Fingerless Frankenstein.

I knit my handspun yarns seen in this post. It is a lone fingerless mitten. I don't have any of the green yarn left, and thus can not make a matching mitten... but I'm pleased with it. It's an ugly little loner, but it was far more satisfying to knit my own yarn than yarn I had simply purchased. I'm afraid I might really be bitten by the spinning bug now that I've actually knit the yarn.

Space Invasion!

Two new things. Firstly, I knit something for my man. Secondly... it involved a brand new technique. Fair isle knitting.
Introducing, the Space Invaders flap hat, sans flaps. Also worked in sport weight yarn (Louet Gems, charcoal and green fern). Ooh la la!


Whoa, think big! Seriously, I would consider myself a beginner knitter because I very rarely venture outside of my known areas. Which is basically knit, purl, increase and decrease. I hate color changes because it requires extra work and weaving in ends. But I went for it, because he wanted it
However, this knitting story doesn't end so well. As I changed colors, I have my strands a little tug, hence tightening them. Not the greatest asset in a hat. This made the hat too small for DH's head. He can get it on, but it creeps up and up and up. So my only option is to frog the hat. :( I'd just make a second one, but there is not enough remaining yarn and no way would he let me invert the colors. For now, the 'finished' hat has been retired to my project graveyard until I can get up the gall to frog something I worked so diligently on.

In better knitting news, I bought myself a ball winder at Wool and Wicker in Richmond. Hubby convinced me of it, I was just going to try some bamboo yarn! Anyhow, I love that thing and I don't know how I lived without it before! I do, however, need to rig up some sort of a swift. I'm going to try to make one out of the kids' Tinker Toys :P

I've also recently found myself addicted to Dance Dance Revolution, if you can call it an addiction when it's only been two days. I could play it all day long if the kids didn't need so much caring for! (I kid, I do love them ;P)

Knit knit knitting. + SOCKS!

I finally finished a pair of shorties for Kiki! They were completed Saturday night before Easter. It's been at least a year since I have knit her a diaper cover - it's just been too busy! I am quite pleased with how these turned out. The pooling is incredible. I have to admit, I LOVE pooling. I rarely alternate skeins throughout a project, and prefer to let the yarn tell me it's story. I only frog in the most extreme cases, but most of the time I love it.

I've named these ones "Spring in Vancouver" because they remind me of the various cherry blossom types we have blooming here. I swear they has popped up over night. One day the trees were bare, entirely bud less. The next morning, amazement, shades of pale and deep pink framethe streets of Vancouver.

And boy, does Kiki ever rock them :)

I just finished grafting the crotch seams and weaving in the ends of an adorable little pair of NB shorties. Three Irish Girls (formerly Irish Baby Knits) yarns are wonderful. I used 'Curran' on Galenas Merino. So yummy and soft, perfect for a wee one! Again, I am thrilled with the pooling on this one. It's almost as if it was self-striping. This one will be stocking sometime in May/June - whenever I feel I've built up enough stock. :P

On a spur of the moment trip to my favorite yarn shop, Three Bags Full, I decided to try something new. I picked up some Cherry Tree Hill super sock, and teeny tiny Crystal Palace bamboo dpn's....

plus = SOCKS!

Yep, I'm going to try knitting socks for myself! I tried toddler socks once... in worsted weight acrylic yarn. It wasn't so great. But that was one of my first projects. This should prove much more successful.
However, I'm having a hard time finding patterns for size 1 needles (the size suggested by the saleslady) and a size 8.5 wide/9 shoe size. I don't want to put a ton of work into beautiful socks that I can't wear. Darn these obscenely huge feet and thick ankles!
Does anyone have a suggestion? I don't want just plain socks, but it can't be too difficult because really, this is a first for me :) Thanks in advance!

NB Polar Morn set

NB Polar Morn set
Originally uploaded by lemamastone

Finally done! Well, almost. All that is left to do it a pair of scratch mits.
This is the last pair of shorties for my dear friend, Kandi. I feel like I have been working on her stuff forever :P Probably because I have. Never, ever tell me to take my time!
The photo shows the shorts and hat before blocking. I was too excited to show Kandi, I had to do it before hand!

Shortly after taking this (and a few other) photos, my camera decided it was going to give me a lens error. Something I was expecting, as the lens cover has been jammed open since January 5, but hoping to avoid as long as possible.
So of course, I was rather upset. I loved my little camera, despite all the heck it has given me. (Canon Powershot a540) I'd assume this would be the death of my camera, a belief reinforced by reading responses to "Help me!" posts.
In a slough of hopeless posts, I came across this:
"I had this error show, visited various websites including Canon who recommended I send it for service but were not optimistic about the chances of repair. I felt I had nothing to lose, so I switched it on and before the error shut it down I gave it a good sharp tap against a soft wooden surface. It worked instantly. Good luck."

While thinking to myself that I must be crazy for even considering this... I said what the heck and smacked my camera down on my desk. VOILA! Working camera! Who would have thought?