Purple Panda

Finished the Purple Panda I was knitting ((A Fuzzy Mitten pattern)). It's my first actually commissioned knit, and I'm pretty pleased with it. Since it was for a baby shower and therefore obviously for a very SMALL recipient, it had to have yarn only detailing, and I used mostly "Moon and Stars" yarn.

Red Heart yarn tends to come with a hefty bad rap, it's super saver yarn is unpleasant to the touch, though is, by all reports, very sturdy and softens up eventually, and most of it's available colors are stark and a bit gawdy, especially once you've become a bit spoiled by the affordable luxury yarns of KnitPix or the fantastic arrays many Local Yarn Stores carry.

For Kids toys though it's hard to beat Moon and Stars for quick and plushy soft, and importantly, very washable and not that pricey.

Mini Monster absolutely loved the feel of it, and when we let him handle the partially finished Panda, it was a small battle to get it back again. As you can see in the photos, I replaced the original head design with the Intarsia version provided by the lovely FuzzyMitten blog. It came out much much better, and I'm going to be much happier making a couple others, including one for Mini Himself.

He got to see both Grandmothers again today, Grandma S and Auntie Roo came by to drop off stuff, including the footie-PJ's that Grandma S got for him. The most amusing of the set was a gray pair with earth moving equipment stitched on the front. I joked that it was cement colored to keep him in one place at night. ((he was unimpressed by the joke.))

Nana J also came by, while we were waiting for Grandma S and Roo. Her's was an unexpected drop by, but it did let me send off Purple Panda and his care card. ((I included washing instructions as well as what he was made of, and a mention of where the design came from.))

Roxy and Short Rows

I just started working on my "Roxy Fox and her Pups" kit by KnitPicks, which I don't think is available any more or I'd provide people a link to the pattern.
((The tutorial's are still up though.))

The yarn is crazy soft and INSANELY fluffy, so it's like trying to knit my cat, ((A Himalayan)) but that wasn't where things went wrong.

Nope I screwed up around row 21 where the 'Short Rows' start. I saw the term and had no idea what they were talking about. All I saw was that stitches were decreasing and I had NO idea where the hell they were going. Were we decreasing them? Putting them on holders? What was happening? I had NO idea. It was infuriating and frustrating, and I completely screwed up. Then the fuzzy nature of the Suri Dream made it pretty much impossible to 'frog' what I'd done. So more frustration right there.

I stomped around for half an hour being enraged at the world and at my failure to comprehend what was required, and wondering if I'd just totally wasted my money, and wondering how another lady in my knitting group had actually suceeded at making this clearly diabolical knitting project.
Even better, my theoretically comprehensive knitting dictionary DID NOT include the term 'short row'.

Finally I got my temper cooled down enough to check online.

Knitpicks had a tutorial for short rows on YouTube.

It was one of those moments where you feel incredibly enlightened...and incredibly STUPID at the same time.

Capricorn the Frankenknit

I've been trying really hard to put pictures of this on Ravelry, but neither it nor photobucket seem to be terribly inclined to agree with me at the moment.
These are pictures of the 'long awaited' Capricorn Knit, of which I'm rather proud. I don't have pictures of the white lion I made for his Grandmother, but at some point I'll bring the camera over and see if I can get a photoshoot done.

He's knit with small needles out of some of KnitPix yarn, and his most complicated peice is his tail fin, which is one piece. Mostly he's straight 'Fuzzy Lamb' from Fuzzy Mitten Designs, but his horns and from the 'waist' down he's all franken-knit.

Aquatica

So the Capricorn is mostly finished. I need to make horn nubs and a tail fin, but Mini Monster seems enormously taken with it as is. Congrats Knitpicks, he approves of your palate yarn! He and his unfinished capricorn are currently in his swing having a grand old time while I write. It's been a busy day, we went out shopping to get stuff for him at BJ's, and also to get mothers day goodies for his Grandmothers. We settled on earrings and Panera Gift Cards.

I know half of what I'm getting, but not the other half. Half of it is a new "Batman" babydoll t-shirt. My old one wore out, so I'm getting a Batman-Beyond one. I'm seriously looking forward to it getting here.

I also was loaned the DVD's for the A&E series for Horratio Hornblower.

This was classic geek time for me. My sister and I enjoyed listening to my parents read us the Hornblower Novels, and the series was also fun. I'm enjoying geeking to them all over again.

Best or Bust

It's been a wild couple of days:
I forgot to mention the order I placed with Knitpicks came. I was impressed with the speed, and I'm currently being impressed by the yarn. I ordered two kits, a ball winder, a couple needles and some random yarn, including some "Palate" yarn (fingering weight) I'm using to knit one of my 'famous' toy mods.

I'm using a severe bastardization of Fuzzy Mittens Lamb pattern to make a Capricorn.So far I think it's going to turn out pretty well. I shifted yarns when the decreases started and started using a purl stitch to make it look more like scales. After that I'm making an much slower decrease so that I get a slow, tapering tail. Horns will be done like the horns on the Fauno doll I did for my sister. Fins I'm still in debate on. I don't know if I'll knit them or make them out of cloth, but I think it'll turn out ok in the end.

Unfortunately I still can't do photos. I went to Best Buy to find a new charger, but although they carry the camera... They don't have a charger that works with it. The employee who helped me was at least pleasant, which is better than most of the stories I hear about them on The Consumerist... but still. The good customer service didn't really help me in the end.

Hair Club for Stuffed Lions

So last night I finished doing my first attempt at FuzzyMittens "Scraps Chaps" pattern. I did the lion. ((out of a possible three animals that are featured parts of this pattern.))
I gotta say, out of all of it, the mane took the longest to do, and watching the bald spot on it's head decrease earned a few "Hair club" jokes. And mop jokes.

He was somewhat improved by getting a partial hair cut, so that the top part of his mane is shorter so it won't flop into his face.
I was originally going to do him all in black, but changed my mind to try the color swap for his nose, and then continued it with his mane, which is dark brown, black, tan, and dusky purple. His eyes are two white buttons, and his feet (but not 'hands') are embroidered (badly) to have paw pads.

...Clearly I kinda suck at embroidery. I also did use some more black yarn to draw tight and make his 'toes' more definite, and cheezily, did a outlined heart in embroidery floss on his chest but there's no good photo of that.

I'm not sure Mini Monster knows what to make of him (and can't really have him yet because of the button eyes) but he does still seem to like his original Lamb (Frankensheep).

And the towel we had him swaddled in the other night. Instead of Moose and Squirrel he has Sheep and Towel. And two hollow legs to judge by how much he can put away when he feels like it.

Who Needs Sleep

Well I was going to include a link to a you-tube of BNL performing the song in the title, but my browser is being funky so I won't.

Although apparently the answer is: "I do."

The other might Mini Monster was up every couple hours, and I think I'm still paying for that. Last night he woke up around 4, and I fortunately started feeding him -in bed- because I fell asleep without returning the bottle to the kitchen. So the bottle ended up loose in the bed... and so did my glasses. *facepalm*
When he woke us up again for a diaper change, my husband recovered my glasses and I recovered the bottle, ((which had made it down around my knee under the blanket.)) and we went on with parenting duties, including taking the old bottle to the kitchen to get washed.

The modified seal is mostly done, I need to finish sewing up and detailing the head, and then I can take some pictures. I'm still debating how to deal with my desire to do the Luck Dragon, because I don't have the specific yarns on hand, and I'm not sure if I want to order them. *fret* I do really want to do the project though.

The Seal of ,,, someplace other than Suleskerry

I'm doing my second major mod of the toy pattern and knitting a seal. I used the basic body of the Lamb and then changed the bottom halfs decrease, completely winged it for flippers, and I'm working on the head. I think I'm going to use the head shape for the lamb, though I recently picked up the horse, and I'm seriously considering picking up the tiger.
I still really want to do the Luck Dragon mod I've got in my head, but I don't have the yarn for it yet, and for that one I do really really want a good pair of toy-eyes. I'll probably have to order some.

Mini Monster is cool, he's sitting in his swing as I watch the last available episode of the remade "V" on the playstation. I think they must have canceled it, which really kinda sucks. I mean they keep produsing stuff like 'Sex and the City'... but not GOOD stuff? Bah. Damn you networks!

Fuzzys Labrynth

I finally completed the "Pan" doll I was making based on "Fuzzy Mittens" lamb pattern. I think the hair was actually the most tedious part. I'm sure a week or so down the road I'll want to re-do the entire thing, but right now it's cool. Needless to say I took a number of photos, because this is a gift for someone so I might not readily have the chance again.

Mini Monster is fine, he just fell asleep in his swing after having a huge meal and then engaging in diaper warfare, to the exhaustion of his father, who happened to field that particular episode.

I'm also working out the details and some hooks for an RPG I hope to run, table top. I'm going to probably have to modify the setting a bit, since the book is a little bit goofier than my planned setting, but I think it's pretty doable. Hopefully fun, anyway. It's going to be based in the "Adventure" system, which is, as far as I'm aware, out of print, but it's a modification of the old Whitewolf System, so all D10 dice, which for me at least will make the rolling easier. Should be interesting though since one of our potential players has only ever played in the D and D setting.

Wish us all luck!!

Knitting updates

Although you'll have to bear with me for pictures; I have finished the Yvonne sweater for my mom, and she loves it. She did think the back was a little narrow (It is a bit narrow seeming, but thats the pattern.) But does otherwise adore it.

I also made my first (and second) attempt at making a 'Fuzzy Mitten' toy. I made their lamb, first in white and black for Mini Monster.

It came out..... alright. Pretty good for a first attempt, but I overstuffed it, so I'll probably make him a new one.

The second one was in oatmeal and black "Wool Ease" and has button eyes ((So Mini Monster can't have it.)), but is looking a lot better, all it needs now is eyes. I'm planning a third that will get some modifications and will hopefully come out -really cool-. So knock on wood, it's for my Sister.

Dr. Pepper, Thumbless Mittens, Knitted fish and Baby Snarf

Well the title about summarizes everything I think;
Though the Dr Pepper bit IS kind of random. ((I happen to be enjoying some. Damn it's nice to be able to have a Soda without worrying if I'm drinking too much sugar for Mini Monster.))
Mini has also, in addition to his Diaper shedding skills (We think we've got that managed for now with an alternate brand of baby diapers.) He also tosses off socks and booties with reckless abandon... ((I think he got that from his father, given how many times I've recovered socks from the foot of the bed.)) and looses mittens. I dug up an quick pattern for Thumbless Mittens and I've made one, the second however, should probably have been closed with slightly more sleep, since I didn't close it quite properly and it's already trying to come unknitted. Good practice anyway, and a pretty quick knit. The first one ((Which is holding together)) was knitted from an earthy sort of rainbow colorway sock yarn, and has an red-orangey fade, which makes it look like shrimp sushi.
That made his father and I start debating weather or not I could make a knitted fish, with purl stitching to make the 'scales'. ((Purl looks like dragon or fish scales to me, especially in certain colors.)), and so that got put on thee 'hey I should try this' knitting schedule.
The Baby Snarf is also, obviously, a Mini Monster event. He's been dominating the headlines of the household. He's an extremely impatient feeder, which tends to cause us frustration, and him a few issues. Like drinking too fast, burping in the middle of one of his exuberant slurps, and resultant firing formula out his nose. All over his Dad. Twice. At four in the morning.
Fortunately none seems to have stayed in there, and he's doing fine after some light mopping. Dad too, and thank god for him since I've been wiped out the last couple nights, and that shreds my patience, which tends to make me be crabby, and then get crabby at myself for being crabby. It's a self feeding cycle of crabby.
Everyone says it's normal, but I'm still working to get past it. I don't like me when I'm angry, to paraphrase certain Comic Icons....

Hopefully I'll have pictures up soon of the mittens, and at some point pictures of the Yvonne vest, which got put on hold for a little while. It's still in the works though, really!