Procrastination... and no big surprise

This is both the procrastination and the no surprise part ;)

-25 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

On a more productive, but no less procrastinate-y, note...
Here is the lap quilt I finally finished up for a high school graduation present a couple of weeks ago.

The color is terrible. Of course I finished about 2 am and the light was awful. These colors are a little truer (but still way off):


and a simple strip-pieced back:


and because a girl can never have too many bags!


That's all for now.

This and that...

As a strong believer in immediate gratification and what I like to think of as efficiency (but might actually be described by some as impatience), projects that are quick to start and move along steadily and easy to finish are the most likely ones for me to actually convert to FOs. Oh yeah, turning out exactly as I had envisioned no matter what the pattern predicts is also a plus :)

With sewing, I find that this strategy often backfires. I've been trying to increase my level of patience when sewing so that some day I might be able to get to the point that I could make one of these (yeah, yeah, I know there are 225 different blocks and they require a TON of hand sewing and obviously a quilt of this nature must be quilted by hand... but still, maybe after I retire). More pictures from the adventurous souls beginning this journey can be found here.

Back to reality... In one of my moments requiring immediate gratification, I made this bag the other night. It is far from perfect, but there is something that I really like about it.



I spent a couple of hours tonight working on a baby quilt top (it will probably will become a Project Linus donation). I purposely chose something that wouldn't be likely to show a lack of accuracy in sewing my 1/4" seams. For the most part, it fit all my criteria for a fun project that is likely to get finished... quick and easy and looks pretty much like I had imagined it. It could have used a better ironing, however.



I suppose that in a perfect world, I would have used a solid color cotton instead of the green polka dot flannel strips. This seems minor and I was trying to use what I had on hand. All in all, I really like it so far. I'm thinking to get something in red for the binding and maybe something really soft (like Minke or something similar) for the backing. I must keep in mind that something stretchy like that could really cause a turn in my feelings about this little blanket when it comes time to actually quilt it.


And... because I can't pass up a 40% off sale on almost all of the quilting cotton at JoAnn's, a little fabric stash enhancement:

The 2nd from the top and 2nd from the bottom are not a part of today's foray, but I thought they looked pretty cute with the others. I'm thinking maybe something like this... we'll see, though. All right, off to bed now.

Woolgirl Sock Club!

The Woolgirl Sock Club is beyond wonderful. I'd hear rumors that Jen really outdoes herself, but still... Unfortunately, in my rush to start knitting, I didn't take any pictures of the first package and its contents (I won't make that mistake again). Take a look at this picture of the package for April here.

The pattern for these socks was really well written and quick and fun to knit up! The socks were done after just a few evenings of knitting.


With just a couple of exceptions, I followed the pattern without making changes.

Pattern:

Reina (sportweight version) by Lisa Dykstra

Yarn:

Mama Llama Perfect Sock

Needles:
32" Size 2 circular needles, 2 socks on one circular magic loop method

I did modify the toe quite a bit and I added a single crochet border to the cast-on edge of the top of the sock, For some reason, the tops of the socks just looked awful. I blame the speed at which I cast on for these...

In order to maintain the pattern down the toes of the socks, I made the following modifications to the toes:

For the sole of each sock, decrease as written in the pattern.

For the patterning on the top of the sock (over 28 stitches):

Row 1: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k6, p2, k6, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (26 st)
Row 2: p1, k2, p2, k7, p2, k7, p2, k2, p1
Row 3: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k5, p2, k5, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (24 st)
Row 4: p1, k2, p2, k14, p2, k2, p1
Row 5: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k10, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (22 st)
Row 6: p1, k2, p2, k12, p2, k2, p1
Row 7: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k8, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (20 st)
Row 8: p1, k2, p2, k10, p2, k2, p1
Row 9: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k6, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (18 st)
Row 10: p1, k2, p2, k8, p2, k2, p1
Row 11: p1, wrap 2, p2, ssk, k4, k2tog, p2, wrap 2, p1 (16 st)
Row 12: p1, k2, p2, k6, p2, k2, p1
Row 13: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k2, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (14 st)
Row 14: p1, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p1
Row 15: p1, k2, p2, ssk, k2tog, p2, k2, p1 (12 st)
Row 16: p1, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p1
Row 17: p1, k2, p2tog, k2, p2tog, k2, p1 (10 st)
Row 18: p1, k2, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1
Row 19: p1, ssk, p1, k2, p1, k2tog, p1 (8 st)
Row 20: knit 8
Row 21: graft toe using kitchener stitch

First 2008 FO!

I am not so much with the New Year's Resolutions - they seem to mean guilt and disappointment for me... but I am going to make a short term goal. Let's say, a 3 month goal (with the possibility of extension) to post pictures and descriptions of every crafty item I finish. In that spirit, here is the first:


Owl hat pattern from: http://www.ruthieknits.com/Site/Owl_Hat.html

Cast on: Friday, 4 Jan 08
Finished: Sunday, 6 Jan 08

My modifications are indicated in blue.

Yarn: 55-60 g Malabrigo Worsted Merino in natural Size 7 Knit Picks circular needle, appropriately sized to work in magic loop. Cast on 99 stitches, work in 2x1 rib for about 1 inch. Change to stockinette. Increase to 110 stitches in the next row. Work approximately 1.5 inches in stockinette.

Begin owl pattern:

Round 1: p3, k8
...
Round 18: p3, slip 2nd stitch on left needle over 1st stitch on left needle, increase 1 purl stitch, p4, increase 1 purl stitch, slip 2 stitches onto right needle, slip the first of these slipped stitches over the second, move the remaining stitch back to the left needle and purl it
Rows 19-26: Purl these 8 rows even.
Row 27: p9, p2tog
Row 28: purl all stitches
Row 29: p8, p2tog
Row 30: purl all stitches
Row 31: purl all stitches
Row 32: p7, p2tog
Row 33: purl all stitches
Row 34: purl all stitches
Row 35: p6, p2tog
Row 36: purl all stitches
Row 37: p5, p2tog
Row 38: purl all stitches
Row 39: purl all stitches
Row 40: p5, p2tog
Row 41: purl all stitches
Row 42: purl all stitches
Row 43: p4, p2tog
Row 44: purl all stitches
Row 45: purl all stitches
Row 46: purl all stitches
Row 47: p3, p2tog
Row 48: purl all stitches
Row 49: purl all stitches
Row 50: p2, p2tog
Row 51: purl all stitches
Row 52: p1, p2tog
Row 53: purl all stitches
Row 54: p2tog
Row 55: p2tog

Break yarn and bring it through the remaining 4 stitches.



Obviously, any number of types of decrease could be used for this pattern. I chose to do it this way to best fit my head.

Overall, this was a quick and really fun to knit project! Now... if the temperature would just drop down out of the upper 50's, I might get to wear it.

SAFF 2007

It seemed that SAFF was even better this year than last. So much pretty yarn and roving in such a variety of colors... hmmm... the only downside (if you think this is a negative - which I might) was the ubiquity of mohair. Mohair was everywhere and blended with every other fiber known to man. Some was unbelievably soft and some was pretty scratchy. I tried very hard to remember that I don't much like to spin or knit with mohair and I was most successful in avoiding these purchases.

We actually had time to go and check out some of the animals (look how cute)...



This guy is just having a great big laugh, I think...


I found a beautiful new spindle... 1.4 ounces (so quite a bit heavier than my current spindle). I've only used it a bit, but so far I really like it.


A silk hankie... have to wait until the winter dryness subsides, I'm afraid.

These are a Merino/Tencel blend that I am so looking forward to spinning:

And the softest yarn I've ever felt (I think) from Brooks Farms. This is Solana, a light worsted weight washable merino. I just can't describe the unbelievable softness and smooshiness and overall goodness of this yarn.

More to come soon...