Truffles and the neverending search for the Bullion Stitch

So Pony, if you're out there, this is your X-Mas present. Perhaps it will be a little modified with some more truffl-y edging, but 'twill be very similar. Inspired by the top picture.

And also, if anyone actually reads this thing, and if you happen to know, I've been looking for a crochet stitch used in freeform knitting/crochet that I've seen referred to as the bullion stitch. If you know... you know. Please let me know.

playing around

I nearly have all my presents planned... now just to get down to the doing. How many days do I have left? Not enough.

Presents!

I got myself some books for mah birfday. Stitch patterns are fun. I'm thinking this particular swatch would make an excellent coin purse type thing for one of the nieces for x-mas.

I've been bizzee

I've been experimenting. Lots of ripping out (I'm uncomfortable using the term "frogging"- it seems less visceral and frustrated as I usually feel when I need to do it) re-knitting and playing with stitch patterns. I have managed to complete a few things; a cowl for my cold neck, a vest for my cold tummeh without the bulk of sleeves in coats, and some other things I can't remember. I'm currently making Rachelle King's Giraffe, which has an extra long neck for combating that piercing icy wind that seems to be able to find microscopic cracks between scarves and hats and coats. Some days I dislike putting on and peeling of layers and layers just to walk the dog or take the boy to the bus stop. So I'm gravitating to multi-function pieces that have retractable features built into them. I like to think of myself as futuristic and modern instead of lazy.

Next up: taking on cold winter feet.

Neopolitan baby blanket

What's sweeter than ice cream? A baby, of course. With extra strawberry.

Easy peasy garter stitch (I'm practicing my English/American stitching to save my hands instead of my usual Continental/German/Combo knitting) and super soft yarn. Yum-meee.

Making stuff

I made a sweater in a week. Not a totally complicated venture, and I took a few days off. But I like how it turned out. Yay for a Pony sweater!





(That's Pony showing us her binness.)

It's knit with two strands of yarn, so I had to improvise something that wouldn't make me crazy with the balls running around and the winding and the stuff. The first ball I wound up into separate balls then wound them into a two stranded center pull ball. That was too much work. So I stuck them under two MS pots I picked up at K-Mart a few years ago. Worked out just fine because the holes are glazed and didn't snag the yarn at all. I would have been afraid to use a plain terracotta pot for that reason. Not a totally original idea, but you know. I make of the do.

Cosmo Messenger Bag

Cosmo picked out this yarn from Michael's last time we were there. It's Red Heart Super Saver in Camouflage, and I'm a tree hugging hippie, so I had no idea what I was going to do with it. So after a few false starts and me teaching him how to do the knit stitch, he asked me to make him a "purse". So that's what I did. I knit a gauge swatch and then measured the boy and figured that I needed a 10" x 8" bag with a 30" strap. It's a good thing that I didn't make it bigger, because I had about six inches of yarn left after I finished up the seams.
It's basically two pieces, one long one for the body with purl ridges to mark the edges of the bottom and the beginning of flap, and a garter stitch flap and handles that I sewed all the way down to form the sides.
Smoochy gets the credit for the idea of using denim to reinforce the already pretty rigid acrylic structure.
I think it turned out pretty okay, and it's now filled with a rock collection and some neopets.

For to be having goals.

I forget where I first saw this list. And I'm sure I'll add things to it. But here's the bare bones as-I-found-it version. For now. Can I make that seem any less permanent? (Also I'm resisting the urge to alphabetize. Is that wrong?) There's so much I haven't tried.

Knitting To Do List

Afghan
I-cord ✔
Applied I-cord ✔
Garter stitch ✔
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch ✔
Socks: top down ✔
Socks: toe up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens cuff up
Mittens: Top-down
Hat ✔
Knitting with silk ✔
Moebius band knitting ✔
Participating in a KAL
Sweater ✔
Drop stitch patterns ✔
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn ✔
Slip stitch patterns ✔ (I love the linen stitch...)
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn ✔
Two end knitting ✔
Charity knitting ✔
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan ✔
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles ✔
Baby items ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Knitting with your own hand-spun yarn
Slippers ✔
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting ✔ x always
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns ✔
Lace patterns ✔
Publishing a knitting book
Participate in an exchange
Scarf ✔ x ∞
Teaching a child to knit ✔
American/English knitting ✔
Knitting to make money - I wish
Buttonholes ✔
Knitting with alpaca ✔
Fair Isle knitting ✔
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…) ✔
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s hand-spun yarn ✔
Knitting with dpns ✔
Holiday related knitting ✔
Teaching a male how to knit ✔
Bobbles ✔
Knitting for a living - I really wish
Knitting with cotton - ✔ ✔ since I'm allergic to animal fibers
Knitting smocking ✔
Dying yarn
Steeks ✔
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting ✔
Knitting with wool ✔ (despite allergy)
Textured knitting ✔
Kitchener stitch ✔
Knitted flowers ✔
Purses/bags ✔
Knitting with beads ✔
Swatching ✔
Long Tail CO ✔
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards ✔
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn ✔
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere ✔
Darning ✔
Jewelry ✔
Knitting with synthetic yarn ✔
Writing a pattern ✔
Gloves ✔
Intarsia ✔
Knitting with linen ✔
Knitting for preemies ✔
Tubular CO ✔
Free-form knitting ✔
Short rows ✔
Cuffs/fingerless mits/arm-warmers ✔
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an on-line knitting magazine ✔
Rug ✔
Knitting on a loom ✔
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Knitting for pets
shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Knitting in public ✔
Knitting with t-shirt yarn ✔