Synergy Mystery Knit-Along

** Tap ** Tap ** Tap **

Is this thing on??

I've got some fun things happening over here and I believe it will help me jump start this blog again. I've been struggling with how much to tell and what to tell. It then leads me to not say anything. And to be honest That is just No Fun at all.

So instead of struggling, I'm going to let you in more. Unless my designs are going to be knit for a true publication which holds every designer under a vial of discrete silence, I'm letting you in to my self publishing world.

This leads me to my latest exciting project. A couple of months ago I was cleaning out the store space under the stairs and found my box of Barbie, GI-Joe and Jem dolls. My daughter squealed at the top of her lungs in delight. The dolls are from a '80s cartoon series Jem and the Holograms. I instantly knew I had to design something based on my daughter and the classic show.

That brings us to today where I have a pattern ready for the world, but why launch a pattern just to send it out. Why not break up the pattern and do a Mystery Knit-Along!! The pattern works perfectly into this scenario and what a better time to launch this MKAL but during my daughters birthday month.

The pattern is a little girly, a little punk and Totally Outrageous!! Need some help with colors? No problem. I founds some fantastic outfits from the show and paired up color combos to inspire ideas.



Are you sucked in yet? Well, take advantage now and buy the Synergy Mystery KAL pattern from now until the end of August for just $3.00 because come September 1st the pattern price will go up to $6.00

Join in on the fun by participating in the Knifty Red Designs group.



Grab the avatar for your project page. Tag your project with synergyMKAL. We'll have separate threads for spoilers, so keep a watch out. I'm looking at getting a prize together for all those who post finished projects.

Purchase the pattern now and you will get the preliminary download to get you started and prepared for August 1st.

Clue Release Dates are scheduled for:
Clue 1 - August 1st
Clue 2 - August 8th
Clue 3 - August 15th
Clue 4 - August 22nd

So come on and join in on the fun.

FO: Done With Thrums

This will complete the third pair of thrummed mittens. I'm done. The fiber prep is killer. I don't plan to make another pair... like ever. Well, I guess I shouldn't say ever, but as least not for another year.

I had to get these done for Miss Mac. This winter has been mild, but has decided to show up...so just in time to keep her fingers warm.



The one great thing about this kind of project is it only takes one skein of Cascaded 220 and 2 oz of fiber. It all comes together quite nicely, but be aware that if your thrums are thick you could run out of fiber.

Below 0 = Thrummed Mittens

This will be my third pair of Thrummed Mittens. With the drop in temperature comes the want for mittens. It got up to 16 degrees today, but this morning was a negative number with the windchill. The mittens alone go super quick. Making of the fiber thrums themselves is a tedious journey that I'm ready to be done with.

Trip To The Farm

Last Saturday my friend Knitterary mentioned a sheep sheering event at the The Children's Farm... I couldn't say yes fast enough! So Miss Mac and I picked her up and off we went to the farm where it was a beautiful bright, but cold day. Lucky for us they had coffee to keep the chill away.



There were sheep. Posing for the camera and all!



And all kinds of animals to pet... like bunnies, cows, chickens, horses, roasters, ducklings and did I mention Sheep?



Then the pipers march the sheep to the sheering platform. Some celebratory music is played and the man with the mic enters the scene where he demonstrates the different methods of sheering.



Do you see that cutie on her rump getting her sheering on? Just too cute! Will totally be going again next Spring.

Like Mother, Like Daughter

The one thing that amazes me every time is how much my daughter is like me. She'll say things that I'd say and we sometimes finish each others sentences. She's 7 years old. What's it going to be like when she's 14? Only time will tell.

When she was six I taught her how to knit because she wanted to be like me. Now, she didn't obsess about it in the beginning, but as time went on things progressed. She saw me knitting on the couch and she'd gather her stuff and join me. Usually only handling a row or two. It's progress. I tell her that a row a day will get her a scarf sooner then not knitting at all.

This is the scarf she started about a year ago:



I think it's fabulous! Of course she's on the fence because it's not perfect. ~wonder where she got that from. **cough**

For Christmas I bought her a Monster High knitting bag from Knittings My Bag... Love her stuff. I totally missed out on the St. Pat's update and thinking of ordering a custom bag;)



Anyway, I put two skeins of Lion Brand Hometown in black and pink along with some needles in the bag as a gift. She loved it. Has been working on it slowly. She would have gotten more completed but if it doesn't look right then she wants to fix it. So proud.

Since then she's requested her own 'blog' (as she calls it) on Ravelry. I set up the account and helped her log her projects. It's really kind of amazing to watch her become involved with the knitting community. Watch out knitting world, Miss Mac is here.

Scorpions Kill

I wanted to share with you something that Miss Mac brought home before the New Year. I have it hanging on my fridge and it makes me giggle. Definite proof that she is so much like her daddy...



It says: The scariest bug is scorpion. It is the scariest becuse it eats frogs and it kills people.

Yep, totally her daddy right there!

In other news:



I've made some good progress on the October Frost sleeves. So loving the yarn and the pattern is just going very smooth so far. The next couple of months are going to be super crazy design time for me, but I'm hoping to keep blogging through it even if I can't show you anything. I know totally bummer...but all good things will be revealed.

Happy Hump Day Knitting!

FO: Mac Mitts

So, you know Miss Mac wanted her own pair of Tourbillon Mitts.... with Hearts! No problem sweetie.



Pattern: Tourbillon Mitts by Kris Carlson (me)

Yarn: 2 skeins of Smart by Sandnes Garn in pink and purple. Approximately 20 yards of Ambrosia by Knit One Crochet Two

Needles: US 2 dpn

Started: January 2, 2012

Finished: January 24, 2012



When I finished the first one and she tried it on her first reaction was "Itchy!" ~oh boy. Well, that's when I decided to add a cuff liner in the most softest yarn I had in my stash. Ambrosia. It's like heaven. 

FO: Summer Vacation Shawlette

This little project was what I worked on while on vacation in Florida. I cast-on just before taking off and by the following weekend I had that puppy finished.



Pattern: Summer Mystery Shawlette by Wendy Johnson

Yarn: 1 skein Ella Rae Lace Merino

Needles: US 7 & US 5 circular needle

Started: June 10, 2011

Finished: June 26, 2011

My gauge was a little off and so my project turned out smaller then it was suppose to. Blocked measurements were said to be 54 inches wide by 25 inches high. Ummmm, yeah. This baby came out to 38.5 inches wide by 17 inches high. Hahahaha!

Wow... well guess who has claimed the shawl for herself. You guess it, Miss Mac.



Loved the pattern, loved the yarn.



The bright side is that I have plenty of left overs for my sock yarn blanket;)

FO: Mac's Felted Clogs

Pattern: Children's Felt Clogs (CH-38) by Fiber Trends

Yarn: 4 skein Knit Picks Wool of Andes

Needles: US 13 circular needle

Started: December 17, 2010

Finished: December 19, 2010

It was the other day that I took photos of Mac's felted slippers and then remembered that I hadn't blogged about them. They were a quick project that HAD to be done before Christmas. You see, I has having a casual conversation with Mac and she was growing more and more excited about Christmas day. She then blurted out: I can't wait to see what you've knit me.

Oh crap. Totally dug in my stash grabbed some wool and in a weekend had felted slippers. They took nearly the week before Christmas to dry, but they were under the tree for the morning.



She loves skating in the kitchen with them. I do the same in mine;)



Quick, fun and easy. If your looking to not skate across the room, highly recommend putting puffy paint on the bottom for grip.

A Love Letter from Miss Mac

Sunday night I was sitting on the couch and Miss Mac was writing words in a spiraled notebook. She has always liked to draw, but now she likes to write things to go with her pictures. I starting thinking of all those cute back and forth letters we would write as kids, so I asked her if she was writing me a love letter.

She giggled and I told her to bring me the notebook. I then started with one sentence and let her read it on her own. Without skipping a beat she started writing right under mine. Yet mid way she stopped and erased it. Then began again. After a bit of time, she handed it back and to my surprise she at first was going to copy the sentence I wrote then decided to create a dialog instead.

Here is how it went:



She has trouble with some of the words, but that didn't stop her from wanting to conversation to keep going. At one point she wanted to spell horse, but didn't know how. In a hushed whisper she asked me "I want to spell a word, but I don't want you to read it yet." That just about killed me.

Another Gift for the Tooth Fairy

Miss Mac has lost another tooth. When I told her that she'll need to put the tooth under her pillow, she then tells me "I want a donut." I told her we don't have any donuts in the house. She said "No, the tooth fairy will bring me one." I just about died.

Just at Smaller Scale

Another graduate is in the house!!



I was able to attend Miss Mac's field day activities. I remember field days from my past with much fondness. It's interesting to see it all taking place as an adult. I kinda want to jump in and get in on some of the action. Tug-a-War anyone!!



This photo makes me laugh a little out loud. I can't describe the complete chaos that goes into having 80 kindergarten students all flying kites on one small patch of grass surrounded by trees. Yet, I think you can imagine;)

I have been knitting....



I haven't quite gotten the nerve to cast-on for Coraline just yet. I feel that I need this off the needles for fear of "new-project-syndrome".

I've completed the bottom edge lace, collar lace and nearing the end of one sleeve. So close, yet still many stitches to go.

The Clock is Ticking...

Only 16 days until Christmas and I think I will be able to finish what I've set out to do. I'm really kinda pleased with that.

The Gumdrop socks are close to toe construction... just had a slight delay while I had my children on a secret mission to discover Grandma's shoe size. I was a little disappointed to hear that there are three size shoes all through out the house... 9, 10 and 11. What is a knitter to do? I'm going with a 10 as I'm hoping that is her average and knowing socks stretch I shouldn't have too much of an issue.



Ya'll just don't know what goes into getting these work-in-progress shots... I swear putting on a pair of socks that are connected at the toes (without loosing a stitch mind you) AND trying to get the right angle with the camera. Without knowing it I think I just invented the next torture-aerobic-workout!

The other projects I've been working on are hats for the kids. I downloaded Norwegian Sttar Earflap Hat which is a free download (revelry link) and got started.

The first one turned out too big and it wasn't until I bought more needles that I realized I had actually knit the larger hat instead of the child's version. D'oh!



It turns out I had enough yarn to make the smaller version and now I have TWO! so now me and Miss Mac will be Matchy-Matchy!!

The next item on my list was a hat for Eric. It was time to bring out the Failed Anime Hat that I started this time last year.



Second time around it turned out much better. It's still wonky but I'm hoping with blocking and a polar fleece lining it will smooth out.



Here is a better side angle of the Red Cloud symbol that Eric's favorite character Itachi wears.



Just look at all those ends I have to weave in. sigh. That might take me just as long to do as it took to knit.

My only other item is a pair of socks for my sister-in-law. I don't plan on seeing her until after the holidays and this my perhaps give me the extra time I need to finish those for her... I just can't decide what pattern to knit. Maybe I'll try the Snicket Socks.

Random Monday

Just popping in to give some random updates. Lets see...



Linda and Eric got married. Congratulations! and how can you not love the lacey-loveliness she has draped over her shoulders.



Took advantage of the sunny day and made our way to the pumpkin patch.



And this piece of evil has been driving me bonkers. Yes, I love it and I want to burn it at the same time. Why-oh-why do I feel this driving force... I will conquer over this Ishbel.

FO: Purple Pink Love Socks

Pattern: my own generic toe-up 2-at-a-time on 2 circular needles

Yarn: 1 skein Aussie sock yarn (WS20 Plum Rose)

Needles: US 1.5 circular (2.5 mm)

Started: September 5, 2009

Finished: September 26, 2009



Comments: The pattern is my own generic toe-up sock based off of gauge and foot size. I started with the Judy's magic cast-on (video link) and ended up with 56 stitch sock for Miss Mac's feet. The heal is a slip stitch heal (side bar download) created from a formula which is based off of your full stitch count.



Don't her feet look huge out of the shoe? There not really, and I'm sure it's all camera angles. She loves them and it's been hard press to get her to take them off.



She is such a ham that taking EXTRA funny pictures is what she really loves. Rainy weather and the burst of coldness that has come into the Chicago area has made photo shoots a little difficult, but a quick run to covered picnic are did the trick.

These were quick 'n easy-peasy... the man child has picked out sock yarn for his pair and those I suspect will take a little bit longer, seeing he wears a size 13 men's shoe.

FO: Starsky Jr.

Pattern: Starsky Jr. by Jordana Paige

Yarn: 4 skeins Cascade 220 Superwash

Needles: US 7 circular

Started: June 20, 2009

Finished: Aug 10, 2009



Comments: I didn't alt the pattern, but in the end knowing what I know now I think I would make some slight adjustments.

I chose to knit the 8/10 size even thought Miss Mac is truly a size 6. I figured she would get more uses out of it with the larger size. Knowing that I really should have measured her arm length.



The pattern states that it has long sleeves that roll up but these seem super long. I'm thinking that's because of the larger size. Also the pattern has you picking up stitches along the front, neck and back down the other front so many times per so many stitches. This was a tad frustrating and if I were to do it again, I'd pick up all the stitches and decreased on my next row.



Miss Mac picked out her own buttons and was thrilled to do a photo shoot at one of the local nature routes. Isn't she just a hoot!



Makes me want to make the adult size for me!

To Rip... or Not!

It might look to the average knitter that this is just an update post. What your about to find out is that I haven't touched this in over a week. I normally do at least a row or two. Why you ask?

Because I'm faced with the task of having to RIP.



I should have done the armhole decreases every right side row, 5 times. BUT, NO! Not me. I chose to do them every 5 rows. [head-slams-on-desk].

I keep thinking there has to be a way to solve this without ripping back. Yet, I believe I'm stuck. I just don't have the heart in me to rip it back yet. Perhaps a few more days.

[To distract you from my obvious blunder] Look over there! A Deer!



This past weekend was filled with many delights... apple picking, bike rides and trip to Wisconsin for Renaissance Fair.



Miss Mac wore her princess outfit and was greeted with many 'Me Lady's that she was thrilled. Definitely in her element!