Socks From Dragon

Looking at the brightly colored yarn that was my birthday present from my boyfriend I knew exactly what pattern I would use for the socks he wanted me to make for myself.



The colors changed so fast that I knew most patterns would produce a multicolored mess. I hoped that the pattern I had in mind would play nicely with the colors. I was thrilled to watch the stripes and columns line up as I knit through the pattern.



The interesting heel construction is a bit snug as I pull it over my heel but within seconds I find it to be one of the most comfortable socks that I've ever worn. The paired increases and decreases throughout the foot and leg create the most interesting shape but it fits like a dream. Though you know what I love the most? They're not identical but they create a picture when put together.



Pattern: Skew by Lana Holden
Yarn: Yarn Bee Walk Away Sock in Kicky
Project page: Ravelry
Modifications: None

Spring Socks

I've been working a lot lately on projects for me ... in colors I wouldn't normally wear. It's been interesting.



I've always gravitated more toward dark colors, black, dark purple (purple being my favorite color), dark blue. There's a reason my Nanny used to say I looked like a walking bruise. She on the other hand looked stunning in pastels.

I remember getting dressed for Kindergarten one morning and she pulled out a pair of yellow pants. (It was the 80's, they were actually in style.) "I don't want to wear yellow." Nanny looked at me for a moment, shrugged, and told me to pick my own clothes from then on.



I think in a way these socks remind me of her, the cotton up to a bit harder treatment than a lot of wool paired with the delicate lace  and all in her beloved pastels.

I'm really glad this yarn fell into my basket and Lynn picked it out for my next project.

Pattern: Curvy Lace Socks by Kathy Wesley
Yarn: Patons Grace in Lavender
Project Page: Springy Lace Socks
Modifications: None intended

Bear Sweater

When Dragon asked for a Bear Sweater I thought he was teasing, as he does. And while he was having fun, he was also serious. He wanted a sweater made only from scraps of yarn and lots of different patterns. My job was to find a way to make it happen while also keeping the sweater from turning into something scary. Mr. Bear came to live with me so I could easily measure and try things on him. I pulled out the fun book of colorwork I got for my birthday last year and I started experimenting.



I pulled out all my scraps that I'd been collecting and spread them across the bed. I figured the best way to pull it all together was a unifying color and black is a fantastic color for that.

I practiced cableing without a cable needle. I tried a bit of fair isle.



I worked on decreasing while keeping the pattern. I played with patterns I'd wanted to try but hadn't had time for.



And finally I put it all together.



Project Page: Ravelry

Blades and Tunic

We've been busy in other ways around here besides just knitting. I talked my husband into joining the local Dagorhir group, and with that means we both need to learn a few more skills (or spend more money to have others make things). So he's been learning how to make weapons and I've getting re-acquainted with my sewing machine. I'd been wanting to do more with it anyhow so I could make more clothing for myself so this works out perfectly.

First up, these nice weapons my husband finished.


The longer one is primarily his and the shorter one primarily Miss Kid's. Since these were made the smaller one has been failed by the head weapon maker due to weight but now we know exactly how to fix that and have already made a couple more, I just need to sew up the cloth coverings for the blades.

While he was busy with that I made Miss Kid a tunic. Garb is required at practices and Lynn had his own. At that time I wasn't planning on really getting on the field and fighting so I wasn't thinking about me. Of course since then I've requested weapons for me and come up with a character since watching the fighting makes you really want to jump in. I made a simple t-tunic for Miss Kid.



It's not fantastic work and I see where I can fix several things, better fabric for one. But! I'm thrilled with it considering that it's my first ever fully sewn work. The only other thing I've ever done was add in panels in a pair of jeans to make them bell bottoms when I was 16 or so.

All in all ... it was fun, we learned a lot, and we have plans for bigger and better. Currently, Miss Kid is very ready to get out on the field and do a lot of foam weapon fighting.

More Piano!

After finishing the first piano scarf I was worried that nobody would buy the pattern or queue it up in Ravelry. Boy was I wrong! It's been a thrill to watch it pop up in queues or to get notification of sales. Each time is like a secret gift that randomly appears in my inbox. It's awesome!



So when Amy asked me to make her a piano scarf I was glad to do so. This time around I popped it into my bag and carried it with me if I knew I was going to be sitting somewhere for several hours.



Apparently, seeing somebody knitting in public down here isn't that common and pair that with something as large and striking as a giant black and white piano scarf and you get lots of questions. I love questions though since it gives me a chance to share a little of my passion.

Sometimes sharing a passion that's not the normal is seen as silly. But that's okay, because the people I knit for come to me to have help in sharing their passion. And in this case I'm glad to take cues from my husband, who doesn't mind being a little silly at times if it means helping somebody with what they need.



I mean, how can you not laugh at somebody doing this? And he's such a good sport, allowing me to drag him out into the sun after a long day of work and an hour drive home to drape wool around him for pictures. I'm glad he puts up with me and supports me in my passion.

Pattern: Piano Scarf
Project Page: Ravelry

Triforce Pillows

I can't believe I nearly forgot to post about these! Better late than never I guess.



I learned a lot while making these. I had originally looked at these and estimated the yardage needed based on knitting. I quickly figured out though that crochet takes a 'lot' more yarn; as easy a crochet is, I can't crochet without looking like I can knitting . It was a nice little thrill finishing each triangle so quickly as it made me feel like I'd finished something, even though it was a piece of a larger project. And I somewhat figured out how to crochet blind as I crocheted the last little bit of seams that I could reach from the inside, after I'd already turned it.

All in all it was a fun project and I enjoyed making them. Explaining to people what they were on the other hand ... let's just say that apparently very few people I talked to have every heard of Zelda, Link, or Final Fantasy.



Pattern: Triforce Pillow by Pam Gabriel
Project Page: Ravelry
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Modifications: None intentional

Circles ... Going in Circles

I finished my travel socks! These have traveled with me to various stores, 2 seperate geeky conventions, a movie, and 3 plays, not to mention uncountable hours in lines, doctor's waiting rooms, and driving around town (I was the passenger, promise).



The second one simply flew by as I worked Space City Con and ran around helping my amazing volunteers out as they assisted patrons with directions and played tour guide a couple of times. I even managed to get the stripes to line up almost exactly!



You can tell on the heels and toes that it was a bit off but I think that's partially because on the second heel I was trying to go by memory and didn't start the turning at exactly the same spot. Either way I don't care, I think they're perfect!



I don't think I'm a huge fan of the star toe, but I had to at least try it. The heels are eye of partridge and that doesn't really bother me, though I didn't get the slightly raised diagonals I read should appear .. perhaps I did it wrong. If I do this pattern again, which is a possibility, I'll change the numbers a bit and only add one repeat at cast on, decrease a bit before doing the heel, and do a different toe. This pair though? I'm in love! 

Pattern - Circle Socks by Anne Campbell
Yarn - Knit Picks Felici in Caprica
Ravelry Project Page
Modifications - Added 16 stiches to the cast on as the original was way too tight for me.

Blue Eggs Complete

It took quite a bit longer than expected but in the end, as with most things that take effort, I think it came out gorgeous and simply amazing. Now that it's off the needles and blocked I find myself in love with it again ... though not enough to instantly cast on another one. That might have to wait just a little bit so that I can work on a couple other things first.



I am in love with the points ... and how it's so soft and wrappable and yet, the points, they stay. They don't fade back into the shawl to become lost in the pattern.



Pattern: Omelet by Joyce Fassbender
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Celesial
Modifications: Did 6.5 repeats of chart B instead of 4.5
Project Page: Ravelry

Air and Water Dreamcatcher

 

A 7in ring wrapped in dark blue thread and webbed with light blue. In the middle is a 3in ring wrapped in light blue thread and webbed in white. Freshwater pearls were used in both rings, white for the larger one and dark blue ones in the smaller one. A crystal like prism hangs in the very center of the duo. 

Gloves to Match

The pattern for these gloves are my default pattern, at least that's how it looks after I've made it 7 times. It's just such a great pattern, a fast knit and something I can easily make larger. They can either be ribbed all the way up or not, have multiple colors or not, and have longer or shorter fingers. I had hoped to do a bit of colorwork on the cuffs to make it look like piano keys but the yarn type just wasn't having it. I'll have to try it again with a different type of yarn at some point. 

Pattern Page: Ravelry

Blue Moon

     A small, 3in brass ring that I wrapped in light blue thread and webbed in dark blue.      

Fi's Beret

I was thrilled to be asked to make this beret. Berets are always interesting to make, lace ones even more so. It's another case of blocking making something magically transform.

I absolutely love how the decreases come together to form the top of the beret and how the lace pattern looks. Now that it's off my needles I'm completely enchanted by it.

It's so soft and cuddly too. Even before blocking I wanted to just sit and pet the yarn. I hope it brings much happiness and joy to my friend.

Pattern: Wussypillows Beret
Project Page: Ravelry
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Sapphire Heather

Miss Kid's Shawl

It took nearly two years, a ton of restarts, and a lot of frustration, but Miss Kid (my step daughter, 11) finally finished her shawl that she wanted so much. Because of it she's gotten quite good at reading her stitches, picking up dropped stitches, and correcting small mistakes. She's also learned how to knit while walking.



She's incredibly proud of her finished shawl, as she should be. She hasn't decided just yet what she'll work on next, other than it be something small.

Batty

I needed a present for a dear friend ... and I knew just the perfect thing for said friend. A Bat! Willingford to be exact. Don't look at me like that. A bat plushie for Dusti is perfect. Trust me.

He was sent along with the book I got signed for her and a small little art card of a bat that I picked up at Con a couple weeks ago. She reports that he arrived safely and I'm sure that he's busy protecting her while she sleeps.

Pattern Page: Ravelry

More Geek Love

The cliff I jumped off this time wasn't as high since I'd already done double knitting once before. I had some issues getting the chart to look the way I wanted so the Deception symbol would show up as accurate as possible but luckily I got a friend to help tweak that a bit.

I find that the hardest part for me is the parts where you have to knit for $inches. That seems to always be the part where I have the most trouble keeping my focus. If I know I have x rows left then it's a bit easier.  

Anyhow, I finished the scarf and I'm really happy with how it looks. Huge thanks to my husband for being willing to go stand in the sun in 90 degree weather while I drape wool around him and take pictures.

The pattern is now live and available for purchase, . It includes detailed instructions on double knitting, binding off one color while continuing in the other, and grafting knits to purls.

Let Your Geek Flag Fly

I've called it fearless knitting before. Somebody will ask me if I can knit something for them and I reply with an enthusiastic YES! ... and then my brain kicks in and reminds me that I have no clue how to do such a thing.

It doesn't seem to stop me though. Oh it slows me down a bit as I poke around at things and see what I can find instruction wise to do what I need. But my determination never changes. I end up with some of the most amazing things because of that determination to get what I want.

The scarf is just one of them. *wink* Many thanks to my wonderful husband for playing model for me.

The pattern is now live and available for purchase, either through Ravelry or Shadow's Knit Knacks. It includes detailed instructions on double knitting, binding off one color while continuing in the other, and grafting knits to purls.

3KCBWDAY5 - Play me a Song Mr. Piano Man

Pattern: Piano Scarf by Shadow Byrd

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Project Page

Secret Socks

I always have a travel project. Sometimes it's my main project too ... sometimes not. It depends on if I have the means to carry it around. This project lived in a crown royal bag hanging from my purse for many months as I worked on them, a row here and there.

I almost felt guilty working on them at times because they were a personal thing, a gift for later in the year. But that was always when my main project was way too complicated or large to carry with me and quickly set aside while out walking around. I got over the guilt pretty quickly.



I think I love everything about these socks. I love the little mock cables. I love the seed stitch up the leg. I love how the pattern crosses over across the foot. I love how it's reversed on each sock.



These are off to the gift box. I can't wait to give them to my friend but I'll have to. I think she'll love them.

Pattern: Bubble Stream by Cailyn Meyer
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal in Deep Waters
Ravelry Page
Mods: None

A Shawl Complete Round 2

The third time around this pattern was still fun to work up and watch come together. I think it's the different colors each time and the way they blend together.



The colors in this one make me think of spring and bright gardens to while away the hours in. The last few rows seemed to take longer than before but in all fairness that's because it was sitting next to me while I thought about knitting them instead of actually knitting them. Funny how that makes a difference.



Pattern: Chinook Shawl
Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud and Shadow Tonal
Ravelry Page

Birthday Mitts

Friday was Miss Kid's birthday and the party was Sunday. We'd already paid for her ears to be pierced as part of her birthday present but I wanted to be able to give her something to open there at the party.

But what to give? Miss Kid has shown interest in the fingerless mitts I've done. So we went to the yarn store and looked around. I told her that I had to make a pair of those mitts but the color was up to me, but I needed help in finding the most awesome color possible and I wanted it to be really soft.

She finally settled on a yarn and color that seemed awesome to her. Then we got home and the yarn was put away. Before I left, while she was at school and with her mother, I whipped up a pair of the mitts. I managed to get them blocked before she visited the Thursday before my vacation so I could get pictures of them. 

She opened them Sunday and was 'very' happy to have her very own set of mitts, in the awesome color she picked out. There's a bit of yarn left over so I promised we could look into something to be made with it as well.



Pattern: Firework Mitts
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima
Project Page