New Beginnings

We are in the process of revamping our blog/website/etsy/storenvy store right now!!  We are so excited to be getting things up and running.  Let us know if there is anything you would like to see us have or sell, and any tutorial type things you guys would like!!!

So excited to start this journey!!

So many baby showers!

I managed to finish one of my baby blankets! That's two down, two to go.  Man, it seems like everyone is having babies these days!

This is the blanket for Rachel, one of my coworkers.  It was knit with Bernat Pipsqueak on US11/8.0mm needles.

I finally took a photo of the blanket for Kathleen, too. It was crocheted out of an unknown baby yarn from my stash.

I also finished spinning Professor Plum!

I ended up with about 120 yards, and I think it's probably a bulky weight. As soon as I have free needles/brain space, I'll be using it to cast on a shawlette/scarf for myself.

Still on the needles:

My beau's socks;

Lisa's dishcloths; and

Tara's shawl.

And new on the needles:

A Citron shawl

Mandy's baby blanket.

Lots to knit! And so little time to do it!

That didn't last long...

Well, I tried to post regularly... But life has thrown a pile of curveballs lately.  We have had a couple of snow days and half-days from weather, which was great the first time, and not as great this week.  The first one, two weeks ago, I got to spend the day at home knitting.  Awesome, right? This week, though, was less fun. I was rear-ended last weekend, and I banged up my right wrist, elbow, and shoulder, and so I did not spend these last half-days knitting.  Boo.  

But I have finished some things since the last entry, so here we go!

My Oceanic socks are done! These were knit on US 1.5 / 2.5mm needles with Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock in the colorway Oceanic.  Yeah, creative naming on my part, I know.

Pink Vampire Socks!  Also knit on US 1.5 / 2.5mm needles, using XRayAnn's merino/nylon/sparkle blend in the colorway Hot Pink Sparkler.  They're superfun to wear, and less scratchy than I expected sparkle yarn to feel, so yay!

More socks! These are Crazy Socks, a toddler-sized tube sock with a spiral pattern, as requested by my sister.  They're also on US 1.5 / 2.5mm needles, using Koigu KPPPM. They're already in the mail, so hopefully I'll have a happy niece soon.

I totally fell for the Malabrigo Mecha yarn when I knit the Maize mitts by TinCanKnits.  I did the fingerless version, because I wasn't sure I'd have enough yarn for the full mitts - I had used part of the skein for a secret project. I want to go buy more of this yarn, and make more of these mitts.  In fact, my sister and her whole family may get pairs for Christmas next year. They were so simple, but so pretty.

I finished the first of the four baby blankets for work, but I don't have a full photo yet. The yarn is leftover from another blanket, but I have no idea what it is, other than acrylic.  One down, three to go.  Yeesh.

And then I finished a lot of hats.

This was my fifth (yes, that's right, FIFTH) Drizzle.  I love this pattern.  This one was knit from Bernat Alpaca in two colors on US 4 / 6mm needles in the medium, slouchy size.  A former coworker mentioned on Facebook that she had just started chemo and was out looking for hats, so I sent one off to her. Hopefully, it'll fit well.

This is Sir Fox's Hat, a preemie hat for my friends' tiny baby boy.  He's still in the NICU, but they're hoping that he'll be home with them next week.  I can't wait to finally meet the little guy!

Another preemie hat, because the first one was so adorable. I'm not sure if the colors are right for him, but I'll see what his parents think.  If it's not right for him, I'll donate it to one of the many groups collecting them.

I also crocheted a test pattern for Owl Luv Crochet, but it hasn't been released yet, so I can't share photos yet.  Let's just say it's cute!

Of course, I still have lots on the needles.  I started another pair of socks for Jim, using the Nordlys yarn that I got a couple weeks ago. I'm also working on the second baby blanket for work.  I'm still working on Paul's scarf for next year, and dishcloths for Lisa.  I'm also on the second 4-oz section of my Professor Plum fibre, and I'm hoping to be able to ply it this weekend.

In other crafty news, I started working on a Tinkerbell cross stitch pattern, and found the birth announcement cross stitch pattern for my youngest niece, which I really should finish sometime before her birthday...

But all those things in progress will have to wait a couple more days, until I'm feeling more like myself.  Man, not knitting is driving me up the wall!

Stashing!

I had two FOs this week - a matchy-matchy set of dragon hoodies!  The pattern is the Cute Creatures Hooded Sweater by Paula M (available for purchase on Ravelry). It's the same basic pattern as the owl hoodie I made for my niece, but with different appliqués.  They were a gift for a friend who is expecting her second baby any day now - she said that she's not normally a fan of matching outfits, but that dragons are definitely an exception!

I worked on my Oceanic socks, and I've finished the first and started the second.  I'm not even halfway to the heel, though... Hopefully, I'll get a lot of good knitting time this weekend so I can finish these and then start on a new pair, because I got new yarn!

I updated my stash on Ravelry tonight, because I have had a lot of enhancements in the past month, but didn't get around to adding them.  First, Christmas present yarn!

 Shiny pink yarn from Colby and David! They know me well ;) It's from XrayAnn's Etsy shop, and it's a superwash merino/nylon blend with sparkle.  It's going to be my next pair of socks, and I can't wait.

Next, souvenir yarn:

I found some gorgeous lace yarn while I was up visiting my family at Christmas, and now I'm on the hunt for the perfect shawl pattern.

I also got some prize yarn:

Green and sparkly, from Jen of the Commuter Knitter podcast.  I can't decide if it will grow up to be socks (it's a merino/nylon blend) or a shawl.  I'm leaning towards socks.., and matching handwarmers.

I also got club yarn, thanks to my sister who got into the Sunnydale Yarn Club from Dizzy Blonde Studios:

I'm excited to start this, but I'm not sure if it'll be socks or handwarmers or a hat or a shawl, or something else entirely.

And then there was yarn because I found new yarn shops:

 This pretty stuff came from FLEECE in Cumming, Ga, and will end up as a pair of socks for my beau.

 These came from the Cast-On Cottage and Needlepoint Garden in Roswell, Ga, and will be a gift for my sister... So you may not hear any more about them until she gets the finished object!

And finally, I got two skeins today, because it's Thursday:

I'm turning into such a Malabrigo fan! I've already started working with it for a secret project on Ravelry, and also a pair of handwarmers for myself.  I also got a skein of Koigu, but I somehow forgot to take a photo of it.  It's super-bright, and will eventually become socks.

Wow.  I think, maybe, it's time for a yarn diet...

Testing, testing!

This past week, I participated in a test crochet for Owl Luv Crochet on Ravelry. The pattern has been released as "Cute Creatures Hooded Sweater" by Paula M. I made an owl in the 12-18 month size, using Red Heart Super Saver. It might not be the softest yarn, or the schmanciest, but it works well for a kids' sweater that needs to be machine washable. I think it turned out adorable, and I'll be sending it off for my niece this weekend. 

Tonight, I finished sewing a project bag for myself. It's long and skinny, but I think it's going to work for several projects I've  got in mind. It took less than two hours, and I've already figured out a few things that I will change for the next one I make. I've already got the fabric and zippers - just need more time!

WIPs:

I'm working on a pair of socks for myself. I turned the heel of the first one last night while waiting for my cookies to bake, and I should have time to finish the first sock this weekend, and maybe start on the second. 

I'm also working on a secret project for BatGirl and Sir Fox (my friend's kids), but I won't say any more until the gifts are given. 

With all the upcoming baby showers at work, I've started on a yellow baby blanket. I've got plans for three more. Sigh. 

And I'm still working on Tara's shawl and Paul's scarf... They're on my list of 2014 goals!

So I've got lots to keep me busy! But I love it. I hate just sitting still.

Well. I dropped the blogging ball, didn't I?

Hello again!  It's been more than two months since I last blogged - oops.  Although I can't say I'm surprised.  Would you like to hear my excuses?  It's quite simple.  My family came to visit in October, and I wanted to spend time with them, rather than at the computer. In November, I participated in (and won!) NaNoWriMo for the tenth consecutive year, which meant that my evenings and weekends were spent writing instead of knitting.  I also had a conference to attend for work, which kept me away from both writing and knitting for the better part of a week.  And December? The first part was spent recovering from November! And then I spent nearly two weeks back home with my family.  

Most of the knitting and crafting that I did during these months was for gifts, so I couldn't have posted them anyways - I'm never sure who's going to be reading this, and I'd hate to ruin a surprise.

But it's a new year, and I'm back at it!  And because it's a new year, I'd like to take a moment to review 2013 in crafting.  Last year, I made a lot of stuff.  A lot.  The projects included:

- 10 pairs of socks 

- 3 Drizzle hats (pattern by mskiknits, available on Ravelry)

- 2 matching Christmas sweaters for my nieces

- 5 other hats

- 8 baby blankets

- 9 sets of handwarmers

- a sweater and a tank top for myself

- a Cornish Pixie

- a shawl for my mum

- 2 scarves

- 2 mug cozies

- 16 tiny baby bunnies

- 5 necklaces

- 2 pairs of baby booties

- a picnic blanket

- a cute ugly monster

Wow.  That's a lot.  I have 57 completed project pages on Ravelry for 2013.  I still have 9 WIPs hanging out there, too, and I'm hoping to get through several of those before the end of this year.  I've joined a few KALs this month to work on reducing the stash and WIP pile, so expect to see more FOs in the next few weeks.

And speaking of FOs, here's my first of the year:

These are my Christmas socks, using my own vanilla sock pattern and the Fish Lips Kiss Heel.  They're knit from Never Enough Thyme's SW Merino/Cashmere/Nylon in Starlite Mint.  It was my first time trying a different colored toe, heel, and cuff, and I'm quite pleased with the results!

I also finished this:

This is my second-ever handspun yarn.  It's a single, 1 oz, approx 30 yards, spun from La Tea Da Designs' Golden Browne Alpacas Yuki.  I LOVE suspended spindling! I've already started on another ounce, and I can't wait to get more fibre.

I think I'll hold off until next week for my 2014 goals, but I can tell you that I've got a lot... But given what I accomplished in 2013, I'm sure I can do it!

Until next week, make more stuff!

Catching up

I'm not sure how many followers we have at this point, but if you were wondering where we disappeared to, I'm sorry about that.  Karen was actually here with me for tow weeks, along with her husband and kids, AND our parents! It was a big ol' family vacation (except for the part where I still had to go to work). 

So while they were here, I didn't do much knitting, because we spent most of the evenings doing things.  We enjoyed a lot of dinners out, and did a LOT of shopping.  And when I did have time to make stuff, I did little things, and I decided not to worry about blogging.

But I'm back, and full of updates!  Here's what I've finished since last time:

My KSP1 KAL Handwarmers v2, knit with Inspiration Dyeworks Basic Sock in the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 colorway on US 1 needles.  I LOVE these! Going down a needle size made a huge difference, and they fit just the way I like them.

My Hamrick fingerless gloves, made from a mystery yarn from my stash, on US 2 needles.  I made this pattern up as I went, and finished them in a day.  I really like these, too, as a kind of fancy look, and I've decided that I'm going to write out the pattern and put it up on Ravelry.  The name comes from the event - I knit them up to wear to a friend's wedding.

Mum's Moonlight Shawl!!! I finished the knitting last night, got it soaked and blocked, and it's almost dry - it's going to be ready for Christmas! I'm so excited!  I knit this in Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lace Paints on US 1. I also added some teeny tiny seed beads, which don't show up in this photo very well, but add a really pretty sparkle in real life.

I also finished one of my Hermione's Everyday Socks, and I cast on the second.  I'm just past the toe, about two repeats into the pattern on the top of the foot.

I don't have any photos yet, but I also made a few crocheted necklaces for my mum.  I'll try to get photos of those soon, and I'll post them at some point.

So all of that is done!  But there is still so much to knit!  So here's what I've got on the needles:

- my beau's Christmas present

- KSP1 KAL Handwarmers v3 

- my Hermione's Everyday Socks

- my monster sweater

 

Why is it called my monster sweater? Because it looks like I'm knitting a muppet-type monster!

And there's still so much to knit before Christmas! 

A quick one

This week has been crazy, and it's only Tuesday! Yesterday started out with a surprise root canal (happy Monday!) and ended with my out-of-town guests arriving just before midnight. I haven't slept much, and I really need to get to bed, so I'll keep this quick.

What's finished? Little things!

This is a pair of Fortune Cookie Booties, which will be a future baby gift for a friend.  The pattern comes with several adorable fortunes that you can print out and tuck into the booties, and I picked up a takeout style box to package them in.

Baby Converse! A good friend wanted a fun way to announce her pregnancy at work, and so I knit her these cuties to put on her desk.  They took very little yarn, and about six hours to finish.

I also finished my second pair of Knitting Samurai Plus 1 handwarmers, but I haven't had a chance to photograph them yet.

I cast on a pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks (modified to be toe-up), and I sewed myself a little bag to carry sock projects in while I walk. Again, photos to follow. Did I mention I have house guests? I love them, but they make some things fall to the side for a bit.  

I also worked on Mum's shawl and Tara's shawl again.

I've got plans to cast on for several KALs this month, but I'll share more once I get things on the needles.

And that's all for now, folks! Happy making things!

Cake, cake, cake, cake

Today is going to be so much about cake! Because there was just soooo much cake in my life this weekend!  Also, please be aware that this post is going to be very photo-heavy. 

But first, my knit FOs:

I finished a cardigan for the birthday party, with two days to spare. But I forgot to take photos, because I didn't wash it until the day of the party.  Oops.  But I do have a pic that I snagged from Facebook:

This was knit out of an unknown yarn - it was some stash that I inherited from my grandma, and it really wanted to be a baby thing.  I used the same pattern that I used for Columbo's Cardi a couple weeks ago, from the 'We Like to Cardi' pattern in the fall 2013 edition of KnitSimple, using US 4 needles. I'll get a photo of the little girl wearing it sometime soon.

I also finished my stripey socks, which are no longer for me.  However, they are about to find a new home as a birthday gift!

These were knit out of Patons Stretch Sock in Spinoni Stripes, on US 3 circular needles. It was my first time trying two-at-a-time, top-down socks on a single circular.  It was interesting... I'm not sure I'll do that again any time soon, but I may try magic looping one sock at a time.

Finally, I finished my first pair of handwarmers for the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 Color KAL! 

 

The yarn is Basic Sock from Inspiration Dyeworks in The Knitting Samurai Plus 1 colorway. It only took 20g for this pair, so I'm totally making more. I used my standard handwarmer pattern (one that I made myself), with a row of YO, k2tog at each color change in the yarn. These were done on US3 needles.

I also worked on Mum's Moonlight Shawl, Tara's Shawl, and I cast on my second set of handwarmers for the KSP1 KAL.

And then, I worked on the cake.

One of my good friends asked me to do a cake for her daughter's birthday.  But not just any cake:

She had total confidence in my abilities, which is both lovely and terrifying. But if she thought I could pull it off, then by gosh, I was gonna pull it off.

The cake physics had me worried, I'll admit. I mean, I've watched all of 'Ace of Cakes' and lots of 'Cake Boss,' but I don't do this for a living. I don't have all of the tools and supports to do this. However, I do have access to awesome people who like to build stuff.  Between my beau, the daddy, and the handyman at work (hi, Ray!), my friends helped make the support system in my brain actually take shape.

Once the support was ready, it was time to bake. And bake. And bake. I started on Friday, after work, around 6:00. I got all of my supplies laid out for a photo op:

Yes, I used boxed cake mix. But I modified them to make them slightly more dense, to better support the weight of the finished cake (hence the pudding and three dozen eggs).

There were seven different flavours of cake. From bottom to top, we had Triple Chocolate Fudge, Lemon, Red Velvet, French Vanilla, Strawberry, Butter Yellow, and Funfetti, plus a smash cake in Funfetti.  That's a lot of cake.  

I went to bed around midnight, and had ten of the sixteen layers baked. I also had the broom started - I used crispy rice treats to mold the sweeping part of the broom.  That was... A mess.  I don't know when I forgot how to properly make that stuff, but it was really gooey, and I couldn't keep it from sticking to my hands, and I definitely needed my beau's help to keep from getting the stuff all over the kitchen and dining room.

I started again on Saturday morning around 9, baking the remaining cakes and doing the first layer of frosting. By about noon, I had frosted the broom, and was starting to do the final frosting and stacking.  Boy, that was a messy job!  The edge of each layer got a thick layer of white frosting, then got threaded on to the centre support.  Once in place, I heated some purple frosting in the microwave, then drizzled it over the layers so it started to look drippy.

I took pictures of the first few layers as I added them, then realized that I needed to hurry up! I put ten layers in place before we moved it from the dining room table to my car.  The remaining four layers, the smash cake, and my decorating kit all piled into the back of my car, and I sat on the back seat, holding onto the center support with one hand, and the panic handle with the other as my beau drove the 1.3 miles to the party location.  That may have been the most stressful car ride of my life.  

But we arrived in one piece, I finished the stacking and frosting, and voila! The cake was ready before the party started at three! (If you didn't do the math, that was about 12 hours of baking and decorating.)

It turned out well, I think.  Well enough that someone at the party wants me to make a cake for her next party ;)

And that's the story of the cake.

Holy stash, Batman!

The big project this week was cataloging my yarn, putting it into Ravelry and taking photos of all of it. I have added all of the yarn that lived in my office, with the exception of about a dozen half-or-less balls that don't have any ball bands or other identifying features. I still have some yarn in the basement, but that's just going to have to wait.  As of right now, I have 132 different types of yarn in my stash.  And there are many of those with multiple skeins.  So.  I'm probably going to try a yarn diet.

Except that I bought more yarn today.  But it was on sale! Sugar and Cream cotton for only $0.97! I got five balls.  But that will all get used up for Christmas presents (I hope).

I also got my yarn for the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 knit-along! It's from Inspiration Dyeworks, and it's soooo pretty!

I do have a couple of finished objects this week.  First, I finished my Cherry Sour socks:

These are my personal vanilla with a 4x2 rib and a Fish Lips Kiss heel, knit out of Patons Stretch Sock in Cherry Sours on US 3 needles. I used my Clover Takumi double-pointed needles.  I love the way they look, but they're just a little bit too big for my tiny foot. I only cast on 48 sts, but they didn't work out. I think it might be because of the stretchiness of the yarn. I'm going to try the same formula with some less-stretchy yarn, and see how that works.  Luckily, both my mum and my sister have feet just slightly bigger than mine, so one of them will be getting some socks!

I also cast on and finished this little guy:

He's knit out of Knit One, Crochet Too's Babyboo, leftover from my iPad cover a few years ago, on US 4 needles. I used my Clover Takumi dpns - I think I prefer using bamboo or wood these days.  He's based on a free pattern I found on Ravelry for The Lorax, by Rachel Gallegher-Miller. He's destined to be a birthday present for a first birthday party this coming weekend.

What else am I working on? I'm glad you asked! 

I started my handwarmers for the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 podcast knit-along.  If you don't watch it, you should go check it out! http://knittingsamuraiplus1.blogspot.com

This is a variation on my usual handwarmers - cast on 36 sts on US 3, knit a bit of 2x2 ribbing, knit until I like the length, cast on extra stitches for the thumb hole, then decrease gradually to the wrist, and end with some more ribbing. Because of the circulation problems in my left hand, I'm supposed to wear gloves to keep my hand warm and keep the blood flow optimal. And because I knit, I'm always working on new handwarmers. Most of them are pretty plain so far, but now that I've got a good stock built up, I feel like I can get more complicated.

I cast on for a baby sweater yesterday, because I felt like the monster alone wasn't going to be enough of a gift, so I'm rushing to get that finished by Thursday night.  And if you're observant, you might recall that I said the party is this weekend.  It is.  It's on Saturday. But I'm also baking the cake for the party, and that's going to be... Big.  There will be photos next week, because I'm not sure if the cake is supposed to be a surprise.  But suffice to say, there will be at least 12 layers baked on Friday night, frosted on Saturday morning, and assembled Saturday afternoon. And it's going to be AWESOME!  There is no sweater photo, because I'm too busy knitting it to find a place to lay it out, make it pretty, photograph it, crop, and upload. And I'm lazy. 

I'm also still working on Mum's Moonlight Shawl.  I decided to make it a bit more fancy, and have added seed beads to the garter stitch rows, and so far, I really like the look, even if it is a bit of a pain to work with.  I think it's going to be worth the trouble.

And Tara's Shawl is still getting some love, though only at work on my lunch breaks.

I've turned the heels on the stripey socks, and decided to give them away. I'm about halfway down the foot (these are top-down instead of my preferred toe-up), and I need to get the recipient's foot length before I go much further.

I thought that I had a photo of Nora's legwarmers on my Photo Stream, but I guess I was wrong.  I'll try to get that for next week!

Whew! That was a lot.  Hope you enjoyed seeing what I'm working on!

Cleaning = knitting?

I attempted to continue my clean-up this week... and attempted is the key word here.  I pulled out my bag o'baby hat yarn. This was all bulky, pretty stuff that I had purchased specifically to make baby hats from the book Welcoming Home Baby. I had made several of them in the past, but they didn't make it into Ravelry, so I can't be sure when exactly.  In any case, I pulled out the bad and started weighing all the partial skeins to enter into my Ravelry stash. As I was going, I realized that there was very little leftof a few of them, and that I could quickly use them up.  So I did!

The Criss-Cross hat:

The Chunky Beanie:

The Dashing Through the Snow hat:

Even more exciting than the baby hats, though, are the socks for my beau! I finished his TARDIS socks!  They're knit mostly out of Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky, and I loved working with this yarn!

I also finished Nora's legwarmers, but totally forgot to take a photo, so I'll try to include one next week.

So those are off the needles. Still in progress - but without photos because they look almost the same as last week - I have my stripey socks, Mum's Moonlight shawl, and Tara's shawl.  

And because it feels wrong to have just one pair of socks on the needles, I started my Cherry Sour socks (named for the yarn, not the pattern). I'm trying the Fish Lips Kiss Heel again, and it looks better this time. It turns out that I've been wrapping the yarn wrong for my purl stitches since, well, always. I think that's why the first pair looked wonky.  Here's what they look like so far:

I'm debating starting a new pair of armwarmers, but I feel like I should finish some of these other things first.  Maybe I'll let myself cast on once I finish a pair of socks.

Where does that leave me in terms of my goals? Not too bad!

- I want to finish my beau's socks by Sept 14, which is the next time I'll get to see him face to face.  DONE!

- I want to finish Mum's shawl by Sept 30, because then I can enter it into the My Sister's Knitter's KAL on Ravelry. WORKING ON IT

- I want to finish my stripey socks by Sept 30 to keep on track for the 26 Pair Plunge. ABOUT TO TURN THE HEELS

- I want to finish Tara's shawl by Oct 18, so I can send it to her without extra postage costs. MAYBE BE ADJUSTED TO DECEMBER...

- I want to start and finish the legwarmers by Sept 30, so I can get credit for my HPKCHC class. DONE! Just need to post them.

- NEW: Finish Cherry Sour socks by Sept 14, to keep on track with the 26 Pair Plunge and then let myself cast on some armwarmers. 

And that's what's going on in my craft world!