Wish Me Luck!

It's that time of the year again, County and State Fair!  Since I've won First Place in both fairs, the pressure is on to win again.  Last year I won Best Spinner.  I hope to win that again.  Below are my spinning entries.

On the left is Bee Mice Elf 100% BFL.  In the middle is Into The Whirled 50/30/20 Alpaca/Merino/Silk Blended Top. On the right is Loop! bump  Merino, nylon, and Angelina.

I didn't finish a pair of socks.  I've been just knitting vanilla socks so for the first time I didn't enter socks.  The socks usually win so I'm a bit worried.  I decided to submit some of my test knit hats instead and 2 shawls.  The dark blue green one is huge and took a long time (no rest rows on the back).  I hope to find out the results in November.

Ambah Designs

I first met Ambah during the Indie Design 2014 Gift-A-Long.  She was a moderator there.  She was so nice to me.  I knitted these fingerless gloves.

Then I test knitted http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lamina-wrap

I was luckily enough to test knit for a second time and it seems that I picked big wrap projects!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/alinda-wrap

Then I knitted up this pattern with my handspun.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kallara

Third times is a charm!  I'm testing knitting a hat and it should be done tonight.

I hope to get a chance to test knit again!

All Done Testing For Now

I finished this sort of test knit.  I've test knitted for Stephanie before.  She gave us patterns to knit up by Aug 30th that needs some more projects (3 or less).  For doing this "test" knit, I also got a pattern.  This basically meant I got 2 patterns for free!  An awesome deal for me.  I don't know why this cowl isn't more popular.  It wasn't too hard and it looks really complicated.  Another bonus for me was that my daughter requested a cowl so perfect!

Needles:  Size 3 and 4

Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers in 1033 Medium Lavendar

Pattern:    http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiltawhirl-cowl

This was a double knit cowl test.  For some reason it came out bigger but my gauge was smaller then the project called for.  I also went down 2 sizes of needle.  I ran out of the dark yarn (which is actually dark purple like below) but I ended up using a dark brown for the last couple of rows.  I don't think you can tell the different color and weight (it was sport instead of DK).

Needles:  Size 2 circular (cast on with Size 4)

Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Traveller in Detour and Peshawar, The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! in  Rhinocerous Beetle - Chocolate

Pattern:  Coming Soon!

What I need to do is work on my current 19 WIP.  Instead I keep wanting to start new projects.  This is a cardigan that I started Jun 2014.  I'm on the easy but long part of plain knitting.

Needle:  Size 5 and 6 circulars

Yarn:  The Sanguine Gryphon Free Range in  Delegorgues Pigeon

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tidal

This is what is on the wheel right now.  It's my favorite 50% merino and 50% silk.  This is fiber from JulieSpins and its in the colorway Raspberry Swirl.  I think I have 3 more days before I ply.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Sometimes You Just Have to Give Up

Certain projects of course.  Not knitting in general.  I've notice that certain patterns get done right away (sometimes being a part of a KAL helps).  There are a few of my projects are a years long.  A couple of blankets (which a know they are going to take a while using up scraps).  There have been a few cardigans and a shawl that have been LONG projects.  I decide to get rid of 2.  The one shawl has been lovely but complicated.  I work over 3 charts and since I don't work on it much, I tend to forget the order.  There are no rest rows and worst of all, I don't have enough yarn!  I tried to see if I could get more but the company has closed and it was a special lot of 2 skeins.  I have 750 yards and the pattern calls for 825 yards.  At the best of times, I run out of yarn with my loose knitting.  I figure the yarn should go for a smaller project.

The other project is this finger weight cardigan.  Again its a complicated edge which you have to remember the order of the rows so not something you can just pick up and keep going.  The other 2 cardigans are DK weight and Sport weight.  Also its been years in the process.  Luckily I just signed up for a test knit that I can use the yarn for!

Summer Means More KAL

This is my entry for PicnicKnit's Summer Shawl Along #cfssal http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/picnicknits/3431915/76-100#88

We will start knitting June 1st and run through the end of July. There will be prizes along the way, drawings for casting on, using the hashtag #cfssal online, posting pictures/projects, etc. Prizes will include yarn, notions, patterns, and books. I’m working on the prize pile right now!

This is my KAL for Judy Marples's Summer Holiday 2016 KAL http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/judy-marples-design-group/3439873/1-25#8

Deadline WIP

 





 



First on the list is these socks.  I a bit further then the picture but the 2nd one still isn't done.  They are for someone's birthday and I need to have them done before Apr 8th.

 

Needles:  Size 0 circulars

Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Diversity in Denim

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gusset-heel-basic-socks



 





 

 

This is a KAL which is due in May.  I started it before the KAL but the designer is letting us do WIP.  The KAL is here:  http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/maliha-designs/3398520/126-150#142

 

Needles:  Size 7 circular

Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Traveller in multicolor and naked

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frieze-shawl

 

 



 

 

This shawl needs to be done before my trip in May since I want to gift it to someone I will be seeing in person.

 

Needles:  Size 7 circular

Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Nautilace in Honeycomb cowfish?

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/perles

 



This is the yarn for a test knit which is due May 2nd.  I had fun digging in my leftover yarn (which I must organized better) for it.  The red will be the main color and then scraps for the lace part of the yarn.

 

 

This is the start of my test knit wrap.

 

 



Beautiful But Slow

I love the yarn but not the pattern so much.  I have 6 different charts and right now working across 3 charts with only one that has a rest row.  I have several charts with 5 or 6 repeats to do.  It will be beautiful once its done.

Needles:  Size 1 circular
Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Nautilace Show Special Purple
Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/07-fushsia-lace-shawl

Twist Stitches

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saturns-rings-shawl
Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! in Flamboyant cuttlefish

This is what I seem to be spending most of my time knitting.  This and 2 test knits.  What gets me is the twist stitches.  There is a yarn over (YO) that you drop.  The design is to make long stitches.  What happens is try to knit the YO rather then the stitch.  This is hard to correct without ripping back.  Which isn't fun.  Sometimes I can pick it up and fake it.  Other times if your stitch count is off it doesn't twist right so that is when I have to rip back.  I just need to take my time and make sure I have the stitch and NOT the YO.

Learning something new

This is my shawl for the KAL.  I'm learning a new stitch "elongated right twist".  It takes a bit of time to wrap it around my brain but hopefully I got it.  I like it when I learn new stitches.  You never should stop learning.

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saturns-rings-shawl
Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! in  Flamboyant cuttlefish

Another KAL (Knit A Long)!

I should be working on the business so I can open up the shop and I really need to get some WIP done from 2013!  What do I do instead?  Plan my WIP for 2015.  I've been making yarn cakes and here is my first project for 2015.

Pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saturns-rings-shawl
Yarn:  Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga! in  Flamboyant cuttlefish

Why?  One, there are prizes  Two, its a 3 month KAL  Three, I get a bonus entry for using my Peg’s Procrastinations bag.  Her shop is here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/pgprcrst8n   Here is the thread for the details:  http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/verybusymonkey-knitters/3103823/1-25#12

Finally Finished the Last of Christmas Knitting!

 

 

These still need to be felted.  It will be interesting since I have a front load washer.  I will have to do some research or figure out how to hand felt them.  Here is the pattern:  http://pilgrimpurse.blogspot.com/2011/12/knit-felt-slippers-for-adults.html

 



 

This just needs to be washed and blocked.  Here is the pattern for it:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/20-cornucopias-shawlette-or-scarf

Now to see how many of the 15 WIP I can finished before the end of the year!

Indie Gift-A-Long

Prepping for the holidays as only fiber folks can, with special deals from tons of indie designers!

What is Gift-A-Long? It’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear!

The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 2 month long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by a rather extensive list of independent designers. From Thursday, November 13th at 8:00 pm US EST - Friday, November 21, 2014 at 11:59 pm US EST tons of indie designers will be discounting between 4 - 20 of their patterns 25% for this event. Use coupon code: giftalong2014. You can read all about the details in this post: click here.

Once you’ve got your Gift-A-Long patterns, we encourage you to join a relevant KAL/CAL! (For instance, if it is a cowl, please join the cowl KAL/CAL.) To join, simply write a post in the KAL/CAL thread you want to join, including the pattern name you will be knitting and a link to your project page. KAL/CAL participants are eligible for lots of lovely prizes but you gotta post to win!

KAL/CALs will run from Thursday, November 13 at 8pm (US-EST) through our New Years Eve party, Wednesday, December 31 at midnight (US-EST), plenty of time to knock out all your holiday knitting and crocheting. We have games, tons of prizes, great conversation, and a lot of fun, so pull up a chair and join us!

On your mark…get set…. GIFT!!

Despite the fact that I have a test shawl that needs to be done by the end of the month, lots of Christmas knitting and a hat to knit in exchange for a banner, I've casted on 2 projects for this Gift-A-Long.  Both of them are for me!

This is my shawl entry.  It's http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/curvaceous done in my own handspun from JulieSpins Roving: 50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% Silk in December Dusk and Ice Eye.  I've really fallen in love with knit with my own handspun.  I keep wanting to see the color change.  It's going from light to dark.

This is my second entry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spiced-cocoa in Cephalopod Yarns Traveller (Teffen).  I'm still very sad that Cephalopod Yarns closed this year.  I've learned a new way to do a cable stitch with this pattern.

I hope you will join me in the Indie Gift-A-Long.  I might have also bought some patterns with the discount too. :)