WIP Wednesday: Spiral Leg Warmers

Posted on August 14, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I have about four inches of leg warmer down. That’s about four/five pattern repeats? I’m not keeping track of repeats as I plan to knit until the length reaches 28-30 inches. So I just knit for a while and then measure.

I have knit enough to try on. I’m really glad I upped the stitch count to 68. They fit my ~~large~~ muscular calves well. I’m find the pattern to be easily memorized and easy to pick up and put down. Of course, I am not surprised. The Purl Bee always has great patterns!

I am using Knit Pick Comfy Worsted in Lady Slipper. This cotton/acrylic yarn is soooooo soft and smushy. It’s a dream to work with. But again I have never been let down by a Knit Picks yarn.

This is currently my traveling/purse knitting project. I manage a few rows at a time on my breaks at work, while the husband drives, and waiting in lines and such. Progress may be slow but it’s better than nothing!

What’s on your needles this week?

Warm & Toasty

Posted on August 13, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Big thanks to PeacefullyKnitting and her blog, I won a copy of Rowan’s Warm & Toasty!

I can’t wait to try these designs as I LOVE bulky yarn. The inner impatient knitter in me adores the instant gratification of a quick knit!

First up…..Katy

A super cute bolero, don’t you think?

Then….Arlington!

This infinity style cowl/scarf/shrug is amazing! I do love a great versatile item 🙂

Happy Tuesday!!!

Weekend Project Roundup

Posted on August 12, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I read an interesting post by another blogger sometime last week about her love of bags and organization for her WIP and projects. I chuckled out loud reading because I have the same ~~compulsion~~ desire! And this weekend I did some cleaning in my craft room and I though I’d do a “bag/organization flash”

First up, here is a tote bag full of ruffle yarn destined to be tutus. I have the correct needle size and a laminated pattern in there as well.

Next up, my Stashbustin’ #19 project. This is an active project for the Sage Yarn FAL. So it doesn’t have a bigger bag. Just a plastic yarn case from Micheals to keep the dog hair off my skeins of yarn and to keep them from rolling around as I work.

Next up, my Stashbustin’ #25 project, Baby Sophisticate! I haven’t actually cast on this as of yet. But I have the pattern marked up for the right size and the yarn is hanging out in the hand made yarn protector from my mother. I need to work up a gauge swatch….

This is my Stashbustin’ #26, Bulky Garter Stitch Balacava. Nothing fancy here either. Just a plastic bag to keep dog hair off my yarn. I still need to measure my co-workers head/hat size before I mark up the pattern instructions.

And finally Stashbustin’ #24, Spiral Leg Warmers. I went all out for this one…yep that’s right that’s a zip lock bag holding my yarn. Not fancy but keeps thing dry and clean!

And sometimes these smaller bags/projects get tossed into bigger bags. Here is a tote (also from Micheals) that is currently holding my leg warmers, baby sophisticate, and balaclava. Not to mention two cases worth of needles, lots of notions, pens, and pencils.

Sometimes just having things organized neatly makes all this work seem less daunting! Plus I always have something I can grab when I’m on the go or need to travel with a project. Not to mention it keeps my projects out of reach from my puppy that likes to hibernate on them, lol!!

How do you store your projects?

FO Friday: Bachelorette

Posted on August 9, 2013 by atangledyarn84

This is a different sort of FO today! I am now officially done with my latest show, Bachelorette. We wrapped up our performances last weekend. It was an amazing and exhausting show. A very powerful piece about how some of my generation failed to grow up and the awful ways we sometimes treat the ones we love. It was even made into a movie in 2012, While the movie does incorporate almost everything in the play, it does it a much different order. And there is a happy ending. The play does NOT have a happy ending, lol.

This show stretched me in every way possible from the content, to singing out loud in front of people, and finally to playing a villain of sorts. I got to curse, drink, and scream on stage. I found it quite liberating!!

I was also blessed with an amazing cast! I have done a lot of shows in my life and this one was truly special. My cast mates were incredibly invested in the process, amazingly talented, showed up every day ready to work, and we just great all around people! No drama, no whining, and lots of encouragement and cooperation.

I want to share some of my favorite photos we took along the way!

And here are few just for laughs. We had to take “selfies” for promos and advertising for the show. I’m terrible at these and required some coaching, lol!

Happy Friday!!!

Rainy Day Lazy

Posted on August 8, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I have a dog wit I have a dog with propensity to sit on my knitting. I though this was supposed to be a cat thing? I have a half day off from the big kid job and it’s a rainy soggy day outside. So what better than to work on my August FAL project while sitting on my couch and listen to the rain fall softly outside?

Well apparently Chloe had other designs on it….so I headed to downstairs to throw in some laundry. What did I find as I exited the laundry room and walking through our guest room? Why, that is Chloe snuggling into my Chevron Lap Blanket on the guest bed.

And by snuggling, I mean rubbing her stinky wet rainy day dog smell all over it. Good thing it’s acrylic and I can toss it in the wash, lol. That’s just what I need…more laundry!

She’s too cute to be mad at long. And as long as she is snuggling my FO I can go and grab the WIP blanket before she can plant on top of it!!!

Hope all is well for you this Thursday!!!

To Craft Fair or Not To Craft Fair?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I got my first craft fair registration email of the season…..

To craft fair or not to craft fair?

I really enjoy craft fairs and I can normally make enough moo-la to fund my yarn habit for a few special projects and offset my booth costs. The people are really cool and I always have some great conversations with fellow crafters. The downside is that I have to crank out massive amounts of the same patterns and projects over and over again. This means less time for my de-stashing efforts and the selfish projects I have lined up. I mean knitting is knitting and it’s all fun in the long run.

What’s a knitter to do?

I have semi-good size stash of ruffle scarves and washcloths left from last season. Maybe I could throw in some lacy scarves, headbands, bulky hats, and maybe a few cute baby blankets?

What kinds of wares do you look for at a craft fairs? What do you guys think?

FAL for August!!!

Posted on August 7, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I’m joining the FAL (finish-along) at Sage yarn for August! I have a case of WIPs here lately and I feel the need to finish something. I’m not giving up on my recent stash busting efforts by any means. But I need to give some monogamous time to some of my older projects!

Remember, Aunt Martha’s Prayer Blanket?

(Stashbustin’ #19)

I made fairly good progress in the beginning and even made it to the second color. But then I started second guessing the two colors together. I hemmed and hawed and the project slowly migrated to the bottom of my knitting bag. And then I saw the blog post about the FAL and I thought it was kismet!

I’m determined to finish this blanket but I fully realize that might be a lofty goal by the end of the month. But at the very least I am going to keep up with the group on Ravelry and do weekly postings. You get credit for making progress even if you don’t finish. I can’t wait to see what others are working on finishing. The Rav group is here!

Anybody else have a finishing goal?

Stashbustin’ #26: Garter Stitch Balaclava

Posted on August 6, 2013 by atangledyarn84

Remember the yarn splurge I showed you last Friday? Well some of that yarn is for a good cause!

Stashbustin’ #26: Garter Stitch Balaclava and Beanie by Christine Grant!

I have a coworker who works tirelessly outside all winter to keep those of us indoor warm and safe. Last winter he showed me his hat/balaclava that had seen better days and asked for a replacement. My first attempts last winter were not all that successful.

So I’m giving this pattern a go in Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Lost Lake Heather. I’m hoping this Aran weight yarn and garter stitch go quickly so my coworker isn’t waiting for me come fall!

Now I just need to measure his head so I know what size I need to make!

Happy Knitting!!

Stashbustin’ #25: Baby Sophisticate

Posted on August 5, 2013 by atangledyarn84

At my recent 10 year high school reunion I had a friend make a special knitting request. She wants an “old man” style sweater for her baby boy due in September.

So I introduce to you Stashbustin’ #25: Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down!

(Photo courtesy of Linden Heflin/Ravelry page)

How cute is this? I think I am going to make the 3-6 mo size as this family tends to make big babies! Mom also requested that this be a soft and easy care garment. So I culled my stash and found just enough Carron Simply Soft in grey. It’s machine washable and pretty soft for acrylic. Probably not my first choice of yarn for a sweater, but this isn’t my project, lol!

The yardage is going to be tight but I think I can make it. I hope to get this started this week. I am going to swatch in the same yarn but a different color since I’m close on yarn.

Now I just need to go find some old man looking buttons….

Oops…I Did It Again

Posted on August 2, 2013 by atangledyarn84

I took a step (or several) backwards on my 2013 destashing project. And it was worse than last time, lol.

I had several special requests after my 10 year reunion from old classmates and family members who saw me knitting. Not my fault right? I mean the FOs they requested couldn’t be filled from my stash without detracting from the usefulness/beauty of the item. (Which by the way is sort of the point of de-cluttering my stash. I want to get to where I buy yarn a few projects at a time!)

So here is a little stash flash of what I purchased from Knit Picks…

Brava Bulky in red, black, peapod, solstice heather, and cobblestone heather

Easy care acrylic yarn that is destined to be a multitude of baby items requested at my reunion. (It’s also easy on the pocketbook!)

Swish Worsted in Lost Lake heather and Squirrel heather

This wool blend is for some warm hats for a friend who works outside all winter!

And finally Felici Fingering Self Striping Sock Yarn in mixed berry, aquarium, and peachy!

This was a little “just for me” yarn I threw in my shopping cart. I needed some incentive to teach myself to make socks! How can I go wrong with a beginner sock pattern and self striping beautifulness?

Just nobody tell my hubby I bought yarn again, ok?