FBS

Picture 001
Originally uploaded by Prairiedaun

Another view of the Flower Basket Shawl I did in Fleece Artist Sock Merino "Wildflowers"

I'm realizing that even with photos, I haven't really been updating this journal very oftern. I'm thinking of closing this down and really making use of the tag system over on my regular journal, prairiedaun.livejournal.com.

I'll put something here when that happens, but... yeah. I like it there.

Unpinned

Unpinned
Originally uploaded by Prairiedaun

I finished my Flower Basket Shawl nearly a month ago. It was my first time seriously blocking a project, and my first major lace project.

Overall, I'm pleased- it fits nicely around my neck (more like a scarf than a shawl, the size is my bog issue). The colours are lovely and definitely remind me of the meadow at William Lake.

William Lake

IMG_0362[1]
Originally uploaded by Prairiedaun

My next "Inspired By Nature KAL" project is inspired by my hiking trip to William Lake Provincial Park in southwest Manitoba. It's a gorgeous area, some of the hilliest in the province as well as having a desert-like area as well.

Again, my phot-taking abilities don't really capture the colours and feelings evoked by nature, but I thought it was reflected well in my Fleece Artist "Wildflower" sock yarn.


I'm hoping to make a Flower Basket Shawl with it (I'm hoping that I have enough.)

Amelia Helmet

Amelia Helmet
Originally uploaded by Prairiedaun

Here is my completed hat. I really do love this hat- it's very cute on me and I love the colours. It reminds me of the rainstorms we had been having when I was knitting it (and it's still raining, so I'm still loving it.)

It's far too hot in the summer to wear it, even if this is Winnipeg, but it'll be awesome once Fall and Winter arrive.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Well, I can finally update with some pictures now.

I am currently working on the Amelia Helmet, a Fleece Artist kit. This is a part of the "Inspired by Nature Knit Along" and my inspiration was a series of thunderstorms that came through the province the past few weeks.

I had bought the kit the week before at the Wolseley Wardrobe, as a treat for myself but walking home one day I looked up at the sky and the colours were the same as the hat and I knew I had to knit it.

I've gotten to the bottom of the left ear flap- and then I ran out of instructions. I'm going back tomorrow to pick up a copy of the rest of the instructions, and expect to be finished in a few days.

I made the Jaywalkers with the Sierra, and they worked well. I had bought another skeing of Online yarn to make my cousin a pair of socks, but I've started a second pair of Jaywalkers for myself- at the moment I just finished decreasing for the heel gusset, and starting the main part of the foot now.

I finally decided what to make with the Fleece Artist that Andrea sent: Magknits Shimmer (http://magknits.com/Mar07/patterns/shimmer.htm).

Also I was in need of a quick, relaxing familiar knit, so I made Monique some Gryffindor handwarmers out of Patons Merino.

I finished up the third baby blanket a while back (the lace could have gone on for longer, but it was annoying, the baby was born and I was thisclose to running out of yarn and I didn't want to have to buy a third skein for just a wee bit more lace).

My grandmother died on the twelfth, so I've been knitting to keep occupied. Progressing on the Clapotis, ripped back the Endpaper Mitts, wound and then rewound the Sea Wool and did some planning on what to do with it (current plan is RPM socks with grey Kroy toe/heel).

Bought some new sock yarn yesterday at Wolseley Wardrobe (ONline Supersocke 100 Sierra Color in black/red/grey colourway). I'm thinking I might do Jaywalkers with them, the striping could be cool that way.

I have finished the pinwheel blanket. Specs: Bernat Baby Coordinates in the Sailor colourway (blue and white stripes), done on size 6 and 15 circulars. Basic pinwheel pattern doneon the size sizes up until there were 600 live stitches, then switched to doing a feather and fan pattern on size 15's, giving it a nice lacey, ruffled edging.

The third blanket is about half done. It is a basic granny dishcloth pattern (k, yo, k to end of row, repeat) pattern, and will either have a hood or a feather and fan edging as well. Done in same type of yarn as the pinwheel, but doubled (because omg, that was rough) on size 10.5 needles. It is progressing much faster (obviously) which is good, because the baby is due sometime within the week.

Also, because yesterday was rough I started a comfort project: my favourite pattern (Clapotis) and my favourite yarn (Patons SWS). I'm making it a bit smaller than the pattern calls for, since I'll be giving it to my cousin Christine who is quite small. It's done on size 7.5 circs, and it is kind of dense. I'm not sure if I'll get the drape that characterizes the shalw or not, but it realy does a lot to calm me down just by doing a few rows. I'm already a few patterns into the straight row section.

The pinwheel blanket is still not progressing very fast. I have, however, decided that on Sunday, regardless of how much I've progressed I am going to switch over to larger needles and working out some type of lacy ruffle pattern.

Also, I've decided that for the other baby blanket, I'm either using a yellow worsted weight yarn or two strands of the Bernat Baby Coordinates in yellow and white, and then using white to do a feather and fan lace border.

I took a small break from the interminable blanket and made a pair of Dashing in Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed, for the boy-cousin. However, I found the wool fiber to be pretty scratchy, so I don't know if he'll be able to wear it or not.

Upcoming projects: Gryffindor hand warmers for Monique, my first sweater (pattern not chosen yet, but I'm thinking something basic in yarn that I won't feel bad or guilty about if it doesn't work out well like I know it won't), and my Falling Leaves socks. *glee*

I gave my mother the multidirectional scarf that I made her for her upcoming birthday. I'm also procrastinating on schoolwork by finishing my first pair of socks (only have the toe to finish, woot.)

I've been feeling a bit irresponsible with my knitting lately. I need to finish quite a few projects before I allow myself to go to the LYSs (two new ones I want to check out). I'm not sure if I should include Michael's in this, if I go there to pick up materials for the baby projects that are getting close tothe due dates. Hmm.

As for the baby projects, the pinwheel blanket has languished lately, largely because... it's so damn boring to do at the moment. Bah. Also, still unsure about what I'll do for the third baby blanket. Something in at least worsted weight. I also need to finish the stuffed dauschund head and make a third stuffed toy. I don't know if I'm going to do clothes or not. Maybe toddler clothes for first or second birthdays.

Well, I'd better finish this one sock ASAP or I'll never get around to my schoolwork.

On Saturday I went with a group of friends to Ram Wools, where I picked up a hank of Fleece Artist Sea Wool, intent on making a pair of socks. The first thing to do, however, was to finish my already started pair.

Well, I've finished one and cast on for the other. Yaye! (Wow, this knitblog thing would be so much more interesting if I could upload pictures.)

I have finished the first baby blanket (to be given to my cousin Shauna) and begun the second, a blue and white striped pinwheel blanket (to be given to my friend Jevne). I'm thinking about a third design for my cousin-in-law, but I'm not too sure yet what it should be.

I'm about halfway done a stuffed kitten for one baby, and considering doing a puppy for the third. I gave the alien to my aunt who was in the hospital (I had joked that theproblem was probably a gestating alien, and she loved the joke and then absolutely loved the toy. Best niece ever!!!)

I think after I'm done (or nearly done) the pinwheel blanket I'm going to work on a multidirectional scarf for my mom in SWS in the colourway that her hat and mittens are in. And then for Mother's Day I'll make her a pair of handwarmers (good for Spring) and then we'll both have a matching set.

I've spent the last week out of town, with only the bright baby blanket and the Paton's Be Mine for company. I ended up running out of yarn for the baby blanket (I'll go out later to pick up more) and the stickiness of the baby yarn on the plastic needles I had brought out with me (I have unwisely converted my knitting bag into my school bag, since I'm usually taking it to knitting meetings straight from class... plus it's handy, but it meant taking out a lot of my knitting supplies, hence the lack of non-sticky plastic needles) wasn't really working for me so I spent several days sitting in a hospital room with my gramma, with nothing to do (other than school reading, but Turner is dense enough without being distracted by sick grandmothers and working nurses.)

This morning I havedone finishing on some projects, grafting the arms onto the stuffed alien, and filling the long tube with corn and sewing up the end. I put it onto the door, and already the hallway isn't as cold (important when it's this freaking cold outside.)

I worked on a gauge swatch for the Ene's scarf that I'd like to give to my great-aunt, but it was a little small, so I'll try again on larger needles. I'm not sure why I'm starting this now when I'm so tense that my tension is probably way off, but whatever. It's something I plan to work on while doing other projects that have a tighter deadline:

-finish the one baby blanket, do two others
-make another stuffed toy (possibly two, since I'm not sure the alien is as good a baby toy as the others. It's not soft, and has some dangly bits.)
- consider (I think I'm insane) baby clothes.

I did pick up Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby at Chapters, after knitting last night. About 10$ with a discount, plently of good patterns as well as being inspiration for further baby patterns, plus gorgeous pictures of babies that make me coo.

I have finished the really long tube (aka, door draft stopper thingy) in Patons Rumor, and made a stuffed bunny, adapting geobabe's kitty pattern- made in Patons Be Mine. I've put in a few more rows on the baby blanket, but it's in very bright orange/purple/green colours and... taking a while. Erm. I'm still not sure that's what I want to use the yarn for (I got it from my cousin's girlfriend as a thank you/Christmas present, because I made her a small keyhole scarf. I like it, surprisingly- they aren't colours I would normally choose, but the yarn makes me think of a long messy scarf. Hrm. Maybe I'll do that instead, and buy other yarn to make baby blankets with.

I'm loving the Wintersmith audiobook to knit to (I need a better chair up here for knitting while listening/watching stuff on the computer). I found out tonight that The Office (US) is probably not a good idea for a show to knit to, because I kept trying to hid/cover my eyes because of my embarassment issues. I love the show, but spend most of thetime tryint to avoid whatever is going on onscreen.

I have finished my Doomsday handwarmers. I will eventually (you keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means...) upload pictures of them. I quite like them, and the pattern was nice- I may eventually make a pair in another colour for a friend.

Yesterday I gave a seminar on Victor Turner and the planes of classification, and totally kicked ass. To celebrate, I went to the craft store on the way home, and picked up a ball of Patons Be Mine, and some Bernat Satin. The plan is to now make a few baby things, before continuing on with my socks.

*sigh*

I obviously suck at maintaining a blog, seeing as how I forgot this was even here.

A list of my current projects:

Rose's Handwarmers from the finale in rose Drops Alpaca (3140, although the one next to it on the left probably would have been a better colour choice...)

Cable Twist Socks in Smart DK in Camo (I've already had to frog this and restart due to gauge and size issues)

as well, there's an afghan that's on hold because it doesn't make too much sense to continue at thes point- I'm debating turning it into a capelet, or frogging it comepletely.

There is also the Pippin scarf that I've been working half-assedly for the past few years, and the green acrylic boyfriend scarf that I just add a few rows to whenever I feel lonely or wish I had a boyfried. I really haven't worked on it at all lately, to busy with friends. :)

Projects I would like to do in the next few months:

An alpaca shawl for my great Aunt Agnes, because she's one of the nicest ladies (or, dames as they almost become at a certain point) I know, and she's always willing to tell me more about my family.

Squirrel and Oak mittens, for a friend.

A Mariah or Samus for myself,

And, eventually, frog what I have and restart the Variation on a Frill, and then do the Party Lace scarf