Hello again, how are you?

 Surprise, surprise... It's been awhile, but here I am again, attempting to send some words in to cyberspace. There have been many projects since my last post 4 years ago. Here is the most recent off the needles. 

The Stillness Shawl MKAL by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade. I love the line by line percentage system that she uses. I used stashed Knit Picks Hawthorne kettle dyed in Slate, Blackbird and Wisp. It is huge pre-blocked. I think I will block it for shaping only or it may be dragging on the ground.  Helen's shawl patterns are lovely and fun to knit. I can't believe how fast I went through 3 skeins of yarn. 

March and April updates

My how times flies.

First Track Socks are done. I haven't decided whether to keep or gift them, so they are patiently waiting to warm someone feet.

Pattern: First Track Socks
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Botany

Then with the best of intentions I cast on Tablature  by Romi Hill with Cascade Heritage, but after about 40 rows it just did not feel right. I think the color needs some depth. So the beige yarn has been turned into a comfy pair of socks using the Lord, What Fools pattern by Claire Ellen.

Pattern: Lord, What Fools
Yarn:
Last year I finished stitching the stars for the 50 States Stitching Club by Wild Olive to their blue squares. I cut the stripes for the remaining blocks. I changed the pattern slightly to have 3 rows of stripes rather than 4. Then the project sat waiting... and waiting... So I declared this to be my lunch project and will be hand sewing the rest of the quilt. Piecing goes faster than I expect it to, but this project will be with me for awhile.


That didn't stop me from joining Mollie's next adventure, The Out in Nature Stitching club...

Happy crafting everyone!

January 2017

The last day of January, so I thought I would do a quick update...

I managed to knit up another pair of Susie's Reading Mitts for a co-worker venturing in to the Northeast for the holidays.

A few adjustment for the heavier weight yarn and these were a quick knit.
Pattern: Susie Rogers' Reading Mitts
Designer: Susie Rogers
Yarn: Nashua Handknits Snowbird (2 skeins)

I completed the Cornrow socks. I added two rows of plain knitting between the twisted row to spread out the pattern. This one was on my needles for awhile, Just wasn't motivated to get them done.

Patten: Cornrow Socks
Designer:
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Cochineal

Then I cast on the Peace Project Cowl. These 2 skeins of yarn has been sitting at my desk waiting for a pattern... I'm sending this cowl to my mom. The color is washed out in this photo, it is a deeper purple.

Pattern: Project Peace 2017
Designer: Christina Campbell
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarn in Sausalito (2 skeins)

And finally - on my needles now - First Track Socks. I am on the foot of the first sock...


Project: First Track Socks
Designer: Helen Kurtz
Yarn: Knit Picks Felici Botany

Happy December!

I thought I would get at least one post in for December as were slowly settling in for the holidays. Starting with a Christmas Parade. Lights, Marching Bands and Treats...
 

Then my helper elf got busy decorating our tree. Most ornaments were placed only as high as the elf could reach.
 

Counting the days with the Lego Advent Calendar...



With a bit of stitching and knitting  thrown in...


Cozy Blue Stitch Club (November) and Blanket knitted in Knit Picks Brava Bulky.

Hope you are enjoying a peaceful holiday season.

Cast on - Floral Opulence

My stash consists of sock yarns and an odd assortment of one ball miscellany. So I was happy to find a project's worth of yarn, including the pattern, just sitting in my stash. A free book offer in 2014 led to the purchase of the Knit Picks Comfy 2014 Collection and the yarn to knit Flora Opulence by Rosalyn Jung. I'm using Knit Picks Comfy Sport in a lovely red called Pomegranate.
 
I quickly cast on and made some progress. The lace section of this pattern has a 34 stitch repeat that I am having trouble memorizing, but it is only a short section before the wide rib starts. I hope to get past the lace quickly and onto some simple knitting.

Happy Knitting everyone!

Slowly, slowly, slowly....

One by one, I am getting the star squares done. There were 25 more to do and I thought I would get a chunk done last week while waiting for car maintenance. My plan was to get all 25 blocks prepped, but once I got started ran out of glue. Best laid plans....


However, it became my "lunch project" this week and as of today there are only 10 more to go.

Smooth Operator Socks - WIP

I have been itching to start another sock and the Smooth Operator Socks by Susan B. Anderson fits the bill. It first caught my eye on Instagram and learning a new heel sounds like fun. There is a KAL which is perfect for me because to join you just need to start a pair, The KAL ends on August 22nd, but there is no pressure to finish. So stash diving, once again, I came up with 2 skeins of Knit Picks Felici in Marsh. I took some time to find the same color repeat on both skeins and cast on my normal 64 stitches.


And we're off....

Washcloths anyone?

I joined the Salt KAL in the Polka Dot Sheep group on Ravelry. Four washcloths to knit in the Salt collection. I dug into my cotton stash (which I keep saying I will not add to) and got started.

Sea Salt
Yarn: Peaches and Creme in Strawberry Stripes



Infused Salt
Yarn (left): Knit Picks Dishie in Coffee and Peaches and Creme in Strawberry Stripes
Yarn (right): Knit Picks Dishie in Coffee and Knit Picks Simply Cotton in Golden Heather


Himalayan Salt
Yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton in Golden Heather



All so far are quick, fun knits and have given me a head start on holiday knitting.You have until the end of September to knit all 4 cloths to enter the drawing, but there are random prizes given out in the KAL thread. I am so happy to have won a free pattern from Polka Dot Sheep when I posted my start to the Sea Salt. There are many wonderful patterns to choose from. I settled on the Harvest Moon Blanket. 

The last pattern in the collection, Refined Salt, was released today. I am looking forward to casting on to finish the collection.
Happy Knitting.

Majestic Tie Cardigan - DONE

So, I've put the last stitches into this cardigan in at the end of June. It has been waiting patiently to be blocked and set up for a photo shoot. Who am I kidding? I need to set aside a big block of time to wash and block a bunch of things, yeah, not happening so here it is in its rumpled glory.
Majestic Tie Cardigan
Published in No-Sew Knits: 20 Flattering Finish-Free Garments
Pattern by Kristen TenDyke
Yarn: Cascade Ecological Wool

I think this will be traveling to the Pacific Northwest, where it will get more use than here on the islands. Hope you like it, Mom!

Making Progress....

Since I have finished my cross stitch project, I needed a new one for my lunch break. I pulled out my stars and have settled in to stitched them to my squares. Two patriotic prints will proudly show off my 50 States stars with a simple (wonky) running stitch. A poor choice of fabric to embroider the stars on leaves me with lots of little threads. My star points may not last too long. It is going faster than I anticipated and 10 stars are done already. Slowly but surely... a few stitches a day is better than none!


 There is other motivation to complete this project. Mollie at Wild Olive is starting a new stitch club, Around the House. I'm in, are you?

On the needles...

I am not a "BLING" person. I know that. So, why would I purchase yarn that has silver flecks in it? I have been struggling to find a use for some Knit Picks Glimmer, 2 skeins each of Jay, Frost and (grey). The "glimmer" is subtle, but still just not my style. I have started and ripped out no less that 4 projects using this yarn. This try is Zypher Cove by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. I started with Jay and I'm pairing it with the Frost. The lighter color is a bit more blue that what shows up in the photo. All of the garter stitch makes this project go fairly quickly.

I've made it through the stripes and need to find some stitch markers for the short row before I move on. Happy stitching everyone!

Cross Stitch... really?

I dug out a small cross stitch kit from my stash to keep me busy during my lunch.
It is a Dimensions kit called Live Simply. Just the bottom third to go.

50 States Embroidery

"Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away" ~ Charles Caleb Colton

And that is the how I am working on my 50 States Stitching Club by Mollie Johanson of Wild Olive.

Each week she released a pattern until all 50 States were represented to be stitched on to an English Paper Pieced star. I worked on the embroidery and paper piecing during my lunch hour and slowly but surely all 50 of them are stitched up. 

I've also trimmed blue squares for the stars....  Trimming those stars?! Not a job I'm looking forward to... 

Cast on... a sweater

Really, why do I think I have a time to work on a sweater? Well I am making time.,, last year I took advantage of a sale on a sweater kit. Which makes no sense at all because 1) I don't have the time to knit a sweater, 2) I've only knit one sweater that I've worn once and has been put on the side because I want to re-knit the sleeves and 3) there really is not use for a wool sweater here where I live.

Regardless, the kit for the Majestic Tie Cardigan by Kristen TenDyke was purchased and I cast on last week. The yarn is Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool in Natural. It's been awhile since I've followed a chart, so it after three attempts to start I have made a bit of progress. It is a top down cardigan  that starts a the back collar. I've worked my way through the sleeve caps and will be dividing for sleeves soon.


I like working with this yarn and the pattern repeat is simple enough to follow. Let's see how far I can get before it gets too hot to sit under wool.

Crochet a Zoo Playmat - WIP

Did you see it? The Crochet a Zoo Playmat. The book, Crochet a Zoo by Megan Kreiner, has been on my wishlist since it came out. You can find all the details on the Ravelry page, including the link to the FREE pattern. There was a sale on Cascade 220 at the craft store, so I stocked up and got out my hooks. I don't think got the contrast right for the greens, but so far so good don't you think? This is about a third of the way on the main portion. Then there is a border of single and double crochet. It's going faster than I though it would. I probably start weaving some of those ends in and not leave it ALL until the end.

Black and white socks

While taking diving in my stash for yarn for the colorwork KAL, I found two skeins of Pattons Stretch Sock. Black and white, so practical, but not the easiest colors to work with. But in my quest to use up stash, I cast on a pair of Fretful. I loved the simplicity of the pattern and the results were so comfy (or so I am told by the one who wears the socks). Not quite as soft as Happy Feet yarn, I thought this would make a serviceable pair. I'm going to work a few inches before deciding if the yarn color works with the stitch pattern.

Stitch club update #2

Moseying along with Summer Stitch Club. Every Monday, without fail, an email arrives in my inbox with the week's mini embroidery pattern. And every week, without fail, I print it and file it away to be done "later". "Later" has been getting away from me and today the second to the last pattern was delivered.  YIKES! I better get my needles moving!
There has been some progress... See... I have 4 of the twelve little guys stitch up. The next seven are traced out and ready to be stitched.

My hexies are almost done. I need to count the green ones again. I think I'm short by two... I'll have to do some adjusting when I assemble.

Not too far behind, wouldn't you say? That's a good thing because there will be an Autumn Stitching Club! Who can resist these cute patterns that take just a moment to make. Not I, said the busy mom...

Stitch Club update

I am moving along with the Summer Stitch Club. Isn't some cheerful fabric? I'm going with the green to calm those bright oranges. Slowly but surely, I am catching up with this weekly project.

Summer Stitching Club

Sure I have time for a stitch-a-long... (not!), but I couldn't resist. I have joined Wild Olive's Summer Stitching Club. Once a week from June to August she's sending out a tiny pattern to embroider. Here's the fun part... we will use the embroidered pieces in to a mini quilt using English Paper Pieced Hexagons! Oh, yes, I couldn't resist... I've always wanted to learn how to do paper piecing and this seems like a non-threating, managable way to learn. The first pattern few patterns have been delivered to my inbox, so I'm already behind. First stitches are in....


Not the greatest material for embroidery, but I wanted to get started and this was handy. Now I need to do some stash diving and find some material for hexies!

Next... colorwork

As quickly as I cast off the socks, I cast on my next project, a colorwork KAL by Colorworks by Debi. Found some Knit Picks Palette in my stash and here it is!


I'm fairly new to colorwork, but it's fun!