Week in a Day 2

Alas, no finished object this week but it has been an interesting week.  Work has been really busy and after work has been even busier!

I started a Photography class on Tuesdays.  I have always loved taking pictures and with blogging have really made an effort to take more pictures to share.  The amazing thing is that with a lot of luck I have taken some really visually astounding and interesting pictures.  But I want to take them all of the time, so I decided to take the class to learn about photography and learn my new camera.

Taken in April 2010, at a Tulip Festival outside of Seattle

Our first assignment is to take pictures of our house using the different camera settings.  I don't like the lighting in my apartment, so I will take the pictures at my Dad's house.  The other part of the assignment is to find pictures that just take our breath away in magazines and bring them in.  I think this is the hard part because I don't have many magazines around my apartment.

Tulip in the Yard, April 2012

In my Grad class on Wednesday, I found out that my presentation is due on 4/18/2012 and not 4/25/2012 like I thought.  (Cue the sad trombone music)  At least I didn't freak out, I will get it done this weekend and then work on my paper that is due on 4/25/2012.

On Wednesday, the Pens lost to the Flyers 3-4 in overtime.  I don't think the loss would sting as bad but they Pens were up 3-0 in the first period and just didn't show up for the remaining 2 and overtime.  There is another game tonight, so hopefully they bounced back.  I do want to mention that I think our goal tender, #29 Marc-Andre Fluery played a really good game and that score could have been a lot worse if he wasn't on top of his game.

It's a Hockey Night in Pittsburgh! And I did make and decorate this cake.

There is another game tonight, which means it's a great day for hockey!

Thursday,  I got my Knit Picks order!  I ordered a Yarn Swift and Ball Winder, plus a scarf pattern called Richmond Lace Infinity Scarf and Knit Picks Chroma Fingering in Azalea .  I was so excited that I tested out the swift and winder last night and it is really addicting.

I also made a large purchase from Deramores.  I bought 8 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for a blanket I want to make.  I chose some muted blues, pinks and purples for white centered granny squares. I am basing my blanket off of the one made by Jacquie at Bunny Mummy.

Here is one of the colors for the blanket that I already bought

I also got 23 skeins of Stylecraft Special DK for some unknown project.  I admit to lusting after the yarn in all of Lucy at Attic24 so I figured why not get some and I can figure out the details later.  I am thinking of a ripple but it might just end up with more white centered squares like above.

Lastly, today I got the rest of the Lion Brand Cotton Ease from Joann Fabrics online store for the Lego Blanket.  They had a sale and free shipping so that is one less thing on my to do list.  I started the green blocks last night and they turned out great.  The colors are really looking good together and I should have taken a picture but I didn't.  Sorry. But, you will see them on Wednesday!

Well, that is all for now.  I plan on working on my paper this weekend but I also plan to get some reading done for pleasure.  I have neglected my TBR pile and it's ready to topple over on top of me.  I will let you know what I think of those books.

For actual finished objects, check out Tami's Amis

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Socks, Vests and Legos, OH MY

We are here again for another WIP Wednesday!  I love these days because not only do I get to share with you my progress but I get to check out what everyone else is doing and get inspired for more WIPs.  It's a lovely cycle.

I have a couple WIPs today, first here is an update on my sock from last week.

My First Sock!

I have another half inch done.  I love the yarn it is so soft and smooth and I really like how the 2X2 Ribbing is working up but I have been neglect of my sock at this time for another project.

As I wrote about on Monday, Sam and I took a knitting class to learn how to make the Karina Vest. We mainly took the time to swatch on Saturday but I worked on the pattern this week.  I started the ribbing but screwed up the knit 1 purl 1 pattern and ripped it out and started again.  Here is the work I have done so far:

Karina Vest

It really shows up pink in this light but it's a lovely orange Berroco Vintage Chunky in Pumpkin and it is so soft.  I just can't seem to put this project down. I still have a ways to go but I did the first 2 sets of shaping decreases and I checked my gauge and I am still right on track!

Next, I wanted to show you the new baby blanket I am working on.  I found this pattern on Pinterest and fell in love.  Really go check out the site and then come back.

Alright, welcome back :)  I mean how adorable is that lego blanket.  I have a friend who is due in a month and asked if she would like me to make the blanket.  I got an enthusiastic yes, so I went out and bought the yarn and set to work.

Aren't they adorable!  I did have to make a couple before I got the gauge but I really can't wait to get more colors to show you.  Alas, this had been on hold until I finish my exam today but I hope to get like 2-4 done a night.

Here are all of the WIPs, notice anything missing from last week?

You will have to just wait and see what I have in store for you on Friday!

As always, check out other WIPs at Tami's Amis

<3 Heather

Sam and Heather's Most Excellent Knitting Adventure!

I feel like this intro needs some air guitar #enernenrenrnerne#.  Anyway, goofy mood aside this week in Sam and Heather's Most Excellent Knitting Adventure takes us to Knit One in Pittsburgh, PA for a knitting lesson.  We both bought Living Social deals for a 2 hour advanced beginner's class in knitting.

our table during our lesson

Now, when we bought these I had finished the Penguin Hat and Sam hadn't tried knitting before so when I went to get the yarn for myself and Samie's Christmas Gift I asked what we needed to know for the class.  She said, we need to be able to knit and purl, cast on and bind off.  I passed along this information to Sam and she went wild with dishcloths and more dishcloths to be ready for our lesson.

Anyway, after several reschedules we finally had our lesson (During an intense hockey game too.  Alas, what I do for my knitting.).  We were early so we worked on some of our other WIPs but then we were able to get started. First we had a lot of yarn to wind.

Samie and our instructor Wendy!

We got to learn how to load the Swift

And the Yarn Winder!  I got pretty good at it

Anyway, once the lesson got started we started our gauge swatch and we all learned 2 things.

1. A gauge swatch help you to do the math to make the pattern work out.  
2. I cannot knit and hold a conversation.

Exhibit A

As you can see there is a hole in my swatch and I have a ridge in the material because I knitted where I should have purled.  I can watch hockey and talk to my dad while knitting but I can't talk to other knitters.  But really I am happy to understand the importance of a gauge swatch because we had some serious edits to do on the pattern for it to fit right and the swatch helped to understand the math.

There were other beginner classes going during the time we were there and they were learning how to knit a scarf.  I am super happy we chose the advanced beginner class.

Overall, my lovely Pumpkin Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn is amazing!  It is so soft and cuddly.  I am really excited to get this pattern going but I have an exam on Wednesday and all yarn craft must come to a stand still while I study.  Never fear, I have posts in the works for everyone!

I realized today, as I wrote this that I made homemade lasagna for my dad this weekend and didn't take any pictures for the blog.  Bad Blagger!  I will try and remember for next weekend!

Until next time.  Air Guitar out #nrterenenrennenr#

<3 Heather