Projects

I am working on several different projects at the moment.  I have so many projects to do right now, my head is spinning :)  I am wanting to work with ready-made yarn rather than my own handspun at the moment.  I see so many lovely textures and colors right now at the craft stores that I want to play with! 

This is a shawl I am dying to finish for myself.  I love the style and it's the hardest stitch I've done yet.  But I've gotten used to it and am having fun making it. I chose a shiny olive green yarn wool blend I found at JoAnn Fabrics.  I love the color and sheen to it. It seems bulkier than the pattern in the book but it will be that much warmer in the cold office.

This is a pattern I bought for a really cute dachsund dog sweater I am making my sister-in-law. I hope it fits her larger dachsund. I added two stitches to make it bigger. It's taking me awhile to knit, I'm not use to smaller yarn and needles and it's my first real rib knitting.  I am knitting Trinity's sweater in two tone pink wool. It has a ribbed collar, end and sleeves and the body of it is seed stitch.

The pattern can be purchased for only $1.50 at
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/knitting/pet/lenas-miniature-dachshund-dog-sweater/10613

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS:

I tried spinning angora yarn which is hard for me. I am used to bulky yarns with long staples.  This yarn below is a blend of my fuzzy lop rescue rabbit, Chester along with alpaca and soy silk.  

I had started this cowl awhile ago with some handspun yarn I had.  The yarn had spun up a stunning blue and purple colors with dyed silk, alpaca, wool and silk noil.  But when I plied it with eggplant dyed Merino wool, it candy striped. Knowing it probably wouldn't sell, I decided to make a cowl with it to show off it's stunning color and texture.  

This was the first time I had ever knitted button holes.  They turned out very large. Luckily, I found the perfect (but expensive) coconut buttons to fill the holes. It took me another 6 weeks to take the time to sew the buttons on with the same yarn.  I finally finished it.  It seems appropriate for someone with a beautiful, long neck but it can be worn so many ways, I think anyone would like it.  It's a simple garter stitch with button holes on one edge.

 

I started this seed stitch cowl as a shawl that I was going to add a button to but decided to end the project early and make this cowl. I love how it turned out and it's so cozy.  

I decided to try a super bulky acrylic yarn I found at JoAnn's. It had a beautiful color and a shiny sheen to it and it was on sale.  I knew I had the needles and lovely coconut square buttons to go with it.  I decided to use my large crochet hook and I was able to crochet this cowl while watching a movie.  I used the pattern I use on my washcloths which made it fast and unique.  I have been wanting to make a button cowl and love how this turned out and how easy it was to make.

This was a challenging yarn. I used a ton of my best materials of alpaca, wool, angora, silk, silk noil and yak.  It was the longest yarn I had done yet for a two ply yarn.  After plying, I noticed it was really tight and not staying plied together.  I tried setting it but the yarn still was very overspun and not staying plied.  I, then, realized what I'd done. After 2 years of spinning, I finally had goofed and plied the yarns the wrong way.  Instead of changing the direction to counter-clockwise, I had plied them clockwise, the same way I had spun the first yarns!  I was so upset.  I wound the yarn into a ball and threw it in a sack to sit for months.  My friend offered a lot of suggestions on how to fix it but I just didn't have the nerve to look at the thing again.

Finally, I got the idea that I could make a hat with it.  It would be like holding to yarns together while knitting although they were pretty much holding themselves together.  So I knitted up the hat.  It turned out very textural but light.  It was the first time I had used a ribbing for the brim instead of a roll-brim.  I spent a lot of time and effort ensuring the ribbing was correct and then finished the hat with a basic garter stitch.  When nearing the top, I struggled, as I always do, finishing the tops with large spacing between the stitches as I decreased.  I slipped the 10 1/2 circulars off to try DPNs.  The only ones I had were metal 8s.  Of course the yarn was too slippery for the metal, small DPNs and it just created a mess.  I ripped out some of the stitches and the hat and yarn into my project bucket.

A few days later, I bought Tamuki 10 1/2 DPNS and patiently re-gathered the stitches and finished the top with a nice fine point at the top.  I was so happy to finally have the proper finishing tools for my hats.  

 

I started crocheting and came up with some beautiful washcloths and dishcloths made with Lions Brand Natural Organic Cotton.  They are so soft and absorbent, I'll never go back to sponges.  They are quick to knit and luxurious to use.  I have tried several different sizes from 5 1/2" to  10" square. My favorite size is about 7" for dishcloths and 8" for washcloths.  I have found the yarn quite expensive but it's worth it.

I tried to follow a couple patterns and then ended up doing my own.
I used a size J needle for this yarn although I think a little smaller would give me a tighter, thicker cloth.
I cast on whatever number of stitches I needed for what size I was making, using an even number.
Row 1: SC in each stitch.
Ch1 and turn.
Row 2: *SC,SS
Repeat from *. ( Last stitch should be SC.)
Ch1 and Turn.
Repeat Row 1 and 2 until square, ending with a SC row.
Ch 1, turn and SS across all four borders. Go around once more to complete border.
Tuck in ends.

Today, while babysitting my sick dog, I am working on a whole new crochet stitch with some cotton/nylon yarn I got on clearance at Ben Franklin Crafts.  I NEVER thought I could do it but it isn't as hard as I thought once you get used to it.  I need a larger knitting needle for the loops. It's called the Broomstick Stitch.   I am sure I am making a mess of this one but it's fun to learn a new stitch.

So many projects, so little time. :)