Another month, a bunch more done

Wow, what a month it's been. We finished all of our external homeschool groups, 'Curly' turned 5, we celebrated several times, we went camping for the first time with kids, we started our 'summer schedule' (piano practicing + one schoolish thing every day), we've endured days and days and days of rain, my back went out, the library summer reading program started, the garden is planted and in, we picked strawberries and made jam, flowers are blooming, and suddenly a month has passed.

On the crafting front many things have been started, several things have been finished, and much more is planned...

First up, I did my first Pay it Forward gift. Noel was given this beautiful scarf.



It was made of fiber that I spun last July (tour de fleece). It's a merino/tencel blend that spun close to a dk weight. I was planning to make this Rivulet scarf - and joined a group on Ravelry to discover they were doing it as a Knit-A-Long, so I decided to let it skip queue and started during their KAL. I had to drop down a bunch of needle sizes, as I'm not used to holding yarn tight unless it's for socks, but it was a fun pattern, and pretty easy.



Handwash cold, lay flat to dry (I blocked it out with wires and pins, but just laying it flat should be good enough). I told her all this when I gave it to her, but thought I better include it here in case her memory is like mine...



Hope she likes it and gets lots and lots of use from it!


Next up, I started a pair of socks for my husband. I actually began it during the drive out to camping, I finished the first toe on the way, and then on the way back I only did about 6 rows.

I have this as my travel project, as it is mostly ribs with just a couple tiny cables, I can figure out where I am fairly quickly. It's yarn from my husband's stash (that he wanted me to knit up for him), and a pattern from WendyKnits.


I also had been drop spinning the silk cap I purchased. I managed to finish spinning the single, wound it into a center pull ball, fixed the big mess it became, and plied it. Then I wound it and plied it back on itself, so this is a four ply cable yarn I guess.



Althought it was purchased for 'Lily' she was willing to share. After I finished a kerchief for her (shawl pattern from Knitter's Stash - changed into a stockinette pattern instead of a garter one, and then I added a crochet border on to the knit on.) I also made a choker necklace for 'Curly'. She loves it and I still need to snap a picture...





Let's see... I also started a time-swap sweater. One of my friends made a bunch of skirts for my girls, and so I'm knitting for her. We agreed to buy our own materials and just swap time. Since she chose a sweater that's made with Dk weight yarn, with cables and lace, I might be getting some more sewing done for me :)

It's a debbie bliss pattern, Empire Line Cardigan, making it with Knitpicks swish so she can machine wash and then lay out to dry.
I did just finish the back yesterday. I need to block it out to size it and make sure it all looks good before I start the two fronts.


I'm also involved in another time-swap. My friend gave me a big bag of roving to spin up for her. I never did take a picture of the roving, but 21 hours later...


There was actually three skeins, two larger and one smaller. I had given her the first one after finishing it so she could see how it was coming along. I didn't really take too many measurements of the yarn, since it wasn't mine to keep, but it was very nice.


Probably a bit thicker than worsted, which was the only direction she gave me (thicker rather than thin). I spun it all up and Navajo plied after I filled each bobbin, that way I had some finished yarn gratification before the end.


I can't wait to see what she does with it... even if it takes a while!


Oh right, since it was the month of June I also got my final fiber club shipment. This fiber is BFL and the color is by the Yarn Pirate and is called Zinnia. Although I really enjoyed getting the fiber club (great present idea any time, almost any fiber club...) I thought I'd not renew this gift from my husband and maybe buy a bit every other month of different wool blends from different etsy sellers. Unfortunately I've already found several that I like and faved on etsy.




It is so pretty though, I can't wait to spin it...


However....


I have started a bear and blanket for my new nephew, need to finish the rest of the Empire Line Cardigan, I borrowed my neighbor's loom, knit my husband's socks, a vest for me with steeking, and fiber to spin for a sweater for 'Curly', and many other projects that I can't wait to get to... so the fiber club spinning will happen - sometime.

Current (and Finished) Projects

I finished something...


Curly chose this yarn back many months ago. She wanted to make something with it, and I suggested a bag. It turned out to be too fuzzy for her to help with, so I did it while she did things for me. I just did a rectangle and then did a 3 stitch I-cord, picking up a stitch through both layers every other I-cord row (and then psso the last of the 3 stitches with the one I picked up). I did one side, then cut and put it on a small holder, did the other side and then kept going until the yarn was almost gone and then grafted the two I-cords together. That way I used up the yarn completely and got the handle as long as I could.


...and I am still working on the nightcap from the most recent knitty.




It will end up being big, but fit perhaps? My husband will have to try it one night and then we'll decide if we need to add some light elastic, or machine sew a bit to make it narrower, or just leave it alone. He's trying to talk me in to making a second one with less stitches around.... we'll see. We'll definitely have enough yarn, it's just up to my list and priorities.


...and I've got a pair of socks started (well, one sock started)

This is going to be a pair for my husband (I didn't knit for him all year, so suddenly all my projects are for him) and he wants them a bit tall, so I'll just get both feet done and then keep going.


I am still spinning the alpaca (one skein done, 3 or so to go). I had to bring my yarn down this weekend to regroup (plastic bags were taking over one corner of my room). I still have one rubbermaid container of yarn and one of fiber (and then a big webs bag of lopi - skeins and scraps). I ended up keeping yarn out for two new projects.... which will start as soon as I finish the night cap! ..well, at least one of the two will!

G is for...

Gifts!

Hannah of Arkansas (Missouri?) won the contest for my first finished object. I will be emailing her and mailing something off soon. In the meantime I am working to try to finish some of my other projects, because...



G is also for Goals:
I'm working on the yarn pirate sock again. I still love this yarn and this colorway. Now that I'm working on it consistently it is moving along a bit. I like a fair amount of ribbing, so I will be starting that soon, and then it will move quickly and I'll be done with the first sock!



Spinning was accomplished last week. I have yet to measure it, but it is now dry and looks very nice.



I realized I never photographed my bracelet. If you remember, my first attempt was huge and silly, so it turned into a small bowl. This second attempt, done earlier this summer, is almost perfect. Another attempt once I finish some more things.



I also thought I should show the socks my husband made for Lily. She danced around in this and kept telling people that the top has a ruffle. This weekend we left the house and everyone was wearing tofutsies. (My husband's socks made by me, everyone else's made by him). We all had happy feet.



So, as I said, goals. My husband offered me a challenge. He is currently working on a sock (one from Cat's new book, out of Valley Yarns, Franklin) for him. He has challenged me to finish both of my yarn pirate socks before he finishes one of his socks. ...and to finish all *current* projects before he finishes his pair. I think it'll be a stretch, but it is possible for either of us to win. (The lace scarf is not considered current, and MS3 - while it's considered current in general, I don't know if it is part of this challenge).

My current projects are:

the yarn pirate sock
the project from knitting lingerie style
some more I cord rugs
MS3
my lace scarf

I think that's it. If I forgot something, let me know!

Project Recap and the magical alphabet

I know that I am a very picture-centric blogger... that works very nicely except for the times I don't (for one reason or another) have pictures ready to blog about. I have an idea on how to break me of that!

I'm going to steal a page from someone else's blog that I saw, and so for the next 26 (or so) posts, each will be brought to you by a letter - starting with the next one of course. This post, however, is to bring everything up to date.

I realized that I was sick of referring to my daughters as the older one and the younger one. So, for those of you who didn't notice in my SP11 questionnaire - I named them. With different names of course (all about protecting the children here). My older daughter, who is almost 5 and 1/2, asked to be called Lily, as that is her favorite flower. My younger one, who is 3 and a bit, agreed to be known as Curly. My husband will still be known as sweet sweet husband, or perhaps ssh for short. ;)

I'm still working on my MS3, just very slowly. I've gotten to see one that's almost done though, as my mother is pretty much on schedule. (A link to her blog when she posts her finished pics).

I'm still working on my yarn pirate sock - debating, since it stalled, whether to finish it as a plain sock, or to wait and do a couple of small trial ones, and adapt it to a toe-up pattern from Cat's new book - my husband dropped by the store after work during the MS3 knit-a-long, and he ended up bringing home that book.... he promises me I can use it too... someday.

I'm still working on the melon shawl for Curly. I'm almost done with the edging on the first short side. ...I know, also stalled. Not much knitting going on apparently.

I did finish, however, the teddy bear and little sweater to go along with Jack's blanket. Pictures are taken, just not on the computer yet, and the package was delivered!

I'm started a project from Knitting Lingerie Style - it's not quite lingerie... it's not quite public wear either - but I'm looking forward to finishing it and having something very comfy to lounge in. For those of you who haven't seen the book, it has a wide selection of some very nice stuff - I have multiple projects on my to-do list from it.

I also managed to get my Virtual Vacation Package off to my person. More on that once she gets it. I'm looking forward to getting mine, sometime... I'm sure it will be wonderful! This swap was great so far, even though I didn't have the time to participate in the fun contests - it was a lot of fun to put that package together.

I joined SP11 (duh, the questionnaire I already posted...) I already started reading the blog of the person I get to spoil and I'm looking forward to that fun as the weather starts to cool down.

I also started to spin the purple/green yarn I won from the SSAL - maybe I'll get that done in time to enter contest #5 - ummm, that's this weekend... maybe not. We'll see.

I also took some time today and took stock of all my needles. They are now all entered into ravelry, and my husband's needles are all written down on a paper chart. (As we share, but they are stored separately).

My husband finished a pair of socks for Curly, and is now experimenting with his new book before starting a pair of pink socks for Lily. Pictures of all those socks at some point...

I think that's it - now I just have to get out of my posting once a week rut. Hopefully the alphabet will help me!

Better late than never

Before I reconstruct the Yarn Harlot event post, I needed to finish this post and put it up. It's a bit past the contest date, but I figured I would post this anyway...

As part of SP10 my group was asked to post all of our WIP. I have pictures of all my recent ones (not my two big UFOs).



I am so close to being done spinning this fiber. I made a 3-ply (navajo ply) yarn of the other half, but I think I will only 2-ply this half - and a half should be plenty for a pair of socks (and use the 3-ply for something else). I will probably finish this and ply it sometime this weekend - I hope!



These four are my other WIP. I am spinning some angora on my spindolyn (which I will ply with some roving I haven't spun yet, but I have picked out). I am working on the lace scarf - I will keep working on that - slowly... I figure I will keep working until the yarn runs out, which will be a while. I am working on the yarn pirate socks - just my normal plain pattern, although i've been thinking of trying a different heel (wendy's new heel pattern). I might need to rip it back just to the increases and do a few less though, I'm trying to decide if I like how the color is pooling (diagonal stripe) or not. ...and then I'm working on the felted bunny. I am done knitting. I just need to sew it up, wash it, stuff it, let it dry, add eyes, and re-stuff. and then it will be good to go!

Just a note: my two big UFOs are not spinning or knitting related - one is a strip quilt, and the other is a big cross stitch. (and then of course I have projects planned that I haven't actually started yet, so they don't count)

Pool Injury

Last night my husband brought me out to play pool. I haven't played since I was a teenager, and that was once or twice in someone's basement. It was pretty fun once I got the feel for it, and I look forward to doing it again. Unfortunately I guess my form wasn't very good, because I woke up this morning with a sore wrist. I'm able to knit some things, but definitely not the socks I was working on. I'm taking it easy and working just a bit to keep my hands from feeling antsy. The baby blanket I'm working on is nice and loose and works fine. I have a few more birthday items to post about soon, and a couple of other posts floating around in my head... I have some outdoor stuff to do tomorrow, and some church stuff over the weekend, but I'm planning on knitting a fair amount, and trying to get those posts up! ...maybe over the next couple of days!

Recovering and back to work

Long weekend/week.. I was feeling REALLY sick most of that time, and I'm just starting to start feeling better enough to knit (and blog about it).

I have made some progress on the baby blanket (I have listed on my planned projects only one, but i know there's two more that I'll have to make. It now has stripes of all four colors, and I'm about to start the repeat (in a different color order). I've been enjoying Cara's showing of color, especially in mitered form. :) I think I can blame starting this blanket with three other knitting projects (and sewing and spinning and life) already going on all on her and her colors. I knew this blanket was going to be fun playing with the four colors. And as a plus, I get to use my new project bag, as the skeins of yarn not in use fit very nicely into the new cherry bag.

I have also finally finished a monkey appendage. ..and started another one. (the monkey head/body is also done). I just have to finish all four appendages and then the tail, then I think I do some pieces with the contrasting color.... someday it will be done and supermonkey will fly!

The lace scarf hasn't been worked on at all... because I was waiting for my knitpicks order to bring me some nice pointy needles. They arrived late last week and will soon be put to work.

I was also waiting for nice pointy needles before redoing my husband's toe again. The new dps are nice (and shorter - i got the 6 inch ones) and the toes are also done again, still a bit of work to go.... and then I can knit for a while and try it on him hoping it fits better.

Speaking of the knitpicks order, along with the nice new needles (isn't alliteration fun?), I had also purchased some bare sock yarn for me to play with and dye and make fun socks, and also three skeins of some lace weight so I can make something out of Victorian Lace Today. I haven't picked the project yet, but I got enough to do almost any of them. Any suggestions? The yarn I got is shimmer, in the deep woods colors (lots of browns with a bit of goldens) it's an alpaca/silk blend and I'm very excited to use it.

I would put on some pictures of this stuff, but I realized on friday afternoon (after the knitpicks came but before I felt ill) that the camera batteries were done, and I haven't recharged them yet....hopefully i'll plug those in sometime before bed tonight and can do pictures before the week is orver.

If you enjoy seeing anything on the site or have any questions about anything, feel free to leave a comment - although I started this mostly to help me keep track of projects I love knowing that someone other than myself is reading

Omens of things to come

So is it a bad sign if I read the three yarn harlot books, and then start making things that she mentioned (ie. the magic scarf) ...I even had to go to the internet to find a pattern for it. Pictures of that and other finished projects next time.

I think it's also a bad sign that I was reading the book by WendyKnits and actually knitting at the same time. (One row following the lace chart, reading while purling back).

Another bad sign? I started a whole new project. Yeah, I still have a bunch of things planned, and yes I need to do up a teddy bear for my other new nephew (born sometime next week), and yeah, I am just down to my lace scarf on the needles.... but umm, I was trying to think of a present for a person, and the normal girlie stuff seemed lame, and I have a bunch of wool on the wheel that was consistently thin... so I finished it, dyed it, plied it, and am now knitting it. Unfortunately the dye didn't set all the way (I'll fix it before I give it to her - I will have to make sure the finished product sets in the microwave without felting) but that means my hands are turning a slight shade of pink as I knit it. What is it? What colors are involved (other than something that turns my hands slightly pink)? When will I go back to other planned projects? ...and show you the cool pig pattern I found for my older daughter?? umm... maybe I'll have pictures for next time! :)


Previous Project List:
fuzzy hats - one left, already started -mailed off
4 bears, 2 blankets - one bear and a bear and blanket are done
lace scarf - still working
felted rabbit -not started
use spun yarn - done
skirts - some cut out, still have at least 4 more to sew
handkerchiefs - not started

not on the list:
I-cord rug for my niece - finished (no picture yet)
mystery handspun gift - in progress
oh yeah, I also spun and dyed a bit (50 yards?) of alpaca, it's now bright pink/orange

Current Projects:
2 bears, 1 baby blanket
lace scarf
felted rabbit
skirts
handkerchiefs
mystery handspun gift
pink and purple pig
something for my younger daughter (shawl?)

Catch-up

Another week disappeared into the every day routine....
So, since last Wednesday when I posted last:

I got a box of yarn from Annie:

for free! yes, good yarn, fun colors, for free... it was so exciting to get that box and open it up!

Then... hmmm... My daughter wanted to dye some wool and somehow have me make her a yarn pig. The pattern arrived today, but the yarn spent the week getting made:


The green with a tinge of blue was on my drop spindle, so I experimented with dyeing that, as these were done with food coloring and citric acid, and then i ran out, so i used some vinegar too. I'm thinking of plying that to see how the colors work.


I also cleaned some of my black/brown fleece:



I worked up some I-cord for a rug for my niece. This also worked well, as I was teaching someone to knit, so I have them start some, figured that they'd never forget how to knit after doing 10-12 yards of I-cord. I am currently sewing this up - hopefully a picture when it's done (soon)


I also mailed off the hats to Kate one is made by my mom, one is made by my sister... the rest were made by me.



And then I started a shawl for my older daughter (well, for either one really...) since I had some yarn I had bought for teddy bears, but didn't work out quite like I thought it would. I used the same pattern I bought for my bamboo shawl. The yarn makes a pretty shawl though, and it's washable and dryable, so the girls will *share* it until I get something made for the younger daughter

No-picture realization

Hey, I finally realized why I don't have a more regular posting schedule - I like to post with pictures of things, as that's what I like to look at on blogs, and I don't like to sit down at the computer and process pictures and write blog entries when the desk is a mess. The rest of the house can be clean, but the desk is usually the last thing I clean. When it is clean then I love to sit down and do creative things on the computer - when it isn't clean then I feel guilty sitting at it and don't feel creative at all....

In my next post I'll have to show what I got in the mail yesterday - very exciting order from ebay... and then I ordered another box today!

previous project list:
finish spinning yarn for yarn swap (pictures sometime in February) - DONE, just need to take pictures and mail off
work on that lace scarf - I did actually work on it - long story for another blog entry, still in progress
maybe some more fuzzy hats if I find more fur yarn - some done
2 more baby blankets and 4 more bears - in progress
my felted rabbit - still planned, not started
Spin up that dyed yarn to use with my yarn swap yarn - dyed and spun, thicker than i wanted, still planning to use it though
4 more skirts - still sitting there, got one cut out!
and some handkerchiefs - not started

Current Projects:
fuzzy hats - one left, already started
4 bears, 2 blankets - one of each is in progress
lace scarf
felted rabbit
use spun yarn
skirts
handkerchiefs

Projects Update

I think it's time to update my post from 9 Days Ago...

Projects:
Fish
Fuzzy Hats
Bear
Lace Scarf
Teased Wool


Planned Projects - (may be on the needles, or under needle for sewing, soon)
Felted Fish (for child 1, and maybe one for husband also?)
4 more bears and 2 more baby blankets
Another furry fuzzy hat (due by feb 28th - mailed before then of course)
A felted bunny rabbit
A project with my new yarn from yarn swap (maybe dyeing and spinning wool to go with it?)
Spinning more yarn to send off to my pal in February
6 more skirts
some handkerchiefs

The fish are done
The fuzzy hat (one in progress, and one planned) are both done





The bear is also done


The lace scarf - I haven't touched... maybe soon?

and the teasing of wool, well, I got enough teased to do this:


Yay! more wiltons dyeing. This, depending on how it spins up, will be used with my yarn swap yarn.


I also got to some sewing:




I currently am working on or still have to do:
finish spinning yarn for yarn swap (pictures sometime in February)
work on that lace scarf
maybe some more fuzzy hats if I find more fur yarn
2 more baby blankets and 4 more bears
my felted rabbit
Spin up that dyed yarn to use with my yarn swap yarn
4 more skirts
and some handkerchiefs

Current Projects

I decided to check what's in the basket currently....



Felted Fish (for child 2)




Fuzzy hat for Boston Children's Hospital




Bear for green sweater



Lace Scarf




Teasing wool - [This list does not include the fibers I have been casually spinning as I am going to be teasing and dyeing - not spinning, except for my swap stuff which I can't show anyway right now.]




Planned Projects - (may be on the needles, or under needle for sewing, soon)
Felted Fish (for child 1, and maybe one for husband also?)
4 more bears and 2 more baby blankets
Another furry fuzzy hat (due by feb 28th - mailed before then of course)
A felted bunny rabbit
A project with my new yarn from yarn swap (maybe dyeing and spinning wool to go with it?)
Spinning more yarn to send off to my pal in February
6 more skirts
some handkerchiefs