Crochet with George

Haven't done a photo with George for a while. So, here's my crochet-along shawl, hanging out in the afternoon sunshine!

Sunshine!

Last Thursday, I got to both leave work early *and* sit around in a doctor's waiting room for a while, which caused my mom's hat (shown last Friday) to become complete. Which meant I needed to start something new, so I whipped up my Potions homework for HPKCHC quickly. (That somewhat strange rosewood Boye crochet hook? Works well with Red Heart Super Saver yarn. Probably not what Boye was going for, but...!)

This is an original design, made by completely winging it, as usual. It's also my entry in the Slytherin Summer Jam, which is make a thing inspired by your favorite summer song. (Mine is Kenny Chesney's "Summertime".) Here it is during the early news:


... and here it is during Wheel of Fortune.



I took it to work with me, and it hung out on my workstation:


It also escaped for a while, and hung out with George for a time.


It and George are buds.

It's the Humidity. Really.

Still a little under the weather - the weather being HOT and HUMID, which are two conditions that will usually collapse me. (I was an ice skater as a kid, right through high school - because it meant spending all summer where it was NOT HOT. Oh, and because it was fun, but the NOT HOT was a major plus in my book.) Anyway, just because it's unbearably ikky weather-wise, that doesn't keep me from playing with wool. Here is a nice shot of both Knotty or Knice socks, ready to start the short-row heels, at the doctor's office yesterday:


And here's one of them last Friday, with George:


See, even ailing, I can bring you knitting content.

(*hackcoff*)

$20 a YEAR yarn budget??

Coolest idea that I don't think I could actually handle: The Used Yarn Chronicles, one crafter's journey on a $20 a year (yes, you read that right) yarn budget, found via Max's Blog.

Because it's been raining for a long time in the afternoons, I haven't had a Knitting with George up for a while, so here you go:


Clapotis with George, May 18, 2009
Progress report: Sure enough, stating that I would keep reporting on the Serenity Stroller Snuggie meant that I picked up a lovely peacock pillow kit (canvaswork) that I tracked down a few years back. (Actual tracking was required; it was out of print, but I managed to find a needlework clearinghouse that had one. It didn't have the main/background color, though - but it's a Bucilla kit, and they're a class act, and sent me some, free of charge. Yay! This is what it will look like, eventually:


I've got the left side blue border 2/3 done.
I've managed to figure out a technique for getting continental/basketweave stitch going without having to have a hand at the back of the canvas - this is making it go MUCH faster than before. Of the area that I've done over the past two years since I got the kit, I'd say easily two thirds of that was finished Sunday evening, when I was trapped in my magic chair. (I'd hurt my leg, the chair helps. A lot.)

The Ears are Saved

The Secret Hat Project, Day Three, Continued

Okay, so, Friday night, I managed to get the Hat Recipient into bed in a timely manner (around 9pm), and knit furiously upon the hat. I got almost finished, realized the decrease scheme I'd hit upon for the crown looked like crap, and frogged back to where I stopped the ribbing. Said "to heck with it", k2tog (giving me 68 stitches, which, by the way, is divisible by four), divided the stitches evenly over my four needles, and then did K2tog-k across-k2tog each needle (followed by 2 rounds of k) three times, then K2tog-k across-k2tog each needle (followed by 1 round of k) for a bit, then just K2tog-k across-k2tog each needle until I managed to get down to two stitches left, total, which then got tucked through the top of the hat to the inside, and viciously knotted off. It was then 1:30 a.m., but I remembered to get pictures.

I then left the hat, wrapped in bright orange sparkly paper with a gold bow, in the dead center of the hallway, so that Hat Recipient would be certain to spy it upon waking. He didn't even notice it was in the hall, which says something about the cleanness of the house... so there was some cleaning. This is the semiannual Vacuuming of the Air Intakes for the Furnace.

Note: he's wearing the hat

This morning, on the way to work, he was willing (sort of) to pose with George so I could show you better pictures of the completed hat:

Is it just me, or does George look startled this morning?


Hat Close-Up
So, the Secret Hat Project is done, and the Hat Recipient's ears will now be safely warm. Yay!!

One sleeve...

Well, I at least got one Ravelympics medal! Yaaaay!!

The Cat Sweater

I am a Ravthlete!

I also, while rifling my bookshelves looking for small change (don't ask), found the pieces of what will someday be a quilted Christmas chesboard (all reds, greens and golds). It's all hand-cut and hand-pieced (so far). It's 64 blocks, naturally, and I've almost finished putting all of them into sets of four blocks. Those will then be (carefully) sewn into sixteen-block board quarters, and then the whole thing goes together. Because it's small (chessboard sized, go figure), I can do fun motif quilting, rather like I did in the half of the Shoo-Fly Patriotic Quiltlet that I've finished quilting. Hand-piecing tiny blocks = ultimate portable. The entire project fits in the outer pocket of my Ravelry bag!

There is some progress, though, on the Stoplight Sweater:

See? There's one sleeve there. And, on the right, you can see the trailing yarn for sleeve #2, which will hopefully be done by the time I get home tonight so I can put in the zipper and be done with it. (Adding a hood is tempting, but will have to be done after-the-fact of the actual sweater being finished, due to Time Constraints.)

Also got the ribbing and one pattern repeat done on the second A Pair of Hearts sock, show here with George:

I think those will officially be "it" for the Ravelympics. Titania and the Forget-me-Not shawl just aren't going to medal this time around.

Just over 11 days left...

Okay, much the Squee: Kathy of Knitting Out Loud will be at Stitches East! I am SO buying my own copy of "No Idle Hands" and "Knitting Lessons: Tales from the Knitter's Path"! I mean - listening to books about knitting whilst knitting? Bliss!!

In more personal knitting news (because that's why I'm doing this), while trying to stave off Rampant Startitis for just one more day, I examined at my Master List of UFOs. Looks like while I've started 29 new things this year, there are only *ten* that I haven't finished. That's a pretty good ratio for me! For right now, the UFO count is at 62; I did have to start my A Pair of Hearts Socks. Ravelympics, you know. I just *had* to start them. Thankfully, I think I'll be done with them on schedule.

Anyway, here's what happened Tuesday-into-Wednesday on the Ravelympics front:

1. Titania. Located. Re-printed pattern. Discovered I'm evidently knitting both fronts at the same time (remember, I'm modding her into a cardigan). Okay, I can do this! Just probably not this week.
2. The Stoplight Sweater. Haven't touched it since Monday. Still needs one sleeve steek sewn back, and one sleeve steek done entirely.
3. A Pair of Hearts Socks. Whups. Forgot about these. Must figure out where I left them Monday morning when I pulled them out of my Ravelry tote to stuff The Cat Sweater inside...
4. Forget Me Not Shawl. Cast on. Like three times. Why am I having such "fun" casting on lace lately? At least I found all my cool little markers. Turns out I needed 'em: I got through the ENTIRE FIRST REPEAT (!!!) up to my first lifeline! Woohooooo! Hot Pink Fuzzyness is HERE!
5. The Cat Sweater. Oh, I'm gonna finish this sucker this week. Just see if I don't!! Here's Tuesday morning (and a bonus shot of Knitting with George):

... and here's where I am on Wednesday morning!

So, I have the potential to finish at least *one* thing this week (it's looking like The Cat Sweater or the Stoplight Sweater). Maybe two (socks?). I started washing all the bedding just after five yesterday morning so I wouldn't have to come home and do it, and that mostly worked. I'm not quite coherent enough to knit just after I wake up, but laundry? No problem!

Now if I can just figure out how to pay bills and get exercise (without hurting myself physically or financially) while I'm asleep, I'll be all set.

On a Roll!

Wednesday - and you may have sensed a trend this week. It continues. Well, you'd be right! There's more on the UFO front! But first, these public service announcements:

If you run Firefox on your computer, and your computer will handle the latest version, DOWNLOAD IT NOW. Seriously. I did yesterday, and my entire computer has been happier as a result, plus uploading all the photos I put out here takes but an instant. Seriously. Download the new version of Firefox now.

Also, here's a really cool Countdown to the Opening Ceremonies clock, set for Beijing time (so you'll know how long wherever you are how long you've got). Very helpful in motivating me to get the heck going so I have as many UFOs off the list as possible by Friday!!

Speaking of the the UFO count: I took a good look at Tailored Scallops from Lace Style. I have two fronts done, but the back doesn't match color-stripe wise, and it's driving me nuts. And besides - I was making it to wear at my sister's wedding. The wedding that happened on June 21st. Over a month ago. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiip! Now I've got four lovely balls of Feza Fanatic in chocolate and turquoise, and they'll eventually be a *modified* Tailored Scallops (knitting the whole thing as one piece). But not now.

Tailored Scallops knitting - was 30% done UNRAVELED 8-3-08

Lest you think it's all about unraveling things, let me assure you, it is not. Things Are Getting Finished.

Item one: I hz MORE totbg! Yep, I finished my second Inga's Crocheted Bag, and it came out great. I haven't lined it yet, but I'm not certain I'm going to do so - I like the airly feel of the unlined. I just have to remember it is NOT a "carries knitting" bag - I'd be dropping needles all over the place. Anyway, see the pretty:

Monday Morning	Inga's Bag with George
Tuesday Morning	Wednesday Morning, Heading Off to Work!

Inga's Haeckelbeutel IIcrochet - was 60% done

This all leaves me with ZERO current crochet projects, to go with my ZERO current sewing projects. And, in case you were keeping track (because I sure as heck am!), that's now a UFO Count of 61.

Photos, at last!

Today, it's all about photos. First, Knitting with George: the Sockitechture test socks.



Next, the COOLEST BAG EVER. I'm totally getting it on Thursday night if I get to go to knitting group.



And some of the loot from the Quilt Show last Saturday, blurry though it may be...


More later!

Tiny Circular Needles = Fun!!

Wonderful fun this weekend. My boss got married (great ceremony, fun reception!), I hit the cross-stitch sale at Scarlet Thread and the (still ongoing!) yarn sale at Uniquities, and my Dad showed up for a surprise visit!! Yay!!

Friday, I got a shot of a sock (I think it's Hilda) with George:



OKAY, ONCE AGAIN, STOP READING. REALLY.
FAIRY TALE SOCK CLUB SPOILERS MAY APPEAR PAST THIS POINT!









Okay, so I managed to finish the entire Beautiful Sock, the right sock (oh yes, my pretties, there *is* a difference!), and just have the leg of the second sock, Hilda, to do.

I was bad, and did my own short-row heel, rather than the one in the instructions, just to see if it worked. It did, perfectly! Look at that pretty little mitered bit! Yay, heel!

Then, further and further up the leg. (I went about, oh, five pattern repeats beyond the Actual Pattern, since I had a bunch of yarn left over. I would *not* recommend people do that, since, as previously stated, normal people knit much more tightly than I do, so will have used much more yarn at this point than I did.)

Then, finally, the right sock was finished! What seriously helped me fly on this sock was the purchase, at the Uniquities sale, of twelve-inch size 1 Addi Turbos! Little tiny circular needles, whee! Even though I've gotten pretty good at DPNs, the combination of "circular" and "Addi Turbos" is a LOT faster for me. The store only had one pair available; I'll be asking Jess at Stitch DC to order me three more. (Yes, I'm a needle hog.) I may actually finish the second sock today or tomorrow, depending on how busy work is (right now, it isn't!!), and then I can start all the decoration, which, being *embroidery and crochet* mostly, will just fly! (I'm probably going to cheat on the decorations by having my mother put on the socks with a bit of extra toe-padding, and just embroidering them while theyr'e on her feet, so things more-or-less strech out properly. Getting her to sit still while I do it? THAT will be the challenge!!

Yarn with George, Yarn from Socks, Yarn in Video Games

Okay, so, I am knitting, and since yesterday was beautiful and sunny, here's a picture of my Lace Scarf with George. I've been working on it long enough now that I've got the pattern down without looking, and I'm about six pattern repeats on the diamond in. May have to get another skein of KPPPM, in some colors that go with this one (since it was a single), or it'll just be a little short hair-cover thingy or neckwarmer. But man, I like the colorway, and the Koigu is really nice to work with. (Unlike the tiny ball of cotton and/or linen yarn candy I'm working up as a headband right now. It tends to split if I breathe on it funny.) Anyway, here's Knitting With George, May 1 (and yes, next time, I put the knitting on the shady side, where it will actually show up):


I went ahead and signed up for the Summer of Socks! It's low-key, and I'll have fun with the Vacation Photo Contest - since I'm traveling all over creation this summer, I may have multiple entries (I'll have to see if that's allowed). I should manage to get at least two pairs done over the summer, right? Hopefully, one of them *won't* be the Sekrit Projikt socks, because I'd really like them done SOON. I'll be taking them with me as my ride-along and ONLY project on the upcoming road-trip to see the Nepieces - so I should have lots of little sock-parts, and a better understanding of Getting Socks to Work The Way I Want. Still debating toe-up vs. toe-down. Anyway, if you wanna join the Summer of Socks 2008, just clicky!


And while we're on the subject of Things to Do With Free Time (like knitting socks), I'm a Peggle addict. I downloaded the "free download", and discovered I liked the on-line version better - but at least I got a screenshot of Cat Tut holding forth on a subject near and dear to us all - YARN! See?