In the beginning...

I have tried to blog about knitting and other stuff before, but I'm going to really give it a go now. I stick with fiber-related topics to start and see how that goes. I've been knitting for about 3 years now, about as long as I've been on the West Coast. I've made my share of scarves and hats, and maybe a shirt and a half. I have pulled a coworker into the world of knitting as well. We've picked two projects to work on this summer: striped (non-self-striping) socks and a really cute knitted skirt. I will try to cover my progress on these projects over the summer.

The skirt has ruffles on the bottom and they are taking forever. You have to cast on over 500 stitches which you whittle down to 200. I cast on to a single 29" circ, and the stitches are really scrunched. I look forward to every decrease round.

I'm also working on a lace shawl, Knitpicks candle flame shawl, that I've been struggling with for the last two and a half years. I finally had a lace breakthrough a few months ago, so have actually made considerably progress but it's still slow going because 1) there are other slightly less frustrating projects I can work on, 2) I had been taking a microbiology class in the evenings limiting my knitting time, and 3) it's frick'n lace so the yarn is about as big around as dental floss. I was trying to take a picture of it, but the circular needles it's being knit on are really curly, and I'm too lazy to move it onto something straight just to take a photo.

In addition to telling you about my current projects, I feel compelled to show a couple of my recently completed projects.
This is the Sheldon the Turtle pattern from Knitty.com. I couldn't quite get the nose right so he looks a bit like a snapping turtle. But he's ultra cute. And the best part is...(scroll down a little)... he can take off his shell! Isn't he adorable?!? I sent him to friends of ours as a baby gift.