What else have I been up to?

Recently, I've been starting various small projects since I need a little instant knitting gratification! I've been having fun making little scrubby tawashis using this easy free pattern and various cotton and cotton/bamboo yarns I have in my stash. Here's the one I finished over the weekend in Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton:

I don't think I've posted much about the Travel Shawl from Knitting 24/7 that I've been making since Malabrigo Stockpile in October. This warlock of a shawl is almost done - and it was turning out beautifully, until I dropped a stitch and didn't notice it for ten flipping rounds. Oops. I picked it back up, but it's not exactly unnoticeable - and since I was knitting it as a gift for someone, I am now having to trot out Plan B. Thankfully, Plan B is a much easier project to make, but I'm still pretty bummed that this shawl isn't going to work out. If we ever kiss and make up and I finish this thing, it will be a lovely addition to my wardrobe, I'm sure! It's also really hard to photograph well...it just looks like a blob of knitting, basically! Once feature I do like is that it's completely self-contained - the ball of yarn I'm working from is nestled inside the project. Nevertheless, it is sidelined till further notice.

Botanical Cowl in Canopy Fingering

I'm also on a big hat kick - after getting Weekend Hats for my birthday (and having a few downright chilly glimpses of winter), I've got major startitis in the hat department. Tons of cute designs from this book have jumped to the front of my queue, but I'm not allowing myself to start any of them til I finish a few other projects. In that vein, I started a Windschief by Steven West, but just undid all of my work because I am going to make it in a different color and use the black yarn to make a special top secret project I came across today when I was working (and by working, I mean trolling the "recently added patterns" section of Ravelry).

Finally, the Fibre Company Canopy Fingering did not go more than a few days without getting tapped for a project. I ordered it (from Doodlebug Yarn) specifically to make a Botanical Cowl, a pattern I discovered via their blog. Since this project is for me, I don't work in it very much - it'll be slow going til I finish my holiday gift knitting.

Speaking of holiday gift knitting, I have one more pair of socks to make! They're sport-weight (yay!) but, because I enjoy special torture apparently, they are a complexly cabled pattern (the Rocaille Socks from the Knitter's Book of Socks) that is sure to be amazing, provided I get them done in time (thank goodness we're celebrating Fake Christmas in January - that's almost a two-week extension!). They are a lovely forest green color which I overdyed over a bright spring green. The problem with this project is that it's tough to see what I'm doing unless I have absolutely perfect light - and a few weeks ago, my task light burned out! A tiny disaster (or some would say mild inconvenience) to be sure, but I really do feel like I've gotten less knitting done because of it. I finally remembered to take the light bulb with me to Target last night so I could match them up. I hope this means that I'll be much more productive now!

Ogee Lace Skirt

I'm also itching to start this cotton sarong - not usually a project you want to make when it's cold out, right? We're headed to Florida this January for Tyler's grandmother's 90th birthday, and in anticipation of having to don a swimming suite for the first time in about two years, I have determined that some sort of wrap or coverup is necessary. My yarn guru Lauren destashed a big box of Tahki Cotton Classic to me ages ago, and I have finally thought of the perfect use for it! I'll be knitting the Ogee Lace Skirt....just as soon as I finish my holiday knitting!

(Also, I promise that I will NEVER wear it over a pair of jeans.)

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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