There Is No Elegant Way To Eat A Popsicle

Suck, slurp, crunch. It's not pretty, but it is necessary.

Let it be noted that any weather in which it is...

a) too dangerous to use your computer (it could overheat and explode),
b) impossible to walk further than ten feet outside without collapsing,
c) exceedingly unpleasant to engage in any activity involving knitting yarn, or...
d) just too friggin' hot to think straight or function like a human being,

...IS JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. And will not be tolerated any longer. Pikelet to weather: shape up.

At least it's cooled enough for me to switch on my laptop without bating my breath.

But now I'd like to divulge one of many things I've been up to when it was too hot to sleep at night...


Tada !

I actually feel quite proud of this humble little kerchief, for no good reason I can think of. I just... like it. And I like it's cute little button at the back.



I think what makes it great is the value for time and effort. It's quick, easy and simple, and just so handy for adding to any number of different outfits for a bit of hand-made pizazz. It used to be approximately one sixth of a pair of jeans.


p.s. Happy New Year !

I Have A Daemon !

The Stress Ball Hat, The Pompom Of DHOOM & The Beret That Is Not Blue

This is my Stress Ball Hat.



And this is my pompom of DHOOM.


And I really must admit, I'm quite in love with both of them. I want to thank Ms. Neither Hip Nor Funky (but nevertheless very cool, IMHO) for a brilliant pattern that fulfills all promises of stress-relief, and then some. The world in general is a better place, when you are the proud owner of a Stress Ball Hat.

Also a slightly different place, apparently. One in which pikelet likes pompoms. For indeed, my fomerly hostile attitude towards pompoms is somewhat dissipated after the making of this uber hat and my very own pompom of DHOOM. Possibly because I'm just astonished that I managed to successfully make a pompom at all, let alone a kick-ass pompom of DHOOM like this one. It's thick, fluffy, soft, springy, dense, squishy, warm and generally fun and comforting. And I like that I can feel it sitting on top of my head and bobbing about a bit when I move ^_^

So, the knitty gritty . . .

Pattern: Stress Ball Hat Pattern from Neither Hip Nor Funky
Yarn: Cleckheaton Merino Spun
Needles: 6mm circs & dpns

Modifications: I didn't have any Rowan Big Wool, and I didn't have any 10mm circs either, so substitution it was. This pattern is actually super easy to sub though, thanks to the sizing notes. I just cast on 70 (instead of 50) stitches, worked 12 (instead of 8) rounds of garter and picked up 13 (instead of 9) stitches for each earflap. It's come out at about the same comfy no-ease fit as the pattern pictures. Done and done!


But wait! There is more. I would also like to introduce you all to . . .


. . . the Big Blue Beret.

Only, it's not blue, and it's not particularly big either. This is thanks to some nifty pattern mods. Okay, here we again . . .

Pattern: Big Blue Beret Pattern from 10 Feet High
Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 12ply
Needles: 3.75mm circs, 5.5mm circs & dpns

Modifications: After falling in love with this version, I copied all the mods made by mmmfruit. You can read all about them there, because she explains it perfectly and I suffer from far too much concentrated laziness to type them out again myself.

All the remains is . . . . to pompom, or not to pompom?

The Professor

So due to some recent cheerful events, I was this weekend made the happy recipient of a Dangerfield gift voucher. Suprisingly enough, it actually took quite a while - at least an hour of browsing - before I was rid of it (I had initially thought it would last maybe . . . five minutes?). But just as I began to fear a mammoth attack of indecision that I could feel bubbling up inside of me, I found . . .


The Professor; everything a bag should be.

I should've known, really. All the best bags I've ever seen have been in a Dangerfield store. This is the third time I've been able to actually buy one upon discovering it and, as usual, there is no better feeling. You see, I'm incredibly fussy about my bags, and I nurse a passionate burning hate for that itsy bitsy teeny weeny, pouch/wallet hybrid, pathetic excuse for a bag A.K.A. 'clutch' or 'purse'.

Bags are meant to carry things. Quite often, a lot of things. Therefore . . .


. . . roominess.

Thus fulfilling basic rules of practicality and useability. But obviously a bag needs to be more than just practical and useable, especially if you're female. Those are givens, really. A bag should also be cool . . .



The Professor is all that, and more. He's also just the right size (and appropriately structured) for my laptop, has lots of handy little pockets inside and out, and is sturdy in a way that will last for years. And years, and years . . .

And he has options.



Now, I can almost hear you all asking 'so why 'The Professor'?' To be honest, I don't know. This is one of those bags, however, that simply could not go without a name. The Professor was the first one that came to mind, and it just felt right. Straightaway.

And he's one hell of a keeper, that's for sure.

Hello World

I'm Alyce ^_^