Fairie_Knits

A new home

2008-02-20T14:09:00.000-08:00

I have a new home! I am excited to announce that I have moved the blog to www.fairieknits.com/blog. That's right, I have my own site. I will be rewriting the feed from this blog to the other over the next few days (as soon as I 1. have time and 2. figure it out) but you are welcome to just come over and subscribe that way. I will be posting my first post over there starting with today's WIP Wednesday post.

I have moved all of the blog posts from here over to the new site, so everything is in one place.

We aren't quite finished with the site yet, but Dani is wonderful and working on it with me! YAYAYAY! This has been a long time coming.

WWW.FAIRIEKNITS.COM/blog

uh

2008-02-18T17:11:00.001-08:00

Well, I am in VA. The cord to my camera is at home.

And I don't have anything really anyway other than cute alpaca pics.

And tomorrow there will not be any masters swatches because I am sitting in the hotel and I am exhausted. I am thinking that I will eat dinner and pass out. I left home at 7, drove up, worked through lunch, left at 5:30, came to the hotel, checked in, changed, went to the hotel gym and worked out, came back and did some stuff online, ordered dinner and showered. now...well, I think there will be no knitting at all tonight. sad, but true.

Jack's a good boy!

2008-02-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

Jack, a great Pyr, needs help! He needs to have surgery because sadly he was neglected a bit by a previous owner. In return for your donation toward his $8000 in surgery costs, there are fabulous prizes from The Merlin Tree.

As of 2/12 - they have raised $1500 - which is a great relief to his owners, but we can help! For every $10 you donate you are entered into a prize drawing - and if you help spread the word, more prizes will be thrown in the pot (read about it on the blog for full details). I don't have a lot of extra money at the moment (though I will have a little more soon - yippee - I got a raise!!!) but I sent them a little something and I hope that if you have a couple extra dollars you will think about it too! There is a prize drawing TOMORROW and one of the prizes is The Hitchhiker (I don't need another wheel but I WANT one of these!)! WEEEEE!!!!

Head over and read about Jack and maybe take a moment to help him out!

A great pattern for a good cause!

2008-02-13T08:34:00.001-08:00

One of the bloggers I follow, Skyline Chilly, has designed an awesome sock pattern to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (go to her blog entry to see the pics since I don't wanna steal hers!).

For a $5 donation, you get this pattern and the knowledge that you are helping to fund research and education for this disease. You all know how important research and education are to me personally to find a cure for lupus and if I can help others, I am right there!

If you would like to help spread the word, you can! Check out how on Skyline Chilly's blog - and she has a contest going for helping spread the word! Do a good thing and win prizes - what could be better??? Oh, yeah, more knitting time!!!

hmmm...I wonder if I can CO just one more project this week...

Miles to go...

2008-02-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

OK - not really - I have actually finished a few things this week, so you will be seeing them soon. Of course if the rest of February is like January it could be June, but I am trying.

Butterfly has a collar. All it needs are seams.

I have some more work done on the armwarmers I am designing.

I started a pair of felted clogs for a KAL. Here we have clog one knit, but the second sole isn't joined yet.

Cables and colors

2008-02-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

Three more...I have no idea how many that makes. 12 I think. So that leaves 4 to go and a hat!

Hats for Alex

2008-02-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

Handspun Monday is being interrupted to bring you this Public Service announcement.

Hats for Alex needs you! Yes, you! Got an hour or two to knock out a little knit or crochet project? Well, knit a hat for a little one! Alex was a sweet boy who should still be with us, but sadly, isn't. The kind people at the Omaha Children's Hospital did all they could for little Alex. In thanks, Pam has been heading up Hats for Alex.

This year, the Fairieknits podcast (shut up a podcast IS coming) is proud to support Hats for Alex as the official charity. Pam is having contests and all sorts of fun stuff this year.

Hats must be machine washable and for any any child size head. Not just babies.

The Charlotte knitters are already in on this - here are hats from Cristi, Corey and me. And May and Dani have sent hats as well already! (So 18 from Charlotte so far that I know of!!)

Even Calvin is in on the fun!

NIT HATZ NAO! KTHXBAI!

My goal for this year is to knit 2 hats per month and get them off to hats for Alex. If you are wondering - I am knitting 3 of the same hats each month and they will be in Ravelry if you want to see which ones I am knitting up. This month I knit the Baby Squash Hat from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders (or whatever it is...I am far too lazy to look at the moment).

Also - if you want to knit for your community specifically, contact Pam - Hats for Alex can go to any hospital and count toward the goal if you contact her and set something up for your community.

this is such a small kindness that means so much to families who have their little ones in the hospital and I encourage you to join in. For those of you going to SAFF, I would like to propose that we do this for this year and donate the hats to an area hospital.

Not your basic black!

2008-02-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

When J.P. was in town over the weekend, he brought a little something to me. And it is too pretty not to share!

Cristi, J.P. and I put in an order with BMFA and had it delivered to him with the promise that he would hand deliver it.

And wow is all I can say. I got the silk thread in the Ravens colorway Tlingit which has hot pinks and chartruese with blacks over it and the greens and pinks just POP under!

In some lights it looks black...

then the tiniest movement and you get the pinks and purples and greens!

I have wanted to knit the Icarus shawl for awhile and I think that this may be the yarn for it, though I am open to suggestions.

Because this yarn is too pretty to sit in my stash for long.

Where's the knitting??

2008-02-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

There isn't any! Well, there is a very tiny bit and a couple FOs (I guess I could post one of those today) but following my lovely incident and the welcoming of Stitchy, I haven't done any knitting. Seriously. None. Not a bit. I have been typing for work, but I have been resting my poor stitched up finger. That ends tonight though (I hope!).

Say hello to my little friend

2008-02-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

I reserve Monday nights for Masters knitting. It keeps me focused on the project to block a few hours a week for it. Last night was no different.

But why is there only one swatch? Well, as I was finishing up this one, my phone rang and I figured it was a good time to get a glass of wine. So I opened the drawer where the cork screw lives and had a little accident. See that?

Let's look a little closer.

Don't let the innocent look fool you! That is The Potato Peeler of DOOM! Apparently Ninja Swordmakers honed the blade of this peeler with amazing precision and skill. I barely touched the damn thing! Of course this happened 5 minutes AFTER the Urgent Care by the house closed. While most people would slap a bandaid on it and hope for the best, I have an allergy to the adhesive they use, so I slapped one on anyway and off to the ER I went. Lisa was kind enough to meet me there and keep me company while I waited. Many hours, one stitch and a tetanus shot later...

and now Bloody Finger has a friend. Stitchy says, "hello!" I can still knit. But I did get the stitch without numbing because the digital block it painful in and of itself (I had one once, it really is). It hurt like hell (and remember I just got a tongue piercing) but I pushed through it.

While at the hospital we witnessed a human behavior at its lowest. A patient who didn't want to wait her turn was bullying and threatening the staff at the desk. She eventually left and went to another hospital. I was wondering if I should find security at one point as she yelled about how much pain she was in and she was going to put them in that pain and see if they got help. It was out of line. There were a lot of people there. None who were bleeding (other than me and the pressure bandage and bandaid stopped that pretty well) or actively dying (including her) so we all had to wait our turn ( did I mention I saw her come in, so it was after I got there). People are mean and stupid. Those ladies were nice and offered to help me fill stuff out since I am right handed and my right middle finger is jacked up). I wanted to kick her in the knee just because.

New class!

2008-02-04T12:44:00.000-08:00

I have no handspun for you. It was a busy weekend and I had no spinning time. What I have instead is a bit of an announcement.

The first Saturday in March (whatever day that is) from 9-11 I will be teaching a class on Double Knitting at Charlotte Yarn! We will be learning two different ways to start your project, knitting, purling, increasing, decreasing and casting off. There will be a swatch and a project!

This is a quick knit project. I CO and finished it while hanging out on Sunday.

Pattern: Learn to Double Knit Washcloth by me
Yarn: Misson Falls 1894 Cotton - 2 colors about a half ball each
Needles: Size 7

(uh, I have some other FOs to post...it seems like I haven't been knitting or something based on the number of finished items I have posted this year - NONE until now!)

The Plus One Addition

2008-02-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is Saturday - shut up. We had stuff to do with JP arriving and my camera battery needing a charge.

But it worked out as the plus one addition because this skein of yarn is really 2!

Duet Sock Yarn from A Swell Yarn Shop in the Skinny!

450 Yards of yummy superwash merino goodness!!! There is a mini skein to make a solid heel and toe!

This is Steel Heart purchased at The Loopy Ewe!

This is just a beautiful and super smooshy yarn! I don't know why I haven't cast it on yet!

Now, excuse me please I have yarn to drool over.

uhh...

2008-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

let's see...

Butterfly has 2 sleeves and a picked up collar. (tonight at knitting after these pics were taken I knit a couple inches, realized there was an error and ripped it back so it looks just like this again.

Pagoda has 3 more repeats.

I started a double knit hat.

I started and frogged a double knit sample.

I frogged Tiger Eye.

It's all about the eyes!

2008-01-29T17:33:00.000-08:00

Eyelets that is!

This week I did the 3 Increase pattern swatches. 2 of them are identical in what they create, but they use different mirrored decreases to get there, so it is fun to see them come together and compare the two - which is the point.

8 of 16 swatches knit!

Handspinning goodies

2008-01-28T20:07:00.001-08:00

Awhile back I donated to Spin Out. I did it because it is a good thing to do - as a bonus I won one of the prizes! They got here this weekend!

Thank you to SpinOff and Soak for sponsoring the event AND for providing prizes!

First there is BABY ALPACA!!! yummy! 4 oz from Chameleon Colorworks.

Funky Carolina Falkland - 4 oz - and colorway Eep Ork! I have been coveting her fiber for awhile and this is my first. I want to spin it RIGHT NOW!! (Forgive my laziness of not taking this out of the package - busy busy day!)

Beth provided this beautiful superwash merino in crap I forgot what the colorway name is and I am again too lazy to go over there!

As you can see I already started spinning that pink goodness on my new Don't Drop Spindle. This thing is LIGHT! I am so glad I got that Bosworth last week so that I had some idea that I could in fact spin...you can see my progress as I got used to it.

This prize is FANTASTIC and what I would like the Lupus Walk prizes to someday be - bigger, better and more FANTASTIC (if you are wondering, I have almost all of them sent out - I spent something like $25 on shipping last week and need to wait until the next pay check to do the rest - hopefully I can get the rest out in the next go!)

Shaken with Three Olives!

2008-01-25T13:03:00.000-08:00

Yarn Pirate Kalamata (you know like the olives...shut up, I know they aren't the ones you put in martinis, that isn't the point, I needed a title! LOOK MORE YARN!)

Brown, green and this gorgeous purple!

I think I had a moment with this yarn and browns aren't really my thing, but this green and purple and oh MY WORD!

Superwash merino...yummy!

*drools*

Once again the Booty club delivers! (sign ups open again in Mid-March if you are interested - and NO, I don't plan to give up my spot!)

Pink Pr0n!

2008-01-24T11:18:00.001-08:00

Over on Ravelry I mod a group for Pink Lovers! Think Pink! had a little swap and I got my package today!

Look at this box of goodies!!!!

A cute pink pad! LOOK there are knitting needles on that card!!! Fairy Food! And CHOCOLATE - the other fairie food!!!!

A yummy french milled soap! A stress relief aromatherpy set (oh yeah, I need stress relief big time!) and a beautiful butterfly pin!!

Peppermint Cane Tea (my fav!!!!) in a pink tin!!!

The wrappings were beautiful too!!! fabrics and tissue paper and wrapping papers!

Then, there was the super fun reveal! A cute card! and an egg with a message inside! A beautiful pink REAL EGG!

Which I smashed!! Thank you so much bittersweetkt!!! You are the best pal ever!

Oh, wait...I didn't show you the YARN!! silly me!!!

Misty Alpaca chunky!!!!

I almost bought a skein of this yarn last weekend! This exact color! I am in love!!!

2 skeins of Nature's Palatte in Coral. Oh wow, this is nice and pretty and I am in love!! And this will make GREAT socks!

And a little something to remind me of her home - Colorado! Red Rocks Fiber Farm!

She has fingerless mits in mind for this yarn!

It is so yummy and the colors are so perfect!

I don't think that this package could have been better! This is the most perfect thing EVER! I mean I love it! Beautiful. I should mention the cute birthday card I got, which I suddenly can't find to include a pic of! And a thank you to Alyson who helped with color choices. She does know me well!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the best pal! You spoiled me rotten and I am so happy! I hope now that you are revealed to me we can become friends cause you ROCK!

Fragments

2008-01-23T17:55:00.001-08:00

I feel like I haven't done any knitting in the last week...and I think it shows.

Butterfly is almost done with sleeve 2 - we are in the sleeve cap now.

Pagoda Lace socks have heels - do at least you can see the progress.

I started a hat for a special teeny tiny baby who needs a warm hat! If I knit anything today it will be to finish it.

And I started work on a new design project.

I have a FO post that I might put up tomorrow. Who knows. I have to be honest, I am tired and not feeling all that well these days. Blame work stress, the cold weather, the lupus, whatever, but I am tired. In fact I have been napping every day after work and skipped knitting tonight in favor of a nap :( - no fun.

The decreases

2008-01-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

I knit 2 of the 3 decrease swatches for this week. Next week I plan to have the YO swatches finished. I am kind of skipping around, but not...

5/16 swatches done...I need to weave in ends and block them, but I plan to do that when I get to swatch number 8.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby!

2008-01-21T15:53:00.000-08:00

While the rest of North Carolina was holed up in their warm homes waiting for snow, Cristi and I trekked up to Greensboro with vision of fiber dancing in our heads! Spinners Ridge (which I have previously spoken very fondly of) called and we couldn't resist.

Once there, we met up with Corey, her mom and Gannet. there are no pictures to prove it. Get over it. There was a lot of fiber to be touched.

And then there were drop spindles and I said "Tina, are these (pointing at the Louets and Ashfords) all you have??" Why no, no they weren't. A Bosworth spindle of prettiness and some roving that looks like cotton candy later...

(excuse the bad pics, I had to go to the office today so I missed the sunlight as I was in before it was up and home after it was down!)

And then I got a quick spinning lesson and actually spun on a spindle. I seriously got rid of my other one because I couldn't get it - this one...ooooo....

Roses are always nice!

2008-01-18T15:07:00.000-08:00

At least if it is the Ash and Roses colorway of Seacoast Handpaint Panda!

I gifted a skein of this in another colorway to Cristi for her birthday and really needed to have some of my own after touching it.

But I was a good girl and I waited...

Then I saw it was in stock at the Loppy Ewe awhile back and had to have it.

This is just gorgeous and it is sooooo nice to work with. I have been petting and loving this skein for awhile now and was just to selfish to share!

A few shades of pink and this beautiful silvery gray are just fantastic together!

Apparently Eva has been loving it too...excuse the cat hair!

oh no!

2008-01-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

I sort of fell down this week and had a little spell of castonitis...

first - I don't remember how much I had done on this sleeve last week...I think I am halfway done with it but I haven't touched it in days.

then there is the pair of socks I CO. yeah. Pair. Cause I taught myself to knit 2 socks on magic loop toe up.

and then there is the Ravelry Helpers KAL that they forced me into. Tiger Eye Lace Scarf. I love the yarn, I love the colorway, I love the thought of the colorway with the tigers eye - cause it sort of makes me think of a tiger in the grass.

I am not so sure I love the yarn with the pattern though...

Tech Tuesday

2008-01-15T18:20:00.000-08:00

Awhile back I mentioned I got the Masters Program for Knitting Level I from TKGA. So, I have finally started it and would like to finish it before April.

In order to keep myself accountable for this, I am working with Erin and will be blogging my progress on Tuesdays. Today I am showing you swatches one through three. YIPEE. I think there are 17 total and also there is a hat and some written info. As I finish things I will keep up AND I will share new things I learn as I go.

Cherry Blossoms

2008-01-11T10:11:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a skein of Cherry Tree Hill's Cherry Blossom from The Loopy Ewe.

340 yards of Superwash Merino in Supersock DK.

I haven't worked with the DK weight of this yarn, so I am thrilled. I originally wanted it in the sockittome, but I waited too long.

This is beautiful. I love it. I have this thing about cherry blossoms anyway and I have a new tattoo design in my head that incorporates cherry blossoms.

Not sure what this will turn in to, but I can't wait to find out!

Shoulders Arms and toes

2008-01-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

Shoulders - I dropped the first stitches on jeanie.

Arms - finished the first sleeve and started the second for butterfly.

Toes - I have half a foot. I would have more, but I ripped out 3" of sock this week.