Hoot List: Precious Things

Knitting // How adorable is this fox hood from The Velvet Acorn?

Art // There's so much detail in this small skull sculpture from SH Hark.

Style // I've been loving open-back dresses lately, and this one from Chrystal is just precious.

Etsy // What a beautiful cross stitch kit from Red Gate Stitchery.

Owl // What a precious little felted owl ornament from Scratch Craft.

February Nails: Happy Valentine's Day

Though I don't personally celebrate Valentine's Day, I got inspired by hearts for this month's nail pattern.

Knitting Frenzy

Completed

1. January Cowl - This project taught me that, though I may love the way large cables look, I hate knitting them.

2. Dog Sweater - My very first sweater! After completing this project, I think I'll be much more comfortable about starting a sweater for myself.

3. I-Cord Necklace Cowl - This design was so simple and easy, I may have to use this to use up most of the rest of my stash.

4. Harry Potter Bookmark - I'm slowly making a bookmark for every book in my library, or at least the ones not going into my sell pile.

Working On

1. Depths Cowl - I found a wonderful stitch pattern for an open mesh stitch from Derya Davenport.

2. Temperature Journal - I broke down and bought some cross stitch canvas, so now I'm actually working on stitching the journal!

3. Wonder Woman Fingerless Gloves - I'm so excited to get to wear these things!

4. Bookmark

Starting Soon

1. iPad Sweater - My fair isle February goal will soon be underway.

2. Bookmark

3. Flower Bud - I'm excited to finally have a flower bud for my little bud vase.

Pattern: I-Cord Necklace Cowl

This is a great stash-busting pattern that anyone can do. All you need is a pair of double pointed needles and a skein of yarn you don't know what to do with.

I-Cord Necklace Cowl

{Materials}

1 skein of yarn (I used about a half skein of sport weight yarn)

1 pair of US4 dpns (or size needed for chosen yarn)

{Dictionary}

{Directions}

CO 4 sts, leaving a 6" tail.

Knit i-cord until you reach near the end of the skein.

BO all sts, leaving a 6" tail.

Wrap the cord around your neck once where you want it to fall. Pull the loop over head and continue to wrap the rest of the cord around using the original loop as your guide. Using one tail, sew a running stitch across the back of the neck to hold the loops in place. Using the other tail, backstitch across the neck. For extra security, backstitch twice across the neck. Tie off and weave in loose ends.

Pattern: Part 1 of Christmas Tree Knit-a-long

The mystery is revealed! Part 1 of the Christmas tree knit-a-long is for the base of the tree only. Don't bases always look so drab? From here we will be adding loads of leafy goodness... and I can't wait to start on the decorations!

Christmas Tree Base

{Materials}

3 skeins of worsted weight green yarn (shown is Knitpicks Brava worsted yarn in Dublin)

1 skein of worsted weight brown yarn (shown is Knitpicks Brava worsted yarn in Sienna)

1 pair of US8 straight needles (long)

1 spare needle

{Gauge}

16sts x 22rows = 4"

{Dictionary}

CO - cast on

K - knit

P - purl

P2tog - purl 2 together

{Directions}

In Brown, CO 20 sts using long tail cast-on method.

Row 1: K across.

Row 2: P across.

Rows 3 - 60: Work as rows 1 - 2.

Switch to Green yarn.

Row 61: CO 35 sts using long tail cast-on method, graft trunk to base of tree by knitting every stitch, CO 35 sts using backwards loop cast-on method.

Row 62: P across.

Row 63: K across.

Rows 64 - 65: Work as rows 62 - 63.

Row 66: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, P2tog.

Row 67: K across.

Row 68: P across.

Rows 69 - 70: Work as rows 67 - 68.

Row 71: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 72: P across.

Row 73: K across.

Rows 74 - 75: Work as rows 72 - 73.

Row 76: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, P2tog

Row 77: K across.

Row 78: P across.

Rows 79 - 80: Work as rows 77 - 78.

Row 81: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 82: P across

Row 83: K across

Row 84: P across

Row 85: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 86: P across.

Row 87: K across.

Rows 88 - 94: Work as rows 86 - 87.

Row 95: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 96: P across.

Row 97: K across

Rows 98 - 103: Work as rows 96 - 97.

Row 104: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, P2tog

Row 105: K across.

Row 106: P across.

Rows 107 - 113: Work as rows 105 - 106.

Row 114: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, P2tog

Row 115: K across.

Row 116: P across.

Rows 117 - 122: Work as rows 115 - 116.

Row 123: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

Row 124: P across.

Row 125: K across.

Rows 126 - 132: Work as rows 124 - 125.

Rows 133 - 372: Work as rows 85 - 132.

Row 373: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog.

Row 374: P across.

Row 375: K across.

Rows 376 - 380: Work as rows 374 - +158.

Row 381: K across.

Row 382: P across.

Rows 383 - 387: Work as rows +164 - +165.

Row 388: P2tog, P to last 2 sts, P2tog.

Row 389: K across.

Row 390: P across.

Rows 391 - 393: Work as rows +172 - +173.

Bind off across.

Saturday's Simple: Hair Love

Now that I've finally gone redhead, I feel like doing more than just throwing up my curly locks in a ponytail. And thanks to the simple, easy-to-follow hair tutorials over at A Beautiful Mess, I've got this hair thing in the bag.

Day 1: Maiden Braids 

As intricate as these braids look, I picked them first because of how easy the tutorial made them look. The only problem that really occurred was my hair was quite a bit shorter than the model's, but that just meant pinning the braids where you could see the pins and tucking in the ends.

Day 2: Side Braid

 This braid was super easy, though I don't think I did the fishtail braid correctly.

Day 3: Messy Bun

A really cute way to dress up a simple pony tail.

Hoot List

Knitting // I can't wait to try this Timmy Cushion pattern by Gary Kennedy.

Etsy // This little heart sugar spoon is precious.

Art // I'm in love with this origami bouquet.

Style // This lady bug bag from ModCloth would make a wonderful small project bag.

Owl // What a precious little magnet!

February Goals

1. Write down all spending. I'm doing well so far to write it all down, not so much on actually not spending much.

2. Love my hair! Now that I work in a hair salon and know I'll be dyeing my hair frequently, I need to start taking better care of it.

3. Read, read, read. With March quickly approaching, I want to keep up with my fall / winter reading list to have it finished on time. I already have my spring / summer reading list picked out!

4. Clean every day. It seems that as soon as I clean everything up, it's messy again. Hopefully cleaning every day will stop this shenanigans!

5. Master fair isle knitting! Okay, so maybe mastering it won't happen in a month, but I want to at least knit one thing using the fair isle technique. It's high time I stopped shying away from all the wonderful color work patterns I find.

Saturday's Simple: Film Love

I was perusing my inbox recently, and found a message from Lomography introducing their new film LomoChrome Purple 400. They'll have 35mm and 120 film available, and I can't wait to get my hands on some. Check out the amazing way the film develops in regular C-41 processing.

All photos property of lomography.com

Hoot List

Knitting // I would love to rock this knit pencil skirt from I Heart Norwegian Wood.

Art // This ink drawing took some major talent from Zyzanna.

Etsy // This vintage book from Book Fair would look fabulous on my bookshelf.

Style // I want these adorable leggings from Carousel Ink so badly.

Owl // Check out these amazing woodland critters temporary tattoos from DB Illustrations.

Knitting Frenzy

Completed

1. A new drink cozy for the shop.

2. Part 1 of the knit-a-long is finished. The big reveal is coming soon!

Working On

1. January cowl

2. Dog sweater

3. Infinity necklace

Starting Soon

1. Temperature journal.

2. Wonder Woman fingerless gloves and golden lasso necklace.

3. A new cowl for the shop.

What's in my bag?

Yesterday I went out walking to run all my errands so I could get some great analog time in. I packed up my bag with all the necessities, hung my camera round my neck and went on my way.

1. One of my 'working on' projects: a never ending i-cord necklace / scarf.
2. My sheep wallet full of the basic errand-running necessities.
3. An extra roll of film for the lubitel.
4. January's planner: in case I'm struck with inspiration at some point (though I did forget a pen so I'm not sure how much the planner would have helped)
5. A good audiobook playing in my ear to keep me company while I walked around.

And there's Buffy!

Recipe: Banana Monkey Bread

Banana Monkey Bread for Two

1-3 bananas (depending on how much you love bananas - I used 2, but kind of wish I'd used 3)

1 pack of biscuits (10-pack)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix cinnamon and sugar.

Cut biscuits into quarters and slice bananas. Coat biscuit pieces and bananas with cinnamon sugar.

Grease small oven-safe serving dishes. Arrange biscuits and bananas in dishes.

Combine melted butter and brown sugar. Pour over biscuits.

Bake monkey bread in oven preheated to 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Pattern: Camera Strap

There's Buffy!

Camera Strap

{Materials}

2 skeins of worsted weight acrylic - I chose a light blue and a variegated dark blue yarn

US 5 straight needles

yarn needle

{Gauge}

4 sts x 7 rows = 1" in moss stitch

{Dictionary}

CO - cast on

St st - stockinette stitch - knit right side rows, purl wrong side rows

K - knit

M1 - make 1 stitch

mss st - moss stitch - K1, P1 across every row

SSK - slip, slip, knit - slip next 2 stitches knitwise separately, knit stitches together through back of loop

K2tog - knit next 2 stitches together

BO - bind off

sts - stitches

{Directions}

CO 3 sts

Starting with right side row, St st 8 rows

Next row: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1

St st 3 rows

Next row: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1

St st 3 rows

Next row: K1, M1, K to last st, M1, K1

St st 6 rows

Mss st until piece measures 30" from beginning of moss stitch

St st 6 rows

Next row: SSK, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

St st 3 rows

Next row: SSK, K to last 2 sts, K2tog

St st 3 rows

Next row: SSK K to last 2 sts, K2tog

St st 8 rows

BO

Attach camera strap to camera using the tails and a yarn needle and weave in ends.

Saturday's Simple: Sketchbook Love

I love packages from online friends.

I received this sketchbook a few years ago. It's filled with beautiful sketches by the very talented Candace Breakell. These are some of my favorites.

Hoot List: The Geek in Me.

Knitting // This wonderful knitted frog dissection is stunning.

Etsy // The colors of this solar system print are just perfect.

Art // The Adipose have got to be the cutest Dr. Who villains to date.

Style // I want to tote my new camera around in the field bag.

Food // Mmmmmm... spice of the month club.

Owl // I want to send out notes of love with these precious Harry Potter origami cards.

Weekend Plans

1. Celebrate geekdom. This weekend I'm setting aside 11 hours to watch Dr. Who in the order of River Song's timeline. I'm so excited, even though I'll have to redo this when the new season releases on Netflix.

2. Organize more yarn. I'm going to tackle one more basket of yarn this weekend. I'll maybe have two more baskets after this one. But it looks like some of it is quite a tangled mess.

3. Make candy. I've tried it once, but to no avail. It's time to sit down and tackle this project.

4. Set up February journal. It's time to plan out my blog posts schedule for February. I can't believe I've almost finished one whole month!

5. Do some much needed painting. I have some old mushroom tiles that need a good coating of varnish to protect them and a poor looking table top that needs a fresh coat of paint to spice it up.

Knitting Frenzy

Completed

1. Camera strap
2. Bookmark

3. Bookmark

Working On

1. Part 1 of mystery knit-a-long

2. Dog sweater

3. Felix the Cat slippers

Starting Soon

1. Temperature journal

2. Drink cozy

3. January cowl