A Tale of Two Lauras

Purpose

I have not blogged for ages. Period. End of story. I do not really know why but I just haven't. I am currently unemployed and constantly find myself bored. What better way to keep myself busy then blogging. So that is the plan. To end boredom blogging it will be.

Lions, Tigers, and Crochet, Oh My!

This afghan has been in the making since Thanksgiving, it was definately a challenge. The pattern is from 12 Months of Blankets Volume 4. The book calls it the August blanket, but I have dubbed it the Animal Cracker Blanket. I used Berroco Comfort in light blue. The body of the afghan is a checkerboard and the border is animals parading about. This piece was for the store, I had a really hard time giving it up since I put so much into it. I plan on making another one for myself to keep in my cedar chest.

 

  

 

Next up is my little, cowardly lion. He is from Vanna's Amigurumi Animals. I used Vanna's yarn to make him. He is a cute addition to my household.

 

 

So Much....

... for my New Years Resolution. I assure you that I have been busy. I have been knitting and crocheting up a storm. My newest information is that the yarn store let me go. I kind of expected it, but it is still a shock and I still am not over it. I am still staying on to make samples for the store, There were no hard feelings, we parted well. Enough of that. I gained some weight back from the surgery and am now trying to peel it off. Nothing is fool proof, the surgery is not a permanent solution. So I finally have some finished objects to show off, a bunch of them are from last year, I just never posted them.

Finished Object #1

 

  

This pattern is free of of Lion Brand's website,its the Bold and Bulky Mini Cardi by Stefani Japel. It was made using Lion Brand Thick & Quick in pink and black. This was a really fast knit, it took less than a week. The buttons I chose cost more than the yarn. 

Finished Object #2

 

  

This is another Spiderweb Cardigan. If you remember I had made one for the store this summer. I liked it so much I made one for myself in Provence yarn in Black. I had to make some modifications to it. I needed to make the body longer since I am tall, I also had to lengthen the sleeves.

Finished Object #3

 

  

This is my Noro Shrug. It is a pattern from their mini projects book. It is knitted with Noro Iro yarn, the colors are blue, green, brown and grey. I really love it, but it looks so bulky on me. It took me less than a week to make.

Finished Object #4

This is Pash from Knitty.com. I wanted to make something fun and whimsical, so this was the ticket. thThis was another fast knit, I essentially finished it in a day. I used Brown Sheep Naturespun in black, yellow and gold

Finished Object #5

 

For Christmas I got a new nephew, Bradley Jonathan. I had already made him a blanket but I figured he deserved a sweate. This is the Matinee Sweater from Debbie Bliss's Essential Baby. I used Rowan Cashsoft in a light blue, and a dark blue. I made it in 3-6 months so he can wear it longer. There are a pair of pants to match that I am going to make, I just haven't started them yet.

Finished Object #6

  

  

I started these Flip-Top Mittens over a year ago, and I just now finished them. The pattern was a free one from Knitting Daily. I used Cascade 220 wool in red, blue, green and grey. They are a little big, I think they would fit my husband's hand better  

New Year New Blog

I know you are all thinking this thing looks the same. What I am referring to is my commitment to the blog. I pay for this and I tend to ignore it as you can see. So since it is a new year I am going to take better care of it and keep on top of it. I want to share with internet land more. I am have so much to share and I have been negligent. So Happy New Year and I will see you all soon.

SP12 Weekly Question

I'm sure most of us have a proudest moment when it comes to
knitting.  A project or technique that you've tackled and completed
beautifully.  What is your proudest knitting moment??

My proudest knitting moment came when I knitted a Baby Sacque for my sister's co-worker. I had been knitting for a while at this point. This project just came out absolutely perfect, it was the first time I was truly in love with one of my creations.

And on the flip side?

Typically if they are that bad, they are frogged and tucked away from the light of day. So, I don't have one particular disaster, just a group of them.

  What is the one thing that you can't get right? 

So far everything I have tried has come out right (*knock on wood*)

What is that one project that you've never been able to complete? 

I like to see it as a work in progress, it is a cardigan I started 13 months ago and I am now finally to the seaming portion of the project, so completion may be in sight.

 Or that you did complete but then hid away instantly because it was too embarrassing?

My very first sweater is now in hiding. I made it when I weighed over 300 lbs in this horrible puke green. Now that I am smaller, it resembles a puke green circus tent, thus it remains in hiding. This one is for Deborah, Berta helped me pick out the yarn, she thought it was good with my eyes.

SP12 Weekly Question

What is the best thing you've ever received in the mail?

Well. I always love to get yarn, but the best thing I ever received were my Namaste Glass Knitting Needles. I adore them, they are gorgeous.

SP12 Weekly Question

In keeping with current events, here's the Olympic-themed SP12 question of the week:

Which Olympic event would best describe your knitting/knitting style?

The running Marathon. I like to sit down with my knitting and see how long I can go for before I get tired.

Finish Line

Its true, I actually finished a few pieces. I feel a little more secure in my knitting now that I have finished some pieces. First up is the beret that I showed you in the WIP post. Its really slouchy and comfortable. I wish I could get a picture of me wearing it, but I never think of it when my husband is home.

My other finished project is a baby hat and matching booties. I used Aiko yarn which is a ridiculously expensive cashmere blend but it makes a gorgeous baby gift. I am making a little baby vest to match too.

 

SP12 Weekly Question

In many communities, "the fair" is a great place to visit and spend
time with your family.  It's also where many have entered one product
or another (jams, cakes, even knitting)...

Have you ever entered your knitting (or anything else) in the fair?

No. We really do not have any fairs by us. I guess we are a bit too metropolitan.
Would you ever consider it?

Sure, why not. Sometimes I have created pieces that I am absolutely stunned by and those are the pieces that I would enter. Sometime I makes duds and those are the ones that I want to burn,

WIPs

Its been quite a while since I have shown you what I have been up to. I have a whole bunch of projects in the works. I can never seem to stick to just one and finish it. The first is a log cabin baby blanket made out of Berrocco Plush. Its for my SIL Kim, she just found out shes having a boy.

My next project is the Urchin Beret from Twinkle's Weekend Knits. I am using Cascade's Magnum Yarn. The hat has to be worked on size 19 dpns since they don't really don't make a size 19 16" circular.

The next project is a crocheted one. I have made it before, I got a really good deal on some Berrocco Suede so I decided to make another one. The project is the "Golden Child" ensemble from Candin Jensen's Candi Babies. As I mentioned I got the deal on Berrocco Suede, so that is what was used. I finished the back piece and one of the fronts so far.

 

The last one to report upon is the baby blocks sampler from Louisa Harding's Natural Knits for Moms and Babies. Its not for anyone in particular, its probably one for the hope chest for when I eventually have kids. I did pick the colors for what I like. I used Cascade's Dolly which is a merino yarn.