My Mountain

There is a great contest wrapping up right now put out by the folks at Schachenmayr Yarns.  The "My Mountain" design contest requested original hats knit up in their "My Mountain" line of yarns.  Here's my entry:

My mountain is finding a balance between being a mother, employee, and designer. It's impossible to do it all, so I'm learning to do what makes me and my family happy. Knitting, crocheting, and designing are some of the things that make me happy and I'm glad to be able to share my work in this contest.

Finalists for the contest will be chosen soon, then voting ensues.  Cross your fingers for me!

Check out some of the other entries on Facebook

1500 yard question

In winding up a 1500 yard skein of Brown Sheep Legacy Lace, I have answered a couple of very important questions.

1. Yes, 1500 yards of laceweight will fit on a ball winder.  Barely.
2. Yes, you should take them up on the offer when the yarn shop offers to wind it for you.  Always.

Mad Dash

There's a crazy-pants challenge in the Stash Down group in Ravelry to use up 12,000 yards from February 15, through March 31st.  While I didn't sign up for the entire challenge, I did sign up to try to finish up 4,000 yards during that time.

My major double-stranding project is finished, and it has used up 2,031 yards of my stash yarn.  I triple stranded lace and held it with worsted; I double stranded fingering and held it with dk; I doubled up the worsted, and this is what I got:



It's using my Reverse Mitered Block pattern in all the rainbow colors I could find in my stash.  It's going to Wool-Aid, a charity that collects handmade wool items to send to children overseas.  I love it.

Wool-Aid

Found a great charity group on Ravelry that specifically focuses on wool items for children.  Wool-Aid sends most of their items internationally and focuses on wool, which provides the most warmth.  They take items for children of all ages.

Here is my first package to send to them, which includes a lot of items that I made years ago that had to intended recipients.

Moorish Mosaic, finally!

Almost immediately after it was published, I bought yarn for Lisa Naskrent's Moorish Mosaic Afghan.  Eleven months later, it is finally finished!

The only modification I made was to skip the triangle motifs intended to fill in the sides in favor of doing a few extra rounds for the border.  I love this pattern!

 Ravelry linky

Project Linus - Reverse Mitered Block

My Stitch'n Club at Nationwide is starting blanket project to benefit Project Linus.  To help everyone get started, I wanted to find a couple simple patterns that could be easily used with any yarn and any gauge.  For the crocheters, it's the Corner Stripe Square by JudyK.  For the knitters, I wanted a mitered block pattern but most of the ones I was finding started with a large number of stitches for the cast on, then decrease to a point.  I wanted to work in the reverse direction to make it really simple to get the proper size.  While this is probably not an original idea, I have searched for this pattern and could not find it anywhere.  It is similar to this pattern by Ari Whitlow, but without the yarn-overs.

Enjoy!  I will add pictures soon!

Pattern
cast on 3

row 1: kfb, pm, kfb, k1
row 2: sl 1, k across
row 3: sl 1, k to 1 st before marker, kfb, sl m, kfb, k across

repeat rows 2 and 3 to desired size, ending on row 3, bind off

Notes
kfb - knit into the front and back of the stitch
pm - place marker
sl - slip
sl m - slip marker

Stash Update

April 1st is Flash Your Stash day, so here is my annual picture (only a day late)!



To be fair, this includes WIPs as well (see the 4 crocheted blankets along the right side of the photo?).

When I started keeping track of my stash and actual usage in 2009, I had a little over 44,000 yards in my home.  A few months later, I peaked at over 46,000 yards.  Today, I have just under 30,000 yards and lots of plans.  Maybe under 20,000 by the end of the year?

Magic Carpet Blanket

I am so excited!  I have another pattern being published in the Spring 2011 Interweave Crochet, which is due out closer to the end of the month.  They've shared their preview here.

The pattern will be available for download on the Interweave website at some point, if you don't get the magazine.

And now that it's public I can share my pictures!



And one of the girls playing on it while I was taking a break from the seaming:

Pay it Forward 2011

You may have seen this posted on Facebook some time after the new year: 

Pay it forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade or homemade to the first five people to leave a comment here. To be eligible, you must also post this in your status, offering the same thing to five other people. The rules are that it must be hand made by you and it must be sent out sometime during 2011. Ready set GO!

Well, I decided to jump on the wagon and joined on in.  I have to make for Jen, Lissa, Erin, and Amy.  The fifth person never reposted, so I'm taking him off the list.

So, what do you make for two sorority sisters, a former coworker, and someone who is a member of your knitting club?  Dishcloths?  Hats?  Scarves?

New Year, well, a little late

I think I wrote a New Year’s resolution last year, and obviously it didn’t hold. It is yet to been whether this year will be different, but here’s to giving it a go.

I am committed to two things for this year. The first is to design more, and share the things I have designed. I have two patterns that I intend to share as soon as I can get them written up. One is a crocheted hat that features spirals rounding from the top all the way down into he ribbing. The second is for a 12 inch block I designed for my last round of NYOBE on Ravelry.

The second goal is to continue to knit from the stash. While the last couple years of stash-down have really gotten me far, I still have far more than I need. I’ve come to realize that it’s pretty wasteful to purchase yarn, hold on to it for 3-4 years, then sell it at a loss because I no longer want to use it. Doesn’t it make more sense to make a purchase and start up with the yarn while you still remember why you bought it? That’s my goal.

Here’s a picture of the stash as of mid-January.



I’ve actually sold off 35 balls through Ravelry’s ISO/Destashing Board. I’ve also made some purchases from those very same boards, but the net is a decrease. I’m hoping to show another picture at the end of the month with some real progress.

Pattern Writing

I have decided to spend the day (or the free hour I'll get during nap times) writing up three patterns I've been playing with. There are two crocheted block patterns (both for the block exchange I mentioned in my last post) and one crocheted hat. The hat is made with sock yarn and is for a baby, but could be for an adult as well. The hat will become a submission, once it's ready, that is....

Writing the patterns is not the hard part, the testing is. Once these are written, I'll have to make a couple to test myself. Then, once I'm happy with them, I'll find someone willing to try them out as well. A free crochet pattern isn't worth anything if you can't read it.

Not Your Ordinary Block Exchange

Ravelry has some really great groups. This particular one is an afghan block swap. Each member makes a 12 inch block for every other person in the group. There are 10-12 people in each group, giving you enough blocks for a 3x4 foot blanket to assemble by the end.
The group is using Comfort Worsted and we've selected a strawberries and cream color theme. I've completed 4 blocks so far. Here they are:

Spring Fling by April Moreland, done in two different color combinations. This one is my favorite so far!
New Year's Eve by Sherry Welch, made in a single color. This one feels a little floppier, but is very pretty. It seems like it was designed to be reversible, as it has some front-post and back-post crochets on both sides.And finally, one of my own. I have to call it a prototype as it's a little wonky in places, but I like it all the same. I'll be writing up the pattern at some point...


I've been toying with the idea of putting together a series of block patterns.

Rediscovery

In an effort to continue to use my stash, I've starting thinking about my stash of pattern books and magazines. According to what I've listed in Ravelry, I have 32 books, 65 magazines, and 7 booklets.

Of the books, I've used 9.

Of the magazines, I've used 7.

Of the booklets, I've used none.

It's time to rediscover the stash of patterns that I've accumulated.

2010 Goals

I've committed to three stash-down goals for 2010.

First, I have gone "Cold Sheep", which my friends over on Ravelry know means no yarn purchases. The only exception I am allowing is yarn needed to finish a project already in progress. To date, I've been successful and have not purchased any yarn this year! So far, that's over three months with no new yarn purchases!

Second, I will knit/crochet up 10 miles of my stash this year. That's a little less than 1,500 yards each month. So far, I used 3,897 as of the end of March, which is a little behind pace. I hope to make up for it this month with a few larger FOs.

Third, I am trying to use up 100 balls of yarn this year. Now, the goal is to get rid of balls of yarn. They don't have to start out as full balls, but they have to be completely gone in order to count. I am at 21 balls as of right now, but am focusing on partial balls to up my count.

Pictures of some cute things to come, but for now, off to knit!

How Big is your Stash?

This is for my peeps over in the Stash Knit Down Group in Ravelry

How many YARDS of yard do you have in your stash?

0 - 999 yards1,000 - 4,999 yards5,000 - 9,999 yards10,000 - 19,999 yards20,000 - 29,999 yards30,000 - 39,999 yards40,000 - 49,999 yards50,000 - 74,999 yards75,000 - 99,999 yards100,000 - 149,999 yards150,000 - 199,999 yards200,000 - 249,000 yards250,000 - 299,999 yards300,000 or more!

pollcode.com free polls

2009 Stash in Summary

I have knit/crocheted up 13,289 yards of yarn (FOs only).

I started the year at 43,954 yards,
I purchased 19,277 yards,
I knit up 13,289 yards,
I destashed 7,242 yards
Leaving me with 42,853 yards.

So, I am down from the beginning of the year, but only 1,101 yards. At this pace I’ll be done in just under 39 years.

Next year, I am going "cold sheep", as my fellow ravelers call it. No yarn purchases all year, unless I need a small amount to finish a specific project. Free yarn is okay, swapping is okay, as long as I'm not spending money and as long as my total is going down.

Christmas Presents

I swore to myself that I was not going to be doing any last minute Christmas knitting this year.

My husband and I were out shopping for a present for his grandmother, who is turning 95 the day after Christmas. He spied a really nice hand-knit looking scarf at Macy's. I said, "I would rather make one than spend $60 on that."

Oops.

I comfort myself thinking that this is a birthday gift, not a Christmas gift.

I found a lovely and lacy scarf pattern by Julie Sprague called Christmas Lace. It's a simple two-row, four-stitch repeat that a poor left-handed knitter like me can follow without adjustments. It's turning out beautifully so far, and more so because I get to use some beautiful blue wool that's been waiting patiently in the stash for a few years (the rest will become a sweater at some point).

Because it's not done, and I suspect there will be a rush to block, wrap, and give, here's a picture of the incomplete scarf. This is going to stay on my list for future gifts.

Focus? What's That?

Sorry for the long delay with no postings, there was a new baby, then a death in the family. I am back now.

My brain is going crazy with ideas for new patterns and project ideas. A large lacy scarf/wrap? Reversible? A knitted sweater with short sleeves and a single button at the throat that makes everything fall at an angle? A crocheted baby vesty/cardi out of some kettled-dyed sock yarn? A poncho-type thing that widens at the base and is assembled out of two matching not-quite-rectangular pieces?

My problem is my lack of focus. I think any number of these items would be fun to work on and might turn out to be pretty cool, but I can't seem to concentrate on one idea long enough to make any progress. I started a baby cardi, then stalled on making a lace pattern for it. Then, I drifted off to the lacy shawl... then wouldn't that be a cool baby blanket?

November will be my month to get my act back together and design something. I just need to make a decision and roll with it and see how things come together.

On the stash side of things? I have now gone over four months with only buying two skeins of yarn to finish specific projects. I'm pretty proud of myself. My goal now is to get below 40,000 yards of yarn on hand by the end of the year. I think I can do it!

"Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises."

- Elizabeth Zimmerman

Maternity Leave Knitting

Yes, I have been knitting and crocheting while on maternity leave. At least, I was before my two-year old decided she didn't like taking naps anymore. I am getting sleep at night, managing to keep the house fairly neat during the day, and almost managing to keep my sanity. I start back at work in 3 weeks.

I have spent a lot of time on my Twist Cardigan, and have finished the back and one half of the front. The other half has stalled and may be resumed once the weather cools a little. Lovely worsted weight wool is not quite so lovely when it's 90 degrees outside.

I have started several other projects, all of which are still in the process of being completed. A baby vest for a friend (along with matching hat), a dress for my daughter's baby doll (which is nearly complete), and a crocheted baby cardigan are all in the works. Hopefully I will make a little more progress on some of them before I head back to work. Otherwise, it's knitting during lunches again!

I am hoping to visit a LYS today while I am in Milwaukee. Hopefully, this one will not be a disappointing as the ones I tried to visit in February...