Roses in Autumn

Just a quicky before book time. This is made is a white sparkle that I used to make a baby sweater ages ago. It's just so gosh darn cute, I'm tempted to knit a hat for it, or use it on a monkey, or make it a brooch, or use it to decorate Christmas presents, or or or....

The pattern came from this season's Vogue Knitting, and while this flower is easy peasy and done in ten minutes, I shocked at how complicated the rest of the patterns are! I think I'm going to have to find a cable knitting tutor or else I will be forever condemned to plain ole stockinette sweaters and rose buds....

My first commission!!

I'm on my way to world domination through sock monkeys!!!

One of my lab mates likes the monkeys so much he wants me to make one for each of his nieces for Christmas.

Now how much to sell them for? He's my co-worker and a student so I don't feel like they should be so much, but still they do take about 6 hours to make...

Boob shot

So is anyone with me on thinking this sweater is a little short? Hmm... I followed the directions down to the last 1/4" and yet my belly button is precariously close to being revealed in all its lint-filled glory. Dammit.

I still have to finish off the neck edge so I'm thinking maybe I could just crochet an inch around the bottom, you know, once I've taught myself how an' all.

Gah.

Almost there....

Back front and arm one done, arm two in progress.

This will be my first ever human sized for me to wear knitting project. I've made baby clothes before, and eons ago knitted myself a monstrosity in itchy blue yarn I got from a thrift store. I didn't have a pattern my mum just told me what to do. I don't think I ever wore it, it really was foul.

My knitting has improved a lot since then, I'm pretty good at not dropping stitches (!!!!!) but I'm having problems with my gauge, I just can't seem to keep it even. Particularly in the arm (which has taken me months to knit a couple of rows at a time), you can see the ridges in the fabric where I picked up and put down the needles. With a bit of pulling around of the yarn I've managed to minimize most of the really obvious loose stitches, but if anyone can tell me how to stop it in the first place, I'd be grateful! I'm hoping it'll pull out when I block the pieces.

I'm happy though, for my birthday my parents have bought me a couple of books on techniques for finishing knitting and how-to crochet books. Hopefully I'll be ready to finish this sweater off when they get here. I feel like a complete doofus being so excited about learning to crochet, but hey, you gotta accept what you are!

Nasty Monkey

There is something souless about this fella. Maybe it was becasue I made him when I was sick, maybe it's because the second sock was crappy. Whatever, this wont be a monkey I'm sorry to see the back of.

I think he needs gloves.

Or burning.

Photography

I entered a silly photo competition today. It's being run by a plastics supplier that does a lot of science ware. This was my entry, entitled "Cylinders over the East River". Keep your fingers crossed, there's some pretty hefty computer hard ware up for grabs!!

Sweet Charity

Sock+stuffing+a little imagination=revenue. Or so the theory goes...

FreshArt NYC: The mission of fresh art, a non-profit organization, is to provide expanded artistic, personal development, and entrepreneurial opportunities to New York City artists with special needs. We are also dedicated to enhancing public awareness of these artists' talents and concerns, their agencies' work, and on the use of art as a tool for healing, growth, and positive change. (Quoted from their website.)

I'm not sure how sock monkeys became the iconic symbol of this group, but never the less they have been industriously recycling donated sample socks into funny, lumpy toys for the past five years. I started volunteering in August and have made five monkeys, may I introduce the latest creation... I call him The Migraine.

Separating the craft from the crap

The title says it all. From now on, I'm keeping the illicit craftiness away from the other stuff.

Multiple personality disorder in the blog world.

I've painted in oils, used pencil crayons, paper collages, fabric art.... I loved my figure drawing classes at college and I'm usually itching to have my hands making something. I'm just never sure what. A frustrated artist trapped in a practical scientist's body. So this is my outlet, whatever the hell crazy thing I think up next goes here, not on the other site because whiny bitchy city girl doesn't quite gel with the lovely serene artistry.

Ha.

Wish me luck or ignore me, either way it's fine with me.