The Land of the KnitaSaur

No knitting done today, however hours and hours of work on writing out a pattern. Yep, KnitaSaur is playing “Designer” now . . . :D

(Just writing out Portal, so don’t get too excited. I doubt many people will be stoked about it, but I sure am!)

Okay, so the title is a lie. There are kitties, yes, but not really an epic tale. It’s actually quite boring actually. But, the cats of my house sat and stared around the bottom of my stairs for ages and ages.

Often, looking confused and disgruntled.

Or just very very attentive.

Why? Because there was an invader, of course. That little kitty there does not belong in my house, but sat under out basement stairs for about 20 minutes. She then escaped into our pantry where she hid for a while longer. I caught her and released her into the wild (okay, okay, her backyard)

Told ya, not epic at all. But there is nothing else interesting to post. Having only one project on the needles sucks. Yeah, I’ve worked on it. Yeah, it looks about the same as yesterday. :P

Portal Scarf, somewhat decent pic showing off the words and then another that desperately needs some adjusting in the white-balance department. I’m gonna do 4 repeats of the pattern which should bring the scarf to about 6 feet in length. A teensy bit short for the 6′3ish bf, but not bad. The total awesomeness of it makes up for the few inches missing. To do five repeats would bring it to over 7 feet, and make it so that finishing in the next 3 days is impossible.

Here’s the knitting is knotty sticker, proudly flaunted on the purse designed to carry knit-stuff. I’m very proud of it. Yay! And a pic of Dashings that I hoped would turn out better than the mass of blur that is the original FO pic, but didn’t quite work. Turns out that sitting under a bunk bed isn’t the best idea when trying to get a picture of black gloves–go figure.


And speaking of massive blur . . . I actually like this pic. He actually looks happy (at least, I think he does, hard to tell . . . ) which is a first for pics of him . . . Taken over my shoulder as he tried to use me as a shield against his mother’s camera.

Hey, good ole Binary makes a couple of appearances here!

Sooner or later I’ll learn to a)Not knit with black so that details can actually be photographed and b)Not take pictures when I am hungry and therefore my hands are shaky so the pictures aren’t fuzzy. Anyways, they get the point across. Those are Dashing, if a little shorter than the pattern means for them to be.
Pattern: Dashing from Knitty
Yarn: Bernat Satin Solids in Black
Amount: About 75% of a skein, so 120 yards
Needles:US 8, 5.0mm DPNs
Time: Dec 15 – Dec 27 2007
Knit mostly: Hiding in the basement
Knit for: Youth Christmas Banquet Gift swap. Didn’t get finished in time, so I’m keeping ‘em.
Notes: Only 9 between cables, 20 before thumb, 9 after thumb and 5 in thumb. Way shorter than they would have been.
Changes I would make next time: Follow the pattern to actually get the length. Not a big deal, though.

I NEVER WANT TO SEE 4X1 RIBBING EVER AGAIN!!!!!

These will be worn tonight during the setting off of fireworks if that happens. Not sure yet, but I’m hoping! This means just one more WIP to finish to get Clean Slate by 2008 done successfully!

I’m not even gonna try to get clever names for WIP Wednesday posts.

So, Portal Illusionistic scarf has been “given” to the Greg unfinished, as it is nearly impossible to get secret knitting done for someone when you spend nearly all your waking hours with them and they are innately curious. No stretched out pictures of the scarf, as I am having trouble finding space long enough to do so. All the area in my room is covered with presents. Not that I’m complaining :P And speaking of . . .

Yep, my grandparents got my parents a foosball table for Christmas. I totally rocked Greg at it, even with his cheating. It hides in the basement. Apparently Abba set it up noisily this morning and was astounded that it didn’t wake me. What can I say–I’m a heavy sleeper in the morning. Makes up for the lack of sleep during the night (the night is my only chance at time on the computer without kids coming in and pointedly saying “Are you using the computer? I guess I’ll just wait my turn then,” before coming in and out staring at me every 5 minutes . . . )

I think I’ll do some yarn pr0n also–that burgundy stuff from MNKNIT needs it’s turn.


Ravelry keeps trying to insist that Himalayan Yarn Co.’s Tibet is 60% Wool, 40% Recycled Sari silk. But that last picture there proves that what I’ve got is 100% Wool, which according to the internets doesn’t exist. (If you click on the pic, it gets bigger and easier to read. So there, internets!)

Brand/Name/Site: Himalaya Yarn Co. Tibet CH/20 or as I call it “Pretty Burgundy-ish”
Fiber: 100% Wool and I’m sticking to it.
Weight: Aran/10 ply (8 wpi)
Yards/Unit Weight: 150 yds, 100 g (7.06oz, 274.4meters)
I own: 2 skiens
Recommended Gauge: 16 sts = 4 inches
Recommended Needle Size: US 8
Often Used to Make:Scarves and vests
What am I going to do with it: I have no idea. Pretty colors will make something pretty.

That there be pretty much the loot this year! I know that I’m missing a pic of a shawl, but other than that, I think I got it all! And then photographed and uploaded to Flickr without it exploding on me–why? Because I also got Flickr Pro. I’m now sticking with KnitaSaur and have spent some time uploading and set-ing and batching and collectioning photos.

Well, it was done yesterday (okay, it is after midnight, so day before yesterday) and it is Christmas (Merry Christmas, btw!) so I’m doing the Drinkable FO post now. I doubt my mom will read it before she opens it!

Pattern: Kureyon Kozy from Knitty
Yarn: Noro Kureyon
Amount: Just under a skein
Needles:US 7, 4.5mm DPN’s
Time: Early Dec to Late Dec. As it was all secretive and such, I didn’t post a starting day, so not sure exactly when.
Knit mostly: While watching the O.C. That’s good knitting time.
Knit for: Mama
Notes: Actually doing a swatch would have been a good idea. Actually measuring the teapot would have been a good idea. Anyways, I ended up picking up stitches and adding the ruffle to the top. Crocheted the cord, as I am not so fond of i-cord.
What I thought about the yarn: I LOVE the colors, though Noro is a bit scratchy. And has bits of stuff in it. And a random broken and tied together strand. But look at those colors! And a conditioner bath really softened it up. Plus, it didn’t yarn-barf on my like all the other yarns do.
Changes I would make next time: Swatch? Pay attention while knitting so the cool ribbing-like stuff would look good. Stop pretending that it might fit and blindly following the pattern even though I know it isn’t going to fit.
What I learned during the making of these: Not to be repetitive or anything, but swatch? and measure! Oh, and to use the knitting journal properly–not accidentally using Fetching v3.0’s page. That gets really confusing . . .
On the Rav.

Hmm. It is past monday isn’t it? Well, then, I should also do a Media Monday thing, shouldn’t I? Late, of course (but, hey, in my mind, it still counts. I haven’t slept yet. So it isn’t the next day. :P) Let’s go with the book I’ve been reading:
Coming Home – Rosamund Pilcher
I’ve decided not to steal a image from Google, but take my own. Aren’t I ethical? I’m not done it yet, but I’ve read it before, so that doesn’t matter too much. I tend to re-read books. Over and over and over . . . same with movies. I’ll often do it immediately too–finish the book/movie and start it again either right away or within a week or so. My problem is I tend to skim while reading. I miss a lot the first time.

Here is a link to an actual review of the book–I’m not going to pretend to compare to that. What I am going to say is that I really really like it. It is such an easy read and very comforting. Like oatmeal or mac’n'cheese. It just makes me feel good. I love the characters; even the minor ones seem so real. Almost everyone gets at least a paragraph or two dedicated to them, and what they are thinking and why they do what they do and how they relate to other people. Despite it being in such a different world than mine (WWII in England as opposed to Canadian home nowadays . . . ) I can relate to the characters. And not just the ones who are like me in any way. All of them, just because it is so well written. And the imagery! Very detailed, without being overly long and boring. I was leery about reading this when my mom introduced me to the author: “She writes books about the lives of people in England. They drink tea and grow up.” Okay, okay, that’s not what she said, but that’s what I took it to mean. And, you have to admit, it sounds kinda dry and boring. But it is so not. Anywho, I’m tired and pretty sure a kid is going to be waking me up in 6 hours and 27 minutes (“Don’t be waking the cranky teenager before 8.”) for presents, so I’m off.

Of course, it is the middle of the night, so the photo is not so great . . . (stop making excuses, Dianna. You just need to learn to work the camera properly.) But, yep, Fetching v3.0 done! Yay! And about time . . . I’m despising 4×1 rib and I still have to finish Dashing . . . .So, there they are, yet another Fetching designed to fit nice and snug and in yarns that totally don’t show cables.
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty
Yarn: Woollybear Yarns from Cbear (70% Angora, 30% Wool) and Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK from Jupiterjessica
Amount: Less than a skein of each
Needles:US 8, 5.0mm DPNs
Time: Dec 4 – Dec 23 2007
Knit mostly: While watching the O.C.
Knit for: Verna
Notes: Held two strands together, used bigger needles than called for, cast on 35, increased to 40 before the thumb, missed the final cable, so added a strip of double-stranded Woollybear Yarns to the top.
Changes I would make next time: Do all of the cables :P
What I learned during the making of these: Writing stuff down helps, especially if you put it down and forget about it for a week or so . . .

And, yep, drinkable on the sidebar is technically done. But no post for it till after Christmas.

So, yet another CHOP last night. I arrived, complete with my Greg so he could get his Magic fix, and was accosted by Nicole. She was collecting an elite Mafia team to head off to the McNish home for an awesome game of Mafia, and only feeling a little guilty for the exclusion of everyone else. However, that wasn’t planned to start until 9ish, so I stuck around the church for awhile, playing Wii, watching Magic and spear-bear-hugging random people. Yay! I also bought the most disappointing Jones ever from the food bar thing. Why was it disappointing?

See! It had a pretty picture and was advertised as yummy pink grapefruit and I was so excited for it and only noticed the SUGAR-FREE label after I had a drink. Yuck.

So, then, around 9 I ditched the Greg with a bunch of people he may or may not have known before hand, I’m not really sure, and went off to play Mafia. By 10:30, we still hadn’t started, so I rushed back to the church to get him so he wouldn’t be stuck there waiting for me (since he really had no idea where I had gone.) Then the Mafia began! Three games later, I had been Mafia, doctor, and Mafia again. And I had lost each game. Sooo much fun, though! I love Mafia, and 14-17 people is optimum methinks.

Last Sunday, I decided that I was going to add “Media Monday” to my blog-time. The week went by, and it didn’t happen. Basically, I plan to, on Monday, give a quick (or not so quick) review of whatever media I’ve encountered over the week. I’m using multiple definitions of media: the Wiki definition: “In the arts, media (plural of medium) are the materials and techniques used by an artist to produce a work,”; one from Motto: “Forms of mass communication. Newspapers, magazines, direct mail, billboards, bus signs, radio, television and internet are some important media that carry advertising.” But who cares about definitions. What it comes down to is, if I watch tv and see something interesting, I’ll tell ya about it. Or dvds or books or magazines or music or board games or the first 9 episodes of the first season of The O.C.
On that note: Greg gave me the first season of The O.C. for Christmas! I know, I know, Christmas hasn’t come yet. But, how else would he bribe me to at least try to enjoy myself while learning to play Arkham Horror? (Which, for the record, is a fun game, if a little complex. Although, it seems a bit like a more horror-y overly complicated version of Space Munchkin.) Anyways, the first 9 episodes of the O.C. Yep, I got through those in less than a week. What can I say? The acting can be a bit bad absolutely wretched, the script is silly, but I can’t stop watching it! It is so surrealistic, yet I sympathize with the characters. A Smashing Pumpkins song showed up in episode 4, which was fantastic, and the end of episode 3 had me crying. I remember back when The O.C. first aired, I made fun of it, having seen a few minutes. And looking at how much happens in a few minutes of an episode, I can see why. But I like it. It is probably not good for me, I think that it is total crap tv, but makes for good knitting fodder, and I am stoked for checking out the special features and stuff that came with the DVD’s. Would I recommend it to other people? Absolutely. Go into it with low expectations, and love it for what it is. Brain candy, essentially. Not needed for life, but oh so good.

I may as well also do a late YPF post. I’ve decided to opt out of the webring; I do not have enough pretty yarn to do a weekly pr0n post. However, any yarn pr0n I do post is searchable out of my pretty tag cloud under “Yarn Pr0n” So, this time, it’s got to be that beautiful Handpaint Originals from MNKNITS. Just look at those colors! So many and soooo pretty!

So, the details:
Brand/Name/Site: Brown Sheep Company, Inc Handpaint Originals in Sunbaked Earth
Fiber: 70% mohair, 30% wool
Weight: Aran/10 ply (8 wpi)
Yards/Unit Weight: 88 yards, 50 grams (80 meters, 1.76 oz)
I own: 1 skein
Recommended Gauge: 18 sts = 4 inches, 4.5 sts = 1 inch
Recommended Needle Size: US 7 – 9, 4.5 – 5.5 mm
Often Used to Make: Wristwarmers, scarves, hats, Calorimetry
What am I going to do with it: I have no idea. This stuff is so pretty that it’ll have to be something good. If anyone has any ideas, let me know!

Tangent: Those crazy long life Energizer rechargeable that have been powering my camera since Thanksgiving (Canadian one, too) finally died. Luckily, they are rechargeable. And they came in a pack of 4, so I’m figuring the ones I just put in will last till Valentines Day at least. Those are some batteries . . .

ETA: link for Fetching thumb trick.

I’m betting it is randomized.