In Progress

All the Shades of Truth - part of a KAL with The Village Knitter
Yarns are various skeins of Madelinetosh Sock and Shibui Knits Sock

All the Shades of Truth

We started a new KAL at the shop this weekend!  Well, technically 2 but we didn't really announce it ahead of time and I never actually cast on the second one.  But I did get started on my All the Shades of Truth scarf!

Here's what I'm using for the project:

Madelinetosh Sock in Great South Babes

Madelinetosh Sock in Graphite

Madelinetosh Sock in Paper

Shibui Knits Sock in Midnight

Shibui Knits Sock in Ink

I'm using my Chiaogoo US 6 needles for this project to get gauge.  Typically, being a loose knitter, I have to go down at least one size needle.  But I actually had to go up a needle size to get gauge.  And, yes, I did gauge for this project.  Mine is coming out a little denser feeling than another KAL participant who is using the TML it calls for, but I'm good with what I've got so far :o)

I actually accomplished this entirely from stash!  Shocking, I know!  The Ink Shibui came from a frogged pair of knee socks from about 3 years ago (1 UFO taken care of so far).  The Paper madTOSH is leftovers from a Christmas present (and therefore not counting in using up 14 skeins of sock yarn stash- that has to be 100g skeins, but I am counting using up both those Shibui colors).  Yay for working towards my 2014 goals!

New Year, New Knits?

Honestly, not likely. I've never been one for making New Year's Resolutions, but I do like the idea of setting smaller, achievable goals to work on throughout the year. And of course, I start with my knitting goals each year.

I definitely set more goals than I can achieve, but it's good to constantly have something to strive for. Each time I've done this though, I tend to not follow up on it. Here's to hoping that changes this year!

This year's goals:

1. 14 hexipuff flowers (7 puffs in each)
2.  Use 14 skeins of sock yarn from prior stash
3.  14 washcloths (emergency gifts to have on hand! Or to use for myself)
4.  14 socks- finish or new
5.  14 UFOs- finish or frog
6.  14 charity projects
7.  14 queue items
8.  6 skeins of handspun spun (14 is way out of my league for this one)
9.  6 designs- develop, publish, or update
10. Organize stash and projects
11.  Organize stash, projects, and queue on Ravelry
12.  Photograph everything!

I wanted to have some kind of sweater goal in there too, but didn't come up with any actual goals for that. Have any ideas for me? Or have a fun fiber goal you want to share? I'm down for adding more!

For this snowy morning, I'm working on finishing some Christmas gifts and drinking my coffee

Starry Starry Sky

I finally finished my Celestarium this past week.  It has been in and out of my focus for a while now.  Cast on months ago, it puttered out for a while due to its ever increasing size.  Until I bought a dress to wear to my cousin's wedding and decided this shawl would be perfect to wear with it.  And then it was too cold to wear that dress to the wedding.  So it sat again, part way through the bind off.

Then the owner of Done Roving heard about the shawl, mentioned her Starry Starry Night colorway and discovered I was knitting mine in that very yarn.  And she wanted to display it at her TNNA booth.  Back to binding off I went.

Finally bound off, this large baby needed an extra special blocking.  Except the weather was bad.  Or I didn't have time on a gorgeous day.  Or I was just too lazy to do it.  And then it was forgotten, burried under other project bags.  Until this past weekend.  When I realized I had to have it done by Tuesday to head to TNNA with the bosses.

I frantically started setting up my blocking boards outside while the shawl soaked.  And just as I was draining it out, the drizzling started.  I dragged my foam blocks inside and set about pinning.

Not gonna lie, it looked pretty shitty.  So out came the blocking wires.  Into every one of the 500+ stitches they were threaded and pinned.  Did I mention over 500 stitches?

Before I even started the shawl, I decided I did not like the applied garter edging.  It was just too blah for my taste.  After sampling a couple stitch patterns, a ruffled edge was suggested.  And I did it, adding beads in the bind offs.  That made 1700+ stitches.  Yes, I understand I'm a little crazy.

And now this beauty is out in Columbus, waiting to be displayed for everyone to see.  If you see her there, tweet/instagram me a pictures with her!  I hope she has fun and comes back with plenty of new friends.

Up Close and Personal

More sheep fun for your day :o)

Sheep Talk

This month's SSGLI meeting was all about SHEEP!  While we often focus on wool and fleeces today there were actual live sheep at the barn :o)

Mama Lisa leashing them up to come play with us.  Yes, sheep on leashes.

Needless to say, I was in heaven.  These little guys were so damn friendly!  They're like dogs- only better because you get to spin them.  Someday, someday, I will take them all home with me.

As you can see, everyone enjoyed feeling these 3 month old boys.  Lisa of Bay Haven Short Tails brought 2 of her 4 little men to visit with us.  These 2 were the ones she had to bottle feed.  The other two stayed home with their mommy (Hazel, Lisa's son's sheep that he WON at MS&W last year, and Hercules, the ram she brought home to, well, make more sheep with).

These boys just love attention.  Granted, they did get a little distracted by things they could chew on.  But really they loooooved being petted.  And we willingly obliged them!

This is Malin, my new boyfriend.  I can't say no to a sheep who WANTS to lay his head on my lap.  He nibbled my fingers too.

Julia got some kisses from Oliver too :o)

Here's what I learned tonight about raising sheep:

1. They're cheaper to buy than a dog.
2. You don't need allll that much room for them.
3. They're the friendliest little guys ever and make awesome pets.

Even better- they talk to you:

Mock-trelac Heart Duo

While planning the upcoming events for the Brooklyn Knit and Crochet Guild, someone suggested we have me teach....something...at an upcoming meeting.  It was settled that I would teach entrelac.  Originally it was going to be March but after scrapping a bunch of ideas for February, we moved it up.  We wanted something Valentine's themed, so after a couple tries.  I made these little cuties.

It's a great into to entrelac recipe- using any weight yarn and any needle size.  There are no pesky end triangles so that the knitter can get the hang of the idea behind entrelac.  It's small enough that if you decide you hate knitting entrelac, you can still have a finished project without having to do something huge. 

I'm planning on incorporating this pattern into a themed series down the road, but if you want to knit it with us for Valentine's Day come to the meeting this weekend!  We'll be at the Brooklyn Central Library in the Trustees Room on Sunday, February 10 at 1:30 (library doors open at 1:00). If you're commuting in, the library is a 20 minute walk from the Atlantic Terminal LIRR stop or accessible by several subway lines (some come closer than others).  Or if you actually care to drive through Manhattan, it's just down the road from the Manhattan Bridge.