total eclipse

I know I always come here saying that I need to post more and then disappear for months. Looks like this time is no exception. I actually found this post while trying to clean up some of my tags. It looks like I might never have posted it. Since the pics were already here, I figured I would finally put it up.

This is a hat I made awhile back. It's called Wurm (cute name) and I made this with a skein of Sunshine Yarns sport in the Vampire colorway. This is probably one of my favorite Sunshine colorways and I loved working with it. Not much to say about this except that I like it and I liked the hemmed brim I got to make. Also had some nails that matched it one day. I don't remember the color name but it was from the Goth polish set that Ulta had a couple of years back. 

If you're interested, the project details are here on my Rav page.

I have been doing some crafting lately, including some sewing and pattern stashing that I want to share. Hopefully I will find some time to update again soon. Bye for now!

twist, yarns of intrigue

Good morning, everyone. Yikes, I slept in really late today and therefore woke up really late. Isn't it crazy that it's june already? It feels like christmas was just last week but we're already heading into the second half of the year. I am not usually a hug fan of the hot southern california weather but i do love that it stays light out for so long. I feel like a vampire sometimes when i don't get to see sunlight during the day. only without all the good things like supernatural strength and special powers.

This week i had a hankering to fondle some yarn (knitters will understand) but none of the local stores in my area were appealing to me. so on saturday, I wrangled my friend to trek down with me to manhattan beach to go to Twist, Yarns of Intrigue. the owner, Cathy, is fabulous and they have recently moved to a much larger location down the street. they also carry the most fabulous selection of Malabrigo, one of my favorite yarns, as well as their own yarn and other treats. A trip to twist never fails to inspire me to create and i knew it was the thing to get my creative mojo flowing.

We walked in to see the wonderfully large new space. If you have never been to the old store it's hard to compare but the new space is easily 3-4x larger than the old one. It's so open now with a large couch and an area to hang out and look at pattern. There is also a great yarn bar where you can learn about some of the yarns in the shop and actually knit a swatch with them. you can see how the yarn knits up and what it feels like first hand,  which is a great way to try out a new yarn.

yarn bar

books and pattern galore

The malabrigo is always what interests me the most and they really do have the best selection of it that i've ever seen. Mal is notoriously hard to keep in stock in large quantities with a good selection of colors but cathy manages her orders so well and has such a good relationship with them that she always has lots of colors in all their bases.

seriously swoon at the mal sock yarn

Cathy also dyes her own yarn in wonderful colors. There wasn't much in stock unfortunately for me. I think the locals are snatching all of her yarn up before I can get there. I did find some wonderfully soft and beautiful cotton yarn that Cathy dyes. I am not usually a fan of cotton. Ironic since it's perfect for Southern California weather. But I just find it unyielding and hard on the hands. However, this cotton was dyed up vibrant jewel tones that caught my eye straight away. And the swatches showed and amazingly soft and cushy fabric. I wanted to buy it all! But that wasn't possible so I settled on 3 skeins of a beautiful green with blue undertones to try out. I am seriously going to order more for a sweater though and maybe a blanket. If you you visit Twist, you must feel this cotton.

the cotton of my dreams

I was also looking for inspiration for a wedding shawl I am going to make next year. My friend (who was with me) is getting married next year and requested a shawl for the big day. We looked at some books and narrowed down some ideas but none of the patterns was calling to her. Right when we were about to leave we saw a lovely red lace shawl in the corner made from Malabrigo Silky Merino, a really beautiful silk/wool DK blend. Peggy tried on the shawl and it was love.

So we picked up 3 skeins of the Silky Merino in a really pretty lavender/grey colorway called Madre Pearl. It's a gorgeous color and I am really excited about starting the shawl now. 

That was our big day and yarn trip. It was just the pick me up I needed and got me excited about knitting again. If you're ever in the area, you really should stop by and visit the shop. It has something for everyone. I'll leave you with our yarn purchases for the day. Have a wonderful afternoon!

twist cotton in jade

mal silky merino in madre pearl

book review: knits for nerds

Knits For Nerds by Joan of Dark (aka Toni Carr)

Publication date: 21 February 2012 by Andrews McMeel

ISBN 10/13: 1449407919 | 9781449407919
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

From Goodreads:

The best of science fiction, manga, and animaguiri meets knit one, purl two as knit siren and part-time roller derby girl Joan of Dark offers up an out-of-this-world assortment of knitting nerdiness inside Knits for Nerds. The patterns for 30 iconic clothing and accessory items inspired by popular TV shows, books, films, comics, and more--including Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Firefly--are presented alongside full-color photographs showcasing completed projects, such as:

* Lieutenant Uhura's sexy Star Trek minidress
* Hobbit feet slippers
* Firefly-inspired scarf, socks, hat, and jacket
* Tank Girl socks
* Hermione Granger's secret beaded bag
* Manga-inspired leg warmers
* The Big Bang Theory-inspired his and hers sweater-vests
* Lord of the Rings-inspired shrug

In addition to a wardrobe of costume finery, hobbyists will also find instructions for practical projects such as an e-reader cover or a laptop bag crafted of checkered fabric that serves double-duty as a chessboard and carryall, as well as patterns for plush toys inspired by Star Trek, robots, and the comic book Squee! Wear (and knit!) your nerdiness on your sleeve with Knits for Nerds.

Review:

How could I resist a book called Knits For Nerds? I couldn’t really. As a knitter and a lover of many things considered “nerdy,” I was excited to pick this one up. Knits for Nerds is by Joan of Dark (aka Tori Carr) whose last book, Knockdown Knits, was inspired by roller derby. This time she tackles the nerd community with patterns inspired by things considered geeky, including television shows, books, comics and video games.

The book consists of 30 patterns divided into the categories of Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Comics & Manga, and Other Stuff. The patterns range from easy to intermediate with the Browncoat sweater or lace shrug probably being the most complicated projects. The patterns range from small accessories such as fingerless gloves, hats and scarves to larger items like shawls and sweaters. There are quite a few toys to knit in the book as well as a pair of socks. There is a brief Tips & Techniques section at the back of the book but it’s more of a refresher than a how to knit section. I’d suggest getting a book dedicated to learning to knit if don’t already know how before starting.

I had a lot of fun going through this book. The projects are inspired by things near and dear to my heart. The photos were even shot in Neil Gaiman’s house, which made me do a fangirl squee when I read it. My favorite projects were the most wearable ones, such as the Vampire Academy inspired Alchemy Scarf and the Firefly Browncoat Sweater. There’s a really beautiful cable shawl inspired by Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series. Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog is represented by a pair of really cute, striped arm warmers. There are a pair of vests for men and woman from The Big Bang Theory that look quite cute and wearable. The Space Princess Hat and Cape (seen on the cover) are really cool but are items that I, personally, would not wear and therefore I would not make. I was kind of disappointed in the Dr. Who inspired Time Traveler Scarf. The colors are more pastel than the Dr. Who scarf I am used to and I would not have made the connection if not for the project title. There are also some fun, little projects like a checkerboard and a Gryffindor bag that would make good gifts.

While not all of the projects in this book are the most practical (do I want my feet to look like hairy hobbit feet?), it was certainly fun to go through this book and see projects that were inspired by some of my favorite movies, games and comics. For me, this gets a little bit of a lower rating because I can’t see myself, personally, wearing too many of these knits. However, I can see a lot of these projects appealing to others. Fans of cosplay will find lots of cool, inspiring things to make in this book.

Filled with a wide variety of patterns, Knits for Nerds is a great gift for the fanboy, fangirl or crafty person in your life.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

This review is cross posted on Nite Lite - Read Now Sleep Later.

new beginnings

wow i really can't believe that it's practically march already. how insane is that? and my resolution to blog more hasn't really been working that well, but that's ok. sometimes life happens which is a good thing. i've still been in a bit of a funk but am trying to will myself out of it. hopefully with good friends and good food things will be a little more optimistic soon. i have been knitting more though. i got a new laptop and have been able to watch some hulu streaming. so far i am into alcatraz, the voice and once upon a time. i still have tons to catch up on, but it's a start.

this is a wee baby cupcake hat a recently made for my soon to be niece. these things are kind of addictive and, even though i hate making bobbles, the results are great.

ravelry link

made from a mix of wool scraps like lamb's bride and malabrigo, this hat is a tiny ball of fun. seriously it's so cute and needs a baby heat in it - stat! they're so easy that i've started another one already. this one will be chocolate. :) 

what's new with you?

current obsession: all knitwear

i am in the midst of crazy holiday shopping and haven't had any time to update. instead i will distract you with this. i just found this fun line called all knitwear. it's machine knitting in all shapes, sizes and colors. i am in love with these hats! and the sweaters are ridiculously bright and fun. i don't know if i could actually wear any of them but they're beautiful.  have you found any fun and inspiring things you'd like to share?

in love with pom poms!

i find myself with a slightly unhealthy obsession with pom poms as of late. i even bought one of those fancy clover pom pom makers and it makes me ridiculously happy to think about all of the pom poms i can make with it. it all started because of the picture below that i found on tumbr.

photo found on tumblr but originally from weareyouneak

how cute is that hat (and the girl, too). i immediately wanted on and thank goodness i actually had a couple of balls of the stitch n bitch full o sheep yarn at home in a bright orange. my yarn was worsted and this definitely looks like a bulky weight hat so i held my yarn double and cast on for a 1x1 rib hat. i think you could get away with using just one skein of yarn on this. i had to use a little bit of a second skein because i didn't start with a full skein. but if you were careful, i think you could do it with just one skein. that means this hat could only cost you $4.99 (plus tax)! the original costs about 25 pounds which probably adds up to about $40. i am quite happy with it but, looking at these pics, does my pom pom look small? hm, i might make a bigger on next time. i don't have a picture of me wearing because, well it's awkward taking pics of yourself wearing a hat. if you want to see full project details, visit the ravelry page here.

 

what do you think? are you in love with pom poms, too? what else can i put a pom pom on?

loft collection

has everyone seen the new loft collection by jared flood? to die! everything is seriously beautiful. and it reminds me that i have yet to try jared's new shelter yarn.  maybe as a present to myself at christmas i will buy myself a few skeins of loft and shelter.  for now, i will just ogle the pictures. below are a few of my faves.

jaffrey tam - look at those gorgeous cables

thayer

parson

stoncrop

that's it for me today. which pattern is your favorite?

every day is a holiday

hello! summer is upon us and i am loving the warmer weather. it's just great to be outdoors when the sun is shining. last weekend i went away for the weekend to san diego. i love going down there and really don't do it enough. we were only there for a day and a half really but it was just enough time to get some time on the beach and some good food. on the way back to la we stopped by the carlsbad flower fields, which i have never been to before. they had fields and fields of gorgeous ranunculus blooms.

love love love. and just so you don't think i haven't been knitting, here is a hat i finished for my brother made of malabrigo worsted (my fave) in sfo sky.

not very exciting but a good basic guy hat. i am off to arizona this weekend and hope to get a chance to go to a yarn shop out there. i haven't bought any yarn in a long time. i've been trying to save money and use the stash. but souvenir yarn doesn't count, right? i hope the flowers are blooming where you are!

finish line

just a quick post today about an fo. i joined the ravelympics this year (my first year) on team sunshine (www.sunshineyarns.com) i wanted to use the ravelypmics as motivation to finish up a few wips that have been languishing in my knitting bag. so far i have 1 down and 1 to go.

above are my finished gryffindor stripe socks in sunshine yarns' self-striping soft sock yarn. i started the socks last year but kind of fell off after the middle of the second sock. it was silly really since it only took me about 3 days to finish them once i actually started working on them. i used a simple sock pattern on ravelry and kept track of the stipes on the first socks so i could match the second.

next on the wip list is the lace ribbon scarf i started in sunshine yarns' vampire colorway. it just got tedious after awhile so i stopped but i really want to finish it. we'll see if i can make it before the olympics end.

as for today, i am hoping for a lazy sunday. it is supposed to rain so i might run out to enjoy the air for a bit before it starts to pour. what are you doing this weekend?

rain, rain, rain

a pretty unimaginative title for my post but it's all i can think of as i sit here on the couch and listen to the rain falling outside. la has been hit with a lot of rain this season and a lot of people are quite confused by it. i, for one, enjoy the rain and am happy when it does so for more than just a day. as my friends at work can attest, this was quite possibly the longest week EVER. but the weekend is finally here and i plan on sleeping, knitting and reading as much as possible. knitting has been a little slow going lately. i have a bad case of startitis but i am trying to finish up old projects as much as possible. i have been doing some charity knitting lately and managed to finish a bulky knit hat this week.

my friend is modeling the hat here for me. i loved that her red scarf matched the hat so well. this was an improvised pattern. just co 72 stitches with a size 9 needle with some bulky single-ply yarn. it's a k2p2 pattern all the way to the top. i actually have a ton of this yarn leftover from a thrift store vest i frogged a few years ago. it's a little rough but i figured it would be good for outerwear. this one is for my friend's skid row charity organization and i hope to make a few more hats to donate before the end of the month.

the other exciting news this week is that lost is back! yes, i am still confused about what's going on, but that's the fun of lost. i love it and am looking forward to seeing how the end all comes about. to commemorate the event, we had a lost party complete with spam musubi (a hawaiian fae) and lost cupcakes.

spam musubi

lost cupcakes

the cupcakes came out a lot messier than planned but i still think they're cool. the planes are twinkies with graham cracker wings.

this weekend is also super bowl weekend which means it's time for the unwind super bowl sale! my friends and i will be getting in line early to camp out in front of the store. come join us if you dare brave the cold morning air. hope you all have a great weekend!

sunny day

happy new year, everyone! i can't believe we are already in the second week of january. i really wanted to post a big post with a wrap up of last year, but i think that may not happen. and does anyone know how to make those collages from flickr that other bloggers do so they an show off their fo's of the year? i can't figure it our for the life of me. anyway, i hope you are all off to a great start this year. i didn't do a ton of christmas knitting but i did a little. i tend to save my knitting gifts for family members and a few friends who i know appreciate knitted gifts. the worst thing is knitting something for someone and getting the "oh, thanks" look of a person who doesn't know how to appreciate a handmade gift.

first up is a scarf that i made for my mom. this delicious malabrigo was originally given to me by my friend but, when my mom saw me working on this scarf at thanksgiving, she professed her love of this shade of yellow. how can i resist the cutest mom on the planet? i don't. i started this ages ago but only finished it a few weeks ago.


pattern: scrunchable scarf (link) (rav link)
yarn: 1.5 skeins malabrigo merino worsted in sauterne
needles: us 8 or 9 ( i can't remember which but 8 and 9 are my scarf needles)
notes: not much to say except that i looove malabrigo. i actually ended up having 2 very different skeins of mal for this and so about a third of the scarf has more variegation than the rest of it, but that's mal for you and it's ok with me.

next up is a lucky 7 hat

pattern: lucky 7 hat (link) (rav link)
yarn: leftover mal from the scarf (you can see where it gets stripey because i was alternating
skeins)
needles: us 5
notes: the hat was a bit small but i think that's just cause i should have gone up a needle size. i blocked it a bit longer/bigger though and it's fine now. very easy pattern and i liked that the cables went all the way to the end of the pattern. you can see the cool crown here.

see, so pretty? well that's all i have for you today. off to brunch with friends. i hope you are all having a fun, lazy weekend.

working spaces

last weekend my friends and i made a trip out to the blum & poe gallery, as they are having a showing of some new yoshitomo nara work. he's one of my favorite artists and this show didn't disappoint. the best part of the show was a wagon that housed an incredible little craft/living space. it was like the best little kid's room ever. my friend and i wanted to move in. take a look.

on the knitting front, i have been working on my pair of bella's mittens for awhile now. i admit to being a huge twilight fan and when i saw the movie, i just knew i had to have the long mittens that bella wears. thankfully knitters are extremely clever and motivated people. i didn't have to wait long before a pattern was drawn up. i knit mine up in briggs & little atlantic, a bulky, sheep-y yarn from canada. while the yarn softened up considerably in the wash, i decided i wanted to knit a squishy lining for my mitts. in comes a double strand of drops alpaca in blood red and you've got some really warm mittens.

i am kind of eyeballing the whole thing right now. i might use ann budd's book of patterns to help me out with the thumb gussett. so far, though, it's turning out very nice. will i see any of you at the unwind super bowl sale this sunday? i plan on being there bright and early!

i made something!

yes, there has been knitting going on. i just get too lazy to blog about it most of the time. however, i do have a lovely hat i finished over the holidays. it's brooklyntweed's habitat made from my favorite yarn, mmmalabrigo.

pattern: habitat by brooklyntweed (my ravelry page here)
yarn: almost and entire skein of malabrigo merino worsted in azul bolita
needles: us 6 for ribbing and us 5 for rest of hat
size: i made the longer size so it would cover my ears. fits well on my 21" head.

i highly recommend this pattern. the cables are lovely and everything is clearly written and charted out for you. i am getting better at taking pics of myself in hats. i like to see hats on a person but it's hard taking a picture of yourself in one when you have short arms and no tripod. but i think i am getting better at it. i only had to take about 30 shots for this to work out. :)

has anyone watched the premiere of lost yet? i wasn't feeling well last night so i skipped it but am hoping to catch up this weekend. i have no idea what's going to happen but i think it's going to be good. and yay for tomorrow being friday.

events

i can't believe that the holidays have come and gone. what the heck happened? well what better way to start off the new year than with a party? my fave lys, unwind, had a 5 year anniversary party last thursday. on hand to celebrate were the jess, casey and mary heather of ravelry fame, lorna's laces and namaste. i went with a couple of friends and we had a lot of fun. the store was jam packed with people and it was great to meet some people i've only seen online. i was too shy to say approach the ravelry peeps but i did say hi to the lovely marielle (aka subliminalrabbit) who designed the awesome pattern for the mittens that bella wears in the movie twilight (which i am almost done with). i managed to only walk away with a beautiful namaste laguna bag in peacock.

below are some pics of the event that i took.