Tungsten and Alpaca Paint

Well. Silly me thinking my camera wasn't as nice as I thought. Nope, not the case. It's just that I didn't even think to check the options/tools on my camera. There's a little selection called White Balance. You can set it to whatever light condition you are in. Sunny, cloudy, flourescent, tungsten.... So that is that. Hopefully now I won't be having any pink glare in my pictures. And now since I've learned something about my camera, here is a picture of the scarf I am working on with the Alpaca Paint I got. I'm doing an elongated stitch pattern off the top of my head. It works well with the yarn because it shows off the awesome colors but is still an interesting pattern. I think my upcoming projects will include another one of these scarves, another Branching Out scarf, more glove mitts like the rainbow ones (I think I'll try a cotton yarn next) and the Circle Shrug from the cover of the fall Vogue Knitting magazine.... Not in that order.

Gladys gets her scarf

Saturday morning, I met up with one of my co-workers and after getting coffee, we went on a mission to drop off Gladys' gift. I was going to get one of the barista's to do the giving but I had my co-worker do it instead. I think Gladys was very surprised! I love giving presents. I don't like the akwardness that sometimes happens when it is an unexpected gift though. Sometimes I get the feeling that the person recieving feels like they have to return the gesture. I hate that! That is not why I give gifts. So this time, I eliminated that, wrote a card and all is well. Also, hopefully in the next day or so I will show here what I have started with the lovely Alpaca Paint I got.

Branching Out for Gladys

I'm done, I'm done, I'm done the Branching Out Scarf for Gladys. I'm also done my Rainbow Glove Mitts. 2 FO's in one post. How about that? I've finished blocking the scarf and I think I will give it to the unsuspecting Gladys tomorrow morning. (Depending on whether I see her or not...) And I am very, very pleased with my gloves. I am going to write out an improved pattern and maybe I'll post it too. I'll be knitting those again soon! Also, on Monday while I was out and about, I discovered Homecraft Importers on 4th Ave. What a cute little place! They have a healthy alpaca section too. I picked up 3 balls of Alpaca Paint in this georgeous burgundy, red, pink, orange colorway. So sexy! When I find some good daylight I will take pics of them and my finished mitts.

Rainbow Glove-Mitts Progress

I was supposed to have these buddies done for winter. I blew it. Ah well, I have grey cabled gloves to hold me over, but I can't wait to wear these guys. I love it when a pattern I make up starts to work out. The second glove is a definite improvement on the first but they will both be wearable in that homemade (but not embarassingly awkward doesn't- quite- fit- but- I'm- wearing- them- anyway) kind of way. Also, please note that this is another crappy picture taken at 10pm with the flash on. I have to work when the sun is out and on my days off the fates like to play jokes on me and make it rainy and cloudy so I will never be able to take decent pictures again!!!! I look at Knit and Tonic and I feel shame. Deep, deep shame.

Score!

Well, well. Today, I went on a day trip with Jill and her two friends Krista and Andrea. We drove down to Bellingham to Bellis Fair and to just outside Seattle to a huge outlet mall. I found the cutest Dr. Martens I have ever seen! I bought them. I had to.




And when I was walking home from Jill's this is what I found in the alley! I have been hoping and wishing and putting off the purchase of a sewing machine. And there it was in the alley. I've wound the bobbin (it came with 2) and I am testing the tension etc etc. There's even a needle in it, a lightbulb that WORKS and it all runs like a top.



And to give you an idea of the yarn that I recieved along with the alpaca fleece, here is a late-night, picture-with-flash of my 200g of recycled sari silk. There is every color under the sun in this yarn I am sure. There. Some tidbits in picture form to tide you over. =)

Knit Night at Katherine's

Still no pictures. Tonight Jill and I went to her co-worker/friend Katherine's knitting night. There was 8 ladies there all together, me being the youngest. I love going to knitting nights! Everyone is always interested in other peoples projects and progress. You get awesome tips for shopping, stitching and all sorts of things. Knitting nights are a wealth of knowledge. Jill worked on her baby afghan, I worked on my Branching Out scarf (which everyone drooled over!), Katherine was working on a new knit pattern for a blanket and also brought a baby sweater she was working on. A lady named Nikki had brought crocheted cashmere hats and was working on a shawl (I think). Pat was working on a toque, Loraine was working on (a scarf and) a sweater, along with another lady and Valerie was there to learn to knit! Near the end, most of the ladies had been comissioned to help wind 4-5 different skeins of yarn into center-pull balls. Jill and I had to leave early but we had a great time. The next meeting is for the 14th of December. I'll probably go. Also, I have been working a lot on the Branching Out scarf for Gladys so I think it will be done soon. (Finally!)

Cloudy days mean no posts with pictures

Go figure. The days off that I have to myself (so that I have time to take pictures for my blog,) are always cloudy. Normally I love it when it's gray and rainy. But I get a weird pink glare in my photos when it's overcast and the outcome never looks good. So! I have finished a scarf but I will have to post pics later. It's a watermelon themed scarf and I am thinking of gifting it.... Also, I recieved my yarn and alpaca fleece that I had shipped from the Alpaca Shop in Montville, QLD so hopefully I'll have pictures of those up soon. I also have been trying to get a decent picture of a new wool winder I bought second hand in mint condish. I got it for $2. Now that's a deal. If anyone has any lighting tips when taking a picture with a digital, please let me know. I know that filtered daylight is great, indoor light at night is not, direct sunlight is bad and that overcast conditions are less than ideal. I don't like to post when I don't have pictures to go with it. But I may have to for the time being.