They Were Itty-Bitty, Tweeny-Weeny Cross Stitches that She Did for the First Time in Years!

WiP: Wedding socks, wedding shawl
FOs: Nada

That's right. I wanted a complete change of pace, so I started a cross stitch. The funny thing is, I switched from cross stitch to knitting when I first started university because, a) I had screwed up a pattern sooooo badly that there isn't really any way to recover it without unpicking the whole thing. b) I thought that knitting would involve less counting! (Yes, I heard that sniggering. I just wasn't it enough at that point, apparently! hah)

 

This is officially the first cross-stitching I've done in about 5 years. That, my friends, is about 100 stitches over two hours. And that is my index finger...This project, in which every last inch is stitched...Is going to take awhile. But that's OK. This is currently a zen project, without a deadline, so I can work on it as much or as little as I want. And that's what I needed more than anything. Still, I'm not used to 18 count Aida fabric, which is what this is - generally I work on 14 count, so this nearly feels like petty point to me (although I know it isn't)!

 

And these, which I'm super happy with right now, are my wedding socks. I love the yarn (Sweet Georgia Sock in Summer Dusk). But I can't wait to have them finished, either, so that I can start carrying around stock items to knit while I walk! (Like, mittens...And dare I say...baby sweaters...??)

That's what I've been working on right now! We're down to the crunch, and I'm moving as quickly as I can on my wedding shawl - I'm probably about 60% done at this time - I have 7/10-12 repeats complete at this time, so we'll see what I'm sitting at when I complete the 8th repeat (required)...I'm leaning towards something with at least 12 repeats, though, since it still looks too small right now! I'm also trying to estimate how large it will be once I complete the 8th repeat, since even though I'm not wearing it until after the ceremony, I don't want it to interfere too much with my dress. haha

Anyway! Debates. We're under 2.5 months, which I know is going to fly by! Wish me luck!

Katie =^..^=

 

Geek Week (Or two...Or for life!)

WiP: Wedding shawl and wedding socks
FO: Baby quilt for friend!

So, the first big news: I finished the baby quilt for my friend! Since it's a spring baby, I backed the quilt with flannel so it's squishy and warm but not super fluffy and engulfing.

 

The big news after that was a. This latte art is from Bumpy's Cafe in Calgary. So awesome. (And unexpected - I doubt I would get this if I asked for it! So it made me feel super special. Also, I'm reading Chamber of Secrets right now, so it was very fitting.)

 

In other, other news - it was Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend, which is always a bunch of fun, and this year no less than others.

  

I got some awesome art for my craft room by Laurie B! I love them all, but my particular favourites are the chibi catwoman and Princess tea party! They'll look fantastic above my craft room table.

I have yet to become a Dr. Who fan, but my friend is, so I saw the panel with Matt Smith & Karen Gillan, which was fantastic nonetheless.

Dallas and I also had a photo-op with Tom Felton, which was VERY brief, but really cool.

And, finally, we saw John Ratzenberger (Cheers & every Pixar movie) on Sunday, which was amazing. It was awesome to hear Ratzenberger talk about his career, since he has been in the job for so long. 

So, busy, but that's really all. I'm working on my new (new) wedding shawl, which is going well - over halfway through the recommended repeats. And I'm just working on the heel for my wedding socks, so I should have something to show you that's knitting related next week!

Also, the next major shop update will likely be towards the end of May, since right now I'm working on a June 19th deadline for my shawl...wish me luck!

Have a lovely day! :)

Katie =^..^=

Busy Weeks Behind, Busy Weeks Ahead...

WiP: Wedding shawl, wedding socks for me, and a baby quilt!

I got my topper today, which I'm super excited about! (I love the fact that I could customize the shoe colour...And they even have itty-bitty wedding bands!!! Squee!!)

This is the quilt top for a friend that's due on May 3rd - I had everyone bring at least a fat quarter to the shower, and this was the result.

 

And this is me after I had opened all my gifts at my bridal shower! I had a ton of fun.

Otherwise, it's been busy...and my knitting has to be more or less under wraps right now, since it seems like every time I go talk about it, disaster happens (at least in the case of my shawl)! 

Hope you all are well!

Katie =^..^=

New Item for the Shop: Wedge Bags!

You can find the new wedge bags in my shop! Wedge Bags

I love these bags! I have been using one of the cat ones for Dallas's two-at-a-time socks, and I was using it for my shawl this weekend as well!

Speaking of the socks, I finished knitting them!

 

The intarsia needs some fixing, and they need to be blocked, but they fit Dallas, which is the important part! Phew!

I have finished 7 out of the 8 of the required repeats for my shawl, but I think I'm going to go to between 12 and 16, since it's quite small at this point...And I have until June 15 to finish it. (I need to finish it and submit photos for the Stampede competition by June 19). But it is definitely a relief to be so far along! Hope blooms on the horizon that I'll have it finished in time. haha

So, next in the works this weekend: pouches. And more large box bags...And maybe some more mitten wedges/box bags as well. Although I love how the wedges stand by themselves. 

Katie =^..^=

Welcome to April!

WiP: Wedding Socks; Sewing - wedge and box bags

This photos is from yesterday, but the snow really hasn't gone away, but it is sunny now! And we've finally gone from -10 to -3!! (Practically tropical!)

I didn't get much work done this weekend, because it was my bachelorette and my future niece's birthday...And because I stayed up WAY too late reading on all three nights! haha

I did, however, get a chance to work on some wedge bags, which are a new product I will be offering in the shop as soon as I'm able to get some pictures! (I'm using the cat one with the green zipper on the left...It's perfect for Dallas's wedding socks right now!)

I have also gotten a ton of reading done! The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman is the one I stayed up reading on Friday night.

 

The ones I'm working on right now are Marianna Meyer's Lunar Chronicles, which I'm loving! Very heavy Sailor Moon accents, but that's fine by me.

Anyway. The next few evenings are going to be spent with Dallas, and then I'll for sure get products up by April 9!!

Have a lovely day! 

Katie

Yes, There are Instagram Filters in this Post

WiP: Dallas's wedding socks
Different from the Knitting: I'm working on wedge bag details

Monday was our fifth anniversary! So this weekend was a super awesome one spent out in a mountain lodge (Emerald Lake Lodge)...And of course, I had a few minutes in Knit & Caboodle in Canmore - in fact, I still have the yarn in my knitting bag!

I'll show you more pictures of our trip once I get the photos off my camera.

The green in that photo is much more representative of the green in the "I Do" socks I'm knitting Dallas for the wedding...But this is a good picture of the colour work:

And, these pouches are making their way to the US for a retreat. I'll tell you more once the recipients have gotten them!

 

Unfortunately, my pouch stock was devastated with this shipment, so I'll be restocking pouches and box bags/bags in the next 10 days to two weeks. Keep an eye on Instagram/Twitter to see what prints are coming up! :)

Have a lovely week, my dears!!

Katie =^..^=

Tuesday 2!

WiP: Wedding socks for Dallas, Wedding shawl for me!

Another week gone! And this is what I have to show for it:

These are two-at-a-time toe-up socks for Dallas for the wedding! These are not so glaringly different colours in person; both are very dark, with the toes being navy and the foot being a forest/hunter green. There will be an "I Do" at the top of the sock, along with something extra.

Otherwise, I've been reading LOTS the last little bit, having read both The Great Gatsby and Romeo and Juliet this past weekend...I am also now working on The Catcher in the Rye. I also finished Da Chen's My Last Empress. If you're interested in keeping up with what I'm reading, you can find me on GoodReads!

What are you reading right now? (I'm actually running out of books on my shelf...It's terrifying!)

Katie =^..^=