Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy new year, everyone. I have a few resolutions this year. Some of them are useless goals, hobbies - others are for personal gain and growth, and others are for the good of people around you, friends or strangers. I like to have a good balance of all mentioned.

- finish 12 video games (ideally 1 a month as opposed to cramming several into my last two months in a stressed frenzy)
- read 365 books in 365 days
- read at least 40 novels from the 1001 books you must read before you die list
- lose 30-50 pounds
- save up $4000+ for car restoration project
- be more social
- knit 52 hats in 52 weeks
- knit 11 pairs of mittens in 2011.
- graduate school in June


All are pretty reasonable goals to me. Some will take a bit of effort, but thats where the fun lies, after all. I actually just finished my first hat. One down, 52 to go! I'm hoping to get more like 60+ truthfully. Some will be for gifts and maybe two more for myself, but the rest will probably go to charity.

I have plans to take Boxknits to higher levels this year. I don't expect almighty progress but I have plans to make people more familiar with the title, at the least!


Here is a quick photo of the hat:


I had intentions to make this a more interesting update, but it is 3:20am. I want to get this hat off the needles, and - in typical fashion - cast on yet another. plus, i'm watching psych.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Today happens to be a dreary, rainy, stormy day - in December! - so I decided to cast on a Wurm hat with my purple magic Malabrigo. I bought it easily 6-8 months ago, and am only now doing something with it. It was my first real yarn, i thought i should cling to it for an eternity!


















I can see myself frogging this hat, honestly. It seems too simple for such a beautiful yarn, which is silly haha. I vowed to finish it before I rip it back or frog it, just in case I end up liking it after all.


I don't know why I decided to knit things with 5 days or less to spare, but I don't feel stressed or overwhelmed about it at all.


In other news, there are new guests in my house.





































sweet, huh? :)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

So, after a 2 month hiatus of knitting and crafting and, well, its kind of like I was going through like on cruise control lately.

I officially went on my holidays for school on the 18th, so I baked so many things. Candy cane Cookies, tie dye shortbread cookies, and 20 Chocolate Chunk Muffins.


Last night I picked up my needles for the first time since mid to late October, and I cast on a hat - the Cap Karma Hat which was a really simple pattern. For those of you without Ravelry who would like the pattern [me imagining i have loads of readers, clearly..] CLICK HERE
Here is a photo of mine, knit for my sister as a christmas gift - because nothing beats knitting gifts 5 days before they are due ;)


I liked the hat as it was but when I saw a modified decreasing where you could continue the cables, it was far too nice to pass up on. I muddied it up but it worked out. You can see the pattern for the cable modification HERE


On Sunday, I started knitting a pair of Cruiser Mittens. Again, for those of you without Ravelry, CLICK HERE.
These mittens really are quite lovely, they're almost like a mens version of Bella's mittens, as the cable is the same 'whale tail' shape. They are a surprise gift for christmas, so I can't get him to try them on. They are too big for me, and too small for my father, so this leads me to believe they will fit the recipient perfectly.



This is only the second time I have used my Harmony needles. Every knitter should have a pair of these, though if i ever got the interchangeable kit, I would probably go for the nickel plated ones. Do recommend, all the same. The circulars are enjoyable, too!