Not breaking any hips yet...

I slipped on some stairs in the mall yesterday. Slid down several on my heels and then on my butt and legs. Wrenched my left arm backwards. No broken bones. I guess I'm not that old yet (i.e. no broken hip) but definately not graceful.

So, for today, my 37th birthday, I have some lovely bruises. Happy old-lady birthday to me...


I finished the first sock from the Annetrelac socks (Interweave Knits Holiday). Knit in Patons Kroy Krazy Stripes. I really like this sock, it knit up pretty quickly and entrelac in the round was fun to learn. When I tried it on (before it was finished) all I could think was "It's a good thing I'm not self conscious about my ankles." It's like a down vest for the ankle!

I have a few other items in the works. I should get in the habit of taking in-progress pics... Not today though. Today I'll try to get as much done with as little stress as possible at work, then The Boy is taking me out for my birthday (not sure what the plan is).

New!

I've been busy. I have actually finished some WIPs! Some of them have been UFOs for a LONG LONG time... Some of them were started while I should have been working on other things...

1. New Vest!
I made this over a weekend a couple of weeks ago. (Forgot to post it... )

Pattern: Back-To-School U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits
Yarn: From stash!! Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (50g, 100 m/109 yd); approx. 4.5 balls
Mods: I made the ribbed section longer, started the U-neck a bit lower, didn't do the edging on the arms and only did 3 rounds of stocking stitch (which rolled in ) for the neck.
Verdict: LOVE. Great stash buster, the darts make it fit really well, I think I may make another one from stash.

2. New Bag!

New tote bag for work.
I had this idea in my head for a while and suddenly had the urge to make it last weekend. So far I love it. I used remnant material for the outer fabric, cotton tea towels for the lining, rings for curtains for the handle rings...


The inside has 2 patch pockets and a divider with a zippered pocket. I hadn't ever tried to make a divider in a bag, and couldn't seem to find instructions, so I just winged it. It turned out pretty well considering.

3. New (and repaired) Scarf/Stole!
This is intended as a gift for my friend. You may recall the heart stopping incident of a few weeks ago. I frogged to where I had threaded yarn to stop the run, managed to find my place in the chart and completed it last night.

Pattern: I altered the charts for Icarus from Interweave Knits Summer 2006.
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Multi (100 gr, 344 m/376 yd), slightly more than one skein


I love how it turned out, it's exactly what I had in mind when I started (minus the terror of the dropped stitch). I'm hoping my friend loves it too.

4. New Socks!

I love it when the stripes end up matching.
Yarn: Online Supersocke 100 Tropic-Color
Pattern: My usual "cast on 64 and go"
First new socks of the fall.

5. New Icelandic Stranded Cardigan!

Sigh. Love.
Pattern: Hela Short Cardigan free from Istex
Yarn: Alafoss Lopi
Mods: I made the body a bit longer than called for in the pattern.
I started this cardigan in May. I had about 4 inches of the body knit and then it got warm and it kept getting further and further down in the WIPs basket. I pulled it out a few weeks ago and got going on it. I love how it turned out, although the stranded section is a bit tighter gauge than the rest (should have gone up a bit in needle size).


This sweater was my very first steek experience. It was every bit as edge-of-your-seat terrifying and exhilarating as I thought it would be (complete with a broken thread on the machine steeked edge... )


6. My last "new" thing isn't something I personally did, but I like it none-the-less... New Hair(cut)!

I have bangs!! I haven't had bangs since High school! This was one of the only times ever that I left the stylist and liked how she styled my hair. (i went out and bought a flat iron...)