Styles

Everyone knits a different way. This has been well established. There are people who knit the conventional way, the english way, the backwards english way and who knows what else. Which always makes for interesting times when trying to help someone else out. But somewhere along the way I have developed a way to knit that's different than everyone else....makes it hard to compare notes at times. Most commonly kniters have to turn there work at the end of each row, so long scarfs get twisted and yarn gets tangled (at least it did when I tried this). As the good engineer that I am I sat there and said "this is dumb" and found the way to do it without turning anything. The conciquence of this is having to change the way I read charts and patterns, and of course, most other knitters can't phathom how I do things and refuse to help at times. But I'm happy in my uniqueness, and I love the way I do things, and that's all that matters. The only downside is of course the wonderful "so when you purl this stitch... - I don't purl anything with that stitch...- huh?" but I just have to be quick on my feet and realize what they are talking about, and answer the question correctly after that. :)

Berry Bryce

Baby Bryce is healthy, home, happy and sporting a lovely berry hat, made by yours truely. Now he can be warm in the cold winter air : )

Orange Stocking!

Well, its finished. A little stubbier than I wanted, but hey, irs orange, its homemade, and it will have goodies inside, who could ask for anything more? Now the next challenge is what should I do next? Gloves or a hat? Anything other than that and I'll have to wait til I get home. I have some projects that need finishing and starting at home, but that's less important to me right now, since I have a few more days around in Seattle and not too much else to do besides knit and talk with people. Once home I have cleaning and other things to do but here its more relaxing. But this is a nice end to the christmas season :)

Holiday Travels + Knitting

I was going to post pictures of my latest stocking collection, took them, started to write about them, then got reminded that one if not both of the recipients read this! So that will have to wait for a hung-over new years kinda post instead of a pre Christmas. Instead I’ll show you my traveling knitted adventures. I’m heading home to Seattle, so there’s knitting to be done at the airport, on the plane, and of course when me and the family are just sitting around talking about life. So I’m bringing 2-3 projects. (Not sure about the yardage required for one, so it might only be 2) plus I’m only there for a week so there’s not a ton of time but last year we got snowed in and there was lots of time. I’ve started a rustic orange Christmas stocking (the last for this year) being made for the king of orange, Brandon. Next year I’ll make one for baby Bryce and it will be a full family collection. If this doesn’t eat up all the yarn I bought, I’m gonna make me a “Mark Hat” out of it. Mark (one of my friends at work) has a sense of style all his own, and he has a great collection of hats that he sometimes wears while sitting at his desk working, well as the winter has hit, and things have gotten incredibly cold, I realized that my previously knitted hat needs help. It’s a warm hat…but its for Seattle weathers, not for the heat required to stay warm in the single digits. So a new one needs to get made, and I’m even thinking ear flaps. This yarn is wool, its warm, its got a great color combination to it, it will remind Brandon all winter about his stocking, and most importantly, allow me to go to work in the winter without freezing my ears off. The last project I have is some gloves. Fingerless (or maybe full finger) gloves to wear around the office or wear outside, havent’ decided the usage, but I want to try and make them.

The last thing worth mentioning is a compliment I got at a friends Christmas party a few nights ago. I made a little shirt/sweater for their baby to keep her warm, and I gave it to them at the baby shower. One of the ladies was so impressed by the fact that I knitted it, so impressed by the fact that it didn’t give off that “oooh…you made this…how..um…sweet” feeling that you get when you get some ugly handmade thing. I was pleased that she remembered, that she liked it so much and that it didn’t look like an ugly gift. Sometimes people don’t understand why I am so hard on my self about being able to make things better. Its because I don’t want to give the ugly sweater gift, or the really looks homespun kinda thing. I know that handmade makes it nice, but really good quality, pretty, would pay for it hand made makes me really proud. Sometimes I just get down on what I produce and that’s why. Other times I get really excited over little things, because they turned out so wonderful (like Angie’s hats  ) Hopefully I’ll have some internet access over the next week and I’ll update with any finished projects, Until then, I have a collection of WIP, lots of stories to swap with friends and family, and two airplane rides to get things done. If I don’t get a chance, Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Visions of Code..oh wait...Sugar Plums..

I still have to post about my christmas stocking adventure, as well as the little turkey...but alas my little camera's batteries were dead and between wrapping presents and trying not to wrap the cat, I was exhausted last night and didn't feel up to it.

But, I give you the cutest thing ever. The nerdling and his blanket, keeping him warm. Apparently he sleeps with it every night, and I'm sure he'll learn his 1's and 0's before any words or letters. Might learn sign language first, but still. So long as he eventually learns to program in some language I'll be proud (I'm sure his parents will be proud regardless, but I get to be picky)