I'm trying to get my financial house in order this year. I'm going to try to live thrifty, bring my lunch more and (gasp!) get serious about my savings. As part of this resolution, I'm trying to use yarn I already own. I have more than I realized, and it really should be put to good use.
A few months ago, I won a yarn give-away hosted by Holla Knits. I won two skeins of Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna in Celery - a beautiful wool-silk blend of yarn in a lovely green color. I was trying to figure out how best to use it, and since I got it from Holla Knits, it only made sense to use a Holla Knits pattern!
I had a small skein of KnitPicks Swish Sport in Cobblestone Heather. I think it makes a really nice contrast to the green. And my, how a project with no sleeves flies!
Plus, there's the back. CABLES. Yum.
Just finished up the seed stitch border this morning and thought you'd like to see the magic of blocking.
Before:
Front
Back
And here we have it drying:
I'll try to be better about modeling the finished garments, but for now, enjoy the magic of blocking!!
I had a lovely stay-cation over the Christmas/New Year holidays. It's a great time of year to have plenty of time on your hands. Due to various circumstances, I was on my own for the holidays this year. This was my choice and felt a little selfish, but of course the wonderful people in my life came through as usual. Friends from college and former co-workers visited, invited and generally welcomed me with open arms.
How can you have such wonderful people in your life and not know in your heart the 2013 will be the best? To paraphrase friends: 2012 - please see yourself out.
Want to know one way I know this? I got to start a project I'd been wanting to make for a long time, without having to buy any extra yarn! (Prepare your best Jimmy Stewart impression and say "It's a Chrastmas Maricle, Clarence!!")
Remember my Delancey Cardigan? I had a great time knitting it and I liked the process... but I'll just admit it. I made a poor yarn choice and should have shortened it. What I've really made is a nice robe and not so much a cardigan.
Looking at other people's finished Delancey's on Ravelry helped me realized that many people had either size or length issues with their final projects. Then, I came across a super modified, deep v-neck version that I couldn't get out of my head. (You can see it here if you're on Rav!)
What I really loved was her eye for color. I just don't have a clue how to pair colors in a creative way, and she'd done all the work for me. When I sat down two days before Christmas, I realized I had almost all the colors in my house at the very moment! I could be making my very own Modified Delancey RIGHT THEN.
So I started:
And just couldn't stop! Christmas movie marathons really help productivity, admittedly. Thanks for your help, Zuzu's Petals!
Whaddya know about that, Bert?
I also did my best to take some time for Droopy, just so he didn't go more than a few hours without a little recognition. Otherwise he makes this face:
Hey. You. More giant Milkbone treats, plz.
As of the start of today's Bowl Game Bonanza, this is where I am:
Ignore the face and hair, please? Consider it one last Christmas gift to me, kay?
Reminder: you're ignoring the face and focusing on the chevrons!
So, basically, I'M IN LOVE. And I don't really care that it makes me look like a happy chappie in a snappy sarape. Because I love it!
Happy New Year, guys. It's going to be great - just you wait and see.
