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.

MMSC - Week 26

I seem to be, at best, a one-day-a-week EPPer. Usually on Sundays, when I realize I have to blog about EPP the next day and I haven't picked up a needle all week. This means my progress is often small and my posts are a little boring and repetitive. Sorry about that.

This week is no better … just 10 basted hexies for my Batik Hexie Quilt.

Lately, I've noticed that I've started to become a one-craft-a-week person. Some weeks I get into cross stitch, other weeks I get wrapped up in knitting. I don't seem to be very good at giving all my crafts equal time. Maybe I have too many hobbies? I feel like nothing really gets done this way. Hrmm.

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

More yarn = More starts

I started two new knitting projects - a double seed stitch blanket and a lacy shawl. I've never worked with lace weight yarn before and it is proving to be more challenging than I like at the moment. I've put that one on hold for now. The blanket is a joy to knit. I just wish I knew how I screwed up so badly only 2 rows in. I'm trying to get my nerve up to undo and restart the silly thing.

The obvious solution, of course, is to buy more yarn and start yet another project! I, as usual, can't just buy stash for one project, I have to buy for multiple projects. I'm only starting one project though.

I picked up some Cascade 220 Superwash Paints for a scarf for my dad. Several years ago he asked me for a red and black scarf. I crocheted him one last year, but he doesn't like it much. He says it curls up on him and turns into a rope around his neck. So I'm trying again with a Tweed Stitch Scarf.

I'm loving the tweed stitch! It's quick and easy and I can recognize the stitch pattern as I knit. I'm still learning how to recognize stitches (and mistakes) in my work.

However, I am a little pissed about the seed stitch border. I'm following the pattern, but it looks like a line of stockinette stitch. See:

The pattern reads as follows (it's a free pattern and I linked to the original above):

Row 1:  Slip 1, P1, K1 (these 3 stitches are the seed stitch border), K1, *yf, sl1, yb, k1*; repeat between *’s to last 3 stitches (Row 1 of Tweed Stitch), K1, P1, K1 (seed stitch border).

Row 2:  Slip 1, K1, P1, (seed stitch border) Purl to last 3 stitches (Row 2 of Tweed Stitch), P1, K1, P1 (seed stitch border).

Row 3.  Slip 1, P1, K1(seed stitch border), *yf, sl1, yb, k1*, repeat between *’s to last 3 stitches (Row 3 of Tweed Stitch), K1, P1, K1 (seed stitch border).

Row 4:  Slip 1, K1, P1, (seed stitch border) Purl to last 3 stitches (Row 4 of Tweed Stitch), P1, K1, P1 (seed stitch border).

I am not happy with the border at all. I tried knitting a swatch where I invert the Row 1 & Row 2 and Row 3 & Row 4 border order. It still doesn't work. Anyone have any idea why this isn't working for me?

I can't decide if I should continue knitting with the messed up border or if should I undo everything and restart it either with a fix for the seed stitch border or with a different border. Opinions?

I also picked up yarn for a tweed stitch scarf for me - Manos del Uruguay silk blend. So gorgeous!

I definitely need to figure out the border so I can get my hands busy with this stuff!