In the Ann Arbor area?

It's cutting it off but just click to see the whole thing.





It's gonna be sweet, guys. Also I'll have some small amounts of yarn for sale, so it won't be completely already-knitted stuff.

Yet more mail!

Been a good month for packages, eh?

I got my Ravelry scarf exchange package (sent out the one I made just the other day- pictures later, I hope)...it is pretty sweet:



Yay!!!!!! The scarf is beautiful and happens to match my new coat perfectly and arrived just in time to accompany me to the boyfriend's freezing cold rugby game tomorrow. Can you believe I didn't own a decent wool scarf before now? I looked while I was packing. I didn't. Good timing, haha. I am also pretty pumped about the needles and pretty stitch markers and yarn-headed-earring-creatures.

Oooooh!!!!!!!! Alpaca lovin'.

Look what came in the mail for me today:




This lovely bundle of fiber deliciousness was a gift from Linda at Blue Moon Ranch, who apparently really liked one of my patterns :-) I know, is that seriously generous or what?

Mostly I am just excited that she liked my work so much, but I'd be lying if I said this package isn't AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!! Both the yarn and fiber are sooooo soft. I kind of want to roll around in it, but I won't 'cause I don't want to muss it up. If you are ever in Utah and you need some seriously tasty alpaca fluff (or an alpaca, for that matter,) I recommend looking these guys up.

Thank you Linda! And thank you, Cesar-the-Alpaca! (I love when I can put a face on my yarn. Haha.)

Now I just have to decide what best to make with it...

Oooh, Ravelry shirt!

Look what came in the mail today:






While I know that buying a beta t-shirt for something sort of makes me an elitist tool... I like the site and I'm happy to support them, and (most importantly) it's a nice t-shirt. So....neat!

By the way, I'm "Presents" on there (duh) so...feel free to add me. Good fun.

Peen pattern

Also, I've had some requests for the pattern for Mr. Peen... I never got around to making a real one, but here are some makeshift directions.

NOTE: I know this pattern is super, insanely vague. This is because I never actually wrote the pattern, and am just trying to remember what I did in case you want to take a whack at recreating it. It really should never have ended up in Ravelry as an actual pattern (someone else did that) because now it reflects badly on my pattern writing skills :-( It's not a real pattern! Ok? Ok.

sz 7 dpns

-CO 3, join
-Increase every other stitch until you have an appropriately sized cone
-Do two rounds knit
-Decrease sharply... I didn't do k2tog all the way around, but it was pretty close. In retrospect I wish I had.
-Knit until the shaft is a happy length
-Distribute stitches so half are on one needle, and one fourth are on each of the other two
-Increase four stitches each round, two on each "side" (much like doing toe increases for toe-up socks, except don't knit one round plain in between.)
-Knit about 3 rounds plain
-Decrease like you increased (like decreasing for toes in cuff-down socks) until you've decreased away about half the stitches
-Stuff with yarn scraps. I put a marble in each ball for shape and weight but I doubt it's necessary.
-graft the rest of the stitches together with kitchener stitch
-To shape the balls, do running stitch with a scrap of yarn down the middle of one side and up the other (stop at the shaft). Draw the loose end through and tie ends together tightly. Wiggle around so the knot is inside. I hope that makes sense...
-Embroider face
-Hooray!

Hopefully you guys can figure it out from there. I imagine I'll redo it someday, but probably not soon.




(This pattern is copyright Alexandra Tinsley, 2007. Objects made from this pattern are for personal, non-profit use only. The pattern itself should not be reproduced or sold in any form - feel free to distribute the link at will but please don't copy and paste the pattern nor claim the pattern as your own.)

Slouchy

I've noticed a lot of demand for basic slouchy hats...hopefully this will help fill some gaps. I used my handspun (sorry, most of the commercial yarn patterns are being filed under "top secret book contents") but most any bulky yarn would work. When subbing, I'd recommend working with something that works up looser rather than tighter (while still getting about the right gauge) so that it's not too stiff. For extra droop I'd recommend some bulky alpaca.

Also, I promise I'll get some decent on-person shots of this hat as soon as I can get someone to take some (I'm living the hermit life, what can I say?) For now, I'm experimenting in indoor, artificially-lit shots, since my house seems to get NO natural light in any useful room, and this weather is not helping a bit. These aren't awful...the colors are pretty accurate.





Pattern is as follows:

Gauge: about 8st/4in
Using size 13 circs (with dpns handy for the end), cast on 48 stitches and join in the round.
I forgot to measure yardage before I knitted it up, but I'm pretty positive it was under 100 yards, so you should be safe if you have at least that much.

Edit, since several people have asked: m1= "Make 1" (just pick your favorite increase)

1-3: Work in 2x2 rib (k2, p2, repeat)
4: k8, m1, repeat
5: k
6: k9, m1, repeat
7-26: knit
27: k4, k2tog, repeat
28: k
29: k3, k2tog, repeat
30: k
31: k2, k2tog repeat
32: k
33: k1, k2tog, repeat
34: k
35: k2tog around
36: k2tog around
Draw yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in ends, add pompom if you want (I nearly ran out of yarn so mine is pretty...makeshift. Oh well.)





And hey, here's the yarn I used to make it, looking quite slouchy itself:

It's a navajo-plied silk/wool blend. I bought it at The Spinning Loft in Howell, MI, but the proprietor had bought it for herself at some wool festival, and was kind enough to sell it to me anyway when I mistook it for merchandise as long as I promised to show her what became of it. Pictures will be sent.



(the fine print: Your use of this pattern constitutes your agreement to use this pattern only for personal, non-profit use without specific written permission from the designer (just email me!) Items made from this pattern may not be sold without permission, nor may the pattern itself be copied, sold, or distributed in any way. You may print one copy for personal use. Please do not reproduce the text of this document on other sites- just post a link :-) Thanks guys!)

If you need to contact me with questions, my email address is presentsknits@gmail.com - please email instead of commenting since it's much easier for me to reply that way! Thanks!