Bizarre + Weird == teh awesome

Wasting time on Ravelry this morning I discovered this bizarre design (watch out for possible pop-ups) that was inspired by this even weirder one. <3!

FOs: First Hat and Corn Socks

FIRST HAT FOR THE PURPLE PURL
Started: December 4, 2007
Completed: December 15, 2007
Pattern: from Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark
Yarn: Araucania Copihue
Color: 901??
Skeins: 2 and a bit
Needles: Knitpicks Options 5.5mm/9US

CORN SOCKS
Started: September 20, 2007
Completed: December 15, 2007
Pattern: generic magic loop toe-up with Widdershin heel
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Maizy Print
Color: Night Shades (#1001)
Skeins: 2
Needles: Knitpicks nickle-plated 32" 3.00mm/US2
Notes: I was bummed that I got some weird pooling on one of the socks. But this yarn is so squishy and nice it was hard to get mad at it. If I were to knit with it again I would use smaller needles because when I wear them the heel and the toe kinda flop around. I'm guessing that there is more stretch in the yarn than I imagined. I still love wearing them.

Finis!

Sunflower Tam is done! After all of the gnashing of teeth and ripping of rows I can now put this one to bed.

1. DSC_4376.jpg, 2. DSC_4358.jpg, 3. DSC_4403.jpg

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

MOM'S SUNFLOWER TAM
Started: October 24, 2007
Completed: December 9, 2007
Pattern: Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Yarn: White Buffalo Elenka
Balls: 1 and a bit
Colour: #220 (heathery-pink)
Notes: This pattern was really hard for me. I spent more time riiiiiiiiiiiiiiipping and cursing than I did actually knitting.

Paying rent

I have been spending a lot of time knitting away at The Purple Purl lately. Although it seems that Jennifer and Miko are quite happy to have me there I feel terrible that I haven't been emptying my bank account there. And trust me, I WANT to give them all my money. But alas, I already have enough projects and yarn to keep me going for a quite a while. So I thought at least what I could do is knit a shop sample for them. I was trying to spoil them a little but in reality I was the one who is being spoiled. Look at this yarn!

It's Araucania Copihue and I'm so loving it! Although I'm not happy with my knitting. I must have a hat curse right now. Everything else I'm knitting looks great. But the hats, they give me problems.

Maybe you can tell I'm knitting First Hat from Knit 2 Together and I've gotten mixed reviews from some knit pals (I will admit these photos are already out of date as I've finished the hat part yesterday and the photos were taken Friday afternoon). They love the yarn. Not so thrilled with the pattern. The real reason I picked this pattern is because the hat must have a button and the Ladies at TPP carry a beautiful line of handmade buttons from AB Originals.

I think this is going to look lovely.

Sunflower Tam hates me

Most people know that I'm a pretty selfish knitter. 9 times outta 10, what I'm knitting is for me. Recently I've been doing a rash of gift knitting (well, if you consider two projects a rash). The Seamesh Scarf has been the big gift project and that has been in the making for like 2 years.

When I saw my mom in October I told her that I wanted to knit her a hat and that I had the perfect pattern and the perfect yarn. I showed her both. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt about the pattern but LOVED the colour of the yarn. I couldn't start it right away as I had to finish Pimlico for Rhinebeck. I started the tam October 24th and have had NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS EVER SINCE!

Once I got into the pattern for the top I ended up ripping the same inch or so out 12 times. So I stomped around a bit, said some bad words and then threw it back in the basket as punishment. In the last couple weeks I've picked it back up, noticed a ton of mistakes, made a bunch of new mistakes and riiiiippped a few rows here and there. Then I realized it was too big (at least for me) but I kept going. I'm not feeling the love for this project. But, as you can see, I'm very close to done. As long as I don't make the same mistakes I've been making from the get-go my mom might actually get a hat before Spring.

Wicked is aweome....

Right now I have five projects on the go. I mentioned Seamesh earlier as that has been my top priority. What better way to follow up than with with my lowest priority project? It going fast and I'm so loving it with the crazy mystery yarn (Manos or Mandos? You be the judge.)

What I've got done so far...

Detail of the twisted rib...

More on my other projects later.

I'm so close....

Remember the Seamesh Scarf I started waaaay back in July? Well, I am sooooooo close to being done.

Actually I need to be done by tomorrow as Miss Hell is going to help me block this sucker. Woot!

Tagged (And some of you are it!)

I got tagged by Dr. Steph days ago. I think she was giving me a hint. I have to admit when I'm not working I'm at The Purple Purl so I haven't had much time for blog fodder. But this is a start. Maybe this might get my booty in gear?

THE RULES:
1. Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird things about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

THE THINGS:
1. I've sung in my sleep.
2. I'm a compulsive pile maker.
3. I have the willpower of a super hero when it comes to buying things (including yarn!), but am weak (oh, so very weak!) in the face of anything chocolatey.
4. I've been to Thailand.
5. If I consume tequila (or any hard alcohol for that matter) I break out in hives - even just after one sip!
6. I'm part of a photography collective.
7. My husband proposed to me with a tinfoil ring.

I'm going to tag (although not in their comments, basically because I want to get back to knitting): Lorena, Betharoopie, Idyllic Chick, The Shy Knitter, Eleven Stitches, Needle Addict and Soosan. I don't expect any of them to actually do this but I thought that I would put a shout out and let them know I'm thinking of them. (Awww!)