VISIT TO IOWA: FINISHED PROJECTS

I'm way behind in posting here--I spend too much time on Ravelry.

I did get a lot done for our trip to Iowa--some before, some while driving, and some while there. I had finished some slippers for Andrew, and then completed (on the drive) some for Daniel and started a pair for Thea, which I finished on the visit. These are from an old McCall's Needlework & Crafts and were part of a Learn-to-Knit series. I was using measurements from several months ago and thought I had planned enough to add a bit, but they still seemed a bit snug. I added the little cuffs, but they wanted to stand up, not lie down--the kids still liked them.





(Andrew couldn't find his when I took the picture, but his are beige with brown cuffs and soles.)

I finally finished a skull-themed hat for Billy, this time using the graph from the We Call Them Pirates pattern



I made Melanie fingerless gloves from the Fishtail Wristwarmers pattern (adding thumbs and making them longer) and made her a Divine Hat to match.



While we were there, I made Tegan this Amigurumi "Heartfelt" Bunny:


I also gave Thea the pair of ribbed fingerless gloves I had made that were too small--they fit her fine. I had a pair I'd made for me in gray, but Billy saw them and asked for them so he got them. Now Daniel wants a pair--in red--which I'm nearly done with. I'll make a pair for Andrew, too, so he won't be left out--in blue. I don't have pics of them on the kids. [I'll show the pictures I do have on a separate post.] I also made a pair of Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation for Annie.

TOKYO QUILT SHOW PICS

[via Mason-Dixon Knitting]
Check out the awesome quilts from the Japanese quilt show in these Flickr set from Be*mused, Moving Hands, and Moonstitches.

CALS & KALS

After reading a recent "This Week in Ravelry" that highlighted some groups, I joined the Block-a-Month CAL. The idea is to make one 12 inch block each month and have an afghan by the end of the year. Additional 12' and 6" (baby afghans, perhaps) block patterns are available. Of course, I couldn't stop with one. Ive made both 12 " and four 6" blocks in each of two colorways--so far--and am thinking of a couple more. I just started one block for February.

Then I found the Christmas 2009 Monthly Make-a-head. January was miniatures and ornaments. I only made one thing--a crocheted star--but will probably add a few more items later. February is scarves or shawls and I already cast on for the Snake scarf Knitalong . I also signed up for the Yahoo Holiday Mystery Gift-along group which is currently doing a mystery shawl--both KAL and CAL. I'm still finding yarn for this one, though, so am way behind.

A new group started on Ravelry for Fabric Knitting & Crochet--of course, I joined it. The first project will be a knit or crocheted bath mat using, probably, strips of t-shirts. I also joined the Learn-to-Knit Afghan group that is going through Barbara Walker's book. I am not ready to start this yet.

However, as part of all these potential projects, I'm going through my boxes of yarn, consolidating, untangling and winding, and testing for wool. I already discarded one beat-up packing box. Winding balls of yarn is a good project to do while watching TV.

I'm also trying to finish some things for Annie's kids before Friday--slippers, mitts for Mel, a hat for Billy, maybe a toy for Tegan???

You can tell I haven't been working much.

CHRISTMAS GIVE-AWAY

Last year, the hats I'd made that no one seemed to want went to PADS--the EZ Swatch caps and a ribbed (failed Hallowig) hat. This year, I decided to take the hats and scarves and mitts I had left to the annual Christmas gift exchange/birthday-party-for-Dad at my parents. It was postponed a day from Christmas Eve (the actual birthday--88 years young) to Christmas Day because of the bad weather. [We didn't have a donation box at the library this year and I also felt I had spent too much time on some of the projects to donate them out of the family. If any had been left, I would have, though.] I laid them all out, and all were taken:
Three Tams (see entries below):
A--to youngest sister Nancy; she liked that it was big and loved the colors (actually, I think the variegated yarn originally was hers)
B--to second sister Pat; she has reported it is very warm
C--to niece Lauren; the blue looked great on her
Divine Hats:
"orchid" color--to niece Joy; the color was perfect for her
off white--to my Mom; the smaller size fit her very well
black--to sister Nancy; again she liked the larger size [it had been hidden in the pile of coats, somehow, and she was still there, so she got it]
Cabled Mitts:
off white--to sister-in-law Joyce; she wasn't there, but my brother Mark took them for her and I heard she really liked how they fit
black--to fourth sister Jeanne; she is an artist and--for now--a condo renovator, so she felt they would be very useful
Scarves:
blue "Road Not Taken"--to third sister Marce; kind of by default--it's what was left
off white "Holland"--I have no clue who got it, but it wasn't left when we departed.
Each of my siblings there and my parents also got one of the various dishcloths--8 in all--I'd made--"ballband", "9-Patch", and "Garterlac".

For next year I'll probably do more mitts, hats, scarves, and probably mitered hanging dish towels--or whatever. It is nice to know one's work will have a place to go.

THREE TAMS--TAM C

I finished this tam in August as part of the Ravelympics "WIPs Wrestling"--I had started it in February and got distracted. Once again, I ran out of the ombre yarn and had to use white to finish. Somehow I messed up the decreases, so I added a pom pon to hide the irregularities. It looks cute, I think.

Side view:

Top down view:

CABLED FINGERLESS GLOVES

I'm kind of on a fingerless-glove jag right now. I made this first pair in November in 2 days. The yarn is a worsted weight acrylic, K-Mart Caron, really old. The pattern is from Crafts 'n Things, April, 2008. They looked easy and fast and weren't made with size 0 needles.
Here's what the backs look like:

Here's a palm side and a back side:

Here's one on my hand--a bit snug, but still comfy:


I made the pattern again in black on larger needles with Red Heart Super Saver:
Here's the pair:

Here is one on my hand--not as snug, but still comfy:


I gave them away at Christmas and more people wanted them, so I'll make more, though not necessarily the same pattern.

CROCHETED DIVINE HATS

I've been knitting and crocheting quite a bit lately. This pattern I discovered through my daughter Karin's Ravelry page. she had made one and it looked cute and easy. It was easy--once I re-educated myself on how to do front and back posts--and they went very quickly. The design is from Rheatheylia. The first one I made from a very soft yarn using the recommended size K and I hooks; The only modifications I made were to only do 6 instead of 7 of the 4dc rows--no need to fold back the ribbing--and use hdc instead of sc for the transition to "ribbing"--it was easier to find the "posts".





The second one was made using a heavier off-white yarn and I tried smaller hooks--J and H--so needed to do the 7th 4dc row.





The third was made using black I Love That Yarn, though I had started it with the heavier Red Heart Super Saver and frogged it as being too bulky. This one is for me, and I used the K and I hooks and 6 rows of 4dc. I started this on Sunday, did a lot while sitting in the Social Security Office on Monday, and finished the last 2 rows on Tuesday.

SKULL ISLE HATS

I made two versions of the Skull Isle Hat from Son of Stitch 'n Bitch in October. I was trying to make them for my little grandsons, but the first was way too small for anyone.



It didn't even fit baby Tegan


(though Andrew really liked it anyhow).

The second (made while we were visiting in mid-October) fit both Andrew and Daniel, though rather snugly. [Looks like I skipped a row of the pattern, somehow.]


I started a third, slightly larger version, which will probably go went to Daniel (finished before Thanksgiving). I don't have pictures of him wearing it yet, so the pictures are of me wearing it--a bit snug, though. Anne did say he wears it all the time.

FELT BANNER FOR FALL

I was hoping to finish this for the Fair this year... anyway, It's done now. The pattern is in Crafts 'n Things, October, 2003, and designed by Barbara Swanson. The pumpkin is really oranger.

SOS08 OVER

On my feet, but really, too small:


Summer of Socks 2008 has ended. I finished one pair of adult socks a day before the final deadline. I used Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's basic sock pattern, Magic Stripes "Denim stripes" sock yarn (now discontinued), and size 0 double-pointed needles (one sock) plus size 1 circular needles (the second sock).

SOCK ON VACATION

As part of Summer of Socks 08, there was a "Socks on Vacation" competition. I signed up for it, and (while in Tucson and Phoenix) took some pictures of my only SOS08 completed sock having a good time visiting the sights. We were supposed to submit a single picture by Monday, August 18, and the resulting collection of entries would be then voted on. We got home in mid-afternoon and I rushed to the computer to upload and format a suitable picture and send it off to the moderator. Unfortunately, though I saved it as a jpeg and sent it as an attachment, she apparently received it as an "ink" and could not upload it. [I was using Opera as my browser and I should have tried Mozilla, I realize now]. I was (and still am) crushed--I think I had a really good picture to submit. Disqualified by technical difficulties! There was no time to try something different. Maybe next year.

Here are the pictures I took of SOCK ON VACATION:
Sock outside Colossal Cave near Tucson [Sock bunny-eared by my oldest grandchild, Rachel]--this was the one I submitted:


Sock IN Colossal Cave:


Sock at the Phoenix Airport:


Sock at the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson:


Sock on Rachel's ballerina-pointed foot (it was really too small for her):

RAVELYMPICS OVER

Ravelympics ended today at 10:59 a.m., DST. I had entered 10 potential medal winners, but only crossed the Finish Line for 6. I ran out of time, so 4 entries were DNF.

Events:
WIPS Wrestling: 2 medals, 1 DNF (1 each for Team Chicago and Team Illinois)
Sock Put: both entries DNF
Scarf Stroke: 2 medals (both for Team Illinois) and 1 DNF
Homeandstuff Hammerthrow: 2 medals (1 each for Team Illinois and Team Chicago)

Now I have to finish my SummerofSocks 2008 entries--1 week to go.

RAVELYMPICS STARTS FRIDAY

Glutton for punishment--that's me! I signed up for The Ravelympics on Ravelry--a challenge to do projects during the Beijing Olympics. For most of the events, you cannot cast on until the Opening Ceremonies and you must finish by the time the torch is put out at the Closing ceremonies. The only exception is the event called WIPs Wrestling which is to finish projects that need finishing, but that have not been worked on recently (since mid-July, at least). I'm on two teams--Team Chicago and Team Illinois and have signed up for 5 projects each--10 in all. Some of this time will be spent traveling to Phoenix/Tucson so I took into account plane/terminal time.

My events are:
WIPs Wrestling--3 projects
Sock Put--2 projects
Scarf Stroke--3 projects
Home-stuff Hammerthrow--2 projects (dishcloths)

I'm currently trying to finish some other projects--my first pair of socks for SOS'08 (I'm closing in on the toe decreases on the first sock), an EZ Surplice Sweater (only buttons left to attach) and a Mystery Blanket (needs edging and it looks like it will be I-cord) for Baby River, and adding the real edging to the Heirloom Pineapple Afghan (this one can wait).

I'm in training now [gathering materials, etc.].

My daughter Karin is also participating for Team Seattle.

RIBBON WINNERS AT KANE COUNTY FAIR

I had entered 18 craft and needlework projects in the Kane County Fair this year, but only completed 15 in time. In fact, I was sewing the strips together for the afghan on the way to the fairgrounds on Tuesday, and crocheting a temporary edging for the top and bottom as well. I finished a few miles from the fair site. Here are pictures of the finished entries with their corresponding ribbons (all items won something):
Tam A (see February 11 entry below):

Tie-Dye t-shirt (this year's project done at the Library):
front



back


Welcome Door hanging--plastic canvas Craft Group project:


Pineapple Afghan from 50 Sensational Crochet Afghans and Throws


Closeup of pattern


Christmas ornament--quilled angel from Quill-a-Way Christmas leaflet:


Magnetic Fridgie--Shoo Fly quilt block:


Beaded Snowflake Earrings from All Info about Jewelrymaking:


String Art Greeting Card:


Knit Vest--Rick Mandragon's Bias Knit Vest pattern (Knitting Universe):
>

Christmas ornament--Bargello needlepoint


Christmas ornament--beaded from Mill Hill kit:


Needlepoint picture--"counted canvas" from Cross Stitcher, June, 2006:


Christmas wall hanging:


Christmas ornament--crocheted snowflake:


Christmas ornament--cross stitch patchwork heart:

FINALLY CAST ON FOR SOS08

I finally cast on for my first Summer of Socks '08 project on Sunday night. My original plan was to use 2 circulars, but one of them is currently in use for a baby sweater. I had a set of 5 size 0's double pointed, so I'm using them. I am finding I like 5 easier than 4. The pattern is Yarn Harlot's basic sock pattern and the yarn is Lion Brand's Magic Stripes "Denim Stripe"

SUMMER OF SOCKS 2008 BEGINS

I signed up for Summer of Socks 2008 on Ravelry, hoping to force myself to make a real pair of socks.  Eligible socks were to be cast on no earlier than Saturday, June 21.  However, I still haven't started.  One reason is that Fair entries will have to be priority until mid July.  Then, too, I will need to use my size 0's and and one of my circulars is being used to make a sweater for Baby River--still awaiting his arrival.  I may cast on just to cast on, but I'll have to use (gasp!) double-pointed needles (!).  [I'm trembling.]

 I'm also reading overdue books and books for Summer Reading at 3 libraries, learning how to make computer games using Game Maker and Scratch (for a potential teen program at the library), and working more hours.  AND, our air conditioning is still non-functional (all the coolant had leaked out and the "hole" is still present and possibly not fixable).

I did roll up my yarn--Magic Stripes' "Denim Stripes"--into 2 balls.



We sent in our Kane County Fair entry forms today.  I listed 18 crafts and 17 food entries.  We'll see what I get done by July 15.