Sweet Innocence

 First off: Happy New Year!!!

It's nearly 2am here in Nashville and the fireworks are still booming in my neighborhood.

So I thought I'd do a quick entry (or so I intend, who knows how much I'll spit out since I've begun typing) for this crocheted top that I decided to call Sweet Innocence before I even started crocheting it. I saw a pic online of a sweater with this vertical long chain & cluster of stitches pattern and instantly loved it. I started  going to town make the first version, which I liked the body, but hated it as it progressed and started making sleeves for it. I'll share a Youtube video that shows a bit of it at the end of this post. I've already frogged the sleeve I started to use to finish up another project (or maybe the last part of the second sleeve for this one?). But anywho, I redid it and made the body portion a very basic, simplistic version of its predecessor. Initially I thought that maybe I could make and sell a series of these for my House Of Womack brand, but Idk if I want to make anymore soon, lol. Currently I only have this one pic of the finished sweater...fashion shoot possibly to come in the near future, haha. I should also say that crochet is not my forte, but I'm growing to love it even more. My recipe / notes below.

To be clear, this is not really a pattern. This is just me winging it and going back over my notes to remember what all I did. If you want to make the same style or type of sweater, you can adjust it however your little heart desires! (Btw, as much as I love having a MacBook Pro, it's a pain to do a lot of typing on. Gimmie a good ole traditional computer keyboard any day!)

I chained 70 stitches with an I hook for the length of the body portion. I switched to an H hook, chained 2 (for first/turning stitches, row edging, whatever ya consider it), turned the length of chains, then double crochet into each chain (skipping the previous 2 chains after switching to the H hook) all the way down the length. Chain 2, then turn he work, then double crochet back down the length again to create the second row. Boom, one edge for seaming has been created. Ok, so here's where the real fun begins. This next row is to set up the pattern. Once this row was established, I just followed it going back and forth until I had the width I wanted. Before turning the 2 row that was just created, chain 3, then turn. Triple crochet 1 stitch into the next 8 stitches. Chain 7, skip 7 stitches, triple crochet 1 stitch each into the next 3 stitches. Chain 7 stitches, skip 7 stitches, triple crochet 1 stitch each into the next 3 stitches. Keep this pattern up for the row until the last 11ish stitches. After ending a series of chaining 7 and skipping 7, there are 4 left (in my case). Triple crochet 1 stitch each into the last 4 stitches, chain 3 turn. Now, you can follow the pattern going back and forth however many times you wish. Once you've got the width, chain 2 stitches, double crochet 1 stitch in each stitch for the second to last row. Chain 2, turn, and double crochet in every stitch for the final row. One side finished. Repeat all over to create a second panel for the other side. Everything can be adjusted. The initial sweater I made had variety in the series of chain sequences and clusters of triple stitches so that it wasn't so even throughout the body. The main thing is that I wanted was a higher series of triple crochet stitches at the bottom to create a wider band, and less for a narrower collar area.

Stitch up the shoulders, leaving however much you want for the neckband (collar). Stitch up the sides, leaving enough space for sleeves. I just slip stitched my seams.

I crocheted my sleeves in the round. Starting at the armpit, chain 4, skip 1 stitch (along the body seam), triple crochet into the next stitch. Chain 1, skip 1 stitch, triple crochet into the next stitch. Continue this triple crocheting 1 stitch, chain 1 stitch, skipping one stitch pattern for each row to make a mesh type of texture. Whenever you end a row, chain 3 to start your next row and begin the mesh pattern again so that the triple crochets will fall in line with the single chain stitches from the previous row, and the the chain 1, skip one stitches will fall in line with the triple crochets. Hard to explain but easy peasy to do. Once the length has been met for the sleeve, I made the final row by doing a double crochet decrease into ever stitch. Then finish off and weave in the ends. Repeat the same method for the second sleeve. Boom, ya got yoself a very open and breezy sweater!

Here's a video talking about this sweater (and other projects), it should be queued up to the time the I start talking about knitting and crochet:

Colorful Sweater

 Alrighty, I'm back and I'm on my MacBook so hopefully this will all go smoothly in the way of updating this blog. Details of how I made this sweater below.

(Finished front of my Colorful Sweater)

I have several knitting and crochet projects I've been working on lately: a few sweaters (jumpers), halter/crop tops, hats, a scarf, some hand painted yarn, and several wips! 

But let's focus on this colorful, rainbow sweater. This is the first sweater that I have successfully and fully finished knitting! I've attempted to knit sweaters several times, but I'd usually end up frogging them. I wasn't happy with how they were working up, or else I'd get bored and felt the yarn would be better used for other things. This one I was dedicated to making and finishing. I ended up using several skeins of acrylic yarn- good ole Red Heart Super Saver and the Mainstays brand from Walmart.

Here's a couple of pics I took while in progress for the Instagrams @nashvillegirl via my phone (the full sweater pics are via my actual camera, woo)

And of course the first pic at the top is the finished sweater, the front view. This final pic is the back view. 

I don't have an actual pattern for how I made this sweater. However, I do have some notes. Usually when I make things, I keep notes of how I made it, just in case. I used a long tail cast on for this sweater, which a fitted cast on is my normal go-to, but I thought maybe it'd have a little more give or stretch to it by using the long-tail method. The bottom half is knitted in the round, then half placed on stitch markers to separate the front and back when it gets to the point where the armpits will be. I recommend keep track of tally marks for rows every time you make a project where there re separate pieces that would benefit to having match lengths (such as the front and back, as well as separate sleeves).

All the number of stitches and number of rows will vary based on each person's size and how they swatch (you better swatch so that you can figure out how to make your own fit the way you want it to!). I'm fairly small with long arms and a long torso, and since I wanted mine baggy with balloon sleeves, this is how mine went.

Cast on 124 stitches on size 5 29" (I think...) circular needles. Join to knit in the round.

Knit 2 x 2 ribbing for 10 rows.

The rest of the sweater is in stockinette stitch. When I say knit, I mean knitting stockinette in general. In the round, it will all be knit stitches. When the front and back are split, it'll alternate between knit and purl rows.

I had knit 51 rounds (switching colors whenever I felt, just so the stripes weren't even for each color) before splitting the front and back where the armpits of the sleeves were going to begin. I knitted 62 stitches, and then places the remaining 62 stitches on a long length of contrasting yarn as a stitch holder.

The first 62 stitches remained my live stitches, which I chose to be the front. I knitted 41 rows, switching out colors for stripes. Then I knit 18 stitches (for one shoulder, bind off 26 stitches (neck), and then knit the last 18 stitches for the other shoulder. I then knit 7 rows for the current shoulder, and bind off the 18 stitches. I reattach my yarn to the first shoulder, knit 7 rows, bind off 18 stitches.

Then I start on the back portion of the sweater by putting the yarn back on my needles and reattaching yarn. I knit 46 rows. Then I knit 18 stitches (shoulder), bind off 26, and knit 18 stitches (shoulder). I knit 2 row, then bind off. Reconnect the yarn o the other shoulder, knit 2 rows, then bind off stitches.

At the point, the body of the sweater is knitted. Stitch the front and back shoulders together. Now we're ready for the sleeves!

I used a 16" size 5 circular needles and began picking up stitches around one of the arm holes. 

Pick up 77 stitches, join and begin knitting in the round. Knit 38 rows. On this next row I decreased a single knit stitch at the beginning of the row by knitting 2 together, which isn't necessary but the sleeves were pretty wide and I didn't really have a plan on how I was going to decrease. It at least saved a little bit of yarn, haha. I knit 29 more rows. The next 4 rows I decreased 1 stitch by knitting 2 together at the beginning of each row. These 4 decreases, plus the previous decrease, left me with 72 stitches. This is because I need a number of stitches divisible by 4 to create my 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuff. I began the 2 x 2 ribbing pattern and continued for 14 rows. I felt my sleeve/cuff was long enough at this point, so I loosely did a basic bind off. 

.Sidenote: Just like the body, I switched colors whenever, making sure that none of the stripes were the same about of rows per color.

Now, do the same for the other sleeve. Pick up 77 stitches, knit in the round for 38 rows. Decrease 1 stitch, knit 29 more rows. Decrease 1 stitch each row for the following rows leaving 72 stitches on the needles. Begin 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuffs and knit 14 rows, then bind off. 

Now, finally the collar. For mine I picked up 72 stitches (again, divisible by 4) on the 16" circular size 5 needles, and joined in the round for 2 x 2 ribbing. I did 8 rows and bind off. Weave in all the loose ends and boom! Ya got a finished sweater!

Another sidetone, it's best to work n the loose ends each time you change colors or finish stitched up seams. It just makes things so much easier and finishing the project more fun in the long run!

I'm sorry...

 Dearest Bloggie-Blog, I am so sorry for neglecting you!!!!

I am still knitting, and lately I've been crocheting too!

I'm trying to create this post via my phone, since I have some pics stored on it, but methinks that I should save myself a lot of troubles and frustration and stick to just using my computers and camera for updating here since uploading pics from my phone is a pain in the derriere, and it won't let me move the pics around (hence the pic posted at the top). Yep, well, just thought I'd update this for now...

How Time Goes By...

I have become horrid with keeping this thing updated. Life has been a whirlwind crazy-fest. Since my last post I have had three different jobs. Soon after the last post I landed a job at a local thrift store. It was a good job but I was sorting through incoming donations that oftentimes involved mold and mildew. I stayed sick the entire duration of working there and eventually quit. After taking some time off to recover, I went to work at my 3rd Sears location. On Christmas Eve of 2015, my wistful dream had come true. I began a relationship with my neighbor, who I'd been lusting over for the better part of the previous 5 years (minus the time I was in a relationship! Although honestly I went chasing after that particular relationship to try to get my mind off of my neighbor because it seemed like a relationship with him was never going to come to fruition.). Things were amazing! We were madly in love, and longing to make up for the last 5 years. He was finally on the same page with me, perhaps a little more.

I was miserable at Sears since my location had revamped my position to include the work of everyone elses' positions. Since we had been talking about marriage, my boyfriend began encouraging me to quit because he wanted to take care of me. Then by March 2016, we had gotten serious about getting engaged, had already picked out my engagement and wedding rings. He wanted us to go to NYC the next month so that he could propose. Also at the beginning of March, he became serious about me quitting...basically he wanted me to quit to prove that I loved him enough to rely on him. I was happy to quit, especially since it addition to how crummy the job became, it was a long commute for not that great of pay. ...but the pressure from him to do it was bothersome but I decided to ignore it. There had been some dumb arguments and temper tantrums he'd stir up prior to then, but I dismissed it as a part of a "condition" his mother always used as an excuse for his behavior over the years (oftentimes I figured she was exaggerating since she had a tendency to do that). By late April, we made our way to NYC and eventually got engaged while there (his temper tantrums and rages continued on the trip). At this point he had also moved in with my dad and I because his mom kicked him out. Why? Because he was spending a lot of time with me and often over at my house.

Things were getting worse, yet I was trying so hard to ignore the negativity because I was loved him and that's what you're supposed to do when you're in love. I was always questioned for the dumbest things because apparently it meant that he was more in love with me than I was with him. If I didn't exactly say and do the things he expected me to at the moment or exactly how he expected them, then he obviously loved me more than I loved him. Apparently I wasn't pulling me weight in love in the relationship. Things still progressively got worse. Despite living with my dad, the Fiance would become furious if I had any interaction with my dad, especially if Fiance wasn't right there. He was trying to seclude me from everyone but himself and his mother. Then he started the most idiotic, paranoid accusations that still make me sick to think about.

It's hard to go into details about it all but basically, the toxic relationship came to an end. Thankfully. I ended up learning a lot about narcissistic personality disorder and the world of emotional abuse...

But during the engagement, I had begun knitting what would be my wedding shawl. I stopped working on it for a long period of time because habits had changed (I hardly did anything that I used to during this period of time). I intend to do my next post about this project but I'm happy to report that I now have another job and begun knitting again.

I started working on the Firmaments Lace Shawl right after my mom died in March 2012. It was intended to be my "coping" project. I was doing good up until I got to the Elongated Fountain Lace a.k.a. Chart C. It's not hard but just...tedious! But right after my mom died, that's when the first store I was working at closed. I assumed I was going to have that summer off and la de da. But the Monday after my last day at the first store, I was called to come take on a position at the second store. Then of course things became hectic. Blah blah blah. Then 2 years later, my second store closed...and I hadn't made much progress on Chart C either. I'd pick it up every once in a while but it was just TORTURE! I never wanted to give up or frog it, I just didn't feel like working on it. Then fast forward to just recently. I guess after having my heart destroyed, I needed to push myself through the "torture" to kind of help heal.

Anywho... Chart C is supposed to be repeated 9 times but...that ain't happening! I just want to get this thing finished, even if it's going to be smaller than I'd like. Hey, now I may end up with a fancy table cloth that may fit one of the many tables I've inherited over the years! But back to what I've done, I only managed to make it to 5 repeats. I originally settled on 4, but once I finished the 4th...I talked myself into 5. I would've done 6, but I started to feel superstitious to a small extent...and would want to end with 7 instead. But enough is enough! 5 is the end result. Two days ago I started on the BO edging.

The Diamond BO edging was confusing as heck when I read the instructions before starting on it. But then I read some project notes on Ravelry...which made me realize I had no idea what I was even comprehending when I originally read the instructions. Anyway, once I started doing the actual knitting, it started to make a lot more sense. It usually does. If something seems confusing when reading ahead, it always makes sense when you actually do the work! This edging it going to be another slow process for me since it's done in many short rows and not super repetitive (sometimes it's easier to memorize a fragment of stitch instructions and just repeat those many times until the row of a gazillion stitches is complete). But I am sooooooo happy that I am finally coming towards the end of this project!

Some updates:

- My boyfriend broke up with me in early November. Basically he says he's been going through difficult times... and didn't want a relationship anymore, I got the boot, shut out of his life. I worried myself sick (literally, I wound up with shingles...my body's tolerance of stress keeps decreasing) over his well being. It still kills my soul.

- Car problems...I won't even go into the details but I was hoping to get this straightened out before getting a job. I desperately need a job but don't want to risk the consequences my car problems could result while commuting.

- I participated in a mini-craft fair (or what they called a "pop-up market") recently. I got to use my tent for the first time and had some wonderful people help and teach me how to set the thing up. There wasn't a lot of traffic in the area, thus no customers. But it gave me the chance to get a feel of what it'd be like participating in something bigger.

-Which all of this has resulted in me getting more serious about Sparkle Elegante!

http://www.facebook.com/SparkleElegante

I'm also currently working on some fingerless gloves using the Red Heart Super Saver in Day Glow. I made a shawl/scarf thing out of a skein of Day Glow and it turned out really neat looking...kinda like tie-dye. However, everything else I've tried with the second skein doesn't look as cool. So I finally settled on making fingerless gloves...maybe someone will enjoy them?

Fancy Design In Knitting

This is the Fancy Design In Knitting from the FitterKnitter.com website. I did two repeats and went ahead and included rows 1 & 2 on the second repeat. It was another easy stitch to knit up.

Twisted Vine Eyelet

This block comes from a stitch pattern I found on the Vogue Knitting website. This one is called Twisted Vine Eyelet. I like it...and yet it doesn't excite me that much as the sample on the Vogue site. Then again, Vogue...everything's probably going to look so much better on that site just because, haha :D

Snowdrop Stitch

Today's knitted sampler block is of the Snowdrop stitch which I found here: http://newstitchaday.com/knit-snowdrop-lace-stitch/

It was incredibly simple to knit. I was kind of bored with the look at first (honestly I love the look of more intricate knitting and prefer to do that over something more "simple") but it's grown on me.

Normandy Lace Edging

I have this crazy idea again to start working on various blocks of knitting patterns. First up is the Normandy Lace. I don't remember where exactly I came across this (I'm certain I found the source through Ravelry). But here's 3 repeats of it worked up in some vibrant blue Red Heart Super Saver yarn!

I came across this fun variegated Red Heart Super Saver yarn on a recent trip to Walmart (blah). I had to have it. Fun, neon colors...yes plz!

The Blacklight colorway was begging to be made into a simple beanie hat. I started it Sunday night. Every basic pattern I came across suggested to cast on anywhere from 88 to 100 stitches but I just went with 80, since I'm a loose knitter, and hoped for the best. I think I did pretty good at estimating. Oh, and I used a pair of size 5 16" circular needles 'cause that's my go to for hats, hehe. I worked like a busy little bee last night and finished it. Yay!

#thrilled

I already feel so accomplished finishing a project on the first day of the new year! tee hee  Now I need to come up with more, small goodies to make! mwh hahahaha

Here's a couple of shawls that I've finished so far this year. Both were made using Red Heart Super Saver yarn (and yes, I do love me some RHSS, don't be hatin' :D ).



Summer Flies Shawl in Petal Pink

Citron Shawl in Monet

Check out what I got for Christmas! :D I've been wanting some foam alphabet blocks for far too long but now I finally have 'em!!! And now I can actually block my projects (in an easier, more efficient fashion)!

Last week we got word that my store is closing. I think I'll be ok but I feel so bad about it ending this way. My family's been shopping there forever. And my co-workers...I love 'em like crazy and hate that we're all in the same boat. But it looks like I may have quite a bit of knitting time in the near future.

I also started doing something I've been wanting to do for over a year now. KnittingFool.com has a lot of stitch patterns, and I've been wanting to knit small blocks of various patterns. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them but there was a jacket from Free People that I came across years ago that has inspired me to make something similar. Anywho, these are the ones that I've made so far.

Alternating Motifs

Ascending Lace

Pre-blocking

Blocked

Bouquet

Pre-blocking

Two days ago I had to put my little Louis (kitty) to sleep. It's definitely one of the hardest things I've had to do. It's always hard losing a pet but I'm having an incredibly hard time coping with this. He was my little buddy, always by my side while at home. When my mom was going through cancer the first time, he was always with her. When she relapsed a few months ago, he started up his duties again. It's so hard to even open up about him...I loved him so much and miss him.

It's been a while since I've actually knitted because I've been so consumed with my "part-time" job that has me working full time hours...had a day off so I went out and bought some yarn to start working on a new project. I need the comfort knitting brings. Though it's also hard because I'm so used to Louis sitting beside me watching or curling up next to me as I knit.

Tonight I started working on a Summer Flies Shawl (...funny thing is that even though it's December, today coincidentally felt like Summer since it was so warm and sunny out). I started while watching Spider-man 3 (my first time watching it, total disappointment). I'm enjoying it so far. I just hope Louis is up in Heaven, as a little angel kitty, looking down and enjoying watching me knit like old times.

I finished binding off the Aeolian shawl a little earlier this evening and even took care of the loose ends! Yayness! haha, that is truly progress for little ole moi.






In this pic I have it draped over my shoulders with the edges wrapped around my arms and tied
in the back (ever-so-sloppily so).

I need to block it along with a gazillion other projects but I'm not too keen with my options of "blocking boards" to use right now. I want to be able to pin everything out onto a foamy surface. I'm thinking the best thing to get is a yoga mat (since they seem to be cheaper than those kiddie floor blocks).

A couple of months ago I got a new (and overall better) job and quit the other one. Though I still haven't has as much free time or energy as I would have liked but anywho...

I've been working off and on for a few months now on the Aeolian Shawl. Though I rarely did any knitting within the past 2 months (since the lack of free time and energy, oy) but earlier this week I picked it back up. I've been doing a lot of work on it while watching the BBC miniseries version of Pride and Prejudice (love this better than the 2003 movie). haha, but I'd always have to stop and divert all my attention everytime Mr. Colin Firth appeared on my screen (he is one mmm mmm yummy man!). But at the moment I'm on the last purl row and then I can bind off, wha hoo!

One of my recent projects is a knitted lace jewelry holder. I came across the pattern/project on Ravelry and thought it would be a fun project. I've already completed the knitted part. I found this frame at the dollar store (yay!) and had some fun mixing up some of my craft paints to get the dark bluey-green color.





I want to add some kind of shimmer and then a glossy overcoat before attaching the lace to it. *sigh* Can I have a vacation from work just to have some full-on crafty fun?

Ooo, and my first Granny Square! I finally had a small chance to get my edumacation on while learning the strings (haha, get it? *slaps knee* ...I know, I know.) of being a ~Happy Hooker.~


haha, this yarn is some variegated acrylic that I aquired yeeeeeeeeeeeeaars ago. I think there's some braided Beanie Babies leashes I made out of it floating around in our attic...

I finally got a job about a month ago (yay and boo at the same time). I haven't had a lot of time to knit or bead. :( But I was able to buy a few fun items that I've been longing for with my new (and extremely limited) income!

Before knitting I used to "crochet." Well, for years I thought I was crocheting (self-taught after watching someone else one time who could actually crochet), but long story short, I then found out that what I was doing was sooo different from what actual crocheters do. lol, it really was a major bummer. I decided to opt for buying Debbie Stoller's Happy Hooker since her other notoriously titled book was the first knitting instruction that I came across that actually helped me learn to knit after failing for 10 years. I also got the Art of Bead Embroidery since I've been longing for it ever since I started toying around with the art form. I love the pictures in the book.

I also bought some #3 circular needles and crochet hook at JoAnn's a few days ago. Oy, I won't even begin on the story about thinking I had #3 circulars...but now I finally have them (which is fantastic since a lot of projects I want to work on will require me to use 'em). And the #3 crochet hook will allow me to work on a project I so desperately want to create from the Happy Hooker book, yayness.

I also hit up my fave. thrift store and bought a few sweaters for a-fa-rogging. I think I did quite well with the fiber content of one of 'em in particular, hehe. But I'm exhausted now so I'll just end this post here. :)

I'm trying to revamp this blog and keep it updated. We'll see how well that goes...haha.

I went on a sweater hunt (a.k.a. treasure hunt) the other day at my favorite thrift store. I had some colors in mind and found the perfect sky blue and lavender and that I was hoping I'd find. I also had in mind to try to get "nicer" fibers than the usual cotton sweaters I tend to buy. These were 50% off so I spent less than $4 on them. :)

This gem is a silk, nylon, angora blend. I'm in love with the yarn that's being unraveled from this sweater! It's incredible soft and just oh-so-nice!

This one is made of angora and wool. It's soft... Though I'm a little iffy about the yarn from this one. It tends to break too easily for my liking. I've never really had an issue with yarn breaking and the fact that I'm able to break this while tugging at it a little more than usual worries me since I'm a weakling to begin with. I've never worked with angora or wool before so I'm not sure if it's the nature of this fiber or if the strands in this particular sweater are just weak due to a possible variety of reasons. My original reason for wanting this sweater was so that I could make a shawl but I'd hate for it to tear and break. I may experiment with felting instead, or maybe I'll knit with several strands together to give it some strength.

Here's a little bit about the method I use when harvesting yarn from sweaters.

I'm not sure what happened to all the wire hangers that we used to have in this house...they've just mysteriously vanished over the years! Because of that, I have only been able to find one wire hanger in recent history so it is put to use quite a bit (and due to it's demand, it makes my process even slower). Yeah, so point being, a bent hanger is very important to me.

Once I take the sweater apart and get the frogging started, I like to wrap the yarn around the hanger. Sometimes it's enjoyable, other times it is not! Onward, we go! Then I like to take my yarn adorn hanger and go to the sink. I get the yarn nice and wet and then I take shampoo, lather, rinse...and on some occassions I repeat. If the weathers nice, I'll hang the hanger outside and let it dry out there during the day. Otherwise I let it drip dry over the bath tub, or if it's no longer dripping it gets hung in an area of my room. Then I wind it by hand (blah!) into balls (or in most cases eggs). Ah, but the important thing is that I now know that the yarn is all nice & clean and kink-free! And then I have fun knitting as much as my defect wrist will allow.