Friday, March 30, 2012

Project List - Part 2

Picking up from where I left off yesterday, here are items 16-31 in my queue and the yarn that goes with them:

16.  Feather and Fan Scarf- Crochet
17.  Spring Ripple Scarf- Crochet
18.  Cascading Stylish Shawl- Crochet
19.  Wingspan- Knit
20.  The Seraphina Cowl- Crochet
21.  Ravenna Scarf- Crochet

23.  Ribbed Crochet Wristlets- Crochet
24.  Marshmallow Fluff- Knit
25.  Embraceable Cowl- Knit
26.  Sunflowers Satchel- Crochet

27.  Boteh Scarf- Crochet
28.  Queen Annes Lace Scarf- Crochet
29.  Drop Stitch Scarf- Knit

30. Sidewalk Shawl- Crochet

Again, have you made any of these patterns?  Do you think I made good choices?  There are more crochet patterns than knitting because I am a very new knitter.

I didn't have a FO to show you, but I'm going to link up with Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins in Wonder to see if they have any feedback on my pattern choices.

Sam :-)

Ps.  On Sunday, I will have a giveaway post.  It will not be a joke!  That is my 1 year blogaversary!  I want to celebrate, so get excited!!!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Project List - Part 1

I have a large stash of yarn.  It may not be as enormous as some I've seen on Ravelry, but its too big for my liking.  Hence my Yarn Diet.  I told you in my first post with my starting numbers that the majority of my yarn already had a pattern associated with it.  I rarely bought yarn, just to buy it.  Well, I went through my stash and added patterns to the yarn that didn't already have one.

I thought that I would share with you my project list. That way, maybe you'll get inspired, or maybe you have a better idea for what I can do with some of my yarn (some are set in stone, others have wiggle room).  I organized my Ravelry queue, so that the first 31 items in my queue are items that are attached to stash.  Plus I have 5 snoozed projects that I'd like to highlight as well.

So, we'll start with my Project Queue, here are items 1-15:

3.  Circular Vest- Crochet
4.  Short and Sweet- Crochet
6.  River Walk Shawl- Crochet
8.  All-Day Beret-Knit
12.  Entrelac Scarf-Knit
13.  Snowdrop- Crochet
14.  Branching Out- Knit
15.  Claudia Scarf- Crochet


What do you think?  Have you used any of these patterns?  Any of the yarn?  If you can't see something, just ask and I'll clarify.

Part 2 to come.

Sam :-D





Wednesday, March 28, 2012

WIP Wednesday - Update #347 on My Ripple

Actually I think it is about my 7th update on my ripple.  I can't help it, I just love this and I want to finish it!!!!



It is getting so long!


The last row as of yesterday afternoon.  I actually have a few more rows completed.


What is really big with this update is that I've planned the rest of the blanket.  I had to.  I needed to know what skeins I would need more of and what I wanted to do for the border.  So, as you can see above, the final order is chosen.  The final yarn is ordered (I'm allowing this in my yarn diet because it allows me to finish this!).

I really needed to do all of these calculations so I could really get started on the baby blanket that I am making from the leftovers.



You can see the newest rows on my ripple in the picture above on the left.


The final amount of yarn needed to put these squares together is also ordered.  I see absolutely no reason to purchase more yarn.  These were the only two projects that I was worried about.  I need to finish the baby blanket by May.

That is what I'm working on.  I haven't really worked on my knit vest, but I will finish that eventually.

Don't forget to check out Tami's Amis and Small Things.

Sam :-)

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Yarn Diet Update 1

I initially told you that my beginning numbers were:


Total Yards:  52,387 yards (47,903.3 meters)
Total Kilograms (yes, kilograms):  19.323


I found a bit of yarn I had forgotten about and my aunt bought me 2 skeins for stuff I was making her (2 was way too much in all honesty).  Also, I had given you the total amounts of the yarn I had, not the remaining amounts.  Some skeins were partials and I summed the wrong column.


I believe my beginning numbers were actually:


Total Yards:  50,607 (46,276 meters)
Total Kilograms:  18.486
Total Skeins:  253.5 (this number truly shocks me, but I do have 1 blanket I'm working on and 3 more queued up with yarn)


Originally I had decided that I was only going to deduct yarn amounts after a project was finished.  I can't do that.  The projects I'm working on right now are big ones.  So I really wouldn't see progress.  I need to see progress to stay motivated.  So I'm trying to keep my estimates as accurate as possible.


After one month, here are my new totals:
Total Yards:  49,848 (45,581 meters)
Total Kilograms:  18.424
Total Skeins:  244.09


It doesn't seem like much, but I'm glad there is a change.  Over the next few days I'm going to show you the yarn that I have and the pattern I have queued up for it.


How is your yarn diet coming along?


Sam <3

Monday, March 26, 2012

My weekend - The Hunger Games and Crafting About

Soooooo, did anyone else see The Hunger Games this weekend?  I did and I loved it!  I loved these books so much.  I read them so long ago, but they are a favorite to reread.

I saw the movie on Saturday, with my mom, my sister, and cousin Amanda.  We went out to eat beforehand and that took longer than expected.  So we ended up getting 3rd row seats that weren't too bad I swear.  Thankfully we bought our tickets early, because it was sold out.

For the rest of the weekend, I got to craft!  I was working hard on that surprise I mentioned, but I actually made a big goof.  All the pictures I took were terrible because I left my camera on a setting that I was using before.  No worries, I'll just try again.

My one year blogging aniversary is coming up, on April 1st.  I want to do a giveaway, but I need to think about what I want to do.  Thoughts?

I hope you had a good weekend!

Sam :-)

Ps.  I have an awesome Hunger Games shirt.  I got it when the third book came out, so I guess technically it is a Mockingjay tshirt.  It has the mockingjay on the front and on the back it says, "Down with the Capitol."

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Totally Random Bullet Points

  • I like bullet points.
  • I think it is because I like lists.
  • I think I like lists because I'm an engineer.
  • Check out this photo of the trees that have blossomed already
When these trees blossom they actually are a bit stinky.  This is taken where my Grandma Betty lives.
  • Here's a couple of more photos from the rehearsal of my sister's wedding



  • I also have another shot from the wedding.  Its of the bridesmaids looking at Missy as she comes down the aisle (minus Michelle, she's on the end).
  • It's 80 degrees in March in Pittsburgh!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Gavin DeGraw is one of my favorite artists and I'm so excited he is on Dancing With the Stars
I think that is enough random items for the time being.  I was originally going to show you something tomorrow, but I have changed my mind.  You'll see it soon enough with some extras, but that is something special that you'll have to wait for.  I hate being cryptic, but I'm excited about this.

Also, I think an update on my yarn diet is due.  There haven't been too many changes, but I'm changing the rules a bit.

Sam :-)

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

WIP Wednesday - My Ripple (again) and a Baby Blanket

Okay, I hope you aren't getting sick of seeing my ripple....I'm enjoying working on it and its my main project at the moment.


This is how I plan upcoming colors.  It is very fluid and changes as I go.




I'm really enjoying my blanket, but I'm starting to get to a point where I really want it to be done.  I'm about halfway done.  I think the reason I'm starting to rush this project is that I want to make a baby blanket with the left over yarn from this project.

I decided to start it last night.... :-)


I'm going to put them together like my Grandma Betty's Drops Blanket, but with a rich brown color.  Also, I kind of gave you a sneak peek at my FO for friday.

Don't forget to check out Tami's Amis and Small Things.

Sam :)

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Trying to Catch Up

This past weekend, my boyfriend's family was staying with us.  We went out to eat, we did things around town (we purposely steered clear of St. Patty's day festivities), and we went to my parents house.  The time went way too fast as it always does like the last time they were here (over New Years, I don't think I blogged about it).  We all had a good time and I know Dave was really sad to see them go again.

Lately it feels like it is all go go go for me, but I am so tired.  I feel like I need to sleep a whole weekend to catch up.  Its a weird kind of tired.  I'm constantly exhausted, but I fight going to bed early for some reason.

Even now, I should probably just go to bed.  Its getting late.  I'll have a WIP Wednesday update for you tomorrow and I'll have something to show you on FO Friday.

Any suggestions on how to not feel so tired?  I'm getting close to 8 hrs of sleep a night.

Sam <3

Friday, March 16, 2012

FO Friday - A Little Something

So, I have a FO, but its just a little FO.  It is a Spa Cloth!



I was actually trying to have the set done (reverse colors), but this is what I have today.  I'm trying to build up a stock for a craft fair I'm doing in November.  It seems like a long ways off, but I don't want to have to rush making things when the time comes.

Don't forget to check out Tami's Amis, Natural Suburbia, and Wisdom Begins in Wonder.

Sam :-)

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

My Weekend - My Sister is Married!!!

Well my weekend started early on Friday.  I had the day off and there was so much to be done.  Also, just as an FYI, I'm TERRIBLE with pictures.  Almost every picture in this post I had to get off of someone else.

Here we all are at the rehearsal on Friday:


We had a lot of fun.  My dad had one line.  When the paster asked who gives this girl or something like that, my dad had to say, "her mother and I".  You'd be surprised at how difficult it was.  :-D  I love you dad!  He kept saying, "my wife and I" or "my mom and I" haha.

Here are some more pictures (this post is going to be picture overload!)


 Her hoodie says "Bride" on the back!


Me, carrying my heels already and the day hasn't even started.


My sister looking gorgeous, note her hoodie says "Future Mrs." on the front!




We got to take pictures at PNC Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates play!  Missy is a huge Pirates fan.









Me and the best man

My parents!

Changing their facebook status.

Me, giving my speech

Missy and our dad.

Ben and my Dave

Missy and Rob dancing.


 I threw this one in to show off the back of the bridesmaids dresses, black lace.

The photographer has better photos, in fact, she has already posted a sneak peak.  Take a look!  Isn't the photo amazing?!!!

I'll probably post more about the wedding when the professional pictures are posted.

Sam <3