Made It By Monday: Hex Nut Earrings

Today's MIBM is from Petit Elefant run by Allison. I saw this tutorial by Petit Elefant editor Stephanie on pinterest and I had to try it. It was very simple and I think the earrings are really quirky and classy. Check out the link for a necklace tutorial too!



Total Time: 15 minutes
Total Cost: $5 (I already had the earring hooks, the chain was about $4 and the hex nuts were something silly like $0.90 for 6 of them)

This tutorial really is great. Sometimes I make things and I don't really wear them all the time, but I know these will get a lot of wear.

There's nothing I hate more than taking pictures of myself wearing earrings. I never know what to do with my face.

Here's the link again! Definitely give this one a try!

Frog City Chick

Sometimes things just don't work no matter how much you want them to. I learned a long time ago that you can knit something, but if its just going to sit in your knitting basket and not be worn, it's time to frog.

I was really excited about this scarf. The stitch pattern was a fun, spiraling knit-purl combo, but it just doesn't work.

Why?

1. It's too long
2. It curls too much

The yarn really is lovely. It's baby yarn, meaning it is so, so soft, but this stitch pattern doesn't really capitalize on the softness. I wore this scarf out, wrapped three times and it wasn't too bad. Unfortunately, it's length and rolling-factor make it not work.

It will be ripped out :(

The upside is, based on how squishy and soft this is with garter stitch, I'm making a tube that I know will be much better:

After the issues with the yoke on my sweater and now this, I really hope this turns out okay.

(Shout out to Julie, Nora, and Texas Jen!)

WIP Wednesday: A Sweater and a Scarf

Yesterday was a painful day for my sweater. I had knit up the yoke and I knew it wasn't turning out right. It ended up being WAY to wide along the neckline and not anywhere near the shape I wanted. If I had been smart, I would have put a lifeline in when I joined the sleeves, but I didn't. Instead, I had to precariously rip back to an inch after I joined the sleeves. I then put it on scrap yarn.

I know to get the look I want I need to incorporate short rows in the back, but I haven't quite figured out how to do that yet. I'm going to try to finish it before I go to Spain, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen.

Though I am full of disappointment about this sweater right now, one thing I am happy with is the cabling. It's incredibly soft and warm.

This sweater has been occupying my size 10 circulars, so I am happy (and needed) to take a break from it and work on something else.

This is the swatch and the beginnings of another infinity scarf. I'm very excited about the color (in person, it's a very subtle mint color). I'm hoping to post the free pattern for it soon!

A New Year and a Look Back

Happy new year! I hope you all had a chance to celebrate. I've had this blog for about two years now, but I didn't do a look back at 2011. For 2012, I think it will be both fun and helpful to reflect on what I've accomplished in knitting and crafting and with wiseknits. This year was all about learning for me. Learning how to knit a sweater, set up my own website, and learning how to write a pattern were both challenging and fun.

Finished knitting:

Inspira Cowl

Laminaria Shawl

Blues Infinity Scarf #2

Summer Flies Shawl

Modified Beatnik

Buckland Sweater

Blues Infinity Scarf

Haven Scarf

Newborn hat and Koala bear

Finished crafts:

Paper flowers

Striped corkboard

Freezer-paper stencils

Dreamcatcher

Zig-Zag Earrings

Button-up Up-cycle

Seed Bead Earrings

Lace Tshirt

Circle Scarf



Looking back has helped me to make some goals for 2013:

1. Better document my knitting
Sometimes I will knit something, and if I don't like it I won't post about it. I think it's important to share both the things that go well, and those that don't go so well. (I basically have a graveyard of too-thin scarfs and wonky hats.

2. Finish my self-designed sweater
Work on my bottom-up cabled sweater is happening quickly now that I'm on break, and I hope to share my progress with you next Wednesday.

3. Branch out with knitting projects
As you can see, I tend to stick with scarves, cowls, and sweaters. I'd like to try more mittens, hats, socks, and home decor items.

4. Stay inspired
I've hit a lull with my Made It By Mondays. While I'm in Spain it may be hard to make anything, but I hope to get inspired abroad, and come back with a fresh batch of new ideas for DIY tutorials.

5. Interact with my readers
Moving to my own self-hosted domain has lost me some readers, and I've had a hard time regaining the readership I once had. There's a great knitting community out in the blogosphere, and I'd like to connect more.