A Fairy Magical Day

Hi, 
Today, I want to show you some pictures of the Tinkerbell I made. 

I know, I know! I finished it for Christmas, and then I didn't even post anything about it! It's been over a month since I finished it! Anyway, at least I remembered to take pictures, right? Well, here they are. I did not record the pattern, and I did some weird things.

 So, this above is the head, about where I started to form the neck. It's pretty normal. I started as a magic circle and did this: 1: SC2 in each SC (10)

2: SC2 in one, SC 1* repeat until end of round (15)

3: SC2 in one, SC2* repeat until end of round (20)

4: SC2 in one, SC3* repeat (25)

5: SC2 in one, SC4* repeat (30)

6: SC2 in one, SC5* repeat (35)

7-12:SC in each stitch around (35)

13: 2tog, SC5 (30)

14: 2tog, SC4 (25)

15: 2tog, SC3 (20)

16: 2tog, SC2 (15)

17: 2tog, SC1 (10)

Next was the hair. To get a head of hair that didn't have the head color showing through the strands of hair, I used the color I was going to use for the hair and did rows 1-11 from the head instructions above. 

 I didn't stick the scalp or thread the hair in until I had formed the torso, I didn't want to make the hair one way and then as I continued from the neck, have the hair in the wrong direction. Sorry, I'm not skilled enough to correctly form body parts in the right directions yet. Then, I would grab a really long piece of yarn, and fold it in half. I would thread the folded section into the eye of the needle and pull it through about one inch. Then I would insert it into the head cover, about where I wanted the ponytail/bun to be. I pulled the yarn until I was left with the length of yarn I wanted my ponytail to be. Then I would continue threading the "hair" into the head cover in the direction I wanted the hair to lay. When I near the end of the yarn I pull it through a loop near the front and a little to the right (Where I wanted the roots of the bangs) and I cut the yarn to take out the needle. That way it also gave me two "hairs" for the bangs and two for the pony tail. Once I had the hair that just laid across the scalp done, I used shorter lengths of yarn and simply worked on either fluffing out the ponytail or the bangs.

 Once I decided I had enough hair, I trimmed the bangs until I was satisfied with the way they looked.

After I finished the head, I continued onto the body. At that point I left holes in the left and right sides where I could continue arms from (because I didn't want to sew on the arms). I also switched into green yarn to make the dress. When I thought the torso was long enough, I created two circles (yes, there is a slight hole between the legs, but this is easily sewn up, and again, I didn't want to sew on the legs). At some point I switched back to the skin color, and finished off the feet. Which look weird to me, and don't look the same.

Any way, I didn't like the 'dress' look because it came out kind of lopsided. So, I took the same color green yarn, and a yarn needle, and I sewed over the green. Next I made a skirt by folding yarn in half, threading it into the needle, pulling through a stitch, and then pulling the ends through the loop (created when folding the yarn in half). Finally, I stitched a boarder into the top of the dress using the light green that I used for some of the skirt.

 Ahh, that's right. I also made the wings. I don't really want to even talk about them. They are asymmetrical, and yeah. I just crocheted a chain, went back, and yeah. Maybe I will officially make a bunch of wings and get around to recording the pattern, but right now I don't want to say something and it turns out to be completely different from the wings I made. 

TaDa! Tinkerbell! So, she is larger than how I wanted, but once I did the head, I didn't want to undo all my work (yes, I think we've established that I am lazy). So I went with it to see how it turned out, and I got a doll sized Tinkerbell. Not bad, but next time I'll make it more petite, and maybe not take so many shortcuts. 

If all of this doesn't make sense, I completely understand, and I'm sorry.

Have a nice day!!

Sarah

First Weekly Project

So, I had those three goals, right?

1. No worrying
2. Knit something
3. Post more (I said three more times, that might not happen) But at least I'm posting this!

Anyway, number 1 was an outright failure. I completely FORGOT about that one. And yes, I have been worrying a lot. But I will try to keep it to a minimum.

I have been actually putting some effort into the book I am writing, though! (It's nothing to do with knitting/crocheting BTW).

And I'm a teaching assistant for CHEM 102L this semester. I take care of 24 students in lab!

Alright, now onto the purpose of this post. I felt inspired, and finally designed this amigurumi. One of my graduate student's birthdays was a week ago. I told her I was making her two things, but that I didn't have them done yet. Really, I've been meaning to finish up three Christmas presents and then get this done, but I've been procrastinating so bad. I just need something small to get me back into gear. I always drop projects after Christmas since I had the "Christmas rush" to finish all my presents. :) So, I was inspired to design the birthday present I've been making up in my mind. Anyway, I have access to a scanner at school, so I thought I would record this process! Hopefully it comes out like I want it when I crochet it!

This is in memory of Earl, a contamination (some kind of bacteria or whatnot) in one of our broth bottles. He was a cute little mushroom cloud shape, and had to be exterminated once our PI saw him. We even drew a face on the outside of the bottle for him, which is sort of the face I drew. Anyway, I don't remember if we actually gave him a mustache, but I think it is a nice touch and will be appreciated! I will keep you updated, and as my writing says, I plan to finish him by Feb. 4th (One week). But it'll probably be sooner if I start it right away.

I should stop digging myself into a hole now.

Have a great Monday, and don't let this freezing rain slip you up! Or, whatever other weather you're having...

Sarah

This is me, laughing at myself

Hi!

Although I know no one actually reads this, I like to pretend that I am having a conversation with another person, so... Well, whatever. I am so sorry, that this is just a sad, sad post. However, I hope to overcome this sadness with my next post, which, frankly, shouldn't be too difficult.

I haven't accomplished anything I said that I would do over a week ago. :( That's right, none of those knitting projects I wanted to complete or start got any head way. This is me, laughing at myself. Me, a studious procrastinator, trying to stop.

However, I have decided that the best thing for me to do, is just try to post something. That way, I can at least make a start, and somehow, maybe, just maybe, I will be able to smoothly keep it up.

Consistency is key, right? And it is accomplished through many small steps. That being said, I might as well make this space useful. Well, useful to me, maybe not for you.

This me who hasn't really done my knitting or cooking, is sort of disappointing. I've always had problems with consistency. I'm not sure how exactly I can fix this, but I think I can start my setting priorities, and trying to just get up and get stuff done.

I've been rather sluggish and depressed lately. This mostly has to do with grad school, one thing or another, and the perception that some certain people have of me. I want them to have a good impression of me, so I get rather worried when I hand them something for lab, and I freak out. But I saw them today so I feel better. Funny thing, I don't even need them to say good job or bad job, I just need to see them and have them treat me the same as before and I'm suddenly OK. I also realized that I worry a lot. And, frankly, I just said to myself "STOP, right, now breathe. Now, does worrying about something actually accomplish anything? You, know, besides making you feel crummier than a burnt cookie? No? It just makes you feel bad? And suddenly I'm left with the rhetorical question. WHY?

Therefore, here are my goals for the month of January. (Hey, better late than never, right?). And although I've done this once before, I'm hoping that openly putting them here, will aid me in actually accomplishing something. In addition, next time I will be able to talk to you about my goals, and maybe you can take something from seeing me, an inconsistent procrastinator trying to reform, setting these goals.

Goal 1: No worrying!
Goal 2: Knit something before the end of January!
Goal 3: Post at least three more times!

I think I'll keep it to three because then it isn't too overwhelming!

Here's hoping to see you more,

Sarah

Weekly Knits

One of my New Years Resolutions that I just made up (yes, I know that it is already the 11th of January- but aren't you allowed to call resolutions New Years Resolutions as long as they are made in January? ;) OK- it's to knit something every week! Maybe I will have projects that last multiple weeks (OK, knowing me I will DEFINITELY have projects that last more than one week, but the goal is to always have a project that I am working on it, and CONSISTENTLY getting it done.) Without further ado, I present to you: Weekly Knits. A corner of my world where I commence new projects, in hopes that next Christmas, I will not be learning how to crochet, or knitting/crocheting presents the week of Christmas. With this goal, it's possible for me to make 52 things in a year! WOW! O.O That's a lot, OK? For me, I mean.

It's Friday, and, believe it or not, I actually still have presents to finish. That's right. You heard me. One birthday present and three- never mind, four, Christmas presents. So, that is what I am doing this weekend. Posts of my new projects will be a Monday thing. ;) See you on Monday with pictures of finished projects and my next project!

I leave you with the hopefulness that this post actually binds me to getting stuff done. :) I will also be making some chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes, which I will post about the recipe that I follow, and some pictures! You know, when I get around to it- either Saturday or Sunday, though.

Have a nice weekend!