one down, one to go

My daughter Brynn is delighted with the sweater I made her. She picked out the boucle and "Fun Fur Stripes", which I added to the collar and cuffs. I would have loved more to have a picture of her in it, but our timing was off today! There's always tomorrow!

Anyway, with one of the kid's sweaters down, I've got one to go. Reid choose a skull and crossbones theme for his red sweater. Right now I'm working out my chart so that it will actually LOOK like a skull and crossbones when knit. One might not realize that there is a proportion to keep when charting for stockinette stitch - which is 5 sts to 7 rows. Sounds easy enough - and it might be - but not for a first timer like me. But here I go again working a sweater without an already existing pattern and it doesn't go without it's problems. But soon enough I should have it worked out and Reid will be sporting is new sweater.


While waiting for the yarn for Reid's sweater to arrive (we ordered online, of course!) I have been working on the "Unbiased Bag" from Knitty. It's made up in recycled sari silk yarn, which is all the rage right now. This is yarn made up from the mill ends of sari silk in India. They are spun together to create a thick/thin multi color yarn. The yarn is a bit challenging to work with as it likes to twist up on itself or come unraveled. But despite it's issues, it's got an amazing range of colors that are fabulous. I'm finishing up the 4th piece and will then go on to the strap. Then once pieced, I'll toss it in the washer, air dry and then toss in the dryer to help remove some of the "strings" it likes to shed. I can't wait for this one to be done! One of my LYS's has a completed bag hanging in the shop and once cleaned and dried it feels like....well, silk!!

I've corralled some girlfriends for a night of craftiness - we're going to go to a "paint it yourself" pottery shop and try to be creative! I'm pretty sure the margharita's afterward aren't what got them all to go!

Do something fun today and enjoy!

gotta make my own

I'm continuing to work on the recycled plastic bag tote, but it's low on the list cause it hurts my fingers! In the mean time I am awaiting the arrival of some yarn to knit my son sweater with a skull and crossbones motif I designed. He's all boy and wants something tough looking. The adorable duck motif sweater my mother-in-law knit him last year might not be doable this year. (It's a BHG pattern with the duck head peaking out from the back around the front. It actually looks alot like the "AFFLAC" duck - so it's not so cutesy, but funny!)

Additionally, I've got some boucle that my daughter picked out that I'm trying to make a shrug style tie front sweater out of. The pattern market is majorly lacking in any kind of pattern for such a thing for young girls (not cutesy toddler). I'm knitting up swatches this way and that and hopefully will come out with something she likes in the end - but it's something I've gotta make on my own.

I knit up very quickly the "Nantucket Basket", which looks good. I haven't felted it yet, but am confident it will be a winnner for gifting this holiday season. And since my original gifts will most likely not be completely done, this could be a fill in for some this year!

Any of you have that one friend within your group that everyone seems to tollerate, but truthfully doesn't particularly like? How's that working for you? Me? I feel badly for the person, but admit to contributing to the talking behind her back in a not always possitive light. It's yanking at me because I could be seen as being two faced in dealing with this person. Some might say I "use" her to get some things, but I would say that I have reasons for maintaining a friendship with her. She, overall is a nice person, a bit negative, authoratative and overbearing, but dealt with in smaller doses, for me anyway, tollerable. My decision on the matter is to no longer contribute to the chatter...is this enough? That's the question.

Anyway, I'm going to go knit!

sore fingers

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!

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!

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?