jess knits (with dogs): giganto update

I was a very terrible person this weekend and spent WAY TOO MUCH on yarn. But I think I'm definitely set with things to knit for some time, especially because I'll be knitting two shawls and some socks.

My mom took me to Bonnie's in Carefree this weekend and it was a great little store! It had TONS of yarn, including the almost unreal Malabrigo Lace. I was looking through a few back issues of Interweave Knits and my mom happened to see the Icarus shawl.

"Oh my god!" She said. "Can you make that for me?"

I considered for a moment, but decided 'heck, why not, it'll be a challenge!'. This was the perfect excuse to pick up some of that aforementioned Malabrigo Lace in the Velvet Grapes colorway :

At dinner that night my mom mentioned a few times that I was knitting her a beautiful shawl for her birthday. Her birthday in two months. I had to stop her several times and say "Mom, wait, no... this MIGHT be done by Christmas. Maybe. But definitely not by your birthday."

Maybe by her birthday next year, but I think the only things that would cause the shawl to be knitted that quickly are me quitting my job and dropping out of school. And quitting WoW.

So after that slightly expensive little outing, I came home and realized that I absolutely had to have the yarn for Jeanie RIGHT NOW or I would die. So I went to Kiwi Knitting instead of studying and picked up a few more skeins of Araucania Ranco Multi :

It's almost enough to make one weep. But I promise that this time I did not lick the yarn.

In addition to all of this new loveliness, I finally got around to taking some pictures of my most recent FOs. They're up on Ravelry as well.

Pattern : Ballet School Dropout by Inspire Knits

Yarn : Knitpicks Gloss in Burgundy

Needles : Knitpicks Harmony DPNs, size 2

These were so quick to knit and I wear them ALL THE TIME. I liked the construction, it was unlike regular socks. I just wish I could make them a little lower.. I guess I'll have to play around with modification. They stick out of my ballet flats a little, which isn't a big deal, but I think it would be nicer to have socks that didn't. I also added some elastic around the garter edging, and I think it's helping them to stay on a little more.

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Pattern : Monkey by Cookie A

Yarn : Araucania Ranco Multi

Needles : metal dpns, size 1 (unsure of the brand)

These were another really great knit, but unfortunately I've been unable to find shoes that show them off sufficiently. The colors are gorgeous, and once the soles felted a bit they became MUCH more comfortable. Unfortunately I'm paranoid about the cuffs of socks not being loose enough so I made these ones REALLY loose, and thus they wouldn't stay up. But this problem was easily rectified by adding a little bit of elastic.

And, to close, here are some pictures of dogs :