WIP Wednesday 2×2

Why 2×2 you ask? Is it a piece of wood I am referring to? Or perhaps one of those breakfasts they offer at our local dinner – 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 pieces of toast & 2 sausage links? *Sidebar* it should be a 2x2x2x2, but who am I to correct the menu for them & it works.

Anyway, the 2×2 I am referring to is 2 weeks and 2 days late for WIP Wednesday. Life has gotten in the way of blogging these last few weeks, so I figured better late than never.

I’ll keep this short and sweet.

1. Scarf for my cousin is complete. I have enough yarn to make a smaller version for my tiniest cousin (first cousin once removed, but let’s not quibble – remember the 2×2 above). I may take that on vacation with me, it would be a great project for the ride to Florida.

1. The lavender baby blanket is complete. I took it to work this morning and neglected to take a picture first. In my own defense, I didn’t finish it until almost 10 last night and forgot this morning when I left at 6:00.
2. I had to miss the Knitting Group last week, so nothing to report there. I did get the pink bear hat done for the NICU nurse’s baby as well as another two – one complete and one ready to sew together when I go to the next Knitting Group.
3. I am joining a KAL that Wool & Co ( http://www.woolandcompany.com/ ) has on their website for the football season. It looks fun. Check out the details by pasting the link above in your browser or right click on it and choose “go to”.
4. Since I got the 2 projects done that I promised myself I’d do before starting anything else, I am going to start those socks that I have been dying to start since buying the fabulous yarn at the Chicago Yarn Crawl a few weekends ago. Just as soon as I catch up on book reviews 🙂 I’ve finished 2 great books in the last 2 weeks, but haven’t had a chance to review them yet. This weekend for sure.
5. Last but not least I am making more bear hats. No surprises there, they are my go-to quick take to work projects for break time.

The only pic of the last few projects is apparently the one of the scarf. I dunno why I didn’t snap a few of the others. Because we all know that a whole bunch of words and no pictures make for a boring blog, I’ve included one of my favorites from the knitting calendar that Leslie gave me for Christmas last year. 🙂

WIP Wednesday – Pluggin’ Along

This has been a busy week in my world. I started the baby blanket I’m making for a friend at work and have made great progress on the scarf I’ve been working on. Check ’em out

I love the orchid baby blanket, it has been a long time since I’ve used this color and it is a nice change from blue or pink.

And my find of the week is a local yarn shop with in *GASP* walking distance of our house! I picked up a beautiful hank of tonal red yarn that I am going use to make a pair of socks. I got a really cute pattern that they were giving out at the LYS for the Yarn Crawl. If I can figure out a plan, I hope to visit more shops on Saturday since the Yarn Crawl will still be going on . I know I don’t need any more yarn. But I do have a VISA gift card that I’ve been saving since Christmas that is meant to be used on some kind of fabulous fiber.

That is my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂

This week I hope to finish the scarf and get the blanket 1/2 done. A NICU hat needs to be completed before next Thursday as that is the next meeting of our knitting group. If it accomplish those 3 goals, I am going to cast on the socks.

Nothing like having lots of WIP to keep me busy. 🙂

WIP Wednesday: Christmas in July

This week has been hotter than hot with a smattering of thunderstorms to keep us on our toes. I am so thankful to have air conditioning in the house, car and work. So I really don’t have any excuses not to knit. Especially when working on a small project.

The scarf I am making for Christmas is coming along really well. It is a simple feather & fan pattern, so I don’t have to think about what I am doing except on the lace row. That makes it perfect for knitting on break at work as well as in the evenings while watching the Cubs on TV.

Until the blocking is done, it is hard to see the lace, so I pulled it out on the needles to help a bit. The rows of yarn that look white are the UV color change fiber that will turn purple in the sunlight. So it will be a fun scarf to wear, sometimes pink, purple and white, sometimes pink and purple. The variegated yarn also has a bit of glitter so there is a lot going on. That is why I wanted a simple pattern.

Other than the scarf, I haven’t started or finished anything this week. I got the yarn for a baby blanket for a friend of mine as well as some Bernat Pipsqueak to make more NICU hats. The nurse that takes them in said right now they have 25 babies in the unit. I need to knit faster!!

Until next week, keep cool and knit on. 🙂

Writing 101 day 1

Hum. I started blogging on 12/29/11.  My plan was to get into the habit of writing every day. After a short bit, I decided maybe every day was too ambitious. Three times a week would be good. Then it became once a week. Then once every few weeks, then months went by. So much for writing every day.

Eventually I split my blog into two. One of them focused on my love of books, writing reviews and updating my progress in getting published. Technically, I have been published. Magazine articles, an essay/short story memoir, short stories in ebooks… all very exciting to me. Possibly very boring to readers of blogs. Maybe some can identify with the troubles writers encounter and yet keep on writing.

In My Words (lauramhartman.wordpress.com) is that blog. Almost all of my posts are book reviews, which is the best of both of my worlds. Reading then writing about what I have read. I’m finding fantastic new authors, discovering established authors and a few that I don’t ever want to read again.

All the while I have been working on various writing projects of my own. My focus the last year has been writing children’s picture books. I’m in a fabulous, wonderful, funny, bright online crit group that has given me so much help with my writing I feel guilty. They are an amazing group of Chicks 🙂

I guess it is funny that I am working so hard on story books, when all of my adult short stories involve murder and mayhem. But my Jekyll and Hyde personality can both be satisfied with these two genres so I am rolling with it.

My latest story is going to be for a bit older group. Young readers 8-12. I’ve been writing bits of the story in my head (doesn’t everyone???LOL) and will soon get it to paper.

My other blog (writeknit.wordpress.com)  is all about knitting, crocheting and other crafty things. I started working on the Knitting Guild’s Master Knitter program about the time I started the blogs. I am not sure I really want/need to do that anymore. I knit to relax. Sometimes I really push myself with a hard pattern or difficult yarn. So the jury is still out on the program.

Again, I’ve been totally lax in my posts on this blog. Since the first of the year, I’ve completed 2 lace scarves, most of a sweater (for myself – what a concept!) and began working on some afghans for Christmas gifts.

Anyway, now that I’ve rambled for 20 minutes, I’ve completed my first challenge for WordPress’ Writing 101 course. I would have added the widget, but for the life of me I can’t figure out how.

Thanks for listening – I’ll be back tomorrow.

Quick catch up post

I’m late with last week’s Work In Progress report, it is almost time for next weeks, so I’ll only bore you once with the details of what has been happening.

I still have 8 squares to complete for the afghan, but that is almost next on my list. All of the strips are completed so far, so it won’t take tons of time to complete it once the last squares are done. This week I plan to go to Culture Stock on Saturday morning and will take this project along.

The Helix Scarf for my daughter-in-law is almost done. As soon as I finish writing this, I hope to finish it. I’ll post a picture over the weekend. I got the yarn for a scarf I am going to get my girlfriend started on at work. She asked me to find a Harry Potter scarf pattern that was simple because her grandson asked her to knit him one for Christmas. Ravelry had a ton of Harry Potter scarves, but most of them were more complicated that she felt comfortable making. Then I found one that is knit in the round, which would have been perfect. Straight knitting, no fancy change of stitches, and the tube shape of knitting in the round would eliminate curling edges.

The problem was she didn’t want to work in the round. So we are going super simple. Half the stitches of the “tube” design, straight knitting to achieve a garter stitch fabric that won’t roll. The only challenge will be changing color every 20 to 22 rows. I think she can handle it so we are going for it.

 I ordered Knit Picks Brava worsted because it is durable, washable and soft. But I am a dope because I put the colors in my shopping bag, then printed out the colors so she could see them. She liked the pictures, so I promptly ordered 2 of each color. Forgetting the original order was hanging out in the inbox. So now I have enough for two scarves. I think I’ll make one for my oldest son as a joke. He is an avid reader and enjoyed the Harry Potter series and living in MD has seen a lot of snow the past few years.

So here is my plan of action. First on the agenda is the Helix Scarf, as a bit of entertainment, I will get my girlfriend going on her grandson’s gift. Then I am going to work on a couple of washcloths for my cutest little cousin who will be a year old right after the holidays. I’ve found a couple of cute patterns. One has a dog, one has a bunny, one has a kitten..you get the idea. All of them very quick and I already have the yarn. If I get busy I can do two of them in a week.

Then the snowflake afghan will be the last project that has to be done before Christmas. If by some crazy chance I have a little extra time I’ll work on the extra Harry Potter scarf. Since next week is Thanksgiving already (how did that happen so soon??) I am not very confident that will happen. Because we all know life can easily get in the way.

Culture Stock in Aurora, IL & WIP

This has been a great week. Both knitting and crocheting progress made and a found a new group of fiber friends to hang out with. My cousin sent me an invitation on FaceBook to join her and a group of friends at a Culture Stock in Aurora. Today was their first meeting.

Culture Stock is a “Book Store · Performing Arts Education · Lounge” located in Aurora, IL at 43 E. Galena Blvd. For those of you that grew up in and around Aurora, it is in the building that used to house Fannie May candies and is right next door to the fabulously wonderful Riverfront Playhouse.

Comfy and cozy, Culture Stock is a bright open space. The Fox River flows past the same windows that frame the renowned Paramount Theater Marquee. Sitting areas invite conversation and relaxation. While a great mix of books call to all bibliophiles.
I joined my cousin and nine others on the maiden voyage of fiber art enthusiasts. Knitting, crocheting and counted cross stitch were represented. Needles clicked while we chatted about projects, kids, techniques and pets. Projects were shared, tips passed along and websites recommended.

I hope everyone had as great a time as I did. I can’t wait to go again next week. If you live in the area, check it out.
Now for the work in progress updates. Only nine more snowflakes to completion on the afghan project. I couldn’t stand by my resolution to complete that afghan before starting another project. Knitting needles called me and I answered.

The gal I work with showed me a scarf she was working on and I immediately fell in love with the pattern. It is a fairly easy project. All knit with short rows creating a rippled edge scarf that will be perfect for a Christmas gift. I’m using Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer in pomegranate. It has a fun silver fiber woven throughout which will make it just right for Christmas. Check out the pattern on my Ravelry site – I’m writeknit.

I suspect my WIP will show more progress on the scarf than the afghan this week. I’ll keep you posted. (pics from Culture Stock’s FB page & the Paramount’s website. And my cell phone :))

First Giveaway – Travelling Roses Scarf

Check out this gorgeous scarf SingleStitch is giving away!

 

First Giveaway – Travelling Roses Scarf.