While on Vacation . . .

Vacations are for sleeping in, relaxing and taking it slow.  And knitting.  On the downside, sometimes blogs fall by the wayside . . . 

One hat and a second almost done . . .

But there is progress!  I've got one Zeebad hat finished and the second one is almost done.  I should be further along, but there was ripping--followed by cursing (or maybe it was the other way around?  Expletives were shouted and there might even have been some growling).  In a fit of exasperation over size, missed yarn overs and dropped stitches I ripped it all out and started again.  Twice.  Once for each hat.

First hat awaiting ribbon and pompom

The hats have to be perfect 'cuz they're gifts.  So when I was done cursin', I knocked some sense into those stitches.  And I promised myself to only work on the hats when I am well-rested and have time to concentrate.  (Don't rest and time go hand-in-hand with vacations?).   

Second hat in progress

In any case, my goal: finish the second hat within the week and then look for ribbons.  These will get threaded through the eyelets.  There are pompoms to be made too!  Haven't made those in a long time.  I might have to peruse some how-to videos.  I'll keep you posted.

By the Way . . .

There's been some knitting these past two weeks, but not nearly as much as I would have liked.  These things called work and school really take up a lot of unnecessary time--time better spent on knitting.

At least Batman Hat #2 is just about done.  It needs to be cast off and the ends will need fixin', but the knitting is done.

Batman Hat #2

 I'm hoping to make one more Batman Hat, but I'll have to adjust the stitch count to accommodate a baby's head.  Maybe someone's already done the math for me--I can hope, right?

Mitten for toddler

Meanwhile, the mittens are coming along--yay!  I have both mitts done, but they have no thumbs.  I'll have to write a proper post with all my mods when I'm finished.

Almost finished mitt next to adult-sized one

I think they are just the perfect size!  You need to see them next to an adult size mitt to really get a sense of how cute they are.

Anyways, there's an essay that needs finishing.  Talk later . . .  ;)

Long Enough?

Enough yarn?

Just wonderin' if there will be sufficient yarn to make my Cashsilk Fern Scarf long enough?  I know I can fold it over and secure it with a pretty shawl pin (I think one of the local craft shops carries hand-carved wooden shawl pins).

Over 40" in length

Thus far, my scarf has managed to grow to just over 40".  Ideally 50" would give enough length to tie and wrap it once around my neck.  What if it's just shy of my target length?  Maybe a severe blocking length-wise could garner more length?  Not sure  . . . 

Nearing the end with only a wee bit of yarn left 

There's only a wee little ball left.  Gotta be hopeful . . . 

Perseverance, Progress and Patience

Every crafter, including me, needs the three Ps: perseverance, progress and patience.  What do they mean?

Finished afghan with completed border

1) Perseverance means eventually I will finish a project given the appropriate effort (i.e. not leaving it in the bottom of a basket hidden in the back of the closet!).  For example, my long languishing Bernat Mystery CAL from 2010 is finally finished!  Yup, got the border done and am now slowly working through the finishing process (i.e. weaving in all those pesky ends--lots of ends!!).

Detail of border/edging

2) Progress means that work continues on current WIPs.  For example, my Cashsilk Fern scarf continues to grow.  It's almost 20 inches which is nothing to sneeze at.  I continue to peck at that daily, even though it's slow going (go figure that thin yarn takes longer to grow, but grow it does).

Halfway for Cashsilk Fern scarf

3) Patience means having to wait before I embark on a new project.  On our last foray into the big city, we visited LK Yarns .  Having been there before, I knew the shop had products at many price points, but some lovely Handmaiden's Mini-Maiden tempted me.  It's ruby colour and soft silken feel whispered in my ear until I could resist no more.  At $30 a skein, it's some of the most expensive yarn I've ever bought (I bought 2 skeins).  Based out of Halifax, Handmaiden Yarns makes luxurious hand-dyed yarns that command a luxurious price.  Lucky for me, most of the Mini-Maiden was discounted, and I suspect it might have been because the labels were missing (So really I saved money.  And periodically repeating that to myself assuages my guilt, LOL). 

Handmaiden Mini-Maiden in Ruby

Special yarn needs a special pattern.  After many hours spent searching for the right pattern, I decided on the larger shawl version of Ashton Shawlette .  Although the pattern was highly recommended by knitters at Ravelry's Beginning-Lace-Knitters Group, I feared the project might be a wee bit above my skill level.  Even with all my lace experience, my projects tended to have simple lace stitches with simple rectangular shapes.  My only shawl project was a simple garter-stitch shawl.   

Drops Fabel in Sunset for first lace shawl

What to do?  Use less expensive yarn (I'm looking at you Drops Fabel) and attempt a simplified shawlette to learn about shawl construction.   The Oaklet Shawl with its stockinette body and lace border should fit the bill nicely.  It'll be my traveling/airport/try-not-to-freak-out-on-the-plane project.  Then when I feel more braver, I can use the expensive stuff.  

Good Girl

Yup, I've been a "good girl": got much more knitting done this week!  Yay for me!

Growing Cashsilk Fern Scarf

Met up with my knit group too.  Haven't seen some of the gals in a long while.  With this year's hard winter (bad weather or terrible road conditions), everyone hadn't been meeting on a regular basis.  Besides, school kept me busy.  

Detail of unblocked lace pattern

Hopefully I'll continue to attend knit night this fall.  It's a nice break.  And I usually get a fair amount of knitting done.

How's your week?

Slow Progress

The week whizzed by and there was little progress made on my lace scarf.  Work keeps gettin' in the way--go figure?!

Little progress . . . . 

Don't misunderstand.  There has been knitting, mainly at nap time when my toddlers are all fast asleep.  But it's slow going . . .  :(     Maybe I'll get more done at knit night this week . . . (and I promise to show some updated photos).

Blizzards and Craftiness

At this very moment there is a blizzard raging outside my window.  I kid you not!  Up to 45cm of snow expected--in the middle of March!!  Needless to say, I am a wee bit weary of old man winter . . .

Nearly done with Faux-Thrum Mittens

At least March break starts this weekend.  I still have to work, but I've decided to take a break from school.  I handed in my project early, so there are no big essays or projects due till April.  The time-off is a rare chance to work on crafty things--like mittens.

Detail of finished thumb

I've made excellent progress thus far.  One mitten is complete with thumb (some ends need to be woven in).  The other mitt has only one thumb left to go (or is that the right one? Hee, hee.  Mitten humour.).  Very pleased with the end results (although there are always little "errors" that ONLY I can see).

Thumb in-progress--almost done 

Already I'm thinking of my next project and no, it's not a return to the rainbow granny bedspread.  Instead I want more quick and small knitting projects.  I'm thinking my hubby needs a new pair of slippers . . . I'll keep you posted. ;)

Coming Up for Air

Books, papers and more on dining table

Yup, ensconced in papers and books--sadly, none of them are crafty related.  One major project is just about complete and ready for mailing.  The joys of distance education--although to date, I've been able to submit essays, projects, tests & exams online.  Even discussions & classes have all been online via video or audio chat rooms or conferencing. Sadly, I've still two more months of classes left--along with a research essay, another project and a test.

Almost finished mitten

At least there has been knitting!  Yup, there's a mitten almost done.  It's just missing it's thumb. 

Two in-progress  mittens 

And the second mitten has been started too.  Slowly it grows.  Will it be finished before winter's end?  Judging by this season's unusually snowy, icy cold weather, this winter season threatens to extend well into March.  Besides, I live on the east coast.  I'm not seeing anything remotely resembling spring until late April.  After all, I live in a province where snow storms can threaten as late as April 30th.  So I'm sure to get some mitten use before spring arrives in.

Enjoy your week!  
Later

2014 in Review

Not sure I had a great crafting year.  It felt as if my productivity had greatly decreased.  Did I even make much this past year?  It hardly seems so.

Finished Projects from 2014

Yes, there was a pretty hat, some baby things, a costume and a few outfits for brown-haired Barbie.  Yet, there should have been more.  After all, I usually had a hook in my hand, working on something . . . .

In progress Rainbow Bedspread

In my defense I started something a wee bit too big.  Yup, the lovely rainbow bedspread in all its colourful glory.  And that, dear friends, has taken up a fair amount of my time.  The small projects go quickly and you can make lots of them.  As for the big projects . . .well, they take up more time, don't they?

Another view of bedspread

I've got another row of squares ready to get attached.  Too bad I've started my classes for the winter semester--and I'm already up to my eyeballs in homework!  Still, that bedspread makes me very happy. :)

Here's to a more productive year in the wide world of crafts! :)

Ups and Downs

UP: Yay for me!  I  got to do some crafting this week after all.  It's not a lot, but it's something.  I'll get whatever I can get. :)

White centres for the grannies

I finished and submitted a major project this week--that was stressful 'cuz I was trying to keep up with my coursework while still going to work and caring for my family.  Most days I felt like a chicken with her head cut off! :S

A different perspective of grannies

DOWN: To make matters worse, there is stress everywhere I go.  I don't want to get into too much detail here, but suffice to say that it is hard work getting along with other people whether it be family members, co-workers or complete strangers (especially when there are conflicting values and philosophies).  And I've lost some supportive people due to relocation to other cities.  Perhaps all the stress is affecting my perception, too?  And its not just me either.  I think my family is affected by all the stress.

In any case, we're hangin' in there as best we can.  We hope our big move to our own place will help towards alleviating some of those stresses.  Maybe with this big project out of the way, I can muster some crafting time too.  I need it!   Everything I read points to the healing properties of crafting (be it knitting or crochet).  I think I'll sneak in some crochet time as soon as I log off here.

Have a good week and send me some good karma . . . 
Later,

66 and Counting . . .

Stitched Squares

That's how many squares I've completed for my rainbow bedspread.  My plan had always been to make a bedspread that was 11 squares by 11 squares.  Simple math tells me I need a grand total of 121 to finish.  Anything over 61 squares puts me over 50%.  Yay!!  Progress!

Another View

My renewed enthusiasm for the project continues unabated, although I have projects lined up--mostly in my head, ha!

I'd best use my time wisely and get back to working on the next row of squares. 
Later,

Couldn't Resist!

The temptation, that is.  We went away to Cape Breton for a few days to visit some historical sites and enjoy the lovely natural wonders.  And when I spied a Michael's craft store, I HAD to check it out--of course.

I saw lots of goodies and supplies for painting, scrapbooking and knitting (the crafter's lament: so much to do, but so little time to do it all).  When I spied some lovely yarn--and there was lots to choose from--I wrestled with the difficult decision of choosing one.  I didn't even have a particular project in mind.  I finally settled on something pretty that I knew I would never find in town.  Three skeins could work for a scarf or a shawl--or perhaps some other accessory.

Red Heart Boutique Treasure

Aren't the colours just gorgeous?  It's Red Heart's Boutique Treasure in Watercolours.  I just love the way the greens mix with turquoise and shift to blues and back to green again.  Although mainly an acrylic, there is 30% wool in the fibre content.  This could work as a winter accessory . . .  

I spied a current issue of Knit Simple at the magazine rack and picked that up too.  The issue has lots of winter accessories (Rav link).  Even though its still summer, it won't take long for fall to arrive.  And the nice thing about making accessories is that they usually don't take too long to finish--and I need the quick-project fix right now.

Fall 2014 issue of Knit Simple

It wasn't until a few days later--when we got home--that I matched project to yarn.  There was a simple cowl pattern in Knit Simple that caught my eye (among other patterns). 

No 17  Striped Cowl

I found a never-before-used pair of 6mm bamboo circulars and cast-on.  Even though the pattern calls for bulky yarn, the Boutique Treasure is rather thick for a supposedly worsted yarn.  The bigger needles will  make for a looser and loftier fabric.

WIP

Meet my cowl in-progress.  With variegated yarn making it's own lovely stripes, I decided against using two colours.  Oh this will be lovely to wrap 'round my neck come winter. ;)

Later,

So Little Crafting . . .

There's been so little crafting the past week  **sigh** .  I've been busy with reports and what-not for work, as well as working on my challenge package (long story short: I'm challenging some courses required for my degree program but the process requires extensive writing).  On top of that, hubby and I have been busy house-hunting . . . 

However, I will share the little that has been completed on my beloved bedspread:

Bedspread in-progress

I'm making the effort to tidy-up as many loose ends as possible.  The process is slowing me down, but in the end I will be thankful for the effort.

Here's hoping to more craftiness . . . 
Later,

Stitching It

Bits of ends

See the bits of yarn?  Just weaving in some ends.  Not something I enjoy, but I want to "clean up" the back.

Weaving in ends

I couldn't wait for all the squares to be completed.  I needed to see the squares joined together, just to get a sense of how the colours worked together and whether the length and width would work.  

Two rows of squares joined together

Guess what?  It all works!!  I love it!  I'm already working on the next row of colours to add to the bedspread.

Two Stitches

Tam Progress

That's the number I was off by in my stitch count.  Two measly stitches.  So even though I love my hat, there's a section that's a tad messy.

Notice the "messy seam"?

Where the rounds change, there's a bit a mess.  How does it look?  I asked my hubby and the boys and none of them could see it.  Most people won't see it.  

Close-up of "the mess"

Only other knitters will see my mistake--and I don't know too many knitters in my neck of the woods.  I think I'll be safe . . . Besides, a few duplicate stitches and a good wash should tidy things up a bit--I hope.

Back to Bombshell

Bombshell in Progress

So progress continues on the hot pink Bombshell.  Thus far, I've reached the ribbed waistband.  Twenty more rows and then I start increasing for the hip--not too far to go, eh?  Although I must confess that I will add length because my first version was shorter than I prefer to wear.  The sleeves require very little work too, although I may add a few extra rounds of stocking stitch (perhaps decreasing?) before adding edging.

Another View

Confession time: not really loving the yarn, although I've used it in other colours for blankets and baby clothing without complaint.  Still, I chose the yarn for price and not feel. The top is meant to be a costume.  Hope my gamble pays off . . . 

Some Wee Progress . . .

It goes without saying that my knitting mojo is slowly waning.  That there is any progress at all is a surprise to me.  But progress there is!

Avocado Progress

The baby garter sweater (aka Avocado) has one sleeve completed.  Yay!

Sleeve Detail

And even my lowly sock has finally got the beginnings of a heel flap (there's always a sense of accomplishment when I can get the leg portion finished.  It feels as if I'm forever knitting and knitting  . . . until suddenly I've reached the right length).

Ribbed Sock In Progress

I always like working the heel flap--so I can watch the colour changes as I work back and forth.  And of course there's the heel turning which still inspires wonderment: it literally looks like magic!

Now back to my baking and cooking.  Yes, I'm actually making supper which is a wonderment itself (as I so rarely cook--mainly because I don't like to cook and there are other better cooks in the household who actually enjoy cooking).

Have a great week! 

About the Avocado . . .

Almost Completed Body

Yup, its growing!  Very pleased with my progress this week.  I made a concerted effort to work on this project.  It became my naptime and lunchtime knitting.  And of course it was my waiting-room knitting.

WIP

Guess what?  My plan worked!  The bulk of the body is done.  I'm actually working on the garter hem.  The pattern called for 5 " for the body before working hem, but I decided to lengthen it to 6 ".  Planning to work the garter hem for about 1" before casting off.  Then its off to work the sleeves in the round ('cuz I'm not a fan of seaming).

Garter Detail

Hoping to put up my mods and patterns in one of the pages at the top of my blog as a free pattern inspired by classic garter stitch.  I'll keep you posted. ;)

Creating a Teddy

Making a teddy bear involves the creation of various pieces . . . 

Legs and Feet

Pictured above are the legs and soles.  There's a whole lotta ends and seams waiting to be taken care of . . . *sigh*  Perhaps I've mentioned my dislike of finishing?  And all that goes with it: seaming, sewing, weaving . . . *double sigh*

One Arm

And this is the arm.  I've already finished the first arm and slowly progressing on the second one . . . 

Tally ho, little knitter!  Tally ho!