Ho! An FO!

I finished my Acorn Stash socks today! It's going to be an industrious vacation. I've already helped Dan make a bookshelf, put up about a dozen photos on the walls, and have strongly contemplated cooking.

Anyway, I'm so happy with how these came out. I'm not happy with the fact that I didn't check for

errata when I was making the first pair, but it all turned out ok in the end!

I added a little detail to the second sock - I finished off the acorn on the toe. I love it! I'm too lazy to go back and do it on the first one, though.

The Goldilocks Ear

This week has been all about ears. Puppycat ears, that is. I've been making a few and trying to get one just right. I eventually went and drew ones out of paper to save myself time and yarn. But you don't want to know about that.

What you want to know is when it'll be done, right? Well, he's going to be done soon! I just have a little sewing to do.

I'm really glad that I took this picture, because I thought his eyebrows were fine where I pinned them. But once I looked at the photo I realized they were far apart. That's a trick to add to the pockets.

And a little bit of notes to transcribe... really, the notes are not very pretty.

Yes, I actually wrote "Screw you future self." I love mean messages from 9 months ago in my notes.

Star Wars: Force Awakens Knit Gloves in the Final Scene!

Ok, so I'm not going to spoil the new movie.

But I need to know - did anyone else see the awesome gloves that Rey was wearing in the final scene!? I want them. I want to make them.

They were in maybe 4 shots, but I managed to get a rough sketch.



Yeah, not very useful, I know.

Luckily Dan doesn't mind going to see it again because I need to see them again to get a good idea of what I'm going to make :)

Just like Puppycat (who is almost done btw) I'm obsessed with making these now.

If anyone can find me a picture, I'd really appreciate it.

Danmas Eve

It's a wonderful Saturday. Dan's birthday is tomorrow and I'm making him a cake later. Everything is going awesome.

The cats are napping...

Rosie the Roomba is running... (without causing cat freakout! Miracle day.)

And I've finished Dan's Socks! Just in time for his birthday :)

I'm really happy with this pattern. I seriously will never get tired of knitting these 3x3 stockinette socks. I used to HATE colorways like this one, but not anymore! Long live waltz socks.

Anyway, hope you have a nice quiet weekend!

Vancouver Trip Photos

I went to Vancouver! There was a training for work, and Dan has an extra week of vacation than me, so he tagged along. It was really great having him, since work trips on your own without any coworkers can get really lonely. It also gave me an excuse to go out and do touristy stuff (it can be awkward doing that stuff on your own - I did it this summer in Frankfurt and New Orleans when I went, so I know I CAN do it, it's just depressing!)

Obviously there were a lot of obnoxious couple selfies - but I figured for my blog, it'd be better to share the good photos that I took! So, here they are:

Pulled pork pancakes at the Red Wagon Cafe. I strongly believe everyone should make a pilgrimage to experience these. I ate them two breakfasts in a row.

Lights in Gastown. We spent a lot of nights walking around downtown Vancouver, since my training was 8-5.

Looking up a tree in Capilano Forest. We went to the Vancouver Art Gallery a few days later and I saw a painting that looked just like this. I guess great minds think alike!

Sun shining through the trees in the Capilano Rainforest. Yes, we spent two hours (and paid a ton of money) walking through a rainforest in Canada! I thought it was worth it, but of course I spitefully read every sign did every activity, and took a bazillion photos to get my money's worth :)

The view walking across the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

A flower at the Bloedel Conservatory. I'm actually really proud that I managed to take this on my phone. (My camera lens had fogged up.)

Weird cabbage plants at Bloedel Conservatory. They actually weren't even planted, they were sitting in a bucket by the door. It was actually pretty ugly looking, but I used artful cropping.

This last one might be my favorite picture of the week. We were looking at all the finches eating from bird feeders, standing back so that the drove of toddlers can get a closer look, when a guide comes up and asks "Have you seen the nests?" We say no, and he quietly shows us this nest up in the branches! The two finches in it were looking out, and we watched them watch us for a while. After a minute, the Dad (on the left) flew off and you could see chicks peeking out! 

Anyway, that was my week. I brought 1 knitting project (Dan's striped socks) and made good progress! But nothing really worth photographing. Sorry!

Checking In

I'm not knitting very much, mostly because of the hand - I've got to take it slow. Before, most of my "spare strength" that I had went to knitting, but now it's all going to strength training. Which, by the way, sounds way awesome-er than it actually is.

But I've been making little bits of progress! I'm also stuck, though, which is tough.

First road block: Puppycat.

He looks like a puppycat! Hooray! But... I lost my notes for him. Though I could finish him free-style, I was really excited to have the notes to put up as a pattern. It's been a long time since I've published any patterns. Really long. So losing the notes has been a bit demoralizing. So, he's in time out until I find them.

Second road block is on my pretty little blanket. Can you see it?

How about now?

Okay, I'm sure it's actually really hard to see... but I can't un-see it! This row is supposed to be red, but it's orange. ORANGE. And I had to find it after I finished the entire row. No, I couldn't figure it out after the first square. Or the third. I had to realize it after laying out the pieces to bask in my pride.

So, I have to tear out that entire row and re-make it with the right color. I just haven't gotten enough guts together to do it. 

My other projects are going along slowly but surely. I've got a baby sweater that's almost done (!) (Yes, I might finish a project this year!) which I don't have pictures of. I've also got two socks going.  The first is a pair of socks for me, designed by the amazing Anne Hanson:

The second pair is... you guessed it... more waltz socks! I started these in Rochester for Dan. He picked out the yarn, but I'm a little worried that they won't make very good socks. But I don't really care, because the colors are great.

I'm not dead! I swear!

I've just had another case of the wrist aches. So I've been quiet. I am still working, just so slowly because I can only knit a little bit once in a while.

The good news is, I'm in a program through my new job to strengthen my wrist muscles so that this stuff doesn't happen as often! Maybe one day I can go back to knitting like a maniac. I might even be able to do embroidery again (a lot of my pain is when I pinch, so I can't really hold the needle.)

Anyway, that's all for me. Hope everyone's summer is going great!

WEBS Tent Sale!

My friends and I went to the WEBS Tent Sale today, and I'm so glad that I did! They had so much yarn, and it was SO affordable! I only spent $120. That may be a new record for a yarn event!

Here's my total haul:

When we got there, I thought "Phew, I thought there would be more people." But when I got under the tent, it was obvious that everyone was crowded in there!

It was no where near pandemonium, though. the other shoppers were polite, and the place was really well staffed with lots of helpful people. We waiting in line for a loooonnnng time with our treasures, but it was worth it. We got there at around 11, and there were already colors and brands that were sold out! Crazy!

After, we celebrated with tacos from the Bistro Bus food truck that was parked there. They were so good and really filling. I only ate one, and took the other one home to Dan, who also had positive reviews.

That's all the news from my end. Just knitting along on my Hue Shift Afghan (Do you remember that thing!? It's going to be turning 2 soon.) and Puppycat.

P.S. - The post is not sponsored by WEBS.  I just really really love them!

Star Crossed Slouchy Beanie

I needed some gratification, so I knit this hat up this weekend with some random Plymouth Encore yarn that I had in my stash from who knows what. (It was a half finished skein! So I know I used it for something!) I knit it up using size 10 needles, because slouchy hats tend to slowly slouch off my head. I really like it! It's great for the chilly spring weather that we're having, and I think the color looks really good on me.

I finished it in the car on the way to a night out, and thought I could use it to cover up my hair. So I wore it, and people had trouble recognizing me! I recently got new glasses for work, and was wearing them because my non-safety glasses were at home, so I did look very different. Someone called it "a hipster disguise."  Here's photo evidence:

Dan and I are both constantly in a "hipster disguise." Here's some broccolini that I picked up from the organic market and we grilled (because it's never too early in the summer to convince the man in your life to cook dinner for you.)

Here's Dan adjusting the grill while holding a craft beer.

Hipster disguises, guys.

Finally, something to show for my efforts!

Attention feels like it's been spread really thin lately. Reading, weight loss, exercising... there hasn't been much room for knitting. But really, I think it's because I've been knitting less due to stress, sickness, etc. Yesterday I took the whole day off to recover from a pretty miserable kidney infection (it was also my last day on antibiotics, but I still feel kind of crummy) and I spent yesterday and today taking it easy - knitting, reading, and going for walks.

Finally, I have something to show for my effort! A Dan's blueberry waltz socks are done!

I was really proud... until he tried them on. The heel is just way, way, way too tight. I don't know what to do here - on the last socks I made him, the heel fit well! He says he doesn't mind it, but I mind it! For all the time and effort, they should fit like a glove.

Anyway, he told me not to worry, which felt patronizing, but I'm going to trust him. When I'm re-making the heel in a year's time because they wore out, I'll point to this post as an I told you so!

Other than the socks, I'm making progress on my puppycat and my little afghan for my hope chest. Slowly but surely. I haven't really been in a mental state to read blogs though... I've just gotten gloomy from it, so I hope ya'll will forgive me. Have less awesome lives, darn it! :P

Bonus photo of my landlord's adorable cat, Curtis:

And I'm Off! On a new pair of socks!

I started these almost as soon as I'd finished the Reeses Pieces socks.  They are socks for Dan, made out of Zauberball Crazy that I had in my stash.  I am knitting them one row at a time, like my Watermelon Waltz socks, and it's been fun going! I really like the way the yarn works up.  This may be my go-to "design" for zauberball crazy, haha! And it's so simple and lovely.  I'm calling these "Blueberry Waltz" socks, because the blues, purples, and greens remind me of blueberries. Here's a photo, but the colors aren't really true to life (darn daylight light that I have isn't always the best)

The first time we went to Maine (Before he even asked me to "go steady" we went on vacation together with his family in Maine! Can you believe him?!) his little cousin dressed up as a blueberry patch for a costume contest on the island.  I remember that she looked so adorable, with blueberry branches and blue and purple balloons.

Anyway, that's the memory of the week.  And here's my project of the week.  My knitting is set to speed up, since I'm mostly recovered from my wrist injury last summer.  Maybe soon I'll be able to look at other knitting blogs again without feeling sorry for myself!

Reeses Pieces Socks Finished!

I finished them over the weekend, and I have to say I love the yarn.  They knit up so well, and the stripes are STRIPEY and fun. I couldn't resist just using plain stockinette.  The fabric is so lovely as is, I didn't want to muddle it with a pattern (but that's how I feel about most self-striping yarn!)

I knit them two at a time, and just kept knitting until I felt my calves were too big.  I could have increased the number of stitches and kept going, but I just didn't want to. I felt like it was the right length.

One thing I love about this yarn is that the striping pattern isn't mirrored - so the socks don't quite match. One sock was knit from one end, the other from the other, so the stripes don't line up and they have a mismatched look!

The pair was 70 grams, which means I am just short of making a third sock! Though that might be for the best, since 3 socks of the same would confuse me down the line. 

If you're interested, I bought the yarn from the Revelations of a Delusional Knitter.  Her blog is here, and her shop is here!

Change of Address

My ymail account has been hacked.  AGAIN! So, I'm just going to stop using it.  If you need to contact me, send me an email at alyoopsknitting AT gmail DOT com.

Boo yahoo! :(

I have Centerpiece photos!

My Seattle trip was amazing.  I love Seattle, the energy and vibe is really great.  The wedding was perfect, and we're all happy (except, of course, that I'm not still in Seattle :( )

I forgot to take photos of the centerpieces with my camera, but Alysia was kind enough to send me these photos that were taken by their photographer, Jeremiah Sjoberg.  And they are absolutely amazing. I'm wondering if I can save up money to have all my FOs photographed by him! :P

These may be the most epic photographs of wedding centerpieces that ever was.  Really.  I'm totally blown away by these!

So, a great FO finished! And please check out Jeremiah's website if you have any photography needs!

Blizzard and Inspiration

The snow is coming down today across New England, and Dan and I are at home because our workplaces are closed! Which is good... because there is no way I'm driving in this weather.

So, what to do? Watch cartoons, duh! I discovered Bee and Puppycat through a friend, and I am obsessed.

If you haven't seen it and have ten minutes, you need to watch it NOW.

Ok, now you're back.  So, I'm going to make a puppycat.

Thankfully I got a gift certificate to WEBS for Christmas from some cool people, so I ordered the yarn today! It should be in next week. 

I'm really excited.  I haven't had a strong inspiration like this to knit for a long time. Hopefully it doesn't fizzle out! :(