Working on getting stuff done - including my pattern!

Just last month, I posted about talking myself into some bravery and submitting my mitten pattern to Knit picks for the independent designer program (IDP). Well I did it, and heard back incredibly quickly with an acceptance. So exciting!

I am still finishing up on knitting the sample for pattern photography, but once I got my yarn support from KP I almost immediately cast on for the sample pair. The yarn was so gorgeous, I couldn't help it.

 

So now I have one and a half mittens in the original yarn, and a thumb shy of a full mitten in the new yarn. Since I can't resist showing off a little bit, here is a quick peek at the back of the mitten -

(Just pretend the lighting caught the colors as nicely as the pic above, please - it was the best I could do with the weather today!)

 

 

Right now the pattern itself is going through testing with some helpful knitter friends, and I'm pretty excited to see how it looks with the different yarn choices.

As scary as it is to 'put myself out there' the process is pretty fun too. I'm glad that, after holding on to this idea for over year, I'm finally doing it.

 

Other things I'm finally getting to? That big list of WIPs of course!

The washcloth is done -

Nice and big, I think this will be a repeated pattern.

 

The cotton double knit trivet didn't fair as well though. After a year if letting it sit in the basket, I decided to frog it. It was going to be too small anyway and I wasn't liking the design much either.

 

My Sherlock blanket is coming along nicely, and has three new squares.

Two of them are inspired by the latest season's first episode

An underground square, using a chart from Jennie Claver

 

And a bonfire square, which was a pattern I wrote up (and added to the other ones I had already posted here)

 

The other is more book-related (although there's been a bee reference thrown in the bbc series too) it's the bee square from Rav user ambrrr modified from the Apis Dorsata pattern

 

With all the squares I still want to knit (plus the ones I'm sure will be designed by others in the future) I'm thinking this blanket may be king sized before I'm ready to call it done!

 

For a while though, I'm going to be pretty busy with the mitten knitting. Between them and the cowl I'm starting for the Rav games tomorrow, there probably be much progress in the other WIPs until next month.

 

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Too Many Projects!

 

This is the post where I haul them all out of their bags, boxes and cubbies and see the ridiculous number of knitting projects I have going. I did think about linking to all the patterns, but then I'd be here for hours and never get any knitting done! If you want to know any any though, just drop a comment and I'll link you. Otherwise I will just promise to link better as they get their celebratory "all done!!!" posts.

 

 

Starting at the top left and working clockwise -

 

Beekeeper's Quilt - This one is no rush, and it's a good thing. I am perfectly content with the thought this may continue forever, as I will be accumulating scraps for just as long.

 

Cria Sweater - a recentish start, and one I do regularly put a few rows into. Wanting to be able to wear it is all the motivation I need to keep at it, but I could keep at it a little more often and with some more speed.

 

Winter Twilight fingerless gloves - I really want to wear these too, so why do I never want to work on them?? It's a mystery. I have only most of one finished, hoping maybe once it gets cold again that will motivate me. Since I insist on keeping both my hands, I will need to get knitting on a second one eventually.

 

Blanket of Unusual Size - I go in spurts on this one, from lots of work to neglecting horribly. I don't think it helps that being a circular blanket that the rows keep getting longer. I also only work on it during cold weather, because a balled up blanket on the lap is just not pleasant in the heat! I expect this will make it's way back into rotation around November.

 

My poor first real embroidery project - I found it good for when helping Bfs nephew with homework, because I could put it down and not worry about my place. I just don't seem to touch it other than then. School has started back up though, so before long it might be called back into service!

 

The Sherlock Blanket - No real end in sight on this project, especially with a new season coming. I imagine there will be even more square ideas to join what I've done so far! I would like to have another few of the already designed ones done though, especially the "Beeeeees" one I started ages ago.

 

Two bags with two projects that I still can't talk about because of Secrets - They should be finished, but are only half done. Shame on me! One will for sure make it to fully complete, the other I'm just not quite sure aout practicality-wise. And that's all I can say about them, because Secrets.

 

Double knit trivet - Having a different design on both sides sounded incredibly cool. The reality of keeping it all straight in my head? Less cool. Saving this for when I have some seriously good focus!

 

Tiny Octopus - I forgot all about this guy. I don't even know when I started it, because I never even made a project page. He only has one tentacle, so it's barely a start as it is. Save him for my next bout of startitis?

 

Towel - Larger version of the granny's fav dishcloth, to go with the two of those I finished. They were going to be a gift, but I thought better of it. Now they sit waiting for a new intended home and then I'll finish. Probably.

 

Hoodie vest - You'd think a sleeveless sweater with bulky yarn would be a no-time-flat project. You would be wrong.

 

Lace scarf - Just knitting till I'm out of yarn on this one, almost there. A few good days of knitting, and I'll be done. Then will come the magic of blocking.

 

Baby booties - For BFs great niece - he hates when I call her that, because it makes him feel old - Surprise gift that won't fit her until closer to winter like the sweater I gave her. I don't need to put a rush on it, but since I'm so close I will. Plus that baby's mom has shown herself quite knitworthy (so many times she and Bfs nephew have brought up that sweater and thanked me!) and I want to see how much she likes them :D

 

Blue day sock KAL - except mine are Green Day Socks (heee!) - I had started these last year, and through no fault of their own they got derailed by those secret bags. Picked them back up, and apparently my feet shrunk a little (IDEK it's weird) soooo I'm starting over with the support of a group knit along.

 

The last three projects currently have top priority. Some of the others are back to hang out in the time-out-hamper and a couple are in line for next-of-importance.

 

The only queue jumpers I'm anticipating are the two hats that a coworker commissioned me to make. The deadline isn't until Christmas, but I have no intention of putting them off and ending up stressed and rushed at the last minute. I do enough of that as it is! As soon as the yarn arrives, I'll be casting on the first of them.

 

OH! And while they, like the embroidery, are not technically knitting I also have those two playmates going still. Can't forget about them (no matter how hard I sometimes try. They almost didn't make this post!)

Mine to keep is STILL missing the pond and a couple fields. The giant one for gifting is missing ... Just about everything. Eek! The chances of a Christmas finish there are NOT looking good. Not for the mat, and definitely not for all the buildings/people/animals that go with it. I miiiiiight have gotten in over my head in this one.

 

Now that I've totally freaked myself out over how much I have in the works, I'm off to actually accomplish something. Or at least try!

 

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We have a new Doctor!

So due to Reasons (some good, some bad) I never have taken the time and gotten my Seattle post written like I planned
BUT
I could not let today's Doctor Who announcement go by without comment, so I'm using it as an excuse to post one of those trip pictures.
At the EMP I got to see a Dalek in person, I think they keep it under glass so geeky fangirls like me will keep hands off. No waking the Dalek! (For the record, that bump was already missing when I got there)

I was attempting to look scared, but truth is that I was so damned excited I couldn't hardly wipe the stupid grin off my face.
Why is this relevant to the announcement, besides the fact that it's Who related?
Unlike last regeneration, when I was much more scared about the choice and worried Matt Smith couldn't pull it off THIS TIME I've learned a bit of trust. Young as he is and as much as some of us worried, I think Matt Smith rocked the role. His Doctor has an ability to flip from the ridiculous goofball, to a look that makes you believe there are hundreds of years behind those eyes and then back to silly again. All In a blink (Okay bad choice of word! Don't blink!)
So while I was nervous to hear who it would be, there was a lot more excitement behind it. Eleven will be missed (and I'm sorry I ever doubted him) but I can't wait to see what they do with this next generation.
And in case you missed it, the next Doctor will be Peter Capaldi
(Picture shamelessly taken from the official FB page)

Not the first time, they've cast a character with someone who has been on the show before. They haven't said if the DW and TW characters will relate to his character as The Doctor, but I'm guessing not.

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Is this what happens when your shopping cosplays?

I was going to do up a post about how amazingly awesome my BF is for helping me celebrate my last Saturday off before tourist season by road tripping to Spokane. A long drive when the main objective was just burgers and a yarn shop. Especially when he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before.

I was going to (probably bore you with my) play by play the great shopping experience I had at Paradise Fibers. How even though their website is fun to shop on, it doesn't hold a candle to the store. Would have made sure to mention how incredibly helpful the people were too. Not in that pushy way some shops have, but genuinely helpful. I might have said I wished I could have picked out an empty corner to live in, and never left.

I was going to go on about how glad I am that I've finally started to watch Warehouse 13, but wish I had started sooner so I'd be caught up in time for the new episodes. Also, I was going to say that having just finished season 3, I'm a little bit freaked out but beg any readers I might have not to spoilerize me anyway (even if I was going to beg ask them to tell me it will be alright)

I was going to end the post with more excuses why my WIPs aren't progressing, and show some new spinning pictures by way of explanation. Probably promise to do better next week, blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda

INSTEAD you get a post with this picture -

And me wondering if maybe Doctor Who has taken over my brain. In three different shops I ended up with TARDIS colored things. Buttons are there because they have two hearts, and I instantly loved and had to buy them. How Doctory are two hearted buttons?!

 

Now I did end up with other exciting Smushy-Fluffs, and I'll probably show them off later on (or at least when I start using them) but I know how bad I am when I procrastinate posting and I just had to share the mostly accidental themed shopping.

 

One last thing to share. Charlotte guilt tripping me -

I've been spinning more and more on the wheel, and one of our dogs isn't a fan. She's taken to exaggerated sighs and sulking over the loss of her lap time. I swear she still gets plenty of attention, don't let her pouts fool you!

 

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Mrs Hudson's Not Wearing Cerise

Another square on the Sherlock blanket done, and in record time - GO ME!

Confession - I have no idea what the record time actually is for me finishing a blanket square, but since it was months and months (and months) between the two before this I figured only taking a week(ish) was cause for celebration

 

This square was Mrs Hudson themed, Not Cerise designed by Rav User Ffefryn

Mrs. Hudson "I should never wear cerise, apparently. Drains me."

 

The most amazing part about me finishing this square so quickly is that I did it even with top notch distractions. Major, big time, seriously exciting distractions.

BF managed to get his hands on a (slightly in need of TLC) vintage spinning wheel for me!! I am sooooo excited!!! He's going to do a little clearing up help for the person that was storing it for the previous owner in exchange for it. Somehow I am the one coming out ahead in the whole deal, but you won't hear me complaining!

It's already gotten some love since this picture was taken (most importantly a drive band and some cleaning) but this is what it looked like when he brought it home. I'll have another post soon with some more pictures of it, but right now I want to get back to actually using it again.

SO EXCITED YOU GUYS!

 

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"Why did Bluebell have to die, Dr. Stapleton?"

In case the post title up there didn't give it away, I'm back to working on my Sherlock blanket like I said I would (finally!)

From the Hounds of Baskerville episode of the show, this square was for the Bluebell and the lab where a little genetics tinkering made him glow.

 

I used the same grey here that I did for the background on the wallpaper square, and I think it worked well. In the light there is almost a stainless steel work table look to it. I really wish I had been able to find some glow in the dark yarn for the cables, but other than that I think the square is perfect.

I love how almost all the members of the group have stepped up designed squares, and that people keep throwing ideas out. This one was designed by Rav member Sadbhyl back in October - I am so behind, that isn't even the earliest one I'm missing! There are now so many great patterns now that my blanket would probably triple in size if I made them all.

As if all those werent enough to keep me busy, I still have a few square ideas in my head. I'm trying to work on catching up before I actually plan/write them out though. I think the current TV series is being pretty well covered, and there is at least one pattern in progress for the Granada series (yay!) but I would still like some more book related squares. Possibly add a couple of stereotypical Sherlock symbols like a pipe or magnifying glass too.

For now though, it's back to the existing patterns - next on the needles is a Mrs. Hudson inspired lace square.

 

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Everything is so Hush Hush lately!

The problem with having a crafting blog and having friends with a better than average working knowledge of how to google you is this - you can't really feel comfortable posting about any of your gift projects before the holidays for fear the surprise will be ruined.

Even now, there are a few things I can't post about because they're secret and it is killing me. Seriously. You have no idea.

What I can post about are the projects that have safely made it to their new homes, and are already being enjoyed.