Yarn Pr0n

Today, much to my surprise, I received a box full of lush yarn from Knitpicks. Now, normally I wouldn't consider buying from them as I prefer to support my LYS, but for the particular project I am planning, I found several projects in their Comfy Worsted yarn and couldn't help myself - the price point was incredible!


Here's the project:
Leaf Yoke Top by Angela Hahn featured in Knit.1 Spring/Summer 2009

As I mentioned, the yarn I'm planning is called Comfy Worsted by Knitpicks in the Fairytale colorway. 75% Pima Cotton % 25% Acrylic. It's absolutely gorgeous!

Sorry about the pictures - for some reason I just can't seem to find a good setting and light to really capture the color here. It's really more of a raspberry than a red. 


It's taking every ounce of will power I have not to cast on this project immediately. I promised myself one project at a time so I actually can finish things!!

Paper Flower Tutorial

Perhaps I haven't mentioned it a few hundred times so far, but I am being married next March. So, you can imagine how many crafty type things I've got floating around in my brain that I hope I can implement in time for the big day.

My latest inspiration: paper flower adorned favor boxes
I saw these sweet little things at Jo-Ann the other day. They were priced around $10 for a pack of 6. Since I've already bought my favor boxes (100 of them for around $20 shipped from Uline), I set out to learn to make these sweet little blooms.

Here's what you need:

• Tissue Paper - the softer and thinner the better for puffier flowers as shown
• Beading wire - not sure what gauge I used, but it should be malleable enough that you can twist it easily with your hands
• Beading wire cutters 
• Scissors
• Kraft boxes - got mine super cheap at Uline.com

Step 1: You'll need to cut small 3" x 3" squares (or size desired). You should need between 6 and 10 sheets for each flower.

Step 2: Line the sheets up and fold them accordion style. For smaller flowers, you'll want smaller folds. In the final pictures shown, my folds are around 1/4".

Step 3: Fold the sheets in half. Then with a short length of beading wire, loop around the middle and twist a few times. If you're going to want to attach the flower to something, it might be best to use a bit longer wire. 

Step 4: Trim the ends of the paper. (I like either rounded or in a sharper V shape.)

Step 5: Holding the flower with the wire in your grasp, begin separating and pulling up the paper, one layer at a time. 

Voila! You're done! Now you can finish it off by adding some color, attaching it to something, or wrapping the wire with some floral tape to build a stem. 

Here are a few of my finished flowers:

This is what I'm going to make for my favor boxes, but in a light pink. 

Other examples: These papers are the same size, but I did sharper edges on one and rounded on the other. 

Doing my best not to get distracted

My current project is the Featherweight Cardigan that I am knitting for my sweet coworker. Although I adore the pattern and the yarn, all day long this thick and thin aran weight yarn that is living in my office closet has been popping in and out of my thoughts.


The pattern I came across tonight that makes me want to run to my yarn closet and cast on with wild abandon......

It's called "Pole" by Joji (Ravelry link.) This sweater just looks so dang cozy and something simple you can throw on and be toasty warm without wearing a big bulky sweater. But, now that I think of it, while this pattern might be suited to the yarn I have, it's definitely not suited to the color (white.) 


I think a Dye Day is in order! Thoughts on color?

My next big project

Recently, my fiance and I bought a new memory foam mattress and 14" bed frame, but we still don't have a headboard. So, I've decided I'm completely in love with the shutter headboard idea and am just waiting for some free time to get started on this project - it's so simple! Here are a few of my favorites so far along with links to their tutorials:

Shutter Headboard by Kiki Creates

Old Shutters Headboard by Girl in Air

Single Shutter Headboard by Remodelaholic

Repeat Post

Or so it seems. Here is how I spent part of my evening last night:

You might be thinking to yourself, "Oh! How nice! More knitting with a delicious looking beer." For the most part, you'd be 100% correct. I was indeed knitting with a delicious (512) Pecan Porter and enjoying the company of a good friend who also enjoys yarn-based crafts.






Here's where you're wrong:

Notice anything? Ya, my sweet little tank top most definitely is two different colors. In my previous picture, I was definitely past this point in my knitting but didn't realize the color problem until I saw the sweater in natural light. I was super confused. This yarn was all from the same bag, stored in the same place for the same amount of time and yet somehow one of these skeins is might lighter than the others. Unfortunately, I had to rip the whole thing back because the off-color started halfway through the ribbing and went up another 4 inches or so.


Sigh.

How I Spent My Lunch Today

The Beer: Spaten Franziskaner
The Project: Summertime Tunic by Katie Himmelberg
The Yarn: Craft from the Vickie Howell Collection (discontinued!)

After many, many, many false starts (as a product of bad gauge, mistakes, wrong yarn, wrong color, etc.) this project is finally going my way and is practically knitting itself. The yarn is smooth and silky feeling with a bit of shine. I have been through nearly 3 skeins of it and haven't found a single knot. What a shame it's discontinued!