Notes From Neptune

I write about people, places, and things.

Finished: Butterick 5537 (View A, the Bathrobe)

Okay, lesson officially learned. DOWNLOADABLE PATTERNS: NOT EVEN ONCE. Especially not from the big three. Oy vey. Even before the horrendous, soul-sucking jigsaw puzzle that is assembling your pattern pieces from about a jillion pieces of 8.5×11″ paper, the PrintSew user experience is NOT one to write home about. Unless you really like to convey a sense of desperation and rage to the people at home, I guess. Anywho, I.. Read More

Nerdtastic: October

Game-things have returned! YAY!             So, from left to right: my finished Color Craving Mystery Knitalong shawl, a Jayne hat for my friend Ian’s Halloween getup, the socks I started waaaaaaay back in August from the first installation of the 716knits Firefly Sock Club, a cotton washcloth with a happy little raincloud on it, and another Parseltongue hat in some wonderfully squishy Malabrigo Twist for.. Read More

Now Playing: Freddie Mercury Rocks My Socks

When at work, Spotify has become my new best friend, and I’ve had a lot of fun putting together my own playlists. And, because I’m an egotistical jerk, I thought perhaps these lists should be shared. So, if you use Spotify and would like a little new music, may I present: Freddie Mercury Rocks My Socks (link) 17 tracks, 1 hours This one’s pretty self-explanatory. Just a best-of list of.. Read More

Finished: Vogue 1236, Misses’ DKNY dress with belt

Back in March, I made a dress-type thing:   I’m still in a bit of shock, really. It’s made from a textured striped Nanette Lepore cotton/lycra blend. It’s a stiff fabric with a lot of body, so I hope it settles a bit with wear. Right now when I sit down, my dress likes to hike up a bit. I didn’t, despite my excellent intentions, make a muslin for this.. Read More

Now Playing: La Belle Époque

When at work, Spotify has become my new best friend, and I’ve had a lot of fun putting together my own playlists. And, because I’m an egotistical jerk, I thought perhaps these lists should be shared. So, if you use Spotify and would like a little new music, may I present: La Belle Époque (link) 37 tracks, 2 hours I took a class in college that focused on a particular.. Read More

Finished: Dracula’s Bride

I make things! Really, I do! I promise! See?   Granted, it seems the only things I blog are ginormous lace shawls. But still. This is Dracula’s Bride (link), a hexagonal lace shawl in two skeins (about 1900 yards) of Madelinetosh Lace in Clematis Heather I had stashed from many moons at Annie’s ago. While you can’t see them, it’s also spangled with little coppery beads. I was going for.. Read More

So.

April 30 to September 30. That’s an absurd amount of time to try and cover in one entry, so I really won’t even attempt it. Here are the big things: My grandfather passed away on July 15. It was expected and something of a blessing, but it still feels like a clean empty place in the middle of my chest whenever I think about it, which is often. Mr. Boyfriend.. Read More

Finished: Celestarium

Look up at the sky…   Yep, it’s done. It took a pretty heroic effort there at the end to get all 8,000 miles of edging knit, but I made it happen. The photo above is post-blocking, and the finished shawl has a 45″ diameter. The pattern called for 48″, but I didn’t want to pull it too tightly and create a more open stockinette and risk losing the cool.. Read More

Nerdtastic: March Games

Again, a bit late but better than never:                   From left to right: yet another Maude hat to replace the green one I passed along to my cousin Maggie Mae, a lovely pair of Crenellated (pattern by my very own Rosa, the Drunken Homemaker!) in the first installment of the 2013 Socks That Rock Yarn Club, a sweet lacy little hat in.. Read More

We took a little trip.

This past weekend, Mr. Boyfriend and I scoffed at the chilly New York spring we’ve been having and set off for the Pacific Northwest…   Where it was sunny and 70° and absolutely perfect for a large outdoor picnic filled with his extended family. You see, this past weekend (well, actually Monday) was sizdeh bedar, the thirteenth day after the Persian new year, which is traditionally spent out-of-doors in order to.. Read More