Year of Projects: Knitting Round Up

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I’ve decided this post will focus on my knitting, since my sewing and fiber art have been moving along nicely.

I’ve been working on my Arrowhead Cardigan in fits and starts for almost a year. This is a product knit for me. I can’t wait to wrap up in this Lettlopi coat in the cold of January. But each charted colorwork row is a different pattern, so there’s no muscle memory and repetition involved. That means I’m not enjoying the process very much. I think I will encourage myself to knit at least two rows every day. I’m trying these skein coats around the yarn to keep it in check.

Speaking of charts, here is the progress photo of my Cozy Autumn Socks (Rav link). Yep, procrastinating on the chart. This chart is more repetitive, though, so I might enjoy the knitting more, if I can break through the wall.

Here’s a plain sock that I am zooming along on. This colorway is called Sleepy Hollow from Fiber Optics and I’m in love with it. Knit knit knit knit knit.

I’ve started a Back Porch Shawl in Autumn colors. The yarn is Weekend Wool from Green Mountain Spinnery in Poppy, Lichen, and Pumpkin. This is a super easy garter stitch shawl, and I’m enjoying it. Good TV knitting.

This is my most recent DIY Autumn Advent project. These are the Jaywalker Socks (Rav link) and the yarn is from Turtlepurl. These would be an easier knit than the Cozy Autumn Socks. Do I have enough socks on the needles? Should I cast these on? Or should I stick to what I’ve started?

There are a few other projects languishing in their project bags. Celtic Myths Shawl is another every row is different cable chart. The Oa is a colorwork hoodie, although the chart is more repetitive so I might enjoy it. The Aurora Borealis Cowl can wait until the holidays. That’s all for items already cast on and in progress. (All links are to my Ravelry project pages.) Edited to add: I forgot to tell you I am at the point on my Hansel Hap where decreasing starts on the center square.

To people who don’t knit regularly, it looks like I churn out finished objects right and left. But in reality, some projects are in progress for months or even years. Then suddenly I finish several within a few weeks.

This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Saturday Sewing: Piedra Dress

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I sewed a dress today! This is Seamwork’s Piedra Dress in There Will Be Cute’s Headless Horseman fabric from Spoonflower. I used the 100% cotton jersey for myself as I prefer the way all natural fibers breathe.

Close up selfie so you can see how cute the fabric is. It was a quick, successful sew. Which is good because I needed a win today.

Next up I will sew a couple of these for Freya in Halloween fabrics she picked out. She wears the same size as me, which is handy.

Have you had any crafting wins lately?

Turning Leaves Mitts

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I finished my Point Edwards Mitts in Less Traveled Yarn’s Turning Leaves colorway. This project was my DIY Autumn Advent bag from August 21.

I found this to be an easy knit, and quick to knit up in DK weight yarn. They are super soft and squishy, and I’ve already popped them into my coat pocket. Ready for fall!

This week I’ll focus on my Arrowhead Cardigan and maybe cast on those Cozy Autumn Socks.

Pietra Pants

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I finished my Pietra Pants yesterday! These fit perfectly and fulfill my need for “jeans” since I can no longer wear real jeans. The high waist with elastic in back is forgiving and so comfortable. I can wear it with my cropped hand knit sweaters! The lightweight chambray will be suitable for late spring to early fall. I wish I could make these in a medium weight, but the gathering in back would be too stiff and bunchy.

Pattern is Pietra Pants by Closet Core Patterns. Fabric is Telhio 4.8 ounce denim chambray in dark blue. This pattern was a treat to sew. I only got a little muddled on the pockets, but they have a tutorial that helped me through. I used the same fabric for interfacing, with some of my Grandma’s roll of Stitch Witchery on the pocket facings to keep them crisp. (I can still remember my Grandma giving it to me. I think she would be proud of my sewing.) I will make a pair or two in linen next spring.

In other news, my sister sent me some Halloween tea! Thanks, Lori!

Soft: A Year of Projects Update

Posted on Posted in art, finished objects, knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , , , 32 Comments

Fiber Art

My art show reception was last night, and it was wonderful to visit with family and friends who ventured out in support. I sold two pieces, which I’m over the moon about! Here is a gallery of the pieces in the show.

  • Haze Over Maize
  • Hay for Days
  • Blue Moon
  • Winter Sun
  • Coxheath
  • Iona
  • Iona 2
  • Louisburg
  • Ingonish Beach
  • Highland Village

I’m proud I was able to produce this body of work, and was really pleased with the feedback. Many people were surprised to see artwork made from wool. Someone said the work was really comforting, which was my goal. I think we all need a little bit of softness in our lives right now. The gallery’s website is at this link.

In other fiber art news, I experimented with fresh leaf indigo printing, which I shared about yesterday.

Knitting

I’ve been working on my Point Edwards Mitts, which I am really enjoying. I finished my Cemetery Drive Cowl, which I posted about on Thursday. And I finished a super secret birthday present for my MIL Margie, which I posted on Wednesday. It was a banner week for knitting FOs!

My DIY Fall Advent bag yesterday was the Ixchel Cowl in Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Moon Sisters. I don’t know if you can see the bronze sparkles in this yarn, but it’s beautiful. However, I just finished a colorwork cowl, and I’m not in the mood to start another one. I’ll store this for another time.

Sewing

I’m currently working on some Pietra Pants in dark blue chambray. I also sewed a dress last week. It was not horrible.

This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Spontaneous Fresh Leaf Indigo Dyeing

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Yesterday, Bob was clearing out the garden, and mistook my vigorous indigo patch for weeds. And then he pulled up most of the plants! I had been imagining trying the fresh leaf printing technique on my Virginia grown cotton canvas, and although I hadn’t planned to do it right away, I knew I had to get on it or I would have to wait until next year with a new garden patch.

I put together the video to show the process. I told Bob I was beating the heck out of indigo leaves instead of throwing the mallet at his head. He said he appreciated it. Anyway, I can now check this off my list. Thank you, Bob! I also learned from a follower on Instagram that this technique is called Hapazome.

I am setting the fabric with a white vinegar rinse, line dry, and then an iron. What will I make with the fabric? I guess it depends on how well the print sets. It seemed to hold up in the washer okay. Maybe more overalls? If it doesn’t hold the dye well, maybe some cushions for the porch furniture.

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone has some relaxing Labor Day plans this holiday weekend, if you are in the US. Or just a relaxing weekend, wherever you are!

Gandalf? A Friday FO Fable

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I knit this beautiful lace shawl, a mystery knit along based on folk tales about the selkies. I had an idea to sew a dress to wear with it to my art opening on Saturday. I had lavender linen in my fabric stash. I thought it was meant to be! I chose the Barcelona Dress, as I thought it was classic with a retro feel that I could alter to my figure.

Not horrible, but I clearly forgot the rule about not wearing vintage style when you yourself are a vintage lady. Not my best look, and more importantly, I don’t feel good in it. It’s comfortable, but not flattering on me.

Modeling for these photos in the woods near my house, I started thinking about the magic elven cloaks and Lothlorian leaf pins from Lord of the Rings. After that, I knew there was no way I would ever wear these three items together again. Even though I love the shawl and the shawl pin! And the dress is fine on its own. It might make a nice casual summer dress. Maybe if I wore some shapewear underneath. But no, that would aggravate my GERD.

This was my first dress to cut and sew on the bias, and I learned a lot. I had an idea to make a striped one, but now I know I won’t be able to pull it off. This dress really needs to be fitted to look good. I think I’ll stick with a-line dresses.

You know what I do feel good in? My yarn ball overalls with my Anker’s Summer Shirt underneath. They look great together! And that’s what I’m going to wear to my opening tomorrow. Fin.

Nova Scotia Strong: Happy Birthday, Margie!

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Happy September, and Happy Birthday to my Mother-In-Law, Margie! By now I hope she has received her gift in the mail. Earlier this year, Margie sent me this photo:

She wondered if I could make one for her. Of course I could! Unfortunately, the yarn was out of stock, and there wasn’t any information about the pattern. I put on my thinking cap and my can-do attitude, and found the yarn dyed-to-order on Etsy, and the pattern on Ravelry!

I finished the hat a couple of weeks ago, and popped it in the post for a birthday surprise. I hope she loves it!

Pattern is The Journey. Yarn is Fleece Artist Nova Scotia Colorway and another skein of Fleece Artist Chinook Natural. Pom Pom is from ThreadHead Knits.

YOP-a-doodle-doo!

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I woke up waaaay too early this morning. 3AM! I did go back to bed at 5AM and slept until 7AM.

Fiber Art

Bad news. I over-processed my flax. I think it was over-retted. Or over-dried. It’s crispy fried.

You can see the bast fibers, but they are brittle and break when I try to break off the woody stem on the outside.

Flax harvesting season landed right in the middle of summer cold season and colonoscopy week. That’s my excuse. I might try again next year, or I might try growing nettle for fiber. I’m still processing the seed pods I was able to collect.

Knitting

I finished my Milkshake Cardigan this week, which I posted about on Friday. Other than that, I’ve been focusing on my Cemetery Drive cowl. I did cast on my Turning Leaves Point Edwards Mitts and am excited to knit them because they are DK and should fly!

Sewing

I finished my second pair of Halloween PJ pants. I’ve cut out my lavender linen dress and will sew it today.

My garden is a mess! It’s too hot out there. I’ll leave the rest for the critters and clean it up in the fall.

This has been a Year of Projects update. You can find out more about the group here (Rav link) or here: Backstage Kath’s YOP bloggers list. You can read my updated list of projects here.