I've been bad

I haven't really worked on my sweater at all. I blame...well...mostly myself, but I've had help. Monday was fiber guild night, so I mostly spun. I considered working on my sweater, but I feel rude when I use yarn I didn't buy in her store. It is one thing if she doesn't carry something suitable, but I'm sure I could have found a worsted weight yarn that I liked there. I just didn't want to put a lot of money into my first sweater. Just in case it sucked hardcore. I am cheap. I admit it. My next sweater will be a thing of amazing luxury. Does Misti alpaca come in worsted weight? If it does, I might be in trouble.

And as I said before, I just got Brisinger. Haven't read much into it because I've been doing other stuff.

I figured out a pattern for the Malabrigo. My so-called scarf. I think it will show off the color of the yarn pretty well, while still getting maximum length from the yardage I have. And remaining smooshy. But I only have like 4 rows of it done.

And I got all the stuff to make the beagle. As a crafter I am appalled that I did not have pipecleaners in my craft stash. I mean really. I don't know if I can even call myself a crafter anymore. But I only got part of the body on that done yesterday.

The real time suck. The thing that has kept me away from craftiness ( haven't even baked the beads I made is how bad I've been) is Lego Batman. I love the Lego videogame series. I was hooked when we got Star Wars. Zach and I play the game together and we work really well together. Although we both got a bit cranky last night, I think we were both too tired. But we did play for about 4 hours straight. The really fun part is after we have cleared the game in story mode and we get to go back and do the free play. We blow each other up a lot and we have more fun cause it isn't so important and we know what we are doing the second time around.

I have SnB tonight and I am on the stockinette portion of my sweater. No complicated stitch patterns to mess up while I am talking so it is a great project for SnB.

P.S. Haley's Cornbread Pie recipe is fantastic. It is the tex-mex version of those homestyle bakes (which are so easy to make with two cans of soup and some bisquick, I refuse to buy the kits)

It's Tuesday (well it was when I started this post)

I had a busy weekend. I went to Barboursville Fall Festival with Tiffany on Friday. We got some yummy food, I contemplated buying a Coach purse knockoff, and we people watched. On Saturday I went to Chilifest. Ashland is having their chilli fest this weekend. I don't know if I can do it two weekends in a row. I also picked up a new book. Brisinger came out. With it being 40% off (store sale), my $5 in borders, and a gift card from like last Christmas I only paid 28 cents. Of course I haven't been reading it much if at all. I've been a bit distracted.



I have been working on the sweater. It is now 50% done. The way I am measuring is there are "6" pieces. I have finished 3. The back is 2 pieces, each front is one piece and each sleeve is one piece. I have the back and the left front panel done. The sleeves aren't really equal to the other, but I feel that will make me go faster.

Aimee picked up some stuff for me when she was in Lexington, KY from Rebelle. She picked me up the new Interweave Felt magazine. There is a pattern/instructions on how to make a needle felted beagle. Oh yes I must make one that looks like Heidi. I also got a skein of Malabrigo in worsted weight. It has 216 yards and I can't figure out what scarf to make out of it. But whatever it is, it will replace the baby sweater as my "cheating on my sweater" project.

Why? Because it is finished. Wooo. Now I need to wrap it up and actually give it to the recepient. P.S. Someone at SnB wanted the pattern. Here it is. I left out two of the bottom part repeats before doing the shell edge. And I didn't do the sleeves, I just did kind of a picot edge on them.




Also some random crafting. I got some polymer clay and some bead rollers and took a stab and making my own beads. Maybe I'll make some stitch markers out of them. Cause I don't know what else to do with them. I apologize for the crappy picture. My battery was running out and I was trying to take them as fast as possible.

Holy Crap!

Holy crap!!!! I have the back of a sweater done. I was a bit distracted this week by the making of a baby present for Josh (I realized the baby is coming very soon) and making squares for afghans for Hurricane Ike victims. But I remain faithful and plan on working on the sweater at SnB.








I got a few tools to help out with making my needle cases. Trying to get a couple full sets made so I can get them posted. I think I figured out the circular needle case. It is going to SnB to get the once over.





I got Birthday presents from Becca. She has discovered my weakness though. I have not yet tried color work and am somewhat scared to do so. But the little booklet that came with it is awesome. It is from the 70's (or something) and has some great patterns. Although I wish I could still get a dressmaker form for $9.00.



Aimee came over last Saturday and we made stitch markers. I beleive she is now offically hooked. I feel almost slightly guilty about drawing another person into the addication. Well, not really. She asked for it.

Ack!

I totally missed two very important blog dates. August 10th was one year since I started this blog and the 100th post was back in June. Whoops

A small distraction

I figure the best way to keep myself faithful to the sweater is to distract myself every now and then. So I did a bit of needle felting yesterday. I made the fronts to a bunch of cases, and finished a couple that had been sitting around. These are some of the designs that I came up with.

I took them to SnB and did some market research. The girls came up with some great ideas. I think I'll be offering a whole line of needle cases. From small sewing needle cases, crochet hook cases made from the small sheets of felt, the DPN case, straight needle cases, and as of yesterday a circular needle case. They gave me some construction thoughts and ideas about how to tie them closed (which was becoming my biggest problem). Even some fun new design ideas.

Tiffany and I talked about my relationship with projects. Often I am the love 'em and leave 'em type. I become quickly enamored with a project. I get all wrapped up in it and work on it constantly for a couple days. Then I see another project and I stray. I leave my old project alone, in pieces, with the rest of my old projects. I begin the whole process over again. Every now and again I dig into my little black basket (it is actually blue but it doesn't work with the theme I'm going with here) and pull out a project to fall in love with all over again. That is the only way they ever get a bit more love.

So this time I am cheating to stay faithful. If that makes any sense. I dabble in little side projects so I don't get bored. A little needle felting, A small cell phone holder, little things. If I can't take the rows of stockinette, I grab something from the WIP basket and do a couple rows on it. But I have to say, this doesn't feel like the same sort of whirlwind romance I have with projects. I camly approached the project slowly. I warmed up to it and became comfortable with it. I am committed. I will finish this sweater. I am in it for the long haul. I was able to look past its 8 inch section of 115 stitches of stockinette. In fact, I have made it to the lace pattern.

An eventful week

We had Knitting Guild at the Yarn and More last night. That was fun. I determined I cannot read or add. I have been very monogamous and have been working diligently on my Hey Teach sweater. Well, I have gotten to where I am about 20 rows away from starting the lace pattern and I though I would start looking ahead. Well I couldn't figure out how to read the chart to make all the stitches fit with the 115 I have cast on. I looked on Ravelry for ideas. I showed it to other people in the shop. No luck. Well, I read it again last night. I had completely overlooked the row right after the ribbing that had decreases that allowed the lace pattern to fit on 105 stitches. Where now the lace pattern chart makes perfect sense.

I also got a few new things yesterday. The first is this loverly spindle. Sharon's husband made and painted it. It's a Llama. I got to try it out too. It spins very well and for a very long time. These are limited edition and one of a kind. I got the first one. Neener neener neener. There are two more there now.

I also got this hat from Rachel. She made it for herself, but it didn't look right on her. I didn't see it on her so I can't confirm that. But it is so soft and squishy and lovely. I am very excited. It is a beautiful hat. I just need to remember to get the pattern for Aimee.

Speaking of Aimee, this is what happens when I get a mosquito bite. We were discussing it in the car on our way home from the guild meeting. It isn't really gross, but I figured I would be nice and stick a picture of my swollen foot behind a link so not everyone would be subjected to it. I wonder if I should get this checked out for an allergy. It is still swollen, a bit sore and itchy if I touch it today.

As I said, I am trying to be monogamous to the Hey Teach Sweater. But Zach got me My Blueberry Nights for my birthday. I think I have mentioned I love Norah Jones. Well, we watched it the other night and she had a hat on at the end of the movie that I simply must make. You can see it here. Sorry for the odd picture, but it is the only still I could find with the hat. I already have the yarn for it. I just need to sit down and figure out a pattern. Maybe I'll even write it up.

Speaking of writing it up, I finished my crocheted socks. I love them and they have been fooling people into thinking they are knit socks. I have decided I am going to write up the pattern and submit it to the Crochet Pattern-a-Day 2010 calendar.

swaps

I do enjoy a good craft swap. I just signed up for a HP swap on my yahoo group. It is a transfiguration swap and I have to turn an altoids mint tin into something else. It is going to be kind of interesting. I'm thinking maybe a miniature potions kit or wand care kit.

But it got me looking around for another swap to join since the HP swap is pretty small. I haven't found one I like yet, but I got kind of a fun idea for a swap. I haven't really thought it out much, just an idea. An afghan group swap, where by the end of it, you had enough squares to make an afghan/lapghan. Say there were 12 members in the group. By the end of the swap, each person would need to make 12 squares (knit crochet whatever as long as they were the right size). You keep one square for yourself and send out the other 11, one to each other group member. Therefore you would be receiving 11 squares to put together. A random combination of colors (or if the group could agree on a color scheme that would work too), all different patterns. You wouldn't have to make the same pattern 12 times or you could so that everyone would know which one was your square. It would be like the ultimate crafting community warm snuggly hug. The squares could be mailed in an envelope to cut down on mailing costs. I imagine it would end up being a bit of a time committment kind of swap. Like three months probably. Or if you did 16 members do 4 months so that is one square per week. A 9 inch square would produce a 3x3 foot afghan. What is a normal afghan size?

You can ignore this part, I am going to do some brainstorming since I'm not near my notebook.
-maybe make it a continous circle swap for as long as people want to do it. 1-2 squares per month. A sends to B, B sends to C, C sends to D. If C decides to drop out at some point, B begins sending to D and closes the circle. Problem though, it wouldn't really be a community blanket. I would have to randomize the order of the circle each cycle. But it would allow someone to stick with it until they have like a queen size blanket or they can drop out after making a lapghan.
-yarn requirements: not everyone is ok with acrylic, but not everyone can afford/wants to wash wool. Maybe acrylic/superwash wool/washable wool blend. 100% sure it is washable. If someone is allergic to wool, it can be a note by their name so when someone receives their person, they will not immediately any allergies. Pet allergies could be an issue too. Keep pets off of the squares and washing might take care of it.
-color: make people suck it up. I think it would be awesome to have a blend of colors
-patterns: People can make the same square over and over or make different ones each time.
-size of squares: ? but would need to be actual squares so there is no issue with putting it together
-type of stitching: I think as long as they fit the size requirement, it shouldn't be a problem.
-the last week of a cycle is the sign-up/drop-out period of the next cycle.
-need a couple of willing angels for flakes. Can be participants if they think they are up to it.
-Would need to join Ravelry group and be active at least once a week on the group or their blog
-have stickied/locked threads with swapping partner info. One for each cycle that is then archived when it is two cycles old.
-thread to post updates and share squares. Only use the share projects to share squares.
-sign up and drop out by post on thread by date and set time. Make a new one for each cycle, then archive.
-I want to say a 1 month cycle because I don't think I could create and mail squares any faster. But I think I would want a blanket faster than that. :)
-extra items are optional and members are not to expect them even if they send them.

I labored on Labor Day

Well, actually I did the whole weekend. I got three projects done. We won't mention that one of them, was actually cast on this weekend as well.
Holy crap! I finally finished Geof from my Ace of Cakes Trio. Yay. I think they turned out so well. I just need to tack on their accessories and find the fan mail address for these guys. That is turning out to be a harder proposition than I thought.






Here is that project I cast on and finished this weekend. I made one of these hats for a friend and I really liked the style. I look very good in this style hat. So I used the rest of the Cascade Pastaza I had left over from my Dumpling Bag and started this. I had some random cream wool in my stash that I did the brim and bow with. I like how it turned out. I have become very enamored with the Cascade Pastaza. Very soft and comfy. I might need to think up another project to make with it.









And finally, it is finished. After starting several different projects with this yarn, I have finally stuck with one and finished it. You all might remember that this is the yarn that was initially roving that I dyed with food coloring. Then spun on the Louet S51 at the Fiber Guild's spinning retreat. It was at one point meant to be the Sunday Market Shawl. Then it was just going to be a generic scarf. They I found the Tapestry Scarf pattern. About 6 inches into the pattern, Mandy showed me how to do the increase on one side so that it would lean the opposite direction and make the scarf more symmetrical. So I ripped it out and started again. Finally it is finished. I just need to weave in the ends and block it. I might try washing it with some conditioner to soften it up. The roving was corridale and if you add in the fact that it has become very tightly plyed because of the multiple times it was ripped out, it isn't exactly next to your skin smooth. But I'm so proud of it.

Stash Enhancement eXpedition

No Kitty, that is my stash pile. Oh well, it seems that the cat has claimed at least that pile of yarn and unfinished projects. That is actually the WIP basket. See how it is full to overflowing. Yeah, not a good situation. According to Ravelry I have a total of 13 WIP's. Sigh. Someday I will finish this stuff. Someday.





But instead I went to Yarn and More to aquire more stash. I had planned to buy some loverly laceweight merino/cashmere blend stuff. But then she told me she had just gotten Llama fiber. Well, llama is pretty much the only fiber group not represented in my stash (I am lumping all wool together cause I don't really have the room for a sample of each type of wool, but a girl can dream). The only problem with the llama is that it needed processed. Although I have to say, it is a gorgeous red brown and really wasn't that dirty. I washed it in the sink with some Euclan. It got out some dust and when I card it, I will get out more of the vegetable matter.

Here it is drying (that's about half of it). I bought 6 oz. At $3 an ounce, it was a very good deal. I wanted 4 ounces, but I figured if I am processing it myself, there might be a good deal more waste then normal. Plus it looked like such a small amount squished into the little sandwich baggies. It got a lot bigger when I took it out.




I have decided, since I have a multiple of three ounces, that I will do a three ply. Judging by this sample I spun up, it looks like it is going to be between a sport and worsted weight. It is very soft with a very fluffy halo (I am spinning it woolen from the little rolags I am making with my cards).