• Tax Refund

    I haven’t been able to buy much in the way of fun stuff lately due to lack of funds, but I did get a tax refund! So after putting a bunch of it aside for this year’s taxes (responsibility!) I ordered some more yarn to finish up my crocheted blanket.

    alllllmost done

    alllllmost done

    It’s so close to done now – just a couple rounds of double crochet around the whole thing for a border, and the ends. I’m not planning to write up a pattern for this but here’s what I did with the Wool-eater pattern:

    • I used a size F / 3.75mm crochet hook and fingering weight yarn: scraps of Koigu, STR, and Casbah for the edgings.
    • I worked 4 tiers for the square centres, joining new colours for each tier.
    • For the solid border on each square, I worked a Round 3 (cluny group round) then a round of double crochet, with a couple chain stitches between the dc’s on the corners.
    • Then I slip-stitched the blocks into rows and then the rows together.
    • The 16 blocks with borders, put together, measures 36″ square, but it’ll be a little bigger once I put the last border on.

    new fibres

    I also ordered some colourful new spinning fibres! These pretties are from Woolgatherings on Etsy.

  • K in progress

    blob o' grey

    I got a new lens this week! It’s just a cheapie one – the Nikon 50mm f/1.8. I’ve been using my 30mm Sigma lens for so long (in addition to a zoom lens), it’s really nice to get a chance to play with something different for once. It’s very light because it has plastic parts, which might actually encourage me to carry my “heavy” camera around a little more this spring.

    Above, my grey blob is going quite well, and has grown a lot! I wasn’t able to get the whole thing out of one skein like I’d hoped, but I won’t use all of the second. Maybe 1000 yards total. I’m nearly done the body, then I just have to knit the sleeves, which should go pretty quickly. (I hope so, anyway.)

    Logan

    I picked up my Superhero sampler this week as well, and finished up Logan. I’m finally starting to see where I can improve my stitching – as in, I can see where the stitches aren’t perfect! It’s okay though, it’s a learning experience. K for Kilowog is in progress, and I’m looking forward to the larger blocks of colour. It’s nice to stitch and not have to change threads so often, I find it quite relaxing.

    I really want to do The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery’s Sugar is Sweet sampler too. Since it’s a smaller project, maybe I’ll cheat on my superhero sampler a bit and pick up some new materials. It’s so cute and has cake, my favourite!

  • A Little Button Love

    felt buttons

    I’ve had these buttons in my stash for at least…4 or 5 years? Maybe more. They were a gift from the always amazing Denny, and as such were very special – not just any project would do.

    When I started knitting my Bathurst Hat, I knew this would be the one. These buttons are 100% wool felt, and a little too soft to use for something really functional (like a cardigan). A hat is perfect for showcasing those precious buttons that deserve to be seen.

    I can’t read Japanese, but the one thing I’m sure of is that they’re 100% wool! Here’s the button card for posterity.

    felt buttons, front

    felt buttons, back

    A little white thread really makes the brown pop, and I think they go really well with the teal of the hat!

    felt buttons

    I love them. Thanks Denny!