Lots to Report

     I just looked through my last update, wow.  I've done a few things on both the knitting and dyeing front.  So I'll attempt to do this in cronological order. 

     Back in May I was working on a dishcloth and dish towel set for my MIL.  I finished all the knitting on those before Nerd Wars started in June.  I have a picture of the dish towel.  I took the picture before I wove in the ends.  I just did that today, now I just neen to attach a button and I have to locate my sewing needle for that.  (The heads on tapestry needles are too big to fit through button holes, I have this problem every time I need to put a button on something...)  The towel is huge, but its a towel so I think thats a good thing.  The matching dishcloths are also large, so I think in the long run it will work out okay.  The pattern is:  Mitered Ballband Hanging Towel.  The top portion is knit with two strands of yarn held together so its very thick and strong.  I really like the effect of holding the striping yarn together, the colors mixed up really well. 

I'll be attaching a tourquise button to this.  I dont need to get it all done 'til August, but I've been on a cleaning streak since yesterday.  I want to get my craft table cleaned off, it looks like a hurricane struck in there. 

     Back on June 1st I was able to do some solar dyeing.  That weekend was quite hot and sunny so I figured it would be a good time to try.  Solor dyeing is awesome!  Its basically set it and forget it.  Here are the two finished skeins:

and

I think I've figured out what I'm making with both of these.  I hope to use the green and yellow one this month yet, if there is still time. 

     So, on to Nerd Wars.  I've posted to two challenges as of today and I'm halfway through a third project.  First up, for the Encyclopedia challenge; Birthday, I made a baby hat inspired by my birthday flower, the gladiola.  My mother and I used to keep gladiolus, when I was still at home to help with all the planting and then digging up the bulbs and storing them.  (Glads are sort of a pain in the bum...)  I chose my favorite color of glads to use for the yarn inspiration.  It's not right on, but I was limited to about three colorways.  Here's the hat:

I really love this pattern, its a top down, which I've never done before for hats.  Its got spiraling eyelets on the top, then and eyelet row for the ribbon/I-cord and a frilly edging.  So cute!  The pattern is:  Lacy Baby/Toddler Hat.  I used Bernat Jacquards in the Petunia colorway.  The colors are more purple than the original glads, but the frilly edging is what I was really trying to mimic.  (I've already been scored so they must have agreed with me.) 
     The second challenge I've submitted to is the Discovery; Kelper challenge.  This project is also in conjunction with the Finglerless Glove Fanatics group's June KAL.  We were to craft an obscure pattern.  Including mine, there are 4 projects listed for Twisted Trellis Fingerless Gloves. 

Its a good little pattern.  The trellis pattern is made by twisting stitches either left or right.  Its a bit fiddly at first but very easy to catch on to.  One mitt is shorter that the other.  I think I may have done only two repeats of the pattern before the thumb on the second one.  Or I did four repeats on the first one.  I'm not sure, but its actually not that noticable.  The only modification I made was to do the 1X1 ribbing on the cuffs and the fingers as twisted rib.  I knit the first one almost exclusively at a Knit In Public (KIP) event at Yarn Cupboard on WWKIP day.  I was chit-chatting so there is no telling what I did to that first mitt.  The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold Cool Wool.  I only have a small bit left now.

     As I stated earlier my third project is only half done.  I'm making socks!  They will be for the Nerdology; Alternative Transportation challenge.  Human feet will be my non-fossil fuel powered vehicle.  I'm making ankle socks since those are the type I prefer anyway and that style takes less yarn.  The pattern is An Anklet a Day.  Here is the one I've gotten done.  It fits me too!

The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks Stripes.  Its acutally sock weight yarn.  The pattern calls for US2s and the ball band from the yarn calls for US3s.  I went with 3s since my gauge is always tight.  Like I said this one fits so, US3s were the correct choice.  I chose a vanilla pattern for this yarn because of the stripes.  I love how this one turned out.  I also learned a new cast on.  I used the twisted german cast on.  Its a long tail cast on that ends up in a very streatchy first row.  Its perfect, its streatches out well, but also bounces back like elastic, so it will hold up the cuff when I'm wearing these socks.  Its seriously a great cast on, I dont know why I didnt learn it sooner.  I'll be using this for everything with a brim or cuff or anything that needs to streatch a bit.  It makes for a nice looking edge too. 

     Thats it for knitting news.  In personal news, the hubbs and I bought a brand new vehicle last week.  We test drove it on Saturday and picked it up Monday, so we havent even had it a week yet.  Its a 2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser.  Its one of those off road sort of SUV things that acts like a truck but drives like a car.  So far we both love it.  I thought it would take longer for me to get used to.  Its higher up but for all intents and purposes is a car.  I've even been able to back into parking spaces with no issues.  This is the first new vehicle we've bought.  Its always been used cars up 'til now.  It was somewhat of an event in our household.  That was the good news, the sort of murphy's law news is this.  The very next day (Tuesday), less than 24 hours later, the car we kept died.  Grumble grumble, mumble mumble.  There will be more news on this subject later, and pictures.  All I have right now are some cell phone pictures of the new FJ.  Thats it for now.  I'll have more news soon.  I have the socks to finish and I'm trying to catch up with the finishing work.  Once it gets hot outside like this I get antsy and my craft room has been bugging me for a few weeks now.  I dont like this much clutter.  Until later, Happy Crafting!
-Q     

Update:  I forgot one of my May projects.  Oh no!  I finally knit up some of my own hand-dyed yarn.  Its great seeing it go from hank to cake to finished item.  The pattern is Twistygoo.  

It was a fast project, I got it done in one day.  I want to say it was only a two or three row pattern.  I cant remember though since it was a month ago...  I think it would be good to wear durring blizzards.  It is very highly visable with all the orange.  Okay now I should be done.