Twinkle twinkle

I've been working on a new baby blanket, and I'm really happy with it right now. At first, I had some misgivings, because I've been really antsy about starting anything new recently. Knowing I only have so much yarn makes me really really cautious of everything I start. So at first I was unhappy, mostly because it was using up yarn. But as this goes on, I get more and more satisfied. I dyed the yarn myself, and I'm actually making some preparations to sell some of my better colors, so that's been an interesting side project at least. ;) The blanket was made according to the Radiating Star Blanket pattern on Ravelry, and in addition to being really really super cute, it makes for great class knitting, because the math/counting is simple, and i can stop knitting at one point to write some notes, and then pick it up when I'm done and not lose a beat. Also, I really love stars both as a shape and as a motif, so this is a really great way to combine my love of stars with a really traditional, heirloom kind of design that still looks modern and cute for today. I also love that it's in orange, because I think pastels for babies are way, way overrated. I like making thing bright and happy, but also subdued to let the pattern show best, and this is a good compromise between the two with a bright pop of color that doesn't overshadow the lace.

In other news, I'm taking a phlebotomy course tues/thurs evenings, because the teaching track is just really... dead recently. Not a lot of places are looking, they don't offer benefits, and the pay is miserable, despite having multiple certifications in a variety of vital areas. I've always been interested in the healthcare industry, so while it may not be my dream job, I can at least use the increased pay and benefits to put myself through more teaching college, at the very least, or I can transition to the health field, depending on what the long-term growth is looking like. I really just want to be able to settle down, have some security in housing, employment, and personal healthcare, so moving into nursing of some type might let me do that. Plus, my wife and I have been really wanting to start our family, so we're both trying to move into more secure jobs. Right now she works for the county, so that's looking pretty good, but teaching... it's not what it used to be. I'm hoping that improves, but until such time as it does, if you need any blood tests done, I'll be able to get them done for you by the end of this school year. ;)

Recent projects

My homelessness put a damper on my online activities, but I've been keeping busy all the same.

I made the bamboo blanket by following this chart (ravelry link). I charted the frog myself, though I'm not especially happy with the outcome. The bamboo effect was done with a multiple of five pattern. I'd write up a pattern if anyone expresses an interest, it was actually super easy.

The dresses were made by following this lovely pattern (also a ravelry link) with the odds and ends of some yarns I had dyed. I think it turned out well, and I find the sweetest buttons to use for the blue one.
I'm working on another blanket right now, should have more pictures up by tomorrow.

The next thing I worked on was this Wraplan Cardigan (also a Ravelry link. If you don't have a ravelry account get one now!) which... I kind of rushed, so I'm not completely happy with the way it turned out. I'm planning on making another one soon to kind of get a "redo"

Hey Everybody!

This has sat dormant for a long, long time, mostly because I started it as a way to post patterns I hadn't really written out all the way, and then a lot of craziness happened (hello homelessness, how you doin'?) and I am now getting back into this because my sagacious girlfriend told me I should start a knitting blog and she is absolutely correct. So here I am, at the end of 2011 (and during NANO month, no less. Not that this will be a work of fiction....) starting a knitting blog. So hello.

May as well use this first post to talk about my current knitting, right? So, I'm miserably behind on taking photos of my work recently. I just got a new apartment, and I'm still living out of boxes and before that I was... well, I was homeless. Let's be real. It totally sucked and I'm glad to live in a real place instead of a shelter full of disgustingness and molesters. But more to the point, I'm terribly behind in taking photos. I've still got like... omg, 22 different projects to photograph. It doesn't help that I basically have to do the pictures in the morning either, because the afternoon light by my house is terrible. The whole backyard is in shadow, and that's the only place to get any decent light past 1pm, so that's right out. I should probably just do it all tomorrow and then post it same day. Here :D

Oh, I'm thinking of starting a yarn dyeing company. I really love dyeing yarn, and I really really need a job, so I figure combining them should be the most reasonable thing. There is a LYS near my house, and I'm bringing a sample book to them on Monday to see if they'll buy it. And you know what? What the hell, I'll put some of the photos here:

I forget what I called it, but something that makes me think if green...

My internet is running out or I'd upload more, but what do you think? Something people would buy? Maybe perhaps? I'm hoping so. I did all the base colors (ROYGBIV and a neutral) and I'm hoping to expand on that very soon! 

I'm also working on a Bubble Dress for a 6-12 mo old, and it's coming along quite well I think. I have a bit of yarn left over, so I think I'll make some matching legwarmers for it using this pattern. When I'm done I'll post pictures... Internet shut off. >.<