I am obsessed with this ripple pattern lately. I’m working on the edging of my second blanket using this pattern in a month, and I have plans for at least one more. Full blog post with finished blanket pictures coming soon.
Month: April 2015
500
This weekend I reached what I consider to be a great milestone: 500 followers on Instagram! I am so thankful for all of the support I have received on social media lately.
I was able to score some Easter Egg dyeing kits on clearance to use for dyeing fiber, and I am excited to try out some new colors and dyes. Once I get more experience with dyeing, my next goal is to try acid dyes.
I am enjoying this new adventure into dyeing, because it has given me more freedom to work on personal knit and crochet projects. I have missed being able to make things I want to make, rather than trying to find the next best thing to sell. As always, I am happy to do custom orders, but I see the future of Kounting Sheep Designs being a place for fiber enthusiasts to come shop. Thank you for following along this journey with me, and I look forward to seeing what the rest of 2015 will bring!
200 Blocks in 200 Days: 8 Squares
I decided to start officially making squares for my 200 Blocks in 200 Days challenge on April 1st, which means I now have the first 8 squares to show off. I am using a size G crochet hook for each square, and I am weaving in ends and edging each square with the same stitch count as I go along to help save finishing time later. I am not sure yet whether I will add an additional edging to each square in the same color before joining them, so I will decide that later as I get more squares done.
I have found that no matter how hard I try, each square comes out a slightly different size. The concept of the book is that the squares come out the same size if you use the same size crochet hook for each one, but it’s nearly impossible to do that with all the different stitch patterns and techniques. Some squares are made in rows and some in the round. The ones made in rows aren’t quite true “squares,” but are a little more rectangular. That’s why I am edging each square with the same stitch count because once they are assembled, most of the wonkyness will even out or be less noticeable. If I wasn’t using acrylic yarn, blocking could help with that too. It’s hard for my perfectionist side to let go, but overall I am enjoying making each square.
I am usually not a “bobble” or “popcorn” stitch fan, but surprisingly I am finding these fun to make. The variety definitely helps to keep this project interesting. At the same time, each square is finished pretty quickly so if it’s not a favorable pattern, I don’t have to work it for too long. It’s fun to see the different blocks laid out together the more I finish; this will definitely be an eclectic blanket!
Want to join me? Click “Follow This Blog” in the sidebar (or at the bottom for mobile viewers) to follow along and get updates. Post your progress in the comments or on Instagram using hashtag #200blocks200days.
Photo Friday: The First Three Blocks
I have crocheted the first three blocks in my 200 Blocks in 200 Days challenge (see previous post for more details). These scraps bring back a lot of memories from my early days of crocheting and tell the story of how my yarn choices have matured through the years. I can’t wait to finish my first week of squares and post my first update next Tuesday.
On the Wheel: Blue Lagoon
My fiber stash has been neglected for a long time, so I’ve made a goal to do more spinning this year. My first time back on my spinning wheel in over a year was to spin up these 4 blue art batts. Unfortunately the label didn’t include the fiber content or name, so it is a bit of a mystery, but from spinning I can tell it contains wool, mulberry silk, and firestar. I named it “Blue Lagoon” and the depth of the blue is really hard to capture on camera.
With the first skein I was able to get a nice 2-ply in approximately DK weight, and it was devoted to making a garter stitch hat for a friend who loves knitted hats. It came out to about 192 yards which was just enough to make one hat with just a few inches to spare.
The next skein is yet to be finished and its intended purpose is unknown. I’ve been trying to practice a little “over the fold” and long draw spinning techniques, but I quickly realized this was the wrong batt to do that with. The mixture of the different fibers requires me to have a little bit more control over the spin, so I’ll have to pick a different project to attempt those techniques again. I’m so happy to be spinning again, and my goal is to clear off my bobbins (I have two other spinning projects in-progress) this year.
Kountingsheep 