Knitting projects and saving the earth

I didn't drive my car at all today. Nope, I rode the bus to work, then to the yarn shop after work (www.somuchyarn.com, its a great store), then I took the bus home. Justin and I went to a little greasy spoon cafe for dinner and we walked. I like riding the bus, I'm going to do it more often I think. It makes for good knitting time. I am quite fond of knitting in public and I look at a bus ride as a fabulous opportunity. So that got me thinking about all the knitting projects that I am working on right now. I tend to get too many projects going at once. However, unlike my other forays into the crafting world, my knitting projects are getting finished. So, I took some pictures of current projects and recently finished ones. Here goes:

Here is the felted bowl that I started after about 10 cast ons. The pattern is from the book One Skein by Leigh Radford. Its for Justin's mom, I hope she likes it. I was working on this on the bus today.

Here is my checkerboard scarf that I have been working on forever. I'm using Manos del Uraguay (did I spell that write?) for it. I'm also using that for the felted bowl. This scarf is my no-brainer project, but being as fall is coming quickly here in Seattle, I think I'll try to finish it soon.

Here is my first attempt at making socks. I'm really liking the whole sock thing. I think socks could be my thing. Plus, they are easy to knit and very portable (I'm thinking about all the knitting time on the bus). I had to buy more yarn today for them (art yarns handpainted stripes). My feet are so big that I ran out of yarn on the second sock (11 wide, yes, go ahead and gape, I'm used to it. I haven't worn a single digit shoe size since the 4th grade.)

Here is the wire bracelet that I have been working on since March. Someday I will finish it. I think it will be pretty when its done.

Here is a super easy hat that I finished over Labor Day weekend. It is the Hot Head pattern from the first Stitch n' Bitch book. I wanted to make Justin a hat and he liked this pattern and requested black and teal, Jacksonville Jaguars colors. Here is the handsome devil modeling my handiwork.

I have many more projects waiting to be started. I have two more skeins of sock yarn waiting to be turned into socks, and I'm going to try a variation of the sock pattern I used above with the yarn that will be leftover from this pair. I just bought some great heathered brown Emu Superwash on eBay to make the cardigan sweater in the first SnB book. Oh, if only I didn't have to work...I could just knit all the time...

Yay!! I've started my own knitting/life blog!!!

So this is my first post on my blog. I like to knit a lot, and I like tattoos, a lot. Probably too much if you ask some people. I'll probably be writing mostly about knitting and tattoos, but I'll probably write about other stuff too.
The first thing I'm going to write about is the wonderful Labor Day weekend I had. My sister in law and niece came to visit us, I have a great picture of my niece modeling a cute little hat I made for her.

Isn't she cute??? On Sunday, I went to Third Place Books here in Seattle to hear The Yarn Harlot herself speak and sign books. I have never been to anything like that before and it was a lot of fun. I stood in line for close to an hour and a half for her to sign some books. Totally worth it. I showed her my newest tattoo (my knitting tattoo) and she posted it on her blog, www.yarnharlot.com. That is so cool. I actually got recognized by the tattoo in a yarn store today. Here's the tattoo:

Pretty cool, eh? It's number 11 for me. I love these things, I am addicted to them. I want many more. This one was custom designed and executed for me by Jason Calvert of Liberty Tattoo in Seattle. Check him out here: www.libertytattooseattle.com.

Monday I went to Bumbershoot (a really cool arts, crafts and music festival in Seattle www.bumbershoot.com) with my friend Sarah and we heard The Yarn Harlot again and got more books signed. I got this great picture with Stephanie, her traveling sock, and my unfinished sock:

Isn't that cool? I love this picture.

Ahhhh, it was a great long weekend. It almost makes me feel ready for the insanity that I know will be starting in about 3 weeks when I go back to school. I am a full time college student as well as having a full time job. Yes, I know, I do it to myself.

That's all for now. I wonder if anyone will read any of this. I need to go check out the website for the King County bus system. I think I'm going to start taking the bus to work. Less polution, you know.