Close to my Heart

Going Green

A few weeks ago, I decided that I needed to reduce the number of plastic grocery bags we use.  I have a couple nice commercially produced bags and I've been leaving them in the car to take into the store.  Rather than buy more of these bags, I thought that I might as well use some of my stash yarn to make my own bags.  Here's a few that I've come up with:

Bag 1, 3 and 4 are all crocheted with the same pattern (Ravelry link here).  The pink bag is actually knit, using this pattern.  Of course the knitted bag took substantially longer to make, so I am now sticking to crocheting these market bags.  They work up quickly, and I think would make great gifts.   Of course I've moved on from just using stash yarn and am now purchasing more Bernat Handicrafter Cotton to make more bags.  I think they would make fabulous gifts as well, and actually started one to give to my MIL as part of her Mother's Day gift:

Spinning is continuing as well, and I'm fairly happy with my progress.  My next post will probably be a spinning update.  For now though, I think I want to go work on my Adamas shawl before embarking on last day off chores and errands.

Autumn Leaves in Spring?

Now that Spring is kind of sort of here (in some parts anyway) I have Autumn Leaves to show you.  I actually finished this shawl, using Evelyn Clark's Leaf Lace Shawl pattern (Ravelry Link) way back in October 2007.  I had however injured my knee skating, and crawling around on the floor to block just wasn't going to happen.  And once my knee was better, I had lost interest in the whole blocking thing.  Last weekend though, after casting on the Norwegian Woods shawl I figured I'd better get my last lacy project done before I had two to block.  I'm glad to finally officially declare this shawl a Finished Object.  I really enjoyed knitting this, the pattern is interesting yet not too complicated to be frustrating.  And the Sweatermaker Island Hues Yarn, available from Fun Knits, is lovely to work with too.  Here's the pictures, all clickable:

I'm enjoying a lovely four day weekend.  It's been quite relaxing, but time to go vacuum and get a few groceries before I can relax with my hobbies.  Off to the in-laws for Easter dinner leftovers tonight, I'm happy to not have had to cook most of this weekend!

Satisfaction

According to my trusty archives, my last Saturday Sky post was over 14 months ago.  Today it was a lovely west coast almost spring day, and I ventured outside to take my first outdoor pictures in some time.  It seemed like a good time to snap a picture of the sky:

And the reason for venturing outside was to take pictures of the first item completed with my own handspun yarn!  I thought that this event warranted more than one picture, so here are a couple:

There is  (quite obviously) something very satisfying about knitting something from yarn you have spun yourself!  This was a quick and easy project which sat neglected in my knitting bag for many months.  The pattern I used is the Yarn Harlot's One Row Handspun Scarf, knit a little more narrow (18 stitches rather than 26) called for in her pattern.  The yarn was spun originated as fiber from the Etsy Shop Copperpot, and is 90 Merino 10 Tencel  in the Black Roses colourway.  I love the colour of this yarn.

Well I haven't spun since last weekend, so I think that is what I'm going to go do now.  Oh, and I'm also going to cast on the yarn I spun last weekend.  I do have something in mind for it, but you'll have to stay tuned!

Actual Knitting Content

I have some actual knitting content for you today.  My knitting time for the last little while has been spent on a baby shower gifts for a co-worker.  I ended up making two sweaters, two hats, and one pair of booties.  And now that the gifts have all been received, I can show them to you here.  The pattern I used for the sweaters is Lisa's Essential Baby Cardigan Pattern.  This is an awesome pattern which contains instructions for different gauge yarn as well as different sizes.  I highly recommend this pattern, and I know it is one that I will use again and again.  It is available for purchase here.  The hat pattern is from Ann Budd's Handy Book of Patterns (Ravelry Link) and the booties are from this free pattern.  Here's the goods:

The yarn used for the blue set is Berocco Comfort DK (great yarn!) while the multi set uses Bernat Super Value (don't hate me!).  If you click on the Bernat sweater, you will be able to see the cute ducky buttons.

Interestingly, my gifts were the only handmade ones given at this shower.  There were however two handmade cards.  Here's the one I made:

I've now been in my new job for two months.  I'm enjoying it a lot, but there is definitely more stress than in my previous job.  As a result, I'm feeling a need to return to what I've always seen as my therapy, knitting.  So therefore there will be a lot more knitting content here in the next weeks.  I'm actually planning to cast on a few new projects in the next week or two.  And I'm also wanting to pick up my spindle again as well, it's been months.  I'm actually planning to do some spinning today.  I am planning to neglect my Etsy shop this weekend and not create any new listings (still have some things to relist anyway).  I do however have three cards to make for friends and family.

Have a good weekend, I hope there are beginning to be some signs of spring wherever you are.

An Actual Finished Object!

As hoped, Mr. Greenjeans became a finished item this weekend.  I actually wound the ends in on Friday night, and laid it out to block on the kitchen table.  Today I sewed the button on and pronounce it done:

No model shot yet, for two reasons.  The first reason is that it is still a bit damp.  And the second reason is that today was a pajama day, and you really don't want to see me modeling this sweater in my PJs with unkempt hair and no make-up.  I'll post the details of this sweater with the eventual model shot.  For now it's getting late and I'd better hit the pillow soon, Monday morning and a busy week will be here before I know it.

Before I go though...should mention that there was a fair amount of knitting accomplished this weekend, and I may even manage a mid week post for once, so stay tuned!

Two weeks

Wow, I can't quite believe the time that has elapsed since my last post.  I have  been knitting though, and have two finished projects to show you today.  First, the fifth and final pair of Christmas gift socks:

Yarn is ONline Supersocke 100 Holiday Color 90 in colourway 1001.

I also finished an early gift for myself:

Beautiful, yummy cashmere which feels SO soft around my neck.  Pattern is a shop pattern from Fun Knits.  Hand dyed yarn is from Sweatermaker, also available from Fun Knits.

Part of the reason I've been absent from the blog and only lurking and not commenting on friend's blogs, is because I've been busy studying for a selection panel at work.  I'm happy to report that all went well, and I have received a promotion into a supervisory position.  I'm moving departments so will have a bit of a learning curve, but I am SO pumped and excited about this that I've been lying awake at night thinking about it.  I have been ready for a change for a while, and am so thrilled to have this opportunity.  I anticipate a bit of a learning curve and longer work hours (as well as going away for some training in February), so I'm sure the blog will once again be neglected in the new year.  But as I said,  I'm excited and  really looking forward to some new challenges.  I officially start the new position on January 14th.

I'm on vacation here shortly, I work on Monday and then am off until December 31.  I'm looking forward to having a bit of time on my hands (the Christmas knitting is pretty much done and the shopping completed as well, just wrapping left to do) so I plan to blog much sooner than two weeks from now.  I have some cards and things to show you.  Bye for now!

Another day, another bag

Well I did manage to finish Oh so cute bag #2 in time for the deadline over at the Summer KAL CAL.  This bag actually took only four hours or so to crochet, from start to finish.  I don't think I'll ever knit a felted bag again!  And Patons SWS yarn is wonderful, why oh why didn't I buy more when I was down at Michael's last week and found it on sale?  It's an hour and a half away, and although I'm down again next week for work, the sale will likely have ended by then!

The bag is more pink than the red it appears in the picture.  Crappy long weekend weather so I haven't been able to go outside to get a decent picture.  In the background you can see the first Christmas cards I've created this year.  I've been working hard on product for my neglected Etsy store.   The cards will probably be up later today.  I've already added more Knitter's Gift tags, as well as this cute Knitabella Card.  When this stamp first came out, I knew that it must be mine.  I picked it up at my LSS earlier this week, and couldn't wait to create with it.

Off now to do some mundane household chores so that I can get crafting again!

Oh so cute

Well this turned out to be a quick and fun project, the oh so cute bag:

Crochet pattern for this bag can be found here.  Yarn is Patons SWS in the Natural Earth colourway, and took 3 balls.  The only slight change I made to the pattern was adding four extra rows to the straight section.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out and am seriously contemplating another bag, if only I could decide on a colourway.  It would make a great item to add to the gift stash, after all, Christmas is less than four months away now (gasp!).

Notice in the background Joe's latest WIP, his fish pond.  The waterfall in the top left corner of the picture is the latest addition.  He has to finish the fence (a project that has actually taken much longer than the actual fish pond) and then will do some landscaping to cover the black rubber that is the insert.  Joe has wanted a fish pond forever, and I think we are really going to enjoy this.  We will have a patio on one end, which will be great to sit on and relax with the fiber or book, and enjoy the tranquil setting. The pond can also be viewed from our living room window.

Some FOs

I have two FOs to show you today.  I guess I'll show you in the order I completed them.  A week ago, I finished these Opal Flamingo Socks:

It initially looked like they were going to be a close enough match, however when knitting the sock on the left, I hit a knot in the white section just above the heel, and that section repeated itself after the knot.  I can live with that though.  And the sock on the right...for some reason, while knitting this sock at a staff meeting last week, I put it down for a moment, picked it up and managed to get my stitch placement off.  Didn't notice until into my toe shaping, and as a result, the decreases are a little off kilter.  I can live with that too, since after all, the toe will be hidden in my shoe.

My second FO today is this Bigger Booga Bag:

I pretty much followed WendyKnits pattern adaptation  here.  A somewhat disappointing project from start to finish.  I was trying to think outside of my usual colour box when I purchased the Cascade 220 in greens, and grew to dislike it as I knit with it.  I liked it better when I added my own handspun pink yarn to the top.  Also, I picked yarn that would have a kind of gradient colour effect.  I think in the future I would go with something that had more of a contrast to it.  This bag also turned out smaller than I anticipated, but may be from agitating during the felting process for too long.  The I cord handles are too small as well, although I did knit them the recommended length.  I will probably eventually re-do the handles.

Note that the socks were Knit as part of the sock Sock a month 4 KAL, and the bag as part of the Summer KAL CAL Purse Round up.  Blogger appears to be down this morning, I will link to these Alongs when it is back up and running.  I've also started a crochet purse for the Purse KAL CAL.  I will post about it soon.  The pattern I'm using for it is also from a Blogger Blog.  Makes me glad I made the leap to Typepad several years ago!

Pinwheel Sweater, the Final Finished Pictures

Today was a lovely day since it was my birthday.  My parents came up and took us out for lunch, following which we came back to my house to eat an awesome birthday cake, made by my mother-in-law:

I received lots of nice birthday presents, including a couple pendants from Ling Glass, some scrapbook supplies and some money.  No yarn this year, but since I'll be going to Fun Knits on Thursday, I'm sure I'll be spending some of my birthday money on fibery goodness there.

After lunch today, since it was a nice day out I was able to get Joe to take some long overdo pictures of the Pinwheel Sweater for me to show you here.

(Note that the sleeves are actually the same length, but one sleeve was turned up in this picture)

Excuse the shorts in the picture, definitely a fashion don't with this sweater! 

Here's the details:
Pattern Source:  Free Pattern at Elann.com here
Designer: Shelley Mackie owner of my favourite LYS Fun Knits
Yarn: 10 balls of Elann.com Lara in #332, Crimson
Started:  May 7
Finished: July 2
Needles: 2.5mm
Hooks: 3.0 mm to cast off and 3.5 mm to stitch the edging
Modifications:  I added did three rows of double crochet rather than the one called for, as I was concerned that the sweater was going to be too small.
Comments:  I really loved that this sweater combined both knit and crochet, and love the lacy feminine look that the crochet edging gives it.  It was an easy knit, albeit a bit boring prior to casting off to start the crochet part, knitting a bazillion stitches around and around and around.  I will hopefully get a lot of use out of this sweater come Fall and Winter.  I think that the cotton DK weight will be perfect for our mild west coast climate where thicker wool sweaters can sometimes be too warm. An interesting note is that the Lara yarn was somewhat splitty  to knit, but passed over the crochet hook like a dream!