Beta testing

So I finished a couple of my felted star potholders, pictured here.

The picture is absolutely horrible. You can't tell from these terrible pics but the red one is spectacular! I was so proud of myself for viewing YouTube videos on picking up stitches correctly, slipping the first stitch of each row, and seaming correctly. Whether or not I make one for *all* my team members here at work is another question.
 I'm trying to make a much smaller one but it' still pretty big. Maybe I'll search for a tinier one.

You must be my lucky star

The concept began as felted stars as a quick knit Christmas gift for office co-workers. The original DROPS pattern is for felted potholders, translated from the original Norwegian. I finally got the hang of the pattern, with obvious results.


I can only hope the felting hides the sins. I need to reduce the needle size down from No. 11 to something much smaller if this is going to hang on someone's Christmas tree. Then again, if co-workers are naughty, I may not need to make so many.

Sheep Show Is the Sh*t

Random knitter

The NY sheep and wool festival has come and gone, and way too fast. All I have is some yarn, some notions, and some Soak to show for it. DD came along for the ride, and she and DH stood in line for an hour to get cider and donuts. Yes, they were worth it. It was a blustery fall day, which was a relief, as last year was way too warm.

Cider line

The knitters and spinners were in evidence, dripping with their handmade finery.

I couldn't help feeling that the almost empty booths in some barns were due to Saturday being a complete sh*t show, way too crowded and impossible to navigate. I like Sundays at Rhinebeck; it suits my style these days (see photo below).

My style these days

One armed yarn bandit

Making progress on the rainbow sweater BUT! Will I have enough for both sleeves? You be the judge. I'm wondering if I should stop one sleeve and start the other just so, even if they are too short, they will at least be even?

I found the original band for the yarn; it's from Ellen's Half-Pint Farm. They have literally no web presence so I'm not providing a link. They do have a wonderful stall at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck each year., though, and I will be sure to check out their offerings this year.

I have the front finished for the Shine worsted cropped sweater I am making for DD. After remeasuring, it seems I mis-measured and it may not be that "cropped." In any case, it's going fast and I just started the back last night.

My right arm has been tingling while I work and hurting afterwords. My rotator cuff injury derailed my yoga practice in the past and now threatens my knitting hobby, I fear. I don't care. I'm not stopping!

Shine Worst Head

Just ordered some Shine worsted from Knit Picks in "Currant." The idea is to make a cropped sweater for DD as a surprise while she away at college.
Here's a quick pic from Ravelry:

Cute, right? And DD says she's into fall colors right now, so all I have to do is knit. It's knit flat in stockinette, so the biggest decision I'm going to have to make is whether to purl using a smaller sized needle than the knit side.

I do have another WIP intended for that same DD that I began a couple of years ago with a really cool colorway purchased at a Rhinebeck yarn stall whose name escapes me at this time. Cookie dough, maybe? The body is done and I have picked up stitches for the neck and ripped them out at least twice so far. So afraid of making a pea-sized hole for the head and thus rendering the whole project unwearable. Then the sleeves and it's done. It's a pattern from Diane Soucy I've made at least twice before, once with too-short sleeves and one with too-wide sleeves. Third times the charm!
Here's a little epic so you can see the colorway: