Friday Finishes - A Cardigan and a Couple Hats

I finished my July Camp Loopy project, an Old Growth cardigan, almost a week ago. Blocked it this week, but I haven't taken any post-blocking photos, yet. Maybe this week. Below are some pre-blocking pics. And some hats I made this week.

Not sure about the collar. Might fold it over and sew it down. And the sleeves really grew after blocking. Very tempted to throw it in the dryer for a couple minutes to try and shrink it a tad.

Had enough yarn leftover to make a matching hat.

Used the chart for the smallest tree from the cardigan pattern. I did throw it in the dryer for 10 minutes as it really stretched during blocking.

And I made a second hat this week. For some crazy reason, I decided to make myself a Branches & Buds sweater for my August Camp Loopy project and ordered the yarn. Then I realized it's color work and I suck at that. Decided a hat is good practice. Used one of the sweater charts and worsted weight yarn and my tension wasn't terrible. Going to make a second one this weekend to practice some more before casting the sweater on Tuesday. This hat will be going to Jen for her Hat-a-Long for Halos of Hope.

Did you have any finishes this week?

Friday Finish - Salita Shrug

Finished knitting my Salita shrug almost a month ago, but I haven't shared it here, until today. When I dedicated myself to it, it knit up pretty quick. I thought I would get bored since it's kind of like knitting a blanket but I didn't. Yarn used was, Universal yarns, Bamboo Pop, 50% cotton and 50% Bamboo. Makes it light and airy, which is nice.

Side view. Thought this picture would be an outtake as I was still adjusting the shrug in the front, but I ended up liking it.

Front view.

Back. I was nervous about how long it was going to be, but I am very happy with it.

Stuck my elbows out to try and show how much room there is. 

Did you have any finishes this week? Or past month? 

WIP Wednesday

We are back home from our trip north to visit family (finally). We were suppose to arrive home last Monday, but 30 minutes into our drive home, our car died. Spent another 2 days with my parents before they drove us back to Michigan last Wednesday. They stayed another day so we could get groceries and do errands that are easier with wheels but it's been an adjustment. We're waiting until we find out where my husband's new job is before we buy or rent a car. Hoping we might find out in the next couple weeks.

What I'm trying to remember about our trip is the date night my husband and I had on our last Saturday night there. We went out for dinner and then hiked around some falls that neither of us had been to in over 15 years. It was great to spend some time alone and in nature. Totally worth all the mosquito bites I got. We even sneaked down to a ledge at the top of the falls and sat in silence - except for the roar of the water. Best date we ever had.

I did try to do a WIP post last week but life... it gets in the way sometimes. Last Wednesday, I was done both sleeves and the body of my Old Growth cardigan (and July Camp Loopy project). I had joined the sleeves and body of the cardigan and was ready to knit the yoke.

Today, the knitting is all done. Finished the buttonhole band yesterday, after 5 attempts. All that's left is to graft the underarm stitches, weave in ends, sew on buttons and block. Seems like a lot but shouldn't take too long. Maybe two episodes of Buffy?

Made a little progress on my Hello, Hello shawl. Finished the eyelet section and halfway done the stripes.

Closer look. 

I was able to pick up a little yarn while we were away. Trying to decide what to make with this lovely gradient my mom treated me to. Local yarn store is Stix and Stones. Highly recommend a visit if you ever get that far north. They specialize in Canadian yarns so it's always neat to look around.

And only my fellow Canadians will realize how cool/rare this yarn is. Found it at Value Village. Zellers was kind of the Canadian version of Target but with a decent craft section - I bought most of my craft supplies there when I was teenager and in my early 20's. They all closed and became Targets, years and years ago, and then closed again. Thrilled that I found enough of it to make something. I'm thinking a Kelsey cowl. Or maybe a Legume hat.

Got to love this 1 year warranty by Monsanto. 

What have you been up to the past couple weeks?

Friday Finishes - 2 Quilts!

Finished the two Scrappy Bento Box quilts I was making for charity. Took some pictures of them this week off my parents backyard deck. Glad to have them done. Now mom can donate them.

Here's the first one. I started doing free-motion stippling on this one when my sewing machine decided it didn't want to do that anymore. Couldn't get the tension right and spent a couple hours ripping out the quilting I had done. Parts of the quilting weren't too bad but when I discovered I could keep tension with straight-line quilting, I ripped out all the free-motion quilting and did diagonal lines across the whole quilt.

A closer picture of the quilting - and all those quilt pieces! There are 700 pieces in each quilt.

Another detail shot.

I'm running out of yardage to make scrappy backs.

Here's the second quilt.

Did horizontal and vertical straight lines on this one. Much quicker.

Slightly closer look.

And the scrappy back.

Did you have any finishes this week? Linking up at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday and Kat & Cat Quilts.

WIP Wednesday - Vacation Edition

We are visiting family this week in Northern Ontario. And travel time means knitting time. 

Spent some time at my parent's trailer and got a little knitting in on my July Camp Loopy project. Also went for a boat ride in the lovely lake you see and got a sunburnt back to prove it.

Here is my progress on my July Camp Loopy project. Done the first sleeve and almost done the second. Always nice to get the sleeves done first. This is the Old Growth cardigan and Cascade 220 yarn in the Turtle colourway.

Almost ready to start the stripes on my Hello, Hello shawl.

Heel is turned and foot over halfway done. Hoping to have some finishes before we head home in a few days.