WIP Wednesday: Fireworks & Finding Magic

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 1,342

Current Word Count: 2,624 (Up 1,282)

I've changed the main female character's name. I realized that I'd used the same name for two separate stories and both were rather big characters. The one in this story didn't feel comfortable with the name, so it all worked out.

Reading:

Just After Sunset by Stephen King I'm just barely into the first short story in this collection. Normally I get annoyed with short stories as often it feels like just as I'm invested in the characters the story is over. King has always managed to avoid that problem, as far as I'm concerned. He manages to create characters that I'm instantly interested in. Some of that is obvious King fangirling as I've been a huge fan of his since I started reading his stuff around age 8 and some of that is the reason I'm a huge fangirl.

Knitting:
I'm terribly impatient; really, horribly impatient. Normally knitting helps a bit with this as everything is one stitch at a time and I can watch it come together. No so when I'm waiting to hear back from a designer about a problem in the pattern. I waited as patiently as I could however and finally my twitchy fingers got the best of me and I added in the rows that made sense to me so that I could continue with the actual creating part. I make notes on the print out I have so the second one will be the same and then I get back to flying along. Other than that? I love working with this yarn, I love how the pattern is showing up, and I love how they're mostly falling right into place.



This is technically the 2nd go. The first one was ripped out as the edging was done backwards, I folded it forward rather than backwards; it might have helped for the pattern to say that you should pick up your cast on row from the wrong side. There's also a bit of a math issue in the middle of that pattern as after the pattern repeats you should be on round 41, not 40. I had Lynn check that one twice, to be sure. Normally I wouldn't say anything, I'd just go on, but this doesn't look to have been made all that often and I wonder if the problems with the pattern are causing that.

Braided Cowl

I finally finished the cowl that I used the baby alpaca for! I really like how it came out and I'm really happy with the grafting together of the two ends. The cables were a bit hard on my hands since they were so large but I made it work. While I'm not a fan of large needles and bulky yarn it is nice to have something work up so quickly.

I love that I'll be able to wear it in a couple different ways since it's reversible and I made it double the length. Now if it'll just stop being 80 in the shade here and remember that it's January after all.


  
Pattern: Clara Cowl by Gretchen Ronnevik 

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande in 2213 

Ravelry

Mods: None that I know of.

WIP Wednesday: Brambles & Magic Balance

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 606

Current Word Count: 1,342 (Up 736)

Slow progress but progress. We've met the 2 of the main characters and learned a bit about where the story is going.

Reading:

The Light-Years Beneath My Feet by Alan Dean Foster. I read the preceding book a couple of years ago and have been wanting to read the rest of the series. So far it's enjoyable. While I understand the need for words that aren't English words, given that it takes place on alien planets, I struggle to avoid skimming when those words are used repeatedly.

Knitting:
Just last night I cast on for a beret that's been commissioned so there's no much to show. I love the chart though so it should once again be a quick knit and be a lovely finished piece.



I also received this in the mail just today: a skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino in Pumpkin, blue, and maroon that's destined to become a glove and scarf set as another commission.

Plans for the Year-ish

I have a ton of yarn sitting here in stash that I need to use thanks to lovely gifts and impulse begging (I don't buy, husband does that ... after I give the eyes). I think I've narrowed down what I'm going to do with all of it.

Currently on the Needles:

1. Deep Bubbles for ? (Is supposed to be a surprise after all)

• Bubble Stream Sock Pattern
• Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Deep Waters

Up Next - Stuff I have Yarn for

1. Grey Socks for Dragon
• Par 5 Socks Pattern
• Supersocke Cotton Grey Tweed
2. Kicky Skew for Self
• Skew Sock Pattern
• Walk Away in Kicky
3. Chocolate Cubes for Self
• Cubist Sock Pattern
• Lornas Laces Chocolate
4. Cabled Gloves for Self
• Cabled Glovelets Pattern
• Cascade 220 Superwash in Spruce
5. FallBerry Set for Self
• FallBerry Mits, Hat, and Scarf Pattern
• Caron Simply Soft Celestial
6. Mint Pomatomus for Self
• Pomatomus Sock Pattern
• Patons Stretch Socks in Spearmint
7. Brown Shawl for Self
• Colannade Shawl Pattern
• Baby Bee Sweet Delight Baby in Chocolate
8. Circle Shawl for Self
• Circular Tweed Pattern
• I Love This Yarn in Toasted Almond and Coffee
9. Denim for Self
• Woven Diamonds Sock Pattern
• Sugar N Cream in Denim
10. Amusing for Self
• Amused Pattern
• Lion Brand Wool Ease in Chestnut Heather
11. Sherbet for Self
• Twisted Sock Pattern
• Sugar N Cream in Sherbet
12. Water Socks for Self
• Twisted Mockery Sock Pattern
• Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Deep Waters
13. Caprica Circles for Self
• Circles Socks Pattern
• Knit Picks Felici Caprica
14. Summer Socks for Self
• Japanese Feather Socks Pattern
• Patons Grace in Lavender
15. Earth for Lynn
• Java Socks Pattern
• Loops and Threads Impeccable Worsted

Stuff That's Planned But Waiting on Other People

1. Gloves and Scarf Duet for Kelli
• Fireworks Fingerless Mitts Pattern
• Drop Stitch Scarf 2 Pattern
• Ella Rae Lace Merino
2. Mr. Fox Scarf for Sorcha
• Mr. Fox Stole my Heart Pattern
• Knit Picks Palette (Most Likely)
3. Something for Dusti
• Pattern to be decided after she sends me yarn
4. Wrist Warmers for Stephanie
• She's looking for pattern
5. Purple Cherie for Self
• Cherie Amour Pattern
• Yarn Bee Princess in Joust (Need 4 more skeins)
6. Knit Corset for Sorcha
7. Knit Corset for Self
8. Bat Shawl for Dusti
9. Brambles Beret for Susan
10. AT-AT for Fiona
• Waiting on yarn purchase
11. Pineapple Delight Shawl for Sorcha
12. Headband for Jenny
• Waiting on yarn purchase

That should be enough to keep me busy for a bit. Any suggestions, concerns, comments?

Knitting for Dragon

Around the turn of the year Dragon said he had a project for me. Always eager to help those I love I asked for details. He needed gloves.

I couldn't resist pointing out that I'd asked if he'd want such a thing over a year ago and he'd then laughed a bit and pointed out that we're in Texas, such things weren't necessary. He hails from the much colder north you see and mostly laughs at us silly southerners and our "cold" weather.

But, joking aside, I went hunting for the perfect pattern for him. The only things he asked for was fingerless and a manly shade of black or grey. Are there unmanly shades of black or grey? Anyhow, with him being a photographer I knew he'd need something to make it easy to use his camera. I found a really awesome pattern.



Pattern: Cigar by Kerri Cadd
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Black and Grey
Modifications: None that I know of
Ravelry

But that wasn't enough for me. See, he might not always need the exclusive use of just those fingers. Plus, I now had a whole skein of black that I'd only used about a yard of. So I whipped up a pair of the fingerless gloves that I keep going back to.



Pattern: Snuggles Fingerless Gloves by Anna Peck
Yarn: Lion Bran Wool-Ease Worsted in Grey and Black
Modifications: Just my usual of switching the cables.
Ravelry

I decided to do these in both colors because the grey makes the cables show up a bit better plus they'll match his scarf a bit closer and look more like an intentional thing rather than the mismatch that knitters occasionally end up with. He can tell at a glance which pair of gloves makes a set and can choose based on what he needs. And I get to wrap my Dragon in a little bit more love.

(Those are Lynn hands in the shots, he's kind enough to model for me when I need manly hands.)

WIP Wednesday: Clara's Cowl & Finding Magic

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 606
Current Word Count: 606 (Up 0)

Yeah ... with everything going on and then Lynn now being home I'm working on finding that time again. 

Knitting:
If the yarn looks familiar that's because it was originally shown as my capelet. I'll still go back and make that because I do love it but I wasn't loving it in this yarn, plus I'd need more yarn and not knowing when I'd be able to buy more, I'd rather it not sit for an unknown time. But this looks gorgeous and I think it's going to be wonderful to wrap around my neck when it's cold out.

The Morphing Shawl

I started this shawl with the full intent of following the pattern and having a gorgeous piece of lace knitting done in plenty of time for gift giving. It's funny how our brains work.

The pattern? Lovely! The yarn? So scrumptious! The following of the pattern? Not a chance.



Perhaps I would have had fewer problems had I used the suggested weight for this but you know how it goes. Instead I used a lace yarn, something much thinner than suggested. I quickly realized that I'd have to change the needle size too because that solid portion was looking mighty lacy already and I was only about 5 rows in. Then I realized that I'd be better off if I could make the solid portion much larger but I still needed to hit the required number of stitches before getting to the lace sections. So I changed my increases.

After getting through the charted out lace, all 3 charts of it I realized it still was going to be way too small. Time to poke at the charts again. I figured I'd be okay if I kept doing the lace (and extrapolating what the edges should be like since it didn't quite line up as before) until I'd doubled the lace section before doing the edging.

Still not large enough but by then time was growing short and I was sick of the lace portion. I poked at the charts a bit more. There was a solid portion between the last lace section and the edging. I could simply make that quite a bit larger to match the stitches needed for the edging and it'd look intentional. So back to the calculator (I normally call him Husband) and I had my next goal. I flew through that and began the edging. Once more I had to somewhat make up what happened at the edges as it didn't line up exactly perfectly but I kept the pattern extending outward.

Then it was time to take a really deep breath and block it. If it all fell apart now I had only 2 days to find a replacement gift. I strongly considered pictures of the attempted shawl and a promise to remake it if it did disintegrate in the blocking process. It wouldn't have been a great solution but I had nothing left in the brain reserves at this point.

Luckily it blocked out beautifully and the recipient loved it. Good thing Miss Kid is always glad to help out on showing off the pretties that her step mother makes  so it can be photographed, I couldn't ask for a better model. And look! The little points stayed pointy and OMG it's awesome! *squee*



Pattern: Lingonberry Shawlette by Andrea Arbour
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in Bayou
Project Page: Ravelry

WIP Wednesday: Dragon Gloves & Magic Balance

Writing:
Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites
Current Word Count: 606

I'm picking up a story I've worked on for 2 separate NaNo wins, one was titled Finding Magic, the other Correcting the Balance. Some of the first portion was rewritten for the second attempt but either way it's a lot of story that needs work. So far I have only the writings of historical madmen on the new document, I know where a large portion of this story is going though so I'm not too worried.

Knitting:
It looks a little sad in pictures here but lest you think I've only done 4 rows all year these were not my first project of the year. Dragon asked for gloves and I've already finished the first set and I'll share those later. This is the second set that I'm making for him and I figure at least this way he'll have choices based on what he'll be doing while out and about, be it photography or errands.

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led 3

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 46,533
Current Word Count: 48,731 (Up 2,198)

And done, done, done!! Who wants to beta it? I know it has issues but I'm to close to see them at this point.

Knitting:
Speaking of done ... only 2 more rows and the bind off!! I'll totally have this done and blocked by Sunday with no problem!

Chinook Shawl Complete!

I ordered the kit for this shawl sometime back in March. I wasn't able to get around to opening it until September. I had a brief moment of "omg Gods what am I thinking I can't do this" before I shushed myself. One Stitch at a Time, that's the rule.

Winding the yarn up into a ball each time was a delight, knitting with it was fantastic, seeing the pattern emerge was enthralling. I was in love with this shawl. Little things kept coming up and I'd set it aside to finish something else along the way (money has this particular draw) but I always kept coming back to it as quickly as possible.

And then? Sitting on the couch at Dragon's house after my November novel was done, while watching my yearly viewing of Star Wars, the final stitch was bound off. It was done. I scrunched it up in my hands and buried my face in it. Blocking it was going to be a problem but I left that for when I returned home. I was even more glad that I'd woven ends in as I went along so all I had left to weave in was the final end.



I'm not sure I'm fully done with it. I may perhaps block it again, but it's already huge. I don't know if it really needs to be larger or if the thought has appeal just because "I can". However it is warm, gorgeous, and cuddly soft. I am beyond delighted at the results of months of knitting. I'm now dreaming of more shawls in various gradients of blue, purple, and green.



Pattern: Chinook Shawl by Nina Isaacson
Yarn: Various Knit Picks
Project Page: Ravelry
Mods: None

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led 2

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,725
Current Word Count: 46,533 (Up 808)

I think I can see the end of this one! So, so close!

Knitting:
Still working on the Secret Shawl. I believe I'd have been done by now had I not gone off pattern with it. But it seriously wasn't going to be large enough. So I begged my wonderful husband to help with the math and I added a couple repeats of the pattern plus another section. So many mods to this pattern .... I typically just follow the pattern. I've got a few ideas for. I think I might start getting the design bug here too. After the gift's been given I'll share the pattern info and all the changes I made since it's with a much thinner yarn.

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,725 (Up 250)

Tiny progress but progress! At least I'm getting back into the world of this novel.

Knitting:
The secret knitting is going well. I'm onto the second chart of the lace sections. Win!

Opposites Attract

I finally have a finished object to share!



Stephanie asked me to make her a pair of wrist warmers. She found a pattern that she liked and I found several yarn options. To make it easier for her to pick the colors she wanted I suggested that we could alternate the colors. She loved the idea though questioned how hard it would be. I'd never done it before but it couldn't be that difficult, right? Right! *laugh* I'm not scared by new things. So Lynn helped me figure out what exactly the pattern meant since numbers aren't my friends. (I keep trying, they keep rejecting me.)

The color changing was so easy! Also it was a huge help since the cables were every 8 rows and the color change was every 4 rows. No more keeping track of what row I was on! The alternating colors made it so easy to see my stitches too and set it in my mind how my stitches look so that on other projects I can more easily count rows should I lose track.



No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Along with making the cables cross toward the thumb on each glove I make the colors opposite on each wrist warmer, as requested. It made the progress on each a lot of fun to watch as they grew and the colors stacked up.

I had so much fun working on these. I can't wait to see pictures of Stephanie wearing them. *grin*

Belated Birthday Present

Proving that my friends love me and know me so well, I have presents to show off.

Dragon surprised me with yarn for socks in lovely bright and wonderful colors. Now to figure out a pattern that will really showcase the gorgeous colors. There were also some framed prints of his photography but I'm not sharing those. *wink*


Phoenixsansfyr also took note of my knitting obsession and gifted me with this fantastic book. I'm already drooling over several of the patterns inside and looking forward to playing with the motifs and colors and seeing what I come up with.

WIP Wednesday: Gift Shawl, Gift Socks & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0)

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a slacker. I took the last week off from most writing to simply give my brain a chance to reset back into Fey Led. I'll be getting back to work on Fey Led in the next day or two.

Knitting:
I have secret knitting ... kinda. I don't think either of the recipients read the blog but just in case I won't mention names. First up is a pair (well, ok, just one of the pair) of socks. I'm in love with the pattern and the yarn and I simply adore how the two are playing together. I started these socks for a friend and haven't gotten very far on them but they're already on hold a bit.



They're on hold for this shawl that actually has a due date and I really need it to be done first. I started the socks because I didn't have the yarn for the shawl. It came in while I was in Austin. I had to play with the numbers a bit (i.e. stared at it confused until Husband Man stepped in and handled the scary math for me) since I'm using smaller needles and thinner yarn than recommended. I still wanted it to be decent size though so I think this will work out.



Both projects are in Knit Picks yarn which I'm seriously beginning to love for every project. The socks are Stroll Tonal in Deep Waters and the shawl is Shimmer in Bayou. Sorry for the iffy pictures but it's cold outside and my heat isn't working (guy should be by today to look at it). Rather than brave the cold for the sunshine in the pictures I'm staying inside and trying to conserve the warmth I've got.

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl and Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing: Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites Previous Word Count: 45,475 Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0) NaNo 2011 Previous Word Count: 41,676 Current Word Count: 50,085 (Up 8,409) I wrapped NaNo up Monday afternoon. I'm really happy with the story and thrilled that it went so smoothly this year. I'm giving myself a couple of days before getting back into Fey Led just to clear my mind and relax for a bit.  Knitting: No picture of wrist warmers today ... because they're done. Dragon watched, both amused and surprised, as I got nearly all of one done in an afternoon. I wasn't kidding when I said I hadn't had any knitting time while working on NaNo. I'll do up a finished object post for them as soon as I'm home and can block them before getting pictures. Meanwhile I'm back to the Chinook Shawl and almost done!! I'm doing the bind off on it and should be done fairly soon! I'm so excited to get it done. It's a bit fiddly but simply once I fall into the rhythm.

WIP Wednesday: NaNo is Eating my Brain

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 25,069
Current Word Count: 41,676 (Up 16,607)

Well, we know where all my time's been going, no? I feel the story is starting to wrap up and I'm trying to slow it down a bit to reach 50k And if I keep up the current pace I should be finishing early, though with Thanksgiving being tomorrow and me also having a 3 hour drive my writing time will be less. We'll see.

Knitting:
Um ... I doubled my previous progress? Yeah, we'll go with that.



As soon as NaNo is over I'm diving back into my yarn and I may never come up for air. I miss it!

WIP Wednesday: Wrist Warmers, Fey Led & NaNo 2011 2.0

Writing: Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 44,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 1,000)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 13,741
Current Word Count: 25,069 (Up 11,328)

 Not a lot of progress on Fey Led but I've looked at it a little, tons of progress on NaNo though. I'm pretty happy with how the story is coming along and the characters are certainly speaking up and taking on a life of their own. They've already thrown out one plan I had for the story. So now I guess it's in their hands. 

Knitting: I haven't done as much knitting as I'd like due to Idol and NaNo taking a bit of priority. But I have managed to finish one wrist warmer, despite the thumb trying to thwart me. Ha! Take that you silly thumb! ... ..... Yeah, just a wee bit crazy around her. Anyhow I cast on for the second wrist warmer this morning and got a few rounds done to get the pattern set, it can be seen a bit in the picture.

WIP Wednesday: Wrist Warmers, Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 43,003
Current Word Count: 44,475 (Up 1,472)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 1686
Current Word Count: 13,741 (Up 12,055)

Yeah, not a ton done on Fey Led so far but I'm having nearly no problems at all keeping the story going for the WriMo Novel so that's a bonus. I'm averaging a little more than the minimum goal each day too though I'm hoping to start knocking down the goal for the next day so I'll have a little cushion. Hopefully, since I know what I will write about today and have some of it mapped out in my mind I can get that done fairly quickly and get more done on Fey Led.

Knitting:
I finished the body of my Chinook Shawl and started the edging! But I'm not going to show you that today. *laugh* I started something new. It's a pair of fingerless mitts for a friend and while they're pretty simple I'm learning how to alternate colors up the side of the project. Though the alternating colors are actually helping me keep track of the cables. They're also making it a lot easier to count my rows so I'm really learning a lot more about construction here than I thought I was going to.

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl, Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 41,027
Current Word Count: 43,003 (Up 1,976)

NaNo 2011
Current Word Count: 1686

Progress on both worlds. Obviously I didn't manage to get Fey Led done by Nov 1st but oh well. Bits and pieces keep bubbling up so that's at least something to be glad of.

Knitting
I only have 3 rows left before the body is done!! Then I have 4 rows of a new color and then I begin creating the points for the edging. On the one hand I'm excited to be so close to the end. On the other I'm frustrated at feeling like I have no knitting time lately. On yet a third hand, (What? I'm married, I have two sets.) it doesn't seem like I'm even going to get to wear this anytime soon as apparently Mother Nature has missed the memo that it's Autumn, even if it is in Texas and the temps are still pretty high. Don't get me wrong, it's comfortable and nice out there but it's certainly no need for layers just yet.



Or course I haven't even considered where I'll block this huge beast out. I've no room here in the apartment so I need to find a mobile solution or something.