02.26.10

Working on My Yarn Stash

Posted in hobbies, knitting and crocheting at 7:34 pm by Administrator

Last night we visited the Barnes and Nobles at the Grove because I heard that Crazy Aunt Purl was going to be there for her book signing.  I honestly haven’t read her book, but I wanted to check out the scene anyway.   After listening to her speak a bit, I decided to hit the cooking section and the crafts section.  And oh boy!  There is no end to great books and people with tons of inspirational projects, wah!  I think I’ve got plenty of craft supplies, but there are just so many different types of crafts that I think I’ll have enough to do for the rest of my life. . .  And it made me remember that I really should try to use up my supplies. . . which, I actually got back to chipping away at this week.  After returning from the Pines, I spent about a week getting things back in order.  This week I got a chance to pull out the crafts and “yarn.”  Ohhh. . . heheheh.  But I gave in to one of my temptations and bought a little pattern for an amigurumi.  It was just too cute to pass up.  It’s called the Signature Escargot by Elisabeth D.  I started it last night.  This is what it looked like.

This morning I was able to finish it!  And now Petunia has a new buddy. . .

Modest little gal, heheh.  I was working off the pattern from my computer, so the picture of what the real Signature Escargot should look like can be seen on the computer screen behind.  I didn’t have the other supplies like the plastic eyes or the fancy flower on her head.   I just stitched on the eyes and sewed on a little ribbon instead.  Here’s another picture of Petunia with her new friend.

Hee hee!  For anyone who hasn’t seen Elisabeth D’s work, check out her flickr photostream.  She’s among the best amigurumi designers I know.

The other project I’m working on is really just to help hone my knitting skills.  I’ve been interested in modular knitting, and I really like Iris Schrier’s modular designs because her patterns use live stitches and there is very minimal sewing, if any.  So here’s a picture of a skinny scarf I’m working on to get a hang of one of Iris’s multidirectional patterns.

Her instructions are very easy to follow, and I’m happy that I’ve gotten an early start in the year to learn more skills to improve my knitting.  I still have a list of other things to learn, but at least one item down!  I’ll try to post a pic once this is completed.

One other project I managed to complete were a pair of socks for Matty.  He’s the picky one and wanted a sock combo of wool and cotton.  So I knit up a pair with two strands of yarn–one sock wool, and the other crocheting thread.  Here’s what it looked like in progress.  The leg part is in plain blue partly because Matty didn’t want the leg portion cotton, only the foot portion.  I tried to match up a thicker yarn for the leg to make up for the foot portion.

And here it is completed.

I wondered if it was a little too thick to wear in shoes, but he wore them to school the next day and  loved them!  Ha!  He said they were soft and comfy.    That has inspired me to make him another pair using the same two strands of yarn (but different color).  One of the gals wants me to teach her how to make socks tomorrow, so I’ll try to get another pair started then.

So that’s what I’ve had going on the yarn front.  I did pull out some of my old patchwork tops that I had worked on years ago, and think I will try to complete a few of them this year, hopefully.  I’m also getting interested in sewing an embroidery again. . . oh, oh. . . I also want to try out more cooking recipes.  I have plenty of them that still need trying.  Well, at least yesterday Aaron and I sowed some seeds.  I hope this year we’ll have a better crop than last year.  Aside from the Mandarin oranges, the rest of our crop was pretty pathetic. . . I think we were being too conservative with the water being that we were suffering from drought.  At least we got a lot of good rain the start of this year and the soil looks much happier.  We’ll see how long that lasts. . .

Toodles for now!

Marlakins

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