Two years ago…

…I made this top.  It was too large and knew it would end up on the Island of Misfit Knitting.

So I ripped it apart and chose a different pattern: Drops Design Sunny Day Top #170/32.  It’s been almost finished for over a year.  What was the problem?

I had to weave in the ends.

The yarn is a 50g, 90-yard ball of a cotton/acrylic/nylon blend in DK weight.  I used almost all eight balls.  I have 28 grams left and I wish I would have made a top-down top so I could use every last inch.  Alas, that was not the case.

Saturday morning found me weaving in the ends.

And now I can call it FINISHED!

I’m a bit hunched over so you can see the eyelet details but I think I look like a linebacker.

Have you finished anything lately?

 

Samphire finished

The Handmade Sock Society II second sock pattern, Samphire, is finished.  Just in time for the newest pattern release for the third sock in the series, which I’ll talk about in another post.

I kitchener stitched the toe yesterday morning before checking my email for the latest pattern reveal.

Once I figured out the lacy panel and a couple of lifelines, the socks flew off my needles.  Well, the second sock flew.  Knitting the second sock only took a week as I was busy with other things while knitting the first one.

Loving the deep, rich green of Knit Picks Stroll fingering yarn in Aurora Heather.

These socks aren’t blocked yet but truth be told, I haven’t blocked any of my finished socks.

My only mods were to substitute the slipped stitch heel flap for Eye of Partridge heel flap.

A great fit, too!

FO Friday

FO = finished object

Yay!  One more pair of socks for the gift pile…or myself.

This is the Handmade Sock Society Season 2 first sock: Shell Cottage.  If you’ve ever knit anything from Helen Stewart, you know how well written her patterns are.  She lists each row and the stitch count so it’s easy to put down the project and pick it up again.  I still kept track of my rows on the sock foot so I could make they were both the same length.  I learned the hard way to count my rows rather than just measure the length as it is easy to stretch an item to make it fit (and hurry the knitting along).

The second sock in the series will be released next month.

Knit Picks Stroll fingering yarn in Basalt Heather, 69 grams.  Size #1 (2.25mm) needle.

I really like the texture.

Have you finished anything lately?

Secret painting project

For the past few weeks I have been working on a secret painting project.  It is now finished.

Ever heard of this game?  They have an official site with rules and everything!  Our daughter told us about the game and we thought it would be a great way to get everyone to play together from the two-year-olds on up.  It’s great for family reunions, tailgating, outdoor parties, or any time!

I bought the raw 2-foot by 4-foot plywood game boards already assembled sight unseen and decided to finish them myself.  The plywood was the worst I’ve seen and I think I overpaid (an understatement) for them.  They are solid construction-wise but the quality of the top was pretty poor.

I used an 8-oz. container of wood putty to get them semi-even then sanded them as smooth as I could before the painting on the primer.

Next was a base coat (or three) of white paint.

Then I taped around the edges and painted one blue and one yellow.

The final design with five coasts of polyacrylic.  No, those are not decals.  I painted the flying WV myself with the aid of painter’s tape and an Exacto knife.  Fortunately you can’t see the up-close and personal details.  They look great from a distance…there are “inconsistencies” when you get real close.

Now we just need a party!