Back to the needles.

New sock yarn that I started today is going along great. It's 'regia stretch' and I can't wait to see the final fit on the foot of the sock. I'm being daring (for me) and doing a plain, yes plain sock. The yarn has built in stretchy fibers but feels like regular sock yarn. I bought this sight unseen and unfondled off the web from 'webs' . I realize that I like to fondle my yarn and fabric first prior to purchase but i trusted 'regia'.

Am also finishing reading the new book 'knit so fine' and loving all the reasons to knit with fine yarn. My favorite so far, you get more knitting enjoyment for the money because you have to knit more stitches than a bulky weight yarn.

Stitching the nite away

I've been concentrating on my hot air balloon needlepoint project and finished it today. The balloon is done in basketweave and the basket that will hang down in done in tent, long and woven stitch. I can't wait until I get a change to assemble it and see it hanging. I have enough of the white sparkly snow thread for a hanger at the top and haven't decided what to hang the basket from. The basket will need a silky soft lining too. Lot's to think about for this special project.

Hot air balloon

I got to do some more needlework today and this is my current project of choice. This is only half of a hot air balloon ornament. You really can't tell but the snow and band on the bottom is done in a glittery 'snow' thread. The sky and reindeer is in a soft wool with a matte finish. I'm only half way there and there are 2 more panels and a basket that you can't see. This finishes up as a three dimensional ornament with the basket hanging beneath. Lot's more stitching but easy fillinging in with basketweave stitch. I didn't even get to cast on my knitting today but there is hope for my lunch break tomorrow.

Some assembly required day

On my day off today I got to assembling some of the projects that I had finished the stitching on. I had lots of fun with the doggy door stop. I came out just great. I used medium interfacing on all of the pieces, a piece of foam core as an insert for the bottom, a special bag of lead shot for weight and a lot of careful stitching. It's only 5 inches on a side and is adorable. The patterns called for 8 inches but that was going to be too large. This is nice and you could use any cross stitch patterns for the sides or even just beautiful fabric to make this. There is a doubled piece of twill tape for a handle across the top.
This was a needlepoint card by 'sundance designs' that I had stitched while on vacation. It worked up quickly but needed a press and some double stick tape to get it all finished and ready for the holidays.
Two needlepoint ornaments got finished and assembled also. The little house was a canvas I had purchased a while ago and decided it needed to get done this week as a break from the sock marathon. It was fun to put together but was done carefully and has a suede base that gives it a nice bottom. The sports ornament was one I had stitched on vacation. It's mounted on a batting covered piece of archival board, as is the back. The two covered pieces are then hand sewn together and then the matching cording sewn on. I came out stunning and will look good on a holiday tree.

I do have a few more things to assemble but it's back to work on some fun crafting.

Not enough time to craft

I've been busy back at work and not even time on my break to break out the knitting needles. Since I've met my goal for Septembers socks I'm not feeling bad about it at all. I've still been stitching but on some needlepoint canvas's I've had on the way, way back burner. Fun stitching by filling in the colors, like coloring for grownups. You don't need a magnifying glass and you get a lot of instant satisfaction from it. They are small and easy to carry around. I'll do the finishing and have some beautiful ornaments. A plus on both ends. I'll get my knitting vibe on next week. The bag is ready to go with yarn, needles, sock bible and ruler. Grab and knit.

Rum done

Today during my lunch break I started the heel flap on the second 'rum on the beach' sock. After a short walk after work with each cat it was time to relax, read the newest 'mason-dixon' knitting book and then finally get down to finishing the second sock. As anticipated I didn't have enough yarn to knit a pair. I unknit from the first to the second and then finished off the toes with the creammy yarn. They came out looking like the toe is a 'design feature' and very stylish. Another pair to add to the count.
Here's a shot of the 'miyuki fan club cat' beaded charm that I made this weekend. It has tiny whiskers and is just so cute. My son thought that as a key chain charm it would fall apart in his pockets due to the many keys he carried, but I could tell he really liked it. I'm thinking cell phone, purse, or zipper charm. I have some others to do and am looking forward to them as a break from knitting. Going back to work this week has put a serious dent in my crafting time.

Knitting away

I went to the yarn store today and purchased additional yarn for my 'rum on the beach' socks. They had a nice dark shade of cream 'ultra alpaca' that will be the final finish on the toes. I knit them for a women's size but the yarn when done, gauged right, fit a men foot. My son did a trial run and they fit wonderfully and he commented on their soft feel and fit. I cast on and have 5 inches on the cuff so far tonite. The larger 5 1/2 inch gauge knits up really fast.

I'm looking forward to knitting up these pair. I heard back from socks I finished knitting for my daughter. They were well received and fit nicely. I'm right on target for my goal of one pair a month. Next year will not be a sock a month year. That's definite.

Rum on the Beach

My vacation socks, made from dyed 'berroco ultra alpaca' with the appropriate color name of 'rum on the beach' are running into a problem. I love the color and the feel of the yarn but there just isn't enough of it. After finishing up the first sock I weighed the sock and its 59 grams and then I weighed the remaining yarn, only 48 grams. I can see another trip to the store to purchase a skein and a toe knit off. I'm so glad that I bought a little scale from Ikea. It was supposed to be for weighing beads but mostly it's been saving me in my knitting quandries.

In the needlepoint realm of crafts, I finished all of the stitching on my holiday ornament. No pictures as it will be a gift at the holidays. I looked in my attic stash and found a wonderful little house to stitch that again will be a sweet ornament, and a flowered brick cover. The brick cover needs some more fiber as does the ornament. I love finding more projects in the attic. Some in review will be tossed or given away but I'm not even making a dent with all I do. On to a fun filled, relaxing day.

Knitting 'issues'

The 'calypso sock yarn ran out as expected when I only had about 6 inches knit on the second sock. I went to the store and bought a skein of bright green 'cascade 220' yarn before I started the unraveling knitting. I undid the kitchner stitch on the first sock and then started the yarn on the second where I was just running out of yarn. It was kinda fun seeing the yarn unravel from the first sock, but also un-nerving to think I was unknitting at the same time. It's probably very similar to knitting from a sock blank. I kept checking and when both socks were at the 7 and 3/4 inch mark I cut the yarn from inbetween . I didn't even wind up the new green yarn but put it on my swift and knit it right from there. My crafting cat 'magpie' enjoyed that part of the adventure.
The results were worth it. The green toes look fine and the socks both came out the same length. You could avoid this quandry by knitting from the toe up and knitting both at the same time but I really prefer top down socks. And who would have known the yarn would be just a little bit shy of a pair.

I've been working on some needlepoint tonite, baked a batch of gingersnaps for my new cookie jar and just resting on my laurels of solving a crafting problem. I'm also lamenting the closing of a long time fabric/yarn/decorating store in our local area. Times change but I'll miss the store and it's great selection.

Vacation crafts go wild

The vacation crafting is going wonderful. We got back to the mainland yesterday, tired but happy with all we had done. My green 'celt' socks with cables are done and ready to get jarred up.

A swirl halloween tote bag that came out looking really great.
The basket quilt top all ready to go and get machine quilted. The backing and binding have been purchased so this project is well on its way to completion.
A glam shot of the 'Johnny Depp', easter egg dyed yarn collection that we made. I used the bands from the 'pirate' dye kit for yarn bands and we had fun naming all of the yarns. Calypso, shipwreck cove, green flash, caribbean sunrise, ocean breezes, captain jack and my favorite and soon to be knit up rum on the beach were what we came up with. They look really great and will knit up into wonderful socks and other objects.

My american girl doll sweater fit her well, but she needs some jeans and a shirt to go with her outfit.
My sister had all the parts knitted for 'Sheldon', a knitty pattern. I sewed him all up and the 4 stitch knitted i-cord that attached the shell to the harness finished the edges off and gave him a great look.
While we washed all of the vacation laundry the slippers I had knit the first nite kept going back in for another felting. After 4 washings that were down to the cutest little slippers a little kid would want. As you can see I still have another pair waiting to be sewn up and run through the wash her.

I have almost finished my first pair of socks with our hand dyed yarns. There is a problem though which I'm working on solving today. The 'calypso' color is a dyed skein of 'cascade 220'. I made a women's sized pair of socks with a k3p1 ribbing. The first one knit up great and the second is past the gusset and half way to the toe. The problem is that the yarn has run out. I can't make another skein of 'calypso', even if I wanted to. The solution is to go the yarn store today, bringing along my socks and pick out another skein of the 'cascade 220' in a complimentary color. Luckily it comes in a great range of colors. So when I get the yarn, it's time to unknit the toe of the first sock back to the same place as the 2nd one and then knit a toe on each with the new color. I'll have yarn left over but it can join the 'archive' in my attic.

Lots more crafting to do here.

Crafting Camp

Had a fabulous time at craft camp this week. On Sunday my sister set up all the supplies and taught us how to dye yarn with 'easter egg dye kits' you get at a reduced price the day after the holiday. It was so fun but in the end it makes you appreciate all of the hard work the yarn dyers do for us. I'll think of this everytime I buy beautifully dyed yarn at the local yarn store. The picture above shows me dying a cream skein with brown dye. It will then be wrapped up in the plastic, steamed for 30-45 mins, rinsed and hung out to dry.

The clothesline out back had all of our hand dyed yarn on display. Simply fabulous.

My mom had brought fabric for a quilt 2 years ago and one years ago I cut out the rectangles to get her her started. It needed some assistance getting it sewn but we did that on Saturday, a horribly rainy day, perfect for quilting and sewing. This shows my sisters 'mugs', from the 'MV Mug Museum' in action helping us prep the quilt.
And the finished quilt on display outside for its picture moment.
This is the baby sewing machine we are using. It only does straight stitch but it does it well. We've been knitting and stitching up a storm, here on vacation but there are a few days left so who knows what will get finished next. Oh yeah, the table runner got done this morning. Again, pictures to follow.

Crafting on Vacation

Day 1 of our vacation started out with a bang. On the boat to the island I knitting on the purple 'American girl' doll sweater and after an afternoon on the patio with cheese, crackers and wine it was done. Later on that evening my mom finished her scarf so it was looking like a craft vacation was well on its way. A wonderful dinner and than P-Run to watch spurred me on to knit two more kids slippers. My sister was laughing and spurring me on to knit faster. It's not a competition but there are cheers at each state of every project completed.

Day 2 started off with working on mom's stack of projects. She had brought some tote bag patterns and fabric, on started, one half cut out and another that that needed the pattern drafted out to even start. I did the pattern drafting, cut out the pattern and realized that the fabric she had put aside for it wasn't going to be enough. She had brought enough of a stash for us to pick out another selection. Over the course of the day the bags got finished but in the end those patterns will never be sewn again. My sister finished her pair of socks and got a round of cheers. I started a green sock with twisted cables and by the end of the evening had turned the heel and was moving on to the foot. We did manage to get out of the house and go and do some touring but at the needlework shop I purchased two more projects.

It's day 3 and we've started off at an antiques fair and have lots of shopping planned for the morning and crafting for the afternoon and evening. Loads of fun and lots of laughs. Pictures to follow.

Another sock bites the dust

I finished the second socks foot knitting tonite and headed into the toe decreases, full speed ahead. I should watch action movies more often when knitting because I know it was going faster. It could be that when you get to the end you realize there aren't that many more rounds to go also. I'm wrapping these up tonite and putting them in the mail tomorrow for my daughter. She gets a finished project, someone gets a pair of finished socks to wear and I had the fun of knitting them. A winning situation all around.

I've selected all of the projects, books and clothes to bring with on my vacation this coming week. The projects got way more attention than anything else. I wouldn't want to go away with nothing to do, boring. Vacations are for sitting on the porch with a mug of cocoa, a book or project and just enjoying the feeling of not having to do anything at all with the day. Not rushing off to work is a joy. I'm bringing the computer so I can keep in touch though. Somethings do change.