Color work mitten finished

Here is the result of color work mitten that I had been working on for about a week and half. I spent every couple minutes here and there possible and couple of hours at night after my son went to bed. So yes, it did take a long time to knit up one hand but I knitted the other in half the time since my memory was so fresh. 

I found the pattern on ravelry but here is the authors link:

http://www.justcraftyenough.com/2015/11/project-hjartan-och-blommor-mittens/

She has very cute advent calendar mitten patterns as well. Unfortunately I didn't find this early enough to start working on that, but maybe next year. 

Photo above is before blocking mittens. I have couple of spots where you can see its tight and puckered up so hopefully soaking and blocking will help. 

New project

November past pretty fast despite the fact of my hubby being away for almost whole month (he was only with us for about a week and a bit), I kept myself busy enough with knitting and other fibre arts projects. I have made total of 3 thrummed mitts and they were all gone at the guild Christmas sale. This winter has been super mild for northern BC but I have been enjoying it. My 2 year old has been getting good at playing Lego by himself or play with action figures that those time allows me to work on extra things except for house work;P 

Here is my latest project that I am working on.

It is Latvian inspired color work gloves if I successfully complete... I mean, I already spent about 4hours or more to get here and it is not even half of one hand... The pattern is really pretty though and I bought myself chiaogoo knitting needles (size 1; 2mm) which is working pretty good. I am not sure if I should have bought smaller cable to knit round but I usually prefer magic loop so I am trying with that method this time. Hopefully I can finish one hand by this weekend;)

Felted coin purse

I tried new fibre crafting today. Felted coin purse.

Here they are! 

They are little smaller than palm of my hand but super cute don't you think?

It was pretty simple to make as well. I made them all 3 during the day while my 2 year old was playing. 

These will be my newest addition to the guild Christmas sale.

 

Thrummed mittens

I knitted this thrummed mittens so that I can stay warm this winter but I am not sure if I want to keep them for myself now that I finished it. 

It definitely is warm and fluffy but I don't really like the color way... So I decided to make another one. 

This time hopefully turns out something I want to keep. If not, it will be someone's Christmas present. 

I never really measured or weighed the rovings but I think it is about 50g. 

Patons stretchy socks

I've made these 2 pairs of socks for my husband on the weekend. It actually only takes about 1 hour per pair not including Kitchener stitch but it worked out well with my schedule with a toddler. 

These were made without ribber. Double hemmed edge with regular stockinette stitches with higher tension on the pre heel. 

My goal now is to master the ribber and make ribbed socks. I also want to experiment fabric paint on the foot of socks to prevent from slipping. 

Acrylic yarn and csm

I think, csm prefers wool blend yarns. I do too but acrylics are more affordable and this one particularly is so soft, like silky soft. So I thought I would give it a try. 

Turned out pretty nice but it's super loose. I think I need to adjust the tension bit better. You can't really tell from the photo but the cuff feels so loose that it might come down as wearing them. My tester is my husband who really wanted to try this socks so let's see how he likes it. Thickness of the completed socks are so much thinner than wool blend but silky soft. 

CSM

My horrible morning sickness has almost gone completely, i can finally talk about my fibre related stress relief hobbies again!and yes, I am expecting another baby who is due February/March 2016!

This machine is called circular sock machine (csm) for exclusively making socks. I know, crazy right? But I have wanted to give it a try for a while and finally got it! 

This type is called New Zealand auto knitter, newly manufactured by the lady who owns the company in New Zealand. There are only two existing manufacturer for newer machines and some restorers. 

I'm the second owner of this one and the lady who sold this to me gave me some tools and waste yarns to practice. I had spent about 1/2 hour-1hour every day for about 3weeks and finally be able to get a hang of it. 

So it looks dusty and such in this photo but it knits like a magic. 

And yes, I do clean the machine, don't worry!

This is the socks I completed from not using ribber but finished with picot hang hem. 

I am currently practicing using the ribber (almost there without the dropped stitch) and just ordered tons of fancy German sock yarn for the upcoming holiday season. 

I am much more comfortable working with this little heavy machine than weaving loom, for now. Of course I still love spinning but my own time is limited with toddler and preggo body so right now I just wanna make socks! 

New wheel

I didn't realize how long it's been since the last post but here I am still trying to make time for fibre related hobbies every day.

 My husbands uncle Andrew and his wife lives in Alberta came to visit for our Grandads anniversary. It has been 2years! I know our little Will who got the name from grandad is turning 2 this summer. 

Anyway, uncle Andrews wife, auntie Marion is the sweetest lady you could ever meet. I love spending time with her. 

She decided to gift me her mothers spinning wheel!! And they brought it this time;)

I was like jumping up and down like a little child but hey I just felt so honored to be thought by someone. 

Here she is! Miss Virginia! 

She is called "mud valley spinners" by Lin Black who made this wheel in BC in 1970s. It's not uncommon to see these type of wheels in here. I have seen some already at the local guild. Exact same ones. So I knew where I needed to go to get help. 

Huge flyer and bobbin for the bulky yarn or art yarns. Which I couldn't do with my traditional so this is just perfect for me!!!

I just oiled her and put some candle wax around, I am hoping to spin something bulky this coming week or so. 

Thank you again auntie Marion! 

New wheel

I didn't realize how long it's been since the last post but here I am still trying to make time for fibre related hobbies every day.

 My husbands uncle Andrew and his wife lives in Alberta came to visit for our Grandads anniversary. It has been 2years! I know our little Will who got the name from grandad is turning 2 this summer. 

Anyway, uncle Andrews wife, auntie Marion is the sweetest lady you could ever meet. I love spending time with her. 

She decided to gift me her mothers spinning wheel!! And they brought it this time;)

I was like jumping up and down like a little child but hey I just felt so honored to be thought by someone. 

Here she is! Miss Virginia! 

She is called "mud valley spinners" by Lin Black who made this wheel in BC in 1970s. It's not uncommon to see these type of wheels in here. I have seen some already at the local guild. Exact same ones. So I knew where I needed to go to get help. 

Huge flyer and bobbin for the bulky yarn or art yarns. Which I couldn't do with my traditional so this is just perfect for me!!!

I just oiled her and put some candle wax around, I am hoping to spin something bulky this coming week or so. 

Thank you again auntie Marion!