Once again I have let this go much too long.......a few things finished since the last time I posted.  Lots of projects in the works.  I am up to clue 5 on the mystery sweater (universal 30 day sweater project).  I didn't make it in 30 days, but I like the way it is going.  I have been pleasantly surprised by the way the yarn is working up.

I managed to finish my westknits mystery shawl....and found the perfect ribbon to accent it.  I wasn't happy with the holes in the middle, so the ribbon is a perfect solution.

I have been learning broomstick lace.  I took a class at my lys, Fiber Frenzy.  The class was for broomstick lace, knit version.  I didn't even know there was a knit version but I love it and the yarn I used to make it.  I made a cowl using 2 skeins of crystal palace goldrush,  purchased at Fiber Frenzy.    I have wanted to try the crochet version for some time now so the knit version was just the beginning.  I found a tutorial at the crochet crowd, and with Mikey;s help via you tube I made my first crochet broomstick lace cowl  using a size 50 knitting needle for the broomstick, a size j crochet hook and one skein of wisdom poems chunky yarn  ultraviolet colorway.  

Lots of projects in mind with universal yarns right now.  the mystery sweater is being done with classic shades midnight ride.  I have another sweater in mind using classic worsted lp apple orchard and deluxe worsted cedar colorway.  I am also trying to come up with a projects for my universal stash. including but not limited to poems sock spa, toast, borealis, tropical sunset, blue haze, vista poems florescence, classic shades harvest, rain forest, campfire..  Not sure where I am going with all this yarn I just know I want to use it.

Just not enough time to knit or crochet all the things I want to make I suppose.....oh well back to stitching for now....

Sweaters, shawls, and socks!   Not sure what is going on in my brain but for some reason I can't seem to process.  I seem to be drawn to MKALs.    Mystery knit a longs for those unfamiliar.  It started with "color craving"  from Stephen West.  previously discussed here.  Well clue for was released October 4,  I should be done......maybe I would be if I weren't juggling so many different clues in my head, lol.  I do hope to finish the majority of these things by the 31st of October (it's the 19th now,  maybe some wishful thinking.  Maybe some flat out denial...who knows.  I also started the sock it to me mkal with Meltran designs,  I have tested patterns for her before and loved he work so again thought it would be fun.  I seem to be stuck on clue 1,  was moving along nicely and somehow dropped part of my cable stitches (never tried cables before, could be a part of what slowing me down here (more denial).  Clue 4 comes out on Tuesday and I hope to at least be up to three at that point.....we will see.     The MKAL for the 30 day sweater challenge is in a similar state.  clue 6 was released on thursday,  I am still on 1...I just signed up for another sock mkal that I was invited to participate in thinking I had to Nov 30,  wrong it's october 30.. Thinking I am not going to make that deadline, once again we will see.   And the last one kicks off with the first clue on october 31  at least I have until December to get it together....My hooks are going to be neglected for the next 30 days it would seem.  I guess I should get back to stitching.......A little progress up to this point......

Needles and hooks are just a little busy today......I finished the baby v-stitch throw made with a g hook on the body, and an f on the border.  I sued premier cotton fair yarn in turquoise, leaf green, and lemon drops.  This is number 3 for this pattern.  Love the way it turned out the cotton fair colors are nice and bright and the pattern works up very nice.

v stitch baby











Using needles more this week I think....  I have started my socks for the meltran designs MKAL.  Using stash yarn that has been in my stash since last year.  It is knit one, crochet two crock  o'dye  #622 skyway.  just past the half way point on sock one, just cast on sock two

sock number 1

I have finished clues 1,2, and 3 on the Westknits MKAL "color craving"  Just one more to finish.  clue 4 came out October 4, but I have been behind on this from the beginning.  I was taking a bit of a break from it, but plan to go back to it very soon.  I want to finish it and I need my needles for other projects.

As if that is not enough to keep me busy I am also knitting my first sweater.  Using yarn that has been in my stash for quite some times.  Universal Classic shades midnight ride colorway.

clue one is finished!  taking a little break before moving on to clue 2...maybe I will be ready for clue 3 on Friday.

Stephen West Mystery Knit Along.


A little background.  My friend and fellow knitter Judy joined a mystery knit along in 2012 named rockefeller.  I thought at the time it would be fun to do so I bought the pattern (I had just found some lovely malabrigo sock that I have posted about here.  I thought it would be perfect for this mkal.  I needed a second color for the kal so I went in search and found lots of lovely yarn along the way.  I joined the rockefeller kal forum and watched all the progress all the while still searching for just the right color to go along with my lovely malabrigo stonechat.  My friend Judy made a beautiful shades of blue rockefeller.  I never got mine started.  here we are a year later and several yarn purchases later and I still have not cast on rockefeller.  I had decided since it was in my library for a year that I was going to do it.  It made it as far as my queue on ravelry.  Just when I was ready to start, I saw a post for this year's MKAL  "color craving"  as with last year I had just bought some lovely yarn,  went to my friend Judy (who along with 2 other friends and fellow stitchers Joan and Sandy)  has opened a lovely yarn shop by the name of Fiber Frenzy (located in Berea, KY)  to find yarn to once again go along with something from my stash.  After spending sometime looking around the shop  I started with 3 totally different colors than I had originally planned.

Unlike the first Westknits MKAL.,  I have cast on this time.  I am using Cascade Heritage Silk blood orange as color A,  Cascade Venezia Sport Dark Bronze as color B, and  Cascade Heritage sock fall foliage as color C.  I am about 10 rows short of finishing clue 1.  Clue 2 came out on Friday, Sept 20.  So I am slightly behind.  hoping to get both clues done before clue 3 comes out this friday.  so here are a few pics of my "color craving" MKAL   clue 1.........

It fair time again!  I wanted to enter something in each category I could, but just didn't get it all finished in time.  They expanded the categories so there were more possibilities this year.  Did pretty good I think.  I entered 10 items, won ribbons in 8.  Blue ribbons for my drops in the pond afghan as well as tranquility (octagons and squares), and my first thread project.  The pineapple doily centerpiece.  I finally used up two skeins of Noro Kureyon making a felted ipad pouch.  It's just about the right size for my nook.  Just a few pics from the fair,,,,,

In a word....Shawls

Not sure why exactly I have three shawls going at the same time but  I do.  The first is the circular motif shawl for the the crochet crowd challenge (this one officially ended at midnight last night. but it was the first of the three I completed.  I finished it about a week ago.  I used paton's metallic yarn.   loved the way it looked in the store and wanted to try it.  I was a bit disappointed with it.  It is really pretty, but not practical. It snags very easily.  I used two skeins of steel blue and one skein of pewter for the shawl.  I can't decide if I like it or not.  Loved the colors, but it doesn't say shawl to me.  I think it is destined to be a table runner, it looks wonderful that way.  The second shawl is one that was already on the needles.  I stated it in January, put it down when working on other things and forgot about it.  I restarted it because I could not remember where I left off with it.  (it was really only a beginning anyway).  Well it has grown to the point that I have had to extend the cables.  Love it!!  I don't love working with the yarn (has mohair) but I love the way it is working up.  The pattern is great and has lots of visual interest.  An last but not least is this wonderful shawl I am testing over at FPT on Ravelry.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one.  It is beautiful.   And is taking all my concentration because it way above my skill level.  Being around all my wonderfully talented friends has rubbed off on me.  I am so far beyond my comfort level on this one.  I have had a few slip ups, but it's coming along.  working on the last chart now.  

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Lots of new projects since the last time I posted here.  I have tested two patterns since the last post.   The first is the shells for baby afghan stitch with an h hook and caron simply soft limelight.  Yarn that has been  in my stash since last Summer or early fall.  In addition to the shells afghan, I tested a shawlette pattern.  Again I raided my stash and found some yarn that is from last summer  araucania ulmo I picked up in tuesday morning.  love it!  I also stitched my ocean waves afghan for the crochet crowd challenge.  I didn't get it finished in time to enter the giveaway  but I think my niece will love it and I plan to make it a birthday gift,  It's done I just need to stitch the butterflies

Finished with the hardwick handbag pattern I was testing.  Love, love, love the catherine wheel pattern!  The crochet part of the bag was fairly quick.  But my lack of sewing knowledge made that part go slowly.  I spent more time sewing the pieces (and taking apart and sewing again) than I did crocheting.  More than once during this process I wished I had more of an interest in home economics in high school.

I am considering taking a basic sewing class at the county extension office at some point.  While I don't know if I like the process, (maybe my lack of skill getting in the way).  I think exploring a little further maybe a good idea.  I also had a time deciding on the handles, I tried the leather straps that were my first choice but the were not the right fit for the bag.  I ended up using the first pair I bought and wasn't sure about.  Still thinking about whether or not to leave the handles as they are or crochet over them as they are designed to do.  I kinda like the clear handle.  Next up is a baby blanket with the limelight simply soft I bought several months ago on clearance at walmart.  Haven't started that one yet so don't know how it's going to work.  I am thinking about colors for the ocean waves challenge @ the crochet crowd. gotta get that going as well.  So many projects floating around in my head....... back to stitching for now.....

Just about to finish this bag.  I decided to go with the black leather straps.  I like it the best of the three handles I have.  I have been working a lot on this bag in the last 24 hours.  and almost none of the time was crocheting it!  My first experience with using lining and interfacing in a bag as well as the first time using handles that were not made out of yarn.  I don't think there's much chance I am taking up sewing as a hobby.  I like what I was able to do, but I have spent more time cutting measuring and sewing pieces together than I believe I spent crocheting all the parts of the  bag.

I  have a bit more knowledge and respect for hand sewn projects now.  I have one handle attached,  the outside of the back stitched together as well as the lining and interfacing stitched together.  All that is left is attaching the other handle, putting the lining inside the crocheted part of the bag and seaming the top edge.  The pattern calls for a magnetic closure, but I think I am going to skip that for now.

A Tale of two (or three) purse handles................

Still working on the Hardwick Handbag. (testing the pattern on FPT, ravelry).  I went in search of purse handles and quickly found out there wasn't much to choose from here.  I thought about ordering online but I really needed not only to see the handles in person but also look at the handles with the pattern together.  So of we went in search of.....  I found an acrylic pair that is meant to crochet over, and while I am still considering them, I don't think it is the look I am going for with the bag.  Next I went to Tuesday Morning.  I saw some handles there when searching for the Bambool yarn for the old shale smoke ring I was working on last month.  I had no idea I would be making a purse then.  I found two pair, and have yet to figure out which one will work best.  Maybe it will be clear once all the pieces are blocked and ready for assembly.  

Next up was the search for fusible stabilizer and material to line the bag.  I don't sew much past putting on a lost button or repairing a hole.  So my knowledge in that area is sadly lacking.  I wish I would have taken an interest in home economics in high school.  Well after spending about 45 minutes in Hancock Fabrics with a rather knowledgeable clerk.  My education is still lacking in that area, but I did learn a little about my subject.    

So for now, here's a couple of pics of my progress and materials...............

A few things on the hook and needles today.........

first up a purse I am testing in fpt on ravelry....I using a mystery gala mix fiber (big lots) that matches nicely with the lion brand cotton ease (hazelnut) yarn that I have had for a little while and had no clue what to do with.  Still trying to decide on handles.  The main body of the purse is the Catherine wheel stitch and I can see how it could become addictive.  It's a simple pattern to remember and it's nice to look at..  

And on my needles a vortex shawl that is just beginning, done in Paton's lace bonfire colorway........not much to see on this one yet.......

recently finished on the needles is old shale smoke ring, stitched with elsebeth Lavold bambool......love this one.  Really needed a third skein but only found 2.  Now to figure out what to do with the 3 skeins of cranberry I found when I was looking for another skein of the blue........

All done and entered in the contest!!! Love the way this ghan turned out.  Even though I whined a bit about piecing it all together, love it.  So here is tranquility.......

Tranquility

center close up

close up on stitch works

love the sheen of this yarn!

Just about finished!!!

Assembly Required!!!
I started assembling  on Tuesday March 12, and I now remember why I don't do motif projects, lol.  I am still not fond of it but I do love watching this afghan come together.  I have been watching all the octagon and squares throws over at the crochet crowd and it is very tempting to make another one, but I think this one will be it for a little while.  Here a few shots during construction.  I only have one more row (3 squares and 3 octagons to attach)  then clean up some ends and I am thinking about a round of singe crochet as a border.  Not sure on that just have to see what it looks like when I get there :)

All pinned and ready for joining!

close up of back loop slip stitch joining

a little progress, SLOW but still progress!

Almost finished just a little bit more to go!!!

very productive weekend!  working on the last 2 octagons for the octagons and squares throw and then I get the fun of putting it all together!  There are 35 octagons and 24 squares!  At least there aren't very many ends to weave in I have been doing that as I go along.



Still working on motif placement, not sure which one I like best.  I do hope to get this one finished today.  Seems like I have been working on this one a lot more than 2 weeks.

Working on the octagon and squares throw for Mikey's Afghan Club (The Crochet Crowd).  I am using caron simply soft (white), and some mystery yarn I found at big lots.  I think it maybe bernat satin, but haven't yet verified. The original pattern (available at red heart.com), calls for red heart with love and a size j hook.  This yarn is a finer so I am using a g hook.  The original also has  12 square motifs and 20 octagons.  Mine so far has 24 squares and I am up to 25 octagons,  hoping to get to 35 if I have enough yarn.  I love the look of this afghan but not really loving all the bits and pieces.  So far over 125 afghans have been completed.  I am working my fingers to the bone trying to get it done by the deadline.  Hopefully stitching the pieces together won't take too long... for now here a couple of pics and then back to stitching.......

The starburst round ripple is done!  I like the colors and the way it turned out.   The first pic is a few days after I started on this one.  The second is the finished afghan.

Lots of things going this week.  First I am working on another starburst round ripple......for a baby boy, love the way the colors play together just about don't want to see this one go, lol. 

Also on the hook today I am finishing up a few pieces that should have been done long ago.

Just have to weave in a few ends and put a border on this one and it will be finished.  For now, time for my morning walk will post a few more pics when I return.