I know... I know...

It's been awhile since I've updated.

Well, I taught myself to knit. Honestly, if I can knit anyone can. I learned to crochet when I was 6 and just couldn't imagine using two needles. I'm using the continental method and having the yarn in my left hand just feels right.

The hat kind of sucks, but so do the pants.  They are my first knitted projects so I have sloppy stitches.  I made and infant sized hat and should have made the toddler size.  At least I know better for next time.  I also hope I don't stab myself with double pointed needles.  I HATE those things.  Oh, I need to add a pom pom or a tassel to the top and the ends. 

You can search back, but I dyed the yarn.  The awesome lady of Pengy Pants did a trade with me.  She knitted some longies and I traded some pretty dyed yarn! 

I started these the other day with some yarn I didn't sell.  I only had enough to make shorts.  I REALLY hope Everett will fit in these by summer.  I'm sure I can find a good home if they don't fit though! I'm not done yet.  I need to sew up the crotch, make an icord, and deal with my ends.

Next up... dyeing yarn for a hat and longies set for Benny!

Coming Soon...

Videos on how do tunisian crochet in the round AND my longies pattern.  Brandon is done with his test so he will be able to hold the camera for me. 

I'm selling stuff next month and then that's it.  You know where to find me for trades :)

I've taught myself how to knit.  I'm not an all-star at short rows, but I will figure it out (or find help).

Yeah Yarn!

 

 

 

Colorways to happen...

Sweetheart -cestari - 1.5 skein of colorway + .5 skein of trim (collab with Bellini Britches)
Mint Chocolate Zoo - blackberry ridge - 1.5 skein of colorway + .5 skein of trim (collab with Mac-A-Doodles)
Rusty Hearts - blackberry ridge - 2 skeins of colorway + 1 skein of trim (half for trade/half for congo)
Rainbow Noir -cestari - 1 skein of colorway + .5 skein of trim (trade)
????? - cestari -1 skein of colorway + .5 skein of trim (congo)
Something Boyish - cestari -3 skeins of colorway + 1 skein of trim (trade)

I have ALOT of dyeing to do this next week and half.  I'll post pictures when I can. 

I will have to wait to reveal all my trades.  My favorite online cloth diapering group is doing a secret mom thing where we send each other goodies.  I get to do some trades - which is definitely fun!  I had to buy 5 extra skeins of yarn this month.  I wish these would sell so I can have some paypal to play with. I know they are spendy, but they are totally worth it.  The yarn is so soft.

I have knitting needles on the way.  Brandon might kill me if I pick up another hobby.  Not really - he totally supports me in whatever crazy thing I want to do.  I bet he wishes I would pick up cooking, cleaning, and not making messes with dyes in the kitchen as a hobbies.

Collaboration with Mac-A-Doodles

Check it out

You can "spot" the item.  I'll feel cool.

Alright...

Who is from Detroit that keeps looking at my blog like a bajillion times?

It's pretty easy to put a tracker on your blog.

I use blog tracker - very easy to use.  I like that I can use the geolocation option and see where people are from that are viewing my blog.

So, do I know you Detroit person? 

Any my friends that do wonder over from facebook or maybe even have me on their RSS feeds.  Thank you for caring enough to look at my craft stuff.

Whimsical Fluff Congo

All items can be found at the Whimsical Fluff Congo.  I'm on board for September, October, ,and November - and then I'll re-evaluate to see if I want to keep doing it.

For this month, I tunisian crocheted "Rustic Rainbow" from last months stocking.  It didn't sell - so I got to play with it! I just love how it turned out... and the ruffle cuffs - so cute.  These longies are made of almost 9oz of yarn.  Nothing is impossible, but a baby leaking through tunisian crochet is one of those almost impossible things.

I also dyed some yarn.  First up, "Scarecrow" on Marr Haven. 

I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  It's going to work up beautifully - there is no doubt in my mind.

How about some camo ooga booga on cestari?  In the cloth diapering community - those little ooga booga monsters are a hit.  I'm not even going to pretend that I don't love them too! Gretch, from Mac-A-Doodles paired up with me and she made a diaper to match!

Finally, I can show off "Flashy Sparkles or Something Like That".  I tried to live on the wild side and do the skeins separate from each other.  It didn't work out.  The other skein is sitting here... I will make a soaker out of it at some point.  I'd also like to mention the runner up name of this yarn was "Continental Shelf" because Brandon said I should call it something related to the ocean.  He doesn't think people buying yarn would enjoy my lame sense of humor... you know because naming yarn after a line a Muppet sings is just a bajillion times cooler. 

I still have some Marr Haven to dye this week, but it's going to rain tomorrow and I just love being able to dry my wool outside. Maybe tomorrow night if Wednesday looks decent. 

I don't know where I'm going to dye when it gets cold.  My husband supports me in everything I want to do, but I have a feeling he isn't going to be down with me dyeing yarn on the kitchen floor with garbage bags taped down so I don't ruin it.  I can tell you from experience that bleach does clean dye up.

Back.

We have had a busy two weeks with my father in law visiting and Everett's christening, but I'm back in business.

I made a soaker - I also made longies, but they have already been sent to a fellow wool lover.

 

Who knew soakers could also be worn as a hat.  He won't wear a hat, but he will sure walk around with a soaker on ALL day.

I have yarn dyed too, but need to drag the lightbox down to take some pictures... or drag myself upstairs when Everett isn't sleeping and take some pictures.  It's so pretty and I can't wait to show it off!

Big Brother

The cestari was really nice to work with.  It required more dye than other yarns, but it took the dye well. 

 

I had an issue when I went to reskein so I had to ball some of it up.

 

Blue: Turquoise, Sky Blue, Ecru
Green: Kelly Green, Turquoise, Ecru
Black
Silver

This one has random splotches of color.  I forced myself to not be so OCD about patterns and just went with it.

Do you love it?  Buy it here. 

Faux-Knit

Tunisian knit stitch in the round.


I'm pretty impressed that it fit.



Everett sure did like it :)

... but not as much as he loves sucking on his hand.

Melted Crayons

Two people told me the colors remind me of them of crayons. That wins. FYI, I know there are plenty of you viewing this blog. You can comment - it will make you less stalkerish ;)

I'm really happy with this yarn. It might be my favorite colorway to date! I'm in love with the baby blue and the green I created.

Here is how I got my colors:
Pink - fire red and aztec orange
Orange - Pumpkin orange and bright yellow (and maybe some ecru)
Green - Kelly Green and Turquoise
Blue - Turquoise, Sky Blue, and Ecru
Purple - Navy Blue and Crimison
Grey - black, red, green, and blue

I can't get a true black. Someone help me!

This was almost a disaster. I had it all saran wrapped when I realized I didn't spritz with vinegar. I don't know how I almost forgot. I seriously say over and over in my head "don't forget to spritz, don't forget to spritz..."

Do you love it? You can buy it here.

Name my yarn!

It needs a name and better pictures before I can officially blog about it!

Rustic Rainbow

I pretty much used every color of dye I own and the BFL was wonderful to dye. (This is the colorway from the tutorial.)

Here is how I got the colors.

Red - Fire Red and Crimson
Orange - Aztec Gold, Pumpkin Orange, Ecru
Yellow - Bright Yellow, Ecru
Green - Emerald, Chartreuse, Kelly Green (and I think a little Ecru)
Blue - Sky Blue, Turquoise, Navy Blue (mostly the navy blue)
Charcoal - Black and Silver

Do you love it? You can buy it here. I dyed some matching trim that you get for FREE!

Serger in the shop...

And these are never going to get done... I NEED diapers. I put Everett in diapers that leak just so I don't have to do laundry twice a day. Ugh. I'm tired of getting peed on when he has any PUL diaper on.
Hopefully, it really will be done in 7-10 days and not cost more than the $110 total tune up (totally out of control, but I'm not giving up my 1988 Baby Lock).

In the meantime I'm tunisianing this up:
Blackberry Ridge Merino sure is soft and I'm in LOVE with these colors.

You too can dye (part 4)

You need to wake up super excited because you have a present waiting for you! You should probably also feed the babies.
Rinse, rinse, and rinse some more. Your water needs to run clear. Then, I like to wash and lanolize the wool so it smells good, soft to work with, and ready to use!


Squeeze your yarn and roll it up in towel... you know get it as dry as you can. Hang your pretty yarn to dry. If it's nice put it outside if it's not nice the shower head works.


Once it's dry you can re-skein/ball it up. Enjoy your yarn. Admire your work.

AND finally, take pretty pictures. I'll be selling this yarn here as a guest vendor for August/September.

You too can dye (part 3)

Drain your yarn.


Put saran wrap underneath your yarn. Honestly, spring for the good stuff with the cutter. I make squares and overlap them as I go around. This is the longest step for me. I hate saran wrap. I'm working on a better solution so it's not so wasteful and such a pain.



Paint!! I like to use a sponge brush and dab the paint on. It keeps it under control and you can do small sections. I realize I could use the skein as is when it comes, but it might be to bulky and as a beginner I can see me leaving white spots where I don't want them.

Spritz with vinegar. I'm using an old perfume bottle. Use a ton and get all of your work. It's also a good time to check your work and make sure you didn't miss any spots.


Saran wrap your yarn up (not too tight). Start at the last piece you put down and work to the front. KEEP IT FLAT. If you have any questionable spots where you don't think it's really sealed add an extra piece. I fold it all up and then put it on a plate. For the trim, I just throw it in some plastic grocery bags, add the dye, squish it around, spray some vinegar, and done.

Next is heat setting. I use the microwave. 2 minutes on high, 3 minutes rest, 2.5 minutes on high, 3.5 minutes rest, 2 minutes high, 5 minutes rest, 1.5 minutes high. Yarn can burn so don't walk away from it. I haven't burnt yarn yet, but I would want to claw my eyes out if I ruined it.

Go to bed.

Just let your yarn sit over night. I know you want to see what it looks like, but just think of having a present to open up in the morning! Seriously, the yarn is hot and do you want to take any chances with felting? If you do go ahead and rinse on HOT and keep making the water cooler. I'm not that brave and I like having the yarn to open up in the morning.

You too can dye yarn (part 2)

Have someone heat up leftovers and keep an eye on the babies.
Or... keep an eye on the small one and let the big one be naughty.

While dinner is being heated up. Get your dyes ready. You need vinegar, dyes, hot water, cups, and something to stir with.
Per cup (not actual "cup" but those plastic cups I use) I use less than "just a pinch" of dye, 3/4 of the cup is hot water, and 1/4 vinegar. Look around the web you can probably find better measurements. It's not perfect, but so far I haven't had any total disasters. Oh, be creative with your dyes. Ecru works great for softening your colors. I've been using jacquard. You can get them on dhramatrading.com for $3.10 when you buy 10 or more and shipping is like $11.

Right now, I haven't made the perfect amount of dye. I keep making way too much and have no place to store it and it gets wasted. When I figure it out I'll update the blog.
Go eat dinner and put the babies to sleep. You used hot water to make your dyes so they need an hour or two to cool down. Felting would be bad.

Also, you should probably wear a mask while dealing with the dyes. I've been making my dyes outside so it doesn't bother me. The great dyers probably wear masks and wear gloves. But they also can do like 12 skeins at a time and a stock of dyes. I don't think my husband would be okay with me taking up cupboard space for stock dye solutions. We have limited space.

You too can paint yarn (part 1)

First things first. I'm new to this myself. It's a learning process. This is how it works for me and I'm sure there are better ways. I'm a busy mom, but dyeing wool takes several steps that can be split up during the day.

This first step works best during naptime. So, put the babies down for a nap. If they don't nap - find something they can do for 30 minutes that doesn't require them hanging on you.



Stretch your yarn out. I make a pretty big circle so it's not too thick. I also do 8oz at a time. This step goes much quicker when you don't have a baby at your leg - that's why I suggest nap time.
Once it's all wound you are going to want to figure eight some spots. Trust me - not doing doing this will make a big mess. I usually put it in 4 spots. I hate knots and will do anything to avoid them.
See that green tub? I put a small squirt of blue dish detergent and a cup of vinegar in and fill with warm water. I fill it so that all my yarn will be submerged.
Soak your yarn. Don't forget your trim. I let this sit for a few hours.

Seriously, go about your day.