I've been consistently working on 3 projects and have borrowed a knitting machine. I haven't finished anything hand knit yet, but I have already made 4 hats and counting with the knitting machine.
As I've said before, my man is an icecarver. The machine makes double layered hats and these are best for snow flying and melting on a hat. And they're so fun to make. They tend to like lots of colors and what not, so I can play with lots of yarn, but still make a hat in 30 minutes!
In other news, I work 6 days a week, and I'm tired. I need to brush my hair and get ready for my night of work. Rawr.
As always,
<3 carly
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Resolution in 2018
Hello Blog World!
As always, I would like to blog more. After the stressful holiday buzz and extreme cold front, I would like to focus back on my knitting. Specifically my knitting that I haven't finished. My new years' resolution for 2018 is to finish my projects in 2018. I have quite a few. Some I've started recently, some I started years ago.... It's embarrassing. I love knitting! Truly! But it makes me sad to think of how much I want to knit and how much isn't done. Which is probably adding to my stress just a bit.
My stress comes from, wedding planning, wedding prep, trying to pay my bills, work, working enough, cleaning enough, presentation, being a good person, snuggling the cat enough, haha, all the typical stuff.
I believe finishing these projects will assist me in feeling accomplished, I can then show them off as well! Because all of these items are things I want! I casted them on with the intent to use them!
For example, my Christmas Stocking. I made my fiance's stocking while I was in college. He's had it for nearly all our Christmas's together. I started my in, let's see, August of 2015 according to Ravelry... That's depressing, it's 2018. Maybe I'll have it by next Christmas (something I say every year!). So now I'm going to make it a reality. Because these are my projects for the year. Some are closer to being done than others. And these are all the projects in my project basket in my living room. I may have some more upstairs in the yarn stash, but we'll start with these. Some are gifts, some are shop samples, but most are for me. I would like to get them done because let's be real, I have so much to knit and time is precious.
Here's a photo of my project shaming, because I know you want to see how many projects I have here.
So what I have in this photo is:
1 summer tank top, in a beautiful cotton and linen blend.
A pair of Jolly Roger socks for the handsome man.
A Pi Shawl in the beautiful biggie and Rhinebeck haul from Dancing Leaf Farm.
An easy travel project of a terribly simple scarf with Steelers yarn (best for bar knitting so you can say "RARR FOOTBALL!").
My Christmas Stocking....
A pair of socks for me with Knitterly Things self striping sock yarn.
Another pair of socks for me, with Mountain Colors sock yarn, it's delicious.
A baby blanket for a friend who may have already had the baby, haha.
A shop sample cowl, knit with luxious alpaca yarn.
Another Steelers scarf, but for my mother.
A sweater for myself. Customfit, on a US size 2....
So these are my projects. I have some work cut out for me, but I'm optimistic. They're all already started. This helps! Now just to finish, hahaha.
Until next time, and I'll post update photos as we go.
To 2018!
<3 Carly
As always, I would like to blog more. After the stressful holiday buzz and extreme cold front, I would like to focus back on my knitting. Specifically my knitting that I haven't finished. My new years' resolution for 2018 is to finish my projects in 2018. I have quite a few. Some I've started recently, some I started years ago.... It's embarrassing. I love knitting! Truly! But it makes me sad to think of how much I want to knit and how much isn't done. Which is probably adding to my stress just a bit.
My stress comes from, wedding planning, wedding prep, trying to pay my bills, work, working enough, cleaning enough, presentation, being a good person, snuggling the cat enough, haha, all the typical stuff.
I believe finishing these projects will assist me in feeling accomplished, I can then show them off as well! Because all of these items are things I want! I casted them on with the intent to use them!
For example, my Christmas Stocking. I made my fiance's stocking while I was in college. He's had it for nearly all our Christmas's together. I started my in, let's see, August of 2015 according to Ravelry... That's depressing, it's 2018. Maybe I'll have it by next Christmas (something I say every year!). So now I'm going to make it a reality. Because these are my projects for the year. Some are closer to being done than others. And these are all the projects in my project basket in my living room. I may have some more upstairs in the yarn stash, but we'll start with these. Some are gifts, some are shop samples, but most are for me. I would like to get them done because let's be real, I have so much to knit and time is precious.
Here's a photo of my project shaming, because I know you want to see how many projects I have here.
So what I have in this photo is:
1 summer tank top, in a beautiful cotton and linen blend.
A pair of Jolly Roger socks for the handsome man.
A Pi Shawl in the beautiful biggie and Rhinebeck haul from Dancing Leaf Farm.
An easy travel project of a terribly simple scarf with Steelers yarn (best for bar knitting so you can say "RARR FOOTBALL!").
My Christmas Stocking....
A pair of socks for me with Knitterly Things self striping sock yarn.
Another pair of socks for me, with Mountain Colors sock yarn, it's delicious.
A baby blanket for a friend who may have already had the baby, haha.
A shop sample cowl, knit with luxious alpaca yarn.
Another Steelers scarf, but for my mother.
A sweater for myself. Customfit, on a US size 2....
So these are my projects. I have some work cut out for me, but I'm optimistic. They're all already started. This helps! Now just to finish, hahaha.
Until next time, and I'll post update photos as we go.
To 2018!
<3 Carly
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Christmas Hard
Hi Folks!
I've missed blogging. It's a way to write a diary, it's a way to share your mini victories, loss, confusion, and anything in between. So here's my story right now.
I'm a bartender, knitter, yarn dyer, and loving my life. It's really weird to think about. I loved going to college and learning, economics was truly an interesting subject to study. I thought I wanted that life after college of working and career life, but the more time I spent in the office job, the more I thought, "Is this it?" I went to school for 4 years, I studied my butt off (had a lot of fun with my friends too!), to wake up early every day, sit in rush hour traffic, find things to do, go to lunch, find things to do, sit in rush hour traffic, maybe hit up a ballet class if I was feeling down, knit, watch tv, read.
I was reading a book at my first job out of college. Revisit my What Makes You Smile post for the full story again.
Now today, I was sent a job posting by a great friend. She means well and it even made me get my computer out (who uses them anymore when our phones do so much?!), readjust my resume, and then I opened the apply page and froze. I thought to myself, do I want to work an office job again? I texted a few friends, had them remind me of my sadness in an office, searched blog posts, articles and quizzes. Then I remembered my moment. The moment I wanted to be known in the knitting world, to dye yarn, to knit whenever I wanted. I didn't apply to the job.
Sometimes I take my bartending job too seriously, but that's ok. It helps me pay the bills and that's why I have a job. What I need to remember is that I took this job to focus on my knitting. To soar in the field I want.
I may not have the "normal" career path, but I'm totally ok with that. I am happy that I can sleep in every day. That I can get the dishes done, vacuum and eat properly. I have a semi regular schedule, and I feel bad that my boyfriend goes to bed without me sometimes, but I feel so much happier not being drained in a closed in office. It seems so silly, but I'm happy.
With all my working, I've done Christmas real hard. I went to Monroeville, Shadyside, Strip District, Market Square, Settler's Ridge, all in one day. It was a lot of driving. I got a lot of gifts. I'm totally done shopping, all I have to do is knit. And I wanted to share the blog post first. I couldn't help but share with someone my realization once again.
Don't get down on yourself because you don't have a normal career path. Be happy being you, and I couldn't be happier being me.
<3 Carly
I've missed blogging. It's a way to write a diary, it's a way to share your mini victories, loss, confusion, and anything in between. So here's my story right now.
I'm a bartender, knitter, yarn dyer, and loving my life. It's really weird to think about. I loved going to college and learning, economics was truly an interesting subject to study. I thought I wanted that life after college of working and career life, but the more time I spent in the office job, the more I thought, "Is this it?" I went to school for 4 years, I studied my butt off (had a lot of fun with my friends too!), to wake up early every day, sit in rush hour traffic, find things to do, go to lunch, find things to do, sit in rush hour traffic, maybe hit up a ballet class if I was feeling down, knit, watch tv, read.
I was reading a book at my first job out of college. Revisit my What Makes You Smile post for the full story again.
Now today, I was sent a job posting by a great friend. She means well and it even made me get my computer out (who uses them anymore when our phones do so much?!), readjust my resume, and then I opened the apply page and froze. I thought to myself, do I want to work an office job again? I texted a few friends, had them remind me of my sadness in an office, searched blog posts, articles and quizzes. Then I remembered my moment. The moment I wanted to be known in the knitting world, to dye yarn, to knit whenever I wanted. I didn't apply to the job.
Sometimes I take my bartending job too seriously, but that's ok. It helps me pay the bills and that's why I have a job. What I need to remember is that I took this job to focus on my knitting. To soar in the field I want.
I may not have the "normal" career path, but I'm totally ok with that. I am happy that I can sleep in every day. That I can get the dishes done, vacuum and eat properly. I have a semi regular schedule, and I feel bad that my boyfriend goes to bed without me sometimes, but I feel so much happier not being drained in a closed in office. It seems so silly, but I'm happy.
With all my working, I've done Christmas real hard. I went to Monroeville, Shadyside, Strip District, Market Square, Settler's Ridge, all in one day. It was a lot of driving. I got a lot of gifts. I'm totally done shopping, all I have to do is knit. And I wanted to share the blog post first. I couldn't help but share with someone my realization once again.
Don't get down on yourself because you don't have a normal career path. Be happy being you, and I couldn't be happier being me.
<3 Carly
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Never Regret
As an off and on blogger, and always wanting to be more on blogger, I never regret anything I do.
I must explain this a little more because you're probably wondering why I would care to share this period.
Well, my favorite quote is "Never regret anything because at one point it was exactly what you wanted."
I hold to this. It may collide with another belief I have, of everything does happen for a reason, and we wouldn't be here without going there to make the decision to be here right now.
Great example. My apartment was a craigslist ad that had NO PICTURES. How many people go for those? Or actually respond to those? Well, I was doing searches with ONLY pictures and somehow something came up without a picture, I called, I saw it, I LOVED IT! It happened for a reason. And I don't regret calling that ad. I know that's a pretty lucky one, so let's go with another example that isn't all smiles the whole time. My junior year of college. The best and worst year of college. I had amazing friends, I loved my classes, and everything was great! Except I didn't believe in love, or that I deserved it. I had some rough nights on feelings and a lot of deep talks with girlfriends. By nearly the end of the year, I finally realized that I do deserve to be happy. And wouldn't you know it, I found a guy that makes me smile and ridiculously happy. It's another happy ending, but the length of that no regrets, is a lot longer than calling an ad and seeing an apartment. It was also in those dark nights that I found that quote and realized that I didn't regret anything I had done. It was one aspect of my life that was harder, and weird, but it didn't mean I regretted it
The frank point of it all is that, no matter what we do, we're doing it because we want to. And when we realize we don't want something anymore, we might back off or even worse, say we wish we never had done it in the first place. This is so hard because how would you have known you weren't going to love doing something or whatever it is you wish you never did in the first place? We must experience what we have built up in our head, and if we don't, we realize it wasn't what we wanted. But no one can talk you out of that! I wouldn't want to try. I want us all to have that satisfactory realization that "I want something, but it isn't this". I think it's beautiful that we can get closer to our dreams, without anyone's help, but more with our own exploration.
Now I hope this wasn't too deep for you. It's something that I believe hard in and it's that pillow I made that sits on my bed everyday.
Do you have anything that you don't regret because you wanted it?
P.S. I still want a tattoo with no regrets, I was thinking the back of my neck. Some of you might say I'd regret that ;) hehe
<3 Carly
I must explain this a little more because you're probably wondering why I would care to share this period.
Well, my favorite quote is "Never regret anything because at one point it was exactly what you wanted."
I hold to this. It may collide with another belief I have, of everything does happen for a reason, and we wouldn't be here without going there to make the decision to be here right now.
Great example. My apartment was a craigslist ad that had NO PICTURES. How many people go for those? Or actually respond to those? Well, I was doing searches with ONLY pictures and somehow something came up without a picture, I called, I saw it, I LOVED IT! It happened for a reason. And I don't regret calling that ad. I know that's a pretty lucky one, so let's go with another example that isn't all smiles the whole time. My junior year of college. The best and worst year of college. I had amazing friends, I loved my classes, and everything was great! Except I didn't believe in love, or that I deserved it. I had some rough nights on feelings and a lot of deep talks with girlfriends. By nearly the end of the year, I finally realized that I do deserve to be happy. And wouldn't you know it, I found a guy that makes me smile and ridiculously happy. It's another happy ending, but the length of that no regrets, is a lot longer than calling an ad and seeing an apartment. It was also in those dark nights that I found that quote and realized that I didn't regret anything I had done. It was one aspect of my life that was harder, and weird, but it didn't mean I regretted it
The frank point of it all is that, no matter what we do, we're doing it because we want to. And when we realize we don't want something anymore, we might back off or even worse, say we wish we never had done it in the first place. This is so hard because how would you have known you weren't going to love doing something or whatever it is you wish you never did in the first place? We must experience what we have built up in our head, and if we don't, we realize it wasn't what we wanted. But no one can talk you out of that! I wouldn't want to try. I want us all to have that satisfactory realization that "I want something, but it isn't this". I think it's beautiful that we can get closer to our dreams, without anyone's help, but more with our own exploration.
Now I hope this wasn't too deep for you. It's something that I believe hard in and it's that pillow I made that sits on my bed everyday.
Do you have anything that you don't regret because you wanted it?
P.S. I still want a tattoo with no regrets, I was thinking the back of my neck. Some of you might say I'd regret that ;) hehe
<3 Carly
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
All the Stitches
Once I finished those 2 projects, I got startitis and decided to start cranking out other projects. Literally, these are going so fast!
But here's what you all have been anticipating, my finished sweater!
It is so cozy and warm and just in the nick of time for all this snow :)
Now the projects I am working on now are 1 for me and 1 for a gift. I am trying to make 2015 the year of extremely selfish knitting, and thus far I am doing well.
The project for me is this Geometry Infinity Scarf. I've been waiting to use this yarn for a long time, and this pattern just looked perfect for it! Now I made a modification already to the pattern. It calls for using 2 fingering weights held together (same yarn, just 2 strands held together). I am using a DK weigh instead and not holding 2 strands, just using the 1.
I've been doing so much basic knitting, and stockinette stitch over and over again, it is so nice to have something change every row and not really be challenged, but to have a flowing pattern. It's written really nicely. I then have a provisional cast on because it will be a seamless infinity scarf :)
The other project I am working on is a gift for another girl expecting at work. I didn't realize that in the less than 2 years at my office, that this would be the 4th pregnancy. 4th! I should have done a hat and booties for the first one because now it's tradition that everyone gets a blanket :/..... It's ok, this blanket is loads of fun! Hehe, THIS BOOK!!! I cannot tell you how often I use this book. It is never on its' shelf, I am always using it! The funny thing is, I haven't even done all the patterns yet! It just has so many great basic knits and techniques, that I use it that often.
Anyway, here is the blanket I am working on.
Now believe it or not, I haven't done entrelac before, but boy do I like it! Now a lot of folks did this in different colors like the pattern says. I of course like to modify if you couldn't tell yet, and decided to pick this yarn that stripes on its own, but also seems more ombre when done up this fashion.
To completely change the subject, I just have to say, with this being the 4th pregnancy in the office, I know way too much about folks being pregnant and what that all entails.... It's becoming quite scaring and I'm starting to think thoughts of Why do people even procreate when they know that this happens? I've made a lot of baby things in the past 2 years because there have been so many babies, but I think it's made me a little uneasy. I'm young, so I have plenty of time to think about whether or not I want to go down that path, but I just want to warn all of you that are going into that time of life where everyone has babies. Take deep breathes, thank whatever you believe in that it's not youyet, and focus on them being happy. It is fun, but at the same time, I'm glad I can sleep through the entire night and that all my clothes fit for 9 consecutive months without having to shop for new ones ;)
Until next time,
XOX Carly
But here's what you all have been anticipating, my finished sweater!
It is so cozy and warm and just in the nick of time for all this snow :)
Now the projects I am working on now are 1 for me and 1 for a gift. I am trying to make 2015 the year of extremely selfish knitting, and thus far I am doing well.
The project for me is this Geometry Infinity Scarf. I've been waiting to use this yarn for a long time, and this pattern just looked perfect for it! Now I made a modification already to the pattern. It calls for using 2 fingering weights held together (same yarn, just 2 strands held together). I am using a DK weigh instead and not holding 2 strands, just using the 1.
I've been doing so much basic knitting, and stockinette stitch over and over again, it is so nice to have something change every row and not really be challenged, but to have a flowing pattern. It's written really nicely. I then have a provisional cast on because it will be a seamless infinity scarf :)
The other project I am working on is a gift for another girl expecting at work. I didn't realize that in the less than 2 years at my office, that this would be the 4th pregnancy. 4th! I should have done a hat and booties for the first one because now it's tradition that everyone gets a blanket :/..... It's ok, this blanket is loads of fun! Hehe, THIS BOOK!!! I cannot tell you how often I use this book. It is never on its' shelf, I am always using it! The funny thing is, I haven't even done all the patterns yet! It just has so many great basic knits and techniques, that I use it that often.
Anyway, here is the blanket I am working on.
Now believe it or not, I haven't done entrelac before, but boy do I like it! Now a lot of folks did this in different colors like the pattern says. I of course like to modify if you couldn't tell yet, and decided to pick this yarn that stripes on its own, but also seems more ombre when done up this fashion.
To completely change the subject, I just have to say, with this being the 4th pregnancy in the office, I know way too much about folks being pregnant and what that all entails.... It's becoming quite scaring and I'm starting to think thoughts of Why do people even procreate when they know that this happens? I've made a lot of baby things in the past 2 years because there have been so many babies, but I think it's made me a little uneasy. I'm young, so I have plenty of time to think about whether or not I want to go down that path, but I just want to warn all of you that are going into that time of life where everyone has babies. Take deep breathes, thank whatever you believe in that it's not you
Until next time,
XOX Carly
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Finished 2 Projects! Finishitis Extended
Kathy's Kreations sent the yarn out so fast that I got it Friday and I was able to work my little fingers so quick that I not only finished that project, but my sweater that I've been dying to wear as well! I was hoping to wash and block the sweater Monday evening and give it a whole day and a half to dry to be able to wear it fresh on Wednesday, butttt it looks like I will wait it out and wear it Saturday to show off at Kid Ewe Knot. :)
This is the project that I was waiting for yarn. I love how it turned out. The pattern was straight forward and I loved watching the project grow from that perspective. It's a diagonal baby blanket, and truly, I liked it more than the others I've done. Even though it was so simple! This is a Valentine's gift for a special little one that I haven't met yet, but so excited that they are here ;)
I wanted to have more pictures of the sweater all done for you but sadly I haven't gotten around to it yet... It's busy drying (and my precious Luna is watching it dry, haha. Does anyone else's cat love to watch things drip dry on a drying rack? Luna gets excited about it. It's too cute what she finds fun.).
Next time I promise to have more pictures to share!
<3 Carly
This is the project that I was waiting for yarn. I love how it turned out. The pattern was straight forward and I loved watching the project grow from that perspective. It's a diagonal baby blanket, and truly, I liked it more than the others I've done. Even though it was so simple! This is a Valentine's gift for a special little one that I haven't met yet, but so excited that they are here ;)
I wanted to have more pictures of the sweater all done for you but sadly I haven't gotten around to it yet... It's busy drying (and my precious Luna is watching it dry, haha. Does anyone else's cat love to watch things drip dry on a drying rack? Luna gets excited about it. It's too cute what she finds fun.).
Next time I promise to have more pictures to share!
<3 Carly
Thursday, February 5, 2015
A Case of Finishitis
If you are a knitter and you know what finishitis is, you know it doesn't come around a whole lot. It is a rare bug we catch and when we have it, we run with it.
I have so many projects that are on the verge of finishing, that I am trying so hard to finish them all. And right now, haha.
The one that I worked on last night and the night before is for my cousin's little baby girl.
So here is my problem... I'm out of yarn! This is bad when you have a case of finishitis. You want to complete your project, yet there just isn't anymore supplies! Why didn't I buy 2 skeins of yarn? Because it was a big ball and folks said just one would do. This is false because I make big baby blankets, haha. I just want them to be snuggled :)
After calling literally every shop in town, I found one that will ship it to me :) (Kathy's Kreations is just a little way from home. Adorable shop in Ligonier, but long drive for one quick stop). She'll send it out in the mail today, and I'm hoping it'll be here by the weekend so I can finish this baby.
Other things that are close to being done, my Oatmeal Pullover, my BFF socks, and then I can allow myself to cast on more projects!!! I want to knit up with my yarn that I just dyed! I'm thinking I'll do this for it... What do you think?
<3 Carly
I have so many projects that are on the verge of finishing, that I am trying so hard to finish them all. And right now, haha.
The one that I worked on last night and the night before is for my cousin's little baby girl.
So here is my problem... I'm out of yarn! This is bad when you have a case of finishitis. You want to complete your project, yet there just isn't anymore supplies! Why didn't I buy 2 skeins of yarn? Because it was a big ball and folks said just one would do. This is false because I make big baby blankets, haha. I just want them to be snuggled :)
After calling literally every shop in town, I found one that will ship it to me :) (Kathy's Kreations is just a little way from home. Adorable shop in Ligonier, but long drive for one quick stop). She'll send it out in the mail today, and I'm hoping it'll be here by the weekend so I can finish this baby.
Other things that are close to being done, my Oatmeal Pullover, my BFF socks, and then I can allow myself to cast on more projects!!! I want to knit up with my yarn that I just dyed! I'm thinking I'll do this for it... What do you think?
<3 Carly
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
What Makes You Smile?
You know in school how you were assigned books to read and then you'd analyze the shit out of them? That doesn't really go away once you graduate, any level of schooling for that matter.
Now that we're on the same page {haha, see that little pun there? ;) }, I'm reading this book for work. It's a really great concept, and I'm not going to lie, I wasn't overly excited to read it at first. It's The 12 Week Year. I'm not that far into it, but again, conceptually is how we are looking at this right now. And conceptually, I agree with the book thus far. I'm about to begin the 3rd chapter. I told you, not that far.
What's been said thus far is really to get the idea of "annual" thinking out of your mind. December 31st is just a day, and the hype of the end of the year is all in your head. {I must stress that I am paraphrasing and this is by no means a summary! This is just how I am seeing the book right now.} It's not saying that goals aren't good to set, it's just that limiting yourself to a year or giving yourself too much time is the bad thing. Think about it. We wake up New Years Day and proclaim, "This is the year that I..." and fill in that blank. To get this out of your head I think is great. Too many of us procrastinate or prioritize the wrong things. We do what we think we should do, instead of what we really want to do. Yes we should get what we need to get done, actually done, but why is it that we stall in getting done what we want to get done? After all, needs and wants are two very different things.
To follow that, there was a section that really stood out to me even more so. Implementing the 12 week year makes you think about "what makes you happy?", "what do you want to be known for?", and "what do you want as your legacy?" And it really hit me, and it was truly silly, but we're always taught to dream, right?
What makes me happy?
Knitting. This is no secret to anyone. I love every aspect there is about knitting! Hence my previous blog post. It's literally a world!
What do I want to be known for?
Being a part of the knitting world. It seems like a small goal, but truly, it's what I want. I want to break ground in the knitting world and make my name known.
What do I want as my legacy?
I want to dye yarn. Again, this may seem silly to you, but to me, it's what makes me happy. It will definitely take my knitting to a different kind of place, but that makes me excited. I want to create, and I want to share my creativity, not just through my knitting projects, but through the material in which we create our projects.
So, I want to share with you how I've been experimenting with my desire thus far. I've gone with the non-toxic route because I love my cat and I have a small kitchen. I do not have the cupboard space for 2 sets of bowls and pots and pans to dye yarn with acid, let alone store 2 microwaves. That's just an intense setup and not to mention, I would still have to wear a mask... I would much prefer the safer route of being able to breathe clean air at all times. Which is why I picked food dye, cake dye, and natural dyes. This does not mean that the dying process doesn't include any binders or heat sources, they definitely do.
Now, like anyone does when they are curious of trying something they've never done before, you go to Google or YouTube. THIS WOMAN IS AWESOME! I would like to thank her for sharing so much knowledge, and so precisely given. She truly shows how to easily combine the sources you need for dying yarn. 1- Heat, 2- Dye, 3- Yarn, 4- Binder (mordant).
Let's get to the fun part. My latest dying:
Just a basic skein of yarn, about to go into a dye bath. To be more specific, a fingering weight 90% Superwash Merino/10% Nylon.
I got a wide array of colors. Sadly, this is my last skein of "naked" yarn, so I will need to get more before I experiment again ;)
Now my intent was straight to green, but I decided to play around with the lid of the blue a little. I loved it so much I added it a little later.
I've been wanting a green yarn so bad lately though, but I just can't help myself around this sky blue! Look how pretty it pairs up with the green! :)
Now I think I've found my favorite dyes and kettle dying is definitely my favorite.
Now all I need are a little more tools. My spoon and dropping it in the dye bath is great, but not always the effect I want ;)
Thanks for reading! :)
<3 Carly
Now that we're on the same page {haha, see that little pun there? ;) }, I'm reading this book for work. It's a really great concept, and I'm not going to lie, I wasn't overly excited to read it at first. It's The 12 Week Year. I'm not that far into it, but again, conceptually is how we are looking at this right now. And conceptually, I agree with the book thus far. I'm about to begin the 3rd chapter. I told you, not that far.
What's been said thus far is really to get the idea of "annual" thinking out of your mind. December 31st is just a day, and the hype of the end of the year is all in your head. {I must stress that I am paraphrasing and this is by no means a summary! This is just how I am seeing the book right now.} It's not saying that goals aren't good to set, it's just that limiting yourself to a year or giving yourself too much time is the bad thing. Think about it. We wake up New Years Day and proclaim, "This is the year that I..." and fill in that blank. To get this out of your head I think is great. Too many of us procrastinate or prioritize the wrong things. We do what we think we should do, instead of what we really want to do. Yes we should get what we need to get done, actually done, but why is it that we stall in getting done what we want to get done? After all, needs and wants are two very different things.
To follow that, there was a section that really stood out to me even more so. Implementing the 12 week year makes you think about "what makes you happy?", "what do you want to be known for?", and "what do you want as your legacy?" And it really hit me, and it was truly silly, but we're always taught to dream, right?
What makes me happy?
Knitting. This is no secret to anyone. I love every aspect there is about knitting! Hence my previous blog post. It's literally a world!
What do I want to be known for?
Being a part of the knitting world. It seems like a small goal, but truly, it's what I want. I want to break ground in the knitting world and make my name known.
What do I want as my legacy?
I want to dye yarn. Again, this may seem silly to you, but to me, it's what makes me happy. It will definitely take my knitting to a different kind of place, but that makes me excited. I want to create, and I want to share my creativity, not just through my knitting projects, but through the material in which we create our projects.
So, I want to share with you how I've been experimenting with my desire thus far. I've gone with the non-toxic route because I love my cat and I have a small kitchen. I do not have the cupboard space for 2 sets of bowls and pots and pans to dye yarn with acid, let alone store 2 microwaves. That's just an intense setup and not to mention, I would still have to wear a mask... I would much prefer the safer route of being able to breathe clean air at all times. Which is why I picked food dye, cake dye, and natural dyes. This does not mean that the dying process doesn't include any binders or heat sources, they definitely do.
Now, like anyone does when they are curious of trying something they've never done before, you go to Google or YouTube. THIS WOMAN IS AWESOME! I would like to thank her for sharing so much knowledge, and so precisely given. She truly shows how to easily combine the sources you need for dying yarn. 1- Heat, 2- Dye, 3- Yarn, 4- Binder (mordant).
Let's get to the fun part. My latest dying:
Just a basic skein of yarn, about to go into a dye bath. To be more specific, a fingering weight 90% Superwash Merino/10% Nylon.
I got a wide array of colors. Sadly, this is my last skein of "naked" yarn, so I will need to get more before I experiment again ;)
Now my intent was straight to green, but I decided to play around with the lid of the blue a little. I loved it so much I added it a little later.
I've been wanting a green yarn so bad lately though, but I just can't help myself around this sky blue! Look how pretty it pairs up with the green! :)
Now I think I've found my favorite dyes and kettle dying is definitely my favorite.
Now all I need are a little more tools. My spoon and dropping it in the dye bath is great, but not always the effect I want ;)
Thanks for reading! :)
<3 Carly
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Knitting is a World
Everyone has something that they know a ton about and always look up more about.
Mine is knitting.
I can never seem to get enough. It's crazy, because I will look up on my computer other techniques and more patterns and what's going on in the knitting world (Vogue Knitting Live, the Rose City Yarn Crawl, PGH Knit & Crochet, Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, etc). I feel like I'm looking things up and reading and picking out what I want to do more than I am knitting right now. Which is crazy! I'm planning to knit and create all of these things, and I'm not knitting as much as I used to. It's a weird thing to realize when you want to create so much, but enjoy the process so much.
Knitting creeps into all aspects.
Do you know I have it bookmarked on my phone, since summer, a page full of books that have knitting as the main subject? There are knitting mysteries! I'm not sure I want to know what I could do with a knitting needle that could make it a crime... This ensued because when I went to the Chambersburg Ice Festival last year, I found the book Knitting Under the Influence. 1- it's hysterical! 2- totally addicting. Of course there are others out there; The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two, and I'm currently reading Knit the Season. Not as addictive as Knitting Under the Influence, but because I know the characters, it feels good reading their story.
Now I have been creating a lot of things lately, and these beer cozies are just too cute. They're easy, fun, and so quick! You can make them so many different ways!
I made these for my man and his friends. They brew beer together, and they're getting pretty good, I'm not going to lie. Their first beer wasn'tmy favorite too bad, but each beer gets better and better. They made a pumpkin beer that I think was my favorite thus far, but their Christmas beer was good too! Lots of spices :)
But back to my knitting. I love that it can be a part of everything. And that I can make it a part of anything.
Now, I'm heading off to a Sip & Knit with some good knitting friends :)
Until next time,
<3 Carly
Mine is knitting.
I can never seem to get enough. It's crazy, because I will look up on my computer other techniques and more patterns and what's going on in the knitting world (Vogue Knitting Live, the Rose City Yarn Crawl, PGH Knit & Crochet, Steel Valley Yarn Crawl, etc). I feel like I'm looking things up and reading and picking out what I want to do more than I am knitting right now. Which is crazy! I'm planning to knit and create all of these things, and I'm not knitting as much as I used to. It's a weird thing to realize when you want to create so much, but enjoy the process so much.
Knitting creeps into all aspects.
Do you know I have it bookmarked on my phone, since summer, a page full of books that have knitting as the main subject? There are knitting mysteries! I'm not sure I want to know what I could do with a knitting needle that could make it a crime... This ensued because when I went to the Chambersburg Ice Festival last year, I found the book Knitting Under the Influence. 1- it's hysterical! 2- totally addicting. Of course there are others out there; The Friday Night Knitting Club, Knit Two, and I'm currently reading Knit the Season. Not as addictive as Knitting Under the Influence, but because I know the characters, it feels good reading their story.
Now I have been creating a lot of things lately, and these beer cozies are just too cute. They're easy, fun, and so quick! You can make them so many different ways!
I made these for my man and his friends. They brew beer together, and they're getting pretty good, I'm not going to lie. Their first beer wasn't
But back to my knitting. I love that it can be a part of everything. And that I can make it a part of anything.
Now, I'm heading off to a Sip & Knit with some good knitting friends :)
Until next time,
<3 Carly
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Holiday Knitting Insight
I really am a "knit for love" kind of person. I love being able to knit something that someone can wear over and over. I also love seeing how much they love their new handmade item. That means a lot to me. The people that I know appreciate it, I knit for those people more. The ones that don't care, or aren't really going to wear it, they don't get the items after my first time knitting for them (which was technically a mistake in the first place, they didn't want something knitted). Giftcards for those folks next time!
My holiday knitting this year went pretty well. I usually start really early, and this year that was not the case. I took on my one commissioned project, and didn't start it early enough. But finished it right in the nick of time to be right on track to finish all my other Christmas gifts.
Now I don't want all of this to sound harsh or misleading, it's just that a craft that takes hours on end deserves to be loved. And that's why it is so simple to say, I knit for love. :)
<3
My holiday knitting this year went pretty well. I usually start really early, and this year that was not the case. I took on my one commissioned project, and didn't start it early enough. But finished it right in the nick of time to be right on track to finish all my other Christmas gifts.
Now I don't want all of this to sound harsh or misleading, it's just that a craft that takes hours on end deserves to be loved. And that's why it is so simple to say, I knit for love. :)
<3
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Blog Life
I've been wanting to blog more on a regular basis always. It's hard to always do something, sign in to 17 different accounts and make yourself be apparent on every level of social media. I recently did a Google search of me, and I have a lot of things out there. I've done a lot! I liked that I had done so much, but then I was a little sad that I haven't been documenting as much lately. I've done a lot more baking and cooking and knitting! Let's try to catch you up just a little bit ;-)
I'm not going to completely update you in detail from every event, but quick tidbits. Here is the yarn I bought in Chambersburg. The Yarn Basket had just been taken over by their new owners, and they couldn't have been sweeter! Also, I of course said I was with the ice carving crew and the one woman that helped me out the most while I was there, said she hadn't been in years! Well don't you know it, she came down to the square and saw the ice. Even remembered me! It was an awesome feeling. The knitting community is always connecting.
With the yarn from that shop, the silky wool, I made my own Striped Study Shawl! Even after I made mine, I got a few new friends that are making it now! It is really cozy, and since I made it mostly in cold weather, I have dubbed it my bonfire shawl. =)
In March I went to the Knit & Crochet Festival! It was my first time, and it was awesome!! Got some really nice things, and shockingly haven't knit any of them yet. Feeding the stash is normal, haha! Though I totally use the mustache project bag all of the time. And I almost didn't get that! It has been a lovely thing to have for my small travel projects.
Luna is always being cute. Just had to squeeze her in there :)
Handsome had a period of time where he grew his beard really long, and I was totally a fan ;) hehe.
I love making breakfast for myself on the weekends when I have a little bit more time, and this was probably the best one. It is a chocolate chip cherry bread used for french toast, with fresh local berries and maple syrup. YUM!!!
We toured Great Lakes Brewing Company and it was a blast! Got to spend the day with family, and the evening with friends. Lots of fun :)
I made 2 of these bad boys! The Anders sweaters. Both of my girl cousins (my only girl cousins), are pregnant at the same time! One should be due any day now, and the other in late October/early November. They are both having girls and I naturally had to make the same thing so that there couldn't be discrepancy of one getting more love, haha. These are great sweaters and I cannot wait to see the little ones wearing them! =D
I went to my first Stitch & Pitch! Handsome had loads of fun too ;)
Then I actually did the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl!! Hit all 7 shops in 10 days. A taunting task I must say, but totally lots of fun. Look at all my loot! Lots of Christmas gifts in there. Don't be deceived, haha.
I finished Handsome's socks! Finally!!! He wears them already and I just love it :) hehe. TRULY the best to knit for.
I leave you with a lovely picture of me modeling my Striped Study Shawl. This also shows off how long my hair truly is right now. I will be chopping it off and donating it soon. Cannot wait for a new look, and also just new hair do's available. I know everyone thinks I need my long hair, but truly, it's just up all the time because I don't know what else to do with it right now!
Until next time, <3 Carly =)
I'm not going to completely update you in detail from every event, but quick tidbits. Here is the yarn I bought in Chambersburg. The Yarn Basket had just been taken over by their new owners, and they couldn't have been sweeter! Also, I of course said I was with the ice carving crew and the one woman that helped me out the most while I was there, said she hadn't been in years! Well don't you know it, she came down to the square and saw the ice. Even remembered me! It was an awesome feeling. The knitting community is always connecting.
With the yarn from that shop, the silky wool, I made my own Striped Study Shawl! Even after I made mine, I got a few new friends that are making it now! It is really cozy, and since I made it mostly in cold weather, I have dubbed it my bonfire shawl. =)
In March I went to the Knit & Crochet Festival! It was my first time, and it was awesome!! Got some really nice things, and shockingly haven't knit any of them yet. Feeding the stash is normal, haha! Though I totally use the mustache project bag all of the time. And I almost didn't get that! It has been a lovely thing to have for my small travel projects.
Luna is always being cute. Just had to squeeze her in there :)
Handsome had a period of time where he grew his beard really long, and I was totally a fan ;) hehe.
I love making breakfast for myself on the weekends when I have a little bit more time, and this was probably the best one. It is a chocolate chip cherry bread used for french toast, with fresh local berries and maple syrup. YUM!!!
We toured Great Lakes Brewing Company and it was a blast! Got to spend the day with family, and the evening with friends. Lots of fun :)
I made 2 of these bad boys! The Anders sweaters. Both of my girl cousins (my only girl cousins), are pregnant at the same time! One should be due any day now, and the other in late October/early November. They are both having girls and I naturally had to make the same thing so that there couldn't be discrepancy of one getting more love, haha. These are great sweaters and I cannot wait to see the little ones wearing them! =D
I went to my first Stitch & Pitch! Handsome had loads of fun too ;)
Then I actually did the Steel Valley Yarn Crawl!! Hit all 7 shops in 10 days. A taunting task I must say, but totally lots of fun. Look at all my loot! Lots of Christmas gifts in there. Don't be deceived, haha.
I finished Handsome's socks! Finally!!! He wears them already and I just love it :) hehe. TRULY the best to knit for.
I leave you with a lovely picture of me modeling my Striped Study Shawl. This also shows off how long my hair truly is right now. I will be chopping it off and donating it soon. Cannot wait for a new look, and also just new hair do's available. I know everyone thinks I need my long hair, but truly, it's just up all the time because I don't know what else to do with it right now!
Until next time, <3 Carly =)
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Traveling Ice & Knitting Souvenirs
Well it's been a couple weeks and it's time to share more ice festivals and my knitting souvenirs. My man likes to remind me that these weekends are not a couples retreat. I know this. He's a very dedicated man, yet I don't think he realizes that I love to travel and check out new places just as much as he does. It's just an awesome bonus that I get to visit all these splendid yarn shops =).
Now last weekend, Ligonier was our stop. My man's birthday just happened to be one of those days, which I think is very fitting.
I drove up Saturday morning (it's usually a short drive, but if you remember 2 weekends ago, the weather was having a lot of fun). I found him carving a cake! I'm not going to go into detail how many times people asked both of us what this cake meant... It was an ice carving folks, enjoy the ice carvings!
My handsome then went to the center of The Diamond to carve a rooster this year! It was very cute.
Hard at work he was. I think he worked on it for 2 hours. Had some help in the end to finish it off. Look how nice it turned out!
I think he did a fabulous job =).
The other carving that I absolutely thought was adorable were the turtles. Here is James working on them.
They had a lot of detail and I think more than he originally anticipated. They turned out lovely though.
I like to get awesome pictures of the ice getting torched. I think I did a good job with the fire being captured, haha.
Now I didn't get there in time to capture Rob and Thomas I believe, who worked on the throne, but look how fitting it is for all of us! Haha ;-)
Ligonier is the closest festival to the ice house, so it makes it super easy for family to come down. Handsome's mother and sister came down for the 1st day and enjoyed themselves until they got frozen, haha. EVERYONE was frozen by the end of the day. It's a long day up there.
Thomas here just looks so ex-tactic to be torching the hearts. =) BIG SMILES!!
I just love when I capture all of the motions. Look how covered in snow he gets! Hehe, I love it.
Old man turned out great. Lots of help all around. They are all a great team. Ryan was trying to act like his superior and it worked for the papers! But we all know better ;-).
Joe and Chris worked hard on the Lighthouse. It turned out quite lovely.
This last carving of the day was a lot of team work and just look at the dedication! Hehe, I love my man.
It's a pheasant. Now let's break from all the ice and talk about knitting. Up in Ligonier they have an adorable little yarn shop called Bo-Peep Fine Yarns. Truly, if you are a knitter and you love a good yarn shop where you can sit by the fire, this shop has 2 fires! I actually went to the shop twice in one day. I meant to go up Sunday too, but it took even longer to get up there Sunday because of the roads not really being cleared. I watched the speed carving competition. But again, this is about knitting! This shop has a great variety and they were very helpful. We're now friends on Ravelry and I was so inspired by this shawl.
The yarn they used was Silky Wool and I so wanted to get it, but I found Tosh Sock and I can never pass up on more of that addictive stash substance, haha. I'll come back to this shawl and Silky Wool though, no worries.
Luna felt left out so she is posing with the yarn, colorway MALA and some Addi Turbo needles I picked up. The yarn has so many earthy tones in it that I would love to have some sort of sock pattern filled with leaves or something to capture the earthy tones with an earthy inspired pattern. The search begins.
Well last Saturday was Handsome's birthday and we went OUT! This restaurant in Lawrenceville called CURE. It was delicious! We started off with a large appetizer of cured meat (get it, cure? ;-) I'm so corny).
Look how excited he is (and how handsome, I just love his smile. Him in general ;))! Haha, we were all excited. The sad thing is we all couldn't sit together, and I didn't get a big group picture, but here were the guys and then the girls at our table.
An adorable group and it was really nice to catch up with friends we don't get to see that often. Our tables were pretty great at sharing food as well. Me and Hope tried the Skate, and if you have never heard or tried it, TRY IT! It is a fish that taste like scallops. SO GOOD! My man and one of his besties, Ribs, had a duck dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob had the squid pasta and it looked divine. Then Taylor had something that had an egg on her dish, it was good as well. And if we were not stuffed enough we all got dessert to share as well! We managed to finish it somehow, haha. It was a great night for sure. =)
The next day was more ice carvings though! I got there really just in time. They all started carving and I cheered my man on hard, but had to take in all of the sculptures and really see how the competition was doing. My man did a Unicorn. Ernie did a classic Snowflake. Joe did the popular Mockingjay (from the Hunger Games). And Rob did some Deer with heart inspiration I believe. Now I really did take lots of laps.
Started off with watching my man. They had only 30 minutes to do the carving.
Ernie was carving away at that snowflake! It went so fast but it turned out just lovely.
Rob's section was rather crowded, haha. He gets a lot of family that comes up for the speed carving competition. It turned out lovely, but I'm sad I didn't get any of him actually carving! Haha
Joe did a fantastic job. And I really thought he'd get a lot of votes for popularity.
And here is the finished Unicorn by my man. It was actually the first time he carved a Unicorn! A lot of the crowd was impressed. He's been carving for 14 years. Well I bet you are all wondering who won right?
Drum roll please!!!!
My man did!!! WITH 92 VOTES!!! Yeah, it was a landslide =)
Now I want to continue but there is a lot of things that happened in Chambersburg so I must continue that another time. Hopefully tomorrow night, but not sure if I'll be able too. I'll try.
Until next time, <3 Carly. Though I will leave you with our after ice festival dinner. This picture just captures us beautifully =)
Now last weekend, Ligonier was our stop. My man's birthday just happened to be one of those days, which I think is very fitting.
I drove up Saturday morning (it's usually a short drive, but if you remember 2 weekends ago, the weather was having a lot of fun). I found him carving a cake! I'm not going to go into detail how many times people asked both of us what this cake meant... It was an ice carving folks, enjoy the ice carvings!
My handsome then went to the center of The Diamond to carve a rooster this year! It was very cute.
Hard at work he was. I think he worked on it for 2 hours. Had some help in the end to finish it off. Look how nice it turned out!
I think he did a fabulous job =).
The other carving that I absolutely thought was adorable were the turtles. Here is James working on them.
They had a lot of detail and I think more than he originally anticipated. They turned out lovely though.
I like to get awesome pictures of the ice getting torched. I think I did a good job with the fire being captured, haha.
Now I didn't get there in time to capture Rob and Thomas I believe, who worked on the throne, but look how fitting it is for all of us! Haha ;-)
Ligonier is the closest festival to the ice house, so it makes it super easy for family to come down. Handsome's mother and sister came down for the 1st day and enjoyed themselves until they got frozen, haha. EVERYONE was frozen by the end of the day. It's a long day up there.
Thomas here just looks so ex-tactic to be torching the hearts. =) BIG SMILES!!
I just love when I capture all of the motions. Look how covered in snow he gets! Hehe, I love it.
Old man turned out great. Lots of help all around. They are all a great team. Ryan was trying to act like his superior and it worked for the papers! But we all know better ;-).
Joe and Chris worked hard on the Lighthouse. It turned out quite lovely.
This last carving of the day was a lot of team work and just look at the dedication! Hehe, I love my man.
It's a pheasant. Now let's break from all the ice and talk about knitting. Up in Ligonier they have an adorable little yarn shop called Bo-Peep Fine Yarns. Truly, if you are a knitter and you love a good yarn shop where you can sit by the fire, this shop has 2 fires! I actually went to the shop twice in one day. I meant to go up Sunday too, but it took even longer to get up there Sunday because of the roads not really being cleared. I watched the speed carving competition. But again, this is about knitting! This shop has a great variety and they were very helpful. We're now friends on Ravelry and I was so inspired by this shawl.
The yarn they used was Silky Wool and I so wanted to get it, but I found Tosh Sock and I can never pass up on more of that addictive stash substance, haha. I'll come back to this shawl and Silky Wool though, no worries.
Luna felt left out so she is posing with the yarn, colorway MALA and some Addi Turbo needles I picked up. The yarn has so many earthy tones in it that I would love to have some sort of sock pattern filled with leaves or something to capture the earthy tones with an earthy inspired pattern. The search begins.
Well last Saturday was Handsome's birthday and we went OUT! This restaurant in Lawrenceville called CURE. It was delicious! We started off with a large appetizer of cured meat (get it, cure? ;-) I'm so corny).
Look how excited he is (and how handsome, I just love his smile. Him in general ;))! Haha, we were all excited. The sad thing is we all couldn't sit together, and I didn't get a big group picture, but here were the guys and then the girls at our table.
An adorable group and it was really nice to catch up with friends we don't get to see that often. Our tables were pretty great at sharing food as well. Me and Hope tried the Skate, and if you have never heard or tried it, TRY IT! It is a fish that taste like scallops. SO GOOD! My man and one of his besties, Ribs, had a duck dish and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob had the squid pasta and it looked divine. Then Taylor had something that had an egg on her dish, it was good as well. And if we were not stuffed enough we all got dessert to share as well! We managed to finish it somehow, haha. It was a great night for sure. =)
The next day was more ice carvings though! I got there really just in time. They all started carving and I cheered my man on hard, but had to take in all of the sculptures and really see how the competition was doing. My man did a Unicorn. Ernie did a classic Snowflake. Joe did the popular Mockingjay (from the Hunger Games). And Rob did some Deer with heart inspiration I believe. Now I really did take lots of laps.
Started off with watching my man. They had only 30 minutes to do the carving.
Ernie was carving away at that snowflake! It went so fast but it turned out just lovely.
Rob's section was rather crowded, haha. He gets a lot of family that comes up for the speed carving competition. It turned out lovely, but I'm sad I didn't get any of him actually carving! Haha
Joe did a fantastic job. And I really thought he'd get a lot of votes for popularity.
And here is the finished Unicorn by my man. It was actually the first time he carved a Unicorn! A lot of the crowd was impressed. He's been carving for 14 years. Well I bet you are all wondering who won right?
Drum roll please!!!!
My man did!!! WITH 92 VOTES!!! Yeah, it was a landslide =)
Now I want to continue but there is a lot of things that happened in Chambersburg so I must continue that another time. Hopefully tomorrow night, but not sure if I'll be able too. I'll try.
Until next time, <3 Carly. Though I will leave you with our after ice festival dinner. This picture just captures us beautifully =)
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