Holiday Stashdown Challenge Week 28

I had a terrible evening yesterday. I'll be honest, I was stressed out beyond all belief, and even though the day started out just fine, it got bad. My school finally issued me my student teaching placement for January, but then decided that I have to fill out a huge stack of paperwork. I was not pleased. My fiance spent at least an hour on the phone with me, trying to convince me that it would be ok. Basically, I spent the rest of the evening listening to those silly videos that teach you things that anyone with common sense would know, but the schools require it anyway. It's nearly all done, but it required a stack of nearly finished projects and a glass of "apple pie" to keep me sane. --- Proof that yarn is therapeutic. 

On a positive note:

I am so close to being back on track!!! Marie's progress (and finish!!!) last week really inspired me to press on and finish some thing up. I'm not quite there yet...

More craft show items!

But still, I have made enough progress to feel super proud of myself. I have one craft show this coming weekend, and one the second weekend in December. I am nearly done with  scarves for this coming one, but knowing my habits, I will be crafting up until the night before.

As for Christmas gifts, I have spent some time this past week attempting to finish something other than a craft show item, and I am pleased to say that I am nearly done with my recycled cotton rug. The last measurement read nearly 24" across. I didn't really have a size in mind, but I'll probably go until I run out of yarn-- and I'm getting close to that point. I do have more yarn in both colors that I'm using, but I'd rather not make this a giant project.

My plan is to have all my gifts done the week before the 25th, if not before.

FO: Felted Sweater Slippers

Courtesy of my sister!

I found a cool pattern while blog-hopping yesterday, and decided that I really need to make felted sweater slippers!

Fabric paint to make no-skid bottoms

Pair 2 in progress!

The first pair looks a little wonky. I will definitely be keeping them for me, just because I can't handle giving gifts that are "below" standard. But I was winging them a bit more than I should've. The pattern was more of a guideline for that pair.  My second pair is turning out a lot better, but is also not finished yet.

I'm also part way through another scarf, adding two more to the pile for this week. I really need to get on with the scarf making, which I realized last night, halfway through making the second pair of slippers. So I switched back into scarf mode, and will probably be in that mode for the next week or so. My last big craft show is next Saturday, and out of town, so while I will have travel time to crochet, I'd rather not risk it. I do have one more in December, but it will definitely be smaller.

I'm linking up with Tami's FO Friday this week!! Check out all the cool FOs that people are sharing :)

Holiday Stashdown Challenge Week 24

I'll admit, it's been a bit of a strange ride with me on this Challenge put forth by Marie, as I can be inconsistent with my progress and what not. But oddly, this has been a blessing. As I am smack-dab in the middle of craft show season, I do not have as much time to dedicate to family gift making. But because I know what I am making everyone and am halfway through, I have less to worry about.

Original sweater

Today I'm sharing my WIP rug for my aunt. I had a pattern, but then discovered it was not in English. Oops. Then HillyT at Hilly Town Blue shared a "not doily" that she made, Jameson. I thought the pattern would make a really cool rug. The yarn was the next debate. I knew some of it had to come from the giant basket of yarn that my aunt got me (at a garage sale) for my birthday. The rest came from a recycled cotton thrift store sweater. So far, it's looking good, though I deviated from the original Jameson pattern.

Yay! I finished something!!

I have been on a roll-- 2 weeks in a row I have something to share for FO Friday!
This is the Azzu Shawl, that might be a gift for one of my friends. I haven't decided yet.













I really like the endless stockinette sections and the eyelets, but was disappointed with the shape. I really expected it to be narrower, and I am still trying to figure out how to make that happen.

 It really needs to be blocked, but I haven't really had the time to do that yet.

The yarn was part of a recycled sweater that I dyed for a project. I had to dye more yarn at the end, in order to finish the last few rows. I also omitted a section from the pattern because I did not want the shawl to get any deeper. Pre-blocking-it is about 17" deep and 64" long. I used a size 8 circular needle, and the yarn weight is probably sport. 

Head over to Tami's to see more FOs this week!

Here you can see the color shift when I had to dye more yarn to match.

Holiday Stashdown Challenge: Week 11

This week for the Holiday Stashdown, we're reassessing our lists. Over the past week, I spent a great amount of time on my Ravelry queue, looking at patterns I wanted to make. Then, I wrote out my original list of who I wanted to make handmade gifts for. From there, I flipped back and forth between my list of "projects I *have* to make" and "handmade gifts for...". I think I've matched many of them up quite nicely. (note: this list has been *at least* a week in the making.. I've edited it several times already)

The List
Mom & Dad: Autumnal Afghan, various afghan blocks, Vanna's Choice in Honey, Rust, Cranberry, Dusty Purple, Eggplant, Dusty Green and Toffee.
Mom: fingerless gloves, in KnitPicks Felici Hummingbird
Dad: still unknown
Bro #1: that vest that never gets finished
Bro #2: Jayne hat, most likely in misc. acrylic that has been floating in my stash (He recently watched Firefly, & hats for him are a good standby.) If I have time and inclination, I will make him a beard hat.
Sister: Divine hat in easy care acrylic (finished!). Age of Brass and Steam Scarf in KnitPicks Shadow Deep Sea, fingerless gloves in KnitPicks Felici Tyrian Purple (maybe)
E: He wants a beard hat- go figure. Such a guy. Not sure if he will get anything else handmade.

Aunt #1/Godmother: bulky slippers in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Bulky that I dyed myself, T-yarn rug
Aunt #2: A Touch of Gray, in a in between width (not scarf, but not stole either)
Aunt #3:  button socks in Bernat Jr. Jacquard (it's a sock weight and has some nylon in it)
T (my favorite cousin): Starlight Tunisian scarf (in yellow)(no yarn yet), possibly Smorgasbord blanket BMDAO (T's 5 kids): slipper socks in the yarn they helped me dye last winter (Basic Sock)

Friend B: Slip Stitch Shawl in a scarf size- tried this pattern, realized I hate slip stitches. Now I'm using the Soft Waves ripple from Jan Eaton's 200 Ripple Patterns with a hand-dyed wool yarn.
Friend K: infinity scarf in Lion Brand Homespun- She loved the one for her birthday, and requested another one. (personal pattern)
Friend A: Up to You Scarf (Re-dying the yarn from my first Juliana)

E's nieces & nephews: an activity rug with 6 amis
E's mom & sisters: fingerless gloves (maybe) (3 pair) or scarves
E's dad & brothers: hats (maybe) (5)

Coworkers: Cards with crocheted snowflakes on them. (if time)

And I found this ornament and this ornament that I would also think about making if any of the above ideas don't work out. I also keep finding cute ideas that would be fabulous for scrap yarn, which means I need to stop browsing patterns on Ravelry.

I feel loads better now that I have ideas for patterns, as I had felt a bit disorganized without a completed list. I also have the list separated into sections, where the first two need to get done, and the second two depend on time and inclination.

I hate and love this stashdown. My yarn supply feels limited. I'm trying to avoid placing another KnitPicks order, as it defeats the purpose of this adventure, so I've seeking out dyeable fibers in my stash. So far, I have found a few already dyed fibers that I forgot about, and I'm re-dyeing some others that are leftover from other projects. Yesterday, I figured I would try my hand at solar-dyeing, since it is too hot to use microwave or stovetop. I still haven't checked the results... I also know that I have multiple skeins of Bare KnitPicks yarn hanging out in my stash. Guess what else is going to visit the dyepot in the next few weeks?!

I have just received several Christmas orders for hats, and one of them needs to be done by October, so I'll be putting some of the above aside to work on those orders come mid-August.

Finally Finished!

I'm sharing my succss with Tami's Amis Finished Object Friday!
[This is getting shared on Saturday because my home internet has been down since Thursday night, and I wasnt able to get to another source until today]
And I have another story to tell.

This week I finally finished an Eva's Shawl. I say finally because I started an Eva back in Sept/Oct? to wear to a wedding, but it ended up in the frog pile.

The CSW group was hosting an Eva CAL this month, and I jumped right on it, as I really liked the look of the shawl and wanted to give it a second chance.

I started with a lace-weight yarn that I rescued from a pale pink cardigan- silk/angora/wool nylon. It was definitely a messy yarn to work with, due to the angora, but it felt so light and airy, and I *knew* that it would be a great summer shawl, so I persevered. The first few rows were completed with hook size F, but I moved up to H after the rows were established.

The rhythm of the shawl pattern clicked with me this time, and I did not want to put my hook down. I knew I had other projects to finish, but I really wanted this one done. Especially since it was this month's CAL, and I wanted to feel accomplished at the end of the month.

I skipped the "fancy" edging, as I liked the clean lines of the pattern. Tuesday night saw the shawl soaking in my bath tub, in preparation for dyeing and blocking. Did I mention that the yarn was an awful pale pink? Well, it was. It totally wasn't my color at all. And it looked really blah. So I decided to save it. Hence the overnight soak.


Shawl is blue, dyebath is red?

 I had some dyeing issues on Wednesday morning. The shawl was pink, the dye was blue (Mixed Berry KA, if you are wondering). After cooking for a bit, I went to check on the shawl. It was a lovely pale blue, but the dyebath was oddly red. I figured that some of the pink had just leeched out or something.



This is an after shot of the dyebath...

 I added a second round of dye, and the dyebath did it again. But the shawl was the color I wanted it, so out into the sunny lawn to dry. I did not severely block this out, as the weight of the yarn helps keep the shape of the shawl.

When my sister got home, I asked if she would get some shots of the shawl in action.

I totally love how this turned out, and I hope I have as much success on my future shawl projects!

Finished!

I heave a sigh of relief as I write today's FO Friday post, kindly hosted by Tami's Amis.

Yesterday the weather was bi-polar, and I did not have work, so I spent most of the day in my room, listening to The Fellowship of the Ring on audiobook, and finishing a few projects.

I finished my "yarn bucket" as I have fondly dubbed it, a colorful concoction made of recycled t-shirts. It is crocheted, on hook P, and took at least 10 t-shirts, if not more. My mom said it would probably make a great beach bag-- I'll probably use it for that in the next few months.

I also finished the Feburary CAL for the CSW group on Ravelry- the lattice lace wrap.

I haven't had a chance to block it yet, but I hope to have some spare time for it over the weekend. 

I'm proud of both of these projects because they have been "on my hook" for quite some time, and it is a relief to have another project checked off the list :)

I hope everyone has a nice weekend! Thanks for stopping by!

Quick Note: I'm participating in the Pay it Forward Handmade! Check it out here.

WIPW: Am I really Designing?

Today I'm linking up with Tami's WIP Wednesday and Ginny's Yarn-Along.

Here is one of my project bags:



Hiding in the back is the MSU ripple that I have been working on-- finally on my second skein of green, so yarn-wise halfway.... But it's looking like I'll be buying at least one or 2 more skeins before this is over. (It's Caron Simply Soft, BTW, totally amazing feeling, especially for an acrylic.)

On top of that is one of my up-cycling projects. I've been trying to clear out some of my recycled yarn so I can get some new stuff in the fall, and this is a product of that. It's either a narrow shawl or a wider scarf, and while I know you can't see the design well, it was something I created myself. See, I've been getting involved with several different groups on Ravelry- the two that are encouraging me the most in the design sense are Crochet Shoulder Wrappers and the 2012 Block-a-Month CAL. I credit the CSW group because they are always looking for new and different patterns, and I'm usually just looking for something that can double as a scarf. And the BAMCAL gets credit for expanding my knowledge of crochet stitches and how they can change the look of an afghan block.

And I'm not reading anything new this week, though since I just finished my winter semester, and the short spring semester doesn't start for a few weeks, I will aim to be on a new book for next week's yarn- along!

Thanks for stopping by today!

WIP Wednesday: Up-cycling

I've been drawn into the thrifting world, and have started to make a cashmere blanket, with pieces cut from 'felted' cashmere sweaters. I cut out my pieces, laid everything out, and am onto the sewing. I don't have access to a machine, so I've been sewing by hand- extremely tedious.

I'm also working on more flowered headbands, trying a few different types of flowers, as well as experimenting with some different band styles. All the yarn has been hand-dyed and recycled from thrift store sweaters. :)



To see more WIPs, head on over to Tami's Amis!

these are the mini skeins I dyed today. I have a whole sweater of this yarn, and I knew that I wanted to make it a bit different. So I tested 5 different colors to see what I'd like best.

The end results, from left to right: Watermelon Cherry KA, Wilton's Violet, Berry Blue KA, Lemon-lime KA and Wilton's golden yellow. I used about 10 yards of yarn to one packet of KA, which might have been a bit too much. I'll definitely test this one again with 1/2 a packet over the weekend.