Slumpcake

I am just about burnt out on cupcake hats.  I know that people love them, and I know that they'll sell, and I know that there's a huge profit margin and not *that* much time in them, but I'm having a very hard time talking myself in to cupcake making. At last post I had 5 and I'm not working on my 7th, so not a huge improvement.

So when Meghann put out a call for squares last week, I was (a) very sad for her friend who lost her husband and has a newborn, and (b) relieved to take a cupcake break. I crocheted 3 12" squares.  (If you'd like to contribute to Meghann's friend's blanket as well, let me know and I'll pass on your info).  I was able to completely eliminate 2 oddballs from my stash in making these, which is exciting.  But the bad thing about working with stash yarns is that sometimes your squares end up looking like Spiderman   (see bottom square). I might do another square or two, but I do need to get back to a couple cupcakes first so I don't have to take a paycheck from Good For Ewe this month and can put that towards paying back my loans. Anyhoo... squares.

I don't know what it is with me and cross stitching lately, but I've been doing some more of that, too.  This is a little piece I started way earlier this year.  I love all things Autumn, but I think all the leaves will be gone by the time I finish this piece.  I'll get over it.  I keep thinking that I'm making progress, and then I see the giant pile of thread that still needs to go in it.  And then I feel like I should take up a different hobby instead...

There is something else on which I've been making progress lately.  It's getting my mom's cat Lacie to stop hissing at me every time she sees me.  This cat seriously hates me.  But 3 nights in a row this week when I was working on cupcakes/squares, she came over, sat in my lap, and started "making biscuits" on my stomach. (It's kneading for hours on end.  I'm so glad she doesn't have claws in the front.)  When she's found her position, she adds hardcore slobbering and rubbing her face all over my pj pants to the mix.  And I sit there and let her do this for a couple hours because if I interrupt her, she will probably pee on the dining room floor.  It's a little dysfunctional here right now. But I've given up trying to knit when this love/hate ritual starts, I don't want her slobbering on the yarn. When she's finished she goes back to hating me.

Another cupcake avoidance project is something fun and completely unrelated to yarn.  A few weeks ago I was at Crate & Barrel in the fashion mall and they had these adorable little Christmas decorations that were plain balls, but solid glitter.  And I love glitter more than a gaggle of 12-year olds at Limited Too.  So I had to have them.  Checked the tag, $8 a ball.  No way, Crate & Barrel, that's just crazy talk.  Yesterday I was at Michael's looking at frames for my latest cross-stitching and I saw very similar Christmas glitter balls to the ones at Crate & Barrel, but these were $6 a ball.  Which is still outrageous when you can buy clear glass ornaments for less than a dollar and a couple bottles of glitter paint.  I bought a ton of those clear glass ornaments last year and was knitting around them and I was sure I still had TONS leftover.  So I just bought some glitter paint.  

Got home, discovered I only had 10 ornaments but decided to get my glitter on anyway.  I'd do a tester-batch to see if it was worth doing more.  Plus I could always try to sell them at the craft fair, eh?  If they sell- awesome! If they don't- more for me! It's a win-win.  

So here they are after a first coat of paint, drying on large knitting needles in a vase.  Hey, it works.

And here they are after a few more coats of paint (the reds just got started this morning, they're only 1 coat in). So after a few more coats of paint, I'll have some pretty snazzy ornaments, and I won't have spent $80 to get them.  Boo-yah, Crate & Barrel. 

And in actual knitting related news, I unearthed a partial sweater while I was digging through more yarn to sell on eBay. 

I'm not sure about it.  I think it's a bit crazy for my tastes but variegated cardis in Plain-Jane patterns are really in right now, so I might just go with it.  I mean, I didn't technically start another project.... I'm not sure I like the colors anymore though.  I'll just knit on it for a few days and see what I think then.  

Okay, back to cupcakes.  Have a great weekend! 

Life in the quiet

It's been really quiet around here since we had to put down the Notorious Tubby C.  (That was my cat's rapper-name).  I am keeping busy and am still getting ready for a craft show that is taking place in about 2 weeks.  I have a few blankets made (leftovers from last year) and I've been cranking out some baby hats. I'm hoping to make a few more of these....

My very favorite thing is the set of 2 warshcloths.  I really just wanted them for me and my Someday House but since I made them instead of 3-4 cupcake hats I am going to give them a chance to contribute to the "Paige Hasn't Been Paid in 7 Months" fund, and I'm going to put a ridiculously high price on them.  If they sell, so be it.  If they don't, they're mine!

The eBay destash spree also continues- I'm going to have 10 auctions ending in the next 48 hours.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!  I'm selling 9 stashed yarns and 1 alpaca shawl.  I have a really big car maintenance expense coming up and I'd hate to have to choose between the maintenance and Christmas gifts, so I'm destashing and crafting. The reality was that I was never going to get around to knitting those yarns anyway, so I might as well sell them now while I'm not worried about moving and trying to find them a new home then.

And because I get really bored of making baby hats, I took a wee break and cross stitched a funny little thing.  I think she's pretty funny at least.  Here is the end result!  I think she turned out well and there is a similar one I made last year (Domestically Challenged) and I'll be putting them together in a guest bathroom someday.

And lastly, I played with dye!  My mother's Spawn of Satan cat completely destroyed the ball band to this undyed hank of Good For Ewe Sultry Steps, which I was going to sell to a Good For Ewe customer.  So I thought I'd dye it. I think it turned out really well using a couple different blue and red Jaquard acid dyes.  And since I need cash more than I need yarn, I'm listing it.  But this time I'll try it on Etsy.  If you would like a piece of Good For Ewe yarn history...here's your chance!

Knitpurldrop Shop  414 yards fingering weight sock yarn: 40% superwash merino, 40% baby llama, 20% nylon.  Color: Steampunk Cherry.

And that's it for now.  I'm meeting the Good For Ewe accountant bright and early tomorrow and I still have quite a bit of homework to get done beforehand.  Have a splendid week!

Goodbye to a Yarn Snob

It takes years to train an animal to be a proper yarn snob.  It's a true gem of a cat that knows that Noro is better than Red Heart and yet still appreciates her nasty acrylic blankets when gifted to her. Last Tuesday I had to say goodbye to Tubby Custard, the cat I've had since I was 10 and the best yarn snob the animal kingdom has ever known.

Tubby- I will miss the wet spots in my yarn, and when you curled up beside me when I was knitting and then tried to yank the straight needles out of my project with your paw.  I will miss your constant squawking about absolutely everything- the house is so horribly quiet without you.  And while I still start crying whenever I pull an orange hair out of my shirt or my knitting project, I know that one day I'll see those strays and smile instead.

Things I do instead of blogging

It's been a crazy 3 months.  I feel like I've barely touched my projects at all, with exception of Good For Ewe projects, which I have 3 on my person at all times in case I have time for just one more row.  Good For Ewe had it's first trunk show this weekend in Greenwood, and I'm going to call it a fabulous success.  I only had about half the projects done that I wanted to have done, but those that were finished  were blocked with patterns written up and fairly well received.

I told myself that I could start adding a few personal projects back in to the WIP rotation once I finished  the trunk show.  And then...I was talked in to doing a craft fair in early November. At first I was like NO!  I want to finish all my Good For Ewe projects that I didn't finish for the trunk show and then personal projects and actually get some holiday knitting done in time so I don't have to wrap up partial hats and doilies.

But I thought about it, and all those cupcake hats and baby blankets made for a really nice Christmas bonus.  And I haven't had an actual paycheck since April.  I'll do it.  I already have a few blankets made up, a couple hats, and there's a few other things that I've made for myself and didn't love as much as I thought I would, so I'll stick those in there too.  I just bought $75 worth of cupcake yarn, so if I sell 3 I break even, if I sell more than 10 then I'm thrilled, but missing skin on my fingers.  Oh well, skin grows back and if it means I can go another few weeks without taking a paycheck from my little baby company, then I'll do it.

Other things I've been doing instead of knitting/blogging....

Working my butt off.  Good For Ewe isn't going to run itself.

Tracing back my dad's side of the family history.  Turns out I'm 1/8- 1/4 Jewish. Who knew?

Running a lot.  I signed up to do the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February.  My current "runs" are about 4.5 miles. I've got a lot of work to do.  Here's a picture from the Color Me Rad run.

Going to a lot of weddings.  And crocheting doilies for all the couples getting married.  I hope nobody with a long last name gets married anytime soon- I'm so doilied out.  I still have 7 more to go this year.

Playing rugby.  I even got initiated into the Hoydens family a couple weeks ago.  Our theme for this initiation was "Camelot".  Rob was my fair maiden for the day.  I also told my coach that this would be my last season.  Since I got really in to running, I've lost about 15 pounds, which is great and I feel really awesome about myself for the first time in a very long time.  But it also means that when I get tackled, I fly.  Backwards.  Into the ground.  With a thump.  It's taking me a little bit longer to get up after every tackle, and it's just not fun anymore.  I'm going to walk away from the sport while I can still walk.  Most of this season I've been a little limpy anyway from some really bad bone splintering above my right ankle.

Destashing.  More specifically, selling all of my alpaca yarn on eBay.  It's lovely stuff but it just made me mad to see it in my stash.  So I freed up a couple drawers and pocketed a couple hundred bucks.  Double-win.

And I have finished one tiny little personal project.  I finished it while enjoying my cup of tea this morning.  Here it was when I started working this morning... (instagram-style)

Here it is with all of the gaps filled in...

Here it is with the body outlined...

Here it is with a face outlined and beaded eyeballs...

Here it is after being trimmed down to fit in the frame and having the dirty spots where I held it bleached and scrubbed out...

And I'll show it framed when I get there!  But it's going to look lovely over my desk.

Lessons learned from this cross stitch project:

1.  My hands are never clean enough.
2.  If you make a change, write it down.  This is a recurring lesson that has yet to be learned.
3.  It's okay to improvise. Just because it's set in paper doesn't mean it's set in stone.
4.  50 shades of white are not nearly as fun as 50 shades of grey.
5.  Just because the project is small does not mean it will go quickly.
6.  Take your time outlining.  One little mis-stitch can make it look like your very girly sheep has some male anatomy.

Kniteruptions

I'm just not having any project love at the moment.  It's totally not something I should be worried about and I'm sure it's just part of the recent emotional overload that has been life for the past few weeks, but the only project that's making me happy at all is this...and it's going to be over with by Friday.

It's fabulously mismatched, but every time I see it or work on it I'm not thinking how it doesn't really "work" as a piece, but the fact that so many knitters and crochet-ers came together on super short notice to make it.  I'm hopefully going to pick up the last 3 pieces tomorrow or Wednesday, and by then it will be just about getting them in as I'll be finishing up the strips that run up and down the finished blankets, attaching them quickly and then putting on a border.  And with a little midnight oil, I'll be able to hand it over at the "life celebration" on Friday.

My project count for projects outside Amy's blanket is creeping up as I continue designing things for Good For Ewe.  I love the yarns and I love the projects, but I'm just not as excited about finishing things that will be photographed and put away for trade shows and trunk shows.

I have finished (but waiting for the photographer) a pillow and a pair of slippers and a hat designed by Cheryl Beckerich.  I think they're all pretty cool.

I have on the needles:  a baby blanket, a cardigan, a fair-isle cowl, and a hat.

I have in my brain: another cardigan, another hat, and a lace shawl.

Yikes- no wonder I'm not thrilled about finishing anything.  Because there's a thousand other projects going "my turn! my turn!"

As far as personal projects I've got:  A pair of boring socks, a boring sweater, an unbound quilt, 2 cross stitchings, a mermaid, a sock yarn blanket and Knitting Olympics pullover which is currently 1 sleeve (up to the armpit) and the first 9 inches of the body.  It might get finished for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

And the project I can't stop thinking about starting: is a plain black jacket in some super rough tweed that I got in Ireland a few years ago.  I'll have to frog it from the fugly shapeless beast it has halfway become, and I know that miles and miles of plain stockinette is going to be really boring, but I know Fall is coming, and darn it, I want a super thick black cardi that is heavy enough to count as a jacket. And that awesome Fall jacket is going to have to wait in line.

On the bright side, I have a fabulous boyfriend who nods and smiles and mutters comforting things when I mention my project funk.  And that's pretty awesome. (Forgive the awful picture of me.  It was right after a long night and a 2 hour car ride)

Blankets galore

Saturday came and went, and I dropped my 5 "competitors" off at the State Fair to be judged.  This means that I'm going to be biting my nails until I get to go to the Fair, which could be next Monday, or could be whenever Grandma & Crappaw Darling decide they'd like to go  (I know you're reading this, and I'd just like you to know the suspense is killing me).

I haven't gotten pictures of my crochet stash-eater afghan, but I think you kind of know what it looks like already.  Hopefully there will be a pretty ribbon on it for the post-Fair pictures.  Same goes to the red lace tablecloth, which I also didn't get pictures of.

As you may know, I've been working on 2 projects exclusively since then- Amy's afghan which is a real group effort, and I'm shouting out another huge THANK YOU to everyone who has helped so far or still has a square on the needles/hook. I've been getting little envelopes and boxes in the mail with your donations and it makes me go a little fuzzy on the inside to know that you amazing crafters are taking time out of your day to work on something for my friend.  Here's the afghan as it sits now:  I'm also working on a white square with flowers on it, not pictured here.  The wake is next Friday so I'm crocheting as fast as I can to get them all there and put together.

I'm also (barely) competing in the Knitting/Ravelympic Games in the sweater sprint.  I'm almost a week in to this sweater, but I can't work on it without feeling Amy Afghan guilt.  I don't think it's going to happen.

And lastly (and my very favorite-ly), here is an update on my very first quilt!  A lady that took this class with me came to the last of the 3 classes with a finished quilt.  Not a quilt top, but a top, a back with batting in the middle, completely quilted and bound.  It was one of the more beautiful things I'd ever seen.  I was trying to pick my jaw up off the floor and ask how she could possibly make a queen sized quilt in 6 weeks, and she told me about her long arm quilting machine and offered it up for a few hours.   I had to wait until this week while she finished the project that was on it (which I completely understand) and yesterday I took over my top and bottom (finished Monday night) with my batting and we started around 9 am.  By 2:30 I had this.  It was awesome!

It's not done yet (still needs bound, which I still need to learn how to do) but it is now technically a quilt.  The binding is going to have to wait until a few more projects get done.  I hear it will only take a few hours if I do it by machine. Here's the back while I'm thinking about it...  I think it looks like little stockinette stitches.

Here's a close-up of the quilting pattern that Sally designed just for me and my quilt!  It's perfectly whimsical and I love it!  The fabric is cotton and the batting is 80% cotton (I couldn't find any that was 100%) so I'm hoping that it will crinkle up nicely when I wash it and get that fabulous vintage "been in the family for 80 years" look to it. And I'm really hoping that the crinkling will cover up the fact that I'm a beginner at quilting and don't have the sharpest corners. 

And my favorite part of yesterday sounds a little bit silly, but I'm going to share it with you anyway.  It was Mary Poppins. 

Mary Poppins is a Welsh Terrier.  I feel like it's not a terribly well-known breed, but it was the breed that I grew up with.  Sally has 2 of them.  I lost my Welsh, Toffee, about a week after I left for school in Essex, and it really tore me up for quite a while that I wasn't there to say goodbye (I'm tearing up a bit now actually).  But for 5 1/2 hours yesterday I had a dog that looked like Toffee, threw pillows off the couch and then flopped down like Toffee, snorted in the A/C like Toffee and cuddled like Toffee.  And it was a wonderful thing. 

Borders and Bummers

Last week I was knitting pretty confidently knowing that I had 2 projects to finish before the fair and it was doable.  Mittens and blanket.  No big deal, got it.  Then I made a few squares for Amy's blanket.  Then I got a couple squares from other knitters, and I attached those.  I'm happy to do it, but working on the blanket means that the mittens aren't going to the fair this year.  And that's okay.  I'm still going strong on my blanket and Amy's blanket.

*If you're contributing to Amy's blanket, THANK YOU SO MUCH!

On Sunday I got up early, made around a dozen circles, attached them as quickly as I could and headed to stitch and bitch with a 17 x 19 blanket.  And it's big enough.  I think.  But whatever it is, it's too late to change it. By Sunday night after a couple hours at SnB and True Blood, I had the first round of my border done.

Here it is with no border

And with 1 row of single crochet in white

And with 1 row of half-double crochet (which is not the same things as single crochet) in green

And another row of single crochet in white

And Madeline helping Mommy with the border

And finally, the ROW OF DOOM, these decorative little shell things in white. I like it a lot, but it's taking a while. I'm only halfway through and it's been 2 days.  And I've still got some ends to weave in.

 So I could finish this blanket tonight or tomorrow night and work on the mittens until my hands bleed and maybe get them done, or I could take my time and enjoy the very last row of a blanket I started last summer and actually get some sleep over the next few nights.  I could also start my Olympic Knitting project on time! (and then finish the mittens before they start collecting dust on the coffee-table.  These suckers are going to get done if it kills me). 

In other news, I've made 2 hats out of handspun lately.  These are the projects that live in my purse and get worked on when I'm sitting in a waiting room, standing in a long line, etc.  I'm thinking that the green hat might actually work for the same category as the mittens, killing 2 birds with one stone.  I made it to enter in the "knitting with handspun" competition but last week I was going through my tags and attaching them to the right projects, only to realize that I didn't actually enter the "knitting with handspun" category this year.  Derp.

So here are my 2 handspun berets, green is blocked, colorbarf is not.  I'm not a hat person at all, but I'm going to wear each of them at least once.  So there.