Category: crochet

  • a sunny Saturday evening

    I’m so behind on here! I’m sort of spinning my wheels here (not literally, sadly) with all the various knitting and designing projects in various stages of completion. I think it’s high time I clear out some WIPs, because I’m feeling buried.

    As promised (finally), here’s my finished giant granny square!

    giant granny square complete!

    More photos?

    granny square goodness

    And just because I got myself a new lens (A Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Macro):

    mm, macro

    Oooooh, love that macro action. This lens rocks.

    Giant Granny Square
    Hook: 6.5 mm
    Pattern: Granny Square from the Purl Bee

    Yarn: 7 balls of Noro Taiyo in colourway 1 (otherwise known as “neapolitan ice cream”!) plus 1 skein of Coldharbour Mill organic merino DK for the border, held double.

    As an aside, this is the smoothest, sexiest merino ever. And I don’t think you can even buy it anywhere – I got it at IKnit Day in London last year. Does someone want to pick me up some more this year?!

    For the border I just did 2 rounds of single crochet around the whole thing. Really finishes it off, I think! The final measurement is about 48″ square – plenty big for a couch blanket. I think I’ve given up my idea of sewing on a cotton backing, because, well, I don’t think it’ll ever happen! The blanket’s plenty warm enough as is.

    I even have a new crochet project on the go – a ripple blanket!

    new crochet project

    (Have I mentioned how much I love my new macro?)

    I’m using a 5mm hook and many, many random leftovers and single skeins. Unfortunately it turns out that crochet isn’t particularly nice to my left wrist – so I’m going to have to take it easy on this for awhile. I’m thinking it’ll just be one of those random projects around the house that I can pick up and put down whenever!

  • MDSW: the haul

    So what did I get at MDSW?

    281.365 - yarn = me?

    Two skeins of the most delicious, squooshy merino/silk from Solitude. The wool is from local Virginia sheep! The two skeins are slightly different shades, but very close. I’ll probably stripe ’em together.

    Tess Petite Silk

    A whole whack of Petite Silk from Tess Designer Yarns. Love this stuff. What I’ll do with it, I don’t know! Maybe incorporate it into some weaving.

    Tess superwash merino lace

    Plus three skeins of Tess superwash merino laceweight. I was really into the laceweight this year!

    I also picked up two skeins of Wullenstudio sock yarn from the Cloverhill booth, and a Sheep 2 Shoe kit from the Fold. Oh, and some Got Soap – love their stuff! So all in all I was pretty restrained for me. I find once I get to fibre festivals the wool fumes just get into my wallet! I’m sure there are others who can relate.

    But now I’m feeling the weight of my stash. Time to get back to working. I felt like for awhile there I wasn’t being particularly productive in the knitting department, but I think I’m getting back on track. And not just with the knitting either!

    granny square sneak peek

    The giant granny square is done, so here’s a sneak peek! Crochet uses up yarn at a good clip, so I’ve now started another crocheted blanket project – a ripple blanket out of all sorts of different leftovers and random handspuns. But I really need to get going on a few sweater ideas. Anyone have suggestions on how to get more working hours into the day?

  • frolicking

    Saturday was the Downtown Knit Collective’s Knitters Frolic – an annual event that always has me clutching my wallet! This year I drove down (which is an accomplishment if you know me! I hardly ever drive) and worked with megan at our lettuce knit booth.

    lettuce knit booth

    We actually had a double-booth space because the people next to us cancelled. We had a great time! We had lots of Dream in Color Classy on display along with a great February Lady that Kate knit for us.

    DIC classy

    We also had lots of Socks that Rock, Malabrigo (and my Ruffles pattern), Dream in Color Smooshy, and the hit of the day – these awesome baskets from Reisenthal!

    cute baskets and smooshy

    Once a couple people bought them, they told us that everyone was asking where they came from! We ended up selling out completely – awesome. I didn’t even get one; I’ll have to wait for the next shipment.

    Part of what’s so fun about the Frolic for me is seeing so many people I know all in one place! It was super busy first thing in the morning – I guess everyone wanted to get there bright and early. For atmosphere, the view in one direction from our booth. If you’ve never been, this is just one small area – there’s quite a few vendors.

    frolicking

    Of course, I did get a bit of a chance to shop once it quieted down a bit. I’m saving my fibre-buying for MDSW (which is next weekend! how did that happen so fast?) but I had a bit of a falling down at the Tanis Fiber Arts booth. I bought a sweater’s worth of the aran weight in “midnight”.

    More Tanis

    I also picked up a couple skeins of DK weight in “plum” and “sand”.

    Tanis Fiber Arts

    Aren’t they gorgeous?!

    A copy of “Hands-On Rigid Heddle Weaving” and a couple balls of Taiyo rounded things out. Okay, so these push the giant granny square slightly out of stashbusting territory, but in my defense, the Purple Purl had these on special! Should be enough for a couple more rounds of the granny square.

    more taiyo

    Very last thing was a couple of bobbins – Majacraft bobbins.

    majacraft bobbins

    …I may have ended up with a new (to me) Majacraft wheel this weekend!