Casting On

So, in case you didn't see it, TLC has a new show called Craft Wars.  Tori Spelling hosts it, and the first episode was really rather cool.  Basically the concept is simple: three crafters are given certain materials and a challenge - think Project Runway for crafts.  The winner takes home $10,000.  That's a prize I'd love.  And talk about hacking - you hijack all kinds of stuff.  The first challenge this week was a duffle bag from sports equipment.  There were cheerleading skirts, karate belts, tennis rackets, baseballs and all kinds of other stuff.  The crafters were given one hour and a helper to create.  One person was eliminated, and then the second challenge started.  This one was to use old school supplies and create a kids' playhouse.  I have to say - I LOVED this idea.  What better use of all those extras than make something incredibly crafty out of them?!  Here's the winning design:

One of the judges commented that she should have paid more attention to the detail INSIDE the playhouse, as there wasn't much for the kids to play with.  This, I have to say, I agree with.  There wasn't much - not even flooring really.  But, the outside was AMAZING, as you can see.  Those flower boxes are decorated with pencils on the outside.  The perfect house would have been this one, with the losing house's inside.  In there, she had a corkboard painted red and shaped like an apple, a chalkboard wall for the kids to draw on, and a whole wall wallpapered with sheets of notebook paper.  Her inside was better, but this one was over the top for outside construction.

If you haven't visited Luvinthemommyhood, you should definitely take a gander at what she's got going on over there.  First there's this:

  

Have you signed up?  I did.  I cast on yesterday, and quite frankly, I'm rather disappointed with my progress so far.  I was hoping I would knit faster, or that the yarn would figure out how to knit itself during the night.  I'm also not sure that I am making the right size.  Oh, you want to know what I'm making? (Duh - as if I didn't know! :))  Here's what I cast on yesterday, when the whole thing started:

  

 

This is the lovely Crossover Lace Sweater from Juniper Moon Farms in Findley.  It wouldn't be mine if it weren't Midnight, or black.  Black goes with everything! :)  I'm making the 43" size, and I think I need to up it to the 47.5" size.  I could up it to the largest size (it only takes 2 skeins for the largest three sizes) but I'm back on my diet and exercise routine (although not so much on the exercise) so the weight should hopefully start dropping off again.  Those were the days - I didn't get much knitting done, but I sure did look good when I did it! :)  I'll get there again.  Now that school is over, I can focus more on me and the family, and the knitting.  And crocheting.  And did I mention the sewing?

Yes, I've started sewing too.  That's where the Sash with Beaded Fringe came from.  I have LOTS of fabric for quilts.  I say "lots" - probably not as much as some, but I do have enough for about 4 quilts currently.  Granted, they are all small ones, but they're there.  I hope to work with what I have for the rest of the year.  

Do you know about Christmas in July yet?  NO?  Well, let me inform you then.  Christmas in July is at The Whole Nine Yarns in downtown Woodstock on July 22nd.  There will be LOTS of free patterns, and some for sale as well.  You pay $5 at the door (or at least we have in the past) and you get a folder.  In this folder you collect the free patterns (please, don't take the for sale ones, it cause all kinds of heartache and indigestion when things get taken) and they are all fabulous fast gift ideas.  I've had a couple there, and I plan on having at least 2 this year.  I've already completed one, and the second one will be coming soon as well.  Once I have them done, after Christmas in July, I may just post them here.  Wouldn't that be fun?  I've been having a huge brainstorm of ideas recently, so I've been taking diligent notes so that in the coming months I can create them and let you all see what's floating around in my head.  Okay, maybe not so much...but at least let you see the PATTERNS floating in my head.  Sound like a plan?  Okay.  So, go forth my lovelies, and sign up for the Summer Sweater Knitalong on luvinthemommyhood site, and then tell me you're joining me!  Oh, and PLEASE don't worry about time - you have until September 30th to finish your sweater!  I'm super ambitious and want to finish 3: one for me, one for Little Man and one for Princess.  Hubby doesn't wear sweaters often, so unless it's really lightweight, he's not in the market.

Still working on it.

So, I'm done with school.  It's been a long hard journey over the past 2 years, but I'm done.  I'm now the proud possessor of a Master's degree in Business Administration and a huge pile of loans.  At some point, those will be paid off, but it will be far into the future, unfortunately.  That would be part of the surprise I keep promising.  The other part should work itself out in the next week or so, and I'll be able to announce it here too.

In other news, here are some lovely pictures for you:

This is the Bella Dress, and I fixed it.  It didn't take long, but it did take a little time.  It still looks lovely on Princess.  This was out of Merlin from Louet - it's lovely and drapey and a combination of merino wool and linen.  The linen gives the merino just enough stability without killing your hands.

This is the supposed Ann Norling #27 vest - that isn't.  This was a completion project and the woman who had started it thought it was a published pattern.  It wasn't.  I bought a copy of the supposed pattern she used, but she made so many changes to it, it was hardly recognizable anymore.  If anyone would like details, I'd be happy to share the changes, and I may at some point write them down and post them.  For now, I'm just glad it's done.  I'm not sure what yarn this was, but it felt like Noro of some kind.

This is another one of those easy, simple, stupid-fast scarves from Rowan.  It uses Kid Silk Creation and about 2 hours of your time.  Really - it is that fast.  The results are fabulous and it looks like you spent WAAAY more time on it than you really did.  Here's the model shot:

I know - the model isn't wearing the best shirt for the pictures, but it was all I had at the time. :)

Someone had asked about a model shot of the Sash with Beaded Fringe from Amy Butler, so here it is.  Again, probably not the best shirt to wear with it, but ta-da - there it is.

I don't think I posted a picture of this one yet - this is the Little Red Riding Cowl by Francine Toukou. This one was easy, fast, simple, and terrific.  This is definitely a quick, gratifying project.  Like one you need while finishing graduate school. :)  Here's another model shot for you:

Here is Francine Toukou's Fireside Capelet (this link is the closest to it I could find).  Again, another easy fast crochet item for instant gratification.  I think it took me a weekend to work it up (great for gifts!).

And the gratuitous model shot of the capelet:

I think this one turned out better than the others, mainly because it was so BLAZING HOT in the shade.  And we did this at like 10-11 in the morning.

This are the lovely Foundling Mitts, which are to be published in What Would Madame DeFarge Knit? Volume 2.  The book isn't out yet, but the test pattern was beautifully written and it will be well worth the wait.

These are the Marietta Mitts, designed by Mariana from The Whole Nine Yarns.  I think the pattern is still up on the blog - another well written, easy pattern.  These would be a great first pattern for someone to learn knitting in the round.

I couldn't add pictures without adding my own creation.  These are the Skolnick mitts, sans the double stitching on the palm.  The picture doesn't really show the cable - maybe next time.

This is yet another Francine Toukou pattern: her Simply Slippers pattern wasn't the one I bought, but it's still the same (I think).  The pattern I purchased was Flowers from Head to Toe, and it added a flower pattern to the slippers, but you could just take the flowers off if you wanted.  Again, another super-simple fast crochet project.

Here is the model shot again.  There are a few changes I'd make to the pattern, but I think it's because my feet are so HUGE (I wear a size 10 in women's, and I'm only 5'6"!).  I'd make the top not so wide - it has a tendency to slip down around my little toe.  I did make them longer than the pattern called for, thinking that I'd need the extra length.  I don't know that I really do.  In any case, that's all for now.  Watch for some more updates and possibly some new patterns!  I'm hitting a really big creative phase at the moment and my fingers can't fly as fast as my brain! :)