I never thought I'd write these words...

...but I am on a diet.
Yes, a YARN diet.
Until July. It's going to be especially difficult because I have a 10% coupon for my favorite yarn store, and my two best friends need to buy their college yarn.
I have way too much yarn, and not enough money. I have car insurance payments to match my new car (which at first seemed charming because the car would take me to yarn) and a brand new speeding ticket that I cannot knit my way out of. The downside of not being at college, there are no people to buy my stuff! Oh and then my engine check light has been on for a few weeks now...
My new job is pretty good, but stressful. It is never NOT busy. In my situation, this is swell because I need all the tips I can get.

I am working on the most wonderful malabrigo sweater, look out for it soon.

Strawbeary bear!

I finally finished my "Strawbeary" from the book "Amigurumi: Super Happy Crochet Cute" by Elisabeth A. Doherty. It took me so so long, but it was so so worth it.



I HATED making the soles of the feet. For some odd reason the pattern decided to be really difficult at the very end of the doll. I must have restarted the soles 20 times, no joke.




I don't recommend crocheting fun fur at a small gauge. Hell, I don't even recommend fun fur.

I am very satisfied with how she turned out.
I am very glad I am finished.

Malabrigo cardigan!

I knit this SLIGHTLY based off of Wicked. I used about 3.4 skeins of malabrigo in the blue, and one of each of the green and yellow with some to spare. I used #7's.
I love how it turned out.
Basically, I cast on about as many stitches wicked had and split it down the middle. Instead of a 2x2 cable rib, I opted for a 3x3 rib with improvised bobbles. For the button band, I picked up my slipped stitches with a #8 needle, and casted off with a 13 so it laid flat.


I'm in love with it.






action shot!

If I were to do this over, I wouldn't subtract stitches to account for the button band. It is a tiny bit too small, nothing a bit of blocking won't fix though.

Feel free to email me with questions on how to transform WICKED into a cardigan.

I'm baaack!

I didn't die. I just got really caught up with school work.
Anyways, here are a few things that I've finished since I dropped off of the face of the earth::


A ruffley ascot!
I made it out of ONline Linie 194 Solo, and used 2 skeins. I believe I used 12 stitches? One side is pink, the other is purple. I made it in two pieces and sewed them up.



It's great yarn, but very expensive. I got it 40% off, so it wasn't that bad.

Also, I finished my rusted root. I used 3 skeins of lambs pride cotton flece. it's really light and summery.


Notice how the neckline gets wonky because of the lace pattern? Thats because I am a colossal idiot. I noticed online, everyone had a ribbed neckline. Since the pattern didn't BEGIN with this, i assumed it was some mod that mostly everyone had done.

I thought I was soooo much smarter. "Oooohhhhh.....I'll just cast on and rib for a bit before! What an easier way!!!!"

I got the end, and it told me to pick up stitches for the neckline.

grrr....

Now my neckline is all wonky and everyone who FOLLOWED the directions has a nice scoop neck. It didn't occur to me that sometimes designers have reasons for seemingly silly steps.

Since the picture, I have slip stitched around the neckline and it's a tad bit better, but still wonky. Oh well...

At least this microspun crochet baby hat for my little BROTHER came out cute!



Within the next month, look for:
Strawbeary from Amigurumi! by Beth Dougherty
Daisy baby sweater from knitty
A malabrigo cardigan
...and parts of a knit garden I am helping a friend with.