Category / Craft

Things that I’ve made

by princesshotflash

A project I could finish . . .

I decided to knit a hat with one of the skeins from the goody bag I bought from Jimmy Bean Wool, Madelinetosh DK Twist Desert Bloom. All of my recent projects at are still on needles, mostly going backward. Lots of ripping out or total start overs, have made those project very boring. I need a break. I needed something to make me feel acomplished.

The pattern I choose was Amida from by Maiko Hikosaka. I wanted something easy-ish but cute (of course) and I like the graphic quality of the lines.

I realized from my recent projects there were many false starts. Cast-on, knit, find a mistake, read the pattern wrong, rip out mistake or total start over. This process may repeat a couple of times and this project is no exception.

To change this habit, I need to read the pattern really well, account for stitches in the instruction to make sure I understand what I’ve been asked to do. Every pattern designer has their own way of writing a pattern, and I need to read the pattern and annotate what it means in my own words. This is what a good educational content designer would do. I’m just lazy. haha.

Once I got this pattern in my head, it was very easy and the yarn was a dream to knit with. I took the project with me on my trip to Japan and finished on my first full day of the tour while on the train to the first trail.

now to weave the ends in

By the end of my hiking tour, I decided to give the hat to our tour leader. We had a conversation on the trail about Hokkaido in the fall and the winter. I thought she could make good use of it on a winter hike.

Here’s a preview on the my next project.
Pattern: Alicorn by Julie Crawford
Yarn: Lecce from Puppyarn.com, color: 412
Bought the yarn from Masuzakiya
Fiber: 90% wool 10% mohair
Cast-on: day 7 of the tour in the court yard of our inn.
Continued to work on in Kyoto. Probably use two skein (40g each) to get this done.

scarp yarn stitch markers to help me track my pattern

by princesshotflash

I’ve been away so long

I didn’t realize that it was April 25 when I last wrote. Well, I started a draft and kept adding and editing it. Today I decided to dump it and start all over. Like in knitting, I frogged it. haha.

I decided this would be a crocheting, knitting, and quilting update. Here’s what I’ve been up to.

Project 1

A secret gift.

The beginning

I found this pattern, Windowpane scarf by Adrienne Lash. I liked how the pattern looked on people in the finished projects section of the pattern on Ravelry. It has a great structure to it and very easy pattern to follow that you can pick and put it down and still know where you left off.

I’m trying to let go my love of wool and thought buying a bunch of cotton/linen blends would do the trick. I bought this variegated Bella Lino from Classic Elite. It’s a linen/viscose/cotton blend of blue/green/stone. It’s discontinued and I got it on sale at WEBS.

Almost done, less than a quarter skein left.
Trying to weave in my ends. Guess who thought it would be nice place to nap.

Project 2

I got me 6 skiens Zooey from Juniper Moon Farms in 2 colorways: taro and artic blue–3 each. I wasn’t totally sure what I was going to do it them.

My first thought was market bags but how many market bags can I knit or crochet before I get bored? I did find a few that had an interesting bottom or interesting netting pattern for the main area. Here are two links to market bags that I’d like to try:

https://www.twoofwands.com/blog/french-market-bag
I like this because of the handle on it. More elegant than the pattern I previously used.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hiroba
Found this on Ravelry. It has an interesting closed pattern on the body of the bag.

Several people from my knitting group were knitting an interesting scarf pattern that they said wasn’t too hard. I resisted for a while. I don’t like making scarves. so repetitive. But I got sucked into it and I gave it a try. Kureopatora’s Snake Scarf and this is how far as I got. Love this colorway.

Looking sad from neglect

Project 3

My knitting group decided to do a toe-up, two at time, Judy’s magic cast-on as knit-a-long. I had just got a great Saver’s run with tons of wool. Yes, wool. The fiber I’m trying not to buy. haha. I’m hopeless

Saver’s stash! Nice!

I decided to use the gray and pink super wash from my Saver’s run to make a pair hiking socks for my trip at the end of September. I found a simple sock pattern I wouldn’t give up in the middle of the sock, Trusty toe up sock by Tanis Lavellee.

The beginning

After three attempt and one adjustment–picked a too big size, cast on the wrong number of stitches twice, and too out increases to get the right ease (tightness) on my socks.

Added a lifeline to rip out some rows for my ease adjustment
Left the lifeline in after I adjustment was made to remember what I did.

Project 4

My Hawaiian quilt project with instruction from quilting master Kay from my knitting group. It’s sadly sitting in my quilting back waiting to be picked up again. Weather has turned hot and I haven’t been to the monthly quilting bee (no ac). I have a couple of other projects in my queue that have higher priority so I’ll wait till the weather turns a little cooler or finish the higher queued projects to pick these up again.

Pineapples positive pattern, all stitch down
Pineapple negative pattern: about half stitched down

I did find a partially finish Hawaiian quilt project I started many moons ago I guess that get put in the queue after the pineapples. I can’t even remember when I started it.

found project: anthurium quilting stage

Not too bad but not as good as the ones done under the supervision from Quilt Master Kay.

I have more to post about the going-ons of my life. I need to stop talking so much. haha.

by princesshotflash

Crafty

I’ve always felt the word “crafty” was a slight on me. It was like I wasn’t good enough to be an artist. But in my old age, I’ve given it a second chance and not feeling so bad to be crafty. It allows me to make things for people. And I realize that what I craft, makes me happy and makes others happy, too. That’s what is great about being crafty.

Once in an interview, the person asked to describe myself and I said I love to make. I didn’t know how much that describes me.

I currently my craftiness has been focused on charitable projects with my knitting group and friends. Here are some of my projects that I’ve worked on.


First delivery of chemo hats (for men and women) and knockers (knitted prosthetics for breast cancer survivors) for the oncology unit at Tripler Hospital. I got 5 hats from Cathy in my knitting group. (she’s a fast knitter). I’m at 3 hats and a set of knockers (knitted prosthetics for breast cancer survivors) with 1 more to come. This is an on-going project. I’ll keep collected items till we move on to the next project or Tripler tells us to stop.

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2 hats I just finished!

The P_ssy hats project for the Women’s March on 01/19/19 was my crazy friend, Allyn’s idea and got me involved with. She has already made 50+ hats. I’m on 4.

My p_ssy hats are made with a combination donated yarn and yarn from my new favorite store–Savers.

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Hats and cowls made by my knitting group for the Seamen’s Church Photo courtsey of Karen Schmoll

The hats and cowls above are for the Christmas at Sea project from the Seamen’s Church. Knitted by the Westside Knitting Group from Aloha Knitters. I made the brown and blue hats in the middle. Yarn also from Savers.

I’m been working on gifts for friends and family. Mostly hats that I’ve got my dad to model for pictures for me.

On as side note: My dad is 90 years old and on most days, he’s going strong. And on exceptional days, he’s creating drawings and sculptures from recycled items to decorate the house. He’s also being serenading us with old Hawaiian songs he learned in school.

More craftiness to come. Making a hermit crab, octopus and pray mantis amigurumi for some science-y girls that I know.

by princesshotflash

Beginning of Dad’s Blanket

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Dad is always cold. Remember he lives on the west side of Oahu, not the coldest place in the world. Here’s an example, last August when I was back for a visit, it was hot. My parents have an window air condition in the dining room/living room, which my dad kind of controls. It is only turn on when it is really hot to him or when he feels sorry for his youngest child.

I guess he was felt sorry for me and turned it on that day. It was on for a little while but suddenly noticed that I was feeling really hot and sweat was beading up on my face. Now  I know that I’m Princess Hot Flash so I did wonder if I was having one of them but I turned to my mom and she has sweat beading up on her face, too.

I kind of whisper to her (dad is hard of hearing)  if the air conditioner was working.  And she said, “Dad turned it to fan because he was cold” while motion me not to say anything.

What!! I turned to look at him and he has his fleece vest on.

So this is why I’m making my dad that lives on the west side of Oahu (the dry hot side of the island) a double strand merino wool blanket. Hopefully this will keep him warm.

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Pattern: Compy Blanket designed by Linda Daley

Yarn: Merino Wool from Morehouse Farm; Originally Oat’s Sweater

Status: Row 13

by princesshotflash

Repurpose, Restart, Happy New Year!

Decided to frog (rip apart–knitting term) the first sweater I ever made. It was for Oat and made with 2 strand of super soft merino wool from Morehouse Farm in NY. I decided to make a throw for my dad who is always cold in Hawaii.

2691399216_bca0487d38_oHere’s Oat wearing the sweater in Prague in 2008. This is the beginning of my Mr. Handmade.

My little Orange loved helping me with frogging the sweater.

He’s exhausted from all his hard work.

Ollie knows better to get involved with the yarn. Sleeping on my leg is his job.

This is what I’ve been doing. Trying to repurpose things that meant something to Oat. Repurposing his knit hats into shawls and wraps for Wrapped in Love. Hawaiian shirts will be turned into a patchwork quilt. And hopefully I can turn his old jean into an interesting project.

I hope this help me with a restart in 2018. Lots of changes and more to come.

Happy New Year to everyone! Hope it is good one for everyone.