Ravelympics 2010

After finishing two lace shawls in the days leading up to Christmas, I decided to take a break from knitting for a little while. I find that if I don't have another project lined up when I'm about to complete a project, I have a difficult time motivating myself to do gauge swatches and decide which project to start next. So I decided to do a little bit of cross stitch over the holidays instead of knitting and at the end of January I started the Little Sister's Dress by Tora Froseth. It will be a present for Vishali (maybe birthday, but more likely Christmas). I'm using Berroco Sox Metallic in a pink and purple palette. The silver metallic thread through the yarn gives it a little extra sparkle.

I also signed on for this year's Ravelympics. I picked my project late Thursday night, so I'm a last minute ravthlete. I've entered the Hat Halfpipe with the Claudette Hat by Erin Ruth. The pattern uses Ella Rae Lace Merino, a yarn that I had in my stash. I had to wind the particularly temperamental skein of yarn last night and started a gauge swatch. Without removing it from the needles, it looks like I'll have to go up at least one more needle size. Hopefully I'll finish gauge swatching today and will be able to start the project. I have until the end of the Olympics to finish the project, so I'll also have to set Shali's dress aside until the beginning of March.

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Ladybug Costumes

Ladybug Costumes, originally uploaded by theknittingpict.

For some reason I can't get the picture link to work like I think it should work tonight. Perhaps it has never worked the way I think it should work. See the post below for information about the ladybug costumes.

Ladybug, ladybug...

Ladybug Hats, originally uploaded by theknittingpict.

October is my favorite month. I love the cool air, autumn leaves, and festivals. I also love Halloween and have a reputation for being the only person brave enough to come to work dressed up in a costume. (I work behind the scenes in a museum and have some control over who sees me during the day.)

For me, Halloween is all about the perfect hat. I've been to work in the Maleficent costume--horns included--that my mom made for me in seventh grade. Another favorite Halloween hat of mine consists of a stuffed satin pumpkin embellished with lots of sequins and orange tulle (a special purchase from the Mall of America that I hauled all the way back to Virginia). Last year I knit a Princess Leia hat.

This year when my sister-in-law lamented that they couldn't find a ladybug costume for my niece (who turns five months old today), I volunteered to make one for her and her slightly younger cousin. I used Simplicity's pattern (2788) for the ladybug body and purchased black turtlenecks and pants for the clothes underneath the costumes. Since their heads were too small for the pattern's hat, I decided to knit rolled edged hats and run the black chenille through the top of the hat. I used the basic pattern for 0-6 months sized hats in Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. The girls' mothers think Vishali and Anika will be able to wear the costumes next year as well, although I'll have to make bigger hats.

I enjoyed watching my brother, dressed as Harry Potter, carrying around his little ladybug, Vishali, as the entire family trick-or-treated with two-year-old Kavi, Anika's big brother. It was fun watching Kavi figure out trick-or-treating. And what did I wear on this unusually warm Halloween? My glittery wizard hat. My clothing, however, looked more like something a Muggle would wear.