Ornaments & hexipuff check in

This past week I've been working on some holiday tree ornaments that are going out as gifts to some special friends.

They are diorama ornaments, made first of a felted ball with an opening in it. Little snowmen, santas and holiday trees go inside.

I've nearly finished. Got the balls done about a week ago and today I finished up half the 'insides'. I have a few that need to be mailed out sooner than the other few so I'm working on them first.

As for hexipuffs and my weekly check in --- well, they are still on semi-hiatus until I get my Xmas & swap knitting done. Some of that xmas knitting is hexipuffs as a gift but I've only gotten one done and they dont count towards my total count. Couple more weeks and I'll be back into the puffing ... from a new house! Yup... moving in a few weeks to the new house (yup! We bought a new house!) so things are extra nuts around here right now!.... so forgive me if I dont post too much in the next week or so. xox

Peak at a secret project!

I"m giving you a BIG peak at a secret project only because I cant stand how cute they are turning out without sharing them with someone!

Are they not the sweetest little things, ever!?

HexiPuff check in!

Puff Count up, October 28 = 91.

I only managed to whip up 8 puffs this week. I did them all out of Araucania Ranco Multy. I have a whole skein with no other plans for it so will probably use it all up for puffs.

I present -- the Shish-Ka-Puff!

This is most of the puffs --- doesnt include the ones I have unstuffed yet that are waiting for little pictures to go on them.

I have to put the puffs away for awhile and get to work on Xmas and holiday swap knitting. Some of that knitting is gift-puffs though so I guess I can say I'll still be puffing, just not for my blanket! I have alot of projects to get done in about 3-4 weeks, plus a few than can be done after that too.

I have so many neat xmas projects on the go and am just dying to post pics but I just cant until the end up at their final destinations. I dont want to spoil any surprises!

Stash enhancement, WIPs and weekly Hexipuff check in!

I have a couple of topics for one post today --- stash enhancement, WIPs and my HexiPuff check in.

I'll start with the weekly HexiPuff count up for my Beekeeper Quilt (pattern by Tiny Owl Knits). Week 7 and I'm up to 83 puffs! That's 12 done this past week. That's also ALOT considering I also feel like I slowed down on my puff knitting and ramped up on alot of other knitting. Not bad, eh!

I only took photos of the new puffs ---- no 'group' photo this time. The past week's puff theme was Blue Moon Fiber Arts' yarn in Chestnut, True Blood and River Rocked.

I have no idea what this upcoming week's puff theme will be yet. I have a multi coloured skein of Araucania Ranco I picked up in Black's Harbour, New Brunswick a few years ago and made one puff out of it so far. Maybe I'll just see how many of those I can make this week.

I also did a little stash enhancing this past week ---- like I really needed it.  I DID! yes, I did so!

The next installment of the Dancing Dog Dyeworks' Monster Mania 2 club arrived. I think this may be the last installment for this round. Michelle is looking at MM3 for the new year. Yay! I love, love, love her worsted yarns. They are fantastic for all those monsters I love to make.

This shipment was a dual pack. A regular sized skein in the "Summer Sugar" colourway, together with a mini skein of "Pretty Pink".

I've only ever tried DDD's worsted yarn but totally fell in love with the Tropical Twist colourway that Michelle put out with a sock club during the summer. It's a great blend of yellow and blue and looks fabulous in a pair of socks! Michelle had a 'second' leftover skein and sent it with my Monster Mania pack. Big Love and ♥♥♥ to Michelle for the yarn! I can't wait for Xmas knitting to get through so I can make myself a pair of great socks with this. There's also enough on that skein to fit in a few hexipuffs, too!

Been working on a pair of Veyla, fingerless mittens (pattern by Ysolda Teague). They are made of Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere (Alpaca, Merino, Cashmere) in the Tapestry Blue colourway. These will probably be a part of my Xmas swap package for the Tiny Owl Knits group on ravelry.

I'm waffling between the Veyla's or a set of White Rabbit Wristees for the swap but my partner has some wool issues so I'm not sure I should make her something made of mohair --- since alot of people can't wear that.

 

(This photo copyright to Tiny Owl Knits)

Yarn arrived this week for these!

(This photo copyright to Tiny Owl Knits)

They are the Hopsalot bunny slipper super adorable pattern, also by Tiny Owl Knits. I really really really want a pair of these for myself but for now, these will also be for my Tiny Owl Knits Xmas swap partner. I'll finish them this week for sure.

I picked Blue Sky Alpaca yarn in a light grey for this. It is so super soft and will felt very nicely.

Ok! Lastly for this monstrous post --- another work in progress for a fellow Raveler's babe. This is the Kira hooded vest by Yumiko Sakurai. It's really a cute vest good for a boy or a girl. I'm using Diamond Yarns' Luxury collection superwash merino in a lilac and white for this. The yarn is incredibly soft and nice to knit with. I'm almost finished. Just a couple more rows to go then bind off.

I've got alot of knitting going on right now plus I also have about 7 stuffies I started this summer that I am committed to finishing before the end of the year. I just need to have them done so I can start the new year fresh .... or relatively fresh, with a minimum of wips.

I dropped out of the DDD and Dangercrafts xmas swaps. It was alright since partners haven't been assigned yet. I just won't have time with the other commitments and well, we bought a new house too! Yeah, we did! So, packing and moving right before Xmas won't leave me too much time for other stuff.

Anyhow -- that's it from me for this week!

I'll leave you with a couple shots from the cabin this morning --- we took a drive and had a cup of tea on the hill.

Catch you next week! Happy knitting.

 (Holy MEGA post, batman! I promise to try brevity next week! )

♥

HexiPuff Check In, Week 6

For a week I was supposed to be slowing down on the puff making I actually made more than I thought! 10 puffs this past week so my total is up to 71 now.

I was working on a theme for the week -- I only knit fuzzy puffs. Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit and Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

WIP: Another Owl

Been working on this one for a few months now, since July. Using the Lucy's Owl pattern by Rachel Gallagher-Miller, which I did technical editing on. It knits up such a cute owl. I have two half finished ones on the go.

This one is made of 100% angora yarn -- which is gorgeous, soft, cuddly and awesome but is also a big pain in the butt to work with because it sheds and I end up with little hairs in my nose, my mouth, my eyes and all over my clothes.

He sure will be cute when he's done though! Just have one leg left to knit up.

Owl Puffs & felting gnome homes

Today was turkey leftover day and recover from too much turkey day! I got alot of knitting done!

Whipped this cute little Owl Puff up in no time at all.

He's the Owl Puff pattern by Jenna Krupar (aka RetroLemon on Ravelry). Only uses about 25 yards of yarn, a set of 12 mm safety eyes, some felt and a teensy bit or 'beak' yarn. Really fast, really easy, really cute!


Finished up the knitting on my 4 Gnome Homes and 2 Tiny Cauldrons (both patterns by Stephanie Dosen aka Tiny Owl Knits), and between a combo of hand and machine -- got them all felted. They're drying now. Tomorrow I need to pick up shirring elastic and then I can put all the finishing touches on.

I've also been working on a little hoodie for a friend's baby using the Kira's Hooded Vest pattern by Yumiko Sukarai and I have learned that I suck at seaming. Truly. Even after looking at videos online my attempts are atrocious. I'm going to ask for some help at Threads tomorrow afternoon when I go to knit for the afternoon.

Here's the yarn I'm using. It's superwash and supersoft merino wool.

Long Weekend

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada which means a long one --- and family and a big turkey dinner and pumpkin pie! Yum!

It also means lots of time to knit!

I put aside the hexipuffs to get to work on my TOKmas swap knitting. Knit up a few mini cauldrons to be felted and am working on a few Gnome Homes. They are all so adorable -- I can't wait to felt them and see how them turn out.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Canadian friends!

Hexi Puff check in, week 5 !

Week 5 = 61 hexi puffs!

Those ones with the safety pins on them are waiting for pictures to be duplicate stitched on them. I like to do that before I stuff 'em.

 

This week, my favourites are the sparkly ones made of yarn received in a swap, plus the fuzzy ones made of Rowan Kidsilk Haze and the rustic, textured ones made of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn.

I've recalculated the Puff-Math, also.

Pattern says I will need 384 Hexipuffs to make a 3x4 foot quilt but I'm thinking I'd like something in the range of 6x6 or 7x7 feet. I laid out my puffs and fit 30 into a 1 foot square. So, apparently after calculating the puff-math, I will need 1,470.

I think this will take me about 5 years to make!!

I joined the Tiny Owl Knits Xmas swap and plan on joining the Dangercrafts Xmas swap, plus I have a bunch of baby knitting and xmas knitting to do --- so Puffing will definately slow down for a bit, besides what I can do on coffee breaks at work.

Hexipuff check in! Week 4

I'm up to 43 puffs this week.

My plan is to make a giant blanket about 6x8 feet big. Maybe 6x6. According to the pattern, I'll need somewhere around 700-800 puffs. I figured about a year to make them all but when I actually calculate it .... if I make about 5 puffs a week, it will take me almost 3 years to make enough for a blanket that big!!  I'm sure there may be weeks I don't knit a single puff ---- I DO have other things to do with my time too, you know.. and other things to knit on. But, there may be weeks I make more than that. It's ok though ..... I *was* planning on this being a long term knit.

So, on with the progress photos!

Beekeeper Quilt, week 3 check in

I got alot of puffs done in this past week and I have alot of pictures! I did a bunch for my own quilt plus 6 for swaps. Most of the ones that will end up in my quilt from this week were swap ones that just didn't cut it. They either didn't turn out as nice as I wanted them too or the charts were off centre a tad --- good enough for me but not a swap!

So, my total is up to 29 now plus 6 for swaps.


I've said it before but I have to say it again -- I am loving this project! I think it may be my favourite ever. Each little puff is like a project unto itself, especially when it's embellished with duplicate stitch or embroidery. I get such a little thrill each time I finish one. I can't wait till I get to a year from now and have enough for a blanket.

Here's some for my quilt... 

A mix of puffs... for mine and for swaps...

Swap puffs!!!

My first duplicate stitch attempt --- I think I am in love.