Socktoberfest Win!

I posted a couple weeks ago that I was using Socktoberfest as motivation to finish the pair of socks I'd been working on since about the end of September. This weekend I knew was Halloween, but it didn't occur to me that Halloween was also the LAST day of October. So, I got my butt in gear and finished 2/3 of a sock in 2 days. Here is my newest (and second ever) pair of socks!

I still don't know how I feel about the yarn (Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Socka Color) If there's only a small section knitted, it's pretty ugly. When it's a full sock, it's less so, but still not really my style. But either way, they're done and they're mine!

In Holiday Stashdown news, there's not much to report. The seed stitch scarf is coming along as well as it can be I suppose. However, I do know why people advised against it, since I'm already getting bored with it, and it's about 12" long. I'm not sure how long it will have to be yet, so all I can really do is keep knitting.

Or cast on a new pair of socks!

Knive Chau!

Today was the costume contest/chili cook off at work. I was trying to decide between pirate (which i've been the past couple years) and anything else. I remembered that I'd made a scarf from the movie Scott Pilgirm Vs. The World. One of my favorite characters is Knives Chau. In the end of the movie, she comes out with an awesome black and white stripe scarf.

My version was started about a week after I saw the movie. It was part stash busting, part comic book nerd. It then languished in my "to finish" box for about 2 months waiting for all the ends to be woven. About a week ago, I decided I was definitely going to use it in my costume and started weaving in those ends. I threw it in the dryer to soften the yarn.

so today, I WAS KNIVES CHAU!!!

ok, not as angry or mean, but basically the same :)

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - plus a bonus FO!

Well I didn't quite finished the next set of gifts by FO Friday, but on the bright side, I did finish gifts for 6 people!

Spa Cloths

These are the Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth, made from 3 colors of Sugar n' Cream and Peaches n' Cream that I'd picked up over the summer for market bags. I made a dozen, and 2 will be given to each recipient, plus a lotion probably. For the time being, i do not want to knit anything on the bias or any dishcloths for a while.

However, on a personal knitting note, I finished the Shalom! It looks like a cardi and fits like a cardi, so we're calling it a completed cardi. All it needs is a button, a soak (the wool is a little itchy), and a decent photo. This was taken inside, at night, on my phone, but it's a glimpse into the Shalom-y awesomeness.

Another "free" item: I listen to the Lion Brand Podcast and read their blog. On their Ravelry group, they started a topic about what their listeners wanted to hear about this season. I mentioned that I wanted to find resources for formulas for projects (sweaters, hats, etc) so i could customize more items. They answered my question on the podcast and suggested I check out Ann Budd's The Knitters Book Of Patterns and The Knitters Book of Sweater Patterns. These books are fantastic! Most patterns come in 6 sizes and 6 gauges, so it does most of the math for you. These are definitely on my wish list.

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 4

Wow, I'm really banging out gifts this weekend! I present to you, the Hermione Hat.

This is made from about half a skein of Patons Classic Wool in Jade Heather that I bought probably about a year ago with no planned use. I LOVE this pattern. It was so easy to read and understand, and I finished it in a day (granted, it was probably 4 hours or so of knitting). My row gauge was a little off, so I didn’t do as many rows of ribbing or as many repeats of the cable. I did decide to be picky and continue the eyelet/cable repeat through the crown, but I’m not sure if it’s really visible. I will definitely be making this hat again.

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 3

And we have another project knocked out!

Cousteau Cowl

This is made from one skein of Patons Classic Wool in Mercury, a dark steely gray that I bought a few months ago for a basic cardigan pattern. (This means that someone else will also be getting something from this yarn.) The pattern is Cousteau Cowl, free on Ravelry. I love making this cowl. It's simple but looks clean and finished. Made from worsted weight wool and knit on US 4, this will be nice and cozy for anyone that works outside.

After finishing this bad boy in 4 days, I've decided to take some time for myself and work on my second pair of Knitmore Girls Vanilla Socks. I finished the first one of this pair fairly quickly, but with as many gifts as I've decided to make, they have taken a back seat. However, in honor of Socktoberfest 2010, I present:

Sock #2!

She isn't very far along, but I think I can knock out at least a few inches tonight. It's about time for scary movie marathons anyway, so I think I will be watching Dracula tonight. No, not the black and white classic, I mean the one with Neo (Keanu Reeves), Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins), and Sirius Black (Gary Oldman).

And yes, that is how I refer to them in my head. 

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 2 (FO Friday)

The lucky recipient of this hat will get a one-of-a-kind beanie based on the hat formula from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Knitting Rules. In the spirit of the Holiday Stashdown and free(dom), I checked this book out from the library, and the yarn is left over from various Vanna's Choice Afghan Swaps. I started with more navy than tan, but originally was going to knit even stripes. When I realized that it may not turn out like I expected, I started with thinner stripes of tan near the brim, and fatter stripes near the crown. This is also my first attempt at stripes in the round. At first, I realized the stripes were not lining up. So off to Knitty.com I went, and found this explanation for jogless stripes within this pattern. Ends were woven in just in time for FO Friday!

I also have a free but non-knitting related item to share. It is the free app for the ipod/iphone called iheartradio. It's every type of radio station from cities across the country that streams to your ipod. You can listen to local radio, any genre from any city, or mix both. My favorite feature is the "shake it" tab. You choose to lock or unlock location and genre, and literally shake the ipod to get a random selection. Talk radio from San Jose? Sure. Hits from Austin, TX? Of course. Hawaiian from Bismark, ND? Ok, maybe not, but those are both options available. This makes me wish I had wifi at work so I could use this. But then I would probably mess with my ipod more than I should be.

Holiday Stashdown 2010 - exhibit 1

 In case family/friends come across this blog, I am not going to disclose who will be receiving the gifts in this series.

Vanilla Slippers

These are loosely based on the Knitmore Girls' Vanilla Socks. They are a women's medium. I CO 36 stitches, started with a 3x3 rib for 1.5", stockinette leg for 5", and followed the pattern for the rest of the slipper. It is made from I Love This Yarn! in navy. These will be very warm and cozy, and will probably make good boot socks also.

So much has happened!

I'm married!!! 

Without getting into too much detail, the wedding went extremely well. Everyone looked great, everyone behaved, the food was awesome, the DJ was great, and I think everyone had a good time.

Here's a rundown of the gifts I made (all from stash)

My Wedding Shrug

Made from the Posh Wedding Shrug by Classic Elite. Yarn used was Sidar Snuggly Baby Bamboo. Ribbons added were left over from our invitations.

MIL Shawl

Pattern used was the Conifer Shawl from Knitscene Winter/Spring 2010. Yarn used was Naturally Caron Country.

Mom's Shrug

Pattern used was Anthropologie Inspired Capelet. Yarn used was Caron Simply Soft.

Darren's Cowl

Pattern used was the Cousteau Cowl. Yarn used was I Love This Yarn! worsted.

Everyone loved their gifts. My new MIL looked awesome in her shawl, and Darren, our reverend, lives in Chicago and rides his bike everywhere, so this was the perfect gift for him. There's even photographic evidence that my shawl looked awesome.

I also have updates of the startitis projects from before the wedding. 

Shalom has a completed yoke, though the arm holes turned out a little off. I'm going to power through it anyway and see if I can correct them. The problem is they are too big and seem to be set too far back. Perhaps the divisions for the arms are not set up like I thought. Or my math could be off. 

My Gabriel Shawl isn't too far along, though i did add an extra row so that I wouldn't have to p2tog for the eyelet row. I was having a hell of a time doing it because the yarn i'm using (Knit One, Crochet Too Ty-Dy socks) splits like crazy. Now that i have it under control, i think it will go much faster.

My second pair of the Knitmore Girls' Vanilla Socks in Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Socka Color are halfway done. I CO 60 this time, and the first one fits very well. I finished it during lunch Friday, and immediately cast on the second one.

Tomorrow I should have an update on the Holiday Stashdown 2010.