A few updates on the G man.....

Not much happening in the knitting world for me right now. G* had eye surgery yesterday to correct his strabismus. He came through it with flying colors and his recovery has been very quick. He was having double vision last night, but I think that was because he was still tilting his head. Once his brain rewires and learns that he doesn't need to tilt his head to see correctly, I think he'll be fine. We're going back for his 1st post-operative appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what the doctor has to say.

I did complete the French Market Bag last week. I decided that it was a bit embarrassing to carry my knitting around in a plastic Target bag.....time for a "real" knitting bag! I made a few modifications (made the bag sides 2" longer and the handles about 3" longer) and I like it. The blue yarn (100% wool, mind you) did not felt as much as expected so it's a bit poofier than I envisioned. The black (Patons Classic Merino) felted like a dream. I may have to make some more felted projects with that yarn! All in all I like it - it looks pretty and it carries lots of stuff.

I have a few projects still on the needles. My cabled sweater is off the back burner. I screwed up the cabling pattern on the front so I had to frog a few rows. I think I have it back on track, but the cable still looks a bit funky. I may need to pull back more rows or just start the front all over again - blehhhh. I also started a Mr Greenjeans sweater. I couldn't find any yarn I liked to make it with, so I picked up a cheapo acrylic from Joann's. I really like the sweater and may knit it again - this time in a wool so I can block the ribbed bottom so it lays nicer.

And last, but not least, the socks for my mom. I have the second one underway and am about 1/2 done with the leg portion. The one fit her very nicely and she was thrilled with it. Now I just need to get my butt in gear and finish the second one!

Knit on!

Socks for Mom

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but these socks (and there will be two eventually!) are for my Mom's birthday on the 17th. Of April. In 5 days.

I made this pattern up. I wanted a simple sock with an interesting detail and this was born. It has a simple 6 stitch cable pattern on either side of the heel flap. I frogged it a few times before I got the pattern the way I wanted it, but I love the result. The fit is fantastic....they are a bit big for me, but my mom has bigger feet than I do, so they should fit her perfectly. I'm doing a little happy dance here!!

I knit them with Knit Picks Essential in Pine. It's a super soft, washable yarn, and you can't beat a $6.58 pair of socks knit with love!

I really like how it turned out. And now, off to cast on sock #2!! (I plan on writing up the pattern after the second one is done and I will share with all 5 of my blog readers!)

Knit on!!

A Sense of History

A few years back (like 15 or so), I inherited my maternal Grandmothers knitting basket - complete with some REALLY old acrylic yarn and strangely tiny DPN's. This basket moved apartments and homes several times with me, but I never really dug into it's contents much.

(A little side history on my Grandmother. She was a very crafty woman, always knitting or crocheting. I understand she was also quite accomplished at needlepoint in her younger days when her eyesight was still good. I was named after my Grandmother (middle name) and I understand we look quite a bit alike and are both accomplished crafters. Unfortunately my Grandmother had a severe stroke when I was 2 and had to live in a nursing home. My memories of her are all of going to visit her there. She passed away when I was 7.)

Fast forward to yesterday; my friend Rachael called and we were talking about our knitting projects. I told her that I needed to use up some of my stash before I would allow myself to buy anything new. I finished up DH's fuzzy feet yesterday and was thinking about the next project I was going to start. I went upstairs and saw my Grandmothers basket. I figured now was as good of time as any to really explore it. (I'll admit though, I got rid of the nasty acrylic yarn ages ago *wink*)

The first thing I noticed is that this is a really nice basket! So instead of storing my current stash/projects in miscellaneous boxes, I brought down the basket. (Doesn't it just scream "old time knitting" to you?) Most of my current "good yarn" stash fits in this basket nicely. I only have a few other skeins of miscellaneous yarn not in it, and quite frankly, I may never use that yarn!

I also went through all the needles. Almost all of them were metal (NOT a fan) and some were impossibly tiny! I pulled out my trusty needle sizer and discovered that the largest pair was a 2.75mm - yikes! The smallest pair was SMALLER than a size 0 - so that makes them a 00? Does that even exist?

So now on to my new project. Since all I could imagine knitting on the impossibly tiny DPN's is a pair of socks, I cast a pair on last night. For this project I have broken two of my cardinal sins of knitting: 1) Using a cheap acrylic. 2) Using an impossibly tiny needle size.

Since I've vowed to use up some of my stash, I will forge ahead anyway. I actually kind of like the way the striping is working out. These might actually be a nice pair of socks when I finish. And I have to tell you, I feel a tremendous sense of history using a set of needles that my Grandmother knit with and I feel strangely connected to her somehow. I guess it just goes to show you that what's old is new again.

Knit on!!

Look what I finished.....

finally!!!! (Pattern here.) I'm so excited!! It turned out just fabulous. It really wasn't so difficult once I got going in the pattern. This version is knit in a different yarn than my previous 2 attempts! Yikes!! I finally broke down and bought the yarn the pattern recommended and it made all the difference. I used Elsbeth Lavold Silky wool in eggshell that I purchased from Fuzzy Mable. (Great service and great prices. They get a big thumbs up from me!!)

The blocking went well. I was a bit nervous since I had never blocked before, so I stopped by my LYS for a bit of advice. After a nice 20 minute chat, I left with some T-pins and a lot more confidence. You just can't beat a LYS for advice! And here's pre-blocking and post blocking photos:



I also bought two other colors of Silky wool so I may make another scarf (or two). Or I might go back and finish the cream version I previously started. I like the color, I think it will block nicely, but the pure wool was just a bit too scratchy for my taste. This one is for my SIL, so I wanted a slightly softer yarn.

And I think I found a new home for my baby cardigan!! I just found out my foster sisters daughter (my foster niece??) is having a baby and the shower is next weekend. I need to whip up some booties to go with it, and it'll be good to go. I love it when that works out!

Knit on!!

AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH.....

So I've wanted to make this fabulous lace scarf for quite awhile. I ordered some clearance lace weight yarn from KP and thought it would be gorgeous in this pattern. All I have to say at this point is "Arrrrrgggghhhh."

I can accept defeat. I cannot knit with a lace weight yarn. What you see in the picture is several attempts at this pattern that took me nearly 3 days to complete. The black strings you see are lifelines - a marker placed so you don't have to rip out all of your knitting if you make a mistake. Don't ask me how many attempts I made before I started putting in lifelines.

Since I still want to make this scarf, I went to my LYS today for some fingering weight yarn. (Fingering weight is just one step up from lace weight. It will still provide a nice lacey look, but will give the yarn more stability and will be easier to work with.)

After only 2 hours working, here is what I now have:(and this will look much better after blocking. 4 repeats down - 23 to go!!)

What this has taught me (other than I cannot knit with lace weight), is that it's OK to try again. Admit defeat, it's not the end of the world. I put the blue version on a stitch holder so all is not lost. I may pick it up again later, or I may not. Either way I'm OK with it. It's not the end of the world. Whew........so glad to have that off my chest!

Knit on!

Mittens for me

After making mittens for the kids, I wanted to make a pair for myself as well. I used the basic mitten pattern I have and added a braided cable so they would be more interesting. All in all I like how they turned out, but there are a few things I would change.

- The thumb is way too big. I made a size large to accommodate the cable, but I should have altered the size of the thumb.
- The cable placement on the left hand is not quite centered. I should have moved it over about 2-3 more stitches. Live and learn I guess!
- They are too long. I figured this might happen since I didn't want to start the decrease at the top in the middle of the cable. I would also like to make the cable a part of the decrease so it doesn't just "die out" at the end.

So IF I decide to make another pair, I will incorporate a few modifications to suit my taste better. But, they are perfectly wearable.

And if anyone is wondering, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease in black, and this was knit on size 5 and 7 DPN's.

Now I only have 3 more projects on the needles!

Knit on!

Fuzzy Feet!!

For Christmas of 2006, I made 7 pairs of Fuzzy Feet for all sorts people in my life, but did not make a pair for myself. I decided it was time to change that!! So here are my Fuzzy Feet. I made them using 2 strands of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Blue Bonnet for the main slipper. This makes them very warm and they should be very durable, since I'm not planning on adding a sole. The cuff was knit with one strand of WOTA and one strand of Lion Brand Fun Fur. I love how the fun fur looks after it has been felted with the wool!! (And PS - Fun Fur is on sale for $2 a ball at Michaels this week!!)

Now I need to make another pair for my DH. (And yes - I did make him a pair in '06, but he has lost one.........sheesh.....men!)

My Knit Picks order arrived on Tuesday (and thus the Fuzzy Feet), and in it was a gorgeous skein of a variegated blue lace weight wool. I'm planning on making this scarf. It's really beautiful and not as difficult as it looks. I cast it on Tuesday night and did 20 rows of the lace pattern. I ended up frogging it (since I added a stitch somewhere??). I'll probably re-cast on tonight. It's a complicated pattern so I really only want to work on it after the kids go to bed so I won't get disrupted. I've never done any lace work before and it really is much easier than I thought it would be. I'll get a WIP picture up as soon as I have one.

Another thing I learned while working on the lace pattern - there is a place for metal needles! I'll admit that I'm a wood/bamboo snob and rarely use anything else. But when working with this lace pattern, I really need needles with a sharper point. So here I am swallowing my pride and working with metal needles. (But I did hear from the gal at my LYS that Clover was coming out with a new needle that is still bamboo but with a sharper point. I'll be sure to try them out when I can find a pair!!)

Knit on!!

Fun new Mittens

We had a freezing cold weekend here in Minnesota, so what better to do than stay in and knit some mittens? The pink ones are for DD (of course) and DS wanted stripes. He really wanted red stripes, but I didn't have any red. I used it all up making his hat! So now he has a new hat and new mittens and they don't match! Oh well, I guess that means I need to go out and buy more yarn :).

Next up is a pair of black mittens for me. I'm playing with a cable pattern to add to it to jazz it up a bit. Plain black mittens are just too boring. I tried out a cable pattern this morning but I'm not sure if it's the one I'll use or not.

On a Scrappy Note:

I went to Archivers on Friday night for ScrapMania. We had a great time but when it was time for me to leave, I went out and started my car, then went to settle my tab. I locked my car and went back inside (and I'm sure you all see where this is heading ;) .) Sure enough, my key fob unlocker dealy decided to conk out. So here it was, 10:00 at night, -10 degrees outside with a windchill in the -25 degree area.

Thankfully my friend Heidi (love ya Heidi!!) drove me to my house where I picked up a key from my DH (and a partially full gas can since my car sat idling for over an hour) and took me back to Archivers. I nearly froze my hands off putting gas in the car, but when I finally got in it to drive home it was nice and toasty!!

Stay warm everyone, and Knit on!!

Just Right......

After the last hat, DS was very concerned about the size of this one. Thankfully it fits!

Next up are pink mittens for DD!!

Done.....and still waiting

So I finished my bright yellow socks last night. I like how they came out - bright yellow and all! I started these since I was waiting on my order from KP. And guess what? I'm STILL waiting....grrrr...... Oh well. My next projects will have to wait.

I did take a trip to one of my LYS today, but I managed to get out the door without any yarn. I'm very proud of myself! I did, however, go to JoAnn's and pick up 2 balls of WoolEase and a rubber stamp that was on clearance. And a Cuttlebug embossing folder. But that was it! And I used 4 coupons!!!

So as I sit and wait, I'm going to start up a pair of mittens for my DD. I got a neat pattern today that had sizes for children and adults. It's a very basic pattern, but I plan on jazzing it up a bit!

Knit on!

Waiting.......

I'm waiting rather impatiently for my KP order to arrive, so I started these socks last night. Now I remember why I *hate* to knit socks. These are knit on US 3 - which is TINY, it's only slightly better than knitting with toothpicks!

As I've said, I always like to test a pattern on cheapy yarn - thus the bright yellow socks. It's Caron Super Soft, which lives up to it's name - it's super soft. However, it's an acrylic and I would prefer a wool. Heck, if I'm going to knit a pair of socks they better last forever.

I like the pattern so far, but I have changed it a bit. I didn't like her heel turn method, so I did my own. You be the judge - I think it came out pretty darn great (if I do say so myself *wink*).


That's all for now - and if you live in the Minneapolis area - keep an eye out for someone wearing some day-glo yellow socks!!

Knit on!

Leg Warmers - not just from the 80's anymore!

A friend of mine was asking me a few knitting questions in November. She wanted to make her daughter a pair of leg warmers. Like many little girls, her daughter loves to wear dresses, but in the middle of a freezing Minnesota winter, that's just not practical.

She knows how to knit but has limited experience with it. And like any other skill, you have to practice! She bought the yarn and started to knit. After a few tries, she called me in frustration, "I'm just not going to make them!" I asked her to let me give them a try.

I picked the yarn and needles up and started them that night. They really weren't that hard, but I can understand how it could be frustrating. They use a fairly simple rib pattern, but use a pearled garter stitch instead of the standard knit. FYI - The pattern is from the Winter 2005 magazine Knit Simple. (This magazine used to be a part of Vogue Knitting, but I think it is a stand alone magazine now.)

So now that Miss P* has these gorgeous leg warmers, I have to make them for the rest of the play group girls! Since my friend bought three skeins of yarn, they will all match! Thankfully they come together fairly quickly. I'm working on the second pair, and then just one more to go.


On another note

I put in an order for more yarn at KnitPicks this morning. (Hey - the kids were sleeping in, what do you expect me to do!) I picked up a fabulous yarn to make the previously mentioned scarf. I chose the Blue Jeans color, I think it will look gorgeous! I also picked up some WOTA (Wool of the Andes) to make some Fuzzy Feet slippers for both me (finally!!) and my hubby. I'll be sure to post some pictures when I get them done!!

Until later, knit on!!

Bags a Plenty

Can you tell what I've been doing lately? I have been on a roll with these fun bags! Originally, I started the one in the back as a "test bag" with the new pattern to determine how much yarn I would need. The green bag in the front was done with my expensive yarn. The middle bag was done with lots of bits of yarn - the base was made with the handle color of the green bag and the top green is the same as the green bag, and some misc other colors to fill. I have two more bags planned. Partly because they are fun and so easy to knit, and secondly because they are using up my stash. And as all crafters know, if you use up your stash, you get to buy more *wink*.

I planned on keeping the green bag for me, but now I'm not sure. I really like the look of the multicolored bags. Oh well - I don't have to decide right now, we'll see how the other two look when they are finished.

So on to my next project. I think it will be this lacey scarf. Or maybe these mittens - but I'd like to re-size them for my kids - we NEVER seem to have enough mittens! I'm planning another trip to my LYS, so it might be something completely different!

Knit on!