Vera's Crafty Blog

Little Works of Art

A Bolt Out of the Ravelry Blue

The best place for me to get pattern ideas is the friend's activity tab on Ravelry.  I love to look at what my friends are working on and be inspired.

A lightening bolt hit me when I first laid eyes on this scarf, designed by my friend, Susan Lawrence.

Interweave Accessories 2011

It's the Two Ribs Infinity Scarf, from Interweave Knits Accessories 2011.  These scarves are the "in thing" now, and I just have to get one on the needles soon.  I have some Noro Silk Garden that I think will work.

It took me several weeks to get the magazine after I saw the scarf.  It wasn't at the bookstores or my LYS, and I didn't want to order it on line.  Finally, I picked it up from the LYS last week, and besides the scarf, I was impressed by the amount of things I want to knit.

The Juris Mitts are pretty cool, and Patrick is overdue for some mitts since the ones I've made for him a while back have worn thin.

I so haven't made a pair of socks in a while, and I like the Crocus Socks.

Of, course, you know, it's all about the hats for me this time of year. Here are two Berets I'm really digging.

The Linocut Beret...

and the Arabesque Beret.

The Pointilist Hat is super cute, but I hate knitting  bobbles.

And, perhaps, there could be a Frost Hat in Patrick's future.

Out of the 42 patterns in the magazine, I would make most of them, so I'd highly recommend it.

The magazine's spine states, "Make Little Works of Art", and that just about sums up accessories to me.

Getting There

I listen to the podcast, The Writer's Alamanc, almost daily.  I adore having Garrison Keillor read to me, and it's a lovely, peaceful way to start the morning.

This year, I have a milestone birthday (#50), and already, I'm feeling pensive.  I love this poem from December 30, 2011.

There by George Johnston

One keeps itching to get there. Where? Never mind
where; one gets there at last, and does not come back
again to tell anyone else where
or how, or what it is like there.

One drives internal combustion vehicles
or one walks, or one rockets across the sky.

Restlessness is the ness one goes by.
It infallibly takes one there.

Where will this year take me?  Closer to there?

Stay tuned.

 

Hello 2012!

She's Baaack!

Kitty White hasn't graced in blog in some time, and it's about time she returns. This month, she is accompanied by her twin. Mimmy.

Fun fact: Kitty's bow is on the left and Mimmy's is on the right. Aren't you glad you know?

Looking forward to a new season of blogging and sharing.

Happy New Year!

Say It Like You Meme It

For My Consideration--Ryan Gosling

As much time as I spend on the internet (not blogging, I know), I've pretty much have managed to stay away from memes, so it's only recently that I stumbled across the F**k Yeah! Ryan Gosling site, the Feminist Ryan Gosling, and the Typographer Ryan Gosling. I'm sure there are a host of others...

It's funny, because although I have tremendous respect for him as an actor (he was fabulous in Blue Valentine and The Ides of March), and he's very handsome, I've never really considered him.

You know, considered him.

Then, along came Handmade Ryan Gosling, and I was like all in.  I quickly created four submissions, even waking up Patrick to show me how to photoshop the words.

This one was based on an actual incident, and it's my favorite.  I was taking an armful of yarn up to the cashier, and Patrick noticed that one of the skeins was the wrong dye lot, took that one out, and got the right one for me.  It made the site, but with a different photo.

I'm not called the Crazy Hat Lady for nothing, and doesn't he need one?

Here's another submission that made the site, design elements and all.

I doubt if this is going to make the site, but it's Patrick's favorite. I really need to do a blog post on this some day.

I don't advocate violence, but Ryan is there for me.

I've had so much fun with these.

 

Consider me considered.

Color Me Good

No Fear?

I've been knitting in earnest for about eight years now, and for the most part, I'm a "Just Do It" kind of knitter. If I want to make something I'll jump into it.  If I don't posses a particular skill, I'll read up on it, and incorporate it . 

Double pointed needles, entrelac, toe up socks, top down socks, short rows, and magic loop are among many of the techniques that I've picked up over the years.  It doesn't mean that I like them equally, but I'm glad I have them in my arsenal.

...And then there's color knitting.

For some reason, I've been tepid about it.  I've done relatively little and I like the results, but just haven't felt the love. 

BarCampCHS Hat

When some friends asked me to design a BarCamp hat last year, I thought about it; brought the yarn, and set it aside. This year, I flexed a few designing muscles.

Charting and Sampling: Hurray! It looks like a fireball!

Prototype I.  Turned out be a child's size but cute. Colors work. Nice contrast.

Protoype II:  Still a little snug.  Don't like the 4X1 ribbing.  Not feeling the border around the fireballs, but getting closer to what I envision. Don't feel this blue is strong enough.

Protoype III: Almost there.  Like the 3X2 ribbing much better. Stronger border around the fireballs. Need to bring the design down a bit and have a better crown.

Production I: Really like the red and black colors.  Still need to fiddle with the crown.

Production II: Pretty pleased.

First Production Group: I'm happy with my first design. Of course I'll fiddle a little more.

Had a great time at BarCampCHS. Even had a session. KnitCamp!  Here I am explaining my designing process using Patrick as a model.

Group photo.  I'm in the very front with the brown pants. I'm not wearing my hat, but can you see some other hats in the group?

I felt inspired enough to start the Diplodocus Sweater for my nephew.

Kate's pattern rocks!  I finally started this past Sunday, and I'm really wanting to get to the sleeves.  I already want to make a couple more.  I wasn't too sure about my color choices at first but I think that Donovan will like the camo feel.

I'm even thinking of the Nora Dress from the new Knitscene.

Color me GOOD!

 

Just like the boy bands, I do it All 4 Love!

It's Dy-no-mite!

Yes, I've Joined Another Knit Along...

but I just had to when I came across this.

Just super cute!

It's the Diplodocus Sweater designed by the talented (and fellow South Carolinian) Kate Oates. It will be the perfect thing for my nine year old nephew, Donovan, who I taught how to knit this spring.

He did tell me that he needs another lesson soon. :-)

I thought these colors would be nice...

So between the Mystery Shawl and the sweater, I have lots of yarn to wind today for both KALs which start tomorrow.

It's probably overload, but that's just how I roll.

You can check out the Diplodocus KAL* here (Ravelry link).

Good Times?

Somehow, the title of the sweater lead me to today's video.

 

The early seasons of Good Times were must see tv in our home growing up, but I remember being baffled by the show's title--Good Times. Like my own family, the Evans were poor and living in an inner city housing project. 

How can that be "good" at all?

Looking back, however, I realize that despite the potential for disaster, that lurked about us, I pretty much had a safe and secure childhood thanks to my mother and family and friends that were there to help.

I'm really lucky, and I know it, and that's dyn-o-mite, indeed.

Good times.

Knitting a Mystery

Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL 2011 Earth & Sky

A couple of weeks ago, my knitsib, Jean told me about the KAL (Ravelry link), and since I have Hoarders levels of sock yarn, and I dig Stephen West's designs, and I have yet to knit one,  I decided to go stash diving, and here's what I came up with.

A: DIC Smooshy, Blue Lagoon
B: DIC Smooshy, Deep Seaflower
C: Mountain Colors, Bearfoot, Montana Chokecherry

Yeah, it's kind of  unveraesque colors, but it's pretty, and I'm going to make it work. 

It will be fun to knit into a mystery.

The KAL starts tomorrow, so I have a bit of yarn to wind.

 

 

I can't put into words how much I love this song, and it's so cool that the video incorporates crafts.  It will be on heavy rotation in my head as as knit.

Come to think of it, every project is a bit of knitting (or crocheting) into a mystery.

Zippity Do Da

Zipline Shell

My Zipline Shell for the Tour de France KAL/CAL (Ravelry Link) is finally fini!

Pattern: Zipline Shell from Summer 2011 Interweave Crochet by Linda Permann

Started: July 2, 2011

Ended: July 24, 2011

Yarn: Louet Euroflax Sports Weight

Hook: D/3.0mm

Size: XS/S

Notes: Easy, quick pattern, but I totally putzed around while crocheting it. I so got into this years's Tour de France, that I found it difficult to crochet during the race, and ended up putting it down for days at a stretch.  The linen is also thicker than the yarn that was called for and I had a difficult time getting gauge.  In fact, I nearly finished the first side before I decided to rip her back and restart.

So I guess it wasn't so zippy, but it turned out well.

I didn't get to the Sunflower Fields Shawl at all, but I plan to.