Now I knit my ABCs - A is for Alpaca

Araucania Atacama Alpaca, to be exact. This is color 501 - pinks and roses.

The yarn is hand dyed - resulting in awesome color variations. There are no dye lots - so it is recommended that you buy enough yarn to complete your project and do the "skein switch" (switch out different skeins every 4 - 6 rows) to avoid drastic color variations. The fiber content is 100% Chilean alpaca and comes in 50 g/110 yard skeins. The weight is worsted (light worsted I'd say) with a gauge of 18 sts/4" using needle #7US. For care hand wash and dry flat.

I got 2 skeins and I'm defiantly ignoring the skein switch recommendations (mostly because I hate weaving in more than I hate the idea of color inconsistencies).

I'm knitting a scarf - I started with a variation on the seed stitch - which probably has a "name" - I just don't know it. I've added a pretty intense cable series (over 24 stitches) - it's knitting up quickly, although it's becoming more and more obvious to me that all knitting needles need to be made of wood - the aluminum is just too slippery for this yarn.

Because it sounds like FUN!

I'm adapting a concept I saw over at kidsdish. Kelly is making her way through the alphabet and featuring a "letter related" recipe/food each week. This week, C is for Cheese. YUM!

So I thought that it would be fun to also go through the alphabet, but to search out (and knit!) some new yarns. ANY excuse to get more yarn is a good one - I'm still "thinkin" about my method - I don't want to end up with a bunch of short scarves - or do I? hmmm,

Interestingly, when I told Kelly that I was pilfering her idea her response was "that's okay, I didn't invent the alphabet." Thanks for clearing that up - and thanks for the cool idea!

I've been a bit distracted

with getting ready for the PSU Spring Scrimmage. We do a big tailgate with lots of yummy food - so that's been taking some time.

I've been working on a new project (no pictures yet) - but I didn't have the correct size dpns - so I put it down for a while. It would seem that this project is jinxed - I've ordered 2 sets of the needles (size 10) online - and neither set has arrived yet (ordered 1 and 2 weeks ago) AND a friend stopped by a Michaels the other day to get them for me... and they only had size 6 dpns. What's up with that???

It's an interesting pattern and I'm looking forward to completing it - I just need some help from the universe...

Not knitting - but lovely all the same...

The coffee/fellowship (or, as I often say, happy) hour at Church for Easter was pseudo "potluck" - in that everyone (who wanted to) was asked to bring something for folks to nosh on after the service(s). (Never ones to pass up an opportunity to express ourselves culinarily) Suzanne made egg shaped cupcakes and frosted them with lovely pastel shades of icing and I helped by stylishly decorating them with an

assortment of easter candies and festive sprinkles. The resulting confections were stunning (and pretty darn yummy too!).

You gotta be a football basket...

...To get along with a cute little girl.

So Amy said, upon seeing a picture of Suzanne's Easter basket, "I wanna buy that one, tomorrow." The felted football basket. I'm quite proud of this creation - it's my first attempt (prototype, if you will) and not perfect - but it sure does look like a football - and that was my goal.

I used the basic "concept" of the easter basket, but, instead of a square base I made an oblong one. I picked up the stitches around the base and knit around until the length from the base was about 5 inches. I then began decreases (using psso) - to make the "points"; I did overstitching to make the "college stripes" and laces.

I was so nervous putting this one into the washer. First of all, it was the first basket to be felted after the washing machine was fixed - and I had no idea what was going to come out of the machine once the fibers had been fused.

But it turned out great - I did have a little trouble finding something to "shape" it with (as I could not - no really - I could not find a football in the house, anywhere) - and I might have, in retrospect, made the white stripes a little thinner - other than that - I was very pleased (almost giddy) with the final product.

Bunnies Bunnies here and there

Bunnies Bunnies - everywhere! Just a few more pics of the fabulous pompom (when did they stop being pompons, btw?) bunnies. Suz' house was invaded by an army of uber cute fuzzy wrabbits...

Hail Thee Festival Baskets!

Easter was a wonderful day - In spite of the cold weather, the egg hunt was a great success. Suzanne and I were a little nervous about the number of children who would show up - but it turned out perfectly. We got some confused looks, ooohs and ahhhs and hugs from the "grown ups" from the Church - and great big eyes, thank yous and hugs from the children.

We had about 300 eggs to hide (yes, in the grave yard) - the kids from the

youth group and some adults helped scatter the eggs. There weren't a lot of "clever" hiding places but quantity of eggs definitely made up for the lack of quality hiding spots. As the children arrived they went down into the Sunday School area for a "Lesson" - and then they went outside - they had the "little ones" go out first - "little one" was supposed to mean "under 4" - but Katie (who is almost 5), as you can see by the photo, decided that she should be included in the group - it didn't really matter, there were plenty of eggs.

The kids were instructed that, in addition to eggs, little bunnies (masterfully assembled by Suzanne) were hidden around the yard - and that each child could find one bunny - and once a bunny was found (or anytime thereafter, and yes, I think I did use the term "thereafter") they could come inside and get a prize. So the kids came in at different times, which made it easier to manage at the "prize table." We did have some pre-designated recipients of specific baskets - and yes,

the distribution of the baskets was totally subjective - but that's okay, really, it is.

It all worked out quite well - and the kids seemed to enjoy it. We (the adults) were just as excited as the children.

just a couple more...

They'll all be gone soon. I'll miss them.

Hippity Hoppity - when's nap time?

So - all 21 baskets for the church are filled and "wrapped." Each basket is stuffed full with treats and prizes. Some have a theme - Garden, Art, Spiderman, Strawberry Shortcake, bunny, princess, sports... and some are just of a general genre - any age boy, older child girl, etc. And each basket is wrapped in a cellophane bag with a ribbon(s). They look great - and I've had so much fun putting them all together.

Suzanne is brilliantly making the Pom Pom bunnies from Martha Stewart Living. They are so cute -

There were 13 kids in church yesterday - and I know of at least 6 that were "absent" - so we're going to bring along some extra "prizes" just in case.

It's a tough job channeling the Easter Bunny - I think I must be losing it - I caught a glimpse of the neighbor's porch light - and, on seeing a blue oblong item in the dome - quickly concluded that they had begun their egg hiding early! (of course!) - closer inspection revealed that it was a blue light bulb.

Image of Hop To It bunnies from Marthastewart.com

Stripey

The remnant basket - made from the scraps of yarn left from some of the preceding baskets - There was a lot of left over pink and purple for some reason - no green and very little yellow. I do love the resulting basket - one of my favorites!

A tisket a tasket

Actually - I didn't make a green and yellow basket - huge oversight! I did, however, make a green basket AND a yellow basket (lyrics of song to be modified, a la American Idol). There are more baskets - more pictures need to be taken - more baskets to be felted - but otherwise... they are FINISHED!



Turquoise with green eyelash

Turquoise with green Twister

Blue with Fun Fur Stripe

Icy Blue with navy Disco

Green with white Carmen

Pink with blue TuTu

Lilac with orange

Light Blue with pink boucle

Yellow with multicolored boucle


Purple with "pansy" ladder

Grape with pansy & eyelash

Indigo with "jeans" ladder

Fruit Punch with cables

Orange with bobbles (and bunnies)

Purple alpaca with boa

Green alpaca with pastels (and bobbles)


Blue alpaca with ribbon

Natural with blue Fancy Fur

Pink with green eyelash

Cherry with turquoise eyelash

Pink with purple eyelash

Blues & browns

"blues" with mockingbird boa

"blues" with Figi Fun Fur

"blues" with martitni

"blues" with yellow eyelash

"neon" with orange eyelash

Purple with blue TuTu

Stripey

So we got

more yarn - wool, that is. Stop it - it's not too much. We talked with the church ladies and they are anticipating 20 kids, or so for the egg hunt - Not that every kid needs (or, for that matter, wants) a hand knit and felted easter basket - but I already have so many "done" that it seems sad to not have one for each kid, if we can. If there are extras, bully for us.

We didn't get that much yarn, any way. The "commercial" stores are not the best for brightly colored wool - most of it is heathered and earthy - sweater colors, I guess - so there wasn't much to choose from. We got enough for 7 additional baskets. Some pretty "ordinary" purple, royal & light blue and hot pink from Patons "classic wool". Suzanne found the Carons "Felt it" - yarn - especially for felting in verrigated colors - no twisting of the fibers - for a smoother "felt" - very cool. It's quite thick so, instead of using 2 strands of the Felt it, I'm pairing it with a "regular" worsted weight yarn - the color combos are, so far, fun.

The Orange (kool aid) basket is completed - it turned out to be a very ambitious venture - hand dyed yarn featuring bobbles (I LOVE felted bobbles) and top stitched designs - my very own spin on a "bunny" - it turned out good - except that it isn't "centered" - oh well - it's all just a learning experience.

Amy's basket

Although Katie had dictated that Amy's basket would be blue and yellow - Amy chose this basket for herself. I had it at the office (yes, showing off) and when she saw it, her eyes got big and her voice got soft. I asked her if she wanted it to be her Easter basket, and she nodded - a minute later, regaining her composure, she asked her mom "is Easter tomorrow?"

She (and Katie) have been playing with it and going on "pretend easter egg hunts" (ie, paperclip, pen, hairbrush, etc hunts) around the office and the basket is holding up great.

Amy now thinks that we know the Easter Bunny and Santa. Yeah, we're cool like that.

And there's more

ba bam ba bamp ba ba baaa

CHARGED!

I've added some photos to previous posts - and some here, as well... you see, there are a lot of baskets...

The Camera Battery

remains uncharged.

It's sad, I know, but, but, but - I found the cord but then I couldn't re-find the dock (didn't really look) - so no new photos of the 14 (you read it right, 14) baskets I have knitted. I've had to make a list of them - and the color combos. Also started collecting items to go in said baskets.

About half of the finished baskets are "promised." So they won't be donated to the church - but I have enough wool to make 8 more, so, hopefully, that will be sufficient - I still haven't heard from the church regarding a "head count" for the event - but we have "real" baskets to use as well.

I'm now knitting up the hand dyed yarn. I'm pretty pleased/excited about the results so far - it's really beautiful and it smells really good - especially the orange.

When gifts are appreciated

I guess we always have to wonder if folks actually like the gifts we give them - especially homemade gifts in which had invested our time as well as $.

I just received a photo from a friend whose daughter, apparently, enjoys sharing her knitted accessories as well as wearing them...

I'm a Kool Dyer

...no ordinary yarn, no ordinary yarn is gonna do - I need a fiber that's kool...

So sorry for the Grease 2 reference -

BUT, I've been dying wool with Kool-Aid. I've joined the craze of hand dyed yarn, and I'm hooked. I purchased the "raw" yarn from Knit Picks and I've been using various "flavors" to dye it. So far I've tried Blue Raspberry Lemonade (light teal); Black Cherry (deep salmon/rusty orange); Orange (orange!); and, a mixture of blue raspberry and grape (my hope had been a deeper purple/blue - but the result was purple - which is still cool).

The process is very easy - you just pre-soak/wash the yarn; mix the "color" with some water in a microwavable dish; put the yarn in the container and cover with water. Next you "zap" the yarn, in 2 minute intervals, until most of the color has been absorbed - the water will be almost clear. Finally you "wash" the yarn with mild soap and then dry. The color isn't uniform - but it's awesome. I have not yet tried "verrigating" the colors - but that's on the list.

I've dyed both worsted weight (going to see if the process survives felting) and lace weight (more dollhouse projects!) yarn.

photo is of felted Tropical Punch basket.

Tiny Treasury

Check out Lawmummy's children's book blog - Tiny Treasury (she didn't pick the name, btw) for some fun contests and great book recommendations.

I have been focusing on some small scaled stuff myself. For some "back story," Lawmummy's kids have a dollhouse. And, as kids under 5 are prone to do, they have pretty much trashed the furniture. Last Christmas, Lawmummy was looking for some replacement furniture and was having a tough time. I, myself, have the most beautiful dollhouse which was built by my Aunt. It's a shingle roofed 3 (including the attic) story farmhouse - with blue shutters and a (made by my dad) stained glass window - Anyway, my aunt and my mother also made the most beautiful furniture to go with the house - my aunt crafted the form and my mom upholstered it (them). When home for Christmas, I asked my aunt about the furniture - just in case she had any extras. At the time she said she didn't have any, but I recently received some "raw" furniture from her in the mail with the instructions to "sand, paint and call your mother." I was really surprised, and excited about the new project.

Well, I haven't sanded or painted the pieces yet, but I have called my mother. We discussed some different strategies and I have an idea as to what I want to do. In the meantime I got some "wood glue" hot glue gun sticks - AND

I bought some lace weight yarn and size 0 needles (yes, Ashley Olsen sized knitting needles). So far, I've knitted a "throw" and a little cushion. They are so cute! I can't wait to upholster the actual furniture - but I'm thinking that I'm going to save the "set" for a birthday present (summer time). Hopefully LM's kids aren't reading this!!!

I can not make myself

charge the battery for the camera - so I have no photos - but I've been knitting like crazy.

As referred to below, my current "project" is the creation of felted easter baskets. The pattern is from Creative Knitting (actually last spring's edition) and, so far, I've made 9 baskets. The basic form is a round wool bowl (with handle) and a contrasting non-felting accent yarn. I've found that (not surprisingly) eyelash yarn works the best. They knit up fairly quickly - and I've been using a variety of forms to "shape" the baskets after felting.

So I have a lot of pictures to take once I get that darn battery charged -