Hey all,

I am really bad about keeping this blog updated. Sorry! I have been busy creating new items for my etsy site.

I have also been creating new patterns. That has to be the most exciting that I have been doing. Eventually I will post some of my patterns (I after I write them down). So keep posted for some awesome slouchy hat patterns :)

Welcome 2011

The new year is here and as usual some some resolutions. I did some knitting ones last year that were an epic fail. I wanted to finish every project I started, fail. I want to complete a pair of socks, half fail (I did one and never finished). I wanted to get more people involved in the Knitting Club, we dissolved the club this past semester so fail. But because it is tradition I am going to make some knitting resolutions again, and see if I can actually stick to them this year ;)

Knitting Resolutions 2011:

1) Finish a pair of socks (try to get finish some from the past year)

2) Post and sell items on Etsy

3) Be successful in selling items on Etsy

4) Write more of my own patterns

5) Knit more complicated and interesting patterns

6) continue knitting even after I go out into the real world

These are my resolutions (well knitting ones at least) for 2011. I will try to stick to them and keep posting about my progress. Happy 2011 everyone!

Late night knitting

In order to avoid studying for finals, I have been knitting into the wee hours of the morning. Tonight I have finished a bracelet and started a wallet. Yesterday I finished two snowmen ornaments and a coffee cup sleeve. These are cute little gift that can be done last minute with scrap yarn. All of the projects I have done can be found at knitting pattern central. I love this website, it quite literally has everything you can think of. The patterns are free and will satisfy any knitting desire you may have. Well it is time for me to go to bed, farewell until tomorrow.

Four hats in month...I love Christmas

As Christmas approaches, the amount of knitting that I do multiples. Being the poor college student that I am I have decided to make the majority of my gifts this year. Here are the ones that I am most proud of and the ones that are done:



Here are each of the patterns individually, I basically finished one a week as well as being a full time student and working. I sometimes knit when I should be doing homework...oops!



This was the first one I did in November, for my secret Santa at school. I liked this pattern but I increased the number of stitched because 72 for an adult didn't sound right to me and I am glad I did. Also the crocheting on the bottom was difficult to at first but there are some great videos online to help. I also did not like the flower so I looked online for other flower patterns. Here is the flower I did but you can do any flower and just sew it one the hat.


This one was the easiest but the one that took me the longest to do. It is a simple knitted cap pattern that was based off this website:http://www.conniehester.com/free-pattern.htm. But instead of doing two colors I stayed with the solid dark blue. And used 100 stitches on size 6 needles.




The next one I am quite proud of because I basically came up with the pattern myself. I have been looking for a long time for a good hat for my niece. She is six and love, I mean LOVES dinosaurs. But I could not find a good pattern for one. So I took the dinosaur patterns from this flicker page
Cast on 72
do a 2x2 rib for 1"
I did the long neck and the t-rex (as well as some foot prints to fill space)
Remember to carry over because the space between one color and the other is big.
Then when done with two patterns decrease: *k10, k2tog* till end of row, *k9, k2tog* till end of row and so one until you have about 4-6 stitches and pull yarn through remaining stitches. Add pom-pom on top. One thing that was helpful was that I did out the two dinosaurs on pieces of graph paper so I could see the continuation from one pattern to the other.



This one was my first ear-flap and I kind of love it. I did mess up that pattern a little. I had 99 stitches instead on 90 (I made this for my dad) and I did not connect one pattern from another to make it continuous. But I think it still turned out well. Here is the link to the pattern.http://people.uleth.ca/~hodd/Knitting/ChulloPattern.htm If this one does work, or you don't like the patterns, here is where I found the pattern they have a good variety of ear-flap hats http://www.chemknits.com/2009/01/search-for-perfect-ear-flap-hat.html

With only 14 days left till Christmas I am not quite done with all my knitting (I am attempting to knit a blanket for my friend) but I will keep posting any cool pattern I find and tweak for you guys. Enjoy!

Getting back into the swing of things

First I want to apologize for the long intermission between posts, though some days I feel as though I am truly only talking to myself. Secondly I would like to make an observation, I have begun every post with so, SO I will try to work on that and try to come up with more creative beginnings.

Anyways, I am currently working on my first beret for a friend. I love this pattern, it has a simple lace pattern that looks pretty cool. My only problem is that it has to be 8 inches before I can start decreasing (and for those non knitters out there decreasing on a hat is when you start shaping the crown or top of the hat). Generally when I am doing hats I start decreasing after 6 or 7 inches so this one is taking me a little longer to knit. But I still love the pattern and might even make one for myself (which I NEVER do).

Here is the link to the pattern if anyone wants to try it: http://www.stitchnationyarn.com/Patterns/free-pattern-all-day-beret.html.

One fun thing I discovered recently is that youtube has a lot of great teaching videos. I know this is not new but I think it is great. Here are some videos I think are helpful for this pattern.

SSK (Slip Slip Knit): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGwcYW3GG3M
yo (yarn over): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qq__ttEMUo&feature=related
k2tog (knit 2 together): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbLmgwHFA&feature=related

All of these videos should be able to help when knitting this pattern. Again I love this one and I hope you enjoy.

Welcome to 2010

So now is the time of year when people make resolutions for the new year. Things like lose weight, get a boyfriend, or do better in school. I would like to make a couple knitting resolutions for the year.

1) I would like to make a pair of socks, I have started to make a pair but they are very difficult so I stopped after one sock.

2) I would like try to make a sweater. The thought of making a sweater has always intimidated me but now that I know how to knit on circular needles the feat is not as scary.

3) I want my knitting club to actually have members. I know this is not strictly related to knitting itself but whatever. I hope that we can attract members to carry on the club when I leave.

4)To finish every project I start. I have the nasty habit of starting a project than not finishing it. So I resolve to finish every project I start.

5) Finally I resolve to be happy, again not strictly related to knitting. I will be happy with every knitting project I do, maybe even knit something for myself. But I will also be happy in life.

So those are my resolutions for the new year. Good luck in the new year remember to live life to the fullest.

Doctor Who and Knitting

So I am kind of a scifi geek and one thing I love to do is knit and watch shows like Battlestar Galactica, Caprica,and Doctor Who. Most recently I watched Doctor Who The End of Time part 1 and cannot wait for part 2.

I love, LOVE David Tennant as the doctor and he will soon be repleaced and I don't know how I feel about that. I have heard that the new actor playing the doctor (the 11th I believe) is good, but DT was my first doctor and it will be hard to replace him. However I look forward to the new season.
I also cannot wait for Caprica to start. Caprica is a spin-off of Battlestar that starts in January. Caprica is set 58 years before Battlestar and shows the creation of the original cylons. It should be a great show even for non BSG fans


So excited to knit and watch these!

Christmas!

So if you are a knitter, you know that the holiday season is on the busiest for a knitter. It is cheaper to make gifts, but not always the easiest. Especially if you are a college student with papers and finals. But the idea of giving someone else something you made is pretty cool. There are also some great holiday knitting patterns. I made this cute ornament for a bulletin board. I also found a really cool site that allows knitters (and other crafters) the ability to sell their products.
Esty.com is great, it is free to sell and they have other great products. People can find you locally as well. So if you want me to knit you something, make an order!
Enjoy the holidays!

Stressed out?

So if you are a college student, the month of November and December are very stressful (especially if you are in a discipline that writes long papers. How I handle stress is by knitting. For an hour or two I knit and forget about the work I have to do and the stress I am feeling and concentrate on knitting. Not only does it take my mind off of the things that are backing up that I need to do, but it makes me feel productive when I finish something. So if you are stressed out knit, it does wonders!

Here are some patterns I am currently working on:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html (fingerless gloves, with a little twist)

http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/PATThalcyon.html (haven't started yet, but I will)