YOP Week #42

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FO's - (Finished Objects) -

I have another one!  I found a pattern on You Tube for a Cobblestone wash cloth. 
Learn How To Crochet Easy Cobblestone Washcloth Gift Set Crochet washcloth Tutorial #425 but then I found a pattern for a back scrubber which I thought would make a nice set for my SIL for his birthday in July.  It's done already!  Here's the link and it's a free pattern on Ravelry.

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 WIP's (Works in Progress) -
1)  I finished knitting my first slipper and the tongue of the slipper so other than weaving in ends and sewing it together and 'felting', it is done.  I will wait until I have the 2nd slipper done before I do the handwork and felting.  I also emailed the designer and she told me she did not pick up the wraps because it is going to be felted but she said if the 'holes' bother me I could sew them closed and the felting would cover it up.  Since it is my 'prototype/for me' I am going to let them go and see what happens.   If I don't like it then I will change it for the gift slippers.    BTW, the wrap and turn was a new technique for me!  YAY!

I've already started the 2nd one.......

2) I finished the 2nd block and started the 3rd for the Frida Kahlo basket.......almost halfway....with the crochet part....the construction will be a whole other story! LOL!

3)  The only part of my sewing I got done was to wash the fabric.  I didn't even get it ironed!  My excuse is my T.V. broke and I always iron and watch t.v.......I may have to 'rough it' before I get another television.  I do have my pc and tablet but it's just not quite the same.

4) I started a new project.........the Land of Sweets cowl that I've longed for since Christmas!  That is my motivation for dyeing yarns too as it calls for 24 different mini-skeins of fingering weight yarn.  Of course, you don't have to knit it that way but I love the scrappy look of all the different yarns and I thought if my first dye projects don't work out then this would be a nice place for them.  I started with my leftover yarn that I used for the Tree Topper Star.

This is a pay for pattern on Ravelry by Helen Stewart who is famous for her  "percentage finished' in her patterns which is right up my anal alley!  I love 'ticking off boxes' and having 'milestones' on projects....yes, Helen's patterns are great for me!  Here's the link

 5)  Spring Cross Stitch -  I did start this but there are only about 5 rows of stitches so far so I didn't think it was anything to really show...maybe more next week.
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Learning and experimenting:
1)  Well,  I told you I learned the wrap and turn which I think is the same as short rows?  Please correct me if I am wrong.  I still have to learn how to 'pick up' the wraps.
2)  I learned to make mini-skeins...........I forgot to include a picture but I had 1-100gram skein of fingering weight sock yarn from Knit Picks and I watched several tutorials on You Tube.  I needed 8 gram skeins for the Land of Sweets Cowl so I took a sewing ruler I had (the gal on the tutorial used the exact same one!)  She wanted 5 gram mini's so she wrapped hers 40 times....I did the math and decided to make 10 gram mini's just to be on the safe side and so I needed to wrap my yarn 60 times around the ruler and then I tied them in 2 places and made the mini skeins.  I also weighed each of them as I made them and I must have done the math right! LOL! The first ones didn't look so hot but I got better at it by the time I made like 12 of them.
3)  Why I thought I had to make mini skeins was crazy because to dye them I had to take them apart but I guess it's a good skill to have?  So, I prepped the skeins for dyeing last night and I have been dyeing all morning.....I have tried everything and anything mostly going by Alicia Paulson's blog post about it.  I watched a few videos on You Tube but with Koolaid and no chemicals it really is just FUN!!!  I had 2 containers of Koolaid dye I had in my frig for dyeing wool but I had never dyed yarn before.  It's been fun and interesting and next I will order some Stellina fingering weight yarn for the other 12 skeins for the cowl.  It will be a mixture of plain and sparkly!    Here' s just a little preview......

A couple things I learned while doing this.....do not tie your yarn as you do for your skeins to keep them from tangling.  They were too tight on mine and left white stripes on my yarn where the ties were.  So, after finally learning, I clipped those and just tied one very loose knot around the skein.  I think you can see it in the picture above....top and to the left a bit.  Problem solved!
Also, I took the Koolaid packages and put them in little containers with a silica package....the kind you get inside new shoes or anything they don't want to get moist.  Yes, I save a lot of things but these came in handy for putting in each container of Koolaid.   Also, don't forget to  label them or you won't know what color you might be getting! LOL!  The best containers are ones with sprinkle lids like the little red McCormick spice container.  It worked great and I think I will transfer the rest of them into those types of containers.  Just a tip!  It worked great for the 'sprinkle' technique where you lay out your yarn on plastic wrap and sprinkle Koolaid and colored sprinkles to get a speckled affect and then microwave it!  Too fun!

I would show you my yarns but many are 'cooling' in pans in the garage or drip drying....I think I'll wait until they are dry so you can see the actual colors.
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What's in the Queue -
#1 - Some Valentine's Day socks - I'll be dyeing my own for this!
 #2 - Something for St. Patrick's Day...socks or cowl...not sure.  I think I found a cowl pattern with a Celtic design but I would like socks too!
#3 - Still more washcloths as I have plenty of Dishie and Peaches and Creme worsted cotton
#4 - Some leaf book markers
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What I'm "wishing upon a star" for -
#1 - My Valentine and St. Patrick's Day yarns for socks or cowls and mini's for cowl and Granny Stripe Blanket.  I'm thinking I can dye my own now!  How exciting!!!!
 #2 - Susan B. Anderson has her 2 kits back in stock..........The Loopy Sheep
and her Spring Chicken kits  just in time for Spring but where do I get the dough for all these great items?
#3 - my new over the top obsession I discovered from Little Bobbin's mother who does the most beautiful stitchery from Jesse Chorley
I'd like to do her Friendship Quilt  if I live long enough! LOL!  I may try just a little sampler on my own but check out her website for lots of other wonderful and unique items and projects.
#4 - Knitting at the Library Cowl - a pay for pattern on Ravelry.  I'm thinking this may be the year of cowls or slippers....we'll see who wins out! The cowl looks like different shelves of books!  So cool!
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YOP Goals from last week:
***DONE*** 1) work on back scrubber for Tracy birthday gift
***DONE***2) email author of felted slipper pattern about picking up wraps?
3) complete all 5 squares for Frida Kahlo basket -2 of 5 done and #3 started
***DONE) 4) learn how to create mini skeins 
5) pin another I Spy quilt
6) cut binding for my sampler quilt
***DONE***7) start Spring Cross Stitch
8) wash and iron fabric and cut out pattern pieces - it's washed but that's all
9) order bias tape and Swedish tracing paper for patterns -still need to do this
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 YOP Goals for this coming week:
1) Finish dyeing and drying yarn and ball up or skein
2) Finish Square #3 on Frida basket
3) Finish first 8 rounds on Land of Sweets Cowl - color #1
4) pin I Spy quilt #2
5) cut binding for my sampler quilt
6) work on Spring cross stitch
7) iron fabric and cut out tunic pieces
8) order bias tape and Swedish Tracing Paper for patterns
9) finish 2nd slipper of my pair
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  Podcasts: I need to work on catching up with Stitching The High Notes and other regulars....still.  I did watch Stitching the High Notes Episode #14 so I have a ways to go!
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To see other fabulous projects from YOP members click here
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Last but not least I wish you all.............peace, joy, hope and love.........

 Happy Trails!!!