craf·te·ra·ti

I tried really hard to resist this, but last night I started working on a pair of socks. I am currently about halfway done with knitting Temptation II, and I really shouldn’t start a new project. Except, the sweater is a commute exclusive project. So starting an at home one must be ok, right?

 I’ve never knit socks before so I did some searching for a pattern. I’m using my Dye-O-Rama Yarn from Liz. She said the stripes work well with a 60 stitch round. So when I came across Wendy’s Toe-Up Sock pattern I was all like SCORE! So I cast on and got going and 2 rows in I got confused, very confused. I’ve never really done short rows, and I knew that I had to be slipping more and knitting less, but I couldn’t understand how that works. So I searched and read and searched and read. And finally I came across this tutorial. So I basically ignored the instructions, which I think are not very clearly written for an “easy” pattern, and followed the Coffee Crazy instructions. So right now I’m done with the first toe. I just need to put my provisional cast on stitches back on the needle.

I’ve been doing mini projects at home lately. I sent some stuff out as a gift so I couldn’t post it, but I think it should have been received by now so…

The turquoise trio..knit and crocheted with knit picks shine sport

click to see big

There’s a little headband with a crocheted flower, some baby ballet slippers, and a cable knit wristband (with a nod to Heidi for the idea). I love the Icord fastener on this. I got that from Knitting Over the Edge. And I made all three while watching a Yankees game.

Now on to Aunt Flo’s Bag…yes that’s another tampon holder. This one is a bit fancier. It’s knit with knit picks shine worsted. The final verision has a shiny black dome button too.

So I got back on the horse working on Temptation II. I had started it for the knitting olympics but I messed up a bunch so I decided to start from scratch. Plus I picked up some Addi Turbos for this project too. So far I’ve been working on it for a week and I’ve gotten about 15% done. I have 5 of the 13″ of ribbing I need to do for the body.

Today I knitted up the uterus from knitty.com. I used blue skys cotton (which is lovely) and size 9 needles. I did my first ever i-cord, which I now loathe. It’s a gift for my friend who is graduating from medical school tomorrow and going to be, as she likes to call it, a vag doctor. That’s obsetrican/gynecologist to us layfolk.

look at lola’a cute little paws at the bottom. awww!

This post might be a little TMI for guys, although I’m sure not many are reading it, but anyway…

 I decided I needed a case for my tampons, which tend to like to float around in my handbag. So I grabbed some size 6 needles and some Sugar & Cream cotton and a short while later I had this

I have a whole box full of buttons and strings that come as spares for sweaters and jackets so I stole one of them for this fastener. I want to make another one with a little fancier yarns and maybe some sexy cables. But for now this’ll do.

When I was on the plane to Utah this weekend I knit a hat for a friend. It was sort of a surprise as I knew he was looking for a light blue hat. I like it so much I might just have to keep it since he never even knew he was getting it! Muhaha!

I think it needs a super pompom.

What happened to the last few days? Hmm….not much knitting for sure! I’ve got about 5″ done so far and I have high hopes to get a lot done this weekend.

 On the snowboard report…Seth Wescott took home gold for the US in the Boardercross (f that snowboard cross shit). That was such an exciting race. I loved the hardbooter vs softbooter drama and how he came back from being behind to take it. And the close finishline!

 Oh and I’m testing to see if livepress 1.99 will work to put this in my livejournal

The US women took Gold and Silver in Snowboard halfpipe. Yeah! I’m happy that Hannah Teter won since she is a really cool person. I wouldn’t call her a friend, but I do know her. It’s too bad that Kelly Clark didn’t medal, she was going huge. I think she also got jipped on her first run.

 So back to knitting, I only had time to work on my project on the train which means I got about 3 rows done..which is maybe 1/2″. I gotta get back on the horse!!

So Day 3 was pretty damn good for snowboarding, and Shaun White came through and won the gold medal. Jersey’s best Danny Kass took the silver again. And Mason Aguirre just missed taking the bronze. So close to another US sweep!

Knitting? You want me to talk about knitting? Oh yeah..knitting. So while I was waiting for the snowboarding to come back on (why does it need to be in 3 different segments?) I got some knitting done…an inch and a quarter! So I’m up to 2 1/4″…10 3/5 to go before I hit the sleeves!

So my days are going to be off, since I didn’t start my knitting olympics project until Day 2 of the Torino Olympics. So keep in mind I’m a day behind my header day!

So I started working on Temptation II. I cast on a did a few rows..and then I realized I was using a size 8 needle and a size 9 needle. Damn! I use Denise Interchangable Needles so this is possible. I figured it can be a little wider at the bottom and switched the 9 to the correct 8 and did a few more rows. At this point I have about an inch done…I need 13 before I get to the sleeves. An inch a day…hmm..how many days are there in the Olympics???