February 2009 Needle Arts Challenge

**McD** · 02-05-2009, 09:05 AM

I am working on my scarf as well as a scarf a friend asked me to make for her boyfriend.

She provided the yarn and I am getting to learn how to master the skill of intarsia.

BTW--love the FV group on Ravelry.

**cab54** · 02-05-2009, 09:36 PM

Peanut, that wallhanging is so nice!

Finished dh's socks.

Started scarf for DS22, and have about 10" done.

**madhen** · 02-07-2009, 10:35 AM

Still working on that blanket. It is 243 stitches across, and I'm crocheting with a size N hook, so it is slow going. I did actually use up one skein and am about half way through another, so apparently, I'm making SOME progress!!

**khjmom** · 02-07-2009, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by madhen

Still working on that blanket. It is 243 stitches across, and I'm crocheting with a size N hook, so it is slow going. I did actually use up one skein and am about half way through another, so apparently, I'm making SOME progress!!

243 stitches.....holy cow! The very thought of that scares me to death.

I'm doing good with just 20 across. I am still trying this crocheting...and am now the owner of quite a few pot holders with character. I am not giving up on this. Hopefully one day I can work up to a project like yours.

**kmonokwe** · 02-07-2009, 10:52 AM

Spent a lot of time on my sweater this week. Its going slowly, but I do feel like I'm making progress. Completed 4" of rib and 3 cable repeats. If my calculations are right, I should only need 8-9 cable repeats to make up the length of the back!

**madhen** · 02-07-2009, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by khjmom

243 stitches.....holy cow! The very thought of that scares me to death.

I'm doing good with just 20 across. I am still trying this crocheting...and am now the owner of quite a few pot holders with character. I am not giving up on this. Hopefully one day I can work up to a project like yours.

Just think of mine as a really BIG potholder.

Seriously, it is just single stitch and turns, so it is exactly what you are doing, just on a stupidly massive scale. I am not sure I would have chosen such a small hook if I had realized the time investment involved! But now I'm kind of stuck with it, as I've made so much progress, so it would hard to start over.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-07-2009, 11:50 AM

I'll take that challenge. I have some rugs I need to sew, or maybe I'll select something else from my mountain of unfinished projects. Actually, I think I'll start with the sheet set I've been meaning to get made over. And then there are the beading projects.

Why do I get the feeling my siggy is going to be HUGE before I'm done?

**peanut** · 02-07-2009, 12:00 PM

I worked on the prayer shawl this past week. i want to finish it by next weekend. I'm still trying to find time to dye wool for the edge of my rug. I'm going to have to quit spending so much time on-line!

**madhen** · 02-07-2009, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

Why do I get the feeling my siggy is going to be HUGE before I'm done?

Because if it doesn't end up huge, you are doing something wrong.

Sometimes I think I'm biting off more than I can chew, but having it accountable in my sig and in the threads really does motivate me to do things that I have put off for YEARS!

Glad to have you jumping in!!

**HisDaisy** · 02-07-2009, 01:02 PM

I have been debating what project to focus on this month.
Well, my decision have been made for me. I need to finish the afghan that I have been working on for my mom. I have been working on it on and off for a couple of years now. I really like it and it is fun to do, but I just keep finding other 'more important' projects to work on.
Well, now it is time for this one to be my first priority. My folks are moving into a new house in March and I want to give them this afghan as a housewarming gift.
I am at least a 1/3 of the way though it. I think that if a tried to do on section of 6 rows a day, I would be done in no time. By the way each section consists of 1 row SC, 1 row of DC and Treble stitches, and then another sc row. This then repeated again. I really is a easy pattern. I will try and post a picture later.

**peanut** · 02-07-2009, 06:17 PM

LOL! Well you never know what is going to be my project from day to day. I brought the digital camera to DH and told him it was going to be at the foot of the stairs for him to take up and do whatever he did to it to make it work. He decided to teach me to be independent (this is a thing we've had going recently) and showed me he'd brought the recharger downstairs to plug it in. He was about to give me instructions. But I just hate it when it looks that simple. I just did it before he got a word out...well, maybe he got 3 out.

I just didn't know what piece of equipment in his office was the charger. Now I know.

So I'm sitting minding my own business, resting my back, and he brings over this huge quilt I've been working on since I was 17 years old. I'm 49. Okay folks. This was my first attempt at quilting...it's king size trip-around-the-world pattern (2" squares) made with mixed fibres (guaranteed to come apart the first time it's washed), hand quilted (hence taking so long to finish!). I haven't worked on it for years! I laughed at him. He's decided I need to finish it. Had to run for all sorts of accoutrements (leather thimble, quilting thimble, needle threader, quilting thread and needles, and frame). DH couldn't believe all those things were needed to quilt. He watched me set up and made interesting comments. It was quite funny. With the girls gone out of the house, he's starting to pay more attention to what I do with my day now. It's interesting to see him actually connect that his money has gone towards something useful.

I also tried to dye some wool today for the edge of the rug. Wrong colour, but it did lead to the right colour I think. I commented to DH that I don't dye much because it's quite expensive. Uses a lot of electricity and water. Plus I need to buy new wool to do what I do, and that is over $30CAD/m now. I think he gets the point that I stop projects when I run into a money/expense barrier usually. Unless it's the quilt...that was burnout and bad eyesight for the most part.

I also went to crafting and knit on the prayer shawl. I'm almost finished.

**madhen** · 02-07-2009, 06:25 PM

Wow, peanut, sounds like quite a quilt!! Once that camera is recharged, maybe you can give us a sneak peek!

**peanut** · 02-07-2009, 06:36 PM

madhen, I'm not sure I have a space big enough to spread it out for a photo, but I'll see...maybe DH has some ideas...maybe our bed! LOL Seeing as that's where it's going to end up.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-07-2009, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by madhen

Sometimes I think I'm biting off more than I can chew, but having it accountable in my sig and in the threads really does motivate me to do things that I have put off for YEARS!

That's my thinking, too. It'll make me spend less time on the computer and more time doing something more productive.

**kmonokwe** · 02-07-2009, 11:48 PM

Another update:

I finished the second piece of the afghan, so after finishing the crochet hat and the lacy scarf, that brings me to 3/4 already.

The tricky thing is that I've used up all my blow money this month buying cable needles, circular needles and yarn for my sweater, so I'm not sure I'm going to get the crochet blanket done, unless I magically stumble upon some cash to buy the yarn. I believe I'll put that particular project off until March. Once I get the yarn, it should be done in no time.

Besides, I am enraptured with this sweater I'm making. So far, the back panel looks like the perfect size for me, and I'm learning cables quite easily. I've already got about 10" of the back panel done (4" k2p2 rib and 5 cable pattern repeats so far). Thus:

To Finish:
~~Lacy Scarf~~
Crochet Lap Blanket - putting off til March
~~2 pieces of afghan~~
~~crochet hat~~

To begin:
Baby Blanket - put off til March (won't know if its a boy or girl til the 7th!)
~~Sweater~~

So it looks like I need a new challenge already. I'm not yet to the point where I want to challenge myself to FINISH the sweater this month. That just may be too much. But I feel so productive, having accomplished so much already! I guess I'll continue on and see how things go!