Friday, March 29, 2013

FO Friday 131

Hi everyone! Happy Friday! My days are all screwed up and I almost forgot about this post due to my husband being on vacation from work all this week. In fact, it's after midnight right now, so I won't even need to schedule this as I usually do!



As promised I have my cowl to show you, but unfortunately it didn't dry in time so I'll have to so it to you next week off the blocking mat. This isn't a great picture for color (the last picture was accurate as the sun is blowing the color out in this picture) or the cowl for that matter, but I did want to prove to you all that it IS finished. It just needs a few ends woven in and it will be ready to wear. Unfortunately, it's warm enough here right now that we're going to the beach today, but one the next chilly night, I'll definitely be wearing it! This was a fun, easy and quick pattern to make and I'd definitely recommend it.

Project details:

Pattern: Variance by Lisa Mutch
Needle size: US 4
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Ruby Love


Share your FOs!




Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Work in Progress Wednesday 137

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a great week so far. My husband and I have had a fun and busy week so far! We've done a few things to the house we've been wanting to since buying it, caught up with some friends, did some shopping and today we're going to Downtown Disney!



First off, before I get into WIPW, I wanted to let you all know about my Easter /Passover sale at candyskein.com! I'm offering 15% off now through March 31st. Just enter code EASTERSALE at the time of checkout.

Also, don't forget that Holly (Sillylittlelady) and I have a KAL starting on April 15th! For full details, please visit this post.



Now to WIPW!




I have something new to share with you today! I got the sweater itch the other day, so I cast on Jane Richmond's Ladies Classic Raglan Pullover. I wanted something mindless to work on, and a pullover (which I have yet to make) that I could just throw on with anything and go. I'm using Candy Skein Yummy Worsted in a new colorway (though a slightly lighter version of it), Watermelon! I am so excited about this project. I have two more rows before I cast on a few more stitches for the front of the neck and join! I have to say, I'm also very excited because this might be the first project I got gauge using the correct needles (both row AND stitch) the first time! Remember how tight I used to knit!?! So exciting!

That's it for me today. I hope you all have a great rest of the week. I'll see you back here Friday where I show you my Variance finished (or at least blocking)!






For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!



Sunday, March 24, 2013

Sweet Summer Rays Shawl KAL and Coupon Code!

Hi Everybody!


Sillylittlelady (Holly) and I have joined together to create a gorgeous new shawl, Sweet Summer Rays, using Candy Skein Sweet Fingering (50% merino/50% silk). The KAL will officially take place at SillyLittleLady's Ravelry group, but please feel free to share your projects and chat at the Candy Skein group as well!


The Details:

Start Date: April 15, 2013
End Date: May 15, 2013

Coupon Code for 20% off the Ravelry pattern and 15% off yarn from Candy Skein.com, active now: sweetsummerkal

    The coupon codes will be valid until April 16th for those participating in the KAL.


There will be a giveaway package mailed to one lucky winner chosen by random number generator
of those who link pictures of a finished project by May 16th to the Pattern Projects. Please tag your projects SWEETSUMMERKAL on your project page as well!


Please play along on Instagram! Take a picture of your yarn, wip, anything about the KAL and tag both @candyskein and @thesillylittlelady along with the tag #sweetsummerkal.









Friday, March 22, 2013

FO Friday 130

Happy Friday everyone! It's a happy Friday in my household as my husband has all of next week off! This weekend there are some fun things to do around San Diego and we're going to take full advantage. Saturday we're going to a Busker Festival at a touristy area called Seaport Village, that's on the water (as the name says) and has shops and restaurants. The festival is free, which is awesome. We went a few years ago and had a great time. Sunday is a street fair in my neighborhood and it's even walkable for us. It's supposed to have food, music, games and craft booths, so I hope the weather is nice. I also get to pick up my sewing machine today (Friday)! I can't wait to hear her purr.




As far as FO Friday is concerned, I did finish something. I shared my WIP cross stitch, Fair Friends on Wednesday, and I just finished it. This was a very quick and easy (plus fun, which is always good) pattern. I thought it was perfect for my studio space! It's actually on light blue Aida fabric, but weirdly looks off white in this picture. As mentioned, the pattern is Fair Friends by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I love all of their patterns!! Once I frame and hang it in the studio, I'll be sure to show it to you again. :)

Have a great weekend and a fun (and safe) spring break if you get it off!!

Share your FOs!



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Work in Progress Wednesday 136

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a great week! I have some awesome news since I last talked to you. We went to an estate sale on Friday afternoon and found a Singer 403A sewing machine from around 1960. It hadn't been used in over 12 years, so I was a little nervous buying it, but I couldn't pass up the price. It even has the original cabinet! I took it into a local sewing machine repair place and they said it just needs a serious cleaning (obviously) and a little love and I get it back on Friday! I'm sooo excited, I can't wait!

I have a few new things to show you today for WIPW!

First off, I started a new cross stitch! I'm making this for my studio and the pattern is called Fair Friends. It's by The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery and is one of their older patterns. As you can see, I've finished the cotton candy (candy floss for those on the other side of the pond) and the corn dog. I have the caramel apple started there. I'll keep the final guy a secret until it's finished. ;)


This beautiful pattern is Variance by Lisa Mutch. Lisa is the owner of Northbound Knitting and is awesome! If you haven't checked out her simple yet sleek/elegant patterns before, please do! I'm using Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in the colorway Ruby Love. I started this last Thursday and it's going great. It's an easy pattern that is only a two row repeat and makes a simple, yet lovely long cowl.


That's it for me today! I'll show pictures of my sewing machine when I get her back at home! Have a great rest of the week everyone!

For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!


Friday, March 15, 2013

FO Friday 129

Happy Friday! Today is a good day, as I did my taxes yesterday and had an appointment with my accountant today. It's always good to get that off one's shoulders, isn't it? I know I feel better without it in the back of my mind!

Today, as you all know, I finally get to share my Color Affection Shawl. I will say, it was a beast, and it got what I wished for. I did a few changes to make it bigger, and did I! I didn't expect it to be quite THIS big, but I wanted a shawl I could cuddle with on the couch on cold days, or even if the air conditioning was on in the summer and I was a little chilly in a tank top, for example. I certainly got that, and more!

This is the shawl draped over a banister in my back yard.


I thought this was pretty amusing. I stood on a step stool to get the shawl onto my patio cover. Here it is hanging down as I stand on the ground. Crazy, right?

Draped over my fence in the front yard. I think this shows you JUST how big it is! This is a normal style picket fence.

 I wanted to show this picture since the one earlier you could see through it with the slatted fence.

Last but not least, a close up of the three layers. Please excuse my shade in the bottom left corner



Project details:

Yarn: Candy Skein Sweet fingering in Fudge Brownie, Brain Freeze and Pumpkin (50% merino/50% silk)

Needles: Knitters Pride 4.0 mm, US size 6

Pattern: Color Affection

Notes: As mentioned, I did a few things different. I only did double increases for the first section and border. I also made it deeper by only going 2 sts past, instead of 3 in the short row section. This was a project that I followed for better instructions. Another thing I did (by accident actually, as I thought that's what I needed to do), I carried the short row section all the way across the whole thing, instead of only doing 9 repeats. It would be been nice to re-read the pattern, eh? Anyway, it definitely made it BIG! LOL

I hope you guys like it, as you've been having to see it's progress forever now!

Share your FOs!



Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Work in Progress Wednesday 135

Hi everyone! Isn't it amazing to have it still bright and sunny at 6:30 in the evening. I was able to take a picture of my WIP today outside and it was glorious outside. We've had great weather (minus the rain last week) and I hope it continues. Maybe Spring really is here!

I'm so so so so excited to report that I finished my Color Affection shawl. I'm sure you're all breathing a sigh of relief that you won't have to look at it again...well, except on FO Friday! I hope to get great pictures of it, but if you follow me on Instagram, you've seen a few sneak peeks of JUST how big it turned out. It's almost blanket size, people! LOL Come back on Friday to see it in all its glory.

This is about WIPs though, not FOs. This is what I'm working on now.


This is the picture I took outside just now at 6:30. Impressive right? The only issue is that the color is off. This yarn is more of a sea foam green, not light blue. Last time you saw this sock, it was just a little bit of ribbing I believe. Unfortunately I haven't gotten much further (I finished binding off the Color Affection last night around 11pm), but you can now see the pattern emerge. This is the Hourglass Eyelet Socks pattern, which is free on Ravelry. It's a fun pattern so far. It's easy to follow and not too hard to remember. I think by the next pattern repeat I'll have it down. I'm using yarn I bought at Stitches, Cephalopod Yarn, Skinny Bugga! in Blue Ringed Octopus.


That's it for me today! I hope you have a great rest of your week and look forward to sharing my CA Shawl on Friday!


For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!

Friday, March 8, 2013

FO Friday 128

This is going to be short and sweet as my battery on my computer is going to die in 4 minutes! I hope you all have a great weekend and I'll have my Color Affection shawl to share next week!

Share your FOs!



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Work in Progress Wednesday 134

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for the well wishes on Friday. The good news is it wasn't a cold, the bad news is I am SEVERELY allergic to something in my new neighborhood. Luckily, I started taking Allegra and that seems to be working for now. I can actually think, breathe and my sinuses don't feel like they're going to explode which is always good!

I'm sure you guys are getting extremely tired of seeing my Color Affection by now, as I'm getting super tired of knitting it. The thing is now massive. I feel like I'm knitting a freakin' blanket and am now concerned I'm going to run out of the brown yarn!! The good news on that is I have more skeins of it I can pull from Candy Skein, so I'm covered but it won't be in the same dye lot. We'll see what happens. I counted and have something like 13 stripes left total. Each stripe takes me a good 30+ minutes at this point, so despite not having a ton left to do, it's taking awhile. I then have to do the border in Pumpkin. Again, this is Candy Skein Sweet fingering, which is available for purchase!

That's it for me today! I hope you have a great rest of the week! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the posts I promised you. I've been extremely busy and hope to get to them this week.

For those that are new to WIPW, to share your WIPW post with us, just fill out the Mr. Linky below. Despite it saying you must comment, don't feel as if you do. That is something Mr. Linky automatically adds. I just ask you to check out a few of the links posted to see what everyone else is working on and comment there if you can. Everyone loves feedback and a little encouragement on their projects! Also, please link back to this post in your post to get the word out! The more the merrier!





Friday, March 1, 2013

FO Friday 127

Happy Friday everyone! This is going to be short and sweet from me today, as it's late, I'm getting sick and I don't have an FO. Cross your fingers I have one for next week! I hope you all have a great weekend and get lots of knitting/crochet/crafts done! I'll be back later today to unveil the Candy Skein March '13 colorway!!

Share your FOs!