Fiber Arts Friday: Bee Kit Amigurumi

If you know me, you know I'm not a fan of kits.

A lot of people like kits... and I understand why they do.  But as an engineer, I feel that kits remove the most fun part of any project.... figuring it out.  :-)

Anyway, I've been casually looking for a Bee Amigurumi pattern for a while and not finding quite what I wanted.... but I hadn't yet progressed to the point of figuring it out for myself.

Then a few weeks ago, I was showing a friend who's new to town the craft store options we have locally.... this included stopping into one of the big box stores... and we happened to see and endcap with come cute Amigurumi kits.

This bee is one of the cutest I've seen... and while the yarn is acrylic and so much of this kit is in opposition of my goals and priorities... but it does meet my need to learn a new skill.  So I spent the $10 and brought it home.

This is a gift for Hubba who desperately wants a Busy Bee, but apparently no one actually makes one.

You can see the actual Busy Bee in an earlier scene, but I have not been able to find a clip.

Here's the finished project....

My stitching skills leave a lot to be desired, but I think the point is being made.  lol

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 7

Since last time, I have separated the Upper and Lower Panels, stitched the Upper Panels together, and made the Sleeves.  I also added a row of Single Crochet to the bottom of the Upper Assembly to aid in joining to the bottom panel, and counting stitches...

After counting and marking stitches on both the Upper Assembly and Lower Panel, I was stunned to realize they match.  Exactly!  182 stitches, each.  This is a wonderful result and not, at all, expected.

So I seemed them together using the counting stitch markers as reassurance along the way.

With all of the pieces joined together, it looks a bit like a doll dress. :-/

So I'm not loving this as much as I hoped, yet.

Blocking helped, but it still seems fat around the middle.  :-/

I may take it apart and re-seem the Upper Assembly to the other side of the Lower Panel, which is the cast on edge.... But in the meantime, this project is complete.

I am now at four active projects.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 6

Since resolving the 6-row mismatch on the upper panels of my Summer Cardigan last time, I began pinning the pieces together.

There is a suspected 3-stitch discrepancy on each of the front panels.... so 6-stitches over all.  But I decided to start the join between the upper panels and lower panel as indicated by the instructions.  Then I decided that I needed more safety-pin style stitch markers to pin the rest of the piece together.

I set this project aside to wait for the stitch markers, and somehow lost the crochet hook.  ???? 

Then, as I made a plan to purchase a new one, I found it. whew.

I pinned the upper and lower panels together, and felt that I might be able to make up the stitch difference.

But that was not the case.  There is a lot of curling at the ends.

Here, you can see the starting point, and the 3 extra stitches on the upper (floral) panel.

And here you can see that I still have 3 stitches to account for on the lower (Solid) panel at the other end.

So for now, I think I am going to separate the upper panels from and lower panel, then stitch the upper panels together, and remove the 3 extra stitches from each of the Upper Front Panels.  Then I will block all of the pieces together again.

I'm almost resigned to re-making the lower panel, but I want to be very sure how many stitches to cast on.

So, Happy Fiber Arts Friday?

Fiber Arts Friday: Too Many Projects?

The other day, Hubba said to me.... "So you have 6 knitting projects in work.  How do you decide which one to work on?"

I laughed and pulled each one out and told him about the purpose/benefit/challenge of each project... and then talked about a few of the others that are in the planning or waiting stage.

So yes, there are six active projects, and many more in the queue.  

• Some are simple so I can work on them when my brain is tired (which is most of the time) or when I only have a few minutes available.
• Some are small so I can work on them when I'm on the road, in a waiting situation, or when it's hot outside.
• Some are much larger so they provide warmth while working on them.
• Some are about commemorating something.
• Some are about doing something for someone else and therefore have a rough deadline.
• Some are about learning new skills or achieving a challenge.
• Some are crochet, or spinning, or weaving, so they use my hands/arms/body differently than knitting.
• Some have periods of intense focus, so they release my brain of clutter.
• Some are meditative, which allows my brain to rest, which then often leads to forming solutions to un-related, complex problems.

I choose which to work on based on my physical needs, personal goals, and time available in the moment.

This is a visual manifestation of how my brain works...  I am always thinking about and planning much more than what is physically in front of me.  Which means my ToDo List is always way too long.

My current Day Job has these benefits as well, but this has not been true for most of my career.  So making has been a way for me to be myself when the Day Job did not allow or value it... and all of it was put on hold while we were moving recently.

This whole conversation was sort of mind-blowing for Hubba.  He chooses a project and works on it 100% until it's complete, with little room for other things.

We know this about him.  We call it All-or-Nothing or All-in.  ;-)  But I think this is the first time he truly understood how my wiring works.

All that being said, I think 3-ish active projects is the sweet spot for me.  The good news is that most of these are past the half-way point, so this number should be coming down in the next few months.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 5

Whelp this sat for a couple of weeks, waiting for some quiet time to pin the pieces together.

So after confirming that I know the crochet slip stitch, I clipped the pieces together, being careful to match the rows from the bottom...

There is a mismatch of 6 rows between the front and back floral panels.

While it was blocking, I just thought the back panel was more stretchy than the front ones.  sigh.

After sitting in time out a little while longer, I re-pinned the panels,

and ripped out the 6 extra rows.  I think I will re-block these before stitching together.

I began stitching the upper and lower panels together... because this is the order in the instructions..

While the seem is looking fine, I began to worry about the 3 extra stitches on each of the front panels.... I confirmed that the stiches cast on for each section of the upper panels matches the number cast on for the lower panel... but I did not take into account these 3 extra stitches.

So I don't know if this pattern was Tech Edited or not.  I don't believe it was graded well, or maybe it was released prior to testing each size.

Other than a delta for casting on, and a few large categories on sizing, I don't see the detailed instructions for each size, and I've already mentioned a few sets of instructions that are not quite correct.

Anyway, at this point, I've ordered some more stitch markers/pins for the Upper-Lower join, but I have a feeling that the lower panel will need to be 6 stiches narrower... if so, that means ripping out and re-making the entire piece.

This will be going into timeout for a while and there is now little chance it will be ready to wear before the snow flies.  :-/

Happy(?) Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 4

In a surprise turn of events, all 4 panels are complete.  I decided to verify the row count on the lower panel when I thought I had two rows to go... and I had exactly 30 rows complete.  WooHoo!

The apparent reason for this is that I missed counting two rows during the first skein... which means my weight estimates were a bit high last time.  I was expecting to need two full skeins plus a little extra to finish this panel.  Now I have about 20g of the second skein available for seeming.

After confirming that the stitch count of the three Floral Panels match the stitch count on the lower panel, I washed them according to my regular process.

Then taking some of the techniques I learned in my Finishing Class earlier this year, I blocked the front and back panels on top of each other, to aid in matching rows.  It's not clear in this photo, but they don't exactly match in height.

You can see that my stitches got progressively more loose on the solid panel.  Hopefully this won't be a big deal in the finished garment.

Next step is seeming!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 3

I did figure out what was going on with Row 10 of the first Front Upper-Panel by taking a screen shot from the pattern website, zooming in, and counting stitches.

It turns out that the number of skipped stitches is not correct in a couple of places on the written pattern.  Once I confirmed that what I had was the same as the photo, I was able to move forward quickly.

As of this moment, both front upper-panels are complete.... and they match... and they each weigh the same.  :-)

I have 1/3 of the lower-panel to complete... and have ordered some new blocking boards.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 2

Summer Floral Cardi, Yarn Chicken Status...

• The Back Upper-Panel is complete at 92g with 20g of it's skein remaining.
• The Lower Panel is just shy of 50% complete and has consumed one full skein, 118g.
• The first Front Upper-Panel is also nearly 50% complete and has used 14g thus far with 101g remaining.

Therefore I expect to need the following in order to finish this project:

• Lower Panel (118+small %): 120g
• Front Panels (14x3): 42g
• Stitching four panels together and making sleeve caps: UNK

At this moment, I have 20+101g or 121g remaining.  Which means I am at least 41g short in my initial purchase of yarn.

So I am very happy to have received the additional yarn, but will likely only use half of one skein.  I really(!) like working with this yarn... so the extra 4.5 skeins bought in late July will not go to waste.

I've also run into a point of confusion on the first Front Upper Panel... I believe I have crocheted everything correctly up to this point, but the instructions on Row 10 don't jive with the stitches in Row 9.  There are no errata available at the time of this writing.  So this will require more study.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 1

I had been thinking about this project for some time.  I love the simpleness and subtle feminine feel of this design.

I also liked the idea of working this in cotton as the pattern calls for.  However I did not want a 100% cotton yarn, which can be tiring to work with since it does not have much give... and a 100% cotton will sag if the garment is too heavy.

I found the perfect yarn at Yarn Fest earlier this year and bought 3 skeins.

The yarn is a Merino + Pima Cotton blend, all grown and milled in California.  This is a natural (un-dyed) yarn with loads of character.

I have done very little crochet in recent years and have done even less to a written pattern that needs to be a specific size when finished.  So this entire project is an experiment for me.

The written instructions for the Floral Array in the top portion of the cardigan was confusing...  Specifically the Horizontal Petal.  I just did not understand what it was telling me to do.

So I bought a copy of the dictionary that the stitch pattern came from... which didn't help much, other than making it clear that the cardigan pattern was written correctly, and that my trouble was me.

I finally found this YouTube video, which is for a different but related stitch.  After watching it a few times, and going back to the schematic in the book, it finally started to make sense.

After a few more tries, I got the Horizontal Petal figured out and was then able to move forward relatively quickly.

It doesn't look too bad in this photo, but this pattern will benefit from blocking, which I will do before stitching the four panels together.

The nice thing about having a pattern that is constructed in sections is that I was able to work on the lower piece which is only double-crochet and practice consistent tension while I contemplated the Floral Array.

At the moment, the lower piece is about 30% complete and the Floral Panel is about 50% complete.  The two upper-front panels are not-started.

In weighing my progress and remaining yarn, my concern about not having enough yarn is growing, so I ordered a few more skeins in late July.  The pattern calls for 880 yards for the size I am making and I have 900 yards.

So, if we assume that I am crocheting at the same tension as the author and that each of my skeins are exact in their measurement... this is going to be very close.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Gorgeous!

I have been following the ShibaGuyz for almost as long as I've been on Twitter.

Several weeks ago one of the Guyz tweeted a photo of one of their designs.

I just love the yoke.  I took a screenshot so I could look up the pattern at a later time.

I'm more of a knitter than a crocheter, but I could not get this sweater out of my head.

So I bought their book, Designer Crochet!

This may be the sweater that goes with my new, perfect yarn.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Voie de Vie

Sometime last summer Denise at Voie de Vie offered to make a cowl for me.

I don't exactly remember the circumstances, but I do remember feeling both inadequate and grateful to be offered such a gift.

Miso the kitty loves my Voie de Vie La Coeur Cowl too

Having made for others and rarely making for myself, I know how generous this sort of gift is.

We talked about some of the prepared yarns I had available and she decided on my handspun Keyla singles.  I sent her all I had left and included a skein of Bandit that I had spun last year for her trouble.

Keyla's yarn

She decided to use all of the yarn I sent and included some of Wonder Why Gal's handspun too.  She wrote about it here.

Bandit (grey) paired with Wonder Why Gal's handspun alpaca

I'm not certain I can convey what this gift means to me.  I bought the yarn before I bought Keyla.  She was always a teacher for me, up to and including when we lost her over the summer.

Denise, Thank you so much for this wonderful, generous gift.  I love it so much.  :-)

The pattern is La Coeur Cowl.

Fiber Arts Friday: Fiber

I wrote earlier this week about how writing helps me to feel grounded.  My other main go to when I need grounding is fiber.

I have lots of fiber-y pursuits.  Often several are in progress at the same time.

At the moment I have a hand-spun Tibetan Mastiff scarf on the needles,

yak on the wheel,

and a bag of washed Tibetan Mastiff ready to be carded.

I also have yak/merino and alpaca patiently waiting on needles.  Sock yarn on a crochet hook, cotton on a bobbin and cashmere on a spindle.  Not to mention a large stash of raw alpaca that is ready to be skirted.

Working with the animals and their fiber goes a long way toward keeping me focused on the things that matter most.

Fiber Arts Friday: Skirt Guard

Sometimes you come across something that you know someone needs.  It's so appropriate that they don't even know they need it.

This is one of those things and I thought immediately of my SIL. (Yes, she is knit-worthy... or in this case, crochet-worthy)  :-)

While I can execute crochet stitches reasonably well, I have been having trouble reading the pattern... so my summer of rip-it-out-so-I-can-restart-itis continues.  :-P

It's been ripped out 3 times... The last one looked like this...

... pretty, but not the correct pattern.

I'm almost afraid to say it, since I've said it at least once already.. but, I think I'm on my way now...

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: I'm a Winner!

Wha???  I won something?  Yea!

I've been wanting to crochet something, but haven't had the right project bite me yet...

I have Denise's most recent collection and printed out one of the patterns I really liked... and, of course, it's the only one in the collection that is a knit.  I haven't started it yet, so perhaps there will be something delicious in this magazine?

Thank you very much Denise!  I promise to put your yarn to good, crochet use.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: WIP List Vanquished

Last May I listed seven items that were on my WIP List.  I complained that it was too many and that I wanted the list completed or dispatched before I started anything new.

With the exception of the Paco-Vicuna that I started spinning during during the Tour de Fleece and washing some Rocky Mountain Goat, I held to my word.  :-)

Spinning Black Huacaya Batts of Wonder - Complete

In a surprise (even to myself) this is complete.

I spun one bobbin prior to the Tour de Fleece, half of the second bobbin during the Tour de Fleece and the second half of the second bobbin since the Tour de Fleece concluded.  Then, I apparently hit a whole new level in my spinning and spun two bobbins in two days.

I'm all of a sudden spinning a much better yarn, faster.  The last bobbin only had one small bit that was over spun.  :-)

The final result is four skeins for a total of 850.5 yards and 17.25 ounces.

All four skeins have had a bath and are now drying.  Yay!

Spin Tibetan Mastiff - Complete

I spun this up during the Tour de Fleece and sent the yarn off to our breeder.  She loves it and is bringing more fur when she's at a nearby dog show in a few weeks.  :-)

Recycled Wool Nightcap - Complete

I resolved the hugeness by sending it through the washer and dryer with a load of towels.  It felted and shrunk and is now quite soft and nearly fits.

The Simple Scarf - Frogged

I never really made it much past what this photo shows because I had re-started several times as I showed the ladies at the office how to do different things.  I still like the idea of having a simple red scarf around, but this one isn't going to happen any time soon.

A Baling Twine Doormat Dog Toy - Modified and Completed

The original was given to the puppies to play with in May.  It was subsequently tossed out after Noodle's emergency surgery.  This was not the reason for the surgery, but I did not want it to become the reason for a second surgery.

I have since found a S (super honking big) hook and plan to start the Doormat again.  Although I will make a swatch, because the hook really is super honking big.

A Blanket - Frogged

I decided to frog this blanket.  I think the needles are a little small for the yarn.  Another half or whole size up would be better.  Also, I recently realized that I don't have enough yarn on hand to complete this blanket and frankly, I don't love the yarn enough to buy more.

The Twitter Knit Along Shawl - Completed

 
As I said last week, I'm pleasantly surprised with how it turned out.  My mistakes are there and visible, but not so visible that the garment is un-usable.  :-)

Spindling Paco-Vicuna - Completed

This was not on my list last May when I said I wouldn't start anything new, but I needed a fiber to travel with during the Tour de Fleece and wanted to work from a roving.  The final result is 1 ounce of Paco-Vicuna at 120 yards.

It's interesting to realize that this has really been a traveling project.  I have spun this at home, at a park, in the airport, on an airplane, in a hotel, at a friends house and at the office.

Processing Raw Rocky Mountain Goat - in progress

This is a new project as well.  I will tell more about how it came into my life another time since I haven't spent much time working on it yet.

Elevation Profile Scarf - in progress

I was a good girl and did not cast this on until after the Traveling Woman was in the block and there was literally nothing on my needles. :-)

So here's the score:

• Began - May 20, 2011
• 7 Projects in Work
• Ended - August 26, 2011
• 6 Completed Projects
• 2 Frogged Projects
• 2 Projects in Work

Now I'm off to check out the other Fiber Arts Friday posts and do my best to keep the WIP's at a small number. :-)