WIP Wednesday - Ascots

Update on previous WIPs:

1. Honey Cowl: just need to bind off and that baby is done.
2. Karin Fingerless Mitts: about halfway on the second glove.

Current status: Craft Fair Mode

I'm in mega-crafting overdrive making things for a couple of craft fairs coming up to benefit rabbit rescue. I have a list of things to make, but my obsession this week is these crocheted ascots/scarflettes.

The yellow was my first attempt, and I decided that it was too long and the opening too wide. I remedied this on the second attempt (red), and it's much better.

I'm trying to use up some yarn in my stash, and didn't have enough of either of these colors for an entire ascot, so I striped them.

While pretty, the downside of that is now I have a massive amount of ends to weave in (which is not quite as annoying in crochet as it is in knitting, so I'm not overly bothered).

I think on the next striped version I'll crochet one row per color and carry the yarn up the side. I don't imagine it'll be terribly visible given the ruffle around the edge.

I'm having way too much fun making these. They're almost as addictive as pom-pom scarves. Almost.

Progress...and not

Look what I got done today...slippers!

These are Pocketbook Slippers, and they're fast & easy, so somewhat addicting. It's also kind of fun how they magically transform from a little purse to foot-sized slippers. Not terribly stylish, but concessions must be made. So, progress on the Pound of Caring Challenge. I think I might actually use up the rest of the hideously yellow Pound of Love to make more of these for The Pink Slipper Project.

What's not getting done...

2-at-a-time magic loop practice socks for my knitting group's sock knit-along. We thought we'd learn to do this together so we could help each other out along the way. I started these on June 5th. The last time I touched them: June 6th. I think this whole knit-along thing may have been my idea, despite my dislike of socks in general, and I'm incredibly jealous of everyone else in the group who already has at least one, if not more, completed adult-sized pairs of socks. It's just shameful, really.

Bad Knitting Mojo

Everything I've tried to do this week, I've jacked up in some way. Was hoping to finish a pair of Fetching (for me!) in some super soft Plymouth Yarn Suri Merino - ran out of yarn. Multiple attempts at starting the Spritely Hat (first attempt at starting Xmas knitting!) - can't get gauge. Tried casting on for a Snowflake, and while the cast on went without a hitch and I knitted along the first row, I then realized I forgot one tiny "K1" at the beginning of the row. No wonder multiples of 20 were not adding up to 261. Gah! So everything is ripped out, and I'm giving up on knitterly pursuits for today.

Meanwhile, I tried for sympathy from the only other living being in the house, my disapproving furkid Goose, who just stared at me with a look that distinctly said, "Aren't you forgetting something? Dinner. Now." I think I can at least manage that...

To top it all off, I totally forgot about a major yarn sale this weekend at a LYS! Dang. Technically the sale runs through Tuesday, but with my luck all the good stuff will be gone. Will swing by tomorrow, just in case...

And...I ended up frogging this:

Wispish - a slight variation on Knitty's Wisp. I was originally making it to wear to my sister's wedding, decided that it wasn't going to work, and then further decided today that it was never going to work. It was so close to being done...oh well. As it turns out, I have something else in mind for this yarn that I think I might actually wear. So, frogged & repurposed.

On a more productive note, I started a Ravelry group, Pound of Caring Challenge. The general gist is that you commit to knitting a pound of yarn for charitable organizations of your choice each year. It was originally a personal challenge to myself, but, lo and behold, I found some others who were willing to knit along with me. My first project for the challenge is Little V-stitch Blanket:

Not such a fan of Lion Brand Pound of Love. While it's convenient and cheap (especially with a 40% coupon), it splits like crazy, it's kind of plastic-y, and just doesn't look all that great. I was particularly enchanted with how the yarn pulled out of the center in a big tangled mess. :)

Perhaps my luck will return after another sleep?