A Big Week

After surviving the tax deadline on Monday and catching up on personal matters, I've been crafting and cleaning so much this week.

The Colorblock Slipper test was a big focus this week. They are drying today and I'm hoping to get the pictures later today. Kelly White has a nice quick and clever design for a set of slippers with sizes for the kids to grown ups. It's not difficult to customize the sizing as well.  Here are some images before blocking commenced. I'll post when the pattern is available.

I'm trying to catch up on the day of the dead mittens: Till Death. I'm about halfway through the third clue on my first mitten and I'm hoping to start the second one soon. Now that I have a better grasp of what the picture looks like, I'm tempted to them again with more strategic colors. I like the subtle hues, but I can imagine them other colors. I love that you make the mittens the exact same way. There is no left or right mitten differences :). I chose the fun cuff instead of the challenging version. I can't wait to see one completed!!!

My other key focus right now is making hats for my nephew James. He turns 2 in about a month. I shared a picture last week of a hat I really like and now I've found another that I want to pick up and make. It's Powder from Kniterations. Allison's pattern is a lovely textured fisherman's rib based hat (it's on sale through October 22, 2018). I'm using smaller yarn and smaller needles...so I added a few stitches too many to offset. The next one I knit will fit better. However, I love to have a final version to size up or down. I'm doubling some Knitpicks Mighty Stitch worsted. It's a washable, mostly acrylic blend (the touch of wool is nice).

My pick up and set down project is the Marled Mania Cardigan that I posted about last week. I'm simply doing the ribbed collar when I need a simple mindless project. Maybe that will be what I bring on the plane...or maybe some simple hats.

Very briefly I brought up the Ubuntu CAL last week. I'm planning to get started this week...about halfway through the CAL. The images are so beautiful. The meaning and background of the the word or philosophy of Ubuntu is complex and interesting. For now I'm following the meaning "humanity towards others." I'm Kicking it off this week should be fun. It's not the best traveling pattern, since they recommend that you do the rows in an assembly line fashion. Bringing 6 separate skeins isn't impossible, but switching back and forth on a flight isn't the easiest.

We're gearing up for the big family wedding next weekend. I'm so excited to see my dad's side of the family. My cousin is getting married and I can't wait to see all the details come together. Sharing these special days is such a gift.

Lastly, are you considering NaNoWriMo? November is national novel writing month and I try to participate each year. I have yet to make it to 50,000 words, but I do keep trying. I have some ideas, so I'll work on an outline. Superpowers, mystery, and knit/crochet...how can I go wrong? I'll try to start with 2,000 words per day to make up for the difficult days. Work is generally pretty busy through the end of the year for me.

Have a great week and happy crafting.

How are we halfway through October?

It always feels like September and October fly by so quickly. We celebrated birthdays today and I happily gave the doilies and cowl/vest I made for my lovely mother-in-law and sister-in-law. They appreciate the handmade gifts...I hope I can keep coming up with ideas they'll like.

I had a very craft focused weekend, since I needed a break from the hustle of the office. Kelly White a very talented designer out of the bay area is running a test knit that just kicked off for some slippers. After starting them last night, I'm almost done with the pair sized for kids (sizes 1-3). They're chunky cute slippers. Once I get the two sizes completed for the test, I'm hoping to make a pair for me. I'm happy because each of the sizes I'm testing will fit each of my kids.

Usually, I fall into a routine of starting too many projects after a work deadline. It's not surprising that I have started a bunch of projects this weekend. Instead of working on the MKAL from Stephen West, I started his Marled Mania Cardigan. It's a simple top down, open cardigan. I have high hopes of making two by Christmas. One for my sister-in-law and the other for me. I'm starting with red for the first one and planning to use lots of pinks, reds, and other light colors. For me I'd like do do something with greens, blues, and speckles.

I want to make some lovely matching hats for my nephew and his parents. I want to use the same color for the body and then have pom poms in their favorite colors. Here is an image from Interweave so you can see the lovely design Lassen Peak Hat:

Now I just have to figure out how size it down to fit my nephew and how to size it up to fit my brother-in-law.

On the crochet side of things, have you seen the amazing Unbutu CAL from Scheepjes? I really want to make this and I've been following the wonderful pictures on Facebook.  It has a lovely shape and beautiful motifs. Once I make more progress on the slippers and the hats I discussed in this blog. I plan to get moving on that project.

I'm keeping it short this week. Happy crafting and have a great week.

Halloween Fun!!!

My household has been bit by the Halloween bug. We're reading spooky stories, listening to the Anything Ghost Podcast, getting costumes ready, and I'm partaking in some lovely Halloween themed crafts. On my own time I listen to the No Sleep Podcast and the Horror on Relic Radio.

Here are the are the Halloween doilies designed by Marsha Glassner that I've completed for my mother-in-law. The crochet is done and I plan to hide the ends and block them tonight. I can't wait to deliver them Tuesday night.

Of course, there is the annual KnitPicks Halloween Sale. So many lovely orange, purple, gray, and black yarns to choose from. I'm abstaining this year in the hopes of saving a bit of money (at least I'm trying to).

This week I found a great MKAL for a pair of Day of the Dead themed mitts: Till Death MKAL. The beautiful ones made in the MKAL last year made me want to partake in the mystery this year. I'm planning to do the less challenging version to keep the knit fun and quick...especially since I'm working on two more KALs currently along with a birthday present for my sister-in-law. I'm hoping to work on the cuffs a little tomorrow just to play. I still have yarn to wind to prep for the mitts.

I started the Nurtured KAL and I chose the deep teal instead of the yellow. I have another idea for the yellow. The teal is such a nice blend of wool and alpaca. The pattern is very quick to memorize and I'm thinking this will be a great plane flight project to have in the basket on the way to St. Louis.

Stephen West's Texture Time started late on Thursday my time. I cast on and tried a bit of the brioche technique last night. I'm only about 5 rows in. Brioche is an interestingly slow process. I'm debating if I'll switch to the non-brioche version before getting too far. I'll share pictures once I've had a chance to make more progress.

With a work deadline, I'm not getting as much done in the evenings, but I keep plugging along whenever possible. Sadly, I had forgotten my knitting to bring during my son's appointment on Friday. Forty minutes to knit seems like such a luxury right now.

I hope you all have a great week! Happy crafting!