The Knitist!

Expansion

My interests have wandered a bit lately.  I think I may have blogged about the embroidery before.  But now there's actual sewing too.  There's been sewing for a while... I just didn't want to admit it to the blog before.  Lately there's been so many sewing projects that it's getting difficult to deny them.  Some weeks the sewing machine takes up residence on the dining room table.  It started with an apron.  Then there were quilted coasters.  Those two projects seemed innocent enough - pretty non-commital.  The apron took months.  The coasters were a quick fix.

Lately, it's gotten worse.  Much worse.  A week ago last Saturday, Hannah and I were shopping at BNS for her b-day.  Yeah!  Her b-day!  (I'll blog this for her since she hasn't written any posts in almost a year. Shame!)  Cookie and Kristi got her a gift certificate to BNS, because they knew we would be shopping there on her b-day.  I think.  This is how, Erin, our wonderful friend and the owner of BNS found out it was her b-day.  Erin, who we endearingly call The Hostess With the Mostest presented Hannah with the most decadent chocolate cake I've ever eaten.  I think she said it was from Flower Flour.

   

That's Hannah with her GC and the pure chocolate cake.

After the cake we had some calories to work off so we started our shopping.  That's when I found the pink fabric with the Banana Seat Bicycles on it. 

My first bike, when I was five, had a banana seat.  In a fit of nostalgia I quickly put together a project that would allow me to use this awesome find.

Pattern:  Betsy Ross Tote Bag
I really liked the shop sample that BNS had, which they lined to make it reversible.  The original pattern does not have directions for a lining but even as a novice I was able to make it work.  As you can see, I chose to use the bicycle fabric as the lining, binding, and straps.  I just love this new bag and am very proud of my budding seamstress skills.

And there IS knitting content to be shared.  This hasn't turned into a sewing blog (yet).  Last week, I finished a pair of Monkeys.  These are the No Purl version which means that I substituted knits for purls in the charted section.

Ravlink

I also substituted the heel flap for a short row heel in order to show off the contrasting colors of the A Swell Yarn Shop, Duet Skinny Sock Yarn in Sterling Silver.  Yes, I know it's purple - I dunno.

And that's all I have for now.  Still working on the Habu Kusha Kusha scarf.  It's been really hot here lately so the knitting's been not so much.

In Which I Flake, But Not Completely

I confess, I admit, I know it's true, I'm a tad bit flakey.  I know that I posted barely a dozen photos for the 30 Day Macro Challange.  But just to demonstrate that I'm not a complete flake, I give you number 30 (I took the photo yesterday, I swear)...

Oh and to those of you knitters who have heart conditions, weak constitutions, or are pregnant, you may want to look away.

Day 30 of 30
A moth! *GASP*

(However, I don't even know if this guy is the wool-eating type.  He looked pretty happy sucking the life out of my tomato plant leaf.  And no, I didn't kill him afterwards.)

Macro Challenge: Day 12 of 30

I know I missed day 10 and 11... you know how life gets in the way of our fun sometimes.

Today's photo was quite the opportunity!  I was watering my plants, especially my neglected, gigantic, monstrous aloe vera plant when I noticed it had a funny little asparagus looking stem growing in the middle of its leaves.  We've had this aloe for over 10 years and in all of those years that it's saved us from our cuts and burns, and lent its leaves to my daughter's science project, I've never seen it flower.  In fact, I've never seen any aloe plant flower before.  I've heard of it but only as an urban legend kind of story.

But here it is, a baby asparagus in the middle of my tough old aloe vera.

Here's another shot from the top (very artsy fartsy).

I'm just over the moon about it!

Finished: Bird In Hand Mittens

They're finally done!  After 3 long months on the needles, I've finally finished them up.  With any luck, they'll get a chilly spell back home, and my Aunt will be able to enjoy her new mittens before next Autumn.  For those of you who are just joining us, I knit these as a Thank You gift for my Great Aunt.  Read all about it here.  Tomorrow I will wrap these up and send them off.  Yay!

First, is a close-up of the embroidered bird which also doubles as my Macro Shot Of The Day.

Day 8 of 30

And then we have the Official Blog Shot

Now I think I'll go work on my Habu Kusha Kusha Scarf.

Day 7 of 30

The mittens are finished, blocked, and embroidered!  There's no good light tonight so I'll have a photo of them tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's today's Macro Photo.

Nalgene.

Leaps and Bounds

Okay, not quite leaps and bounds but I have been getting a fair bit of knitting done lately.  I'm nearing the decreases at the top of the 2nd Bird In Hand Mitten.  Then there's just the thumb to do and the bit of embroidery on the thumb.  I'm also a handful of repeats into my 2nd No Purl Monkey sock!  I love tying up loose ends, so to speak - basically finishing up languishing projects.  Even though I'm sure my Aunt has no need of mittens now that it's April, I'm still excited to be finishing them up.

Now for the daily macro photo.

See... craft related!

Day 5 of 30

No new knitting but here is my entry for Day 5.

It's called:  Thank You For Smoking.  Why?  Well, if this person (who shall remain nameless) wasn't smoking, I wouldn't have been able to get such a great shot, n'est pas?

Thing 'O the Month

I've recently stumbled across a 30-day Challenge that finally struck me as worth the time and effort.  Normally, I don't participate in these things.  I love to see other people post about their Saturday Sky or color-of-the-week photos, but I've never felt moved to join in.  Until now, that is.

This particular challenge is called 30 Days of Photography Challenge

Each day I will post (hahahahaha!) a different picture taken with the Macro setting on my new Nikon DSLR.  I think they will mostly be craft related.  I will try to not take too many pet shots but I may throw some other photos in the mix too.  I do have to come up with 27 of them (I'm starting today, the 4th), so I'll try to make them as interesting as possible.

My debut photo is of my one finished No-Purl Monkey sock.  I've already started the 2nd one.  No SSS* here!

(RavLink)

Now I must go brainstorm on more macro photo ideas.

*Second Sock Syndrome

Free Stria

I've added a new free pattern in the left sidebar - a pair of socks called Stria.  (.pdf via Ravelry)

(RavLink)

Constructed with a simple linen stitch and short-row heel, they are easy enough to knit while doing other things like watching movies and such, but the stitch pattern is not as mind-numbing as a regular rib.  The pattern also goes well with self-striping yarns and isn't so intricate that you end up losing the texture in the colors.

Enjoy!

Goat Cheese

Last Thursday, Bex and I made a trip to a local farm.  We had an appointment with the owners to procure some of their fresh goat's milk.  I'd never done anything like this before and buying fresh milk is sort of  a grey area in CA right now.  This particular farm sells their milk "for animal consumption".  However, they drink it themselves and make yogurt and cheese from it so I figure it's probably pretty safe for us to drink as well.  Raw milk is a big issue in the news these days and I figure, as long as you're going to make informed choices about your food and where it comes from you should be able to eat what you like.  People get sick all the time from pasturized milk, so how can anyone say it's better?  Better, is relative I suppose.

[Steps down from soap box]

I had arranged for Bex and I to have a little tour.  I wanted to make sure things looked clean and the animals were well cared for.  We picked the perfect time for a visit because right out back of the house was a heap of little baby goats and a lamb.  They were 2 weeks old!

We were encouraged to pet them and they were so sweet!  They nibbled on our hands and licked us.  It was an amazing experience.  We were also shown the rabbits that they rescue, the other goats (including more pregnant goats!) some chickens, and peacocks.  Peacocks!  All of the animals looked quite pleased and the goats had a big grassy area on which to nibble.

The goat's milk we received was procured just that morning - still a bit warm even after being in the fridge.  Today I finished making my very first batch of Chevre.

I'm still new at this cheese making thing but now I have yogurt, yogurt cheese, creme fraiche, mozzarella and chevre under my belt.  (I've been getting all of my cheese making recipes and supplies from Ricki Carroll)