Crafty!

Yeah, I was supposed to do this yesterday, but I'm pretty sure no one is following me that closely. I was distracted with all the fun things to make and was baking apple cinnamon buns at 11:30 or so and decided to hold off on the post. They turned out to be a very tasty dough-splosion.
Why, yes! My kitchen is a mess, thanks for noticing!
I've also put aside most of my knitting for a while, as I'm borrowing my mom's sewing machine and making dresses for the little girls in my life.
There's a long story about a little girl who played with my little boy and was wearing an adorable little dress. I searched around and found this pattern, which, it turns out is super fast and easy and the suckers multiply. I'm planning on knitting some cupcakes to go with these dresses when I send them off to the girls. But I haven't gotten to those yet. I have, however, managed to finish some socks that I started months ago. I love the color, especially in the middle of winter. Cascade Fixation, size 7 needles because I knit so damn tight, short row heel because the flap heel bothers me for some reason. Details for those who care.
Cupcake pattern coming soon, I swear.

...Or do I?

Wow, okay, I know the weather is generally just boring small talk, but this is crazy! In the last week, we've had a 60 degree weather change! No, it's not -80... Everything is melting, peoples' houses are flooding, the ceiling at my work is soggy, saggy and dripping.
I'll have a real post tomorrow, I just had to share about the WEATHER! Because it's interesting, I swear. The temperatures this week and last, both very unusual.
On the real post: socks, dresses, cupcakes!
Tune in tomorrow!

I don't know from cold

HAHA! I posted a blog a bit ago about the chilly weather and ice fog. Silly me, I think I tempted fate. For about two weeks, it's been hovering in the -10 to -20 F range (that's about -23 to-29 C), the kind of cold that freezes your nose hairs and makes you not want to do anything. So I'm trying my best not to do anything.
The only knitting I've gotten done in the last week or so is on some socks that have no owner. I know I'm not going to keep them, but I haven't decided who gets them yet. Because they're still abstract as a gift, it doesn't feel forced. I also need to knit myself a little eye mask for night-time since the hubby reads usually well after I'm asleep.
Okay, here's another thing! I've gotten some feedback on the cupcakes! You like them! So, next free pattern will be for cupcakes in three (maybe more!) sizes. I was inspired by the cupcakes in One Skein, but I think my pattern is different enough to be it's own pattern. Also, I'll try to work out a pattern for the rainbow hat, also to be modified for sock yarn so more of the pattern is visible. Whadda ya think?!
By the way, the picture was taken out my car window at about 9:30 in the morning. The moon is usually up most of the day, the sun, not so much.

2009

I hope everyone had a lovely Holiday of choice and enjoyed ringing in 2009!
I was lucky enough to spend time with many friends and much family over the last week. Christmas eve and day mostly spent with my extended family with plenty of good food and good company. I know I'm fortunate to have this life.
Last night was a blast! We were invited to a party at some friends' house and spent the evening into the early morning just having fun. We got to watch some fireworks and had a champagne toast at midnight outside in -20 cold. I wish there was a way to convey the feeling of being with wonderful friends, food, drink and ridiculously cold weather. I could bottle it and sell it for millions!
In the past week, I have not, however, picked up my knitting needles once. Thought about it a couple times, but I think I'm burnt out from gift knitting.
I made a silly ear-flap hat for my dad. He's already made good use of it. He has some property about 90 miles north of here and the temperature drops considerably in that 90 miles. I don't even want to think about what the temperature has been the last few days when it's been below zero here.
So, the hat was mostly knit in two pieces. Inside is some un-friendly boucle (supposed to look like fleece) knit on size 11 needles. The outside is a silk-wool blend that I lost the ball bands for, so I'm not sure what it is other than the fiber, knit on size 9 needles. Both pieces are top down since I just winged this pattern and had no clue how big to make it. The ties at the ear flaps are i-cord and the two pieces are just whip-stitched around the edge with the boucle yarn. Not too bad for improvisation.
Guess what else I've been making progress on! The Skarf! Silly hubby saw the picture on here, so he knew I was working on it. I made him wait till Christmas before I unrolled it to show him the progress. It's still in progress, I can't seem to muster up more than 6 rows at a time lately. Still, he and I both like how it's turning out! My goal is to finish it in time that he can wear it this winter.
Being in Alaska gives me some good time to finish this. At least three months, probably more like four.
Which means maybe I can work on something completely selfish. I've been coveting some sweaters in a certain lingere and clothing catalog that look fairly simple and I think I could rip them off. They charge too much for sweaters and I have three giant plastic storage tubs of yarn. Once again, the Alaska advantage. Sweater season is half the year.
Happy 2009 everyone!

Lavender Sachet - Free Pattern!

Here it is, the quick and easy Lavender Sachet!Finished size:
approx 3" wide by 4" tall

Materials:
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Prairie Lupine (or any other worsted weight yarn you'd like) I don't know exactly what yardage, but it's not a whole lot.
Size US 6/4.0mm DPNs
Yarn needle
Stitch marker (or keep track of which DPN you're on)a
About 1 yard/meter of matching or contrasting ribbon
Two 8"x8" squares of tulle to match the ribbon
About 1/4 cup of dried lavender flowers

Pattern:

CO 42 sts using backward loop method, place marker and join for working in the round

Rounds 1-3: Knit all sts
Round 4: *K2tog, YO, repeat from * around
Rounds 5-7: Knit all sts
Round 8: Fold work in half, knit side out, *pick up one loop from cast on edge and knit it together with one stitch on needle, repeat from * around (this creates the picot edging!)
Round 9: *K2tog, YO, repeat from * around

Work in stockinette until piece measures approximately 4" tall.
Two ways to finish it off:
1) Transfer sts evenly between two DPNs and graft them together using the kitchener stitch.
OR
2) Turn work inside-out, transfer sts evenly between two DPNs and close it off using a three needle bind-off.

I used the second method, as I'm a bit lazy.
Weave in the loose yarn ends with a yarn needle and you're done with the knit part.

Now make it pretty!
Lay out the two tulle squares, one on top of the other, put the lavender in the middle and tie it up in a little pouch. Stuff it inside the knit pouch.
Fold the ribbon in half and tie off a 3-4 inch loop. Use a yarn needle to weave ribbon through the eyelet row of the knit pouch with loop in the center back. Pull loosely and tie in a pretty bow with ends hanging down and tulle sticking out the top.
Wa-La, there you have it.
(yes, that was intentional, i know it's voila)

Happy Solstice!

A happy day, indeed! Time for the days to start getting longer. Busy busy weekend around here. Friday night was a (mostly) fun gathering with friends. The hubby ate something that didn't agree with him and got sick, no fun.
Saturday we headed over to my dad's house and had a family picture followed by extended family gathering and gift exchange. Whew. It's amazing how something that's not really much work can leave you so tired.
Bringing us to tonight! A lovely mellow evening at my mom's house, tasty dinner and cocktails. My mom had commented on the rainbow hat a while ago when she was over visiting, so I finished it and gave it to her. I like how it turned out and she seems to like it too!I finished off the top with a three-point bind off, I don't know if there's a name for that...anyone? I had to add the pom-poms! I'm sure my mom would have been fine without them, but really...pom-poms! They had to be added.
I think this turned out pretty nice, and I think it would look pretty nifty as a double-knit too. Too bad double knitting drives me crazy.
Speaking of that, the Skarf is coming along nicely! It looks exactly like I was hoping. I'd post another picture, but damn the hubby, he actually read my blog and saw the last one! Still think he's going to love it. So, when it's done and around his neck (noose or not) there will be a picture...and a pattern.
One more new project! For the crazy extended family gift exchange, I made some cute little lavender sachets. Super fast and easy, I think I managed to make two in three hours while also dealing with a needy toddler. "I want something to eat" "Let's read this book!" "I want to sit with you"
So, you know, easy...fast. Pattern next post!

Not just Socktopus, Socktopi!

This is so cool! There are already Socktopi being made, with pictures on Ravelry, and the response to the pattern has been so awesome!
So, there have been a couple additions to the Socktopus family in our home already.
A slightly smaller orange Socktopus, commissioned by my aunt for a friend's baby.I also just finished a Giganto-Socktopus! Shown with original Socktopus for visual comparison.
Same pattern with size 11 needles and bulky yarn.
Hooray! Thanks to everyone for the encouraging and sweet comments!