FO Friday! My mom's hood.

Look! I do finish things once in awhile!

My mom and my little sister came in for a visit today, along with my sister's friend C who lives with the family. Yesterday evening I finally realized this was the week, so I figured I should probably finish sewing up my mom's hood. The crocheting has been done for ages, it just need sewn up and the ends woven in. I think I need to practice sewing more- my stitches usually end up pretty even and fairly invisible, but it's so agonizing. I think if I get more practice in I might get to a point where I can do it more quickly and easily. And not whine about it the entire time. Maybe? I hope. It'll probably look prettier too.

Here is my mom's hood, modeled by my younger sister-

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

WIP Wednesday 5/23

It IS Wednesday, right? I'm pretty sure it is. It doesn't really matter though, because I have a new project!
I have been enthusiastically plugging away at the ABABA scarf from Ravelry. I did have to learn some new stitches (k2tog and p2tog were easy enough, but I'd never actually DONE them, and kfb I had to YouTube) but in general it's easy enough for my stressed out self to handle. I've been sitting in the living room on a reclining chair listening to podcasts and knitting. The pattern is easy enough to memorize so I don't have to constantly flip through it. It's really been rather relaxing, and I've found I'm usually in a better mood afterwards. The constant stitch repetition is definitely improving my tension.

I am using a Zauberball by Schoppel Wolle and loving the long color changes. I always want to knit just a little bit more to see if I can get to the next color before I have to go to bed. And it's pretty soft! I was pleasantly surprised. I haven't had any problems with it so far, it hasn't been too twisty and the thick and thin-ness of it intrigues me. I will definitely be using this yarn again in the future.

I don't have a great picture of the actual project right now. I did, but I got a new phone and haven't figured out if I actually have a way to get the rest of  my pictures back from the old one yet. They gave me the memory card from the old phone back when I donated it at the cell phone store, but I'm not sure how to connect it to the computer. Or if my photos are even on there. I need to play around with it... eventually. Or, you know, just take new pictures. Yeah, that would probably be easier.

Here's how I store it though! It's usually in a plastic bag as well for extra kitty proofing. (Please ignore the shoes in the background, we just kick them off when we come inside.)

It gives you an idea of the color at least. Yay pretty yarn bowl!

Hope you all are doing well, happy crafting!


Click here for more info on work in progress Wednesday

Swap! What I sent.

Well, it definitely took me long enough to get around to writing this! Hopefully you'll forgive me.

Here is what I sent for the spring swap-

This is what the box looked like. There were also glittery stickers. Do you like the little owl? His name is Winston. My husband drew him and I think he's very cute!

Photo courtesy of my swap partner, as I forgot to take one.

A skein of misti alpaca yarn, a crochet hook, an owl necklace, a crocheted scarf, vanilla milkshake straws, candy, helly kitty lip balm, memo pad, pansy seeds to plant (mixed with tissue paper and formed into a butterfly,) bags of tea, an IA magnet, and an IA coffee mug (which unfortunately broke on the way.) She seemed to like everything, so I think I did alright!

I think this is the closest I managed to get of the true color. It was a nice, mossy green.

This scarf was my secret swap project. It started out as a cowl, but it was turning out too thick and warm for spring. Next it was a more complicated crocheted scarf pattern, but I was working so many hours that I just didn't have the brain space to ever get much done on it. So it turned into this- a v-stitch scarf in a brick pattern. This was simple enough that I could work on it in front of the television, but in my opinion much nicer than a plain garter stitch, single crochet, or double crochet scarf would have been.

Photo courtesy of my swap partner (hi swap partner! I don't want to put your  Ravelry name on here, just in case!)

I've decided that swaps are a lot of fun, and will definitely be doing another one at some point in the future. Hope you all are doing well, happy crafting!

Scared

I think... I'm afraid to blog. I'm not sure why. I've had a bit more free time, I have pictures that I can upload... I just haven't.

It's strange really. I get a thought in my head that I should write a post, come to the computer, and just decide I'm too busy. Or that I'll do it later, soon, this weekend, tomorrow.

I've also been pulling away from Twitter, Facebook, and even Ravelry. Maybe I just spend too much time on computers daily. On the bright side though, I have had more time to knit. I will reveal my swap partner project soon as it has been received (and loved!) Right now I am resting my Moss and Bluebells scarf and working on the ABABA scarf using a Zauberball. I'm loving the color changes!

Does this ever happen to you?

Spring Swap

Hello! Long time no see, I know.

I actually get a full weekend this week, and to my surprise, I was visited by the mailman! I am taking part in the spring swap hosted by the Tiny Owl Knits group on Ravelry, and boy was I spoiled. This is going to be a picture heavy post, because I was so excited. Sorry some of the pictures are sideways, I didn't notice until after I uploaded them and now I'm too tired to fix them.


Look at how cute the box is!

When I opened the box, I found a letter. It was a very sweet letter, which gave me permission to rip into my goodies before finishing the reading of it...

Aren't these stickers cute?

Which I promptly did, of course! Below are pictures of my goodies in no particular order-

Yummy apple/strawberry scented candle

My swap partner is from TX

A TX cookie cutter!

Chocolate, cleverly put in a plastic bag in case of meltage.

Lots of yummy recipes

An easter bunny!

A pretty teacup and saucer, from her grandmother's china! I will cherish this.

These little owls are on the cutest plate

This little owl is on a super cute bag!

A book that I can't wait to read

Pretty notebook

Handmade magnets that are already on my fridge

Pencils and notepads

Stickers!

Cute little mini skeins for my hexipuffs

A pretty scarf made of of yarn that looks difficult to work with

Knitted leaf dishcloths

Cutest little owl puff

Mug cosy

Tea wallet. I love the little button!

And it's filled with tea of course.

Mr. Mini Fox!!!

I can't believe someone knitted this FOR ME. ALL FOR ME! 

Cute knitted bag filled with pretty plastic eggs...

That were filled with tiny animals and aliens....

And Hello Kitty...

And stitch markers...

And more stitch markers (isn't that green/black one pretty?)...

And a special hexipuff stitch marker!

There was even a knitted egg inside one of the eggs, intended for a cat toy.

My cat loved it so much he refused to share with his sister.

I am overwhelmed. My spoiler knitted up a storm for me, and I am just so pleased with everything! I seriously almost cried when I found Mr Fox. So cute! And the letter was so sweet, I'm such a happy girl right now.

This has inspired me to get my butt in gear and get my swap package sent off to my spoilee... I only have 2 more things to pick up and it will be on its way! (I am NOT waiting until the last minute, I swear. It won't be super early, but hopefully it will be worth it.) Also, I'm not cheating. The rules for this swap are to send no later than a certain date, but open your package as soon as it arrives.My first swap experience is going amazingly well. I've been so happy putting a box together for my spoilee, and my spoiler put such an amazing box together for me! Knitters/crocheters/crafters are such lovely people, I am very happy to be part of this community.

Until next time, happy crafting!

Work and weather and weariness, oh my.

Hello! Long time no see! I'm trying to get better at this whole blog thing, really, but I'm having a lot of trouble trying to find more time. There's been long days needed at work these past few weeks, and by the time I get home I usually only have an hour or so to eat dinner before going to bed. Lather, rinse, repeat. The whole thing has left me very tired and sometimes cranky, hopefully things will be trending back towards normalcy soon.

The weather has taken a strange turn this month... is it really March? It was 80° out today! It's all bright and warm and cheery out, so I painted my nails yellow and black. I love crackle nail polish, it's so simple to use, and I almost always get compliments on my nails!

It's closer to a highlighter color in real life

My husband and I have been spending lots of time at the park reading (and knitting for me, though him not so much.)

Yay for benches and sunshine!

I actually wore a skirt today! It doesn't happen often. My husband told me that between the stripy knee high socks and the semi pointy toed mini boots my outfit reminded him of the wicked witch of the west, but that's okay. It was comfy and flowy and nice to be sitting outside in something other than jeans.

Stripey socks make me happy. No, I didn't knit them, I haven't made it to socks yet.

It's getting really pretty out. I swear that the trees have been flowering overnight, it's all happening so suddenly.

Isn't this pretty? I love these trees.

Not much to tell you about on the crafting front, my moss and bluebells scarf is still on hold (blurry nighttime camera picture below) as I work on my super secret swap gift. Hopefully I will be telling you about that soon!

It's ALMOST long enough now!

Hope you all are doing well, and happy crafting!

Hi there!

Well, apparently you are just going to get a post without pictures this time. I keep meaning to take pictures, then forgetting, and then I don't blog... I figured a post without pictures is better than no blog post at all! (And let's pretend I didn't fall off the face of the internet for awhile there too, 'k?)

I had to frog my moss and bluebells scarf. Multiple times. I wanted to cry. First the fabric was too stiff, because my needles were too small. In my dear husband's words, it would have made a good dish cloth. I pulled it all out and started again, but then I got distracted and knit one of the pattern rows twice, so I pulled it all out again. At that point I put out a desperate cry to my Ravelry friends, and was answered with a link to knitty's frog pond information. Good thing too! On my third try, I got distracted and re-knit one of the rows again! Instead of pulling out the whole thing, I tinked back a row and went right on knitting. Right now the scarf part is about 3/4 of the way done, and then I just need to make the pockets.

I still haven't sewn up the crocodile stitch hood for my mother. The weather where she is has been warm, so it won't be of much use until next year anyway. I'd like to get a move on and finish it up so I can get it sent out before I lose it though!

I had to take a break from my moss and bluebells for the time being. I joined a swap! A spring swap through the Tiny Owl Knits group on Ravelry to be more specific. I am super excited, and having so much fun looking for things I know my spoilee will like! I have started knitting something for her too, but I don't want to go into details now on the tiny little off chance she finds my blog and guesses that she's the one I'm sending it to because then the surprise will be ruined and it would be terrible. I know it's not likely, but better safe than sorry! I will take pictures of it and post it later though, for sure.

Hope you all are doing well, happy crafting!

PS- Pinterest may be in my future. Someone just sent me an invite. I'm a little bit scared.