Sock Knitting in Ireland

The wind kept blowing my yarn around, which was really annoying. Today I'm off to London, meaning that in two days I'll be at a SNB with a bunch of Angloknitters. How cool is that?

Stricken in München

This is in the gazebo at the Englisch Garten in Munich, Germany. One of my challenges is snapping a shot of myself knitting in each locale I visit, so here's one checked off the list! There are a few of me knitting in Salzburg floating around on friends' cameras. I'll stick one of those up here eventually.

Oh, and here is the progress of my first sock (from the sock book entirely auf Deutsch).


Sock knitting is so nice because it's small and easy to take around. My shrug is coming along nicely but it's getting too big to lug around with me while traveling in town. Oh well.

I'm heading to Dublin on Saturday! :]

Ich habe zwei Garngeschäften gegangen.

"The Ingenious Sock Book." Yes, it's entirely auf Deutsch. That's just more motivation for me to keep studying! I can't wait until I can start making socks. The patterns are pretty nice, and it comes with a fab pattern/size converter.

I have been knitting while in Salzburg, but I don't have much to show. I'm making a shrug from a pattern on Caron Simply Soft Shadows (I'm on a green kick so I'm using Color 0006--Dark Moss). It's a very straightforward pattern and I'm about halfway finished. You basically knit cuff-to-cuff, show up the seams, then pick up stitches and make a ribbed edging.

In regards to the title, I have indeed been to two yarn shops in Salzburg. One is called "Die Wolle" (The Wool) and is in the Malle - Hemetsberger off of Universitätplatz. The owner speaks English and is incredibly nice. I may go back for some sock yarn and needles ... maybe. It's a bit expensive (as far as € to $, not overpriced). The second is one in the Europark ... you just take Bus 1 or Bus 20 all the way to the end and it's on the second floor. It's called Filati, and I think it only carries Filati/Lana Grossa yarn from Italy. Seeing as Italy is only five hours away it isn't as much of a stretch as you'd think. The yarn was beautiful, although a bit pricey. A nice silk/cotton blend would be sehr gut for a pair of socks ... O:)

I hope all is well in den USA. I can't say I miss it ... Europe ist fantastisch! Tschüss!

A Friendly FYI

Knit 2 Together by Mel Clark and Tracy Ullman is only $5.50 at Amazon.com. It is definitely worth $5.50. Jump on that! I'm currently making the Luxe Neck Warmer, and it's fabulous!

Caution: some of the yarn they use in this book is hella expensive. So. Be a smart shopper!


Additionally, I went to Yarn Haven today and I love love love love love it! Definitely one of my top LYSs now. When a yarn is discontinued they mark it down by 20%. How hot is that? This review on Lime & Violet sums it up quite nicely. So if you're ever in the Greater Toledo Area you should stop in. I'll definitely be participating in the Thursday night SnB sessions this fall.

Postcards

If you'd like a postcard from me while I'm in Europe, please email me your address!
byebyelove@gmail.com

And do it soon! I leave BG in four days, and after that there is no guarantee I'll get your info in time before my departure.

http://euroscene.wordpress.com

Birthday Meme

Ah jeez.

The Rules:
Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (only the month and day). Find three events, two births, and one holiday that occured on your birthday. Then tag five friends. Sounds easy, no?

My birthday is August 3. (Gettup, leo!)

Events:

1. 8 - Roman Empire general Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus.
2. 1492 - Christopher Columbus sets sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain. (Awesome!)
3. 1914 - World War I: Germany declares war against France. (Damn.)

Births:

1. 1926 - Tony Bennett, American singer (Hell yes! That rules!)
2. 1941 - Martha Stewart, American media personality

Holidays:
1. Niger - Independence Day

TAGGED!

AuraLee ... and everyone else that would look at this has already been tagged. So, uh, four other people that happen to look at this blog. Post your name and I'll update the entry! :]

Katamari Queen Earmuffs

I just finished the One Skein bathrug I was making for my grandma (no pics ... it's just like the one I made for myself many moons ago, but this one is in Peaches & Cream in Cream [har har] instead of the speckly stuff). So now I'm shifting focus to a set of Katamari Queen Earmuffs for my friend Lisa. I'll be making Katamari Prince Earmuffs for her husband.

To give you an idea of how dorkily perfect this is for them, I'll tell you that the first dance at their wedding was the cover of 'Que Sara Sara' from Katamari Damacy.

Yeah.

In other news, The Body Shop is the best store ever. Well, maybe besides H&M. Top two for sure. The Body Shop is entirely vegan (hot!) and H&M is the IKEA of clothing stores. Oh, so I guess IKEA would be number one, and The Body Shop and H&M right below it. I'm going there tomorrow! IKEA is awesome.

Okay ... less random, more knitting!

Grr ... FO!

This summer has been so awesome. I'm actually finishing knit and crochet projects!

Additionally, I am very bad at embroidering.

London SNB!

I am SO going to a London SNB Meeting!

A few days ago I sent an email to Stitch and Bitch London and they replied to let me know about a get-together on August 2nd at 6pm at Waterstones Book Store in Piccadilly Circus. So cool!

One of my self-made challenges for my European excursion is to knit in public in every city I go to. This will definitely help!

Here is my challenge list thusfar:
- one punk show a week
- drive a right-hand drive car
- knit in public in all locations I visit (Salzburg, Dublin, London, Stonehenge, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Venice)
- participate in a London stitch-n-bitch
- visit at least one tea shop in each place
- see at least one live concert (non-punk related)
- take a picture of every Mini I see (more for Steph & Q than for me)

Subsequently, if you'd like a postcard leave me a note and email me your address!
byebyelove@gmail.com

The cupcake madness continues ...

I finished my second cupcake hat/GPS holder.

I love that picture because it combines three things I love: cupcakes, knitted items, and music theory.

I've also begun a lace-like scarf. This is my first endeavor into the world of lace knitting ...

Although the colors are terrible, you can see the stitching pretty well. And it's coming along suprisingly quickly. I've decided that this scarf is going to be my plane/train/bus project while in Europe.

Up next: Grr!

Grr!

I love everything that Alice Bell creates ... but I am especially obsessed with her pattern in the latest Knitty!


Isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen? As soon as I saw the pattern I instantly added it to my "top priority" project list. I want to use one as my washcloth when I go backpacking!

I love computer art

Yeah. I drew that on my friend Keith's Facebook wall using the Graffiti app.
So fun.

Vegan Passport Holder

For a vegan, I do a really sh**ty job of knitting vegan. Most non-animal product yarn is so unreliable and stiff and gross, though. So when I buy wool I make sure I know where it's coming from.

Well, from now on I'm trying out a 100% vegan yarn diet. And it's starting with Korella, a yarn made by Coats GmbH out of Germany (Coats & Clark in the US). It is 53% Flax/57% Acrylic and is an absolute dream to knit with. Brilliant, brilliant yarn.

And here is my first creation:

A nifty little passport holder. I stuck my ISID in there for good measure, and to keep the old passport company.

I love making stuff. It's like some weird manifestation and conglomeration of my materialistic nature and obsession with diy ethics.

Knit Night Cupcakes

You have to see this! Vegan cupcakes with marzipan-concocted knit items as decoration. Bloody brilliant. I have to try this.

http://veganyumyum.com/2007/06/knit-night-cupcakes/

Yarn Shop Map

I decided to catalogue all of the LYSs that I've been to ... everywhere.

Check it out.

Yellow pins are stores I have stepped foot in and (most likely) made a purchase in. The purple pins are stores I've been past or have heard of and am making a point to visit eventually.

In keeping with recent entries ...

Here is another one about cupcakes.

Well, a cupcake.

... a knitted cupcake.

... a cupcake that's supposed to be a baby hat, but is a GPS holder instead.
Neato!

Who doesn't like cupcakes?

This time around I made the "Simple Vanilla and Agave Nectar Cupcakes," but I substituted part of the flour with cocoa powder.

Look at that rise! It brings a tear to my eye. Almost too much for a cupcake, but it's just so ... beautiful. :]


A heart-shaped strawberry! It was definitely sacrificed to make my cupcakes.

Awww .... they're so pretty! The glaze I used was the "Rich Chocolate Ganache Topping." I let it get nice and cool in the fridge for extra thickness. I love the shine.



They look so happy!

Cupcake Parade!

Be prepared! oooOO!

Aw, they looked so sad without being baked.
And now they are real cupcakes!


And then I decided to put walnuts on top.



Woooo! Vegan cupcakes! They taste pretty okay too. The frosting isn't really the best, though I think I need to get new vegetable shortening. Also, I (think I) left them in the oven too long (due to my music being so loud that it drowned out the timer, oops). But I'm not sure. Either way they will get eaten. By me. Because no one else is around. Darn! ;]

Now that I've baked some cupcakes I feel inspired to knit a few! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And now, just for cuteness:

Now that I'm back from NYC

... I can get back to business. Like that scary list of UFOs I need to work on. Here are some developments:

An incredibly gay-looking beanie for my friend Rob. That's pretty much just the crown, and considering I started this about two hours ago I think I'm making good time.

The first half of a Yorick scarf for my friend Keith. He wants to pick up hot Goth chicks in Japan. This might just help him achieve that goal.

Some non-craft related news:
- They filled up the pool at my apartment complex. As a result, I'll be in it pretty much all day tomorrow.
- I have watched so much Top Gear that my inner monologue is starting to sound quite British.
- In addition to the above, I called gas 'petrol' today while chatting with a friend. That's just wrong.
- I leave for Europe in 47 days OMG.

Ah crap

I was tagged, so I guess I'm doing a meme.

1. List 7 random facts about yourself on your blog.
2. Tag 7 more blogs, making sure to let them know.

1. I obsessively shower. Usually two times a day, if not three.

2. In the words of Ghandi: Be the change you wish to see in the world. And that's why I'm vegan, straightedge, and politically aware.

3. Alkaline Trio has been my favorite band for eight years now.

4. Besides being a singer, I can play guitar, bass/bass guitar, and euphonium. Helpful instruments like the piano, though? Nope.

5. I've discovered a new way to annoy my cat: laser pointers.

6. I'm more-or-less Buddhist, although I have yet to go to a Buddhist temple for worship or meditation. I think I'm still too "white" to do that. This is also interesting due to my employment by random Christian churches. $$$

7. From time to time I'll joke about things to get a laugh out of Keith, but for the most part I am ridiculously PC. Which is part of the reason why my family drives me insane.

Hmm, who should do this ... AuraLee, and six other random people that stumble across this blog. hah.