Vertices Unite on a Plane

This project was born out of a pile of yarn that Aunt Betty gifted to me and something a knitter said. The yarn is Tofutsies.

She said that Stephen West's pattern Vertices Unite was like a blanket that was socially acceptable to wear around in public.

Combine that with a business trip and many hours on a plane and you have the beginnings of that socially acceptable blanket. It is very much a work in progress, but I did manage to make it through to the end of part one.

I've also painted my nails once or twice this month, which is something of a miracle. I just can't seem to get away from the candy colors, though, so off it comes before work on Monday.

In the Mail Monday: Thread!

It comes as no surprise that I continue to receive thread.

Superior Threads is my thread of choice.

I really enjoy the thread of the month club. I belong to the So Fine! #50 thread of the month club.

I love thread. Of all colors. This month I also ordered a cone of Omni that was on sale. If you add other items to your club order the shipping is free, which is pretty awesome.

Someday I will have the complete library of colors for So Fine! #50. That's only 134 colors!

Knitting Update: Dotted Rays

Spring has come to my little piece of the planet. The daffodils are out in force. I took this picture on one of our evening walks. Such happy faces.

I'm still making progress on my Dotted Rays shawl. Design by Stephen West. I love working with short rows and this is no exception. This is my second one. I did lose at yarn chicken when I ran out of my handpainted yarn from Knit Picks.

I had to throw in this pretty purple yarn that can with my Options Short Needle Set.

I'm sure it will work out great and make quite a statement. I really am loving this shawl.

Homespun Yarn Party

Sunday I popped over to the Homespun Yarn Party to check things out, meet and interact with other fiber enthusiasts, and participate in some local shopping.

I was very frugal with my shopping dollars because it won't be long before the next Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I have to save at least a couple dollars for that amazing event. I bought three hanks of amazingly beautiful fingering yarn.

First up is some supper-yummy Ewe So Happy Sock by Tempting Ewe Yarns. I picked out Rainbow Brite and Whale Rider. I'm still not sure what I'll do with these, but I'm sure it will be awesome!

Next was some Polaris Sock from Snallygaster Fibers. The color is Bellatrix and it was just too perfect to leave there.

I also came across the perfect combination of geekery and fiber. A shop with a 3D printer printing drop spindles. Metis Industries prints colorful whorls for drop spindles. I couldn't resist a stop by the shop to see the machine at its work. They have loads of designs in a rainbow of colors. They even have one that looks like a Tardis.

I'm glad I stopped in to see the many vendors. It was a great little event. I think I really need to check out the Charm City Yarn Crawl to really get to see what some of these local shops have to offer.

In the Mail Monday: Latifah Saafir Studios

Last year I jumped on a chance to support Latifah Saafir Studios with her Kickstarter Project. I recently received my package and I am so excited to try out some her wonderful designs and the 12" Clammy ruler. You can also find some of her patterns on Craftsy. Like her Glam Clam Quilt pattern for free.

Check her out on her website at Latifah Saafir Studios or her Instagram feed.

Have you joined in to support small designers with their projects?

Knitting Update: Setting Limits

I may have mentioned this before but it bears repeating.

One can have too many knitting projects on the needles at a time. Well, I can. I've set a limit of three on-going projects at a time. This way I can stay focused and keep making progress. This is my current small project. Blunk the Hat (available on Ravelry) made with Knit Picks Chroma in Red Velvet .

Next up is my current big project.

A shawl made using West Knits' pattern Dotted Rays (available on Ravelry). Yarn is Stroll handpainted, color Make Believe, from Knit Picks.

Last up is my latest finish.

Made using the wonderfully colorful ombre yarn from Freia Fine Handpaints.

The pattern Electric Boogaloo Cowl is free from Ravelry and comes out so lovely in these yarns.

This weekend, I'm thinking about checking out the Homespun Yarn Party at Savage Mills. I'm also thinking about checking out the shops that are participating in the Charm City Yarn Crawl.

I need a new third project to add to the list.

Retail Therapy and a Quilt Show

Last weekend I went to a fun little quilt show in my own town. The Southern Comforters Quilt Guild of Bowie, MD, put on a great little quilt show just a short drive from my house. I did my part to participate in some retail therapy.

I picked up some 24" purse zippers. Let's hope my color sense didn't fly away and at least one of these will work for a planned project.

I had to pick up this darling kitten fabric from Prints Charming.

I love it when the guilds do their "Out of the Attic" sale. I picked up these great fabrics for a whopping $2. That knit themed fabric is going to become an awesome knitting project bag.

I didn't take many photos of the quilts, but I did cast my vote for viewer's choice in every single category. I tried to give each quilt my honest time when I filled out my ballot. These stockings really made me smile.

The mini quilts that were placed with the entries to prevent people from touching the quilts were just as amazing. This one was one of my favorites.

I should totally drop by for a guild meeting and meet some of the amazing quilters.

In the Mail Monday: Knit Picks

This is the mess that has been living on my cutting table. It is amazing that I manage to accomplish anything.

I recently placed an order through Knit Picks because I convinced myself I needed another set of needles.

These are the Options Short Interchangeable Caspian Wood Needle Set. I have been eyeing them for a while and I finally just placed my order.

I will admit that I also bought more Stroll sock yarn because I might need it.

Do you buy yarn with no project in mind?

Knitting Update: Langfield

Last week I talked about trying another pattern by Strickmich.

This is Langfield by Strickmich. You can find it on Ravelry. (Sorry about the horrible lighting in this photo.)

The construction of this hat, and a couple other designs, is unusual and wonderful for self-striping or ombre yarns.

The yarn is Chroma from Knit Picks. The color is "Carnival". The construction lets the yarn really shine. I see a couple more of these in my future. There are some great yarns out there that just beg to become one of these fun hats.

In the Mail Monday: Thread and Bobbins

I'm so far behind with sharing my wonderful threads form Superior Threads. I belong to their thread of the month club and I absolutely love getting thread every month.

If you ever decide you want to build your collection of threads, this is a great way to do it. You can pick a club that ships you cones or spools and get new thread for sewing, quilting or embroidery every single month.

What else did I get in the mail? Bobbins and bobbin cases for my long arm. You don't realize how important extras are until you don't have any. I ordered these from eBay. Ten more bobbins and five more bobbin cases. I'll be ready to sew for ages!

Knitting Update

Sometimes I realize I've made a major mess. This was my knitting bag after I finished up a shawl. I had to get everything sorted and set back up for my next project. I have set an arbitrary hard limit on the number of knitting projects I will allow myself to have going at one time. This has forced me to be very careful about the projects I pick (three shawls is a bad idea) and I've finished several small projects along the way.

I finished two bandana cowls, a Tensfield hat and one Dotted Rays shawl.

What's next? first up is another Dotted Rays Shawl, this time using this hand-painted yarn from Knit Picks Stroll.

A hat with the pattern Langfield using Chroma by Knit Picks.

What is the third project? I'm still working on my second Electric Boogaloo Cowl made with the absolutely yummy and awesome wool/silk blend from Freia Handpaints.

How many projects do you have on needles at the moment?

Charity Quilting

I worked on getting some charity quilts quilted for Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

Each of these was made by another member of Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

I quilted them and have since handed them over to another member for binding. I know other members are out there making more tops for me to quilt and I have one more waiting for batting.

2016 Charity Quilt Count: 9

Waterfall Bandana Cowl

Sometimes they get it right.

Remember the last bandana cowl I made? bandana

I had Darling Husband try it on and he said "can you make it longer?" I love a knitting challenge. I looked over the wonderful directions from Ravelry and decided I could definitely pull it off.

A few more rows here, a few more rows there and I had a much longer and easier to hide your nose in bandana cowl.

This one was made using a single hank of Kaleidoscope Worsted from Blue Ridge Yarns. I love how it pooled as I worked the rows.

This wonderful superwash Merino is called waterfall (color #022). It was great to knit with. I've handed it over to DH for what seems to be quickly fading winter weather.

Do you have any fun small projects that are great as take-along projects? This would make a great weekend project if you're in a pinch for a gift.