Birthday gift #1

I am starting on birthday gifts, as some of them will be HUGE and I need to make sure they are finished in time.

This one is going to be the largest of them all, it will also be the largest Tunisian project I have taken on as well.  When its finished it should be about 6-8 feet wide to be a wrap around blanket.

Its the first Tunisian Pattern I have written as well (technicly in the middle of writing) and I have found that I have made a few mistakes already.           

The red should be a V shape but I messed up my color change row twice and when I noticed it I was already messed up a third time I decided I will go back and use cross stitch to fix it when its finished.

I will keep it to myself for now what the finished item will be.

Bamboo?

 So the people over at Interweave are having a virtual 'tent sale' up to 80% off and I found they had this Spin-Along Fiber Kit #3.

I haven't bought any spinning kits because I am still learning the ins and outs of my LadyBug and didn't want to spend a lot on nice fiber that might get mangled as I learn.   I was able to get this kit (last one btw!!!) for under $7 so I jumped at it as it was something other then wool for me to try.  It came with Bast Bamboo, Rayon Bamboo, Cashmere Bamboo (rayon bambook/merino blend), Firestar, a spinning wheel 'on the go' kit (with a spare cotton drive band, bee's wax, oil bottle), and a cloth bag for storage.   The fiber in the kit was not individuality labeled, the letter that came with it said that was 'part of the fun' discovering which fiber is which. 

What I belive, is in the photo starting at the top and moving clockwise around -- Firestar because its WHITE and catches the light, Cashmere Bamboo this one is so soft, Bast because it was the roughest ((but still soft)) feeling fiber, then Rayon.   Now they are all really soft and this will be a big difference from working with wool for me,  I am debating on if I want to try and blend any of the fibers together for spinning or try spinning them all up seperate.  I only have about 1 ounce of each so if I blend them that would be 4oz.  Since they are all 'white/natural' I might even dabble in dying the whole lot diffrent colors then blending.       

      

BUT thats a project for an other day~~

I have some large birthday gifts I need to get started on so they can be finished in time.

Speaking of birthdays mine came and went last weekend and my Hubby got me the item I saw at a convention we where at months ago and wanted but would never have bought for myself.   It was the complete DVD and Figures set for Scrapped Princess (one of my favorit anime's) it came with 8 figures 6 small (one wouldnt fit on the shelf so he isnt pictured) and two that where over a foot tall!!

 





As a bonus he got me a Scooby Doo ice cream cake.

Question for you all

We recently got a GoPro for my husband he said I could use it to make crochet video's.

So for you all, what would you like to see video wise from me?

I can make a video for any of my patterns so you can fallow along or watch instead of read.  If I work on paid pattern videos anyone who has previously bought the pattern will be offered the video for free.  Other wise it will come optional as part of the pattern download.

Tutorial for making a magic ring, or other technical stitch work ie invisible decrease, spirals, invisible close, hiding tails, sewing amigurumi parts together.

So let me know what you would like to see video wise come out from me.

Its finished!!

So I did it!  My goal was to pace myself so I wouldn't burn out but finish it before my birthday.

I realized about 1/2 way through that I liked the join rounds in purple better so I finished the head up in purple.     
              
Now having made one, I think I would plan out and do it a bit diffrently next time.

I did the join as you go method which made plotting out colors a little difficult.  I did wind up with some motifs having the same main color  touching which I had been hoping to avoid.  To avoid that I think next time I will work all the motif's up till the last 2 rounds.  That way I have everything almost done, and just need to join them.    As well I will do the starting ring differently, the pattern calls for chain 5 but I find it tends to leave to big of a gap on some of the motif's with more then 5 peddles, I think I will do a double magic ring.  Also I think I might try altering the 4th round when you do the long DC between peddles and work it into the first round instead of the 2nd round. 

I think the joining worked but as you can see in the face where the 4 motif's meet it was stretched to much, even with the head being under stuffed.  I am not sure what caused it, if it was being 4 points was to much pull, or if my corner chain was to loose on the motif's.  Every other join is only 3 motifs joined together the only join that has any issues is the join on the underside between the front legs the octagon's corner seemed stretched but that could be because of how the legs where joined to it.

I used fingerling weight yarn and a 2mm hook so this one tops off at about 13 inches long nose to tail, 5 inches from toes to shoulder.  I image using ww yarn will double its size.

Now to debate on my next project and if I should wait till after June ends to start on it.  We will be having some construction done so a lot of my yarn will be moved around in the next 2 1/2 weeks as well as furniture.

Photo Update of my Butterfly Coverup

I got to wear my cover up out today!  I remembered I didnt have a good shot of it up on the site so here you go--- Pattern Here

Sadly I have been sick for the past three weeks, and my face showed it so I opted for a smiley face to cover up the grump.  Its hot out so that means the tank tops come out but every were is blasting the AC so it worked perfectly.  The lace affect of the butterfly's let it breath enough in the heat I didn't over heat, yet kept the chill of the AC so I didn't freeze indoors. 

Its the final count down...

So I started the Happypotamus in hopes I would finish it in time for my birthday but with out burning myself out by churning out motifs every day.

My birthday is in 20 day, and I have 10 motifs left to make the whole head.  So I should be able to do it- cheer me on! 

Outside of that, I am playing with my new ladybug spinning wheel!! I am plying up some bright pink thread into a lace weight yarn that I plan to make into a shawl.  The question is do I want to dig threw a thousand patterns to find the 'perfect' one, or do I want to find some inspiration and write my own pattern.