knitting

I really have knit things in the last two years.

I just looked at this blog and saw that my last knitting post was from Winter of 2006! I can't believe it! I have been really busy with school, and knitting is time-consuming. But I have made a few things. I made Kelly's "Very Cabley Mittens" for myself this past winter. I also made Dave a nice half green/half blue scarf with Manos de Uruguay yarn. I learned to crochet a year ago- though I keep forgetting how and need to be reminded every time -and have crocheted a few beer cozies for d.i.t.u.. I made a very cute hood/hat for myself after seeing Lyra's in "The Golden Compass" (the only redeeming thing about that movie, in my opinion... except for Daniel Craig, maybe.). So I am still a knitter sometimes, just maybe not a good blogger...

Surprise! I knitted.

New hat:

I actually managed to make one for myself and one for Eliza. I made hers first, nice sister that I am, and then made a few changes when I made this one. It is blatantly ripped off from those expensive little kids hat I posted about the other day.

look!

I finished a knitted thing! I started these mittens back a long time ago, while listening to Winterpills on a NY radio show. I only just started the first one at that point and finished the pair on Wednesday.

It ended up being a little tricky, because I think I may have accidentally placed the thumb opening in the same place on both, making for two right hands. So, I ended up having to rearrange where and how I did my decreases for the mitten top for the left hand, so it would look okay. The yarn is some kind of Peruvian alpaca I bought a wicked long time ago.

This one is for Dave: I'm sorry I haven't made you a sweater yet.

The summer Knitty is all about the menfolk. Here you go, sweetie! Tell me if you like anything, and I'll make it for you- as soon as I finish that bikini...

Do we even remember what the bikini looks like at this point?

Well, I haven't given up knitting yet! Eliza's bikini top got a little attention when I used my dress form to work on my recent sewing project, but it was cast hastily aside at one point so I could get the skirt off the dummy. Poor bikini! This weekend, I am going to try and make some progress. I mean, it's only the back of the bikini bottoms at this point, so what am I waiting for? I've got to finish this project before we are totally out of bikini season and my sister never speaks to me again (which would be tough, since she's still sleeping on my couch...). Wish me luck!

I'm just not knitting right now...

So, for lack of something else to post about, I'll say this: I really miss Dangerous Chunky sometimes. Carolyn had such a great knitting site a few years ago. It's very cool to check out her other projects, of course, but I still, once in a while, wish for that old content. The end.

I can only imagine the disappointment of those people who searched for "pierced nipples" and got a knitting blog.

Last night I kicked ass at knitting that bikini bottom. I started with about an inch and a half of the front knitted (see, how the pattern is set up is you knit the front from the top down, then the crotch panel, and then the back from the bottom up, and put it all together) and now I'm just about to start the increases to make the back. Yep: the crotch is complete. Eliza will be happy. I wonder if my site will get as many hits off of the word "crotch" as it has for "slutty bikini." We can only hope.

Hopefully I'll have it ready for Eliza to try on when she gets here Saturday and I can finish it up by the time she leaves.

The only thing I still really want to do, once it's all knitted, is try and line it a little. You know- yarn, holes, indecency. Plus pierced nipples. Equals I should probably line the bikini for her. Do you all now have too much information about my sister? Sorry, Eliza.

I'm not exactly sure how to go about lining it; I've never lined anything I've knitted before. Any suggestions?

Works in progress

I don't want my sister, Eliza, to feel like I'm neglecting her bikini any more than any of my other knitting projects. I even brought the bikini bottoms to NYC this weekend so I could work on them (they stayed in the car the whole time, but still!). I really did intend to do some work on them last night (she's coming to visit this weekend and I'm going to be in so much trouble), but they were still in the car...

Anyway, just to show that I have been slacking on all my knitting projects, not just this one, I present Works in Progress:

Short-sleeve sweater, started Fall 2003

Here's a close up of the pattern. Complicated! Lots of counting! I'm scared to go back!

Striped knee socks, started Fall/Winter 2004. Intended as a Christmas present:

More Christmas presents. Mittens (2 different pairs), Winter 2004.

The bikini is at the top of my list. I may even try to take it out of the car before Dave heads to SFH practice tonight. Who knows? I could do a couple rows before Eliza gets here...

Knitting Machine, take two

Dave and I returned to MassMoCA this weekend. We were mostly going to check out the exhibits we didn't get to last time, and we also stopped in at the Willams College Museum of Art. I definitely recommend including that museum in your next trip out to that area; they have a nice, small collection and only ask for a donation at the door.

Anyway, here's a much nicer picture of the knitting machine, which had finished it's project at this time:

I was pleasantly surprised to see the flag still haning outside on the needles; I fully expected it to have been folded up and placed inside. Anyway, with the two rows I completed on Eliza's bikini last week, Dave Cole is way ahead of me.

Knitting Machine

Here is the fuzziest, crappiest picture I could possibly have taken when Dave and I saw the knitting machine at MassMoCA this weekend.

Yep. I charged the camera batteries and everything and what did I do? I left the camera at home and was forced to use my cell phone to take this picture. Well, Dave thought it was kind of boring, but I definitely enjoyed seeing the three very slow stitches we saw in the ten or so minutes we were outside. As you can see in the photo (or maybe not), there are these two construction vehicles with giant knitting needles attached. The one on the right pretty much stays stationary while the one on the left is maneuvered through the stitch. Then the guy in the hard hat will carry the "yarn" up over the needle and slide the old stitch off. Not bad! Inside there were a few more pieces by Dave Cole and a display of knitting needles throughout different American wars. It was neat. The American flag that was being knitted by the machine is supposed to have been finished now and will be on display in the museum.

the knitting machine

I'm very excited to go check out The Knitting Machine at Mass MoCA. Installation begins on June 30.

To Eliza

I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry... Your bikini top is still on the dress form which is still standing in the entry way to my building. The bottoms, well, they're still only at the beginning stages. I promise I will knit you a bikini before bikini season ends. Which is in, like, November, right? Don't ask about the tattoo. It will only make you sad.

I want to find this later.

How to turn any image into a knitting pattern.

slutty bikini

slutty bikini

Originally uploaded by kelseyfrost.

As promised, the slutty bikini. It was photographed on my cell phone, since I haven't charged the camera's batteries yet, but I think it shows the cuteness/sluttiness pretty well.

Slutty Bikini

Eliza was very disappointed in the progress of her bikini. But more disappointed in the lack of tattoo design. She's given me too many projects!