Unraveling

I am unraveling...not from lack of sleep or the demands of a new baby, but because what I thought was an inspired project is not turning out how I imagined it! After seeing Tess of the D'Urbervilles on PBS, and reading the Ravelry forum posts about her awesome knit wrap-around shawl, I wanted to design my own happy version. The one Tess wears in the movie is decidedly un-happy, made of a dark grey and companion to her in her many troubles. My version was going to be bright, striped, and cheerful. After slow starts and unsatisfactory progress though, I'm giving up, and unraveling the yarn to use in more promising projects.

I really loved how the teal/hot pink combination was working out though; the one redeeming part of the doomed shawl. If you have a wrap-around and tie shawl pattern that you love, will you pass it on to me?

A Finished Object

I'd been starting to feel some anxiety lately. I needed to finish something. I needed to finish a substantial craft project that would be satisfying. And here she is: the completed Juliet sweater! I like it, although some of my enjoyment was diminished as I tried modeling it and taking pictues of myself in summer clothes, as it was snowing outside. But now I can look forward to wearing my new top in the spring, in my post-baby body. Although, with my body temperature at tropical levels right now, heck, I might just wear it for Christmas!

Small is Beautiful

I received this beautiful pincushion (plus lots of other goodies) from PoMoGoLightly in the Ravelry pincushion swap. It is such a fun group, all the members so talented and kind; I get very inspired! The pincushions are fun because they are a miniature canvas on which to try new techniques. My first attempts at pincushions for this swap have a long way to go regarding craftsmanship, but I look forward to trying new things in the future. Check out the group on Flickr and be amazed.

I was spoiled...

These are the beautiful gifts I received from The Great Knitted Purse Swap, my first swap, on Ravelry. Look at the gorgeous color and design of this purse knit by carolannb! And she so sweetly packaged everything and filled my bag with all kinds of goodies, including something for January Baby. You spoiled me, carolannb!

It made it safely

My bag, that is, made it safely all the way to Australia, where it now lives with k10 from Ravelry. So now I finally get to post pics of the finished bag, and I really like how it turned out! This was for a knitted, felted or crocheted purse swap on Ravelry, the Great Knitted Purse Swap.

February in July

As a means to using up my yarn stash, I've started on a February Lady Sweater, with some rose colored Classic Elite Lush. I think this picture communicates just how soft and fuzzy this yarn is. It is lovely to work with, beautifully soft, but it sheds something fierce! I have to remember not to work on it when I'm wearing black, or white. Today will be perfect as I'm wearing hot pink (a nice hot pinky color, not a fluroescent one!).



And I've been working on my partner's purse for The Great Knitted Purse Swap on Ravelry and having so. much. fun. This is a sneak peek of part of the purse (and a little blurry at that), but I don't want to give it all away, even though my partner doesn't know who I am.

The Great Knitted Purse Swap

I'm participating in my first knitting swap on Ravlery with a knitted purse swap. This is my completed questionaire so everyone knows my knitting likes and dislikes!

Do you knit, crochet, or do both? For how long?
Knit, for about 13 years

What are your 5 favorite purses in your queue that you would like to recieve? or would you like your swapee to surprise you and get creative?
Surprise me! If you want a hint, I really like Noni felted purses; but don’t feel obliged, I really like surprises too!

What other crafts do you do, if any?
I am a bookbinder and have a small business selling my work. I also sew a little:)

What are your favorite colors? Colors you loathe?
I love jewel tone colors, and pinks, greens, blues. I don’t like browns or neutral colors, or fluroescent/neon colors.

What type of purse would you like to recieve? (knitted, crochet, felted)
I would love a felted purse; otherwise knitted.

Are you allergic to anything?
Nope.

Favorite yarn brands? Fiber types? Yarn you can’t stand?
I love lots of yarn brands; my favorites are Rowan or Manos del Uraguay. I love natural fibers, mainly wool!

What is your favorite type of item to knit/crochet?
I really like to make sweaters, but I’m also knitting baby things now. And I’m getting into washcloths/dishcloths.

What kind of needles do you like? (i.e. circular, straight, metal, bamboo, etc.)
I love my Addi Turbos, otherwise, any kind of circular. But I would love a pair of beautiful wood needles.

Any knitting tools you lack but crave?
I can’t really think of any. I don’t have any cute stitch markers, or a good gauge.

Patterns you’ve been dying to get but haven’t yet?
Can’t think of any. I am knitting more baby things, so something baby-related would be nice.

Do you drink coffee, tea, cocoa or add to water beverages? Flavors you love/hate?
I drink decaf coffee right now, and I love decaf fruit teas.

Favorite sweets & snacks?
Anything chocolate!

What kinds of books do you like to read? Favorite authors or genres?
I read classics, or classic mysteries, think Agatha Christie. I’ve pretty much gone through all of hers though. Hmmm…Now I’ve started on Margery Allingham, she also writes classic mysteries.

What type of lip product do you use?
Clinique Sweet Honey lipstick; but I always like a subtle lip gloss, of any brand!

Do you collect anything? (besides yarn! LOL!)
Just old books, I guess. I also love vintage textiles and buttons.

What, if any, are your non-craft related hobbies?
Cooking, reading

Scents you adore? Scents that make you gag?
Hmm…I get smell headaches pretty easily, so I’m not much for scented things.