Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Christmas is looming

My flowering Christmas cactus is just one of the little reminders in the house that the holiday will soon be here. If that isn't enough, the piles of yarn and scattered looms make it all the more obvious.

Christmas cactus

Smart knitters start their gift-makin' in the summer. I say "Nah, I'll make or find something else instead of a loom-knit this year." But then I think of a nifty idea or find a perfect pattern — and it's November.

I was already prepared to knit two Christmas stockings to match my husband's. I've been deciphering my scribbles from last year, charting our names and seeking colorwork inspiration from my books. Between caring for and playing with CB, I finally cast on the first one last night. (OK, I cast on like 3 times because I kept making silly mistakes due to distraction.) Will I have them both done by St. Nick's? Maybe. By Christmas? Definitely. I also hope to write a tutorial for my loomy readers, complete with charts!

But my crafty cranium must have thought my plan above wasn't enough of a challenge. I thought up and test-knitted the beginnings of a cute loom-knit gifty PLUS I bought a pattern by Bethany to make something for our family exchange. Both remain somewhat secret for obvious reasons. But here's what my craft table looked like yesterday ...

Christmas knitting

Oh, and I also just added a "quick knit" gift to my queue for a December baby shower. What is it about Christmas that makes me just a bit crazy?

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Costumes are a 'rap!

The 'Guise has been guessed! My husband will be the happy-rapping Parappa. I will be his crush Sunny Funny. And CB will be bandmate friend Katy Kat. (But I'm also calling her a catnapper.)

The characters stem from the video game "Parappa the Rapper," a PlayStation rhythm game with goofy lyrics.

Parappa the Rapper costumes

Ribbit, ribbit 
I can't hold it 
Last toilet I had, I already sold it. 

In the rain or in the snow 
I've got the funky flow 
But, now I really gotta go. 

...

Every single day, stress comes in every way 
I ain't got no time for nobody 
My style is rich, dope, phat in which 
We'll make a cake that looks rich 

Crack crack crack the egg into the bowl 
M-I-X the flour into the bowl 
Crack crack crack the egg into the bowl 
M-I-X the flour into the bowl 

...

Watcha gonna do when they come? 
 I gotta redeem! 
 Whatcha gonna do when they come? 
 I gotta relieve! 
 Whatcha gonna do when they come? 
 I gotta recieve! 
 You gotta do what? 
 you gotta do what? 
 I gotta Believe! 

Parappa the Rapper costumes

Congrats to Bethany, Zoe and Mindy!! They will be getting goodies from my crafty stash that includes T-pillows, loom knits and of course, yarn. Thanks so much to everyone who followed along. This was a geeky one to guess that I'm sure required lots of Googling.

Parappa the Rapper costumes

Happy Halloween!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Something lacy is looming

My looms will soon embrace some lace knitting. My sister, Trisha, is getting married this spring and I get to knit her a pretty shawl for her shoulders. Her colors are like a clover green and blue hydrangea. She is leaning toward green for her shawl so I'm studying my stash.

I like the bright greens of this one ...

12ply Frizz Tiaga

And the sheen of this one ...
Ray of Sunshine in Tiaga

Both yarns are actually the same colorway — Tiaga — but they each pick up the dye just a bit different. Neither have wool, which would give me a little give on the looms, so that worries me just a little. I must knit loose!

Some runners-up (one of which might become a matron of honor shawl for me) ...

Creatively Dyed Yarn
Creatively Dyed Yarn Tradewinds in colorway Fig ... from a Stitches Midwest trip

Hand Maiden fine yarn
Handmaiden Fine Yarn Swiss Mountain Sea Sock ... my husband's splurge for me during our Canada trip

To help me on my lace-knitting bender, I just picked up an e-booklet, Loom Knit Shawls: From Simple to Sublime by Renee Van Hoy. I've always adored her lace patterns and now I get to jump right in. The instructions are written in a nice, clear manner. The pattern I am choosing is a perfect match for my sister and she will see why — in June. ;-)


But first I have to clear my 1/2-gauge CinDWood loom. I must decide whether to finish or frog this work in progress.  And I have my costumes to seam and two Christmas stockings to knit, but really's who's counting?