Movie Knitting

What sorts of projects do you enjoy knitting while watching a movie?  At home, I can knit on just about anything as long as I have the light on.  At a movie theatre... not so much.  I usually stick with things with tons of stockinette for those situations.  Anyone out there have any good patterns that they love for going out?  Please share!  I'd love to see them.  :o)

Tis the Season

Now is the time when my needles seem to be filled with accessories for others.  Gift season starts for me in October and continues through into the beginning of January.  I'm rushing this year because, in additions to presents, I'm also knitting up a lot of new patterns that I'm hoping to get out while it's still cold out.  I've only managed to finish about three presents so far.  My aim is to get about ten gifts made up for Christmas, and to publish at least one quick to knit design by Dec. 1st.

How about you?  What are some of your favorite patterns to make for others?  Any quick projects that are also impressive to gift?  What about receive?  Are there types of items you like best?  Cowls, scarves, mittens, hats, etc?

Japan Part 2

So, here we are... I think this represents the... third day of our stay while in Japan.  Miho took us to some popular sites in Tokyo.  If I'm not mistaken, you'd get off at the Harajuku station to see this.  

Can you believe there's a temple like this in the middle of Tokyo?  Beautiful grounds, quiet little retreat.  Apparently, one of the most popular locations for Tokyo natives to go for New Years.  It is the Meiji Shinto Shrine.

Before entering, one should cleanse your hands.

It is a very popular wedding spot.  There were two wedding processions while we were there!

Almost literally across the street from that quiet, serene shrine is one of the brightest and most crowded shopping streets in all of Tokyo!  Takeshita Dori!  (Most well known for having the Goth and Lolita dressing people walking up and down.)

And the popular Harajuku girls.

I did find this sweet little dress though!  One of my purchases of the trip that was for myself.  :o)

On the way home, we stopped at Shinjuku.  There's this delicious udon place there that I very highly recommend!!  Unfortunately, this sign might be all we have to go on for it.  But it's great.  They make your noodles fresh from scratch when you order!!  Mmmmm...

Half FO: Soo Sock

Well, this one is only half done, as I've only completed one of the two socks needed for most of us.  This gorgeous sock is by Kitman Figueroa (of whom most of us who recognize her name would know for her gorgeous shawls).  This is her first sock pattern, and it is definitely not for beginner sock makers.  But for anyone used to her intricate lace patterns and sock making... the final product is definitely worth the effort.  It isn't a difficult pattern, but definitely wouldn't want to be a first pattern for either a newbie lace knitter and being familiar with sock construction would certainly help.  Anyways, without too much more further ado, here's sock number one!

My Soo Sock

Pattern: Soo Sock
Yarn: Nichole by Schaefer yarns. I lost the ball band, so I don't know the colorway.  According to ravelry, it is a discontinued brand of yarn anyways...
Needles:  US 1.5 Hiya Hiya Sharps dpns

Diagonal

My Diagonal

Pattern:  Diagonal
Yarn:  Madelinetosh Tosh Sock

Yes, this was another test knit.  I love doing them, they help me stay on task and actually FINISH something instead of becoming bored and getting a case of start-itis.  ;op

This designer was another doll to work with.  She is very enthusiastic, and open to questions and working with you.  The pattern was just too fun an idea to pass up.  I also had a bunch of this yarn from a time when I thought a long sleeved cabled sweater would look great in an entirely BRIGHT almost neon colored yarn.  I ended up frogging that early in, and still have an extra skein of this stuff after knitting this AND giving away one skein... Luckily, I do love the color, and what's wrong with having an extra skein of sock?  :o)

What's not to love about this pattern?  Loose gauge, dropping stitches on purpose, few fun pleats... Well... how about this:

It is utterly shapeless on the other side.  :o/  I was VERY disappointed with this once it was done and tried on.  The designer suggests a decent amount of positive ease to help the pleats fit just right.  While testing she was suggesting 6"+ or so of positive ease, so I jumped right on in.  In the end, it swallows me whole and looks like I'm wearing someone else's piece of clothing.

I haven't worn it once, and not because of weather reasons.  I have positioned it out, and by adding pleats to the front along the collar and closing in some of the large boatneck, and using a belt, it does become a cute top.  I just haven't been enthused about doing more sewing.  The debate now comes for me to decide if I want to try to gift this along or play around with it some more to get it to work for me.  For now, it goes into the "not quite finished, but done with knitting" pile to be dealt with at a later date.

For those of you on the fence about knitting.  The designer now only suggests a 4" positive ease, and it does knit up fairly quickly and was a fun knit (and great "tv" knitting).  So, I'm not trying to dissuade you at all.  I'm only mentioning what happened in my particular case.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, here's a quick peek at the back (yes, there are still some dropped stitch accents on the back too!):

New Condo: After

Living room

This accent wall is one of my favorite changes we made to the place.  The teal just pops here.  The best part was when we brought the new-to-me vintage chair in and found out just how well it went with our new place.  :oD

Living room into kitchen/laundry nook

While the change is subtle, we did paint every wall in this place.  The walls that were a light blue are now a gray.  It makes it more neutral and allowed us to be more creative with the other colors in the house.  Bret was a little hesitant about the purple in the laundry nook, but once it was done he did really like it.

Living room into bedroom.

I chose an avocado green for the bedroom.  Somehow, I did not realize that it was pretty darn close to the same color of the new chair I had decided to purchase for our place.  I guess I'm just predictable...

Kitchen and laundry nook

Bathroom and bathroom closet

The bathroom is a brighter light blue with a little more bubble gum personality.  We decided to paint the insides of all the closets, and bright pink is what we chose for the bathroom closet!

Bathroom into walk thru closet into bedroom

This is one of my favorite shots from the "after" shots.  Our walk in closet is the middle man for our bedroom into the bathroom.  Bret graciously allowed me to have a pink closet... probably because he was happy that I wasn't proposing a pink bedroom.  ;o)  I just love the way the colors all go with each other!

Bedroom into living room/exit door

Bedroom into walk thru closet into bathroom

Living room/coat closet

Yes, every single wall got repainted.  An exhausting four days of hand cramps, achy feet, and back aches... The place looks amazing though, and it feels a lot more like "home" now that it looks more like us.  :o)

New Condo: Before

Living Room

Living room into kitchen/laundry room

Bedroom

Have you noticed, yet?

Kitchen

Bathroom

All the same color through and through.  A shade shifting light blue.  Not terrible, but it didn't have any personality.

Bedroom looking towards door to closet and living room.

Other angle of living room towards kitchen/exit door.

It makes sense, the place was being rented out as an apartment previously.  And, as apartments go, it wasn't as generic as it can get... but as soon as it was ours, I immediately knew that we were going to be painting.  I had only helped paint before this when I was a lot younger.  I don't think either of us knew how tiring it was going to be.  Especially since we were both working full time with different days off.  But we got it done.  And once it was done, both of us agreed that the place already felt more like our home.  :o)  Stay tuned for "after."