Groundhog's Day

I've always enjoyed Groundhog's Day and the idea that little Phil knows how's long our winter will last. Here in Alaska I'm not sure if Phil can be much help. Looking out the window at the seeming endless snowy landscape it doesn't look like winter will ever end. Cupcakes help everything so groundhog cupcakes will defiantly solve this. I found the idea on Pinterest, it was only a picture so I guessed the details and changed them to make them better (at least better in my opinion). They are chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting dyed green. They have crushed up Oreos for dirt and NutterButters cut in half with mini chocolate chips for eyes and ears. It was easy, fast, and they look so cute!

Now knitting. I'm still working on the Ramona Cowl, just very slowly. I had to re-chart and then re-chart it again to get it right for easy double knitting. I've only finished 2 repeats of the pattern but I really like the way it looks so far!

I Will Defeat Thee Double Knitting

It's been slow going so far with turning the Ramona Cowl into a double knit cowl. I've been having a hard time remembering to read every other chart row backwards and with opposite colors. At my current pace I'm finishing one row with 2 repeats of the chart every 20 minutes with plenty of mistakes and re-reads of the chart. That means this cowl will take me roughly forever and I really think I have better things to do. The only solution I can think of is to re-chart the whole thing on graph paper. Not pleasant, but necessary.

Actual Information

Today's post contains actual information about all the pictures yesterday! Yay! First I made these Cylon Centurion Mittens by Sarah Parr back in September and October for my husband while I was away visiting my parents. This was such a great pattern. It was easy to knit and very intuitive once I got going I didn't have to look at the charts very often.

The second picture is of Oaklet Shawl by Megan Goodacre. I had some fantastic yarn from a trip to Traverse City, Michigan and it was a fast and easy knit.

The third picture is my challenge knit. I received some Knit Picks Chroma for Christmas to knit the Ramona Cowl by Melissa Lemmons from the Winter 2011 KnitScene. So far I've tried it in the round (made it about 6 inches and hated it, frogged) and twice in double knitting (the first attempt had way more stitches than I have neck and the second attempt has not gone beyond the cast on.)

Tomorrow there will be new pictures!

A New Theory

I have not been knitting nor have I been blogging. I've mostly been addicted to Pinterest with sporadic ill conceived knitting projects that I won't count as knitting because primarily they haven't worked out. My theory is that by remembering to blog again that my projects may in fact work out. It's a theory that lacks all common sense but I think we can ignore that foe time's sake. First here are two pictures of projects that have worked out (one from October and one from December) and one picture of some very tragic yarn that wanted to be a cowl but so far has not achieved that goal. Details should follow tomorrow when I'm not about to go to bed.

Boots and Shopping

Today I finished Santa Boots for my husband, Will. He asked me for them a few months ago to go with my elf slippers that I crocheted last Christmas. It was nice to be able to start and finish a project in just three days. That is one of my favorite things about crocheting. The pattern is a modified version of Slipper Boots from Bernat Yarn Company. I added stitches to the bottom to make them wider as well as longer. I used two strands of Red Heart Super Saver in black held together and Red Heart Buttercup in white at the top. The Buttercup is so soft I wish I could make a blanket out of it and cuddle up with it forever.

While out shopping today I found a pair of shoes with knitted sides! They're Union Bay and I can't wait to start wearing them everywhere! I also bought some slightly ugly ribbon yarn at a garage sale this morning. I don't normally like ribbon yarn but it was in fall colors, was cheap, and it called out to me so it came home. I don't know what I'll do with it but it needs to be something fall-ish. There weren't any labels so I won't know what it is or how many yards it is, but it's always fun to experiment.

Forever Mittens

I have finally finished my Doe River Mittens. The thumbs took forever. They were boring and I ignored them. They were like tiny little black holes of knitting that needed to be ignored.

Now I feel free again. I don't know what to make next. There are too many options. Everything is calling my name, slippers, gloves, afghans, and I really need to be planning trip projects.

Tomorrow, tomorrow will be the day I decide. For tonight, I will dream of the many things I could be making...

A New Toy and Mitten Progress

My new Knit Kit arrived in the mail today! I'm so excited to take it with me on my trip next month. With a whole day in and out of airports... I am going to need a lot of knitting.

My orange alpaca mittens are coming along nicely. One is done except for the thumb and the other is just getting started. It's so much harder knitting that second mitten. Back to work!