Believe it or not, there actually are finished objects here in Quirkyland.

I didn’t post these when I finished them because they were semi-surprise gifts, but since they’ve been given and (hopefully) worn, I figure it’s safe.

Two of my colleagues were heading to New Hampshire for the primary, and I couldn’t let them go without nice warm hats, could I?

L’s hat was a basic roll-brim hat, no pattern, knit in Louet Gems worsted weight on US 7 needles.

A’s hat was the Vintage Girl Cloche by Rilana, knit in Cascade 220 handpaint on US7s. It ended up slightly off, gauge-wise, so I didn’t felt it, but it was still super cute.

Both were quick and fun to knit, and it was really nice to finish something so quickly.

Hi y’all!

Welcome to my new blog home. Clearly, I’m still getting things up and running–about page, I’m looking at you–but I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Actual knitting-related posts will commence shortly.

I’ve finished my swatch for Secret of the Stole II. No picture, as I haven’t blocked it yet.

I think I may end up going down a size to US1s. I tried on US3s, but this yarn is so freakin’ fine. It’s more cobweb weight than laceweight, really. It’s beautiful, but so very very fine. The swatch on 3s is just so lacey.

Unfortunately, if I need to use US1s, that means another trip to the LYS to pick up some more Addi Lace needles. And, despite the yarn diet, I am incapable of walking out of there without buying something.

I’m sticking to sock yarn–everyone knows sock yarn doesn’t count–but still! This weekend I bought a skein of the new Noro sock yarn. It’s gorgeous, but I’m amazed at how wide the stripes are. I’m used to self-striping yarns having a much narrower repeat-it’ll be interesting to see how the socks turn out.

Something about the New Year always sets off knitting ambitions for me. I’m already thinking about Christmas 2008, since I didn’t do holiday knits this year, and of course I have a lot of just-because things I want to make.

I am trying to be good and not stash-enhance for a few months, unless it’s for a gift. So I have to get all my yarn-buying for me in before Jan 1!

I’ve got a bunch of things going right now–two of my co-workers are heading to New Hampshire for the primary next week, and I’m hoping to finish some quick hats for at least one of them, though hopefully I can get two done.

I’ve also caved and signed up for Secret of the Stole II, which means I need to go buy some laceweight on Saturday, as all mine is in 800-1100 yard batches, and I need 1500 yards.

There are a lot of shifting priorities on the needles, but hopefully I’ll get the knitting–and the rest of my life–organized in the new year.

Nothing says happy Friday like unraveling slightly less than half a Clapotis knit with double-stranded laceweight yarn.

(In the future I will remember that lifelines are not for losers with no sense of adventure. I will also remember not to leave my knitting in places where it will get knocked on the floor/sat on/shoved under a couch, thus causing a dozen stitches to drop so far down as to be irretrievable.)

Let’s face it. Knitting? Often gets a bad rap.

When you say knitter, the image that springs most frequently to mind is a kindly grandmother, sitting in her rocking chair making booties for her grandbabies.

It’s difficult to find a knitter who hasn’t been subjected to the grandma jokes that people so love to make (generally right before they ask you to make them a hat….and then wonder why you say no.) or been teased for being dull.

So that’s why I was amused to find Kinky Knitnacks, an article on sexy knitting, which linked me to the blog Knit Porn. Knit Porn is exactly what it sounds like, with lots of nudity and knittng–and very NSFW–and I was most entertained by the concept.

I have to say–it does make me feel a little bad about my FO photos. While I’m not planning on taking a picture of myself wearing nothing but armwarmers and undies just yet (or, ever, most likely) I should probably try to do a little better than blurry pics taken using my bedroom mirror.

But apparently I do not knit. At least, not well.

I’ve been having one of those runs where everything I pick up seems to not work. The gauge is off, I’m uninspired, the yarn doesn’t fit the pattern…

I’ve been picking things up and putting them down in a fit of frustration for the past week or so, hence the lack of knitting goodness.

Instead, I set up a winter sprarkly* tree–all on my own, which I consider to be a relatively large accomplishment, considering the tree is taller than I am.

*Winter sparkly tree–I am between religions at the moment, so it’s not really a Christmas tree, but an excuse for me to make my apartment look and smell like the holidays. Also, who doesn’t love sparkly lights and pretty decorations?

Last night I met someone who had no idea that knitting was popular again.

I tried to explain it to him, but I really don’t think he got it.

Sometimes I wish I could just shut my mind of and stop thinking so damn much.

In the meantime, I think I’ll go play with some wool until I calm down.

Lovely, lovely wool.

Check out the new Knitty surprises. I like the shawl.