Stitch Markers

Why on earth would you use these little circle-y things that hang down on to your work and get in the way?  Why not just use the little plastic ones that cost $0.99 at the local craft store?  Well, because they aren't fun... duh... :)

Here are some pics of the ones that I've made recently... they are available for purchase at http://www.jeniferrank.etsy.com/ so feel free to head over there and pick some up for yourself or a pal!  ;)  I will probably do a tutorial later this summer on how to make them, but I think I want to do a few shawl pins first and then I'll do a combo tutorial for both of them.

I like making them because it still feels like I'm doing something that is "Knitty productive, but it gives my hands a little bit of a break from actually knitting.  Carpal tunnel syndrome bites and I don't want to wind up not being able to knit anymore.  Filed under: things that would also bite... :)

Obsession aka Geeky Knitter

I admit, I'm a dork.  I like comic books, animated comics (Hello Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Batman movies), the Original Star Trek movies, and no geeky person could be complete without loving the combo pack of Firefly and Serenity.  Have I been to a Browncoat (those that are also obsessed - in a good way) event?  Nope.  Do I know nearly every word of every episode and the movie? Yup.  The REALLY cool thing about the fans of this particular series, is that they have continued to keep Joss Whedon's series alive almost a decade after cancellation through comics, events, and fundraisers.  Yes, the Space Cowboy/Pirate movement does a TON of fundraising for various charity causes.  Shiny. 

I have been wanting to do a project for a friend of mine, a former "Beer-tender" of mine for a while, as he was the one who introduced me to Kate of Sugar Me (see left hand side bar under "Local Biz"), who has consequently brought me lots of business over the last few months.  Now, Oryan is kind of (okay, even more so) a geeky nerd too... and that's alright.  :)  He's the only person I know with a GI Joe tattoo... and the guys at our local comic store direct him to comic series based on his tats. 

Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb

I decided to take our mutual ummm, "love" for Firefly and make him a Jayne hat.  It isn't necessary to know the whole backstory, but the character is a guy, and a bit of a badass.  He's the muscle on the series, he names his guns, and whines when he can't bring his grenades on a job.  BUT.  His mom made him a hat, and he wears it for the last several episodes of the series.  It's gaudy, and obnoxious, and full of awesome. 

I combined two patterns for this, altering each slightly to achieve the effect that I wanted.  One of them, I didn't think the top was quite right, but I knew that the number of sts cast on was going to be perfect for the worsted weight I was going to use.  The first pattern is available here from Carissa:  http://www.carissaknits.blogspot.com/ and the second is available here at http://www.craftster.com/forum/index.php?topic=19076.20

Here's how mine came out:

And here is Oryan wearing his fabulously awesome new hat... the pic is kind of dark, but it's from a coffee shop and and iPhone.  :)  Pretty cunning, huh?

For more information on cool events that the Browncoats do, you can check in at http://www.pdxbrowncoats.com/

I've got to get better at staying on top of this...

I've been MIA again for a while... been busy!  There have been a few custom orders, a giveaway or two, and another order for some super cute little slouch hats for the gals at Sugar Me.

Here are some images...

I sponsored a giveaway for Yoga with Laura, who is located in Illinois, and she loved the ones she ordered so much that she asked if I would do a contest on her page.  I agreed and did two handknit pairs of baby yoga socks... here is her adorable model/daughter Penelope...

I've also made a few things for myself... shocker!!  I've done a version of the 'February Lady' sweater in the most obnoxious shades of orange, pink, purple, and yellow.  It's my "It's so garish that it's AWESOME" sweater.  ;)  I've gotten several compliments on it, and I'm kind of shocked.  I've also done my first knit skirt, yep.  Wool, in Oregon, in May.  Yes, it's still cool enough to wear...  

Finally, I've also done a cute pair of socks for my son's Speech clinic director who is retiring at the end of this term from Portland State University.  Even in green and white colors!