Fuzzy Noodle Knits

New Toy!!

I have been resisting the call of The Wheel for many, many years.  While all my knitty friends were jumping on the spinning bandwagon, I held back, not wanting/needing another hobby/obsession/addiction.  I tried to satiate myself with spindles...which didn't work very well as I'm left handed and I couldn't find any lefties to teach me.  Then, my favorite LYS, Knitter's Palette, began carrying wheels and fiber, and my built up resistance to spinning slowly began to crumble away.  Every knit night, there'd be a crew of gals spinning away...and I'd stand over their shoulders, oohing and aahing, repeating my mantra, "I just can't have another hobby/obsession/addiction right now...I just don't have the time/patience/money to do it...and I certainly won't have the time once I have a baby"!

Then, I slowly started to let myself think that maybe if this baby thing didn't work out, then maybe I would get a wheel.  That morphed into "if IVF #2 in August fails, then I'll get a wheel!".  Then finally last week I said SCREW IT!  I have spent much of my adult life putting off grad school/traveling/spinning/things I really want to do because I thought I'd get pregnant soon.  And look where that got me.  I could be done with a grad program by now.  I could have taken my dream trip to England/Whales/Scotland by now.  I could be a really good spinner by now.  So, I have said NO MORE to putting of things I want to do because I'm waiting for something else to happen.  I need something in my life right now that will get me excited...something that will challenge me, take my mind off the crap in my life, something that I can look forward to.

Yesterday, I ordered my dream spinning wheel.  Pam for Knitter's Palette put in a rush order for my new friend, hopefully to be delivered on Thursday, July 2nd.  Meet my new toy:

This is an Ashford Kiwi...an "entry level" wheel that won't break my bank (especially considering all the IVF medical bills!), but will provide me with a really good foundation in spinning.  To say I'm over-the-moon-excited is an understatement!  It will be so fulfilling to have complete creative control over my knitting...from the "ground" up!  I'm also really looking forward to getting more involved in the spinning community...what an amazing and supportive bunch of people!

I've already made my first two fiber purchases!

I purchased this at Knitter's Palette...it is 8oz of BFL top from Frabjous Fibers! 

And this little slice of heaven is 2.1oz of Milk fiber (for real!) in the color "Porange" from Colorbomb Creations...one of the most spectacular fiber shops I've seen around!  Velma has the exact same color taste as me...I expect many Colorbomb fibers will be coming to live with me!

So, now that I have this new hobby/obsession/addiction, I need to make some room for it!  I'm doing another big destash on my Ravelry Trade/Sell page...my new fibers need a home on my cubby wall!

                                                            

SQUEEEEE!!!!

Whisper Cardigan

Pattern: Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig from Interweave Knits Spring 2009
Materials: 2 skeins Malabrigo Lace in "Pearl", US size 2, 4, and 7 needles
Finished: June 20, 2009

What a lovely pattern!  This light and airy shrug/cardigan (shrudigan...cardiug?) does in fact, feel like a whisper!  I loved working with the Malabrigo Lace, and can't wait to make more lightweight cardigans with it.  I made this cardigan according to the pattern, and my only mod was adding 2" in length to the "skirt" portion.  If I was to make this again, I'd cast off fewer stitches of the ribbing so that the side panels covered my pits more.  Other than that...it's perfect!

Visit the Ravelry link for this project for additional photos.

Big Destash

Hi friends!  I'm doing a big yarn destash over on Ravelry...click here to see my destash page!  I lost a skein of yarn in my cubbies, and in the process found a bunch of stuff I don't think I'll use in this lifetime!

Thanks in advance for knitting!

Whisper Cardi Progress

I finished the shrug part of the Whisper Cardi yesterday...and it fits, WOOT!  I was concerned that that bicep measurement would be too tight, but lace on a US 7 is stretchy!  I'm working on the band now...which is a great place to be for my knitting lunch, and Drunken Knit Night tonight.  Today is my KIP Day...I've got crap to do tomorrow...

Complete Charm

I just wanted to share something with you that is perhaps one of the most charming things I have ever found.

While browsing Ravelry, I happened upon a very darling beaded, 1920's style shell.  I opened the link, and found that the garment was part of a "Family Trunk Project".  This lovely designer, Emily Johnson, is telling her family story through her knitting.  She is in the process of designing patterns for each member of her family.  The patterns are based on the family members lives...era, location, profession.  She also writes their story as introduction to the pattern.

What a lovely tribute to her family, and what a brilliant way to explore her roots and personal history.

Liesl

Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda Teague
Materials: 5 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton in #628; US Size 10.5 needles
Finished: May 31, 2009

I made the scoop neck, with 3/4 length sleeves, and made it longer...about mid-hip.

I decided to make the 50” after reading that some knitters thought the sizing was a bit small. I’m a 45” bust, so a “small” 46” would have probably been too tight.  I think I set a new land speed record with this project...I made it in 11 days!  Dyed Cotton was a dream to work with...I can't wait to use it again!

Visit the Ravelry link for this project for additional photos.

Long Weekend=Productivity

Along with tons of house-related projects, I also got lots of crafty stuff done too.

I added 4 blocks on to the Amy Butler Hexagon quilt.  I have no idea how big this will end up being or how I'll finish it.  I figure it will "tell" me when I get there.

I quilted and bound one of the quilt tops that I recently discovered.  I believe this top is 6 years old, and I have no idea what I used as a pattern. Most of the fabrics are designed by Jan Mullen, of Stargazey Quilts.

I used Sulky Hologram thread to quilt it.  What a big PITA.  Oh my goodness…it kept breaking, then being too loopy. I finally found the right tension, after much cursing and throwing of objects. Also…the thread is rough. I would not want to snuggle under this.  But it's pretty to look at, so I'll deal.

I also sewed a couple of bags.  I'm thinking of selling knitting project bags on Etsy to help finance all the crazy business I'll be up to this summer (major landscaping, driveway repair, and oh yeah...paying 100% for a 2nd IVF cycle).  I've been playing around with some shapes for bags.  I think I'll have four options available, but I only played with two designs this weekend.

I like this bag quite a bit.  However, it needs some changes before going into production.  It's not quite tall enough to fit a big yarn cake (300 yds+), and I used interfacing in the handle, which is totally unnessary.  I think I mock up a couple more of these before I finalize a design.

This bag is so flipping cute!  I totally got the scale off...this bag is teeny!  I'm also trying to figure out how to hide seams and zipper ends, but I think this shape has a lot of potential!  Did I mention how cute it was?

Oh...I also cast on a new knitting project.

This is Liesl, my new favorite project.  It is so retro and cute! I am making the scoop neck, with 3/4 length sleeves, and will also make it long (mid to low hip).  I'm using Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton, which is the best cotton yarn in the world.  It's light, has a smidge of bounce, and is put up in good yardage.  Also, Blue Sky Alpaca is a local business, which I'm all about supporting.  Except I'm allergic to Alpaca...so cotton it is!

Shawl That Jazz

Pattern: Shawl That Jazz by by Samantha Roshak

Materials: 7 skeins of Koigu Kersti in colorway K605; US 8 needles (US 10 used for bind off)

Finished: May 18th, 2009

This was a very pleasant, therapeutic project…I enjoyed working on it very much. Interestingly, it ended up much smaller than the pattern stated, even with the same needles and gauge. I’m sure there was error on my part…I started this while on medical leave, so I’m sure there’s a drug induced problem! I think I’ll gift this to someone much more slender than I!

 

 Visit the Ravelry link for this project for additional photos.

K3P3 Madness

I FINALLY cast off the body of the Therapi cardi last night.  Oh mah gah...I was beginning to have dreams about k3p3.  The totally length of the sweater is 31"...so that's about 24" of k3p3.  SO BORED of k3p3.  I also tracked down what I think is enough yarn to finish the sweater...I beginning to think the yardage ammounts are off by 1000 yards. A fellow Raveler told me it took her nearly double the ammout of yarn to make hers...also using Therapi and getting the correct gauge.  I've nabbed an additional 7 skeins, so I hope that works.

In the meantime, I needed to start something new.  I've got 5 summer projects at the top of my queue, so I figured I'd get started on one.  I've decided I need a Whisper Cardi after seeing so many awesome project photos on Rav.  Yesterday I cast on using Malabrigo Lace in "Pearl"...the same colorway as my now stalled Vaila (I'll pick that up again later this summer).  I love that grey with a kiss of pink.

 Busy weekend ahead, not sure how much knitting or sewing I'll get done.  My house needs to stop falling apart so I can craft more.

What I Did on My "Vacation"

**This post is picture heavy, so if you're on dial-up...sorry!

I did crazy amounts of crafting over the last couple of weeks.  Life goes on even when your brain doesn't want to, so I kept myself preoccupied by making stuff.

Up first, the knitting.

I started a pair of socks from the "Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn" book:

Escher Socks, using Madeline Tosh sock yarn.  The yarn is the epitome of "hand dyed", not sure how much I like it, but it's a gift to someone I know who will!

Next up, a Shawl that Jazz that's about half-way done:

This is using Koigu Kersti I obtained from a destash on Ravelry.  It's super easy, and a clever use of short-rows to make a shawl!

Moving on to quilts...

A friend of mine just had a baby last week, and hopefully she is to busy with baby to be reading this (cuz she'll know it's for her!) as the package is en route:

Pattern: Four Square Blanket from "Quilts for Baby: Easy as ABC"
Materials: Assorted Batiks
Finished: May 4, 2009

I got a little bug up my bum to finish some quilt tops I made years ago...I found a box with 8 tops (3 of them basted).  This is the first one of the "oldies" I've finished up:

Pattern: I have not a clue, but the blocks were obtained in a swap
Fabrics: Assorted citrus brights
Finished: May 9, 2008

I also started hand piecing a hexagon quilt using Amy Butler scraps.  Hand piecing is very therapeutic for me, and I have a really nice applique stitch, if I may say so myself.

And last but certainly not least, how about some Super Hero Capes?

I am a member of the University of Minnesota Communicators Forum, a professional organization of communicators at the U of MN. I am on a committee, and in 2009-2010 will be on the Board of Directors. Our 2009 Conference theme was "Heroes of the Communications Universe", so I made super hero capes for many of the members of the Board.  I made my own pattern, and used two yards of Kona Cotton to make the cape double thick.  This was a really fun project!

Right now, I'm trying to make the push to finish the Therapi cardigan, however I will certainly run out of yarn very soon, and I still have 4" of body, sleeves, and the shawl collar left to knit.  I've left Stefanie know about the problem, and it looks like the yardage ammounts are way off based on the other gals on Rav who have made this sweater with the reccomend yarn.  I am now frantically trying to find the same color and dyelot from Ravelers and other retailers, as Webs is out of the color I ordered.  Sigh.  I was even a good girl and ordered an extra skein, just in case.  I think I need at least 3 additional skeins.

So the search continues.