Saturday, May 30, 2009

Las Vegas.

I hardly have anything knitting related to report. For the past couple of weeks I have been focused on working and getting everything taken care of that goes with that like: meetings, orientation, buying uniform pants and shirts, and just attempting to get back in the swing of things. Anyway besides working I have been spending some time sightseeing all there is to check out here in fabulous Las Vegas and catching up with friends and co-workers. There certainly is plenty to do in this town. Probably this weekend or the next I will be finishing up the projects that I need to get done, and then starting a new one. The things that I am most excited about is yarn shopping! I have decided that the next thing that I attempt is going to be something I have never done before so we'll see how that goes. In the meantime, here are some pictures of some animals.

This is the Lion that can be found at MGM Grand. It was super cool to check him out.

Here are some flamingos that are part of the bird exhibit at the Flamingo casino. Also cool to check out.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Casting on again!

So I've started yet another new project.

I still haven't finished the Harry Potter scarf.

Still haven't done the finishing for the baby winter booties.

I am most of the way done knitting the baby blanket. However, I still need to do more knitting for the main part of the blanket. Then I need to knit the hood, which is ten inches of knitting. Then I need to block and finish.

The new project that I have started seems simple but fun. I picked it because it is something that I hopefully get done quickly, and use up some yarn that I have lying around. I have a ton of yarn hanging out that I bought just because I liked it or it was on sale so there aren't any projects in mind for the yarns. I think I do better when I find a pattern first and then buy the yarn.

My knitting goals for today and tomorrow:

1. Finish baby booties.
2. Complete the main part of the baby blanket.
3. Get the HP scarf out and start working on it again.

My knitting goals before I start yet another new project:

1. Finish booties, blanket, scarf, and this project.
2. Pick something I haven't tried before like socks or a sweater.
3. Buy supplies necessary for new project.

Links:
This pattern
My ravelry post for this project




Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Hooded Baby Blanket.

I still have not done the finishing on the baby booties but I'm trying to get around to it. Like I said it isn't one of my favorite parts of the knitting process.

However, I am making some good progress with my other baby knitting project.


The link to that free pattern is here. The baby blanket that I started the other day is about 1/5th of the way done. The entire project is going to take about 50 inches of knitting and I just finished a little over 10 inches. Of course when I get done with all of that then I will have some sewing and (yay!) finishing. More updates and pictures of my actual work to come later. :)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Pictures at last!

I am almost done with the winter booties! I have finished knitting both booties. I just have to do all of the finishing and weaving. This is my least favorite part of knitting, well after casting on, so I think that I'm going to wait until tomorrow to finish up this project.

I am too excited to start a new project! I have cast on a hooded baby blanket. I am knitting this for one of my co-workers that is having twins. I don't know if I am going to make two of the same blankets or find another pattern. I will decide when I finish this one. If I really love the pattern I will knit the same one. However, if I find something else cool along the way I will try that. Twins ALWAYS get the same so I think it would be cool to knit them unique pieces so they can have something that is their own.

It is always so amazing to me to see how yarn can transform into useful objects!
This is what things looked like after I shaped the inseam for the first boot.
I was so excited to finish the first bootie!




Here they both are! Like I said I just have some last minute stuff to finish up and then I will post the FO write-up and pictures! Y'all can probably expect that sometime tomorrow.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Haha!

There is nothing wrong with my knitting skills after all. I wasn't doubting that too much, but still after two failed attempts I was certainly losing my patience. Pictures to come after dinner! I am making some great progress that I can't wait to share with everyone. :)

After dinner update: I finished one bootie! So I am about 45% done with the entire project. I took a few pictures along the way but I haven't gotten them up on the computer yet. When I do load them I will share them. I am so excited that I actually made progress. I love knitting booties because there are so many different ways to make them and each time I make a pair I learn a new technique.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Arrrgggghhhhhaaaa!

There is either something really wrong with my knitting skills or I am just having a really off day. I am hoping that it is the latter but that is yet to be determined. I have cast on the winter booties TWICE and had to unravel things TWICE. The first time I got about 20 rows done before I made a mistake. I tried to fix my mistake but got frustrated and just took it apart. The second time I had 8 rows done and realized that I had screwed something else up. I don't know if I copied the pattern down wrong or if I cast on too many stitches (I copied it down so I didn't have to knit in front of the computer) but there was something terribly wrong going on with the stitch count. I didn't even bother trying to fix it again...I just took it apart. I am going to assume that since tomorrow is a new day I might be able to actually get some work done on this project. I have given up today (for the second time!) so I don't go completely insane.

The thing that I am most frustrated with is how simple and straightforward the beginning of this pattern is and I still can't seem to get it right. Holy cow...I really need to get some sleep and give this a try tomorrow with some fresh hands and a fresh attitude. Good night for now! Good luck with all of your projects and other adventures.

Whew! I feel better already after that little rant!

Baby Winter Booties


I have FINALLY cast on a new project! I just started some little baby booties that look like Ugg's. They are the cutest things I have ever seen! The pattern is from here, and you can check out my ravelry page here for more details for now. When I put up the FO I will include all of the details about yarn, needle size, etc on this blog. I am very excited about this project for a few reasons. First of all it is the first time that I will have actually finished booties. Also, they are going to be for someone else (well duh! since I don't have any kids myself), and because it has been a while since I have had some free time to knit.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Busy!

So I have nothing even closely related to knitting to report. I have been so busy for the past month. I went to Tahoe to deal there, then back to Pendleton to deal there, then drove down to Vegas to do paperwork for the Series, and then flew home. When I got home I took about ten minutes off and then moved all of my worldly belongings to my mom's house. Then mom had surgery today so I spent the day at the hospital and thankfully everything is fine. We are back at home now. In anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks mom will be fully recovered. When she is feeling better I need to organize my stuff and get everything packed for the Series. I'll have some pictures and some knitting to share soon (I promise)! I hope that all of your projects are going well!