Knit Into Knots

Been Awhile....

2011-07-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

I know...it really has been. I have a new precious now though... My new Toshiba ( don't ask me what it's designation is, it kicks ass and I love it, it is my precioussss.....) The new laptop and I are enjoying our new relationship. My poor gaming and darling desktop died right before my son's 5th brithday and has yet to be repaired up to my standards. Since I have needed/wanted a laptop of my very own for sometime now I saved up and aquired my new lovely. So I shall attempt to be more forth coming with my p0osting.

I have finished a new project. I shall noy bore you all with happening between February and now ( those of you who know...well...know) My lastest accompishment is the Garden Plot dress from Interweaves knits Spring of 2011. I knit it up in Naturally Carons Spa in red and white and think it's just darling...

This is of course taken while steam blocking it. I spent some time making this one. Took about 3 weeks off to do some other things... This was knit for my oldest neice Inari. I also finished the test knit from Hades ( though it is the cutest little sweater ever) for Gianna.

Be back soon..

TTFN

Knitting Without A Cable....

2011-02-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

....Needle that is! Last night the wonderful and talented cockeyed opened my eyes to the world of cabling without a cable needle. I had worked out the process in my mind but she was kind enough to give me a visual demonstration and let me tell you, everything clicked into place. No more searching for that blasted curvy needle every time I want to do a 2x2 cable. front back, left slant, right slant, I can do it all now!! Thanks cockeyed!! Of course this would have been very helpful while knitting her beautiful design Patricia but now it's going to make it soooo much faster when she get her other most beautiful designs up!

My Patricia In The Wild knit in Rowan Cocoon Billberry. So in love with Cocoon now...

Some other things I have worked on...

A sweater for my darling boy. Which he has of course already outgrown. This is a Knitting Simple pattern Childs V Neck Down Pullover in Plymouth Yarn Encore 517. This pattern is so simple and versatile that I am going to make him another on but longer in the body.

G-Bug's Caroline Cloche which is of course done and took all of a day to do. So fun with the ruffle!! I just don't have better pictures yet. I made this up in Spa from Caron. (Yes the stitch marker is made by me and is snag free!!)

There are bunches more but my camera has not been my friend lately and I keep giving tings away before I take a picture of them so that isn't helping much either. I have been doing other things though...

Stitch Markers, hand made in the Purple Deviant Studios by me and they are Snag Free!! (Shameless Plug in 3, 2, 1....)

Check them out at my new Etsy Store I have been painstakingly putting together! Tons more stuff to peruse at your pleasure and there is more to come as soon as I get this whole picture taking, lighting issues, what not sorted out! I have been a busy little bee!!

Notice how I totally didn't bring up my six month absence? Ya... That's right...gonna totally ignore that one!
Next time Belated New Year's Resolutions!! Stay Tuned!! TTFN

I Have The Drive....

2010-08-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

So just a real quick one. I am going to attempt for a longer post this week. My goal of 52 posts this year is starting to fall short. However some other things are picking up.

I finished the Icarus Shawl I have been working on. I will post more in detail about this later. i am also working on a shrug for my lovely Auntie JulieAnne for her son's wedding. I have much yarn and several projects waiting in the wings. I have also begun and hope to stick to and exercise regime that will see me actually modeling some of my knitted wonders myself as I shed poundage. So here's hoping......

It's A Sickness....

2010-08-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

I have a sickness. When I go to the library they attack me now. I can't walk through the stacks without them leaping into my library bag begging to go home and be with me during my nightly reading rituals. I have become addicted to..... knitting fiction. I don't read mystery novels per say. I am general more inclined to the scfi/fantasy epic realms of the fiction world. However since discovering this book I have found others and now am hooked on books about knitting set in a fictional atmosphere. There are even ones with a fantasy element to them, like this one. One yes, it is a sickness, and I need help. Or maybe not. What I really need is to discover a way to knit while reading at the same time and combine my two most favorite activities to be able to accomplish more! Or find a really good place to get the in MP3 format so I can knit and listen. I would love to find a Netflix like site but for audio books that I could download onto my little MP3 player. Oh how I could save time, the world would be mine!!!

TTFN

Swift Happiness...

2010-07-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

Ah....Swift Happiness.... I ordered a yarn swift from Amazon. I am super happy with it. It was inexpensive, easy to set up and a breeze to use...
I can't believe I am finally getting it all together. I just need a few more things like sock blockers, better organization....

Also I have to say that my knitting ladies helped me have a great Bday, which was last Monday, and I got more goodies!!! Some lovely Koigu yarn which I already cast on the Willamette Hop Socks with it's lovely purpleness. And I also received the wonderful Inspired Fair Isle Knits from another lovely lady, one who gave me the Purple rain for my previous Firestarters. She knows me so very well, in fact they all do. I love those lovely ladies! Thanks to you all :)

TTFN

Yarn score...

2010-07-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Score!!! Mega Score!!! Gooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!!
So for the last six months or so I have been cruising Craigslist for yarn and knitting notions, just out of curiousity. Not many people that I found who posted anything had much of anything good. And if they did they were usually in another county or too far away for me, a non-driver, to justify the attemp to get to them. Until last week. I stumbled across this posting simply stated "Yarn....lots of it..." and boy was there. At least 15 very large totes of it, a few baskets, 20-30 books, and notions including circulars, dpns, wooden straits, it was pure knitters heaven. This poor fellow's mother had unfortunately been hit with major health problems and would not be returning back to her knitting world and he was helping her clear away the clutter. She had a beautiful collection, lots of high ended stuff like Malabrigo, Blue Moon Fiber Arts ( I actually met Tina!!), Lorna's Laces, tons of stuff from Knit Picks and soooo much more. A large portion of her collection was cotton, which much of it is still available as I simply have not the room for all of it though i was very very tempted to clean him out!!

Well I cleaned 'em out pretty good....

All mine..my pretties...my...precioussssss....

I was giddy by the time I got it all home and on my floor. I scored big time and am very very grateful to the wonderful lady who put this all together. I pray her health gets better, that she and her son find peace in this world and I hope she is happy that this yarn has found a very good and loving home. Big plus is about half of it is sock yarn. Yay!!!

On another...odd note. I was at the new library the other day across the street from my apartment and while perusing the adult fiction section I ran across this book... While My Pretty One Knits. I read it in about six hours, which is strange as I usually read at night in bed now since it is difficult to hold a book and knitting needles at the same time. i really liked it. I am not much of a mystery reader but hey it was about knitting and yarn and yarn shops and was really good. There are even a few recipes, patterns and tips in the back. It appears to be the first in a knitting related series so I will be keeping my eyes out for others. Who knew that there were knitting books on the fiction shelf. Double Score!!!

TTFN

In Memoriam...

2010-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Sunday June 20th, Father's Day 2010, was the day in which I gathered my family to honor have pay respects to my father who passed away over Easter, April 14th, 2009. We gathered at the old Maronay Family plot in Sandy, OR to pay our final homage and say goodbye. The event was very solemn but very comforting too, we even had a change to spend time at the Tollgate Inn which had pictures of my ancestors on its rustic walls.The day was cold and misty but when we finally gathered, the wetness stopped and the wind stilled, seeming somehow appropriate for the activity we were commencing. My son actually behaved quite well for not knowing really what we were all doing there. My father's sisters read poems, while his wife and his son held her stoically and near the ended I provided glasses of bubble water all around for a final toast while singing an old Irish favorite...

The Parting Glass

All the money that e'er I had
I spent it in good company
And all the harm I've ever done
Alas,It was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit
To memory now,I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay.
Since it fell into my lot
that I should rise,and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

But since it fell into my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

So fill to me the parting glass

And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Goodnight and joy be to you all!

Here's to you Pops, i love you.......

TTFN

To All The Lovely Ladies....

2010-06-07T16:26:00.000-07:00

The Ladies of my knitting group are outstanding. They are phenomenal! And I think they really like me. First the lovely Trish brought me her unwanted sock yarn which found a very good home on my dpns, one shining example is the pair of Firestarters. Such beautiful things those skeins of sock yarn. Then the lovely Mary Ann and Susan donated a very large amount of yarn (from which I am still reeling). Lots of sock yarn and lace-weight and purple!!! So very happy am I! These wonderful works of fiber arts were given to me on Wednesday the 2nd of June and when I got home that night I took out a skein of autumn colored alpaca and cast on another set of the Nicholas Fingerless Gloves...

The colorway reminds me of autumn leaves and I love this pattern. Course so do many of the female members of my family.... I finished the second glove the night of June 4th. So very happy with the way they turned out. I am trying to take the left over yarn and duplicate the 5 stitch pattern and make a matching hat. They fit so very well, the first thing that I have made that fits me like a...well...a glove. I will indeed be hard pressed to part with this pair.
I have been spending a lot of time (when not at work) digging through the newest and most welcome additions to my meager stash, winding and planning. I can't decide what to do next....

I ordered and received 1200 yards of Catherine Lowe #1 merino in Chianti and despite the misleading line "Total purchase will be wound into large balls, not into individual balls of 100 yds/91 m." leading me to belive that I would get one ball totaling 1200 yards not 2 balls 'slightly over' 600 yards and despite the rather snippy email 'explaining' this to me, I do like the yarn. It is soft and yummy and I can't wait to really get to work with hit. I waited so long to get this yarn, I am planning on making the Icarus Shawl for my cousin's bride to be, who's wedding is Labor Day weekend. I feel I may have bitten off more then I can chew however as I have never worked with this fine of lace-weight nor made a shawl of this caliber before. I am hoping I can get it figured out soon since I have only 3 months to work with it. I do get to take the unused sample purchase of a 400 yard ball back to Knit Purl and exchange it for something else..... maybe something purple....

TTFN

If It's Baroque, Then Fix It!!!

2010-05-25T12:22:00.000-07:00

So when I saw this pattern I thought they were gorgeous. I could not wait to make them. I loved the twisted lines, the crisscrossing cables, the smart ribbed heel. The whole pattern is unique and exquisite. I got my hands on some Cocoa colored sock yarn, the right sized dpns. I have made two pairs of socks so far this year, with the intent they would be for me, however both socks were slightly too big for me. I thought since I made the Firestarter socks in medum I would make these sock in size small. I cast on and quickly discovered the cuff would be rather tight...so I decided to ski the second pattern round as I do like a shorter cuffed sock. Then I went on to make the sock itself. However upon completion I made this...

The little silver thing is not a quarter but it is the same size. This sock came out too small for my foot. The actual sock portion is only a half inch or so too short. But the cuff is simply too tight to really fit well over my heel but fits snuggly around my ankle. I am not sure what to do about this...I am thinking I really do need to acquire a set of 1 1/2 or 2.5mm dpns and maybe I could do the cuff section with them, then switch to the 1s. I need them anyway to do many other sock patterns but they do not carry this size that I have seen at Joann's. Then I would just extend the pattern into the instep another 6-8 rows.
So of course I will be frogging these. Yet I am forlorn to do so. I don't even want to think about it. I suppose I need to learn this Magic Loop technique I keep hearing so much about, as I have a few other patterns that say to use 2 sets of circulars but I can't seem to wrap my brain around how that works. I might even extend the cuff to the original pattern repeat called for, when I can bring my self to go back to them. This failure is making me even rethink the Firestarter socks...wondering if I should use and smaller needle or try to find a way to make them fit me better, frog them too and start from scratch. Yet that thought makes me want to pull the nearest rock over my head, throw out my dpns and never look at sock yarn again! :(

TTFN

Firestarter!!!

2010-05-20T19:02:00.000-07:00

So I completed my Firestarter socks. Remember those? They looked like this....

These were made with the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Purple Rain. I loved working with htis yarn. Not to mention I was able to meet the lovely lady who owns Blue Moon, as she is one of the wonderful women from my knitting night. These were started April 17, 2010 and finished May 9, 2010. These socks also exhibit my first gusset, which was super fun to make. My second pair of adult socks ever!! These colors are so my colors, I love purple so much!

They came out like this....

:) I am happy with them... However I am not happy with the fact my feet are not big enough for them. They came out just a bit too big, though they haven't been blocked or washed. Perhaps they shall shrink a bit then life will be sweet while I sport perfectly fitting Purple Rain Firestarters!!!

I think next time I will shorten the gusset, and thus the heel a smidgen, and maybe the leg portion by two repeats as I like my socks a little shorter. Anywho, I am working on socks #3. More updates on them soon.

TTFN

Yarn Cakes!!!

2010-05-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

Yarn Cakes Galore!!!

My lovely Auntie DiDi sent me a very lovely Mother's Day Gift. Wanna see?

It's a yarn ball winder!!!!!! Cool huh? I am so very happy! My dreams have come true! Now I can finally make yarn cakes!!! Wanna see?

From this............................................................to this!!!! (weird how they are same yarn but two different colors...)
And this!!!

Beautiful!!!!! Thank you Auntie Di Di, you are the very best!!

SOCKS!!!!! and Yoga....

2010-04-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

So I have done it! I have completed my first pair of adult (me) sized socks. It was hard, I had to recover from a brief and mild case of SSS, (Second Sock Syndrome or Single Sock Syndrome) but I over came and finished it!! I have posted it up on my Ravelry profile (CoryM) but I will post pics here for the benefit of all!

These are the Five-Stitch Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch in the Laburum pattern. I used Sensations Bamboo & Ewe from Joann's, in purple (my favorite color these days) and was very pleased. I bought two skeins and used a whole and a smidgen of the second to complete these socks. So I find that I need a good ankle sock pattern to finish up the second skein. Shouldn't be too much trouble as I have found I am in love and obsessed with socks.

I must then tip my knitterly hat to one of the lovely ladies of my knit group who caught wind of my new found love and having found she herself not so inclined in the making of foot wear passed on a great deal (score!) of sock yarn to your's truly. Thus I have begun these...

These are the Firestarter socks by Yarnissima of Ravelry in Purple Rain by Blue Moon Fiber Arts, a lovely gift by a lovely lady and I much love this yarn. It is yummy and delicious to work with. I can not wait to get my hands on more of it. Much more of it!!!

Of course though I started the sock 2 nights ago I am nearly done with the first one and will add a new picture of it in the next posting.

And of course last but certainly not least, the picture of Brie's Yoga Bag. She recieved this bag on the 10th and absolutely loved it. It turned out to be the perfect gift as the bag she was using was falling apart. What made it more perfect was the fact I had no idea of this, I merely thought when I saw the pattern and happened to have two skeins of the yarn used in my stash already I thought it perfect for her...

Seen here modeled by me. The pattern came from Inspired Cable Knits, the Tree-Pose Yoga Bag and was done in Red Heart Eco-Cotton in Linen Marl, two skeins of which I happened to have already. I bought 2 more and used one and a half of them, using the last of the fourth skein to make a face cloth to go with it. I was very happy to make this bag for her and am soon to be commissioned to make another for her mother in the future. However I am left with some concern as I have found that in knitting with cotton the knuckle of my right ring finger swells and aches somethin' fierce. But I love knitting and will perceiver in my chosen craft!!!

TTFN

A Quick Word...

2010-04-06T09:51:00.000-07:00

So I have been waiting for some sun to take pictures of my latest projects. I finished up a housewarming present and birthday present for my wonderful cousin Brie. But alas no sun and therefore I can't not take any decent pictures. So here are some teasers instead.

House Warming dish/face cloths.

Base and body of a yoga bag, which is completed I just want to model it of correctly so hopefully I will get the chance to take some good pictures before this weekend when I must ahnd them off as the present they are intended to be.
TTFN

All Hail the Internet!!!

2010-03-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Been waaaaay too long since I last posted. needless to say I have still been hard at work on knitted projects. My internet usage was down for some time making it hard to do anything it seems. Also my poor laptop has finally gone capute on me and I will no longer have it's travel worth conveince at my fingertips. Thus it is posting from the good ol' trusty desktop for me!!

To start...

Nicholas' Fingerless Gloves, found at Knitting Daily and as modeled by my lovely cousin Brie. I made these with the same yarn as the infamous poncho to go to the very same cousin, but now must get my hands on yarn for 4 more pairs as they are AWESOME!!!!

Then...

The Fuzzy Bunny!!! Birthday present for the darling Inari. I am in the midst of making a blue one for my son's birthday out of left over yarn from his baby blanket, as he fell deeply in love with this one.

And lastly....

Tiny baby socks, lots of them...

New project has pictures forthcoming. I am working on the Tree Pose Yoga Bag from Inspired Cable Knits. I am loving this book as cables are my new favorite stitch. I am also working on a pair of socks for myself but who knows when they will be done since I keep coming up with projects for other people! Until next time..ado!

Just A Quick Thing...

2010-02-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

So I didn't do it. I didn't stick to it. I started it, but then I moved on to something else. I did not work on the second sleeve. Instead I made these.

Aren't they cute? They are actually an infant size sock! Made in yarn I actually had in my stash! Good thing too they match a blanket and a baby cap made from he same yarn! Cap as modeled by one of my sons toy basketballs and blanket though not the very best picture. All in a creamy yellow, Caron Simply Soft. I really had a wonderful time making all of these. They are for the baby of another friend of mine, one I have known since she was 4 years old and is now having her first child. Sometimes it makes me feel old when people I have known as children in my teens and early twenties start having kids of their own.

I guess it shows there really is a circle of life after all. Besides, I am digging the baby stuff. It builds my confidence in my knitting ability and allows my to delude myself into thinking that I am a really fast knitter despite the fact that I have been knitting things for wee tiny babies and not full grown adults. Shh, don't tell my ego....

The boy and I also made an excursion out to enjoy the sun for a bit. We currently live in a complex spread out over a protected wetland inhabiterd by ducks, geese, and nutria. This is my son, experiencing nature...

Or rather, Nature experiencing him!

First Socks...

2010-02-20T19:56:00.000-08:00

Yay for me, I made socks! Granted they are baby socks. Or they were suppose to be baby socks. They came out more as a toddler sock, which will still work since the little one they are made for is growing fast. They were made with the Knitting Daily provided pattern Better Than Booties Baby Socks. i did not use the yarn called for in the pattern, Lorna's Laces Shepherd Socks. In fact I used Red Hearts TLC Baby which is a sport weight and I think that's why they came out as a toddler sock rather than an infant sock. Anywho, without further ado.....

The sun has been cooperating with me lately so I have been able to take some really nice pictures of my work. I had trouble on the heel, it is the same heel/toe design for every sock in the pattern and I did the Chevron Lace. However I didn't set the stitches so that the leg pattern turned out on the sides like in the original pattern, instead they lined up in the front and back of the sock so that the lacing on the instep seemed to go all the way up the leg. It is really due to the wording of the instructions and how it doesn't say anywhere that you might want to work your stitches so you start on the heel in a specific place. But hey I think they look pretty cool for being my first sock. And so does the hubby. He is really starting to get behind my knitting in a supportive sense. At least he thinks I have some talent and is willing to help indulge my current obsession to keep me happy. Good Man he is!

Also finished is this cute baby hat (pattern also at Knitting Daily here). Behold the Vine Lace Baby Hat!

Cute huh? All in the same yarn that I am using for the cardi, which has only one sleeve, the collar, and the making up to go! Off to work on second sleeve some more. I am trying to be faithful to it instead of casting on another set of socks. Also to note my laptop is down with most of my knitting pics and patterns on it, so updates of previously completed projects is forth coming slowly... Though I will still be posting just from my desktop! TTFN!

Long Time Coming...

2010-02-15T14:22:00.000-08:00

Wow I didn't think I would be off this long. Been having internet connectivity issues. My laptop has wireless but the signal has to be impeccable or it thumbs it's nose at the connection. Plus I have been running around like mad last 2 weeks taking care of a million and one personal and family issue/problems/events ect.

Anyhow, I finished Grandma's Irish Tam! Like a week ago, ha! Ya like? It still needs blocking and I am trying to figure out a blocking space to do my various blocking. I still need to block out the ~~puke pink~~ Sunset Fan Shawl for my Mom. But I have no place to block in my new apt yet so hopefully I can figure a way out soon. Luckily the Tam is for Mother's Day.

I might post again tonight with new pics. The sun is out now so I am thinking of taking a few pictures out in it for better truer lighting to show of the colors and stitches. I want to knit a bit more on my new project first.Please stay out Mr. Sun!

Tam Tam..

2010-01-31T16:57:00.000-08:00

So my project monogamy has failed... I have cast on this...

An Irish Aran Tam made knit with a fisherman's wool my grandmother brought back from

Scotland

30+ years ago. I made her a sweater for her birthday last year with this same yarn, and the Tam is to go with it for Mother's Day. I do not have pictures of the sweater and when I do get them I will tell you the story of the commissioning and accomplishing of said sweater. But that is a story for another day. I am enjoying the Tam ( pattern found at Ravelry) but fear it will be put aside as once I reach row 24 I will need to switch to a set of dpns which I am sorely lacking. I have none, any any size and find that I need them desperately if I am to branch out of my sweater scarf and shawl world and start making socks and cute baby booties and what-nots that require the tiniest of needles, pointed at both ends and flocking in packs of 4-5.

Meanwhile, the Cardi continues...

Front, back, and full fold out RS facing respectively. I have really enjoyed this pattern though it took so finagling to figure it out around the neck shaping for the right and left sides. But I think I got it now. I am on sleeve1 and praying once it is done I will not be hit with SSS (Second Sleeve Syndrome) and be able to finish this is in a timely manner. At least before the child it's intended for out grows it. There is still the sleev and a half to finish then the collar the making up and the blocking though I am not entirely sure which to do first the making or the blocking. The pattern can be found at here the Knit Jacket & Hat.

I am still trying to figure out how to work the pics and text layout on this here bloggin' thingie.. Hopefully I will have it figured soon. TTFN

Cardi Party...

2010-01-25T21:56:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to slap up a short up date on the project I have going now. Though I am driving away the inclinations to cast on a ne wproject as I only have one going right now, I am still really loving this current project.

In other news the 5th skein of sunset came! I will be finishing the Fan Shawl shortly! Yeah for free yarn.

Also if you haven't yet or already have find me at Ravelry. Evening!!

Cabled Obsessions....

2010-01-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

I have started a new project. I cast it on the night before last having gone through my meager stash, scouring the internet for the perfect pattern once I decided what yarn to work with. Of course this pattern had to be easy enough for me to understand on my own, had to be close to the right kind of yarn I wanted to work with and of course the materials required had to be in my notions. Thankfully after hours of searching I found the perfect pattern. An inspiring set of stitches, not to complicated that I would want to run screaming into the night and I found that even when I hit a snag in the wording of the instructions I only had to reread it 15 times before it finally clicked. Good thing I had decided to read ahead before I got to this spot or I might have been brought to tears. (Note to self, knitting late at night brings it's own challenges not the least of which is decreases in cognitive abilities!)

So after casting on, knitting for two hours late at night and one full day of knitting ( not that I was actullay able to knit more then maybe an hour or three the whole day!) this is what I have so far...

See the cables! I love cables!! This is my first time ever knitting them, using a cable needle and everything! And love it!! I have been dying to try cableing forever now and when I saw the pattern called for them I just flipped. I even showed my DH the first cabled twist where dutifully said 'That's interesting,' then last night I ran into the kitchen while he was fixing dinner (that's right, he cooks occasionally and is very very good at it ;) ) and showed him how they looked as they twisted up the worked piece. This time I got a rather enthusiastic 'That's really cool looking!' He is so good. Ha!
I LOVE CABLES!

For the Love of Yarn....

2010-01-19T20:49:00.000-08:00

Okay.... you see the little pink squiggly bit of yarn above the needles? That's the last of the yarn dangling there. And guess where I am in the border... That's right half way through row 5. How many rows in the border again, you ask? That's right...5. In garter stitch. Nothing fancy, just knitting endlessly for 5 rows. So I need yarn for one half of a row and a bind off. Maybe 5 yards, 10? And as we covered in the previous post, if I were to aquire a new skein of puke pink sunset yarn, that would be another 170 or so yards of puke pink sunset yarn left over... Crap.

Well I sent off the last of the labels I had for the Caron Yarn Giveaway and one can only hope that I receive one more skein of puke pink sunset. What I am going to do with the left over yarn I haven't a clue. Suggestions? I need a new project. I need more yarn. Much more yarn. I wonder if I could get a job at the local yarn store and take payment in yarn, needles, and notions....

To Knit Or Not To Knit....

2010-01-17T12:44:00.000-08:00

So a short post to day. An update on the fan shawl.

I finished the last half module with a sigh of relief last night. The top of each half module (8 in all) ends in 10 stitches that you put on a 'string' to use as a stitch holder. then with right side facing, you start on the right edge of the right module and pick and knit 14 stitches, then the 10, then 14 more, giving you 38 across the top of each half module. YEAH RIGHT! Considering there were 19 rows to the half module, deciding where to pick up 14 on either side of those lovely 10 just hanging out there, is enough to cause one to chuck this pile of puke pink crap and it's poorly written pattern in the road and dance and cackle with glee as every speedy car hits it over and over for its impudence and thwarty, non sunset colors. so after fighting with the first module's unrulyness I simply picked up what stitches I thought looked appropriate, plus the blasted 10 just laughing at me by this point, and merrily knit along the row until I had pick up the whole at least half the shawl. Then I looked at my needle and had a strange thought. Mind you it was about 11pm at this point and I was working by the light of my tv and laptop ( don't ask why I didn't just get up and turn on a light) when it struck me that I wouldn't be able to get however many 38 x 8 should have been and knowing there were way more stitches then that, onto my size 6 straight needle. Wait, size 6. $%#@!!!! Stupid damn, non sunset colored shawl. Of course the pattern clearly calls for a size 5 CIRCULAR needle by this point. Forehead smacking, cursing and fist shaking moment over, I camly pull out the wonderful Boye Needlemaster I swiped from my mom for the foreseeable future, put together the size 5 and since it was a circular I wsa able to save myself from frogging the whole thing and slipped the stitches onto the correct needle and worked to the end. Then I turned the thing over and knit the first row of 5 for the garter stitch border, threw it down in disgust for the night and watched Sanctuary, the Kail episode. That's rigth I like SciFi, all SciFi, I have seen Ice Pirates ( I dare you to google that one) and liked it.
I am sure that you can see how little of the fourth skein I have left. I am filled with trepidation at the thought that I will need to aquire a fifth skein to complete the four rows and bind off that I have left of this shawl. I am sure that with there being 185yds per skein I will be left with over 150yds of puke pink sunset yarn. Yay... Next will have pics of the after block puke pink pile of crap which will if all things go right appear like a lovely Sunset Fan Shawl.

For Those Less Fortunate

2010-01-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

I would like to take a moment for those who have been devastated by yesterday's earthquake in Haiti. Latest reports this evening put the casualty toll near half a million, with hundreds of thousands of others missing homeless and separated from their loved ones and billions in damage in an already economically poor nation. The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and other foundations including a group of local Beaverton Missionaries who were in Port au Prince when disaster struck, are set up to provide relief in every kind of troubled time and are accepting donations of many kinds, from money, to medicine, volunteers, food, clothing and much more. If you can find it in your heart to give any amount of aid to one of these organizations or find a way to give in your own community, things like this could go miles in the direction of people doing good to people for the right reasons.

As my personal knitting hero The Yarn Harlot lays it out here far more eloquently then I ever could, go give, get good karma!. She is also the founder of Knitters Without Borders, done so with the aid of a family member who works for MSF or Doctors Without Borders (link provided above) in response to the tsunami disaster on December 26th 2004. She asks (and I totally agree) that any donations made to MSF or DWB be made to their emergency funds of general relief funds so that it can be applied where it is most needed. More info can be had at the links I have provided above.

I know this seems like a rushed post slapped together with other peoples links but I am merely trying to spread the word as best I can. Pleasepleaseplease, I know that times are super tough and everyone is struggling but if all you can provide is a prayer for those people who are suffering, be it in Haiti or Darfur or Downtown it will go a long way.

Eventually I will think of a way to make this into a button link to the TSF/KWB FAQ page!

Ode to the Yarn Harlot...

2010-01-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

"If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action. -Douglas Admas

People knit for their own reasons, but some of the most intense knitters I know are ones who used it to help them quit smoking. It's a perfect plan, really; knitting keeps your hands busy, and its relaxing and repetitive enough to hold off most of the urges to smoke. you get to spend your cigarette money on yarn, a powerful motivator, and two weeks after you quit you have four sweaters, three hats, and several really big afghans.

Knitting can be a useful tool for self-improvement."

The above is an exerpt from At Knits End: Meditation for Women Who Knit Too Much (link from amazon for conveince purposes) Page 280, written by my personal knitting hero, The Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. (If you see this Ms. Harlot, please note I hope I have made all the appropriate linkage back to you and where your most worthy credit is do :) ) I stumbled across this book while at the library looking for (yes you guessed it) knitting books I haven't read yet. I have a profile over at GoodReads and when I enetered this book into my read shelf I discovered a clip of The Yarn Harlot having been here in NW Oregon and since I was hooked I followed links provided and stumbled (again) across her most esteemed blog (link provided above) I have been to the library again for what ever they have of hers available and am diligently working my way through her past arcives to catch up to her most recent adventures.

Besides spreading the word of the Great Yarn Harlot, the reason for which I share this with you is that of all the wonderful quotes, observations and amusing stories in that fun little book, the one above struck me the most as it hit VERY close to home for me. (Also I really love that line from Hitchhiker's Guide)

It was a typical, mid November night in AZ, 2002. I was visiting my folks for 2 weeks and while there I got the bright idea I would quit smoking. Yeah I know, stuck with the rents for 2 weeks over the holidays in the middle of the freaking desert a hundred miles from nowhere ain't bad enough. Bring on the misery. I had come prepared with a bag of watermelon jolly ranchers but a few days in with no cigarettes and I was ready to crawl the walls. But I was committed, I wanted to quit! I went to my mom and said, "I need something for my hands to do!" My mouth was busy working through the bag of hard candy but my hands were empty and fidgeting. She was working on a crochet blanket for my brother so she suggested that I give that a try. Crochet? Really? There isn't anything I hate more than crochet! I am a tight knitter so imagine how taught my crochet comes out. Very bad stuff. She handed my some yarn, a pair of size 11 boye knitting needles and proceeded to teach me the very simple ripple pattern. After only a few rows I was hooked and at the end of the two weeks I was smoke free!

I didn't quite finish that balnket (partly since my mom wouldn't let me have the needles) so I bought my own yarn and notions and while still able to remember the pattern I knit up my own ripple afghan. Needless to say I fell in love with knitting and find now that I am completely obsessed with it. While I am still learning (everything it seems like) I find I can't get enough info, patterns, tips, techniques, magazines, books, ect. Thank you Yarn Harlot for being who you are and reminding me I am not the only one! I promise once I catch up in the archives I will post a comment/email on your wonderful and most helpful blog!

Busy Busy...

2010-01-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

So here is the Fan Shawl so far...

I haven't had much time to work on it the last few days. Needless to say I will be casting on #21 of the fan modules tonight.
For those wanting to know more about the yarn I am using, it is Caron's Country in Sunset. Country is a 25% Merino Wool, 75% Microdenier acrylic blend multi-ply that is smooth and soft if a little bit splity. Now while Sunset neither reminds me of a sunset nor is a color I would have chosen, Country does come in 23 other yummy colors. How did I come by this yarn, you ask? Well check this out. I actually came across this while surfing my Facebook page. I just happened to have the labels they asked for and received 4 skeins all in Sunset. I actually found labels for one more skein that I sent off Tuesday so we'll see what color comes next :). Course now I hope it's the Sunset since I think I need one more skein.

I finished up and delivered the Basket Weave Baby Blanket for my friend G's soon to be born baby girl (she is trying to get here a lot soon then her mama is ready for :) ). While visiting with G, I snapped a picture of both the new baby's blankie and her big sister's as well.

New baby's Basket Weave..

and Big Sis' Warm Bundle

I love knitting baby blankets, I have 2 more I need to finish the edges on. Afghans are a fave of mine as well, my first project was a Ripple Afghan. But that is a story for another day.....