Craftylilly

Gifties and a new camera!

My mailperson has been very good to me lately.  First, for being one of the three people who completed the Celebration shawl by the end of June, Anni, sent me a gorgeous skein of merino laceweight.  It's a lovely shade of pink in a colorway called Antique.  Not sure what shawl it's destined to be, as right now it's sitting on my desk being pet and loved as a skein. 

Also, Sarah (Knittingarch over on Ravelry) sent me a perfect pair of socks for my birthday.  They fit perfectly and are so snuggly.  She dubs them Spanish Dancer socks, and I will get much wear and dancing out of them.  Thank you Sarah!

I also got a new camera recently.  I had been using a Canon Powershot SD10.  We have a fancy Nikon, but I found that the little Canon was perfect for taking out with me, and really handy and uncomplicated for taking blog and etsy photos.  However, after getting our Nikon, I started to notice that the pictures I was getting out of the Canon were a little lacking.  Plus, the battery and the replacement batteries were not lasting as long as I really would have liked.  So, we picked up the Canon Powershot SD1100.  It's a nice little camera.  I still have the portability and the ease of use, but the pictures are better.  I know I'm not the best picture taker, but no longer can I blame it on the camera.

Hopefully the next post will include some knitting pics!  That's the plan anyway, but you know what they say about best laid plans...   

Where, oh where are the lazy days of summer?

Every morning I sit down and think about blogging, and then get caught up in the rush of the family summer schedule.  Both kids are in different summer schools, both are in different soccer classes, and then there's visits to the pool, play dates, and other appointments.  At this rate the summer is just going to fly by.  The good thing is that the kids and I are enjoying it.  RM and I have been teaching the kids how to play various card games like Old Maid, Go Fish, War, and the like in the evenings.  It's a good time! 

I have been crafting a bit when I can.  I have friends' who are expecting their third child, and so I knit a bunny blanket (Rav link) for the coming child.  I used Lionbrand Homespun which isn't my favorite yarn to use.  There's really no give, and I find it easy to get caught up in the boucle, but I think the bunny turned out very cute, and the Homespun is very soft and machine washable, a must for a baby knit.  I'm especially pleased with the face that I embroidered.  I used regular embroidery floss in a dark brown color.  I think the face is cute and friendly.  After I made this little blankie, I did a ravelry search of the pattern, and think I did the head wrong.  I think my version came out cute anyway. 

I also spun up 4 ounces of superwash merino recently.  I have been missing spending time with my wheel and the cheerful colors of the Sakina Needles roving were begging to be worked with.  The colorway is called Gingerbread, but I think it looks more like spring sunset colors.  I ended up with about 360 yards of heavy fingering weight.  I have no plans for it yet (do I ever for my handspun?).

I've spent a little time setting up my loom too.  I've already made a couple of mistakes preparing the warp, so I'm going to try again this weekend.  I think once the warp is prepared and organized well, the rest will fall into place.  It's a process as Margene says, and it's really true.  One thing I've learned from my many years of crafting is that many times making mistakes is the best way to learn how to do something.  I don't get as bothered with my crafting mistakes as I used to. 

The last bit of news is that RM and I have been watching a lot of TV shows on DVD lately.  Right now we're watching HBO's John Adams which we are enjoying.  We did just finish watching Season 1 of Burn Notice and absolutely loved it.  The story is good, and the characters are interesting, but a big draw are two of the main actors, Bruce Campbell, and Jeffrey Donovan.  We're big Bruce Campbell fans here, after all we named our first cat that we adopted together, Ash from the Evil Dead movies.  As for Donovan, he starred in a semi-supernatural cop show called Touching Evil that we both liked but was canceled. Now, we hardly even watch a show when it's actually on TV.  We do DVR two shows, Heroes, and Project Runway.  We're now DVR'ing Season 2 of Burn Notice.  Season 2 starts on Thursday!

Lastly, I just joined up with plurk.  Anyone else plurking?    

Two months of celebrations end with a Stole

I have an FO to share!  I finished my Celebration Stole from Sockmania just in time to be entered into the drawing.  I'm quite please with how this turned out.  I used some merino laceweight from Scout that I had custom dyed.  I think the lace panel is simple enough to really set off the colorway.  I also thought that the lace pattern was easy to follow and looks great.  This is the first time that I've knit a stole, and I like it.  I still like the look of triangle shawls a little more, but the rectangular stole will be easy to wear. 

Project Specs:

Pattern:  Celebration Stole by Anni of Sockamania

Yarn:  Merino Laceweight from Scoutsswag in Water Nymph

Needles:  size 5 Addi Lace

Mods:  None

I also thought I'd share with you the wretched air quality, we in the Northern California are experiencing right now.  With the 700 or so fires going on, the ash and soot in the air is unreal.  At least the smell of fire has died down, and finally this morning I could actually sort of see Mt. Diablo, but it's been bad.  For most of last week, I couldn't see the mountain at all, and I live at the foot of the mountain.  Yep, that's bad.  In this picture, look right above the house in the middle of the picture.  See that hazy blob?  Yep, that's part of the mountain.  On a normal day you can see this clearly.  There's been health alerts about staying inside as much as possible, and we've been trying to do that, but it's hard with two kids who really need their outdoor play time.   

A hat for Father's Day

In the midst of end of the school year events, and gobs of birthday celebrations, I was able to knit up a hat for my dad.  My father travels a lot for business, so I thought he could use a nice warm hat that he could throw in his luggage.  We may live in California, but last winter he saw a lot of snow in his travels. 

Project Specs:

Pattern:  The Boy Hat Pattern by Elizabeth Heath-Heckman (Rav link)

Yarn:  Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Military

Needles:  Size 7 circs and DPN's

Mods:  I knit this hat a little longer than called for.  I wanted to make sure that there is adequate ear coverage. 

Thoughts:  I used cotton yarn as my dad is sensitive to wool, but I think that this hat will be warm enough.  This is a very straightforward and quick knit.  The ASC is one of my favorite cotton yarns, and this pattern does make an interesting top which adds interest to an otherwise simple hat.  The pattern calls for Malabrigo, and I'm thinking that this would be a good pattern to remember for quick gifts in the future.

I'm glad I was able to complete this hat in time for Father's day this weekend.  We've been absolutely slammed by the Celebration death march this year.  Turns out that several of my kidlet's best buds have June birthdays as well.  Sheesh.  Speaking of birthdays, my birthday is on Friday.  I plan on hiding out at home, eating Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.  Maybe on Saturday, I'll head out to my LYS for KIP day.  That would be a good way to celebrate the old birthday, no? 

After the heat wave

Here in the Bay Area, we've had our first heat wave of the year.  Thankfully, temperatures have cooled down, and my desire to craft has returned.  When temperatures hover around the 100's, I feel more like melting, and less like working with wool.

First up, I've started the Celebration Stole from Sockmania.  It's Sockmania's birhtday, and so along with this month's socks pattern, Anni has offered a lovely stole pattern.  I'm using some Scout's handpainted lace merino to knit this pattern.  There's a lot of variegation in this yarn, but the lace pattern of the stole is simple enough that the colorway seems to be working.  I'm enjoying knitting the pattern, and the lace isn't so complicated that I have to pay close attention while I'm knitting.

I've also been beading for the shop.  I've got three new stitch marker bookmarks up.  It's been interesting to see what items sell the best in my store lately.  It seems like the stitch marker bookmarks, and row counter clips are hot items!  Luckily, I really enjoy creating the bookmarks and clips, so I've been happy to continue to stock the shop.  You can check out the new bookmarks here.

I plan on relaxing and having some quiet family time this long weekend.  We have a small break in the Celebration death march this weekend, thank goodness!  I hope you all have a relaxing and restful long weekend.

If you're a spider, be afraid!

I declared war on the cobwebs setting up shop in my house.  It would probably be more accurate to call them "cobcities."  I swear to you that these cobwebs had skyscraper webs, and a light rail system.  Why did they get so out of control?  Well, since we've moved to this house, 3 1/2 years ago, I've been a bit intimidated by the vaulted ceilings.  I must live in one of the tallest and steepest houses.  All the ceilings are high in the house.  The staircase is insanely steep.  When we first saw this house, I was a bit shocked by the steepness of the staircase.  So, the spiders have pretty much had their way with the ceilings.  I've been able to battle them enough to make it presentable, bit today I decided that the cobcities were going to experience armageddon.  Spiders everywhere felt a disturbance in the force with the power of a very long broom, chairs, and a taller husband to get all the cobwebs.  I now have web free corners. 

Perhaps all this zeal had to do with the theme of the Red Ranger's birthday party tomorrow.  We're holding it at a local wildlife museum.  RR picked a "Creepy-Crawly" party.  The party coordinator called the other day and told me that the party guests will have a chance to see a tarantula, black widow spider, and cockroaches.  I'm itching all over just thinking about it, and so the cobwebs had to go.

And the pictures?  Well, I thought pictures of cobweb destruction would be a bit too violent for this blog, so I thought I'd share two recent FO's.  I whipped up a lace bookmark from the the One Skein Wonders book that I sent off to my words and bookmark swap partner.  I also sent the Virginia Woolf book too.  The second picture is of a Lauryn Wrap which was the free gift for renewing my Rowan International subscription.  I used the Rowan All Seasons Cotton which I love, and modified the wrap by casting on 55 stitches instead of 85 to get a longer nicer wrap.  It's for a friend of mine, and I hope she will like it.

 

The Quickest Knit in the West

There's nothing like knitting with some huge needles, and supchunky yarn.  The real estate that one can cover with yarn and needles like that is unreal.  As a general rule, I'm not a huge fan of the chunky knit.  Most of the time I don't think the finished product looks polished.  I do love the speed in which the project whizzes by, however.  For example, I knit a Sloane Sweater Vest from the book Yarnplay in just 10 days.  I probably could have knit it in only 3 or 4 days if I only had more crafting time.

Project Specifications:

Pattern:  Sloane Sweater Vest by Lisa Shobhana Mason (Ravelry link)

Yarn:  Rowan Big Wool Fusion - 3 balls

Needles:  Size 17 circ

Mods:  I modified this to be knit in the round.  I like to reduce seaming when I can, especially with such a chunky knit. 

Thoughts:  I've knit with Big Wool before and liked it.  Big Wool Fusion is no different, but I like the way the yarn is dyed.  I wasn't sure I was going to like how the color was going to look knit up when I saw it in the ball.  The yarn kind of looks like it was spray painted with dye.  However, once the yarn is knit up, the color looks like it has depth and character.  The pattern is very basic and simple.  What gives the vest some spice is the chunky yarn.   Overall I found this knit to be a very satisfying quick project. 

The Celebration Death March Begins

With the turn of the calendar, the Craftylilly family begins to put on our celebration caps for a very long two months.  This year it started a bit early with PQL's preschool auction.  I put a lot of work into working on the raffle piece of the auction and am very pleased that the event went well, and a good amount of money was made for the school.  Today is my parents' anniversary.  Happy Anniversary, you two!  Then we've got Mother's Day, RR's 6th birthday, my dad's birthday, RM's birthday, my birthday, Father's Day, and RM and my 10th anniversary.  You'll find me at the end of June, passed out on the couch, with a noisemaker clasped between clenched teeth, a lampshade on my head, and only the vaguest idea of what hit me. 

Due to all the celebraton prep, I haven't had much time to take pictures and share some odds and ends I'm working on.  I have been working on some things though.  I've got a wrap started for a friend of mine.  Her birthday is coming up, and I decided to knit a Lauryn wrap from the pattern and yarn that Rowan international sent me for renewing my subscription.  It's a nice knit; the dropped stitches provide some interest, but the knitting is easy.  I'm quite a bit further along than this picture shows.  I modified the pattern a bit after reading about other knitter's experiences knitting it.  I'm making it not as wide so it will be longer. 

I'm also still dabbling with chainmaille.  I just completed this little bracelet.  I took an orphan art bead, and then paired it with a "Lacey Chain" chainmaille pattern that I got from a wonderful book called Chains by Becky.  The pictures and instructions on how to work the chains are excellent.  I'm thinking of trying my hand at some other chains as outlined by this book.  Now to just find a spare moment.  *cue ironic cackle here.*

Of Bacon and Bibs

I had fun reading all of your traumatizing film scenes.  Many of them I had forgotten about.  If any of you are interested in a good scary movie, RM and I just saw El Orfanato (The Orphanage).  It's a decidedly creepy movie in the vein of The Others or The Haunting. 

Speaking of things slightly left of center, take a look at the summer tote I bought at Target last week.  Who wouldn't want a pool tote with a bacon and eggs applique?  Just looking at it makes me chuckle.  The kidlets have swim lessons this summer, and this tote is the perfect size for some knitting, sunscreen and pool cover-ups.  Ah summer knitting, I'm beginning to anticipate the possibilities.  I'm thinking lots of lace, and perhaps a Cece.

And to go back to bacon for a second, have you all seen the latest Anticraft?  It's a bacon issue.  Check out this bacon scarf.  I started laughing out loud when I saw it.  I think I want one.  I've never tried double knitting.  Perhaps knitting myself a bacon scarf will be a good way to try it out and get a laugh at the same time.

In all seriousness, I finished up a couple of bibs for a friend's new baby.  This baby has been kept in the NICU for a week now due to birth complications.  My family, as well as PQL's whole preschool community have been very concerned.  I've been focusing prayers and positive energy into the knitting of the bibs.  I'm a firm believer in the power of positive thought and prayer, so if you are willing, send a little to this family.   

A sad heart benefits from knitting salve

I want to thank everyone who stopped by and offered words of comfort to us.  The loss of Wiji was sudden and unexpected.  We mourn her, but sharing stories about her, and cuddling Hazel and Ranger have helped a lot.  Wiji's passing marks the end of an era for RM and I.  We adopted her and Ashe a year after we were married.  They were my first pet cats, and our first pets together and as adults.  Now, they are both gone, and RM and I are coming up to our 10th anniversary.  We know we aren't newlyweds anymore, but for me, Ashe and Wiji reminded me of those early years, before the kids.  I will always miss them.

Wiji's loss sent me to my knitting.  I'm so thankful to have crafting to help me when I'm feeling sad or anxious.  The stress and sadness of the week led me to complete my Shalom Cardi in record time. 

Project Specifications:

Pattern:  Shalom Cardigan by Meghan McFarlane (Ravelry Link)

Yarn:  Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky (6 full balls)

Needles:  Size 11 circs

Modifications:  I shortened it up, as the pattern designer states that this cardi is for someone who is a tall 6 feet.  In order to do this, I took out 2 rows between the decreases and increases in the body section of the cardi.  I also have a garter stitch bottom hem of 6 rows rather than 10.  The other thing I did was a single crochet edge on the bottom edge of the armhole.  This tightened up the stitches and makes it look more polished.  Also, I decided to forgo putting in a button and buttonhole, and am using a pretty pin to close the top instead. 

Thoughts:  I really like this little cardi.  It's the perfect little something for a spring day.  I like working with the Cashmerino too.  It's really soft to the touch.  Plus, with a pattern name of Shalom which means peace, I got a little solace from this sad week.