Baby's Second Tattoo

Yes, that's right--after all the whining I did last time, I'm knitting another Baby's First Tattoo (from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation). I know, I swore I wouldn't do it, but it's soooooo cute. And a really easy knit.

I mean, look, here's a back and most of a sleeve already:



Also, this sort of thing would be quicker and easier if I didn't get these bees in my bonnet. This sweater is for my newest little cousin, Sophie, who was born a week ago today. Her father's brother's daughter (how's that for complicated?) got the orange version of the sweater, so I thought it would be nice to make this one in a different color and with a new motif on the front. Her parents aren't really skull and crossbones people, and I didn't like the other pre-charted motifs, so . . . I made my own!


If you can't tell, it's a little Chinese dragon, and I think it'll be absolutely adorable. Now I just need to knit it . . .

A Dreamy Day of Daydreaming of You

Okay, so Of Montreal probably weren't talking about knitting, but . . . isn't this dreamy?


This is my completed Dreams of Madeira scarf. The pattern is free, and a quick and beautiful knit. Needles: size three (3.25 mm).


The yarn is Jojoland Harmony (100% wool); I think colorway HC07. Ball band is not handy. This yarn is a good value for the money (800 yds for about 10 USD per skein). It's not incredibly soft, which is a quality I find many cobweb-weight yarns have; something about the proportionally higher twist, I think? Knit up and washed, however, it's softer and very warm and light. It's a separately-dyed two-ply, which gives it the beautiful color changes.


The model is the long-suffering Irishman, who--unfortunately for him--happened to be wearing a black shirt the day I decided to take pictures. But doesn't he look adorable?


The scarf, which is really more of a stole, is a gift for my friend (and new housemate!), Jennifer. I mention the stole thing because it came as a bit of a surprise to me. Not at all a bad thing, just if you're looking for something long and skinny, this isn't it.

Anyway, I am very pleased, and I even have yarn leftover!

Malabrigo nom nom nom

This time, just a little yarn pr0n. Because yarn takes the edge off, y'know?

I try very hard to avoid buying much yarn, because I don't have much space, and I already have more yarn than I could reasonably knit in a year, even if civilization were to collapse and take away my access to Posh Yarn.

On the other hand, if civilization were to collapse I could totally stop going to work, so maybe I should buy more yarn.

Anyhoodle, my Achilles' heel is weekly knit night at WoolWinders, where I'm regularly exposed to wool fumes. I'm reasonably resistant . . . but not to Malabrigo. To be fair, I'm not sure anyone is truly immune to Malabrigo. I mean, look at it:



And by "it" I of course mean "the laceweight I may or may not have purchased two skeins of because LOOK IT'S GREEN."

And then there's this:


Now, you've got to understand. I'm not really a pink person. (Well, in my dye preference. In my actual skin, I am an extremely pink person.) I'm definitely not a pastel person. But look at this. It looks like cotton candy threw up a cloud. And I am helpless before it.

I should knit this stuff quick to get it out of the stash before it breeds.

Really, that long?

Yeah, I know. But moving is haaaaaaaaaaaaaard. First, you have to pack up all your yarn. And then move it. And then unpack it. And you never know where you've put anything.

Well, at least, I never know. Maybe it's different for those of you who are "organized." Do let me know what it's like sometime.

Anyway, on the knitting front I have managed to accomplish a few things. Thus, it is time for a (*announcer voice*)

Work in Progress: Update (update update)

First and foremost, Irtfa'a. When last seen, it looked like this:


(Incidentally, why do so many knitters describe their knitting--particularly shawls and sweaters--as she? My knitting is genderqueer.)

Now it looks like this:


Yes indeed, Big Black Blob status has been achieved. I'm 2/3 done with the quill and feathers section, allllllllmost ready to start the edging. So close, and yet so far!


Next is the (sadly misnamed) March scarf. When last seen, it looked like this:


Now, it looks like this:


I estimate that it's about half-done. I have an issue with scarves where I stop knitting when I get bored, not when the scarf should actually be stopped. So they tend to be kind of short. I myself like a short scarf, but apparently other people don't? Or something crazy like that, anyway. So this time I am going with the POWER of MATHEMATICS to achieve a 60" scarf.

Also, maybe I'll change the name so it's less depressing. My friend Stephanie from knit night calls it my "candy cane." Much more friendly, eh?

So you see, lots of progress on the primary WIPs. Ravelry informs me that I have several FOs and new WIPs to discuss, but I think I'll leave those for next time. Au revoir, mes amies!*

*I don't actually speak French. I just think it's classy.