Saturday, February 28, 2015

Truckin' Along

Well, I finally sewed on the buttons for Little Man's Lancelot.  Here's the happy recipient:



I finally finished the hat, mittens and cowl including blocking and sewing on buttons.  I just need to take pictures.  I was going to take them when it snowed, but I had to work from home and I barely bothered to get dressed, and I certainly wasn't presentable enough for a picture. I finished the Valentine's wreath and hung it at my desk:



I don't think I ever posted a picture of Princess in her birthday sweater, so here is one:


In typical Princess style, she has to pose for the camera.  This was last week, when we got snow.  We had a few days of bad weather - snow one morning, then the next evening that turned into rain and made nice icy patches.

I have started my sweater, as you know, and I've been working on my socks.  I'm doing the socks to carry to and from work with me - it's hard to carry an adult sized sweater around everywhere.  Socks are good travel buddies.  I hope to get the hat, cowl and mittens written up and published on Ravelry.  I'm noticing a trend - I have a hard time finding a pattern that I want, so I'm creating it.  This being the case, I'm going to start writing them up and publish them.  Some will be for free, like the bow I posted earlier this month, and some will be for sale.  The biggest issue will be the pictures, but I can and will get some help with that.  I plan on playing with my camera and maybe getting a remote soon.  Little things can sometimes help the most.  Oh, and I also finished a sweater for the Littlest Princess, complete with blocking and buttons!   I hope this trend continues for the rest of the year - lots of projects completed!  It makes for a wonderfully productive year, and also provides warmth to those I love.  Are you ready for March?  What projects do you have lined up?  Have you finished anything?

Monday, February 23, 2015

Less than expected

I went on vacation last week, and honestly, I knit less than I expected.  I did get one sleeve done and another one started.




Well, let me elaborate a bit first.  This is sleeve #2, but sleeve #1 is not completely finished.  I took 2 skeins with me, one for each sleeve, and it is taking more than one for each.  I did not finish the first, so that I could start the second with a full skein.  This is my own pattern, and so far, it fits.  I did a gauge swatch, and did the math, and started on the sleeves, just to try and make sure my gauge would work.  So far, so good.  I have more increases left, but I should be able to finish them this week.  I will walk you through all the steps on this one, because although there are a lot of "custom sweater" patterns out there, this one is bottom up, with set in sleeves.  I tried to find one on my own, but could not, so I dug out my pencil and paper and calculator,  and started working on it.  Would you like to join in?  I'll post the series, but for now, grab "a sweater's worth" of yarn, no matter what weight, and start your swatch.  Get your fabric right, and meet me back here.  We will go through it together.  Feel free to leave questions or comments as we go.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Perfect knitting weather

This is outside right now.


It may be nothing compared to up north, but for here, this is a lot.  I am so glad that I am inside and have my yarn to keep me warm.  How about you?

Monday, February 09, 2015

It is not proud

I am working on a new sock, and thought I would show you.





I think I am going to call it Mardi Gras,  since the colors remind me of Mardi Gras and the pattern is called Charade.  I will link to it later.  I have found that I failed somewhat in my organization in January, by not using my bullet journal.



The nice thing is that it is forgiving, since you can fill it in as you go.  I am starting over this month, and hope it will become more of a habit.  I have also realized that I have been somewhat procrastinating my sweater, and will change that this month.  How is your February going?


Saturday, February 07, 2015

Love is Kind

The kindness of crafters is not nearly as celebrated as it should be.  We generously knit, crochet, sew, and craft for those we love, those we have not met yet, those in need.  We donate funds, time, materials, thoughts and prayers to others less fortunate.  Sometimes it's as simple as our own child needing a warm sweater or a relative wanting a pair of handknit socks.



We are a kind group.  We also are generous, in that we do give.  We have sympathy for those in need, and give willingly.  Sometimes we are not as kind to ourselves as we are to others.  We have that nagging voice that will tell us that we're not as good, not as talented, not as well off as others.  I have realized that just because someone else looks like they have it all together, they probably don't.  They just have a different set of problems.  We should be as kind to ourselves as we are to others, and increase our kindness to others as well.  Who have you been kind to recently?

Thursday, February 05, 2015

Love is patient



The small ball you see on the left was part of the tangle.  As I was detangling it, the yarn broke.  This was not the first time - it snapped itself in 3 other places as I was rewinding it.  The ball to the far left is what I had done before the tangle broke.  The things we do for the yarn we love.