Blog Post on the Fly!

Good Lord things have been nuts!  It's been a crazy world in Sparksville this past week.  It seems to be calming down a little bit, which is great for both me and Mr. Sparks!

Firstly, SAFF was great.  The Girlz and I had a blast.  We all brought back preeties. Had some super carbage.  Enjoyed the beautiful Asheville color!  And had some good girl time sitting around in our room in the evening knitting.

Here is my knitting bud Annie, modelling some cute little finger puppets we found in a booth!  We both decided we need to make some of these!

My Girl Mel getting some Noro Knitting going!  Love this so much, that I had to copy...you'll see below!

Me & Annie resting our tootsies!  There was a lot of walking!!!

I snapped this in Downtown Asheville with my phone camera...the downtown was absolutely beautiful.

It was a whirlwind weekend, but so fun meeting old Ravelry friends and seeing all the yarn!

I did manage to finish up a couple scarves this past week, which I can't believe.

I couldn't be more pleased.  I love working this pattern.  And the self striping yarn really adds.  The yarn is from Hobby Lobby, their house brand, "I Love This Yarn".

This chevron pattern really makes a pretty ripple.  I have plans to make another one, but will be shaking it up a bit in my usual manner...that's all I'm going to say for now! :)

Another picture, just because!  LOL!

Check out my Noro Stripe!  Cute?  Once I saw Mel making one I wanted to do the same.  I added a solid black wool because I did not have two kinds of Noro in my stash.  I really like it!

I do believe I will give it a soak in some fabric softener to lessen the scratchiness of it.  I used a k2, p2 ribbing and switched yarn every two rows to create the stripe.  I have been thinking that all those left over variegated yarns I have stashed away may be just perfect for more of this!

Let me share with you this gorgeous hand spun hand dyed mohair I snagged at SAFF.  I saw a wrap there I loved made from mohair, but in a color that really wasn't me.  I picked up this mohair with that in mind.  Problem was I grabbed the brushed mohair.  It needed a fingering weight thread to go with it, so I paired it up with this garnet colored wool.

This is working up really fast.  I think once I get it to the width I want and bind off, I will cast on at each end and add a ruffle.  I can see it in my head, let's just hope it turns out that way!  LOL!

So, I'm off of here for now.  I hope to be back later this week with my wrap progress.  I also have a couple projects to get started on for a couple customers.  Another variegated wrap and a little girl's scarf.  If only I had more time! *sigh*

Finished Wrap!

Yay me!  I got it done.  This is truly "variegated yarn insanity"!  I think some knitters would really sneer at the constant changing of yarn, but I like it.  It keeps my interest.  I love to watch how the colors work out.  Weaving in ends has never bothered me.  I find that I get bored with something if it is all one color.  So I guess you could say, this keeps me going! 

I think adding the ribbing was a good move.   It gives it a pretty edging. 

Here's a back view.  I put in three buttonholes, but it could easily be changed up.  It would be pretty with buttons all the way down the edging, of course, I would have to increase the length for that.

It also looks pretty wrapped around the shoulders.  I had to experiment while I had my camera out...that's just how I am. 

This picture reminds me of a cowl neck sweater I used to have back in the 70s! 

So, now I have another one to make!  But first I want to finish a couple of scarves I have been working on.  And I miss my crochet hook bad!!!  I do have a half granny square shawl started that I am itching to work on again.  I just might have to pull it out and finish it up just to change up things. 

So here it is Sunday evening, and once more Monday is closer than I would like it to be.  Three day weekends would be so nice!  But I don't see that happening.  Next Friday I leave with the girls in knitting group to go to SAFF!  I cannot tell you how much fun it was last year.  My eyes glazed over when I walked in and saw all that yarn.  EVERYWHERE!  Hand dyed and hand spun yarn, for as far as the eye could see!  I'll definitely take my camera this year and share some pictures. 

I'm off to work on a scarf and kick back with a movie.  Hope everyone has a great week!

WIP - Body Wrap Near Completion!!

I am so close to finishing this up I can't stand it!  I do love it when I get something near to being finished and you can see everything coming together.  This is a special order.  I took a little creative freedom and added the ribbing around the entire wrap.  Have to say...me likey!

I couldn't help it, I had to put it on the dress form and snap some pictures.  I think the ribbing helps it fit to the body.  The back will have a couple of buttons to keep the whole thing on the bod.  I haven't quite got to the point yet.

Here's a little close up.  I am calling this "Crazy Insane Variegated Yarn Body Wrap"...the insanity for the continuously changing of colors and weaving in of ends.  There will be a final "tah - dah" later this week when I get it finished up.  I was hoping to get that done this weekend, but time is winding down and I still have a few more hours to put into this.  I am also writing a pattern for it to go into my etsy shop, in case anyone wants to partake in the insanity.

Let me also share with you a couple of scarves I have on the needles!

I got this pattern from "The Little Box of Scarves" the pattern is called Chevron and Feather scarf by Melissa Mathay and Sheryl Theis. I love it! I am using some Hobby Lobby "I Love This Yarn" in one of their variegated stripes.Couldn't be more pleased with out it is working up.

Striped Noro Scarf.  My Wednesday Night Knitting Partner in Crime turned me onto this little scarf, and I just had to give it a try!  You can find the pattern here.

I like it! Especially with the black in it. I am using a k2, p2 ribbing, and it is working out great.

Before I go, I just wanted to share a few pictures I snapped last weekend.  I went to a horse farm, and yes, fell in love with the horses!

This is "Big"...and he is a sweetie. I was totally in awe of him. He is so big!!

and this is Sassy. Isn't she pretty?!!!

I'm outta here for now. Got that Sunday evening thing to do and mentally prepare myself for another Monday Morning!

Distraction

I Love This Scarf
Originally uploaded by Buckster's Pics

Lately as I have been fiercely working on an order for two wraps (which I am getting close to finishing up), my mind is drifting to scarves and Christmas presents. I pulled this picture up for some inspiration. I knit this up using Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn Stripes. I'm thinking I need to do another as a Christmas gift.

Oh, if only I had more hours to my day! But how many of us do???

So, in the meantime I have pulled out more of this yarn in a different color and begun a chveron pattern knit scarfy! And I am liking it! So much that now I don't want to work on completing the last wrap I have been working on!

OH THE INHUMANITY OF IT ALL! LOL

Not to worry, I am hoping that by this weekend I will finish up the wrap and send it on its way, and focus on some scarfy goodness!

For now, it's back to the grindstone!

Wrapped in Color

Greetings to my fellow yarn lovers!  It's a cool rainy Sunday afternoon here, which suits me just fine.  Summer has been brutally hot and dry.  Today we are welcoming the rain...it's good yarn weather!  This rain makes me want to cozy up the house, have some soup and curl up on the couch with some yarn.  It's lazy and I LOVE it!

How do you like my latest?  Another wrap!  This one is a little shorter than the last one I did and I really like it.  It's versatile and fun to wear.  And just look at that color!

Does it not look gorgeous on my niece with that scarf pin!  I am still amazed at how all this variegated yarn works together. 

My niece especially liked it worn as a scarf.  Can't say that I disagree.  It looks adorable on her. 

Here is a closer view. 

I have already started my next wrap.  A customer wants two.  One down, one to go.  I am doing something a little different on the next one.  Experimentation!  If I don't like it I can always unravel the thing.  When I sketched it out on paper it looked great, now if I can just knit it up. 

Here's hoping for a good week ahead.  This week I started out under the weather.  Geesh!!  Now that that's behind me I can focus on doing creative things. 

I tried my best to get a picture of Phoebe today while I had my camera out, but she was so uncooperative.  She detests that camera.  But I'm not giving up...I'll get her.

Bye Bye Now!

Sundays, Yarn and Puppy Dogs

Time seems to be moving faster, and I seem to be moving slower!  I was hoping to get a posting up last week, but it just didn't happen.  Since it has been a couple of weeks, I am loading this post up with some pictures. 

So here is a little up close and personal look at my latest WIP.  I was asked to make two of my Bhuja Wraps!  Why of course I can do that.  While working on this I am also working on writing up the pattern as well.

It is coming along well and hopefully by the end of the week wrap number one will be done.  The picture has it looking very "pink" but in fact the color is quite warm and looks more red.  I am working on getting some better pictures.

 

Phoebe completely gives it her seal of approval.  Can you resist that cuteness??  I cannot!

She has gotten so fluffy here lately.

Just look at those stubby feet!  They are adorable!

I have also found a few hours to crochet up this little shrug/wrap.  I used this yummy cotton.  I wish I had a live body to show it to you on, because it looks so much cuter on.

I am sure I will enjoy wearing it this Fall. 

Since I had the camera out I snapped some pictures from around the house.  I have been slowly adorning corners here and there for Fall, my favorite season of the year.

Well, Phoebe is telling me it's time for her supper!  LOL!  It's hard to type with a little doggie trying to get on my lap!  Bye for now....

Cabled Neckwarmer

Suffering from a bit of burnout, I decided Friday evening I needed to shake things up and start a new knitting project.  And I wanted something different.  So I found this pattern on ravelry.  It had this pretty cable in it, and didn't require a lot of yarn!  Ka-ching! 

So, I delved into the world of cables!  My first time!  And now I am so obsessed with anything that has a cable in it.  Whatcha think??? This pattern is called Chunky Dunky.  I actually worked this up in one evening.

 

I enjoyed it so much, I knit another.  I bought this yarn last year at SAFF and have been saving it for just the right project.  I have another skein of this waiting to be used, and was thinking of changing up the pattern just a little bit. 

OK...now I must say...I'm ready for neckwarmer weather!

Time management has been out of control these days!  I cannot find enough time to do all that I want to.  After spending the day at work, I'm too tired to get anything done in the evening.  I've ramped up the vitamins and put myself on a diet, cutting the caffeine down and upping the water.  Hopefully this will help.  I am now a firm believer in "Stress Tabs"...they really do help!

Bye for now...