Thursday, September 29, 2011

War of WIPs Call to Arms #11



Want to join the war?? Check out the 2011 War of WIPs page.

In addition to finishing WIPs, there will be optional side quests to organize your knitting life! Check out the War of WIPs page for more information!



I don't have any more finishes this week. I've been working on things not on the list ... gasp! I did complete a Tiny Baby Bunny, which was too cute and funny!

Next Battles on the Horizon:

Bat Shawl Vanquished 8/27/11
Celeano Shawl 9/30/11
Niantic Rose Shawl
Ribband
Coriolis Socks Vanquished 9/8/11
Nugatory Socks
February Lady Sweater
Derek's Scarf
Reversible Cable Scarf
Saroyan
Icarus Shawl
Stenciling storage boxes
Hummingbird Cross Stitch


**Next Quest**
September 24 - October 9
Pair Knitting Queue with Yarn Stash

This one is quite a task! I haven't even attempted anything yet. No time on the weekends right now to play with stash.



Want to join the war?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Funny F'ing Bunny

This has got to be the funniest thing I have ever knit!


I showed this pattern to a co-worker, my cube-mate, and knitter, and she came in with one the next day.


So, I was determined to come in with one the next day to that.


I wonder if this will become a challenge to see which one can come up with more bunnies!


Pattern: Tiny Baby Bunnies by Anna Hrachovec

September TUSAL


Here's my September 27th TUSAL update. A few more ends in there from tiny bunny!

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Weekend Update 9-25-11

Don't forget!! Revelations of a Delusional Knitter Hand Dyed Yarn Sale!! Enter Coupon Code: FALLFORME for 30% off your purchase until October 1st, 2011!

I just added three new colorways that are Autumn/Halloween colors!!

And for the winners of the give-a-ways last week:

Typstatting has won the Summer edition of Interweave Knits!

Corawitherspoon has won the Celestial Cross Stitch!

Please contact me delusionalknitter AT gmail DOT com to arrange mailing.

Fishy got new digs today ... clean tank and a new house. Do you know what this is? Do you know because you have children ... or are you a big child like me?!?!



The frog pond is doing well this year. Mr. Gargoyle still doesn't have a name ... but he's doing well over there. I think he enjoyed the impatients I planted by him this summer.



Friday I was off work to go to the DMV and bank to change my name to my married name and do some other stuff. When I got home from errands there was water coming in the wall in the dining room while it was raining hard. The eaves of the roof stop abruptly in the middle of the house at the chimney for the wood stove, both of the of the eaves had no end caps ... just open triangles at the edges ... pretty sure if there's a gaping hole ... that's where the water is coming in (we figured this out later). We've been here almost three years ... was probably happening before, but nobody was home to see it.

So at the time I ran downstairs to get something to sop up the water ... and found water in the basement, I heard dripping ... tracked it down and found water pouring in by the gas main pipe. We had water before in the basement, but it wasn't active when we got home from work, so never found the source. Today we flashed the roof/chimney and plugged up the hole around the pipe with concrete sealer. I am happy that I was home to find the problems. Pretty sure that'll fix the issues ... we'll see next time it rains.

I also went to a local bead shop on Friday, which was a really cool shop. I found this awesome bead mat. Its made of some sort of very soft felt, feels like fleece lining, you pour beads on and they stay put!


And for your feline viewing pleasure.


"Why would you put this in the recycle bin?? I have a use for it!!"

Friday, September 23, 2011

FO: Baby Surprise Jacket V



Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: TLC Baby Sparkles
Needles: US 5
Cast On: August 28, 2011
Finished: 9/21/11

Thursday, September 22, 2011

War of WIPs Call to Arms #10



Want to join the war?? Check out the 2011 War of WIPs page.

In addition to finishing WIPs, there will be optional side quests to organize your knitting life! Check out the War of WIPs page for more information!



The Baby Surprise Jacket is done! It wasn't on the WIP list, but a coworker asked for one for a shower this weekend and its finished on time!! I'm off work Friday, so it had to be done by tomorrow.



I finished one Nugatory sock!! I tried to kitchener it, but I haven't done that in a long time and it was a mess ... so I'll wait until another day to try again.


Next Battles on the Horizon:

Bat Shawl Vanquished 8/27/11
Celeano Shawl 9/30/11
Niantic Rose Shawl
Ribband
Coriolis Socks Vanquished 9/8/11
Nugatory Socks
February Lady Sweater
Derek's Scarf
Reversible Cable Scarf
Saroyan
Icarus Shawl
Stenciling storage boxes
Hummingbird Cross Stitch

Did you organize your queue? I have my queue down to a manageable 54 patterns. I will be working on whittling it down more and adding information on yarn I have in my stash.

**Next Quest**
September 24 - October 9
Pair Knitting Queue with Yarn Stash




Join the War here:

Monday, September 19, 2011

A Perfect Evening



A Neil Gaiman book on audio, narrated by Neil Gaiman (M is for Magic).

A cool pattern (Summer Wind).

A super squishy yarn (Malabrigo Sock).

An awesome set of needles (ChiaoGoo Circulars).

A Cuppa Mint Tea .....


A perfect evening.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Weekend Update 9-18-11

Cross Stitch Give-A-Way

Do you like this? I did ... so much that I bought it twice. I have two in my stash. If you want it, please leave a comment by 9/25/11 - specifically mentioning that you want this cross stitch kit (comes with chart, floss and fabric).



Knitting Give-A-Way

Do you have the Summer edition of Interweave Knits? I've got two ... want one? Leave a comment by 9/25/11 specifically mentioning you want the magazine.

Revelations of a Delusional Knitter Hand Dyed Yarn Sale!! Enter Coupon Code: FALLFORME for 30% off your purchase until October 1st, 2011!




I started making up kits for the October Knitters' Guild workshop I am doing ... only 35 more to go ...


Startitis won out in the battle and I started Summer Wind by Irish Girlie Knits. I wanted something to knit while waiting in line, etc. and my sock needles are currently on socks with cables ... I've had this skein of Malabrigo sock in the Turner colorway that I just HAD to have and I think its been in my stash for at least a year.


I finished the Baby Surprise Jacket! Just have to seam it up and sew buttons on. The yarn is quite cute, TLC Baby Sparkles, hard to photograph though.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Startitis

Startitis - A knitter's insatiable urge to start a new project.

I've had it bad lately. Especially since I've been cleaning up my queue and moving things to my favorites list, using only my queue for things I know I will knit in the very near future.

I went to to my local Social Security office the other day to change my name to my married name. I had to wait over half an hour in line ... I could have been knitting, did I bring anything ... no.

So I thought I would start some plain vanilla socks for just this occasion (because I have to go to other places to change my name, like the Registry of Motor Vehicles).

So I took this yarn I got recently and split it into two balls to knit two socks at the same time on separate needles.


I start by winding the ball.


Then I use the scale to determine when I'm at the half way point.


Then I split it.


Only to find out the needles I need are already occupied by another pair of socks ...

Oh Startitis how you plague me so!!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

War of WIPs Call to Arms #9



Want to join the war?? Check out the 2011 War of WIPs page.

In addition to finishing WIPs, there will be optional side quests to organize your knitting life! Check out the War of WIPs page for more information!



The Coriolis socks were completed last week!!!


I've been working on the Celeano Shawl, I have 12 more rows as of this picture taken Monday. The last 7 rows, every other row, has a lot of beads!




I have also been working on the Baby Surprise Jacket, which is not on this list, but needs to be done before the 25th so someone can give it as a shower gift.



Next Battles on the Horizon:

Bat Shawl Vanquished 8/27/11
Celeano Shawl 9/30/11
Niantic Rose Shawl 9/30/11
Ribband
Coriolis Socks Vanquished 9/8/11
Nugatory Socks
February Lady Sweater
Derek's Scarf
Reversible Cable Scarf
Saroyan
Icarus Shawl
Stenciling storage boxes
Hummingbird Cross Stitch

**Optional Side Quest**

September 3-17
Organize your Knitting Pattern Queue

What is your knitting pattern queue? Do you use Ravelry? Do you have a notebook? Do you have patterns downloaded and saved on your computer?

Here's your chance to organize these listings and create a plan of attack for the future. Do you have yarn in your stash for some of the projects, do you want to attack those first? Are these patterns organized by type - socks, sweaters, scarves, etc?

My queue on Ravelry was originally a place where I put anything that caught my fancy. What I would like it to be is something where I put things I will actually knit in the near future or have yarn on hand for. So I have been going through and favorite those things that I want to keep tabs on, but maybe will never knit or things I may knit, but not anytime soon.




Join the war here:

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Sunday Sunday

First Congrats to Heather for winning the Optional Side Quest in the War of WIPs - Organize Your Needle Stash! I used random.org to generate a random number. She has won a giftable pattern up to $6 on Ravelry.

Wednesday night was the first Knitter's Guild meeting of the new year (for us it starts in September). Someone brought a whole lotta yarn to de-stash. I got away with these and some wounds ... tried to grab something someone else already claimed, but it was on the table in front of her, not in her hand so I didn't know, LOL!


3 skeins of Rowan Calmer ... can you tell which one the cats found in the bag in the hallway before I realized I left it out there?!?! 4 skeins of Jo Sharp Infusion Kid Mohair.


I received my Trindle in the mail. I thought it was taking a while, but when I looked up the shop's policies, it was indeed not. So I got it in more than the allotted time they quote. It is awesome. I haven't tried it out yet, but it is beautiful.

The local yarn store stayed open late for us after the Knitters' Guild meeting, the owner is a member of the guild and we get 10% off all purchases. Our group project for this year is the Beaded Fall Leaves Neck Warmer ... which I can't find online otherwise I'd link to it. So I got yarn appropriate for it once I saw the pattern, the yarn that I brought I don't think would have went well with the pattern. Oh did I say no more yarn this year??? Well this Regia Blitz was too much for me. Its self striping, but check it out!!!


While I was home sick Friday with a cold, I wanted to watch an animated film. That is my all time favorite genre. I looked up On Demand movies and saw Dragon Hunters - Amazing animation and a surreal landscape of floating mideval cities and islands in the sky sparks this spunky tale of a young girl and the pair of slacker dragon-hunters who join her on an action packed quest. It totally fit the bill.


What I was amazed at was the main character and ultimate hero - Lian-Chu is a sword wielding, muscle-bound warrior who actually deals out the dragon slaying. He is kindhearted and honorable. He is also an avid knitter. He knits!!!! And his weapon was destroyed in the battle with the World Gobbler ... so he used his knitting needles to slay it, LOL!!! OMG, best movie ever!!!

Friday, September 9, 2011

FO: Coriolis Socks


Coriolis Socks by Cat Bordhi
Yarn Dyed by Me
Started: June 2011
Finished: 9/8/11

Love this pattern. The gusset increases are across the top of the instep and create a spiraling stitch band. They fit very comfortably.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Whew .... Relief!



I have the project all set for next month's Knitters' Guild meeting! I designed some knit beaded earrings. I'm going to set up kits for each member.

I've ordered the beads, I think I have enough yarn on hand, if not that's easy. I have to get findings, also easy. Then make up the kits.

The pattern is written, my samples are blocking. I'm so excited!

I'd like to sell the pattern on Ravelry. I would like some test knitters, if you're interested, please let me know.

War of WIPs Call to Arms #8



Want to join the war?? Check out the 2011 War of WIPs page.

In addition to finishing WIPs, there will be optional side quests to organize your knitting life! Check out the War of WIPs page for more information!



No finishes for this week, but I have been plugging away at my WIPs. No photos this week because the shawls just look like messy yarn blobs at the moment. I am seriously thinking I may have a finish for next week's post.

I've been working on the Celeano Shawl, I have 19 more rows ... and lots of beads and that one will be done.

I've been working on the Coriolis socks ... second sock is almost to the heel.

I have also been working on the Baby Surprise Jacket, which is not on this list, but needs to be done before the 25th so someone can give it as a shower gift.


Next Battles on the Horizon:

Celeano Shawl 9/30/11
Niantic Rose Shawl 9/30/11
Ribband 9/30/11
Coriolis Socks
Nugatory Socks
February Lady Sweater
Derek's Scarf
Reversible Cable Scarf
Saroyan
Icarus Shawl
Stenciling storage boxes
Hummingbird Cross Stitch

**Optional Side Quest**

September 3-17
Organize your Knitting Pattern Queue

What is your knitting pattern queue? Do you use Ravelry? Do you have a notebook? Do you have patterns downloaded and saved on your computer?

Here's your chance to organize these listings and create a plan of attack for the future. Do you have yarn in your stash for some of the projects, do you want to attack those first? Are these patterns organized by type - socks, sweaters, scarves, etc?




Join the war here:

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

New Beginnings ...

The Fall always feels like the start to a new year to me. I'm energized, productive and rearing to go. There are several things I would like to change in my life at this time:

1) I'm always late ... and being late means typically that I'm frazzled because I know I am late and I forget things, or don't do things I wanted to because I didn't have time, etc. I like to get up in the morning and have my coffee and browse the web ... not rush like a lunatic around the house freakin out, LOL!

2) I think fixing #1 would fix a lot of other things. Like paying bills (not just knowing that a bill is due soon ... but knowing where the bill is), making it to the bank, grocery shopping consistently and re-stocking before out of things (like we shop because we're out of toilet paper ... not because we know we will be soon).

3) We cleaned the house this weekend. I would love to be at a point where things were on auto-pilot and I could finally get to the cobwebs in the corners because everything else was already done ... yeah I know that's asking a lot. How about no dishes in the sink when I go to bed and sorting mail each day so it doesn't pile up and be all over the place (see #2).

I'm pretty sure that pets think we get new furniture solely for them!


"Why did they put this TV on my new sleeping spot?!?!"


Here's a glimpse of the yarn I dyed up this weekend (5 different skeins).


Tomorrow the Knitters' Guild starts up again. Have to come prepared with 200 yds of sport weight yarn if we want to start the group project at the meeting. Luckily I found something in my stash ... still have to wind it before I go to bed or tomorrow morning ... again, see #1 ...

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Its NOT bigger on the inside ...

I started knitting the Tardis socks. The pattern calls for 72 stitches ... usually I do 64 and get 8.5-9 stitches per inch and these fit well. My feet are long, but very thin ... I'm thin, so my ankle and foot circumference are around 7.5". I thought knitting 72 stitches on size 0 (2.0mm) needles would do ... but even with only two rounds done, this looks HUGE for me. With a crude measurement and guesstimate I think its going to come out at 8" ...

What to do?!?! I think I am going to try and design my own Tardis socks ...


It was going quite well ... I know I knit tight, so by the time I got to this point I thought I should try it on and make sure I was stranding loose enough for it to fit over my heel ... nope. Close, but not quite. This is indeed, NOT bigger on the inside.


I should have known this pattern was going to be a problem. I don't know if the skein was like this or I did it. When I cut the ties, I thought I did an oopsie, where I cut the wrong strand ... but maybe it was the ends ... then I found the ends.


What the arrows are pointing to are not the ends, I had to tuck the extra up into the swift in order to wind off the yarn. I had a big ball and an itsy bitsy ball when all was done.

The sock is in time out for the meantime. I think it'll end up working out fine if I strand, REALLY loosely. But right now I have deadline knitting and should stop fooling around with these socks.

I went to JoAnn's on the way home Friday night for some ribbon for my friend's wedding invitations ... that I really need to finish this weekend. I decided to browse while I was there ... my only defense is that I have a head cold and I was delirious ... I know, I know I said no more yarn, but it was buy one get one half ... hey, at least I only got one pair of sock skeins!


Then I saw this cross stitch, too cool to pass up. But $16.99?? Then I saw the sticker "Contains 2 Designs! See Reverse" Well $16.99 isn't too much for TWO patterns. Then I saw the posting, 10% off green stickered cross stitch. Whoo hoo. yeah that didn't amount to much though, LOL!



This store was designed really well. The magazines are all by the register queue. But the isle is large enough that you are not in the way of people in line if you want to just browse the magazines. I picked up the Fall Interweave Knits and the Halloween special Just Cross Stitch while waiting in line. I am a sucker for anything Halloween, its my favorite holiday. I am also a sucker for ornament type cross stitch patterns and this magazine was chock full of both!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

War of WIPs Call to Arms #7



Want to join the war?? Check out the 2011 War of WIPs page.

In addition to finishing WIPs, there will be optional side quests to organize your knitting life! Check out the War of WIPs page for more information!




No finishes for this week.


Next Battles on the Horizon:

Celeano Shawl 9/30/11
Niantic Rose Shawl 9/30/11
Ribband 9/30/11
Coriolis Socks
Nugatory Socks
February Lady Sweater
Derek's Scarf
Reversible Cable Scarf
Saroyan
Icarus Shawl
Stenciling storage boxes
Hummingbird Cross Stitch



***Optional Side Quest August 14-28***
Organize your Knitting Needle Stash

Did you finish the optional side quest? If you entered your inventory into Ravelry, comment with your Ravelry username. If you did it somewhere else, be sure to include some evidence of it in your weekly post to be entered into the drawing for a prize (photo, list, screenshot of list, etc.).



Next Quest
September 3-17
Organize your Knitting Pattern Queue



If you are joining the quest to defeat the WIPs, please join the Call to Arms here: