Happy Weekend!

Yesterday was Cinco de Mayo (which, I feel was totally eclipsed by Star Wars day preceding it, May the Fourth be with you) and I was serving at O'Charley's, like I do. It was insanely busy and we were down a server, so, while I walked out with lots of cash, I was exhausted when I got home and am likewise exhausted this morning as I sit in front of my computer and think about how I need to write these meeting minutes. Not gonna happen.

The point of this story is that it has been a really long week, but now it's Friday and I get to leave a little more than an hour early because I had a late conference call on Tuesday. I'm forgoing the extra $18 in overtime, because, my friends, I have a plan. A very good, Friday night plan.

Patrick's working all day today. I feel a little bad because he's not used to it, and a 12-13 hour day is really rough. I did it yesterday. And roughly 3-4 times a week. The result of his working, and my day off, is that I get to do anything I want tonight. Hence the birth of the plan. As soon as I scoot out of here at 3:45, I'm going to pick up a ridiculous amount of chinese take out (remember all that money I made last night?!), maybe a six-pack or a bottle of wine, and return home to do laundry and block my FOs and watch Battle Star Galactica. Words cannot describe how much I am looking forward to this. Especially considering that it is currently 10:45 (I'm starting my countdown - 5 hours to go) and I am not doing to do those minutes.

My plan is yummy, steamy and dirty, and that's just BSG. Yay Friday night.


PS-I'll probably go out with work friends around midnight or so when they get off, which brings my nerd quotient down a bit, but not a whole lot.

Harry Potter and the Prolific Purls

I've been listening to Harry Potter audio books during work for the last week. It's Friday, and I'm on book 3. You know I've gotten a lot of knitting done! I made another floppy hat yesterday (I took pictures but have no way to get them on the computer at work as I forgot my micro usb cable at home. I'll update soon.) The bag I'm making for Sarah is coming along nicely, and I believe I'll be ready to felt it in the next few days.

Sarah found this amazing etsy store that turns printers drawers/shadow boxes in to jewelry holders. Since my family has a bajillion shadowboxes laying around, she said she'd make one for me!

Once I finish her bag, I plan on working on some more color work scarves, and maybe some pillow cases for sale. My blocking boards came in the mail today, so I'll be finishing up some projects, taking pictures, and listing them on etsy. Keep an eye out!

Pints & Purls

I've bought a lot of knitting books in the last couple months. One that I'm particularly fond of is Pints & Purls. I was meant to make a messenger bag for my sister for her birthday back in July, and the pattern and/or yarn wasn't working out, so I basically gave it up. Fortunately, she has persistantly pestered me about it, and a couple of happy consequences have come about. First, I found a pattern I liked in Pints & Purls. Then I decided, for about the first time EVER, that I'd actually use the yarn suggested by the pattern. So I bought five skeins of Cascade 220 in plum (Itallian, perhaps?) and re-started the whole project today. I'm about 6 inches in on the front panel, which isn't bad progress for a day at work :)

Coincidentally, everyone I work with keeps telling me how efficient and wonderful I am. I feel like the only thing I ever accomplish is getting a lot done on my bajillion WIPs. In fact, since I started this temp job, I've finished two items and started two more. I've been working here for four weeks. Hmmm...

As soon as this bag starts to look like a bag, I'll post pictures. I can't wait to felt it (another first!). That'll be fun to blog about.

Yep, I'm at work

We've been in Lexington for 9 months, and I've clearly been neglecting my blog. Please join me for a bit of rambling.

One thing about temping and waitressing after you graduate from college, is that you tend to experience a lot of ennui and general malaise about your life. Something in the vein of, I could be doing so much more with the abundance of energy and talent I have, and instead I'm wasting it listening to audio books, staring at computer screens and knitting (a lot) by day, and listening to whiny kids who make a giant mess at the table and their whinyer, more disgusting parents treat me like I'm the stupidest person they've ever met because I couldn't hear them tell me they wanted their ribeye cooked well with french fries and tater soup when the mumbled it into their menu instead of speaking clearly to me.

But that's mildly pessimistic. Let's talk about what I'm doing about it.

Like I said above, I've been knitting at work A LOT. When your primary responsibilities are to process paperwork that takes fifteen minutes of your day and hope that some confused horse person emails you so you can look up the response, you tend to have a lot of time on your hands. And by you, I mean me.

So for the last couple of months, I have made a concerted effort to knit things that are both interesting to me and that I will sell. I've bought books on color knitting techniques and cute accessory knitting and I've been combing Ravelry for charts and design ideas. I've learned how to knit continental style (whoa) so I could double knit a scarf, which turned out so well, I got another one commissioned on the spot. In the month of April, as my KnitMeter will tell you, I have knit 10.9 feet (as of this writing.) I'm a machine. I've started my etsy store. All that remains between me and spreading this knitting love around the world is some blocking and some photographs. I even chose a fantastic name for this enterprise: Miss Anthropy Knits. If you need an explanation, see the above paragraphs you knit wit.

I'm not going to link to the store or my facebook page (both of which are ready to go) until there's actually something to buy up on there. But that will be soon, dear readers. Very, very soon.

LexKnitterati and Current Projects

I've moved into my very own apartment in Lexington, KY, and so far I'm loving it! The most frequently asked question since I've gotten here is, "What brings you to Kentucky?" The short answer, my boyfriend, Patrick, is enrolled in the Patterson School at UK for graduate school, and I love him and we've been together for four years, so here I am with him.

I've started working at O'Charley's on Richmond Rd, as well as as a temp, although I haven't gotten any placements with them yet. I also am attending bartending classes five days a week (starting today) for three weeks, so I guess you could say my plate is pretty full!
I went to my first LexKnitterati get-together tonight at Panera on Richmond Rd, and the ladies there were fantastic! To sum up the evening: crafting, coffee, queer theory, British literature, education theory, and towards the end Joss Whedon nerding-out time. Seriously, could it get any better?

Since I last blogged, I've started about a million and one new projects. The bamboo vest I wrote about two entries ago has since become a messenger bag that I'm going to try to felt.
I also started a new purse that's brown and teal popcorn stitch,

an attempt at a pineapple pattern tankini for my sister, not to mention the continuing projects of Justin's Villa football scarf, my honeycomb cable black scarf, and teeny tiny crocheted flowers and such for jewelry.
The project I've been working on the most for the past few weeks is a series of three cross stitch pieces to hang in my kitchen: a green pepper, a carrot, and and an eggplant.
So I definitely have a lot to choose from for my LexKnitterati trips :)

Since I'm such a slacker at this whole blogging thing, I will try to make a point of writing a bit after every LexKnitterati evening. I get pretty jazzed when I have such good company, so it's just the inspiration I need to keep this thing updated! So on that note, à la prochaine!

I am the best person on earth

I am moving. It sucks. I hate moving.

Soooo....I'm putting a bunch of stuff in storage. I have this Rubbermaid 36" wardrobe that I've used in the past, but I lost the assembly instructions and all I had were a bunch of plastic pieces and poles and the blue fabric thing that covers the whole wardrobe when it's done. So I'm looking at all these poles and pieces, and thinking, maybe I should google the instructions to make this easier. Well they don't exist on the internet. But I figured it out, because I am God, basically, so I thought I'd post the instructions in case someone else is in the same pickle someday.

Assembly Instructions for Rubbermaid 36" Breathable Wardrobe:
Pieces:
4x "A" plastic endcaps
4x "B" poles
4x "C" poles
1x "D" pole
1x "E" pole
2x "F" poles
2x "G" poles
2x "I" plastic caps
1x cloth cover thingy

Step 1- Bottom:
Put 2 "A" plastic endcaps parallel to each other with the holes facing in and connect with 2 "C" bars.

Step 2:
Put the cloth cover thingy on top of the bottom structure. Put 2 "F" bars in the front holes of the "A" endcaps, and 2 "B" bars in the holes at the back. There are holes in the bottom of the blue cloth thingy to put the pole through.

Step 3:
Put the "I" plastic caps on top of the "B" bars with the long part with holes on both ends vertically, and the protruding part out, parallel with the "C" bars on the bottom structure. The "E" bar goes between the two protruding parts parallel with the "C" bars and the two remaining "B" bars go vertically into the top of the "I" caps.

Step 4:
Put the "G" bars into the top of the "F" bars.

Step 5 - Top:
Put the other two "A" endcaps parallel to each other with the holes facing in. Put the remaining two "C" bars in the holes to connect the "A" pieces. Put the "D" bar (should be thicker than the other bars) in the bottom middle hole. There's also a funny looking bar, that hooks over the top of the "C" bars and under the "D" bar that supports the middle bar when you put your heavy clothes on them.

Step 6 - Cloth cover:
Now you just have to shimmy the cloth cover thingy up the vertical bars until you can pull it over the top. Then just push it back down the rest of the way. Voila! You're done!

Bamboo Vest

So I started a new project, because apparently one or two or five is not enough. I have four balls of Moda Dea Bamboo Wool in a beautiful green color that I've been trying to find the perfect project for. Well I gave up on that, and decided to make a simple vest instead. I haven't ever made a garment like this before, so I figure I have to start somewhere, and I didn't want to be overly ambitious. Soo....hopefully I will have enough yarn, and when it starts to look more like something you'd actually wear, I'll post pictures.

Long time, no post

So I've frantically been trying to finish my undergraduate thesis, so I apparently haven't posted since November. Wow. That doesn't mean I haven't been knitting.

Let's see. I had some eBay bucks that needed to be used, so I bought some really fine crochet yarn to make jewelry. My favorite earrings I've made so far are here:


My sister is collaborating with me on these by adding beads and stuff.

Okay, next up, my mom bought me some great chunky yarn, so I made a vest and decided I didn't like it and frogged it, but I am going to make another vest out of it hopefully. Anyway, here are some pics pre-destruction.
Finally, I have made a lot of progress on Justin's Aston Villa scarf, but I don't have any pics of that.

As soon as my friend Megan buys some yarn, I plan to make a replica Winter Olympic hat for her sister, whose blog is over at http://myohsoexcitinglife.wordpress.com/ Check it out.

I think that'll do for now friends!

New Football Scarf

My friend Justin decided he really liked Patrick's Celtic scarf and asked me to make him an Aston Villa Scarf, so I've made charts for it, which are available here on Ravelry.

Here's a little peek for now; I've just started casting on (9 blocks x 48 st per block = 432 sts) so it might take awhile :)

New FO's!

I finished Patrick's Celtic Scarf (finally-only took three years!) and I have now perfected the methodology for executing a football scarf - or any color block knitting project, really. I also finished a very basic lace scarf that isn't much to look at but served the dual purpose of letting me play with bamboo yarn and practice lace. I did the lace on a stockinette background so I'll need to block it to make it wearable and I'm pretty lazy when it comes to blocking (I still haven't done Sami's halter).

Anyway, here are the pictures of the Celtic scarf, as well as a link to the charts on Ravelry.

Update on Patrick's Celtic Scarf

I'm moving along really well on Patrick's Celtic scarf, in fact, I'll probably be done within the week, depending on how much time I devote to it.

Long Overdue Update

These most adorable cute little monster things were the perfect way for me to use up some of my scrap yarn. Check them out!


The pattern was created by Rebecca Danger who creates some of the most impressive animal toys I've seen on ravelry.

I also finished knitting Sami's halter and all that remains is to block it.

And I made Patrick's sister a birthday/Christmas scarf.You may recognize some of that scrap yarn from the monster chunk project. Zona made this pattern or as she calls it, a recipe.


I also recently started making these gloves without the beads and re-planned Patrick's Celtic scarf to use the woven stitch I used in his sister's scarf. And my roommate Cori asked me to make her a hat with earflaps, tassels and a pom pom. :) I've done a lot since I last wrote!

I'll keep you updated!

Back in the USA

Hello faithful readers! <--That was a joke. I lol'd.

So I'm back in the States now, and I'll start to officially settle down on Wednesday, so expect some more knitting blogs soon!

I'm finishing up Sami's halter top right now, and I'll start making something with my colorful yarn scraps soon.

<3

En Afrique!

Greetings from Senegal-
I'm taking a hiatus from the knitting blog while here in Africa, primarily because I didn't bring anything with me and have yet to find anything to buy. I'll be back in August, though, so hold on to your pants!

A bientôt,
Kate

Finished Yoga Mat Bag

I finished my sister's yoga mat bag, complete with om symbol strap. Pictures!

Another project

After I made that last bag for Alyshia, my sister pretty much fell in love with it. So now I'm making an actual yoga mat bag for her, based on this pattern by Emily Nelson at Joyful Abode. Since my sister (Sarah) liked Alyshia's bag so much, I'm modifying it so it's all mesh-y like the last bag. And I think I'm going to make an Ohm symbol on the handle, but that's the last part. Pictures soon!

Alyshia May's Birthday Bag

I made a crochet/knit combo bag for my friend's birthday. Pictures! Modeled by my little sister Sarah.

Cabled Beanie

So I finished the beanie. I learned a few things, such as a stockinette cable on a stockinette background doesn't stand out very well. Also, the top is kind of pointy because I decreased funny, but it's not too bad. Pictures!

New Project

So I was wondering when this whole focus-on-one-project-until-it's-done thing was going to wear off. Consider it worn.

I started a new project that will hopefully go pretty fast. I'm making a 2x2 ribbed beanie, my first ever hat, with some chunky yarn and ginormous needles. Pictures soon.

On a less light note, I found out my uncle died today. That makes three family members in the last two years. I'm still in a bit of shock, although I'm sure it will hit me when I go to the funeral next week. That's how it usually goes for me. He was a pretty amazing guy who enjoyed every day of his life. I'm really lucky to have had him for an uncle.

Ah, we're starting over. It must be Monday

Yes indeed, it is Monday. I started my glove project over again. I decided I don't like the way that first one turned out after all. I learned the trick of putting in a safety thread, though, so I won't have to frog the whole thing and start over. I put one in right before I started increasing for the thumb, so that should save some time should I decide I hate it all again. Which is quite possible.