Fiber Monday

 

In Which Work Has Been Done!

Okay, I have been doing a lot of work on the shawl this week, even though it may not really look like it. Just bear in mind that this picture is of the shawl folded into 1/3 of its width and it's nearly as long as a twin mattress is wide.

Micron Pen for Scale

This whole shawl has now taken nearly 15 hours total work to make it. Bearing in mind that I have also had to detangle massive yarn barfs, am working with an inky-dinky hook and thread, and keep one eye on various videos, this isn't so bad :P

Speaking of said videos, this week's timing was about 2.5 hours of videos watched. I am hoping that the way I've been working (play a video and perform a task as it plays) continues to work out for this week's art.

I'll be a little behind tomorrow, though, because I'll be running some errands in the morning. You may ask yourself if you'll notice the difference.

Probably not, let's be real.

I'm the one who'll notice the difference because I'll be the one who can't sit down to crochet or write or draw in the morning lol.

Anywho, that'll do it from me - I've got to get some writing in before I conk out tonight!

I will keep crocheting the Blue Shawl until it's done, and then I'll start showing you some of my Experiments!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

In Which I Have Progress!

It was my mom's birthday last week, so I made her a present, which took about 3.5 hours to make and came from this pattern.

It's about as tall as my hand is long and took almost 3.5 hours to make!

As for the blue shawl? I have hit the second shade of blue! I spent about an hour and 20 minutes this week on it, bringing my total time up to about 8.25 hours. It's... not very long, but it's quite wide. Maybe it'll be good for summer - that's what it's designed for after all!

It looks much longer than it is in this image

It Also looks longer than it is wide in this image, but...
It's pretty wide, bro

If anyone has any of this shawl-in-a-cake yarn they want to get rid of, I'll happily give it a home. Can you imagine these kinds of yarns made into lightweight hex cardigans?! Or a lightweight scarf?! This blue has a much better hand than the green stuff I used, because it doesn't unwind while you crochet with it.

I am given to understand the Lion Brand version of this yarn is discontinued (boo), but I really enjoyed it, so if I have an opportunity to grab more, I'm gonna have to take it. As for other lace weight yarns, you better believe I'm keeping an eye out. I also need to get on figuring out my drop spindle and gold mawata...

As pleased as I am with my progress (and I really am!), I need to start considering what the top of this shawl should look like. Should I leave it straight across? Should I do a row of shells somehow? And if I do the shells, should I figure out how much lace that takes? Ah, conundrums.

Well, I'm just going to have to keep working on the shawl in order to find out.

Also, I really want to make another hex cardigan or two - maybe even one with cuffed sleeves that reach my wrist?

And I still want to make a vest dangit...

Seems to me like I've got plenty of ideas to sustain me this year.

How are all of your projects doing?

That'll about do it for me - I'm getting distracted by my cold toes and need to go throw on new socks.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

Y'All Ready For Some Shawl?

Because yeah, I worked on the shawl for a whole... hour and 26 minutes this week, bringing my efforts up to a total of 6 hours 53 minutes or so.

And it's not even halfway done.

So if I was to charge an hourly rate at my state's minimum wage ($13.80/hr), I'd have to charge over $95 for this thing just based on labor!

And this, kids, is why there's no such thing as a "fair price" for handicrafts and artwork.

But enough about that, you'll want to see the shawl!

Yup, that's my knee in the shot at the bottom left
and my laptop in the top right.

I've got quite a bit of work left to do on this shawl, and while it's one of the easiest shawls you can make, it's also incredibly slow going with a 2.75mm hook and lace weight cotton.

It's really pretty though.

I kind of wish I had another cake of the green lace from this brand so I could make another shawl in a more springy color... maybe add some cute little pink & white sakura blossoms onto it as décor...

But nay, I shall finish this sucker!

And then I shall make another project!

Who knows what that shall be. We'll find out.

Anywho, I'm gonna go brush my teeth and put a hot pack on my neck for reasons I'll explain tomorrow (they're very silly reasons). I hope all your projects are going well!

That'll do it for me tonight.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Thursday Art Walk

 

In Which This Is Kind of A Catchup Blog

I'm going to be honest - I didn't draw at all this past week. Sorry. Mostly I have simply been busy and haven't made time like I thought I would. Probably after next week I'll have a better grasp on my art! I do, however, have a series of updates and one quick sketch to put out there for this week!

So, Monday.

I did do a bunch of crochet - in fact, since last week I've worked on that new shawl for almost 2 hours and 10 minutes! That means it's been a total of 5 hours, 8 minutes, and 45 seconds with a 2.75mm hook and lace weight yarn!

Yes, it's very meshy.
Also, yes, I've worn a small patch into the touchpad of my laptop.
That's life.

Now, as for Tuesday blathering, I went on some adventures with my guy and our friends on Valentines to have something of a Palentines Day filled with sushi, burgers, and fun. It was a fantastic trip, I ended up with a massive dark chocolate Kit-Kat, and we got to hang out with cute dogs.

All in all, it's been a fantastic week!

Also, the writing is going pretty good on my manuscript! I had a day where I did no writing (yesterday), but I made up for it last night. In total, I've written 1176 words since last week! And I've got a good idea of where the story is headed, too.

As for art...

I've been bitten by brainworms about a Weird Western idea I had way back in the day regarding a man who was made to look like a demon and had to wander around the desert trying to clear his own name.

Like a lot of story ideas I've had, it's grown up a lot since then, and now I think Devon "The Devil" Deepenham has a deeper well than I'd imagined.

Maybe I won't be as cruel to him as I've been to some of my other characters lately.

That seems unlikely, since the poor man is basically a Frankensteinian monstrosity who escaped an unscrupulous circus sideshow in the twilight of the Civil War...

Anyhow, here's a quick sketch I mocked up of his profile in about 10 minutes:

"The Devil"; pencil sketch; 2023 [ANIMAL]

Oh boy am I not happy with that. I need a lot more practice with profiles before I can get him right. His face is all scrunched up.

Then again, I only gave myself 10 minutes to crank that poor boy out.

I've got work to do with him, especially since I'd really love to figure out a simplified version of him to draw consistently.

He's such a delightfully visual idea.

Next week's looking to be a lot like this week, so I apologize for that, but hey, I'll keep trying to do art no matter what. I can't guarantee it'll be *good* art, though.

Anywho, that'll about do it for me tonight. I have writing to do, sleep to catch up on, and some cranberry/elderberry juice to sip like a fine wine (if you haven't tried it, try it, it's incredible). And if you want a say in next week's art, go ahead and shoot me a coffee over on Ko-Fi with a message telling me which category you'd like - Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Dedbert, Geometric, Location, Word!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

At Last! Progress!
Just not on the Mushroom Bag...

A month or two ago, I started work on another iteration of the Downton Abbey Lady Sibyl Shrug, this time in a beige cotton thread, and I am excited to announce that....

The body is complete!

Now, before you ask, no this doesn't mean I'm anywhere close to being done with the orange/coral version. I... honestly am not sure where that project bag is. I do, however, now know that, without a doubt, it needs to be a bit wider for a linebacker-shouldered bird like me.

After trying this shrug on, even with the added width (I made my rectangle 17" long instead of the recommended 15"), it was a bit of a struggle to get on and off. Perhaps a 22"x17" (56cm x 43cm) would be better suited to me? Or perhaps it is merely the fact that I was trying it on with an unfinished border and a thick t-shirt, rather than a slipperier dress? I'm not changing into a tank or a dress to test that theory, and the border is... unique.

Why do a ch3, sc around into each chain space when the chain spaces are 4-5 chains each? Why was the foundation essentially 4 chains between sc? I don't understand so many choices with this piece, and I'm sure any errata I looked up could explain things, but...

I'm not in the mood to go looking things up, and honestly, I'm feeling too sludge-brained tonight to go hunting down explanations.

I may have had a fairly hectic day.

It may have involved my cat going on an ill-timed nautical adventure.

I may have pictures to share of this tomorrow.

Anyway, here's the first & second rounds of the border, which I've only got about... 30% finished around the body and have not even begun on the sleeves. How is this even going to work on the sleeves. I'll find out. Regardless, I have some work to finish, still, but this is real, visible progress!

I kind of like the 7dc shells, but...
Not sure how I feel about the rest.
We'll see.

Now, obviously, if I hate the edging, I can just frog it and start over. If you have any suggestions, feel free to @ me on Twitter or leave a comment on here.

Unrelated, but there's still time to send me a coffee over on Ko-Fi and convince me to do art in a category of your choice (Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Location, Dedbert, Geometric, Word)!

I will be taking the rest of tonight to stare at a cursor blinking on a manuscript.

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday

 

In Which Today Was Too Nice To Stay On Task

Yesterday, it felt like 100℉/37,8℃ at times, so I was largely just plunked in front of a fan, staring at a screen and wishing the temperatures would drop.

I got my wish today!

The high was around 76℉/24,4℃, and despite the higher humidity, it felt glorious! I actually went outside for a while and had to change into an actual tee shirt! I haven't worn a tee in over a week - it's been to hot and muggy! Yes, tomorrow's going to be a little warmer, but it felt so nice today, guys.

So of course I was 1000000% scatterbrained and couldn't focus on the crochet-along we've been doing under the #secret project tag here.

Instead, I worked on a few creamy thread lace projects!

Some Lovely lace gloves from 1943

Which I keep tangling the thread on...

And a cream-colored version of the infamously unfinished Lady Sibyl shrug

I like to walk out to meet my boyfriend on Fridays, but it was so blisteringly toasty while the sun was out that I didn't make as long a walk as I prefer to. Instead of walking the 3.4 miles (5,5km) to and from one bookstore or the 2.2mi/3,5km to the bakery and back or the 1.8mi/2,9km to and from the other bookstore, I walked a paltry 1.4mi/2,3km to the local library and back. 

Why the library? It's a short walk, there's a lot of shade coverage, and it has the most powerful AC in town.

Also it has books.

And I love me some books!

So I picked up this book, Designer Crochet by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby, and let me tell you, it is one of my favorite how-to books in that library. This may be the fifth time I've taken it out, and I desperately want to make everything in it.

For myself.

And also to sell, because they are Fashionable and I am 100% for getting these garments into the real world.

Which brings me to the next point.

I want to start making things for sale. Mostly crochet, but also eventually original artwork. I'm not going to get into a cost benefit analysis of Etsy vs Facebook Marketplace this week, but I am actively looking for sites to sell through, preferably ones that handle sales tax and don't charge me extra for a buyer using a credit card vs PayPal or whatever.

Or charge me for a listing. That would not be good for me.

If y'all have any suggestions, please do leave them in the comments (which I'm the sole moderator of, so I have to read them ;) ), along with any suggestions of what exactly I should make to sell!

I'm currently looking into what good pricing practices would be, so keep an eye out for any fiber additions to the How To Commission Me page in the sidebar!

Also, if you want a say in what I paint or draw this week, send me a coffee over on Ko-Fi with a message telling me what category you're choosing (also in the Commission Me page), and come Thursday, you'll see what I come up with!

I think that'll about do it for me tonight, those gloves have exhausted me!

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday(ish)

 

In Which I Am Always Late, It Seems...

I was supposed to start working on this blog over 12 hours ago, but I just can't seem to get going right now. How annoying. I will say this, though, my dreams last night were bizarre. I woke up right after having the equivalent of a political style cartoon imprinted on my dreamscape with a guy holding a large mason jar filled with orange tornadoes and bragging that he'd "collected the world's most valuable tornadoes".

What the heck, brain?

So it's been that kind of day - off-kilter and weird.

Also painful because my dumb butt walked 3.2mi (5.15km) in the pouring rain because I love books and there's a new bookstore in town...

It's a really nice bookstore.

I'll be going there a lot.

Unfortunately for me, about 3/4 of the way there, the backs of my ankles got blistered and now we're in the stiff-and-painful stage, so I couldn't take the 3 mile (4.8km) walk to the boardwalk I wanted to take. Today would've been a pretty good day for it - no rain.

Unlike the rest of the week.

But this is not the whining about things blog, that's tomorrow. Er... technically today.

This entry is specifically for my crochet work!

And I FINISHED SOMETING!

A cropped tanktop!

This garment has been in the works for quite a while, and... I'm not 100% pleased with it, but it's a great early effort, if I do say so myself. Which I do. Say so. Myself. uh... moving on.

Closeup on the construction

I feel terrible because I cannot for the life of me find the pattern I used for the yoke on this piece to recommend it to you. I want to say it may have been in another language because I couldn't understand the rest of the pattern and just freestyled the rest after the twisted-stitch yoke... which may have been less of a good idea than I'd hoped...

If you recommend this yoke pattern, please let me know lol

I used a simple V-stitch for most of the garment, though I did interrupt it every 14 rows with another round of the twisted stitch for cohesion. I wish I'd been more diligent about fit-testing as I went, though, because... boy is this revealing.

Like, I understand that croptops are short and meant to be a bit revealing but...

I made it too wide and the armholes WAY too deep.

I cannot wear this in public is what I'm saying.

Makes a wonderful sleep shirt, though, and now that I understand (partly) how I went wrong, I can probably make more tops in a similar vein!

So there you have it: my very belated Fiber Monday :P

Go Enjoy Something!

FC

Fiber Monday - Rockin the Progress

 

I Actually Got Some Work Done!!!

It's been a while since I worked on the Downton Abbey Lady Sibyl shrug, but I've been working on it today and yesterday, so here's a scrunched up progress shot for you!

It's not too much, but it's progress!

As you can see, it's still a bright shade of salmon, it's still lacy, and it's still not done, but never fear. With the power of video game music and moderate exercise, I am going to finish this!

This morning, I rediscovered my love of the Secret of Mana soundtrack - not the HD "Remaster" that blanded-up the music, either, the OG Soundtrack with it's completely insane boss battle theme.

Specifically "The Oracle", the theme for the Lich King.

This song absolutely slaps as the kids say.

And I may have been playing it for everything I do. Want to crochet for a full 15 minute block? Play the song. Want to get a good workout in? Play the song and move to it (stand like you're hip-firing a pair of chainguns and move to the music, it'll give you a good workout, I promise). Want to wake ALL THE WAY UP?! Play the song at top volume. You will not fall back asleep.

In a lot of ways, "The Oracle" is like MSG. It's like music on crack. It makes everything better. You have baby? Have baby listen to "The Oracle" it become better baby.

But seriously, that's been my day.

That and obsessively checking in on Baby Joey...

So how has your day been going? Get any work done on your own fiber projects? Get any writing or reading done? Seen any adorable animals, funny comedians, or cool games lately? Listen to any good music?

If not, then...

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 315: More Work

In Which I Continue To Work

I'm a bad crochet-er. I keep telling you I'll do a ton of work on the shawl and then...

I just end up adding a single new row...

Whoops. Sorry.

On the other hand, I've been working on some head scarves so I can keep my hair out of my face while I'm outside. If I need to, I can also add pins or buttons onto them to preserve my ears if masks become a necessity for coming outside. I hope it doesn't come to that, but... man, it would probably be better for everyone if we just made them mandatory :|

It's hard to tell, but this one has a Dragonfly pattern!

But enough about the Human Malware.

How are you guys doing on your creative endeavors? I've been working on my book some more, crocheting a bunch (obviously) and thinking about learning digital art.

I also had to run downstairs just a minute ago to go check on a songbird that hit our kitchen window. Since I didn't find it anywhere (and I really looked, guys, I even checked in the tree nearby), I'm going to tell myself it was surprised and then flew off. It looked like it hit feet first, rather than head first, so that's good.

The birds around here seem to like to perch on our window screens, so that's probably what the poor thing was trying.

Poor lil dude. Hope he's okay.

Regardless, I'll be doing more work today on my projects, get as much done as possible, try to write a bunch more, maybe do some gaming.

Keep on keeping on, folks!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 310: The Lady Grows Some More

In Which I've Done A Lot Of Work On A Lot Of Projects

I promise I worked on the shrug, but I've also been working on other projects, so it's not as impressive as it usually is :|

The Progress
also my feet lol

I've been working for a while on making some vintage lace to turn into a lovely choker, which I've finally finished (for the most part - I still have to weave in the ends and clip the extra string)!

The choker

I also get to practice my Blocking with this project, which is a first for me. I've never blocked before, so I hope I've done it more-or-less correctly and that it comes out well. I don't need it to be perfect - I just want it to work.

A closeup of the blocking. You can't really see it, but it's quite damp right now.

The other thing I'm working on (as winter wraps up, of course) is a snuggly brown sweater. It's a top-down affair in a thick worsted acrylic with a pattern from the Yarnspirations website. The pattern calls for zig-zags, but I think I'll just work down to where the pattern starts being solid (probably right at the armpits, tbh) and then make some sort of repeating pattern - maybe Fairisle, maybe something nerdy, idk. But for now, we're barely at the shoulders!

It's a much darker brown in real life. My phone eats color :(

So that's what I'm up to this week in projects! How about you guys? What are you up to?

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 308: Speed Up Would Ya Lady?

In Which It's Slow Going

I promise, I worked on the shrug, it just doesn't really look like it. Between the thinness of the lace yarn and the fact that I probably only did one or two pattern repeats, it's not too much bigger than it was. I apologize for this. I blame my poor time management skills. Also the fact that I've been super distracted by writing lately.

Still, it's lookin good!!!

If a little hazy. And furry.

Since today is a high-allergy day, and since I live with a cat and have worked on this around dogs, it's full of pet fur, which is annoying and makes my nose burn. At least it looks like a beautiful day, and it's in the mid thirties for temperature (above freezing!). It's sunny and bright, but the sky is pale and the horizon is that off-blue color you get when the atmosphere is odd.

It's lovely.

I'll be heading out there soon, but I just wanted to reassure you all that I am, in fact, still working on this project.

Go Enjoy Something, guys!
FC

Fiber Monday 305: Slow Growth

In Which Everything Grows Slowly

I knew when I started the Downton Abbey Lady Sibyl Shrug that it would be slow going. I was using the wrong-sized yarn, the wrong-sized hook, and I was starting it at the same time as my novel project (which is going fairly well!). Still...

I'd hoped to have more than a single inch of the garment finished by this week.

Life intervened, however, and now I'm at about 0.75" finished, unblocked. At least I know now that it will take at least 16 pattern repeats to make the garment? Because it's supposed to be 15" wide (38cm). I have very wide arms, however, so it's probably going to be more like 16" (40.6cm) wide.

So it's probably going to be anywhere from 17 to 30 pattern repeats.

Why such a broad range? Because I absolutely stink at eyeballing progress.

Also, because I'll be fitting the garment as I near the end.

But What does all of this mean for future Fiber Mondays? It just means you'll be seeing a whole lot of this color yarn, really.

I've got more rows to complete, words to type, and food to consume and discuss, today, though, so I'll let you all go.

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 304: Dowdy Duds

In Which I Start Something Both Modern And Vintage

I'm sure everyone's tired of Downton Abbey at this point. I know I am! I'm really pleased that the show existed and gave so many people work, but it was getting a little ridiculous, all that hype...

So anyway, a while ago, Lion Brand Yarn came out with some DA-themed yarns, and with those, they came up with some patterns. I am using the "Lady Sibyl Shrug" pattern, but... not the right yarn.

See, by the time I learned about (and saw) this pattern, they weren't selling the Lady Sibyl yarn anymore.

I did, however, have a large ball of a locally farmed, dyed, and spun merino lace in a colorway called "Red Hotdogs"... which is exactly that shade of bizarre red/pink/salmon. It's soft, though, and beautiful.

It's also a lace-weight yarn in a pattern that calls for something far more robust.

But... it's so pretty!

Okay, so what do you do when your yarn is the wrong size (or "gauge" as it's often known)?

You can do one of a few things:

• use a bigger hook so that the individual stitches are still the right size
• add pattern repeats if you're working from a repeated motif
• add extra yarn to bulk out your main color (usually in a similar, neutral, or complementary color)

I've opted for the second option, since using a larger hook on such a fine yarn would look hideous and I don't want to disrupt this strange yet wonderful color.

It's a fairly simple pattern, too!

This pattern is somewhat similar to a shell or fan pattern, but it's so fine and has so many bridges or nets that it's an addictive repetition. There are only four or five repeated rows, and I'll be needing to repeat these rows until it's 16 inches wide. It's much longer than the one they show in the pattern, too, but that's because I have a disdain for short-sleeved outerwear. I don't get it. You're covering your arms to both preserve modesty and to keep them warm. Why not commit?

With my dainty lace-weight yarn, I have a 2.25mm/B/1 hook I'm using.

I'm looking forward to finishing this pattern, since I've been dancing around it since probably 2018 or so!

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 234: Botching the Finish For Dummies

In which the Filthy Casual learns the importance of reading the pattern.

I was 100% committed to finishing the Lost Souls shawl this week. Then I got to the end of a nose/close row and realized something very, very important:

I didn't have enough thread to continue to the end of the shawl at this width...

That's right, I went on autopilot, folks. Oops. Ah well, at least now I know where to pull down to (the double shell before the new row of skulls, actually)! That should make things move much faster and I will absolutely 100% guaranteed be done with this behemoth undertaking.

Next week.

IT TAUNTS ME

All joking and bitterness aside, I really have learned a lot on this project, and if you've been working on your own Lost Souls Shawl from Maryetta Roy on Ravelry, I hope you've learned from my foibles!

If I were to recreate this project I would do several things differently:

• I'd use a heavier yarn, like a DK or a Worsted weight and a 4.00-5.00mm hook. That way it would go much faster.
• I would work on it much more consistently and much faster than I did this time, refusing any distractions or "better projects" that popped up.
• I would read the pattern as I worked instead of memorizing the body of it and hoping I knew where to stop - I didn't. Clearly.
• I would NOT LET IT GO ON FOR 16 WEEKS.
• lol

Still, it's a very pretty shawl and I love it. I kind of want to find a lacy bat pattern shawl too! Maybe make lacy bats on a hat or shrug, wear the skull shawl, and have lacy spider wristers? Ooh, Halloween 2020 plans?

Because that ain't happening in 2019. I need a break from complex. I need something simple. Like a granny square. Or a Double Crochet beanie or something.

No more lace, plz. Kthanxbai.

Go Enjoy Something (and read the pattern!)

FC

Fiber Monday 233: Week 14 of the Lost Souls Shawl

Fourteen weeks of skulls and lace...

We're on the home stretch, I think. I'm running out of thread, and while it's going to make a handsome scarf, I don't really know if this will be big enough to be considered a shawl on me. Then again, I'll just be happy to be done!

It does still look good, though :)

I cannot believe how long this has taken. I figured on this being a five, six week project! But then each row started taking about an hour, and I started to get bored. Project burnout is such a bummer! Thankfully, I've been able to do some work on the side, but that has extended the timetable for completing this project, so I've kind of backed myself into this corner. Ah well :P

Science mug for scale.

With how dinky that ball of thread is, I'm thinking I've got maybe one more repeat before the endgame, so hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, we'll be starting our next project! I'll have to try and figure out what that'll be... probably something fast, like fingerless gloves or something...

Go Enjoy Something!
FC

Fiber Monday 231: More, More, More

I've been hard at work today, and it should show:

Here's our shawl in all of its unfinished glory!

It's about 39 inches long (that's about 99cm for the rest of the world)

And for length, it's about 20 inches from top to tip (~51cm)

See? I like this measuring tape, btw. It's much more flexible than my white tape.

I'm still working on those shorts from last week, so here's my progress on those:

I still don't entirely understand the instructions, but I'm doing my best...

I'm also reworking a fancy purple silk/merino shrug based off of this pattern, and that's going pretty well right now! I took the repeated motif and stretched it out so that it's a little over 30 inches wide and a little over 16 inches long, which will make a rectangle. I'll sew the ends in by about 5 inches on either side to make a partial tube, and then I'll make some lace to go around the arm holes and the shrug opening :)

That'll about do it for me today, guys.

Go Enjoy Something!
FC