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

I finally finished the shawl I’ve been working on! I was so close to finishing it, and then put it away for a few weeks because I’m lazy. Or because of my fear of commitment. One of those. Maybe both. I had trouble deciding what to do with the edging, until one magical day when I randomly thought ruffles would look nice. And there she was. Zoe.

Zoe

Zoe

I think I hear the TARDIS off in the distance!

There may be a police box in my pocket.

The ruffle was a bit more prominent before I blocked it, which is sort of bumming me out. I’m hoping to get some test knitters to work out my pattern and take some FO pictures pre-blocking to show off the ruffle a bit more, and to maybe lend some insight in how to block it without losing as much curl from the ruffle.

If you are someone interested in test knitting this shawl for me, please get in touch! It will be a free pattern, but I would very much appreciate having a few people work through the pattern before I officially release it.

I can’t wait until it cools off enough to warrant me wearing it. My car told me it was 109ºF today … that’s just evil.

<3 ek

Why yes, I have been knitting. I swear.

These two afghan squares are for a large afghan blanket being assemble for a friend of mine. They may not know of the blanket yet, so I’m withholding the details for the moment.

Braided Lace

Labyrinth

This is my first official “complete” sock! The pattern is currently being test-knit, so I’ll share details once the pattern goes live.

Soybean Sock

Soybean Sock Detail

I keep meaning to take better pictures in better lighting, but I think I left the sock over at HCW when I worked on Saturday. Oops! I’ll be picking it up on Thursday when I go in for First Thursday. Not sure what the sale will be yet, hopefully something good. I have a $50 gift card to spend thanks to my amazing mom! Hooray for moms buying yarny things as birthday presents! Happy birthday me!

ek

I like to use my summer holiday to do things I don’t get to do during the year. Like knit. And yeah, I do knit during the year, but not nearly as much as I want to.

For example, take this shawl I just finished.

Ishbel

During the school year it would probably take me at least two months to knit this. But during the summer it only took me four days.

The pattern is Ishbel by Ysolda Teague. I made the smaller version and used one skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock. And I am ridiculously in love with it. If it weren’t 102º outside today I’d wear it around everywhere.

I do smile sometimes.

Ishbel in action

I wish it wasn’t so damn hot outside. Oh well. That’s what I get for living in Texas.

I’m still in the process of growing my hair out, and it’s almost long enough for a ponytail. Almost. There are still chunks that don’t quite fit, so when I put my hair up (a necessity in this 100º+ weather) I need a headband or wrap to keep it all in place. Naturally I turned to knitting for help. In my last post I shared my Tweed Calorimetry, which has done well but I don’t want to wear green wool on my head every day. So I made one of these:

Bamboozled

Bamboozled

Bamboozled

Bamboozled

This is Bamboozled, by Cyn. A great little pattern, available in chart or prose form, and a very quick knit. It only took me an episode of Top Gear, four episodes of Futurama, and Space Jam to finish it. And you better not smack talk Space Jam. It’s, like, my favorite movie of all time.

I used almost a whole skein of SWTC Karaoke, a 50% wool/50% bamboo blend. It looks pretty good without blocking it, so I might not. We’ll see. It’s not as warm as wool, and is nice and smooth. There are also lots of eyelets in the pattern, so my head can breath a bit.  Which is good, because seriously it’s hot here, yo.

I also have this little former UFO and now FO to share. I started it back in, like, September, but shelved it because … hmm, not sure why. I just did. But anyway, I finished it.

Shoulderette

Shoulderette stitch detail

This is the Shoulderette, a pattern adapted from some vintage pattern collection or something. I used yarn a bit heavier than called for, and didn’t have nearly enough yarn to make it as long as it should be. I stretched the Sweet Zombie Jesus out of that thing, and it just barely goes past my elbows. Which is okay, I guess, for a shrug. I’m pretty sure this is in Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Cotton. This stuff splits like nobody’s business, so don’t use Knit Picks Options when you knit it up. You’ll hate yourself while you’re knitting, which is never a good thing.

I went through yardage drama, like I always do. This pattern doesn’t call for a specific amount of yarn, and I thought two skeins might be enough. Which wasn’t. So I eventually picked up a third skein, and then knit too far with it and realized I wouldn’t have enough left over for the cuff and seaming. I ended up ripping back a few inches, finishing it up, and seaming it in two days. After it sat for like five months untouched. I always give up so close to the end. That must be a result of my fear of commitment or something. Oh well.

ek