Kathleen

New Year, New Motivation

By Kathleen On January 4, 2019 0 life at home, organizing, Uncategorized, WIP

I can’t explain it. I feel like finishing stuff lately! Normally this time of year (and pretty much all the time) I want to start more projects…but now I’m anxious to finish some. I put Opus back in time out because those crocheted tentacles were not working out. Bleh. So I frogged them and he’s back to hibernating. I tried casting on a two-color scarf or two, but frogged those too and the yarn went back in the drawer. B got a nice project bag for me so I excited to fill it!

Anyway, I got back to my Girl’s Best Friend shawl that I started at the end of 2017. I feel like knitting something that’s more challenging than garter stitch but not too challenging. My fiber friend Dagmar bought the pattern for me. She has a beautiful shop, check it out!

I’m using the fabulous Red Heart It’s A Wrap Rainbow for this one.

I’m also working on getting my Iceburg blanket done. I’m about 1/3 of the way through it. I made a master list of all the blocks I want to make which was honestly a huge undertaking, lol. Still, I’m excited! I can usually get a block done in one sitting so I’m confident it will get done this year. You can see some of them here. I’ll make a new post about the whole thing when it’s done, I think, or as I go? Who knows.

Now it’s time for my paperback binge. I found Indiana Jones & the Philosopher’s Stone at PageOne Bookstore yesterday! Be still my heart!! I still want to be Indy when I grow up.

Image result for indiana jones

Fortune and glory, kid.

Image result for indiana jones cat

Fortune.

And.

Glory.

Random fun

By Kathleen On December 17, 2018 0 cross stitch, finished, WIP

https://amystitchesthings.tumblr.com/

I got this fun list from stitcherybutchery on tumblr

How long have you been stitching?

Since I was 14. My brother’s friend showed me how, and I derped my way through it! It was a cat on a window. I remember I gave it to my friend. I must have bought it as a kit at the local craft store. (Anyone else remember Winn’s?) I’ve been hooked ever since!!

What’s your favorite finished piece?

It’s a tie between this sampler

and this lady

When and where do you typically stitch?

Literally anywhere I can! But mostly at home at the kitchen table. Or at my kids sports practice.

What kind or music do you like to listen to while stitching?

Audio books or scary stories on youtube if I’m not home, or Netflix at home.

How many pieces are you working on now? Lol! Truth time! Um…9..no, 10:

Dr Who sampler
blackwork sampler
Snooze
Happily Ever After SAL (2^nd one for me)
Steotch 2018 SAL
Space Unicorn
I love bats sampler
Winchester House
Winter Ride

Those are the ones I’ve started but haven’t finished. I’m actively working on Dr Who, Steotch, and the blackwork sampler.

How many boxes, bags, and other containers do you have holding unused floss and cloth?

I recently consolidated all that from a big bin to 6 containers, including fabric and floss. I put fabric and patterns in a briefcase, favorite patterns in a file folder, floss in a little 3 drawer plastic box, my active WIPs are in a large project bag, others are in another bag, and a couple small active WIPs are in a smaller work bag.

Do you have any other crafty/artsy hobbies?

Oh yeah, one’s not enough. Knitting, crochet, writing, diamond art/painting, tatting, drawing, and coloring.

Any unrelated hobbies? (sports, music, etc)

Reading, tsum tsum collecting, watching movies

Have you ever made pieces as a gift for someone else? Who?

So many gifts for so many people! I lost track. My parents have the most. I stitched a few puppy and southwest items for them over the years.

How/where do you get your patterns?

Online (such as Etsy, weelittlestitches, Frosted Pumpkin) Dimensions kits, books….I especially love indie designers!

Do you follow any other stitchers on tumblr or elsewhere you’d recommend?

Yes!

Steotch has a wicked SAL once a year: http://steotch.com/

https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/

Etsy shops I love:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ciococrossstitch

https://www.etsy.com/shop/NikkiPattern

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AwesomePatternStudio

https://cloudsfactory.net/

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CrownStreetCottage

https://www.etsy.com/shop/weelittlestitches

tumblrs that are fun:

cross-stitch-enthusiast

spazinstitches

afewdroppedstitches

embroidosaurusrex

amystitchesthings

theworldinstitches

kellys-cross-stitch

eeryembroidery

stitcherybutchery

oh man, now I really need to get stitching! 😍

Block Party

By Kathleen On December 10, 2018 0 finished, handmade, WIP

I finished a lot this fall! I need to block them all, though. I haven’t because I’m tired of blocking things on towels, on my bed. I have too many people and pets for that nonsense anymore. I’d like to get some blocking mats and then I can use either my mom’s giant table or my FIL’s pool table to block them.

I like this one: Knit Picks blocking kit

but if we’re on the subject of Knit Picks and upcoming holidays…

Unicorn sparkle awesomeness!!

Master plan

Let’s see. Where was I?

Oh! All the FOs (=finished objects). I finished Duke City, another (very) quick crochet shawl Voltage, and (very soon) a knit shawl Apple River. I became a parton for Jen Lucas this year and I’m so glad I did!! I keep getting all these amazing patterns and I’m stashbusting everything to knit all the things. Apple River and Volta are hers. I’m about to starter Paulette, once I decide which yarn to use. My stash is substantial. Srsly. AND this is what I’m currently working on, yarn-wise:

Edgecliff

a blanket

Opus the Octopus

oo! Lemme geek out a bit over Opus. So he’s from an older issue of knitty. I went off and bought all the yarn, needles, whatevs for him and busted out his head in no time. But…the tentacles were taking…

sooo poor Opus sat alone in the WIPurgatory for years. Like 4, 5 years. I dug him out and I’m determined to finish him this year!! I’m really a better crocheter than a knitter. I spoke to a buddy about it and I planned out how to crochet the other 6 arms. I’ll post about that later; I think it’s interesting! It’s fun to think up how to hook stuff. I can think in crochet, not knitting. I feel I could probably crochet anything! I love it!!

I’m making a long cowl made up of fingering weight scraps. It’s fun to have it in my bag. (I like having something to do with my hands…I get anxious and staying busy/grounded helps!)

Mom gave me homemade tamales for lunch (thanks to her neighbor!) and now I can sit and try to finish Apple Shawl. I only have a bit left of the edging left to go!