The Land of the KnitaSaur

Totally cool super awesome hat. Test knit for Presents on Ravelry. It’s called Phoncible and is meant to be knit in two complementary skeins of Noro Kureyon. That was too much stripe for me, so I subbed in a Diamond Galway solid. It’s a super-easy knit and very warm and cozy. The pattern is not available yet, but will be at her etsy shop sometime soon. I’m also doing some mitts for her, which I’m hoping will turn out as nicely as this did! (And, no, she isn’t paying me to rave or advertise! :P)

In other knit-news, I’m designing a hat. Not much designing involved, just taking a basic hat shape, if rather large (to fit a large brain) and adding the WoW Quest-Giver Question Mark on it. I’m also knitting a pair of Rose’s Wristwarmers for keeping me from freezing in the pit (in 8 days . . . I am sooo not ready!) I’m suffering from Second Sock Syndrome. I’ve cast on, but am not getting anywhere. I don’t like SSK, yo, SSK, yo. It doesn’t work with me. :(

My yarn is all dyed and is a rather . . . interesting color. I’ll get some pics when there is light. It’s even dry now. I also recieved a package today! And it had yarn! Blue bamboo yarn from Shea! Again, it is dark, so pics of that (soon, I promise!), but here, have a monkey van and a paw.

stop
Originally uploaded by KnitaSaur in the 365 set

I like it. Not really sure why, contrast probably. And because I see this sign almost daily. Plus, Red and Black! I like red and black. I love how black the black is. So, that be a color. Of my life, for you blogstalkers :P

And, yep, I’ve been knitting a bit. The group scarves are coming along–a couple more people joined, but pretty well everyone has knit a couple of rows on almost all of them. I have a completed sock, and a toe for the second. I’m now doing a bit of research on sock blockers and have read a couple of times that people prefer to have socks that are a bit tight so that they don’t get loose with wearing. Now I know :P I’ve still got that bag on the sidebar, and should only take like an hour to do, I’m just not. Not sure why. I love the yarn, it is soooo soft! Softer than Patons Merino. I like I like . . . I’ve promised to make the bf another geek-y knit–a toque with a yellow exclamation mark on it (WoW Quest Giver style.) Why he insists on only geek-y knits is beyond me.

His mom gave me a bunch of fabrics. I’ve just got to get over my fear of sewing patterns . . .

Oh, and I completely failed at bleaching yarn a couple of days ago. I’m planning on dyeing yarn for Bella Paquita, but I wanted to get rid of the original color. The problem is, the store only had about a quarter of the bleaching stuff I would need. I took it, figuring bleaching a little out would help. I actually like the color right now, but I think with a red over it, it’ll look great. yay!

(lɯʇɥ˙dılɟ/ɯoɔ˙pɐɟʌǝɹ˙ʍʍʍ//:dʇʇɥ) ¿ɯɹou ǝɥʇ ʇ,usı sıɥʇ pɐlƃ noʎ ʇ,uǝɹɐ ˙ssǝu-uʍop-ǝpısdn ǝɥʇ uo pǝʞoʇs :ɐʇǝ

I am back. No excuses for lack of posting–I’m too lazy to post sometimes and too lazy to think of excuses. :P

I got a bit of progress done on that sock, even since that photo was taken. I’m now partway through the ribbing and totally not liking k1, p1, k1, p2, repeat. So fiddly and my yarn keeps tangling up in the needles! But I LOVE THESE SOCKS. I can’t wait for them to be done. Can not wait. They are so bright and cheerful and soft and warm! And the eyelets stop them from being too warm. I’m debating between making them match and deliberately making them not.

I missed a day in Project 365. :( <–If you hit that link, it’ll bring you to my set and you can see the sad face on day 18! Oh well, it’s bound to happen. I’m just gonna keep going. Seriously, though, that was a stupid day to miss. I went to Terrace with my mom, and the road between here and there is soooo pretty. Mist covered mountains, road curving along between a mountain edge and riverside, tons of ice in the river, fog, sun . . . and I chose not to get out and take a picture, even when she offered to stop. But, why was I in Terrace? To buy stuff. Sewing stuff, to be precise. Yep, the KnitaSaur is branching out.


I’m just going to point out that all of this is quite scary. I’d be totally fine if if were just for me, for fun. But, see, all of the fabrics here need to be turned into actual garments that are good enough to be put into a portfolio. And therefore, I bought the fabrics to match specific patterns. Sewing patterns are SCARY. With a knitting pattern, if you mess something up, you can backtrack or fudge a little to make it work. You mess up a sewing pattern, and the pattern paper is wrecked, the fabric is wrecked, the entire thing has gone ka-boom. And there is no Ravelry for sewing. However, the bf’s mom lent me this awesome book (The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing) Awesome book.

Okay, back to knitting.

A beginning of a yarn bag. Super sneaky swap yarn bag to match the super sneaky project bag that will follow. In:

Brand/Name/Site: Diamond Yarn Galway in 1130 (Or Hufflepuff yellow.) I fail at sneaky.
Fiber: 100% Wool
Weight: Aran/10 ply (8 wpi)
Yards/Unit Weight: 219 yds, 100 g (7.06oz, 274.4meters)
I own: 1 skiens
Recommended Gauge: 18 sts = 4 inches
Recommended Needle Size: US 8

Look, dye! More stuff for the KnitaSaur to learn to do . . . and soon.

Okay, last thing. I live in a very pretty place.

Yay! I won yarn! Shea had a blog contest to celebrate 5,000 views based on a New Years Resolution that you know you are going to break (no more than 3 WIPs at once. Haven’t broken it yet. Waiting for the sweater :P) So, I get yarn! The link up there will show you her pic of it (and a pic of her adorable kid and pup!)

2 Skeins of South West Trading Company Bamboo yarn in the color Cobalt. 250 yds/100g per skein.

I’m stoked!

And on the knitting front, here’s some pics of the group scarf thing. Lot’s of pretty yarns and pretty needles!

The sock has had some progress (it has a heel!) but I have no photo of it and it’s dark. To tide you over, here’s the info on the yarn (pics three posts ago):
Brand/Type/Site: S.R.Kertzer On Your Toes 4 ply in Fuschia Print
Weight: Fingering/4 ply
Yardage: 390 yds/357meters
Gauge: 28.0 – 38.0 = 4 inches
Recommended needles: US 0 – 2½ or 2 – 3mm
Fibers: 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon (with aloe vera :P)

And here is some random stuff:

Today only sign that I am determined to get a photo of every time I see. I have one other, taken on Jan 4. It is really bad, though, as it is taken sneakily as the store owner glared at me. It’s been up pretty consistently since then. And the “Hot Water Kettle” that needs to be turned “OFF.” The sign amuses me. (Oh, and I’m not nearly so bad as a photographer as that pic tries to make me seem. Click on it and see. It is actually clear.) I like the The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks.
Okay, and a vase that I really liked. And the layout guy being a goof.

If you are just here for the knitting, I apologize. Play the song anyway. Tell me that it is too late to apologize it’s too laaate wooah oh . . . Ahem. Sorry. Moving on: Beads. Are they not beautiful? So pretty. Very Hufflepuff. Shh! Don’t tell anyone I said that! I’m supposed to be very very secretive!

And speaking of music, had a community band practice and a Jesus Christ Superstar one tonight. And, yep, I drove. Cold steering wheel and slippy roads. And I learned (or relearned :P) a few things tonight.

1. Playing bari sax takes abs! Oh man, that pressure. . .
2. Playing bari sax can actually make your brain vibrate. Really. It’s a strange feeling.
3. Making fun of TK is like riding a bike. 5 minutes in and I had reperfected the skill it takes to throw some insult at him while everyone else was inhaling for the first note.
4. Related to 3: Not inhaling before the first note on bari leads to bad playing. As does laughing at the guy next to you as he starts laughing at whatever you just said.
5. If there is an incredibly complicated flute solo, chances are the other flutes are going to give and and you are going to look really silly as you struggle through it.

All in all, a very knowledge filled night.

Lots of fat needles. A few smaller ones underneath. Maybe 4 circs, cause they are evil. MIA-an evil circ and some turquoise DPNs.
And that is it. All of the needles that the KnitaSaur owns, all nicely piled up.

Okay, so here is the reason I fear small yarn and needles:

The black ones are the US 11’s that I’ve used for pretty well all of my recent projects. That itsy-bitsy little blue one is what I’m using atm. Scary. Fragile. Teeny.
Means that this is hours of work:

Which of course got ripped out becasue I don’t especially want little holes on the bottom of my foot. Restarted



Mmm pretty socks.
Oh, hey, I finished the shawl.

I’ll try for some better pics soon. Apparently we might just get some sunshine next weekend. I don’t really know what to do with this shawl. I don’t wear shawls. No one I know wears shawls. It’s soft and cozy though, if filled with both intentional and unintentional holes. Notice the center line isn’t exactly centered all the time . . . ah well.

One of my favorite meals and one that ended my brief stint with vegetarianism.

1.25 lbs steak, 1.5 inches thick
.25 cup teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon peanut butter (helps if you microwave it a bit!)
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
.5 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1 can pineapple chunks, drained

Cut steak into 1.5 inch cubes; place in medium bowl. Blend teriyaki sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, garlic powder and Tabasco sauce. Pour mixture over beef, turning pieces to coat thoroughly. Marinate 1 hour, turning pieces occasionally. Reserving marinade, remove beef and thread alternately with pineapple chunks on wooden or bamboo skewers. Arrange skewers on microwave safe platter. Brush with reserved marinade. Microwave on high 2 minutes. Turn skewers over and rotate positions on platter. Brush with marinade. Microwave on high 2 minutes longer or to desired degree of done-ness.

My parent like to add gross things like green peppers. Yuck.

‘Cause today had a birthday, a returned gift, a new gift that was doubled, a drivers license, a totally failed attempt at a sock and horrible frustration with a new circ. I hate circs. Despise. But, wait. Let’s start at the beginning.

It is my little sister’s birthday. Apparently, she really really really wanted the new Webkinz Charcoal Cat, but they couldn’t be found in my city. But, hey, I found one and bought it. Turns out my parents found it first. Now, between buying it and returning it, I went and took a drivers test. Passed, despite a crunch on the sidewalk while parking and a few wide turns. No lawbreaking this time around. w00t. So, then, I drove off all by myself and bought a cute littlekinz that she was hinting about. Turns out someone else bought that for her too. I’m not a fast enough gift-buyer I guess.

On the way home, I stopped at the LYS and bought myself some celebratory sock yarn. No, that is not a pile of yarn barf there–that is just the remains of my attempts at knitting the toes of a sock and ripping it out. . . over and over again. I tried it on some bulkier yarn, and I think I’ve figured it out. It is supposed to be curved, right?

Mmm. Pretty. I also joined the group scarf knitting thing–cast on 180 sts in a yarn of your choice on 6.5mm needles, knit three rows, pass it along. Not a very pretty pic of the yarn, I promise better soon. It’s too late right now. So, on to why I despise circs.
Please tell me that circular needles are not supposed to look like that. Those are some very unpretty joins, and really difficult to work with. And for 13 bucks . . .

Random Cat Photo
It is named Callie has pretty fur and normally very pretty eyes.

I repeat. Do not go here. She is not having a contest and does not need comments as entries for pretty yarn. So, don’t click . . .

please? I wants pretty yarn!

Another place to not click. I know that you have no favorite things and therefore have no reason to visit coconut cupcakes’ contest.

PDF Flickr Blog Posts

Shortly after I learned to knit, I discovered knitting was much more fun if you shared what you were doing with other knitters. With a lack of other knitters around, I turned to the internet. But, of course, to share knitting over the internet, you need pictures. So, off I went to buy myself a camera. I bought the camera, and carried it around in my purse for a little while, but you know purses. They tend to be full of stuff that may just be dangerous to have near a loose camera. I checked a few stores, and didn’t see any that were purse-sized and at least somewhat
attractive. I decided I may as well use my newfound skill of knitting to make one suited to my needs. I felted it to give it a bit of strength and added an inner liner and a button to keep it closed. Voila! A purse-sized pouch that keeps my camera safe from purse contents and is even in colors that I like!

Difficulty Level
Easy
Gauge
Before Felting
20 sts=5.5 inches
20 rows= 4.75 inches
After Felting
20sts=4.25 inches
20 rows=3 inches
Techniques Used
Knit
Purl
Seam
Felt
Size
Small (3×1x2)
Medium (3.5×1x2.25)
Large (4×1x2.5)
Note: Instructions on how to custom fit your own camera are included.
Materials
Noro Kuyeron (100% Wool, 50g, 100m)
Size 11 US straight needles
Tapestry needle
Button
Optional: A small amount of lint-free cotton
Sewing needle
Matching thread

Pattern Notes
Gauge: I didn’t do a conventional gauge swatch for this pattern, as it is difficult to measure stitches after felting. Instead, I did a swatch of 20 stitches by 20 rows, and measured that before and after felting.
Felting: Felting is an unpredictable process. For the swatch, I felted it through a hot wash, cold rinse cycle on my washing machine
three times with a couple of pairs of jeans to add agitation. For the camera bag itself, one and a half cycles gave the same measurements. Also, the fabric will not felt evenly lengthwise and widthwise. This means that the knitted fabric before felting will appear to be the wrong dimensions.
Seaming: Due to the fact that it will felt unpredictably, you may wish to do the seaming after felting and blocking the piece. This will mean that you need to sew the fabric after felting, which is a bit more difficult. I chose to seam loosely (so the seam wouldn’t pull on the fabric) before felting, Do what you want, and good luck!

Pattern
Small:
CO 26 sts
p all sts
k to last st, m1, k1 (27 sts)
p all sts
k to last st, m1, k1 (28 sts
p1 st, m1, kp to end (29 sts)
k to last st, m1, k1 (30 sts)
p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (29 sts)
k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (28 sts)
pto last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (27 sts)
k all sts
p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (26 sts)
k all sts
p all sts
BO 12 sts, k14 , CO 9 sts

Medium:
CO 28 sts
p all sts
k to last st, m1, k1 (29 sts)
p all sts
k to last st, m1, k1 (30 sts)
p all sts
k to last st, m1, k1 (31 sts)
p to last st, m1, p1 (32 sts)
k all sts
p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (31 sts)
k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (30 sts)
p all sts
k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (29 sts)
p all sts
k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 (28 sts)
p all sts
BO 12 sts, k16, CO 11 sts

Large
CO 31 sts
p all sts
k all sts
p to last st, m1, p1 (32 sts)
k all sts
p to last st, m1, p1 (33 sts)
k all sts
p to last st, m1, p1 (34 sts)
k1, m1, k to end (35 sts)
p to last st, m1, p1 (36 sts)
k1, k2tog, k to end (35 sts)
p to last 3 sts, p2tog, p1 (34 sts)
k1, k2tog, k to end (33 sts)
p all sts
k1, k2tog, k to end (32 sts)
p all sts
k1 k2tog, k to end (31 sts)
p all sts
BO 12 sts, k19, CO 12 sts

All
Work st st for 7 rows
BO 9 (10, 12) sts, p to end
Work st st for 20 (22, 24) rows.
BO all sts.

Finishing
At this point, I seamed the edges together very loosely with close together stitches, leaving the longer, curved flap unsewn. (Match the colors of the diagram
together) The edges to do not line up perfectly, as they will felt down at different
rates to match up. I then used a cardboard cutout the dimensions of my camera to block the felted peice to the right size.
Alternatively, you can felt it without
seaming, block the edges to to the right dimensions, and then sew it together,
matching the colored edgers together.
I also added an inner liner of lintless cotton to protect the camera from the wool. To do this, cut out a piece of cotton (sleeve from an old t-shirt works great):
Small – 4 inches by 3 inches
Medium – 4.5 inches by 3.5 inches
Large – 5 inches by 4 inches
Fold it in half lengthwise, seam along the long edge and the bottom, making a little pouch. Sew this into the felted bag.
Sew a button to the front of the bag (the larger side with no flap) around the middle of where the flap will fall. Cut a buttonhole through the flap.

Random Chart. Click here for a big version.

The Math
Using the felted swatch divide
the size of the swatch by the number of stitches (ex: 4.25 inches/20 sts=0.2125). Let’s call it Y.
and rows (ex: 3 inches/20 rows=0.15) This on is Z.
You will first cast on along the longest edge. Take the length of your camera, add the width and at least one inch, divide that number by Y to get the number of stitches to cast on. (ex: 4+1+1=6/0.2125=~28 sts). To figure out how long to work those stitches, take the width of your camera and divide it by Z. (ex:2.5/0.15=~17 rows). You can make the flap curve by increase for the first half of the rows and decreasing an equal number of stitches for the second half.
To finish the flap and begin the bottom, cast off all but L/Y stitches (ex: 4/.2125 = approx. 19 sts), work those stitches across then CO W/Y stitches (ex: 2.5/.2125 = ~12 sts) for the bottom.
Work these stitches for H/Z rows (ex: 1/.15=~7 rows). CO the number of stitches you cast on, leaving only L/Y.
Work L/Y sts for the rest of the bag. You need to do enough rows to cover the width and height of the bag, so H + W / Z = # of rows to work. (ex: 2.5+1=3.5/.15=~23 rows).
BO all sts.