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

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

Finished Object Friday - Green Lantern Square

I have another one.  These squares are quite addicting and take a small amount of time.  Which as any crafter will tell you, getting something finished and quickly is such a crafting boost.

As I mentioned with the Aquaman Square, I am knitting squared based on The Big Bang Theory episode that featured the Justice League of America.

This is my second attempt at a Colorwork design.  The key with these squares is that they require intarsia knitting.  I still have The Flash and Wonder Woman to come but here is the finished Green Lantern Square

Green Lantern!

As I make more squares the finished blanket becomes clearer and clearer.  Perhaps I will have it done by wintertime!

Check out more Finished Objects at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

Patten - My own (If you are interested in testing send me an email)
Needles - Size 7/4.5 mm with 24 inch cables
Yarn - Comfort Solids & Heathers, in Chalk and Adirondack
Duration - 1 Week
Size - 60 stitches by 60 stitches
Gauge - 5 stitches per inch

WIP Wednesday - Rockets Red Glare!

Happy Fourth of July! I love the Fourth, it reminds me of the picnics at my Great Grandmother's House.  My Aunt would chase me around with Super Soakers and there would a ton of food.  Granted we don't know how to have any sort of gather without a ton of food.  Has anyone ever noticed that the American holidays (July 4th and Thanksgiving) are all about the food?

Anyway this year is very subdued, since the holiday is in the middle of the week.   I am not going home for a picnic this year, instead I was supposed to go to the Pirates game and then stick around the city for the fireworks.  Alas, my plans have been thwarted by a migraine.

So we will see what the rest of the day brings.

As a bit of an update, I had a lovely birthday and it wasn't as bad as I worried about.

Now onto the yarny goodness that is WIP Wednesday!

Diagonal Lace Socks

These have gone to the back burner for the time being. I was working on them for Nerd Wars and the first month ended and I only got one sock done.  

First Sock almost Complete

I am still working on it and hope to finish the pair for the WIP challenge in August.

White Centered Granny Square Blanket
Well these have been a lovely diversion WIP and I had to try out all of the colors this week.  I just wanted to see how everything played together.  I do love these colors.

Don't they all look great!  I am so happy the colors worked out!

I also was able to measure the finished square with the white borders to get estimates for the finished blanket.  Now that I know the blocks are about 5" x 5" I realized that I needed more yarn so I bought more yarn.

Green Lantern Square

I started the next square in my Big Bang Theory/Justice League Series.  I cast on in late June but ripped it out because something didn't work right.  I then recast on in July and now it qualifies for Nerd Wars.  I am so happy with how it is turning out.  Check out how it's turning out!

Taken on Tuesday Morning!

Taken Today!

I should get this done this afternoon.  I am so pleased by how the pattern is working up.  I will share when everything is done.  The Flash is next!

Gryffindor Beanie

This is another one I started but ripped out and can use for Nerd Wars.  This is to go with the Gryffindor Scarf that I am working on.  As soon as the Green Lantern square is done this is next on the list.

So there you have it my WIPs for this week. I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you? For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

Finished Object Friday - Aquaman Square

Hello there! I finished the Aquaman Square at the end of May but didn't get to post until now.  The whole premise of super hero squares  for a blanket came about because I was watching an old episode of The Big Bang Theory TV show.

On the The Justice League Recombination (Episode 4.11) the gang go to a New Year''s Eve party at their local comic book store dressed as the Justice League of America.

So with the idea in mind, I checked the existing patterns and found a few that I could use (Batman and Superman) but needed patterns for Aquaman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, and the Green Lantern. With Excel at the ready, I started to design some squares that would make a blanket.

I started with Aquaman because the lines were pretty straight forward.

Image from DC Comics, Aquaman Archive

I used the above image as inspiration for my square and even had the design vetted by my own local comic book store (Big Bang Comics and Collectibles)!

So now for the reveal!

Outrageous!

So what do you think? I hope to publish the charts when I (and my wonderful test knitters) are done with the first rounds to make sure the chart turns out the way I expect.

Check out more Finished Objects at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

Details:

Patten - My own (If you are interested in testing send me an email)
Needles - Size 7/4.5 mm with 24 inch cables
Yarn -  Comfort Solids & Heathers, in Liquorice, Kidz Orange, Primary Yellow and  Adirondack 
Duration - 1 Week
Size - 60 stitches by 60 stitches
Gauge - 5 stitches per inch

WIP Wednesday - After Midnight

So I am working an off schedule this week so my days and nights are confused for the time being.  While I burn the midnight oil, I have been checking out some new  blogs and making new friends from Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2012.  I had so much fun but was definitely, blogged out for the time being.

Anyway, it's WIP Wednesday so here is my weekly round up!

Progress Picture for 5/2/2012

The following projects are what has been worked on recently.  Starting with Gryffindor Scarf, LEGO Blanket, White Centered Granny Square Blanket, and Hummingbird Sock.

I also made some progress on putting together the pieces for a Square Swap I did last spring.

Spring Ahead Blanket

Anyway,  finished off the skein of green for the Lego Blanket and now have a whole slew of little Lego squares.

So close but so much more work to do!

  

I turned the heel on my Hummingbird Socks!  Now the foot and the decreases.  I plan on starting a toe up sock in a plain pattern then I will start to tackle more challenging socks.

The White Centered Grannies are coming along.  They really area project that I do when I want to craft but have no desire to work on anything else.

Lastly, I have planned a bit of a secret project.  It really is Super!  I mean I don't know if I can do it Justice, but I will try.  I hope to make some progress soon but I was nerdy and already did my swatch!  

Check out other WIPS at  Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

2012 - April Recap

Seriously where is the time going?!?  I am so amazed at the posts I did in April and I really hope you liked them too!  I am sad that the Pens out of the playoffs but there is still a lot of great hockey being played.  I have really progressed with getting those Lego Blocks done and bought a bunch of yarn.  Oops! :o)

Anyway, in May I plan to get that Lego blanket done and finish some of the other WIPs I have going on before starting a bunch of new ones again.  Let's see how that goes.

<3 Heather

Color Lovers - 3KCBWDAY1

Hello!  It's Knit and Crochet Blog Week 2012!  This week will feature topics related to knitting and crochet from various bloggers around the world.

Today's topic is Color!

As I looked over my stash I realized that I really like all of the colors.

I love using bright primary colors for baby blankets!

My WIP LEGO Baby Blanket 

I love crocheting blanket squares in as many colors as possible!

Vanna's Choice Spring Ahead Swap

I love buying yarn in so many colors it makes my head spin!

Look at all of the pretty colors!

While, I have only been knitting and crocheting for about 4 years,  I have noticed some trends in my yarn purchases.  I tend to buy saturated colors.  No pastels for me.  I don't look good in pastels so why make something that I can never wear?   I also noticed that I do buy a lot of green yarn.  Green is my favorite color, so why should't I buy my favorite color.

I love this yarn!

But I also love Orange!  I made my first socks in a lovely peachy orange yarn that was great to work with and the socks are so comfy.

Don't these look like a sunset?

So what does it all mean? Why do I like color so much?  I think it's because there is color everywhere.  I remember in art class our teacher telling us that the clouds are not white, in fact they are everything but white.  At that moment I really started to look at colors in a new way.  I notice the undertones, the highlights and the shades that make every color unique, that is why I like color so much.

Yes, I may like bright and saturated colors but really I am just trying to capture a bit of the world around me and bring it inside when I knit or crochet.

This was taken in Washington at a Tulip Festival

Who doesn't love a rainbow?  Or a field of flowers?  Or bright blue skies?  Or breathtaking sunsets?

So I use what I love and I love colors that make me happy.  Because there can always be a little more happiness in the world!

<3 Heather

Please visit eskimimi makes for more information about the blog week or search 3KCBWDAY1 for other great posts!

Requests are the Best!

So Pumpkin of Pumpkin Spins asked to see my new yarn purchases so here it is!

New Yarn Purchases

From left to right here is what I got:

• Knit Picks - Stroll Hand Painted Yarn in County Fair
• Knit Picks - Felici Fingering Self Striping Yarn in Hummingbird
• Candy Skein - Yummy Fingering Yarn in the March Colorway Leprechaun Lollipop

So there you have it, my latest purchases!  What do you think?  I think they are going to be awesome socks someday.

<3 Heather

Finished Object Friday - Green Merlot Hat

Oi, this week has been really busy.  I had an exam to prep for and take on Wednesday and now I am preparing for a conference I am presenting at tomorrow.  I have a presentation to write and other tasks to get done.  I enjoy busy weeks and I hope to share that with everyone more as well as all of my crafting goodness. 

We are here again at finished object Friday and while I haven't made a ton of headway on some of the WIPs I talked about on Wednesday and I started another one last night [oops :-) ].  I do have a project that I finished very early Saturday morning (like 1 AM early).  You may remember this post from the beginning of the month and I updated a bit throughout the month as well but now it's done. 

That's me.  Don't you love my new glasses?

I planned on taking another picture cause I was having a good hair day yesterday but time slipped away from me and I have 4 WIPs going on and stack of books calling my name so I didn't get a new picture.

This hat was a really easy knit and I will definitely make it again but I think I will cast on more stitches to make it a bit bigger and looser.  It's supposed to be slouchy but it's more form fitting than slouchy.  [Or maybe I have a bigger head than I thought ;-)]

Aren't the buttons adorable?

I may have mentioned but green is my favorite color.  I love spring or kelly green.  It tends to be flattering and brings out the green in my eyes.  I also have wristlets in  my queue to go with the hat but I want to get some other stuff done first.  I do have the yarn though and I think it compliments the hat well, don't you?

Sour Apple from Candy Skein

In other news, I do hope to expand my content a bit. Here are some details on what's to come (don't you just love lists?)

1. I am going to try and capture what I am reading.  I read so quickly that taking pictures about it will really require me to be on top of things. 
2. More cooking and baking.  I must remember to keep my camera with me at all times! 
3. I hope to talk more about my memories and upcoming adventures.
4. Pictures.  I have a new camera and I need to get out there and find awesome stuff and capture it

Until next time, here are some awesome finished objects from other bloggers found on Tami's Amis' Blog  Check them out!

<3 Heather

Green Merlot Hat:

My additional details and notes are found here

Patten - Merlot (can also be found on the Author's Website)
Needles - Size 8/5 mm with 16 inch cables and Size 8 double needles
Yarn - King Cole Merino Aran Yarn in Green (Note this did make my bamboo needle tips green as well) Used about 75 g of yarn
Duration - Little more than 1 month (Set aside to finish baby blanket so probably 5 nights work)