Vera's Crafty Blog

Spoleto of Socks

I Go, You Go...SpoJo!

Yes, gentle readers, it's that time of year again. Spoleto USA and Piccolo Spoleto are merely hours away.  For a little over two weeks, I simply get caught up in the rapture of the arts--Patrick, not so much, but sometimes, I drag him along.  Last year, he discovered that he liked the music of the Renaissance, so there's hope....

This year, I plan to take things to another level by volunteering as a Spoleto Journalist or SpoJo.  As a SpoJo, I get to blog, tweet, and flickr my Spoleto experience. 

I'm looking forward to having a lot of fun and perhaps actually attending a fabulous party.  Check out the Spoleto Today blog for the latest.

Keeping it Crafty--Spoleto of  Socks

I'll be busy with Spoleto soon, but I always find a reason to keep it crafty.  I almost always bring my knitting or crocheting to performances.  As I work on my projects and take in the performances, I'm often struck by the fact that I'm watching someone create as I create.   It's my Moment of Zen.

This year, I'm going to concentrate on finishing up some sock UFOs before Summer of Socks kicks in on June 21st.  It's my Spoleto of Socks, if you will.

Here are the candidates

Loksins!

Eeek!  One of these days, I need to get a good photo of that sock.  It's really wonderful. I started the sock in Oct, 2007.  Made one sock so far.  I love the pattern and the ohsopretty Wollmeise, so I'm not sure why I stopped.

Sweet Dreams Socks

This sock is from last July.  I love the sock as well as the Dream in Color Smooshy in Happy Forest.  I thought the first sock was too tight, so I put it down, but I tried it on again today, and while it is a little tight, it fits great, so I'll work on #2.

Meida Socks

I started them last May during last year's Spoleto.  I really adore these socks and found them a nice knit, but came close to running out of yarn, so I ordered some more, but in the meanwhile, got turned around by other projects. As you can see, I don't have far to go.

Thujas

I probably started this last winter, and this will be my fourth pair.  I just need a super easy sock to work in while I make the others.

Not Dancing with Jason

Jason Taylor placed second on Dancing with the Stars.  Of course I wanted him to win, but I'm okay with the results. However, it seems that the Dolphins want no part of him.

Stay tuned!

Hello Kamo Kitty!

Still Crocheting in May

I taught another crochet class this past Saturday.

A Tank is Born

My Fiber Trends Basic Tank in the colorway that I renamed Kamo Kitty is done.

I like how it turned out. It really like how the crocheted trim makes it come out.   It's a quick and pleasant knit.

Sock It To Me

I got my Hello Kitty Sock Kit from Woolgirl yesterday.  If you haven't received yours yet and don't want a spolier, please avert your eyes, but I'm compelled to show this.

Of course I love the sock yarn in the Hello Kitty colorway and the pattern, but I'm really digging the soaps, pen, stitchmarkers, notebook,  stickers, bag, and figurine.  What's really cool about the figurine is that I already have seven of them, and this is one I didn't have.

Now she can join her sisters.

I must give a hearty shout to Jen of Woolgirl for putting together such an awesome kit.  It's absolutely Kittilious!

Just in case you doubt HK isn't bent on World Domination, check this out.

Spoleto of Socks

It's nearly June, and I have yet to knit a sock.  The Summer of Socks KAL starts June 21st, but I have more than a few socks to work on before then.

The Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto festivals start at the end of the week and runs for a little over two weeks, from May 23rd thru June 8th,so my goals is to pick up some of my sock UFOs, and finish them during the festival.

My own Spoleto of Socks!

Sirena Basic Tank--Back View

Sirena Basic Tank in Progress

Sirena Basic Tank, originally uploaded by vhanna26.

Just completed the back of the tank. It works up super quickly, and I like the pink camo effect. The picture cannot convey how soft the yarn is or what a nice sheen it has, but it's really gorgeous and almost sold out at the LYS.

WWHKW?

It looks somewhat like the pink camo that Hello Kitty would wear.

Blogger/Tweeter Meet Up 051308

Madra Rua Meet Up

The Lowcountry Blogger/Tweeters had a meet up this evening.  It started at 6pm, and I found myself looking forward to it all day at work.

It was at Madra Rua, an Irish Pub in North Charleston.  I had been there once before, over a year ago, and I enjoyed the place as well as meeting new bloggers and tweeters.

Of course, I took some knitting.  I'm working on a Fiber Trends Basic Tank in some Sirena Pima Cotton from The Purled Llama Co.

The color is Sahara Sun.  The yarn is so soft and cuddly, I just had to make something with it.

Here are some more photos from the meet up.

 

Life in 140 Characters or Less

In the past month or so, I've become a Tweeter.  I had heard lots of buzz about Twitter, but I didn't get it.  Really, all you do is write about what you are up to in 140 characters or less, and you follow and friend other Tweeter.  It does seem kind of stalky and pointless at first, but I have a good group of Tweeters that I follow.  I learned to tweet from my mobile phone, and I can send photos too.

I often don't blog because I may not have too much to say, then I wait until have way too much to say, Twitter seems to fill that gap for me.  I had a great time tweeting the NFL Draft and my crocheting class, and I dig seeing what others are doing, and just throwing in a thought or two--or more throughout the day.

Check out the upper right sidebar to see what I'm up to, and follow me if you'd like.

Crochet @ Knit

In Sesssion

Last night, I taught a crocheting class at Knit

I went over the basics, and got the most of the the class started on the Crocheted Belt pattern.  The pattern has a small error in it, but we worked through it.  I will put my corrections on the pattern for my next class on May 17th, or just have them do a belt in plain 'ol single crochet some some variation.

Meanwhile...

As I work, Keisha plays.

She had grabbed some garments I crocheted, put them on, and paraded about the store in them.

While it's not the best showing of my work, it does show that we know how to have fun at Knit!

Spin This!

Mammoth Hair, originally uploaded by vhanna26.

Here's some woolly mammoth hair that Patrick got at the Lowcountry Jewelry, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show today.

Wonder how much more he would need to actually spin some yarn?

Also saw Iron Man today. Loved it. Robert Downey, Jr. hit just the right notes.

If you go, please be sure to stay until the credits are over for a surprise.

Babette Begins...

Bust Up Some Stash

Crocheting the Polka Dot Blankie got me wanting to do another throw.  I have been wanting do make the Babette Blanket for some time now, but the prospect of choosing 22 skiens of Koigu scared me as well as putting together 126 squares.

...but I already have enough Koigu and other simliar sock yarn--Claudia's Handpaint and Louet Gems in stash to make it although I feel I need some blue.

..and the motifs are a quick crochet and I'll try to be good about weaving and assembling as I go.

Let's Get it Started!

Well, not so much.

I made the first square.

Icky! I don't like it, so it's getting  partially frogged, but I'm on my way.

I already love the pattern too.