Wow, it’s been a while. I’ll just blame school for that and move right along.

First things first, I finally launched my Zoe Pattern! Take a look at it following the link to the right, or look me up on Ravelry! It’s a lovely little free pattern and a great way to use up your stashed sock yarn. That’s pretty much why I made it!

I have two more patterns in the works. The first is a super chunky cowl knit up on super bulky yarn that only takes about an hour to make. The second is a hat pattern that will be available in the pattern packet for the Hill Country Yarn Crawl. More on those in the not-too-distant future.

When I’m not reading for school, teaching, writing papers, or doing other homework I generally knit. But lately I’ve been reading a lot. It all goes back to my re-obsession with The Beatles that started back in July. I recently picked up Philip Norman’s Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation and have been totally devouring it. And I think it has rekindled my passion for reading, or maybe actually helped me have one. I generally hate reading. I think grad school ruined reading for me. But I really want to get back into reading, so I’ve made myself a To Be Read list.

to be read

It’s not quite as ambitious as M—–l’s (or anyone else that has made up a list of TBRs, to be honest), but this list does not factor in the 500+ pages I read every week for my graduate coursework. These are things I want to read For Me. Because I Want To. Not because I Have To. If you can’t tell I’m not a fiction book person. I stick pretty much only with non-fiction books. I’m hoping I can read all of these before the end of October. I think I can do it.

I’ve found some crochet patterns that have inspired me lately. I also just ordered a few new knitting and crochet books from KnitPicks that have fun patterns in them. (Gotta love 40% off book sales.) M—–l, there may be some crocheted weird creature things coming your way in the near future. You have been warned.

Until next time,
ek

Sometimes I feel like crochet is a lost art. I mean, people still crochet, but it has this unshakable association with Grandma’s 70s color preferences, brightly colored sweaters that get stuck on the corners of desks, and flowery afghans you hide away in your closet. I mean, granny squares are called granny squares for a reason.

But I’m determined to not give up on crochet. There are some incredibly beautiful and wonderful patterns out there for crocheters, and not just amigurumi toys. (Of which I’ve made my fair share.) I’ve found that the most intuitive and aesthetically pleasing crochet patterns are Japanese, which may be off-putting to some crafters out there because Japanese patterns are always charted and never written out word-for-word. But charts aren’t that bad! Really! I actually find they make a lot more sense than prose.

This doily is a pattern from the Pierrot yarn company in Japan. I found it randomly on Ravelry and decided to give it a whirl. I totally love it.

Anywhere Mat

Anywhere Mat, detail

Anywhere Mat, detail

I used Gedifra Korella, which is a 53% linen/47% acrylic blend in a light worsted weight, worked up with an E/3.5mm hook. The yarn was a bit splitty, but was the right choice for this doily. I wanted it to be sturdy but washable and pliable. After soaking in some Eucalan and pinning it out to dry it softened up quite a bit and now lays out nice and flat. My only modification was on the sc edging; I did the sc through the back loop instead of through both, which created a nice ridge around the edge. If I did this pattern again I would do the decreases of the petals in between the posts of the stitches rather than through the top like usual. It’s probably not noticeable to anyone other than me, but the petals seem a bit lopsided as they decrease. I’m a bit OCD about symmetry in increases and decreases.

Score: A
Yarn: B+

I may make another one in a different color so that the intended receiver will have a pair that match. We’ll see!

ek

Here is proof that I can actually get stuff done. Really.

cafe kurage (jellyfish)

Pattern from Leisurely Amigurumi 「あみぐるみでゆるり」by Sachiyo Fukao (深尾幸世). Knit with hand dyed Lion Brand Fisherman’s Yarn.

Just Enough Ruffles

Just Enough Ruffles

Pattern by Laura Chau. Totally rockin’ and fast to knit. Knit up with Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Candy Apple.

I love this time I have to do stuff now. Summer! Now I just need to get this job situation sorted out. *sigh* Also I seem to be going through a red phase right now. That may just be because I have lots of red yarn in my stash for some reason.

Oh! And I have declared this summer DeStash Summer. No new yarn. Ever. I can only knit with what I have. We’ll see how resourceful I get.

I’d like to personally thank the amazing weather in Austin, TX, for the speediness of the drying of my yarn babies. Here’s how they look all skeined up:

Pomegranate

Colorful

I have about 212 yards of the Pomegranate, and about 90 yards of the random colors yarn. I have no idea what I’m going to do with them yet. But I definitely want to knit them up into something.

I spent another five hours over at HCW spinning, and ended up with about 150 yards of worsted weight yarn. That stuff is outside drying out right now, so I’ll take some pictures tomorrow.

At some point last week I decided that I’d crochet a basket for an Easter present. It’s finally dry and photogenic, so check it out!

Felted Basket

Felted Basket

Felted Basket

Felted Basket

The pattern is loosely based on Red’s Goodie Basket from Uncommon Crochet. I didn’t do as many straight rows, I used a thicker yarn and bigger hook, I didn’t really follow the handle instructions very well, and I felted it. Basically I just used the pattern to figure out the best way to shape the basket. I’m pretty sure I could have gotten less stitch definition out of the felting, but our hot water heater in the house is not very reliable. About once a week one of us will get a hot shower, and then it’ll be lukewarm the rest of the time. I might try felting it again if I can get the washing machine to give me hot water. But for now I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

The title is, like, a quadruple pun. I’m good like that … sometimes.

Pun #1: only old grandmas crochet.

Fan Scarf 2

Close-up of the awesomeness

(As far as I know, my grandmother does not knit or crochet. Eat it, stereotype!)

Pun #2: Haydn’s Symphony #37 came on my Last.fm radio station while writing this post.

Pun #3: 1960s science fiction television + sleek 21st-century technology.

TARDIS iPod Cozy

The iPod has the Phone Box

It’s (30GB) bigger on the inside.

Pun #4: If you know where my entry titles are from I shouldn’t have to say anything about this pun. Yes, the entry titles are from something. All of them, from the same thing (except the Color of the Week stuff and my Ten Days of Trek entries). Figure it out and I’ll give you an e-cookie.

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Monday Chick Lives for the Weekend

Butterfly Stitch

I really had a yellow kick this year, and there are still many yellow things floating around the house. I like it that way. Prepare yourselves for a Pink Thursday!