Starting Stockpile out Right!

Foliage Hat:
I have the worst poker face.

One week down, three to go! Malabrigo Stockpile is off to a great start - I've already completed two projects and cast on for two more! My non-stockpile projects aren't feeling terribly neglected, either (well, I still need to start the sleeves for Tyler's sweater, but I'm pretty sure that will happen sometime this week, if not this weekend). Here's the lowdown:

~~1. Foliage Hat - Malabrigo Worsted in Vaa (to replace the one I lost a few years ago)~~ Finished!
~~2. Madison Hand Warmers - Malabrigo Worsted in Vaa (to match hat)~~ Finished!
3. Metheglin Cowl - Malabrigo Rios in Solis and whatever odds and sods I have sitting around in Worsted, Twist or Rios!

Madison Mitts at twilight.

4. Robin's Egg Blue Hat - Malabrigo Chunky in Charrua (my favorite color!) In Progress
5. Travel Shawl - Malabrigo Sock in Aguas In Progress
6. Button Bunnies - a ginormous version in Malabrigo Rasta - I have a full skein of Soriano, a half-skein of Oxido, and a tiny bit left of Zarzamora
7. Textured Circle Shrug - Malabrigo Rios in Glazed Carrot

Above: Travel Shawl
Below: Vintage Socks Redux

So what other projects are on the needles? I've still got three - THREE! - socks going. I know, I know - I think it's ridiculous, too. I have a simple sock that is my "train knitting" (now that the car's fixed, it will become my "conversation" project when knitting in public....assuming I leave the house in the foreseeable future ). It uses the free yarn from Stitches and a pattern from Nancy Bush's Vintage Sock book, one of my favorites (I've actually knit this pattern before, too!).

I'm also knitting a pair of Huron Mountain socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road - one of the first sock books I ever got (also my go-to book when it comes to socks)! I'm knitting mine with some gray Scholler + Stahl Fortissima Sock that I got in a swap many, many moons ago (my swapping days have long since passed) and what's left of a very generous skein of The Wool Dispensary's Useful Stimulant superwash BFL in Circus Popcorn. I LOVE the way these are knitting up!

Colorwork!

Finally, I'm preparing to cast on for sock #2 of my test knit for Two Sticks and Sheep's Fireworks and Folly e-book (which is part of the Malabrigo Freelance Pattern Project!). The first one knit up super quick and look how cute it is! I don't knit many toe-up socks, so it's fun to get out of my usual norm with this one. The pattern for these socks will be available soon on Ravelry, and Amy Duncan (the designer) has given me her blessing to post spoiler photos on this blog. Enjoy!

Sock Spoiler Alert!

Meanwhile, I'm definitely starting to feel a little bit of panic as I think about my holiday gift knitting - there are still a few more projects that need to get done (or closer to done) before I'll be able to relax. I'm sure it's all doable in the 2+ months that remain, but I don't like to sweat it....and I'm definitely starting to feel a few beads of perspiration! Perhaps I'm also feeling the crunch because I want to release 1-2 more patterns this calendar year. A little too ambitious? Probably. But if you saw my design queue, you'd understand!

P.S. Don't forget! ALL of the patterns in my Ravelry Shop are 25% off til Oct. 31st when you enter "Stockpile2011" at check-out!

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

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