Lots of Knitting

At the moment the priorities in my life are God, Nathan, family, friends, music, knitting, other stuff. Knitting has been keeping me sane in the crazy busy-ness of life right now. One advantage to my long commute to school is that the 40 min leg of the trip on BART is prime time for working on knitting projects. I bring a project with me pretty much everywhere I go and I’ve been able to get a lot done. I’ve really surprised myself because I’ve managed to make huge progress on my Holiday gifts. I’ve only got one and a half things left to go!

On top of that, knitting is starting to bring in extra income. I’m working on a custom pair of gloves for a woman who came into K2TOG looking for someone she could hire. My boss referred her to me and she wants two pairs at a price that’s worth it for me. And I’ve had two people request that I make them knit items that they would pay me for.

I’m considering putting some effort into selling my knitting, maybe opening an Etsy store or something. I’m gonna see how things go with the glove thing and maybe put some extra effort into things once Christmas break starts.

Most of my knitting is up on Ravelry, but here are a few highlights of what I’ve been doing:

Easy Flame Lace Scarf – Malabrigo Laceweight (Pattern from Knit & Tonic)

Dashing – Cascade Venezia (Pattern from Knitty.com) For Nathan

(The first one is actually completed, but I don’t have an updated picture yet)

Two-Ball Touch Me Hat – Meunch Touch Me Due

Felted Bowl – Crystal Palace Taos – Christmas Gift

(Before Felting – It’s been felted and is currently drying)

Lastly, I have to gush about Ravelry. I absolutely LOOOOOVE this site! I’ve got all my current in-progress and all my new projects listed. I did an inventory of my needles, and I’ve been keeping track of my knitting books and stash. It’s so helpful for finding patterns and people’s notes and experiences with particular patterns. It’s one of my favorite websites now. Here’s evidence of myRavelry love (and my birthday presents from my family as a little extra).

 

The beanie saga continues…

Thank God for Chauntel! Seriously, if not for her help (and moral support), I would probably have given up by now.

BUT, I have finally figured out what works for me. It’s a combination of the “Secret Method” and Chauntel’s Beanie Theory. I crochet a bit tightly in my single crochet stitches, apparently, so I had to go up a hook size and add in some all sc rows for the beanie I’m making out of Caron Simply Soft.

So, I started one beanie in woolease. The gauge is a bit tight, but it evens out when I try it on my head, so I changed up a hook size when I got past the increase rows so that there’s enough stretch. If it turns out that it’s too small, well, my brother is getting a beanie for Christmas and at least one BIL will have to wait a little longer.

The beanie I’m working on now is definitely a good size for a man (although I hope it’s not *too* big). The only thing is that I’m realizing that in-pattern, this yarn may not really be either BILs style. So, I can either risk it and give it to the one who might like it more, or else I’ll add a girly embellishment and give it to one of my sisters.

Also, yesterday I made it over to Knit & Pearl downtown for a book-signing. Mel Clark (who wrote Knit 2 Together with Tracey Ullman) came up to our little hamlet and signed books and chatted away with fellow knitters. I bought the book and chatted with her for a few minutes. I wish I had been more familiar with the book beforehand because I’ve been reading through it and it’s delightful! I’m so glad I splurged on it (and supported K&P in the process) because it’s got a TON of great patterns (in other words, I would actually make and wear almost all the items in the book, rather than just a few of them) and it’s definitely going to inspire me to expand on my knitting skills once I’m done with Holiday projects (especially if I get some circulars for Christmas!)

And finally, I am feeling better! I’ve still got a little bit of congestion hanging on, but not too much. I also ended up getting food poisoning or something Saturday night (and slept it off for 16 hours), but that seems to be over as well. My tummy is just being a little sensitive since I didn’t eat much since then.

Man, what a week THAT was! *whew*

 

The Happy Hooker

I just got my own copy of Debbie Stoller’s new(ish?) book “The Happy Hooker” and I am going to be making a few gifts from it for Christmas, Hanukkah and other events coming up in the near future.

I think I may even make a few things for myself, but that might end up happening after the holidays.