Rocking the Rice Crispies

This is not a knitting post. Strange isn't it? I totally stole this idea from someone on craftster. Nat and Blair had their engagement party last week and I wanted to make something fun. It was a big hit. No one wanted to cut it - they all thought it was too cute. Either that, or people's tastes were too refined to enjoy the rice crispie treats. Someone asked if the ribbon was fondant. Can you imagine? Um...no. Not fondant, but a fruit roll up. Even better she says.


And in keeping with the rice crispie theme...I made this fake pizza for Morgan's first birthday party tomorrow.
















I made this same sort of 'pizza' for Max's first birthday too. Its only fitting then, that I made one for Morgan. Oh, I also made these babies. I'm on a roll.















I wonder why it is that I enjoy making deserts and treats that look like something else entirely? I once made 'mock sushi' out of rice crispies, gummy worms, and fruit roll ups. The cone cupcakes are pretty tame I guess.

Starting a Tonne of Stuff, Finishing nothing

This is what I've been up to lately. Starting. And more starting. I've finished practically nothing. And there are still other things that I want to cast on. I'm sure those cute baby shoes will be finished soon, as it only took an hour or so to do the first one. And they are So. Cute. Love them. Lets see if I can remember what all of these projects actually are. There is the blue baby girl's sweater.




The pink baby boots (that may or may not go with the baby sweater, depending upon which type of baby my friend has. Then there is the reversible cabled grey scarf - for my boss's 70th birthday. This is from a cashmere silk blend that is to die for.






















Then, there is the storm water shawl for me. This is made from that fleece artiste seasilk blend that I bought in Bathurst last summer.




















And finally there are Outside in socks from the new summer knitty. I coudn't resist these. They are so clever. So, I think its time to actually finish something

Good Luck/Bad Luck?

I'm involved with girl guides. This year I had to help plan our advancement ceremony. We had 13 girls advancing. I wanted to make them each something - a little good luck trinket. I decided these lucky penny flowers would be easy and fast enough. The fact there are 13 of them? Well, lets just say, I'm glad I'm not superstitious.

Coffee Filter Yarn

Last night I was reading Amy Singer's article in knittyspin. She was talking about a trip that she took to Arizon in February, and how she met with a spinning guild there. She met a lady that was spinning coffee filter - used and straight out of the package. She briefly gave a description on how it was done, so I decided to give it a go. Now, everything I've ever learned about spinning, I've learned on animal fibers. Spinning involves two things - drafting and adding twist. There wasn't a whole lot of drafting going on here. The resulting yarn is surprisingly strong.

Here are my supplies. The markers, because I couldn't bear to spin such bland colour.



















Here is a coloured coffee filter.




















Cut into shreds.


















Attempting to draft.


















Result.

Something New

I'm not a very experienced lace knitter. I've decided that 2009 is the year that I'll broaden my horizons - knitterly speaking. I want to do more lace knitting - with actual lace weight yarns. (I also want to do colourwork, but thats a different post all together). So in keeping with this thought, I decided to tackle the pattern 'Ishbel' by Ysolda. The few times that I've knit lace, I've kept track of the pattern repeats with stitch markers. So, I tried that with this little lace shawl/kerchief. But I was always coming up with the wrong number of stitches and my patterns weren't lining up. So, I did a search on Ravelry and discovered that since this pattern is started from the center back, and there are 4 stiches increasing on one side of the work and 2 stitch increases on the other side as the pattern grows outwards, then it is impossible to use stitch markers to keep track of the lace repeats. I wish I had realized it before I knit the lace 5 times or so. Seriously. One night I was actually dreaming about it, and counting yarn overs in my sleep.

Any way, it is now finished. Its malibrigo too!!! I'm certain there are mistakes in it. Probably only visible to me and experienced lace knitters. But, I love it. I will wear it. Even though purple isn't my colour. Amy says that is all the more reason to wear purple. I need to break out of my colour box.

And speaking of purple, I then went on to knit the Lacey Airy Scarf from Simple Knitted Gifts. Today there was a surprise party for Blair's mom. She is turning 50. I just got the invitation on Friday, so that left me with very little time to make something for her. Since this project was in the '4 hours or under' chapter, I thought I would give it a try. Now this is a very, very, very simple lace pattern. Actually, I'm not even sure that 8 yarn overs in a row will qualify as lace, but it is done in a lace weight yarn so, I'm calling it lace.

Maybe I've gone a little overboard

This past weekend I went home. That is, my hometown. My nephew is graduating high school and they had the ceremonies that weekend. And he was the valedictorian. I am so proud. My sister (and I guess in some small part, my brother in law) have done a fantastic job of raising him. He is smart and respectful. He is kind, handsome and ambitious. I couldn't be more proud.

Of course this was also an excuse to do a little shopping. My LYS is nice enough, and I love Mrs. March. But, she doesn't carry Fleece Artist. And I love me some Fleece Artist. I think I may have went a little overboard. I bought 2 thrummed mitten kits. The store owner of Wool Trends (St. John's) had these fantastic shop samples knitted up and even though it was 20 degrees celcius, I really felt the need for some thrummed mittens. I've bought this kit before when I was in Bathurst last summer/fall, and I love thrumming. Mrs Wool Trends had the best thrummed mitten sample ever. They were like boxing gloves. No way a hand can get cold wearing one of those.

I also had a gift certificate for Michaels that I had to spend. So, I stocked up on some Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. I like that yarn for gift knitting. I also bought some Lion Brand Homespun and Suede as I want to try those faux shearling knitted baby booties and hats that I've seen around Ravelry.

So, I think that I've more than enough yarn for the next 2 or 3 lifetimes. Then I get mail. I'd forgotten that I'd taken advantage of Webs anniversary sale. I got me 2 skeins of this golden Malibrigo.
I've been actually craving it since I knit those Chevalier mittens this winter. They have since mysteriously disappeared. No one knows what happened to them. I'm very suspicious of the usual suspects. But I want more or maybe I just want to knit more. And I've got me some cashmere. Yes, they had cashmere on sale. I've never knit with cashmere before and I'm super excited. My boss is turning 70 in June and I want to do something special for him. I'm thinking the 'swelligent' scarf from Son of Stitch n' Bitch. The cashmere is actually 90% cashmere, 10% silk tweed by Rowan in a great pewter grey colour.



And to top off a fun, fiber infested week I got some roving from etsy seller frecklefaced fibers. I've decided to give spinning alpaca another go. This alpaca is buttery soft. If it turns out scratchy, its my fault.

No blog posts for May?

I wonder why? I've been knitting. I've been spinning. I just haven't been finishing anything. I did make this hat.

Well, thats not a finished photo. I'm sure I took one, but I don't know where is it. I must remember to take another. I'm disappointed that I didn't have quite enough yarn to do this pattern justice. I ended up shortening the earflaps and the icords. The yarn (100% alpaca) is super soft. Next time, I'll but more.

I've started colorwork!@!! I'm super impressed with myself. I thought it would be dead hard, but it isn't. I'm knitting one colour continental style and the other english style. Thank you you tube for that little hint. Here is a photo of one fingerless glove that I've finished.