WiP Wednesday 2/20/13

Wow do I have a lot to show you today! I went on a cast on spree last week and now have four knitting projects in progress. If you know me, I'm much more of a crocheter so for me to have that many knitting projects around is unusual!

First up, an Antler Cardigan by Tin Can Knits. I'm making this for my 18 month daughter in the 1-3 yr old size. I've already finished the sleeves and am working on the body in Red Heart Soft (color: Guacamole). For right now it's my easy whenever I have time project because I'm at the stockinette portion of things but once I get to the cables up top I'll have to use something else as a mindless project.

Next up...another hat. I'm making a Little Bough by Kydel. It's part of this month's KAL in her Ravelry group (which is ALMOST at 100 members, check it out) and I'm loving it so far! I'm using Stylecraft Special DK in the color Fondant. It's got easy cables but it's definitely one I have to pay attention to so it's usually reserved for when the little one is napping.

Third, I'm working on a Trillian shawl with some mill ends that I bought at AC Moore. I'm sure I won't even make a dent in this pile of mill ends working on this but I NEVER find sock yarn in those bags so I couldn't pass it up! It's another mindless knit that I can do whenever and I love it so far, it's squishy!

Last but certainly not least I started some Easy Peasy Socks by Stacey Trock. I had done a "practice" pair of socks awhile back with a child's pattern (that I'll absolutely make again) but decided I wanted to try a pair to fit myself. They're made in worsted weight which to me is perfect for a beginner getting to know the construction and details of making a sock. It's a little more instant gratification than sock yarn too since it goes much quicker. I figure they'll make some nice socks for inside my hiking boots or even just slipper socks for around the house! I'm using Vanna's Choice Baby in Pink Poodle.

I'm taking part in the Million Rows Challenge on Ravelry still and I'm up to 4,815 rows since September 2012. That's only counting FO's so the above aren't included just yet even though I've complete a total of 354 rows so far in those 4 projects.

Happy to be getting a few "firsts" out of the way too. First REAL pair of socks and first knit cardigan! I'm excited!

Don't forget to check out http://tamisamis.blogspot.com for plenty more WIP Wednesday posts!!

FO Friday

Keeping it short today as I have a sick toddler on my hands, argh! We're missing the snowstorm today but hope everyone who is in its path stays safe and warm!

Irving the Icebox monster was made for a big sister to be as a little gift :)

Hoping to have a picture of Miska on the little one soon but she's not in the mood (for good reason)

That's all for today! Time for more cuddles with the little one and Disney movies!

FO Friday 2/1/13

Three FO's to show off this week! Keeping it simple with just showing off pictures so that the little one and I can go enjoy the small bit of snow on the ground this morning before it melts. And then I can catch up on everyone else's blogs too!!

Acorn doll blanket

Take it or Leaf it Cowl

V-Stitch Fingerless Mitts

WiP Wednesday 1/30/13

Started two of my projects from last week that I had in the works. First up, I started a pair of v-stitch fingerless mitts in my Tiny Dino worsted. Had planned to do the Spring Semester cowl but after looking into it more, I changed my mind. This is one of my favorite quick crocheted fingerless mitt patterns to do! it's a long rainy day here so they may very well be done in time for Friday's post! The picture below is what I whipped up quickly last night before bed. All the way to the thumb hole :)

Next up...I started Petunia the Patio Monster last night. Fingers crossed that I don't have to start over on smaller needles but I need to get a few more rows in to see or not. I'm using some Patons Grace that I had in stash. (If all goes well, 2013 will be ALL stash and no new).

I already have a few things lined up to share on FO Friday so don't forget to come back and check them out!

YoP Round 2 Update: 9/11/12

So I decided to join in the 1 Million Rows Challenge (thanks to whoever blogged about it recently, speak up if you did because I'm drawing a blank!).

The way I see it, I'm using stash yarn for my Year of Projects list and that's one of the premises in the challenge so why not kill two birds with one stone! I'm also curious as to how long it will actually take me to do 1 million. This is my counter:




Don't worry, it won't say ZERO for long, I just created it 5 minutes ago!

I figure we leave for vacation soon and that'll be 14 hours in the car up and then another 14 when we come back plus a side trip day that will be 4 hours so with 30+hours in the car I'm curious as to what I can get done!

I did decide to add to my list since my amigurumi portion of my list is going to be complete very, very shortly!

I added a home category:

I bought some Dishie from KnitPicks and had every intention of making washcloths to keep in the kitchen for my toddler daughter to use. That was a couple months ago so they're being added to the list for motivation!

Also going to work up some new placemats, throw pillows and a few motifs that I'd like to work up, block, stiffen and just frame individually for wall art :)

Sorry for the lack of pictures, it's been a crazy week! I did get started on the two cowls off my list that will be traveling with me!

FO Friday: 8/31

Figured I haven't posted some FO's that were non-Year of Projects related in awhile so here they are!

I've been on a bead crochet kick lately so we'll start off will a few bracelets first (and you can ignore the ugly shadow in the first picture lol)

Beaded Ripples bracelet designed by Lisa Gentry

Beaded Band Lace Bracelet by BethToddCreatz

This is such an easy, quick little square with nothing complicated about it but has a great look!

BLO 6" Square by Anastacia Knits Designs

Ignore my ugly join up top, I need to make a few more of these in cotton. All I had readily available was worsted weight which still looks nice but the cotton would give it a nicer look (which is what the pattern calls for)

Linked Bullions Coaster designed by Donna Kay Lacey

Tumbling Diamonds 12" Square designed by Anastacia Knits Designs

Tumbling Diamonds 6" Square designed by Anastacia Knits Designs

Kitty Kat Kanoodler Blankie designed by Lisa Gentry

The Amy Cowl designed by Kelly Menzies

WiP Wednesday 5/23/12

Normally I'm a crocheter but now I know how many of you knitters feel casting on multiple projects! Here's what I've got going (and in the works):

I cast on a Lazy Lace Snood a few days ago and it's flying along (well, as much as it can fly for my knitting speed):

I'm using Jo-Ann's brand of yarn Sensations Caribbean in Metallic White. Of course flecks of glitter never show up well in pictures but I'm in love with this "just the right amount of sparkle" yarn.

Received my Knit Picks order yesterday as well which will certainly be in progress soon!

I picked up two colourways of Chroma Fingering that were on clearance and already have projects picked out for them!

The New England colourway will be made into Autumn Leaves.
That will likely be the first time that I make a project in the exact yarn/colourway as the sample shows, weird as that sounds.

The Mix Tape colourway will become Abyssal.

One of those two will hopefully be cast on by the end of this week so I"ll have some small progress for next Wednesday!

I also picked up 3 skeins of Knit Picks Dishie yarn to whip up some face cloths to keep in the kitchen at my daughter's level for her to use. I'm not much of a pink person but figured she needed at least one shade of pink in there and I have to admit I'm becoming attached to this shade.

From left to right: Kenai, Mulberry and Begonia
The Kenai is a tad smaller looking in the picture because I couldn't wait and already finished up a dishcloth in that one.

Surprisingly I don't have much crochet going on right now, I'm joining in a CAL that starts on Friday (info here) so that'll be progress for next week as well!

Oh! Can't forget the Twitter Mystery KAL! Look how it's progressing! I'm loving it so far!

For this I'm using Bernat Super Value in Teal Heather.

YoP #9

I've been few and far between in the blogging world the past week and a half due to all the holiday madness but I'm back! I know I did a recap of my list last week and I do have a FO to share. That lovely ballet camisole I've been working on? I finished it about a week ago! Here it is!

Yes I have purple lounge pants on, oh well?

I still plan to embellish it with some fabric designs cut with my new Cricut but I need to go get myself the Toolkit for the Cricut first!

One of the Rav groups I'm in is doing a contest for the month of January using our choice of Lisa Gentry scarf patterns. I already had the Sensational Lacy Scarf on my YoP list so hopefully that'll hop on my hook this week!

FO Friday #6

Showing off my three quick Calorimetry headbands I knit over the Thanksgiving holiday that I finally got around to buying some buttons for this week!

Using up some of the Bernat I used for my Saroyan

It's driving me nuts I don't remember what kind of yarn this is. It was in my stash randomly without a label.

Lion Brand Amazing :) Not my favorite colorway they make in it but I still like it!

Also whipped up that wreath I was talking about on Wednesday this week. Took me about 20 minutes :)

Pictures were rather hastily taken this week as I'm writing this Thursday evening while the hubby is home to occupy the little one but we all know how that goes. They never really COMPLETELY watch the little one, Mama still has to keep one eye looking that way :-P.

Also there's a poll on my blog's homepage on the left side. Take a moment a give me your input on how my skeins of Simply Soft Light in black should be used in a shawl :) It's much appreciated!

My first WIP Wednesday post

Thought since I read everyone's WIP Wednesday posts on Rav, I'd finally join in!

In all technicality I have 8 WIPs going right now and haven't done so bad working on 50% of them the past week! Might as well go down the line...here goes...

Even though it's not much yet, I'm excited for the outcome of this one so I'll start out with the Peacock Shawlette I cast on tonight. I'm normally not much for knitting for long periods of time but somehow this one has sucked me in today and I'm addicted!

I thought I'd be disappointed making a peacock shawlette out of something not so much peacock colors but I'm quite fond of this color combo so we'll keep the fingers crossed! I'm only about four rows in and like I said, doesn't look like much yet but let's just mention it's an accomplishment for two reasons: a) I've managed to keep the CORRECT number of stitches each row and b) I haven't thrown it across the room yet!

I also have my Tunisian tee still going for the CrochetMe CAL. The goal is to have the second base triangle done by Halloween so that'll be my priority this weekend! Here's the first base triangle complete. Excuse the curling in the top corner, it'll work itself out once blocked, finished, etc. I'm making the tee a little thicker so right now it curls more.

I'm also 50% complete with a set of mitts I started. I love the color and the fit of these and finishing the second one should take no time at all!

Now for the big project: my Dusty Snowflake throw for the Red Heart CAL. The goal was to get another row of snowflakes done which I kind of did but didn't meet. I completely forgot I needed to add filler snowflakes in so I added those and then started doing up the second row of seven snowflakes. Each one is just shy of one complete round and a joining round so really a short bit of time and that second row will be done. If I can somehow manage to do it in the next day or so and be ready to start the third row this weekend, I'll be even happier!

That's what's on my hooks and needles this week. I did manage to finish something so I'll even have a quick post on Friday as well, Yay!

Year of Projects!

Being that I wasn't able to join this back on July 1st, I figured now would be just as good a time as any! I've joined in on the Year of Projects group on Rav to complete my list of projects by June 30th of next year. I had already lined up a list for myself when this had started and then began blogging again so here goes!

I'm more of a crocheter than I am a knitter so I have my main list of crochet items but them sort of a mini list of "I'd love to knit these but may throw the needles across the room in frustration before they're completed". Also known as, I'm a slow and still learning knitter but I'm hopeful. Plus, I've got four in-progress CALs that I'm determined to finish by the end of the current year:

CALs (done by end of 2011):
1. Chevron Lace Cardi (completed 10.23.2011)
2. Betty's Tunisian Tee (in progress)
3. Snowflakes Throw (in progress)
4. Vortex Throw (in progress)

Crochet:
1. Pinecone Top
2. Lacy Cropped Cardi
3. Custom Tank Version #1
4. Cap Sleeve Top
5. Custom Tank Version #2
6. South Bay Shawlette

Knit:
1. Clapotis
2. Ballet Camisole
3. Peacock Shawlette (in progress)
4. Sagrantino Shawl

Lots and lots of garments of course! 16 projects in 8 months? Helllooo at least 2 projects per month, ideally. We'll see! Update coming later tonight or tomorrow on my Chevron Lace Cardi that I went on a random streak with and will most likely be done tonight or tomorrow! Can't wait!

Stash Showdown

Went upstairs and had a quick 15-20 minutes to take a gander at my stash that doesn't have projects yet and came up with a few ideas.

I somehow have four random skeins of Lion Brand Homespun that all coordinate. Pretty sure they coordinate because this is my "home color family" also known as the group of colors I gravitate to all the time for projects it seems. These four colors are screaming to become a striped bag of sorts, just need to sort through patterns and find the perfect one.

Then I ran across my lovely combination of Bernat Satin and what I believe is a big of Red Heart and Vanna's Choice. Once again, the blues, greens and a rose. Haven't decided what this group will become.

Why not just continue with the blue theme why don't we? Years ago when a million different fashion yarns hit the market somehow I seemed to think it was "cool" to purchase some and years later I'm lucking out that they're all the same color family. These random beauties will be parts of various granny squares for a bag I have in mind along with some left over Caron One Pound that I'll have in Navy.

I'm in love with this yarn and have no idea what to do with it. I could buy a few more skeins and make a top which may end up happening but I got these two skeins at the local Michaels for 50 cents a piece so spending $5/skein seems to not make the bargain as exciting. Possibly use a 50% coupon and at least make it worthwhile somewhat.

Then there's the two skeins of this ribbon yarn I have that may very well be discontinued if I remember right. I'm in LOVE with the color but no clue what to do with it. I have a ball of black shimmery ribbon yarn as well that could alternate in stripes for a cute scarf?

I started my Tunisian tee today and I have to say for a first attempt at Tunisian crochet, it looks mighty amazing :) Will post more once my two base triangles are done.

The first motif for my convertible crochet shawl. The glitter doesn't show up very well and the square isn't blocked yet but you get the idea. Hoping to finish this one in time for the hubby's company holiday party this year if we decide to go.

Might as well finish the post with a FO! Whipped the little one up some winter mittens yesterday. All that's left to do is find some cute ribbon to thread through the wristband. Thinking I'll find something with some sparkle to add the girly touch :).