Knitting: Dotted Rays

I think I made it to the final wedge. I know it doesn't look like much all scrunched up like this but I'm not changing my needle. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Knitting: Dotted Rays

Progress is slower. Still fun. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Knitting: Dotted Rays

A couple more wedges completed.

I shifted to working from both balls or yarn so could keep the color changes from narrowing. I really like how it is working up. This is the part where it starts to take a long time to knit each wedge. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Knitting: Dotted Rays

A friend gave me this fun yarn from Knit Picks a few years ago. I was going away for a weekend and wanted a hand project to take along.

I used my winder to make some fresh cakes and picked a color order. 

The pattern I decided to use is Dotted Rays by Stephen West. I find this shawl to be perfect for those times when my hands need something to do but I don't want to really think about it.

I did the first couple wedges in this orange. 

Then, switched to the rainbow yarn at the orange. 

Each color change is a delight. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Travel Crochet

Last week we went on an adventure. We took the Amtrak from Baltimore to Providence, Rhode Island. I took along this project to give my hands something to do as the north east passed by the window. 

New York City from the train.

On the return trip I finished up the last row with shells. I was then left with my Kindle. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Travel Crochet

Sometimes I need a comfort crochet project. This is one of those projects. We recently traveled to say a last goodbye to a good friend. When you have plenty to think about, a simple project is perfect to occupy your hands. This is a granny triangle shawl made with a Caron Skinny Cake.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Travel Crochet

What does one do when travelling? Bring yarn! All of this is from Knit Picks. These are singles. The solid color is no longer available. The multicolor is Chroma fingering. 

I held the two strands together. The pattern is the Just Feel Festive Shawl by Caleisha Ryan.

I made mine using fewer cast on stitches but I like how it turned out. 

I do wish I had used a larger hook, to make the fabric a little looser. Still a good finish. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Crochet Crazy

This shawl was supposed to be something completely different. 

In the end, it worked out just fine. 

I think it turned out great. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Machine Knitting

I tried another version of this shawl. Sometimes I fail to read my work. For those of you that don't knit, or crochet, it is just where you look at what you have already done so you know where to place your increases and decreases later in the work. This is a great example of that not happening. Those three little holes don't belong. I had to remove the work from the machine and start over. 

Then I had my marks on the machine bed and knew what to look for when doing the increase rows. Then the wedges came out looking great. The only indication are the little points where they almost line up. 

I made thirteen wedges and hoped I would have enough yarn to finish off the top edge with I-cord. 

I finished the top edge with an I-cord bind off and had plenty of yarn to spare. An I-cord finish is great but always seems to take forever when doing it by hand. This what it looked like before I steamed it. 

Stretching, and steaming worked out all those lumps and curls. It also gave it some flow that the freshly-knit fabric didn't have. 

This is not a small shawl. If falls to my wrists and is more than a half-circle. That helps it hang over the shoulders easily. 

It bundles up nicely around the neck, too. A great project all around. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Travel Crochet

This was a great take-along project. 

I've reached the end of the cake of yarn and weaved in the ends. This is a nice size shawl. 

The resulting fabric is squishy and soft. I'm not sure what my next crochet project will be. Have you made something with self-striping yarn and really loved the finish? 

Yarn is Caron Skinny Cakes in the colorway Raspberry Ganache.

If you didn't read the last post about this project, the pattern is Kria by Tinna Thórudóttir Thorvaldsdóttir. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. She also has loads of patterns and great tutorials on YouTube. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Machine Knitting

I picked up several of these Caron Skinny Cakes from the big box store. They are discontinued and were marked down to $5. Perfect for learning. 

I did some experimenting with short rows and eyelets. Until I make a mistake too big to come back from. 

I ripped it out so I could start again. This is just part of the process. Yarn is rarely ruined after a single use. 

I used my Stanwood ball winder to get it back into a cake for my next try. Again, I learned quite a bit about working on the LK150. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Stanwood Needlecraft Large Yarn Ball Winder

Travel Crochet

I found Caron Skinny Cakes on sale at the local big box store. I needed a travel project for a trip to visit family. I packed my project bag with a single cake of yarn, my preferred hook, and my kit. Funny how it matches my project.  

The pattern is Kria by Tinna Thórudóttir Thorvaldsdóttir. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. She has loads of patterns and great tutorials on YouTube. 

I decided to make a contrasting stripe. 

Self-striping yarn is so great for this kind of project. 

I worked on this mostly in the car while my husband drove us about. 

It was a simple enough project I could easily put it down and pick it up without feeling lost. 

The texture on this shawl is just great! I still have to finish it up so keep an eye out for the final look. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Stitch markers: CLOVER Lock Ring Markers 20/pkg 

Knit and Crochet Tools (affiliate links): You can read my post about these tools in this post from December 2018. 

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold needle, needle threader, and stitch markers)RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc) 

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader
clear makeup bag

Machine Knitting

Sometimes when I get a little stressed I think I need more fabric or yarn. This past week was a yarn week. I popped over to the nearest craft store (big box craft store) and bought some Lion Brand Yarn. Most of this is Shawl in a Ball (discontinued, so if you like this ombre yarn head to your nearest big box store and stock up), with a couple balls of Heartland. It seems I was in the mood for purples. 

I used the Shawl in a Ball yarn to make a couple shawls on the LK 150. I made two different shawls with this colorway.

Both use short rows for shaping. This one, is a narrow triangle shawl that uses short rows with simple increases and decreases to shape the shawl. It also uses an interesting technique to make the fringe as you knit the shawl. 

I still need to finish the fringe. I really like this shape and will likely make another but leave out the fringe. This shawl used less than a full ball of Shawl in a Ball. 

The next one uses short rows to create multiple pie pieces that results in a half circle shawl. The colors of the yarn make this stunning. 

This shawl used more than a single ball of Shawl in a Ball. It is the same colorway as the first shawl and I have very little left over after using an entire ball and what was left over from the first shawl. I used a simple eyelet edging

What I really love about this shawl is the I-cord edging across the straight edge. It was the first time I enjoyed making an I-cord bind off and the results are so worth it. Now I need to figure out how to use this short row technique to make a poncho. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights

Machine Knitting

I've been trying to make a shawl with the LK150 knitting machine. I'm not having much success. 

That isn't entirely true. I'm having some success. I managed to make the first half of the shawl before I dropped a bunch of stitches. 

Then, I managed to make the first half of the shawl again. Again I dropped a bunch of stitches. This is completely operator error. Knitting machines take a level of attention I am still learning. 

Then, I managed to complete the shawl, wrong. This was entirely my fault for misunderstanding the directions. Both sides should be the same size and that didn't happen. I'll have to try this again. I've learned so much! I'm going to try again. And again. I will get it. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Knitting Claw Weights