WiPs Wednesday

Happy Hump Day!  So I just have a couple of things to show you today.  I know I have a pile of WiPs in a basket at home and it's past time to dig into them and finish them up.  Especially the ones that are just about done.  But it's so much more enticing to start something new-isn't it.

First up is the Suri Shawl. I was gifted a Suri shawl as part of a Christmas swap and I love love love it.  So I wanted to make another one. I chose a skein of 100% purple silk.  I am using the needle size recommended in the pattern.  The shawl has a tighter gauge than the finished shawl I was gifted.  So I plan to cast on yet another one and change the needle size to several sizes up to get that nice loose gauge that my first Suri has.

It's a bit past the half way point.  Still loving it.  Simple knit.

The only other WiP I've got updated photos of is my Boo Knit- Out of Darkness shawl being knit of out some incredibly thin lace weight-mystery yarn.  If I remember correctly a friend found this yarn at a goodwill or store like it and it was labeled wool.

So far the needles still weight at least twice the weight of the knitted shawl.  It's like a cloud.  I really can't wait for it to be finished.  But I haven't had the time to knit on it and with beads it is not ideal for train knitting.

Have you heard of the Woolful Podcast?  I just found out about it.  I don't remember which podcaster mentioned it, but it was within the last couple of weeks.  I highly recommend you listen.  Her episodes are a bit long but I really enjoy them.  You can find her the Woolful Podcast show notes and Blog here.

Also another subtle reminder about my kickstarter.  Please take a look.
Fiberlicious Kickstarter

And another example of one of our rewards-a T-Shirt:

Have a great week.  And take a look at other bloggers Stitch alongs at Stitch Along Wednesdays

Tuesday Fo's

Hi Everyone!  I'm glad it's Tuesday.  I like seeing the week go by and Mondays are just not fun.  It's probably because we've just ended 2 days of work free freedom.  (Assuming you've got a M-F schedule like me).  Even when I didn't I think Mondays were hard.  It's probably a mental thing.  What do you think??

In any case Happy Tuesday.  I've got a few finished objects to show you.  It's been a bit since I've posted an FO (although there have been a lot done-I've just been lazy getting photos and posting).

First up-a hat I knit during Christmas week.  Just a basic knit hat-something that I was able to throw in a small purse and take out whenever I had a minute waiting in line (which lets face it-that's everywhere you go during that season).

This hat was knit out of malabrigo Rasta I believe.  

Next up is the Cascade Sweater I knit for a friend's little girl.

 I lengthened the sweater because both parents are tall and she's inherited the height.  I also did an extra repeat of the leave pattern and knit the 2 year size so that E can wear it this year and next. 

Check out these buttons- adorable:

I found the buttons in a Joann's.  (It's what was available to me at the time I was doing the finishing-traveling doesn't always give you a lot of options).  And Joann's did not have a great selection that day.  But the sheep with dangling feet couldn't be passed up and little purple flowers seemed like a good idea.

My Last Fo is the Hitchhiker scarf.  Knit in Shibui sock in red.  This was a special request from my mom after Christmas.  At Christmas I lent her my hitchhiker (green) and she loved it and requested one knit in red.

I haven't blocked it yet and may decide to mail it off unblocked.  The points seem to be fine without blocking and the size is fine without any stretching.  Thoughts?  Do you always block?

I also wanted to tell you about a blog I stumbled across.  I use google translator to read it but it's her photos that draw me in.  Gorgeous hikes and buildings in Bulgaria.  Check it out at Carmela's blog here

And please check out my Kickstarter and share with your friends.

The reward I am highlighting today is another T-shirt design:

Have a great Tuesday!

Kickstarter

Hi Everyone:

Happy Monday!  I just wanted to share with you and ask that you share with your friends and family; that I've launched a kickstarter with a friend to raise the remaining funds for our new store.

We've designed some fun shirts and have some other rewards we think any knitter, crocheter or spinner would like.

The link is: Fiberlicious Yarn store Kickstarter

You can see all of our rewards on the kickstarter page.  I'd like to highlight one here today:

We'll be giving you a choice of sizes and colors to choose from.

You can keep up to date on all of our progress at the kickstarter page or on our Facebook page.

Thanks for reading my pitch.  I'll be back tomorrow with some recent finished objects and will return to my regular blogging schedule this Wednesday with WiPs.

WiPs a day late

It's Thursday.  I love Thursdays.  Why you ask?  It's because I have a wonderful knitting/crochet group that meets Thursday nights; so the day goes by faster than usual.  And because it means tomorrow is Friday, the start of the weekend and two work free days (most of the time anyway).

I didn't get around to posting my Wednesday WiPs post yesterday so I'm giving you a short look today.

I have a huge pile of WiPs but only two photos with me.

First up is the Cascade Sweater by Raya Budrevich.  I'm making the 2T size in the hopes that it will fit my friend's baby this year and next.  She's currently a year old.

This is a really fast knit.  It's easy and fun. It's been my train knitting this week.  I hope to have it done soon so it can be worn before it warms up in Oklahoma where it is headed.

These are just a basic pair of stripped fingerless mitts that I cast on a couple of weeks ago.  They're basically done (not shown in the fuzzy pic above).  I need to weave in ends and may decide to redo the thumb if I decide to send them to my Dad.

I cast on another sweater for myself the other day and just did the first row.  I picked it up last night to work on it and noticed I did a one by one rib and it calls for a two by two.  So I will rip that out and start over this weekend.  

I also need to go through all my WiPs and make plans to finish or rip.  More on that later.  

I don't have a link to other WiPs today because the blogger who was linking us together hasn't blogged in a couple of months.  When I find a new one to link to I'll start that up again.  

Have a great Thursday.  So close to weekend freedom!

Happy New Year & a Few Fo's

Happy New Year!

It's good to be back at work and having a regular schedule (well everyone else having a regular schedule).  It's hard to get everything done that needs to be done when half the world is on a Holiday schedule or vacation or half days.

I am looking forward to this year. It's going to be a great year.  A lot of changes ahead.  Some people write goals for the year and I used to be one of them.  (I actually completed most of them when I wrote them down).  The trick is to make a plan with written check ups along the way to make sure you are on track and then you will be sure to accomplish your goal.  The Knitmore Girls (of the same named podcast) typically come up with a word or a theme for their new year.  I like that idea, although it seems more fluid than a goal and I personally do not think I would accomplish anything.

So this year I am combining the two.  My theme for the year is redesign.  I am redesigning my life.  My marriage is ending (The hubs decided he was done being married-mainly because I don't do what I'm told-which is the deepest hole of bullshit-its ridiculous-was he my boss or husband?) Doesn't matter.  It is over and I am moving forward.  Lighter.  So much stress has already been lifted.

I am also redesigning my career.  I am not a happy lawyer.  I am a happy knitter.  So I am forging ahead with some friends and will be opening a yarn store in Orange County, California this year.  The when, how, where, etc are all up in the air.  Especially the how (we need money).  So we're exploring options and I'll keep you up to speed on that.

I'm redesigning my lifestyle.  I used to be active.  I like to run (I know I'm one of those nutjobs).  I got lazy, hubs influence, broken foot x 2,  among other reasons are why I stopped.But I have set the goal to take a minimum of 10,000 steps per day.  I have a fitbit to track that.  And I am changing my food intake to be more conscious of what I am eating.  Making better choices.  (I don't do diets).

I will be continuing to knit and will try to be more consistent with posting on the blog.

I have a pile of Finished Objects from the end of the year that I never posted.  I have only a couple of photos for now and will get the rest posted as I go.

First up-a basic beanie I made out of malibrigo in a pretty teal color

A shawl collar cowl and fingerless mitts

Close up of the buttons

I drove up to Oregon for Christmas this year and caught a spectacular shot of Mt Shasta:

And I have to leave off with this shot I took of my niece as she rode the carousel.  She loves it.

Makes me smile.

Have a wonderful week. I'll be back with a WiPs post Wednesday.  There may be more than 15 WiPs.  But don't tell anyone.  And no I don't have a startitis problem.  It's a finishitits problem.

WiPs Wednesday

It's December.  How did that happen?  And it's Wednesday; which means its Work in Progress day.

I've finished a few things over the last several weeks, I just haven't gotten the ends sewn in and photos taken.  So check in Friday for some FOs.

This week I am working on socks for me.  I also have the Emelie sweater and some finishing touches on other sweaters.

I just cast these on yesterday.  They're interesting.  I'm not sure about the colors.  Just not my colors.  But they're socks-so who cares.

The Emelie sweater.  I had to rip back 5 inches of this sweater because I managed to get off track on the lace panels.  The pattern is annoying.  It is over 6 pages with instructions scattered throughout in something other than order.  I have to flip back to page one, then 2 and back to 5 or 6 or wherever I may be in the pattern.  And because my postit note lost stickiness I lost my spot and guessed wrong.  I need to rewrite the instructions ignoring the instructions for all of the other sizes and lengths and put the lace charts on a separate page I can lay next to my instructions and then I think I will be on track.  It doesn't help that this is sock weight yarn on tiny needles.  What was I thinking?

I am also working on finishing up a couple of sweaters that have been hanging around way longer than they should.  The neckline is horrible.  I have to figure out what I want to do to fix it.  Maybe crocheting around the edge instead of knitting?  Maybe an Icord?  Any ideas?

For more WiPs check out Tamis Amis' Blog.

Have a great week.

Unpacking Blues

Hi Everyone.  I would say Happy Tuesday, but alas today is not a happy Tuesday for me.  Work is not at all joyful at the moment.  At home I am still unpacking.  I lost most of my motivation to get unpacked.  I have most of a living room-you can even see the floor.  My bedroom/office/hallway are more like an obstacle course.  Boxes and bags of shoes are everywhere.  I have a lot of shoes.  I need to have less shoes.

That's the hardest part about moving-going through everything deciding what to keep, what to sell and what to give away.

I've talked about swaps before on the blog.  I'm a member of several groups on Ravelry that do swaps.  I signed up for a Christmas swap and knowing that my move was coming up and that I was going to be out of town more than I was in town I put together the presents early. Then I put them in a safe place.  Here's the message I just posted on the discussion page for the swap:

Dear Partner:

I was a good swapper-I collected almost everything necessary for your present before I moved. I put it all together in a safe place. I mean a really safe place. Now if only I could locate the safe place. Finding your presents is my new motivation for finishing the unpacking and organizing of my house. But never fear-should the unpacking not be successful you will still get an awesome package-just not the original one.

I love moving. Yup-I do. Fun times. Who wouldn't rather pack and unpack instead of knitting? Anyone? Anyone?

I promise to ship on time if not early.

-Frazzled Amy

I've unpacked all of my yarn stash and the bags related to fiber.  So far that package is being illusive.  I can replace the yarn easily.  The handmade won't be as easy-but still doable in my time frame before shipping.  I believe that I need to begin to write everything down.  Maybe I should look into one of those bullet journals people have been talking about over the last couple of years.

What do you do to keep track of your life?

See you tomorrow for WiPs Wednesday.  Oh and I am changing my mood-smiling now and pretending all is well.  I've heard that works to help change your attitude.  We'll see how that works out.