116.

A big-ish kind of update I suppose. I've been secretly working on socks for my boyfriend for the last couple of weeks or so but, he doesn't exactly have a normal size foot so making them too small is a very likely thing to happen. I ended up having to break the surprise so that I could measure his foot as I go. Hows about a pair of handmade socks for a size 16 foot... Yeah.

I also went on another tie dye spree with Christy last week and made up some new socks, tshirts, underwear & baby rompers. Everything turned out pretty cute except for when I hung everything to dry I apparently had not rinsed enough of the dye out so I got some random colored spots on things. Most importantly the underwear I did for my man friend turned out fabulously but, not fabulously enough to actually fit him. Sadly a large at the dept. store across the street from my house means a size 30-32 which is definitely not large. I suppose I will re-gift and come up with something else for him.

I went to PA with some friends this last weekend and picked up some thrifty stuff. I'll be putting these two things + a few more on my Etsy and re-newing some old knitted listings.

So, I guess this post wasn't that big - just chock full of pictures.

x

113.

Sometime last week I had a bunch of ladies over for a dreamcatcher making evening in my new apartment that I think went fabulously. I spent the afternoon wandering around in the slush looking for some kind of plastic O shaped thing because I hadn't yet looked up what dream catchers are exactly made out of, probably something I should have done before I went out on my shopping for supplies mission.

Either way, after a few hours of going to all the wrong stores I decided on some moldable wire.

We braided the wire and squeezed it together with plyers to make it a bit more secure then molded them into circles. Next time, I am definitely going to be ordering the rings online because that process took a lot longer than I thought it was going to. Next, I took some yarn and wrapped it around the newly made 'O' to make it a bit thicker all the way around. Finally I wrapped it with a piece of thin, wide suede.

figuring out the inside webbing was a bit tricky but Christy having macramed in the past figured out a pretty good way of doing it. I on the other hand broke down and youtubed a how-to video on the webbing.

Either way, they all turned out pretty amazing and there have been renegade feathers popping up all over my apartment for the last week.

I can't wait to make all of my friends forever, dreamcatchers for their birthdays.

I'm pretty happy with the way mine turned out. I think the next time I'm going to go overboard with the feathers though. Just get nuts with it.

17.

well, i've made an etsy shop.

Just going to post a few things up there for now... see how it goes. maybe my friends will pity my efforts and buy a couple things. haha.

Anyway, working on another tote bag. I'm using the yarn I bought off yarntopia on ebay, its knitting up quite lovely... this time i shall do it bigger. I've also made it to the ribbing at the bottom of the body on my Lauren sweater. Sleeves up next!

I got the most BEAUTIFUL present in the mail today...


as i walked into my apartment today, i saw the handwriting of my childhood santa clause (yes, i was devistated to find out it was my grandmother all along) on a massive box. a gift!! when i saw the size of the box, i knew what it was going to be but i had NO idea it was going to be so beautiful!! I called her immediately and grilled her about what kind of yarn she used, how long it took, what size needles (canada and the us have different needle sizes - i had no idea though it should be obvious)... I cant wait for it to get cool enough outside for me to wear it.

And of course, me being ridiculous, the headband in the first picture, is actually not a headband at all... she informed me it was a cowl she sent me in return for the one I sent her for her birthday.

Alright, I've got coffee grind under my nails, off to the showers.

x.
-granny.

14. - FO

well well,

that caplet sure was a quick knit!!

Anthropologie Inspired Caplet :


yarn : brown sheep cotton fleece / color : CW 740
needles : US 10 - 16" circular bamboo needles


mods : added 4 sts to add an extra inch (after gauge) - added 1" to the neckline & knit 3 rows before casting off sleves instead of 5.
notes : i love the yarn, its the same yarn i used to knit the slouch hat. i am blocking as we speak.


after finishing this, i immediately went on ebay and bought 4 adorable sweater clips that i am now waiting for in the mail. i am thinking of messing with the pattern a bit and knitting a few more, possibly seeing if i can get them in this cute vintage consignment shop right around the corner from my work.

something else i'm rather excited about... yellow belt up there in the caplet photos? - why yes that cost me $2.00. good thrifting in new york city is a little difficult. i'm debating a driving trip out to new jersey to thrift it up because there are slim pickings in new york for good steals. i'm rather excited i made it out of my local junk shop with 3 good finds. if anyone in nyc knows of A grade thrifting - please tell me your secrets.

i got hired for a huge job that i'll be doing out in LA for a few days in July. makeup and casting! big news, but... if conflicts with 2 friends visiting me from toronto/california. i'll have to sort this problem out.

i hate working in the evenings... i still get up early but i spend the entire first half of my day, waiting to go to work.

i suppose i'll have a shower and start another caplet that i can knit on the train.

before i go, my lauren update:




yes, i was on my phone in that photo. wheelin' & dealin'. booked another makeup job on wed. yessss...

x
-granny.

13.

this is my 13th blog post, tomorrow is friday the 13th, today was a day from hell.

let me just start this with a small rant. i work in the service industry, yes... along with a makeup artist, knitter, i am a waitress. i work at a cute coffee shop in the east village. i like the people i work with, the place has a good vibe over all but there are the occasional shitty bastards that stumble in much like what happened today. NO ONE (and i capitalize that for importance) should ever have to take an order from someone who thinks its okay to order from the waitresses boobs. today, at 11am, i, or excuse me... my boobs took an order from a man in a pink polo shirt 1 or 2 sizes too small for him for french toast. thanks jerk. they get through the meal and come to the register to pay me. leave a mediocre tip (which is another thing i don't think i'll go into right now). my vibe at this point is not yet completely ruined so, i return to the table to bus it and voila! a MOUND of pennies. i don't know what compelled this guy to leave his piggy bank on my table but it was SO insulting. if you really need the money that bad bro, keep it. bad tippers and people who are rude to their waitresses make me INSANE. ugh.

aside from that, i had a makeup job today (TFP which means, no pay). the model was adorable, i knew the photographer from LA but where is the location? at the house of a guy who i'm 90% sure hates me for my flakiness. i don't want to get into it but in the end, i ran away. makeup suitcase, eyeshadow bag and messenger bag in tow.

i hope tomorrow is better.

let's start with things that are going to make it better... idea's on what to knit (i've hit a slight wall) :


i found this on ravelry, after faling in love i realized many people have knit this precious gem. one that i'm partial to
super classy and ladylike. i would love to add it to my closet.


another ravelry find by iKnit2Much. the color and style of this caplet is absolutely amazing. i wish i could pull off wearing classic vintage clothing like this but i always feel silly being out of my 'uniform'. well, maybe this is a good idea as a starter. the pattern is free and it looks pretty quick. maybe this will be my WWKIP knit choice.


almost everything i've seen come from another shop girl is something i would absolutely love to knit. i am all for pockets on everything! skirts, dresses, shirts... you name it, i think it should have pockets.


this is just beautiful.
where do i find you in english?? i want you. i love you.


oh, yes, hello there adorable bag... team knit... ace choice.

a frogging horror story? sure, why not...

i started a hat yesterday with my berocco softwist yarn i've had stored away, very excited i started the slouch hat i've already made and thought to myself... why not try something crazy here. why not try to use a piece of another pattern and make this hat a little more interesting. so i go through my saved patterns on my computer and come across the dizzy. give it a shot, why not... all is going well for about 2" post ribbing when i realize... i've messed up. i don't know what to do, do i keep going because its lace and it works anyway? do i rip it apart with all those yo's and confuse the hell out of myself trying to figure out how to put them back on the needle?

i ripped it. its a mess.

and now, i put my tail between my legs and let it sit for a while. i'll work on my lauren tonight before bed.

goodnight.

x
granny.

12.

hi.

its been entirely too hot to knit here lately so i've been slacking on my lauren but, i'm about 3" into the body now. i can't help but keep trying it on and being very excited about wearing it next winter.

i've also started another slouch hat. i think i'll try and make a pretty lace pattern in this one using this website as a reference.

i've been searching through patterns on ravelry looking for new fun things i want to make to hold me over while the slow process of knitting a sweater continues but, i've hit a slight wall. do i make another tote? more mitts? i had a brief moment where i thought i'd make some socks but, i'm not sure i'm ready for that world yet. so this brings me to my question - what are your favorite 'quick knit' patterns?

here are a few i've book marked :

my so called scarf
maine morning mitts
trinity stitch hat
simple cute socks
pablo deep socks

i need a couple of options for central park this saturday (WWKIP day).

x
-granny.

11. -FO

So, I've finally finished The Yarn Tote that I found on Ravelry.



size : 11 1/2' in height, 9" in width, 9" straps
yarn : Frog Tree Pima Cotton in #652
mods : the pattern said to knit until 24" or until desired length. I knit to 23" because I was impatient and now wish I had gone till 30"
needles : US 8 "way too long because they hit people on the train beside me", US 8 DPNS for icord.

I love it, think its adorable. Wish I had made it bigger, there's always next time. I'll put it to good use today while I trek to the upper east side to check on the best friend. The Lauren is coming along, I'm working on the body now.

Back to work tomorrow!
x
granny.

10. - status update

well, as i've said before i was taking a patterns knitting class at downtown yarns (which sadly ended last night and i did not end up making it). i've been completely enamored with making all kinds of new things now that i understand how to do them. here are 2 patterns i've been working on :

Lauren by Weaverknits :



here is where i'm at :



yarn : New England Highland in #41 High Sandalwood
needles : US 8 circular 29"

this is the first time i've cabled and its WAY easier than i thought. another trick i picked up in my knitting class (along with crocheting edges to finish) was learning to fix stitches in the middle of a row with a crochet hook! something that has come in very handy with this jacket battle i was having at the beggining. all is well now, i'm 10 rows away from measuring (knit from the top down).

another project i started because i got impatient with the knitting of the sweater is Elisa's Nest Tote published in The Purl Bee. It's a very easy knit, I like to work on it on the train or while i'm with friends. Here is a completed photo i found on Juliaemily (ravelry)'s flickr :



and here is where i'm at :





yarn : Frog Tree Pima Cotton in #652
needles : US 8 "way too long because they hit people on the train beside me"

anyway, thats all for now. i finally have a couple day's off at the end of the week. been working my butt off... makeup jobs and coffee shops.

i updated my website. a whole bunch of new stuff!

x
-granny.

7.

the kercheifs have been going well, i can now make 2 in a work day if it's not busy. i've been trying different thing's with them, yarn over's to make them more "spring-y". i've got about 5 of them hanging over top of my bedroom door, i'll have to figure out what i'm going to do with them.

speaking of doing things with them though, i did sell one while my sister in law & i had a yard sale on a 'hip' street in brooklyn :


i start my patterns class next thursday, i am going to knit those handwarmers i messed up. persistence. maybe i'll bring in this pattern too. the hat is cute :



love, granny.
x

6.

success!

after becoming totally disheartedned by the last experience i had with knitting pattern's, someone lovely pointed me in the direction of the most simple pattern of almost all time and now, i've had my confidence restored. a pictorial adventure of my mishaps...

this is supposed to have a thumb hole :




post giving up, i was sent this pattern which made my life a whole hell of a lot easier :




so, i've decided to not give up on the first hand warmers i was trying to make... what i'm going to do is sign up for a 4 week "choose your own pattern" course at downtown yarns on ave A. they're all pretty nice in there and i can bring in different patterns for each week if i feel confident with one. it will give me a chance to get someone to show me all the things i don't understand so i'm pretty amped.

something random that just popped into my head, my best friend doesn't even have a drivers lisence yet, she bought a car. her name is super dog (the car).

x
love, granny.

5.

so, after spending 3 hours at knit new york today, i've remembered why i haven't tried knitting from a pattern lately... it is incredibly discouraging if you can't figure it out. in the pattern i've chosen (hand warmers), there are k2tog/yo's, this part i figured out with the help of my little blackberry and google.com... i made it about 10 rows in when i got to the part where i'm supposed to be forming a thumb and it tells me to knit, working (k1,p1,k1,p1) into yo.

i must have harassed this lady (charlene) about 5 times before i felt guilty asking so many questions considering the woman does get paid to teach people these things. needless to say, i've managed to mess it up because i do not in fact, have a hole for the thumb.

i can figure out k2tog, yo 4 times, ssk, knit to end of round but i cannot figure out how i am supposed to knit and pearl the same stitch the equivalent of 4 times. anyway, i've put down my hand warmer and picked back up my kerchiff that i'm making because at least, i know how to make it.

if there is someone out there who can tell me how i'm supposed to knit, working (k1,p1,k1,p1) into yo... please help.

feeling slightly discouraged,

granny.
x

4.

so, i have a whole slew of new things to post up. i'm between jobs at the moment so i esentially have nothing to do all day until i train for 3 hours at my new job. this leaves me to sit on my couch and knit for 6 hours (like i did yesterday). i have been working on these neck/warming/collar/hood-ish things for a while, i was making huge rectangles at one point and sewing them together but now that i've discovered these crazy things called circular needles i'm saving yarn (which is awesome cause the alpaca is expensive) and it seems to go by a whole hell of a lot quicker. the grey is 70 sts across down to 55 in the middle then back out to 70 :




my grandmothers birthday is coming up this month and i figured she might be pretty happy if i made something for her considering she is the one who taught me how to knit. im sure 70 year old ladies who live in retirement communities in northern ontario aren't looking for stylish or cute so i made her one thats a little more practical and would be better used for actually keeping warm. the yarn i found in a junk store near my house in brooklyn, its not too bad for being .50 a skein. i started 60 sts across, went down to 45 and back out to 70 sts. purl, knit :




finally, yesterday in my knitting marathon, i thought i might try to make something that requires me using a pattern but, in efforts to not leave my house and only having left over yarn from other things and one skein wonders... i decided that i'd try to make little kerchiffs. i was successful in making one after i butchered my first attempt. i got a bit impatient and started decreasing 4 sts per row after decreasing only 2 sts per row for the first 10 rows. so, i of course found a cute button for it and gave it to my roomate who can seem to make anything look good :




and finally, last but not least... this is the second kerchiff i made after basically brutalizing the other one. i was going to use green for the tip but the blue and white looked so good together, i didn't want to mess it up. i was more patient with this one and decreased only 2 sts per row. i started with 90 sts which from my measuring would of been 27' long. its all knit because i was too afraid to mess it up after working on it for so many hours and i used some help from Judy and came out with this :






one of my favorite things about these kerchiffs are the buttons. i was trying to figure out how to use the button in different places on the kerchiff so i had the option of moving them around so, what i did was sew 2 buttons together! pretty excited about that one. movable buttons!

in my long day of knitting yesterday i also went on the hunt for some knitting blogs that i could maybe learn from and i came across this one. this girl is adorable and she made me realize i have so much more to learn with the knitting.

x
love, granny.