The Naughty Nymph

Spring has finally sprung, so this is a perfect time to spring this new post.

Several years ago I was taking belly dancing classes, yes I did say belly dancing, I designed a few costumes.  One costume in particular was very whimsical, flowery, with a goddess touch.

About a year ago while visiting San Francisco, I went to a Yves St. Laurent show at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.  I was walking thru the exhibit admiring his creations and there it was my belly dancing costume!!  The only difference was mine had tons of sparkle and his was a wedding dress.

Now my head was spinning with inspiration!!  I immediately started sketching only this time with knitting in mind.  I channeled fairies, flowers, white, lacy and gauzy fabric all with a bit of naughtiness. 

When I got back to NJ I started going thru yarn stash for inspiration colors and stitch pattern books for the stitch.  I found the colors, the stitch, and another book filled with flowers, leaves, and butterflies called "100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet" By Lesley Stanfield.  The stitch I found is from the book "Knitting Lace of Estonia" By Nancy Bush.  I immediately began swatching and fell in love!  I mean how could I not with a stitch called "Double Fig", the forbidden fruit of all things.

Now that I had the swatch and gauge, I decided to make a hat.  Why you ask, cause they are cute and flirty.  Also, it was going to be a great challenge to keep the pattern going while decreasing.  Needless to say it turned out beautiful!!  

Next I moved on to the top that I designed based on one of my pj tops, which just happened to be similar to my sketch.  After beginning the top, I realized I had to modify the design.  The decreases at the sides weren't looking right.  I finished the top by adding adjustable straps.  The bottom came next, a tie at the sides g-string.  It only seemed right, right?

My next move was to take my "inspiration colors" to Michael's to get embroidery floss for the flowers and such.

I made flowers, leaves, butterflies and bees!  After making a lot, I started the painstaking process of placing them on the hat, top and bottom.  Once all the adornments were perfectly placed I sewed them all in place.

Are you ready?  Good, but first you must look at this door.  Close your eyes and imagine the 

"The Naughty Nymph"

The Hat

The Top

The Bottom

The End............

BBB = Big Bulky Blanket

 Well, it's been almost a year since I started and mentioned BBB, and i've finally finished it!!!

Let me give you some history, so you do not think I was being a lazy ass!!

I lost my job in May 2009 and I had been commissioned to make a blanket in March 2009.  I did speak to my customer several times before I lost my job.  I gave my card and specifically told him how he could/be able to get in touch with me.

The summer goes by and I've made several calls to him leaving messages with info and that i'd like to get the project done but final dimensions, please call me.  Well after many times I decided not to call anymore.  I mean look, I gave him my number too many times plus I gave him my card.  Basically he can call me..

January 2010 comes along and I'm looking at this huge box of yarn thinking i'll call him one last time in March 2010, that would be one year, and if didn't hear from him I would try and sell the yarn.  Well, wouldn't you know he got in contact with me,  He told me he "forgot" and that it was his client that asked him "where is my blanket"?

I hauled ass and got it done.  I even took a bad spill down my stairs.  Yes I was doing too much, but if I didn't have a heavy ass blanket piece I might not of fell.  Needless to say, despite the massiveness of the blanket/decorative bedspread I got it done!!!!!!

Yes I suffered physical injuries, allergies, and constant fluff everywhere.  I mean everywhere blankets, rugs, couch, face towels, etc...  It's everywhere!!!  It is the blanket that gives the gift that keeps giving, LOL!!

I truly am proud that I completed this HUGE/MASSIVE project.  It is King size and more, knit on #17 straight needles!  I'm just so happy I can finally clean and be free of a project that lasted too long!  Thank God I can be back to my "tiny"needles!!!!

I can say now that i've knit a king size bedspread on #17 needles.  Not too many many people can say that.  Not to mention it took around 72+ skeins of yarn and weighs 20+ pounds!!!!  Oh yeah, and it was a natural color, cream.

These are 2 panels, and they use whole ironing board!

All I can say is that I did it, completed it, got paid, and it's gone from my home!!!!  No more fuzz/fluff,   no big needles, no heavy panels!!!!  Praise God!!!

            

These are the panels I put together right after my fall!  The bruise was much worse, sensitive to the touch and swollen!  My tail bone is still recovering!!!

This is the final product!  Doesn't it look like a huge area rug?

Rolled up it doesn't look so massive, but let me tell you it was a cardio work out!!

Now that's a stuffed box!

                                                                 That's The End!!

One Thing Tho

It is so annoying getting the picture position right, especially since the draft and preview show them differently.  Who knows maybe one day i'll get this computer crap figured out.

So No Story This Time Just.....

One

  Two

                            

Three

                    

Are you ready?

Bloody Tah Dah!!!!!!!!