Storm at Sea

November

November 13, 2008 at 4:29 pm | In Dear Jane, GOSM, Papillon Creations, Socks, Teresa Wentzler | 1 Comment

How bad is that? I haven’t blogged for more than a month and I don’t have even a finish to show! Anyway, here is a little summary of the past month:

How does your Garden grow up to part 10:

The last two parts will be published later this month so I’m looking forward to finishing it soon!

The Stitcher’s Wallet from the Gift of Stitching magazine:

The gaps are for initials, I was too lazy to calculate their correct position, and I don’t think I should add the year yet…

My latest new start, Needle Guardian from Teresa Wentzler:

I had this pattern in my stash for a while but couldn’t bring myself to stitching it, mainly because of all the quarter stitches and blended threads. I can’t stand blended threads. But this month the monthly finishing challenge is to make a needle book so I thought it would the perfect time to stitch the dragon. I radically changed the colours - conveniently abolishing the blended threads… I hope I will really finish him this month.

Then I sewed several Dear Jane blocks

C13, E13, I4, I7, I12, K9, M1, M8, M11, BR7, LS1

Left to sew: 25 blocks (of 169), 9 triangles (of 52), 2 corners (of 4). Not too bad. Definitely an achievable goal for next year!

I haven’t even finished a pair of socks lately, but that’s all my fault. I finished the first Komet sock and instead of knitting the second one, I started another pair. Sigh.

The pattern for the red sock is called Escher-Würfel (or Escher-Cube) and like the Komet socks it’s designed by Stephanie van der Linden. I’m already working on the toe of the second Escher sock so hopefully I will have a new pair of socks soon.

That’s all for now, I think. Off to read some other blogs.

Halloween and Comets

October 8, 2008 at 8:43 pm | In Jeannette Douglas, Knitting, Socks | 2 Comments

This month the Finishing Challenge is to stitch and finish a Halloween design, so I finally managed to stitch a pattern from the JCS Halloween issue and finished it as a drawstring bag:

Halloween Pumpkin Drawstring Bag
(Pattern from JCS Halloween Issue 2008)
Jeannette Douglas
Dyeing4U 32 ct Starry Night Opalescent Lugana
DMC

I have also worked on the Stitcher’s Wallet but I have forgotten to take a picture (and it’s too dark now). But I do have pictures of my new knitting projects.

I started a new pair of socks, for the October challenge of the Sockknitters Anonymous on Ravelry:

It’s a free pattern called Komet and it’s designed by Stephanie van der Linden. It’s my first attempt at knitting cables. I love the sock so far.

However, I also needed an easy, mindless knitting project (which the socks are definitely not!), so I started a scarf, the pattern is called 2 Weeknights with Warrick and it’s designed by Karin Bole:

Mitts and a Spanish Sampler

September 29, 2008 at 5:12 pm | In Knitting, Periphaeria Designs | 2 Comments

I have another knitting finish:

Pattern: Raspberry Mitts
Designer: Kristina A. (Ladybugs & Yarn)
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton Printed, colour Grape (160)
Needles: 5.0 mm dpn

They were quick and fun. I have also worked on my summer top again, but I’m constantly frogging. I think knitting summer clothes in autumn means bad karma or something. I’d better cast on a scarf soon.

And I finished part 4 of the Spanish Sampler:

Now that I’ve finished Mystery X and the Flip-It Stamps the next project in my attempt to reduce the number of my stitching WIPs is the Stitcher’s Wallet. It should not take too much time.

Two monkeys and a garden

September 19, 2008 at 4:25 pm | In Papillon Creations, Socks | 2 Comments

I finished my monkeys! And I can really need some more warm socks. It’s getting cold here.

Pattern: Monkey
Designer: Cookie A.
Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Sockina Cotton, colour 0001
Needles: 2.5 mm dpn

I also stitched part 9 of How does your Garden grow:

This week-end is Stitch-a-thon and I plan to start with part 4 of the Spanish Mystery Sampler.

Have a great week-end everyone!

Daisy and Monkey

September 14, 2008 at 4:45 pm | In Country Cottage Needleworks, Socks | 4 Comments

Just a little update:

My first floss ring tag, made for the Monthly Finishing Challenge.

Daisy
Country Cottage Needleworks
(Thread Pack)
Lakeside Linen 40 ct Strawflower
Crescent Colours

And my first monkey, with the second one started:

Stitching, Knitting, and Quilting

September 9, 2008 at 7:28 pm | In Dear Jane, Knitting, Lizzie Kate, Quilts, Socks | No Comments

Thanks everyone for the compliments on Secret Victorian Garden. I appreciate them very much!

I have another finish, but a less impressive one:

October Stamp Flip-It
Lizzie Kate
Zweigart 28 ct Platinum Lugana
Six Strant Sweets

This is the last one, I have stitched all twelve Stamps. Now I just have to finish the October one as a Flat-fold and I’m done with the whole project. Woohoo!

Lately I’m actually knitting quite a lot. One of my goals for this year was to knit something “that doesn’t look like a sock”. So a few weeks ago I started to knit a summer top (free instruction from Coats in German), but when it wouldn’t stop raining and I realized I wouldn’t be able to wear it this year anyway I somewhat lost my enthusiam. I just hope I can wear the finished top next summer. That’s how the back looks like, the yarn is Schachenmayer Catania:

Insted of finishing the top I started a new pair of socks a few days ago, for the first time not in stockinette. I decided to participate in the Sockdown on Ravelry. The September topic is either to knit a pair of orange socks or to use a pattern by Cookie A. I don’t care very much for orange so I choose to knit a Cookie A pattern: Monkey. The yarn is Schöller + Stahl Sockina Cotton. I love working on it, it is much more fun than boring stockinette!

So what’s missing in this post? Quilting of course. I added two borders to my Shadow Stars:

I’ll add another larger border in red around the quilt, but I haven’t found the right fabric yet.

And my Dear Jane block No 134 (F10):

I think that’s all. Now what am I going to do tonight: knitting Monkeys or stitching a floss ring tag for the Monthly Finishing Challenge? Decisions, decisions….

Happy Dance!

September 2, 2008 at 4:59 pm | In Mystery X | 15 Comments

What a great way to start the month (all pictures are click-able):

Secret Victorian Garden
(a.k.a. Mystery X)
Chatelaine
Zweigart 32 ct Cream Belfast
DMC, Anchor, Vikki Clayton Silks, Caron Wildflowers, RG Petite Treasure Braid
Delica Beads, Swarovski Bicones and Cubes
Stitched: 31 December 2006 - 1 September 2008

Olympic results

August 28, 2008 at 4:19 pm | In Debbie Draper Designs, Mystery X | 3 Comments

Obviously I forgot to put up a sign on my blog: “Watching Olympics, back after the closing ceremony”… However, I managed to get some stitching done while being glued in front of the TV. This is Mystery X after the Chatelaine Olympics:

I met six of my goals (two gold medals, hooray!):

MX: Finish upper border (part 12)
MX: Left border (part 12)
MX: Lower border (part 12)
MX: Beads parts 1+2
MX: Beads parts 3+4
MX: Beads parts 5-9
MX: Beads parts 10-12 = Finish Mystery X!
EG: Finish top right palm
EG: Top left palm
EG: Back-stitching top forest-boats-columns
EG: Left columns and boats
EG: Top left pyramid

So basically there is not much left until Mystery X is finished, I hope to have a very happy dance next month!

I had to take a break from it though and stitched my scissor fob for the Monthly Finishing Challenge. Like some of the other stitchers I made a matching fob for my scissor case from last month:

Spring Flowers
Debbie Draper Designs
Zweigart 32 ct Sand Belfast
Vikki Clayton Silks Ricordia

Feeling olympic

August 7, 2008 at 5:02 pm | In Lizzie Kate | 5 Comments

Yeah, I have working Internet again! I had to call the helpline in the end and it took me about thirty seconds into the call (the talk that is, the music in the waiting loop not counting!) and I just wanted to bang my head against the wall. After following the assistant’s instructions I had no Internet connection whatsoever anymore. Just some pop up messages that she couldn’t find in her manual. Great. She then told me to un-install my provider software and put me throught to a co-worker who informed me first of all that un-installing the software was completely unnecessary. Good to know. I had to explain everything again and he came to the conclusion that there is a problem with my router (which I had already suspected). So I got a new one and so far it is working absolutely fine. I hope it stays that way!

I have just a little finish:

September Stamp Flip-It
Lizzie Kate
Zweigart 28 ct Platinum Lugana
Six Strand Sweets

I’m currently stitching October, my last one.

I have signed up for the Chatelaine Olympics on the Chatelaine Yuku BB and I’m looking forward to get some Chatelaine stitching done. These are my goals:

MX: Finish upper border (part 12)
MX: Left border (part 12)
MX: Lower border (part 12)
MX: Beads parts 1+2
MX: Beads parts 3+4
MX: Beads parts 5-9
MX: Beads parts 10-12 = Finish Mystery X!
EG: Finish top right palm
EG: Top left palm
EG: Back-stitching top forest-boats-columns
EG: Left columns and boats
EG: Top left pyramid

You can stop laughing now, I don’t expect to meet all of them myself. But this way I have some choice. I really hope I’ll finish Mystery X. Finishing the stitching should be do-able but I’m not sure I’ll have the patience for all the beading.

Oh, and I’m also looking forward to watching the actual Olympics. When it comes to the Olympics I basically watch any and every sport, apart from boxing and baseball. You got to draw a line somewhere.

SAL stitching and I hate my computer right now

July 27, 2008 at 8:20 pm | In Papillon Creations, Periphaeria Designs | 2 Comments

Sigh, I’m still having Internet troubles. Or should I say again? I don’t know. I can get online but I’m getting thrown off constantly. So annoying. I’m just hoping it will get better miraculously because I don’t want to have to start calling clueless callcenter employees again.

Maybe my computer thinks it’s too hot to be active. I’d understand that. We pretty much went from cold rainy weather to very hot and sunny over night. Not that I’m complaining. (Well, just a little bit.)

Here is an update on my SAL stitching:

How does your Garden grow with parts 7 and 8

I stitched the center of the large flower instead of putting beads there as charted because I thought it looked too crowded with beads and it would be nicer if the flower looked like the one in part 1.

Spanish Sampler with parts 3a and 3b

Thank you very much Sally and Barb for nominating me for awards!

These are the rules:
1. The winner can display this award on their blog
2. Display a link to the person you have got the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs, you like.

4. Set the links to the blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a comment on the blogs you have chosen.

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Thre are so many wonderful blogs out there that I really can’t decide which blogs I should nominate (besides I think by now pretty much everyone has received these awards already anyway ). So I just have to nominate all the amazingly creative and inspiring stitching blogs out there. Thanks everyone!