WIP Wednesday: Two In A Row

Woohoo! I’m linking up with the Yarn Along two weeks in a row! Such a silly, simple, yet daunting accomplishment. I might just get the hang of this blogging thing yet. ๐Ÿ˜‰ ย On to my progress report.

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The Hook

I’ve made no progress here this week as I’ve been mostly focused on knitting. I’ve made great progress in that area. Still, here’s a gratuitous picture of my afghan in progress.

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One day, it will completely cover the bed. I may be 80 at this rate, though. ๐Ÿ™‚

The Books

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Truth be told, I haven’t done much reading this week, either. Gah! I love both books. It’s that old “read or knit” conundrum, and knitting has been winning out.

The Needles

So here is where the bulk of my free time has been going.

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If you’ll remember, last week I only had the collar of this little sweater completed. Today, I’m nearly to the hem! I’m trying desperately to beat little one’s arrival, or finish it as soon after little one is born as possible. Ive been searching for a bit of lace to add to the hem, but can’t come up with a pattern I like or that fits the stitch count. Next time I knit one of these, I’ll pick a lace pattern earlier so I can accommodate it when working the underarm section where it won’t be obvious. In the mean time, I think I’ll finish this off with the garter hem in the pattern.

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It may not be obvious in the photo, but I’ve made significant progress on my Baktus. The progress seems to go slower as the rows get wider. I suppose that’s true for any shawl…er…scarf… Scawl? Sharf? Whatever you want to call it. I’m loving the colors in this yarn, although I’m really hoping my friend doesn’t find it too rough around her neck.

That about does it for me this week. What are you crafting or reading? Let me know in the comments, or, better yet, come join us over at the Yarn Along!

Have a great Wednesday!

~Janet

WIP Wednesday: a Color Kabob and a Teaser

Welcome to Wednesday! This week is launch week for my friend Tara’sย new bookbook, Embracing The Body! I’m so excited for her! The book’s official release date is this Friday, March 13. In celebration I’ll be interviewing her on the blog that day. I do hope you’ll come back and learn more about Tara and her passion for wholeness. If you have any questions for Tara, let me know in the comments.

In the mean time, it’s WIP Wednesday and time for the link-up at Small Things. I’ve been pretty busy this week!

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The Hook

I’ve made a bit of progress on the squares for my Magnum Opus. The official count is 28 squares.

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When February turned to March, decided that it was time I changed the decorations outside my front door. ย I took down my Winter berry garland and exchanged my snowman doormat for a more Springy one. But, Oh! Does my door look plain now! That must be remedied! So, I started a flower garland using this pattern. I’m trying to somewhat match the colors to my doormat, which is fairly bright.

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I wound up with this cute little kabob of color.

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I wasn’t intending to make a rainbow, and I may not use all of those colors (not sold on the orange), but they sure are pretty all together like that. I think I need a few more flowers as these are smaller than my bunting triangles and stars.

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The Book

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Oh my stars! This book! I’m loving it, but I have to admit that I haven’t gotten very far. For me, this book is wonderfully thought-provoking, and I find that I want to read a bit and let it marinate before reading more. The last chapter I read really got me (in a good way) and I had to do some processing before moving on. Processing that may find itself here on the blog. It really is a good book, and I reccomend it highly. But, as LeVar Burtonย used to say, you don’t have to take my word for it:

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The Needles

I’m continuing to make progress on Lexie’s new bloom. I’m into the third diamond lace repeat. It should easily be done by her birthday in two weeks. I can’t believe she’ll be one in just two weeks!

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I also cast on a bit of “TV knitting” in the form of these fingerless mitts. I’m just about to the thumb on the first mitt.

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That about concludes this edition of WIP Wednesday. Please do come back on Friday for my chat with Tara.

Have a great day!

~Janet

FO Friday: Whoooo’s There?

In addition to working on my bloom and afghan, this past week I’ve knocked out a few quick projects. I discovered the pattern for these Owl Puffs last year. I’m hooked! They are so cute and fun!

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C’mon! How cute is that?

I tell you, they’re addicting! Each one takes me just a couple of hours start to finish and uses about 20 yds of yarn. They are great stashbusters. The puffs can be made with any weight of yarn and any sized needles. Here are a few I finished a while ago:

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In the above picture, the two bottom owls are worsted weight. In the top photo, the yarns left to right are DK, super-bulky, and worsted. I made two owls using super-bulky as gifts for toddlers, so rather than using saftey eyes, I crocheted eyes.

What to do with them? Well, I’ve given them away as gifts. Some are scattered around my apartment. They would make fun cat toys or beanbags. I’m thinking of leaving them in random places as a sort of yarn bombing. ย ๐Ÿ˜‰

Also, this wouldn’t be a Finished Object post during Lent without a gratuitous bread photo. I made three loaves, but forgot to photograph the second one.

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Have a happy Friday and a great weekend!

~Janet

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The Knitty Gritty

Pattern: Owl Puffs

Yarn: Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn” in “Grape,” “Blue Neon,” “Yellow,” “Black,” and “Hot Rose”

Needle: US-3

Eyes: 12 mm safety eyes