Vera's Crafty Blog

Shifting to Neutral~~ 4KCBWDAY4

Knitting and Crocheting Blog Week Day 4~~ Color Review

What are your favourite colors for knitted or crocheted projects. Have a think about what colors you seem to favour when yarn shopping and crafting.

Only after writing this part of your post should you then actually look to see what colors you have used in your projects. Make a quick tally of what colours you have used in your projects over the past year and compare it to the colors you have written about. Compare this, in turn, to the colors that are most dominant in your yarn stash – do they correlate?

Now think back to your house animal - do the colors you have chosen relate to your animal in anyway - if you are in the house of peacock, for example, are your projects often multicolored and bright?

What's Your Favorite Color, Baby?

I often close blog posts with a video. It's about time to start with one.

Let's rock! 

 

I don't think I have a favorite color, I tend to shift pallets. 

Hello Colors!

There was a time that gravitated towards pinks, bright blues and berries.  Here are some of my yarn purchases from some years ago.

First, some caveats...

• Yes, I should have made something with these yarns by now. 
• No, you cannot have the Wollmeise! The yarn at approximately 1 o'clock.
• I do plan to make the Just Ribbing Socks with the Apple Pie Laine (blue) yarn and Broadripple socks with the Cascade Fixation (the pink yarn in the center)
• This is just a small sample of my yarn stash.  I actually have enough start my own store. Please don't call Hoarders. 

 

It got to the point that my knitsibs and the owner of the LYS would set aside yarn for me in a my Hello Kitty pallet.

Still Life: Brown Girl in a Brown Sweater

The Vera Sweater changed all that. I was enchanted by her from the moment I saw her, but was baffled as to a color for her.  I felt a bright color would be garish, but I didn't want white or cream. The LYS owner suggested brown, but I was all like, "A brown girl in a brown sweater won't work." She mentioned that my skin tone has a red (or perhaps yellow, I'm unsure) cast, and the color would compliment.

I trusted her, and knitted one of my favorite sweaters brown.

Here she is blocking.

...And here I am modeling. How now brown...Okay, you get the point.

 

I adore this sweater so.  In fact, I wore her to work yesterday, but what the it did was give me permission to wear neutrals.  I still like loud colors for socks and hats, but I'm into earth colors now.

Witness some recent yarn purchase.

Seriously, don't call Hoarders.

Now, I'm all, "Earth mama--no drama."

By the way, I kind of dislike yellow and black together--with apologies to the House of Bee.

Still buzzing, though.

Let the Groove Get In!

Sister Act II

Now that I tamed the gauge monster that was the Little Sister pattern, I added buttons to the hats. The ladies at work informed me that the violet one will fit the 10 month old and the other one will fit a 0-3 month old.  

I also finished up an adult hat.

I do want one in white/cream as well.

Just Let the Groove Get In

Now that my knitting/crocheting mojo has kicked in somewhat, I'm feeling this as my next project.

It's the Chelsea Market Hat, and I'm in love.  

I know that it's April, and while it's odd that the mojo wishes to make a wool hat, I'm so glad she's back that I will not argue matters of seasonality with her.

Any way my knitting groove can get in is fine by me. 

I'll dig out some Dream in Color and get to work on her this weekend. Hoping for a smooth knit with no gauge issues. Still working on the baby blankets too. Pleased with the progress.

I know that the latest Justin Timberlake album, The 20 20 Experience isn't supposed to appeal to my demographic*, and some may feel that it doesn't have the right hipster factor, but overall, I kind of dig it.  True, the songs can go on too long and the themes can be repetitive and way, way overproduced, but it has its share of good tunes.

This one in particular.

 

I hope it's my comeback theme...

*Then again, what does?

A Bolt from Beth

(This is a reworking of yesterday's post, which has been deleted.)

My Moment of Zen

As I refashion the baby blankets (more on that in my next post post), I'm delighted to feel traces of my long lost knitting and crocheting mojo returning. It's a warming feeling that starts as my fingers work the yarn and it moves toward my heart, and I lose myself in the work.

The other day, I was hanging out with some knitsibs, working on the one of the blankets when a friend asked me the other day if I like knitting or crocheting better.

It wasn't just any friend, it was Beth Parrott, one of the best knitters I know and a published author. She's also generous with her advice.   If you want to know why one cast on is better than another for a project--or any any of those knitting questions you are afraid to ask, just ask her; she will know.

Anwyay, I started with my standard response that I love both knitting and crocheting (I do), and I find different purposes for both (true).   She said that although I knit well, when I crochet, I visibly relax, and it seems as if the crocheting is effortless--a part of me.

Something hit me; I didn't know what to say; I blabbed something I forgot. It means so to me coming from her. Also, tears welled up in my eyes because I realized that I have found it.

I'm not a religous person, and I have tried meditation, but normally, in spite of all the good advice, videos, and book, I usually sit there and worry.  Beth's remarks struck me like a bolt out of the blue. I've had my way of meditiation all along.  

My own moment of Zen.  It's what I knit and crochet for. I know it seems silly that I'm just getting around to this relevation, but there you have it.

Is my mojo back?

One Stubborn Sister

I saw this on my Facebook news feed the other day and I just had to make it. 

It's the Little Sister hat pattern, and I need something quick, cute, and easy to keep me on the mojo track.  A co-worker has a 10 month old daughter, and even though it's springtime, she could get some wear out of a little cotton hat.  I don't sew, so I'll crochet a flower accent instead.

I normally so this so for a hat, but I grabbed some yarn and set about a gauge swatch...or two..or three.

(BTW, I love my gauge wizard ruler.)

The pattern calls for a 3.75 mm hook, so I since I crochet on the tight side, I started out with a 4.0 mm, then went to a 3.5 mm, then a 3.  Still not quite the gauge.  Going to a smaller hook wouldn't work well with the yarn, so I tried a toddler size with the 3.o.

Thought I would run out of yarn, and looking too big.

Switched yarns and tried again.  Made abut 90% of the hat, more than shown here.

Yes.  Too big.

A baby size with a 3.0. Added an extra row to make it look better and whipped up a small flower.

Cute, but more a child size.

Next, I modified the pattern, taking away a repeat and tried the baby size on a  3.0 mm again. 

Feeling better now.  I made a flower for the violet one from my favorite flower pattern from Dot Matthews. I skipped the last last of petals, though.

Here are the finsihed hats.

Decided to make a larger flower for the cream colored hat.  

So much for a quick and easy project, but with the mods, this may be a good project. I'll take both to work tomorrow, and see if the sizes work, but all of this makes me realize just how much I love the process.

And it is a process...

Back in Fashion

Music is another form of mediation. I love so many types of music.  Tunes are always running in the background of my thoughts, and I often pick one up and run with it.  I share some of it with others on social media. I would do more, but I feel that what I share makes me seem crazy enough already.

My obession with the band Depeche Mode began back when I was in the Air Force, and a friend lent me the cassette tapes of Depeche Mode 101. While I knew a couple of hits, I really didn't follow the band, but upon listening, I became obessed.  I listened to nothing else for a month or so.  Then I went retro, and brought all their previous albums. 

I saw the video of Personal Jesus, and went to the BX the next day to buy Violator, still their best album, and how I love Enjoy the Silence.

 

The video reminds me of an episode of Babar when he couldn't find any place where he could be left alone.  I don't know if  that was on the director's mind when he produced this video, but that was the first thing that came to mine.

Also Corbijn's use of color and scenery are spectaular.

Last week, the boys released their latest album, Delta Machine, and while it's no Violator, isn't not bad.  Here's the first video, Heaven.

 

The nearest they come to Charleston is Atlanta in September. My knitting, crocheting, and I should go.

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.

 

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!

Knice Knitty

Satan's Weather

Summer has hit Charleston with a slegehammer of heat, humdity, and drought. Although we pride ourselves on being able to take the heat, the days when the temperatures soared into the triple digits tested the mettle of even the most hardy Lowcountry dwellers.

Still, I had to laugh when one of my friends wrote, "Satan, you can have your weather back."

Falling for Knitty

However, Knitty is calm, cool, and collected with it's First Fall, 2011 issue. 

Lingerie Sock

I literally gasped when I saw this sock. I've been in the sock doldrums for a while, but this may get some wind in my sails.

Of course, I'll stress about the yarn, but that's what I call love.

Creekbed

A great use of sock yarn, a cool scarf, and a lovely gift.

Pondering...

Date Night

Very chic. Looks fast and easy too.

Undercurrent

So Veraesque.  I just may have enough Noro in stash to make it.

Tortora

'Cause it's a hat, and a cool one at that.

Another gift idea. Of there'll be one for myself.  You know how I feel about hats.

I've always loved the magazine; they consistently have high quality free patterns and excellent articles, but this issue is especially good. Of course there's more cool stuff to consider as well.

An Awwwwesome Moment

There may be 10 people in the world who haven't seen this video, but I just have to share it.

 

Just the most adorable minute on the internet.

Keep it cute cats and kittens!

 

Four for Four

CreateSouth 2011

This weekend, Patrick and I trekked up to the Grand Strand for CreateSouth, 2011.  It was the fourth CreateSouth, and I've been to all of them.

I had a total blast.

I attended a session on cloud computing, creating your own brand, and made some sweet origami boxes.  Really relaxing and tons of fun.

I'm planning to take a sewing class from the presenter's shop, Craft Happy.

I even got to host my own session. "Knitting Time with Vera," and reintroduced a couple of people with their inner crochet.  It warms my crafty heart.

Here I am teaching knitting. It's hard to teach in a 45 minute session, but I got some basics in.

Of course, the best thing about CreateSouth is the people.  So nice to see local blogger, and now, published author, Heather Solos.

She generously gave me the two Home Ec 101 books  for my Blogiversary contest. I brought one for myself via my Nook, and I going to get one for my MIL.

Aren't these shirt cool?

I brought this one.  Nothing like a rad t shirt to make housework go by faster.

I even snuck in a little crocheting.  The baby blanket is going well, but I've been putzing around, and it's due for a baby shower next week.

It was a great day, and conference. I'm down with the "each one-teach one" vibe--very low key and  welcoming.

The elevator pitch session is great.  You can get up in front of  the group, and pitch an idea or ask for help.  I said that I wanted to get some writing opportunities, and I got some takers!

More on to that to come.

After the conference, I went to an afterparty, a play, and another afterparty for the play. Had a ton of fun, but I'm all about taking it easy today before heading back to Charleston.

Looking forward to CreateSouth V.

Of course, I did my mini coastal yarn crawl, stopping by Island Knits and Knit N Purl.  I'm being stash mindful, so I got some patterns and a book I really I've been eyeing for a while,  Norah Gaughan Men.

Love this book. Very nice sweaters and accessories for men that are plesant to knit that the men will actually wear.

Here's Beagle.  Both Pat and I like this one.

Not feeling the ax, though.

Take Me Home

This past week was the 4oth anniversary of the John Denver classic, Take Me Home, Country Road.  Here is a good article with interesting  information on the song.

 

I once sang this song while on  a bus pretty much all the way through West Virginia.  Mind you, I was part of a choir and not the only one singing.

Good times.

Next?

Lorna Suzanne

Fresh from knitting Oriel, I find that I'm in serious cardi mode.  I spotted this pretty sweater a few weeks ago, and I'm compelled.

I know it a departure from my dippy-hippy/frumpy lumpy style of dress, but cuteness prevails.

From the front...

Back...

 

And side.




Yes, there are bobbles, but I'm willing to suffer a little in return for no seaming.

Now for the yarn choices.  Keeping it stash mindful, I want to go with the middle choice, the Cascade 220 in gray. While the lavender is pretty, I don't think it will go with much in my wardrobe.

I feel the green Ultra Alpaca will be too hot.

Pondering...Pondering...

What is happening to me?  It's like I woke up, and I don't want pink anymore. I'm finding this shift to neutrals weird.

The Last Movie Star

Although I knew she was gravely ill, the passing of Elizabeth Taylor yesterday still caught me off guard.

And my thoughts immediately turned to my mother.  For a millisecond, my impluse was to call and tell her. I so much want to talk to her.

Taylor was one her favorite actors, and one of my favorite childhood memories was sitting with her and watching Cleopatra together (even then, I watched it for the clothes) and keeping up with the latest "Liz and Dick" scuttlebutt.

We would have such a good chat.  It's been playing over and over in my head.

 

...and White Diamonds was one of Mom's favorite fragrances too.

 

Not so fast, Tom Ryan.  That line slays me.

Rest in Peace, Elizabeth.  I hope there are plenty of diamonds where you are today.

Still missing you, Mom.

Love,

Vera

Spring Flings

Oriel Cardigan

My Oriel Cardigan is finally complete, and the first item off the needles for Spring, 2011!

This was such a fun knit.  I loved working on the lace at the bottom.  Although I took nearly a month to complete it,  this was a quick knit when I sat down to work on her.

I'm growning to like the taupe; I think that I'm shifting towards neutrals in my middle age.  The Nashua Creative Focus Cotton was a pleasant knit.

I chose very plain, Wal Mart buttons, but I think they work.

 

Although a mild blocking on the lace wouldn't kill it, I like the fit, and think it would look lovely in wool as a full blown long sleeved sweater.

South Bay Shawlette

I'm also working on a South Bay Shawlette as a prayer shawl for a hospice.

It's a lovely pattern, and easy to crochet.  The Caron Spa, while super soft, is very splitty, and a bit of a Diva PITA to work with.

I should make another one in sock yarn.  With crochet, lighter is almost always better.

Helon Dress

I got the pattern and yarn.

I went with the Sandalwood colorway on the yarn, which is more or less my nude.  Hope that this doesn't turn out to be the "Invisible Girl" dress.

I played around with the lace pattern a little, but need to do a serious gauge swatch.  I can be slack about gauge many times (didn't do one for Oriel), but this project is too large for skimping.

Crocheted Shell Blanket

The yarn for this blanket should come in any day now.

One of my Knitsibs is having a baby boy in May, and the shower is in several weeks, so I'm pretty sure I can pull this off.  I ordered the colors pictured.

I <3 Spring!

Even though I love the extra evening light, I haven't adjusted to Daylight Savings Time very well.  It's probably an aging thing.

...and the pollen is everywhere!  Mellow Yellow, indeed.

Still, I love spring.

I'm looking forward to some visits from relatives, Create South, US Pro Cycling Championships, Georgia Renaissance Festival, Spoleto, and of course getting around and about in Charleston before it gets too hot.

Today's video.

 

In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.

- William Shakespeare

Green Thoughts

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've spent the morning doing what every good crocheter should be doing or have done.

Making shamrocks, of course.

I found a quick pattern here.  I can whip one up in about five minutes, so it makes a great last minute gift for someone who forgot to wear green, and although I didn't have the shade of green that I wanted, I kept it stash mindfulness and it's green enough.

The ones in the photo above were given to my Knitsibs at the LYS.  I'm finishing another batch for co-workers.

Playing Catch Up

I should have had my Oriel Cardigan done by now, but I was under the weather for a while, and didn't want to knit lace in on drugs.

I did get the Rowan #43 and the yarn for the Helon Dress should arrive soon.

I also started a prayer shawl for a friend.

Green Thoughts

More on those projects later.  Today's song is from one of my favorite 80's albums, Green Thoughts by The Smithereens

 

Okay, a song about wrestling with jealous thoughts probably isn't the best match for a St. Patrick's Day post, but the title fits and Pat DiNizio has a great voice, so it stays.

May the luck of the Irish be with you today.

 

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!