Didn't take a craft break

 Hi everyone! :)

I apologize for not posting in a few months. Since my last post, I graduated a Master's program in the Spring through a virtual graduation, learned brush calligraphy, and spent the beginning of the summer living my life through Animal Crossing New Horizons (ACNH). 

Found a way to add calligraphy into video games

After the five star island rating, I moved onto my constant interests - knitting and crocheting. I tested out a few doilies for Grace Fearon, translated Russian doily patterns for Viktoria Gul (Vitagul), and knitted and hand sewed stuffed animals using patterns from Little Cotton Rabbits.  

Fluffy the Bunny in his yoke sweater

Stripey the Grey Tabby Cat

Carrot Cake Striped Socks with Nibbles the crocheted bunny looking on

For the past ten years, my specialities have been knitting socks/animals and crocheting doilies. I will not lie - it has been really difficult to knit animals ever since I lost track of Meow-Meow last year. Contrary to what my non-craft friends think, I did not make Meow-Meow - I picked him out of a group of bean bag animals fifteen years ago. If only I made him. :( I still have not been able to find him.

Meow- Meow at the Skydeck Chicago (June 2019)

In recent years, I have spent more time crocheting than knitting. I am a fast crocheter, and it is quicker to pick up and drop when busy. On another note, I have never felt accepted by knitters (except for the sock knitters, hey y'all!). It is interesting because I always thought knitters were more diverse (age, experience, ethnicity, etc.) than crocheters, and would be therefore more accepting as a community, but it simply has not been true for me. Crocheters have always been a welcoming group. It is true that my tension is better in crochet and that I can conquer most crochet techniques (except Tunisan, eek). That is not true for knitting. Even though I have spent more time knitting, there are many knitting stitches and projects I have yet to try out. Ironic considering my designer name, haha. :)

That is all for now. Until next time! 

Crocheting in Russian

Yesterday, I found a pattern by Ukrainian designer - Holly by Viktoriia Gul. I've always admired her work, and she's just started designing her own doily pieces recently. I saw Holly and I really wanted to make it, but the problem was that she only wrote the pattern in Russian. Crochet terminology, as fiber artists know, is a completely different language in itself.

Usually, this would not be a problem since many Russian and Eastern European designers chart their patterns rather than write them, to make the instructions universal.  However, as a new designer myself, I've realized how hard it is just to write a crochet pattern that I couldn't imagine trying to chart it, especially since my designs are textured and not flat like many charted patterns.

So I did more research on Russian crochet terminology. What I found out was that there's not a good resource for translating patterns from Russian to English. Here's what I gathered from Holly to use on other patterns as well.

I don't know any Russian, so please use this translation below at your own risk. I plan on updating this list as I try out more written Russian patterns. :)

Russian to American Crochet Terminology Translation

Соединить = Join

Начальный = chainless 

Начальный ССН = Chainless Starting Double Crochet (CSDC)
HCCH = CSDC

Basic Stitches

CT = skip

ССТ = SLST

ВП  = chain

СБН = SC

ПСН = HDC (half double crochet)

CCH = DC (double crochet)

CC2H = TR (triple crochet)

CC3H = DTR (double treble crochet)

CC4H = TRTR (triple treble crochet)

Кластер = cluster

Кластеров = clusters

Попкорн = popcorn

Попкорнов = popcorns

Сплит = split

Сплитов = splits

арки= space

арок = spaces

РЛ = FP (Front Post)

РИ = BP (Back Post)

пико = picots 

Decreases
Убавка-2-СБН = SC2TOG

Убавка-3-СБН = SC3TOG

Directions (not stitches)

в = in or into

соединить в кольцо. = in the circle (to start doily)

Отметить = mark (for special stitch or next rounds)

вокруг  = around

вокруг начального = around the first stitch

ССТ в 1-ю арку = slst into space

в ту же арку = in same space

в ту же арку куда был провязан последний = in previous space just used

в последнюю арку предыдущего ряда = in previous space of last row

в следующую арку = in next space

в последнюю арку предыдущего ряда и следующую арку = in previous space and next space

Last updated: April 23rd, 2018

Free Pattern - Carnation Coaster

Hello again!

This week brings a new coaster pattern for you all, and this time, it's FREE! :)

It's called the Carnation Coaster.

I've been on a coaster crocheting frenzy lately, since I've made so many doilies in the past year. The doilies I make usually require two 50g balls of thread, and a doily usually uses about 75g of thread - so there's a nice amount left over to make something small. I completed Margaret from Grace Fearon earlier this week and then crocheted up Carnation. (Margaret is below)

I think a lot of my patterns have come from finding a way of utilizing yarn scraps (like when I made Cinnamon the Sock Cat).

I hope you all enjoy the pattern, and please check out my other crochet patterns as well on the way - Spoonwood, Starburst, and Pinwheel Sail. 

New Craft Obsession - Crocheting Doilies

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've updated last (once again, lol). College has kept me quite busy, but once in a while, it's nice to relax and take some time to knit and crochet. Recently, I've been immersed in the world of crocheted doilies. I told myself a long time ago that I would leave crocheting to the people who were good at it and could make an even circle. It took me a few years, but I finally got to a point in crocheting where my hand tension was consistent. 

Above are some of the doilies I have made this year. I've gotten to the point where I have almost made 70(!) doilies. I should probably just make it to 100 right? Haha.


Until next time,

Long awaited project status update

Hi everyone! I'm back, sort of, but good enough, right? :)

I'm in college. Yep, as everyone has probably figured out, I have been quite busy for not updating for months on end. So what has happened since my last post (from October)?


While I was in school, I took a ceramics class and completed some projects with the 25lb of clay I bought. :)


Hand built Chameleon (he's actually an upside down pot, haha)

A wheel thrown mug for Meow-Meow

Lots 'o wheel thrown pieces

Cute little cup and plate set filled with hot chocolate

Also, I was able to squeeze a couple of knitting projects (socks everywhere, lol) during Winter Break and Spring Break. 


"Wednesday Socks" using Fancy Feet Anklets Set pattern made with Knit Picks Stroll in Aurora Heather.

"Overly Due Christmas Socks" using Rose City Rollers pattern made with Red Heart & Sole With Aloe in Christmas.

"Guacamole Socks" using Picot Socks pattern made with Fibernymph Dye Works Bounce in Guacamole.

"Fishy Socks" using Simple Handspun Socks pattern made with my handspun yarn from Meow Brands.

"Curly Cat Cat" using my own pattern made with a combo strand of Vermont O-Wool Balance and Be Sweet Medium Mohair. 

"Twilight the Cat" using my own pattern made with Cascade Superwash 220 in 874. 

That's all for now! Until next time. :)

Catching up!

Hello everyone!

Sorry I haven't posted for months... I've been extremely busy with school and other things that I never got the chance to make a new entry. However, I do now! :)

In the past months I have knit....

Nothing.


Well, I'm bluffing a bit on that, haha. No knitting for myself, but I did knit a collection of six cats that I gave away to my teachers. 

Group photo! 

Also, I will post something never before seen in the history of the Imaginative Knits Blog. My face! :) I will because a few days ago, I graduated from high school and I have some great pictures of the event! In regards to my prior post, I have decided on the college I will be attending, and I will be staying in-state. :)

That's me on the left with one of my best friends 

That's it for now. I'll be back in a few weeks with a very picture-heavy post! :)

New life events

Hello Readers! Happy New Year 2015!

I apologize for the long and unexpected "hiatus" I've taken from my blog. Sadly I haven't had much motivation/time for blogging or knitting for that matter for a few months, but now, after Winter Break, I'm back in the groove! :)

So what have I been doing these past few months? Some (or probably most) people probably know that I'm a kid, but can almost taste adulthood. ;) I've been applying to colleges these past few months and have gotten into most of them so far, but I haven't made my final decision on which college I'll go to just yet. There won't be an announcement regarding where I am going due to privacy reasons of course; however, I will say if I decided to venture far away or not. Should be an answer to the college question before May. 

Into knitting news, I just completed a pair yesterday of thick socks using my handspun 100% Corriedale in the "Zoe" colorway by Woolen Mill St. The pattern used was "Simple Short Row Heel Socks" on Ravelry. 

I've also finished a sock using the pattern "Andromeda." The yarn I used for it, String Theory Caper Sock in Fusion (a skein I bought at Knitwit in Maine) is soooo soft and cuddly! I don't think it's meant for socks as it has cashmere, but maybe for a garment or accessory (such as a scarf, hat, or cowl/shawl) it would be perfect.

Okay and for in completely non-knitting news, I have bought some more ghost shrimp to fill my empty tank today! This is my third batch of shrimp and I've been raising them for the past four years. I've already taken some pictures of them and I'll show you guys the best ones:

Summertime Knitting!

It's Summer vacation time here in the U.S., which means I'm off school for the next three months! That equals knitting time! :D Unfortunately, I will be working on my college essays as I will be applying to college this year and be college-bound next year. However, I am trying to squeeze a little knitting time before that. I have a gigantic stash I have to reduce before I go to college, so I'm trying to work it down now. :)

Below I have a picture of a WIP, "Fruity Striped Socks" made from two 50g skeins of Paton's Stretch Socks in the Fruit Slices colorway The pattern I used is Cristi's Stripey Sock Recipe. I believe I bought these skeins about two years ago. One sock down, one more to go! 

Next is another WIP using the same pattern, but with Paton's Kroy socks in the Blue Striped Ragg colorway. I'll also be using 2 50g skeins for this as well.

Finally, here is a soon-to-be released pattern preview. I'm going to call it, "Simply 200yds or less Socks"

That is it for now! I will post the sock pattern in a later post soon. :) 

Freshly Handspun skeins!

Time to catch up on my handspinning projects and what I've been up to! :) 

I have been recently, for the past month, been experimenting with dyeing yarn!   It has been an exciting adventure for me using professional acid dyes. I mainly started dyeing yarn because of a school project for inventing something. More on what I invented on a later post. ;) 

Remember my first handspun (blue/brown one) with my miniSpinner? I actually knit the yarn into something! I bet you'll never guess what..... Well it's maybe too obvious when the yarn is a Superwash BFL. What else would I make besides socks?!

Soooo pretty! :) They don't match but who cares? They're so soft and beautiful! :) I love the colorways that Sweet Georgia has. Every color is absolutely gorgeous. 

About a month ago, I completed a skein of hand-dyed Corriedale by Woolen Mill St. I started on after finishing my Sweet Georgia Coal Harbour skein.

It's in the "Rue" colorway. It's a 14 WPI yarn (yes, I finally got that WPI tool!) and 322 yards I also have the same exact roving in her "grape" and "Zoe" colorways that I'll be spinning up in the summer. 

After that skein, I dyed my first roving! Probably the ugliest thing I've ever seen. (Definitely NOT my colorway)

I mean it looks OK.... Well, I guess I have to agree that when I spun it up, it looked much much better:

Sarasota! (By: Meow-Meow)

Last week, owner and I went to Western Florida. On the way, we stopped by A Good Yarn in Sarasota. :)

The store was huge! Probably the largest in Florida, as far as I know of. They have knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and needlepoint supplies in-stock! Usually yarn stores in the Southeast do not offer a wide selection like that. Owner has always had to order her yarn online or wait to go up north (which rarely happens), so whenever we pass by Tampa, we always have to stop by A Good Yarn. :) 

So, here is what owner bought at the store:

Oooh, yummy yummy yarn that I can dive into! :) Well, owner is the one that knits, but you get the point, hehe. 

Listed in the picture is (L to R):

-Addi Turbo Sock Rockets in US size 2 24"

-Berroco Vintage in 5100 colorway

-HiKoo Kenzie in "Seal"

-Biscotte & Cie Stitch Surfer Kit in "Go Habs Go"

-Swan's Island Bulky in Winterberry

-Schacht Zoom Loom

-Dje Handwovens "Twodot the Turtle" Kit

-Frabjous Fibers Polwarth Wool in "Chromatophobia Red"

For the first time, owner started and completed two projects in an incredible three days! Granted, both were quite small to medium-sized projects, but she finished them anyways! 

So I got to ride Twodot the Turtle:

Yay! :) He's so soft. I believe he's made from pure wool (green) and some type of silk or synthetic wool blend for the orange part.

And the second project, a bandana cowl for owner. I also got into the fun a little though.. :)