12.19.2010

Yarn bracelets

Knitted jewelery has intrigued me for some time, but I haven't really known where to start. It's not that it seems difficult, I just lack inspiration. Then the other day I was thinking about how I usually like skeined yarn better than when it's knitted or crocheted, so I made these bracelets. They're very simple, but I really like how they turned out.

Felted bracelet

Silk bracelet

12.12.2010

Exposure

Two things I particularly enjoy are knitting and naked ladies. I like to combine these by taking semi-scandalous pictures of myself. I have a whole bunch of knitted tops that I made a while ago and never took pictures of.
Until now!

Futar top
This is one of my favourite tops, I love the pattern and the yarn! It's acrylic, but quite soft, and has great long colour changes.

Broken vest
This one I am less enthusiastic about. It's by the same designer and uses the same yarn, but less my style. Plus my nipples pop through occasionally.

Grey top
This top got a little messed up. The yarn SAID it was all the same dyelot, but that was clearly a lie. I messed up the gauge, so I felted it, and now it's too small. I'll fix it eventually. Or...something.

Knitted camisole
I really like the feel of the yarn, though I'm not quite sure about the colourway. I am quite pleased with how it turned out, though I usually need to wear something under it. Pattern link.

First sweater
My very first sweater! A great pattern; I'd like to make it again sometime, maybe with a yarn with some silk in it. The yarn I used was 100% wool.

Oversized top
I accidentally used super-bulky yarn instead of bulky. I like this yarn! I got it super cheap, and it is very soft. I didn't check my gauge - out of a sense of rebelliousness, perhaps? So it turned out way too large, but I just pretend it's intentional. Plus I modified the pattern slightly, to make it longer and more like a tunic dress.

Lacy top
Lacy shirt from French Girl Knits (which is a great book). You're supposed to lace a ribbon around the neckline, but I haven't done that yet. I messed this up somehow, so it's tighter around the back than the front...I guess I divided for armholes at the wrong place. Oh well, it's not thaaaat obvious?
It was my first time using linen (well, 60/40 linen/merino), I quite enjoyed it.
Also, look how much my dread pigtails stick out! They have been growing.


More recently, I finished my scarf (a while ago, but I only just took pictures of the whole thing):
Lace scarf
Positively scandalous? I still love this scarf very much, though I think I need something warmer for winter now. It's been snowing so much today, and a lacy scarf isn't the best decision when it's cold and/or windy.


Also impractical for the weather is my half hat:
Silk half hat
Handspun sari ends. I doubled the yarn because it was thin in places, but then I didn't have enough for a full hat. But that's ok, it's great for keeping dreads out of my face, plus I love the texture.


Finally, I finally got pictures of this hat:
Ribbed eyelet dread tam
Brighter version of my dread hat.


I wrote out the pattern for this! I'm looking for pattern testers to knit this; comment on this thread on ravelry if you're interested. Full details in the thread, but basically I'll email you the pattern and you give me feedback.


I'm being haunted by knitpicks ads. Has this happened to anyone else? I'm wandering through the internet at random, on my merry way, and sites I have never visited before are advertising knitpicks interchangeable circulars. It's a little unsettling. THE MAN has established a profile for me somehow. Privacy concerns, yo.

12.10.2010

I hate everything.

Warning: this post is just whining.

I have now officially been properly sick for a week. I've spent pretty much all of it in bed watching tv, which would be fine except for exams, and the fact that I am not studying for them. Also my roommate who makes me go to sleep on time has gone home for a week (or so, I don't remember when he left or when he'll get back) so I keep staying up all night watching tv without noticing. Which is not great, I woke up just in time to see the sun set today. Fuck you, winter.

And it's snowing AGAIN.

Dumpster diving is a million times less pleasant in winter - maybe if I dove at smelly dumpsters it would help, but as it is it only leads to my fingers suffering. This time it was worth it though - 18 balls of yarn ftw.

Eugh, I guess good things have happened recently, but I DON'T CARE I HATE EVERYTHING. Fuck you, everything.

12.05.2010

Schoolwork + art journal

It's the end of term, so I'm finishing up all the art homework I didn't quite manage to do at the time. It's all due tomorrow, and I finally only have optional stuff left! Whew. SO much drawing. I am reasonably pleased with most of it, though of course it could have been better, but blehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Objects with shadows

Organic vs. geometric
This one is supposed to contrast geometric and organic shapes.

Extension
We had to get a black a white photo with perspective, and extend it three inches on each side. I like bit of it, where there was visible detail, but I am ambivalent about the rest.


Drawing is fun, but it's not really my favourite, so to take a break from drawing, I...did different art. Obviously. Did I ever blog about my art journal? I started it AGES ago, but I hadn't done anything in it in ages. Friday night I added a whole bunch of pages...I was just in the mood for it I guess. (I was also pretty sick on friday, and making art meant I thought about it less.) Anyway, pictures: (in the order they're in the book)

Art journal page - maybe not
"Maybe not."

Art journal page - take control
"Take control"

Art journal page - fear
"Fear"


This one has a few pictures because it's a little interactive:
Art journal page - secret robot Art journal page - secret robot Art journal page - secret robot
"Secret robot"
The pink yarn is handspun from acrylic bits, wooo!

Art journal page - greenery
"Greenery"

Art journal page - constitutional
"Constitutional"

Art journal page - meetings
"Meetings"


Next time I choose a book for an art journal, I will choose one without lines. But this one was a dollar, so I guess I shouldn't complain. I also made a ball out of wire which is attached to the ribbon bookmark thing, but I forgot to take a picture of it.

I also finished my mom's x-mas present! I was going to make her a hat, but I made her a hat last year, so I decided on a cowl instead. She really likes smoke blue, I got the yarn in the summer for her because the colour was right. There's actually about half of it left, so I might make her a (matching) hat after all. Now I just have to make my dad's present...he wants socks, but I also found this wicked prawn pattern, which is great because my dad loves prawns. Anyway, cowl:

Cowl for mom


It's 100% wool, but it's pretty soft? I hope it's not too scratchy for her....
For anyone worrying about surprises being ruined, it's ok! My sister occasionally reads this (that's why pictures of her present won't be posted until after x-mas), but as far as I know my parents don't know this blog exists. Secrets intact!

I sort of feel like "Secrets Intact!" should be some superhero organization's group cheer or something.

Hm. Apparently being sick makes me super productive.

12.03.2010

Bluhhhh

Eugh, I really want the term to be over, I am so fed up with school. I still have a couple assignments left, even thought there's only one day left of class. I had a final on thursday so I decided to not to any work, and made ATCs instead.

Floating ATC Bugs ATC Ocean Floor ATC Spilled ATC Spreading ATC