Monday Merkin Quandary

A while back I made this amazing beard:

The Gallantly Bearded Husband

And a friend joked "You should make a merkin!!"

DISCLAIMER: If you do not know what a merkin is, please do not immediately Google image search this. Ask someone knowledgeable that you trust and like to explain it to you. If this isn't possible, try Urban Dictionary. And whatever you do, don't search while you are at work!

SECOND DISCLAIMER: Ok that made it sound a whole lot more exciting that it really is, so don't get your hopes up too high.

Anyway back to the merkin quandary. The beard technique would be perfect...and it would be easy enough to design... This same friend did some searching and also informed me that there is a deep void in the world where merkin patterns should exist.

But...well... it's a merkin!

What do you think? Is that a little too far for a novelty joke? (Let's just presume she was asking for a joke BECAUSE IT WAS A JOKE LALA LA LA LA AL LA LA JUST A JOKE.)

Pondering.

New fave blog and knit envy

I freaking love this:

I'm desperately thinking of how and when to make it.

Found it on this blog while googling fair isle examples - a fellow Californasian! Fashion, crafting, mommy talk and more. All I ever needed.

Will be diving in to this for the next month, see y'all in March!.

New Pattern Teaser

Here it is! A Hello Kitty patch I made for a darling baby who just turned one.

Hello, Headband!

This ended up being a mixed-media project, but you could easily make it a knit-only project and applique it onto your favorite sweater, hat, or glove project. Pattern coming soon, with pictures!

I know what you're thinking and yes, I am a terrible mother

The party was a blast! There was a Hello Kitty theme, toys, pizza, games, animatronic rodents, balloons, music - and of course, CAKE! The best cake EVER:

Hello, welcome to AwesomeTown

Sure, you can shrug off this amazing masterpiece because you are desensitized by reading celebrity blogs and watching Cake Boss but this isn't no bullshit hoity-bakery purchase friends - this is HOME-MADE by an amazing chick who did it in her own kitchen, BLINDFOLDED! 

Ok she hasn't confirmed the blindfolded part, but she could totally do it blindfolded and that's all that matters. She rocks!! And she happens to be a friend of mine!

You can check out more of her amazing work here - she is just getting started but so freaking talented. I've already done the math, though - stabbing her with a knitting needle is a BAD idea because then she might stop making cakes that are delicious that I can eat. 

Happy rainy Monday, all! 

2011 Half-Year Overview

This is as good as it gets. I didn't start tracking and photographing my projects until October (?) so it is an approximation at best! I'm just going to call it a Half-Year overview, to avoid skewing future stats.

1. Beard
2. Twenty-Ten Cardigan (bulky)
3. Twenty-Ten Cardigan (aran)
4. Paw Mittens (child)
5. Domo Mittens (adult)
6. Transformers/Sakura pot holders
7. Manly Beanie
8. Winged Shawl (lace)

Designs:
None really, unless you count the Domo mittens (not sure I do)
Oh, and the bunny ears...I will have to generate another post explaining those. Shoot...

Happy New Year, everyone!

Forgotten FO Discovery Time

Digging through old photo folders, I came up with these gems. Sometimes hindsight is 20/20, but sometimes it is cruel! These are not nearly half as bad as I was imagining. I may have to take a new look at the ideas in the near future...

Exactly.

Swift, swift and away, Taylor

I am toying with the idea of getting a yarn swift and ball winder. A friend of mine has both - and a vintage wooden swift to boot, that she found at a flea market. I am envious beyond belief but can't justify spending a hundred or so dollars on something that services a task that can be accomplished well enough on my own.


On one side I think "What ease! What beautifully wound balls! What FUN!" and on the other side I snub "It would be more meaningful to sit by the fire and talk with a friend while s/he held the skein for you!" 


I still can't decide but am becoming seriously entertained by the occasional image of Taylor Swift every time I search Amazon.

Amish yarn swift

 

Knit Picks yarn swift

Taylor *yawn* Swift

  

Website Update

Remember back when dial-up internet was all the rage...and you would occasionally see this?

HAHAHAH WHAT LOSERS

Anyway, to the point: I am a loser! I mean, I'm finally taking the time to fix up the site, at least getting it beyond the generic-looking point. If it looks different to you today then it did yesterday, then congratulations! You are a member of the PJTV party! [Pre-January-Ten-Viewing]

In regards to patterns and FOs, there's a lot in the works - so many exciting ideas being hammered out, I can hardly wait. My goal is to put up the next pattern in one week. I don't want to spill too much, but if you are a Hello Kitty fan then you should definitely stay tuned.

Domo Mittens Pattern

Who doesn't love a good anime-inspired knit up?! Here is my completed Domo Mittens pattern for your delight. (You can also download the PDF by clicking right here.)

Domo - Domo

There are two different charts - one for the authentic Domo mouth, and one that unintentionally couches a batman logo between the teeth. Blame it on my son - I definitely seem to have Mr Wayne on the brain. It's not horrible, though, so I've included it with the pattern.


This is a first-go at a pattern, so...be kind! Let me know if you run into any trouble or if I can improve things. Also, feel free to comment or post pictures of any projects you finish using the chart or the full mittens...I love seeing other peoples' works.


Enough rambling. Enjoy!

Domo-Kun Mittens

Materials

Yarn: 1 skein Stitch Nation Alpaca Love (132 yards/85 grams) Espresso Bean; black, white, and pink OR red yarn for accents.
Needles: US 7 double pointed needles

Sizing: One size fits most.

These mittens are knit in the round; Domo’s face is accomplished with duplicate knitting.

Pattern

Cast on 32 stitches; join in the round 
Work in K1, P1 rib for 14 rounds (2.5”)

Round 1: M1, K2, M1, k around - 34 sts.
Round 2: K around
Round 3: M1, k4, M1, k around - 36 sts.
Round 4: K around
Round 5: M1, k6, M1, k around - 38 sts.
Round 6: K around
Round 7: M1, k8, M1, k around - 40 sts.
Round 8: K around

K until mitten measures 5.5" from start

Next Round: Cast on 3 sts, place next 10 sts on holder for thumb, k to end (33 sts)

Fingers 
K around until piece measures 8.5”

Next Round: K1, k2tog, k10, ssk, K3, k2tog, k10, ssk, k1 

Next Round: K1, k2tog, k8, ssk, K3, k2tog, k8, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k6, ssk, K3, k2tog, k6, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, K3, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, K3, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 
Next Round: K1, k2tog, ssk, K3, k2tog, ssk, k1

Cut yarn and seam the ends with Kitchener stitch

Thumb
Knit 10 stitches from the holder
Pick up 5 more stitches from the cast on stitches and joints between, connect in the round

Work in stockinette stitch for 1.5”, then
Next Round: (K2tog) 4 times, K1, (K2tog) 4 times

Cut yarn and seam up using Kitchener stitch

Domo time

Using the accent yarn and the charts below, duplicate stitch Domo-kun’s face onto the palm.

Weave in ends and block.

Charts

Updated Chart

Accidental Batman Surprise Chart

Domo is le tired

Modification Gone Wrong

Inspired by this amazing post I decided to try to duplicate the project and knit a cowl for a friend.

The more you knit, the more you learn. And apparently one lesson I need to learn repeatedly is to PLAN AHEAD.  *sigh*

Already skirt length and only 2/3rds done :( 

 Of course I totally eschewed the original pattern and eschewed looking at Raquel's notes (damn you hubris!) and now have knit myself into a rocky, hard placed corner.

Not sure if the original knitter ran into the same problem, but this sucker is HUGE. There is NO way it is going to morph into a beautiful cowl! I put in too many elephants, too many pattern repeats, too much of something...and now I can't in good conscious finish the project as I haphazardly planned. Perhaps I am being a bit of a perfectionist, but honestly I see no point in creating crappy knit works. This is where the "cross" comes in....(along with being cross-eyed from so many frogged rows and pattern repeats).

Mesmerizing, though, ain't it?

I suppose the lesson is...I am not a "seat of my pants" kind of knitter. I love, honor, and respect a good pattern. SIGH. Now to try and figure out what what to do with this non-cowl...

Ideas, anyone?

Used Bookstores Are Hilarious

Found in Burbank.

Ladies, amirite?

Domo Mittens - Adult size!

Hurrah hurrah! A creation!! Heavily inspired by this pattern but with a Domo puppet twist.

Introducing my very own DOMO MITTENS!

Check out all the info on my Ravelry project page or RIGHT HERE on this site.

Year of the Water Dragon

New Year's Resolutions time!

I'm going for 25 FO and 5 designs, all of which will be featured here and on Ravelry. Admittedly a bit lofty, but why not? Resolutions are not a time for pessimism!

So here we go, 2012...I've got my eye on you...