Betz White makes me Warm & Fuzzy

This is the time of year when cold hands turn to warm sweaters. Knitters are very tuned into our love of all things warm and woolly. So when I came across a new book being released this month, I just couldn't resist the urge to share.

Betz White takes those old sweaters and recycles them into felted, fun crafts.



Great yummy treats that delight the eye and not the waist!! What could be better?



Only a great cup of Mocha Coffee, of course!!

As I understand it, the idea of recycling old woolen sweaters into felted cupcakes came to Betz White in a dream. That make perfect sense, as these are just SO dreamy.

So here's the new book, due out around December 14th, 2007. Just can't wait for a peek. And then there's all the re-sale store shopping for just the right shade of sweater to bring home and felt. Can't wait!!!

Tight Arming Catherine Parr

I love a good challenge. Alice Starmore's Catherine Parr really fits the bill of a good challenge. It's a heavily textured knit with great hem and neck detail. Even better, it's something I'm knitting with a new group of friends, making it a double bonus.

I finally cast on the 10th of November after doing two test swatches to re-adjust my gage. I have to admit, it's not a project that you can just casually knit without watching closely. I found I needed to frog several inches of a sleeve after getting the cable pattern on one side a stitch off.



So here's the progress so far.

The pattern is really stunning with all that texture in the stitch.



I started this project on the sleeve so that I could get a good idea of how it would look. Sleeves seem a great way to test a project on a small scale and much faster then working a whole body for 10 inches.

But after getting the sleeve past 12 inches and trying it on, I not really happy with the fit. The sleeve is way to tight and the fabric far to firm for my comfort. I'm one of those sleeve pusher, you know the type that scrunch the sleeve edge up toward the elbow. I also like a loose fitting arm. This piece isn't going to offer either.

Hmmmm, might be back to the drawing board on this one.

Knitting Abacus

Knitting Abacus
Originally uploaded by StudioD

Nice, bright and shiny new. Don't you just love that about shopping on-line!!! This is another counting tool!

Great New Toy

ravelry-5 (Medium)
Originally uploaded by StudioD

I just love gadgets. I got this one from Tricia at Nana's Knitting Shop. One surprising thing that she noted was that not many of these counters are being sold by other stores. I agree with her. I've had mine for about a week, and have used it every time I picked up a new sweater I'm working on.

It has four different sections for counting stitches/rows. It can record total rows worked, which pattern row you are on, how many rows until the next increase or decrease and how many Inc or Dec you've done. This has been a huge help in a 12 row cable pattern, with a sleeve increase every third row. I love it!! Thanks Tricia.

If I had to find fault, it would be that I need one for each project that is in progress. But hey, that means more toys, right? You know what they say, "She who owns the most toys, has the happiest kids when it's time to split the goods"