Ready!!

Hey Robin...
Too.
busy.
must.
knit!

Would you say I have a plethora of projects?

Hey Robin!

Ok so i got goodies. My desk chair is practically "boxed in" with all the things i want to play with right now! This stuff was singing to me... so I just had to ball it up and think about what to make with it:

Isn't it gorgeous? Is it singing to you across the internets?? You can see why I couldn't waste another moment...











Once i had it wound up a bit, it started speaking to me in a clearer voice. And I could only think of Van Gogh. Now, this has way more blue in it, but still. I think to myself "I can't make socks out of THIS! They would be hidden! I must make something more visible." But with fingering weight and only about 550 yards (plenty for socks sure, but can't really make a wrap can I?) my choices are limited. Then i remembered the scarf! YES!





Knitting it with two strands and a size 8 needle this is what i am getting and the yarn says to me... "You are on the right track". But am I? I absolutely love how this is coming out, but now i am wondering if i should take it up a needle-size or two to open it up a little more. I have so little experience with lace that i can't picture how much it might open with blocking...



...it's like the leaves were waiting to be this color... i love it.



OK yarn info in case anyone happens to actually READ this post (besides you who was "with" me when i (lunged at) bought it: I found this on eBay in the Mystical Creation Yarns store. It's one of their superwash merino wool sock yarns in the Mother Earth colorway. They have so many lovely colors and the price was sure right!

What else am i sitting cozy with at my little desk? This! Woohoo! Can't wait to block something with it.... these wires seem like they would make blocking lace pretty easy for a novice like me. I'm looking forward to it!


What else? Well... as if THOSE toys weren't enough! I have THIS staring me in the face! A Baby Brunhilda hat! And it's all Claudia's fault ;) I can't believe how cute this is and i can't wait to get a pic of the intended-baby after it's done (i'll post it with permission from the parents if i can!). The kit comes with an explanation of why babies are like vikings... and with respect to Bella Knitting I won't divulge the secret, but it's pretty cute. Well done you guys!


To top all that off, I finished swatching the "caliente" yarn for a pair of jaywalkers and those are whining at me about their lack of progress *sigh*. What on EARTH do i do?

Of course, you notice that none of the aforementioned projects is listed on my "on the kneedles" sidebar. Hee.


And in case all that loveliness wasn't enough. This little guy has been hanging out in our backyard try to mow our lawn. He's a wee-baby too, just big enough, I think, that he would fit on my hand... no bigger than that. And still young enough that he "frolicks"! Such a cutie!!

OK must go figure out which project needs me the most ;)

Later!

I must be crazy...

Hey Robin!

I see you signed up for Melanie's MS3 group too. Are we crazy or what? I was lucky to already have some lace-weight lying around wondering what it was doing in a worsted-weight world... so i swatched. I have done very little lace of course, and i KNOW she recommended that lace-novices stay back, but man.... i loves me a mystery and i could NOT stay away! That's like telling someone with a sweet tooth not to look in the cookie jar!! No fair Melanie!

Anyway, here's my swatch, just finished. I have no idea if it looks 'right' or not, but i like it...

Actually i wet it down and stuff, like her instructions said, and i think i will re-look at it tomorrow and see if i still like it. I might be able to spread it out some more, but it's my first REAL 'blockage' so i might mess with it until i go crazy... and then start the stole anyway! Hey... i just SAID i was crazy!

I know you are going to stick with the theme-colors, but i had this red.... and i am saving to buy something else knit-wise and really must stick to my plan. I just discovered that i might have beads already that will fit.

...I'm such a glutton for punishment.

Later.

A Hat for All Seasons

Hey Kate,

Emme likes hats. So I made Crazy Aunt Purl's Roll Brim Hat using the same SWS yarn you made your felted bowl out of. She stole it off the desk and put it on and ran around. So it isn't on her like I would want it, but it's on her like she would want it, so who am I to judge? I have packed it away for her birthday so that it can be special.

Later!

Robin

That's what SHE said!

Hey Kate,

My first shawl was crocheted. Does that count? I used the Sweet Pea Shawl pattern from The Happy Hooker and the yarn they recommended which is the Classic Elite Flash in the color Pink Tweed. The yarn is an awesome mercerized cotton which is three different color strands twisted together. It makes the color look three dimensional and sparkly... which this picture doesn't show at all.
This was a gift, so I don't have a recent picture but I did use it for a portrait before giving it to the recipient. Here is a 10 month old Emme copping a feel.

I haven't actually knitted a shawl... yet. Of course, that will change soon, as you know...

Later!

Robin

I felt it!

Hey Robin,

After our SWS discussion late yesterday afternoon i was compelled to find out if you can felt (or full actually) the 70% wool.... soy be damned! So i knitted up a super-small kitty-pi (because that's all i could think of) and went to town. Here's what i have so far:

I adore the little "bullseye" on the bottom don't you? Anyway, it felted a teeny bit. I may try to get it to go further today since last night it was late and i was in a hurry... you can still see stitches and stuff, but really all i was going for was something a little stiffer that could hold it's shape. What do you think I should use it for? :)

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARLOT! :)

(Don't worry babe, we were born the same year... and i ALWAYS have trouble remembering how old i am)

Later!

First Shawl? I got yer first shawl right here...

Hey Robin!

Teehee! I just finished reading Yarn Harlot's latest post (Happy Birthday Stephanie!) and thought i would contribute to the sure-fire First-Shawl showoff in Yarn Bloghood... :D

OK so here's first-shawl! Hi, nice to meet you :)

First-shawl was made of that recycled sari-silk yarn... i think it was put to really good use as a shawl here because it's got "weight" to it and an excellent drape and feels yummy and warm... I found this formula online for making a simple garter-stitch shawl. It was a great help!

Yes that is a lego on the desk. I try to always fit a lego into my project pictures... don't you?

Here is Shawl #2... heretofore known as the BF Hug... it's my BF's birthday present (I think i mentioned going to the LYS with her to pick out the yarn). The yarn is Hempathy in the rose color. It's a much warmer color than seen here, my camera isn't the best in the world for color-correctness... anyway, it's really nice to knit with and i think will drape nicely when it's all done and given a wash to break down the fibers a teensy bit.

Yesterday there were 3 inches on this needle... *sigh* Thank you for helping me with my YO lameness...

Back to you!

Kate

My First Dishcloth!

Hey Kate,
I finished my first dish cloth. I crocheted it though, which feels very much like cheating. I used Bernat Handicrafter cotton and this pattern.
Later... Robin

Heere there be Monsters...

Hey Robin,
I am the boringest Mommy ever there was, so thank you oodles and gobs for pointing me at whipup today! Little Guy was VERY into making yarn monsters and was chomping at the bit to get to the glue. What do you think? No comments on the quality of the marker work ;)















We had a LOT of fun... what to do with the other 23 hours and 45 minutes though.... hmmm...

You may be noticing that i am not mentioning any OTHER yarn work. *sigh* I am having troubles with the super-secret project... so i am trying other things... and also a last-minute present for my Dad for Father's Day. Woops. Started this one a little late :p I hope i get it done in time but he's going to be passing through on thursday and want to be able to test a size on him while he is here! huuuurrrreeeeeeee!!! *pant-pant-pant*


What'chew up to? I wonder what other "crafty Moms" do with their pre-schoolers on summer break? Anyone out there? Hello? Hallooooooooo?
Kate

Pins and Kneedles

Hey Kate,

I need better pins, but here is the blocking in progress of my new bookmark. I finally used the hemp I got from Elann (which they no longer carry) and The Dude's crocheted ginkgo bookmark pattern.

I gotta go!

Robin

The haul!

Hey Robin,

I am so excited about my first yarn-intensive yard sale experience! Here's a pic of the haul:

Two books, a bunch of Mohair (green), two skeins of Knit Picks "sock garden" that looks like fun, a big bag-o-purple. can't wait to see what to do with that. It feels like wool, but there's no ball bands WHEE a mystery! :)

The eensy bags of plum and blue are little grab bags of color, thought i could make little purses or something? and the bag of "misc" is some ends of Noro balls... ooooh what can i do with that?? Something i am sure... maybe a felted something... ooooh

Yay! That was fun!

The yellow rose was given to me by the absolutely precious five year old who was "helping" and who desperately wanted me to have the flower. OMG she was so cute, as was her little sister who wanted me to wear her halloween mask. Adorable-ness incarnate! I wish I had my camera for that.

I hope your weekend is as much fun!

Later,

Kate

Progress!

That's it. That's all I got.