WIP Wednesday - Stripes!

Well then, we are back to our regularly scheduled programming.  Hope you all had a good week.

Yesterday I got all sorts of wires crossed.  I thought I had training at the gym (it's tonight) so I left work with plenty of time to get there and change.  As soon as I got to my car, my left contact started to swim around my eye and burn.  Of course I don't have any solution with me or my glasses to rectify the situation.

 I also had a feeling I was missing something and looked in my bag for the gym and realized I forgot sneakers.  So in the 40 minutes until my (supposed) session I stopped at Kohls to get another pair of sneakers and the grocery store to get contact solution and booked it to the gym.

I made it with 10 minutes to spare to change and deal with my contact.  Only to find out that I was a day early for my session. GAH!!!!!!  So I stayed and did some cardio and left.  Unfortunately, my contact was still not cooperating so I took it out.  So I drove home like a pirate with one eye closed.

In other new, things keep flying off the needles but as fast as they come off more get started so here is my crafty update.

High Tea during a Hurricane

Love the Spirals

So I have been moving along on this hat.  You have to love Aran weight yarn because everything just knits up so fast!  I am in a dilema because I passed the point to start decreasing about an inch ago but I want to use up the yarn to get the full effect of the evolution.  So I don't know whether to keep on knitting or just bite the bullet and start the decreases.  Any advise here is welcome!

Candy Skein Leftie

Back in the Saddle

So after finishing a few things, this was high on the list to get started again.  Unfortunately the reason why this project was in time out was because of some discoloration that occured.  I stupidly left this project exposed to the sun in my car in June.  The heat and the rays changed large sections of the grey to a patina green (that color copper oxidizes to).  So I had to rip out several sections to fix the problem.  Due to the heartbreak that 20 minutes of ripping back stitches that was several nights worth of work, this project went into hibernation.

Now I just want to finish it!  I have so many other things that I want to make and this has langoured enough.  Hopefully this will go faster now that I am back at work on it.

Oh La La!

I made a swatch!

So while there are plenty of project that have been on the needles for a while, a girl just needs something new to be excited about.  After finishing my Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan I have been hankering to make another sweater.  I have a few lots of yarn ready to go but have to wait because I don't want to spend months on something that I can only wear for a week due to my weight loss.
But this cardigan seems pretty forgiving.  It's constructed differently from my Shapely Boyfriend but is still seamless.  I even had most of yarn in my stash but I still needed to order a bit more.

Blue Green and Brown Sweater

In an effort to keep my excitement about the project, I made my swatch to test the yarn, needles, and fabric.  As you can see above the yarn is working beautifully.  There is a nice drape and the color had minimal bleeding in the wash.

Now to dream about my package to arrive so I can cast on.

So that's all for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

<3 Heather

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 - An Abundance of Stripes

Isn't it funny how we follow certain trends?  Lately I have been on a stripe kick.  All of my projects   both in progress and planned involve some sort of striping.  I think it's the striking profile they set and the blend of the colors of yarn that just make look at every pattern in my queue and try and figure out how I can stripe it.  I even bought yarn at Maryland with stripes in mind.

This week was a bit slow but I made some progress on two projects.

Hue Shift Afghan

Hue Shift is Quadrant 1 is almost done!

So I have been trying to one-a-day this project.  I have been somewhat successful at getting one square done a day but my progress is more like 2 every other day.  A girl can only make so many mitered squares before she loses her marbles.  I have three more squares done and started on another quadrant as a bit of a change.  Yay for the blues!  Really I want to finish all of the squares that have purple to see if I need to order more yarn.  All in all, I have been watching the KAL threads and the finished blankets are definitely providing some motivation to keep knitting.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

Htichhiking along

Sue commented last week that I was the third blog she read that was making Hitchhiker.  This pattern is so easy and can be very stunning when completed.  Plus this is a great pattern to stripe.  The garter ridges make counting the rows between the teeth a breeze and the color change just looks stunning.

One think that has surprised me is the amount of yarn I have used up until this point.  I bought two 50 gram skeins of Mini Mochi and one 100 gram skein of Cascade Heritage Silk (CHS).  I am over half way through and I am still working on the first skein of Mini Mochi and the CHS still feels like it's brand new.  Perhaps the yardage is bigger than I thought but I wanted to use all of the yarn for this one but the size is getting quite big.

The Flash Square
Candy Skein Leftie

I didn't get as much done on these projects this week but I have plans to finish the Flash square this month for Nerd Wars.  Also, I want to finish one of these shawls for Nerd Wars as well.  Lots of knitting to be done between now and the end of the month.

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 - Err Thursday? #2

Hello again, don't you just love the start of June?  I do.  I may not be a fan of the heat and humidity but early June is one of the best times of the year.  School is getting out, summer plans are being made and the season just brings a lovely energy to the community.

The temperature in early June is warm but not oppressive.  The nights are cool or as my mom would say "Good sleeping weather."  Plus the flowers are starting to bloom and perfume the air.

My favorite smell is honeysuckle that grows wild along some roads.  Particularly on the way home from my dad's house.  There is a stretch where the hillside is just full of the flowers and the air just smells sweet and clean.

It's those smells this morning on my way to work that reminded me that I should enjoy the weather before it gets too hot or too busy during the summer.

Speaking of busy, yesterday came and went and I forgot to take pictures so this post is a bit later than I would like but I wanted to update everyone on my progress.

Candy Skein Leftie

Lucky Shawl?

So it is with a frustrated heart that I update you all on the Penguins.  You may have noticed my series of playoff recap posts.  The Pens have made it deep into the playoffs and this round decides who goes on to the play for the Stanley Cup.  It is with a sad heart that I report to you that my beloved Pens are down 3 games in the best of 7 series.  The game tomorrow faces elimination and a sweep.  I am so distraught.

During the first game, I did my pregame rituals.  I got my knitting out, the shirt on the game on the ipad and started to watch.  It was an epic fail.  The next game not much better.  Last night, double overtime and a loss.  I don't know what else I can do but I keep working on the shawl to hope the good vibes help the team make an epic comeback.

Justice League Filler Squares

Just a square but it's going in an epic blanket

Before the round started, I wanted to work on something but didn't want to finish the Leftie too quickly so I started another filler square for my Justice League Blanket.  These blocks are fairly easy and mindless stockinette that can be taken anywhere.  The image above shows the 40 rows I have so far and I should get the rest done tonight at knit night.

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

I ended up ripping this project out.  I just couldn't justify the time to make the shawl when I wasn't excited about doing the shawl or even wearing the shawl.  I learned a lot about using beads, reading charts and there are some aspects that were worth the time I took on the piece.  Instead I am going to use the yarn to make Lunar Tide.  It has a similar cable cast off that I can add beads too like the Juego and still have something that excites me and that I would wear.

Hue Shift Afghan

The latest addition to the afghan

Glamour Shot :)

I didn't work on this blanket but I did finally get some new pictures to show you.  Enjoy :)

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 - 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

WIP Wedneday - Hockey Knitting

After watching game 1 last night of the Pens/Senators series, I have calmed down a bit.  The series is still going to hard fought and gritty but I liked the Pens play last night better than anything in the first series against the Islanders.

As I mentioned in my first playoff post, I really got into crochet and knitting during the 2009-2010 season because it was just enough distraction that I could watch the game but not get so invested that the vein in my forehead would pulse.

In all seriousness, it was bound that I would knit because I really liked to crochet but wanted to learn something new, so here we are 4ish years later and I am still working on new and interesting things.  But as any knitter in the Pens Rav Group will tell you, superstition is a very tricky thing.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

Ooo Stripes!

During the first series, I picked up the Hitchhiker.  I had already started it and it's turning out really pretty and the pattern is super easy.  So why switch when one project is close to being done.  I have 32 teeth done and need to get to at least 42.

As the series went on, the Pens play was mediocre but I kept knitting and watching.  During the last game, I got so exasperated  I put my knitting down and picked up my ipad and started to read a book because it could block out the screen.  It wasn't an immediate recovery, but they ended up wining.  When I then thought back to the other games the Pens won, the hitchhiker was no where near my fingers when they played well.  So into the craft bag for you dear shawl.  See you on non- game days.

Candy Skein Leftie

So last night, I picked up the Leftie to knit the last part of the green leaf.  I had worked on it a bit last Thursday but didn't finish the row.  I wanted to finish the row and then I was going to go back to the hitchhiker.  However, when I looked up at the game while my hands worked the stitches I noticed the play on the screen.  These were not the pod penguins that showed up in series 1 these were the guys I knew and loved.  So my hands kept knitting.  I worked on that shawl all night.  Back and forth I went in the grey and the team was very dominant in the offensive zone.

Here is what has been accomplished so far

As they played, I realized I just found my playoff knitting.  But there is some credence to this project.  Tami from CandySkein is a Pens fan and since she dyed the yarn there was definitely good juju on the yarn.  Seriously, these things matter!

I know to those who may not follow the sport, this account seems a little silly but as hockey fans we are very superstitious.

It's only weird if it doesn't work!  (I know it's about football but it still applies here!)

Okay that's better.

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

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - WIP-ogamy

Hello everyone, I hope the week has been treating you well.  I think the yarn fumes in my head have finally disapated and now the little devil on my shoulder are starting to tell me to cast on all the things.

Cast on all the Things!  From memegenerator.net
with inspiration from Hyperbole and a Half

So instead of casting on all the things, I am practicing a little WIP-ogamy.  Yes that's right, I am using restraint and trying to get some of the projects that have been on the books for awhile done.
Call it spring cleaning, call it lazy but I just want to get this stuff done and show everyone the wonderful things I have made.

But it's hard!  Really hard!  Did you see my post on Tuesday?  All of that pretty yarn that is just calling to be wound and cast on.  Thankfully, I left my swift and ball winder in the car from a yarn winding party with Samie from NotYourGramsAfghan.

So while tempted, I haven't brought the equipment in to wind the yarn and my laziness is my only saving grace.

Now on to what I working on.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

Oh it's so stripy and shiny!

So this has been the main project as of late.  It's super easy to keep track of where I am going because the pattern is a 4 row repeat and I can count the stripes!  I have 30 teeth done so far.  I am supposed to stop at 42 but I don't see that happening.  I am just going to knit until I run out of yarn!

Look at all of the teeth!

Overall, I got so many compliments on this while I worked on it at Maryland Sheep and Wool.  It's so simple but is so stunning at the same time.  I do have another Hitchhiker in the works as well.  It's a solid colored shawl using SpaceCadetCreations yarn in the Estelle base.  It's a lovely Rosey Pink Color called Juicey but alas I don't have a picture yet.

Candy Skein Leftie

Isn't it lovely?

Every new leaf becomes my favorite.  I am so happy to knit this shawl but it hasn't gotten as much attention as it should have.  Since the Hitchhiker is so easy, I just keep working on that.

Such pretty colors!

Anyway, since my last update, I have 2 more leaves done and another ready to start.

Hue Shift Afghan

I don't have a picture but I did complete a new square with the peach color to start a new row.  I am trying to challenge myself to get 3 squares done a week.  We will see how that goes.

So that's about it.  I can't guarantee that I won't start something this weekend but I am going to try and get these done first.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Shawl Overload

Hello again!  Life is settling back to normal and I can eek out a few moments to clear my thoughts and post.

My spring cleaning has been going well and I got some cleaning accomplished this week.  I cleaned out my fridge and pitched any thing that was expired and bought new.  I still have to mop and do a thorough wipe down of the cabinets and stove.  I took off for Good Friday this week so hopefully I can get that done.

I still have to work on the other rooms but a little bit at a time does wonders!  Oh and speaking of wonders, I found a great new app for cleaning called Brightnest.  Basically they have suggested tasks and you can schedule them.  Then you get an email or alert to remind you to do them.  I admit that this definitely helped to get the fridge cleaned out and my sink shiny.

Speaking of Spring, where is it?  I want daffodils, tulips, crocuses and hyacinths.  Seriously fragrent bulb flowers are my favorite part of spring.  So where are you spring?

We got snow last night?  It will melt by this afternoon.

I got a new toy this week!  I bought a light box, lights and a small tripod.  This means I can stage gorgeous shots of my yarn!  I know I promised images last week but I think the wait may be worth it. ;-)

So let's talk about what I have been working on that's fun.

Candy Skein Leftie

Instagram picture but don't the colors just pop?

Well when I last posted I had only a picture through the green and completed through the blue.  I got so much more done this week.  I think the red is my favorite so far but all of the colors are just gorgeous.  Especially with the Instagram filters.

I had a great low-key weekend and spent most of it lounging in bed watching NCIS and knitting Leftie.  It was really nice to just hang out instead of run around like I have been.

Overall, this project is coming along because it's easy to get 6 garter ridges and then start on a new color. Even though this is probably going to be as big as the Trillian, it feels easier because it's broken into little parts.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

Tropical Ginger!

The other project on the needles is the Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker.  This is another case of small accomplishment because it's an 8 row repeat to make each tooth.  The color change ads an extra bit of dynamic that makes it easy to just sit and knit.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Butterscotch!

Okay this post has absolutely nothing to do with butterscotch other than that is a common word to leave my mouth as an alternative to the expletive that I am thinking.  Really it has been a butterscotching month since I last posted.  I didn't even post a monthly recap because I only posted once in February.

Chatting a lot here in the beginning so here is something pretty to look at :P

Seriously, I didn't forget about this and everyone it's just that every week Wednesday would come and go.  I had great intentions to get posts up about what I was working on and what was going on in my life but the time would pass and I would just plan on the next week.

Mostly, it frustrates me that I didn't blog because it does help to put some things into focus for me.  It helps me to summarize me thoughts and tell little stories which help in my everyday life as well.

So you first, how are you?

Oh Really?  Do go on!

That's lovely!

Work in general has been busy.  I am not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing but my time during the day just flies past.  This week is the first time in a month that 90% of my time isn't booked and it's nice to get some time to think and reflect.

Outside of work, has been okay.  I had a midterm, spring break and back to class again.  I didn't do so hot on the exam. (read: really bad)  I don't know what happened but now I have to bust my butterscotch to scrap through.  Keep me in your thoughts and wish me luck.

Home is okay.  I am working through cleaning up my place and starting spring cleaning.  I really need to wash the walls, wash the curtains, and vacuum everything.  Winter brings such yucky stuff inside.  On top of that, I need to convince my dad to clean too.  He's not a slob or anything but would never dream that you should wash the curtains.

My Living Room

Also Easter is steadily approaching and I really need to think about what to make for dinner and who will be coming.  Seriously, who schedules these holidays so close together?  All in all, work, school and knitting have been keeping me busy.

On an update, POK has already gotten her pattern.  The yarn is ready but I need to make the stitch markers.  I didn't forget just working on finding the time :).

So let's talk about what I have been working on that's fun rather than work.

Candy Skein Leftie

5 colors!

I have been busy getting another project done but I did manage to get more leaves on my Leftie.  I have through the blue actually done but this is the most recent picture that I have.  I kinda like the color changes because its a small sense of accomplishment. each time I get to switch to a color.  The colors are hard to photograph with my phone so I am going to have to break out the big camera to show how gorgeous the colors are doing.

Tropical Ginger Hitchhiker

The orangey color is actually the Crystal Palace Mini Mochi shown above in Tropical Ginger.  I really hope to get to the other colors soon.  I bought this yarn in January for the sole purpose of making a striped Hitchhiker.   The white is a lovely Heritage Silk from Cascade in Snow.

I know I know I barely got one project off the needles and started another.  But you have to realize this is an accomplishment.  I looked at the yarn for over a month on my knitting chair (green one above) until the needles opened up and I could cast on.  Really that's huge.  I am trying to finish things this year so I am sparingly* buying yarn and planning ahead in an effort to get things done.

*Starting now I mean, because 2 grab bags of Wollmeise and 2 skeins of yarn from Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet do not count.  Because I said so :P

Anyway,  I did get some yarn earlier in the year that I want to show off so that maybe a post for tomorrow if I get the pictures tonight.

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Err Thursday?

This week I finally managed to find the time to post.  This month has been weeks of testing at work and exhaustion.  Needless to say, I am a little late in picking my giveaway winner.  So let's discuss that first.

I received 33 entries for the giveaway and yesterday through the help of a random number generator, I am happy to congratulate POK as the winner of the giveaway.  I will also email you to let you know.  If you are reading this think about what color stitch markers you want and what pattern you would like.

Congrats POK!

So with that awarded let's talk about what I have been working on.

Sun and Stars Trillian

This is getting really big!

I have spent a lot of time working on this shawl over the past couple of weeks.  I have about 150 of the 191 stitches before I finish the last border.  I think this is going to be so lovely once it's done.  The yarn pooled again but the stripey effect is gorgeous too.

I was lagging on this a bit but I got new ChiaoGoo Red Lace knitting needles and I am so excited.  These needles aren't catching the yarn and the cord is really nice.  I am going to save my pennies to get a set of interchangeables.


Candy Skein Leftie

The base is more grey than the blue shown in this image

I actually got 2 new pairs of needles and couldn't wait to cast on something new.  I have been patiently waiting for the Trillian to get done but I gave in and cast on for this shawl.  Samie from NotYourGramsAfghan got me the Rainbow Mini Skeins for Christmas and I worked with Tami to get the base color which is Blackberry.

So after some creative winding (read: Big ball of knots on my lap) I got started.  I have up through the Lime green color done.  I just keep wanting to add colors.

What do you think?

Well that's it for this week.    For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather