Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Use the Force!

So this is an idea that popped into my head a while ago, that I have been just dying to get on the needles: lightsaber scarves.  I was amazed that I couldn't find any patterns online, so I had to make up my own.  Finding the right yarn was a little tough, since I often shop online and it can be difficult to find just the right colors.  (As a hardcore fan, anything less than perfection is unacceptable.)

My first trial was Qui-Gon Jinn's 'saber from Episode 1, which has always been one of my favourites for its simplicity of style.  I wasn't sure at first about the lime green for the blade -- on its own, it looks rather yellow -- but it actually worked perfectly and I love it.  
I wish I'd had this finished in time for Episode VII
Since most of the hilt ends are done in more than one color, it is very important to remember to wrap the new color under the other on the wrong side (back) before continuing the row, or else you will end up with gaps where the colors switch.
Note the black is looped around the grey, to hold it together

I embroidered over the edges of the black to give it a cleaner line, and the red button is just a simple little bubble (popcorn) stitch -- cast on 2, kfb in both, k2tog twice, k2tog again, then pull the tail through that last stitch and sew it on.  Voila!

As soon as my computer is back in the land of the living, I'll be patterning this baby up on Ravelry.  I also have patterns in the works for just about every other lightsaber in the movies, as well: Obi-Wan's, Luke's, Vader's, even Darth Maul.  Plus, it's easy to customize any color "blade" (Kishi wants me to do a pink one for our little Pup), if you want to get all wild and crazy.  Kylo Ren's might take some extra creativity, though...I think I'll just stick to the first six movies for now.

*Also, for those interested, I do sell these and other designs through my Etsy shop, which is now open!  Find me at https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/DizzyStitchin *  

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Squishy Mail!

Have you ever come up with a great design and wanted to cast on immediately?  But you don't have the right yarn for it, so you have to wait until you can afford to order it?  Then you order it, but you have to wait for it to arrive?

THEN IT FINALLY ARRIVES AND YOU'RE SO EXCITED YOU RIP THE BOX OPEN AND GRAB YOUR NEEDLES AND GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY? 

This is me today.
I literally just opened the box 20 minutes ago.  Excited?  I think so!
I have been waiting for weeks to be able to test out this idea for a pattern, and my happiness level right now is off the charts (haha, knitting joke...).  I kind of feel bad for all my other projects, which will now have to wait just a bit longer to be finished.  But I've got a box load of new yarn here just begging me to use it...
One of the first times I've ordered yarn with specific projects in mind
That right there is sixteen 8oz balls of worsted, my friends.  It's looking like it's gonna be a long night.  (But TOTALLY worth it!)

Friday, February 5, 2016

Experiments!

This post is long overdue, and has been sitting in my drafts for about two weeks now.  What was supposed to be a post-holiday break for relaxation and me-knitting...well, it kinda got away from me.  First of all, Arya has gone from just learning to crawl to trying to walk in about a week and a half -- and is like a hurricane blowing through my living room.  Then, all of us got sick, which was no fun.  Plus, my computer decided to up and die on me, so I'm stuck updating from my iPad (hence the lack of formatting...apologies).  Anyways, there hasn't been a whole lot of time for knitting, but I've been doing what I can.

Still, I did manage to get another Zig-Zag Scarf off the needles, and I absolutely love the colors of this one.  A fiery mix of purple, red and orange, I have kept with my impromptu scheme and dubbed this one "Thor on Fire".  It made me giggle.  I wanted something that didn't require a lot of thinking or pattern reading, and this is a super easy go-to for me.  
I want to make all the things in this yarn
I've been putting in a few rows here and there on a few experiments, as well.  I say experiments because, well, I really have nothing but a vague idea going in that I play around with until it turns into something I'm satisfied with.  This one is a cotton scarf done in fan and feather, on a diagonal.  Because apparently I feel I should be doing more math with my knitting.  (A twelve stitch pattern, over four rows, two increases per repeat...carry the one...divide by zero...)
Love the colors of this yarn -- called "Hydrangea"

I'm also working on a cardigan for myself, but the pattern itself is in French, so it's slow going since I need to translate the terms used as I go.  So far it's turning out great, though!  

On the plus side, I've got a ton of new designs and patterns sketched out, so as long as I can keep up a steady stream of new yarn into my stash (is that ever REALLY a problem?) I'll have a bunch of new stuff to share with you all soon!