Finished knitting : the wintertime bandit

I previewed this recent handknit in my previous post as I wore it for the first time the same day I wore my new Scout Tee.  It makes me so happy when I can squeeze in two (or more) handmade wardrobe items in one day -- and it's even better when they are both brand-new!

I'm happy to present a finished handknit -- one that I started last winter (thus the name) and managed to knit entirely with the exception of the last two rows.  As I wound the yarn for this project, a small ball broke off from the rest and I misplaced it, thinking it was a measly extra 20 yards or so.  Well, I couldn't find it as I was coming up on the tail of my yarn and with two rows to go -- only two rows to go!! -- I put the project away.  The project has been languishing in the naughty corner of my craft room since then.  Luckily, I cleaned up my craft room and found the mysterious tiny ball of 20 measly yards and managed to finish this scarf off.  Phew !  That was close. 

The best part about finding an almost-finished project is that it only takes about an hour to finish it up and block it -- then wear it the next day, which I proudly did with my miáucoles shirt.  

As it's currently fall, I've been smitten with the late afternoon light and couldn't help trying to get some photos with the sun rays shining in.  

My dog, named Callie because she is the calico dog in the house, joined me in the photo op.  She does match the black scarf nicely, don't you think?  

Project notes :

Pattern : Springtime Bandit, free on ravelry here
Yarn : Malabrigo Silky Merino

Needles : US7

Mods : none!

{{On ravelry here.}}

{{On Kollabora here.}}

Scout Tee #2 : the miáucoles version

I'm back with another Scout Tee ...  #2 in a series of never ending Scout Tees, that is.  I recently saw someone (somewhere) say "Another day, another Grainline Scout Tee," and that about sums it up.  I love this pattern!  I sized down slightly from the last pattern and I think I could size down even one more size next time I make this.

I think it's time to get something out of the way.  First, I like cats.  (I am The Calico Lover, after all.) ;)  Second, I teach Spanish.  Third, I may not be able to help it if the middle day of the week is known as miáucoles in my classroom ... instead of the boring, traditional miércoles.  Let's call it the Spanish-speaking world's version of "Caturday".

So, when I came across this stupendously cheeky and amazingly soft organic cat fabric at my favorite fabric (and yarn) mecca, I knew what to do with it ... whip it up into a Scout Tee worthy of wearing on miáucoles.

The really cool medical clinic-in-a-trailer that students at my high school put together hasn't left yet for Mexico City, so I took advantage of it for a quick photo op, even though I've already used it once before.  I can't help it - the artwork is beautiful!

The scarf I'm wearing is a recently finished handknit item - blogged about separately, here.  Double points for wearing two handmade garments in one day. 

(There may or may not have been a powerpoint filled with cat memes - in Spanish, of course - today.)

Project notes :

Pattern : Grainline - Scout Woven Tee
Fabric : Here Kitty Kitty by Clothworks
Mods : Size 8 -- with a wiksten pocket added
{{On Kollabora here.}}

{zakka style sew along} week 5 : roy g biv pencil cases

I made an entire set of Roy G Biv pencil cases this week for the zakka style sew along ... unfortunately, "orange" had to sacrificed to the greater good of wrapping my head around how this case is constructed!  I assure you that I am generally good at spatial thinking, but for some reason* my brain wasn't functioning properly. 

Luckily I still had five other colors worth of pencil cases to construct, once I figured out how to make the pencil case -- and even better, I have a new and clever construction method under my belt, one that will come in handy in the future.

Here are my little cases ...

They are perfect for more than just pencils, namely crochet hooks and circular needles.  Surprisingly, they are NOT perfect for double pointed needles, as I imagined they might be ... [note to self : make another roy g biv set of these, only longer, to use for DPNs].   See the blue case on the left, how the case just doesn't quite close.

My pesky calico kitten (Trixie) had to jump into the photo session.  Of course she'll be forgiven ... I don't call myself the calico lover for nothing!  

*most likely the insanity of the end of the school year, which uses all my good brain cells up during the school week ;)