Christmas Gift

Let me start by saying I thought this posted a week ago. It seems however the blogger app is crashing and not wanting to add pictures then not posting or saving at all. I see the post in my app but not on the computer and I can't do anything but edit it but it won't stick....so weird. All that to say I am re typing this out for you.

Oh my goodness my lovely yarny friends, I just wanted to check n and update you on what's been going on. I have hardly knit at all, gasp, shock , horror. I know I know but I have been crafty. I commissioned my husband and his brother to build my daughter a Wellie Wisher clubhouse (plans from American Girl Ideas but modified) They got a little carried away and then while deciding colors and theme I got carried away. So the wellie wishers clubhouse has turned into Wonder Woman headquarters. Painting as taken WAY longer than anticipated and ideas keep popping in my head that side track me. This had better be passed down for GENERATIONS lol. I feel nowhere near done but we are getting there the top floor is mostly plain with flooring and some stars but finished. The bottom floor is supposed to look like Wonder Woman's costume from Super Hero Girls. It has taken many coats but I think I can finally start peeling off masking tape and add the white stars to the vertical stripes. I also finished some extra pieces like Bumblebees bird house, Road sign and all the little stars painted white. I am sure it will really come together soon but it feel so far away and Christmas so close. I will update you again when I am actually finished because if it turns out half a cool as it is in my head it will be EPIC. SO I am not dead just drowning in paint and high expectations. Here are some pictures to enjoy. See you soon.

Vanilla Streak Sock Pattern

 Welcome my lovely knitters. I have been working on a simple sock pattern. It is my first written pattern so please be kind. I wanted to post it here so that you all can test it and let me know how to make it better.  It is a simple vanilla sock but with a streak down the sides. If you are looking for a little more interest but still need simple and mindless this is the pattern for you. No fancy stuff but the end product gives a nice touch to your sock. Here is the final product:

Here is a close up of the streak:

Simple enough for everyday socks but not at all complicated. These particular socks are knit in Skye Castle Yarns, Aurora's Cupcake on the Beautiful Sock base. I would love to see your finished socks.

Yarn: Fingering weight approximately 400 yards depending how tall you want the socks. (Sample knit on Aurora’s Cupcake by Skye Castle Yarns on US size 2 needles.

Gauge: 8 stitches per inch

You can use whatever needles you prefer in whatever style you prefer. I use 9 inch circulars but use what works for you.

Key:

K: knit
P: Purl

SL: slip stitch

PM: place marker

SM: Slip marker

LEG:

CO 64 stitches, join in the round

20 rows 1X1 rib (or rib of your choice)

Set up round: K30, PM, K31, PM, SL, P ( You should now have 2 markers and no beginning round marker but remember your round starts 2 stitches after your second marker places you will need to go back to the start when you place your heel.)

Round 1: SL, P,SL,K to marker, SL,P,SL,P,SL knit to marker

Round 2: Knit round till second marker (64 stitches)

Pattern repeat:

Sl, P, Sl, P, Sl knit to marker * repeat

Knit to marker* repeat

Repeat pattern 30 times or as long as desired then knit 2 more stitches and replace marker for beginning of the round

Place scrap yarn on half the stitches (32 stitches in this case) for the afterthought heel or place your heel of choice

Continue knitting foot of the sock until desired length or Knit 55 rounds

TOE:

Round 1: k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1; k till 2 stitch left on needle 2, k2tog; On needle 2 K1, ssk, k to 2 stitches to the end, k2tog

Round 2: knit all

Repeat round 1 and 2 until there are 24 stitched left on the needles.

Kitchner the toe.

HEEL:

Place stitches on DPS once scrap yarn is removed. Needle 1 and 2 are 8 stitches and Needle 3 has 16 stitches. (If using 4 needles all needles should have 8 stitches)

Round 1:K16 pick up 2 stitches, k16 pick up 2 stitch (the picked up stitches should be in the heel gaps)

Round 2: K16, k2tog, k16 k2tog

Round 3: K16, k2tog, k16 k2tog

Round 4: k1, ssk, k to end of needle 1; k till 2 stitch left on needle 2, k2tog; On needle 2 K1, ssk, k to 2 stitches to the end, k2tog

Round 5: knit all

Repeat round 4 and 5 until there are 24 stitched left on the needles.

Kitchner the heel.

Repeat with other sock

**NOTE** To add depth and length in the heel and toes feel free to add knit rounds before beginning decrease or add a second knit round after the first few decreases.

Keep Yarning!
LadyAmberSkye

Capping Cancer and Shop Sneak Peek

It has been fair too long since posting. In that time I have been busy dying yarn and trying my hand at podcasting.... I am not sure that is my thing. So with that being said I am going to refocus my efforts here on this blog and let the podcast marinate a while. Part of the reason for this decision is equipment. I have poor recording equipment, 2 loud preschoolers and a not so great lightning situation. Consistency is the key and surly that is what you desire so I am going to stick with blogging here. With that out of the way hello to all my lovely readers I love you all. I plan to attempt at least weekly updates with what I am working on, what I have finished and what is going in my shop. This week I do have some sneak peeks for you later on.

Currently I am working on a simple sock pattern I will soon make free on Ravelry. It is a simple vanilla sock with a little pinstripe of sorts the name is yet to be determined so feel free to comment if you have a suggestion. Here is a picture of the socks on my Beautiful Sock base in the Aurora's Cupcake colorway,

Can you see the pinstripe? It is on both sides, quick simple almost vanilla sock. I will add the link to the pattern as soon as it goes live HERE.

Next some finished objects. For those of you whom follow me on Instagram or Facebook might know my grandmother was just recently diagnosed with cancer. She was going through chemo but her body can't handle it. The lady is in her 90's. So since I am so far away from her and she lives in a very cold state I knit her up some hats.
The first is just a basic hat in I love this cotton in the pastel colorway.

I also knit a cap in wool so she can choose what she likes the best. I knit the Milanese Lace Topper by tante ehm in my Passion worsted yarn, Aurora's Cupcake.

That's is what I finished. I do have several things on my needles and if you want to keep up on my works in progress and yarn shop updates I suggest following me on Instagram. I am LadyAmberSkye as well as on Ravlery if you want to see any of the info on my finished projects.

So finally I will finish with some shop sneak peeks. My kids have been ill so the process to get them listed has been slowed down but don't worry getting your order out is still the top priority. Thank you for visiting with me today on my little blog.

Keep Yarning!

LadyAmberSkye

Shops open

Hi everyone. I know it's been a while. We had an amazing summer away from home and I took a trip to Korea which was great.  I'll write up more about Korea later but for now I wanted to share with you my dye shop has finally opened and is ready for business. There are one of a kind skeins and other more regular colorways that you may see return over and over. I have a seasonal Halloween colorway I adore and am knitting socks out of for myself called Halloween Oreo. Please come check me out and see if you like anything. More will be up as it is ready.
Artfully,
LadyAmberSkye

Best Mistake Ever

So I have been dying tons of yarn and had an experiment totally flop. The yarn looked terrible. So I decided well i can't make it worse so I overdyed it and oh my goodness. It is my favorite colorway EVER. I wish I had a sweaters quantity but since it was a mistake I am not sure I can recreate it. Oh well. But it just goes to show ALWAYS experiment and try new things it could turn into something amazing.

Spinning Fun

Spent today not doing chores or cleaning house but crafting. I am not sorry lol. I got about 2 oz spun up. I dyed this a few years ago but never got to spinning it with my spindle. For Christmas my husband got me a spinning wheel. I'm loving it, and this is the first decent spinning I've done on it. I also got some knitting done as well and will be able share a finished shawl soon. I plan to dye up some more roving does anyone have any color ideas for me to try? What is everyone working on today?
Artfully,
Amber

Socks

I have been trying my hand at multiple projects. I have never allowed myself more than 1 project at a time but find myself completely over the colors, pattern and everything by the time larger projects are done. After watching many hours of podcasts I have created an on the go project. Socks!!! These are from the toe up socks craftsy class by Susan B. Anderson. Went to try these in my foot even though they are for my husband and oh my goodness I'm already planning my next pair for me. If you haven't tried socks yet I very much recommend it they are great for pickup and drop off lines, waiting for doctor appts and all other little down times. The yarn horder podcast, the crazy sock lady, purls and pinfeathers and so many other podcasts have me falling down the sock rabbit hole and I am not complaining. Funny enough they also have me considering a crochet blanket and I haven't pick up my hooks in years. So what it your favorite thing to knit?
Till next time, artfully,
Amber

Midna Pure Joy Shawl

It is a new year and I feel it is time for a reboot of this blog. I have been spinning, knitting and dying yarn and think this is a good place to start sharing that. My wonderful husband got me my first wheel for Christmas and if you follow me on Instagram you have seen my first attempt at yarn on that wheel. And let me tell you it is like learning to spin all over again. I am going to attempt a few new things this year from socks to participating in some KAL's. The first KAL is an Animakealong by Purls and Pinfeathers I missed most of the first month of this KAL so I only have a month to finish the Midna inspired shawl I am knitting. And with being the sole supervision to my 2 toddlers for another 6 months I might not make it. Now speaking of my shawl here is a picture of Midna for those who aren't familiar with Zelda Twilight Princess:

So I bought Knitpicks Preciosa Tonal in the color Goldfish and dyed my own Cascade 220 for the teal and black.

The pattern I choose is a paid pattern on Ravelry. Pure Joy by Joji Locatelli calls for fingering yarn but I am using worsted so we will see how it goes. Here is my progress so far after a few hours of listening to my favorite Podcasters.

The orange is getting a little lost at the moment but I am hopeful it will block out. Hope everyone had a crafty year and big plans for the future. I will try and update more regularly this year.