Just a Quick Project

A few days ago I knit the Peyote Pincushion. This was such a super quick project it almost merits no comment.


When I first learned to knit, I wasn't nearly as obsessed as I am now. For one thing, it took me about a year to learn how to purl. It took my friend Veronica showing me ravelry before I finally stopped knitting (terrible) garter stitch scarves. Because of that long lull in learning, I knit a lot of garter stitch scarves.

And by a lot, I mean a lot.




The yarn for this project was frogged from one of those scarves. I think it's a Bernat Satin Solid, though don't quote me on that. Other than knowing it came from Michael's and is thinner than worsted weight, I don't really know much about this yarn.

I knit this in the round, rather than seaming because, well, I hate seaming with a passion. For whatever reason, I can't figure out mattress stitch. I'm not sure what I do wrong, but there's always at least one section that, well, isn't pretty. I also only knit on one button because I didn't have another one like this one. I just sewed the button to the bottom of the pincushion.

This turned out quite a bit smaller than I thought it would- it's roughly the size of a clementine. Some of the pins stick through at the bottom if you're not careful. I intend to knit quite a few more, though probably with a larger weight of yarn.

This blog post is brought to you due to the fact that I, the queen of clear thinking, got on the bus at the wrong time this morning and was an hour early to my Friday class. I fully intend to annoy my SO into buying me a Starbucks when he gets out of his class. Nom nom nom.

And Now for Something Different!

First off, the Easter Hamsters are going fabulously. I've finished three so far, and I have two more on the needles. I bet I can get 24 before Monday.

Lest you think my brain is entirely taken over by toys, I finally took a photo of a project I finished a while ago. Not a great photo, but hey. I'll take what I can at this point.



This is Ester Bitran Hand-Dyes Linares yarn that my SO bought me. It was my first yarn that wasn't bought from a big box store and holy goodness I absolutely hate it. The colors are gorgeous, and it was so pretty and shiny in the skein. I had original plans to knit a very drapey, loosely knit vest, but that plan very quickly got abandoned. This yarn is a beast to work with. Not only is it splitty beyond all belief, if it catches on anything, including a rough spot on your hand, it frizzes up and won't return to its original smooth shape.

Plus it smells funny.



When I frogged the project, it was painful. Next I tried to knit Aubrey. While I'm sure the pattern is perfectly fine, it looked like cat vomit in this yarn. This coupled with the fact that I knit the majority of this while watching trashy TV shows with my dear friend Veronica. That was a very bad idea at the time because I was a new knitter and couldn't really read my stitches- so the entire thing was freakishly lopsided. I snapped a photo and threw it the back corner of my room and tried to forget about it for a while.

Finally, while going through some of my scraps, I came across the balls of yarn that weren't eaten up with my Aubrey. Grudgingly, I realized that I really should do something with that yarn, if only so I don't have to look at it anymore and get angry. It was after my recent success with my Baktus, I decided that it was perfect! Nothing could go wrong.

Except the fact that it was hideous. I don't think I even really made a dent in it before I frogged it.

Finally, out of sheer frustration, I found La La's Simple Shawl. I started knitting and was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the yarn not looking like cat barf, but the pattern was really simple. I think it took me all of two seconds to memorize, and I happily dragged this project along with me everywhere. I love autopilot knitting. While complicated knitting is fun, I can only really work on it when I'm alone in my apartment, so it's easier to have autopilot knitting.

This wound up being engaging enough that I wasn't bored, but simple enough that I could listen to lectures or engage in conversations while knitting. And the end result really makes me happy. Although I still hate this yarn.

A New and Fabulous Idea

DISCLAIMER: Sorry about the derailing of the knit and crochet blog week- life has gotten in the way of my taking photos. I do intend to finish out the week, but blogging has been on the back burner in favor of a seriously terrifying accounting exam. To make up for it, here's a post I wrote a week or so ago!

Well, I've done it. I've come up with a spectacularly excellent idea. Today, I had a brief conversation with my mom about a variety of things. Mostly she complimented me on my cooking. She had dental surgery last Friday and has been essentially living off the soup I made for her. (Black Bean Tortilla Soup, my absolute favorite, especially with a dollop of sour cream and shredded cheddar on top, and Spinach Soup which is most excellent with shredded Monterey jack cheese). Anyways. When we were talking, she mentioned how my sister had been sleeping in her own bed.

My sister. Ah. How to explain her.


This is Jenny. She has a duck on her head. Don't ask me why.

Jennifer is approximately ten years younger than I am, and opposite of me in almost every way. I love reading, always have. She hates it and only does it by force. I was shy, quiet, and antisocial (I'm less quiet, but the other two hold pretty steady). Jenny is loud, outgoing, and a social butterfly. I could entertain myself for weeks on end without another person. She needs constant entertainment. I was a pain in the neck to my parents until I was about ten, she was an absolute doll to my parents until recently when she started giving them a run for their money.

Even with these differences, I love her to bits. She can be the sweetest kid in the universe when she wants to be, and I'm so glad that I have her around. As crazy as she drives me, I miss her like crazy when I'm in Oklahoma. I keep trying to convince my parents to let me have her for a weekend, but the whole driving up to meet me deters them.

One of Jenny's most obvious traits is that she loves animals. We have essentially a zoo in our house, and Jennifer loves. As if one dog, three birds, and countless (and named) fish weren't enough, she's adopted the cat across the street and tortures it on it a daily basis with her affection.


Jennifer's attack-bird. She loves this stupid thing more than anything else.

So when I showed Jenny the hamsters I had knit for myself, she immediately begged for some of her own. She only has two at the moment, but I expect that will change soon.

She's been asking for more hamsters for a while now, but the conversation with my mom sealed the deal. Jenny had been sleeping on a dog bed next to my parents' bed for years. I'm not entirely certain as to why, but once I left for OU, she was too scared to sleep in her own room, upstairs. When I came home last week, my parents had a break through. They had finally gotten her to sleep in her own room and it seems to be sticking. My mom let me in on the secret to the success. Every day, Jennifer has been laying the hamsters out on her bed. When it's time for Jenny to go to bed, she moves the hamster to a chair next to her bed, facing her so they can watch her and "protect" her while she sleeps.

I think it's the most adorable thing in the universe.

So I'm knitting her at least a dozen more hamsters for Easter. I'm going to put them each in an Easter egg and give them to my mom to hide for Jennifer. I think that'll be a great surprise for her, since I'm not sure I'll be home to celebrate with her. I'm ridiculously excited about this, and going to start knitting them ASAP.

Finally, because this post isn't long and ramble-y enough, lest you think Jennifer's the only one who loves animals, this is my favorite animal/dinosaur ever.



This is Koo Koo, the most evil, self absorbed, boneheaded animal on the planet. I love her to death. My SO says this is because she's exactly like me- selfish to the point of stupidity but her affections can eventually be bought with her favorite foods. Plus she doesn't know when to shut up.