Studio D Crafts

March Floradunda

2010-04-07T16:28:00.000-05:00

Baltimore Bliss Number 2

2010-04-02T21:33:00.002-05:00

A Pair of Cloth Cut outs

2010-03-27T15:00:00.001-05:00

February Florabunda

2010-03-02T00:17:00.001-06:00

Here is the second block of the Florabunda BOM. What do you think?

And here they both are together. This is going to be a very colorful quilt!!

Baltimore Bliss

2010-02-20T16:25:00.001-06:00

I've been enjoying starting several BOM (Block of the Month) quilts during the last month. Here is the first block for the Baltimore Bliss quilt which started in February 2010 again.

Star Crazy BOM January & February

2010-02-11T14:42:00.004-06:00

A bit late, but better late than never they say!!

January:

February:

The end product (hopefully!):

Credit this Block of the Month (BOM) to the Susan H. Garman for The Quilt Show.

I forgot, I also have alot of these!! LOL

January Florabunda is finished!

2010-02-09T09:00:00.002-06:00

OK, I've overcome all the errors of the first block and I finished up another January block and this one is a keeper. I've got to give a big shout out to Erin of One Piece at a Time for her lovely design and all her help in getting solving the trouble I had on the first block.

Now I'm off to get the January and February Block done on my other Block of the Month Project called Star Crazy. They are really starting to look great and I'm very happy with the color I've chosen.

Remaking of January

2010-02-06T09:10:00.000-06:00

I've started a new Block of the Month project called Florabunda and this was my first attempt at January's block. I don't consider it successful at all, but I did learn a lot. Especially about color theory and technique.

So yesterday I began the rework of this block and here is how she looks all glue basted and ready for stitching. I still see two no-three errors. I think I'll start stitching and see how they work out before I start ripping out. I was so ready to start in a new color way but I wanted to see if I could still make this blue work out. I'm pretty sure this will set the tone for the rest of the quilt.

Florabunda Block of the Month

2010-01-31T12:10:00.001-06:00

This will grow up to be the Florabunda Applique Quilt. I am very excited about doing some applique again. Big, Bright, Bold and in your face yummy!

Star Crazy Block of the Month

2010-01-30T14:00:00.000-06:00

OK, fabric is washed, pressed and ready to go. I'm going for a scrappy Navy and Chocolate version with beige/putty color replacing the whites. I worked up an idea in EQ6 as to what I'm heading towards. What do you think? There will be tweaking as I go I'm sure. I'm not sure about the borders but I have a year to let them speak to me.

Diane

Dance, dance, wherever you go

2008-07-20T19:06:00.000-05:00

I LOVED it. As I watched it, I wanted to BE Matt. I wanted to dance. I wanted to go to all those places and meet all those people, and dance with them. At the very least, I wanted to dance in my car.

Watch. Enjoy your trip around the world. Dance a little every single day, won't you?

2008-07-19T13:56:00.000-05:00

Grandma's Got a Brand New Bag

2008-04-17T14:28:00.005-05:00

During the month of April I'm knitting these market tote bags with a group of knitters from Ravelry. I've got five done towards my goal of a grocery trip using only these bags and being plastic free and "Green". I'm really enjoying the knitting and how quickly they finish up compared to my normal sweaters. If I ever wanted to start a cottage industry these would be the choice I'd make. I'm having a hard time holding on to them, as everyone keeps suggesting I give them out!! So like the Little Red Hen, I offer to help them knit their own... but none have taken me up on the offer. As you can see, I've got several different sizes and have developed the pattern a bit further with each bag. I've knit them all in the round and four are closed with a three needle bind off. The nylon can tote was bound off with off the two knitting needles with a crochet hook because the fiber was a bit stiffer to work with. I've made two with flat bottoms and I think this is my preferred choice as it will keep any smaller items from falling through.

Here is a look at the different yarns I've tried so far. They are all cotton except the top one which is nylon. I've enjoyed seeing how each behaved and tend to be drawn to a mercerized cotton over the more common sugar n' cream yarn. I really like the smooth finish and the slight sheen it provides.

I've also altered how I do the iCord handles. The original pattern calls for two handles, each knit across the entire width of one side. I did notice on most knitters blogs that they felt the handles left the top opening too small. So on the first three I adjusted the pattern to leave several stitches on each side of the tote outside of the iCord and this worked fine. It allowed me plenty of access into the bag without pulling the top to tight. Many who knit the bag flat solved this by leaving a few rows open along the side seam. One of the worst parts of the iCord handles is the Kitchener Stitch closing. Even after doing it eight times so far, it still ends up a bit bulky and doesn't look as finished as the rest of the bag. I solved this by knitting the iCord handle in one piece. I start as instructed, with the cord attached to one side and then begin the detached cord as instructed. When the free portion is long enough to go around the edge of the bag, I then reconnect it to the back side of the bag (being sure not to twist it) and complete the the second side of attached cord. Then off to the other detached portion of the handle and finish by closing with just one set of kitchener stitches. I'm very happy with this change and will be doing it on the remainder of my totes. Here's a look at the two handles, side by side.

CAN you take another Tote??

2008-04-16T15:42:00.002-05:00

I'm starting to get obsessed with this tote!! I'm half way through the month working with the Ravelry KAL and I've really started to 'get' this bag. I've been knitting in the round, changed up the handles, and really like the bottomed version. One thing I've noted is the tremendous stretch when you load these totes. My goal is to be able to use this at the grocery store at months end and it's was very obvious that something as heavy as canned goods just wouldn't work in any of my previous bags. They would definitely be big enough but I would never be able to expect them to lift the weight without dragging on the ground.

I decided to switch up the yarn and tested this one in nylon. My local craft store stocks a yarn from Hilos called LaEspiga #18. It comes on a spool, is 100% nylon and states its for "fishing nets, bags, macrame & handicrafts". I'll be the first to admit, it's not the most pleasant to knit with. I thought cotton was stiff until I worked with this puppy. IT DOESN'T give at ALL!! But I figured that was the reason it might be able to carry canned goods and I was right! Yippee for the little people!! Truth be told, I wish I had about four more made with this stuff. If groceries are your intended target, I'd suggest giving it a try. I'm sure I'll use it again for this pattern.

So, here's the facts: Knit in the round on 81 stitches with six repeats of the four row pattern. It looks funny when it's empty as it only measures 8 inches flat. I knew I wanted it shorter then the others as it was only holding short cans of food. When it's loaded though, it stretches out just right. When it came time to close the bottom, I laid the two needles side by side as if to do a three needle bind off. I then worked the crochet hook through front and back needle to bind them together with a single crochet. This is stiff stuff and it seemed a better choice than knitting the stitched together. I also made sure not to pull the stitches too thigh so that the bag wouldn't draw up at the bottom, I wanted it to have enough ease to be able to fit several cans inside.

I worked the handles in one piece, as described here. I totally love this handle alteration and you can see I also left 6 stitches open along each side seam, both front and back. Twelve stitches total between iCords. It lays open just right and can easily hold six cans and I'm guessing up to eight with no problem.

Know off to solve the bread and eggs bag!! Any suggestions?

Jumbo Stripped Tote

2008-04-14T15:13:00.006-05:00

OK, this is number four and my all time favorite tote so far. This one is knit with Crystal Palace's Biwa yarn. It's 100% Pearl Cotton Mercerized and it has a love tight twist. It comes in smaller balls of 93 yards with a recommended needle size of US 6-7. For this tote I knit on size US9 as the pattern recommends up sizing for a lacier feel. The bag took 5 balls: One for each color strip, one divided between the flat bottom and upper knit edge, and about half to do the handles.

This is knit in the round and started at the flat bottom following this technique. I wanted a bit larger bag this time with enough size to hold a few boxes, like cereal and pasta. So this started with 61 stitches across the bottom edge. The base is worked first in garter stitch and then stitches picked up on the remaining three sides. These are knit in the round in stockinette stitch before the pattern work begins. I knew I wanted this to be a striped bag so I allowed the height to be determined by each yarn ball. After the stripes I decided to add several rows of stockinette stitch to increase the turquoise color at the top. I really wanted the color to balance out a bit more than just using the blue for the iCord handle.

I also drafted a new way of working the handles. I really am not pleased with the way the Kitchener Stitch closing, as it keeps looking too bulky at the bags edge. So I worked the this as a one piece handle that caught up both edges, leaving enough floating iCord to allow the bag to lay wide open. I started as the pattern instructs, with the attached portion and then the free iCord. But instead of closing it off to the begin, I moved to the other edge and reattached it. I worked a second attached edge and another matching length of free iCord before finally meeting back up with the original cast one edge. This is a perfect handle now. I stores flat with the bag, allows plenty of room for loading and is long enough to swing over the shoulder. Now, if I could just get that darn kitchener to look nice! I'm thinking it might have something to do with it's location also.... there is alot of stress where it meets the bag. Off to try one more, this time something to hold heavy canned goods!

One Down, Two to Finish

2008-04-08T13:14:00.001-05:00

OK, I've got the Blue Bottom done and really liked the results. I read several comments on Ravelry about the top being too small so I ended my handles before the side sections (those that came from the squared off base). This one is knit with the smaller handles also, because I envisioned it being more of a carry bay for my knitting during the summer. The yarn was Sinfonia by Omega and was stranded (like embroidery floss). It was listed as sport weight calling for size US 4, but I knit it on size US 9 circulars with size US 4 DPN'S for the handles. I totally LOVE the bottom! It acts just as I hoped it would. This is also a Mercerized Cotton, so it has a slight sheen.

I took the other yarns with me during this weekend's car trip and actually got two other bodies done.

The pink is a yarn from Patons called Grace and is also a Mercerized Cotton. This I knit in the round and did a three needle bind off on the inside. I ripped back the first bind off I did on the outside because I thought it looked a bit rough with this dainty yarn. I knit this until the end of the first skein (136 yards)on size US 8 and I needed to use magic loop, because the stitches didn't move across the cable smoothly. I thought I'd knit it a bit longer, but found the small yarn knit with a large needle actually stretched out to over 12 inches. This one is now awaiting its handles.

This is the Sugar N' Cream yarn and I have one handle on so far. This is by far my least favorite yarn. It's so heavy to work with after the two finer yarns and without the polish is feels a bit dull. It does do a great job of showing the stitch detail though. I did the same inside three needle bind off on this one and knit it on US 9. I also held off the side stitches to make the opening easier to enter. This is shown by the stitch markers in the photo. I just saved four stitches on each side from the side seams. Oh, on this one too, I did two iCord stitches in each open yarn over space to keep the front a bit bigger. I noticed on the blue bottom bag that the iCord really pulled the edge in tight.

I Think a Fairy Just Came By and ......

2008-04-02T09:30:00.003-05:00

I think a fairy just came by and pricked me with a spinning needle!! Honestly I do and I think I will remember it's sweet sting for years to come. Wait, maybe I'd better give you a piece of the story just before this.

I'm pretty sure this fairy thing has happened before in my life just with different tools. You might know what a dream catcher looks like - a circular hoop with a web in the center? I'm kind of like that but what seems to get caught in my web are new skills. I get ahold of an idea or something I want to learn and before you know it I own every tool and book required to master the thing. It has long been a part of my DNA and I'm putting the blame on those darn Fairies!!

So, all that said, I've been eying with a bit too much interest the idea of spinning some wool into yarn. It's just so darn pretty and the idea of peacefully pulling fluffy roving into small straight lines and then plying it into yarn sounds like something I'd love to try. The one draw back is knowing that it will mean more tools and time. I'd love to just test my hand it first. So when a friend keeps adding all those lovely photos of her spinning I just stare and drool. I commented this morning on her work and I thought I'd share her response:

That's how it starts, Diane. A gnawing need. Then every fair, museum, park you go to for about a year, you mysteriously stumble upon the one person spinning. Around the corner of an old farmhouse in Prospect Park, Brooklyn; in the early morning sun in an out of the way house at the Cooperstown Farmers Museum; under an awning at the NY State Fair between livestock and the midway; in a hithertofore devoid-of-spinning-materials yarn shop. In tracing your genealogy you learn one 17th c. someone paid his family's transport fare by weaving sails for the British navy and so you know someone in that family did a fair amount of spinning as a livelihood. It's in your genetic code, your blood; it's insidious. You buy a drop spindle and a little bit of roving. You pull and twist and experiment, and before you know it you're sending off to New Zealand for a brand new wheel. Folks you thought were your friends egg you on, damn the expense! ... Not that it's addictive at all. lol Chances are there's a spinner near you, closer than you think possible!

I'd love to have you over. Nudge you on over to our side! :)

Did you feel it? That ever so sweet prick from the needle administered by a wee tiny Fairy? Yup, me too!! Who could resist? I'm thinking, Not I!!

Blue Bottomed Bag

2008-04-02T09:03:00.000-05:00

Oh, I’m so excited about this project. I have visions of finishing several of these useful bags. I bought two colors last week, got them photographed, read all the post on Ravelry and printed out the pattern (in duplicate – so I would have no excuses about it being at the other place!). Yup, I was P-r-e-p-a-r-e-d with a capital “P”. Until I got to work this morning and realized, as I pulled the calendar page off, that it was TODAY!!! Oh, man!! Everything was left at home except my camera (of course) and my extra copy of the pattern. After my lunch meeting I finally got around to looking through my office for an appropriate skein of cotton, hoping that I had something here that would work. Yup, she shoots and scores – Ultra marine blue cotton by Omega called Sinfonia bought before Christmas from the bargain bin. Four balls each with 218 yards gave me way more than I needed. A quick call to my daughter even brought me the loan of her needles for the day. So here is this afternoon’s work on my first bag, which you can see is a bit different. I decided to make the bottomed version I found on Ravelry and finished the base off before it was time to pack up and head home. I’m going to start the sides this evening with the regular pattern stitch and hope all will go well. I didn’t make a swatch of this piece because size didn’t seem to be an issue so I hope it continues going well.

One comment I saw often in the Ravelry comments and blogs was about knowing what row you are working on when you lay the piece down and return. I wondered how others marked rows and tracked their pattern. With only four pattern row repeats I’m wondering if it’s that hard? How is everyone else doing? I saw that 18 had signed up!

EDIT: The Ravelry project for the bottomed bag is here, and here is her blog post for the project. She used the direction for the bottom of this bag. For my bag I cast on 41 stitches and knit in garter stitch for 3 1/2" before picking up stitches around the edge and working in stockinette stitch for 8 rows. I'm sorry not to have included this yesterday and didn't mean to make you search for it.

I picked up two

2008-03-28T13:40:00.000-05:00

I stopped by the chain store yesterday to buy my new KAL yarns. Couldn't really find the colors I'd had in my head - I really wanted tangerine and a turquoise. So, unless I get a chance to head up to the yarn store, these will be what I'm going to start with. Both are Cotton and the Paton's is merchandised - fancy word for polished a bit!! Can't wait to see what everyone else choose.

Realy one of the coolest!!

2008-02-09T09:27:00.001-06:00

I found this on a friends blog, and thought it was the coolest thing. It's all knit and one of the best little movies I've ever seen!! MUST WATCH!!

Tiur Sweater Progress

2008-01-31T11:14:00.000-06:00

This is the new work on my needles. I'm really enjoying doing this sweater even after a bit of a slow start. Here's what I'm going toward:

I'm knitting both sleeves at the same time, in the round. That's why I had a slow start. I first began on just one sleeve, working on DPN's, but found I really didn't get a good and even back strand between needles. Some areas of the design have 6-7 stitches to carry across, and it really was causing some pulling. So, mid work, I knit that first sleeve onto a long cable needle. After several rows of magic loop, I still had the same problem.. the strand was either too long or to too tight. I finally went into Ravelry (spelled LOVE!) and into the Stranded Forum and searched for an experienced knitter who was on-line at the same time. Voila!! Two sets of messages, a confirmation I could steek them, and away I went. I set the first single sleeve aside, and cast on both sleeves, with a ten stitch steek on either edge. It worked like a charm, and here is the work, mid pattern.

So here's where I am now. I've just finished the sleeve caps and bound off the top edge. If you look closely (at a bad photo... sorry), you can see the two steek edges on either side of the pattern area. This sleeve has a lovely picot edge that will be turned under at the hem. So now I'm off to start the body. I'll wait to block and cut these until I'm sure of the sleeve opening. So, it's off to storage for these little girls.

Oh, one of the girls at Ravelry mentioned the hat box. It's actually a pin cushion/sewing organizer. I just love pretty things.

It's her Birthday .... and She's throwing a Party

2008-01-04T11:08:00.000-06:00

One of the great gals on Ravelry is throwing a Birthday Party Contest and she's inviting us. Simply jump over to Phoe's blog and follow the directions. Be sure and take time for read back thru her archives while you are there. Here is a bit I know about her: She's a California born knitter now living in England. You'll find that's she's loaded her blog with some wonderful knitting, recipes, and photos. She's got a great writing style and a good sense of humor also. Oh, and she's turning the big Three O = 30!!

Head over there to register for the contest and stay long enough to make a new friend.

Knitting Acronyms & SKO's

2008-01-03T17:21:00.001-06:00

Well, I've got one. As she's a doosy. My Significant Knitting Other, or SKO's as we like to say. I'm like one of those rotten and blessed people who have daughters that knit. Daughters who are yarn obsessed. Daughters who get "it".

- They know that when I say I'm going to start a new project that it might be on needle for a while.
- That starting a project at 11:00 at night is meaningful.
- That buying an extra set of Addi's and another two balls of yarn is required when faced with a long, unexpected Doctor visit.
- They reward me when 'enough books' turns into a new "I've got to get this one" purchase.
- They aren't disappointed in me when I can't find something new at the LYS, and force them to pick something instead.
- We nearly agree that a project is finished, even it the buttons aren't sewn on yet.

Yup they get it, and they are my SKO's. They are good things, even if you have to birth them.

How about you? Who fills the role of Significant Knitting Other for you? Reward your SKO today (because tomorrow you may need an alibi to go shopping!)

2007 Comes to an End

2007-12-31T11:41:00.000-06:00

So here's a quick look at the end of '07. It's been a huge year of growing and starting new things.

One thing that really doesn't show up here is the growth in my book library, not to mention all the new supplies and growth in my stash.

It's been a great year for sure!

Hats and Jogless Joins

2007-12-27T14:27:00.000-06:00

Fresh off the needles is the second hat using Purl Bee's great 70's Ski Hat pattern. I really enjoy this pattern and could continue knitting them well into the new year. They feature a soft half lining with a wool outer cap, are knit in the round in one piece. The use of a provisional cast-on, started on one edge of the lining, allows you to fold and connect the hem inside the hat. The white lining on this one is a Rowan cashmere blend, just right for the little grandbaby for which it's intended.

One feature worth learning is Meg Swansen's jogless join, which was introduced by Meg in her Knitters article (issue 45, Winter 1996).

Knit the first round of a new color as usual. Before you start the second round, find the old color stitch below the first stitch in the round and lift it up on the needle. Knit the old color stitch with the first new color stitch.

It's really very easy and produces a smoother transition between color bands. Here's a look:

It virtually disappears at a distance. And that's "A Good Thing" to quote Martha!!

Moths: Pretty and Pricey Protection?

2007-12-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

I just love pretty things and I tend toward Victorian styles. I also love my knits and my soon-to-be-knits (a.k.a. My Stash). So when I recently came across a blog post about discovering a moth invasion in her stash, I started to wonder. I have an old Victorian farm house, and YES, that means we have been visited by many different little buggies. I just wouldn't want them to be moths - especially stash eating moths!

So when a shopping blog popped up with this pretty little package, I swooned. How pretty - - how dainty.

Perfumed Cards for Wool & Drawers
50ml/1.65 fl oz. - 20 cards
Notes of clove, lavender, cedar, rose and mint that will scent your closets and drawers and keep your woolens moth-free. Simply spray (two to three sprays on each side of the card) the beautifully embossed acid-free paper cards then put them in your drawers or hang in closets. The lovely scent will last for 1-3 months depending on conditions. When the fragrance becomes subdued, simply spray again.

How Dare They?? I mean really? Something that smells good, looks good and might keep my stash safe, but might cost me $65 plus shipping. How Rude!! Unless I was to add up the cash value of my holdings. I won't actually do that, as someone might see the cash total and call the stash police. But if they came, wouldn't they enjoy the lovely scent?

Hats off to me

2007-12-17T15:38:00.000-06:00

So it was one of those weekends. Snowy and cold, all the holiday decorations were finally put up, a great batch of soup, Kielbasa and Bean (totally yummy), and time to knit without interruption. Perfect is the only way to describe it. So the coffee pot went on with a great fancy bean blend, the wood burner was lit, audible book plugged in, and I settled into a nice soft chair. Sigh............. perfect.

I am on a mission to get three hats done this week. Two for my son and one for my mail carrier. I did have a hat near finished for my son earlier this fall, a lovely fair isle pirate skull cap. It was down to the bind off rows when it was eaten, cable needles and all, by one of my labradors. Curse you little soft mouthed dog! You'd think that eating a pair of socks every other week would be enough!

Any way, here is the first one. It's Smariek Knit's Utopia Hat. Really fast knit and I'd say a great way to learn cabling. Pretty happy with the results, except that it seems a bit short to me. I still need to get this one blocked.

And then there was Purl Bee's great 70's Ski Hat. This is a realy sweet knit and fast finish. I'm just getting to the decrease and only have about 6 hours into it.

Check out the great lining behind the brim. It's made of a cashmere blend and very, very soft.

Ok, I'll get them blocked and finished tonight. And keep them above puppy height!

All hemmed up

2007-12-13T16:33:00.000-06:00

I love my Grandbabies. I love knitting. I love fair isle patterns. I love knitting sweaters. So of course, not much could be better than knitting a fair isle sweater for my grandson. It's a Dale of Norway pattern from the 2006 Olympics. I've changed a few things up, but basically it's a designed.

It has a little stitch pattern row tucked into the colorwork at the hem that really stands out nicely.

Like most grandma's I know, I too have a nickname given by the babies early on. This house hold calls me "Maga Barn", as in the Maga who lives on a farm with barns. The other daughters kids call me "Baah", short for grand-ba, I think! Don't you just love that?

Anyway, I knit a little memory into the hem of this sweater. One side says "Mikey 2008" and the other says "Maga Barn". The rest of the bank is circled with hearts of love.

So, now off to start the top colorwork. This is really the best part of any project I think. Just can't wait.

He Who Looms

2007-12-10T13:26:00.000-06:00

Well, I had a great weekend!! My grandson came over to stay and learn how to knit. I really wanted to see him succeed and decided loom knitting might be the way to go. So off to the store to buy the Kniffty Knitter Loom Set.

He took to knitting this way right off the bat, and finished one gift hat for his sister.

I was amazed at how fast his hands worked.

Here is the 2nd project. A set of slippers for sister #2.

Just one more to go!! Yippee!! One funny note: You can tell his moms knits! His biggest concern was that he would need to frog the hat. Honestly, I think he WANTED to be able to frog it. Got to love little ears and what they remember.

Show Me How: Knitting Storybook & How-to-Knit Instructions

2007-12-04T13:46:00.000-06:00

I love Books
I love Grandbabies
I love to Knit

There, I've confessed and confession is good for the soul. When I found this knitting book in new releases, I marveled at the timing. I'm getting ready to launch a new knitter and found this book's description perfect. It almost sounds like it could be his journal entry following our weekend session. It goes like this:

Meet Mary Ruth—she and her brother Jacob are going to Grandma’s house for the weekend. There’s nothing Mary Ruth likes more, because Grandma has a wonderful crafts room full of cool things. And this visit, Grandma has promised Mary Ruth a special surprise: knitting lessons! At first, Mary Ruth is afraid it might be hard. But she discovers it’s fun…and easy too. The accompanying book features Mary Ruth’s knitting instructions written “just the way Grandma taught me,” with all the basic techniques and directions for four projects: a Barkley Ball, Hotsy-Totsy Hat, Tasseled Skinny Scarf, and Kitty Comforter.

Now, obviously his name isn't Mary Ruth...... but the rest is spot on. I do have a cool craft room, complete with a fireplace.

So take my lead, gather the babies near and teach them your craft. Here's a new book to get you started. BTW, the authors, Susan Levin and Gloria Tracy, are the the owners of K1C2 yarns. They also released a similar title for Show Me How:Quilting.

Knitty Gritty Camo Earflap Hat

2007-12-04T09:29:00.000-06:00

The weekend is all set. One new knitter will join our ranks and I'll be responsible, and I can't wait. I hope he is excited too! That's right, I said HE... as is a new young male knitting grandson. I've got a project all lined up, a bright colored Camo Earflap Hat intended as a gift for his sister. Here is a peak at the original DIY Knitty Gritty version.

I'm going for a bright pink trim and camo body. I'll keep you posted on the results.

Never Knit near a hill!!

2007-12-03T15:01:00.000-06:00

Knitting may not be considered a dangerous pastime to many. But knitting on a hill can be hazardous to your hair!!

Girl-y Wristlets

2007-12-02T17:49:00.000-06:00

I really appreciate the generosity of bloggers. Here is a sweet little pattern I knit up for one of my granddaughters. The original pattern design was shared by KT on her blog. I changed the pattern up a bit by adding a little fringe yarn on the final two rows, just to increase the girlie factor.

I made a great discovery during the photographing of these though. They would make great little anklets, sort of a short leg warmer. How cute is that!!

My Moebius

2007-12-01T21:21:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, I just can't get enough knitting in my system. I think about it at work, while driving, and in the shower. So I absolutely appreciate the Knitty Gritty TV series. I record it on my Dish and have instant gratification when I need a knitting infusion.

So when this project aired, I just couldn't resist the urge to try it out. I didn't need a moebius and honestly couldn't imagine what I would do with one. But the real question was - "Could I knit a moebius"? I mean a seamless version.

So with my remote between pause and play, I grabbed some extra alpaca yarn, a long set of 40" cable needles, and cast on. I got so caught up in the process of learning the new cast on that I didn't count stitches. I just kept casting on until the needles where full. I also used a size #5 cable instead of the #10 called for simply because I was waiting for my new needle set to arrive.

It turned out to be great fun and very addicting. I did frog it though, as I had way too many stitches and way too small needles.

So this weekend I cast on again, with the right number of stitches and on the right size needles for gage. It was a fun project. It's a bit hairy from the Alpaca, or should I say my workspace and I ended up hairy! I added a color change to give the edge more of a collar look.

This is going to be gifted to my Mail Carrier here at work to keep her nice and warm and very, very girlie.

Betz White makes me Warm & Fuzzy

2007-11-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-27T09:40:00.000-06:00

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

2007-11-15T19:17:00.001-06:00

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

2007-11-15T19:02:00.001-06:00

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"