It Only took 3 years

I finally finished these gloves!  I started these when I started working at Jo Ann.  They are made with Patons North America Silk Bamboo.  I didn't like the amount of knots in the yarn.  It's only 102 yards per skein but there would be at least 3 knots.  These took forever because while I was working there wasn't much time to knit.  Cables aren't hard but they take time and some concentration to make them right.  I am really glad though to finished them finally.  I'm trying really hard this year to finish up some of my long lasting projects (ones that are 2 years old and still not done).  Pattern:   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sweet-partings

Another Loom

 Back of loom

Front of loom

This is a child loom that I got for free.  Well, not quite but close enough.  I had to cover shipping which was less then $20.  I saw one similar on Ebay for $50.  The lady was offering it free on Ravelry to the first person that wanted it.  I'm on Ravelry all the time and saw the post.  She said it had been in storage for 30 years and it looks like it.  It's for my daughter her got into weaving when she tried my Glimakra.  I'll take all the yarn off once I get a chance to figure out how I will have to warp it.

No, It Really Doesn't Take More then a Year

I started this shawl Jul 27/13  The pattern is here:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/building-a-reef  It's a lovely pattern and the yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere which is SO soft to work with also.  So what is the issue that its taking me so long to knit this up.  Well, I started this before I got a part time job with Jo Ann.  I started that job in Sept 2013 and while I was working, I did very little knitting and spinning.  I didn't work that many hours but I worked most Saturdays and going from stay at home to working was hard for me to adjust to.  I also got distracted by new crafts (like sewing, playing with duct tape and I even got some clay but have yet to play with it).  I don't know if this shawl will be done by the end of the year but I really hope to get it finished early 2015 at latest!

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!

Last Two WIP for the GAL

 

 

I have this last pair of mitts.  Here is the pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maroo-mitts

Here is my 2nd shawl.  I take a picture every 2 repeats of the pattern.  About 2 corners on the left.  Here is the pattern:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pettine

The deadline for both is Dec 31.  I'll probably finished the mitts but I don't know about the shawl.

Spinning WIP

Here is my current spinning project.  It's JulieSpins Targhee in the colorway Cinderella.  It's 5.9 oz and its very soft and spongy.  I can't wait to see how it will n-ply (Navajo or chain ply).  I tend to run out of yarn when I split the yarn and try to 2 or 3 ply it.  You can find JulieSpins yarn and fiber here:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/JulieSpins  She has a contest

Purchase any yarn or spinning fiber from the JulieSpins shop between now (10/17/14) and December 1 and complete a project with it, post a picture of the FO by December 24th, and you could win a custom-dyed skein or braid of the same yarn or fiber.

 http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/juliespins/3048848/1-25#20

Knitting Process

I have a tendency to use a lot of index cards.  Lost of times there is no need to print out a pattern.  If its short I can just write it out on an index card which goes right into the project bag.  Here is one.  I write the needle size so I can remember where to return it.  Some are so well used that the needles doesn't have the size on it any more.  I also write down how many rows and any changes so I can note it down on my Ravelry project page.  I helps me if I do the same pattern and a few people have found it helpful seeing my notes.  This pattern didn't tell me how many decrease rows so I wrote it down.  I also noted the hours so I can figure out my rate to price my handknits.  Here is the finally project.

Here is my project page:  http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AtPlayWithFiber/blank-canvas
Here is the pattern:  http://emmasanimalcreations.weebly.com/1/post/2014/05/free-pattern-blank-canvas.html

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is a link to some great fiber/pattern sales for the weekend:  http://www.marlybird.com/black-friday-cyber-monday-deals-2/

By the way here is the pattern for the turkey:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-turkey

Squirrel!! By That I Mean Distractions

"Squirrel!" gets yelled out at our house.  It refers to Dug the dog in the movie "Up".  He's a dog and squirrels distract him.  I'm very much like Dug when it comes to crafting (or my husband would say "life in general").  I should be focusing on finishing Christmas gifts as I have probably said in the last few posts.  I also spend too much time on Ravelry.  Anyway, one of my favorite publishers Cooperative Press is doing a KAL (knit-a-long).  http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/cooperative-press/3078452/1-25#19

She has a free pattern up and the deal is that its basically a pattern for a scarf.  Free pattern here:   http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/icehouse

Now she would like people to knit it up but you can knit it up as a cowl, hat, double knit or any way you like.  A shawl came to my mind and below is my idea and a page of the pattern (its like 3 or 4 pages long!).

Finished GAL Objects

When I should be finishing Christmas knitting, I joined the GAL (gift-a-long).  It's basically a knit-a-long that is done with patterns by designers that gave a 25% discount on their patterns.  They have been giving away patterns with trivia questions, picking people who post on Ravelry and asking people to reply to posts.  I won one of the random pick and answered the trivia question right!

I do plan to give some of the items I've knitted as Christmas stocking gifts.  Here are some of my finished objects.

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. :)

Books for Design Ideas

I have dreams of designing knit wear.  I got this knitting journal from one of the knitting ladies yesterday.  We meet up usually every Saturday.  I don't have a need for a knitting journal since I pretty much keep all my knitting stuff up on Ravelry and my knitting blog.  I thought it perfect to organize my thoughts and keep swatches for knit designs.  The purple one is just a blank journal which I've started to jot down some ideas.