WIP Wednesday

On June 6, 2018June 6, 2018 By FogKnitsIn Casting On, cross stitch, WIP3 Comments

My funemployment craftcation is rolling along nicely. No chance of boredom setting in here.

I recently finished yet another cross stitch hoop and a little fob thingy, maybe it’ll be a luggage tag. I always feel weird about monograms. I did it anyhow. Sometimes you feel like a nut… I’m pleased with the results.

I’m quite chuffed with the latest bit of knitting as well. My textures are all playing nicely with my colors. One would almost think I planned it that way. Almost! It’s great advocacy for the planning department, actually.

I try to plan. It’s so boring though. Remember this?

I planned my “next” sweater, way back in March. I have the pattern. I picked out the yarn. The yarn the pattern calls for, no less. I decided on my colors. I was good to go.

That sweater is still not on the needles, though. No, instead, I’m staring this pile down.

The well-planned but never-executed Lopi sweater, the brioche shawl I want to frog and enough yarn for only 80% of a sweater I want to knit. Two hot messes or a plan that just needs basic execution. I still don’t wanna do it.

Following a plan sounds like torture. UGH.

I really want to get a sweater on the needles though. It’s a real quandary. I have a feeling I’m going to make a hot mess decision. I’ll keep you posted! :)

Rainbow Friday

On November 25, 2017November 25, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, Shawl, Sweater, WIP3 Comments

Black Friday and it’s rampant consumerism make me crazy. I’m betting most of you reading this agree, or at least understand the value of handmade, so I’ll just limit my rant to that. And so, I celebrated Rainbow Friday…with progress on my Rainbow Shawls!

Even as on-the-go, back-up projects, they’ve made good progress. I appreciate that they’re both currently in green sections! Synchronicity confirms that everything is as it should be.

Then again, maybe I’m talking crazy talk. Bill Murray spent the day being ignored in the corner. I’m at the halfway point. Things seem good. I’m pleased with Bill’s progress so far. This means a knit-tastrophe is just around the corner, yes?

I’m doing my best to avoid that knit-tastrophe though. By starting a new cross stitch.

I was just going to pick out the colors but…well, you know how it goes.

I’m reeeeeeeealllllly going to avoid all these avoidances today though. Time to buckle down and get Bill out of the corner. Better to deal with any potential knit-tastrophe now. I’ve got 13 days and 10 hours until it’s Murray Time!!!

WIP Wednesday Photo Dump

On November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, Sweater, WIP, Yarn11 Comments

As usual, it’s Wednesday and I have more works in progress than hands to work on them. My cat sweater is still a WIP but it’s approaching FO status rapidly.

The first time around, I forgot a bit of sleeve shaping. Happy to say, this time I remembered to shape the appropriate places and the face is far less wonky now. Just a couple rows more and a bit of neck shaping before I can begin seaming! The weather is perfect for the sweater right now so I’m hoping to stay focused!

It’s tough with this box of beauties though…

Mom dyed me some yarn for my birthday! It’s all amazing! The two little balls are a merino/silk/yak blend. Soon to be a hat I think.

The barber pole yarn is super fun too…it’s a 4 ply wool, 3 regular plies and one superwash ply. Turns out the superwashing process effects the way wool takes dye so you get this cool marled effect with one color of dye. The electric blue is so striking! I can’t wait to use it!

The piece de resistance, though, is this great big hank of alpaca…

I love everything about it…the colors, the speckling, the softness. Mom tried something new with this one — Ice Dying. You put your yarn underneath a large mass of ice, sprinkle the dye on top of the ice and as the ice melts, the dye drips down randomly. I don’t know if I actually have the patience to dye that way but I’m really glad Mom did. At the bare minimum, I’ve gotta swatch with this yarn soon. It’s definitely going to become something special.

Of course, the real reason I’m trying to avoid the siren song of new yarn, I need to get moving on the Bill Murray Sweater.

You see, Bill Murray is currently touring with a band. I have this big portrait of Bill that I knit a few years back. I also have tickets to the Bill Murray tour. It’s time to put my money where my mouth is.

I’ve pulled a selection of yarns from the stash and I’ve decided on a plan. I just need to put the plan into action. I’ve got five weeks. It’s time to stop procrastinating.

Really, that means step away from the cross stitching. I finished this little hoop, an ode to Warren Zevon and the werewolves of London.

It was an irresistible idea. I got it out of my system. I’ve cleared the path for the Bill Murray sweater. It’s time. I’ve got laser focus. I’m making it happen.

Just as soon as I finish the Cat Sweater. (you had to know that was coming. lol. fingers crossed they’ll both be finished soon because in reality, it’s November. It’s time for the Christmas knitting freakout. Ugh!)

FO Friday – More Tom Petty Cross Stitch

On October 27, 2017October 27, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, FO Friday4 Comments

My latest cross stitch is, once again, Tom Petty themed.

For the uninitiated, this is the text of a hidden track, from the Full Moon Fever album. CDs were the new big thing when this album came out. Certainly still a novelty for 11 year old me.

This was probably the first hidden track I ever heard, even if I didn’t know that’s what it was called. And, the background to the track was barnyard animal sounds. It was pretty much tailor made for a kid. I loved it.

Turns out, I still love it as an adult. And when it occurred to me that a CD is round just like an embroidery hoop…well, done deal!

Laying out the chart was the most time consuming part of this. Here’s a peek at my process…

I charted the the text and then cut the pieces out for easy manipulation. The only downfall of cross stitch is all the counting. There’s really no way around that. I’m slowly figuring out my anything goes approach is okay with knitting. Not okay with cross stitch. This piece was worth it! I can’t wait to add it to my wall.

Here’s the current state of the cross stitch wall…

It’s filling in but I have plenty of free space to go!

My next dead songwriter is Warren Zevon. He’s a treasure trove of amazingness, perfect for cross stitching. I’ve got some ideas…oh yes. I never seem to run out of ideas. I can’t wait to work on them! TGIF!

Rainbow Stripe Shawls

On October 23, 2017October 23, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, Shawl, WIP3 Comments

What’s left after last week’s mass frogging? Quite a few things it turns out! The theme of the day seems to be rainbow stripes! How can I argue with that?

First, the Gauge Dye Works self striping Hydrogen Shawl is moving along.

It’s my go-to carry around project at the moment. It’s definitely getting carried around a lot. It’s slow going but that’s okay. It’ll get there eventually. There’s something comforting about knowing it’s easy to grab and it’s just waiting there for me. It’s nice to have one less thing to think about as I leave the house.

Rainbow Striped Shawl #2 is rising from the ashes of my frogged Spice Market.

It’s becoming Strickmich’s Match & Move. So far, I’m loving this…Garter Stitch… WOOOOO! One reason I was hesitant to frog my Spice Market was all the yarn cuts. Instead of fussing, I’m just going with it. Match & Move is written with color blocks more than stripes but my yarn is set up for stripes so stripes it is! This would be lovely on the go knitting, if it weren’t for all the balls of yarn I’d have to carry. It’s getting plenty of love here at home.

And, because my love of rainbows is not limited to my knitting…

Mom sent me some rainbow gradient embroidery floss…it’s so fun! Not sure what else to do with this canvas so I’ll just ponder it for a bit. After all, it’s Monday…time to start the work week! Wish me luck! :)

FO Friday – RIP Tom Petty

On October 5, 2017October 5, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch, FO Friday4 Comments

Like everyone else, I’m bummed about Tom Petty. He’s one of the few people who could still put out an entire album worth listening to, on repeat, all day. Naturally, he’s been in heavy rotation here at the FogKnits’ headquarters this week.

There isn’t much ‘Tom Petty Knitting’ but his songs sure are quotable…

…and that lends itself to cross stitch, easily.

I like cassette tapes. I didn’t really have any particular reason for going with the tape. Then, I listened to Full Moon Fever. It was one of the first CDs I ever had. By which, of course, I mean one of the first CDs my Mom ever had. In any event, it got listened to constantly.

I nearly forgot about the hidden track. I loved that when I was a kid. Tom gave us a moment to stop and consider how convenient CDs were. No stopping to flip the tape. Ha ha! It just cracked me up. It still does. The perfect, unexpected surprise in the middle of a CD, which was already a thing wonder.

Hello CD Listeners…

And an embroidery hoop is round like CD. That can’t be a coincidence. I’ve got a tape. Now, time for a CD. Yes, it’s a bit wordy but my next idea has been born!

RIP Tom, I hope you like being immortalized in bathroom cross stitch!

I love the weekend

On September 24, 2017September 24, 2017 By FogKnitsIn cross stitch5 Comments

After being out of town last weekend, I was pretty stoked for a weekend at home. I hit the cross stitch hard.

A little ode to the Grateful Dead.

Followed by the realization that it’s already Sunday night.

Where does the time go?

There was plenty of knitting too. It hasn’t been digitally immortalized yet though. I continue to think about Cat Sweater #2, but that’s it, just thinking about it. Marled Magic is too much fun to put down. Pics soon! Clue 3 is nearly finished!!!