2 new projects

there are so many other things i should be working on, but instead i started 2 new things …

the first, a sock.


it's "leftover" month over at sock knitter's anonymous on ravelry. i'm not knitting along with the group, as the pattern i've chose will not count for the sockdown (this pattern is considered "vanilla" … too simple, all in stockinette).

but i wanted to work on something relatively mindless, and use up some of my leftover sock yarns.

the pattern is called blender socks. essentially, it's just a blending sequence of changing from one color of yarn to another. i'm using various self striping and self patterning yarns to make this pair of "monster socks".

then i decided my new sock needed a new bag. i have lots of sock bags, and lots of fabric.

i've been searching online for a tutorial to make a project bag with a square bottom, and finally settled on this tutorial.






i followed the exact way it was made by malin, with the exception of me making my channel at the top a bit more narrow.

i like that it stands up with the square bottom, but i think it needs to be taller.  it's plenty roomy for a sock project, but i think proportionally it looks kinda squatty when the drawstring is cinched.

and i would like to add a loop or something on the outside so i could hang it from a belt loop or something. next time ….

the lining fabric i used is white ripstop nylon. i like to use it as a liner, as it's slippery for the yarn to roll freely. also, it helps keep knitting needles from pushing through the fabric.

new hat

so, that yarn i got yesterday … it's a hat now =)


i took this picture this morning, before i started the ribbing.

it's been a cold and dark day here … with rain. and the temperature only (ever so slightly) high enough to keep this rain from being freezing rain & snow.

i had errands to run today, but my biggest goal was to finish my hat so i could wear it out all afternoon!


i cannot even begin to explain how difficult it is to take pictures of yourself!

this was the best i could do --- mom wanted to see my finished hat on my head.

i did not get a single compliment! (really?!) lol! perhaps everyone was in the "i'm shopping for Christmas" zone.

speaking of christmas, i feel like i'm running out of time. i want to start a pair of gloves for myself, or work on my cotton shawl, but i really need to work on _______ (a SECRET).

making the day brighter!

it is SO gray here today.

i ran my usual sort of errands and appointments this morning, and picked up some "brightness" along the way.


on the left, a ball of yarn and some fabric. they yarn is red heart's "boutique unforgettable" in colorway parrot. the colors are not my usual sort, but i wanted something brighter, and not like the colors of my other hats.

below the yarn is some fabric i picked up. every now and then, i will buy 2 yards of a 45" wide fabric to make a quick & dirty tablecloth.

all i do is turn the cut ends under (twice, 1/4" each time, for no cut edges to be exposed) and then stitch across. i leave the selvedge edges alone. i like the simple look.

i've not yet done the sewing, as after checking into tires for my truck, and grocery shopping, and "other things", i didn't feel like sitting down at the machine.

instead, later this evening, i plan on starting a crochet hat (the unforgettable hat! in the same colorway, gasp!).

on the right is a crochet magazine i found at my grocery store. i paged through it quickly, and found at least as many projects i'd like to make equal to the dollar price. so, i brought it home. it will be my bedtime reading. i tried to find it online, but perhaps it's too recent?

hmmm … found some of the patterns uploaded to ravelry here.

projects i'm very  much interested in:

• merry the moose --- yep! a 7" moose!
• winter frost --- a cool pullover (cool as in "if norah gaughan did crochet"!)
• bering sea --- the hat (though it includes a scarf pattern)
• holly berry cowl
• the harrison sweater
• city park gloves
• spangled lightbulb garland
• snow cap
• midnight sparkle sweater
• woodland cowl

plus, there's a couple of great technique articles on cabling and tunisian stitches.

sewing

i've been sewing since i was _____ ? i'm not sure, but i did get a sewing machine for my 10th birthday. i use to make a lot of my own clothes. i don't do that so much anymore.

instead, lately, i mostly sew project bags for my knitting and crochet, and sometimes pillowcases.

while home over the thanksgiving holiday, i found this piece of fabric in my parent's storage:




notice the fabulous corners matching!

i have no idea how old i was when i sewed this piece together. and all i can do now is laugh at the job i did =)


notice my amazing seam allowances! some have seam allowances of 1/2" and some a scant 1/8", and in  at least one spot --- zero seam allowance. whoops!


and then, i didn't know then that i should probably press my seam allowances in the same direction. oops.


so, i'm looking for suggestions.

i want to salvage this piece. i think it would make a nice table topper.

i doubt the fabric was ever pre washed. some of the seam allowances are fraying or "missing". it's totally not rectangular.

i'm thinking that maybe i can stitch through the layers on the outside? with a zigzag or decorative stitch. it will never lay flat.

and then, perhaps underline it, and then put a backing and trim?

i intend for this to be a functional piece (mini-tablecloth?) and to (hopefully) survive many trips through the laundry.

Bueller, anyone ?

W O W

i think i find myself more busy lately making things vs. talking about making things.

since my last post, i finished my crochet shawl.











i love it!

i really really really do !!!

since i've finished this project, i've of course started others.

the one i'm working on today is a pattern by the same designer. it's called porcelain berry shawl. this pattern was a gift for completing another one of the designer's tests.

i'm using the knitpicks cotton curio. curio is a size 10 crochet thread.



i did block out my "swatch" --- i ♥ love ♥ it !!!!!

the pattern is quite simple, thought i keep making mistakes. i rip out my mistakes. i want this shawl (or shawlette) to be perfect. and this would also be my first cotton one.

IF i run out of yarn, i will order more. it probably won't be the same dye lot --- but i'm okay with that.

note to self ...

best ever foundation single crochet (fsc) tutorial ever!

SAFF 2013

yet again, mom & i traveled to Fletcher, NC for the event SAFF! i ♥ love ♥ going to SAFF. it's the best fiber-fest within reasonable travel distance for me, and the size of the event is just right if i only have one day to visit.

as usual, they displayed their "Not the tractor show" banner. i did see a couple of vehicles do a u-turn and head back out (one pulling a nice tractor too!). i'm not sure where the tractor show is, but this is the 2nd or 3rd year in the row SAFF has hung this banner at the entrance.


the admission is only $3/person. cheap! we were there right at the beginning, so had no problem finding a parking space of choice.

and it was colder than ......


seriously ?!

we started in the barns (outside). no worries, as we were both dressed in goosedown parkas. and i wore my very cute pompom hat =)

right off the bat, i found the booth for KSC designs. i really like her bags! i didn't need another bag (remember, i got this tote at the last fiber-fest down in sanford). this time around, i wanted a hook case/roll.








my case is now nicely stuffed with  most of my hooks ... with the exception of my steel hooks.

next, i ran across some snowballs! i at first wanted just one. but, there is no such thing as one snowball. a snowballs have friends. so i picked up a couple more. they are felted, and i didn't have to do it myself :p

these cute guys came from a shop called long branch fjord and fiber.


currently, this bunch resides on my mantel in-front of my knitting & crochet library.

once we made it into the arena, my next destination (after the bathroom, (clears throat)) was to miss bab's booth! in the past, i have mostly bought her sock yarns. this time around, i did not get any sock yarn. instead, i was on a mission to buy some of her lace wt. for a crochet shawl.


the shawl is called tricolore scalle (raverly link), and i just started it today (as i had to finish another project first).

it took awhile to figure out my colors, and mom caught the bug and got some too (different color ways) and she's already ahead of me on the pattern. YAY mom !!! (she's got "the bug" ...... )

note: this yarn is $16/hank. mom made a comment, "this is the most expensive yarn i've ever worked with" ... i do agree, it is way more expensive than red heart super-saver acrylic, but it's SO lovely !!!

later on, i made it to another one of my favorite vendors, knitting notions. i have long admired her yarns, and would love to purchase a sweater's worth of yarn, but my sweater-history-completion is sad. it would be quite an investment. and i'm not willing yet to invest in such lovely yarn to only have it mellow in the stash.

this year, however, she had something new! leather bracelets!


i ♥ love ♥ it !!! ... oh, i did want yarn. and i wanted one of the beautiful turned wooden bowls. but, i got a bracelet instead.

the little things keep me happy =)

near the end of our visit, this booth by pandoras yarns had some really pretty dyed lace wt. yarns. i got these two hanks. each hank is 600 yds. i think they will make some lovely shawlettes (either knitted or crocheted).


and then, the ONLY skein of sock yarn (technically) purchased:


this hank is not planned for socks, but a shawl-thing. worst case scenario, yes, ... it will be a pair of socks!

now of course, part of the reason for SAFF is the animals. so, here are my two favorite pictures from the animals outside.




how's that for the end of a post :p

working as fast as i can

(crocheting)!


on this shawl!

i'm doing a test pattern for a designer on ravelry. my deadline is this saturday.


and the yarn is small, and the hook is small (a 2.75mm), and i had to buy these little purple foam things to put over the handle so the hook doesn't just slip and slide between my fingers ....


and i'm running out of time!




i had made some great progress yesterday ... but then spotted a mistake many rows below. UGH.

i ripped back.

so, tonight, i'm about back to where i was yesterday.


i got this yarn last year at SAFF (and i've just returned from my weekend trip in the mountains).

i did not find this vendor this year. however, i'm still loving this yarn. i know the color is eye-searing. that's what attracted to me to it. it reminds me of the hot tropics, frosty lipstick, and fake suntans! it's so not me !!!

i will post soon of my "haul" from SAFF 2013 ~~~

so slow .....

my progress on my projects has come to a creeping crawl. all i can blame is it's the busy season at work, and i want to work on too many different things.

when i last posted, i "had" to sew a project bag as a prize for someone from my SKA group (she had won that particular drawing for finishing a pair of monkey socks).

i made her bag, and still wanted one for myself. last weekend, i popped out of bed and got sewing!


it has a round base, and is lined with white ripstop nylon. i've modeled it after my favorite sock knit sacks from knowknits. mine doesn't have all the bells & whistles (ie: something to hang it with/from, or the special yarn lead in the bag) ... but i love the cotton on the outside, and the slippery nylon on the inside.


when i bought the fabric, i wasn't able to purchase only a fat quarter ... i had to get an entire 1/2 yard.

which, is okay. i think with some creative sewing, i may have enough fabric left to make a third bag.

the sock in the picture is my current monkey sock, being knitted with yarn i won in that informal "competition" of finishing the most pairs in august. all i have left of the sock here is the toe. i am on the final decreases. but. i. keep. getting. distracted!

oh, i did finish a pair of mindless socks!!!


kroy. i ♥ love ♥ kroy!


i bought the yarn in the middle of my august of finishing socks. but i didn't start knitting them until after the august frenzy.

i like to have a mindless pair of socks on the needles ... usually kroy ... something that practically knits itself.

but the distractions ... have mostly been of the crochet variety.

my current distraction:


i've progressed a bit since this photo yesterday, but i'm still doubting my yardage. now i'm about 1/2 way through my yarn, and even blocked out, i'm not sure if it will even have the wingspan to wrap around the neck without trying to come undone.

oooh, this is the elise shawl (ravelry link).

i think i will ... continue like a lemming. see how far i get with this yarn. and perhaps if i run out, i will dig through my stash of other leftover yellows i have.




i'm also still working on my flower power lace shawl.


i've started the flower part, and only have 5 more flowers to do. the flowers are a bit slow. but it's going to be so pretty when done!

there is more to share ... but i must get back to my _____ (fill in the blank) (knitting, crochet, sewing?).

sewing

i need to sew a project bag. i have sewn quite a few, but they have always been given away. and the project bag i need to sew before saturday will be sent away as well (but i'm going to make 2! one for me to keep!)



the koi fabric will be for me, and the monkey fabric a gift. i will line the bags in white ripstop nylon.

i actually have enough fabric to make 2 koi bags (but i'll have to use a different fabric for the base), otherwise a fat quarter would be more than enough for a single bag.

and of course, i started digging around the fabric stash and found a few other contenders for small project bags =)

bragging rights!

remember all those socks i finished in august? besides having 12 new pairs of socks to wear, there were other "benefits".

P R I Z E S !!!

yes. swag. i won stuff =)

for finishing the most pairs, i won yarn from mapleweave. she is my sock knitting sole-mate.

to me, she gifted yarns from her various yarn clubs:




this is pretty cool! i've never belonged to a yarn club of any kind, because i'm not willing to gamble. it is a gamble to pay the fee, and get whatever the designer ships.

i'm lucky. all these yarns are so unknown to to me, and they're all beautiful. i'm so tempted to tear off the labels and do some yarn winding now!

but, i will wait a bit, since i'm in the middle of "crochet shawl-landia" and should had finished my summer (now fall) sweater ... and SAFF is coming up.