My classes this quarter aren’t too difficult, but I’m busy with working on a new club and starting the post-graduation job search. Still, I’m procrastinating a bit: I’m working on knitting the Phoenix Wright beanie, while watching the new Sherlock BBC!

I think I haven’t posted pictures of all the winter break projects yet, so check back in a week or so! So yup, that’s basically it. If you’re interested in more frequent posts (although of a differently geared focus), check out my tumblr or my dreams blog (contact me for link)!

When I started knitting and crochet, my grandma gave me a few skeins of a pink yarn. I couldn’t decide what to do with it for the longest time. Over my winter break trip to LA and Vegas, trying to stash-bust, I brought these with me.

I was browsing the Ravelry pattern database, and found this pattern for a crochet scarf. After having made the crochet cats, I was in the mood for crochet. I think crochet projects are faster than knitting ones actually.

For this project, I used the tutorial from Mr. Micawber’s, to make the matching scalloped edges.

It was actually a pretty easy project! This the second big project that I crocheted, so definitely it’s good for beginners. It’s also quick to make, so would be perfect for gifting.

I was able to get two scarves and an amigurumi heart out of the yarn.

I cast on for this project when I first started knitting in 2008, and now I’ve finally finished with it! I learned how to read a chart by doing this. This was also the first time that I steam blocked something. I really like the pattern, and want to try putting it on some other projects! In fact, I’m making a pair of fingerless gloves!

Instead of using the full pattern with the mock twist cables, I did a k1p1 ribbing on the sides. The scarf curls a bit, even after blocking, so it probably would have been better to make the ribbing longer or to use a different stitch.

Here’s a close up of the pattern.

So over break, a few projects got done:

• Crochet Cat
• DNA Scarf
• 2 Queen Anne’s Lace Scarves
• Pop heart amigurumi
• Autumn in Garrison hat
• 1 of the DNA fingerless gloves

But some projects continued their long hibernation:

• CPH
• Pokemon Hoodie

And now I’m going back to school, where there won’t be as much free time. Still, I brought back my knitting and crochet supplies, hoping to get maybe one or two projects underway!

I’m bringing my remnants of my Caron’s simply soft for the Ravenclaw scarf, 2 skeins in a forest green, and 1 skein in a bright blue.

Actually, right before we left for the airport, I was browsing patterns in Ravelry, and stumbled across this one for the Phoenix Wright Hobo hat. So perfect! I had to stop off at Michaels to buy a pink for the “PaPa” part. I wanted to get something from the same line, so was considering Caron’s Simply Soft in Watermelon. It did seem a bit too bright though, so I ended up going with Debbie Bliss’ Snapdragon. I’m so excited! Now I have to look for a source for that pin.

Made 3 in this style.

I pulled 9 sheets from the Christmas scrapbooking pad that I bought last month, made 12 cards. All of these are pretty simple. I matched it to the size of the other cards we are sending out, so they can be in the same envelope.
I think my favorite is the first in the first row or the middle in the center row. The penguin is cute though.

While doing the lettering, I started listening to The Hunger Games audiobook. So excited for the movie!

Anyways, during the downtime over the holidays, I managed to get a lot of knitting/crochet done!  A lot of the progress was made in the long drives to and from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and from there to Las Vegas. Real posts (with pictures) to come! Or you can check my Ravelry for other details in the meantime.

• Finished up the DNA Scarf! Had some adventures with the iron, when I tried steam blocking for the first time at my hotel in Vegas.
• Finished the Pop Heart Amigurumi. Started this in LA, but my hook broke right in the middle of this (cheap plastic!), so I had to finish it at home.
• Fell in love with the Queen Anne’s Lace Scarf pattern, and crocheted two of them!
• Made the Autumn in Garrison Hat. I’m not sure if I like how I look with hats, since I almost never wear them, but this was a fun pattern.
• Wanted to use up the last skein of my Cascade 220, and decided to make DNA fingerless gloves. My first time improvising this much on a pattern, so hopefully it goes well. I’m basing the construction off of the simple Alice Wrist Warmers.

Today, I spent my time making the thank you cards for Christmas, so that post will be coming up soon too!

Crafts-wise, I’m going to bring the DNA scarf project. I think I just need 2 more pattern repeats until I finally finish! So most likely you can check back in a week or so and see the finished scarf!

Maybe I’ll also bring the scrap black yarn to make another crochet cat/dog? Really not sure if there is enough yarn though… I think I should probably save it to use in other projects. Black is such a common color. I was thinking of finding some patterns for amigurumi Zelda figures?
I should really bring the CPH, but there’s way too much stuff to bring for that project. Eventually I will finish it!
Or I could bring the random pink yarn I have and try making hearts? Should start that early.

So, well, as you can see, even though it’s the morning before I leave, I’m still not exactly sure what to pack. OH, I have to find my DS and the charger to bring those for sure!

Anyways, that’s it for my rambling. Warm wishes for the holidays, and I hope everyone is able to spend it with their families/friends/loved ones. See you all in a week or so

Happy Holidays!

Last year or so, I made my first crochet project, a black cat, supposed to look like the one from Studio Ghibli’s Kiki’s Delivery Service. (I love that movie!!) I ended up changing the eyes/nose a bit, so my project looks like just a generic black cat.

Today, my family had an early Christmas party with my aunt and uncle, since we are going to be in Vegas/Los Angeles over Christmas. Since we were exchanging gifts, I decided to make another one of the crochet cats to give to my aunt and uncle.

(The original one to the left, and the newer one to the right.)

Random thoughts under the cut!

I was actually wondering, why is the one I made first so much larger, if I followed the same pattern, using the same yarn. I then realized that I must have used a different hook size….  Actually over break, I lost my knitting accesories/crochet hooks.  I went out Wednesday to get the size H/5.00mm, because that’s the one recommended on the yarn ball band.  But on the pattern, it recommends size G/4.00mm, so I ended up using that hook to make the cat. So pointless going out to buy  the new one.    I must have used the 5.00mm last time though.

Haha, I think the original looks kind of dopey. It’s still cute, but I like the smaller one much better.

I still have maybe a fist-sized ball of black yarn left, so am considering making another one. OR!! Maybe try to adapt the pattern/find a new one and make a black dog instead?

Oh I actually made this cute gift bag from a scrapbook sheet paper that I wanted to share with you guys later! haha, there are a lot of imperfections, but I think there’s definitely a seed of something there!

Anyways, you guys should know that I have this terrible habit of buying materials and not starting a project, or even if I do start, never finishing it.  There are so many WIPs for me to complete over winter break (see the project planning category for more).  Realistically, here’s what I’m going to try to work on (and what you guys can look forward to!):

- Pokemon Hoodie- I’m so lazy to go set up the sewing machine…. Have to seam rip the bottom band out, add the pockets, resew, sew on the spots, finishing touches. Really not that much.. I WILL work on this! I will start after I get back fromVegas/LA, since there are plans for the rest of the week…

- DNA scarf- hahaha. I’ve had this project going since I first got into knitting in 2008. WOW, that’s four years! I keep putting this off, because I keep losing my place when reading the chart. Also I was not smart and knit this at a gauge that is way too tight. It curls terribly. Hopefully I will be able to finish this!

-CPH- I really want to work on this some more! I don’t think that I can finish, but let’s make the goal be getting to 50%?

-Knit belt- I found a spare pair of D-rings in my drawers, so I want to try and make a belt! I will look through my stash for any of the Sugar and Cream cotton yarn, but otherwise will buy more. FOR SURE if I start this, I will finish.

-misc.- As for other crafty things, I actually bought a pad of Christmas scrapbook paper from Michaels! Even though I have so much paper already, the pad was 60% off today, so I couldn’t resist. I guess I will try to make some Christmas cards in advance for next year. Otherwise I will try to use it for gift tags and wrapping this year too!

So those things are what’s planned for now. I’ll keep you all posted on my progress, so you can look forward to (hopefully) more regular updates for this month.

I’m still in to the look of paper weaving, so this continues that theme with the strips woven into a triangle.  They’re all of assorted sizes and colors, to add more interest. I backed it with white paper, so that it shows up better on the background paper. I think that it’d probably look better with a more solid color background actually, so that there is more contrast. Anyways, I really like how it sort of looks like a fancy knot.  There’s an empty space left in one of the corners, so that I have a place to add text in later. Will still have to think about how best to incorporate it though.

Here’s my favorite of the bunch: