Fiber Tools

 I've been listening to Fat Squirrel Speaks (a knitting vlog) for a bit now (discovered via TheKnitGirllls) and in one of her more recent YouTube posts, Amy (aka Fat Squirrel) had mentioned a random stripe generator. I found it fascinating in part it would be helpful in destashing some of the yarn I've had for waaaaayyyyyy too long. The blog the random stripe generator is on also offers a weighted version, so that way if you have more of one color you can tell the generator to create more rows of that color (i.e. give more weight or precedence to said color).

That's all for now, I'm still knitting a slouchy hat for myself, testing out a knitted pull over robe that I'm making the pattern up on the fly, and I've kind of stalled on a crocheted virus shawl (mostly because I've been focused on the robe and hat). And this is all in between working, required reading for a group I am apart of, and trying to be inspired to go out Geocaching (the current promotion they have isn't doing anything for me).

Happy 2023! Yarn Stuff and Life.

 Happy 2023! I do realize its a little over 1/3 into 2023, but it still can be a joyous thing. I know we need that more than ever now. I'm going to just leave it at - life as we know it has changed over the last couple of years.

I'm still knitting and crocheting. Not as frequently as I would like, but still going at it. Most of it are on the smaller side of things (scarves/cowls/gloves/etc vs sweaters or blankets). I was turned onto Kumihimo a few years back and have enjoyed the results from that. I'm still trying to figure out how to incorporate it into my knitting/crocheting projects.

Also, to help keep me inspired I've created a knitting bingo card. Some of the spaces are for specific areas of the body (like for your head, for your hands, etc), playing around with yarn (like using only 3 shades of color or rainbow colors only, or play yarn chicken). Some of the ones I'm interested in are the 2 destashing squares (one is for 5lbs and the other is 10lbs) and finishing a WIP (looking at you crochet blanket I started in 2009). I am also hoping to post some of my finished stuff here.

We've been doing a garden-ish thing for the last couple years, nothing too serious, mostly growing tomatoes. This year I was hoping to get some herbs growing. Might not be TOO late for some. Idk. I do enjoy drying herbs and using them in loose incense. I am hoping to be able to create my own incense cones or sticks. I do have some catnip growing and hoping to use it for the cats. 

Anyway....here's to keeping up the blogging!

General Chit Chat.

 Here's to getting back into blogging again! Wheee!

The last couple of years have been a bit of a blur for me, but I feel like it's been that way for a lot of folks.

I want to be able to show off some of my knitting and crocheting. And possibly other creative stuff. So here's a start!

Yarn Yarn Everywhere

Yeah! A long awaited blog post! *The crowd goes wild*

So. I'm a knitter. I also crochet. I also have too much yarn. Way too much....not quite to the point of hoarding - it hasnt spread beyond my bedroom.

I am excited to say I'm going to do a Knit Down Along with a knitting group I attend. WOOT! This means, I may actually *HAVE* stuff for family members, etc for Christmas presents.

Good for stash busting, trying new patterns, having something on hand for gifts, and poissibly have a cleaner bedroom.

We'll see how well this works out for me.....

TTFN

Another shawl....Really?

So, I just completed my first knitted shawl the other day. Yeah me! And now I have begun knitting another one. Both are apart of a KAL (Knit-A-Long) and I am surprised at the fact that I am knitting something OTHER than hats.......something outside my familurarity zone. :)

I'll try to get photos posted here as soon as possible.

Always Room for One More

I've been knitting for about 10 years now. A decade. (Sheesh, don't I feel old now ;) ).

One thing I've noticed, is how I've developed an affinity for knitting hats. More so for me than anyone else, but hey, I know I'll enjoy them - and I know what color/s to knit the hat/s in.

So, this year, I've actually challenged myself to knit as many hats as possible (desirable 52 - one per week) and I've actually started the process. This is mostly (but not entirely) due to the fact that I am participating in the 2010 Ravelympics. Ravelympics? It's a knitter/crocheter/weaver/spinner's version of the Olympics, where we challenge ourselves to make 'x' during the Olympics - from opening ceremony/lighting of the torch to closing ceremony/extinguishing of the torch. And everything needs to start and finish in between the opening and closing ceremonies. (I'm just a little excited about it)

So far, so good. I'm on hat #5. Granted I should be on hat #8, at least - but life is life and sometimes it means putting some things on the back burner.

On a different note:

/begin rant

I haven't considered myself a selfish knitter, until more recently (going on 4.5 months now). Personally, I've gotten a little fed up with people (more in face-to-face life) asking if I do commission work or make suggestions that I should sell my stuff.

If I really wanted to sell my stuff, I would be doing it already.

I do have a couple exceptions to the rule. Family and friends - more often than not, they are appreciative and take care of the hand made items.

/end rant


Anyway.

Happy Tuesday.

*Gasp* It's Another One!

Holy Cow!

It's another knitter's contest!

This one's a little more involved, but just as worth it.

Darcy's Knotty Knitter is a sauve blog that's giving away 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn (one's green color and the other one is yellow) AND a new sock pattern! Nifty stuff in my book.

You can have up to five (yes FIVE) chances to win!

Check out the blog post about the nifty contest that ends midnight of July 12th! Make sure you let them know who sent ya!

Love y'all!

Wandering Cat Studio

I stumbled upon this blog called the Wandering Cat Studio and discovered they were having a contest! Cute little blog. :) Anyway, they have some nummy stuff on their Etsy site, Wandering Cat Yarns that you should check out.

The rules are:
1. Check out their Etsy store
2. Leave a comment on their blog post
3. Blog about in in your own blog!


So simple!

Contest ends midnight of July 13th and winners will be announced/contacted on July 1q4th.
Enjoy everyone!

WIP Where I Need to Be.

So, for those who arent in the knitting terminology know how, WIP is short for Work In Progress.

It always feels that I have at least half a dozen projects going on and a gazillion things I want to make. (Let alone the fact that my bedroom is slowly being taken over by my yarn stash).

Right now I'm knitting up a hat that was giving me problems. The orig directions seemed a little wonky when I first scanned though them, assuming that the hat, like all the other hats I've knitted from patterns, would be done in the round! I started the pattern, and the changing of the colors were giving me issues of making the change over smoothly.

I had realised that the pattern had you knit the first 3 rows in the round THEN switch to working flat (going back and forth as if on two needles as apposed to continuing in the round). I thought it was a bit poor for the designer to have you start in the round and then switch it up so soon into the pattern. At that rate, it should have been just straight up two needle pattern (non-cicrular needles) and then have you sew the seam up - you'd still have to sew a seam up in any event might as well make it all one seam.

Weird weird weird.

I am also knitting up two pairs of Fetching, fingerless gloves that has cables at the writsts and just below the knuckles (the cables make it snug enough to keep your wrist warm with out cutting off cirulation to your hand). Its more of a wrist warmer than fingerless glovess.

Also, I'm working on pair of socks (just bound on and no other progress).

I'm scheeming about knitting a vest for myself. Something that's professional enough to wear to work but can be a casual dress up vest as well.

Well enough of my ranting for the moment as I go off and print more hat patterns (as if i need more patterns! ha!)

Current Projects

Ug. I guess this goes hand in hand with the "Ambition" post.

But it always feels like I have at least 10 projects going on (as in actually on knitting needles) and at least double that of what I have planned/want to do!

Right now I have:

1. An endless granny square afghan (purple hues - an on again, off again love affair)
2. A seemingly endless wool sweater (which has been hibernating in the closet since forever)
3. A smattering of small projects (including chap stick cozies)
4. Fingerless gloves for a belated x-mas gift
5. Fingerless gloves for a birthday gift
6. Hat for belated x-mas gift

And that's just the short list

100th Post - Get Your Contest On!!!

Ok. So now for my 100th posting, I am holding a contest.

Yeah! Here's what it's going to be:

1. One entry for posting a comment about an unusual/spontaneous thing you did (nothing that harms someone/something else or anything profane). i.e. One thing I've done is that I went sledding in my swimsuit my freshman year with a bunch of other friends.

2. One more entry if you blog about this contest (make sure you have a link to your blog post in your comment)
3. A winner will be chosen using Random.org
4. Winner will be chosen on January 15th!

Now the lovely item up for grabs:





Yes. It is what you think it is.....a chap stick cozy key chain! Yes, I'll even include a new tube of chap stick (Yes it's going to be a new tube of Eskimo Kiss (shown in 2nd photo) from Biggs and Featherbelle).

ALSO: Send an email to onlyifbliss at yahoo dot com so I can contact you if you win! Even if you sign in with your email to comment, Blogger doesn't show me what it is, so this step is really important. If I don't have your email I'll have no way to get a hold of you and I'll have to give your prize to someone else! How sad would you be if that happened? Just tell me the name you used to comment with, and don't worry, I won't use your email for anything else other than contacting you if you win.

Sneak Peak!

Watch this space for (hopefully) a nifty contest!
(Just in time for the New Year)


Get a chance to win a hand knitted item.

Also, I managed to get my grandmother on my digital camera being silly.

I think they're self explanatory when you see them

Hot or Not.

Ok. I am addicted to knitting like a fish is addicted to water.

Now, I'm always game to knit something new or unusual. But sometimes the things that intrigue me may not be the most sociable mainstream items.

First up is the digestive tract.

Now, I'm not a biologist or doctor or anything medical of the sorts, but I stumbled across this and fount it fascinating! A good enough excuse to use waste yarn.

I have knitted the next item up to bat. The womb. 'Nuf said. Now there is a picture of one that someone took to the next step. They added an eye patch and an eye to it.

Very clever, I think.

Now we need to represent both sexes here. So, now may I present to you: Sperm!

Some how I find these things fascinating! So off the wall and quite possibly shocking to some. I love it.

Ok, these next few photos are for that biologist in you (or possibly the curious).




The top row of photos is a dissected frog and the bottom row are photos of a dissected lab rat. Both are knitted. How cool!

Now on something less gross but just as cool

This is a "hat" (term used loosely) that's done up to look like you have your hair up in curlers. Tres funny. Desperate Housefrau is the name of the pattern/look.

Ok. Last whimsical/odd knitting item is a Hallowig. Basically a "wig" you knit yourself that has bangs incorporated.

So, if you havent been totally grossed out by some of the knitted items and you've made it this far, the following is probably one of the cutest things I've ever seen.



Some of the pictures I got off of estonia76's flicker (like the Lab Rat), and i was paroosing her photo stream (b/c she knits/crochet and I like to see what others have done) and came across the Sheep-Romper!

Selling Stuff!

Ok. I've known about Etsy for some time and have been wanting to put some knitted stuff on there.

A few people have brought up that I should sell my stuff, but not in a way that inspired me to do nothing but burn all my knitting needles, yarn, and everything I have knitted or crocheted. (Some suggestions were like doing craft shows and commissions at local boutiques - all were valid ideas, I dont want to mass produce tedious, unfulfilling items just to make my time & effort worth while at craft shows, boutiques or other such places). For me knitting has become a fulfilling hobby and will only knit things that I have an urge to knit (I'm not really into commission knitting - will do it, but it'll have to pattern specific, nothing made on the fly).

With Etsy, I can knit things on my own time, and sell them w/o investing a whole lot of time (like at a booth at a craft fair - granted its a good way to network).

Knitting to a Different Hair Colour.

To start off. I've dyed my hair, again.

Yes, I even did my eyebrows.

I enjoy freaking my mom out. This is one sure way of doing it.

So, here's what I've been up to knitting wise:

1. Participating in Hat-Attack (an elimination competition that the winner gets $500 worth of yarn - I've been knocked out already, but I'm proud that I've lasted thus far - about 50% of the other people were knocked out before me).

2. Knitting birthday presents - a couple friends birthdays are coming up soon in October. The gifts are going to be hats in their preferred colour schemes.

3. Making a mojo for a friend to inspire songs.

4. Continuing to make hats for my 100 hat challenge.

5. Queing up assorted projects for Christmas (family's presents).

Knitting Contest.

So.

Keeping Knit Simple is celebrating a blogaversary. Yeah! And apart of the celebration is a contest where you can win a CD and yarn.

Simple entry. Just post a comment on the blog's comment section. More entries for blogging about the contest and sending people over to the blog.

It ends on Sept. 6th, 2008, Mid-night EDT.

Yeah contests! :)

Ambition.

Ok. I've challenged myself to do 100 hats by Jan 1, 2009.


....


I may have been a little ambitious.

So, now, I'm planning on doing allot of baby hats. Smaller and possibly easier to make. Also, what I figure since a good portion of my friends have been getting married (some what recently - like with in the last couple of years) or are seriously considering it.

This way, I figure, I'll get a head jump on baby gifts.

yeah me!

My Knitting Senses Are Tingling....

I feel a contest coming on sometime soon.

General information:

1. After the 2008 Olympics
2. Warmth
3. Contest
4. Creative
5. Wait for it.....Wait for it.....
   

Hrm. I got to thinking....

...which can, or might be, dangerous! (just kidding)

My good friend Heather just did a contest on her alter-ego (Heather, please correct me if I'm wrong) blog page. Got me thinking. What a fun thing to do. (Also, I got a couple of calls from a rep . at an electrolysis place near me, saying that my name was drawn for their third place prize via a website I am a member of - MyPoints. Thing is I dont remember entering a contest via MyPoints, but it's quite conceivable b/c I just click through the links I'm sent to earn points to get gift certificates to places like Starbucks and Barnes and Noble - it's all about the coffee and books).

I digress.

My thought was to make a little knit things to give out as prizes. It may be something along the lines of a coin purse or hot pad - when I'm trying out new stitches. Or it could end up being a nifty hat or something.

Get comments on something and randomly draw name(s).

Will wonders never cease.

County Fair.

The county fair is coming up in roughly a months time. I have a couple thing to enter into the knitting section, but I would like to have some more things for it (greater chance of getting at least one ribbon from the fair).

Here's a pic of a scar I'm currently working on:

The foot in the picture is more so for reference of size.

You may see the cables better on this one:

The plain stitches are to be ripped upon finishing, leaving the cables in tact. What this does is gives the item fringe, with out worrying about saving enough yarn to do so. (You've incorporated the fringe into the amount you're using. Genius I say). I know when I finish the scarf I will not have to worry about getting more yarn, since the chances are the company discontinued this yarn (it was bought by my mom's parents for her, when Sears actually sold yarn).

I've also made a glove hat. Yes, a glove the size of a hat.

But I want to make gloves/mittens to go with this hat, so I can enter another hat into the fair (you can have no more ONE item entered in each category to be judged). I'll see if I can find the other hat to take a picture of for you.