Realy one of the coolest!!

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?