Stitches West 2009

So the boyfriend and I went to Stitches West in Santa Clara yesterday. It's a pretty big knitting expo with tons of booths with tons of yarn, patterns, looms, needles, and other knitting related items.

It was neat to see and feel all the different types of yarn and all the different colors. This was my first fiber convention so I wasn' quite sure what to expect. There was 100% and combinations of: mohair, alpaca, merino, pure silk.

It wasn't so neat to see the price tags though. On a lot of stuff I was afraid to ask the prices of, "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." That was the case through out the expo floor. I saw bundles of fiber from $40 - $150.

A bit disappointed with the prices but it was interesting to see everything. I came home with a neat drop spindle though, it's made from a CD, dowel, and screw in hook; advertisements/business cards; and a desire to raise my own goats, sheep, and alpacas.

School

So school has been eating up alot of my time and I haven't been able to post, but I do have a few FO.

First, a hat that I knitted for my BF. I knitted it up using Kis*Knit's Hat pattern adding 8 stitches, leaving out the stripe, and changing how I did the decreases. I got it all done and when the BF tried it on, it was to small. So I frogged it, added another 8 stitches and started knitting. About 2 inches into it, the BF says he likes the look of the really small stitches on beanies, so I frogged what I had. With some math and swatches, I ended up using size 4 needles and casting on 136 stitches, I think I also added an inch or two in length.

He says it could still use another half to inch more in length, which I will add when I'm done knitting his matching scarf. He seems happy with it though, since he rarely takes it off now. ^ ^

I used Simply Soft in a dark blue.

Second, I made a black bag using Amy Singer's Everlasting Bagstopper pattern. I changed the handle, which I'm going to change back to a ribbon. The way I did the handle was to stretchy, and if I but anything to heavy, like my school books, it would stretch from my hip down to below my knee.

I used Caron's One Pounder in black.

Third, I made a mouse pincushion. I altered the "catwarming" pattern I've been using for cat toys, by making it a bit bigger and leaving out the catnip and bell. The knit isn't quite tight enough and I'm afraid I'll loose some pins into the belly and find them the hard way.

Fourth, I made a prezzy for one of our friends who is having a baby. Thats all I'm saying so it will stay a surprise, and I will post pics after the parents get the present.

Hometown Christmas Gifts

Stuff that I made for family and friends for Christmas, some of these you'll recognize from earlier posts.



Dad's Tam:

My dad requested a tam for his games keeper garb for the highland games. I used Lydia McNeal's pattern from her blog, Dropped a Stitch. I used Lion Brand's Wool-Ease in green. Turned out Dad didn’t like the little tab on it, or on any other tams, so he turned it inside out and wouldn’t let me fix it. ^_^

E's Snood:

The pattern I used can be found at Knitting-Crochet.com. I changed the pattern a bit, instead of the elastic I used a dark burgundy ribbon. This was finished right before Christmas, so I didn't get to take pictures of it.

G's Scarf:

Very simple pattern I made up. I used US size 11 dpn, cast on 30 stitches (spread over 3 needles, 10 stitches each), leaving a long tail. Purl (or Knit) for approximately 57 inches. Loosely bind off leaving a long tail. Sew the ends closed with the tails. Add five tassels to each end consisting of four 8 inch strands.

AL's Scarf:

See previous post.

M's Beanie:

This is from an earlier post from October 18 (but with the added 8 stitches). The pattern can be found here.

P's Beanie:

This can also be found from a back post in September.

Scrap Mice for E, G, M, and A:

I used "Catworming Set" by Michelle Ameron, which you can find in Debbie Stroller's Stitch 'N Bitch Nation. All mice where made with scrap yarn. In each mouse I put stuffing, dried cat-mint, and cellophane. I also added a bell to the ends of the tails.

E's mouse.

A's mouse for Simba.

Sadly M doesn't have her cat anymore, but was still entertained by the crinkly noise the mouse made. I <3 my family. ^ ^
G's mouse for Buster.

Washington Christmas Presents.

Here are the finished projects I sent up to family in Washington. WARNING: Lots of pics.

LM's Red Kitty Hat

This is the hat that I posted about back in September and October. I used Red Heart's multi yarn, "Lipstick" and followed K. Schmidt's Official Kitty62 Hat pattern. Her pattern can also be found in Debbie Stroller's Stitch 'N Bitch book, a must have book for all knitters.

LR's Camouflage Hat This was the second hat that I made. I knew exactly the yarn I wanted for L, Red Heart's multi "Camouflage". I used Beverly A. Qualheim's Bev's Basic Cozy Cap, minus the pom-pom.

S's Blue Kitty Hat Exactly the same as Wolfie's, but I used Caron's Simply Soft Brights "Blue Mint".

R&L's Dish cloth/towel Set I made two dishcloths and a dish towel. I used a 100% cotton yarn, Sugar 'N Cream Sage Green, for all of them.

The first dishcloth, I wrote about back on October 18. Rhonda K. White's pattern can be found at Knitted Cat Cloth (Kate the Kat)

The second dishcloth pattern can be found here.

The towel I designed myself. I will have more pictures, and the pattern up at a later date.

T's Slippers I used Kaity Von Rader's pattern. Sadly, the slippers where a bit too small and her youngest niece is wearing them now.

Aunty L's Wide Key-Hole Scarf

Wide Key-Hole Scarf
by Nichole Medley © 2008

I made this for my great aunt, whose neck is always cold, and who had her arm in a sling when I started this. I wanted it to be easy for her to get the end through the hole and not have it shift around while she wears it.

You can also download this pattern in .pdf format from ravelry, or from Scribd.

Updates

I promise to update once the holidays are past and things have calmed down.

I've had camera issues recently too, my camera doesn't take good close ups, we cant find my boyfriends camera (which I think has some kitting pics) and I can't get pictures off my camera phone at the moment.

So for now I leave you with

Madcutlass' {Knitting Pirate} and Randomness

I updated my logo last night, the pretty knitting pirate girl was done by the talented Laura O. A larger version of the art can be seen here.

You can check out more of her art at her DeviantArt Gallery. She also has a blog you can check out here.

In other news:

I finished a black key-hole scarf, and I am currently writing up the pattern. When I get it all typed up and, hopefully, nice looking, I'll post here and on ravelry.

Hope every one had a Happy Thanksgiving.