I'm Moving!

You can find me at loveyesterdays.wordpress.com

My Ravellenics Medals!!!

I know, I know...a little late.  I had to take some time to catch up on things that got neglected while I was furiously knitting!  I received 10 Medals!!!

On to the medals:

Received 2 Medals

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

Received 1 Medal

And then for one of the teams I participated in, I received this certificate:

So, what does all that add up to?  Nothing really.  Everyone who participated received medals.  I was actually supposed to be awarded 4 Stash Skeleton medals, but really, what does it matter?  The main thing is that I was challenged to use up some stash yarn as well as get some serious knitting done!  As far as I am concerned...mission accomplished!

Ravellenics 2014

So now you know where I have been.  In virtual Sochi.  I have been busy competing in the 2014 Ravelry Ravellenic games.  As any Raveler knows, the Ravellenic Games includes knitting 'events' which were designed to challenge the knitter or help to meet a certain goal the knitter has.  My personal goal this year:  to knit through that mound of stashed yarn, especially using up worsted weight and bulky weight.  I have entered in several events so far and have still two more to go...if I have the time.

Blue Dahlia Hat

Events: 

Hat Halfpipe

Single Skein Speed Skate

Russian Dolls

Events:

Toy Tobogganing

Junior Ravellenics

Stash Skeleton

The Russian Barynya Parade

Algebra Cowl

 Events:

Cross Cowling

Single Skein Speed Skate

Stash Skeleton

One Row Lace Scarf

 Events:

Scarf Super-G

Lace Luge

Stash Skeleton

And Finally...

Miss Bennet's Beaded Bag

Events:

WIPS Dancing

I still have a few more to finish up...I have until Sunday at 2pm EST, I believe.  After the games are done, I will be beginning a new venture.  More about that the my next post.

How to Beat the Deep Freeze

Simply put a shark in your tea! 

Being the shark-freak that I am, hubby gave me this awesome tea ball for Christmas!  It is so cute!  Put your loose tea inside the stainless steel bottom and fit the silicone shark fin over the top.  Float in your hot water and wala...

Tasty shark tea!  Of course, this is white tea I am brewing, so no cool colors.  Although, if you use a tea that has a red berry base, the ball is supposed to look like blood is coming out of the bottom of it and eventually, the shark ball will be floating in "bloodied" waters...Lol! 

Oat Cowl

Oats Cowl

Another simple knit from Tin Can Knits Simple Collection.  I wish I could post links, but alas, either my computer or Blogger is being tempermental again...could be either/or!

Nice and simple knit and purl design.  I knitted in Wisdom Yarns Fair Isle.  I do believe the yarn in discontinued, but you might find it in someone's stash!

Maize Mitts

Maize Mitts

I finished a pair of mitts for my sweet husband to keep his hands warm while we run on cold mornings.  The pattern is from Tin Can Knits and is part of a new free ebook they have called The Simple Collection.  I love this collection not only because it is free and Tin Can Knits are one of my favorite designers (I think of them as the "Land's End" of the knitting world with their classic and timeless designs), but also because the ebook is a great source for beginning knitters.  Even though I am not a beginner, the designs appeal to me very well.  For a seasoned knitter, they are the perfect take-a-break-from-challenging-designs patterns that knit quite well while watching TV.

I knit these in the Adult Medium size, and while I am modeling them in the picture, they fit my husbands little fat hands quite well!  I did make a few mods to the pattern, which can be found on my project page on Ravelry

For the yarn, I used Queensland Rustic Wool, a worsted superwash I picked up at WEBS.  While the wool was kinda stiff and scratchy while knitting, boy it really softened up after soaking and blocking. 

Queensland Rustic Wool Worsted Superwash

I still have a few things I want to make for hubby for running.  I cast on a cowl yesterday and will be making a coordinating hat for all his running woolens.  Stay tuned for my progress :)

Leaves in Sequence Knitted Cowl

My latest finished object:  Leaves in Sequence Cowl using pattern elements from designer Eleni Paraschou
 from Greece.

Leaves in Sequence Cowl

I used a silky soft burgundy acrylic finger weight yarn with US 5 circular needles.  I knit crazy loose though, so most people would use a size US 7 or 8 to get the same gauge as I attained.  After casting on 210 stitches loosely, I worked one repeat of the seed stitch border, then one repeat of the Leaves in Sequence pattern, followed by another seed stitch border, one more leaves repeat and finishing with a final seed stitch border.  I would recommend using a wool yarn for this as the acrylic is rolling way too much and I think a cotton would do the same.

{project page}

The cowl was created as a test knit for the designer.  I love the pattern, it was easy to memorize and it is so versatile, you can use it for a cowl, a scarf or a rectangular or square shawl!  And just to confirm, it is soooo soft on my neck :)

ReLearning a Craft

Guess what I made?

stitch markers

Yea, I know...big deal, right?  Well, it is a big deal!  I used to be a successful metal work and wire work jewelry designer, but I had to sell my business because of the Dystonia in my hands and arms, more serious in my dominant right hand/arm.  I have trouble doing everything from brushing my hair to using a computer.  Therefore, I have been trying to learn to do things for the last two years with my non-dominant left hand.  I have learned how to do many things with my left hand, even knitting...in fact, left hand knitting is the only reason I can still knit!  So here we are...left hand wire work!

 I will be the first to admit that the wire wrapping is really crappy, but the fact that I got it at least in the right spot with my left hand is a feat in itself, albeit how long it took me to get it there!  I figure if Billy McLaughlin can do it, so can I!  He is a renown guitarist and composer who had to end his career because of Dystonia in his fret work hand.  Although, after five years of frustrating training, he successfully learned to play guitar with his left hand.  So, if he can do it, I can do it.  And I can only agree with him when he said "Dystonia's got kind of a cruel side to it where it attacks you with what you love to do the most," indicating that whatever you do, that is where Dystonia is going to appear if you are unfortunate enough to get it.  For instance, guitar players will get it in their hands.  Vocalists will get it in their throats.  Being a jewelry designer and hopeless can't-keep-my-hands-still crafter, my hands and arms are affected.   Because of the wonderful ObamaDon'tCare, I can no longer get treatments from  my neurologist to control the pain, so now I am dealing with the loss of function AND chronic pain.  But that's a conversation for another day.  For now, I will bask in the glow of my major accomplishment...even if I am the only one sees the glow of it!

After the storm

 

What a crazy storm...first one since 1993.  Want to see something even crazier?  NASA took this picture of my area yesterday at 3:00PM (Tuesday, 1/7/2013).  Looks like the ice age!!!

 That's the great lakes!

Blizzard 2014

What a way to start the year! We woke to negative five degrees Fahrenheit with a windchill of negative twenty. Whew. Time to start knitting to warm the fingers! And the stuff on the window? That's snow stuck to it!

My daughter snapped this photo on our way home from me picking her up from work yesterday. No big deal for me because I grew up with this, but she was so scared and just wanted to be home.

All you can see is my dashboard!!! Stay warm if you are affected with the cold temps and stay indoors if you are in the blizzard!