How to Make Any Color of Animal Eyes

Supplies Needed:

Clear Animal Eyes

Nail Polish
Keep polish remover and a cotton ball nearby to clean accidents right away.

The Velorum Scarf - Free Crochet Pattern

This scarf was 100% inspired by my recent scarf swap partner whose Ravelry ID contains the word astronomy and her color choices were cosmic! I looked to the night sky for a name representing the V-stitch used in this super easy scarf pattern! There was only on name I had ever heard of: Velorum. If you are geeky like me, then you'll recognize the name from Star Wars:

I call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Velorum.

Aside from that, Velorum is a star system in the constellation Vela.

Creating Beauty with Ugly Yarn

I have been working really hard this year to eliminate some of the unwanted yarn from my stash. Originally, I picked some yarns out of my stash that I wasn't exactly fond of:

A few beautiful projects came out of the challenge box. But when I pulled all my yarn from every nook and cranny, I realized this box was not an accurate depiction of my actual challenge yarns.

What Does an Ugly Yarn Look Like?

Well, it's easier to show it than explain it. I tend to take pretty photos of pretty yarn. And, sloppy, discombobulated photos like this when working with a slightly hideous yarn.

You can just look at that photo and tell that I'm not having fun on the project, right?

But, every skein of yarn can be redeemed! I truly believe that even ugly yarn can be turned into beautiful art. That photo above is the WIP photo of this cowl below. I honestly love this cowl and wore it for days after I finished it.

Chunky Braided Cowl

And then there was this yarn...

Image source: TooManyBooks (Ravelry)

Generally speaking, I like earth-tones and muted colors. Why did I buy two skeins of Yarn Bee Whimsy Bulky in the colorway Creamsickle?  I'm really not sure. I bet that I bought it during a retail therapy session where my therapist (that'd be me) thought some rainbowy fiber might cheer me up. I should have gone for a Creamsickle ice cream instead.

But, if I had gotten ice cream, then I wouldn't have this Alien/Monster! 

Ruffle Alien

Those two skeins sat in my stash for over a year before I finally tackled them. I definitely think I won the battle with that yarn and turned it into exactly what it needed to be. My younger son (he's 3) and I both love this guy so much! 

I thought I was going to sell him. Maybe I will at some point, but for now, he keeps watch over the new plushies who are waiting for their forever homes.

Beauty Belongs to the Creator

I hope this inspires you to look at your yarn a little differently. What can you create with that ugly yarn you have been avoiding?

Color Review - #4KCBWDAY4

Day Four (Thursday April 25th): Colour ReviewWhat are your favourite colours for knitted or crocheted projects. Have a think about what colours you seem to favour when yarn shopping and crafting. 

Only after writing this part of your post should you then actually look to see what colours you have used in your projects. Make a quick tally of what colours you have used in your projects over the past year and compare it to the colours you have written about.

Compare this, in turn, to the colours that are most dominant in your yarn stash – do they correlate?

Now think back to your house animal - do the colours you have chosen relate to your animal in anyway - if you are in the house of peacock, for example, are your projects often multicoloured and bright?

What colors do I gravitate toward while yarn shopping?

I am mostly drawn to neutral colors.

My favorite real (non-neutral) color is green. 

I guess the other real (non-neutral) color that I like a lot is icy blue.

My most recent shopping trip. I went in for blue and walked out with a bag of neutrals.

What Colors Have I Used for Myself in the Past Year?

 Archer, the dog - His future home awaits him on top of my yarn dressers.

Knit Cabled Cowl - I wanted to keep this, but gave it away last fall.

Painted Cables Scarf - Design by Tina Sanders

I made this cowl for myself on the way to Chicago.

We visited the bean...

I think the only shocking project thing I made for myself is this.

Chunky Braided Cowl Design by Elisabeth Spivey

That pink cowl is so bright and I actually like it a lot! It is completely off-key from what I normally make. I am in destash mode this year and I had this yarn pegged as hideous and ugly and I was so tired of seeing it in my stash. This sloppy WIP photo is an indication of my dislike for the yarn. 

I am a strong believer that even ugly yarns can be turned into beautiful creations. Not that there really is an ugly yarn, but even the yarns that we aren't attracted to can make beautiful pieces.

What Colors Are Most Dominant In My Stash?

I feel like I should say that most of my stash is for my business. However, I still find myself with quite the selection of neutrals.

And I have a lot of green...

I clearly do not favor bright colors. This is the rest of my worsted weight yarns.

Do These Colors Reflect on Being a Bee?

Bees themselves are clothed in yellow and black and they are drawn toward bright-colored flowers. However, their honeycomb is neutral and that is a color I love. 

The bright flowers they find as food would not be able to survive if it weren't for the green stems and leaves.

Bee hives (which might actually belong to hornets/wasps) that I have seen hanging in trees are earthy looking. They appear to have been made from layers and layers of decaying leaves and mud. And, I have a strong attraction for brown!

Kool-Aid Yarn Dyeing with Helpful Tips

You are probably curious about dyeing your own yarn, but probably scared. Let me relieve some of the pressure for you. It's actually really easy and hardly any work at all.

Fall Color Selection

I am working with these colors to create warm and comforting fall hats. Fall offers the most inspirational color palate as we prepare for the ice blues of winter.