FO Friday 3/6/15

After 3 storms in the past week, not only have I done a lot of snow shoveling, but I have also been busting out the FO's and working on my sock yarn blanket.  Last month, in the middle of my February socks, I decided that sock knitting wasn't making me happy for the time being.  I am participating in 2 different year long swaps and the last thing I need is another major deadline project.  I have knit a pair (and sometimes 2 pairs) a month for the past 3 years, so my previous stated goal of knitting at least 12 more pairs of socks this year is over.  This year, I am knitting what makes me happy.  No pressure knitting (other than the already signed up for swaps).

So, with no socks on the needles I have had plenty of time to work on my blanket.  In the past week I have knit 25 squares and will be working on it most of this next week, too.

Susan Claudino released her Bonbon bunny pattern on March 1st.  I had the honor of test knitting for her,  The first sample I made was using some mystery (I think it's Opal) sock yarn that has been hiding in my stash for years.  It's speckled and super teeny and adorable. 

The second one I made was out of worsted weight.  I needed a gift for a co-workers soon to be born baby girl.  She saw me knitting the tiny bunny and asked me to knit her a bunny for Rowan.  We were throwing her a surprise shower the next week, so I had the perfect opportunity to knit it for her.  I used Gnome Acres House Gnome in Flamingo Fling.  

Bonbon Bunny in Opal (?) fingering weight

Bonbon Bunny in Gnome Acres House Gnome

I have another bitty bunny on the needles that I hope to share next week :)

Late last week, I FINALLY finished my Adrift cardigan.  You know, the one I started LAST MAY.  I blocked it aggressively and now it fits perfectly.  It's the perfect sweater to wear in the office.  Lightweight, but so warm and cozy.

Adrift Cardigan in Malabrigo Lace

 Last week, I also finished up a pair of basic hand warmers.  I used Chroma Fingering in the Regency colorway. 

Chroma handwarmers

The last thing I have to share was technically finished back in January, but I finally blocked my coffee break Tubularity late last week. I still have to sew on the buttons, but I think I might re-block it first.  It's a little snug when I wear it over my head.  For now, it's going to sit in my hand knit basket until I decide what to do.  I really enjoyed knitting it.  It was very meditative.  I just wish it fit me better.  :(

Endless Coffee Break Tubularity in Miss Babs Coffee Break Polydactyl kit

I have been getting serious cabin fever sitting at home this week with the bad weather. Tomorrow will be the first time I actually will drive in days! Spring cannot get here fast enough. I have been plugging away on my big projects, and yesterday I worked on my sock yarn blanket while the hubby and I did a "House of Cards" mini-marathon.  We have finally started season 3.  The other projects I had on my needles take too much concentration for that show.  So the blanket got some attention and I completed 6 more squares bringing me up to a total of 250 squares! 

Compared to Jess I look like a slacker! I finished up a baby blanket for a family member, and a little hat too but still need to take pictures when I have better light. I do have one FO to share though.

Bonbon - The Cyborg's Craft Room Bested "Without Borders"

I did not test knit this little bunny, but cast on just as soon as the pattern was released! I love this bunny, and know that I will be making a lot more of these in the future. I need to make one in sock yarn like Jess because they turn out so tiny and cute!

Hibernating for winter/FO Friday

Winter has been brutal for us on the East Coast.  Record breaking cold temps and a good amount of snow.

We haven't been able to do much outdoors, but we have been doing A LOT of knitting.

I finished my confetti cupcakes socks in time to wear for my birthday.  I love how they turned out.  I want to make more Hermione's Every Day socks.

Hermione's Every Day socks in Candy Skein confetti cupcake

I also knit a pair of vanilla striped socks with some Desert Vista Dyeworks Strawberry Shortcake

I knit 3 test knits (2 of which haven't been released yet so pics will have to come later)

Doctor Ewe by Susan Claudino Designs

I transformed a Voodoo You Love Me? Into a custom Castiel from Supernatural for a swap in the Susan Claudino Designs group. 

Ysolda Teague came out with another MKAL.  Jen and I both participated and here is my Follow Your Arrow 2.  I used Fearless Fibers, which I loved, was super soft, however if I knit this again I would go with a solid color so the arrows show up better.

I have a few more things to share, but I will save them for next week.  Jen and I know we have been slacking but we still want to continue blogging so we will try to be better about keeping up with our scheduled posts.

This winter feels never ending! The hubby and I bought another house in the Northeast last year and decided we had to find the fun in winter or it would kill us. The cold has been too much, but we had a particularly warm day (in the low 40s) after some snow fell and we had some fun.

We built a snowman (who has a knitting needle for a nose, finally found a use for those 25mm plastic needles), button eyes and mouth and a lemonade stand.  It was fun out playing in the snow and enjoying activities we wouldn't have gotten to do in California. If it could just stay warmer and have less ice, winter would be much more enjoyable heh
All the cold weather has been good for knitting time though. I am working on a sweater right now and when I move it on my lap I realize it is acting like a blanket, and I love it. I will probably finish it up just in time for spring.  

I finished up a pair of socks for John that I gave him for Valentine's Day so I can share them now.

Mr Pitt Socks - The Cyborg's Craft Room - Softwear - "Journey"

I wanted to make him a pair of more colorful socks so went on the hunt for indie dyers. This yarn was dyed up by The Cyborg's Craft Room and the colorway was inspired by the Cirque du Soleil show Varekai.  John and I have been to a few Cirque du Soleil shows, but Varekai was the first for me. It was magical, and beautiful.  I love when the yarn has a story to it too!

The next was the first pair of socks that I started and finished in 2015. Each year Jess and I do the Odd Ducks Winter Madness swap, but with just the two of us.  In that swap you put together a package for someone that contains everything you need to make a project. You pick out a pattern, the yarn, needles, project bag and notions.  We always include an ornament and some goodies to snack on too.  Last year Jess got me a skein of The Cyborg's Craft Room in a colorway that I had favorited on Etsy called Prey. It is a deep red wine colored tonal yarn. The pattern that she gifted me was My Cup of Tea on Ravelry.

My Cup of Tea - The Cyborg's Craft Room - Assockilate - "Prey"

The pattern was easy to follow, and I love that you get the detail just along the top of the foot. I had a miscount of stitches and my pattern is off on one of my feet, but it is not noticeable when the socks are on (thank goodness!)

I also transformed a Voodoo You love me for the swap in Susan Claudino's group. We were to make a dream date for our partner based on their interests. I received a Voodoo that looks like Hedwig (from Harry Potter, not the Angry Inch :-P) and made my partner one that looks like Aubie the tiger, the mascot for Auburn University.

I have another pair of socks (man I knit a lot of socks) to share that I made for me. Again these socks have a special theme, an indie dyer I follow on Etsy offered sock yarn based on your favorite NFL team. I ordered this skein to root on my 49ers next season (let's hope they look better than this year). Fittingly, I cast them on at a Super Bowl party.

Vanilla Latte Socks - Purple Goddess Designs - Stuff a Sock in it - "Nothing finer than a 49er"

I have a birthday gift that I can share next month and a swap project that I can share later in the year too. My Follow Your Arrow is still on the needles, although I am almost done with clue 4. I have about 20 rows to go and it is done! I am hoping that Jess and I can get back in the habit of blogging and sharing all our fiber fun with you all :-)

Good Riddance 2014, Come on 2015!

"In 2014 I want to:

• knit 12 pairs of socks

• knit 10 charity hats

• knit 1 adult sweater

• learn fair isle

• learn how to felt

• knit charity toys"

 -Jess December 29, 2013

Hmm...yeah.  I knit 14 pairs of socks (and a half...), One charity hat, half of an adult sweater (curse you lace weight stockinette stitch sweater of doom!), I kinda learned stranded colorwork, I did learn how to felt and I knit a couple of toys that I donated to the angel tree at church.  

2014 was a bit overwhelming.  I was trying to balance housework, my desk job, forgiving people, knitting, swaps, and a minor medical issue.  I didn't finish some of the goals on my list, but I am so happy with what I was able to accomplish.  I put alot of extra pressure on myself that wasn't on the list, so in 2015 I am going to go easy on myself.  I need to not spend every extra minute with my knitting needles so I can go back to loving it.  

In 2015 I want to:

• Finish all the things (adrift cardigan from hell, gingerbread lane cross stitch, halloween town cross stitch, Jen's Wild Thing)
• Make some progress on my Sock Yarn Blanket.  I will not let it sit in the closet in my craft room all year.  I'm not going to make myself knit x amount of squares, but I want to make some sort of effort to work on it each month.
• knit 12 (or more) pairs of socks
• try to read more (aiming for 1 book a month)
• organize (and keep organized) my stash
• learn how to use my sewing machine
• drink more water
• Eat out less, cook more.  I want to try to utilize my cookbooks and recipes saved on Pinterest, 
• Focus on the happier things.  Jen and I made Happy Memory jars where we will write things down on pretty paper that made us happy throughout the year.  When the year is over, we can look back at what a wonderful year we had.

My goals for 2014 ~ Jen

• 12 pairs of socks
• knit 1 adult sweater
• make a pair of fair isle mitts (to learn fair isle)
• work on my sock yarn blanket
• end up with negative yardage of yarn at the end of the year
• continue learning more about spinning and try a different method to ply (like n-ply)

So I ended up with 24 socks done at the end of 2014. 11 pair, and one of each of two other pair. So I call that close enough!  I did not knit another adult sweater, but I did get the yarn to make one, and in fact I will be casting it on in the next day or two heh.  I did make a pair of fair isle mitts, and I can see more of those in my future.  I worked on my sock yarn blanket and successfully added 185 squares to my blanket! Unfortunately I did not end up with negative yardage at the end of the year.  I destashed quite a bit of yarn, and knit 12,730 yards of yarn too! But between some sock yarn purchases and a sweater quantity of yarn at the end of the year, I ended up with more yarn coming in, then going out. I am still proud of how much yarn I used that I already owned, and by buying for specific projects more.  I continued to spin, but I did not attempt to n-ply. I did do my first 3 ply though.

Of the 12,000 + yards I knit up and the 57 projects included:

• 11 pair of socks
• 6 shawls
• 5 toys
• 12 preemie hats for the local NICO
• 2 scarves - Dr. Who and DNA
• variety of other hats, washcloths, blanket squares for charity

2014 had its ups and its downs, but I am happy to see it go.  I am looking forward to a fresh start in the new year. I am trying to have a few goals to work towards, but also plan to try to live life each day as it comes.  Here are some of my goals for 2015

• Finish up the WIPs that I have on the needles (My Traveling Woman shawl that I started last March...., and the two pair of socks I have started), and for cross stitch (OUAT December square, 12 days of Christmas)
• Knit 12 pair of socks 
• Make the quilt kit that I bought from Chicken Boots
• Learn more about spinning and continue learning new techniques
• Along with Jess I plan to focus more on the positive in life. I already added something to my Happy memories jar this morning!

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe new year's and that 2015 is the best year yet!

WIPs, FO's & Year in Review

Time slipped away from us again.  The holidays have been crazy busy but with the New Year starting, we are going to try to keep on track with this blog.

We may not have been blogging, but we have definitely been knitting over here.  All of my Christmas knitting has been gifted so I can finally show you what I have been working on.

First is my dad's scarf.  The pattern is Malabrigo Waffles Scarf knit out of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool.  He has a tan winter coat so I thought this would go well with it.

Dad's Waffle Scarf

I wasn't planning on knitting for my co-workers this year, but after seeing how fast this tree knit up, I decided to knit a bunch to give the girls in my department.  The little white duck was a special ornament for a friend who is retiring next week.

The trees are from the Christmas Knit Ornament Set by Amy Gaines

Jen and I have been doing a Winter Madness swap (original idea came from the Odd Ducks of Ravelry group).  We build each other a kit to make something out of our favorites or queue, get some goodies and include an ornament.  I have been in love with this Snowman Diorama ornament for a few years now and decided to make one for her. Now I need to make some for my tree and for some family members for next Christmas.

Jen here, just wanted to add that I was so excited to get this ornament. It is so amazing! I plan to leave it out all year long!

My final FO is my Breakup Vanilla socks using Desert Vista Dyeworks, Pretty Hate Machine self-striping yarn.  I am so in love with this colorway and can't wait to make a blanket square out of the leftovers.  This yarn is extra special to me because Susan of DVD held a contest in 2014 where you suggest musicians, songs or albums based on certain themes each month.  For November, I suggested Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine and my entry was one of the top 5 votes of that month so I won a skein in my suggested colorway!

Fish Lips Kiss Heel-Desert Vista Dyeworks Pretty Hate Machine

I just have a couple of WIPs on the needles right now (that I am actively working on...)

The first is a Tubularity using my Miss Babs coffee break kit that I got at Rhinebeck.

Endless Coffee Break-Tubularity

The second is a pair of Hermione's Every Day socks using Candy Skein Yummy Fingering in Confetti Cupcake.  The colorway was the exclusive January 2014 colorway and since my birthday is in January, these are my birthday socks.

I do not know how time keeps slipping from me! I also have given all my Christmas gifts so I have just a few FOs to share.

The first is my Snakes in a Grass hat knit in Malabrigo Arroyo that I had leftover from my Ginny Cardigan.  My grandma requested a hat for Christmas, so I thought that this one would be perfect. The yarn is soft and squishy, and it should be super warm for her. The hat was supposed to be slouchier, and if I made it again I would add a repeat to the cable pattern.

I made this little Bluebird of Happiness ornament as part of a local ornament swap. I even used some of my handspun to knit it up. I really like it, and can see using my leftover handspun to make lots more of these.

Lastly, I made this DNA scarf for John. I tried this pattern when I first learned to knit, and found it incredibly difficult.  I also didn't like the yarn that I chose to knit it up with. I was knitting a cotton blend, with wooden needles, and needles to do cables, so for me it was just a recipe for disaster.  This time I chose to use Cascade 220 superwash, and gave it another try. It was a success! John liked it so much too! He said it was even a good DNA pattern too heh

I have two WIPs on the needles, a pair of Fawkes socks for me knit up with Supernatural Yarns Pixie Sock - Yer A Wizard Harry Colorway.  This color was released for Harry Potter's birthday, and I just had to have it. The colors are based on the cake that Hagrid gives to Harry.  

I have made this pattern once before, and I really wanted another pair that was slightly longer. So I added a cable repeat in the leg.  The other WIP is a secret present for someone so I will share that later.

Jen and I thought it would be fun to go through this past year and pick our favorite highlights and projects from 2014.  It's nice to look back at the year and see how much fun we had.

My favorite FOs of 2014 would have to be...

 Follow Your Arrow MKAL.   I had so much fun knitting each clue at a time, with a group of people.  I still want to knit this again and switch some of the clue's around.  

Wild Thing by Susan Claudino.  This toy is so adorable!  I still have to knit another one for Jen so we can have matching Wild Things.  

198 Yards of Heaven.  This shawl was pretty therapeutic for me to knit and my mom loves it.

Pedestrian Crossing Cowl.  I knit this for a very sweet friend of mine.  Such a lovely knit, I need to make more of these.

My favorite FOs of 2014 would have to be...

• Follow your Arrow MKAL - I also loved this project. It was fun to pick patterns as they came out. I can definitely see making another one of these.
• Meadow Brook Shawlette - I test knit this shawl for a friend who is a designer. I decided to use some of my handspun and I just love how it turned out.
• Winter Twilight Mitts - My first true stranded colorwork project. I loved these mitts so much, it was hard to give them up in a swap.
• DNA scarf - I really loved that I struggled with this before, and now was able to finish it successfully. 

My favorite moments of the year?  
Maryland Sheep & Wool.  Getting to meet Renee, going to the spin-in, lots of shopping and lots of bestie time (even though my snoring made her want to throat punch me ;p)

Hearing the Yarn Harlot speak.  Hilarious.  I hope to hear her again in the future.

Rhinebeck.  I got to meet so many people!  Knitabulls, The Vintage Rose, Steph and Stacie from Must Stash!

Jess summed up my favorite moments of the year too! The only thing else I would add was going to New Orleans earlier in the year and visiting Diagon Alley!

Thank you all for being patient and for following us this year.  We look forward to more road trips, adventures and lots to blog about in 2015!

Playing Catch Up-FO overload

I have been totally slacking on this blog thing!  The end of October/half of November is always busy for me.  The church I belong to has a basket social each year in Mid-November and I am on the committee.  A couple of weeks before we usually have a meeting or two to go over last minute details, then we set up and on the day of the event I am typically there for 15 hours.  It's so much fun though and I won big this year!  One of the ladies on the committee donated a Game of Thrones basket.  It has a Winter is Coming pillow (the reverse side shows the Stark emblem), a season 3 soundtrack, a book that shows behind the scenes of the show, a chip bowl and cup set, a puzzle and a deck of cards.  I was the lucky winner of that basket!  I also won a Penn State themed basket and an Easter basket.

Aside from the basket social, I have been doing A LOT of knitting.  

I was involved in a Halloween swap in the Susan Claudino Designs group on Ravelry.  My partner loves Harry Potter so I customized the Wild Things pattern to make him look like Dobby.  I knit him a wee sock so he can show the world that he is a free elf.

I did a KAL with some Ravelry friends.  We were all excited for the season premiere of The Walking Dead, so we were planning projects using Desert Vista Dyeworks, If They Kill Rick.  I made myself a pair of vanilla socks.  I was supposed to wait for the premiere to cast on, but I couldn't help myself and started early.

If They Kill Rick socks-yarn is Desert Vista Dyeworks Viso, colorway:  If They Kill Rick

After the socks were done, I wanted another mindless project.  I cast on a Sockhead hat using The Cyborg's Craft Room, Softwear in Joan Collins Blazer.

Sockhead in Joan Collins Blazer

The Susan Claudino Designs group had another swap.  This one was a snowball fight.  We were put in teams of 3, all living relatively close to each other.  One person starts it off, sends a Snowball Buddy ornament to person 2.  Once received, person 2 asks person 3 which they would prefer and mails to them.  When they receive theirs, person 3 sends an ornament to person 1.  I made the owl for person 2.

Snowball Buddies owl

One of the baskets this year at the basket social had a vintage cradle, handcrafted by a committee member's grandfather.  My mom knit a beautiful blanket to place inside the cradle and I knit an elephant to go along with the set.

Elijah by Ysolda Teague

My final FO for this post is a cowl.  The Indie Design Gift-a-Long is going on.  One of our local knitter friends is a designer participating in the GAL.  I needed a gift for my boyfriend's mother for Christmas so I decided to participate.  I knit the Glowing Embers cowl by Simone Kereit.  I was a little intimidated with the pattern when I first looked at it, but once I started it was simple.  I love the way it turned out and have enough yarn left over to make another one, reversing the colors.

Glowing Embers by Simone Kereit-yarn:  Cascade 220 superwash

A woman at church asked if I would knit her a purple octopus that matched her quilt in her guest room.  I whipped up the body of this little guy with no pattern and used this pattern for the legs.  I held the yarn double, using worsted weight yarn and she asked for the eyes to be embroidered on.  

Octavius the Octo in Loops & Threads Solids

I knit a teeny dog sweater for my now ex-boyfriend's dog.  Since my boss has a Shih tzu, I am hoping this sweater will fit her dog.

The pattern is  Dog Sweater for Small Dogs.  The only mods made were the arms.  I didn't quite understand the pattern so I worked the arms like an afterthought heel and went back and picked up stitches where I felt the arms should go.

My last FO to share right now is a pair of Christmas socks.  This is my 13th pair of the year and I used Dancing Dog Dyeworks Twist sock in Holly Jolly with Linsay Pink for the cuffs/heels/toes

Socks on a Plane in DDD-Holly Jolly

What have you been up to, Jen?

That is a lot of FOs Jess!  October and November were really busy for me too.  In the beginning of November we hosted Journal Club at my house.  This is where the residents and faculty in the Emergency Medicine program get together to discuss research articles about different topics in medicine. It is nice for them to go to a house rather than the hospital, and this year we have a big enough house to host. There were over 50 (yes 50) people at my house.  It was loud and fun! 

 It is hard to see but my living room is full of people right now! The day after that we traveled to Orlando! We wanted to visit some friends who moved there this summer, see the expanded Wizarding World of Harry Potter (squee!) and visit John's grandparents.

Magic Kingdom, Main Street - so warm and nice out!

Got to ride the Hogwarts Express!

Dragon on top of Gringott's bank- randomly shoots fire

Seen in Knockturn Alley

Now these would be useful for Christmas gifts

 After Orlando we headed to St. Petersburg and saw a Chihuly exhibit.  It was beautiful, much smaller than the gardens in Seattle, but still neat to see

Now I can finally share my knitting! I finished the shawl for my sister in law. It is huge, warm, soft and I am sad to see it leave. This would be lovely to have in the winter time.

Next up I made a few ornaments for our year long swap. They were the last pieces that I needed to make!

Snowball buddy by Susan Claudino - modified to make it a snowman; Penguin Popper by Jill Arnusch

For DADA this month we were tasked to make an item designed by a fellow House Cupper so I chose to make this adorable monster bookmark by Cristel Brooks aka bellymonster

Monster Corner Bookmark

I finished up the socks I was making with my MDSW Miss Babs yarn. These Charade socks are warm, but the colors make me think of spring, which is nice in the winter time.

Next I knit up another Hermione Hearts Ron hat. The first was for my mother in law, and this is also a Christmas present. It is knit up in Mirasol Yarn Nuna, a super soft, silk, wool and bamboo blend.

I knit some Hufflepuff socks too this month! Jess says they are Steeler's socks and I am ok with that too. Jess got me this yarn as a gift, it is Alina Shea Creations Sunrises in the colorway "Hufflepride."  I love this pattern for self-striping yarns. I am not a big fan of afterthought heels, and this pattern makes the stripes look good enough to just keep going.  This is my 5th (I think) pair of Vanilla Latte Socks.

Lastly (phew!) I have my Smittens garland that I can hang on the mantle in our new house. These mittens are small, and take much longer than I thought they would. I think it is because they are small they are more fiddly.  

Hope everyone has a great rest of the holiday weekend!