<insert crazy ramblings here>

1) Emission Spectra Scarves. Or Absorption spectra ones if you're after something more colourful. via @davedevereux.

2) 3 colour Brunnian link (not a knot) neck warmers / bracelets. Wikipedia link via makyo.

3) A double walled tubular scarf with two side scrolling levels on it that actually scrolls.
Look it works in my head, okay.
Knit a few loooong rows of brown. One or two of green. Quite a few blue. Then a few brown.
Fold in half width ways, and stitch together, such that the join helps stop the tube rotating.
Sew on a load of felt bits representing objects from Sonic on the green stripe edge, and Mario on the other.
Pull one end through the middle, and seamlessly stitch to the other.

( I need to learn how to write patterns better. )

If you made a few of them out of translucent yarn, then put a sealed transparent plastic bag with water and different coloured food dye in each, I reckon you'd have a great little start to a crafty mad science lab.

I know you can get plastic yarn (looks like the sheathing from wires), but can you get translucent stuff?

I finally finished the little blighter.



Beware you dreamers and sensitive souls, for he will nuzzle your brains, and drive you mad!



The least bit of knowledge about his horrendous (acrylic) nature would drive your sanity from our body faster than I can drop a stitch. That said here's the pattern that came to me from no where:

( Pattern for Conical Cranium Crochet Cthulhu )


Conical Cranium Crochet Cthulhu Pattern by cdave is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

{ETA: correction to Key}

( First thing I ever crocheted )
It was a birthday present for Vixie

I was going for chirpy, but I think he looks malevontly smug. Like he's just fooled a mollusc into falling for his evil plans!

Oops knitted another. Really need to start work on prezzies instead.

I haven't had any time to knit all week, so no further progress. I've just realised that I didn't post the milestone I reached at the Cock last Thursday.

I can stop increasing, the hat is big enough.

( Scary photos, of me wearing a half done hat )

Next step is to work out the patterns for the eyes and wings.

The BBC take down of Dr. Who knitting patterns made it to a brief mention on the Today show headlines. Surliminal posted a couple of reactions with regard to fan sites and copyrights.

( Latest Hat Progress )It was pointed out to me that knitted hats should be floppy. I think I'm using too small needles for the wool. Ah well, at least with stitches this dense it'll keep my head warm.

The advantage of knitting a hat top down, is that I don't need to know the gauge at all. I was just doing that way so that I could leave the needles in as place holders for where the scarf and tenticals would join.

( Photo, and pattern thus far. )

I saw another interesting technique at Angel Knits last night. I didn't find out if it had a name, so I'm calling it Cuttlefish edging. Cast on twice as many stitches as you need then decrease to the number you need in about 4 or 5 rows. It leaves a random wavey edge that looks something like a cuttlefish wing. I thinkg that'll look good at the back between the tenticles

So far the techniques I want to use on this are.
Knitting in the round (Hat)
Increases (top down hat)
Decreases (Ribbing wouldn't look right, so I need to tighten the bottom of the hat the hard way)
Reverse Cuttlefish (for the back)
Braids (for the start of the scarf)
icords (for the front tentacles)
Fair Isle (using dark green wool to make patterned eyes)

This is turning into quite a complex little project :)

Eastercon write up coming tonight, hopefully. Quick preview:

There was a bit of recurring phrase going around:
"It's coming, and we need to be ready for it."

In one of Cory's panels It was ebook readers.
In autopope's case It is your grandchildren discovering everything you've ever written online.
And several people thought It would be the forthcoming Zombie apocalypse.

I was thinking that it would make an interesting panel on what is coming, that will change the world, and that we need to start preparing for...

... when I had a flash of inspiration for what to do with my black and too dark green wool.

Cthulu!

While a Portal Scarf would be neat, it would probably be out of date by the time I finished it. Whereas Cthulu's powers seems to have endured vast trackless eons that the human mind cowers in terror from.

Thinking about doing a pattern on a scarf, I was worried that it would turn on my neck and face the wrong way. This way I can do a tube on my little circular needles, with tentacles running up it. Maybe I could even stuff the end, to make a head. I won't even have to count stitches, because tentacles should waver. Ooh, and I can use the cable cross over thing I've been practising to make them cross over each other.

{edit: s/Cuthulu/Cthulu/g}

aka Linkdump.

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"DRESSING MY CAT TO LOOK LIKE YOU JUST ISN'T THE SAME."
Best response to stalking accusation ever.

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I was particularly tickled by Martin Rowson's surreal cartoon on the EU constitution earlier in the week.

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A simple guide that can be used to hide messages in knitting. They can't be seen from the front. Here's an example a friend knitted.


Pointed to by Susie

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Fear the impossible quiz, as it's quite tricky. Flash game.
Sent by Eleri

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Surliminal has just posted a nifty map showing travel time by public transport to the Department for Transport. Re-enforces the idea that south east London is impossible to commute from.