Sunday, August 26, 2007

Showing my "T"


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Originally uploaded by craftytails
At last, I have a silly photo of myself wearing the completed vest. I could have taken a better picture without my chest sticking out, but sheer laziness prohibited me from doing so.

There are a few quick projects that I need to start working on, now that I am sailing through the latest pair of socks. Muscle memory is a lovely thing, indeed. I am dreading the red scarf project a little, mainly because I get bored knitting scarves. There are several patterns that will keep my interest, so I hope to cast on sometime this week.

Necessity and finances have caused me to revisit my stance on baring my yarn stash for the world to see on Ravelry. I have received several requests for projects and after going through my bins, I found all of the yarn I need. If I break down and take photos of my materials, I won't run into the problem of buying excess yarn. Yes, that seems to be the theory of the day. I just performed a massive update to my stash online and will continue to toil away until every bit of yarn is available to view. If I keep everything in plain sight, I may start actually knitting from the massive stash instead of feeling the need to keep purchasing. This is A LOT of photography and data entry, but I must give myself a reality check.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Of Nerd Vests and Charity Auctions

At long, egregious last, I have completed my Pi Vest! Photos will be available forthwith, as soon as I finish the blocking. This is my first garment and while I am not 100% pleased with my work, I am so glad I was finally inspired to drag out the UFO, shake the dust off and finish an article of clothing for once.

There are several more things to finish this week before I am allowed to progress with my new projects. I have a feeling the plush toy will be ready, and perhaps the ill-fated strawberry purse. Although this is a quick knit, it is not a pleasant one. I will be happy to have a final product ready so I can swear off knitting this again. As cute as strawberries are, I can't abide an irritating colorwork project. This is not a fault of the pattern, as it is a reflection of my aversion to tedious knitting.

I finally received a total from the charity auction at Atsuicon and we raised $3,886 for the Houston Komen Foundation. I think this was an enormous amount of money, considering how few people had cash by the end of the weekend. I really appreciate the incredible generosity of the donors, as well as the support we received from both the convention and the guests. I can't believe what was possible in a situation where we fully expected a low turnout. Thanks again to everyone who supported the charity and went above and beyond to make this happen!

Speaking of charity auctions, there are two more this year before we get to take a break. Some items will be sent up to Nan Desu Con on September 14-16th. Although Carrie and I will not be there, we feel confident that the convention will take good care of the auction. October 19-21st, Carrie and I will attend Oni-Con where we will have a blowout raffle and silent and live auctions benefiting both the Make a Wish Foundation and The Dream Foundation. This is something very meaningful to me on a personal level, and we have a lot of anime companies and crafters who have donated their precious time and resources to make our efforts a success.

In my usual non sequitur fashion, I taught another man how to knit. And how did he repay me? With the stunning Colinette Jitterbug Tapis. I don't normally accept bribes, but then again, yes I do.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Red Scarf Project (cross-posted)

Since I missed the boat last year, I am going to drop my current projects and knit a red scarf this year! If any knitters reading this are not familiar with the red scarf project, I encourage you to check out the link. Perhaps we can make this fun by having a knit-along?

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Noro Beanie


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Originally uploaded by craftytails
In an attempt to clear out my lingering UFOs, I finished my newest beanie. Although hats take very little time to complete, I put this one down for two weeks right before starting to decrease for the top. This was made in Noro's discontinued Kujaku, which is probably the closest to novelty yarn that I will ever touch. Now I have another matching hat and scarf set, which is not appropriate for Texas weather, but I always feel I *need* them.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

AtsuiCon Panel Update

Despite the discombobulation caused by the convention's rough start, I think my first "Crafts for Cosplay and Charity" panel was a success. I am never sure what people are interested in, so I jumped from topic to topic to see what struck a chord. Luckily for me, attendance was respectable and the people were chatty. My main goals in holding this type of panel are to introduce people to others with similar interests and to start an exchange of information. To my great surprise and delight, both of these things happened. If any attendees are reading this, I only need to mention "Epoxy Man" as a perfect example. I was also very relieved to find a microphone in the room, especially since there was a band playing rock music next door. If anyone is familiar with a hotel convention center, then you know the walls are removable and paper thin. I thank all of you for being so supportive since I am not comfortable speaking in public and hosting a panel by myself is a really big step. As promised, I am posting links to the websites either I, or someone in the audience, referenced.

  • Chibi Octopus pendant

  • Shojo Beat - Katamari Damacy Earmuffs

  • Phoenix Dress

  • Knitted Sushi

  • Etsy - DIY Craft Sales

  • Japanese Craft Book Resource

  • Ravelry - Online Knitting & Crochet Community


  • I am also very pleased to report that the charity auction was a huge success! I have not received a final total from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, but I will post it as soon as the information is available. Due to some logistical issues with the convention, we were unable to hold a silent auction as planned. Special thanks are needed for Sarah, who donated a number of fuzzy, handmade scarves to the charity auction on Sunday. Any other handmade items donated to me by supporters will be used at Oni-Con in Houston in October. Proceeds will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.

    Thursday, August 2, 2007

    Monkey Photo!


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    Originally uploaded by craftytails
    I finally replaced the batteries in my camera so I could take pictures of the monkey socks. They are fabulous and I think the pattern is lovely enough to add to my Christmas knitting this year.

    The Central Park Hoodie is rapidly progressing. I am at the armhole shaping on the back, and the yarn is even more interesting when knitted. Pictures will follow, plus a convention report after this weekend.