First is a new slouchyhat. The first slouchyhat was knit two years ago…

…and while it is wonderful and serves me well, the yarn is soft and pilly. And pilled it has. Half the cabling is lost in pilling.

This time I’m knitting a bit of a chuinkier slouchyhat this time, using the Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret pattern and Berocco Blackstone Tweed.

The hat is knitting just a smidge loose, which I think will be helped by blocking. We’ll see. I like it, though. Simple and fast.

Not so simple or fast, but thoroughly enjoyable so far… the Omelet shawl.

I am not far into it, at all. But I can see the patterns developing. I spread it all out every few rows just to admire the shapes and the fact that all these yarnovers and decreases form such cool shapes. It’s my first proper fancy lacework, and so far it’s relatively simple, as long as I’m careful to follow the charts.

Last but not least, my sock.

Nothing special, just a ribbed sock knit with KnitPicks Stroll Tweed. It’s nice soft simple yarn and it’s nice to have a small on-the-go project. And to tote it in, I have…

A new Zuma bag!!

I have wanted one for awhile, after coveting a fellow knitter’s Zuma bag at a knit night. They’ve been hard to find, but I located one on sale online, and it’s finally made its way to me. I love that it’s a big sack bag disguised as a cute leather girlybag. :) And the fake leather is so soft and nice. And the extra pockets are just perfect. Love it love it love it.

What have you all been working on? :)

A few things of interest, in both my knitting and my life.

- There’s a minor but very important errata for the shark hat on its pattern page. I need to make a fresh PDF to make the change, since my original file went missing, Oops.

- I got a new job, and I adore it. If you’re local and have some pets, stop by sometime!

- Since I started my job, my boss went to Spain and brought me back some delicious ruffley scarf yarn, and I made a scarf with it.

- I’ve also made a few other things. I’ve made some progress on the Doctor Who Scarf (5 feet unstretched)…

- I finally have needles, and the pattern I want. I’m making a lace shawl. Using this yarn, and this pattern. I may be insane. I’ll get back to you.

- I have a design in mind for a new ferret sweater, designed for ferrets with bald bums due to adrenal disease, since my little girl was diagnosed.

- No knitting plans for the border collie, but he’s pretty darn handsome.

That’s about it for now. Life is good, I’ll knit more.

And then test knitting by five others…

And then more vigorous review…

Look what’s finally back after a 6 month hiatus!

Go check out the pattern page for the download link, and please PLEASE let me know if you discover any errors, and I will get on them posthaste. :)

I want to say a big big big big THANK YOU to my test knitters and other amazing awesome helpers this time around: Cindy/random-charm, lindaturc, quiltingkidd, Sharon, and everyone else who offered helpful tidbits and suggestions along the way. I haven’t got you all in the PDF of the pattern yet, but I will. You guys were CRUCIAL and so thorough in your constructive criticisms.Thank you thank you thank you. If I can repay the karma, just say the word!

Any errors in the pattern are MINE, not theirs.

I also want to thank everyone else out there for your incredible patience, kind words and encouragement. I felt way more beat down about this pattern than I ever thought I could, but it was short-lived. Everyone was really helpful and caring and, well, I just love the knitting community. Y’all rock and I’ll be pushing the karma forward.

<3

Now GO KNIT SHARK HATS, all of you!

I scrapped the RPM sock for the time being, as it yet again DID NOT FIT MY FOOT. This sock curse is as maddening as my feet are.

I have a solution. To the left is a new sock in progress. It is a simple 3×1 rib sock that I am making out of simple and sophisticated KnitPicks Essential Shoreline Twist.

With this sock I will carefully work with my ridiculously shaped feet, and figure out my measurements and how they pertain to stitch counts. I will retain these records for further socks.

Oh, and no more short row heels. They’re the devil for my feet. Flap heels forever.

In other news, I’ve been pressing forward on the Doctor Who scarf, and decided to take  measure and some photos. I was rather… blown away by my progress. Looking at my chart, I am over halfway done. The scarf is 5 feet unstretched, 8.7 feet stretched to blocking length. It’s trippy to think I’m halfway done, even though it’s taken me over two years to get to that point. Can I finish it in time for Halloween this year, and fulfill my Fourth Doctor costume? We’ll see.

Pics of the over-halfway progress:

I love looking at it. It’s all coming together!

I had a job interview yesterday and kicked it’s butt, so I celebrated with new yarn. Here, you may ogle it. It’s Biscotte & Cie – Felix in the Belle Gueule colorway. Self-striping superwash merino deliciousness.

Also!

Regarding the shark hat:

So many of you have stepped up offering test knitting support, kind words and encouragement, and you’ve all been more than patient waiting for the pattern. It will be ready for release very soon! My small but dedicated team of test knitters have been fabulous in helping me perfect this pattern so that it can be as error-free as I possibly can make it before release. At this point, it’s my own paranoia making me triple and quadruple check it. You’ve all been fabulous and I appreciate all the resounding support. :) Knitters are Good People.

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys. What items do you like to surround yourself with whilst you twirl your hook like a majorette’s baton or work those needles like a skilled set of samurai swords. Do you always have snacks to hand, or are you a strictly ‘no crumbs near my yarn!’ kind of knitter.

The place I knit the absolute most is in my rec room, while watching movies or television shows. I am by nature a fidgeter, which is a big reason why I took to knitting so quickly. A way to keep my hands busy that winds up as completed clothing and accessories? Yes please!

On that same vein, I’m usually knitting alone – my roomies will watch with me, but they are all boys and none of them interested in knitting.

I happily knit in public. I take my sock in progress to pubs, and I’ve hauled the Doctor Who scarf to a few geeky venues. I especially like knitting on a pub patio in the summer with a cold pint.

We have a few awesome knitting groups locally, and I’m terrible at getting out to them. Ottawa Knit Nites at the Bank Street Bridgehead are ten minutes away, I am free Wednesday nights, there is no excuse. I’ve been a few times a few years ago and I loved them – I really want to get back out and knit with people. The Ottawa knitting crew is pretty awesome. :D