When grabbing for travel projects, I always try to bring backup.. for those situations where a little something is required - hats for babies, finding myself with more project time, etc. I managed to grab some kitchen cotton and crochet hooks for this trip..
This time was a scrubbie.
The last couple of months have seen a few crochet projects (eleven so far this year, many of them very small) - a couple on the recent car road trip. I am not so sure it is easier to crochet on road trips (vs knitting). True that there is one less needle to drop in those hard-to-reach car crevices. Then again, I did drop my hook and had to reach under the seat ... my fingers found the hook and some gooey brown substance (ew!).
I may be ready to get back on the knitting wagon. With this warm weather, perhaps a small colorwork project ...
... is my way of living in the moment, think positively, and not dwell on what I can not control. It is my strategy on coping, along with more crafting (more gardening, more baking, more cooking, more walkies, more reading, more family, etc!) Translation: more everything to prevent the broken record that would otherwise play in my head and drives me insane. Well, enough of that ...
I finished a cute little lacy scarf (Ravelry link)
After a glance of my posts, I realized I forgot to post Chanson Capelet. whoops. (Ravelry link)
On the brighter side of unemployment, there is time for road trip and knitting. In mid-April, I went to Vancouver BC (Vancouver set on flickr) with my Mom and Aunt. I worked on Inspired by Ruffles ( Ravelry link ).
In beg-May, I went to Kalispell (Kalispell set on flickr) with DH, in-laws, to visit his brother & family. On the drive, I finished a pair of booties (pic on flickr), soap cozy for G (pic on flickr) . The next morning I started a string bag (pic on flickr) (Ravelry link) with yarn from GD ... The chair where I spent most of the week is very comfortable and has a gorgeous view to The Swan. At that pace, I would run out of projects. So, I dragged everyone to Camas Creek Yarn - I selected a simple Araucania Ranco Solid for the Lace Ribbon Yarn. I managed to finish it before we were on the road again. On the drive back, I finished the string bag and took a nap... a. lot. of. knitting. time.
A long time ago (back when I know little - how to work with variegated yarn, angora / mohair, amount of yarn required, etc) .. I picked up a few balls of this Angora 70, "oh, this is so soft and they are mom's colors", from the sale bin at Pacific Fabric (that is no longer) in Issquah. They sat in my stash. After I finished Silk Garden jacket (pic on flickr) and Flannel, I ventured a little further into variegated yarn. I wanted a pattern that requires a small amount of yarn, very simple pattern, on the bias ... After a bit of searching on Ravelry, I happened upon this lovely pattern. I worried how angora will soak and block but it handled both beautifully. It is all wrapped up in the FO/prez box :)
Dumpling is very cute. The pic is a little blurry. It was a bit cold outside. I like how Rowan Big Wool felted. It is very dense and uniform, but a little fuzzy. Bonus that it knits up fast! I will definitely contemplate another felted project with Big Wool. I have misgivings about the magnetic snap, really, does the magnet have to be that strong. The eyelet is not quite done yet. I will finish them as soon as I get to GD's. Heh. She is finishing her KISS purse for a prez.
I've been really scattered brain. I've got work-stress in the background. But I did manage to finish some prezs, a needlecase for Addi Lace needles, baking, and gathering schuff for Christmas dinner. I am still working on Hyrna Herborgar. I am on the the third and last chart. I've wanted to hold off on starting the next project (a sweater with stash yarn) until I've made more progress on Hyrna Herborgar.
Fuzzies think it is sooo nice outside. And Kooler was 'helping' me, she took my prop - the little twig that I was using to position Dumpling. It is the coldest I've experience since moving here almost 8yrs+ ago.
I am writing a post, it will be posted later after this prez goes home!
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I just finish the crochet portion of my first beaded thread crochet project. JP Coats crochet thread and sz 11 silver lined glass beads. Pattern is At The Back of My Mind Choker by Marnie MacLean. With J's help and her books, it was a surprising smooth project. There were occasional "huhs" and quite a bit of ripping. I did mod the beads, I prefer 3 beads (odd number, better) vs 2 beads (don't like even numbers). I still need to find ribbon closure.
The sleeve is dried. It is a little small. I thought when DH said the book is the exact size, he meant 'exactly the correct size". So when I tried the sleeve on the book (at the laundromat), I use it as the exact measurement - it hangs over a little. I should have checked myself ;-). That's my lesson for the day.
On ward to my big Dumpling. Posting that next ...
I am a lot OCD lately. This laptop sleeve was suppose to be a weekday proj, with the weekend spent on Hyrna Herborgar. But the DH wanted it for T-day and me being a worrier, wanted to finish it sooner than later. just in case. So I spent today finishing the knitting. While I was finishing (knit faster, Knit Faster, KNIT FASTER!), I gave him a task to find something (prob a book) that we can bring with us to the laundromat for shaping. Lucky (for me :|) he found my Faberge book that is an exact size of his laptop. Er, yeah.
Before fulling was 11"x17" ... it took about 14 minutes (with 3 checks in between!) The middle of the sleeve was a little tight but it shaped ok. The white did felt ok. Woo! it is now drying .. will post "after" pic once it is dried.
* DH's dirty laptop (not mine!)
(Hi Kooler, didn't mean to disturb your nap). I absolutely adore it. It may be because it took me many mental hurdles - two years worth. GD and I felted it on her ol'washing machine. I bought the fabric when we visited J the T-day after I finished it.
I really enjoy felting and will try it as soon as possible. Perhaps another purse or laptop sleeves .. or or or :)
