Hello

Looking through my ravelry profile (some that has also been neglected as of late) I wandered over to my blog as a whim. Something I've been meaning to do since I started working at Crafty Planet (which will be two years in January!)

Needless to say a lot in my life has changed in the last four years. Highlights include: Graduating from college, living by myself (no roommates!) for the first time, having a full time job.

But I'm still knitting and quilting and trying to make the world a better place.

Recently through my knitting group The Yarn Mission, I had the opportunity to design some patterns. Now that they are officially on Ravlery I thought I would share them here.

Presenting:

Stunfisk: Its skin is very hard, so it is unhurt even if stepped on by sumo wrestlers. It smiles when transmitting electricity.

 (c) Patience Zalanga


Luvdisc:  Its heart-shaped body makes it popular. In some places, you would give a Luvdisc to someone you love.

(c) Mary Richardson

When i was dreaming of names for my first sock pattern, I jokingly thought that it looked like the pokemon Stunfisk. For a while I thought of that name, along with a few others I was bouncing around. But then I came back to it. And after a conversation with my sister I realized the cultural significance of Pokemon in my life and knew that it had to be the name. So when I dreamed up a second sock I knew it had to be named after a different pokemon.

Both patterns are for sale on The Yarn Mission's website. And kits partnered with the Neighborhood Fiber Co. a black indie dyer are also on the site.

I will do my best to blog more in the near future =) and update to show some of the stuff I've been making.

Show Off

It is 25 degrees out according to my phone. But I can't resist showing off my hand knit socks. I am warm enough.

WIP Wed: Baby Knitters Just Don't Understand

Recently I have had almost the exact same conversation with two of my friends who have learned how to knit from me.  (well I taught one how to knit and she taught the other how to knit. So I sort of taught him)

It went like...
Me: Do you ever knit something and then put it down, forget about it. And then randomly remember that you have this half completed thing. Then for some reason you HAVE TO FINISH IT. It just has to happen.
Them: No, I've never really gotten that.
Me: Well you're a baby knitter. You don't understand.

I have been knitting this sock longer than they have been knitting. Or at the very least I have been knitting this sock for about as long as they have been knitting.

This sock (that I didn't take pictures of until much later) is one of those projects. I  started this at the start of last spring semester (it might have been around mid semester of first semester or second I don't keep real good track)

I cast on knit it furiously and finished it. Cast on for the second sock and then let it sit.
When I started the Year of Projects (which is on hold right now because I am a student and I am trying to have priorities) I tried to finish up this project. by the time I got to the cable part, the pattern was no longer free online. I had to sort of look at it from the other one and figure it out. And honestly they are probably going to be a little different.

But now this sock is nearly done. And soon I will have a wonderful great new pair of socks to wear. (That are RAINBOW)

For other awesome WIP posts I am linking up with Tamis Amis Besure to check them out!

YOP: I'm still here!

I'm doing knitting and I'm still alive. I really should learn my lesson though. I don't like deadlines. I have never liked deadlines it doesn't matter who imposes these rules or how good these rules are for me. I just don't like them. Why then did I decide to do this again?

It also seems with these YOP posts I have three modes:
1. I blog a lot and knit very little
2. I knit a lot and blog very little
3. I do neither and feel ashamed.

I've currently hit mode three after being in mode two for a little while. With this post maybe I will move into mode one which at the very least is better than mode two.

Changes since you've last seen my socks.

Potpourri socks

Look! a sock! I have a whole completed sock that has been a whole completed sock for about a two/three weeks (wow has it really been that long since I've made a YOP post ooops) and I have just started the heel on sock 2. It has a honeycomb heel which I think are adorable and girly completely appropriate for this sock. but I sort of find them a pain in the patootie... But still I like them better than the other option which is short row socks.

I wore my rainbow collision socks (my first finished pair) this weekend. They were delightfully warm and perfect for the retreat in cabins that I was attending. also they left a really cook rainbow stain in my chucks.

Spot Check socks.

look! since the last time I showed you them you may notice that I have a different color on them. I went with the grey instead of the red because the red was just too close to the red in the multi color. While I loved the way it looked most of the time, their was just this one point where it would run in and just be a strip of red. I'm still not sold on the grey but I really don't have another option so I'm just going to push forward with it (I think...) is YOP really getting close to half over already? yikes!

Love,
Annie

FO: Friday I'm a pattern designer! (almost)

This FO:Friday is brought to you by the first pattern that I am planning on publishing.

They are simple worsted weight slipper socks that I am going to call "Sleepy Time Socks" made out of Spud and Cloe Sweater yarn. I have made patterns before but have never published them mostly just using them for my own pleasure/ crafty endeavors.

Why then have I decided to publish this pattern? I will be teaching a class on it! They are just a simple pair of beginner socks but to prevent copyright issues/other things I have decided it would easiest to provide my own pattern. So far I've been learning so much about the process. It is one thing to knit a pattern (even a made up one in your head) it is a completely different thing to write down the pattern in coherent sentences.

I am still writing down the last bits of the pattern but if you're interested in my class you can sign up for it on the Sewtropolis website or give them a call during business hours. Also be sure to check out Nikol's blog. She's doing a giveaway right now (yay!) and there is also a blog post about me (!) And about puppies. Who can resist a blog post about puppies? I sure can't!

Right now I think my pattern will only be available through taking the sewtropolis class. We'll see how it goes after that though. To see these socks in person right they are currently on display at the Sewtropolis store!

For more awesome FO: Friday posts be sure to hop on over to Tami's Amis for the Mr. Linky

Diving in

Hello!

If you're here that means their is a decent chance that you've followed me over from my other blog. After recently being hired at Sewtropolis I decided that if I ever wanted to start selling things (online or in a store) that I should create a handle to unify all of these under.

After dragging my feet a little and consulting the wise Ravelry friends I have I have decided on this. So welcome to handspun rainbows. my new craft blog. Initially I though I would just change my other blog over since it is for the large part a craft blog. But I couldn't bear to let go of my old URL or blog title so instead now they are separate. Look for more posts on Neither East nor West but all craft related things will now be here.

Someday (soon) I hope to open an Etsy shop under the same name.

I am so excited about my new job, and the new ideas I have. Not only do I get to work at an awesome place, I also get to teach classes! My first one, socks! (of course) But more on that later.