This time, I have a good excuse

I've been having all sorts of computer problems lately. First, I spilled beer on my wonderful, barely 6 months old HP notebook. Needless to say, it shut off, and won't turn back on. I'm borrowing my dad's laptop right now, but I managed to get that infected with spyware within a few days of using it. I don't even want to get in to how bad it was, though to give you a vague picture, spyware replaced some of the essential Windows system files. All of a sudden, I wasn't the system administrator, meaning that I couldn't even access the time and date, let alone control panel. I had to reinstall Windows XP, except that I couldn't find one of the disks that came with this laptop. The computer is now running virus free, but on an older version of XP that doesn't really seem to be compatible with the screen. At least I have internet access again, though!

I've been a knitting machine lately, and have made five dishcloths in two days. I have no idea how quickly others may knit, so if this isn't actually a lot, please don't tell me. I like thinking that I'm some sort of knitting goddess. I'll spare you the pictures of the dishcloths (at least for this post), mainly because I'm too lazy to take any.

I'm really glad that I've been knitting so much in 2008. I feel that this can only mean good things for the rest of the year. The first project of 2008 was a hat, loosely based on Wendy's Le Slouch pattern. I've dubbed it my Le Stripe hat. Tres original, no?



Pattern: Le Slouch, by Wendy Bernard (linked above)

Yarn: One skein Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Chestnut, One skein Lion Wool in Navy(?)

Notes: I didn't have the pattern with me when I started the decreases, so I substituted a plain old spiral decrease pattern. Though I've made a Le Slouch before, I knew that Wendy's decreases involved stitch markers, which I also didn't have. How do those little buggers manage to disappear so quickly? After knitting the ribbing, I switched to the new color and proceeded by knitting 7 rows of each. The yarn was frogged from a Fitted Knits shrug (you know the one I mean) that unfortunately made me look like a linebacker. I have to say that this hat is much more flattering, though the spaghetti-like quality of the frogged yarn made the stitches uneven at best. It's nothing a good blocking couldn't take care of, but as I haven't even woven the ends in yet (as you can see from the picture), who knows when I'll get around to that?

Even with all my excitement over 2008's projects (I've finished a scarf, too, but I'll save that for a later post), I still can't forget my very last FO of 2007. This is the first pair of mittens I've ever completed. Does second mitten syndrome exist? I've made quite a number of wonderful mittens; unfortunately, none of them match. That is, until now!


Pattern: Knitting Pretty's Warmest Mittens

Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay Wool

Notes: The yarn was originally an ugly, dirty looking beige. While I love natural colors, there was something off about this color. I threw it into the dye pot with some red and pink dye, and out came this lovely, slightly variegated yarn. I was in love. I used the Warmest Mittens pattern to make sure I was casting on a 'good' number of stitches, quickly read over the suggested increases for the thumb gusset, and went to town. I used the backward loop cast on to add 3 stitches over the thumb gusset when I put those stitches on a piece of scrap yarn. The top decreases are different on each mitten, but they match if you don't look too closely. I barely finished these in time to wear them out on New Year's Eve, and I admit that one mitten just had the ends tucked in as I wore them. Hey, as long as no one else knows, right?

I've been following the ravelry thread on 2008: Year of Fearless Knitting, and I think that I'll try to follow along and do some fearless things, too. No definite plans at the moment, simply because I don't want to force myself to do anything if I don't want to. No point in trying steeking if I won't wear the finished steeked item, right?

Mitten swap questionnaire!

How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? I've been knitting for five years now. I picked up a book, some needles and yarn, and mimicked the pictures. Needless to say, I've been addicted ever since.

Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I'd say I'm intermediate, only because there are some projects I haven't really tried yet. It's not that I'm afraid or intimidated; I'm positive that I can do any knitting technique out there. I just haven't wanted to try all of them yet.

What are your favorite colors? Any you dislike? Right now I'm in a brown/red/orange phase. Burgundy is lovely, too. I also really adore light, heathered grays. I'd have to say that the only real color that I don't like is purple, (but then again, a deep aubergine might be nice). I'm not into neon colors, either, come to think of it.

Do you like Latvian type patterns? If so, what are your favorite patterns? Yes, I love Latvian type patterns, though I don't like my tips to be too pointy.

Do you desire mittens for yourself, your "special someone else" or your child? For me! Ah, so selfish.

What is the measurement from your wrist to the tip of your longest finger? 6.5"

What is the circumference of your hand at it's widest point? Barely 3.5"

What other things do you enjoy knitting? I'm definitely an accessories type of girl. Hats have been my main thing, lately, and I have to admit that I enjoy knitting scarves.

What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? I use the magic loop technique to knit nearly everything, and I use circs even if I'm knitting flat. I prefer bamboo needles, but have recently ordered size 5 and 7 Harmony needles from Knitpicks, which are wood.

What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? Ahh, there are too many to name! I keep meaning to make socks, particularly the Snicket socks from Magknits. I also would love to make the Chevalier mitts. I have enough yarn to make a few sweaters, but I really can't decide on a pattern or a style. I've also been wanting to make a lace scarf/stole/shawl of some sort, in worsted weight wool.

What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? I've never had any sock yarn other than the cheapo stuff from Knitpicks, so I guess I'd really like to try some Koigu or other nice sock yarn. There are a lot of yarns that I haven't tried, Cascade 220 being one of them. I'd really like some of that, too, and I really don't know why I've never gotten around to buying any. Oh, and I nearly forgot... anything tweed!

What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? Cook? I spin, and I have a sewing machine, though I've yet to make anything other than a pin cushion. I love baking, though my oven hasn't been very good for that lately. I started learning to crochet, but all of my crochet hooks have either broken or gotten lost. =(

Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Elephants!

What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? Well, there is chocolate, of course! I don't like peanut butter, but other than that, I'm open to any sort of sweets or treats. ;]

Do you have any kids? Pets? I have a puppy named Milo, though she doesn't live with me at the moment. She's half yorkie, half poodle. I prefer the term 'porkie,' because she's quite the tubby little thing.

What is your favorite part of Winter? Snow! I love the cold sometimes, and I love layering and bundling up with all sorts of lovely knitted accessories.
What is your least favorite part of Winter? Slush, harsh wind, and sometimes how dark it can be.

It's been a while.

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted something. Well, actually, I can, because I've been nothing but a lazy blogger for the past few months. That's not to say that I haven't been crafting. I've been knitting up a storm, though only, I admit, of hats, because of that laziness bug again. I've made about six hats since October alone, though I admit that three of those were baby hats. I've also finished up a few projects, such as my Danica scarf, made with Patons SWS in natural earth. Yes, yes, I know, everyone is making that pattern with that same yarn. I jumped the bandwagon pretty early on, actually, but just couldn't bring myself to finish. Yeuchh. I hated the yarn, couldn't decide about my feelings for the pattern...

Anyway, you won't be getting any pictures of that one. This, however... this scarf is something I'm proud of. I can't crochet anything worth a damn, which is unfortunate, because I love so many crocheted projects. And well, let's just say that I have a HUUUGE thing for granny squares. I thought I'd try and mimic the look with knitting, which led to the creation of this scarf. I finished it in a few days, both because it's a quick knit and because I wanted to submit the pattern to Knitty.

That obviously didn't happen, because I chickened out at the last second. Also, my seams? Sort of ugly. (My face is, too, in that picture - hence the pumpkin. Yes, it was necessary.) While I'm extremely proud of myself and of this scarf, it isn't quite the faux-chet I had wanted it to be. Oh well. I guess that's just an excuse for me to keep trying, eh?

Spring??

I've been waiting and waiting for spring, and it just doesn't seem to be coming. Yes, fine, we set the clock so that it gets darker later, and it is March, and sometimes it's a bit warmer than it was during the winter. But it snowed a few days ago, and the streets are covered in piles of the stuff, as well as slush. I need to buy new boots, because mine apparently have holes in them. My feet keep getting soaked through. But then I think, will it be worth it? How long will it continue on like this? Shouldn't I invest my money in cute little peep-toe flats, or even a nice pair of sandals?

And the flowers! There aren't any! None of my plants have started to grow, and I'm honestly getting very impatient. I've been looking through old photos (such as the ones shown above), and they're making me very nostalgic and sad. Where are you, Spring? I'm waiting!

Popped my cherry!

Start

to

Finish (?)

This was my first time dyeing roving, and I have to say that I'm pretty pleased with the results. My plan is to keep dyeing little sample bits like this, until I settle on a couple of colorways that I like. I'll also be trying to perfect my technique. I'll spin up the small rovings and use all those little skeins of yarn to knit myself a scarf. Hopefully I'll actually dye/spin up enough yarn for this, eh? =]

Today is my and DH's anniversary. Yesterday, we got the keys for our new studio! It's tiny, but that's why we love it. It's very nearly perfect, though very empty at the moment. How could I not have fallen in love with that kitchen? We got new dishes today, and took measurements (as well as christened the bedroom, ahem). We drew a floorplan, and made copies of the keys... I'm so excited about this. Look at those tiles! The natural lighting in the main room is so good; I'm so unbelievably happy about this. It's a very short distance to the train, in the neighborhood that I grew up in, it's cozy and the lighting is SO GOOD. Of course, this picture was taken in the evening and doesn't display that, but I promise! It's so good!

In knitting news, I've hopped on the bandwagon and started knitting an entrelac scarf. I'm nearly done with a ball of yarn, and I've got just about over a foot. I've only got three skeins, so I'm going to rely on blocking this baby pretty heavily.

I can't wait to start collecting teacups and cute little bowls (there's storage room like crazy in this kitchen...). We're looking around for a nice table to put in the kitchen for eating, and we may make our own shelves for the walls. I'm so excited!

Jammin'

Yay, I've switched to the 'New Blogger!' I'm not really sure what that means, exactly, though it does seem a bit easier to use than the old one. Maybe this means I'll post more. ;] I would, honestly, if I weren't so lazy when it comes to uploading my photos from the camera. I can't get my new camera to connect to my computer, so I have to take out the memory card, put it into the old camera, hook that up... Then, once that's all done, I have to actually pick which pictures I want to use. I never upload pictures to the computer, but rather just leave them on the camera. I realize that this is probably a very stupid thing to do (I've even lost pictures before, but haven't learned my lesson!), but the laziness! It overcomes me.

I've been knitting like a fiend, which pleases me. I've finished two baby hats (one each for my goddaughter and godson), a hat for me, and a scarf for DH. The hat had to be sacrificed in order to finish the scarf, but you know, it's all for love, and all that. Not that hubby bought me new yarn yesterday or anything. Ahem. (Interestingly enough, his first and middle initial are DH. Am I calling him by name, or do I mean Dear Husband? The world may never know!) I'll post picture of the FOs sometime this week. Really.

Meanwhile, in non-knitting land, I baked cookies! These are probably my favorite cookies to make. They're quick, easy, and everyone loves them. Usually I use strawberry jam and vanilla extract, but this time I decided to kick it up a notch. I used raspberry jam and almond extract. Ooh, I know, I'm quite the adventurous baker. Going where no cook has gone before, and all that. Next time I may even try chocolate chip and almond cookies. I know! I'm crazy.


All kidding and sarcasm aside, these really are very delicious. They are, however, really fattening. They're pure butter and sugar. No, seriously. I'll post the recipe. Your arteries will clog as soon as you read it.


Do these cookies look different than the other ones? I wanted some hard, and DH only eats them soft. These are his. They're so soft and chewy that I had to have a little taste of three or four or eight of them. Just a little, though. These are the cookies that were left by the next day. They're the ones that were in the corner of the pan, or that broke when I was transfering them to the plate. The misfits, if you will.



Misfit or not, they were delicious. Mmm. Here's the recipe as I usually make it:

Strawberry Thumbprint cookies

Ingredients:
1 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Strawberry jam

1. Preheat oven to 325.
2. Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract together. Add the flour little by little until the mixture forms a soft, unsticky dough.
3. Roll the dough into small balls. Now comes the fun part! Shove your thumb into the middle of each cookie to make a hole. I actually use the cap of the vanilla extract for this, but shhh. I've used a chapstick cap before, also. I'm handy like that. (Please be sure to wash whatever it is you'll be sticking in your cookie beforehand!)
4. Fill each hole with jam. It helps to microwave the jam for 15 seconds if it's been in the fridge.
5. Stick the cookies into the oven, and watch them bake! I'm not sure how long these take, though I'd say 10-15 minutes. My oven is sort of wonky, and never heats up properly, so I have to sit there and watch them like a hawk. Just watch the edges of the cookies. When they're golden brown, take those babies out!

They're seriously so good, but you probably don't want to make them all that often. I've made these with margerine, and had them turn out fine, though they were considerably more 'melty' in the oven. Even our puppy likes them.



Then again, she'll eat anything if she thinks you're eating it, or (even better) if she isn't allowed to have it. Paper towels? Yum!