Christmas Knitting

I had resolved not to do any Christmas Knitting this year, mostly because my family lies in one of two extremes: Parents/In-Laws: Crafting is to precious to wear and BIL's: Lets just stuff it away and never talk about it again (in the not so precious way). I've finally decided there are only two family members worthy of my knitting- my husband and my daughter (mainly because she can't speak against it yet!).

Unfortunately my husband didn't want anything. It's not that he hates my crafting, it's more that he already has two hats for winter and it doesn't get cold enough here for him to wear sweaters/scarves/mittens. He's one of those guys who hardly ever gets cold which is annoying and amazing at the same time. So, I made the one thing he would actually wear... another hat.

"Barley" in Madelinetosh Pashmina Worsted

One of my daughter's first words was kitty (we do have four cats...) so I made her a little one out of my handspun yarn. I was fortunate to have some leftover yarn and found a pattern for matching ears!

"C is for Cat" and "Wow Meow (cat ears for costumes)" in my handspun 111 Stories and Malabrigo Twist

Overall I was successful in using partial skeins from my stash as well as continuing to knit with my yummy handspun yarn! It's a great start to my Stash Down of 2014 (more details to come!).

'Tis the Season... For HATS!!!

With the changing of the weather also comes my need for knitted accessories, and my continual need for  handknit hats. It helps that one of my favorite designers Woolly Wormhead has an annual mystery knit-a-long for hats in November. This is my fourth year joining in, but I have actually knitted hats from the first two years that I wasn't able to participate in. I'm currently working on this year's mystery hat, with clue 1 already finished, but I'm already planning on casting on my next hat!

Here are two of my favorite hats I've made that I don't get to wear nearly enough:

"Limpetiole" in Knit Picks City Tweed DK

"Star Crossed Slouchy Beret" in my handspun Whale Barnacles

My Fair Ribbons Just Aren't Fair!

I've been entering items into the North Georgia State Fair at least since I was in middle school. It's nice because I get a free ticket into the fair and a ribbon if I place. A few years back they even added prize money to help encourage entries.

This year, as always, I scrambled around last minute to find something worthy of entering and finally pulled out two of my more recent finished objects- my Caladan and my Sproutlette Dress. Here is what I found on Sunday:

Truthfully, I was a bit saddened by the second place win on my handspun/handknit dress. I put so much effort into that dress; it deserved a blue ribbon! Unfortunately, I don't know what it was up against in the same category because the Fair is highly unorganized on how they display entries. Well at least I'll have a little extra spending money this week!

"Caladan", Dream In Color Smooshy with Cashmere in Black Parade
"Sproutelette Dress", Hitchhikergal's Handspun in Pink Fantasy No. 65

Catching Sock Fever

I really shouldn't have included fever in the title... Way too soon to be making references to this past week.

Anyways, it seemed like everyone was making socks: a friend had ordered 40 skeins of sock yarn while her kids were away at camp (that's a lot of socks!) and my co-workers started up a knit-a-long. So I peered into my stash and found some sportweight Malabrigo. Turns out it makes some lovely socks... even if the same skein doesn't end up matching!

"Jeck", Malabrigo Arroyo in Piedras

Tour de Fleece 2013

This year I managed to accomplish all that I had set aside for the Tour! It's all Edgewood Garden Studio Fiber, which is absolutely wonderful to work with!

Wow, eight braids of fiber in 23 days! Oh, wait, I also spun some silk hankies:

I only had 18 yards, but I did manage to make a little bracelet, "Odd Ends" by Carina Spencer:

Overall I managed to spin over 1,580 yards and 914 grams of fiber, knit a finished object, and work! Phew, no wonder I'm sick this week!

Photoshop!

So I got a new computer (along with Windows 8...) and found a free version of Photoshop. I love it! It can't do too much, but it's all I need to make things look a little more like they do in real life:

Before:

 After:

Zebisis Designs 19 mic Merino, Kid and Yearling Mohair, Mulberry Silk, Cormo/Merino X and Targhee/Merino X fleece, Milk, Soy, Angelina

Taiyo

Noro, you either hate it or love it. I happen to be part of the group that is addicted. Even when other brands have softer and more consistent (I've never had a problem with any of my skeins, but I have heard of others who have) yarn bases with long color transitions, there is something that draws me in with the rustic look and feel of the Noro bases. I had only worked with the Silk Garden before, so when the opportunity rose to work with the Taiyo, I knew I wanted to try it. I'm generally not a huge fan of cotton/cotton blends, but the additional silk, wool, and nylon content makes the Taiyo great to work with. I can't wait to finish up this cowl!

Noro Taiyo in 01

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

Most hand dyed yarn does not indicate dye lots. Sometimes we really wish they did.

Madelinetosh Chunky in Pop Rocks

ARRRRRROYO

Today I spent an hour and a half untangling a skein of yarn. I think this is one of the worst skeins I've ever had to fix. Even though I decided to cut it to speed up the process, I still felt like I had a small triumph once I finished!

 Malabrigo Arroyo in Piedras

Pretty Cables Headband

This pattern should be released within the next week! It's really great for using up some leftover yarn (~70 yards). I can't wait to wear it for the first time tomorrow!

"Pretty Cables Headband", Madelinetosh DK in Candlewick

Test Knit

Occasionally I check out the groups for designers that need their patterns to be tested. Yesterday I found this fairly simple headband that I actually had leftover stash yarn that I could use. I should be done soon!

"Pretty Cables Headband", Madelinetosh DK in Candlewick

British Breed Sampler (Part 1)

This is probably going to take me a while to spin, but only because I have other things that I want to get through first. Part one of the BBS starts off with White Shetland and my Lapis Lazuli spindle.

HilltopCloud White Shetland fiber

Green With Envy

We got in some Madelinetosh Sock today with one of the last orders of Malachite (it's being discontinued because of dye supply issues). I managed to purchase the last skein we had, and let me just say I am lucky it was still available!

Madelinetosh Sock in Malachite

Moxie Quynn

This will be the first time that I will get a wearable finished object (for myself) from my handspun yarn and I'm really excited! Usually I stress so much about finding the perfect pattern for my yarn so nothing goes to waste that I don't actually start handspun projects. Well, I am changing that this year!!!

"Quynn", Hitchhikergal's Handspun in Moxie

The Neverending Scarf (Chevron Version)

Crocheting a scarf that is lace weight held double shouldn't take that long, but after you take into account that you change a color every four rows and you have 8 long sections with 7 of those four row repeats in each section... It adds up to A LOT OF WEAVING IN ENDS. Thankfully a customer came in today who absolutely loved it and wants to make the same exact one in the same exact colors. Which makes me glad to work on it some more.

"Chevron Scarf", Malabrigo Lace in Simply Taupe, Olive, Mineral Red, Apple Green, Azul Bolita, Burgundy, Sunset, and Bobby Blue

I Knew You Were Trouble

Remember how I said yesterday was one of those days? It was both worse and better today. We were decently busy despite the tornado warnings and severe thunderstorms/wind gusts. And I'm just going to blame people's behavior on the weather, or possibly this skein of yarn.

Madelinetosh Pashmina in Gossamer.

The Tuesday Blues

Not much to say other than it's been that sort of day.

Assorted fiber in blue, pink, green, brown, and SPARKLE.

Tragedy (Loss Trigger)

No parent should ever outlive their child. I've seen it happen to my parents, my cousin, and my boss. Nothing can ever be said or done to make it better, but we try anyways. Human nature compels us to comfort those in need. It is with a heavy heart and many tears that I am making this square for a Memory Blanket in honor of a small three month old boy who's life ended way too soon.

"Knit One Below Bee Stitch 6 Inch Square", Malabrigo Rios in Solis

Leftovers

Inevitably, there is always some fiber left on one of my bobbins. I try so hard to split my fiber evenly and then spin at a consistent weight (well, sometimes), but I guess it's just one of those things that will always happen. Fortunately, this is where one of my spindles saves the day!

FatCatKnits Superwash Merino fiber in Moxie

Prism Spectrum

Well, I finally finished my singles and chain plying! I've made a yarn that is absolutely gorgeous, if I can just brag a bit. I'm going to be sad to give it away, but now that I've had the practice, I can spin some more!

Hitchhikergal's Handspun in Prism Spectrum, ~185 yards, light fingering

Sweet, Sweet Doctor Who

I had seen Felica Lo's blog post on the Doctor Who scarf and I wanted to see the colors in person right away. Unfortunately in every base I pulled out one colorway was missing, so I had to wait for a restock. Well, I finally got a chance to look at them together and I am really tempted to break my 'yarn diet!'

Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Tumbled Stone, Black Plum, Cayenne, Charcoal, Deep Olive, Ginger, and Bison

Dragostea Din Tei

It's the name of that "Numa Numa" song that was popular a few years back. Thing is, it popped back into my head because of what we just got in today:

Numma Numma The Usual, The Special, Doppio, Panna, and Toasty in various colorways

'Bondage Bundle'

So we just got in Lorna's Laces 50 Skeins of Grey and not only did we get individual skeins, but we also received this bundle pack secured with a leather tie. We have affectionately dubbed it the 'bondage bundle.'

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Anastasia, Christian, Charlie Tango, Mrs. Robinson, and Red Room

The Neverending Scarf (Doctor Who Version)

Just wanted to say Happy 79th to Tom Baker! Hopefully I can get this scarf done this year (3rd year's the charm?).

"Doctor Who Scarf: Season 15", Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Amethyst Heather, Snickerdoodle, Chestnut, Semolina, Painted Desert, Jalapeno, and Mist

Summer Affection

Last year the shawl Color Affection by Veera Välimäki was wildly popular. We've lost count of how many people call up asking for color suggestions. Here's a little happy one that I made today that reminds me of summer, which is needed on a cold winter day!

Malabrigo Lace in Tiger Lily, Bobby Blue, and Frank Ochre