Autumn has set in.

Since Stash Dash ended for my sake, and then Tour de Fleece, I've been on a bit of shut-down. I felt creatively empty and needed some time away from the computer. It was also time for my summer vacation, and I took off for three weeks.

Now it's back to normal, and I've felt an itch to sketch a bit again. I found a list of 100 sketching prompts on Pinterest, and I think I'll work my slow way through this list when I feel like drawing a bit.

On a different note, I went to Loop in London this vacation. I'll show my loot from there later ;>

Currently knitting

I'm currently working on the Alphabet Knit-Along that Fibernymph is running in her podcast group on Ravelry. I quote from the Alphabet KAL thread:

"Each month of the K/CAL will be assigned a letter range of the alphabet, which is key to the projects that will qualify for each month’s individual entries:

June: A-F 

July: G-L 

August: M-S 

September: T-Z"

This month I'm knitting the Miss Winkle out of some Three Waters Farm-handspun. I've been waiting to do this project and I'm loving how it's turning out. I can't wait to see how the loop turn out once the shawl is blocked.

Are you participating?

Stash Dash FO #22

The 22nd finished for Stash Dash is a Holly for myself. 

I love Ankestrick's patterns, she writes really well. They're complex patterns, in my opinion not suited for brand new knitters, but perfect if you want a sweater that will fit you so well.

I made some changes, because I know my body. I knit a size small over my chest, large for my arms and just kept increasing for my lower body. I like my summer tops loose and breezy. 

I might just knit this sweater again, it was really fun and I'm going to wear this a lot this summer!

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 7012,2 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #21

The 21st finished object for Stash Dash is my second attempt at backwards longdraw.

This time I used a carded batt I had made earlier out of some Norwegian wool, and then dyed. I had left more lanolin in this, and I wanted to see how that affected the drafting. It's a lot fuzzier than my first attempt, but I'm satisfied. They'll make great mittens.

For Stash Dash:
So far I've got 6013,2 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #20

The 20th finished object for Stash Dash is Spring Come True, a Falkland braid from Three Waters Farm.

I divided the braid into the colors so I could make a gradient. I then spun the entire single on one bobbin, and chain plied it.

I had a plan to knit this up, but it's just too precious! This will be a hoarded skein of yarn <3

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5947,2 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

90% Knitting's Alphabet KAL: July!

I'm getting ready for the next month in 90% Knitting's Alphabet KAL.

July's letters are G, H, I, J, K, L.

I'm a bit out of knitting mojo at the moment. I've made a decision that will greatly affect my finances next year, and that will force me to put my hobbies on a budget. So far I've just kept track of my spendings in yarn and fiber, but I won't be able to afford that in 2016. I'm very excited about my decision - that I won't share here yet in case co-workers should stumble upon this - but it also puts a pressure on me to finish all the things while I can still afford it!

To push me back into the game for this month I'll try to knit Christmas gifts/birthday gifts that fit into the letters! I might not use them this year, but it'd be nice to have a full gift basket for the next couple years to come.

I better narrow this list down though ...

Pattern name: Grove

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Pattern name: Gnome Mittens

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Pattern name: Grantreet

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Pattern name: Hodgepodge Mittens

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Pattern name: Hiro Mittens

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Pattern name: Hearth Slippers

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Pattern name: Hearts on a string mittens

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Pattern name: Ivydene 

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Pattern name: Jedediah Boot Socks

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Pattern name: Kaisa votter

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Pattern name: Little Ivanhoe

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Pattern name: Lovikka Mittens 

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Pattern name: Little Sister's Dress

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Pattern name: Little Heaume 

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Pattern name: Lamb Shoes

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Pattern name: Leydon

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Pattern name: Lambing Mitts

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Stash Dash FO #19

The 19th FO for Stash Dash is my first attempt at backwards longdraw. 

I hand carded the fiber. There's some Norwegian sheep in there, mohair, polwarth and bamboo. 

I got these little clouds to spin from. 

And ended up with this. I'm very pleased with the variation of color in the finished yarn. Backwards longdraw was not as hard as I had imagined. I bought Jacey Boggs Faulkner's "From Worsted to Woolen" Craftsy class. It was worth every cent!

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5708,2 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #18

The 18th FO for Stash Dash is a pair of socks for Maria.

These are knit out of white Drops Fabel, and then I dyed them dark blue once I was told what colors she liked. They're rather plain, because she's not a woman to wear attention-seeking socks, but I made a simple braid in the ribbing, by knitting a K2tog Cable.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5643,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #17

The 17th finished object for Stash Dash is another skein of handspun. This time meant for a sweater.

These are the final 221 meters out of a total 684 meters. The wool is norwegian from my family's farm. I've processed it from the raw wool, to the carding and through to these skeins.

I'm hoping it'll become a cropped sweater, or in worst case scenario a warming vest.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5459,1 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #16

The 16th finished object for Stash Dash is the Basic Tam. This I knit for the Alphabet KAL.

It's out of Regia Tweed 6-ply, and I did the colorwork as I went along. 

It is sadly enough yet another hat that doesn't fit me at all, but fit my husband perfectly. His hat-basket will be well-filled this winter ... 

For the Alphabet KAL:

June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Basic Tam

Points earned: 1
Total points in June: 7

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5237,7 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #15

This is a double dipper and a goal achiever! My 15th finished object for Stash Dash is the handspun for The Knit Girllls/Three Waters Farm SAL/KAL; my Honky Tonk! It is also the object to push me over the goal line of Stash Dash. 

I aimed to spin a bit thicker and looser than I'm used to with this. It's 100% BFL, so it lends itself nicely to those requirements. I did however not succeed entirely, so it's a bit thick and thin in spots.

I do love how much of the blue came out in the final skein, I'm very weak for turquoise. 

Now I need to get on with the knit part of the SAL/KAL. I just need to decide on a pattern first.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5106,5 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

I wish I had aimed for the 10k for Stash Dash, I just didn't anticipate to reach the goal so fast, and I really didn't think I'd get close to 10 000 meters. Therefore I'm putting my personal goal at 8000 meters from here and on.

Stash Dash FO #14

My 14th finished object for Stash Dash is another babyhat. I knit this as a baptism gift for a little girl born earlier this year. Her mother likes purple, and I had a skein of Sisu left over from last Christmas' gift knitting.

This is an easy knit. It's knit flat and then seamed for some centimeters in the back. The border is optional; I just wanted to go all out girly, since the happy mother likes that.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 4863,5 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Three Waters Farms Top Of The Month Club - June!

It's June, and this months braid from Three Waters Farm just arrived.

It's June's Glow, and my; it glows alright!

When I read the description of the colorway a few weeks ago, before any pictures were posted of it, I immediately thought of these tulips that are growing in the park. I felt certain that the colorway would match them, so I took a picture, and putting them together now I feel very pleased. 

This braid will be saved for a rainy day when I need to spin myself happy.

Stash Dash FO #13

The 13th finished object for Stash Dash, is also a hat that I'm knitting for the Alphabet KAL, called the Caramel Slouch.

I really enjoyed knitting this hat. It starts with the brim, that is knit over just 16 stitches back and forth till it reaches around the head. Then new stitches are picked up for the head. I knit it out of Beiroa that I bought at Retrosaria Rosa Pomar in Lisbon. It's Portuguese wool and smells so pleasant of sheep (I've got a stash of it). Next time I knit this hat I will knit it a little more slouchy, but otherwise this is the perfect beanie!

For the Alphabet KAL:

June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Caramel Slouch

Colorway: Four Zero One

Points earned: 2
Total points in June: 6

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 4758,7 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #12

The 12th finished object for Stash Dash, is a hat that I'm originally knitting for the Alphabet KAL, called the Barley hat.

This is a really nice, simple pattern by Tin Can Knits, that I will be knitting again. I had meant to knit it for me, but 3 inches in I thought it looked small. I checked my gauge, and true enough; I was way off. So it became a toddler hat instead, meaning this was a really quick knit; less than one nightshift worth of work.

For the Alphabet KAL: 
June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Barley

Yarn company: Du Store Alpakka

Colorway: Eight Three Four

Points earned: 3 points + 1 bonus point

For Stash Dash:
So far I've got 4656,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.