Scarf Stew

Here is my crocheted scarf fair entry while it soaks in some hair conditioner to soften up a bit. Noro sock yarn is really scratchy and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make my scarf awesome.

Tools! (the good kind)

My woodworking project is coming along swimmingly. My camera needs batteries so instead of another progress picture of the sock blockers, I will discuss the tools involved.

Tools I have access to in Columbus, all steps requiring these must be finished before this weekend...

1. a sock
The simplest, yet most crucial tool. I used one of my socks to create the outline for my sock blockers.


2. scroll saw
I was a tad worried the blades I had access to would splinter the oak horribly, but it went well overall. The scroll saw is the easiest power tool I know of and it works just like the sewing machine.

3. router
Kind of tricky, and required supervision because my mother couldn't shake the improbable image of my fingers disappearing.

4. belt sander
self explanatory.

Tools I have access to in Santa Cruz and can use anytime before the fair...

5. sandpaper

6. woodburner


The next steps are mostly finishing, applying the art work, final sanding, and applying laquer...

Fair Madness

As you may or may not know, I am originally from Ohio. To go a step further, my Mom is from a small agricultural town. The fair, be it county or state, has at one time or another sucked everybody into the fiercely competitive world of fair projects. My Mom and Grandmother entered every category, from public speaking to ham loaf baking. As a young one I was obsessed, literally obsessed, with baking a winning pie. (I never did win, but would like to note that the winning pies almost always violated the rules, no cream pies in the fruit category people! Not that I'm bitter...)


I had entered once before some things into the Santa Cruz County Fair, getting a second place ribbon for a cross stitch project, and an honorable mention for a sauced up carrot cake. I was OK with this result, and thought I could finally let it go. Nope. Khristine at the Swift Stitch offered a challenge and entry fees for us to put our yarny creations up for consideration this year. I had to do it. I'm almost done with a second Boteh scarf to submit, but had a brainstorm while perusing the other categories. Wood. I could make some wooden sock blockers while I'm in Columbus and have access to power tools! Here's one style in progress after the first step of cutting the basic shapes with the scroll saw. I'm pleased.

Egg Molds

I got these AWESOME egg molds at Ichiban Kan in San Francisco. You boil the eggs, then while still hot, peel them and throw them in the mold. Once cool, you pop 'em out and fun ensues!

Sock Blank #2

This is the one I'm keeping for myself. It was tie dyed, also with the Wilton's icing dyes.

Sock Blank Dyeing

I signed up for a sock yarn blank dyeing swap on Ravelry. These sock blanks from KnitPicks are a real piece of genius. There are two stands of sock yarn (so you end up with two identical socks) machine knit together into this piece of fabric that can be easily handled. I used Wilton icing dye for this one, with an overall gradational blue dye, superimposed with black/purple stripes. I can't wait to see how my swap partner's socks turn out.

Mom Socks

These are my first ever pair of grown-up socks made with eensy yarn and tiny DPNs. The yarn is KnitPicks Felici and it was awesome.

Back projects

I'll be posting some back projects in the next couple of days, maybe. I'm back in the Buckeye State chillin' with the 'rents and their cat.

Baby Surprise Jacket

This one has been waiting in the wings for awhile. It's my first EZ Baby Surprise Jacket, and I wanted to make something for the kid's big sister. The sister projects have been fraught with disaster, so I decided to go ahead and mail this bad boy out. It's superwash wool, the purple I dyed with grape kool ade. I hope the baby likes it!

I'm nearing the end of this season's baby knitting, I think. Two more fetus-es to go! (feti?)

Yarn Tourism: San Francisco

As previously mentioned I'm house/cat sitting in San Francisco this week. Even though I'm trying to get lots of work done, and am notoriously bad at getting lost driving around this place, I needed to go on one yarn seeking jaunt. I chose Artfibers this time, having been to ImagiKnit on a previous visit.

After driving, parking, and walking, I find a sign for the store and decide to ride up on the antique-y elevator. I find myself at the portal to the second floor store, but locked behind the metal accordion gate. "Back in 10 minutes" it says.
I decide this was a mistake, ride the elevator back down, and take the stairs. I do find a second door, but alas it too is locked. I wait in the stairwell for about 15 minutes and just when I was ready to pack it in, an employee returned from the post office. I think the store is more for wholesalers or something, it just didn't feel very comfortable or welcoming to me. They had a yarn-tasting area where you could swatch anything you wanted, but I wasn't in the mood. I did buy this lace weight silk-mohair blend... but I wasn't really too excited. Maybe I'm just tired.

Location Disclosed

Catsitting

Don't look for me in Santa Cruz this week, I am at an undisclosed location babysitting an undisclosed cat.

Also don't look for too many project updates, I am a.) on a paper deadline and b.) the kitty is violently interested in yarn.

Baby Stratigrapher Thinking Cap

This is what the soon to be born Swiss, Texan, English baby girl will be receiving instead of a silly baby cape. With matching socks!

Baby Cape FAIL

I checked out a copy of Knit 2 Together from the library. A friend has it and has made several really nice things out of it. The book was fun to browse, and I found several projects I was interested in.

First I dove into the baby cape. I had exactly 3 skeins of Cascade 220 wool that was burning a hole in my yarn pocket (so to speak... it would have to be a large pocket if taken literally.). The pattern called for 3 skeins. Here is a picture of my progress after about 1.5 of said skeins.

The cape isn't even halfway done. At this point I check Ravelry and find that nobody did it in less than 4 or 5 skeins. I am faced with a clear choice, table this project and frog the yarn for something else or buy more. I chose to frog and am now working on a hat/sock combo for the expected baby in question.