• Knitting and Crochet

    The Multi-year Totoro Mittens

    So I started these Norwegian Totoro Mittens (ravelry link)… uhhh… a long time ago. I actually am not sure when I started them, because of course I didn’t log them in my Ravelry Notebook. My Ravelry notebook that’s gone largely neglected the last few years. Of course I didn’t. But I do know that they’ve been on the needles a long time. Long enough to have stray strands of fur from my cat Genghis still knitted into them.* And Genghis has been pushing up daisies for several years now, soooo… there’s that. But it’s time to be done with them. I’ve dragged them back out, and I want them OFF…

  • Knitting and Crochet

    Operation: Finish the Afghan

    So I have this afghan. It’s been half-done since somewhere around 2008. Maybe 2009. I started it as a graduation gift for my college roommate, but as it continued to linger and linger and linger, and as years and years passed since both of our graduations that original purpose became moot. And now it’s 2015. I’m three years away from a 10 year college reunion (which I will probably not go to, since I didn’t know anyone I graduated with – I graduated a year early). And still the afghan remains. Unfinished. Languishing in a green milk-style storage carton behind our couch. The time has come. It’s time to be…

  • Knitting and Crochet

    I’ve Been a Bad Girl…

    So I told you last post that I broke my spending rules already thanks to a trip to NY. Here’s the fall out. These first two skeins aren’t technically rule violations – my mom gifted them to me. A skein of Jitterbug and a skein of Cascade Heritage Silk. Both so beautiful, and ohhhh so soft. When she told me to pick out two skeins of sock yarn for myself, I tried to veer away from my usual color choices of purples, pinks, and greens and instead go for something more neutral. They’re both just neutral enough to still be considered neutral, but still interesting enough to hold my attention.…

  • Knitting and Crochet

    Chunky Scarf Love

    One of my close friends came and stayed with us over New Years and introduced me to the concept of arm knitting. As a bit of an ADD knitter who has spent multiple months working on a single scarf because of other distractions, the idea of being able to finish a functional, wearable, and cute scarf in about half an hour seemed too good to be true. I had to try it. So we made a trip to JoAnn’s to grab some super chunky yarn (Lion Brand Hometown USA in Aspen Tweed). However, in true “me” style, as soon as I got home I decided to do something entirely different…

  • Knitting and Crochet

    Knitpicks Cyber Monday Haul

    The last thing I need is more yarn. But I just simply cannot resist Knitpicks’ Annual Big Sale the Monday after Thanksgiving. Last year I got a great deal on a set of Harmony Wood Interchangeable Circular Needles for my Mom for Christmas. This year, I did a bit of shopping for myself – they didn’t have any spectacular sales on needles this year, just yarn. But ohhhh, the yarn. In the grand scheme of things, I didn’t buy much. I know plenty of knitters would scoff at my measly purchase of 6 skeins. But let’s face it. It’s not often that I have the capital to splurge on myself…