Sunday, January 31, 2010

Farewell January. Hello February!

I'd like to be able to say that the month went by fast, but it really seems to have dragged. Possibly because the past two weeks have been just shy of awful. Massive amounts of stress at work combined with having some sort of flu sickness didn't help. And there's so much to look forward to in Feb! Guild auction next weekend... another Wolfpack outing is in the works... Ravelympics... Nico's brother's wedding... I think my plate is full. :)

Aside from knitting at SnB on monday, and over the weekend, I didn't do anything during the week. Again. I was too sick to move wed-fri and didn't even pick up any yarn or needles until fri night. I finished Nico's socks that were supposed to have been finished by Christmas... they were SO boring, I just couldn't bring myself to work on them. He specified NO PATTERN. That's what he got. BORING stockinette socks. I used Happy Feet variegated for the base, and a solid for the heel, toe and cuff. No decent pics yet because he won't sit still and let me take any. He did however, put them on immediately upon receiving them, and declare his love of hand knit socks. :D I guess he can have another pair. (he has no choice this time of pattern or yarn)

I also cast on the Quickie Socks from the Joy of Sox book I picked up last month. Quickie socks is right! It's an easy pattern in worsted weight yarn, knit on size 5 needles. I don't know why I don't do worsted weight socks more often. They're going to be so warm and cosy!

I'm using Painted Sheep Lambie in the Mocha colorway. Pattern calls for 200 yds. I have 180. I also have little feet. It should work out, right? *crosses fingers*



Last week I mentioned starting my sock club socks. I haven't really signed up for any sock clubs, although I would like to. Most of them are just too darn expensive. Not saying they're not worth it... just way out of my price range. Someone had mentioned to me that they were part of a group on Ravelry that makes up their own sock club from their stash. They put together the yarn and patterns in baggies and randomly pick one each month to knit. Viola! Instant mystery (kinda) sock club, and no extra cost, since you've already bought the yarn. Also bonus points for using up the stash.

We toyed with the idea at my Monday SnB and took it an extra step. Anyone that wanted to participate was to bring in several patterns and skeins of yarn. Let the other girls know how many baggies you would like, then they would pick out which yarn and pattern went well together for you. Baggies were numbered and you would go in that order. And no peeking!

I only elected to do 4 for myself this round. On average, it takes me 3 months to complete a pair of socks (mostly because I have knitting ADD and cannot focus on any single project!), so I figured this would get me through the year.

My first surprise baggie contained a skein of Cherry Tree something or other I had gotten on ebay a few years ago, and the Spiral Eyelet Sock pattern. I finally got around to starting again last week (first attempt was only past the cuff and I frogged so I could reclaim the needles). So far I really like this pattern. Its easy to memorize and looks pretty, especially in this yarn. I'm loving how the color repeats and the eyelets swirl down the leg. I hope the second sock pools as nicely.


Hope everyone else has a great week!
<3




Sunday, January 24, 2010

Multnomah

... is finally finished!

Multnomah by Kate Flagg
BMFA Silkie Socks That Rock (I *think* it's Valkyrie.. not really sure): 1 skein



I must admit, I really didn't like working on this pattern, especially towards the end. It was just so.. boring. Seemingly endless rows of garter stitch. And I only did a shawlette! I couldn't imagine making a larger size.

When it came off the needles, I wasn't impressed. I thought it was cute but didn't have too much promise.



And then I blocked it.



It's like magic, really. I have new appreciation for this shawl, and while I still don't think I'm going to keep it for myself, I do like it more at this point.

I've had an overly stressful week, so I haven't been working on much of anything.. I pretty much was just making my way home and stuffing my face with food, then crashing. I did restart my "club" socks but no pics yet. More about that in my next post. :)

Here's hoping this coming week is better!
<3


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Winter Blues

Kinda.. but not really. ;)

I really really dislike the cold. Thankfully I have the fiber arts to keep me entertained and warm!

Two more squares for the 2009 blanket are done.

July (Bright and Cheery)


August (Aran Square)



And I did the first square for the 2010 blanket. I'm using Vanna's Choice again for this blanket, but only two colors: dusty blue and chocolate.

January: Ravelry 12" (E-zee V-zee Granny Square)

Also got a little bit of spinning in this weekend. I've been working on this yummy batt from Xtreme Spinning called Chocolate Kisses. It's being spun on the Bird's Eye Maple Bosworth I got at Rhinebeck this past year.


And a close-up.


That's it for the week.. not much, but at least I'm getting some stuff done!

Now, to go back to watching The Office, and hoping that it doesn't snow as much as the weather channel said it would. But of course, random kitty pic first. ;D


<3

Sunday, January 10, 2010

WiP's for the Week

I really haven't done much in the past week.... no spinning or weaving. Some knitting and a little crocheting. I did get to see pretty sky at work though. :)


Last January, I signed up for the 2009 Crochet Block a Month Crochet-a-long on Ravelry. I promptly forgot and continually procrastinated when I did remember. I finally started on the blocks in December! Eek. I have managed however, to catch up slightly and am halfway through the Ravelry 12" blocks. I am only going to do the 12 blocks and make a lapghan... using Vanna's Choice yarn. I'll probably give it away.. not sure yet. The blocks are easy so far and fun to do... I'm going to make sure I keep up with the 2010 CAL. :)

2009 Blocks so far:

January (Mandala)



February (Two Tone)



March (Winter's Dream)



April (Waldo's Puzzle)



May (Hint of Spring)



June (Frilly Flower)


I also cast on for the Favorite Cardigan from Wendy Bernard's Custom Knits book. I love this book and want to make almost every garment in it.


I have also been working on Multnomah. I am 7 or 8 feather and fan repeats in.. and I am actually kind of bored with it. I've never done feather and fan before.. I chose this pattern because it looked like a nice simple lace shawl/scarflette pattern. And it is. A little too simple though. I'm going to keep plugging away bit by bit until it's done. There's not that much left to that ball of yarn, right?

Haven't done much else this week other than work... but I can leave you with sleepy kitties!

<3

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Sunday Weaving

What's there to do on a snowy, cold Sunday? Weave of course!

I've been working on this scarf for months.. doing it a little bit at a time.. I love my little Cricket loom. :)

And I managed to finish it while watching random movies. :) Just need to hem it on the sewing machine, and wash it!

Warp: Valley Yarns Alpaca Silk
Weft: Don't actually remember.. bought it at Webs. Dyed it as a color wheel project for a class taken at Webs. Used 10 colors.



I even warped the loom for a new project! I'm going to attempt to make a skinny scarf with a plaid pattern using the merino/tencel I got at Webs yesterday. I'm kind of winging it, so we'll see how it turns out.
(the red and orange yarn is scrap and not part of the actual scarf)


Think I'll get some knitting in before bed... the Multnomah is telling me it wants to be finished soon.
<3

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Webs

First trip of the new year! And it was sweet. They had an awesome sale going on and I got to use a giftcard... so yarn was acquired and no actual money was spent on my part. ;D


I managed to nab two skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sport BFL yarn. One in Jasper and the other is Lenore. I plan on making a stripey sweater with this. Two skeins of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Glow Worsted which will become a cowl and Fetchings set hopefully. And finally two cones of 10/2 Valley Yarns merino/tencel yarn that I want to weave with. I want to try either a houndstooth or a plaid pattern.

After I got out of the shower this morning, I came back to my room to find this:


She didn't appreciate being woken up.


<3

Friday, January 01, 2010

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping 2010 is even better than 2009!

I have been seriously neglectful with this blog. I actually had decided at one point or another that is wasn't worth it to keep the blog.. because I am lazy and I don't bother to post anymore. 2010 is a new year and a chance for me to resurrect this blog and actually post on it, whether anyone else reads it or not. It doesn't matter. Since I found ravelry, I kind of lost what I had originally set this blog up for - to document my projects so I could see my progress and what I had done overall. I will still use this blog for that purpose somewhat, but also to just post random pictures and happenings. Why the heck not.

I'll start it off this year a list of resolutions. I had said last night that I didn't want to do resolutions for whatever reason (I honestly don't really remember.. it's kind of fuzzy lol) but maybe we shall call them "yearly goals" instead.

Knitting/Fiber Goals for 2010
  • Find and frog any project that I really have no intention of finishing and reclaim that yarn.
  • Organize the stash and weed out yarn I am not going to use.
  • Knit a lace shawl.
  • Knit a sweater that I will actually keep and wear.
  • Finish the Vest of Doom for my mother.
  • Finish the socks I am test knitting for Carol. Actually, finish all socks I have on the needles before starting a new pair.
  • Complete 5 projects from my queue.
  • Spin on my wheels more. And spin from stash or give away what I am not going to use.
  • Organize my spindles and fiber.
  • Use the Cricket more.
  • Learn how to weave patterns on the Cricket.
  • Finish at least one project for Takarra and finally give her something.
  • Crochet an afghan.

Other Goals for 2010
  • Finish organizing and unpacking. I moved out almost a year ago. This is silly.
  • Cancel any subscriptions to things I don't need/use.
  • Eat healthier and lose enough weight so my clothes aren't tight anymore.
  • Eat out less. I spend too much money on this.
  • Get health insurance. Or preferably, get a new job that will actually give me health insurance.
  • Post on the blog more often.

<3