What I've Been Up To

Kinda looks like the Brady Bunch on fibery steroids, eh?

I came across this pattern on Ravelry after one of my friends faved someone else's project that really was pretty sweet. At the same time, I was asked to make another charity square and, since I vastly prefer to crochet squares than knit them, thought I would try the pattern out. I found it to be so simple and easy, that I figured it would be a good pattern to use up the acrylic I'd collected over the years. It's burning through the stash quite nicely and, though I won't buy any yarn for this project, I have gotten some donated from my mom who also wanted to stash bust. The squares are so addictive, I haven't been able to stop or work on anything else since I started. They're a great cure for startitis.

Pictured above are the first 25 squares I made and I'm probably up to around 60 now. I don't know how large of a blanket I'll end up making, but I'll keep going until I've exhausted as much of my stash as possible. I  have four requirements for color combos in this blanket: 1. squares must have a lighter color on the inside, 2. no repeat squares (very similar combos with different shades are acceptable), 3. there are a few color combinations I just won't do, e.g. red & green (Xmas), green & white (MSU), bright pink & turquoise, etc., 4. don't trim every color in black or make a white center with every color trim.

For the Birds

I'm exhausted from lack of sleep, so I'm not feeling terribly creative with the words today. I was able to knock this guy out over the weekend though. Which may have started an obsession with knitting all of the Angry Birds patterns and amigurumi in general. I envision live action Angry Birds. Unfortunately, with my self-imposed embargo on yarn purchases for 2011, I'm going to have to scavenge for the proper colored acrylic yarn.

One last things before I collapse into a coma at my desk: This little guy is weighted down with a custom made bean bag. Those are real beans in there.



If you're interested in materials, the fabric was left over from our bedroom curtains and is stitched together with an oddment of *gasp* Wollmeise. The beans are red. I may have overestimated the weight as the bird acts like a freaking Weeble. I fear for anyone that crosses its angry flight path.

P.S. If anyone has any Red Heart yarn they're looking to get rid of, I could use some in the following colors: Bright Yellow #0324, Spring Green #672, Delft Blue #0885

FO: Mother-In-Law Scarf

Pattern: Van Ness Scarf
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino
Hook: Boye 5.5 mm (I)
Started: December 2, 2009
Finished: December 6, 2009
Ravel It!

This blog may be named Knits With Balls, but lest we forget, I began my fibery career with crochet oh so long ago.

My MIL asked me for a scarf, oh about a year go now, and I finally got around to making it. She wasn't guilting me about it, but I felt guilty nonetheless. Especially since it was only one in the list of items I'm to make for her and others. I started to knit a broken rib pattern, but ran into three problems. 1) The two skeins of yarn I had were different dye lots, so I was alternating yarn every two rows which made it fiddly. 2) Knitting it was taking FOREVER. 3) It was REALLY BORING. Solution: Crochet.

I searched Ravelry for crocheted scarf patterns and found what turned out to be the perfect pattern. The Van Ness Scarf was a bit fiddly to start (you begin in the middle of the scarf with four individually knitted crocheted medallions) but once I got going, it flew off the needles hook. I decided not to worry about the differing dye lots and knit each half with a separate skein. You can tell the difference if you look really closely, but she'll never know.

After much consternation regarding whether or not to gift it for Christmas - my wife, SIL and I usually give her gifts from all three of us, so an individual gift was outside the norm - I decided to last minute and I was glad I did. The holidays are crazy and stressful enough and - not to brag - I'm pretty sure I made her day. Her and her sister gushed over it, which still amazes me. I don't know if I'm humble or just cynical, but knowing what goes into making certain items - in this case, a mere 4 days of work - it surprises me when people react that way. Surprise or no though, it's still nice to have your work appreciated.