Cardigan Updates

after repair and marking for cables

So, last night, August 28th, I finished the ribbed bottom cuff. I was all excited, then I realized somehow I misread the cast-on count while being super intimidated by the cast-on method and was 20 stitches short. Did I tear the entire thing out? No, I made a 20 stitch piece and very carefully added it to the part I had complete. It's not perfect, but unless someone is examining it up close, it's not overly noticeable.

How did I figure out about the mistake? Well, I was doing the cable layout and the pattern was way off. So I did it again, and still... off. Counted, and bloody heck! So, now I have finally repaired my mistake and got the markers in place, which by-the-way, I didn't have enough of so I used safety pins. LOL

With all this excitement, I am not sure I am ready to move on to the next step of the project! Time to watch more of the tutorial video and see what to expect in the next phase.

Okay, so I started on the cable last night (28th) and wow it was really difficult. Like, I thought I would be cross-eyed for life difficult. Finished 3 rows and I was

a sample of my color-coding

done. It looks good so far, but trying to follow the different directions was a bit insane, so today I went through my kids' school supplies and found a bag of highlighters. This should be much easier to follow now.

Other than color-coding the pattern, I've really not gotten anything accomplished on the actual sweater. I think I need a day of rest on the eyeballs after last night, but perhaps I will work on it a little more tonight while watching tv.  I hope to at least get to the next video phase, decreasing the waist, tonight.

Will see.

Starting a Terrifying Project

So, in 2015 I got this great deal and bought the Craftsy class Celtic Cables with Carol Feller. "Enjoy the knit of the Irish as you follow Carol Feller stitch by stitch to make a flattering cardigan sweater with contemporary Celtic cabling."

I bought the yarn for two different cardigans.

I printed the instructions and additional information.

I bought the needles.

I sat on all of it for three years! Holy crap, I can't believe I have been intimidated by this project for three fracking years!

So, today I decided to break out the beautiful yarn I bought in March of 2015 and the pattern. I brought up the tutorial and the first awesome thing I learned to do, is an alternative cable cast-on. It makes it so that the stitches are going in the proper direction for a ribbed edge. Beautiful!

I'm currently working on the bottom rib, but as it works up I will share my progress.

 The hardest part of the entire thing so far, taking my measurements! It's fitted, so hoping I got them right.

A quick Update

 

What I finished in April-June:

Ripples Neckware from Darn Good Yarn

Champagne Cowl

 What's in the works:
 February Mood Scarf
Temperature Scarf
Supernatural Square
Grape Fingerless Gloves & Hat
Toothless
Mom's Shawl
Gilda Wristwarmers
Joy of Rescue Shawl
Connie's Ray of Hope Wall Hanging

What's ComingUp Next:

Lollypop Farms Cat Blankets
Owl Track Socks
Pixie Moon Doll
Cloudborn Purple Socks
Crochet Knee-high Socks
Crochet Hedgehog (Susan)
Twisted Kraken Hat - Crochet
Cheerful Step Socks
Fast Floral Legwarmers
Grape Fingerless Gloves & Hat
Step Lively Beret
Blue Fingerless Gloves
Twisted Knitter Socks
Intermezzio Shawl
Water Shawl MKAL
Negan's Revenge Shawl
Slouchy Camas Hat
Druidess Beret
Through the Woods Hood
Red Stripe Socks
Celtic Triad Socks
Windowpane Socks
Unintentionally Shawl/Scarf
Baby -Tree of Life Blanket
Portacula Cardigan - Purple
Portacula Cardigan - Grey
Groot Square
Rose Quartz Shawl

Review of $10 Darn Good Yarn Box

So, I decided to spoil myself since I had a coupon and ordered a Darn Good Yarn $10 box. I was all excited when the box arrived as it contained a $19.99 set of knitting needles and crochet hook, and a ball of worsted weight roving silk that goes for $11.99 as well as a booklet with two patterns. Great deal. 

 

 

I chose the crochet pattern because it was more interesting, as soon as I started using the yarn I was overwhelmed by a strong perfume scent. I contacted them about the smell and they gave suggestions as to how to get rid of it, as well as a sweet apology. I guess the soap they use to remove the excess dye is scented. Once I could see again, and the yarn had time to air, I worked a couple of rows. The written part of the pattern was somewhat confusing, but the diagram was much easier to follow and it's coming along nicely. The colors are perfect for Gay Pride Month.

 

 

 

But back to my thoughts on the box. The other thing that was disappointing was after two rows, the color is rubbing off the hook as you can see in the pictures. I am curious as to if the color will wear off the knitting needles as quickly. I'm used to wear on my needles, I use bamboo ones all the time, but had they thought it through, they would have put the color on the other end.

 

Although there were some disappointments, you definitely get your money's worth with this box, and I will give them one more try. Will let you know my thoughts next month.

Knitting Queue for 2018 - April Update

I did not finish a whole lot over the past month, it was a rough time in our house between extended family stress, losing a beloved pet while she was having surgery, then losing another pet a couple of weeks later. I did start a couple of new projects and got some work done on my Mom's shawl (which is becomming a bigger project than I expected.)So, here's what's what for now...
 

What I finished in March:

Kayla's Kindness Monster w/Hat - Completed 3/16/18

 What's in the works:

Mom's Shawl

Gilda Wristwarmers

Champagne Cowl for Kayla

Charity hats
Toothless
Supernatural Square
February Mood Scarf   
Temperature Scarf

What's Done:

Simple Shawl - frogged

Hat & Scarf for Kye's Sock Monkey - Completed 1/14/18
Kye's socks - Completed    1/19/18
Thick Tweed Socks, dark - Completed 1/24/18
Thick Tweed Socks, light - Completed 1/26/18
Leftovers Hat - Completed 1/28/18
Cotton Candy Hat - Completed 1/30/18
VA Hat - Completed 2/18/18
VA fingerless gloves - Completed 2/19/18

What's ComingUp Next:

Lollypop Farms Cat Blankets
Owl Track Socks
Pixie Moon Doll
Cloudborn Purple Socks
Crochet Knee-high Socks
Crochet Hedgehog (Susan)
Twisted Kraken Hat - Crochet
Cheerful Step Socks
Fast Floral Legwarmers
Grape Fingerless Gloves & Hat
Step Lively Beret
Blue Fingerless Gloves
Twisted Knitter Socks
Intermezzio Shawl
Water Shawl MKAL
Negan's Revenge Shawl
Slouchy Camas Hat
Druidess Beret
Through the Woods Hood
Red Stripe Socks
Celtic Triad Socks
Windowpane Socks
Unintentionally Shawl/Scarf
Baby -Tree of Life Blanket
Portacula Cardigan - Purple
Portacula Cardigan - Grey
Groot Square
Rose Quartz Shawl

And it's March already!

So. I've been doing some drop-spinning...

 

I even made a little monster with my hand-spun yarn (the green) and I am working on making some yarn (with the purples) to give him a hat.

The only other crafty accomplishment I've done over the last few weeks is make a hat and fingerless gloves while down in VA because we brought the snow and cold with us on our visit...

 And when we got back I made a polymer Swablu for my son.

 

One month down....

Already into February. Not much completed this week, mostly working on the shawl for my mom, then this morning I find this:

Jean-Luc, our grey tiger cat, decided I needed to work on the project more, so he tried to bring it up to the third floor for me. Thankfully he only pulled out a handful of stitches, and it was a quick fix.

When I saw all the loose yarn I panicked, thinking he ripped out lots of work, but no, it was all just the lengths pulled from the skeins as he brought it up to me.

Other than this, I've not been too crafty, but then shawls are like blankets, they go on forever and each row takes an hour. LOL 

Mom, I promise I will get this done for you before your birthday. I hope. As long as Jean doesn't try to bring it to me again. Love you!

2018 Craft Update

So far this year I've finished a few things, have several works in progress (WiP's) and quite the to-do list, so here you go. I've got a lot on my plate, but having done several super bulky projects over the last couple weeks really got me in a groove!

Finished:

Cotton Candy Hat

Dark Tweed Slipper Socks

Leftovers Hat

Kye's Fire & Ice Socks

Light Tweed Slipper Socks

Sewn Sock Monkey with Knit Hat & Scarf

Current WiP's and their start dates:
Mom's Shawl (December 15, 2017)
Simple Shawl (July 26, 2017)
Kayla's Toothless - crochet (March 19, 2017)
Fingerless Gloves, Hat and Cowl Set (March 11, 2017)
Double Sided Supernatural Square (March 8, 2017)
February Mood Scarf (February 2, 2016)
Temperature Scarf (January 12, 2016)

And here's the to-do list:
Champagne Cowl (Kayla)
Pixie Moon Doll
Lollypop Farms Cat Blankets
Purple Cloudborn Socks

Twisted Kraken Hat
Cheerful Step Socks
Fast Floral Legwarmers

Step Lively Beret
Blue Fingerless Gloves
Twisted Knitter Socks
Intermezzio Shawl
Water Shawl MKAL
Negan's Revenge Shawl
Slouchy Camas Hat
Druidess Beret
Through the Woods Hood
Red Stripe Socks
Celtic Triad Socks
Windowpane Socks
Unintentionally Shawl/Scarf
Baby -Tree of Life Blanket
Portacula Cardigan - Purple
Portacula Cardigan - Grey
Monty Python Square