weekend yarn haul

ACMoore was having a massive yarn sale over the weekend, so I felt the need to indulge.  Well, partially because I received a couple more custom hat commissions over the weekend and I needed some supplies, and partially because I can't step foot in a craft store without buying something for myself.

Behold the goods:


The brown yarn is to finish a football-themed diaper cover to match a hat I made.  I bought two skeins of Vanna's Choice because I always seem to be running out of brown yarn.

The Red Heart Designer Sport looks white in the photo, but it's more on the cream side.  That'll be for another Whitney headband that I'm hoping to finish up this weekend before mailing out.

The Red Heart Stardust and Red Heart Curly-Q were both impulse buys just because they're typically on the expensive side and now they were on sale.  I couldn't argue with getting $5 yarn for $2.99.  I'm hoping to make some sock with the Stardust yarn.  It's fingering weight and probably not even meant to make socks, but I purchased a class on Craftsy that I hope will give me the courage to finish a sock.  I always get to the toe area and lose interest, so maybe now that I've invested $30 on a class (that was on sale, too!), I'll get something done.  And it SPARKLES!

I think I'm going to make a hat out of the Curly-Q yarn for a Christmas present, so I got two skeins of that since I'm not sure what type of hat I'll be making.  I'm thinking something with ear flaps, though.  It looks like it'll be fun yarn to work with.

One of these days, I hope to be able to touch this yarn and do something with it, haha.  But for now, I have to run to work and then I have yet another presentation for class tonight.  Will I ever get used to public speaking?  Wish me luck!

the "scarves for the special olympics" project begins

With everything going on these past two weeks, I've wanted to work on something a bit more relaxing (ie: without a due date).  Having finished some baby sweaters that only need the ends woven in and starting another baby blanket plus some commissions, I thought I could work on my scarf for The Special Olympics.

I wanted to choose a pattern that was easy enough to be relaxing, but challenging enough that I didn't get bored with it.  I ended up choosing the Reversible Stripes Scarf by Marji LaFreniere (ravelry link). 

The pattern is super cute.  On one side, you have a regular striping pattern in alternating colors.  On the other side, you have columns of each color that contain "dots" of the other.  I know, this sounds strange in writing, so I'll just show you some photos:







As you can see, the scarf is knit on circular needles.  Every other row (when you switch colors), you slide the scarf to the other side of the needles and continue in pattern.  This is what causes the fun design.  It was awkward at first, but now that I've gotten into a rhythm, it's pretty easy!

Have you guys started your scarves yet?  Do you know which pattern you'll be using?

Hope you all have a good weekend!  Despite all the homework I have to do (I have another presentation next week and tons of reading), I'm really looking forward to a couple days of peace and quiet.  It looks like any plans we had are about the get rained out, anyway.

world vision: knit for kids sweater = done!

Long time no post!  Okay, not that long.  But my life has once again spiraled out of control with school and work responsibilities.  After this weekend, I think I'll be better, but right now I'm so stressed out that all I want to do is eat and sleep.  But we all know that's not productive, so I've just been walking around like a hungry zombie.

The good news is that I was able to finish my World Vision: Knit for Kids sweater before everything exploded, so now I'm just waiting until I have a chance to mail it out.






I decided to make it harder on myself by using a different color for all the front-post double crochets.  Not that it was hard to do, but weaving in the ends was NOT a good time!  I wove in as much as I could and then crocheted over what little ends were left, which left a nice border.  It kind of made the sleeves trumpet a bit, but that's okay.  I'm not sure you'd really notice when it's on.

I wish the pictures were better, but as always, I was too busy to get it "just right".  I miss having more than five minutes to myself in a day, and I miss being home for more than one night in a week (including weekends).  I can't tell if my classes are just that work-intensive, or if I've just chosen to take on too much at the same time.  Story of my life!

knitted baby sweater progress

I'm making this post mainly to torture my friend who's having the baby that will eventually wear this cuteness :)

So far, I've finished the back panel, the left panel, and I'm almost done with the right panel.  I'm really happy with how it's coming out, even though I'll have to block the crap out of it.  And then sew it all together.  But it's going to be soooo worth it because it's just that adorable.






I'm only one step away from becoming the grandmother (was it the grandmother?) from "A Christmas Story" who makes people wear bunny pajamas I've sewn together.

At first, I was worried that I'd run out of yarn, but I think I'm going to be okay.  The back panel of course ate through a big chunk, but I feel like baby sleeves and a sailor panel around the collar won't take too much.

Notice how part of the border gets sewn on later.  This is a new technique for me (how could it not be? - I rarely make sweaters).  You basically cast on a ton of stitches, knit in garter stitch for six rows while knitting three together halfway down (for the corner), then cast off half those stitches.  It's a lot easier than trying to pick up the stitches and create the border later on.

I've had to put it down in the past two weeks to work on some other projects and get back in the swing of school (I need to read six books this session and have papers coming out my butt) - kill me now.  Something tells me that knitting and crocheting are going to be my only forms of sanity.

knit for kids update

I think by now, we all know the type of person I am.  That is, once I get an idea in my head, I want to do it immediately.  My mom blames this on me being a Gemini.

As you saw in my last entry, I've slated knit and crochet charites on my calendar for the next few months (and I'm looking for more, so recommend away)!  These items are going to fill gaps in the other projects I need to complete for about 900 babies, a couple commissions, and of course Christmas presents.  I thought it was about time I did something useful with one of my talents.

Suffice it to say, I'm almost done with my first World Vision Knit for Kids sweater!  It helps that I chose the crochet pattern (I thought it was the cutest of the three knit or crochet options).






Since taking these photos on Sunday - before we lost cable and internet for 1.5 days thanks to Irene - I've completed the front and back panels and seamed them together.  All I need to do now is weave in all those ends.  I might jump off a bridge instead.

The dark blue color is Lion Brand Pound of Love in Denim, and the light blue is Caron Simply Soft in Light Country Blue.  Both colors came from my stash, of which the Pound of Love has been a member since 2006.  I'm so happy I've finally put it to good use, as I hope to do with the rest of my growing yarn collection.

Again, if you'd like to see what charites I'm participating in or if you'd like to join me in my efforts, check out my Facebook events page and RSVP!  I'd love to have you :)