Join the Tote Exchange

Along with three other gals, I am co-hosting a knit/crochet tote exchange. I hope you will join us. Sign-ups are due by April 14th so hurry over. Here's a link to the blog or send an email to ToteExchangeHostesses@gmail.com to join us!

Cable Knit Purse

I completed the Knitpicks Cable Knit Purse (free pattern) last weekend. I used some chunky Cascad. It was a very quick knit and is lined with a pre-made tote bag which means very little finishing. I added a black satin ribbon and toggle button for trim. The beaded handle came from JoAnn's.

A note if you try this pattern: You must double the yarn. The pattern omits this important little tidbit.

Car Hat and Sweater finished

I finished the hat and sweater set for my co-worker's baby. I used Cotton Ease yarn - candy blue, licorice, vanilla and red - and merged the Lion Brand Jester pattern and MagKnits hat pattern together. I'm very pleased with how the set turned out. I haven't been back in to the office since I sent it home with my co-worker so I don't know how they liked it.

Backyard fieldtrip

Here are two shots from the step of my back door. One shot looks across the patio to our pergola. In the summer, there is wisteria growing across the top of it. It is our favorite place to be on summer and autumn evenings. The other shots looks towards our backyard. To the right of the steps leading to the grassy area is a waterfall. We have it turned off now but the sound of it is wonderful when it is running - so peaceful. We can't wait to see some green again. In the summer, the entire back is filled with flowers - perenniels and annuals - so colorful.

It's sunny this morning and 30 degrees.

Lambikins Sale

My friend Linda and I just returned from the Lambikins sale. I didn't go looking for anything in particular but look what yarn just JUMPED into my arms!! I bought 18 skeins of Blizzard (14 in a gorgeous purple and 4 cream) by Reynolds. It is a chunky/bulky yarn that will make a great sweater. I bought enough to also make a hat and some fingerless gloves. Did I mention it was 1/2 off????? Approx. $4.50 per skein!

The other yarn is Cascade 109 that I plan to make some little felted Easter baskets out of. The blueish looking yarn on the left is actually purple.

As usual, my Lambikins experience was superior. One of the employees stopped to help me before I even asked and the owner, Christine, also stopped by and was just as sweet and helpful as ever! This LYS remains my favorite shop in the city for its selection and service.

Saipan Knitting

I just returned from Saipan, which is the largest island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas islands (a U.S. Commonwealth.) It is in the Western Pacific Ocean, the Philipines Sea to be exact and is off the coast of the Philipines. Took a long time to get there (20 hours in the air, 48 hours total - each way.) It's a beautiful island with very friendly people. I didn't take many pictures while I was there but here is a shot from the balcony of my hotel room.

The bonus to that much flying time is - you guessed it - lots of knitting time. The second picture is all the knitting I did while I was gone. I finish all the pieces to the baby sweater done in Cottonease (I had the hat done before I left, I just included it in the photo so you can see what the finished sweater will look like). I also quickly knit up the back of a Rowan Biggie Print Penny cardigan (colorway Pool Party - lovely shades of blue with magenta woven in.) The darker purply pink triangular thing is the start of a poncho sweater (pattern name is Thunder) done in Rowan Plaid (colorway Bramble). I also started a lace scarf (Fiber Trends Falling In Love Pattern in Fleece Artist Kasula Ruby Red colorway) - only an inch done on that!

I want to keep my ISE scarf!

My Butterfly Beaded Scarf is done blocking and ready to be shipped to my International Scarf Exchange pal and I want to keep it!!! I am really pleased with the way it turned out. Blocking really does make a difference!

Statistics: 4 skeins or approximately 350 yards of alpaca / silk yarn (Queensland Collection Llama Seta 80% alpaca/ 20% silk) and 99 5mm rainbow beads. Pattern from Simple 1-2-3 Knitting Scarves available for purchase here for $3.99. This is the little booklet that was for sale in the grocery store a few months ago. I've now made two patterns from it.

Off she goes over the big blue ocean (hint hint.)

Knitting Olympics - The Torch is Lit

I understand the torch was lit at 2:00 pm today so I can legally cast on for the Knitting Olympics. Notice what I'm wearing. It's an official Olympic jacket given to my daughter a few years ago to inspire her gymnastics career (she quit a few months later!) The sweet donor is a friend of mine who made the 1980 Olympics team as a diver. Unfortunately, the U.S. decided to boycott and my friend never go to compete. What a waste!! I'm hoping she will transfer some of her spirit and perseverence via the Olympic jacket as I try to complete the baby hat and sweater set (along with finishing the scarf for the International Scarf Exchange!!) before the closing ceremonies.

Good luck to all 4000 Knitting Olympic competitors.

Our Newest Family Member

Take a look at our newest addition. She's an 8 week old chihuahua / terrier mix and she couldn't be cuter! She is a birthday present to my daughter who turns 15 today. No name yet but hopefully soon!

Another finished project

I finished felting a hat yesterday. My goofy 11 year old son saw this hat in a store and begged me to make it for him. I think he sees it as a Jamaican style hat. The pattern is Fiber Trends AC-08 Felt Cap and the yarn is three skeins of Kureyon knit on size 10 needles. I was a little unsure it was going to work pre-felting stage as the hat was approximately 12 inches high! But sure enough, after three cycles on the hottest temperature, it turned out perfect. See the before and after shots.

Clapotis # 2 is done!

I made my first Clapotis in Knitpicks Shimmer (morning mist) which was a lighter weight summery wrap. For this second Clapotis, I used Lorna's Laces Lion & Lamb in Iris Garden colorway. Pricy yarn but it is gorgeous!!! I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Lots of finished projects

I haven't posted much due to the holidays but I did finish some projects both for Christmas presents and a baby gift.

Project #1 - Baby sweater and jester hat for co-worker's new baby son. Pattern is from Lion Brand and the yarn is Cotton Ease in popsical, orangeade and vanilla (and no, they are not Miami Dolphin fans; my son picked out the color combination.)

Project #2 - Bengals scarf and fleece blanket for my daughter. The scarf is made in boucle and the fleece blanket is the simple, cut 4" square out of corners of blanket, cut 4" strips every inch and tie. She was able to take it with her to the last Bengals game of the season.

Project #3: Scarf for husband - very hard to see the detail but it's a pattern of k3, p3 for 14 rows, then switch the pattern. Almost a cable effect. i found the pattern in the little scarf book from the grocery store and knit it in Bollicine which is 50% wool, 25% acrylic and 25% alpaca in shades of blue/greay. It's for him to wear with his navy coat. It's still sitting on the chair where I gave it to him so I don't think he likes it! LOL! The yarn is wonderfully soft. I have about 180 yards left, I'm hoping enough for a hat for one of the kids.

Other projects. I am working on my scarf for the International scarf exchange. Can't show a picture of it because it's supposed to be a surprise but it is WAY COOL! I just started the decrease section on my second Clapotis in Lorna's Laces. It looks fabulous, if I do say so myself. Next up - a goofy felted hat as requested by my son!

My First Felting Project

Hooray!! I finished knitting my fuzzy feet this morning and just pulled them out of the washer. Voila! From giant size to just right!

The particulars: 100% merino from handpainted yarn. I don't remember the name of the yarn but I've been struggling to find a project that suits it. Not totally in love with slippers in these shades but what the heck, it was an experimental project! I also used some fun fur I purchased from turkey last year as an accent. I knit on size 9 dpn. The slippers were approximately 12 inches (maybe 13, I forgot to measure) before felting and are now approximately 8 inches. I wear a size 8 shoe and they are very snug.

I own a front loader washer so I wasn't confident the felting was going to work but it did. I can see that it's a tad uneven - i can still see stitches here and there but overall, I'm happy with it. Based on tips I read at the knit list this morning, I used wool-lite and fairly hot water - 160 degrees. I threw it in a zipper pillow case and also threw an old pair of jeans in with the pillow case.

I'm ready to move on to a goofy felted hat my son has requested!

My SP6 Reveals!

I arrived home from a business trip last night to find a very fun package from my secret pal! She is Alison and check out all the goodies she sent me in the photo! She was so thoughtful to send me all kinds of fun Christmas goodies including candies and the cutest Santa and snowman salt and pepper shakers (among other Christmas doo-dads!) I love the baking book (Alison, did you know I LOVE to cook and bake???) I didn't do a very good job in the photo but check out the magazine holder - there are several more to go with it and Alison created little stickers to go on them for various magazines. It's almost as if she has seen the chaos I call my sewing / craft / knitting room! I love the blue squishy guy. I asked my kids if it was the cell phone guy (cingular maybe?) and my 11-year old informed me (in a tone that implied I'm not very bright) "Mommy, it's a HUG buddy." Oh... I didn't know. LOL!

The yarn was some samples of Karaoke from Southwest Trading Company and another cool little novelty yarn. I can't believe how soft the Karaoke is! I'm going to knit it up and compare it to Noro's silk garden!

Alison, You outdid yourself on all my packages. It was so much fun to receive them. But darlin', ya gotta tell me how you had all those postcards postmarked in different cities!! I'm stumped! There had to be 20 of them from different cities!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Merry Christmas!

Here's the family photo we'll be sending in our Christmas cards this year. Yes, the boys seriously need haircuts but they like the shaggy look! We have nicknamed our youngest, Ringo, for obvious reasons! I'm hoping it makes him mad enough to agree to a cut!

Quicky scarf - Good News / Bad News

On Saturday, my good friend asked me to make her daughter a scarf in the colors of the team for which she cheers. I told her I didn't think I would have time before Christmas but lo and behold, my airplane time thiw week was very fruitful. VOILA! A frou frou royal blue / yellow / white scarf. The yarn is yellow Cotton Ease, royal blue Lion Brand Fun Fur and white Moda Dea Tutu knit on 13s in garter stitch. Although the base of the scarf is predominately blue, the yellow and white do show up better in person. I added yellow and white fringe to highlight those colors. I finished it at 6 tonight, had my daughter delivered it at 9 and heard from my friend at 9:20 that it was a huge hit. She couldn't wait until Christmas so she gave it to her daughter tonight. Too funny!

That's the good news. The bad news... oldest daughter has put in an order for an orange / black Bengals scarf (already bought the yarn) and asked tonight if I can ALSO make her a pink scarf for her friend's secret santa gift - next Wednesday. Ugh. I am halfway through my husband's scarf but haven't even started my daughter's fingerless gloves. Oh well, January gifts will be nice!

Cheerleading Champs

Molly's cheerleading team has a perfect streak this year. First place in all four competitions so far! She's the highest one in the picture; second flyer from the left.

Finished items - 4 of them!!

I calculated that I was in airports or on airplanes for 22 hours last week. Add on 3 nights in a hotel room and I got a lot of knitting done! The top photo shows two scarves. The one on the left was the one I started when I had my teaching lesson for my two co-workers. It's a moda dea yarn that I bought at Michael's. Nice colors. So nice in fact, that I realized I bought a different yarn in almost the exact same color scheme to make the Airy Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. This is a mohair but not Rowan - can't remember the brand. Not sure what I'll do with either of these scarves. Possibly, they'll end up in Christmas gift exchanges. Quick quiz.... Guess what Bonnie's two favorite colors are?....... Oh My! Did you guess pink and purple? You ARE clever!

The next photo is the Jester hat from Lion Brand yarns (pattern available on line for purchase) made with Cottonease popsicle, orangeade and vanilla. I have started the sweater and it's working up very fast (see previous post.) This ensemble will be for my co-worker who is delivering on December 28th. (The model is my childhood stuffed animal. He has seen better days!)

I also finished my Good Bias Shrug but haven't taken a picture of it yet.

The miracle known as twisting your yarn!

Check it out!! A week ago I was complaining about how icky the yarn looked on the back of my jester hat and Karen, a friend in my knitting group (and an incredible! knitter), offered to show me a technique to make it neater. See the hat on the bottom (messy!)... see the back of the sweater (tres tidy!).... What a difference! The back of the sweater has a nice neat look to it now. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Thanks again, Karen for your help!

Jester hat in process - help with the yarn on back

Here are "in process" pictures of the Lion Brand Jester Hat (sweater to come!) that I'm making for a co-worker (baby son due at end of December). I've never worked with multiple yarns like this and I wasn't sure how to handle the change of each yarn. The back is so messy - is there a trick to making it look neater? (Please forgive the overexposed photo of the back - I'm too lazy to go upstairs and take another picture. Hopefully, you can see the yarns carried across.

BTW, my son picked the colors (Cottonease Popsicle, Orangeade and Vanilla). Kinda like the Miami Dolphins.