Ta-Da! Tuesday and WIP Wednesday # 23

Hello all!

Well, we sprung forward last weekend.  Yes, it is the time of year again when we change our time to "save" daylight.  I do not mind falling backwards but springing forward always throws me off my game for a week or two.  It is hard to sleep, and my internal clock is all wonky -- leaving me rather.... disagreeable.

However, I have had time to complete the Stained Glass Seaglass Cowl - a pattern recently released by Linda Dawkins aka Mamma4Earth on Ravelry.  It is a wonderful knit, was a great test-knitting experience, and I hope you will take a look at it...

That would be this week's Ta-Da!

I am now back on the boot socks.  They are, as I noted before, nearly completed.  At about 80%, I think they can be completed soon.

I am still spinning the fiber from last week.  I have spun up 50% of it already and I cannot wait to ply it!

Let me know what you are currently working on!

Happy WIP Wednesday Everyone!

Joining Steph@Woolythyme, Ginny@SmallThings, Linda@NaturalSuburbia, and TamisAmis for Yarnalong and WIP Wednesday!

Oh yeah!  I would like to introduce you to Cash, our latest Foster Schnauzer:

WIP Wednesday #22

Happy WIP Wednesday Everyone!

What is it about March?  In particular, what is it about March 7th?  In my own inner circle of friends and family members (which is a small group I can assure you) there are three people who were all born on March 7th.

Are there that many people born on March 7th?  Is there a special mid-summer day of amore that I have not yet been married long enough to know about that is producing an odd number of March 7th babies?  Is roughly 30% of the population really born on this day?

I am telling you now, if the zombie apocalypse ever begins -- it will happen on March 7th.  Reader beware...

...

So I am busy like a beaver trying to get birthdays handled and celebrated -- so my two WIPs are on a short hold.  I am about 75% done with the re-knit of last week's cowl and I am also 75% done with those grey and brown boot socks.  I am working to finish both of those this week / weekend.

In the meantime, I have been spoiling myself on the spinning wheel.  I have been working my way through Spinning Dyed Fibers with Felicia Lo on the Craftsy site.  It is a wonderful class and she is a very fine teacher.  I am learning a lot and practicing those techniques in my spare moments at home.

This is where today's WIP comes from:

This is me spinning a Falklands Combed Top hand dyed for me by the infinitely talented owner and operator of Spirit Trail Fiberworks.

I am really enjoying spinning.  It is so unbelievably gratifying to make my very own yarn.  My only regret is that I did not get started doing this sooner.

All things in their own time I guess... Apparently my right time was not until now.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Wednesday and that your WIPs are flying off the needles at rates unprecedented!  I am sending you all good knitting vibes today!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

P.S. -- Be sure to read my special guest post from yesterday's Ta-Da! Tuesday...

Joining Steph@Woolythyme, Ginny@SmallThings, and TamisAmis for Yarnalong and WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday #20

Good Morning Everyone!

Last spring I was in a not so local yarn shop and struck gold in a hank of Pagewood Farm's Kissi yarn in the Prism colorway.  It is a beautiful (and expensive) yarn which reminds me of stained glass.  I have seen these beautiful soft blues with flecks of red and green and yellow in many European cathedrals.  Anyway, I had to have it but at the time could only budget 1 skein.  I will admit that this skein went immediately into the "Core Stash" level of my stashdom where it should have remained forever -- as an inspiration yarn.

However, late last week I ran across a beautiful cowl pattern being offered as a test knit.  It was pictured in a beautiful shiny green yarn and it was titled Seaglass.  My mind immediately went back to the hank of Kissi in the stash and its fate was sealed.

Monday I received the pattern and cast on and it is nearly half completed as of this morning.

So, without further ado, I give you today's WIP:

It has been a crazy fun knit and I will provide more details on it (and a Ravelry link) when it is completed...

What are you working on?  Please leave a comment and share it with us!

Knit Happy Everybody!

Joining Tamisamis , Ginny@SmallThings, and Step@Woolythyme for the Wednesday rounds.  Be sure to check out the great things that they are working on...

WIP Wednesday #19

Hey Everyone,

I am joining Steph@Woolythyme , Ginny@Small Things , and TamisAmis for Yarn Along / WIP Wednesday today.  Please check out their blogs -- they are great bloggers and prolific crafters to be sure...  I love sharing their links, but please do not come back and compare my photography to Ginny's -- she's an excellent photographer.

First, I would like to mention that my friend Steph has lost her knitting mojo.   If you see it, please contact her at Woolthyme so that she may retrieve it.  :)

It is WIP Wednesday, so let's talk about socks.  I am still diligently working through my pair of boot socks.  The leg is complete and the heel is turned.  I am down to the arch of the foot on both socks and expect to finish them any day now.

On the literary front, I am still listening to Thunderhead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  The book is a great story about an archaeologist's desperate search for her father, closure, and fame while leading an expedition through a cursed Anasazi Indian tribe's "holy land".  It is a very compelling read, or listen as the case may be.

Well, it is mid February already.  To be honest I am not quite sure I was even aware we had rolled on in to February.  This is a good thing, as this month is my least favorite of the entire year.  Luckily for me, it is also the shortest.  True to form, it has been a dark, dank, dreary, month with a roller coaster of temperature changes and very little to look forward to.  Lots of ... gray...

Roxie agrees with me...

:)  Oh well.  It has also been a good month for yarn and knitting. I have spent inordinate amounts of time on Ravelry lately.  I believe that Cascade 220 Sport Wool yarn and Stephen West are working together with Clara Parkes to get me through the winter blues...

[Picture courtesy of Stephen West's Westy's Besties Kal.  Taken by Jared Flood]

If you haven't discovered it yet, Stephen West is doing a new KAL.  Well, it is called a KAL but it is really more of a KAL booklet consisting of 12 patterns released over 5 weeks.  Westies Besties is the name and you can check it out here.  The patterns released so far have been true to the Westknits MO -- they are fun to knit and handsome, bordering on manly, in example color selection and stitch patterning.  I am itching to get started on some of the patterns and have already ordered a treasure trove of Cascade 220 Sport do them in.  The photography is also worth mentioning.  Jared Flood photographed most of the items for Stephen in Iceland and so the scenery is as stunning as the patterns...

Clara Parkes is well underway with The Great White Bale -- an adventure she is sharing with Bale members as she and they explore the creation of yarn on a small industrial scale.  Every two weeks we get a peek into the progress she is making as she has a 676 pound bale of excellent wool fiber milled, spun, and dyed.  Later in the process, explorer members like myself, will each get to test the different versions of the spun yarn and provide feedback on the pros and cons of each form of processing.  It is a fantastic and educational exercise in creating yarn!  Although the Explorer memberships have all been bought, there are still armchair memberships available if you would like to join us in following the process of making yarn!  You can check that out: here.

Well, that is all that I currently have in the works... 

Let me know what you are working on!  Leave a comment below...

Happy Knitting Everyone!

WIP Wednesday # 18

Wow.  What a start to the new year.  If 2012 went out like a lamb, 2013 has come in like a lion.  Lots of stress, angst, responsibilities, new friendship, fiber, group agendas (and did I mention responsibility?) -- so far it has been a roller-coaster.

Last week, I was voted in as President of the Memphis Knitting Guild and R is the new Social Media Coordinator.  We're excited about the changes we can bring to the Guild and I hope the membership will be open enough to embrace them this year.  So far, so good.  :)

April will bring about the first Gathering of the Guilds (of the West Tennessee area).  We are all getting together for a meet and greet.  Hopefully we will be able to work out a social event between guilds for the fall.  Unfortunately the Gathering takes place the same weekend as Stitches South so we cancelled our plans to attend and registered for the Gathering.  If you live within driving distance of Jackson, TN and are a member of a Guild -- join us!

On to the knitting :)....

So last month I undertook a massive Knitting organization and cleanup for the stash, tools, and pattern library.  I am still working on completing some of those tasks but the work is coming along nicely.  I frogged a couple of WIPs that were started, literally, years ago and now I am down to a crochet afghan, a knitted scarf, and a pair of knit socks.

The afghan is a long-term project.  It is a duplicate of my previous Alaskan Nights throw for my in-laws and need not be finished until November...  

I'm on row 5.  If I learned anything from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's lessons I would be worried... But I guess they were just too entertaining to be instructional.  :)

The scarf is a simple foray into Entrelac knitting:

They are being worked in Noro's Silk Garden : Colorway 252...  I am really enjoying the yarn.  I had heard mixed things about Noro's Silk Garden but in my opinion -- despite the vegetative matter -- it is a beautiful yarn with a nice hand and a wonderful drape.  I can't wait to finish this WIP.

[Image from the KP pattern.]

Finally, the sock pattern I am working came from Knit Picks.  It is my first true pair of socks.  I have made baby socks/booties, but this is the first adult sized pair.  It is the free Boot Socks pattern from KP, knit in KP's Swish Worsted Marble Heather for the MC and in their Wool of the Andes Worsted Fedora for the CC for extra durability in the heel, toe, and cuff.  The pattern is plain enough to be manly in the right colors, endlessly modifiable, and (best of all) it was free.  You might think endless knit rows in grey and brown would be boring, but it is worsted weight after all so the progress is fast and this is my first ever 2 socks on 2 circulars project so I have that to keep me entertained!

*** Hint: These would make a GREAT Christmas present for any man in your life.

As for reading, well, I have had little time for reading for so long now that I cannot remember what I last read.  I have, however, been listening to a great deal of books.  At the moment, I am revisiting a favorite from years ago -- Thunderhead by Douglas Child and Lincoln Preston.

There are also lots of WIPs from Christmas to reveal in the coming weeks so check back next week for Ta-Da! Tuesday!

What are you working on?

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Linked with Steph@Woolythyme , WIP Wednesday with Tami , and Yarn Along with Ginny.

WIP Wednesday #13

Good Morning Everyone!

It's Work In Progress (WIP) Wednesday and this morning I thought I would share what I am currently knitting and reading (two of my favorite hobbies).   Well, I'm not so much reading as listening to the book but you get the idea... :)

My current knitting is a scarf to accompany yesterday's Dapperly Dashing hat, it's a fun and interesting pattern with a simple repeat that leaves my mind free enough to really settle into my audiobook.

 Which brings me to my current audiobook selection: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin -- the first in the A Song of Ice and Fire series.  Set in a world similar to England in the Middle Ages, the book is wonderfully rich in detail and plot with many twists and turns along the way.  The best part is that it's the first in what should be a seven book series!

What are you currently making and reading?  Leave a link or a comment below!

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own blogpost.  It's cached, so give it a minute or so to add your link to the list.

A couple courtesy requests:

     1. Submit the URL of your WIP post and not to the main blog page or a previous WIP post.

     2. Please include a link back to this page in your own WIP post.
     3. No comment is necessary -- the request is added automatically by Mr. Linky

WIP Wednesday #12

Hey All,

So during the move I needed something portable and small and that worked up quickly.  So I started the first of 4 hats and of 8 commissioned works that I need to work up.

The works are for a very nice family near home - a husband, wife, and two sons.  4 hat/scarf combos.  The pattern will be the same for the two boys and the husband and so I'm really excited to find that I'm loving this pattern from Ravelry (see yesterday's post for a link) -- it's engaging enough to keep me interested and the pattern is simple enough to memorize quickly.

I think it looks nice too:

I won a set of these little sheep markers a couple months ago... Aren't they cute!  They came in black, white, and grey...

I've been trying to work on this hat when I'm sitting in on conference calls... That's a lot of time durin which I'm not doing anything else with my hands.

The pictures didn't turn out quite as well as I'd hoped... this yarn is hard to photograph well but those pictures should give a good idea of what it looks like...

Happy Knitting Everyone!

What are you all working on?  Feel free to share a link to your projects below!

 
Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own blogpost.  It's cached, so give it a minute or so to add your link to the list.

A couple courtesy requests:

     1. Submit the URL of your WIP post and not to the main blog page or a previous WIP post.

     2. Please include a link back to this page in your own WIP post.
     3. No comment is necessary -- the request is added automatically by Mr. Linky. 

SWAG Wednesday!

Hey Everyone,

I've been thinking it over ever since I left the retreat on Sunday and I've decided that Knitters are happier people than average... I dunno if it's the proximity to all the natural fibers or what but I have rarely been in such an uplifting group as I was at SEMKR.  What do you all think?

Well yesterday I promised a post on all the great SWAG from the retreat so here it is:

We all got a very nice tote from Skacel -- it's very well organized and is built as well as you would expect...

I got quite a bit of sock yarn -- there's two large skeins of Regia Color, two more of Regia Galaxy Saturn, a skein of Riveting made from recycled blue jeans, and a skein of undyed Sheila's Sock from Wool2Dye4!

I also got a couple skeins of worsted weight Baby Alpaca and Jezebel from SWTC...

Finally, in the gift exchange, I won a stack of Jamieson's 2 ply 100% Pure Shetland Spindrift Wool!

Let's see, we also received some magazines and books:
      -The holiday issue of Love of Knitting
      -Cast On magazine
      -Skacel's Simplicity volume no. 3 - Men's Patterns featuring a Scarf/Hat/Glove set created by our coordinator, SmallTownKnitGuy!
      -Guy Knits from XRX
      -Zitron's Natural Yarn Children's pattern booklet

And finally there were some really great patterns donated:
      -Herbivore and Clockwork by Stephen West (Westknits)
      -Slip Stitch Wrist Warmers by Sheila Trunzo
      -And best of all, The Knitting Mill, created an exclusive sock pattern just for our retreat.  It goes on sale in Ravelry this week and part of the proceeds go toward sponsoring a scholarship to the retreat next year!

I also won a copy of Cat Bordhi's new Sweet Tomato Heel sock book -- also available on Ravelry.

I feel like there's a lot more that I'm forgetting about -- but let's just say that the retreat was a wonderful experience not to be forgotten and I'm really looking forward to next year's retreat already!

I also wanted to share some photos of the retreat center:

I also forgot to mention Doug's small intro to spinning lesson!

And his awesome Perpen-sock-ular Socks!

Well that's it for this week folks... I've got a lot of work and sleep to catch up on...

Happy Knitting Everyone!

WIP Wednesday # 7

Hello all! I don't know why knitting and reading/audiobooks always seem to pair together so well, but every knitter I know enjoys reading -- whether books or audiobooks -- while they work on their WIPs.  In Ginny's posts at Small Things she often has a book next to her knitting and gives suggestions when she comes across something interesting.  Steph at Woolythyme is an avid reader as well and she and I have discussed recent works that we each think the other might enjoy -- coming across several new authors and stories to investigate!

These days I'm still trying desperately to carve out enough time to finish this garter stitch baby blanket.  It's a beautiful color and a wonderful yarn, I'm just extremely busy with work and life plans these days.  Although the work is progressing slowly, the reading and knitting queues are growing without regard to this recent slow down -- especially in the face of the upcoming holiday season! November has come way too early this year...

So anyway, I've just started listening to The Night Circus written by Erin Morgenstern and read by Jim Dale -- who brought us the wonderful reading of the Harry Potter series.  So far it's very good with a rich and luxuriant attention to detail.  So far, it's a beautiful and compelling read.

The blanket is staring at me right now from across the room.  Radiating insinuations of guilt at me for abandoning it long enough to write this post....

On that note, I'll head downstairs to make myself a cup of holiday tea and settle back in for some comfortable knitting...

Happy November Everybody!

Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own blogpost.  It's cached, so give it a minute or so to add your link to the list.

A couple courtesy requests:

     1. Submit the URL of your WIP post and not to the main blog page or a previous WIP post.

     2. Please include a link back to this page in your own WIP post.
     3. No comment is necessary -- the request is added automatically by Mr. Linky. 

WIP Wednesday #6

Happy WIP Wednesday everybody!  There is so much going on this week...  Planning an out of state move, starting to clean and pack, moving forward with my actual work, and doing my best to suppress the bout of start-itis that is currently plaguing me...

However,  I've crested the mountain on the garter center on this baby blanket I've been working on and so it's all downhill from here :)


I've also started a Christmas gift for Superwife and it is, naturally, a secret so I can't put it on the blog.  However, if you're a super sly knitter, you can view it here.  It's a beautiful pattern and this is only about a tenth of the length but it moves pretty quickly...

Especially when listening to such an amazing book as The Thirteenth Tale.

And finally, well I don't know exactly how to introduce this but I found it amusing this morning:

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Below is a Mr. Linky list if you'd like to add a link to your own blogpost.  It's cached, so give it a minute or so to add your link to the list.

A couple courtesy requests:

     1. Submit the URL of your WIP post and not to the main blog page or a previous WIP post.

     2. Please include a link back to this page in your own WIP post.
     3. No comment is necessary -- the request is added automatically by Mr. Linky.