Long Time, No Post

It's been a little busy at our house lately.
Work, work, work, work. Work, work, work. Easter. Family. Grandpa. Work. Work. Work.

That's about it. It's all I can do to eat and get some knitting in.

I was on a roll and got a few projects accomplished and now have a new LIST started. I love lists.

1. Jared Flood's Habitat
Yarn: Rowanspun

2. Pattern: Pending
Yarn: Seedling by Classic Elite Yarns

3. Bry's Socks
Pattern: Toe Up Socks by Leah Mitchell
Yarn: I can't remember!

4. ?Sweater - suggestions welcome
Yarn: Shibui Knits Staccato

5. This one's done - but I love it.
Thanks to Alex, Tony and Riley for the lovely yarn.
Pattern: Revontuli by AnnM
Yarn: Kauni Effect Yarn EA
6. Another gift from the Vosooney Clan
Pattern: Raglan Top Down Sweater - Pattern came with the yarn
Yarn: Tosca Light by Lang
7. Pattern: Springtime in Hollis
Yarn: Lisa Harding Kashmir Aran

I know I haven't been blogging much. And it's not looking too good for the summer, either. I would like to share with you a few of the blogs that I have been going to for inspiration.
A Little Pregnant
Posie Gets Cosy - OMG I may need to start embroidering. Alex! Check this out. I'll buy the kit for you if you want it!
Artsy Crafty Babe
Wee Wonderfuls
Aesthetic Outburst
Wren Handmade
Wild Olive

Have a good spring. Hopefully the weather shapes up here!

Knitting And Crochet Blog Week 2011 Day 2 (2KCBWDAY2)

If you want to read about more Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011 just click HERE.

Day Two: 29th March. Skill + 1UP
Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Wow.  Seeing as I've only been knitting for a total of 14 months this one is pretty easy.  However, I realized that I haven't ever posted photos of the VERY FIRST knitting project I did.  So this seems like a perfect time.  My Honey Mustard Scarf was the first adventure in knitting.  I was on a vacation month and just felt like I needed to do something with my hands.  I found a free pattern from Lion Brand in a booklet near where I found the Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn.

Free Knitting Pattern: Berry Ridge Hat And Scarf

Lion Brand® Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick® Pattern #: L0068

Rating: 5.0 (based on 1 review) Most current review / Write a review SKILL LEVEL:  Easy SIZE: One Size Hat: 21 in. (53.5 cm) circumference, will stretch to fit a range of sizes Scarf: 7 x 48 in. (18 x 122 cm)        CORRECTIONS: None

I read the pattern instructions to figure out how to cast on.  I knitted and purled over and over - checking the internet when I couldn't figure it out.  I couldn't tell the difference between knit and purl stitches, and I made some mistakes.  I didn't care.  I figured out how to join new yarn in.  When I got to the end (7 FEET later!) I didn't know how to cast off.  Bry watched and laughed at me as I watched a YouTube video while I cast off.

Since I finished this scarf I haven't stopped knitting.  I jumped in head over heels - and fell in love.  I knit ALL the time - anytime I can.  Things that used to annoy me (long car trips, long lectures, downtime at work) don't now because I always bring along knitting.  I have come pretty far in 14 months - and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.  Check out my Knitting page to see how far I've come!
Here are some of my most advanced items:

Beaded Hat

Pattern: Bead Scarf and Hat by Amanda Blair Brown from Knit Simple Holiday Issue

Yarn: Can't remember.  It was a sport weight wool

Beads: From Micheal's Crafts. Glass beads.  Entirely too small for this yarn!

This took me the entire month of December 2010 to finish.  I was painful, since my hats normally take only 2-3 hours to do.  I am not sure that I will ever be repeating this pattern, but I do get tons of compliments on it.

Pattern: Habitat by Jared Flood

Yarn: Shelter by Brooklyn Tweed

I bought the yarn and the pattern at Knit Purl in Portland, OR.  I finished the hat on the plane ride back to Milwaukee.  It knit up pretty quickly, and I even figured out how to cable WITHOUT a cable needle during the pattern.  The chart was easy to follow - and I just hung it up on the plane seat in front of me.  I have another skein of yarn to knit this again for myself since this was supposed to be for Bry (I steal it....a lot.)

These are my finished socks.  This makes a whole new TYPE of garment that I've knitted.  So far I have made:

Scarves

Hats

Mittens

Washcloths

Sweaters

Socks

Booties

Toys

And I don't plan to stop!

Knitting And Crochet Blog Week 2011 Day 1

Day One: 28th March. A Tale of Two Yarns.
Part of any fibre enthusiast’s hobby is an appreciation of yarn. Choose two yarns that you have either used, are in your stash or which you yearn after and capture what it is you love or loathe about them.

Yarn Love
This is actually pretty difficult - I'm sure most of the other bloggers will agree that there are many, many yarns that they like to work with.  I have come across a TON of yarns that I really enjoy - and I don't have any problem spending money in a yarn store........  So I will be picking one that I don't think other people may have tried.  It's not a "specialty" yarn - in fact it's one of my "go-to's" when I have a Joann Fabric's coupon.  Yep, you can buy it at Joann's.  It is Debbie Stoller's Stitch Nation Alpaca Love.  Now all three of the Debbie Stoller Yarns are nice to work with - Bamboo Ewe and Full 'o' Sheep are the other two.  Alpaca love is a worsted weight yarn.  It is a pleasure to knit with because it is soft, and the fabric it creates is super cushy and just plain lovely.

Alpaca Love™ is a plush blend of wool with a touch of soft alpaca that is available in a rich range of  hues. It feels and looks wonderful, adding a bit of luxury to everything from hats and scarves to sweaters.

80% Wool, 20% Alpaca
131 yd (121 m) per 3 oz (85 g)
Gauge: 4" = 16 stitches/21 rows on size 8 needles
Suggested Crochet Hook: I-9

Hand wash gently in cold water. Lay flat to dry. Do not bleach. Do not iron. May be dry cleaned.This yarn will felt if machine washed.

3920 Ruby	3650 Lotus	3580 Dusk	3620 Fern

3810 Lake

3520 Peacock Feather

3350 Espresso Bean

3420 Cobblestone

There are plenty of yarn snobs out there - and I find myself turning into one whenever a skein of 100% acrylic is near.......but GIVE THIS ONE A TRY!  Not every sweater you make has to cost $100000 dollars.  I love that this yarn is kid friendly and comes in a ton of lovely colors too.  I am currently working on some really cool boots (suede sole) for my cousin, Heide, and am using their Lotus, Dusk, Fern and Cobblestone colorways.  Pictures to follow.



Yarn Hate
Now this was tougher.  As stated above, I kinda like the stuff.  (Severe, severe addiction, possibly leading to financial difficulties might be a better definition).  Nonetheless, there was ONE yarn that I really didn't dig - at all.  It was given to me by a friend who was giving up knitting for Neurosurgery.  (Thanks, Carolyn!)  And I knit a cute scarf project for another friend.  I actually have fond memories of the knitting because I did it during my last class of medical school (Preparing for Internship) and a bunch of my other friends were also knitting - good times.

Not to be a hater - but this yarn DROVE ME UP THE WALL.  It was super difficult to work with because my needles always got stuck in it.  It had no give, so it was hard to slip it from needle to needle.  I did a simple pattern of garter stitch and drop stitch to make a scarf - the end result was actually gorgeous - and the receiver loved it.  But the struggle of knitting with this yarn made me want to never try this again.  This one gets a big thumbs down from me.

Weight Category: 6 -   Super Bulky: Bulky, Roving Yarn
1.75 oz./50 g (110 yd/100 m)
100% nylon
Gauge: Knit: 10 stitches x 16 rows = 4" (10cm) on size 15 (10mm) needles Crochet: 8 sc and 10 rows = 4" (10cm) with size P-15 (10mm) hook   Product Care Instructions: Items made from this yarn may be laundered through the use of water, detergent or soap and gentle hand manipulation. A machine dryer may not be used.