My life (one big WIP)

Things have been kind of crazy lately. This weekend was not so good and everything has just kind of been snowballing together and getting out of hand. I've tried not to let it drag me down, but it's been hard.

I've been focusing on my WIPs and trying to avoid casting on for anything new until I get them under control. I have, um, 5 or 6 things on the needles right now and want to tame those beasts before I try to conquer anything else. One of those things is Matt's Urban Aran Cardigan, which is maybe 1/3 of the way done (I've finished the whole back). I just got so burnt out and didn't want to work on it anymore. Maybe he'll have it for next winter?

Cowboy Cowl in Malabrigo Worsted

I cast on for Pam Allen's Cowboy Cowl a few weeks back. It was supposed to be one of my Malabrigo March projects, but I haven't gotten too far. I'm maybe halfway done and I only have 10 days to go. I'm using Malabrigo Worsted in Vetiver. I'm really liking the color. Matt and I saw Battle: Los Angeles a few nights ago and I used this as an excuse to work on it. I have one repeat left for the cowl and then I'll be starting the kerchief. I hope I can make this work for me.

Daybreak shawl in Tosh Merino Light

I also cast on for a Daybreak shawl with one of my coworkers. It's my first Daybreak and I feel like I'm the only person in the world who hasn't knit one. I cast on Thursday evening (yay exciting St. Patricks Day!) and started working the stripes last night. I've done about 2 of each and I'm planning on making the medium size. I envy the larges, but I'm not sure if that will be too much shawl for me or not. I guess we'll just see how it goes. Oh, and I'm using Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Calligraphy and Nectar. I'm crazy in love with the stuff...and may now own 16 skeins.

Chan Luu inspired wrap bracelet

Which brings me to the final, non-knitting WIP of the week. A few weeks ago I posted about Chan Luu inspired bracelets and how, after seeing all of Kate's creations at work, I decided that I wanted to make one. Well, it didn't turn out quite the way I wanted it to, but I will remain optimistic. I love the colors I chose, but some of the beads are popping out of the row and I didn't cut the leather long enough. The bracelet is cute and wraps twice, but there is definitely room for improvement.  I followed this tutorial from Auntie's Beads and kind of improvised on a few things (I didn't use glue, for one thing). I will be making another one at some point this week. And the cost was maybe $9 for everything, including a ton of leftover beads and thread. Beats that $300 price tag.

As I work through this week (and my WIPs), I'm going to try not to let the small things bother me. Because life is too short for that. And, hopefully, I 'll have some tidied up ends//projects to share with you next time.

Designin' Fever

I has it.

A few months back the LYS I work at hosted a design contest amongst the staff. We chose yarn from the shop and designed out perfect cowls. I had always wanted to design something, but I just never got into gear. Making my cowl kind of inspired me to get moving and I've been a designing machine ever since.

Dalloway

The first pattern I released this week was for my Dalloway Cloche. I've always had a weakness for cloches and other vintage hats (bonnets, I swoon), so I knew straight away I wanted to design a cloche. I found the cable pattern in a stitch dictionary and the tucked edge was kind of an accident I discovered while crafting a (fail) cowl. I feel the two separate elements really compliment one another. I'll be spending the rest of today adapting the pattern for DK weight. Hey, I needed an excuse to buy some Tosh, Tosh Tosh!

Woolf Infinity Cowl

The second design of the week was my Woolf Infinity Cowl. I actually started the cowl before the cloche, but as soon as I saw those elements coming together I knew I had to adapt it further. Someday I'd like to turn it into a capelet as well (and name it Laura Brown, perhaps?), but that day probably won't come until April. Too much knitting to do and never enough time.

Tosh Merino DK

I'll end this post on a tosh note. We made a Tosh rainbow at work the other night and I took a bunch of photos. Expect another yarn pornz post soon :)  I took this one (Calligraphy) home with me last night. Already wound it so that I can't have buyer's remorse.

Yarn Pornz

It's been a busy couple of days. I've been designing and knitting, knitting and photographing, photographing and redesigning...

You get the picture.

2/3 of my prototypes are done for this little ebook I'd like to assemble. The final (and largest) won't be done until April, so I'm kind of waffling about what I want to do at this point. I may release a pattern this week and then another next week and go from there. And I still have so many ideas stewing about in this noggin of mine.

We've gotten in some GORGEOUS, gorgeous yarn at the shop lately. I can't even stand how beautiful it is.

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. I've managed to accumulate six skeins since it arrived last Friday. These skeins are just so saturated with color and each one is a little unique, so even after you've *finally* narrowed your selection down to one skein you still have a difficult decision to make. And the names are great too! Molly Ringwald? Betty Draper's Blues? Georgia O'Keefe? See, it's just like I said: you need at least six. And did I mention that I have three more stashed away?

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Crumble & Blackcurrant

Including these two bad boys right here. You can't buy just one; they look so nice together!

Monkeyshines, Tomfoolery,  Hullabaloo, Shenanigans, Kerfuffle

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. These colors are all new for Spring 2011 and I nearly died when I unpacked them the other week. With whimsical names like Hullabaloo and Kerfuffle, Lorna's Laces again pleases those who appreciate the little things like names and clever labels (like me!). Now, I haven't used Shepherd Sock yet, but I think that I am in dire need of owning Kerfuffle. And Monkeyshines.

Malabrigo Rasta in Soriano

Let me tell you. This yarn is HOT right now. Or it was when there was still the scent of blizzard in the air. Our first shipment of Malabrigo Book 3 and Malabrigo Rasta flew off the shelf. The booklet was so successful that it had to go into reprint ASAP, leading some people to wait nearly 2 months for it.

Laser cowl from Bitchin' Stitches

This yarn is so soft and yummy. One skein of this super bulky yarn is enough to make a cowl or hat. While waiting for Book 3 to arrive, I designed my Laser cowl out of color "Laguna Negra." This colorway featured above, Soriano, is still my all time favorite colorway that we have gotten in. The dark, dark purples and blues and shocks of yellow make this skein remind me of a summer storm.

And, after all that yarn pornz, I am spent. Well, I guess there is time for one more ;)

Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in Fjord, Blackcurrant & Iris

Check back at the end of the week for some design sneak peaks.