Bunny Prototype

This was the first time I went to knit at Fanciwerks on a Monday. I worked on my bunny prototype, my daily afghan hexagon, and my magenta slouch cap. I'd say I got quite a lot done in 3 hours. Sharon was there making mittens or fingerless gloves. And Terri was making a sweater for her grandson.  It was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon and helped reduce my stress levels.

The bunny so far. I hope to put this and more animal patterns in a book.

Today's Hexagon for my mood afghan.

Plarn Tote Bag

I am happy to report that I am almost done with the Plarn tote bag I've been working on. It was a UFO for a long time. I think I started it as an AllFreeCrochet tutorial, and then I stopped working for them and then it got stuffed in a box and I found it 2 years after I moved. Plastic doesn't really fall apart that easily so I just picked up where I left off. I just did the last 2 rows. All I have left is the handles and then I'll have a very useful grocery bag. With CA pressuring everyone to switch to tote bags, I'll be ready with my handmade bag. I'm thinking for handles I'll use rope and then crochet over it so it matches the rest of the bag.

An Odd Bit of Knitting

I started knitting something new yesterday inspired by this book. I didn't have the book with me though, so I'm winging it, because that is how we roll here.

Magenta Slouchy Hat

This is very similar to the one I make if you need a pattern for a Easy Slouchy Unisex hat. http://thinkcrafts.com/blog/2013/05/08/easy-slouchy-unisex-beanie/#sthash.qn1i4stX.qjtu I'm making one in magenta right now, because it is chilly in my house at night now and I wore out my favorite knitted hat.

The Jinx of the Gold Scarf

I love the gold yarn.

I'm beginning to think my gold scarf is jinxed. I've frogged it twice already. I redesigned it to be only 6 stitches across because I don't want to buy another skein of yarn and it was clear halfway though that I didn't have enough yarn for a wide scarf. I wanted something simple that I could make with one skein so that I could sell it in my Etsy shop and still make a profit. Even with a five dollar skein of yarn, and 2 hours of labor (if I could indeed knit it in 2 hours), I'd have to charge at least $30 to make a profit. ($5+ materials plus $12 an hour labor). If it takes 3 hours I'd have to charge $42. Soon, the item would be so expensive no one in their right mind would buy it. You see my dilemma.

Then I carried it outside to work on it and spilled red Mt. Dew on it. So I washed it, and laid it on a table to dry. About the time it was dry, the new kitten took a flying leap onto the table and dumped over the can of Mt. Dew on it again! Ack!  So I washed it again and left it on the clothes line to dry.

Houdini the new cat.

Knitting a Snake

I am an impulsive person. When I found out my grandson was visiting around my birthday (Jan. 3) I thought it would be fun to knit him a snake for a Christmas present. Easy peasy, right? I totally forgot how long it takes to knit a tube of that length. On the last day of his visit, I stuffed the snake in a bag and decided it was more important to spend time with him in the park than to sit there knitting.
   So here it is the end of February and I'm still working on it. It was my 'truck project' but my boyfriend started working almost 40 hours a week, so I wasn't going anywhere in the truck. Today was a trip to town to shop, so I took it along and worked on it on the drive home. Then tonight I realized I better put more stuffing in because the tube was getting really long and I only had the first foot or so stuffed.  (Yes, I know snakes don't have feet, I meant 12 inches).

So tonight before it got dark I put some more stuffing in and took some photos so you don't have to sit there trying to imagine what the snake looks like.

I also have 2 grandsons so I may have to make another snake. It's fun though, once I sit still long enough to do it.

There is no head yet. I am saving that for last. And there is no pattern, so I can't show you the final outcome until I'm done.

My geeky self.

Lots of ends to sew in. Knitting looks very messy sometimes.

Coiled snake and double pointed needles.

Using a yardstick to push the stuffing down

Stuffing the snake.

A snake is a tube that is narrow on each end and fatter in the middle.

Multicolored Gypsy Shawl

I love all the colors.

After six rows my hands need a rest.

It's been a productive day. I just did another 6 row set on my gypsy shawl. It's been awhile since I shared a photo of that so here we go. I wonder how big I can make it before I run out of needle length.

Knitting a Snake

I'm not sure when it happened, but I've been knitting daily for awhile. It wasn't like I planned it as a goal or anything. Today I made some progress on the second half of my poncho.

I also got some more knitting books at the Apple Valley library. I also got a book on dyeing and one on spinning, because I think I need to know more before I start teaching classes and hosting workshops.

I would like to do some felting, but the regular kind and needle felting. The only reason I've put it off is because of the expense of buying all the tools and supplies. One of the books has a cute and funny knitted and felted pink poodle. That would be so much fun to make.

Right now I'm knitting a snake for my grandson.

Knitting a snake. I also knitted the hat I'm wearing a few years back.