I have to beg all of you to please go vote for my daughter!! She’s up for getting on a cover of Parents Magazine! Vote HERE for this photo.
My First Mother’s Day!
I am so thrilled to be celebrating today! Not for the recognition of taking care of my daughter. Not for the gifts. But because celebrating today means I am a Mother, and I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for dear Annabelle. So today I want to celebrate her, and how much she means to me. I love watching her grow up, and taking care of her day by day, even when the days are rough. I wouldn’t give her up for the world.
Great Choice Readers
I have alot more to share this week than last weeks WIP Wednesday. I’ve done a bit of casting on. One of those projects was my Reader’s Choice Project. The final yarn pick is Cakewalk yarns in the Jam colorway with 39% of the vote, and the pattern picked is The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief with a whopping 58% of the vote. I must say I was overwhelmed with the amount of votes, especially how soon I got them. I kept the vote open for 1 week, but after the first day I was pretty sure what I’d be making. So I ordered beads (from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads)! I figured if I didn’t end up making The Age of Brass and Steam with the cakewalk yarn, I would just use the yarn for a different beaded shawl. I was right though! The results of the vote didn’t really change much throughout the week. I’ve cast-on and I’m very happy with the progress so far! I really like the yarn too, and I’m using the Superfloss method to add the beads. So a big thank you to everyone who voted because I think I’ll have a great project to show!
I’ve also cast-on for the Boneyard Shawl. I’m using Lang Yarns Tosca Light in a pink colorway. It has a very subtly gradient, and it’s almost like a heathered pink. I really love it. And I think the recipient will too, since it is a graduation gift. I cast back on for the Little Owls Jumper for the babe, and made some progress. I’ve knit quite a few inches, but it’s pretty boring stockinette stitch right now. I’ve made absolutely zero progress on the Lavendel Socks. I think this is because I’m “saving” them for my trip, since I really won’t have room in the diaper bag for much more than a small project bag.
Yarn & Wood
It’s finished object Friday! And I have two things to share with you! I’m very excited about this one. Mainly because I’ve wanted to knit the Hitchhiker for so long, and it’s finally done! I also have something to share, that I wasn’t expecting to be done.
First, the Hitchhiker pattern. I knit this up with some German sock yarn I had dyed. I didn’t realize till I finished that I didn’t have enough yarn. I think because the yarn is part cotton though, it made it very stretchy, so I’m kind of glad that I only was able to knit 35 out of the 42 teeth. As far as I’m concerned, it’s big enough! And I absolutely love my Hitchhiker Pat!
I also have had the supplies to make a “name plate” or sorts for Miss A’s bedroom wall. I started painting the letters this week. I didn’t expect to be done so soon, but I finished this morning! Mostly because my daughter decided to sleep for 10 hours last night, so I was up before her. So the letters are done, then I will be posting again when they are actually up on the wall.
Last Chance!
It’s been a while since I’ve had a normal blog post. And I feel like it’s been forever since I did a WIP Wednesday post. But it’s only been two weeks. Not really that long! I want to thank the 3 people who signed up for my Pay It Forward Handmade! I’m very excited, and think I’ve figured out the right gifts for everyone. I also want to thank everyone for visiting during Knit Crochet Blog Week. I got 35 comments and over 200 hits during the week. I also want to thank Eskimimi for hosting because although I had fun writing my posts I also very much enjoyed reading others, and found a few new blogs to follow.
Go check out the Photo Challenge finalists over at Eskimimi Makes and vote. I have to say that the photographers are very talented and all the finalists were amazing. Of course everyone did a great job, even people who weren’t nominated.
Speaking of Knit Crochet Blog Week, I’m reminding everyone that there are still two days till my voting closes for my “Reader’s Choice Project“. Go vote for which yarn and pattern I should work on next!
That was a little summary of recent events. Now onto WIP Wednesday; there isn’t very much on the needles at this moment. Nothing to show for. I cast-on Little Owls, ripped it out because it was too big, and recast-on. I’ve also still got Lavendel on the needles, but no progress is made. It looks just like last time. And Hitchhiker Pat is off the needles, so you’ll see that on Friday! Of course this means there might be a bit of startitis before next week’s post!
3KCBWDAY6 – Improving Your Skillset
Today’s Topic – Improving Your Skillset
How far down the road to learning your craft do you believe yourself to be? Are you comfortable with what you know or are you always striving to learn new skills and add to your knowledge base? Take a look at a few knitting or crochet books and have a look at some of the skills mentioned in the patterns. Can you start your amigurumi pieces with a magic circle, have you ever tried double knitting, how’s your intarsia? If you are feeling brave, make a list of some of the skills which you have not yet tried but would like to have a go at, and perhaps even set yourself a deadline of when you’d like to have tried them by.
This topics pretty easy for me. Now I could tell you about all the knitting skills I’ve yet to try and how much I want to try them. Or all the skills I have yet to really master. But that’s not what I want to talk about. I’ll tell you what knitting hurdle I needle to conquer. In fact, I could really yell it from the rooftops because I want it so bad. “I WANT TO KNIT AN ADULT SIZED SWEATER, AND ACTUALLY FINISH IT!”
Now, I have all the skills to make a sweater. I might not be completely proficient in doing so, but I could get through the pattern without coming across something I’ve never done. I’ve made numerous baby sized sweaters. So what’s stopping me? Good Question! I’ve cast on for two sweaters in my knitting career. Amused was frogged because I did something wrong, and I just never cast it back on. The Lettuce Pullover is still in hibernation, and originally went into hibernation because I got pregnant and figured that I couldn’t try it on while knitting it. So it would’ve been a waste when it didn’t fit right.
Last year I bought enough yarn to make a sweater for my husband. Still hasn’t happened. I will say this, and really I’m challenging myself here; I will finish a sweater by the end of 2012. So (hopefully) I will post about one of these four FOs; Lettuce Pullover, Owls, Hooded Pullover, or Ambitious. If you are enjoying Knit Crochet Blog Week and would like to see more posts like today’s click here.
3KCBWDAY5 – Something A Bit Different
Today’s Topic – Something A Bit Different
Something A Bit Different
It’s back, and this time it has the most amazing of prizes (look for the prize for ‘most creative post’). This was a massive success last year, and for many it was the highlight of the Blog Week, so this year you are challenged, again, to find a new way of blogging.
This is an experimental blogging day to try and push your creativity in blogging to the same level that you perhaps push your creativity in the items you create.There are no rules of a topic to blog about but this post should look at a different way to present content on your blog.
Without further ado, may I present Reader’s Choice! That’s right folks, you, my readers will pick my next project! And I promise to cast it on right away and finish it in a timely manner. So stay tuned to my blog. This is definitely very different from anything I’ve ever done and if I like it I may even do it again! I’m not just going to give you yarn/project combos, because then you wouldn’t really be deciding anything besides what I cast-on next. Nope. I’m giving you 4 yarn options and 5 pattern options. So you can do 1 of a few things here: you can pick your favorite yarn, and favorite pattern without thinking about how they combine. You can pick your favorite yarn and decide which pattern you think fits it best. You can pick your favorite pattern first and decide which yarn fits it best. Or you can just look at the options and pick the best overall combination.
Knit Picks Bare Stroll – Hand Dyed by me with PAAS Easter egg colors
Shades of Light – Paris color 39d
Quilted Lattice Mitts by Jennifer Elaine
Pussy Willow Stockings by Cat Bordhi
Aquaphobia Socks by Crystal Flanagan
Age of Brass And Steam Kerchief by Orange Flower
All pattern photos were taken from the Pattern’s page on Ravelry so photo credit goes to them. I’ve set the polls to close after one week and will close May 4th. I absolutely cannot wait to see the results so I can cast-on!!! If you want to check out more posts like this click here. And if you think my post is very original and exciting please click here to nominate me!
3KCBWDAY4 – A Winter Knitter?
Today’s Topic - A Knitter or Crocheter For All Seasons?
As spring is in the air in the northern hemisphere and those in the southern hemisphere start setting their sights for the arrival of winter, a lot of crocheters and knitters find that their crafting changes along with their wardrobe. Have a look through your finished projects and explain the seasonality of your craft to your readers. Do you make warm woollens the whole year through in preparation for the colder months, or do you live somewhere that never feels the chill and so invest your time in beautiful homewares and delicate lace items. How does your local seasonal weather affect your craft?
I have always thought I’m a Winter Knitter. I make so many projects that are winter accessories, mostly hats. So I looked back at my projects and thought about when they were made. Then I looked at what’s on the needles now. I have a pair of socks, a shawlette, a golf club cover and a summer jumper for the babe. And all I can keep thinking about is my lace sweater in hibernation I need to get back to. So I’m thinking that means I’m a seasonal knitter. Summer cotton, lace and socks on the needles. Sounds like summer knitting to me, doesn’t it?
I always thought that my knitting interests led to warm cuddly duds, and they do. But that’s not all that fits into my favorites. I have tons of socks, lace shawls and baby items. I can’t wait to knit them all up! These are just a few of the patterns I’m hoping to make this summer:
To read all about the seasonality of other people’s crafting from those taking part in Knitting and crochet blog week, simply perform a Google search for the tag 3KCBWDAY4, or click here. And make sure to check in tomorrow with me! I have a very exciting Day 5 – Something Different planned for you!!!
3KCBWDAY3 – My Knitting Hero(s)
Day 3 – Your Knitting Or Crochet Hero
Blog about someone in the fibre crafts who truly inspires you. There are not too many guidelines for this, it’s really about introducing your readers to someone who they might not know who is an inspiration to you. It might be a family member or friend, a specific designer or writer, indie dyer or another blogger. If you are writing about a knitting designer and you have knitted some of their designs, don’t forget to show them off. Remember to get permission from the owner if you wish to use another person’s pictures.
So today’s topic really got me thinking. In fact I really wasn’t sure who I would write about and even contemplated using today as my Wild Card day. I’ve thought about all the people who have influenced my development of knitting skills. There are alot of people who have greatly influenced my knitting, but what I tried to think of was if I would be greatly lacking if one of them wasn’t there to guide me. Truthfully though, as grateful as I am to everyone of them, I love the craft enough I would have found the help and inspiration elsewhere.
So I thought about what from my knitting life could be taken away and would have really effected my projects, my stash, and mostly my skill. And of course my brain instantly thought Ravelry! Ravelry has always been around since I was reintroduced to the craft of knitting, so I seem to have taken it for granted. I am on Ravelry every single day, looking at patterns, adding to my queue, keeping track of my stash, keeping track of my projects, connection with other knitters on the forums, discovering new yarns, podcasts and friends. I am the biggest advocate of Ravelry in fact and tell every knitter I know to get on Ravelry. It’s the best resource for knitters!
So where would I be without Ravelry? Well, I’m sure I would still be knitting but I’m not quite sure I would have anywhere near the same skill I have now. I know, I know, alot of women learned to knit and built their knitting skill without use of Ravelry, the internet and even books. But I’m just not built that way. I grew up using computers and my skills have developed as they did, so having things online just feeds my creativity.
Ravelry is a savior to my craft, which means my heros are the creators of Ravelry. Two people who I had never even thought about till this post (and I’m willing to bet many of my readers haven’t either). Their names are Jessica and Casey and I owe alot to them. So I’m taking this as an opportunity to say “Thank you both Jessica & Casey for creating the best knitting resource out there! I wouldn’t be the knitter I am today if it wasn’t for you both!”
3KCBWDAY2 – Photography Challenge Day
Today’s Topic - Photography Challenge Day
Today challenges you to be creative with your photography, and get yourself in with the chance to win the photography prize. Taking interesting photographs in this instance isn’t about flashy cameras or a great deal of technical know-how, it’s about setting up a story or scene in a photograph and capturing something imaginative. Your photograph(s) should feature something related to your craft, so that might be either a knitted or crocheted item, yarn, or one of your craft tools. One example of setting a scene would be to photograph a girl in a knitted red cape walking through the woodlands with a basket of goodies, as in the Red Riding Hood tale, or you might photograph a knitted gnome hiding among the flowers in your garden. Photo editing is permitted for competition photos.
This is my attempt at creative photography.
World’s youngest knitter!!! I swear she is knitting all by herself, she just needed a break!
To see many other bloggers’ pictures for the Photography Challenge, from those taking part in Knitting and crochet blog week, simply perform a Google search for the tag 3KCBWDAY2, or click here.
Want to nominate someone? Do that here.
