yarn as fun as cat toys

This is Kivrin


I've been having a lot of fun knitting cat toys for her so she will stop chewing on my needles, and she has had just as much fun chasing after the yarn I knit them with. This one is just a little ball with a string attached, but next I am thinking something something filled with catnip, maybe a model of the Black Death microbe, for her namesake. The house is feeling more like a home since this happy addition came in.

Knitting in a New Place

Riverside, California


I've just moved into my new place, which I decided deserved a post, especially since I haven't started classes yet so I have some extra time for knitting. Currently on the needles and in progress includes but is not limited to: Christmas stockings, cat toys, socks, Jayne hats, Alpaca scarves and .... (drum roll).... a Hoddie for my brother, my first attempt at a giant sweater project. Grad school may dictate how much of these things get finished at more than a snails pace, but I'll keep you posted.

His-Hers Fuzzy Slippers

For Julie and Rick


When I found out that my good friend Julie was engaged, I knew I had to make something for her and her man, and that it had to be as goofy as they are.

Easy pattern knit flat on 9s and sewn up the seams with ridiculously fluffy yarn. For your amusement and reference; they are Yarn Bee Frosting's "Cotton Candy" and "Hot Berries" respectfully.

I hope the recipients can appreciate the subtle irony and love with which they were knit.

Crookshank's Harry Potter

For Sirius and Remus, filled with love and catnip


When my friend Kara had kittens, and named them after two of my favorite characters from the wonderful series, I knew I had to make them something and I knew what it had to be. Thus was born Harry Potter yarn-style.

Knit on 3.4 with leftover scrap yarn, his sweater is a flat square knit up the back (CO 24) with gray yarn, arms and lets are knit in the round (CO 9 and 12 respectively) with black yarn and white for hands.
The head I picked up sts from the top of the sweater and joined in the round, knit 3 rows, *M1 every 3rd st, k1 row, rep from * 3 times, k 3 or 4 rows, then decreased by ssl and k2tog on either side of the face twice around, then 2tog every other all around, pull sts through tight.
His cloak is just a st st triangle. Hair and features are sewn on, and tie is a colored piece of cloth sewed on. He is then stuffed with cotton balls and a lot of organic catnip.

Long Live Harry Potter!!

the brea bag

For Mom


(I apologize for the excess of pictures, I was pretty excited about how this one turned out.)
Knit from the Brea Bag pattern located here:
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/brea/brea.html

and I must say it is a fantastic pattern. Normally when you start by casting on 126 sts and cabling every other st it gets complicated, but as long as you stick with the pattern it's smooth sailing.


I wanted to make something for my mom for her birthday that she could actually use (I have been known to give scarfs and mittens for August birthdays, which always gets a curious look) But this pattern when I found it, I knew was perfect: elegant, and useful. One of my favorite features of the bag is of my own creation, and shown below:


The zipper! Because, as you might have thought at first, I did not go out and buy a zipper and go through all the pain and trouble of sewing a zipper myself. The solution is much easier.
I went to a thrift store and bought a brown child's jacket. Then I sewed the jacket inside out so that the zipper of the jacket becomes the zipper of the purse! And, the inside has a nice soft lining. I would recommend this method to everyone.

Also as a note of interest, I found the button (that I think matches so well) in a tin of buttons I inherited from my Great-Grandma. The strap was made from a belt (also bought at a thrift store) which I cut to the right length and attached by sewing the ends of the gusset through holes on either end. The result, I believe, is a beautifully functional and sentimental bag. Happy Birthday Mom!

the twiggy tweed

For Adrienne


Made from the Knitty pattern: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTtwiggytweed.html
with some darker colors. This was a really fun bag to knit, especially the inside which is lined with an old t-shirt. I even sewed a sleeve on the inside so it has a pocket! And a magnetic clasp, for functionality.


I saw this pattern and immediately thought of my cousin Adrienne, who is right now doing Teach for America in Washington DC. I figure, if your running around a busy city looking after kids, what you need is a cute purse that's not bulky but holds all the stuff. I'm going to send it to her full of brownies for her upcoming birthday.

safety cone mouse

For Gambit


Fantastic cat toy pattern in "Stitch and Bitch Nation": knit on 3.5s with some of that orange yarn I happen to love. I was sending Fatty and Secret boyfriend a package full of knit goods, and I just couldn't leave their kitty out. So I stuffed this happy mouse full of catnip, and word around town is Gambit had a good time. oh yeah.