Yep, I'm moving the blog.

Yes, again.

I know, it's sad.

Quirky Knit Girl will be found HERE from now on.

Depending on time constraints and my level of motivation I may or may not move my old entries over. And it may or may not happen soon.

At any rate, the new site promises to be pretty, shiny, and updated more frequently! So please come on over and take a look!

See y'all soon!

I've been really bad at the updating thing. I'm getting better, I swear.

I've made progress on the sleeves for Under the Hoodie, but that's about it, knitting wise. I don't know if I'll finish it in time for my trip, but I'm trying!

Congrats to any of you out there in the blogosphere that participated in the Knitting Olympics! I saw some posts on it and I have to say it was very impressive!!

For the record, I didn't participate. All of my professors apparently banded together and decided to assign untold amounts of work before Spring Break, so I wasn't about to add an ambitious knitting project to the mix. Plus, I'm not a huge Olympics fan. Usually I try to watch Skeleton (is it just me, or does that not look insanely fun?) but I missed it this year.

That's about it from me for now. I'm working on catching up schoolwise and cleaning my apartment so I'll actually have free time (ha.haha. ha.) and can knit and update more!

Ciao!

So, I've decided that, as a senior, I should actually go somewhere for Spring Break this year.

Since the college frat party of Mexico or Florida isn't really my scene, I've booked a trip to San Francisco.

I'll be there from March 9-14, and I can't wait! I'm meeting up with two internet pals, and it'll be great fun.

Anyone know of any yarn shops?

So....Ribbon X-Back.

I was just whipping along on it, marveling at my eye-bleedingly bright (yet gorgeous) pink yarn, savoring the times the ribbon would fall just right on the needles, thinking how adorable it would look.

I knitted between classes. I knitted through instructor preview day at Michaels. I knitted during TV shows.

I even bought an overpriced ruler from the bookstore on campus when I forgot my tape measure.

I got all the way to seperating for the front.

Then I realized.

My Ribbon X-Back? Was far too big.

I had gauged of course. I learned my lesson with the 7 foot (possibly even longer, I'm actually kinda scared to check) Harry Potter scarf. Gauge is my friend, I know, and I try very hard not to forget it.

What I did forget was stretch. Tape and ribbon yarns are STRETCHY. And this had stretched to be much, much bigger than the 32" stated by the pattern. It had stretched all the way to 39". And since the only way i'm going to gain 6" across my chest is with the help of a very talented plastic surgeon, I had only one choice.

Frogging.

I put on Bride and Prejudice and I  frogged all 11 inches of knitting. Well, actually, I got through about 3 balls and then I just started on the new one. I'll finish balling the rest later.

I've cast on again, this time with US10.5 needles instead of 11s and I also cast on for a XS instead of a small. That should work out 30" but because of the sizing and stretch of the yarn, I think negative ease will be my best bet. Plus, if I lose weight it'll still fit.

So, now I'm back at the beginning. Again.

Wish me luck.

Ranger the Betta fish has died.  He was lethargic yesterday, and I was worried, then after the State of the Union I found him dead. Maybe he realized who our President was? He was a very friendly fish, and I'll miss him.

There  he was, making a brief appearance in coffee pot for a contest.

In other, less sad, news, my beginner knitting class ended yesterday and I released 7 new knitters into the world. Welcome to the crazy world of knitting obsession!

Recently, I finished the giant, never ending purple afghan.

Here's a close up of the stitch pattern:

Here's a view of the entire afghan (ignore the mess. Please.):

And then, despite the numerous projects already on the needles, I cast on for a fairly easy, light project to carry with me, Ribbon X-Back from Knitty. I'm knitting in Moda Dea Ticker Tape yarn, which I got on sale for 70% off and have bought enough to make 4 in various sizes and colors. Beccause I love the yarn THAT MUCH.

Here's the beginning of Ribbon X-Back number 1:

And finally, here's a picture of my birthday cake from Sunday, which I decorated all by myself. It was my first foray into cake decorating, and I thought it turned out fairly well. It certainly tasted yummy!

Mmmm, cake:

Well, my knitting classes are going well. I had a few people not come back after the first class--I don't know why, and I'm sorry they didn't come but I still had 7 students! They're all knitting happily along and will soon be prolific, fiber-obsessed knitting addicts, I'm sure.

Sorry for the lack of updates; school has started (screenwriting, science and medical reporting, political campaign advertising, issues in space policy, and italian 2, in case you were wondering) and I've also decided to go and get myself a social life (going out is surprisingly fun, despite the strain on my wallet) so there's been less knitting going on.

I've picked up Under the Hoodie which I started last year, got frustrated with it (I'd made the front shorter than the back and had to go back, rip out my bind off, and then reknit until it was long enough) and put it aside. Now I'm up to the hood, but I still have to do the sleeves.

Oh! And I have a set of 6 hand beaded stitch markers up for auction on Ebay, my seller ID is KaliRaven2001. So, if you're interested in some really beautiful stitch markers, you should check them out.

I finished knitting Soleil and the purple afghan!!

I still have to weave in ends, and crochet the edging on Soleil, but I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

Instead of weaving in ends when I finished them, or weaving in the ends on Laurie's present, or blocking the scarf for my uncle or the shawl for my aunt...I immediately cast on for a new project.

I'm making Tempting, I had some Debbie Bliss merino aran I bought ages ago for a cropped cardigan, heard the pattern had a lot of errors, decided not to do it, and promptly forgot about the yarn. It was back when I'd just learned to knit again, and I didn't realize that you didn't HAVE to buy the expensive yarn. So I stashed it and forgot about it for a while.

I was so psyched when I realized I could use it for tempting. It's a lovely dark purple (of course. everything is purple here. I happen to like purple, ok!?) and so soft and pretty and it will make a great tempting and I'll still have some left over. For...I have no idea what for.

Pictures (and a move for this blog) coming soon.

So, sometime this week I'll be moving this blog back over to blogger. Why? I like blogdrive, but I have had a few small issues, mainly not knowing when I had comments. So I think I'll head back on over to blogger.  Whether I'll move old entries is up for debate, considering I don't even know if people read this or not.

In other news, I have 9 people signed up for my beginner knitting class this month! YAY! I may end up offering a second class, because I've capped this one at 10. I'm not sure.

I really want to offer some advanced classes, but it seems right now that the interest is mainly in beginner knitting. Hopefully, if I teach a few beginner classes I can get people interested and they will come to advanced classes.

I'm also back at home, finally. ::does happy dance of joy:: The cats are sad about the lack of space--they don't seem to like going from having my parents entire house (three bedrooms AND a basement) to a one bedroom apartment. But they do like being away from the other cats--Smokey in particular is old and curmudgeonly and likes to try to beat the crap out of Fred and Padma. Padma runs, Fred just looks at her like, dude, I'm twice your size.

That's it for now. Must knit. Must clean. Must unpack. Wah.

So it's a new year. For the first time in a long time (ever?) it actually feels like a new beginning full of possibility and not just more of the same.

And what's a new year without resolutions? Here are some of mine:

*Finish a screenplay. At least one. I have about four ideas floating in my head right now.

*Actually study. I'll do it this year. Go out with a bang. I mean it. Stop laughing.

*Graduate

*Move to LA with friends (ok, so this might be 2007, since I won't graduate until Dec 06)

*Finish all my unfinished objects, even those started more than a year ago

*Destash

*Work on my own knitted designs, cheesey as they may be (I want to do a whole series based on TV characters...because, yes, I am that much of a geek)

*Stop eating meat

*Get a social life. Including dating, no matter how much it terrifies me

*Update my blog and LJ regularly

Y'know, when I was little, Christmas Eve seemed a lot more exciting.

I'm in a weird state of calm, having finished all essential holiday presents. I'm still working on relatives who live in other states, friends, and animals, but hey, the relatives and friends don't mind and the animals can't read a calendar.

Also, tip: never try to knit a sweater for a black lab. No matter how cold and pathetic she looks. It will take you FOREVER.

I feel bad because usually I see my friend Megan after Christmas, for New Years, only this year she has to fly back to Florida for her job on Christmas day, so I saw her last night and didn't have her present ready. :( I've told her I'll ship it, though. Or head down to Florida for New Years (god, that idea is SO TEMPTING). Something. But she gave me the most gorgeous knitting needle holder as part of my present, I'll take a picture and post it soon. I can't wait to store my needles in it!

We also decided that we're going to move to LA together after I graduate. Unless she ends up in grad school somewhere else, then after she graduates. But we're so going. And my parents have decided they will give me their blessing to move to LA if I go with Megan. Who, btw, would be the most awesomest roommate in the universe.

I don't think they think we'll actually go. But we will. Because, hey, why not?

Yeah, that little sentance? Four words? That's what gets me in all kinds of trouble.