibres? Silks, bamboo, soy silk, cotton blends, silk blends, bamboo blends, linen blends and any other really soft non-animal fibre yarns

Which episodes make you cry? Doomsday, Girl in the Fireplace, Journey’s End, The End of Time and Vincent and the Doctor (one of my favourite episodes after Blink and Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead

What is your favourite Doctor Who related pattern or project someone has made on Ravelry?

• iTARDIS

• TARDIS Kindle case

• Tilting Tardis Cowl

• Amy Pond- The Pandorica Opens

Would anyone like to receive a Doctor Who fanmix?

If you could (realistically) get any Doctor Who memorabilia from your spoiler what would it be? A Doctor Who project bag would be awesome and/or Doctor Who stitchmarkers.  Or a Doctor Who graphic comic.  I also have been drooling over this, but sadly it’s still out of stock

Any fibre allergies? lol, oh boy do I any animal fibre (minus silk) in any percentage and milk yarn

Do you wear jewellery?yes

If so, what kind? (i.e. earrings, bracelets, necklaces) earrings and necklaces

Do you have any jewellery allergies? I can only wear stainless steel and sterling silver — get a reaction to everything else metal

What kinds of tasty treats/candies do you like? candied ginger, dried mango, jelly bellies, gummy bears, jelly babies, peppermints, and pretty much all tasty candies, dark chocolate, hazelnut dark chocolate, nut mixes (w/out any milk products), cookies!

Do you like chocolate? If so, white, milk, or dark? Dark chocolate (milk products free) only What about fillings/flavourings? mint, ginger, caramel (milk products free of course), and hazelnut

What type of bag would like? eg project bag or small book bag love project bags knitted, crocheted or sewn. I’d prefer a Kindle DX cozy (I have my DX in this case, so I’d need to measure it). I also just got an iPad, so a cozy that would fit around these specs (9.3 x 0.6 x 12.4 inches) for the case I already have would be awesome since I’ve been tempted to make one already.

How is are your favourites/queued organized? Organized ;;snort;; it’s collective chaos and I try to “organize” it sometimes, but chaos usually wins! My favourites are for patterns that make me think ooooohhhh shiny, queued list is for patterns that make me say oooooooohhhh shiny I want to make this and my wish list are for patterns that make me squee ooooooohhhhh shiny and want, but don’t want to pay for them just right now. My wish list does change though since I also use it as a reminder of patterns I want to purchase. I am trying not to make any more purchases for a while though, so my wish list is currently safe.

Handwriting on items? Yes or No? sure as long as it’s legible

Are there any songs you’ve heard that you’ve been hit with the urge to post on youtube with a ‘shipper video?nope!

Would you like socks?  Yes, note that I’m allergic to animal fibers and latex so those are some obstacles

What size are your feet? US 6 1/2

Do you sew or are in need of a sewing kit type thing? I don’t sew, if I did I won’t have any fingers.  I love receiving sewn things though like aprons and project bags

Do you own any Dr.Who episodes? If so, which ones?All the Tom Bakers and New Seasons 1-5

Would you prefer one handmade item that takes quite a while to make, or would you prefer several handmade items that probably take the same amount or more time to make when the craft time is added up?  Spoilers choice

Do you own any DW soundtracks? Would you like to?  Sure I really like the music in Season 5 especially.

If you carry a container in your purse, what does that container contain? Pills, gum/mints, tea bags, phone, glasses? Yes quite a few.  I have one that has my meds (includes a duo inject epipen, inhaler, antihistamines, eye drops and pain meds.  I have a hard case for my glasses.  I have a cute ninja robot that holds my gum and some electronics and a few more other pouches I put in when I need them.  This helps me find things easier since my vision sucks!  Not to mention I have a buddycase that holds my knitting notions.

Would you want the scarf knowing it wasnt your only handmade and that it would be made of soft acrylic? if yes, would you want it altered at all? (length, width, minus a color…) I can handle soft acrylic if it’s a Doctor Who Scarf   I’m 5’2″ so it won’t be that bad to knit!  I love the season 12 scarf and the shorter duplicate

Colours the cybermen should delete: I love it if they could delete pastels and orange, but they are needed as long as I’m not forced to wear them they can survive.

What yarns do you have access to? Would it be difficult if your swap partner needed non-wool or non-acrylic? No problem considering I’m one of those people I have a few awesome LYSs and the internets plus my stash

Would you want some cute Doctor Who freebies included in your package (as an extra, not instead of proper items)? Seriously?  Bloody Hell yeah!

New Daleks or Classic Daleks? either

Do you prefer variegated or solid yarns? Semi-solid and solid.  I like variegated, but have lots of it.

Do you spin or dye your own?  Will be learning to spin on my spindle very soon.  No I do not dye

How do you feel about 2nd-hand books? Love them, but can’t read them.  I will juggle my magnifier and a graphic comic though

Do you own any Doctor Who novels or audio-books? Yep, narrated by 10 ;;swoon;;

If yes, which titles do you already have? The Feast of the Drowned, The Stone Rose and The Resurrection Casket.

Chocolate? White/milk/dark? Favourite combinations for flavours? Oh chocolate, nom nom nom.  Dark chocolate only.  With hazelnut, ginger, mint, dairy-free caramel, raspberry and covered over strawberries

When it comes to smelly things like lotion and candles, what is your preference and what scents do you love? I’m going to say please do not send smelly things, there are so many things that I must avoid with my allergies and sensitivities that it can be hard.  I am a lush ho@r, so if you must a gift card would work or some of the things I have mentioned in other posts in regards to lush products, because I’m to L to look em’ up

You’ve just been accepted as the Doctor’s next companion (congratulations!). As such, you get to pick the next destination. Where/when do you choose? Past? Future? Edge of space or just down the road?  This is a hard one, I’d say feudal japan or future japan are both it is the TARDIS   Followed by a trip to Ancient Egypt during Akhenaten and Nefertiti’s reign and during the Ptolemaic Egypt era as well. Then after that a wonderful vacation planet in the future to soak up some more Vitamin D, heal from the sand burn and sip strange drinks beside a sea of unusual colour before more adventures.  I also do want to see Gallifrey in it’s glory.

So for your DW swag do you need something official or is all handmade by spoiler/etsy better? Either is awesome, but handmade is precious and appreciated.

What is one thing you really want to find in your box? I’m not sure, I like surprises

Head Circumference 22”

Wrist/hand measurements for gloves/mittens? wrist: 6 inches, palm circumference 7.5 inches, lower knuckle circ. 6.5 inches, upper knuckles 5.5 inches, from thumb to middle finger 4.5 inches (I have small hands!) and fingertip to wrist 6.5 inches.  I like fingerless gloves from thumb to top to be approx. 3.5 inches

Would you use/need a knitting needle or crochet hook holder/organizer? Nope, got a few

quick question – do you have a cellphone or ipod? Ipod touch and cellphone, but I don’t like to cover my cell.

Do you have anything you would like a cozy for? Measurements? (kindle, laptop, whatever) Ipod, Ipad and Kindle DX.  Provided measurements for DX with case via pm to mod, if you need more info ask

Do you like beads or have a use for them? I have a bead stash and I use them for knitting and I occasionally make stitch markers.  My daughter uses them for jewellery.

If you don’t currently dye your own yarns, why is that?  No interest perhaps? Never had time? Would you like to give dyeing a try? Some other reason preventing you from dyeing your own?Lack of vision, time and tools, but I don’t think I will be trying to dye anytime soon

If I saw something on your wishlist, and could make it pretty much the same (though not exactly) myself, would you still want it? Because, I could get you more if I could save the money this way.  Sure I don’t mind

What are your favourite quotes from the series? Would you be delighted if one of them showed up on one of the items in your box?  there are so many, I noted a few on the Ravelry thread and it would be awesome to see a quote show up in my box Oh forgot one, Jelly Baby?

dr who colours or the colours that you like? Sure I love TARDIS bluc, 10′s pinstripe brown suit and blue tie and his cute trainers.  My favourite colours and these overlap

Would you like something kinda abstract subtle Who or all out there can’t-be-mistaken-for-anything-else Who? Either

Do you celebrate Christmas? Santa and Winter Solstice

Would you like any part of your package to deal with Doctor Who Spin-offs (Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures)? I love Torchwood and I’ve been meaning to watch Sarah Jane Adventures, just haven’t got around to it yet!

Nail Polish? no thank you

cook? Hells yes and bake too!

Gallifrey colors? undecided

Do you own any Dr. Who comics? No If so, which issues? Would you like some? Absolutely yes hurry up all ready Modern or Classic? both

Do you carry a purse? Purse, carryall, or backpack.  I am a bag ho@r and I got lots of them

Do you occasionally partake in beverages that might require, say, a can or bottle opener? Yes, but we already have a few bottle openers

Do your handmade items need to be baby safe? Child safe? Or adults only? Adults and one teenager only, so no need to worry about this.  My fur baby is very well behaved because the guide dog school trains them very well!

Do you get Doctor Who Magazine? Nope

What are your favorite beverages? Are you a cocoa fan like Mike Yates? A tea fan like the TARDIS? A beer fan like the Brigadier? A soda fan like Peri Brown? Coffee like Tegan Jovanka? Stuff not yet mentioned? I love tea.  I am a bit of a tea snob and only use loose tea now.  (please no rooibos though I hate it and it makes my allergies go crazy too!)  I love coffee, if you are sending some heavenly delight, no decaf and beans only please.

What kind of needles do you like to use? I have a set of Addi Lace Clicks and both sets of Knitpicks interchangables (Harmony and Nickel-Plated).  I occasionally use dpns for socks, but I mostly use fixed circs.  I hate straights and have no need for them.

Would you prefer a knitted/crochet wearable or a knitted/crochet toy? Wearable please.  I love knitted and crochet toys, but don’t really have room for them, plus they collect my biggest allergen dust.  I do like little creatures that live on keychains though

How do you feel about music boxes? I <3 especially if it were to sing me the Doctor who Theme song or something along those lines!

How do you feel about recycled yarn? No thank they are killer on my allergies

Do you need measuring tape? nope If so, simple? nada Fancy? gotta few if I ever find them Retractable? got quite a few of these don’t need more for now

Ok, I can’t find anymore of the black converse type shoes budget-wise or otherwise. So, if I could find some plain white lowtop ‘gym’ shoes in your size, would you want me to paint something on them for you? And, if yes, what are your favorite DW icons that you would want on them. (i.e. I have the Daleks and Tardis and Angels on mine) Name at least 5 please K-9, TARDIS, Sonic Screwdriver, Adipose and Daleks

Do you have wishlists outside of Ravelry? yes Like Etsy Favorites, Amazon and such??? I locked up my Etsy for now sorry.  For my WEBS wishlist please ask mod for my last name to look it up thanks!  Amazon

Ok spoilee, I have a fab idea and I need to know as far as tea goes, could you please pick two of the following flavors (they can be for combing or separate, please clarify): Almond, Amaretto, Anise, Apple, Apricot, Banana, Blackberry, Blueberry, Caramel, Cinnamon, Chai, Cherry, Chestnut, Chocolate, Cider, Coconut, Cranberry, Ginger, Hazelnut, Honey, Irish Creme, Lemon, Mango, Maple, Mocha, Nutmeg, Orange, Passion Fruit, Peach, Pear, Pecan, Peppermint, Pina Colada, Pineapple, Plum, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Rum, Spice, Strawberry, Vanilla, Wintergreen and Zabaglione
Yummy tea, Hazelnut and Chocolate, Peppermint and Chocolate, Raspberry and Chocolate, Mango and Ginger, Chai, Pumpkin and Spice, Peach and Ginger, Maple, Vanilla, Pumpkin and Nutmeg.

How do you feel about caramels? Love caramel, but have to be careful that it’s dairy-free

Knitpicks? Lurve Knitpicks!

If Matt Smith was in another drama would you like to see it in your box… I have seen and have the Sally Lockhart dramas.  I have to say that Matt Smith as Jim Taylor (first thing I saw Matt Smith in) saved the movies IMHO.  Billie Piper was a very bad pick for Sally Lockhart.  I love the books and was very disappointing with the dramas.  I haven’t seen him in anything else besides this and Doctor Who, so I’d say sure.

Hidey holes? Pockets and secret compartments? Awesome, love secrets compartments and hidey holes!

Would you prefer yarn in a hank to stay in the hank or be pre-wound? hank please, I have a ball winder and swift

Stationary? Seriously, love stationary!

Necklace length: Hate chokers and long necklaces.  The perfect necklace length is 16-18 inches

Another big thing for me is I am having a cataract removed from my function eye and getting two permanent lens — an artificial iris and corrective. I found out from my specialist lab tech that my surgery should be booked in the next couple months before my birthday even!

I have been knitting and finished a beautiful Haruni, my clapotis, and a few other things, but a lot of my knitting time has been frequenting the frog pond. I will post pics later, since I haven’t figured how to do so from my new iPad. I am loving my iPad, after seeing it in person at knit night I got one for myself. I can read comics again! Squee. This is not a paid advertisement nor am I affiliated with apple I am just a happy owner.

I am typing this while Faye is sleeping on my feet in our room at the Hotel Murano. You may wonder why I am here or why the name might sound familiar that’s because I mentioned it a while back when excited about going to Madrona for the first time! Classes start tomorrow and I am excited and nervous. It feels like first day at a new school jitters, lol. I will try to take lots of pics and post them. I will either blog as I go or once I get back. Not sure yet. Off to bed and I will be back very soon, seriously!

I’ve been working on Jared Flood’s Juneberry Shawl in BMFA Luscious Silk in Jade.  I was inspired to use this yarn, by Steven A’s

Early this month I had the urge to cast on a sweater.  I normally participate in NaKniSweMo, but this year I decided to sit it out.  My brain decided that November is for knitting sweaters and without thinking too much I cast on for Peasy with some Tatamy Tweed in Birch.  I bought 10 balls  to knit my NaKniSweMo 2008 sweater Rogue (my rav project page link)  and only used slightly lover 4 balls.  I can’t believe it only took that many balls to knit a sweater with a kangaroo pocket and hood!  I’m am enjoying working on Peasy, since it’s a pretty simple knit.  I’m a few more repeats away from finishing the lace panel then it’s stockinette all the way.  I want to finish this so I can wear it at Madrona.  (what’s Madrona you may be thinking click here for more info) Oh wait I never mentioned the fact that I am going to Madrona this year!  Squee!  I’m so excited it will be my first year and I got my top three classes I wanted to take.  ;;does a happy dance;;  I’ll talk about this in more detail on another post in the very near future; otherwise this post will get way too long!

Yesterday I had a huge urge to knit on something lovely like loosely plied silk and since my Juneberry shawl was too complicated I was in need of some stupid knitting.  Enter the Clapotis.  Now that I’ve been knitting for a while this is a nice and relaxing pattern to knit.  Back in 2007, (wow that long ago!) I knitted a clapotis, but modified it to be a smaller scarf version.  I tried to knit a full sized verison in some lovely red bamboo yarn, but it wasn’t meant to be and it was frogged for a medal in the 2010 Ravlympics.  It’s been very cold with some snow thrown in here and I wanted something warm and huge to wrap myself it.  This is the perfect pattern and yarn and I hope to have this finished by the end of December, so I have something to snuggle in during the holiday dinners.  This yarn cheers me up and it’s a pure joy to knit with.  So soft and yummy, nom nom nom.

Okay it’s time to show you the FOs   Yep that’s right.  I have some FOs and actually real pictures of them, yay!

I made a Bella Eclipse Hat (with a mod) details can be found on my rav page here

Also as promised a picture of my finished Scare Isle Tam.  I haven’t added a button on it yet.  I found the KP Comfy fingering stretched a lot even after putting it in the dryer!  I plan on knitting another one with smaller needles, but till then I’ll add a cool button to this one and wear it.  I love this tam a lot and you can find the details on my rav project page here.  Faye was a very shy model today, but you get to see the hat details well due to her coyness.  You can find more pictures of this and all the other projects on this post on Ravelry, which has stolen most of my motivation for blogging.  I’m working on starting to blog on a regular basis again, since I do enjoy it and have missed it as well. I’m off to bed since it’s super late.  Oh wait I lie I’m going to make a nice warm cuppa tea first.  Night!

So I’m done the WIP I posted about in my last post. I haven’t blocked the shawl yet nor have a taken pictures of my Scare Isle. So instead I’ll distract you with my new WIPs!

This is my mindless project that I started today.

Next is my Trilobite hat from the Summer 2009 Knitty.  This is a fun to knit, but I don’t knit on it alot since this pattern takes a lot of concentration.  The yarn is Tatamy Tweed in Teal, it’s the yarn that I got from Monnibo as part of the Cocoa Swap I did a while back.    I can’t wait to finish it and wear it since we are being hit by La Nina this year.

I promise that once I have pictures of my most recent FOs I post them. Till then happy knitting and crocheting!

If I were to go over the FO parade of all that I have finished, it might take a while.  Ravelry has it all especially the projects that I still haven’t taken pictures of!  Instead I’ll share a few projects that are on my needles.

I cast this on yesterday and I’m happy to say that the yarn is from my stash as well as the beads!  This pattern is Sivia Harding’s latest pattern,  Confluence Shawlette .  I’m using Indigo Moon’s mulberry silk lace yarn in

This is one of my favourite patterns from the Deep Fall issue of Knitty.  Scare Isleby Lorraine Condotta.  I love Halloween and anything related to Halloween.  I’m using Knitpicks Comfy fingering and my colours aren’t exact, but I still am loving the results.  I’m halfway through the snowflake chart and once I’m done that I’ll take some more pictures and post them here.

First we have my Bella’s Mittens

Events competed in: Cable Cross-Country and Mittens Moguls
Project Specs:

Pattern – Bella’s Mittens, no mods (rav link to my project page)

Yarn – Knit picks Comfy Bulky in Cutlass less than two balls were used

Needles US 8 / 5.0 mm Harmony interchangeable circs (magic loop)

Start date : Feb 16, 2010

Finish Date & Time Feb 18, 2010 @ 12:25 pm PST

Notes:  I love this yarn and I love these mitts.  I noticed that some people said they had problems with Comfy Bulky and it pilling as well as shedding while they were knitting with it.  I didn’t have any problems at all with either.  The yarn is super soft and squooshy.  It may not be a “true” bulky weight, closer to a heavy worsted weight, but it still knits up really nicely and fast.

Next I have a Bella’s Hat for mini-me.  Umm I did mention that my Ravelympics knitting has been fueled on Twilight fandom knits right?  Forgive me, they are light and fluffy just like the books/movies.

Events competed in Cable Cross-Country, Hat Halfpipe and Single Skein Speed Skate

Pattern – Bella’s Hat, no mods (rav link to my project page)

Yarn – Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Chunky in Grey

Needles US 8 / 5.0 mm Harmony interchangeable circs (magic loop)

Start date : Feb 12, 2010

Finish Date & Time: Feb 13/2010 3:50pm PST

Notes:  If I wasn’t allergic to this yarn it would be absolute love.  It too is soft and smooshy as well as machine washable!  Mini-me loves her Bella’s Mittens that I made her with this yarn and I used the left over hank (I always get an extra emergency ball, you never know when you’ll need it!)  She is really happy with her hat, I plan on making one for myself with my leftovers from my mittens, but I find that the hat is a lot shorter than I’d like, so I’ll add a wee bit more ribbing to the bottom of the hat for mine.  Another gold metal win!

I also frogged my clapotis to get a metal in the Aerial Unwind.  I do plan to reknit this again, but I have forgotten where the heck I was with that one.  One day it will be a clapotis really!

Here’s my big Ravelympics as well as my Knitting Olympics project.  My sweater Estelle I’m knitting her out of Rowan Calmer in Garnet.  I am so in love with this sweater and can’t wait to wear it!  I finished the yoke and now it’s stockinette all the way, so it’s easy but boring knitting.  It’s relazing though and after dealing with my wisdom teeth removed and dry socket it’s a joy to just lose one’s self into the yarn.  Here’s a picture of the yoke progress.

Ria spoiled me rotten with awesome yarn (Kollage Corntastic and Temptation), dark chocolate, pomegranate tea,  Valentine’s Starbucks mug, uber-cute hug bug, tea tongs, rock sugar stirrers, super cute Penguin card, she made me two mug cozies (one cabled and other beaded and they fit my favourite to-go cups) and she sent me two patterns via Ravelry, one is Grace’s new pattern Comfort Embrace Shawl and the Theory Shawlette .  Thanks so much Ria, you spoilt me rotten and I love everything.