Oh, Theres No Place Like Home For the Holidays

Ladies and Gentleman, I Give You...

Kitty!

Otherwise known as Sugar. Since having gotten my new camera all I do is take picture of everything. Which is good, I think. Now I would really like to learn how to adjust the ISO and aperture (and stuff) with real purpose. Until then photo shoots with the my wittle baby will have to do.

I know, I know. Shes precious.

In the meantime, though, I have been knitting a little. Mainly the Brattleboro Hat and what I have coined the Painfully Boring Hat. However, the PBH is for my better half so that in itself gives me joy when knitting it.

Yes, that's about nine or ten inches of stockinette in the round. He likes his hats warm and plain. So we decided on stockinette I'm planning on folding a good four or five inches in and sewing it there, to act as extra warmth without disturbing the plainess he endears so much. The best laid schemes...

This is said Brattleboro Hat, from New England Knits. Or maybe you know it from Interweave Fall 2010? Anywho. I made some mods, as I have a tiny head and I knit it in this rough and tough wool from Maine that I am absolutely in love with. Well, that's about it over here. My first sophomore semester is wrapping up and I have been working quite a bit with the holiday season in full swing. But, boy, do I have plans for winter break.





Letting in the Secret Thoughts

"Every human being on the face of the Earth has a steel plate in his head, but if you lay down now and then and get as still as you can , it will slide open like elevator doors, letting in all the secret thoughts that have been standing around so patiently, pushing a button for a ride to the top."

- Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

For Lack of a Better Title...

Well I did it. I got myself a digital SLR camera. I can't believe it! There was a great black friday sale on the Canon EOS Rebel XS, and I could ignore the urge no longer. Also, ironically, my ol' point and shoot died Thanksgiving morning. It was a big spend and I am still (kind of) in shock, but from what I have seen it do so far I know I will not regret this purchase. It's just matter of patience and time, and learning how to really use those bad boy. So as I was playing around with my new toy I realized I had two FO's I could show you!

So first is the Everyday Cardi by Robyn Chachula from Crochet Today Sept/Oct 2010. I used about twelve balls of Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Navy to complete this cardigan. This was gift for my mom on her birthday. She was apparently thumbing through my magazine and she liked this one so much she wrote "Mommy likes this one!" right on the page. She didn't know, but I got the hint.

She wanted me to get a picture of the "special stitching". My mom crochets a little. Towel toppers, granny squares mainly. So I liked crocheting a sweater for her because its a craft she can relate to. This is a top-down cardigan so it was relatively simple but still interesting. Having never crocheted a sweater before I found it intriguing, though it got very heavy towards the end. I made an odd size. My swatch was too on a J hook, but the size I was crocheting was 36" and she likes her clothes not too clingy. So I crocheted the yoke with the J and then used an I for the rest of the cardigan. I like how it worked out and she loves the fit. Here's a shot of the back and a better shot of the "special stitching".

I like this photo a lot. So that's Mom's cardi. She has already worn it about four times since I gave it to her on Tuesday night. I also attempted to take some better photos the Southbay Shawlette like I promised.

The second one more accurately portrays the color, but the first one was so pretty I couldn't help myself. Now, understand that it was perfectly mild all day and as soon as I went out to take photos it became so windy. Such is life. So there you have it. I've been thinking lately that the content on my blog might be a little boring/redundant so I am going to try to switch it up a little.  Shouldn't be too hard now that I have an amazing camera to inspire posts. I'd also like to learn how to edit HTML a little. Any suggestions? What you like to read about?

The Icing On the Cake

I recently completed my first ever sweater project! The pattern is Iced from Knitty First Fall 2010. I have been trying to conquer my fear of sweaters and just knit one already. I wanted something simple and comfy. This definitely fit the bill. I knit it in Patons Shetland Chunky (rav link) and I knit the 38.5" bust size. So, without further adieu.

I enjoyed knitting my first sweater because it was a little bit challenging, but comfortable enough that I was able to have fun learning the construction. It is very over sized and the large gauge makes it a little airy. Also it's heavy and it droops a little in the front.

That being said, its so comfy and it was great first sweater pattern. I do love the shawl collar and the fact that I made it long enough to wear with leggings. Even though I will probably not be knitting such over sized, large gauge sweaters in the future I will cherish and wear this sweater. Because, hey, for a first sweater it ain't too shabby if I do say so myself.

These gorgeous photos were taken at Lost Acres apple orchard in Connecticut. If you're up that way next fall, stop by. We were late in the season but they were honest and told us they were mostly picked out but for a few apples on the trees that were (previously) not for the public. Also, they have a little kitchen that serves coffee, cider, pie, apple dumplings, apple donuts, and even soup! Andrew took these pics (he's such a trooper) and I think he did a great job!

Now I'm off to finish my second sweater project!

Thanks for stopping by!

Aestlight Gets a Web Redemption, Where the Hell Have I Been, and In Other News...

So, I highly doubt anyone is following this blog anymore (assuming there was anyone following it in the first place?). But if you a truly a blog trooper and held out for me, I thank you. As I am sure is clear, I have been rather busy lately. I'll go backwards according to the title. In other news...I have officially changed my major to psychology and I am ecstatic with the decision. I have been wanting to do so for a while but had no idea a)if I should, b)how the heck to do it, and c)what to change it to. For those of you scratching your head I was previously a social work major. Though I strongly believe in social justice, the field of social work just wasn't right for me. I feel like psychology is my long-lost-major-home. Also, I just got a new job! (Yay for me!) I am now a bookseller at Barnes and Noble, and again am so happy with this change. For those of you scratching your head again, I was previously a waitress in a movie theater. While the money was great the managers were petty, my co-workers were mostly drama queens, and I was honesty starting to loathe the thought of going to work. So I am taking a slight pay cut, and it has been hard to accept that fact, but I will be much happier at Barnes and Noble and I am too young to hold on to a job that makes me miserable because the money is good. THAT BEING SAID. Where the hell have I been? Well, classes from 9-3:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, working Tuesdays, volunteering/doing school work on Thursdays, working Fridays/Saturdays, usually chilling Sundays. The beginning of this semester was so stressful I started losing sleep, losing my appetite, and having anxiety attacks. I feel like I have gotten a better hold of myself- and having a major I love and a job I love is helping- so here I am ladies and gents. Trying my best to be a better blogger.

What else? Have I been knitting and crocheting? You bet! What else (but maybe Andrew- who also has a new job that he loves!) has been keeping me sane? First off I want to give Aestlight a web-redemption. The pics I posted the first time were posted in haste. Because I needed to show you all the finished shawl and it had been done for so long I just snapped some photos and I don't think they did this beautiful shawl any justice. These new pics took some more time and thought and are also of the blocked Aestlight -always block your FO's people! I hope you can see/appreciate the difference. Here she is. Again.

Much, much better. Don't you think? I still love this shawl and so does everyone else who see's it! I'll be putting the new pics on ravelry too!! So what else? Oh yeah! My first sweater!!! But I think it deserves it's own  post. So please bear with me. I am going to try and post it early this coming week!

Also, there is the Southbay Shawlette I crocheted this summer. This is in Malabigo Sock (too!) in the colorway Azules. I bought this yarn wayyyy back in March or April I think? I don't have a photo of it on me yet (so it will probably also be getting a web-redemption) but trust me when I say its beautiful. The color variation is simply gorgeous and its so.soft.

I started it when Andrew's and I were visiting Foxwoods. I'm only 20 so there wasnt much for me to do but crochet, which we all know I don't mind. This also the first time I used a bamboo hook, and I loved it!

Again, no justice. But it will do until the next post. =)



PeaceandLove

My, my...I have been gone awhile

But I will make no apologies, because I have been soaking up these last weeks of summer. Two weeks ago I had a stay-cation with Andrew and last night I just returned (despite my reluctance) from a wonderful stay in Spruce Head, Maine.  It was so beautiful up there that Andrew and I are seriously considering making it our home. More on all that later though. I have finished the South Bay Shawlette and am now working on Klamath and have photos of all (plus a cute little tank top!) to share with you whenever I get a moment. Right now I am on my way out the door to work. I will post about all my adventures as soon as I can. I appreciate your patience!!

But until then here's a little snack to curb your appetite.