Knitting and crochet... and new glasses.

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More about knitting. The Baktus is finally finished. Ends dealt with and I put in a tassel at each end as well.

 

Then I did a hat in Rowan Bamboo Tape. I also finished that one with a tassel. I put myself as less than enthusiastic about it because it's too loose around the band, it's a terminal issue I have with ribbing... my ribbing is always larger than the actual plain stocking stitch when it's supposed to be smaller. I think it's because when I switch from knit to purl that it takes up two stitches of space. Meh.

 

I started the Magical Cosy Warmer and finished the actual knitting; I haven't sewn in the ends because I'm still trying to decide if I'm just going to frog it and maybe do it again with 200+ stitches instead of the 160 of the "medium"; which according to their instructions ought to have fitted me. It fits... tightly... Too snug to actually wear with anything else. No. I don't like tight garments. I'm too pudgy for tight garments.

 

Ugh.

 

I was steaming long with the Sycamore Poncho but I stalled. I stalled because of several factors, or excuses, whichever you want to call it. I got the main body done, but the third part where you start doing the netting isn't adding up or I'm not getting it lined up correctly and at the time, I couldn't figure out why. I think I have to go ahead and block it, whilst still incomplete, and then attempt to count rows and be certain I actually have the 60-odd required rows for each panel and then maybe mark where I should be putting in the dc's (US sc's) for the mesh/netting stitches to go in.

 

I want to do more crochet, found several new items, but the truth is, I'm having guilty thoughts about all the crochet pieces started and are 99.9% incomplete, but for things like sewing together and dealing with loose ends. It's the putting together and dealing with the loose ends that I dislike.

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New glasses... I think I'll have to ask for an alteration with regards to my pc glasses. Otherwise, I now have to sit with my nose practically up against the monitor to get clear vision with them. I'm sitting at arm's length from the monitor and it feels far too close, but that's the only way I get a clear vision with these things. I usually sit about 3' to 4' from my monitor. My knees are banging into the computer desk with the new glasses. :( I've already waited two weeks for the lenses. Ugh.

 

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Projects now in progress:

 

"One skein stole my Noro" it's a one-skein of Noro sock yarn to make a scarf. Wrap-n-drop stitches throughout with a row of 'yo, k2tog' lace every nineteen or so rows. I've got to do ten repeats of the 19 rows and so far, I've got part way through the fourth one. I'd like to have this completed before Autumn.

 

The other is one that's been on my 'get started on it' for a few years is a "Knit mesh top". It's the kind of top I'd wear. Loose, simple and not overly complicated. Suitable for wear over a tank top. Another one I hope to complete before Autumn.

 

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Looking ahead:

Winter's projects, assuming I don't completely stall, will likely be several hats >.> It's a good way to burn up surplus single balls of yarn... or balls of yarn over 100gr. If they're under that, I'll have to consider either a crochet or knit poncho/wrap/thing to use up single yarn balls of similar or complimentary colours.

 

I might give gloves a go as well. We'll see. I have the "Purple Sparrows" for fingerless armwarmers as well as "Wizard City Gauntlets" to muck about with.

 

Crochet... "Wrap round my shoulders" is calling to me. Though I might use the Yeoman cannel yarns instead of the other stuff, I like how the cannel holds up.

 

Shawls and wraps are jumping around at me, ones that I've been sitting on for years. Am trying to get enthusiastic about some of them and the rest that aren't, I might look at donating both pattern and yarn to someone for their benefit.

 

As usual, 'We'll see'.

 

a steampunk - gaslight fantasy costume

As promised, some photos... I need to try things on but when laid together, they're looking very promising.



The original idea for the steampunk/gaslight fantasy costume. Black... lots of black. The skirt is from Chivalry Sports in the USA. The brass button jacket a shopping mall find (I just love it when the mundane shops have costume items!)




I was a bit dissatisfied with a completely black outfit. I started to dig, thankfully, my elder, bless him, poked and prodded my brain with questions and such. I recalled I had a long purple skirt. Here we go, let's break up that black!




Call this my 'mood board' for this project. The plaid background is a scarf I found in the mens' department of H&M. The chains are various kinds I found at B&Q (aka 'Home Depot' if you're in the USA) and are mostly brass with a little copper. The purple behind it all is my Fat Face skirt you see more of above.




A slightly cleaner view of the neckerchief... showing the plaid off a little better.




Possible ensemble: the Fat Face skirt, which is not floor length but it does reach down to the calves. The brass button jacket. The brown leather belt with the brass buckle, the black leather cuffs with pewter hardware and the plaid neckerchief were all from the mens' department of H&M. The black leather gloves are from John Lewis Oxford Street in London - I've had these for almost to fifteen years.




The bottles, one of these, perhaps two, of these darlings will become part of the costume. I'll be filling the bottles with goodies once they're chained. I intend to use copper or brass wire to create a cup and then the chains will attach to the cup and to the stopper and on up to the chain belt that I've been working on.




Crow and raven feathers, freely gifted to me as found whilst travelling. I need to find my quartz crystals and make a decision on which one will go into the hat brooch for the costume.

And no, I haven't photographed the boots or the hat yet, but soon!

Toasty is done

And, it's done, after all the drama over the bleepin' thumb hole, the rest of it was easy. Even the picking up the stitches and doing the thumb was easier than making the wretched hole. Go figure. Will I do a second glove? Not sure. Might try a different yarn. Just need some guidance on sewing in and this little beggar's done.

Knitting a Toasty

I love the vague shorthand that is often used in knitting. For example, in a fingerless mittens pattern called 'Toasty', she uses a 'CO'... now, 'CO' could mean 'cast ON' or 'cast OFF'... I assumed it meant cast OFF. It didn't. If you presume 'cast OFF' you get this:



Let this be a lesson to pattern writers, please include an explanation of your shorthand so those of us who don't have telepathy can know what you mean. Tah.

Other than that, I have been ok with the pattern, admittedly, it's my first glove ever, perhaps that's why I feel so frustrated with the 'cast On' 'cast Off' issue. Crochet is 'chain' to start and 'fasten off' to end. No confusion there.