FO: Light Up My World aka Barbara Gordan

Nananananananana BATMAN. Or more accurate- Batgirl.

Pattern: Damson by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Unplanned Peacock Studio Diva Sock in Canary, one skein

I purchased this yarn at the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival and I think it's fair to say it was love at first sight. After weeks of dreary gray weather, I had been on the hunt for the perfectbright yellow yarn. That warm sunshine-y shade that drags away the winter blues kicking and screaming into a closet and locks them away without a question. That yellow. Wandering around, I just hadn't found the yellow. Yellows were there indeed, but not the yellow. My companion stated to me, "The yellow will call to you." And indeed it did- in fact it screamed out like a siren under a pile of sock yarn.

The company, Unplanned Peacock Studio, had so much luscious yarn for a great price. The colors leaned towards the warm side, but they were indeed very gorgeous. I picked up the Diva Sock, which was divinely sock. Most likely the golden merino-cashmere-nylon blend. Knitting it up was pure joy, and it came out so soft and wonderful. My only gripe is that the color leaked, but luckily the shawl still retained its bright yellow.

Damson, like all of Ysolda's other patterns, is easy, fun and well written. The crescent shawl shape is becoming one of my favorites to wear, and I love it! I've waxed poetic about Miss Ysolda Teague, but she never stops amazing me. I'm debating knitting the Snapdragon tam (I actually despise tams, so it'll become a beanie instead if made) and mittens.

Anything yellow you've knit?

FO: Honey Bee

Since class is finally over, I have time to do whatever I want. This usually consists of lazing around, cleaning (I like cleaning) and knitting. However, MJ chooses to break me out of my self imposed solitude, so yesterday she came over, and we had 'supermodel documentary hour'

Since it was positively gorgeous outside (that's new, considering as I write this, it's gray and rainy, rather similar to Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, which I highly recommend. It's French and a musical!) we both took photos of our respected FO's. So I introduce you to Honey Bee.

FO: Honey Bee

Pattern: My own

Yarn: Cascade 220 in 8555 (Black) and 7827 (Yellow) 1 skein each

Being in marching band, usually means that I have to haul my ass out onto a 1000 degree or a 20 degree field and play the clarinet while running around. Not an easy feat. To ease the pain of nearly freezing off my hands, I made myself the fingerless mittens with a flip top, cute honeybee button included. The pattern is my own, but it's really basic mitten construction, nothing too difficult. I've waxed poetic about Cascade, and I don't think I need to do it again, although I'm seriously considering investing in a winder, because I will never stop buying this stuff. Ever.

The Drought is Over

I HAVE NEW YARN. Which I couldn't be more excited for.

This yarn is very special stuff. This yarn is going into my first sweater. I adore sweaters. I love love love wearing them. That cozy warm feeling from a good wool sweater is like an artificial hug. I have a notebook, filled with ideas for sweaters. While I don't have the means/skills/yarn to knit them, it's really exciting to at least draw them out.

The yarn is Cascade 220, which, if you haven't heard, is my new favorite yarn. The blue, Mallard, is quite a stunner. It's blue with little flecks of green, it's so pretty to look at. Compared to Catkin (which I still can't get an accurate picture of, goddamnit!) it's much much darker, and less green too. I really like the heather gray as well. I have a special affinity for heathered gray sweaters. For some reason, they make me want to put on my glasses, and go to an old school college library with leather chairs and sofas and read a book on theoretical physics.

I just casted on last night, which was no easy feat and extremely boring. However, staring at Mallard was enough to distract because it's just so damn pretty.

FO: Ball of Sunshine Hat

This FO post is long over due, but better late than never right?

Pattern: Buttonhead by Lee Meredith

Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool in Yellow 7827, half to less of a skein.

Needles: US 7 double pointed needles.

I love this pattern! Even if it seems as though it's made for handspun, it worked great with commercial yarn. This hat may be my new stand by. This Sunday, it was roughly fifty degrees (I now believe in global warming or cooling, whatever) and this hat kept me perfectly warm, and fairly stylish. It was a nice, bright pop of color.As for the pattern itself, it's well written, and I love the custom sizing. I increased up to 104 stitches at a gauge of 5 stitches per inch. I purchased the beads from Jo-Ann's, and they look basic but up close they're detailed like little beads.

Rearrange

There's going to be lots of fun new headers and such going up here at Related By Delusion. Considering I just got my hands on Adobe Photoshop (which I highly recommend, and also believe is one of the most difficult programs I have ever encountered and was made by the devil's spawn) I've been messing around with graphics, and learning a ton about techie shtuffs. So enjoy the new header fun and whatever else may appear!

In the mean time, lament this loss of the Sea Shepherd's Batmobile to Japanese whalers. SAVE THE WHALES.

The Forest City

Over the weekend, I went to visit Cleveland on a quick day trip.

We visited the Cleveland Museum of Art. Their prehistoric galleries were all closed, but everything else was open. I got to see one of the panels for Water Lilies (no photos because of their rules sadface)and the amazing Thaw Collection of American Indian art.

Yarn winding!

An amazing miniature box collection, sending off my inner magpie alarm.My pictures cannot accurately capture how pretty some of these really were.
Beautiful furnitureFaberge egg!
Restaurant row, located in the Tremont neighborhood. We went to Lola, which was simply fantastic. The restaurant is owned by Michael Symon from Iron Chef, and the food was beautifully presented and of course absolutely delicious.

FO: Grey like the Sky Hat

Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Gray Heather and Oxford Gray, roughly half a skein of each

Needles: US 6 and 7 double pointed needles.

Considering the weather turned to sunny, and 70 degrees (up here, we find that perfecttemperature to break out the summer dresses and shorts) back to gray and rainy, I found it appropriate to title the hat this way.
My jogless stripes were a bit of a fail. Trying out a different method next time so they don't make me look like I'm a bad seamer.

Right now, I'm in the middle of something springy and warm for the season. Stay tuned ;)

It will eat your brainssss

I'm a devoted FO writer, so I proudly present to you...regular brain coral and...BRAIN CORAL OF DOOM. It will eat your soul and make you forever hate (and I mean forever) novelty yarn. That ruffle tape probably gave me early onset arthritis.

I'm thankful this is done. Let's leave it at that.