Cute Critter War 2 was so much fun! I created all kinds of critters and won the award for Most Critters by an Individual. Woo hoo!
We are also doing a little swap, mailing a critter to another critter-crafter. So fun!
Now I'm onto another War. Nerd Wars to be exact. We're into Tournament 8. It's so much fun link our crafts to our nerdy interests. Team Writer decided to take a break for this tournament so I've joined Team Squints. I've got some little bugs done and am working on a shawl (pic below) and a baby blanket right now.
As promised here are some pics of the First Battalion I created for Cute Critter Wars. (Yes, I finally found the camera cord. lol)
Here are the Bean Troops (Beans the Cat and Hamsterbean patterns):
And they are led by Binoo (my own design):
I'm so excited!!! I have knitting-purpose again. :) Some NW friends have resurrected Cute Critter Wars and we're doing another round. So far my needles have been producing some darling Hamsterbeans. I think some Kitty overlords will be next. ;) It's so much fun to do something just for the enjoyment of it. And who doesn't like cuteness?!?
As well, I've got a secret project that will be on the go as soon as I get wheels and can go to the LYS. I can't wait to get working on that lace-y project neither. I hope the person I make it for will like it. (Although who doesn't love and appreciate hand knit items more than someone else who knits. ;) )
Pics coming soon I promise. Need to hunt down a cord..... sheesh!
Happy crafting!
Hello my dear crafting buddies! Here I am! Working on returning to regular blogging. I've been knitting a bit even with moving but only dishcloths. lol I really haven't had energy for anything else. I love the mindless-ness of knitting dishcloths. I can relax and think about all the other things I have to do and still have my needles clicking away.
Most of my stash is still packed away. I have been so busy with packing and now unpacking that it had to be kept put away. Now that we're settled into our new home, I'm finishing up some volunteer work I do and then am going to dive back into my knitting a little more fully. I can't wait to get started on some new projects including some of my own design.
Miss you!
Well, as you can guess due to my lack of posts that life as been busy. We've had holidays and company in amongst packing and everyday life. I've still be knitting but nothing too exciting. ;) I'll have more soon once we've moved. We've got two weeks left before we head over to the new house. Once I'm settled I'm hoping to get into some kind of routine again which means more posts. Miss you!
Nerd Wars can be so inspiring sometimes. Right now we're in Round 2 of Tournament 7. One of the challenges for this Round is about architecture. When trying to come up with an item to craft for this challenge, my mind was drawn to the fabulous architecture I once studied for my Classical Studies degree - Greek columns.
This new project as led me on another designing adventure for one for collection. Not sure of the title yet, but it will all be inspired by the Ancient Greeks and Romans I studied in university. The patterns that develop will be based on their architecture, apparel, writings, etc.
Pictures of my first project will be coming soon. I haven't had a chance to photograph the wrap yet. Watch for it! :)
I really love designing new projects. It's fun to see my ideas in my head come out on paper and then onto the needles and a finished yarn-y goodness. But sometimes it is a real struggle to get to the completed project.
Like this week, I started a new cowl design. It was inspired by a Nerd Wars challenge about architecture. I have always loved Greek architecture and had the motivation to come up with something related to it. So, in honour of the Corinthian columns, I started a rib and leaf cowl. The material pattern is great but the actual size of the cowl isn't working quite right. With two kids in tow (it's March Break), I made a quick run to my LYS. I decided I needed a second skein of the bulky yarn I'm working with. Unfortunately there wasn't any match for the red I have so I got another blue that matched the one I have at home.
So, I'm off to frog and restart the cowl yet again. At least I can make the edits I want now rather than waiting till next time.
Do you design? Do you struggle with it? What issues have you run into? Is it worth all the work?
I'm so excited!!! The hat is done. :)
From this...
To this...
Isn't it awesome?!? I just love it!! :D
My first knit through was definitely too large but my guessed adjustments were right on the money. A few people are going to test knit it as well as make a crochet version. Pattern will be coming soon. :)
Well, I've made some progress on the Alexis' hat. Or at least I had. Got the whole thing knitted up and then I ripped it all back.
You see, I believe this is how it goes when you are trying something new and designing your own pattern at the same time. The Alexis' hat is a slouchy one, something I've never knit before. Normally I prefer a toque, one that is glued to your head nice and tight. So this hat is taking extra work to design. I've made some edits to my notes for the pattern and am ready to try it again. Hopefully I'll be casting it on again tonight.
Do you ever do that? Complete something than rip it back and start it again?
A trip to the LYS is always so exciting. So many choices, so little time and money. ;) I went to mine yesterday and spent a little time perusing all the choices. it's so much easier when you have a project in mind. I found so yarn that I think will work for the Alexis' Hat. My team seems excited so I think I've made the right choice. It's all wound up now and ready for some gauge square knitting. Guess what I'll be doing tonight. ;)
Yep, that's right - ripppppppppppp! :P
February has started a new Nerd Wars Tournament. It always gets me back into knitting. There were new challenges posted on the 1st and away I went, needles clicking, a bag forming. Until last night, while watching the Super Bowl, I realized I wasn't going to have enough yarn for the bag as I designed it. I decided that it would just be easier to start over so rip went the yarn. I re-wound it into a ball again and cast on for the second time after I re-drew the chart. Hopefully I won't be too far behind. At least there's a nice night full of hockey, Bones and Castle ahead of me. Should get lots done. Keep your fingers crossed!
I haven't had any creative knitting mojo lately so I've been knitting dishcloths, dishcloths, and more dishcloths. Michaels had a sale on recently of the Bernat Cotton and I picked up a few new fun colours. Each skein makes two cloths in the size and pattern I like. I have pretty much used up all my old stock and have tackled a few of the new ones already too.
I like to give the dishcloths away sometimes so I should be all stocked up now for myself and some to save. I knew it was time to make some anyways since I'm down to only a few to use for my dishes and they've got to go soon.
The other reason I haven't started anything new is because a new Nerd Wars Tournament starts on Friday. :) Can't wait! It's always so inspiring. We do have our Alexis' hat to do and I should be done all the figuring for it soon.
What do you craft when you're not sure what to work on? Do you have your favourite stand by project that gets to be a fill in project when you don't have something else to work on?
The kids and I were excited about the return of NHL hockey on Saturday. We all dressed up to support our favourite teams while we spent the day watching game after game. We were thrilled to find some free Sports Package channels allowing to watch more games than we planned.
Now normally a day filled with hockey games means loads of knitting time for me, however I was too excited, especially starting off with my beloved Flyers, that I didn't knit a stitch till after supper. This will not stay the case as I get used to enjoying hockey again. ;)
What do you watch when you sit down to craft? Or are you one of those people who can read while they craft?
So I mentioned recently about the Castle Collection that a few of my Ravelry friends have started. I really am excited about this. I spend quite a bit of time relaxing in front of the TV with my knitting. Sometimes I see an item I wish I had the pattern for or get inspired by an episode to make something. Now we're putting that together. We want to create a pattern for this hat...
I didn't realize how much work goes into designing a pattern form a picture until now. lol We're still in the very beginning stages but I've already knitted up four sample squares of possible stitch patterns. And then I've been posting them for voting and discussion. I think we've got that part figured out know but now we're talking yarn and gauge. When will it end?!? lol I'm only kidding. It's definitely more work when you've got a team trying to design it but it's also very worthwhile.
Looks like I'm starting another collection of knitted items. I'm teaming up with some of my favourite Ravelry peeps to create items inspired by or seen on the TV show Castle. A dear friend got me interested in Nerd Wars (a crafting game played on Ravelry). The team we're on is based around Castle and other amateur sleuths. Our members' interactions on Team Writer have inspired some knits that have already been created and are inspiring more.
So this group of excited fans, we're going to be putting together the Castle Collection (at least that's the name for now). I am so thrilled! I love Castle and a few other sleuth-y shows. It's so fun to take the things you like and combine it with your favourite craft.
There's nothing better than a new project, except for maybe buying new yarn for a new project. ;) I've gotten both this week. :D
I was in at my LYS on Wednesday (my son said we should visit the yarn ladies) and picked up two new chunky yarns, one in red and one in white with black bits throughout it. I'm planning on knitting two more Matrix cowls as soon as I get a chance to watch one and get inspired.
And, one of my favourite toy designers posted another test pattern. Of course, I got on top of this right away and get to knit the new pattern. My kids love it when I get a new toy pattern and I love supporting designers I like. Win win for everyone. :)
So there's a few things to get on the needles. Its so nice to have something to do. I was definitely feeling a little lost with the new year and all my projects complete. I've never really had that happen before. I've stopped knitting a few times but it was usually because I was just too busy to knit. (Babies will do that to you.) But this was different. I was out of projects, out of ideas, and out of inspiration.
So happy to be getting my knitting mojo back!
Does this ever happen to you? What do you do to get back into gear?
So big plans for our little family - we're moving. :) Not far but far enough. In the middle of April we'll be moving about 1/2 hour from where we are now. Over the next few months I'll be busy getting ready so I have no idea how much knitting I'll get done. Hopefully there will still be some. I just hope I'm not too tired in the evening to get my needles clicking.
I wasn't sure where to start for knitting with the new year. I had pretty much everything finished up, so I'm redoing my Trinity Cowl. I love the pattern I made but didn't like the size of the actual cowl. It's coming along now. :) I'm trying to make all the cowls one skein wonders. At least so far anyways. I'm excited to see where my patterns will take me. :)
Will post pictures soon. I'm trying to get organized here with all the moving stuff as well as regular life stuff. Should be fun!
Well, it happened! It's 2013!!! Hope you had a fun time last night staying up with someone important to you. Did you watch the ball drop in Time Square? Do you go to or host a party? Do you stay home and enjoy a quite night? We stayed home and watched the ball drop in Time Square. Nice to spend the time with hubby.
So have you started thinking about what you're going to craft this year? Too be honest, I haven't. lol Sad, I know, but life has been busy. I'm finishing up a toy right now for a little girl who is going to be a big sister soon. I have a couple of knitted gifts to give away still too.
I would like to work more on my Matrix Collection. Hopefully I can come up with some more great cowls. Maybe some hats would be nice. I got my movies out again and will have to spend some time watching them and get more inspired.
I think I may start a Castle collection too. I have the first three seasons on DVD. I would like to take some inspiration from the shows and design some more items too.
And there is always KALs to join and toys to make for my kids. ;)
We'll see where the year goes and what I get crafted. As long as I've got a project on my needles I'll be happy. :)
