Road Trip!

The best thing about road trips?

In-car knitting, of course!  The best knitting is accomplished in a moving car (as long as you're not knitting and driving at the same time, ha ha).  I've cast-on for my pinky-pink bombshell and it's movin' along nicely.  So far, so good. ;)

What Time Is It?

Adventure Time Opening Sequence

Why it's Adventure Time!  Ha, ha!  It's one of my favourite cartoons--very strange, but interesting and very original.

Remember last year's Hal-Con?  It was our first and we were quite impressed with all the costumes.  So we decided to dress up for this year's Hal-Con  (check out this year's events and guests).  

Princess Bubblegum

I've decided to dress up as Princess Bubblegum (who happens to be one of the characters on Adventure Time . . . now the intro makes so much sense).  Living in a small town means the search for supplies will be challenging.  I'm hoping to make my own wig and outfit: knitted top and simple pink skirt sewn from matching fabric.

Not a Hat!  Beginnings of a Wig

So far I've made good progress on the wig.  The pattern is a free one from the Lion Brand website (you can find the pattern link and helpful mods over at Ravlery). Basically the crocheted open-work cap gets filled in with "hair" (otherwise known as yarn).

Pink Stash

Scrounging 'round the stash netted lots of pink: nothing in any significant yardage, so I may have to go on a search . . . 

A Really Big Ball of Pink

I did, however, find raspberry yarn for the top over at Walmart (and yes, it is acrylic).  I'm hoping to use Stefanie Japel's Bombshell pattern from Big Girl Knits.  It's a pattern I've made before, so I'm confident I can complete the project . . . but will it be done on time?  Only time will tell.  I'll keep you posted.

Till next time . . . . 

Jurassic Pig and Other Farm Tales

Sneaking up on pigs whilst they rest in their shelter

Those pigs!  After we brought them home, it was days before I even saw them 'cuz they kept hiding in the thick growth of their fenced-in pen.  I felt like one of the visitors to Jurassic Park.  Remember when the vehicles stopped in front of the T-Rex cage and it was nowhere to be seen?  Even after the sacrificial goat was proffered, it refused to reveal itself . . . just like our pigs!!  I literally had to sneak up on them to get a few decent shots and then they ran off when they heard the "ding" of the camera.  Those crazy pigs!  

Fleeing pigs . . . 

In contrast, the turkeys come over and "talk" when they see us humans.  Aren't they getting uglier with each passing day? 

Turkeys

Even the egg-laying chickens are brazen.  We added more egg-layers to the group and there's a bit of a turf war going on, with each party avoiding the other (I think the newer hens are scared of the older ones and rightly so, as the older gals are killers--ever see a chicken pecked to death?). 

Older egg-layer strutting 'bout the big pen

I think the resulting stress has put a damper on egg production 'cuz the ol' girls have stopped laying . . . me thinks chicken stew is gonna be on the menu soon if there continues to be no eggs. 

New egg-layer deciding if it's safe to venture out . . . 

As for the meat birds . . . I have never met an animal so stunned in all my life.  Part of me feels sorry for them 'cuz we humans have messed them up by breeding in traits (such as large breasts) that prevent movement--they literally have a hard time walking.

Meat birds in movable pens

And what's a farm without a garden?  The veggie garden has seen the biggest change.  With full-time work and family chores,  I seldom have a chance to get in there.  However, my FIL has done an awesome job caring for the plants.

Potatoes, peppers and celery

For the most part, everything is looking lush and green.  Looking forward to the harvest come end of August . . . .

Corn, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots and beets

Later,
;)

More Stash?

Squinting in front of Baadeck Yarns

Yup, another road trip resulted in a visit to yet another yarn shop . . . This is Baadeck Yarns in the lovely town of Baddeck on Cape Breton Island, off the Bras d'Or lakes-- a lovely and scenic part of Nova Scotia.

Waterfront View of Baddeck

The shop, which is located at the back of an old home, has lots to offer!  Nice selection of pretty handcrafted buttons and pins, tools, and of course lots of fiber and yarn, including Debbie Bliss, Malabrigo, Fleece Artist and Noro.  The staff were helpful and we even chatted with the friendly owner (and just an aside, even the Yarn Harlot loved this place when she visited in 2004).

Pretty Nordlys from Viking of Norway

On this excursion, I couldn't resist this bright fingering with it's rich saturated colour!  Even though it's sock yarn, this soft wool is meant to be something special: perhaps a shawlette or pretty lacy beret?  Must peruse Ravelry . . . 

Made More . . . .

Stripey Towel with Solid Potholder 

Kitchen towels, that is.  In brighter and bolder colours.  Lovin' them . . . . !

More Bright and Cheery Kitchen Towels

Hopefully, I now have enough (although when I get the chance, I'll pick up a few more towels and potholders to make more).  Right now with five, I can keep one for a day or two before throwing it in the wash.  ;)

Kitchen Towel

Yup I've been crafting, but not knitting. Sewing. Made a few kitchen towels with potholder toppers.  Very easy and--most important--absorbent.  I've seen kits to make knitted or crocheted kitchen toppers, but the thin towels get drenched quickly.  Also, with the hard water from our well, light coloured fabrics get stained. My goal was to create an absorbent kitchen item in dark colours.

Kit from Mary Maxim

I made kitchen towels using matching potholders and hand towels (ones for the bathroom) purchased at dollar stores and large chains (bought mine at Walmart and 5 to a Dollar).

Step 1:  Fold towel in thirds, ensuring that the folded width matches the width of the pot holder. Pin into place.  With "wrong side" facing (that is, with the folds visible), sew across the middle, width-wise. This will ensure that the towel will never unfold.

Checking folded width of towel with potholder

Sewing folds of towel down middle, width-wise

Step 2: Flip over the towel to right side.  Place potholder in middle of towel, with"wrong side" of potholder showing.  Pin potholder to middle of towel.  Sew down the middle of potholder, width-wise.

Sewing potholder to folded towel down middle, width-wise

Step 3: Fold potholder so that towel hangs from it.  Attach button to potholder so that loop acts as buttonhole.

When attached potholder folded in half, towel "hangs"

Button sewn into place

Step 4: Hang finished towel from any convenient handle (preferably near a sink)

Sadly this great craft idea is not mine.  My MIL found something similar in a flea market in Florida.  So many thanks to the clever anonymous crafter who came up with the original idea.  I just improved upon it. ;)

Finishing . . . And other Stuff

Even though I was back to work, the past week was still good.  I finally had a chance to meet up with the gals at knit night--and that's always quite enjoyable. 

More Woolen Socks

And there was knitting, of course.  I actually finished a sock and immediately cast on for the second one--only a few more inches till I turn the heel.  Isn't the self-striping pattern cool?  I sooooo need more woolen socks 'cuz summer won't last forever (although hard to even contemplate winter at this point).

Sock Detail

By the way, I finished the modified dishcloth from PurlSoho.  Not quite sure it looks like the original Tweed Slip Stitch, but I still like the finished pattern.  I also love the thick fabric created by the slipped stitches.  I'd love to make more with different colours, but as usual, there are other projects needing my attention . . . .

Tweed Slip Stitch Dishcloth

By the way, here are my mods for the pattern.  I used Bernat Handicrafter Cotton which is worsted, so the original stitch counts had to be adjusted.  I cast on 35 stitches (33 for stitch pattern plus 1 stockingnette stitch at each end = 35 stitches total).  Then I worked a few rows of garter stitch before working pattern as follows:
Row 1: Purl
Row 2: K1, *Sl 1 (wyib), K2. Repeat from * till last stitch, K1
Row 3: P1, *Sl 1 (wyif), K2. Repeat from * till last stitch, P1
Row 4: K1, *K2, Sl 1 (wyib). Repeat from * till last stitch, K1
Row 5: P1, K1, *Sl 1 (wyif), K2. Repeat from * till last stitch, P1
Row 6: K1, K1, *Sl 1(wyib), K2.  Repeat from * till last stitch, K1
Row 7: P1, K2, *Sl 1 (wyif), K2.  Repeat from * till last stitch, P1
Work the same number of garter rows before binding off.  To finish off, I picked up stitches along the side (approximately 30 stitches) and worked same number of garter rows to create a border.