Pursuit of Fiber

This is my pursuit of my dreams and aspirations in college to have a career in fiber. I have dabbled in many things of the fiber world, but knitting is my main obsession. Occasionally you will see the others pop up.

WIP Wednesday – newness

December 10, 2008 – 7:57 pm

Secret Squirrel Box

This week has been productive.  I have finished and blocked two items.  As you will notice from the WIPs on the right side, I have finished the secret squirrel project.  At least the knitting of it, I still have to finish the pattern, but its a huge relief off my shoulders.

I also finished a Christmas present and have moved onto another present.  I also have been practicing with my photography white box.  I’m getting awesome photos.

Hmmm... waves of knitting

My most recent cast on is from Rosemary Hill’s most recent book: Elements of Style.  I noticed that these would be a perfect present for a family member and immediately ordered the book while away over Thanksgiving.  I also knew I had the right yarn in my stash, because I had purchased some Habu Silk Stainless A-21 while in Houston, Texas from Twisted Yarn.

just the perfect sparkle

I’ve been itching to play with this yarn since I was introduced to it in art school.  I think I prefer knitting with it than I would weaving with the yarn.

just the right view

My other present will be knit with the above yarn.  I love the subtle color.  I’m going to be making Riverstone in the Age 4 size for Dog Boy so that he has room to grow.

Maybe there's a prize within?

Way back in April, I asked Dog Boy if he would like me to knit him something and he told me a thweater. When pressed for a color, he simply stated, “light boo.” Hopefully his youthful love of light blue is satisfied. I made sure to get the least purpley skeins of this yarn.

Check those sleeves

I, on the other hand, have not progressed far on my Christmas sweater endevor.  Our KAL deadline for the Sexy Knitters Club is next Wednesday, but I doubt I will be done by then.  As an administrator of that KAL, I know what is planned for the upcoming year and I might be given grace to finish later.

By rchrispy | Posted in WIP, skc., snow white, yarn | Comments (0)

WIP Wednesday – feeling better

December 3, 2008 – 11:16 pm

Secret Squirrel Project

Its been a long 2 weeks since I posted last about my WIPs. That week before Thanksgiving, I ran around like a crazy squirrel storing up nuts for the impending doom. Ok well thanksgiving is not doom but great awesomeness with yummy treats. The doom is Black Friday. I really dislike it and try to get all my Christmas shopping done before Black Friday arrives.

Well in that crazy squirrel panic, I got myself really really sick. I think I’ve finally kicked the bug in the teeth. It was a nasty nasty sore throat that took my voice and my will to do anything. During this time, I got to meet my new niece Rose, one of my test knitters Erica, and a few malabrigo friends from the Junkie group on ravelry (WannaGarden, SFcorgi, & Kimberli). It was an awesome time even though I was sick and grouchy and Churchable got seriously annoyed at me. I don’t really do well as a sick person without her homeopathic remedies (I’m extremely allergic to most otc medicines).

By the time we got back on Saturday night about midnight, I had a killer headache that wouldn’t leave until last night.  Thank goodness it went away because it meant I finally got a chance to work on the secret squirrel project in the bag above.  I’m a bit further and I’m puzzling out how to explain it in the pattern.

Snow White in progress.

I’ve been plugging away at my Sexy Knitters Club pattern. I’m in love with this pattern and I can’t wait to wear it. Hopefully its not too hot. I’m worried because Malabrigo sweaters with long sleeve seem to cause me to overheat easily. I guess I could learn to wear dresses and shorts more in the winter so that I can enjoy my sexy knits.

Snow White is a fabulous pattern and ysolda has been great with the pattern support plus she reformatted the pattern and now it is delightfully easy to follow. The old pattern made my head spin as I tried to scan it and figure out where I was. Now I can quickly scan and figure out where I am or where another SKC member is and needs help.

By rchrispy | Posted in WIP, skc., snow white | Comments (1)

FO Friday – Meet Baby Rose

November 28, 2008 – 2:57 pm

Baby Rose in her BSJ

Dude this cheeck is so smooshy like my sweater.

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman Raveled Here
Yarn: Dream In Color Smooshy in Chinatown Apple edged with Flamingo Pie
Needles: Susan Bates Circular  US 6 (4.0mm)

Mods: I did the I-cord edging which is recommend in The Opinionated Knitter
Things I Love: That my niece looks so cute and that the yarn is a girlie but not too girlie color.  I also I made sure things were machine washable and dryable.
Facts to Remember: That not all the buttonholes will be used.

The knitter and the recipient of the BSJ

Um…… You dressed me and now you want me to what?!?!

Baby Rose's Blanket

Hey I fit! Great job Uncle Churchable

Pattern: Knitted Garter Stitch Blanket in Sheepsdown by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Yarn: Knitpicks Comfy in Coffee
Needles: Brittany US 8 DPNs

I get introduced to Baby Rose and she to my work

I finish up the frillies right as I meet Baby Rose.  “This blanket will be a touchdown” says Rose.

Mods:  Knit with a smaller yarn not doubled.  Plus I added flowers and leaves to take it from a basic blanket to a girl blanket.

Baby Rose's Blanket

Facts to Remember:  That my Man rocks since he did all the knitting.  I just helped do the I-cord edging and the crocheted flowers and leaves.
Things I Love: How simple and cute this looks.

Baby Rose's Blanket

Ooooh camera

Baby Rose chilling in her hat

Go away I want to sleep.  My tummies full.

Pattern: Shower’s in an Hour Baby Hat by Ranee Mueller Raveled Here & Here
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Puffin Print in Dotty Pink 2 hats from 1 skein
Needles: US 11 for the small and US 13 for the large

Mods: None
Facts to Remember: How great a little bit of color will go.
Things I Love: They fit! They fit!

Baby Rose sleeping in her hat

Ok the hat is popping off, why?

By rchrispy | Posted in FO, baby | Comments (9)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

November 27, 2008 – 8:25 pm

The Canage

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I hope all are doing well. I am recovering from a horrible sore throat that has knocked me out. I was having difficulty breathing and talking.

Above is the dinner carnage, the nephews ate minuscule portions but I didn’t expect much more. My favorite dish is one that I sampled Christmas last year and made again for Thanksgiving.

My favorite dish

It is a sweet potato casserole from Cook’s Illustrated. Its so perfect. I ate most of what is missing.

By rchrispy | Posted in weekend | Comments (2)

WIP Wednesday – a quick update

November 19, 2008 – 11:52 am

I’ve been working hard at my design and I’m almost done.  YEAH!!!

11/19/2008 WIPs

Mostly the Secret Squirrel Design Project has been worked on, but ….. The cowl was started because I needed something easy for a dinner party. Snow white was started because I was annoyed after frogging 5 days of work on my Secret Squirrel Project. Now 5 days later I’m back to where I was on Friday, but much calmer.

By rchrispy | Posted in WIP, skc. | Comments (2)

FO Friday – A long time coming

November 7, 2008 – 11:38 pm

secret pal socks
These socks have been done and gifted in a swap many many months ago. Eep.

Pattern: Jeweled Steps by Cat Bordhi from New Pathways for Sock knitters Book 1 Raveled Here
Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Wool Print Colorway: Red Cinnamon – 2 skeins
Needles: US 0 (2.0mm) Crystal Palace Bamboo circulars

secret pal sock

Mods: I reduced the gauge for these socks but other than that it is the pattern.  Cat’s book allows you to take a pattern once you understand the basics and switch it up.  This was my first pattern from this book.  I totally skipped the baby socks.

Facts to Remember:  That sometimes there is a gauge that is too tight.  These socks are fine but I maybe should have played with the gauge so that I might not have run out of yarn with such a short cuff.  I also need to remember that pink is a hard color to photograph.

Things I Love: That I finally used up these skeins of yarn.  I got them in a swap and was so not sure what to do because they just screamed pink at me.  Lucky me I got a pal that loved pink and pink with about any color.  She was also a great sport and measured her feet with all these weird measurements so that I could learn this technique idea really well.

secret pal socks

By rchrispy | Posted in FO, sock, swap | Comments (3)

WIP Wednesday – the unseen kind

November 5, 2008 – 11:32 pm

Hawaii - the lava has my husband

I am done with all the projects that you saw last week, but now that means I need to buckle down and work on a commission for a yarn company.  Mums the word till it is released.  I have been knitting away all day and had many false starts and icky ideas but I’m super happy with my current idea.

So if you could help me out and cheer me on that would be just peachy.  I’m not really that helpful as you can see above.  I let the lava in Hawaii eat my husband.  I tried to pull him out but now he’s in some deamon dungeon trying to rid the underworld of Diablo.

By rchrispy | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (3)

FO Friday – Pre-Christmas gifting

October 31, 2008 – 6:28 pm

There’s a bit of an FO backlog here at the PoF headquarters.  I had saved up FOs to post for ya’ll while I was on vacation in Hawaii and then I totally ran out of time and then disappeared for October.  So please bear with me while I catch ya’ll up.  First let me distract you with a “poor” (at least in her mind) Doxie.

Lexi's costume

Lexi’s Halloween Costume. The belt is ultra reflective.

While in Hawaii, I knew I would not see my parents again until after Christmas so I presented them with their Christmas gifts plus sent Care Bears Birthday gift off as a boarded the plane.

Dad's Christmas Hat

Pattern: A Hat fit for a Boyfriend by Stephanie Nicole Raveled Here
Gifted to: My Dad (I forgot to photograph him in it – it was a bit hot in Hawaii for him to model)
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Solid in special colorway Texas A&M – 1/2 skein
Needles: US 8 (5.0mm) Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeable Needles – magic looped

Mods:  None because this pattern rocks!!
Facts to Remember: That sometimes its fun to just jump in without a gauge swatch and that reds bleed like no other color.  Don’t worry Dad, I made sure it would no longer bleed before I gave it to you.
Things I Love:  My Dad’s Christmas Present in his school colors. I have never knit him anything before so I hoped he would like it, which he did. When I was in TX in April and saw his schools colors, I knew I had to get it for him since I am tired of buying him books about finance, health or star trek.

CareBear's socks

Pattern: Custom toe-up with gusset US 10 women’s shoes Raveled Here
 Gifted to: Care Bear my BFF for her birthday/Halloween
Yarn: Spunky Eclectic Super DK in Candy Corn – 1 entire skein
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) & US 2 (3.0 mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular

Mods: The whole thing is a mod, but I like a squishy thick sole but it was pooling like nothing else so I switched up the needles when I got to the heel to encourage some barber pole action.
Facts to Remember: To write down, your total foot stitch count so that the second sock looks the same.
Things I Love:  That Care Bear loved her socks and has already worn them twice.  She has now dubbed me her sock knitter for life, which is fine because she will sew me project bags if asked nicely. ;)

Noro Silk Garden Sock

Pattern: Custom toe-up short row heel US 6 1/2 Narrow Women’s Shoe Raveled Here
Gifted to: My mom who is modeling them above
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock in Colorway 258
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) Knitpicks Harmony Fixed Circular

Mods:  I started these for me but ended up giving them to my mom since my original present would not leave the needles.
Facts to Remember: That spit felting works wonders and that noro has knots.  This skein had 2.  That’s why one sock looks like its knit from cuff to toe and the other toe to cuff based on the color directions.
Things I Love:  I actually like the pink and purple in amongst the other colors even though they aren’t my fav colors.  I also adore how the fabric knit up and the color progression.  I originally was going to cut out the pink and purples but the color transitions were so nice plus my mom’s not against these colors.

By rchrispy | Posted in FO, hat, sock | Comments (4)

WIP Wednesday – Almost done & Re-do

October 29, 2008 – 10:06 pm

Flair

I finished the hem of Flair on Sunday evening, since then I have stalled on the sleeve.   Flair is coming out rather slim, its going to be more cardigan than jacket so I have decided to go with the blue buttons from the post last Wednesday. I am nervous but I seem to always be nervous before I block something. Since I’m trying to figure out cardigan/jacket, I will keep at this until I get it right.

IMG_0260

This sweater was finished and I have worn it at least twice in the last month, but I was just unhappy with it because of this:

Lettuce button band of doom

The band was lettuce-ing and driving me nuts. So I tried to create a button band reinforcement with grosgrain ribbon. It failed miserably since the buttonholes done by the machine ripped out. So I grudgingly ripped out the buttonhole side and re-knit it with a smaller needle. I am so happy that I went and ripped out the button band too. So I need to re-knit the band. It should only take me a short while but I have yet to do it.

By rchrispy | Posted in Favorite Cardigan, Flair, WIP | Comments (2)

FO Friday – Bead Around My Neck

October 24, 2008 – 5:30 pm

Fabrege Cowl

Pattern: Faberge Cowl by Nina Machlin Dayton Raveled Here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted – 3/4 skein in Polar Morn
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeables US 8 (5.0mm)

Fabrege Cowl

Mods: None unless you consider shorter and less beads as a mod.  I bought 3 tubes of beads and ran out so I stopped.  It was 5″ tall.

Facts to Remember:  When beading with a crochet hook, don’t hold the hook in your mouth with a bead attached, because the bead just might go down your throat.  I lost two or three that way.  You think I would learn my lesson but of course not.  Also don’t doubt your gauge unless you are on vacation, my gauge changed while I was on vacation.  This was done after vacation so I should have gone with the US 7 needle, so this turned out a little bigger than written.

Things I Love: How easy it was and that my friend Nina (ravelry) gifted me this pattern.  I didn’t expect that kind of generosity nor do I expect it again, but it was nice.  It made me feel special.  The beading was super easy with 0/5 E beads and a tiny crochet hook.

Fabrege Cowl

By rchrispy | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (4)