A Scarf for Whit

I have been pretty much exclusively making presents for my friends and family  for nearly a decade now. My skills have vastly improved since my beginnings crocheting scarves for all my fitness in high school. That being said, I know that my taste and choices for gifts aren't always on par with the recipients. It's a game of chance making instead of buying, there are no returns or exchanges and there's the added knowledge that the gifted spent hours if not days weeks or months salving away on your gift. It's intimidating. And I know I get it wrong a lot. There are a few people I have no problems finding things to make for- my brother and husband wears holes in the socks I make for them. My mom has her scarves on. Seasonal rotation. I've given up on my dad, but he's impossible to shop for too so that's a wash. Then there are my friends. I know I'm always a color or pattern choice away from something they will love or put on that fake smile and say/ "wow, how neat!" (You know you've done it too)

We'll, I think I nailed it this time. I decided to ask what Peoria wanted this year (not the first, but I usually get: "oh you know what I like." (No I don't, I wouldn't be asking if I did!) and this particular birthday girl said "I want something like a scarf or hat so I can wear your art!" Well, I made her a hat before but I will admit that 'art' is not an adjective that applies to it. And so I decided against what I initially was going to make her (which I now may make for myself because I like weird nerdy things) and did as asked, and I think I nailed it!

And I'm glad I did because I love the pattern and yarn so much I may make one for all my other friends too! I picked a stitch from my stitch book (which I almost changed because it's been a rather warm winter and I was afraid it wouldn't get much use) and I am in love with the effect! It almost looks like cables, but it's only knit and purl stitches. And it was So. Easy. I mean really easy. I could knit in the dark! (Which was nice since a little someone won't go to bed if it's not dark) and it took me less than an hour a night for roughly a week. Which is how long I had to get it done, since I started knitting it so late.

And that yarn! It's nothing fancy, Simply Soft in Harlyquin I bought at Michael's. But let me tell you, it's so soft and cozy and that COLOR! I fell in love when I saw it and knew I would make something out of it. And since it's acrylic I can be sure that of she tosses it in the wash and dryer it will not be ruined! And I have to say, I think I hit the 'art' part on the mark!

I also did something I usually don't do- I added a crochet border.  I think that if I had used a rib or other border on it it wouldn't have turned out so nice. It adds a bit of fancyness without taking away from the beautiful simplicity of the stitch!(at least I think so) I think I'm going to try and turn this into a pattern (I have a few knots I want to do that to) and see how that goes!

What do you think? Anything turn out surprisingly good/easy/beautiful for you? 

WIPs

It's been a rough week of the little lady not taking naps unless she is on me… so I haven't gotten a ton done like is like too. But here is an update on some things I'm working on:

Paper piecing for my sewing machine cover:

 

The running joke with my good pal Robin is that I cant start a new-to-me craft like a normal person who picks a pattern and follows directions.  I don't tip-toe, I run full speed into it by making my own patterns and ignoring any and all directions! Lucky for me it usually isn't a total disaster (usually). This is definitely wasn't one of my disasters! I am pretty proud of myself. While I cannot claim these as my own ideas/patterns, I didn't use the patterns available and drafted my own instead! I used Pinterest to gather ideas and use what others had done to make it myself! (I used this, this, this and this as my inspiration/spring board for my own patterns) There has been a bit of hand sewing involved due to my lack of forethought in some instances, but overall I'm pretty pleased! I can't wait to get it all put together and sewn up for I can leave my new sewing machine out full time!

Mystery Sock KAL:

 

So I kinda messed this one up. I didn't switch to the smaller needles like the pattern says 

because they're being used on another project and I'm too lazy to make notes to remember what I'm using) So I haven't decided if I like them enough to rip it and re-knit it to the cuff and do them properly, knit the second sock the same and deal with it or just frog it all together and use the yarn for a different pattern (because I LOVE this yarn color! Glorious!!!) So we'll see what ends up happening.

And something I'm working out that will eventually make it into my shop:

Can you guess what it is? :)

Scarf Update

I finally caught up! In case your wondering, I started my scarf several weeks after the date I decided to use as my starting point. I also had to go get some yarn which pushed me back even more, but here she is:

The needle shows where February starts. What do you think? Accomplishing anything these days?

Hey!

Guess what I did? I technically finished my sweater!! Neat huh?

Except for what you say? That button band is making the sweater all cinchy where it shouldn't? Yup, pretty much. So I ripped the whole band out and than I remembered, I was going to add a little length once I finished the sleeves, so I undid that edge and will continue the rib a little farther and try a swing at that band again. And believe me, there was no amount of blocking that would fix that problem. It is an easy fix and she will be done before I know it!

What have you been working on? :)

Knitin

I've finally gone out and got some yarn to match some lovely knit picks gloss in guava I bought with my sweater yarn (because I needed a few more things to qualify for free shipping... and I'd rather my money be spent on yarn than that!) But before I do anything, I have to wind it up into a ball. Which I've never done on anything but remnants, but I did some pokey-poking around the interwebs and found this!

 

I can totally do that! And so I did. And it took awhile. But it's my first, and with that comes a level of perfection I'm not likely to see in future wound yarn balls made by me:

I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Although, I did try to make it center pull but somewhere in the process I lost that end.... oh well. All long as it isn't a loop of doom threatening to tangle I'm cool.

 

I'm pairing the lovely guava up with some cool grey I found whilst poking around the yarn section at Michael's. It's Loops & Thread sock yarn, stupid soft and only $2.99 for 600+ yd or something ridiculous! I'm am super excited to get started on these suckas! (and these too!)

What are you working on?

Wip

WIP

Look familiar? They are done! Well, mostly. I need to control those strings there.

 

Annnnd a new project too! This is also almost done, and a b-day gift, so the big reveal will be next week after the recipients receives him! Hope she likes it! 

WIP- Done!(-ish)

Sorry for the terrible photos… it's been one of those days!

Here's number one of my mystery project! I'm debating whether or not to write up a pattern for these suckas... There's one more to go, and a month until I can fully 'unleash' them to the interwebs.

 

However, this thang is done and delivered. This is a Plastic bag Holder based on In Color Orders tutorial. I didn't quilt it('cuz I don't quilt), and I am happy with how it turned out! (So's my mother-in-law, it was her birthday present)

Hope your week going well!

WIP- Done!

Here's that yellow thing that I posted here last week. I made a headband using a stitch pattern I found in my book 400 Knitting Stitches. They call it 'wreaths' but I think I"m going to call this headband itself Barnacles, as that is what it look liked to me!

 I made it in Nature's Choice Organic Cotton- Mustard #158 (Lion Brand) and I am in love with the color! This dark yellow has been real popular the last few years, and I cannot get enough of it.

I've been wearing it since this photo shoot an hour or so ago, and it is quite comfortable, and I think it will serve me well on my trip next month! (It's a secret, but I'll let you know about it when it happens :)

WIP

WIP

Here's what I'm working on now: