tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52508888791567049932024-03-12T18:33:26.563-07:00The Knitted EggplantJust don't eat what you knit!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03407426661871544924noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250888879156704993.post-79406100760961868982012-09-18T07:51:00.001-07:002012-09-18T07:57:12.041-07:00Numfar! Do the Dance of Joss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEFVAzUmFmkdc68zqUFy-rOAAodFEHzreTEfTQ4rheYaEMbFm8NwGNIzrjECsXh7-7_wvsA0OQI7WmTuuxfyMT5zv_0vPcZfEaa_pP5SC_bNCMA2aRPfviT2BWB4rW3UCKP6I5ylhQtAy/w393-h322-n-k/IMG_0184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Dance of Joss" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEFVAzUmFmkdc68zqUFy-rOAAodFEHzreTEfTQ4rheYaEMbFm8NwGNIzrjECsXh7-7_wvsA0OQI7WmTuuxfyMT5zv_0vPcZfEaa_pP5SC_bNCMA2aRPfviT2BWB4rW3UCKP6I5ylhQtAy/w393-h322-n-k/IMG_0184.JPG" /></a></div>
Well, I have been designing again, and it has been fun! I designed the "Dance of Joss" socks for a Nerd Wars challenge that had us pay homage to the creator of our nerdom. For me, that is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Joss Whedon. This man has taken the "horror" genre and made it his own, creating a new language, a 'verse for each of his worlds, and a dedicated following that would watch anything he produces/directs/writes.<br />
<br />
I am pleased to present the pattern of "Dance of Joss: The Dance of Jonor." In Angel Season 2 episode 21 "<span class="st">Through the Looking Glass"</span> Joss Whedon actually stars as Numfar. In the episode he is asked to do two dances, the Dance of Joy and the Dance of Honor. These dance socks, or yoga socks, are a tribute to those dances. The pattern can be repeated all around the socks for a Fair Isle <span id="goog_149842600"></span><span id="goog_149842601"></span>approach, or done down one side in an intarsia pattern.<br />
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I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed watching the show to get the dance steps, and designing the pattern.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0Bxd6_QJTJXdZRlcxZXJxcHBMM28" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dance of Joss Download</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03407426661871544924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250888879156704993.post-81404480146804548182012-03-07T14:56:00.000-08:002012-03-07T15:07:25.322-08:00Scrappy Cappy Coffee CozyRound 2 of Nerd Wars has started, the new challenges are out. I'm going to try to avoid a super long wrap up post this time by posting my projects as I complete them and then just do a quick visual summary of the project when the round ends.<br />
<br />
The first challenge I completed was the <u>Technical Challenge: The Scrap Heap</u>- <br />
"Your challenge this month is to craft something using scraps and
leftovers. If needed to complete your project, you may supplement your
scraps with non-scrap yarn. You can use scraps from a single project on
their own to create something fun, or combine the scraps from multiple
projects for the ultimate scrappy project. Or, if you are the kind of
crafter that doesn’t have any scraps lying around (you are neater than
I, and I salute you), you have the option of stashbusting to fulfill
this challenge.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A “Before” photo of the scraps would be fun to see, but it is not required."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0663_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0663_medium2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0668_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0668_medium2.jpg" width="200" /></a>I decided to make a coffee cozy for my coffee cup at the office. It’s a
fairly warm mug, and I really hate those cardboard cup holders. This Scrappy
Cappy Coffee Cozy was a simple improvised knit that used the remnants
of several very colorful skeins of yarn - 2 noro skeins and 2 morrocan
wool/silk skeins. After knitting it together, i decided to felt it - one
because it looked pretty big and my coffee cup is pretty tall and thin.
Plus, I really love to felt! I was very please with how this turned
out!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0670_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0670_medium2.jpg" width="200" /></a>My Tie In to Buffy was fairly easy. Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles… pretty much the whole cast it seems like…
enjoys a Cup O’ Joe. Whether it was the nasty 3am research coffee,
cappuccino with maybe a future hunny at The Bronze, or a scolding for
being a run-away at the Espresso Pump, coffee was key. I don't remember any of their cups having a spiffy cozy like this one... might have made it taste better. <br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1971353509"></span><span id="goog_1971353510"></span><br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0665_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0665_medium2.jpg" width="200" /></a><u>The Pattern</u>:<br />
Materials: Any scraps of wool or feltible yarn<br />
Needles: Size 10 Circular Needles<br />
Gauge: Doesn't really matter, its going to be felted<br />
Notions: Stitch marker<br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0669_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0669_medium2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
CO 42 sts and join (I used magic loop)<br />
K till piece measures 3.5 inches<br />
increase one stitch on both sides for a total of 44 sts<br />
K till piece measure 6 inches total<br />
K1 SSK K till 3 stitches remain K2tog K1 <br />
K<br />
Bind off<br />
Weave in ends and feltAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03407426661871544924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250888879156704993.post-21842009438693559342012-03-01T16:30:00.000-08:002012-03-01T20:24:36.540-08:00Nerd Wars Round One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Well, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/nerd-wars" target="_blank">Nerd Wars</a> on Ravelry is in full swing. I am in Team Hellmouth focused on all things Buffy and Angel. It has been a BLAST!! Last month we were given six challenges to complete by February 29th, and I managed to complete them all as well as starting on my three month long dissertation project.<br />
<br />
In Nerd Wars, there are six categories - Giving Geeks, Nerd Culture, Scientific, Technical, Geek Pride, and Intellectual. Each month you are issued a challenge in each area, and it's up to you, the knitter, to figure out what to knit and how to tie it to your geekdom. This contest/challenge goes from February 1st until April 30th. At the time I'm writing this post, we have completed round 1, and the projects are in for points assignment - the team with the most points wins! I wanted to be able to keep track of my projects for each round, as well as share out some of the patterns I've made for these projects - namely I am designing a scarf I'm calling the Scythe Scarf from Buffy Season 7, but that's another post.<br />
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Here were the challenges and the associated projects from last month.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<u>Giving Geeks - Hat's Off</u><br />
Donate a hat or money to charity in need of hats. I took a bit of the Lazy Way with this one. I donated money to the <a href="http://www.hatsoffforcancer.org/involvement.asp" target="_blank">Hats off for Cancer</a> mission mostly because I didn't have the type of yarn in my stash that I wanted to use. Next time though, there will be many knitted and given!<br />
<br />
<u>Nerd Culture -<span style="font-size: small;"> I, For One, Welcome our New Manmade Overlords</span></u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/93051048/IMG_0639_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/93051048/IMG_0639_medium2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "sports car" of books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Create something inspired by technology and human (or non-human, I suppose) ingenuity. For this challenge I had to step a bit ahead in the Buffyverse and assume that at some point in time, Giles would accept a Kindle Fire. It's book related, and think of all the Tomes and Volumey Texts he could carry around with him. Plus, it probably seduced him with its shiny black plastic and spiffy screen (far reaching attempt to reference <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Me_%28Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer%29" target="_blank"><i>Real Me</i></a> and Giles' Sports Car). With that thought in mind, I made a tweed Kindle Fire cover - complete with a cedar smell from the chest I had stored the yarn in, since knowledge is supposed to be smelly.<br />
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<u>Scientific - All for One, and One for All</u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92380399/IMG_0630_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92380399/IMG_0630_medium2.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They missed a spot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Create an item that requires only one (piece, skein, or spinning singles) - imitating the complex simplicity of the single celled organism. I decided to go all out on the Oneness of this project. This was also my Team Unity project. For our team unity theme, we chose to knit based on the episode <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_More,_with_Feeling_%28Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer%29" target="_blank"><i>Once More With Feeling</i></a>. My inspiration - <a href="http://youtu.be/DHcVlElJSjY" target="_blank">They Got the Mustard Out</a>. I based this cowl on a pattern called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mustard-garter-stitch-cowl" target="_blank">mustard garter stitch cowl</a>, used a mustardy colored yarn - which was much less than one skein - and modified the cowl to be knit in the round all in one piece. I did modify the design since I really don't like purling in the round. I knit 12 rows in garter stitch, then knit 14 rounds and then finished off with 8 more rows of garter stitch.<br />
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<u>Technical - What's your Specialty</u><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92008863/IMG_0626_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92008863/IMG_0626_medium2.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Felted Pointy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Using what you consider your specialty, create a project and relate it to your nerdom. I love to felt wool. It is an obsession almost. So, for this challenge, I knitted Mr. Pointy - Buffy's favorite stake to take on patrol. The pattern was a freestyle pattern that was just basically knit a triangle and then stitch it up. The pictures don't really do it justice since it's not in action, but if any yarn vamps came around, I could dust 'em!<br />
<br />
Pattern: CO 24 sts and knit 4 rows in StSt.<br />
K1, SSK, K till 3 sts remain K2Tog<br />
K for 4 rows<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Repeat this pattern till 3 sts remain, then icord for 3 inches.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Thread a pipe cleaner into the center of the icord </div>
Sew up the side, stuff fiberfill into the stake and sew the top closed and felt it<br />
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<u>Geek Pride - Wove, Twue Wove</u> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92023988/IMG_0627_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deek7997/92023988/IMG_0627_medium2.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Mawwige... Mawwige is - well, actually, not marriage. A relationship. Could be a deep friendship, sibling relationship, or a romantic relationship, but the inspiration was supposed to be around a relationship in your nerdom. I chose Willow and Oz. Those that know me know I love Seth Green, so how could I not choose to knit something based on him. I decided to knit a hat for this challenge. I had several partial skeins laying about in "Willow and Oz" colors, so I just went with it and knit up a beanie. I call this Willow and Oz colors because Willow tends to wear a lot of purple, and Oz is gray when he's a werewolf, so it works! You might be asking why I didn't donate this hat? Mostly because it was too big around to be a kids hat, and too short to be an adult hat to many people - did I mention I was using up leftover yarn? Plus it was wool, and most donations don't want wool just in case there are allergies.<br />
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<u>Intellectual - Memoria Technica</u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/deek7997/93547324/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/deek7997/93547324/IMG_0652.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
Craft something inspired by a mnemonic or memory tool. This was a hard one for me. I kept thinking of different things I could do, thinking about doing CPR and relating it to Prophecy Girl and The Body, but the mnemonics my mom and sister came up with kept going through my head. In the end, I went with sentiment instead of sentimental. I remember Beth studying for Chemistry and trying to memorize the major elements of the periodic table, and mom telling her she could remember gold and silver by "AU! Give me my GOLD watch! AG, it's only silver." Buffy also had to study Chemistry and had to have assistance in how to remember and make sense out of the subject. So, in honor of that, I made a gold watch pin cushion!<br />
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I set a personal goal to be done by February 20th, since I was starting a new job and wanted to focus, and I made it with two days to spare! As part of that, I earned the following badges!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyviGpvGnEvDSMkWCA3RtoMl7idg22PI8O8jx1F89I1kY9E7KAEuC6gkrjpaL5GJ3schmLndUzopcNBHjiT95q6OBBjRwbIjCCIv3Ntex_ZyQr0zy4gsoUNEC_Gxd1HU8lR97rh8suGkFC/s1600/badges.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyviGpvGnEvDSMkWCA3RtoMl7idg22PI8O8jx1F89I1kY9E7KAEuC6gkrjpaL5GJ3schmLndUzopcNBHjiT95q6OBBjRwbIjCCIv3Ntex_ZyQr0zy4gsoUNEC_Gxd1HU8lR97rh8suGkFC/s400/badges.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the badges!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03407426661871544924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5250888879156704993.post-89331242160104862782012-02-28T13:17:00.028-08:002012-03-08T06:38:39.099-08:00Knitting a vegetable gardenSo, my son loves his vegetables... always has! His favorite baby food was "squacolli" a combination of butternut squash and broccoli. He's recently developed an obsession with eggplants - thanks to his pal Curious George. In an episode (<a href="http://youtu.be/uUQ1oRddyow">Seed Trouble</a>), George plants a rooftop garden with tomatoes, peppers, corn, eggplants, watermelon and cucumbers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0635_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh54/deek7997/knitting/IMG_0635_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a>After watching that episode, my son begged his for an eggplant - which he got. It was a monster of an eggplant! I thought it was an umbrella when Owen showed me the bag. He wanted to eat it, and did take a bite of the raw eggplant - not too tasty. So I fixed him Eggplant Parmesan - which he refused to eat. When I asked him why he didn't want it, he told me I killed and cooked the eggplant. *sigh*<br />
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For the next few days, he continued to ask for the eggplant, even going to the fridge to get an egg so he could plant it and get an eggplant. I think he got that from George as well, but it does sort of make sense... Finally I gave in and knitted him his very own eggplant - one that I couldn't kill and cook!! Next up will be corn, followed by pepper... <br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Knitted Eggplant</b></span><br />
<b> Yarns: </b><br />
<ul>
<li>Brown Sheep Burly Spun "Jack's Plum"</li>
<li>Stitch Nation Full o' Sheep "Thyme"</li>
</ul>
<b>Needle</b>:<br />
<ul>
<li>US 15 (10.0 mm) bamboo circular needle 24in cable for magic loop, </li>
<li>US 8 (5.0 mm) bamboo circular needle 24in cable for magic loop</li>
</ul>
<b>Gauge:</b> Really doesn't matter, it's destined to be felted<br />
<br />
<b>Pattern:</b><br />
<ul>CO 18 stitches and join in the round - I used the magic loop method. </ul>
<ul>Knit till piece measures 6 inches, then start decreases </ul>
<ul>k1 ssk k till 3 sts remain k2tog k1 (16 sts remain) </ul>
<ul>k k1 ssk k till 3 sts remain k2tog k1 (14 sts remain) </ul>
<ul>k k5 k2tog k4 ssk k1 (12 sts remain) </ul>
<ul>k k4 k2tog k3 ssk k1 (10 sts remain) <i> </i></ul>
<ul><i>k repeat knitted row for 2 inches </i>k2tog across whole row (5 sts remain) </ul>
<ul>Break purple yarn and pick up green kfb of all loops on the needles </ul>
<ul>K 3 rows, start decreases k2 tog all rounds till 3 sts remain </ul>
<ul>Icord stem - move three sts to one needle and make a 1 inch icord </ul>
<ul>Bind off and sew icord closed </ul>
<ul>Stuff the eggplant with fiberfill or stuffing of choice - but do not make over full - don’t stretch the yarn. sew bottom opening closed, using the thread to pull in the corners to make it rounded.</ul>
<ul>Felt and present to your veggie obsessed loved one </ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Eggplant Parmesan</b></span><br />
1 eggplant sliced<br />
1c milk<br />
1 egg<br />
5 drops hot sauce <br />
1 c flour<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/4 tsp pepper<br />
1 1/2 c Panko breadcrumbs<br />
1 c Parmesan cheese (ground)<br />
1 c Parmesan cheese (shredded)<br />
1 box spaghetti noodles<br />
16 oz Spaghetti sauce <br />
<br />
Cook spaghetti noodles and set aside. Combine milk, egg, and hot sauce and mix well. Combine flour, salt and pepper in one bowl. Combine Panko and Parmesan in a resealable bag - I like the gallon freezer bags. Dredge eggplant into flour, then egg and milk mix, and place in baggie with the panko mix and shake. Place a layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish and top with spaghetti noodles, then eggplant, the rest of the sauce, and top with shredded Parmesan.<br />
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Bake for 35 minutes, cut and enjoy!<b><br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03407426661871544924noreply@blogger.com0