(Major) WIP Wednesday!

Hey guys, I'M MOVING!

Don't worry, Wicked Artsy is staying right here, it's just me personally who is about to move into yet another apartment. This time though, it's ALL MINE!

Luckily for me, my leases overlap, so I have time to gradually move in. I took a few boxes of misc. junk over there today, and I realized that this is going to be one MAJOR WIP. And I'm up for it. Take a look!

Future knitting sanctuary (aka living room)

Future dying lab (aka kitchen)

Future art studio!

Future knitting and spinning habitat (aka bedroom)

Future stash storage (aka 'closet')

I am so excited to get creative and just let go with this place, since I can do basically whatever I want with  it. Now I just have to get all my other stuff packed up...

In knitting news, I have 2 things to share today. First up is progress on my Amari shawl, which is coming along nicely, having finally started the lighter blue band.

And the dreaded lace top of doom, which isn't so doom-ish, or dreaded anymore now that I started the lace section. It's just slow going. What you see below is literally like 4 hours and only about 10 rounds.

Hey look, I'm getting better at photos!

I hope everyone's week is going great! Mine is going fast, especially since work consumes 8 hours a day of it!

~Lisa

To see more WIP Wednesday, be sure to visit Tami's Amis!

WIP Wednesday #2 - Socks and Shirts

Hey all. I really appreciated hearing all the feedback on my prints, I am so glad you guys liked them.

Today's WIP Wednesday is dedicated once again to my Springy Orange Socks, as well as a new project I am about to embark on.

Last time you saw these socks I was ready to start the heel and they were both on the same needle. Well I attempted to work both heels at once last week and it ended in epic fail. That pattern is just not written for 2aat because of the decreases and such that it requires to make the foot and toe pretty. So I ripped out what I had and separated them. As much as they didn't want to be, it was for the best.  After separating them, I was able to focus on the construction and the pattern and last night I finished the first sock! Now I just have to put sock 2 back on the needles and do it all over again. *Sigh* I guess it gives me something to do at knit night tonight.

One down, one to go!

So I know I said I wouldn't start anything else until these socks were done BUT the lack of homework is getting to me and I am going insane! Oddly enough, having 5 hours a day of knitting time is becomes a bit mundane. I really need to get off my butt and do something more but.... ok I am considering a second job....but.....

Anyways, I don't think I ever shared what I have decided to do with the 1200+ yards of amazing Bamboo Lace I got a few weeks back. After hunting and searching and thinking and hunting and thinking more I finally decided on the Train Sweater.  This pattern only takes half of my yarn and is specifically written for lace weight.  The best part I think is that I can probably mess up the lace pattern a bit (Me and lace have a love-hate relationship) and still make it look ok. And it's IN THE ROUND! WOOT!

Ok so here is the swatch, which is being blocked right now. I still haven't fully mastered even blocking, but it is just a swatch. Also, this photo does no justice to the amazingness that is the color of this yarn.

I'm really excited for this project!

In other, spinning news, I decided against plying the 2 2-ply merinos together. I attempted to last night and I just could not get it even and not loose at the same time. They just would not work together. So (for now) they are staying as is. I may give a skein to Ivy (since it was her yarn) and keep one for me and knit a cowl or something. Who knows.

Attempt at plying and drawing = Fail :(

Well, summer school is pretty fun. No homework and I am learning a lot in a short amount of time. I hope everyone else out there in blog land is enjoying the season while you can!

~Lisa

For more WIP Wednesdays, check out Tami's Amis Blog!

Planning for Summer

Hey all! Thanks for all the nice comments on my last post/contest. If you still want enter, go here.

So last night at Wildflower there as a cash and carry trunk sale. For those of you who may not know what this is, it's basically a night when a yarn rep comes through town with lots and lots of yarn that the store does not carry, giving us a chance to do a bit of shopping. The selection this time included many yarns by Blue Heron and Pagewood Farms, including this beauty:

Blue Heron Bamboo Lace, colorway Chesapeake. There are 1260 yards of this luscious bamboo lace weight yarn, and although it was a bit out of my budget, I knew I could make a pretty decent top with just one skein of this beauty, so I couldn't pass it up!

After I got home last night I started hunting for patterns to make the ultimate summer top/sweater/cardigan/tank whatever.  After much searching (which still isn't technically done) I have found the following:

Gretel

Sophia

107-8 top with lace pattern in ”Cotton Viscose”

Draped Lace Shell

Zelda

29-3 Shell

Finchs Wings. -- Really like but not sure where to get the pamphlet

Fluffy Lace Camisole and Pull Off Cowl

Eerie

Filtes Shetland 1354 Open work dolman

Hanna T-shirt
Sommertunica

So I was wondering what you all thought? Any suggestions? Patterns not on my list?? I would love to hear what you guys think. It'll be a few weeks before I even consider casting on. I am wanting to finish up my socks and also get my school work figured out. T-minus 2 weeks until finals!

I hope everyone had a great week and Happy Friday! 

~Lisa 

Proof that summer is coming to an end.

School starts up the 22nd. Wow. I can't believe it at all. Where did the summer go? I don't know, but I didn't realize it was this soon until I FINALLY finished my summer mega project. The Make Up Your Mind Tanktop. I didn't think I could do it, but I did. And I took pictures along the way. No need for explanations here.

The yarn was Classic Elites Yarns Premiere, and it took 4.5 skeins (I still have 1.5 left...). Knitted on size 5 knit picks circular needles over the course of about 2.5 months.

Step 1: Cast-on.

Step 2: Ribbing along the bottom followed by cellular stitch band.

Step 3: Checkerboard band.

Step 4: (Crappy phone picture): Linen rib stitch.

Step 5: Hindu Pillar Stitch Band followed by Lace Rib band

Step 6: Bind off for arm holes and continue in Lace Rib.

Step 7: Continue, bind off for front and back and finish!

The end result after steam blocking. I really love how it turned out. Yes, I look a bit pudgy in this picture, but that's not the point. There are some mistakes, but who cares, it was a great learning experience and I'm so glad I got to spend my summer knitting this fabulous work of art! I can't wait to tackle my next top!

I hope everyone had a great summer like I did! One more week.

~Lisa