Category: Works in Progress (WIPs)

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.

YOP-a-doodle-doo!

Posted on Posted in knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , 21 Comments

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.

TLC Tuesday

Posted on Posted in holidays, knitting, life, sewing, sweaters, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , 15 Comments

Last week was busy at work. We took a trip to Cleveland to visit kids on Friday and Saturday. And then, I had a colonoscopy yesterday. So, I took today off as well to recover from the anesthesia. I don’t want to be making important work decisions with anesthesia brain.

This is my second DIY fall advent bag. I am definitely making these, but I haven’t started on the first project yet! I guess I can always rebag what I don’t get to for next year.

This is the first pair of Halloween PJ pants I’ve sewn plus a new seasonal shirt. I’m going to stay in PJs today. I’ve started calling JoJo “JoJo Binx.”

I worked on my Milkshake Cardigan yesterday as it’s pretty straight forward. Once I finish the second sleeve, just the button band to go! I look forward to wearing this cardigan when the weather turns chilly.

Last night we started watching Chapelwaite. It is so good, and is getting me in the mood for the spooky season! But before I immerse myself in autumn leaves and pumpkins please, I need to can some tomatoes.

Just the YOP

Posted on Posted in gardening, knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , 22 Comments

Fiber Art

I framed my second to last piece! I just need to finish the stitching on the last piece and then frame it, and then I will have all 10 pieces complete!

Knitting

I’ve started on one sleeve on the Milkshake Cardigan.

Sewing

I’ve started sewing my yarn ball overalls.

Gardening

It’s tomato season!

This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can learn more about the group on Ravelry. You can read my updated list of projects here.

A Fairly Productive Week 2: Year of Projects

Posted on Posted in art, knitting, sewing, sweaters, The Just Craft, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , , 15 Comments

Knitting

In addition to finishing Bob’s Pride socks, I’ve made good progress on my Milkshake Cardigan, and have been keeping up with the clues for my mystery knit along.

Sewing

I finished my Emerson shorts. I’ve got some other sewing projects I’d like to get to, but today I focused on…

Fiber Art

I made a new piece today. I had the same problem with the felt not attaching to the prefelt backing. I think the prefelt backing is the problem, as all my fiber felted together really well. It just slid off the backing. So that’s more needle felting to do, and I’m not sure how I feel about this piece. It’s the remake of the one I don’t like. Why do I keep making it? Because I love the photo! It’s inspired by a photo I took in Iona, Nova Scotia. It’s just really hard to interpret in wool.

Podcast

A new episode “dropped” today, as the young folks say. In honor of Plastic Free July, I thought I would stick close to home and interview someone who inspires me a great deal. He has made a huge impact on reducing the amount of plastic waste in our home by creating almost all the soaps we use in our household from scratch. Listen in as I interview my husband, Bob, about soapmaking, the magic of science, and how to save money while saving the world. (It’s not as dangerous as it looks.) You can listen here or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Listening to Music Intentionally

This one seems appropriate.

This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can learn more about the group on Ravelry. You can read my updated list of projects here.

Wednesday WIPs

Posted on Posted in knitting, shawls and haps, socks, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , , , 12 Comments

I’ve finished Clue 1 on my mystery knit along. I love how this yarn sometimes looks blue, sometimes looks purple, sometimes looks gray. I’m really enjoying this knit. Lots of repetitive lacework. Yes, please!

I’ve also finally picked my beads. I love the matte finish, and this color is perfect for this yarn. I think these beads have just enough glimmer to show up.

I also ordered two little glass mermaid beads, and made a stitch marker and a progress keeper to use with my shawl. I’m not very good at beading, but I think I’ve made it work with some zinc coated copper wire and parts from old stitch markers.

I’m ready to turn the heel on Bob’s second Pride sock. Maybe I’ll have a Friday finished object this week?

Year of Projects: Week 1

Posted on Posted in knitting, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged , , , 12 Comments

Fiber Art

I spent my floating holiday on Friday framing all my finished pieces for the show in September. I’m pleased with the exception of one piece, which means I need to rework or replace that one. In total, I have three pieces to complete in two months. I can do that, right? I can do that.

Knitting

Friday was the start of The Lonely Heart is a Hunter Mystery Knit Along (Rav link). I had to start over, but now my cast on is nice and loose and I have no mistakes in my knitting of the first repeat of chart A. I have one more repeat of this chart, and then chart B. Then that’s the end of clue 1! I have to say, I really like lace broken up like this. It’s been a long time since I’ve knit lace, but it’s like riding a bike. Also, this pattern is repetitive, which I like.

To get in the mood, I watched The Secret of Roan Inish on Friday, and Ondine on Saturday. I can’t believe I had never seen either of these films. Ondine was recommended by another MKAL participant. It’s a nice group. Usually, I am overwhelmed by Ravelry chat threads, but this one is smaller and more my speed.

I also decided to try one more time on the bead choice. Truth be told, I really like the matte beads. (I’m not really the sparkly type.) But the ones I have are too gray. I found some matte Tanzanite beads (the color, not the stone) and I think they will be perfect for this yarn. Fingers crossed!

I am also making good progress on Bob’s Pride / Father’s Day socks. I’m just about ready for the heel flap on sock 2.

Sewing

Nothing to report. Maybe I’ll try to work on my Emerson shorts today.

This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can learn more about the group on Ravelry. You can read my list of projects here.