Start & Stash

A few weeks ago I got some new yarn stash (here). I resisted as long as I could, but I couldn't help starting something.

I started the infamous Hitchhiker by Martina Behm using Cascade Heritage Silk Paints in 9996.

I am making decent progress at the moment, though that will slow as the rows get longer and the scarf gets bigger. I am really enjoying this though. 

Only 1/4 of the way through it and already I'm planning several more of these using different colour ways, different yarn weights, different needle sizes! I'm so excited about the possibilities that sometimes I spend more time online looking and thinking about it then I do actually knitting!

Which of course means that more stash had to be acquired. My LYS has been having summer sale events every Wednesday … I am in deep trouble! During the last sale I only picked up 4 skeins …

A skein of Cascade Heritage Silk Paints in 9789 (potentially a Magine shawl one day):

A skein of Cascade Heritage Silk Paints in 9808 (potentially another Hitchhiker):

And 2 skeins of Cascade 220 Superwash Paints in 9879 (potentially a supersized Hitchhiker):

So many plans and not enough knitty time!!

MMSC - Week 30

Today's update is close …

See what I mean?

I managed to add 3 more diamonds PLUS stitch together a strip of 4 diamonds. I just didn't quite have the time to add that last strip. The big diamond will be done by next week though. I promise!

Slow and steady progress as usual. :)

Linking up with Jessica's Monday Morning Star Count at Life Under Quilts.

A Foot

That's right … a foot of knitting! Twelve whole inches!

This is my tweed stitch scarf right before I joined my second skein of yarn. I recently started attending an afternoon knitting group at my LYS and that has helped move this thing along. A solid two hours of knitting means pretty decent progress! Usually I'm lucky if I manage a row or two before bed. I will admit that I'm pretty tired after two hours of knitting. I have to concentrate a lot! :)

It's funny -- looking at it in the picture I can see a distinct pattern emerging, which will likely change when I join the new skein. I probably should have knit from two balls to help avoid this, but that kind of feels like a waste of yarn. Oh well … it'll be fine I'm sure.

MMSC - Week 29

This was a week of exhaustion (from school) and a lack of crafty focus. Somehow I did a little knitting, a little cross stitch, and a little EPP. So really, not a lot got accomplished.

But, I added another 3 diamonds to my 2nd 6-point star.

I'm trying something new … instead of adding the diamonds one at a time from top to bottom, I've tried stitching diamonds into strips and then stitching the strips together. I decided to try this mid-big diamond, so it looks a little wonky, but I think I like it better as an overall process.

As always, linking up with Jessica's Monday Morning Star Count at Life Under Quilts.

MMSC - Week 28

Two things …

1) I added a whopping 2 diamonds this week, and

2) photgraphing black dogs is ridiculously difficult.

Toka and some diamonds

Linking up with Jessica's Monday Morning Star Count at Life Under Quilts.

There was a sale ...

I couldn't help it! No really, it was beyond my control!

Mmm pretty sock yarn. Not that I knit socks; that's a little beyond my abilities at the moment. However, I have been sucked into the Ravelry rabbit hole a fair bit lately and I found a few shawls that call for sock yarn. So I picked up 2 skeins of Cascade Heritage Silk Paints in Deep Water and a skein of Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock in Highlands.

It was inevitable. At least I haven't started any new projects … yet.

MMSC - Week 27

I'm still a one-day-a-week EPPer, but this week I managed to stitch things together!

Just 4 little diamonds, but it's enough to get me back on the stitching wagon again. Hoping this becomes more of a trend for the rest of the summer.

However, the more I think about these stars (I have one completed 6-point star here and then this is the start of my second), the more I think I need more stars. Maybe 4 in total for a good sized throw quilt? The stars are roughly 24" "square" and I could work it so each of the stars is slightly different. Hrmm … that's a lot more cutting, basting, and sewing than I had originally planned.

Why do I always tend to go big?

As always, I'm linking up with Jessica's Monday Morning Star Count at Life Under Quilts.

Not a real finish, but it feels like one

I have been kvetching about the filigree blackwork on Ciara Blue for months now. It was taking forever and driving me insane! I even had to start the next border so I could get some relief and feel like progress was happening (and I am the type that REALLY likes to do things sequentially).

But look:

Both borders are now done! Huzzah!! Done with the filigree!

So yes, it feels like a finish and I am happy dancing like crazy, but Ciara Blue still has quite a ways to go before it's a real finish.