Xina's Bell Jar

New Knits

2008-01-10T14:31:00.000-06:00

So school started yesterday and already I have reading to do and a poem to write before Friday and I have another class tonight, which will lead to more reading. I'm not complaining. I really enjoy it. I love all the classes I'm taking: History of the English Language, Creative Writing, TESOL II, Narrative as Ethics, and Argumentation. I'm more excited about the first three classes though, especially the writing one.

I've been writing poetry and short stories since the fourth grade, but life has gotten in the way (and looming lol) and I don't write as much as I'd like to, so hopefully this class will help.

Anyway, here are my new creations:

The base of the pattern is from the Adult Ballet Slipper, a class I took on Loom Knitters on Yahoo groups. I added the kitty embellishments. Ignore the black string on the side of the slipper: I haven't had a chance to sew on a button, but wanted to show everyone the tail. :)

Also, I made a little piggy. This pattern is for sale for anyone who is interested. Just leave me a comment with your email address and we'll talk or you can just email me. Here's his pic:

Coming Soon: The Cowardly Lion

As soon as I get some time this weekend I will finish the pattern and post the pic.

Busy as a bee

2008-01-06T23:12:00.000-06:00

It's been a few days since I posted but I've been pretty busy, as you can tell from my pictures. Also I've been getting ready for school and trying to do everything I wanted to during my break before classes start again Wednesday. I'm re-reading Wicked and am halfway done and am also halfway done with The Vampire Lestat (book 2 in Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles). I didn't get as much reading done over break as I wanted, but that's because of the knitting.

This shawl was knitted using Lion Brand Homespun. I love the beautiful maroonish color! It's a bit shorter than I thought it would be (the pattern said to knit for about 50", which I did) so I may go back and add a bit more or just add fringe.

But I'll have to decide that later as I'm trying to finish other projects and write some patterns before Wednesday.

This poncho was made using one strand of Red Heart lavender, I think the color was, and a strand of Yarn Bee Eyelash. I'll have to go back and check my notes about the exact color. Anyway, this pattern is from the book Learn to Knit on Circle Looms. It's very soft and comfy.

These hats are pretty basic. The first was made with Bernat Softee Chunky with a ruffled edge and alternating purling and knitting rows. The second is from Isela's Primer book made with Red Heart. The third was started with Red Heart and a fun fur type yarn for the brim then just Red Heart white.

Right now I'm working on writing a few patterns. I have a pig pattern done and I'm finishing up the panda pattern. I'm also working on a couple other animal patterns, which I plan to post for sale as soon as I'm done.

Whew! So much to do before Wednesday! I think I may become an insomniac for a day or two.

To Frog or Not To Frog? What a Dilemma

2007-12-30T18:31:00.000-06:00

Decisions, decisions.

So I finally finished the second panel to my grandmother's blanket. I should be doing Ren and Stimpy's Happy Happy Joy Joy dance, but now I have a problem: this second panel I just finished was completed on a different loom than the first panel. I did not realize at the time what a big difference this would make. The first panel, made on the KK yellow round loom, measures about 54 inches long by 19 inches wide. The second panel (pictured below), was made on the KK long blue loom and measures about 35 inches long by 21 inches wide.

Now I have to figure out how I can make these different size panels work to complete a full-size blanket or I have to decide which panel I should frog. :( Grr.

On a lighter note, now that grandma's blanket is temporarily off the long loom I can use it for two other projects my fingers have been itching to create: the Phantom project I mentioned in my post from earlier today and Isela's waves shrug. The Phantom one has to come first, of course, not just because I am a huge phan, but also because it will not take as long as the waves shrug.

Okay, now that I've whined for a bit, I'm off to ponder my dilemma and watch the Colts win tonight.

Christmastime is gone

2007-12-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

*Lets out a long sigh*

Christmas is over and I have to admit I was a little burned out on knitting so I took a few days off. Being so busy with school caused me to put making all my gifts off until the last minute, putting me in a knitting frenzy most of December. That plus the stress of research papers and finals makes me glad I don't go back to school until the 9th of January.

So today I've posted pictures of some of the gifts I made: hats (including a kitty hat), purses, pillows, and a scarf. Unfortunately the gift giving went a little fast for me and I didn't get to take pics of all the gifts I gave out (mental note: take pics before you give them away!) So next time I see my family I have to take pics of the ballet slippers I made and the earflap hat. Both of which came out great: the earflap hat was done in camo yarn and to make the ballet slippers less slippery I put glue dots on the bottom in the shape of my aunt's name.

I started knitting again yesterday and finished a blue cable hat for myself, which I'll post next time. I also made up a pattern for a Phantom object I want to make for myself since last week marked my two year phan-niversary (the day I was introduced to The Phantom of the Opera and became a phan).

And I am finally almost done with the second panel in my grandmother's blanket! These two skeins of yarn were starting to seem never-ending lol. I'm just trying to focus on this panel being done and not how many more I have to do to fit her full-size bed.

More knit babies

2007-12-28T08:04:00.000-06:00

So of course all the little chicks had to have buddies. Jodi from Michaels came up with some awesome patterns for other animals and at the time I was working full time at the newspaper so I was able to take them.

I also took what I learned from the classes and made up my own patterns for a bunny and a mermaid, which I need to take pics of.

In the beginning...

2007-12-27T16:28:00.000-06:00

Since this is my first post, I thought I'd start by putting up some of my first projects on the Knifty Knitter looms.

I found knitting my freshman year in college at Oberlin: a girl on my floor taught me and soon I was like the other Obies and knitting in my poetry and psychology classes instead of taking notes. I only made scarves for the longest time.

Then I bought a really useful book and learned how to purl and other things, but got frustrated with the needles.

Sometime in January of 2007 I wandered in to my local Michaels and saw a demonstration using the KK looms. I took a class on how to make slippers, taught myself how to make a magic scarf, and soon took other classes.

These chicks were made for my cousins' Easter baskets and I personalized them by adding purses, balls, or glasses. They loved them. Aren't they adorable?