Tour de Fleece

I've joined the Tour de Fleece. Yeah!!!!! I'm so not a joiner. Always afraid I will disappoint someone (exactly who, I don't know...) But I decided come on..Spinning is great, and I love watching the bikers in those tight shorts. Okay call me a cougar (Meowww)

Anyway. Here is the training work I have been starting on. I've spun up some shetland wool that I got last year at the Yellow Springs Fiber Festival (at Youngs dairy). I decided to try my hand at playing with it as a single ply. I thought that crocheting with the single would work out fine, and it seemed to be great!

I made a doily...well it was going to be a hat, but did too many increases. I found out that the only problem with crocheting with energized singles (wool!!) is you cannot rip out very easily. It just kept sticking to itself, and I did not want to break the thread......So a lovely wool doily was the most obvious other option.
Sorry this picture is a little fuzzy, but you get the idea.

I also worked on a funky edging pattern using this single ply.


I call it Spider Crawl. I pinned it to my lampshade by my bed. It looks really cool. I may work out a pattern for a lampshade out of this pattern...We'll see.

Life Life Life

Well, I've taken a break from blogging and from Ravelry updating too. I've spent alot of time knitting and crocheting, but I have not put a picture up or talked or written about it anywhere.

My son is a senior this year, and we spent the beginning of this year visiting colleges and applying for scholarships, etc, etc. Wow!!! it has taken some dedication from both of us to make the decision of which school to attend!! But he has made his decision. I expect the summer will be fun filled getting everything ready for his first year.

Since it is March (National Craft Month) I should try to update as much s possible. So my goal is to update my Ravelry page and my blog with as many of my projects that I have finished and started. Some I gave away for gifts, so I may not get everything, but there are many just waiting to be seen.......

Too Many Moons Have Passed

I've taken my break from blogging. I've actually been writing in my private journal more. I've also taken a break from photographing my works. I think this is why I haven't had the desire to blog. I was trying to decide if I should just throw up my photos on Ravelry and be done with the thoughts. But I still have too much to say....at times anyway.

My desire to crochet has continued to grow. I am now about a 50/50 crocheter/knitter. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!!! I have discovered something about myself though. I prefer crocheting with thread or very very fine yarns. I guess I've always known this, but for some reason since taking up knitting I thought I should also crochet with the same yarns....this, my friends, is the mistake.

Crochet , to me has never looked very good in a garment. Sort of how Damask fabric just isn't meant for everyday wear. The stitch definition of most smooth yarns looks just too "muddled" to me when crocheted. This ornamental nature of crochet fabric does not fit my style of dressing. I've almost giving up on trying to find a crochet piece that I would like to wear.....

That being said, I am going to start on a sweater from Sensual Crochet (Amy Swenson). The Piece is called the Butterfly Cardigan

My gauge swatch is in a fingering wieght alpaca, and it turned out very nice. The pattern on the gauge swatch is more compact and less open than the one in the book. Also, the yarn color is dark Blue which further disguises the pattern. It gives just a hint of the crochet pattern of the sweater, which is fine with me. I am going to have to make alot of changes to the pattern to work it out for the almost fingering weigh yarn, but I think this pattern is something I would wear. Certainly a rare find for me.

Road not taken Scarf

I ordered some nice Plum Cotton from Webs a few weeks ago (Queensland Soft Wave)and I wanted to make a scarf. I chose the Road Not Taken from A Fine Fleece.

In progress:


Blocking:


It is really yummy. I love a Cotton scarf, because it has just the right warmth in the fall.

Happy knitting

Weekend Fun Projects

I spent this weekend getting myself in the mood for Halloween and fall by crocheting up some candy corn bags with some stash Wool of the Andes (KnitPicks). I usually make some some extra special bags for the little kids in the neighborhood, and I thought that these would be very cute to put candy in. I felted them somewhat, but I wanted them to be large enough to hold the goodies.




Scary Jack-O Lantern to hang on my door at work


Other than that I have been working on my Multi-Directional Comfort sweater. I was trying to decide whether or not to use the Cowl style neck that the pattern calls for or to go with a more simple ribbed neck. I've decided that the Cowl neckline is needed. The sweater changes direction (from vertical to horizontal garter stitch rows) right at my waist. I think without the cowl neck, the focus of the sweater will be on the line at my waist. I would like to draw the attention up to my face more. The collar should do that nicely.

I found the best little gadget to enable my reading and knitting at the same time. It is called a FlipClip. It hold the book open so you can read - hands free!!! It is fairly sturdy. I was a little skeptical that would hold the book open, but it worked great. At least on the hard back book I used it for. I have yet to try it on a paperback, but that is it's next test.

BYOB bag is done.

I've finished the BYOB bag. Yeah!!! My god it is so much bigger than I thought. I can get so much in it!! It works great for a yarn bag too.



The crochet for the knitted lace substitution I did came out okay. It is stretchy and pretty.
I have been working like crazy to finish my garter stitch sweater. I want to be able to wear it this winter. It is turning out cute and I plan to over dye the yarn in a navy blue color. The swatch I did came out a really nice colonial blue colorway.

Here are the picts of the WIP (so far):

This is it stretched out:


And this is it folded in half:

This and That....on Labor day weekend

Well Happy Labor day to everyone. Hope all had a safe weekend. So far, mine has been uneventfully safe and sound. I'm just getting ready to face the new "non-summer" season. Not really Autumn yet....you know.
I had a chance to photograph the finished Dashings mitts. I made for my DBF - Big G>


He said he didn't need them, but I figure he may this winter. If not, they'll be in his car for me.

I'm making another pair in Camouflage yarn for another friend who is big into hunting. He'll laugh, but he might actually wear them.

I started BYOB and got to the very simple lace center portion and could not keep my concentration right for more then 3 rounds. I just couldn't do it. So I ripped it back to the seed stitch and proceeded to crochet a lace pattern. Then I picked up the stitches again and continued on in seed stitch. It looks a little different, but I don't care. I worked for 4 days on the knitted lace and screwed it up royally. But it only took me 1 evening to get the crochet lace part done.

I'll post the Picts. when it's done.

Oh, and I finally broke down today and bought the book A Fine Fleece. I paid too much because I had to get it today while at the bookstore, but I don't care.

I just haven't been restraining myself very well lately.

Keep up the good knits

Finishing projects and watching the O!!

I've been watching the Olympics and knitting/crocheting up a storm. I've been working on small projects. I finished a pair of Fetchings that I had promised to knit for a friend's Mother. I completed a needle case (from Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Lacy Crochet).....Finally. Now my DPN's are tamed. And I started a pair of Dashings for my BBF and my BF's husband for when they golf in the "wintery weather" It's nice to know that others love their hobbies as much as i love mine.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Let me know what you think! I have posted details of these on my Ravelry page (Judeh22).



Also, I finished my Entrelac Socks. I Love Love Love them!!




I think these look like standing dead trees:

Jar cover from Lacy Crochet

I took a break from my knitting. Crochet has been calling me. Especially since I got the Lacy Crochet book. I just love those little thread project.

I finished the jar cover. It came out really pretty. I also did the cell phone cover, but it came out too big for my phone. Also, I used a crochet hook that was too tight, and it is hard to see the pattern. I think I will redo that one and make some modifications to better suit my needs. That is what is so great about these little projects. They go so quick!!



Now I have a pretty place to display my knitting needles and crochet hooks.

Keep up the good knits (& crochets)!!

Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts Lacy Crochet

I recieved my Lacy Crochet book this week and I wanted to share some of the beautiful pictures and projects that are in the book. This book has 26 projects all small and easy to do. Most are done in a thread crochet, but I think you could easily adapt these to fingering or lace weight yarns.

All the projects are very easy to follow and they are charted, not written out. In addition, this book includes a tutorial on how to read the charts and how to work with from the charts with very clear pictures and drawings. With this book, you can learn how to work any Japanese crochet project that is charted and not have to be concerned that you cannot read Japanese!

This is just some eye candy from the book:





My first project is going to be the lacy basket and I think the coin purse is just adorable with the little leaves on it.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July to everyone!!
I've been working along on my projects. I've also updated my Ravelry site with these pictures as well. The entrelac socks are working up great! I've completed one, and I'm almost up to the heel on number 2. I was knitting them at my daughter's softball games (about 3 a week) so they were really working up fast. Now that softball is over, I am working on them whenever I can.


I've also sewn together the first block of my mitered afghan. It like the way it looks. Sorry the picture isn't great on this one. The block is about 24" by 24," so I will need to make about 6 of these. I'm working on a better way to join the squares because I really hate sewing all the smaller blocks together.


Enjoy the weeken and Be Safe

Mitered Square Striped Afghan

I've started a new project to use up some of the inherited acrylic yarn I just couldn't get rid of. A Friend of my parents mother died and she had about 5 garbage bags of yarn that was going to be thrown out. So I took it. I went through it all and yes, it was all Acrylic. I kept some select skeins, but I found a lady who makes makes afghans for homeless shelters, so she got most if it.

I found some mice brushed acrylic ( Red Heart Symphony) at Michaels on clearance for 2.00/skein in a purple/black colorway. I've been wanting to make a purple-ish afghan for the house so I bought some up. I figured I could do something with is. So I started mixing it with different colors of the acrylic and settled on mitered squares. I don't like the look of just miters in a blanket so I am breaking them up with striped squares to make a larger block, sort of quilt-like.

Here it is in Progress:


It is going really fast because it is doubled yarn, and I'm knitting it on size 13 needles. And the brushed acrylic makes it really soft.

I'm planning on writing up this pattern and posting it on Ravelry when I am finished or nearly finished.

My Store is Up on Ravelry

I've got my store up on Ravelry. The Izzy Socks are now available via the side bar on this blog or on Ravelry for Free. Let me know what you think of them. I've had a few people that I have sent the pattern to who have sent back pictures of their versions. I love seeing all the different colorways people choose. I will add the pictures to the pattern page but I need to go back and find them in my emails.
Keep up the good knitting!!

Update on Knitting Projects and Trying to Post Izzy Sock Pattern on Ravelry

I'm trying to post the Izzy's sock pattern (.pdf file) to Ravelry. I'm just waiting for them to approve me. Hopefully this won't take too long. I have the .pdf file just waiting to be downloaded.

I've been very busy crocheting and knitting away. I will be posting all the latest and greatest pictures this weekend.
I've completed the following:
Amigurumi Mouse from Roxy Crafts



Summer bathing suit coverup (my own pattern). It's just a simple open weave pattern in an unmercentized cotton to help absorb water after I swim.


Bonsai Tunic vest (Interweave Knits)



In Progress:
Entrelac socks (Interweave Knits Spring 2007)



Crocheted Rug Knit Simple


I will try to update my Ravelry soon.

I'd rather be Knitting!!

Crochet and Knit Giveaway Winner Announcement

I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my blog for the Crochet and Knit Giveaway. I know that was the most comments I've ever gotten! The Winner was:

Katie O

Let's give her a congrats on her blog! Everyone likes comments!!

Instant Gratification...It's not all that it's cracked up to be

The Yarn Harlot's new book (Things I've Learned from Knitting Whether I wanted to or Not)sounds great. I do love her writings. She reminds me of Erma Bombeck.......For those too young to remember her, she writes about life with in a typical American Family. Hilarious Stuff!!!

Anyway....I was listening to Stash and Burn Podcast Episode 53: Wooly Spring. And Nicole and Jenny were talking about all the comments on their site about what others have learned from knitting. It really made me think about what knitting has taught me.

I'm an impatient sort of person. I like things to get done quickly. I love doing big projects but I think I should be able to get them done in a week or so. I once thought I could crochet an entire Queen size bedspread in size 10 crochet cotton in a few weeks. Ha!!!!! This is my neurosis. I constantly have to work to keep this in check, and I am not always very good at it.

So, when it came to making socks, a tiny project in my mind, I felt I should be able to complete a drawer full in a couple weeks. I was a bit frustrated when it took me 3 days to make it to the heel of my first sock. Nevermind that this was my first sock, and I was knitting with Fingering weight yarn on size 1 needles. Hey, I was only doing the sock in Stockinette (2 socks in 2 days, right? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA....) Well, as you can imagine, the senario in my mind did not actually occur as I had envisioned it. But, I was learning that if i just keep going, 1 stitch at a time, keep going, keep going. I will finish a sock and then the draw full of socks.

I think in the world today, so many people do not ever "DO" anything because they don't have to. Everything is so readily done for them, Everything is already made and can be purchased. Viola....Instant Gratification! Well, I'm learning that Instant Gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be. I think I'll just keep knitting.

Crochet and Knit Giveaway

I love the idea that Brianna and Marly had about a centralized blog to post giveaways. I'm joining in.
Giveaway Item(s):




This is some of my early handspun yarn (Corridale, of course). It is a heavy worsted weight (to slightly bulky). It is a 2 ply yarn that is spun fairly tightly. I did it on a hand spindle, not a wheel. There is about 150 yards total - 75 to 100 yds in each (1 skein, 1 ball). In addition, I am included some left over Classic Elite Miracle yarn (did I mention this yarn is soft as butter.) There is only about 25 yds of the Miracle, but I thought it would be a nice edging for something knit with his handspun.


How the winner will be chosen: www.random.org/integers/

Giveaway Begins: May 9, 2008 Time: As soon as I get this post up.

Giveaway Ends: May 25,2008 8:00 PM

Winner will be notified by: May 27, 2008 - via e-mail & post on my blog. I will also attempt to comment on your blog

Rules: No duplicate entries/comments. No spamming. Giveaway is open to everyone. Winner MUST respond within five days, otherwise they forfeit their winnings, and a new winner will be announced. This giveaway is restricted to US participants only. I'm just not sure how the shipping would work out if I had to send it overseas.

How to Enter: Leave me a comment about your spinning experiences. Do you use a drop spindle or wheel. What got you into it? Do you like it better than knitting? How do you fit it into your knitting time.

I'm asking these questions because I spun this yarn on a drop spindle, and plyed it on my drop spindle. I liked doing very much but I haven't really gone back to it. I'm not sure why. I wouldn't say it was hard or even awkward. It seemed to come very naturally to me. So I don't think that's it. I'm just curious if others have had this experience. I think I just like knitting so much that I'm just not ready to put it down for something else yet.

Also, I completed a hat in this yarn and I think it knits up well. It always helps me to see something knit with the yarn I am looking at. (Sorry, Hat not included in the Giveaway)


I did not use the Classic Elite in this hat. I used some other handspun in cream, but I did not have any left to include in this giveaway.

Happy Knitting

Happy Holidays

I wanted to be sure I wished everyone who reads my blog a Happy Holidays. I hope everyone has a wonderful time with the ones they love.

I've been spending time with my extended Family and many friends. I have been fortunate this year to meet new people via this Blog, Ravelry, and Knitting KAL's that I am very grateful for. I appreciate all the help, words of encouragement and support that everyone has shown me.

Have a save and Joyous Holiday season!!!
Jude

The Holiday Rush is On

Wow, it has been a long time since I posted. I am amazed at how quickly time is flying as we approach the Holidays. I have been very productive on my knitting until about a week ago. I finished the Candy Corn sweater. I've posted the pictures on Ravelry, But here is the one of me wearing it. It fits very nice.

I also finished 2 pair of fetching fingerless mitts for Christmas presents for some friends.


And 1 of the dresser scarves for my bedroom side tables. I found some variegated muted blues in Sugar-N-Cream cotton. It worked up very nice in the feather-n-fan Lace pattern.

Fall update

I took a slight break this weekend from sweater knitting because I really wanted to try knitting with my first handspun yarn. I made this hat. It is the Vita Hat from Hip knit Hats. I added the fair isle for just a little pizazz. I loved how the handspun knitted up. I actually knitted this about 3 times because I kept making it too big. But I enjoyed knitting with my yarn so much I didn't mind tearing back to make it smaller.





I worked on my Candy Corn last week. I'm still about 1/2 a sleeve to go.


I've tried it on a couple of time. I think it looks better on than it does lying flat.