Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everybody! I know it's been a while since my last update, but I've been a busy little bee. Between Christmas shopping, baking, and wrapping I'm amazed I have even had time to knit. Unfortunately, I didnot finish mini-banff on time for our visit to grandma's yesterday, but she wants me to visit again befor eI head back to school so I will give it to her then. (I told her I was still working on her gift so now she has two things to look forward to in the next week or so!)

Last night was OK. Pizza Cottage has sadly closed down. It was our favorite pizza place, and our usual Christmas Eve restaurant. My parents are friends with the owner. He closed down not too long ago, and we actually got some of the furniture. My parents did think ahead and we had two frozen pizzas that we made at home for dinner. Also, we don't really get along with our extended family. My uncle Tim and his young'uns were there though, and they are very fun. Plus I got to see my grandma, who I haven't seen since summer, or talked to since Thanksgiving (I know, I know...). Things weren't as awkward as they could have been though.  Usually there is forced conversation, but my family does love gossip. They just couldn't wait to get the scoop on what happened to my dad. In the end we stayed much later than we had planned, and it was pretty fun.

Today was a lot of fun though. It was a pretty fun Christmas for all of us. Lots of good movies and video games all around. MY parents got a Wii for the family, so that was a lot of fun. My sister Candi got Trauma Center for it (she is obsessed). Even though the bf and I rented this game before, I never got to play so today wa my first time. That game is so fun...and addicting...and hard. I'm kind of sad I won't be able to bring it back to school with me. I do have Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass to tide me over though. My other sister Cassie got that for me. I've been playing it almost all day until Candi conned me into trying Trauma Center. Even though Zelda is super stylus-oriented, I am enjoying it.  I have a feeling I will be playing this all week at work ^_^

We usually spend all of Christmas Day together at home, or at least until dinner. My dad had a Pirates marathon going in the family room pretty much all day. This morning we ate pierogis (not your typical ones either...these have unique filling and are saturated in butter from frying). Dinner was turkey with homemade stuffing. It was very delicious. After eating all that food though, the parents did not last very long. They went to bed pretty early and I snuck away to the bf's for a bit. While we are exchanging gifts in February (because he is a brat and knows he is getting Smash which doesn't come out until then), his mom wanted to give me a gift. She bought me the most beautiful swarovzski crystal jewelery set. Its mostly pink with a little bit of green: matching necklace, bracelet and dangly earrings. She also got me a cute little anklet and a belated birthday gift of matching bracelet and earrings (because she never saw me in October). His little sister got me some origami paper too.   

I'm in: home! (STC)

Feeling: yay!

Listening to: The Pixies--Wave of Mutilation

My First Sweater!

I've been a lurker for some time, but I finally have something to contribute. I've been working on Jena Wilson's Banff and just completed it.

My Finished Sweater!

For information on my progress, fee free to visit  my journal. I'm now moving on to my second Banff, although this one I have altered for my very tiny Grandma. I'll be sure to show you all that sweater once it's done too.

***cross-posted to knitting community***

I'm in: my futon

Feeling: excited

Listening to: The Murmurs--You Suck

Snuggling Time!

I have completed Banff and I'm ever-so excited. I actually finished it late last night/early this morning, but was too tired to prance around in it. Plus, by then it was snuggling time with the boy anyways ^_^ I bound it off a little too tightly, and did not realize this until I had alreayd cut the yarn and tied it off. With a little bit of stretching I was able to fix it. It can be a little tight when pulling over my head, depending on the angle, but overall it works. I'll just have to remember to bind off even more loosely on my grandma's sweater.

Speaking of which, I have just begun to cast on for my modified Banff. In my last post, I provided you all with my alterations to the pattern and a link to the original. I did not post the complete pattern, as I rewrote it because I was not sure if that went against any licensing on the pattern. Luckily the original is free, and I don't mind who uses my alterations.

Pictures!

Here is my completed Banff. 

My beautiful new yarn for mini-Banff

I'm in: my futon

Feeling: excited

Listening to: The Murmurs--You Suck

Grandma's Sweater

I haven't made too much progress on Banff yet ;_; but that's because I've been looking for a pattern to make for my grandma's Christmas present. Originally my mom and aunt thought Banff was coming out so well that I should just make another one for my grandma. However, later on my mom decided that the sleeves might be too big. I've been looking for another pattern, but was not finding one that I liked. So, I've altered Banff to make it smaller. The sleeves are narrower and a bit shorter. The length should still be the

same, although the chest size is smaller. I've found a beautiful lilac yarn to knit it up in, and I can't wait to get started. Unfortunately Macomb is covered in ice right now so driving is not doable. I'll post again once Banff is finished and to let you know how my modified Banff is coming along. 

My modified pattern, so far

Here is my modified version of Banff. Mind you, this has been done only on paper, and with assumptions on the size. Please feel free to critique, as I want to make sure it will work out. I feel the only problems so far will be the size, but as my grandma is a small lady, I think it will be ok. As it is, with the assumed measurements, it would fit me, although be a bit snug. Knowing that my grandma is smaller than me I think it will work.

Modified Banff
Materials:uses size 10 needles
4-5 skeins lion brand homespun (170 g)--will know for sure upon completion

Measurements:
42" chest
22" long--if I did my math right
13.5" sleeves--length unknown, but assumed to be 1.5" less than original small

BACK CO 72 st (144 st to knit in the round)
32 20 rows: 2x2 ribbing
switch to st st, and increase 4 8 stitches evenly across row (76 st): (k14, inc, k13, inc, k14, inc, k13, inc, k14)x2
33 49 rows: st st
switch to knitting flat with first 76 st
BO first four stitches at beginning of next two rows*
work right side decrease row
work wrong side decrease row
repeat these two rows for a total of 17 times (34 rows), leaving you with 34 st

Right Shoulder:
as per original pattern

Left Shoulder:as per original pattern

FRONTwork as back to *
work right side decrease row
work wrong side decrease row
repeat these two rows for a total of 11times (22 rows), leaving you with 46 st

Left Shoulder:
as per original pattern

Right Shoulder:
as per original pattern

SLEEVES (make 2)CO 60 62 st (knit flat not round)
16 rows: 2x2 ribbing
k2, [p2 tog, k2, p2, k2]x2, continue 2x2 ribbing to last 18 st, [k2, p2, k2, p2 tog]x2, k2 (56 st)
7 1 rows modified ribbing: k2, [p1, k2, p2, k2]x2, continue 2x2 ribbing to last 16 st, [k2, p2, k2, p1]x2, k2
k2, [p1, k2, p2 tog, k2]x2, continue 2x2 ribbing to last 16 st, [k2, p2 tog, k2, p1]x2, k2 (52 st)
7 rows modified ribbing: k2, [p1, k2, p1, k2]x2, continue 2x2 ribbing to last 14 st, [k2, p1, k2, p1]x2, k2
switch to st st, and increase 4 stitches evenly across row (56 st): k10, inc, k9, inc, k10, inc, k9, inc, k1047 rows: st st
BO first four five stitches at beginning of next two rows*
work right side decrease row
work wrong side decrease row
repeat these two rows for a total of 20 times (40 rows), leaving you with 8 st
continue per original pattern

Block  all pieces and seam as per original pattern: Banff by Jena Wilson

NECK
as per original pattern, but only work through first decrease section, then bind off
(6 rows less than original pattern, which continues beyond this point)begin as per original pattern, picking up 72 stitches. Knit for 6 rounds.
On next row, decrease as such: k2, (k2 tog, k6)x9
Knit for 3 more rows then bind off.
NOTE:
I may actually attempt to knit this pattern in the round. The changes are rather obvious, and once I get to the decrease rows I will be switching back to flat knitting. If I notice any changes from this modified knitting style, I will adjust my modified pattern accordingly. I recommed using the original pattern, but if you are interested in an even smaller version, this is my go at it.

Edit 12/08:
Upon beginning this project, I realized I had miscalculated. All of my adjusted cast-ons are 2 st short. Adjusting the whole pattern would have been very time-consuming since adding those 2 st would make everything else off when it comes to the decrease rows. To fix this problem, I have just been knitting it in the round, as per my original alterations (obviously doubling the st on the body, and repeating the 4 st increase row for 8). As per my note above, I am switching to flat knitting once I reach the underarm area. The only difference now is that the underarm may be 8 st instead of 6 st (I will know better once I get there). Just thought I would share. Cheers!

Edit 12/13:
I made some changes to the actual pattern to reflect my previous mistake, and also to change the ribbing.

Edit 12/22:
I changed the ribbing on the sleeves. I made it shorter and eliminated some of the increasing/decreasing sections. Overall it is shorter, but it turns outit comes just past the wrist instead of to the finger tips (on me at least). I also switched to knitting the sleeves flat, so I added two stitches and at the bind of section added one ot each side.

Edit 1/5:
I changed the style of the neck. I kept it through the first decrease section but adjusted how many rows I used. I also switched to knitting instead of 2x2 ribbing. I didn't particularly care for how the ribbed neck looked on my first sweater. Also this way it should be more of a crew neck, or at least not so high.

I'm in: Macomb

Feeling: creative

Listening to: Motteke Seeraa Fuku (Lucky Star Theme)