Friday, June 14, 2013

Long time no see!

I'm back!!!

Hi there my dears. I am feeling refreshed after my little blog vacation, and I am thinking up some fun posts for the next few months.

I have mostly been busy with work and social stuff this last month, and have been working on a lot of baby knits and fun things like that.

I was planning on posting a couple of days ago, but unfortunately we have had a family emergency. My great-grandma suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday night, and has been in the hospital ever since. We are trying to be hopeful, and have been spending a lot of time in the hospital keeping her company. Any kind thoughts and prayers for her health and comfort would be greatly appreciated. 

I was going to skip posting today, but I want to show you all what I have been working on- mainly to keep my mind of positive thoughts.

So, without further ado:

Finished Objects:


1) I made a matching headband to go with the handspun cardigan I showed in the last post




















This and the cardigan were knit out of my hand dyed, hand spun faux cashmere yarn. I used size 10 (6 mm) needles and was inspired by the Cozy Posy Ear Warmer, but did not follow the actual pattern. 

2) I knit a newborn baby dress, that can be easily adapted into a tunic for when Devlin gets a little older




















For this, I used Little Gunn's Super Simple Baby Tunic with Knit Outta the Box's discontinued self-striping acrylic yarn in pink. I knit with the yarn held doubled on size US 8 (5 mm) needles. I got the adorable rose buttons from Jo-Ann. I really love this dress, and the pattern was very easy.

3)  I knit a fluffy little monster for Devlin



















This is Fluf-Bob. I used Anna Hrachovec's Bob pattern with Bernat Pipsqueak yarn and size US 6 (4 mm) needles. This is probably one of the cutest things I have ever made. 
I actually replaced the shiny eyes with sewn on eyes after this photo was taken, but I don't have good enough lighting to take a picture of the new eyes. 

4) I also knit a fluffy monster for Phoenix, so he wouldn't get jealous




















Finn got to meet this guy today and immediately named him Big Butt. 
This is definitely the cutest thing I've ever knitted (sorry, Bob). I used Kimberly Kwon's Gotta Love Me Monster with Bernat Pipsqueak and Red Heart Super Saver yarn in yellow and teal. I used size US 6 (4 mm) needles for this as well. This was really fun to knit, and had a very clever and simple design. I will most likely be making another one of these in the future, for future babies (or maybe for Brandon, since he seemed to get quite attached). 

5) I FINALLY (!!) finished my socks!


























These poor socks have been neglected since March, so I worked my butt off to get them finished this week. I love them!
I used Wendy D. Johnson's Toe-Up Socks with a Difference pattern for the socks, and Emily Locke's Vanilla Bean stitch formula for the cool spiky stripes. I knit these on size US 0 (2 mm) needles (and I wonder why it took me so long to finish). I really liked the pattern, and they fit way better than any other socks I've knit myself. I am pretty damn proud of these. 


Works in Progress:

I am trying not to start any more projects until I get these first two done, because they I have been avoiding them too much.

1) I am making a squishy nursing cowl for Celeste





















It is currently way to smooshed up on the needles to be able to see the shape, but the colors are striping wonderfully.
I am using Veera Välimäki's Color Affection shawl pattern again. If you will remember, I used this same pattern to knit this shawl. I wondered last time why my shawl ended up so much smaller than the pattern called for, and I finally figured it out. For the first shawl, I was knitting back 5 stitches in every short row, when you are only supposed to go 3 stitches back. Those stitches add up in length. 
Anywho, I am knitting this is Knit Picks Comfy Fingering in Peony, Whisker, and Sea Foam and US 6 (4 mm) needles. This yarn is very soft and snuggly, but a little slippery and splitty, which is why it is taking so much longer to knit this time around. I hope Celeste will like it.

2) I have been working on a tank top for myself FOREVER




















This is Connie Chang Chinchio's Versailles Shell knit with Queensland Sugar Rush (a yarn made of 100% sugar cane viscose) in color 02 and size US 3 (3.25 mm) needles. I am almost done with the back panel, which makes me almost half of the way done if I can just get my butt in gear and finish the darn thing before the weather gets cold.
I ended up ripping out the cotton tank top that I started knitting a couple months ago because the yarn was yucky. This yarn is really soft and smooth, but splits like a MF. Also, knitting a garment on size 3 needles takes FOREVER!!!

3) I started a shawl with some of my hand spun, but it doesn't look like much yet





















This will be Jane Tanner's Dane Shawl  knit with my hand dyed, handspun Corriedale yarn with size US 7 (4.5 mm) needles. I am making this for Molly, as long as the yarn is not too scratchy for her sensitive skin. If it is too rough for her I will keep it for myself (muah ha ha ha ha).

4) I am halfway done spinning some singles for my first ever navajo plied (or chain plied, to be a little more PC) yarn.


























This is some Gale's Art Polwarth fiber that I purchased from Emily Locke's Ravely destash a while back. I am spinning it suuuuper thin (like, thread width), and am trying to spin it slowly so I get a very even thickness. I am planning on making a video of me plying it once I finally get to that point.
For all of you Muggles, navajo or chain plying is when you use one single strand of yarn to make a three ply yarn by chaining it back on itself. Here is an Interweave Craft video on how it works.



Stash Enhancement

As some of you will remember, I am supposed to be on a yarn diet until August, and shouldn't be buying any more yarn until them. In spite of this, I do have quite a few new goodies to show off. Some of it is gifts from Brandon, some is yarn that I bought to make baby stuff (so it doesn't count!), some of it is fiber (also doesn't count!) and some of it I totally bought before my yarn diet started (to which you say, suuuure, Nicole). 

Baby yarn 

Gift from Brandon to knit a sweater

Another gift from Brandon- guess his favorite color

BFL cupcakes from HERE

Fiber from Knit Picks

Nothing to see here

Move along, people

*whistles innocently*

Another gift from Brandon

These are to make socks for Brandon to thank him for all the yarn



















































































































































































Fiber doesn't count, remember!?

*Covers face in shame*






















































That's all for now, folks. Thanks for stopping by, and please remember to keep my great-grandma in your thoughts.

-Nicole