Lady's Slipper

New York Sheep and Wool

2009-09-18T22:41:00.004-05:00

It's only a month until the biggest Sheep and Wool Festival of the Northeast, the New York Sheep and Wool, which is commonly referred to by knitters as a single word, "Rhinebeck". It's not about getting yarn on sale, it's hardcore yarn browsing, finding that perfect, and sometimes exotic yarn. It's a mix of all things yarn, fiber, and related items, in addition to many "farm foods and products": wine, cheese, honey, apples, etc. Can't wait! In previous years, I had visited only for one day, while this year, I'll be going for an entire weekend!

Someone on the Ravelry group wanted a list of the vendors in excel. Here it is; all the information is from the NY Sheep and Wool website; all I did was reformat the list to Excel. Please, if you see any errors, let me know.

Blogging & Ravelry

2009-06-07T11:54:00.002-05:00

I've been ignoring my blog for the past year or so, and have been devoting my free time to knitting, and posting on ravelry. I should either blog from time to time, or delete the blog.

Mystic Light Finished

2008-05-03T12:40:00.006-05:00

The Mystic Light Shawl is finished and blocked. So far, I've only taken a picture of it blocking. The shawl was a really fun knit, and the shift in the pattern to the "flames" in the last part of the shawl was definitely interesting.

The yarn is fingering weight-Painted Sock Too (The Painted Sheep), and I used 4.6mm (US 7) circular needles. The yarn is beautiful-some of my favorite shades of blue-but the variegation does hide the pattern a bit. I'm planning to knit this pattern again in a solid color, or a gradual color change.

I think that I'll wear this to the Sunday's knitting group. It may be a smaller group tomorrow, as quite a few of the regulars will be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. The CT Sheep and Wool was last weekend, and although a small show, was lots of fun. I went with Virginia, who patted and admired the angora rabbits. We missed the sheep to shawl competition, but saw the judging. We also saw some knitters from our area group, and met a couple of the spinners, including the Painted Sheep, who handpainted the yarn noted above. As I'm watching my spending, I only bought a few things- an Ashford spindle and roving set from Rowanwood Farm , three skeins of laceweight yarn (100% coopworth) from Short and Sweet Sheep Farm in a lovely, natural brown color, and a silver shawl pin from Leslie Wind. Hmmm...was this really watching my spending? Well....it was a lot better than driving down to Maryland, staying overnight, and also shopping! The best part of the festival was meeting a nice group of knitters from Massachusetts, who invited Virginia and me to sit down and showed us both how to use the drop spindle. It's a bit harder than it looks! I knit on my leaf lace shawl for a little bit, too.

Lace knitting

2008-04-12T09:18:00.003-05:00

I'm currently juggling two lace projects, one more challenging-the Mystic Light KAL, and one easy- the Fibertrends Leaf Lace Shawl. Both of the projects use fingering weight yarn. Oddly enough, they have similarities: both are knit top-down, and begin with a provisional cast-on. The Fibertrends shawl is a repetitive pattern (leaves), while the Mystic Light pattern changes-the chart must be followed carefully.

Leaf Lace Shawl

Mystic Light, Clue 3

Mystic Light

2008-04-05T09:58:00.002-05:00

The Mystic Light shawl is coming along nicely. It's a welcome change to use fingering weight yarn for a shawl, as it knits up much quicker. The yarn is from The Painted Sheep (www.thepaintedsheep.com), and is called Painted Sock Too, and the color is Blue Note. It's always tricky to use a variegated yarn with a patterned shawl, as it often masks the patten. One of the lessons that I've learned is that a solid color shows a pattern off the best. It's amazing how often I forget this as I pick yarns for a project, as the beautiful handpainted, variegated yarns are so alluring.

It's actually 40% completed, as this is the second of five clues. :) I'm really enjoying this pattern. The design is by Anna Dalvi of Knit and Knag.

sos ii finished

2008-03-17T20:58:00.005-05:00

Secret of the Stole ii is blocking:

The completed stole before blocking, the color is more accurate in this picture:

Secret of the Stole ii is nearing its end, and it's been a great knitalong. Fellow knitters have been very supportive of each other, and there are some pretty stoles.
The finished blocked size is 82 inches long x 28 inches at the widest point(center) or 208 x 71 cm.

SOS ii Clue 8 finished

2008-03-12T18:21:00.003-05:00

I finished Clue 8, and am awaiting Clue 9 on Friday--the last clue! It's been a fun knitalong with interesting people, and some beautiful (almost finished) stoles. The most amazing thing is that for the most part, I've kept up with the clues. Fitting 50-60 rows in a week sounds easy until one's schedule is factored in.

SOS ii Clue 4 finished

2008-02-18T19:48:00.003-05:00

Things are going along better with Secret of the Stole ii, and Clue 4. It was a bit tough pulling out 12 rows of knitting, however, it was for the best. Knitting from charts is still a bit new for me, and the "chutes and ladders" was due to misinterpreting the chart. I increased one on the wrong side as there was one more cell in the row. Not sure why I did that; I've done triangular shawls, and do understand that there is an additional cell or two produced from knitting the chart itself.

Thanks, DK, all is well!

Chutes and Ladders

2008-02-16T12:57:00.003-05:00

I knew the stitch count was off, but thought that I was making adjustments so that frogging wouldn't be needed. On Clue 4, row 217 of Secret of the Stole ii, I realized that there was a glaring mistake several rows back, and couldn't be overlooked. Here you go; the crooked "ladder" that must be fixed:

No lifeline, must place the stitches back on the needle and hope for the best!

Secret of the Stole ii

2008-02-11T19:52:00.000-05:00

Clue 3 of Secret of the Stole ii completed last week, posted on the KAL group & ravelry, but not on my blog:

Hmm...shows up better on the white background..

SOS ii, Spring Shawl Surprise

2008-02-02T09:41:00.000-05:00

It's clear to me now that joining two lace KALs was pure folly on my part. The Spring Shawl Surprise is definitely an intermediate to expert knit, and not especially a great choice for someone who has worked on and completed one lace project to date. No, it's not time to give up, however, it will be a longer term project. The sos ii is more of a beginning to intermediate project, however, with approximately 55-75 rows per week and one's busy life, it can be tough to finish on time. But two at one time? Pure folly!

Here's Clue 2 of sos ii.....finished on Thursday, just before Clue 3 was released:

Spring Shawl Surprise, clue 1

2008-01-21T19:27:00.000-05:00

Clue one of the Spring Shawl Surprise is completed. I'm a bit behind on this KAL as clue #4 is due to be posted tomorrow. There were a few important (non-knitting) things that stood in the way of beginning the KAL on time. Knitting is going smoothly now, and there was only one frogging episode early on. On to clue 2....and back to work tomorrow............

SOTS ii Clue 1 finished

2008-01-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

Clue 1 of the secret of the stole two (sots ii) knitalong was released on Friday, Jan. 18th. I started knitting Friday night, then Saturday, and finished the last 3 rows on Sunday. So far, the pattern has been an easy knit, however, who knows if the difficulty will change? The Mystic Waters KAL definitely helped me to improve chart reading, and knitting with laceweight yarn.

Also knitting the Spring Shawl Surprise, which is turning out to be at least a intermediate, if not expert level pattern. Will post when Clue 1 is finished, 10 rows to go.................

Spring Shawl Surprise

2008-01-15T19:40:00.000-05:00

Progress has been a bit slow for me on this KAL. It took a bit of practice to become familiar with the symbols and to follow the chart. My first mistake was with the empty cell, which stood for knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side, and my second was misinterpreting the "increase 2" symbol. After knitting the first 10 rows, and two mistakes, it was time to start over. So far, I've made it to 20 rows with no frogging, and things are going smoother. Adopting a careful, slower approach has helped; there's no rushing this project. The malabrigo laceweight is very soft, and enjoyable to knit with. The only thing that I've noticed is that the yarn is harder to frog than others I've used, its fibers tend to hold onto each other.

It's such a pretty pattern, though, that it's worth the effort. :)

Spring Shawl Surprise, Swatching.....

2008-01-05T11:58:00.000-05:00

This lace KAL by LUL began on January 1st, and will have 12 clues. This is my second lace project-Mystic Waters was the first- and I was a bit intimidated by:

1) the number of different symbols on the the two swatches
2) even more symbols for the shawl
3) there is a design to follow on both sides of the shawl!

not to mention the most basic dilemma-which yarn to choose! Every knitter is aware that choosing the wrong color or a yarn that one is not totally in love with, can cause the project to go dormant and never be finished.

Completed Swatch #1, and resolved a small portion of the issues above:

Unblocked Swatch #1, yarn is malabrigo laceweight, emerald, using 3.5 mm (US4) Knitpicks Options.

It wasn't that difficult, and looks pretty good. The yarn is soft and a pleasure to work with. It's on to the rectangular shawl (138 sts wide)! One of the new stitches, the loop stitch, was easy, and explained well by LUL on her website , and further on the yahoo group. Gotta love those brave enough to ask; it clarifies the process and helps the rest of us out! Back to knitting...currently on row 6 of the pattern...

Lace Blocking

2007-12-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

Mystic Waters was completed a week ago, and it's currently blocking. Hopefully, it will come out fine; I really have no idea what I'm doing! Pixisis (from Monday's SnB) offered a couple of really good tips: Mist the shawl (instead of soaking it), and pull it out gently at first; it can always be blocked more severly later. The blocking board that I used are the foam interlocking mats (intended as flooring), purchased from the home improvement store. As space is a premium, and there isn't a spare bed, the mats were a good choice. Almost ran out of pins though.

I had lunch with Mom yesterday for her birthday, and showed her the (unblocked) shawl. She liked the design and really liked the color.

Meanwhile, I've started a pair of charcoal gray wool/silk ribbed socks for Dave. The Christmas list (Socks for Everyone!) went well, but it was Socks for Many but not everyone. After the ribbed socks, it's more shawls: the Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark, and the two shawl KALs which start in January: Spring Shawl Surprise, and Secret of the Stole ii (both Yahoo & Ravelry groups). New yarn was purchased: Malabrigo Lace in Emerald and Misti Alpaca Lace in a sage green.

Mystic Waters......

2007-12-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

More lace knitting, and for some reason, it's been my exclusive project for the past couple of weeks. All else has been ignored, even CHRISTMAS KNITTING! Actually, I've done much more knitting this Christmas than I've ever done. It's ok.....

So, Clue 3 is finished! Reading the chart has become easier, and the design is really starting to show, and make a bit more sense to me.

The variegated red has a tendency to hide the pretty design, however, it also will hide any mistakes! For the next project, though, I think that I'd match an intricate design with a solid color, and a repetitive design with either a variegated or a solid one. Yes, another (lace) lesson learned!

Mystic Waters

2007-11-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

WHAT IS IT? IS IT A DOILY? LACE UNDERWEAR?

NO! It's Mystic Waters!

Lace knitting and wraps may be making a fashion comeback, however, there's clearly more work to be done!! Yes, three separate people asked the above questions. Hmm....who wears lace wool underwear?

Well, I'm proud to say that Clue #2 is done! The pattern is not a repeating one, and carefully reading the chart is really important. Knitting is going smoother now, with less frogging, as my chart reading has improved. In addition to the magnet under the current row, I'm also using a magnet to highlight the cell I'm on, and moving it along every series of stitches. Lace knitting....challenging.....and fun?

Lessons in Lace

2007-11-24T10:02:00.000-05:00

Lace knitting really is different and a challenge. For one thing, "holes" in the knitting are part of the pattern, and not a mistake to be fixed. Some tips which have helped me in kniting lace and working from the chart:

1. Place a stitch marker just before the center stitch, and also where one chart ends. The Mystic Waters shawl is large enough that it spans three charts wide.

2. Use a metal cookie sheet and a long strip magnet to mark the current row. Place a check mark next to each completed row.

3. Count the stitches after each completed row (every 2 rows in Mystic Waters) to make sure that the stitch count is correct. If the count is off, there is a mistake somewhere. I also mark the stitch count on the side of each row on the chart. Mystic Waters is a triangular shawl which increases 1 stitch on each right hand side row.

Despite these tips gleaned from the KAL, I'm finding that this shawl has been slow going and there's been quite a bit of frogging. Still, I've finished Clue 1! Perhaps it would have been wiser to begin lace knitting with a smaller project...........

Mystic Waters

2007-11-14T08:27:00.000-05:00

Mystic Waters, a lace shawl KAL, will be my first lace project. There has been much indecision and angst in choosing:

yarn (color and weight)

size of needle

After much frogging (much needed practice!) and trying out different needles and yarns, I finally settled on a red variegated laceweight yarn from handpaintedyarns.com, and a size 4 needle. Much of the indecision was due to not really understanding how the lace should look. For example, how open should the project be? Does it look better when it's tighter or more open? Here's the first 78 rows:

Finished Projects

2007-11-07T18:15:00.000-05:00

I've been spending some time on ravelry, posting some previous and current projects, and also inputting some yarn, not to mention browsing to see what fellow knitters are working on. It will take some time to record the yarn that I currently have, but it will be worth it.

Christmas is fast approaching, and the list is getting a bit shorter as some of the socks are completed. Mark's brown (Sockamania Elegance) socks are finished, and Megan's snowflake socks are done. For some reason, I put this project aside for 1 1/2 months with one repeat of the pattern and the toe to go. At least it's finished now!

The MAN socks left will be a bit troublesome to complete, as all of the rest of the receipients like a SIMPLE pattern (knit and purl, nothing fancy), and I'd like to work some sort of pattern. Perhaps a compromise? Maybe something in Sensational Socks will work?

Meanwhile, I'm a bit stalled on the Mystic Waters KAL. A choice of yarn has been made, and I'm waiting for some needles. If I spend too much time on the knit along, the remaining Christmas socks won't be done.

October Elegance Socks

2007-10-27T12:56:00.000-05:00

Very easy pattern, and a quick knit! This pair is for Mark, for Christmas.

The Friday before Rhinebeck, I was invited to join Ravelry. Ravelry is very fun; it's not a blog, but more of a photo, project, yarn, sharing, chatting site. Basically for those who like to cruise the organizer aisle at their local store, can't get enough of HGTV, or just dream of being organized, it's complete nirvana. Even those who aren't interested in organizing will find themselves cataloging their projects, yarn, size needles, etc. It's like an online knitter's notebook. My name on ravelry is ladysslipper.

Also joined another KAL, Mystic Waters. It's a lace shawl, and clue #1 has been released. The yarn which I chose in Rhinebeck was lighter than the yarn recommended; the yardage was right, but it was 100 grams versus the 200 grams recommended. The swatch and the initial 28 rows seems rather small and lightweight. I'll have to decide whether to use this yarn- and have a lighter and smaller shawl- or shop again for a heavier laceweight yarn. The decision is tougher as this will be my first lace project. It's already freaking me out that there are HOLES in the knitting that are SUPPOSED TO BE THERE! :O

Rhinebeck

2007-10-23T20:05:00.000-05:00

Traveled to Rhinebeck on Sunday along with a busload of crazy knitters. It started really early in the morning; rising at 5:30 to leave by 6 to drive 1/2 hour to get the chartered bus. The drive up was very scenic, with the autumn colors at their peak. The bus arrived at the New York Sheep and Wool early, and we were able to browse many of the shops before the crowds arrived. The products at the fair ranged from yarn, to spinning and weaving supplies, every type of knitting needle/yarn accessory, to rugs, hand made slippers and earmuffs. Although there were many choices of food, there were many lamb related choices, including the lamb chili, offered by the 4-H tent, which was (surprisingly) excellent. The sheep judging was quite interesting, and I enjoyed knitting while learning about the many types of sheep. There was also a canine frisbee show which was quite amazing.

As far as purchases, I was quite conservative. I bought some supplies for the Mystic Waters Knit a Long-1300 yds of lace-weight wool, circular needles, and a knitting guage to replace the one which was broken. There was a unique shop which sold leather handles for bags, and the bagaholic in me couldn't resist purchasing two handles for bags which I'll have to make to match the handles! Doesn't make a great deal of sense.........

When we all returned to the bus, it was apparent that some bought a few things and others went wild! After leaving Rhinebeck, we traveled to Morehouse Farm in Red Hook, New York. Very nice shop, with much too many choices of yarn! It's closing its store and staying open as an internet store. As a joke to my husband, I brought home a stuffed ram. I had joked that I was bringing home some sheep. Near the yarn shop was a very large fork (25-30 ft high) which bore a sign "fork in the road". No pictures of scenery, people, Rhinebeck or the unusual fork, as I left the camera at home.

The trip home was very fun as "Alpacca Annie" recounted a story about a casmere sweater which she had knit which had turned out too small. She frogged the sweater and set it aside, and lost track of it. When her bathroom was being renovated, her son found a mouse nest which was made of the casmere yarn. Many jokes arose from this story! Gotta give the mouse a lot of credit for its taste in picking out the softest, expensive yarn.

Very interesting fair, and a nice family destination, not just for crazy yarnies!

Just knitting along

2007-09-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

Last week, I mailed two pairs of Men's leisure socks to Socks for Soldiers. This brings my contribution to date to 6 pairs. I'm definitely not a big supporter of the war in Iraq, however, my hope is that the handknit socks will bring some comfort to our soldiers, and remind them of home.

Knitting for Christmas is going pretty well. OTN is the Snowflake Sock design from Fall 2007 Interweave Knits. It's been a while since I've knit a two color design, and they were a bit tight at first. This actually will work out better, as they will fit my younger niece. Finished sock #1, and expect to finish the second sock later in the week. It was really tough going until I enlarged the pattern on the copier. In the magazine, the snowflake chart is 27 sts wide and 14 rows high, yet was only 1 x 2 inches.

I really love the new Interweave Magazine. Before receiving this issue, I was thinking about cancelling the magazine. The projects were a bit too trendy, and there were too many larger projects, and too few smaller projects in it. This month's was a good mix of trendy and traditional, small and large projects, and will better fit the wide range of family and friends I'm knitting for. The new editor really made an impact with her first issue.

Today began with a trip to the Coventry Farmer's Market. This Sunday, it was called "Fiber Twist". It was a small fairgrounds and there were lots of people! In addition to the fruit, vegetables, maple syrup and jams, there were goats, llama, sheep, and angora rabbits, and all types of fiber artists. The demonstration of yarn dyeing was interesting, and there were quite a few spinners. DH noticed that all of the spinners were pedaling wearing only socks; I wonder if this is very common? We picked up some jam (raspberry rhubarb), vegetables, and two skeins of yarn (great self-restraint!).

We ate lunch out, and had a nice walk along the beach. Back home, and time to catch up on housework, and later some cooking.

I like quiche, and I cook every day, but this is the first time that I've made quiche.

Finished Projects

2007-09-06T18:27:00.000-05:00

The red white and blue socks for Socks for Soldiers are done, and I'm also on sock one of another pair. They are in a more subdued color, a grey multicolor.

Took a brief break from socks and knit this pink beanie. The pattern is "fuchsia", and from Emma King's "Fun and funky Knitting". I'm not even close to a hip and trendy knitter, but this book has some nice hats in it, perfect for gifts for younger relatives. I liked the end result so much, that I think that I'll make another one, maybe for another gift, or even for me.

The Christmas gift tally is looking better; slowly crossing off names from the list. Back to knitting.......

Vacation knitting

2007-08-23T09:36:00.000-05:00

It's great being on vacation. We're missing the traditional family vacation this year as my husband started a new job, and is not able to get away. Instead, it's a few day trips, some knitting, walking by the beach, some Back to School shopping, and some shameless slacking on my part. I was able to join the weekly knitting group which meets early Monday afternoon. There were many new faces and a couple of familiar ones. Projects ranged from socks, "double knitting" a blanket in a pattern (would love to try it!) to a baby hat. The group met at a Starbucks next to our LYS.

It's the second month since I joined Sockamania, and I've managed to complete both months of socks (just) in time. August's pattern, Spiralling Socks, by Anni, was interesting, and easy to follow. This pair are a Christmas present for one of my nieces.

The current project is for Socks for Soldiers. Kim runs fun contests for the group, and the yarn was won in a Fourth of July contest. I'm a bit embarrassed that it's been sitting around since then, and I've started a pair of soldier leisure socks. The self striping yarn is kind of fun; very patriotic!

Socks

2007-08-18T08:12:00.000-05:00

Beginning in July, I've started (sock) knitting for the family for Christmas. The tally is four completed, and two pairs on the needles. The last pair completed is the blue pair below, in Cherry Tree Hill yarn, using a Nancy Bush pattern, Conwy, from her book, "Knitting on the Road". The bright red socks are Sockamania's July Serpentine Socks.

The August pattern for Sockamania is a Spiralling pattern, which was started approximately a week ago. As a cable-lover, I enjoyed the Serpentine socks better, but the spiral pattern is interesting as well. Am still on sock #1 as knitting time was limited last week. After finishing this pattern, I'll take a break from the Christmas knitting, and knit a pair for Socks for Soldiers.

Progress so far on August Sockamania:
The yarn is Opal, and the colorway is "Frosch". Yep, the pictures on the labels always help, as the label is almost totally written in German. Learning Latin in high school has helped me greatly but doesn't help me in the least with deciphering German! There are pics of some other colorways on the label as well.

Opal's "Tiger" colorway looks like fun, and has the color of a Siberian Tiger, or perhaps, my marmalade tiger:

The Yarn Harlot

2007-08-07T21:03:00.000-05:00

Last Friday, I listened to the Yarn Harlot speak at a local bookstore. It had been a tough day at work, and I almost missed it, thinking that it would be easier to go straight home rather than fight rush hour traffic to get there. In the end, I went, and was glad that I did. Stephanie was very funny, as she took her traditional sock/audience picture, and spoke about stash, yarn, and misconceptions people had about knitters. Although some of her talk included material from her books and her blog, her personality brought the material to life, making it much funnier! We weren't as wild a bunch as in Boston, where some wild knitters threw panties! She also spoke about the generosity of knitters, and collected hats for a local shelter.

July's Serpentine Socks finished

2007-08-02T06:57:00.000-05:00

Here's the Sockamania Club Knitalong's July socks which I was able to finish on time despite the frogging. They are pictured with one of my grapevine baskets. Enjoyed the toe-up pattern, and the heel short row's technique, which resulted in a better finished appearance. It will be interesting to see what August's pattern is like. Thanks, Anni, for the Knitalong and the original pattern! In the meantime, I'm working on sock #2 of a Nancy Bush pattern and a pair of Men's ribbed socks at work. Both are Christmas presents, so no hurry.

Serpentine is Fine

2007-07-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

Started the Sockamania pattern, Serpentine. The pattern is interesting, yet it's relatively easy to remember. The Nancy Bush pattern which I just completed was so complicated, that I had to enlarge the charted pattern and tally the rows. The serpentine pattern is toe-up, and is the second pair that I've done using the technique. The toe-up was fine, however, I'm having a problem with (ignoring) the gauge. The difference in gauge was 6 1/2 sts per inch (my sock) to 8 inches (pattern). Oh well, after all the knitting I've done, I should know better!

Time to begin again!

Joined Sockamania

2007-07-12T18:14:00.000-05:00

Who can resist a sock knitalong with a new original pattern each month AND a prize drawing for those who complete the sock during the month? This one looks like fun! I'm going to set aside the current project (ok, projects!) and make July's sock! It's toe-up and called Serpentine! Many thanks to Anni for the knitalong, her patterns, and her hard work.

As I currently have too much yarn, I will try to:

See Wendy's rules for "Knitting from the stash"; especially the exceptions. :)

Sunday at Block Island

2007-07-10T19:22:00.000-05:00

Spent a wonderful Sunday on Block Island. The temperature at home was forecast to be over 90 degrees, and a day trip to the shore was just the thing to do. The ferry ride seemed to go quickly, even for my landlubber DH. It had been years since I last visited, when the children were babies. The Island, in many instances was the same- the "downtown harbour area" had the same hotels and buildings, however, there was much that was different. There seemed to be a great deal more bicycle and moped rentals, and a few more storefronts.
When we originaly planned the trip, we thought that we might rent mopeds, but instead, decided to walk. I think that some of the things that we saw that day we would have missed on a moped. We walked a couple of nature conservacy trails, saw some interesting birds:

and an unexpected collection of animals which a hotel kept.

I'm not even sure what animal this was, way up in the pasture. It might be a Yak, or water buffalo, or something else? It was very shaggy. The only sign called this animal Mr. McGruff, and warned people to stay away from its horns.

We had lunch and a drink in a nice hotel restaurant which had a large covered porch.
By the end of the day, we were exhausted by all the walking: along the shore, nature trails, through town. Maybe next time we'll try the mopeds, and a swim.

Still knitting, but not blogging

2007-07-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

Completed..........a Nancy Bush sock pattern, using a very soft, handpainted merino. The pattern was called "Canal Du Midi", from her Knitting on the Road book. It has an intricate pattern in the center of the sock. It may not show up very well in this picture:

Last Sunday afternoon, I went to a Stitch 'n Bitch meeting. It's a fun, chatty group, and it's always interesting to see what everyone is working on. The topic of yarn winders and swifts came up, and Karen mentioned that there were easy directions for a swift on www.craftster.org. Found the pattern last week, and put it together between Saturday and Sunday. The hardest part was finding the parts at the local home improvement store, especially the dowels. Although easy to put together, it took a bit longer than the 2-3 hour estimate. It works pretty well, and comes apart easy for storage.

Currently on the needles is the first sock of a pair of black socks (Cherry Tree Hill), which will most likely be a Christmas present.

It's been such beautiful weather, that I've been knitting outside on the deck, and even at the beach! The cats have been spending more time outdoors, hunting and lounging. Here's Mindy:

More Socks for Soldiers, Memorial Day

2007-05-26T07:13:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I completed the two pairs of (Woman's) leisure socks for Socks for Soldiers. The socks have been received by Kim, and will be packed up and mailed along with all of the other socks and supplies sent by members of the group. It's fitting that the many soldier packages will be mailed during the Memorial Day weekend. The yarn is Cherry Tree Hill, and the color is Blueberry Hill.

Last Saturday was a serious sale at a LYS celebrating its 2 year anniversary (40% off before 9, and 35% off after 9). Bought a generous bagful of yarn, and a book (The Knitted Teddy Bear by Sandra Polley).

Current projects include an at-home project (pair of socks for me), and an at-work project (pair of socks for co-worker). Looking forward to some down-time this weekend to catch up on housework, hobbies, a very small amount of home improvement, and some serious relaxing.

Handpainted Merino socks for MK

2007-05-11T15:50:00.000-05:00

I've been knitting but not posting this past month. My favorite project was knitting a pair of socks for a coworker, MK. The yarn was beautiful, and was handpainted merino. It was so smooth, and wonderful to work with. Sometimes it's tough to give away a pair of socks.

Usually I'm working on one pair at a time, but currently have more than one in the works. There is a pair of socks for another coworker, LK, and a pair for SFS (Socks for Soldiers). The yarn for SFS is Cherry Tree Hill, and is variegated with purples and greens, and called Blueberry Hill. I have two skeins, and will be completing two pairs. The yarn for LK's socks is Lana Grossa. After the handpainted merino, it's a bit of a disappointment, as it's more "wooly" and less smooth.

Gettin' It Done

2007-04-07T08:28:00.000-05:00

I finished sewing up one of the blankets for the Grandmother Purl Project. At first, I was overwhelmed by the different colors, but remembered a color theory (quilting) class that I took, and was able to organize the squares into rows.

Here's the completed blanket. It took an entire day to put together. It's done and ready to be mailed.

Also completed this week is a second pair of "Big Black Socks" for Socks for Soldiers. It's a size 11/12 Men's pair. Also including some sock yarn for the donation basket. Ready to go! As Sarge (Kim) says, Get R Done!

It's time to have the morning coffee, clean the house, do laundry, and get ready for Easter! Happy Knitting!

Grandmother Purl Afghan

2007-04-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I received a package of squares from Kristy of Grandmother Purl's Afghan. The first afghan was put together and given to Grandmother Purl, and the remaining squares are being assembled into two additional blankets for friends of Grandmother Purl by Cathy(me) and Ruth. Interested to see if your square was part of the package? See the flickr set on the sidebar for photographs of each of the squares.

The squares will be assembled 6 wide x 6 long, and there will be one square leftover. I've already laid out the squares and decided on a layout, but that will remain a mystery for now. Wish me luck, as the afghan that Kristy put together looks great!

Sleet, Snow, and Socks for Soldiers

2007-03-17T14:54:00.000-05:00

Just when it seemed that spring was here, the Northeast - along with much of the northern half of the country - was hit by a storm which included snow, and sleet. It began as snow Friday morning, then switched to sleet around 4 pm, and ended early this morning. Traveling home from work yesterday was very slow and slippery, as I traveled 10-20 mph all the way over poorly plowed or unplowed roads. Today, it's sunny and starting to melt.

This morning, I spied the wild turkey in the woods. He likes to visit on an almost daily basis, and often likes to perch on the deck railing and is not perturbed by our two cats and a dog.

This week I've been working on the second pair of BBS (Big Black Socks) for Socks for Soldiers . Will finish up the first sock today, and start the second. The second pair is easier than the first. The long 12" of ribbing for the cuff is the hardest part.
Kim, aka Sarge, leads the SFS group, and often runs contests, and awards yarn to be used for BBS or for leisure socks for the troops. The grey and blue yarn was a prize, and will be the next sock project.

Blue Socks

2007-03-11T15:53:00.000-05:00

Finished a pair of "Man's socks" using Regia Silk. Although the pattern was rather ordinary, the yarn is one of my favorites to knit with, to wear, and to give as a gift. The silk really blends well with the wool, adding a bit of luxury.

I've started another pair of Black Socks for Soldiers, and depending on my free time, they should be done in a week or so.

It was an extraordinarily sunny and mild day today, and I spent most of the day outside, cleaning the yard, and clearing the flower garden of stalks and leaves. Also swept and cleaned out the garage, and vacuumed the car. A bit of spring cleaning, perhaps?

Socks for Mom

2007-03-03T18:08:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, I completed a pair of socks for Mom, and mailed them on Monday. Wrote a heartfelt thank you with the socks, for all the love and support that she's shown over the years. Felt really good. The sock pattern was "Roza's socks" by Grumperina, in Interweave Knits, Spring 2007, and is a brioche and rib pattern. The yarn was Lana Grossa, Mega Boots Stretch. The yarn was great, will definitely use it again. Here's the socks:
Warning: unnecessary Cat photo with knitted socks.

Am really looking forward to a package of squares from Kristy of Knit a Square for Grandmother Purl. The squares that were made for the project are so nice, and it will be fun to assemble the squares. Visit Knit a Square for Grandmother Purl for pictures of the squares, and the first completed blanket, to be posted soon.

Socks for Soldiers

2007-02-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

Although I'm not a supporter of the war in Iraq, supporting our troops overseas is the reason why I joined the Socks for Soldiers group, and decided to knit at least one pair of socks. The specs for the socks are very specific, from the type of yarn (from the approved list of wool blends) to the color (has to be black) to the length of the cuff (12 inches!). The long cuff is needed so that the socks are above the boots. The toughest part for me was the length of the ribbing at the cuff, as I chose to make the entire 12 inches in 2x2 ribbing and to continue the ribbing down the top of the sock for a closer fit. This pair is going in the mail tomorrow:

Here is a closer picture, but the camera's flash caused the socks to appear gray.

Great day to snuggle up to the yarn stash

2007-02-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

It's been sleeting all day, and the temperatures are predicted to pludge into the single digits in the upcoming days. School was cancelled, as well as many activities at night. It's been almost a no-winter winter this year, with moderate temperatures and no lingering snow, while many parts of the country which typically get little snow getting the big storms.

It is a great day to rummage through the yarn stash. Sometimes I buy yarn which I like, without a specific project in mind, and decide what to do with it later. This summer, I bought two skeins of (mostly red) Noro Big Kureyon, but didn't have a specific project in mind. Made two different hats out of the skeins and still have a bit of yarn left. This hat is a newer style (the beanie)

and this hat is an older, more traditional style.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's been two months since I posted, and the first post of the New Year. Have been doing quite a bit of sock knitting for family, from Christmas presents to after Christmas presents. Mom received her socks and loved them, as did Wendy, Mark and Dave. It was their first pair of handknit socks. Also made two tiny pair of socks for a baby shower, and a pair for myself using Opal yarn and a favorite Nancy Bush cable pattern:

Currently on the needles is the second sock of a pair of MAN SOCKS using navy blue Regia.

Note: I've noticed that while the Knitpick Essential yarn was softer than some of the other sock yarns, it had a tendency to get fuzzy over time after machine washing, something that hasn't happened with other brands (which were superwash) that I've tried. Has anyone has this problem?

Hell in a Handbasket

2006-11-27T11:42:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, despite one's best efforts, life turns into "Hell in a Handbasket". Life goes along so smoothly for so long, and suddenly and abruptly, one is blindsided by misfortune. It can be random misfortune (someone close dies, a storm or a fire destroys a home) or misfortune created or eminating from those around us, or regrettably, by our own bad decisions. Even if someone makes moral (and often tough) choices with their own life and relationships, misfortune hits all of us sometime in our lives. It must be the happy, carefree smoothness of the ride that makes the bumpy ride of the misfortune that much more difficult. It takes a great deal of strength to get past the "why me?", forgive oneself and others, and to count one's blessings. Perhaps that is what misfortune is for: to build compassion for others, and to make us stronger, and make us more thankful for what we have.

I named this basket "Hell in a Handbasket" because I was struggling with this basket as I coped with some turmoil in my life. The spokes of the basket resisted coming together at the base as well as bending upright. In the end, the slightly curved shape of the sides was more interesting than other baskets that I've made. Perhaps the best way to reach a point is not a straight line, but a more accomodating curved line.

The socks are a Christmas present for my sister in law, Wendy. I think that she will like the red wool socks with the graduated colors. It's the second pair of toe-up socks which I've made; an interesting technique that I'll use occasionally. The Cherry Tree Hill socks which I completed a few weeks ago were a present for my Mom's birthday. She loves them! :)

Carpe Diem!

2006-10-31T11:06:00.000-05:00

It's an incredibly beautiful fall day today, and I've taken the day off.
Carpe diem! (Seize the day!)

As it's close to the end of the year, it's time to use up those vacation and personal days or lose them!

Here's a picture of a basket which I finished last week. I love the round shape, double rim, and the color, but the rim was a real struggle. It took hours, and some boiling water to shape up this rim.

One of my favorite colors is red, and it's not much of a coincidence that the colors in the basket are similar to the multi-colored yarn selected for these socks.

Rainy Saturday

2006-10-28T08:17:00.000-05:00

It's very windy and rainy today; a great day to stay in, snuggle up with a warm afghan, and knit. I started a pair of socks with Cherry Tree Hill, a color called Winterberry. It's made in Vermont, and is 100% superwash merino. Great yarn; it's so smooth and silky. It's a bit pricey, but it takes so many hours to knit a pair of socks, that the quality of the yarn is more important.

Will post sock progress tomorrow, today is for a bit of housework, knitting and, who knows?

Tiger Lily knows just how to spend a day like today. :)

Autumn Saturday

2006-10-21T14:59:00.000-05:00

A heavy rain and high winds on Friday blew down many of the beautiful autumn leaves, and today is sunny and cool. The bear which I had photographed on Wednesday was missing something important: a smile! He's looking a good deal better. I'll keep him until I make a few more; one may go to a coworker whose wife is expecting, one to a neice, and the rest to a police program which gives out stuffed animals to children who have experienced trauma. More bears and more knitting (including socks) to follow.

Knitted Teddy Bear

2006-10-18T20:25:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why I knitted this bear. I was planning on starting some socks, until I stumbled upon a cute teddy bear designed by ax174, on her blog, "Blah Blah, Blahhhing". Had a little trouble with the ears (not sure if I did them right), but everything else went well. Great use of scraps of worsted weight yarn, and knits up pretty quickly.

Gotta Love Sundays

2006-10-15T14:53:00.001-05:00

It is one of those terrific Sundays! A beautiful, crisp, autumn day. The trees are just beginning to change color here; it's peak color in Northern New England, but it's a few weeks from happening here. It's a relaxing day; time to spend with family, catch up on hobbies (and even housework). Or, perhaps, to loaf around and take pictures of one's socks!

Just finished the red toe-up socks with the cable pattern. It was an interesting new technique. Although I had little difficulty in doing the Turkish cast-on and knitting the toe, the knitting itself was too tight, and off from my usual gauge. Had to tear out the first toe, move up to a larger needle, and the next try was much improved. The heel with the wrapped stitches looked better on the second sock; I think that I'll look for another way to form the heel.

Here's a picture of the first try at the toe and the improved toe:

Socktoberfest Questions

2006-10-07T16:22:00.000-05:00

When did you start making socks?
I made my first pair a couple of years ago.

Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class? I taught myself from free patterns and many tutorials which I found on the internet. Nancy Bush's book, "Knitting on the Road" was a good source for different techniques.

What was your first pair? I used a self-patterning Regia yarn using a free pattern that I found on the internet. It was a cuff-down pair.

How have they "held up" over time? Pretty well; they have been washed and worn many times.

What would you have done differently? The first pair, I changed to stockinette stitch on the cuff. Now I prefer all ribbing on the cuff for a tighter fit. I also prefer cable socks, or socks with ribbing continuing down the top half of the foot.

What yarns have you particularly enjoyed? I've enjoyed Regia, Opal, Cherry Tree Hill, and KnitPicks Essentials. There are so many different brands, and many more to try out!

Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method? I've never croched socks, but have crocheted afghans. My preferred method of knitting socks is two (16 inch) circulars. Favorite kind of needles are currently KnitPicks. They are so reasonably priced, and I love the points, and everything about the needles. I also have Inox and Addi Turbos.

Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?) The flap heel.

How many pairs have you made? It's hard to say; I've made socks for friends and family, and also quite a few pairs for me. A guesstimate would be between twenty and thirty.

First toe-up socks

2006-10-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

The yarn and pattern are part of a swap sent by Colleen. Have been busy, and have had little time to work on them. The first toe was too tight; I took it apart and switched to a larger needle and had a better gauge. It's much better to test one's gauge first, but I don't think many knitters actually do. Used the turkish cast-on directions from FluffyKnitterDeb; she has nicely written (and illustrated)directions. Everything progressed nicely until the heel. Not sure yet if I like the wrapping technique to form the heel. I've made so many socks from the cuff down that I didn't even have to think about how they were made. It is a nice break to make some lady's socks with cables, though. Only time will tell if I convert to toe-up socks.

Tiger Lily looks on from the lower deck.

Second Pair of Man Socks finished

2006-09-26T18:59:00.000-05:00

Continuing the k2, p2 ribbing down the top of the sock gave the socks a closer fit. I like it better than the straight stockinette on the entire foot; I'll leave it up to the recipient each time. They were made with Knit Picks Essential, a superwash wool. After two pairs in a row of (too big) MAN socks, I was happy to start the toe-up pattern that Colleen sent. It was a beautiful sunny day today, and I spent lunch outside with a co-worker. The turkish cast-on was remarkably easy, and it was a shame to have to go inside!

Friday!! and a Square for Grandma Purl

2006-09-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

It's been an interesting week, and thankfully, it's Friday! The house is in pretty good shape, amazingly, and I also completed an 8 inch square for Grandma Purl. The yarn is a Superwash Cascade, and chose a basketweave pattern (because I make baskets). There are pictures already posted of some of the squares; it looks like it's going to be a beautiful afghan. Off to the mail tomorrow!

On to the socks! Men sure do have big feet!

Knit a Square for Grandma Purl

2006-09-19T17:53:00.000-05:00

For those of you who enjoy reading Crazy Aunt Purl's Blog , here's an opportunity to help her Grandma:

Tiger Lily

2006-09-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

would like to join Knitting Kitty. She loves to lurk near my (her) computer, and lay on my (her) knitting bag. Can we join, please? :)

KSKS kit received

2006-09-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

from Colleen. She put together a fun package of a felted tote (favorite colors, green & brown), along with red Fortissima Socka yarn, a lamb with tape measure, and treats of Dots and "Knitting Girls" mints. It was all so neatly packed into a cardboard box that actually fit in the mailbox. Love the toe up pattern, it's a new technique that I wanted to try. It also has cables! Here's another picture:

I wasn't quite sure at first if the sheep had a tape measure. It did suffer some pulling on its tail and hands before I discovered the correct one. How did she know that I had wanted one of those? Very thoughtful kit! Thanks, Colleen! :)

Blue Man Socks

2006-09-03T17:32:00.000-05:00

Just finished the first sock of another pair of "Man's socks". The first pair that I made had stockinette stitch for all of the foot. This pair has the k2, p2 ribbing continuing down the top (1/2) of the sock for a tighter and more comfortable fit. I think that K will like this pair. :)

This really is a

2006-08-27T18:50:00.000-05:00

knitting blog, not Wild Kingdom! My co-workers had a good deal of fun with the chicken story.

Why was the chicken sitting near the phone? Because he needed to make a call! (An even worse variation of the why did the chicken cross the road joke).

On the knitting front, I've started another pair of MAN'S socks. I am using "Essentials", a washable wool yarn and circular needles from Knit Picks. Have read some good reviews from other knitters, and decided to give Knit Picks a try. The circulars are definitely as good as Addis at a fraction of the cost, and the yarn was good quality, too.

My Chicken Story

2006-08-21T21:06:00.000-05:00

This is embarrassing but true! I live in a large city, and went to a small quickie market near a major road to buy the Sunday newspaper. I was a bit surprised to see a black chicken on the sidewalk just outside the store. I joked with the attendant about the store raising its own chickens. He said that he had tried to catch it, but couldn't. I felt bad for the chicken as it curled up near the pay telephone outside. I felt bad about doing nothing about the chicken, worried that it might be hit by a car or cause an accident, and when I got home, I ended up calling the police (the routine number not 911!) It was REALLY embarrassing, having to apologize and all for calling for such a trivial thing (and as my DH said, it's only 69 cents a pound). The dispatch actually said that they would send someone to check it out. Imagine the police officer's embarrassment to be sent to a call concerning a chicken! Sorry officer!

Nature

2006-08-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

A deer visited our front yard yesterday. It was about five to ten feet away from the house initially and then moved closer to the street by the time I took its picture. It was content to eat the overgrown vegetation on the fence, and wasn't too quick to leave. The deer are used to people, and my dog was totally unaware of the visitor.

A very large spider is spinning an equally large web by the front door. It's been very successful at catching insects, as they are attracted by the porch light at night. Plan to keep the web there, as it will be a natural decoration for the kids who will be trick or treating. Nothing like the real thing to scare the hell out of them!

In knitting news, I finished Dad's socks last week, and began another pair for someone special.

Waiting is somehow easier.....

2006-08-07T09:18:00.000-05:00

when I knit. It is calming, and makes me feel the time spent waiting is worthwhile, and to look forward to it. My current project is a basic sock in medium blue pair for my Dad.

I'm not sure what my pets were looking at (when I took this picture) but they seem to be quietly waiting for something or someone.

The Kit was sent to....

2006-08-02T04:47:00.000-05:00

Margit who will be bringing her kit to a tropical island for vacation! Really! I'm not making this up! She liked the "tropical getaway/beach" theme of the kit. Visit her site to see the truckload (ok, a suitcase full) of yarn that she's taking with her on her trip.

The stich markers were fun and easy to make. I visited a local bead shop, and the owner was very helpful. She wasn't a knitter, but I brought in some purchased stitch markers for an example. She showed me some beading/jewelry techniques, and selected the right gauge of wire and a great wire cutter. The stitch markers came out much better after visiting the shop and with a bit of practice.

Meanwhile, Dad's socks are progressing very slowly. Usually, it takes a week for me to finish a pair of socks. Between bringing work home, working late, and trying to keep up with the housework, there's been less knitting time. Too much work, and too little personal and family time.

Singer Sewing Saturday

2006-07-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

for the Knit Sock Kit Swap. On to the second kit! Inspired by the many varieties of bags everyone is making, thought that it would be fun to try something new.

BTW, Jeane received the first kit which included a felted bag and will soon receive an additional surprise in the mail. Shh! Am sure that she doesn't read my blog!

My Singer Featherweight has been stored in its case in the closet for quite a few months, unused. Although I like to quilt and sew, knitting and basketry have taken up my free "hobby" time. Time to bring it out!

So, in between the usual (and unexpected) Saturday happenings, I sorted through numerous fabric, and tried to figure out what would fit the receipient's (R) taste and personality. It would seem if one were to read someone's blog, it would be easy to figure out, but not for me! Wonder if my swapper is having an equally hard time?

Finally decided on a tote bag with shorter handles and reversible. Yes, I'm being a bit of a coward; what are the chances that R will not like either one? :0

Finished the bag on Saturday and assembled the main portion of the kit for the picture. Did not include R's favorite candy in the picture, as it would spoil the surprise.

Sorry Dad, I'm still working on your socks! I promise!

Brown Cable Socks

2006-07-20T21:59:00.000-05:00

Completed the brown cable socks in the Regia wool & silk blend. The cable pattern shows up better on a solid color. Brown is one of my favorite colors for work, while blue is my favorite color for casual wear. Here they are, relaxing on the back porch, before I drag them (kicking and screaming) to work! Just kidding! I LOVE my job!

Sister to Diamond Felted Bag

2006-07-18T19:17:00.000-05:00

was finished on Monday. It's finished with different buttons than the first. Decided to go with a decorative spiral black button in the middle and two matching black buttons on the side. Took this picture in the evening, and even with the flash, it doesn't come out as well.
Have been toting around Dad's socks, but have been working on them mostly at home. Initially, I had cast on 80 sts, but it looked much too big. Gauge, bah! Looked at the gauge on a pair of brown cabled socks (same yarn, different color) recently finished, and discovered that it was 7 sts=1". The socks would have been HUGE! Ok, tore out about 3" of ribbing to start again! Chose the correct sts this time at 72 sts. The yarn is really nice, a Regia fingering weight of wool & silk blend.

Joined a new group of knitters

2006-07-11T20:15:00.000-05:00

who are knitting very tall black socks (army regulation color) for our soldiers overseas. It's a bit like the Red Cross knitting circles, where groups of women knit the dark olive green socks for the men. There are some interesting vintage patterns on this site. Now, there are both women and men in the military who are receiving the gifts of socks, and women and men knitting them. Hoping that this will also bring a bit of comfort to me as well, as my son Kevin joined the Army, leaving home in the early morning hours of July 5th.

While I'm waiting for the black yarn to arrive, am busy working on Dad's medium blue socks. Sorry Dad, this is only my second pair of "Man socks", I'm hoping that they fit!

Organizing............

2006-07-09T11:29:00.000-05:00

knitting patterns. Have always found it helpful to step back and organize things, even with knitting. It's so frustrating not to be able to find something! One of the ways I organize patterns found on the web or purchased, is to place them in a binder, in the plastic sheets, using the "post-it flags" that can be written on for the categories.

Projects:: Currently finishing up the toe on a pair of brown cabled socks. Have to finish up the socks in order to free up my favorite circulars for some medium blue socks which I promised to make for my father. Looking forward to starting them. :)

Summer travelin'.....for the Knit Sock Kit Swap

2006-07-06T07:17:00.000-05:00

The felted bag has been mailed to my KSKS kittee, Jean, from Utah, and will arrive in the mail today. Instead of a zipper, I used some rounded cherry colored buttons, along with a chain stitched loop to fasten from the other side. The buttons were selected to coordinate with the purse and to look like my pal's favorite candy, the atomic fireball. Legal disclaimer: not intended to be eaten, not by child or adult! Included also some colorful sock yarn, Cherry Tree Hill, which is one of her favorites. The sock pattern which was included was Wendy Johnson's toe-up, a new technique my pal wanted to try.

Just agreed to be an "angel" and make another kit. Very uncomfortable with the term but happy to do the kit. More kittin'(not to mention my own knittin') to come.

Love to see what everyone is making! :)

Posted a few pictures

2006-07-03T22:03:00.000-05:00

of some completed knitting projects. One of the pictures added to flickr was the french market tote (from knitty.com). Made it in a two color- dark & light blue combination. Am not a big fan of the tote, it's too large on the bottom. Made an accessories case which I like better than the tote. Can't like every finished project!

The KSKS kit.....posting pics and identity of secret kittee........soon......
Plan to mail the completed KSKS kit on Wednesday. When it reaches its destination, I will post the completed kit, and the identity of my kittee.

Thanks for the comments and the kind words about the diamond felted tote! :)

Shhhh.....don't tell anyone.......but

2006-07-02T08:26:00.000-05:00

this is one of the places where I stash my yarn. Have been making baskets for a year or two, with the idea that baskets and yarn go together. The problem is, the baskets are multiplying faster than the yarn stash! The picture gallery contains some of my favorite baskets, some filled with yarn.

Recent purchases are hiding here.............

Where do you stash your yarn? Would love to know! :)

It's fuzzy!

2006-07-01T16:52:00.000-05:00

....and felted! Just placed it outside to get a better picture, but it's drying inside. I must admit something, however. The first bag I felted, was by washing machine. It took forever and plus, the washing machine was needed for laundry.

So......instead, I felt by hand in a pan in the kitchen sink, using hot water and dish detergent. If the water is super hot, I use a spoon to agitate the item. Yes, beat it with a spoon! It takes less time, honest! It does seem that I'm breaking some sort of rules; can't find anyone who does it this way.

Hi, I may be your mysterious kitter! The sock yarn is ready to go, and there are some fun extras to pick up. The bag may take a few days to dry, then it will be on its way! :)

Prefelted bag

2006-07-01T12:16:00.000-05:00

Finished knittin the bag!! Yes! And the sun is finally out (on the weekend even)! It's an incredibly beautiful day. Finished the bag early in the morning, then completed an errand, washed two cars, watered the garden, and swept both decks. The house is a bit of a mess, but decided to clean the house from the outside in, and enjoy some sun.

Thanks for all the comments! :) I'm overwhelmed as a newbie blogger! In response to Cayli, the pattern is the Kristina Bag and was created by Julie Anderson of Black Sheep Bags . She has some great patterns on her site. The directions were well written. Her Booga Bag directions are free, the rest are reasonably priced.

Have already purchased yarn to make a clone (to keep!) with a different (color pattern) Noro yarn while keeping the black Cascade.

On to the felting! :)

On to the messy house? :P

Out of work for four days ..........Whoopie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! spelling?? Whooppee! spell check? help?

Knittin' a Bag for My Pal

2006-06-27T18:52:00.000-05:00

Hi there, I've been putting in long hours at the office, but managed to start this felted bag last Friday. Love the diamond pattern, the black is Cascade, and the multi-color is Noro. It reminds me of argyle. The bag is tentatively earmarked for my KSKS pal. Wonder if she will like it?Thinking of making a fabric bag, also, then deciding which to send.

Here's a closeup of the pattern:
Bye, must go knit! :)

Rainy day blues

2006-06-25T17:56:00.000-05:00

It's another rainy day (week) here. It's been a very rainy spring; hard to believe that it can rain any more than it has. Have been busy working on a felted bag for the KSKS swap, and wanted to post a picture, but they are coming out too dark. Just look at the picture of my cat, Mindy, she's a gray striped cat, and looks black. Will try again when the sun comes out.

Just finished dyeing a basket that I had been working on. It's made out of grapevine, reed, and seagrass.

Trip to the LYS

2006-06-24T11:25:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, I visited a yarn shop (after work) which I've never been to before. It's about 1/2 hour away and was having a 30% off sale! :) Purchases included the Debbie Bliss's book, "simple living", a good amount of yarn (including sock yarn), and a felted bag kit. It took quite a while; there was so much yarn in the small shop, but was very well organized.

Have started the felted bag; this project should go pretty quickly. It may be earmarked for the KSKS buddy...........but I may make an equally interesting fabric bag instead. I'll make both, and then decide. Wonder if the KSKS organizers will mind if I ask and give her a choice?

When I checked out of the LYS, I was asked for my birthdate (including year!). This is not a time to trim years off one's age; one may be tempted to do the opposite! They have a birthday club, where you receive a discount of 1/2 off your age, which can be used from one week prior to your birthday- one week after your birthday. What a fun idea!

Will definitely visit again, even though there is a LYS one block away from my workplace.

The DH wondered whether it was worth it to visit the new shop, after all, it must have cost $6 to get there! After seeing the receipt, he had no comment! None needed................

2006-06-21T22:09:00.000-05:00

I've started this web blog after meeting many knitters, who asked, "Where is your web blog and what is your screen name?" Although I had a web page once upon a time, it's been a number of years since I've maintained a site. Have recently completed a knitting needle case, using some fabric that was purchased and stashed away. Also used the fabric from a pair of jeans. It's great to use up the stash, whether it's yarn or fabric. Had originally intended to use the fabric for a pillow, but think that this was a better use.

I like the way that it rolls up. In addition to two rows of ten pockets each (for double points and circulars, as well as singles), there is a zippered pocket and a buttoned "flap" pocket.

Each pocket is 1 1/2 inches wide. The zippered compartment is great for stitch markers, cable needles, and other small items.
If anyone is interested in directions, post a reply below, and I'll post them.
Here's the case all rolled up.

My favorite wildflower, very hard to find, the lady's slipper.

Knit Sock Kit Swap

2006-06-17T20:56:00.000-05:00

Q & A for the Fun Swap:

What are your favorite colors? Brown, Red & Blue
Are you a new sock knitter? No
How long have you been knitting socks? A year or two
Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I like both!
What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn? Wool Blends, must be machine washable
Where do you usually knit socks? Everywhere!
How do you usually carry/store small projects? A knitting bag
What are your favorite sock knitting patterns? Small cables or plain
What are your favorite sock knitting techniques? Two circular needles
What new techniques would you like to try? Toe up knitting
Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting? Circulars
What are some of your favorite yarns? Regia, Opal
What yarn do you totally covet? Like Regia solid wool/silk blend, but would like to try some new yarns, also.
Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object?
Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Addi Circulars
If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be?
Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Dots
What’s your favorite animal? Cat
Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? Two Cats & one Dog
If you were a color what color would you be? Red or Brown!
Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s)..
What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? Lady Slipper
Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read.
Do you have a wishlist? Liked the mini duffel bag pattern on the crafster bag site.
Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? No, that's it!

I'm looking forward to designing and making a bag and sock kit for ----(can't tell you yet!! :)