When we last saw the Knitting Samurai...

she was battling her way through 2 Rndom Miles of stash yarn selected at random by you. While some yarns were quickly subdued and converted to FOs (finished objects)
216 was Cascade Lana Grande, in Purple
3 was a variegated acrylic yarn
243 was Berroco Nostalgia, in Magenta
195 was Lion brand Microspun in Yellow
9 was Berroco Zen, in a lime-green

Other yarns proved more resistant to the knitting transformation that awaited them.

177 is Shepherd Baby Wool, in an Orange Sherbet was just like the yellow microspun. It took forever to use up this yarn.

First I knit the Cat Bordhi Heart Seed Stitch booties.
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Then it was a Meathead hat for charity.
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Next it was Cat Bordhi’s Charlie’s Wiggle Room Booties (with two-tone heels and toes) and lastly it was the AMAZING Cisco hat!
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That hat was so much fun to knit. I used double strands of sock yarn. The photos don’t do it justice. I’m knitting one for myself next.

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312 is Plymouth Indicita Alpaca, in Black shouted dressy, formal, male to me. So I designed the Distinguished Gentleman’s Neck Warmer with a certain Boyfriend in mind. I love the texture of the knitting and the feel of the yarn itself. Ok so maybe a certain Girlfreind will steal said Neck Warmer.

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13 is Cascade Pastaza, in Navy was destined to be hats. First I designed the waving hat, which fell somewhat short of expectations. Then I moved onto the Lilhammer hat which I adore and can not wait for a cold day to wear it.

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245 is Berroco Sowftwist in Aliziarin/Red was a bit splitty but I did enjoy knitting the BU wrist warmers and the skein was finished off with this stylin’ camera case. Ok so it’s another type of cozy. In fact they both are cozies. I’m a cozy queen!!!


So yes I did successfully use up all nine yarns in the 2 Mile Random Challenge. You can see details on the other yarns here. Mileage wise, 3.69 miles were knit in September! I guess that’s what happens when a woman of leisure sets her mind to do some knitting.

Distinguished Gentleman’s Neck Warmer

By Mychawd

Materials:
o US size 7 16” circular needles
o 1 skein Plymouth Indiecita Alpaca 4-ply worsted –shown in black
· 1 skein Classic Elite Inca Alpaca is a good substitution.
o Tapestry Needle to weave in end.

Finished Measurements:
17” circumference, 6” in length

Gauge:
18 sts x 24 rows for 4”

Body:
Using Long Tail Cast on
Cast on 84 stitches
Purl 1 round
K2, *YO, K2tog, K2* repeat across remaining stitches.
Repeat patterned round, always knitting the first two stitches in the round.
When piece measures 5”
K2, *K2tog, K2* repeat across remaining stitches.
Purl 1 round
Bind off .
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Lightly block and enjoy a toasty neck.
© 2008, Mychawd

Color Trends towards Zucchini

I seem to have a real color scheme going on today.
I’ve been busily working on the Twisty Turn wrap from Wrap Style. I cast on at 10pm the other night using the Lime-Navy Malabrigo I got at one of the trips to Webs. I love how the colors transition from one to the other. Front of the photo

I’m also working on the Lillehammer Hat by Cider Moon. Back of the photo and chart Using the Navy Pastaza and the amazing green Pastaza I got at Mind’s Eye Yarn Shop last week. I’m flying through it although my right hand is protesting such dense knitting. Why does it do that? Doubled yarns or two colors on medium sized needles and my knuckles start to cry. Which means I can only do about an hour at a time and then rest.

I've also turned the heel on one of the Space Needle socks that have been shoved down to the bottom of my knitting bag these past three weeks. I've picked up some momentum and hopefully will finish them in the next week or so.

But I’m sure you’ll find this the most interesting part of my day…I made a “Fake Apple Pie Crumble”. It is amazing! And what’s Fake about you may say…well…it doesn’t have any apples, in their place it calls for zucchini! We had a giant one from a friend’s garden and I didn’t feel like making a normal zucchini dish. So skeptical as I was, I dug in and peeled, seeded, and chunked the zucchini. I found the recipie here, and if you’re sick of eating zucchini that tastes like zucchini I encourage you to give it a shot. Oh and The Boyfriend didn’t notice anything different about it. I told him that it wasn’t just apples that it was zucchini and his jaw dropped. He finished his serving and I said “maybe next time I’ll actually use apples” to which he looked shocked and amazed, “it was just zucchini?!?!?!” You betcha!

Sky and Sophie

I had some interesting company while I was knitting, I’m cat sitting for Sky and Sophie. They are just 4 weeks old and starting to be brave and run around.
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Later on today I’m heading to the Common Ground Fair with the girls. It should be a good time. Since it is a fair, it’ll only be cash transactions. So I’m bringing $100 and hoping to have enough self control not to spend it all on yarn. I will need to eat too.
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There are now 11 days to go in the 2 random mile challenge. Last night I finished off 9 Berroco Zen, in a lime-green. This was definitely one of the five oldest yarns in my stash. It’s scratchier than I would like but it’s 55% cotton, 45% nylon so a good washing should soften it up. It’s very loose so I may throw it in the dryer as well and hope it’ll shrink up a bit.

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Mileage report: I can’t believe it.

I guess all the charity knitting really blew through a lot of yarn. I’m at 3.5 miles for this month alone!!! So the 2 mile part of the challenge is complete. In terms of the 9 random yarns, I’ve worked with 1 (and I don’t plan to use it all up, it’s a sweater!), I’ve finished off 4 others, I have projects going with 3, and that leaves 1 that I’ve yet to touch! We shall see if I can come up with something for the black sport weight alpaca.

BU now with added knitting!

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Wednesday night I finished the adult wavy hat. I used the navy pastaza but not all of it. I’m not in love with the hat design. It’s not how I envisioned it. There will need to be a third version.

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Today we visited a couple Boston graduate schools including Boston University. And by we, I mean that The Boyfriend talked with people while I sat with my Ipod and my knitting. I used some of the Berroco Softwist to make a great wrist warmer. It’s mate is coming along.

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After that I headed off to Mind’s Eye Yarn Shop where I got some lovely hand dyed sock yarn in shades of blue.

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We rushed back for class and knitting group. It was a good as always. While we were talking The Librarian showed surprising insight into what I should be doing. Here is a photo. I’ll leave it for you to guess what it is. I will tell you that it’s less than 5” high and it will be felted. Can you say super cute?

Falling Leaves

I spent Thursday reorganizing the stash. Took everything out and sorted it by content and weight. Repacked and unpacked some purchases so that it all fits in the bins again. Well it sort of fits in the bins again but at least the closet is nice and organized. I was surprised to see how much progress I’ve made with knitting the older yarns. Really I’d say I’m at about 40% of that stuff. Which is good considering two years ago it was 100%. Yeah, sure I’ve bought yarn since then but I’ve knit a lot of the older stuff as well.

Yesterday I knit hats for charity. AND I finished off the yellow microspun that’s been plaguing me for the past two weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to finish off a yarn.

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I used quite a bit of the 177 Shepherd Baby Wool, to make one of the hats (4 strands at once, that stuff really flies off the needles). Then I realized I would have just enough left to knit another pair of baby socks. I’ve had the pregnant cousin on my mind a lot this week. She must be getting close. Would orange socks be ok for a boy? Probably not, but I can always put them aside.

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Last night we went to see the movie The Women. It was pretty good for a chick flick. I worked on the Rose Ribbing Sweater while I watched. This is in 243 is Berroco Nostalgia and I’m making good progress on that, now at the arm increases. I definitely won’t finish this by the end of the month but right now I’ve used 2.5 skeins and will be happy to get as much done as possible without pushing too hard.

So here is my progress report in terms of fall leaves…
Turned reds and golds and fallen from the tree…
216 is Cascade Lana Grande, in Purple
195 is Lion brand Microspun in Yellow
3 is a variegated acrylic yarn

Just starting to change colors, part of the leaves are orange
13 is Cascade Pastaza, in Navy.
177 is Shepherd Baby Wool, in an orange sherbet
243 is Berroco Nostalgia, in Magenta.

Clinging to their vivid green color, no signs of changing
312 is Plymouth Indicita Alpaca, in Black.
245 is Berroco Sowftwist in Aliziarin
9 is Berroco Zen, in a lime-green.

And mileage wise I’m at 1.34 miles so far (knitting at least 5 hours a day) with a total stash amount of 51.96 miles of yarn.

You know you want some too

What is it about fall that make me turning into a felting queen? The same thing happened last year at this time. Except then it was cosmetic bags and this year it’s toys and pot holders. I attempted to design a Devon Rex toy for Mum. It turned out to be a super cute dog. Like a beagle. I over exaggerated the muzzle and didn’t get enough of a break between the nose and forehead. I’ll try again only this time use short rows and start at the mouth instead of the top of the head, worry about assembly later. Other than being a dog, I am very pleased with how the project came out, pre-felting of course.

I haven’t done much by way of the 9 yarns in the challenge. Felting takes a lot of yarn so I’m definitely moving forward on the challenge but I’m at a bit of a standstill with the specific yarns. I was designing a waving hat with the navy Pastaza and need to get back to that.

At knitting group last night I was whining about using the yellow microspun. In response we decided that The Communicator would look excellent in a pair of yellow stirrup pants. Like they had in the 80s. Yellow with some fun fur ruffles in bright blue. Yellow with a hot pink bull’s-eye on the butt. Yellow with a bathroom flap on the butt. Yellow with stirrups and bellbottoms. Yellow with a bright blue adult soaker. Yellow with a matching low cut yellow tank top.
I’ve done a rendition of what I think the ideal pants would look like. The Communicator laughed as we decided that we could take turns working on them and pass them around the group. It's ok, you can admit it, I know you want a pair too!

You know what else I need? Creamer. We’ve been without for the past two days and it’s driving me insane not to have coffee in the morning. Those little routines get so ingrained. Off to go buy some creamer.

It's Fall

Before heading to Mamma Mia for the 6th time my mother sees it, we did a little redecorating. I guess I’m being a bit a fruit about this, but I just love the way my hallway looks with the addition of these two paintings. So much classier. And of course Mamma Mia was even better than the previous times. Such a great feel good movie.



Today marks the beginning of fall. For most people that’s when kids go back to school or the nights start to get a little chilly. Not for us. Fall starts when The Boyfriend starts wearing football jerseys on Sundays and friends and family join him for the afternoon. Fall is when I start to go a little crazy listening to the Fantasy Football talk (at least I understand the game of baseball which makes that somewhat tolerable).
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Yesterday I finished off 216 Cascade Lana Grande in the form of a second, smaller oven mitt. The first is too big for me.
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After that I moved onto 3 Variegated Acrylic which was promptly turned into a sac to stuff with grocery bags, which we save and reuse for poop scooping.
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Lastly I started designing this Wavy Baby hat using lots of complicated math to hide the decrease and maintain the size and shape of the waves. I used more of the 195 Lion Brand Microspun, but of course there is still some left from the never ending ball of yarn!

Currently I'm at 0.62 miles. I’ve got to tell you. It felt amazing to zip through two yarns yesterday. To clear out just a little space in the stash. I am still a little buzzed off the excitement. I think I need to do more challenges that involve clearing out single skeins.

Handful of Elephant

As you can see I have a handful of elephant. She has a little flower tattoo, and a cute little bow. And look at that dainty little tail. I shall call her Daisy. Although she is intended for another.

I knit her using 195 Lion brand Microspun but barely put a dent in the skein. I’ll definitely have to do some baby hats. While Daisy is adorable she was not so much fun to knit. Next time I’ll knit her flat rather than fighting to knit 30 stitches in the round. I used magic loop which may have added to my frustration.
The pattern is the Flower Power Elephant.

Right now Mac is pacing back and forth on the table between the keyboard and my face purring up a storm. It’s one of those rare moments when he actually likes me.

Get ready tonight, or tomorrow morning there will be some felting! Yes I have my pillowcases ready and I promise not to put items directly into the machine. But before that I'll be working on the Rose Ribbing while watching Mamma Mia!

...Here I go again, my my how can I resist you...

Oven Mit

I just had to share. This is Nessa Rose’s baby Big Papi. Isn’t he just the cutest? He looks like he should be reclining on a chase lounge by the pool, doesn’t he? I haven’t said much about what I’m currently knitting because there are 3 super secret Christmas and birthday gifts being knit. But as soon as I’m able I’ll share details with you all.

2 Random Mile Challenge:
Since I was already using number 216: Cascade Lana Grande, I decided to keep going. I was inspired to design something based on the quiches I just made. When I took them out of the oven I used our trusty “grippy frog” and a regular pot holder. The pot holder didn’t lend the same confidence as the grippy frog. Here I was holding a 2 pounds of bubbling cheese and egg with the tips of my fingers. There was a need for another grippy frog, but not as structured. Something that could hang with the pot holders and not need space in a drawer. Enter my Oven Mitt.

Side note: every time I talk about it or he sees it, The Boyfriend yells, Mittens!!!! And laughs as he thinks of Mit Romney.








I also decided a matching pot holder to sit the dish on once it’s been taken out of the oven would be nice. Both will be felted and I’ll be sharing the pattern in a few days.

The Yarns

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Thank you all for your help. This will prove to be a very challenging month for me, as the yarns that came up are far from my favorites.
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First I sorted my list of yarns by weight, then assigned the numbers. I didn’t want to do the predictable listing by name, as it’s shown on Ravelry.
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312 is Plymouth Indicita Alpaca, in Black. Just one skein at 102 yards. Fairly harmless. I had bought this envisioning mittens or perhaps a hat.
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216 is Cascade Lana Grande, in Purple. It’s a super bulky yarn of which I have about 200 yards. I got it in a Valentine's Day swap and never was sure what to do with it, until I used some for the Curlfect Mice. Turns out that this is a gret felting yarn. Funny thing is that I actually picked this up last night and knit a water bottle cover out of it.
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195 is Lion brand Microspun in Yellow. This is a 100% acrylic and very splitty yarn, plus I despise this color. According to my records I have 126 yards but it’s a massive ball so I’m thinking it might be more than that. I see some preemie hats with purple accents.
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3 is a variegated acrylic yarn that I purchased at Michael’s way back. I have no idea what the name is or if it’s blended with anything else. Here I only have 90 yards and a complete lack of inspiration. Maybe I’ll make some Christmas ornaments out of it, or something. Hello Ravelry Queue, any suggestions?
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13 is Cascade Pastaza, in Navy. I had also seen hats when this was purchased. Some sort of fair isle with the light blue Pastaza I already had. Pastaza is a 50/50 wool/llama yarn so it might be too itchy. We shall see.
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245 is Berroco Sowftwist in Aliziarin which is a rich burgundy color. I have one skein of this as it was bought with 13 skeins of the Turquoise color as I dreamt of doing a sweater with a slight amount of color work. Again mittens, or maybe a headband with the 85 yards.
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177 is Shepherd Baby Wool, in an orange sherbet sort of color. I had used this yarn in an attempt to make baby piggy mittens. They failed and I was left with 239 yards of fingering weight baby wool. Who knows what to do with this?!?!
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243 is Berroco Nostalgia, in Magenta. I just used this yarn in the cream color to make the Lutea-Lace Tank Top that was part of the Tour De France July Challenge. Currently I’ve been working with the Magenta color on the Rose Ribbing Sweater. I had to rip it back and just this weekend finished off the first skein. I have ten more skeins to complete this short sleeve sweater.
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9 is Berroco Zen, in a lime-green. This is probably the second oldest yarn in my stash. When I first began to knit, I began to work on a massive grey Donegal tweed rolled cuff sweater for myself. One Friday afternoon I had a haircut and felt like a treat so I stopped into the yarn shop next door, mind you, this is some 4 years ago but I remember it as clear as day. I spoke with the owner for a while and landed on a second project, a scarf for my mother in this very expensive yarn. I have no idea how much it cost but at that time it was an extravagance to buy anything at a yarn shop. While I did finish the Grey giant, and do still wear it on occasion, I have never knit that scarf for my mother. Advice for what to do with 110 yards of ribbon yarn would be greatly appreciated.

So these 9 yarns represent the beginning of my Random 2 Mile hike to burn up some stash yarn. I feel as though I’ve been dared to use them up and clear out some space for more. Actually I don’t need anymore I just need to get rid of the old stuff (i.e. department store purchases) I’ll never use and the odd balls I’m no longer inspired to use. Well watch out cause here I come!

Oh and if you’d like to add to my challenge, go ahead and throw out a number! If I do knit all this up, that’s only 2,000 yards and I need 3,520 to make 2 miles. So if you can think of a number between 1 and 319 I’ll gladly add it to my list. Thanks so much.