Love, Happiness, Peace, Knitting

Easter Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 23:01:00 +0000

So here it is once again Easter weekend. I do not know where the past year has gone!

Everyone will be enjoying a nice Easter Holiday with family, but unfortunately I have somewhere to be on Easter Sunday so I will not be having a nice dinner. But, that is ok. It's Thanksgiving dinner that would upset me if I were to miss it.

So as promised, I want to show you what has been going on lately in my little knitting world.

Last weekend my sister and I drove 4 hours to Pittsburgh to attend the Knit & Crochet festival held at the Weston in downtown Pittsburgh.

While there I got to look around and see lots and lots of yarn, buy lots and lots of yarn etc, and finally meet the wonderful ladies at Three Irish Girls.

My very first design was published by them back in 2010, the Virginia shawl. While it is a simple design it seems to have taken off really well with the pattern purchasers and still to this day is being knit up in different ways. While at the Three Irish Girls booth I was able to see my shawl on display knit up two ways. Here is a picture of me (in gray) and Erin when I first entered their booth holding my design.

I also scored free yarn from them, much to my surprise! I saw a beautiful hat pattern in their booth from another designer and I wanted to make it. So, I picked up the yarn and was digging out my money when I was told I would not be paying for the yarn. Designer perks I guess!

These are the colors for my hat which is named High Fidelity Hat designed by Ellen T. Andresen. The yarn are mini skeins which will be just enough to make one striped hat! Aren't the colors amazing!?

You should check out Three Irish Girls website and pick up this months club packet for Sock it to Me. It includes some beautiful yarns and a new design by yours truly.

My sister and I attended a Pj party hosted by StevenBe!

He is a character and is so warm and welcoming. I just loved him! My sister was also being filmed because he had his camera crew there and twice he picked her out. I am excited to see the end result.

That's all for now!

Happy Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 16:43:00 +0000

It's been a few days and I have some updates for you. I had an exciting time at Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet festival. I have photos and some funny stories and new yarn to share with you.

Stay tuned for an update this weekend with lots of goodies to share.

Over halfway there!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:14:00 +0000

It's Wednesday and that means two things.

#1 We are halfway through the week.

#2 I am over halfway through my pair of socks!

The weekend is going to be exciting for me as I am driving to Pittsburgh to the Knit & Crochet Festival. I am trying my best to finish a pair of crazy socks for StevenB's Pj Party that I am attending.

The second on is on the needles and I should be past the heel today. Hoping to be down the foot and finished by tomorrow!

What are you working on?

A few things on the way.

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 12:36:00 +0000

I wanted to share with you a few of the projects that I decided to keep and work on.

The first is a very lovely shawl/wrap. It is called Sonoma and is designed by Carol Sunday. You can find it on Ravelry. I found it to be so beautiful and felt that I just had to have it. The yarn I am using is Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport. It is 100% wool and so lovely to work with, it's soft and not scratchy.

The pattern is simply worked by increasing/decreasing and working a rib and at the same time changing the colors of your yarn. I decided to switch my yarn colors as I felt fit. I am very happy with the result and am very pleased with the colors I chose. What do you think?!

Next up, I found a lovely pattern at a yarn shop in central Philadelphia called Loop.

Jared Flood had his trunk show there and I instantly fell in love with a scarf and a sweater, and the best part was I got to meet Jared.

I walked out with two of his patterns (one was signed by him) and enough yarn to complete both projects. This one is called Shackleton and is designed by Michele Wang.

I did not buy as much yarn as it called for because I wanted a thinner scarf. I love the design and I love the cables. It is not a difficult pattern to work and most of all I love the yarn, Shelter. The color I chose for this is not showing up in it's true form. Some colors are really hard to capture on camera!

Happy Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 17:15:00 +0000

I have been working on a sock since the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival last year, May 2014.....

The design is quite interesting and easy to work.

The sock yarn is so soft and will be cozy on my feet when I'm finished.

I know...It's been almost a year since I started knitting them, but I am now working on closing up all projects that I have started. As I said in my last post, I was going to clean up my long list of WIP's and cut it down to only a few. I went from about 12 or 13 projects to about 6.

A few months ago I picked up a cute Bento bag from a yarn store in Philly called Loop, sooooo.....I am going to keep two projects at a time in my Bento bag and work on those exclusively until they are done, then work on the next two. That's the plan!

Here's a peek at my sock and the heel that I am over halfway closing (as of last night). I chose the orange because I thought it would be fun to make them very colorful!

The stitch pattern is a very simple k2, yo, k2, slip yo over the last k2; repeat.

Simple, yes?

And it gives great texture.

It's been awhile...

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 15:09:00 +0000

Yes it has. It has been a long time since I made any updates here.
Life has a funny way of getting in the way. Changes have been made in my life and I think I should be able to start keeping everything up to date now.

I might even start adding more content other than knitting, just to keep it interesting.

For the first good news it seems as though winter has disappeared and spring is finally here. This means I'll soon be able to get my garden tilled and ready for some veggies!

Second good news is that I have a new design published, but I cannot share it with you yet, not until April. Only a few weeks to go!

Sadly, I have taken a step back from a lot of my fiber interests such as weaving and spinning. I have sold my loom and my Ashford Traveller spinning wheel. I have a few more items to sell then it will be only me, my yarn, and needles. Trying to do so many things made me lose interest too quickly. I found that I was unable to finish one project and if I did it took me a very long time!

I am going to stick with knitting from now on. Also, I am going to go through my knitting projects because if I were to be honest, I have about 10 items on my needles. I am going to frog what I really have no interest in finishing and save the yarn for another project. I am in hopes to bring my WIP's down to two or three and push until they are done.

I have managed to start and finish a few items over the winter. I was really surprised with myself.

Here's to making headway on my goals!

I will soon be making a trip to the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival in 12 days! I am so excited to meet one of the yarn companies I have been working with over the years, and also, I will be attending the PJ party and none other than StevenBe will be there with his camera crew!

Happy knitting!

Hello again!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:36:00 +0000

I haven't exactly been that great keeping up with my blog over the past year. I have been busy going to college, working full time and taking care of the home. I decided recently to avoid burnout that I must make an effort to make time to knit.

Recently my knitting sprees have been all about socks. Now I am the type of knitter who makes some/one sock(s) then gets bored. Not this time. I have made quite the socks lately. I have yet to finish an entire pair, but I am working on that. I discovered if I make one sock, then start a different style of sock I can then go back and finish the second sock from the first pair. Right now I have five pair of socks in the making. This helps me avoid boredom and get them done. I am almost finished with an entire pair so I will be down to four in the making any day now.

Going to school to learn medicine is tough on the brain. So much to learn and the human body is ridiculously amazing! Knitting is really helping me to relax a bit more and I find myself not so stressed about the stupid amount of papers that I must write.

Currently I am knitting a pair of Jaywalkers by Grumperina. I love them!,...or it as I am just on the first one. I knit them in my new favourite yarn, Crazy Zauberball on size us1 needles.

I tried adding a photo here, but it does not work very well on the ipad. You can view my Jaywalkers on this link.

To view my Jaywalkers, click here.

American Sock Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:53:00 +0000

I am so happy to announce that the book I have a design in is now up and ready for sale; American Sock Knitting by Beth Moriarty

The pattern I chose to design for the book is Appalachian Trail Socks.

I had a lot of fun dreaming up a design for this sock, sketching it, and then choosing which stitches will make the yarn do what I have sketched on paper.

It took quite some time, but well worth the wait. I have to say that all of the designs in this book are just magnificent! (meaning the other designers, not to hype myself up) The others are truly talented designers and have done a great job in helping to come up with an idea for their sock design.

The book features recipes too! You should check out Beth's website and order yourself a copy of the book.

You can find it HERE

(Cover of book courtesy of Beth Moriarty)

I don't think I am allowed to show you what's inside, you'll have to check that out on your own, but I can show you my design that I used as a test before I knit up the pair for the book.

I really hope you take a look at the website and purchase a copy; you will be pleasantly pleased!

Kimberly D.

I've been very quiet!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:53:00 +0000

I haven't really had much to say lately as knitting has sort of taken a back seat. I am currently enrolled in college trying to make my future a bit more brighter.

The school work is overloading me which means I cannot knit.

However, I am on a 2 week break which is about to end in a matter of days. So what did I do? I picked up my needles and started a pair of socks that I have been dying to knit.

Ivy Trellis socks by Alana Dakos

As you can see I did not get very far. I only had just picked these up 6 days ago, but I do work full time and I am in the process of moving house soooo...I think I did ok so far!

I am really enjoying these. I have noticed, along with others, that the instructions for the heel are a bit odd. BUT, I do think knitting with the magic loop was part of my problem. Maybe I wouldn't have been so confused by the P1 bit at the beginning of the heel flap. I did figure out where I will need to start knitting for the top of the foot. I am off by two stitches but I figured out how to fudge it and get the sock back on track :)

I began this sock by casting on with the Italian Tubular Cast-on. I was excited to try it and it was sooo simple! It made my cuff look store bought. Though, I was a bit short on the length of my cuff, but it still works ( I got too excited to start the leg!). I started the cuff on a size 1 needle then switched to a #2 for the body of the sock. Many complained it would be too small otherwise. I went back to a #1 for the heel and as soon as that is done, back to a #2 for the rest of the foot.

American Sock Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 00:26:00 +0000

I am very excited to announce that the book American Sock Knitting is up and available for Pre-order!

I am so happy with the way everything looks and very excited to have been lucky enough to be able to take part in such a great adventure.

(The original test sock)

Go on...Click Here and have a look for yourself. So many great patterns to choose from. All come from a different state representing the area in which we live.

Below is a picture of my design Appalachian Trail Socks that is in the book. I had so much fun coming up with this design. Originally It was named something else to represent the Susquehanna river that flows through our town, but I changed my mind in the end. The process of sketching, then actually coming up with what stitches would make up my design was crazy fun. I couldn't believe how easy it all came together.

To be honest, I think a solid colored yarn would look much much nicer on these because it shows off the stitch definition, but yarn was not my choice here.

Photo courtesy of Beth Moriarty: American Sock Knitting

You can also find my newest design on Ravelry

Here are some of the details:

The Appalachian Trail is the holy grail for American hikers. As it winds its way along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine, intrepid hikers are rewarded with mountain, pasture and forest views along its 2,184 miles. Started in 1921 and built completely by private citizens, the trail is managed by the U.S. Park Service but maintained by thousands of volunteers.

Kimberly de la Cruz designed these socks with a winding trail of leafy twists and a lush, fresh color to pay tribute to the Pennsylvania section of the AT. They are too pretty to hide in hiking boots, though.

Finished Size: Adult Medium: Foot circumference 7″ (18cm); leg length to ankle 5½” (14cm); foot length 8″ (20]cm) (unstretched)

Project Gauge: 36 stitches and 50 rounds = 4” (10cm) in stockinette stitch; 45 stitches and 46 rounds = 4″ (10cm) in Winding Trail Pattern

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock (80% Superwash Merino; 20% Nylon, 435 yards/398m); 1 skein Catalpa #310

It's been a long time!

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:54:00 +0000

I haven't really been posting much on here. In fact not a lot lately at all. I am currently enrolled in college and between that, work, and kids my free time is zero. I do have some really good news though; I received an email from the publisher of the book I have a design in.

I am very excited! It will be back in the publishers hand the beginning of July and shortly after I will be able to share some details with you. This has been a long wait and I hope you like what's inside!

Kimberly D.
:)

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:09:00 +0000

Well the KAL is just about over and I have not succeeded in finishing 3 sweaters. I did get one done 100% Another one is 80% done and the third is about 20% done. Not too bad I suppose.

I could have been done had I not been weaving on my new loom!

I managed to finish a table runner. I ended up teaching myself how to weave as I had nobody here at the house nor any books. I did find some stuff online that I checked out about 3 weeks prior to owning the loom. I read it carefully and when I got the loom home I put the legs on and started measuring for the warp.

However, I do not have a warping board which made things tough, but in the end I managed to make this.

It started out as a scarf, but it was far too short and is now a table runner. I cut off all the fringe except 4 inches and it looks really nice actually!

My next project is another scarf, this time with a long enough warp, and I am going to do a tweed design.

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:12:00 +0000

So one sweater has been finished for the Luvinthemommyhood KAL

And sweater number two (or is that three?) is moving along quite nicely.

I have chosen 5200k by Suvi Simola

I am knitting with Universal Yarn Pace in the colorway Olive.

A fingering 4 ply 75% wool - 25% Nylon blend

I made a few changes already by using a Us 5 for the collar and knitting a ribbed collar

instead of the garter it called for. Then I switched to Us 6 for the body.

I am unsure if I will make any changes to the shaping of the sweater, as the last sweater I made had no shaping and I actually preferred it to the ones that did. We will see what happens.

It's moving along quick quickly for fingering thanks to the size needles. My last fingering sweater was knit on Us 2's, which would be why it took me a year and a half !!

Tonight though I think I am going to make a change of pace, I am going to spin some wool for sweater #3 of the KAL. I am almost done, but it has been waiting patiently for me to actually sit at my Ashford and spin!

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 11:32:00 +0000

So in the middle of my KAL I decided to tackle some Wip's that I had sitting on the sidelines.

This was the first.

Cruiser Mitts by Cailyn Meyer

These were made for a co-worker that I started this past winter. She was very pleased to see that I bit the bullet and finished them.

Another project that I am going to work on while my KAL is still ongoing is

TTL Mystery Sock 2012

I have one sock completed, The other I am decreasing the gusset.

I think if I keep this up I can have all my Wip's done by the end of the year!

The idea that I had was while I am spinning at home for my sweater is that I can be working on the wip's in the office in between work.

IF I am not too busy. I'm hoping for the best.

FO

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:42:00 +0000

Done!

One sweater done for my KAL challenge.

Torsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:46:00 +0000

Sweater #1

95% complete
5" of collar left to go and arm ribbing. That's it!

KAL deadline is end of September.

I still have 1/2 of another sweater to go.....

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 01:36:00 +0000

And so here we go with a little recap of my Summer Sweater KAL

I have my handspun Acer Cardigan on the left, and my Plain & Simple Pullover on the right.

So far I am still working on some singles for the Acer. It's going a bit slow as I haven't had much time for spinning. The Pullover however is making quite the progress finally!

I'll be glad to have both of these done for fall.

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:34:00 +0000

I haven't exactly been the greatest blogger as of late.

But I have been a busy bee.

Well that and I stopped knitting my cardigan so I could join a KAL!

It's probably not to late to join in if you'd like.

You can go to the Ravelry group & sign up.

I was able to join in even though I had already started a sweater. But, I had to stop where I was.

The rules were that if you had already started, then you can join, but late.

I asked if I were able to join at the start with everyone else due to my disadvantage of having to scour, card, spin & set the twist on my Romney fleece. They said yes :)

So today I get to pick it back up and start knitting.

However, I am soon out of yarn and will need to wash more fleece. I figure if I alternate between knitting till I run out & making more yarn, then I will stay interested enough to finish the sweater in a timely fashion.

Unlike the other sweater I am about to show you.

A sweater that I started May 1st 2011

Life got in the way and it became something to do in between kids, life, knitting deadlines etc.

But now that I have been waiting for the KAL to get started, I actually made headway and have started on the front top. This is where I am and where I will be stopping yet again.

It's time to work on my KAL sweater now. I am hoping by fall/winter that I will have two pretty sweaters to wear.

Måndag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:17:00 +0000

Things have been quiet around here lately.

I have been busy spinning and knitting and hiking.

I do have some progress photos which I will share later,

and some wonderful pictures from Saturdays hike.

But, for now I have work to do.....

The cast on.....

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:46:00 +0000

I've begun.

Prematurely so.

Will I regret it?

Possibly.

Do I care?

Mmmm not really.

Well I can say this...

I'm spinning really consistent and I'm checking often so I'm fairly confident I'll be alright.

However,

I'm thinking I might need to change my cast on.

I'm not so sure about it, yet I keep going, telling myself....

"It'll be fine. It'll work out"

Errmm. I'm not so sure about that.

I almost always use a specific cast on & this time I didn't.

I fear the edge might be wonky.

Will it block out?

I doubt it. UGH!!!

I really don't want to re-cast on, but I don't want to get so far then realize I wasted all that time with a crappy cast on and a horrible looking edge.

So, before I get any further than the measly 4 rows I knit already,

rip, rip, rip, rip.........

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:45:00 +0000

I can't seem to get it right.

I was spinning and spinning and thought I was getting sport weight?

No...

More of a dk/worsted.

I'm ok with that, but that means I have to change what sweater I am going to knit, again.

This is actually a good thing because what I was going to make had a lot of stockinette. I want something to keep me interested.

I have my first hank of yarn (only 188.33 yds.) and I set the twist, knit a swatch, and I got 18 sts/4" on a Us 6

That is worsted right there but I can get 20sts on a Us 5

So as long as I get gauge I can make the Acer Cardigan

I just started carding more fleece last night. I think I carded enough to get me a full spindle, then I have to keep going and going and going....

At least until I have enough yardage and then some to make this project.

Wish me luck!

Måndag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:03:00 +0000

The thing I like about Romney is its sheen.

This is the first time I have worked with this type of fleece before and I love it!

It's spinning up really well and I have to say that this is the most consistent I have ever been.

I'm getting a nice sport weight for my cardigan and I am very pleased with the first hank.

I have to soak it in the morning, a bit late right now, but soon as I hang it to dry I am going to count the yardage.

It will give me an idea of about how many spindles I will need to go.

I could have over filled my spindle and cranked it on there, but I didn't this time. For the next ones that I fill, I am going to make sure it's a really good fair amount.

I started this project on 5/15 and we are now on the 21st.

Normally it wouldn't take me so long to spin one hank, but I have been gone for the weekend on my motorcycle and I can't exactly take my wheel on the back of the bike. Though I bet that would be a sight to see!

Change of plan

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:53:00 +0000

Originally I had planned to knit a cabled sweater, and then I couldn't spin my singles up to be the right thickness. I had gotten so used to spinning fingering and lace weight yarns, that I struggle making a thicker yarn. From what I hear this is true for a lot of spinners.

I am able to spin up a sport weight yarn. This is quite the miracle for me.

So I will just change what pattern I will be knitting to suit my yarn making skills.

Larch Cardigan.

By: Amy Christoffers

I love this little number.

It's simple and it has this little panel on the chest that just...

I don't know exactly, but I love it!

What I can't decide now is do I leave the yarn I am spinning the natural creamy white color, or do I dye it and risk an uneven dye..??? It's possible. I am not a professional dyer.

It's a chance I might take.

Onsdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I am a sad, sad person.

Since I have no more deadline knitting for the time being, I have resorted to trying to finish a sweater I started....a year ago.

Yup I did say a year ago.

I took a new picture of it today, loaded it onto my Ravelry project page, and because I keep track of dates etc...It shows I have been knitting this sweater, in stockinette, for exactly 1 year and 4 days.

I have only 10 1/2" done.

I blame this on a few things.

#1 Deadline Knitting

Reason: Well I think the title explains it all. I had ~~three~~ a few deadlines in fact, so I had to set the sweater aside while I worked on those projects and the pattern writing etc etc.....

#2 Good Weather

Reason: Well in between my deadline knitting there was summer which makes me want to be outside. But it was more than just being outside in the good weather that put my sweater on hold. See #3

#3 Motorcycle

Reason: (yes that's me on my bike) If not for this ~~love of my life~~ fine piece of equipment, I would have been sitting outside in the sun knitting away on my sweater. Instead I was enjoying the breeze in my hair. Then came along deadlines #2 & #3.

So now I have resorted to taking it to work and when I have a minute to spare, I put on a few stitches. When I have a ten minute break, I add on a row or four.

When I come home from work, I am spinning my fleece for my sheep to sweater project.

So all in all by this coming fall/winter I hope to have 2 sweaters ready to wear. If I can accomplish this, then I can do anything!

Happy Knitting!

Tisdag

noreply@blogger.com (Ms. Kimba) — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:46:00 +0000

I was undecided what to do with my fleece that I had purchased from MS&W.

Should I wash it myself?

Should I take it to the mill?

My first small test batch did not wash so well and considering last year, I ended up taking it to the mill.

I decided that I would just do the same again this year.

Well last night I decided to wash a second batch, but go about things a different way and read up a bit more on it before I tried again.

Viola!!!

Success.

So I am thinking I will avoid the mill and continue on in my progress on making that sweater 100% myself.

I did the math on the cost of buying yarn for a sweater versus buying a fleece and doing it all by hand. The savings are ridiculous. The time and effort put into it is so worth it in the end for me.

Also I enjoy everything that goes into it:

Preparing, scouring, carding, spinning and knitting.

So far I have half a spindle full of singles that will be a dk weight yarn, which is perfect for the sweater I will be knitting. I only need about 1500 yds.

Oh boy, wish me luck!