Not bad for a day's work

So back before Christmas, December 16th to be exact, I was at work and one of my board members mentioned he had to run home because he was making is 2-year-old granddaughter a wooden cradle for her doll for Christmas and he needed to finish it.

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I, not doing any Christmas knitting and being softhearted said that a handmade cradle needs a handmade blanket.  So I told him that I didn't promise anything but I might have something done by Thursday, and after hemming and hawing on Monday and Tuesday, I hauled out my stash of KnitPicks Brava (worsted weight acrylic yarn, that has changed mills so I can't recommend it), and decided to crochet a little rainbow blanket for the girl and her doll.

I managed to get it (a 14"x14" ripple crocheted mini-blanket) done in just over a day, and off to its home by my Thursday deadline.

Over Christmas break I got an email from the board member letting me know the gift had been very well received. Photos courtesy of the family and used with permission.

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Not bad for (just over) a day's work.

Project Page: Dolly Blanket

2013 and looking back

So back on January 1st I set a whole bunch of goals that at the time seemed totally attainable, but that was before I figured out what 2013 had in store for me. 

My sister moved, got engaged, got married and left her job, while I also moved, went through some changes at my job and adopted a kitten.  So it was a bigger year for her than for me, but 2013 was not exactly what I was expecting so.

For the last three years (wow, how has it been three years already) I have been doing retrospective and looking forward posts as the years end and begin, and this year is no different. I am using, today, December 30th, as the cut off day for finishing projects in 2013.  I will have several projects that will be carrying forward into 2014.

So 2013 in numbers looks something like this, 2012, 2011 and 2010 numbers are in brackets. Note, that this year I added a loom so these number include woven projects as well.

2013 by the Numbers:

• 24.39 (20.56, 14, 23) miles of yarn acquired during the year
• 44 (33, 22, 18) miles of yarn currently in my stash
• 5.9 (8.7, 6.2, 4.5) miles of yarn knit/crocheted/woven into projects
• 1.83 (1.82, 2.15, 3.93) Ratio of yarn acquired to used
•  1,327 (1,092, 2,771, 426) yards of handspun yarn
•  4.23 (2.5, 6, 5.7) pounds of spinning fiber acquired
• 24 (12.7, 12, 5) pounds of spinning fiber in stash
• 1.42 (1.37, 2.85, 4.68) ratio of stashed fluff to spun yarn
• 1 (1, 6, 7) pairs of mittens
• 2 (4, 5, 14) hats
• 6 (7, 3, 6) shawls or stoles
• 3 (10, 0, 3) scarves
• 0 (0, 2, 2) bags
• 3 (0, 2, 0) blankets
• 2 (8, 6, 1) cowls
• 6 (13, 3, 1) pairs of socks
• 2 (1, 10, 0) dishclothes
• 2 (2, 0, 1) baby sweaters
• 10 (3, 0, 0) toys

So the big thing in 2013 was the addition of amigurumi toys, which I love to crochet.  I had a good cadence to crafting until summer when I hit a big wall, I managed to make Carla's wedding shawl when lots of time to spare and then not that much else!  The arrival of Jack the kitten just put a nail in the coffin of my knitting this fall. 

I also got a new spinning wheel, a Schacht Ladybug, and just last month I got a vintage Strauch Petite drum carder so I'm feeing re-invigorated towards spinning, also the fact that I learned how to ply properly which makes all my yarns look better.

In 2013, I:  (goals I have met are in Italics)

Quantities

• Spin 5lbs of fluff - NOPE, only did 1.5lbs
• Use up 10 miles of yarn - NOPE, only 5.9 miles
• Create 40 items (knit, crocheted or woven) - NOPE, I managed to finish 37 items
• Knit 15 pairs of socks - NOPE, only 6
• Knit an adult sweater for myself - NOPE, but this one is sticking around 

Techniques

• Complete a project in Tunisian Crochet - NOPE, I was into Tunisian but I never went back to complete a project
• Learn and complete a project that uses Broomstick Lace - NOPE, after getting part way through the Craftsy class I never got myself a pin for doing broomstick lace so I never actually really learned or finished a project.
• Learn and complete a project in Brioche Stitch - YES! I made a very cool scarf and I would really like to do more brioche, it makes such a nice fabric.
• Learn and complete a project in double knitting - NOPE, I tried double knitting and wanted to pitch it out the window, so I may try again someday but its not on the shortlist of techniques I want in my knitting repertoire.
• Complete a tatting project - NOPE, and I'm not sure why, I really did intend to try tatting again
• Give stranded colorwork another try - SORTA, I started working on some stranded colorwork stockings, but I lost my mojo, however that may have had more to do with the deadlines than the technique.
• Complete the sampler in The Weavers Idea Book by Jane Patrick - SORTA, I did a a sampler with all the Pick-up stick drafts from the book.
• Complete a weaving project using overshot techniques - NOPE
• Compete a weaving project for something OTHER than a scarf or cowl - SORTA, I made a sampler, but I don't really consider that completing the goal.
• Spin a semi-woolen yarn (long draw from a combed top) - I THINK SO, I started making yarns I like which was part of my intention when setting this goal.
• Spin an "art yarn" - NOPE
• Spin a laceweight yarn - NOPE
• Give needle felting another try - YES, but I tried it and was certain that I hated it and so I gave away my supplies.
• Give DPNs another try - NOPE, and I'm okay with that, but I did start using 9in mini circs for socks.

Yarn and Stash

• Use my handspun yarns in knitting, crochet and weaving projects - NOPE, but this needs to be done in 2014
• Use more yarn than I stash -- More specifically get my stash ratio to less than 1.0 for 2013 and try to get my lifetime ratio to less than 2.0 by the end of the year (as the end of 2012 it was 2.43) - NOPE, but did manage to get my year ratio to 1.83 and my lifetime ratio is 2.16, so I'm getting there.
• Destash yarns I don't absolutely love and probably won't ever use - SORTA, I pulled it all out of my stash but I haven't found new homes for it, but I'm calling it a win.

So, two goals accomplished, oh well!  As I mentioned 2013 was not the year I was expecting when I set the goals, but I also learned so much more about myself this year and what I enjoy doing with respect to my fiber life. I like setting lofty goals, because it gives me something to strive for and also to have something funny to look back at the end of the year.

Also in 2013, I:

• Knit my sister a wedding shawl, a beautiful pi shawl that used over 1,100 yards of lace weight silk.  This was a huge accomplishment for me.
• Crocheted a whole bunch of fun amigurumi toys, and discovered how much I enjoy doing it.
• Taught a rigid heddle weaving course, and designed a pattern draft to do with it.
• Designed a couple patterns, which I need to write up properly, format and reknit/crochet to have some nice samples.
• Found out how much I like having DK weight socks, and I have plans
• Learned how to embroider and started my 

So 2013, the year I wasn't really expecting, but I think of it as a development year, like in sports where you don't hit the big goals but you set up so that the next year is awesome!

So tomorrow I will unveil my goals for 2014, and we will see if I'm as deluded as I as was on January 1, 2013.

Knitting-a-long with Tanis and Glenna

Another fun thing I missed out on sharing this fall, was a KAL (Knit-a-long) using Glenna C patterns and Tanis Fiber Arts yarns.  I forget what started it but in the Tanis Ravelry group we started chatting about using Glenna's patterns (specifically The Urban Collection Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) for Tanis' yarn and before we knew it we were all in for a KAL. 

For my part I managed to finish two projects for the deadline.  The first was the Armour Road Socks using TFA Yellow Label in Paprika (a OOAK color from an Etsy update in the summer) and the Charlotte Street Mitts in TFA Purple Label in Autumn Sun (a Year in Colour Club offering from September 2011).

I did finish the second sock, later that week.

They were fun knits and I LOVE making DK weight socks, I see many more pairs in my future (especially with KnitPicks Felici Sport discontinued) as they are a fun quick knit and so very warm. I knit the mitts a bit too larger (after many years of too tight gauge this was a bit of a surprise) but I don't care.  They are really soft and so comfortable so I carry on. Also, I still have a half-skein of the Purple Label so I will probably make another pair of fingerless mitts (a different pattern) because this yarn is just so darn nice.

I'm grateful for the KAL because it encouraged me to knit up patterns that had been lingering pretty far down in my queue and yarns that have been marinating in the stash for a while (well one of them ...)

There is another TFA KAL going on right now, however I don't have any projects entered.  I have too many non-TFA knitting commitments right now (including three Christmas stockings and a pair of socks for my mom, all of which are in various stages of completion) but I am really enjoying seeing the WIPs and FOs in the TFA Ravelry group. I hope my queue is cleared up so I can participate in the next KAL because they are a bunch of fun.

How to be the second most popular person at a baby shower

Show up with these guys ...

My coworker went off on Maternity leave yesterday so on Friday, her last day, we had a little get together at the office in her honor. So as with most knitters and crocheters I can't pass up the opportunity to make cute things for babies (and their big sisters) and show off my skills in front of an audience.

Ultimately I decided on a two-part gift.  One part for Kristen/the baby and the other for their 2-year-old daughter, T. For Kristen/the baby I made a blanket.  The pattern is an improvised/single Granny Square blanket.  I had four skeins of KnitPicks Biggo in my stash and they worked perfectly together for the blanket.  It's binky/lovey/carseat sized and with its super wash merino and nylon it should have a nice long lifespan and it is incredibly soft.  I've ordered more at the big Knit Picks sale going on this week.  Because of the sale colors I'm not going to be making crocheted blankets but test out a knit pattern I've been working on in Billow (also by Knit Picks).

For T I made the two amigurumi owls. As an older sister myself, it was important for me to give something to this future big sister. Kristen has mentioned that T loves owls so I picked the Stacey Trock Nelson the Owl patterns (full sized and mini). I love the chance to make two sizes of the same critter, because it doubled (or tripled) the cuteness factor. 

So, these gifts have made their way to their new home and I hope they are as loved by their recipients as there were by me as I was making them.

The big takeaway for me is that amigurumi make a great gifts and will get you lots of custom order inquiries (so if that's your thing it's a great way to get interested buyers, I myself am not interested in doing commission knitting or crocheting).

Project Details

Owls
Projects: Big Sister and New Baby Owls
Patterns: Amigurumi Nelson the Owl and Nel the Tiny Owl - both by Stacey Trock of FreshStitches
Yarn: KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Cobblestone Heather, Dove Heather, Caution, Peacock and Fairy Tale

Blanket
Projects: Not So Grannie Baby Blanket
Pattern: Improvised - I'm planning on writing it up in the next couple of months
Yarn: KnitPicks Biggo in Dove Heather, Calypso Heather, Golden Heather and Cobblestone Heather.

Rigid Heddle for the First Time!

Yesterday I had the great honour of introducing five great women to the joys of Rigid Heddle weaving at the Muskoka Yarn Connection in Bracebridge.  They were a great group to teach. Everyone was engaged in learning and they were all game to participate in warping a loom.

The goal of the class was to get everyone up to speed on terminology used in weaving, and getting the store loom warped up so that everyone who comes in can fall in love with the simple joy of rigid heddle weaving.

Everyone took turns doing every part of the warping process, and while it took a little longer than planned we got a great plain-weave project on the loom. 

I'm hoping to get the group back together after Christmas to spend more time talking about the in and outs (or ups and downs) of weaving as we just made it to weaving the first inch before we were a full half-hour over schedule.

I designed a weaving draft to go along with the class and I need to put it through some more fine tuning and then I can hopefully release it, for anyone who wants to make their first woven scarf.

Based on the response to this class, I'm hoping to run it again in the spring. I know there are lots of fiber fans out there with rigid heddle looms stashed away i n their basements that would love to learn how to made good use of them.

The class project, I hope to get the pattern together so that I can release it soon.