Thursday, March 22, 2012

Liebster Award

Thanks to Andrea, for giving me the Liebster Award!




Liebster is a German word, meaning "favorite, dearest or beloved," and the Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other, newer bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to spread the word and help the new(er)bies gain wider recognition. The award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting:

1. Choose five up-and-coming blogs (with fewer than 200 followers) to award the Liebster to.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blogs so they know about the award.

4. Share five random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.
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I'm not sure how new these bloggers are, but the fit the requirement for the under 200 followers.
Please check them out.
1. Vanessa ButterflyKnitter Fiber arts of all kinds
2. Nicole Just not enough Cross stitch Cross-stitck and quilting
3. Rebekah The Stitching Frog Cross-stitch
4. Michelle Diary of an Artist All things creative
5. Andrea Drea_Dear Assorted arts, crafts and family

Okay, now for the hard part for me: 5 random facts.

1. I have lived in 12 different cities in my lifetime, but only 2 states.
2. I love watching cartoons with my kids as well as playing video games.
3. I've never felt like I was an expert in anything I do, but enjoy doing it anyway.
4. I am allergic to almost everything outside but still love spending time out there.
5. My tolerance levels are getting smaller the older I get.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Test Kit - Coming Soon

For those that have been following my progress on the Knitting Kit I received from the Creative Home Arts Club to test, it's not over yet. Yes, I finished the first sock, completed the pattern and accomplished what was expected of me as a test subject but.... I am currently working on the second sock and I am taking pictures at the end of each step (before starting the next step) for a photo journal. I wanted to pictorially document each stage to share with my followers.

Stay tuned...

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Test Kit - First sock done

So I finished the first Slipper (sock) as per the pattern that came in the kit. I went with a M and they are a bit snug on my 7.5US feet. I have a feeling after washing them I will be handing them down to my middle daughter. Here's the pic of it right after completion and on my foot.
 

Monday, March 12, 2012

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 3

Gussets complete with no confusion with the pattern and working my way down the foot now. Nearly there, here's a pic of my progress so far...

Stay tuned for working the toe and finishing it off.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 2

I finished the heel flap and shaping the heel. At the end of shaping the heel the pattern wanted me to Fasten Off and pick up stitches on the right side of the heel, work those stitches, then across the heel. I didn't like the idea of fastening off and reattaching so what I did was wove the yarn between the stitches as I picked them up and spread them on the needle so that the thread wasn't pulling the side tight. This gave me the end of the yarn where I needed it, and no possibly weak points on the sock. Then I worked the gusset as per the pattern and will be beginning the gusset decrease now.

Stay tuned for more...

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Test Kit - working the Pattern part 1

Finished the cuff on the test pattern (see previous post) and it went easily. The instructions were straight forward and working with the bamboo needles was so much easier on the hands.

Just started step 3 Divide for Heel and was a little perplexed on what to do. It reads K 14 (16,18) onto one needle. Place remaining 14 (16, 18 sts on a stitch holder. {got that fine} With right side facing {here's where I was perplexed because after the K 14 (16, 18) you have the wrong side facing you. So I decided to purl across so that I have the right side facing me.}

Stay tuned for another update when I reach stage 4.

Friday, March 09, 2012

Creative Home Arts Club - Craft Kit - Comfy Knit Slippers **TEST KIT**

I was chosen to receive a test product for the Creative Home Arts Club (being a life member has it's privilages.) It arrived in the mail today and it is a Craft Kit for Comfy Knit Slippers and comes with everything needed (including yarn) to make them. (See pic below of everything that came in the big ziplock style baggie.)



I will start with the positives of my initial looking over if the kit and then move to the negatives. First positive, the kit comes with a large skein of yarn in a color I will actually wear.
Second positive is it came with bamboo needles. I've not tried the bamboo needles yet but I use wood crochet hooks because they feel better than metal in my hands so it will be nice to try the bamboo needles.
Third positive is the kit came with absolutely everything (minus scissors) one would need for the project including a measuring tape and instructions for the stitches to be used.
First complaint about the kit is the yarn was unmarked and there was no note as to type of yarn or care. It appears to be similar to Red Heart Super Saver but I am not certain. {NOTE The label on the yarn was turned inside out and thus I do actually have yarn information but I didn't find this out until I took the paper off the skien to use it.}
Second complaint is the instructions did not explain the sizes, just stated S, M, L. Based on the gauge and number of stitches I am assuming I will be a medium but will not know for certain until I complete them.
Stay tuned for updates on the project as I document the progress of this test kit.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Pixie Belt and Arm Cuffs

I finished up the arm cuffs and belt I cut out last week after a trip to AC Moore to get the dangly pretties for them. 1 Yard was exactly enough of the beaded trim to do all three pieces! Bells added for jingly fun.