Pillarwork Cowl

My latest knitting has proven to be a work in progress.  Many times I have had to double check myself, as the pattern is so easy I would forget to stay in rhythm and not remember where I was.  ::blush::

I really need to make notes as well!  At one time I forgot how many stitches I cast on and had to recount them a few times.  ::double blush::  How am I to tell you how I did it, if I don't take notes???  

I have written to Ravelry and requested a 'designer' sort of account.  It's nothing super special really, mainly a way for me to post free patterns to the database.  ::nod::  Or at least I am telling myself its not too overly special, because I see such intricate and inspired designs out there and I am no where near their calibur... YET!  ::wink::  

So I will chug away and keep creating easy and fun patterns.

~Wierdlings

Distrato Irish Hiking Wrist Warmers

I know, I know I have done these sooo many times, but they are super easy, fast and feel great!  This pair happens to be two different colorways in pink and green.  They are also a cotton blend too, so they are not too hot and can be worn in hot or cool weather.  HERE is the pattern for them.  Off to finish my next cowl, so I better hurry.

~Wierdlings

Cheertini Cowl

Christmas Cheertini

This cowl was so much fun to do!  Using Yarntini's gorgeous and super soft chunky merino, the knitting went so very fast.

Materials:

CC - 1 Ball of Trendsetter Coconut – White

MC - 1 Skein of Christmas Cheertini by Yarntini – Merino Chunky (115 yds) or Worsted Chunky

Stitch Marker

Cable Needle

Tapestry Needle

US #10.5 – 16” circulars

Abbreviations:

K = Knit P = Purl

CC = Contrasting Color MC = Main Color

SM = Stitch Marker

C4F = Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.

Using CC, Cast on 84 stitches.

Place stitch marker and join in the round.

Fluffy Trim (beginning):

Row 1: *K2, P2* to SM.  Slide SM to right needle.

Row 2-4: Repeat Row 1.

Row 5: Repeat Row 1.  At the end, cut yarn and leave a 7” tail.

Body of the Cowl:

Change to MC. 

Row 1: *K4, P2* to SM.  Slide SM to right needle.

Row 2-4: Repeat Row 1.

Row 5: *C4F, P2* to SM.  Slide SM to right needle.

Repeat rows 1-5, six more times.

After the sixth repeat, Knit 4 rows of K4, P2.  At the end, cut yarn and leave a 7” tail.

Fluffy Trim (ending):

Change to CC.

Row 1-4: *K2, P2* to SM.  Slide SM to right needle.

Row 5: Cast off in K2, P2 pattern until you reach the end.

Weave in tails and have a very Merry Cheertini Cowl!!!

Errors: Please email me Wierdlings AT gmail DOT com

Cheertini Cowl © Wierdlings – All rights reserved.                                       

Radioactive Birthday Cowl

Here it is, the Radioactive Birthday Cowl!  The pattern is so easy and beautiful, I had to make a few of them this past Christmas Season.  This one though was for me and my awesome yarn from Stormmoon Knits from her ETSY store.  There is so much per skein, I was able to make wristwarmers and the cowl from the same skein.

Radioactive Irish Hiking Wrist Warmers

Love love love these colorways!!!!  They are from Stormmoon Knits and they are just as eye-popping gorgeous as they appear in the pictures.  Very sad to say though that SMK's recently took a new job and her dying has had to take back seat to her RL stuff. Completely understandable, but I hate that I found her so late and could not order more of her gorgeous stuff.  ::sniff and le sigh::

Her yardage was also great on these worsted weight skeins!  More than 300 yards for only $20.00.  Yep, I said $20.00!  I was not only able to knit a pair of wrist warmers, but also a Cowl from the same skein and still had a tiny bit to spare.

YEAH! Pictures have returned!!!

Goodness its so hard to describe the feeling of wanting to post stuff and not being able to because of being technically hindered...  aka as -loosing-the-camera-cable-to-download-pictures.  Yes, its unforgiveable, but I am still trying to blame the hubby.. (somehow) for the loss.

Regardless, I can now post pictures of my recent and New Year's knitting!  ::cheers::  They will be seperate posts, as I want to log each individually for my 'knitting goal' of 50 items.  A friend wanted to do 50 Book Challenge, but I actually did that challenge last year and BLEW it away!!!  Totally decimated that count.  So I thought I would try it on knitted items.  ::flexes imaginary toned bicep muscles::

Featured in my upcoming knitwear features will be 'nametobedecided'.  Hopefully she will have all sorts of interesting looks and haircuts.  Currently NTBD is looking like this and hasn't scared the cats too badly.  ::grin::  Okies, off to edit and start posting knits!

~Wierdlings

Dear Book Bunny... I want more books!

JANUARY 09

• Ecstasy: The Shadowdwellers by Jacquelyn Frank on January 2, 2009 - Got it!
• Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore on January 2, 2009 - Got it!
• Heart Of The Dragon by Gena Showalter on January 1, 2009 - Got it!
• Lord of Misrule (The Morganville Vampires, Book 5) by Rachel Caine on January 6, 2009
• One More Bite (Jaz Parks, Book 5) by Jennifer Rardin on January 9, 2009 - Got it!
• Plum Spooky (A Between-the-Numbers Novel) by Janet Evanovich on January 9, 2009 - Got it!
• Night Huntress (Sisters of the Moon, Book 5) by Yasmine Galenorn on January 9, 2009- Got it!
• Witch Heart (Elemental Witches, Book 3) by Anya Bast on January 9, 2009- Got it!
• Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand (Kitty Norville, Book 5) by Carrie Vaughn on January 27, 2009

FEBRUARY 09

• Pride (Book 3) by Rachel Vincent on February 1, 2009
• Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4) by Patricia Briggs on February 3, 2009
• Kitty Raises Hell (Kitty Norville, Book 6) by Carrie Vaughn on February 24, 2009
• White Witch, Black Curse (Rachel Morgan, Book 7) by Kim Harrison on February 24, 2009
• Promises in Death by J.D. Robb on February 24, 2009

MARCH 09

• Deadly Desire (Riley Jenson, Book 7) by Keri Arthur on March 9, 2009
• Hunted (House of Night, Book 5) by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast on March 10, 2009
  APRIL 09
• Curse the Dawn (Cassandra Palmer, Book 4) by Karen Chance on April 7, 2009
• Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 7) by J.R. Ward on April 28, 2009

MAY 09

• Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) by Charlaine Harris on May 5, 2009
• Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang: A Dark Ones Novel by Katie MacAlister on May 5, 2009
  

JUNE 09

• Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy, Book 8) by MaryJanice Davidson on June 2, 2009
• Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 17) by Laurell K. Hamilton on June 2, 2009
• Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires, Book 6) by Rachel Caine on June 2, 2009

JULY 2009

• Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2) by Patricia Briggs on July 28, 2009
• Mercy Thompson Homecoming by Patricia Briggs on July 21, 2009

~Wierdlings

Books, Books, and More Books!

I have been having a Reading Fest the past few days!  Granted getting a $5.00 coupon plus 30% off at Borders helps a whole lot!!!  So for $17.00 I was able to nab three books

• Ecstasy by Jacquelyn Frank
  
• Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian
  
• Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland
  

Granted that did not include the books I had already read before this date...

• At Graves End by Jeaniene Frost
• Zen and the Art of Vampires by Katie MacAlister
• Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance
• Dark Magic by Cheyenne McCray
• Primal Needs by Susan Sizemore
• One Foot In the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Reread)

And of course my audiobooks while I drive!

• Naked in Death by JD Robb
• Glory in Death by JD Robb
• From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris

Before this I was reading a few other books during my Christmas knitting frenzy, some of which were the Mona Lisa series by Sunny.  Mona Lisa Awakening, Blossoming, and Craving.  I also read another new author Lilith Saintcrow's series Working for the Devil, Dead Man Rising, The Devil's Right Hand, Saint City Sinners, and To Hell and Back.  Both have strong female leads and some complicated storylines which I really like.

Tomorrow I am heading to Tampa, FL with my hubby and sis.  Together we are going to meet Janet Evanovich at the Barnes and Noble and have a great time!  I can not wait.

Have an awesome evening.

~Wierdlings

New Year Resolutions?

Let see... what am I going to promise myself?

Get Healthy!  Not necessarily a diet, but beginning with eating more than my one meal a day.  Taking a walk twice a week, even if that is included with my letterboxing (which I am going to start as well.)

Knit from my stash every other month.  Yes, I know its not perfect, but it will curb my instant obsessiveness when looking at yarn and thinking I have to get it now!  Granted current sock clubs do not count, but yes, I will cancel/not renew them until I can really really afford them.  January is 'knit from your stash' month for me. ::wince and cry::

Save money!  Working with a realistic budget, we have planned to pay regular bills, pay towards my student loan, and still give ourselves some 'mad' money which each may spend during the month guilt free.  If all goes to plan, then we will have enough by the middle of the year to plan a very nice vacation for our anniversary.

Blog more!  I promise myself to blog at least 3-4 times a week, even if its nothing more than dropping in to say hello or posting a picture of the kids aka cats.

Read more!  I shall set my reading goal to 200 books this year vs the easy 50 book goal I had last year.

Finally, work harder at work and work harder at play!

That is enough for right now, though once I have it started, I may be able to fit in even more on my calendar.  ::grin::

Happy New Year to you all!

~Wierdlings