s w e e t p u r l s: WIP

Showing posts with label WIP. Show all posts

Stressed? Then knit (and wash your hands!).

Stressful times call for casting new projects and liftfing the quaratine on current WIPs!

This week I have been working on a free pattern named "Cotton Lustre Wrap". The yarn, a cotton and linen blend, is providing for a wonderful drape and texture to the shawl. So far, my hands are not suffering while kntting this. Their mad dryness is due to world record number of hand washing. Let's not even discuss if these three colors go together. Ignore that the combo might remind you of low calorie, organic and gluten-free naepolitan ice cream. There are bigger fish to catch out there. After all, the yarn is discontinued. Found six skeins on clearance at my LNS --long time ago when social interactions at less than thee feet apart were seen as normal.

Until the next time. Lather, rinse, knit and be kind!

Work in Progress: all the chocolate

I cannot live without chocolate in my pantry...or in my stash, apparently. On my needles are "two cocoa" projects.

First, a hat using Blue Sky organic cotton in color number 623. The yarn is super soft and pleasant to knit with. I am entering this in the Glidden Hat KAL hosted by Blue Sky Fibers. Head over to the forum for more information. Enabling Alert: there is a discount code for the pattern :-)

Also on the needles is a pair of plain vanilla socks in Online Supercocke 100 color number 904. I have been caught myself smiling at the yarn!! Perhaps due to my constant craving for all things chocolate. My favorite is dark chocolate with any kid of nuts or dried fruit. What kind of chocolate person are you? ;-)

Spinning and stashing

Another week and my master closet is not done. We are still waiting for the hardwood floor. Jumping of joy for more days of having to tour the house to complete an outfit. Shoes in one corner. Tops in the spare room and bottoms in the crafty room. Confession time: I've been wearing the same shoes out of laziness.

Also in progress is some spindle spinning. Of course, I discovered another bag of blue fiber after I was done with three skeins (blogged here). My goal is to be done tomorrow. We are going on vacation and I want an empty spindle to start a new project.

Spinning here and stashing there. Multi tasking in other words. Who could resist these two skeins of Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock? Left: Inner Child and right: Sunstone

Talk to you after vacation. Knit, eat and smile at every opportunity!

Spindrift Shawl on a Sunday

Happy Sunday! Hope we all have a chance to knit at least a few stitches today. And, if time permits, have a drink by the deck.

I am currently working on the Spindrift Shawl, a lovely pattern by Helen Stewart from Curious
Handmade.

These photos were taken at the 50% mark. I love Helen's pattern formats--where you can mark your progress and check your stitch count at any row. To get the pattern, all you have to do is sign up in her website. There is an ongoing knit along in her Ravelry group.

Malabrigo Sock yarn is very pleasant to work with. And, look at those colors of "Indiecita"!!

Happening

Another busy, long week is gone. The weekend is promising to be overloaded as well. I am trying to squeeze time for my therapy--spinning this gorgeous Corriedale fiber from Unwind Yarn Company.

This will be a traditional three-ply worsted spun yarn. I am spinning it short draw. Hopefully I will be able to finish the third bobbin today.

The colors are as lovely as shown in the pictures. Dana, of Unwind Yarn Co., does a great job dying fiber. I have always have positive experiences with her products. She is taking a break from dyeing fiber. I bought this top a while ago.

What are you crafting today?

What I've been doing?

My craftiness consisted on spinning and stash enhancing this past month. I did not have a chance to do more given that September was my busiest month so far at work. When spare time is limited, I spin twenty minutes here and there....and buy yarn online.

Remember that Coopworth that I've been spinning? I now have 900 yards of three ply yarn. Pre washed, the yarn is looking like heavy fingering. There are six bobbins of singles waiting be plied. Cannot wait to get all the skeins washed to find out the final yardage and weight.

I would love to have enough yardage to knit a cardigan. My handspun preferences are set on naturals and/or neutrals for garments and crazy/fun colors for accessories.

This project has been very relaxing; I cannot wait to spin large quantities of natural fiber again.

How I knit. How you knit.

How I knit
I am a slow knitter. I knit English style.

How I want to knit
I want to knit faster. I want to learn Continental style.

How you knit
Love watching knitters on the short Instagram videos tagged #howIknit and #seemeknit

If you have not checked out Instagram yet, do not wait any longer. Is fascinating how stories are told without many words. It is a great source of inspiration!

I am sweetpurls on Instagram.

What I am knitting?
Pin Stripe Socks. Details here.

Keep your skeins close; have a great weekend!

WIP: Spring spinning

If I say "spring" a million times, will I get to feel like is spring? Fake it 'till you get it? It was 28 degrees this morning. Let's not forget I am writing to you from the South. That South that is very close to beaches and beautiful lakes. Weather is supposed to be warmer this time of the year. Someone did not get the memo.

While it doesn't feel like spring, I am spinning like it is. Wonderful, bright colors are flying off my wheel. I have spun eight ounces the past weeks. A new record for me. Handspun details: here and here.

Links to love:

Clara Yarn? Yes, please!

This list made me think about spring wishes and goals.

A great navajo plying video tutorial can be found here.

Have a great week!

WIP: Soay

I am really loving working on this little cardigan. It is my first time knitting a Gudrun Johnston pattern. The pattern was a gift from the adorable Bethany.

During a brain power outage, I manage to cast on eight hundred stitches instead of the required two hundred and something. Yes eight hundred as in 800. My husband knew there was something wrong but I refused to wait until I could double check the pattern. You know, because I know it "all" and left the pattern at home while running errands. Not that I recommend that you try this but, let me tell you, it wasn't difficult to get rid of the extra stitches.

The details--

Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport Weight in Stone

Needles: US 4 (3.55mm)

Pattern: Soay by Gudrun Johnston

Project page: here

WIP: Rusty Stripes Socks

Recipe for success: bright stripes, mindless knitting, no deadlines and cold weather. Sometimes the simplest things bring so much joy!

The stats:

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks in Rusty Stripes

Needles: ChiaoGoo Red Lace US 2 (2.75mm)

Pattern: Step-by-Step Cheat Sheet for Socks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

What is on your needles? Linking in with Tamis Amis WIP Wednesdays.

WIP: Julieta

I'm almost convinced that one can't go wrong with a cardigan designed by the amazing Cecily Glowik MacDonald. Add Quince & Co. yarns to the mix and I willing to bet on that.

I am enjoying knitting this cardigan! Is a special project as both, the pattern and yarn, were a gift from my husband. An out of the blue / no special occasion gift-- no less.

If you haven't try Quince and Co. Lark yet...please go ahead and place an order today. You will not regret it. If for some strange reason you don't like it, I will buy it back from you. Disclaimer- as long as is not afghan quantity :-)

To continue with the "blue" theme, how about a portrait of a hungry toddler waiting for her lunch? She is a sweetheart when her stomach is full. She is my sunshine. To the moon and back!

Hope all of you are having a wonderful week!

WIP: Cassis

According to the pattern, I am done with this shawl. But, I am calling this a WIP because I can't put this mind-blowing yarn away. I'll keep "gartering" (new word) until I ran out of yarn.

The fine points

Pattern: Cassis Shawlette by Collette Audrey

Yarn: The Fibre Company Canopy Fingering (Fingering / 4 ply, 50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% Bamboo)

Needles: Hiya-Hiya US4, 3.5mm

Project page: here

Canopy is a treat to work with and comes in some seriously awesome colors. I would definitely use it again. Some of my favorite Ravelry projects with this yarn are: this adorable checkerboard scarf, an awesome color affection shawl and this stunning sweater.

I am joining Tamis Amis WIPs Wednesdays party! Are you?

WIP: Checkerboard Lace Scarf

The Purl Bee was my introduction into crafty blogs. I had the opportunity to visit Purl Soho last year. The one experience I was missing was knitting one of their patterns.

This is my "Checkerboard Lace Scarf". The project is not difficult but the twenty row repeats require attention. Mess up one stitch and forget about checkerboards.

The important stuff:

Pattern: Checkerboard Lace Scarf by Purl Soho
Yarn: Jojoland Melody, 3-ply, light fingering
Needles: Addi's US 7 - 4.5 mm
Mods: I would recommend knitting more than two knit stitches at the beginning and end of each row to prevent the crazy curling that you see in the picure above.

This is also the first WIP that I am entering on My Sister's Knitter KAL. If you haven't check out this KAL, don't wait any longer! There is plenty of inspiration, chatter and support for every knitter around the globe.

I'm linking with with Tami's Amis WIPs once again!

WIP: Pink me happy BFL

Who spent the weekend at the wheel??? Me!!!

This was my first time spinning Woolgatherings fiber. I must confess the color seemed a bit too pink at first. Pink won. I now love the fiber's screaming brightness to death!