the Akamai Knitter

Remember this yarn?

I spun it from this beautiful combed top, dyed from by the talented Margot of Forest Fiber Works.

photo courtesy of Forest Fiber Works

Then the fabulous Katie of Two Hills Designs took the yarn and created this.

photo coutersy of Two Hills Designs

So there you have it. A collaboration of three fiber artists who were pretty much strangers! What a wonderful way to come together.

The cats were so impressed they disappeared on me. o.O

Happy Wednesday folks. :)

I finished the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret (Ravelry) last night and I am ecstatic.

Stats:

Pattern:  Star Crossed Slouchy Beret

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted – Cypress

Needles: size 10US and 11US

Started: February 12, 2010

Finished: February 16, 2010

This project just annoyed me to no end. It wasn’t the pattern, which was well written and easy to follow. It wasn’t the yarn, which was simply divine.

It was the needles.  I used 16″ Addi Turbo Circulars for the most part and there just wasn’t much to grab on to. My hands ached trying to hold on to what there was of it.

Evil needles. Very evil.

Now that the hat is done, I’m now finished with the Ravelympics. I could attempt to finish the Lyra (Ravelry) for the WIP Event by the 28th, but I really doubt I have the time for that. I have two beading classes within that time frame and I’m sure that’s going to sway my focus away from the knitting.

Let’s face it. I have the attention span of a hamster.

So I think I’m just going to do my own thing and be glad I was able to participate, even if it was for just a short amount of time.

Look who woke up!

Happy Wednesday, people!

I was so out of whack yesterday I completely forgot it was Valentine’s day, so a belated Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you.  It was also Chinese New Year’s so a belated Happy New Year as well!

I spent the day watching The Wire – Season 5*, knitting, and making some jewelry.  Some of it I can share with you, the rest will have to wait as they’re gifts to certain persons who read this blog.** *

Actually, I can only share one piece with you.  It’s a charm bracelet.

I admit to having a bit of  a skull/skeleton fetish, so I couldn’t resist those Day of the Dead charms when I saw them.  It’s just too bad they’re too big for stitch markers!

The stones I used are Black Jade, Blue Goldstone, and Swavorski Pearls. At least I think those are Swarovski Pearls. They were just floating around in my stash with no label.

Don’t you hate that? Mystery beads and mystery yarn really get my goat.

As for the knitting, I’ve made some progress on the beret.

I think I’m achieving slouchy. I hope I am at least.

o.O

Sammy is meditating on the state of slouchy.

Happy Monday, everyone! Hopefully the majority of you are enjoying a day off. :)

*This is my second go around with The Wire. I just can’t get enough of West Baltimore. At least from a distance.

* Some of my friends and I decided to exchange gifts on Chinese New Year’s instead of Christmas so we’d be less stressed over the holidays and we figured we’d be able to get them out on time by then. The less stress worked. The being on time thing? Not so much.

I woke up at 6:30am and I couldn’t get back to sleep. I didn’t even get anything productive done. Don’t you hate that?

On Friday I was woefully unproductive, so here’s me trying to catch up.

Stats:

Deep Blue

100% Superwash Merino
250 yards
4.05 oz – approx. 12WPI

Enchanted Knoll Farm “Blue Octopus”

I was very fortunate to get my hands on this fiber. Enchanted Knoll sells out fast and boy did I love spinning this up. I love how slick superwash fibers are and I think superwash has an added softness to it.

But that might just be me.

The colors in this skein are my utter favorites. If I didn’t have piles and bins of yarn everywhere I’d probably be keeping this. But really, I see this becoming a hat and what use do I have for a hat?

Stats:

Violets In The Forest

100% Rambouillet
250 yards
4.2 oz – 12WPI

Hungry For Handspun – “Moss Agate”

I bought this fiber because it was simply beautiful and it stretched me out of my comfort zone. These are so NOT my colors just like the Zuni aren’t my colors. I had a blast spinning it up. Rambouillet is one of my favorite fibers. I’m still trying to get the hang of the low-twist single though.

Finally, I thought I’d mention that I’ve joined the Ravelympics. Due to other commitments, I decided to just knit up something small.

Since I still had some leftover yarn, I chose a hat to match the Fetchings I made my friend Lisa. She chose the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret pattern. (Ravelry link.)

I duly cast on at the appointed time. Then I ripped. Then I cast on.  Etc, etc, ad nauseum.  I finally got a rhythm going and got this far:

Until I realized that this was not going to be a slouchy beret. So I ripped it all out and I’m now using bigger needles and I’ve gotten a little bit past the ribbing.

This is why I chose a small project.

Kitty!

Happy Sunday, folks! I hope you all have tomorrow off. :)

I’m definitely in the midst of a heavy-breathing love affair with cabled hats. I’ve been swept off my feet in a whirlwind of luscious yarn and needles. The product of this lovefest? Well, here’s two of my proud love children. ;-)

Pattern: (Left) Utopia Cable Hat

Yarn: Galway Colornep, Color No. 559

Needles: Size 8US/5.0mm

Started: February 16, 2008

Finished: February 17, 2008

This baby was really fun to knit! The yarn is soft and lofty. The little bursts of color gives the cables a varied texture. The scattered rainbow neps has just enough oomph to keep it from being boring, while the grey helps keep it a classic.

Pattern: Caramel Cable Hat

Yarn: Galway Highland Heather, Color No. 750

Needles: Size 6US/4.0mm

Started: February 16, 2008

Finished: February 19, 2008

This second one was a little slower to knit up then the other since I used a size 6 needles versus a size 8 needle. I still had a great time with it.

I did run into a slight snag with the size. The pattern calls for 4 repeats of the lower cable, but that ran a little too big to my eyes. So I just omitted one pattern repeat. Other then that, this was an easy breezy knit.

For those of you who are wondering, I’m using a cable needle. It’s just my preferred method and I clip along at a steadier pace with one then without one. (Actually, I use a short DPN rather then a cable needle because I can never remember to buy cable needles. Then when I do, I tend to lose them.)

In the midst of this mad fling with hats and needles, I might have neglected to give Quincy his proper due. I think he looks a little miffed. I hope he doesn’t eat me in my sleep. o.o