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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

WIPW: Week 16

Another week...Another WIP!!!

Well....1st things 1st....

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Be safe and have a wonderful Holiday Week :)
I finished my 1st scarf ever!!! If you read along last week I ventured into scarf making territory. It seemed simple enough, but I was still a bit nervous because all I crochet these days tends to be Amigurumi. I think it turned out neat. Here is a pic:

XMAS GIFT #2: (FO)

TULIPS SCARF:

Tulips Scarf
























It is folded over so it is actually twice as long as the picture shows, but I didnt have a model tonight to get the full length in a photo. The scarf measures 65".

Now for a bit of advice for any readers out there.

The pattern calls for 'blocking' the scarf. From what I have read it is advantageous to block a scarf for the following reasons:
  1. Reduce curling, straighten edges and make sewing up easier.
  2. Get rid of slight variations in length or width between two pieces that should match.
  3. Open out a fabric, such as lace, to show off the patterning.
  4. Smooth the surface of the knitting and make the stitches more even.
  5. Adjust the shape of the finished garment or reshape it after washing.
'Blocking' scarf consists of the following steps: (Thanks to Salihan Crafts for the tutorial)


HOW TO BLOCK A KNITTED SCARF

You’ll need wool detergent, a sink, washing machine, pillow case, a large flat surface like a bed and rust-proof pins.

1. Wash

Fill tub or sink with warm water and add a little wool detergent. (Check the bottle label for exact measurement.) Soak scarf in warm soapy water for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, roll the scarf gently while still in the water and pick it up in your hand. Make sure to support it well. Place aside.

2. Rinse

Empty tub and refill with lukewarm water. Place scarf back into the water and unroll. Swoosh the scarf around lightly in the water.

3. Spin

Get your pillowcase ready. Roll the scarf underwater and pick it up in your hands. Squeeze as much water out as possible. Place rolled-up scarf into a corner of the pillowcase (I use a bolster case). Tie a knot so that the scarf is squashed into the corner and will not move around. Set washing machine into spin cycle. Spin on fast speed.

4. Blocking

Carry the pillowcase to a large flat surface like a clean bed. Take the scarf out and unroll it onto the bed. Carefully stretch the wet knitted scarf out onto the bed to about the width and length that you want. You may wish to stop at this point if you are satisfied with the way it looks and leave the scarf to dry completely.
However, you may need to pin the knitted scarf in place to really show the pattern and get the right size. This is especially so in lace knitting. Using rust-proof or dressmakers’ pins, pin along the edges of the damp scarf. Use as many pins as needed to keep the edges straight and even. Dry the scarf completely before removing pins. You have successfully blocked a scarf!

Questions:
  1. Is it necessary to block a crocheted scarf?
  2. Can blocking a scarf distort the pattern by stretching the material out?
  3. How much longer will the scarf stretch to after blocking? Mine is already measured at 65" and I am worried that if I block the scarf it will reach to the floor
If anyone has any suggesstions let me know :)

Now onto my new WIPs:

XMAS GIFT #3: (WIP...cont)
HELLO KITTY PURSE

I havent made a ton of progress on this from last week, because I had to go to the fabric store to get some material to line the purse, and a snap closure. I did get the back panel finished tho! All I have left is to sew the lining to the insides of the front/back panels, sew on the snap, and complete the strap. I should have it finished by next WIPW!














Here is a pic of the back panel and the lining material I picked out:

Purse lining/snaps
 



















Hello Kitty purse back panel





















XMAS GIFT #6 & #7: (WIP)
MARIO & LUIGI

For my Nephew I have decided to make everyones favorite Italian brotherly duo....Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers...Mario & Luigi! He is really into the late 80s cartoon, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!





Yes...the one starring "Captain" Lou Albano as Mario for those of you who remember the show.







I once again have fallen back on utilizing patterns from Linda Potts of WolfDreamer off the Hook. Linda has some AMAZING videogame and cartoon related designs on Ravelry and her site. If you have a chance I highly recommend you stop by and browse her work.

XMAS GIFT #6: (WIP)
LUIGI


'Luigi' picture from wikipedia.org

This image is an illustration of a character or characters in a comic book, video game, or animated television program or film. The copyright for it is most likely held by either the publisher/producer and/or artist(s) producing the work in question. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of character artwork:

for commentary on the character or characters in question,

on the English-language blog: http://kissingtoast.blogspot.com/ qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law. Any other uses of this image, on this blog or elsewhere, may be copyright infringement.

Here are a few pics of my progress so far on the Luigi Ami:

THE HEAD:
Luigi Head (minus details)











THE TORSO:
Luigi Torso













THE NOSE:
Luigi Nose













THE EARS: (2)
Luigi Ears











THE MUSTACHE:
Luigi mustache














XMAS GIFT #8: (WIP)
CROCHET RING BRACELET

The Crochet Ring Bracelet is something that I have made before, and is one of my favorite gifts to make for the women in my family. It is super simple, consisting of only sc's into the center of an 'o' ring,  and doesnt take very long to make.

Materials:

Crochet thread
(I like to use Omega Hilo 100% Nylon thread)
Plastic 'o' rings
small amount of jewelery wire (for clasp)
Here is a picture of the WIP followed by a picture of a FO of a previously made crochet ring bracelet

Crochet Ring Bracelet WIP

Previous FO -- Crochet Ring Bracelet

Well....that about does it for this week! Whew....
Hopefully I will have finished my Hello Kitty Purse, Luigi, and Crochet Ring Bracelet by next Wed, and be ready to start on my Mario!

See you next week, and thanks for reading!!!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Plush Team November Giveaway


Well...it is time for yet another Plush Team giveaway! It has been awhile since I posted about the Plush Team site....but I have not forgotten how awesome it is! Woo Hoo! If you are not familiar with their blog...you SHOULD be! Hop on over there now...

 
Here is a bit about The Plush Team from their site:

 
"Etsy Plush Street Team is a group of artists supporting and furthering ideas behind plush dolls, toys and all the soft areas in between."

 
AWESOME RIGHT??

 


The Etsy Plush Street Team, Plush Team, hosts a monthly giveaway on their site. These monthly giveaways are a great way to showcase/feature the works of the AMAZING craftsters of the group. They are well worth entering as I one the August Giveaway myself! Here is what was delivered to my doorstep!!!


Agnes The Magpie
 Cute right?

 
So here is a bit about the November giveaway:

 
"The November giveaway is really something to be thankful for! This month, Leanna, of Plush Goodness is hosting the team giveaway with an adorable Lavender Cat! Lavender Cat loves to get into a bit of mischief, whether it's sitting on your computer keyboard, or unrolling and tangling a ball of yarn. So if you don't mind a little bit of mischief, Lavender would love to come and live at your house."

 
Made from fleece, with soft flannel tummy and ear patches, felt eyes and nose, and hand embroidered whisker and mouth details. Lavender measures 7.25 inches (18.5cm) tall by 7 inches (18cm) wide
 

 
Lavender Cat
She is truly adorable!

 
So what do you need to call Lavender your own? Just visit the Plush Goodness shop and then fill out this form.

 
But Wait! You can earn even more chances to win!

 
  • Become a Plush Team blog follower. If you're a new follower, let us know that you joined when you complete the form. If you're already following us, you can let us know that too and score one extra entry!
  • Follow the Plush Team on Facebook and/or Twitter. Again, let us know when you fill out the form if you're a new follower or an old friend and you'll receive one extra entry for each follow.
  • Tweet this giveaway. Make sure to give us a link to your tweet when you fill out the form to get one extra entry
  • Repost the giveaway on Facebook. Make sure to give us a link to your Facebook post when you fill out the form to get one extra entry.
  • Blog this giveaway. For an extra TWO entries, tell folks about this giveaway in your blog. Please make sure to use the Lavender's photo in your post and leave us a link when you fill out the entry form to get your entries.
  • Buy something from Plush Goodness or the Plush Team shop during the month of November. Get another FIVE chances to win by making a purchase from Plush Goodness or the Plush Team shop. Don't forget to let us know which new piece of plushie love you're calling your own!

Contest ends November 29, 2010!!!
 
So...

 
What are you waiting for...hop on over to Plush Team and check it out!!!

 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

WIPW: Week 15

Welcome back to my Work-In-Progress Wednesday Blog!!

I have been a furious crocheter this week!! I feel like I am finally back on track with all my 'stalled' projects which have been arranged according to deadlines starting with upcoming birthdays, xmas, and then special requests from friends/clients. I have been able to finish a few outstanding projects and start on a few more. I am sure that you other crafters out there are also in 'crunch-time' to whip up all those xmas gifts, right? I have made a pact with myself to work on a project every night, even if it is for just for a short while. I have also been toting my things around with me, so I can crochet before/after my shifts at work. I feel that as long as I have a hook and some yarn with me, I am more motivated/inclined to work a coupla stitiches in my down time. This has enabled me to move ahead on the many WIPs I have going.

1st things 1st:

FO from last weeks WIPW blog week 14:


XMAS GIFT #1: (FO)

BONITA HAT:

"I am also working on a few beanies for christmas. I usually make Amigurumi, so this is a new venture. I am using Caron's Simply Soft in Watermelon for this girls beanie. The pattern was found as a free download on Ravelry by Rebecca Averill."









And here is the FO:
'Bonita Hat'
























'Bonita Hat: Modeled by Joshua S. Fields'
























XMAS GIFT #2: (WIP)

TULIPS SCARF:

I started this week on a scarf for a white elephant swap for xmas. As I have mentioned before, I mostly crochet Amigurumi, so the venture into hats and scarfs is new territory for me. It is an exciting venture, and so far is going really well. For this WIP I have adapted a pattern made available on Ravelry by Julie Schramm of Noolie Knits called Tulips Hat & Scarf pattern available for free as a link on Ravelry. I have started on the scarf 1st, and providing I have time I will make the companion hat.

I am using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Glitter yarn in White/Multi for the scarf project, and a standard size 'I' crochet hook. This yarn was gifted to me recently in a stash swap, and I decided it would be a nice winter/xmas yarn for a scarf. The yarn is a lamb's wool blend, and is working beautifully for the project.













Here are a couple of pictures of the WIP as it stands today:
'Tulips Scarf'
























'Tulips Scarf (detail)'
























XMAS GIFT #3: (WIP)

HELLO KITTY PURSE:

I am super excited about this project that I came across on Ravelry. I am making the purse for my 5 year old cousin for Xmas. I have a feeling that when it is done and opened on Xmas that I will be making a few more for birthdays, ect. It is just too adorable! Thanks to Melinda Miller of Melinda Miller Designs for the free pattern download on Ravelry. You can find a link to the pattern here.

I am using Caron Simply Soft yarn in the following colors:

White #9701 (face)
Black #9727  (edging and facial details)
Watermelon 9501 (bow)

and

Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton! in the following color:

#12 Buttercup (flower and nose detail)

Here is a pic of the competed front panel of the WIP as it stands today.
'Hello Kitty purse'
























XMAS GIFTS #4 AND #5: (FO)

SQUIRTLE PLUSHIE: 
and
POKEBALL:

Both of these FO's I started and finished this week. They are for my 10 year old cousin. He is super into Pokemon right now, and has begged me to make him an Amigurumi Pokemon for Xmas. There was no possible way I was going to design and finish a design of my own, so I was lucky enough to find these two patterns as free downloads from Linda Potts of WolfDreamer off the Hook. Linda has some AMAZING videogame and cartoon related designs on Ravelry and her site. If you have a chance I highly recommend you stop by and browse her work.

XMAS GIFT #4:

For the Pokemon I decided on the 'Squirtle Plushie. He is cute and is one of the original Pokemon, so I thought it would be neat to go old-school.

Here is a picture of the animated 'Squirtle':


'Squirtle' picture from wikipedia.org
This image is an illustration of a character or characters in a comic book, video game, or animated television program or film. The copyright for it is most likely held by either the publisher/producer and/or artist(s) producing the work in question. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of character artwork:
for commentary on the character or characters in question,
on the English-language blog: http://kissingtoast.blogspot.com/ qualifies as fair use under United States copyright law. Any other uses of this image, on this blog or elsewhere, may be copyright infringement.
 
 
Here is a picture of my finished Amigurumi 'Squirtle':

'Squirtle' Plushie (Front View)

'Squirtle' Plushie Back view
























'Squirtle' Plushie Side view
























XMAS GIFT #5:

No Pokemon is complete without a Pokeball, so naturally I had to make one of those also.
I used the following yarns to complete the project:

Caron Simply Soft:

White #9701
Black #9727
Autumn Red

Here it is:
'Pokeball'
























In addition to all these projects I am finally making a little something for myself. I picked up a beautiful skein of Cascade 220 Quatro 5013 Chili Pepper at the Ravelry Week event at The Knitting Nest in Austin, TX. I am working on a winter hat for myself. I have not taken pictures of the WIP yet, but here is a picture of the yarn, which is just stunning!
Cascade Sierra Quatro in Chili Pepper



















Well...I guess that about wraps things up for this week. I hope to share more next Wed. See you then and Thanx for reading!!!

















Thursday, November 11, 2010

WIPW: Week 14

Well...I was able to work on a few more projects this week: A gift each for my two lovely Grandmothers birthdays...one very belated (sorry Nana!) My Mother, my Boyfriend, and I took the two lovely ladies out to lunch, where they opened their gifts.

GIFT #1: CHARCOAL the KITTEN

I used an adapted "Crazy Kitten" pattern from Super Cute: 25 Amigurumi Animals, by Annie Obaachan. This was the 1st book on Amigurumi that I picked up, and is still one of my favorites. The patterns are simple and is a great introduction into the world of Amigurumi.
Super Cute: 25 Amigurumi Animals



NOTIONS/MATERIALS:

Size D hook
Charcoal grey worsted weight yarn (I used Lion Brand's Vannas Choice in Charcoal)














Green 'cat eye' safety eyes
Pipe Cleaners
Fiber/Polyfill
Small amount of yellow yarn for facial embellishments

THE HEAD:

The pattern calls for a pretty basic Amigurumi head in the round with 5 rounds of increasing, 4 rounds of sc's, 4 rounds of decreasing. At this point, I add the safety eyes, and insert the polyfill at this point. Then the head is completed with one final round of decreasing. Here is the end product:
Charcoal 'Kitten Head' with Safety eyes




















THE BODY:

The pattern calls for a slender and tubular body with a slight increase towards the back end of the body. (3 rounds of increase, 4 rounds of sc, 1 round of decrease, 8 rounds of sc, 1 round of decrease, 2 rounds of sc, 1 round of decrease, insert batting, and a final round of decrease.) Here is the end product:


Charcoal 'Kitten Body'




















THE ARMS/LEGS (4 TOTAL):

I crocheted a total of 4 arms/legs for the kitten. They were pretty simple, and fairly quick to make. Here is what one looks like:


Charcoal 'Kitten leg/arm"




















THE TAIL:

The tail is a thinner version of the arms/legs. For poseablitiy I add pipe cleaners to the tail and then add the polyfill. I made the tail to be about 3 1/2 inches long. Here is the end result"


Charcoal 'Kitten Tail"




















THE EARS: (2)

The ears were fairly simple as well, and consisted of 5 rounds (3 rounds of increase.) Here is the end result:

Charcoal "Kitten ears"




















All the parts are now ready for assembly. I used the yellow yarn to embroider a nose and mouth to the head. I also cut 3 small lengths of the charcoal grey yarn for whiskers. Here is the FO:
Finished Charcoal the Kitten

GIFT #2: DOVE XMAS ORNAMENT:

For the dove ornament I used a pattern off of the Lion Brand Yarn website. You can find the pattern here. The dove ornament took around 1 hour for me to complete (and I am a fairly slow crocheter.)

NOTIONS/MATERIALS:

Size D hook
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Glitter yarn in White
Small mm size black buttons for eyes
Fiber/Polyfill
Small amount of charcoal yarn for the beak (I used Lion Brand Yarn Vanna's Choice in Charcoal)

Here is the FO:
Dove Ornament
I am also working on a few beanies for christmas. I usually make Amigurumi, so this is a new venture. I am using Caron's Simply Soft in Watermelon for this girls beanie. The pattern was found as a free download on Ravelry by Rebecca Averill. Here is one that is almost finished:
'Bonita Hat'




















For those of you who might be wondering...I am still working on my Doozer. It is just temporarilly on hold until I finish all my xmas gifts. More to come soon :) Thanks for reading!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

We Are Thankful for Ravelry Celebration -11/13/2010

If you are in the Austin, TX area in mid-November you should stop on by at The Knitting Nest (Austin, TX's premier LYS (Local Yarn Shop.) They will be hosting a Ravelry celebration November 16th, 2010 from 10am-6pm that will include a Silent Auction with the proceeds benefiting The American Cancer Society.

For those of you who would like to know a bit more about what The Knitting Nest is...Here is a quick bio/mission statement of their store.

"make yourself at home...

The Knitting Nest is a place to stock up on knitting supplies, learn more, hang out, and participate in the greater knitting community.
We currently stock the largest supply of Cascade Yarn in the Southwest United States. It includes every color currently made of Cascade 220 and many colors of Cascade 128, Cascade Superwash and Cascade Ecological Wool.
We also carry Farmhouse Yarns, Hill Country Yarns, Lorna’s Laces, Elsbeth Lavold and the new Organic O-Wool from Vermont Fibers - as well as many others."

Awesome right?...and don't worry...for those like me, Crocheters are welcome also!

You should also check out their website here.

Here is a bit about the event: (Reposted from The Knitting Nest Group Forum on Ravelry)

The Knitting Nest is excited to announce that we will be having a Ravelry celebration in November - because it is just a few weeks before Thanksgiving we are calling it “We Are Thankful for Ravelry” because - come on - WE ARE!!


We will be joined for the day by The Princesses of Ravelry:
Mary-Heather (rainydaygoods) and Sarah (onestitchshort) !!

We are also going to have a Silent Auction that day, just like we did for Texas Loves Ravelry - this time the money will be going to The American Cancer Society in honor of Mary-Heather’s mom who is currently (BRAVELY!) battling cancer.
So, mark your calendars! Start saving your money!

Send us a donation for the Silent Auction!!! I think it would be awesome if we had an entire table of giftcards donated by people for stores in the Austin area!

Most importantly - SPREAD THE WORD!! Feel free to copy and repost this in your own groups
My next post is going to be a list of all the people that have pledged donations and once they start rolling in we will start posting pictures! Join the fun!!

Here is a list of the companies who have made donations for the silent auction so far!!!!

Donations for The Silent Auction so far:


Namaste, Inc.
Black Sheep Dyeworks
The Bobbins Nest
Bluetulips
Bad Amy Knits
ZigZag Stitches
Max’s World
Sassafras Creations
Tom Bihn
Liberty Avenue Bags
Malabrigo Yarns
Diana Couture
Twist Collective
Berroco
Pamela Wynne of Flint Knits
Ysolda
Hannah Fettig of Knitbot
Jimmy Beans Wool
Kristen Kapur of Through the Loops
Dream In Color
Knit Picks
Sundara Yarn
Kollage Yarn