My So-Called Blog

We have puppies!

2007-11-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

As often happens, the puppies were unplanned but mother and babies are doing well. Ginger had 8 puppies, 3 male, 5 female, average weight 13 ounces. Some have a curly coat, like their mother, and some have straight like their father (Junior).

Ginger has done a great job taking care of her litter, but after 10 days she seems a little put-upon and is happy to take advantage of offers of short car rides and walks. She has been very gracious about allowing family and friends to admire her children, as long as she gets an appropriate amount of attention herself. Junior has shown some interest in the puppies, and is a little frightened of them I think, but Ginger makes sure he keeps his distance.

Sorry about the poor photo quality. I've always had trouble photographing puppies, and the light in my office is poor. I managed to catch some sunlight coming in a window at the perfect moment over the weekend. While the pictures are still pretty lousy, at least I didn't get a 'low light' message on my camera.

This is the best picture, how cute is he?

A couple blurry photos...

Puppies feeding...

Mom taking a break, feeding 8 children is hard work!

The puppies are just starting to open their eyes now, and in a week or so I think we'll really have our hands full. :)

Vintage needlework

2007-10-23T07:54:00.000-04:00

I was set to wax all poetic about vintage needlework, you know - about the connection to previous generations of women, the importance of preserving the work of those that came before us, and encouraging future generations to appreciate the fiber arts and carry on the tradition. I don't wax poetic well and, to be honest, my attempt at doing so was just a little embarrassing.

I do talk to my kids, and anyone else that will pretend to listen, about my knitting until their eyes start to glaze over. I have knit multitudes of hats, scarves, and assorted items for friends and family. And I offer to teach anyone seeming to be even slightly interested in learning to knit and/or crochet.

Something else I can do is pull the few pieces of vintage needlework I've accumulated here and there out of the drawers and display them and/or encourage their (careful) use.

These crocheted doilies were found in the back of a drawer while clearing out the home of a deceased relative. They were in the back of a drawer in my home until recently. I didn't do a terrific job of mounting and framing them but I enjoy seeing them on my wall.

This sweater was found in the home of the same relative. The body of the sweater is knit, the button and neck bands are crocheted, and the yarn is really awful plastic-y acrylic. I was delighted when my daughter asked if she could wear it. It fits her perfectly.

I don't even know what this is. Maybe a cozy of some sort, though it's rather small for a teapot. I don't, and never have, embroidered (too tedious) but it seems to me that there are about a gazillion embroidered stitches on this piece.

The construction is interesting - it seems to be a single piece of fabric with fan-type folds. Anyone seen something like this before or have any idea what its purpose may have been?

I purchased this last piece at an estate sale for the unbelievable price of $70. My husband thought I was crazy, but I still can't believe my good luck. It is a rectangular piece measuring approx. 70" by 92". The work is exquisite. I can't imagine the number of hours represented by this work.

The corners and edges are just beautiful.

I can't imagine what useful purpose I might have for a piece this large. I briefly considered draping it over a decorative curtain rod - I have 7' windows and it would look lovely. It would also get dusty very quickly and there's always the chance that my cats could decide to climb it. It's too nice to use on a bed, and a lace tablecloth is just not my style. So, for the time being this is carefully wrapped in the top of a closet. It's a shame but one day I'm sure I will find a use for it.

My knitting mojo is selective...

2007-10-22T10:40:00.000-04:00

everything I cast on for myself lately (or pretty much ever, for that matter) turns out to be a disappointment.

I can knit for others and end up with a very satisfactory FO. I can make killer dishcloths for myself, otherwise any personal handknits have just been duds. Now mind you, they make perfectly acceptable gifts that are loved and appreciated by the recipient. That must mean something, right? Maybe I'm just meant to be a hatless, scarfless, and sweaterless knitter.

The Chevron Scarf is going on the back burner, again. I haven't completely given up on it, it would very likely make an excellent gift...

Clapotis is going well, but then again I have just gotten to the straight section and haven't begun to drop any stitches yet. At this point I have complete faith in my ability to screw it up.

Any knitting going on around here in the near future is going to be of the log cabin, garter stitch variety - brainless, back and forth knitting requiring absolutely no mojo of any sort on my part.

I briefly considered drowning my knitting mojo sorrows in an all-day spider-solitaire-fest but I'd just hate myself in the morning.

Note to self: uninstall . spider . solitaire

FOs from the garden

2007-10-19T15:20:00.000-04:00

I've continued to keep busy in the kitchen as evidenced by pictures of some nonknitting-related FOs.

Here we have more tomatoes, cherry jelly, and blackberry jam. All came from our garden. The fruit was prepared with Splenda instead of sugar - an experiment in taste and texture - and I haven't had any complaints yet.

Speaking of tomatoes, have you tried this? This is an upside-down tomato planter that is hanging on our porch and I think it's pretty cool. DH was given some tomato plants this year that produced very, very small tomatoes.

We've ordered a couple more of the planters to try this winter (our porch is closed-in and heated during winter) and will plant a variety that bears larger fruit. I'm not sure whether this method will support the weight of a largish tomato, guess we'll find out.

Our upside-down tomato still has fruit on it, and new buds ... in October ... can you stand it?

And here we have strawberry jam. We also have raspberry jam (can't find the photo). Both were made from frozen fruit purchased at the supermarket and contain sugar. And they are really, really good.

Next week, if I have a little more energy - this week I'm really dragging you know what - I'll do bread & butter pickles and sweet pickle relish.

In keeping with my pledge to observe moderation in all pursuits, I am not putting up hundreds of jars of fruits and veggies. I think I'll have enough to last the year and I'm recording quantities of each so that I'll know how much to do next year. Amazing how moderation improves a person's health, productivity, and appreciation of the fruit (haha) of their labors. I'm learning.

On Ravelry, FOs, WIPs, and UFOs

2007-10-03T10:27:00.000-04:00

Things I love about Ravelry...

1. I've entered all my books (or the ones currently in Ravelry's database). Hopefully, this solves the problem of duplicates as it's much easier to look at Ravelry than it is my bookshelves and project bags.

2. I've entered all my needles and hooks in Ravelry, printed out a little card on card stock, and made multiple copies. I now know that I have 10 Addi Turbo circular needles in both 2mm and 3 mm, and 14 2.25mm. Good to know.

3. I've entered all my stash. Every bit of it. Well, I drew the line at anything less than 1/2 a skein. I can look at my entire stash, complete with photos, in one place without ever getting out of my chair. I can also download my stash to an excel file, which has eliminated the spreadsheet I maintained prior to Ravelry and is a big time saver for me.

4. Destashing is easy as pie on Ravelry. You enter your yarns to be destashed, post a thread on their ISO/Sell/Trade forum, and people want to buy your yarn. Sometimes people want to swap yarn, which you can go look at. I've destashed 75 yarns to date, have 5 yarns pending, and another 40 (less anything my good friend, who gets first dibs, picks out). I've sold some and swapped some and am having a great time.

5. Ravelry's queue is my new best friend. I can add (but have not yet, it's on my to-do list) all the patterns I've earmarked in books and magazines but can never find again. Sweet.

6. I've adopted Ravelry's standard of counting yarn and this alone (well, along with the destashing) has done wonders for my 'way too much yarn' anxiety. Before Ravelry, I perceived my stash size in numbers of skeins and yards of yarn. Ravelry refers to stash size in number of yarns. I can wrap my head around '10 yarns' much more readily than I can '10 yarns times the number of skeins times the yards per skein.' My stash has shrunk exponentially right before my eyes.

There's more, but you should check it out if you haven't already. It's brilliant.

There's not been much going on in the FO department, not knitting FOs anyway, around here lately. I did finish a couple things.

Pattern: Ruffle Cravat, Leigh Radford's One Skein
Yarn: Knitting Fever Cashmere Luxury Aran, Olive (3 skeins, from stash)
Hook: Size H
Size: 5" x 72"

A satisfying quick-crochet project, finished in a weekend. Sometimes you just need some instant gratification.

Pattern: Felted Ipod Cozy, available free here.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, color 172 (about 1/2 skein), 1 button (both from stash)
Needles: Addi Turbo # 11
Size: 3" x 4.5", large enough for my Ipod Classic and earbuds

This was finished long before I had figured out how to use the Ipod. A good amount of time was spent last week loading it with music, podcasts, and videos.

Currently on the needles...

I finally started my Clapotis. I don't know why I was afraid of it - the pattern is easy to memorize and not technically difficult. Once I fiddled with the yo and decided to ptb of my twisted stitches on the wrong size (which gave me a neater-looking fabric), it was a pleasure to knit. No pictures until I start to drop stitches.

I've fussed and fussed with the gauge for a Chevron Scarf and I'm still not happy with the resulting fabric. I love the yarn - Fleece Artist Sea Wool in the Renaissance and Vintage colorways. I expect to frog the few repeats I've done and am going to crochet (gasp)it instead, although it will have totally different look. Last Minute Knitted Gift's Chevron Scarf reminds me more of a feather and fan pattern than a true chevron.

On the back burner...

The linen handtowels and washcloths I planned to knit for a wedding gift are probably going to become an UFO until I run out of another better to knit. I seem to have a problem following lace patterns and charts because I ripped repeatedly and have totally lost interest. Also, while I love the idea of linen washcloths and towels, it is splitty (especially after repeated frogging) and unyielding.

I had planned to begin the Boogie Vest, free pattern available here, but after swatching I realized the Encore Chunky (from stash) that I was going to use got very poor stitch definition. I decided to go with Cascade Yarns' Baby Alpaca Chunky in the Charcoal colorway. I'm glad I did, the color is really nice and it's sooo... soft, and the Encore Chunky has been destashed.

Also on the back burner are some projects around the house that I just haven't been up to - sorting and organizing photos, re-organizing shelves - stuff like that. There's also big purging going on around here. I have to ask, how many teeny-weeny baskets does the average person collect in their lifetime and why do we keep every one of them? About 40 teeny-weeny baskets were re-organized right out of her this morning.

All in all, I feel really good about becoming the more efficient, productive person I know I can be. I feel great about my changing attitude toward my 'to do' list. I'm getting more done, and I'm not beating myself up about the things that don't get done as quickly as I'd like.

I'm stopping to smell the roses a little bit, or look at cool bugs like the one I spied yesterday. This moth is over 3.5" long and fat and pretty ugly. I was hoping it would stick around awhile so I could watch it turn into something beautiful, but this morning it was gone.

I have some other nonknitting-related FOs to show off, which I'll save for the next post or this would have been way too long. Have a great weekend, and remember to take the time to stop and look at the bugs.

If there are 24 hours in each and every day...

2007-10-03T06:19:00.000-04:00

then why do mine (days, that is) seem as if they are getting shorter all the time?

Note: I've inserted photos of 2 new stained glass pieces purchased earlier this summer at an antique sale in Rehoboth in order to mitigate the tedium of this random and somewhat anal post.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the way I use my time and the tangible results of the same. There was a time when I considered myself an extremely productive person. I had a demanding job, busy children, a clean house, home-cooked meals, well-kept gardens, and such. A few years ago I left my job to work at home (actually, I got pissed off at the PTB and took a walk but that's another story). I love working at home at a job that is not demanding in the least. I'd estimate that I actually 'work' at my job about 5-6 hours a week, although the down-side of working at home is that you're on call 24/7. Given a 24-hour day, that leaves approximately 162 hours a week to do with as I will. Deduct 8 hours a day for sleeping (I average 5, but let's say 8) leaves me with 106 waking hours per week, approximately 15 hours per day. If my logic (or math) is in error, please let me know.

Sidebar: This is the largest piece of stained glass we have purchased to date. It is hanging in a window over the kitchen desk, the only window large enough and inaccessible to dogs. I use the word 'desk' loosely here because, due to a shortage of counter space, there is so much stuff on the 'desk' that it would be impossible to actually work at the 'desk.' At one time I really wanted to get an old piano stool to slide in the knee cubby. Over time I realized attempting work at the desk would be futile so why have a chair? Besides, DH in his infinite wisdom had the phone jack installed next to the stove on the other side of the kitchen, which totally negates the perception, imo, that this desk was built for working.

Ok, back to the issue at hand. Since I have 15 hours a day in which to be a productive individual, I have to ask myself why my level of productivity has declined despite the fact that I have significantly less demands on my time. I don't get it and it's starting to really bug me.

As I said, I've been mulling this over recently and have come to the following conclusions:

1. Because I hate waste of any kind, a surplus of anything stresses me.

2. There is an inverse relationship between my stress level about any given task and my level of productivity regarding said task.

3. I feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally when I'm productive.

4. Due to my somewhat OCB tendencies, the enormity of any given task is almost always self-imposed and irrational. As an example, this week I dumped preserves made in 2004. Obviously, I was not thinking clearly when I thought it was necessary to put up enough peach preserves to feed my entire extended family and circle of friends for years.

5. I need to accept that more is generally not better. Sock yarn for 357 pair is only stressing me because I know in my heart of hearts that I will not knit 357 pairs of socks in my lifetime. Check back later this week for news of a huge destashing.

6. I am not lacking in self-discipline or motivation, but I need structure. I need a 'chore list' like Mom used to make that includes daily/weekly/monthly must-do household tasks as well as those I really want to do, but can't seem to find time for: guitar practice, reading, improving my photography skills, and just taking time to chill.

Sidebar: This is the second piece of glass we purchased at the same sale. This hangs in my office. The word 'office' is also used loosely here. Although there is a desk in my 'office' where I occasionally work, the room also contains a 42" plasma, regular additions to an extensive DVD collection, stereo, gas logs, and a couch that is second favorite place for an afternoon nap. My favorite being the bed in my yarn room (after all, who among us hasn't fantasized about sleeping in a room filled with yarn?). I was initially drawn to this piece by the unusual shape. The colors are very muted and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I really liked it once it was hung.

Well, my allotted time for blogging has expired. My tasks for today: finish a WIP (30 minutes), formalize a schedule on my desk calendar (30 minutes), run some errands (1 hour), sort mail (15 minutes), and recover bench cushions (2 hours). If my calculations are correct, that leaves 10.75 waking hours in which to be productive today. We'll see.

The next time you visit, I'll have some FOs and new WIPs to show you, and more specific details about a *big* destashing. Stay tuned.

Right now, I think I'll go take a nap.

FOs, knitting and otherwise

2007-09-17T13:41:00.000-04:00

First up, the Dream Swatch is finished, photographed, and gifted. Once I got a few repeats done, the pattern was a lot of fun to knit. The manipulation of the dropped stitches seemed very fiddly at first, but actually became relaxing after a few rows. The yarn is Zen String Felicity Sport in the Butterfly colorway. I really needed more traction with this pattern so used size 5 Clover needles instead of my usual Addi Turbos. I hand washed the scarf and blocked it, which really brought out the lacy texture.

My daughter loves her scarf, and doesn't it look great in her hair? I think this is a great project for swatching lace patterns - good practice and a pretty FO to boot!

Next, a quick-knit hat I whipped up for a friend's birthday. The pattern is Harris by Jane Ellison from Noro Knits. Thanks to a heads up from a fellow Ravelry member, I knit a 3" fold-up brim in garter stitch instead of the 6" reverse stockinette brim (folded twice) from the pattern, and avoided running out of yarn. The pattern gives instructions for knitting the hat flat but I knit in the round after finishing the garter stitch brim. I used 1 skein (about 5 yards left) of Noro Iro in colorway 70 and a size 10.5 Addi Turbo.

I love Noro colorways, and I love the hat. I did find one knot in the skein, which was annoying since I was counting on have only 2 ends to weave in. I also had a problem with the yarn breaking while sewing the 3" seam for the brim with Iro. I used a length of sock yarn to sew the seam which worked very well. The most important thing, though, is that my friend likes the hat. So do I, might just have to make another for myself.

We have had so many tomatoes (the only thing in the garden that survived) that I put up 18 pints of tomatoes. I had a major canning obsession (see previous post) a few years ago and put up almost 300 jars of veggies, relishes, jams, and jellies. I preserved things we don't even eat. I have a picture around here somewhere of all the pretty jars in my pantry that I'll post it if I come across it. Since I'm currently obsessing about Ravelry, I figured it's safe to do some canning. Next week, I'm putting up blackberry preserves, strawberry jam, and raspberry jam. I'm waiting on my grapes...I make killer concord grape jam. And I'm out of sweet pickle relish. And my guitar teacher's favorite is bread and butter pickles. And applesauce...homemade applesauce is the best. Can't wait! I do plan to be conservative in the amount of food I can this year. According to the FDA, it should only be stored for a year (if I remember correctly) so if I note how much I put up and how much we use I'll be good to go next year!

Speaking of Ravelry (love it), I now have 39.5% of my stash entered. I think my picture taking skills are improving also (they could only improve). I found the ASM button on my digital camera, which prompts me for a 'mode,' one of which is 'close up.' I have no clue what ASM means since I have a real aversion to reading manuals. It does seem to capture the texture and color of the yarn better though. This is Lime & Violet Sasquatch in the Love & Marriage colorway. What do you think? Now if I could just figure out the whole lighting thing.

My name is Linda, and I am an addict...

2007-09-11T17:21:00.000-04:00

WARNING: This post contains a long-winded, self-absorbed, banal analysis of my knitting addiction. There are no pictures. Proceed at your own risk.

I've long known that I have obsessive/compulsive issues. This has taken many forms over the years, some healthier (if you can call an obsession healthy) than others. For the past few years, that obsession has been knitting and all things knitting-related...patterns, books, yarn, needles, and notions.

I crocheted for many years and truly enjoyed it. Then, I taught myself to knit...and enjoyed that also. I began to knit for my children, then other family members, than friends. I knit Christmas gifts, and birthday gifts, and at some point my hand knit gift list reached a total of over 90 each year. And then there is the occasional baby, and wedding, and...well, you get the picture. It's no wonder I started to feel as if knitting was a job, one that I really wasn't enjoying.

For some reason I convinced myself that the size of my stash was the reason for this. I decided to have a contest in an effort to solicit ideas about how to manage my stash. It was a lot of fun, and had an unexpected result. It turns out the size of my stash is not the problem (doh).

It should have been very obvious to me that the problem was that I had turned something fun into a chore. In addition to the hours of non-fun knitting that was being done, there were lots of things that were not being done. Like housework, studying, exercise, and on and on. I had also become unhappy with the condition of my house, mind, and body. I was no longer a well-rounded individual with a clean house, clear mind, and reasonably fit body.

So, what to do? I have been spending an inordinate amount of time adding my stash to Ravelry (love the Rav!). I'm not looking at this as a continuation of my obsession because I now have a plan. At this time, 39% has been duly documented in my Ravelry stash. When I have finished adding my stash, I will move some portion of it to the trade/sell tab. I'm also going to add my needles because although they are all organized neatly and easy to find, I'd like to get a snapshot idea of what I have and I really like what they've done for needles.

Now getting organized is all very nice, but that doesn't really solve my true problem does it? I began knitting for so many because I had this nice idea that everyone I love should have something hand knit by me. You know, to remember me by when I'm gone. Morbid much? It's possible that my oldest-child sense of responsibility and old-fashioned Irish guilt had a hand in the whole thing. Well, now they do. So there.

I'm going to knit for myself...gasp! How selfish of me. I'm going to start today and cast on what I want, when I want, and I'm going to enjoy it! And in those spare minutes when I'm no longer constantly knitting on a deadline, I'm going to clean my house, study, walk, and swim laps (as long as DH agrees to keep the heater on because it was in the 50s here last night, brrr). I'm going to be a whole person again. I am going to reserve the right, however, to continue to catch every Loopy Ewe update.

Sounds crazy huh? I can live with crazy. What I can't continue to live with is a dirty house and a fat butt. The first ME project on the needles is going to be Amy King's Boogie vest in some Encore Chunky from the stash. But first, I'm going to jump in the pool and get some cleaning done.

Contest results and a PS

2007-09-04T04:19:00.000-04:00

First, I have to apologize for posting contest results a day late. It totally slipped my mind when I posted yesterday and I was so tired by the time I returned home last night that I hit the sack immediately after unpacking and grabbing some dinner. Since I was asleep by 8:30 pm, of course I was up at 3:00 am. Oh well, I have time to post, watch an episode or 2 of Lost (Season 2), and work on my Dream Swatch before the rest of the household wakes; and I can take a lovely nap this afternoon if need be.

Bullwinkle, honeybee33, Yarn Mama, and Lisa R., thanks so much for your most excellent suggestions and comments. You have all helped me to re-think my attitude toward the stash. I had begun to think of my stash as somewhat of a burden, as if I MUST absolutely use every bit, rather than seeing it for what it is...a collection that I love, enjoy, and can either use to create lovely, enjoyable things for myself and the people that I care about, or simply appreciate the color, texture, feel, and smell of beautiful un-knit skeins.

And the winners are...all of you!

Honeybee33 will receive the Nashua Ivy for her comments regarding the benefits of Ravelry in organizing stash. I have found Ravelry to be a true inspiration. I would really love to add my entire stash to my notebook, but honestly the thought of taking pictures (and I take lousy pictures) is more than a little overwhelming. Wouldn't it be sweet if our stash entries linked to photos as well as weight and yardage info? I have added a few items, however, and plan to set aside perhaps one morning per week to take stash photos. Who knows, maybe my photography skills will improve!

Bullwinkle will receive the Liza Souza sock yarn for her comment regarding the LYS owner. If, at some point, we are no longer bombarded with beautiful handpainted sock yarns I will be good to go. I also liked the fact that the size of my sock yarn stash made her feel better (about her own?).

Yarn Mama will also receive a surprise skein for reminding me that I also love looking at my stash, and what's wrong with that? Nothing at all. I love the idea of the cubbies used for yarn storage. I really wish I had room for these. All yarn is stored in my oldest daughter's room. Now, oldest daughter has not lived at home for quite a few years, but her room is exactly as she left it. It's not likely that I'm going to convince my better (hmph) half to get rid of the furniture to make room for yarn storage, but he did buy and refinish a beautiful chest for this purpose so I'll cut him some slack.

I did purchase these (sweater?) storage solutions a while back. Not perfect for this purpose since the bins are not intended to support much weight, but helpful nonetheless for storing WIPs and projects-to-be. I like being able to see yarn for near-future projects at a glance and pull WIPs, stored in baskets with patterns, needles, etc, when the mood strikes me. FYI, I also purchased a shoe storage solution, blogged about here, that is fabulous for storing needles. I really hated digging through bins for needles. I now have them stored, by mm size, and can grab what I need instantly.

But, if I ever find alternate storage space for the boxes my daughter left in the closet I'm filling it with cubbies!

Lisa R. suggested charity knitting, which is something I really enjoy. I like contributing knitted items for those in need, charitable causes such as Think Pink, and fundraisers (most recently, the Walk for Life). I would love to reward you for your suggestion Lisa, but since you posted anonymously I am unable to contact you. If you are reading this, please email me at happy2bknitting(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Thanks again everyone. I'll be contacting you forthwith.

A PS to the previous post...

As usual, I could not resist a vist to Sea Needles, my favorite LYS, while at the beach Labor Day weekend. I can't say enough nice things about Sea Needles. I have heard (read) some real horror stories about the treatment some have received from unfriendly LYS owners and employees. The people at Sea Needles are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. I always feel welcome there, whether I buy yarn or not. While stopping in to pick up needles, I spied this book that I just had to add to my collection.

I always knit 2 socks at a time, but on separate circular needles. I have thought for some time that it would be much more efficient to knit both socks on 2 circulars, rather than 4. This book has some great patterns, in a wide variety of yarn, and clear and concise instructions. The pattern for my next pair of socks will definitely come from this book.

And FYI, Sea Needles also sells needlepoint supplies and does custom framing. I recently had them frame a collection of Ducks Unlimited pins we've collected over the years (the embroidery was done elsewhere). They did a great job at a very reasonable price (imo).

Labor Day knitting

2007-09-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Here I am at the beach, packing it up again and thinking how sad it is that summer is pretty much over. I did not spend as much time here this summer as I would have liked, but enjoyed the time I was here.

I love relaxing at the beach on the weekend for so many reasons. First, the phone hardly ever rings (yeah)! My favorite LYS, Sea Needles, is just a 15 minute drive. I love the grocery store where we shop while at the beach, G&E Supermarket, which is a family-owned business that cuts meat daily, and has a fabulous bakery and deli. The chain stores available at home are no comparison. Also, Mickey's Family Crabhouse serves the best crabcake I've ever eaten.

But the best part, sitting on the deck enjoying the view while I knit.

I did not manage to knit as much as I'd hoped. First, the dogs were either sick or had eaten something that disagreed with their digestive system. I'll spare you the details, but much time was spent scrubbing carpet and I got very little sleep. I was able to nap in the afternoons, which cut into my knitting time.

The Dream Swatch I started for my daughter is progressing nicely though, especially after a lightbulb went off and I realized I didn't need to rip back to fix dropped stitches that were twisted.

The yarn, Zen String Felicity Sport, is my first package from the Zen String Yarn Club. This is the first time I've knit with bamboo and I love the feel of it and the Butterfly colorway. I think this is going to look great against my daughter's beautful red hair.

There may not have been much knitting going on, but there was lots of frogging. My traveling sock, which I had started cuff-down in plain stockinette was completely ripped and started over toe-up, with k2p2 ribbing that should make for a better-fitting sock. The yarn is J Knits Superwash Me - Sock in colorway AC-143, which is knitting up very nicely with no pooling.

My Chevron Scarf, which I started on the recommended US 5 needles was working up into a slightly stiff fabric and was frogged. My next attempt, shown here, was on a US 9 and I haven't yet decided whether this is working or not. I want a drapey fabric but am worried whether it will stretch when washed/worn. The yarn is Fleece Artist's Sea Wool in the Vintage and Renaissance colorways. I haven't used this yarn before so am not sure how it will wash and wear. Anyway, not much progress since I'm unsure about how the gauge is going to work.

I'm also not sure whether there is enough contrast between the two colorways. The skeins, and wound cakes, certainly look as if they would work. You can't tell from the previous picture, and it may be too soon to tell anyway, but when knit up the colors seem to blend rather than complement each other. Think I'll frog again, try US 7 needles, and see what happens after a dozen repeats or so.

Anyway, a nice weekend all in all. Hope your's was great as well!

Jury duty dishcloths...

2007-08-30T15:35:00.000-04:00

Having been called to jury duty during August, I was afraid that my knitting time was going to take a hit. I was right...knitting needles were not allowed in the courthouse. I could take a crochet hook however, and so revised my plan to knit dishcloths for my father's birthday.

This was not a huge sacrifice, I always crochet my own dishcloths. I crochet much quicker than I knit, and a sc, ch 1 pattern is less bulky and easier for me to wring out. I thought I'd be a little more sophisticated for my father's dishcloths and am very happy with the results.

Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream, 2 skeins Light Blue
Pattern: Slip St Texture stitch from Leisure Arts' More Crochet Stitches & Easy Projects
Hook: Size H
Finished size: approx 14" square, before washing

Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream, 1 skein each Light Blue and White
Pattern: Sunshine Dishcloth from Leisure Arts' Dishcloths by the Dozen
Hook: Size H
Finished size: approx. 14" square, before washing

Hope Dad likes them. They seem awfully big, but he prefers bar rags so I went large. I don't crochet often since I taught myself to knit and was suprised how much I enjoyed these.

Duet Socks

2007-08-30T06:37:00.000-04:00

Yarn: A Swell Yarn Shop Duet Sock Yarn, colorway Deep Blue Sea

Pattern: Coordinating Heel & Toe, Toe-up, After-thought Heel, Basic Sock Pattern (by A Swell Yarn Shop)

Needles: Addi Turbo US 2

Modifications: Toe per Wendy Johnson's Sportweight Toe-up Gusset Heel Sock; Bind off per Wendy's variation of Russian bind-off; k2p2 rib on instep and cuff

This is the first time I've used Duet Sock Yarn, and my first attempt at an afterthought heel. I had to frog the first toe several times (I obviously was having trouble reading that day) and the yarn did not hold up well. I did really like the yarn - it's soft, knits up very quickly, and the colors are great. The recipient likes short cuffs, so I quit at 4.5" and had 50 grams of yarn left over.

I enjoyed the afterthought heel, hooray for no picking up of gusset stitches! I think the heel looks quite nice, if I do say so myself. I'm curious about how this heel fits, I'll have to try it on a pair of my socks soon.

Tabi Socks

2007-08-28T11:03:00.000-04:00

The first time I saw Stephanie Pearl Mc-Phee's Tiptoe Through the Tulips sock pattern on Knitty, I knew they were perfect for a niece who wears socks with her flip-flops year-round. I planned to modify the pattern slightly by using self-striping yarn and adding tabi toes. Unfortunately, my intarsia skills were lacking and the heels looked just awful. I tried duplicate stitching, still awful. The heels looked so awful that no pictures were taken and I switched patterns mid-stream.

Yarn: Opal Feelings, colorway 1705; Opal Uni-solid, 1413 Hot Pink
Pattern: Sandi Rosner's Tabi Socks from Not Just More Socks
Needles: Inox #2 circulars
Modification: Used solid color for heel, toe, cuff

I was less than pleased with the shaping of the toes but I had no foot available in the appropriate size/shape.

Nonetheless, my niece was thrilled with her birthday socks, which is all that matters.

On Ravelry (and spooning)

2007-08-20T10:04:00.001-04:00

After receiving my Ravelry invite last week, and spending the weekend browsing the site, I have to say I think Ravelry is going to be the greatest resource I have as a knitter. I had expected to be entertained in ways only a fellow knitter can understand. What I had not expected was how very intuitive Ravelry is. I believe using Ravelry for much of the knitting-related googling I do is going to save me an incredible amount of time - hey, more time to knit! I also had not expected the level of community and camaraderie that seems to exist among members. I know knitters have been excited about the site, and it shows. Ravelry is a good place, thanks Casey and Jess - you've done a remarkable job.

I'm not sure I will add existing stash to my notebook. I use a spreadsheet to maintain an inventory of my stash, which works very well for me, and I'm not sure what the advantage would be of duplicating this. Any suggestions or comments regarding this are welcome.

I have started added my current WIPs to my notebook. I don't know any other knitters, other than those from my favorite LYS Sea Needles, which is not very local - 120 mile round trip. I'm looking forward to sharing WIPs, FOs, and progress or lack of the same.

Because no post is complete without an interesting (or cute) picture or two:

Awww, how sweet! When we brought Junior (left, 9 months) home, Princess Ginger (right, 20 months) was beside herself...and not in a good way. Who'd have thought they would have become such fast friends?

Thoughts on stash and a contest

2007-08-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

I recently had a stash epiphany, or maybe just a brief glimpse of reality as it relates to the huge quantity of yarn I have acquired over the last year or so. Whatever you want to call it, the bottom line is that I have been feeling overwhelmed by my stash for some time. I've been knitting along, not every excited about what I was creating, and not actually finishing much. I've been suffering from a near-total lack of inspiration (Ravelry just might be the cure, see next post). I've begun to think there just may be an inverse relationship between the size of my stash and the amount of knitting it inspires. I decided it was time to purge, again.

So...I recently spent an afternoon, or 2, sitting on the floor surrounded by my stash. I promised myself I would be methodical, and brutal.

On my first pass, I sorted the stash by vendor and weight. As you might expect, this was highly enjoyable. I ignored the urge to roll around in the midst of merino, silk, alpaca, and other luscious fibers.

On my second pass, I pulled all partial skeins, a few singles that I'm not likely to use, and a small number of gently used (read 'frogged') skeins. These will be donated to a charity. I have not yet computed the effect on total stash, but I can say that although this is a step in the right direction, it is a mere drop in the bucket.

Observe the immensity of the remaining stash:

Dishcloth stash, handy for all gift-giving occasions. I can live with this.

Stash for felting, also handy.

Double-worsted cotton stash for rug-knitting. I need rugs.

All other stash: yarn designated for sweaters, hats, scarves, and the like.

Wait, did I mention sock yarn? Here is the sock yarn stash:

I've come to the conclusion that is what's overwhelming me. Enough sock yarn for 332 pair of socks - a heavy burden for this sock-knitter.

The third pass through the stash was pretty much a total failure. I was looking for yarn I didn't like. Is there such a thing? After all, I have no plastic acrylic or novelty yarn...that went out the door during the last purge. I did come across a sweater's worth of nice wool (more on that later) that needs a new home. Again, a drop in the bucket.

Since I know where my real problem lies, I decided to focus on sock yarn. I know other sock yarnophiles will understand the difficulty I encountered. How many skeins of sock yarn were purged? If you guessed zero, you are absolutely correct.

I need criteria for the retention/purging of sock yarn. Should I group it by colorway and eliminate some similarities? I'm at a loss. What I do know is this: having this much yarn around has begun to make knitting seem like work. I want to embrace my stash, and I can't get my arms around it. I need HELP (sorry for yelling) desperately!

And now for the contest...

I obviously need assistance in my quest for a smaller stash and am seeking (begging for) your suggestions. The most helpful comment/suggestion will receive:

Nashua Handknits' Ivy, worsted weight, 50% alpaca/45% merino/5% Estralina blend, in the Blue Teal colorway. There are 12 skeins - at 137 yards each this is more than enough for a sweater.

I'll be honest with you about this yarn...I really love it. I love the softness of it and the color. But, do you see the little sparkly spots in the picture? That's the Estralina - sparkly little silver fibers that I don't love. I don't love them enough that I actually considered picking them out as I knit. Yeah, this has got to go. I'm hoping that someone out there loves Estralina and will give it a good home.
If you don't love Estralina as much as I do, we'll work something else out. Obviously there is no shortage of yarn around.

The second most helpful comment/suggestion will receive:

Lisa Souza's Sock!, fingering weight, a generous 560 yards, in the Delft colorway.

Heck, if I receive lots of great suggestions, I may even dig into the sock yarn stash to reward more of you for your assistance (I enjoy giving yarn as much as buying it).

I'll allow 2 weeks for your comments, results to be posted Sept. 3rd. I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sockapalooza Socks Received

2007-08-16T15:38:00.000-04:00

Yippee, my Sockapalooza socks have arrived and I LOVE them! My pal, Michelle, must be psychic...I provided sizing information only and she managed to pick both yarn and a pattern that are perfect. They are beautiful, Michelle's work is excellent, and I so appreciate the time and effort she put into these special socks.

The socks were knit using Yarni, a 'One-of-a-kind, handdyed yarn', from The Yarnery in my pal's home town of St. Paul, MN. The colorway is a lovely blue that reminds me of my most favorite faded jeans.

The pattern is from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks using the Oblique Openwork stitch and an Eye of the Partridge heel.

Michelle was concerned, as was I (about my pal's socks), that they would not be a perfect fit. Behold the socks on the feet...they look and feel great! The yarn is so soft, I (almost) can't wait for cool weather so I can wear them.

Also enclosed, a great postcard that lists interesting facts about Minnesota, a very nice letter, and this card, made my Michelle.

It is such a treat to have someone knit, and so beautifully, just for me. Thank you Michelle.

PS - I think these pictures are an improvement over my usual. I'm hoping this is not a fluke and my skills are actually improving.

Yipee, I've ordered my yarn for Clapotis

2007-08-12T11:10:00.000-04:00

I special ordered my yarn for Clapotis from Knitty Noddy this morning. I have a long history of selecting the wrong yarn/colorway when knitting for myself but I don't think I can go wrong with Hand Maiden Great Big Sea Silk in the Renaissance colorway. I have the colorway in Sea Silk and it's just gorgeous.

Now I can quit stressing about yarn selection and start stressing about the delivery date.

Odds and ends

2007-08-04T08:11:00.000-04:00

Although it seems that much knitting has been done recently, I have very little to show for it (read no pictures). Mason-Dixon Absorba is still on the needles, as is a mohair pillow (what was I thinking?), Arwen (I still love it), and assorted socks in various stages of progress.

I did manage to finish another pair of One Skein Cable Footies and my Sockapalooza socks. I also finished a pair of tabi socks that are waiting for what looks like a kazillion ends to weave in. I haven't figured that out yet, I used self-striping yarn to avoid all the ends. And I've cast on Duet Sock Yarn in the Deep Blue Sea colorway for a niece's birthday socks.

I have been slogging away at birthday, baby, wedding gifts for what seems like forever. Although I love knitting for my friends and family, I really need to rethink my position on knitting for EVERY birthday and special occasion so that I have time to knit for myself. Once you've set a precedent, how do you back off without feeling guilty/selfish and former recipients feeling neglected?

Speaking of knitting for myself, while hunting for something to wear I came across what I believe is the first sweater I ever knit. I'm sure I'm not the only one with FOs that don't see the light of day because they are less than satisfactory. See the stitch markers? They are marking every end I weaved in very sloppily and now need to pick out and weave in properly. Not my idea of fun, but hopefully I will like and wear the sweater when I re-finish it.

I am excited about finally making a decision on colorways for twin BSJs. I've known for months that I wanted to use Cider Moon Glacier. It's soft, superwash, and the colorways kick butt. It should have been easy to choose from among so many, but it wasn't. I accumulated a vast amount of Glacier during the process, but that's ok cause I love this stuff.

For the girl (left): Superfly, June Carter, and August.
For the boy (right): August, Avocado, and Bison.
Swatching has been done and I should be casting on shortly.

I've continued to hone my photography skills (LOL) on incoming stash. I think the color here is pretty true, but it's hard to tell for sure on my laptop.

Schaefer Anne in colorways Blueberry Iced Tea, Cabin in the Woods, and Mossy Hollow

Fleece Artist Basic Merino in Mahogany, Dream in Color Smooshy Sock Yarn in Beach Fog, and Misty Mountain Farm Jubilee in Rainforest

Coming Soon:

A purging of the stash...stay tuned for this one

Newest Zen String Yarn Club offering...just beautiful

Newest addition to the stash...Joseph Galler Yarns' Prime Alpaca, purchased at Sea Needles this weekend, quite possibly the softest yarn I've ever had the pleasure to fondle

Exciting yard sale find and more stash

2007-07-25T06:18:00.000-04:00

I happened across this book at a yard sale last weekend, what a find! The book is Norwegian Knitting Designs, Selected and edited with an introduction and descriptions by Annichen Sibbern Bohn, published in Oslo in 1952. The book contains numerous traditional charted designs with pictures of finished objects and a pattern for a Setesdals "Luskofte" Sweater. I admit, that this is way beyond my current knitting skills, but still fun to look at. I may have to give the sweater, or modification of, a try this winter.

The inside front cover contains the note 'To Betty from Mother 1955' which makes it even more special. Although my mother knit, and I taught myself long after she passed, I still feel close to her when I knit. Wish we could have knit together.

And here is my latest haul from The Loopy Ewe. Sorry about the lousy picture.

From left to right: Chewy Spaghetti in Rosy and Decadent, Wollmeise in Gewitterhimmel and Frosch, Spritely Goods in Spring Tulips and Peppercorn Blend, and
Misty Mountain Farm's Jubilee in Secret Garden. I particularly like the Peppercorn Blend colorway and suspect I will be casting it on soon.

Sockapalooza Socks Finished

2007-07-25T05:39:00.000-04:00

There were times when I thought I would never see the day, but my Sockapalooza 4 (S4) are done.I've previously mentioned that it is really nervewracking for me to knit for exchanges. I'm much pickier when I knit for someone I haven't met, go figure. The fact that I got these done on time, early in fact, after having changed my mind so many times has me absolutely giddy. I'm still nervous though.

Pattern: Wendy's Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks With Gusset Heel
Yarn: Zen String's Serendipity Sport in Naiad colorway
Needles: Addi Turbo US 2
Modifications: Holland Lace insert on legs from Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (p 201)

I'm not sure how I feel about these. I'm not sure that the lace insert is an improvement. But...they are done, yipee! Hope my S4 sock pal likes them and that they fit well. I'm glad I don't have long to wait before mailing them...no time for a redo!

I love this sock pattern and will be using it again and again. I've already blogged about the non-fiddly toe construction but I'll say it again...perfect! The yarn was also a pleasure to work with, not splitty at all. I did find one knot in each of the 2 skeins I used.

For anyone curious as to whether a single skein of Serendipity Sport (112 grams, 241 yards) will make a pair of socks: I used 2 skeins, just in case. After weighing the leftovers, I found that I had used a total of 104 grams for socks with a 9" foot and 7" leg. Fairly close call, I will definitely use a toe-up pattern for this yarn again for that reason.

Perfect toes, some cool swag, and a little stash

2007-07-13T20:44:00.000-04:00

Finally, my Sockapalooza 4 socks are on the needles and progressing nicely. I've been having a heck of a time matching yarn to pattern in an attempt to find the perfect combination that would produce the perfect pair of socks for my pal. I tried this and that pattern with various yarns, but nothing satisfied. This process could have gone on indefinitely, but August 2 is approaching quickly and I'm a slow knitter.

I finally decided on Zen String Serendipity Sport in the Naiad colorway. I love working with this yarn, the colors are amazing, and the pooling is actually very interesting, in my opinion. The pooling of the blue and purple are separated on the instep and sole by a green zigzag section - kind of cool. Again, I tried various pattern stitches and being dissatisfied with result, decided on a plain stockinette foot. I haven't decided yet what to do with the leg.

Although I think these look great so far, I still feel a little embarrassed about choosing sport weight (remember I'm a slow knitter) and such a simple pattern. Seeing all the beautiful socks that other Sockapaloozers are working on has left me feeling a little inadequate. But, a simple sock is better than a late sock, or no sock at all...right? Plus, I have some very nice extras to go with it, which will help make up the difference and I am paying very close attention to sizing.

Now for the perfect toe part. My grafting skills are improving, but I chose a toe-up pattern. I like the concept of toe-up but find most cast ons entirely too fiddly. I was delighted with Wendy's Sport Weight Toe-Up Socks With Gusset Heel, which I found to be not fiddly at all. Two methods of casting on are offered, I chose the second. I used circular needles since I found it easier to pick up stitches in the cast-on stitches while the stitches opposite were positioned on the cord - more room to maneuver. If you have issues with fiddly cast-ons, check it out. I swear to you, it makes a perfect toe!

You know, I could have saved myself time and grief if I had not become emotionally attached to the idea of using handpainted yarn for my sockapalooza socks. I do have solid colors in the stash which would have worked perfectly for any of the lovely patterns I tried and rejected. Just saying...this is something I need to work on.

Now for the seriously cool swag: check out this tee!

How cool is that? If you click on the picture, you can make out the labeling on the sections of the brain. LOVE this shirt! The image is available on hoodies, tanks, mugs, and stickers. I also bought a mug and sticker, and am thinking about a hoodie. They are available here along with other neat stuff. Go Annie!

I also purchased this Namaste Bag recently from Scout's Swag. I love this bag - it's roomy, has tons of pockets, the bottom even zips open for large loads. I've been using it to haul my stuff to the beach on weekends. I can usually fit my knitting and everything else I need for the weekend in one bag - sweet!

On Stash...

What can I say about stash? Observant readers may have noticed the Stash Counter in the sidebar. Scary, huh? Some of you (I refer to the handful of people that may actually read this from time to time) may remember that I was booted from Stashalong a few months ago for buying yarn. No hard feelings on my part, I broke the rules - big, and earned 3 strikes and a timeout from Stashalong. I was able to rejoin on June 1st but have not done so. I really enjoyed the group but am afraid that I just won't be able to refrain from buying yarn and don't want to be a 2-time loser.

It has been suggested that I post pictures of some stash. I have been slow to do this since I'm such a terrible photographer. To give you an idea of the vast amount of yarn, here is a summary of my yarn purchases since leaving the KAL:A

April 103 skeins, 27,124 yards
May 202 skeins, 40,954 yards
June 136 skeins, 37,983 yards
July to-date 9 skeins, 3,076 yards

All right, I realize that you may hate me at this point. No one person needs this much yarn. Hell, no 10 people need this much yarn. In all fairness, and to be perfectly frank, I can afford to buy this much yarn, my kids aren't going hungry, I don't have a mortgage, and my husband doesn't complain about it. But...a stash the size of mine must mean something, right?

The really crazy thing about my stash is that I have no expectation of using most of this yarn within my lifetime due to failing eyesight. Due to age-related macular degeneration, I will most likely lose most of my remaining eyesight within the next 5-10 years. So...what's the deal with all the darn yarn? I'm too busy knitting to analyze the situation, and hey...I can still enjoy the yarn fumes while listening to some Pink Floyd, right?

So, despite the suckiness of my photos, here's a small sample...

First, no self-respecting stash would be complete without BMFA Silkie and Socks that Rock:

Next up, Claudia Handpainted Sport, some of which is destined to become a BSJ for a special little boy.
And here we have some beautiful Merino Cashmere from the Knittery, colorways (from top to bottom) Mist, Sea Breeze, and Sea Life.
This is a recent purchase from Sea Needles. I have never worn red, but this is such a nice red that wants to be a Central Park Hoodie.

And currently on the needles in the form of a traveling sock is a superwash, fingering weight from J Knits in colorway AC-143. Reminds me of peas and carrots. The yarn is lovely to work with. I only have about an inch of k2p2 ribbing done since I'm focusing on my sockapalooza socks at the moment. I haven't decided on a stitch pattern yet, but it will be something mindless.
So that's my news, nothing exciting but that's ok. I've had plenty of excitement and, imo, it's overrated. I'll settle for quiet and perhaps a little dull any day of the week. Later...

A couple FO and lots of frogging...

2007-07-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

Hooray, I finally finished my Madder Ribbed Socks from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. I used Lana Grossa's Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch Softcolor in color 504. I think I used Addi Turbo size 2 for the cuff and leg, size 1 for the heel and foot, and size 0 for the toe.

For a simple pattern, these socks were a real challenge. To begin with, I'm just slightly picky about my socks matching and the gradual color shifts were really difficult to match up. After finishing the first sock, I decided I didn't like the toe and ended up frogging past the heel...I'm still traumatized by the experience...you can read about it here. I had more trouble than usual with my tension, more than likely due to the stretchiness of the yarn. Then I decided I didn't like the reinforced toes. Anyway, they are done, they fit great, and I really like the way they turned out.

I also finished another felted tote for a sister's coworker. I didn't choose the color, and orange is definitely not something I would have picked, but I have to say I really like it. The pattern is free from Hello Yarn and can be found here. I used 2 skeins of Cascade 220, held double, size 13 Addi Turbos, and my rosewood dpns. I absolutely love rosewood needles. If I could find them in sizes 0-2, I think I would seriously consider switching from 2 circulars for socks.

Not much to talk about on the WIP front. I have been making progress on Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Tiptoe Through the Tulips socks. Of course, I'm using self-striping yarn, Opal Feelings. Both legs are done, and I'm hoping that the intarsia heels go well tonight. If so, I'll add a picture tomorrow.

Also, on/off the needles are my Sockapalooza socks. I'd like to thank all of you for your help/comments about Lorna's Laces and pooling. After completing a few more rounds, I found that the colors will spiral around the sock and I kind of like it! I don't know how my pal would feel about them though and so have set them aside.

I don't know why it is so hard for me to knit for someone I don't even know. I agonized over yarn and patterns, changed my mind, started anew, and was determined to make significant progress while on vacation. I wound a skein of Lisa Souza Sock! in the Shade Garden colorway. Hindsight being 20/20, I now realize that I should have brought an alternate skein, but I didn't. I tried my first pattern choice, Country Girl Socks, and was not satisfied. I finished a leg in a feather and fan pattern and ripped. I started over with Fiber Trend's Angel's Rest pattern and ripped. I just could not seem to find a pattern that complemented the colorway.

By now, the yarn was getting a little fuzzy from frogging and I was beginning to panic. I didn't have access to my stash or patterns so I needed to either make do with what I had, or wait until I got home and begin brainstorming again. A vist to Knitty solved the problem. Grumperina's Jaywalkers pattern is a perfect match for this colorway.

Of course, it couldn't be that simple. After finishing one leg, I noticed that the cuff was much stretchier than the leg, and the leg was going to be too snug. Of course, Grumperina has thoughtfully provided help for just this problem. First, I tried a larger size needle, which just looked sloppy. Next, I tried the bigger size sock and cast on 84 stitches, but the cuff was too big. I'm going to give it one more try, cast on the small size again (76 stitches), and either increase 8 stitches after the cuff and before I begin the pattern for the leg or do a single decrease on the first round instead of a double. Wish me luck. If this doesn't work, I'll be reunited with my stash tomorrow anyway and it's back to the drawing board.

Strange pooling...

2007-06-25T11:28:00.000-04:00

I have been so excited about Sockapalooza 4. This is my first year. I spent much quality time with my stash to pick the perfect yarn and pattern: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Lakeview colorway and Country Girl Socks. This is the most difficult sock pattern I have attempted but I feel confident.

It was obvious after completing the first chart that there is some seriously odd-looking pooling going on here. Sides 1 and 2 almost look like 2 different colorways. I'm not going to jump the gun and frog yet...I'll wait until I get at least one repeat done on the second chart and see if the colors work their way around the leg.

I love Lorna's Laces Shepherd yarns, but I've noticed that the multi colorways behave strangely, a little unsightly in my opinion, when used for cables and lace. Anyone have any opinions about this phenomenon? Is it me, or does this look weird, bad, funny, to be expected from this yarn? Should I choose another pattern? HELP!

Finally, some FO (photos fixed)

2007-06-16T10:45:00.001-04:00

Recently finished for twins:

Pattern: Baby Bolero from One Skein
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton, Iceberg (blue) and Soul (pink)
Needles: Addi Turbo #6 for body, #7 for ribbing on outer edges
Modifications: Slipped first stitch of each row
Shoulder stitches are grafted instead of seamed
Picked up stitches for sleeves and worked to cuff, in the round

The hats are a sized-down version of a Debbie Bliss pattern from The Baby Knits Book (Zipped Jacket with Contrasting Edges and Hat).

Words can't describe how incredibly soft Rowan All Seasons Cotton is. I enjoyed working with this yarn, and good thing since I originally had planned to make matching Argosy blankets and ordered 12 skeins of each color. It didn't take long for me to come to my senses - there was no way to finish these in a reasonable amount of time without hating the sight of them by the time I finished. Something perfect will come along for the remainder, I'm sure.

I finally finished my first Blue Moon Fiber Arts STR club installment - Inside Outs in colorway Monsoon. I had a terrible time with the 5/1/5 cables. The socks were difficult to get over my heel, even after switching to size 3 needles and knitting loosely. I also ended up with an uncomfortable 'knot' at the center of each cable. I decided to finish the socks without the cables and am very happy with them. They fit great and feel wonderful on my feet. Can't wait to start the next kit with the beautiful Silkie STR.

Also finished this week, coffee cup mitts for a Relay for Life fundraiser. I used various 'cancer colors' in Knit Pick's Swish Superwash, Mission Falls Wool, and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted and the Coffee Mitt pattern from One-Skein Wonders. I worked in the round - I hate seaming. This was great practice for trying new stitches. I'm hoping my friend does well with these at her fundraiser.

I have to mention a new software product I received this week: Knitter's Desktop
Companion©, Circular Knitting Dictionary Volume 1. This was a great help with the coffee mitts. Stitches are organized by type - ribbing, cables, lace, and so on. Charts and written instructions are presented with a color swatch photo. This should be perfect for sock patterns and I'm hoping Volume 2 will be available at some point. I highly recommend this for knitters who, like me, hate converting charts from flat to circular knitting.

That's all for now. I have various long-term WIPs that I'm hoping to finish soon. Also on the needles, a felted bag using Cascade 220 for a sister's coworker who is moving soon. Hopefully a couple of these will be finished this weekend and ready to post.

Some nice suprises

2007-06-05T04:21:00.000-04:00

I'd like to share with you some special surprises I have received lately.

First, you may remember that our youngest pup, Junior, was run over by a truck in our lane a couple months ago. After surgery to repair a broken leg and a long convalescence, Junior has recovered nicely. He has a little limp, especially after a long day of keeping up with Ginger, but is otherwise back to normal.

A week or so ago, I received a surprise package in the mail from my downstream One Skein Secret Pal containing a lovely blankie for Junior. I am still stunned by my the generosity and kindness, what a great friend! Junior cooperated long enough to snap a photo. Doesn't he look cute in his blankie?

I'm not sure what yarn was used, but it is so soft. The colors, beige with a multi-color border, complement Junior's coat. He loves blankets and would carry this one around. He's also a chewer. Shoes are his favorite, I've lost 5 pairs in the last month. We will take special care with his blankie so it's around for a long time.

Of course, Ginger insisted that Junior share and tried to take the blankie for herself. These two are great pals but are very competitive. Ginger is the leader. Junior, on his own, is easy going. Together, they are hell on wheels and great fun - well, most of the time anyway. They are constant source of entertainment. Their different personalities and the way they interact are fascinating to me.

This bag was part of my Mother's Day gift from my oldest daughter. I was pleased when expressed an interest in learning to sew and gave her a sewing machine last Christmas. This is her first completed project. I think she did a great job. I don't know if you can see the detail well in the photo, but there is some machine embroidery in contrasting colors. She used interfacing, mitered her corners, and did a great job on the zipper. She is very excited about improving her skills and has signed up for lessons. I was touched that she gave me her first FO. As a long-time sewer and crafter, I know that this creative outlet will enrich her life. Who knows, maybe knitting is in her future too?

My youngest daughter gave me this a couple weeks ago after a trip to the beach. Patchouli is my favorite scent and good patchouli incense can be hard to find in these parts. The rest of the household thinks it is absolutely foul, which makes the gift that much more thoughtful. I am keeping it in my craft room, which now smells great. There must be a hundred sticks of incense in the labeled jar (how cool is that). I got the feeling that the shop owner was happy to get it out of the store but I'm thrilled to have a large stash of patchouli!

It's been a while, but...

2007-06-03T10:08:00.000-04:00

Once again, I'm scrambling to catch up while time slips by, annoyingly and without any appropriate warning. In my opinion, time should be equipped with an air horn to blast me into recognition that hey...time is slipping by and your to-do list is getting longer and what the heck are you actually accomplishing? I've been thinking about this a lot lately...the fact that no matter how I try to simplify my life and live in the moment, shit happens and time rolls by insidiously and I'm left shaking my head and feeling totally inadequate because my to-do list is just getting longer.

What I have decided is this: 1) my to-do list is self-imposed, 2) I waste way too much time sweating the to-do list, 3) only non-repetitive activities should be included on the to-do list, and therefore 4) dusting should never be considered an activity warranting a spot on the to-do list (a totally liberating discovery). As a result of these life-altering realizations...

I have taken a 3-week hiatus from my CPA studies (woohoot). I feel like a new person. I have organized my craft room and kitchen cabinets and cleared my desk. I'd like to share with you my most brilliant organization-related accomplishment. I bought an over-the-door shoe storage thingy a couple weeks ago. I wasn't sure why I needed this, but after a few days it came to me. Needles are stored in ascending order, by mm size,and it's perfect. In my newly-found spare time, I have also fondled my stash, knit a little, and bought much yarn. I've had time to read non-CPA-related material. What a treat. Life is good.

I have to get back on my studies tomorrow. I take the REG on 7/18. Just thinking about it makes me want to do something drastic. Drastic behavior tends to bite me in the ass, so I've settled for re-evaluating my to-do list. Here goes...

Things I want to accomplish this summer:

1) Create a study schedule that prepares me for the next exam without making me crazy, and stick with it.

2) Train my heathen dogs so I don't get knocked down and dragged across the ground again. This actually happened last weekend. We have a place at the beach in a gated community with a leash rule. This is culture shock for our Chesapeakes, Junior and Ginger, who are by nature territorial and don't see a leash unless they are going to the vet. We live on a large farm and they have lots of territory to defend. Last Sunday at the beach, I was walking both dogs, on leashes, when they spotted another dog being walked. My guys went nuts, knocked me down, dragged me along the concrete, and totally humiliated me. Never again. Shock collars (as much as I hate the idea) and some tough love are definitely in order for these guys. Don't let appearances fool you. They may look cute, but these 2 combined are about 130 pounds of dog and there is a reason why they are being held by the collar.

3) Find the pictures that answer the question 'How did you get that tractor on the silo?' Hope I have the negatives and am able to have the images transferred to CD. Create a slide show with a link on my blog.

4) Knit. Lots. Some Christmas and birthday gifts. Socks. Finish Arwen and a couple of WIP that have been hanging around mocking me.

5) Find a non-credit class (read 'no homework') in digital photography. I take lousy pictures and really want to learn to use my camera.

6) Read/listen to more non-CPA related material. I had prepared a totally unrealistic summer reading list. My revised list is shown in the sidebar. Since I have a tendency to fall asleep after a page or 2, no reflection at all on quality (more on that later), I've decided to try audiobooks. I'm particularly excited about listening to The Silmarillion since I've never been able to read the book.

7) Learn to use my knitting machines. I know that this seems like cheating to knitting purists. Don't misunderstand - I LOVE knitting by hand. I knit very slowly however and my tension is terrible. I would really like to be able to knit larger pieces on the machine, particularly stockinette back and forth knitting and fabrics to be felted. Unfortunately, there are no resources for machine-knitting in my area. Any suggestions from fellow machine-knitters are certainly welcome.

8) Blog weekly, at least.

Is my revised to-do list doable? I don't know, but I'm going to try.

Long post, many pictures

2007-05-02T08:53:00.001-04:00

It seems like it has been forever since I've posted, but it's only been a couple weeks. They have been very busy, eventful weeks though. They say time flies when you're having fun. Maybe that's why it seems like it's been such a long time, because I definitely haven't been having fun.

Computer problems

After waiting for months to update Quickbooks (I had to wait until our tax returns were in the mail because our accountant hadn't upgraded her version yet), my laptop went completely haywire while attempting to install a Quickbooks update. Why does this not surprise me? The only thing that worked on my computer was Internet Explorer. I could keep up with my blog lurking, but hey, I had lots of work to do. I'm supposed to be studying, but couldn't use my Gleim CPA Exam Review software. After following Intuit's support recommendations (with no luck), and speaking with Gateway tech support (it was a software issue and therefore not covered by my extended warranty), I resorted to the fix of last resort - reformat the hard drive and reinstall everything. Arrrggh! This took forever, even with satellite Internet access (recently installed, I'm loving it), since I had to download all the updates (Windows XP SP2 is a beast). I was back up and running in 4 days, with some minor glitches that I can live with for the time being (HUGE sigh of relief here).

Junior

Thanks to all the well-wishers who commented regarding Junior's accident and surgery. He is recovering nicely. In fact, it's hard to keep him from running, jumping, and other normal puppy stuff at this point. He's a sweet boy. Now if we could only get him housebroken. I have had my living room carpet shampooed twice in the last 2 weeks, and I don't think we'll ever get rid of the odor of urine. Any suggestions regarding training technique or odor removal are welcome.

On the Knitting Front

It feels as if very little knitting has been done lately. I knit these Cabled Footies from One Skein for my sister's birthday. My sister and I were both happy with them and I will definitely make more - my feet are always cold. I used Cascade 220 Superwash and size 6 Addi Turbos. Because I'm lazy and hate cable needles, I used a mock cable stitch. I loved how easy this was and the pretty result. I will be using this stitch to replace cables whenever possible, or at least until I get around to reading Wendy's tutorial on cables without a cable needle. I knit 5 repeats of the 4-row pattern for the cuff, made the foot a little longer, picked up 16 gusset stitches, and stopped decreasing for the toe at 16 stitches because I hate a pointy toe. These would have been a very quick knit if I hadn't been trying to knit while installing and updating software. The first footie was a breeze, the second was frogged more than once, or twice, or...well, you get the picture. I'd have stuck to my usual 'knit while you wait for the computer' project - my daughter's pink Mason*Dixon Absorba (perfect pattern for when you are too distracted, or too brain-dead, to count, follow a pattern, do anything but knit garter stitch) if I hadn't been facing a birthday deadline.

I also finished this crocheted felted bowl. It didn't turn out exactly like I had hoped, but it's working great for gathering odds and ends for Sheri's Q2 Loopy Challenge (I WILL knit baby hats, love knitting baby hats). I used Knit Picks' Shamrock and size H hook. I can crochet significantly faster than I knit, and whipped this up very quickly. I have felted Shamrock before, it felts nicely and I love the speckled effect of the felted fabric. I had planned to put handles on the bowl but it's really not deep enough.

I finally re-finished one Madder Ribbed Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. Doesn't it seem that Interweave Press publishes the best books? I had frogged this sock back to the leg because I hated the toe (long story) and was relieved to finish the sock and find that it's a perfect fit. It feels amazing on my foot! The yarn is Lana Grossa's Meilenweit Mega Boots Softcolor in color 504. I used size 3 Addi Turbos to cast on, 2 for the leg, 1 for the heel and toe (which are reinforced, and 1 for the foot. I had to skip some decreases in the gusset to get a good fit. They should feel great in my boots next winter.

Progress is finally being made on my Inside Out socks, good news since the April kit has arrived. April's yarn is so beautiful, I rushed to wind 2 balls and then couldn't bring myself to cast on! I just want to look at it, and touch it. I've decided I'll finish Inside Out first. This is my first toe-up sock and I'm loving this pattern - no grafting of toes, no picking up of gusset stitches, no running out of yarn on sock # 2 - brilliant! The color is great, not what I would have ever picked for myself but for some reason that tends to work for me since I have a tendency to pick colors I love but would never wear. I just finished heel # 1, tried it on, and I *think* that it's going to be a great fit.

Annual Urge to Purge

Every year about this time I get an uncontrollable urge to clean, organize, and purge. Like almost everything else in my left, this will have to wait until "After I Take The CPA Exam." That hasn't stopped me from thinking about,and planning, what I would like to get accomplished around the house (which is not looking too good these days, what with computer issues and studying). So, I've been shopping. A trip to Kohl's yielded a Dyson vacuum cleaner, new cordless phones for the beach (to thwart DH's cruel attempts to interrupt quality knitting time by refusing to call on the cell thereby forcing me to get off the couch to answer the phone), slip-on Keds which I love (I bought 4 pair - 2 denim, 1 white, 1 floral), new towels, and summer clothes and accessories for the princess.

I think this poster is my favorite purchase. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon changed my life, made me look at life differently. I own 3 copies of the cd, one stays in the stereo at home, one in my car, one at the beach. I also have a copy on vinyl. It is an amazing piece of work that I never get tired of hearing.

Also purchased, a table top ironing board and some of those closet organizers for sweaters, to be used for sock yarn storage so I can open the closet door and ogle my sock yarn instead of having to dig through the chest. I can't wait to get to some home improvement projects.

Pretty in Pink

I also purchased Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted from Angelika's Yarn Store in various shades of pink for a potential fund raiser. Nothing is definite yet, but it seems like a good idea and hope it goes well. More details later. Aren't the colors pretty though?

On the Stash Reduction Front

I've been booted from Stashalong until June 1 (oh the shame of it). I just could not resist buying sock yarn...lots of sock yarn. As of today, 167 pairs worth. Needless to say, I have been taking advantage of my stash-reduction hiatus by buying lots of sock yarn. By June 1, I will need Stashalong more than ever and maybe I won't be tempted (but I doubt it). This photo doesn't include yarn for felting, or SnC, or enough PnC double worsted to cover every floor in my house with Absorbas. I definitely won't have to buy sock yarn for Sockapalooza. This is my first year and I'm expecting it to be great fun.

Coming Soon

Like I said, I feel like my life has been on hold while I prepare for the CPA Exam. There are so many things I've wanted to do and have put off. I am scheduled to take the Auditing and Attestation portion of the exam on the 15th of May. On the 16th, I am headed to the beach for some much needed rest, relaxation, and knitting.

When I return, look for my summer reading list (hint...Elizabeth Zimmerman), posting selections from my extensive sock yarn stash, and asking for help in choosing yarn for a new project. Remember I said I suck at choosing colors? It's true, and it's frustrating. I've been looking at a particular pattern for some time but have not cast on for that reason. Maybe you can help me out, I'll make it worth your while.

If I only had a brain, part 2

2007-04-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I do really dumb things. Immediately after doing something dumb, I realize how dumb it was. Why doesn't it ever occur to me, before I commence to totally mess something up, that what I am about to do is really dumb?

I ordered a hank of Mountain Colors' Weavers Wool Quarters in the color Sagebrush way back in January. I have waited patiently for it to arrive in the mail, which it did on Friday. This is a lovely hank of yarn - beautiful muted colors and very soft. Perfect, I thought, for a cozy pair of socks once I decide on the perfect pattern.

The yarn arrived packed in a manila envelope and wrapped, very tightly, in much tape. At a glance, there was nary a speck of untaped area on this package. Anxious to get a look at this long-awaited hank, I proceeded to cut through the end of the package with my trusty scissors. Can you guess what happened next?

If you guessed that I cut through the end of the hank, you are absolutely correct. See all those little yarn ends sticking out at the end of the hank? I was in a state of shock when I saw what I had done.

I remained calm, cool, and collected while I considered how I might salvage the yarn. The best way, I thought, would be to put the hank on my swift, pull out the cut portion, and wind the remainder. I was curious to see how much yardage I had lost. Pulling out the cut portion was definitely not my best option. I ended up with a tangled mess.

Now what? I scooped the mess up and dumped it in a ziplock bag. I haven't quite decided whether a) I should leave it out as a reminder to think before I act, b) stick it in a drawer and possibly salvage enough to do something with, someday, or c) toss it in the trash because I know there is no way I will ever untangle this mess ( I have more yarn in my stash than I can knit in my lifetime).

In the meantime, I've ordered 2 more hanks of Weavers Wool Quarters in Sagebrush from a different vendor. Why beat myself up and deprive myself of the pleasure of Sagebrush in my stash? While I was at it, I ordered some Bearfoot and Cherry Tree Hill Supersock. For those of you with a CTH fetish, The Needlework Attic has odds and ends that are drastically reduced. Selection is limited, but I paid $13 for my Supersock.

Well, live and learn, right? I feel a little guilty about not reordering the Weavers Wool from the same vendor. I know it was absolutely my own fault that the hank was ruined. Maybe it's just me rationalizing, but who ships yarn like that? This was the first time I had purchased yarn from this vendor. The order was placed in January and has arrived in bits and pieces since then. The vendor was very pleasant and helpful when I contacted them last week about the likelihood of the remainder of the order being shipped, but it did ship significantly later than originally promised (not the end of the world, I understand stuff happens). I have considered emailing them to let them know that the packaging was less than desirable but am not sure that constructive criticism is warranted under the circumstances or whether it would be appreciated. Any thoughts?

I'll have some FOs posted as soon as I can get some decent light. BTW, does anyone know of an online source for nice leather handles?

Random blogging

2007-04-02T13:06:00.000-04:00

Because I don't get out much, by choice, I have a tendency to look to the blogisphere for persons with similar interests. I haven't decided whether this is healthy or not. Am I reinforcing my loner tendencies, my self-imposed hermitdom, by adopting a virtual social network in order to avoid developing my own poor social skills? I don't know. What I do know is that the knitting community is amazing. Although I frequently lurk, seldom posting comments, for the first time I feel a part of something bigger, something good and wholesome. Thanks guys, for just being out there and sharing your stories.

Confession may be good for the soul, but it's still humiliating. I've been slow to post progress this month because I failed big-time in my Stashalong commitment during the month of March. Certain events conspired, I've been feeling particularly down in the dumps, and my gut reaction during times like these is to shop. What did I shop for? You guessed it....yarn! Lots of yarn - expensive, hand painted, luxury sock yarn for the most part. This morning I will be confessing to my fellow Stashalongers that I am weak and indulgent. Hopefully, they will forgive me and not throw me out on my ear. They are a great bunch and I'd miss them a lot.

Sad Puppy
Poor Junior (formally known as Sir Harley Braxton), our 5-month old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, is sad these days because he is recuperating from surgery and confined to his crate. Junior was run over by a truck in our lane sustaining a nasty wound to one rear leg and a fracture to the other. The first couple of days after his surgery he was very groggy, then depression seemed to set in - which proved to be contagious. He did not want to come out of his crate for bathroom breaks. He was more likely to turn his back on us than welcome our attention. Junior is coming back strong though. He looks forward to his 10-minute walks and hops around the yard on 3 legs like a champ. We are all feeling better and hoping for a complete recovery. Because the fracture is so near a growth plate, there is a chance that the bone will not continue to grow. We'll just have to wait and see, and be thankful that Junior is still with us.

Is it me, or does the CPA exam just stink? I learned this month that I failed the FAR portion of the exam for a second time. I can't believe it. I am a fairly intelligent person, believe it or not. I graduated at the top of my class. I can do almost anything I set my mind to. Apparently, however, I can not pass this @)#($ exam. In (my version of) a perfect world, I would chuck the whole idea of becoming a CPA and sit home and knit socks. It wouldn't even cost anything. I have enough sock yarn to keep me going for a long, long time. But, I'm also not a quitter. So, I'm scheduled to take the AUD this month, the REG next month, and then I get to start over on the FAR.

On a positive note, I had the distinct pleasure of corrupting both my non-knitting SIL and 15-year old niece. My SIL is a natural, finished her first garter stitch scarf in one day! I sent my niece home with my Stitch 'n Bitch book and instructions to pick a pattern and then come raid my stash. I'm excited about having non-virtual knitting buddies.

I believe this fairly depressing post needs a happy ending, or a pretty picture, so here is my most recent acquisition. This beautiful piece of stained glass was made by a local woman and purchased at the Gathering Place in Smyrna, lower-slower-Delaware. I can't remember the artist's name. It's a good thing she doesn't crank this stuff out any faster, or that I don't go to town more often, or I could have another full-blown obsession. We'll get it hung today, can't wait to see the light shine through those beautiful colors.

Feather and Fan Scarf

2007-04-02T12:37:00.000-04:00

I have blogged about this project previously, it was intended as a treat for myself after all the holiday knitting was completed. I think the scarf is very pretty, but it's just not me. So, into the FO stash for 2007 holiday gifting it goes.

The pattern is the Feather and Fan Scarf from The Little Box of Scarves (Melissa Matthay and Sheryl Thies). I used Berocco Memoirs (approx. 2.75 hanks) in color Chantilly and size 10 Denise Interchangeables. The finished size, after light blocking, is 5" by 74".

I am not a fan of mohair, which is why I have had a One Skein Mohair Pillow on the needles for months. I'm also a relative novice as far as lace goes. I think Memoirs was a good choice for this scarf though, it shows the pattern nicely, the color variations work well, and it blocked nicely.

Finished Absorba # 2

2007-04-02T12:18:00.000-04:00

I started Absorba, from Mason*Dixon Knitting, back in January and have picked it up from time to time but made no real progress. Birthday knits and other, more portable, projects monopolized my limited knitting time. However, a recent comment by reader Nancy motivated me to concentrate on Absorba.

I used Elmore-Pisgah's Peaches & Cream Double Worsted - one strand each of Hunter, Bright Navy, and Blue Swirls (approx. 1.5 cones, 600 yards, of each color). I splurged on 40" size 15 Addi Turbos for this project. I found the Addis handled the bulk of 3 strands of double worsted much easier than my Denise's. Plus, I had read that this bulk could possibly damage my Denise needles...no sense in that.

Judging by the amount of water on my bathroom floor following showers, I knew I was going to need an oversized bathmat. I knit 12 strips around the center square and then added a strip to opposite ends for a total of 14 strips. The finished mesurement is 30" by 38". After christening the mat, I realize I am not going to be happy with the size and plan to add another strip to each side.

This cotton is definitely NOT colorfast. I had blue hands the entire time I was working on the rug and the dye ran a lot in the washing machine. I also cleaned a couple handfuls of lint out of the inside of both the washer and dryer, and had to empty the lint trap several times while it took hours (really, about 2.5 of them) to dry. I can see that I am going to need a spare while this is being laundered. I'm assuming that the extra dye and lint will go away after a few washings. But...you might want to take this into consideration when choosing colors.

Also, regarding PnC and colors...if you are picky about color, invest in a color card (cost approx. $12). I ordered Burgundy for this Absorba and was suprised to find that the Burgundy was actually fushia! Totally unusable fushia, which I should have returned, but didn't. Eventually, someone who does like Fushia will come along, I hope. If anyone out there is into fushia, leave a comment or email me and it's yours.

This is a good winter project for me, keeps my lap nice and warm. With any luck, I should be able to add the extra strips to this mat, and finish the pink Absorba on the needles, in the evenings while it's still a little cool.

Thank you 'Hello Yarn'

2007-04-02T11:11:00.000-04:00

I had a couple birthdays this month - one niece, one nephew - and was happy to find great patterns on Hello Yarn's site.

First, for my nephew, We Call Them Pirates in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, colors Charcoal and Natural (approx. 1/2 hank each), and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, color Charcoal (approx. 50 yards), for the lining. I was nervous about using size 3 needles with a worsted weight but stuck with the recommended needle size. The hat fit me fine but looked a little snug on my nephew. I think I would go up a needle size or 2 if I knit this hat again. This was my first intarsia project and I think it looks pretty good, especially after steaming.

Next, for my niece, the Mini Skull and Crossbones Tote in Araucania Nature Wool in colors 27 (green, about 3/4 of hank or approx 180 yards) and 26 (orange, approx. 30 yards) using size 10 Addi Turbos.

I did make some minor changes to the pattern. The first inch or so of the bag was done in a garter stitch to prevent rolling. I also replaced the handles with a 6-stitch i-cord, 36" long before felting, using a double strand of yarn and size 10 dpns.

I lined the bag with a cute polka dot fabric that matched the yarn perfectly and a snap closure. The lining is not a perfect fit but is an improvement over my last attempt.

This was my first felted intarsia project. I had a lot of trouble with the balls of yarn tangling so switched to large bobbins, which worked much beter for me. The wool felted very nicely but super-fast. I could very easily have ended up with a change purse if I hadn't been extra careful (for a change).

I was very pleased with both FO. It was nice to give something other than the usual. My nephew said he liked the hat and my niece was thrilled with her bag and, according to my sister, has been showing it off to her friends. It makes me happy when my hand knits are appreciated and enjoyed.

Both patterns can be found here.

Arwen is OTN ... finally!

2007-03-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

After suffering much gauge-related trauma and the sad realization that Brown Sheep Co. Cotton Fleece was NOT going to give me gauge for Arwen, Arwen is finally on the needles.

Impressive, huh? I was finally able to cast on using Aurora 8, which gave me perfect gauge on a size 7 Addi Turbo, and purled the first row. After all the trouble I had with the Cotton Fleece before I gave it up, I feel like this is a major accomplishment.

I don't think I'll be able to spend a lot of time on this in the next few weeks. I shouldn't anyway, but we'll see what happens. Too many birthdays, babies, a wedding, and 2 exams in my immediate future to allow a lot of *me* time.

I'm also very afraid of this project due to the pickiness factor (see previous post). This is probably my last effort at a handknit garment for myself. Hopefully, I will LOVE Arwen as much after I finish it as I do now and we will have a long and happy relationship. If not, there are always the kid's birthdays.

A FO revisited

2007-03-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

This was my very first pair of socks and they hold a special place in my heart. Sock-knitters will understand. However, they were knit from worsted weight, are somewhat baggy, and too thick to wear with any shoe that I own.

I had a brilliant idea (lol) to sew leather soles to the socks so that I may enjoy and preserve them. One set of Regia leather soles (available at Herrschners) later and I have a pair of slipper socks. How cool is that?

But I know what I like...NOT

2007-03-02T10:17:00.000-05:00

You would think that I would know what I like at this point in my life. But no...I keep casting on projects for myself and end up gifting them because I just don't like them. It's not that they are not attractive, or well-made, or functional. They are. They just are not me!

For example, this scarf has been residing in my unclaimed FO drawyer for 3 years or more. It is a simple stockinette scarf with garter stitch edges. I used a strand of Katia Hippy Mix, color 1003, and a strand of Dalegarn Heilo, color 0020. I was a novice knitter at the time, hence the use of novelty yarn.

The scarf was intended for moi, but guess what - I just don't like it. It is soft, warm, I like the colors, it drapes nicely ... I just don't want to wear it.

Which leads me to a current project ... another scarf cast on for myself - Berocco Memoirs, color Chantilly, in a Feather and Fan pattern. I picked up the yarn at a LYS last year for a scarf to match my new coat. The yarn looked decidedly greenish in hank form. After winding, it looked slightly less greenish. The scarf now looks suprisingly pastel-y. It's very pretty. I've heard many nice things about it. But ... I don't think I like this one either.

Am I destined to go through life scarfless? And it's not just scarves. Numerous sweaters have also been gifted due to downright pickiness. Why is it that almost every handknit item cast on for myself ends up being worn by someone else? Am I fated to only knit for others?

The upside to the unwanted scarf collection is that these will make nice Christmas gifts for my sisters. Maybe someone will give me a nice scarf.

If I only had a brain...

2007-02-26T10:10:00.001-05:00

This past weekend started out on a perfectly lovely note - no place to go and nothing to do except knit. Saturday morning found me in front of the wood stove and the TV, bright and early, weaving in ends on Knucks (Knitty.com) for DD #2.

The pattern for Knucks can be found here. I used Fantasy Yarns' Cashmere Luxury Aran (45% Merino Wool, 49% Microfiber, 6% Cashmere), color 14 Olive, approx 1 skein (100 yds), and 2 size 4 Addi Turbos. I enjoyed this project, it was a quick knit, but many ends to weave in despite a pattern hint to knit in some of the ends which I ignored for some reason. The gloves are worked from the fingers to the cuff. This was my first pair of gloves so I can't comment on whether this is easier than a traditional pattern. I was very suprised at how nice this yarn is (since it was purchased at either Michael's or AC Moore)- nice stitch definition and very soft. I was also suprised at how little it stretched - wonder if this is due to the microfiber? My daughter is thrilled with the gloves and I have enough yarn left for a scarf once she picks a pattern.

Then, I checked my Arwen swatch - Aurora 8 in a beautiful pastel blue (color 33) and size 7 Addi Turbo - and found the gauge to be perfect! About time. I was told I would love this yarn, and I do. It is so soft and I love the color. I did notice a tendency for the working yarn to kink a little. I think this is happening because the yarn is tightly wound and I'm pulling from the center of the ball. I'm going to try working from the outside of the ball when I cast on and see what happens.

Next, I found an interesting pattern in Scarf Style - Annie Modesitt's Backyard Leaves. I promised DD #1 a scarf to match her Hurry up Spring Armwarmers (SnB Nation)and while the pattern is not a perfect match, it's close and does not require a cable needle. I'm about half a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted short but luckily, Angelica of Angelica's Yarn Store has a skein in the same dye lot.

BTW, I highly recommend Angelica for all your Lorna's Laces, Cascade 220 and Fixation, Addi Turbo, and other fiber-related needs. Angelica is very pleasant, helpful, and has the best customer service around - she emailed me on a Sunday to let me know she had the dye lot I needed! I receive my orders so quickly that I've come to the conclusion she must be psychic.

Saturday evening, after NOT having to cook dinner (a chore I absolutely hate), I picked up Madder Ribbed Sock #1, from Knitting Vintage Socks, and finished the sock up to the toe. Its not perfect. I see a purl where there should have been a knit on the leg. I should have switched to a size 1 when I picked up the reinforcing thread for the heel because it has thrown off my gauge. I think the bottom of the foot should have been worked in a smaller size needle, I'm using a 2# and it just feels too 'thin.' I really don't like the color shift from the heel to the gusset. The color varies very gradually on the leg and *BAM*, there is a too-abrupt change of color when I picked up the gusset stitches. Like I said, not perfect but it's a boot sock so who cares?

All in all, not a record as far as knitting accomplishment goes, but relaxing and satisfying. I'm already planning what I want to work on tomorrow: finish sock
#1 and cast on sock #2 (to avoid 2nd sock syndrome), swatch for 'We Call Them Pirates,' and cast on Arwen. Which leads me to Sunday morning...

Sunday morning started off perfect. Up at 6, my favorite part of the day because everyone else is asleep. By 8am the toe is finished, and DH has cooked his own breakfast without complaining (bless his heart). He has even looked at and admired my sock. By 10am, I have frogged the toe twice because it just doesn't feel right. I'm not sweating it- big, fat snowflakes are falling, the wood stove is going, and I'm enjoying a double dose of 'A Hard Days Night.' By noon, I have frogged the toe for a third time and am unable to get the stitches back on the needles. From noon until dinnertime (which I DID have to cook) I play around trying to get those pesky stitches back on the needles. By now I'm close to tears and have frogged the sock all the way back to the gusset.

Break for dinner. DH is at the dinner table watching TV while I cook and curse my sock, loudly. DH (bless his heart again) is supportive and even asks if there's anything he can do to help. This from the man who has been heard to ask why I don't go to Wal-Mart and buy a damn pair of socks. Then...he asks if I have tried the magnifying lamp he gave me. OMG, it NEVER occurred to me. What a complete and total idiot I am! After throwing the entire project, needles and all, in the trash and recovering them (more than once), I gave up on knitting, picked up 'Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales,' and retired for the evening.

It's Monday morning, and I have picked up the stitches for Madder Ribbed Sock #1, using the magnifying lamp, as easy as pie. I feel incompetent, my confidence in my knitting ability totally shattered even though I know my knitting skills (or lack of) had nothing to do with the sock-related trauma. The sock is set aside for the time being, and I've spotted 3 skeins of Berocco Memoirs, color 7706 Chantilly, that has been calling to me for weeks - it wants to be a Feather and Fan scarf. I gave in, wound the yarn, and cast on. Ribbed Sock #1 is still haunting me - might as well frog the heel and do the heel and foot with a #1. Not today, though.

February SAL progress to date...

2007-02-20T14:49:00.000-05:00

February has been a slow knitting month. First, I had a killer exam scheduled this month. The day after I took the exam, I woke up with a terrible head cold which really slowed me down. This has also been a slow blogging month, also due to the exam and the fact that the day before I took the exam, my laptop died. Hence, the multiple blogs today.

My 6-month Stashalong goals and progress to-date are as follows:

1. 2 pair fingerless gloves: 1 pair complete, 1 pair on the needles
2. Dishcloths: Completed
3. Absorba - 4: 2 on needles
4. Socks: Sock 1 of pair 1, at beginning of foot
5. Cardigan for Arwen: Gave up trying to get gauge with first fiber choice (see previous post)
6. Potholders: 2 done, 8 more planned

I also completed the following unplanned projects from stash:

1. Slip stitch scarf and So-simple hat
2. Mini baby layettes for July twins

During the month, I realized I have a couple March birthdays. I also learned of a couple more handknit gifting opportunities. As a result, I used my February Free Day to purchase the following:

1. Karabella Yarns' Aurora 8 for Arwen
2. Euroflax Linen for Mason*Dixon Hand Towels (for September wedding)
3. Mission Falls 1824 Cotton for One Skein Boleros (for July twins)
4. Encore Worsted for 'We Call Them Pirates' Hat (for March birthday)
5. Karabella Yarn's Aurora 8 for SnB Nation Alien Illusions Scarf (for myself because its cool and I deserve it)

I don't feel too bad about splurging on my Free Day given the amount of destashing thru gifting accomplished last month. Besides, I will be using stash for the following to be completed by the end of March:

1. Socks in Cascade Fixation (for March birthday)
2. Scarf for my daughter
3. Socks, hats, scarf, gloves for myself

A pox on gauge!

2007-02-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

I hate swatching. Rarely do I get gauge. Seldom do I complete a project in which gauge is relevant and end up with a FO that fits the intended recipient. As a result, I have not attempted a project that involved gauge in any meaningful way in years. Until, that is, I saw A Cardigan for Arwen in the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave Knits.

My first fiber choice for this beautiful sweater was Brown Sheep Co. Cotton Fleece. It was listed as a valid yarn substitution per the Yahoo ArwenAlong group. I really tried to get gauge. I began with the recommended size 8 and worked my way down. The closest I got was with a size 6 Denise: 18.25 sts, 25 rows to 4". The pattern gauge is 18 sts, 26 rows to 4". Going down another needle size gave me 20 sts, 28 rows per 4".

Even if I was willing to perform crazy calculations, which I wasn't given the multitude of unfamiliar techniques (ie. short rows) used in the pattern, the resulting fabric was not attractive and the cable swatch was unimpressive. I could have lived with the fabric resulting from the use of a size 5. Some cursory calculations indicate that a size 5 could work if I switched to a larger sweater size. Hmmm... what to do?

I really love this sweater. I really want to finish the sweater, and have it fit ME. I can see myself wearing this sweater in a beautiful pastel blue. I've decided to suck it up, use my February Free day (per Stashalong), and ordered Karabella Yarns' Aurora 8, which according to a fellow ArwenAlong member gets perfect gauge and lovely stitch definition.

While I wait for my second fiber choice to arrive, I'm enjoying 'no swatching required' projects while I can.

I love knitting for babies...

2007-02-20T12:37:00.000-05:00

I love knitting for babies but opportunities have been slim of late. Imagine my delight to learn that the daughter of a friend is expecting twins in July! Instantly, a multitude of darling handknit projects came to mind. Due to the need for instant gratification mentioned in the previous post, I decided to start small.

I have been itching to make the Children's Cotton Hat from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I used Lily Sugar'n Cream and size 7 Addi Turbos. I made the toddler size to allow for any gauge differences and shrinkage. FYI, I found an error (in the toddler size) that resulted in an odd number of eyelets. Of course, the eror was found after completely finishing the hat, someone's doll will be getting a new hat. After modifying the pattern to give an even number of eyelets, I knit the cutest little hats in colors Light Blue and Rose Pink.

The bibs and burp cloths are from Mason*Dixon Knitting. I used colors Light Blue and Rose Pink again and size 6 Addi Turbos for the bibs. I found the Beatrix Potter buttons in my button stash, not a perfect match but cute nontheless. The burp cloths were knit on size 7 Addi Turbos in colors Faded Denim and Strawberry. Mine ended up larger than the pattern due to gauge difference - about 9" by 14".

I'm really happy with these. The Sugar'n Cream is so soft and machine washable - a must for a young mother of twins. I can't wait to gift these and begin my next baby project - One Skein Boleros with matching hat in Mission Falls 1824 Cotton.

My dishcloth drawyer is full!

2007-02-20T12:10:00.000-05:00

One of my stashalong goals this year was to replace my yucky old dishcloths. I had planned to knit log-cabin style dishcloths, but a bad cold and limited patience got in the way. I am a very slow knitter. It takes me 1-2 days to finish a knit dishcloth. Feeling lousy put me in the mood for some seriously instant gratification so I ended up filling a basket with Sugar'n Cream, grabbing a size H crochet hook, and took both to my sick bed.

I resorted to my old dishcloth standby, chain 40, sc in the second chain, and each following chain. The remaining rows: sc in first sc, * ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next sc * across. I can finish this pattern in about 90 minutes and was able to fill my dishcloth drawyer in the length of time it would have taken me to complete one knit dishcloth. It didn't take me long to realize another advantage of my crocheted vs. knit dishcloth: knit cloths tend to be bulky and difficult for me to wring out. The crocheted cloth is less dense since only half the stitches are worked.

I did use my leftovers to make a crocheted version of a mitred square which turned out nicely. I am happy to cross this goal off my list, have a drawyer full of colorful dishcloths, and in the process reduced my stash by 11 balls of SnC.

Slip stitch scarf and So-simple hat

2007-02-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

For my brother's birthday last month, I decided to knit him a scarf to match his Christmas hat. I had very specific requirements for the scarf. First, I needed a pattern that would work up very quickly in an easy-care, inexpensive yarn. The second part was easy, I had enough Encore Chunky in my stash (purchased for a long-forgotten project)that just happended to be the same color as the hat I gave him for Christmas. It had to be quick because my brother loses everything. I didn't want to invest a lot of time in something that would be misplaced. It also had to be extremely masculine in appearance.

After seeing Kay's scarves, as shown in her January 19, 2007 post on the Mason*Dixon Knitting blog and inspired by the Baby Genious Burp Cloth, I knew this was the perfect pattern. It worked up very quickly on #13 Addi Turbos and looks rather nice, in my opinion. I used two skeins to get a 7" by 60" scarf.

Of course, my brother had lost the hat already so I had to make another. Hope these keep his neck and head warm during this frigid weather.

What's wrong with these mitts?

2007-02-05T18:46:00.000-05:00

I recently finished the Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation for my daughter and though I'm VERY happy they are done and in the mail, I'm less than happy with the FO. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, color Natural, and I used 2 size 7 Addi Turbos.

The cable pattern is pretty enough and the yarn is nice. The problem is that I frogged these 3 times. I hate that. And I still don't like them because the k2p2 ribbing on the back does this weird twisting thing.

First, I was binding off the first mitt when I noticed that I was using 2 different size needles (the numbers 6 and 8 do kind of look alike). Started over, using #7 Addis, tried the mitt on for size and noticed that the ribbing on the back was twisted. Frogged again in an attempt to fix that, had no luck, and said to heck with it. I was hoping this wouldn't happen with the second mitt and it would become apparent what the heck had happened with the ribbing.

Then as I was binding off the second mitt, I noticed that I had 2 right hand mitts. Lovely, right? Ripped back to pre-gusset and finally got these off the needles.

The ribbing does appear the same on both mitts and I just don't get it. Anyway, they are done and I hope my daughter likes them. But, the best thing about them is that they are not here for me to look at and wonder what in the heck is wrong with these mitts.

A Few January WIP

2007-01-26T12:27:00.000-05:00

One of my Stashalong goals is to finish the Fingerless Mitts requested by my daughters. The first pair are Hurry Up Spring Armwarmers from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted. Mitt 1 should be done soon, after being frogged more than once.

Another Stashalong goal is to replace my bathmats and Absorba from
Mason*Dixon Knitting was the perfect choice. I'm using 1 strand each of Peaches & Cream Double Worsted in Hunter, Bright Navy, and Blue Swirls and Denise Interchangeable #15. I like the way the colors are working together and the FO should be darn near indestructible.

And yet another Stashalong goal (its amazing how Stashalong keeps me on task) - handknit socks for myself. For my first pair of socks in fingering weight I chose Meilenweit Mega Boots Softcolor and the Simple Ribbed Sock from
Knitting Vintage Socks. So far, so good.

Not a Stashalong project...a garter stitch scarf with attitude based on the Baby Genius Burp Cloth from, you guessed it, Mason*Dixon Knitting. I was looking for a super-quick but manly scarf for my brother's birthday next week. The pattern is perfect fit for Encore Chunky, my yarn of choice for the guys' hats and scarves. This is going to work up like lightning on #13 Addi Turbos and my hands and elbow are loving it.

A couple more January FO

2007-01-26T09:32:00.000-05:00

One of my personal, and Stashalong, goals this year is to replace my seen-better-days dishcloths with handknit cloths. Every one must be unique, combine great colors, and be approx. 11" square. The size and shape are important. First, dishcloths must be square. How do you fold a non-square dishcloth? I have knit a dozen flower washcloths and agonized over how to fold the non-square washcloth for gifting. Over the years, I have learned (thankfully) to live with a very non-perfect household. My house is dusty, over-crowded, and full of animals...but my dishcloths are folded into perfect squares. I also hate a dinky dishcloth, about 11" square is optimal.

As a teaser, and because I love this bowl (purchased at a local antique store for $15) and the cloths look so pretty in it...a picture of 3 of 4 completed dishcloths.

My first cloth was a Leisure Arts pattern for a pretty, lacey thing that I modified to get a larger cloth. The result measured 13 by 14.5 inches, too large, and was so fugly that it was gifted to the first person to comment on it. I realized that in order to produce perfect 11" square cloths I was going to have to take a different approach. My next attempt was Crystal Palace Yarn's free pattern for a cloth worked on the diagonal. It's a nice cloth with a pretty eyelet edge but it took forever and was, well, boring as all get out. Here it is, pictured in the bowl again because its so pretty (the bowl, that is).

By then I had come to the conclusion that the perfect solution was to work from the center out. Suddenly, visions of beautiful dishcloths in log cabin variations inspired by Mason*Dixon Knitting appeared to me. Here is the first, done in Lily Sugar 'n Cream; colors Tea Rose, Yellow, Rose Pink, Soft Violet, Soft Teal, Light Blue, and Butter Cream Ombre; and Denise Interchangeable #7. This was fun to knit, despite the many ends to weave in, and I really love the way it turned out even though pastels tend to give me hives.

I used SnC in Moonlight- for Dark Pine, and Sage Green in a different pattern - also from Mason*Dixon Knitting - for this cloth, finished late last night.

Today, my hands and elbow are screaming for wool. Time to take a break from this particular goal but many more log cabin dishcloths are in my future as evidenced by this basket of SnC. I think its also time for me to do some research about knitting in ends.

My weekend adventures, knitting and otherwise...

2007-01-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

I spent a few minutes this weekend sorting through my stash, looking for anything that had lost its appeal. I was able to part with just over 4,000 yards consisting of my entire Bernat Cottontots inventory and a few odds and ends. I also unloaded the remaining non-Addi Turbo circulars, since I now have a complete set, and some pattern books. I'm happy and the recipient, a friend and neighbor, is thrilled.

After said gifting, I was able for the first time to close my yarn chest! This photo was taken July 26, 2006. Imagine my excitement, my sense of accomplishment as I ran for the camera to document the moment. Wait, I forgot a couple bags - small ones. Now, imagine my reaction when I was not able to open the chest - the fear of yarn deprivation leading to unprecedented panic and thoughts of crowbars, hammers, and other such tools of destruction. DH said "Good, I'll open it after you pass your CPA exam!" Men just don't get it, do they?

To make a short story of it, I managed to open it without damaging the chest. Apparently, the lock (for which I have no key) was varnished along with the chest and needed some coaxing. The chest will stay open for the time being, at least until I recover. I like looking at my yarn anyway.

As my friend and I looked through my stash, I heard a lot of "What are you going to do with that?" "Don't know" was my most common response. But, I'm steeling myself to part with the almost 7,000 yards of Sirdar Snuggly next month. I haven't given up on grandchildren, not that I'm in a big hurry, but I prefer natural fibers at this point.

I spent the rest of the weekend studying, except for the 2-hour season premiere of 24 that aired Sunday night...love this show, Keifer Sutherland rocks! This exam is driving me insane. DH says its a short trip, but that's beside the point. I will never need to know 90% of this material, and there is so much of it, and I still have 3 exams to finish. Can you hear me screaming in frustration?

I have been operating under the assumption that I have until Feb 28, 2007 to finish the last 3 exams. If not, then I will have to retake the first since they must all be completed sucessfully within an 18-month period. Imagine my delight when, upon re-examination of my schedule, that I have until April 30, 2007 to finish! I'm calling the Board of Accountancy to confirm this today, just in case.

All in all, a relatively great weekend. I was able to destash without knitting (although I miss knitting), give myself a good scare (the locked chest incident, I like a good scare), get me a whole 2 hours of Keifer, and find some wiggle room in my study/testing schedule. To top things off, the Patriots won last night. My dad, born and bred in Boston, is a die-hard Patriots fan and I like it when Dad's happy. Hope the rest of you had a great weekend.

New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-11T11:57:00.000-05:00

I decided long ago that New Year's Resolutions, for me, are an invitation to fail. However, after a long conversation with myself, I've decided that I need some goals.

As I've gotten older and life has gotten easier - kids are grown, I work at home, set my own schedule -- I have gradually turned into a couch potato. I am perfectly content to spend my days knitting in front of the TV. I work when necessary and avoid leaving my house. I have no self-discipline or motivation (except for knitting). I've become lazy and grumpy.

In the past, resolutions have generally been a private thing for me. Who wants the world to know that you tried and failed? This year, I'm going to expose my resolutions to millions (potentially, LOL) and hold my own feet to the fire.

So, in order of importance:

1. Pass the CPA exam (suck it up, Linda)
2. Quit smoking (after I pass the CPA exam)
3. Knit from stash (no great sacrifice, believe me)
4. Start a knitting circle (this is in the works)
5. Organize photos (I can do this is front of the TV)
6. Register for a class (I miss being in a classroom)
7. Spend more quality time with my dogs (Chief, Floyd, Ginger, and Junior)

There it is, out there for the world to see. I'm optimistic. I'm also slightly exhausted just thinking about it. Back to my studies...

Post-holiday knitting

2007-01-09T20:24:00.001-05:00

After all that holiday knitting, I promised myself that I would knit something great for myself. Actually, the deal was that I would finish all holiday knitting by December 23 (which I did) and cast on my new project on Christmas Eve (which I didn't). Guess I forgot about the 30+ people I was expecting that evening and for the life of me I couldn't decide what I wanted to knit anyway.

Also, now that the holidays are over I have no choice but to face the fast-approaching deadline for my last 3 CPA exams. I told myself this was do-able while I was holiday knitting instead of studying. Who was I kidding?

So, knitting is minimal right now but between study sessions I did manage to finish a pair of potholders and a felted bowl using all but about 20 yards of a skein of WoolPak Yarns NZ 14-ply, color HP4 Valley, from my stash.

I used Knit Lites # 10.5, a Christmas gift from a knitting friend, for the potholders. I use circulars for everything but I love these needles. I had a migraine for 5 days running and was able to knit without the usual bright light. I also used them in the movie theater (we saw The Good Shepherd, definitely worth watching). What a great idea!

The pattern for the potholders is from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. They measured 12.5 x 13.5 in. before felting and 8 x 8.5 in. after felting. They are nice and thick and the yarn felted nicely but at $32 per skein (310 yards) these may be the most expensive potholders I've ever owned. They may actually be a little too thick. I tried them out last night and I'm not sure how I like them. They would make great trivets though. I plan to try the pattern again using a double strand of Patons Classic Wool. Note to self: cast on and bind off with a larger needle to get a straighter edge.

The pattern for the bowl is from One Skein, of course. I made the small bowl, used Addi Turbos # 13, and felted it until I swear it holds water. I love this pattern.

Other post-holiday knitting plans:
1. More potholders
2. Wash/dishcloths - 1 on the needles
3. 4 Absorbas
4. 2 pair of fingerless gloves - glove 1 on the needles
5. Lace shawl
6 Lots of socks for me
7. Cardigan for Arwen - yarn shipped today, can't wait

If only there were more hours in the day!

An early Christmas present

2006-12-20T08:22:00.000-05:00

I just have to show off this early Christmas present from Ken and the fact that I managed to take another decent picture. If you read the previous post, you understand why this is hanging in its designated location rather than wrapped under the tree.

A local woman made this beautiful piece of stained glass. Because I sometimes indulge in quilting, I was drawn to this piece. I also love the 'tree of life' theme. I've hung the glass in the window above my front door so it catches the light. I can't wait to see her new pieces.

What is keeping me busy (besides knitting)?

2006-12-20T07:55:00.000-05:00

We had an unexpected arrival a couple weeks ago -- a 2-month old, male Chesapeake Bay Retriever. He has been named Junior, informally. His formal name, for AKC purposes, is tentatively Sir Chester something (?). He is shown here with Ginger, our female Chesapeake. Ginger just celebrated her first birthday on December 5.

Ginger (Princess Ginger Snaps) is wonderful -- affectionate and personable. She is the grandchild I don't have. She has lots of friends who come to visit her. At least she was/did before Ken brought Junior home. She has become possessive of her toys (every single last one of them, and there are dozens) which we have had to take away in order to protect those poor unfortunate visitors who are unaware of her trauma. She feels betrayed.

Junior is adorable and an absolute mess. He chews phone and electrical cords. He digs in flower pots. He turns over trash cans. He does his business in his crate and plays in it until there is as much crap outside the crate as inside and he needs a power bath. He plays with yarn and chews Addi Turbos. Worst of all, at least in Ginger's opinion, he refuses to be submit to Ginger's will.

We no longer have a peaceful home with a well-behaved dog. We have CAOS. As I blog, the sweethearts are rolling over the floor, nipping and crying. Needless to say, this is going to be an interesting Christmas, and there will be no packages under the tree for Junior to chew. I don't know how this is going to work out. In the meantime, prayer and well wishes are welcome. I can use all the moral support I can get!

In my spare time...

2006-12-20T07:38:00.000-05:00

In between the knitting of 46 Christmas gifts (small items I admit, but still -- 46 gifts!), I forced myself to put out our Dickens Village collection. This is the bane of my holiday season. It is beautiful, but also a real pain in the neck. I'm glad I did it, and by golly its staying up until March! At least I managed to get some decent pictures for a change so I can show off.

Mason*Dixon Bib O' Love

2006-12-20T07:20:00.000-05:00

Isn't this just too cute! This is the Bib O' Love from Mason*Dixon Knitting. I have been waiting for an excuse to try this pattern. The perfect excuse presented itself when I received a Christmas card from a friend who had a new grandchild this year.

I used Crystal Palace Yarns' Cotton Chenille in colors 2342 Fern (.75 hank) and 1404 Dark Lilac (.25 hank),#6 Addi Turbo, and #F crochet hook. I picked up these buttons months ago at my favorite yarn shop, Sea Needles in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The button collection is called Stitchin' Up the Pieces by Denise Clason for JHB International, Inc.

I modified the pattern slightly, casting on 30 stitches, to allow for the gauge difference. This meant that I had to decrease the number of stitches for the neck and straps. No problem with the neck, but the straps were only 5 stitches wide -- hence the scalloped edge around the bib. I like the scalloped edge so everything worked out ok.

NOTE TO SELF: Don't be so lazy about sewing on buttons by hand. You broke 3 perfectly good little heart buttons trying to do this on the machine. If you hadn't happened to purchase 2 sets of buttons, you would have been crossing your fingers while you called Sea Needles in the hope that they had another set in stock instead of sitting at your desk blogging about the bib.
____________________________

More Fingerless Mittens

2006-12-20T06:59:00.000-05:00

Another pair of Fingerless Mittens pattern from One Skein Knits. These were knit in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Denim and #6 Addi Turbos. I think I like the solid pair better than those I've done in self-patterning sock yarn.

I modified the pattern slightly, casting on 38 stitches, and added a couple extra rows at the cuff. These are so cute I'd be tempted to make a pair for myself if I didn't know that my fingers would be cold!

I have only recently used this yarn and I love it. It feels great and the colors are beautiful. I'm thinking this would be the perfect yarn for the Mason*Dixon Perfect Sweater. I had previously sworn off sweater-knitting due to sizing issues but am willing to give it one more try for this pattern.

Another M*D Felted Box

2006-12-20T06:45:00.000-05:00

Obviously, another Mason*Dixon felted box, this one in Brown Sheep Co, Lamb's Pride Bulky, color - Victorian Pink. These boxes are such a great way to gift a variety of items. I have filled them with washcloths, yarn, and soaps and lotions. My latest box contains a collection of tea bags, loose tea, and an infuser. My daughter loves teas and experimenting with new blends. She also, like me, loves all kinds of containers that can be used to store 'stuff.' I know she'll enjoy this gift.

Christmas pillows

2006-12-20T06:24:00.000-05:00

I came across a couple pieces of cross stitch given to me by my sister years ago. I had never decided what to do with them until I realized how many pillow forms and scraps of seasonal fabric I had stashed in my closet.

I think they look great and can't wait for my sister to see her excellent work finally put to use. If I am feeling generous, I will send one home with her as thanks for her hard work and my years of neglect.

As usual, the pictures don't do justice to these FO. Someday I will learn how to use my camera.

Mason*Dixon Absorba

2006-12-07T17:20:00.000-05:00

This is Absorba from Mason*Dixon Knitting. I finished this up just before Thanksgiving but neglected to take a photo before gifting the rug. This is not the best picture but it is proof of Absorba. I used 4 strands of Sugar'n Cream in Hot Blue and # 15 Denise Interchangeables. The measurements were 28 x 39 before washing, and 27 x 35 after. I used a total of 16-2.5 oz. skeins.

The Denise needles were great for this project -- I was able to add length to the cord as needed making it very comfortable to work with the size and weight of the rug. I liked it better after it had been through the washer and dyer. It had a thicker feel to it because the stitches had tightened up a bit and it feels great under the feet. I will definitely be making more of these as time allows.

Scarf with Beaded Fringe

2006-12-07T17:09:00.000-05:00

I call this the Skinny Scarf. I cast on 7 stitches and knit every row for about 60 inches using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Bulky in Rainbow and #10 Addi Turbos. I wanted to do something different with the fringe and decided to add some beads.

Of course, I ran into trouble when I tried to pull the bulky yarn through the hole of the bead. I ended up ordering a skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in the same color for the fringe. Being in a hurry, and reluctant to resort to any research at all, I tied knots in the fringe at different intervals to anchor the beads. Not sure if this is proper technique or not but the scarf is done.

I tried to keep the scarf a reasonable length so that it could be alternately used as a belt. I'm pretty happy with the result and hope the recipient is also.

Some recent FOs

2006-12-07T12:51:00.000-05:00

I'm way behind in my blogging, among other things, so today's post will be minimal -- but I get to cross another task of my to-do list so hooray for me!

The Felted Wine Bag is a Michelle Heyman pattern from Melanie Falick's 'handknit Holidays.' I used approx. 165 yards of Noro Kureyon in color 147 and # 11 Addi Turbos.

I modified the pattern slightly to accomodate i-cord handles instead of leather. The bag was a quick knit and easy to felt and block.

More One Skein Felted Bowls, these using a double strand of Knit Picks Shamrock, color Dougherty, and #15 Addi Turbos. I was able to squeeze 3 small bowls from 4 skeins of Shamrock with very little yarn left over. The bowls work up so quickly that I felted 5 extra for just-in-case gifts. I love the way this yarn felted -- kind of reminds me of old crockery.

The washcloths are the Ballbands from Mason*Dixon Knitting. I used Lily Sugar'n Cream in Wine with Sage, and Dark Pine with Sage. I love these but I personally prefer a larger cloth. To save time, I followed the pattern but would add 10 stitches or so and 3 or 4 pattern repeats. Is it obvious that these are Christmas gifts?

This is my second attempt at the Airy Scarf from Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. This time I paid attention enough to follow the pattern. I used about 165 yards of Patons Lacette in Beautiful Blue (from my stash) and #10 Addi Turbos. I think the color is beautiful and the Lacette works up very nicely at a fraction of the cost of the recommended yarn. I am a lace novice but think the simple pattern turned out nicely. This was also a very quick knit and I'm hoping to have time to make a couple more to have on-hand.

Six Hats in Six Nights

2006-11-15T10:08:00.000-05:00

I have knit this hat many times and it is always well-received. This is the So-simple Hat from Better Homes & Gardens' Hip Knits. I can't say enough good things about this pattern. It's portable, quick, easy, has nice crown shaping (a must imo), and guys will actually wear it. It's also very easy to add earflaps, tassels, pompoms, novelty yarns, or whatever you have on-hand for a different look.

I cheated a little this year by going up a needle size (10.5), casting on 64 sts, and eliminating the first decrease round. Each hat requires approx. 90 yards and even I, a very slow knitter, can finish a hat in less than 4 hours. I used Encore Chunky in black, green, navy, navy/black marl, denim, and grey.

Fingerless Mittens

2006-11-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

The Fingerless Mittens pattern is from One-Skein Wonders. I love this book. It's really convenient to have the patterns grouped by yarn weight.

My first impulse was to use KnitPicks Andean Silk but I try to avoid gifting items that require hand-washing. I used Schoeller & Stahl Limbo Color Mexico and am pretty happy with the result. I think the self-striping effect is a nice design element and helped keep the project quick and easy.

Not only is this pattern a quick knit, the absence of 'fingers' means no sizing issues. I did add about 1/2 inch to the ribbed cuff for a little more coverage. I plan to knit a couple more pair of these for Christmas gifts.

Hiking Socks

2006-10-31T13:32:00.000-05:00

I used Nanette Blanchard's pattern for Men's Hiking Socks, available here, but avoided the color stranding due to time constraints and substituted a different method for the heel flap. I used Schoeller & Stahl's Big Mexico Color (1.5 skeins for each sock), size 4 Addi Turbos to cast on, and size 3 Addi Turbos for the sock.

This is my first pair of 'hiking' socks. I'm looking forward to seeing how they work for my daughter and her suggestions for improvement.

I am not a total freak about matching socks, although I do like the legs to be similar in appearance. Despite my best efforts -- I used separate skeins for each sock and began with what appeared to be the same point in the color repetition -- by the time I got to the heels they were mismatched. Oh well.

The Replacements

2006-10-31T13:15:00.000-05:00

A recent post featured a Mason*Dixon Felted Box and AWOL Ballbands. My daughter couldn't wait for the box to dry and took her dishcloths home. I was determined that the box would be gifted containing dishcloths - these are the replacements.

I used one skein of Sugar'n Cream for each cloth, in Playtime (pink) and Summertime Splash (blue), and size 8 Addi Turbos. The pattern for the Feather and Fan dishcloth is on the Sugar'n Cream label.

I remember my mother knitting Feather and Fan afghans when I was young. Nostalgia set in when I saw the pattern. I think they look great in variegated color but would have preferred they be a little larger. Next time...

Finishing touch on a FO

2006-10-31T12:04:00.000-05:00

I found this hat in my FO stash, probably because it just didn't seem finished. I added a flower and voila - one more Christmas gift crossed off the list.

The hat is a simple rolled edge done in KnitPicks Decadence, color Tan, worked in the round on a size 10 circular needle. I used the same yarn and size H crochet hook for the flower.

I think the flower was the perfect finishing touch. Hope the recipient agrees.

Earflap Hat + Gaiter = Warm Ears and Neck

2006-10-20T08:41:00.001-04:00

Both the hat and the gaiter were knit using a strand of: Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Color, color 2539, 1.5 skeins; and Cascade Yarn's Cascade 220 Superwash in Rust, 1 skein; and size 8 Addi Turbos.

The hat pattern is Kim's Hats, Earflap version, from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.

This hat pattern is great. The hat fit perfectly, has nice crown shaping, and is a quick knit. By request, the earflaps are 12 sts wide instead of 18 (per pattern). I think I'd like them wider for more coverage.

I modified the One Skein Gaiter pattern slightly to adjust for the yarn substitution (pattern called for DK). I wanted something really warm but not too bulky to wear under a coat. I reworked the ribbing/cable repeats to accomodate 84 sts. I also added another row between each cable twist to allow for the extra bulk.

Because both yarns are superwash and I didn't have time to air dry, I threw them in the washer (cold/delicate) in a lingerie bag and used Kookaburra Wool Wash. Both stretched somewhat but returned to shape in the dryer (lowest heat/damp dry) and very soft. The tassels are slightly felted though (it's always something).

I am totally pleased with both hat and gaiter. This is why I knit. Because sometimes I end up with something that I love. My daughter will be wearing these when she hikes the Grand Canyon next month. I like to think that she thinks of me when her head, ears, and neck are warm. I know that both the process and the thought of her warm ears are a comfort to me.

MD Felted Box and AWOL Ballbands

2006-10-19T14:16:00.000-04:00

This is my second MD Felted Box. I was more careful about my crochet tension when I joined the sides and this box has a better shape. I used the better part of 2 skeins of Lamb's Pride Bulky in Aztec Turquoise and size 15 needle. The color looks slightly off because it is still drying.

I also made a pair of Ballbands using Sugar 'n Cream in Hot Blue and Hot Green. I had planned to put them in the matching box and give them to my daughter but she took them home before I got a picture. Guess that means she likes them!

One Skein Ruffle Cravat and Cap

2006-10-19T13:36:00.000-04:00

I love this yarn! Knit Picks Decadence is so soft, its perfect for wearing next to the skin. I was able to finish both the cap and cravat with one skein (121 yards) using a size K crochet hook. I added a couple motifs to compensate for the smaller gauge.

I modified the hat pattern slightly to elimate the slip stitches at the end of each round. I hated the way this looked so I frogged the hat and worked in a spiral, marking the end of the previous round with a scrap of yarn. The result is much neater.

If anyone knows a source for hook sizes M+ in a material other than plastic, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll be sticking to smaller size hooks.

Purple version of Felted Bowl et al...

2006-10-19T11:22:00.000-04:00

This is my purple version of the One Skein Felted Bowl and Knit Picks Knock Your Socks Off Lid (slightly modified). I used a double strand of Classic Elite's Montera in a light purple and size 13 circs. The bowl and lid took 2 skeins of Montera. The Knit Picks pattern suggests weaving a strand of yarn through the rim of the bowl, which I did here. It does make a nice rim - no rolling - but it made it harder to fit something inside to mold the bowl as it dried because the top of the bowl has a smaller circumference than the bottom.

The flower washcloth pattern is from Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting. I used the better part of a skein of Crystal Palace Yarn's Cotton Chenille in Fushia and size 6 Addi Turbos. Despite the hand wash instructions on the label, I threw this in the washer in warm water and dryer on delicate and it came out nicely shaped and with a nice fuzzy finish.

Again, I threw in some soap and bath confetti and another holiday gift is crossed off the list!

Felted bowl with lid and flower washcloth

2006-10-10T12:43:00.000-04:00

Well, one more Christmas gift crossed off my list! The felted bowl pattern is from Leigh Radford's One Skein, the lid was adapted from a Knit Picks pattern, one skein of Lamb's Pride Bulky in Lotus Pink and size 13 circular was used for both.

The flower washcloth is from Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting. I used Crystal Palace Yarn's Cotton Chenille in Strawberry Limes and size 6 circulars.

I threw in some bath confetti and soap which I hope my niece enjoys and should help the bowl keep its shape between now and Christmas.

3-month Stashalong Pledge Completed!

2006-09-30T16:41:00.000-04:00

September 28 was the last official day of my 3-month Stashalong pledge! I am thrilled with the amount of yarn I was able to destash through donations to charity, gifting, and lots of knitting. My stash totaled a whopping 69,633 yards on June 28. By September 28, I had managed to reduce that total by 11,468 yards, over 16%.

Of course, those totals do not include my September Free Day. I kind of lost it and bought over 40 balls of Sugar 'n Cream which reduces my reduction to about 6,768 yards. I'm still kicking myself but the SnC will be used for about 60% of my Christmas gifts.

This morning, during a quick trip to AC Moore to pick up a small ball of something to use to bind off the Feza Premier Scarf, I spied this yummy skein of Araucania Yarns 'Magallanes.' I picked it up and put it back twice before I decided to treat myself. The colors will be perfect for the Felted Lucy Bag I want to make for myself. I didn't know the yardage required for the bag so I bought 8 skeins. Whatever is left over will be used for other felting projects.

Obviously, I don't need to buy any more yarn (this has become my mantra). So...I'm signing up again for another three months beginning 10/1/06. I'm hoping I can be a little more disciplined with my Free Days this time around. Given the size of my Christmas knitting list, I shouldn't have time to visit a yarn shop in the near future!

September Results

2006-09-30T16:14:00.000-04:00

September progress:

Three of the four August WIP were completed. Two Mason*Dixon Ballbands were gifted to a friend for her birthday. The Rock 'n' Ribbed socks were finished and waiting to be wrapped for Christmas. The pink Airy Scarf has been completed and mailed to Sydney for the Think Pink Challenge. The Mohair Pillow, alas, has been frogged and cast on again. To heck with that k3p3 ribbing on the back, who's going to see it anyway? This is going to be a long-term project though. I really hate working with mohair.

I finally finished a belated birthday gift. Belated, because the recipient couldn't decide on color choices. I put the finishing touches on a Mason*Dixon Felted Box, filled with Flower Washcloths, Bath Mitt, and assorted soaps, bath confetti, and oils this week.

I had planned a couple more bath mitts from leftover Skacel Vacation. This just didn't work well and the Vacation was donated to charity

I also finished 3 pairs of socks (1 adult, 2 toddler) and a toddler hat with matching mittens, and a stunning scarf in Feza Premie, and the Rock and Roll Quilt (the recipient loved it).

I had planned to finish 2 more pink scarves which didn't get done. I've got feeling that the Think Pink Challenge will be an annual event. I've lots more pink yarn in my stash and plan to get a head start on pink yarn destashing after the holidays.

Total results...

Charity: 280 yards
Used: 1,770 yards
Total: 2,050 yards

Significantly less than August - the difference is in yardage donated to charity. I will be making up for that during October. I'll have some hard choices to make but look foward to freeing up the space. All in all, I'm really pleased with my September output and looking forward to making my list of goals for October.

All FO are posted with pictures and details below.

Feza Premier Scarf

2006-09-30T15:53:00.000-04:00

I am so pleased with this project! I used one skein of Feza Premier, 210 yards, and a size 15 Denise Interchangeable circular. After beginning the scarf width-wise and being terribly disappointed with the result, I frogged it, cast on 140 stitches, and worked the scarf length-wise in a garter stitch.

Feza Premier is what I believe is called a magic ball -- lengths of yarn of different weights, fiber content, and color tied together. At times it was difficult to work with, but well worth the trouble. I found it easier to work with for small blocks of time, and only in my craft room where I'm less likely to be distracted. I have to admit that I removed the lengths of flag yarn after my first pass. The stitches became tangled on the needles and were a real pain. It really wasn't worth the time spent straightening them out on the needle.

I wasn't looking forward to binding off with some of the thinner yarns, didn't have a length of the ribbon yarn long enough, so off I went to AC Moore this morning to find something bulky that I could use to bind off. I picked up a skein of Moda Dea 'Kickx' which worked really well.

My daughter picked this yarn for a 'skinny' scarf. That's not exactly what she got -- the scarf measures 5" wide and 104" long. I think she'll be satisfied with it though. I love it, the colors and textures are amazing!

Straight Laced Socks

2006-09-30T15:20:00.000-04:00

This is another pattern from Knit Socks! I used Cascade 220 Superwash in Lime, size 5 Addi Turbos for the ribbing, and size 4 Addi Turbos for the rest of the sock. I had previously tried this pattern using a Trekking fingering weight and ended up frogging them and giving up. I'm glad I tried again using the worsted weight. The yarn was easier to see and worked up quickly. The pattern was not as difficult as I had originally thought.

The yarn felt a little stiff before washing. After washing with Kookaburra Wool Wash, they are very soft and seem to stretch more. The socks are pretty bulky, more like a slipper-sock than a shoe-sock. I think I may put leather bottoms on them at some point, before gifting them

Results of September Free Day

2006-09-26T14:25:00.000-04:00

I recently revised my holiday knitting list. As a result, I took a Free Day from Stashalong during September and stocked up on Lily Sugar 'n Cream (48 balls in 28 colors) for the many Ballband Dishcloths I will be knitting (20 at last count).

I can't wait to start coordinating these colors. I think, if time allows, I'll also knit a couple Ballband towels.

Will post a picture of the mountain of Ballbands prior to gifting.

Flower Washcloths

2006-09-26T11:57:00.000-04:00

This is my last August birthday gift. The Mason*Dixon Felted Box was posted previously. The Flower Washcloths pattern is from Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting. I used Crystal Palace Yarn's Cotton Chenille in Bleach, Powder Blue, and Jeans, and 2 Addi Turbos in size 5.

The Leigh Radford's One Skein Bath Mitt was a disappointment done in the Cotton Chenille. It is soft but its also unattractive. The mitts made with Bernat Cottontots turned out much nicer.

Despite the laundering instructions on the label, I threw these in the washer on the cold/delicate cycle and laid them flat to dry. They look fine, except for the tendency for the petals to curl, which is not a result of washing. I'm wondering if going up a needle size will help.

I stuck a couple bars of soap in the felted box with the cloths and mitt. I think the soap with the little duck in it is just adorable.

Toddler Hat and Mittens

2006-09-26T10:41:00.000-04:00

I used Patons Look at Me Sport in High Energy Variegated and patterns from The Handy Book of Patterns for both the hat and mittens. I love the format of this book -- patterns are given for sizes newborn through adult in fingering through bulky weights.

I used two Addi Turbos for both the hat and mittens. For the mittens, I used size 3 for the ribbing and 2 for the body of the mitten. For the hat, I used size 5 for the ribbing and then switched to size 3.

This was my first pair of mittens. I had a little trouble with pointy thumbs and ended up ripping back a little.

I also had trouble with the shaping on the hat. There was a lot of gathering at the top which looked really sloppy to me. I ripped back to a pre-decrease row and adjusted the decreases somewhat. It looks better, and I think the i-cord at the crown helps.

These are a Christmas gift for a niece. I haven't knit for little ones in many years and they look very big. I got gauge and my measurements tie in to the pattern. My niece turns 2 in November and I made a size 2-4, so they should fit. I love the colors, and I think there just might be enough yarn left to make a pair of socks, if time allows.

Christmas knitting...

2006-09-20T01:40:00.000-04:00

Finally caught up with my blogging. I've been without a camera for a couple weeks and had really fallen behind. I spent my extra time being constructive though, and revised my Christmas knitting list.

This is going to be the year of the Mason*Dixon Ball Band dish cloth. I'm also planning to make a couple more sets of felted bowls, hats, a shawl, a scarf, and slippers. I had promised myself that I would not be overly-ambitious about my Christmas knitting. This is the first year I've planned to knit for ALL family members. That means 21 knitted items -- small items, but still, what is wrong with me? I have this idea that my family members must have something hand knit by me, for posterity or something. Morbid, huh?

I also promised myself that I would stop NOT enjoying my knitting. No more stressing about time constraints or perfection. And, I'm on a yarn diet. That means, in general, small projects requiring minimal sizing, using stash yarn.
Since my stash currently consists of over 60,000 yards, this should not be a problem.

I've always enjoyed a challenge, worked well under pressure, and I think this is going to be the ultimate test. Keep an eye out for my post-holiday update on the results.

Awesome surprise from my downstream OSSP

2006-09-20T00:52:00.000-04:00

I recently received a package from Patty, my downstream One Skein Secret Pal, that was a total surprise. Opening the package was like Christmas. It was full of the coolest things! Thanks, Patty, for being so thoughtful and generous.

Patty sent this great pair of hand knit socks in Brown Sheep Co's Wildfoote. The color is Master Grey and I can't wait for the weather to cool off enough so I can get these on my feet.

The package also included these 2 beautiful skeins: Rowan Fuzzi Felt in Cream and Opal Rainforest sock yarn in Flamingo. The Fuzzi Felt is so soft. I think it would look great trimming a hat and mittens. The color of the Opal is lovely. New socks are going to be one of my first projects after my Christmas knitting is done.

Patty also made the prettiest stitch markers. I'll enjoy using these. She also included a personalized charm. Wish I could have gotten a better picture.

Patty knows I'm a sucker for office supplies. She also sent a whirling memo pad, a refillable index card holder, a 2-year planner featuring palm trees (I love the beach), and a great journal.

I'm also a sucker for knitting notions and supplies. I received a really neat pair of 'Knitter's Fantasy' scissors and Nancy's Knit Knacks Knitting Needle Inventory and Yarn Yardage Table. These went right into my knitting bag.

Patty, thanks again for being a great secret pal and a good friend!

Some Toddler Socks

2006-09-20T00:35:00.000-04:00

Little Guys is another pattern from Knit Socks! I used a single strand of Sirdar DK and 2 - size 3 Addi Turbo circular needles.

I would really have preferred to use wool, it seems to stretch more than acrylic, but I have to do something with all the Sirdar I've accumulated over the years. I really like these socks though. I love the way the broken rib stitch looks, lacy and textured. I've put these aside for a niece's birthday.

I recently took a sock class at Sea Needles in Bethany Beach, DE. This was my first knitting class. I had finished 2.5 pair of socks before taking the class. I was able to ask questions about problems I'd been having and learned quite a bit. I also really enjoyed knitting with others since I don't know any knitters at home.

I've been having a hard time with the kitchner stitch. According to Mary, the instructor for my sock class, the secret is to NOT pull the stitches snug while you are grafting. The stitches can be pulled to gauge after you have finished stitching the toe seam. Thanks, Mary!

Mary had us knit a simple toddler sock pattern in worsted weight and a size 6 needle. I actually used 2 size 5 Inox circulars since I didn't bring a size 6 with me. I chose Limbo Color by Schoeller & Stahl in a natural color with specks of pastels. Limbo Color is actually a DK weight. I've used it before and love the colors and feel of the yarn. I finished one sock during the class and the other at home. I prefer to use a smaller needle to get a denser sock but I think these are cute. They have joined my FO stash until someone has a baby.

Rock 'n' Ribbed Socks

2006-09-19T13:29:00.000-04:00

This is my second pair of socks, not too impressive but I'm beginning to understand the process. The pattern is the Rock 'n' Ribbed Sock from Knit Socks! The yarn is Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Color. I really enjoyed working on these. I liked watching the colors change. I also learned an important lesson about centering the stitch pattern on the top of the foot.

Overall, I was pleased with the finished socks. I was unhappy with grafting though, I think I pulled the stitches too tight.

The bottom line is -- one more Christmas gift completed. Yeah, baby!

Airy Scarf, kind of....

2006-09-19T13:12:00.000-04:00

This was intended to be the Airy Scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I didn't read the pattern through before starting. I usually don't, but this may have cured that bad habit. The scarf is not a total disaster but I think I'd like it better if I had knit 10 rows between each eyelet row (except for first and last 2) instead of 5 throughout.

To add insult to injury, I used Sirdar Snuggly 4-ply instead of the suggested laceweight. I'm fairly new to lace and the only thing I had in my stash that was suitable was Patons Lacette which is awfully fuzzy and somewhat difficult to work with. I wanted to get the feel of the pattern so I opted for the Sirdar and Denise size 9 needles.

Prior to blocking, I was not impressed with the result. I was glad to see it looked more presentable after blocking. The finished size, after blocking, is 5.5" by 48".

Its a scarf, right? And its pink, although its very hard to tell in my lousy picture. And its not a total mess so I figure it counts as another pink scarf.

Mason Dixon Felted Box

2006-09-19T12:57:00.000-04:00

This is another great Mason Dixon pattern. I used Lamb's Pride Bulky and size 15 needle as suggested. After felting in the machine, the box was in need of some serious blocking (maybe because as usual, I forgot what I was doing and let it go into the spin cycle, duh). I used empty cd cases to block it and I think it looks ok. The box measures 7" square and is 5" deep.

Its obvious that I crocheted too tightly when assembling the box. I also noticed that there was a lot of dye in the wash. I'll have to remember to use vinegar next time.

I plan to fill the box with wash cloths, soap, and bath confetti for my niece's birthday. I really love these boxes and am looking forward to making a set for myself, after my Christmas knitting is finished of course!

Mason Dixon Ball Bands

2006-09-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

I finished my first Mason Dixon project just in time for my friend's birthday. I really love hand knit dish cloths and these just feel more substantial than the patterns I've used in the past.

I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream in Tea Rose and Yellow and size 7 Denise Interchangeable needles. On the second one, I used a size 5 needle to cast on to avoid that little ruffle at the cast on edge (which disappeared during the first wash anyway). The Denise's worked fine but I'm going to try Addi Turbos next since they seem to be easier on my hands when I'm using cotton. I knew there was going to be shrinkage, and of course I didn't think to measure, but they definitely shrunk more length-wise than width-wise. To keep the FO square, I will add a couple more repeats in the future.

Anyone with a kitchen will be getting these for Christmas. I've got a basket full of SnC and can't wait to start coordinating colors for my next pair.

September Goals

2006-09-02T12:32:00.001-04:00

This is the yarn I plan to use for the following projects, there are a couple of skeins that didn't make it into the photo. Lousy picture, I know, and I let my daughter borrow my camera this weekend so can't do a retake.

September knitting goals:

1. Finish current WIP (see previous post)

2. Belated birthday gift (due to recipient’s indecision about color choices) of a Mason Dixon Felted Box filled with Weekend Knitting Flow Washcloths and One Skein Bath Mitt. I’m excited about trying Crystal Palace’s Cotton Chenille for the first time. These washcloths are SO cute. I’m thinking stocking stuffers…

3. Two more bath mitts from leftover Skacel Vacation. Not sure how this will work but I have just a small amount of 2 colors, it is 75% cotton 25% nylon, and I think they will make cool-looking bath mitts.

4. Three pair socks – 1 adult, 2 toddler

5. One toddler hat

6. Two pink scarves

7. Feza Premier scarf – I’ve been hesitant to start this for lack of inspiration until I saw one posted on One Skein that was worked lengthwise that was absolutely stunning

My list is slightly over-ambitious, especially considering the amount of time I'm going to have to spend studying. I absolutely HAVE to take the FAR at the beginning of October. I work well under pressure though.

Several of these projects will be Christmas gifts and I am finally motivated to do something about it thanks to Kim. Lucky me, while organizing my craft room (one of my favorite pastimes) I did find 4 FO suitable for Christmas gifts and 3 that will be birthday gifts! Every little bit helps, right?

Rock and Roll Quilt

2006-09-02T10:44:00.000-04:00

I’m excited about this project. My daughter had a friend who insisted on continuing to wear his somewhat raggedy concert shirts on a regular basis. She suggested using the shirts as the base for quilt blocks and selected the fabric. We are both very pleased with the results.

The next step is to pin the quilt top, batting, and fabric for the back in preparation for quilting. I’ve vacuumed the floor in my craft room so that I can lay it on the floor and pin. I'm hoping I can get the pinning done tomorrow before I have to vacuum again (another yuck).

I havn't done any quilting in years and the actual quilting part is my least favorite. I have 2 quilt tops in a drawyer that I pieced for my daughters almost 20 years ago that have never been completed. I've made a solemn promise to myself that I will finish them when my Christmas knitting is done.

The more I look at the quilt top, the more I think this is a great project for the drawyers of shirts I've saved over the years. I could probably get several king size quilts out of them. Several of the shows were mother/daughter outings. I think, as time allows (lol), I may make one for each daughter using the shirts from shows we attended together. Better than a scrapbook anyday, in my opinion.

August Stash Reduction Results

2006-09-01T19:33:00.000-04:00

The results are in – total stash reduction for August was 6,159 yards! No, I have not been knitting around the clock. A mere 1,752 yards were put to use by yours truly, 746 yards were gifted, and 3,661 yards were donated to charity. I know I could have parted with more yarn but it is so hard. Am I the only one who gets emotionally attached to yarn that I know I’ll never use?

I feel good about my August goals, modest though they were. Twelve felted bowls, a bath mitt, a felted tote, and a dish cloth were finished, posted, and gifted (but not always in this order). Thanks to Patty for sending me the picture of the felted tote which I forgot to photograph before gifting it. I also finished 2 more pink scarves for the Think Pink Challenge and a quilt top which I'll be posted separately.

I’m still recovering from gauge trauma so the One Skein Tank Top remains on hold for the time being. Given the size of my Christmas knitting list, I probably shouldn’t cast on for the tank until after the holidays anyway.

Alas, a couple ‘August’ projects remain UFOs. My socks are finished with the exception of the grafting of the toes (yuck). I wasn't happy with the toes of my last pair so I’m saving these for my sock class. The yarn is Limbo Color and I think the stripes are great. The fit is a little snug for me because I forgot to allow a couple extra stitches to compensate for using DK instead or worsted weight. Luckily, my daughter likes them and has a small foot.

The One Skein Mohair Pillow is on the needles. I’ve decided I will never buy mohair again, what a pain! The back of the pillow is done in k3p3 ribbing. After finishing about 4 or 5 rows I noticed that I have ‘holes’ when I switch to the purl stitch. If anyone knows the secret to neat ribbing in mohair, I would be eternally (or until I finish the pillow, whichever comes first) grateful. I may end up frogging it (if you have used mohair, you know how much fun that is but I can’t afford to toss the yardage) and knitting the back in a stockinette stitch, haven’t decided yet. I also have a pink scarf and a Mason Dixon Ball Band Dish Cloth on the needles, both of which are more than half finished. Blogger won't let me post photos of these WIP for some reason, will post pics of FO.

OSSP Felted Tote

2006-08-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my One Skein SP for sending me the picture of her felted tote. I was in such a hurry to get it in the mail to her that I forgot to take a picture first. My gain, since she takes better pictures than I do.

For the body of the bag, I used the Fulled Lopi Tote pattern. I love this pattern! Its worked top down with clever decreases to shape the bottom of the bag and a 3-needle bind off so there are no seams. I substituted a double strand of Classic Elite's Montera for the Lopi.

The handles were copied from the Felted Bag pattern in the Holiday 2005 issue of Family Circle Easy Knitting. I think I will try using eyelets for the handles instead of sewing them on next time.

I must have felted the bag 3 or 4 times, mostly because my blocking skills blow. I finally soaked it in lukewarm water (to avoid further shrinkage) and blocked it using 2 telephone books wrapped in plastic -- worked like a dream. Montera felted into the fuzziest fabric I have seen. I trimmed and shaved, and trimmed some more. I'm not sure I would use it again, once I use the 5 skeins in my stash.

I also lined the bag with a matching cotton. It didn't turn out perfectly but we learn from our mistakes, right?

My SP, aka Patty, liked the bag and posted some very complimentary remarks on the One Skein blog. She has been a great SP and friend. Thanks again Patty!

Interweave Crochet Ruffle Scarf

2006-08-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

The pattern for the Ruffle Scarf is from the Interweave Crochet 2005 Special Issue. I was able to make the scarf using one skein of Patons Lacette in Hint of Rose. The result is very feminine.

This is a very quick crochet – 4 rows of increases, 2 rows of sc, and you’re done! I made this scarf for each of my daughters last year using Lorna’s Laces Glory. They were beautiful but I think the Lacette works almost at nicely as a fraction of the cost.

And yet more felted bowls...

2006-08-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

This latest batch of felted bowls is for my daughter. I have been experimenting a little with yarn weights and gauge in pursuit of the 'perfect bowl.' I'm still using a size 13 needle. The yellow bowls were knit in a single strand of Lamb's Pride Bulky. I used a double strand of Araucania Nature Wool Chunky for the blue bowls. For the green, I used 3 strands of Araucania Nature Wool, a light worsted weight.

They all turned out nicely. The yellow bowls are the least 'sturdy.' Both the green and blue felted into a very dense fabric and should hold their shape well. If I can locate my pattern, I want to felt lids for some of these bowls. I'm sure knitting a lid is very simple. Call me lazy but I'd prefer someone else figured it out.

I think I'm done with the bowls for now, assuming I receive no more requests. My next felting projects will be yoga mat bags, boxes, pillows, and ipod covers. These should all be great stash busters.

August OSSP Package

2006-08-21T19:01:00.000-04:00

Last week, I received this beautiful scarf from Jo, my One Skein Secret Pal. I love the colors and the pattern. I have several scarves, but this is my first triangle scarf. The beads on the edges are such an elegant touch. Jo used a Regia sock yarn blend and it is so soft that I know I'll love wearing it.

Jo also made me the cutest pin. Her embellishment was well-chosen. I spend as much time at the beach as possible and I always make sure I have a Mickey's Crab Cake Sandwich while I'm there. If you are ever in Bethany Beach, DE you should stop and try one.

Jo also made this felted mouse which she filled with lavender. It smells so nice that I'm tempted to put it in a drawyer with my clothes but then I wouldn't be able to admire it. Its sitting on a work table in my craft room. Its a good thing the cats are barred from this room. I'm sure they would want to play with it and that's not happening.

Jo always sends lots of extras. I received a package of Japanese self-fillable tea bags and a collection of Peanuts items including mints, post card, magnet, chapstick, and stickers. She also sent some beautiful stamps for my husband's stamp collection.

I can't say enough about how great is has been having Jo as my Secret Pal. She is a creative and generous person who I am happy to have met. I know we will be keeping in touch. Thanks Jo!

Ball winder now operational!

2006-08-21T17:40:00.000-04:00

I have had this ball winder for quite some time but never really enjoyed using it because the only surfaces in my home that I could clamp it to were less than ideal. I had also purchased a beautiful yarn swift recently and have been itching to use it.

The swift is beautiful and different than many I've seen advertised. The last thing I wanted was another piece of equipment that had to be clamped to a surface. I found what I wanted at www.knittingnotionsonline.com. It can be adjusted to accomodate hanks with a circumference up to 72".

Today, Ken bolted the ball winder to a corner of a work table in my craft room. I immediately set up my yarn swift and began winding a hank of Wool Pak Yarns NZ 14-ply. No more winding yarn by hand for me!

A Housewarming gift

2006-08-21T16:28:00.000-04:00

My daughters and their friends are crazy about the One Skein Felted Bowl pattern. During a recent visit, a friend of my daughter's asked if I would make her one. Well, she recently bought her first house so a housewarming gift was in order anyway.

I used Lamb's Pride Bulky in Sage for the bowls. I'm still using a size 13 needle instead of the recommended 15. I really think I get a denser felted fabric and the bowl is studier. Again, I cast on 35 stitches for the smallest bowl, worked even for about 5", and adjusted the decreases for the shaping accordingly.

I also love hand knit/crocheted cotton dish cloths. I try to convert everyone I know by advising them that nothing works better than a hand knit dish cloth. You can keep them simple or dress them up. They are a great first project for beginners. They are also perfect for trying a new stitch. I've even been known to knit gauge swatches in cotton large enough to use as a dish cloth. I also use every bit of leftover cotton I have to make dish cloths. Needless to say, I have a drawyer full of them.

I used Sugar'n Cream in Butter Cream Ombre for the dish cloth. I tend to go for a simple pattern. This one is your basic garter stitch with a row of yarn overs at both ends, and a single yarn over at the beginning and end of every 6th row. Nothing fancy.

I sent the gift home with my daughter who will see her friend soon, I'm sure. I hope she enjoys her gift and her new home.

Diagonal Eyelet Scarf

2006-08-13T12:29:00.000-04:00

This scarf was knit from one skein of Patons Classic Wool Merino in That's Pink. The pattern is from the September 2006 issue of Creative Knitting. I will definitely be using this pattern again, in an olive green maybe...

This was a quick and easy project. I was pleasantly suprised at how soft the yarn is, especially after washing using Kookaburra Woolwash. The picture in the magazine didn't do the scarf justice. I think it turned out very nicely.

Next pink scarf: Ruffle Scarf from Interweave Crochet Special Issue 2005 in Patons Lacette in Hint of Rose

More felted bowls...

2006-08-12T17:15:00.000-04:00

I can't seem to make enough of these bowls. These are a birthday gift for my niece. I was able to make all 3 bowls with one skein of Patons Classic Wool(That's Pink)and about 1/2 skein of Plymouth Galway (lime). Because these are both worsted weight, I used double strands. I used 2 size 13 circular needles. I think the smaller size needle may have made the sides a little firmer.I cast on 35 stitches for the smallest bowl and adjusted the bottom shaping accordingly. I spent more time looking for containers to block these bowls and am happier with the shape.

The bath mitt pattern is from One Skein. I used about 75 yards of Bernat Cottontot and size K afghan crochet hook. I substituted yarn so I used a single strand and made the mitt a little longer so it covers the entire hand. Add a nice bar of soap and you have a nice gift that works up in less than 2 hours!

cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2645/2854/200/Felted%20Bowls%20Nested%20081106.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="10" />As you can see, the bowls nest nicely. Hope my niece likes her gift!

Hooded Hunting Sweater

2006-08-02T08:29:00.000-04:00

I am really glad to have this project finished. My husband asked for a hooded sweater in camouflage that he could wear hunting. It is highly unusual for him to ask me to knit something for him so I jumped right on it. Two hunting seasons have since passed but better late than never.

The pattern is the Adult Hooded Cardigan from Rich Designs' 'Kids to Grown-Ups Seamless Sweaters.' I love garments with no seams and this book contains over 36 patterns in sizes for children from 1-12 and adults from S-XXL. The patterns I have tried were easy to follow and accurate. I did find one error and received a quick reply in response to my email.

I used Bernat Camouflage in color Outback. I made a size 3XLT by adding rows at the yoke and in the sleeve and body length. The pattern called for buttons but we decided to use a zipper instead. Sewing the zipper in by hand was very tedious. I had hoped I could use a sewing machine but because the edges were done in a garter stitch I couldn't really sew a straight line and it seemed to affect the tension. In the future I will try a stockinette stitch which should provide a good flat surface for machine sewing and a heavy stabilizer held at the back should prevent stretching.

I have been unable to convince my husband to model the sweater so I can get a decent picture. I'm hoping I can find a stand-in and replace the current picture at some point.

Watergarden Shrug Completed!

2006-08-01T10:57:00.000-04:00

I am both nervous and excited about the Watergarden Shrug. This is a birthday gift for my oldest daughter. As a rule, I would get her approval before starting anything larger than a scarf. However, when I saw this pattern on designer Jane Thornley's website I couldn't resist. I think the combination of color and texture is stunning. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed until the big day, hoping she loves her gift.

This pattern was so much fun. I had the opportunity to explore some new fibers. My favorite was Alchemy’s Synchronicity, a beautiful plied silk blend that I will definitely use again for something yummy for myself. The yarns I used are: Hannah Silk ribbon in color Sea Goddess; Danette Taylor Party Ribbon in Summer Rain; Cherry Tree Hill Sachet Ribbon in Life's a Beach;
Judi & Co Reflections in Caribbean; K1C2 Tartlette in Sea Jewels; Noro Hana Silk Tape in Turquoise; Alchemy Synchronicity in Willow, Boo's Garden, and Mist; Berocco Boho in Absynthe; Adriafil Froufrou in variegated white, greens, and blues; and Flutter in a light green. I have enough yarn left to make a magic ball which I think I will use to make a triangular shawl.

I can't say enough about Jane's pattern. The chance to work with such a wide variety of yarns and stitches in a relatively freeform project was exciting. I had my first experience with a dropstitch and colorwork (cuffs). More daring knitters than I could really run with this pattern. As someone who tends to require more structure, this project was liberating and gave me the confidence to be more adventurous with my knitting. I have my eye on Jane's 'Road to Indigo Vest' next and would encourage anyone looking for a not-your-average project to visit her website.

Stash Shocker!

2006-07-22T11:20:00.000-04:00

My cedar chest is refinished and I spent the better part of yesterday and this morning moving my stash from under the bed to the chest. Yarn addicts reading this can testify to how much fun this is. I decided to sort and catalogue my stash while I was at it. I now have a spreadsheet and can search and sort by name, fiber, weight, yardage, and project.

Needless to say, I was shocked at the result. FYI, the chest measures 19.5” wide by 52” long and is 20.5” deep. I have 375 skeins of yarn containing a total of 69,633 yards. While looking over my list I found that:

1. I have 36,760 yards of yarn that have no project designation.
2. I have 11,215 yards of fingering yarn. I am currently working on a pair of socks in fingering yarn and I can hardly see the stitches. Its debateable whether I will ever finish these socks.
3. I have 3,375 yards of Bernat Cottontot. I hate working with cotton – it hurts my hands. I think it would be great for a couple of hooded bath blankets for babies but don’t know if I will ever have the nerve to cast on.
4. On the up side, I have 11,421 yards of acrylic that I plan to use for afghans that are to be Christmas gifts for my nieces and nephews. I’m going to use the knitting machine. I know there are probably purists out there that will consider this ‘cheating’ but I don’t care.

Some of my favorites from the stash:

1. Ami-Ami ‘Faith’, a lovely variegated wool which I’m going to use to make short-row hats.
2. Knit Picks ‘Decadence’, ‘Shimmer’, ‘Andean Silk’, ‘Alpaca Cloud’, basically anything from Knit Picks.
3. 14 balls of Lana Grossa ‘Lambswool’ in a beautiful salmon color that I plan to use for the ‘Classic Jacket’ from Debbie Bliss Number Five which I may adapt for the knitting machine.
4. Lorna’s Laces ‘Helen’s Lace’ and some ‘Shepherd Worsted’ that I’m going to use for the One Skein ‘Cabled Footies.’

Looks like I have my work cut out for me and some hard decisions to make. It also looks like I may be a long-time member of Stashalong. My long-term goal is to use virtually all of my stash yarn. And when I can fit all stash in the chest, with lid shut, I’ve promised myself yarn for a silk sweater and Jane Thornley’s ‘Road to Indigo Vest.’

A Christmas gift completed!

2006-07-16T13:42:00.000-04:00

I just finished this hat and scarf set done in Lion Brand Wool Ease for my husband’s stepfather. He is a big hunter so I’m hoping the colors appeal to him.

The scarf was my first attempt at machine knitting. It knit up so fast that I had a scarf twice as long as necessary before I knew it. I ended up folding the length in half and joining the sides and ends with sc. The hat was a little more difficult. I haven’t even attempted using the ribber bed yet. I also had trouble with the decreases for the crown shaping. I added the ribbing and shaping by hand after sewing the seam. The hat looks fine but seems to fit a little snug. Next time I'll use a larger stitch size.

Nothing to get too excited about but both pieces should be very warm on those cold mornings during hunting season.

July OSSP Exchange

2006-07-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

Once again my SP has outdone herself! I received a lovely skein of Karabella Yarns’ ‘Silk Velvet’ in the mail this week. This DK weight yarn is 100% silk eyelash/chenille (per www.yarndex.com) in beautiful shades of green and yellow and just may be perfect for a project I have been kicking around.

I recently did some really stunning (imo) color work in the ribbing of the Watergarden Shrug. I have been craving more Alchemy ‘Synchronicity’ for a crewneck pullover with ¾ length sleeves and think the ‘Silk Velvet’ would be a great contrast to the plied silk in the ribbing. The skein contains 122 yards which should be more than enough for this project.

I also received stitch markers and some pretty flat flower pins (you can never have too many of either), assorted macadamia nuts (yummy), and bath confetti.

Thanks SP, you are the best!

My new handbag

2006-07-15T08:50:00.000-04:00

I have been itching to make the One Skein Felted Tote but prefer a shoulder strap. I also have a pet peeve about straps that slip off my shoulder so I looked around at other patterns for alternatives. I ended up following the One Skein pattern until I reached the point for the handles and then added tabs and a 5-stitch i-cord strap (seen in Beverly Galeskas' 'Felted Knits', Tab-Top Tote).

I used Patons Classic Wool in Navy Marine, Rich Red, Worn Denim, New Denim, and Old Gold. I added 1 extra row to each stripe because narrow stripes seem to get lost during felting. The bag felted beautifully in a zippered pillowcase with half a dozen tennis balls.

My blocking leaves a lot to be desired. Part of the problem has to do with the seam at the bottom of the bag which is not perfectly centered. The next time I use this pattern I will leave stitch markers at the beginning and center of the first round until I sew the seam.

I would have liked the bag to be a little larger. I guess I could get rid of some of the crap in my bag. Am I the only one that gets emotionally attached to useless items in their handbag? The bag felted to approx. 13” wide by 9” high. I tend to ‘overfelt’ because I like a very tight fabric.

The tabs could also have been a little longer. Unfelted, the tabs were 3.5" long. The straps would move a little easier through the tabs if they were a little longer.

I love my new handbag! I love the colors and the versatility of the strap which can be used doubled, as shown in the picture, or with a single strap, pulled through the tabs to one side, that can be worn across the chest to avoid 'strap slippage.'

Machine Knitting Practice

2006-07-05T16:53:00.000-04:00

Learning to use a knitting machine is not as easy as I had thought. I was hoping to use the machine to knit some pieces I wanted to felt. Worsted weight works up to about 5 stitches per inch as the largest stitch setting on the machine. This is a tighter gauge than any patterns I looked at so I tried the Felted Clutch from 'One Skein' in Harrisville 'New England Highland.' I'm no where near ready to try tubular knitting on the machine. I produced a long piece of knitted fabric, sewed the side seams and shaping at the bottom of the bag, and felted. It took a long time to felt -- not sure if this is because the stitches were smaller and fibers had less room to spread out or if this yarn just takes longer to felt. After I was almost satisfied with the felting, I cut the handles in the bag and felted again to 'seal' the edges.

I can't complain about the result too much since this was a test. The bag is small because the gauge was off. My daughter tells me big handbags are in again so maybe I'll save this for a young child. The bag needs something though -- maybe some cute pastel buttons -- don't you think?

Leftover Lopi Felted Bowls - Thanks OSSP

2006-07-05T16:01:00.000-04:00

I had a busy week! I used the Lopi leftover from my Felted Tote and a skein of Filatura Di Crosa 'Mimosa' I received from my One Skein Secret Pal to make these felted bowls (from 'One Skein' of course). The Mimosa felted well and had nice specs of color that blended very nicely with the Lopi. Mimosa is a 65 yard skein, enough to make one small bowl and a stripe on a larger bowl. The bowls are handy in my craft room, as you can see, and a fun project.

Thanks OSSP, I'll think of you when I use the bowls.