Episode 7: Lightning Speed

This week my computer decided that it needed to update, which today was an excellent day to update, but it meant that I was a little pressed for time when I was recording. Because of this I kind of speed through my projects at lightning speed!

While I was waiting for the computer to update I picked some wildflowers from outside, that just popped up by the deck steps. I was amazed at the different shades of colors that they were and how delicate they were, I just thought that I would share.

I talked about my past week, and about my mom's birthday that was this week. I made her this great mixer cover for her kitchen aid mixer. I really loved the chicken print, and it goes really well with her kitchen, which is all chicken themed, so it worked really nicely. After the photo shoot I made sure to put it back in the kitchen so it can keep the mixer cozy.

Next I talked about all my great finished objects that I had this week. I finished G's socks. They are men's size 12 or so, so it was a fair bit of knitting. I made them 88 stitches around on US size 1 needles. I worked them two at a time toe up, magic loop method. I worked them in JaWoll color for the mottled green, and Cascade Sock in green for the toes, heels, and cuffs.

I also finished a pair of socks for myself. I striped two different self-striping colorways from Berroco Sox. One was various shades of green, and the other was red, pink, peuce, green, and blue (which probably doesn't sound very pretty, but it turned out really cute. I worked them 72 stitches around on US size 1's. I worked them one at a time using the magic loop method. Last week I was just above the heel on the second sock, and this week I finished all the leg and cuff. All that is left is for them to have the ends woven in.

Another finished object is not really knitting or crochet or spinning related, but it is still technically fiber. I finished sewing a top for a Project Linus quilt. Project Linus is a charity that donates new, handmade blankets to children that are ill or traumatized. They are handed out at hospitals, and police and firemen can carry them around with them. This one was a kit that was already cut for the most part and step by step directions were included. My mom helped me out quite a bit, she did the second cuts, and helped me press the pieces, and gave me pointers about how best to assemble to quilt. (The middle block is supposed to be sideways, I did it on purpose).

This week I had a few Works In Progress (WIPs). I started and worked a lot on a chevron cowl that will be worked until I run out of yarn, and then kitchener the two ends together. I provisionally cast on 100 stitches and then am working a chevron pattern on the tube. I am using Lang Yarn Mille Colori Socks and Lace yarn and Berroco Comfort sock weight, held together. It is being worked on US size 4 needles, and I think it is turning out pretty nicely.

Confession time, for the past three weeks I have been working on a project and haven't shown you, because... well, I'm not really sure why, maybe I was embarrassed at having so many projects on the needles? At any rate, I'm coming clean. This is going to be a pillow for the Design Challenge Aug/Sep Challenge on Ravelry. It's a group that just runs bi-monthly challenges on their forums. This two month challenge is to make a pillow that uses cables and has texture. I am using short rows to make wedges that will form a circle that will then have a strip around the outside of cables, and the other side will be in a gradient that I dyed around this time last year. Anyways, I'm working it on Jaeger Gabrielle with Mohair held double on US size 9 needles. I am taking good notes, and I plan to work up the pattern, and have a blog post devoted to it, so that if you want you can make your own little cushion. Here's what it looks like so fair.

Also this week I decided I needed a crochet project, since I hadn't crocheted in about two weeks, and I was really itching to get my hands on a hook. So, I decided that I was going to make a "crazy quilt" afghan, so I am letting it grow organically, but still making sure that it is staying rectangular as I work it. That way when I'm done it will be a really unique blanket. I worked the center square, and then I did a couple rows of border around it. Then I did triangles around the center square to set it on it's corner, striping the triangles randomly. Then I added a border with puff stitches to give it texture and interest. I plan on making log cabin stripes on two of the sides, to make it a bit asymmetrical, but still rectangular. I will also be using some other stitches, such as bobbles, V-stitch, and Cross post stitch to give the log cabin stripes some texture. I'm pretty excited about this project, so hopefully it comes out as nicely as it sounds like it will in my head.

Lest you think that I am being neglectful, or that I have Project ADD or something else, I would like to acknowledge that there were three projects that were not featured this week. First was the Hippy-hippy shawl which is by Gabrielle Vezina, which was not seen, because it did not receive any work, mainly because the fingering weight on US size 2 needles is pretty small, and I just didn't make myself sit there and work on it this week. Then there is the Project Linus blanket that I am knitting with the ball band dishcloth pattern. I did work on this, but it felt like there was a lot going on in this podcast, and so that project just didn't make the cut. Finally, my brother's sweater, the Hedge Fence Pullover, by Elinor Brown, was not worked on, mainly because this is the first week in the past two or three where I could sit and knit as long as I wanted without my hands killing me, and I just hadn't sat down and cranked out a whole pattern repeat at any point in the week.

So, anyways, this week I also spun. Both fibers were from vendors at the All-MO Spin In in Chillicothe, MO that I went to this May. The orange and pink skein is wool that I plied with metallic sliver thread, and one spool of brown thread with beads, I got 368 yards, and am planning on making a shawl. It's very airy and was spun from an art batt. The blue and green was sold in a hank of roving, and I wasn't sure about the colors when I bought them, but I really like them now that they are spun up. I like how the different colors play together, and I think it will make a very nice hat. I split the roving into strips lengthwise, about six strips, spun them end to end, and then plied the whole thing back on itself. I am also still working on drop spindling the mohair and wool blend that I got at the MOPaca festival that I went to earlier this year as well. I'm spinning that on a turkish spindle that I got in a swap package last year or so.

This week's stash enhancement included some fiber, two different sweater quantities, and sock yarn, as well as sock yarn to dye. I'm pretty excited about all the possibilities that these new additions bring. The thought of the week this week was about the Bullet Journal idea that I'm trying to see if I can organize my life a bit more. I am making lists of different things that I want to do, and how to do them. I think that it will help me. If you type in "setting up bullet journals" into YouTube there will be a bunch of different tutorials about what a bullet journal is and how to set it up. I think that it seems to be a good idea.

Thanks for watching and reading, and I hope to see you next week!

Episode 6: My Computer Ate My Podcast

This week was a bit of a doozy. Not only did I start my first week of school, which went reasonably well, all things considered, but I recorded an ENTIRE episode for the podcast, and then I went to open it up, and the file was corrupted, so I went and did a take two. Last week it was an editing issue, this week it was a corrupt file issue, I wonder what issues will await me next week.

So first off I talked about my grandfather passing, which was my storytime for this week, and then I talked about the past week at school. I also talked about processing my wool, which I got from a friend that raises sheep on her farm, and she had a lot of extra wool. It was a pretty awesome experience, because I actually got it clean, and now it is white and fluffy instead of beige, like it was before. I didn't get a picture of the wool, but I'll try and show a sample of it next week.

Then I talked about my lack of FOs (Finished Objects). I'm almost done with G's socks though, and hopefully I will get those done this week.

I am also a good way through my Stripey Socks, that I am making out of Berocco Sox yarn, with two different colorways, and I am striping the two colorways to make super stripey socks. Both yarns are self-striping themselves. I have turned the heel on the second sock, and just have the leg and cuff to finish.

I am also continuing to work on the Hippy Hippy shawl by Gabrielle Vezina. It's a free Ravelry download. I'm working it with KnitPicks Chroma and a mystery brown acrylic yarn. It's a slow going shawl, since it is fingering weight and I'm working it on Size US 2 needles.

I also continued working on the ballband dishcloth blanket for Project Linus, which is a charity that gives blankets to children that have been through some type of trauma, and are distributed by either hospitals or police and firemen. I think that it will probably be two to three more weeks until it is done, The variegated is Red Heart Super Saver in the Primary colorway and the green is Red Heart with Love in the Lettuce colorway.

Finally, I am making good progress on the sweater that I am making for Knit for Kids, which is a charity that collects sweaters, hats, and blankets for children in impoverished areas. The items are collected in Pennsylvania, and then once they have a pallet worth of items the items are shipped all over the world. I'm using Caron One Pound to make the sweater.

I also spun this week. I finished a skein of alpaca. The colorway is Murphy's Ocean, and there were 4oz. I got 168 yards and I'm going to say that it was between a sport and worsted weight. I plan to use it to make a cowl for someone for Christmas, since it's nice and soft.

I am also spinning some art yarn from an art batt. It too is 4oz. I am getting between a fingering and a lace weight, and I will be plying it with some reflective and metallic decorative thread that I got for another project, but I think that it will be really great with this wool.

And then I have just a bit of stash enhancement because of the great sales that they had at JoAnn's this week. I got a Caron One Pound skein in grey that I am going to use to make a sweater for one of my baby cousins for this Christmas, and then I got two skeins of Patons Kroy in the Meadowstripes colorway. I'm excited about working with this yarn, and I think it will be a blast.

I finished up the podcast by talking about the quilt that my mom made me for my high school graduation, and then my thought of the week was just musing about how great it is to be able to shop your stash and how I feel like it's an important part of the creative process for myself. Thanks for watching and reading, I'll see you next week.

Episode 5- Wonky Blanket

This week the podcast got put up a little late. I had an issue with the editing and the first version was not of the quality that I wanted to publish, so I held off until I had enough time to go back and re-edit everything and make it look nice. I hope you enjoy!

First off I talked about my wandering educational career and how I ended up where I am now, and my experience thus far returning to the brick and mortar school. I talked about some other random adventures this week as well.

Then I talked about my Finished Objects. I had two this week! My vanilla socks out of Plymouth Happy Feet 100 Splash. I also finished Baby B's Blanket out of Plymouth Encore Worsted in lime and navy.

I have two other pairs of socks on the needles. Both are vanilla sock patterns. The green pair are for G, and are getting very close to being done. The striped socks are made even stripey-er by having two self striping yarns stripe every two rows. I really like it, and have one sock completely done and the other one's toe done. The self striping yarn were both Berroco Sox. I'm working both on US Size 1 needles. I'm also working both using the Magic Loop method, which is my favorite method for knitting socks.

I am also working on the Hippy Hippy Shawl by Gabrielle Vezina, a free Ravelry download. I'm working it with a mystery chocolate colored acrylic fingering weight yarn and Knitpicks Chroma fingering weight. I'm working it on US Size 2 needles. I'm going to keep going until I run out of KnitPicks Chroma and then I'm going to switch to the Old Shale (formerly, mistakenly, known as Feather and Fan) stitch pattern with Boboli Lace yarn.

I am also working on my Project Linus blanket that I am knitting using the ballband dishcloth stitch pattern that I just added extra stitch repeats to make it wide enough. I am using Red Heart Super Saver in the Primary colorway as the variegated yarn in the background, and then I'm using Red Heart with Love in the Lettuce colorway for the overlaying rows.

I also started a sweater for Knit for Kids charity, which sends sweaters, hats, and baby blankets to children all throughout the world. I am working a size 4 sweater, but I think my gauge is off because when I measured it had the bust size of a size 6. To fix this I am going to work the length of a size 6 and not worry about the stitch difference, but just keep it in mind for future projects. It is a free pattern from the Knit for Kids website, just a top down raglan pattern, and I have already split for the sleeves. It's coming along pretty fast, and I'm enjoying the process.

I also had some stash enhancement this week. First, from Fabric Recycles, a local craft consignment shop for craft supplies I got some discontinued acrylic in Light Moss for another Knit for Kids sweater, and I also got some Baby Bee in Bare Blue for a striping color in that sweater. I also found a roll of fabric that was printed to look like the knit stitch that I'm going to use to make project bags, one for me and then one or two to put up in the Etsy shop. I also went to Hobby Lobby and got I Love This Yarn in the Peacock and Royal colorways and then I Love This Yarn Overdyed in the Jamie and Caitlyn. I also got a skein of Yarn Bee Lace in the Sun Valley colorway. I plan to use the I Love This Yarn to make more sweaters for Knit for Kids and I'm going to hold the Yarn Bee Lace either double or with a cream to make a cowl and submit it to the Knitworthy Comfort and Joy KAL which is asking everyone to knit something for the Christmas giving season.

My thought of the week was about being grateful and how it's important to take a moment and think about the good things in life, because no matter how hard things get there are still little moments of something to be grateful for everyday. Thanks for joining me and I'll see you next week!

Episode 4- Bring on the Broccoli!

The newest episode of my podcast is up! I'm sorry that the lighting is so bad, I had to film in a different location, and thought that it looked fine on my screen when I first set up, it wasn't until I was editing that I realized that I look like Casper the ghost for most of it! I am very pale in general, so just having direct sunlight on me like that really washed me out. This is a good lesson to keep in mind for the future, just in case I am tempted to do something crazy, like record outside or something (yeah, right).

In this episode I go on and on about my failed vegetable garden that I planted this spring, as well as my personal struggle with social anxiety, which is just one facet of Generalized Anxiety Disorder that I am diagnosed with. I have been getting up early this week to try and adjust my sleeping schedule to better work with getting up early to go to school, which starts next week. This has given me even more time for crafting, so I finished two crocheted blankets for Project Linus this month. Project Linus is a charity that accepts handmade blankets, whether they be crocheted, knitted, or quilted, and then distributes them to children that are either sick or have been through trauma. I have been making blankets for Project Linus since the 7th grade, about 13 years ago.

The pattern for these two blankets came from the 100 Colorful Ripples to Crochet by Leonie Morgan. They are made from different acrylics that have been donated to me by people for Project Linus.

This week I also finished half of a pair of socks. I just couldn't resist casting them on, even though I already had two pairs on the needles. I striped two different colorways of Berroco Sox. One was a green colorway and the other was a red, pink, puce, blue, and green colorway. They go together surprisingly well, and I really like the result. I cast off just before recording, so I will definitely work on a matching sock this upcoming week.

Along the lines of half finished socks I finished the cuff and the heel on the speckle dyed socks that I am making from Plymouth Happy Feet 100 Splash. They are going well, but I'm kinda falling out of love with the speckles. I am planning to use the left overs to make striping socks like I am doing with the Berroco Sox with some other stash yarn that I have.

And for the last of the socks, I have the pair of socks for G that I finished both the heels on and am now working on the cuff. I should have them done before I go and see him this Saturday, because I think that that would be a nice present, since I don't get to see him very often. They are made out of JaWoll Lang Color and Cascade Sock. I am working them toe up two at a time.

I added about another repeat of the stitch pattern to my brother's sweater sleeve. Without time that was really quiet and focused it's hard to make myself concentrate enough to knit on the sweater. I am nearing the end of the increases though, and then it will just be the top shaping, since the sweater has set-in sleeves. Then I will work the other sleeve and then the body. I hope to have the sweater done sometime this winter. It is the Hedge Fence Pullover by Elinor Burn, it's a paid for pattern available on Ravelry. It is being worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted Tweed.

I also added a few rows to the Hippy Hippy shawl by Gabrielle Vezina, a free Ravelry download. I am making it out of a mystery acrylic yarn and Knitpicks Chroma. It's a crescent shape shawl and is worked with pinstripes in stockinette.

I added quite a bit to the baby blanket for Baby B. My cousin that is now a few months old. It is Tunisian crochet, worked in the honeycomb stitch, and I change color every row, which gives it a hound's tooth appearance. It is worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted in lime green and navy.

Finally, last but not least, I worked on the knitted ball-band dishcloth blanket that I am also knitting for Project Linus. I am making it out of Red Heart Super Saver in the primary colorway and Red Heart with Love in the Lettuce colorway. It is coming along nicely, and I am almost done with the first two skeins.

My thought of the week this was about how I am going to try to start knitting sweaters for the charity Knit for Kids that is put through World Vision. They look really great and I think it will help me develop as a knitter as well. I also talked about my knitted goodies basket that I put out every Christmas to make the holidays easier on me as a crafter.

Insomnia Can Be Productive

This week I posted a new podcast, with the same title as this blog post. I hope that you can check it out!

I went to the lake this past weekend with my family. It was an alright time. I couldn't sleep Friday night, so I ended up working a lot on my brother's sweater, which I will show you a little later. I walked over to my grandparents' house early Saturday morning, and I saw a really huge spider web that I took a picture of. It was at least two and a half feet across. It was pretty massive. I saw others on the way, but this was by far the largest. 

There was a lot to talk about on this episode, but I'm afraid I may have rushed through some of it. So, to solve that problem, I thought I would elaborate a bit on here about the different things that I talked about. So first up are my FOs. I finished the Sockhead hat that I had dug out from forever ago and finally finished. I think that it turned out nice, and here it is, all the ends are woven in and everything! I finished it while I was at the lake. I worked in on my 16" Karbonz, US size 2. 

Then I finished the first sock of the speckled socks that I am making out of Plymouth Happy Feet 100 Splash which is a heavy fingering weight yarn. I am working them on my Addi Turbo Sock needles that are 8" around and are size US 2. I really like how these are turning out, and I have an awesome idea for my next socks that I am going to make on these needles. I got the idea off of Instagram, and basically you make stripes with two different self striping sock yarns, and the two sock yarns play together to create an even more interesting striping pattern. I think it will be really fun to work on, and it might help me use up some sock yarn that I've gotten bored by. 

That's all for my Finished Objects. Next off I have WIPs. There are two blankets, a shawl, and a sweater, and that's all that I showed on the podcast. I managed to work a bit on G's socks, but I forgot to show them on the podcast, so I will just wait until next week, when they will be nearing completion. I finished both heels, and have about 2" done on the cuffs or so. The ballband dishcloth blanket is about a third of the way through, and I have been working on it off and on. It's been made out of Red Heart Super Saver in the Primary colorway and Red Heart with Love in the Lettuce colorway. I'm almost through the first skein of both of those, so it's coming right along. I'm working it on US size 7 needles. 

I am also working on baby B's blanket. It is more than half way done. I am working it with size I/9 US Tunisian crochet hook. I am working a honeycomb Tunisian crochet stitch and switching the colors every other row, which gives it a houndstooth appearance. It is worked in Plymouth Encore Worsted in Lime Green and Navy Blue. I want to put a border on it in cream or grey or something, but my grandmother and mother insist that I use either lime green or navy. Which if that is the case I am inclined to do a thick border of lime green and then a small border of navy around it. 

The night that I couldn't sleep at all- Friday night, I stayed up and watched the movie Robots three times, once in English, once in French, and once in Spanish. I don't think I will be wanting to watch that movie for a while. I also worked on my brother's sweater's sleeve. Uninterrupted for nearly 5 hours. So I am now almost half way through the sleeve, maybe half way. I'm not really sure. I like how the pattern is turning out. It's a Hedge Fence Pullover by Elinor Brown. It's a paid for pattern on Ravelry. I am working it in Plymouth Encore Worsted Tweed in a natural colorway. I'm working it on size US 7 needles, from my Hiya Hiya interchangeable set. I really like them. Unfortunately, my size 2 needles broke, and I need to investigate about sending them back for a replacement, or what I need to do with them. I will figure it out though. 

Then I also worked on the Hippy Hippy Shawl by Gabrielle Vezina, which is a free pattern on Ravelry. Only I'm modifying it because it was written for a DK weight yarn, and I'm using fingering, so I'm working it on US size 2 needles, and I am using a mystery fingering weight in a chocolate brown and Knitpicks Chroma, but I'm not sure which Chroma colorway I'm using. I like it though, and am excited for the end product. At the end I'll have a feather and fan border using Boboli Lace yarn. 

In addition to all the knitting that I've gotten done, I've also done a ton of spinning. I've been using spinning to calm down my anxiety and help me get through the day. I finished two skeins, one from the Apothefairy is a gradient. All her braids are one-offs, so there is no colorway name to speak of. I chain plied it, and I'm not real happy about the even-ness of my plying, there seem to be some spots where it's tighter and others where it's looser, so we'll have to see how it knits up. I got 154 yards. I think I want to make a cowl out of it. Then I also finished playing the Barefoot on the Farm Isabelle colorway with the chocolate alpaca fiber, and I got 214 yards. I am not sure what exactly I want to make out of it yet. 

I am currently spinning on some wool/mohair 50/50 blend to be plied with the rest of the Barefoot on the Farm top. I think the colors will play nicely together, and there's only 2 ounces of the mohair/wool blend. I am spinning it on my Turkish spindle that I got in a swap. I have a ways to go on this one, since I don't spin as fast on my spindle as I do on my wheel, and I have a lot of projects going. 

I am also spinning some alpaca roving that is cream/white/turquoise and I think I am going to ply it on to itself and make a nice hat- hopefully I can get enough yardage. 

Finally, this week I also talked about my Etsy store briefly and showed off the hats that I've made and put up on there. So that was this week. It was pretty jam packed full of a lot of stuff in a short amount of time. Maybe if I get more comfortable I'll be able to ramble a bit more, but I doubt that I will ever do a two hour podcast by myself like the Dancing Geek does. Anywho, that's all for this week, and hopefully next week I will be able to show you some more finished objects, and maybe some new projects on the needles.