WIP Wednesday - Mitts and Lights

Hello again!  Welcome to December and all of the craziness of the upcoming holiday season.  I had a lovely Thanksgiving and then did some serious shopping the rest of the weekend.  I fell hard at Candy Skein and bought enough yarn for a sweater.  Now that I finished my cardigan, I want to knit all the sweaters!

Anyway, I have been listening to Christmas carols non stop and thinking about what I am going to get for my family and friends.  I also have plans to get some shortbread made as gifts for my swap partners.  Oh the lists keep on growing!

Ginger Ale Podsters

One down, One to go

I was clearly productive in the time off of work during the holidays.  I went from one cuff to a 1.5 completed mitts.  I have since weaved all of the ends in on the left mitt and started the fingers for the right mitt.  I hope to get the right one done tonight because I still have a hat to make for a gift.  

One thing I can say is that, while I like the finished result, this pattern is riddled with mistakes and some issues.  I followed the size small directions so far an had to make some modifications, thankfully I get the general construction and was able to fix some things.

Rigging Up the Color Affection

Pretty Colored Lights!

I have had a Color Affection on my to do list for ages but hadn't found anything that inspired me to make the shawl.  Now if your a frequent visitor her at the musings, then you know I like me a garter shawl.  Anyway, I was inspired by Candy Affection by Maria of Kiwiria Knits and I found this lovely yarn at the Pittsburgh Indie Knit and Spin Festival.  When I saw the sparkily multicolored yarn from Fibernymph Dye Works I know it had to be a shawl. 

So I picked a lovely grey and went home to check out my stash for the third color.  I had a lovely teal blue in Shalimar Yarns Breathless and knew I found my set of colors.

So as soon as December rolled around I got my needles moving and started this shawl.  I am really pleased so far but I can't wait for the colors to start to blend and meld together.  But the stripy pattern is pretty awesome too!

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Shifting Hues 3

Holy Rain Batman!  We have had some severe weather today that has caused flash flooding.  We don't generally get a ton of severe weather (i.e. tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires) but we do have a lot of creeks and watersheds that rise quickly when we get a lot of rain.  Needless to say, my commute this morning was rainy and gray.  Thankfully I am inside now and can get on with my day.

Hue Shift Afghan

Quadrant 2

Quadrant 4

On to the knitting, I was a bit possessed this week in working on the Hue Shift blanket.  I wanted to create all of the remaining purple squares to judge my usage.  The yarn that was recommended for the pattern ran short for a lot of knitters and I wanted to make sure I had enough.

In a week, I got the 10 squares done in purple and I weighed my yarn.  I have 30 grams left over.  So with that in mind, I am now just finishing quadrant two and then I will pick up quadrant 4 and make that section.

So far the blues, green and yellow look lovely.  I was getting tired of the reds and pinks and these cool colors are a nice change.  I don't think I can keep up this pace but I am going to enjoy it while I have it and then put it aside.  I also promised myself not work on them on Thursday during knit night to give myself a break and some variation.

Anyway, that was my week.  Hope yours is going well.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Superheroes

I have been hard at work this week and weekend.  I was off from work last Friday (and the rest of the weekend) and mostly spent the day doing laundry, reading and knitting.  I got all of my laundry washed and dried but I still have baskets of clothes to fold and hang.  I hate that step.

Since most of my weekend was spent knitting here is my update:

Candy Skein Leftie

Lucky Shawl at Primanti Bros for the Pens/Sens Game 5

The shawl was out and in progress during Wednesday and Friday's games.  As soon as the knitting bag was opened, they scored.  I know it sounds crazy but us superstitious fans must do their part too.

Since I am in hockey withdrawal until Saturday (when the Pens take on the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals) I decided to save the lucky shawl until the new series starts.  Those are going to be nail biters that will need the lucky shawl.

Juego Sin Fin en el Verano (Endless Juego in Summer)

I did another section of Clue Two of my Juego.  Now that all of the clues are out, the shawl looks really nice completed though I wonder where I will ever wear this shawl.  It's really not to my taste.  Perhaps I will give it away to my grandmother when it's done.

Justice League Filler Squares

Just a Blue Square

Since I was set aside my Leftie until the next series, I decided to work on the filler square that has been in progress since December (oops!).  This was just a plain blue square of 60X60 stitches but they are very important for the Justice League Blanket I have planned.  As of right now, I have the Red, Orange and Blue Squares complete.

Instead of jumping straight into another solid square I started to look at my plans and decided to put some squares together and see how the join would work.

A little bit of progress really motivates you

Once I started to weave in the seams I became really pleased with the result.  This method as shown in the video above does not show the join and it just looks like I switched yarns.  There is a bit of a ridge on the back but I am going to put a back on the blanket to hide all of the yarn tails and seams.

When this was done, I decided to start and ultimately finished another super hero square which I will show on Friday.  Now all that's left of this column is one solid green square.

Anyway, that was my week.  Hope yours is going well.

#letsgopens

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Beautiful and Bright

I often think of my blog on my way to work on Wednesdays.  As I drive across a bridge, the colors often inspire what I start my post about.  Today, the colors were just so vivid.  The trees are finally at their greenest and the pale blue sky just made the color stand out.  The bright orange of the construction sign contrasted with the blue steel of the bridge and the red car in front of me.

Anyway, these colors are great examples of why I love colorful projects.  I love using the rainbow of colors at my fingertips to make something beautiful and bright.

Candy Skein Leftie

Let's Go Pens!

Well my lucky Leftie got a bit larger this week and the Pittsburgh Penguins advanced to a 2-1 lead over the Ottawa Senators.  I did knit on it during the third game but with a minute left I put it away because I thought we were going to win.  Clearly it needs to be out and in progress during the entire game.

Juicy Hitchhiker

Pretty Pink and Purple Hitchhiker

So I have mentioned this shawl when talking about Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker but I haven't had a chance to get a good picture or much work on it.  Thankfully, I had a lot of time yesterday where I worked on at the Election Polls.  We didn't have a great turn out for our local primary but I had 15 hours where I had to occupy myself and reading and knitting were my favorite options.  I needed something easy that could be picked up and put down and this shawl fits those requirements.  I also worked on a solid Justice League Square as well.

There was a part of me that wanted to finish the other hitchhiker but it is still benched.  Honestly it had better be late June before that thing is worked on again.  (read: Stanley Cup Finals are in the middle of June)


Juego Sin Fin en el Verano (Endless Juego in Summer)

I am working on the Juego Knit-A-Long with SpaceCadetCreations in Celeste base.  The colors are Endless Summer and Burnt Clay.  The Endless Summer was a Yarn Alliance exclusive from last September.  I love the green blue and orange that is weaving it's way around clue one and clue two is starting to grow on me.  I wasn't too keen on the clue at first but seeing the later clues has enabled me to keep working on it.  The burnt clay is really lovely and I just love squishing the ball I wound.

I have kept my swift and yarn winder in my car as well as my Maryland yarn to avoid the temptation to start all the projects but I really need to bring it in soon.  Anyway, I put two large Pens tumblers on the floor and stretched the yarn around it to wind the ball for this project.  It worked fairly well.  I tried it again for Leftie and it was a bit messy (Huge honking knots)!

Anyway, that was my week.  Hope yours is going well.

#letsgopens

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

Maryland Sheep and Wool 2013

Hello all, I have been having a great week so far but really I think it's the left over yarn fumes from this weekend.

This past weekend, I was at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  This was my first year there and I had a blast.  I traveled with Samie from NotYourGramsAfghan and our friend Alyse from our knit night.  We are all about the same age and had a blast on the drive to and from Maryland listening to music and talking.  Seriously, I cannot not listen to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' Can't Hold Us without giggling.  I put my hands up every time they mentioned it in the car, even though I was driving.  Try not to smile or bounce your head while listening to these guys.

So I know what you're thinking...get to the yarn!  Okay okay, be prepared for picture overload.

Ooo the coveted bag!

So let me show you what's inside of the bag.

Look at all of the pretty yarn!

So I have plans for all of this.  I got 2 Color Affection kits from Miss Babs.  One is for a traditional Color Affection and the other is for Happy Street.  I also got the show colorway.

For Color Affection

For Happy Street

Show Color - Maryland 2013

DragonFly Fibers - Silver Fox

As for the rest of the yarn, most of the colors are neutrals to make stripey shawls with my stash.  I have plans for Cameo, Zeypher Cove, Cladonia, Mormorio, Twice Born, and Merging Ripples.

Cephalopod Yarns - Oleander Nymph

FiberOptic Yarns - Au Natural

Cephalopod Yarns - Pandorus Sphinx Caterpillar

I did however get yarn for Sundry.  I got 2 skeins of Bugga! from The Verdant Gryphon for that pattern.

Bugga! - Experimental Love Child

Bugga! - Longhorned Beetle

 I did get some lovely colors from Into the Whirled Yarn.  Seriously love the colors and the names are right up my speed.  I will impulse buy yarn based on the name.  Check these out.

Bigger on the Inside

Pamukkale

Finished Object Friday - Ravenclaw Beanie

Hello again!  Well it appears as though the world did not come to an end today.  Somewhere in Asia, it already December 22nd so I think we are good.  Anyway, even though my birthday is right around the Summer Solstice, the Winter Solstice is my favorite.  We are going through the shortest day of the year but tomorrow is a little bit longer, and the next day is longer.   How can you not be encouraged by a little more sunshine each day until June.

Anyway, I am dreadfully behind on Christmas.  Shopping is far from done, some baking is done, some decorating is done.  But all in all I have a busy couple of days ahead of me until Christmas and then it's off to Anaheim.

Well enough blather for one Friday, let's get down to yarn.

If you will remember, I made the Gryffindor Set for my Boss' daughter as a going away present for college.  Granted she was home on break when she got it but it was still warm out.  As a result, of my efforts I began to feel bad about not making anything for my Boss' son so when she approached him about it, he was super excited to get a Ravenclaw Beanie.

I love making hats because they are instant gratification when it comes to projects.  Round and round and some decreases and voila your done.  I am really pleased with this hat because it looks nice and masculine but is totally Harry Potter through and through.

Look ma!, a Ravenclaw!

While the move made the accessories in Blue and Grey, I chose to go book style and use a coppery/bronze color to accent the blue.  The picture is showing the color as more Royal but it's navy.

I already passes this along to my boss and he will get it on Christmas.  I hope he likes it!

There is a huge part of me that wants to whip up a Hufflepuff hat for myself.  I have enough Black and Gold. Keep your eyes peeled for another hat from this pattern.

Check out more Finished Objects at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

Now for the Details:

Ravelry Page - Hogwarts Beanie - Ravenclaw
Needles - Size 8/5.0 mm Circular Needles/Double Pointed Needles
Yarn - 
0.56 Skeins of Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in 848 - Navy
0.05 Skeins of Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted in 175 - Jewel Gold
Duration - 15 hours of work
Pattern - House Hats from Charmed Knits

WIP Wednesday - Shifting Hues

Hello all, I had a great weekend.  Friday was low key but lovely as my family and I attended an All Soul's Day Mass.  They rang a bell and lit a candle for my Mother.  As expected it was challenging but it wasn't as hard as I anticipated.  Following that we went to dinner for an early birthday celebration for my Dad.

Saturday, we went to the casino and while I did not win anything my Dad won $200.  Beginners Luck :)

I had plans to get my Sock the Vote Socks done but that didn't happen, given all of those plans.

In other news, I am happy to be on the other side of elections now and no longer have to watch all of the political attack ads on TV.  While I am truly humbled by our right to vote and decide on the leaders of our country, states, and communities, those ads drive me bonkers.

Speaking of bonkers, I realized I have far to many projects going on right now but here is my update.

Hue Shift Afghan

Lots of ends to weave in.  :(

I managed keep up with my one a day goal and have 5 blocks finished and the 6th started.  I am pleased with how soft and smooshy the Stylecraft is working up and it doesn't squeak on the needles like some other acrylic does.

I have had a series of oopsies that have delayed my one a day progress.  I had to rip out the yellow and purple square because I miscounted and I had to throw in a life line and rip out most of the bright pink and purple square because I put the decrease in the wrong spot.  Let's hope those boo boos are behind me.

One thing this is helping is that I have to pick of stitches or cast on so it's abating my startits.  I get the rush of beginning something with every new square.

Overall, I think this is moving along well.  However, in the Knit A Longs and the forums, there are rumblings that the 100 grams of Brava may not be enough yarn for the whole blanket.  With Christmas coming up, I will work until I run out and then order again.

I can't believe I am saying this but I am glad my purple row is done because I got annoyed with seeing those stripes.  I can't wait to start the blues and greens.

STV Spiffy Iffy Peresphone's Return! Socks, Ohh Shapely Boyfriend, and  Justice League Filler Squares are stalled this week what with the allure of the Hue Shift Afghan.  I do plug away at a few rows of the Sweet Azalea Shawl and the Diagonal Lace Socks but no new photos to share. I need to work on that.

So wish me luck and hope that I can get out from under my WIP overload, how are you all fairing?

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams   

<3 Heather

Color Me Tired

Hello all, honestly I meant to post this yesterday to talk about my awesome weekend but I was beat.  Life has been pretty busy.  I start back in school this week and already there is drama.  One of my required classes for degree completion is right in the middle of the day.  I tired to find a way to work around the time but unfortunately, that isn't going to work.  Now I have an inquiry to see if an independent study could work to replace the class requirement.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Anyway, this weekend I participated in the Color Me Rad 5K.  It wrapped around a part of the county fair grounds.  Now if your not familiar with the topography of Southwestern PA, it's quite hilly here due to the lowland from the Allegheny mountains and ravines from the rivers.  It makes for a lush green and rolling hill local but you can't escape the hills and these three miles were pretty hilly.

Needless to say, my behind was sore the rest of the weekend because have of the 5k was all uphill.  Granted the second half was back down hill but it was still brutal.

So why was this so great, because I felt like a kid again.  The whole point of the 5K, (aside from raising money for Ronald McDonald House Charities) was to get coated in dyed corn starch.

This was after the 5K, taken by my friend Steph

Don't I look beautiful!  I had a blast even though my toes and arm are still blue. I felt like a hand dyed skein of yarn and even I made sure to soak my shirt in vinegar to set the colors.

Given the hill climb, there were plenty of times that I wanted to quit but I just kept walking because I wanted to be covered with the next color.

So that was my weekend.  How was yours?  Was it as colorful?

<3 Heather