Well as much as I wanted to take a picture to show all my imaginary fans what I have been knitting lately, I wasn't much into photography after taking over 100 pictures of petri dishes in my lab yesterday. If I do take some pics, I doubt that I will even get around to uploading them after having to wade through my bacteria pics. I do have a couple very pretty results that I will share once I get through them though.

I have officially lost my mind. The fact that I recognize this would say I have not lost my mind, but I must have. Last night I cast on over 120 stitches for a sock with a pair of 000 needles. That's a gauge of 14 st per inch. Oh yeah, I've gone truly mad. To prove this even more, I decided on an improvised fair isle pattern that will use classic motifs at different rates. I have always wanted to make a pair of very fine socks and I have the perfect lace weight cashmere that I found on sale. Okay well it wasn't really lace weight. It was actually six different colored strands of lace weight lightly twisted together that I separated out. Are you convinced yet? I actually made it through about 10 rounds last night before I went to bed. Granted that only got me to about half an inch.... I can't wait to finish this one so that I can get to the second sock. Haha, that could be the worst case ever of second sock syndrome. Yet I can't help but think that I'm not the only one out there who has ever considered or even cast on a pair of socks this tiny. After all, they make 000 dpns for a reason right??

Well I have actually found some time to do just a little knitting. I finally found all the yarn to finish the celia tank top that I started at the begining of this blog and get rid of that super itchy alpaca. I don't care what alpaca proponents say, Cashmere will always be finer than alpaca. I know this cause cashmere, even the super cheap stuff that you buy comercially, never makes me itchy.

Lets see, I finished one sock the other day... It was my first real atempt to knit from the toe up. I'm not entirely sure I like the method though. My short row heels didn't turn out so hot. You can see in the picture that it looks a little pointy. Right now I have the dreaded second sock syndrome, I'm not sure I will even make the second one, I may just start over.

After spending about a week on a very boring design I frogged it in favor of a crochet tank design (drops design 95-37) until I realized that I really suck at triple crochet. Good thing I have a mother who is very good and loves me enough to make it for me. I ended up starting a quick project last night, slippers for Hunter. It is a very pretty yarn (Artyarns supermerino) that is increadibly soft too. Fortunately this will be a two-three day project so I can feel better about myself when I finish something that I start. I chose to do a very simple design and let the pretty colors of the yarn do the work. I am getting a little more pooling than I would like though, I think its just because the rows are 40 stitches each.

Christmas is coming and I had planned knit hats for everyone, but I don't think that I will have time with all the school work. We get out early in December though so hopefully I can just whip up a few for some of my luckier friends and family :).

Has it really been almost 4 months since I last posted? Oh my. I have been so busy with school that I have hardly had time to breathe much less post or even knit much. My poor craft room is finally to the point here I can move in it, but it's still not completely unpacked. I haveetn't even set up the sewing machine. I will leave you with a pretty pic of a pretty knit.

Handmade Redefined

Apparently deconstructed is a look that has gone past ripped jeans and into everything else. I like boho, but I'm not too sure about hobo. A few months ago I saw an episode of Knitty Gritty (AlterKNITive) where safety pins were a sudden fashion statement and the rest of the patterns looked like they had been knit by my 3 year old daughter. My appologies to the designers, but c'mon, seriously.... There really is a difference between punk, deconstructed, homemade; and just plain ugly. I did find this picture the other day....

in one of my fave catologs and of course it is obviously handmade. I think that is what I like about it though. So I started thinking about how most people dislike the look of something handmade. I think that it's because most handmade items look a little sloppy. This shirt looks handmade, but at the same time, the stitches are uniform and what little bit of lace you can see is also very even. What makes a shirt like this look nice? Could it be the drop dead gorgeous brazillian model wearing it? Prabably, but I still like it. I would like to start a new pattern series emphasizing how hand made can still look classy. I have already finished my first project! Check it out.

Thick and Thin

I've been wondering what to do with this yarn for a while

It's my first hand spun silk and my first hand dyed yarn. How much more homemade can you get. When it comes to spinning silk I'm not so good yet so it came out as a thick n' thin yarn.

And this is what I came up with

The pattern is really easy, just a standard raglan T. The neckline isn't knit the whole way up to give it a boat neck.

I also finished my socks made out of the blue and yellow sock yarn. Not anything exciting, but kind of cute

I also have been working on a lace pattern with this yarn

Pretty...

This is beta version of my tank pattern. I am still working on sizing and proof reading, but I thought I would get up the size medium pattern up right away in case some brove soul decided that they have the yarn laying around and wants to help me develop this pattern. I plan tearing the pictured tank apart and reknitting it entirely in "Celia". I found that I really don't that alpaca and silk against my skin, but you can't deny silk. I did not include the pattern for the two colors, if you are interested let me know. I will update this pattern as it evolves and as I do the math for every size so if you are not a size medium check back in a week or so I should have the math done for all sizes. I think that I have all the abbreviations but let me know if I'm missing something, or if you see any mistakes. Also I would love to see what other people do with my pattern and you make it your own, so please post pics if you knit it! After all I believe patterns are just an idea and a guide.

Knitting abbreviations
pm-place marker
sm- slip marker
ssk- slip slip knit slipped st tog through the back loop
k2tog- knit 2 togther
p2tog- purl 2 together

Sizes
Medium

Materials
Any sport weight yarn is suitable, I used 2 hanks Blue Sky Alpaca’s “Alpaca and Silk” and 3 skeins Adrienne Vittadini “Celia.” Yardage for this project should be about 500-600 yards sport or dk weight yarn depending on size.
Size 6 24” circular needles
Size 6 strait cable needles (optional)
Size G crochet hook
Size 6 dp needles or other method of forming I-cord

Finished measurements
Bust 36
Waist 28

Gauge
22 st and 28 rows= 4x4” on size 6 needles
TAKE TIME TO CHECK GUAGE

Notes:
This top is knit circularly from the bottom up and then splits at the waist to form cups
Be sure to read entire pattern before starting
If you are uncomfortable using the provisional cast on, you can either pick up stitches from the cast on edge or sew the hem up in the finishing stage
When removing waste yarn from provisional cast on, remove one stitch at a time to prevent dropped stitches. Knit one live stitch together with one stitch from the cast on
When forming cup you can pick up stitches instead of casting on. I recommend switching to strait cable end needles. Pick up stitches from the purl bumps of the row below (on the wrong side of the fabric)
If you are or knitting for a very busty lady, you may want to make more than the stated amount of stitches when shaping cups to accommodate a larger bust

Diagonal Pattern for cups
For left leaning diagonal: Row 1 (ws): knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches
Row 2 (rs): sl, ssk, k3, then *p5, k5 rep from * to marker

Right leaning diagonal:
Row 1 (ws): knit the knit st and purl the purl st
Row 2 (rs): k2, *p5, k5 rep form * to last 6 st k3, k2tog, k1
Row 3: rep row 1
Row 4: rep row 2, but shift sts 1 st to right

Knitted Hem

Using provisional cast on and waste yarn cast on 220 st. Join being careful not to twist, pm

Row 1: K110, pm, K to end
Row 2-6: K
Row 7: (picket edge) *yo, k2tog rep from * to end
Row 8-13: K
Row 14: remove waste yarn from provisional cast on. K2tog with co st
Row 15-17: K
Row 18: (dec row) k1, ssk, k to 3 st before marker, k2tog, k1, sm, k1, ssk, k to last 3 st, k2tog, k1
Row 19-22: K
Repeat rows 18-22 14 more times (160 st remain) Work even until piece measures 11”
Next 3 rows: p
Next 3 rows: k
Next 3 rows: p
Next row: k
Next row (eyelet row): *yo k2tog k6 rep from * to end
Next row: k

Shape cups

Next row: k28, pm, k25, *k1.m1 rep from * 5 times, k to marker, sm, k80 across back, sm, k18,*m1, k1 rep from * 5 times, k1, pick up or cast on 24 st, turn
Next row (ws): begin left leaning diagonal st pattern, sm, k 80 across back, sm begin right leaning diagonal st pattern
Continue in diagonal patterns on cup working St st across back st. until back measures 3” from eyelet row

Shape armholes
Next row (rs): work even in diagonal pattern to 5 st before marker, BO 5 remove marker, BO 25, with crochet hook ch 65, turn sl st into each ch st (65 st) cont BO, BO 30 st, ch 65, turn sl st into each ch st (65 st), cont BO, BO 25 st, remove marker, BO 5 st, cont in established pattern

Cups will be worked separately from now on.
Next row (right leaning cup, ws): work even to last 5 st, p to end
Next row: sl 1, ssk, ssk, cont in pattern to end
Repeat these two rows 2 more times
Next row (ws): work even to last 3 st, p to end
Next row: sl 1, ssk, cont in pattern to end
Repeat these two rows til 12 st remain
Next row (ws): sl 1, p2tog, p2, k4, p2tog, p1 (10 st)
Next row: sl 1, ssk, p3, k1, k2tog, k1 (8 st)
Next row: sl 1, p2tog, k2, p2tog, p1 (6 st)
Next row: sl 1, ssk, k2tog, k1 (4 st)
Next row: sl 1, p2tog, k1 (3 st)
Next row: sl 2 purlwise, k1, psso
Ch 65, turn, sl st in each ch, (65 st)
BO

Left leaning cup
Join new ball of yarn, start first row on wrong side
Next row (ws): p5, cont even in pattern
Next row: cont in patt to last 5 st, k2tog, k2tog, k1
Repeat these two rows 2 more times
Next row (ws): p3, cont even in pattern
Next row: cont even in pattern to last 3 st, k2tog, k1
Repeat these two rows til 12 st remain
Next row (ws): sl 1, p2tog, k4, p2, p2tog, p1 (10 st)
Next row: sl 1, k2tog, k1, p3, ssk, k1 (8 st)
Next row: sl 1, p2tog, k2, p2tog, p1 (6 st)
Next row: sl 1, k2tog, ssk, k1 (4 st)
Next row: sl 1, p2tog, k1 (3 st)
Next row: sl 2 purlwise, k1, psso
Ch 65, turn, sl st in each ch, (65 st)
BO

Make Waist tie
Make 60” I-cord, weave through eyelet row place ends and tie where desired

Finishing
Weave in all ends, block and tie straps. Sew hems and right leaning cup down behind left leaning cup.

I finished the tank and it would be really cute if I had used only the silk and not the alpaca, which is why designing is a process. I will post pictures soon as I can with the pattern which I have written for a size medium, but am still getting worked out for other sizes. I'm feeling a little fat, so I might have to starve for a few days to pose in it. I also realized that I cannot wear the alpaca against my skin so I will have to line it if I want to wear it.


I have been noticing a lot of unbridled materialism and selfishness in the world around me lately and I am feeling the need to do something good for someone else. I really would like to knit for charity and since cancer has been something that has really had an impact on me in the last few years I think I want to help out with that. I was thinking about knitting up falsies for women who have had mastectomies and was wondering if anyone had any info on an established charity for this, patterns or starting up another group. If anyone has any other ideas or knows of any other cancer related knitting charities please let me know.

Other than that, I've been working on a simple pair of socks out of the "French Country" sock yarn that I dyed the other day. They are just kind of so-so, but I think it helps to knit with my hand dyed so I learn which color combos really work with each other and which ones just look good on the skein or in my head :). Lastly, I will take some picks and post the pattern of that tank top on here, and after that it's getting torn apart and I'm going to buy some more of that silk to finish it. I thought that it would be cool to use up some of my yarn but the best of intentions..... well you know.

It's been a few days since I last posted, but I don't feel that because cause I think I have like two readers....I am almost finished with the tank but it's been taking me forever becuase I'm in Mt. Top and for some reason I just don't knit as much up here. I hope that I can finish it time for this weekend out on the lake, I will post plenty of pics.

We took the GREs on Monday, I won't say anything about Joe, but I did okay. Right now everything is up in the air for where we will be but it's looking like I will have some time this summer to knit!

Joe took off this morning with his friend Chris and he swore he was going to buy a Harley..... It's going to be a fun day.

There is nothing better than spending quality time with a GRE prep book, I seriously want to hurl. In between learning new big words and trying to figure out ridiculous math questions I have been working on a new pattern.

It's a redesign of a sexy little tank that I bought at Target and is now falling apart :(. I love the fit so I thought I would try to convert it to a knit tank. I had a couple of stray skeins in my stash so I combined them and it's looking very interesting. I will post the pattern and pics for a size medium as soon as I finish knitting it and I promise I will do the math and post it in as many sizes possible.


Molly and Knitter's Underground are having a Memorial weekend sale, so I think I will I will drag Christina (my latest addition to my harem of knit ho's) and introduce her to "real" yarn. She's picked everything up pretty quick but things kind of fell apart for her when I left her to her own devices, so I need to help her. I really am a pusher though, I take every opportunity I can to get someone hooked on yarn.

Well I have a fun night of drinking planned with Josh and hopefully Joe and I should get back to my stitches!

New web site!!

My mama and me took the first big leap to getting our website going by actually registering it.... I've registered two sites, deercreekartisans.com and sheep2shawl.com. Hopefully by the end of the summer we should have it up and get some of our stuff on there. It's really going to be a plethora of crafty items including patterns, hand dyed yarn, hand spun yarn, jewelery, stitch markers, rosaries and knitted items. I will keep updating the progress.

Fun on the Farm

Today was another one of those completely unproductive days. It's not that I didn't want to create something cool and noteworthy, I just didn't quite have the actual ambition to do so. I did manage to create one sub-par scrap book page and take some pics of the horses. Thats all I got.
It needs something but I'm not sure what.

Pics of Jo and baby


I even took some of my big boy Turbo. He got his feet trimmed today and was a real ass about it. I think we need to have a talk about proper horse behavior. He's looking good though

My not so crafty day

Trying to study for the GRE's really puts a damper on the crafty thing. I got a few stitches in on the traveler's sock I started yesterday. I'm not so sure I like the pattern, think it will take forever cause the pattern is so involved.

I did make it to AC Moore and discovered that they are now carrying Heidi Swap embellishments which is a big YAY. I love it. I've been going through my first scrapbook pages and adding to some not so great pages. The more stuff I get the more eclectic (that is a big GRE word by the way one of about a thousand I have to memorize in the next week) my pages become. Its getting to the point where I don't even bother matching colors. If it looks cool it goes in.

I've been staring at the skeins of yarn I dyed the other day and I really need to do something about this one. Maybe if I overdye the whole thing with blue it won't be so hideous.

Is that not the ugliest color you have ever seen? It was supposed to be pinks, purples and blues, you know kind of girly, but itstead its just fugly. I like this one a little better. It's "French Country" just like the blue and yellow of french country quilts. I wonder how it will knit up?


I think the most I accomplished today was to halter the new colt and wash Jo's legs off. They are getting really gross. He really needs a name and I'm waiting on Josh to get his lazy ass down here and go drinking so we can pick one out. Dianne thinks that Boulder would be a good name cause he lies around all day.

Getting to know the Fiber Whore

Well I guess I'm finally getting around to joining the rest of the world and actually posting on a regular basis. oooo, my first post.

So this is to be a knit blog, rephrase, a craft blog. To know me is know crafting. So far I have conquered sewing, beading, knitting, spinning, crocheting, scrapbooking, and dabbled in about everything else. I chose the name "Fiber whore" cause it really covers all my fave's, i.e. sewing, knitting, crocheting and spinning. I'm a fiber whore because I am always aggreeing to knit somebody something for payment in yarn. I spend my days scheaming, trying to figure out how I can make my hobby pay for its self. I have several small business ventures going including designing knit patterns, making beaded stitch markers and hand dying yarn. Okay I think thats all you need to know even if you didn't want to.