Front Page News!

I've often been amazed (and slightly jealous) of the projects listed on the front page of Ravelry. It's quite possibly the greatest ways to get people to view what you have made. Normally I'm lucky to get 30 people to view a single project... Until yesterday:

Those just happen to be my handspun handknit fingerless mittens on the front page of Ravelry! Almost immediately I started getting private messages and loves- and now I'm up to nearly 200 loves from all you wonderful people! Thank you so much for your support

Fiber is from Edgewood Garden Studio- Superwash Merino in Kaleidoscope

Pattern is Heaven Mitts by Lili Comme Tout

First Quarter Figures

Despite my failure to stay on track for my stash down, I have accomplished some great handspun yarn since the beginning of January:

 "New Prisim" Chain Plied 19 micron Merino, fiber from Zebisis Designs

"Flotsam" 3-ply BFL/Silk, fiber from Edgewood Garden Studio

"Cymbidium Orchids" 2-ply Polwarth hand dyed by me, fiber from Edgewood Garden Studio

"Tanzanite" Singles Superwash Merino, fiber from Fat Cat Knits

"Pocion" 4-ply Merino, fiber from Malabrigo

"Balloon Vendor" 2-ply Falkland split into warm and cool colors, fiber from Edgewood Garden Studio

I also managed to finish two pairs of socks that were WIPs and two cowls. It's not as much knitting as I normally get done, but I have quite a few larger projects hanging out at 60% finished. I'm really hoping to make April and May my months to finish some of these hand knits!

Exceptions

I wouldn't necessarily call the past week or so a setback, more like 'special exceptions' to my stash down goals!

The first happened to be for a test knit of a pattern that was named for my daughter. I couldn't very well use just anything, right? Especially when more Malabrigo was coming!

Malabrigo Rios in Zarzamora for "Alessia" by Lynn Di Cristina

My second exception happened when I learned that a yarn store in my area was closing. I very rarely get a chance to go to local yarn stores (LYS) in my area and I knew if I didn't go at least once I would regret it. Plus everything was on sale, so I was hoping there were some brands I don't already know/use. That is where I got into trouble:

 Freia Ombre Lace in Hard Candy

Filatura Di Crosa Superior in White

Habu A-20/21 1/20 Silk Stainless Steel in 6

Swan's Island Natural Colors Merino Fingering in Garnet

Dragonfly Fibers Traveller in Villainess

It would be better if I had a plan for this yarn, but I don't... I'll just fondle the Superior as is (70% Cashmere, 30% Silk) until I come up with a pattern!

2014: Year of the Stash Down!!!

I've always been an accumulator of stuff. I actually blame my parents a bit as they started me off with three collections: mint coins, stamps, and spoons from places of travel. Since then, through different phases in my life, I have added stuffed animals, books, CD's, DVD's, gemstones, video games, board games, Magic the Gathering cards (that has since left my possession) and dice, and now yarn and fiber. And to add insult to injury, I just might have had/still have complete Excel files on five of those collections.

So, I've come to the point with my crafting that I just buy because of the possibilities. I mean, one skein of fingering weight yarn can be a pair of socks, a shawl, a hat, mittens/gloves, a baby dress... on and on and on. AND FIBER- there's just so many more options!!! I wanted to challenge myself- no new purchases until mid February. Not because I need to, but because there are possibilities just waiting to become reality.

This isn't even my full 103+ fiber stashes. I also have 328+  yarn stashes...

Let the Stash Down begin!

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