I Forgot I Had This Blog

I really did forget about it for a few days. I've been so busy working and sleeping I haven't had much time for anything.

I started working in July, 25 hours a week. Which turned into 35 hours a week, which turned into 50 hours a week. ARGH! My whole body has been a lump of ache for the past two months. But now I am back to 35 hours, and I think I can manage to pick up the pieces of my projects.

I have a lot to do.
1)Finish the IT Crowd guitar strap I've been avoiding for five months. The tension on that thing kills me.
2)Finish an awesome drop stitch scarf I saw at Irishfest. My friend said "Hey you knit! Make me one of those that doesn't cost $50! (Mine is going to be sooo much cooler, if I do say so myself. Although not of imported Irish wool.)
3) Finish my Subtley TARDIS scarf. It's blue with the design of the TARDIS worked into it over and over so it looks like a pattern, but if you look closely you will see the TARDIS. Is trying to conceal the geekery of an object geek in and of itself? Hmmm.

I aam determined to tackle the evil sock monster this winter. I will make socks, if it kills me! You will not defeat me, socks of doom!

And now it is time for me to go sleepy-bye. I am no longer coherent. Why do people let me have internet access when I'm half asleep?!

Incognito Reversible Messenger Bag

It's Awesome! At least I think so. I even wrote down the pattern. It might be unintelligible, though. I'm not so good at the making sense bit.

Here's the alien side. It's a fairly easy pattern, all you really need is a basic understanding of knitting and colour work.







So everyone thinks "oh wow! That's a great alien bag, and then WHAM.......


Turn it inside out and it's a flower bag! (The flower is a scarlet pimpernel, by the way.)


If you feel spy-ish, go into the bathroom and turn it inside out for a quick change and no one will ever know it's you. That's an exaggeration. But it's totally cool.

What you will need:
Size 9 straight needles
Size 11 straight needles
One skein Red Heart Super Saver Heather Grey
One skein Red Heart Super Saver Black
One skein Red Heart Super Saver Red
Less than one skein Red Heart Super Saver Bright Green
    (Any worsted weight yarn type should work, like wool, for instance.)
Crochet hook (optional)
Tapestry needle
Safety pins or straight pins
Measuring tape

Gauge is 8sts/2" wide; 10sts/2" long. (I don't think the gauge will matter so much as long as you have the same gauge on both pieces of the bag.)
PATTERN

CO 53 sts with sz 9's
3 rows gtr st.
4 rows Gtr st 2, st st 49, gtr st 2.

Alien side flap
Rows 8-28: gtr st 2, st st 16, chart (13 sts for alien side), st st 16, gtr st 2.
29-31: gtr st 2, st st 49, gtr st 2.
32: k (ws) or p (rs)

Scarlet Pimpernel side flap
Rows 8-26: gtr st 2, st st 14, chart (17 sts for flower side), st st 14, gtr 2.
27-31: gtr st 2, st st 49, gtr st 2.
32: k (ws) or p (rs)

Body for both sides
St st for 7"
P (rs) or k (ws) one row
St st 10
P (rs) or k (ws) one row
  (These two purls are the marking places for where you will attach the side pieces)
St st for 6"
St st 2 rows on the wrong side
st st 2 rows on the right side
st st 2 rows on the wrong side
BO

Sew or single crochet two sides together on all edges, making sure that they are exactly matched)
(You may want to wet and lay flat to dry with something heavy on top of it at this point, so that the two sides stay together a little better, but it's up to you)

Sides and strap

Double up Black yarn
Right side piece:
Using sz 11 needles pick up 7 stitches between the purl rows that were made to mark the sides.
Gtr st 36 (or 8") until side piece meets the edge of the bag, (mark)
Continue gtr stitching for 38 3/4". BO
Sew or single crochet side piece to the bag.

For the left side piece, pick up 7 stitches between purl rows
Gtr st 36 (or 8")
BO
Sew or single crochet side piece to the bag.
attach the end of the strap to the side piece.

And then you, hopefully, jump up and down for joy. That is what I did.

And Here are the charts. I hope they are big enough.
Let me know if there  are errors in this pattern please. My email
Please don't sell this pattern or anything you make from this pattern. Otherwise have at it. If you have any questions about copyrights just email. Thanks!

Finally!

I finally finished my lilac racerback shirt! Now I realize that I'm pretty bad at attaching one piece to the other. but if you don't look too closely its fabulous.




See? I have the pattern for it written out, but I'm pretty sure some of it is wrong since I kinda just jotted down stuff as I went along. I'm nervous about knitting this again for the sake of pattern checking.

It's five pieces in all; the top left and right, the back, the waist band, and then the circular bottom. It was super fun to do, though!

Currently Unknitted

I was recycling an old red sweater, and the idea for this really easy bolero/vestie thingie came to me. It only took me a few hours to work this out, so the front should be quick.
I completely forgot to measure yardage. Oh well.

Works in Progress

So here are some pictures of my unfinished lilac Racerback shirt. I really haven't been ignoring it. So much.

iNinja! And My First Pattern

Yes I have finally written down a pattern complete enough to post. I hope it's not too confusing. I am a confusing person. Be kind, it's my first.

-NEEDED-
Sizes E & 1(one) crochet hooks
Worsted weight yarn, black
Scraps of worsted weight, white
Tapestry needle
Needle and thread (white and black)
2 black seed beads
One black snap fastener
Cotton fill

ABBR
Sc= single crochet
Sc2i1= single crochet 2 in 1 stitch
Sc2tog=single crochet 2 together
BO= bind off

HEAD
Size E hook and black yarn
ch 4, sc 6 in hole
1) 2 sc in each st
2) Sc1, sc2i1, rep around
3) Sc2, sc2i1, rep around
4) Sc3, sc2i1, rep around
5) Sc4, sc2i1, rep around
6) Sc5, sc2i1, rep around
7) Sc6, sc2i1, x6 rep around
8-11) Sc row
12) Sc6, Sc2tog, rep around
13) Sc5, Sc2tog, rep around
14) sc4, Sc2tog, rep around
15) sc3, Sc2tog, rep around
16) sc2, Sc2tog, rep around
17) Sc row
Stuff head with cotton firmly.

FACE
With Size 1 hook and white yarn, ch 13
1-3) Sc12
(Attach beads after the 3rd sc and the 9th of the middle row for the eyes)

Attach the white piece to the head at the 5th row from the bottom.

Directly underneath where the face is attached, 
1) Sc2i1 x3, sc8
2) Sc9, turn
3) Ch1, sc9
4) Ch1, sc2i1 x2, sc5, sc2i1 x2 (13)
5) Ch 20, join to beg of row (33)
(make sure the hole fits around your iPod)
Sc 27 rows, Bo
Sew end closed.
Sew the neck opening closed.

STRAP
Ch13, sc12, Bo.

Leave a long tail so that you can use it to attach the strap to the head. Attach strap 1 row up from where you sewed the neck closed.
Sew on snap, one piece at the end of the strap, the other on the bag. 

HEADPHONE STRAP
Leaving a long tail for sewing to bag, ch 13, sc two rows of 12. BO, leaving a long tail.
Attach at the 12th row of the bag, using the tapestry needle.

And yay you now have a iNinja to protect your iPod with his awesome ninja skillz.

April Bleckness

I think I started out strong last month, but now I have nothing (completed) to show for it. Had to prioritize and save my energy for serious stuff due to a pinched nerve and a bum shoulder.

On the hooks/needles right now:
Amigurumi Dory (still)
Lilac racerback top ( I did finish the back of it, now I only have the right front side and the waist to do.) this should be finished already, but I got sidetracked.
Working on a guitar strap with Moss from the IT Crowd on it!

The only thing I've really completed is a super-mini top hat. It's kind of brilliant. Its Yellow with black stripes and a lacy bow, and I have nooooo idea what to do with it.

I think I might be getting into an amigurumi phase. Or a shirt phase, I can't decide which. I should probably do the phases thing one at a time, no?