Road Trip & Unicorns!

This week was kind of a drag! Going to work an hr early is not my ideal, i'm just glad it's almost over. This weekend i'm also going on a road trip to Ohio(Columbus specifically) which is a nice incentive to get through the week. It's about a 6hr drive i believe, which leaves me with plenty of time for projects. I already have some WIPS and new projects to take in mind. :)

Still working on my green/gray stripped sweater of course. I finished one of the side panels and am working on the second; i just haven't felt like measuring out the buttons as of yet(which i need to do since this is the side w/ the button holes).....i actually don't even have the buttons i plan to use either. All in due time i suppose. How do you go about matching buttons to your projects? I'm glad to say that working with the I Love This Yarn brand is pretty enjoyable.

This week i only had 1 (almost)finished project. I checked out Amigurumi Toy Box from the library and made this awesome unicorn . It's a pretty cute pattern and i really want to make a second as a horse(Epona, anyone? The Legend of Zelda reference). The book's due this weekend tho, so again all in due time(or perhaps i'll just purchase it for myself ;D). I should have a list of yarn related items i want so i can give out when the time arises(such as the holiday season or my bday), it would make an awesome gift.

Uh - Oh...Yarn Haul!

Resisting a good yarn sale is pretty hard....hence this yarn haul. I visited yarnfactoryoutlet.com  and have come up with this.

I have a pretty good size stash(as you can see from my videos, most of my stash makes an appearance as the background) and all though i'm working on using it all up, sometimes adding enhancements is inevitable. I recently discovered this site which is pretty neat and has good prices. The only downside i would say is the lack of colorways, as it's pretty limited to what they have available.

Amazing? Yes. Too much? Perhaps.
These are the yarns i have come to obtain:

Patons Shetland Chunky Yarn in Bronze x6

Bernat Mosaic Yarn, Ninja x3

Bernat Mosaic Yarn, Psychedelic x3

Brand New Mosaic Yarn-Sunset x3

Bernat Baby Jacquards Yarn in Macaroon x3

Patons Kroy Socks Yarn in Grey Striped Ragg x9

Baby Hats and WIPs!

This week i found the 'why' behind the addiction to making hats and/or baby clothing. It's easy, quick and portable. My week was pretty full with the launch of my new website(all though not official) as well as life in general so baby hats were my to-go project.. You can check out my very newbie site at malonsshop.com.




I completed 3 baby hats, one being made from Knit Pick's Wool of the Andes(aka 100% wool). Since i don't have kids nor know many people who do(not babies anyway), donating these would be ideal. However, a wool hat...is that donate-able? If you happen to know of organizations that are open to hats as well as other baby clothing(like the cute baby                 sweater i finished last week), please share.



I've also made considerable progress on my sweater...i'm so excited! I have the back panel done and have started on one of the side panels. I'm using a Noro pattern found in Noro Knitting Patterns Jane Ellison Pure Noro(check it out!). It's a simple ribbed sweater yet i'm adding stripes for a dash of interest. I'm not using Noro yarns but rather I Love This Yarn in 'greaybeard' and 'mid green'. I can't wait until it's complete!

                                        

WIPs and FOs!

For those unfamiliar with the crochet/knitting lingo, a WIP = work in progress and FO = finished object. I have just uploaded my Cast-Off Crew video this week(where i share these wips and fos) so thought it'd be a good time to update.

Amigurumi Knits: Patterns for 20 Cute Mini Knits

I was able to re-new this book 'Amigurumi Knits' from the library and so was able to finish the carrot i was working on last week. I also finished the cute baby sweater and a hat to boot! Although still have a tiny bit of the yarn left...which will probably go to a secret project i've yet to think up! Both patterns are free via ravelry(links provided in the video description). 

I worked on the eggplant and tomato last week, as well as the Boneyarn shawl which was completed then as well...finally! It was probably one of the most boring knits of my life, but it's done! I'm very hapilly surprised how it turned out as well. At first i didn't like it much, i thought the colors were too muddled together. Seeing it complete tho, has really turned me around...it's pretty great! I'll get around to blocking it sometime soon enough. Updates on ravelry should follow(ideally...).

                                          

Piranha Plant Pattern (+ tutorial)

This pattern is pretty easy and quick. I used red heart super saver but of course, you can choose a yarn of your choice ~ gauge is not important. I made a banner/bunting using i-chord, however you can use anything from braided/chained yarn to rope or ribbon...the options are endless! This tutorial isn't perfect. I mix up half-double crochet with double crochet a few times so try to overlook those....I suggest going by the pattern as well. Enjoy!

Before i go on, please excuse the bad pictures(i wasn't very sure i would include these in). I first made all yarny parts of my bunting and put them together. I then placed my piranhas someplace where they would be undisturbed so the details could dry overnight. Finally...my project was complete...ta-da! :)

Materials:

Yarn

H(5mm) crochet hook

Felt

Fabric glue

Piranha Patter and Leaf

Piranha: 

magic loop
sc 5, turn - 5
ch 2, 2dc in same. 3dc in rest, turn - 15
ch2, 2dc in same. repeat 2dc in next, 3dc in next until last stitch 2dc in last stitch - 35

Leaf: 

chain 5
slip stitch on 1st chain, 1sc,1dc,1sc, chain 2 turn
1sc,1dc,1sc,1sl