J S I N S
Showing posts with label montego bay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label montego bay. Show all posts

Monday, February 18, 2008

Presto Chango

I felt the need to spice things up a bit and banish the winter blahs this weekend. Unfortunately, I also momentarily lost the ability to take a good mirror shot (not that I am sure that I ever had the ability to take a good mirror shot but that is beside the point) so the photos are a bit blurry. I was feeling a bit bored with my natural hair color so I decided to opt for something a bit more dramatic. Here is the before pic:

On a jaunt to the store and some time spent perusing the hair color options, I selected Feria #45, French Roast "a deep bronzed brown." Although it's a bit fuzzy, here is a picture taken post-dye job. The color is actually a little bit redder than it looks in the photos. I will also be getting it cut on Wednesday as it has grown out of any bit of style it originally had. Then, the transformation will be complete.


In my switch things up a bit mood, I cast on for a new project, Violette by French Girl. This is a super quick and easy project. Knit with Rowan Big Wool, this project was cast on and cast off in 2 hours. I don't think that I am going to add the ribbon because it turned out a bit small. I am still mulling it over and will wear it a few times before I decide.




Although I do have one FO to show for the weekend, it is neither of the ones that I thought it would be. I was more in a bounce around to different projects mood this weekend than in the mood to concentrate on one project and finish it. I did do a few more lace rounds on my Evening Stockings but they pretty much look the same as the last picture I showed of them. I think I have 3 or 4 lace rounds to go before I start the toe. I should be able to finish them before the end of the month to make the deadlines for both the Socks from Stash Club and Sock a Month 5.

I resurrected 2 other UFOs this weekend to work on. I am now at the point of doing the increases for the puffed sleeves in the puffed sleeve feminine cardigan from Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. I still have quite a ways to go before separating the sleeves but it is nice to have a sweater progressing. There is nothing quite like donning your new sweater and wearing it out for the first time.



I also picked up the Not So Montego Bay Scarf and worked on it a bit this weekend. This is one project that will probably take me forever as I tend to get bored with knitting scarfs.


In other exciting news, I start my sewing class on Tuesday!!! I can't wait to be able to whip up a few sewing FOs.

I also did a few non-craft-related fun things this weekend as well. On Friday, I went to see a cabaret singer sing Edith Piaf songs, which was alot of fun. I love Edith Piaf's music. It's so passionate and soulful even though I don't speak French. I do have to say that I do not understand the French's love for mimes and clowns. There was a "dramatic fool" performing as well and I just couldn't see the entertainment in it. I guess to each their own. I also went to the movies to see Atonement. The movie was extremely well done and beautifully acted. I loved the period clothes and the cinematography. If you are looking for a melancholy love story, I highly recommend it.

Have a great Monday!

Friday, November 16, 2007

Oh the weather outside is frightful but the knitting's so delightful...

Well, we've gotten our first snow of the season here in the 'burgh. It is truly prime knitting season now. What is better on a cold, snowy day than sitting with a cozy knit on your lap? (O.K. perhaps sitting on the beach with a mojito and a knitting a cute little summer top but I've got to make due with what I've got.) I actually really like fall and winter. My wardrobe is definitely more suited to it as I love sweaters and boots and velvet. I'm much more blase about spring and summer clothes. I'm ready to sit in front of the fireplace with a stack of movies and my knitting until spring.

This post marks the pictural debut of my Not So Montego Bay Scarf. Generally, I'm not a big fan of knitting scarfs but the lure of beautiful Handmaiden lace-weight yarn overcame me. This version is Not So Montego Bay because I am knitting it with Handmaiden Camelspin, which, if you haven't tried it, feels amazing, rather than Sea Silk. I'd have never thought that camels were so soft. I'm knitting this version in the Lily Pond colorway and modified the pattern by decreasing 5 lace repeats to accommodate for difference in yardage between Camelspin and Sea Silk. I also have a hank of Sea Silk in my stash in the Paris colorway that is destined to become a Montego Bay Scarf. I'm enjoying the mindless nature of this pattern at the moment. I don't think it will be my quickest knit though because I can also see myself becoming bored with the mindlessness of it as well.

My knitting goals for this weekend are to finish up Juliet so that I can cast on for the Elizabeth Bennet Cabled Cardigan from Fitted Knits to take with me to my parents' house to knit over Thanksgiving. I will be knitting the EB Cardy using the recommended Cloud 9 in a Salmon color that I ordered last winter when it was on sale at WEBS.

And in other exciting news, THERE IS A LYS OPENING LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOUSE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (jsins checking account screams in agony and her atm card tries to run away.) I can't wait to check it out. I am going to head over there after work today. The LYS is called Natural Stitches and it's located in the Village of East Side in East Liberty at 6401 Penn Avenue. (Pittsburgh, PA 15206 in case anyone wants to get directions to the store online.) If you're in the 'burgh, you should stop by and check it out.

Have a great weekend everyone and happy knitting!!!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Still knitting and trying to find some time to take some proper pics.

I'm still out there knitting. I am working on Juliet, which should be finished this weekend and cast on a Montego Bay Scarf in Handmaiden Camel Spun last night as the weather here has taken a turn toward winter and snow is in the air. I also have a skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk that is intended to be a Montego Bay Scarf as well but fell in love with an acid green colorway and the extreme softness of the Handmaiden Camel Spun when I was at the Ravelry meet-up at Knit One last night and cast on for the scarf as soon as I got home. I haven't gotten much new work done on the garter rib socks and will return to them as soon as I finish Juliet. I have to frog my Lady Detective Hat and reknit it as I goofed up on my calculations and double stranded Noro Kureyon for it. I could fit at least 2 heads, possibly 3, in it at this point. I am going to frog it this weekend and cast on again as I need a new winter hat and I love the way it looks, just not the size. Fortunately, it is a quick knit and I should be able to finish it in a day or 2. I am going to use the leftover Noro to make a matching My So Called Scarf.

I had a great time at the Ravelry meet-up. It was nice to hang out with other knitters and chill out for an evening. The folks at Knit One were super nice and got pizza for the group. I hope that we can make this a regular event as none of my friends knit and it was great to be part of a knitting community.

I must take pictures this weekend. My Secret Pal, PurlyGirly, sent me an amazing package and I must get pics to post a proper thank you for the awesome surprise. I am also setting a new blogging goal for myself to post at least twice a week for the rest of the year. Hopefully, I will actually post more than that but I'd hate to set a goal that I can't accomplish.

Happy knitting everyone!
jsins