my bland and mostly dull life with knitting thrown in for interest

Thursday, September 22, 2005

sore fingers

You are Shetland Wool.
You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you look delicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you are widely respected and even revered.


A fellow knitaholic sent me a link to a Quizilla quiz to determine what type of yarn you are. Above was my result! Cute.

I have finished knitting my hubby's slippers and will probably felt them over the weekend when he's home for fitting. I'm glad he asked me to make him a pair - that way I'm pretty sure he'll actually use them.

Now I've moved on to the Erika Knight's "Recycled Plastic Carryall" from Knit with a Twist. So far, I've cut about 12 variously colored shopping backs into strips starting from the top and cutting in a spiral for one long continuous piece. That took awhile to do, and my sissor hand was aching, so I stopped, wound the strips into 2 balls and started knitting the front. Knitting with plastic is tough. You have to work hard to pull the stitches through but also making sure you don't stretch the lower stitch out of shape. After the first few rows it gets a bit easier, but still hard on the hands. In addition, I've already stopped 4 people asking me what I'm doing!

Ahh, another fine day to knit! Enjoy!

Thursday, September 15, 2005

what's next?


So I have finished the 'Accidentally on Purpose' vest as seen. But with 10-20° above normal temps lately, I haven't worn it yet. Ahh, soon enough though.

Mark will soon have his felted slippers - just in time for the cool weather too. His mother should be happy too, since I think she thought I wasn't making him his pair on purpose or something. But as most of my knitting friends would agree with is it's not so fun to knit with 100% wool when it's hot and humid. But anyway - I've got one finished and am working on the mate. These are great because they take about 8 hours to knit the pair and they make great gifts.

I have been feeling like if I don't get working on holiday gifts I'm going to put myself into a tight spot come December. So I really think I have to put my personal projects on the side until I get more gifts done. No biggie - I'll have plenty of cold weather months to knit all for myself!

enjoy!

Monday, September 05, 2005

so many patterns - so little time!

oh - I've been knitting the Accidentally on Purpose vest from the Stitch n' Bitch Nation book. I'm working it in Paton's Grace in Ruby (which really is a dark pink, not red). It's pretty simple - 78 sts x 20 in in stockinette stitch - then you drop sts in the bo and it created "runs" or "ladders" down the entire length. I've got the front finished and am 1/2 way through with the back. It'll be great to wear over long or short sleeve t shirts.

I've just ordered some patterns from Suss Designs that are pretty cool. One is a circle shrug and the other is a wrap cardigan in a short length like a bolero. Both are very cute. Just going to wait for the patterns to decipher what yarn I will use for them.

Additionally, I was on the desperate search for a man's sweater I remembered seeing - and finally remembered where I saw it. This the "Laddered Sweater" from 'simple knits with a twist'. My hubby told me that he would have been into this maybe 10 years ago - but not so much now. He's such a wimp! I absolutely love it and may incorporate these "runs" into a womans sweater for me at some point. I'm just going to make a roll neck sweater with a cable up the center for my man. He's so much more conservative than when I met him - but I'll keep him off the straight and narrow as much as I can!

I'm also just about ready to work the "Recycled Bag Carryall" also from 'simple knits with a twist'. My dear knitting friends and mother-in-law have been generous enough to help me collect plastic shopping bags of all colors to go into this really great tote. I can't wait to get it going. I'm going to start the strip cutting this week while my 2 babes enter their first week back at school.

I've still got lots of socks to work on - but I'm getting into so many other things I just can't seem to get into those just yet. I'm still working on the Paton's Cabled Hoodie - I've side tracked the Drop Stitch Shrug (I don't like it!). I've got felted slippers still to make for my hubby too for the chilly weather soon to approach!

SO MANY PATTERNS - SO LITTLE TIME!!!!

enjoy - and why not create something yourself this month?