Beginner’s Luck

I had a couple new fiber-related experiences this week.

I tried needle felting, which went pretty well.  This means, my beaver finally has a face (I tried the way in the instructions but didn’t like the way it looked).

His name is Larry.

Next, I got THE email about the Sundara update (which apparently Every Other Person On The Planet Who Knits And/Or Crochets also got).  It was the first big update since I found out about the yarn.  Despite the desperate attempts and frustrations of many of my fellow fibercrafters, I managed to get out of there with one skein of Silk Lace in Daffodil.  I’m not big on yellow, but I knew that I’d be able to trade it and really – I didn’t care about the color, I just wanted to know what the fuss was all about (I sadly lost 2 skeins in Sour Apple which I would have loved).

So, a skein of Daffodil is on it’s way and as soon as it gets here it will be on it’s way to a new home and two other skeins will be on their way to me.  I’m getting a skein of Granite Falls and one Gooseberries from a fellow Ravelite (she is trading me one and I’ll buy the other since she said she’d never use it and Gooseberries is far too pretty to let go to waste!).

Current pattern contenders are (in no particular order):  Hanami, Adamas, Serpentine, and Japanese Feather.  I’m thinking if I do Serpentine out of one, then I could also get a Japanese Feather out of the same skein – which would make it all that much more worth it, so I’ll probably do that.  I technically already bought another yarn for Adamas, but I love it and want to use exactly the right yarn.  But, same for Hanami and I think that this yarn would look awesome in that pattern.

I thought I should share the progress on the kiddo’s dress.  I’ve got about 2″ left and then I can bind off.

Even after all those stitches, I am still in love with this yarn!  It is such a pleasure to work with!

I also cast on some new socks this week with my Smooshy in Spring Tickle.

In movie and Netflix news:  Rory O’Shea Was Here – probably one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long, long time.  Rent it.  Buy it.  Just watch it.  I’m going to buy it so that I can force everyone I know to see it.  I also sat down last night and started watching the series Dead Like Me while I tried to work on the dress (that was quickly abandoned because I wanted to watch the show).  I ended up staying up late and watching 6 or 7 episodes.  I just couldn’t stop.  Really funny and often thought provoking.  Sadly, I found out today that it’s been cancelled.  Of course.  Since that is what happens to all really good shows.

I know, behind already.

ETA:  My photos seem to be getting cut off on the right side.  I’ll try to figure it out later.  I’m off to bed for now.

I admit.  I’m behind.  Way behind.  But I’ve been a busy lady.

I did, in fact, finish my first socks (which resulted in the “Your First Socks” thread over at Rav in Remnants which has been just really freaking cool).

I used the 2 socks on 2 circs method (I used Knitting Circles Around Socks).  Awesome.  No more wresting porcupines and not-so-magic loop. 

Having just started the heel flaps:

The mess I made before I finally figured out how the yarn was supposed to lay (the one thing I didn’t understand from the book – just took some trial and error):

I Kevin Smithed while knitting.  It was a very bad idea.  I was not aware that getting all 4 halves of the socks onto one needle was even possible.  It was quite easy, though, I assure you.  I didn’t realize what was happening until the second needle fell away after I knit the last stitch.  I nearly had a heart attack and then realized that Twist was closed which added a panic attack to the heart attack.  Thankfully, I persevered and figured it out all on my own.

Heel flaps and gussets all done!  Go me!

My first fitting!

I got to the end.  I was so excited.  I snipped my yarn and got ready for my very first kitchener stitch ever…  Then realized that something was very wrong.

Yep.  I got a little TOO excited and didn’t finish the last row.  I was very thankful that I always leave too much tail so I had plenty to finish the last row/half-round and kitchener them off.  Why are so many people so freaked by kitchener stitch?  I thought it was rather simple.

Just in case they fell apart completely once I put them on, I took a close-up of the color.  I am trying to teach myself to like orange.  I figured this was a good place to start.

SOCKS!

Some other RCOs (Recently Completed Objects) include:

My pooly potholder (Patons Classic Merino in Harvest):

A couple bibs, but I think I’m going to frog the ties and use buttons instead at the insistance of some friends:

Um, there are a couple more but I need to wait until they get to their recipients before posting photos.

I’ve got a couple new WIPs.

Crocus Bud Shawl in Dream in Color Baby (Cloud Jungle) – I want to knit lace, but I’m still a little intimidated by it…  So I decided to crochet some lace first just to get used to the skinny yarn:

Also, I’m almost done with my beaver!  I think I’m gonna swing by the craft store tomorrow and pick up a needle felting tool and felt on his face because I can’t freaking figure out how to applique it (clearly my punishment for enjoying the kitchener stitch):

I enjoyed the hand-felting a ton.  Way more than I probably should have…  I want to knit many, many more beavers just for the hand-felting process.  Maybe I should start a beaver squashing business.  You make the beavers, mail them to me, and I will mash your beaver until it is soft and pettable.  I wonder if I could get paid for that…  Or if I’d get arrested just trying to advertise.

Anyway…

I drove down to Texas over the weekend (let’s not discuss why, exactly) and I stopped off at SWAK in OKC and Guthrie on my way home (went to the OKC location, they didn’t have what I was looking for so I went to the Guthrie location).  I did maximum damage to ye olde wallet with minimal stash enhancement.  $130 for 3 skeins.  I would have done more, but they didn’t have the laceweight bison in stock (and I just couldn’t convince myself that I really would wear $86 socks).

A skein of Prism Saki sock yarn that I didn’t look at the price of until I left (a good $10 more than I had assumed – but I like the colors and it is a bit too far away to return).  A skein of Euroflax in a color I about died over.  My very favorite shade of blue.  And…  A skein of some laceweight qiviut.  I blame that one on the Norwegians.  When they successfully take over the world, we’ll all need something warm to wear.

I also got my second order from Eat.Sleep.Knit.  Oh, update – the DIC Smooshy in the proper color arrived promptly along with some Flamingo Pie.  Here are all 4 of my Smooshies (Cloud Jungle, Black Parade, Flamingo Pie, Spring Tickle):

Second order, I got some DIC baby for the Adamas shawl, or, as it will be known here:  Adama’s shawl.  Because the old man is my hero, and NOT a cylon.  I hope to get that done in order to wear it when the last half of the season starts back up in January.  I got the color that most reminded me of toaster blood.  I think it’s fitting.  In addition, I got some more Misti Alpaca Handpaint Lace (Blue Stone).  I don’t know what I’ll make with it, but I really like to pet this yarn and I was starting to feel bad for my other skein.  I also got a couple other kinds of sock yarn.  One very awesome in both texture and color (Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome) and the other, love the fiber but not so much the color (The Unique Sheep Tinsel Toes in Dusk).  I thought it was grey/blue with some gold highlights (which is what I see on the website)…  Turns out it is purple with cream and yellow…  Ew.  I think I may have my first prize for a give-away!  LOL!  Oh, and a $5 store credit in the Lotto!  Yay!  If only I’d have that kind of luck with the real lotto!

So, that is my craftiness for the last few weeks.  No progress on Pax’s dress.  I think having it done for her birthday (Friday) is pretty much out of the question.  But, knowing my kid, it’ll still fit next year.  LOL!

In movie news:  Took the kid to see Wall-E.  Not as great as I was expecting, but not bad.  I think most people found it entertaining, I thought it was depressing.  We’re trashing our planet and getting fatter and fatter and few people seem to care…  But it’s okay to laugh at because we’ll be dead and gone long before the time comes that we have to jump ship.  Right?  I’m not so sure. 

I Netflixed Brokeback Mountain.  My first Heath Ledger movie since he croaked.  And it was fucking depressing.  I opted for that one since I figured it had to be happier than Bowling for Columbine and Sicko.  It wasn’t and I have a feeling that my next selection will be a bit more depressing yet (Rory O’Shea Was Here).  Anyone have a good comedy to recommend?

It is 12:05am.  Do you know where your yarn is?  Have a great week!