Busy Weekend

Busy weekend.  Lots of chores, and sports - Boo Niners, Boo Serena, yay for athletes that made the Olympic ski teams.  I finished some more spinning and plying.  I am hatching an idea for the solid colored handspun yarns I am making, the striped handspun sweater from KnittySpin (http://knitty.com/ISSUEw12/KSPATTlessismore.php).

Abstract Fibers BFL in Red

Alchemy Fibre Arts Superwash Merino in SWM548 and SWM572  Not for the sweater, but still pretty.

Carly & Ewe CorrieX in Copper

I finally assembled the mug rugs and sewing machine cover I cut out last week. I love them, and I am using them already. I appliqued the machine cover, which was tedious, but I like the end result.

I made noticeable progress on the Aqueduct Mittens I recently cast on.

Paper Piecing Oy!

I completed the next two blocks in the Craftsy BOM 2012 class.  The technique was English Paper Piecing; not a fan.  I did not enjoy the process of making the templates, basting the fabric to them, or sewing the hexagons together.  The cutting was the easiest step - for a change.

Also, the square in the class was just two rows of hexagons in a row on the background fabric.  I did not like that at all.  One of the previous students made a flower instead, I quite liked that and copied the idea.

I am making progress on the Arm Candy sweater.  I have completed the first series of decreases for the waist shaping.

I found this block in a book.  I am going to make one for my quilt.  I am sure there will be a block that I will want to replace with something more my taste.  This block reminds me of the Griffin and Sabine books my friend Alison sent me when she lived in England.

I finished spinning the CorrieX from Carly & Ewe. Very rustic.  The singles on the Woolee Winder bobbin look so neat and pristine.  The regular bobbin looks fuller and fluffier.

Farewell Wickerbottom and Wilson 3

Clearing the decks on two old Don't Starve games from Dec. 2013.  Suicide by tentacle spikes for Wickerbottom and suicide by hounds for Wilson 3.  I am keeping the other two Wilson games going.  I love the camps I have created for them, and there is lots of mischief Wilson can stir up in those two worlds.

 Farewell Wilson 3

 Farewell Wickerbottom

Blocking Right Along

I am continuing to enjoy the Craftsy BOM Class. I completed the two blocks from the March 2012 class. I came up 1/4 inch short on one of them and had to re-do it. I did get more of the Kona Snow background fabric for backup. So far I have come up slightly short of 12 1/2" square on two blocks. I will use those blocks in a crazy quilt at some point in the future.

Some of my Craftsy classmates had mentioned cutting the piecing squares larger, I wish I had read the notes before I started the block. I will make sure I read the notes for each block from now on. They would have saved me some time and fabric on this block.

I am turning the heel on the Mojo Light sock. I really like this pattern. I can't wait to finish the pair and wear them.

Baby Gifts and Quilting

I am really enjoying the Craftsy Block of the Month 2012 class.  I have completed the blocks slated for January and February.  What I have learned so far: (1) cutting is not as easy as it seems and (2) you spend way more time with your iron than you do with your sewing machine.  I have already had to order additional background fabric, Kona Cotton in Snow.  One of my blocks just missed the required 12 1/2" square measurements and I had to redo it.  I am sure it won't be the last time that happens so I am looking ahead.

I also finished the bear I was making for Leon.  So together with the Little Knight hat, his baby gift for his friend is done.  I finished a bag for a giveaway and a thank you gift.  I will post pictures of them after they reach the recipients.

I finally cast on my Amy Herzog sweater for the SSK 2014 KAL #1.  The pattern was gifted to me by Jadee of the Twisted Strands podcast.  The yarn I am using has been in my stash since 2008  8-/  I am so glad to finally use it.  It is Karabella Aurora 8 in the violet colorway.

Pretty Blue Knitting

Chores took up much of my day yesterday but I did knit the Little Knight hat for Leon and first thing this morning I cast on a new sock project. I dug deep into my stash and found this beautiful 3 Ewes Twisted in Fiber self striping Ewephoric Sock yarn. Unfortunately this yarn base is no longer available. It is a great yarn and a pleasure to knit with, but the real thrill is the deeply saturated colors.

No Lollygagging

My Comfy Throw is coming along nicely. I am using Knit Picks Comfy in Whisker, Marlin, Sea Foam and White. Although the yarn is primarily pima cotton, it is not a bother to knit with. The yarn is very soft and slides well on metal needles.

I finished my Skyrim cross stitch - No Lollygaggin. I will wash and iron it when I purchase a frame. I have begun another cross-stitch project which is a gift for a friend. I won't be posting any pictures of it until she has received it.

I am looking forward to starting my Craftsy Quilt classes. I have two different quilt kits that I will be working on throughout 2014. The multi colored kit is for the Block of the Month 2012 class and the Jelly Roll with Navy and Red fabric is for the Kite Flight Quilt.

2014

Happy New Year

I for one am very glad that the year 2013 is done and gone.  It was like a year long Friday the 13th for the majority of the year.  I am looking forward to an exciting and challenging 2014.  I am learning to sew, which has definitely been a challenge.  I have taken two free Craftsy classes and completed all of the projects.  The small success I had with those projects has encouraged me to try a quilt.  I am going to start with the free Block of the Month class and then try a traditional quilt class when I complete that project.

I am starting the year out with three KALS.  
***  Amy Herzog Sweater Pattern for the first SSK 2014 KAL and the Knits N Things Podcast KAL.
***  Colorwork Mittens for the Knitting Blooms KAL

PSY (With Special Guest MC Hammer) - Gangnam Style (Live 2012 American M...

10/11/12

The math geek in me could not let this date go by without notice.  10/11/12  how cool is that?  While I was here I thought I would update my sidebar as well.  Some podcasts have come and gone.  I am watching some very interesting tv series, which by coincidence are all single word titles.  The word geek in me likes that. 

In general life has been suckalicious.  We have lost so many loved ones and too many other friends and family are in dire straits healthwise.  I have osteoarthritis in my right knee, yay 50's.  I am still crocheting, knitting, spinning and reading as much as possible.  I have added cross-stitching and gaming to the mix.  I will have to come up with a nifty icon for cross-stitching for the sidebar.

Hmmm, coming up with something new for the sidebar.  That might imply that I am bringing the blog out of retirement.  We'll see.  I don't spend as much time on Ravelry forums as I used to.  I am starting to spend less time on Plurk too.  So who knows, maybe I will fire the old blog back up.  I was surprised that it was still here unmolested with all of the changes to Google and the spamming that usual happens if you leave your page unattended for any time.



For now I will continue to make pretty things out of fluffy stuff while I laugh and cry at life.  Ciao!

Retirement

Apparently I cannot keep up a blog while trying to keep up to date on Ravelry, Plurk, Flickr, Pinterest, etc. etc. etc.  Looks like my last blog post was in October.  That's really too bad, I have done a ton of stuff since then.  Had a fabulous time at Interweave Labs and met the knitting elite Annie Modesitt, Alice Starmore, Nancy Bush, Cookie A, Nancy Marchant, Romi Hill and rode the elevator with Meg Swansen.  I bought lots of wonderful things in the market where I met more designers, Kira Dulaney and Carrie of Irish Girls Knits.  Spun on a Schact Sidekick. 

I finished lots of projects and spun some beautiful yarn, but I don't have the time or inclination to post and labels the dozens of pictures I took.

To make a long story short, I am going to retire the blog for now.  If I ever quit Plurk or Ravelry, or both I may pick this back up.  In the mean time - there will always be a link to my Flickr photos (projects, handspun and stash enhancement) and I am paletpc on all social networks.  See ya' around.

Socktoberfest Fail

I am a little disappointed I only got to knit one pair of socks for Socktoberfest.  I have 2 single socks without mates that I did not get to work on.  Oh well.

I wanted to try this super bulky yarn from Berroco called Link.  The scarf pattern on the label calls for a US 50 needle which I happen to have.  I used a US 19/15 mm needle instead of the US 35/19 mm needle called for in the online version of the pattern.  I would not buy a set of needles that size for a single project.  I am happy with the drape of the scarf knit on the size 19 needles.  I have another skein in grays, I am going to make a second one.  They take less than an hour to knit.

Happy Halloween

I finished the Knitabulls Knit Along for the Dancing Batty Shawl. I also posted it to the Nerd Wars 2011 Technical - Colortastic Challenge, Yarnivore, 11 Shawls in 2011, and the stash downs in the Dramatic Knits and Blooming Knitter Ravelry Groups. Yeah, I gotta a lot of yardage out of this small shawl.






I have also completed the Nerd Culture - Best Dressed Nerd Challenge with a lovely rendition of Luna Lovegood's Lion Hat.



The Scientific Challenge - Prehistory with a little Crocodile Love.



And last but not least the Super Summer Knitaway Knit Along. I chose WendyKnits Elizabeth's Cowl and used my Cloudlover Tempest handspun.



I think that catches things up well enough for finished projects.  I just started block 6 on the Log Cabin Blanket and I add rows and stripes to all of my other works in progress each night.  I have also done some spinning.  The Sheep to Shoe Kit in Jonagold is gorgeous, I cannot wait to ply it with the Petrified Wood. 

Nerd Wars - Really???

Okay as if I am not knitting shawls like a crazy person, I have thrown myself into the Nerd Wars for the last quarter of the year, Oct-Nov-Dec 2011.  I am still a little fuzzy on the challenges and everything, but I have submitted my first project and I hope it gets my team some points.  The challenge was to show team spirit by creating a birthday gift that would show your team members your knowledge and love of your nerd-om.  Which for me is Dumbledore's Army and all things Harry Potter.  I sorted into the Ravenclaw house, which is odd.  I am usually a Gryffindor.  It's all good though, I even rocked Slytherin in a swap group once. 

Who is the most creative person in the Potterverse after Mrs. Weasley?  And who is one of the coolest and nerdiest Ravenclaws ever?  Well Luna Lovegood of course.  So I created some earrings for Luna to gift to Hermione for her birthday.  I call them the Elder Wand of Invincibility Earrings.





The next coolest thing was finding pictures in my coloring book of both Hermione and Luna on facing pages wielding wands during a Dumbledore's Army Meeting.  You don't even have to be a nerd to see the sheer perfection in that.