Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Knitting and Weave the ends








Here you have a way of weaving the ends while knitting.  It is a bit different than the Crochet  option of weaving the ends.  I hope you find it useful.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Earth And Sky

EarthAndSky (1)
When I first signed up for this Mystery KAL , I did not know how much fun it was going to be . If  there is another one, which there is going to be, I am definitely joining in.  I was able to do Intarsia and even dare to finish the project in a way that is not really according to the pattern,m yet it is.  This is a medium size shawl and I am very happy with it. The pygora/ BFL blend makes this a very nice choice for this project.  I am a loose knitter and blocking will be accomplished by steaming the piece. This is not a hard project and I was able to complete it in 4 weeks, but I am sure I could have done it in one or two.  The most difficult area of this pattern is the yarn choices. Thanks You Stephen, you really did a good job! Thanks for stopping by!
EarthAndSky (2)

Mystery KAL Shawl WIP (1)

MysteryKalShawlWIP (1) by Crafty Andy
MysteryKalShawlWIP (1), a photo by Crafty Andy on Flickr.

The Mystery Shawl came out to be a very interesting shawl indeed. It has various way for you to finishing your shawl and you can come up with your own way. Thanks you Stephen West for a fun KAL. More pictures later as I need to continue my Shawl finishing and weave in the ends, then comes blocking. I am very excited. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Sahar WIP Chart C

SaharWIPStatC (1) 
This is the WIP of the Sahar Stole.  The yarn is a Knit Picks overspun DK/Sport weight.  So far the yarn is really behaving nicely with this pattern.  I think hat the lace nature of the pattern will allow the yarn to really relax in a way that will enhance the pattern.  Franklin Habit is a mischievous fellow. but oh so clever.  If you are using Stitch markers  to maker the repetitions, you can still do it on Chart C by minding where your marker should be.   What I like about this pattern is that is not boring, it is easy, and it will keep you entertained and mesmerized.  I have not dislike anything about this pattern.  I will be finishing this half, hopefully this week.   I am also working on the West Knits KAL,  another mischievous fellow.  This is what I know Today , thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Another Secret Hat Pattern

SecretHat4 
I  am very excited to be designing my hats.  I am frustrated as I can not show you what I am designing.  I can not show  you the patterns , but I can tell you is hats.  The hats that are coming are for the whole family and they are wonderful Crochet Hats with Tapestry Crochet and some Color Stranding Techniques.  I have never seen hats like these on the Internet or for that matter on any one's heads.  The hats have bold colors and great visual excitement.  The hats have Textures and are like a sensory stimulating experience.  I have to say that my inspiration comes in spurts and I have in queue about 6 to 10 more hats, I have already designed 4, I am almost ready to publish one for sale and the other ones are not for sale yet.  I will be making my Philosopher Hat and a Fall Hat or Two  available in the next few months. They are in dk weight and very sturdy, machine washable if you choose the right yarns, but I tell you I like hand washing my hats myself, it is exciting none the less. I want to thanks my proof readers and testers for their input and feedback.  I always test my patterns on  myself and read through them plenty of times before I publish them. At any rate hope to have a picture of my newest hat next week, but until I have the child size done and photographed, it won't happen, so it may be another week or so, I am not in a hurry anymore.  This was an old post that I have to repost because of spam, people have nothing else to do.Thanks for stopping by

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Vulcan Sahar , WIP

Sahar Wip
Today I started the Sahar stole, the link to the pattern follows, Sahar Pattern , from The Panopticon,  a friend of mine.  Actually we kind of know each other , we have  a friendship, we do get along and have a good time together and have things in common, I say we are buddies getting to know each other.  He is a very funny guy, that I can tell you.  I get to spend time with him at the  Men Knitting Retreats and he is a fun guy to be around.  The only part of this pattern that scares me is the grafting, but I am going to go for it.  This pattern is very intuitive so far. What do I mean? It is easy to follow.   I am hoping to take it with me to the retreat.  I enjoy a lace challenge once in a while and this is going to be my challenge for  a bit.  I think it will knit quicker than fast.  I am using Knit Picks dk/sport yarn, this yarn actually is over spun, so I am hoping that is not a problem.  In the ends is the experience that counts.  I am hoping to have more pictures later this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I-Cord Bind off


I made this video a while ago .  It is a small tutorial attempt at helping people understand the I-Cord bind-off.   Once in a while I refer to it and watch it myself, because it is helpful.  I made it when I made the Baby Bath Wrap pattern. I hope you enjoy it and that is of help to you. Thanks for stopping by!

Intarsia a Journey


MysteryWestknits
Many people don't realize how cold it can be in San Francisco in the summer, but it is cold most of the time.  The shawl is the same as in the last posting , but it has gotten bigger and I decided to go for the medium size.  I am actually working on clue # 3, yep is a mystery shawl by Stephen West aka West Knits.  There is nothing I dislike about this pattern, It is fast and simple and you get your feet wet in Intarsia.  I think this young man is an Artisan with a refreshing bold taken on knitting.   As a man who knits I look for men who design patterns, just because most of them have a different take. I like all the patterns West Knits , some I would not wear at this moment in life, but I would have definitely worn them when I was young. He pushes the envelope and is a breath of fresh air. I am hoping to buy more of his patterns, I have my eye on the vest he designed and the blanket he designed and some other patterns that he is offering.  He is coming out with book #3 , let's see if I decide to buy the whole E-Book.  This is all for today, thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

Klingon Bird of Prey Decloaking

MysteryShawlWIP (14)
I am always comparing things from our timeline to the Star Trek timeline.  Believe me I wish I was there in the 24th century dealing with more interesting challenges than as of today. I definitely like triangular shawls like this one because they remind me of my Klingon friends.  I do have Klingon friends! Qaplah! No matter that time travel is not here yet, we have to own the now.   We have today, I will live the day and Own it.  I will have to say that Stephen West is to Shawls as Crafty Andy is to Hats. I salute you my friend you have outdone yourself once more.  Mister West Knits has come up with this Mystery KAL that he calls Earth and Sky , it is on sale for now at $4.00, it will be going up in price at the end of the month.  It gets a clue every Monday, we are on clue #2.  If you want to try some Intarsia, this is the project for you.  It will be better if you belong to Ravelry so that you can join the group discussion and get ideas .  Don't let this get away as he is helping you along and the benefits from the group is fantastic. Thanks for stopping by!

Saturday, August 06, 2011

Pygora please

Pygora (5) 
I was thinking of  spinning this by drop spindle, but the wheel is a great way of testing myself for this kind of yarn.  I am making use of the fast flyer to make a very thin single of pygora to use on a two ply or a three ply, I don't know yet. Pygora is very strong, just as I thought, this has been sitting in a bag for a while it needs to breathe a bit before I continue spinning. The fiber need to be opened and that is what I am going to do later on.  This is my Saturday project, but I do have a hat to finish.  Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, August 05, 2011

The Steins Collect

The Stein Collect is at the San Francisco MOMA.  I tell you that it was a very stimulating visit. 2.5 hours of Matisse and Picasso, Juan Gris and the Parisian  Avant-Garde.  I got to understand so much about the Cubist Picasso and Juan Gris.  It was a window into  the artist mind and a very interesting tour.  I will get great inspiration for hat making, well not like the one on the picture, but definitely getting bold in colors and forms.  This picture was Matisse's wife, but she was wearing all black, yet he saw her in colors.  What was bold about this picture was the idea of using colors like these to paint a lady at the time.  Today we think nothing of it, but then it was a shock.  I want to thank the Steins for having the foresight in collecting these pieces of art to share it with us. There were other Picasso's and even though I have seen three or four different exhibitions from Picasso, it is always nice to see different works by the man, from bronze to ceramics he had a vision.  If this happens to go by your city , go and see it, it is worth it.   Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Armando In Jacob

GalenArmando
I always like to take a picture of a hat almost done.  This is where DPNs shine beyond anything else.I am done with the hat and I can tell you that is the most wonderful Lace hat for a man.  The Jacob takes a suede look and it looks very masculine with a touch of femininity or a delicate touch for the hunter in you. lol.  I love this pattern and if you want to make it is a free Ravelry Download. Thanks for stopping by!
GalenArmando (2)

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Rose Grey Alpaca

AndersRoseAlpaca175yd112gms (2)
Sometimes what amazes me about spinning is how things turn out.  This Rose Grey Alpaca was perfect, some vegetable matter, twigs only, but clean very clean otherwise.  The water that I used to set the twist with was clear and that made me happy.  Alpaca is one of those fibers that is perfect for the beginner spinner, longer staple and very forgiving of mistakes.  This is a two ply with 178 yards at 112 grams, which is perfect.  This is half of the 8 ounces I purchase on EBay.  There is another 4 ounces that I am hoping to spin sometime this month, maybe next week.  I say August started with me Finishing projects left and right and accomplishing goals and that is a great way of entering a month.  I wanted to share this with you before I went to my crochet and knitting, they need some time as well.  Thanks fro stopping by.
AndersRoseAlpaca175yd112gms (4)

Almost two years without blogging August 2020

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