FO Friday 80

Okay, I lied. I haven't finished my fingerless gloves yet. :( Unfortunately, I haven't even knit on them really since Tuesday evening at my crochet/knitting meet up so they don't even look different from the picture on Wednesday. Sad, right?



I have been busy with fiber arts though! As you can imagine, my life revolves around the fiber arts, with Candy Skein and all, and this week wasn't an exception. I've been working on my first post for Life of an Indie Dyer, so I won't share too many details of what I've been up to, so as not to spoil the post that should be coming up either this weekend or Monday. I have however decided to spruce up this boring post with a picture (posted above, sorry for the crappy lighting) of what I completed today (yesterday for those reading this). Here are 13 of the 15 skeins of yarn I re-skeined for the upcoming fiber festival I'm taking part in, the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival in Hood River, OR (more on that in the Life of an Indie Dyer post). To say that this doesn't even make a dent in what needs to be re-skeined is putting it lightly. The number is probably around 80+ skeins that are dyed and just waiting to be re-skeined and tagged and climbing daily. Yikes!

Anyway, that's enough from me today. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and look for my post in the coming days to kick off my new series, Life as an Indie Dyer!

Share your FOs!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 86

Hi everyone! I'm going to keep this short today, but I just wanted to say I LOOOOVVEEEE The Hunger Games movie! Holy smokes. I can't stop thinking about it. We saw it in IMAX and let me tell you, it was worth every penny. I hope to go see it again next week with some friends.

Now to the knitting:


Look, I have one glove and a cuff of another!!! I should be further along, as I wanted to have these done for FO Friday as I promised. Of course, I'm knitting a little slower than normal. Let me show you why, or many may have guessed as I mentioned it on Friday.



See that? I broke the tip on my ONLY size 5 needles. I'm having to knit with one tipless one. :( How sad and ghetto is that!? I'm still hoping to finish the gloves in time. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the one already finished. I did some mods to the pattern, which I'll mention on Friday (or when I finish them).

I also shared the April colorway yesterday, so please check it out! I'm very excited/proud of this one, as it is one of my favorite colorways so far!

That's it for me today! Have a great rest of the week and until Friday, happy knitting!

For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

Candy Skein- April '12 Sock of the Month Club Colorway!

Spring is here and Easter is right around the corner. When I see the pastel colors of the Easter candies adorn the shelves, I know the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping and warmer weather is on it’s way. April is one of my favorite months and I’m excited to share the colorway for this month, Butter Mints.

This gorgeous skein is one of my favorites in the Candy Skein Sock Club, with it’s soft rainbow of colors. Named after those creamy, melt in your mouth pastel pillow mints, this colorway would make a perfect pair of fun sock or a spring shawl for your Easter festivities.

Colorway: Butter Mints
Series: Yummy- Candy Skein Monthly Sock Club April 2012
Fiber content: 75% Falkland British Merino Wool, 25% Nylon Superwash
Weight: Fingering Weight
Yardage: 465 yards
Unit Weight: 100 grams
Care: Machine wash/Tumble dry low

Price: $16.00 US

Limited time only!
Available April 1 -April 30 (if pre-ordered, will ship before or on April 1)

BUY

And don’t forget, for a few more days, Leprechaun Lollipop is still available before it disappears forever!

FO Friday 79

Hey everyone! Happy Friday and happy Hunger Games day! I have to say, I sure hope I get to see the movie this weekend, but I hate super full movie theaters now a days. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that we can get in and it's not too insane. Are any of you huge Hunger Games fans? I've loved the series since the week the first book came out in 2008. In fact, I haven't read The Hunger Games since the first week it came out, so a few days ago I started to read it again! I have to admit, it's just as good, if not BETTER the second time around. It's been so long and I've read so many books in between that I forget what happens from scene to scene. I'm just as excited and nervous for Katniss! I have to admit. All of the hype is making me nervous. I hope the movie doesn't ruin the books for me (a la Twilight), as well as the hype.

You are probably wondering about knitting at this point, right? Especially if you don't know about the Hunger Games (if you don't know about it, do you live under a rock!?), or you don't care (if you haven't given it a chance, please do. It's amazing).

I was hoping to have one of the gloves done to show you today, but a little thing happened this evening (Thursday evening). I was doing one of the lateral braids and because this is tricky when you need to bring the knitted 2nd stitch forward to knit into the 1st stitch, I didn't think when I had to pull my needle forward hard. Now, I didn't realize at the time that my needle tip was stuck on a little bit of yarn...you guessed it. SNAP went the needle tip. It's my only size 5 needles and from my interchangeable acrylic set. The good news is, it's still semi usable. It took me awhile to realize it would be a LOT easier to switch the needles so that my left was the right and the right was the left, so that the only time I need to really use the dull end is when I'm casting off. I lost some time struggling before I made the switch, making it impossible to finish the glove. I promise next week, not only will I have ONE glove finished, but BOTH! It's supposed to be a little cool this weekend and the start of next week, so I need to quickly finish so I can wear them before it gets cold again.

That's it for me today. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Share your FOs!

ETA: Can you tell I've been busy and distracted? ::shakes head:: Sorry guys, the Mr Linky is now up!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 85

Hi everyone! I hope you had a great weekend and are having an even greater week. We went to the movies and had a great time. We saw The Artist which was amazing. My husband and I love old movies and silent movies, so to see a movie like The Artist doing well in the theater and winning awards is awesome. I wanted to watch it again instantly. Sooo good. I also bought The Muppets movie this week, which I can't wait to see again, speaking of great movies. It's a hockey night tonight (Tuesday), but I'm sure we'll watch it the first chance we can get. We adored it in the theater.

Now onto knitting related items.


I was bad and cast on something new. I have so many WIPs that I can't keep them straight, which only makes me want to cast on more. Does that make sense? Do you get that, too? Actually, I blame the skein of yarn. I've had this yarn in my stash since December of '10, buying it on my trip up the California coast. It's Tosh Vintage in Baltic which is a worsted weight yarn. This is my first time using this yarn, and I LOVE it! It's gorgeous in color and texture. Just a pleasure to knit with and holds stitches nicely. Anyway, so the yarn was calling to me on Monday, and what could I do? I couldn't deny it when it's been sitting in my stash for so long. I only have one skein, so I had to sift through projects until the right one jumped out at me.

I decided since this yarn was special to me, as it was one of the memento yarns I brought home from my trip, that I wanted it to be something that I would use often. I also wanted a little bit of a challenge, since my knitting hasn't been calling to me recently. In fact, besides the little bunny I made last Thursday, I hadn't knit since my crochet/knit group last Tuesday! Almost a week had gone by without picking anything up.

That's when I found Treads, a tipless glove pattern and knew my search was over. The pattern looked hard, yet something that wouldn't kill me or frustrate me. So far, it's been a great pattern. I've learned two new things so far! I learned the Lateral Braid, which is magic, and the Linen Ridge Stitch, which is really easy but looks awesome. I'm building the thumb gusset (first time I've done this as well, as my last gloves just had a hole for the thumb) right now and working my way up (or down depending how you look at it) to the fingers. I think if I take the pattern step by step, I shouldn't have too much trouble with them. I can't wait! These will be great, not only on cold days, but also in the mornings when I'm knitting or evenings walking the dog. I could see myself using them a ton! We'll see if I can get at least one finished for FO Friday. :)

That's it for me! Also a quick note. I have a few more sets of the Green Collection mini set if anyone is interested!


For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

FO Friday 78

Hi everyone! I hope you're looking forward to this weekend and fun St Patty's Day celebrations. We usually don't do anything, but stay home, since people are usually a little crazy, especially since this year it falls on a Saturday and it's supposed to rain here. Have a fun day, but stay safe!

I do have a small...very small FO. Easter is fast approaching. I decided I wanted to knit little animals for my nieces and put them in the plastic eggs they sell for Easter egg hunts. The most logical place to start is with a few bunnies! I made my first one yesterday from a free pattern shared on the Mochimochi website. In fact, she's even doing a contest giveaway involving these little guys where you can win baskets of Koigu yarn! How fun, right?

It was a very simple pattern, even if you're new to knitting. As long as you know how to knit in the round (she recommends using DPNs, but I used magic loop), kf&b and icord, you can knit this pattern in less than an hour! I used 1 cotton ball for stuffing, which fives you an idea just how little this bunny is!





I really like how it turned out, except for the eyes. I might pull them out and try to make them smaller, but it is kind of yarn. Maybe thread instead of yarn will help. We'll see. I might make the ears a titch longer as well. I'll be making many more!

That's it for me today. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Share your FOs!

Candy Skein- New Mini Skein Set- The Green Collection

Hi everyone! As promised, I have a new mini skein set available today. The set currently available is the Green collection, including 7 of Candy Skein’s most popular green colorways.

Each assortment set includes:

7 mini skeins, one in each of the following colors:
Mint Chocolate Chip
Caramel Apple
Green Apple
Spearmint
Apple-tini
Leprechaun Lollipop (only available THIS MONTH! Next time this set is offered, it will NOT include this exclusive March ’12 colorway)
Sour Apple

As well as a set of Candy Skein beads (the ones that normally come with each skein of yarn) in 7 different colors!

Colorway: 7 assorted colors (Mint Chocolate Chip, Caramel Apple, Green Apple, Spearmint, Apple-tini, Leprechaun Lollipop, Sour Apple )
Series: Yummy
Fiber content: 75% Falkland British Merino Wool, 25% Nylon Superwash
Weight: Fingering Weight
Yardage: 25-28 yards each skein
Unit Weight: 5.5-6g each skein
Care: Machine wash/Tumble dry low

Price: $11
Quantity Available: 10

BUY

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 84

Hi everyone! First off, thank you so much for the feedback on the "Life of an Indie Dyer" idea! I think I'm going to try it in the next week or so. I'm not sure how exciting it will be, but some just think I dye yarn all day, but that's only half the truth! I'll give you an in depth day in the life type journal style blog series. Check back for that soon. :)

Now to WIPW! Sorry my pics are a little dark/blurry, but they were taken with my iphone!




I haven't had much time to knit lately, but my Abalone is speeding along! I've finished the first ball of yarn and am working on the second skein. I love this yarn, Sweet Georgia Worsted. Actually, I love it so much, I bought two skeins of Sweet Georgia Tough Sock this weekend while in Los Angeles at Unwind.




I'm still working on my March socks, but this time I'm actually at the lace pattern repeat. This is two pattern repeats. I like the pattern so far, as the second needle is just stockinette, but the lace repeat is one that doesn't have much of a rhythm to it, so I have to constantly pay attention to where I am. Not an easy pattern to work on when distracted. I do love the way it looks in the yarn though! I'm using the Candy Skein Monthly Sock Club March colorway, Leprechaun Lollipop, which is still available for sale here. The pattern is Devil's Snare Socks.


On another note, I will have a new set of mini skeins tomorrow, The Green Collection for sale! Check back here or Candyskein.com to purchase them.

That's it for me for today!

For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

FO Friday 77

I apologize that this is going to be insanely short today. Not only do I not have anything to share, as you can imagine since last week was the sweater, but I almost forgot to post!! I was literally in bed, falling asleep before I shot up and said "Oh my god, tomorrow's Friday!!" I was THIS CLOSE to forgetting to post! That would have been tragic as I've yet to forget in 77 weeks.

I also wanted to mention, while I have your attention, that I've been thinking of starting a series of posts called Life as an Indie Dyer. Would any of you have any desire to read something like that? I'd basically just talk about my day to day work as I get ready for a fiber festival, juggle my normal orders, work through the festival and return home. Let me know in the comments!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. I'll be working, but hope to get in some fun as well.

Happy Friday!

Share your FOs!

EDIT: I'm so sorry. In my tired state, I put the Mr Linky for Wordpress and not Blogger so it didn't show up. Here it is!!!

Work-in-Progress Wednesday 83

Hi everyone! I hope your work is going well. I've been working hard this week to finish a very large 18 skein custom order for a mini swap group on Ravelry. It was fun to do, but was tricky coming up with so many new and different colorways. I'm happy to have finished the dyeing for it, and now just have to wait for the final skeins to dry and re-skein them. Not quite a FO, so I thought I would share it with all of you. :)



I started a new project this past week, and actually re-started it a few times as well! Last Wednesday I swatched for the Abalone cardigan! Yes, another cardigan. I'm afraid not only do I have the sock bug, but now I also have the garment bug! All is going well and the project is going super fast. I haven't worked on it much, but I have a nice portion done. It's done it worsted weight yarn, and I'm using Sweet Georgia Superwash Worsted. in Oxblood. I bought it on Thanksgiving weekend last year at Unwind in Burbank. It's not normally a color I would buy, which I think is why I bought it! Don't you feel like sometimes you have to pull a little out of your comfort zone? Funny enough, the yarn matches my couch so well, that sometimes it's hard to tell what's the couch and what's yarn! This picture makes it a little brighter than it is in real life. It's a little bit more of a purple red.

I just hope I have enough yarn. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Surprisingly enough, I actually got gauge by using the size needles recommended for the pattern, US 8s. I think this is the first project that I haven't had to go up a needle size due to my tight knitting. Maybe I'm finally loosening up! One can only hope. LOL

That's it for me for today! I hope you have a great Wednesday and Thursday. See you on Friday for FO Friday!

For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

FO Friday 76- The OHMYGOD I LOVE MY SWEATER edition

I can't explain how excited I am to write this post. Seriously, it has been a long time coming... since October 15th! That's when I started the Rhombi cardigan. Now, I have to get something straight here. I didn't work on it that whole time. In fact, I didn't work on it half of November, any of December or much of January or February. Not that it matters, I'm a slow knitter, but I'm not THAT slow.

You may remember, I started it as a KAL on the Candy Skein Addicts Ravelry group. Not many of us did it, (or finished) but I'm so happy that I continued on. In fact, this is my first ever garment. I'm sooo proud of it. Not only is it my first, it's also knit with Candy Skein yarn and my first major blocking. See, here it is blocking! I stretched out the length, flared it a little and pinned the neck so it hit high on my neck.



Pretty, isn't it? Now, for the FULL pictures! Sorry they are dark and a little green looking. With the flash everything was blown out and so these were the best we could get late at night. I promise to take better daytime pics this weekend for everyone to really see it.

Here I am standing stiff but showing it off from the front.

And the back. I LOVE the diamond! See it!?

And another, this one at a slight angle. I'm in love with my new sweater!!!!

I can't explain to you how happy I am with it and how proud I am! Seriously, I wish I could wear it every day!

Materials:

Needles: Size US 6 circular
Size made: Small
Yarn used: Candy Skein Delicious Fingering in Brain Freeze (it took less than 2 skeins)
Pattern used: Rhombi pattern by Terri Kruse
Mods: I made the sleeves a little longer than the pattern called for, as I wanted to be able to wear a short sleeve shirt under and not have them poke out at the bottom. I also picked up more stitches at the back of the neck, as well as under the arm than the pattern called for.

That's it for me this week!!! Share your FOs!!