Sorry!

You may have noticed that the giveaway for the coupon code to pick out one of Linda Permann's patterns ended yesterday. Well, the laptop is broken, but it should be up and running tomorrow. I'm blogging off of a phone right now, but the giveaway results will be up sometime tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Another Hexipuff

So far I've made 7 hexipuffs. I still have a lot to go! My favorite one so far is this one:

Sorry for the short post!

Projects, Yarn, and Hexipuffs

I'm making the popular pattern, Beekeeper's Quilt. :) I've done one out of...385. 

This is going to take awhile.

Last night, I crocheted a notion bag using the yarn I dyed last year. Love it!I made a pocket for the needle to sew up the puffs, and a pocket to keep scrap yarn in. Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of that. I will soon! 

I'm knitting Puerperium Cardigan for an unknown baby. I really don't know why I am, but it's so cute and I have the perfect yarn, Malabrigo Silkie Merino, for it. It's turning our so cute! I'm up to the sleeves, and only have a few centimeters left, think.

On Friday, I dyed 2 skeins of yarn using the tutorial from The Work is Getting to Me. It took FOREVER (as in almost 3 hours) to untangle it once it was done! It turned out nice though. :)

These two are from the same skein of yarn. The dark purple is the beginning and the lighter is the middle and end. I used four packets of grape Kool-Aid for it. :)

This one used four packets of pink lemonade Kool-Aid. It's really pretty! Before I wrapped it up, it looked like candy canes.

Don't forget to comment on the giveaway!

Abby

February Interview: Linda Permann

To start this blog post off, I'd like to say that my knitting goals in life are as follows:

1. Start my own yarn store.
2. Interview Linda Permann.
3. Meet Anna Hrachovec
3. Crochet a snake.

And today, I can cross number 2 off the list! I've been given the honor of interviewing my favorite crochet designer, Linda Permann. Linda has multiple designs in the magazine, Crochet Today! and other magazines. She has also written two crochet books, Crochet Adorned and Little Crochet. Now for the interview!

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(Click on each picture to view the Ravelry page)

Me: Thanks so much for being here! How long have you known how to crochet, and how did you learn?

Linda: I've been crocheting for over 10 years. I learned as a kid, but nothing past chains, and I started again after college. I taught myself from a free pamphlet I got at a knit-out. It took me a long time to teach myself!

Peanut Butter

Me: Do you ever have more than one project going on at the same time, or just one at a time?

Linda: I often have more than one project going on at a time, but I try to really focus on only one at a time and then when I know where I'm going with it I'll start another. I'd say I generally have 3-5 projects going at any given time and I really like to finish things. I might have a total of 2 UFOs in my stash right now, I don't like that stuff lingering around!

Soft Owl Pillow

Me: What's your favorite yarn to use?

Linda: I have so many favorites! I've been doing a lot of designing with Malabrigo lately and that stuff is heavenly. I'm a bug fan of sock, DK, and sport weight yarns for crochet, and I'm a sucker for anything hand-dyed. MadelineTosh Sock is another favorite of mine, and I always go to Brown Sheep when I want to make something sturdy and colorful that holds it shape.

Birdie Mobile

Me: What's your favorite (okay, maybe top three) thing you've made?

Linda: Some of my favorite things that I've crocheted and designed are my Peanut Butter Cardigan, Stellar Beret, and Thunderstorm Bag. My favorite crocheted thing that I didn't design is my Garden Path Shawl designed by LilyGo. I really took the time to get it right and it was worth it!

Raspberry Beret

Me: You have a lot of designs in the magazine "Crochet Today!" How long have you been designing for them?

Linda: I've been designing for them pretty much since Day 1. I used to work at Soho Publishing, which launched the magazine, and at the time there weren't a lot of people designing for crochet. They knew I could crochet and asked if I would write patterns for the things I made, so I did! And now here we are!

Hooded Capelet

Me: How many WIP's do you have going on right now?

Linda: I have 3 things on the blocking mat that just need finishing/tweaking, one thing I'm crocheting on, one I need to finish the pattern for, and 2 just-for-fun-don't-care-when-I-finish scarves. So, 7?

Crafty Disguises

Me: Do you have a favorite technique to use?

Linda: I like bobbles and post stitches. I like to create textures and cables in crochet, and I like to burst the myth that crochet is limited or lesser-than as a craft. 

Stellar

Me: What's your most favorite thing to crochet?

Linda: Hats. I love hats- they only take a skein of yarn, they are worked in the round (which means the right side is always facing you- making cabled designs easy to get a grasp on), and it's okay to have fun with a hat.

Ribbed Cardigan

Me: Do you have a favorite crochet book, or website?

Linda: I'm partial to the two I've written, Crochet Adorned and Little Crochet. ;) My hands-down all time favorite book is Donna Kooler's Encyclopedia of Crochet. While not all of the projects are my speen, it was the first book I found with a lot of useful beginner info and diagrams to accompany the stitch dictionary. I love that. I also love looking at Japanese crochet books for design inspiration, I think with diagrams, they can make more complex designs that can't easily be explained in words.

Pill(ow) Popper

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Well, that's the interview! Thanks again Linda. Check out Linda's blog, Lindamade, and more awesome projects here.

And now for a giveaway! Linda has kindly offered a Ravelry coupon code for the winner to pick out one of her patterns, so comment below to enter. The giveaway will start today, February 21, and continue through February 28, when I announce the winner.

Abby

Give a Hoot!

Last night I knitted an amigurumi owl from the popular pattern, Owl Two Ways. It turned out so adorable! It was easy and quick to make, and I love how it turned out. I say that with all of my projects, don't I?

I decided to add wings to it because I thought it would add to the cuteness. Here's how I made them...

CO 7 sts,
Row 1: K
Row 2: P2tog, P3, P2tog
Row 3: K
Row 4: P2tog, P1, P2tog
BO

Since I only sewed the top and bottom of the wings on, you can stick pencils or knitting needles in them like pockets. :)

And instead of knitting 20 rounds for the body, I did 14 because I thought it was big enough. I'm sure I'll  be making more of these. :)

Ahh, Yarn

We went to Loops today and I got two skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino in "Arco Iris." It has an amazing colorway, and I can't wait to work with it. :)

And when we got home our Knit Picks order was there! I ordered a skein of Chroma Worsted in "Sunrise" for some fingerless gloves. This yarn is so soft!

And now to go knit...

Abby

ETA: Oops, edited to remove the extra picture. I guess I was so excited it came that I wasn't thinking! :3

Shawls: Post 2

I really didn't know what to title this post, so I just named it that. Sorry I haven't been blogging as often. Hopefully I'll get back into the blogging groove soon. ;) Anyway, I finished the shawl I've been knitting this afternoon!

It's a cross between a small shawl and a large cowl. And, yes, I think I'm addicted to shawls now! I also took some (slightly) better pictures of the shawl I tested. I love it. :) It's lightweight and easy to knit.

-Abby

Malabrigo Cowl

This afternoon I put up the cowl, Malabrigo Quickie Cowl, up today for a free Ravelry download. 

The Jumbled Up Post

I'm just going to cram a few posts together. Did anyone watch the Super Bowl last night? :) I love the E-Trade baby commercials.

I made a little heart yesterday from Anna Hrachovec's pattern, Hearts. I used some Malabrigo yarn for it. :) I've felted it twice, but it just turned out kind of fuzzy. Here's the pictures before I did:

And I crocheted a cowl last night/this morning with more Malabrigo yarn. Once I was done with the cowl and heart, I still had a little ball of yarn left. Yay! The pattern for the cowl should be up soon.

And now for random pictures. I took this picture while I was photographing my cowl:

I like it. :) And now for some pictures of Lucy, our dog. She cracks me up sometimes!

That's Lucy our dog, licking her mouth.

Barney doing kitty yoga and his sleep face.

Charlie is always watching. 

Then there's Ducky (Yes, DUCKy the chicken).

Okay, I'm done rambling with pictures. 

Shawl

I think I'm addicted to shawls now. I finished testing one on Sunday called Lykia. I love how it turned out, and I'll definitely be making more.

I started knitting a shawl (yeah, because I need another one!) yesterday. :)

 It's called Beech by The Fibre Company. From now until Valentine's Day, you can enter the coupon code, "HEIRLOOM," and get a free pattern from them. I love how it's turning out, and can't wait to wear my purple shawl, and this one.