"Sam and Biko howling at the stars" Hat

Well, there you go. I've promised you a hat! At first I thought it would be "Sam's hat", but seeing that there are two howling "dogs" facing each other, I had to think about that for a minute.

It did take me one day to make it and it was so much fun. For those of you who would like to make a similar hat, you should go and get yourself the "Slip-Stitch Knitting" Color Pattern The Easy Way book by Roxana Bartlett. I've got it used on Amazon.com There is a hat in there, which is called "Reindeer in the snow hat" and it's just too cute. After seeing it, I slept on it and was thinking of making something like it, but not quite the same. They use an invisible cast-on and sew the hem up after, which is one thing I'd like to avoid, as you all know! ;o) I made the "LatvianTwist". I found a tutorial for this on Carolyn's blog. Thank god for pictures! She used it for a pair of socks, but it works here as well.

Oh, and I made my first Pom-Pom. It's rather ratty looking, but it's O.K. The hat fits my head, just. Because of the slip-stitch it holds together well, but it gives more warmth too.

For yarn I've used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (100% Peruvian Wool) in the colors cranberry - fog - mist and it's knit on 4.5mm needles.

click pictures to get a closer look

David couldn't see the howling dogs at first, but here they are. I could have made any other design, but I didn't want to. I like dogs, why should I put a Reindeer on it? Or flowers? Or cats? You know what I mean.
Heike wanted to see what the Magic Mosaic squares looked like on the back side.

Sam is doing well. He's alert and even playful from time to time. He's chewing on the nylabone, because he's bored out of his mind. Recovery is slow, but steady.

Some kind of normal routine!

As you can see I'm getting in the Christmas spirit, slowly but surely. This is a scarf I've started last night.

Magic Mosaic blanket square # 4 - 63

This is going to be a hat, which I will call "Sam's hat" after it's finished. It's design came to me last night, while I was outside with Sam at around 4:30AM. It's progressed since I took this picture. I'd like to finish it today, if possible. But, it's too nice outside. The sun is shining, even though it's cold, wind and all.

After everything calmed down last night, this is what I was looking at. Totally exhausted Sam and content Biko. ;o)

Have a nice weekend!

He's home!

Boy, that was quite emotional at the vets today! Yes, we could pick him up this evening already. I wish we humans could express our feelings like Sam did today! He was crying and trembling and howling, and licking everybody's faces, hands and everything at the same time. For a while there was a ball of humans and one dog, all entwined, dancing in the round, up and down and left and right..... you get the idea. He was never away from us for that long. He cried the whole trip home, as if he'd tell his tale of forced confinement at the vets.
After all the excitement a little scratch and finally ....
he calmed down and after he had his food and a drink he's sleeping now. Totally exhausted I'm sure.

Welcome home my boy!

Oh, did you see the Christmas bow on his collar? I think somebody at the vet's decorated everything, which was longer there than a day. ;o)

Bring it on, Winter, I am ready!

It's definitely more quiet and less stressful without Sam in the house. Nevertheless we miss him terrible. The Vet called last night again. Sam's doing fine, although he rather walks the vet, when they go outside, than the other way around. That's my boy! ;o)


I made myself a second pair of mittens. They had to be a fast knit and warm. They are both. This is the same wool I've used for my hat, knit on 5mm needles. The cuff is made with a twisted K1, P1. I'm very pleased.
This hat is for David. This one's made with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca double stranded, so it's warmer and I've used 5.5mm needles so the hat would be and is tenser. It's still quite stretchy with the K2, P2 pattern. It fits him well. he's already got a scarf witch goes with this hat.Look what I've unearthed a few days ago. I was rummaging through my stash, when I found a bag full of Noro Kureyon and the first row of my Noro Kureyon blanket I've started back in April/May this year. I'm on the third row right now. I will take a better picture of it, when I'm on the 6th row or so, otherwise there's not a lot to see. It's my TV knitting now, once again just plain old garter stitch, mitered squares. Fun!
Just finished square # 3 of 63 for my Magic Mosaic Blanket. Only 60 more to go! ;o) Think - long term!

Quick Sam update!

Blogger didn't forward the comments and I thought everybody was busy otherwise.

Sam is recovering from his surgery. Because he re-injured the knee and he had to wait for a week to get surgery again (that's my opinion) he had an infection and there was lots of fluid when they opened his knee. To be on the safe side this time, the vet recommended for Sam to stay there until Saturday. Well, I'd like for him to get better quickly and even though it's hard for both of us ;o) , I've agreed to that.

He's a good quiet boy but very stubborn, says the vet. ;o)

It's still Fall, isn't it?

" Fall socks"

This will be probably the last pair of socks for this year, but you'll never know. I can understand if you can't see the attraction of these socks, but I really like them. It's not the "wow, so gorgeous-I can't wear them ever-just look at them" kind of liking, but more the" they are so nice and fit so well-I'd like to wear them every day" kind of socks. If you'll notice, they start out ringeling-a-ling nicely (64 sts), just before the heel I've increased 6 sts and after the heel the yarn went crazy until about an inch before the ribbing (80sts) it started playing nice again. But I don't mind, it looks kind of interesting.

yarn: Strumpf-und Sportwolle 4-fach (was gifted by Sybille from Germany, thank you), 75% superwash wool and 25% polyamid on

2mm needles throughout. They are toe-up of course and as I've mentioned I started out with 64 sts and increased to 80 sts for a bit of shaping.

I wanted to include a flickr badge here, showing all my socks I've made this year, but it wouldn't let me (or I was too dumb). So, I've put it on the side bar.

I thought I was pretty productive 19 pairs and one little pair of baby booties.

How many pair of socks did you make this year???

I've started knitting socks only in April though.

By the way, I've started a separate site called Readers Gallery, with pictures of knit stuff from my free patterns, you can find all that on the side bar. And if you've made a scarf or something and would like to send my a picture and description of it, I would love to post it there too.

I'm keeping myself busy, not thinking too much of Sam. He's in surgery right now.

Another nail in my coffin!

Sometimes I doubt the sanity of our dogs, especially Biko's. I was munching away on my dinner, when I heard David yell outside. He was playing with Biko, it was almost dark already.

I jumped up and ran outside, already knowing what has happened (because I thought to myself today, I wonder how long it will take Biko to jump into the pool), only to have my suspicion confirmed. She was standing in the pool like a captain on his ship (and here is a big THANK YOU to the pool guys, who managed to put the cover on oh so firmly this time!).

David was yelling at her and she was just watching him, freaking out. He got her moving, when he put the pool net behind her behind. It looked so easy to get her out, but I swear, one day she'll give me a heart attack! This was not the first time she did this. But the other time was in spring, equally cold though. She acts cool as a cucumber now, while we are still high on adrenalin.

Winter is coming and I'm not hatless anymore!

Yesterday gave us a taste of what's inevitable coming - winter. After the warmest fall I've had since I moved here, winter is knocking on the door. It was stormy, all doors and windows were rattling like crazy, and the dogs thought there was someone at the window, because a branch of a yew tree was scratching at the window in the living room. It was gloomy, rainy and very cold. The hat I made for myself was claimed by DD, so I dropped everything I was working on and cast on for this hat. It's 100% wool and I like the almost solid color. The yarn is Araucania, Nature Wool Chunky and I've used 6.5mm needles. I finished it this morning. I made it long enough to fold it over once. It's not an exciting hat, but a warm one. Cold weather here I come!

I've finished two of 63 squares for Hannah's Magic Mosaic Blanket. This is so much fun!

That's how far I got with the simple socks, it's just the one sock so far, right after the jojo heel. I love this heel. The yarn was striping nicely until I've increased six stitches an inch before the heel started. There was slight pooling, but nothing to obvious. I love this color, as I said before and I can't wait to wear them.


Sam's dozing, waiting for Monday. Well, he isn't, but I am. He's full with meds. His diarrhea is under control, but we still had a run outside once during last night (wished I had my hat then). But he's more alert (not that it looks like it in the picture) and he even threw his new nylabone around for a while.

So, now I'm thinking whether I'm in decorating mood or not.

Have a nice weekend!

For Gillian: Since I can't get in touch with you any other way, I'd like to thank you for your comments past and future! ;o)

Super Glitz-Flying V-scarf

With this yarn and this pattern I think a perfect marriage was achieved! Unfortunately there's no sun outside, as you can see in the next picture, it's one o'clock in the afternoon and it's not even quite light outside. There's snow and rain in the forecast, so I went ahead and took some pictures. It's quite cozy in here. David is studying for his exam, Sam is just dozing, Biko was snoring while watching the street with one eye. But she was happy to model the scarf for me. ;o)
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)

New beginnings - again, and again, and again ...

Do you remember these squares? My daughter choose these four colors for a blanket. I made exactly four squares and lost interest. I've spent almost two hours ripping them out the other day! You ask yourself : WHY so long? Well, let me give you some advise: Do NEVER, EVER weave in the ends before your project is finished and you are absolutely sure you want it the way it is. I have woven in the ends so perfectly, I had a hard time finding them. And I've realized that binding off is not my strong thing. Every fifth stitch was knit into the split yarn and I had to yank it out pretty hard each time. Anyway, the squares are ripped out and now for my new blanket plan. Oh, yes, did I mention I've already started on the next blanket! Yeah, nuts. But it's going to take me a while, this one. I'm making lots and lots of little squares again and I'm telling myself, that it's O.K. to have to sew them together at one point or other. We'll see when we get there. Well, here I present my first almost finished square. The magic mosaic blanket square # 1. This kind of knitting is so much fun!
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 a keeper. Ever since I've got this yarn from Sybille for my birthday it has been sitting on top of my sock yarn mountain. I like the color combination a lot. They will be simple stockinet stitch socks, but I'll knit until I run out of yarn. But I don't think they will be long enough for stockings, since I have a large size foot. I'm using 2 mm needles and it still seems too loose for me. I don't own smaller needles than 2 mm. I'm using metal ones here, but they slip right out very easily. I like Bamboo better, but with 2 mm I'm afraid they will break.
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!

Sam news!

We just got home from the Vet's. That's the place Sam goes to, when he wants peace and quiet. He's too big for the crate, but he still chooses to go in there. We have a bigger one as well, but - NO! Anyway, he'll have another surgery the coming Monday. He's still not using his leg. So, lots of rest and hopefully this time all will go well.
He's already snoring behind me. At least he's at home with us for now.

Surgery? - Again?

Sam was pretty miserable yesterday, all day. He's hurt his leg again, and it was going so well. Maybe too well and we got lax about his movements? He was quiet all day and not even his breakfast this morning made him his usual happy self, and that is saying something. Anyway, he'll be the guest of the vet's over night. They made some x-rays and will discuss his case tomorrow with the surgeon. So, until then, I'll have to keep my fingers crossed and hopefully total rest will be enough for my poor little guy!

"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.

yarn: sweetgeorgia yarns handpainted sock,100% merino wool, 112 g/ 420 yds

needles: 5 DP's 2.25mm

pattern: my own: I used the magic cast on for toe-up and a jojo heel

the puppy dog mosaic pattern comes from the "Mosaic Knitting" book by Barbara Walker

size: women 10 1/4

start-finish: November 23-25, 2006