Winter here in the Sacramento Valley means fog. Winter mornings are gray, damp, drippy and cold. By about 11 am the sun manages to burn through and brighten things up, but there is no heat in the sunshine. The bulbs out front are hinting at the promise of spring. We have little sprouts on the hyacinth and tulips. I have not seen the daffodils, but I think they became squirrel hors d'oeuvres some time ago. Days like this It is pleasant to be inside knitting. Now that the holidays are over I do not feel the mad rush to finish projects. I still have one pair of socks to finish, but I need to try one on the recipient to see if I have them long enough to start the toes decreases.
Yesterday, I was at a birthday party and was approached by Father Candy who informed me that he loves his fingerless gloves and would like another pair and a pair for Mother Candy. Now a request from Father Candy is very much like a request from the Godfather. Its an "offer you can't refuse". I have some Baby Alpaca Grande laying around and I will see if I have some chunky wool blend in the stash.
The only hazard to knitting is the fact that when its cold, the cats become far more cuddly. Its not that they like you more, its the fact that you are a warm place to lay. At night you can gauge temperature by how many critters end up in bed with you. Sweetie Pie now lays in the bedroom and soon as Bob gets up she dances around until he lifts her on the bed and then she snuggles in the mink blanket in doggie heaven. I think she would stay there all day if she could.
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Forays in Felting
With so many areas putting a moratorium on plastic & paper shopping bags, I think that knitted bags will be great gifts.
I finished knitting the handles on my French Market Bag this morning. I made a few modifications to the pattern. I made the bag 12 inches from the end of the increases so it would be a little deeper. I also decreased every 8 rows until I had 17 stitches then every 4 until I got to 9 stitches on the handles and ended with 8 rows of Stk St instead of 4.
I think it turned out kind of nice. The colors did not contract quite as much as I thought they would in the store.
Now I got to felt the bag. This was my first foray into felting. I took an old pillow case, put the bag in it and used a garbage bag tie to close it up. Put the washer on hot and small load, tossed in the pillow case and a couple of old towels and let it agitate. I checked it every 5 minutes or so. First thing I learned is that garbage bag ties do not stay on during agitation. Second is that felting is hot. There was a hint of wet dog smell, but that very possibly could have been me. I checked the bag to see how things progressed. It was like making a soup.
A very disgusting "Sheep Soup".
When things looked done to me, I set the washer on spin to get out a lot of the water. Per Maya's advice (from Babetta's Yarn and Gifts - my favorite LYS!) I let the spin work out until the water was down to a trickle then I opened the washer and removed the bag. O then rolled it in an old towel and pressed out the remaining water. I then blocked the bag by hanging it on a hanger and filling it with old plastic bags to held shape it and hung it at the end of the porch to dry. Its in the 90s today so should not take too long.
I must say I am pleased with the results! This one will probably be a Christmas gift, but I think I might make one for me in blues.
I finished knitting the handles on my French Market Bag this morning. I made a few modifications to the pattern. I made the bag 12 inches from the end of the increases so it would be a little deeper. I also decreased every 8 rows until I had 17 stitches then every 4 until I got to 9 stitches on the handles and ended with 8 rows of Stk St instead of 4.
I think it turned out kind of nice. The colors did not contract quite as much as I thought they would in the store.
Now I got to felt the bag. This was my first foray into felting. I took an old pillow case, put the bag in it and used a garbage bag tie to close it up. Put the washer on hot and small load, tossed in the pillow case and a couple of old towels and let it agitate. I checked it every 5 minutes or so. First thing I learned is that garbage bag ties do not stay on during agitation. Second is that felting is hot. There was a hint of wet dog smell, but that very possibly could have been me. I checked the bag to see how things progressed. It was like making a soup.
A very disgusting "Sheep Soup".
When things looked done to me, I set the washer on spin to get out a lot of the water. Per Maya's advice (from Babetta's Yarn and Gifts - my favorite LYS!) I let the spin work out until the water was down to a trickle then I opened the washer and removed the bag. O then rolled it in an old towel and pressed out the remaining water. I then blocked the bag by hanging it on a hanger and filling it with old plastic bags to held shape it and hung it at the end of the porch to dry. Its in the 90s today so should not take too long.
I must say I am pleased with the results! This one will probably be a Christmas gift, but I think I might make one for me in blues.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ravelympics Results
Well, the athletes have left the stadium, the medals have been awarded and I managed to finish 6 of the 8 tasks I set out to accomplish. I am happy with my accomplishments. Of the 10 completed tasks for our team, 6 were mine. I cast on for the French Market bag so the 2 that did not get finished are at least on the needles. The cabled hats gave me enough of a challenge to keep it interesting, but not overwhelming. I am amazed at what I can accomplish when I set my mind to it!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Never Not Knitting
Found this song on the web and I can so relate as a knitter! As can my husband. Hats off to Alana Dakos for her creativity!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Finished #6
I finished #6 of my Ravelympic projects. Its the last in the "Hat Dash" category. Its a greenery hat made from Cascade 200 wool. Its a fun pattern to work and its very well written. I have just 2 more projects to finish and I am done.
I did learn a valuable lesson from knitting this hat. Do not sneeze while holding a metal cable needle in your mouth. It can inflict damage!
I did learn a valuable lesson from knitting this hat. Do not sneeze while holding a metal cable needle in your mouth. It can inflict damage!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Finished Ravelympics Project #4
Well #4 is now in the books. I am halfway there. Project #4 is called "Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat" and is based on a hat from stills from the upcoming Harry Potter movie "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"
This one took a little longer due to the fact that its on smaller needles and I made some slight modifications to the pattern. (I made it bigger to fit my melon head)
The pattern for the hat can be found here. I cast on an additional 22 stitches for 2 more cables. I also modified the decreases as follows:
Followed decrease pattern for decrease tows 1-4
Row 5: K6 K2tog around
Row 6: K5 K2tog around
Row 7: K4 K2tog around
Row 8: K3 K2tog around
Row 9: K2 K2tog around
Row 10: K1 K2tog around
Row 11: K2tog around
Row 12: K2tog around
This left me with 6 stitches at the end. Had maybe 10 yards of yarn left on skein.
This one took a little longer due to the fact that its on smaller needles and I made some slight modifications to the pattern. (I made it bigger to fit my melon head)
The pattern for the hat can be found here. I cast on an additional 22 stitches for 2 more cables. I also modified the decreases as follows:
Followed decrease pattern for decrease tows 1-4
Row 5: K6 K2tog around
Row 6: K5 K2tog around
Row 7: K4 K2tog around
Row 8: K3 K2tog around
Row 9: K2 K2tog around
Row 10: K1 K2tog around
Row 11: K2tog around
Row 12: K2tog around
This left me with 6 stitches at the end. Had maybe 10 yards of yarn left on skein.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Project # 2 is done
Finished up project #2 in the category "WIP's Wrestling". These socks have been languishing in the basket since the spring.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
One down, seven to go!
I have finished my first project for the Ravelympics in the "Hat Dash" event.
This is a watch cap made with Plymouth Encore Worsted, a washable wool blend. This will be donated to Christmas at Sea at the end of the Ravelympics, with the 5 other hats I have already made for them. (They start preparing Christmas gift package just after Labor Day) I started knitting for them because I remember what it was like when my brother was in the Navy and how much I missed him at the holidays when I was growing up.
7 more projects to go!
This is a watch cap made with Plymouth Encore Worsted, a washable wool blend. This will be donated to Christmas at Sea at the end of the Ravelympics, with the 5 other hats I have already made for them. (They start preparing Christmas gift package just after Labor Day) I started knitting for them because I remember what it was like when my brother was in the Navy and how much I missed him at the holidays when I was growing up.
7 more projects to go!
Friday, August 8, 2008
RAVELYMPICS!
Ravelry is hosting their version of the Olympics on their website. To participate in one of the events, you have to cast one and finish your projects between the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. I am signed up for 3 events for Team SmartAssYarnHo. I am doing the Hat Dash (knitting hats, duh!), Bag-n-Tote Backstroke (knitting a purse or shopping bag or some sort of a bag) and WIPs Wrestling (WIP = Work in Progress. You have to finish up projects that have been languishing) I have 8 different projects I will be working on in the next couple of weeks: 1 french market bag, 4 hats and 3 WIPS that I will be working on. I will keep you updated on my progress.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
My Husband Must Love Me
My husband must love me. Yesterday afternoon, we went to a Joann's near our house which is liquidating their inventory and he bought me yarn.
For a knitter, that's LOVE!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Its so quiet.
Its been pretty quiet around here the past few days. On Thursday, I dropped Bob off at the airport so he could fly back to Ohio for his family reunion and his *gasp* 30th High School Reunion. I did not go with him because at the time we were booking the trip, I was not working and we just could not swing it for both of us to go. He was hesitant about going at first, but I pointed out that his Mom and Uncle Tommy would be up from Florida and he should take advantage of whatever time he can spend with his Mom. He is also getting some quality time with his sons which is good for both him and his sons. I always make it a point that whenever he goes back there, even if I go with him, that he spend at least a day doing just Father/Son things.
His ex is upset with him for who knows what reason. They have not spoken for quite a while now that the boys are adults. She had him pick up Andrew from across the street because she did not want Bob in her house. We think it may have something to do with the fact that Brandon and Heather are expecting and she does not want their kids calling us "grandma and grandpa" because we are not "blood related". Bob has always considered Brandon to be his son, even though he did not come into Brandon's life until he was two. I think that Brandon & Heather's children are very lucky to have 3 sets of Grandparents to love and spoil them!
With Bob gone, and it being so quiet, I have been doing a lot of knitting. I have been making baby stuff for Lara (Bob's co-worker), due in September and need to start on stuff for Brandon and Heather. I may attempt my first sweater. I am also working on a wedding gift for Scott and Kim and some hats for Christmas at Sea . I also need to work on some Christmas gifts as well.
Of course Miss Itty Bitty and Honey Bun both miss their Daddy. Itty Bitty lays in his spot on the couch and every now and then glares at me as if to say "what did you do with him?" Honey lays outside the bedroom door. When I go to bed for the night, she runs in and puts her paws on the bed and looks very confused. The other critters could care less as long as they have food.
His ex is upset with him for who knows what reason. They have not spoken for quite a while now that the boys are adults. She had him pick up Andrew from across the street because she did not want Bob in her house. We think it may have something to do with the fact that Brandon and Heather are expecting and she does not want their kids calling us "grandma and grandpa" because we are not "blood related". Bob has always considered Brandon to be his son, even though he did not come into Brandon's life until he was two. I think that Brandon & Heather's children are very lucky to have 3 sets of Grandparents to love and spoil them!
With Bob gone, and it being so quiet, I have been doing a lot of knitting. I have been making baby stuff for Lara (Bob's co-worker), due in September and need to start on stuff for Brandon and Heather. I may attempt my first sweater. I am also working on a wedding gift for Scott and Kim and some hats for Christmas at Sea . I also need to work on some Christmas gifts as well.
Of course Miss Itty Bitty and Honey Bun both miss their Daddy. Itty Bitty lays in his spot on the couch and every now and then glares at me as if to say "what did you do with him?" Honey lays outside the bedroom door. When I go to bed for the night, she runs in and puts her paws on the bed and looks very confused. The other critters could care less as long as they have food.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
I'm Feelin' Hot, Hot Hot!
I'm Feelin' Hot, Hot Hot! And not in the good way. Its just after 4pm and the temperature is 106. I of course am always greatful that I do not live in a place with high humidity because I know I would melt like the with in "The Wizard of Oz". Its days like today that make me consider becoming a nudist. (Pasty white, fat chicks who burn like lobsters should never consider becoming nudists. Not gonna happen until I get better curtains: don't want to scare the neighbors.)
So I am trying to conserve movement and just knitting so I feel like I am doing something productive. I have a huge stash of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick that I bought at Hancock Fabrics in Elk Grove at their going out of business sale. I had this great idea to knit up a bunch of squares, sew them together and make blankets. Lots of square of boring mindless garter stitch. Lots of ball of yarn. I think when I laid out the squares I thought I would make them 9 x 9. Thats 81 squares. What the Hell was I thinking?
Now you must realize that I am not a person to throw yarn away. No matter how much I start to hate it (its not the yarn's fault!). I spent money on it (Great sale price by the way!) so damn it, I will use it!
I am not a yarn snob. I have met people who will knit with nothing less that pure wool and despise fun fur. I have a fun fur scarf that I wear quite often (not today of course...duh!) that I love and get many comppliments on. Yarn does not make the knitter. Its the inner talent and creative drive.
I see it in photography. I have seen people who go out and by the "most expensive" equipment they can find, but if you do not have the eye or the passion for photography, your pictures will show it.
So I am trying to conserve movement and just knitting so I feel like I am doing something productive. I have a huge stash of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick that I bought at Hancock Fabrics in Elk Grove at their going out of business sale. I had this great idea to knit up a bunch of squares, sew them together and make blankets. Lots of square of boring mindless garter stitch. Lots of ball of yarn. I think when I laid out the squares I thought I would make them 9 x 9. Thats 81 squares. What the Hell was I thinking?
Now you must realize that I am not a person to throw yarn away. No matter how much I start to hate it (its not the yarn's fault!). I spent money on it (Great sale price by the way!) so damn it, I will use it!
I am not a yarn snob. I have met people who will knit with nothing less that pure wool and despise fun fur. I have a fun fur scarf that I wear quite often (not today of course...duh!) that I love and get many comppliments on. Yarn does not make the knitter. Its the inner talent and creative drive.
I see it in photography. I have seen people who go out and by the "most expensive" equipment they can find, but if you do not have the eye or the passion for photography, your pictures will show it.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Mystery Swap 3
I got my package today from my Mystery Swap 3 partner Veronica (http://loopyfringe.blogspot.com) It was a very large box.
I opened it up and the first thing I saw was:
Fiberfill?
I dug a little deeper and discovered:
Everything I need to make Knitted Sock Monkeys! Its funny. This was not one of the themes I had listed, but I am in a Yarn Harlot (see her blog post http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/04/20/in_which_things_end_as_strangely_as_they_started.html) group on Ravelry and they are doing a sock monkey KAL. I had gone to the Blue Moon Fiber Arts website and was thinking about ordering a kit in these exact colors! I think Veronica is psychic.
I can't wait to start making monkeys! (No that is not a euphemism!)
I opened it up and the first thing I saw was:
Fiberfill?
I dug a little deeper and discovered:
Everything I need to make Knitted Sock Monkeys! Its funny. This was not one of the themes I had listed, but I am in a Yarn Harlot (see her blog post http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2008/04/20/in_which_things_end_as_strangely_as_they_started.html) group on Ravelry and they are doing a sock monkey KAL. I had gone to the Blue Moon Fiber Arts website and was thinking about ordering a kit in these exact colors! I think Veronica is psychic.
I can't wait to start making monkeys! (No that is not a euphemism!)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Saturday morning ramblings
That lovely fishnet scarf of the bamboo yarn? I frogged it. I dropped a stitch and got frustrated. Will restart it soon. In the meantime, I am working on the socks for Randy. I just have to do the toe decreases and then I am done with the first. They are for Christmas so I am well ahead of schedule. (He knows about them since I kept quizzing him about his foot size and he's practically a rocket scientist!)I am also starting something "Elvis" for my mother-in-law and her her no so secret crush on the King. I need to dig out some of the UFO's and get them finished. I keep seeing new projects I want to start but I can't justify buying more yarn. That hasn't stopped me, but I just can't justify the purchases!
On to different things. I had a phone interview yesterday. I think it went well. The company is 4 miles from the house and the hours are very flexible. I know the 2 owners and they are really nice guys. I have been enjoying my "Sabbatical", but it would be nice to be getting a paycheck again. The cool thing about being off work has been the realization that we could easily be a one income family. We have not really sacrificed a lot these past few months. We are still able to do what we enjoy. Its been a nice realization.
And now for something completely different: I saw a commercial the other day that stated "If you or a love one have died of cancer, call today". Do you see a problem with that? I for one really hope there are no annoying cell phone in heaven!
On to different things. I had a phone interview yesterday. I think it went well. The company is 4 miles from the house and the hours are very flexible. I know the 2 owners and they are really nice guys. I have been enjoying my "Sabbatical", but it would be nice to be getting a paycheck again. The cool thing about being off work has been the realization that we could easily be a one income family. We have not really sacrificed a lot these past few months. We are still able to do what we enjoy. Its been a nice realization.
And now for something completely different: I saw a commercial the other day that stated "If you or a love one have died of cancer, call today". Do you see a problem with that? I for one really hope there are no annoying cell phone in heaven!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Chemo Caps!
A few months ago I got an e-mail from my friend Marsha in Mill Valley. She has an friend in Eastern Star up in Ukiah whose Chapter had been knitting chemo caps. The location they had been donating to had shut down and she wanted to know if I knew of any place that would take them. Since here in the area we have the U.C. Davis Cancer Center as well as the Shriner's Hospital, I said I would love to help them out. I also have a friend who works at St. Jude's Children's Hospital so there was another location that could benefit. I got an e-mail saying a package would be on the way soon.
Yesterday the package arrived.
I found some lovely hats that were handmade with love by the lovely ladies of the Eastern Star
(and the hats have the labels to prove it!) The timing could not have been better as Mary and Phillip will be out from Tennesse for spring break and I can donate the first batch to them.
I liked the red, white & green with sparkles, or as I like to think of it: Christmas camouflage. (Been on the naughty list and need to hide out from Santa? Christmas camo will help!) But I do have an inordinate fondness for sparkly yarn as my yarn stash proves,
Its always exciting to see a plan come together like this! Who knew that this is where knitting would lead me!
Yesterday the package arrived.
I found some lovely hats that were handmade with love by the lovely ladies of the Eastern Star
(and the hats have the labels to prove it!) The timing could not have been better as Mary and Phillip will be out from Tennesse for spring break and I can donate the first batch to them.
I liked the red, white & green with sparkles, or as I like to think of it: Christmas camouflage. (Been on the naughty list and need to hide out from Santa? Christmas camo will help!) But I do have an inordinate fondness for sparkly yarn as my yarn stash proves,
Its always exciting to see a plan come together like this! Who knew that this is where knitting would lead me!
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