Thursday, November 30, 2006
Super Glitz-Flying V-scarf
I've used up all but a couple of yards of yarn.. Not enough for fringes, which would have been nice, since the scarf is on the short side.
There you go:
yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Super Glitz: superwash merino wool plied with a strand of glitter, DK- weight, 1 hank of 4 oz./ 325 yds
needle: 4mm
pattern: from "Exquisite Little Knits" by Iris Schreier (Flying V-scarf). This is one of my favorite patterns. I've made it before and will make it again.
size: 5" X 56"
The only modification I made was to cast on 19 sts instead of the 17 in the book, since I've used thinner yarn.
This is for Judy from Alaska: The pattern I've used for the green scarf (which was frogged) is from the "A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns" by Barbara G. Walker called "hearts of oak". It's quite nice on both sides, ideal for a scarf. I'll be making it for sure, but have to see about having enough yarn for a scarf. It's not on top of my list though. ;o)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
New beginnings - again, and again, and again ...
There was a time, right after finishing the Courthousestep blanket and after the Puppy Dog Socks, were for a few seconds I had no WIP's on my needles! Imagine! Of course that couldn't last for long. There are so many things I'd like to knit and being in a limbo like that is hard for me to decide what's next?! I don't HAVE to knit any presents for Christmas any more, all done. Still, what to do? I've got new needles to try out and this yarn.
David: What are you going to make with this ugly yarn?
Me: What ugly yarn? You mean my self dyed green yarn? ;o)
David: Oh! Soooooo pretty! ;o)
Anyway, I wanted to try out a new stitch pattern, which turned out more complicated than I thought. For instance: "purl through the back loop" - twice! Holy m........ Isn't there an easier way to do this stitch? As it turns out I don't have enough yarn to make a decent length of scarf, even so I LOVE the yellowish/neonish green yarn , so, it is no longer. Rip-rip-rip.
That happens a lot in the in-between-stage of a new project. Frenzied casting on, ripping out, casting on, ripping out ....
This one's my favorite! I've settled for the flying V-scarf. This yarn looks still great after four failed attempts on different patterns. Sometimes the yarn does not cooperate. But this pattern, which I made before, is made for this yarn or vice versa. I just love it! See the little sparkly things? They make it a bit scratchy, but the colors are phenomenal!
Tracy is like me. She doesn't like sewing knitted things together or weave in ends. She's looking for ways to avoid that. Multidirectional knitting started her thinking process, I guess. This scarf was knitted with her "Add as you go squares" method, which is similar to the "Building blocks shawl" by Iris Schreier, but not quite. Unfortunately I made this one with acrylic yarn, which can't be blocked and the color changes are to long, but I wanted to give it a try and that's what I had on hand.
Also done are the charity hats, which I made for Connie .They are on their way to her. You can read more about this in a previous post.
So, that's it for now. Lots of new stuff, which will keep me occupied, while I'm keeping Sam company. He's been better. When even a "bull winkle" isn't interesting to him, that is saying a lot!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Sam news!
He's already snoring behind me. At least he's at home with us for now.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Surgery? - Again?
"Puppy Dog Socks"
First sock in the making.... it's not smelly feet she's interested in, I swear!
Biko is todays model ...
... and her feminine touch ...
The next time I'll use a size larger needle for the mosaic part, it pulls together, but not too bad.
... even from the same dye lot, the skeins are not the same ...
... hey Sybille , can you see the puppy dog now?
Since I've got the Mosaic Knitting Book by B. Walker for my birthday, I had this sock idea cruising around my head. They are made with the custom dyed sweetgeorgia's yarn, I've ordered for David, but there was too much pink in it for him to like it.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Courthousestep-Blanket - Stick a fork in me I'm done!
I had to wait for some sunshine to take pictures. I can't quite believe it myself, but the blanket is done (since yesterday)! Done! Done! Done! I was close to doing away with myself and I've promised myself that I would not start another blanket this year! Cross my fingers and hope to die! This was my third blanket this year. I've finished this Log Cabin and the Curve of Pursuit as well. What else can I say? Let the pictures speak for themselves and just for the curious among you all, here are some specs:
weight: 1773 g
pattern: inspired by the Mason Dixon Book
yarn: Webs- Valley Yarns, Longmeadow, 60% cotton 40% microfiber, about 35 50g balls (6 balls red for the border and about 5 balls for each color, the lightest colors a little less)
needles: 4mm
finished size: 64" x 70"
start: June 2006
finish: November 20th
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Charity knitting!
Before I start on the hats though, I'll finish my Log Cabin blanket, yeah yeah, you've heard it before. But what you don't know is, that I'm already on the second log of the border. In a couple of days I'll be done!!! ;o)
I took this picture last night. Sam is sooooooo bored. He's playing with a bone.
Right now he's resting because we just returned from our first walk down the road. He was not happy when I turned around, but he has to take it slow. He's doing great.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
I ask you: Where do you keep your WIP's?
I have several cotton bags with exactly the right size for WIP's. This is just one of them.
Sam is obviously not a friend of my flashing camera. He's also not so sure about the lion and the lamb.
I love this basket. It was a gift basket, filled with all sorts of eclectic goodies. You can fold the handle, very practical.
One of my first attempt in felting. We all have to start somewhere, right, and learn from our mistakes.
These buckets are so cute (and the blue and the green one don't have those white streaks, it's just on the picture). You can not only keep your WIP's in them, but they are great for yarn stash storage as well.
And this is my handy sock knitting bag. I love it. It tangles ever so lightly from my wrist, whenever I'm on the move. It's good for exactly the materials for one pair of socks.
So, where do you keep your WIP's? Don't tell me you keep them in plain old stinking shopping bags?!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
So, what's going on ?
This came in the mail today. Another B-day gift from my daughter. Don't you just love it, when your birthday's celebrated with gifts over the course of a month? This is Mountain Color Bearfoot (that's what it says on the label) color "moose creek". It's supposed to be a sock yarn, but I'll probably use it to make a scarf. It's got 350 yds of superwash wool/mohair/nylon. It's soft and I can stand it on my skin. God only knows when I will get to it though! I have a nice pattern in mind already! ;o)
My dad sent me a punch of sock blockers for my B-day as well. He was in kind of a hurry, so I have to finish them off myself. Very professional, I went to the Home Hardware store and let myself be helped. The guy wanted to know what's it for? Sock blockers of course. Blank look. Anyway, I hope we'll see some sun soon. I don't like working with wood with all the moist in the air.
So, last but not least, this guy thinks he's got "carte blanche" since he's an invalid right now. Wouldn't you know it, one, two , three and up he went on the sofa. Now, I find it hilarious when he sits there, but we never officially discussed him being up there like THAT! He didn't feel quite comfortable though. As soon as he heard David coming, he was on the floor again. Me laughing doesn't help at all! ;o)
He's recovering much better than expected. I'm so happy!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Celtic Waves Scarf finished!
This scarf would have deserved a sunny day for picture taking, but there's no sun at all. It's like Narnia here!