Skip to main content

Only Three More Months to Go.....

     Actually today is the last day in round three of T5.  But, that's one of the best movie lines ever, so hows that for a title.  (10 points to whomever knows where that line came from)  So first things first; on the Nerd Wars front.  I've completed four more challenges.  So say it with me now:  I am the Melter of Cubes!!!  I used two stash busting projects for the WIP challenge.  I do have a WIP that I'd like to complete, but I knew it would take longer than the time I had allotted, so that will be for another time.  I used one of the Tricolours in yellow and purple that I gave to Chad Jr. and I used the Pinwheel Petals that I made for T.T. upon request.  A WIP is a work in progress.  There is a WIP challenge in round 3 of every tournament.  Or I should say there has been so far, most people count on it now. 
     On to my other projects.  For the Nerd Culture:  Its the Outdoor Life For Me, I made Camp Out Fingerless Mitts.  I mentioned them in my last blog.  I had seen the pattern floating around Ravelry, once I saw the pair someone else had done in Lion Brand Amazing the pattern jumped into my queue.  It was the title of the challenge that practically forced me to knit them. 
I have mixed feelings about Amazing.  Its a blend of wool and acrylic with color variations that are supposed to mimic Noro.  I have worked with Noro and I like it.  Noro is one of those yarns that either people love or hate, there is no gray area.  Most people don't like Noro because of the rough texture.  I found that Amazing wasn't that soft, its also not really plied.  Its quite fuzzy and felts upon itself just from being knit up.  I had to do a provisional cast on for the top cuff and I had a bugger of a time getting the provisional cast on back out.  I cant say too much about the colors either.  They started out nice.  The mitt on the right is the first one.  The colors turn to mud, then come back out slightly at the start of the second mitt, then go back into mud.  There is part of the skein left over and its pretty muddy looking as well.  I got the two of the skeins on sale and I'm rather glad of that.  I would say, if one has not used Noro, or prefers not to pay the price of Noro then Amazing is a mediocre substitute.  BUT, if you don't mind Noro's texture or price then spring for the Noro, it is a better looking yarn in the long run.  Amazing advertises that its washable.  I've not washed these yet so I cant attest to that statement.  Based on the felting while knitting trait, I have to say I don't have alot of faith in the washability aspect.  As a side note, I didn't check gauge since I'm a stubborn moron and these don't even remotely fit me.  I think the look cute though.

     For the Intellectual Challenge:  A Word to the Wise I made the Drop Stitch Equiangular Cloth.  I used a quote from the episode I used as a tie in.  The episode Absolute Power is one of the best ones ever.  Shifu, Sha're's son comes to the SGC and teaches Daniel just how bad the Goa'uld knowledge he posses is.  Daniel builds satellite weapons and ends up going off his rocker, which for whatever reason makes him hotter, not sure why but evil Daniel is soooo great.  So the cloth is supposed to be a representation of the weapons satellites.
Its hard to see from the picture but the pattern is pretty nifty.  I plan to do this one again with some more colorful yarn.

     The last challenge was Giving Geeks:  You're the Inspiration.  For this one, we had to pick one of the previous GG challenges and choose to be inspired by one individual's submission.  I chose the very first GG challenge, Cold Hands Warm Heart.  I chose one of the people who made mittens that were donated to a school.  It worked out great since I've been wanting to do mittens for Norwood Norfolk Central School.  I only have 'til the end of September to do any more.  Here's the ones I submitted.
I used a pattern I've used before Warmest Mittens.  Its the pattern I used for my very first pair of mittens.  Its very simple and spelled out really clearly, I think.  It was a great first mitten pattern. 


     I've also finished my dissertation, as in my first socks!!!  Yes, they are done and they fit.  I'm really looking forward to cooler weather so I get a chance to wear them.  I really enjoyed the process of socks, so I see many more pairs in my future.  That means I should probably get myself some sock blockers.
 
     Tournament Five has been a great one for me.  I melted the cube all three rounds and I finished my first ever Dissertation.  Its been a personal best.  I most likely wont be able to keep up this momentum in the future but at least I can say I did it once.  I should get back to enjoying my vacation now.  I have a few projects I want to get done in the between time.  (T5 and T6)  I have some finishing to do on a few things and I've really been wanting to get that little cardigan Amiga done.  I really slowed down between tournaments last time and I think that helped.  Happy Crafting!
-Q

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

YOP: Week 34

     I did some crafting this week, but it was all for the swap.  I was nearly out of interfacing so I ran over to The Quilt Shop in Watertown.  I'd been there once a couple of years ago and thought their prices were very good considering they are independent and Joanne and Hobby Lobby were both in Watertown at the time.  They have really expanded and have a tremendous selection.  They have more novelty type fabrics now, which is what I prefer for my bags, so I will be going there much more often.... probably too much.  I got interfacing and I found two prints that were perfect for my swapee.  I really wasn't expecting to find what I did.  I sewed a bag with those two prints and two of the fabrics I picked up from Walmart.  The Walmart fabric was acceptable.  Not groundbreaking, but decent enough that if I find cute prints I'll probably grab them.  I finished the handknit earlier today.  I want to steam block it yet, ...

YOP: Week 52

      As the year comes to a close, I've been looking at my queue and starting to plan out a few projects for 2025.  After having to cold sheep for the majority of this past year, I'm going into next year with some guidelines.  When I purchase yarn, I really want to stick to purchasing for specific patterns.  I took advantage of Miss Babs annual gratitude sale and purchased specifically for two patterns.  I also want to continue to knit from stash whenever possible.  I have paired up yarn with patterns for several and they've been moved up in my queue.     I'll have more time, so I plan to participate in several swaps in 2025.  I'll be getting yarn from these so I'm going to try to stick to swaps only for "unplanned" stash acquisition.  I have several carry-over projects I didn't get to this year, which seems to be a theme every year.  So tentatively this is my meager list for 2025: - Butterfly--Papillon  with Urth Ya...

YOP: Week 35

    Not much to report this week.  I didn't do much crafting.  I finished the swap, got it packaged up and mailed out.  It should have arrived to my recipient yesterday.  I'll share what I made.  The theme was Favorite Things.  She likes the colors pale yellow and deep dark red and dragons, so I went all out with the dragons.  I chose  Dragon Scale Mitts  for the handmade item.  I used Madeline Tosh Sport in the Tart colorway.   My camera doesn't really do this colorway justice.  It has more depth in real life.  I think they came out nicely though. I was able to find dragon fabric at The Quilt Shop.  I made a reversible project bag. I paired each dragon fabric with one of her favorite colors.  Liara really liked the dragon fabric as well.  I'm probably going to get some more when I go again.  I also sent some stationary items and a bunch of Swedish Fish, which were also things she had req...