I learned an important lesson this weekend – all things are possible if you actually *read* the instructions. 

On attempt # 2 when I ran out of stitches before I ran out of pattern – that was because I didn’t *read* the directions – I glanced at them, assumed I knew what I was doing, and quickly screwed it up!

So with this latest – and actually successful try – I stopped when I got to the cables, studied attempt #1 (which I did keep – like I said I would), read, read, and re-read the directions and what do you know. It worked. Like a charm. Or really, it worked like the directions said it would!

So – lessons from this:

1. Judy B is a goofball.
2. Judy B has problem taking direction when she thinks she knows it all (this was demonstrated in school as well).
3. Judy B is a goofball.

Also – this pattern is not for the social knitter. You cannot carry on a conversation while doing this thing, the stitches change to frequently. In fact you can’t even watch TV if you think you might actually be interested in what’s on or you will lose your place. There is actually a couple of carefully hidden mistakes in this piece – made because I thought I had messed it up (while watching Earth 2100) and in trying to fix the mistake-that-wasn’t, I messed up. Lukily I fixed it, somehow. I think the Knitting Fairy was looking after me – she knows projects don’t make it past the 3rd attempt. (You can read about Attempt #1 here and here).

This project also breaks the cardinal rule of knitting – you must pull tight, tight, tight to keep those bobbles from looking absolutely ridiculous (I think 99% of knitters have to learn to loosen up – and then there’s this pattern!).

So here it is in all it’s glory – Paula D liked it so much she asked about borrowing the pattern… forgetting completely that I was borrowing it from her! Keep your fingers crossed that I can keep this thing together for another 30 inches…

Dang it! Dang it! Dang it!

2nd attempt and somehow I ran out of stitches before I ran out of pattern! How does that happen! And I’d done that row right on the burgundy version so I know it’s not the pattern. This screw up is all me, baby!

Dang it! Dang it! Dang it!

Well this post is a day late – it’s the new year and I’ve already broken the schedule I set myself in December. Blech.

Anyway – with 6 1/2 months to go till the local fair I’ve rededicated myself to working on fulfilling my set project list.  With that goes lots of planning… and more obsessive list making – because I love lists! (Yes – I have issues). I’ve been trying to come up with as many off the wall things as I can – things people wouldn’t expect to see at a little country fair.

So with that in mind – here’s what I’ve got so far:

• 10. Counted Cross Stitch Picture – Mario Brothers Pattern.
• 14. Crewel Picture – Old School Tattoo style sampler (think Sailor Jerry).
• 27. Hand Knitted Article – Klaralund Sweater in Angora Handspun (this one might be a bit ambitious since I’m wanting to do my handspinning from my own bunnies – yikes!)
• 30. Handmade Toy – Big Sock Monster (look up Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphey).
• 55. Smocked Garment – Smocked/tiered/Sleeveless Gown (again – probably overambitious but we’ll see.  I’m thinking of a gussied up sheath type thing that’s almost see-through. It looks neat in my head – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).
• 56. Soft Sculpture Article – a Felted Lanscape of some sort.
• 58. Tatted Article – a Tatted Baby Bonnet
• 98. Large Gourd / 99. Small Gourd – not sure how much planning I can do for these two yet – still waiting to see how many of my gourds make it though the winter and the drying process. It should be weird though.
• 112. Hobby Article – a Macrame’ Purse. (How much Macrame’ do you see anymore, really).
• 115. Jewelry – This thing is going to be all natural and therefore a bit freeform depending on what materials I wind up with. I’m thinking of an Egyptian Collar type design made mainly with polished twigs from a fruit tree (apple/cherry/peach) with spacers made up of gourd shards, and somehow work in some thin slices of either this thick shelled nut that’s around here or maybe some other seed pod. Again it’ll depend on what I find on my nature walk when it warms up.
• 118. Novelty – a Warhammer Terrain Piece. Not sure what it will consist of but it’ll definitely be 2′x2′. I’ve actually got a bunker started… it’s been languishing in my studio since the weather changed…
• 128. Recycled Art – Steampunk Dollhouse! I could probably spend the next few months just on this one! I’ve got an old 5 drawer dresser that the back legs broke off of and the veneer is in really bad shape; I think it would make a great dollhouse – and of course since I’m wanting to weird everyone out I’m thinking goth/steampunk!  Plus steampunk is the essence of recycling – buy/find old appliances – tear ‘em appart and reassemble the parts in funky ways. I’ll need to find some old dolls and jazz them up as well.

That leaves me with 24 undecided projects – 22 if you take out the 2 photography categories. Not much planning involved in that one (at the moment), I’m just going to take lots of pictures in the next 6 1/2 months and see which ones I like the most.

If anybody’s got an ideas, let me know!

I finished the adult version of the Bernat Ruffled Baby Hat – you can find the baby version here. Not too happy with it but it does have promise.  The shaping just needs some tweaking I think (either that or I should have just made it smaller around and longer – heck if I know right now). It just sits on your head like a bowl (or at least it sits on MY head like a bowl).

The Sulka 60% Merino/20% Alpaca/20% Silk  from Mirasol in the Snow White colorway knits up beautifully however! It makes me want more!

Squee! Christmas Movies!

And that leads us to Artsy Craftsy Goodness! Somehow…

I’d seen great costumes in movies before and every now and again some neat statue or sword would stand out but I’d never really put much thought into those things from an artist’s point of view until I was listening to a knitting podcast a few months back and the Caster was talking about new Spock’s knit sweater in the Star Trek Reboot movie.

For some ridiculous reason that was a complete boot to the head.

So I’ve started trying to pay more attention to the little things in movies – both new and old – in between the Bey-splosions (if you don’t get the reference, watch Robot Chicken).

This weekend, my family and I watched Sherlock Holmes (with Robert Downey Jr & Jude Law) and James Cameron’s Avatar.

Avatar was absolutely visually stunning. The jewelry was heavily African inspired (or at least it looked that way to me – maybe with Amazon influences?)  with the addition of lots of twisted and braided leather. I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD just so I can freeze frame it and sketch my little heart out. The female spiritual leader had a beaded top that was stunning – I believe I’ve seen a real world version but this one was a pure red that made me want to run out and bead my fingers off.

The leather headbands also made me itch to try macrame – not sure if that’s what they based the design off of but that’s what it brought to my mind. Everything was very natural and organic and – once again – absolutely beautiful.

In contrast, Sherlock Holmes was all about the Steampunk.  Not to an extreme but there were definite influences.  The female lead (I can’t remember her name) had some great boots (they flash on those towards the end) and had a jacket that was long in front and cut up and over the bustle of the dress in back. This was especially nice because it highlighted the contrast between the bright color of her dress against the grainy/moody surroundings.

I’m sure there were more things but with all the running, jumping, climbing trees it was a bit hard to focus (plus, you know, the Bey-splosions!). Again, this is another one I’m looking forward to owning simply for the freeze frame/sketching value.

So if you’re feeling stuck for inspiration – Hollywood may be the cure!