Ole-Talk

What’s on my needles | My Self Imposed Yarn Embargo and UFOS

At the beginning of this year I made a vow to not buy any yarn for at least the first six months of 2017. I just heard the collective gasp from all you knitters and crocheters out there...simmer down! Before you call the padded wagon for me I have a very good reason. I really want to finish all my UFO’s (for you non-fiber people that is Unfinished Objects) and also actually use the yarn I have bought, collected over time.

The thing is that I really like all my UFO’s and I want to finish them. So not only have I vowed to not buy yarn but also to only knit for myself (well with the exception of baby things for the two friends who just had to go and get pregnant – love you both) until I put a dent in these projects. I am sure that I will throw in a few new projects but I will only make them if I can ‘shop” from my own stash.

So starting this week with an effort to keep me motivated and honest I will be sharing my journey over the next few months.

I decided to start with this awesome Cabled Autumn Dress that I started in 2015 (hangs head in shame). My goal is to wear it in the spring...yes this spring! The pattern is from Knit Picks and I am using CotLin yarn from Knit Picks as well. I am almost finished with the first half of the skirt.

So far it is a really easy mindless knit so this part should go fairly quickly (famous last words).

Of course I can't work on just one thing...come on now what kind of knitter/crocheter would I be. I always have at least one smaller, quicker, project going. For now it is this pair of crochet socks by Lakeside Loops that I absolutely adore. I am making mine in cotton yarn from my stash...see I am shopping from my stash. I only started them this week so I haven't gotten very far as yet.

Francine is also working on a pair so now that I have called her out maybe she will share hers when it is finished. I am determined to amass a nice selection of knitted items for me by year end. So I hope that you will stay on this journey with me and check back in a couple of weeks to see my progress on these projects and what’s next on the list.

Sisters Paper Scissors | Fun Summer Crochet Tote Bag

And we are back! Summer is just around the corner and with that comes days at the beach and trips to the farmers market and this month's project is just perfect for that. We decided to show case our love for fiber by making this colorful crocheted tote bag from Amy at The Stitchin Mommy.

The pattern was very easy to follow and apart from changing the colors I pretty much stuck to how it was written. I did most of this in front of the television or chatting with friends, that's how easy it is.

I will say that it was a bit smaller than I thought it would be and if I were to make it again I would make the bottom wider by doing a few more rounds of increasing before starting the sides. There is also the chance that it will stretch as I use it. I also think that I would make the strap shorter or do two straps next to each other as I feel that will be more sturdy for putting heavy fruits and veggies.

I think it would also make a perfect project bag for other crochet or knit projects.

I wonder what colors Francine used for hers. Let's pop on over to her blog to see.

Sisters Take on Pinterest - Wrapped Crochet Bracelets

And we are back! Hope you did not miss us too much in October.

This month's project was super easy and took me less than an hour to make a few of these adorable wrapped crochet bracelets from One Dog Woof.

I used prima cotton, silk, and cotton metallic yarn that I had in my stash. I also used size D/3.25mm and size G/4.25mm hooks. The cotton metallic was thicker hence the use of the bigger hook.

 

You may notice that the pink bracelet looks slightly different and that's because I crocheted into the back of the foundation chain. The other two I followed her instructions crocheting into the chain stitches.

I think these would make great last minute Christmas gifts.

Now off you go to see what Francine did.

Playing with T-Shirt Yarn in France

So as you may or may not know I visited my sister in France in early June.  The great thing about visiting my sister is that we have very similar hobbies - scrapbooking/crafting, crochet & knitting, reading - so I knew that I would have access to stuff for when the creativity bug hit me.

I had seen her blog post about making crochet hot pads and I knew that I wanted to make some.

I had originally planned to bring back some of the T-Shirt yarn with me, however, when I saw the size of the rolls I knew that I would be limited in how much I could stuff into, pack in my suitcase. Bummer! But then I was struck by the idea that I could make the hot pads and then just take yarn for the other projects I had in mind.

While I was there Francine also did a how to for a fun clutch bag for Make & Take (yes that's me modeling for her) and I just knew I had to make one too.

I opted for more earthy colors for my clutch.  It was so easy to make.

I did manage to make it home with four rolls of the t-shirt yarn and I can't wait to play.

Thanks for stopping by.

My New Yellow Cowl

I seem to have a particular love for making things for my neck. I think it is because I hate having a cold neck in the fall and winter. So when I saw this cowl that my sister had made I just knew I wanted one too. I loved the bright color that she used and after digging through my stash (yes I used my stash..woohoo)  I found the perfect bright yellow yarn to use.

I only had one ball of this yarn so I was hoping that it would be enough to make a decent size cowl and thankfully it was.

I love the detail on this and it was very easy to make.  You can find the pattern for the it here.

Now onto the next thing...I am thinking sweater.

WIP Wednesdays

Welcome to another update on my projects! I wish I can say that I have a lot to show but it has been slow going here.  Probably because I stopped to make a couple gifts...you can see them here and here. However, I am slowly making progress on my halter top...it is coming along nicely.

Two more inches of the ribbing and then I can change to the next color and start working on the cable front.

In other news I finally did some much over due sewing.  My ironing board got a new cover based on this tutorial that I had pinned almost a year ago to my Pinterest.

It was a very easy tutorial to follow and I am thrilled with the results.  My ironing board now looks like new again.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be working on trying to finish my halter top, and also the crochet top that I showed in my first WIP post. I also want to get some new things on my needles including a toy for a first birthday coming up! Oh and if you are wondering what happened to that pink scarf from the first post, lets just say love the yarn hate to work with it and leave it at that!

Thanks for stopping by!

A Doll in 48 hours?

Why yes!  It's amazing just how much you can accomplish in less than 48 hours if you ignore Facebook, Pinterest and other internet time sucks...LOL!!

My friend's daughter's first birthday party was this past Saturday and after much pondering I decided that I wanted to make her this doll.  I knew that I had the day off on Friday and after consulting with my sister she confirmed my belief that I could have it completed in a day.  So Friday found me sitting in my craft room, watching a marathon of Star Trek Next Generation and Law and Order SVU on TV, crochet needles in hand.  By Friday afternoon I had all the pieces for the doll completed.

Then came the task of putting her together, giving her a face, making her hair and making her dress.  All was going well and I had her all assembled with a face by night time.

Then I hit a snag with her hair.  Let's just say that if the instructions say use a sewing machine to do something, please do and don't try sewing by hand...again, just saying!  So at 2am I gave up and went to bed figuring I could finish her hair and dress after I came back from the gym and before we headed out to the party that afternoon.  As they say the best laid plans and all that jazz. In any case to make a long story short I got her hair completed but not the dress so I had to bring and IOU to the party.

As soon as I got home I worked on her outfit before I lost the momentum and motivation.  But enough with the suspense!  Here she is completed!

I dressed her in a different outfit than the one in the pattern and since I had an extra day before delivery I decided why not whip out another dress for her.  Every girl needs more than one outfit after all. You can find the pattern I used for the doll plus other versions of her here on Sugar'n Cream, search the free patterns for Lily Doll.  Just note that you need to create an account.

I even had time to whip out a card. So now you know just how much you can accomplish in less than 48 hours if you put your mind to it!  And guess what...Facebook, Pinterest, and all the other internet stuff was still there waiting for my return.  Imagine that!!

Thanks for stopping by!

WIP Wednesday

Happy Hump Day! So let's see what I have accomplished since I posted two weeks ago!

I have made some progress on my halter top but clearly if I want to wear it before next summer I need to pick up the pace.

Does my scarf look different to two weeks ago? Well maybe it's because it is a completely different pattern. I am having a complete love hate relationship with this yarn. I love that it is so soft and pretty but it is so slippery that it is a pain to work with. I have started over twice already and I just give up. So I am trying it with a different pattern.  Third times a charm...or at least that is what they say!

I got no further with my crochet sweater but I swear I have a really good reason for my slow progress with these.  I had to stop to make a gift for a friend  Here's a peek of what I did and the full thing will be revealed in Friday's post.  Gift will be delivered tomorrow and I don't want to spoil the surprise in case she see this.

So anyway I am hoping to have lots more progress to show you in two weeks time and I may even have something new on my needles.  You will just have to wait and see.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Work in Progress Wednesdays

Luv Bot and Chick

Work in Progress Wednesdays

I have decided to start a new series about the knitting and crochet projects that I am currently working on, hence forth known as WIP Wednesdays.  I figured if I put it out there and promise to share updates from start to finish that I will keep myself honest and actually finish stuff before casting on something new...a condition known as castonitist!  I also think that this will motivate me to work on them more often and thus finish faster as I won't want to be blogging about the same projects for too many weeks in a row and thus boring you my dear reader.

I currently have three things on my needles that I am actively working on - two knitting projects and one crochet!

One Row Lace Scarf - this is my carry around project as it is small and easy to work on during knitting group at the Museum and my lunch times.  I am making it from this wonderfully silk yarn which is oh so soft to the touch but also oh so slippery to work with.  I have already had to stop once to untangle the ball.

Dolman Sleeve Crochet top - I already have one side of this completed and plan to start working on the other side this weekend.  It was surprisingly quick and easy to work up.  I am actually using an acrylic yarn that I got at Michael's but it is super soft and I can't wait to finish it and wear it.

Petite Cables Halter top from the summer issue of Love of Knitting magazine - I came across this magazine as I aimlessly browsed in a book store this weekend and it had such cute summer patterns that I just had to buy it.  I knew the cotton yarn that I had recently got would be perfect to make this halter top.

I am actually making mine with three colors of yarn in large stripes of color.  I am using a different weight yarn to what the pattern calls for so to get the correct gauge I had to go down in needle size.  Started on this last weekend and it is an easy enough pattern to work on while I watch TV and will alternate working on this and the crochet top.

So thanks for stopping by and check in with me next week to see how much progress I have made on these.

Luv Bot and Chick

What do a Luv Bot and a Chick have in common? They are both making the journey to France to my cutie pie of a nephew Kieran for his birthday!

I fell in love with Mochimochi when one of my friend's showed me a book by Anna Hrachovec but it was not till I met her at Vogue Knitting Live in New York this year that I was truly inspired to make some of my own.  I bought a couple of her kits (in my to be made queue) and when I got back from the show purchased her Luv Bot's pattern that you can find here.
I love how he came out and I am very pleased with my color work.  I know that Kieran will enjoy adding him to his collection of knit and crochet toys.

I was actually supposed to make a pair of the Luv Bot's but ran out of time (so what else is new lol) so made a quick crocheted chick instead.  I absolutely love this pattern as it works up in a couple hours including stuffing and seaming.

Isn't he cute!

Thanks for stopping by!