Sock Yarn Blanket Photo Update

My sock yarn blankie is moving along slowly but surely.  This picture was taken in May.  I haven't worked on it recently, mostly because I have had other knitting projects with deadlines.  I never get tired of looking at it though.

Hand-Dyed Silk Scarf

 

 

Quidditch Fall 2012 - September

I'm organizing my stash - for those of you who know me, you know this is not a one day task.  I will be recording my progress here, to turn in for my class credit at the end of the week.

For Quidditch this first week of the House Cup, organization is the name of the game. Organize your stash (like I am), or your projects, or your queue (NOT ME, my queue would need full time attention to be organized again)

I'm casting on The City Skyline Scarf - following the Infinitude Scarf Pattern, using Patons Classic Wool in Worn Denim to reflect the pretty blue of the sky that is reflected into the tall buildings of Philadelphia.

So, I added the picture of the yarn into my stash this morning - and added the picture of the yarn into my project page as well.

The yarn has tried to be other things before, so it's photo is showing that it's been around the bin once or twice.

Unexpected Free Time

I've found myself with some unexpected free time. Except maybe free time isn't the word for it, since I've been busier than ever.  I'm recently unemployed and aside from worrying about how I'm going to pay my bills, I'm happy and happily doing all sorts of things I haven't had time for in a long time.

I thought it was perhaps time to start blogging here again.  I have a more active Tumblr page, but it's more for photos and less for streams on thought, and since one of the things that is keeping me busy is getting back into the swing of dyeing more, and getting ready to jump into launching a new line of hand-dyed yarns, I thought I should reach back out to those of you who might get a notification that I've posted again.

Keep your eyes open, there will be an Indiegogo and/or Kickstarter campaign going up soon.

But now, I'm running off to one of my last Dr's appointments before I have no more health insurance, and then to a baseball game (free tickets, FTW)

I hope you are as happy to have me back as I am to be here!

From the book, Taking Time For Friends. The author is unknown.

The Love of a Friend
Because you love me, I have found
New joys that were not mine before;
New stars have lightened up my sky
With glories growing more and more.
Because you love me I can rise
To the height of fame and realms of power;
Because you love me I may learn
The highest use of every hour.
Because you love me I can choose
To look through your dear eyes and see
Beyond the beauty of the Now
Far onward to Eternity.
Because you love me I can wait
With perfect patience well possessed;
Because you love me all my life
Is circled with unquestioned rest;
Yes, even Life and even Death
Is all unquestioned and all blest.

WineLovers Wine Glass Companion

WineLovers Wine Glass Companion

My parents geocache, teach wine tasting and pairing classes, host wine tasting parties and do a bunch of other fun things.

When they told me about the wine glass carriers that they've seen at wine tasting festivals and asked me if I could design a knit one I said yes without thinking about it. Then I sat down with a little bit of yarn and a few hours later I had this!

Using a size 7 needle and worsted weight yarn, cast on 40 stitches.

Knit one row and then join in the round. You can join in the round immediately after casting on, but I am very clever about making everything into a mobieus without that first knit row.

Knit 2 rows.

Next two rounds - K2 P2 around

R3 - k

R4 - ktbl

repeat rounds 3 and 4 three more times

R5 - k1 k2tog k to last three sts, k2tog k1

R6 - ktbl

repeat rounds 5 and 6 once more

Make opening for glass foot - start working flat on all sts

Row 7 - k1 k2tog k to last three sts k2tog k1

R8 - ptbl

repeat rows 7 and 8 until 16 sts total remain

R9 - buttonhole row - k2 bo2 k to end

R10 - ptbl to buttonhole, CO2 ptbl to end

R11 - K

R12 - ptbl

R13 - BO

Neck Cord

Pick up 3 stitches on one top edge of the body

Knit one row

R1 - k1 sl 1 k1

R2 - purl

repeat rows one and two until cord is desired length, then attach opposite the cast on sts

Block on a wine glass and attach button.

Mitered Square Bag

I will admit that I have a certain affection for mitered square projects. Once I started the sock yarn blanket made with mitered squares, I fell in love with the quick and easy construction. Have only a little time - make one square - have more time - make more squares. Have only leftover bits of yarn - not a problem either! In fact I have two more mitered square blankets in progress right now - one made of DK weight and heavier, and one made just of Malabrigo worsted.

So, when I joined the bag swap on the Karma Yarn Swap group - I kept trying to decide what I wanted to do for the handmade bag. Buy one, knit one... My swap spoilee liked the entrelac clutch pattern, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to make it again. Then it hit me - why not make a mitered square bag?

My first attempt didn’t go so well, I was going to felt the bag and started with some bulky weight for the bottom. It got floppy. I didn’t do the proper math for making a circle or something. So I frogged it, and started over with larger mitered squares. Then I made a ring of smaller mitered squares. Then I picked up from the bottom of the larger squares and decreased around until it closed up on the bottom. Then I kept making the smaller squares until I decided the bag was tall enough. Because the yarns were all different weights and fibers, I dropped the felting idea, afraid it would shrink into a tangled mass of ugly. Then around the top tier, using the same yarn as I made the bag’s base, I made a circle of triangles to fill in the top. Then a shoulder strap. Then I lined it with fabric (it scared me but I did it)

Here is a picture the recipient took of the finished product! She is Mandarella on Ravelry and I much appreciate her excellent photography of this project, since the photos I took with my phone’s camera while it was sitting on my couch are less than flattering.

So now the plan is to make another, and write down the process so others can make it! I have the yarn picked out, and I have plans to maybe make a third to actually felt, if I actually get around to it. The pattern will be available on the Social Knitworking Site, and on Ravelry.