Episode 23 - It Just Had to Come Home with Me!!!

This week's podcast was a little off the cuff, since I didn't have show notes with me. I was a little bleck all day today, not sure why, just the weather maybe? Because I didn't have show notes everything is out of order and all over the place, but I talk about it all, so it's all good. 

I finished my Sin City blanket, one of my oldest projects on Ravelry, can now be said to be completed! It was also on my WIPdown list, so one more checked off. I turned it into Project Linus- a charity that donates blankets to children that are in the hospital or have experienced some sort of trauma or illness. 

I also finished the green lace scarf that I was making, and my mom claimed that one. So that's two more WIPs off my list! I'm really buzzing through things!

For my WIPs this week, I worked just a little on the orange Tunisian crochet blanket that has been growing ever so slowly. Made with acrylic yarn, intended for Project Linus, I worked it in several directions and have been making rounds of single crochet around the outside to finish it off.

I also worked on my blanket for Project Linus that is a for the Nuts for Neon competition. My local chapter of Project Linus is having a volunteer appreciation day, and as part of that day there is a competition for the best blanket, that will be voted on during the volunteer day. I finished one panel of orange lace, that is the same lace pattern that I have been using for the Edison Bulb portion of my neon cowl, and then I did three mitered squares in the corners to complete the round.

I also almost finished the back of a sweater that I am making from mill ends that I got from JoAnn fabric and craft stores. I got this yarn in pound bags and don't know anything about it except for that it is acrylic. I got three pound bags and it's a bulky weight yarn, so I hope that that will be enough to complete my sweater. It's twelve balls in total, but I'm unsure of the yardage on any of them.

I also worked on the pair of stripey socks that I am making out of Berroco Sox, in two different colorways, but I have lost the ball bands at this point, so I can't tell you what those two are exactly. I am almost done with the cuff, then I will do ten rows of one by one ribbing in the green colorway.

I started on a Done Roving Frolicking Feet section of my neon cowl, and am on the last seed stitch section, so after this bit of color I will bind off and have another project off the needles!! The bright yellow is Edison Bulb by Madeline Tosh.

Last but not least I started a new project, a Tunisian crochet double ended hook project that I am making out of a book of 101 Double Ended Hook Stitches, released by Auntie Anne's Attic, which I'm pretty sure is a daughter company of Red Heart, but I'm not 100% sure on that. This is the project that I do a demonstration on during the podcast.

I'm sorry some of my pictures messed up this week, I had issues uploading to Flickr, so I switched and uploaded directly from my phone onto blogspot, but something clearly went a bit wonky in the process, and now there are pictures with stripes down the side, where there are no stripes in the pictures on my phone. I will try to figure something out better next week. Thanks for watching, and I'll see you all next week!

Episode 19 - Merry Christmas!!

This is my Christmas special, only there is not really anything special about it. It is just me sitting and talking as usual, with a little thought of the week that is about Christmas. Otherwise, it's business as usual.

This week is just a quick hello, since today we are having our family Christmas open house. So, I didn't really have time for pictures, sorry. I did take one picture though, and that was of my five pairs of finished slipper socks that are going to my cousins this year for Christmas. I did them all in the same yarn, just different colorways, and I really like how they turned out. I am thinking of writing up this pattern, and publishing it the same time that I publish my Not Quite Vanilla Socks pattern, but we'll see how well that all turns out. I have the draft of the pattern worked up, there was just something weird going on with some of my numbers, so I am test knitting it myself to make sure that it all works up before I publish it, that is unless some of you out there would like to test knit it, I would be more than happy to send along a copy your way!

This week I ended up coloring a lot to help me deal with the blues. It worked. I even ended up coloring when I went to church on Wednesday morning with my grandma, the leader handed out coloring sheets for everyone to work on while she did her lesson. I found that coloring helped me destress and focus. My grandmother was saying that she has seen on TV that it is as good as meditating for your brain and emotions. This article from the Huffington Post backs up what she was saying. This is the coloring sheet that I worked on. It's from the post card coloring book Secret Garden Postcards by Johanna Basford. I really like her work and think that it is a very relaxing activity. 

I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and that you can find joy and happiness in the holiday season, no matter what holidays that you are celebrating. Thank you for watching, and reading and I will see you next week where I will lay out my plans for the New Year!!

Episode 18 - You're on my Wavelength

This week we were joined once again by the marvelous madmadre a.k.a. my mother a.k.a. LoriAnn. We talked a lot about knitting and crochet, mostly crochet. She had several finished projects from the past year that she showed, and I had two finished projects from this past week. I hope you enjoy this episode, and sorry if it seems like we are mumbling sometimes.

This is my mom's Ravatar, so you can know what she looks like if you see her out in the wild! The two projects that I finished this week were my third pair of slipper socks for Christmas that I am going to give to some special people in my life. They are made out of Classic Heritage Tapestry, which is a Worsted self-striping yarn, but I forgot to keep track of the colorways. I think it might be discontinued, since it was on the clearance rack of my lys. I used US size 8 needles, and worked from the top down in just a simple sock, they may look kind of small, but the special people in my life have small feet, even though they are full grown. 

The second project that I finished this week was my Not Quite Vanilla Socks, that I am working on writing up the pattern for. I have it all formatted and figured out, I just need to work out a couple bugs on the heel, because it's not looking right on paper, and I don't want to send out a glitchy pattern! I will be posting it on Ravelry when I finish, but since it is my first pattern I am going to be sending it out for free. I worked them on US size 1 needles, and had 72 stitches around, so it was a pretty tight gauge, but I want them to last a long time. I used a mystery yarn that I don't know where I got it from or what kind it was, so I don't have any really clues for replicating it. 

I also finished the first sock of my Christmas socks for myself that I am working to get finished by Christmas. They are made out of Cascade Yarns Heritage Prints, which is a self-striping sock yarn. It is in Christmas colors and very festive. They are a plain vanilla sock worked on US size 1 needles, with 72 stitches around. I am working them from the toe up and only have the very base of the toe done on the second sock.

This week I also worked on two Project Linus blankets. I am working on a granny ripple that I got at the thrift store half started, and am finishing it with yarn that came in the same bag. I guess it's kind of like a kit, only there are no instructions, and who knows if there will be enough yarn? At any rate it's fun to do and I like working the granny ripple stitch. Madmadre has not made a granny ripple blanket yet and we were saying that she is missing out and really needs to try it. I am using worsted acrylic yarn, most of it came without labels, and I am using a US size H hook.

I am also working on a blanket that I feel like calling an Orange Monster or an Orange Monstrosity. The orange is such a terrible color to look at in big swaths at a time. I am going to add just one more skein to the border, but this picture was taken before I added the plum like I show it in the podcast. Then I just have one more skein of the orange and black striped and then I am going to say that it's big enough and cast off. I am using Red Heart Super Saver in orange, Red Heart Super Saver in orange and black, and Caron Simply Soft in plum for this blanket. This blanket is also going to Project Linus.

Finally I am working on a cowl for myself. It is made out of Madeline Tosh Sock in Edison Bulb, and Done Roving in a colorway that I have forgotten. I am doing seed stitch with Done Roving and then an eyelet pattern with the Madeline Tosh. It is very bright and I plan to wear it with a black shirt so that it will really pop.

The thought of the week is that it is important to give generously to those around you, whether it be by something that you are physically giving, or just a positive thought or deed. Have a nice week and see you next week!

Episode 16- Special Guest!

This week I had a very special guest. My mother! My mom is an avid quilter, and she mostly machine pieces and quilts. She is very creative in her designs, and innovates many of her creations. She doesn't often work from a pattern, and freehand quilts most of her projects. I hope you love her as much as I do, my mother.

Thanksgiving was this week, and I made stuffing and rolls for the dinner. I cooked at my grandma's house, and they both turned out really good. I'm not sure of the recipe for the stuffing because I made it up with my grandma's help as I went. The rolls I got the recipe out of a Better Homes and Garden cookbook. 

This week I focused mostly on Thanksgiving, because it was the main take-away of the week. Being thankful, focusing on family, all that cool jazz. But this week did not start out that great for me. I got so stressed out, just from working on an extra project at work that I came home early because I felt like I was going to throw up! It made me feel like a miserable employee, but now that I have had a couple days to rest without thinking or worrying about work I feel much better. I even had a dream about my work last night! I was working, and then got fired, but I appealed and they kept me on because I showed how much passion I had for what I do. I think that is a good sign, if even in my subconscious state I really want to work at my job.

I think the kids are really what does it for me. I worry about them, and want to help them to achieve the best that they can. It's a different world when you may not have a stable home, but still come to school everyday. I miss the kids when I am not there, and keep trying to work at making sure that they have a good experience when they come into the program.

This week I finished many things. I finished two pairs of slipper socks to give as Christmas gifts, and two washcloths that are also Christmas gifts.

I also finished a cowl that I will hopefully wear sometime this week. It's longer than other cowls that I have made, but it was flat instead of being a tube, so I think that's why the yarn went further. I made it out of Purl Bee Laceweight, which is the Hobby Lobby brand of yarn, in the Sun Valley colorway, and I held it double with cream sockweight yarn that is acrylic that is from Fabric Recycles which is a crafting consignment store, so I'm not really sure of the brand on it. I made up this design in my head, and completed it without looking at any pattern, but then I watched Amy Beth on the Fat Squirrel Speaks, and she showed her cowl that she made out of handspun using Foolproof by Louise Zass-Bangham. Seeing her explain the pattern I realized that I did almost exactly the same thing, but I didn't buy the pattern or even look at it, so I'm not sure if I really ripped off the pattern, or just had a weird synchronous moment in the universe or knitting patterns.

My mother showed her pumpkin that she made for a pumpkin contest at work, but they didn't really let her enter the competition because it wasn't a "real" pumpkin. So she set it on her desk, and then brought it home and set it up in the dining room. The picture I took is where it is sitting in the dining room, just to get at idea or what it looks like set up. She appliqued the pumpkin pieces onto the background, and then machine quilted it freehand. The pattern was 100% her own creation. 

I am currently working on two blankets for Project Linus, a charity that makes blankets for children that are sick in the hospital, or have endured another type of trauma. I am working on a Tunisian crochet blanket that is orange and black. I bought a Tunisian crochet hook that has a cord connecting two hooks, but I don't like doing that long of a row. My mother thinks that it is partly because of the color, and the yarn, and if I had different yarn I would like doing it better, which I think is mostly true. Working on a bright orange blanket is hard to stay focused very long, but the action of Tunisian crochet becomes very rhythmic and addicting. After I finish this panel of Tunisian crochet however, I am going to switch to regular crochet and just do borders until it is an appropriate size for Project Linus.

The second blanket that I am working on for Project Linus is the Nuts for Neon competition blanket, and it is coming along nicely. I am using different colors of Red Heart Super Saver and working different panel and sections to create a crazy quilt look with knitting. I like how it is coming along, and hope to win the prize this May.

My only other project is my Christmas socks that are just plain vanilla socks that I am making to wear on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I hope to make a second pair to wear on the other day, so my feet will be very festive.

My mother is working on finishing the binding on her fall quilt that is a couch size throw. She used a gradient and put the colors in an order, working out from the center, that represent that different colors that leaves change as they transition from Spring into Fall. I think it looks really cool. It is a French braid pattern, and it was machine pieced and quilted, and she is hand stitching the binding on.

I also showed my next Project Linus blanket that I am going to tackle, which is going to be to finish a blanket that I got in a bag from a thrift store. I am just going to keep adding crazy colors to the granny ripple pattern until it is big enough to be a blanket. The yarn will be all old acrylic from donations and other random places.

I also got some spinning done this week, both on my wheel and on my Turkish spindle. I finished a skein on the wheel, it was a 50/50 blend of alpaca and wool, in grey and white. Then I am spinning a 50/50 blend of mohair and wool on my Turkish spindle to be plied with another single of handspun that I spun on my wheel. 

Thanks for watching and I'll see you next week with more progress on more projects!

Episode 15: Going Rogue!!

Last week I went without show notes. So this is all off the cuff.

However, last week I didn't take pictures of my projects, so I documented all this week. First yesterday I finished a pair of socks. Granted they were slipper socks. I am planning on doing these for Christmas presents.

I also worked on a new blanket for Project Linus- working on it for the Nuts for Neon competition that will be due in April. It's going well. I had to undo the bind off and then re-do it with a larger size needle. 

I also worked just a little on a Tunisian crochet blanket.

I also started just the toe on a pair of Christmas socks for me so that I can have a special pair of socks for this holiday season.

Sorry this is such a brief post, I will post more next week. Thanks for stopping by, keep knitting!

Episode 13 - The Great Outdoors!

This is a week late, but I still wanted to give it it's own post. This is episode 13, and it was shot at the lake. The lighting is a little funny, but I still manage to talk about my different projects. There weren't any FO's, but I did manage to make some pretty good progress on some projects.

Before I get to the project photos, which are phenomenal, I have to give a shout out to my brother, the one I am making the epic cable sweater for, who caught a pretty good sized fish, and I snapped a quick photo of him. 

Another shout out has to go to my mother who was also crafting at the lake. She was making quilts for Project Linus, a charity that donates blankets to children that have experienced trauma, whether they are in the hospital, or are in other trauma. I just thought it was fun for how she could transform the kitchen table into a miniature crafting area. 

Then I went on a photo shoot, the next morning, it was pretty epic, all on the back deck of my parent's house down at the lake. I have first my not-quite vanilla socks that are almost ready to turn the heel on. 

Then I have the short row shawl that I am completely making up the pattern on, and it was almost ready for a lace border on it. 

Then I have my cowl that I started, that I am putting in different fair isle patterns on from a pattern book from the library. I am thinking that I will need to buy this book in order to complete the project. This is all being done in Knit picks Palette Fingering weight, on US size 2 needles, 16 inch circular Karbonz needles. 

Then there are the two Project Linus blankets that I am working on. There is the orange tiger striped blanket that is turning out more "Halloween" than I hoped for. It is tunisian crochet, and I am making up the pattern. 

Then lastly there is the mitered square blanket that I am making out of left over acrylic yarn and I am working it on US size 10 needles. I added 7 more squares this week. 

Thanks for coming on my adventure at the lake. I hope you enjoyed this little look into a different aspect of my life. Join me next week when I will be at home, and it will be my birthday. 

Episode 12- Cotton-Eye Joe Socks

Thanks for joining me this week. Lots happened this week, I was busy all the time, but I still managed to eek out a bit of crafting. I don't think it's too terrible, considering how really busy I was. My episode starts off kind of slow, but gets rolling pretty quickly, and then I really get in the groove.

Needlework is a big deal in my family. My mom knits, crochets, cross-stitches, sews and quilts. She mostly quilts. My grandmother used to crochet and has tried to knit, and embroiders and sews. My aunt crochets. My great grandmother crocheted, and knitted. Another cross-stitched, and another crocheted. So there is a lot of crafting mojo in my family, and I think that has inspired me and kept me going in my own crafting life. There is a cross-stitch piece that was done by my paternal great grandmother, and it hangs in my living room, and I look at it every day.

I went to Project Linus Make-A-Blanket Day, and it was a blast! I got to see some of my yarn-y friends that make blankets for Project Linus, and then I also worked on my blankets while I was there. I am really close to finishing my corner-to-corner throw. The pattern is available on the Red Heart website. I am not sure of all the yarn that I am using for this blanket, because most of it was donated to Project Linus and is just various acrylic.

I also worked on my mitered square blanket that I am using the same pattern that everyone is using for their sock yarn blankets, but I am doing it with worsted weight. In reality I was testing to see if I wanted to do a sock yarn blanket. The jury is back and it is a decided "no". I have no desire to make squares that small, even if I don't have to do any seaming. I also needed to use up a bunch of different scraps, so I thought that the mitered square blanket would be a good way to do that.

My third blanket that I'm making for Project Linus I didn't actually work on at the Make-A-Blanket Day, just because the long hook can get unwieldy. I am working it in orange and black. I was going for tiger stripes, but I think it is coming off more like Halloween. I like working on it, and hope to have all three blankets done for Project Linus next month.

The name of the podcast comes from my rambling about the mystery yarn that my socks are being made out of. I never figured out where the yarn came from or what kind it is. I made up the knit and purl pattern on the top of the socks, and it turned out pretty well, I think. It's interesting and keeps me engaged in them when I work on them, but they are really purse knitting.

As promised, here are the pictures of me dying self-striping sock yarn with koolaid. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of the finished socks. It was before I was really podcasting and blogging on a regular basis, so they just kind of fell through the cracks. The first picture is the yarn in the dye pot.

This second picture is the dyed yarn out to dry, so hopefully that gives you some idea of what it was like to dye up the yarn, or at least a better idea of what I was trying to describe in the podcast.

My last knitting work in progress is a shawl that I am making up the pattern completely myself, using lots of short rows to try and make it really long and not very deep. I won't be sure how well it has turned out until I bind off, but so far I think it is going pretty well. i am using Boboli Lace Yarn and Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Weight. I kind of wish I had chosen another color beside grey for the contrasting color, but I think that it is turning out pretty well.

Last but not least I finished the singles of the Malabrigo Nube Solis that I will ply with itself, and have about a sport weight yarn. I really love the colors and the way that it spun up so thin. I am really enjoying this spin.

Thanks for watching and I hope that you enjoy your week! See you next week with new scenery since I'll be at the lake, and hopefully I will be outside, with a lovely view.