The days of point-and-shoot are over. The days where everything looks orange. Or blurry. Or, just plain awful. The upgrade had to happen or I might have been put off documenting my knitting forever.
Behold the Nikon D80, a semi-pro DSLR equipped with a sweet macro lens to catch stitch definition in its full glory. Or so I expect, once I figure out how to use the damned thing. Years of serious black and while photography with film (you know, that purple-gray stuff that comes in rolls) has not equipped me with many transferable skills to the world of digital photography. With a steep learning curve ahead, I anticipate sharing with you some top-notch knitting photography within a few months (best case scenario). In the meantime, here are my baby steps. And when I say baby, I really mean it: I needed assistance last night with the "on" function.
First, my Koolhaas hat. One of the few projects I've endeavored on my own behalf, I have to say I'm in love. With the yarn (Queensland Kathmandu Aran), the pattern (thank you, Jared), and the possibilities (family and friends will learn to love their Koolhaas hats, too). I picked up a couple additional balls of the Kathmandu in a grassy green for my guy. I'm hoping that the dense texture of this hat will tame his unruly hair in a way that the last hat gift did not.
Pattern: Thumbs Up
Source: Big Fish, Little Fish by Jil Eaton
Yarn: Dream in Color Groovy in Blue Lagoon
Needles: US8 (two circulars)
Modifications: Knit in the round; picked up 4 stitches along thumb. Next time I would add additional stitches in palm area for larger hand width.
Oh, mittens! A phrase which should, perhaps, be a new obscenity. Mittens! Mittens, I say!
I had no fear of completing the swap mittens, and here they are. I do fear, however, that they may be a little small. They are stretchy, so I'll hope and pray. Completed in just the nick of time, I did not have the chance to add the beading as I'd hoped. They are still adorable and I'm so in love with the yarn that I may have to make a pair for myself. My worry regarding the yardage was unfounded, as there is quite a bit left. Maybe a cute kerchief is in it's future? Or perhaps just going into the scraps bag. I am confident that one day I will have a leftover yarn epiphany in which I devise the most brilliant and efficient means of putting the bitty balls to work.
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