Finished: Crochet Vines for the #100WomenProject

So poop - I totally forgot to talk about my participation in the #100WomenProject. Well, we're changing that now!

More than a few months ago, I was asked to crochet some vines for inclusion in a University of Richmond student's Honors Thesis Exhibition. The artist, Amy Reader, sought to engage women around the world for a large display comprised of smaller, crocheted pieces resembling wisteria vines. The pieces could be crocheted (or knit!) in any color and almost any length, and would be installed to look like a forest of wisteria trees.

The photo above shows me with my two vines, which I promptly mailed out in early April to make the submission deadline. I was honored to not only be asked, but to also have been part of an exhibit that showcased women and a craft that's often tied to our assumed domesticity. I say "assumed" because I knit and crochet with such passion, but I can't sew worth a lick and my house is a childless disaster area. So to me, the combination of over 100 women crocheting art appealed to my feminist side (and gave me a chance to put my undergraduate art degree to good use - we creatives need to stick together).

If you want to read more about the exhibit, then make sure to visit the website. Or, if you want to find out why Amy decided on a women-only project, read her article here.

Finished: Handbrake

Pattern: Handbrake

Designer(s): Kay and Dan Jones from The Bakery Bears Podcast

Yarn: madelinetosh vintage

Colorway: Neon Peach

Notes: It's finally finished! I say finally because I started this on my trip to San Francisco in April, which just-so-happened to coincide with the complete loss of my knitting mojo. I managed to get it done and cast off while we were at the beach over Memorial Day, though, so here are the pictures I procrastinated on taking (of course, part of that is because I needed to soak the cowl since it's made with madelinetosh and I didn't want to wear it before getting any extra dye out).

The pattern is $1 on Ravelry and all proceeds go toward cancer research. It's such a versatile pattern that you really have no excuse not to make one! It's perfect for beginners who know the extreme basics (casting on, knitting, purling, and binding off), plus it comes with instructional videos from Kay. For more advanced knitters, it's quick, fun, and perfect for any stash yarns you have that need to be shown off with straight-knit designs.

If that hasn't sold you, you'll also get an exclusive edition of the Bakery Bears Podcast. I watched it on my plane ride to SFO (while knitting the cowl, of course!) The great thing about podcasters is that we're all real people, not typically paid advertisers who are talking about products we love or hate just to make a buck. We love what we do and letting people into our lives - we're genuine, and that really shines through in this special edition podcast episode!

In Progress: Knitting a Summer Scarf from KnitCrate

I'm not sure if my knitting mojo has returned or if I'm just forcing myself to pick up my yarn every night while streaming the entire FRIENDS series on Netflix (um... we got rid of cable) or catching up on podcasts.

I think it's a combination of both, and although I'm hoping it stays on, I'm not sure it will thanks to the ridiculously hot and humid weather heading our way this week. There mere thought of working with yarn - at least on a heavy, larger project - before darkness falls is unbearable.

Perhaps that's what made me pick up April 2015's KnitCrate that included some heavenly, heavenly Mrs. Crosby Carpet Bag yarn in Scarlet Ibis. The pattern, ZigZag Scarf 2, is perfect for travel knitting because it's easy to memorize with short lace rows and simple rest rows. Plus:

"All the proceeds of this pattern will be donated to the Minoru Hokari Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Australian National University. My late brother, Minoru Hokari (“Mino” 1971-2004) died of cancer at the age of 32. The scholarship fund supports young scholars who study Indigenous Australians through fieldwork. We are trying to fully fund it to achieve its perpetuity."

So that's what's been on my needles as I've traveled to-and-fro the past couple weekends. I even took to knitting at the bar one afternoon (and was told I'm fabulous!)

Otherwise, I've been engrossed in reading Rebecca. Why have I not read it before? It seems to me the type of book you'd read in an AP English class. Considering I went to a private college prep school whose classes were all Honors or AP, I'd have much preferred this to, say, The Red Badge of Courage or Ethan Frome. Especially when studying archetypes. Take note, teachers!

Rehoboth Beach Yarn Haul + Knitting Project

Single tear: I'm back from vacation and have once again returned to the real world, which unfortunately substitutes sunny days on the beach with rainy days in the city. Seriously, it's gross and incredibly depressing.

But at least I can say I returned with a clear head, having read three books in the warm Rehoboth sand, catching up on much-needed sleep, and stopping by Kitschy Stitch to - naturally - enhance my stash.

Hey, at least this year, I went into it with a pattern in mind. That pattern, if you'd like to know, is Exploration Station by the fabulous Stephen West. It's taken me awhile to venture into his patterns, mostly because I was terrified of the brioche stitch that he favors above all else. But after drooling over KnitFitch's finished version made with the ever-gorgeous madelinetosh, I knew I had to at least try.

So, off I ventured to find the perfect colors. I spread out about 12 colors and yarns on the LYS floor and eventually settled on some Queensland Rustic Tweed in a variety of colorways, which I think is going to look gorgeous come fall. The tweed just adds something a little - dare I say rustic? - to the pattern, allowing the bright fuschia I chose to pop against the more muted purple, blue, and grey.

I've completed the short row section and am now fussing my way through the brioche. I luckily find the pattern itself easy once I get past the first couple stitches (provided I did my YOs correctly in the row before), but holy God, does it take forever to work each row twice! After completing each short row wedge in one sitting or less, it's been a blow to my ego to spend so much time working on the same brioche row.

I assure you, though, that the end result is worth it. If I can ever get there.

Overall, a successful vacation that resulted in a fun project sitting on my needles. I'd like to go back to our condo now so I can knit in the sun... or at Dogfish Head (conveniently located across the street from Kitschy Stitch!)

You can keep up with my Exploration Station progress by visiting my Ravelry project page.

Here's the yarn I'm prepping for my beach vacation!

In packing the projects I'm taking on vacation with me, I may have gone a little crazy. I'm bringing at least three recent WIPs, as well as two new projects whose supplies I own, but haven't yet started.

Cue a mad dash to my yarn ball winder and swift, resulting in the above photo I posted on my Instagram. Pictured are two yarns I can't wait to work with:

• The turquoise is Madeline Tosh DK in the Oceana colorway, which will be used to knit up Messalina by Kay Jones of Bakery Bears fame
• The multi is Mrs. Crosby Carpet Bag in the Scarlet Ibis colorway. A delectable mix of Merino and silk, this single ply yarn will be used to knit the Zig Zag Scarf pattern that came in my April KnitCrate.

Speaking of KnitCrate, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed that as of this posting, my May KnitCrate hasn't yet shipped; I was hoping to take whatever it is with me to celebrate my vacation and hopefully stave off some LYS purchases. It's not that I don't have anything else to work on (obviously) and I more than definitely have enough yarn to tide me over until the end of time itself. But I look forward to getting it every month, and with the stress of wrapping up way too many work projects before jaunting off for a week, I could have used the distraction!

Also, I know there are going to be people reading this who are all like, "What? Knitting in the sand? Why?" No - beaches are for reading and sleeping on. There will be no knitting on the beach, mostly because I'm lazy, but also because I don't feel like picking sand out of my delicious Mrs. Crosby yarn.

PS: I hope all my fellow beer lovers are at least a LITTLE bit jealous that I'll be camping out - with yarn in tow - at Dogfish Head's brewpub on Rehoboth's main drag.