...I'm tinking

Rear Window

2010-03-25T09:40:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

By the way, here's my front window, looking out. Why yes, it does make me happy.

Curtain #2

2010-03-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

I'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.

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.

My swatch was 20stitches/3 inches, so I should be able to do 3 complete flowers for this curtain.

Cast on 180 +14 stitches using #0 needles.

Knit a few rows of stockinette, and I'm ready to rumble.

Eyeballs!

2010-03-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

I have a goofy daughter. We call her Creature...well...because she is.

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.

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...

Child One: cheese!

Child Two: pepperoni!

Child Three: cupcake! (hey, I get it)

Creature: Eyeballs!

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 my child.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Sewed the eyeballs on, and ta da! Eyeball hat!

Stitches

2010-03-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Note to self: get back to blogging! (especially after watching last night's episode of House--at least I don't blog everything in my life, just the knittery stuff).

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:

Knitter 1: what are you getting?

Knitter 2: downloaded sweater patterns. Got the info and buying for a sweater

Knitter 1: getting yarn for sock pattern.

Knitter 2: me too.

me? I said: Nothing. I'm not getting anything. No plans. Maybe if I see something I really want...

So....here's my 'nothing'.

purse handles

Stardust sock yarn (see all the sparklies?)

Misti Alpaca lace

Cardi pattern

Babs sock yarn in grey and deep purple

WooHoo!

2010-01-24T19:15:00.000-08:00

I'm so very excited!

Checking out the local Freecycle and received the most awesome item(s). Many thanks to nurseknits, 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!

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?!

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).

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.

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.

Now that our renovations are almost complete. We are starting to move stuff around, and I already know where the wonderful machine will go.

Very happy.

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.

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...).

Oh, and I've got to make another curtain. This time for the back window.

Curtains

2010-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

psst. 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:
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...

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.

Anyway, specs:

needles: US0

yarn: linen thread

time: complete blur...will have to check the actual dates

pattern: Steinrose from Niebling

Next project

2009-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

As 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.

A Niebling, of course. Now which one?

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).

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.

I'll be knitting Niebling's curtains from Anna 07/92.

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.

Wish me luck.

On the edge

2009-11-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

One 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).

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 know 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.

psst...reread the following page where it says to YO in addition to the knit. sigh.

Okay, onward to border II.

Happy November and progressions

2009-11-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

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.

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.

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.

Instead of working on the Shetland Lace shawl...

2009-10-28T21:36:00.001-07:00

No actual knitting pics here...

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.

Instead, I made these for my kid's preschool Halloween party. The idea is from bakerella. 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

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.

And then I ran out of the white. Darn. Wanted to be done with these...

Looked high and low, and discovered I had purple candy melts. Yay. But I need eye balls. What to do what to do?

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).

I highly recommend making these. (I just followed her methods).

The purple monsters weren't perfect. One slipped as I was making it...oops.

It's Raining

2009-10-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

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.

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).

So far, I've knit one edging, and am working on the border. Yep, slow going. Wish me luck.

Knitting Content

2009-10-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Holy Cow, where have I been?

2009-10-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Ack! I've been Facebooking. Sorry folks. Took a huge hiatus from blogging and knitting, and spent this summer doing summery stuff.

Anyway, I'm back (hopefully) and I'll be posting a bit more regularly.

2009-03-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

While 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...

Anyway, I digress. Here's the scarf done in Kidsilk haze. Over one ball.

And here's the pattern:

Stats:
Started February 28 2009
Completed March 4 2009
yarn: Kidsilk haze in dewberry --less than 2 balls
needles: size 8US KP
pattern: from Pitsilised Koekirjad and edging from Estonia Lace knitting

CO41

Bad case of startitis

2009-03-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Who me? There's just so many beautiful patterns out there that I must try...

Let's see what's on the needles right now, shall we?

Exhibit 1: Adaptation of Niebling doily (E903_09 -- Magnolie / Frühlingsblumen).

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.

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.

If you look closely, you can see a lifeline I put in (yep, was thinking back then that this might be necessary).

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.

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.

Which leads us to...

Exhibit 3: lace scarf
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.

Here's the in-progress scarf:

Is that a cool pattern or what?!

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).

Wish me luck in getting these projects finished.

All the knitting...

2009-02-23T11:54:00.000-08:00

Okay. Here's the knitting content:

Since last I blogged, I've knitted a few items.

I'm still really seriously in like with my book, Pitsilised Koekirjad . I liked pattern 201, so I knit it.

The finished shawl:

Stats:
Started January 25 2009
Completed January 31 2009
yarn: Colourmart laceweight
amount used: 989yds
needle: size 4US

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.

********************

Next up is Evelyn Clarke's do-it-yourself Lace triangle shawl. This is from her book "Knitting Lace Triangles".

I had my little one pretend she was a red butterfly (getting her not 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.

Started February 5 2009
Completed February 18 2009
yarn: Colourmart cashmere/merino laceweight
amount used: 575yds
needle: size 4US

***********************

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.

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.

A galaxy far far away...or why I've not updated recently

2009-02-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

We 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.

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.

I thought about baking a Death Star cake, but there was a special request for cupcakes...

The light sabers were made by dipping small pretzels in chocolate.

I also dipped large pretzels in chocolate and made the light saber handles. These were given to the kids.

It was a fun party. The knitting will be in the next entry.

Another test knit for Lacis

2009-01-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

I 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...

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.

This took a bit over a ball of the Cordonnet 100 thread.

Started January 15 2009
Completed January 24 2009
needles: 000
thread: Cordonnet 100
pattern: test for Lacis

oops. apologies

2009-01-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

whew. What a month. Can't believe it's almost over and I've not posted this:

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.

Started December 26 2008
Completed January 10 2009
Needle US 4 / 3.5 mm
Yarn ColourMart Cashmere/Merino 2/28NM Lace Weight
0.32 skeins = 736.0 yards (673.0m)
Colorway ruby

GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN pg 78

2009-01-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

Since 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...

But the result is pretty cool.

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.

When the book comes out (a little plug for Lacis), definitely worth getting. Every pattern I tested has had errors in it.

pattern: GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN pg 78
Cebelia #20 thread in white (less than 1 ball)
needles: 2mm KP Harmony circs
Started January 4 2009
Completed January 7 2009

Xmas Presents

2008-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:00

hmmm...it's how many days before Christmas and how many hand-made items are there?

well, there's one. The Icequeen.

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...

Stats:
Started December 14 2008
Completed December 15 2008
Needle US 5 / 3.75 mm & US 7 / 4.5 mm
Yarn Crystal Palace Yarns Kid Merino
0.9 skeins = 216.0 yards (197.5m)
Colorway 4681
beads #6 seed beads (I didn't count)

oh, the recipient is Z's kindergarten teacher. She's getting a gift card for Borders and this. I hope she likes it.

My first Fair Isle

2008-12-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned my son is totally into Star Wars? Yeah, I must have. Anyway, I made him this:

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.

Cast on 105 stitches.

Started November 20 2008
Completed November 24 2008
size 2 needles (to get gauge)
yarn: woolease since that's one of the only ones I found that carried 2 colors of grey.

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.

GESTRICKTE SPITZENDECKEN Doily 1

2008-11-23T23:05:00.000-08:00

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.

Started November 21 2008
Completed November 22 2008
thread: Cebelia #20 in ecru
needles: US0 dpns and US1 circs

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.

The other thing I had to do was to rework the chain togethers. What a pain. But it looks pretty nice, don'tcha think?

Estonian Lace and skimpy nupps

2008-11-20T14:29:00.001-08:00

Last 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.

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...

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...

Anyhow, I knit the Peacock Tail and Leaf scarf:

specs:
Started November 15 2008
Completed November 19 2008
yarn: Colourmart 100% alpaca 1/16nm doubled (55g used = 490yds)
color: pistachio
needles: US4
size: 14.5in X 52in
pattern mods: I added a few more repeats because I lost track.

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.

What to knit next? I think Triinu is next. Oh, that alpaca is soft. It's divine.

The Dark Side

2008-11-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

A 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..."

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...

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 socks.

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.

Well, folks. This is the reason I have ventured to the dark side again.

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...

These shoes really do need hand knit socks, so there you go, Bob's your uncle...

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!

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).

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.

Stats:
Pattern: Interlocking Leaves from Knitty Fall 2008
Yarn: Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Uni / Solid 4-ply / 4-fädig
Started November 6 2008
Completed November 12 2008

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.

Why no pics of socks in actual shoe? Well, battery died.

New Anna magazine and Lily of the Valley

2008-11-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

While at the Lacis lace knitting group this weekend, I got to check out their wonderful books (including the Estonia book). On my way out, I spied w/ my eyes the new North American Anna Burda magazine. hmmm...

Yep, I came home w/ it. I also decided that this little doily needed to be knit with 100/2 linen thread. (I did mention that there's a gap in my small needles collection and I don't have 0000 circs). So, I pulled out my 000, and got started.

The start is on 16 stitches, and I just couldn't do it w/ dpns. So I modified the start by casting on 8 stitches, and the next round, increasing to 16. Pretty easy knit but I did curse the k5tog...okay, not so much except last night, when I was on row 81, only to realize that I missed one of those k5tog back in row 77! From row 77 to 81, it's just stockinette, but there was no way I could drop down and knit that 5 stitches together (oh shoot). I ended up tinking back to row 78 -- yes, that is over 1800 stitches (thank goodness it was all stockinette). Then as I was crochet casting off, I managed to yank ~50 stitches off the needle...yikes. Anyhow, here's the finished blocked item.

As for the 100/2 linen? It has a little wee bit of slub, but that was it (definitely not like thicker linens I've used). I don't think I'll be knitting our kitchen curtains with the 100/2...the thought of 000 needles for curtains (sigh). I think I'll stick w/ the huge thing of 40/2 linen. One thing of note is that the linen thread is much more unforgiving than Cordonnet. You see all that unevenness of the stockinette? Some of that came about in the blocking.

Right after I knit myself a pair of socks (shh...I'm going to knit these. They have DNA on the side).

My new favorite sweater

2008-11-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

Yes. I finally finished my sweater. I've wanted to knit another cardigan for myself for awhile now...But in looking at the finished cardi, well, maybe I should try to knit something a bit different. Yep, all my 3 cardigans I've knit so far pretty much all have the exact same shape! How'd that happen?!

3/4 sleeves....check
scoop neck...check
uhmmm... pretty much the exact same sweater. Oh, well. Did I ever mention that I had 15 black skirts at one time in my closet? So at least the colors...oh, wait, I've knit one green, one haystack, and now one taupe...argh!

Anyway, here' the sweater. (color is much darker than actual)

pattern: Hey Teach from Knitty
Started August 21 2008
Completed November 1 2008
yarn: Cotton-Ease in taupe
amt used: almost all of 4 balls
needles: US6 Options

Mods:
Since I've knitted a sweater (leaf) with this yarn, I pretty much knew how to get gauge, and made a size medium (probably should have made it smaller, but I'll get some elastic and put it in the middle band).
Anyway, mods...I opted for the 3/4 sleeves and changed the number of stitches for the button band. I also knit the sweater 1 inch longer than specified.

If I were to knit this again, I'd knit it in the round. And I'd probably knit the whole thing as lace (I may do that anyway). As for problems with the knit, as I mentioned, I picked up and knit the button band, only to look at it after it was cast off that it flared and rippled like crazy (it was also difficult to pick up that many stitches). So I ripped and went back and picked up 63 stitches and it looks much better. I also had to re-cast off the neck region since I was paranoid about it being too tight so instead, it was floppy and again, very ripply (sigh). The pattern? easy to follow, it was just me not checking the row gauge (shhh).

Fun Fur?!

2008-11-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've got a new project commissioned by the Creature. She wants mommy to knit her a Grumpy Old Troll. Here's a pic.

Okay, it looks like this will be a pretty easy knit. But I'm now in search of fun fur. Yep, yellow, and TWO shades of orange fun fur! If you think it can be knit w/ something else, please let me know**. I've got all sorts of yarns, but nothing in these colors (apparently, I don't work in this color palette).

**I really don't want to spend $50 on 'fancy' yarns for this project.

Anyway, I'm going to find the camera and take some pics of projects today.

Bad Me

2008-11-03T18:25:00.000-08:00

Is it already November? Bad me. I'll take pics of what I've been working on and will post soon.

Hope all had a great Halloween!

Camel's Back and the straw

2008-10-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've been plodding away on a rectangular shawl, based on a curtain design from an old Anna magazine.

I received the single ply lace weight camel yarn called gazelle (yes, it's camelhair named gazelle). The color is a little deceiving because it looks redder than it actually is. It turned out to be lovely dark brown yarn. Single ply. I was a little worried about, but I knit a swatch and blocked it and it looked lovely. Absolutely lovely.

I didn't want to do a flowery motif with this chocolaty goodness. I opted for a geometric (PITA) pattern that took me several repeats to finally understand (a 70 row repeat, seriously?!). AND I ended up knitting one end, then picking up and knitting the other end and feared that I knit the world's longest shawl...but it did block out nicely.

After blocking, I noticed that it does look a tad feather and fan, but it's not. And the end bits, man, that makes up for the boring middle part.

The pattern wasn't fraught with errors, but there is one line that did have errors and I pretty much reinvented that line (81) to get the others to work.

Specs:

Started September 14 2008
Completed October 8 2008
Yarn: 1/15 laceweight camelhair yarn from Colourmart in gazelle
amt: 990 yds.
needles: Addi lace turbos US3

Mods:
Cast on- 2 edges, 4 center repeats with 3 stitches on each side for edge (127 stitches total) and the pattern repeat? Well, that would seriously be a 70 stitch repeat. I did 3 on each side and then the edge. Modified row 81 because there were issues (extra stitches that didn't get used up in the edging) -- k,ssk,k9,kf&b,k9,k2tog,YO,k,YO,ssk,k9...

Erbstullgrund and Lacis lace meeting

2008-09-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

This month's meeting at Lacis was without our fearless leader, Mary Frances. But as usual, it was interesting and fun. I got to show off my Lyra and a friend of mine is doing her Lyra with Habu merino -- nice!

I started Estullgrund there and worked on it off and on this week. What fun! I've seriously got to say this is one of the funnest Niebling's I've done--ever. There aren't endless rounds of hex mesh, just enough...a few knit 5 togethers...and yes, even ONE crossed stitch per section.

It would have been done earlier, but I stalled out on the edging region. I could not make heads or tails from the instructions. I figured you needed to do some make1's and that your final stitch count should be 101 stitches, but neither Babelfish nor Google translate was very helpful. I did end up googling this pattern and emailing a knitter that also knit this. I received her notes and voila, edging.

But then tragedy. I realized there's no way I'd have enough to finish the edging. I used a partial ball of thread figuring I'd have enough. No problem. Shortened it and bound off.

Specs:
Started August 6 2008
Completed August 10 2008
thread: Manuela No. 10 thread
amt: .9 balls
pattern: Burda 908/42 Erbstullgrund
mods: changed the edging by making it smaller

Lyra...finally

2008-09-02T14:26:00.001-07:00

I actually finished Lyra a couple of days ago. But when I went to look at it preblocking, I realized there were stains on the white cotton. Drats. Double Drats. Anyway, it spent a day in time out, and then another night in oxyclean. As I pinned it out, I realized there are additional stains. I'm not sure how that came to be (am sure it had nothing to do w/ the fact that this was toted EVERYWHERE).

From the closeup, you can see where the binding occurs. Remember, I did not change needles, fuss or muss with the pattern at all. It is knitted as originally written. I didn't even bother changing the needle size at row 113 as per Anna Burda version.

I've got to agree w/ many folks that have knitted this beauty, it's not the most difficult Niebling, but it's quite a fun little knit (altho' I found the leaf edging a pita-- so up to the leaf edging very fun). I opted to knit the square version, but had a heck of a time trying to block it out to the square shape.

Anyway, here's the pic and specs:

Patern: Lyra by Herbert Niebling (Anna Burda magazine)
Started August 12 2008
Completed August 31 2008
thread: Cordonnet #100 2.1 balls
needles: 0000dpns 000circs (32in)
mods: none. no needle change, no additional stitch, nada. See, you can see where there's binding. Yes. There is binding when you knit Lyra with thread.

eta: this is much smaller than other folks Lyra since I used #100 thread with 000 needles.

While I was knitting...

2008-08-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Here's the whole ~~excuse~~ story as to why I didn't finish Lyra in time...

Reason 1: I didn't pick up the thread from Lacis because I didn't know how much I needed. Then they didn't have any, and then I had to go to pick it up from their warehouse.

Reason 2: I had to wait for W to open to buy a Wii system for z and a's dad's birthday coming up (okay, it's a present for the whole family). I was told to go at 6 am for them to open at 7am...I did too plop down on the ground and work on Lyra sort of uninterrupted for an hour. ...the nice thing is that I was the only one there, the bad thing was that the electronic dept. manager didn't realize that they were offering it in the flyer for sale, so she sold all her Wii consoles the day before. I did make her call another store who actually knew about the sale, so at 7:15, I raced down there and am now a proud owner of Wii...

Reason 2A: Well, I had to play Wii, didn't I? And it's not like you can knit and play...so, Wii won.

Reason 3: We've got too much junk. So I had a yard sale. See, here's my Lyra on a stack of clothes...the sale was okay.

We unloaded a few baby items, but we've still got tons of stuff left...ack! I've got to have another sale?!

hmmm...what else? well. Life. Kids. all that stuff. Anyway, I'll post again when I'm finished.

Jaunt in the City

2008-08-25T09:08:00.001-07:00

hmmm...maybe this is why I didn't finish Lyra in time for closing ceremonies...running around doing all the other stuff.

Anyway, a couple of friends from the Lacis lace knitting group and I met in The City (that's San Francisco for the non-Bay Area folks) for a lovely afternoon on Sunday. We met up at the 16th BART station and took #33 bus to the wonderful knitting store, Imagiknit. What a nice place. You gotta love a place that separates animal fibers from non-animal fibers...

I opted for a cone of deep purple merino lace from Habu. It'll make a lovely shawl.

Then we were off to Samovar, where we were treated (by my friend) with lovely tea and salads. A little knitting got done, but it was just fun hanging with the girls and doing a field trip.

A bit ago, we went to my other friend's home where she made us a lovely lunch and amazing dessert-- we did do a bit of knitting then.

I guess I'm next. Since I have two creatures, I think I'll host at Julie's Tea in Alameda.

Ravelympics part II--sadness

2008-08-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

No bronze medals were thrown, no refs kicked in the head...nope. I tried really hard, but only managed to round 135 of Lyra. (at least I finished one project). Will post pics/story later.

Knitting Olympics part I

2008-08-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

As my Knitting Olympics project, I originally chose Lyra (finally). But when I went to Lacis to pick up the thread, I couldn't figure out how much I needed (since I decided to do it with 100 thread).

Anyway, I have been meaning to do Hyrna Herborgar, so that's what I did. I did a little head scratching with one part (not the part that everyone else had), but other than that, it was a easy knit. I now understand why folks knit several of these. Easy and it looks amazing--kinda like swallowtail. I can totally see knitting 1 or 3 more of these...

And fast.

specs:
Started August 8 2008
Completed August 13 2008
yarn: laceweight cashmere in dark red (purchased from a knitter who was destashing from Knitters Review)
needles: US4 KP options
pattern: Hyrna Herborgar

The Happiest Place on Earth

2008-08-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

Heck, very little knitting got done. But what a fun place for little kids. I grew up in SoCal and went to Disneyland a lot. As we got older, my parents would send us off with $20 bill and that would get us in the park, rides, including the coveted 'E ticket' rides, and even a souvenir if we didn't blow the cash on candy...oh, how times have changed. Wow! Sticker shock. Oh, well, the kids were charmed.

We promised Z that when he learned how to read, we'd take him to Disneyland. Well, he learned last year and is actually quite a proficient reader now (we're doomed) at age 5.5...

His least favorite ride was Space Mountain. Mean parents that we are, we talked him into that ride. We forgot how fast it goes. Both quite liked the Dumbo ride. And little Creature was enthralled by everything, the characters, the rides, and yep, she loved the pirates.

Oh, while down there, it was the start of the Olympics, so I did manage to cast on a shawl. I'll post in the next post.

Weekend wrap up

2008-08-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

I forgot, I attended the Lacis lace group this Saturday. There were only 4 of us there that day, but it was fun.

I spent time weaving the ends in for the gift I knit (then promptly forgot to bring it on Saturday night). And I tried to figure out what the heck I did to Trollblume (an extra stitch). Tinked back two rows and then had to decide if I really wanted to tink back one more row -- this would be the round with 2 knit 7 togethers in one section. Oh double drats.

Oh, and Mary Frances showed us her beautiful doily made from the center motif of Lyra. It's done with their tussah silk and it's gorgeous.

Anyway, Jules came by to show their 'new' pattern. Mary Frances has cleaned up Alpenrose! She translated the directions to English. And that missing row? She fixed it. Is she awesome or what?!

AND it's going to be included in the next group of Niebling patterns put out by Lacis...get this...shhhh...it's supposed to arrive this Wednesday!

So, if you read my blog, walk in an orderly fashion and go place your order.

The party Saturday night? It was a blast. No, literally a blast from the past. My friend had a 80's dance party. It was so much fun. I found a jacket with enourmous shoulder-ma-pads in my closet (from the 80's) to wear. Of course, you know that in order to have this jacket in my closet meant it got moved from my parents home to college (3 residences) to my brothers to grad school (3 residences) back to Cali (2 residences). Oh, my gawd! In my closet. Not in a box, not from the rags pile. From my closet! And I almost wore my short leather jacket with fringe (also in my closet). I think it's time to clean out my closet and do a donation run.

btw, I really like the music of the 80's. I think that decade was the last one where I actually knew the lyrics of the songs. My favorite song? I have so many...too many. What's your favorite 80's song?

Niebling Leaf shawl complete

2008-08-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

Here's the finished shawl from a Lena magazine. It's official name is "Rosa romantic", and there's variants in Lavori VIII and it's suggested it's related to Phoenix Palme. A couple of notes on this knit is that it's ginormous. And it would have been even larger had I not modified the last rows of leaves and the edging. The original is 211 rounds and I dropped it down to 198 by shortening the leaves and changing the edging.

Knit-wise, this was pretty simple, but as I mentioned before, you need to twist the twists and purl the purls on the 'rest row', which means no resting row. The yarn is pretty nice. It's Colourmart 100% cashmere. I'm off on vacation tomorrow, but when I get back, I might toss it in a bag and put it in the washer...or not.

Oh, there was binding between leaf set 2 and 3, so I added a hex mesh/section and then took it out toward the end.

Would I recommend this pattern? Well, yes, but I would have something a tad more challenging at the same time. I didn't bother recharting, so I ended up coloring in the leaf motifs. That helped me alot to see the general leaf pattern. And since it's kinda boring, it was a nice little break too.

btw--I originally used a white shirt for modeling this shawl, but it was so large that it looked silly. So I had to go and pull out a lab coat (shh, yes, I own my own lab coats) and use that for showcasing the shawl

specs:
start: July 13, 2008
finish: August 1, 2008
yarn: US3 and then US4 (when I needed longer needles--should have probably just started w/ US4, but whatever).
pattern: Lena March 2006 Rosa Romantic
mods: to release binding and to make it a tad smaller than given. And changed edging. Also changed crochet loops too.

all I can say is that if it weren't so not an exciting knit, I'd do it again as a tablecloth. Maybe I'll switch it up and do the Lavori VIII one...

My next project was going to be the WRS from Sharon Miller, but with Ravelympics and season of lace and vacation, I might wait--or not.

I might do Hyrna Herborgar with some lovely red cashmere that I've had and knit and ripped twice for two other projects.

Thinking about Wedding Ring Shawl

2008-07-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about Sharon Miller's Wedding Ring Shawl. Okay, it started with Princess, but I don't know about the whole triangle thing, and I'm not crazy enough to knit the square version. Then I started thinking about Unst, and isn't that a beauty? And then I was thinking about Wedding Ring Shawl...

Anyway, I'm only on round 170 of the Lena Niebling, so, there's not much to show, except for a sea of green. I do think I'm going to end it sooner than later, since I'm not a huge fan of the edging they used anyway.

Back to the 'next-big-project'. I'm torn. I've now got 3 different cobwebby yarns to be used for the Sharon Miller projects.

What do you all think?
the Mint is actually more green and much less yellow...these are all colourmart yarns.

left to right:

3/84NM 45:55 Cashmere/Silk Cobweb Weight in Mint

1/36NM 55:45 Cashmere/Silk Cobweb Weight in Sangria

1/36NM 55:45 Cashmere/Silk Cobweb Weight in dark natural

Which one to use?

ETA: I guess Sangria is it! Thanks everyone. By the way, Colourmart has more of this color (don't let his color scare you off, it's a deep red, not bright)

Panda

2008-07-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

I knit this for my young friend who has a 15th birthday coming up this weekend. I never can figure out what to get for her each year, but recently, she's let it be known that she likes panda bears. And you know, it's not like she can have too many pandas. So I looked through my patterns and found the perfect one. It's from Noah's Ark by Alan Dart.

I knit him in worsted yarn instead of DK because I didn't want him to be teeny tiny. The pattern can be found in the simply Knitting magazine or his book, Irresistible Toys to Knit.

Stats:
Date started finished: a week because I was thinking about modifications.

It's actually a very fast knit, it took me a bit because I had to think about how to redo his legs and body so that he's more sitting, and less standing on all fours (like a cow). I wanted him to not be on 4s because well, I normally see sitting pandas.

yarn: acrylics
needle size: US2
mods: Many.

Here's my modifications:
Body: Done in the round because well, I try to do all of Alan Dart's patterns in the round when ever possible.
Head: Done also in the round after the neck part.
Arms: Done in the round. Went with casting on 10 stitches, knit a tube for a bit and then decreasing by k2tog and then thread through and pull. Stuffed and sewed on.
Legs: Done in the round. Cast on 14 stitches, knit 2 rows, increased 2 stitches at stitch 1 and 7, knit a few, decrease again, k row, decrease, knit.

Here's some more shots because he turned out so nicely. btw, that's a lucky bamboo that my mother gave me in the 90's (maybe 1996?).

No rest...

2008-07-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm knitting Rosa Romantic (aka phoenix Palme) from Lena. I've been meaning to knit it for awhile, and when I was last yarn diving (in my stash), I realized I had this lovely teal cashmere. So, I cast on on July 13. Of course, I haven't finished my other project, trollblume, but I'm at the point of moving my stitches off needles to only knit back and forth, so...it's sitting idle while I work on this beauty.

This will by my first (and maybe only) circular shawl. I like knitting circles, but I don't like wearing them (kinda like my love/dislike relationship w/ triangles). I guess I'm a rectangular type of gal. But here's the thing about this pattern, there's no rest row. You know, Nieblings have that every other row is a straight knitting row (which I really enjoy as the rounds get longer). However, with this pattern, you have to twist the twist stitches and purl the purl stitches. ouch.

Anyway, here's a progress shot. I'm too lazy to pin it out, so I stuck a book underneath it instead.

Ory-gone

2008-07-13T15:07:00.000-07:00

Due to a soon-to-expire free ticket, we had a minivacation in Portland this weekend.

Of course, what is my main thought? What knitting to bring? Since we didn't want to check anything, I had to bring a project that would work w/ my Harmonies. So, it would be a doily (0-2needle size) or something that goes with size 4.

I chose to bring my Malabrigo green laceweight that I purchased from Nine Rubies a bit ago. And since one of my friends is turning 40 this next month, I thought I'd knit her something. I went back and forth between Ice Queen and Swallowtail, and then decided that the Malabrigo would be much better as a swallowtail.

Anyway, I cast on the tabby bit and that was it. Printed out the pattern, and put it in the bag.

We dropped the kids off and make it to the airport with plenty of time. Only to find that our flight had been delayed. Not a little bit delayed, but 4 HOURS delayed! Good thing I brought my knitting. 4 hours normally wouldn't be that painful, except for the fact that we boarded our plane at 1:05 AM. Ouch!

Anyway, I was able to get lots of knitting in during that time, and surprisingly, I finished the shawl in 3 days (and vacation too).

Given the amount of time I KIPed, only one person asked me about it...here's my knitting at the Portland Rose Garden.

Here's some gorgeous roses.

Did I mention this was going to be a short vacation (couldn't leave the kids too long). We were in the city of Portland for a total of 65 hours. And in the time I knit the whole shawl, got to check out Yarnia, where I picked up a cone of purple cotton yarn, and got to check out the Yarn Garden, where I picked up the latest Piecework for the shawl pattern.
This is my yarn being wound off at Yarnia.

Didn't have that much time at the Yarn Garden because we only found it 15 minutes before they closed. And lovely husband was so nice about it since we needed to be at the airport to catch our flight. (Of course the flight was late too, so whatever). I think had I known it was in the same block as my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland, we would have gotten there earlier. By the way, that restaurant would be Jarra's. I went there when I lived in Oregon and we'd make a special trip up there. Of course, that's the restaurant where one of my closest friends said 'Even the vegetables are hot (spicy)'. Man was it fabulous! Then they moved to their present location, and we've been there once (that would be once in the last 12 years?)

To all: I must say I've got a most fabulous husband. He hung out as I checked out my version of heaven at Yarnia -- just imagine wall to wall yarn...in...cones. And he suggested and helped find the Yarn Garden as a stop before leaving Oregon.

The most fabulous killer spicy wings can be found at the Widmere brewery/pub.

As for the project, it's the swallowtail shawl:

pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from IK
start: July 9, 2008
finish: July 12, 2008
modifications: I did an extra 2 rows at the end (because I wanted to)

Creature verses Peacock

2008-07-07T11:17:00.001-07:00

Several of us from the Lacis lace knitting group decided to knit the Fiddlestick's Peacock Feathers Shawl as a KAL. I got the pattern when I first got into lace knitting and really liked it, but the question was: 'did I really need another triangular shawl?'

On Ravelry much later, I found that someone had converted the triangular pattern to a rectangular stole. In fact, 2 knitters had. And it was lovely. So, while my KAL cohorts were off knitting their triangle, I started researching and knitting the stole.

Wow. What a great pattern. I was worried that the repetitiveness of the stole pattern would make my brain numb and make me very frustrated, but it was nice. I'm still not a big fan of pattern #1, but that's just me. But the rest of it just flew off my needles.

I cast on a couple of times because I didn't like the needle size. Casted on a total of 128 stitches provisionally (4 on each edge in garter). I decided to go up to US4 even though previously I'd been using US3 because the peacock's I've seen looked dense, and I'm all about airy. (And after working with #100 thread, Jagger Spun Zephyr feels like worsted).

Flies off the needle, I say, easy pattern to remember (sort of). I opted to add an additional pattern of pattern 5 and then added #6 glass beads to the knit row before crochet cast off (every other stitch). 9 stitches crochet and every 3 stitches (4 on the edge).

Picked up the other side and knit going the other way. Then disaster strikes this weekend. I'm on pattern 6 of the 2nd side when the Creature struck.

I set it down and told her as usual, please don't play with mom's knitting. I went to discuss dinner plans and hear the older child going 'mom. mom.' Not a screaming 'MOM', nope, a 'mom, can you come in here please'

I come back to find this:

The good news was that Creature did not yank the needles off the stole. The bad news is (and this is all from the 5 year old) that Creature took the ball of yarn and bit it like an apple...several times.

This is probably what my poor ball of yarn saw right before the tragedy.

Anyway, instead of finishing the stole as I planned, I spent about 5 hours trying to untangle, and rewind this mess. And to add to this, I read that the stole took a little more than 4 oz, and I only had 4 oz, so I'm all about trying to salvage this tangled mess. I also found to my horror, that the yarn was broken at the stitch I was working on, and several other places in that tangled mess.

After rewinding, I tinked back and reattached the yarn and finished the stole.

Specs:

pattern: Fiddlesticks Peacock Feathers shawl

start/finish date: June 24-July 6, 2008

mods: many. Changed from triangle to rectangle, added beads, increased length

Gone to the Fair

2008-06-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

Today was a totally fun day. The boy and I dropped the girl off at school and we went to run errands, including a trip the the Farmers Market, where we got some incredible strawberries from my favorite vendor and even some peaches. Then we hung out and picked up A after she's had her nap (the reason she went to school was so that she'd get a nap) to go to the County Fair.

We got there and A and Z each made one of these:

Very cool. They had set out some sheered wool and paper and glue and crayons.

We looked at a calf that was born yesterday...we looked at hobbies...and then we went in search of ...

yep. I entered several pieces in the knitting category.

I can honestly say in all the years I've gone to the fair, I've never stepped into this building. It was a little frustrating running around looking at every single display to see if it's one of mine. I had Z looking too. But he was trying to look for my name, and that's difficult in that huge place.

After much running around, I found all my items, and guess what?! I ribboned.

My goldlack shawl won 2nd place. woo hoo.

AND
.
.
.
.
.
.

Blue ribbon for Hanalore.

Double woo hoo.

Blood Sweat and Tears for Birch Catkins

2008-06-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

I finished my first #100 thread 0000/000 needle project. The knitting wasn't that difficult once I got into it. The trick? Don't switch back and forth between projects. My fingers got used to the thin thread pretty quickly, and it's not like cobweb yarn, that snaps when you look at it. This stuff is pretty tough stuff. But ultra thin thread with similar needles work your hands pretty hard.

So, the trials and tribulations of the Birch doily:

Snippet I:

I had set down the project right after I had first switched over from dpns to circs, and my lovely two year old darling little A (aka Creature), came running over saying 'momma, momma, yarn...' while pointing at her legs. Well, there was nothing there, so I shrugged and she sang me a song.

Anyway, I go back to pick up the knitting, and it's not there. I looked around and found it on the floor with the thread in a jumble. Aha. She had been playing w/ my knitting and the thread got tangled around her legs. (Yes, she had dragged it almost into another room).

Anywhoo. the point to this story? Severalfold.

One. I would switch over to circs as soon as possible. Had I left my 0000 metal dpns on there, the blog entry would be vastly different, and shorter.

Two. Listen to your child, really listen. They're not talking silliness. I promise to be a better mom and listen.

Three. That Cordonnet thread is amazing. That stuff is tough. I'm impressed.

Snippet II:

This form of charting greatly annoys me. Mostly because they use the same symbol for k2tog as Burda does for k2 into 1. That is a pain. And this pattern isn't bundled so you have to read all the way across the chart. Priscilla graciously recharted the pattern and it was awesome. But since the official start date wasn't until this weekend -- it being the 'summer' kal and all, I forged ahead. Anyway, I found a couple of errors/ommissions and since everyone isn't as far ahead as myself, well...anyway, there's a couple of move markers that aren't documented and there's a head scratcher (for me) that I had to knit by pure blind faith -- and given the chart errors, I still did that. There's a bit that might look wonky, but oh well.

Snippet III:

Oh my goodness was it hot this weekend. Whew. It was so hot we all hung out in our basement (it's a high basement Vickie) and I knitted on this doily while the kids played. The only thing is I have got to go find my little string holder because my ball of thread kept rolling around. Good thing it's thread, I'm sure it's going to get a tad less dingy when I actually wash it before blocking.

Snippet IV:

Total rookie manuver (or how I had to rewash and soak the doily). I pinned out the doily with the initial 16 pins, then was going through and pinning the other loops when I realized that mine's not circular. So, made a makeshift compass and drew some circles, then was pinning again. After half of it is done, I'm realizing that the doily is drying out --it's been warm here. I can get it done. Hurry Hurry. Sure.

Well, I went and poked myself w/ a straight pin, but still, plodded ahead. Yep, got a drop of blood on the edge. Shoot. Off came all the pins and back in cold water it goes. (See that little discoloration? yep, blood).

I've invested in the stainless steel pins, but sometimes, they bend. And I'm finding that I don't have that many left. I started pinning them 2 together to save pins -- man, I'm lazy. Note to self: go check out th pins that Lacis carries.

edited to add:

Snippet V :

As I was posting this doily to my projects page on Ravelry, I noticed that others listed the pattern as personal, and not Herbert Niebling...I did what a good volunteer editor does, I added the pattern and posted a quick message to the board asking folks to link to this pattern instead of 'personal'.

Well, I get back from picking up the kids only to find much badness. I am no longer a member of the Yahoo group. The group got Ravelry-ized, and I think my putting up this doily was the last straw. It is very sad. They have the right to decide who's in and who's out. I did really appreciate all the information and the lovely folks on that board and how helpful everyone was. I do wish everyone there the best.

In the following picture, in the middle, you see that wonky arch, yep that one, right in the middle. Yes. That's row 91.

Started: June 10, 2008
Finished: June 23, 2008
thread: Cordonnet #100 in white
needles: 0000 dpns, 000 32" circs
modifications: I added 2 extra rows to the edging. Oh, I changed how the doily started too. Using #100 thread, I thought it was too much of a PITA to do the 1->5->10 in 7 rounds.
It blocked out at 23 inches in diameter.

Niebling Summer KAL update

2008-06-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the official start isn't until this weekend, but I am working away at mine. While I was taking a progress shot (I don't usually do this too much for a doily), I realized how thin my thread was, so I thought I'd take a pic for posterity.

This is left to right: #10 thread, #20 thread, and what I'm working with right now, #100 thread.

This is a needle comparison:
Top down: US8, US1, US000, US0000, US6X0

As for the update on the KAL, here it is:

oh, also, guess what I finally ordered....

Thanks for the present! This is a gift from my MIL. Love it!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T08:02:00.001-07:00

To all the fathers out there, have a great one!

Niebling Summer KAL

2008-06-10T18:22:00.000-07:00

This summer's KAL is this doily.

I decided I'd try to knit this with the smallest thread I can find. I went to Lacis (again) and talked w/ Erin, the manager. She pointed out the Cordonnet #100 and I also got 0000 metal dpn needles (1.25mm). I figured these should work.

Wish me luck, y'all.

As for other projects, I'm still working on Filigree. It's a bit stalled because I'm trying to decide how to extend the size. I think I'll do a row of leaves (like the edging), and then do another row of flowers ala goldmohn, or just another ring of leaves.

I've also fallen in love with the alternate form of Peacock shawl (Fiddlesticks) that is done in a rectangular stole shape. It looks easy peasy to go from triangle to rectangle.

I'm presently trying to decide among:
1) black bamboo laceweight
2) blue green cashmere laceweight
3) vivid blue tencel
4) basil zephyr

decisions...decisions...

Oh, I need a cardigan or two. I'm working on a black cardi (boring stockinette) based loosely on cropped cardi from Knitty, except mine will not be cropped, nor will it be that low cut. I'm also trying to decide what to use for the adult EZ Feb sweater. I figured I've made 3 children one's, I should make one for me.

Napperon Carre

2008-06-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Isn't Napperon Carre just a beautiful name? yep, it means 'square mat'.

Anyway, this was an interesting knit. The flowers are all crossed stitches, and then you crochet bind off and then pick up stitches (makes that cool loop) and continue. I did end up modifying it a tad. Bind off is at round 113, but I went up to 115 (keeping in hex-mesh and edging pattern). Then for the crochet bind off, I knit together 4 loops at hex mesh, 3 at the triangular points, 5-5-5-5, 4-5-4, 5-5-5-5. Crochet 14 instead of 20 chain (too loopy).

Yes, there was binding. I wish I remembered that when I looked at the picture, it looked like it binds right at the start of the flowers. I wish I had remembered that. It would have been easy to put in another hex mesh there. Drats.

Started May 30, 2008

Finished June 7, 2008

Cebelia #20

1.5 balls

US1 Addi Turbo Lace

Dragone comes alive

2008-06-07T14:43:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to finding the perfect eye for the Dragone, it's a swarovski crystal.

It's attached with 30 gauge wire.

Adventures

2008-06-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I went over to the other side of the Bay and purchased this cool swift from a fellow Raveler. This is a Squirrel cage swift. The ball winder I've owned. I'm just super glad the winder now has a place to live.

I needed another swift, even though I already have my wonderful amazing Goko swift. The only design flaw with goko is that it doesn't expand wide enough to handle larger skeins. Isn't it a beaut?

I thought since I was in San Mateo, it would be a good time to visit a Nine Rubies, a yarn store located in the Downtown area.

The folks there were very nice and the yarns were lovely. Unfortunately, they didn't have that much lace, but I did go home with my Mmmmalabrigo laceweight in apple green (okay, this was the only color they had.

Okay, this apple green is not a good color for me, but isn't it lovely? And I'm sure I know someone that would like this color...

Then later in the week, I went to Lacis. As the whole Niebling loving community now knows, they are publishing Lyra. Yay.

Weave That.

2008-06-05T15:19:00.000-07:00

A bit ago, I tried out the Weave It loom at the Color Fiber Festival, and somehow, I ended up with not one but several Weave It looms, and a Love&Money loom set too! And somehow, the hotpad loom, another little loom (which isn's supposed to be great, but whatever.

Here's my little collection of Weave it looms (plus that little loom that's not a Weave It loom.)

How'd that happen?

they're housed in my Powepuff girl metal box. See how the needles are held on by a magnet that's stuck on the box? (saw that's what GirlontheRocks did).

Anyway, I've now tried a couple of squares and made a couple of birdies with them. My goal is to actually make something that folks don't think...'uhmmm. They're squares'--or in this case, squares folded in half.

What shall I make next? I don't know...

Slaying the Dragon

2008-05-29T10:15:00.001-07:00

I'm done I'm done I'm done.

Blocked yesterday. Here it is.

It's massive. It's huge. I wish I had used a smaller needle.

okay, I'm off to the bead store to find a bead for the eye.

Lyra Sister finished

2008-05-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd do a semi-quickie Niebling. Funny, it only ends up being 30ish rows less than Lyra. But this turned out much smaller than I thought (at 65cm squared). I've really admired it since I saw it a while ago, mostly because I like squares a bit more than circles.

This is 418/23 from the Burda Lace Special. It's apparently also known as Hannelore (don't ask me why, I don't know...never saw this name to this pattern except on Ravelry). It was a little knit in that it took me a little over a week, but it wasn't as fun as I was hoping b'cause of the the ground stitches. Ends up this is the same background as Dragone and crossed stitches to boot(which I will show you later once I've got it blocked). So, ~~while~~ instead knitting the edging of Dragone, I knit this up.

Specs:

Started May 15 2008
Completed May 24 2008

thread used: Cebelia #20 in white (1.4 balls)

needle size: USo (2mm) dpn and circs

Modifications: none. Oh, wait, I'm fibbing. I did sort of have to mess with the final bind off a little. I'm not sure if I actually changed the grouping of the loops or not, but the way I did it worked out. (I did a 4-3-5-3-4, unless there was a leaf coming up, then it was 4-3-5-3-3 grouping. And at the corner, I did the 4-3-5-3-4--4 at the corner). heck, if you are knitting this ditty and are confused, email me and I'll draw it out.

I love how the flower is crossed stitches. So very Niebling.

Swirl Twirl

2008-05-09T23:28:00.000-07:00

This was a easy knit (once I got over the ~~simple~~ math since I wanted to make a few changes).

2 is the number of balls of Jojoland Harmony yarn I purchased from Stitches West

3 is the size needles I used

21 is the number of days it took for me to make this

80 is the grams of Jojoland yarn used (1.4 balls)

65 is the number of spirals I made

67 is the number of pins I used to block this sucker

1920 is the number of stitches picked up

2760 is the number of stitches I cast on

130 is the number of ends I wove in.

But here it is....

whew. Worth it? I think so...

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby girl!

2008-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

Why was I not at Maker Faire this weekend? Well, I have a birthday party this weekend for my wonderful little Creature A.

This year, we decided on cupcake cake and a party at the park. And we opted to supplement the store cake w/ home-made minicupcakes. I saw these on this site and had to try them. They are so cute!

Okay, ...I've made flourless chocolate cake from scratch, cookies, cream puffs, English toffee, tortes, tarts, cakes, etc...but I've never made cupcakes!

So, first attempt. Utter failure. I read that you're to fill the cup anywhere from 1/2 to 2/3 full. Yep, I opted for the 2/3 full. Oh, what a mess. (nothing to see here...please keep moving...)

Try II. Went to get more of the mini-nut holders and big box M store did not have any! Did find them finally and made these.

Note how I went the other way this time and filled everything only to half. And the white cake shrank! Ah, well. Trusty intarweb told me that I can add more frosting to compensate. Aha.

Here's what they look like after frosting.

We got a store cupcake cake (only served 14) and you guessed it, only the adults ate the itty bitty cakes. The kids all went for the big giant cupcakes. Anyway, the party was loads of fun, for everyone but you guessed it, little Miss Creature. She didn't feel good in the morning, and napped (very unlike her) in the morning. She was a bit clingy but we put it down to party stress...nope. As we were loading stuff up to go home, yep, there was erpage.

As for the nut holder cups? Went to MickyD's today and they had literally stacks of them...darn, I wish I had known, wouldn't have needed to traipse all over town looking for these suckers. Could have just used the Double Arches ketchup cups.

Okay, back to knitting.

Update on KAL and Happy Happy Happy

2008-04-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update on the KAL fiasco, as flutter says, yes, that's the designer. But I did get a chuckle from someone else's post (which will likely get deleted on the board), turns out her other job is...as a psychic. The poster made a snark about how if she was good at her job, she should have foreseen this (almost made me spray my monitor with my Diet Coke). hee. I thought it was funny.

eta: Thanks for all the comments!

Anyway, onward to fun stuff. Saturday, I and the girl went up to Color: A festival of fiber. I wish I had signed up for the spinning class before hand, since the classes were full when we got there, but I did manage to check out Girl On the Rock's tutorial about weaving using a mini-loom. What fun (except when A thought it would be funny to run away from mom on several occasions - sigh). In between the chasing, I did manage to make this cell phone doohicky.

So very cool. I now must go find this loom. They're right now going for ~$30-60 a pop. I'm thinking more in the $15 range...I'd make one, but it would be nice to have one in front of me to check it out first.

And they had amazing lovely roving. It's really too bad I can't spin (yet). So I didn't buy any roving. I looked and petted and even allowed A to pet (after I checked that she had clean fingers of course). I also arranged to meet up with the lovely marlowec from Ravelry who yay, gave me some lovely sock yarn. And she was super nice and gave A pineapple.

But after a bit, A was losing it (no nap) and we had to leave. Actually, I don't think we could have done the spinning class. All that whirling and twirling would have sent little A into uber-creature mode. It was a small gathering, but very cool. I hope they do it again (and often).

Then on Sunday, I went to the local library to meet up w/ Ravelry folks. And what was a special treat was that a lace knitting friend who dropped off family at the airport was able to come by and knit with us.

So, pretty productive weekend of fiber. I am now working on the 4 out of 5 rows on the swirly stole (I of course modified the pattern and it's a few less circles/row. I really like it since it's portable and super easy pattern to remember (ask me again when I'm weaving in bazillion ends).

rolling eyes at KAL

2008-04-26T23:52:00.000-07:00

I like knitalongs...I might not knit along, I might not even contribute to the chatter, but I like them. I marvel at the folks that have the tenacity to set them up, and I hope that they like doing these since they get 100's and even 1000's of folks knitting something the designer dreamed up. I mean seriously, a bunch of folks waiting with bated breath for Friday to roll around so that they can get a new clue and then blindly knit the clue...such power...

However, there is one knitalong that I joined which did something I really didn't like. The designer claimed that due to the amount of time involved in doing this KAL, that she needed to now charge a fee for the clues to the pattern. Now, it's not the $ that bothers me, there are knitalongs that require a fee, and I'm all for that--if you think you can make money from it, sure, go ahead. I'm just not comfortable with her explanations...she says that there were too many people asking questions about her clue and that folks were emailing her nonstop, she had to take a break from the 2nd clue. Okay, taking time away from the family, I get that. But then she turned around and is now charging for the clues...that just doesn't jive with me. Is getting money going to allow her to spend more time with her family? uhmmm...no. Well, at least now she can say that she's getting something for missing out on personal time. whatever.

But here's the kicker. Here's why I don't think I'll purchase this pattern. She also has a group on Ravelry and folks were posting their disappointments about what they perceived as 'bait & switch' tactics. And true, it was a free KAL, and you get what you pay for, so stop your whinging. But here's the reason I won't be purchasing her pattern... She went and deleted the comments that she didn't like!

Wow. I've not seen that before. This is along the lines of Magknits and the way they closed up shop. Her attitude is that this was 'her house, and she can do as she pleases'. Okay, that's a paraphrase, but the thing about 'her house' is in her note she sent out.

Now, I'm a moderator for a yahoo group, and I have deleted posts, but I will email the poster to let them know why I deleted their post (usually, it's for silly things like that they put too much personal information in a post that goes out to a huge group, or that they're chatting on the board and that's not kosher--yeah, we're strict). But I don't delete because I don't agree with them (and we get some bulldog-types that just...won't...let...a...subject...go. big rolling eyes)

Anyway, my post didn't get deleted (yet), but posts above and below mine were decimated. Ughh...bad taste in mouth, bad taste...

I think that this designer should have thought about what a KAL would entail and talked w/ other designers first about how to run one successfully.

Later, I'll talk about my lovely weekend which started out with a trip to Color: A Fiber Festival today and will hopefully end with meeting up w/ Rav folks at the local library.

And I'll post a picture or two.

Update on the ever growing bunch of lace...

2008-04-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dragone update:

yes, I'm almost done with the head...and I'm dragging on my dragone...

I also finally looked at the swirl shawl pattern by Jojoland and cast on one component to figure out if I'm willing to knit 80something of these...

Why yes, you cut the yarn so there will be over 160 ends to weave in. The one nice thing is that you pick up the edges so there's no seaming...This is supposed to be done in fingering yarn, but I like the Jojoland Harmony, so that's what I'm using. It's looking a bit flimsy to me (this is US3, of course) so I think I'll increase the size of each of these...I'm looking at Spiral Octagon Shawl from IK as a guide...I need ONE project where it'll be easy to follow once I start and I was really hoping this was it.

Back to tinking and knitting...

Filigree progress

2008-04-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

I know I should be working on Dragone, but why when I've got extra lovely Colourmart silk/cashmere in Sangria whispering to me. Saying CAST ON FOR SOMETHING! oh, I guess it's shouting...not whispering. I decided that this gorgeous red cone of delight has to become a Niebling. (It's actually much darker red than pictured--note to self: work on taking better picture).

I was going to make Lyra, but fleegle has such a beautiful red version of it that I decided on Filigree. 'Filigree' is 554/33 aka Burda Special E554 pattern #33 aka Anna 0896/21 (Aug 1996 pattern #21). There might be other names too, but I don't know. Lacefreak is working on this shawl, and her's is in a sweet pink. She calls it Poppy, and I think it's a lovely name. It is related to Goldmohn (Burda #198), I believe that has more chrysanthemum-oaky jagged leaves in the center. And Goldmohn is a monstrocity at 311 rounds while this is a sweet 176 rounds.

Anyway, I had Colourmart double the cobweb weight yarn and am using a US3 needle. I'm finding that for laceweight, that's my standby. I started this project April 5, 2008. Here's the progress picture:

I think it really does need another tier of something...I think I'll do the leaves as is, fill in the in between leaves with hex, and then do a round of flowers or edging to finish it off.

Arnika

2008-03-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

I had to put dragone in time out while I figure out if I skipped another stitch--I've already ripped 20 rows of it becuz I can't count.

Anyway, I was itching to for a Niebling fix, and I saw this little sweet doily and said, I'll do that one.

Isn't a nice sweet easy pattern?

A little bit about Arnica--it's a flowering plant that belongs in the sunflower family. Common name is wolf bane. It's used as a tincture for bruises and swelling. Not to be taken internally since it is poisonous. Has also been used as homeopathic medicine. (pic from Wikipedia)

All I can say is that I'm learning more about plants by knitting Niebling patterns than I had ever learned in college.

Anyway, back to the 'easy' pattern. It ended up not being that easy. It's actually quite challenging. There's an error at round 39 where there's an extra stitch unless you knit 3 together instead of 2 (like the pattern says). But the challenging parts?

Petals. Pretty petals. These consist of crossed stitches (that would be mini-cables for you all non-Niebling knitters).

And round 69? You bind off 12 stitches then pick them back up at row 70. How cool is that?! Oh, many thanks to , & from Ravelry for their help in decyphering German. I had babel fished it, but wasn't too sure.

So, here's my finished Arnika:

specs:
start date: March 28, 2008
finish date: March 30, 2008
thread: Cebelia #30
amt used: less than .5 ball
needles: US0 dpns and 0 Hiya Hiya needles

Oh, I should mention this is what I brought to knit on during the Ravelry meetup at the local library. By then, I was just knitting hex mesh, so it was pretty simple. The only modification I made was that I bumped up to US1 needles for the knit edge and then I actually knit 3X into each hex mesh so that I wouldn't get binding.

Back to trying to figure out Dragone...

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T08:18:00.001-07:00

Presenting Miss Dangly

2008-03-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

I had everything done but her eyes and thanks to everyone who commented, I went with the eyes close together.

I also made her a little crown and a little tulle skirt. I hope M likes her.

And yes, she is doing the splits.

Go Green

2008-03-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

yay! I'm actually working on a green project (albeit light green, but whatever). Heere be Dragone is moving along. I'm now getting a tad tired of the wing stitch. At first, I was paranoid I wouldn't drop the YO (or in my case, drop too many YO), so I would drop the stitch as I went along. A true study in tedium. Okay, then I got lazy and did it the way you're supposed to (which is to drop it on the wrong side). And I'm finally getting into a rhythm for the wings.

You all don't need another picture do you? just imagine another 10 rows. oh, all right.

There's only another 10 rows because I pulled out the blue cobweb silk from Colourmart and am working the pattern earlier seen with the ancient green cash/silk.

ETA: this is blue silk yarn originally purchased for the dragone but was such a pita tha I frogged it. I started the pattern using ancient green dk yarn and it just didn't work (since the green yarn is dk weight). I have switched it to the thin blue...I think I might have too much yarn...

Now, doesn't this look much much better? I think so. I brought this project to the Ravelry knitting group on Sunday. Actually, I cast on and knit this while there.

I decided to go up to US3 for this project because I really like the lacy look of it. And the nice thing is that this is a really easy pattern to remember, I don't have to look at my chart too much (verses Dragone).

Speaking of charts, lookee here:
I went shopping for plastic easter eggs for this weekend and found this at the local dollar store. This is a strip of metal with magnets -- used for kid's lockers to put up photos and such. However, this is perfect for lace charts. Perfect, I say. It's longer than 11.5" so my chart can sit horizontally. I've got a long strip of magnet and this is just so portable! I do still like my other metal sheet, but this one fits into my knitting bag...and did I mention it's portable?! And I got it at the dollar store...so, yep, it was a dollar. And it has no sharp edges 'cause it's made for kids. I've got to go get a couple more (since I've got more than 2 lace projects, you know).

So, again, Happy St. Pat's and go and drink some green beer...or if you're not into beer, go eat something green. (My children get to eat green eggs and ham today.)

Cheers!

WIPs

2008-03-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

No worries. I'm cruising on Heere be Dragone. In fact, here's a picture of it:

There's a recent thread on Ravelry asking about the most difficult lace, and this was one of the patterns listed as being difficult. Of course, I'm all like "oh no it's not. pretty simple actually." THEN, I drop a stitch. After my heart started again, I was able to repair it. I'm just thankful I opted not to use the cobweb 100% silk. whew! (oh, as you can see, I'm using BOY for this piece).

Oh, and then there's this:
This is scrumptious DK cashsilk in ancient green from Colourmart. I'm knitting this beautiful shawl with it (variation of a leaf pattern - kind of like kiri, but with a bit more substance) but unfortunately, that thing I always tell other folks to do and didn't do it myself?! yep...didn't swatch with the needles and this pattern is not showing up very well at all. This will be ripped and this pattern will be used with some other lace weight yarn. For this yarn? I think that I'll have to stick to larger needles and a more open pattern. I finally broke down and purchased Evelyn Clark's 'Triangle Shawls' based on recommendations by two people at the lace knitting group at Lacis. I think I'll do a EC triangle with this yarn.

By the way, this is the most lovely yarn. It feels nice to knit with it.

As for Ms. Dangly. I'm working on her outfit now. M's mom is super crafty and will undoubtedly make her additional clothes if M wishes. Will do a mini fashion shoot when done. Speaking of fashion shoots, while knitting last night, I was watching 'Make me a supermodel' (shh) last night and it amazes me that most of these models look like normal people unless you put clothes and make up on them. Then they look amazing. Actually, it seems like the real purty ones all got voted off the show. I find that interesting, don't you?

Dotting the eyes

2008-03-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

According to Chinese folklore, dotting the eyes of the dragon is what makes it come alive. In Western culture, the eyes are the windows to the soul...

So, I actually sometimes follow that thought of putting eyes on last. Not because of the folklore, but it sure does make a difference when you put them on. And that's just weird having a toy head staring at you...

Well, may I introduce you to Ms. Dangly. I'm having issues with her eyes. Which to use? far apart as per original pattern (free)
Fish eyes

or close together?

I guess I should give you some specs:
yarn: Patons Merino in pink and white
needles: US3 dpns (probably could have gone down to US2, but didn't)
start: March 5, 2008
finish: mostly done March 7, 2008
mods: circular knitting except for the tail.

This is a birthday present for my buddy M who's turning 3. I will be making her a couple of outfits since she's a big girl.

Already, Issues.

2008-03-07T12:50:00.000-08:00

Arghh...do not try to use silk doubled for doing horizontal stitch, especially cobweb weight silk. PITA, I say. I've just spent last evening struggling with the first 31 rows (actually, it's row 31 that's the deal breaker).

That lovely mauve-blue will become some other knitted finery instead.

I think I will be making Dragone with something else. I'm thinking this.
This is a lovely yarn that I have no idea what it's made of (but I think it's cashmere/wool because of the label on the inside of the cone). It is lovely lovely and super soft and it's some sort of animal fiber.

So, it's either this or the cashmere/silk in rosehip (the one that's been languishing as Campanile on row 30 something?). or black zephyr.

So many choices.

Starting Dragone

2008-03-06T20:18:00.000-08:00

This is one of my new projects.

Yarn: Colourmart 100% silk in blue mauve cobweb weight doubled (becomes laceweight)

needles: US2
pattern: Heere be Dragone

swatch - check
pattern blown up - check
magnet board ready - check
fleegle help - check
fleegle minitutorial (on making the horizontal stitch)- check

ready...set...go...wait wait wait...

there'll be other projects interspersed, I promise. (oh, don't you like how my little wee swatch is already unraveling?)

I do wish that I hadn't chickened out and just gotten the cone not doubled...but I was scared of that thin thread. Of course when it arrived, I was like, pfft...this is like #30 or 40 thread...I can do this...oh, well. I hope it's not more of a pain knitting 2 strands of silk.

eta: Thanks to everyone that commented on the stole! I've got to get another Niebling on the needles. I'm thinking that since Lacefreak is doing the tablecloth in pink, I may have to do it in zephyr -- in black.

Niebling Goldlack stole

2008-02-27T08:40:00.000-08:00

In honor of Spring and the plum blossoms blooming (yes, this is a picture of my neighbor's tree, just highly manipulated)

I just finished this Herbert Niebling stole:

As you may or may not know, I've been trying to find a nice curtain pattern for my kitchen and really wanted to do one in linen. Well...

linen thread--check
needles--check
pattern--uhmm...still haven't found one

However, I did find this pretty Goldlack Niebling pattern. It's been done as a circular tablecloth and as curtains. Well, I'm not so sure I'd like these as curtains, but as a stole...yes!

So, I put on my advanced degree hat and did all the calculations...okay, 3 columns of flowers... After 30 rows of this monstrocity, ripped and restarted. Then I decided that I really would like a symmetrical stole, verses only having leaves on the one end. So, rip again, and this time, did a provisional cast-on so that I could just pick up the stitches and knit the other way.

As I'm knitting, I'm doubting my swatch and thinking it's going to be thin...then justifying to myself that I could use it as a lace scarf...then when I had it long enough, broke into the other ball and knit it going the other way (again using advanced math). I didn't want to cut the yarn on my one side because what if my calculations were off and this is too short?! And I didn't know if I liked the ending of it anyway (looked too much like curtains and since I only ended up doing 2 columns of flowers, I thought, that would look dumb...anyway, I knit and I knit, then I took a break and did the Niebling January KAL (in Feb) and then I knit and knit...

What is goldlack? I love the intarweb. 'Goldlack' translates to 'gold paint'. It is the wallflower.

The scientific name is Cheiranthus cheiri, in the family Brassicaeae (mustard plant), by the way. And did you know that Brassica plants have a natural ability to uptake heavy metals like Cadmium? One of the projects I worked on as a post-doc was to study the mechanism of metal uptake in plants and phytoremediation--with the thought that you can genetically engineer plants that you can sow at Superfund sites. Tend the garden and then just remove the heavy metals from the soil by harvesting the plant. Cool, or what!

Of course, whenever I eat some veggies, I do of course have that thought in my brain...because, folks, heavy metals accumulate.

Anyway, back to Goldlack.

Here's the specs:

pattern: Herbert Niebling Goldlack in ANNA April 1983

yarn: Yarn TreeHouse Sweet 94% merino 6% polyester in pink

amount used: less than 2 balls

start date: February 9, 2008

finish date: February 26, 2008

modifications: Many at the bottom. I decided not to do the frill, and repeated the mesh instead. Then I modified the leaves.

Cast-on 90 provisional stitches, included 4 on each side for edge. 9 flower pattern repeats. Then I picked up the provisional stitches and knitted another 9 flower patterns.

Here's some other pics:

Stitches West recap

2008-02-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hello! Back from Stitches West 2008.

First of all to Ravelry folks, Casey and Jess are lovely. Absolutely lovely! We got there relatively early and one of the girls working there was already saying they were running out of Hello buttons! oy! And she wanted to ration them out...that's just wrong. Anyway, got to say hello to Jess and Casey. If you go, you have to go check out their Ravelry poster...it Rocks!

Yes, yes, here's what I got there:

The funny part is that I almost got out of there without buying yarn. WTF?! But I succumbed to the JoJoLand that you see at the top of the picture. What else? I got a Bob pin (because I just had to), I got a 'where your stitches at' button, the cute shirt in an xl (they run really small, I promise). Gratis were the Hello pin and the passport (which I finished). That little ball of yarn is Malibrigo sample.

I saw lots of people w/ Ravelry pins and I had a Cheryl Oberle sighting and a Cookie A sighting too. But the best part (for me) was the Yarn Place display, where I was able to check out fleegle's Black Widow and her Lyra. AND Lacefreak's sampler stole. Okay, amazing work. Absolutely beautiful!

I drove down with a Ravelry friend (Jellyfish) and met up with another friend when we got down there. Hey, I just realized that we didn't eat or drink. We just shopped.

I'm very happy with my little purchase. I think I'm going to use it for a spirally stole...we'll see.

Off to Stitches West Today!

2008-02-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to this. I don't have any plans to purchase anything, but we'll see. This is going to be fun. I'm going to carpool with a Ravelery friend and meeting up w/ 2 additional friends there.

yay!

gotta go! see you soon...

My two new purchases

2008-02-20T23:51:00.000-08:00

I was lucky enough to get these two OOP books.

First, Andean Folk Knitting: A pretty book. It's got amazing colorwork. I got it because of all the various shapes of ch'ullus. And I really want to learn how to knit with yarn over your neck, and I'm hoping this book has a good explanation for how to do that. I think that this way of knitting is supposed to be super fast. I also would love to venture into colorwork (someday).

Aren't the hats pretty?

The other book I got is Foroysk Bindingarmynstur (With Faroese Knitting Patterns - Knitted Shawls ). Uhmmm...what language is it in? It's not English, Danish? Faroese-ese? Apparently, there is an English translation of the book, but mine is in the original language(published in 1983). It's got some lovely patterns, but I have yet to find an on-line translator that magically transforms it into English. But this is the one I would like to make. I did notice that most Faroese shawls is primarily stockinette stitch w/ a bit of lace. (the one pictured here has the most lace pattern of the lot).

Niebling Jan KAL finished

2008-02-19T09:34:00.000-08:00

I'm working on another lace project too, but I got a tad bored with that since it's a stole and I've got another 1/3 of that plus figuring out border.

Anyway, so I picked up the January KAL for the Niebling Lace yahoo group and finished it. There are a couple of errors in it, but they were pretty easy to figure out. The look of this guy is odd, but it was pretty easy (there aren't any of the blasted slip 4 knit 5, slip 4 back over the 5 stitches).

The nice thing about this doily was that I was able to do 2 different k12 into 3YO and have found that I really like doing the k1-YO instead of the k1-p1.

stats:
start date: 2/17/08
end date: 2/18/08
thread: Cebelia #10 in color 519 (blue)
amount used: less than a ball
needles: US1 dpn and circs
mods/errors: there's an error on row 11 and on 39.
comments: not as boring as I thought it was going to be (there's a lot of straight knitting). Good break while working on other Niebling

This is a closeup:

first ever tag

2008-02-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged by fleegle to list 7 facts about myself:

1. I don't have a nickname.

2. I'm sort of double-jointed. When I put my palm flat on a table, I can lift my fingers up to ~45degrees.

3. Up until the age of 7, I got extremely car sick. But it mostly went away by the time I was 8. I still can't read while a passenger, and can only knit dishcloths in the car (yes, this is considered 'good'. Can you imagine how terrible my motion sickness was as a child?!)

4. I get lost a lot. When I was 17, I got lost when I went on vacation in Japan. To this day, I'm not sure how I got back to where I was supposed to be (especially since I don't speak Japanese).

5. I did synchronized swimming for a summer between 4th and 5th grade despite the fact that I wasn't a very good swimmer.

6. People often mistake me for someone else. I must just have that kind of face. The oddest one is that although I've never met Lacefreak, I've been mistaken for her on a couple of different occasions by different people (and I'm pretty sure we don't look alike at all).

7. When playing games that involve dice, I freakishly am able to roll a lot of doubles (and lots of double sixes).

Tagging 7 people is difficult. I'll have to ponder that a bit.

Happy CNY part II

2008-02-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I thought I'd actually type up a wee post for you in response.

I actually followed his pattern for the tail, except I knit it round. For items like this (thin tubes of I-cord), I like to add reinforcement so that they are sturdier. For example, the legs on the Shaun the Sheep mobile sheep all have pipe cleaners inserted into the legs so that they can properly stand. I suppose I could go buy flower wire, but I'm a crafty mom and I have excess pipe cleaners on hand.

Inserted is the incorrect term. I originally tried to insert pipe cleaners into I-cords knit with 4 stitches with worsted weight yarn on US2-3 needles and I found that it was frustrating and quite futile. I couldn't shove the pipe cleaner in there.

So, I now actually knit the pipecleaner into the I-cord, making sure the yarn 'wraps' the pipecleaner as I bring the yarn from the end of the knit row to the front for the next row. One hint is to keep the pipecleaner long so that you can push the base end into the animal before sewing (this allows for more stability). I then cut the tail tip end and knit the I-cord to cover the pipecleaner.

As for advanced planning on the rat...well, I don't know if you noticed, my uhmmm advance was one day in advance. And I almost didn't finish it. It was planned for my sister (who is born in the year of the rat), but my son decided he likes it and it's now his.

What else? oh, last year was the year of the Boar (aka Pig). I think that that was an auspicious year, but what do I know? I just now checked to make sure that child one is born in the year of the Ram (aka goat aka sheep) and the other is born in the year of the Dog (or as she says ' gog').

And don't get me started on astrology...the dog is a bull (and the sign completely suits her -- hee bull dog) while the goat is a aquarian (what's aquarius again? water? a water goat?)

*there's not pics (sorry) because I am tired after this weekend's festivities. My son's 5th birthday party with 18 4-6yr olds--not to mention the below 3 and the over 8 crowd.

ps. fleegle tagged me for 7 facts, I'm pondering them...

Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Rat

2008-02-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been working on a rat for this post, and well, I just finished in the nick of time.

I was going to do a wee mouse, but decided on Cheese (of Chalk and Cheese). The arms are extraordinarily clever, done with short rows. You gotta love Alan Dart. Anyway...

Happy New Year!

check out that tail. I'm proud of that tail. That is an I-cord w/ pipe cleaner in it so it's shapeable.

And he turned out looking 'fluffy'. He's looking very 'Zucker' (a genetically obese rat model).

stats:
yarn: various acrylic worsted (okay, pink and white)
needles: US2 dpns
start: 2/6/08
finish: 2/7/08
mods: did the body in the round. The arms are amazing, but I think I switched them...but they worked out fine. the feet were done in the round, and the tail (w/ pipecleaner). I didn't do the 2 ear tufts and I used white crochet cotton for whiskers instead of the black.

I also chose to knit Cheese as a male lab rat (Rattus norvegicus), but he turned out to more resemble a Zucker (fafa) rat. Altho' I don't know if these rats are white...

This month's Lace knitting group

2008-02-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Given the rain and general inclement weather, a number of us braved the storm and attended the lace knitting group hosted by Lacis in Berkeley.

I walked in and saw that they have Hiya Hiya needles in stock now. (they just got them in). These are needles that go down to an insane size...I had to own a pair.

May I introduce my 000-000 needles (.7mm) OY!

I will knit some super small thread with it. Can you believe it?!

They also had the lovely book that Fleegle talked about a bit ago, Feminin Strik. What a pretty book. The sweaters are all lovely, but unfortunately, written in Danish. Mary Francis hopes that they'll translate the book into English. Wouldn't that be grand?

I brought a new little doily to work on because I want to figure out how to knit it flat. This has the hallmarks of Niebling, but is only 50-something rows. I figure I'll knit this, block it, and knit a few of the leaf elements in the flat (is that a term?) to determine whether this would work for curtains.

This doily took me a day! I finished and blocked it before we went to a Superbowl party. And guess what? It binds. I guess if you do 6 repeats instead of 4, that might not happen (that's another option for this pattern, it turns out looking quite different). See that 'corner'? That's supposed to be a sharp corner, not rounded like mine...

Specs:
thread: green linen
needles: US1
start time: Saturday morning 2/2/08
finish time: Saturday night 2/2/08, blocked 2/3/08
pattern: Kunststricken Folge 2 305/08

You Make my day award

2008-02-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

Fleegle gifted me with this:

The rules say to gift it to 10 more bloggers. So here goes:

chemgrrl because she can knit AND do research.

Renaissance Woman is just wonderful. She does it all. Socks, felting, colorwork...

Soo of course for her lacework and that Fassett jacket.

Utlinde for her amazing lace work. I just wish I could read German...

Stephaneener has these great kids and she knits for them and she spins.

Jane is an inspiration.

Diane for the 36 baby socks.

Opal because you've got to admire knitting wool in Hawaii

Supereggplant's brother Not a knitter (his sister is), but thoroughly enjoyable read

fleegle Wait, can you give it back to the person who gave it to you? Rule book please...

Binding Anemone

2008-01-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

I finishished my cut down version of Anemone and I have a huge issue. It is binding. I've read about Niebling patterns binding, and smug me, I'm saying "I'm such a loose knitter that binding won't be a problem". Well, it's binding. I guess I could try to block it differently, but that was the only way to get the leaves in the center to lay down flat. Oh, well.

If anyone has suggestions as to how to alleviate binding, please let me know. I did read about going up a size in needles, but It's one section and I'm thinking going up to US1 with #30 thread probably isn't the best.

Any ideas? I'll go post on Nieblinglace group too. Maybe they've got some insights.

Specs:
thread: Cebelia #30 in ecru : 80 grams (that would be 1 3/5 balls)
needle: KP Harmony dpns and Inox circs in US0
started: 1-10-08
end: 1-30-08
mods: omitted the outer section and edging. Added a couple of extra hex mesh rows and used a k2-yo-k2 edging. The next row was k, the subsequent pattern rows (3) were k,k2tog,yo,k2. Finished off with a k row and crochet bind off using 10 sc w/ 5 stitches.

Other than the binding, I didn't have any problems with the pattern at all. It's pretty, but guess what it reminds me of...yep, filigree. here's a picture of filigree:

Is there a pattern I can do that won't remind me of another?

White Elephant preview sale

2008-01-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

A friend and I went to the annual preview White Elephant sale in Oakland. This is a sale that benefits the Oakland Museum.

We got there just before they opened and the line was long. Of course we hit the sewing section first since that's where the yarn is. I was bummed that almost all but a few knitting books were already gone. And I mean gone in the sense that there was a man standing guard over TWO boxes full of knitting books! It looked like he went and grabbed all the books and put them in boxes to 'save them'. How lame is that?! Whatever...

This is the yarn I got:

green wool in a DK weight

100% silk cone (yay! My favorite purchase)

#40 cotton crochet thread

Pretty cool. I did get overwhelmed and had to leave after picking up a couple of sports hats for my son, a couple of games, and paper. I will have to go back for their 'real' sale in March.

Upcoming projects

2008-01-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

My list of projects just keep on getting longer and longer...

This is 100% linen thread in 2 weights (2 tubes of 20/2 and one of 40/2). This thread is for the curtains in our kitchen. I've been mulling it in my brain for a while and looking through old Anna magazines. I like some of them, but I'm almost thinking that I might try to convert a pie shaped wedge to a flat panel and do a bunch of flowers for my kitchen.

Anyway, I did try to get the thread at Lacis, but they didn't have the 20/2. WEBS had this thread in a number of different weights. And they have really great customer service. I called to ask them about what weight I needed and when I explained what I wanted to use it for, the rep was relieved because I guess folks try to use it for clothing and this apparently doesn't work well for that. I ended up also getting the 40/2 because I couldn't decide which I wanted to use. I figure what ever I don't use for the kitchen curtains, I can use for another room.

Other thoughts going through my brain...I am working on 2 hats, one is a test knit and I love it. I just have to knit the brim, get some hard material to go in it, and sew it up. Here's a pic of the progress of this guy It's called Twister and developed by the lovely Anne Kuo Lukito:

This is a brimless Twister. There's a bowling ball in it right now, and I need to knit the brim. It's very nice knit. I highly recommend when the pattern becomes available.

I'm also knitting another hat (because it's been so darn cold and wet here lately). It's done in Moda Dea Tweedle Dee. This is an interesting yarn that transitions in the red tones. I'll take a pic when I'm done. Or I might rip it and make a toque or something...

And I'm getting geared up to knit Filigree. Colourmart, I think.

And in celebration of The Year of the Rat, I'm going to do a Chalk & Cheese mouse and call it a rat. And I wanted to make snowme for a friend for next weekend.

Oh, and while at WEBS site, I had to get this yarn. It's 100% bamboo laceweight. In hindsight, maybe I should have just gottten this in white for the curtains. Any one know whether bamboo yarn weathers? How does UV light affect it? btw--That's why I chose linen--it stands up to sunlight.

..yikes! gotta get knitting.

Anemone update

2008-01-25T23:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm still knitting anemone but in a circle, without the sawtooth and edging (will be round and have to find a different edge -- if a edging is to be found). In case you don't know what I'm talking about, here's a pic of it. Isn't it pretty? I'm at the flowers portion, so I'm thinking that I'm going to keep going a couple more rows of the hex mesh and then find a Niebling edge I like and finish it that way. I might end up doing straight knitting on the edge since the center is so frilly--don't know yet.

I'm using Cebelia #30 in ecru w/ US0 needles and am on the 2nd ball. It's deceptive because this is quite large if knitted according to pattern. Like I said, I'm at the flowers (finally) and I'm on row 121. I think that by not forcing it into a square and without the saw tooth thingie as well as that edging, I think it will be smaller.

Oh, and thanks everyone for commiserating with me...

argh!

2008-01-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

Just a short post to say "argh!"

you most likely don't do this, but I got it in my brain that the Niebling was easy to remember and I oh, no (now, don't laugh too loud) I don't need to check no stinkin pattern...I knit the wrong row a 1/4 in and then realized it when I started the knit row!

yep, I'm tinking...yep, tinking 3/4 round of mesh knit AND k5tog.

argh.

Good news bad news

2008-01-10T23:49:00.000-08:00

The good news is that I finished my bamboo shawl. It's the one from No More Sheep. The other good news is that we switched to a new computer so now everything is much faster.

The bad news...yep, haven't gotten the photo part working yet. So, no pics.

(insert picture here when I get the photo part up)

But here's the specs:

pattern: Tuscany from No More Sheep
yarn: SWTC bamboo in navy 2 balls
needle size: US6
start time: Jan 6, 2008
finish time: Jan 9, 2008

The only modifications I did was to end on row 8 instead of row 16 because I figured I'd run out of yarn and I didn't feel like adding another ball. I also didn't do the purl2tog bind off. I tried that, but it seemed really tight, so I did my normal bind-off and before blocking it was looking loose. Got better after blocking.

edited (thanks for the comment, fleegle-- it would have taken longer...):

here's the pics.

Cursed yarn

2008-01-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

I received 'cursed yarn' from knitterbarb on Ravelry. The only stipulation was that I used it to make something and post it up on Ravelry in 6months. This yarn apparently used to be a bright blue, and she overdyed it with darker blue/greens.

She thought it was cotton/acrylic and there were 8 skeins.I opted to use the Spanish Peacock pattern to turn a doily into a blanket because, well, I didn't feel like being one of "506 projects, in 1595 queues" for Hemlock. I might be a lemming, but that is just too many (shhh, clapotis doesn't count).

I modified the original pattern by not doing double YOs (except the center) because I thought the holes are too large. I actually should have ripped the center and redone that part, but I'm lazy. I used 4.5 hanks of this yarn for the lap blanket.

specs:
start: Dec 25. 2007
finished: Jan 4, 2008
needles: 8 dpns and circs
yarn: cursed yarn from knitterbarb

I forgot to add that I knit bound off based on someone (I think it was Charlotte) from a yahoo group.

First FO for '08

2008-01-03T10:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe there's a little manipulation there. I am still working on the Spanish peacock doily turned into a lap blanket, but that is sooooo tedious at this point that I had to do a Niebling so that my first finished object of 2008 is a Niebling. It's from Meyers Handarbeitsheft Nr. 14 - Kunststricken

It is called 'Hangeblume'. A quick google translation = Hanging Flower.

This little ditty is only 64 rows, so you'd think relatively quick knit. However, much acrobatics are involved (that's why I'm pretty sure it's HN). There are crossed stitches, there are k6tog, and the new to me slip 3 knit 6 and P3SO the 6...very cool.

Stats:
pattern: Hangeblume
needles: 2.25mm (would have used 2.0mm, but couldn't find them at start of project)
thread: vintage J&P Coats #30 (6 cord merc. cotton). The original price tag for the 400yd thread was $.25 - used less than 1 ball.
start: December 31, 2007
finish: January 2, 2008

This thread was a bit discolored and I had the finished doily soak a bit in oxyclean. Now, back to the blanket...

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T15:57:00.000-08:00

oops. sorry. a bit late

Ornament swap

2007-12-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been remiss. Thank you all who were in my group for the ornament swap. They are absolutely lovely. And I shall definitely do it again.

Happy Christmas!

2007-12-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Sheep!

too bad z doesn't knit, then it could be a family portrait in sheep...I guess I'll have to get busy knitting another sheep...

Rock Lobster

2007-12-24T00:16:00.000-08:00

What a fun little knit.

I test knit this for Mahoney on Ravelry and it turned out great. It was a very easy to follow pattern and the best part was that it was knit in the round. yippee!

Go here for the pattern.

specs:
start - finish: December 2007
needles: US2
yarn: red acrylic yarn
amount: not too much

eyes were felt holes punched out with hole punch and sewed on.

I think I'm going to make another one.

Bobble hat sheep

2007-12-23T17:14:00.000-08:00

Another one done. This is another.

start date: December 17, 2007
finish date: December 22, 2007

Timmy's mom

2007-12-23T16:15:00.000-08:00

Hee. Here's Timmy's mom.

Specs:
Pattern: Shaun the Sheep & Friends Mobile
yarns: same as Shaun
needles: US2
time started: Dec 13, 2007
time finished: Dec 14, 2007

The curlers were sections of straw with yarn wrapped around. And you all know my pet peeve about glue so the curlers were sewn on using Cebelia #30 (left over from the doily). I was going to make a scarf, but I thought I'd make her a shawl instead. Here's a picture of the mini triangular shawl.

This is the pattern for the main portion of 0484/15 shawl. I think I may have to make a big one for me. And unfortunately, I don't know what this pattern is called. Please let me know if you've seen it elsewhere.

A rose is is a rose

2007-12-17T10:42:00.000-08:00

I was just looking through my Burda E554 and realized that my table topper from the previous post (0896/20) is called 'FAN' in this "best of the 90's Anna"--probably for the fan things that I need to reblock.

This naming thing is pretty easy, just call it what it is. Altho' there's a lace page I was looking at where the lace pieces were renamed (or maybe translated). But I have no idea which pattern I need to find. So, I'm all for giving as much information as possible -- and not just 'old German magazine'. argh! I've got a bunch of old German magazines...which ones? Okay, it's now a toss-up among Filigree, Lyra, and Federolde... I just need a three-sided coin.

Another Xmas present done

2007-12-15T09:53:00.000-08:00

I decided that my brother and sister in-laws needed a doily. So this is what I knitted up for them.

Does this look really familiar. Actually, I didn't plan on it. The picture in the magazine is white table topper on light pink background and I thought, hey, that's about the size I want to make for them...well, doesn't it look like Lotus Flower?

Anyway, I hope they like it. I shall have to reblock the little fan things, they turned out uneven. (it was done late into the night)

Specifics:
thread: Cebelia white #30
needle: US0 dpn and circ (2mm)
time start: December 9, 2007
time end: December 14, 2007
pattern: 0896/20 table topper from Anna magazine August 1996

Timmy

2007-12-09T18:11:00.000-08:00

Timmy's done. Here he is.

I had a dickens of a time trying to get him to look right. For whatever reason, I had his ears too low and he was looking sinister.

I repositioned, and he looks much better. I had to redo his pacifer a couple of times. The loop was very funky. I ended up taking a jump ring and wrapping it with yarn, then sewing it to the pacifier.

Christmas Ornament swap

2007-12-07T21:13:00.000-08:00

I saw it on Craft so I had to join. May I introduce "Team Korknisse"

I like how they're different colors.

I do hope my swapmates like them. Pattern is basically Korknisse . I played around with tension and stitch numbers etc.

stats:
start: sometime after Thanksgiving
finish: December 6, 2007 where I was putting on loops and coloring in eyes
needles: US9 dpns
yarn: Lambs pride
amount used?

Pixie Hat--Pattern

2007-12-07T20:46:00.000-08:00

I had one ball of natural pink Patons SWS yarn and A needed a new hat. So, here it is:

Pixie Hat

Materials:
1 ball SWS yarn
1 set dpn US9
1 circular US9 16"

With ball of yarn, start with pink or white region. When you reach a region of green, cut yarn and wind off until color change, then resume knitting. At decrease -- k13, change yarn to green and continue knitting in greens only. This color scheme results in a little upside down flower. Of course you may disregard completely and just do stripes.

CO72 stitches onto circular needles
Mark beginning of round, and knit in 2X2 ribbing for 6 rows
Knit in stockinette for 14 rows

Begin decrease rounds:
*K16, K2tog* to end of round.
Knit one round
K15, K2tog* to end of round.
.
.
at the point of K13, change yarn to green.
.
.
.
*K1, K2tog* to end of round.
Knit one round
*K2tog* to end of round.
Knit one round
break yarn and with darning needle, thread through remaining loops and tie off. Sew in all ends.

start time: December 5, 2007
finish time: December 5, 2007

Here's the hat in action:

Shaun the sheep

2007-12-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited. Look what came in the mail yesterday? What? why yes, through the wonderful world of Ravelry, I was able to swap some of my stuff for the the magazine (it's the Simply Knitting December issue). Why swap? Well, let me tell you that it's not available in the states yet. They didn't have this issue available at any of the bookstores, so what's a girl to do? I swapped with a very nice Raveler, socherry, who lives in Scotland!

hee hee. I immediately went to the LYS (Alameda Yarn Company) and asked her for sheep-like yarn. She obliged and here's the equipment list for my first Shaun.

These include:
the super soft yarn for the wool, Wendy Peter Pan's Velvet Touch
good ole Patons wool
black crochet cotton
white felt
US2 needles
hole punch and pipe cleaner

the hole punch for punching out felt eyeballs and the pipe cleaner for my Shauns legs.

What a fun easy knit (okay, as with all Alan Dart patterns, a bit fiddly). My only modifications were that I didn't use glue and hairspray and whatever else to stick things onto Shaun. I also knitted his legs as I-cords instead of flat. I did use skewers for the needles, but I didn't have wooden pony beads, so I raided my bead stash and these were the only beads that fit. I must craft, because except for the wool-like yarn, I had all the other stuff.

So, introducing Shaun, knitting, of course

Other views:

I should mention that Shaun's knitted piece is actually my first attempt at color-work. As my knitting friends have said, it's not that hard. I guess I'll have to go try some intarsia now. And the box he's sitting on is a can of oysters (for scale).

Oh, and then, well...I went 'doh' and changed out what he's knitting. hee hee . I am gleeful. I have to go make all the rest of them now.

A few pictures of the shawl

2007-12-03T09:00:00.001-08:00

I actually wove in the ends and am pretty happy with the way it turned out. Well, it is gray. But they only had gray and tan and a marled available, so...I forgot to say that when it was looking wet and furry and a tad felted, I started thinking about how in heck I could salvage it (seriously looked like a sad wet giant mouse). But it blocked out and I might even wear it. Nah, it'll probably go into a bag to be put away.