Little Lizzy Big City

Birthday Cake

2009-06-24T12:28:00.002-04:00

Its my birthday!!!! :D

I made Icebox Cake to celebrate. Details and pictures to follow.

Obsessed with Lace

2009-05-19T14:46:00.002-04:00

Hello blog,

I know, I am a terrible updater. Mainly it’s because I haven’t hooked my apartment up to internet, and I don’t really plan to because I’m getting along fine without it. I get enough internet on my lunch at work. I am thinking of getting an iphone though, so I wonder if that would change anything.

The problem with only having the internet at work though is that the pictures on my computer don’t always get posted in a timely fashion. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. This is the reason there is no picture for this post right now.

In knitting news, I am currently working on the Travelling Roses scarf and I’m obsessed with it. The pattern is lovely, but requires a lot of attention. The lace repeat is about 50 rows long so memorizing is not really working. I’m using Misti Alpaca Lace, and I am in love with that as well. It’s so unbelievably soft.

So I’m obsessed with lace right now. This project has inspired me to really get into more lace knitting, and I am itching to cast on for another one. I’m thinking of starting the Swallowtail Shawl or some other lace scarves. I also want to make the Featherweight Cardigan, even though that is not lace, only laceweight.

Another thing I like about lace knitting is that it is kind of economical. Laceweight comes in such high yardage for so little cost. I can knit an entire scarf out of one hank that costs less than $10. I keep looking online at the laceweight yarn I want to buy. I have way too much yarn already in my stash (but it is not laceweight). Obsessed.

Speaking of stash, I have a ton of bulky Alpaca blend yarn that is dying to be made into a sweater. It being almost summer though, I am not really much in the mood for a bulky sweater. But with my luck if I start it now it won’t be done until winter anyway.

I think that’s about enough update for now. Pictures to follow eventually!

The Equivalent of Zombie Pwnage

2009-03-03T14:27:00.002-05:00

I know. I’m a bad blogger. And I have lots of projects and knitting related things that I could write about. But I want to post a funny knitting story.

Last night, I was working on the Urchin from Knitty. I was sitting in bed knitting away to finish up a short-row section before going to sleep. In walked DBF after finishing a session of Wii zombie killing and then the following:

Lizzy: ::knits away contentedly::
DBF: I have finished killing zombies for the night. IT IS TIME FOR BED!
Lizzy: Okay, I just have a tiny bit more knitting to do before I reach the perfect stopping point for the night. It will take me five minutes to do and this way I will not be confused about which row I am on in this pattern next time.
DBF: No, it is time for bed nooooow. Because I want you to cuddle me noooooooow.
Lizzy: ::knits away fastidiously:: okay I’m almost done. Just give me a minute.
DBF: ::hops onto bed tossing Lizzy’s pattern out of his way::
Lizzy: ::death glare:: can you… give me that… back…
DBF: oops, okay.
Lizzy: Okay, I’m done now. Let me just put my knitting away neatly and we can go to sleep…
DBF: Time for bed! Time for bed! ::furious force-cuddle::
Lizzy: ::struggling to escape:: Wait! I haven’t put the knitting in the bag yet! You’re going to get me stabbed by these needles!
DBF: ::reluctantly lets go:: Cuddle meeeeee. WAAAAHHHHHHH.

After I finished putting away my knitting into my lovely new knitting bag (from Angela at the SnK mitten swap, yay!), I tried to calmly explain how it was not okay for him to have been dis-res-pekkin’ my knitting all night (earlier in the evening he had been moving my knitting, sitting on my yarn). “Listen, I know you are just trying to be sweet and affectionate, but you cannot be all up in my grill when I am knitting. It would be like if you were killing zombies and I was all “Smoosmoosnugglywugglypayattentiontome” and blocking the TV while you are playing.” First, he gave me a big fat-lower-lip baby-face pout. Then he said, “Okay, I hear what you are saying, and that is an analogy I can understand. I am sorry.”

Victory!

More catching up

2007-09-20T15:28:00.000-04:00

So right now I'm at Panera killing time until someone comes to pick me up. I just went for a job at Michaels as a part-time cashier because I need some money, and I'm going to spend it on yarn anyway. Its not the best yarn, but its still yarn. I picked up some SWS, which is probably going to end up as yet another SWS Danica. I'm undecided though, I just want a fun project that takes good advantage of the colors.

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I also just picked up the Fall Interweave Knits. I don't usually buy the knitting mags, I usually just ogle. But not this time. I picked it up just to browse and just some lovely patterns. Also, it was the last copy, and I felt like if I didn't get it now I never would....not that that really makes sense because I will be in NYC tomorrow where there are about 947 Barnes & Nobles that all probably have it in stock... oh well. I'm really digging the Tilted Duster and the Luna Dress. Right now I'm a sucker for sweater dresses, but just thinking about the yarn eating uppage makes me fear for my already empty wallet.

The Sweetheart Vest looks like a project I would like too (no seaming) and I've been looking for a vest pattern. The only thing is that it makes the model look boxy, probably due to the chunky knit and the lack of shaping. If I make it I'll probably decrease some around the waist. Also, it looks like just enough fair isle for me to give it a try without pulling my hair out. Who knows, if it goes well maybe I'll even try the Mirepoix Bodice...

I've completed my Everlasting Bagstopper finally! It was languishing waiting for straps for a few weeks, but no longer! Here she is, modeled by my bathroom door and George Orwell's 1984 to give it weight.

The Rundown:
Pattern: Knitty's Everlasting Bagstopper
Yarn: Lily Sugar N Cream
Needles: 5, 10.5
Mods: Knit straps instead of ribbon

I'm eager to see how many Trader Joe's groceries I can cram into it. It will be a relief being able to lug my groceries over my shoulder instead of having those bags cut into my skin on my hands because they are ridiculously overloaded.

My Liesel is coming along nicely.

...please disregard the robot pillowcase...

Its almost finished so I'll have to decide what to knit next.

I do have a pair of Fetchings that are missing one thumb...

How silly is that? They are missing thumb which = 4 rows of stockinette and binding off. I started picking up the stitches and I got a phone call, and ever since I just haven't gone back to it. Absurd.

What a long entry. I guess that's what happens when you sit in Panera all day. But now its time for my soup in a bread bowl. Genius! Its a bowl, filled with tasty food, but you can eat it as well.

Yum

2007-09-17T18:10:00.001-04:00

I've been looking for sweater patterns and sweaters that I can copycat after I saw a woman on the subway with a gorgeous sideways knit pullover. I loved the shape and the drape of it, and its in line with some of this fall's fashion trends. In searching the interwebs for such an item I found this: Catherine Malandrino's Knit Butterfly Dress.

Drool...

The closest thing to a close-up of the stitch pattern:

First of all, even if I didn't knit I wouldn't even consider buying this dress because it is $525, and I am flat broke(but even if I did have the money I wouldn't really consider it an option to spend that much). There's also that strange pouch in the front that makes it bulky in the tummy area which, for those of us who are not rail thin like this model, could foreseeably create an issue. Other than that though, I love the shape and drape.

I've never really designed anything before, but I would love to be able to knit up something that emulated this. The construction seems fairly simple. Perhaps along the lines of poncho with the sides sewn up and stitches picked up around the bottom or a band sewn on. That part might be tricky, I don't really know how the gathering would work. I would probably knit it longer though, because I am not so daring as to wear such a short skirt.

Alright, so that's all for now. Just a little eye candy until I post on things I'm actually working on :)

Apologies

2007-09-11T01:02:00.000-04:00

Oops, I haven't been updating. It isn't for lack of content, but my own sheer laziness. Therefore, I apologize. I wish I could say that it was because I've been too busy, but I really haven't. Well, not busy enough to have to not be knitting anyway. Looking at my Ravelry page it actually kind of astounds me how much I have done since my last post.

I've actually knit quite a bit in the past month. The Pinwheel is off the needles, but I am quite dissatisfied with it. I underestimated the amount of yarn I would need to create a proper non-curling border. I may just give it away as it is, but I'm so annoyed with it that I really think I am going to have to frog those last few inches. This is no small feat due to the fact that there are, oh about 500 stitches in those rounds. I really need to just suck it up and do it.

Pasha is done as well. I somehow coerced my sister into doing to last of the sewing of appendages on for me. He's so cute, and such a ham!

I just need to actually remember to give him to his intended recipient instead of him sitting drolly on my desk. I will miss him though.

Also, after many months of toiling on 2x2 rib I have finished my first actual sweater, the Tempting. It was a great, super easy sweater with no seaming. A huge plus for me. Anyhoo, here it is along with my full pajama pants glory. I promise I'm not harboring a crab-shaped baby, its just the bunching of the pants. ...not that there would be anything wrong with that. Sorry for the dark picture, but its way too hot outside to do a photoshoot in a wool sweater.

Pattern: Tempting by Jenna Adorno
Needles: Size 8 circ
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Rose Heather
Mods: extra length to body and sleeves, no eyelets or ribbon.

I'm very pleased with the results and can't wait til its cold enough to wear wool. The pattern was perfect for my tastes: done in the round, no seaming, mindless knitting. Also, the 3 needles bind off for joining the sleeve underarms to the body is ingenious!

That's going to be all for now, even though there are plenty more projects to talk about. Hopefully you'll hear about them soon!

Wheelin'

2007-08-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

My most recent project to get cast on is the Pinwheel Baby Blanket. Its so easy and so cute, and I like that its done in the round of course. I'm hoping to make this a more big person sized blanket though, so I'm going to keep knitting it until I run out of yarn. The plan is to use up any extra yarn I have that happens to match.

Right now its about 2 feet across with 380 stitches on the needles. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to fit the stitches anymore once it gets even larger, but I guess I'll figure something out.

Anthro Capelet

2007-07-29T19:56:00.001-04:00

More catching up...

The Anthropologie-inspired Capelet by Julsey

I had seen so many of these on craftster and then on ravelry, and I realized I had some bulky yarn that was just sitting around waiting to be something.

My first sweater-type object. I loved how easy and fast this pattern was on size 11 needles with Bernat Softee Chunky yarn. I knit several inches longer for the body than the pattern called for. From this project I learned how to do raglan increasing, which is great because I never realized how easy it actually is.

I'm really happy with the result and I actually wear this FO. I don't wear it with a pin or anything. Also, despite the garter stitch borders the edges curl. I just pretend its a design feature.

One Hour Booties

2007-07-29T19:47:00.001-04:00

I made these booties with the intention of giving them to a former co-worker who had a baby a few weeks ago. I can't now however, because it was a boy and these booties are pretty much pink! I didn't know they would turn out that way, but that is how the strange Lion Brand Homespun colorway turned out. if you look close you can see that each bootie is somewhat of a different color than the other. That's how little yarn they used - only one color from a color repeat made up a whole bootie.

The pattern is from Stitch n Bitch Nation and I loved it! It was so quick and easy. It did take me longer than an hour, but I attribute that to my ability to be easily distracted. I will make more of these for sure, if only I knew more babies.

Pasha

2007-07-29T04:46:00.000-04:00

Another of my un-F'ed O's. Poor Pasha! He's done being knitted and has been so for months! I just need to sew his wings and feets on. I don't know what's wrong with me that I don't just do it already. I think it might be because once he's actually done I will be giving him away to my friend Sarah, and I am going to miss him.

The pattern is alright, but not my favorite. The directions were kind of unclear to me. I could figure them out, but I remember getting a little confused at some parts. Also, too many seams for my taste, but it did teach me short rows.

He's made of leftover cheap acrylic from before I had my revelation of what yarn should feel like.

Booga

2007-07-29T04:25:00.000-04:00

Catching up on my projects... Here is the most recent of my unFinished Objects. I have multiple projects for which all of the knitting is done, but my inexplicable aversion to seaming, sewing or otherwise finishing knitted objects has left them languishing uncompleted.

Booga Bag - such a quick and easy pattern. Only needs to be felted. I really liked the construction of the bag, especially since I despise seaming and this is done entirely in one piece except for the strap of course. It was an awful lot of stockinette stitch though. I didn't knit the entire length of the pattern since I didn't want to expend more than the one skein (Patons Classic Merino - Rosewood) I had. So its only about 65 rows instead of the written 100. We'll see how short it turns out after felting.

New Blog!

2007-07-27T21:47:00.000-04:00

Hello! I don't really know if anyone will read this but I may as well introduce myself anyway. I'm Liz, and I'm a jaded young unemployed recent college graduate. I spend about half of my days watching television, knitting and wasting away inside my parents' house in New Jersey. The other half I am spending time with my lovers and friends from NYU, where I went to college, who are almost all still living in NYC.

I've had at least two other blogs so far, but here is another one. I'm going to keep this one focused on crafting whereas the others were just rambling uselessness. Mostly this is just for myself so I can keep better track of my projects and the details. Ravelry has inspired me to do this since I see so many great crafting blogs on there and I always love being able to find out more about people's projects. I'll update soon with my current and past projects.