Knitting, Sci-fi and other stuff...

    I did a tiny bit of crafting on the 31st.  I needed to finish the handmade for the Hot Beverages swap and get it in the mail.  All I needed to do was embroider on the roses to the mug rug and I had put if off for a month.  The embroidery was actually pretty simple and straight forward.  Here's how it turned out. Pattern: Beverage of Choice      My knitting really tapered off at the end of the year when the reading bug hit me head on.  That's okay, I'm really enjoying reading again.  I hope I can keep it up so there probably won't be a lot of crafting posts this year.  I did make a 2025 wrap up video of all my projects I'll see if I can get it to embed correctly in the blog.  I can never seem to get it to work correctly. That's it for me, short and sweet.  Hope everyone had a good New Year.  Happy crafting. -Q

     I have some crafting progress to report.  I've been slowly working on a mug rug for my next swap.  I have the knitting part complete I need to do some embroidery.   It's going to need blocking.  The cast on edge (at the top in this picture) want to fold over.  When I do some more of these I'm going to do a different cast on, this was a long tail.  I chose to weave the CC colors as I knit.  That first row of the lavender color turned out a bit wonky but so far its been a fun little project.  I'm using all scraps.  The purple is Queensland Collection Super Aussie from at least a decade ago.  The lavender is Cascade Heritage Silk from when I made my MIL a shawl again ages ago.  The pinkish redish in the middle is I think Noro Silk Garden, it didn't have a ball-band.  The chunky green is Happy Sheep Wool Print left over from my Permutation Hat and Mittens.  The Happy Sheep is a loosely spun single so i...

      I finished and mailed my swap package so I'll show off my hat.  I took a quick poorly lit picture before I blocked it and then neglected to get a good picture before I mailed it. The color is brighter and more vibrant in real life.  This is the free pattern  Lake Reed .  The only modification I made was to make the brim shorter.  As I mentioned in my last YOP post I did a tubular cast on for the first time for this hat.  There was a link to a tutorial in the pattern and the tutorial was a good one.  It was a fun pattern and I really like how it turned out.  I may use a true worsted weight when I do this pattern again.  The pattern calls for a DK weight, but the gauge is what I normally knit worsted at.  I could have gone down at least one needle size for the Mal Rios; I prefer to knit it at a bit tighter gauge.  Either way I was really happy with how this turned out.  I hope my recipient likes it. I've star...

     I've actually done some crafting.  I signed up for two swaps so I need to get some knitting done for these.  I won't mention which swap this is for just in case my partner stumbles across my blog.  I'm knitting a hat currently.  It's the free pattern Lake Reed.  It called for a tubular cast-on.  Truth be told I've never done a tubular cast-on before but the pattern had a YouTube link.  The tutorial was very nicely put together and I successfully did my first one. It was a touch on the fiddly side but the result is 100% worth it.  I'm using Malabrigo Rios in the Cian colorway for this.  The wording in the pattern is a bit questionable in a couple places but I like the way this is coming out. I've finished the hat but I don't have an updated picture.  I also need to give this a really good wash and get it blocked. I have a game plan worked out for the hand made items for the other swap. Not much else to report here....

     Before I get into looking back at 2014 and my knitoultions from last year; it's time to catch up on my last two projects.  I finished and blocked the hat I made from the Bamtastic yarn.  The pattern is Caramel Slouch.   It's a Tincanknits pattern.  They put out some amazing hat patterns.  The recommended yarn is wool based which makes the pattern hold its shape better.  The Bamtastic is 60% bamboo which makes it extremely drapey and loose.  I probably should have knit it at a slightly tighter gauge.  I have not delivered this to the customer yet, so I'm a bit worried she wont like it.  It's quite a bit more open than my usual stockinette.  I would like to knit up the pattern again with a high wool content yarn just to see the difference in fabric.       I also finished the second, adult sized, Sassafras for Christina.  I used MadTosh DK in the Chickory color...

     I caved and picked up some new buttons the last time I was at Wally World.  I was going for both washable and cute since all my items needing buttons are for children.  I then had a little button sewing party on my night off.  In no particular order: I got a whole package of these, flowers are always a good choice for little girls.   I originally got the daisy buttons for just the Solis Entrechat, but the yellow center looked so good with the browns of Piedras, I just couldn't resist. Jordan was nice enough to model this for me.  This is Sassafras   and its reversible! So it can be worn as a slouch or a beanie.  I thought the design was ingenious.  It's a nice easy pattern and very pretty.  Christina had admitted that it does occasionally get cold enough for her to wear a hat and having a matching one wouldn't be too dorky.  I got a second button in anticipation that I could get another skein o...