Life. Is. Tough.

As I've said before, I've been going through a ton lately. But here's a few important things.

I got my new Wii set up today. I've had a Wii before, but the discs didn't work anymore. So we exchanged it and got it set up today. I have been playing like there's no tomorrow, but unfortunately it's been making my arm really hurt. I made a few awesome Miis though, that are everyone from friends to enemies to GWIL (Guy Who I Like...you may know his name if you're in the Teen group on Ravelry) to celebrities.

I have no idea what to say next. I would do a knitting list of my current WIPs, but the only pics are from my webcam and can't be saved. And I don't have a good camera.

That is all for now.

Speechless. Hopeless. Occasionally mindless. Not a very good post title, I know.

I haven't posted in a while. That I know perfectly well. I haven't been living under a rock; I just felt like I couldn't post. Because what I'm going through involves mostly things I've been thinking about, have said and done, etc. that I only feel comfortable talking about with certain people, and I know that if I blogged, I'd be compelled to spill. Because who knows who might find this? It's what I link to on profile pages.

School started already. That's what caused my unwillingness to open up; my thoughts about things that don't concern you. I've been dealing with rumors, boy troubles, and stress. It's hard to act civil.

I have been knitting, though not as much. I've knit many things since I last posted; too much to contain in this one post. I feel like hiding. Alone. Things don't happen like they do in dreams. If they did, it wouldn't be a dream. That's the biggest thing.

Two Tone iPod/Smartphone Sock (free pattern)

I've tried to design a knitting pattern a few times already, but all of those times I've failed miserably. But this time, I DIDN'T. Yes. I know. I've finally done it.

This pattern is for a basic multicolored electronic device sock. Mine is a bit small, but if you follow the given instructions, you will have a sock that will fit an iPhone. Here's how I did it:

Materials:
-Lion Brand Vanna's Choice in two different colorways. I used Dusty Purple and Little Boy Blue (this is a Baby colorway). Decide on which colors you will use as A and B.
-US size 7 (4.5mm) needles, or size to obtain gauge
-Tapestry needle

Gauge:
18 stitches to 4 inches on a size 7 needle

Instructions:
With A, CO 16 stitches. Work 5 rows in 2x2 ribbing (K2 P2 to end).

Still using A, work 10 rows in stockinette stitch.

Change to B, and work 14 rows in stockinette stitch.

Next row: Purl across. This is the turning ridge. Beg with a purl row, work 13 more rows in St st.

Change to A and work 8 rows in St st. Work 4 rows in 2x2 ribbing. BO in pattern.


Finishing:
Weave in ends, except for the cast on and bind off tails. Block if desired and seam the edges together using the tails. Enjoy!!!  

Christmas Knitting...Phase One

Well, I've got my Canada knitting done, just in time for school, when I'll have less time to knit. I've made many different things, and frogged one. That was a scarf for my grandpa. He won't need it, because we may not go to Canada, which sucks because they live near Toronto, where it snows. And everyone knows it doesn't snow in the OC. But they may be coming here. I may eventually knit something for Grandpa though, since it's no secret that he prefers girls. I'll knit some things that have been sitting in the queue, and things I need to knit (like that Anthropologie shrug). Maybe then I may come across something the gramps would like.

That said, here's what I made, and sort of a journal of what happened as I knit them. These are in the order of when I finished them. Be prepared to sit for a while though; it's gonna be long. It is also the first time I've written this way.

1. Pattern: Toe Up Sock Generator
Yarn: Bernat Sox in this variegated shade
Needles: Cheap metal size 3 DPNs (the gauge was obviously wrong; these dinosaurs fit me...I've worn them a couple times)
Made for: Derry
I've pretty much detailed my experience with the first sock in one of my previous posts where I'd shown it off. The second sock was cast on at night immediately after finishing the first. I took them with me to the grocery store to recycle water bottles (we paid for ice cream with the money) They were there on the yarn spree at Jo-Anns, because I thought we were going to the beach. Then when we did go to the beach, I left it in the car, not knowing the water would be too cold to bodysurf.

 2. Pattern: Grandma's Favorite
Yarn: Good ol' Sugar and Cream
Needles: Knit Picks size 6 circular
For: Grandma
This was done entirely at home and all in one day.

3) Pattern: My Basic Socks by Kit Zerbe
Yarn: Cascade 220 in a lime green colorway
Needles: size 6 DPN's
For: Aunt Betty
I cast on and did most of the first sock at church. There was no given gauge, so I stepped right in. I grafted the toe later that night. The second sock was done while I hung out with Bethany. While we were watching crazy YouTube videos. While we had an unsuccessful lemonade stand. I finished at around midnight. 

3. Pattern: Toasty by Leslie Friend
Yarn: Vanna's Choice in black
Needles: Size 7 DPNs
Again, I cast on at church. I took these to Bethany's that night for a sleepover, where I finished the first glove and started the second. I also left my tape measure there, and have yet to remember to take it back. When I got home, I realized that I didn't knit enough after the thumb. When I finished the second glove, I undid the bind-off on the first one, and now you can't really tell I screwed up. These gloves are slightly different lengths though.

4. Pattern: Kit Zerbe's Basic Socks
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Grey Heather
Needles: Size 6 DPNs
These took me forever to finish. I started immediately after finishing the first pair. The first sock ended up being way too small, and I couldn't graft the toe, because I forgot my tapestry needles and I was at Bethany's. That caused dropped stitches. So I frogged back to before the toe and knit away, after finishing the second sock, of course. It took me two weeks to finish.

There is one more, for all of them. That's the dishcloth at the top of the page. It took me two days.

[Insert Creative Title]

Life lately has been hectic. With youth group and school and all of that, it's hard to manage.

My first youth group meeting was last Friday, with a cookout/bonfire. I had fun, but it was boring and cold, even though it was at the beach, none other than Surf City USA. Well, it was at night, I was wearing shorts, and I wasn't able to knit. After that we had a lock in, but I didn't go to that. That day I finished that blessed baby blanket. It took me 4 weeks, longest it ever took me to finish something. I also had to weave in the ends with my hands, due to losing my tapestry needle.

I went back yesterday for the second part of the festivities and ate at Ikea. I also bought a foldable bin, which I plan on using for stash storage, should it ever get there. I'm planning on going there to get stuff for my room.

After that we had a cookout. Bethany stayed for that.

How's it goin'?

Ten days without a post from me. What a shocker. I've actually been trying to avoid posting until the Christmas knitting for Canada, so I could show you all at once, but you can wait, right? Am I right???? AM I RIGHT!!!!!????? Kay, I think you get the point now.

School starts 6 days and 12 hours from now, according to my little nerdy brainy thingy. I'm not really worried about how well I'll do in school but rather about other things, like dealing with people. I'm not really social. About who's going to be in my classes. About talking to that boy whose name has been removed for security purposes. About when I'll be able to knit in school. You know, that kind of stuff.

I'm going through some tough situations. Read about it on Ravelry if you like, because there is a chance of...well I really shouldn't tell, because of the potential risks.

Why Me???

Well, it seems like every knitter falls into the sock craze at one point or another. Seems like it is my turn to fall. I've also snapped out of my fantasy of finishing one thing at a time---that blanket is just too boring.

So, to begin with, I made socks for the same baby as I'm doing that blanket for. I went down a needle size, because I didn't have size 7 DPN's (I got them today). They are littered with mistakes, but they look great.

This pattern is called Quick Baby Socks and they really are quick. I cast on one afternoon, and finished the second sock the following.

I have started my Christmas knitting, because it will be tough to manage once school starts. The first one is a pair of toe-up socks for Derry. The pattern is this handy sock generator where you enter your gauge, shoe size, and needle size, and you get a custom, generic, toe-up sock pattern. Since this is entirely modifiable, I plan on using this pattern for most of my sock knitting.

The yarn is Bernat sock yarn (yes, the acrylic kind) that was supposed to be for Father's Day socks, which I frogged, because I got stuck at the gusset. Well I don't like the color, having only gotten it for the sock pattern, which I now realize was a HUGE mistake.

I used a size 3 needle at 7 stitches to the inch...yes I know, I am a bad knitter. I didn't gauge, because I didn't have the next size up or down. No money to get more needles either. I finished the first sock last night. It was a drag, because I used stockinette stitch. But it was fun. I had trouble with the short rows, but I will not complain because this is my first time short-rowing.

I have begun to question the way I was raised. Growing up in a fundamentalist church is not easy. It isn't easy to absorb the crap they give you. Even now I'm having a tough time, to the point that sometimes I regret my choice of faith. You see, when I learn things about other religions, I'm afraid that I will become one of them (I have been baptized). And just when I feel like I need to get my mind off all this, I find this Satan impersonator on Ravelry. Since it's a sock puppet account, I reported it. Some of the people I added on Ravelry have friended the devil, probably due to the "random friending" thing. I like to look at a user's profile before friending, so I know who this is. Then I make the decision.

Yeah, I just went off topic right there, just need a place to vent. You see, what I'm saying is that my church doesn't let you believe what you want to believe. I hate that. I need to somehow get away from the church. Maybe marry a Catholic, since this place is mostly Catholic? I don't know, anything to get me outta here.

And what does this have to do with my socks? Because I thought about this while I was working on them.