Keeping track!

I'm going to keep track of what I finish this year with a new tag: cjproject2017

just to see how much I get done crafting while running a store.

The first start (and finish) of the year is a hat for my god-aunt Suzanne:

Gonna have to write up the pattern, it worked out well!!

Kim Dyes Yarn

Got a skein of aran and bulky in the "Birthday Sprinkles" colorway from Kim Dyes Yarn. The bulky is a Trainspotted Too Hat:

The aran will be a modified Peace Cowl. I'm trying out Chiagoo Lace needles; I really like them.

Yay, new yarn to try!

Found it!!

Found my fancy floss box today!! 

I need to actually stretch and mount the piece inserted; it's just kinda there right now. Totally going to be in my office!

So I finished a third Emergency Hat...

So I finished a third Emergency Hat... but since I did it with Aran/chunky on size 11 needles, it's really only going to be a cowl. Managed to match the color changes on the icord in the front, too!

Also? I won an epic game of yarn chicken.

Willpower fail

!!The plan: do not buy any Ancient Arts yarn (the Stacked Stitch Shawl Kit I got last week doesn't count).

That failed, and I'm making another Emergency Hat.

Oops.

Edited to add later: Oh look it's finished!!

And the seam is pretty darned invisible, too!

So now I need another project...

Emergency Hat!

Started yesterday, finished today. 2 balls Camelot (Classic Elite Yarns) in the St. Stephen colorway. Size 9 needles; this meant only 15 pattern repeats total, instead of 20. 4-stitch icord for the cord.

Top: as hat!

Bottom: as cowl!!

Mount Vernon mini-sampler done!

One down, two to go!

198 yds Times Two

So, I finished the shop model, and it looks great:

Then, I knit a modified one out of my first knittable quantity of handspun:

I have my own ball of Alumco now. Trying to decide if I want to knit a third one this week...!

Honey Melon Hat

So, I made a hat: 

I wrote a (not super-technical) pattern so I can replicate it:

Materials: One skein Zen Serenity Chunky, size 13 needles, yarn needle, pompom making device of your choice.

CO 54 in the round, k1p2 around for 24 rows

k2tog p1 k1 p2 around 1 row (48 st)

k1 p1 k1 p2 two rows

k1 p1 k2tog around 1 row (42 st)

k1 p1 two rows

k2tog k1 p1 around 1 row (36 st)

k2 p1 one row

k1 k2tog around 1 row (30 st)

k one row

k2tog around one row (15 st)

k2tog 3x, k1, ktog 4x (8 st)

Pull yarn through all st, secure.

Roll 1.5" brim 2x, sew in place with yarn loosely - make sure hat stretches to full width!

Make pompom with remaining yarn, attach snugly to hat.

(I used the wide vertical part of a wire hanger.)

Weave in all ends, block if desired.

Catching up!

Okay, here are a few of the things that happened in July: 

Crocheted starfish for our Coral Reef Beach window display

A Danger Crafts tweeter

A tiny Cowichan-style sweater from a class with Beth Brown Reisel 

Another Virus Shawl (more on that later in the week)

Tex-Mex food & Pokémon GO

And the discovery of Star Wars jewelry at Kay's. (No, I don't have any. Yet.)

I started more projects, too, of course.

More on that later, as well.

Aleda Shawl

Better pic :) 

Aleda KAL - done!

Kelbourne Woolens did a Knitalong for the "Aleda" shawl that's in one of their books. I had one ball of TurtleMade Sparkle Sock from the Shenandoah Fiber Fest last fall, and it was a win!

I cast on May 1, and zoomed along until Thursday night.

Yep. Ran out of yarn with half a row and the bind off to go. (This is definitely a case of "losing a game of yarn chicken".)

Luckily, I picked up a nearly-the-same-green sparkly lace weight at Uniquities during this April's Metro Yarn Crawl.

It worked! It's blocking now, and the pattern is fun enough that I plan to start another June 1!

Bunny Nugget Redux

Made a Football Bunny Nugget this week: 

Points for Slytherin!

New Term has Begun

A new term started today for the Harry Potter Knit & Crochet House Cup. I've already managed to turn in a class:

Magical Literature - make something with a heart or hearts: 

Started another class:

It's the Adela Knitalong run by Kelbourne Woolens, in some TurtleMade Sparkle Soxk, color 341. It's for DADA (use sparkly yarn).

I turned in my OWL proposal. It's Arithmancy, and I'm FINALLY going to make Wolly Thoughts "A New Angle". I even found all the yarn!

Plus, I got my first badge for turning in my OWL proposal, then turning in a class before my OWL was approved:

So, off to a good start! Quidditch warm ups are this week, BROOMS next week... oh boy...!

All the repairs...

Monday was the day for electrical inspection, HVAC check, and the start of the massive plumbing repairs. 

As my job was pretty much open the door, then stay out of the way, I had time to play with the pre-stretched canvas pack I got at Michaels.

The canvas isn't taut, and the one I picked needs ironing (turns out my tiny quilting iron is useful for more than O thought). A quick internet search gave me the perfect free pattern.

So, here it is, all finished:

Hitchhiker, finally!

Last week, as I was reorganizing the house, I found a skein of Island Yarns Rivulet in the "Cosmos" colorway. It was even wound and in a yarn cozy(!).

I vaguely recalled wanting it for a particular pattern. Couldn't remember what, though, so I cast on Hitchhiker instead.

I carried around. It got to go to a fancy restaurant downtown and all over.

By Monday, I was done, and I had this much yarn left: 

Yeah. Could not have called it closer. Here it is yesterday, basking in the warmth of the kitchen vent:

26 teeth in all, instead of the 42 of a true hitchhiker. I love the way it worked up, though!!

Tiny Crochet Dragon!

Tiny crochet dragon was finished today. He takes a wee bit under 2 hours!

Dragon selfie!!

Teaching a class on him in May. :)

One Sheep Coaster, finished!

Quick, fun little Scottish kit. :)

Next up:

Threads & beads sorted and ready to go!

Kerchief is done!

Headscarf kerchief-thingy is done! One skein of Cascade Tangier and size 8 needles, made it up as I went.

Baker St Scarf - blocked!

Here's the blocked Baker Street Scarf. Looks much better now, go figure! 

Now I need to get hopping on the next store model!