i've moved!

Hi everyone,

I moved my blog to wordpress. Blogger is bugging me. You can read more about it here:

captain creates @ wordpress

Thanks for the time blogger, they were swell.

-captain sharmie

Obligatory New Year's Resolutions Post

 Resolutions are a tricky thing.

Make them too complex and you feel trapped by the promises you made to the universe. Make them too general and you have no real motivation to get off your butt. Make them lofty and you risk running out of steam by February.

We often think of Resolutions as things we have to do this year. This that must be completed or we are terrible people. That’s not the way I like to think of them. I think of Resolutions as goals or desires or hopes for the upcoming year.

This year’s resolutions for myself will be difficult. They may be impossible. But I will try.

I’ll split them into categories: Crafty, Scholastic, Personal.

Crafty:

1. Knit More – I don’t actually need to knit more. But knitting makes me happy. When school and money are causing me stress, a nice night at All Strung Out chatting with the knitters makes me feel like there’s still happiness in the world. And I’m getting really good at this knitting thing now. I’m currently working on some cabled socks and it’s amazing what I can do with these pointy bits of metal.

2. Draw More – This is difficult because I use the same tools for drawing as I do for knitting: my hands. But I miss drawing. So I’m starting up again. For now I’ll try to doodle a little every day and see how that goes. I’m also working on a comic that I may or may not eventually draw, so that’s a plus.

3. Blog More – I’ve barely blogged since the summertime. I had a bout of depression and then school went crazy and I got so stupid busy that it was barely possible to find time to eat, let alone blog. I’m taking it easier this term, and hopefully my blogging will reflect that. Part of that Resolution has been doing a quick redesign of the blog. Hope you enjoy the pretty yarn.

Scholastic:

1. Apply for Grad School – I decided I wasn’t going to just a few weeks ago. Mostly because I’m scared of not getting in. But I decided that if I don’t get in then I can do my backup plan. No need to start with that.

2. Don’t Let Ensemble Get You Down -  I’m taking a course called Ensemble. It’s worth 3 classes. It’s usually taught in a very different format than what they’re doing for my year. I hate it. I feel like I’m not going to get to improve on any of the skills I have in this course, rendering it the most annoying course ever that could totally ruin my GPA. But I’ve got many good friends in that class, especially Graeme, so when I feel like giving up I know I’ll have someone there to help me through. And one of my profs and I are going to be best friends, so that’s a plus. He has a Star Trek/Wars tattoo, and a Watchmen tattoo. Totally friends.

3. Go to Class - Since I only have class three days a week, it will impact me much worse to miss one. So I really need to skip less. But on the plus side, none of my classes begin before 2:30pm. So sleeping in won’t be a problem.

Personal:

1. Don’t Make Yourself Sick – I was sick once a month from September to December. I believe they were all caused by stress. When I got sick at the beginning of December I didn’t get better until I left Guelph. I need to calm down.

2. Hold On To Your Friends – Only the ones who are worth it, obviously. But stay in touch.

3. Don’t Let People Manipulate You – I need to speak up for myself and realize when someone is trying to make me do something I don’t really want to do.

That’s it. Here’s hoping I do a little better this year than I have in the past.

quick cowls for christmas

Hi there!

With my last/only exam over and done with in T-minus 2 hours, I've been thinking about quick presents to make for Christmas. My immediate family hasn't exchanged presents since I was about 17, but I still like to get gifts at Christmas for a few people, namely my Auntie Colleen and my Grandmother, for whom Christmas is a Big Deal (they are the more religious end of my family). Last year I mostly bought presents, but this year I'm much shorter on money and want to knit/sew them!

Of course I didn't decide on this until three days ago, so I am FAR BEHIND on Christmas knitting. I need quick projects to make... My grandmother's present is a hat in sport on 3mm needles, so that will take a good chunk of time. But for my Aunt I needed something equally beautiful but MUCH FASTER! So I thought I'd do a post on quick- and free!- cowls for Christmas.

My number 1 pattern is the Marian Cowl. Knits up quick with a single skein of super bulky yarn, it is beautiful and economical. I made two of them two years ago, one for me and one for my sister.

The other one I'm considering for my Aunt is the Mistakes Cowl. It looks lovely! It would be great in a hand-painted yarn.

Image from designer's Ravelry

Another cowl I am thinking of making is the Open Work Infinity Scarf. This one looks BEAUTIFUL! It really reminds me of something you'd buy in Top Shop in the winter...

Image from designer's Ravelry

Another cowl I really like the look of is the Col GC cowl. Cables are lovely, especially in such a bulky yarn!

Image from designer's Ravelry

Finally, the last cowl I'd like to show you is the HoneyCowl. It's beautiful, and it doubles as a wide headband! I love multi-purpose knits.

Image from designer's Ravelry

I hope this helps you out on some Christmas gifts, or at least gives you some pretty quick knits to add to your queue! Happy knitting!


Future posts will include: my first (mini) quilt, my recent sweater progress, and maybe a sewing project. Stay tuned!

rising from the ashes of the last four months

Hi everyone! Long time no blog...

I had a hard time of it in the last month and a half of my summer. I spent most of my time lying in bed when I wasn't working. Then at the end of August I got involved with a show at Guelph Little Theatre, and that started my extreme busy time, which just ended this Sunday.

So I decided it was high time to return to my blog. I've missed blogging a lot, actually. I'm hoping to ease back into things. I'm glad to say I have been knitting quite a bit, so I will have some finished objects to show off.

For now, I'll just post a selection of photos from the last few months...

my view from the booth for frozen dreams at guelph little theatre

my director and i watching rehearsal for [title of show]

what i did during music warm ups at saturday [title of show] rehearsals

a shot from our sept. 1st knitting pub crawl

another shot from our knitting pub crawl

the end result of the pattern we worked on at the pub crawl... beer cozy!

a "sneak preview" of my first socks

the swatch for that purple thing i was working on in rehearsals

sneak preview of my sock monkey mitts (proper FO post to come)

a sneak preview of my snape mitts, which have another FO post to come

And that's only what I've got pictures of! I have two more hats that are undocumented except by photobooth pictures, and am considerably further on that purple project than I was in October, when that picture was taken!

Hopefully I'll be a more on-the-ball blogger this time around. See you soon!

30 Day Knitting Challenge -- Day 16 // Cupcakes!

Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury?

My fingers used to get really sore when knitting for a long time, but my hands eventually got used to the strain as I became a more seasoned knitter. Now I barely ever have knitting-related strain.

In other news, I made some cupcakes back in May for a coworker's birthday. I just came across the photos. They make me hungry!

30 Day Knitting Challenge -- Day 14/15

Oops! I dropped the ball on yesterday's post. Between work, knit night and watching Die Hard with Dee, I managed to forget about the post till I was lying in bed, five minutes to midnight. Lucky for me, yesterday and today's questions are related!

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?

I don't really work with yarn I don't like. I was disappointed to find the dye on my Great Adriondack Silky Sock bled heavily during blocking and continues to fade with each wash... But the yarn itself is so amazing that I barely care anymore. So great to knit with. So soft to wear!

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?

I've never made a pattern I didn't like! But I guess least favourite would be  198 yards of heaven... It's pretty, but the lack of some basic instructions made it difficult. I know it's not a beginner's pattern, but when seasoned knitters have problems, it's the pattern, not the people.

That's it! Here's hoping I get tomorrow's post out in due time. :)

30 Day Knitting Challenge -- Day 13

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

Oh, I have a bunch. The above stuff is some Mirasol Hacho. It's a DK weight low yardage yarn. I managed to acquire 8 skeins on sale at Romni Wools. I've been trying to find the perfect pattern for it for like, an entire year. I'm still thinking. A vest, maybe? Unless it's too varigated to look good? *sigh*

I wanted to make a shrug out of 5 skeins of louet bonnie, but I can't find a pattern I like.

I used to want to make a big soft cowl out of these two skeins of Peruvia quick, but it just never came together. Now I'm pretty much just hoarding them. They might become quick Christmas gifts one day, though...

This last one is some lovely sheepy JC Rennie aran weight wool I bought in London. I love it, I just can't decide what it wants to be!

*please forgive my crappy webcam photos, these were all stolen from my Ravelry stash page. Hehe!

30 Day Knitting Challenge--Day 12

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

Due to camera trouble today's pictures are pretty terrible, but I had to make do if there was going to be a post today at all! Above is one of two plastic drawers of less exciting yarn, compared to...

These ones! And behind those, 

my meager sweater amounts (and up top my secret madelinetosh stash).

Those bottom containers are also both full of yarn. Phew! Of course my yarn will also turn up in other unexpected places...

On top of my sewing kit...

...Hanging with my messy quilt squares...

Or on top of other random junk! My stash has a life of its own, what can I say.

30 Day Knitting Challenge -- Day 11

Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!

Yes! She is a woman I met at my LYS who always finishes the most lovely garments for herself, and all sorts of other projects for friends or her adorable kids. Cassandra!

She is one of few monogamous knitters I've met, and she is dedicated. She's also skilled in pattern math and colour-choices.

She knits sweaters faster than anyone I know!

She's kind and fun and I'm glad to know her!

Thanks for letting me raid your Ravelry page for pretty pictures, Cassandra!

oh my god i made coconut shrimp

You guys do not even understand how excited I was to have made this. Because I never would have thought I'd have the skill to make breaded shrimp, let alone COCONUT breaded shrimp. But then I did. And it was... easy!

I started with the flour & salt mixture, then the egg. I put chili flakes in it because I like spice with my coconut flavour. Next was a 60/40 mix of coconut and panko crumbs.

My work station!

I used a whole bag of shrimp, one of the regular size ones from the supermarket.

And then I baked them. Until they were done. I didn't even flip them, cause one side was soggy and one was crispy and I didn't want them ALL to be soggy on both sides.

But they looked and tasted great, with asparagus, wilted spinach and coconut rice!