The Zombie Apocalypse

So you think that the zombie apocalypse is an event in the distant future? Nothing to worry about?
Or maybe *gasp* you're one of those people who don't think the zombies are coming and there's no reason to be prepared?
Well, not everyone shares your laissez-chomp attitude.

http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp

Just saying.

Keep those sticks pointy and that yarn coming. You never know when you've got to get ready.

Monkey Robot Overlord

Love! Lovelovelovelovelove. Why did no one tell me what a difference yarn makes?
Ok, ok, so *everyone* has been saying that. But still!
This yarn is awesome!
Not only does it have the best name ever (seriously, how can you go past Robot Overlord? I know!)
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock is a fabulous yarn. Smooth and tightly spun, with great colors.
So much nicer than anything I've worked with in my (admittedly short) knitting life.
This is also my first ever Cookie A pattern. Cookie A, in case you don't know, is somewhat of a sock designing legend, and the Monkey socks, first published in Knitty magazine, are an iconic sock pattern.
Of course I had to try it!
I made them two at a time on one Addi Turbo Lace needle, 32”. Love the needle.
I would have made the leg longer than the repeats called for in the pattern for a longer leg, but I wasn't sure how much yarn I would need, or how long I would like the finished cuff. live and learn.



While knitting up, I didn’t notice this, but once on the feet, the yarn creates thin red stripes across the pattern. It's very striking. While knitting, I just kept thinking "brown, beige, brown, OOH, red!"
I started the toe decreases a little early because of the way the pattern fell. The sock still fits, but snugly. I like it. Especially given that the first sock I made was rather on the loose side.
Overall verdict?
It’s a busy sock, but quite comfy.
The pattern breaks up the multi-coloured yarn beautifully. It adds some real interest. They look like a pile of autumn leaves! In the best possible way.


I love these socks. Everything about them worked out great, from the gorgeous yarn, to the color to the pattern to the fit.


Yay sock love!

Long Scarf is Long

 There is a time in every knitter's life when they become confident in their mad skillz and want to show them off to the world.
Usually a while before they have any actual skills.
I'm no different, so I was thrilled when Mr. Mechanicalpenguin (aka the man in my life) asked me to knit him a scarf.
Not just any old scarf, but a scarf of awesome nerdery.
A Longcat Scarf.
if you don't know what a longcat is, I recommend you get out from under that internet rock you've been living under and prepare to waste a day (or week) on icanhascheezburger.com. Go on. I'll wait.
How was it?
That's right. The place where hilarious kitten photos and bad grammar birth internet memes is also the source of longcat, the perfect scarf adornment.
This scarf not only proclaims one's nerdery to the wider world, it also came with a new (to me) technique: double knitting.
Double knitting basically produces a double-sided, reversible fabric by alternating knits and purls with two yarns at the same time.
Once you get into the rhythm, it's surprisingly addictive, if rather slow going.

I knit most of the scarf in the car to and from the snow on our annual trip to Mount Hotham, our home mountain, for a weekend of skiing and snowboarding.
The scarf is made from cheap acrylic yarn, so it's not overly warm, but Mr. Meachanicalpenguin proclaimed it perfect, and proceeded to wear it to work the day after it was finished.
Success!

Snowboard Babe Purple B'day Hat

 A spin-off of the Baristafarian hat, this purple fuzz concoction is squishy, warm, floppy, and the perfect birthday present for my snowboarding girlfriend. She loved it, and oohed and aaahed appreciatively.
Good knitting gift receiver. Will get more.

This was a fun, fast knit on the bus, and the results couldn't have been better.
I should have taken more photos though. It has a massive pompom that I somehow forgot to photograph!