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 - Turkey?

I am a bit early but I wanted to wish all of my USA readers a Happy Thanksgiving.  Whether you eat lots of turkey, watch football, or shop til you drop I hope the holiday brings peace and happiness to your family.  To those not celebrating, happy Wednesday!

Well the weather outside was supposed to be frightful but gobble-geddon was fairly lack luster.  We got some some snow but the ground temperature was still warm enough that it barely accumulated.  We had more of a slushy snow than a fluffy one.  In years past we haven't really had snow until December but this is the third of November.  I hope this winter isn't too cold.

Gobblegeddon!

This week was really productive.  I combined and edited the paper for my class.  I also met with my dad to help pick out new shoes for my Grandmother's birthday, which is today!  Overall, this has been a laid back week.

Shapely Boyfriend

Another sneak peek!

Given the weather, I didn't want to venture out and run errands so I worked on my sweater instead.  I am proud to say that it's finished.  Okay ends still need weaved and it could do with a wash before I posted a FO but darn it the garment is finished and I am proud of it.

Ginger Ale Podsters

Podsters!

So due to the upcoming Nerd War Swap there are the next priority item.  The hat is already done and these are the matching mitts.  I need to get a move on so I can send this out by December 18th.  I mentioned last week that the 2 at a time attempt was less than steller so I am just doing these one at a time.  I have 9 more rows to finish cuff one and then I can work on cuff 2.

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 - The Holidays Are Coming!

I feel like there should be screaming and pandemonium, when I read this weeks title.  This time next week I will be scrambling to get the ingredients for the side dish I am taking to Thanksgiving dinner.  But for now I am in gift making and buying mode.  I am in two holiday swaps.  One if for our local knitting group and I am just about done with that one.  Muwahahaha!  I need to order something but other than that I am done!  Woot.  The other one is for Nerd Wars.  I am well on my way with progress for that one so yippy.

As far as other shopping goes, I think I know what I will get everyone but haven't had an opportunity to shop.  I usually wait until after Thankgiving to do my shopping but because it's so late this year I may have to start this weekend.  There are only 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Aieeeeee!  

Shapely Boyfriend

Arm number two.

I have to say the picture above makes me think of something that was scandalous in Georgian England.  Seriously it's just a bit of shoulder and arm.  How racy :)  Perhaps I need to lay off the historical romances...

Anyway due to swap projects in the works I put this aside the later part of the week.  I cast off the first sleeve last week and got a lot done on Thursday but didn't manage to finish it like I hoped.  I should be able to finish it tonight and get started on the button band.

Mint Ginger Ale Soda

A Sneak Peek!

So I mentioned that I started and finished this guy between last week's post.  I love making hats, so quick and satisfying.  The pattern is called Cherry Soda/Orange Soda and while I call all fizzy drinks pop, I needed a green soda to name my hat.  Ginger ale came to mind but not just any ginger ale but Mint Ginger Ale.  I love this stuff, it totally reminds me of the holidays because that's when its available.  Apparently it's a Pittsburgh thing but this is my drink of choice around Christmas time.  Anyway the pop is Green!  So of course I had to name my project after this favorite!

Ginger Ale Podsters

Little mitts!

So I tried to start these two at a time but that was an epic fail.  I think I got the needles twisted so I just pulled them off and will make them one at a time.  I will try again at some point.  Anyway so a friend made these for her last swap and they turned out really nice so I wanted to give them a try.

I originally picked a different yarn but it had a color that my swap partner didn't like.  Thankfully I was still on the hat so I swapped out the mitt yarn. One complaint with the teal is that it's kinda dark and it bugs my eyes.  I think it will be easier now that I can see my stitches versus just the cast on row.

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

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