I have decided to go with a double sided bag, because I couldn’t choose between Kirk and Spock. I obtained yarn in the proper colors, and am preparing to go.

I’m really excited about this project. Not just because of the cool Star Trek aspect of it, but I really enjoyed working on my Archie bag, and I’m excited to be doing a similar project.

I played around on photoshop and created charts for both Kirk and Spock. Several issues:

1. I’m not sure if my ink cartridge will live through printing the Spock one. Though I must say that there has been something wrong with my printer cartridges from the start. The color one never worked right, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that my B&W is dying after not printing all that much prior to this chart.
2. Main issue: I have no idea what I was thinking when I set the sizes of the images. The original instructions that I used when I created my Archie chart said to make the image 11 inches wide. I wanted this one to be slightly larger than my Archie bag, so I made it 12 inches wide. This completely disregards the fact that I felted my Archie bag because the proportions were messed up, thus making it much smaller than 11 inches wide. (In fact, it’s more like 9). I also didn’t think of the dimensions of the Star Trek images, so now the chart as printed out is 12 inches wide by 15 inches tall. (My Archie bag is more like a foot tall.) At first, it might not sound like that large of a bag…but when it’s just someone’s face, then it’s ginormous. There’s a huge pixellated image of Chris Pine’s head on my endtable…and it’s freaking me out a bit. And Spock’s head is even bigger than Kirk’s on his poster, so I’ll just be carrying around an image of ZQ’s big old melon.

I’m torn as to whether I should just redo it, and risk overworking my printer, or just have an extra large chart, but actually knit it smaller. The only thing I’m worried about there is screwing up the proportions like they were screwed up on my first bag. I’m not sure that my gauge proportions will remain the same. I’d rather do more work upfront rather than do all this shit and have the bag not come out right in the end. I guess I’m up for some heavy gauge swatching. *sigh*

Rest assured, I’ll figure something out. And it’ll be fun, right?

Right. Chris is excited. Alright.

Good news is that I’ve knit over a mile this month! So at least I made some progress on that front. June will probably be a bit slower because of all the work I’ll have to put into this project before I cast on.

This may not appear craft-related at first, but I assure you, it is.

I absolutely loved the new Star Trek movie. So much so that I actually saw it twice, including once in IMAX. I was really looking forward to seeing Zachary Quinto as Spock and wasn’t disappointed, but the entire cast was great. And though I’ve been a fan of Shatner for his non-acting work I really had no expectations about Kirk, but I thought Chris Pine was great in the role, especially the second time I saw it. (Not that his performance changed obviously, I just noticed it more the second time.)

Which leads me to the crafty part of this. A long time ago, I knitted this bag of Timothy Hutton as Archie Goodwin from the Nero Wolfe series. (That’s quite a mouthful.) Though I don’t carry it that often, I’ve gotten lots of compliments on it both in person and on Ravelry, where it’s been viewed upwards of 500 times and 45 people have it listed as a favorite. (Disclaimer: I can’t take all of the credit for the design, as it’s technically the “Poster Boy” pattern from Stitch ‘N Bitch Nation. I just didn’t use the provided chart but instead used the provided instructions for using your own image.

Anyway, after seeing the movie the first time, I thought it would be awesome to use this promotional poster of Quinto as Spock to make a bag out of it in the same way (and even probably in the same color as the other bag, since Spock wears blue). And rather than put Spock on both sides, I could put the Star Fleet logo on one side. But now I think it would be cool to do Kirk as well. So now I’m torn, and I have several options.

1. Do 2 bags. A blue Spock one and a yellow Kirk one.
2. Choose a neutral color, and do one on each side.
3. Rather than knit in the round like you’re supposed to, do it flat. Make a yellow Kirk, a blue Spock, and sew the two sides together.
4. Only make one.
5. Get a job. (Oh wait, tried that! No one will hire me)
6. Work on my damn thesis already.

I’m leaning towards option 1, because that way I could get both bags to look the way I want, even though that’s the most work. I’m not sure if option 3 would look funny or not. It could look cool, or it could look like a crayon box exploded. I mean, I guess the backgrounds are black for both since the pictures are so dark, so it probably wouldn’t scream color quite like my Archie bag does.

Really I just want to play with colorwork, so I’m not opposed to doing more work. I just want it to look cool.

Anyway, I’m in need of some advice. Anyone have any thoughts?

A bunch of you have (rightly) chided me for not updating this in a while.  What can I say?  Grad school makes me busy.  However, my crafting side has managed to be decently productive otherwise.  So here’s a whole bunch of projects that I’ve done over the past few months:

Project One: Summer Cami

(Sorry for the boob closeup, but it shows the cami in more detail)

I talked about this cami once before in here and my problems with it. I did end up picking up the bottom stitches and added another repeat of the border. It’s still a little short, but I like the look of it with the other tank top underneath.  I also did a crochet border around the neck/backband and the armholes because it was curling a lot.  Way too cold to wear it now, but I’m still happy with it.  1.5 skeins of Cotton-Ease in Lime.

Project Two: Llama-Duck Sweater

It’s actually Llama/Silk yarn.  But I was so amused by the Llama that I got that llama song stuck in my head and so this was dubbed the llama duck sweater.  Firstly, this yarn was gorgeous (Thanks, Scott!). It was soft, it was great to work with, and I have a few skeins left.  I highly recommend it for anything that needs to be warm.  This is the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2008.  It’s a little small in the waist, but it’s still really nice

Project Three: Red Vest

This is quite possibly my favorite thing that I’ve ever knitted. There was no seaming, I finished it in a week, it was easy, and it looks great!  I don’t know what else to say other than I love it.

Project Four: More socks!

I love these socks as well. I’m wearing them right now.  The pattern is called Charade, and it’s Free. I made them on a size 2 needle instead of the recommended size 1 because my feet are a bit larger than average and I’ve heard that the pattern doesn’t stretch.  They fit well, but sometimes the leg sags a little bit.  But not too badly.  They’re still comfy.

That’s it for now! Hopefully more timely updates to come.

Despite my lack of updating, I’ve actually been quite productive knitting wise.  Just not so productive picture-taking wise.  More excitement to come, but today I do have one project to share:

These are my Broadripple socks from Knitty.  I actually knit one back in April and then the other in July.  They’re on size 3’s, which for me are insanely tiny needles.  And I was having a hard time with the pattern. It’s not difficult, but I kept messing it up.  I’m pleased with the overall outcome though.  And here’s better proof that I actually knit 2:

Speaking of Knitty projects, the new Knitty is out today!  My thoughts:

• AHHH!! This baby is being attacked by a horrible scarf monster! *
• The perception geek in me is absolutely in love with this optical illusion blanket.
• The last thing I need is another bag, so I wouldn’t knit it, but it’s cute.
• As usual, too many damn socks.
• I really like the name Mangyle for a pattern.
• Totally sweet hat

(*I actually think it’s funny in a good way. That photo is just hilarious. And Scott points out that it would be awesome to do it in funfur and have it be a muppet hug)

Anyway, more of my stuff to come. I have 3 completed (or mostly completed) projects that I haven’t taken pics of yet, but it’s on the to-do list for this week. (Yes, there is an actual li

I’ve been so busy lately, which is why I haven’t written in a while. But I haven’t forgotten about this blog, and I have plenty of new projects to post once I get a chance.  Four, in fact.  Maybe this weekend I’ll have a chance but between my parents visiting, packing, and moving, I’ve had no time.  So I’ll just take this opportunity to share two very exciting pieces of knitting news (for me anyway).

I moved into my new apartment last weekend, where I expected to find washer and dryer hookups in the room off the kitchen.  I started to explore after I got the keys and found an actual washer and dryer.  And the washer is a top loader!  This is exciting because a) I can now do laundry whenever I want without excuses such as “it’s dark” or “it’s raining” getting in my way, and b) I can felt things now! Very exciting.

Even more exciting news, I got a set of Denise’s used on Ravelry from the ISO and Destashing group. The girl selling it also sold me an extra cord along with the extra 17’s and 19’s.  Hooray!  I have a whole new world of knitting possibilities now, because I don’t have to worry about what size circulars I have. I can just do it.  I just got them in the mail this morning and started using them for my Flutter Sleeve Cardigan, because the size 6s I have are just a tad too short for the back.

So that’s pretty much what I’m working on now.  I didn’t do totals for last month and goals for this one, because I was just far too busy last month to get much done…and school starts soon, so who knows what that will do to my free time?

Anyway, pics of new projects coming. I promise!

PS – Comments totally welcome. I’ve been told that people enjoy reading it, but comments help me believe you

There is a phenomenon I’ve discovered while knitting clothes for myself that I simply do not understand.

I am a small person. I’m 5′0″ and usually wear petite clothes. Yet somehow when I measure a shirt while knitting, I realize that I have to make it longer than the pattern calls for, which is odd because you’d think they need to be shorter. And even after lengthening said shirt, it still ends up shorter than it’s supposed to.

Case in point: the Honeymoon Cami.

I’m using Lion Cotton-Ease, which knits at a much larger gauge than the recommended yarn. So my one repeat of the ribbing at the bottom is longer than what the pattern calls for. When it said to knit for 1.5″ before decreasing, I did 2″. When it said 3″ was a good ballpark figure for the strap (which just sounds wrong) I did something more like 7″. I tried it on, and noticed 2 things: 1) My boobs were out to play, and 2) the top was a good 2-3″ too short.

How does this happen?? I just don’t get it. I believe that if I knit a top to the pattern specifications, it should be longer on me than on anyone else, because I’m short. The only other explanation is that I should listen to what Victoria’s Secret has been trying to tell me and accept that my chest is in fact larger than I’ve been lead to believe all these years.

My plan of attack is to finish as planned (one more strap to go) and then attempt to pick up the ribbing at the bottom and do another pattern repeat. I don’t mind layering another tank underneath to keep the girls in check, but there’s just no good way to deal with a belly shirt. Other than…make sure it’s not a belly shirt anymore.

Finally I finished the Mariah hoodie from Knitty that I started I-won’t-even-tell-you-how-long ago. I took out the cables, because all I wanted was a simple cotton hoodie, and surprisingly I couldn’t find any basic hoodie patterns (at least not in a worsted weight). Anyway, here it is! 4ish skeins of Charcoal Lion Brand Cotton-Ease.

Considering that I first learned how to knit correctly while making this project, I think it turned out pretty well. I really like it. There are a few character [read: messed up] parts of it, and somehow the hood came out a bit short, but I spent the last two evenings sewing up the hood and sewing the zipper on, and all in all, I really like it. I’m thinking of knitting pockets for it at some point, but I’ll admit that it’s a long way off and I’m happy to be done with the thing.

Now some of you may be thinking “Marie, you live in North Carolina, and it is roughly 9,000 degrees outside. Even though your hoodie is made of cotton, you probably still will not actually wear it for some time!” Well, my friends, it may be at least 9,001 degrees outside, but inside my office, I’d say it’s more like 65–in general. More like 60 at my desk, because I have the unfortunate luck of sitting in a cube right under the air vent. (A discovery I only recently made.) I’m so proud of this item, I may even wear it to work tomorrow. (Yes, I have a casual office unless clients are in town.)

Right now, I am working on a few crochet projects. I like that I’ve become bicraftual. Especially since I have way too much yarn, and my stash needs to be stopped. I have more options now than I did before.

After having my progress impeded for a week due to a kitchen knife to the index finger, I’m pretty sure I’m back.  I was luckily able to get some crocheting done, but knitting was definitely out.  I’m still a bit hesitant to knit, but I’m relatively sure I could seam stuff together now.

Unfortunately, everything I’m working on is a gift, and I’m pretty sure those involved will read this, so I will refrain from details regarding my current projects, so

But since it’s the beginning of the month and I’m supposedly attempting to stashbust, I shall post my May totals:

3 skeins of cotton-ease for my hoodie
And 3 skeins of Red Heart Sport for *surprise project #1*
TOTAL: 1070 yards

My stashbusting group on Ravelry has posted their next few challenges for the rest of the summer..and pretty much none of them apply to me, (though the Christmas in July sounds good) so I guess I’ll be doing my own thing, which is fine, because I have plenty of things to do.  But I’m going to take it one month at a time to try to give myself deadlines.  So, June goals:

• Stitch up my Mariah hoodie (hopefully today and/or tomorrow)
• Super-secret projects #1, #2, #3.  So numbered for when I started them, and not when I need to have them done by.  (That order is actually #2, #3, #1)
• Finish the second Broadripple Sock
• Do one project from my Ravelry queue.  Anything really, cause there’s a buttload of stuff up there. I’d be happy with finishing one thing.

I also have a pair of pants that I need to hem, but that doesn’t really count.  I’d like to get that done this week as well.

…and now I should get back to work.

The goddess of needlework is not on my side today.

I finally finished knitting my Mariah today. All that’s left is seaming the hood, and sewing on the zipper…I think “Ooh, great! I’m finally going to finish this thing.”

…and then I promptly slice my finger open with a kitchen knife.  Le sigh.

But, I must say…it looks good!  I thought it was going to be too big, but it’s definitely not.  The hood itself doesn’t go very high…but who actually wears the hood on their hoodie anyway?  I’m excited to have it finished….eventually.

Incidentally, the sweet and sour chicken was also very good.

Didn’t think I’d write again today, but I have to share this accomplishment.
I finally learned how to not twist my knit stitches!

I was taught to knit through the back of the loop, which I’ve known for a while was wrong (but fine in the round).  Depending on what I’m doing, I didn’t really mind the twisting, but for this hoodie I wanted no twisting because it looked messy.  Well, I started knitting in the front of the loop, and you know what I found? Every other row was twisted.  What the crap?

Making a long story short, I tried several different techniques and found that, not only was I knitting into the loop the wrong way, I was also wrapping the yarn wrong.   Go me.