now in print!

Hey everyone!


I'm just stopping in to let you know that I've been published*!


That's right! Come the new year, if you are looking for a new calendar, pick up the 2014 Knitting Pattern a Day calendar, and you will find my Felted Fish Cat Toy pattern on May 5th!




* Ok, it's kinda cheesy since I wasn't paid for the pattern. I entered it in their contest to win money, but didn't win, and all runners up were put in the calendar. But still... published!

Introducing Camembert, our new Doorstop Mouse

we like to keep the windows open as much as possible, but on breezier days that almost always means doors getting blown shut.

We've had Marmalade at our bedroom door for ages, but TW's door has been kept open by random object for far too long, so I finally decided to make Marmalade a companion.

Isn't he adorable?



Yarn: Bernat Baby Softee, held double
hook: G (4mm)
pattern: Amigurumi mouse doorstop

I stuffed him with a nice heavy rock I found while out on a hike and lots of polyfill.
He seems to be settling in nicely, and TW love him, every night before going to bed he has to stop and say 'hi' to his mousy.

Hey! long time no see!

So I've been super busy living life and enjoying my time with TW, but I have a ton of stuff to share with you!

Still no progress on the shawl, I really should get myself an audiobook and buckle down, but until then, I’ve finally finished the big blanket!

For size reference, that's our queen sized bed.

(yes, I had to stand on a chair to take that picture, it was scary.)

It's nice and soft and cozy and warm, and I finished it just in time for a summer heat wave, so it hasn't gotten much use yet, but I foresee lots of cuddles come winter time.

And just because, here is TW modeling it for you:

Yarn: my hand dyed hand-spun

Needles: size 10.5 (6.5mm) knitpicks options

Pattern: a bastardized Shetland Shawl construction: I cast on three stitches and knit the middle panel, increasing every row until it was big enough, and decreasing back down. (a la Grannie's Favorite Washcloth). Then I picked up stitches all along the edge and knit in the round increasing at the corners until I ran out of blue yarn, then I did a sideways knit on edging in white, ending it back at the beginning with Kitchener stitch.

It's meand to be big and warm, and not need any blocking if it needs to be washed.  I can simply squeeze out the water and pat it out in a rough square shape and let it dry.
(My poor pi blanket got dirty soon after TW was born and it still hasn't been blocked since we don't have the room for it here.)

***

Bill's socks are coming along nicely, I have one more pattern repeat and then I start the ribbing.

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And as the weather has finally started to cool off a bit we can start turning off the AC and opening the windows, which means pleasant breezes... and slamming doors. So I’ve had to get back to the little mousy doorstop. I picked up a nice heavy stone for his base today while out on a hike so I can stuff him and finish up the rest of his head. Then its just a quick nose and a couple of ears!

(although I do have to admit that he looks a bit creepy right now.)

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In other crafty news, my poor juggling balls have been sitting on my bedroom bookshelf for ages, ever since the old bag fell apart in the wash, so I decided (with the inspiration from my new friends on the FB Project Project group (hi guys!)) that it was time to make them a new bag.

It was super simple, just the leg off of an old pair of PJ bottoms, and a kumihimo cord made from cotton yarn. But now my juggling stuff has a happy new home, and I have more room for books on my self!

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Before I made the juggling bag I decided to try my idea out on a pair of jeans first. Then I got the nifty idea to make it a set, so I whipped up a few denim bean bags to go with it. (the aren't filled yet, since I need to pick up some of those little plastic pellets first, but I have a craft store trip planned for the near future for some other crafty projects, so I'll pick some up then.)

I have a friend who juggles also, and since I certainly don't need any more balls, I may give them to him.

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I have a few more crafty ideas in the works, and I'm trying to keep up knitting regularly, (even with the lack of a weekly get together) so hopefully I'll be back soon with more updates!