WiP Wednesday - Abstract Cats

Well, I had some hopes of finishing up this blanket in the past week.  In fact, I've barely had time to work on it at all.  A few rows here and there, but my son was needy and we had some company over, so no rest and no crocheting.

I want to make all of this baby girl stuff, but I have requests for two baby blankets....yes...two...so those will probably come first; cute little, frilly girl dresses come second, and third is that new pattern from Ysolda for her mystery shawl KAL.  I want to make that in the worst way, but I know if I start it before the other "must do" projects, I won't get the baby blankets done.  I've been browsing patterns and will likely start another one this week.

I don't have a picture today, because, really, it looks fairly similar to last week, so you'll have to stay on the edge of your seats to see how it will look next week...ahem

WiP Wednesday - FO Edition

Things are a bit busy for me at this time and so I haven't had much time for the things that require a bit of concentration from me, ie. crafting.

So, for a little while, I think that I will show some FOs here and talk a little bit about that project.

As for WiPs, I do have a few....the TTL KAL isn't completed, but it's about half way through.  The WendyKnits Summer KAL has the yarn all ready, but no needles...aka...not started...I'm really sad about that.  Once our basement renovation is completed, then I can unpack all my yarn supplies and hopefully come across my needle pile.
Olive Basket is still on hold, which was the plan so that I could work on my Mad About Tosh Club projects.

Ok, so today's FO: Seraphina Shawl

I don't know why I have not posted about this before, but this pattern was AWESOME.  I've never crocheted something so big, so quickly and loved the result so much.  This pattern is crazy easy to memorize and I literally zipped right through it.  Blocking is completely necessary with this project, but the blocking helped to really open up the shells and give it a better overall shape.

Best part....the pattern is totally free!

Here is my Ravelry Project Page and the Seraphina Pattern itself.

WiP Wednesday

I wanted to start the WendyKnits Summer Mystery Shawl KAL.  I ordered yarn from Knit Picks...after having a great brainstorm about how I wanted it to go.  The yarn arrived and I pulled out my camera to take a few glamour photos.

Then I went to grab the desired needles....alas...they are not to be found.  I literally had a pile of circulars in my basement.  I went to find my pile and poof....!  It was gone.  I have no idea where they all went, but I can't knit anything without knitting needles.  I do have the right size in a smaller cable, but with the number of stitches to cast on, that will not work very well for me.  I also realized that I need to invest in a few more stitch marker; this pattern calls for a quite a large number of them.

Ravelry Project Page

WiP Wednesday - TTL KAL

I have finally completed the first clue and I've just started the lace section for the second part.  At the moment, between my being sick and then the baby being sick things are a bit hectic.

Here is a picture of my progress:

I have to be honest though and say that although life has been crazy....I was possessed by an urge to make myself a new purse....I went stash diving and out popped the purse pattern that I just posted....

I promise that next week I will have some more progress on the TTL KAL.

Ravelry Project Page

And tomorrow I will post my weekly weigh-in...I have some fear that I did not lose any weight this week...

Monthly Menagerie - June 2013

JUNE 2013

WiP Wednesday - TTL Mystery KAL

I have been so crazy busy at home that I haven't had much time to focus on knitting.  I try to get a few rows done before I get distracted by important tasks, but even that has been challenging.

I've finally finished with the first clue (!) for the TTL KAL, but I haven't even started the WendyKnits KAL.  I apologize for not even having edited photos ready...I will try to get some of that accomplished this weekend.  Unfortunately, the rest of this week will be devoted to being a single mom while Mr. Hollybroke travels for work; I don't know how some people do it...

WiP Wednesday - KAL Projects

I have two KALs on-going at the moment (probably not my best plan), so Olive Basket is on hold until they are completed...hopefully, by July.

1.  WendyKnits Summer Mystery Shawl 2013 KAL : For the past two years I have joined this KAL and I always enjoy it.  She offers a discount on her pattern if you buy it early and her designs are always fabulous.  I also read her blog, which is great.  She spends a lot of time designing and she documents some of the aspects of her design process through her blog.  I think you should head on over there and check her out and while you do that, you should pick up the KAL pattern and join in.

For this project I am using the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Cove...oh how I love this yarn.

My Ravelry Project Page



2. Through The Loops! (TTL) Mystery Shawl 2013 : This is a new one that I decided to join this year.  Generally I love Kristin's designs and I'm hoping that this will be no exception.  She also has a blog, that I follow and her photography and designs are lovely.  I also encourage you to head over to her blog and check that out and to get this pattern and follow along.

For this project I'm using three colors where I will be mixing my neutrals and adding bit of color.  I'm using a cream and silver for the striping with a medium cornflower blue as the lace section.

My Ravelry Project Page

WiP Wednesday - Serriform Shawlette

I treated myself to the Mad About Tosh Club from Twisted.  I very much love the colorways of madelinetosh yarns and I when I saw this club, I just couldn't resist.  

I've gotten my first shipment and now that February is almost over, I figure I can share it here.  They send along a pattern written for a specific colorway and the required yarn.

I've received madelintosh Tosh Merino Light (my absolute favorite yarn über alles) in colorway "Burnished". It's a very lovely blue-brown.

The pattern is Serriform Shawlette or Scarf; I've chosen to make the Shawlette.

Here is my Ravelry Project Page.

FO - Summer Solstice Mystery KAL

Although I finished this shawl in the very beginning of August, I felt I should add some pretty photos and a post to this blog.

Pattern: Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl KAL 2012
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino (Topaz 332) - 2.5 skeins
Needles: US-6 & US-8
Made for: Me
Notes:  For technical notes, please see my Ravelry Project Page.  As for the pattern, it was a fun knit.  I never felt bored or like I was slogging through any parts of it.  What I think was sort of interesting about this, is that I found many different ways to block it.  If you browse through the projects section (which I always do before I make something) you can see the many different results for the very same shawl.

This is a close up of the lace...so pretty.  I think that even this yarn was a tiny bit busy for the pattern, but it still came out quite lovely.  If you decide to make this yarn, don't go too dark or light and try to keep the yarn more solid to semi-solid, otherwise the pattern does get swallowed up.

These pictures were taken with my new camera, the Nikon 5100 DSLR.

   

I'm seriously in love with this thing.  It's relatively easy to use and although it's bulkier, obviously, than a point-and-shoot, it takes fabulous photos.  I'm still learning all the functions AND I'm debating to take a class on learning even more.  I think that this camera is good for the casual user as well as a serious (non-professional) photographer.  I was not compensated for mentioning my camera; I just love it.

Time for a shameless kitteh photo.

KAL - Summer Mystery Shawlette Completed

I finished this on schedule for the KAL.  I've just been lazy about posting.

Lots of summer activities happening lately.

We've been enjoying our local farm share produce every week.
Honey Brook Organic Farm

All of our planting is complete.
I'm growing:  cucumbers, spinach, watermelon, garlic, rosemary, mint varietals, dill, echinacea, lavender, and savory.  We'll see how well it turns out.  I'm also nursing a Eucalyptus plant.....I hear they can be difficult to grow, so she will be living indoors.

On to the KAL.  My Ravelry project can be found here.
I should have used larger needles....I seem to knit quite tightly and I have about a half skein of the Madelintosh Tosh Merino Light leftover.  It should have just been enough to make the whole shawl.  Despite this, I'm happy with it and it's not really so small that I cannot use it.

KAL - Summer Mystery Shawlette

I decided that I'd like to Knit along with a group on Ravelry (of about 500 people) on the Summer Mystery Shawlette. 

I have followed along with the Wendy Knits blog for a few years or so.  Her knitting is fabulous and her cat is adorable; what more can I ask for in a blog?  She also has a great sense of humor!

So, I highly recommend the blog and the KAL.

My KAL Shawlette project.

Essential Links:  Discussion Group (rav)
                         Ravelry Pattern Page

This also gives me an excuse to use some of my Madelinetosh ( I like it in one word) Tosh Merino Light. 
Not sure if I will keep this for myself or give it away...that remains to be seen....