The Reveal: My Creation for the Tea Cosy Swap

It is now safe to reveal the tea cosy that I knit for my partner in the Ravelry tea cosy swap. He received it this week.

I like to think of it as having a retro tartan vibe. The pattern is Grannie's Traditional Tea Cosy.

What do you think this Fiber Arts Friday?

Happy Knitting!

Tea and Cables This Fiber Arts Friday

Only two projects have been occupying my time lately. My knit tea cosy for the Ravelry Swap is well underway.

I hope my fellow swapper does not visit my blog. I won't reveal the final product until it is sent and received!

Hubby's Urban Aran Cardigan is coming along. I was hoping to have the back finished eons ago, but I'm half-way there.

When my swapping is over, it's full steam ahead on this sweater.

That's it for me this Fiber Arts Friday. Andrea has more fiber blogging waiting for you at Wisdom Begins In Wonder. See you there!

Happy FAF!

Ribbed Vest Complete For Christmas Giving

I did it! My marathon knitting to finish my Rib Knit Vest is over.

All I need to do is wrap it for Christmas morning. I hope my mom likes it. After years of her knitting me sweaters, I have finally knit her one.

Andrea is waiting for you over at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm. Enjoy Fiber Arts Friday.

Happy Knitting!

Christmas Crunch: Trying to Finish My Ribbed Vest

I've been busy all week with everyone else's life and trying to finish this ribbed vest by Patons before my Mom arrives for Christmas next weekend.

Not much to look at yet. This is the front. I'm just about finished the back. Then I'll have to sew in the ends and block both pieces. The finished vest should look like this.

I'm hoping to be knitting the collar, knitting the armhole bands and seaming (not all  at once!) this weekend.

My hands are getting sore from knitting. I promise I'll never wait this late again to knit a present even if  the pattern is in chunky yarn and has no sleeves.

There has got to be more Christmas knitting this FAF over at Andrea's at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm. Or, how about at Creative Friday?

Happy Finished Objects!

Robin's Egg Blue Hat This Fiber Arts Friday

My Robin's Egg Blue Hat is finito! While it's not Robin's Egg Blue, it is the hat.

Easy to make in Patons Shetland Chunky for a quick Christmas knit. The free pattern is here on Ravelry.

I'm off to see what other fiber adventures are being blogged about this FAF at Wonder Why Gal's or at Creative Friday.

You Decide: What Will I Knit?

My next cast on will be a gift for a dear friend. I'll be using Paton's Shetland Chunky yarn in this color.

I've whittled it down to three possibilities: a hat, a cowl or a hat!

I want you to decide which of these projects I will knit. Will it be the...

1. Slouchy Beehive Hat by Flora Cheung of  Flower Pot Designs.
2. Burberry Inspired Cowl Neck Scarf by Julianne Smith. 
3. Robin's Egg Blue Hat by Rachel Iufer.

Sorry there are no photos of the choices in this post. I'm being a good fiber girl and respecting the copyright.

Vote with your comment. I'll tally up Sunday and start the cast on for the winning project! 

Now, vote for more Fiber Arts Friday fun at Wonder Why Gals.

Happy Voting! 

The Finale: A Snowflake Potholder

This is the fifth and final potholder I have crocheted for my Dazzling Dozen Potholder Swap.

It is the Snowflake Potholder. It is an easy pattern with a nice result.

I can see me making some of these for Christmas gifts to include with homemade goodies from my kitchen.

Any more gift ideas out there this Fiber Arts Friday? Find out at Wonder Why Gals!

Happy FAF!

Jamaica Pouch This Fiber Arts Friday

This little project was being ignored. The past couple of days I gave my Jamaica Pouch some attention. Now it is half way to it's full height.

It's a free one-skein wonder pattern by Sandra Clockedile on Ravelry. The sides spiral up from a circular bottom.

Variegated yarn shows off the spirals best. But I'm happy with my coral Brown Sheep Serendipity Tweed.

Check out all the other fiber bloggers this Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gals.

If you're not already part of this blog carnival, join us each Friday with your fiber art updates, FOs and stuff!

Happy FAF!

Spinning: Not On A Bike But Maybe On A Drop Spindle?

On the recommendation of Kate at Knits in Class, I bought Maggie Casey's book Start Spinning: Everything You Need To Know To Make Great Yarn.

Published by Interweave Books, Maggie Casey's Start Spinning appears to this absolute novice as pretty comprehensive.

I'll start my spinning adventure using a drop spindle. Buying a drop spindle may be a problem living in a small town. I assume they're sold on-line. However, you can't test for quality before buying.

Joining Beginning Spinners on Ravelry should be a big help.

Now to locate a drop spindle! Any advice on anything to do with my latest pursuit like where to buy a spindle?

Happy FAF at Wisdom Begins in Wonder!

What Am I Up To This Fiber Arts Friday?: Dödergök's Mitered Socks

Dödergök's Mitered Socks are my next attempt at a pair of knit socks. Unlike my Lounge Socks which were knit with a worsted 10 ply, this pattern uses 4 ply sock yarn. I'm looking forward to producing a lighter sock.

Have a quick look on Dödergök's blog to see these funky socks. Yes, she is Swedish and has many beautiful creations on her blog. This sock pattern she translated into English.

The cuff is knit in twisted ribbing. According to Dödergök, they have an "unusual toe and heel". The heel seems to be done like an after thought mitten thumb. Does that make sense?

That's all fiberistas! Visit all of the other fiber bloggers taking part in Fiber Arts Friday over at Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Happy FAF!

Socks Accomplished: My First Pair!

Ta Da! These are the first pair of socks that I have knit in my thirty odd year knitting adventure.

Why did I wait so long to knit a pair of socks?  They never really appealed to me until I ventured into the knitting blog world. All of the amazing socks you fiberistas were knitting! How could I not be tempted?

My next sock project is already percolating. I think I may try  Dodergok's Mitered Socks.

Will anyone else be sharing a new fiber experience over at Wonder Why Gal's this Fiber Arts Friday?

Happy fiber adventures!

Kitchener Stitch, Grafting, Weaving: Whatever!

My first sock is complete. The hardest part of the whole process was understanding the pattern for these Quick and Easy Lounge Socks. As a beginner, if you choose to use this pattern beware of errors in it. One error I found and reported to the designer Liat Gat has been kindly corrected. However, as I went  further into the pattern there were other ambiguities. Luckily, my mom was up to my place for a couple days. Being an expert sock knitter, she was able to guide me through the rough spots.

However, I was on my own for the toe grafting! But look ma, one amazing Kitchener stitched toe from an absolute beginner thanks to the great tutorial at TECHknitting.

TECHknitting shows you how to graft the toe using a knitting needle instead of a tapestry needle. First, I tried the tapestry needle using using another well done tutorial at AC Engineered Knits. But, the result was a loose seam. Using the knitting needle easily gave a weave size the same as the sock's stitches.

One down, one to go!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gals!

And the Winner Is: My Fiber Art Friday Prize from Ally B

My prize from Ally B's blog contest on a previous Fiber Arts Friday arrived in the mail yesterday!

I'm now fascinated with the fiber art of card weaving which dates back at least to the 4th century B.C.!  Card weaving is going to be an interesting summer fiber art adventure at the cottage this summer! Mercerized cotton is recommended for the yarn. My mom has some in her stash...

I love the Serendipity Tweed yarn which is 60% cotton and 40% wool.

I have already been on Ravelry looking for possible patterns. There are three possible patterns I may cast on using this yarn. These Quick and Easy Lounge Socks may be my first ever attempt at knit socks. Perhaps, I'll cast on the Shoulder Holder Shrug. The airy Sunday Market Shawl looks tempting for a summer knit. And yes, all of these patterns only need one skein of my newly acquired yarn.

Thanks Ally B!

Any more contests this Fiber Arts Friday. Andrea the Wonder Why Gal will know!

Happy Blog Hopping!

Fiber Arts and Creative Friday: Share Your Tutorials

Discover Creative Friday over at Natural Suburbia where you can share a crafty tutorial old or new. I decided to link up on Creative Friday with my tutorial for my knitted and felted mini bag.

With my tutorial you can knit this...

And change it into this...

I had fun creating this tutorial, even though it was more work than I expected. Craft Gossip.com featured it. And, I have it up on Ravelry as my one and only design. Three Ravelers have actually chosen it as a project which I think is a hoot! I'm soon going to have a page on my blog for the pattern alone.

Any tutorials to share? Anyone know of other places on the web to share your creativity?

I'm sure there is a ton of fiber creativity over at Wonder Why Gals. See you there!

Happy Tutoring!

Location, Location, Location: Day 5 of Knit and Crochet Blog Week

Where do you like to indulge in your fiber art craft?

• Not in a car
• Not in a bed
• Not in a line-up
• Not on the beach

But, I will in this chair.

This is where I create. Simple. Sunny. Satisfying.

Welcome Fiber Arts Friday fiberistas to Day 5 of Knit and Crochet Blog Week.

For those of you unfamiliar with Fiber Arts Friday, visit Wonder Why Gal at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm.

Share your fiber art adventures with us each Friday!

Happy fiber arting!

Using My Stash of Finished Objects: My Crocheted Vintage Circle Bag

My crocheted vintage circle bag was rescued from my unused stash of finished objects. I crocheted this bag last spring. All it needed were buttons. This week it became the owner of two chunky white vintage buttons. One button for the front pocket, and...

...one for the top closure.

Now, it is ready for me to use!

This is the picture of the bag from the original 1950's vintage pattern.

Using single crochet and Bernat cotton yarn, this bag was an easy inexpensive crochet project.

I wonder what my fellow fiberistas are up to this Fiber Arts Friday? See you over at Wonder Why Gals to find out!

Happy Fiber Arting!

Inspiring Fiber Arts Blogs for Fiber Arts Friday

I've been discovering some fiber arts blogs that are worth a look if you need inspiration to pick up those needles and get creative.

Dödergök is a Swedish blog hosted by a funky gal who is an amazing knitter. Feast your eyes on these socks!

                                                                                   Photo by Dödergök

Her blog is full of wondeful fiber art pieces. Use your browser's translator to read the blog in English. If you use Internet Explorer, use Microsoft Translator which you can access in Internet Explorer.

Or, how about the British blog Prick Your Finger which features out of the box ecletic works from a variety of fiber artists. This is a knitted wolf detective! The pattern comes in episodes.

Photo by Prick Your Finger

For you spinners out there, take a look at Prick Your Finger's post Ai's Locks to see hair spun with yarn.

Dances With Wool is a Finnish blog written in English. Lene hosts this blog. Her mittens put any I have knit to shame!

                                                                                     Photo by Dances With Wool

I need to spend less time reading about knitting and spend more time doing knitting. Of course, I'll make an exception for Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gal's.

Happy Inspirations!

Yarn Snarl, I Snarl!

I was cozy in my pjs and happily knitting my Multnomah shawl when an unexpected yarn snarl intruded on my bliss. Yes, this is the offending snarl.

This snarl emerged from the centre pull of my Patons Kroy Sock yarn skein. When I untangled it, you can see my discovery. Both of its ends were broken from the skein leaving me high and dry in the middle of a lace row on my shawl.

The knitting goddess must have been looking down on me. I was able to knit to the end of my row with a bit of yarn to spare. I had only knit about five rows with this skein.

In the past, I’ve knit with skeins where the yarn emerges in a knot tieing broken ends together. But, this is the worst yet. Quality control where are you!

I hope there are no other snarls this Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gal’s. I’ll be checking to see.

Happy Fiber Arting!

Fan and Feather: I'm Ready to Knit Lace!

My Multnomah Shawl was neglected a bit this week. You see hubby and I joined a gym. Being keeners, we went at it with great determination. However, I'm sure the fan and feather lace I am now about to begin knitting on my shawl will benefit from my newly found biceps!

This is my shawl pre fan and feather:

Wish me luck as I attempt the lace knitting which I am oh so inexperienced at.

Now, I'm off to see what other fiber people have been up to this week at Fiber Arts Friday hosted by Wonder Why Gal. See you there!

Happy fiber arting!

Hand Felted, Needle Felted and Ready to Go!: My Mini Bag Unveiled

Ta Da! It's kinda cute, if I do say so myself. With a smart white vintage button and a  bit of needle felting on the flap, my hand felted plum mini bag is finished.

Want one of your own? The free pattern is here. The hand felting process is here.

Visit other fiber adventures this Fiber Arts Friday at Wonder Why Gal's!

Happy Fiber Arting.