pattern : present 
yarn : red heart SS blue camo 
needle : US 8 [5mm] circular 
size : 14x5.5in
a very relaxing knit--i am so making more of these. the first picture is a more accurate rep of the colorway of the yarn, very pretty, but unfortunately still really scratchy, even after a good soak. i'll be really glad to see this yarn get all used up, maybe i'll think of something like a market bag or loofah for the yarn, i won't want something this uncomfortable against my skin all the time.
...speaking of yarn, my first knitpicks order finally came! this is half of my wool of the andes worsted for a knitted gift for someone special. this will be my first experience with an animal fiber, so i'm pretty stoked.
so squishyyyyy~
pattern : simple garter stitch scarf
yarn : red heart SS black and café
needle : US 10 [6mm]
size : 68x9in
this is just a simple stash busting project, i felt like busting out a tasseled scarf on big needles while watching downton abbey a bit ago and this happened. the finished scarf was really wide and long and warm and cushiony..pretty much incompatible in every way with the climate right now..
 
pattern : simple seed stitch cowl
yarn : caron simply soft in country blue
needle : US 6 [4mm]
i'm pretty sure this is the first project i made when i joined ravelry, i've never heard of seed stitch before and thought it was really attractive, so i gave this one a try [the pattern being free doesn't hurt either~]. it was really frustrating to see it grow so slowly, but i guess that's what happens when someone isn't used to knitting starts on a smallish gauge project? my chosen yarn for this project was a super soft acrylic yarn that's been sitting in my stash--i really like the colorway, and will be looking for more yarn like it soon. anyway, unrepaired mistakes in the garment aside i really liked how it turned out ! 
pattern : waffle stitch fingerless gloves
yarn : caron simply soft in country blue
needle : US 7 [4.5mm]
i had a bit of yarn left over after that cowl and thought i'd make a pair of mitts. i had no dpns and am not confident at all with knitting in the round just yet, so i found this nice project and made this pretty pair. i think i'll give this and the cowl to one of my good friends for her birthday. i'm sure she'll appreciate the effort.
here is also a wip i started today, i really wanted to break in those 8s and couldn't resist. it's mademoiselle c's present which is a very pretty and simple cowl. the yarn's straight from the stash, and it's a little to scratchy for comfort, but there's a hope it'll soften up after a few washes.

yesterday i found it in me to brave the summer heat and visit the close knit circle, a local yarn shop. this was to be my very first visit to an actual yarn shop and not a massive craft store with a small yarn department [although, i haven't been to one of those in over a decade either], so i was a little nervous for some reason, haha. the shop was really beautiful, [i was even welcomed by this gorgeous dog!] and everyone there was very kind and helpful. i even got to feel a lot of gorgeous yarns i've only seen online, wonderful stuff.

next to wanting to finally go to a yarn shop, i paid tckc a visit because i was looking for a nice cotton to design some washcloths for father's day. that and some size 8 circulars, since i've been eyeing a few lovely patterns that i've been aching to make with my stash yarn. anyway, the yarn i decided on was this really pretty silver phoenix yarn by ella rae, i'm not sure if the sheen in any way affects absorbency or anything, but it was too pretty not to try out.
they were also kind enough to wind my yarn into a ball !

after knitting and measuring gauge, i found a knitting pattern generator and very steadily built a pattern from one of my sketches. after it was done it was printed and i got to work test-knitting it. a lot of changes need to be made with the pattern before i'm happy with it completely, but each step of the way has been enjoyable. instead of frogging this test-knit i might just bind off and admire it for the lesson it is and continue this design. designing little knits so far is a challenge that requires a lot of concentration and patience but it's something i definitely see myself doing more in the future.