tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146154002024-03-07T15:31:44.639-08:00...I'm tinkingThe trials and tribulations of knitting, molecular biology and oil.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-19652967175990964492010-03-25T09:40:00.000-07:002010-03-25T10:28:58.318-07:00Rear Window<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlvBf0bqGMJb3lf1qIL6NbBs6dFnzS4OxlFzb-gqHiEXj7NYEG5mRXCdqTcda0WKic-V1bqRjmePEOGn8jXHKLGYXN23hoeqVxi6CWAhyphenhyphen7AadDlFmmJh-WYnaP7Uf8F2aknDz/s1600/rear+window.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlvBf0bqGMJb3lf1qIL6NbBs6dFnzS4OxlFzb-gqHiEXj7NYEG5mRXCdqTcda0WKic-V1bqRjmePEOGn8jXHKLGYXN23hoeqVxi6CWAhyphenhyphen7AadDlFmmJh-WYnaP7Uf8F2aknDz/s320/rear+window.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452621184033575794" /></a>So, here is my rear window. Isn't it a happy window? It looks out into our backyard. Right now, the backyard is a vision of green... with oxalis stricta.<div><br /></div><div>You can't see it through the window, but we've unfortunately have a toilet in the back yard too. With the weeds, I guess the contractor forgot to take it. Nor do you see all the other junk in the back yard. What you can see is the 2 doors we had removed during our remodel, and the chair that one of the workers had out there when he ate lunch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to use a smaller linen thread than what was used for the front window (because it arrived after I started the Steinrose curtains for the front of course).</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm now at the first of many many leaves. This is a very straight forward pattern (as all Nieblings are). After I finish the first set of leaves, I'll block and calculate how many more leaf sets I'll do before the funky flowers.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOnlOz2I58DIWclfVw6psnrPHw4t2MaoOlm8-n-lOQZgzz8eEIY6L2zTEGNE0q7E4ynnTRQq6vkH2b6f0GpnYoWlkjORtcjfUmCDT1cZqUvus9v3ypSETqh-fnGfpx9XZgRZR/s1600/curtains+2+progress+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOnlOz2I58DIWclfVw6psnrPHw4t2MaoOlm8-n-lOQZgzz8eEIY6L2zTEGNE0q7E4ynnTRQq6vkH2b6f0GpnYoWlkjORtcjfUmCDT1cZqUvus9v3ypSETqh-fnGfpx9XZgRZR/s320/curtains+2+progress+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452620897669702850" /></a><br /><div>Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely love coned yarn/thread? Love it! How many yards are on this cone? More than you or I can imagine...Okay, so, it's 25 Lea (I forgot and had to double check). I've got over a pound of this thread, so, I have over 8000 yds of this. I can make curtains til the cows come home.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, here's my front window, looking out. Why yes, it does make me happy. </div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr8eH7XM91xbO0Tl8QkEnVtsMHJ0YYidDK4szJK2P6gY2TKl7FoYxaibkke4prM7PozPAcdBLcvLRLeU8_DvHPOAZQOTnTbqS2kj-Y9jaqoIvRlE3k3UF7_liWIrtZLaHSnDa/s1600/curtains+1+up.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr8eH7XM91xbO0Tl8QkEnVtsMHJ0YYidDK4szJK2P6gY2TKl7FoYxaibkke4prM7PozPAcdBLcvLRLeU8_DvHPOAZQOTnTbqS2kj-Y9jaqoIvRlE3k3UF7_liWIrtZLaHSnDa/s320/curtains+1+up.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452618087579905394" /></a><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-76949522892054346002010-03-16T23:31:00.000-07:002010-03-16T23:41:00.694-07:00Curtain #2I'm embarking on a new knitting project. Yay. It's the back door curtains. I have been checking out the Ikea curtains, and have decided that I shall instead knit this for the home. I'm doing the Teerose curtains from Burda Special E418.<div><br /></div><div>I also decided to use even finer Irish linen (ebay). It's 20 Lea. So, doing the handy dandy conversion (1Lea=300yd/lb) equals 6000yds/lb...which to my eye, feels like a #80 thread? Much thinner than what I used for the front door curtains. But all's well. </div><div><br /></div><div>My swatch was 20stitches/3 inches, so I should be able to do 3 complete flowers for this curtain.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cast on 180 +14 stitches using #0 needles.</div><div><br /></div><div>Knit a few rows of stockinette, and I'm ready to rumble.</div><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-30852397836629987582010-03-11T21:32:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:33:13.826-08:00Eyeballs!I have a goofy daughter. We call her Creature...well...because she is.<div><br /></div><div>I love her dearly. She's super funny. Her most recent 'word of choice' is yep "Eyeballs". For some strange reason, the utterance of that word results in reducing a gaggle of 3-4 year olds to fits of giggles.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't get it. But here's an example. She goes to dance class, and part of the warm-up routine is that they sit and pretend to build a pizza. Things like rolling out the dough, putting cheese on, spreading sauce, putting on toppings, etc. This way, the kids get a little stretched out and limber as they pretend to do these things. Anyway, the instructor asks each child what they want on their pizza...</div><div><br /></div><div>Child One: cheese!</div><div>Child Two: pepperoni!</div><div>Child Three: cupcake! (hey, I get it)</div><div><br /></div><div>Creature: Eyeballs!</div><div><br /></div><div>Which then sends all the little girls into fits of laughter and a whole bunch of rolling around on the ground. Then, all the other girls around the circle want eyeballs too...(yep)...yes, that's <i>my</i> child.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, anywhoo... yes. knitting. I saw the Polka Dot Alien Hat pattern and I just knew I needed to make it for the Creature. In Purple, of course.</div><div><br /></div><div>I looked at the pattern, and decided I can do this. Just your normal hat using Thick and Bulky. Cast on 56 stitches and knit a normal hat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then came the eyeballs. Well. It said to knit I-cords and then break yarn and then knit the eyeball part (snooze...I lost interest at that point and decided I can do it myself).</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, my hack is to knit them 2 at a time so that if they're wrong, at least they're both equally wrong. Knit 2 inches of I-cord, then increased in each stitch to go from 4 to 8 stitches. A row of knit, then knit1, inc1...kn2, inc1...til I tested the eyeball (aka pingpong ball) to fit. Cast off 3 stitches and knit back and forth, reconnected the round and decreased.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sewed the eyeballs on, and ta da! Eyeball hat!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbPnXwQbcHcc38D9UGEj-G8EODgbsjCb2UCD5SuIanHk5X_R9GGM0Zm6HSKbJvv_hyphenhyphenaQyJHFX-YHBU2I-C2vkqJ_Sktko_XFBs3iYiOiaOH7ktP_1JR_hfnHzYL8Mu86l1ict/s1600-h/eyeball+hat+for+a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbPnXwQbcHcc38D9UGEj-G8EODgbsjCb2UCD5SuIanHk5X_R9GGM0Zm6HSKbJvv_hyphenhyphenaQyJHFX-YHBU2I-C2vkqJ_Sktko_XFBs3iYiOiaOH7ktP_1JR_hfnHzYL8Mu86l1ict/s320/eyeball+hat+for+a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447832385376696082" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-74665338225342426002010-03-09T14:30:00.000-08:002010-03-09T17:48:49.651-08:00StitchesNote to self: get back to blogging! (especially after watching last night's episode of House--at least I don't blog <i>everything</i> in my life, just the knittery stuff).<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I went to Stitches West w/ a couple of friends. And the convo down to Santa Clara was humorous (to me). This is my recollection, not verbatum:</div><div><br /></div><div>Knitter 1: what are you getting?</div><div>Knitter 2: downloaded sweater patterns. Got the info and buying for a sweater</div><div>Knitter 1: getting yarn for sock pattern.</div><div>Knitter 2: me too.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>me? I said: Nothing. I'm not getting anything. No plans. Maybe if I see something I really want...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So....here's my 'nothing'.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYbxCBcwJAlbFvONlfEDm2C9iaay_KROjmWsr5TPUXSoMorOkMIDdjZMcirUlYDC9jayU1EMuDuV4gOljTWzzxfT8YLHsJGsDBjYXGdKhIoE36TvnS0pNLS_lWfjkEugDCDrP/s1600-h/purse+handles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYbxCBcwJAlbFvONlfEDm2C9iaay_KROjmWsr5TPUXSoMorOkMIDdjZMcirUlYDC9jayU1EMuDuV4gOljTWzzxfT8YLHsJGsDBjYXGdKhIoE36TvnS0pNLS_lWfjkEugDCDrP/s320/purse+handles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814501848643906" /></a>purse handles<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN3Mg8Dy_oUX9io3FwHYtpLFhVOzESpAOfX7psTu8okP_3Y5_PAiYrov7rBMdZ5P2gvyXMx78sd04C1r0bYJjODMzQQvj6kSLB1vCkn3VqiT0IYVplQXcnGmNJHpEJxEqWNZP/s1600-h/stardust.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN3Mg8Dy_oUX9io3FwHYtpLFhVOzESpAOfX7psTu8okP_3Y5_PAiYrov7rBMdZ5P2gvyXMx78sd04C1r0bYJjODMzQQvj6kSLB1vCkn3VqiT0IYVplQXcnGmNJHpEJxEqWNZP/s320/stardust.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814499452058018" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN3Mg8Dy_oUX9io3FwHYtpLFhVOzESpAOfX7psTu8okP_3Y5_PAiYrov7rBMdZ5P2gvyXMx78sd04C1r0bYJjODMzQQvj6kSLB1vCkn3VqiT0IYVplQXcnGmNJHpEJxEqWNZP/s1600-h/stardust.jpg"></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Stardust sock yarn (see all the sparklies?)</div><div><br /></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5D7LwHl51cQnTXfsbh9Aegmn-5UjjHGTXdKx5zPAdsN7z4KXyawqohAosuvzLALlln204-Ra8TeJZuPg-AjyyzMsaNw_OAyek5O-URSecmlNH7z3k-97nbyHph7W6kniYdi7/s1600-h/misti+alpaca.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5D7LwHl51cQnTXfsbh9Aegmn-5UjjHGTXdKx5zPAdsN7z4KXyawqohAosuvzLALlln204-Ra8TeJZuPg-AjyyzMsaNw_OAyek5O-URSecmlNH7z3k-97nbyHph7W6kniYdi7/s320/misti+alpaca.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814491739424514" /></a>Misti Alpaca lace</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RnshVL9EGVPCJTYiehsrND-pkKyutvq3LN7DCj1uRaX0i-73W_RB81pK88NYo_wbe9yx3YevoOd2I6I5qaF3ZZ2Xcict2PCkJd_6L-FzNaSh2k7TxO4SUFgoDQJv1Xi4G1hY/s1600-h/cardi+pattern.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RnshVL9EGVPCJTYiehsrND-pkKyutvq3LN7DCj1uRaX0i-73W_RB81pK88NYo_wbe9yx3YevoOd2I6I5qaF3ZZ2Xcict2PCkJd_6L-FzNaSh2k7TxO4SUFgoDQJv1Xi4G1hY/s320/cardi+pattern.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814484542043170" /></a>Cardi pattern</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S8adAFys3kU2yx-6Xuk8kiAIrPxbDv_02C-A5zAakTW7Efv6-_pgxrWhGsMF4SU4e5vvzzVvHO7FkbRW2VT3JoxK8D_pLhghgJRUsa6O7Ih2_2lYaV18ht6_oyEOgNNzFPu9/s1600-h/babs+sock+yarn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4S8adAFys3kU2yx-6Xuk8kiAIrPxbDv_02C-A5zAakTW7Efv6-_pgxrWhGsMF4SU4e5vvzzVvHO7FkbRW2VT3JoxK8D_pLhghgJRUsa6O7Ih2_2lYaV18ht6_oyEOgNNzFPu9/s320/babs+sock+yarn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446814474523655986" /></a>Babs sock yarn in grey and deep purple<br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-28422875709035356932010-01-24T19:15:00.000-08:002010-01-24T21:08:21.951-08:00WooHoo!<div style="text-align: left;">I'm so very excited!</div><div><br /></div><div>Checking out the local Freecycle and received the most awesome item(s). Many thanks to <a href="http://nurseknits.blogspot.com/">nurseknits</a>, I am now the proud owner of a knitting machine. Not just any knitting machine, but it comes with all sorts of books, winder, and even a light! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YWGFVoATn-7pBrEg4kgPYXQKy8BA_xs1iw3ahrWtFQsyWH5fXaFU2_JClj4gvFMQLQEZQ89vG63156z03OMEGdIkyIjYhOZN5QnhyphenhyphenqFg-RR0k7EYBR8d_je4-i2tXZ9T0tFc/s320/cat+in+the+attic.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430522901026646290" /><div>I had too much to do this afternoon to take pictures of it (we're starting to sort through stuff and moving things to our renovated spaces), but I'll try to remember once I've got my craft room set up. Oh, yes, I get a craft room...okay it's a craft room slash parlor slash office slash room where all things may end up...at least it's not the Attic?!</div><div><br /></div><div>Actually, I really do like our attic. Not only do I like the attic, but so does my cat. We had the contractors put plywood over the insulation so that we can use it for storage. My yarn bins will go up here. (again, when I organize my stash, some will live here).</div><div><br /></div><div>How the heck did the cat get up there? How you ask? Did I mention that we have 12 foot ceilings? He of course climbed the world's most amazing attic ladder. Built in Tennessee (or was it Kentucky?), it's a piece of engineering marvel.</div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrotEF9Eag6-xiLnJNRJDavpUMUiFpz2enMyMdH9ISX1Y2Nek6tu2EHyRzEe1Nx3Rwnj1WenBE7_RpeVIvBE48NRe6fcZCJQ6cjngcnbmngu4cLfzEpBbzPvFSlnRHl5ryG2v/s320/new+attic+stairs.jpg" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430522252220987506" /><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, back to the craft room. You see that space to the right of the attic stairs? That used to be our office/crafting room. Now, it's no longer a room at all, but an entryway downstairs. And my crafting area in that room? It's now space--space where stairs now reside.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now that our renovations are almost complete. We are starting to move stuff around, and I already know where the wonderful machine will go.</div><div><br /></div><div>Very happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, as far as knitting, I've still got the KAL going, but it's sort of on hiatus while I finish another knitting project.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I've joined BadCatDesign's new KAL. I've always admired her designs and her blog, so this will be good. The best part is that I've got the yarn (I haven't already picked it, but am very confident that I have it somewhere in my stash) and just need to get the beads (which of course will be gotten after I figure out the yarn...).</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and I've got to make another curtain. This time for the back window. </div><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-1321617360287170862010-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:002010-01-16T21:32:56.898-08:00Curtainspsst. I finished. I knit the curtain, I blocked the curtain, I weaved in the ends...need to still put up the hardware for the door, but here it is:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 450px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427574954491543346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjr2T_1X5TBDdrbEacxWf8_Pjp1M3YybW__E_JCvqlk7CAYjv3HfrqwDU6HETYHmHCOcoScNFkQl6wHT5Os9HWK6bL_9-YeXGIfA3L7os4eSjje9kWgG7ry3IDl-BmD2UqC7jP/s320/curtains+finished.jpg" />this is the Steinrose curtains (Anna Burda July 1992). Nice knit. A few minor errors in the pattern (or maybe I just misread them). The knit 7 togethers were a minor pain, but other than that... <div> </div><div>I knit this curtain using a provisional cast-on since I didn't know how I wanted the bottom edge (it's knitted bottom up). I then found that in one iteration of this pattern, they used this edging. But I had already did some plain knitting, but I like the break before the edging.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427574965120542802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBf06NhHZWTIxjQEMeXT1i8mi2tjtflhXBGTgrx8eKUdQ01B7394uPXfC5UWhATxO5mz0K411NAh_KCVCAkv-V_ucx0i8F_O-uU_m0cAQgUff7chz6T8Sa6mlOmlEubrD17HjD/s320/curtain+edge.jpg" /> <div></div>Anyway, specs:</div><div> </div><div>needles: US0</div><div>yarn: linen thread</div><div>time: complete blur...will have to check the actual dates</div><div>pattern: Steinrose from Niebling<br /><br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-47869409130706075062009-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:002009-11-20T11:42:50.409-08:00Next projectAs I'm knitting away on my shetland shawl, and knowing that the next 3 pieces are just like the first, I'm already trying to figure out what to knit next. <div><br /></div><div>A Niebling, of course. Now which one?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, I had a couple choices picked out. Mostly because I said I was going to knit them (and they are all so pretty). It was going to be a table topper, and when I get really crazy, I'd like to do a table cloth for my 'seats 8' dining table...(yeah, that's going to happen).</div><div><br /></div><div>But, as some of you might know, we're getting some work done on our house, and one of the items on the agenda was to get a new front door. Well, on my birthday earlier this month, they came and installed a new front door. This one has a big giant window in the front, and so, I've got my project. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll be knitting Niebling's curtains from Anna 07/92. </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lcXZI5V0D48Py9SO2RC2b7IsPhCm7xgijKNQhbB38WK-VOj5Gbd1O97tLfn6QHsx66wnq7RLA03hszZ3mSOaO5prOogqHONIfV6CsEkDf8l1GZJL0Z1EHDYzJD7x_ttdwukP/s320/Anna+0792.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406273015097337522" /><div>I've done a swatch with linen thread and am pretty okay with using US1 needles. I'll be knitting 3 motifs and started with a provisional cast on so that I can do a decorative scallop edging on the bottom. </div><div><br /></div><div>Wish me luck.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-10786557066941829362009-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:002009-11-14T17:03:41.197-08:00On the edgeOne edging, border done (and center). And now, just 3 more edgings and borders. The 2nd edging went quite fast, many thanks to my friend L with KnitVis (he recharted the edging).<div><br /></div><div>But picking up the over 365 stitches was a total pain. I totally spaced and just picked up the stitches at the bar...couldn't for the life of me get any where near that number of stitches...ack! it was so easy the first time. Yanked and retried and picking up stitches where I <i>know</i> you're not supposed to, just trying to make up the numbers. Spent a good deal of a morning to do that...before the epiphany.</div><div><br /></div><div>psst...reread the following page where it says to <b><i>YO </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">in addition to the knit.</span></b> sigh.</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, onward to border II.</div><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-2589806856354958362009-11-08T11:45:00.000-08:002009-11-08T11:51:07.436-08:00Happy November and progressions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOum2pfyYrQVESW-WD5QP0y05HSS6hVfVvD4rV5JTKwU9KUseGDOJ4xQKhAng9cNjw7tvVIIXKq-XCinVrAtxQ42RS5ULlXEPqrm-kNnzJDp5-bQp7cqnwDLd7tqz9DPrP0Qqz/s1600-h/shetland+shawl+center.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOum2pfyYrQVESW-WD5QP0y05HSS6hVfVvD4rV5JTKwU9KUseGDOJ4xQKhAng9cNjw7tvVIIXKq-XCinVrAtxQ42RS5ULlXEPqrm-kNnzJDp5-bQp7cqnwDLd7tqz9DPrP0Qqz/s320/shetland+shawl+center.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401822014019703970" /></a><br />Well, it's November already and I've been knitting. Here's the progress on my Shetland lace shawl from GoL. I've finished the center and am now working on the other edgings/borders. I really enjoyed the center and it went by super fast. <div><br /></div><div>Not a huge fan of edging, but am now on point 5 of 21 for this one side. Then border and another 2 edgings and borders. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had the chance to see other shawls in progress this weekend and they all look absolutely lovely. It's really neat the color choices and construction modifications folks made.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-89477602789528534812009-10-28T21:36:00.001-07:002009-10-28T21:59:14.597-07:00Instead of working on the Shetland Lace shawl...No actual knitting pics here...<div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7LneghD4LCJvzvebvunmUPSXaIqBpCLW9uz2kD-JaPatmydgWbI2TbVUiBvbHZrQMBzjCq_8R5dEPf3-jzVRbjviGBvSDivNH3I1P03k2hgSQVewJL-c1C-KbcX4tDE75-A5/s1600-h/monster+cake+pops+b+2009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7LneghD4LCJvzvebvunmUPSXaIqBpCLW9uz2kD-JaPatmydgWbI2TbVUiBvbHZrQMBzjCq_8R5dEPf3-jzVRbjviGBvSDivNH3I1P03k2hgSQVewJL-c1C-KbcX4tDE75-A5/s320/monster+cake+pops+b+2009.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397881601464691026" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So, I've got lots to do...I want to work on the GoL shawl, reading The Road before the movie comes out, laundry before the contractors disassemble the washer and dryer tomorrow morning...to name a few.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div>Instead, I made these for my kid's preschool Halloween party. The idea is from <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/">bakerella</a>. She made these cake pops that are so cool. Anyway, so I made them for the party. I started out making white ghosts, but what a disaster. The cake would not stay on the pop and made the</div><div> white candy a mess (you dip the cake into candy melts). I maybe salvaged some, and made some ghosts. Z looked at them, and deemed them to be mummies instead, so that's what they'll be.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQpcSnzj30dd3nd8G0d6_w6kNXQDmoFSXg6DOJepuk4c2cKuQWmqGVIza8TlepfODxE-IyHYRFSzkjtR_tfk6SoeAHt-5-0ywuImKul4N8FckffNpERNTlkKlbr6pR3_Faf4k/s320/ghost+cake+pops+2009.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397878196664110610" /><div><br /></div><div>And then I ran out of the white. Darn. Wanted to be done with these...</div><div><br /></div><div>Looked high and low, and discovered I had purple candy melts. Yay. But I need eye balls. What to do what to do?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I opted to use chocolate sprinkles inserted into mini marshmallows cut in half. I did figure out that the white candy melt had a different melting point than the purple. The purple melted beautifully, whereas the white was just stiff and didn't cover well (as you can see above).</div><div><br /></div><div>I highly recommend making these. (I just followed her methods).</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63dlO1ZdMXrh1c9jtgJo5vIQvBY2s9WB7_KUOXG_8QMHlYF7bRssZ_t8R7STCwYPf_iKsp7Hk4s4zzkmxk5efBDYIoBR8HejipwUNgtgyiW1EVfKsaoQee9qINW70_N6IFywG/s320/monster+cake+pops+2009.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397880112040954530" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>The purple monsters weren't perfect. One slipped as I was making it...oops.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-cs9yz7Nh-AGoxmI3dF_mLpkhDf5uTvlx7fy-4LgTNyI8AKWi5R1qu4PMkCnba9CLOMZDMNDOLDRiaGvpY0hTFkNqCuKoQ5nyw5LUhoMd2jDRF_-NvUxPg1zoCAM0cXCyaL2/s320/monster+cake+pops++failure+2009.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397880114193835282" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-57477485695982174062009-10-16T08:52:00.000-07:002009-10-16T16:11:23.969-07:00It's Raining<div style="text-align: left;">The yarn I found for this project is named 'Rain'. And it looks like rain. It's grey with a tinge of color. When I washed the swatch, it's actually a lighter color.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwsd429hgT7W1c3zvNyX2NA-2Q43N1eoaX4ri1JTyNG3QxpmQGADz9TQp_4w7tTepFbAw2QNAa9nUXDJsA2VSfWxcnmYVuDIHyBijmMNLfYSaxH0Mxl9xjEHU9yrO-x7gLCf7/s320/shetland+shawl+yarn+2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393338292950758050" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I decided to knit this the way it's written--the Shetland way. Where one edging is knit, then stitches picked up and the border knit, then the center. Three additional edgings/borders are knit, then sewed on (gulp).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So far, I've knit one edging, and am working on the border. Yep, slow going. Wish me luck.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-47796442191375400782009-10-14T16:52:00.000-07:002009-10-14T18:57:36.284-07:00Knitting Content<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrecjs2H3Yt5uzfxxtIroBV5PD1EDG_an3woyNA0l39JKagwYIV7KtozfoOVm9gGD5QwPct2-IBzKtcX2GRIxnvaVx6iZNxuZobr4XFsnBTVcEVRtm1HXb_f7DN0DN3b0Fv16/s1600-h/plum+yarn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrecjs2H3Yt5uzfxxtIroBV5PD1EDG_an3woyNA0l39JKagwYIV7KtozfoOVm9gGD5QwPct2-IBzKtcX2GRIxnvaVx6iZNxuZobr4XFsnBTVcEVRtm1HXb_f7DN0DN3b0Fv16/s320/plum+yarn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392609299775279458" /></a>I belong to a knitting group. Actually a couple of knitting groups, but I've been doing other stuff (like having the house remodeled) and have not been very good about attending meetings...or knitting, for that matter. (Bad, I know). Anyway, I'm lucky I haven't been kicked out of the groups.<div><br /></div><div>So, one group decided to do a knitalong. And the pattern chosen after an on-line poll is Shetland Lace Shawl from Gathering of Lace. This is a shawl that I've wanted to knit for some time, so I'm happy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I found this lovely dark purple yarn in my stash -- it's silk/lace from Colourmart. 2500yds of it. It's beautiful. I used 2.25mm needles and finished off 21 repeats of the edging.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTKCP1R1sx1oTsNhWI0hIpLWw65HXXSpRY4z8No37JIGnFQ_jhcVMlG6BqLqvu2ENG_1p6LPwIL_BlYRaPds5x8SfNvb9idjuV7K5jv_JuHS8Vhf2DdDJX6CNM8l_GOYXvkaZ/s320/100409+shetland+lace+plum.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392639105263263170" /><div> Then found out that most folks needed not 2500yds, but over 3000yds. I contacted the company and unfortunately, they don't have any more of this yarn. Back to square one.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have since decided on another Colourmart yarn in my stash. The color is 'Rain'. Upon weighing the yarn, it's clear that I should definitely have more than enough for this shawl.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-70297193387974695152009-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:002009-10-14T08:51:09.786-07:00Holy Cow, where have I been?Ack! I've been Facebooking. Sorry folks. Took a huge hiatus from blogging and knitting, and spent this summer doing summery stuff.<div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I'm back (hopefully) and I'll be posting a bit more regularly.</div>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-45943589701128381402009-03-04T13:46:00.000-08:002009-03-04T14:22:05.064-08:00While perusing my copy of Pitsilised Koekirjad, I found that I kept coming back to this one pattern. It didn't have 'nupps', it didn't have 'stars', what it did have was cables!. Yep, cables and lace. It's like peanut butter and jelly(which I don't like)...or better yet, like bacon and eggs...mmm...bacon...<br /><br />Anyway, I digress. Here's the scarf done in Kidsilk haze. Over one ball.<br /><a title="twisted lace finished by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3328589629/"><img height="375" alt="twisted lace finished" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/3328589629_8acc4843c2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />And here's the pattern:<br /><a title="twisted lace blocked by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3328589341/"><img height="375" alt="twisted lace blocked" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3328589341_f299150e3b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Stats:<br />Started February 28 2009<br />Completed March 4 2009<br />yarn: Kidsilk haze in dewberry --less than 2 balls<br />needles: size 8US KP<br />pattern: from Pitsilised Koekirjad and edging from Estonia Lace knitting<br /><br />CO41z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-60471862893517802642009-03-03T08:41:00.000-08:002009-03-03T09:35:01.118-08:00Bad case of startitisWho me? There's just so many beautiful patterns out there that I must try...<br /><br />Let's see what's on the needles right now, shall we?<br /><br />Exhibit 1: Adaptation of Niebling doily (E903_09 -- Magnolie / Frühlingsblumen).<br /><a title="e903_09 progress by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3325457405/"><img height="375" alt="e903_09 progress" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3647/3325457405_61d6fb88e7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />I'm actually more than half way done, but have decided to rip out a huge bunch of rows because I had previously added on extra leaves.<br /><br />I originally thought that this oval pattern knits along the long axis of the oval. But as I continued the pattern, it was clear that the knit was along the edge of the short axis. I added the leaves to increase the wingspan of the shawl. As I continue knitting, it's become clear to me that this will result in a very misshapen shawl. So to the frog pond it goes. I'm really liking this yarn, tho'. It's Colourmart 50/50 cashmere/wool. Lovely amazing stuff.<br /><br />If you look closely, you can see a lifeline I put in (yep, was thinking back then that this might be necessary).<br /><a title="e903_09 ripping by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3326294322/"><img height="375" alt="e903_09 ripping" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3621/3326294322_9bd0c8e60a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Exhibit 2: Since I had to rip, I decided to use my pretty green yarn and make a lace purse. I've checked out the new Mason-Dixon book, and they made a sweet little lace purse with the bleeding heart pattern. I thought I'd try a new-to-me Estonian lace pattern that incorporates lace and cables instead.<br /><a title="lace purse in progress by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3325458485/"><img height="375" alt="lace purse in progress" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3539/3325458485_1077920fba.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />I like how it's turning out, but I'm a tad concerned that it's not going to block out right. Hee, not that you can see the lace pattern here.<br /><br />Which leads us to...<br /><br />Exhibit 3: lace scarf<br />I actually really like this simple, yet effective pattern. So I had a couple of ball of Kidsilk haze (aka crack) and casted on for a scarf using the same pattern.<br /><br /><a title="twisted lace in progress closeup by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3326294982/"><img height="375" alt="twisted lace in progress closeup" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3326294982_6630268d3c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Here's the in-progress scarf:<br /><a title="twisted lace in progress by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3325457847/"><img height="375" alt="twisted lace in progress" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3618/3325457847_09d0c82b9d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Is that a cool pattern or what?!<br /><br />Anyway, that leads me to another project: another cardigan for me. I need like 3 cardigans. I want to knit them all...but I must restrain myself until these get finished or the 1st 2 goes to the frog pond (there's no way I'm ripping Kidsilk).<br /><br />Wish me luck in getting these projects finished.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-19449627601506351882009-02-23T11:54:00.000-08:002009-02-23T12:13:54.437-08:00All the knitting...Okay. Here's the knitting content:<br /><br />Since last I blogged, I've knitted a few items.<br /><br />I'm still really seriously in like with my book, Pitsilised Koekirjad . I liked pattern 201, so I knit it.<br /><a title="estonia shawl 201 closeup by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3245020132/"><img height="500" alt="estonia shawl 201 closeup" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3245020132_3ccfe20cf7.jpg" width="395" /></a><br /><br />The finished shawl:<br /><a title="estonia shawl 201 by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3245019878/"><img height="361" alt="estonia shawl 201" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3245019878_1622f3a2b8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Stats:<br />Started January 25 2009<br />Completed January 31 2009<br />yarn: Colourmart laceweight<br />amount used: 989yds<br />needle: size 4US<br /><br />Cast on 113 stitches. 4 rows garter stitch. This pattern is knit on both sides. I modified the pattern by reducing the number of 'vertical' line to 3 stitches instead of the 5 in the pattern.<br /><br /><br />********************<br /><br />Next up is Evelyn Clarke's do-it-yourself Lace triangle shawl. This is from her book "Knitting Lace Triangles".<br /><br /><a title="lum triangle modeled by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3298447966/"><img height="500" alt="lum triangle modeled" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3298447966_94c4e75ac9.jpg" width="339" /></a><br />I had my little one pretend she was a red butterfly (getting her <em>not</em> to flap her wings). She was such a great model that I'll have to use her again--but only if she's not busy playing beautyshop.<br /><br />Started February 5 2009<br />Completed February 18 2009<br />yarn: Colourmart cashmere/merino laceweight<br />amount used: 575yds<br />needle: size 4US<br /><br /><br /><br />***********************<br /><br />Finally, a market bag. I actually don't own this book, but checked it out of the library. This is from Mason-Dixon's new book, and it's got some funky stitches. But 2 were the same as the ones from Heere be Dragone, so I just fudged it a bit. I figured that it's a market bag...for going to the market. So long as stuff doesn't fall out, I'm doing okay.<br /><br />Instead of using the thicker Euroflax, i used some #8 cotton I had around. I had to increase the circumference as well as the depth of the bag.<br /><a title="market bag by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3297619983/"><img height="500" alt="market bag" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3590/3297619983_bbf20ae33a.jpg" width="369" /></a>z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-80331290384695826802009-02-23T11:38:00.000-08:002009-02-23T11:54:03.233-08:00A galaxy far far away...or why I've not updated recentlyWe had a very cool 6th birthday party. A Star Wars party. Since the party was held at a party place, we just had to do invitations and provide food and drink.<br /><div>I opted for not going nuts on the preprinted party material and kept it at just the table covering. We got grey silverware and grey napkins. And we seriously had a bunch of Star Wars toys so we used them as table setting.</div><div> </div><div>I thought about baking a Death Star cake, but there was a special request for cupcakes...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306082134968361314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmdYW03CWegUmZ4J9FUpD-4w9z14h3IinTFzvPuAe_nZdnBOjp1_a267ghJlyaKolz6M1lu4iJxcBfzvxX43vNcftueJr_jBwSn_HJtIYi3bxSp4cT2BB6UX1aN7Q1qimNqeN/s200/lt+saber+cupcakes.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />The light sabers were made by dipping small pretzels in chocolate.<br /><br />I also dipped large pretzels in chocolate and made the light saber handles. These were given to the kids.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306082142880311922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwavo3rnKyfkqf6Mag7qpEky0NpVm_xEyHFv4sxNWJEZh3418G4cBonzBswXKjDgNL9O9HFiznU1IwiRkwWr5gXeEDxumz5F0_-yzPcpQfwSxMygyFvOqbK1Yu7nVTDtbPs1BU/s200/lt+saber+pretzels.jpg" border="0" />It was a fun party. The knitting will be in the next entry.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-76125997137768431542009-01-26T16:34:00.000-08:002009-01-26T16:59:27.142-08:00Another test knit for LacisI offered to knit one more for Lacis. This is pattern from pg. 72. Wait a minute, you say...this doesn't look like the one in the book...<br /><br />Well, since this was a test knit, and they asked for it to be completed by the end of January, what was I going to do? As I finished the first set of motif, I realized that after row 87, the pattern is repeated again (2 in each section). So I just made sure that this knit okay, and then proceeded to the edging section.<br /><a title="lacis test p72 by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3230262040/"><img height="442" alt="lacis test p72" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3456/3230262040_9b3eb7f332.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />This took a bit over a ball of the Cordonnet 100 thread.<br /><br /><a title="lacis test p72 closeup by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3229412417/"><img height="375" alt="lacis test p72 closeup" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3229412417_2e7e815bb9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />Started January 15 2009<br />Completed January 24 2009<br />needles: 000<br />thread: Cordonnet 100<br />pattern: test for Lacisz's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-40190298409602311452009-01-26T08:33:00.000-08:002009-01-26T08:40:53.979-08:00oops. apologieswhew. What a month. Can't believe it's almost over and I've not posted this:<br /><br /><a title="PK estonia shawl 1 by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3189111755/"><img height="375" alt="PK estonia shawl 1" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/3189111755_b949102ee6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />This is a pattern from my Estonia book. It's pattern 187 which ends up being Frost Flowers plus edging 205. It's done with Colourmart cashmere/wool.<br /><br />Started December 26 2008<br />Completed January 10 2009 <br />Needle US 4 / 3.5 mm<br />Yarn ColourMart Cashmere/Merino 2/28NM Lace Weight<br />0.32 skeins = 736.0 yards (673.0m)<br />Colorway rubyz's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-61478080991148776482009-01-08T19:02:00.000-08:002009-01-08T19:11:26.167-08:00GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN pg 78Since I was done w/ 2 patterns, I asked for another one to check. I am impressed by the number of errors that can occur in one small pattern. whoah...<br /><br />But the result is pretty cool.<br /><br /><a title="lacis test p78 a by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3181401990/"><img height="446" alt="lacis test p78 a" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3181401990_a2b250bed9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />I'm amazed by how by manipulating stitches, you can get a more 3-dimensional feel. Very cool. See these petals, the crossed-stitches give the petals depth.<br /><a title="lacis test p78 b by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3180570855/"><img height="375" alt="lacis test p78 b" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3326/3180570855_cbd3525ff4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />When the book comes out (a little plug for Lacis), definitely worth getting. Every pattern I tested has had errors in it.<br /><br /><br />pattern: GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN pg 78<br />Cebelia #20 thread in white (less than 1 ball)<br />needles: 2mm KP Harmony circs<br />Started January 4 2009<br />Completed January 7 2009z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-11539580679824714852008-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:002008-12-18T08:50:46.757-08:00Xmas Presentshmmm...it's how many days before Christmas and how many hand-made items are there?<br /><br />well, there's one. The Icequeen.<br /><a title="icequeen ms h by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3116295197/"><img height="500" alt="icequeen ms h" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/3116295197_646f03b3d7.jpg" width="442" /></a><br /><br />I used Crystal Palace Merino in a light blue and blue seed beads. Easy pattern, I might have to make another one for another one of my friends...<br /><br />Stats:<br />Started December 14 2008<br />Completed December 15 2008<br />Needle US 5 / 3.75 mm & US 7 / 4.5 mm<br />Yarn Crystal Palace Yarns Kid Merino<br />0.9 skeins = 216.0 yards (197.5m)<br />Colorway 4681<br />beads #6 seed beads (I didn't count)<br /><br />oh, the recipient is Z's kindergarten teacher. She's getting a gift card for Borders and this. I hope she likes it.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-80744972647639249602008-12-03T13:27:00.000-08:002008-12-03T13:39:05.541-08:00My first Fair IsleHave I mentioned my son is totally into Star Wars? Yeah, I must have. Anyway, I made him this:<br /><br /><a title="star wars hat by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3059582543/"><img height="415" alt="star wars hat" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3059582543_06941c3954.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />On the bottom, it says " MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU" and since I had to do many calculations since I changed from DK to worsted weight, and then I have a 5 year old w/ a big head (remember emergency c-section), I put a little Ty fighter after that. And on top are AT-AT and AT-ST. On the top he wanted a Death Star.<br /><br /><a title="star wars hat top by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3060420254/"><img height="180" alt="star wars hat top" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/3060420254_97d22dff32_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> Cast on 105 stitches.<br /><br />Started November 20 2008<br />Completed November 24 2008<br />size 2 needles (to get gauge)<br />yarn: woolease since that's one of the only ones I found that carried 2 colors of grey.<br /><br />Now I've got to make one for myself. I don't think I'll do the Star Wars version. There's a very nice filigree pattern I saw on Ravelry that I'll do...yeah, when I have time.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-60974290262753451432008-11-23T23:05:00.000-08:002008-11-23T23:16:29.635-08:00GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN Doily 1<a title="small doily by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3053052189/"><img height="375" alt="small doily" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/3053052189_ca5df775e6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Whew, 45 rounds, mostly hex mesh and crossed stitches (yes, the crossed stitches are almost all the stitches NOT hex mesh). That's pretty much the doily. And a row full of errors (okay, 2 errors). I had to change up the binding off so that it would like like the original picture.<br /><br /><br /><br />Started November 21 2008<br />Completed November 22 2008<br />thread: Cebelia #20 in ecru<br />needles: US0 dpns and US1 circs<br /><br /><br />Mods: corrected what I thought were errors. there's a move marker row that I thought I moved the wrong way. It just didn't look symmetrical. But it blocked out, so I guess I did it correctly.<br /><br />The other thing I had to do was to rework the chain togethers. What a pain. But it looks pretty nice, don'tcha think?z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-25369044956505305672008-11-20T14:29:00.001-08:002008-11-20T15:06:10.646-08:00Estonian Lace and skimpy nuppsLast weekend, I got together with 2 friends in my part of town and had some tea, and to do some knitting. I was asked to bring my yarn winding stuff and so I did.<br /><br />What a trial that was, the winding I mean. My friend D had a ginormous hank of laceweight yarn. It didn't fit on my GOKO, since that's the only drawback to this amazing swift--it doesn't expand past 56inches. Anyway, good thing I also brought my squirrel cage swift (that's where my ball winder was on). Anyway, it literally took 3 people 2 plus hours to wind that hank. Maybe we were using the squirrel cage incorrectly, but one person had to wind, one person had to push the yarn along, and the 3rd person had to guide the yarn...<br /><br />But the Estonian Lace. I'd flipped through it briefly when I was at Lacis. But W brought her copy over and I got to spend more time reading it. What a great book. Such lovely patterns. Such unusual stitches...<br /><br />Anyhow, I knit the Peacock Tail and Leaf scarf:<br /><a title="peacock n leaf by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3046058513/"><img height="375" alt="peacock n leaf" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/3046058513_d55d740977.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />specs:<br />Started November 15 2008<br />Completed November 19 2008<br />yarn: Colourmart 100% alpaca 1/16nm doubled (55g used = 490yds)<br />color: pistachio<br />needles: US4<br />size: 14.5in X 52in<br />pattern mods: I added a few more repeats because I lost track.<br /><br />About this pattern: I love, adore, will definitely use again, the cast on for this project. It never occurred to me to double the yarn for cast-on. It looks very spiffy. And see all those nupps? Yep, did them all, using non-stretchy alpaca. Altho' you'll see that my nupps aren't plump. I'll have to investigate that further.<br /><br /><a title="peacock n leaf close up by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3046894284/"><img height="375" alt="peacock n leaf close up" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3046894284_76956dce50.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />What to knit next? I think Triinu is next. Oh, that alpaca is soft. It's divine.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14615400.post-4940984790239106642008-11-14T10:25:00.000-08:002008-11-14T11:43:53.982-08:00The Dark SideA bit ago, we (that would be the 'royal we' since it was I) purchased for our son the Lego Star Wars Wii game, and he plays it nonstop. When not playing, he likes to talk about the game...and many of his conversations start with "You know, when Luke (Skywalker)...", at which point, I've been interjecting with "Luke...I'm your father..."<br /><br />Which he doesn't really get since we haven't let him watch all the Star Wars movies yet (he's 5.75). Yeah, I know, we let him play the game, where the Lego heads go bouncing off, but no, we draw the line at him seeing Carrie Fisher dressed up as a slave girl...<br /><br />Anyway...what does this have to do with knitting? Well, I have been led back to the dark side...(insert heavy breathing through apparatus). I have been knitting <em><strong>socks</strong></em>.<br /><br />Who...me? I've knit socks, and I didn't like it one bit. Why would I knit socks when I can purchase them by the pack since I only wear 2 colors of socks anyways--white for the gym and general sneaker wearing and black when I need black socks w/ my Doc Martins.<br /><br />Well, folks. This is the reason I have ventured to the dark side again.<br /><br /><a title="clogs by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3029648765/"><img height="422" alt="clogs" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3029648765_669a2903ae.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Are these not the most absolutely cutest clogs ever?! Okay, maybe I'm behind the times as far as clogs go, but these are so sweet. And so comfy. When I saw these, I had to get them. Actually, there was a red pair I really liked, but they didn't have my size. Sadness...<br /><br />These shoes really do need hand knit socks, so there you go, Bob's your uncle...<br /><br />Which socks to start with? Well, I got this Regia solid green yarn and was set to knit Biological Clock socks (with DNA up the side). As I started the magic-loop-toe-up-two-at-a-time-figure-8-cast-on, I realized that this is just too dark, and if I'm going to take time to knit wee cables on the sides of my socks, you'd better see them, darn it!<br /><br /><br />What to do? Toe up socks...did an extensive search and found toe up lace socks in the Fall Knitty. Better yet, it's a free pattern (yay). And it's lace that's interesting (note to self: incorporate that pattern into a scarf).<br /><br /><a title="interlocking leaves socks by z's momma, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20247079@N00/3029649885/"><img height="457" alt="interlocking leaves socks" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/3029649885_812b78b23e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />So, that's what I've been working on. Oh, these were 2-at-a-time until the heel, then went to dpns and once I got to the leg portion, went back to circs. Since this is a lace pattern, I didn't have to count (which is the main reason I do 2-at-a-time) so I did them as singles. Once I was doing the ribbing, I moved them back together on the same needles so that I don't have to count.<br /><br />Stats:<br />Pattern: Interlocking Leaves from Knitty Fall 2008<br />Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Uni / Solid 4-ply / 4-fädig<br />Started November 6 2008<br />Completed November 12 2008<br /><br />Mods: well, I started knitting Biological clock socks, didn't feel like ripping back, and decreased 1 stitch before starting lace pattern. I didn't make it as long as the pattern specified.<br /><br />Why no pics of socks in actual shoe? Well, battery died.z's mommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811947990455999833noreply@blogger.com3