What Fun.... Ohhh, Baby Knitting

I've been knitting away and enjoying every minute. I was inspired by the coral snake exhibit at the Subversive Knitting and Lace Show. For those who have not seen it....It was coral snake skins knitted!!! I wanted to get a picture but the guards wouldn't let me. Anyway, the exhibit inspired my coral snake socks.. I'm almost done with them.


The socks were interrupted by Baby booties. 2 good friends are having babies. June and October! I wanted to come up with something cute but not too involved since I don't have much time for the June baby. Plus we don't know if it is a Girl or A Boy. Then, I found the Old World Booties ( http://www.interweaveknits.com/freepatterns/pdf/win_06/OldWorldBooties.pdf



The picture is of the Gold Bobble Booties (Felted - In Cascade EcoWool Yellow/Aqua). And half way through the Green Serf Booties. I think I will like the serf booties better because they lace up. I'll post the final pictures when done. there is also a pair of Jester booties with bells on them. I may have to make those too just for the fun of it. I had a hard time envisioning how these booties would sew together but once I worked on them a while, it was very evident. And SUPER easy. I can finish one in a night.


I'm also thinking about trying the baby sweater wrap from Elizabeth Zimmerman. I know there was the tutorial/pattern in the last interweave knits magazine. It looks easy and fun...Just my kind of knitting.

Have a great Day!!

Ampersand socks

Ampersands complete
I completed the Ampersand Socks. (Thank you Midnight Purls -http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/Ampersand.pdf ). This is such a great patten. And I love the Madeline Tosh yarn I used(Sorry it took me so long to give feedback - I just completely did not think of it.) I still have probably over 100 yards left after finishing my second pair of ankle socks. I added 3 knit stitches to the middle of the pattern as it was written. This worked out so I could do a Top down sock of 64 stitches.



A little more detail:



New York Trip
While in New York I was able to get to Museum of Art and Design. The Lace and Subversive Knitting show was so nice. I really enjoyed it. I have to say I actually liked the coral snake exhibit which I had not heard about. The idea of knitting animal skins to save the actual killing of these animals for their skins is really COOL!! I'm not a heavy duty animal activist.....I just really loved patterns. I tried to take a picture but was filed by the guard. So sorry......

For now.....off to knit

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

I wanted to get a quick update before I left on my Trip. I have to be in New York for a couple of days for work. I am planning on going to the Museum of Art and Design to see the Subversive Knitting show. I am so siked about that!!!!! I did not expect to get to NY this spring so I figured there would be no chance for me to see this, but just when you think things could never work out......they do.

Anyway. I got a couple of new books and I wanted to share.



The knitted Toys book is very nice. This is the very first time I have ever even considered knitting toys. I have a couple of friends who are pregnant and I I don't think I will have the time to finish baby quilts or knitted or crocheted blankets, so I thought I would knit them toys. One is due in June and I made her first daughter a flannel quilt. It came out really nice, but this time she does not know what she is having( wouldn't turn during the Ultrasound) and I'm not sure if another blanket makes sense. The other lady is due in October. I may still try to make a blanket (probably quilt it because I can do that in 1-2 weeks even with a busy schedule). This is her first. We are still waiting on whether it is a boy or girl. Hopefully this baby will cooperate with the ultrasound

The mouse came out sooooooooo cute. Anyway the book has great pictures. I haven't checked for corrections, but I think I found one in the mouse pattern, but it was really a very small one ( Knit a row that should have been purled for the StSt)

The other picture is of the Ampersand sock. This pattern comes out really great in handpainted yarn. the purple is of course for GE high school ( where my kids go.) I discussed the yarn in my previous post. But i got 2 pair of ankle socks and I still have left over yarn from this skein. It was such a great Value. I've been watching Madeline Tosh on Etsy for more. I think I will buy more. I am waiting to see how these socks where though.

The other book I got was the Interweave sock book that was just published. I have not had a chance to try any of the socks from it. I did do the embossed leaf pattern from the magazine. I love knitting that pattern. It just feels really nice and the pattern was really easy to memorize. I think that was the only pattern that I already had from this book. so I am really excited to try some of the other ones.


I've packed some sock yarn and if I get some quiet time in NY I plan on starting some new socks. I'm going to work on some stripped ones. I've not done any real color work but love the stripped look on socks. I'll let you know how this works out. I'm not sure how far I can carry the yarn in the pattern I am thinking of. there may be some experimentation in this one. But that is fun too.

Ta Ta for now

I've been Busy

Well, I've been very busy this spring. And lovin' it!! Thanks to Lime and Violet I discovered Socktopia (http://socktopia.net/blog/). The sock patterns are just beautiful!! I completed the Fanny Sock for my daughter in her school colors. She only wears ankle socks, because anything higher is just "too old-fashion" for my budding teen.



The sock yarn is absolutely fabulous. I ordered it from Etsy (Madeline Tosh). I would recommend her lovely yarn to anyone. I actually received over 450 yards and had enough to complete a pair of ankle socks for myself. These are in the pattern called Ampersand (http://throughtheloops.typepad.com/Ampersand.pdf). They are coming out very nicely. I'm not exactly a purple fan, but......since I can wear them to my children's' school events, I thought what the heck.




Oh yes...I have also finished the Tunic Tank. I'm not sure if I like the way it looks on me (hence no picture of me in it.) But maybe it's just that I haven't tried it on with the right shirt and pants. I tried it on with jeans and a t-shirt. And I felt like I was putting on a potato sack.....And it looks about that flattering, too. We will have to see if this one gets worn.




I also completed a ragged edge quilt from left over felt this weekend. Some girlfriends and I get together once a month and quilt or knit. I haven't been quilting because I've been enthralled with the knitting bug for some time. But this time I thought I'd drag my sewing machine along and finish this UFO. I'm glad I did. This is a very snuggly quilt.



Happy knitting!!

Just Another Saturday

Well, I finished the I Love Ruffles sweater.....Again. but it definitely fits me much better. I washed it to allow the yarn to "muush" together in the ruffles. It is drying on the ping-pong table.

And I got started on my summery tank top. I am making it in the style of Macie from Berrocco. I cannot get myself to buy patterns anymore. For something like a tank top I can wing it. I cast on with the Channel Isle cast on ( this adds a bead at the cast on edge.) I really like the effect with the garter stitch.




I'm doing it in Cotton ease. I really love working with cotton. I know most people like wool. Don't get me wrong.....Wool is very Nice. But I like how soft and drappy cotton can be. I'll keep you posted on the progress. I don't expect this to be too difficult. I'm really just planning on a simple st st tank. I'm a simple girl.

I've been listening to pod casts today. I listened to the new Christa Knits. I liked it. Also, Brenda Dayne of Cast-On had Amy Singer from Knitty magazine on. She was talking about her new book "No Sheep for Ewe." She recommended the cotton blend yarn Calmers from Rowan. I may have to try it. She said it is the best substitute for wool in any Aran or Fair Isle knitting. I love Aran knitting so I may have to try. The only thing that will hold me back is my stash is still too big.

I fell off the wagon this week. I bought some Katia, Beetle and some Sportive, Marathon yarn on Ebay. Alot of it. It was so worth it. About 2 -3 sweaters full. 26 skeins of Marathon (10-Black, 10-White and 6-Red) and 6 of the Katia Beetle.

I was planning on using the Beetle in my new tank project, but decided that there wouldn't be enough because I was making it very long (mid thigh) So I am saving it for another project. I did knit up a quick swatch, and it seemed to knit up very nice. It had a great spring to it. It forgot to mention that it is a nylon tubular type yarn. Not usually what I even consider, but I think I like the way it knit up. It looked very smooth and defined. It needs to decide what it wants to be yet. I'll let it stew for a while.

Enough rambling....Off to Knit........talk to you all soon.

DeConstruction - The Decision to Fix

I hate to ripe apart my knitting once I've finished a garment, but in this case I just had to!!. My I love Ruffles sweater needed something. I loved the way it fit everywhere but in the shoulders. It was very wide and kept slipping off. I tried to live with it. You know, I kept telling myself it would be sexy for the summer. Like all those photos of models with their sweaters off one shoulder. Well, let me tell you in real life this is just plain annoying.

There is nothing sexy about washing the dishes in your flannel PJ's and having your sweater keep falling off you shoulder!!

Okay. So I ripped out all the crochet frilly edging. This was not easy because it kept getting caught on the woven in ends. Then I decided to pick up stitches along the collar and about 1/2 ways down the front. I worked some short rows at the shoulder seams ( only 2 row) and kept going back and forth until I had 9 rows. I did some shaping at the front edges by binding off about 6 stitches, 3 times each side.




This picture shows the neck line. The shoulder seam is at the right of the picture. You can see how the knitting is coming toward you or "up" the neck. I am now to the point where I am re-adding the crochet frill......... again.


One other change I had to make. I would have run out of yarn, but I decided to do the crochet with 1 strand of the yarn. I had plied 2 strands of this beige yarn together for the knitting part. This has actually worked out really well. Crochet fabric is so much more dense you really don't need as heavy weight a yarn as you do with knitting. Good thing, because I think I would not be able to add the frills in the same yarn if I did not do this.


Knitter REPRESENT!!

Guido, from It's a Purl Man, will be on Good morning AMERICA ( March 19th). I've sent him my idea for the poster he asked for on this last Pod cast. My slogan was

KNITTERS - Take their Yarn All the Way

Tune in if you can and look for Him.

Papa's socks done too

Wanted to let you know I've finished my Dad's socks. The anniversary present is finished. I think they will like them. I made them in 3x3 ribbing. My dad has really wide feet and he says he has a hard time finding socks that are not too tight. After listening to Line&violet talk about the Grumperina socks being very loose because of the 3x3 ribbing pattern, I figured that would be great!!!! ( I just Love them!!! Done you?). Any way.

Let me explain the sock yarn.


I like to resue yarn ( oh yeah - and get a great deal!!) So i hunt ebay for good yarns that are seeking a new life. They York yarn came from a lot of sock yarn I bought from a woman in Canada. I got about 25 skeins of wool/nylon for about $25 .00) It was mostly solid colors, but that is what I like working with the best. I love making lace socks. I think the solids show off the pattens the best.


I'm glad they are done. Because now I can work on something else. I'm thinking about Macie from Berroco. I like the simple style and I really love the (cotton) easy-breezy look. I'll keep you up to date.
http://www.berroco.com/255.262/261/261_macie_lg_pv.html

I have another project that I could work on. It is a Gansey wool sweater. I bought some handspun wool on ebay ( reminded me of Bartlett's but it was from a small farm in Connecticut). I could not pass it up. I got a sweater's full ( 6 skeins of about 200 yards) for 20.00 dollars!!!! I will let you know how that is going. I'm working on it between projects because I cannot wear it until next winter so there is no hurry.

Getting Back on the Band Wagon

I've been gone a long time from writing. My life has been crazy. Actually I just recently got my picture program put back on my computer so I can now download pictures again. (YEA!!!!!)

I've been knitting up a storm. Still working on Socks. I promised my Mom and Dad Socks for their 51st wedding anniversary. So I did the Edelweiss sock in Browns for my Mom and a loose 3x3 ribbing sock for my Dad. He always complains that Socks are too tight so I am hoping he likes these.





I also completed the I Love Ruffles from Creative Knitting March 2007 issue.



I did it in a Cone yarn of Wool acrylic & cotton Blend. I think it will be great for the summer. Also, I've finished a few hats from he book my daughter got me for Christmas. So far I have pretty much loved all the hats. I'm not sure if Berets are my style but the felted hat and the non felted version of the hat in the picture are Great.


Actually, President's Day I went home to visit Family and my Sister-in Law (CA) loved my hat so much I let her keep it. She wore it the whole weekend. I'm really glad she liked it. It was my favorite hat too. I will need to knit myself another one. These were actually the first hats I've ever made. I'm just not a small project person. Unless you count socks. But I will say, they are super quick and fun.

Back to it in the New Year

Well, I've resurfaced into the new year. I've noticed that others have done what I did and seemed to go underground for a few months. I will sy I miss my podcasts and blogs. But I am as guilty as they are. This year's holiday season was hectic, and I dare say I am somewhat glad it is over.

Knitting ahs been very productive. I did make lots of presents for everyone. Mostly Scarves and Socks. I think if I do this next year I will start in June, Not October! Word to the wise!
I did not take pictures of the present I made. They came out really good, but I wrapped them quickly and off they went. So I have no new pictures, but I should soon. I am almost finished with the Eidelweisse socks from Vogue Knitting. They are coming out really nice.

Well off to start my day.

No More Patterns - I'm in a State of Amazement

I have been officially freed from ever following a pattern again! I've made 2 sweaters with really not much of a pattern to follow, and WOW, are they the greatest things I've ever worn!!!
I finished the sweater vest. And I am still amazed how well it came out.





This started with the yarn. Which I've envisioned as a coat garment because it was relatively bulky. I had about 900 yards. I thought a vest would definitely work out yardage-wise. I've never knitted a hooded garment, so I found a general pattern for a garment with a hood and modified for this yarn. I'm telling you this is the best way to knit for yourself.

I started knitting sweaters from patterns, and I have always been disappointed by the fit. Because, of course, when you follow the pattern, the fit is dictated by that pattern. Working without a pattern I can make anything fit the way I like it.

I guess I understand the saying Knit Fearlessly

Old and New

It is such a great feeling when you knit something and it turns out exactly as you had imaged it in your head. And better yet, when it is a sweater and turns out to be great. Not just Okay, - "I'd where this around the house", But GREAT!!! - "This looks like something others would want"

I finished my sweater and I am so proud of it.






I really do not have a pattern for this sweater. I only have my notes. Before I forget exactly what I did, I will try to write it out. I'm finding that just working out the pattern as you go is very fun. It is writing out the patterns that I don't seem to like very much.

And because I cannot be without a project. I immediately started a Vest . The Yarn is a Bulky wool (another cone yarn from eBay). It just cries out to be some kind of outerwear. So I am trying to pull together a hooded vest design. This is my progress so far. Of course the back is the easiest part.


The pattern is a neat stitch design. It is called Elm Seeds (from Leisure Arts book: 99 Knit Stitches) I'll keep you posted as I go along.

Oh and I have not forgot to post the pattern for the scarf from my last entry. As I said before, I hate writing out patterns. So I have been very lax on getting that typed up. It is exceptionally easy so I just need to sit down and do it!! The funny thing is I still have not finished the scarf. I actually needed 1 more skein to get it to the length I really wanted it to be. As it turns out ,my LYS was out of that particular color, so they did a search on the yarn and turned up a skein for me. I've been waiting for the yarn to be shipped to the store to pick it up. So my "filler project" is now a UFO. Oh well, it is a Christmas present. I think I will have no problem finishing it up before then.

New Projects - on the hook and on the mind

I've started a filler project. Not socks this time. But a scarf in a great crochet stitch. I've swatched this stitch with this yarn ( Classic Elite-Miracle) and I absolutely loved the look. It forms a wavy pattern that creates bumps in the fabric. Very nice!!! These are the pictures. Oh and the bird in the pictures is my yarn buddy. Her name is Skye. She is a minature Parrot called a Parrotlet. She loves to hang on my work as I do it. She also loves to cuddle up with all my latest swatches in her tent. Yes, this bird sleeps in a tent and actually lays down. You gotta loves Parrots!!





I call this scarf a filler project, because I always have to have something on the needles. I am finishing my cotton sweater - Almost done. I need to have a small project I can finish in about a week until I decide what large project I am going to start next. I'm thinkg about a sweater in a bulky weight yarn I got on ebay this summer. I've really found that you can find some great deals on really cool yarns on Ebay. I'm particularly hooked on Cone yarns. I like getting them in and winding them out into skeins. I sometimes wash the skeins. (Sometimes not). Then I wind them into balls. Or leave them as skeins. I just love working with the yarns; imagining what projects I will do with them. I think I enjoy the process of deciding what to do with a yarn, Fanasizing about what the yarn will become as, much as I love knitting up the yarn.

High Yarn Season

The start of a Great Month. The beginning of "High Yarn Season". The time when everyday is an adventure to your maibox to get the newest yarn magazine. I study every page and every yarn. Ones I've seen before, and all the new designs. I have more than enough projects on my list, but I am constantly reshuffling the list priority.
If I wasn't organized I would never get anything done, and I would constantly be starting new projects. Since, I am a compulsive finisher, this is a big part of my knitting process.
I am already on the hunt for my next project. I've finished a couple of bags this summer ( 2 backpacks) http://static.flickr.com/80/238015888_ca3a688bee_b.jpg and I am thinking of doing another cable knitted bag. But it is time to start thinking about getting started with all my Christmas gift.

I found a great soft wool at my LYS (Yarns and Fabrications in West Chester OH - Just the nicest folks) . It is from Universal Yarn Company http://www.universalyarn.com/yarn.php. The wool is very soft. And the colors are very nice and rich. I'm planning on making a pair of socks from the Pace for my Sister-in-law for her birthday.

Also, I've seen that Caron has come out with a few new lines of yarn http://www.caron.com/ouryarns.html. I've always been a Carons Simply Soft fan. It is SOOOOO easy to take care of, and it is really very soft yarn. Not like what you think of for an acrylic yarn. Well the new colors are called :
Tweed - http://www.caron.com/color_cards/cc_sstweed.html
and Shadows-http://www.caron.com/color_cards/cc_ssshadows.html.
Hope they inspire you when you want to try something interesting, but don't have the money to spend on those high end yarns.

I am currently working on a cotton open work sweater. I should be finishing it within about 2 weeks. I am almost done with the first sleeve. It is a redesign of the Bookworm Tunic from Hip Knits-65 Easy Projects from Hot Designers- Better Homes and Garden. I love the material that the stitch makes and the cotton I am using is very soft. Actually the yarn was a great buy from Ebay. It is a plied blue and cream fingering weigh 100% cotton yarn. I was not sure how it would knit up but the swatch was very soft. So I just went for it, and I am so far very pleased.
http://static.flickr.com/95/238015884_4e649ea461.jpg

Plaid Rug Pattern

Plaid Rug Pattern

Used Worsted weight yarn ( washable) and Size 10 Circular 29" needles.

CO 200 stitches. Connect as to knit in the round. Place a stitch marker at the beginning. Complete 6 rows in Garter stitch ( Knit 1 Row, Purl 1 Row).

After 6 rows of Garter St. are completed, continue in the following manner:
Stitch marker :P2, K98, (Place another stitch marker):

P2, K98.

Continue in the manner until the rug measures about 36 Inches from beginning. (Change colors randomly, variegated yarns look good, whatever you have on hand.)

Complete 6 rows of garter stitch and Bind off.

You have 1 large Striped tube. Turn the tube inside out and tie off the loose yarn inside with overhand knots. No need to weave any ends in!!

Turn the tube right side out. Lie it flat on the floor with the purl along the long side seam.

Weave in the contrasting color yarn according to the following:
Use a weaving needle or a darning needle, thread a long piece of yarn ( about 50 inches) and work a running stitch parallel to the long edge of the rug. Evenly space out the running stitch by picking up the bar between the V's of the knit stitch about every 4th bar. Do as many of these yarn weave lines as you like. Be careful to keep these lines as straight as possible.
Once all the length-wise yarn is weaved in, do the short-wise weaves. These are also a running stitch but I picked up the entire V of the knit stitch every 3rd stitch. Also, when I did the short-wise weaves I picked up a little of the back to secure the top and bottom of the rug together. (Optional).
Tuck in all the weave yarn ends inside the tube. Sew the ends of the tube together. Add Fringe. (Weave in the ends that are on the long side seams or add fringe to these sides).

Copyrighted 2006. Pattern is for personal use only. Pattern is not to be reposted. Items made from this pattern cannot be sold for personal gain.

I'm a Collector

So my first Blog-Blurb. I'm new to this so all must be patient with my inability to spell. (I promise to try ot remember to spell check), and my ramblings. I've always been sort of anti-Blog because I love the process of writing . I have journals full of my stuff. If there was a way, in my very low tech world, to actually write this down instead of typing it, then I would have been doing this years ago. I know, I know, there are pads that let you write instead of type, but in that last sentence, the key work is low tech. I am not a techno junky. In fact I hate hi tech gadgets. Mostly I am made fun of by everyone I work with becuase I refuse to switch to the latest and greatest techno gadget. In fact I have only owned 2 computers in my whole life. The one I am typing on and one I bought in 1998. I'd still be using it except, I bought a digital camera last year (yes my first) and I could not plug it into my computer. No usable USB ports. Okay enough about my resistance to computers.

Here I am. Writing about how much I love yarns. My daughter scolds me when she sees me hunting ebay for yarns. I've told her I'm a collector. But really I'm just getting started. I love yarn. I love to Knit and I love to Crochet. I cannot join enough on line groups to read what everyone is doing. I collect patterns, read tons of blogs and listen to all the podcasts. My kids think I've done lost it.
All my collecting has led me to one thing. Making things from Yarn. So here are a few picts of the things I've Formulated with some of my collection.

The bag is From a Handbags - Knitter Dozen. Absolutely love the Entrelac technique. The rug is a stash-buster. I'll share the pattern if anyone is interested.