Welcome to my blog. This blog is simply talking about my knitting and spinning adventures. I will talk about different yarns and fibers I have used and review patterns. Please don't forget to subscribe to my blog, it's greatly appreciated.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Knitting Blues

Hello and Welcome Everyone,
Let's see week in review, on Tuesday I went and met my friend at the local yarn shop to hang out for a little bit, she moved further away so I don't see her often. The rest of the week I just worked and moved to a different desk. It is official that I will be flying to Arizona on December 22nd and return December 30th and I am very excited about that. Also, last night me and my fiance watched 21st Jumpstreet and I give that movie 5 stars. If you enjoy action comedies or movies like Superbad, you should check it out.

Finished Objects - FO's
Nothing :(

Works in Progress - Wip's
I didn't really feel like knitting on my Harvest Dew Socks much this week. I did finish the heel flap, heel turn, and picked up the gusset. I still have a lot of gusset decreasing to do.
Next up is the reason I didn't really feel like knitting at all this past week. I frogged the Evenstar and re-started. Why? Because it didn't look right, when it was right. I switched from my DPN's to magic loop and enjoy knitting it a little bit better. However, I tried to tell myself to only knit on this at home and nothing else, so what did I do? I avoided knitting all together.
 
Since I lost my knitting mojo this week and in order to get it back I just had to cast on something new. I casted on the Social Climber Cowl on size US 10 (6.0 mm) needles using Noro Silk Garden from my stash. A lot of people have complained about this yarn, I like it. I think it looks like handspun and now I am inspired to use my handspun for Noro intended patterns.

This is all I have for this week. I didn't get any spinning done at all, I haven't even started a new project. I did receive something in the mail, but I can't show that. Hopefully next week I will have more to show and my knitting mojo returns.

Happy Knitting,
Courtney

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Here we go...

Hello Everyone and welcome to my blog,
remember how I mentioned last week that I had a bad day at work on Friday? Well the reason for that was that the person who did my old job no longer works there and I had to cover her job. This week they were going to hire someone for the position, however I volunteered to take over the position. I have trained two people in that position and both got fired, I really didn't feel like doing it a third time. Plus my current position is easier to train, then the one I took over. It is not to bad and I proposed some changes, which were granted. Other than that I just went to work and came home to some much needed knitting time. Also I wanted to address some changes I made to the blog. One obvious one is I changed the font, please feel free to let me know if it's difficult to read or you hate the color, etc. Second, I added a knit meter for my knitting and spinning, it's more for my own curiosity how much I knit and spin through the year. Third, I added a Fiber Diary to keep track of which fibers I have spun. Last but not least, starting this week I will start out with my FO's instead of WIP's, that just makes more sense to me.

Finished Objects - FO's
Yay, I am so excited about this finished object. It's for the last Camp Loopy project, I can't believe I was able to complete all 3 over the last 3 months. I finished Elfe with 2 weeks to spare using madelinetosh tosh merino light in the Cobalt and Maple Leaf colorway, I can't recommend this yarn enough. Also, I really enjoyed knitting the pattern, it's well written and very easy to follow. I can definitely see myself knit another one. My photographer aka my fiance, took about a 20 pictures, that's why I am not really smiling.

Works in Progress - WIP's
I just looked back on my blog, when i last showed this wip and wow really?! One month ago I showed you my HO (half finished object), well I finally made some progress on the 2nd sock. Yes, I still have not finished the Harvest Dew socks. I have a good excuse with all those KAL's that I joined. I will change their name to the Totally German Socks, since I had to use the twisted german cast on and I was gifted the yarn from my aunt who lives in Germany. I have to knit 1 more inch on the leg and then I can start the heel.
Remember I said last week once Elfe is off the needles I will cast on my very special project? Well I started my wedding shawl the Evenstar shawl, I am knitting it on size US 3 needles (3.25mm) and am using Unique Sheep Ling in the custom dyed teal colorway (the colorway was dyed to match my bridesmaid dresses). So far I have run into many dropped stitches and I think I casted on over 20 times, but it's slowly coming along. It is very difficult to take a picture of it, since it just looks like a tangles mess.

Soon to be on the Needles
Nothing at the moment.

Spinning
I finished ...into the whirled English Shetland Combed Top in the Abercrombie colorway. I absolutely loved spinning the fiber and am very happy that I joined their fiber club. I spun this fractely, which means I split the fiber in half lenght wise and then spun the first half normally. However, the second half I split again 3 more times lenght wise and then spun each half back to back from the same end. I ended up with a heavy fingering to a light sport weight and 232 yards (most yardage so far). I also practiced chain plying with the leftovers. I think I got the technique, but it is way over spun. I have not soaked it or thwacked (that takes some of the over spun parts out) yet.The first picture is of the unspun fiber.


Enabling
I received my first fiber club shipment from ...into the whirled. Like I just mentioned I am very happy that I joined. One reason is that I really enjoyed spinning the Shetland and the second reason is it is just the first shipment and my absolute favorite color, turquoise, is in it. It is 60s Polwarth Wool Top (if someone know what the 60s stands for, please let me know) in the Pamukkale colorway. For three months the colors are inspired by some kind of theme, this time around it is Nature and this month was the first installment. The first picture is the inspiration picture and the second is the fiber.














Again no plans for next week, just keep on knitting on my wedding shawl and stay sane at work.

Happy Knitting,
Courtney

Sunday, August 12, 2012

One Down, One More to Go

Welcome Everyone,
last week I had a cold and a stomach flu and didn't work Wednesday and Thursday. During those two days I barely got any knitting done, since I pretty much just slept, but I feel much better now. Friday I had a tough day at work, since Friday kinda sucked me and my fiance treated ourselves after work to a nice dinner and later on I relaxed with my knitting and a beer. Last night we had company over, I made a delicious dinner and we just hung out played games and I drank my favorite wine.

Works in Progress - WIP's
I am almost done with my 3rd and last Camp Loopy project, Elfe. I am hoping to finish it today, but today is just flying by.

Finished Objects - FO's
I finished my 2nd Ravellenics challenge, Terence the Tap Dancing T-Rex. I almost ran out of yarn and had to take some of the yarn from an unfinished granny square. In the 2nd picture he is hanging out with his new friend Basil the Boogie Woggie Brontosaurus, I knitted him back in May.


Soon to be on the Needles
Well as mentioned before, once I finish Elfe I will cast on my wedding shawl, Evenstar.
For in between and portable projects I will knit on my Harvest Dew socks and maybe make Wellington Mitts, for the mitts I would use the leftover yarn from Elfe.

Spinning
Nothing really, I spun a little bit more on my ...into the whirled, but not enough to be worth showing. I just really been focused on finishing T-Rex, since he had to be done by tomorrow and now I am focusing on Elfe just to get it done (it has to be done by the 27th, so I have plenty of time.)

Enabling
I just can't go without buying yarn. My local yarn store, Knit 2 Unwind, is having a give away and in order to get a raffle ticket you have to purchase something for $10.00. I bought Plymouth Stiletto, pretty sparkly yarn, most likely it will become a pair of socks.
No plans for next week, just trying to get through the work week alive. Thank goodness I have my knitting, I don't know how people relieve stress without it.

Happy Knitting,
Courtney

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Déjà vu

Welcome Everyone,
this week nothing exciting happened, just went to work and came home. I know me and my fiance live pretty boring lives. Yesterday, my fiance had to get blood drawn and that was pretty interesting to say the least. When he arrived 2 cars were in the parking lot. He got out to start a line, once he got out the two people in the cars got out as well. They were waiting for about 20 minutes for the lab to open it's doors, when they opened the two people accused my fiance of cutting in front off them and he should not be seen first. Wait what? Since when does waiting in your car count as waiting in line? Anyway, the lab tech saw them first to avoid confrontation, since they started to cause a scene. I thought that was interesting, since being lazy and sitting in your comfortable car instead of waiting in front of the door should never count as waiting in line. Sorry for that little rant, I just don't tolerate stupidity easily. I went and hung out at my local yarn store for most of the late morning till early afternoon. Next weekend we are having friends over, so that should be fun. 

Works in Progress - WIP's
Same as last week, hence the title Déjà vu. My Elfe is coming along nicely. I finished the sleeves and started the waist shaping. I absolutely love how my colors are working out and the pattern is very easy to follow. 
Next up is Terence the Tap-Dancing T-Rex, I finished the biggest piece, which is the body and head. I will pick up the stitches and knit his tail today, then I still have to make the tummy flap, 2 arms, and 2 legs. 
Finished Objects - FO's
Nothing :(

Soon to be on the Needles
The day is inching closer. As soon as Elfe and Terence are done, I will cast on the Evenstar Shawl by Susan Pandorf that I am making for my wedding. I am going to focus all my knitting time on that and once that is finished I will start my bouquet. 

Spinning
Also, the same as last week. I am still spinning my ...into the whirled English Shetland Combed Top braid in the Ambercrombie colorway. I am so happy I joined their fiber club, because so far I love spinning their fiber. I am spinning this fractal, which is a new to me technique. I split the braid lenght wise, like normally. I then spun the first half like I normally would, however the second half I split lenght wise again 4 more times so that I would have 4 smaller strips. I am spinning each strip from the same end as I did the first 2 ounces. The first picture is of the first half, the second of the first strip I am ready to attach the second strip, and the third shows all my little strips (I had 4 but spun 1 already)





















Enabling
I received my Hiya Hiya Sharp for the Evenstar Shawl, since it is my first time knitting with lace yarn (my other lace projects used fingering weight) I wanted to make it easier on me and use better needles. My needles are not really meant to knit with lace and I would have to fuss with them. So far as what I can tell, these will be a joy to work with. They are made out of stainless steel and are extremely light. The join seems to be very smooth and the cable is not kinked up. After I knit with them I will give a final review. The circular needles also came with a free pattern and a cable needle.
Well for purchasing the needles I completed the requirements of becoming a Loopie Groopie. The gift I received from the Loopie Ewe is amazing. I received Tootsie Rolls, Romney Ridge Farm Calendar, Rubus sock pattern, Loopie Ewe Project Tote, and best of all I received Loopy Legends yarn dyed by Lorna's Laces in the Linda's Antique Treasures colorway. It was so funny when I got the package, I was like wait I know I only ordered needles. It was a very pleasant surprise and I absolutely love every goodie and the Loopie Ewe. If you couldn't tell, since I pretty much only buy yarn there and am doing the Camp Loopie. 
Hopefully next week, I will have 2 FO's and a brand new WIP. I hope everyone has a great week.
Happy Knitting,
Coutney