It's almost summer, and I'm still not done...

Would somebody please turn down the temperature in NYC at least 10-20 degrees? Pretty please? As you can probably tell, I'm dreading the hot summer-like weather that's seems to intrude these days. The reason? Well, for one, I'm still not done with my mystery project, because after blocking it, I still had some embroidery to do, and it's KILLING me! Not to mention since it is something you cannot wear in warm weather... grumble grumble...



Also, I started this stole called Juno Regina for my mom for Mother's Day. Since she's in Hungary right now, and in Hungary Mother's Day is always the first Sunday of May, to make sure it gets there on time, I'm supposed to send it out by no later than the 22nd of this month. At the moment I'm roughly 40% done. I love the pattern, and the yarn is not too bad either. I'm using Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in pink. The yarn feels absolutely amazing when worked up, however sometimes it's a bit of a challenge to work with it especially since I generally have sweaty hands when I knit, which makes this yarn peel and stick to the needles (I'm using addi lace btw). I calculated I need about 7 skeins of yarn, and I just started my 4th skein. Now put blocking into the equation and.... I'm not sure I'll be able to make it. I need to finish at least half a skein a day to finish on time.

Now put this together with the urgency of finishing my mystery project before it gets really warm... I'm a bit overwhelmed.


Anyways, onto some more fun things!
I recently got this book called "Victorian Lace Today"! It is absolutely the most gorgeous book I've ever saw! The lace in the book is just amazing! So much so, that I'm still not sure which to make first. However I cannot wait to finish up some more projects, so I could make something from this book.

Talking about lace, I just got five skeins of Malabrigo Lace about a week ago. Three skeins are in this reddish-blue color, while the other two are blueish-green. They are just the most beautiful things!
I also got ten skeins of Malabrigo Silk in a grey/blackish-red/pink color, that I will use for the Multiplicity Sweater by Rachel Chaffee and Lucinda Snyder from "Sensual Knits." I'm planning this project to be my birthday gift for myself (for mid-June).

I also got this book called "2-at-a-time Socks," and two skeins of Great Adirondack Yarn Co sock yarn (one for my DB, and one for me), to maybe learn how to do socks once the semester's done.

I know, I know, I promised to be more selective, but these were just too amazing to miss out on. Plus I haven't bought any new yarn since then, and I'm not planning to either. Though there is this one one-skein shrug my DB loves, and thinks would look amazing on me. So that will be an exception I think. However, to prove my resolution, I'll be using some stash Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK in black and purple for the Frothy Gothy Wrist-Warmers by Susan Iacuone for the Jane Austen KAL/RAL which has the theme "something Gothic."

And last but not least, my DB and I went to the Yarn Harlot's new book's signing, and we had a blast! She's absolutely amazing, very funny, and just overall seems like a great great person. I was able to get a picture with her, holding each other's projects!!! We're also almost done reading the book too! (Just to avoid confusion, we read a little together every night, hence the slow reading-rate...)

***
Update on previous projects:
* The Ice Chocolate Baby Blanket was given to the rightful owner. Her mother was really happy and seemed to like it.
* The Skull Beanie is done too, with the skull being stitched with duplicate stitch. It came out better than I expected. New owner likes it, so all's well.

One project done, another started...

So I blocked the Ice Chocolate Baby Blanket finally, that I've been working on since right after Christmas. With the edge done, the only thing that remains is to sew on the flower, take a few pictures, and wrap it up nicely to be given as a (belated) present. Some thoughts have to be added though:
* Next time I really need to use one size larger needles when knitting with Zara.
* Should try to refrain from plain Garder Stitch in the future.
* And finally, will not knit another baby blanket until it will be for my own baby. #_#
I promise to put up pictures of the final product as soon as the Mumus [moo-moosh] decides to give back the camera's battery charger that he stole and hid along with my yarn cutter medallion and some other smaller stuff. -_-# - Pictures are up from my camera phone, and yes, they are not the best, but good enough to show how it looked like.


On a more cheerful note, I also finished my boyfriend's neck warmer, for which I used the cashmere my friend gave me. The pattern I used was the Short Row Neck Warmer. While overall I'm more or less satisfied with the result, I do have to mention that I had a hard time picking up the wraps for the short rows on circulars, since when I looked up how to do short rows, they showed it on straights. So basically, when I got almost around in the pattern, I realized the upcoming wraps to be picked up were on the wrong side of the stitch. Go figure, the first time I do short rows, I end up with a dilemma like this. Oh well, I figured something out, so it's no biggie, though the side where I was able to pick up the wraps right, look much better than the other side. (Again pictures will come as soon as I can take some.)

My next project I'd like to mention is my mystery project. It was finally blocked, and looks better than ever!!! ^o^ No more on that, until I'm done with it.

Finally, the last project to be mentioned tonight is the Skull Beanie Hat I started for my good friend, Lithium. I'm using GGH Bel Air to make it in black. The only change I shall make in the pattern is to add a skull onto it in purple. Right now, I'm up to the point where I should be adding the skull onto it, however, I cannot decide how to accomplish such a task. I either have to come up with a way to combine Intarsia and Fair isle, or maybe just embroider it onto the finished hat. One would ask, why not just do it in Fair Isle or just in Intarsia? The answer is simple, I think... the skull has some thin pieces that fit well with Fair Isle, but have some pretty thick parts too (i.e. actual skull) where Intarsia would fit better I think. I shall ponder upon my choices (and the meaning of life) tonight, so I can continue tomorrow.

That's all for patterns and projects for now.
Onto even more fun stuff!
* I got the original Stitch 'n Bitch book! I just felt it was something I should read... (Real reason: I needed some guidance with my potential Fair Isle skull hat.)
* Also, I met up with a friend through Ravelry today at my LYS. She was visiting from Hungary, and was kind and awesome enough to bring me some back issues of the Hungarian knitting/craft magazine called Furge Ujjak (Fast Fingers). I bought one when I was home, and it was pretty amazing stuff. I really like the styles in there, cause they represent more of a Hungarian/European look, rather than an American look, which (no offense) I generally don't find too appealing. She was really cool to talk to, and it was just very nice to converse in my native language, especially since I use it so little unfortunately. Hopefully we can set up a little magazine exchange program, where she could send me Hungarian knitting/crocheting magazines, and I'll send her American ones. We'll see how things go. ^o^
The magazines themselves are absolutely amazing! There are a few things I wouldn't mind making, and the rest is good for inspiration of some sort.

A side note here:
I feel like I stepped into such a section of knitting, where the patterns I'd love to make seem too many for the time I actually can spend on knitting. Must try to be more selective from now on!

And with that note, I will go to bed. It has been a long day, and will be a longer weekend still, so I need as much energy as I can get through sleeping.

A story about an awesome book, and a simple knit...

So recently I got little over 3 balls of cashmere yarn from a friend of mine, who just wanted to get rid of it for personal reasons. It's called Schulana - Cashmere-Trend, in the color of 286 (variegated brown/beige/blue). Since the color is very manly, but there's not much of it to make, I asked my boyfriend what would he like out of this yarn that's relatively small (ie no scarf, or even gloves really), and we came up with a neck warmer for him. We ended up choosing the pattern Short Row Neck Warmer by Knitting Marsha, since it was simple enough for him to like, and it also could cover his nose and face if he'd liked. Knitting this seems really easy, though I'm only about 45% done. More updates to come soon.

The other thing I wanted to mention is my new book, which is full of amazing looking garments, called Sensual Knits by Yahaira Ferreira. I was so blown away by all the patterns, loving all designs save one or two, that I decided to show it to my boyfriend, James, for a second opinion, so it will not be another impulse buy. Cool thing was, he loved most of the things in there too, so in the end it was he, who suggested getting it. And so I've become a book richer yesterday.
Here's a list for my top 5 patterns:
#1 Multiplicity Sweater by Modalura (Rachel Chaffee and Lucinda Snyder)
#2 Militia Coat by Rain O'Brien
#3 Silken Cowl Tank by Zoe Valette
#4 Sayuri Sweater by Joelene Wiggins
#5 Vixen Camisole by Illanna Weiner

Now, I've never made a sweater or any other "main" garment before, but as soon as I get through my first sweater, I shall be making these one after the other. ^_^
I just can't wait!

Other updates before I say goodbye:
* I needed an extra ball of yarn to finish the baby blanket, so if all goes well it shall be in a presentable form by max the weekend.
* My secret project is close to being done too, so I'm planning to get the main things done today.
* I finally reached the gusset of my first fingerless glove. Hoping to have it ready for the finger-parts by Tuesday night for the SnB at my LYS.
And last but not least,
* I can't find the battery charger for our camera, and I just must make pictures of all my recent progress!!! -_-# Very annoying!!!

Well that shall be all for now... Gotta run to school!

First Blog... in a while...... ever...

I have to confess... I hate writing... I was never good at it, and I always chose reading over writing when I had free time. So please be warned: my blogs will feel more like miracles, then regular posts of the tid-bits in my life. That is, if you feel like me...

Now, first and foremost... The basics about me, for all who care:
I'm in my early twenties;
I'm from Budapest, Hungary;
I'm currently in college;
I'm in a very happy and committed relationship (for over 2 years now);
I can't wait to get married (Fall 2009);
and last but definitely not least, I picked up knitting and crocheting again this past Thanksgiving after about 4 years.

Now... Today's topic is the difficulty of hiding close-to-mindless (read: garter and stockinette stitch) knitting from your significant other who will be the recipient of said knitting. (BTW, it is a belated-valentine's day present.) You see, I live with my darling, and it would be just soooo very very nice to be able to do this project while watching a movie before I go to sleep. However, since it is a gift after all, I only have the opportunity to do it during my school hours, or on my way back home. This makes things (the progression of the project) quite slow. -_-#
Since I'm a "new" knitter, this is also my first project that has to be hidden. The fact that we're trying to keep all of our expanses recorded so we would be able to menage our finances better, makes my life extra difficult. Trying to hide $50-60 worth of yarn is no small feat for me...

But not all is pain, since I have two more projects on the side, one of which is 98% done, while the other is only about 10% done.
Some of you might know about the one that is very close to being finished: the baby blue and chocolate colored baby blanket, which is in the process of getting some nice purple for its edges. It is made by using Zara, and it is also my first bigger project... compared to the 4+3 scarves I have made before (and since) I started the blanket. Needless to say, I'm excited for it to be finished... especially because I have a tendency of starting big projects, to never finish them. This will be my big step toward my first future sweater,the confirmation that I CAN finish big projects if I like them enough. ^_~
My other project is a pair of fingerless gloves, that is going to be my first for-self project actually. The pattern is really fun, called Natalya by Jody Pirrello, and I'm making them from my first skein of Noro (Silk Garden)... and my second too... ^_^ More about this project in later posts.

Now, I've mentioned past and present projects, so I guess I'll give a glimpse on some definite future ones too. I have two skeins of Malabrigo yarn (sunshine yellow and pink), that I'd like to make a "candy scarf" out of. As far as patterns go, I might use "My So Called Scarf" pattern, and do color blocks, though I'm not sure yet...
Other things that are in the making are a hat or another fingerless glove for one friend, who got skipped last Christmas in favor of a gaming system me and my darling got together for her. For this project I have some Debby Bliss alpaca silk dk, though I might change my mind just so I could get more/other/different yarn. ^o^ (Note: I'm still testing out what yarn type goes well with what kind of patterns...) Also, I'd like to use up some of my very cheap old yarn for a knitting bag, though that might have to wait after I make my first swatter which I'm very excited about. (Especially since my mom already bought some yarn so I could make her a sweater too, which I hope will be done by her birthday in August. Or at least it would be nice timing.)

Well, I guess that is about it for now... It is getting quite late.
Nighty Night!

PS: If anyones wondering cica is the Hungarian word for kitty... lol Just something random to end the night.