Play it forward

A few months ago, various friends on facebook decided to take part is something they are calling "play it forward". The rules a pretty simple:

* Someone offers 5 art project spots. 

* The person offering will then make a piece of hand made art for each of the 5 people that signed up. 

* In turn, the 5 signees will then offer 5 spots of their own and so on and so forth. 

* What form/color/shape/size/medium/type each art piece takes is completely up to the one offering. 

* There are no time limits, however the general aim of the one I am involved in is to attempt to get all 5 done by the end of 2011.

Having said all of that, I have signed up to receive a piece of art from a friend in San Fran. I also have 5 people signed up to receive things from me. In addition to the above rules/guidelines, I have imposed a few extra ones on myself:

* All items pieces will be knitted or crocheted. 

* All items will be made from yarn already in my stash.

* There will be no repeated patterns - no patterns I have already done or 2 items made for two people from the same pattern. There might be repeated item types (2 hats, or 2 scarves etc).

* Where possible, look for inspiration from patterns that are up for being test knitted. Ie, help a designer out by test knitting for them. 

I can happily report that I have completed 2, with three to go. One of the completed items was a test knit for a new designer in Maryland. 

The hardest part for me has been restraining myself from contacting the recipients and asking them exactly what they want, what color and basically getting them to tell me what do to make etc. I have asked for basic color preferences, size of feet, hands and heads etc.  I think that this is okay. :)

Art project #1 -  Saroyan   by Liz Abinante

Art project #2 - Gillyweed by Sarah Woodbury. 

Sorry to say that the ravelry links will only be visible to those with ravelry accounts... Sorry about that.

Starting to work on project #3. Gotta learn how to do a tubular cast on.....

there ARE Dragons....

My third effort of test knitting has produced not one, but two Dragons. Knitted toys have never done it for me, until now. I saw this little creature and knew I had to stick my hand up as quickly as possible to test knit him/her.




The red one was my first effort. I learned a lot about shaping and the important of needle size. General rule: if you think you should go down yet another needle size, do it. I dropped 2 needle sizes on the red one and three on the green one (based on the yarn's recommended needle size). The designer went beyond the call of duty to provide both finished product and step by step construction photos.

The designer is currently designing wings. I have also put my hand up to test these once they are available. The 4yo and the 2yo LOVE their Dragons.

The pattern is available on Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-toy


ps. please excuse the poor quality photos, our camera is on the way out.

It's been a while....

So, no excuses... It's been a while.

I made a Christmas knitting for the first time last year and managed to get it (almost) done by Taiwanese Independence Day (25th Dec - old joke). On the list were:

Warm hat for Bro (who was on his way to India)



Fairy inspired hat and scarf set for the 2yo





Buzz Lightyear inspired hat and scarf set for the 4yo




Scarf for Father In-Law



All presents were warmly received (pardon the pun :) ). The fairy hat was my first test knit for someone else. The designer followed up with fingerless mitts with the same fairy pattern that I also test knit for myself.



Now it's onto the socks that have had me beat for nearly 2 years! I will learn how to custom fit them, I swear!!!