Still still alive

Alright, so it’s been six more years now. I’m still kicking, though I’m really not maintaining this blog anymore. Lots of things besides crafting going on in my life: more cruises, cats growing up, new house, job changes, pandemic (no more cruises), new hobbies (tried my hand at embroidery, pottery, and watercolor, we’ll see which ones stick), and more job changes. House renovations (and most of my crafting stuff being in boxes) has kept my crafting mojo down except for a few things here and there.

I’m here now because I just found my login and updated some pattern links on old posts, but other than that you probably won’t see me here much if at all. I’ve mostly moved to social media, but I don’t post often there either. When my mojo’s back, I’ll probably post any pretty pictures I have to my Instagram. See you there!

Still alive

Oh my… it’s been over two years since my last post! Don’t worry, I’m still around. My crafting mojo isn’t what it used to be, haven’t gone to the last two Stitches West shows, but I’m still around and doing stuff, kind of. Some highlights, in which I:

Finished a bathroom reno…

Got into nail art…

Adopted a couple of kittens…

Finished a kitchen reno…

And went on a Hawaiian cruise.

That’s not everything, obviously, just enough to make my life seem exciting. ;)

If I’m doing anything with knitting, crocheting or other fibery things, you’ll probably find it on Ravelry, or maybe (depending on how much I get into it as a new hobby) the new Ravelry-like site for sewing, Textillia.

I’m not sure when I’ll post again, but until then, here’s one of the kitties.

l8r!

Stitches West 2014: Day 4

Last day! I’m sitting in the San Jose airport now, waiting to board.

Didn’t do much today. I lounged, packed, then hit the market. Only got a couple of things. I guess nothing really grabbed me this year!

No good pics today, so here’s my lunch:

Good Stitches this year, it was great to see all my knitting friends!

Stitches West 2014: Day 3

Oh, Saturday. Beautiful Saturday.

Just one class today: Tops, Locks, & Handspun with Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. It was an interesting class about applying bits of wool and yarn to your knitting for striking effects.

We just experimented with different material and techniques. Here’s my end swatch. Colorful, no?

After that I went to the market, but again didn’t have time to get through it all. Last chance is tomorrow!

Stitches West 2014: Day 2

Ok! Day 2!

I had an all-day nuno felting class, taught by the irrepressible Judy Pascale.

We made scarves, laying wool roving on hand-dyed silk, then wetting and massaging and fiddling until it felted. Here’s mine, before and after:

I’m not super happy with how it turned out (I think it looks like leeches, and it shrank too much!) but it’s all a learning experience, right?

After class, my friend Erin and I went to the fashion show and dinner. There were some really stunning handknits on display, but you wouldn’t know it from this pic (I could see fine, it’s just the pic that makes it look small!)

I didn’t even get to the market today. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow!

Stitches West 2014: Day 1

Hey! I’m doing pretty good on this posting thing! Two in a row!

So today was opening day of Stitches West 2014. I, having stayed up much too late last night, completely missed the Opening Day Spotlight, but was able to make the luncheon afterwards. Because, you know, food.

I didn’t have any classes today, so I took it easy, knitted some, and then went to the market preview. This is when they open the doors to students only for a few hours (no public, that starts tomorrow). Here’s what that small crowd looks like:

And a quick glimpse of the market going in right after the doors opened:

After the market I met up with my budz and we went to dinner, and came back and had margaritas. Ole’.

Tomorrow I have an all-day felting class. Wish me luck!

Stitches West 2014: Prologue

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Hee hee hee.

Ho ho ho.

Ahhhhh….

Yeah, it’s been a whole year since I posted last. Know how I know? My last post was about Stitches West 2013, and… guess where I am. Go on, I’ll wait. C’mon.

Ok, ok. You win. I’m at Stitches West 2014. I know, right?

So, per my ritual, I flew in the day before it opens so I can have a leisurely morning tomorrow before things get going. Today I’ve been quietly hanging out in my room, browsing teh interwebs and thinking I should probably actually post something to my blog. So here we are.

And… my hotel room has groovy chair.

 

Stitches West 2013

Oops.

For the last 4 years, I’ve been going to the giant Stitches West knitting expo in Santa Clara. And for the first three years, I’d posted a fair amount of detail about my time there. Not this year.

This year I still went, took classes, met friends, shopped, had fun, and slept very little, but I have no proof. No pictures, no daily posts. I haven’t decided if I was too busy or too lazy. Maybe both. So you’ll have to take my word for it. A good time was had, but I can’t be arsed to write it all out right now. Maybe later.

Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a nap. Zzzzzzzzz…

Surface Tablet Cozy

Last year was an exciting year to work at Microsoft. Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 came out, and to celebrate, Microsoft gave all of its employees Surface tablets. Not to brag, but I was one of them, and one of the first things I had to do was design and write a pattern for a Surface cozy. Naturally.


Download pattern (PDF)

If you recall, I already designed a cozy for another Microsoft device, the late great Zune. I still love Noro, and love showing it off, so I simply adapted the Zune cozy for the Surface. I also added a pocket for a stylus, which is a nice touch (so to speak!).

And, since I know not everyone has a Surface, I also included measurements for various other devices (iPad, iPhone, Windows Phone, Kindle, etc.) so it can be easily adapted. Aren’t I nice?

The PDF of the pattern is available here. Have fun!

Some holiday knitting… and weaving

I had a pretty low-key holiday this year, but did manage to bang out a few handmade gifts.

First, a headband for my sister-in-law. The pattern is Chunky Turban Headband by Lorna Watt, and the yarn is Sheep Shop 2.

Chunky Turban Headband

The headband thing was inspired by my mom, who wanted one of those flowered ear warmers. So I made her one. The pattern is Knit Earwarmer with Crochet Flower by Ashlee Prisbrey, and the yarn is Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica.

Knit Earwarmer with Crochet Flower

And then there are the nieces. I bought some Mini Mochi years ago to make them some striped gauntlets, but never got around to it. So this year I wove them striped scarves instead. These are based on the knit Noro Striped Scarf by Jared Flood, but of course woven. I used Valley Yarns 8/2 tencel doubled for the warp and alternating skeins of Mini Mochi for the weft.

Mochi Striped Scarf Mochi Striped Scarf

And lastly, I participated in a Top-Secret Santa gift exchange at work this year. I know this will reveal my secret identity as this person’s gift-giver, but I’ll share anyway. It’s a beanie using the Case of the Mondays pattern by Haramis Designs. The yarn is Three Irish Girls Galenas Chunky.

Case of the Mondays beanie

That’s it! Amazing what one can do when they stop being so lazy!