Fiber shots

Almost done!

Work in progress

Playing with photo apps

Hazy and My Blanky

2 Things

...that come highly recommended by me:

1.  Listen to this podcast.  That's an order.  If you don't get some sort of yarny, fibery joy out of it - you're crazy!

2.  Take a look at this blog.  Whoa!  That's all I can say!

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

Shots of Progress

To frog or not to frog?

Spinning away!

Baby napping = Me playing with Instagram!

Rangling in the cowls

 Here it is!  The Gap-tastic Cowl that took my novice knitting self forever and a friggin' day to complete.  After ripping and restarting a multitude of times, I was into a groove.  I thought I'd get all fancy and go to a couple of knit nights with this project.  Unfortunately, while I was chatting away, I messed up the seed stitch pattern and the last few rows looked like crap.  Then when I was at the end of the third ball, I took another look at it and saw that my yarn joins also looked like crap.  That's when I decided to rip it all out again, and spent all of this past Saturday redoing it.  I promised my sister a cowl on Saturday and dang it, she was going to get it!

Judging by the awesome photo, I'm pretty sure my sister loves it!  I loved it too.  I used Rowan Big Wool that we picked out at the Yarn Cupboard with the help of the owner, Susan.  Three balls did the trick for the cowl even though the pattern calls for the cowl to be fifteen inches wide.  The finished width turned out to be around 10 inches or so.  

Now, I have another order for my darling cousin.  I just found out her birthday bash is this Friday so, I need to bust a move on the Martha Cowl Scarf I was planning on making for her.  Thankfully, it's crochet so I can really pick up the pace.

And yes, I found some time to do a little spinning today.  Very soothing and very satisfying.  Pictures to come.  I am nearly done with the rest of the 4 ounces!

Photos by Ammerican Photography

First post of the year!!

 Happy new year, people!  I hope 2012 is off to a good start for you!  I am so excited to post about my Diagonal Eyelet Hand Warmers from a fellow blogger, creativeyarn.

 I used some yarn I received in a swap.  Knit Picks Capra DK in the colorway of Harbor was such a dream to work with!  I could tell right away that this was some good quality yarn.  I had barely any splitting and if there's yarn around, I'm pretty good at splitting it!  I had two balls of the Capra but I barely needed a whole one to make these.  I'm thinking that perhaps with the leftovers of ball one, I could make Hazel a matching baby pair?

 I opted to not add any cute buttons on them.  To be honest, my button collection is pretty random.  Most of them are from clothes I buy that have the extra buttons attached, just in case you lose one.  So, I don't have too many pairs of buttons.  I'm sure that will change when I go to the Yarn Cupboard retreat where I will peruse, oogle, and fondle the buttons of Melissa Jean Designs.

How's that spinning goal of 4 ounces a month going?  Well, I had to finish up the last 12 for me project, as you can see above, plus I'm working on a gorgeous cowl for my sister using Rowan Big Wool.  I have been using circular needles, of which I'm not a fan.  Next time I will take the advice of my friend Gretchen and boil the needles so that the dang cable stays somewhat straight!  After I'm done with the Gap-tastic Cowl, I will finish up the domestic wool blend I bought from Hampton Artistic Yarns.  I don't think I will ply this at all when I am finished because in single form it already has an awesome barber pole effect.  That will also leave more yardage to make something cozy for my awesome husband.  Perhaps a hat?  Maybe some fingerless mitts?  At any rate, he needs something nice because he's done such a good job sprucing up my blog with his photo skills!

In conclusion, I would like to add that this post marks the 12th item I made for myself (the mitts) and the 12th new knitting thing I've learned in 2011 (my battle with circs).  I accomplished my goal - a few weeks late - but DONE!

Photos by Ammerican Photography

Last post of the year!

 Got a ton o' cotton yarn from my aunt for Christmas.  This will come in handy for the amount of bibs and washcloths I will be making this year.  Everyone and their mother is pregnant!  Plus my lovely sister got me three amigurumi books both in knit and crochet.  I will talk about those at a later date, for sure.

 I made a ninja from the book Creepy Cute Crochet, for my friend which will be presented to her tonight at our new year's eve party.  I believe everyone needs a little ninja to help them out when life gets crazy.

 Another gift that will be revealed tonight.  Gotta keep those arms warm in this frigid weather!  I used Lion Brand Amazing yarn in the colorway Olympia and used their Woodland Gauntlets pattern.

And lastly, a Shell Cowl with Buttons for my other friend.  I bought these buttons a long time ago and I am so glad they are getting put to use for this.  This cowl definitely needed some chunky buttons!

I hope you all have a great New Years and sending yarny/fibery thoughts your way for 2012!

Pictures by Ammerican Photography

Goals for 2012

I'm not going to go too crazy like I did last year.  And to be honest I've not even started my 12th project for me or my 12th learned knitting technique.  I'm still on vacation so, it may happen.  But I've been inching to post to the blog world my my two itty bitty goals for 2012.

• spin at least 4 ounces of fiber a month
• try and participate in the Tour de Fleece in July

Did I mention all that spinning will be on my two Ashford spindles??  Did I also mention I have a box of fiber that needs some major attention?  It will be a fibery year for me that's for sure.  I will still be making projects here and there.  I have to make my sister and my cousin some cowls that I'm really excited about but the main focus of the year will be my spinning.  I've been just parking and drafting and to help my productivity, I really need to kick it up notch.  

As for the Tour de Fleece, I'm not sure if that's a goal that will be set in stone.  I'm expecting another kiddo in June so who knows where the productivity and determination will be at that point.  

I think the spinning is also going to help me deal with a loss we had recently.  My little kitty had to be put down.  So this post is dedicated to Chips.  You were a crazy kitteh but we loved you! 

Photo by Ammerican Photography

Happy Holidays!

An unexpected, lovely gift from a friend I made this year on Ravelry

And then...

...it was my turn in the studio:

Cowl for a co-worker

Lion Brand pattern - Yorkshire Cowl

Yarn - Loops and Threads-Haze-Roving

Photos by: Ammerican Photography