Life is a Mystery

Well...not necessarily life, but at least my knitting is lately!  I've become addicted to mystery knit-a-longs.  While on Ravelry.com a few weeks ago, in anticipation of the new Outlander series on Starz, I was looking for patterns that were inspired by the books.  During that search I came across the Outlander MKAL.  I was curious, so I signed up.  Since I wasn't sure what to expect, and although the custom dyed yarn that was made for the MKAL was pretty, it wasn't me, so I went digging through my stash.  I didn't have any of the right weight yarn (the pattern called for dk yarn), but I did have plenty of lace yarn.  So I just used three strands at a time to make the project.  After six weeks of clues, I had this lovely shawl!

The yarn I used was some that I bought from an eBay seller in Inner Mongolia.  The price was reasonable (less than $10 for six skeins of wool/cashmere/acrylic blend yarn) and shipping was free!  The colors are dark gray and burgundy.

After that MKAL, I signed up for three more and one that had just finished.  The three I signed up for are Blue Moon MKAL, Once Upon A Time MKAL, and Bonnie's Wish MKAL.  

The Blue Moon MKAL started yesterday.  It will also be a shawl that so far is done in garter stitch with short rows.  The yarn that was used for it was Yaksi fingering weight, but with holidays just around the corner and since I need to use my money on gifts for the grandkids instead of buying more yarn, I had to go stash diving again.  For this project I'm using some Brown Sheep fingering yarn that I bought from Craftsy.com.  The colors I'm using are Ash and Stone.  This MKAL is released every Wednesday for four consecutive Wednesdays.  Here are the results after clue one:

The Once Upon A Time MKAL will start the end of October and is inspired by the TV show Once Upon A Time.  The only clues we have on that so far are that it will require approximately 450 yds of worsted weight yarn and that it has something to do with the new Frozen addition to the show this year.  Lorna's Laces is dying a yarn specially for this MKAL.  I can't wait to see what that is before I decide whether to order it or not.  If not, I've got a stash of 100% wool worsted in a winter white that I can either dye to a color I like or leave as is.

The third is called Bonnie's Wish MKAL and will also be a shawl.  This one will calls for sport weight yarn and will have Celtic cabling.  This will be fun!  I've done cabling before but not any that makes completed circles!  This one starts at the end of November and goes on for 6 weeks.

The one I joined after it was over and am working on in the down time of the others is this years Game of Thrones MKAL.  The shawl is called the Stormborn Shawl, taking inspiration from Daenerys Targaryen.  Since I joined after it was over, I got to see what it looks like when it was done.  I guess it kind of takes the mystery out of it!  I am sorry that the special dyed yarn that was offered for this MKAL was sold out because it was a really pretty red (see first picture below)!  It is a Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock and the color is called Fire and Blood.  All I had was three skeins of Elann Peruvian Baby Lace Merino in Rub that I also got off of eBay for $7.  I decided that would work since I couldn't get the pretty yarn.

Here's what it is supposed to look like:

And this is what mine looks like after completing row 76:

Of course mine is not even close to being finished and it's not blocked or pulled out so you can see the pretty scales.

All of these MKALs are available on Ravelry.com.  Links to the patterns and supplies for each of the projects can be found there.  If you can't find the MKALs by searching, you can go to the forums.  The Outlander, GoT, and OUAT MKALs can be found in the Jimmy Beans Wool forum.  The Blue Moon MKAL is in the Shannon Squire Designs forum.  The Bonnie's Wish is found in the Fiddle Knits Designs and Fibers.  All have patterns and links to the yarns they used...well, all but Once Upon A Time.  Currently there is just a pre-mkal chat with lots of speculation of what the project will be and the special color being dyed by Lorna's Laces for the project.  The color will be revealed October 1.

UPDATE: The shawl I made in my Craftsy.com lace class is now being blocked. I'll post a picture soon of the finished item.  The scarf I made with the yarn I spun is also finished and as soon as the shawl is dry I'll get it blocked and post a picture of it as well.

Well, I think I've rattled on enough for today!  Have a wonderful weekend and I'll talk to you again soon!

Sofyann

My First Hand-Spun Yarn Project

Hello all!  I've got all my blue yarn spun and am now knitting it up into a scarf. I chose a pattern from The Knitting Stitch Bible by Maria Parry-Jones for it.  It's a lacy pattern called Traveling Tracks.

It's much easier to work with than I anticipated in spite of the big lumps!  The 'lumps' were made when I was first learning.  The yarn is starting to be more consistent and easier to work with.

I took a little stay-cation last week and finished up a few things, along with trying a couple new.  I experimented with dying yarn using food color.  I was using just the basic food coloring that you buy at the grocery store, white vinegar, and some cotton yarn.  The colors looked amazing on the yarn while it was setting but I guess I didn't let it set long enough because the beautiful blues, purples, greens, and teals that it was before I washed it turned into very soft baby blue, pink and pale green....and a lot more white than I expected.  It's still pretty and I think it will work up beautifully, but won't be the deep vibrant jewel-tones I was hoping for.  I left the yarn at home so I don't have a picture.  I'll take one when I get home and post it as an addendum.

My next venture will be to dye yarn using onion skins.  Hopefully it will be more fruitful.

FOLLOW UPS:  I finished knitting my lace project for the Craftsy class I enrolled in (see previous post).  I've got to block it and then I'll post a picture for you to see when it's all done.

I also finished the sweater I'd started on in the last post.  Well...it's almost finished.  I just have to attach the sleeves!  I'll post a picture of that as soon as I'm done with it as well.

Well...back to the grindstone.  Enjoy your day!

Yarn Spinning Follow-up

Hi all!  This is just a quick post before I head home from work.  I finished my first skein of yarn!  I have to admit that the first half of the yarn has lots of little baubles in it, but once I got the hang of it, it went very well.  I do need to work on over spinning it (some places are still a bit curly but I think that will work out when I'm knitting or crocheting with it.

Anyway, here's the finished product!

Have a great evening!

Sofyann

Yet Another (and Another) Project...

Happy Independence Day!!  I spent a wonderful day with my family.  We all met up at Mom's house and my brother grilled us some of the best ribs!  They were so tender and juicy that the meat just fell off the bone. I made potato salad, brownies, and this great cherry cheesecake dip that I found on Facebook.  Mom made baked beans and carrot cake.  All was delicious!  We (kids) work too much so we don't get together all that often, so it's nice when we do.

Now on to my latest venture.  I can never seem to finish one (or more!) projects before starting a new one. Two weekends ago I was going through my yarn stash and found this great yarn that I bought from Michaels.  It's their Loops & Threads Impeccable Big! Yarn.  I love working with this yarn.  The color I forgot I'd bought is called Earth (see pictured below).

And I found this great pattern by Caron called Sophia Cardi.  Since my name is really Sophia, I just had to have the pattern.  And what made it even better is that the pattern is free! Here's what it looks like:

This cardigan is knit from the bottom up. I've finished the lace at the bottom, have sectioned off for the fronts and back and am now knitting the back.  It is knitting up lovely!  The ombre is working up great without major pooling of the colors.  I'm trying to decide whether to leave the sleeves as they are in the written pattern or change them up a bit and make the bottom of the sleeve in the lace pattern switching to the broken rib stitch at the armpit (like with the sweater body) for the top of the sleeve.  If I used the lace stitch, I'll make the arm fuller at the bottom to accommodate the 10 stitch lace pattern.   I would love to hear your opinion!

Here's a picture of the sweater so far:

The pic on the top is a close up of the back.  The pic on the bottom shows the entire width of the lower half of the sweater.  

On another note, I'm almost finished with the cream/tan scarf that I'm making in conjunction with the Craftsy lace class mentioned in my last post.  I just have the edge left to do...then I'll block it and post the results.

Oh...I also started the Craftsy class "Spindling: From Fluff to Stuff" with Drucilla Pettibone.  This class is to teach me to spin my own yarn.  It's going pretty well.  Let me tell you though, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be to make a nice even strand!  I'm using a Superwash Fleece (100% Merino Wool) that I bought years ago from Ursula's Alcove the first time I thought I wanted to learn how to spin.  I think it was at a medieval fair in Norman, Oklahoma, but it was so long ago that I really don't remember.  I'm not sure if she's still selling "fluff" but she has a website that's still active www.ursulasalcove.com and she also has a store on Etsy.com.  You can always message her and ask.  I also bought a spinning kit off of Craftsy.com.  It came with the spindle and three bags of fleece.  I decided to use the old fleece to learn on before I spin the new stuff in the kit!

Here's my first attempt.  I still need a lot of practice but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.  If nothing else, I have more respect for those who spin their own yarns.

Well, time to watch all the fireworks around the city!  Have a great evening, enjoy the fireworks and stay safe!

Crocheting and Knitting and Painting Oh My!

Hi!!  I know it's been ages since I've posted.  (Sorry about the title, I'm watching Tin Man on Netflix while writing this.)  Since my last post, I've made quite a few things.  I've crocheted 4 summer sweaters, one fall sweater, a hat, a couple baby blankets, a teddy bear, painted 7 paintings and knitted a couple sweaters, several scarves and a couple more of those shoulderettes that I had made before (see link in my first post).

I'm still not finished with that lovely purple shawl that I'm knitting for my friend.  I am over half way done now though!  I think I've been procrastinating because I've never really learned to block my work and this project definitely needs blocking for the full lace effect.  So to help myself with this, I signed up for a lace class on Craftsy.com.   The class I took was Lace Knitting: Basics and Beyond with Eunny Jang.  She is a great instructor. I learned new ways to cast on and bind off so that a lace piece can be blocked.  I also learned how to read a chart and how to fix my mistakes...GASP!  I know, who would ever think that I could make a mistake!  Anyway, I now know how to block the piece (in theory anyway) so work can now resume.

Two sweaters that I crocheted are lacy tunics, made from motifs.  One is black and purple and one is ecru and white.  One is a sleeveless lace pineapple tunic and made from a pink variegated worsted weight cotton yarn.  The fourth is ecru and white, also lacy, short sleeved and short in length. I made it to wear over my sun dresses to make them acceptable to wear to work.  I'll list pics and patterns later when I relocate them!

The scarves I made while doing the lessons for the lace knitting class.  I modified the pattern for the final project to make it wider and longer.  The yarn I used was Solemate form Lorna's Laces.  It's a hand-dyed super fine (1) yarn made of 55% Superwash Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, and 30% Outlast Viscose.  The color is 76 Aslan.  It'll look much better when blocked.  I purchased the on the Craftsy website.  You can read about Lorna's Laces at http://www.lornaslaces.net/.  You can find out about yarn, patterns, and other things there.

My favorite part of the project is the knitted border at the bottom.  I've never done anything like that before.  I really like the way it looks.  As usual, I'll post another picture of it when finished. 

This is one of the other scarfs I made using two of the lace stitches from the class.  This one I'll be sending to a friend who moved to Texas.  As before, this one will look much better after it's blocked.

I've signed up for other classes at Craftsy...a sweater, a shawl, some socks (both toe up and cuff down), and a few other things.  I'll be posting pics as I go along.  If you'd like to follow me on Craftsy, I use the same name on there...Sofyann.

UPDATE: I finished the pink sweater I was working on in an earlier installment.  I don't have a picture of it yet but will post one soon.

TIP: I was reading my intro and this came to me!  For those of us that still rock it old school when it comes to patterns (meaning we don't keep them on an iPad or tablet), I have a great tip I learned on Facebook.  Purchase plastic page protectors and dry erase markers at your local office supply. Place your pattern pages in the page protectors and use the dry erase markers to mark off your rows as you go.  When you're finished, you can just wipe it off and store your patterns in a binder for future use.  This technique works great for both written and charted patterns.

I need to get a little work done around the house before I start dinner.  Rest assured, I am back and will be posting more often.  One of the classes I'm taking on Craftsy is how to design your own sweaters and another one on how to write patterns, so maybe sometime in the future, you might find a pattern or two of my own design!  Until then, have a great day!

Sofyann