Month: April 2016

Art!

I love art. I have always been very artistic. When I was little I used to draw a lot, but I always thought I wouldn’t like painting because it was hard. Fast forward to high school art class where not painting was not an option, and I realized that I LOVE painting! So I painted in class and out of class, and I kept drawing a little.

These days I don’t paint much. I’m too busy working, and now knitting is my main creative outlet. But I still treasure my earlier pieces, and I hope to paint more as time goes on. It’s interesting to see how my artistic style has changed with time – I started out very conservative, but I have become more avant-garde as time has gone on.

Since I recently moved I’m still decorating my apartment and I decided to hang my art. It makes me happy. WP_20160428_003

Mother’s Day Plans

I love my mother, but I live very far away from her. Sometimes it’s hard to show her how much I love her because I can’t spend time with her in person. So I knit for her. This Mother’s Day I am sending her some hand-knit washcloths. They aren’t spectacularly beautiful. They aren’t made of silk, and they didn’t take 2 months of my life to make. But I know she will enjoy them and use them, and isn’t that kind of the point of knitting?

I love you, Mom.

Nature Walk

As much as I love nature I never seem to get outside enough. It’s too hot or too cold or I’m too busy. Yesterday my fiancé and I finally got out for our fist hike of the season. We walked for an hour and a quarter on a trail not too far from where we both live. It was good to exercise and be out in nature. And look what we found!

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A sugar glider!

We took many pictures, and he even let Chris touch him!

Here’s my  artistic rendition. The proportions are a little off, but I think for a few minutes’ work it’s pretty good.

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Farrah

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Farrah is done!

Pattern: Farrah by the Berroco Design Team

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Conch, 9 1/2 balls (1155 yards)

Needles: US 8/ 5.0 mm

Time: 2 months

Modifications: I had a really hard time getting gauge with this sweater. I think it was actually designed for a DK or a Sport weight yarn. So I decided to use the fabric that pleased me most and knit a smaller size. I modified the neck opening to be 60 stitches wide, rather than 80. I also lengthened the sweater to be more of a tunic length, and knit garter bands on the hem, neck, and sleeves.

Things I would change: Even though I made the neck smaller than directed it is still wider than I would like. If I knit this again I would make the neck 50 stitches wide.

Almost

I am so close to being done with Farrah. On Saturday I finished knitting the main body. On Sunday I finished the neckline and cuffs. I washed and blocked her, and started the sewing up. Oh, and there may have been some dancing around in an unfinished sweater. As you do.

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Blocked and ready to sew up
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She who can finish without tea is mighty!

Cheese Bread

I made bread the other day. Cheese bread, to be exact. Yum!

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The recipe instructs you to put 1 cup of shredded cheese in the dough, and then to put chunks of cheese in the middle of the loaf and on top (I used a little less cheese than instructed, but it turned out amazingly). Also, when you bake this make sure to put a sheet pan underneath. Unless you like cleaning burnt cheese out of the bottom of your oven. In which case, please come to my house.

DIY Decorated Binder

I have been meaning to start a wedding binder to keep myself organized and sane less crazy over the next few months. As we have discussed before, I am cheap, and the idea of spending $15 or more on a sparkly, pretty binder made me sad. I was sure I could do it myself. And I did.

Materials: 1 used 3″ binder (black), 1 worn out t-shirt (complete with pretty flowers), 1 Velcro tie thingy, leftover fabric from a previous project, lots of hot glue, tatting.

Time: 1 hour (ish)

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