Universal at VKLive

Universal Yarns had some pretty amazing stuff on the runway at VKLive. As in "I must hunt these down and knit them". More available on their tweetstream! 

I'm hoping designer names and patterns will be available soon!

More Sweaters On The Horizon

So, we got these lovely books in the store:


And they came with yarn:


Audra


Chantal
So I'll be making the Lexington Duster [Rav Link] from a bunch of colors in the Audra:


... and a White Lies Designs Shapely Tee (free pattern!) from the orange Chantal (not pictured because I already bought it):

Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 2014

Okay, the MD Sheep and Wool festival happened! As usual, I took the Nature's Yarns bus up with mom, but this year, I had one thought firmly in mind:


So, I got through the day WITHOUT incurring further debt. Which meant (for a change) that everything fit in one small bag:


The Fiber Optic Yarns gradient (the big score, as they were getting low on stock by the time I got there - and if you click through to the website, it's ALL out of stock!) can be seen here. The Ribbon Yarn is from Tess' Designer Yarns. There's an album from Maggie Sansone that I didn't already own (much to my shock). I got a festival t-shirt and pin. I got a Footlights combo pack from Blue Ridge Yarns in Dragon's Breath (which is the colorway of my Clapotis).

I got Angora from Oasis Farm Fiber Mill - incredibly soft!


I got a kit from the Tsarina of Tsocks. (I really need to finish the kit from last year....)


The Vintage Rose Knitting Botique had the *coolest* little stitch marker sets. I got "Expecto Patronem", which has things that reference Harry Potter (including a little silver snake charm, which the darned Gryffie Lion is blocking in this photo).


I got a set of 40" size 8 (US) Signature needles (oh hai, 5% off everything sale online through this Sunday). I get one set each year; so far, size 4, 6, and 8, 10 next year, then 2...). I'm using the needles currently on the Fiber Optics shawl. In addition to a lovely tightening pad (free with purchase!), this little gem was included in the packet:


And of course, I got the new Sheep Incognito calendar.




There were also the mandatory lamb kebabs, ribbon fries smothered with everything, and dipped ice cream cones. Which was followed by the mandatory nap for the length of the bus ride home!

But they were On Sale!

Along with the perforated paper from In Stitches, I also got three little canvases.

They were on sale, OK?


They go with my "Boo" and "Eeek" that I've already done. (I've lost them somewhere in my house, but they're done.)


My actual finished canvas!

I'll be using the same fibers as before, with the bonus Ooomph of using Very Velvet in black for the background. I really like the totally matte finish it gives - and it really makes the shiny threads pop! I'll be using pearl cotton instead of the white Very Velvet this time, though - the white picks up every other fiber if you breathe on it wrong!


More on these when I actually start them....

Slytherin Swap of Awesome!

This term, Slytherin (HPKCHC) did a "Bellatrix's Big Box of Awesome" swap. We each got a Secret Spoilee, and everyone got someone. I had fun putting my box together, and I'm hoping my Spoilee likes it even half as much as I liked what I got!

To wit:


Yeah, it totally rocked.

Future projects... maybe....

There's a bunch of cool stuff out there I'd like to knit or stitch:


LotR One Ring scarf


I really need to find this pattern!


MOAR OWLS!!
Because a hat, scarf and sweater aren't enough.
OMG, I totally need to make Owls boot toppers!!!


Celtic Shamrock!
And, okay, there's probably a zillion other things, but these are the ones I found recently. :)

Things I didn't NEED to buy...

So, being somewhat confused as to what day of the week went with which date in September, I went to FibreSpace on Wednesday. (I thought it was Fashion's Night Out, which was yesterday. And the 6th, not the 7th. And today is the 8th... no, the 7th. Drat, it's going to be one of those months.)

I didn't really need to get anything, but things managed to follow me home (as they usually do). I did not get a full set of knitting bags decorated with cheerful turquoise owls, a feat of restraint for which I should certainly be rewarded with a cookie, if not two. This is what I did get:


First up, size large Bryson stainless steel sock blockers. I've wanted a set of these for quite a while. I will still have to stuff the toes of whatever socks I make for my husband because they don't MAKE sock blockers big enough, but these will at least help a WHOLE lot. (And I've got about 60% of a pair of socks for him finished; it might happen this year!)

Next is a lovely shawl pin from Rajkovich Designs; this is the second one of theirs I have, but the green and silver really kinda cinched it for me. I have a lot of green shawls...

Finally, two skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas "Metalico" - shiny soft baby alpaca/silk stuff that is just WAITING to be turned into a fluffy cowl or hat. Normally, I can't really touch alpaca, but this blend didn't bother me at all. (Since I managed to self-innoculate into being able to handle most wool without a problem, it's time to start on the camelids, right?)

Looked through Ravelry, but nothing jumped out at me as Perfect for This Yarn as yet. Which means I'll probably be winging it into something at some point...

Things Upcoming (I think)

Christmas Lights Garland by Jean Herman, a free Ravelry download. I just found this, want it for my tree. May put actual LEDs inside the tips and wire them so they glow... or is that too geeky?


This is Knitblue19's photo of her garland-of-lights

Bigger on the Inside Shawl by Kate Atherly. Free pattern from the Spring + Summer 2012 issue of Knittty. This was supposed to be my Ravellenics project; I never actually started it due to the Ailment That Ate August.


This is Amy Singer's photo of this lovely shawl
Plush Pegleg Pirate - sort of a soft chibi toy version of some of the artwork from the Book of Heroes iPhone/Android game, just for fun. I found this delightful Grisig the Cat pattern (downloadable here from Knotart.wordpress.com. I like the way it’s constructed; I think it will work well as a base. (And I’m totally making something vaguely Hello Kitty-based for my niece for Christmas, too. It’s an adorable pattern!)

This is PaintedMagnolia’s photo of her lovely little kitty
Something with my red Wild Hare Fibers Galaxy yarn (OMG there's an Etsy shop! Eeeeeee!). No idea what. Something pretty and special, though; of all the yarn out there, this is my favorite. It's just so springy and sparkly and happy!


This is my copper Galaxy;
photos of the red forthcoming once I figure out what to do with it
Of course, there’s another 200 things in my Ravelry queue, and I’m sure there will be more shortly. And there are some things I actually want to start more, once I’m sure I have the skillset (I’m looking at YOU, adorable HandMade Awards Sweet Grandparents!)

Yes, I make charts.

This is my offical chart of Planning for Classes for this (and last... and next, I suppose) month. Part of the SS1stClass is making sure to take every class offered during the term at least once. Assuming I finish everything I want to THIS month, I can take any six classes next month with no worries I missed one.


So far, I've finished Gerald the Groundhog, the TARDIS dishcloth, the Tiny Redskins Sweater:


Started the Slytherin Scarf, the Hooty Hat, and the Illusion Mittens.


Not sure it's working... sigh.
I've got my One Fish, Two Fish ready to turn in next Tuesday, I'm doing OK on my OWL and my Order Mission. The Bunny Nugget Army is growing apace. I should have the finishing done on the TKGA Hat done soon, too.

I was originally going to let the big crazy take the form of the Illusion Things:


Yeah, that's for elbow-length illusion gloves done in laceweight yarn on size 0 needles. I managed to talk myself out of that, and go with worsted-weight wool on size 5s - should be finished this month. I really need to stop listening to the crazy knitting voices...!

Since it's Friday, have a bunny!!



More pics of the Mitts That Don't Quite Work

>

Planning Ahead

Time to start thinking about what to craft in February. I need three hats, and some other cute, easy stuff... this is what I pulled down from Ravelry last week:


I'm not sure if I can pull off Wintersong in just a month, given all the other things I have going (more Challenge Quidditch, regular Quidditch, six classes, BROOM shawl and OWL cloak/tree-skirt). Plus, it's a short month!

I may do a scarf or two, as well. I want a Slytherin House Scarf, because I don't actually have one (all the HP scarves I've made have been in Gryffindor colors), and it might actually get cold enough to need it this year, and I have to make my husband a Scarf of Shadows (Dr. Watson's scarf from Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows).

It'll be a short, if interesting, month!!

End of the World: Getting Ready

So, 2012, the end of the world, or something.


End of the world, illustration
BunnyBao.com has a cute little End of the World Countdown Clock App - I know this, because I have it.


Random screenshot from Monday.
It's available through the iTunes store. As is R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World As We Know It". (Hint: if you get the version off the Document album, it's only $.69!)

And yes, once December 21 rolls around, I'll be playing that song on endless repeat in the office. (Just so that everyone I work with will WISH the world was actually going to end. Because they don't believe I'm actually going to do it. And they really should know better.)

New Brooms

My lovely plan to make myself a pair of much-needed gloves (It's cold under the air vent at my desk at work. No, I can't actually move my desk) has fallen in favor of helping my mom get her January class finished. Instead of Charms, I'll be doing CoMC Option #3, a duel - two people making the same thing. We'll each be making this:


Broomstick Bookmark
by Kristina Gill
Mine will have green and silver highlights; hers will have red and gold. Just so they're clearly the same pattern - but different. I have a TON of acrylic in brown and yellow, and... yep, just remembered where the red and green were. So, hoping to knock one out tonight so I have a couple of weeks to help her with hers.

I really need to pass my OWL exam next term...

Preparation for the Potions Transfiguration OWL (a snap decision if ever there was one) has begun. The idea: a Tree Skirt based on one that Anthropologie is selling. Granny squares, and lots and lots of color. Mine's gonna be a little bit bigger, though.

As in "might double as a cloak if I do it correctly". To be fair, they actually offer two: one in lots of colors and Granny Squares, and one in a nice off-white with lots and lots of stitches (a sampler skirt, really).

I've got my design (more or less):


I've got my first swatch attempt:

6" at the bottom

6" tall

7" at the top

There will have to be another swatch attempt, because this one doesn't quite give me the angles I need.

I've got a LOT of yarn. Mostly white and off-white, but with some Dazzleaire yellow, pink, blue, peach and green put in for Teh Pretty. Or possibly to put in for all of it - I'm not quite sure how all the colors will go in just yet. Pretty much decide-as-I-go, I think!! I also got a spiffy new Addi crochet hook. (Actually, I got two... but one already broke. WTF?)




As soon as the OWL thread goes up in January, I'll be putting my proposal in. And starting, immediately. Because I really, REALLY need to pass an owl one of these years!

Future Projects, Part 2

... and a few more Future Projects.

Violently green Neighborhood Fiber Company Loft, one ball; kid/silk mohair blend by (dang, can't see the label in the picture), about 450 yards.


Destined to become a Wisp, in the case of the NFC Loft, and an Ice Queen in the case of the kid/silk mohair stuff... or possibly vice versa. I think maybe vice versa... we'll see. There are a lot of lovely photos of these projects out there, but I think my faves for Ice Queen are over on MangoFeet's blog; my fave for Wisp is Cecilia's, because I can really see what it's supposed to look like!

Royal purple Neighborhood Fiber Company Penthouse Silk.


I'm thinking the Elizabeth Shawl for this. But possibly as the first Secret of the Stole; I tried it twice before, and the yarn I chose in turn chose to NOT be that stole. A rich royal purple might be more appropriate...


orignal attempt - Claudia Handpaint Silk Lace in Pistachio

Some fluffly boucle, and lots of it.

I got this because I just loved it. It's soft, it's fluffy. Long, long ago, I made a diamond shawl out of some similar stuff in a nice coppery color. Couldn't tell you what happened to the shawl (it's probably in a box somewhere), or the pictures I had of it (can't find them on the old LJ craftblog, so they might not exist). What to do with this new stuff? NO IDEA as yet, but something fluffy, for certain!

I looked through Rav to see what sorts of things were made with Rainbow Boucle - and there are 1700+ projects in progress or done. The likely candidates are the Seraphina Shawl (free pattern over at Crochetville.Org); a take on Harlotry's Ripple Afghan (Rav link); a top-down quick dress (I'd make it a tunic, instead) like this one at ABC-knitting-patterns.com, or a star afghan (Bernat link, free, but requires login). Right now, I think the top-down dress/tunic is going to win, since it wandered into my queue.

Now, mind you, there are also about four dozen things I have to finish - I'm still trying to get The List down under 30. Next year, of course. It's not gonna happen in 2011!!!