Wool in Hand

Weekend Getaway Satchel #2

2009-03-31T10:25:00.003-06:00

Here's my #2 satchel! It came out pretty good, and looks the same as the first one, except for a few color changes and the straps are gray (my favorite). I donated this to the Shepherd Valley Waldorf auction on March 28th, and it sold for a whopping $400!!! My personal best for their auction!

Flower Bag

2009-03-17T13:28:00.003-06:00

This is a crocheted, felted bag worked in a spiral from the bottom up with the handles sewn on last. It has minimal finishing and is quick and easy to do.

Materials
280 yards bulky weight felting wool in 2 colors
(yarn used: 2 skeins Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool Bulky,
hand-dyed with unsweetened drink mix packets)
(When substituting yarns, you can also use double strands of worsted felting yarn
but remember to double the yardage required.)
Hook: Size U.S. 13, (9 1/4mm)
paper flowers and buttons or embellishments of choice
darning needle
Size after felting: 9” wide at base, 6.5” at opening,
9” high not including handles. Felting measurements may vary.
Gauge before felting: 2.5 st. per inch
$5.00 USD Buy it here and the pdf will be emailed to you 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. MST or you can purchase it through Ravelry instant download from my Woolinhand store.

Felted Spring Bag

2009-02-14T12:31:00.001-07:00

Crochet this chunky felted bag just in time for Spring. Hand dye your own yarn with a drink mix
or substitute a chunky yarn of your choice.
Materials
Finished size: approx. 15”w x 10”h x 5.5”d
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Highland Wool Yarn
137 yds./100g hank, 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 7 hanks
Hook: Size U.S. M (13), 9.25mm
Gauge: unimportant
Notions: Darning needle, scissors, sewing needle, thread, unsweetened drink mix packets in flavors of your choice. Model was made using orangeade, strawberry, and fruit punch (approx. 4 packets per 3 balls of yarn)$5.00 USD
Pattern will be emailed to you 8 a.m to 10 p.m. MST or you can buy it on ravelry as an instant download. Look for more of my patterns there under the username WoolinHand.

Market Bag, Finest Hops Bag, and Man Sweater

2008-10-28T22:03:00.001-06:00

I finally finished the Sirdar Eco-Wool booklet "Broken Rib Sweater" for the man for his birthday! It is made with DB wool/cotton and looks great on him. I also just had to crochet myself the Finest Hops Bag from Interweave Crochet Fall '08. Gary made the handles for me. I lined it with some cotton fabric.
Then there's the market bag in the top picture. I saw the yarn first before I decided what to make with it. Red Heart Eco-Cotton from Hobby Lobby was calling to me. It is recycled cotton so I am doing something good for the environment, AND making a reusable bag out of it. It will be a Christmas gift.

The Weekend Getaway Satchel

2008-09-25T13:43:00.000-06:00

Here is the Weekend Getaway Satchel by Marta McCall, from the Fall '05 Interweave Knits issue. (Also the pattern is included in The Best of Interweave Knits book.) I made this for a friend of mine, Kathe, who was looking through the book while visiting one day, and casually mentioned she'd love to have it. I said "Get me the yarn, and I'll make it for you!" So she did. Three weeks later, it's finished and ready for her next weekend getaway! I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for this bag, and it felted up just perfect. It was an inexpensive alternative which worked well. This bag was pretty labor-intensive with all the sewing and embroidery, but very easy to do. If you are thinking about doing this pattern, check to make sure you can attain all the materials first before starting. (For instance, you'll need a piece of masonite to go on the bottom, an 18" hex-frame, and buckles.) Fun city! I may be making another one for my friend's school fundraiser.

Knitscene Fall 2008

2008-07-21T09:50:00.001-06:00

Hey Knitters, the new Knitscene magazine is out! Have you seen it? In the Knitspotting section in the back, there's a picture of my daughter Anna, wearing the Frontier Blues jacket I knit from the previous issue!

Here's a picture of the original design:

The Trail Ridge Vest

2008-07-21T07:34:00.000-06:00

This fingering weight sock yarn vest is perfect for Spring or Fall
with its light weight fabric and open fronts.
Using a striping sock yarn adds interesting zig-zags and color pooling
which resemble switchbacks along mountain roads and trails.

Finished Measurements
Fits approx. 5-6 (7-8, 9-10) years
Chest 25 (27, 29)”
Length 17.5 (18.5, 19.5)”
Armhole Length 6.5 (7, 7.5)”
Yarn
Knit Picks Memories(100% Merino Wool; 220 yd) Colorway: Rocky Mountain Dusk
2(3,3) hanks
Note - this yarn has been discontinued. Any fingering weight yarn can be substituted.
Needles U.S. 3 circular needles, 24” & 16”
Notions stitch marker, darning needle, stitch holders
Gauge 24 stitches and 36 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch on size 3 needles

If you are on Ravelry, this pattern is available as an instant download for $5.00.

The Tonsil Toaster - a free pattern

2008-07-11T12:13:00.001-06:00

This neck warmer was designed to keep out the drafts that go in our coats on those cold winter days. It has a tie for cinching shut or leave it open for indoor use. Easy lace around the shoulders adds a pretty touch.

Finished Measurement: 21.5, (24.5)” circumference, 14” in length
Yarn used: 1 skein Dream in Color “Smooshy”, colorway: November Muse
Needles: U.S. 3 circular 16” and one extra U.S. 3 straight needle
Gauge: 26 stitches and 38 rows = 4”
Other materials: Stitch marker, darning needle

Cast on 140 (160) stitches. Place marker and join for working in the round. Work in garter stitch for 5 rounds, beginning with a purl round. Work eyelet round as follows: *Knit 8, yo, K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. Work in stockinette stitch for 10 more inches. Purl 1 round, then cast on 20 stitches onto right hand needle. You will now work back and forth on these 20 stitches, using one straight needle and one side of the circular needle. Row 1: K19, K2tog, turn Row 2: (K2tog, yo) 9 times, end K2. Repeat last two rows until all stitches from the circular needle are used up. Cast off remaining 20 stitches. Sew side seam. Make a twisted tassel (see glossary) and thread through eyelets.

Glossary:
Garter stitch in the round: alternate purling one round, then knitting one round.
yo: yarn over
Stockinette stitch in the round: Knit every round
K2tog: Knit two stitches together as one.
Twisted Tassel: Measure three lengths of yarn approximately 9 feet. Tie all three strands together at each end. With two people facing each other, twist the ends clockwise with a pencil until the yarn is tight. When the yarn begins to kink, one person holds both pencils, while the other holds the middle of the cord and lets the yarn twist. Tie each end to prevent unraveling.

Tonsil Toaster PDF Document

It's May already!

2008-05-15T16:02:00.001-06:00

I finally finished the Spirogyras, the fingerless mitts from Knitty.com. I used my own hand dyed koolaid yarn from Knit Picks.

This is a Ribbed Cardigan from a Sirdar Eco Wool dk book, and has become my favorite thing to wear right now! I used Knit Picks Merino Style dk, which I had previously bought for the Ribbon Tied Aran by Debbie Bliss. I started that two years ago and never got past the front, so I frogged it and made this instead. I made the clasp out of some spare copper wire my husband had laying around.

So much to catch up on...

2008-04-06T08:09:00.000-06:00

Wow, where has the time gone? A whole month gone by and no posts!! Well I've still been knitting, and I've also still been doing the "One Christmas present a month" program. This first picture is the "Spirogyra" fingerless mitts from Knitty.com. I used some Koolaid hand-dyed Knit Picks DK wool yarn.

This is a picture of the "Flame Wave" Socks from Favorite Socks. I used Cascade Fixation and they are for my youngest daughter.

This is a cardigan I knit for Vermont Organic Fiber Company using Balance. It is an organic 50/50 wool cotton and so nice to use. I love this pattern, but unfortunately had to make two of them and send them off to the company for models. I don't get to wear one myself. You can get the pattern from their website.

This is the Jacques Cousteau Hat, a free pattern I got off the 'net. My husband loves it.

These gloves were made using leftover yarn from the Cables & Spice vest. It is from Classic Knits and they are made using two needles, and seamed at the sides. These will be a gift.

Here we have half of the "Lacy Skirt with Bows" from Knit Cafe. I am using the Twisted Sisters Daktari cotton yarn. I haven't done the other side yet because I'm pretty sure I won't be able to fit into it. Therefore I am on a running program to make myself fit...

This is another one of those Gingham Cosmetics bag I made last year for Christmas. This will also be a gift. It is from Holiday Knits. I love that book!

This is a Fair Isle Bag from a pattern that was given to me a long time ago. I used leftover Merino Style dk yarn from Knit picks. My daughter confiscated this bag from me, so I can't give it as a gift for Christmas.

And last, we have the "Retro Redux Shrug" from Lace Style. I used Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. This thing grows when I wear it, but shrinks back up after a washing. This yarn is wonderful because you can throw it in the washer and dryer. Easy to knit pattern.

Cables & Spice Vest

2008-02-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

This shapely scoop-neck vest is just right for cool spring days. It is worked in the round to the armholes, then worked back and forth to the shoulders where it is grafted together for a seamless finish. With its easy cables and ribbing, this vest
lends itself to all levels of knitters.

Finished Size 35 (37, 39, 41)” bust circumference. (Vest shown measures 35”).
Length: 22 (22.5, 23.5, 24.5)”
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style (100% merino wool; 123 yards/50 grams) in Cinnamon (MC) 4(4,5,5) balls,and Nutmeg (CC) 3(3,4,4) balls.
Needles: Size US 5 (3.75 mm): 24” circular and size US 3 (3.25 mm): 16” and 24” circulars.
Notions: Markers, stitch holders, cable needle, tapestry needle.
Gauge: 5.5 sts and 8 rounds per inch on size 5 needles in stockinette stitch.
(Note: If you wish to lengthen this vest, buy one extra ball of yarn for every 2 inches added in rib section.)

$5.00
If you are on Ravelry, this pattern is also available as an instant download for $5.00.

Something new for February...

2008-02-01T15:17:00.001-07:00

Here's me in a new vest. I'm not real happy about the colors, but the pattern is fantastic! I love the fit. I'm going to make another one in a solid color and also a bit longer. The pattern is a variation on "Fad Classic" by Wendy Bernard. I omitted the pattern stitch and just did stockinette, then did ribbing the rest of the way down. It looks like Blue Sky's pattern: Scoop Neck Vest.

Cable Collar Cardigan

2008-01-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Now this is a nice cardigan, by Sue McCain of Vermont Fiber Designs. I made this for Black Water Abbey as a model sweater and sadly had to mail it off yesterday. It of course uses the yarn in the colorway Bluestack, one of my favorites. The cabling looks hard, but really is very simple, cabling only every 6th row, and the collar is knit into the fronts on the back side and easily flips over to the front!

Amigurumi fun!

2008-01-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't a clue what the word means - Amigurumi - but it sure is super fun! Here's some crocheted creatures I just finished up. The Hep Cat is from an Amigurumi book, and the frogs and penguin pattern you can get for free from the Lion Brand website. The frog with the round mouth is one my daughter made, and I'll be darned if they aren't multiplying!

I've got the Frontier Blues...

2008-01-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Except mine is the Frontier Taupe! This is from the latest Knitscene, and was a stash buster. I had to do a size smaller than what I need because I wouldn't have had enough yarn. Turns out it fits okay. It's a small bolero type thing that only buttons at the top and hangs open anyway. It was fun picking out and putting in the ribbon! I added the pink detail around the edges.

A whole big bunch of projects

2008-01-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

This first project is the Penny Rug Purse by Mags Kandis from "Bag Style". I used leftover Merino Style DK wool from Knit Picks. A real stash buster!

This is the Ivy League Vest from Interweave Knits, by Eunny Jang. I needed something complex to work on after my Christmas Easy-knitting Binge! I'm using Knit Picks again, this time Palette. The vest is worked in the round all the way up, then steeked at the armholes and v-neck. Should be a fun time...

Here are two Crochet Fan Bookmarks. I found the pattern on Ravelry, and it's from someone's website called "Crochetroo". They are fun and quick to make, but at first it's slow going because of the tiny needle size and yarn.

Last, we have a "Fender Amp Cozy" for my husband! I made this vest a few years ago, and it's just not the right color for my husband, but it fits perfectly over the amp,and keeps the cat from scratching it as well as keeps the dust away!

Clown Pants and Resolutions

2008-01-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year everyone! I made a resolution to use up my stash as best I can this year, and also to finish all the projects I have either on needles or hibernating. These clown-I mean "Sailor Pants" were on needles since over a year ago when my daughter wanted them and I said I wouldn't buy new yarn for it, but she accepted them anyway in stripes. Believe it or not, she actually wears them!
I also made these ski hats using up some Knit Picks Merino Style I have had for over two years. I bought it to do a baby stripes blanket from Knitty.com, but had to come to the realization that I was never going to do that blanket. It's feltable and I've got lots more, so maybe a purse next??
My other resolution was to bring back the "one Christmas present a month" plan, with a little more forethought this time. I did it two years ago, and at the end, I had a bunch of presents without knowing who to give them to! I ended up keeping half of them. What's the first present for January? A ski hat!

2007-12-30T22:55:00.000-07:00

These are some mittens I conjured up myself using the cuffs from a sweater pattern and the mitten part from another. They came out kind of big, so I tried felting them, but apparently Debbie Bliss Merino Aran doesn't do that - no idea why. They work fine, with some glove liners and no wind!

Here we have "Francois" the artist bear from Debbie Bliss' Teddy Bears book. I started him a couple years ago and just now got around to finishing him! Below is Francois in full costume.

This is my second finished Boteh scarf!

F.O. Alert

2007-12-20T22:13:00.000-07:00

Here we have some Ragg Socks from the book "Never Knit Your Man a Sweater...". These are for my brother for Christmas - a size 13 foot! He already knows I made him socks so I'm sure he won't mind me posting a picture early!

This is "Annalee's Tea Cozy" from Sally Melville's book 3, something or other. It's felted and it came out perfect! I did one side in the full argyle fashion, and then got tired of duplicate stitch, so I left the other side void of the "gyles". I like both sides! On the inside, I stitched in some elastic with twill tape over it for the closure, and I also added snaps to each side instead of velcro. What a fun item! My husband wakes up earlier than I do and makes tea, and by the time I get up, it's cold. Well not anymore!!!

This last finished object is the Gingham Cosmetics Bag from Holiday Knits. Knitting doesn't get any cuter than this!

Felted mittens

2007-12-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Here's some felted mittens from Bev Galeskas' Felted Knits book. I made these in 24 hours and they were a last minute gift for my dad! I love this yarn - Cascade 220. I give it a 5 star rating and it's now my favorite stuff.

Finished Mini Larger Than Life Bag

2007-12-09T23:07:00.001-07:00

Well the bag is finished and I'm elated! The lining of it went well, even with my over-10-year-old sewing machine! It clunked and chunked but managed to perform without snagging, stalling, or making me yell curse words! I'm very happy about that. I inserted some plastic canvas in between the double liner on the bottom only of the bag for stability, and I added a loop and button closure. I'm sure the button will change as soon as I find one I like better. I was going to give this away as a gift, but this purse is a KEEPER! Call me selfish.

Jameson doily

2007-12-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm crocheting doilies now! I've gone and become my grandmother! Not a bad thing I suppose. But anyway this pattern I just couldn't pass up. Not your usual white doily, and I've never made one, so this had to be done. Now I'm sure there's someone on my Christmas list that wants a present that they don't know what the hell to do with! :)
Jameson Doily

Two sleeves done on the Kilcar #2

2007-12-05T09:00:00.001-07:00

Both sleeves are finished! The first photo is truer in color than the second. I included it to show the detail a little bit. My cat won't leave it alone. Must be a different smell with those Irish sheep!

Here's what I'm working on now...

2007-12-05T08:45:00.001-07:00

Purses! The first one is the Larger Than Life Bag by Cecily Keim. I made it smaller because I don't like the enormous bags, but this had some irresistable crochet in it that I just had to do! I need to line it and give it some handles now.
The felted bag is The Booga Bag and I used 4 skeins of Ocean Sunset Ombre, which felts quickly and beautifully, and is self striping.

Boteh Scarf #2 and Kilcar #2

2007-11-30T19:20:00.000-07:00

I can't stop making the Botehs!!! They're so much fun. But I did manange to put it down to start another Kilcar for my sister-in-law Amanda. She bought the yarn and it is gorgeous! (Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Chunky). I don't think the picture does it justice. I fully intend to have the sweater done by Christmas if not sooner.

The Ball

2007-11-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm having a hard time focusing on any one project lately, so it's small finished object time!! I'm having a ball too...
It's from her website.

Totally Autumn

2007-11-27T07:55:00.001-07:00

Here's my finished Totally Autumn throw from Knitty! This will be a gift for my parents for Christmas.

Boteh Scarf

2007-11-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

This is my Boteh Scarf from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007!

Finished Kilcar

2007-11-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest F.O. The Kilcar. It is so warm and toasty, and was quite a delight to knit up! I can wear it to Thanksgiving dinner. (The buttons are temporary...)

Juno Regina Stole

2007-11-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here is myJuno Regina Stole so far! I am using a very cobweb-like lace merino for the first time. The beginning was a PITA, but now it's over and I've got about 40" of mindless knitting to do before the ending!

2007-11-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hello knitters! More pictures to share today:

This is my Kilcar cardigan from Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed Collection. I'm using Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran, and it's coming out so beautiful! I love this color, and it was sent to me from Fiona - in Canada. Thanks Fiona! I owe you, bigtime!

Above is my own pattern! I made this up specially for my daughter because she's so particular about what she wears - colors too. I made this with Knit Picks sock yarn, colorway "Rocky Mountain". Isn't it cool how the colors zigzag across the front? It's got ribbing at the bodice, and tubular bands at the front and neck. Just her size.

This is my Tilted Duster from Interweave Knits Fall '07! It's been done for a while but I realized I completely skipped blogging the entire month of August, so I'm playing catch up. Doesn't it look like I'm giving myself a breast self-examination? I was just holding it closed for the picture, but it looks funny! :O

Two pairs of socks I made recently. They're both going to be Christmas gifts if I can quite being so "sockfish" about it! Me wants them!

The Vickie Cardigan is done!

2007-11-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

This is my Vickie Cardigan, from Black Water Abbey yarns! I love love love it! I was test knitting this one for Marilyn, the owner of BWA yarns and also the author of this pattern. I got to pick out the color and the buttons and I get to wear it when she doesn't need it! The yarn color is Rust and it's got flecks of gold all through it. Such a beautiful design too. I hope the weather gets cold!!! If you are interested in this sweater you can order yarn and the pattern here. Also there is a knitalong for this sweater and it's not too late to join here.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T14:06:00.000-06:00

Below is my "Abundance" throw from Knitty.com. I used the yarn that the pattern called for and I'm very pleased with it. It's Briar Rose Fibers and this chunky yarn comes in 850 yard hanks! I had a tough time winding it, but now it's at a manageable level.

Next up is my Blue Moon sock club shipment! I am so delighted with this yarn color! I have always been a fan of black, and this is beautiful, with reds in it as well. The pattern is by the Yarn Harlot, and it's called Lenore.
Happy Halloween everyone!

Gary's birthday sweater and more socks!

2007-10-26T23:28:00.000-06:00

Here's a picture of Gary's new sweater - that lucky man. He gets one every year! This time he picked a Mission Falls sweater, by my urging. This is the "Jack" sweater from the booklet "For Him and Her" featuring their new marl colored yarns. I had to rework the neck because in the pattern it's a big funnel. He didn't mind, but no man of mine is going to wear a funnel neck! Anyway, it turned out great, and he loves it!

These are some basic ribbed socks made with my first purchase of Fleece Artist Sea Wool! You must try this yarn! It's soft and spongy, and apparently has antioxidant properties. I just like the colors and the feel. They are for Gary also.

These socks were made with some yarn my kids dyed using leftover tie dye last summer. The pattern is the Genome socks from the Interweave Knits magazine from Fall '07. I shortened them to keep it at one ball of yarn. Pretty colors!

Blue Moon socks!

2007-09-28T09:06:00.000-06:00

Well wow! It's been over two months since I've posted! I've got no excuse...
Here are my Blue Moon Rockin' Sock club socks! I finally got caught up and eagerly await October's shipment. I'm addicted. It's insanely fun. I CAN'T STOP!!!!

sweater and mountains

2007-07-17T16:32:00.000-06:00

Hello knitters, well it's that time of year when my knitting production goes up, but the things that I do are much harder. Here's another sweater just finished for Black Water Abbey Yarns. It's a "Nutty Creations" design, and oh so pretty, but it sure took me a long time to do! Oh yeah, I threw in a picture of the family up at Brainard lake today...

Pickles Comic strip

2007-07-03T09:00:00.001-06:00

Turtle Pile-up, Yarn, and Knit Out

2007-06-27T12:19:00.000-06:00

Dear Knitters, aren't turtles funny? They just crack me up how they push and shove to get a good spot in the sun! Or maybe I'm reading them wrong and they just love togetherness.

This is my June shipment of yarn from the Rockin' Sock Club by Blue Moon. This color is called "Firebird". Lovely. Superwash merino wool. What can I say?

This is "Tim the Knitter"! I just met him last Saturday at our informal Knit Out for the Boulder Hand Knitting Guild. He was a star pupil and learned how to knit very quickly. Made my day. I biked in to Boulder from Longmont - a whopping 11 miles or so. Took me an hour and a half and a whole lotta Beatles songs playing on the 'pod!

The Georgetown Table Runner

2007-06-18T14:37:00.001-06:00

Well knitters, here is my version of the Georgetown Table Runner from Yarnplay! I used Sinfonia cotton from Hobby Lobby instead of the Rowan Denim. Nobody carries Rowan around here anymore since the Longmont store closed and I don't want to pay shipping and handling.

I took this picture to try to get artsy. So many people take such lovely photos of their knitted goods, and I can't seem to get the hang of it! Oh well.

Here's our new fountain in our back yard that my husband built, complete with turtles and goldfish! I took an overhead view so people could see the cute way the turtles sun themselves by sticking their legs way out as far as they can! They are so darned funny.

Sock and hat

2007-05-16T16:09:00.000-06:00

I finished one of the socks for my second shipment of Rockin' Sock Club yarn. It is incredibly soft, and is wool and silk. I finished the first pair, I just need to get a picture of my husband wearing them.

This is a crocheted hat I just made, from the new Interweave Crochet magazine. It calls for Debbie Bliss Cotton dk, but I used Knit Picks CotLin that I had laying around. I will make more...

Blue Moon sock, hat, and more yarn!

2007-05-03T10:11:00.000-06:00

This is a hat pattern from Debbie Bliss' Pure Cashmere book, and it is knit with Lion Brand Cashmere Blend. Kinda looks like a thug hat, huh? It's very soft.

Here we have the next shipment of Blue Moon yarn, for the Rockin' Sock Club: It is wool and silk and very luxurious! I will be doing a pattern they sent me which is kind of lacy and open. Just right for finishing on time!

Here is the first sock from the February shipment! Yes, I will finish the second one - and hopefully in less time than it took me for this one. I had to change the leg cabling a bit because when I knit it per the pattern, I couldn't get it over my heel! At all. So I ripped it back and am doing slightly less cabling than called for. I love the way the color works up.

A pair of boleros

2007-04-25T16:22:00.000-06:00

My oldest daughter, Anna, has been wanting a crop top for a while, but when we went to the store, they were $20. So she said "Mom, you can just make me one!" I had a hard time finding a pattern till I ran across a Debbie Bliss baby Bolero pattern in her book Simply Baby. It had chest measurements just right for both my daughters, so I just made them into short sleeves. They love them and I'm pretty pleased myself!

Lacy Hug-Me-Tight finished

2007-04-10T19:09:00.000-06:00

Here's the Lacy Hug-Me-Tight for my mom for Mother's Day! Doesn't it look funny when it's not being worn? Sort of like a little girls' dress with no hole for the head! I did this in Knit Picks Elegance, and it's very soft! The pattern is from "Knit 2 Together" by Mel Clark and Tracey Ullman.

Georgetown table runner

2007-04-10T11:29:00.000-06:00

What's up next? The Georgetown table runner from (you guessed it) Yarnplay! I am using Sinfonia cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby, which has quite a sheen to it. I'm not sure that was a good decision, since I want it just like in the picture. But I have to go with the less expensive yarn because I am lengthening it quite a bit - like 3 more feet! We've got a 7 foot long table, plus I like the runner to dangle over it a few inches as well. Now, this has fringe, so that's going to really get my cat into bonkers mode. I wonder if she'll jump up, grab the fringe, and take off down the hallway with it, while taking out vases and whatever may have been setting on it at the time? Well the good news is my parents have a 7 foot long table, so if the cat gets out of hand with it, I'll gift it to them for Christmas!

Another picture of the Mod

2007-04-10T10:41:00.000-06:00

Here we have a better picture of the Mod, taken on a sunny day (not at midnight)! I used Orange, Pink Lemonade, Strawberry, and Tropical Punch for the koolaid colors, along with Fuschia Rit dye for the fuschia. All the colors except the reds colorway came out variegated all on their own! I hand painted the reds on and it came out pretty cool.

Here are some fingerless gloves I knit for my 9 year old daughter Anna. She saw some in a store, made of cheap fishnet stretchy crap, and wanted them. We came up with these as a compromise and she loves them! They are made of a sparkly yarn called Patons Brilliant.

Mod on Mod blanket

2007-04-08T19:29:00.000-06:00

I really really need to get that freaky ski mask post from popping up as my top picture, so here we have a picture of the finished Mod on Mod blanket from the book Yarnplay, which, to refresh your memory, I made from Knit Picks Bare yarn by dyeing it with Koolaid. It's not finished in the picture, but since then I have woven in the ends and blocked the edges. It is an awesome blanket, just as I knew it would be, but, I'm going to make it bigger! I'm also going to take a better picture of it as this one was taken around midnight, and we haven't had a sunny day since then. The colors are alot different than the picture shows.

Freaky Ski Masks

2007-04-04T21:33:00.000-06:00

I was informed by some of my knitter blog friends that I'm not the first to have posted those creepy ski masks from the McCall's magazine. So last night I did some searching around and found them posted on a blog called Swapatorium, back in 2005. Apparently there is (or was) some kind of cult following with those masks! I searched around some more and came up with this crafty knitter who made one for herself: (Now this is NOT me, I repeat not me. I would never be that crazy as to actually make one of those blasted things.)

Whoops. Oh yeah, I forgot that I might actually be a little off my rocker:

...anybody want the pattern??????

McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazines

2007-03-31T16:22:00.000-06:00

So I've just got to share the news! Once a week I take my girls to the library, and at the Longmont branch, they've got what's called a Magazine Exchange table, where you can recycle old magazines by giving them away for free. I check every week and once in a great while do I find a craft magazine. You people hang on to your magazines like they're gold! Well a few weeks ago, I hit the jackpot! Six McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazines, ranging from 1965 to 1970. It was like a trip back through time. I was laughing hysterically at some of the patterns in them...

...but what got me rolling on the floor were these matching his-and-hers ski masks:

Even better - some for the kids too!

"PLEASE MOM, PLEASE, DON'T MAKE ME BE AN INDIAN FOR HALLOWEEN!!!"

Progress on the Mod

2007-03-22T10:29:00.000-06:00

Here's my squares so far for the Mod on Mod blanket from Yarnplay. I should be able to crank it out by next week, if all goes well. This is my first blanket of this size. All the colors except one were made using koolaid, and the Fuschia was done using Rit dye. It came out very uniform, however, I don't care for the chemicals in that dye, although I don't think koolaid is all that good for me either! When I see how it stains my hands, I think, there's got to be some harm in drinking all that dye! I used to drink it a lot as a kid, but I don't ever remember peeing out purple, red, blue, or orange. Where did it go??? My next purchase will be some rubber gloves...

2007-03-20T07:50:00.000-06:00

What's up next for this knitter? "Mod on Mod" blanket from the book Yarnplay! (Did I mention I love this book?) I searched around for the yarn for this pattern, and it's quite pricey, although I'd love to be able to afford it. Instead I got some Bare yarn from Knit Picks, and I'm Koolaid dyeing it myself. Pictures to come later...

Odds and Ends

2007-03-19T10:02:00.000-06:00

I've got a bunch of catching up to do today! I haven't been on in a while. The top two photos are my koolaid dyeing experiments. It went well, and after all is said and done, I sure like the surprise of dyeing with koolaid. You never know what's going to happen, even when it's carefully applied. The next photo is of the three gifts I made for a triple baby shower I went to on Saturday. Two are from Debbie Bliss, and one is from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms. Next is a picture of my "Monsoon" colorway Rockin' Sock Club Socks - the Inside Out pattern! I know, I know, it looks kinda like a peepee, doesn't it? Check out the Yarn Harlot's blog for her take on it. I love the way the colors are zig zagging. It's also reversible! No seams! Who'd a thought they could do that?
Next two photos are the original Burma Rings, a free pattern from Interweave Knits. Then there's my Burma Rings. The original has a turtle neck, with the rings going up to the chin, but I ran out of the main color, so had to make do with a crew neck. I don't mind, not too fond of stuff on my neck, but it is a beautiful design feature which I would have liked to accomplish. The yarn I used was Mission Falls 1824 Wool, my absolute favorite yarn in the whole wide world! Superwash too.

Good day!

2007-03-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

My oh my! The first Blue Moon Fiber Arts Rockin' Sock Club shipment has arrived, and it's happy time! I just got back from the library with the kids, starving and having to go pee, but when I saw the box on the front door, well I forgot to eat and take a pitstop! After reading the pattern and introductions, winding the yarn and fondling it, I realized I still had to go to the bathroom, but I wasn't hungry anymore. I guess I just needed a yarn fix! I'm tempted to start on the socks as soon as I publish this post (and dig through my needle bags to see if I've got size 0 dpns)! Oh yeah, the name of the yarn color is Monsoon - isn't that a terrific name?

My First Knitting Class

2007-02-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Last night I had my first knitting class to teach! Someone, somewhere, couldn't make it to teach this class, and it trickled down to me, and I was offered the opportunity to step in and sub. It worked out fine except for the part where I SHOWED UP AT THE WRONG PLACE!!! Could I BE more of a dork? I was told it would be at a Starbuck's, and apparently I got the wrong one, not knowing there were two of them on opposite sides of the corner. You know, I don't usually go to those places, so I didn't know that when people joke about there being one on every corner, they weren't kidding! Anyway, one of the gals thought to come check the one I was in, and there I was, wondering how in the world 5 people all at once could have pulled a no-show! The class went great after that, and everyone came away with a pretty good working knowledge of how to knit. They also gave me this absolutely awesome gift - made by Danielle, who set up the class for me - it is a blank journal with her own hand knitting for the cover, and a bookmark inside! Thanks, Danielle!
Update: I was informed by Danielle that she did not make it. It was purchased at Hobby Lobby. Still, it is a wonderful gift and a great idea!

Here's a picture of a couple of my buddies from the Alpaca Extravaganza at the Fairgrounds in Longmont last weekend. They are just so cute. Every year I go to this, my husband admonishes me to not bring one home. I'm going to one of these years. Now some were going for as high as $30,000, and I can absolutely see why, but there were others for just a grand. Do you think I could put one in my backyard? I'd take it for walks every day...

Magknits scarf

2007-02-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hey knitters -
Here's my Magknits Short Row Rib Scarf! What a fun and easy project. I used an organic cotton (Inca cotton) for this one, but my knitter friend Kristen used Manos Del Uruguay yarn for hers. Thanks for the inspiration, Kristen! I knew the minute I saw yours that I had to make one!

The finished Enid and next project

2007-02-13T09:14:00.000-07:00

Greetings! I'm happy to report I found buttons for my Enid, and yes, it was here in Longmont. I found some brass buttons at Hancock Fabric, and they go well with the sweater! Next up? The Lacy Hug-Me-Tight for my mother (hopefully by Mother's Day). I'm doing it in Knit Picks Elegance.

My 99% finished Enid

2007-02-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

This sweater has been so fun! The steeking went well and I didn't even cry. Thanks to that workshop I took! Now all I have to do is find tiny buttons. (Hard to find ANY good buttons in Longmont!) The other picture is my latest project for Vermont Organic Fiber. The yarn is "Balance", a cotton/wool blend - organic of course, and the sweater is a striped one for a 12 month old. I think it's a new pattern that I'm doing so I can't give you any more information than that!

Look what came in the mail...

2007-02-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

This is "Ocean Sunset Ombre" by Lighthouse. I have no idea what brand this is, but it's 100% wool, and it was 50% off a bag of 10 balls. Very colorful!

I'm thinking of doing "Poppy" from Yarnplay with this yarn:

If I change my mind, then it will become a felted purse, I'm sure.

The Enid Cardigan

2007-02-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well here we have my almost completed Enid Cardigan from Interweave Knits Winter issue. The pattern called for "Reynold's Whiskey" yarn which is light with a heathery coloring to it. I substituted Knit Picks Telemark yarn, which only came in solid colors. The one thing I can say about the sweater is it's unique! At first I was pretty shocked at the colors when I started doing the yoke. Individually, when I ordered each color, they were beautiful to me. But after combining them, well it took some getting used to. It looks blatantly retro. I couldn't have done a better job of making it look 70's. I think I will tell people I meant to do that! Anyway, it's grown on me and I think I'll keep it just the way it is. Not from any lack of motivation to rip it back and re-work the colors, mind you. Gary said the colors are great and to keep it, and I made him swear he was telling me his honest opinion. Also, I want to get going on the steek as I've got some other projects coming up on me this week that have deadlines. In the picture of me wearing the sweater, I have it on backwards so it hides all the yarn ends dangling everywhere. Also, the blue at the bottom is the hem, and it's rolling up in the picture, but I need to tack it down on the inside where it is hidden.
More on this in the next couple of days...

Hey! I'm back!

2007-02-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, it's been a while, hasn't it? I was just plain not interested in blogging after the holidays. I had so much to do, plus whenever I would go on the blog, there would be (and still is) a reminder that I need to fix things up on the darned thing. When I changed over to the orange color, (does anybody else see orange?), I lost all my link and "Blogs I read" sidebar stuff. I even lost my picture for a while, but it's back. I do need to update my picture too. Anyway, I would just go "BLAH" when I saw the blog and would quickly turn it off. I intend to fix it now. I've got my interest going again.
What have I been knitting? Well mostly finishing up stuff. I made another Aran sweater for Black Water Abbey yarns, and here I am wearing it, just as my dog jumped up on my lap. It is the "Tramline Cable Pullover" from Vermont Fiber Designs.

This is Little Zsa, wearing a crocheted hat that was supposed to be for an adult, only came out for a baby's head. It was an experiment that failed, including the other yarn I threw in around the crown (you're saying "what IS that?"). Can we all say "GAUGE" once again???

Oh yes, and I can't resist throwing in yet another picture of my Pumpkin Pie:

What am I working on now? The Enid Cardigan from Winter '06 Interweave Knits magazine:

I am not using the yarn it calls for, and I have a feeling I'm going to regret that in the end. But it is still a good yarn, the Telemark from Knit Picks. This will be my first steeked cardigan, and I'm doing it so I can get some experience after taking Beth Brown Riensel's Norwegian Fana Cardigan workshop last December. I will do a photo presentation of my steeking as I progress. Right now I'm working on the yoke and should be done in the next few days.

Oh yes, one other thing. I crocheted a cotton mesh grocery bag the other day. I won't show you a picture because it's too funny looking. I followed the pattern exactly, and it looks nice and all that, but when I put some things in the bag, it hangs down to the floor! What is UP with my crocheting lately?

2006-12-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

Here's my cozy "Bed Socks" from the book Luxury Knits. Oh boy are they nice. I made them with Lion Brand Cashmere Blend and each sock took me just a couple hours in the evening to make because they're on size 9 needles. I had originally planned on making these arm cosies with the yarn:

...but I finished one of them and put it on and thought, "what the hell are these for??" I got caught up in the making of them, without really thinking of their purpose. (I do that alot.) So I ripped it out and made some useful socks.

Here's a picture outside in our neighborhood right now. I am so truly grateful for this snow! I know that seems like a silly thing to be grateful for, but it has really put a smile on my face, and it's what I moved to Colorado for! I'm happy when we can get it.

2006-12-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back on the blog after a huge blizzard hit Longmont! Over 2 feet of snow, and the biggest to hit Longmont in 25 years! First off, I wanted to show you my "Calorimetry" headband thingy from Knitty. It came out too big! I used the right weight of yarn, and *here's the kicker* I checked my gauge!!! So, since there's nothing wrong with the pattern, I'll have to chalk it up to the nature of ribbing. It's near impossible to measure gauge with it, and the pattern says "somewhat stretched". Anyway it keeps my noggin' warm, and I'll make another one, using smaller needles, worsted yarn, and I think I'll make it 8 stitches smaller. Oh yeah, and I'll most likely use some better yarn that is not brown.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the Blizzard of '06. The first one is me, during the meat of the storm. Gary got off work half way through the day so we went outside to check it out. I could barely see through the slit I made between the scarf and the hat.

This next picture shows how much snow we got. That's Gary digging out our driveway (with a couple helpers.)

Here's me parked in the snow with my Little Zsa:

And this is my darling Bananna, in a snow tunnel:

2006-12-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

Now here we have Anna's first crocheted hat! I taught her how to do the "Army Helmet" pattern, only we went a little bigger, and it turned out just a wee bit too big! But she loves it anyway.
This is her first crochet project she started on, and finally finished last night. She added the pink fringe this morning.

This is the "Vintage Velvet" scarf from Scarf Style, for my mom for Christmas. I used the yarn it called for: Meunch "Touch Me", and it came out incredibly soft! This is one of those patterns that I highly recommend you use the yarn it calls for! I'm sure it would be a nice scarf with a substituted yarn, but you've got to feel this luxurious yarn, felted up! It's insane. I gotta get me some more of that!

Crocheting daughter

2006-12-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

My daughter Anna is now officially a crocheter! She really gets it. Today, we sat together and she made a belt/scarf/headband, using treble crochet and single crochet, and making stripes! She's so proud. Doesn't she look it?

Some finished objects

2006-12-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Well I needed some quick fixes this weekend! So here we've got the Cable and Bobble Headband from the new Interweave Knits mag, with Caron Felt It yarn. (I went a little crazy with the pom poms, but I just wanted to use up the rest of the yarn, and don't they look fun?) Next picture is a crocheted "Ruffled Corset Belt" from The Happy Hooker book by Debbie Stoller. I used my stash yarn, some Crystal Palace Fjord for this, but any worsted yarn will do. It's not really my style, but it's one of those things that my fingers just wanted to make, with my head not too clear as to what I'd do with it once it's made. My daughter likes it, but I'll have to make her one in her size, as this one is too big.

Butt-Ugly Ball Of Yarn

2006-12-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm having a little trouble with the blogger today. Can't seem to find my sidebar anywhere. It happened while changing my template. I should put up a sign on my blog saying: Under Construction. We are Sorry for Any Inconvenience This May Cause. Oh yeah. I've lost all my favorite links too. I'll deal with it another day.

Now, on to the main attraction: The B.U.B.O.Y. I made that up! We've all got one or two, don't we? The Butt-Ugly Ball Of Yarn. Here's a picture of mine:

It's got these two strands, twisted together, and one strand is like a looped 70's shag rug, and the other strand is some kind of novelty yarn, with pink, brown, and gray "schloobies", and all kinds of fuzz. My cat won't even go near it. Here's a close-up of the two strands:

Here's what the tag says:

The name of it is "VADAA", but I'd personally change that to "BUBOY"! 137.5 yards of 50% Acrylic, 40% Dupont Tactel, and 10% Nylon. Not a shred of anything decent in it. That's what makes it so special! Now, what to do with it, dear knitters? Any suggestions?
This ball of yarn (I've actually got two of them!) came to me by way of the Knit Out. I am a member of the Boulder Hand Knitting Guild, and this past September was in charge of getting yarn donations for it. This yarn managed to slip in there from one of the many stores that donate. Now, you can't actually teach a beginner how to knit with this fuzzy, loopy, sloppy ball of yarn! So it didn't get taken. And since I am the "Keeper Of All Things Knit Out", it ended up in my garage.

Some people have told me to just get rid of it. What's the fun in that? And if you know me, then it's no surprise that my motto is: I WANT FUN! So I'm taking suggestions. I will do whatever the best suggestion is. (Me being the judge, of course!)
Also, send me pictures of your Buboys! I'm wondering if anyone's got anything more ugly than that!

UPDATE: I got my sidebar back, but still have lost my links. I'll get those back shortly...
Another UPDATE: I should have mentioned also that this yarn is bulky, and the ball is approximately the size of a large honeydew melon!

Meet Perrin

2006-12-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Knitters,
This is Perrin. He is not only a sweet boy, but also a Lover Of All Things Woolly. It runs in his family. The sweater he is wearing is a Jo Sharp pattern, which I made a few years ago, and it has sat in a drawer that entire time, just waiting for the right person to come along and want it! (Apparently it wasn't going to be either of my daughters.) It's a win-win situation. Happy boy, happy sweater, happy ME! (Thanks Kathe for providing me with the boy!)
Perrin, I hope Santa brings you your two front teeth for Christmas!

2006-12-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

What, pray tell, is this? I call it a "Crocheted Moebius Hyperbolic Plane"! You can get the pattern for it here:
http://theiff.org/press/interweave.html
Why would you even want the pattern for it? Well it would make a nice Christmas gift for all those mathematicians out there. You can set it on your desk at work and mess with it when you're bored! It could be a Christmas tree ornament. The list goes on...
I added the "moebius" part, by sewing the edges together in a twisted way. In the pattern, you don't sew anything together. Any old worsted yarn will do. C'mon people! Show me your crocheted moebius hyperbolic planes!

The Norwegian Fana Cardigan Workshop

2006-12-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dear knitters,
I had an excellent weekend! I drove to Littleton both Saturday and Sunday for Beth Brown-Riensel's Norwegian Fana Cardigan workshop. What a labor-intensive two days, but well worth it. I learned a lot about steeking, and also knitting Fair Isle in the round. We got to do a mini Fana cardigan so that we could try out all the different techniques, and they came out so cute. The first two pictures are the gals in the class, including Beth off to the left standing up in the back. What a fun group.

Next are pictures of my mini cardigan, inside and out. You can see the two different sleeve styles we learned to cut and sew, and on the inside picture, you can see where the facings were put in order to cover up the sewing and cutting.

I now have the confidence to not only steek a sweater, but also to design my own Fana Cardigan! However, I bought some of her sock patterns to do first, in order to practice Fair Isle knitting in the round, with smaller yarn and needles:

To find out more about Beth and her workshops/patterns/books, go here: http://www.knittingtraditions.com/

Felted pillow pattern

2006-12-01T20:54:00.000-07:00

Is this for real? My mind is abuzz with jokes for this one...

More Christmas stuff!

2006-11-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

So this first picture is a couple of washcloths I crocheted out of some really cheap cotton yarn at Hobby Lobby. I'm talking $1.27 each. My yarn stash is really moving now.
The next picture is of a couple mittens, one of which I received already knit by my knitter friend Alex. My job was to figure out how to make the next one. I think I did pretty good, eh Alex? They're just a bit too snug for adult hands, so they will go to my daughter for Christmas.
This last photo is of my felting spree yesterday! The fair isle sweater, muffler, hat, and socks were made from Lucinda Guy's Handknits for Kids book. I did them all in Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, and I was off GAUGE!!! (How many times do I have to shout that to myself?) The sweater came out way too wide and kept falling off my daughter's shoulders - sound familiar? Anyway, I felted it - all. The socks will be felted slipper socks for little Zsa, the hat came out like a wee bowl, very cute, and the muffler looks like a felted dog bone! I am going to cut the sweater up into little pieces and make either potholders, trivets, a purse, or maybe even a hat. We'll see.

Crocheted hat!

2006-11-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

Looks like an army helmet, doesn't it? It's my first crocheted hat! Lamb's Pride Bulky, leftover yarn from Gary's birthday sweater. No pattern. I just made it up from some directions on how to crochet in a circle. Very warm!

potholders!

2006-11-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hey again. Here's the third installment to my felted crocheted potholder! I'm on a felting spree right now. More on that later. The red one still needs a shave, and yes, I got the colors all wrong for this one. The coral is supposed to be in the middle and the green around it!

What to do?

2006-11-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple pictures of a cotton lace sweater I made for my youngest daughter, Zsa Zsa, back when she was a wee two year old. The reason I have put pictures of it on the blog today is because I don't know what to do with it! I did some major house cleansing yesterday, and some knitted objects gotta go. This one I've got a special fondness for, hence the dilemma. It never fit my daughter from the beginning. As you can see from the picture, it's very wide. My gauge is off. Did I measure it? Nope. Three years ago, I just wanted to knit everything in sight, and couldn't care one whit about gauge. I figured if it was too big, she'd grow into it. Well the opening to the neck is so big, her shoulders go right through it! Even now, at the age of 5 and a half! My friend Kathe looked at it once and suggested I put some elastic around the neck opening. Very good idea, but would my daughter wear it then? Hmmm, let me think...NOPE! I can't shrink it. I guess my only option is to rip it out, save the buttons, and make some really rockin' good socks with it!
If someone out there has a really wide 3-year-old girl, speak up within the week and I'll give it to you - absolutely free!

Rockin' Sock Club

2006-11-27T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Universe,
I'd really really love to join the Rockin' Sock Club, by Blue Moon Fiber Arts! So get busy and manifest me the $210 needed to join by January. I'd be ever so grateful.
Love, Me

Update: I joined the club, Universe, so I'll be needing that money between Jan 1-15.

The Ubercrocheter?

2006-11-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

Hey all, quick post here to show off my crocheted vest from the Interweave Crochet magazine (latest issue). It's called "Wendy's Waistcoat", and it's my first finished crocheted garment! I love it! I was doing it with a friend, just to see if I could do it, and I'll be damned if it didn't come out exactly to gauge!!! Beginner's luck...
The yarn I used is called Patons Soy Wool Stripes, and it's got (obviously) soy and wool in it. And, felting friends, it's FELTABLE! If you go to their website, you can download a free felted purse pattern for that yarn. Also, I got the yarn at Michael's, so I didn't have to special order it or anything. Beautiful colors too.

Strung out on tea...

2006-11-16T09:17:00.000-07:00

My kitty is so funny! I can't resist taking pictures of her when she does silly stuff, which is most of the time. She LOVES tea. When I'm finished with mine, she sticks her whole head in the cup and rolls around with it. If I leave the used tea bags out on the counter, I'll find her rolling all over them. I've been having so much fun with my little Peep!

Pumpkin Pie catching a fish...

2006-11-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Here's my prettykittymowmow trying to catch our betta, "Rainbow"! It was bowl cleaning day and Pumpkin thought she'd try to get some fish for supper while I wasn't looking! Don't worry, I saved him. He swam like a banshee around and around the bowl. I don't know why he didn't just bite her! I mean they ARE Siamese Fighting Fish, aren't they??

FO's continue...

2006-11-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

I am really clearing out space this weekend for more projects to move in! This is a lacy shawl I made for Black Water Abbey yarns, in the fingering weight yarn she's got. It needs a blocking, but I leave that for Marilyn to do. You can still tell the detail, but it will look so much better all pressed out just a bit.

Also, I finished a crocheted object this weekend. It's the bath mat from One Skein! It's my first finished crocheted pattern! I think I did pretty swell! Yay me!

The birthday sweater!

2006-11-11T14:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a post of my husband's annual birthday sweater! It's the "Santa Cruz Hoodie" from Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark's book "Knit 2 Together". I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride bulky yarn, and it knit up very quickly. Here he is making oatmeal for us, and that's my daughter, Zsa Zsa, up on the counter, helping out!

2006-11-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Knitters!
The book has finally been released! It's Tara Jon Manning's new book "Nature Babies", which I worked on! The pictures are fabulous, and there's projects in there for the non-knitter as well. It's very Waldorf-inspired, with the intention to make things for kids out of natural fibers, colors, etc. Even if I hadn't worked on this book, I would still recommend it! The publisher is Potter Craft, and they also do the Yarn Girls line of books, so you know the pictures are going to be fabulous, if you're familiar with those books. Check it out at your nearest bookstore, or on Amazon!

More Christmas-Present-A-Month FO's

2006-11-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all, it's been a while. See that post below this one? I got 2 comments on it, both from pattern designers from the Knit Cafe book!! Can you believe it? One is from Julia Trice, the Lush Hoodie designer, and the other is from Mary-Heather Cogar. Isn't the internet such a cool thing???? They're from Los Angeles, I believe. HEY GALS, STOP BY ANY TIME AND I'LL SHOW YOU MY KNITTING!!!!

In other news, I finished two items for my One Christmas Present a Month game. One is for way back in September, and the other is for October. I'm trying real hard to reach my goal of 12 presents by Christmas time. However, I didn't really think the rules through very well. Next year, I won't just make whatever strikes me. I'll plan it out and actually have a recipient in mind for each gift. As it stands, I've got 10 gifts, and will have to figure out who gets what. Not an easy task.

These socks are for my daughter, since they are a 4-5 year old size. I made one a year ago, ran out of yarn, and finally finished the second. My gauge changed, and the one underneath is about a half inch bigger all the way around! I doubt it'll get noticed.

This potholder will have 2 more to match it, and it's crochet -yay!- my first finished project where I actually understood the instructions. Then I felted it of course. I don't really like how the edges are all wavy. With the next two, I'll stabilize the edges with some cotton yarn before felting.

Now this sweater is a UFO, and has been for about 3 years now. It was my first attempt at Fair Isle in the round, and I don't like how tightly I pulled the stranding, and also, when I got to the end, I realized I had to do a short steek, which I'd never done before. So there it sits. My friend Fiona just ordered yarn for a cardigan in the new Interweave Knits magazine for Winter, and she has to do a steek. So I got this sweater back out and will dive in and do it along with her and see how it turns out. Since I haven't worn the sweater at all, I figure I can play around with it and if I mess it up, well I won't miss it. Also, I did it in Caron Simply Soft yarn, which cost me all of $6, I believe.

The Lush Hoodie

2006-10-21T09:33:00.000-06:00

Hi Knitters! Here's me in my Lush Hoodie from "Greetings From Knit Cafe"! It's actually been done for a few days now, but last night I finally put in the zipper. I chose a white zipper to give it a more sporty look. The hoodie is done in Crystal Palace Creme, which is a great yarn. It's soft and you can wear it next to your skin, and so far as I can tell, it doesn't pill! I give it a two thumbs up. Oh yeh, and it's warm.

An update on the baby blanket

2006-10-11T13:38:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note about my friend's baby and the blanket. Yes, he was born! See above. But get this. He arrived the same day the blanket did! Coincidence? I think not...
There he is with his big brother in the hospital, and Ashli was kind enough to put the blanket in the background. Aren't the boys cute?

Here's the beginnings of...

2006-10-11T12:48:00.000-06:00

...the Lush Hoodie, from Greetings from Knit Cafe. I finished the back in less than 24 hours, and plan on whipping out the rest just as fast. I'm using Crystal Palace Yarns "Creme" (60%wool/40%silk) for this hoodie, and it's unbelievably soft! I love the denim color.

I solved my cold tootsie problem!

2006-10-10T16:13:00.000-06:00

Dear Knitters, only 4 days after returning home from Florida, the weather turned crazy cold. Being as I haven't come up with the materials for the mukluks - yet - I decided to go ahead and make the felted slippers in Bev Galeskas' "Felted Knits" book. I whipped them out in a day, but I'm still waiting for them to dry so that I might warm up my toes in them. (That's the only part of me that gets cold!) For now, I'm doubling up on socks.

Catching up

2006-10-08T15:35:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, I'm back from Disney World! Here's a couple pictures of me and my girls at the gates to the Magic Kingdom, and the other one is me between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee:

We had a blast and hated to leave. On the plane ride there, I finished the second tiered skirt from Barefoot Knits for my youngest daughter, little Zsa Zsa:

It's a cute skirt, and so is the little girl wearing it!

Next up, a finished object that's been waiting in the wings for a year! I finally finished the argyle sock for the Master Hand Knitting Level 2 class from TKGA. Yep, it's only one sock. There won't be another one. And yep, I know the colors are a little weird. It's what I had in my stash, and it fulfilled the requirement that they be light colors.

I showed the inside of the sock as well because I'm being graded upon my weaving of yarn tails ability as well as intarsia skills. I'm pretty pleased with it. However, if I get in a snit right before sending in my finished class, I may knit the match to it, just to see if I can do anything better.

Baby blanket for Ashli

2006-09-18T16:30:00.000-06:00

Hey folks! Here's my latest finished object. It's for my friend Ashli, who is OVERdue with her second baby, determined to be another boy... I am almost positive the baby is waiting for this snuggly blankie to get there before he's born! It's a pattern by Tara, and it hasn't been published yet, so I'm not sure what kind of laws I'm breaking by doing this, but I don't think Tara would mind, and I've given her credit here, see? So nobody go and write a pattern for this blanket anytime soon, okay?

Specs: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 4 skeins each of Cloud, Daffodil, and Avocado. The pattern will appear in a book by Clara Parkes, but I don't know when it will be released.

The Kerry Cardigan Knitalong

2006-09-05T22:39:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone - getting my posting done today - I wanted to invite you all to join me in the Kerry Cardigan Knitalong starting October 1st. If you've never done an aran sweater, or just love doing them, this is the pattern for you! Go here to view the sweater model (which I personally made!): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BWAKerryKAL
You can join there and read all about it. It's made with Black Water Abbey yarn, and the pattern was made up by Marilyn King, owner of the company! I have pictured myself in the sweater (about 4 posts down from this one) before sending it off to her. I liked it so much that I will knit one for myself, since I don't have an aran sweater in my closet! You also get the benefit of doing this sweater with many others and can e-mail the yahoo group if you get stuck, need advice, etc. But it's an easy sweater, suitable for all levels of knitters.

Congratulations!

2006-09-05T22:11:00.000-06:00

My friend e-mailed this to me and it's worth repeating here:

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked (or at least were around it) and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors, or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick-up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. Some of us even chewed each others gum.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight (at least not then) because......WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day, and we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them!

CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.

And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were, or at least how different their lives have been!

...kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!

It's time...

2006-09-05T14:08:00.000-06:00

...to start thinking about my tootsies. Last weekend, my dh and I went out to get some things for the winter - long john's to be exact. When we got home I realized I was all set for cold weather, except for my feet. In previous years I've had those Wicked Good Slippers from L.L. Bean. But those eventually wore out, and I'd like to knit myself some sort of felted slipper. Enter the Mowat Mukluks from Interweave Knits Winter '05 issue:

Now these are great, and I've had them in the back of my mind since I got that magazine last year. There's one problem. It's a very big problem. The yarn, all totaled, would cost me, (drumroll please), $204!!!! (That's not including shipping and handling, if I can't get the yarn around here.) Is that insane? Do you see that fur in the middle of the mukluks? That yarn is Plymouth Foxy, an acrylic faux fur that yes, does look like fur, and comes in 17 yard hanks for $27.99 each! Can it be? I'm thinking it would be cheaper to skin a soft animal and use the pelt instead! To save even more money, I could just check for roadkill along the highway...

I suppose I could just skip the Foxy part and just do the felted bootie part. Yay, boring, but still it would be warm. I know it's a long shot, but anybody out there reading this got 6 skeins of Foxy laying around they'd like to trade? Heh heh.

Wonderful day

2006-09-01T13:51:00.000-06:00

Well my goodness!! Look at what my One Skein Secret Pal (Katrina) sent to me today! It is a beautiful gift bag made out of Rowan Cashsoft DK, and it's filled with little goodies like chocolate and lip balm, PLUS as an added extra bonus, I got another skein of it! Boy am I spoiled! I loved doing this Secret Pal thing. Katrina, thank you so much, and your work is beautiful! I will check out your blog soon, (and for anyone interested it's www.HereInTopeka.com) , although your address says Portland, Oregon!
I can only assume you are a Rubber Stampin' maniac, because your gift cards are so beautiful and home made too! Thanks again!

Finished Objects

2006-08-31T11:02:00.000-06:00

Just playing catch up today with my finished objects... It's the last day of August and I finished my one Christmas present a month, only I realized I needed to do two of them because for some reason June got skipped! So I made a little girl purse (button to be purchased) out of the leftover yarn from Anna's skirt - Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - from Barefoot Knits, and also a bath mitt and scrubby, made out of recycled cotton from K1C2, from the One Skein book. Now for September, I think I'll do some socks.
I'm wearing a FO from earlier in the summer, which I just now took a picture of. It's the Waterlily Top from Interweave Knits Spring '06 issue, and I used Crystal Palace Summer Net instead of the Colinette Giotto. I love this top, and the yarn is so swingy and soft and drapey.

My Daughter's 9th Birthday Present

2006-08-29T21:41:00.000-06:00

Well Anna turned 9 yesterday. Does that make her a "tween"? She jokingly asked for a cell phone for her birthday, in which I responded with a resounding "NO!!!" and then we both giggled, but in the back of my mind I'm thinking she's serious... Anyway, I bought a knitting book last Tuesday. Anna and I both looked at it in the yarn store, and she just had to have a skirt pictured in it. It's this book, "Barefoot Knits",

which I think is fantastic, and it uses only one yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. If you've used it before, you know what I mean when I say it's a great yarn. The colors are vibrant and the blend of cotton and merino wool makes it very soft and versatile as an all-seasons yarn. So I got the yarn that day too, (her choice), and it was finished today, one day after her birthday.

She's delighted. I hadn't knit for either of my girls in a long time because they never wear anything I make for them. I think the trick is to wait till they're ready and to let them pick what they want. This one's a big hit. Now Sarah wants one...

Loop-d-Loop shorts

2006-08-14T09:22:00.000-06:00

Well here's those Loop-d-Loop shorts I was talking about to some people! "Loop-d-Loop" is a knitting pattern book by Teva Durham, which I kinda bought without looking at it first, and realized too late that not much in it was good for me. However, I'm fascinated by knitted shorts and pants, and found this pattern in it. It's made with Cascade Pima Tencel, very soft yarn, cotton too. I know, the colors don't exactly go together that well, but it's all the LYS had in stock, and I really wanted to make these. Have you ever done that? And anyway, I'll probably just kick around the house in them and wear them as jammies in the spring and summer. Now I'll have to knit a top for them. I like them and they fit nice, but the pattern was a bit complicated at first. Once I wrote down what to do for every row during the hip/back/front shaping, I was alright.
Toodles!

New Black Water Abbey pattern

2006-08-08T14:58:00.000-06:00

Hey y'all! I got permission from Marilyn of Black Water Abbey yarns to post a picture of her own pattern using her own yarn, that I just finished knitting for her. What a nice cardigan! She told me the pattern will be available in about a week or so on her website, www.abbeyyarns.com. I would have liked to wear it longer, but it was 90 degrees outside that day, plus I needed to get it shipped off to her. The color is a new one to her website, called "Pippen". Very nice. So that's one of the things I've been doing lately...

Long's Peak hike and Secret Pal stuff

2006-07-31T08:18:00.000-06:00

Hi knitters! Well I made it up Long's Peak for my 40th birthday! It was absolutely awesome and I can't think of any place I would have rather been than there. I was pretty darned tired though, but it was an amazing experience. Here is a picture of me, knitting at the top. I had wanted to knit an entire hat at the top, but weather conditions would not permit it. I had no idea it would be so cold up there, and windy too. I also had this unrealistic expectation that there would be a tree or something. But no. Just cold hard rock as far as the eye can see. Not very comfy.

Also!!! On Saturday I received a package from my "One Skein" Secret Pal! Here's what she sent me, including two packages of Mike n' Ikes, which are not pictured because I had to sneak them into my purse real quick, and that's where they'll stay, just for me...

Now, in case you haven't heard it from me yet, the Mission Falls 1824 Cotton is my absolute, all-time favorite cotton yarn! Can't get enough of it. If you haven't tried it, I recommend you do so. Even if you're not a cotton fan, this one will win you over. The blue she sent me is perfect too. I'm not sure what I'll do with it at this point. I was thinking of the baby hat in "Last Minute Knitted Gifts", with the little tie on it. Or, maybe I'll save it because I've got some more of the cotton coming my way, and I'll use it for a colorful baby blanket. We'll see. THANK YOU, SECRET PAL! YOU'RE THE BEST!

Now this picture I just had to throw in as a little extra. Ain't she cute?? Of course, she's feeling the heat like all of us, poor thing. I love her belly though.

First new post in a month!

2006-07-18T14:21:00.000-06:00

I have sure neglected the blog lately! But not because I haven't been knitting. Not by a longshot. However, I can't always post pictures of the things I knit. One sweater was for Tara's new book, and another was a wool cardigan for Black Water Abbey yarns - both new designs that haven't been released yet. I'd be in big trouble for taking a picture of them and posting them here! So that's what I've been busy busy doing, along with going to Indiana for 9 days with my two daughters to visit my family. While I was there, I knit this hemp ponchette! Which I will count as my "One Christmas Present a Month" for July! I had always wanted to work with hemp, and this little poncho was the perfect plan. The pattern is called Cool Hemp Ponchette from Lanaknits' Designs, and I did the medium/large, which called for 4 skeins of Allhemp6, BUT, I only used 3 skeins. What to do with the other skein??? I was thinking maybe something from One Skein, like the scrubby cloth and soap bag or something. Hemp is kinda stiff. I wouldn't call it scratchy though, just tough like cotton. So if that's not for you, don't work with hemp. I enjoyed it, personally. It's very drapey and cool like cotton. And it comes in fabulous colors. Anyway, the pattern is just a long rectangle with the cast on end connected to a side edge. The lacy part is easy to memorize, and it's all garter stitch beyond that, so you don't need to carry around the pattern to keep looking at.
I am also really close to finishing my little bathing suit from Stitch N Bitch Nation, which seems like it will fit, although the pattern is absolutely driving me bonkers. Either the person who wrote that pattern had no idea how to write a pattern, or else the editor missed a bunch of typos, can't figure out which. I'm hanging in there though and working things out.
I am getting ready for my hike up Long's Peak too, on Tuesday, July 25th, for my 40th birthday, where I will then proceed to knit a hat at the top while my husband waits for me! (Weather permitting, of course!)
The Boulder Hand Knitting Guild is doing their 3rd annual Knit Out on September 16th, so I am busy collecting yarn and needle donations for that. If you live in the area, please stop by for that event. It gets better every year! It's from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Okay, until next time, I hope everyone is keeping cool in this heatwave!

One Skein Baby Bolero

2006-06-19T16:28:00.000-06:00

So this is what I chose to do with my One Skein Secret Pal yarn! The baby bolero in that book is absolutely darling, and I think mine came out cute too! I'm going to give it to a friend of mine whose baby is due in September. The yarn is SO soft (have I said that before??!). I believe that I am going to do everything in that book, given enough time!

Thank you, One Skein Secret Pal!!!

2006-06-12T15:52:00.000-06:00

Lookee what I got in the mail today!!! Thank you so much, secret pal! I absolutely adore the Blue Sky Organic Cotton. It is so indescribably soft! I had worked with it before, but it was for Tara Jon Mannings book, Nature Babies, so it wasn't for me. Ever since, I have been jonesing to get some, but just never have. Also, you may notice there are some Mike n' Ikes candy in the picture... Well that's GONE! I had to eat that right away because my family also enjoys them. I don't mean to be greedy, it just happens with Mike N' Ikes. I love the Burt's Bees Milk and Honey lotion as well - it's everything I enjoy.

One Skein Felted Bowl!

2006-05-27T20:44:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted on the blog in a long time, and I've got a lot to say, but for now I'm just going to show you the One Skein Felted Bowl I made today! I am thrilled with it, and oh yes, there will be more to follow. I am in a felting craze right now. I used some yarn that I got from the yarn swap, called Crystal Palace Iceland, and I made the larger bowl, and I had just enough for it, at 109 yards. Like maybe a few feet to spare. Felting it was fun. I put some tennis balls in the washer too, and let it go an extra long time. So, this counts as my "one Christmas present a month" for May. Done deal. Now, it's almost June and I've got to get thinking of what to do next!