Muntu Stitches

I’m afraid to even see when the last time it was I posted but the holiday season, thankfully, has come and gone and it’s 2008. In all my non-posting blogging, there were a lot of knits produced in form of many instant gratification knitting. I also call this my Back to basics knitting. It seemed like as much as I wanted to produce lots of knits last year, time was rare and the pressure was unnecessary. December had me returning to a time of simpler knits in the form of hats and simple scarves. I, of course, have a sweater in progress but I’m currently stuck on the sleeves and haven’t felt motivated to work on that lately. So for now it’s a new obsession with Malabrigo and all hats in the beret form. I’m particularly enamored by the berets designed by Ysolda. I love my Estella and Gretel berets!

1. Dad’s wooly beanie, 2. Estella in all it’s glory, 3. Instant Gratification Knit Beanie, 4. Estella slouch, 5. Gretel flattened, 6. First attempt at crochet, 7. Chunky Malabrigo Foliage Hat, 8. Iro Scarf Goodness, 9. luxury scarf

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

It’s been nice to have lots of time to knit over this holiday season but as reality kicks in and I return to work next week, I need to face up to several things that I wish to see happen this new year.

1. Definitely blog more this year.
2. Get re-acquainted with knit bloggers and participate/comment with the knit community.
3. Stick to the basics with knitting.
4. Use my stash!

In the non-knitting realm:

1. Start running again. (I’ve missed running a lot!) I signed up for a half-marathon right after I finished the last one I did and well, kinda got into a funk of not running at all. Of course, I won’t be running the half now since it’s in a couple weeks and I gotta make up for that lame behavior.

That’s all. I don’t really want to write up a list for that because it’s just more fun to break the resolutions and then feel guilty all over again.

~Bee, looking forward to this new year.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Bee/garter-stitch-scarf

It’s about nine in the evening and I’m finally at home and relaxing a bit. Despite the exhaustion and cold I’ve been fighting, I’m determined to post because it seems like I’ve pretty much made it through today by sheer will, that this little thing shouldn’t be too difficult, right? The end of today is a bit of a relief because I’m pretty much done with classes at the univ for this quarter and a month off school is heaven for me. As much as I’m loving my education, I wish I could go full-time because part-time student with a full-time job is not as much fun. I’m amazed at all the teachers I go to school with because with work and classes, it’s quite a burden but they do it. I do wish it was recognized more…teachers that is. Like with a good, no better salary.

Iro is luscious and gorgeous and I almost want to keep the scarf but it rarely gets that cold out here to justify wearing this gorgeous knit. I might just send it over to a friend out in the East Coast where it will certainly be welcomed.

Sometimes I think about moving to a colder climate just because it makes my knitting make more sense. Silly huh?

First attempt at crochet

Originally uploaded by Bee Plus.

I got sidetracked from my knitting by this pattern I found at the lovely blog Through The Loops. I know how to do the basic stitches but I still need to consult a reference guide to do a sc, dc or tc etc but the urge to wield the hook came fast and strong. I learned through trial and error, that’s for sure and I don’t think I’ve ripped out as much as I have over the last several days. I think I’ve got the basics down for a hat or a simple scarf. Yay. I’m definitely pleased as I think I’ll definitely be able to add to my handmade gift giving.

So on to the hat details.

Pattern: Darling Diva’s Snow Day Hat
Source: http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/through_the_loops/2007/11/offered-with-a.html
Yarn: Worsted Texas Big Horn yarn dyed by myself (I took a dye class at Stitchcafe a very time ago).
Hook: K

I’m quite happy with this hat and even happier to use the yarn that’s been sitting deep in my stash for ages. I figure it’ll be put to good use as hats as I’m really not sure what else to knit with 350 yards of this wildly variegated yarn. I’m glad that the colours turned out quite nicely as well. I remember just mixing a bunch of colours and hoping for the best.

Hooray for Hump Day Wednesday! I really need a pick me up since I’ve been trying to recover from a cold and missing my bf muchly as he’s been away since before Thanksgiving. Sigh. Whodathunk that’d happen?

It was nightmarish out there today. I didn’t Christmas shop at all but I did buy stuff for my little apartment. (I’m seriously living barebones right now). Microwave, floor sweeper, towels and blankets. The basics. I am glad for the sale but I think it’s handmade for me this Xmas.

I’ve done more stash enhancement this week. Wow, you’d think I was running out but I’ll post them soon. A couple of them are too delish to keep to myself. I’ve been a huge fan of Pigeon Roof Studios lately. I cannot say enough about her handspun and her sock yarns. To drool for!

Pattern: Foliage Hat
Source: Knitty
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Sunset (1 skein)
Needles: #8 circs and DPN’s, #5 for the ribbing
Completed: November 2007

Notes: I love malabrigo and this pattern was super easy as well. Great combination overall. I will definitely make more of these hats, perhaps to gift for christmas time. Man, how do I love Malabrigo.

Now, I should have gone down a needle size since I knit rather loosely. As a result, the hat has come out a little larger and I’ve taken to wearing it like a beret. I am rather fond of large, floppy hats though. Especially soft, floppy hats.

The air is cooler out there and it’s definitely fall…even in Southern California. My urge to knit has come back strong. Now knitting hasn’t completely gone away for me, there’s just been those weeks when I’ve only knit a couple of rows here and there. But today, as I finally took FO photos, visited a LYS and purchased a copy of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts…and of course, more yarn…the mojo is back full force. I’m also really into blues right now.

I have a backlog of FOs to show but I’ll save them for later posts. Today’s FO is one that I’ve finished for some time now. I honestly don’t remember when I started this one, but for some reason it felt like this knit flew by.

1. Stole style, 2. Streaks, 3. Back view stole, 4. My Everyday Scarf: Clapotis

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Source: Knitty
Yarn: Cider Moon Glacier in Pistachio
Needles: #6 Knit Picks Option circs
Dates: August 2007-Sept 2007

This was a very easy and enjoyable knit. There were times when it just dragged but I think a good movie and clapotis knitting make a good combo. I wear this scarf when it gets chilly and it’s a great go-to scarf/stole.

It’s been really nice to get back into the wonderful world of wool. I’ve missed it and still making that transition from marathon training. I miss training like crazy but right, two weeks later, my body is still recovering. It’s amazing how tight all my muscles still are…and I’ve got a bit of a foot issue right now. I’m really glad to get back into everyday thing but I realize that I really do enjoy the scheduling of training. Anyway, two more weeks of rest and hopefully I’ll be back into it again.

To comfort myself, I’ve done a bit of yarn enhancement. I really enjoying the shocking bright blues lately. May I introduce Mirasol Miski, colorway 104 which will be knit into the Koolhaas hat, and Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Jaded Dreams for my HourGlass Sweater. Love the blues!

It’s been very busy for me lately but I think things will finally settle down. I say this with hope but I really do like to keep busy despite all my complaints. Idle time is dangerous. As I’ve been very busy, I think the best way to do this is via photos I’ve taken (and borrowed) over the last several weeks.

Here we go:

1. Inspired by the always amazing Jared of Brooklyntweed. A simple garter stitch scarf in Noro Iro. Gorgeous stuff. This is now an FO waiting for the finished and better photo once it gets colder.

2. Ulrich Schnauss at the Troubadour. I added this one because it’s been ages since I went to see a show. I saw him last year and loved that album. This time around, I was slightly disappointed. The Troubadour was lame and the sound was awful. He’s still amazing but just not at this venue.

3. I’ve been knitting but not blogging. I finished this a few weeks ago. Never got to wear it and ended up gifting it away. I present, Knit & Tonic’s Le Slouch Beret. What a quick knit! But my head is either too big or my gauge was off…it wasn’t as slouchy as I like. Great yarn and pattern though.

4. Last weekend FINALLY arrived. I was off to San Francisco for my first (and maybe only) marathon: the Nike Women’s Marathon! I won’t bore with all the details but I finished it! No, I didn’t win. It took me 6 hours and 16 minutes. The first half was really good…the second half, that was painful. I was so happy to finish that I didn’t notice the cute firemen giving me my Tiffany Necklace (in place of a medal). I really was too tired to care except to find my friends, brother and boyfriend. I’m still tired now too…26.2 miles is a long way.

Here’s me finding my name on the wall outside Niketown for the list of participants! Yay!!!

More photos on this later.

I’ve been feverishly working on my Buttony Sweater. I just have the bottom ribbing and then the sleeves to work on. It’s looking good so far. Maybe I’ll get a fewer more rows in before bedtime. ‘Nite all.

I can’t believe I made it through the training. One last step to go. Wow.

Create yours at BlingyBlob.com!

hello kitty

Originally uploaded by Joits.

(echoing)

I have been AWOL for a while now but juggling work, school and marathon training hasn’t left much in me to do much of this fun stuff in blogland. It sucks!!! I am still knitting though. I’ve actually finished a clapotis, easy garter stitch scarf and a beret but I just haven’t taken photos. (boo!) At the moment, I am knitting the Buttony sweater and I do have socks that I plan to re-start for Socktoberfest, Charade socks. Phew….but for now my main focus is zee marathon that will be coming up in THREE weekends. I’m sick with anticipation and excitement at the same time. I cannot wait!

In the meantime, I promise I will try to find time to photograph my FOs. I’m squeezing that in my to-do list of homework, overtime at work (why are teachers paid so little?), class at the University, plans to do yoga this week and make a home-made meal at some point this week. Oh yes, and maybe I’ll also be able to get time to knit and hang out with boyfriend as well.

LOL.

Happy Socktoberfest all! I can’t wait to see more socks! (Even though I’ve been in the mood to make scarves, hats and sweaters).

Ps. The photos was taken/stolen from my bro’s flickr set.

Been busy moving (sorta), watching tennis (U.S. Open) and burning data off my computer (I download plenty…shh). I really have been knitting. See, I finished these socks a while ago but just haven’t posted.

Yarn: The Knittery Cashmere/Merino blend (older skein- 360 yrds)
Needles: #1 Addi Turbo Circs
Pattern: BFF socks by Cookie A.
Notes: Changed the toe to pointed toe, guided by Nancy Bush’s Vintage Socks. Quite an easy pattern to follow with great results. I have lots of love for cabling because I love the texture.

And right now, I am working on my Clapotis, which I am enjoying knitting quite a bit. It’s just been easier to focus on ONE knit while I’ve been all over the place moving. It’s actually been quite comforting. Moving has been tiring and it’s taken me a little bit to get used to living alone. It is my first time after all. I really like it though.

Anyway, lots to do before the weekend. Happy Labor Day Weekend all!

Over and out.