OY!

I've been a terrible blogger lately. I'm sorry. Between starting 2 new projects, travelling to California, Hosting our annual Summer Party, and being downright tired, I've been a slacker on teh internetz. I need to be better. The picture taking has gone down as well :( But now that the weather is getting cooler (thank heavens!) and things tend to sloow down for me after summer I'm hoping to be back to normal.

I have been busy knitting though!

Sneak Peak of what's on my needles:

Back of my checked hoodie finished, currently working on the front.

Got a magic loop and am attempting socks! again! Going much better than before and I'll have a brand spankin new pair of Twilight socks soon! Yarn, Book, and Magic Loop was birthday gift from my Dad and Family :) Yarn is Knitpicks Imagination in Mermaid Lagoon.

Bella Mittens! Had to have some, just like Bella! Not The Original but close enough!

Mine

Movie

And what is OFF the needles AND blocked!

Clapotis!

yes, I've joined the masses and completed a viral knit :)

I've got quite a bit still planned for the next couple months and doing a choice few christmas gifts! Definitely need to get organized and start rolling on those!

Frogger

Well, I frogged my first project yesterday. It was bittersweet.

Remember my Happy Socks?

Well, I wasn't so happy with the first one since it was just a wee bit too small. That and I never got past the ribbing on the second one. So sadly, my first Happy Sock took a dive in Frog Pond yesterday.

I'll have to find another pattern that isn't plain old stocking stitch to hold my attention. I'll also hopefully be trying Magic Loop and 2 at a Time so as to avoid the dreaded SSS (Second Sock Syndrome)

But my birthday is this week and I've requested a few sock knitting helper things- yarn, needle, book- from my dad (courtesy of knitpicks!) so the yarn may start turning back into socks some time next week!

Check In for Fun Hoodie

So it was a rough last few weeks but I was able to get into Lambikins last Sunday (7/5) for some quality knit time with the ladies. I went with intentions to work on the Clapotis and Swallowtail, and I ended up leaving with a new project, new book, and the largest 1 times yarn purchase I have ever made. Everyone was working on this hoodie and I wanted a piece of it. I've watched countless projects done in classes and knit-alongs and I'd never jumped in. Until now. After seeing the Einstein coats, I wanted a squishy, lucious sweater/coat for myself. Enter Rowan Cocoon "aka Racoon" after a couple squeezes I couldn't let go. I went with an oatmeal and a red wine color. Knitting this up it is delightful. A little bit splitty and hairy because of the mohair but the resulting piece is unbelievably soft and warm. I've never felt anything like it. Christina swears that I will finish the object. I'm part of the Knit-A-Long on Sundays now so I have plenty of support and motivation. I can't wait to be able to wear this! (She also assures me it. will. fit!)

Oh and it's chunky yarn and Size 11 needles so it's moving along quite nicely!

This is a better representation of the color

v

I didn't tell the hubster how much I spent till later... much later.

Pattern: check-in-for-fun-hoodie-pullover from Big Needle Knitting
Yarn: Rowan Cocoon

Needles: US 11 Circulars, Metal

My Ravelry Project Page!

UFO's

Okay so let's take a minute and assess where I am with certain projects and what I have going on. I'm already contemplating frogging my first Happy Sock and trying a different pattern since it came out a teensy bit small.

On the needles:

Swallowtail Shawl Slowly but surely. Charts make me go blind
Check In Hoodie (New project I started... more on this later)
Fetching Seriously... I need to finish this. Only half a mitt to go!
Clapotis 2 more repeats and then decrease and finish off. Finish soon I hope!

Okay so that's not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Coming up... my first large yarn purchase. Help!

Whew!

Where does the time go?

A lot has been going on the last couple weeks...

I put down my knitting for 2 solid weeks and it was torture.

It wasn't until last week that I was lucky enough to go to Lambikins on Sunday and able to take the time and put needles in my hands again.

I've got a few projects going on now, along with a new one (of course) so I'm hoping I can organize myself here shortly and get back to regular posting here on Crafty Buckeye.

For now, I'll leave you with my assistant.

She'll keep an eye on things till I get back.

Swallowtail Shawl

So I have been wanting to do another lace project since I cast off and blocked my Japanese Feather Wrap. I had my eye on the gorgeous FO's of the Swallowtail Shawl that I'd seen all over Ravelry. My family has been going through some rough times since last week with my Papa who is in a nursing home. It seems that it is going to be a roller coaster ride and this project is going to be therapeutic for me, as well as (hopefully) comforting and therapeutic to it's recipient- my Mama. I chose a blue shade that reminds me of Papa's eyes, and his flannel shirts that he wore ALL THE TIME. It's light and delicate but a striking pattern that is absolutely lovely. I was able to cast on Monday night and made my way through the set up and starting the budding lace. It's my first time with charts so that was proving to be a challenge but now that I'm getting into it, it's getting easier to remember what symbols mean what.

it's already taking shape!

She has no idea that I'm making this for her so let's keep it a secret- kay?

Also, Saturday 6/6/2009, my Mama and Papa celebrated their 57th! Wedding Anniversary. They are truly amazing and wonderful people and I am so thankful that I can witness such a wonderful testament to Marriage.

(Photo from 4/6/09- Papa's 86th Birthday, note the flannel shirt :) )

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn, Baby Alpaca Lace, 1071

Needle: Crystal Palace US 4 26'' Circular
My Ravelry Project Page!

Dishcloth Dozen

Here is my May swap stuff.




It's the spiral scrubbie I posted about before. As well as another dishcloth I made from the Lily book I picked up a while back. Good Stuff.

BAM- May

Well I survived, but barely. This was a really confusing pattern in the way it was written. Neither myself, nor Vickie could get it completed that night. And we usually have no problems! After all is said and done, it's a pretty square. But I don't know that I'd do the pattern again, if I did I would need to rewrite it in a traditional form so that it was easier for me to read.

Pattern: Hint of Spring by Sally Ives

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver- Gold, Red, Teal

Hook: J

My Ravelry Project Page!

BAM- February... Again

So I didn't like the original February square because it used 2 weights of yarn, wasn't square, and just looked a mess. So I reworked it.

But I may rework it again because the other squares I'm making have a gold yarn in them vs. the yellow... but if I redid this one then I would have to redo the March one since it's all in the yellow. Hmmmm. Not sure.


Pattern: Two-Tone Square by Dayna Audirsch
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Hook: J
My Ravelry Project Page!

Scrubbie, Tribble, Tawashi

So everyone raves about these adorable little dishcloth scrubbies! (aka Tawashi, aka Tribble) Well, I decided to give one a whirl on Sunday night and it was delightfully easy and quick. Other than trying to figure out how in the world to get it from a flat parallellogram to a scrubbie was beyond me. After looking online and finding the knit version I decided to document my crochet version as a good reference point.

Step 1- complete your parallelogram ending with an odd row. (Pattern called for 21 I think I could only get 19 rows since I ran out of yarn)

Step 2- bring Side 1 and Side 3 together and slip stitch using live yarn

Step 3- Use your long tail end to weave in and out of the edge of side 2 (Repeat for Side 4)

Step 4- Pull the ends tight to close the holes

You can weave the ends back through the other side and make a loop for hanging or just weave the ends in and Voila! a Scrubbie!

Pattern: Spiral Scrubbie

Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream, Potpourri

Hook: H Hook

My Ravelry Project Page!

Test Pattern- Athena Headband

So among the other groups on Ravelry I am a member of the Free-Pattern Testers group. You may remember the Door Knob Cozy that I did a while back.

Well I decided to give it a whirl again, this time choosing a great, easy knit pattern from Cassie Miller. It was my first time using ICord (sooo easy!) and I whipped this up last week using some of the Stretch Socks yarn I had on hand. And a pink hairband. Duh, have to coordinate!

Testing is complete and Cassie has it up for sale in her Ravelry store!

Pattern: Athena Headband by Cassie Miller

Yarn: Patons Stretch Socks in Sugar

Needle: US2 DPNs

My Ravelry Project Page!

Swaps!

Of course I have to share the awesome Project Bag Swap Package I received from Jen!

She says she loves the bag and case I made her but I'd say I was the one that got spoiled!

This terrific sewn AND knit project bag

Handmade Stitch markers from Recycled Vintage Jewelry

Lovely pink dishcloth

The whole shebang! Yep, I'm spoiled and I love it!

Thanks again Jen!!!

Swaps!

So one of the most awesome parts of being in the Ravelry Community is the swaps! You can find them for any and everything and more!



I was a part of the Project Bag and Dishcloth Swap and it has just finished. I wanted to share the project bag and bonus needle case I put together for my swap partner GuinnessGoddess.



It was the first bag I made and I'm super proud and was delighted to send it to Jen.

Basic tote


of course you have to have pockets! Where would your notions go? and cell phone!


and since I had some leftover fabric I whipped up this needle case as well.


Pretty awesome swap set if you ask me! I almost kept them for myself... but I didn't want to be on the naughty list as a bad swapper so off to their new home they went!

There will be more of these in my future though... definitely!

Dishcloth Dozen

So I completely forgot to post March and April!

March


April:


Both were just basic SC dishcloths using Dishcloth Cotton yarn. Simple but effective. :)

The Clap... I've caught it

So along with the other 11,367 people on Ravelry that are making/have made this lovely French woman inspired scarf, I had to hop on the Clapotis train. (that's clap-o-tea) I'm doing a smaller version using 4 balls of Crystal Palace Merino 5. It's a lovely iris colorway with bits of purple and green. I fell in love as soon as I saw it and knew it would be perfect for this. And since I'd wrapped up 2 projects last week (Japanese Feather and BSJ #2) Of course I had to cast on something else instead of knitting on the other WIPs I have sitting in the house.

I've started with the set-up rows and a total of 4.5 increase sections instead of the recommended 6.5 I also think I'll only be doing 10 repeats of the straight rows instead of the 13. This pattern is left up to interpretation on how large or small it wants to be that I am accomodating to the yarn and amount that I have. Basically as long as you stick to the rule of fifths you will be fine. (calculate your yarn yardage or weight- divide by 5 and allocate your yarn accordingly: that's 1/5 for the start/increase section, 1/5 for the decrease/end section, and 3/5 for the straight rows)

As of today I had the set up/ increase section completed and 3 repeats of the straight rows done. You drop stitches on purpose! ON PURPOSE! To create these pretty gaps in the fabric. I'm loving the color variations so far and the pattern couldn't be easier to memorize.

Photo taken at 3.5 increases and no dropped stitches yet. Color is more purple than the photo allows.

Pattern: Clapotis, Knitty Fall 2004

Yarn: Crystal Palace Merino 5

Needle: US 8 Circular

My Ravelry Project Page!

Gifted- Baby Surprise Jacket

I finally got around to seaming the BSJ, weaving in ends, and sewing on buttons. I couldn't find any cupcake buttons that I really loved so I went for some tropical fish. Luckily, mom and dad live in Cali so I deemed it appropriate!


Baby Quinn could be arriving as early as this weekend so I'm hoping the package found it's way safe and sound and made it's arrival before She did!


Hopefully come fall we can get some pictures of Quinn all bundled up! Since she isn't born yet, I'm hoping it will get LOTS of use since it can grow WITH her!

My Ravelry Project Page!

FO- Japanese Feather Wrap

I did it! I finished my lace shawl and in plenty of time for the wedding! I finished the actual knitting and weaving ends on Tuesday 5/12 but the blocking was done on Thursday 5/14 so that it could dry in time before we left on Friday.

Truly an amazing work of art and I would recommend it for anyone!

This shawl was a collaborative effort in the fact that the yarn was gifted from Agnes, the Eucalan was gifted from Tonia, and the pattern was a stroke of genius from Anne. I couldn't have done it without any of them!

Without further ado:

Before Blocking

Blocking

Finished!

Pattern: Japanese Feather Wrap- Knitspot

Yarn: Fleece Artist Nyoni, Blue Lagoon

Needles: US 8 Crystal Palace circulars

My Ravelry Project Page!

BAM- April

I'm still keeping up with the BAM challenge. I barely made it last month but I made it! April 29th. and it was actually the easiest pattern to date oddly enough. It's a gorgeous square and I'm tempted to do it many more times in a scrapghan when I find time... but I doubt that will happen!

Pattern: Waldo's Puzzle

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Hook: J

My Ravelry Project Page!

Moving Right Along

So I have 9 days until the wedding. Oh, I forgot to mention- I was asked to be the guestbook attendant for the couple :) So I'll be super excited to show off my fabulous handiwork. Well, if I can get it finished that is!

As of today I've got 4 more pattern repeats to complete. I am hoping to finish Monday at knit night so that I have plenty of time to block it and keep working on my other projects. Of course I'm a procrastinator so I wouldn't feel right if I didn't leave myself just minimal time to complete. My friend is due in less than a month- sometime this month according to her dr. so I've got to finish (and really thats all that needs to be done is the "finishing") so that I can share the goods here with you!

Back to the wrap:

It's looking gorgeous and I'm still not bored with the pattern. Anne Hanson is an amazing designer. Stop by and tell her so!

Here she is as of Tuesday night... slightly less than halfway done.




Isn't that pattern beautiful? I can't wait to see it blocked!

Fetching

Of course I had to start another project. I've been working slowly but surely on my Japanese Feathers wrap but as soon as I cast off the Baby gift for my friend (shhh it's still a surprise!) on Sunday night and I had to put something else on the needles. Enter Fetching...

I bought my first skein of Malabrigo Worsted last night (in Holly Hock) as my reward for working 10 rows on my wrap. I can't believe I lasted this long and oh my it is glorious. It's a beautiful purpley pink color. Got about 24 rounds done last night and it's already a fairly good size. This will be a quick and easy project and I'm all about the instant gratification! What a change from the fingering weight for lace and socks!



Pattern: Fetching
Yarn: Malabrigo in Holly Hock
Needles: Metal US 6 DPN
My Ravelry Project Page!

Gift Tags

So of course this blog can't be all about me right? Well, yeah it can but I'll not be greedy.

Derya from the UK (Laylock on Ravelry) created and shared these wonderful gift tags. I myself have already saved the pdf and can't wait to use them on my first gifts! (First of which I would love to share but it's a secret and the mum may be lurking... so you will have to wait)

Anyways, these adorable tags are adorned with 3 different designs and contain garment care symbols on the back that you can customize with the type of care your item requires!

Please go check her site out, print some tags and spread the hand-made love!

Replica

I was given an absolutely adorable crochet hat that belongs to Michael and asked to replicate for the other 2 boys in the family. Lucky for me it was a fairly basic double crochet hat with a bill. I'd say I lucked out when I found the. exact. yarn. at Walmart while doing some grocery shopping. Working up the first hat took a little bit of time to get the gauge right and number of stitches but the other 2 were started and completed while riding up to Columbus for Easter. Yep, that's right 2 hats in 1.5 hours. And that includes the frogging of an almost complete hat because I decided it was just a wee bit too small.

I give you the original:

And the first replica. Your eyes do not deceive you, they are 2 completely separate hats. Pretty darn close if I do say so myself!

And here is Cade modeling his new hat.

Fits like a glove. Needed a little more room for all that hair!

Yarn: Red Heart Fleck- Aran

Hooks- J and K

Pattern: Improvised

My Ravelry Project Page!