A Variety of Projects

It seems I can't keep a pair of needles out of my hands for long... with so many patterns available on Ravelry, there are thousands of projects just waiting to be attempted. Here are a few I have accomplished in the past few weeks:

Tea cup cozy:  
Made of pure alpaca, I modified a scarf pattern to knit this sideways. It really DOES keep my hot beverages warmer for longer!

Handspun Dragon:
I was lucky to have won some free fibre last Fall - so I chose sparkly teal / turquoise merino and spun it up into a two-ply yarn.

Then I designed this fella using ideas from various stuffed toys and some of my own ideas - including a wire through his extra-large wings and tail to make them bendable! I also pulled some of the stuffing out his "nostrils" for a smoke effect.

Gallatin scarf:
In Ravelry, there are "Knit A-Longs", where a theme is presented for anyone to play along with - and when you enter your creations using that theme, you are eligible for prizes (often yarn, fibre, patterns or knitting-related merch). This scarf I made in just two days, for a KAL that asked for items in either pink or red! I love this dark Black Cherry colourway.

Handbrake Cowl:
This was designed by a male knitter in the UK who recently underwent treatment for cancer. The pattern was a mere £ 1 with all proceeds going to cancer research. I had some of my deep red yarn left, so I paired it up with "Cracked Pepper" grey to create my cowl. The designer loved it and remarked it reminded him of Hogwarts. Must have been channeling my inner Potter-obsession...

Stripey socks:
My second-ever pair of socks, this time I developed my own "vanilla" sock pattern - a design that I can follow from now on to use for plain socks I know will fit me. The yarn does all the work in the patterning of the stripes - my first use of 'self-striping' yarn (this one from West Yorkshire Spinners) that are so comfy!

More wash cloths:
A great way to learn new stitches, and a break from larger projects, wash cloths are so much fun to do! However, every night when I am sitting in my Studio, watching knitting podcasts and knitting, Sheba often jumps into my lap, butting her way in between me and my knitting. Here she is "modelling" my latest washcloth - which looks more like a cat-shawl. But it DOES bring out her green eyes, doesn't it?

Oh, and I have finally given in and joined Instagram... I have added a widget on my side column, so if you are on, please let me know so I can follow you!

Better Late Than Never

Where does the time go? I can't believe it's nearly Easter... yikes!

I'm sure it's no great surprise that I've been busy knitting - and enjoying learning new techniques and patterns.

One of the best ways I've found to do that is to make cotton dish or wash cloths. They are quick, easy to bring along to work to knit during a lunch break, stick in my purse for any time I have a spare moment or just while sitting in front of the TV or computer screen. Not only are these cotton cloths fun to make, they are so soft and durable to use. I also love the break they give in-between larger projects for a change of pace.

Here are a few of my most recent projects. This "Tulip" pattern looks almost 3D...

A "Snowdrop Lace" that was a quick knit:

"Foaming Waves" made a smaller cloth - I love the way it even curved the edges:

 This "Baby Fern" pattern is so pretty:

 

I've also signed up on Ravelry for a cross - Canada wash cloth swap! Nearly 100 of us from across the country will be trading two cloths to two separate knitters from another province. When I first found that "Tulip" pattern, I read one comment by another knitter that it looked more like a crocus. Since the crocus is Manitoba's provincial flower, I thought it would be the perfect cloth to trade, so I made two in a violet colour - the colour of one of the first flowers to bloom here after our long winters.

After the designer saw my projects, she asked if I would "test knit" a new cloth she created. Test knitters try out new patterns and let the designers know if there are any errors or problems before they publish. It was fun to do - she calls those six gathered stitches "butterflies"... very cool to try out!

But I must pull myself away from the needles for a bit this weekend - it's time to get out the Easter decorations!

A Whole Lotta Knitting

Wow, it's been awhile since I have posted... but the reason shall become clear as you scroll, scroll and scroll through even more photos of my recent knitting projects.

First up, Christmas gifts. As I couldn't share these before the holidays, here are four projects that were completed for family members last month:

For daughter a "Binary" scarf. Since she is a recent Computer Science grad at the UofM,  I thought she'd get a kick out of the design that is reminiscent of the old black and neon green computer monitor screens. The 1s and 0s represent all data on a computer, called "binary language".  I started this in July by first using an online translator to create the 132 sets of 8 “bits” to make a byte of data spelling out a secret message she will have to decipher. Good thing I started this project early - I had completed it to the last three rows by September before I realized I had made a mistake twenty sets back. So I ripped those out and re-knit 120 rows... Arrrgghh!

Next I wanted to make hubby a toque to keep his head warm this winter as he does a lot of outdoor duties at work and when it hits -40C, he needs a thick hat! So I knitted up not one, but two for him. One plain...

and another with cables!

For the gals in our family, I made up a few washcloths, wrapped up with fancy soaps:

After the holidays I also made daughter a scarf from super-bulky yarn I got her last Spring. This was the first time I had tried slip stitches to create a neat effect.

Then it was time to do a few projects for myself, using up some of my yarn stash. The last of my bulky yarn made a "Fisherman's Wife Cowl". I just need to find some wooden buttons to finish it off.

I also made this lap blanket, but it has been hijacked by hubby (and all three cats).

I used up this yarn on two leg warmers... they'll be great to wear over jeans when the temps dip. I started with an online pattern that had a simple single cable design, but I love cables, so I added more and offset them all around each leg.

I also volunteered to do a "test knit" for a designer out of Boston. Basically when people write a pattern, a few knitters try it out and make note of any corrections / changes necessary before it is published. Love this super soft cowl!

Since I didn't keep any washcloths for myself from the pile I did for Christmas, I tried out some new cotton yarn, held double to make this extra-squishy facecloth for us.

And last but not least, a project I made last weekend (took just two days to complete)... a tea cozy!

When I started knitting last February, hubby would constantly ask if I was making a tea cozy... I think he just liked saying "cozy". ;)

When a group on Ravelry announced a "Tea Cozy Knit A-Long" in January, I knew I had to participate; knitters submit their projects for a random prize draw a few months from now. There are hundreds of free patterns online, but I decided to make my own. I did use the basic numbers from a plain cozy, but adjusted them to fit my smaller teapot. Then as I knitted it up, I designed my own colourwork pattern. I call it my "Cozy Nordic Tea Sweater":

It slips over the pot perfectly and buttons inside the handle hold it on tight. I am really pleased on how it turned out - even  though there were way too many ends I had to weave in! I have received a lot of sweet comments about it and have been asked to write out my design for other Ravelers to make it too. Don't know if I will, but it was high praise indeed.

So that's why I haven't posted for weeks!

Now if you'll excuse me, I still have a cardigan, a pair of socks and a pair of mitts on my needles requiring my attention...

Needlework Of A Different Sort

If you are a knitter or have friends or family who knit, you probably know what "project bags" are. If not... well I'll explain. More often than not, knitters find themselves casting on more than one "project" at a time. Socks on one set of needles, perhaps a cardigan on a second and even a another cowl on yet a third set... (um, yes, I admit in fact that describes ME at this very moment).

So unless they want inquisitive feline paws or other potential hazards to befall their hard work they keep each project in it's own separate location - with instructions, wool, needles and all other necessary tools and embellishments together.

Hence the proliferation of the "Project Bag". There are many such beautiful cases on Etsy; with awesome fabrics and in a variety of shapes and sizes specific to the project (larger ones for sweater quantities of supplies, smaller ones for socks, for instance).

But me being me, I wanted to try to make my own. And since discovering the modern episodes of Dr Who on Netflix (oh David Tennant!  Ahem - pardon the tangent there),  I decided a Dr Who project bag would be awesome.

I found the fabric with the perfect pattern on a site that's new to me called Spoonflower. It's brilliant - you can choose from thousands of designs created by members and also make your own!  So I ordered two "fat quarters" for half price in canvas for the outer bag and designed my own silky interior fabric you'll see later on.

I also found Dr Who printed ribbon and charms from Etsy to decorate my finished bag. At home, I discovered two pieces of material I had on hand that I could use too. So early yesterday, I finally got started.

I used this pattern from the Pink Penguin blog as I had seen many a knitter make this style. I changed it up a bit and also added three pockets to the interior. One of the fabrics I found in my own stash was a plether-like black material - I must have purchased it for a Halloween project years ago. I had just enough left to sew the base and upper edge of my bag. I feared my old circa-1980 sewing machine wouldn't be able to handle the thick fabric, but I am thrilled to say it worked flawlessly!

I made the outer canvas shell first, after heat-fusing an interface to sturdy it up a tad.

After making the lining from a silky fabric (also strengthened with interfacing and with pockets sewn on), I created the handles from the ribbon.

Here is the fabric I designed. It's a very famous line from Mr Tennant's tenure as The Doctor:

"People assume that Time is a strict progression of cause to effect. But actually, from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint, it's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff."

I used Fireworks to skew the fonts and picked out the colours from the other spacy fabric so they would match. I am so pleased the way it turned out!

I finished the bag this morning after hand-sewing the final interior seam so there are no raw edges.

I really am amazed - I LOVE it! Here is the inner drawstring section that can be pulled up or tucked inside. It keeps everything in tact with no zippers to catch yarn.

A view of the inner pockets made of the same material as the outside.

And a close up of the charms... if you're a fan of the series, you'll recognize some of the references.

And what's even more fantastic, I only used half of the material! Yep, I can make another - which I will probably try in a different shape and size.

Allons-y! *


*The Tenth Doctor's catch phrase "Let's go!"

Tim Holtz Tags of 2014 - December

After all of the holiday hoopla, I had to make sure I didn't forget to do this month's Tim Holtz tag. As usual, I am barely sneaking in before the end of the month... and this time, just before the end of the year!

I got out what I thought I might need for this month's piece.

Here's what I ended up using from that pile:

Distress Inks: Faded Jeans, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood and Walnut Stain
Distress Markers: Stormy Sky and Vintage Photo
Distress Stain: Brushed Pewter
Distress Paint: Picket Fence and Antique Linen
Distress Stickle Dry Glitter Clear Rock Candy
Frosted Film
Kraft-Core cardstock
Industrious Stickers
Green Jute String
Grungeboard
Bigz Bookplates and Tags die
Festive Greenery Sizzlits Strip die
Shadowpress Authentic Set Debossing Folders
Philosophy tag
Ribbon
Mini brass bell
Scribbles 3D Paint

I began by cutting out the tags and chipboard backers (for stability). I swiped the cardstock with white paint and Distress Inks. I also used an old paint brush to splatter more Distress Paint for a snowy effect.

After cutting out the reindeer in Grungeboard, I painted it with Antique Linen and sanded it down. Using the Walnut Stain Distress Ink I shaded the edges,

painted Multi-Matte medium on top, then sprinkled it with Distress Dry Glitter.

I also outlined the shape with a Distress Marker. Here is a before & after of how nicely this small step improves the look (I have two of everything since I am making a duplicate tag for The Scrapbook Cottage again).

I also added Frosted Film to the top of the tags after embossing them with small dots.

For the wording, I decided to use Tim's Shadowpress Authentic Set Debossing Folder "Wonderful"

cutting off the "ful" to just have "Wonder". Then I tore the bottom of the cardstock, sanded it down, inked and painted it with Picket Fence.

For the pine needles, I used Tim's Festive Greenery die, cut from his Kraft-Core cardstock then inked and painted them for a snowy effect.

So here is my finished tag after putting it all together and adding a ribbon coloured with Distress Ink and a Philosophy Tag hung from it. I also used a thick 3D white paint to add "snow" here and there.

The reindeer is popped up on foam dimensionals and jute string was used around his neck holding a small brass bell. I also added a strip of Industrious stickers to the bottom as Tim had done.

I do hope Tim continues to inspire and teach us new techniques with Tags of 2015 - it sure was fun to participate each month.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful time ringing in the New Year!