H is for Handmade

2015: A year in yarn

There wasn't too much happening in the crochet/knitting department last year.

I only completed one yarn project in 2015 and it was from the very start of the year. Lately, I have had limited thumb movement and it hurts when I move or even touch them. So using my hooks and needles has kind of been put on hold.

I did manage to crochet a couple of squares for my Tiny Squares blanket but the only completed project was my Anna ripple. I finished it in January and then took a year to weave in the ends. Out of all my ripples, this one is my favorite. All the different colors are so very pretty. My Mom has deemed it the most beautiful of blankets.

: :  Anna {ripple}  : :

Pattern:  Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic24

Yarn:  Knit Picks Brava Worsted

Hook:  5.5 mm (I) 

Finished Size:  51 x 51 inches

Ravelry Page

August 19, 2015

Leftovers

August Break 2015: Day 19

Knit ALL the things!!

There are so many cozy things I want to make.

it's growing

My Games of Thrones mystery shawl is growing and getting larger. I love to see the pattern emerge the more that I work on it. I really love the color of the yarn too.

Right now, I am smack dab in the middle of Clue #2. Right at the part in the pattern where things start to get kind of scary. At least that is what I have read on the forums. Plus, the knitting instructions just LOOK scary.

I have been so tired when I get home after work that I have put off knitting anything so that I won't mess up. I don't want to move onto the scary part yet until I am more focused and alert and also because I need to find some extra stitch markers. Lots of extra stitch markers.

I hope to spend at least some of my time knitting this weekend. That is if I can find some stitch markers. Maybe I should just go out and buy some. But then I would have to wait some more and I really don't want to put off knitting on this project any longer. Decisions, decisions.

I have jumped off the bandwagon...

...well, kind of.

I'm still doing the Games of Thrones Mystery Kal, but after seeing how the colors of the yarn were knitting up, I decided that the recommended yarn was just not going to work for this project.

I didn't want to give up on the project before it even began, so I started searching for a new color. I really wanted to use Madelinetosh, in particular this gorgeous Ember color that I found, but I wanted to shop local instead of ordering online. 

I decided to check out one of my favorite local yarn stores to see what they had. The last time I was there they had a ton of Madelinetosh. So I was pretty disappointed to find that the store was completely out of stock of any kind of Madelinetosh. 

They didn't have that much in the way of sock yarn either, but I was able to find some Malabrigo sock that I decided would work. I am glad I found something because I would have felt sad to leave that store empty handed.

So here it is week 3 of the knit-a-long and I just got started on Clue #1. Let me tell you something about this lace knitting stuff... I really like it. There is really only one bad thing about it at the moment and that is that the needle I am using is a bit dark against the yarn and so the stitches are a bit hard to see at times.

Even though, I still consider my Harmony needles to be new, I am really tempted to just buy some lighter wood colored interchangable tips in the size that I am using for this project. I need to buy a 40-inch cord anyway (the longest I have is only 32-inches), so I might as well buy both, right?

Yarn is coming...

Scratch that. Yarn is here!

I ordered some yarn that was supposed to be delivered today, but it actually arrived one day early. Yay!

I am pretty excited about this yarn. I bought it for a knit-a-long. This will be my very first time participating in a knit-a-long. But it's not just any knit-a-long, it's a MYSTERY knit-a-long.

What is a mystery knit-a-long, you ask? Well, let me tell you. First of all, the pattern is a mystery. That means no one knows what the finished project will look like until the very end. Now, I can tell you that I know we will be knitting a shawl. But that is it. Each Sunday, part of the pattern will be released and bit by bit all will be revealed.

This will be my first time knitting lace.

This will be my first time knitting a lace shawl. 

Well...back to the yarn.

This was my first time buying fancy yarn sight unseen (and untouched). The colorway is a limited edition, dyed special just for the knit-a-long. To be honest, if it weren't for me seeing this photo of the yarn, I would have just scrolled on past the announcement for the knit-a-long.

I guess there is a first time for everything.

I blame it all on the yarn.

2013: A year in yarn

I worked on lots of yarny projects this past year, but only managed to complete two yarny projects in 2013. Yep. That's right. Only two.

My first completed project in 2013 was a knitting project. I finally finished knitting my first pair of socks. YAY! And to think it only took me 1.5 years to do it. I finished the first sock back in 2012 but since a pair of socks is not considered finished until there are two, these socks were not officially done until 2013.

: : DETAILS : :

Pattern: A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C. 

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks Jacquards in Aqua Jacquard

Needle size: US 2.5 - 3.0 mm

My Ravelry link: The sock attempt

My other yarny project for the year was another crochet ripple blanket. I guess I should just call it my annual ripple blanket, as I plan to continue to make these until I run out of nieces and nephews, and since that will not be happening any time soon, I see a lot of ripples in my future.

I finished crocheting this blanket on Christmas Eve but to be honest I still have to weave in the ends. So technically, even though it may not REALLY be finished, I am going to say that it is.

For this ripple, I used KnitPicks Brava Worsted and I have to say that this is my favorite acrylic yarn so far. It is so soft and I really enjoyed working with it. I think it even makes my crochet look better. I had originally planned to crochet a border on this blanket but the ends of the rows ended up being perfect. I have never had such perfectly crocheted row ends on a blanket. Ever. There was no way I was going to cover those up.

: : DETAILS : :

Pattern: Neat Ripple Pattern from Attic24

Yarn: KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Peacock, Cornflower, Dove Heather, Brindle

Hook size: US 5.50 mm (I)

My Ravelry link: ... {ripple}  

I look forward to being a lot more crafty in 2014. I have lots of new (and old) yarny projects already in the works.

Working it

I started knitting a new sock.

I have had this Felici yarn from KnitPicks in my stash for so long and I am excited that I am finally making something with it. I almost changed my mind though. This yarn is so pretty and I didn't know if I should use it to make socks. I enjoyed knitting my first pair of socks but I have yet to have the opportunity to actually wear them. So I don't really know if I even like wearing hand knitted socks.

I thought that maybe hand warmers would be a better choice but it doesn't really get that cold here for me to wear them all that often. So, I just kept knitting and now I have turned the heel and I'm ready to start picking up stitches for the gusset.

Working the leg...or maybe the arm. This yarn may be too pretty for socks. I am so confused...

Getting ready to start...

It's time to start knitting a new pair of socks.

It took me forever to knit a swatch. I even ended up buying a new set of size 1 (2.25 mm) ChiaoGoo metal needles (yeah, me the person who hates metal needles). I actually kind of liked them. But wouldn't you know it, the all mighty swatch says I can't use them.

Don't even get me started on how long it took me to figure out that these stripey socks are NOT going to match up. That's okay. I THINK I can live with that.

...and then there were two

That's right! It took me almost 1 1/2 years but I did it...I knit my first pair of socks!

Two weeks ago all I needed to do was close up the toe. 

It has taken me 14 days to finally sit myself down and actually Kitchener stitch that toe.

I don't think it has anything to do with procrastination....more like Fear of Completion syndrome.

Soon

I am soooo close to finishing! Just need to close up the toe. I can't believe that I am almost done.

S is for Saroyan

I started knitting Saroyan as a gift for my Mom back in February of last year. I had hoped to finish it in time for her birthday at the end of February. I didn't finish.

Then I hoped to finish it in time for Mother's Day. I didn't finish.

Then I hoped to finish it in time for Christmas. Still not finished.

February came around again and with that came my Mom's birthday. Yep, still not finished.

So, that leads me to Mother's Day.....again. That should be coming up really soon. I wonder if I will finish it by then?

Who am I kidding? This is me that I am talking about.

2011 A to Z post :: S is for... Sunset

My 2013 A to Z posts

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

M is for Multnomah

Multnomah is a shawl knitting pattern that I have been wanting to make for years. A couple of years ago I finally bought the yarn and it has been sitting in the same bag it came home in ever since.

I have been so busy the past couple of years making projects for others that I haven't had time to start one just for me. I have big plans to start this pattern soon.....well as soon as I finish my Saroyan and my socks and my blanket.

2011 A to Z post :: M is for... Mushroom

My 2013 A to Z posts

 A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

K is for knitting

I taught myself to knit on Christmas day 2004.

I used an instruction booklet that came with a little kit that included some really icky metal needles and lots of little extra pieces, that to this day I have never used.

No one that I knew, knew how to knit. I had never watched anyone in person knit before and in fact I still haven't had that pleasure. I had no idea if I was doing it the right way. Thank goodness for the invention of online videos. When I first started knitting, online videos were no where to be found. If they were, I had no idea how to find them. Now they are everywhere and I find them to be a huge help when I need to learn a new stitch or remember how to do an old one.

Apparently, I made it onto the list of top knitting blogs (go figure) back in 2005. Which is kind of funny because at the time I think I may have only ever finished 1 knitting project.

Not that I have gotten any better at finishing my projects. Here it is about 12 1/2 years later and I have only completed about a total of 9 knitting projects. I definitely will not be making it onto the list of top knitting blogs any time soon.

Sadly, I may not be knitting any time soon either. As only I can do, I injured my wrist getting soap out of the soap dispenser at work. I pushed the lever with my thumb and managed to pull something on the opposite side of my wrist. I have the same numbing sensation you get when you hit your funny bone, alternating with lots of pain. Oh and I cannot touch my thumb to my pinkie. Basically, I have no idea how I was able to type this post.

2011 A to Z post :: K is for... Kitties

My 2013 A to Z posts

 A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

2012: A year in yarn

2012 was all about the blankets.....oh and the scarves. I guess sticking with what I know how to make helps with actually getting the projects done. I finished 2 of each so a total of 4 yarny projects for the year. That is one more than I completed in 2011 and one less than I completed in 2010. Sounds like success to this procrastinator.

My first project for the year was a knitted scarf that I made for the husband. It is also the first knitting project where I came up with the pattern on my own.

My next yarny project was also a scarf. This one though took me way too long to finish. Only 2 years! What is even sadder is that it only needed 32 rows to finish it.

The blueberry {ripple} blanket was my only completed crochet project for the year. I really do like making these ripple blankets. The pattern is so easy to memorize and that makes it a perfect project for mindless crochet in front of the television. I will most definitely be making more of these.

My final project for 2012 was a simple knitted baby blanket. I loved working with cotton and the garter stitch made the blanket really squishy. I see myself making more of these, maybe even one in a larger size.

Baby Easton has a blanket

 .....and the baby blanket is done.

I really love the look (and feel) of garter stitch. It is so squishy! And garter stitch using Cotton-Ease is even more squishy which really helped make a repetitious pattern less monotonous. This blanket has a very simple pattern which is perfect for me since I love patterns that don't require me to concentrate too much when I'm working on them.

I love that I finished making this blanket just in time for Christmas. I was so excited to bind-off that I totally forgot my plan to use a different bind-off method using a larger needle like I did for the cast-on.

I am totally in love with this blanket. One of my favorite projects so far.

Pattern: Super Easy Baby Blanket from Purl Bee 

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in "Seaspray, Lime, Taupe, Maize and Terracotta"

Needles: US 8 (5.0 mm) and US 9 (5.5 mm)

Started: July 25, 2012

Finished: December 24 2012

My Ravelry link: Easton

My modifications: 

I cast-on 120 stitches, using size 9 needles and knit the blanket using size 8 needles.

I slipped the first stitch of each row (purl wise) and attached new colors using the back join. Each block of color was 34 ridges (68 rows).

Finished measurements: 38 x 27 inches.

Scrunchable Scarf

I just love this time of year when it comes to my working on my yarny projects. It's the time of year when projects get finished and sometimes it's the time of year when projects get put away and kind of forgotten about. My grape scrunchy scarf would be one of the latter.

This scarf started out as a Christmas present back in 2010, but then I changed my mind and decided to make something else so it got put aside. It sat for quite awhile on top of my printer collecting dust. Then it spent some time hanging out in the closet where I didn't have to look at it everyday. I finally decided that it needed to be finished. It pretty much was already done, it only had a few rows left to knit. I don't know why it took me so long to do it but here it is. Another project FINISHED!

Pattern: Scrunchable Scarf by Susan McConne

Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Chunky Weight in "Grape Jam"

Needle: US 10 1/2 (6.5 mm)

Started: October 31, 2010

Finished: December 9, 2012

My Ravelry link: Grape Scrunchy

I am an awesome baker and I knit too

Tomorrow is the Thanksgiving work potluck. I usually have a go-to dish that I usually bring but it appears that this year it is someone else's go-to dish. So, I had to come up with something else to bring to work with me tomorrow. 

I was going to bake something which is kind of funny because I really don't bake. I spent last night deciding on what recipe to make and even started the blog post in my head, you know the one where I write all about what an awesome baker I am. Well, I went to the grocery store today and found that a pre-made cake was a lot less expensive than buying all the ingredients to make something and the bonus is that I didn't have to do a thing.

It's a good thing that I decided to buy something for tomorrow's pot luck instead of making something. This way I can spend some quality time knitting. It has been awhile since I have been able to spend any time on my knitting due to that whole class thing. I had hoped to give the baby blanket I am knitting to my cousin on Thanksgiving. However, since I just realized yesterday that Thanksgiving is NEXT week, I doubt it will be finished in time. I am 1/2 way finished with the 4th color and still need to add a 5th. I guess I better get busy.








 

It's so squishy!

Garter stitch is so squishy and it's just perfect for a baby blanket. I absolutely love it!

To me, it feels like this project is working up quickly. So far, I have used 2 different colors and this past weekend, I added a 3rd (I plan on using 5 colors in all). It feels like it is going so fast but I seem to be completing one section of color per month. I really do hope this blanket doesn't take me 5 months to complete or else the baby may not be a baby any more.

Even though I am smack-dab in the middle of this project (and many others), I find myself trying to decide when I should start my next crochet project. Christmas will soon be here and I need to make a blanket for someone special.
 

Are you making gifts for the holidays this year?