Old Song

This is getting to be an old song, huh? In all honesty, the fact that I let the blog go for so long and having so much to catch up on was a little daunting. It still is, as a matter of fact, and it didn't help matters that it made me procrastinate even more, making the gap that much bigger. I am here to try and rectify that, however, but we'll see how that fares.

I think, in order to make things a little easier for myself, I'll do groupings of things I've done. Like socks or shawls, for example.

Hats'll be up first, since I've made a few of them. There's one I'd love to share with you, but since it's a test knit, I'm not yet at liberty to do so.

Dusting Off And Starting Anew

*Dusts off and glances around* Well, I must say, things aren't looking too shabby for my having neglected this blog again. I do apologize, though. I keep meaning to post, and I keep forgetting! This makes for quite a bit of catching up to do, on my part, so I will stagger the posts a little, or they'd be way too long.


So let's start with the Dr Who swap I was in last year, since I can finally share all the goodies I made for my swapee.

Been A While Again

Yeah, yeah, I know, I've been MIA again a while. Partially because I've had another extended period of not being able to do anything, thanks for my fibro acting up, and partially due to the fact that what crafting I've done has mostly been for a swap. One that isn't done yet, so I can't share anything at this point. I will, though, once it's over and my recipient's gotten her package. ;-)

Finally!

I've had this blanket finished for close to a year now, and was finally able to ship it out to my friend's little boy. Only a year late, but hey. She received it today, so I get to share it with you!

Catching Up

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted last. Life went just a little crazy (okay, a lot crazy) and I lost track of time. So sorry about that.

Anyway. Hubby took me to Black Sheep Gathering last month, and we had fun. There were a few things I missed from other years (no Angora bunnies on display, nor were there Alpacas, bar two out front). I noticed there was a huge increase in fiber for sale, compared to actual yarn for sale, which struck me as interesting. I guess spinning's becoming more and more the thing to do. Too bad I can't do it (no, really, I tried. My hands hurt like crazy when I use a spindle, and since I have neither room or money for an actual spinning wheel, I'm not likely to find out whether I can do it that way instead).

Hesitant

I just cast off on the Tongues of Fire stole, and I'm having doubts on the length of it. I'm hoping that it'll gain some length once I block it. I did try to see how much there'd be gained by blocking a small part of it, and I think it'll be okay... but to see it off the needles as it is right now, I'm worried... very worried.

More Show And Tell

Yay, I learned something new today! What did I learn, I hear you ask? I learned how to make a thumb in a glove ;-). I'd always been a bit scared about trying, because the idea of having to drop stitches (tiny ones, at that!) in the middle of something I've worked hard at... well, it scared the shit out of me. Even now, after I've done it.

It was tricky, and I messed up and had to re-do the thumb twice, but in the end, I think it worked out okay. I'm pretty pleased with them, anyway. Too bad they're a gift, and not for keeps.

 

Almost Forgot!

I can finally show the second Elise shawl I crocheted, since I gave it to my Mother-in-Law last week for Mother's Day (okay, okay, a few days, late, but it still counts).

Here's a picture pre-blocking:

Casting On... Again

So I needed something to do, as I'm not feeling well and I am in no mindset to write. I found a bag of yarn I'd forgotten about, and I know there's enough of it this time, so I cast on for the Tongues of Fire again.

This is the yarn I'm using. So far, it's looking okay, but it's early days yet, as I'm only on the first row of the actual lace. So I'm back in the knit-a-long, which is cool. Still need to re-start the crocheted shawl I'm doing, too.

Good times. Good times.

Caved... A Little...

I've been teasing poor Jen about her gifts, and figured I'd show her one of the things I've been working on. Since I'd just cast off on these, they seemed the perfect choice.

Project:	Falcons Fingerless Gloves
Pattern:	none used
Size:	medium
Yarn:	Red Heart
Colors:	Black & Red
Needles:	US5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

I've got one other thing completely finished, and I need a little help from hubs to finish the other, but it's basically done, too. What else do I have up my sleeve? No idea. I have the rest of this month to figure it out, though ;-)

Slugging Along

Well, sort of. I finished of gift # 2 for Jen the other day, and cast on for #3. This should be the last of the knitted items (at least, that I had planned). Then I just have to figure out what else to do. I have ideas, it's just a question of means.

I haven't had the heart to look at my shawls yet. Kinda got burnt on that after the yardage fiasco. Do want to pick them both up again though.

Also, need to figure out a way to get the lace I've done already, blocked. Twice now, I've taken it to MIL's and not done it. Why? Because I'm worried they won't dry in time for me to take home again, and I do not trust them not to mess with it if I leave it (kids + dog = trouble). So home it is, just need to figure out a way.

Bugger It

Couldn't really do it, shouldn't really do it, but I did anyway. Scraped enough together to buy the yarn I needed for my gift project. Needed to feel good about something going the way it's supposed to, and that was it.

Knitting part of it is now done, and hubby said he'd do the sewing part for me (he's a lot better at hand-sewing than I am). Then there's just finishing touches left to do, and it'll truly be finished. But at least the knitting of it is done with. And yes, it does feel good.

That said, I started on part two of the project. So far, so good. I just hope it ends up fitting. Gah, sucks  having to be so damn cryptic, but since it's supposed to be a surprise, I can't very well post it here where she can see ;-)

Patience is a virtue, isn't that what they say?

Random Act Of Kindness

A friend from Ravelry sent me a care-package! I couldn't believe it when I opened the box and found all these goodies! Check it out :-)

A lot of yarn, chocolate, a card, DPNs, and a UU-stitchmarker (UU is the acronym of the group we're in on Ravelry). So cool!

 These two are designated to (hopefully) become Endpaper Mits, by Eunny Jang.

 

 I have no idea what I'm making with this yet.

This, however, I already know what I'm making with. Next on my to-do list. We'll do a crochet-a-long in the thread for the Eva's Shawl.

Thanks you again, Amber, for the lovely gifts. It made a crappy week a lot brighter. I look forward to show off the projects as they come along.

Cast On

I ended up casting on a new project. It wasn't much of a choice, since I have a mini-swap going on with my friend, and what I'm making will take a while to finish. Since I finally got the last of what I needed for it, I figured I'd best get a move on ;-)

Sorry, I can't tell you what it is, or show progress pictures, since it's a gift. Sure you understand. But, I will share pictures once she's received it. :-)

Another FO

Behold, another set of fingerless gloves. I kinda like making these, they're quick, simple. And look pretty good. Hopefully Em will like them.

Project:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Pattern:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Size:	one size
Yarn:	Caron Simply Soft
Colors:	green
Needles:	US 5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

Not planning on casting on any more for a while, though. Mind, "planning" being the operative word. There are, after all, several other projects already on the needles. Not to mention, have some gift knitting to do shortly.

FO

I just finished the gloves for Em. I wish the color came across better, but alas. Still, I think they're lovely. May knit a pair for myself. Hopefully Em'll enjoy them :-)

Project:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Pattern:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Size:	one size
Yarn:	Caron Simply Soft
Colors:	Country Blue
Needles:	US 5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

ETA: Found the green yarn she mentioned she liked, so am going to cast on for another pair. Did I mention I was crazy? ;-)

So...

I didn't end up blocking my shawls, since I was far too scatterbrained to do it when I had the chance, to that is waiting for another day.

I've been working on Danny's blanket again, which is coming along nicely, even if I do say so myself. I really like the idea of having a blanket in the works at all times - they're great mindless projects to have around. Must take that into consideration once budget allows for that sort of thinking again.

It Sucks...

When you run out of yarn before the project is complete. It really, really does. I am using a new (to me) yarn for the shawl I'm working on. One that I've knit a hundred times (well, not quite that many, but I've made it a lot). I took into account that I would need a little more. Even went so far as to compare it to what I normally used and made an attempt at calculating the difference.

I went up a needle size, and reduced the amount of stitches in order to compensate for the difference in the type of yarn and how it was knitting up. Technically, this should have meant I was using less yarn than I'd anticipated.

Woot! FO # 2!

I just cast off on the second shawl. I love it. It isn't blocked yet (but then, neither is my shawl), but it seems a bit smaller. Used two very different yarns though, so will be curious to see how they end up after they've been blocked.

In the mean time, yay! Another FO already, and a Christmas gift checked off my list. *dances* I wish I could share pictures of it, but obviously that can't happen yet. Sorry to make y'all wait a whole year before seeing it.

I'm not sure what I'll work on next. I think I may give my arm a break for a couple of days though - am feeling the strain of so much crochet ;-)

Interesting

So I was doing laundry at my mother-in-law's today, and working on my shawl. My oldest nephew (who's staying with her for the time being) walked in and saw me. Last time, he saw me knitting the fingerless gloves, and he was interested in those, too.

Today, he asked if I would make him gloves, too. He wanted to have a pair just like the ones I made for MIL (same "pattern" as the ones I posted about, but in Duck's colors; they're on Flickr). I told him I'd think about it, but I wasn't making any promises.

Then, I showed him some cool patterns for amiragumi on Ravelry, and he got all sorts of excited. Not asking if I could make some for him, but I planted the seed for him to learn, and now he wants to learn crochet so he can make gifts, just like I do. I told him to ask MIL, because she crochets better than I do, and (far as I know, at least) can understand patterns, whereas I don't. (Sorry, MIL)

I'm curious to see whether this'll amount to anything. After all, he's an eleven year old boy, who's generally excitable and will talk your ear off about any ol' thing. We shall see, I suppose.

Still, it was interesting. I actually kinda hope he learns. It'll be good for him, I think.

 On another note; I got to wondering about Christmas. I've got a few things in mind already for a few people (and let me just say how good it feels to be in this mindset again), and am pleased to know that I'll soon be done with the first of them. And I have ideas for more. Well, technically I suppose I'm done with one already, since it's already a FO, but yeah, you know what I mean.

I am still trying to work out what to do for certain people, but it's only just February - I still have plenty of time. As of today, 325 days, as a matter of fact. So far, I think I'm doing pretty good.

So what about you? Do you have anything planned for Christmas already?